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There is something about people who are filled with the Holy Spirit.  There is a fire in their eyes that burns with a passion to serve their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  There is a fire in their heart to honor Him with the actions and attitudes of their life.  There is a fire in their belly to let others know about His great and wonderful grace and mercy that changes life.  There is a fire in their life that is evident at work - at home - at church - at play - when they are shopping, you name it!! During the month of July - I want you to discover that fire for yourself.  A passion that gives you purpose.  A fire that will ignite joy and hope in your heart.  A flame that when fanned will cause a wildfire in your soul to rage with the love of God.   Now I know that there are those who are thinking that these descriptions are nothing more than metaphors for God’s presence in ones life.   But I don’t think so.  There is something that spiritually burns within our hearts and

People have a problem with God being who He is.  Master of the Universe!  That’s a rather lofty title, but true nonetheless.  He is in control of EVERYTHING!  That’s also means that He will do what He is going to do when He wants to do it.  And many people have a problem with that? When is God going to fix this world?  Well you have to read the book of Revelation and study it in order to know the answer to that question.  But He will - believe me He will! Why doesn’t God do something about starving children and helpless people?  He does - all the time!  If you knew how much time, money and manpower the church puts into helping those who cannot help themselves, it would boggle your mind.  Jesus said that the poor and needy would always be with us.  I wonder how many people are not doing what God has asked them to do?  After all we are His hands and feet in this world. Why hasn’t God answer my prayers?  Well this can be a loaded question.  First of all, God may have alr

Fire alarms are a funny thing.  You see them everywhere, but no one ever goes up to one and just pull it to see what will happen.  (Well there was this kid in school, but he panicked because he forgot to study for a test.)  When a fire alarm goes off, it is a signal that there is a fire somewhere - get out of the building now!  It is a call for immediate and quick action in order to save lives.   As a Pentecostal Christian, do people take action when they are around you?  Is there a immediate and quick response to the presence of God in your life?  Is it as if someone pulled a fire alarm because of the power of God in your life?   No?  Well its time to pull the alarm!! 

In my sermon last Sunday I had shared with you how people are disconnected from their faith.  Our faith are the guard rails of our lives.  Faith tells us what we can and cannot do.  Faith protects us from the world and from ourselves.  But without faith we can and will do just about anything.   I believe that explains why our world is flying apart at the seams.  Why people do some of the stupid things that they do - why evil is so alive and well in our land today.  Our culture is disconnected from faith.   We live in a world that is trying to solve it’s ills and problems by passing laws that tell us what we can and cannot do.  That in some way, legislation, will cure societies ills.  Never going to happen.   We live in a world that wants to create it’s own faith.  They don’t want to be told what is right and wrong - they want to determine it for themselves.  Well, that doesn’t work either does it.   That’s why Christians need to embrace their faith now more than ev

I’ve been in the ministry, Pentecostal ministry, long enough to say what I am about to say with some degree of authority.   I have seen people, used mightily of God - through the power of the Holy Spirit - completely and totally blow it!  Why?  They became prideful about what God want doing through their life.  Well, the story always ends badly.  When Solomon said that pride comes before the fall - I really think that he meant a hard and painful, fall on your face kind of fall.   Pride is a mess and it makes a bigger one too.  Don’t allow yourself the luxury to think that “you’re all that” when God uses you to build His Kingdom.  Always be quick to give God credit.  Humility doesn’t mean that you don’t acknowledge your part of the process - it means that you acknowledge the source of your life first and foremost.  Jesus!  

Heb. 12: 2  “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (NIV 84) So what are you looking at and why is this important?  In 1 Jn. 2:16 it says, “For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.” (NIV 84) The eyes are the gate to the soul.  What you see has an impact on what you think and what you feel.  Now the old saying that you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover does have some reference here - if you can’t see the cover, you can’t judge the book.  But it is the same eyes that have to open the book and read what is inside to discover if what is there is worth your time.   That is why we need to fix our eyes on Jesus.  We don’t want to just “see” Him.  We want to know Him.  We want to “read” our faith from the one who has c

Do you want to make a difference in your world today?  Pray for someone.  Do you really want to make an impact in someone’s life today?  Pray for a miracle.  Do you want to change someone’s life today?  Tell them about Jesus Do you desire to do something that others will take notice of?  Act like Jesus Do you want to be used of God today?  Be sensitive to the Spirit and follow His lead.   Now to those of you who would say that you can do with without being Pentecostal, Spirit - Filled or Baptized in the Holy Spirit I would say.  Sure you can.   My question would be, “Why?”

You know that after Acts 2, that the whole city of Jerusalem had to be abuzz about what had happened.  Well, I think that you can probably imagine with me what happened next.  As Christians were being baptized in the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in other tongues, there was this fascination and interest with what was happening.  The 12 apostles and the 120 might have even become local celebrities in their own right because of what happened.  We know from reading in the book of acts that the local religious hierarchy were jealous of them - but there was nothing that they could do about it. I think that as you allow the Holy Spirit to begin to work in and through you life - you will being to see some of these things happen to you as well.  Think about it, if you pray for someone and God does a miracle - you’re going to have everyones attention.  So what do you do? Do what Jesus told His disciples to do.  After God has showed up and has everyones attention tell them about Jesus and g

I don’t think that I have to prove my point here.  But in case you don’t know that, just turn on the evening news.  You’ll get the point.   But meanness needs to be confronted.  But with what?  Nations rise to meet the challenges of those who would do their worst to ruin our way of life.  Soldiers go into the battlefield to face our enemies. (And may God bless them and protect them as they do so.)  But if politics, diplomacy or armed forced were ever going to cure the ills of this world - it would have done so by now.   Meanness needs to be confronted with the message of Jesus.  When people start placing their hope in an eternal God who loves them and cares for them - they no longer have to fight against a world that is doomed to destruction.  When you think about it, it is foolish for anyone to place their faith or future in this world - the only thing it can do is hurt them.   Yes, the world is a mean place - but Jesus isn’t.  Praise God!  

Well I have to tell you - that this one might end up offending some people.  Not because I am trying but . . . Most people don't have a definition for Pentecost or being Pentecostal.  Just because you go to a Assemblies of God church, Church of God, non denominational charismatic, etc. doesn't make you a Pentecostal any more than going to a Marlins game makes you a Marlins player. Lots of people sit in the stands and they root on their favorite team - but it's the team that makes all the sacrifices and does all the work. Let's define what it means to be a Pentecostal for a moment. First of all, you want to be like the New Testament Christians you read about in Acts 2 on.  Do you what they do - you believe what they believe.  What was important to them is important to you.  They set the example - we follow.  With that said, if they speak in tongues - you speak in tongues.  If they prayed for the sick - you pray for the sick.  If they take care of the widows and orphans,

I know from the various surveys I have read coupled with the conversations I have had with people in the community that some people don’t have a high opinion about people who speak in other tongues.   That’s ok, and if you are one of them - I welcome a conversation with you about it.   But with that said, I have to say that out of all the denominations that I have worshipped with - worked with and had the privilege of knowing, Pentecostals are my favorite.  Sure I’m biased, but really - there is nothing like a people who read the Bible and say, “If Jesus could do it, If Peter could do it, If Paul could do it - then I can do it!”   The people of Pentecost are a conundrum of sorts.  They have great faith - but it never seems to be enough.  They are always seeking more of God - more faith - more of His power and presence in their life.  They know something that I think many Christians don’t know (or a least don’t care about).  God is a never ending source of hope, love and

Pentecostals are Patient - True we may not like it sometimes.  But nonetheless - we have learned . . .  Isaiah 40:31   but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV 84) Pentecostals Persevere - When times are tough, Pentecostals persevere.  God’s promises are true and never fail.  2 Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, (NIV 84) Pentecostals Pray - Prayer changes things.  It did in Acts 2, 4, 8, 9, 10 - oh you get the point.   Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (NIV 84)

1 - You can’t do it by yourself. There there are only three areas of influence that you have.  Total Control - Let’s use parenting for example.  When your children are newborns, you have total control over their life.  When they eat, drink, go to sleep - etc.   Some Control - As the begin to grow, they begin to do somethings on their own.  Dress themselves, walk to the bus stop - etc.  No Control - As they grow up, then they leave the house and they are on their own.   2 - You can’t do it by yourself.  If you think that you can do it by yourself - you’re just being selfish.  You’re not that good.  Sorry.  3 - You can’t do it by yourself.  You were never designed in Gods will to be by yourself or to do it by yourself.  God has and always will be the one who can lead your life in the right direction.   So what does Pentecost power have to do with this?  Well, as you can discover, this power is all about healing and miracles (even though they are really cool).  It’s about wisdom, knowl

Some people live for the weekend.  As a general rule they don’t like me too much.  I tend to be the damper on their plans.  With that said, let me answer the question, “What do I live for?”  Before you say that it’s Sunday - think about it.  I live for Jesus.  Rather than waiting for that special day to arrive - I live each day for the one who loves me and cares for me.   Rather than mourning the passing of the weekend, I rejoice in my relationship.  This way, everyday can be great!  Even when the day is being rough on me - even when I am struggling against life - I have something to live for.  It’s unconditional, it’s eternal and it’s wonderful.   So what are you living for today?

Thanks to the political correctness of the world that we live in we have a definition for everything.  Problem is, we don’t know who is writing the dictionary.  There was a time when the term Pentecost was a bad label to have. (I doubt many of you can remember back that far.)  Then Pentecostals became mainstream in America.  Now with the Assemblies of God numbering over 64 million worldwide - Pentecostal, Charismatic, Spirit Filled, Full Gospel and more labels!   The problem is today is when most people hear these labels, they have their own definition of what it means.  I am surprised how many people who attend Pentecostal church actually don’t know what it means.  This Sunday I am going to dive into some of this.  Being Pentecostal or Spirit filled isn’t about what you understand.  It’s about what you don’t understand.  While we do know something about the Spirit - we don’t know everything.  Being Pentecostal isn’t the same as being a Baptist or some other denomination. 

That is what I am preaching about Sunday.  In fact, there is going to be a great illustration that I would love for you to be there to see in person.  When the believer in the upper room spoke in tongues - there were those who heard them below and asked.  “What’s this all about?”  It wasn’t just different, it was incomprehensible - but yet undeniable.   That is what the power of the Holy Spirit is like.  No, we cannot comprehend it - but at the same time we cannot deny it.  The Holy Spirit is doing His work in our lives everyday.   Ask yourself, if you were empowered by the Holy Spirit - how would it change your life?  What would you be doing differently today?  What kind of impact would it have on your personal private and public life.  Whose lives would be effected by this and how?  These are great questions to ask yourself today.  Because what you are thinking about - just very well can become a reality. 

I’ve lived on this earth for 48 years.  I’ve seen passion fail.  I’ve seen it fail in marriage, family, churches, careers and more.  What most people assume though is that when passion fails, it’s means the death of whatever is concerned.   That just isn’t true.   As a kid I played the piano - a lot.  That meant that I made a lot of mistakes.  If I had quit after my first mistake I wouldn’t have played more than one day.  Passion takes practice and with that comes the inevitable failures and success.  It is when we give up on our passions that brings the end near.  When someone ceases to be passionate about Christ - their relationship with Him will fade away.  When someone ceases to be passionate about their marriage - their relationship will probably self destruct.   I think that you get the picture here.   So do you think that you have failed?  Don’t quite now.  Keep the flames of that passion alive and let it’s light lead you to a new future in Christ and a new hope in your life.  

I haven’t blogged in a long time for a simple reason.  I haven’t had any passion to do it.  I’ve wanted to - but I just didn’t have anything to say.   So what changed?  Not much.  But I understand a couple of things that I want to share with you.   Sometimes, you don’t feel like doing God’s will.   I blog because I want to - but I blog to help others (like you) discover some truth that you can apply to your daily life.  God has called me to help you stabilize your life through His Word.  But if I don’t speak up - then no one will know.  Even if you don’t feel like doing His will today - do it anyway.  There is a reason and a reward.  Inspiration doesn’t come on a UPS Truck.  If that were so, he would be here everyday.  Inspiration takes some perspiration and dedication in order to become a reality in your life.  Don’t give up trying.  A little is a lot in the hands of God.  Don’t think that you have anything God can use?  Think again.  Go ahead and let Him