Sunday, October 28, 2012
zionspeakz: Flip that switch!
zionspeakz: Flip that switch!: After the passing of my step-father on August 28, 2008 I inherited one of his prized possessions. It is a 26 year old classic GMC pickup tru...
Flip that switch!
After the passing of my step-father on August 28, 2008 I inherited one of his prized possessions. It is a 26 year old classic GMC pickup truck in almost mint condition. This particular model comes with a dual fuel tank which is positioned on both sides of the truck. The left or right fuel tank can easily be activated by the flip of a switch located beside my radio. One day while running errands the truck completely stopped in the middle of a major road. I attempted to start the truck countless times, but to no avail it would not crank. As my temperature begin to rise in the midst of a fog a frustration, I carefully stepped out of the truck. Cars were closely racing by me as if they were competing in the Daytona 500. While analyzing the problem the light bulb in my head finally lit! Then I remembered....my gas gauge did rest on the E mark as I passed by THREE gas stations thinking that I could make it to the cheapest one, which was the fourth one. Have you ever done something so ridiculously foolish that even you had to laugh at yourself???
Now it really gets interesting because I am about 3 miles from the nearest gas station. In the blazing southern heat of North Carolina I grab the gas can from the bed of the truck to start my journey. After walking a total of 6 miles in breathtaking humidity that's designed to make you cuss, I returned to empty the gas into my truck. In a sigh of relief I climbed in to start the truck, but wait! Nothing happened. In panic I stomped the gas petal before turning the key a second time, then a third, then a fourth, then finally on the tenth time out of sheer disgust and fatigue I quit. After being stranded for some time my truck was towed to a nearby garage to determine the problem. The garage owner was "confident" in his diagnosis that I needed both a carburetor and a fuel pump. However, after talking with several mechanics they all agreed that it could not be both the carburetor and fuel pump, it had to either be one or the other. The garage owner was very eager to quickly cash in by making the needful repairs, but at the brink of making a very costly decision another light bulb went off in my head! As I mentally traced the day my truck died I came to a decision that I only wished I had come to before I had the truck towed and the fuel pump replaced. I would have saved time and money. When my truck ran out of gas I filled the left tank located on the driver's side, however I always use the right tank located on the passenger side because by doing so I never have to flip the switch to transfer the fuel to that particular side. Out of frustration and not thinking clearly in a critical moment I added gas to a tank without flipping the switch to transfer the fuel to both ;the line ,and the carburetor, to start my truck!!!
Just as this was a natural lesson God constantly teaches us spiritual lessons. We oftentimes miss the spiritual lessons because we are too focused on a natural situation. God taught me a valuable spiritual lesson through a misfortune of a natural situation. How many times have you felt helpless and hopeless about a situation? How often have you prayed earnestly about an issue only to give out and quit? If you have God's promises and His word on the inside of your spiritual tank (heart) when you have stalled on your journey of life, just flip that switch! Regardless of where you are and how lonely you may feel on your deserted road of trouble if your tank is full with God's word of ;peace, power, provision, joy, wisdom, and deliverance,you don't need a second opinion just flip that switch! Everything you need is ready to be used inside of you, just flip that switch! And keep it moving...
Find me @ www.zionspeakz.com
www.twitter.com/zionspeakz
Now it really gets interesting because I am about 3 miles from the nearest gas station. In the blazing southern heat of North Carolina I grab the gas can from the bed of the truck to start my journey. After walking a total of 6 miles in breathtaking humidity that's designed to make you cuss, I returned to empty the gas into my truck. In a sigh of relief I climbed in to start the truck, but wait! Nothing happened. In panic I stomped the gas petal before turning the key a second time, then a third, then a fourth, then finally on the tenth time out of sheer disgust and fatigue I quit. After being stranded for some time my truck was towed to a nearby garage to determine the problem. The garage owner was "confident" in his diagnosis that I needed both a carburetor and a fuel pump. However, after talking with several mechanics they all agreed that it could not be both the carburetor and fuel pump, it had to either be one or the other. The garage owner was very eager to quickly cash in by making the needful repairs, but at the brink of making a very costly decision another light bulb went off in my head! As I mentally traced the day my truck died I came to a decision that I only wished I had come to before I had the truck towed and the fuel pump replaced. I would have saved time and money. When my truck ran out of gas I filled the left tank located on the driver's side, however I always use the right tank located on the passenger side because by doing so I never have to flip the switch to transfer the fuel to that particular side. Out of frustration and not thinking clearly in a critical moment I added gas to a tank without flipping the switch to transfer the fuel to both ;the line ,and the carburetor, to start my truck!!!
Just as this was a natural lesson God constantly teaches us spiritual lessons. We oftentimes miss the spiritual lessons because we are too focused on a natural situation. God taught me a valuable spiritual lesson through a misfortune of a natural situation. How many times have you felt helpless and hopeless about a situation? How often have you prayed earnestly about an issue only to give out and quit? If you have God's promises and His word on the inside of your spiritual tank (heart) when you have stalled on your journey of life, just flip that switch! Regardless of where you are and how lonely you may feel on your deserted road of trouble if your tank is full with God's word of ;peace, power, provision, joy, wisdom, and deliverance,you don't need a second opinion just flip that switch! Everything you need is ready to be used inside of you, just flip that switch! And keep it moving...
Find me @ www.zionspeakz.com
www.twitter.com/zionspeakz
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
zionspeakz: MOVE!!!
zionspeakz: "The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, "You have stayed long enough at this mountain." ...
MOVE!!!
"The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, "You have stayed long enough at this mountain."
- Deuteronomy 1:6
Imagine driving to an important event in a dark and severe thunderstorm. The deafening sound of thunder rattles the windshield as flash flood warnings indicate impending trouble and the blanket of rain handicaps visibility. Suddenly, your car hits an unexpected pothole then violently spins out of control, only to come to a halt in a muddy ravine. In a state of fear and panic you hit the gas. Your engine revs to 50 mph, yet you are still stuck. You quickly hit the gas again as the rpm climbs, but there is NO forward motion. As the temperature of anger and frustration rapidly rise you snatch the gear into reverse, then overdrive, but you have only sunk deeper into a muddy ditch of despair.
Question: What do you do?
Answer: A. Keep spinning your wheels and flinging mud, only to sink deeper.
B. Call an emergency vehicle for help.
C. Wait until the rain stops, the sun come out, and dry the mud so you can move on.
So many of us traveling on our journey to purpose as sunlight illuminates our path, suddenly find ourselves in an unexpected and violent storm. At that moment we often entertain the thought of making a U-turn, however we've come too far and traveled too long to turn around. Therefore, we grip the steering wheel of self-control and drive into the fierce storm while praying for a favorable outcome. Have you ever been on a quiet and peaceful journey only to be radically disrupted by the overwhelming presence and pressure of a storm. Storms and hurricanes come in all atmospheric categories: 1. Minimal (winds of 75 to 95 mph). 2. Moderate (winds of 96-110 mph). 3. Extensive (winds of 111 to 130 mph). 4. Extreme (winds of 131-155 mph). 5. Catastrophic (winds of 131-155 mph).
Just as there are natural storm categories there are emotional and spiritual storm categories that we find ourselves engulfed in, storms of: financial hardship, foreclosure, layoffs, social injustice, divorce, death of a loved one, family turmoil, incarceration, addiction, health issues, sexual abuse, domestic violence, etc...
Storms can oftentimes cause us to go into an uncontrollable tale spin, only to find ourselves stuck in a muddy ditch of; despair, hopelessness, anger, rage, bitterness, unforgiveness, shame, guilt, condemnation, rejection, loneliness, suspicion, paranoia, inferiority, deep inner sorrow, regret, and isolation. It is NOT your fault that lack of visibility; due to the storm, and its strong wind, hurled you into a ditch that you can't get out of by yourself! However, it is your fault if you stay there! It is not God's will for us to remain in a ditch spinning our wheels and wasting our resources going no where. Equally, it is not His will for us to waste valuable time in waiting for a brighter day to shine through the darkness of our storm. For this reason, God wants us to press beyond pride and pity to call a trustworthy person of strength to help pull us out of our current condition of immobility. This is where; prayer, emotional therapy, intervention, intercession, deliverance teaching, accountability, and a plan of action, will help us get back on our road to purpose. So the next time you find yourself lying in a muddy ditch from a violent storm, remind yourself that where you must go is far greater than where you are. MOVE!!!
Find me @ www.zionspeakz.com
www.facebook.com/zionspeakzradio
www.twitter.com/zionspeakz
- Deuteronomy 1:6
Imagine driving to an important event in a dark and severe thunderstorm. The deafening sound of thunder rattles the windshield as flash flood warnings indicate impending trouble and the blanket of rain handicaps visibility. Suddenly, your car hits an unexpected pothole then violently spins out of control, only to come to a halt in a muddy ravine. In a state of fear and panic you hit the gas. Your engine revs to 50 mph, yet you are still stuck. You quickly hit the gas again as the rpm climbs, but there is NO forward motion. As the temperature of anger and frustration rapidly rise you snatch the gear into reverse, then overdrive, but you have only sunk deeper into a muddy ditch of despair.
Question: What do you do?
Answer: A. Keep spinning your wheels and flinging mud, only to sink deeper.
B. Call an emergency vehicle for help.
C. Wait until the rain stops, the sun come out, and dry the mud so you can move on.
So many of us traveling on our journey to purpose as sunlight illuminates our path, suddenly find ourselves in an unexpected and violent storm. At that moment we often entertain the thought of making a U-turn, however we've come too far and traveled too long to turn around. Therefore, we grip the steering wheel of self-control and drive into the fierce storm while praying for a favorable outcome. Have you ever been on a quiet and peaceful journey only to be radically disrupted by the overwhelming presence and pressure of a storm. Storms and hurricanes come in all atmospheric categories: 1. Minimal (winds of 75 to 95 mph). 2. Moderate (winds of 96-110 mph). 3. Extensive (winds of 111 to 130 mph). 4. Extreme (winds of 131-155 mph). 5. Catastrophic (winds of 131-155 mph).
Just as there are natural storm categories there are emotional and spiritual storm categories that we find ourselves engulfed in, storms of: financial hardship, foreclosure, layoffs, social injustice, divorce, death of a loved one, family turmoil, incarceration, addiction, health issues, sexual abuse, domestic violence, etc...
Find me @ www.zionspeakz.com
www.facebook.com/zionspeakzradio
www.twitter.com/zionspeakz
Monday, October 1, 2012
zionspeakz: Black America: Billions of dollars and no $ense
zionspeakz: Black America: Billions of dollars and no $ense: It is both shocking and amazingly sad how much money African Americans annually spend, yet have very little to show for it. Our spending p...
zionspeakz: Sagging: The history, the message, the madness
zionspeakz: Sagging: The history, the message, the madness: The term sagging actually refers to the practice of wearing pants below the waist, in such a manner that it reveals some part of the person'...
zionspeakz: You are much more than Ho and a pimp!
zionspeakz: You are much more than Ho and a pimp!: We currently live in a time where it is; culturally, socially, and fashionably acceptable to be labeled with negative titles and activities....
zionspeakz: Prison Break!
zionspeakz: Prison Break!: When you think of a prison break, what comes to mind? I'm sure many of you are envisioning inmates jumping a barbwire prison fence or busti...
Prison Break!
When you think of a prison break, what comes to mind?
I'm sure many of you are envisioning inmates jumping a barbwire prison fence or busting out of a confined fortress. However, I am using a prison metaphor to describe the fortress of the institution of church. There are many churches and pastors that have an immense love and compassion for God and His people, and they dedicate their lives to empower the lives of others. Many of them are overworked, underpaid, and under-appreciated. Nevertheless, the mandate upon their lives is greater than their own lack of comfort. However, there are some pastors who milk vulnerable people dry while selling them illusions to support their own personal kingdoms. This has become a religious epidemic.
Many Shepherds have developed a ravenous appetite for lamb chops as they place many of their congregants under the hypnosis of pulpit theatrics and emotional drama before they feast upon their souls and finances. As the curtain closes for the final scene there is a money trail to the pastors gated community which reflects the silence of the lambs. The black church of the 1800's to the 1960's which focused on the; salvation, healing, deliverance, discipleship, and economic development of its community has left the building like Elvis. Only to be replaced with Mr Bojangles and other forms of minstrel acts. These colorful and powerless acts are both entertaining and amusing, however they lack the true power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives and break generational bondage of ignorance and poverty. These realities reflect the mass exodus of many black men from the black church, as well as those who are dying to meet the Christ and are outside of the fortress walls of our churches.
According to recent Church of God statistics, churches in America are slowly dying, and the main reasons for the death is lack of evangelism and community service.
Stats reflect that every month 1,700 pastors quit.
Annually 4,000 new churches start, however 7,000 closed.
Only 5% of the church population focus on evangelism.
Only 2% of the unsaved attend church.
90% of boys who are raised in the church will abandon it by their 20th birthday.
67% of American churches have a population of under 100 members.
The fortress mindset of many church leaders is to teach their ministers to convoy from the church and ascend upon the unsaved with spiritual guns drawn, forcing them to receive Christ or "die and be hell bound." These ridiculous and crusader-type tactics lack compassion and biblical merit. This does not reflect the attitude nor the teaching of Jesus "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." (Matthew 9:36). The Christ clearly shows us how we "should" engage others in conversation and demonstration by showing an earnest interest in them. If the institution of church had more of a vested interest in people, then people would have more of a vested interest in the church.
Find me @:
www.zionspeakz.com
www.twitter.com/zionspeakz
I'm sure many of you are envisioning inmates jumping a barbwire prison fence or busting out of a confined fortress. However, I am using a prison metaphor to describe the fortress of the institution of church. There are many churches and pastors that have an immense love and compassion for God and His people, and they dedicate their lives to empower the lives of others. Many of them are overworked, underpaid, and under-appreciated. Nevertheless, the mandate upon their lives is greater than their own lack of comfort. However, there are some pastors who milk vulnerable people dry while selling them illusions to support their own personal kingdoms. This has become a religious epidemic.
According to recent Church of God statistics, churches in America are slowly dying, and the main reasons for the death is lack of evangelism and community service.
Stats reflect that every month 1,700 pastors quit.
Annually 4,000 new churches start, however 7,000 closed.
Only 5% of the church population focus on evangelism.
Only 2% of the unsaved attend church.
90% of boys who are raised in the church will abandon it by their 20th birthday.
67% of American churches have a population of under 100 members.
The fortress mindset of many church leaders is to teach their ministers to convoy from the church and ascend upon the unsaved with spiritual guns drawn, forcing them to receive Christ or "die and be hell bound." These ridiculous and crusader-type tactics lack compassion and biblical merit. This does not reflect the attitude nor the teaching of Jesus "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." (Matthew 9:36). The Christ clearly shows us how we "should" engage others in conversation and demonstration by showing an earnest interest in them. If the institution of church had more of a vested interest in people, then people would have more of a vested interest in the church.
Find me @:
www.zionspeakz.com
www.twitter.com/zionspeakz
You are much more than Ho and a pimp!
We currently live in a time where it is; culturally, socially, and fashionably acceptable to be labeled with negative titles and activities. Such titles as: "Pimp ( an abuser and entrepreneur of women), Playa ( having an entourage of women), Ho (using what you've got to get what you want), Frying chicken (having sex with no commitment nor strings attached). We have become conditioned to accepting false and destructive identities that have nothing to do with our greater purpose. Society tells us what to wear, how to wear it, wear to buy it, how to walk nasty, what to drink, where to party, and who to party with. We have developed a, "I'm doing me mentality." This selfish mindset promotes a predator- prey relationship between men and women. It also perpetuates juvenile and reckless lifestyles. When we don't have a clue who we are- society will tell us. When we look for completeness outside of ourselves and God, we open the door for counterfeit joy and long lasting pain. Regardless of your past or even your present state you have the power of choice! Only you can set the course for construction or destruction concerning your life. When a man finally embraces MANHOOD he has no concern nor interest in still trying to prostitute women because he understands that in the end she is not the Ho, but rather he is the Ho. He understands that he is not defined by people, places, nor things, but he takes the divine responsibility to define or redefine who he is as a son of God and protector of all life. When a woman finally embraces WOMANHOOD she refuses to continue to be someones; bitch, ho, or punching bag. Her blind eyes become open to the reality of "new" sights. She finally sees her self-worth, and out of it she develops standards that will never again be compromised. You are much more than a Ho and a pimp. You are royalty. Now open your eyes and see!
www.twitter.com/zionspeakz
www.zionspeakz.com
www.twitter.com/zionspeakz
www.zionspeakz.com
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