How Full Is Your Glass?

Our pastor began a new sermon series this morning that spoke to my heart. He's talking about "Attitude Is Everything!", that how we perceive our lives determine how we live, that perception is about positioning ourselves, it means that we make a decision as to how we will relate to a thing, and how we relate to it determines the outcome. Do I see the glass half empty or do I see it half full? The line of half is the same whether it be empty or full, the difference is we either see it almost to the top or almost to the bottom, either at the beginning or at the end. If I see a thing almost over then I will begin to shut down, slowing my pace and preparing to end my journey. If I see it half full, I will understand that I'm closer to the top and believe that I'm in the winner's circle. It's easier to see empty than full, but it's necessary to see full rather than empty. When we see full we see success and accomplishment, we see potential and believe that God is turning things around. He we see things determine our approach, and how we approach a thing determines others responses. I'm not talking about false reality, I'm talking faith, works, a positive attitude, and confidence that God is not finished with us! How full is your glass?

K & M

Today is our youngest daughter, Madison's birthday. She is eight years old, blond, blue eyed, weighs 40 pounds if she's wet and wearing a heavy towel and shoes. Such a beautiful with a spirit that is kind and calm, she loves the Disney channel, the computer, her friends, and her hero is her older sister Kaitlin. Kaitlin calls Maddie her " mini-me!" Both of our children are hilarious. Happy Birthday Baby!

Kaitlin, our 15 year old is a phenomenal child, she's driving now, looks and acts like she's at least 23, sometimes has quite the attitude, and is brilliant. She is a prophetic young lady, sees spiritual things in unique and unusual manners, dreams prophetically, speaks in the same way, and yet has the ability to keep her feet on the ground and not be off the wall. She wants to be an attorney, I want her to send me a monthly check so I can retire!

Julie and I are so blessed to have such beautiful daughters, when they were little I was always afraid something would happen to them, I would go into their rooms and pray over them in their sleep, if they weren't moving I would touch them lightly to make them move or to hear them breath...I don't do that anymore, though I still want to...Now I just pray for their protection, for wisdom, that they continue to walk out their salvation, and that God will begin now to prepare men for them that can keep up with them, provide for them, and that will love and protect them as I do...Call me sentimental, I am a blessed man!

I Am Blessed

I'm sitting in the home office of my friend Darrell in Galesburg, IL., we've had a fantastic revival, the Lord has ministered in a special way. This week I've had the opportunity to fellowship with a fantastic family, minister to a wonderful congregation, share our missions ministry, to which a crowd of 28 people gave an offering of 750.00, and I have enjoyed time with ministers of Illinois. As I age I am coming to appreciate people and value relationships in a deeper manner. Don't misunderstand, I've always loved people, but these days I value friends and family more than ever in my life. It's important to me to make a deposit in others, appreciate not only what they deposit in me, but who they are to me. This evening my best friend of 20 years will pick me up after church, drive me three hours to his home and we'll spend the day together in Chicago doing all sorts of things, it's going to be awesome...I want to make an impact on some one else's life, to be awesome to them as so many have been to me and to always be thankful...always.......! The picture I'm using today is a picture of my Kenyan brother and sister, Titus and Dorothy, they pastor two churches in the bush country, serve as the bishop of Mike Sloan Ministries International/Missionaries In Action Kenya, and most of all are two of my closest friends. We email weekly and when I step off the plane he is waiting for me, drops everything to spend the two weeks I am there and make sure I am able to accomplish my goals...We spend hours talking and asking each questions, discovering the most of our differences aren't all that different after all...We're depositing into each other's lives...Who can you make a deposit in today?

I Will Wait For The Children!

Several years ago a prophetic word was given to the church I was pastoring that said the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon the earth prior to the return of Christ in an unprecedented manner. We've heard that, read it in the scripture, and believe that it not only will happen, but is presently happening around the world. What spoke loudly to me in that word was the next phrase, "And I Will Wait For The Children!" God is a covenant God, He thinks in generations, not just who is here today, but who is to come. One of the Psalms states that these things are written that a generation yet to be born may praise the Lord. There is something about the children, about future seed that captures the heart of God. While the concept of children causes my mind to consider small ones and youth, to God, who is the Ancient of Days, He considers all of us children, and He is waiting for us to step into what He is doing. Scriptures assures us that in the last of days the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord, glory is heaviness or weightiness, the awesome presence of God that consumes our lives. To those who can see it, it's already here, others continue to wait. I was reading yesterday in the book of Habbakkuk, where the prophet prays that the people will receive an awareness of the glory that will cover the earth...That's what I pray for today, an awareness, let me see what I haven't seen, let others observe the fullness of God's grace and glory, and may many son's and daughter's be born into the Kingdom!

Freezing In Illinois

Yesterday I flew back to my home state of Illinois to preach revival for my good friend Darrell Garrett. I am from the Chicago suburb of Aurora, Darrell pastors the Harvest Church of God in Galesburg, about 3 hours from my home. When I left Tampa it was in the mid 80's climbing toward the 90's at a rapid pace, when I arrived in Moline it was 64, declining at a rapid pace. We went out to eat last night and it was 64, in the hour it took for dinner the temperature dropped six degrees to 58...I went immediately to Walmart and purchased a light coat...I'm freezing to death! Here we are in Mid-September and they turned the heat on...I love my friends and really enjoy this little city, but have to admit...There's no place like home....Florida!

Growing Up Is Hard To Do!

When I was growing up there was a Toys R Us commercial with a little jingle that said, "I don't want to grow up, I'm a Toys R Us Kid..." I don't remember much more, but the concept sticks in my mind today as I press closer to 50 than I am 20, am the parent of a 8 year old and a 15 year old, and am now teaching young adults ages 18-30. The goal that I have chosen to accept is to assist these people, my children by birth and my children in ministry, in becoming adults with a purpose, to help them discover who they are, what their purpose is, and how to become what they are destined to be. The amazing thing to me is the examples many youth have to follow, adults that are outwardly mature but inwardly stagnant, stuck in yesterday, kicking and screaming about others that aren't growing while they themselves remain immature. Jealous, worried about someone getting into their space, pastors and ministers that fret that someone may take their sheep, all the while insecure themselves. Perhaps it's the place I find myself at in life presently, I have nothing left to prove, know who I am and have decided that if they leave me I never had them or only had them for a certain season...but I refuse to let others dictate my maturity level...I need to grow and I don't want to grow out I want to grow up! I don't want to get fat on stuff that isn't healthy, I want to mature in the things that have the ability to make lasting and healthy changes in my life. I'm rambling again, but I really do want to grow up!

British Haircut

I had a seven hour layover in London's Heathrow Airport and was absolutely bored to death. While sitting there I noticed this photo booth thing sitting to the side and a smiling man getting his hair cut. It's the latest thing in London, so on my return trip I ventured into the Hair Pod and my newest friend Dasso cut my hair. The cost was 11 pounds, about 22.00 US, the guy did a good job, I almost feel British!

Mixing It Up

On our recent trip to Africa we encountered a demon possessed woman, during the worship time she would worship God, speak in tongues and screech like a cat. We heard her toward the end of the service and simply prayed that God would cause anything that was not of Him to cease, and it did. I spoke with the pastor about it the next day and he told me that this woman was mixing Christianity with witchcraft, a fairly common practice throughout Africa. As I thought on this it seemed to me that we as believers are equally guilty at times of mixing our relationship with the Lord with other things, perhaps not as extreme as witchcraft, but is it possible that our priorities are compromised as we try to make Christianity fit our mold? The constant theme of scripture is God desiring our whole heart, to be put and sought first, promising that everything we need will follow if we love Him first and more than everything...but we...or should I say I, sometimes say He's first, but in reality put Him somewhere in the mix...down the line somewhere. God wants to be first,He deserves to be, but only I can make Him first...I can't afford to mix!

Life Is Good!

Our team returned from Kenya last night, tired but excited about the good things the Lord did in and through our lives. We spent nine days in the country, beginning with ministry in the bush, we prayed over property that will be the home to a new medical clinic, preached at a convention where children touched our hearts deeply, and visited new churches. In Eldoret we met new pastors and renewed our friendship with old ones, in Mosoriot we preached in a church with bamboo walls and in Flax we experienced the manifestation of the enemy, in both churches we saw souls saved. In Nairobi we visited the Bomas and saw traditional African dances and made a trip to the Animal Orphanage...For nine days we did not stop...it was awesome! I also experienced an awakening, a spiritual renewal and refreshing...probably too private to share all...but a wonderful expression of grace...Life is good...God is great! I'm glad to be home!

It's Kenya Time!

Tomorrow morning four of us will board a plane, fly to Chicago, eat our way through a five hour layover, and then off to London and then on to Nairobi. This is my seventh trip, the second this year, I'm anxious and excited. Two of the people going with me have been before and for one of them it will be her first. We will travel Machakos Tuesday evening and participate in a convention in the bush area of Kengami on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday we will travel to Eldoret and minister in the village of Flax on the weekend, then back to Nakuru and Nairobi and on home the 30th. It seems as if we've left and returned already!

I want to make a difference in someone's life this week, to impart something that will birth a positive change, that will give direction and encouragement. The need is great and we can't meet it all, but we can make a difference, pray that we will!

My New Computer

I bought a new laptop computer last week, a Toshiba Satellite, a lovely piece of machinery that I intend to absolutely wear out. It was working great until yesterday, everything is plug and play and I was plugging and playing. Came into the office yesterday morning plugged everything in, everything worked except my internet connection, I had lost my IP address. I called Best Buy and was shifted to the Geek Squad who wanted 159.00 to come fix it, it is one week old...can we say free? I then called Toshiba and was on the phone for an hour with them and then my internet provider for an hour who wanted to send me back to Toshiba...I wouldn't go! My provider arranger for a free service call, while I was waiting my friend Rick suggested I reset the network modem...Fear comes all over me...can't afford to have a network of nearly 20 computers down, and I'm leaving for Kenya on Monday...Service tech can't fix it, not familiar with Vista, and he suggest the reformatting of my hard drive. This evening we shut down the modem, turned it back on and I'm back in business...God has not given us the spirit of fear!

I'm In A Mood

I can't explain it all here, but I am in a mood and need to get through it! I'm leaving for Kenya on Monday morning, have a almost six hour lay over at O'Hare in Chicago, which means Italian Beef, Thin Pizza, and more than likely a Chili Dog...last meals before British Airways food! So how I get the feeling I won't do anyone any good if I can't get my head clear!

This Is How I Feel Today!

Feeling Stirred

There is a rumbling in my spirit today that I simply cannot get past. Perhaps its because I'm preaching in the morning, or because I'm preparing to depart for Kenya on the 20th, or maybe the Lord is trying to speak to me, and I'm just not listening well. I don't feel concerned, afraid, or warned, I feel stirred, as if there is something on the horizon, perhaps my Isaac is about to appear. I am convinced that God is raising up a new generation, not new in the sense of age, but a people of passion, perception, and perseverance. This generation will be open to whatever He is doing, will appreciate the past that got them to their present, but will not be bound to yesterday, their favorite verse will be found in Joshua when God said, "You have not passed this way before!" This movement of the Lord will not be like any previous movement, there will not be anything to compare it to...this will be the new thing that springs up, we've heard about it, prayed about it, it's time to be about it...Stir It Up!

While In Chicago I Ate This!

It's Time!

I keep forgetting that since this is my blog I can write whatever I want...I want to be casual and I want to be serious...I want to be prophetic. I'm weary of hearing what is going to be, I'm ready for it to be...It's time!

Does This Make Sense?

I'm flying out to Chicago tomorrow and have been busy this afternoon making sure all of my affairs are in order: printed out my boarding pass; spoke with the pastor where I'll be preaching; found out my cousin wasn't going to be able to pick me up so I needed to arrange transportation. I called a car rental company that advertised a good price online, they have a store a few minutes from my mother's home so I could drop it off with no problem...The problem is that because I was wanting to drop off this car at a different location than I was renting it at I was going to have to pay 70.00 for the car itself, 50.00 drop off fee, plus 1.00 per mile on the travel, so now for a 70.00 rental I'm paying probably 150-170 for this car...does that make sense? I've made other arrangements with a different company and will be out about 82.00 plus a full tank of gas...these people wear me out!

Seasons

I had the privilege of ministering at the Living Waters Church of God in Sebring, Florida yesterday. This church is pastored by my good friends John and Pam Schneider, I've been there a couple of times in the past few months, it's an exciting place to be. One of the things that I noticed was the freshness, the other times I was there things were good, but they've added some new staff, their worship team is good, there is a spirit of refreshing there that invigorates you, excitement fills the air. On the other hand, I talk with other pastors and church members that are experiencing difficult times, moments in the lives and ministries where they don't understand what God is doing, they feel as if they've lost their way and wonder which road to take next. Seasons is my answer, this is a season of shifting, transition, and process, I believe God is moving in the lives of His people, but He is doing in ways that are unfamiliar to us, but very familiar to Him. We like change until we need to change and then we don't want to change too much, we enjoy our comfort zones...even though we don't want to admit we have them! You cannot escape a season, you have to walk through it, to endure hardship, and to learn the lesson of the process...easier said than done. One pastor said that he felt like he couldn't hear the Lord right now, so what should he do? My answer, hold on to the last word He spoke until He speaks another...God's Word always works! I want to be faithful in whatever season I find myself in and find great comfort in the words of the Apostle Peter: Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing more than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God, who has great plans for us in Christ-eternal and glorious plans they are!--will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does! (I Peter 5:7-10 The Message)

I'm Going Home!

For a 45 year old man this will sound strange, but I am so excited, I'm going home to Illinois next weekend! I've been wanting to go back to the Chicago area where my Mom and sister live for a few days, but haven't been able to work it out. I've also wanted to preach a revival somewhere before I leave for Kenya in mid-August. This morning I had my good friend Pastor Ken Holt from Chicago on my mind, gave him a call, left a voice mail and hung up. About 30 minutes ago he called, said, "You won't believe this but this morning I was next door on top of a ladder and said to myself, I need to call Neil for revival in August!" Talk about a God thing...I'm going home! I've missed my Mom this summer, it's too hot for her to come to Florida this time of the year, we'll fly her down in November for three weeks, but I get to go this time, it will be awesome! You will never know what the Lord has just done in my life, just trust me when I say it is both a sign and a wonder at a good time in my life! Did I say, I'm going home!

The Mind of Missions

My friend and son in the ministry, Pastor Troy Yanosik of Life Christian Fellowship in Jensen Beach, Florida just returned from his first missions trip. He spent this past week in the mountains of Jamaica where he ministered the Word of God nightly and touched the lives of the wonderful Jamaican people daily. We've just gotten off the phone and you can hear it in his voice, he saw poverty as he's never seen, children without shoes, people who's only running water is the rain and what drips from the trees and is collected in a barrel, they have no to little money, and yet their hearts are open to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Pastor Troy has come back with a desire to purchase tennis shoes, or runners, as he called them, I'm not sure where that runners thing came from, but he is a Canadian, perhaps it's a northern thing. He's determined to make a difference in the lives of this people and I'm determined to help. What touches me more is the transformation of his heart, it happens almost every time a person leaves the country, you see things you've never seen before, or beyond that, things you've never allowed yourself to see. My wife and I pastored our first church in the appalacian mountains in Eastern Kentucky, there people lived in shacks and had little financial ability, and while it affected me, it was different when I went to Kenya for the first time. Today I realize that need is everywhere, and it isn't my job or my calling to change a person's culture, it's my opportunity, my mission to help change their climate by sharing my resources and the love of God with them. For me, this is the message of the missional mindset, we have talked church, we have discussed what needs to be done, it's always just about to happen, but now is the time for us to step up to the plate and make it happen. How easy it is to weep over homeless and hungry people, to walk past shoeless children, and to say these people need to do something about their situation, but it's our opportunity to assist them on their journey! When I returned from my first missions trip I was devastated and realized how greedy I was, I wanted to tell everyone how good we have it in America. I still feel that way, but I now understand that we have been blessed to be a blessing, and there is need and poverty everywhere, it is emotional, financial, physical, and spiritual, and we can all in some way make a difference in some one else's life...it's the missions mindset!

Thanks to my friend Barb at Tidbits & Treasures I've been awarded this Blogger Reflection Award and a Seed Planters Award! Thanks Barb for thinking of me, you along with many others have made blogging a joy and a requirement of both reading and writing!

Madison

I had lunch with my seven year old daughter Madison today, it was kind of cool! She spent the night last night with her friend "B", came to my office around 10:30, suitcase in hand and ready to go. Her Mother and sister were out and about, so she entertained the office manager and senior pastor, drew a picture, signed it, and now it's hanging on the wall in the office manager's office. Finally, and not too soon, we were off for lunch, Taco Bell her favorite place, was closed for some odd reason so we ended up at AW/Long John Silver...She left looking like a pirate queen. What a kid!

My Newest Addiction

I leave the office early on Fridays and usually come home to vege. The past two weeks I've found myself hooked on TLC's program "What Not To Wear". I'm not a girly person at all, am not into all the latest fashion, but I have to tell this program is hilarious. I watched it yesterday from around 3:00 PM until 9:00 PM, now, I did take a break and go eat, but came right back, my little one went to her room, it wore her out! It's amazing how bad some people dress and feel good about it! Whew, good thing my wife is working on me! I also watched Pastor Jim Raley from Calvary Christian Center in Ormand Beach, FL, he was on TBN, preached the house down! TBN gets on my nerves, there was an hour and a half of singing and then they give this guy 25 minutes to preach. The music was good, but it seems to me that if you bring a guy from Florida to Nashville to minister, you give him time...he came on at 11:35 PM, but it was so good. Check him out at www.calvarychristiancenter.com. This guy is the real deal, has preached for us a couple of times, we love his ministry! Check out Pastor Raley and What Not To Wear!

Monday

You know that Monday is my least favorite day of the week, it should be Monday on Thursday. This Monday has been a great day, things were not hectic at the office, I got to leave at 2:45 and don't have to work tomorrow, it's my 45th birthday, I'm lucky to be able to get out of the bed in the mornings! I'll spend the day with my wife, go to a staff meeting tomorrow night, eat Sonny's BBQ there and enjoy time with my fellow co-workers, and it will be Tuesday...not Monday! I've been busy today preparing for an upcoming trip to Kenya, I'm taking four others from our church and will be gone two weeks the later part of August, it will be awesome! We are hoping to travel south into the land of the Maasai, a wonderful tribe of people that are yet to rise to modern corruption, the only tribe in Kenya that are allowed to bring their spears into city limits, it's going to be great! It's hot here in Florida, but I'd rather be hot now and warm in the winter than warm now and freezing my hiney off this winter. I'm rambling...I know! We had the most awesome service at church yesterday, the Holy Spirit simply breathed upon us and we were refreshed in His presence. I love the Lord!

Becoming New

Have you ever noticed that people who talk about progressing often want to go back in order to go forward? As a revivalist I've often heard pastors and church members talking about how we need to get back to old paths or that what we need is an old fashioned revival, they want to go back to get something that they remember as being good. I realize that we do have to return to our first love, to remember where we've fallen from, and to turn back to God, but I also realize that we can't stay where we were or are, our return is to reconnect and then to move forward. Dee Hock, founder and former ceo of Visa said, "The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts into your mind, but how to get the old ones out!" Isn't that the struggle Jesus had with the Pharisees? They had a learned knowledge of who and what God was all about, and when the visible revelation of God came into their very midst, they couldn't receive Him because their perception was clouded with the past. They had an idea of what it was supposed to be like and couldn't get past what they thought to get to what was! Jesus came to make all things new, I think that is not only at the moment we receive Him, but throughout our entire journey with Him...I want to become new!

I Fear I May Forget

I was channel surfing this afternoon and came across the movie "Stepmom" a great story of a young lady(Julia Roberts) learning to adapt to becoming a stepmother and dealing with the dying mother(Susan Sarandon). In a moving meeting of the minds Julia Roberts tells Susan that her greatest fear is the when the daughter gets married and the stepmother is making over her, wanting this to be a special moment between a mother and daughter, that the daughter will look at her and say, "I wish my Mom was here!", to which the mother replies, "My greatest fear is that she won't!" I'm not normally a crying type person, don't get too emotional about many things, but I have to admit every time I see that movie I tear a tear or two during that part. My father passed away November 1, 1994, he was my friend, I didn't always agree with him, understand him, I'm sure he could have somethings different, but he was my Dad. I hate Father's Day, get depressed as it approaches and am thankful that I don't preach on that day any longer, I miss him and it overwhelms me. What I struggle with the most is that there are days when it seems like yesterday he was calling me, and there are days when I start to pick up the phone to call him, I say to myself I need to tell him about something or ask him a question, and then I catch myself and remember he isn't there. It's the other days that bother me the most, that it's now been almost thirteen years and there are those other days when I don't think of him at all, when it's almost as if he was never there, like I've forgotten and I force myself to remember...I don't want to forget.

When Will This Be That?

It's almost 2:00 AM and I can't sleep. My wife is sound asleep and has to be at work by 7:15, so I need to be nice and not watch television, and laying in the bed tossing and turning is a real bore...So it's time to write. I've created a new myspace, a huge step for me, more of that stretching stuff, it's pretty cool to enter this new world, at least new for me! Being the contemplative person that I am there's a question in my spirit that has to be answered. Read Acts chapter 2 and you find Peter boldly proclaiming that this outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy that in the last days God is going to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. I truly believe that the outpouring of that day was the beginning of something awesome, it birthed a fresh awareness of God and empowered normal men and women to accomplish the ministry of Jesus Christ...it was not an end though, it was a beginning. The question in my mind is simple: "Is this it?" I know I've written about this previously, but the question continues, is this we are presently experiencing all there is or is there more, and if there is more when will we experience it? It seems that we live on the edge of the next great move all the time, yet never quite arrive there. Could it be that the outpouring that began on the Day of Pentecost has never ceased, but that it has shifted, and that only those with eyes to see, and ears to hear, and faith to walk out the revelation that has already been given will partake of what God is doing? Yesterday it rained at our house, I mean it pounded, hail fell from the sky, it was amazing! Yet at the same time, my wife was going to work, less than three miles from our home and it didn't rain one drop. I'm reminded of the servant of Israel's king that heard the prophecy of Elijah that famine was ending and food would arrive on a certain day. The servant said, "If God made windows in heaven, might this thing be?" The prophet said, " You will see it with your eyes but you will not partake of it!" I am convinced that rain is not only coming, it is here, we just have to get in it!

Florida Drivers

We're on our way Saturday from St. Augustine to Orlando when we stopped for lunch at Flagler Beach. Get back on I-95 South and the traffic suddenly goes from 75+ mph to 20 mph, all three lanes and the traffic on the northside is at a standstill. We do this for miles and miles, do you know why I-95 South was backed up for miles and miles? There was a wreck on I-95 North! The problem with that is there are barriers between the two sides and at least 50 feet between the two barriers, so why should the South side be backed up! In Florida people stop and go on the major highways, creating pockets of unnecessary traffic that create cardiac issues in my life. My advice to Florida drivers...Take Your Foot Off The Brake! Today was the last day of our vacation, we spent the night last night in Orlando and the day today at MGM Studios, talk about a crowd! It's been a great week and now it's back to office in the morning! No foot on the brake here!

Vacation

My family and I are enjoying a few days of fun and sun in St. Augustine, Florida. We've been here since Monday, been laying on the beach, by the pool, and discovering the historical section of St. Augustine. It's been good, although being the high strung person that I am it has taken me until today, which is Thursday, to begin to actually relax...don't ask why, but for some reason I live stressed, tight, and it takes days for me to just start enjoying the trip.

Our girls are a hoot, Julie is the best, and we are having a great time. We've slept in, and today watched television until the sky cleared off and are now on our way to work on our tans! Saturday we head to Orlando for the weekend at MGM and then it's back home late Sunday evening and back to work on Monday.

Just thought I would drop by for a minute!

Bubba Gump Shrimp

Yesterday my loving wife took me to Universal Studios in Orlando for Father's Day! A friend from church accompanied us and we had the best time! Rode rides, walked and talked, enjoyed each others company and ended our day at Bubba Gump's Shrimp!

I believe I may have sinned, we started off with a tower of onion rings and then I ate the whole thing, some shrimp meal with four different types of shrimp, fried, chilled, coconut, and shrimp tempura, along with some french fries...it was absolutely phenomenal!

We came home worn out, but happy and full! What an awesome wife I have!

Good Word Pastor...

We are having our annual camp meeting this week, it's basically a revival we do each year at our local church, and it has been phenomenal! Each speaker has brought a word from the Lord, an encouraging word, a digging word, a profound word, a word that cannot be attributed to men, they have all spoken as prophets of God. Service after service I've sat on the edge of my seat, listening intently to what is being said, no note taking this week so I can preach it later, I've been listening with the ears of my heart not just my head. No doubt the words will affect my preaching, but I must say, I would rather be a voice than an echo, I want to say it first, not after someone else has said it. I've developed this habit of saying, "Good Word, Pastor!" When the evangelist says something that I like or that hits home. I want to ask myself what makes a good word a good word? There are probably many answers to the question, but my answer is when it touches my spirit so deeply that I am willing to not only hear the Word, but become and do the Word...it then has become a Word of the Lord in my life! Western Christians have heard so much, church has become a mall where we sort through the stuff, look for the right places, people, and programs, and somewhere in the midst of it all, we may find God. Call me narrow minded, but while I certainly believe we need many things to make church work, it's not about church, it's about relationship and mission, in that order, to know Him, to be known by Him, and for others to know Him through my example...That's a good word!

IS It Just Me?

This whole thing with Paris Hilton is getting old! I'm sorry that she had to go to jail and that she got sent home and then sent back, and yes, I probably think 45 days is too much jail time and that the judge is making an example out of her and trying to make a point...but she's there now, let's talk about someone else! She's on all the news stations, on the Today Show this morning they talked more about her than the deaths in Iraq, CNN Online keeps the stuff up on her that is absolutely old news...Tell us when she gets out and we'll all breath a sigh of relief, but until she gets out....talk about someone else! A lady in Phoenix gave birth to sextuplets this week, let's talk about her!

Shifting...Again

For over a year now the word of the Lord in my spirit has simply been the word...Shifting! I haven't been able to get it out my belly, it lays in the back of my head, and it comes to the forefront of my thoughts quite often...this is a season of shifting, can we survive the shift? I know that I've written about it several times and don't know that I've got much new to add, other than the fact that I truly believe the Body of Christ, both individuals and the corporate body that we recognize as the church, must move with this season of shifting. The word shift or shifting means movement, adjustment, varying. It is connected to the concept of reconciling, the adjusting to a season or a situation. For example, in the Northern United States as the seasons change the people adjust their wardrobes. In the early fall it's long sleeve shirts in the morning or a light jacket in the late afternoon, in early winter it is a light coat followed by a heavier one. Or perhaps the example of a watch fits here, if the clock in your kitchen is the standard you go by, then all other time pieces must be adjusted or shifted to reconcile them to the standard. In the Kingdom of God there is a shifting, a spirit if discomfort, people are sensing the need to move and adjust their lives, yet, they aren't always certain of what to do. If you're anything like me you like structure, you appreciate knowing what is ahead and what you're getting into. But in the Kingdom, we sometimes have to walk out into the darkness before the revelation comes, but light will appear and the path will be made known, if we survive the shift and overcome the obstacles!

Evan Almighty

Our family just returned from a sneak preview of Evan Almighty. I must admit that when I first saw the commercials I was cynical and figured it was going to be a corny movie...I was wrong! We got four free passes for the preview, there were so many people we were among the very last to be allowed in and the four of us sat separate from each other...the movie was great. It was funny, not one curse word, and it drove home a point. A radio personality was there and prayed before the showing, pretty cool! What spoke to me was that we have become so non-prophet minded that if a true prophet arose among us without a word of blessing, we would never believe him. I got something spiritual out of this and am so glad we got to go. The movie opens June 22nd, be sure to go see it!

Today

We had a good day today. Our service was good, the preacher preached well, spoke of divine reversal, how that God is able to bless those others think shouldn't be blessed, and how He is able to turn our lives around even we see it as impossible. Good Stuff, check out Genesis 48 for the story! Following service our young adult group had a fellowship, hamburgers and hot dogs, chips and deserts, great food followed by volleyball in the sand pit. A new couple and their children attended, we had a total of 28 youth between the ages of 18-30, pretty cool huh! The awesome thing about this group is that they want to hear what many adults don't. They ask us to tell them straight, get somber at times and at other times like to discuss, whatever their reaction, they're there week after week and ready to receive the Seed of the Word. Several of them left the volleyball pit at 3:45 to leave at 4:00 to minister at a church in Tampa...sort of speaks to you doesn't it? I'm glad the Lord gave us Today!

White Cloud Toilet Paper

My wife is the most awesome woman in the world, that's a true statement, fact not fiction, reality, not faith speaking, she is great. But when it comes to toilet paper, she's cheap! I don't want her to break the bank buying something that we go through quickly, but couldn't we have some that actually comes off the roll without a struggle? Have you ever tried to pull some off in the middle of the night when you need to sneeze and it just hangs on and when you pull tighter it breaks? Too thin, not soft, but it's $2.68 at Walmart, so it must be a good thing...Wrong! Get me some Charmin or Northern Quilted, if need be, get the cheap stuff for you and the girls, I need comfort and the fast rolling stuff...I sneeze every time that I get up in the middle of the night...Baby I love you, but White Cloud just won't do!

Memorial Day Madness

Last week I decided we needed to go out of town Sunday afternoon for Memorial Day. After spending several hours combing web sites to find a place to go, I decided we would just stay at home. We're leaving on vacation in June, my cheap side kicked in, my family wanted to go to Busch Gardens where we have season passes, I couldn't see spending over a hundred bucks to spend the night twenty minutes from my own bed...what a dilemma? Of course, the only dilemma was within me, they wanted to go to Busch Gardens, no one else cared where we slept! So off we go Monday morning, making a nice stop at the IHOP and then on to the park! The parking lot is packed, but the park isn't bad, we jump on the Montu within fifteen minutes and are flying high, across the park on the skylift and to the world famous Shiekra, now that's a roller coaster! Three girls behind me decided they didn't need to wait with the rest of us, crawled under the bar and cut in line, I considered ratting them out, but my oldest daughter told me that was mean, I was in a bad mood so I didn't want to be mean, but line cutting is a serious offense in my amusement park opinion. We were there from 1:00-6:00 PM and I rode three rides, my baby and I rode the bumper cars together, she's seven and can't ride by herself or drive, but I did let her steer a couple of times and most certainly bumped whoever she told me too! It was a good day, ended by a nice family meal at Pancho Villa's in Zephyrhills...Aaah, what a day!

And The Winner Is.... And You Doubted Me?

Daddy Daughter Dates

School is out tomorrow, as the chancellor of a Christian School I have to say...I can't wait! You can tell it's the end of the school year, it actually feels different after Christmas and Spring Breaks, the countdown begins, the field trips flourish, the nerves rise to the occasion, and both students and teachers are ready for the break. Certainly I'll miss the children, but my favorites are the 3 year olds and many of them stay for our summer program, so I'll have my fill of babies...they are so cute! What I'm really excited about is the Daddy-Daughter dates I'm arranging with my girls! My girls are Momma's girls, they always have been, they take me in a pinch. Lately I've noticed they're friendlier towards me and actually seem to miss me when I'm gone. I'm out of state every month and out of the country at least once, this year it appears I'll be gone at least one more time to Africa and possibly twice, they make think I'm great by years end! Thursday my oldest daughter and I are off to see Pirates of the Caribbean, and we're doing it in style, going to the Imax at Channelside in Tampa...It's going to be great! We're already purchased our tickets and are ready! Friday, the youngest and I will take off to the local theatre to view Shrek 3, not my choice, but it is the choice of my seven year old. I figure we'll also stop by her favorite place to eat...Taco Bell. I can't wait, these are going to be two awesome days, what a way to start our summer!

Vote Jordan!

The Me You Can't See

I recently read a book entitled "God's Generals", it's the story of great men and women of God in the last century that were used of God to bring healing and revival to the world. It's an easy read with nice pictures and interesting facts, stories about men and women like Katherine Kuhlman, John Lake, A.A. Allen, Alexander Dowie, Charles Parnham and others.

The interesting and frightening thing that spoke to me throughout this book was that many of these people had real issues, things that often overshadowed their ministries, things that hindered and almost destroyed their lives. Many of them were able to overcome the rumors or items haunting them, while others lived with the questions and complications the remainder of their lives.

Ever since I finished reading the book I've found myself searching my life, asking God to help me to not allow there to be anything in my life that would be displeasing to Him, nothing that would taint or tarnish His anointing upon me, nothing that would keep me from Him.

It's not the big things that hinder us, nothing is huge when it begins, no, it's not what you see or hear, it's the me that you don't see that can destroy me. I may speak with the tongues of men and angels, have prophetic ability and insight, have great results in my outward life, but if the inside of me is wrong the outside will eventually reflect it. We are called to bear fruit, and that fruit is expected by God to be good, the true life of that fruit is inside, where you can't see what's growing. Perhaps this is why Jesus said to either make the tree good or to cut it down, lay the axe to the root.

I'm not being critical or judgmental of the people in this book, I'm using it as an opportunity to learn, a plumbline to ensure that my life and ministry does not fall into the same trap. I want to hear Him say, "Well Done!", or at least, "You did good son!"

My Wife...Her Cell Phone...My Question?

I am married to the most awesome woman you can ever meet. She is beautiful, loving, serves the Lord with all of her heart, is a great Mom and a hard worker, she's the best! We've been married twenty years and are best friends, we talk about everything, hide nothing, enjoy being together, and look forward to our golden years, this is absolutely the most fantastic person on the face of the earth...but for some reason she cannot seem to keep her cell phone charged! It drives me nuts!

My cell phone is on 24/7, it is almost always within reach and I have a charger in my car, home, and office and do my best to keep a charge on it daily. Julie on the other hand charges hers about once a week or whenever she realizes she has allowed it to run out of charge. Then when you call her she doesn't have it on or can't talk because she has no charge...It drives me nuts!

There's a spiritual side to this, sometimes we're like that phone, we've lived our lives in such a busy manner that we fail to take the time to charge our spiritual batteries. We know we should, need to and mean to, but we've got other things to do and don't take the time to stop and recharge. The problem is when we need power we don't have it because we forgot to charge our batteries and now we don't know what we're going to do.

I'm hoping Julie will start charging her phone and that I will learn to stay connected to the Lord in the way He desires for me!

And Then There Were Two...

Was I surprised last night at the results of American Idol or what? I had imagined that the results would come down to Jordan and Melinda, and though I am a huge Jordan fan, figured Melinda would probably win...and off she goes! Thrilled I am and determined that Jordan should win next week, we'll see, hope and pray for Ms. Sparks! My name is Neil Smith and I am an American Idol addict! I'm off for Chicago this afternoon, going to do a Hungry Pastor's Conference for the Church of God and preach for my friend Rick Sexton this weekend in Bourbonnais at the Church of God Worship Center. Looking forward to being back in my home state and seeing friends.

I Washed My Cell Phone!

My wife noticed that we have some wasp nests forming in the entry way of our home, they're about 20-25 feet high, but nonetheless they are there and of concern to us all. This evening I bought some wasp killer spray, the kind that shoots 22 feet, got them all, but the stuff was falling back down before I could get out of the way. So off to the shower I go and then to the washer my clothes go...and unknown to me, my cell phone! I had placed it in the side pocket of the shorts I was wearing and never gave a thought to it until I was taking the wet clothes out to put in the dryer and there it was in the bottom of the washer! Thankfully we have a spare phone at the office and this is a Nextel, so I simply needed to trade simms cards, but I did lose my pictures, my kids, some friends, and of course, Reverend Al Sharpton that I took when we were at the same terminal in Charlotte, NC. My heart is beating close to normal again, but what a mistake I made this evening, I'll never live this one down at the office! It just powered up but is now stuck in Airplane Mode...Guess I'm still using the spare!

Can Christians Really Survive?

I've just watched the finale of Survivor and am jacked up over this Dreamz guy. Don't misunderstand, I know it's a game, that it involves manipulation and maneuvering, but this guy takes the cake. He tells a guy how bad he needs a truck, the guy asks him to give his word he'll give him his immunity at the final four and then reneges when he arrives at the final four. To top it off, one of the guys calls his Christianity to mind, saying that he believes he is a Christian, but an immature one and that some day he will mature. When they arrive in New York they still can't get a straight answer....it wore me out just watching! I've watched this show from the start, know how it works and what all it involves, but when being a Christian came into view I expected the man to model the One he represented. Guess that's asking too much. This past week I read a statistic that said that between 44-49% of Americans attend church on a regular basis, the percentage of people confessing Christ is closer to 60%, but it tells me we've got a problem and there's much work to do. I realize Survivor is a game, I'll get over this Dreamz guy, but I'm concerned that Christianity is lacking integrity in today's world, that Christ is soon to return, and what is that He is returning for? Soon is a cliche', after all, the Lord's return has been prophesied, preached, and promoted for thousands of years, and it may be thousands more before He returns, but on the other hand, he may return before I can get this posted. Preaching, Teaching, and Programs are not going to make the difference our world needs, they may assist, but changed lives change lives! The reason the early church was so effective was that people saw Jesus in their daily lives and it was obvious that they had been with Christ because it was said that they turned their world upside down. In the letter to the church at Thessalonica, Paul said that those early believers had made such an impact that his arrival really wasn't necessary, from them sounded the news of Christ and His impact on their lives. Daily life and little stuff does count. The guy on Survivor didn't need to preach, pray over his food, really his Bible in front of them, or say christianeze all the time, he simply needed to live it out with integrity...what he did was show that the world is right, everybody has a price! I don't want to be for sale!

My Fortune Cookie Says...

I'm learning Chinese by reading Fortune Cookies, at least that's my excuse for frequent trips to local Chinese take outs...I'm actually just eating and getting fat...more diets to soon come! Today I grabbed a Fortune Cookie on my way out the door and got inspired as I read these words: "Goals are just dreams with a deadline!" I love it, God puts a dream in our spirit, we turn it into a goal and determine that we won't just talk about it, we're going to do something about it! Reminds me of Luke 17, 10 lepers come into contact with Jesus, they cry out to Him and as they went they were made whole...they walked out the revelation! I'm going to give my dreams some deadlines!

I'm Moody Today...

Have you ever had one of those days when it was just one of those days? Nothings wrong, but nothings right. You feel like taking a week long nap, will get over it tomorrow, before the week is over, but today you're just tired. That's how I feel today. I came to work before 7:30 AM this morning, which in work standards isn't all that early, took of the daycare and early morning school rush and am not sitting in my office...desperately needing a nap, or to fire someone, either or both. Tomorrow I may be in a great mood and want to hire someone new and give everyone raises, well, I probably won't feel like giving a raise. Human nature, natural feelings, moodiness and all those emotions that comprise our makeup, they either get the best of us or we get the best of them, today I am determined to win over my feelings. Perhaps I need prayer or Prozac, maybe both, prayer will be the best route, but if it doesn't work...

Let The Little Children Come!

I have this every morning habit, the first thing I do when I enter the school at our church is head to the kitchen for a cup of coffee...you know, the best part of waking up is Folger's in your cup! On my way I stop by the three year old class and find out what's happening in their day, and they want me to know! One tells me of a cock a roach in his Dad's car, while another complains because the little boy he gave his snack to actually took it, and another shows me his new toy. My day starts off so awesome, those are my babies and my day would not be the same without them. Today as I was preparing to leave for the day I found out that Nora, a little Russian girl that we've had for three years, is leaving for Russia tomorrow, her grandfather is sick and she's going to visit him. As I hugged her the other little ones gathered around me, so I got to hug a few more, heard some stories, took their picture on my phone and went on my way. I'm not the most huggable person, not a real smoochy type of man, but those babies get my heart and I cannot imagine a day without seeing them. When I was in Kenya for almost two weeks I couldn't wait to see them and hoped they hadn't forgotten me...they didn't! Do you think this is what the Lord was trying to get across when He invited the little children to come to Him and instructed the disciples to not forbid them to come? He said that the Kingdom of God is much like little children, there is something about the relationship between childhood and christianity that speaks volumes to me. After all, children don't have all the baggage that we adults do, they are forgiving and much more resilient than we, and their world though often filled with pain can be improved almost instantly with a hug. There's something else about this I was thinking about, if I can't imagine one day without stopping to talk with my children, how does the Lord feel if I don't stop to talk with Him?