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"Revival of the Fittest"

Well Fellow Bloggers,

I know that it's been quite some time since I've posted anything on my page, but I thought it would be a great time to pick it back up given the events that took place in the life of our ministry these last couple of weeks. I'm fortunate, as well as happy to say that our ministry turned a year old on Easter Sunday. So much has gone on between then and now, and I'm shocked that the time went by so fast. Although, the crowd wasn't what I wanted it to be, given the fact that some of our members were absent on this day, nevertheless God smiled on us.

If there is any one thing that I have learned over the course of this past year, it is the fact that people are often very fickle, and God really will NOT abandon you. There's been so many moments when I just wanted to give up, and say forget it. But, then God would do something spectacular, that would challenge me to come back another Sunday. I once heard a pastor say that "He Loves pastoring, it's just the people he can't stand." And while it's easy to chuckle at this remark, and co-sign it to a certain degree, the fact of the matter is it's the PEOPLE that makes pastoring, pastoring! Without the people to shepherd there would be no need for a pastor. And you can't pastor effectively without loving the people.

That being said, I'm give glory and honor to God, for allowing us to still be here one year later. And to sort of energize our people for the next level of ministry, we held a pre-anniversary revival, and invited some of the most dynamic and prolific men of God that we could find to preach to us, to encourage us, and to challenge us. Joining us was Pastors Kelly Taylor, Xavier Thompson, and Lance Mann. Our lecturers were Pastors Darnell Dyson, Elton Johnson, and George Hurtt.

God blessed us richly each and every night, and I am forever indebted to these men for allowing God to use them in a powerful way. What does the future hold for Cathedral of Praise Community Church? Only God has the answer to that, as we continue to allow him to lead us. God has matured me so much in such a short time, and I anxiously await what he's going to do next!!

The Importance of Pastoral Fellowship

Proverbs 27:17 states "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Blog Family, Never has this passage proved to be more relevant to me than it has this past weekend. On this past Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend a fellowship breakfast put together by one of my preacher friends, Pastor Clinton Smith. This breakfast also coincided with Pastor Smith's seventh pastoral appreciation weekend. Invited were many of us young pastors that pastor here in Los Angeles.

Many I knew, while there were a couple that I met at the breakfast. Also in attendance was our longtime blog buddy, Pastor Lance Mann. I have be honest, and say that this was the highlight of the breakfast meeting this brother whom I have shared many of my convictions as a Christian, as a preacher, and now as a pastor.

To my delight, I discovered that this brother is a carbon copy of myself. He's intelligent, witty, comical, and has a firm grasp on this whole pastoral thing! (The last part I don't have down yet, since I've only been pastoring for seven months) Anyway, as I stated it was great meeting this brother after all of these months.

Since, it's been exactly a year since the last time I blogged, I thought long and hard about what I would post to get back in the game. And after spendiing this past Saturday with these fellow yokemen, I knew I had to blog about that encounter, and how it blessed us.

It was Pastor Smith's idea, and a great one I might add, for all of us to get together who blog with Lance, and have breakfast. The breakfast was great, and the fellowship was awesome. And after breakfast, some of the brothers retreated to Pastor Smith's office to continue our fellowhip. Little did I know that this would bless my life in such a special way. Being with these brothers, and being able to share our hearts, our struggles, our fears, our hurts, our disappointments, and our hopes, touched me in a way that I can't even communicate it effectively here in this blog.

But, what I did discover after spending that time with those brothers, is that there is a definite need for more pastoral fellowship amongst us young pastors. With the burden that we carry of shepherding people, pouring into their lives the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and trying to balance that commitment to family and ministry, pastors often need a place to dump. But where do we go? Who can we trust? Who will guard our most intimate secrets, and at the same time not be judgemental or condescinding?

This weekend I had those questions answered by some of the most down to earth, genuine, and real brothers that you ever want to meet. We laughed, cried, and encouraged one another to keep our hands to the plow. And let me say in parting that I have never met a more sincere man of God, than I have with Pastor Lance Mann. I, as well as the other pastors here in L.A., were richly blessed by this brother's wisdom and insight. We looked forward to keeping this fellowship going, because it is certainly needed. Be Blessed, and stay in the struggle, because the best is yet to come!!

Finish what you started

Hey Friends, It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to blog. I had some minor health challenges that has kept me on the sidelines for a minute. However, God is still good, no I take that back he's more than good he's great! And with that said, I plan to continue to blog. In fact I have a whole lot to say so look out! Big ups to all of you who have kept this thing going.

ARE YOU THE ONE, OR SHOULD WE LOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE?

Dear Friends, Luke 7 :20 NASB says When the men came to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, 'Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?'"When the men came to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, 'Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?'"

How many times have we ourselves asked this question, when faced with some challenge, some struggle, some tragedy, or some adversity? But, more importantly I believe that many people are waiting with baited breath, and reserved judgment until after January 20, 2009. "Let's see how he governs." Is he the black messiah that we have long awaited for to deliver us from the hand of white America." Is he the one to right the wrongs of 400 years of slavery, racism, and oppression?

So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report what you have seen and heard: The housing market has stabilized, Unemployment is down to it's lowest mark ever, 401k's and 457's have started rising again. GM, Ford, and Chrysler have rebounded, and have all posted fourth quarter profits. Troops have been withdrawn from Iraq, and sent back to the U.S. World leaders have showed up to the G-8 conferences in record numbers. There are more black mayors, black govenors, black senators, then there has ever been in the history of this nation. Pray is back in schools, "One nation under God" is still in the Pledge of Allegiance, morality has been restored to it's pre-1950's era. Change has truly come to the world. And on, and on, and on...

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL

Friends, on yesterday like I have done for the past three years now, I worked at the polling place for this presedential election. Although, I can't really describe it, I would say that there was a feeling of nervous excitement among myself, and my fellow poll workers, which happens to be all african americans. We didn't really talk about "IT", but all of us new that this was going to wind up being an historic day. I would liken the feeling that everyone had to the feeling that the slaves must have had who knew that Harriet Tubman was coming by to pick them up on the "Underground Railroad."

You don't really act any different so as not to tip "Massa's" hand. But, you just go about your day like everything is normal. That's how our day went yesterday. For all intents and purposes it was a normal day, with the exception of the enormous crowds of people. Our polling place is at a college, and we had giant crowds of students waiting, some for over TWO HOURS to vote. We had all prayed that God would do something extraordinary yesterday, and from the swell of the crowds our prayers were being answered.

At 8:15pm, fifteen minutes after the polls closed, and we still had 12 people waiting to vote; one of my poll workers received a call from her daughter-in-law who informed her that Obama was ahead in the election by 297 electoral votes. Although, no one said anything, we kinda of looked at one another with that "eye", and knew inside that some special was getting ready to happen. At 8:40pm, my fellow pollworker's daughter-in-law called again to say that Obama had 338 electoral votes, and that John McCain had just called and conceded the election to Barack Obama.

After this call, we were all kinda of giddy with excitement, as we bounced around the polling place. Our last voter left the poll at 9:15pm, and we could hardly wait to close the doors. After they left, we had our own private celebration, thanking and praising God for what he had just down. And then as if on cue, we all began to cry tears of joy. It was flood of emotion that came over us , and a burden lifted, for after 400 years of slavery, and oppression, God put a black man into the white house.

When I got home around 11:30pm, my wife was still up watching the election results. We congratulated each other on our "historic moment." We then toasted each other with a small glass of wine, and went to bed. "Mission Accomplished." When we woke up this morning, we both looked at each other, shook our heads, and said "wow". No further words were needed.

I'll leave you guys with this saying from my wonderful mother who passed in 2003, long before this historic moment. She would quite often say when God would do things like he did last night, "Baby, the Lord operates in mysterious ways." Be Blessed family!

THE DANGER OF BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE TOO LONG

Hello fellow bloggers. I have finally recovered from the devastating loss my Cowboys suffered at the hands of an awesome NY defense on yesterday. Turning to a more serious matter, my friends we here in California are on the threshold of a decision that could have far reaching impact, beyond the borders of California. Tomorrow we vote whether to accept, or reject same sex marriage as being legal. For those of us who are Christians, our minds should already be made up, but surprisingly they're not. Many Christians, believe it or not, are wrestling with the decision of whether to vote yes, or to vote no on Prop. 8. This waffling on this decision appears to have come from a desensitization to homosexuality. We've been around it so much, and in our quest to be "politically correct", we've come to "tolerate it".

I use this title today because this reminds me of the situation with Lot, and his being in Sodom. The bible points out in Genesis 13:12-13, "Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 "Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord." It goes on to say in chapter 19:1(a) "The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. " Picture that, here is this righteous man of God, sitting at the gate of one of the most wicked and perverse cities known to man, to greet visitors, and friends as they entered and exited the city.

But not only that, it's evidenced by the scriptures that Lot knew what wickedness was going on in the city, and tolerated it without saying nothing to the people. Look at chapter 19:5-7, " They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them." 6 Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7 and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing." He calls these perverted men his friend! Why? Because there is a danger of staying in the wrong place too long. And that what we have been doing here in California. We have allowed gays to water down our convictions, and our beliefs by winning little subtle victories, and by parading around in our cities and streets with their lifestyle on full display. And because we as the church, and as believers in Jesus Christ have allowed this to go on without being the voice of morality, we now face a proposition 8 on Tuesday, November 4th.

Am I speaking as an outrage homophobic? No I am not. I'm simply speaking as a man of God who is concerned about the immorality thats being passed off as normal. This is what Romans 1:18-32 speaks of when it says in verse 28, that because of their perverse acts, and thinking, God gave them over to a depraved or a reprobate mind. Therefore, I urge you this Tuesday to please vote with integrity, and spirituality. Be Blessed friends! Go! (you know who)