Score Touchdowns

Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples (In other words, score touchdowns).  Recently the University of Oklahoma (OU) played the University of Texas.  Each teach had one goal in mind and that was to get to the goal or score touchdowns.  That’s the philosophy that we should have in the church.  Score touchdowns – make disciples.l  Listen to this message on scoring touchdowns.

Score Touchdowns

Score Touchdowns

Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world and make disciples – in other words score touchdowns.  Recently OU played Texas and both teams went on the field to do one thing and that was to win the game by scoring touchdowns.  Listen to this audio message on scoring touchdowns.

A Tribute to Mothers

In recognition of Mother’s Day on May 9, 2010, I would like to say Happy Mother’s Day to women all across the world.  My mother and my wife’s mother are no longer with us but we can each remember the fond memories of growing up and what both of them instilled into us.  A mother’s love is a perfect type of love.  There is a scripture in 1st John that says perfect love casts out fear.  This scripture came to life to me today as we were in service.  There were two young ladies I watched over the years who were always afraid of getting up before audiences.  But because their mother showed them “perfect love”, these young ladies did a phenomonal job this morning on a MIME praise dance.  They captivated the audience and the audience was standing at the end.  What is that “perfect love” that this mother has shown to these young ladies throughout the years?  Well, she has first shown them loyalty.  She accepted them for who they were and then she proceeded to take them somewhere.  She kept them in the Word and kept prayer over their lives.

Bringing our children to church may not seem, at first, like somthing that is taking root in their lives.  But it is a seed.  That seed is like a popcorn seed.  In the center is moisture.  All that moisture needs is heat supplied to it so that the seed can pop.  Keeping your children in church and in the Word of God is applying heat to the seed that is within them.  Eventually, that seed is going to pop and like popcorn, they are going to come forth in multiplicity.  Multiplicity of what?  talents and gifts that the Lord has planted in them to take the church to the next phase.

So hats off to this mother’s example that I saw demonstrated in our service today.  Happy mother’s day everyone and especially to the love of my life, my wife Shirley.

I encourage you to go out to www.todayschurch.tv and listen to the mother’s day radio broadcast and a short message on Proverbs 31, The Noble Woman.

Are You Young at Heart?

Are you young at heart?  I believe Jesus was young at heart because He said in Matt. 18:3 (NIV)  “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Periodically, I like to praise the way our youth like to praise (which sometimes shocks adults).  So enjoy some worship, praise and Christian rap with me in this 30 minute praise and worship video.  By the way, yours truly, with the help of the Holy Spirit wrote this rap song.

Go to http://www.todayschurch.tv/youthful_praise.html to view video and double click on video to play.  Then let me know if you feel that you are young at heart.

Walk Across America for Christ

I met an amazing man on Saturday, 11/14/2009 – Rick Della Valle and his wife Lucyah.  This man is taking a 3300 mile walk across America, 100 miles for every year of Jesus’ life on earth.  That is an amazing witness for the Lord, especially in a time where men, women, boys and girls are staggering, there is hopelessness and everything seems to be going wrong.  Somehow in our daily walks we have forgotten Christ.  If you have an opportunity, visit his website at http://www.walkacrossamericaforchrist.blogspot.com/. 

After prayer and consideration, if the Lord leads you, make a donation to his work for Christ.  I know that Shirley and I will be doing that from time to time.  Nick and Lucyah are missionaries spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in an unusual way right here in America.  WE NEED THAT.  More people who are willing to say that they serve a true and living God.

Psalms 119:1-2 – You are Blessed

Psalms 119:1-2 says “Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. “  These verses let us know what happens when we have personal revival in our lives. We are blessed. As we enter into the fall season, look at what you did this summer. Were you blessed this summer? Did you walk of the law of the Lord? If you stumbled, repent and get up and start walking in the law of the Lord. When we walk in the law of the Lord, a deep repentance occurs and we get rid of the clouds in our lives. We must confess our sins to the Lord. A while back, my wife bought the 6 week body makeover. In it there was a six day mini makeover. The aim of the makeover is to reduce weight. That is the same thing that repentance does in our lives. It removes the weight that bounds us.  Hebrews 12:1-2 says “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”   Deep repentance is like taking soft winter wheat and bleaching it so that it can be transformed into cake flour. The texture of cake flour is not like soft winter wheat. It has a softer texture, smooth feel and produces cakes with a tender crumb. This is exactly how we are transformed, when we enter into deep repentance. Once we totally confess our sins, we become as a tender crumb, ready and willing to submit and be qualified for the next step of our personal revival journey.

When you confess the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior to the world, you will be blessed.

Until we talk again,

Pastor Thad

PASTOR THAD’S BLOG: Failure is Not an Option

It’s back to school time all across America, whether you are going to college, high school, junior high, elementary school, kindergarten or vocational school. Each year in Okmulgee, Oklahoma we sponsor an event for students returning to school called “Praise in the Park”. We sponsor this event during the same weekend as the National Black Rodeo which draws thousands of individuals into the area. Our event this year was a success. We fellowship and feed anyone in attendance along with having water sports and other outdoor activities. We do this to encourage young people returning to school. We want to put forth the message that “Failure is not an option”. Students, concentrate and focus this year. Do good in school. In fact do better than good. Have a desire for excellence in all that you do. Your educational accomplishments will be recognized for years to come because you are gaining knowledge that will help you through life socially, financially and above all spiritually.

PASTOR THAD’s BLOG: Congratulations 2009 Graduates

In our Sunday service on May 24, 2009, we celebrated the graduation of 6 individuals. All across America, people are attending graduations. This is a time of celebration. I reminded the individuals in our church not to forget about God during this time and as they moved forward for the remainder of their lives. For those of you who are graduating from high school, this is a time for you to do some searching. You need some additional training in order to get to the next level. You are in somewhat of an in-betwen state. Don’t stop now! Trust in the Lord! Listen to wise counsel! and you will make it to the next level. You will see what your real purpose is. We take steps on life and you have been making baby steps. Now, though, are are taking a giant step. For the parents of these young people, encourage them to go on. Build them up spiritually, socially, and emotionally so that they will know how to face the challenges that lie ahead.

To you who have received your Associates and Bachelors, I congratulate you. Two years ago, we sat in the stadium of University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS and watched our son as he walked down the aisle. He graduated in the top 5% of his graduating class. We were and still are proud parents. So parents I know what you went through, how you prayed and how you stayed with your young adult as he or she went through college and received that degree. So I not only congratulate the college graduate but the parents, grandparents, guardian or other mentor of that college graduate to help him or her stay focused on what life is all about.

To those of you receiving your Masters, Doctorate, JD, MD or other higher eduation degree, you have accomplished much and you have done great. Society is expecting great things from you. Education has given you the knowledge and because of the grace of God and you seeking the Lord in your life, you will be given the wisdom to affect and change the course of not one, but many, lives. My wife, Shirley, and I hope in May, 2010 to see our son graduate from University of Oklahoma’s law school. We are pressing and have pressed for that day.

Again graduates congratulations and to those who prayed for all graduates across America, I thank you and applaud you for trusting in the Lord. Now graduates, your graduation day was not an end but a beginning to a new course in your life. Cherish that day and be thankful but recognize that if you do not falter, God has so much more in store for you.

Pastor Thad

What is Real Joy?

During the month of May, 2009, watch the “What is Real Joy?” video message at http://www.todayschurch.tv and let me know if you agree with my assessment of what real joy is.  I love being around joyful people because they can make the best out of some of the most difficult circumstances.  When I see joyful people, I always see them as people with a great faith.  How many times have you been faced with a challenge and yet can find joy through the circumstance.  That requires great courage and as I said earlier, great faith.

Are you a joyful person and do you know what real joy is?

I’M Desperate

I had someone say to me today that I seem like a person who is desperate because I provide too much information. Well, I am desperate. Why? Because I have a burning desire for individuals to know the Savior that I serve and love and that is Jesus Christ. If that makes me desperate, so be it. The same person that said that I was desperate also looked at their church as a small country church. No church that stands open in Jesus’ name is a small country church. IT IS A CHURCH WITH A GREAT BIG MESSAGE. What these comments told me is that we look at ourselves and see ourselves as small, our accomplishments as small and our future as small. IF I SERVE A GREAT BIG GOD, THEN SOMETHING BIG AND SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME. Stop looking down. Look up. I have found that when I looked down I always lost my way. I when I looked forward and looked up, I could make it through. YES I’M DESPERATE – DESPERATE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN!