Put the Mission in Motion

In the 2008 Summer Olympics, Michael Phelps stole the spotlight as he broke record after record. Yet buried beneath in the news cycle was the story of the USA Men's and Women's relay teams who lost because they dropped the baton during their respective races. In a relay race, every second counts and passing the baton is crucial.

We are also in a race and as we pass the baton from one generation to the next, we must realize the importance of ensuring a proper hand-off. We must put the mission in motion! Today is the day of salvation! Right now is the accepted time! We must work while it is yet day for the night comes when no one will be able to work anymore! If we expect to accomplish God's divine purpose, the mission must be put into motion...TODAY!

It's not commotion. Simply put, commotion means, "noisy confusion." Too many start making noise about the mission and think that their busyness equals productivity; however, it doesn't! Don't be confused into thinking that commotion is motion. Receive a clear understanding of the mission and do your part to fulfill it...TODAY!

It's not emotion. While we must be excited about the mission that excitement has to translate into action. Many get excited at church, but by the time they pull out of the parking lot, they've lost their zeal. Jesus told Peter that after he was converted to strengthen his brothers. We too must move from only being convicted, we must convert and put the mission in motion...TODAY!

It's not promotion. We must proclaim things by every means possible, yet we cannot be satisfied that this is enough. Promotion alone offers no comfort when the headlines are full sinfulness in our society. We cannot afford to pat ourselves on the back because we created a clear power-point presentation about putting the mission in motion...TODAY!

It is MOTION! It is action! We must arise and shine for our light has come! Darkness covers our schools. Darkness covers our neighborhoods. Darkness covers our communities. And we are the light of the world. We are the salt of the earth. We must put the mission in motion!

We cannot just listen to the preacher, we must make the message come alive through our lifestyle. We cannot just talk about giving of our time, talent, and treasure, we must sacrifice and give cheerfully.

I cannot answer for you, but as for me and my house, I will not just make a commotion about the mission. I will not just get emotional about the mission. I will not just promote the mission. I HAVE PUT THE MISSION IN MOTION!

Join me...TODAY!

A place to become, part 4

This is the fourth and final part of this series and is titled, "A place to become."

1 Corinthians 12:28 (New King James Version) And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

Do you see it? Right in the middle of this verse is the word "helps." One translation says, "those that can help others." Another translation states, "those with the ability to help."

Growing up, I idolized the ministry. At age eleven, God called me to preach, and I just knew that I would be the next big-time speaker at all the conferences and conventions. However, after informing my pastor that I was called to preach, he promptly put me to work cleaning up the sanctuary and bathrooms, picking up the song books, and emptying the trash. I figured he thought I said "janitor" instead of "preacher" - at least they both ended with the same grammatical sound. Now that I'm grown up, I realize the wisdom of my pastor and thank God daily that he did this to me and for me.

In 1 Corinthians 12:28, there are very noticeable offices listed. Seriously, you're going to know who the apostle and prophet is in your church. The teacher is well known too. Those that God uses to perform His miracles are also well known, like those God uses to work healing. Then, almost seemingly out of place is this behind-the-scenes office - helps. But God thinks highly of those who are helpers, and without them, the church would be incomplete. This also means that EVERYONE has a purpose to fulfill in the church!

It is my very strong opinion that the job of the janitorial engineer of the church is just as important as the preaching delivering the message. Why? Because if Joe & Sally Guest come to Solid Rock Worship Center and the toilet paper dispenser is empty and the soap dispenser doesn't work, and the floors are dirty, and so on and so forth, I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD THE PREACHER PREACHES... Joe & Sally ain't getting nothing out of the service! Now, that last sentence is not grammatically correct, but it's accurate none the less!

Everyone has a purpose in the kingdom of God. The church is likened unto a body in which there are many members (or parts). Just as your physical body has two arms and hands, two legs and feet, etc. so does the church have various parts that all work together in unity and love to bring edification to the whole body!

Imagine one day if your brain sent a signal to your right hand to pick the toothbrush, and your mouth said, "NO WAY! I want the left hand to do it." Or, you're reaching for the keys with your left hand, and your feet say, "Why can't we grab the keys? Until you let us grab the keys, we aren't walking anywhere!" You would wander what in the world was wrong with your body, and if you could get to the phone without another member of your body arguing or complaining or going on strike, you would call 911 and request IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE!

Yet, the above paragraph explains some churches as members bicker and squabble over the dumbest things! "Until the pastor asks me to sing in the choir, I ain't doing anything." Or, "Why can't I be the one the pastor recognizes? Until he recognizes me, I ain't walking anywhere."

Solid Rock Worship Center is a place to become. Everyone can and must have a part in reaching the world, no matter how visible or invisible their ministry is. Your body does some pretty amazing things, yet we rarely talk about the joints. It's the hands and feet and the mouth and eyes that get most of the attention, yet with good joints, those hands are going to freeze up. Do you realize how much we need each other? If not, cut off your right hand and left foot and then let me know how much you miss them. I need you. You need me. Together in love and unity we can and will fulfill God's divine purpose in our lives!

A place to believe, part 3

Part three of this series is "a place to believe."

James 1:22 (New King James Version)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Personal growth is a mandate. It is not an option, nor can it ever be. The word "believe" in Scripture means, "to trust; to have faith in." The Word of God MUST be made applicable to daily living. It MUST have an impact on your decisions daily.

Take out a sheet of paper and answer these following questions - they are meant to be between you and God and serve as an aptitude test for your life. Allow God to look long and hard in your life and correct something through His Word if needed.

1) Do you "die daily" through repentance?
2) Have you been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins?
3) Have you received the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in other tongues?
4) Are you abstaining from all appearance of evil?
5) Are you living a separated lifestyle, pleasing to the Lord?
6) Do you pray daily?
7) Do you fast regularly?
8) Do you give your tithes and offerings faithfully?
9) Are you witnessing to others?

These are just a few questions to answer. Maybe you can think of more. Remember, these are not intended to embarrass you, but to strengthen you. If an answer is unsatisfactory, then ask God how you can change it through His Word. Solid Rock Worship Center is a place to believe - a place where you can grow in the Lord. Through the teaching and preaching of the Word of God, you can become a stronger and more successful saint of God!

Numbers do not equal growth. While we appreciate the numerical growth God gives us, we strive for health. A healthy church is a growing church. The supermarket can attract a crowd with sales. The clothing store can attract a crowd with discounts and mark-downs. Businesses bring in celebrities to attract crowds. And yes, unfortunately, some churches do things just to attract a crowd. But the last time I read the "Book," I am reminded that God is building a CHURCH, not a crowd. The true church are those who are healthy and growing spiritually in the Lord. Ironically, this individual and spiritual growth will result in numerical growth, but it's a consequence of true growth.

2 Peter 1:5-11 (King James Version)
⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; ⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; ⁷ And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. ⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. ¹⁰ Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: ¹¹ For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

There are eight characteristics listed in verse 5-7, beginning with faith and ending with charity. Imagine them as the rungs of a ladder, the first being faith, the second being virtue and the eighth being charity. Each individual MUST climb this spiritual ladder! This is true growth! This is what it means for SRWC to be a place to believe! However, unlike corporate America, we don't step on others to climb to the top. Neither do stay at the top once we've succeeded. Instead, true charity is coming of the ladder and leading someone else to it so that they too can make their way from faith to charity.

As Thomas Donaldson said to the young men of our church recently, "It's time to go, grow and glow." Go into the fields for they are white to harvest... Grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior... Glow with the light of His glorious truth shining through you!

A place to belong, part 2

This is the second part of a four-part series describing what the church is. Part 2 is "A place to belong."

Acts 2:42 (KJV) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 1 John 1:7 (KJV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.

It is good to come to church Sunday and Wednesday to worship with one another. In fact, as we see the day of the Lord approaching, we should come together more often, not less. However, we should also fellowship one with another in our homes. This connection provides healthy fun for the whole family.

One does not need to be a family therapist to realize that our society does not offer wholesome fellowship. Supposed family movies have lewd humor and foul language. Video games are increasingly violent and extremely vivid. The Internet and pop-ups are worse too. The media mindset plagues families and individuals. Even those who do not practice religion or consider themselves a church member are unplugging their cable and getting rid of their satellite dishes. When was the last time you played Monopoly or Boggle or UNO with your family? When was the last time you had a conversation with your friend? And texting or emailing doesn't count!

Solid Rock is a place to belong. We have many small groups that aid in the development of every daily disciple. But more than these small groups, it is imperative that relationships with members of like precious faith be established and nurtured. I need you. You need me. No one is an island unto themselves.

The purpose of our C.A.R.E. groups is to "connect and relate everyone." As of today, February 6, 2009, these are the C.A.R.E. groups of Solid Rock Worship Center. Next to each group is the team leader(s) and contact information.

Addiction Recovery - Nahar Garbow-Paul - ojibweone@yahoo.com
Armor Bearers (men) - Mike Truman - fdad@ainop.com
Daughters of Zion - Erica Raymond - jraymond3@maine.rr.com
e4:11 (leadership empowerment) - Pastor Myron - pastormyron@gmail.com
Empowered (college/career) - Shawn Cote - shawndcote@yahoo.com
Food Pantry - Peggy "Memaw" Powell - memawbkbk@aol.com
Future Leaders (pre-teens) - Chris & Nahar Paul
H.O.M.E. (helping our marriages excel) - Mike & Nancy Truman - specteacher@ainop.com
Hospitality - Wayne & Gail Donovan - wdonovan5365@yahoo.com
KIDZ K'NCT - Jackie Farris - mykidzcoach@aol.com
Mighty Women of Valor - Ricketta Belanger - apostoliclady73@yahoo.com
Music - Shannon Powell - braxnbrooksmom@aol.com
Network of Prayer - Gail Donovan - gail_espling@yahoo.com
neotes (teens) - Pastor Roland Belanger - rrbelanger@hotmail.com
Parenting Connect - Pastor Myron & Shannon Powell
Pastoral Care Team - Pastor David Sutherland & Thomas Donaldson - striven@earthlink.net
Prayer Force One - Denise Lausier & Nahar Paul - dlausier@live.com
Young Ladies of Valor - Nancy Truman - specteacher@ainop.com
Young Men of Valor - Thomas Donaldson - thomasdonaldsonamen@gmail.com

If you are interested in joining one of these groups contact the team leader. If you have a passion to launch a new group, feel free to contact me at pastormyron@gmail.com and I will be happy to empower you. Solid Rock Worship Center is a place to belong!