after a week of extremes, bipolar situations so to speak, i was itching with anticipation about being in my pulpit. stepping from the plane to the towncar, as we whisked to the church, my thoughts ran over the sorrows of death and the joys and gift of life, all allowed and given by God and how each of these happens suddenly.

2 chronicles 29:36b... and God did it suddenly!

without warning, unexpectedly and immediately... suddenly!

unfortunately during this season of Christianity, many of what is being propagated is relegated to the immediacy of God verses the process of God.

yes, God can and does move suddenly, however, most times it is a process.

moreover, this text teaches us that God can and will move suddenly, after we have moved continually.

it is only after we have moved 'continually' that God will then move 'suddenly!'

here is a 'bare-bones' outline of last sundays sermon from the series 'suddenly!' . i pray that it moves you to become more committed in your walk with Christ.

the miracle of the passage is that 'suddenly had already been going on.' they were already blessed, enough so that to 'overflow' in the offering that there were not enough priests to count it all!

God, through Hezekiah in the text, is calling on us to...

1. continual consecration
a. praise vs 30a
b. worship vs 30b

2. continual communion
a. come to close to hear the Word; come near to the priest;

3. continual contribution
a. sacrifices vs 31a
b. offering vs 31b

our haphazard, sometimey, here and there participation and commitment is an embarrassment to God.

i encourage you to not just 'pop-up' on God but to be continual in your relationship with Him. not just every other sunday, not just when you feel it, not just when things are going bad or going good, but continual. He has been continual with you, our least should be to want to be continual with Him.

the good news is, when we are continual with Him, He will move on our behalf, suddenly!

watch out during this next season in your life, for God to move, suddenly!

greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved
pastor p

granny burns

God is so good in so many ways

some of the ways we experience, see, touch, hear and taste God is through people.

he allows relationships in our lives that leave 'indelible imprints' that cannot be erased. as my father would often say when i was young, things and people you never forget 'in this world or the world to come.

'i am grateful for the few people God has allowed me to know and interact with, even at a young age, that have made lasting impressions, indelible imprints, on my life.

as i grow older, it seems that those who were most influential, were such in my younger years. (there is a lesson in there somewhere)

the fondest memories i have are of when i was most young.

one the people who have made such an impact in my life and influenced my spirit was a long time member of my dads church, sis ruth burns, but my little brother and i knew her as 'granny burns!'

granny burns passed yesterday.

yes, she was a faithful member. yes, she was an involved and influential member. yes, she was a supporter of my father and the ministry but i remember granny burns for personal reasons above all else.

granny burns was the grandmother i never had. both of my maternal grandmothers passed away before i had the opportunity to know them.

we loved us some granny burns!

granny burns lived on the street over from us when we lived in fifth ward. we would play on her porch! we would run around her house! granny burns could burn! she was a master in the kitchen, old school style!

our family had a 'tradition' with granny burns growing up. every new years day, between dad preaching at the prayer bowl at pleasant grove missionary baptist church (which was an all day thing!) we would go over to granny burns house, to sit, talk, share, fellowship, cook and eat! alan and i would play till our hearts delight. watch cartoons in her back room. play checkers in the front room, play on her front porch, or just sit and listen to the adult conversations going on in the living room.

these were days of extended family, not just blood family but spiritual family. no iphones, no sidekicks, no wii's, no xboxs or playstations. these were times of fun that required human interaction and presented family fellowship.

thats why i remember granny burns voice and smile. i remember her kind and gentle spirit. i do not remember her ever raising her voice, but she was firm when need be. she was even gentle when being strong.

i remember her cooking. i remember not being tall enough to look up and see what she was doing on the stove! i remember the big black cast iron skillet that she cooked the best ever hot water cornbread (which she took time out to teach me how to cook!). i remember the big silver pot that held the greens (and the 'potlicker' that came from them!). ii remember the sound of the grease crackling when she put in the chicken wings to fry. i can see her now standing there, with her apron on, smiling at me, as she cooked away on the hot stove.

i remember the smell of the house. i remember the plastic strips on the floor and on the chairs and couch in the living room. i remember the tv with the knob and antenna!...and out of all of this, i remember the feeling of love in the house and in everything that was done and said.

i remember how we would run around in the house. i remember how we would watch cartoons on the television with the knob and antennae in the back room. i remember we would play checkers in the front room. i remember we would sit and listen to the adults conversate in the living room (oh, did i say this already? lol! only because this means so much to me now)...i remember always being excited to go and spend time at granny burns house.

i remember her touch. she had a way of calming and soothing my spirit whenever i had asthma troubles, with just a back rub and a glass of water. granny burns had a nurturing spirit. she would talk to us. she would listen to us. she would interact with us. she would engage us. she would let us be children and push us to be men.

mount corinth and for sure vacation bible school is going to miss her. fifth ward is going to miss her. the patterson family is going to miss her. i am going to miss her. correction, i already miss her but her life is 'indelibly imprinted' in mine.

i wonder, as i reminisce about granny burns, who is the person, or the people, who have made an 'indelible imprint' in your life? how do you remember them? what kind of impact have they made in your life? who are you and what are you doing as a result?

whose life are you making an 'indelible imprint' in?

who will remember you like this, after you are gone on?

what kind of 'indelible imprint' are you making in someone elses life?

her eyes

she has eyes like an egyptian goddess, they always draw u n

she has eyes
that see right thru me
she has eyes
that talk silently 2 me

she has eyes that pray 4 me
she has eyes like a ride or die chick u see

she has eyes that pierce my soul

she has eyes like the starlets of old, so powerful, so bold

like sophia lauren, big and bright, wanting 2 b my friend
like lauren bacall, medium n tight, ready 2 brawl
like jackie o, eyes of class n style, eyes that always make me smile

she has eyes, like I want n my child

she has eyes that I want 2 wake up 2

she has eyes that I want 2 make up 2

she has eyes that turn me on

she has eyes that tell me I am the one

her eyes r sometime sad, but most times full of fun

her eyes always lift me up n tell me I can

her eyes make me feel like I am the man

her eyes, r a prize
2 b treasured
2 b loved

her eyes r a gift of God, not of man

I've seen her eyes and can't settle 4 less
so ill just b patient n wait 4 God 2 bless...
me with, her eyes

next time

note: inspired by and written 2 the rhythm of 'next time' by john legend ...cop that cd evolver!

next time
i fall in love

next time
i see your face
i will embrace

the grace gift you are too me
the wind beneath my wings

the sunshine, throughout my day
the laughter, like kids at play
the smile you put on my face

next time
i will adore

the way you walk thru the door
the way you keep me wanting for more
the power of your allure

next time
i will say

its you who made my every day
its you who for whom i would pay
anything for you too stay

for now
i wish you the best
you are better than the rest

congratulations on your baby
i wanted her to look like me
wanted us to be a family

now i wont because of me
but

next time
i want it all

next time
ill take a chance
step out on love and romance

next time
will be my last dance

next time
ill make it last

next time
i wont go so fast

next time
we'll take it slow

next time
i want you to know
wherever you are, i want to go

next time
i won't let you leave
it's just you and me

underneath the trees
living in the breeze

next time
will be the last time
there will be you without me

2009 Easter Weekend Of LOVE!

Preamble!...

• like my Morehouse brother and lead Pastor of Courageous Church in atlanta, georgia, i've had 'the runs' too, except all weekend! it's part consequence of the end of a 40-day fast, with the last 7 days doing nothing but water and a detox 'juice cocktail!' ...gotta love the prune juice! lol! :-)
  

• this lent season fast has brought me closer to God than i have ever been, more sensitive to the leading, urging and even conviction of the Holy Spirit and less tolerable of things that are not of God, including negative attitudes and destructive behaviors!

• i have also lost some weight! HA-LE-LU-JAH! LOL! during the last year or so, i have gained considerable weight due to the side effects of medication i 'was' taking but do not take anymore! decided to go 'cold turkey' and trust God for healing! ...SIDEBAR: you never know what a person is going thru or dealing with, privately. it is insensitve to speak before you know!

• the physical goal? FINE IN '09! ...watch out summertime!
  

Ok, now that I have told you some personal stuff (you probably didn't want to hear - TMI!... but, if you would like the 'detox liquid diet' recipe, hit me up) let me share some tidbits about The Love Church's Easter Weekend!

Friday...

• friday noon, i had the privilege of speaking at the St John Church in grand prairie, texas where denny d. davis is the senior pastor. what a church! it was the traditional baptist 'seven last sayings' of Christ on the cross service. i had the 'third word.' - John 19:26-27 paraphrased 'when Jesus saw His mother and the disciple standing there at the cross, He said 26 'Woman, behold your son' and to the disciple whom He loved, 'Son, behold your mother.' 27 And from that moment forward that disciple took her to his own home.'

• i continue 2 b n awe @ how God uses me, when i know i do not deserve it. it brings me 2 tears everytime.
  

• friday nite kicked off Easter Weekend Of LOVE for the church with a showing of the record breaking 'The Passion Of The Christ!' producer mel gibson, hit this one out of the park! you cannot watch this movie with an open heart and mind and not be moved in some way!

• people were emotionally moved @ the graphic portrayal of the brutal treatment directed of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

• a number of people shared their minds had been opened and their spirits had been touched by the pictoral demonstration of the suffering of Jesus, on the way 2 and on the cross!

• the attendance was not what i would have liked, but the results 4 people there was all i could ever ask 4! ...we r looking @ better promoting the movie showing 4the month of april 2 coincide with the preaching series... Fireproof! ...u know i have 2 say this... it's gonna b FIYAH! (no pun intended! ok, yes it was! lol!)
  

Saturday...

• men's breakfast @ furr's! shout out 2 furr's on 635N and centerville! discount time!

• good attendance, great Bible lesson and said good food! ...i was on the last day of my 40-day fast! could only watch the men eat! ...the jackson 5 had a song out once, 'it's torture!' lol!

• it is good when men, real men, can get 2gether, eat, fellowship, learn and share. it was a great time early n the morning!

Resurrection Sunday!...

• i have been anticipating easter sunday morning all week! my spirit has been on FIYAH and ready 2 burn some stuff up!

• the worship experience led by sister danetta turner and sis creshunda moore, 2 krazy anointed voices and spirits with krazy fire! they both sang as if their lives depended on it! the spirit was in the place!

• sis yolandra johnson ministered 2 us through interpretive dance! her spirit of worship and anointing n dance is contagious! God moved the crowd thru her movements!

• the children and youth presented a 'skit' that was disciplined and Bible based! no one 'messed up' their lines! they all spoke with clarity and authority! everyone represented! i am so proud of our children & youth and their continued growth n the Lord! great job sis lemmons!

• i preached a sermon entitled 'I'm A Witness!' from John 19:26-27 when Jesus gave His mother 2 John and gave John 2 His mother... there are times n preaching when u feel it and when u don't. well, i felt it! lol! ...if one more person had 'bum-rushed' the pulpit, i would have gone running myself! ...it was so good, they kept telling 2 go on and don't stop! :-)

• i thank God 4 all who help tireless and unpaid 2 make each Sunday a success... the LOVE ambassadors, the source media team, the musicians (the LOVE pound!), the voices of judah praise team, the ministers and everyone who chips n when and wherever needed, with a smile and lots of LOVE!

• we took time out 2 celebrate and remember the sacrifice of Jesus by taking communion. communion is always a sobering and cleansing experience. i thank God for a church full of hearts that seek Him, sincerely.

• i love my church! there is non other like the LOVE church! it aint nothing but LOVE!

• i salute all proclaimers who stood tall on easter to tell a dying world about a living Savior!

• the church rolls on and Christ still lives! God is!...

• ...at THE LOVE CHURCH, there may b some bigger, but there ain't none better, because @ THE LOVE CHURCH we ain't got nothing but LOVE 4 u! ;-)

...remember, whatever u r facing n life, u r ...greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved!

livng in the love,
pastor p