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Hey bloggers,

Just got in from a conference at Bishop Huskin's church...may post something later...in the meantime, check out this amazing clip. You'll need to scroll down to the music player and pause it so that it won't interrupt the music on the video...

Thank God It's Friday!

Hey bloggers...
BLOGINTHENOW is five months old today! Thanks for making this cyber-community all that it is. I really enjoy connecting with you here every day, and believe that a lot of positive things originate on this site. I even think that some of the growth that we are experiencing at CITN right now is due to the strength of the relationships formed day by day in this part of cyberspace (did you notice how big the crowd was Wednesday night?).

Today's entry in AYITN is Stay Alert!, and I believe that it's a word to all of us right now. Rev. Jesse Jackson is most likely wishing today that he had been more alert to the fact that his mic was still hot the other night when he made some unfortunate comments about Barack Obama. But what's done is done.

We've all done and said things that we wish we hadn't done or said...but once we've done or said them, we have to take responsibility for our words and actions, do what we can to make things right, learn from our mistakes, and then get past it.

Yesterday I was thinking about the concept of turning the other cheek when encountering a verbal blow, and it occurred to me that it's the ideal, symbolic head movement to make to allow things to go in one ear and out the other.
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From AYITN...

Stay Alert!

I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; Its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. (Proverb 24:30-34)

Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I am actively involved in my world and on top of every situation facing me. The names of laziness, procrastination and foolishness must bow to the name of Jesus in my life!

Today I will be sober and vigilant—a watchman on the wall. I will pay attention to what is happening around me and will trust the Holy Spirit to show me things to come. I will keep my eyes and ears open in the natural realm, as well as in the spiritual realm, and will be a doer of the word so as not to deceive myself.



















Today I will remember that the only person who is going to be with me for my entire life is me, so I will befriend myself by taking responsibility for my own productivity. I will enjoy my hard-earned successes and victories and face up to the unfortunate consequences of my lapses in judgment and poor choices. But even though I take full responsibility for my life and actions, I will still count on goodness and mercy to follow me all the days of my life, and to turn around for the good every negative situation that I have brought on myself. The buck will stop with me, but the government will be on Christ’s shoulder!

Today I will enjoy the blessing of hard work and the benefits that accompany it.*

Today I will choose how I start and finish my day, knowing that attitude is everything and that I have control over my feelings and reactions to what happens around me.

Today I will really listen when people talk. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and I will use my ability to wisely hear the hearts of those with whom I communicate.

Today I will “look well to the state of my flocks” and will recognize a wake up call when I hear it and a reality check when I see it. I will not be clueless and taken unaware by circumstances. I will not let myself be blind-sided by the snare of the fowler. I will be on top of my game today, and today I will live in the now!

Father, help me to stay alert today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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For CITN members: This Sunday will be Pastor Joshua Foster's last one here before returning to the Philippines, so please plan on being ITB to see him. And I think that it may be November (instead of October) when I go there, for those of you who want to go with me (still working out the dates). Bishop Tommy is going to be here in Oct. Also, those of you who are going to Uganda, or are interested in going to Uganda, please see Pastor Avery Rogers for details and information...


*(picture taken in front of Buckingham Palace)

Getting Caught Up

Hey bloggers…

Great to be back home…thanks for all your prayers and support. Thanks for giving and pledging last Sunday, and for receiving my parents’ ministry last week. All is well. Thanks, Dr. Amaki, for the flowers.

I’ll talk about our trip some tonight and Sunday. God really spoke to me about several things while we were away, and I’ll share them with you at the appropriate time.

If you sent me an e-mail or text that I haven’t returned or respnded to, you may want to send it again. Getting caught up when you’ve been gone for several days can be a little overwhelming, and I really appreciate your helping me out in that area.

I’ll post something later tonight for tomorrow, but I said that I would answer this, and I want to be good for my word…


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To DBA…

What I was going to say to you in the N. Korea post was in response to your assertion that peace comes through strength. I actually addressed it the Sunday before we left for Europe, and what I said was that I do believe in military strength, but I also believe that prayer is a strong force, and that communication is a strong force, and that love is the strongest force of all. I have a positive vision for peace on earth, but that doesn’t mean that I’m naïve or unaware of the world situation. My daughter and son-in-law were supposed to come to stay with us this weekend (we haven’t seen him since Christmas), but he can’t come because four young men in his group (Green Berets) were killed in Afghanistan this week, and he has to arrange their funerals. He’s also going to Afghanistan in a few months, so I am very much in touch with, and in support of, the presence of the military, even though I am passionately anti-war.

My point is, if people want to work for peace, or even just to visualize it, I don’t want to make fun of them, or even esteem them lightly. Every little bit helps, as far as I’m concerned.

As to your question about the experience of Obama, I can’t answer that without sounding partisan, or that I’m endorsing a candidate. The bottom line is that both candidates have serious limitations for different reasons, and both need our prayers. That’s all I’ll say about that for my own reasons, but, in any case, let not your heart be troubled. The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord.



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To Shannon...

As soon as I get some information about the GPF I'll let you know.



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To CITN...

I love you all!

God Bless America!

Hey bloggers,
We're back. Everything was great. Thanks for the awesome comments. I have a lot to tell you, and I will...please be patient...I'll answer your questions, address your topics of interest, return your many phone calls and e-mails just as soon as I can.

I missed you, and I love you all very much...got to get some sleep...

later...



P.S. Yes, that's the real location (picture above)...I was going to go barefoot since I was "Paul", but we had to get the shot quickly to avoid getting hit by a car...

And I've got a great word for you tomorrow night...

And, Bishop Tommy, if you're reading this...I'll call you tomorrow. Let's do the ordinations when I come to the Philippines in October...

And God is good...

Hello From Dublin!

Hey bloggers,

I wasn’t going to post anything until we got back, but I’m ready to make contact now, and re-connect with all of you, so here I am. Our flight leaves early in the morning, and it’s a long journey home, so I don’t know if I’ll have anything posted here by tomorrow night or not. But I’m turning my phone back on, so you can go ahead and begin creating some dialogue.

Anyway, we’ve had an amazing time…a great vacation and time of refreshing. I didn’t say much about where we were going before we left, because I realize how ridiculous it sounds in the natural to be taking a European vacation right now (if you know what I mean). But our 20th Wedding Anniversary is in a few weeks, and we planned several months ago to combine a big anniversary trip this summer with a family vacation before the boys start back to school. So, with the help of a lot of frequent flyer miles that we have accumulated recently, we were able to go to England and Ireland. We stayed in London, took a day trip to Liverpool (I’ll tell all of you Beatles fans about it when I get back), took a day trip to Paris, and then flew to Ireland, where we are right now. Everything has been wonderful, and, in a way, the trip has stretched us to walk in faith and not look at natural circumstances (sort of like Abraham's reality being imposed on Abram).

I have gotten some posts since we've been abroad that I didn’t put through because I needed to put everything down (including the blog) for a few days. But I do want to say to Donald that I got your message about Ringo’s birthday today (you may want to repost it), and to DBA, I got your message, and it’s all good…let’s just pick back up where we left off (I’ll address your question when I get back).

Sounds like the service went well yesterday. I haven’t spoken to my parents about it, but from the comments on the CITN blog, it looks like my Dad took financial pledges for the church. I didn’t know he was going to do that, but I won’t question it, and I won’t doubt that he did the right thing.

The presence, grace and favor of God have been very evident in every part of the trip. We have all been inspired, our souls have been restored, and we are ready to get back into the flow of things at home, because we know that great things are ahead for all of us at CITN.

Anyway, I feel better just making a connection with you. I’ll tell you all about the trip when we get back. Be in agreement for a safe flight.

Love you all…