Monday, September 24, 2012

Praying with you and For you today - 9/24/2012

Abba, today I pray for those who are fearful and afraid, we may not know the why but a sense of foreboding seems to hang around, and often won’t let me go. Holy Spirit come, and embrace me, hold me tightly and grant me your peace.

Some friends tell me I’m just imagining it, or “you worry too much,” but between you and me, this is so real, . . .  In this moment I need the strength of your strong arms; the warmth of your loving embrace. There are those who, Lord you know their thoughts as well as mine, I trust you for your outcome for my life and your blessing.

Help me to be a blessing to those around me, the friends you pray earnestly for me, may I receive the grace you give them which is meant for me. May I then in turn shower that grace on those I meet, work with or interact with, that somehow they will receive a blessing they need from a source they nor I ever expected.

Forgive the anger that raises within both me and them, because of . . .  , help me to remember I was there once as well. Grant me courage to face my week, just this week, and not to read into it, what I can’t know or even control. Thank you for walking with me every step of the way. Thank you that I’m not alone, even when I ‘feel’ lonely. I thank you for your silence, when I can’t hear your voice above the noise of daily life.

Thank you for calling me to yourself, you haven’t rejected me, nor denied me your love. I’m yours be your choice, not even my own; you poured your love upon me when I didn’t and even now don’t deserve it, How wonderful are you!!! I don’t understand you and your why, but thank you for loving me as I am, but never leaving me there.

So, what is it you want to do now or next? Thank you for your ability in me to change my wantonness into willingness for your purpose and glory.    

I thank you for all of your gifts and blessing, and even for those things I want so badly, and you have denied, you know what’s best for me. You’ve given me hope in the face of despair, faith when reason has fled; trust when I no longer have anything or anyone to trust in, Thank you for being faithful to me.

In your name I pray, AMEN!!!



Love Ya,
T.A.B.

""Ubuntu"

Saturday, September 22, 2012

The lies . . .

Recently, my family and I were honored on the occasion of my fifth anniversary in ministry. I was deeply moved by the service and the tributes.Within the program was my bio, this morning I was reminded of the commencement address given by the Rev. Dr. Renita Weems of Nashville, TN., in 2011 at Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio. In what was the most outstanding commencement addresses I have heard in over sixty years, I was reminded then as now of the omissions and lies my bio does not address.

Dr. Weems said of her bio,  something to the effect, “ . . . there are lies in here, it does not tell of you the classes I failed, of the struggles I had to overcome to become the first African American female graduate in Old Testament studies, at Princeton . . . , people don’t come to you for your failures, or because of that which you didn’t succeed at, but because of your victory at Mt. Carmel like Elijah and over the four and fifty hundred prophets of Baal.”

I too must confess, there are ‘lies, and omissions,” in my bio. You may not know of the places and moments of weakness and dare I say it, failures, and yes, sin in my life. Fifty years of ministry should be celebrated and thank you for your very kind thoughts, prayers and blessings, but I too like Elisha, look back at the victories of my mentors and those who came before me, and want to know, “how did you do that????” What formula did you use, what words did you say, . ., etc???? If you ask me, I have none to give you, I am after all, just a man, and not a great one at that.

I am flawed, broken and wounded human being, I get it wrong as often (I hope) as I get it right, (I hope). I love deeply those who don’t or won’t love me as I wish; I mistake words spoken to mean things that were not intended. I’ve paid little attention to those who were closest to me, and far too much on those who didn’t then and don’t now care for or about me, and even in that statement I’m sure I’ve gotten it at least partly wrong.  But I have a God, who loves the (watch this) “hell” and sin out of me. My failures and sin have not pushed Him away, but frankly brought me closer to Himself. I’ve fought Him working in me and told him to “leave me alone . . .!” He never listened and never has.  

My heart’s desire is to love like my Abba Father, and His only begotten Son, Jesus, without question, without limit and even in the face of abandonment and hatred. I can’t of myself and in a few cases, “I DON’T WANT TOO!!!” I know that His Holy Spirit resides in me, and He is there for a great deal more than miracles and ‘speaking in other tongues’ and praise dances. His love for me, is all embracing, all forgiving and yes, caring in  ways I have yet to understand. I am loved so greatly, he not only weeps for me, but dances over me as well. Nothing I can do, will change His love for me, and He expects, no demands I do the same and by His grace and power I will.

As a fellow believer I hope you understand, we are called to love one another, and perhaps even more so when we are both near to others and when we are at a distance. Do I care enough about my brother in St. Louis, or that prisoner in San Quentin; those who dare to set up or walk into ministry in the inner-city, while never forgetting our brothers and sisters on the foreign field. Those small churches and ministries on both sides of the racial divide; the county pastor with their thirty members and very little chance for growth; No, I don’t know and perhaps never will know their name and most will never read these words, but His love is POURED OUT on them as well. The newspapers or CNN will never report the REVIVAL that broke out in the rural community and changed it into the life changing ministry that affected an entire county and than a state, but it happen and will continue to happen by the power of His Holy Spirit.

I hope that you can believe that somehow you (and I) loved by the greatest, biggest and most loving God of all time. he is present with you in this moment, and despite setbacks, abandonment, poorly cooperative staff members (if any at all) stubborn and difficult situations and even communities that don’t get you, fight you or even steal from you. You are right where He wants you (and I) too be. It is here that I can say for myself, “OUCH!!!” Even when I cry out for help and no one answers, I know He is with me (see Ps. 23; Jn 14:16)

I don’t take myself that seriously, and I know, that even in the face of lies, omissions, etc., I am (you are) His, for His own purpose and glory, and by His grace I’m learning to walk in it.

Love ya, T.A.B.

"Ubuntu"

Friday, September 21, 2012

God Is Good

A king, who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in
every and all circumstances, said: ³My king, do not be discouraged,
because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes!²

One day the king and his slave went hunting, and along the way a wild
animal attacked the king. His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not
prevent his majesty from losing a finger.

Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman
said "Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my
finger."

The slave replied: "My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is
good, and he knows "why" of all these things. What God does is perfect. He is
never wrong!"

Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave.

Later, he left for another hunt and was captured by savages who made
human sacrifices.

On the altar, ready to sacrifice the nobleman, the savages found that
the victim had not one of his fingers, so he was released. According to
them, he was not complete so he could not be offered to the gods.

Upon his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his slave,
then, he received him very affectionately.

"My dear servant, God was really good to me! I was almost killed by the
wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have a
question: if God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail?"

"My King, if I had gone with you on this hunt, I would have been
sacrificed for you, because I have no missing finger; therefore remember,
everything God does is perfect. He is never wrong."

Often we complain about life, and negative things that happen to us,
forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose.

Every morning, offer your day to God, don't be in a rush.

Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and ease your
feelings.  And do not be afraid. God is never wrong!

You know why this message is for you? I do not know, but God knows,
because he never makes mistakes.......

The path of God and his word is perfect, without impurities. He is the
way of all those who trust in Him, as he says in 2 Samuel 22: 31

What you do with this message is up to you. May God put in your heart
the desire to send it to someone.  God knows why He chose you to receive
this message. Please, bless someone with it.

Author Unknown

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Sharing from today's devotional


The Divine Commandment of Life

. . . be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect —Matthew 5:48


Our Lord’s exhortation to us in Matthew 5:38-48 is to be generous in our behavior toward everyone. Beware of living according to your natural affections in your spiritual life. Everyone has natural affections— some people we like and others we don’t like. Yet we must never let those likes and dislikes rule our Christian life. “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another” (1 John 1:7), even those toward whom we have no affection.

The example our Lord gave us here is not that of a good person, or even of a good Christian, but of God Himself. “. . . be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” In other words, simply show to the other person what God has shown to you. And God will give you plenty of real life opportunities to prove whether or not you are “perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Being a disciple means deliberately identifying yourself with God’s interests in other people. Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

The true expression of Christian character is not in good-doing, but in God-likeness. If the Spirit of God has transformed you within, you will exhibit divine characteristics in your life, not just good human characteristics. God’s life in us expresses itself as God’s life, not as human life trying to be godly. The secret of a Christian’s life is that the supernatural becomes natural in him as a result of the grace of God, and the experience of this becomes evident in the practical, everyday details of life, not in times of intimate fellowship with God. And when we come in contact with things that create confusion and a flurry of activity, we find to our own amazement that we have the power to stay wonderfully poised even in the center of it all.
My Utmost For his Highest - Oswald Chambers - 9/20/2012

As I read this, I was struck by the thought how much of my life is spent pursuing affections that have little or no impact upon my spiritual and Godly life, i.e., God’s life in me. As I read the Bible, I find the term ‘one another,’ at least 55 times! Why so often? If I am to take seriously God’s purpose and design for the life I’m to live, I need someone to guide me as I meet a world filled with ‘strangers,’ among whom I am a stranger as well.

I believe God had a purpose in our meeting, (you and I) and there will be more meetings of this kind in your life in the future. Our world (and you’re part of it) is filled with hurting and wounded people, and God is concerned about them.  That is where you and I come in. If God is to be seen or experienced, than it may not be in some ‘supernatural’ way. It will most likely because they have crossed paths you you and me.

The only God most people will ever meet is when they are blessed to meet you! In today’s devotional, O.C. calls us to “The example our Lord gave us here is not that of a good person, or even of a good Christian, but of God Himself. “. . . be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” In other words, simply show to the other person what God has shown to you.” What has He shown me, (us)? His grace, His unmerited love and mercy. He wants to use you to demonstrate this to ‘them.’

It is almost a delight to show love and grace to the beautiful, etc., people, why they have almost come to expect that as their right. But what about that co-worker, who eats alone, or sits quietly off to himself so often; those who you meet as we stand in line at the . . . We so often meet and work with people and we don’t take a moment to say Hi! We’re not looking for a ‘date’ or a ‘relationship,’ of some kind; but here is what I believe the Lord wants to share with me and you as well, ‘they’ are someone for whom He shed his life’s blood for and wants to enter into a personal and lifelong (eternal) relationship with. He’s asking you to ‘be my voice, my presence’ to them sometimes by just being present.

God loves you! Even if you don’t believe it, sorry, it matters not, You have the interest of God Himself. As a result, He wants to share Himself with people so very much like you. Perhaps shy or afraid of being misunderstood; just be available and watch Him work. Jesus simply ask that, “you be me to them.” But Lord, . . . sorry, you are not responsible for their reaction if any,
“ . . . you be me to them.” the rest is up to me, by the Holy Spirit.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.” (KJV) For me, the ‘eth’ implies, He continues to strengthen, enable and empower. This walk we share isn’t one based on, if I like you or not, or that you’re my friend, but in our relationship to Christ who chose to die for us. So go out today into your world and be a blessing, ‘they’ are waiting (without knowing it) for you.

Love ya, T
 
“Ubuntu”

Monday, September 17, 2012

Abba, I thank for the life you've given, and how you walked with me through it. Forgive me for doubting your good and blessing, I've been very self absorbed. I've focused on what I wanted, and how do I get it. Rather than seeking your will and purpose for this day. Come Holy Spirit and melt my selfish heart and mold it into your own desire for this 'clay' that I am. 

Thank you for making me your own. I didn't seek you out, you sought me, you won my heart with a love so great, I still don't understand it, THANK YOU!!! I pray for these my brothers and sister, friends and associates who Have walked with me, even briefly. They are yours, Jesus, what you did for us, should demand we give our entire lives to you. Yet you simply ask, " . . . come unto me me, and I will give you rest." Somehow, may I learn to trust you enough to stop and believe that, knowing you always keep your word.

For these pastors, and leaders of ministries, who work in places that other flee, where resources are limited, or perhaps where many believe 'that's not the place for me,' I pray your blessing of courage and strength to continue to serve with joy, dry their unseen tears, and embrace their hearts in your strong hands, to face this new week. Bless I pray their families, who often suffer in silence behind them, often unseen and not thought of. Give them too the strength to fight with their loved one. 

Somehow remind them that their reach is not as limited as they think or fear; that their efforts are not without reward. I thank you for the 'score board' of heaven, unseen at the moment, but just as real as the those we can see in stadiums around the world. Encourage them to keep fighting, and pressing onward to the day of victory. 

For those who struggle with great self worth, give them just this moment to believe in their value in the great work of Your divine purpose in the world. You have purpose for me, in me and yes, through me. I'm yours, not because of a choice I made, but that you choose me. I bless you oh love Lord and Spirit of the Living God. I'm yours, and you are working your will in my life, THANK YOU! I bless you, in the Strong Name of Jesus, AMEN!!!

Love ya,     
T.A.B.

"Ubuntu"

Friday, September 14, 2012


Someone recently asked me, "what are the books that have had the greatest impact on your life and ministry?' Thank you for asking! I know for several of you, are saying to yourself, I need another suggestion as to a book like, . . ., okay, just in case you'd like to know (other than the Bible:)

In no particular order:

The Saving Life of Christ - Thomas
My Utmost for his Highest - Chambers
If You Want To Walk On the Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat - 
Second Guessing God -Jones
The Wounded Healer - Nouwen
Total Forgiveness - Kendall
What's So Amazing About Grace - Yancy
The Heart of A Great Pastor - London
Healing Care, Healing Prayer - Wardle
Self Talk, Soul Talk - Rothschild
Outrageous Love, Transforming Power - Wardle
The Transforming Path - Wardle
Helping Others Along the Journey - Wardle
Your god Is Too Small - Phillips
The Safest Place on Earth -  Crabb
Black Fire - 100 years of of African American Pentecostalism. - Alexander

"Truth in advertising," there are several books on this list by Dr. Terry Wardle, He is one of the lecturers at Pastors of Excellence, Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland Ohio, where I attended and I am a Resource mentor in this program.    

Love ya, 
--
T.A.B

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Father, I thank you for who and how you made me. With all of my flaws, weaknesses and sometimes those failures and to believe in myself, I ask for your help today. You created me for more, not so that I can think of myself more highly than I ought to, but not less either.

Thank you for purpose you have in me, and for those I’ve yet to understand and believe I have. Despite what others might say about me or perhaps ignore me, thank you for loving me, and wanting me near yourself. Give me courage to face the things i don’t like or want too. Help me to stand for something greater than myself.

Grant me grace with others and also for myself. I thank you for your blessing on and in myself and for those I live with, work with and interact with. May i begin to see myself as You do, and believe you for a better and great life than what I’m living in and through at the moment. 


Thank you for those who have worked hard to accomplish what they have, and find no peace or rest in them, grant to them a knowledge that You love them as well, may they sense the embrace of your love and spirit as well, and trusting only in your mercy and grace.
Thank you for loving me, but never leaving me as you found me. I pray in the name of your one and only Son, Jesus the Christ. AMEN!
 

--
T.A.B.

"Ubuntu"


Tuesday, September 11, 2012



I am so very blessed by so many ways I guess I just walked over them without noticing, but I'm taking a moment to tell you my family and my friends, how thankful I am for who and what you are to me. I am blessed with the great group of people around me who are intelligent, intellectual, thoughtful, spiritual, loving, caring  and beautiful, both internally and externally, any man could wish for.

I want you to know how special you are. God loves you, but then He loves everybody, even those who deny or reject Him. You however, those of you who dare to trust Him as Savior, he has a special love for. Even as you struggle, face challenges you never expected or asked for, you are of special interest to Him. Please stop believing the lies your enemy (and enemies) are trying to tell you or about you. They may say, " . . . you think you're something special!" Why for once don't you just agree with them, "just take the 'you think' out of that sentence and you'll be right.

I don't need your approval, or agreement to accept who I am. Oh, is that the door I just heard shut behind you as you walk out of my life, Thanks I needed the room fro a few new friends. Love ya, too bad I won't be seeing or hearing from you anytime soon.

You're special because God made you so. I know the new word on the street, is " . . you're not special!" Sorry, I didn't ask for your approval, I'm moving on, and as we say in the 'hood,' See ya; latter dude!"

Love ya,

"Ubuntu"
from my most recent study:
" prostitute came to me in wretched straits, homeless, sick, and unable to buy food for her two year old daughter. . . .

At last I asked if she had ever thought of going to a church for help. I will never forget the look of pure, naive shock that crossed her face. "Church!" she cried. "why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. they'd just m
ake me feel worse."

Sadly. I know that church, or one very much like it. If you ask, ". . . well what about holiness, and righteousness and preaching truth, you are correct that is, (wait for it, watch this . . . ) comes after His grace has been preached and received through faith in Christ. Not before. The world needs a hope that comes not from what I do, Wall Street on the outcome of the next election, (opp's did I say that out loud,) but from a Savior who transforms from the inside out.

"All right Reverend, you done stopped preach'n and gone to meddl'n!"

Grace is a gift that cost everything for the giver and nothing for the recipient. a gift free of charge, no strings attached.

Grace comes from the outside, as a gift and not an achievement.

"What I needed more than pardon was sense the God accepted me, owned me, held me affirmed me, and would never let go of me even if he was not too much impressed with what he had on his hands." Lewis Smeds

"Grace comes free of charge to people who do not deserve it and I am one of those people."

"I yearn for the church to become a nourishing culture of that grace."

What is Christianity's unique contribution among world religions.
C. S. Lewis responded, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace."

Only Christianity dares to make God's love unconditional.

Love ya,

"Ubuntu"

Monday, September 10, 2012

Abba, Today I thank you for the reminder of your grace. You haven’t given me what I deserve, you favor is so very undeserved, frankly Abba, I don’t get it. Thank you for a love so vast, so deep, so wide I struggle to understand why you love me as you do.

Me, you love me??? With everything I’ve done to hurt and wound you and my ‘fellows,’ you always come back to me with this love of yours. My failures are monumental, (or so i think,0 the lies I’ve told myself about myself and yes a few others; the wound I’ve inflicted on others and those I carry everyday. The feeling of abandonment, or being disregarded, well you get that don’t you?

You came just like me, because you wanted too. Nothing made your or could have forced you to find a way to redeem your lost and sinful creation, but you did because you wanted to restore a relationship we broke. WOW!!! Thanks for caring and acting on my behalf and all of humankind.

Your unmerited favor is so amazing, as I said, I don’t deserve it but you grant it. This life I live, is one of your ‘grace and favor’ gifts to people like me. I can’t pay you back, the cost is too great, yet you ask for nothing but to love and serve you and those you died for.

Forgive me for looking at myself and seeing only what’s broken or letting others ‘give me the benefit of their broken wisdom.” I’m listening to your voice and Word to my heart. What’s that you say Jesus, “I will never leave you or forsake you . . .’ Thank You Jesus!

Abba, I calling the names of these your children, they are my brothers and sisters. I don’t know their struggles but you are aware and concerned about them, not only as a group, but as individuals, you stand ready to defend some and yes even to smite Satan himself on their behalf, do you best work in, on and around them this day. thanks for loving, forgiving, redeeming and empowering us to do what you desire the world to see, christ in you the hope of Glory. AMEN!!!


Love ya,

“Ubuntu”

Friday, September 7, 2012

UBUNTU - 

Ubuntu, the African word for community.  Essentially Ubuntu means that I cannot be all that I need to be unless you are all that you need to be; and you cannot be all that you need to be unless I am all that I need to be.  
Chris Lahr - The Unexpected Path: A Journey of Faith, Race and Justice




Lord, I thank for for this your child, your loved one. Not because I think there is something wrong, but because you love them. Jesus you came to our world, lived and died because you love them.

Too often in our lives people look at us thInk they 'know' me or about me, many don't even know my name; some admire me because of some attribute they think I have and others, well I can't tell what they think, if at all. Here Lord I need you, not for them, but for myself. I thank you for the value you place in me and my life. I thank you for the resources you've provided and yes, those you may have withheld. You have an eternal purpose in those things I want, but cannot get a hold of no matter how hard I try.

May your love for them, be shared with those beyond themselves. Thank you for making 'something' out of every struggle they face. For some it has been a long hard and difficult week; for others, the week has passed without much to notice, either way, I thank you for your presence, comfort, and even the tears shed where no one can see. Thank you for being present with them. Grant them courage to fight, perhaps at of moment of despair and fear. Come Holy Spirit, sit with them as they ride the bus, drive their car and yes, ride their bike, or walk alone.

I thank you for what you are making of us, for walking beside and within us. Thank you for your blessing and trusting you for whatever comes next, I pray in your name, AMEN!!!


Love ya, T.A.B.

"Ubuntu"

Monday, September 3, 2012

Abba,

I thank you for a holiday. Not that many of us who  serve you and your people are never really ‘off.”
I pray that each of us, will be thankful for a time we can spend with our families and friends. If called however, we will respond to whatever the need is, because that is how you ‘wired’ us.

I pray for a time of rest and refreshing, a moment for ‘us.’ may we never forget that we are human being and not human doings. May we never forget we are not what we do, but who you made us to be. I pray for our families as well, our wives (husbands) and families, those who are so often forgotten in the work of ministry. they too are engaged in ministry without having a holy calling. They too weep as do we from time to time. Bless them, no so much for us, but because you see and know them, love them and care for them, even in those times when it seems no one else does.

One day comes and goes so quickly, but allow the memories remain. May we always be willing to be, “broken bread and poured out wine,’ for your and your works sake. I pray for those who will read this tomorrow or later, bless them, because their schedule seem to leave so little time for the things they’d like or want to do.

I thank you for both new and ‘old’ friends, while we are separated by time or space, we are never far from you and your love for us as men and women. Not because we are ‘ministers,’ (some of aren’t) but just because we are yours. The title I bear isn’t who I am, the work I do doesn’t say anything about the value you give me in life. Grant that I may stand a little taller, remembering who you say I am. If the world thinks I’m ‘cocky’ too bad, I’m just your child.

I bless you because despite my faults and/or failures, and your continuing work in my life by the Holy Spirit. I’m yours, because of your sacrifice for me at Calvary. I love you Jesus, thank you.

AMEN!!!