Well, I am so sorry I haven't bloged for a month. Since the hacker got into my email about a month ago I have not been able to blog. But I finally figured it out, SO WE ARE BACK! Praise the Lord!
What a great day today and what a great weekend for the women at their encounter. At the celebration service today, we heard some powerful life-changing testimonies. Women that were delivered and set free this weekend. Women that were healed and filled with the Holy Spirit.
This morning's service at KP was good. Special thanks to Gary and Steve Todesco who did a wonderful job in leading us in worship. My message this morning was a first in a two-part series on "Gideon: Quality not Quantity." I really believe its a great word for believers and the church as a whole today. If you weren't there, give it a listen on the sermons page. It should be up by tomorrow night.
Well, thats enough. Have a great week!
-Pastor
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Florida preacher's anti-Islam actions leave some Pentecostals cold
By Tim Funk
tfunk@charlotteobserver.com
Pentecostalism:vA Christian movement that started with a storefront revival on Azusa Street in Los Angeles in 1906, it has spread rapidly around the globe. Once regarded by many Christians as a marginal and almost embarrassing style of faith in which converts are "slain in the spirit" and followers speak in tongues or perform miracle healings, Pentecostalism has become mainstream.
A 2006 survey estimated that one in four Christians in the world is Pentecostal.
The more than 60 Pentecostal denominations include Church of God, Church of God in Christ, Assemblies of God, the Pentecostal Holiness Church and the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. {Source: Religion Newswriters Association}
Like the tiny Florida church that shook the world last week with its pastor's threat to burn copies of the Quran, Central Church of God calls itself Pentecostal.
And like that 50-member Dove World Outreach Center, which put up signs equating Islam with the devil, this 6,000-member megachurch in south Charlotte is not bashful about cursing Satan or about praising Jesus with tears of emotion.
But, on Sunday, interviews with Pastor Loran Livingston and members of his flock turned up zero support for waging war against Islam by burning its holy book.
While insisting that belief in Jesus is the one true path to God, they said they are called as Christians to win converts by showing love, not make enemies by spreading hate.
"The church's business is to tell all people - Jews, Muslims everybody - that Christ loves them and God will save them," said Livingston, one of Charlotte's star preachers, who inherited a congregation of just 22 people when he became pastor in 1977. "I don't think Jesus meant for us to be divisive and militant."
Livingston said he was embarrassed that combative Pastor Terry Jones - the mustachioed man in the news who finally backed down from his plan to torch 200 Qurans - held himself up as a Pentecostal.
The fast-growing brand of Christianity takes its name from the feast of Pentecost, when Jesus' apostles received the Holy Spirit and were empowered to speak in foreign languages. In today's Pentecostal churches, many adherents speak in tongues or perform healings.
"We could get so much more done for the Lord if we would do it his way," Livingston said. "He told (apostle) Peter, 'Put your sword away. If you live by the sword, you'll die by the sword.' We're supposed to be peacemakers. We're supposed to love everybody... It doesn't matter what they've done to us or might do in the future. We're to love them."
During his Sunday sermon to a packed sanctuary and overflow satellite buildings, Livingston made it clear that he and members of his interracial congregation differ from other, non-Christian religions. That includes Islam, which honors Jesus as a great prophet but worships only Allah - the Arabic name for God - as divine.
"There is only one true God - the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - whose son is Jesus," he told his flock, many of whom lifted their hands heavenward and shouted their approval. "In these days, (many) pick a god and put a name on it. No, his name is Jesus."
But in the next breath, Livingston said that same Jesus "teaches us to be kind, teaches us to be peacemakers... The Bible says we are to make peace with all men."
After the service, worshipers on the way to their cars expressed the same themes - Jesus is the only true way, but showing disrespect to people of other faiths is the wrong way to express that.
"There are better ways to get your message out than going to extremes and burning a document that many base their lives on and consider sacred," said Bogdan Pomerlyan, 26, a software developer. "Although I believe strongly in what we (Christians) believe... what (Jones) was doing was pushing people farther away, not trying to get them closer."
Romanian-born Peter Oprea, an entrepreneur who lives in Marvin, said Jones was just looking for media attention when he should have considered how his threat would feel if it were reversed, and a Muslim imam were threatening to burn Christianity's sacred book.
"I wouldn't feel comfortable if I heard my Bible would be burned," said Oprea, 40. "I respect a holy document even though it's not my own."
Constantin Nasui, 56, of Harrisburg, agreed, saying the better way to counter Islam - "a false religion," he said - was to pray for Muslims.
Jesus, Nasui said, "is love, kindness, compassion."
And he's the truth and the only way to God, added Leah Ponds, 30, a nanny who lives in Charlotte.
"When you have the truth - Jesus Christ is the truth - then it's not necessary to do anything that would stir up something in other people," she said.
Putting up signs that say Islam is evil turns people off and builds walls, she added. Instead, said Ponds, who will leave soon for a mission trip in some predominantly Muslim countries, Christians should try to share their belief in Jesus - and let God take it from there.
"I want to talk to (Muslims) and just lift up Christ," she said. "Because Christ will draw people unto himself."
A little blunter in her views Sunday was Tricia Pope, 39, of Denver, who was making her first visit to Central Church of God in a decade.
She agreed with Florida pastor Jones that Islam is of the devil - "anything that is not of Jesus is of the devil" - and said a battle between Christianity and Islam was prophesied in the Bible.
Still, she agreed that burning Qurans is a wrongheaded idea, and not the way to bring more people to Jesus.
In fact, Pope, a stay-at-home mom of two children, said she's worried that Jones and his tiny Pentecostal church in Gainesville, Fla., may have turned people off to the Christian message.
Said Pope: "I just pray that people will not judge Jesus based on what he is doing."
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/09/13/1689059/fla-preachers-fiery-anti-islam.html#ixzz0zjQT1zGY
tfunk@charlotteobserver.com
Pentecostalism:vA Christian movement that started with a storefront revival on Azusa Street in Los Angeles in 1906, it has spread rapidly around the globe. Once regarded by many Christians as a marginal and almost embarrassing style of faith in which converts are "slain in the spirit" and followers speak in tongues or perform miracle healings, Pentecostalism has become mainstream.
A 2006 survey estimated that one in four Christians in the world is Pentecostal.
The more than 60 Pentecostal denominations include Church of God, Church of God in Christ, Assemblies of God, the Pentecostal Holiness Church and the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. {Source: Religion Newswriters Association}
Like the tiny Florida church that shook the world last week with its pastor's threat to burn copies of the Quran, Central Church of God calls itself Pentecostal.
And like that 50-member Dove World Outreach Center, which put up signs equating Islam with the devil, this 6,000-member megachurch in south Charlotte is not bashful about cursing Satan or about praising Jesus with tears of emotion.
But, on Sunday, interviews with Pastor Loran Livingston and members of his flock turned up zero support for waging war against Islam by burning its holy book.
While insisting that belief in Jesus is the one true path to God, they said they are called as Christians to win converts by showing love, not make enemies by spreading hate.
"The church's business is to tell all people - Jews, Muslims everybody - that Christ loves them and God will save them," said Livingston, one of Charlotte's star preachers, who inherited a congregation of just 22 people when he became pastor in 1977. "I don't think Jesus meant for us to be divisive and militant."
Livingston said he was embarrassed that combative Pastor Terry Jones - the mustachioed man in the news who finally backed down from his plan to torch 200 Qurans - held himself up as a Pentecostal.
The fast-growing brand of Christianity takes its name from the feast of Pentecost, when Jesus' apostles received the Holy Spirit and were empowered to speak in foreign languages. In today's Pentecostal churches, many adherents speak in tongues or perform healings.
"We could get so much more done for the Lord if we would do it his way," Livingston said. "He told (apostle) Peter, 'Put your sword away. If you live by the sword, you'll die by the sword.' We're supposed to be peacemakers. We're supposed to love everybody... It doesn't matter what they've done to us or might do in the future. We're to love them."
During his Sunday sermon to a packed sanctuary and overflow satellite buildings, Livingston made it clear that he and members of his interracial congregation differ from other, non-Christian religions. That includes Islam, which honors Jesus as a great prophet but worships only Allah - the Arabic name for God - as divine.
"There is only one true God - the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - whose son is Jesus," he told his flock, many of whom lifted their hands heavenward and shouted their approval. "In these days, (many) pick a god and put a name on it. No, his name is Jesus."
But in the next breath, Livingston said that same Jesus "teaches us to be kind, teaches us to be peacemakers... The Bible says we are to make peace with all men."
After the service, worshipers on the way to their cars expressed the same themes - Jesus is the only true way, but showing disrespect to people of other faiths is the wrong way to express that.
"There are better ways to get your message out than going to extremes and burning a document that many base their lives on and consider sacred," said Bogdan Pomerlyan, 26, a software developer. "Although I believe strongly in what we (Christians) believe... what (Jones) was doing was pushing people farther away, not trying to get them closer."
Romanian-born Peter Oprea, an entrepreneur who lives in Marvin, said Jones was just looking for media attention when he should have considered how his threat would feel if it were reversed, and a Muslim imam were threatening to burn Christianity's sacred book.
"I wouldn't feel comfortable if I heard my Bible would be burned," said Oprea, 40. "I respect a holy document even though it's not my own."
Constantin Nasui, 56, of Harrisburg, agreed, saying the better way to counter Islam - "a false religion," he said - was to pray for Muslims.
Jesus, Nasui said, "is love, kindness, compassion."
And he's the truth and the only way to God, added Leah Ponds, 30, a nanny who lives in Charlotte.
"When you have the truth - Jesus Christ is the truth - then it's not necessary to do anything that would stir up something in other people," she said.
Putting up signs that say Islam is evil turns people off and builds walls, she added. Instead, said Ponds, who will leave soon for a mission trip in some predominantly Muslim countries, Christians should try to share their belief in Jesus - and let God take it from there.
"I want to talk to (Muslims) and just lift up Christ," she said. "Because Christ will draw people unto himself."
A little blunter in her views Sunday was Tricia Pope, 39, of Denver, who was making her first visit to Central Church of God in a decade.
She agreed with Florida pastor Jones that Islam is of the devil - "anything that is not of Jesus is of the devil" - and said a battle between Christianity and Islam was prophesied in the Bible.
Still, she agreed that burning Qurans is a wrongheaded idea, and not the way to bring more people to Jesus.
In fact, Pope, a stay-at-home mom of two children, said she's worried that Jones and his tiny Pentecostal church in Gainesville, Fla., may have turned people off to the Christian message.
Said Pope: "I just pray that people will not judge Jesus based on what he is doing."
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/09/13/1689059/fla-preachers-fiery-anti-islam.html#ixzz0zjQT1zGY
Solemn Assembly and This Weekend...
Good morning everyone! I think its Wednesday today. The week is dragging by but flying by...if you know what I mean. My "beautiful one" has been gone this week but is due back tonight. PTL! Hope you are having a great week! The upcoming solemn assembly is going to be great! Please make plans to join us. Bring another believer, even its from another church. A solemn assembly is for the whole body, not just KP.
This weekend is going to be a lot of fun. The Martial Arts ministry Sunday for Friend Day. Have you got your friend yet? Come on, go after someone! REMEMBER, GO AND BE! Sunday night, youth service, State Directors, Pat and Jan Wright will be joining us and ministering Sunday evening. You will love this couple! Come expecting a great service featuring our dynamic youth worship band!
Have a great day!
-Pastor
This weekend is going to be a lot of fun. The Martial Arts ministry Sunday for Friend Day. Have you got your friend yet? Come on, go after someone! REMEMBER, GO AND BE! Sunday night, youth service, State Directors, Pat and Jan Wright will be joining us and ministering Sunday evening. You will love this couple! Come expecting a great service featuring our dynamic youth worship band!
Have a great day!
-Pastor
Monday, September 13, 2010
Sunday Wrap Up
Sorry this is so late. Our website was unexpectantly down for awhile but Corina resurrected it this morning. Thanks, Corina! Great Services yesterday! Gary Amburgy did a wonderful job sharing a powerful message Sunday morning. Wow, there are so many things the Lord said to us in the service through the message and the Holy Spirit through tongues and interpretation. The evening service was a great time as well. Sherman and Sadell Bradley ministed in song and in the Word. Again, a very powerful message by Sadell. I love what she said, "the church is called not to COME AND SEE, but to GO AND BE. Right on!
-Pastor
-Pastor
Thursday, September 9, 2010
When Bibles are Burned...
As you may know, the Pastor in Florida who is threatening to burn the Koran or Korans has been in the news quite a bit recently. I have heard Christians say that when bibles are burned, or our flag is burned, or even Christian missionaries are martyred, we never hear much about those things in the media. Maybe the following Spurgeon devotional helps explain that."Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies."
Psalms 5:8
Very bitter is the enmity of the world against the people of Christ. Men will forgive a thousand faults in others, but they will magnify the most trivial offence in the followers of Jesus. Instead of vainly regretting this, let us turn it to account, and since so many are watching for our halting, let this be a special motive for walking very carefully before God. If we live carelessly, the lynx-eyed world will soon see it, and with its hundred tongues, it will spread the story, exaggerated and emblazoned by the zeal of slander. They will shout triumphantly. "Aha! So would we have it! See how these Christians act! They are hypocrites to a man." Thus will much damage be done to the cause of Christ, and much insult offered to His name. The cross of Christ is in itself an offence to the world; let us take heed that we add no offence of our own. It is "to the Jews a stumblingblock": let us mind that we put no stumblingblocks where there are enough already. "To the Greeks it is foolishness": let us not add our folly to give point to the scorn with which the worldly-wise deride the gospel. How jealous should we be of ourselves! How rigid with our consciences! In the presence of adversaries who will misrepresent our best deeds, and impugn our motives where they cannot censure our actions, how circumspect should we be! Pilgrims travel as suspected persons through Vanity Fair. Not only are we under surveillance, but there are more spies than we reck of. The espionage is everywhere, at home and abroad. If we fall into the enemies' hands we may sooner expect generosity from a wolf, or mercy from a fiend, than anything like patience with our infirmities from men who spice their infidelity towards God with scandals against His people. O Lord, lead us ever, lest our enemies trip us up!
Have a great day!
-Pastor
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
September's Awake America Emphasis
We will continue with our "Awake America" Sept. emphasis tonight. We begin at 7.00 pm. I hope you can join us. Saturday there will be a service at the courthouse at 12 noon. Different churches will be participating. Please try to come out and lets have a good showing from KP.
We have three big Sundays coming up. This Sunday (Sept 12th), Bro. Gary Amburgy will be continuing our "Awake America" theme as he will preach a message on the topic "America in Prophecy." September 19th is Friend Day featuring a martial arts ministry from Marion, Indiana. We will resume our monthly youth service that Sunday evening with special guests, Pat and Jan Wright, Ohio's new State Development and Ministry Director. September 26th is Homecoming/Old Fashion Day. Our senior choir and senior quartet will be ministering in the morning worship service. A dinner and fall picnic will follow out at Arley and Marsha Jett's home.
Please take this opportunity to invite your unsaved friends and family to KP. We are believing God for an awakening in our community and city NOW!
-Pastor
We have three big Sundays coming up. This Sunday (Sept 12th), Bro. Gary Amburgy will be continuing our "Awake America" theme as he will preach a message on the topic "America in Prophecy." September 19th is Friend Day featuring a martial arts ministry from Marion, Indiana. We will resume our monthly youth service that Sunday evening with special guests, Pat and Jan Wright, Ohio's new State Development and Ministry Director. September 26th is Homecoming/Old Fashion Day. Our senior choir and senior quartet will be ministering in the morning worship service. A dinner and fall picnic will follow out at Arley and Marsha Jett's home.
Please take this opportunity to invite your unsaved friends and family to KP. We are believing God for an awakening in our community and city NOW!
-Pastor
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Balances
Good word for someone today. Please read it and receive. I highlighted some lines that ministered to me. Have a great week!
-Pastor
"Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have."
Leviticus 19:36
Weights, and scales, and measures were to be all according to the standard of justice. Surely no Christian man will need to be reminded of this in his business, for if righteousness were banished from all the world beside, it should find a shelter in believing hearts. There are, however, other balances which weigh moral and spiritual things, and these often need examining. We will call in the officer to-night.
The balances in which we weigh our own and other men's characters, are they quite accurate? Do we not turn our own ounces of goodness into pounds, and other persons' bushels of excellence into pecks? See to weights and measures here, Christian. The scales in which we measure our trials and troubles, are they according to standard? Paul, who had more to suffer than we have, called his afflictions light, and yet we often consider ours to be heavy--surely something must be amiss with the weights! We must see to this matter, lest we get reported to the court above for unjust dealing. Those weights with which we measure our doctrinal belief, are they quite fair? The doctrines of grace should have the same weight with us as the precepts of the word, no more and no less; but it is to be feared that with many one scale or the other is unfairly weighted. It is a grand matter to give just measure in truth. Christian, be careful here. Those measures in which we estimate our obligations and responsibilities look rather small. When a rich man gives no more to the cause of God than the poor contribute, is that a just ephah and a just hin? When ministers are half starved, is that honest dealing? When the poor are despised, while ungodly rich men are held in admiration, is that a just balance? Reader, we might lengthen the list, but we prefer to leave it as your evening's work to find out and destroy all unrighteous balances, weights, and measures.
-Pastor
"Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have."
Leviticus 19:36
Weights, and scales, and measures were to be all according to the standard of justice. Surely no Christian man will need to be reminded of this in his business, for if righteousness were banished from all the world beside, it should find a shelter in believing hearts. There are, however, other balances which weigh moral and spiritual things, and these often need examining. We will call in the officer to-night.
The balances in which we weigh our own and other men's characters, are they quite accurate? Do we not turn our own ounces of goodness into pounds, and other persons' bushels of excellence into pecks? See to weights and measures here, Christian. The scales in which we measure our trials and troubles, are they according to standard? Paul, who had more to suffer than we have, called his afflictions light, and yet we often consider ours to be heavy--surely something must be amiss with the weights! We must see to this matter, lest we get reported to the court above for unjust dealing. Those weights with which we measure our doctrinal belief, are they quite fair? The doctrines of grace should have the same weight with us as the precepts of the word, no more and no less; but it is to be feared that with many one scale or the other is unfairly weighted. It is a grand matter to give just measure in truth. Christian, be careful here. Those measures in which we estimate our obligations and responsibilities look rather small. When a rich man gives no more to the cause of God than the poor contribute, is that a just ephah and a just hin? When ministers are half starved, is that honest dealing? When the poor are despised, while ungodly rich men are held in admiration, is that a just balance? Reader, we might lengthen the list, but we prefer to leave it as your evening's work to find out and destroy all unrighteous balances, weights, and measures.
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