God and Water

God has a way of using troubled water to manifest miracles. For Noah it was rising water, but God gave him a blueprint. For Elijah it was a lack of water, but God gave him a brook. For Elisha it was bitter water, and God gave him a bowl of salt. For Jonah it was stormy water, but God gave him transportation to his next destination. For the disciples it was raging water, but gave them the Peace right in the ship! Now if that wont preach!.... lol

5th of July Sermon

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
This statement is recorded in history as "One of the best-known sentences in the English language"
The passage has often been used to promote the rights of marginalized groups, and it came to represent for many people a moral standard for which America should strive.
Independence Day is the national holiday
in America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
America, as myth and reality, has for centuries played a part in how other peoples think about their own societies.
America has frequently been viewed from abroad as the embodiment of one or another kind of Freedom. Some foreign observers have taken a rather jaundiced, distorted view of Americans stress on their own Freedom. Other nations are killing for Freedom, To worship, to vote, to choose, to Christianity, for Democracy, America is killing for Ipods, Cell phones, Laptops, TVs, Rims, Because God has already blessed America with Freedom,
This message is designed to help Believers recognize the Freedom they we have in Christ Jesus; and to motivate Seekers to accept Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives.
We must remember that freedom isn’t free.
Freedom is very expensive. (Choice, Independence, Nonconformity)
It has cost some people everything, including their lives.
Freedom isn’t free, it's infinitely valuable.Fortunes, families, and reputations, and their honor were risked.
November 13, 1787, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants” Freedom is not free. The price is always paid in blood. Jesus came in order to bring us freedom from a host of human maladies, difficulties, troubles, woes and ills.
John 8:34-36 Jesus says Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
36 So if the Son sets you Free, you will be Free indeed.
Chapter 8, begins with the story of the woman who was caught in adultery. The scribes and the Pharisees brought the woman to the temple where Jesus was teaching.
They knew the law and what was to be done to her, “stoned to death”. But in an attempt to test Jesus, they asked Him, “what do you think we should do with her?”
Jesus simply bent down and begin writing on the ground. Some suggest that perhaps He was writing the Ten Commandments.
They were persistent in wanting a answer. If Jesus would have said not to stone her, then He would have contradicted the Jewish Law.
If He would have said, “Stone her”, He would have been contradictory to the Roman law which did not allow the Jews to carry out their own executions.
John 8:7 they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."
One by one they begin to leave, being convicted of their owns sins.
John 8:10-11 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."Go and sin no more. He did not condemn her, but neither did He condone her sin as well.
Jesus said to the Man at Bethesda's Pool, Go and Sin no more,
Lest a worst thing come upon you…Sin No More. Don’t do that again.
In the text today Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him,
"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
They answered Him, "We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ’You will be made free’?" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Romans 8:2 - The Apostle Paul says that the Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air,
The Spirit of life in Christ has freed us from a fated lifetime
of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death
Celebrate our independence from the tyranny and bondage of guilt, Celebrate our independence from sin, fear, and death;
Celebrate our independence from oppression, repression, burdens,
At the Cross, where I first saw the light, and the burdens of my
Heart rolled away, it was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I'm happy all the day…
Celebrate an independence that will last for all of eternity.
Celebrate Freedom from the weights that have tied your life down, No more being buried under mountainous loads of fear and guilt,
God has Blessed you!
I'm talking to somebody today…
Who knows that you have been Blessed,
The Lord has freed you,
You're Free say Amen, Show some sign!
Praise the Lord, You're Free,
I'm no longer bound, no more chains holding me,Soul is restingAnd it’s just another blessingPraise… the Lord
Hallelujah, I'm free

Update on Moma Louise

Moma Louise Willis was at my mothers house; her oldest child for the 4th of July. She was singing, laughing, and charging the grandchildren to take pictures of her. I'm told that she was the center of attention. God has spared this 97 year old Great Great Granny to live a good strong life. When asked how old she was for the sake of her birthday cake's candles she simply said, "50 candles is enough, foot." Foot has always been Moma Louise's curse word. Make her mad and she woud say something like, "You know that's not right, FOOT," and when she said "FOOT" she was mad! Well, you know we all thank God for His blessings and mercy on Moma Louise and for His healing hand....

Upper Marlboro Maryland Trip

This trip started off hard. I drove from ten at night til five in the morning with only one stop to get to Upper Marlboro Maryland. No problem, right? Wrong! We reached our destination at five a.m. and I was in the bed like 5:30.....Problem..... We had like an 8:00am Tee time scheduled at the Presidential Lakes Golf Course; the second finest public golf course in the state of Maryland. 18 holes too. So; I get up, go play as best as I could under those conditions; somewhere between terrible and fair.... It was best ball; and I had a few best balls from the Drive, the second, third and putt. That's not really a terribly hard thing to do on 18 holes...Then it was time to leave the course, get back to the house, rest a bit and hit the road again at 4:00am. It was pouring down raining and I wasn't about to let Rickey Jr or Yvonne drive in the rain around the hills and mountains.... So I head out in the rain, driving like a Trucker, but as soon as we were fairly free of the hills and the rain slacked, I was totally out of it... That's where a truck like Expedition or so comes in handy... Now for sure; those SUV's are by far the best traveling vehicles ever..Especially with few people so you can stretch out and rest.... Regardless of the gas prices; I hope to always own one for that purpose alone...You just cant beat them on the road.. So I got a nap for about two hours and I was up and at the rest of the way! Sometimes two good hours will do a world of good! By the way; driving to Maryland is an easy drive on a dry day! So is driving to West like to Chicago, South Bend, Detroit.... Just straight, no hills highway.... Hills going to Maryland, but no problem... You just have to watch out for the deer.

No Room in the Inn for Toto

Look! We just dont have the time for Toto. He's beautiful, friendly, housetrained, playful and a super little watchdog around the house, but for us its like another child and we dont have the time to run a business, work the church, plan to move and properly care for Toto. He's AKC registered, a rather expensive dog, great quality, born Novemeber 11th 2008. If you want Toto, you can have him, he needs to be placed liked TODAY..... Blogging family, make some calls today... let me know if you will take Toto.....

Update on Moma Louise

Moma Louise is back at her home in Bolivar, Tennessee where my family from all over the country will gather beginning today, Thursday, July 2nd through the middle of July! Moma Louise is responding well; sitting up in chairs, eating, talking, laughing, (some that is) she's not telling jokes and all but doing pleasingly well. She's 97 or 98 years old (that's disputed frequently) you know how that goes... I will not be joining the family for the 4th of July; actually I will wait until all are gone and then I will shoot into Memphis/Bolivar to see Moma Louise. You know how that "Everybody come at one time and leave at one time" deal can be... How well do I know? People would all come at one time to Tucson to visit us and leave at the same time.... That really didnt happen in Rochester... I almost had to show people the calendar.... My Lawd....LOL Besides, I'm not in a mood for traveling anywhere. Just got in from Detroit and Los Angeles; I dare not jump up on a plane to go anywhere but Mount Olivet; Yvonne's Hair Care and Nail Salon, 900 B Genessee Street, Rochester, NY (I will be Blogging about that next) and HOME. We have been invited to many houses and events for the 4th of July... Thanks to everyone of you! Yvonne and Rickey Jr and I will be home with a good BBQ dinner, sodas and the works... Not going out of the house; maybe the Deck... that's the extent of it... watch movies; eat, rest, might pack a little bit; (I'll Blog about that soon too) Thus; thank you for praying for Moma Louise; none of us knows about tomorrow, but we surely thank God for today! Amen Holy Spirit!

All Hail the Queen

Probably one of the best Concerts I have ever witnessed was that given by Ms Aretha Franklin, the Undisputable "Queen of Soul." Queen for many reasons. One; her voice last Friday night was very similar to her voice twenty-five years ago. She was crystal clear and rocking and rolling. When you see Aretha in Concert, you then know what she means when she says "She has never left the gospel or the Church." One she is a member of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. Secondly, when she sings; she not only sings to her audience, but she ministers to them. I dont know if this had anything to do with Michael Jackson dying, but Aretha wanted her audience to know that Jesus is her Lord and Savior, and in many of her songs, when she went to the "vamp" instead of "Freeway" it was "Jesus." While I have always appreciated her work; I really adore this woman for not being ashamed to own our God in the midst of 30,000 fans. And all the big whigs out there Hail the Queen......Halle Berry, Angela Basset, Billie Dee Williams, Jesse Jackson, and the list of Celebrities go on and on who were there listening to the Queen! This was probably the biggest back stage crowd of celebrities ever. All was well.. All were nice! Did somebody say that Ms Aretha no longer demands huge crowds? WRONG...She does.... and Ms Aretha opens her concerts and closes.... No other acts....The Queen and others of her friends are on their way to NYC.... Yours truly and Yvonne will join the Queen and her friends there.

Mount Olivet's Men's Day 09

Father's Day was also Men's Day at Mount Olivet. Wonderful Men's Chorus, Great Crowd and three of the laymen delivered the messages... I guess I'm still considering how the day was. It was quite different and different is bad; it's just different! The blue ties and black suits and white shirts were awesome. I was dissappointed that my Tie-folks could not get the ties for my men that they promised and sent a tie that was not satisfactory at all.. Fortunately; they will take them all back and send the requested tie as soon as they are able to fill the back-order. Ok for that! Each of the men gave a bit of testimony of their life and how the Lord had brought them through and up and out of some situations and even how He saved them. Of course; Father's Day doesn't get the same hoopla that Mother's Day gets.. Rightfully so! Mothers are Mothers.

Memorial AME Zion

I enjoyed the opportunity serving as guest speaker for Pastor Kenneth James fourth Annivesary at Memorial AME Zion Church; just up the street from Mount Olivet. Kenneth James is by far one of the greatest preachers in the Northeastern part of the country. This guy is known all over the country. Everywhere I go someone ask me about Kenneth James. He preaches for all of the Conferences all over the country. I really appreciate him for reaching out to me in my earlier days being here in Rochester. If I make no mistake he is the only Pastor; saving Rabbi Kotok who came to visit me and introduce himself to me upon my arrival. We all got together for Lent Services and James spanked all five of the participating pastors. His gifts, education, talent and experience shows greatly when he takes the pulpit. Many of our members were there to support him and Memorial in this celebration. Thanks for inviting us!