I am enjoying having a couple of weeks with Adam, and working on a variety of projects. Adam and I, are just chill'in and really just getting into all sorts of things. LOL. College and church work continue on as I am trying to catch up on audio lessons, and two new courses for FBC.

I am praying this summer really allows me the opportunity to catch up with the college, and be able to get back on track with some church work. Having Adam around is just cool, and its made things around the house pretty interesting. LOL. He is crazy, but that is ok.

Our Response To Him Determines Our Destiny.

Preached May 14th, 2015

Fire Conference, Branson, Missouri

FBC Status Update For Conference Introduction

1. Update Status On FBC Purpose And Vision For FBC

1. Online Domestic Student Expansion.

2. Course Level Evaluation and Changes.

3. Opportunities For Promotion Of FBC Maximized By Staff.

2. Student Developmental Purpose Is Intent On Developing An Attitude That’s Focused On

Revival In Our Lives And Churches.

1. Seeing Students Become Licensed Ministers With FGRMC.

Thomas Cranmer’s Habits of Study For Us To Emulate.

“Considered what great controversy there was in matters of religion, not in trifles, but on the chiefest articles of our salvation, and bent himself to try out the truth therein. And forasmuch as he perceived he could not rightly judge in such weighty matters without the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, before he was influenced with any man’s opinions or errors, he applied his whole study for three years therein. After this he gave his mind to good writers, both new and old; not rashly running over them; for he was a slow reader but a diligent marker of whatsoever he read, seldom reading without pen in hand. And whatsoever made either for the one part or the other, of things in controversy, he wrote it out if it were short, or at least noted the author and the place, that he might write it out at leisure, which was a great help to him in debating matters ever after.”

Wesley’s Spirit To Be Considered At FBC.

"Having a spirit like Wesley’s today means that we assume the best of others, not the worst. We give them the benefit of the doubt. We speak well of others, not poorly. We treat them as we hope to be treated. We listen more and talk less. We walk in other people’s shoes and try to understand what they believe and why. This does not mean we give up our convictions, but it does mean we test them. I’ve found that, after listening to another person’s point of view, some ideas I was sure of were not nearly so convincing. I’ve found that, on more than one occasion , views that seemed utterly indefensible actually were quite convincing when I moved beyond my assumptions and took the time to listen"

( Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It by Adam Hamilton )

Adam Hamilton On How The Early Methodist Revival Accomplished So Much.

"We have forgotten how to listen, as individuals, as churches, and as a nation. Liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats, progressives and fundamentalists find it easy to demonize others. The mark of those early Methodists , and a key element of personal and corporate revival in the twenty -first century, is a willingness to see the good in others, hold our positions with humility, and treat others with respect. It is a willingness to make our hearts pliable in God’s hands. It is a willingness to follow the highest calling of Christians, which is both the prerequisite and the goal of revival: love"

Today’s Message, Our Response To Him Determines Our Destiny

What Is Your Destiny?

What a night for the Minnesota Twins baseball team in 1987! They had just defeated the Detroit Tigers and won the American League pennant for the first time in 22 years. More than 50,000 people, young and old, crowded into the Metrodome to welcome their victors home from Detroit. Banners were waving, horns were blaring, the crowd was cheering. There were even tears of joy.

The players were surrounded by members of the news media. One reporter in the crowd called out to Greg Gagne, the Twins’ star shortstop, and commented, “This has got to be the greatest moment of your life.” Quietly Gagne replied, “Actually, no. That was the moment I asked Jesus Christ into my life.”

We enjoy high moments when some hard-won goal has been reached or a victory has been achieved. But as Christians, we realize that our times of triumph are less than dust and ashes compared with the moment we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior. It’s a decision that changes our destiny forever (John 3:15-16).

Have you experienced that greatest of all moments? If so, you have reason to celebrate. If you haven’t, you can make that destiny-changing decision right now.

Our Response To Him Determines Our Destiny.

It determines who we are. Who we become. What we believe. Who we choose to spend the rest of our life with. What church we attend? What fellowship we choose to be a part of. Etc, Etc.

How you respond to the Him and the work of His Holy Spirit during this conference, can have a profound and positive effect in your life and ministry. However, you have got to choose HOW YOU ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO HIS CALL, HIS WILL, HIS GRACE, HIS ANOINTING.

Responding To The Call Of Ministry.

18 aAnd Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simonbcalled Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and aI will make you fishers of men.”

20 aThey *immediately left their nets and followed Him.

21 aGoing on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father,*mending their nets. He called them,

22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. ( Mt. 4:18-22 )

Responding To The Elders.

25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, a“Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.” ( Numbers 16:25-26 )

28 Then he said to them, “Follow me, for athe Lord has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him, seized the bfords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over. ( Judges 3:21 )

Responding To The Holy Spirit.

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.

2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3 aBut Peter said, “Ananias, why has bSatan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?

4 “While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, afell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. ( Acts 5:1-5 )

How Will You Respond To Your Call, Your Destiny In The Now.

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have akept 1from my youth. What do I still *lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, ago, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

( Matthew 19:20-21 )

Seems like my weekend off has been filled with busyness, but there has been some relaxation. Now I am trying to prep for the week of the annual conference for Full Gospel Restoration Ministers and Church, Inc.. We will have meeting Wednesday thru Saturday of this upcoming week. Looking forward to some fellowship and fun. I will be ministering on Thursday afternoon at the college, and hope to really promote our bible college. Focus Bible College has some great potential which I believe God wants us to realize and make people aware of.

I pray everyone had a nice Mother's Day. Enjoying some wonderful family fun and honoring their mother's. I personally lost my mother when she was only 45, but my mother was a wonderful lady. I have so many nice memories of her of which I am thankful for.

Some pics from the weekend. One where I am working in the office, and the other as I get ready for church.

Watching highlights of the 2nd Gashimov Memorial in Shamkir, Azerhaijan. I don't usually play any games any longer other than Chess and football ( soccer ). Time is precious and those are ones I truly enjoy. I am rated quite badly in USCF Chess Federation, but I do like it, as it is a good way to unwind.

http://www.theweekinchess.com/…/carlsen-wins-the-2nd-gashim…

This past week we updated our cgmfinc.com website for Covenant of Grace, and I also added a blog entry at our Focus Bible College website for you to consider. I haven't been able to update , or maintain things like I once had. However, these are two items I think you might enjoy checking out. God bless you all this weekend.

Wesley's Sermons

http://www.focusbiblecollege.org/blog/considering-the-wesleys

CGMF's New Design

http://www.cgmfinc.com/

Here are the events concerning the Passion Week and one of my favorite old hymns concerning Calvary.

The sacrifice of our Lord at Golgotha and its impending repercussions after the resurrection. Have caused many to look at this man Jesus in an extraordinary fashion. Some saying he just a prophet, others an impostor, but for millions both Saviour and Lord. How you view him is no doubt influenced by a variety of factors, but what I hope and pray is that you will get to know him this Passion week in a personal way. Giving him the opportunity to touch your life today and forevermore in a profound way. With his love reaching out to you in a special way, as it has for all of us for over 2,000 years.

We here at FBC wish you all a wonderful Easter weekend in the Lord's presence.

In His Grace,

Dr. Patrick Vossen

Many things caused the variety of underlying currents that formed the Reformation. No less within the framework of the Church of England with strong Roman Catholic factions advocating traditional thought and Reformists seeking radical change. Among those championing change, the most influential was Most Reverend Thomas Cranmer. He embraced Protestant thought and did not want the Church of England to revert to distinctive Roman Catholic teaching. His rationale and intellectual thought is seen in much of his writings. His actions and thoughts at times shows us a devious and sometimes cruel man. Yet, in that age of tumultuous theological turmoil that seemed the norm throughout Europe, too often the ends justified the means.  So whether it was Martin Luther, Thomas Cranmer, John Calvin or the Bishop of Rome, the actions they or their followers took in their name cannot be justified in our culture or thought. However, given the days they lived, their actions may have been the status quo.

Here is a paragraph that kind of sums up the times the Most Reverend Thomas Cranmer lived.

“Cranmer’s fate has been peculiarly hard. Living in evil days, and exposed, after his death, to the malice of evil tongues, he has suffered in almost every part of his reputation. ‘Papists’ have impeached the sincerity, while Protestants have doubted the steadfastness of his principles; and a too general idea seems to prevail that his opinions were ever fluctuating, or at least were so flexible as to have rendered him little better than a weak instrument in the hands of those who possessed more talent and more consistency. But, if we are to be guided by the result of his ministration, the fact was far otherwise. He was, in truth, the chief promoter and ablest advocate for the Reformation, planning it with the discretion of a prudent, and the zeal of a good man, and carrying it on towards perfection with a firmness, a wisdom, and liberality which obtained for him (by those who value the result of his labours) no less credit for the endowments of his head, than for the impressions of his heart.”1

Richard Lawrence, LL.D., “Bampton Lectures,” pp. 23, 24 (a.d.1804). Third edition. Oxford, 1838.

Whatever you think of the man, I see a man of keen thought and insight, but whose flaws in life and lifestyle made him shortsighted and less effective in the long term. Nevertheless, his mark on the Church of England and the Reformation cannot be underestimated.

3/10/2015

Roll-out Of Our New Bible Study Groups For The New Quarter And Other News.