Stewardship Is About Trust

This is the sermon I preached last Sunday at BCF. I appreciate the kind words Apostle Dale had to say about it in the praise report and I'm happy to share it with you. When I prepared this sermon, I was really struck by just how much God trusts us and wants us to trust Him back.

Praise Report from BCF

When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose Word I praise,In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Psalm 56:3-4

Greetings BCF Family & Friends!

It’s with great joy that I am writing to you today. We have just had another awesome Sunday of worship, teaching, ministry and fellowship, and the Lord is blessing us in soooo many ways.

First, our pastor in training, Jim Johnson, preached a terrific sermon in our “Stewardship Month” series. He pointed out something that I hadn’t quite thought about, that God TRUSTS US!! God trusts us to be good stewards of His creation, His Church, His people, and all that He has blessed us personally with to steward. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but it added a new dimension to how our ATTITUDE should be about the earth, the ministry, the people of God, the HARVEST, we are actually taking care of God’s property! What an awesome responsibility.

We were then blessed by the testimony of Brother Ray Green. He, his spouse Wanda, and Brother Ken Mifflin shared how the Lord put it upon their hearts to go into downtown DC and minister to the needy. With only $10, they testified how the Lord showed them to divide two sub sandwiches, along with some bottled water, and were able to feed and minister to 8 people! That may seem small to you, but it’s really quite significant!! They confirmed for the second time, the Will and Direction the Holy Spirit is calling BCF to go in the Hebrew New Year and Fall Season. Get ready BCF, we’re going OUT to bring IN the Harvest of the Lord! Our congregation was so moved by their testimony, that they started pulling out their wallets and handing me money, saying, “Here Apostle, let’s do this again and again!” I opened up the altar and before we knew it, we had received over $400 towards our Helping Hands and Evangelism Ministries! Praise the Lord! Thank you Ray, Wanda and Ken for your obedience and faithfulness! The Spirit has spoken and moved upon all our hearts through your obedience!!

We are a blessed congregation and we are GROWING! I’m thrilled to announce that we will be receiving 10 new members into Covenant Relationship with us the next two Sundays. And our congregational meeting was a blessing when we learned that not only are we meeting our weekly/monthly budget, but we are currently running a $5,000 surplus! The Lord is releasing the increase of provision in our midst!

Also, we are blessed to tell you that BCF will soon be Apostolically planting a new church/ministry in Puerto Rico ! Brother Rick and Brother Tim will be moving there within the month, and we are going to cover them and bless them to start the “Church on the Beach” Ministry! We’ll be going there in January to help support them and lay hands on them! Praise God!

I am reminded that the Holy Spirit has been calling us to enter into His rest and TRUST Him, He will always provide and He has promised to bless the righteous. One of Brother Jim’s scriptures yesterday reminds us what the Lord Jesus said:

“Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4,5

Let’s all continue to PRESS IN to the Lord and TRUST Him; Remember to stay under cover and in step with the Spirit and the anointed leadership of His Church; Don't get ahead of God, wait upon the Lord, trust in Him- He is faithful and will always make a way for us.

Please continue to remember us in your prayers. This is an exciting time in our lives and in this ministry. KNOW that we, too, are praying for each of you and our network of churches.
Shalom, we love you with the Love of the Lord!

Yahweh bless You and make His face to shine on you!
Ap Dale

MySpace Friend of the Day: Nebraska Pride

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=70751416&MyToken=8055b767-70f2-49a9-ba47-b9cd01afab8c

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, straight, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, friends, employed, unemployed, black, white, latina/o... there are no boundaries of who we are, meaning NO ONE IS EXCLUDED!

Rainbow Celebrations is a community-wide, volunteer nonprofit Nebraska corporation, and the official home of the annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Nebraska Pride Parade & Festival and the annual National Coming Out Day Celebration. Formed in 2002, Rainbow Celebrations seeks to advance educational and social activities for the GLBT communities of Nebraska and western Iowa.

Rainbow Celebrations and Nebraska Pride believe's in an open and committed community, however neither Rainbow Celebrations and Nebraska Pride has found certain forms of commercial advertising being offered by myspace users as questionable. Therefore, we will not authorize or approve any such member that appears to be solely for commercial gain or in questionable commercial commerce.

Ex-Gay Leader Says Gays Are In Heaven!

I saw this article from Ex-Gay Watch and about fell over. Here's an excerpt. For the entire article, go to:

http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2008/07/exodus-president-alan-chambers-gay-people-live-in-heaven/


"The Asheville, NC Citizen-Times ran an article Monday on Exodus International’s annual conference, which started yesterday in neighboring Ridgecrest.


The article profiles Exodus and its activities, as well as Equality Asheville, which is offering counter programming with the message “you’re okay the way you are.”Both sides are given equal time, with quotes from Exodus leaders presented alongside statements by Wayne Besen and several members of Equality Asheville.


For the most part, it’s business as usual. What stands out is a rather surprising comment by Alan Chambers:“The truth is that homosexuality does not send people to hell. Gay people live in heaven. It’s not about fire and brimstone, it’s about an alternative option,” Chambers said.While


Exodus and its allies have for some time avoided directly stating that “gay-identified” Christians will end up in hell, this is nonetheless an extraordinary statement coming from the head of an organization founded on the premise that homosexuality and Christianity are completely incompatible..."


What? I'm going to heaven after all? What a concept! This article says to me that the mainline Church is really starting to understand that they have got to watch what they say about glbt people.


In the past, we were fodder for whatever fundraising campaign they were running and they seemed to feel they could spout all kinds of foul accusations about us. They didn't bat an eyelash.


However, I'm seeing a small shift. I think a lot of young people and family and friends of gays and lesbians are starting to say they don't appreciate that kind of thing. Maybe they go to their pastor and tell them how they feel. Maybe they just share it with friends. Whatever the case, it seems that our family and friends are starting to rise up and I for one appreciate it!


Call me hopelessly optimistic, but I'm excited that the leader of one of the biggest ex-gay organizations has said that glbt Christians are no less Christians because of our sexual orientation. It's a step in the right direction.

Link of the Day: Sojurners

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm

Our mission is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world.

In response to this call, we offer a vision for faith in public life by:
o publishing Sojourners magazine, SojoMail and other resources that address issues of faith, politics, and culture from a biblical perspective;
o preaching, teaching, organizing, and public witness;
o nurturing community by bringing together people from the various traditions and streams of the church;
o hosting an annual program of voluntary service for education, ministry, and discipleship.

In our lives and in our work, we seek to be guided by the biblical principles of justice, mercy, and humility.

MySpace Friend of the Day: Mountain of Love Ministries

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=180713312&MyToken=168f06f5-df43-43b5-ad66-dd3d1305a724

Fountain of Love Ministries is designed to show all people the love of Jesus.We believe in I Cor. 13 "and the greatest of these is love". How can we say we love Jesus who we have never seen and not love our brothers and sisters.

We will strive to be instrumental in mending the hearts of those that have been hurt, broken, rejected, down-trotten, and cast aside.

For there is a fountain filled with the love of God that will flow from heart to heart.

Fountain of Love Ministries is based in Ft Lauderdale Florida.

Let's Give McDonalds Some Love

I'll admit it, I love McDonalds. Meals there are a major part of my life. Nothing to brag about, mind you, but I share that in the interest of full disclosure regarding this post.

You see, our buddies at the American Family Association have their knickers in a twist because McDonalds has the nerve to contribute to the Gay Chamber of Commerce. The AFA strongly defends the free-market system, unless a company does something its leaders don't like. This is one of those instances, so they have played the old, worn out, boycott card.

Here's an excerpt from an essay about it from 365Gay.com:

The AFA’s big beef with McDonald’s is that the company donated to the gay chamber of commerce. Surf over to the AFA Web site and you’ll read that the group is concerned “about McDonald’s, as a corporation, refusing to remain neutral in the culture wars,” the AFA states. “McDonald’s has chosen not to remain neutral but to give the full weight of their corporation to promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage.”In short, the AFA is not loving it.

But I’m loving it.

I’m loving this curious development that an iconic American company is standing firm against the oh-so un-American American Family Association, which at every right turn stands against justice and equality.

I’m loving that McDonald’s USA spokesman Bill Whitman defended the restaurant’s policy in the Washington Post proclaiming, “Hatred has no place in our culture. That includes McDonald’s, and we stand by and support our people to live and work in a society free of discrimination and harassment.”

Out of respect for this honorable approach, I'll try really hard not to get upset the next time one of their stores screws up my order.

Click here to read the rest of the 365Gay.com article.

Link of the Day: 42

http://42.blogs.warnock.me.uk/

This is a blog written by Dave Warnock, a Methodist minister in the U. K. He writes on experiences at his church, but also covers computer and web topics and cycling, a passion of his.

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion on this blog about the revival in Lakeland, Florida led by evangelist Todd Bentley as people still continue to have two minds about what, if anything, the Holy Spirit is doing down there.

There are plenty of interesting topics on this blog and worth checking out.

Archbishop of Wales Willing to Consecrate a Gay Bishop

From the BBC (hat tip to PageOneQ)

Barry Morgan spoke as the world's first openly gay bishop, whose ordination has caused a split in the Anglican church, is to preach at a church in London.

Bishop of New Hampshire Gene Robinson has been excluded from the Lambeth Conference of church leaders.

Dr Morgan said the consecration of a gay bishop would no problem to him, although it might be for his church, and he would "alert" fellow leaders.

He said: "If I thought that a person who had been nominated was an excellent candidate in every other way and that he was in a faithful relationship - for me personally that would not present a problem.

"But of course it might present a problem for my church and I would have to alert the electoral college to that," Dr Morgan added.

Bishop Robinson has been excluded from the Lambeth Conference, held every 10 years, but will be in Canterbury at the same time.

He is due to speak at St Mary's Church in Putney, west London, on Sunday.
Anglican conservatives set up a splinter movement earlier this month, in rejection of the acceptance of gay bishops.

Members of the Global Anglican Future Conference movement established the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans.

Bishop Robinson publicly announced his sexuality in the 1980s and has since been in a 20-year relationship with his current partner.

MySpace Friend of the Day: A Rainbow Place

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=272414552&MyToken=168f06f5-df43-43b5-ad66-dd3d1305a724

A Rainbow Place is dedicated to the unity, self awareness, respect, dignity, and health of the diverse gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, HIV positive and questioning community.

Our community and counseling center is primarily a safe haven and supportive space where GLBTQI people and our allies can come together in a safe and casual atmosphere. Above all else, our concern is for the health and well-being of the Reno (NV) metro LGBTQ population.

Whosoever Magazine on Freedom

The theme of the latest issue of Whosoever Magazine, an online magazine for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender christians, is freedom.

Editor Candace Chellew-Hodge writes about "The Paradox of Freedom."

Rev. Suzie Chamness contributes "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, There is Liberty."

John H. Campbell writes about a "Reason for Celebration."

Rev. Dr. Jerry S. Maneker contributes "Gay Bashing, the Politics of Religion."

I recommend that you check out these and the other articles in this month's issue.