CTIS

Every time you forget that character is one of God’s purposes for your life, you will become frustrated by your circumstances. You’ll wonder, Why is this happening to me? Why am I having such a difficult time?

One answer is that life is supposed to be difficult! It’s what enables us to grow. Remember, earth is not heaven! Many Christians misinterpret Jesus’ promise of the “abundant life” (John 10:10) to mean perfect health, a comfortable lifestyle, constant happiness, full realization of your dreams, and instant relief from problems through faith and prayer. In a word, they expect the Christian life to be easy. They expect heaven on earth.

This self-absorbed perspective treats God as a genie who simply exists to serve you in your selfish pursuit of personal fulfillment. But God is not your servant, and if you fall for the idea that life is supposed to be easy, either you will become severely disillusioned or you will live in denial of reality.

Never forget that life is not about you! You exist for God’s purposes, not vice versa.

God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development.

I need you all to SWYD and help me wish my father a Happy 93rd Birthday. God has bless the "Proctor family" with long life and a GREAT example of a man who truly loves God and His family. He is the BEST father in the world.

My life, spiritual relationship, marriage, and ministry is the better as a result of what he modeled in front of me!!! Thank you Lord for loving me enough to give me him as a pattern to follow and emulate.

Happy Birthday Dad. I love you!!!

Attention Kingdom Leaders,

In these ever changing times our message must remain the same, but our methodology must change with the times. Many sections of the bible teach that God is a God of freshness and change. "And no one purs new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins" (Lunke 5:37-38). New "wineskins" are essential, not optional, if you intend to communicate the gospel to this generation.

Learn and stand firm on biblically based principles and core values, but keep learning new methods to effectively communicate these to your culture.

Some things never change. Some things always do. And some things need to change.

Remember " The thinking and methodology that got you to where you are today will not take you to where you need to be tomorrow". It is important for you to notice what is no longer working and to find a new breakthrough.

Culture keeps changing, and we must know and respond to those changes, or our churches will turn into an old relic that lacks relevance or influence.

My wife would ask:

Has your church became your mother or parents church?

Meaning has your routine (program, song selection, order of service, sanctuary decor, teaching/preaching style and thinking) became your tradition.

Are you asking God to do the new in your ministry, but keep preventing Him with your way of thinking and methodology?

New wine is essential, NEVER optional. Wine is symbolic of the Anointing, joy, and it expresses the abundant blessing God provides. In the ancient Near East, with its scarcity of water, wine was a necessity rather than a luxury, so it came to symbolize sustenance and life.

Does your church have sustenance and life?