The Danger of Keeping Secrets

"We are as sick in the soul as the secrets we keep." –Paul Young, Author of The Shack

Recently, I heard Paul Young speak and he shared the above statement. I couldn't get away from this thought which I believe is true. In my 27 years of pastoral ministry, I have known people that have buried some secrets deep in their inward parts. On the outside they try to seem very normal to everyone and many try to convince themselves that their okay. But the soul is unhealthy, yes even sick. And there is only one remedy according to God's Word...confession.

You got to get the secrets out. It might almost kill you but you got to get them out. God is saying “I have been here the entire time. Nothing will separate me from you! Nothing will separate me from my love.”

Wholeness starts with believing and then confession. Paul by the Holy Spirit wrote "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:8-10

What are we to believe and confess? The word of God. Believe and speak God's word about those secrets. Get the secrets out. The Bible says for us to confess our faults one to another. God has been there the whole time. He loves you and wants you to release the inner secrets to him so He can bring healing and wholeness to you.

Can I offer a antithesis to Paul Young's statement, "We are as sick in the soul as the secrets we keep?" I believe our soul prospers as we believe and confess the truth. Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth [that you know] shall make you free." John 8:32

-Pastor Randy

Monday Morning Funnies

Three preachers were driving down the road when they missed a turn and went into the ditch. As they pulled themselves together, a drunk pulled up and asked if they were all right.
"Oh, yes, Jesus is with us," one replied.
The drunk thought that over for a minute. "Well, you'd better let him get in with me, you're going to kill him!"

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Report from the Pastor Search Committee:

We do not have a happy report to give. We have not been able to find a
suitable candidate for this church, though we have one promising prospect.
Thank you for your suggestions. We have followed up on each one with
interviews or by calling at least three references. The following is our
confidential report.

ADAM: Good man but has problems with his wife. One reference told us how he
and his wife enjoyed walking nude in the woods.
NOAH: Former pastorate of 120 years with no converts. Prone to unrealistic
building projects.

JOSEPH: A big thinker, but a braggart; believes in dream interpreting and
has a prison record.
MOSES: A modest and meek man, but poor communicator; even stutters at times.
Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly in business meetings. Some say he
left an earlier church over a murder charge.

DEBORAH: One word --- Female.
DAVID: The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he
had with his neighbor's wife.

SOLOMON: Great preacher, but serious woman problem.
ELIJAH: Prone to depression; collapses under pressure.
HOSEA: A tender and loving pastor, but our people could never handle his
wife's occupation.

JONAH: Told us he was swallowed up by a great fish. He said the fish later
spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up.
AMOS: Too much of a country hick. Backward and unpolished. With some
seminary training, he might have promise; but he has a hang-up against
wealthy people.

JOHN: Says he is a Baptist, but doesn't dress like one. May be too
Pentecostal. Tends to lift both hands in the air to worship when he gets
excited. You know we limit to one hand. Sleeps in the outdoors, has a weird
diet, and provokes denominational leaders.
PETER: Too blue collar. Has a bad temper, even said to have cursed. He's a
loose cannon.

PAUL: Powerful CEO type and fascinating preacher. However, he's short on
tact, unforgiving with young ministers, harsh, and has been known to preach
all night.
TIMOTHY: Too young.

JESUS: Has had popular times, but once when his church grew to 5000, He
managed to offend them all; and his church dwindled down to twelve people.
Seldom stays in one place very long. And, of course, he is single.
JUDAS: His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good
connections. Knows how to handle money. We're inviting him to preach this
Sunday in view of a call.

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Struggling to make ends meet on a first-call salary, the pastor was livid when he confronted his wife with the receipt for a $250 dress she had bought. "How could you do this?!"
"I was outside the store looking at the dress in the window, and then I found myself trying it on," she explained. "It was like Satan was whispering in my ear, 'You look fabulous in that dress. Buy it!'" "Well," the pastor replied, "You know how I deal with that kind of temptation. I say, 'Get behind me, Satan!'" "I did," replied his wife, "but then he said, 'It looks fabulous from back here, too!'"

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A preacher said to a farmer, "Do you belong to the Christian family?" "No." said he, "they live two farms down."

"No, I mean are you lost?" "No, I've been here thirty years."

"I mean are you ready for Judgment Day?"

"When is it?" "It could be today or tomorrow."

"Well, when you find out for sure when it is, you let me know. My wife will probably want to go both days!"

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Thats all! Make it a great week! Hope to meet you here tomorrow.

-Pastor Randy

Sunday Wrap Up

It was a happy 88th Anniversary today at Kings Point. Ron and Christy Thomas and their daughters, Natalie, and Hillary were back with us today on homecoming. They are a beautiful family. Ron did a powerful job preaching God's message to us this morning. It looked great seeing all those families at the altar praying together. Good crowd this morning. I think we are beginning to get most of our people back from the summer exodus.

Next weekend is the men's God Encounter weekend. I am really excited about the men that are coming this fall. All the guys I know that are coming are very serious about having an encounter with God Almighty. That's really what we want...not just men who want to "do God for a weekend" but men who come seeking a "life-changing weekend" with Abba, Father.

The dinner today was a nice time of fellowship. After just a little while at home, we headed to Princeton Pike for a service featuring In Stereo and a message from Tom Madden, the Church of God Int'l Youth Director. It was a wonderful time of worship with several different churches coming together for a conclusion to the Princeton Pike's Youth Weekend.

Well, have a great week everyone!

-Pastor Randy

Some Staturday Insights

It's a little late but I'm getting it in before I go to bed tonight. It has been a long day. Rarely, do I get a Saturday to do yard work but I had no choice today. I still had a lot of clean up to do from the winds last week. Thankfully, I think I got caught up today even though I have more to do Monday in trying to get ready for the winter.

Debbie Kilburn came home from the hospital today. She is still in a great deal of pain and ask for us to pray that the pain subside. She also ask her church body to pray for peace and that the Lord give her the strength and grace "carry her cross."

Tomorrow is homecoming Sunday. When I was growing up in the church homecoming Sunday was a big day. The service, the dinner, and the fellowship was something to look forward too. I hope you will allow your kids to experience all of that tomorrow. Please come prepared to join us at Little Miami for the dinner at around 1 pm. Bring a covered dish and the church will provide the chicken. Take some time and get to know some people that you may not know very well. Show yourself friendly to everyone. Too many friends is something that you cannot have.

We are encouraging everyone that will to go with us tomorrow night to Princeton Pike. They will have special singing along with special guest speaker, Tom Madden. It will be a great service. It's an opportunity to join with another church and worship together! I hope you will go!

Come on, let's worship God like crazy tomorrow!

-Pastor Randy

Friday Countdown - "God is Still King of the Floods"

Hello everyone! Check out the article below. I concur. We need to get our financial and our spiritual house in order...now! Churches need to get theirs in order as well. What's going on on Wall Street will effect main street and then will be visiting your street and mine. Are we ready?

-Pastor Randy

GOD IS STILL KING of THE FLOODS
-by David Wilkerson (Sep 15).

The Psalmist writes, "The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods
have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves" (Psalm 93:3).
The floods represent the rising waters of afflictions, the overwhelming
crises that are coming on the earth affecting multitudes. This is
the flood of unemployment, housing nightmares, ever-growing
financial difficulties. We now face a great flood of fear and confusion
about what to do to survive the storm.

It tears my heart to have a single mother stop me on the street
weeping, "Pastor, what am I going to do? I lost my job, and I may
lose my apartment. I have nothing to live on. Where will I go?"
Top-level executives are being laid off with no warning. Workers
tell me they see bosses crying at their desks, asking, "What will
I do? I'm broke. What about my mortgage? I have no benefits."

Some terrible things are happening, even to some of the godliest
believers. I ask God, "Lord, what do I tell them? They are in the
flood." I know these saintly people pray and read God's Word.
Indeed, they have learned to trust the Lord. But now their faith is
being tested to the limit. I get calls from some who are soon to
lose everything. I can't just give these people a pep talk and a
few Scriptures and ask them to cheer up. I am not suffering the
way they are. I still get paid, and I am not in danger of losing my
home.

I ask you, please, hear my heart as I say this: The time is not far
away before we all will be deeply affected by the economic flood
coming to the whole world. Great trials are ahead for all of us who
deeply love the Lord. Here is what I am led to do by the Holy Spirit.
I ask it of my family, all of whom work with the church body. I urge
you to pray to see if the Lord is leading you to do the same: No
more buying of luxuries. Cut all spending except absolute
necessities. Sell every unneeded item. Turn it to cash and give it
to ministries to the poor and needy. Downsize as much as possible.
Be willing to let it all come to this: "Having food and raiment
[covering], let us be therewith content" (1 Timothy 6:8).

Build up your faith by reminding the Lord daily of his promises:
"The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for
ever" (Psalm 29:10). "In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me
never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness" (Psalm 31:1).

In Christ,

David Wilkerson

God is Rewarding our Prayer & Fasting

Thank you so much to the KP family for your prayers regarding those that have been seriously ill recently. I received an e-mail from our missionary, Arlene Miller, this week. Presently, she is doing well enough physically to be leaving for Chile in a couple of weeks. All of her medical tests have come back with good reports except for the Vitamin D deficiency. She is slowly gaining weight and feeling better. She still needs our prayers however for wellness in her body as she travels to Chili.

She has young missionaries there in training waiting for her. These missionaries are also trying to raise budgets so they go to the field. Arlene will be working with these missionaries as well as teaching in the Church of God bible school in Chili.

Please continue to remember Debbie Kilburn in your prayers. She maybe coming home Saturday if her pain eases. As of today she is in a great deal of pain, please continue to pray and fast for her. Also, remember Mike as well as the entire family. Mike lost a good friend this week, Larry Christenberry, to cancer and he needs our prayers.

Finally, remember Phyllis Titus as well. She came through a successful surgery Tuesday. Remember her husband Bob as you pray and their family.

There are many others that are fighting sickness and disease. Remember Jewell Brandenburg, Carole Clark, Grace Davis, David Moore, and others that I know I can't remember at the present.

I took two days this week and took care of my dad while my mom got away and rested. Lets remember one another in prayer, especially those in our congregation who care for their love ones. God certainly does give us the ability to love them with the love of Christ.

-Pastor Randy

Operation Compassion is in Full Swing

The Church of God has one of the greatest relief ministries in America called "Operation Compassion." Recently, KP sent an offering to help relief efforts in the southwest part of the country. Below, I have provided a brief follow-up on how Operation Compassion is ministering to the victims of Hurrican Ike. If you can send an offering...any kind of offering...it will make a great difference!
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Ike’s five hundred mile diameter provided more than enough energy and power to leave much of the Texas Gulf coast a wasteland. However, within hours after Ike hit, Operation Compassion had volunteers and two semis of food and water on the ground preparing for a massive relief effort. Many survivors went to City Hall to find assistance with basic food and water. Because of the destruction, city hall was unprepared for the onslaught of survivors. As Operation Compassion showed up, we were greeted with appreciation and gratitude.

Our volunteers starting distributing food and water and twelve hours later, at 2:30 a.m., we had finished our first distribution to 1,500 cars containing multiple families. By 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, the line of cars was more than three miles long. When our second distribution concluded on Tuesday afternoon, thirty-six hours following Ike’s landfall, Operation Compassion had distributed food and water to 5,000 multi-family cars.

On Wednesday, Operation Compassion opened a second distribution site located at the Spirit of Light Church in Pasadena, TX pastured by Greg Casto. Volunteers, chaplains, God’s Pit Crew along with their heavy equipment were preparing for distribution, clean up and repair. We have a box truck that will serve as a roving distribution point, supplying churches in various communities. This type of distribution assists families that are unable to come to a central location.

Operation Compassion has delivered and distributed fourteen semis of products and supplies to the survivors of Ike. Currently there are an additional ten semis en route. By Saturday, one week after Ike made landfall, Operation Compassion will have delivered twenty-four semis to the Houston-Galveston area.

In addition to Operation Compassion, God’s Pit Crew has arrived on scene to assist residents remove trees and debris. In addition, GPC will assist residents with roof and minor repairs to help make their homes livable. GPC is a volunteer group that gives of their time, talent and resources to help storm survivors pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.

Also, assisting is the Church of God Chaplains. They are a special group of men and women trained in disaster counseling. They will be on site to listen to the horrific stories that each of these survivors will tell. Each survivor has gone through a terribly traumatic experience and will need a friendly ear to share their unique stories.

With the destruction along the Gulf Coast, many have forgotten the damage and loss of life in the Caribbean. Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic were all hit hard by the storms. Haiti was probably hit the hardest suffering damage from four of the tropical systems in the Atlantic. Hundreds are dead, thousands are without homes and countless are struggling to find food and water for survival. In fact, it has been reported that there is no longer any bottled water on the island unless it is shipped.

Currently, Operation Compassion has sent fifty semis of disaster relief goods, including bottled water and food. There are sixty-two semis en route, including ten semis of food, thirty semis of assorted beverages and twenty-two semis of tents that will house 160,000 people (40,000 tents). These products were given specifically for overseas distribution through our disaster network.

Operation Compassion needs your help to continue this massive disaster relief effort across the Caribbean and in the United States. Please help us help them! Give today!

Please send your donations to or contact:

Operation Compassion
David Lorency, President
Tim Burdashaw, International Operations Coordinator
Lisa Boen, International Logistics Coordinator

114 Stuart Road, NE Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 Office
423.728.3958 Fax
www.operationcompassion.org