GC in Houston and AFF

[Bella1]

General Conference 2010

WOW! What can I say? After waiting out in the sun for about 30 or so minutes (some people had been waiting an hour or more) on Sunday afternoon, glistening in my nice dress and four inch heels, the powers that be let the pions (sp) into the Toyota Center.

I did not have pay my $15, everyone was let in for free. Very Nice.

As I was waiting on my son to finish up in the rest room, I was body slammed by a woman so hard I almost came out of those four inch heels I spoke of. (the woman was out of her teenage years but not yet my advanced age) Yes, I did tell her a thing or two. I was nice but told her gently and kindly how I felt about what she did. By the way, my back is REALLY feeling the effect of the body slam this morning.

Letting bygone be bygones, my son and I proceeded to try and find us a seat where I was asked by a friend to sit near the deaf ministry. Once again, the powers that be (ministers and wives, several that I knew and greeted warmly) were saving seats for their saints that had yet to darken the doors. And no, it was not where the officials were supposed to sit. That was one section over. SO....Cameron and I made out way across the arena, we found 6 seats together. "Saving" them for our friends who according to them, had just left Friendswood. Just an FYI....I am a person who is ALWAYS 30 minutes to an hour ahead of time. Major pet peeve of mine is people that are late to church and everything else in their life.

And SO......The Red Vest Employee's (RVE) of the Toyota Center came and told us that we could not save seats. I looked at them and smiled. They left us alone for a little while. Still calling my friends who SAID were on their way from Friendswood, I LIED and told the RVE that they were getting food on the food deck. Yes, I did ask the Lord for forgiveness, but I have decided that I can't save seat anymore for my so called friends. They lie also and say they are ALMOST there and they are really really not.

I was also at the top of the stairs by Section 119, and a gentleman came up and asked me if I was an AFF member. I said yes. He told me his name and said he was a lurker. (HI Brother Bullock from Oklahoma! Thank you for introducing yourself to me although I forgot to tell you my real name! hehehe!)

OKAY....Church started. Music was GREAT. Having a Bilingual Praise and Worship Team was wonderful. I know several that did not like it. So what. Get over it! You are in Texas and half the population is Hispanic. I loved the Atmosphere of the service.

Brother Howell got up and he and the interpreter was very entertaining to listen to. I did not get it at first, but he was the Offering taker. About a 15 minute window was spent on the Money. Fast and furious. No pull, no begging. NICE!

I saw Brother Stoneking on the front seat with the Platform staff. I almost fainted. Not knowing who was preaching, I leaned over and told my son that we where going to leave if Brother Stoneking got up to preach. To my delight, it was a Jack Cunningham. WOW! What a powerhouse! Large and powerful. He ran with the message from the moment he got in the pulpit. His interpreter was just as good as the first one.

Rev. Cunningham asked for everyone who wanted the Holy Ghost or everyone who needed a re-filling of the Holy Ghost to raise their hands. EVERYONE around me had their hands raised, myself included. Message was preached. Instructions was given in how the alter workers was going to operate throughout the arena.

THEN other ministers (one from Lake Charles, last name of Smith) started asking people to TEXT in to him if you had received the Holy Ghost outside the arena. Churches or people watching Live Stream. Report after report of good news. 1, 2, 3, and more watching the sevice was being filled with the Spirit.

Here is where I was confused and still am. Rev. Cunningham gets up and says that everyone who wanted the Holy Ghost for the first time to raise their hands. Several around us did. Then he asked for those that felt that they had renewed in the Spirit to raise their hands. I did. My son did. He then announced that over 3000 in the service had received the Holy Ghost.

oooookkkkkaaaayyyyyyy? My son told me that it was cheating to do that. I laughed and said it was "Evangelistically speaking", that lot's of ministers did exactly what Rev. Cunningham just done. Yes, it is cheating to raise the numbers like that, but...what can you do? The powers that be wanted 3000 filled last night with the Holy Spirit and by golly 3000 is what walked out of the arena with the Holy Spirit.

I was glad that I was able to take my son to at least one service of General Conference 2010. Of late, my life has been hectic working three jobs and I NEEDED to fill the Spirit of the Lord. Regardless of how I felt about the whole Holy Ghost count, I know people actually received what they came for and for that, To God Be The Glory!