Religion

‘LAG’: Look At God

Published

9 years ago

June 24, 2015

by Pastor E.A. Deckard
Special to the NNPA from the Houston Forward Times

Forward Thinkers, we all have heard the bible says, “So as a man thinks so is he” but the reality is most of our thoughts are created by what we see. What we see is major in our walk of faith, I hear church folks right now saying, “That preacher must not know his bible because the bible says we walk by faith not by sight”. Let me assure you, Pastor E A Deckard know the bible as a matter of fact I know it very well.

Forward Thinkers, remember faith comes by hearing the word of God but also remember that faith without works is dead, therefore; as I hear God’s Word my faith increases but when I see God’s work my faith is activated.

Forward Thinkers, just having faith is not enough; our faith must be activated in order for us to use it. When you receive a credit card in the mail, it is yours and it has the potential for you to use as purchasing power but, before you can use it you must activate the card. Forward Thinkers the problem is a lot of people sit in church with “un-activated” faith and no power.

Psalm 66:5-6 New International Version (NIV)

5 Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!

6 He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot—

come, let us rejoice in him.

Forward Thinkers, during a difficult season in his life, David says come and see what God has done. Forward Thinkers, it’s time we paused and looked at God and all He has done in our lives. No matter where you are in your walk of faith, you can’t deny that God has done something great in your life.

King David, the psalm writer and the musician, tell us 3 things about God that we need to look at:

Look at God the miracle worker

Look at God reverse their situation

Look at God empower them to walk through what could have drowned them

Forward Thinkers, then David says come let us rejoice in Him. Forward Thinkers, every Sunday morning we should overcome every hurdle and come to the place you go to grow to reach your full potential and rejoice in Him.

Forward Thinkers, pause for a few seconds and just focus on rejoicing in Him?

Forward Thinkers, every month the intercessory prayer warriors at Green House International Church contact me requesting a prayer focus and this month I said to them when you pray this month don’t pray asking God for anything but let’s focus on praising God for all he has already done during this season of “FOG” favor of God.

Forward Thinkers, this has been a year of “FOG” favor of God, now let’s rejoice and spend time looking at God. The “FOG” has produced the “LAG” Look at God.

Forward Thinkers, I can hear someone now say, “Pastor you may be in your FOG season but I’m not going through this season”. Listen I’m not trying to minimize your problems, but I am trying to encourage you this season to “Look at God” more than you look at your problems.

Forward Thinkers, let me be transparent with you, it was last Saturday when I told the intercessor prayer team, don’t ask God for anything but rejoice in all things. When I woke up Sunday morning I was not feeling anywhere close to 100% but I went to church and preached under the anointing of the Holy Ghost like Steph Curry in NBA playoffs.

Forward Thinkers, by the time church was over I knew my vertigo was flaring up and I would be down for a few days. Vertigo is a type of dizziness in which a patient inappropriately experiences the perception of motion (usually a spinning motion) due to dysfunction of the vestibular system. It is often associated with nausea and vomiting as well as a balance disorder, causing difficulties with standing or walking. Forward Thinkers, that was my reality all day Monday and usually in 24 hours I can shake it off but this time I would experience the worst attack ever.

Forward Thinkers, on Tuesday my wife says there is no way you are going to be able to speak at the graduation ceremony I was scheduled to speak at that night. Being a commencement speaker was on my bucket list as a speaker so, I began to declare God I thank you for this awesome opportunity. I could not and did not back down from my declaration of not asking God for anything so I put all my energy on praising God for the season of “FOG” I am in. I was so sick, I had to call for someone to drive me to the graduation. Forward Thinkers, I was dizzy and my vision was shaky but I declared get me take me to the graduation and let’s watch God go to work. Forward Thinkers, I stood and spoke without any negative effects and remained standing shaking 470 students’ hands one by one.

Forward Thinkers, once the assignment was over, the next day I had to be rushed to ER. I posted on Facebook while in the ER vertigo can’t steal my smile while I’m looking at God. By Saturday I stood and encouraged hundredths of men and young men at the Black Male Summit. Looking at God instead of looking at my situation made all the difference and I don’t have any different line to God than you do.

Acts 3:1-5

3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Forward Thinkers in this text we see three men:

Let’s look at these three men the first being a man lame from birth.

The man has never walked on his own

The man had been depending on others to carry him

The man was at the mercy of others supporting him

The man put his hope in the wrong place

Forward Thinkers the other two men Peter and John said look at us but what they were really saying was “Look at God”.

Forward Thinkers, both Peter and John knew the power of God because God had brought them a mighty long way. Forward Thinkers, don’t let people make you feel lame because they’re going to church and you are outside the church because not to long ago those very same people had their own lame story.

Forward Thinkers, the song “amazing grace” does say because I once was lost and I once was blind, therefore; we all have been through some type of situation before the power of God lifted us up. Peter could say look at God because he knew all about his Simon days and his cursing days and his denying Jesus days but Jesus never denied him.

Forward Thinkers, that’s the best news of the day God never denied you either. Forward Thinkers, God so loved the world he gave us his son Jesus while we were still sinners.

Forward Thinkers if you not ashamed tell somebody “Look at God” I’m still standing in spite of all I’ve been through. God’s greatest work was not in creating the heavens or the earth or the sun, moon, and stars, or even the beautiful ocean but you see Forward Thinkers God’s greatest work was when he created you.

Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church now located, in both Houston, Texas, and the Woodlands, Texas. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him atpr.ghic@gmail.com or the church website www.ghic.net

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Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church Welcomes New Assistant Overseer Edmund A. Singleton

The Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church of God in Richmond announced last week that it is honored to welcome Assistant Overseer Edmund A. Singleton II as our new Pastor and to introduce him to the Richmond community. At the 108th A.O.H National Pentecostal services on June 10, 2024, Asst. Overseer Singleton was appointed Pastor of the Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church by the National Presider, Bishop Lawrence Williams.

Published

3 months ago

October 2, 2024

Oakland Post

Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church New Assistant Overseer Edmund A. Singleton. Courtesy of Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church.

By Pamela Carter

When Jesus sent out his twelve disciples to minister the gospel he told them how they should conduct themselves as kingdom servants (Matt. 10:5–15). But he also spoke of the responsibility of the people to receive these ministers as his official representatives. Jesus insists that the way people receive his ministers reflects their relationship with God (Matt. 10:40). He invites God’s people to welcome “a prophet in the name of a prophet” and “to receive a righteous man’s reward” (v. 41).

At the 108^th A.O.H National Pentecostal services on June 10, 2024, Asst. Overseer Singleton was appointed Pastor of the Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church by the National Presider, Bishop Lawrence Williams.

His official installation services will be on Oct. 19, 2024, at 6 p.m. PT. Pastor Singleton will be the 3^rd Shepard appointed to this ministry over its 69-years of existence.

Singleton, originally united with the Faith Tabernacle church in 1993, under the leadership of Bishop George and Elder Verley Ayers. He served diligently on various ministries, including Youth Department, Deacons, Ushers, an the Choir.

In 2001, the Lord called him to the ecclesiastic ministry. He began his studies and tutelage to receive his Reverend licenses in 2003. At the request of Bishop Ayers, he studied and passed his Elder’s exam and was ordained an Elder at the 90^th Pentecostal meeting in 2006. In 2021, he was elevated to Assistant Overseer of the Western Region Diocese by Bishop Lawrence Williams.

In 2020, Pastor Singleton founded the Jehu Unchained Podcast, a Christian show to help individuals discover who God is and the benefits of being a born-again believer. His listenership continues to grow and has spread worldwide. In 2021, he launched the Jehu Unchained non-profit organization, geared to encouraging and supporting the youth in our community.

Pastor Singleton is a native of Oakland and a graduate of Kennedy High School in Richmond. He attended Contra Costa college and has worked in the construction industry for over 30-years.

Pastor Singleton is blessed to be married to his wife, Sister Kristie Palmer, for 27 years. They have two children, Edmund, III and Kayla.

As a husband and father, he brings a bit of wisdom, a sense of humor and a love for God’s people. He as a passion for the youth and witnessing the transformation of souls by the power of God.

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#NNPA BlackPress

COMMENTARY: Prayer is Your Power

Published

2 years ago

February 6, 2023

Oakland Post

Prayer is about faith. It is believing that God hears us.

Faithful Utterances

By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew | Texas Metro News

This week, a friend informed me that she was following the ambulance to the hospital with her husband. Her husband was going through a major health crisis. She wasn’t the only one who reached out—a friend’s mother had unexplained pain and another friend contacted me about her friend’s son who was hospitalized with pneumonia. Each of them asked that I pray for them.

I consider it an honor to pray for others. Prayer is powerful and I love that I have a group of friends who I can turn to that I call the “prayer warriors” that when I send a text to lift up the concerns and issues of others before God, they go into battle mode.

Prayer is a weapon and I think many of us don’t understand its power until we need it. For many of us, it’s a routine, something that’s more about religion than it is about relationship. We have gotten prayer twisted as some exchange solely for stuff. God is not a celestial Santa Claus dropping off gifts. Prayer is an opportunity to go before to God sincerely in relationship. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.

Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:5–8)

Prayer is about faith. It is believing that God hears us. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) I realize that my prayers are even more powerful when I am in relationship with others seeking God: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20). It’s dangerous when we see prayer as a way to manipulate God into doing what we want. There is nothing wrong with bringing your requests before God but it’s important to check our motivation and intention. It’s also important to know that just because God doesn’t answer our prayers in the way that we want does not mean that God doesn’t love us.

It doesn’t mean that God does not hear us. It does not negate the omnipotence or goodness of God, either. We must believe that God is able. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) It’s easy to blame God when things don’t go the way we want them to—”the rain falls on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).

Terrible things happen to good people often. We live in an unjust world with people making decisions that are informed more by profit than people. We cannot take those principles into our relationship with God. We must believe that “… all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) …. God is concerned with our hearts, with people and cares for us even when things don’t go the way we’d like. I can report that all of the individuals we prayed for had excellent results.

God is good! Yet, I realize that this isn’t always the case. Prayer is powerful. God wants us to have this daily form of communication. 1 John 5:14, tells us: “And this is the boldness we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” Don’t use prayer just when you need something. Just as all relationships require consistent communication for growth and results, the same is even more important in our relationship with God. Prayer is a powerful partnership with God that can move mountains when we believe!

Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry Podcast and the author of three books for women. She is also the Vice President of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas. To learn more, visit drfroswa.com.

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Black History

AFRICAN-ISH: The First Christmas Story

Both Joseph and Mary were of the lineage of David, Joseph descended from David’s son Solomon (and Bathsheba), and Mary extended from another son Nathan. Therefore, they were required to go to the little town of Bethlehem, in Judea and there, in a cattle shed Jesus was born. (Bethlehem is 70 miles south of Nazareth and 5 miles southwest of Jerusalem).

Published

2 years ago

December 26, 2022

Oakland Post

The four Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John chronicled the full theme of Christ as the universal Savior.

By Simon Burris

The narrative of Jesus’ birth and proof of his Hamitic (Black) African bloodline* began in the Old Testament in the book of Genesis chapter 10, in the Land of Ham, located in southwest Asia and Africa. Three most prominent Hamitic personalities: Abraham, Isaiah and David.

People and places of Hamitic origins are underlined.

(1) Abraham the patriarch was Babylonian (Ethnic Ethiopian). Gen. 11:31; (2) Isaiah a prophet lived 750 years before Christ, predicted the virgin birth was a nephew of Amaziah a Judahite (Canaanite) king; and (3) David the great king of Israel was a descendant of Abraham, also of Tamar and Rahab (Canaanites).

The (Hamitic) Genealogy of Jesus Christ: Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-34

The Birth of Jesus: (about 6-4 BC)

Mary the virgin mother of Jesus and her husband Joseph the “foster” father of Jesus, a carpenter, lived in Nazareth, a town in northern Palestine.

At this time Emperor Augustus of the Roman Empire decreed that a census would be taken. Everyone in his domain had to go to his or her hometown to register. He probably ordered Cyrenius ( Quirinius ) the Afro Roman governor of Syria / Judeadistrict to take charge and supervise the mandate.

A short time later shepherds from the countryside as well as Wise Men (Magi) from neighboring countries Arabia, Babylonia,and Persia traveled to the nativity site, paid homage and worshiped the infant-Savior.

Now Joseph was warned by the Lord in a dream that Herod the Edomite king of Judea was plotting the murder of the child, fled with his family to Egypt, returning to Nazareth after the death of Herod.

Jesus had siblings, brothers Joseph, Simon, Epistle writers James, Jude, and several sisters. The last mention of Joseph occurs in the Gospel of Luke when he and Mary take the 12-year-old Jesus to Jerusalem. Mary played a vital role all through Jesus’ life, from the day He was born till the time of the crucifixion.

Conclusion: The four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John chronicled the full theme of Christ as the universal Savior. *Descendants of Ham’s sons Cush (Ethiopia), Mizraim (Egypt), Put (Libya) and Canaan (Ancient Palestine/Israel). Genesis 10: 6-20

Footnotes: Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25?

The ancient Romans celebrated the winter solstice on December 25 as the birthday of the SUN; the Babylonians and Persians -SON of the SUN. Some 300 plus years after Jesus’ earthly demise, Roman Emperor Constantine in 336 legalized this date as the birthday of the SON of GOD – JESUS the CHRIST! Originally: Christ’s Mass.

Eurocentric racism: Pope Julius II in 1508 commissioned Michelangelo, Raphael and other Renaissance artists and church scholars to portray and depict almost all major biblical characters as Europeans (Caucasians), save servants and slaves.