'AND YOU SHALL BE MY WITNESSES!"

...AT WHAT POINT IN OUR LIVES DOES BEING GOD'S WITNESS RISE TO BEING AT THE VERY TOP OF OUR PERSONAL LIST OF MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES IN ALL OF OUR MOST URGENT ENDEAVORS?

...AT THE END OF OUR LIFE WILL BEING GOD'S WITNESS BE RECOGNIZED AS A QUALITY THAT DEFINES US, AND IS MOST DESCRIPTIVE WHEN OUR LEGACY IS EULOGIZED?

...IN ALL HONESTY???
......I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS VERY MOMENT TO CHALLENGE ALL MY READERS... [AS IF I HAVE VERY MANY?  LOL!]...TO TAKE A PERSONAL INVENTORY  AS TO HOW MUCH OF OUR TIME, ENERGY, AND EVEN DESIRES ARE DEVOTED TO BEING AN AVID PASSIONATE WITNESS FOR OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF HIS KINGDOM???

HOW MUCH IMPORTANCE DO WE PLACE ON THE SALVATION OF ANOTHERS SOUL?


"For john truly baptised with water;but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."

When they were therefore come together, they asked of him saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times of the seasons, which the Father hath put into His own power.

But ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven...

...But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your you men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

And on my servants and handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy:

And I will show wonders in Heaven above, and signs in the Earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!

AND NOW, AFTER PASSING THE AGE OF 50 YEARS OF LIVING AND HAVING MADE A MULTITUDE OF MISTAKES IN MY LIFE...IT IS MY HOPE TO HAVE GAINED SOME WISDOM ALONG THE WAY!

IN THESE SCRIPTURES FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS, WE ARE GIVEN A LIST OF PRIORITIES AND PROMISES...

FOR THE PROFESSED BELIEVER, THESE PRIORITIES ARE IN FACT COMMANDMENTS OR A COMMISSION...THEOLOGIANS AND BIBLE SCHOLARS REFER TO IT AS THE FINAL COMMISSION, ISSUED TO US BY JESUS HIMSELF AT HIS ASCENSION.

YOU SHALL BE MY WITNESSES...TO YOUR FAMILY FIRST {JERUSALEM} THEN YOUR COMMUNITY {JUDEA} AND THEN YOUR NEIGHBORS AND ASSOCIATES {SAMARIA} AND THEN TO OUR PLANET {THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE WORLD}

That brings me back to this vision, my perfect world scenario that I've been telling you about...

"AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS!"

I so want to have another shot at getting it right with my wife and kids and now grandkids...and beginning there at home equipping the saints for the work of the ministry for the edification of the Body of Christ...

Yes My first concern is for the eternal souls and their eternal destination of my family...Then we become the nucleus of a local body of Christ, a Church and very possibly a "TRIBULATION FORCE" to have the resources and the ability to carry out that final commission to the most beloved of all of God's precious creation...

Mankind in all of its diversity of race, gender, culture, religion, regardless of sexual orientation, or political persuasion...To the Jew first, and then the Gentile...both bond and free...

God is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and to the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord!...For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!...None are righteous, not one, for all of our righteousness is nothing but filthy rags in the sight of God.

What I'm trying to say, is that none of us is better than the next person, no matter what our social economical background or national origin, physical abilities or appearance, station in life or lack there of has nothing to do with our worthiness in receiving Gods favor or watchcare over our lives.

...We have gotten so caught up in pursuing success and the elusive American dream that we have lost sight of whats important and that is why we see so many fractured dysfunctional families and broken people in our midst today.

...When God gave me the opportunity to start a Church in my Younger days...That is why we made it the priority of our congregation to reach out to what most folks consider to be the dregs of our society...

...That is why I believe That God continues to burden my heart for the outcasts and unlovely...unfortunately we see many Churches today more concerned with the concept of growing mega churches, filled with the beautiful, talented, successful members of our society and culture and we devote massive amounts of money and resources to that end and I'm afraid that many of those folks will be ill equipped to deal with the realities that are surely to come when Jesus returns for His Bride.

Thats why I believe in this vision that God has given me,because this isn't just a plan and a formula for keeping me and mine from the danger ahead but more importantly that we will be equipped with the natural means to minister to those around us that are surely going to be in desperate need of our help...

AND THE MIRACULOUS PART OF IT IS THAT GOD WILL BE GIVING US THE THE SUPERNATURAL POWER AND EQUIPMENT THAT WE WILL BE IN DESPERATE NEED OF TO PULL IT OFF!

THE SCRIPTURES PROMISE THAT GOD IS A REWARDER OF THOSE THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM!

JUST LOOK AROUND AND SEE HOW ANXIOUS SO MANY PEOPLE ARE TODAY OVER ALL OF UNCERTAINTY OF OUR TIMES???

WE ARE SLAVES TO OUR BILLS AND MORTGAGES...WE ARE OVERDOSED AND ADDICTED TO CREDIT...UNHAPPY AND STRESSED TO THE MAX OVER TEMPORAL AND WORLDLY MATTERS INSTEAD OF FILLED WITH JOY AND ANTICIPATION OVER WHAT ALL OF THESE THINGS MEAN IN LIGHT OF WHAT THE SCRIPTURE TEACHES US ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS BEHIND THE SIGNS OF THESE TIMES.

SOON AND VERY SOON, WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE KING...DOES THAT STRIKE TERROR INTO YOUR VERY BEING, OR BRING JOY INTO YOUR HEARTS?

...IN CONCLUSION...LET ME LEAVE YOU WITH SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

...I SUBMIT THEREFORE THAT THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES AND THE THINGS THAT WE SPEND OUR ENERGY ON SAYS FAR MORE TO OUR WORLD THAN ANY WORDS WE WILL EVER UTTER!!!


WHAT THE WORLD WANTS...NOW... MORE THAN EVER IN ANY TIME IN RECORDED HISTORY...

WHAT IT NEEDS MOST!!!

IS FOR US TO SHOW THEM BY OUR ACTIONS AND OUR DEEDS, RATHER THAN TELLING THEM WITH EMPTY WORDS AND PIOUS PLATITUDES!

SHOW ME DON'T TELL ME!

"THE GREATEST SERMON I HAVE EVER KNOWN HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY EARS...IT WAS DELIVERED WITHIN THE HEARING OF MY CRYBALLS...AND OH HOW THEY DID WEEP!"

EVEN IF.......WHAT IF???

PRODUCER...OR CONSUMER???

...PRODUCTION OR REDUCTION???

....STEWARDSHIP VS. SELFISHNESS!!!

.......SPIRITUAL  VS. SECULAR!!!

Ok...Lets take belief and faith in God out of the equation...Even if we were not staring down the barrell of total economical collapse???

What if we weren't waking up every morning with this feeling that we are right on the verge of some major geo political, apocalyptic global conflagration???

Would it still make sense to consider or begin to immediately take a course of action that I have been previously describing as being prepared on numerous levels to insure that our families are safe, well protected!

...What if we were prepared to survive when we have our major meltdown in society and we totally lose our current standards of living in America, and the other modern, technologically advanced western cultures???

...Remember that cute little concept that states that "THOSE WHO FAIL TO PLAN...PLAN TO FAIL?"


...NOW I DONT CLAIM TO BE THE SHARPEST KNIFE IN THE DRAWER...BUT LET ME DO A LITTLE BIT OF DREAMING HERE...AND KIND OF CONSTRUCT MY PERFECT WORLD SCENARIO.
...IF FOR NOTHING ELSE THAN JUST GOOD OLD FASHIONED PRACTICAL REASONS LIKE...
...I LOVE MY KIDS, THEIR SPOUSES, AND THEIR SPAWN...IT KINDA FEELS LIKE FAMILY...

THE PROBLEM IS, THAT THE CURRENT FAMILY DYNAMICS OR LACK THERE OF DOESN'T MUCH RESEMBLE WHAT I REMEMBER ABOUT WHAT THE CLOSENESS OF FAMILY FELT LIKE WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG...
...  AND MY MATERNAL AND PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS WERE ACTUALLY A CLOSE AND VERY SIGNIFICANT ACTIVE PARTICIPATING MEMBER OF MY LIFE...

...WE WERE A FAMILY, AND WE STAYED TOGETHER, PRAYED TOGETHER, PLAYED TOGETHER, CRIED TOGETHER, AND ACTUALLY AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, SAT AROUND THE FAMILY TABLE IN MAMAW'S KITCHENS AND SHARED A MEAL TOGETHER WHILE LISTENING TO OUR PAPAW'S TELL ALL OF THESE INCREDIBLE STORIES ABOUT LIFE AND DAILY LIVING...THEIR WAS ALWAYS A LOT OF SMILES AND LAUGHTER AND EVEN SOMETIMES A FEW TEARS AND HEATED CONVERSATIONS, ARGUMENTS EVER NOW AND THEN TO HELP ROUND OUT AND BALANCE SOME OF THESE UTOPIAN MEMORIES THAT I POSESS WERE PART OF THE HEALTHY PROCESSES OF THE FAMILY DYNAMIC THAT I REMEMBER AND CHERISH...

...Is it wrong or naive for me to want to have these similiar type of experiences with my younguns???

...In all due seriousness...the "PERFECT WORLD" FOR ME IS LIVING ON THIS FARM OR RANCH THAT I'VE PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED WITH EACH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL FAMILY UNITS, AIMEE AND JOE'S, MICHAEL AND JESS'S, APRIL AND TYLER'S ALL HAVING OUR OWN SEPERATE LIVING QUARTERS OR HOUSEHOLD...THE RANCH ITSELF WOULD BE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OPERATION PROVIDING INCOME AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH A VARIETY OF SELF CONTAINED AND SELF SUSTAINING ENTERPRISES.

RAISING A DIVERSE VARIETY OF FARM ANIMALS. FOR FOOD, BEEF AND DAIRY CATTLE WITH A FEW SPECIALTY BREEDS THROWN IN, POSSIBLE RODEO STOCK FOR ONE... OR, SOME HEAVY DUTY WORKING STYLE, DRAFT SIZE ANIMALS FOR PLOWING OR PULLING WAGONS ETC. LIKE OXEN MAYBE.

  THINK EARLY PIONEER/WESTERN COVERED WAGONS, STAGECOACHS, BUCKBOARDS, JUST IN CASE GASOLINE AND DIESEL BECOME SCARCE AND YOU NEED AN ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND PLOWING/HARVESTING CROPS.

HORSES WOULD ALSO BE GOOD, AND HELP OUT TREMENDOUSLY... WHEN MODERN TRANSPORTATION LIKE CARS AND TRUCKS AND THE FUEL TO RUN THEM ARE NO LONGER VIABLE OPTIONS...

  IN MANY CULTURES OF OLD AND EVEN A FEW TODAY IE; IN PRIMITIVE, UNDERVELOPED, REMOTE AREAS OF OUR PLANET, A FAMILIES WEALTH OR AFFLUENCE IS MEASURED BY THE VARIETY AND AMOUNT OF LIVESTOCK THEY POSSESS...It certainly can be the deciding factor when survival is at stake.

There are so many ways to make more than AN adequate living, from farming and ranching!

What better way is there to raise a family and teach amazing life lessons to our children along the way.

...The TV series the Waltons come to mind if your trying to picture in your minds eye what I'm talking about.

....They lived off the land for the most part growing and even canning and preserving their own fruit and produce. 
... They would hunt and eat wild game to supplement their grocery needs.

  Native American cultures taught many lessons about using every part of the animals they harvested, wasting very little as hides were used for leather goods and clothing, bones and antlers for tools and weapons etc.

  It was all about showing respect and honor for God's creation, being good and faithful stewards of the bounty and sustenance provided to us in our natural world.

...These are great Godly values and important opportunities for a grandfather or grandmother to pass down to our children...People today call it Home Schooling I think, but I doubt you will find these lessons in our modern curriculuums and lesson plans.

This is one Dad and grandfather that would be in hog heaven teaching my son-in-laws, and grandchildren about how to be a naturalist, surviving and living off the land...Respecting the land and the resources in a way that is renewable and self sustaining...Not raping and exploiting these precious gifts.

You've heard the saying, about how you;

 "Give a person a fish, and you provide them with a meal for the day...But teach them to fish, and you provide them with the skill to feed themselves for a lifetime!"

Animal Husbandry, veterinary medicine, breeding and livestock management, Agriculture and Horticulture,  Timber and woodworking, carpentry and construction...

  Masonry, Architecture, engineering, building and mechanics...

...I'm not talking about theory or the kinds of lessons you learn from class room lectures or textbook studies...

...These are experiential studies that are passed down from generation to generation, Father to Father, Mother to Mother, Father to Son,  Mother to Daughter, Brother to Brother, Sister to Sister,  Family to Family...

...BELIEVER TO BELIEVER...


 Not Some half baked lessons taught to our children by some half assed underpaid, liberal arts college educated wannabe, whose biggest goal on a week to week basis is collecting that paycheck on friday...

...Getting that weekend buzzzz, they so richly deserve, for putting up with someone elses demon possessed monsters all week long...

...and if the gods really smile on them for all the crap they've had to endure just to earn that paycheck...

...If they are really lucky, they will get laid at least once this weekend...

... before they have to get back up early Monday morning and do it all over again!!!

I dont Know about you???

But for me and mine...I'm thinking, I would prefer to give them a shot at living life like I've seen on the Waltons, or Bonanza style on The Ponderosa Ranch...
... or maybe... somewhere... out in someplace...
... like Montana... where... A  River Runs Through It!
... or... There's Legends in the Fall...

...We might even learn a few lessons from...

... The Man That Just Returned To Snowy River!!!

SOUNDS GOOD, DOESN'T IT?

SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER ADVENTURE TO ME!

 IF THERE IS ONE THING I THINK MY WIFE CAN ATTEST TO AT THIS POINT IN OUR LIVES...

 EXCEPT MAYBE EXCLUDING THIS PAST HORRIBLE YEAR OF 2008.

There has not been too many dull moments in our 33 - 34 years of marital bliss...

Life with me has been an adventure...Some of it good...and some of it not so good...but at the very least...ADVENTURESOME!

Oh Yeah!!!

BY THE WAY...WE HAVEN'T EVEN DIPPED OUR TOES INTO THE SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF WHAT IS IN STORE FOR US ONCE GOD WORKS OUT ALL THESE LOGISTICAL DETAILS...
 ... ASSEMBLING US ALL TOGETHER IN THIS PROMISED LAND THATS FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY ...
THAT I'VE BEEN DESCRIBING  IN THIS VISION...
... OUR HEAVENLY FATHER INSPIRED WAY DOWN IN THE DEPTHS OF MY SOUL...
... AT THE CORE OF MY VERY BEING...

stay tuned....plenty more coming...so prepare yourself for the rest of this story!

"WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US!"

Brother Michael

VISION = "IN A PERFECT WORLD!" Part 2 and beyond

"THOSE THAT FAIL TO PLAN...PLAN TO FAIL!!!

"Where there is no vision, the people perish..." {Proverbs 29:18}

...Again, let's be clear on what it is...and why it is... there is such urgency contained in in the words to follow;

I am a Christian Man, that believes in God almighty...One God!

I am what some would call a Mono-Theist...The One God I believe in is Yahweh, Jehovah of the Judeo Christian faith and tradition!

The particular branch or expression of God's New Testament Church That I have aligned myself with, is The Southern Baptist Denomination.

In saying that,... let me assure you that I am not necessarily a big fan of sectarianism, or denominationalism, nor do I believe that our Lord Jesus is either.

God by circumstances directed me to A Southern Baptist Church and although they are far from perfect, God has never called me out from the SBC, but rather has nurtured me, and enriched my life through this Church.

I once heard it said, and it seems like it will probably be true in my life...

"I WAS SOUTHERN BAPTIST BORN, AND SOUTHERN BAPTIST BRED, AND WHEN I DIE, I'LL BE SOUTHERN BAPTIST DEAD!

It's a humorous little ditty, but I am proud to associate myself with the likes of several great men of Faith Like Billy Graham, and Charles Stanley to name a few...I also am in agreement with their articles of faith, and believe whole heartedly in our mission statement, as well as philosophy and methodology of doing ministry.

There is always room for improvement though and there is no perfect church on this earth that I'm aware of???

Their is also an ethical consideration or loyalty factor involved...

...What do I mean?

Southern Baptists have invested a huge amount of resources into my life, ministry, education, etc.

...From the moment I was saved in that Little Southern Baptist Church In DeRidder, Louisiana, {Texas Avenue Baptist Church}, This congregation and my first Pastor, Rev. Hollis Roberts, recognized and acknowledged God's Call on my Life to preach the Gospel and to the ministry, and thereby extended to me a license...Recognizing, and authorizing me  to excercise my gifts in preaching and ministry...

...I was Nurtured in my young faith at First Baptist In Welsh Louisiana under the Ministry Of Rev.John Couch ,

 And then continued my journey at Trinity Baptist In Kalamazoo under the Ministry Of Rev. Leonard Connors and further Tutored By an old friend who was the Chairman of Deacons at that Church, Ephraim Maya!

From There, Trinity Church Church was the sponsoring Mother Church of a Mission Chapel in the suburbs named Lexington Green Baptist Chapel...

The Chapel was led by the Rev. Tom Day whom I believe was under an appointment and supported by the Home Mission Board of the SBC...

My own Journey continued From Trinity Church to temporarily supplying the Pulpit At Lexington Green Chapel...Subsequently accepting their call to be The Pastor of the young Mission work at my young age of 24 years old...Just 3 short years after my own dramatic conversion experience in Louisiana...

...Lexington Green was Constituted as The Praise Baptist Church  approximately 1 and one half years later, moving from the suburbs {Portage} into the inner city of Kalamazoo...

Praise church was then The Proud sponsor of a Christian Social Ministry divinely inspired to be called Alpha and Omega Ministries...

This work was designed to foster community, create and grow disciples, and minister to the people that God caused us to encounter at their point of need... Food, clothing, shelter and fellowship.  "A PORT IN THE STORM"

..."Being all things, to all men...that we by all means save some..."

The Southern Baptists at that point went against their own protocols and endorsed my ministry putting me under appointment by the Home Mission Board as a Home Missionary...Wow!  A 9th grade drop out... 

There is a lot more detailsto that story... 

 I guess thats  another story for another time...

But my point is ... Southern Baptists have been used by God, from the time I was saved in 1981, providing for my family  with a salary supplement,  medical insurance, underwriting my Formal Theological Education through conferences, seminars, retreats, and Seminary training at Boyce Bible School and SBTS in Louisville, Ky...

This particular branch of God's expression of His New Testament Church on Earth has invested a huge amount of resources into my Life and ministry...So ethically and morally I feel a need to honor that investment by remaining loyal and committed to the vision and philosophy of ministry modeled to me and mine in very real and tangible ways by Southern Baptists...

First and foremost, my loyalty is to God the Father, through Jesus the Son, empowered and enabled by God the Holy Spirit for the work of the ministry and the advancement of God's Kingdom...Not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to the knowledge of the saving grace of Christ Jesus our Lord!...


...Why is it important for these things to be said and understood???

We are living in the time that Scripture warns us that their will be many false teachers and false prophets that will arise and try to lead us astray...In fact, many will succeed in doing just that...

David Koresh and the Branch Davidians are one group that quickly comes to mind...and there are many different groups that have come together in preparation of the soon to come apocalypse...

They more often than not, wind up being cult groups that are self serving rather than God serving...who ultimately bring death and destruction to their adherents and followers, rather than freedom, deliverance, fulfillment, protection and enlightenment!

The trick is...to not throw out the Baby with the bath water!

...I am not interested in starting another whacked out splinter group of so called Chrisitian Believers who retreat to some isolated location in Guyana, Africa, Ruby Ridge, or Waco Texas, stockpiling Arms and Poison Koolaid in the event of The Apocolypse!

What I am interested in...

Is Honest to goodness, Authentic, New Testament Christianity...Of the type that Jesus and the Apostles tell us about in the Christian Bible...

I am interested in being always ready, for we know not what hour the master of the house returneth?

I'm naive enough to believe that it is possible to be like those wise "Virgin Brides" whose lamps were full of oil and they were well prepared and waiting to receive their soon returning "BrideGroom!" 

My perfect world vision for me begins with my family first!

Ideally, I would like to have at least 100 acre farm with a portion of it being on high ground in a fairly remote, rural location...Kentucky would be nice... but I am Open to where ever God would provide!

THE FIRST THING WOULD TO BE TO GATHER ALL OF MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO LIVE ON THIS FARM TO TEACH THEM HOW TO LIVE OFF THE LAND AND TO BUILD STRUCTURES LIKE THE EARTH SHIP COMMUNITIES IN NEW MEXICO THAT RUN ON ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY FOR THEIR ELECTRICAL, HEATING, COOLING SANITATION, AND THEY EVEN HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FRESH WATER THROUGH SOLAR CONDENSATION... IN THE DESERT MIND YOU... WHERE THE WATER SUPPLIES ARE VERY LIMITED AND NOT READILY AVAILABLE.

The practicality of gathering your family together in one specific geographic location is easily understood for the sake of being able to physically protect and provide for the ones you love the most.  It also makes incredible sense to pool your resources and talents corporately to maximize the probabilities for success.  Immigrants have proven this strategy as a formula for success over and over again as they have come into our country and become extremely successful in business and in community banding themselves together in groups for common purposes.

It would be very adventageous to have Fertile ground for growing our own food and pasture land for grazing and growing livestock, cattle, horses, chickens etc. with fresh water flowing through the property, a clean creek or small river, fishing pond...

The Idea is to have a place with the natural resources readily available to support and self sustain life for my family, our crops and its livestock in such a way that when our society and its infrastructure collapses we will be far removed from the ensuing chaos of our urban centers, and we will be able to be self sustaining within our own protected environment...well supplied with the necessities of life, food water and shelter.

What is now considered to be one of our greatest modern assetts, {TECHNOLOGY} will probably be the cause of our greatest failures in the very real struggle for safety and survival in our post apocalyptic world that I believe we will soon find ourselves in.

...What I am saying is, that we need to know how to live like they lived in the early pioneer settlement days of our past... Without the modern conveniences of readily available on demand sources of energy, ie: electricity, natural gas, sanitation, fresh water, communications, transportation based on the availability of Petroleum Products.

   In the Old Days the early settlers protected themselves by banding together as families, and communities of believers.  They even built forts and stockades to help protect theirselves from invaders and enemies.

   I know that these things may be hard for us to get our heads around today in our modern western culture, but their are still undeveloped communities in what we consider to be primitive third world remote locations on this planet... Some of These people have lived their entire lives without the benefit of our modern conveniences and technologies and they will be the ultimate survivors when all hell breaks loose...

If you are truly a believer in God and his Word...Then you must know that our world and society as we have known it will soon come to an end...and their is nothing wrong in preparing ourselves and our loved ones, right now...before the proverbial SHITE hits the fan!

WE NEED TO ORGANIZE OURSELVES INTO THAT TRIBULATION FORCE IMMEDIATELY, SO THAT WE CAN BE PREPARED TO BE USED BY GOD IN WHAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL AND EPIC STRUGGLES IN ALL OF HISTORY!

THE QUESTION IS GOING TO CENTER AROUND WHETHER WE ARE CRIPPLED BY FEAR OR WHETHER WE HAVE EQUIPPED OURSELVES AND MADE READY TO LEAD OUT IN WHAT IS SURELY TO BE SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING TIMES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF GOD'S KINGDOM!

REMEMBER!

THEIR ARE SOULS IN THE BALANCE, AND THE BATTLE IS NOT OURS, BUT BELONGS TO THE LORD!...B T W ...I HAVE READ THE BACK OF THE BOOK, AND WE WIN! 

Not Only is this a great strategy for how to be prepared for up and coming disasters and calamity, but it is an even greater idea of immense practical value for the hear and now when times are fairly good...A recipe for success in times of prosperity and insurance for being prepared when the storms of life come.

IT IS A WISE MAN WHO BUILDS HIS HOUSE ON THE ROCK FOR WHEN THE WINDS BLOW AND THE STORMS RAGE ROUND ABOUT YOU, THE HOUSE WILL REMAIN!

PEACE BE UNTO YOU AND YOURS

BROTHER MICHAEL

VISION = "IN A PERFECT WORLD!"

"Where there is no vision, the people perish..." {Proverbs 29:18}

>>>>>IN A PERFECT WORLD<<<<<

Perfect world...What does that even mean?

...For me, it would have to do with having more control,... or maybe resources is a more appropriate word to use to convey what I'm trying to say?

The resources to begin to act on the vision that would constitute for Beth and I what I believe would mean a perfect world for me and mine first...

REMEMBER???

FAMILY FIRST IN MINISTRY AND IN;
" SEEKING YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD ...AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU..."

...What I'm talking about is making sure my family is safe and secure first, and then collectively being enabled to allow each member of the family to be empowered to find their own individual purposes and relationship with their Heavenly Father...

It is my belief, that in so doing the family is strengthened, life is rich and full, filled with purpose, hope and adventure...and the Kingdom of God is best served and the "Real" New Testament Church will flourish and have the massive impact on this world and the world to come That God intended...

Tall order Huh?

I believe it's possible and way more than just an old mans unrealistic idealic pipe dream.

Yes I am still talking about the beginning of creating a real Tribulation Force type and style ministry and using all of the incredibly gifted, talented, and much blessed members of my family....

...Just Dad doing what Dad has been called to do...

Leading his family to be that dynamic force in these last days that we find ourselves living our lives in and being best prepared to deal with and to be used in the mass chaos that is soon to come...

Being ready....Getting ready...Even much more so as you see the day approaching.

There are plenty of reasons, some of them just selfish desires of 2 people growing older and wanting to surround themselves with the people they love the most on the planet...Our Children and Grandchildren and any other extended members of the family willing to take a chance on living their lives on the edge of the most exciting and important adventure in history.

THE RETURN OF OUR SOON AND VERY SOON COMING KING!

....JESUS!

God has blessed Beth and I with 3 incredible children and not only that...But all three have already done something incredible with their lives!

They all three chose 3 more incredible and dearly loved children of God, remarkable Human Beings for their lifes companions. In doing so, they have given us blessed and beautiful grandchildren...Five so far, 3 boys, 2 girls.

Joe, Jess and Tyler, are just as loved, and cherished as if they were our own children...In fact we do consider them to be!

Since we are surely in the throes of Labor pangs...that is, according to my understanding of Eschatological events, and the timeline involved, according to most learned scholars in the disciplines of theology and Prophetic iterpretations...?

...Anyday now, our lives and lifestyles are going to be challenged and changed in ways that most of us here in the United States and western cultures have never experienced or even tried to imagine.

...Even the unbelieving, and skeptical scoffers, realize that society as we know it is likely to disappear and in fact is even at the very moment of this writing.

These are perilous and uncertain times that we are living in...But are they really?

To my mind, I think that we are living in the most exciting times ever. Full of promise and opportunity. That is why we need to prepare immediately and begin to insure that we are in a position to protect and teach our most precious loved ones...

...and in so doing, we will be in a position to be soldiers on the front lines for loving and ministering to a lost and dying world a Tribulation Force!


...THE VISION IN MY PERFECT WORLD!


BREAK TIME....I HEAR THE DINNER BELL AND MY PRECIOUS LEXIE WILL BE HERE FOR AN OVERNIGHT VISIT WITH PAPAW AND GRANDMA AND MAMAW SORRELL

BBL TO SHARE THE   

......."VISION".......


Sunday Morning {THE LORD'S DAY}  Jan. 18, 2009>>8:30AM

The Vision....FINALLY

Well here it is....Regardless what your belief system is???  There  are so many right and practical reasons, on so many levels why the things I'm about to share would be the right and wise course of action to implement, giving the time and conditions in which we find ourselves at this moment in History.

First off, Let me share my personal perfect world idea, and then I'll explain the why fors, and how comes, and the results and benefits that would be realized as a result, and why I believe that the inspiration is divine and part of the call on my life and the lives of my loved ones:


....We need the right piece of property.  A minimum of 20 acres, but preferably a 100 + patch of ground.  The topography needs to be diverse and fertile with some high ground, woods forested for timber and wild game habitat.  Running water into and out of a resevoir/fishing pond.  There also needs to be enough land for growing crops for food for people and livestock.

...The idea is that you need a high ground position for a military type defenseable position...Its always better to hold the high ground in a battle!
Believe me when I say to you that in the future when chaos rules, infrastructures are broken down and the population is desperately just trying to survive.  Only those with a strategy and weapons to protect themselves and their loved ones and their resources will be able to fend off those hell bent on taking what you have away from you.
...History bears this out...Think about the early settler days like when Daniel Boone brought families into the wilderness and they had to defend themselves against those that would take away what they had by any means necessary...MOVIE BUFFS SHOULD KNOW THIS.  MAD  MAX, WATERWORLD,  THE LEFT BEHIND MOVIES,  ETC. ETC.

Trust me when I tell you that a few major disasters, whether they are terrorist attacks or God's Prophetic judgements being unleashed as prophesied, So called natural disasters, even economic collapse which we are smack dab in the middle of at this very moment...Could very well, and probably will put us in a position where we will have to make those choices to kill or be killed, fighting for the lives and protection of those we love the most, just like we have seen and are seeing in all of the conflicts taking place in the Middle East.

We would be fools to think that because we live in America that we are somehow immune from these kind of realities, and probabilities.

   Let it put it this way;  "I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE A GUN AND NOT NEED IT OR HAVE TO USE IT, THAN TO NOT HAVE ONE, AND NEED ONE TO SAVE THE LIVES OF MY GRANDSONS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS"...

...BTW...There are worse things that people do to each other than killing them and I'll be damned before I risk something like that happening to one of my babies when I might possibly be able to do something to prevent it...Life as we know it now is very likely to change drastically very soon!


GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE SAND!!!
...YOU ARE NOT AN OSTRICH, BUT A CHILD OF THE KING AND HIS WORD SAYS BE YE ALWAYS READY FOR YOU KNOW NOT WHAT HOUR THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE COMETH!

VIRGINS...MAKE SURE YOU HAVE OIL IN YOUR LAMPS!

GET IT?????

You have to have fresh water for survival to support life, sanitation, crop irrigation and can create a source of self contained, self producing energy, ie; ELECTRICITY, oxygen, hydrogen etc.

THE STRATEGY IS AND EVEN THE PRACTICALITY OF HAVING ALL YOUR BASES COVERED SAYS THAT WE NEED TO BE LIVING IN AN ENVIRONMENT AND IN SUCH A WAY AS  BEING SELF SUSTAINING, SELF CONTAINED SO THAT YOU AND YOURS CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT ANYONE ELSES HELP OTHER THAN GOD ALMIGHTY AND EACH OTHER.

We need to gather together as families just like they did in the old days when this country was in the process of being settled pooling our talents and resources and especially renewing our love and devotion to one another.

We can build these earth ships that are self sustaining like a few communities out in New Mexico, where they rely on Solar, and wind to produce electricity, heating and cooling, sanitation, etc.   They even live in the desert but are able to produce their own fresh water through solar condensation, they grow their own food and not only is this a good idea for survival needs, but it is being good stewards of our planet and wise use of our monies that we are not having to spend money for water, electric, sanitation unhealthy food...

The great thing about these Earth Ships that I mentioned is the fact that they used mostly items from the garbage for building materials, Old tires, Plastic bottles, glass jars, Plain old dirt and rocks. 

What an awesome way to begin this adventure and begin to live out this vision that God has inspired in me for family first and then organizing ourselves into a Genuine New Testament Church That teaches, nurtures and loves our children, loves our neighbors, and our planet, and demonstrates to a world in great need by the things that we do, and the way that we live that we most importantly love the Lord our God with all our heart soul mind and body.   Then they will be able to hear what we say because they see the truth of it in our lives, And they will experience it firsthand because God will bless and provide in the same way that He did with the loaves and fishes where we have what we need and plent more left over to share with all of those within our watchcare and responsibility.

This is only the tip of the iceburg of this vision and inspiration that God has birthed in me and in this vision I see every member of my family being used in mighty fashions to be a part of this exciting opportunities that we have right in front of us...

I will share so much more in my next post coming very soon....I've got to go spend some time with my little Lexie Princess.   The greatest joy of this Papaws heart is spending time with my babies.

Excitedly in his service today

Brother Michael

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN...BUT IT HAS BEEN A STRANGE DAY!

It is January 15, 2009...THURSDAY 11:00PM

IT WAS TRULY A MIRACLE HOW GOD INTERVENED AND SPARED THE LIVES OF ALL THE PASSENGERS AND CREW OF THE US AIR LINER THAT CRASHED INTO THE HUDSON RIVER TODAY...

AND LET ME ALSO PASS ON SOME SERIOUS KUDOS TO THE CAPTAIN OF THAT SHIP THAT SO CALMLY AND SKILLFULLY BROUGHT THAT PLANE DOWN SAFELY IN AN EMERGENCY WATER LANDING. HE IS TRULY A GREAT HERO AND EXTREMELY BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED.

I AM OF THE OPINION AND HIGHLY SUSPECT THAT HE IS MORE THAN LIKELY A MAN OF FAITH AND I HOPE THAT BECOMES A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE NEWS STORY OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS...SO FAR, THE MEDIA SEEMS TO HAVE SHIED AWAY FROM ATTRIBUTING THE POSITIVE RESULTS TO DIVINE INTERVENTION.

YES FOLKS,... MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN, AND THIS ONE TRULY APPEARS TO ME TO BE BONAFIDE, AND CERTIFIABLE!

GLORY TO GOD!



It has been a very emotional day for me today for many reasons, and I'm not sure whether I can share all of the things that have crossed my path today, especially the first thing that came my way this Morning when my Brother Jeff brought me some news and a message on the down low dealing with a part of my painful past...


...But I must say that his words were words of great encouragement and wisdom delivered with the pure love that can only come from a Brother and a Man that I'm extremely proud of these days...

...In spite of the many difficult and painful things that have transpired between him and I in what is becoming the near distant past...


...He is my flesh and blood, my brother, my family, and I love him very much and am very glad that he is in my life. Lately he brings to me strong words of encouragement and hope and wise counsel...

Imagine that!
...My little brother!

...And even though there has been times when we have had harsh words and even physical blows...

Today I would stand side by side with him and go to war with him if need be... and woe be to anyone that means him harm when I'm in the vicinity,
because that's what Brothers do!
Thats what families do!

They stick together and bear one anothers burdens and cuff each other up side their dumb heads if they need it ...

But let no one else do them any harm, lest they incur the collective wrath of the rest of their family members...


I hope this is a value that holds true in this family, especially in my children...

"TO ERR IS HUMAN, BUT TO FORGIVE IS DIVINE!"


I love my brother and my sister and I know that they love me too...

And even though we know that all of us have made huge mistakes in our lives, and will most likely make plenty more before we leave this planet...

...Gods word commends us to give grace and mercy...
... and then grace and mercy we will receive...for when we sow pain...then pain will be our reward.


...I'm not exactly sure why I felt like like that needed to be said... but I do Know that it is from my heart... and is truly the way I feel....


....Like I started out saying, today has been a strange day, and I have experienced a wide range of emotions...


...I have had my own children very much on my mind as well as my grandchildren, and I miss them all very much!

I pray everyday that God would make a way for us all to be together at least for a visit very soon...


I also want to say at this point, as long as I'm contemplating the blessing of Family,
... how much I love my own Mother and my biological Father!

How glad and blessed I am... That they are still alive and are in our lives...
...And That brings me to thoughts of my precious companion, my soulmate...


The Mother of my children is the very one person in my life that I cannot fathom being without.


Beth Ellen Edmonds Bowling is the single most important person in my life today. She truly is my best friend. And I dont think that I realized that as much as I do at this very moment until after the conversation I had with My brother earlier today.


Maybe I'll be able to elaborate on that later, but not right now!


...My heart breaks for Miss Beth because I am the one that she's able to share with the depth of her pain that she experiences over the Loss of her family members on the Edmonds, Harrell, Noyes, Dean, Sills etc. side.

They are all gone...into eternity, and none of us...!

...Our children, or the members of my Maternal and Paternal family members knows what that feels like.


Only my Mother Shirley... who grieves the loss of her husband, my Stepfather, Ron Sorrell... whose six year anniversary of his passing was just marked on the 12th this January.

My sister Delana, My Brother-in-law Steven, my 2 nephews Bill and Nick who mourn and grieve the loss of Joshua... almost 4 years ago,... can even dare come close to what my bride must feel when it comes to losing those members of your family so near and dear.


Miss Beth...The Bride of my youth is my best friend...And it is my hope and prayer That my all of my family, especially our children realize what a precious gift and blessing from God she truly is to us all.


SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND AND MY LIFES COMPANION, AND I WILL CHERISH EVERY DAY THAT WE HAVE TOGETHER FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES!


THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER FOR GIFTING US WITH HER... AND MAY THEIR BE MANY MORE DAYS AND HAPPY MEMORIES MADE AS WE BOTH ENTER INTO THE GRANDMA AND PAPAW YEARS OF OUR LIVES.


...Again let me comment on the other miraculous part of this day as the news of the day centered around the US Airways plane that crashed into the Hudson river in New York today and all 156 passengers survived.


...Again I was reminded of how precious our family members are and how blessed all those passengers families must have felt when they received the news that their loved ones had been spared.


Hallelujah! God is good all the time.


I wondered if their were any of those passengers that would be willing to lay claim to being an Atheist after their day... and their near death experience?


How many of them prayed and cried out to God for maybe the first time in their lives?


ANYWAYS...WHAT AN INCREDIBLE DAY IT HAS BEEN,

AND TONIGHT I AM TRULY GREATFUL FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE.


IN THE WORLDS EYES, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE JUDGED THAT AT THIS PRESENT TIME...I DON'T HAVE MUCH...BUT I HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY GOD AND WITH MY FAMILY, AND I LOVE THEM AND I BELIEVE THEY LOVE ME AND TODAY....FOR ME THAT IS ENOUGH!


Baruch Hahem Adonai

Brother Michael


P.S. Lest I be Remiss... I thank my God daily for the precious relationship that I have with my Aunt Sheena...I'm not sure if anyone else is aware of how much she means to me and how significant she is in my life as one of my most faithful prayer warriors and I think she might be my biggest fan and cheerleader...Thank You Aunt Sheena


P.S.S. The vision I spoke of in my last post is coming soon!