Signs Of The Times

The Fools Prayer

2012-02-12T21:04:00.011-05:00

The royal Feast was done. The KingSought out some new sport to banish care,And to his jester cried: "Sir Fool,Kneel now, and make for us a prayer!" The jester doffed his cap and bells,And stood the mocking court before;They could not see the bitter smileBehind the painted grin he wore. He bowed his head, and bent his kneeUpon the monarch's silken stool;His pleading voice arose: "O Lord,Be

THE HARNESS OF THE LORD: by Bill Britton - 1918-1985

2012-01-15T12:29:00.016-05:00

I remember receiving this word through brother Tom Bailey many MANY years ago while attending a house meeting in Crozet, Virginia. At that time the word came to me that I was a young rebellious colt as pictured in this vision. Indeed it has since proven to be a genuine word from the Lord. Yet, in God's providence and grace, He lassoed me with cords of love as I ran "free" and He led me into His

Freedom!

2011-11-27T15:35:00.014-05:00

A brother from Harlem once said to me, "You know you can take a man out the Ghetto but that doesn't mean you have taken the ghetto out of the man." It is hard to let the Lord lay the ax to the root of disappointment, regret or even bitterness. On our christian journey we may change our direction, our orientation, we may even leave the system and eschew performance based religion but that doesn't

Are You Listening?!

2011-09-25T10:55:00.019-04:00

"I've written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. But they're no match for what is embedded deeply within you—Christ's anointing, no less! You don't need any of their so-called teaching. Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught." I John 2:26-27 The

The King's New Clothes

2011-09-25T10:08:00.007-04:00

Two words have recently captivated my conscious mind. No, they are NOT Facebook & Google. They are subculture and counterculture!My spirit says that we have become the former but Christ's intention was that we be the latter! As a sub culture (a social group within a national culture that has distinctive patterns of behavior and beliefs) we are, in essence, still a product of the Western/American

All The Pyramids Are In Egypt or Are they?

2011-09-02T15:06:00.013-04:00

I have maintained for many years that the "church' has been erroneously patterned after a pyramid structure with "leadership" occupying the top tiers and continuing on down to the "people" or laity who reside on the bottom of the structure and it is their job to support the structure above with their time, talent and treasure.As a new believer having experienced a powerful conversion, the Holy

Letter to an Emerging Leader

2011-08-11T20:10:00.000-04:00

After our discussion this morning, I found myself meditating and thinking about the compound word leadership. Leader + ship. Of course the picture in my mind was of Columbus and the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. I mused that if I were asked to follow Columbus on a journey to the new world, I would first have to know that the captain of the lead ship was an experienced sailor, able to navigate

Betty June Dunn (March 29, 1926 - July 23, 2011)

2011-08-07T04:28:00.000-04:00

As the song goes: “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got til its gone…” This is true with respect to those people whom God has placed strategically in each of our lives: beginning with our Mothers! I am already experiencing a growing sense of loss as I recall my Mother, Betty Dunn. I realize more and more what a blessing she was to my life! Though her passing is

Elton Dunn - August 6, 1925 - May 23, 2011

2011-08-03T20:39:00.000-04:00

As part of my wife, Nancy’s histology training, she talks about having to be a deaner and assisting with autopsies at the Cleveland clinic. Nancy vividly remembers her first time assisting the medical examiner. She recounts that as she stared at the “person” lying on the table the pathologist came over and put his hand on her shoulder. “Obviously,” says Nancy, “He could see my nervousness.”

Imitation of Christ Pt. 1

2011-07-12T08:10:00.002-04:00

It has often been stated that: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The dictionary defines imitation as: "Something derived or copied from an original.To imitate means: "To appear like; or to resemble".There's a lot of research and talk about advances in virtual reality. I have seen holograms appearing so real you have to reach out and attempt to touch them to determine if they are!

What On Earth Is God Doing

2011-07-11T23:09:00.001-04:00

I recently heard a marvelous story. A little 6 year old girl was in a drawing lesson. She was in the back of the room. She hardly ever paid attention in class but was doing so this time. The teacher was fascinated and walked over to her and asked, “What are you drawing?” And the girl said, “I’m drawing a picture of God.” The teacher said, “But nobody knows what God looks like!” To which

EROS!

2011-05-24T21:37:00.007-04:00

My dear brother Dennis, Upon leaving your office and arriving home I realized that I must write down the impressions of what I saw and the burden the Lord shared in our time of prayer. A phrase goes round and round in my mind. It is, "The burden of the Lord in the valley of vision."Today as we were praying I experienced something that has never happened before. I was suddenly overcome with a

LOVE PIRATES by Dr. Steven Crosby

2011-05-18T21:00:00.006-04:00

Greek is a far more precise language than English. In English, love is a very obtuse term. I can love my wife, hot dogs, and my car. I hope there would be a difference, but our language doesn’t help the distinction. In Greek there are four words commonly used for love: agape, phileo, eros and storge. Storge refers to love between family members. Eros refers to any love that is self-centered,

The Death of Intimacy - Pt. 1

2011-05-18T19:18:00.002-04:00

The word intimacy stems from the Latin intimus; to make something known to someone else. Another derivation is the verb 'intimate,' which originally meant "to notify." In its original meaning, in other words, intimacy did NOT mean emotional closeness but the willingness to pass on honest information.There has been something churning inside me and it is time to get it out. I will try to say it as

Incensed at the Smell of False Teaching

2011-03-01T11:30:00.015-05:00

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says,"WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES,AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that

On Being Wordy.

2011-01-23T12:31:00.007-05:00

"What are you studying, Dad?""It's a book on etymology. "Oh yeah, I know all about that" my son said. "It's the study of insects. We learned all about that in biology. I think I heard that term used on C.S.I. They were talking about how studying insects helped them solve crimes.""You're right in the sense that etymology is the study of little things we often overlook - things which can really bug

Good News?

2011-01-06T16:11:00.001-05:00

There's a lot of confusion about the Gospel these days. For the last week or so (yeah I know know you're not supposed to begin a sentence with a preposition), I have been seriously exploring the subject of "What is the gospel that is the power of God unto salvation." I was intending to blog on this subject. I'm sure I will - sooner or later. However, in the process of looking for the good news

Upon This Rock - Part. 1

2011-01-03T09:48:00.009-05:00

I believe that within modern Christianity we have a serious problem. Because of the emphasis being placed on "the church” rather than on Christ, there are many people who have been converted to the church or institution, to a worship style, a set of precepts or doctrines, to a theological system, a denomination or to a movement or a Sunday worship experience rather than to Jesus Christ. I was

Upon This Rock, Pt. 2

2011-01-02T21:20:00.000-05:00

"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said;"Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."And Jesus said to him,"Blessed

Signs of the Times

2009-07-27T22:22:00.004-04:00

Americans are always interested in predicting the weather. Major Television stations pay mega bucks to procure the services of skilled and charismatic weather prognosticators. As a young man growing up in Michigan, I remember a weatherman whose popularity was unmatched. His name was Sonny Elliott. So popular was he, that he is now enshrined in the Weatherman's Hall of Fame. To be honest, I don't

Help Is Not A Four Letter Word - Part 6

2009-01-31T22:00:00.000-05:00

"The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy."Isa. 35: 1&2"Where am I" I blurted out."You are in the wilderness. You are where you have always been. You have not moved." The voice said.Immediately I knew it was the voice of the Lord.As I gazed about I was overwhelmed by

Help Is Not A Four Letter Word - Part 5

2009-01-31T14:00:00.029-05:00

Upon hearing the voice I instantly turned around. Stretched out before me was a marvelous highway which ran seamlessly out to meet the horizon. It pierced through the desert like an arrow flying into the distant sun. I was transfixed by the morning sun which glowed like a beacon of hope on the horizon. The highway seemed out of place, ethereal and 'other worldly'.I shook my head in amazement.

Help Is Not A Four Letter Word - Part 4

2009-01-25T23:21:00.029-05:00

In reflecting on the past events I found myself somewhat mystified. In all my training within the church, I had no theological or doctrinal framework to interpret what was now happening to me. My entire Christian experience was totally lacking in ‘spiritual' experiences. In fact my Christian religion taught me not only to be skeptical of such ‘pseudo-spirituality’ but to avoid it! Believing or

Help Is Not A Four Letter Word - Part 3

2009-01-20T18:38:00.024-05:00

"I have nothing to write," I thought to myself. "It's as though every drop of inspiration in my body has just evaporated". Just then, a phrase, like some advertising banner behind a biplane, floated across my mind. It said, "Diagnosis - Inspiration Dehydration" "That pretty much describes my condition Doc, I said out loud and I chuckled to myself.When you've spent any amount of time on the

Help Is Not a Four Letter Word! Part 2

2009-01-18T03:20:00.027-05:00

"I'm hearing voices in my head and that's not good." I thought. "What do they call that? Oh yes,