Friday Countdown...what the next eight years could hold for us all

There are some things that I would like to suggest that we will see more of over the next eight years in America. I am basing this not on a Obama or McCain presidency but on the events and trends of the last eight years and what the Bible says about the days in which we are living. I will say any presidency over the next eight years surrounded by people who do not know the One and True God through Jesus Christ will only accelerate the following. Again, these are not predictions, but trends and patterns that are developing in America.

1. We will see the church in America (true believers and followers of Christ)lose more freedoms and more churches lose their tax-exempt status. We will see more of an emphasis and even pressure put on people of all faiths to be tolerant of one another and agree on certain essential ideas. Those who choose not to conform will be mocked, ridiculed, and even ostracized.

2. We will see some kind of global economic system that will include the U.S. of America. Too most of us that realize how bankrupt our country is, this is obviously coming soon. Isn't amazing that most Americans never saw this coming as little as a year ago. My how times are changing quickly.

3. Islam will become more and more dominant in America. This one I know may scare a lot of people, but just look at the facts. After 911, who would have ever thought that the people of the United States would possibly elect a man to be President who attended Islamic schools in both Indonesia and Kenya while growing up and was influnced by both a Islamic father and a Islamic step-father in his child and teen years. And, has well-publicized ties or associations to anti-Israel and radical Islamic extremists. Even if the Obama presidential run fails, Islam is the fastest growing religion in urban areas in America and absolutely nothing or no one presently stands in the way of its growth and influence in America.

4. We will see more racial tension, divisions, weather-related disasters, and more 911-like tragedies in our country. If we as the church in America (the people of God) will humble ourselves, pray, repent, and experience revival, I truly believe this could be avoided.

5. Our quality of life will continue to decline in America unlike we have ever seen before in modern history. It has been on a very slow decline over the last eight years, but its nothing to what can and will undoubtely happen to a nation that is financially bankrupt and so dependent upon the other nations of the world.

I am going to stop here because in spite of how it sounds I am not a doomsayer. I truly believe these trends can be stopped and changed. I do not believe a new President, or more government control, or an economic miracle is the answer. I KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS...IT IS WE THE PEOPLE OF GOD SEEKING THE FACE OF GOD ALMIGHTY WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, STRENGTH, SOUL, AND MIND. WE(THE CHURCH) ARE THE ANSWER TO ALL THAT AMERICA FACES RIGHT NOW AND IN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS. AS THE CHURCH GOES, SO GOES AMERICA. That has been the trend for the last 200 plus years, and will be the trend over the next eight years...IF JESUS' COMING TARRIES.

Have a great weekend!

-Pastor Randy

A Prayer Guide for the Upcoming Presidential Election

It is critical that Christians pray for the coming presidential election. There is amazing power in united prayer. Please print out this prayer guide and pray daily until the election. Pray with others whenever possible. The power of prayer can overcome any obstacle or ungodly influence and, indeed, do great things! Please forward this to every Christian you know.........START TODAY

Psalm 32:6-7 - Pray that Christians will be motivated to pray faithfully for this election and that the Lord would deliver us from the wrong leaders..

Psalm 16:7-8 - Pray that the Lord would give wise counsel and guidance to His choice for president in this campaign.

Proverbs 16:13 - Pray that our nation will listen to the truth and not be led astray.



Psalm 18:32-36 - Pray that the Lord would arm the man of His choice with strength; that He would guide him in battle (this election), and that He would sustain him and give him victory.

Hebrews 11:32-34 - Pray that God's man could, through faith, persevere and maintain his courage throughout this election.

Psalm 125 - Pray that those who trust in the Lord will not be shaken.

Psalm 86:14-17 - Pray that the Lord would defeat those who have no regard for Him in this election.

2 Cor. 12:9 - Pray that the Lord would empower and enable His man in any area of weakness.

II Kings 13:16 - Pray that the Lord would put His hands on the man of His choice for president (and his team) and guide them in this election.

Proverbs 1:5-6 - Pray that God's man will listen with discernment, add to his knowledge, and receive wise counsel in this campaign.

John 16:33 - Pray that the man of God's choice would be given wisdom and ability from the Lord to overcome any obstacle or difficulty during this campaign.

Acts 17:30 - Pray for repentance for yourself and for our nation.

Luke 12:54-57 - Pray that God's man and our nation will be discerning and do what is right.

Phil. 4:13 - Pray that the Lord's choice for President will have special strength and unusual ability from God.

Habakkuk 1:5 and 3:2 - Pray that the Lord would do something that would utterly amaze us and give His servant victory.

The Flu and Faith: Are You Immunized?

It is that time of the year...time to get a flu shot. Now I have never had one but I know a lot of people who get one this time of year. My grandfather on my dad's side in Arkansas was one of those who would get a flu shot every November. He was a farmer and couldn't afford to be slowed down by the flu. So religiously he got his flu shot.

Back in my grandpa's day, his doctor would inject him with a live germ (today they use a dead germ which is ironic when you consider the book of James words on "dead faith produces dead works"). Usually my grandpa would feel a little sick for a day or so, but the trade off was worth it because the injection would immunize him for the rest of the year. Did you know a little religion does the same thing? A little religion can keep a person from a real, life-giving, fruitful relationship with God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Pharisees were a great example of a people with just enough religion to make them dangerous and deadly.. They were seen by most in Israel as the religious leaders of their day. But Jesus called them "...whitewashed tombs, which look fine on the outside but are full of bones and decaying corpses on the inside." [GNB, Matt. 23:27] The Pharisees had enough religion on the inside that kept them from recognizing, knowing, and loving God himself as He (Jesus) walked among them.

Thats what the religious bug does. When we receive it, Satan deceives me into thinking "I'm okay...I got just enough to get to heaven...I go to church...I am a good person...thats all I need." But thats not what Jesus said. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37, "...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." In other words, I can't afford to be satisfied with a little religion, but all of Jesus!

What about you? Have you got just enough of religion to keep you immunized from a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ?

The Epidemic of Deception

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Notice that Jesus mentions the word "deceive" three times within the first seven verses in His discourse on signs pointing to the end and His coming. When we think of deception or "being deceived," we often just think of people being deceived of the enemy (Satan). But notice Jesus refers to men deceiving men and one man deceiving many people. Jesus tells us in this passage that this will be common in the last days.

James Garrett said in our service Sunday night, he couldn't believe how many people sitting in our churches today are deceived. I have to agree. I have never seen people so easily deceived today, especially among Christians. Check out Mark 13:22 "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect."

I look at how people are so easily deceived now and I think the AntiChrist will have no problem deceiving the nations of the world. Surely, "deception" is one of the greatest signs that point to the end and the coming of Christ.

How can you keep from falling into deception? Hebrews tells us "strong meat" (God's Word) enables us to discern between good and evil. Abide in Christ and let His word abive in you. Keep your eyes on Christ!

I encourage you to watch and pray.

-Pastor Randy

Sunday Wrap Up

I trust you enjoyed your day of worship today. Friend Day was good, but we had a lot of our regular attenders out today. Tonight service I thought was really effective and powerful. The testimonies and the intercessory prayer was really good!

As I said tonight, I am really concerned for the church in America right now. Because of our "lukewarm state" we have a lack of discernment. I am afraid the majority of God's people sitting in our churches don't have a hunger for God's word and are easily deceived. God's Word says in James that hearers only and not doers deceive themselves. What I see today especially in Pentecostal-Charasmatic circles is a superficiality or a "spirit of religion" that maybe fooling a lot of people but not God.

What is the answer? Humility and brokenness before Almighty God. God says He will not despise such a people. Its not too late. But I am afraid if we don't wake up as God's church soon, we are going to face some dire consequences as a nation.

As I did this morning and in tonight's service as well, I ask you to be praying and fasting for our nation right now. There is a contemporary song out now that says "This is an Emergency." I really believe that....our nation is in an emergency spiritual state. We need a divine visitation of God. We cannot afford to wait much longer.


Pastor Randy

Some Saturday Thoughts

Hey, be sure to check out the new video message on our site "Let it Rain." Brian Griffin does a great job with the podcast and sermon download ministry. As he reported last Sunday, in September over 800 people listened or watched the podcasts in 44 different countries. Wow, what an outreach!

Today, funeral services were held for Crystal Dayton's dad, Jim Wilson. It blessed me to hear about how Jim talked so much about prayer and the "great Holy Ghost." I really enjoyed the testimonies, the music, and the message from Pastor Isaacs. Crystal did a wonderful job putting together the service. I am sure everyone left comforted and blessed as I did.

I hope you plan on being with us in the morning. I will be preaching on the cross - God's answer of healing for the unhealed in the church today. I am anxious to preach this message. It will be an illustrated message that you will want to see.

Hope to see you in the morning on Friend Day. Be sure to get your friend there tomorrow!

Pastor Randy

The Friday Countdown

What a rainy, ugly day, but even these kinds of days are needed. We especially could use the rain and with rain we get clouds. So we will take it.

I hope you are doing fine today. Please remember Debbie Kilburn in our prayers. This coming Sunday I will announce a special night during the week that we are asking as many people to come together as possible to pray for Debbie. Naturally, we will call it "Pray for Debbie" night. Everyone is welcome. We will go probably from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, once a week. We will also pray for some other needs as well. I will announce the night from the pulpit Sunday morning.

Please be securing your friend or friends for Friend Day now. Don't wait to the last minute. Wendy's at Mainveille will be giving ten per cent of all of their proceeds to our Missionary, Arlene Miller, this Sunday from 12 noon to 4 pm. Bring your friend to church and then take them over to Wendy's and buy'em lunch.

Tomorrow morning is the Rescue Mission service at City Gospel mission. I hope you can go help the team minister to the homeless. They leave the church at 4:45 am, Saturday morning. Really, you will be blessed immeasurably!

Have a great weekend!

Pastor Randy

"Send Down the Rain, Lord. Send Down the Rain..."

When I was a kid growing up in the church we used to sing a song called "Send Down the Rain Lord." The song called upon the Lord to send down the "latter rain." Of course, the latter rain refers to God's latter day outpouring of His Spirit upon His people as promised in God's Word. The purpose of such an outpouring is not so that people can feel good, or shout and dance, or even be cleansed and refreshed; but the purpose of the latter rain is to produce a great harvest of souls before Christ returns.

As I have said recently in several messages, this is why we are seeing the storm clouds gather over our country right now. With storms come strong winds which often cause great damage and destruction. However, storms also bring heavy rains that make a harvest of crops possible in the future. According to economic forecasters, America's and the world's financial crisis is just beginning. The clouds are gathering and the winds are yet to blow. None of us know what kind of destruction is ahead. So more than ever, this is a time not to panic, but to pray.

How do we pray? "Send down the rain, Lord. Send down the rain. We need the latter rain. We need the rain, Lord. We need the rain. We need the latter rain."

As you watch and pray...get your vessel prepared...get ready! It will come! The scriptures forecast that these clouds are full of rain. Rain that will fall upon a ripe harvest of souls that is ready to be gathered in. Undoubtedly, the harvest will include the salvation of many of our family, friends, and even those who persecute us and don't like us. And then, Jesus comes!

Come on, pray with me. "Send down the rain, Lord. Send down the rain..."

Jesus and The Mud Puddle

Howard County Sheriff Jerry Marr got a disturbing call one Saturday afternoon a few months ago. His 6-year-old grandson, Mikey, had been hit by a car while fishing in Greentown with his dad.

The father and son were near a bridge by the Kokomo Reservoir when a woman lost control of her car,
slid off the bridge and hit Mikey at a rate of a! bout 50 mph. Sheriff Marr had seen the results of accidents
like this and feared the worst. When he got to Saint Joseph Hospital , he rushed through the emergency
room to find Mikey conscious and in fairly good spirits.

'Mikey, what happened?' Sheriff Marr asked. Mikey replied, 'Well, Papaw, I was fishin' with Dad, and some lady runned me over, I flew into a mud puddle, and broke my fishin' pole and I didn't get to catch no fish!'

As it turned out, the impact propelled Mikey about 500 feet, over a few trees and an embankment and in
to the middle of a mud puddle. His only injuries were to his right femur bone, which had broken in two places. Mikey had surgery to place pins in his leg. Otherwise the boy is fine.

Since all the boy could talk about was that his fishing pole was broken, the Sheriff went out to Walmart and bought him a new one while he was in surgery so he could have it when he came out.

The next day the Sheriff sat with Mikey to keep him company in the hospital. Mikey was enjoying his new fishing pole and talked about when he could go fishing again as he cast into the trash can.
When they were alone Mikey, just as matter-of-fact, said, 'Papaw, did you know Jesus is real?'

'Well,' the Sheriff replied, a little startled.. 'Yes, Jesus is real to all who believe in him and love him in their hearts.'

'No,' said Mikey. 'I mean Jesus is REALLY real.'

'What do you mean?' asked the Sheriff.

'I know he's real 'cause I saw him,' said Mikey, still casting into the trash can.

'You did?' said the Sheriff.

'Yep,' said Mikey. 'When that lady runned me over and broke my fishing pole,
Jesus caught me in his arms and laid me down in the mud puddle.'

__________________________________________________

Special thanks to Suzanne Schneider for sending this to me. Just a reminder that God goes with us today!

-Pastor Randy

Did you "DO GOD" this past weekend?

John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Yes, you read the above title correctly. Did you "do God" this weekend?

Thats exactly what a lot of Christians do on weekends. They do God (go to church) and then they go out to eat and move on with their weekend heading into the new week. Their Sunday afternoons, Sunday evenings, and Monday thru Saturday evening doesn't look any different than a person that does not confess Christ as Lord and Savior. They have no desire to attend prayer meetings, bible studies, or participate in any kind of ministry. If it doesn't happen on Sunday morning, then they don't even consider it. Their world is work, family, and recreation. Only on Sunday mornings do they DO GOD.

The truth is, there is nothing wrong with doing God on Sunday mornings. But we need to DO GOD all day Sunday as well as Monday thru Saturday evening. Bread the day after is old bread. Bread a few days after and longer becomes stale and turns into crumbs. Jesus said in John 6:51, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever." We need to eat of the "Living Bread" or "Fresh Bread"(Jesus) daily. Jesus is the bread of life and we need life and abundant life more than just on Sunday mornings.

Join me tonight, tomorrow, and the days that follow, and DO GOD. DOING GOD daily is eating the Bread of Life that comes from heaven.

Pastor Randy

Monday Funnies

Which Way to Heaven?
Reverend Billy Graham tells of a time early in his ministry when he arrived in a small town to preach a sermon. Wanting to mail a letter, he asked a young boy where the post office was. When the boy had told him, Dr. Graham thanked him and said, "If you'll come to the Baptist Church this evening, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven."
The boy replied, "I don't think I'll be there... You don't even know your way to the post office."


Preaching
The preacher was wired for sound with a lapel mike, and as he preached, he moved briskly about the platform, jerking the mike cord as he went.
Then he moved to one side, getting wound up in the cord and nearly tripping before jerking it again.
After several circles and jerks, a little girl in the third pew leaned toward her mother and whispered, "If he gets loose, will he hurt us?"

Prospecting for the Lord
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, two young church members were going door to door to invite people to visit their services. When they knocked on one door, it was immediately clear the woman who answered was not happy to see them.
She told them in no uncertain terms that she did not want to hear their message, and before they could say anything more, she slammed the door in their faces.
To her surprise, however, the door did not close; in fact, it bounced back open. She tried again, really putting her back into it, and slammed it again with the same result - the door bounced back open.
Convinced these rude young people were sticking their foot in her door, she reared back to give it a slam that would teach them a lesson. Just then, one of them said quietly: "Ma'am, before you do that again, you really need to move your cat."

Sunday Wrap Up

It was a great day! Every Sunday is a great day. I really mean that. I enjoy Sundays...the worship, the fellowship, and the rest (mine usually comes on Monday). I feel sorry for people for which Sunday is just a day off to do work around the house or do some kind of recreation. When I am not in God's house on His day, I feel empty, misplaced, kind of out of sorts.

This morning's service was great. It felt good to just have church without any kind of special emphasis or presentation. I enjoyed preaching on the power of the spoken word of God. It is a message that needs to be heard and practiced by us all.

Even though we had a lot of people gone this morning and tonight, tonight's communion service was also a great time together. I appreciate everyone who gave in the special benevolence offering tonight. We really do want to minister to our widows and fatherless. Please pray that we as a church will do a better job in this area.

Have a great Monday!

Pastor Randy

Some Saturday Thoughts

Last night's Kings vs Little Miami was a lot of fun. We had a big a section of three rows of KP people on the Little Miami side and the Kings side had 4 or 5 families. We also had some KP people along the fence and of course down on the field. I heard there was some trash talking (clean and wholesome of course) going on between the two sides via cell phone. In the end, only Kings could talk as they took the victory 35-27. Nonetheless, it was a great night of fun and a good game.

Please pray for God's traveling mercies to be with our seniors as they are in Kentucky and Tennessee this weekend on a trip together. They always have a wonderful time together in fellowship, worship, and in all that they do.

Again, come be ready to worship Sunday! I am asking that you jump in from the beginning and worship God in praise and thanksgiving. We all have much to be thankful for!

-Pastor Randy

Friday Countdown

Well, the weekend is almost here. It should be a great weekend!

My brother and his family are coming down tonight to see Gabe play against Kings tonight. He, Debbie, and their daughter Vanessa will be in a martial arts program Saturday morning in Lawrenceburg. They are a part of a powerful ministry that shares the gospel while demonstrating martial arts skills. Its pretty cool!

Tonight's Kings-Little Miami game promises to be a big one! We have a lot of families in the church that are alumni or have kids that attend Little Miami or Kings. Many of these families are going tonight. The game this year has state playoff implications so there should be a great crowd as well as lots of tension in the air. Gabe (a junior) does all the kickoffs for Little Miami and is the backup field goal and P.A.T. (point after touchdown) kicker. Jared Centers, Jason and Sherry Centers son, is the starting nose guard on defense for Kings. Jared is an excellent young man who is in his senior year and playing his last regular season home game tonight. Both teams are having great seasons, but may the best team win!

Be sure to join us this Sunday for what will be a wonderful time of worship! Come anticipating a great visitation of the Holy Spirit. We need His presence and we desperately need to His ministry to us this Sunday. These are times that we need His direction, His comfort, and His power! Please make it a priority to be in God's house Sunday@

The Correction of a Loving Father

Jeremiah 2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that [it is] an evil [thing] and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear [is] not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

This is a prophetic word given to Judah from the prophet Jeremiah before Babylon invaded Jerusalem, destroyed it, and took some of it's people into captivity. What a scolding statement! How many of as parents have watched our kids do wrong and then had to set back while the consequences of their error or errors painfully corrected them. Of course, we hope at that point they learn and and choose not to repeat their wrongdoing. But the truth is, some do not and continue on in their waywardness.

Our nation today is being corrected by its own wickedness. Will we humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways or will we continue on our present course of rebellion and idolatry against Almighty God? Notice God says through the prophet it is "an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken me, the Lord thy God (paraphrase)." This is proof that many will not receive God's correction in our nation. Why? Because of the bitterness that has set in and the lack of fear (holy reverence) for God. The nation did not receive it in Jeremiah's time and the U.S. of America will not receive it our day either.

As you have heard me say many times, my prayer is that many people in America will be broken before Almighty God and turn to Christ during this time of correction that is beginning to come upon us as a nation. Unfortunately, this is what it takes for some to turn to God. Many people today have put their hopes and their dreams in the treasures of this world. So much so that their too busy for God due to their self-centered style of living. God is calling to us as a wayward people. Remember, God chastens those He loves. His call is one of a loving Father that doesn't enjoy watching people reap from their sins but would rather have them repent and reap His bountiful blessings that comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ.

-Pastor Randy

Glad to Be Back!

As you might have guessed our site has been down since last Saturday for some reason. However, we are glad to be back. Its been pretty hectic since last Saturday. My dad's sugar starting bottoming out last Friday which through him into convulsions this past weekend. After service Sunday morning, I drove over to Indy and stayed with him until Monday noon. On Sunday, his sugar begin to stablilize which meant the convulsions stopped. He is in a nursing home for right now, while mom recovers from a back injury. Thank you so much to everyone that remembered them in prayer.

I am very thankful for our wonderful staff at KP. They started working preparing for the minister's meeting long before I got back from Indy Monday. We hosted over 150 ministers and their wives on Monday and Tuesday. This is the third time in nine years KP has hosted the bi-annual state minister's meeting. We have also hosted a couple of prayer conferences as well. Undoubtedly, KP does a wonderful job showing hospitality to our guests.

Today the Columbus Dispatch called and I did an interview with them concerning the Hell House we conducted in 2000 and 2001. Every year this time of year we start getting phone calls from churches and individuals asking if we are going to have another Hell House. This particular reporter ask me why we stopped having a yearly Hell House along with quite a few other questions. He said he was doing a story on reality and judgment houses that are often held around Halloween. The article should run in the Dispatch this week. Hopefully, they will get my quotes right.

Please continue to remember Debbie Kilburn in your prayers. She is doing much better than she did over the weekend. Also, remember Phil Jones, the son of Frank and Karen Jones, he will undergo an ankle surgery tonight or tomorrow morning.

Be sure to check out our new poll.

-Pastor Randy

Friday Countdown

Well, it a lot of ways it has been a long week. Especially if you have a retirement fund that is invested in the stock market which probably most of us do. Nonetheless, we are to trust the Lord and lay up our treasures where they cannot deteriorate or depreciate...in the eternal.

Pleae continue to remember Debbie Kilburn in your prayers. Today was her birthday and she had a very tough day. Please pray that she can digest food and keep praying against the cancer. Pray for the healing virture of Jesus to cleanse her and make her whole. She really needs her church body once again to intercede for her in prayer and fasting.

Be sure to join us for Sunday worship. We are expecting a great day of worship. The Holy Spirit is giving me as I write this a "now word" for His body for "such a time as this." Come ready to worship and please take some time to pray for our services sometime Saturday.

This Sunday, we will take sometime to let Corina Bowers know how much we appreciate her. Corina is a valuable asset to me personally and our entire church. She does it all. She really is the peson at KP that keeps everything running. She not only keeps KP moving but she also is a beautiful worshipper and Christian. We love her and are very much blessed to have her.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Randy

Come on Dad, It's Time to Step Up

Would you mind if I share some startling research with you regarding the importance of regular attendance in church worship services among men? Did you know that in younger and growing churches in America, they have a balanced number of men as well as women that attend worship services. And did you know, that church studies show that in older and declining churches, there are more females than males. If that doesn't surprise you a little, read on.

James Twitchell, a marketing professor from the University of Florida, discovered that in a study of megachurches like Bill Hybell's Willow Creek church and others, aggressive efforts are made to attrct men to church. Why? Because research shows that "men are the adopters in religion." Twitchell writes, "If they (men) go over the tipping point, women follow, children in tow."

A study in 2000 from Switzerland provides insight in the importance of male attendance on the religious development of children in that country. In summary, if a father does not attend church services, no matter how regular the mother may be in her religious practice, only one child in 50 will become a regular church attendee. But if a father attends regularly, then regardless of the religious practice of the mother, at least one child in three will become a regular church attendee. In other words, research seems to indicate that a balanced male-female ratio in church attendance and participation coorelates positively with spiritual growth in the family.

I have pastored for 27 years. I have heard many people say that the key to having a strong church is to have a strong youth ministry. I have never bought into that. I have always believed that the key to the church was the men. Strong men means a strong church. Weak men means a weak church. What we need in the church today is for more men to step forward and confess with their mouths what Joshua did in Joshua 24:15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

I believe God is doing that at Kings Point. God is raising up strong spiritual men who are not afraid to lead by example and in integrity. How about you? Are you leading your family in spiritual matters? Or do you some how think it's going to happen with you on the sidelines. Research shows "it won't happen without you taking the lead." By the way, the bible says that too.

Why this Presidential Election Matters

Electing a President of the United States in 2008 will mean much more than just putting a man in office that will bring change. What people don't often think about is the hundreds and even thousands of appointments that he will make that will influence this nation for possibly the next eight years and longer.

The new President will appoint all the Secretaries: Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Defense; as well as the Attorney General of the U.S. He will also add to these 500 other cabinet positions as well as subcabinet posts subject to Senate confirmation and then choose 2,500 additional appointees who serve at the president's pleasure. Additionally, he will appoint his Chief of Staff, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 93 Attorney positions, National Judge positions including possibly three Supreme Court Judge vacancies over the next eight years.

Why does all this matter? What does it mean? It matters because it means that for the most part these appointees will share the President's value system and they will reflect his stance on all kinds of issues from Abortion to Zimbabwe. In other words, if the President is pro-choice you will see most of his appointees be pro-choice. If he is for sex education in the elementary schools where kids learn about homosexuality there will be appointees who too advocate this. If the President is for the The Fairness Doctrine (if you don't know what this is you need to find out) then his U.S. Federal Communications Commission Director will be as well. If the President is for a hate speech amendment to be passed so will his appointees that will lead the government into the next decade. In other words, the President of the U.S. wields a great deal of influence that directly affects every aspect of our lives.

This is one giant reason why this election matters. Please be praying and comparing our Presidential nominees beliefs on the issues against what the Word of God says. This is our responsibility. If you vote republican or democrat because your family has always voted along party lines or your Union tells you too...shame on you! As Christians and followers of Christ, we are to do our best to vote for men and women that have Christlike biblical values into office. As we desire to do this, the Holy Spirit will lead us to cast a vote that will honor God. and His word.

-Pastor Randy

So Much for the Rescue Plan...What's Next?

Wow, the market keeps falling(now over a thousand points since the bailout last week) and the economic experts are forecasting darker times ahead. Monday markets around the world experienced downturns and again today. We are now hearing that the current global financial crisis is now just beginning to surface and the roots of this is much deeper and more widespread than what even the U.S. Congress has realized.

Where is all this headed? What will be the outcome? As I have thought about this today, I took a second look at a prophetic word from James Robison that spread throughout the evangelical church in America two years ago. One paragraph that stood out was the following:

"I am convinced that brokenness will come to the church and to America.
The choice is ours: humility or humiliation! Our population will cry out
to God on our faces, desperate beyond comprehension, in unity of spirit
and heart, longing for what really matters. The whole world will long for
peace — not just national or world peace, but peace within. It’s not peace
as the world gives, having everything our way, but rather having it His way,
having what only Jesus can give. People, not material things, will matter
most. Our focus will be on love, relationships, family, joy, compassion and
serving others."

As I read this today, I wondered if what we see happening today on Wall Street is just the beginning of what will end in humiliation and brokenness for America and the church in America. At the moment, no one seems to know what will happen. For we that are believers and followers of Christ, I really believe the church's finest hour maybe just around the corner.

What do I mean by that? If true brokenness comes to America, people will no longer be questioning the faith of others but will be looking for faith in others. The only strength and hope for the future will come from those who are truly strong in the Lord. People will be looking for someone to provide clear direction, inspire proper action and promise a stable, secure future. James Robison states, "Prosperity is suddenly defined as life itself, rather than life’s possessions."

How about your walk with God? Is your faith in God strong and courageous? Will you panic and be filled with fear or will your faith only be even more revealed if and when such a time should come?

Monday Funnies

Forest Gump and St. Peter

When Forest Gump died, he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter said, "Welcome, Forest. We've heard a lot about you." He continued, "Unfortunately, it's getting pretty crowded up here and we find that we now have to give people an entrance examination before we let them in."

"Okay," said Forest. "I hope it's not too hard. I've already been through a test. My momma used to say, 'Life is like a final exam. It's hard.' "

"Yes, Forest, I know. But this test is only three questions. Here they are."

1) Which two days of the week begin with the letter 'T'?"

2) How many seconds are in a year?

3) What is God's first name?

"Well, sir," said Forest, "The first one is easy. Which two days of the week begin with the letter 'T'? Today and Tomorrow."

St. Peter looked surprised and said, "Well, that wasn't the answer I was looking for, but you have a point. I give you credit for that answer."

"The next question," said Forest, "How many seconds are in a year? Twelve."

"Twelve?" said St. Peter, surprised and confused.

"Yes, sir. January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd …"

St. Peter interrupted him. "I see what you mean. I'll have to give you credit for that one, too."

"And the last question," said Forest, "What is God's first name? It's Andy."

"Andy?" said St. Peter, in shock. "How did you come up with 'Andy'?"

"I learned it in church. We used to sing about it." Forest broke into song, "Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me, Andy tells me I am His own."

St. Peter opened the gate to heaven and said, "Run, Forest, Run!"


Have a great week everyone!

-Pastor Rand

Sunday Wrap Up

It was a wonderful weekend at Kings Point! The Men's Encounter was better than words can describe. The men that attended were serious about having a personal encounter with Almighty God...and they did. God met with us. Men repented. Men were strengthened, blessed, emptied, and set free. Today men were filled with the power of the Spirit and sent forth to do the work of the ministry. From Friday evening until Sunday afternoon these men could have been at home getting things done around the house, going to or watching football games, fishing, playing golf, or working. But they chose to spend the weekend with God and in the long run they and everyone around them will benefit much greater than from anything they could have done. Thanks men for making a stand and being MEN OF GOD!

I heard we had a wonderful service this morning at Kings Point. Dr. Balzano always does a powerful job speaking. He and Wanda Lee are just great servants of God. Tonight, Tim Orr did an awesome job of sharing his testimony. It really is a miracle what God has done with Tim Orr's life and his wife, Michelle. Tim is an example of how it doesn't matter what your circumstances are. If you center your life around Christ, He will bless and use you!

Thank you so much KP for praying for my dad and mom. Please remember Bob Dooley this week and of course continue to remember Debbie Kilburn, Phyllis Titus, and Margaret Pelfrey.

Make it a great week!

-Pastor Randy

America's Nervous Breakdown - and the World's

Good morning everyone. The following article reminds us that the world needs a "strong United States of America" - first, morally; second, financially. Modern history teaches us that when the U.S. is weak; the wackos of the world rule. Please read this article...especially note the areas I have highlighted in bold. God help us to see that it is Almighty God that has prospered and blessed us. We as a people must humble ourselves, repent, and seek His face (II Chrinicles 7:14) before it is too late for us and the world.

"Righteousness makes a nation great; sin is a disgrace to any nation." - Proverbs 14:34
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October 02, 2008
America's Nervous Breakdown - and the World's
By Victor Davis Hanson

Ancient thinkers from Thucydides to Cicero insisted that money was the real source of military power and national influence. We've been reminded of that classical wisdom these last three weeks.

In a manner not seen since the Great Depression, Wall Street went into panic mode from too many bad debts. The symbolic pillars of American monetary strength for years -- AIG, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Shearson-Lehman and Washington Mutual -- in a matter of hours either went broke, were absorbed or were reconstituted. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac collapsed like the house of cards that they were.

Even though the U.S. government rushed to restore trust, hundreds of billions of dollars in paper assets simply vanished. Friends and enemies abroad were unsure whether the irregular American heartbeat was a major coronary or a mere cardiac murmur. How strong really was the world's greatest economy? Was this panic the tab for years of borrowing abroad for out-of-control consumer spending? Had America finally gone too far enriching dictators by buying energy that it either could not or would not produce itself? Had the chickens of lavishing rewards on Wall Street and Washington speculators rather than Main Street producers finally come home to roost?

Allies trust that the United States is the ultimate guarantor of free communication and commerce -- and they want immediate reassurance that their old America will still be there. In contrast, opportunistic predators -- such as rogue oil-rich regimes -- suddenly sniff new openings.

We've seen the connection between American economic crisis and world upheaval before. In the 1930s, the United States and its democratic allies, in the midst of financial collapse, disarmed and largely withdrew from foreign affairs. That isolation allowed totalitarian regimes in Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia to swallow their smaller neighbors and replace the rule of law with that of the jungle. World War II followed.

During the stagflation and economic malaise of the Jimmy Carter years, the Russians invaded Afghanistan, the Iranians stormed our embassy in Tehran, the communists sought to spread influence in Central America and a holocaust raged unchecked in Cambodia.

It was no surprise that an emboldened Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once again last week called for the elimination of Israel. He's done that several times before. But rarely has he felt brazen enough to blame world financial problems on the Jews in general rather than on just Israelis. And he spouted his Hitlerian hatred in front of the United Nations General Assembly -- in New York, just a few blocks away from the ground zero of the Wall Street meltdown.

Flush with petrodollar cash, a cocky Iran thinks our government will be so sidetracked borrowing money for Wall Street that disheartened taxpayers won't care to stop Tehran from going nuclear.

At about the same time, a Russian flotilla was off Venezuela to announce new cooperation with the loud anti-American Hugo Chavez and his fellow Latin American communists. The move was a poke in the eye at the Monroe Doctrine -- and a warning that from now on the oil-rich Russians will boldly support dictatorships in our hemisphere as much as we encourage democratic Georgia and Ukraine in theirs. Chavez himself called for a revolution in the United States to replace our "capitalist" Constitution.

The lunatics running North Korea predictably smelled blood as well. So it announced that it was reversing course and reprocessing fuel rods to restart its supposedly dismantled nuclear weapons program.

Meanwhile, some shell-shocked American bankers looked to our "friend" China, which holds billions in American government securities, for emergency loans. But the Chinese -- basking in their successful hosting of the Olympics, their first foray into outer space, and a massive rearmament -- showed no interest in sending cash to reeling Wall Street firms.

During this Wall Street arrhythmia, Islamic suicide bombers attacked the American embassy in Yemen and the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan. Suspected Islamic terrorists were caught boarding a Dutch airliner in Germany. And suicide bombers were busy again in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The natural order of the world is chaos, not calm. Like it or not, for over a half-century the United States alone restrained nuclear bullies, kept the sea lanes free from outlaws and corralled rogue nations. America alone could provide that deterrence because we produced a fourth of the world's goods and services, and became the richest country in the history of civilization.

But the bill for years of massive borrowing for oil, for imported consumer goods and for speculation has now has finally come due on Wall Street -- and for the rest of us as well.

Should that heart of American financial power in New York falter -- or even appear to falter -- then eventually the sinews of the American military will likewise slacken. And then things could get ugly -- real fast.

Victor Davis Hanson is a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and author, most recently, of "A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War." You can reach him by e-mailing author@victorhanson.com

How the Lottery Can Ruin Your Life

Proverbs 23:5 "Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven." KJV

I pulled the following article out of my illustration files. It makes good sense and agrees with what the bible says about riches. Considering what's going on today on Wall Street, we need to return to what God says about finances and material possessions. I encourage you to read the Proverbs and the words of Jesus in the Gospels.

-Pastor Randy

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Perhaps the quickest way to ruin your life is to win the lottery.

Don’t laugh. Lots of people think that instantly coming into a few million dollars means life on easy street, money that will be around forever, and no need for responsibility or work.

The truth is very rarely does it work out like that for a lottery winner. Unfortunately, a new study published in the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making finds that people who feel poor are more eager to spend money in an attempt to get rich (this is a good “duh” moment). One recent report found that families who make under $12,400 spend about $645 a year on lottery tickets.

Many poor people are fooled by what they think it means to win the lottery. It’s usually the worst thing that could ever happen to someone.

Coming into a quick pile of cash usually means that people will come out of the woodwork looking to get a piece of your pie. Third cousins whom you didn’t even know existed will call and hit you up for money. You’ll get letters in the mail from complete strangers with every sob story imaginable (unemployed, sick children, in a wheelchair, etc.) in an attempt to get sympathy points and money from you. It puts a big target on your back, and most often it takes you out, too.

When you are feeling the money crunch, the last thing you want to do is spend what little money you have on a super-long shot for money. The odds of winning a lottery are literally about 1 in 125 million.
• You are 66 times more likely to die from a snake bite.
• You are 2,001 times more likely to die in the electric chair!
• You are 2,201 times more likely to die from a hornet, wasp or bee sting.
• You are 1,488,095 times more likely to die in a car wreck on the way to the gas station to buy the lottery ticket.

Does all this sound ridiculous? GOOD! It’s supposed to sound that way! Banking on winning the lottery is about as ridiculous as it gets!

Think about this for a second. The less money you have, the more wisely you need to manage it because you don’t have as much room for error. When you make a budget and get out of debt, you have some breathing room. Your budget can get busted when an emergency comes up, but that’s why you save up an emergency fund. The ultimate is when you start investing the money you have. The reason for that is eventually your money will grow to enormous sums because of the power of compound interest.

Forget the lotto. Working hard and saving money is the only surefire way to make money. It works every time … unlike the lotto.