Releasing this Sunday

A Blessing

Don't Cast Your Pearls

Jesus warned us about casting our pearls before wine.  We pray to God for wisdom and He is never lacks in providing the wisdom we asked for in our daily needs.  Yet, there are some who have never prayed for wisdom.  To go further, they refuse to listen to you when you try to assist them though you see them going down a long and dangerous road.  Stop throwing the pearls of wisdom which God has so graciously given to you to swine.

If you find you are one of those swine, it is dangerous to be dumb.  Listen to those who know.  No one is ever too grown to have someone who can speak into their life with direction and wisdom.  Stop living life like a pig whose eyes are always towards the ground eating muddy grub.  Living life like an eagle means that wind is needed to soar high heights under your wings. That wind comes from the wisdom that could be provided by leaders in our life.  Listen and soar and discover a easier life
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Why We Don't Provide Financial Help at Living Waters

At Living Waters, we have only provided financial help one time to a family.  Once.  Only once. Simply put, we do not provide financial help to anyone as a church.  There are a couple of reasons why we do this and I will share them later.

My secretary had someone come by earlier this year to our offices and share with her a terrible sad story about her and her kids.  She simply asked for $20.  My secretary replied no.  The mother with her children left and guilt set in terribly upon her.  She actually ran after the mother and gave her $20.  That was a Tuesday.  Later that Saturday, she was in the braiding shop where she is also employed.  Who walks in?  The same mother who a few days earlier needed $20 was coming in to get her $180 braid.

In my almost 20 years in ministry, I have seen families and individuals (including some in leadership) use the church for financial assistance.  I have seen these same individuals or families leave the church immediately following the assistance.  I have always consoled myself that it was from some shame of knowing every week that they faced individuals who at one time had to knowledgable of their financial situation.  Now that was a time in the early 2000's when our country's economic condition was stronger and more vibrant.

Lately as a church, we have estimated that 50% of our calls to our ministry are a result of individuals and families needing financial assistance. (40% are sales calls)  Sadly, our answer is no.  There are a couple of reasons why and they are as followed:

1.  We don't have a tried and true system to know that those who need assistance are legitimate.

2. We have seen too many con artist and vagabonds who use the church for their personal financial advancement.  The church is not a bank.  Yet, the church has been used by many scammers to promote their financial agenda - no matter if it was to get alcohol at the local package store.   I would hate the add up all of the amount of money the church gives throughout the year to those who have ill intent.  I think it would place us in a state of shock.

3.  For regular attenders and members, a worship experience is simply better when you don't owe the church any money.  Yes, I know churches usually give the money with not intent of return but when you are the receiver, there is a feeling like you owe the church or God will be upset with you.

4.  We must encourage believers to not rely on the people of God but on the God of the people.  Believers must be encouraged to
stretch their faith.   I grew up on graduation day of college.  That day, my father took me to a local clothing store and loaded me up on clothes.  He then turned to me and said that was it.  No more financial help.  Never again have I ever turned to him for financial help.  Spiritually, I also grew up that day.  I had to learn to turn to my heavenly Father instead of my earthly father for help.  Believers need an opportunity to do the same.

5. We are called to be good stewards over our finances - not fools.  We should be protective over the funds of our church as we do over our families and ministries. Like I stated in the first part, we don't have a tried and true system.

6.  Across the board, this is our policy.  If you assist one, you must assist all.  Simple as that.

7.  We never forbid anyone from financially blessing others.  Karen and I financially bless individuals and families all the time and we love it! Yet, we express much wisdom in this matter and that is left up to each individual.  It releases the church from any responsibility.  In addition, the policy also frees up many who feel guilty when they can't!  Our policy is the Bible of our church when it comes to financial assistance.

I hope this helps pastor, lay leaders, and others who sometimes feel guilty or feel that it is just the churches job to financially assist.  I know this may not work with some churches.  I know this may be hard for others.  This is what helps us keep strong boundaries between our community and our church as well as our church and those who call Living Waters home.

Who You Are in Christ

I am the salt of the earth (Matt 5:13)

I am the light of the world (Matt 5:14)
I am a child of God (John 1:12)
I am a part of the true vine, a channel of Christ’s life (John 15:1,5)
I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)
I am chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit (John 15:16)
I am dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:11)
I am free from condemnation (Rom 8:1)
I am a son/daughter of God; God is spiritually my Father (Rom 8:14-15)
I am a joint heir with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him (Rom 8:17)
I am a temple-a dwelling place-of God. His Spirit and His life dwell in me (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19)
I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him (1 Cor 6:17)
I am a member of Christ’s Body (1 Cor 12:27)
I am a new creation (2 Cor 5:17)
I am reconciled to God and a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-19)
I am a son/daughter of God and one in Christ (Gal 3:26,28)
I am an heir of God since I am a son/daughter of God (Gal 4:6-7)
I am a saint (Eph 1:1)
I am God’s workmanship-His handiwork-born anew in Christ to do His work (Eph 2:10)
I am a fellow citizen with the rest of God’s family (Eph 2:19)
I am righteous and holy (Eph 4:24)
I am a citizen of heaven, seated in heaven with Christ right now (Phil 3:20, Eph 2:6)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3)
I am an expression of the life of Christ because He is my life (Col 3:4)
I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved (Col 3:12)
I am a son/daughter of light not of darkness (1 Thess 5:5)
I am a holy partaker of a heavenly calling (Heb 3:1)
I am a partaker of Christ; I share in His life (Heb 3:14)
I am one of God’s living stones, being built up in Christ with all other living stones as a spiritual house (1 Pet 2:5)
I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession (1 Pet 2:9-10)
I am an alien and stranger to the world (1 Pet 2:11)
I am an enemy of the devil (1 Pet 5:8)
I am a child of God and I will resemble Christ when He returns (1 John 3:1-2)
I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)

Because He is the great “I AM”, I am who He says I am

Gossip

It has no racial affiliation. It is not gender specific.  It will go wherever it is welcomed. It is an opportunist which seeps into everyone whose hearts are open to it.  It kills dreams, destroys relationships, breaks up organizations, and divides businesses.  It impedes progress.  It provides lack to opportunity.  It hangs out at water coolers, break rooms, phone lines, coffee shops, street corners, allys, pubs and clubs, and in the church.  It is not prejudice where it resides.  Like mold, it just needs the right conditions to grow and prosper.  Yet, its character is not to prosper to those who use it.  It is to destroy, break, divide, starve, and then break again.

     It goes by different names - slandering, buzz, rumoring, whispering - but I capsulize it as gossiping. Webster's Dictionary defines gossip as casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.  Rowland's Dictionary defines gossip as information from someone who has no life passing disinformation or half-truths to another who does not have a life about someone who does have a life. I believe Webster's has a more concise and professional definition.  No matter what you call it, what you name it, or how well you dress it, it is still nasty, dark, and ugly.  Rid this enemy and unity, trust, and peace will prevail.  Joy will abound in your organization among its many members.  Most importantly, life - must I say the abundant life - will invade your relationships, organizations, business, and circles.   

New Series Coming in August

An Excerpt from "The Making of a Man of God"

Book Trailer for 'Meditate'

An excerpt from "Meditate"

"Know that every time Satan devises smokescreens,  he is definitely counterfeiting something real and established by God.  The devil never created anything!  Since he is the father of lies, he falsifies and imitates the things of God.  I have found that God says a lot about meditating and specifically meditating on the Word of God."

an excerpt from "Meditate" which can now be purchased in the Kindle Store today!

An Excerpt from Pleading the Blood

“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. Exodus 12:12-13

 Think about this:  If any Israelite had made a fun of these unusual orders given by God through a man, or if anyone had claimed that Moses were mad and not capable of leading them any longer, then they would have died with no second chance. If they had decided to venture out in the middle of the night to see what was going on, even for one brief second, they would have perished, for they would not at that time have been under the blood.

Another thing to think about is if anyone had they sprinkled red tinted water or red paint or some other substance, it would not have been good enough.  They would have been smitten dead. 

It was to be a lamb without blemish, the most expensive one in the flock, nothing cheap or second rate. It was to be the best. Each house was to have a lamb, and that lamb would count for the whole house. There is tremendous truth here for Christian families. God wants to save entire families, and all Christians ought to claim the salvation of their households.  One Lamb, Jesus Christ, can save your entire household. 

An excerpt from "Pleading the Blood Over Your Family" by Jason Rowland.  Feel free to purchase your Kindle copy today in the Kindle Bookstore.  

Promotional Graphic for Pleading

The Enemy is More Scared of You!

The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”

But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.”  (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.

Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.  Joshua 2:2 -11

Before I go any further, let me just stop right here to go over a part of this story that could easily be read over too quickly without pondering.  Rahab told the Jewish spies great fear had fallen on them because they knew the Israelites or Jews were in the area.  On top of that, for 80 years they have been living in fear because of their reputation their God, our God, dried up the Red Sea and made a dry highway for them to escape Egypt.  For 80 years, they were living in fear of the Israelites! 

For 80 years, they wandered in the desert like babies constantly being fed and protected by God.  He was their constant source to provide quail, manna, and water for them.  They fully relied on God while when they crossed the Red Sea, they could have conquered and walked right into their Promise Land.

What have you been living in fear of for 80 years?  What about 80 days?  80 months?  Believers, why do we get so afraid of the devil or enemies who prowl around trying to devour us?  Let us grasp this importance that our enemies are more scared of us than we should be of them!  Our God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a mind that is sound.  Whatever you are going through, let God arise and all of His and your enemies be scattered! Go tackle and conquer your enemy and walk right into your promised land! 

excerpt from "Pleading the Blood Over Your Family" by Jason Rowland.  Click here to purchase your personal copy of "Pleading the Blood Over Your Family" from the Kindle Store. 

God Never Sleeps nor Slumbers

It is good to know that when I am awake in the middle of the nights with thoughts racing through my head, my God is not asleep.  He is right there waiting on me to bring him into the circumstances.  Every single time, He likes to come in, not choose sides, yet gently but powerfully take over.  The most important thing to do is to let Him in.  Invite him in.  Resign yourself from taking total control and give him control.  He is the God who sees.  He is the God who hears.  He is "I AM."  Whatever you need, HE IS.

Selah.

Offending the Religious

There is nothing more challenging nor affirming when you offend the religious.  Religion is usually inspired not by the Word of God but by people's opinions, cultures, and self-imposed rules.   Its bias and strong boundaries make the religious feel comfortable while at the same time repulsing those who want a simple relationship with Jesus Christ.  

Speaking of Jesus, it was the religious who constantly gave him a hard time.  Always inspecting everything He did according to their traditions - not according to the Scriptures.  Tradition builds religion.  Jesus Christ tears it down.  Religion tells you can't.  Jesus says you can.  Religion tells you to sit.  Jesus says you can fly like an eagle.  

Offending the Religious and making Jesus famous.  Sounds fun to me. 

Hello. I am a Pastor.

Hello.  I am a Pastor.  I am an accountant, a counselor, a writer, a leader, a painter, a contractor, a delivery man, a landscaper, a mediator, a cheerleader, a coach, a web designer, an interior designer, an exterior designer, a graphic designer, a worship leader, a nursery worker, a youth director, a single adult leader, a senior adult leader, a marriage counselor, a financial counselor, a janitor, as well as a leader in my own family.

Oh, and on top of that, if everything is successful, God gets all the glory.  If anything fails, lack creativity, lack enthusiasm, is dead, not up to par, not 'on fire' enough, then I get the blame.

And when all is said and done, Sunday comes around every seven days and guess who has to preach and teach?  Me.

Hello.  I am a Pastor.

Organize or Agonize

Organize or agonize. 

I read these words several years ago in one of John Maxwell earliest books on leadership.  It is easier said than done when you are a right brain, creative individual whose life seems to thrive in chaos than order.  Yet, over the years, I have discovered that the more organized that I am, the easier it is to think, lead, and operate.  

Lately, this quote has save a lot of time in finding things.  It is saved our household a lot of money when it comes to planning meals and dinners.   My team and family members hear this quote often when I am brought into a stressful situation when lack of planning has occurred. 

Try organizing today.  Discover its principle so that your day will run smoother, relationship will be stronger, and darn it, save a couple of dollars.  

Building Trust in this Age

Connection and leadership and trust are going to get ever more valuable. Sure, go ahead and shake your head in agreement, but when you get back to work, are you busy working in the scarce universe or trying to build a place for yourself in the new one?  - Seth Godin

Reading this quote by Seth Godin from his blog post "Scarcity and Abundance in the Digital Age" emphasized a conversation that I just had previously with our Daily Operations team.  We had just discussed about building more trust between our ministry and the great people who regularly attend our worship experiences.  I know we are ethically doing everything right but my knowing and people knowing are two different things.  

People don't trust the church.  They don't trust preachers, pastors, nor evangelist.  Yet, we expect them to keep giving to an institution they most likely do not trust.  The question is what do we do and how do we do it?  

I came up with two solutions: 

1. Communicate.  Communicate.  Communicate.  Then, when all is said and done, communicate again.  Give financial reports.  Show graphs.  All that boring stuff but in addition, tell stories.  Let people become familiar with the lives that are being changed in our organization because people give to our ministry. 

2. Keep all of our cards on the table.  I believe if you are hiding something, you are hiding something.  Don't withhold any information from anyone.  Answer all questions.  Leave no one with no more questions. 

We can't lose trust in this time of history.  Trustful leadership is needed in these times when leadership is falling around the world, in Washington, among the capital buildings across our country, local city halls, and yes, even in our churches and religious organizations. Trustful leadership begins now with huge dividends that will come later.    

Leadership Principles

I recent had a opportunity to coach a few local government professionals leadership principles that I use at Living Waters.  Not really knowing what they expected or needing, I shared my story of coming to Living Waters and my last three years of leading our organization to the place where it is today.  

The night before, I began writing every principle and/or value that I could share with them that I use in leadership.  Here is the list that I brought:

-  Your inferiorities will always show. 

- Your inferiorities make you and you team weak.

- You will always be offended when someone gets close to your inferiorities.

- Weaknesses and inferiorities are two different things.  Surround yourself with people who has strengths where you are weak. 

- Get over offenses now! 

- Fight for unity

- Communicate as much as you can verbally 

- Email the positives. Verbalize the negatives. 

- Correct privately. Praise publicly. 

- Celebrate often. 

-  Pray hard.

- Work hard.

- Play hard. 

- No gossiping. 

- I will always go to the person who I have issues with. 

- You can disagree with being disagreeable or difficult 

- You will never always have your way. 

- Keep all cards on table. Hiding is wrong. 

- Excellence is our minimum standard. 

- No problem moving people with weakness to their strengths. 

- I will never make everyone happy.  

- My mission is to do what is right. Not to make a few happy. 

- MLK Quote: it is always the right time to do the right thing.   So always do the right thing. 

- I know who I am. I am not who others say I am. 

- Gossippers and dividers immediately fired. That cancer will never survive. 

- People are more important than people. 

How We Rowland's Cut the Cord

I usually don't write on such personal subjects but as I share the story, many have questions about what we have done.  I am a preacher/teacher who loves television.  I grew up on TV.  I was a Saturday morning cartoon kid.   I have fond memories of coming home, finishing my homework, and watching television until it was time to go to bed.  Even as a kid, I enjoyed shows like Saturday Night Live and the Johnny Carson show because my parents would let me stay up late.


Suddenly, cable came into our home.  We went from three channels to twelve.  Eventually, we got to the 200 we all enjoy.  Just kidding.  Twenty years later, the DVR came into play.  Yes!  We would never miss a show again.  Never.  Ever.

As a father and a husband who loves television and will never preach against it, I have two boys who enjoy it the same. As well as a husband whose number one job is to make sure mommy is happy, it was my priority to make sure we could make a transition with little to no ripples.  We are paying $100 a month for satellite.  That amount was something that just didn't sit well with my frugal self.  So we went about exploring what was out there with the goal of not having cable or satellite.

Fortunately, we had a couple of extra dollars to experiment with many options that are out there - AppleTV, Roku, Boxee and the like.  My eyes for the longest time were on a device called simple.tv as well - something new coming to the market - it too records antennae television.  Personally, it didn't pan out.  We live in the Atlanta metro area so the antennae signal would be strong and give us more than the three channels I grew up on.

For Jacob's birthday in November, my 15 year old, he used his money to purchase a Roku XS - the one with games.  Suddenly, he dropped the cord before everyone else.  One day, he literally moved the satellite box out of his room and placed it downstairs to shipped away.

For Christmas, Joshua, my six year old, got a Roku XS for Christmas.  Wanting to be just like his older brother, he also fell in love with his Roku, cut the cord, and dropped the box.

Karen is a local content person.  She enjoys local programming - news, court and talk shows so accepting the antennae was easier for her than myself.  She just wanted to see shows she misses and be able to watch them at her leisure without having to get on her iPad or computer to view them.  I, on the other hand, enjoyed the shows that were no local.

Our boys were leading the way.  Seeing the trend, Karen and I purchased the new version of Boxee that lets you receive antennae or basic cable and it has an cloud DVR that lets your record your shows and stream it to and from a cloud base system.

Were we ready?  Well, our satellite went out and Biggest Loser was coming on.  I set up Karen's television with the antennae so we could see it.  Remember, make mommy happy.  The picture was digital delight for her.  So clear.  The reception was great.

The next day, I took the antennae that was fishing outside of our bedroom window and placed it up the attic.  I took the splitter left from the satellite company and ran the antennae signal to our bedroom and our family room.

Currently, the boys continue to run their Roku's.  Karen and I use Boxee in our perspective areas.  In our family room where I watch most of my television,  I have AppleTV, an HDMI DVD player, a Roku, and the Boxee set up there for multiple entertainment.  (We are also Redbox fans by renting dollar movies.)

If I were to rate each player:

1.  Roku by far is number one in my book.  Great expansion of channels, games, and entertaiment.

2.  Boxee has a long way to go.  I was in the first wave of iphone users.  I saw where the iphone could go back then.  I feel the same way now.  It has a long way to go but where it is going is going to be good.  It allows you to set up a hybrid system - antennae and streaming.  Roku is totally streaming.  Boxee is hybrid.

3. AppleTV.  What can I say. I am loyal to Apple.  I got it.  I use it, but it is no where compared to the Roku.  No where. Period.

Two more thing.  One is Internet.  You need a fast internet with speed.  We went from 5mb to 20mb by switching companies and we will save $15 a month after the trial period.  Pretty impressive.  The second is subscribe to Hulu and Netflix.  All our devices have Netflix and Hulu except for the Boxee.  It only has Netflix but I can see them getting Hulu soon.   In our home, streaming is what our boys (and the next generation) is doing.  Not going to do.  They are doing.

This switch has taken several months of experimenting and trying but we have finally cut the cord.  You have to find what works for you and your family.  I miss seeing Honey Boo Boo but until then, I am enjoying saving money and spending more time with my family.

Tither's Confession

From our giving envelopes:

Tither's Confession

I confess that the windows of heaven are being opened.  Blessings are being poured out - there's not enough room to receive it!  Surely I will shout,  "It is enough! It is enough!"  God Himself has rebuked the devourer for my sake.  The fruit of my ground will be destroyed.  My vine won't cast fruit before the time.  Nations will call me blessed.  I will be a delightsome land.  Today I am experiencing God's supernatural increase and I will in it by faith.  I call it done in Jesus' name. And, Lord, I worship You.

Follow the Leader

     One principle regarding leadership is the game or activity we used to play when we were kids - follow the leader.  It is a simple premise of people will do what I do; not just what I say.  Leadership involves action and a leaders action will be seen.
     One the most exciting things for Karen and I to do is to be generous.  One the hardest things for Karen and I to do is to lead it. . . publicly.  For years, Karen led our family in generosity.   Quietly, we would bless families who were having a hard time.  We would give cars to those in need of transportation.  It is common to see the trunks of our cars filled with clothes or groceries so that we can bless a family in need of food or full of boys like ours.
     I understood in order to lead our church into a life of generosity, I had to do many of those things publicly and from the stage.  And the most important time I needed to do it has been through church wide capital campaigns.  As I lead our ministry which is located in the poorest part of the poorest county in the Atlanta metro area, it is important for the everyone to know that the leader is leading even in giving.
Follow the leader is simple.  It is a do what I am doing, not what I am saying.  Leading your family, leading a major corporation, or leading your pet, people (or animals) are following you.  Are you the kind of leader you would like to follow?  Are you setting the right example in words and deeds?  Are you doing what is right at home, in public, as well as in your place of employment?  People are watching.  They maybe following you.

Sonia Ray's Meditation on the Word for Her Healing

Sonia Ray's Kitchen Wall

In my years of church leadership, I have never met a more determined and focused individual as Sonia Ray.  Two years ago, Sonia was diagnosed with breast cancer.  After her diagnosis, her healing became her prime focus. In her need to achieve healing, she would have to meditate daily regarding what God had said regarding her disease.  To do this, she took a permanent marker and wrote verses in her kitchen.  The main verse she stood on was "may you live to see your children's children." Psalm 128:6  Other verses on her wall included Jeremiah 30:17 which God says "I will restore you to health and heal your wounds" and Psalm 91:16 which God says, "With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
How is Sonia doing today?  Healed and delivered from breast cancer, she is worshipping the Lord on Sundays at Living Waters Atlanta for her healing and salvation.  In addition, she serves in our Pastoral Care Team where she shares these same verses and many more which are on her wall to those who are in need of healing.

Religion vs. Relationships

Heard a quote this week that I am stealing:

"Religion makes you change before you are accepted.  In Christ, you are accepted before you are to change."  Matthew Barnett from LA's Dream Center

Fire yourself in changing people.  Hire the Holy Spirit to do that.  Sit back and let God do His thing.

Selah.

5 Things I Know about My Church

Living Waters Atlanta blows my mind a lot! Here are 5 things I know about my church this week:

1.  Living Waters is the most caring church who truly places people first before anything else. 

2.  We work hard to kick religion out with all of it forms of rules and formalities and lead people into a growing relationship with Christ. 

3. No one gives more than we do.  Many may not match the financial level of others in giving but they more than make it up in love and giving of in-kind donations. 

4. We are a positively pentecostal church.  We love people.  We love God and His fullness.  Our prayer on Sundays are for the Holy Spirit to 'plow' through our hearts, our families, our careers, our dreams, and our visions. 

5. This is just the beginning.  What God is doing in our church and in our community is just beginning. We ain't seen nothing yet!

The Great Experiment

Living Waters is located in the poorest county in the metro area in the poorest part of the poorest county in the metro area.   The economy has ravaged our community.  Though business have dried up, I thank God that we are in the people business and not in the free enterprise system.

For us to step up and be our brother's keeper,  I announced last month that we would try this grand experiment to provide a free breakfast for 'whosoever' in our community.  After months of desiring to see this, I stood up in the middle of a message about serving and declared without consulting any of my leadership or the opinions of my peers.  This announcement was received with an arousing applause!  Suddenly, the floodgates opened and businesses found out and began donating to this endeavor.

I believe God meets us where we step out on a limb.  I heard a story one time about faith.  Faith is standing on the end of a limb with the devil at the other end of the limb near the trunk of the tree with a chain saw.  When the chainsaw cuts through the limb, the limb and you are still standing but the tree falls down.  I know cartoon pictures maybe going through your mind right now but this is how faith works.

I also believe all of the people and businesses that have stepped up is not only because we are doing it.  It is because there are some people in real need of a small meal on Sunday mornings.  God cares more about our community than we will ever.  There is an african saying, "God can't sleep."  When it comes to our city and county, He is still the God who never sleeps nor slumbers!" His eye is on Clayton County, Riverdale, and Living Waters - most importantly, YOU!

Our Church

At Living Waters, there are no big or small people, no rich or poor, no race or nation.   We are the Kingdom of God who are destined to change Atlanta!  I am proud of our leadership and the people of Living Waters.  They pray hard.  They give hard.  They serve hard.  They love hard.

They love God and they love others.  They place people first because people are the ones who make up  our church - not brick and mortar.  The poor and the homeless serve right beside doctors, nurses, and other professionals.  Together, we are the Kingdom of God.  

Our campus has a long way to go to be impressive.  I use the word 'impressive' not because we want to build a nice facility for ourselves.  We want to build a nice facility for our guest - who will later become owners at Living Waters.

Our city is not one that people flock to but we believe people will flock to what God is doing in our church.  Can anything good come out of Riverdale? YES!  Its that church, our church, Living Waters!  People will come and know that God is here and be amazed, saved, delivered, and healed.

We are the body of Christ.  We are the called and the chosen to change Atlanta forever!

My Bethel

Rockdale South River Trail

 This year for economic reasons,  we decided to cut back on facility usage throughout the week which in turn has saved us thousands of dollars.  I have always said wherever my bag is, which contains my laptop, iPad, and my phone, is where my office is.  I have also designed a great home office in which to study, write, and prepare for the most important hour of the week - our worship experience.

I have never been the one to tell people how to pray.  In addition to dieting, exercising,  studying, and the like, I believe each person must find their 'zone' which makes their achievements possible.

Prayer has always been important to me as a minister but most importantly as a husband, father, and leader.  Because I work from home, I found a great place to walk, run, and talk with God - the Rockdale South River Trail.  This place is magical to me personally. Jacob had his Bethel - the place where he wrestled with God.  This trail has become my Bethel.  

On the trail, I have cried, worship, prayed, begged God to help me up a hill while running, interceded for families and individuals in our church, and argued with God.  Every time I have completed the trail, I have sensed His presence and assurance.

Let me encourage you to pray.  Find your Bethel.

Honoring our Elders

I had the distinct pleasure today to eat with four gentlemen - elders of our faith. At Living Waters, we honor our elders. With esteem them highly and greatly. Our society and culture has lost sight of the wisdom of our elders. We choose not to forget. Instead, we choose to sit at their feet, gain from their wisdom, and honor them to the highest degree.

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212º

Excerpt from the book, 212º:

"At 211º, water is hot.  At 212º, it boils. With boiling water, come steam.  And with steam you can power a train.  Its time to turn up the heat."

Relational Beings

From "I Love My Church because I Don't Have to Do Life Alone":

God created us to be relational people.  God did not create us to be alone.  

Since the beginning of time, God has not wanted man to be alone.  Adam walked in the cool of the garden with the creator of the universe.  Had the opportunity to have animals all around him and was given the priviledge to name all of the animals but God looked at Adam and desired that he not be alone so he created Eve for companionship.  Life is always better when you are with someone.   

It is not fun to eat out alone.  I get the priviledge sometimes especially when I get a little stress and Karen will have meetings to eat at a Brazilian restaurant that I enjoy.  But I love it a whole lot better when I get to be accompanied by my wife.  More than that, I love taking people there who have never been.  Life is always better when you are with someone. 

Who wants to go to Six Flags by themselves?  Who would like to explore the Magic Kingdom at Disney World by yourself?  Life is always better when you are with someone.  I love my church because I don’t have to do life alone!