Peter shook the Lord in rebuke and told him that all these things would NOT happen to him on his watch.....
Suffering, murder and resurrection were things that horrified the good and noble Peter....
Peter loved the Lord so much that he did not want him to have to go to the cross....
Nobody can ever question Peter's love for the Lord....
But then the Lord called him Satan....
Because you desire the will of man over the will of God.....
You see my blogging friend....
Peter wanted his Christ but did not want His cross....
Christ without his Cross....
Today we see the same....
Good zealous fiery young men who love Jesus but resist His cross....
This zealous love for Christ but avoidance of His cross is the spirit of anti-Christ....
Get behind me Satan, Jesus had said....
Jesus then told Peter....
You want me on your terms rather than mine.....
Too many good men today desire Christ on their terms rather than his....
Then Jesus made the startling statement....
If you want me you must deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me....
Jesus was in essence telling Peter that you cannot deny me My cross....
And if you want Me you cannot deny yourself your own cross....
Too many today desire the goodness of a Christ without the sacrifice of crucifixion.....
I do not find a lot of the Cross in today's neo concepts of Pentcostalism....
Many want Christ without the doctrines of separation.....
Many want Christ but only the Christ of grace rather than the Christ of responsibility and self denial.....
Gentlemen....
If you want the Jesus of the New Testament you must also accept the cross of self denial...
You cannot deny him his Cross....
Or yourself yours.....
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Single Key To An Apostolic Revival
We hear much about new gimmicks, fads and the old paths....
Jesus shared with us the key to a move of God....
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matt 16:24
Cross bearing is the secret brothers....
Not our standards or our gadgets.....
Cross bearing will regulate our standards.....
Cross bearing will moderate our gadgets......
Cross bearing will grow the church......
For Jesus said.....
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32
One cannot carry the cross without lifting it....
One cannot lift the cross without men being drawn.....
One cannot carry the cross and not have a revival.......
Gentlemen.....
While some want Christ without the cross.....
Others have chosen the plan of Christ and have taken up the cross and are following him into Apostolic dimension....
Blessings...
rks
Monday, August 24, 2009
Buy The Truth
Last evening Bro Wofford called me an enigma from the pulpit and then defined what he meant....
He mentioned that I was old fashioned and refused to let go of the basic traditions of the church....
He then said though that I was brave enough to embrace current and new methodology.....
This got my thinker going....
Here is where many of us find ourselves involved in the battle.....
Many here define the truth by grace and liberty....
Others here focus more on the visible cans and can'ts.....
Brethren....
Tis not our liberties or our convictions that define us.....
For both sides seem to wander off into the wasteland of the forgotten....
I have seen way too many conservatives wander off into the bitterness of everybody is going to hell but me.....
And I have witnessed too many liberal types backslide while loving Jesus....
I humbly suggest that the defining element that keeps men close to the church and the Lord is the "love for the truth".....
While one man might allow rings and video but noone can question his love for truth....
Another might be old fashioned in his standards but none here can question his charactar or love for truth.....
Herein lies the crux.....
Many wander off the reservation to the right and left because they love the stuff of the church more than the truth.....
Short sleaves and chin whiskers will no more send a man to hell than long sleeve white shirts and and a black suit will save a man....
These are things we as men set aside in consecration in our worship.....
Sure there are some who have consecrated more things to God than others....
And there are others with less consecration who love Jesus and their brothers much more than the more consecrated.....
Bottom line is....
Everyone of us better get a good grip on truth and love it....
Buy the truth and sell it not.....
He mentioned that I was old fashioned and refused to let go of the basic traditions of the church....
He then said though that I was brave enough to embrace current and new methodology.....
This got my thinker going....
Here is where many of us find ourselves involved in the battle.....
Many here define the truth by grace and liberty....
Others here focus more on the visible cans and can'ts.....
Brethren....
Tis not our liberties or our convictions that define us.....
For both sides seem to wander off into the wasteland of the forgotten....
I have seen way too many conservatives wander off into the bitterness of everybody is going to hell but me.....
And I have witnessed too many liberal types backslide while loving Jesus....
I humbly suggest that the defining element that keeps men close to the church and the Lord is the "love for the truth".....
While one man might allow rings and video but noone can question his love for truth....
Another might be old fashioned in his standards but none here can question his charactar or love for truth.....
Herein lies the crux.....
Many wander off the reservation to the right and left because they love the stuff of the church more than the truth.....
Short sleaves and chin whiskers will no more send a man to hell than long sleeve white shirts and and a black suit will save a man....
These are things we as men set aside in consecration in our worship.....
Sure there are some who have consecrated more things to God than others....
And there are others with less consecration who love Jesus and their brothers much more than the more consecrated.....
Bottom line is....
Everyone of us better get a good grip on truth and love it....
Buy the truth and sell it not.....
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Rejoicing for 200+ Visitors
Today CUPC hosted it annual Back 2 School bash.....
I want to thank everyone who helped in any way for this event.....
The teams of people in the streets yesterday.....
The singers and worshippers.....
The decor group....
Bro Matt Newton did a good job coordinating the event and speaking.....
Tracie's passion for her kids in the community again proved to be a blessing....
And we celebrate today over 200 visitors in our sanctuary this morning....
I learned a new acronym today....
TGBTG...
To God Be The Glory!!!
I want to thank everyone who helped in any way for this event.....
The teams of people in the streets yesterday.....
The singers and worshippers.....
The decor group....
Bro Matt Newton did a good job coordinating the event and speaking.....
Tracie's passion for her kids in the community again proved to be a blessing....
And we celebrate today over 200 visitors in our sanctuary this morning....
I learned a new acronym today....
TGBTG...
To God Be The Glory!!!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Fishing For Men
Today I spend my day fishing....
Fishing For Men.....
Flyers....
Got Thirst Conroe water will be passed out....
Snow cones and more snow cones.....
Hopefully we will catch someone....
I'll let you know....
Pray for us....
rks
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Back To School Letter
Greetings to the CUPC family!
It is back to school time and that means many exciting things are happening around the church. I would like to encourage you to participate in as many of these events as possible.
• Tonight I continue my study entitled “No Such Custom” and will be discussing “Scriptural Modesty”
• Due to circumstances @ Baskins we are moving our outreach effort to Saturday @ 10 am.
• Then we will meet at the church @ 1:30 to pass out flyers around the community to invite people to our Back to School bash on Sunday Morning. We need as many adults and youth as possible to help with this outreach effort.
• Sunday @ 10 a.m. will be our annual Back to School Bash. We all will be able to be kids for a day. Please feel free to dress in a manner that will support the theme “Ready, Set, Go, Power”. The suggested attire is modest gym attire. I personally will not be wearing a suit rather a jogging jacket, slacks and a shirt. Some men are wearing jogging pants, tennis shoes, etc. Bro. Matt Newton and others are working hard to make this a successful event. Let’s support their efforts.
• Sunday night we will enjoy the ministry of Bro Ron Wofford.
• SFC cans are due on Sunday.
• The following weekend Bro Wofford will be with us both Sunday services.
Look around the campus and you will see some neat changes. We are in process of new signage. Also you will see the “polka dotted” bus this weekend! It will be a very unique ride. Conroe Christian School has many new updates including a computer lab upstairs and new furniture in several classrooms. Our enrollment is strong and our staff excited to be back in school. I want to thank Sis Tina Parker for her hard work.
Bro Trent and Sis Calah along with the Stand Student Ministries enjoyed a wonderful trip to the National Youth Congress in Nashville. Next week they will be taking the entire group to the Sheaves for Christ Blitz in Lufkin. I know the kids are very excited. Sunday is “Can Day”. Please remember to bring your “can” filled with change or dollars to support the Sheaves for Christ offering. As I told you I will be placing $100 in my can and hope that many of you will feel led to do the same. These monies all go to help youth around the world including the purchase of vehicles for all of the missionaries of the United Pentecostal Church. Thank you for helping with this offering. Bro. Trent has been asked to get a group together to provide some of the music for a concert @ the Blitz. Bro. Trent is working with some of our boys to provide this music. I’m proud for the confidence placed in Bro. Trent as well as the confidence Bro. Trent has in our youth.
I have mentioned my pig and chicken story a couple of times. Remember the pig told the chicken that the chicken’s plan to feed the world with eggs and bacon only required an offering from the chicken but total commitment from the pig! Thanks to each of you for your commitment to stewardship. It is your stewardship that has helped us with the unexpected expenses the last few weeks. Let me encourage you to not be weary in well doing and to walk steadfastly in your commitments in the areas of tithe and offerings.
Thanks for all that you do for the cause of CUPC. I know that HE will reward each of you.
Sincerely,
R. Kent Smith
Pastor, Conroe United Pentecostal Church
It is back to school time and that means many exciting things are happening around the church. I would like to encourage you to participate in as many of these events as possible.
• Tonight I continue my study entitled “No Such Custom” and will be discussing “Scriptural Modesty”
• Due to circumstances @ Baskins we are moving our outreach effort to Saturday @ 10 am.
• Then we will meet at the church @ 1:30 to pass out flyers around the community to invite people to our Back to School bash on Sunday Morning. We need as many adults and youth as possible to help with this outreach effort.
• Sunday @ 10 a.m. will be our annual Back to School Bash. We all will be able to be kids for a day. Please feel free to dress in a manner that will support the theme “Ready, Set, Go, Power”. The suggested attire is modest gym attire. I personally will not be wearing a suit rather a jogging jacket, slacks and a shirt. Some men are wearing jogging pants, tennis shoes, etc. Bro. Matt Newton and others are working hard to make this a successful event. Let’s support their efforts.
• Sunday night we will enjoy the ministry of Bro Ron Wofford.
• SFC cans are due on Sunday.
• The following weekend Bro Wofford will be with us both Sunday services.
Look around the campus and you will see some neat changes. We are in process of new signage. Also you will see the “polka dotted” bus this weekend! It will be a very unique ride. Conroe Christian School has many new updates including a computer lab upstairs and new furniture in several classrooms. Our enrollment is strong and our staff excited to be back in school. I want to thank Sis Tina Parker for her hard work.
Bro Trent and Sis Calah along with the Stand Student Ministries enjoyed a wonderful trip to the National Youth Congress in Nashville. Next week they will be taking the entire group to the Sheaves for Christ Blitz in Lufkin. I know the kids are very excited. Sunday is “Can Day”. Please remember to bring your “can” filled with change or dollars to support the Sheaves for Christ offering. As I told you I will be placing $100 in my can and hope that many of you will feel led to do the same. These monies all go to help youth around the world including the purchase of vehicles for all of the missionaries of the United Pentecostal Church. Thank you for helping with this offering. Bro. Trent has been asked to get a group together to provide some of the music for a concert @ the Blitz. Bro. Trent is working with some of our boys to provide this music. I’m proud for the confidence placed in Bro. Trent as well as the confidence Bro. Trent has in our youth.
I have mentioned my pig and chicken story a couple of times. Remember the pig told the chicken that the chicken’s plan to feed the world with eggs and bacon only required an offering from the chicken but total commitment from the pig! Thanks to each of you for your commitment to stewardship. It is your stewardship that has helped us with the unexpected expenses the last few weeks. Let me encourage you to not be weary in well doing and to walk steadfastly in your commitments in the areas of tithe and offerings.
Thanks for all that you do for the cause of CUPC. I know that HE will reward each of you.
Sincerely,
R. Kent Smith
Pastor, Conroe United Pentecostal Church
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Dilemma Of The Day
OK folks....
I share my dilemma of the day with you.....
Here I was clicking around on Continental.com looking for the price for 4 tickets with the tax included....
When suddenly the screen said Congratulations, thanks for choosing Continental....
I didn't know I had made such a choice.....
I accidentally bought 4 flights.....
So my One Pass status allowed me to make adjustments so I made the wrong adjustments....
So I was given the option to cancel the flights and get a refund....
I did so and got a confirmation email that indeed I had cancelled but was given Continental credit for future flights.....
I did not want future credit...
I wanted my $$$$ back.....
All of these events took place in a somewhat quiet and peaceful envirorment....
But then I accidentally let Tracie and Deadra in on the dilemma....
Things were no longer quiet and peaceful....
Deadra (the secretary person) was laughing at me.....
Tracie....
Well I just wish Tracie was laughing at me....
But she did decide it was a great moment to go get lunch for herself....
Husband excluded...
Oh me oh my.....
So I called the nice Continental lady and she fixed it all and gave me a refund....
But she couldn't do that without a parting remark....
Sir, I suggest you keep you fingers away from these kinds of things....
Why is it all the girls are conspiring in this matter?
But never fear....
Crisis averted....
And I am gonna take another shot at the tickets....
rks
I share my dilemma of the day with you.....
Here I was clicking around on Continental.com looking for the price for 4 tickets with the tax included....
When suddenly the screen said Congratulations, thanks for choosing Continental....
I didn't know I had made such a choice.....
I accidentally bought 4 flights.....
So my One Pass status allowed me to make adjustments so I made the wrong adjustments....
So I was given the option to cancel the flights and get a refund....
I did so and got a confirmation email that indeed I had cancelled but was given Continental credit for future flights.....
I did not want future credit...
I wanted my $$$$ back.....
All of these events took place in a somewhat quiet and peaceful envirorment....
But then I accidentally let Tracie and Deadra in on the dilemma....
Things were no longer quiet and peaceful....
Deadra (the secretary person) was laughing at me.....
Tracie....
Well I just wish Tracie was laughing at me....
But she did decide it was a great moment to go get lunch for herself....
Husband excluded...
Oh me oh my.....
So I called the nice Continental lady and she fixed it all and gave me a refund....
But she couldn't do that without a parting remark....
Sir, I suggest you keep you fingers away from these kinds of things....
Why is it all the girls are conspiring in this matter?
But never fear....
Crisis averted....
And I am gonna take another shot at the tickets....
rks
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Rolling Stones
Tonight at CUPC we had an old fashioned break-thru.....
Take ye away the stone, Jesus said.....
Martha and others resisted citing death, decay and stench.....
But somebody had enough faith to go ahead and obey the Lord and the stone was rolled.....
The stone was rolled away from the stench of disappointment, death, heart ache, sadness, failure etc........
Tonite I rolled a monitor speaker off the stage and used it as my stone and we had a time rolling the stone around the church.....
Now I know that there is nothing spiritual about rolling a Yamaha speaker around the front of the church....
But after a week of sweat and work and stress.....
I needed a little old fashioned break-thru....
I rolled some stones....
Then one sister got happy and ran up front and rolled the Yamaha around and the spirit broke in the church.....
Rolling Stones tonight.....
Hopefully we can keep them rolling....
I pray you week is blessed....
rks
Take ye away the stone, Jesus said.....
Martha and others resisted citing death, decay and stench.....
But somebody had enough faith to go ahead and obey the Lord and the stone was rolled.....
The stone was rolled away from the stench of disappointment, death, heart ache, sadness, failure etc........
Tonite I rolled a monitor speaker off the stage and used it as my stone and we had a time rolling the stone around the church.....
Now I know that there is nothing spiritual about rolling a Yamaha speaker around the front of the church....
But after a week of sweat and work and stress.....
I needed a little old fashioned break-thru....
I rolled some stones....
Then one sister got happy and ran up front and rolled the Yamaha around and the spirit broke in the church.....
Rolling Stones tonight.....
Hopefully we can keep them rolling....
I pray you week is blessed....
rks
Friday, August 14, 2009
Biblical Black Holes
Study Finds Earliest Black Holes Born Starving
Friday, August 14, 2009
By Clara MoskowitzThe first black holes in the universe were born starving.
A new study found that the earliest black holes lacked nearby matter to gobble up, and so lay relatively stagnant in pockets of emptiness.
The finding, based on the most detailed computer simulations to date, counters earlier ideas that these first black holes accumulated mass quickly and ballooned into the supermassive black holes that lurk at the centers of many galaxies today.
"It has been speculated that these first black holes were seeds and accreted huge amounts of matter," said the study's leader Marcelo Alvarez, an astrophysicist at the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology in California. "We're just finding out that it could be much more complex than that." ................................
The above article is amazing in its complex simplicity.....
Black holes were hungry pockets of huge amounts of stagnant matter....
Scientist calculated with computer models this profound truth....
But the Word of God told us a long time ago....
And the earth was with form and void and darkness covered the face of the deep......
Somehow I have more confidence in the Word of God than the computer models.....
But I am once again rejoice that science confirms creation even though the confused scientist don't realize it yet.....
However I have one question for the good scientist....
Where did the matter come from?
Blessings....
rks
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
No Such Custom
Today I was blessed to spend some time via telephone with my General Superintendent Bro Kenneth Haney.....
Our talks led us down a myriad of paths and I was blessed and even honored by his taking time to call....
He referenced several times I Cor 11:16 several times and got me to thinking...
We have no such custom in the church.....
Consider for yourselves; is it proper and decent [according to your customs] for a woman to offer prayer to God [publicly] with her head uncovered? Does not the native sense of propriety (experience, common sense, reason) itself teach you that for a man to wear long hair is a dishonor [humiliating and degrading] But if a woman has long hair, it is her ornament and glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. Now if anyone is disposed to be argumentative and contentious about this, we hold to and recognize no other custom [in worship] than this, nor do the churches of God generally. 1 Cor 11:13-16 AMP
I am thankful for the reassurance Bro Haney offered on the subject of hair on both men and women....
As an Apostolic pastor I have long held to the teaching the a woman should have long uncut hair and a man should have trimmed hair....
Let me send a clear message out to the CUPC family.....
Gentlemen we must maintain good clean haircuts and to be involved in leadership on the stage we must be clean shaven....
That goes for you boys trying to grow some chin whiskers.....
We have no such custom as long or shaggy hair and facial hair in the church....
We have no such custom....
Ladies....
Long hair means uncut hair, untrimmed hair, unbobbed hair.....
Long is long....
We in Conroe have no such custom such as cut hair or trimmed hair...
To be in leadership or on the stage we have no such custom as highlighted or colored hair.....
No such custom.....
Now I know that some will respond negatively but Wed night I am going to discuss this verse....
No such custom.....
Blessings...
rks
Our talks led us down a myriad of paths and I was blessed and even honored by his taking time to call....
He referenced several times I Cor 11:16 several times and got me to thinking...
We have no such custom in the church.....
Consider for yourselves; is it proper and decent [according to your customs] for a woman to offer prayer to God [publicly] with her head uncovered? Does not the native sense of propriety (experience, common sense, reason) itself teach you that for a man to wear long hair is a dishonor [humiliating and degrading] But if a woman has long hair, it is her ornament and glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. Now if anyone is disposed to be argumentative and contentious about this, we hold to and recognize no other custom [in worship] than this, nor do the churches of God generally. 1 Cor 11:13-16 AMP
I am thankful for the reassurance Bro Haney offered on the subject of hair on both men and women....
As an Apostolic pastor I have long held to the teaching the a woman should have long uncut hair and a man should have trimmed hair....
Let me send a clear message out to the CUPC family.....
Gentlemen we must maintain good clean haircuts and to be involved in leadership on the stage we must be clean shaven....
That goes for you boys trying to grow some chin whiskers.....
We have no such custom as long or shaggy hair and facial hair in the church....
We have no such custom....
Ladies....
Long hair means uncut hair, untrimmed hair, unbobbed hair.....
Long is long....
We in Conroe have no such custom such as cut hair or trimmed hair...
To be in leadership or on the stage we have no such custom as highlighted or colored hair.....
No such custom.....
Now I know that some will respond negatively but Wed night I am going to discuss this verse....
No such custom.....
Blessings...
rks
Flippantly Flaunted Spiritual Liberties .....
Seems that there are those that love to hang around the edges of UPCI ministry......
They love the fellowship......
They love the conferences and brotherhood.....
And some find great joy in flippantly flaunting their spiritual liberties.....
Saying things like....
I can do this.....
I am able to participate in this certain activity.....
There is no scripture for this particular thing so I do it.....
Or my family does.......
The manual does not prohibit this so I will do it......
My membership in said organization does not say that I cannot do this.....
My brothers......
The flaunting of spiritual liberties is a reproach....
It reeks of legalism....
Legalism is the attempt to see how close to the world one can go but still be in the church.....
Spiritual liberties flaunted in the face of others is legalistic.....
More plainly it is classless.....
Ah yes...we have all seen the ultra conservatives in their moments of holier than thou ism's
They are wrong....
But just as wrong is the flippant flaunting of spiritual liberties.......
This is more legalistic than the ultra conservative’s stand on many issues.....
Whatever happened to the Pauline concept of....
If meat offend my brother then I will eat no meat?
What we see today is.....
Meat offends my brother, so I offer him cowpie.....
They love the fellowship......
They love the conferences and brotherhood.....
And some find great joy in flippantly flaunting their spiritual liberties.....
Saying things like....
I can do this.....
I am able to participate in this certain activity.....
There is no scripture for this particular thing so I do it.....
Or my family does.......
The manual does not prohibit this so I will do it......
My membership in said organization does not say that I cannot do this.....
My brothers......
The flaunting of spiritual liberties is a reproach....
It reeks of legalism....
Legalism is the attempt to see how close to the world one can go but still be in the church.....
Spiritual liberties flaunted in the face of others is legalistic.....
More plainly it is classless.....
Ah yes...we have all seen the ultra conservatives in their moments of holier than thou ism's
They are wrong....
But just as wrong is the flippant flaunting of spiritual liberties.......
This is more legalistic than the ultra conservative’s stand on many issues.....
Whatever happened to the Pauline concept of....
If meat offend my brother then I will eat no meat?
What we see today is.....
Meat offends my brother, so I offer him cowpie.....
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Congrats for 49 years
Either yesterday....
Today....
Or Tommorrow....
I am not sure but I know it is this week.....
My parents celebrate 49 years of marriage....
Congrats Mom & Dad.....
A year later....
They got me......
Today....
Or Tommorrow....
I am not sure but I know it is this week.....
My parents celebrate 49 years of marriage....
Congrats Mom & Dad.....
A year later....
They got me......
Monday, August 3, 2009
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