Malvaro's Cozy Library

[Malvaro]

http://snowdonhopkins.com/graphics/VailLibraryFireplace670x530.jpg

[Ron]

Hey Malvaro! Good to see ya set up in your spread!

[Sister Truth Seeker]

Nice Mal....I need a cozy fire this morning....I can't sleep and my toes is cold! This just feels cozy...I brought my afghan and some coffee with me to read...I promise I won't spill....


But could you please make Ron be quiet...all that giggling is annoying when I am trying to read!

[Malvaro]

I got a mean, cut-throat :drawguns conference call with a corporate rep I have to attend in the next few minutes.... I'm not looking forward to trying to hack it out with this fellow.... it would be so much easier if he just accepted my stance, without the grumblings that always seem to follow....

[Sister Truth Seeker]

I got a mean, cut-throat :drawguns conference call with a corporate rep I have to attend in the next few minutes.... I'm not looking forward to trying to hack it out with this fellow.... it would be so much easier if he just accepted my stance, without the grumblings that always seem to follow....

I will pray for you Mal....

[Malvaro]

I will pray for you Mal....

thanks for your prayer.... it went much better than expected and i was able to close it out in under an hour, with him supporting my business proposal....

[Malvaro]

well folks, I'm tired and going to get some sleep....

[Malvaro]

Taken from my recent Developing Christian Character class....


http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-07-15-alligator-feeding_x.htm?csp=34

Officers target alligator feeders
By BRIAN SKOLOFF

IN THE EVERGLADES, Fla. - Crusty's days are numbered.

The well-known 8-foot alligator has become so accustomed to people feeding him that his demise is certain. Because state wildlife managers worry all his snacks will make him aggressive, they will have to remove him from a canal along Florida's Alligator Alley in the Everglades and euthanize him.

To keep from having to kill even more alligators, officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched a three-day undercover sting operation in Broward County on Friday aimed at catching gator feeders in the act.

It's a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by a fine and up to 60 days in jail. Jeffrey Bush, 43, of Fort Lauderdale, learned the hard way. Officers say they caught him tossing a fish to Crusty on Friday morning.

''I wasn't really trying to feed the dumb animal,'' Bush said. ''I was just throwing stuff at him to get him to move and one of those things happened to be a fish.''
Bush will now have to argue his case in court.

''People think that throwing one hot dog in the water, a fish, a piece of bread or an M&M means nothing, but the fact is that act modifies the animal's behavior and now you have a potentially dangerous, fatal situation,'' said officer Chuck Ehrismann. ''They start to see humans as a food source.'' ....

"People see an alligator as this slow beast that can't possibly take a large mammal. Even though it swims gracefully, it is an animal that in the wild on a daily basis takes down deer and hogs,'' Ehrismann said. ''The alligator has the strongest downward biting force of any animal in the world.'' ''We're talking about close to 4,000 pounds of pressure per square inch,'' he added.

.... In 2004, more than 7,000 alligators had to be killed after becoming too accustomed to people and too dangerous to leave in the wild, according to the commission. Figures for 2005 were not available. ARTICLE END


Sound familiar? Don’t let your character get out of control. The act of feeding a bad character flaw now may seem innocent, but it will eventually catch up with you and do SERIOUS damage.

[rgcraig]

I forgot about your comfy, cozy library picture!

[Malvaro]

I soooooo wanna be there.... last week was a long week....

[Ron]

Hey Malvaro, what is it that you do at your work?

[Malvaro]

I am a department analyst.... I supply weekly agent performance reports and monthly/quarterly performance reports, in addition to many odds-n-ends tasks throughout the week....

[Ron]

I am a department analyst.... I supply weekly agent performance reports and monthly/quarterly performance reports, in addition to many odds-n-ends tasks throughout the week....

A "Bureaucrat!!":jaw


Noun

1. An official of a bureaucracy.
2. An official who is rigidly devoted to the details of administrative procedure.
3. An official who works by fixed routine without exercising intelligent judgment.:D

[Malvaro]

A "Bureaucrat!!":jaw


Noun

1. An official of a bureaucracy.
2. An official who is rigidly devoted to the details of administrative procedure.
3. An official who works by fixed routine without exercising intelligent judgment.:D

If you want to ever take a stab at doing my job, just let me know :D

[Ron]

If you want to ever take a stab at doing my job, just let me know :D

Naww! You probably don't get paid near enough I'm sure!!!:thumbsup

[Malvaro]

O magnify the LORD with me

Psalms 34
1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

magnify:

to increase the apparent size of, as a lens does.
to make more exciting; intensify; dramatize; heighten


We know that God will not grow any better in size or power than what He has always been (Hebrews 13:8), but our perception of Him can change....

which means that if we magnify God, He will begin to seem to become bigger than ever before in our eyes.... magnifying God will also make your relationship with Him more exciting, intensified, dramatized, and heightened....

feel like you need a "big" God to take care of your "big" problems.... magnify God awhile.... and He can do it!!!

[Malvaro]

I AM A CHRISTIAN

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting, "I'm clean livin."
I'm whispering, "I was lost,"
Now I'm found and forgiven.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need CHRIST to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and need HIS strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches
So, I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
who received God's good grace, somehow.

Maya Angelou

[Malvaro]

APOSTOLIC MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 03-06

http://www.nlpc.net/verify.htm

[Tina]

O magnify the LORD with me



magnify:

to increase the apparent size of, as a lens does.
to make more exciting; intensify; dramatize; heighten


We know that God will not grow any better in size or power than what He has always been (Hebrews 13:8), but our perception of Him can change....

which means that if we magnify God, He will begin to seem to become bigger than ever before in our eyes.... magnifying God will also make your relationship with Him more exciting, intensified, dramatized, and heightened....

feel like you need a "big" God to take care of your "big" problems.... magnify God awhile.... and He can do it!!!

Thanks Malv... I'm going to print this out and mail it to a friend who's really going through something and could use this little reminder...

[Malvaro]

I almost got smucked by a semi driving home last night.... I was beginning to pass him and he started to merge into my lane then swerved back when he saw me in his mirrors....

it seems that God is still in the protection business.... :D

[Malvaro]

woohoo... i am 16th in line at the Cingular Tech Support Chat room.... :D

[Malvaro]

Stevo, the tech is a slow typer :D

[Malvaro]

Stevo, fixed my D807 phone in about 10 minutes.... woohoo!!!

[Malvaro]

well folks, I'm off to Gatlinburg TN for the next 3 days with no internet access.... everyone be good.... :D

[Ron]

well folks, I'm off to Gatlinburg TN for the next 3 days with no internet access.... everyone be good.... :D

Well Malvaro, that is a tall order-but I'll try!:D

Have a great trip!:tiphat

[Malvaro]

well folks, I'm off to Gatlinburg TN for the next 3 days with no internet access.... everyone be good.... :D

Since we missed church on Sunday morning due to travel, Pastor wanted us to have a devotional instead, which yours truly was obligated to provide. I always have a few Aces up my "long-sleeve" in regards to thoughts, messages, etc and this time was no different. Having gone to bed Sat night with a thought settled, I didn't suspect to be drawn in another direction in the morning. Regardless, God is still Boss.... and I just tag along for the ride :D

Here's what God showed me:

I Sam 13:22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.


In this end time, people even within the Church are ill-equipped and weaponless due to lack of prayer/lack of Word
(I recently heard a wonderful message about Where's the Smith?).
Saul and Jonathan were both equipped with a sword to fight.


I Sam 14:2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;


We find Saul and his six hundred men not moving, just staying put... while Jonathan and his armorer-bearer had already left. Jonathan had stepped out of the shadow of his father's company
There comes a time when we gotta stop riding on the coat-tales of our heritage. There are some fights that your Momma and Daddy can't fight for you. Your praying Grandma or aunt or uncle can't pave the way to some victories. It doesn't make a difference whether you can claim to be 5th generation Pentecostal or 25th generation.....God has no spiritual grandchildren; we are all first generation children of God! Our future is not determined by the victories or failures of our family; sometimes we have to stand alone and know that God will fight with us. Ultimately, you have to make the decision that some battles are worth fighting regardless of personal risk.


I Sam 14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.


Long before David ever even thought about slaying a giant, and stated, "This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand..." (I Sam 17) Jonathan already determined that God "will work for us" not "might" or "probably" but "will"... 100% without question. We have to 100% trust that God will work for us before we go to battle. If God be for us, who can be against us.... (Romans 8:31)
Jonathan understood the principle that God could as easily provide a victory by the hands of two people as by the hands of 600, and thus he was courageous and willing to fight. God will always use willing and available vessels.


I Sam 14:7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.


You gotta make a "heart" decision before you ever face the enemies that battle against you. You gotta know in the depths of your heart that "I am willing to fight this battle if no one else is nearby to fight with me." You gotta know that no matter what happens around you that you heart is set and your mind is made up that this battle is worth fighting for. Where others might run and retreat, a heart that is settled will stay until the final victor stands....

I Sam 14:8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.


Before you ever step foot to battle you have "discover yourself" or in modern words "reveal yourself" to your enemy. You have to make a stand and make a declaration that I will fight against you, my enemy. While others may cower and be unwilling to face the battle you are about ready to fight... you must reveal to a) yourself b) your enemies and c) anyone around you so there is no question as to your intentions and willingness to fight. Your mind has to be made up.

I Sam 14:9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.
I Sam 14:10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
I Sam 14:12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
I Sam 14:13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.


You will never have to go higher to eventually face wave after wave of the enemies attack. You can stay the same as a Christian and always fight the same "garrison" of enemies and spirits and never have total victory over it. You can stay where you are right now and forever fight against the "symptoms" or "results" of the existence of spiritual garrison in your life/church/city. fighting without ultimate victory is always horizontal warfare..... if you want total victory, it will always lead to vertical warfare....

You have to know that you will always have to climb higher if you ever want to face the source of a spiritual garrison. Jonathan had to climb higher to reach the point where he had the opportunity to face his "garrison" and it will be the same with you. you cannot be content with where you are and expect to gain mighty victories against the garrisons in your life....You gotta pray more than you've ever prayed before.... get in the Word more than you have ever before.... you gotta worship more than you have ever before.... climb higher than ever before....


I Sam 14:23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.


If you are willing to fight regardless of who may/may not be around you,
If you understand that God will always be with you and fight for you,
If you have determined in your heart that this enemy is worth fighting,
If you are willing to reveal and declare that you are fighting at all costs,
If you are willing to climb higher to face the garrison of your enemy,

God will take you to a mighty victory!!!

[Ron]

Since we missed church on Sunday morning due to travel, Pastor wanted us to have a devotional instead, which yours truly was obligated to provide. I always have a few Aces up my "long-sleeve" in regards to thoughts, messages, etc and this time was no different. Having gone to bed Sat night with a thought settled, I didn't suspect to be drawn in another direction in the morning. Regardless, God is still Boss.... and I just tag along for the ride :D

Here's what God showed me:

I Sam 13:22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.


In this end time, people even within the Church are ill-equipped and weaponless due to lack of prayer/lack of Word
(I recently heard a wonderful message about Where's the Smith?).
Saul and Jonathan were both equipped with a sword to fight.


I Sam 14:2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;


We find Saul and his six hundred men not moving, just staying put... while Jonathan and his armorer-bearer had already left. Jonathan had stepped out of the shadow of his father's company
There comes a time when we gotta stop riding on the coat-tales of our heritage. There are some fights that your Momma and Daddy can't fight for you. Your praying Grandma or aunt or uncle can't pave the way to some victories. It doesn't make a difference whether you can claim to be 5th generation Pentecostal or 25th generation.....God has no spiritual grandchildren; we are all first generation children of God! Our future is not determined by the victories or failures of our family; sometimes we have to stand alone and know that God will fight with us. Ultimately, you have to make the decision that some battles are worth fighting regardless of personal risk.


I Sam 14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.


Long before David ever even thought about slaying a giant, and stated, "This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand..." (I Sam 17) Jonathan already determined that God "will work for us" not "might" or "probably" but "will"... 100% without question. We have to 100% trust that God will work for us before we go to battle. If God be for us, who can be against us.... (Romans 8:31)
Jonathan understood the principle that God could as easily provide a victory by the hands of two people as by the hands of 600, and thus he was courageous and willing to fight. God will always use willing and available vessels.


I Sam 14:7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.


You gotta make a "heart" decision before you ever face the enemies that battle against you. You gotta know in the depths of your heart that "I am willing to fight this battle if no one else is nearby to fight with me." You gotta know that no matter what happens around you that you heart is set and your mind is made up that this battle is worth fighting for. Where others might run and retreat, a heart that is settled will stay until the final victor stands....

I Sam 14:8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.


Before you ever step foot to battle you have "discover yourself" or in modern words "reveal yourself" to your enemy. You have to make a stand and make a declaration that I will fight against you, my enemy. While others may cower and be unwilling to face the battle you are about ready to fight... you must reveal to a) yourself b) your enemies and c) anyone around you so there is no question as to your intentions and willingness to fight. Your mind has to be made up.

I Sam 14:9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.
I Sam 14:10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
I Sam 14:12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
I Sam 14:13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.


You will never have to go higher to eventually face wave after wave of the enemies attack. You can stay the same as a Christian and always fight the same "garrison" of enemies and spirits and never have total victory over it. You can stay where you are right now and forever fight against the "symptoms" or "results" of the existence of spiritual garrison in your life/church/city. fighting without ultimate victory is always horizontal warfare..... if you want total victory, it will always lead to vertical warfare....

You have to know that you will always have to climb higher if you ever want to face the source of a spiritual garrison. Jonathan had to climb higher to reach the point where he had the opportunity to face his "garrison" and it will be the same with you. you cannot be content with where you are and expect to gain mighty victories against the garrisons in your life....You gotta pray more than you've ever prayed before.... get in the Word more than you have ever before.... you gotta worship more than you have ever before.... climb higher than ever before....


I Sam 14:23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.


If you are willing to fight regardless of who may/may not be around you,
If you understand that God will always be with you and fight for you,
If you have determined in your heart that this enemy is worth fighting,
If you are willing to reveal and declare that you are fighting at all costs,
If you are willing to climb higher to face the garrison of your enemy,

God will take you to a mighty victory!!!

Wow Malvaro! That is awesome! Thank God you were open to the Lords leading.
That is very good, timely and applicable to so many, but especially to us here in Vancouver!

So right on.

Thanks.

[mizpeh]

This is really good, Malvaro.. I read these chapters yesterday in my daily Bible reading. You've made some great points! I'm not only ready for this fight, I'm in the midst of it right now! I'm looking forward to the great victory ahead, in Jesus name!

[Malvaro]

well just got out of a great annual review.... got a decent raise to boot....

[seguidordejesus]

Que te pasa, calabaza?

[Malvaro]

Que te pasa, calabaza?

keep it on the Spanish thread.... :tiphat

[Ron]

well just got out of a great annual review.... got a decent raise to boot....
:congrats

[Malvaro]

I'm having to create the Monthly Business Review with only one monitor!!!!

Please pray that God has mercy on my soul and allows me to be extra effecient with this limitation!!!!

[Malvaro]

http://biblia.com/jesusbible/sin-m-10.gif

[seguidordejesus]

Well, that looks familiar.

[Malvaro]

Well, that looks familiar.

i found it online over the weekend.... :D

[Malvaro]

This is something thats been on my mind all morning.... I feel there is more to it that I
was unable to gather, as I ran out of time.... regardless, may it speak to your heart....


A Cry of Desperation

While in a boring, melancholy mood, poetry many times overcomes me,
My greatest hope is that into my soul you will be able to look and see

Growing up in the "Church" I have sat in many a service on hard pews,
but today I so desire to challenge people and their commonplace views

Feeling the presence of evil all around me, my heart passionately burns
That the sleeping "Church" awakes again - for that my very soul yearns

How can we so proudly and boldly proclaim that we've been blood bought,
when we can't remember the last time another lost person we have sought

The vastness of an eternal darkness will be filled with their piercing screams
While we enjoy the Holy City and its greatness beyond our wildest dreams

How can we ever forget that we too were once a dark and tainted soul,
doomed to forever face the agony of fire that burns as the hottest coal

The mouth of hell grows and opens wider as more people perish and die,
yet we bring noone with us to Jesus as we go to church in suit and tie

another lost generation is quickly passing through our fingers I fear,
Embrace this cry of desperation; God's still, small voice you will hear.

The cry of the harvest is something that must first be heard to be caught
one must then face the enemy within - personal will and ambitions fought

This world is tired and weary of "Christians" who when revealed are fake
I pray that we find a way to turn our world upside down for their sake

[Malvaro]

I would appreciate any prayers, as IT discontinued access to a raw data report which is forcing me to re-write VB coding for 7 reporting marcos. It will require two, perhaps three, days of work to salvage old codes and write any new ones..... very nerve wracking considering each of these reports were originally written at different times and I now have to work on them all back-to-back-to-back until the project is finished....

:boomm

Malvaro's sanity will be greatly tested.... as I STILL don't have my second monitor from IT....so I am doing all this with only one monitor!!!! EEEEEeeeeeeeekkkkkk

:boomm

[Malvaro]

I would appreciate any prayers, as IT discontinued access to a raw data report which is forcing me to re-write VB coding for 7 reporting marcos. It will require two, perhaps three, days of work to salvage old codes and write any new ones..... very nerve wracking considering each of these reports were originally written at different times and I now have to work on them all back-to-back-to-back until the project is finished....

:boomm

Malvaro's sanity will be greatly tested.... as I STILL don't have my second monitor from IT....so I am doing all this with only one monitor!!!! EEEEEeeeeeeeekkkkkk

:boomm

I finished the project by 5:30pm last night.... in two days.... thats not too bad, I suppose.... :2cents

[Malvaro]

243

[Malvaro]

My Grandma got the Holy Ghost tonight!!!!

Praise the Lord!!! We've been praying for her for years!!!

:shockamoo:shockamoo:shockamoo:shockamoo:shockamoo :shockamoo


THANK YOU JESUS!!!

[Scott Hutchinson]

Thank You Jesus is right.

[PaPaDon]

Anolther joyful moment at the throne of God in the heavens tonight! Praise God!!!!

[Sam]

Way to go, Grandma!!!!!

[CC1]

What a great moment for you and her! Hallelujah. This is a great testimony that you are never too old to entertain the presence of God in your life.

[tamor]

Amen! What a wonderful report. Thanks for sharing.

[Trouvere]

This is so awesome.How old is your Grandma?

[Malvaro]

Danny Hood preached this weekend at my Dad's church and did an AMAZING job!!!

To God be the glory!!!

[Malvaro]

This is so awesome.How old is your Grandma?

85ish... :D I'll have to ask my parents...

[SDG]

awesome ... Mal

[mizpeh]

Wonderful news! Praise the Lord!

[Malvaro]

(photo removed)

This is a picture of Grandma and me from Memorial Day weekend!!!

[Falla39]

85ish... :D I'll have to ask my parents...

Bro. Malvaro,

How wonderful!! Just goes to show that God's mercy is from

everlasting to everlasting. HE IS GOD!!!

Blessings,

Falla39

[Nahum]

Woo hoo!!!

God is Faithful!

[Trouvere]

Awesome Brother very awesome!

[Falla39]

250

This is a picture of Grandma and me from Memorial Day weekend!!!

Bro. Malvaro,

This picture of you and your Grandmother is precious!! Brings

tears to my eyes to think of God's goodness and mercy!

My husband had an aunt that received the Holy Ghost many

years ago at age 92 or 93. Gave up that old snuff box! She found

something so much better!!

Blessings,

Falla39

[rgcraig]

That is wonderful!!!!

I love the picture too!!!!!!!

[berkeley]

Praise God!!! :)

[MrsBOOMM]

Wonderful, gotta love threads like these. Great Pic too. Just when you know that God is good He astounds us all over again and proves to us He gets gooder and gooder and gooder!

[seguidordejesus]

She doesn't look Italian...

[becky123abc]

Beautiful! :cheer:woohoo:clap

[The Mrs]

Mal, that is soooo awesome! You must be on Cloud 9! :yahoo

So happy for your Grammy. She looks like such a dear, sweet lady!

[Esther]

That is great!!!

She looks like a happy person. :)

[Digging4Truth]

My Grandma got the Holy Ghost tonight!!!!

Praise the Lord!!! We've been praying for her for years!!!

:shockamoo:shockamoo:shockamoo:shockamoo:shockamoo :shockamoo


THANK YOU JESUS!!!

Fantastic.

My grandpa got the Holy Ghost when he was 72. He lived and breathed the church for 3 years and went on to be with the Lord at 75.

He had a military background was a very stern man and was harsh a lot of the time. But then... he was filled with the Holy Ghost.

He would call to tell my mom what the preacher had preached about that day and couldn't finish telling her because he would break out in tears. He was, indeed, a changed man.

To think of the probability (or lack thereof) that, at this point in life, someone would experience such a change is phenomenal.

I guess it is probably because of my experience with my grandpa but I find it a wonderfully touching thing when someone is saved from the clutches of the enemy so late in their journey.

Of course the preference would have been that they would have known this salvation for most of their life but the victory is as sweet as ever.

I rejoice with you...

[Ron]

Malvaro,
:congrats

I am so happy for you and your Grandma!

Gives me hope & faith for the seniors center!:woohoo

[Blubayou]

Wonderful news! The Angels are rejoicing with you. Over and Over He proves it is never to late to turn to Him. Thank you Jesus, for being a loving Savior.

[Tina]

Great report!!!

[Sherri]

Awesome report, Malvaro!! God is good.

[South of I 90]

That's Awesome!!!!

Love the picture!

[ThePastorsCoach]

Great Report - we have had several in the past two weeks filled. One was a Jamaican lady that was the best prayer warrior we have and I had NO IDEA she did not have the Holy Ghost! Sunday she was laid out in the floor - speaking in tongues. God is great!

[Malvaro]

2 Timothy 4:16-17
16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An inscription on the Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese Monument at KeySpan Park, which depicts Reese putting his arm around Robinson, tells the story of the two legendary athletes: “In May 1947, on Cincinnati’s Crosley Field, Robinson endured racist taunts, jeers, and death threats that would have broken the spirit of a lesser man. Reese, captain of the Brooklyn Dodgers, walked over to his teammate Robinson and stood by his side, silencing the taunts of the crowd. This simple gesture challenged prejudice and created a powerful and enduring friendship.”[/B]"

275

In the biography ''Jackie Robinson'' by Arnold Rampersad, Robinson himself was quoted as recalling the incident this way: ''Pee Wee kind of sensed the sort of helpless, dead feeling in me and came over and stood beside me for a while. He didn't say a word, but he looked over at the chaps who were yelling at me and just stared. He was standing by me, I could tell you that.''

The hecklers ceased their attack. ''I will never forget it,'' Robinson said.

"I was warming up on the mound, and I could hear the Cincinnati players screaming at Jackie... and then they started to get on Pee Wee. They were yelling at him, 'How can you play with this n----r?' and all this stuff, and while Jackie was standing by first base, Pee Wee went over to him and put his arm around him as if to say, 'This is my boy. This is the guy. ... you could have heard the gasp from the crowd as he did it. ..." Teammate / Pitcher Rex Barney in Bums (Peter Golenbock, 1984)

My father, who came from a heavily segregated part of the country, faced friends, teammates and, yes, some family members who were opposed to his stepping on the field with a black man ... he listened to his heart, not the chorus. Mark Reese, PeeWee's son

"When Pee Wee Reese threw his arm around Jackie Robinson's shoulder in this legendary gesture of support and friendship, they showed America and the world that racial discrimination is unacceptable," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. "Pee Wee and Jackie showed the courage to stand up for equality in the face of adversity, which we call the Brooklyn attitude."

http://dodgers.scout.com/2/461125.html
http://www.nyc.gov/html/sports/html/robinson-reese-pr.html
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/pee_wee_reese_quotes.shtml
http://southerncrossreview.org/50/peewee.htm
http://www.brooklyn-usa.org/Press/2005/nov2.htm

[Malvaro]

Preacher: Floyd Odom
Sermon: Horrible Death of Praise
Year: Unknown

Download Link(s):

http://www.savefile.com/files/876148 (part 1)
http://www.savefile.com/files/876153 (part 2)

What are your thoughts regarding this message?

[Malvaro]

Preacher: Danny Hood
Sermon: Brokenness that can't be fixed

Download Link(s):
http://www.savefile.com/files/902599

[Malvaro]

Never found the time

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When my earthly father says, "You are nothing."
My Heavenly Father says, "You are my beloved child."

When my earthly father says, "I'll give you the piano, if you learn how to play it."
My Heavenly Father says, "Use your talents wisely."

When my earthly mother says, "Just wait until your father gets home."
My Heavenly Father says, "Just wait until I take you home."

When my earthly father says, "You will never amount to anything."
My Heavenly Father says, "You will always be something special to me."

When my earthly father says, "Go stand in the corner."
My Heavenly Father says, "Go into every corner of the world and speak about Me."

When my earthly father says, "Clean up this mess."
My Heavenly Father says, "If your life is a mess, I will clean it up for you."

When my earthly father says, "You will never do anything right."
My Heavenly Father says, "I will make all things right."

When my earthly father says, "I am going to write you out of my will."
My Heavenly Father says, "I will give you the kingdom."

When my earthly father says, "Go to bed without your supper."
My Heavenly Father says, "My storehouses are full. Come and dine."

When my earthly father says, "Go away. Can't you see I'm busy?"
My Heavenly Father says, "I am available for you twenty-four hours a day."

When my earthly father says, "I hate you."
My Heavenly Father says, "I love you so much. I gave my life for you."

When my earthly father says, "I don't have time for you. I'm in a hurry."
My Heavenly Father says, "Time means nothing to me. I have all the time you need."

When my earthly father says, "I am not going to hold you. You need to do something by yourself."
My Heavenly Father says, "I will wrap My loving arms around you."

When my earthly father says, "Why don't you pick up your feet?”
My Heavenly Father says, "I will walk with you and help you up when you fall."

When my earthly father says, "I don't love you anymore."
My Heavenly Father says, "I love you with an everlasting love that will last throughout all eternity."

When my earthly father says, "You are no longer welcome in our home."
My Heavenly Father says, "Heaven is your home. I have a mansion prepared for you."

[Malvaro]

"Now you are a poster child of the old UPC mentality! Good Job!" JCooper speaking of Malvaro

[Malvaro]

"Don’t go through a single day without collecting something for future sermons. It will save you hours in the long run, and your messages will be far meatier."

Rick Warren

http://www.pastors.com/RWMT/default.asp?id=303&artid=10365&expand=1

[Malvaro]

This little guy was curled up in the corner of one of the steps in my apartment....

I'm not sure if he's a lizard or a salamander of some sort....

the photo isn't perfect, but it shows his different colors....

I'll let him go outside before I leave for church....

478

479

PS say a special prayer for my landlord; she'll be needing it on Monday....

[Ron]

This little guy was curled up in the corner of one of the steps in my apartment....

I'm not sure if he's a lizard or a salamander of some sort....

the photo isn't perfect, but it shows his different colors....

I'll let him go outside before I leave for church....

478

479

PS say a special prayer for my landlord; she'll be needing it on Monday....

Will pray for her, does she have a first name?

PS Lizards & Salamanders are Reptiles and carry the Salmonella Bacteria.
Wash your hands good.:hypercoffee

[Pressing-On]

This was curled up around my birdbath, but I didn't try to put it in a glass bowl.

http://pbskids.org/backyardjungle/files.php/410248_discovery_f.jpg

:hunter


He didn't look at my sign in the garden. "Trespassers will be shot!" :D

[Ron]

This was curled up around my birdbath, but I didn't try to put it in a glass bowl.

http://pbskids.org/backyardjungle/files.php/410248_discovery_f.jpg

:hunter


He didn't look at my sign in the garden. "Trespassers will be shot!" :D

What kinda snake is it?

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

This was curled up around my birdbath, but I didn't try to put it in a glass bowl.


Snake skin shoes from Macy's would be a better choice..... or the glass slippers!

:lol

[Pressing-On]

What kinda snake is it?
It's a copperhead. Don't want to get bit by that!

Snake skin shoes from Macy's would be a better choice..... or the glass slippers!

:lol
I used to have some grey eel skin boots.

We did keep the snake so we could curl it up on the sidewalk and scare one of the ladies from church. I was just about expecting her to arrive. :D

[Pressing-On]

This little guy was curled up in the corner of one of the steps in my apartment....

I'm not sure if he's a lizard or a salamander of some sort....

the photo isn't perfect, but it shows his different colors....

I'll let him go outside before I leave for church....

478

479

PS say a special prayer for my landlord; she'll be needing it on Monday....

Why do we need to pray for your landlord.

[Ron]

It's a copperhead. Don't want to get bit by that!


I used to have some grey eel skin boots.

We did keep the snake so we could curl it up on the sidewalk and scare one of the ladies from church. I was just about expecting her to arrive. :D

Call the exterminator!:hypercoffee

[Pressing-On]

Call the exterminator!:hypercoffee

I am the Exterminator!

Brewhahahahahahahahahhahahaha!

[Ron]

I am the Exterminator!

Brewhahahahahahahahahhahahaha!

Funny, you don't look like Arnold!:hypercoffee

[Pressing-On]

Funny, you don't look like Arnold!:hypercoffee
That's because you've only seen me after having my morning :hypercoffee


:killinme

[Malvaro]

Why do we need to pray for your landlord.

because the seal on my front door is broken and critters are getting through....

and they haven't fixed it, even after I asked it replaced....

[Malvaro]

Laters.... :D

[Malvaro]

Treasure people because you don't know how long they'll be in your lives.
Live life to your fullest; give your best with everything you do. You only have one life to live.
Give every person a chance. Don't judge people by how they initially appear to look or sound. Let their words and actions be their own judge.
While doing a jigsaw puzzle with my grandma: establish the boundaries first and keep referencing the "big picture"
Give people the benefit of the doubt; treat them with kindness even when they may not deserve it.
My grandfather: give people second chances even when they've fallen on hard times.
While washing dishes with my grandma, i always thought water was really hot, yet she was used to it and it didnt bother her. I learned everyone is at different levels. Some people can't take the heat, like others can.
The small things matter: sitting at the table playing a card game, sitting eating popcorn over a movie, hugs and simple signs of love
Education is important: always keep learning; the minute you stop is the minute you stop growing as a person.
Prayers make a difference when nothing else does.
Science fiction is the greatest of all fictional genres =)
Proper preparation always beats blind ambitions. As a carpenter, my grandfather would always say, Measure it twice, BEFORE you cut.
Don't seek revenge on people whom have done you wrong. Revenge is the Lords; it will always come full circle. Either God will restore back unto you or His revenge will be greater than you could have ever done.
Give those older than you respect; God would do the same and someday you'll be there too.
Music soothes both the mind and soul. It can speak the language of the heart.
Sacrifice of yourself for both God and man. God is pleased and will always provide for your needs.
My Dad: Defer to others. Some things may have been done better another way, but you will find unity. Unity is to be treasured.
Pray about it. If you already know the answer, pray about it. If you don't, pray about it. (I need to do that more)
Give God your best; He gave you His. It is your reasonable service.
Seek to make your enemies friends. Go out of your way to find a point that you can agree on.
Stay in the Word. It has all the answers that we'll ever need. Love it and know it.


Maybe later today, I'll add more....

[The Mrs]

These are great Mal! :thumbsup

You must have had some really wonderful grandparents. :heart

[revrandy]

Yo Mal...

I might need to borrow this.....

Is that okay?? :)

[Ferd]

My grandpa told my dad the following when he announced his intent to marry my mom:

Now son, I dont mind you marrying that little 'postolic girl but be careful, they will get you!

they did.

[Malvaro]

Here are a few more I thought of....


Time spent with family is more important than working for more money for the family.
Watch people, listen to people, learn from people. Everyone can teach you something. Some things good, some bad.
Dinner time sitting around the table is important, perhaps the most important time of the day. Everyone gets a chance to share what happened that day.
Be the kind of friend to others that you'd want for yourself. There are times when you give in a friendship more than you receive.
Watch how people handle themselves around children, it can tell alot about their internal character.
Surprise another by taking out the trash without being asked or putting dishes in the dishwasher. Little helps are appreciated, especially during long weeks.
Be willing to give to someone in need, whether it be food, a place to stay or an encouraging word. Christ said, When you've done it unto the least of these, you've done it unto me.
Building people's lives is more important than building material wealth. Invest in people; someone invested in you.
Learn to enjoy reading. It can take you to places that you may never be able to go to in real-life. It also builds and strengthens the mind.
Be willing to listen to people share their life experiences. You get the opportunity to share in their hurts/pains and rejoice in their victories. You can also learn from their mistakes, as to avoid them yourself. Listening to someone shows you care.
Be willing to apologize if you were wrong and be willing to thank people when they're deserving of thanks. Good etiquette never goes out of style.
Be sure to do things together as a family. There will eventually come a time when you will no longer be able to do so. Go out driving on Saturdays (if you can afford the high gas prices), stop by Dairy Queen for small ice cream cones on a hot day, take a vacation together (even if but just camping)
Take the time to carefully roast marshmallows over a campfire and give them to a family member you love. Or if you're a child, burn a marshmallow and give it to a family member you love. Everyone loves smores.
Love God, your family and those around you. They're all you got.

[Malvaro]

These may be things that I've learned.... but these are also things that I'll spend a lifetime learning to live.... because learning something and living something are two completely different things....

[philjones]

These may be things that I've learned.... but these are also things that I'll spend a lifetime learning to live.... because learning something and living something are two completely different things....

That, my friend, is a true statement!

[pelathais]

Some real wisdom there, Malvaro. Thanks.

[Malvaro]

http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPnews.asp?ID=26297

Posted on Aug 23, 2007 | by Jerry Higgins

RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP)--Mike Smith sat in a wooden rocking chair overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and spoke about why people have trouble with evangelism.

"Jesus said, 'Follow me and I'll make you fishers of men.' He didn't say every time you fish you're going to catch something," said Smith, LifeWay Christian Resources' FAITH/Evangelism specialist.

"I think we have to celebrate the people who are fishing and not just the people who are catching. We've got to encourage people to fish."

Across the conference center campus in Ridgecrest, N.C., Roy Fish, distinguished professor of evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, was preaching a message about evangelism from John 4:35-39.

"There is equality in sowing and reaping," Fish said. "As Southern Baptists, we have failed to see this. We have made heroes out of reapers. Maybe not consciously, but we have relegated sowers to relative unimportance. The reaper is the person we put in the spotlight."

Both men and numerous others at LifeWay's annual National Evangelism and Discipleship Conference repeated the concern over and over: The church must do a better job of discipling its members and the members must do a better job of going outside of the church to evangelize. WHAT A CONCEPT :D

"Evangelism is the heartbeat of missions," said Don Wilton, pastor of First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, S.C., and one of the conference's keynote speakers. "Our mandate is to equip the saints for ministry ... [to] reach all people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We do that through evangelism. It's the functional goal for which we strive. Evangelism and discipleship run down parallel tracks. You can't have one without the other. They are inseparable."

Churches use all sorts of means to disciple its members. In today's "one size does not fit all" world, churches have used FAITH and other programs to teach believers how to evangelize. But, as noted at the July conference, young believers are given the tools but not the instructions on how to use them.

"The population is growing but we're not converting the lost," Smith said. "We can't keep doing this and survive. Look at plant life or animals. If they don't reproduce their own kind, they die. What happens if the church multiplies our kind? If we don't reproduce our kind, we die. What is the purpose why we exist? It's to make disciples."

Smith and Fish acknowledged that people want instant gratification. So, if one presents the Gospel and it is not embraced, many times the person thinks he/she is a failure and doesn't move on to the next person.

"Sowing must always precede reaping," Fish said. "[New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President] Chuck Kelley once said, 'Part of our frustration in evangelism is that we are a reaping denomination. We are living in a field that has not yet been sown.'

"The average person in the United States who comes to Jesus Christ comes the seventh time that he or she hears the message," Fish continued. "Are you willing to be the No. 4? Are you willing to be the No. 4 five times? There would not be a No. 7 if there wasn't a No. 4. ARE WE WILLING TO REACH FOR THE SAME PERSON MORE THAN ONCE WITHOUT GIVING UP?
"Usually when you sow a seed, you never find out what happened. But when you get to heaven, you will see the results of your sowing," Fish added. "You will see people you dropped the seed of the Good News of Jesus in their hearts."

Smith said evangelism confronts Christians with three major issues:

1. Loving People. "People are not a notch on a gospel belt. People aren't always easy to love," Smith said. "I think a lot of people look at people like a target instead of being people. They are people that God loves and we are to love. We struggle with loving sinners. It takes time and that means inconvenience."

2. Loving God. "Jesus said, 'If you love Me, you'll obey Me,'" Smith said.

3. Fear. "Fear locks up so many people," Smith said. "They say, 'I'm afraid I won't say the right thing or get asked questions I don't have answers to. I'm afraid I'll mess it up.' But I think our love for God and our love for people will help us overcome these fears. How uncomfortable will they be in eternity if I don't talk to them?"

Claude King, LifeWay's editor in chief of leadership and adult publishing, said the greatest evangelism will occur from a foundation of discipleship. The message of Christ's life and what Christ did for us, when lived out, is contagious, King said.

"People see it. They want it. And people who have it bubble over with vitality," King said. "That's really what the Great Commission is all about: As we are going, be serious about making disciples."

Statistics show that fewer people are coming to church than in previous generations, Smith noted. If that continues, there's a real possibility of more churches dying from a lack of true biblical discipleship and evangelism.

"I am called to share the Gospel. God's job is to do the converting," Smith said. "I've got to believe that the Gospel can change your life and I just have to talk to you about it. There comes a point where I have to live my faith and share my faith and I'm going to leave the results up to God."
--30--
Jerry Higgins is a freelance writer in Raleigh, N.C.


Some points that drew my attention:

I think we have to celebrate the people who are fishing and not just the people who are catching. We've got to encourage people to fish
We have made heroes out of reapers. Maybe not consciously, but we have relegated sowers to relative unimportance. The reaper is the person we put in the spotlight
The church must do a better job of discipling its members and the members must do a better job of going outside of the church to evangelize
Evangelism and discipleship run down parallel tracks. You can't have one without the other. They are inseparable
Part of our frustration in evangelism is that we are a reaping denomination. We are living in a field that has not yet been sown
The average person in the United States who comes to Jesus Christ comes the seventh time that he or she hears the message," Fish continued. "Are you willing to be the No. 4? Are you willing to be the No. 4 five times? There would not be a No. 7 if there wasn't a No. 4
evangelism confronts Christians with three major issues: Loving People, Loving God and Fear
the greatest evangelism will occur from a foundation of discipleship


What sayeth ye???

[Newman]

http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPnews.asp?ID=26297



Some points that drew my attention:

I think we have to celebrate the people who are fishing and not just the people who are catching. We've got to encourage people to fish
We have made heroes out of reapers. Maybe not consciously, but we have relegated sowers to relative unimportance. The reaper is the person we put in the spotlight
The church must do a better job of discipling its members and the members must do a better job of going outside of the church to evangelize
Evangelism and discipleship run down parallel tracks. You can't have one without the other. They are inseparable
Part of our frustration in evangelism is that we are a reaping denomination. We are living in a field that has not yet been sown
The average person in the United States who comes to Jesus Christ comes the seventh time that he or she hears the message," Fish continued. "Are you willing to be the No. 4? Are you willing to be the No. 4 five times? There would not be a No. 7 if there wasn't a No. 4
evangelism confronts Christians with three major issues: Loving People, Loving God and Fear
the greatest evangelism will occur from a foundation of discipleship


What sayeth ye???

Malvaro- These are great thoughts. I want to think on it awhile. It is harder to toil when results aren't readily appearant. That is for sure. And yet this is the stuff that life is made of. Thanks for sharing. :cool:

[philjones]

Thank you!

[RevDWW]

We are told to not be weary in well doing that in due season we will shall reap if we don't faint. Persistence pays.



But above all we have to remember that no matter how much we plant and water, it's God that gives the increase.

[Malvaro]

*bump*

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Some good seed message material here!

[Malvaro]

http://www.christianitytoday.com/outreach/articles/generationlost.html

Generation Lost?
Author/apologist Josh McDowell says the American Church is losing a generation as youth leave the Church in alarming numbers. What do they believe? What are the issues? And how can churches turn young people back to God?
Interview by Lindy Lowry
from Outreach magazine, May/June 2006

After examining the research on today's youth (ages 11 to 17) and reflecting on his interactions with thousands of young people, 66-year-old apologist Josh McDowell knew he had to sound an alarm.

"I didn't want to," he says. "I've been struggling with this for 14 years and have been praying for God to just wake up some people."

But more discouraging conversations with youth, parents and church leaders only reinforced his need to write the newly released book, The Last Christian Generation (Green Key)—a warning to church leaders and parents that the Church is losing the younger generation.

Recently, McDowell sat down with Outreach Editor Lindy Lowry to talk about what young people think about church and Christianity, the need for intergenerational ministry, and what church leaders can do to help avert this growing crisis.

Lindy Lowry: Josh, you say that Christian young people are walking away from the Church. Are they walking away from the modern traditional church or Christianity?

Josh McDowell: It's a balance. Parents tell me, "Josh, my child is losing his faith; he no longer believes what we've tried to share with him his whole life." Basically, any parent with a child 15 years of age or younger, will probably hear phrases like, "Well, Mom, that's your truth" or "If it works for you guys, wonderful—but it doesn't work for me."

My research and observations tell me that youth are walking away from their perception of what Christianity is and teaches. They're saying, "The church I've attended since I was young is no longer relevant to me." They're not really saying that Christianity is irrelevant, but it's how they've understood Christianity.

LL: How do they understand it?

JM: They define Christianity primarily by their experience with their church's youth ministry or youth group, which they see as boring. They attend for the fun, food and fellowship, but for most kids, the youth leader's "spiritual devotional" is boring. Remember, though, that half of today's churches run less than 75 attendees overall, and can't afford a full-time youth leader. So for most kids, youth group involves a small number of students led by a volunteer youth worker with little expertise and little time to prepare.

They also see church as non-stop activity. The traditional approach of many full-time youth ministers is entertainment, entertainment, entertainment—high-energy games, interactive participation, trips, retreats. The problem is that most church activities simply don't engage young people in a relational interaction about the truth of God's Word.

The research also reveals that church seems like just a series of events to youth. To most of our young people, church is more like a tennis match than a block party. They see church as more of an observing and listening place than a participating and interacting community. They're there, but nothing really gets through to their minds and hearts, and as a result, we see little transformation in their lives. And that's why when they get to college and their philosophy professor starts to talk about other faiths and beliefs, they fall away. They were never grounded in the first place, even though they were at all the church events. Events are only valid if they initiate or intensify the transformation process. The idea of just throwing in events with no real purpose other than to keep young people busy or entertained is counterproductive, as the research shows.

LL: Do you sense that churches are beginning to realize that youth have a distorted view of God due to their church experience?

JM: Yes, I think churches are starting to understand that we are going to need less programmed ministry and more process-driven ministry.

LL: How would you define process-driven ministry?

JM: It's a radical shift in the way we do youth ministry. In process-driven ministry, everything you do—the events you plan, the resources you use, the lessons you teach—is designed to move youth toward Christlikeness. To kids, today's "structural church" model often appears to be more concerned about events and making a Gospel presentation to a spectator audience than about perpetuating a constant relational interaction with God. Kids just don't relate to this structural model; it doesn't translate. I think we must shift to a "missional church" model—one that's engaged in a spiritual formation process with youth, leading them to know the person of God so that they can respond to Him and become conformed to the image of His son.

LL: Why does process-driven ministry resonate with youth?

JM: Because it's all about relationships, and today's teenagers are perhaps the most relational and community-oriented generation in history. Studies reveal that relationships score extremely high in the hearts and minds of our young people. God gave us truth relationally, through His Son. So we must teach truth relationally, which means understanding that we have a relationship with our heavenly Father, which drives how we live. In Psalm 26:3, David says, "I've been constantly aware of your unfailing love, and I've lived according to your truth." Now, if David had not seen that unfailing love, even when he stumbled big, he would never have lived according to that truth. We've stopped teaching truth that way—and we're losing our kids.

When kids understand that God is passionate about them and wants to have a relationship with them, it's like the light finally goes on. But today, it's difficult for a kid to grasp that because most youth don't even think that their own dad is passionate about a relationship with them. Moreover, our first perception of God is the image of our earthly father. That's why we need more adults involved in youth ministry who have passionate relationships with God, their spouses and their children. They can model those values for kids.

LL: What are the first steps to becoming process-driven?

JM: I am a big believer in intergenerational youth ministry. We have such a departmentalization of Chris-tianity when everyone goes to his or her respective, age-specific areas on the weekends. The toddlers go to one place, the tweens, another. The youth have their spot. The marrieds gather here, the singles there. The seniors are someplace else. Kids need to learn the truth of the scriptures from other generations and see how it's worked out in their lives. Hardly any family sees that today. Churches should offer one or two classes for the whole family on Sunday morning. Youth come with their family, and they learn truth and experience community among the generations.

We've got to get the generations interacting with each other. We need to proactively recruit spiritually mature adults to help youth leaders. For every eight to 10 kids, you need a married couple involved in the youth ministry. They're at the youth meetings, the outings; the youth go to their homes.

Now, here's another thing I'd propose. It's extreme, but I would say to every church, "First, fire your youth pastor." I'm serious. Every youth pastor in America should be fired. Second, fire your family pastor—and rehire the family pastor as a family and youth pastor. Then rehire the youth pastor under the family pastor. Youth pastors are normally single and in their early 20s. Because of their age, they have no authority with adults, and you need someone who has authority and commands respect with parents. That would be the family pastor. So now, it's the family and youth ministry. That kind of restructuring is the first step to having an intergenerational youth ministry.

LL: Many churches are struggling to have two pastors on staff.

JM: You're right. But even then, the direct line should be either the senior pastor or the affiliate pastor. On the organization chart, one of the affiliate pastor's responsibilities would be family and youth.

*continued*

[Malvaro]

*continued*


http://www.christianitytoday.com/outreach/articles/generationlost.html

LL: How can leaders evaluate their youth ministry to determine if it's process-driven and transformational? Are there any signposts they can look for?

JM: They need to observe their youth, then ask themselves some questions: Has there been a change in the belief systems of my kids? As I talk to them, is it different from talking to a non-Christian young person? Have I seen distinct changes in their character? Are they more involved in how they talk about God and Christ? Has there been a change in their pattern of worship? What are their relationships like with their friends? Are they influencers or are they influenced? Are they sharing their faith? Also, if their parents are not playing a big part in their spiritual lives, there's a great chance that youth will walk away.

LL: If you could give senior pastors three messages to help them avert this generational crisis, what would they be?

JM: First, if youth ministry is not your top priority, it will fail! Youth ministry rises or falls, not with the youth pastor, but with the senior pastor. I think about Church on the Move in Tulsa , Okla. The pastor, Willie George, is so passionate about youth that he led the church's youth ministry for a year and had others speak for him from the pulpit. As a result, the youth ministry totally turned around.

A few months ago, some church leaders came to me and said they were thinking about letting their youth pastor go. And I told them, "Before you do that, you should take a long look at your senior pastor—maybe you need to let him go." Youth ministry needs to be emphasized from the pulpit. And that includes preaching sermons on the importance of parents being there for their kids.

Second, you must live out what you're saying—in your own marriages and with your children. If the congregation doesn't see that, it doesn't matter what you say from the pulpit, both the youth and their parents will reject it.

Third, you need to mentor your youth pastor or whoever leads the youth. It breaks my heart that so many youth pastors say their senior pastor is not involved in their lives or their ministry.

LL: A lot of senior pastors are former youth pastors, so they should know how it feels.

JM: Yes, but they never had anyone model a mentoring relationship to them, so now they don't feed back into their youth pastor. They don't know what it looks like. It's the No. 1 comment I hear from youth pastors: My senior pastor isn't involved in the youth ministry or my life.

LL: Do you have hope that this young generation can be saved?

JM: Yes, because God is God! Moreover, the Gospel is about transformation. And if it can happen in the first century, it can certainly happen here. My daddy, when he was sober, would tell me, "Son, a problem well-defined is half-solved." So I feel like we've defined the problem; now we have to solve it.

And I'm seeing church leaders starting to ask, 'How do we solve this?' In all my 45 years of ministry, I haven't seen this many youth leaders concerned about teens. And that plants hope within me. I'm also starting to see senior pastors become a little desperate.

And I think we're starting to see a cultural reaction to postmodernism and subjectivity. In the last four to five years, more teens have used More Than a Carpenter (Tyndale), which I published in 1987, than ever before. Today's kids are interested in spiritual things—they're on a quest to fulfill themselves. So right now, we're in a beautiful place to engage and influence this young generation.

This content originally appeared in the May/June 2006 issue of Outreach magazine, the gathering place for ideas, insights and stories of today's outreach-oriented church leaders. For more ideas and information, visit outreachmagazine.com.

Here are a few of the points that jumped out at me....

youth are walking away from their perception of what Christianity is and teaches
They define Christianity primarily by their experience with their church's youth ministry or youth group, which they see as boring
They also see church as non-stop activity...The problem is that most church activities simply don't engage young people in a relational interaction about the truth of God's Word.
They see church as more of an observing and listening place than a participating and interacting community. They're there, but nothing really gets through to their minds and hearts, and as a result, we see little transformation in their lives
In process-driven ministry....is designed to move youth toward Christlikeness
When kids understand that God is passionate about them and wants to have a relationship with them, it's like the light finally goes on
We've got to get the generations interacting with each other. We need to proactively recruit spiritually mature adults to help youth leaders. For every eight to 10 kids, you need a married couple involved in the youth ministry. They're at the youth meetings, the outings; the youth go to their homes.
First, if youth ministry is not your top priority, it will fail! Youth ministry rises or falls, not with the youth pastor, but with the senior pastor
Youth ministry needs to be emphasized from the pulpit. And that includes preaching sermons on the importance of parents being there for their kids
Third, you need to mentor your youth pastor or whoever leads the youth


Any thoughts?

[Malvaro]

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=76108&postcount=1

"Lifestyle Evangelism" vs. Soulwinning

Posted by: DanielFive

A lot of Christians attend churches where they talk about getting people saved. Very few Christians are actually
seeing people getting saved. The difference is between "Lifestyle evangelism" as practiced by a lot of churches
and old-fashioned Soulwinning as practiced in the Bible. What are these differences? I've listed a few:

1. Lifestyle evangelists go on visitation.
2. Personal Soulwinners go Soulwinning.

3. Lifestyle evangelists give out tracts to salve their consciences and to be read later by the lost person.
4. Personal Soulwinners use tracts to introduce themselves and to read to the lost person as they give the plan of salvation.

5. Lifestyle evangelists drive around and wave at people.
6. Personal Soulwinners get out and talk to people.

7. Lifestyle evangelists choose carefully who they talk to.
8. Personal Soulwinners talk to everybody.

9. Lifestyle evangelists use every new program that comes along.
10. Personal Soulwinners use God's tried and true program.

11. Lifestyle evangelists talk about themselves and their church.
12. Personal Soulwinners talk about Jesus and His power to save.

13. Lifestyle evangelists think if they "live the life" people will notice and someday want to get saved.
14. Personal Soulwinners know that "living the life" includes talking to others and telling them how to be saved!

15. Lifestyle evangelists hang baggies on doors and have soulwinning "contacts."
16. Personal Soulwinners look folks in the eye and have converts!

17. Lifestyle evangelists expect sinners to come to them for information about salvation.
18. Personal Soulwinners rely upon God to have somebody waiting for them to GO to and to GIVE information about salvation.

19. Lifestyle evangelists wait until "people are ready" to get saved -they do a lot of waiting!
20. Personal Soulwinners "wait upon the Lord" - they spend most of their time Soulwinning!

21. Lifestyle evangelists use modern "Bibles" so that they can be understood.
22. Personal Soulwinners use the preserved word of God so that the Gospel can get through!

23. Lifestyle evangelists preach a works/"Lordship" Salvation.
24. Personal Soulwinners preach salvation by Grace and nothing else!

25. Lifestyle evangelists spend a lot of time accusing Soulwinners of preaching "easy prayerism" or " easy believeism."
26. Personal Soulwinners spend a lot of time Soulwinning and seeing people saved!

27. Lifestyle evangelists get mad at Soulwinners who are getting the job done.
28. Personal Soulwinners get mad at sin and the devil!

29. Lifestyle evangelists are lazy buzzards who have fallen for the Devil's lie.
30. Personal Soulwinners are crazy nuts who want to punch the Devil in the eye!

31. Lifestyle evangelists have a real burden to reach folks with a lot of "disposable income" who can tithe.
32. Personal Soulwinners have God's burden to reach sinners!

33. Lifestyle evangelists can be found knocking on doors in the finest neighborhoods.
34. Personal Soulwinners can be found where the police are afraid to go!
.....

"Lifestyle Evangelist" or Personal Soulwinner - which are YOU?

and no, I don’t frequent Baptist forums.... I found this while searching for “lifestyle evangelism”.... :pirate

[mizpeh]

Bump