I'll be back

For those of you who may have wondered where is my Monday update... please be patient with me. I was in process of moving offices this week and getting ready to reach my community with some "Good News"

The way I see it... we are at war and we have a real enemy who is killing our friends... families and even our children. It's not my heart to sit back and just pray... the fields are white for harvest and the labors are few... If you need to know more... stop by and visit... but know this....
We're not finished.

I'll have update blogs out each week by Tuesday.

Love you all... thanks for reading

In His Service
DoughBoy

This Old House

This Old House was once a place and symbol of love and respect. Where people would gather as a community, where dads and moms sat with their children and heard God's word together. Where they could share a meal after the preacher man was finished. This Old House was a place of serenity. The place where you could sit next to your neighbor's and discussed the issues of life in a public gathering.

But how things have changed. In society today, we have to have security systems on the house of worship. We have to have state of the art equipment and the best sound systems... We have to offer our people custom tailored classes and padded chairs so they could deal with life. And we better have good air conditioning and heat... a wood burning stove in the middle of the room or open windows are no longer acceptable. My God how we have changed.

Let me ask you a question? If today, you attended a church service and found out that the person sitting right next to you had a past... you know...a past... one that doesn't line up with your expectations in life or even your life style... what would your reaction be? I mean, if that person in the seat right next to you was just released from prison or maybe has the HIV virus or AIDS... how would you react?

The house of God... the church is suppose to have open arms to all. The house of God is suppose to be a hospital for the sick not just a hotel for the saints. We're called to be like Jesus and He said, in Matthew 9:12-13 (NLT) "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. Then He added, Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture, I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."

So now... with just this thought in mind... how do you react when you hear others from your community fellowship talking about that young girl in your church who is...or has been prostituting... or what is your reaction when some tattooed man with piercings walks in, still looks strung out, and sits down next to you? Do you have open arms? Or do you grab your family up and say... we need to find a different church... this one isn't safe, it allows anyone to come here!

Today please listen to my heart; as you read this blog... if you're a Christian, would you take a moment to check out your heart as well as your walk. I don't say this to condemn you, yet to often, us church goers forget... that we too were set free from our sins and we begin to become complacent in our new life... we forget the fact that we all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.

We loose our perspectives, and we begin to focus on our rewards in Heaven. We look down on those who have not arrived at our level of our spiritually... we become judges... we forget that one day not that long ago, we were the ones looking for love and hope.

Our society has changed... our presentation has changed... but our mission has never changed.

We are called to heal the sick... raise the dead and bring a message of hope and love to a lost a dying world. Listen... you can't hug a person if your arms are crossed, and if that fact isn't Biblical enough for you... how about this... what we sow is what we reap... is this how we want God to welcome us?

If you're reading this today, and you have experienced poor treatment in a church... please allow me to apologize to you and ask you to forgive. I too have gone through this same experience and have even been used as a trophy at one of the church's I attended. The Pastor stood in front of his congregation and said... we allow all kinds of people to attend here... then I was asked to go and stand up next to the Pastor. Talk about his pride and my embarrassment.

Today... I know who I stand before and I have learned to forgive much because God has forgiven me of much.

If this has been revelation to you... Call on God's help and change what ever He shows you. If you've acted this way in church... repent. If you've judged the church because of the way you were treated... forgive. Healing can only begin as we apply the truth of God's unchanging Word.

I'm looking forward to your comments.

Jim "DoughBoy" Brady

The Day We Prayed

The day we prayed...

When I woke up this morning, like millions of America and others around the world; I couldn't help but to remember that today is the 6th anniversary of 9/11. That day when a group hateful individuals attacked our freedom, in hopes that they would crush our spirits.

We hurt because of this tragedy... yet we still stand. Looking back at those horrifying pictures, tears flooded my eyes, my heart broke... yet my faith remains unshaken. Why? Because God heard our cries and will not allow evil to have the final say.

I want you to take a notice... in these pictures, people got together and with one united voice and cried out to God. Not the god of hate... not the god of destruction... but to a God of love... who is... and has always has been watching over His people.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT) "Then if my people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."

And that's what we did; once again... people of different origins... different backgrounds, got together with humble hearts... sought God's face... and God is restoring our land. God never back peddles when He makes a promise.

I know that we may never forget that day... and I hope that we never forget how people got together with others for prayer as this nation returned to God...bowed in unity... and sought God's face. Restoration starts here... healing start here.

There are so many people who are God haters today... they are working to destroy your faith. You can see this reality by people actions... by the information they put in the media and even in the world of cyber space. We may not see it, but God is working on our behalf and will continue to do so if we will just remain humble.

Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT) "So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don' t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do."

Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) "For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

I don't like what those cowards did on 9/11... but I do know that they are just being used like pawns by evil forces they can not see. Jesus came and gave His life so that can live... the devil, our enemy as long as we're here; is still working to steal... kill and destroy us. As we continue to seek God's face... God's word is; "the same yesterday... today... and forever" and His word will continue to give us power... love and sound mind.

All I can say is God Bless America.

Jim "DoughBoy" Brady