Ministry

To Honor Jesus Christ, Glorify God, Encourage Believers, & Warn All
Est 12-26-2010 Changed ---

This information is offered with the hope that YOU can come to KNOW the Lord personally.

I was 16 1/2 and by this time I was into drug use (powder & rock cocaine/marijuana/acid), my life was out of control. I committed a sin that had absolutely crossed the line (not the first time). Plainly I was on the fast lane to hell. But one day out of the blue I found myself walking across a 4 acre yard by myself, I was not high or drunk nothing like that. As I was walking, I heard a voice loud and clear! It was coming from my heart but I could hear it clearly and It said "today you will choose". I got so scared and felt like I was going to die, I began to shake and this terrible fear came over me immediately!! I responded "no, this cant be happening" I was terrified!! But just then I heard another voice that said " naah, your just tripping keep walking" this voice was different because it was in my mind! I was sooo scared I felt as if I was going to die that day. I said "no this cant be their gonna think I'm crazy!!" and I heard the voice in my heart again "today you will choose" I don't know what lead me to say "God, is that you??" (MY HAIRS ARE STANDING UP RIGHT NOW AS I RE-LIVE THAT DAY) As I was going through this all these weird feelings were going on so fast around me... I felt like I was in a circle and outside of that circle was sheer darkness, it was scary!! But the funny thing was that I felt safe as long as I stayed in the circle I was safe (I know what that was today, but that was the only way I could describe it that day!) I really thought I was going to die!! I immediately knew that I would have to change completely!! I said "no, their gonna think I'm crazy" and just as I said that every sin that I had committed began to play like a movie in my mind and I knew right then and there that God was calling me!! I was sobbing by this time, I mean sobbing not crying! This was a heart wrenching sobbing and believe me there is a difference.... I remembered hearing about this man Jesus that came to die in my place and that if I put my trust in Him and surrender to Him that I would get a fresh start... To this day I am not sure where I heard that... But nonetheless I fell to my knees and began to pray the only prayer I knew.. The our Father who art in heaven (my catholic background)... I fell to my knees and was crying so deep and began to pray I said "yes Lord, yes I will follow" I have no idea how all this information came to me (Holy Spirit) but I said "yes" and cried and prayed the only prayer I knew... before I was even done praying I felt the sun shinning on my face and this sun (Son) rising in my heart.. I looked up and I felt this awesome wonderful forgiving joy in my heart and buddy I knew I had been forgiven... I felt this weight being lifted off my shoulders.. it was so wonderful... I could not forget it!! I pray I never do... It was so awesome.. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I was forgiven!! I had just met The Almighty Savior.... My tears dried up as I looked up at the sky and had this amazing feeling joy in my heart that I couldn’t help but to smile and cry of joy!!! I had been forgiven and I knew it!!! God was right there saving me and accepting me and washing me clean!! (I cry of joy every time I re-live this moment, even now!) ....

I remember my prayer that day "Lord, now I understand why you made Eve for Adam. I'm alone and although I have You in my life I need flesh of my flesh" I continued to pray " Lord I'm going back into the world to find my mate, I know that seven times as many demons as plagued me will enter me but I believe in Your power, please bring me back to You"..... Russell, His response was "WAIT" mine was "Lord, You don’t know what color eyes I like"..... "WAIT"..."No Lord, Ill be back".... What a fool!! I was nothing but a spoiled young.. spiritually immature, rebellious child of God.... Well Its been hell!! God is faithful He's never left me nor forsaken me, even though He showed me so much I still disobeyed knowingly... All these things have allowed me to learn so much about our evil human disobedient nature.... He has taught me and its been through suffering and trials!!! I dare not disobey again... no way.. God forbid!!

1. I've been noticing now for some time that knowledge puffeth up... I see (in others) and in myself that arrogance and pride-fullness does set in... From reading I see that you also have studied (Degree???) and I get the sense that God has taught you some things about the error of pride... I've prayed The Lord keep me humble.... I am (was) going for a Degree... I have also been considering taking Seminary classes..(I'm a 10th grade drop out)... WHAT CAN YOU SHARE WITH ME IN REGARD TO THIS... IN YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCE WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO STUDY and get the background information(history. world views, etc..) to be able to teach others... I do not want to have a church.. or work for a Seminary anymore because I don’t like some of the feelings I've been getting, I don’t want to think of myself highly...My heart is wicked!! I'm scared to get sucked into something that I will waste years and find that its not the way to go... I've wasted to many years already (by compromise) ...time is short!! The Lord is coming to take His Bride soon..... People need to know that!! I know its by studying scripture, but don’t we also need to learn in a class setting as well??? If not how else can we prepare for ministry work??

2. Its gotten to the point that buildings and million dollar facilities is not what I want to do... I see so much need to help the poor!! Help one at a time... or just donate to the poor individually instead of to a building fund!!! I'm just not sure about whether that is where I want to help financially anymore.. I'm sorry I don't want to come across wrong..... Is it always about buildings and big money projects in ministry??? or is it just me?? it sure seems that way.. I'm not a big shot or nothing like that, I've helped little churches and now I'm helping another... but the days are short and I do not think that they are concerned about helping the poor... I talk to them about where we are in our prophetic timeline but its all about a building... I'm very torn...why are they not concerned?? Is it more important to help build up a place where people would be taught or give to the poor???

Thank you so much for writing to me and sharing your faith. Thank you for letting me know that my writing has been a blessing to you. As you probably know, serving the Lord is a lonely “business.” When you tell me that my writing builds your faith, I am overjoyed. I am crying now.

Serving the Lord is a lonely “business” for many reasons. The first is that you have to die before you can even serve the Lord. Dying does not take place in the seminary. It takes place when you are alone with the Lord and His dealings.

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. Psalms 38:11

Because of this truth whenever I hear one of His children speak, it is a great joy to me.

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. I John 3:14

I normally do not send out emails or question authors of any web site or blog, but I am on my fourth day of constant reading of your work and had to ask some questions. I beg for your time please.

Let me start by saying that I love God's Word and have found it to be true. The transformation that has been taking shape in my life for over 23 years has not been easy. God loved me first and I'm captivated by His mercy. I do not deserve His love, but thank God that He came to save me. I have even questioned Him as to why He has wasted His time with me, I've failed so terribly even though my conversion was a genuine one. Please grace me with some of your time I will share my testimony of God's calling in my life.

So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. Job 2:13

But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, WEPT with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for JOY: So that the people could NOT DISCERN the noise of the shout of JOY from the noise of the WEEPING of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. -- Ezra 3:13

I got home right after this encounter with God and ran in my room, there was a bible there and I knew that I could find the answers in it!! I prayed and asked the Lord that if this was Him if He would please reveal Himself to me and I flipped open this bible and began to read where my eyes landed. I landed on the story of Saul on the road to Damascus and it was as if The Lord himself jumped out of the pages and began to speak to me... My life changed that very day... I know understand why the Apostles died before recanting and denying what they knew to be true!! Jesus is REAL!!!

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32

The Lord was so good to me and began to teach me Himself thru my reading in my room nightly for hours, I never went to church or even had Believers around me but God taught me so much directly!! He is amazing!! But Ill tell you something else I've learned, man IS rotten!! I walked away from Him 1 1/2 years later because I found myself alone (I was 18), no one would talk to me because all I did was preach Jesus!!

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. I John 2:27

I made many mistakes with women but the BIGGEST MISTAKE of all was not waiting upon the Lord. I have a wife now whom the Lord sent. I told the Lord - “I am tired of making mistakes and choosing my own way. If you want me to have a woman, bring her here and put her right in front of me. Otherwise, I am not going out on my own to find one.” Believe me, I learned this lesson the hard way. I am not sure there is any other way to learn a lesson. There is still fallout in the lives of my children and I am trusting the Lord to fix it. Wait on the Lord is the lesson, then and now.

Thank you for your patience, I pray The Lord bless me with your time.. Sorry for the story book... You have spoken so many truths and I can tell that your life has much to teach mine. It’s a fact only and only after you come to the end of yourself can one be truly transformed... that’s what's got my attention in reading your work!

I've been noticing now for some time that knowledge puffeth up... I see (in others) and in myself that arrogance and pride-fullness does set in... From reading I see that you also have studied (Degree???) and I get the sense that God has taught you some things about the error of pride... I've prayed The Lord keep me humble.... I am (was) going for a Degree... I have also been considering taking Seminary classes..(I'm a 10th grade drop out)... WHAT CAN YOU SHARE WITH ME IN REGARD TO THIS... IN YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCE WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO STUDY and get the background information(history. world views, etc..) to be able to teach others... I do not want to have a church.. or work for a Seminary anymore because I don’t like some of the feelings I've been getting, I don’t want to think of myself highly...My heart is wicked!! I'm scared to get sucked into something that I will waste years and find that its not the way to go... I've wasted to many years already (by compromise) ...time is short!! The Lord is coming to take His Bride soon..... People need to know that!! I know its by studying scripture, but don’t we also need to learn in a class setting as well??? If not how else can we prepare for ministry work??

The Lord will equip you and prepare you and those that need you will be brought to you, Be still and wait on the Lord and listen for His voice. The Lord will lay upon your heart the things to do/say. Be slow to speak. The Lord will give you things that you will give to others when the time is right. Remember this- YOU are the primary beneficiary of the Lord's teaching. You are His child. He will not fail to teach His children.

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21

Notice in this verse that you are going to turn to the right and then you will hear a word.

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: Isaiah 30:20

The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. Prov 16:1

When I was a teenager I wanted to be a preacher but the more I learned about the “church” the more I realized I would have to compromise with the Lord to be a part of the mainline denominations. It was A.W. Tozer who said that Jesus Christ has NO AUTHORITY in the mainline denominations. He said that in 1964. How bad is it now? Worse. I feared religion greatly. Religion is the tool of Satan and the enemy of God.

The church has been corrupted by Jesuits, Catholicism/Communism disguised as the Social Gospel, man-centric do-goodism, self-righteousness, the prosperity gospel, and corrupted Bibles like the NIV. Vatican II united the Communists and the Vatican in 1963. Yes, it has been happening since then. It is amazing to me how Roman Catholic the big Protestant churches are. It is amazing to me how spiritually dead the churches are. There is very little repentance in the church.

Me personally, I would stay away from seminary completely. The alternative spelling for seminary is cemetery.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Cor 2:14

As far as outside reading goes, if you know what the Bible says, you know how to interpret other books.

I will be 63 years old soon and I have been studying Bible prophecy and related history and economics books for around 40 years. I wrote a book once that referenced 127 books that I had read. One of my favorite authors is Watchman Nee, a believer under the Communist Chinese government. Basically, my Dad told me this-

...yea, let God be true, but every man a liar... Roman 3:4 As long as you follow this rule, you will prosper in study. Do not allow one single lie to take root for a second.

Its gotten to the point that buildings and million dollar facilities is not what I want to do... I see so much need to help the poor!! Help one at a time... or just donate to the poor individually instead of to a building fund!!! I'm just not sure about whether that is where I want to help financially anymore.. I'm sorry I don't want to come across wrong..... Is it always about buildings and big money projects in ministry??? or is it just me?? it sure seems that way.. I'm not a big shot or nothing like that, I've helped little churches and now I'm helping another... but the days are short and I do not think that they are concerned about helping the poor... I talk to them about where we are in our prophetic timeline but its all about a building... I'm very torn...why are they not concerned?? Is it more important to help build up a place where people would be taught or give to the poor???

I have heard of many stories of churches not really concerned about individual poverty situations because it does not fit their “program.” I go down to the church and try to discuss the second coming and nobody wants to discuss it. I hate to say this but the church, as we know it, is (in the main) a business. I do not see many (if any) broken, repentant “Christians.” A lot of church-goers are lost and have no idea of their spiritual condition.

My idea would be to have a place for the downtrodden to come for spiritual food and physical food.

The Lord moved me to take an 8 hour class to become qualified as a prison volunteer.

Worship happens when you are broken by the Lord. When you are in affliction is when the work begins.

On my first trip to the prison NOBODY came and sat at my table. Smile. The inmates may sit wherever they like.

On my second trip to the prison I was witnessing to an inmate (because he chose to sit down at my table directly in front of me). He was around 24 years old. At the beginning I gave him a salvation tract entitled Room 310 and we began to discuss that God is in charge of everything and that God would afflict us to teach us. After maybe 15 minutes...

He was holding Room 310 in his hands when I asked, “do you know why you are in prison?”

He paused for what appeared like eternity and asked, “Do you know the address here?”

I do not know how it got there, but, I knew in my spirit that it was confirmation that the young man was saved.

That was the last time I went to the prison because I knew in my spirit that the young man was why I was sent to the prison. [God had placed it upon my heart to go to the prison in the beginning.]

After I was divorced from my children's mother I had to sell my business. I could not find a job for 7 months. I sent out 250 resumes and had 2 interviews and no job. I was “over qualified” and “would not stay” etc. My two oldest were grown and out of the house. My youngest, David, was living in terrible conditions with his mother, a now-deceased alcoholic. We lived in the same town in South Carolina. I had to pay child support or they would put me in jail. It was $1100 per month. I was seeking to get custody but that was to come years later. Meanwhile, a headhunter friend of mine called me and said he had a job in North Carolina. I took the job making 42,000 a year. I drove to South Carolina every Friday and back to North Carolina every Sunday for two years.

While I was in North Carolina, the headhunter who put me there did not call me for 9 months.

This was totally unlike him because in the past (when I owned a business) I had hired him to find people for me and he was always talking to me.

One afternoon, after I had been there for 9 months, a local Christian group was having a dinner with a speaker. The speaker called around 4:00 PM and said he was sick and could not come to the 6:30 PM dinner. They asked me to speak and I agreed. No sooner than I had accepted, the phone rang and it was the headhunter asking “How Are You?” (for the first time since I had arrived in North Carolina).

This call confirmed to me that the Lord was behind it all. That evening I gave a talk about the evils of pride and the work of the Lord God. According to the people, “you could have heard a pin drop” because I spoke with such conviction. I was told that 3 people accepted Christ that night. The director of the speaking ministry came and said, “You have a way with your words, would you like to speak on tour?” I asked, “May I say anything I want?” She said, “No.” I said “no, thank you.”

How is that for a “ministry?” The Lord's Word ministered to me my whole life and I shared that with the people for 45 minutes. I knew for a certainty in my spirit that the Lord prepared me to go there.

Once I was in the 53 Chevy parked in front of the house on a summer's eve. I was 19 years old and was reading the Bible. My Mom shouted out the door “You better come inside; it is too dark to read.” I shouted back, “Yes, but, I have the light.”

3. What, if any denomination are you?? I like the fact that you are not seeking glory from what I've noticed on your site... I'm curios because of your different but insightful views.

Please e-mail us with questions or comments today. I may be wrong, but, the Bible is never wrong.