Saturday, May 16, 2009

MATTHEW IN THE NOW/CITN's 24th ANNIVERSARY...

Hey bloggers...well, I finally finished Matthew In The Now!...but I'm not going to post Chapters 26, 27, and 28 here on the blog...for one thing, Chapter 26 has 75 verses, and Chapter 27 has 66, which makes them both too long, really, for this format...but the main reason is that I want to save something for the publication of the book that will hopefully be out soon...but I am very pleased with the way the last three chapters turned out.

As always, I have mixed feelings about coming to the end of writing a book...of course I'm happy to get it done, but also a little sad because the experience of paraphrasing this powerful Gospel has been very rewarding...I've learned a lot, and the writing has been cathartic for me...sort of like my own, personal secret place of the Most High.

I want to thank all of you for your support and feedback as I have been completing this project...your insights and regular commentary have been invaluable...

I really wanted, for some reason, to get the writing done before CITN's 24th Anniversary this coming Sunday...in fact, in celebration of it all, I think I may open up the other blogs for a couple of days before I get started on Mark In The Now (MkITN), to be followed by Luke In The Now...

Thanks, again, for being a source of inspiration...

Peace!

27 comments:

PattiL007 said...

Congratulations on completion of MITN, Bish! Thank you for your beautiful translations...they are fresh manna to my spirit.

Greater things HAVE Come...

PattiL007 said...

Oh...and...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CITN!!!The next 24 will be EVEN BETTER!

SCRIBE said...

Congrats to you Bishop in the completion of a phenomenal work indeed! May your book serve as a source of inspiration, revelation, and clarity to the lost, confused, hurting, as well as religious mindsets. I foresee your Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John In the NOW series hitting the National Best Seller's List and taking the world by storm... bringing awesome harvests- both financially and in the multitudes of people that you'll reach and draw in. Peace and Blessings to you on this day as your landmarks and milestones have surpassed anything comprehensible.

Lisa said...

Congrats on finishing MITN!!!! Also Happy 24th Anniversary to CITN! Enjoy a wonderful weekend of celebration!!!! See you all ITB next week!

Izumi/JOY said...

Congratulations on the completion of your project & commencement of the now! Wait, I mean new. No, maybe that was right the first way.

Experienced several punctuation marks reading that the last chapters were too long for this format.

Considered a diatribe listing reasons why you should continue with MITN. (the fun version would read like a Chinese menu - Column A: motives to wake up early & decree the day / Column B: reasons to sleep in) Then came the Holy Ghost hand slap.

Think I understand your mixed feelings about finishing the book. I've learned a bunch too & yes, it's been cathartic. (TOMATOES - oops, sorry - sorta)

I want to thank you for your creativity, guidance & diligence to investigate the Word. (via Spirit vs. the letter)

Have to admit that the "regular commentary" part cracks me up. ("invaluable" is gonna taunt me if I open its knock-knock) Does that mean not valuable? It's kinda like "priceless". Or insightful. Acccck!

Focus, Izumi. Exhale. All better.

Therefore, (and, you know what that means, folks) MITN leaves me nonplussed.

But, it's a God thang and I look forward to MkITN & Luke's panorama. Thank you for being a source of inspiration, too.

Congratulations & Happy Anniversary CITN!

Pastor Nancy said...

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase -Martin Luther King

Congratulations Bishop on moving forward with your paraphrasing in the books you have done, are working on, and the ones out there waiting for you to begin. We are forever grateful...

Anticipating a marvelous service!! Happy Anniversary CITN!!!!!

Pastor Nancy

Unknown said...

If MkITN and LITN have in store what MITN did, this will be a very freeing year indeed!

The pic reminds me of the devotion and sacrifice it took to write "back in the day." with pen and dipped ink. Thank you,Bishop, for your devotion and sacrifice, dipped from your relationship with the Spirit of God...

Anonymous said...

Yeay! 24 yrs, It's my 1yr anaversery with Now Ministries - am humbled and honored. Today's service was great. Loved the songs by Judah and Scott. The message was one I really needed and was going good till point 13; then after that Streaming Faith just went out...*&(*&^&%$#%#$&%&^.... :(
I hope the Bish Post the Points???

I LOVED MITN 28:19 !!!!!!!!

Peace,
Den

Anonymous said...

Correction - "anniversary" - I cannot spell. thank God for spaeil chick

Water Walker said...

Congratulations and Happy 24th anniversary CITN. I look forward to the release of your book.

I am happy you are resuming your blogs, they are missed although I do understand that nothing stays the same but the Lord.

I look forward to the new thing the Lord is doing.

WW

tracy said...

Pastor Dennis-
14.Power of decision is never underestimated.
15.If you have a message EVERY word will be tested.
16.Fame comes instantly, greatness comes with longevity.
17.Multicultural church is a different thing. NO more to be said on that.
18.Manifested presence of God is most important in
prophetic ministry.
19. Be transparent, not too transparent (ie:Obama)
20.Faith really CAN move mountains.
21.The Kingdom Is at Hand.
22.Love NEVER fails.
23.Time flies.
24.Now IS all that really matters.
If i missed anything or wrote it down wrong it is because David tickled my foot and got distracted.

Brenda said...

Congratulations on finishing that phase now its time to open up the next level. I have so enjoyed reading each chapter and can't wait on the finished product. Thanks for sharing with us, and thanks for your 24 points today. Even though I was not there when you first started I feel like I have been a part of this church forever because you and Pastor Debye have made me and my family feel like family, as a matter of fact the whole church has and that speaks of the leader.

I look forward to the next gospel and I hope you will let us take the journey with you.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Tracy!!!

Linda Luke said...

CONGRATULATIONS on completing Matthew!!! Look forward to Mark & Luke! So refreshing and bringing Gods Word alive!

So was wishing that I could have heard the sermon yesterday and Tracy posted the points! THANKS! I see I missed alot!

HAPPY 24TH ANNIVERSARY CITN!!!! May your light continue to shine and His hand guide you and goodness and favor be upon you!!! Thank you!!!!

Much love & fab day!!!

Anonymous said...

I am on the edge of my seat to get a copy of MITN. Am really interested in what you said about the crucifixtion scene yesterday and anticipate an outstanding finish to MITN. Do you know when we can get the published copy and also can we get an autographed copy?

Unknown said...

Lord! 24 Points for 24 Years...so much to ponder and pull out...and I still have things to share about Chapter 25!

Guess I'll start with what seems to be a new song on the playlist...it greeted me as I arrived and I don't know how many times I've pressed replay since then...MercyMe's The Love of God...very cool.

Northern Light said...

Congrats on 24 years of CITN !!!
I already am planning on being ITB next year for the Silver 25th Anniversary,I assume it will be quite the party!

Nice description on YOU, Bish, today, on This Week On Streaming Faith. Has a blurb on you as one of the Featured Columnists. Nice!

Back from a weekend at State Youth with nearly 1000 teens....need to catch up on the blogs. Til then...

Peace,
Northern Light

Northern Light said...

P. Nancy....

BEAUUUUUUUTIFUL
You-Yube entry!
I pray I'm ITB one day when you do something like that again!

Peace,
Northern Light

Northern Light said...

yes........Bishop

Open the blogs for few days....or longer..haha

Peace,
Northern Light

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

P. Dennis, I know that Tracy posted the points you didn't get, but here's all of them together...I was going to post last night, but the boys and I went to see Angels and Demons (the movie...not actual angels and demons...)

24 Things I Learned In 24 Years of Pastoring CITN:

1. Vision is a living thing.

2. You can't fulfill your vision by yourself.

3. The gifts and callings of God are irrevocable and completely mysterious.

4. The Holy Spirit is the Helper.

5. Change is inevitable, but it's not easy.

6. Covenant means different things to different people.

7. A church is built largely on perception.

8. Visionaries are usually misunderstood.

9. It's OK to admit when you're wrong.

10. Revelation unites people.

11. Revelation divides people.

12. Important things can only be accomplished in the presence of agreement.

13. A church built on a RHEMA word must be willing to deal with the connection that people have to the LOGOS word.

14. The power of a decision can never be underestimated.

15. If you have a message, every of it will be tested in your life.

16. Fame can come in an instant, but greatness comes with longevity.

17. A multicultural church is a different thing.

18. The manifested presence of God is the most important thing in a prophetic ministry.

19. People want you to be transparent, but not too transparent.

20. Faith really can move mountains.

21. The Kingdom is at hand.

22. Love never fails.

23. TIME FLIES!

24. NOW IS ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS!

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Yeah, Avatar...I noticed that there were several broken links on the playlist, so I added I think maybe 8 or 9 new songs (I like to keep the list @ 100...don't know why...I just do)

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

I didn't know that about Streaming Faith...thanks, NL...and nice to have you back in top blogging form...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Thanks, Brenda, and yes, I'm going to post Mark In The Now (started on it this morning, in fact...)

It was nice to have all of your daughters together with you in service yesterday...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Here's the whole verse, P. Dennis...thanks for the input...

"So because all the power is mine, you are authorized and qualified to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the Name of the God Who has been revealed throughout history as The Father...Who has been revealed to this nation as the Son...and Who will now be revealed to the whole earth as the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19, MITN)

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

And thanks, everyone, for your comments here, and for making yesterday a great day...

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting the points again Bishop. Teresa does a good job of taking notes and sometimes I fill in when she isn't there but we missed most of point thirteen which is about the most important thing that I've learned under your teaching.

13. A church built on a RHEMA word must be willing to deal with the connection that people have to the LOGOS word.

To be honest I had never heard the term RHEMA correctly until you taught on it. My perception of that word was somewhat askew as I had heard about the school by that name and what I heard left me with a type of predjudice against the word. That is funny to me now but at the same time it digs at me at times when I catch myself out of ballance in the LOGOS. For the most part the Written word is beautiful to me and you have shared your love for it with us too. It is even more beautiful when seen from a whole point of view taking into perspective what it means today and what it means to me as an individual. Many have complimented you on your work with MITN and JITN including me but there are many others who will give serious thought to your work in the days soon to come as humanity grows to the point that our intelligent technology helps us to understand more of the mysteries involved in that connection we have with each other and with the Progenitor of our existence in what we now refer to as the supernatural realm. I love what I've learned about Rhema and know that it has always been there just as the Holy Spirit is always there.

Also just want to acknowledge that your congregation is an excellent reflection of what you have taught. It catches my spiritual eye constantly how quick they are to care for each other and those that are new to the church. I can't explain my own slowness to act but know that I've been both benefited and beneficial by being here.

Many continued prayers for all and in agreement with all for blessings and life.

Just a quick shout out to Tracy for the compassionate response to Pastor Dennis. That is the kind of thing that I referred to above that catches my attention often.

JB

Unknown said...

In the interest of "moving on", I think I will add my agreement to JB's selection...#13. "A Church built on RHEMA must be willing to deal with the connection that people have to the LOGOS."

That connection is strong...but Love never fails. Discovering the "now" of the verb "love" is exciting and scary...but worth it all in the end.

JB also mentioned caring that catches his spiritual eye. I believe his is the eye that is searching for the manifestation of the Christ, the coming of the Kingdom on the earth...when all who see us will see Him because they KNOW that we love each other...clay feet and glorified feet...all in agreement on what really matters.