Unapologetically Apostolic

I'm sitting here tonight after getting off work and I just had the greatest experience with God. I'm not in a church building but sitting in my bed at home getting ready to go to sleep, just thinking over my day. I woke up today and began to sing, something I haven't done in quite some time. My time off doing ushered me to a time of prayer. As I was talking with a friend tonight when I got in, I had a vision based off of the blog I wrote last evening about running on empty. All across America, well the world for that matter, you have gas stations where you go for a fill-up. You have your favorite store or favorite brand of fuel so you remain faithful going to the same place over and over each time your tank gets empty. It's on your way so you have it planned out perfectly to know exactly when you have to stop before you run out. You even push your limits just a bit to remain loyal to your store and your brand. But what happens when you pull up and you see the dreaded ye...

Decades ago, when I was still a teenager, the choir director at my church was part of a Southern Gospel quartet. Apart from being a fantastic singer, he and members of the group were talented and gifted writers and musicians. Many of the songs the sang were Solid Rock originals. I haven't heard those old songs for years. I couldn't tell you where my last cassette tape went that I recorded "live" at some church we were at. There are two that I have thought about a lot lately. The one was Stone by Stone, which says "Stone by Stone, inch by inch, I'll tear down that wall. Oh don't loose faith, you shall overcome cause you serve a mighty God." It's fitting because there are so many walls that have been built in my life. Each time one comes down there always seems to be another one. I'm tired of the walls but I hold onto and try to rebuild them so often because they are the only "security" I have known.  The other song I struggle to reme...

I have always been drawn to Ecclesiastes 3. I can't explain why other than it was a reminder that there is a time and a place for everything in our lives. It reads, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9  What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10  I have see...

A box sits up on the table, wrapped in colorful paper tied up with a bow. What could be inside of it, no one really knows. It could sit there for hours, for a day or two you see, but until you look inside of it, it remains a mystery. Each day is like this box, sitting so nicely in its place. We do not know what it will hold until that ribbon is unlaced. There is no wonder that the day is a present for when it is given it cannot be taken away. It is there to be enjoyed and lived in every way.  This Christmas season, there is a box that's wrapped just for you. Peter spoke about about it long ago and the words still ring true. Repent, and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ. Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and forever change your life. 

In March of 2021, I was as lost as I could be. I had no purpose, no plan and felt that all I had was me. While I had people around me, outwardly appearing just fine, no one knew that I felt dead inside. Then by chance a video came across my Facebook feed, hearing a preacher speak directly to me. Things I had heard before in what I felt was another life, opened my eyes to what had become my plight. As the days slowly passed till I could speak to this man, the words which he had spoken were kept close at hand. Replaying and rewatching clinging to every word, wanting to leave no doubt as to what it was that I heard. Once I stepped foot slowly inside of that hallowed place, the Spirit I had longed for stood stong in my face. As I crumpled in tears in the presence of pure grace, knowing He had kept me protected while He led me to this place. As these years have passed since walking through those doors, He has given me a family here and so very much more. I have friends that are closer than ...

Throughout my time in the non-denominational church, many times I would hear messages about leaving a legacy for those who would come behind. "Raising a standard, leaving a memorial" became a mantra for those who called this church home. But what standard was raised? What was the memorial which was left?  This evening, I heard a young evangelist, yes only 19 years of age, preach a message on not giving up on your inheritance. Throughout the message, he shared how men of God had raised that standard before him. Men such as his father and his pastor, that many times while facing adversity, would stand to declare the Word of God. He made the declaration that he wanted the spirit of his pastor to be upon him in life, the inheritance received from a spiritual father to a son. But there is more there than an inheritance here, it is the legacy. His pastor's testimony is not mine to share, but what I have heard can only be defined as miraculous. God has had His hand up on this ma...

Sunday evening I had a conversation with someone that I did not want to have. I knew that it  was coming from the time I left for church that day. I  was not, however, prepared for the "we will be searching for a new church" statement that I was given. When I politely declined, I was told that I could fix my vehicle and drive my broken down SUV the 20 miles to church each service I chose to attend. That's all fine and dandy as I know if I ask, I will have a way to go. My church family will not leave me stranded. But that was not struck me about the entire conversation. He was incredulous that I would not even consider going to another congregation with him. How could I even dare not go to church where he wanted to go. Well, simple, he's got to want to go. History tells me that church is low on his priorities compared to sleep. I can almost guarantee that his current status of laying in the bed all day will continue. I told him that unless God told me to leave, that I ...