"On the Ball" April 2008

April 3, 2008

Are you possibly in bondage to your liberty?

After years of knowing that I was called of Yahweh to be a preacher, I came to a time while lying on my back on the floor of our living room in our apartment on North Quinn Street in Arlington, Virginia, the night of October 9, 1953, with tears running down the sides of my face, I cried out in my spirit and promised Yahweh that if He would allow me to get to church one more time, that no matter what it cost me and no matter what He would require of me. I was prepared to give my life to Him and obey His will for me.

No more than twenty-four hours later, I was walking away from the altar of Full Gospel Tabernacle in Alexandria, Virginia, just having taken the first step of a journey, which after more than fifty-four years, still calls me on to where neither my eyes, nor my ears, nor my mind could have ever taken me.

By the decision I made at that altar, I plunged into a total giving of myself to pursue Him and the strength of His joy. To my knowledge, I have not ever even considered drawing back, and for that I am indebted to Holy Spirit. He who called me has been faithful to work the integrity of faithfulness into the warp and the woof of my being.

Knowing nothing about living my life in Christ, I looked to those who had now become the elders in my life. Assuming that they and their elders had it all figured out, I unquestionably bought into every "jot and tittle" which they passed on to me. Their words, their rules, their "do’s" and their "don’ts" became my guide posts.

Years would pass before I would ever permit myself to question any of those "do’s" and "don’ts," but in time, I began to understand that the keeping of the law, whether it be man’s or God’s, can never justify us before Yahweh, though it is what justifies us before man. While Yahweh looks not at what we do, but at for whose pleasure and approval we do those things, and by what authority (power) we do them; man however, apart from discerning of the spirit, can only judge us by the outward.

I, like most new Believers, believed that if I would keep those "laws," I would be pleasing Yahweh as well as the elders. I am talking about such laws as:

–Come to every meeting called by the elders.

–Pray every day. (The earlier the better, because early morning prayer counts more than other times.)

–Pray at the altar at the conclusion of each service. (Loud prayers count more than quiet, and teary eyes are more to be desired than dry ones.)

-Read your Bible every day. (Here again, earlier is better than later.)

-Women, stop wearing make-up, especially any shade of red.

-Do not go to movies.

-Do not play sports.

And the list could and often did go on and on.

From my beginning, I bought into the idea that by doing so, I would be changed from glory to glory into the likeness of Christ. That would have been bad enough, but I arbitrarily judged Shirley by those same laws, making life sometimes miserable for her. Then, when I began pastoring, I applied those laws to the people. I had no understanding of how offensive my attitude was to Holy Spirit; I had not only intruded into His domain, but I had done a pretty good job of rooting Him out completely.

In time (too many years to recall), I came to realize that questioning the elders was not the unpardonable sin. I began to question most everything, especially why I did or did not do certain matters that were done in my desire to be pleasing to Christ, but in too many matters I was doing to please and satisfy the expectations of people, and not because Holy Spirit pointed me in the direction I was living.

As a result of becoming real to myself, I began declaring myself at liberty to no longer obligate myself to do many of the things to which I had been committed–even things like regular Bible reading, scheduled prayer, witnessing, etc.

Not only did I take this action in my personal life, I began to communicate this to those whom I serve in the ministry, by making known to them that I would no longer judge them nor their spirituality by such things as how many times did they come to hear me preach, how many times a day they prayed, or how many people they witnessed to, etc.

In time, I found myself in a dilemma; I had become in bondage to my liberty. By this I mean that my liberty to not require myself to do those things which I had laid aside, was challenged by a genuine desire to return to them, because I had come to realize and appreciate the value of those things, both as to the fact that I enjoyed them and appreciated the fact that my desire to return to them was a desire of my spirit–not my flesh–and was the message I wanted to communicate to others. But how did I do that without appearing to be returning to the bondage of what Scripture identifies as "will" worship? Here I found myself in bondage to the approval of man–would they wonder if they should continue to believe in and follow a man who seemed to be unsure of what is right and what is wrong, or could they believe that I was returning because of my liberty in Christ and not because of bondage to man. Was this a case of knowing the truth and being set free? My answer is "Yes."

The Charismatic era brought a sense of freedom and liberty from traditionalism that was very fresh indeed. While I was out of town this week, Shirley began spring cleaning. The result was pulling everything out of the drawers where they had been since the last spring cleaning. Some things have been or will be thrown out, not because they are worn out, but because they are no longer "needed" or have lost their appeal and are no longer desired. But, most things will be returned to their place.

No doubt, we Pentecostals needed the closet cleaning, but maybe we need to reevaluate those things that we discarded as we enjoyed our new-found liberty in the Spirit. It is possible that in many cases, we have tossed the baby out with the bath water. We know that, but now our problem is, we are in bondage to our liberty.

So, you found out that your church attendance is not always a reflection of your life in the Spirit, but what is so bad about being faithful and committed and dependable?

So, you found you can make it quite well without a regimen of prayer and Bible reading, but when done for your own soul’s good, would it not be beneficial?

So, you’re a preacher and you have felt the anointing just as much without your suit and tie. Isn’t their some value in "dressing up in God’s house?" Would you dress differently if you had an appointment with the Governor?

You see where I am going with this, so let me end by encouraging you to get honest with yourself: "Am I in bondage to maintaining my image of liberty?"

We are children of Yahweh, God Most High. Let us reflect that in every aspect of our lives.

April 9, 2008

When one considers the scathing remarks Yahshua made to and about Saducees and Pharisees because of their hypocrisy, it would be easy to assume that as Believers, we should in no way be a hypocrite.

The prefix "hy" suggests more, an exaggeration. The word exaggerate came from a Greek term used to describe a player in a stage play, one who is pretending to be someone totally other than who the player really is.

There are, I believe, times when it would be well for us to pretend, for a moment or for a special purpose, to be something or someone other than who we really are at the moment. For instance, if parents are, in a moment, quite angry with one another and a child comes in to where they are, I think that it would be better for the child if the parents pretended not to be angry.

One of the dangers facing our society today is that much of a child’s development is lacking interpersonal relations, whereas, in my childhood most every game was begun with: "Let’s play like..." That meant that we were each one going to be a hypocrite in the sense that we were going to pretend to be someone other than who we were.

In today’s world, most children learn through impersonal use of electronics. Consequently children do not learn to be (in a sense) hypocrites, by controlling their emotions and the actions that would normally flow out of their uncontrolled actions. How else can we account for the anger and destructive behavior that is found in an alarming number of today’s younger people? This is what can occur when children do not learn the value of playing a role and not always doing and being what they really are.

I am not suggesting that we become as Pharisees, but I am suggesting that we "Put on a Happy Face."

Start by getting prepared to be here, before (not after) time, happily engaging yourself in conversation with others. Come with "Great Expectation."

Start thinking of others. If you were going to a church for the first time, what would you hope to find? Provide that for others.

Let’s play the role, until we become the person whom we are "hypocriting." Then we will not need to be hypocrites anymore.

Like Anthony Chapman said, "When I, with my cape on, jumped off my bed, I was not playing-like anymore. I was Superman."

I remember that June when I turned seven

It was summertime and it felt like heaven

I was happy as any boy could ever be

Didn’t need a coach to tell me when to run

Back then a kid knew how to have fun

Every day was an adventure and the hero was me

All I needed was that imagination of mine

And a towel I took from Mama’s clothesline

I’d tie that towel around my neck
And it would become a long red cape
I could fly and feel it blowing in the wind
I could leap tall buildings in a single bound
I was stronger than any train in town
Faster than any bullet shot from a gun
It was real and it was fun
I was superman

Long about dark I’d have to go in

Daddy would say, "Boy, where’ve you been"

And I’d say, "To outer space to stop a meteorite"

I’d hurry through supper and race off to bed

With plans for tomorrow running through my head

I’d fall asleep fast, but then I’d wake up at first light

Then all I needed was that imagination of mine

And a towel I took from Mama’s clothesline

April 24, 2008

To me, the life of any person who lives day to day without ever hearing or otherwise receiving the approbation of appreciation is cursed.

Words, smiles, pats on the back, a hug, a kiss, cost us nothing of monetary value, but contain the power to enrich others in ways no amount of money or things can do. Why do some people withhold from others what they alone can give? Why do friends take one another for granted? Why do husbands and wives withhold from each other simple, everyday expressions of admiration, thankfulness, recognition, etc.? As much as lies within me, I am committed to living and dying with no regrets. As in the words of a song of memory: "With eternity’s values in view, with eternity’s values in view, help me live my life each day, with eternity’s values in view."

I very much enjoyed the t.v. series, "The Waltons." I think it was because it very closely mirrored my boyhood and gave the opportunity to relive that time of my life. I think I never got through each closing without becoming a little teary-eyed. As in their house, so in ours. Never having the comfort of air conditioning, nor even a fan that I recall, our bedroom doors were left open. The signal that "It’s time to go to sleep" began with Daddy saying, "Goodnight, son." With there being only four of us, our closing of each day was quicker than the Waltons, but every bit as comforting. No child could have been more secure. No sleeping pills, no lullaby music were present; none were needed.

I know that all memory - at least the parts we talk about - is selective and not always objective, so I have no desire to return to what can only be described as those "halcyon days of yore," but I do encourage us to maintain and perpetuate those attitudes and behavioral patterns that at least leave us with the impression that if it were possible, a return to those times would not be a bad thing.

The times, they are a-changing, but the customs and practices that, in retrospect, caused those times to seem idyllic, have not lost their power to leave our children and our children’s children with the same kind of wonderful memories as those we treasure.

Recently, Shirley and our girls got together in Nashville for one of their fun times. On their trip back to Panama City, they arranged a lunch-time to meet Chad, who was on his way home for the weekend. When Shirley got home, one of the first things she told me about their trip, concerned Chad. During their meal he was sitting across from Shirley. In the midst of all the talking, Chad spoke to Shirley: "Nana, I want you to know that I really enjoyed the time I lived with you when I was attending Gulf Coast Community College."

Enough said.

April 30, 2008

You have heard it many times - the word Holy Spirit spoke to me in August 1980 - the word that has been the driving force behind all that I and the ministry of The Rock of Panama City have attempted and accomplished since that day:

-Evangelize Bay County

-Build a Great Church (Ekklesia)

-Build a Base From Which to Touch the World

I think I can say with an apostle of another time: "I have not been disobedient to the heavenly vision." I am not claiming to have made no mistakes, nor have we been perfect in everything we have endeavored, but the motivation behind all of my decisions has been to do the right thing as it pertained to that word of Holy Spirit.

Looking back, I see that matters could have been handled better, but we all know that looking back is not a luxury that life affords us. The best and wisest thing we can do is: Forget the things that are past and press toward the mark for the prize of our high calling in Christ - that is to hear him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

This week Shirley and I have been hosts to another meeting of the sons of this ministry. What a wonderful time we had. Our numbers have increased as each year my sons are bringing their sons. What a blessed thing to see the third generation rise up. Also, we are blessed to have several friends come and participate in our fellowship and ministry; we were highly honored by their presence.

During our session on Wednesday, I told the vision that came to me by Holy Spirit about three months ago - the vision concerning the first part of the word that came in August 1980: Evangelize the people of Bay County. That was received with a strong affirmation by all of the leaders, for which I am appreciative and by which I am encouraged.

This Sunday, I have promised to share this same vision with you of this house. Thank you for waiting patiently, these months. It is very important that you be present on Sunday morning to receive this word from me. Together, we will do great things.

I look forward to our meeting on Sunday. Our recent times together have been powerfully energized by Holy Spirit, in large part to prepare us for this next word. Please be here.