Good News!

I have some really good news to share with everyone tomorrow night, and it has to do with the CITN community rising to the occasion and taking responsibility for the maintenance and preservation of this ministry! The paradigm shift that the collective congregation has needed is apparently becoming a reality now, and it's all good! Thank you for your faithfulness, and PLEASE keep up the good work!

BE SOMEBODY!

"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're Kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you." (Matthew 5:48 – The Message)

Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I am fearfully and wonderfully made – I am His workmanship – I am the righteousness of God in Christ – I am the head and not the tail, above only, and not beneath – I am bought with a price – I am somebody!


Today I will refuse to believe anything about myself that is contrary to what God believes about me. I will not regard any word spoken about me that does not confirm what God says about me. I will agree with God and His will for my life, even if it seems illogical and impractical to do so.



















Today I will carry myself in a way that demonstrates my godly self-confidence. I will speak well of myself without bragging or being offensive to others. I will show that I believe in myself, without thinking more highly of myself than I ought to think. I will love my neighbor as I love myself today.


Today I will not waste my time on unimportant and trivial things – the "beggarly elements of the world." I will forsake the temptation to give in to silly pettiness, and will pursue great ideas and noble thoughts. I will conduct my affairs with a flair for grandeur and loftiness, without becoming pretentious and out of touch with reality.


Today I will feel neither superior nor inferior to anyone else.




















Today I will remember that I am who God says that I am – I have what God says that I have – and I can do what God says that I can do!






















Today I will walk like a winner, and lose my loser mentality. I am a champion – a king – an overcomer. I have favor, creativity, confidence, the Mind of Christ, prosperity, success, supernatural ability, and uncommon favor. Anything can happen today, and my expectation of faith will attract the positive to my life. If God is for me, who can be against me?! No matter what others have said to me or about me – no matter what I have said about myself – today is a new day of self-realization for me. Today I am somebody, and today I will live in the now!

Father, help me to remember today that You have enabled me to be somebody! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Yes, You Can!

COME TO THE EDGE

Come to the edge.
We might fall.
Come to the edge.
It's too high!
COME TO THE EDGE!
And they came,
and He pushed them,
And they flew.

- Christopher Logue

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]...To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).
(Ephesians 3:20, 21 - AMP)

Count Your Blessings...

Glad to be home...thanks for the prayers...glad that Daisson is home from Afghanistan...thanks for the prayers for him...glad to hear that the services went well while I was gone...thanks for supporting Dad and Pastor Michael and Judah when they ministered...glad that Body Builders went well yesterday...glad that Church In The Now is prospering...glad to be alive and well...I am blessed...

A Day to Remember

We'll be leaving the Philippines in a few hours...I've been coming here every year since 1999, and I think I can honestly say that this was the very best trip yet...last night's ministry in Iligan City was amazing, and today's visit to the incarcerated children at the Ozamiz Youth Detention Center was heartbreaking (they actually put these beautiful little kids behind bars in hot, overcrowded cells)...I'll tell you about it all when I get home, and I'll post the rest of the pics on Facebook...but the shots below show what was probably my favorite part of the whole trip...

The UNITE 2010 conference was held at the Chinese church retreat center in Ozamiz City which was started by Watchman Nee's congregation back in the 30's...to be in a place that was connected with Nee was cool enough, in and of itself, but the church's pastor (Pastor Ting) invited us to stay and combine our Sunday service with them, and what happened in that service was (for me) even cooler...the man in the picture is Chua Behong, and he is an elder in the church...he is 100 years old...I had the privilege of helping him serve communion to the three nations represented in the service (China, Philippines, USA)...

There's no way to describe how awesome this man is...he has all of his faculties, but more importantly, he's just completely filled with the Spirit...and with love...and with wisdom...he's everything you would hope that a spiritual man would be at 100...just being in his presence affected me, and touched me very deeply...

Here he is looking out over the international congregation, clapping his hands and saying "So many people together!"

One thing that really impressed me was the way he worshipped...Pastor Jimmie was leading some very loud and upbeat praise, and this centenarian stood and clapped his hands and joined in on every song...

As the service was coming to a close, we took some pictures together...

This is Pastor Ting, one of the sweetest guys you could ever meet...he interpreted for me when I preached (in Chinese), while another pastor interpreted in Cebuano...here he is explaining the Chinese Bible to me...

Here we are after church with Bishop Tom...

Then Chua Behong invited us to lunch...he gave me a very generous offering, and then for an hour just poured out amazing wisdom to all of us...he shared with us the secret of his long life (basically it's just being happy, according to him), and he really sort of transformed us all...well, I can't speak for everyone else, but he certainly made an impact on me...meeting him was such a blessing...I don't think I'll be the same...I certainly won't forget that day...

More later...

UNITE 2010 First Pics

Pastor Jun from the Sanctuary Interpreting








The Jimmies Mayo (IV and V) Leading Worship


Bringing Pastors from Different Denominations Together


Pastor Chad Smith Sharing



A Morning Session



Bible School Graduation


Ordaining Pastors


Celebration!

Everything is beautiful in this conference...His kingdom continues to come, as His will is done on earth as it is in heaven...God is very real, and His presence is tangible in Ozamiz City this week...

I heard dad did great Wednesday night...thanks for the reports...

All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
(Colossians 3:11 - The Message)

Checking In

Greetings from the Philippines...I'm writing this from Manila...up early because my sleep is still turned around and I've been awake for a while...next flight is in a few hours...

...thanks for the reviews from Sunday's sermon...hope it didn't get too intense, but I was feeling that word really strong...almost forgot I was preaching for a minute there when I was in the middle of my unusual illustration...the inner voice said, "OK...you've made your point...now get up off the floor and finish this message with some decorum because you're scaring the children!"...

..."fire shut up in your bones" is not a pleasant experience, and when Jeremiah talked about having it, he didn't describe it in a positive light...when you have a word, even a hard word, you have to release it or it will consume you...

...anyway, I'm here on the other side of the planet now, and I believe in really being where you are, so I want to throw myself fully into this week's ministry experience...but I'll be looking forward to seeing all of you when I get back...

...in the meantime, stay strong, and "let patience have her perfect work, that you may be mature and whole, lacking nothing..."

Stay Connected

Hey bloggers...

First, I want to thank CITN for your recent giving and generosity...the offering to Haiti has been sent (if you want to give more through the church, you may still do so...and, by the way, as far as I know none of the many Haitians in the church lost any loved ones in the earthquake, for which we are very grateful!).

I also want to thank many of you for stepping up in the last few weeks and helping us to turn a corner in our financial situation. As you know, to do that we were required by our lenders to get caught up and have all payments in on time for three consecutive months, and we have been able to do that for two of those three. But this month is equally important, so please keep embracing your responsibility to the continued success of our ministry (remember...we didn't need a miracle...we need YOU...YOU are the miracle!)

We're leaving today for the Philippines, and will be gone for 11 days. I'm taking my computer with me, so I assume that I'll be able to communicate with you and to keep up with the blog and Facebook. If for some reason I'm not, just keep us in your prayers, and please be sure to participate in the services (and give!). My dad will be ministering this coming Wednesday night, Pastor Michael Person will be ministering in the 9 AM service next Sunday, and P. Judah and Project 404 will be doing a special service in the 11 AM.

And remember that the just shall live by their faith...so keep believing!

And stay strong...


I love you all...

Good Morning!

". . . the Lord's mercies . . . are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness."
(Lamentations 3:22, 23)

Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because God's mercy endures forever - one morning at a time. The freshness of the dawn and early hours of the day are a reminder to me of how current and new God is in His merciful dealings with me.


Today I will praise the Name of the Lord from the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same. I will start off my day with a love song for the One who woke me up this morning, and I will sing it to Him in my heart until I lay down to sleep this evening. I am blessed and thankful for all of God's benefits. Today I know that He is smiling on me as I sing of His greatness!


Today I will not be overcome by sorrow, because weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. No matter how dark things have been, this morning I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will be optimistic in my thinking, and the faith in my heart will produce great expectations in my inner man.


Today I will go where the day takes me, without fear or dread. I declare the end from the beginning by saying that this is the day the Lord has made, so I will regard it as an open door to my future. No matter what it may bring, or what I may be up against, my faith will win the day.


Today, as the Daystar arises in my heart, my vision will increase like the sunlight at dawn. This day will usher in a whole new season of increase for me. I say "good morning" to my new attitude, as I welcome all the possibilities that are on the way.


Today I let yesterday go, and use what I have in my hand right now to maximize the day's potential. A new opportunity for me lies around every corner, and I will not let one go unnoticed by being distracted by water under the bridge.


Today the Bright and Morning Star shines on me – and through me. It's a new day, and everything is different in my world than it was before. I demonstrate that His mercies are new this morning by my determination to live the liberated life today, and today I will live in the now!

Good morning, Lord! Help me to see Your new mercies today. In Jesus’ name, amen.