Spirit Sparks Blog

Revival in Bastrop, LA

I'm always excited about new places and experiences in traveling to preach and teach the word.   One such New experience was my most recent visit with the Williams Drive Church of Christ in Bastrop, LA.   I had previously only driven through Bastrop never thinking that one day I'd return to conduct a revival.   It's amazing how the Lord brings things about.  Since drive through Bastrop the Lord led the minister's Grand-daughter to place membership with the Mountain View church who encouraged him to invite me to Bastrop.   Some two years from the time of driving through Bastrop and stumbling across the Williams drive church I found myself conducting a gospel revival....Look at God!!!   Anyway,  the minister, Brother Earnest Smith, is a very easy going 71 year old preacher who even in his golden years still has a thirst for knowledge and education.   You see, at 71, he went back to school to get his associates and is presently working on his bachelors degree.  He sits in class with his grandchildren getting an education.   I think this is so commendable that he believes its never too late to be a finisher.   I was so encouraged by this.   Wow!!!  

The Williams Drive church, being a predominately older congregation,  has a great deal of kind hearted individuals.  This traditional congregation continues to maintain many of the ways of the past church.  This includes, the reading of Sunday School minutes,  the singing of certain songs and the rejection of others and the reluctance to exercise certain liberties.   A lesson that I learned through this meeting is that there is room in the Kingdom for everyone.  Old and young, traditional and contemporary, black and white (which incidentally were both represented at this revival).   I really had a great time especially after getting past the initial introduction to the church.   The Williams drive church  is also a family church complete with uncles, cousins, aunts and big mammas etc.   Their leadership consists of Elders (of which were brother Earnest Smith and brother Robinson) and a few deacons ( one of which was brother Smith's son, Fred).   The church building sits smack dead in the middle of a predominately black residential community; a beautiful edifice.  

All and all,  I had a wonderful time teaching during the week of the revival.  The church there is truly a church in a small town that has a big heart.  

P.S. -  Brother Fred... you Que like a Texan.  

Till next Venture,

JK.

Do you want to BE married or just GET married?

Marriage is one of the hottest topics today on the Internet, on social networks, in churches and even on the silver screen.   While I  have to admit that it appears the statistically, women are more preoccupied with the concept of marriage than men are, it still is a valued subject none the less.  Lord help us when marriage loses it’s global appeal.   With every generation several artists in the music industry release songs that are centered on the concept of marriage.   Just about every year around what some know as “marriage season”; that being between May and July, movies hit the big screen that have marriage and family as its central theme.     Marriage, or the violation of it, is often at the center of the most “juiciest” controversial issues in today’s society.   In Christianity, marriage is very much emphasized (as it should be).   Somewhere in the back of many a single persons mind  is the concept of meeting someone, falling in love with them, laughing with them, taking walks in the park while holding hands,  coming up with pet names for each other, being wined and dined until finally “he” falls on one knee at dinner, or at some public venue in front of people and pops the big question… “I want to be with you for the rest of my life, will you marry me?”.   With tears welling up in her eyes she looks at him and looks at the ring, then looks at him again and finally with a trembled, shaky voice she says… “Yes, I will marry you” (while everyone around you both begins applauding the two of you).   Then the scene in our mind jumps to the altar scene.   Big church, beautiful floral arrangements, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower boy and girl, arched floral arrangement, preacher, vows, “I do’s”, romantic Hollywood kiss, pictures, reception with your traditional electric slide.  Unfortunately, just as the credits scroll up at that point in a Tyler Perry production, so do they the same in many people’s minds.   The scene was one of GETTING married…not BEING married.  

            If we took inventory of the world around us we might discover that there are more people who want to GET married than who want to BE married.   There are more people who have more of the wedding in mind than they do the marriage.   Many of you reading this who are married should be able to attest that its not just that simple.   Unless of course you’re starring in some kind of Blockbuster production.   Otherwise, the fact remains that BEING married has greater and deeper challenges than GETTING married.   The same it is with the Christian life.   It’s easier to BECOME a Christian than to BE one.   There are a lot of people who have gotten it twisted and have become intrigued with the IDEA of Marriage than with being married  in a practical sense.   I’d like to list a few distinct differences between GETTING married and BEING married as we explore this ever so relevant topic:

·      Getting married means that you repeat vows… BEING married means you keep them.

The vows at a wedding ceremony can sound so romantic and euphoric, especially when read with passion.  However, I wonder… do people really take the time to hear what they are saying?  Do we hear the promises we’re making?  “With ALL my earthly possessions”;  “Forsaking ALL others”;  “love, cherish AND OBEY”.   These are some monumental pronouncements and promises.   There are no “But if” clauses in these vows (unless of course you take the prenuptial route – smile).   There are generally no exception clauses in the vows.   Now, while I have to be honest and say that the vows themselves are not in the scriptures per say, but God has a lot to say about keeping vows.  Listen to the Lord…

Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty

in bringing matters before God.

 After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 – New Living Translation

Wow!!!  God says that we should not make rash promises. Meaning thoughtless, hasty and idle of thought.   God has an expectation when we make a vow.   As a matter of fact it’s only sequential that expectation follow a vow.   Expectation creates dependency.  When we expect things, we depend on those things to happen or take place.  Thus keeping a vow is essential to the expectation and the dependency of the one we made it to.   GETTING married contains the RECITATION of the vows while BEING married shows the DEMONSTRATION of the vows.  GETTING married involves the EXPRESSION of the vows while BEING married engages the EXPERIENCE of the vows. Now… do you want to BE Married or just GET married??

·      Getting married is public with occasional private moments… BEING married is private with occasional public moments.

There are several things that are easier to do in front of the gazing eyes of the public.  Weddings can be very public.   An audience consisting of friends, family, and the mysterious group of unknowns that shows up to just about every public wedding.  Everyone watches,  the women in the audience look at the brides dress from the veil to the end of the long flowing train.  The men in the audience look at the bridesmaids (just kidding…I think).  However, everyone is looking, listening and taking everything in that they could see and hear.   Of course there are some looks that are private between the groom and bride that the audience is not privy to.  That’s GETTING married.   Then comes BEING married… the audience leaves after devouring the buffalo wings, meatballs, carrots and celery sticks, cake and drinking the bubbly.  BEING married begins.   A very private, undisclosed state of being.   If the romance and love was a “GETTING” married type of love and romance, it will fade in privacy of  “BEING” married.   Heaven’s truth about marriage is that there is no other earthly relationship that God says that two become one.   Listen to God…

This explains why a man leaves his father

 and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

Genesis 2:24 – New Living Translation

Hmm!!  This is the only earthly relationship that the bible says has this characteristic.  Not even between a parent and child is this kind of closeness described.   This is a private connection, an exclusive closeness, an inseparable tie, an RSVP of one to one.  This is what must be maintained in “BEING” married.   “GETTING” married is the public face of what should be a private exclusive relationship.  Now… Do you want to “BE” married or just “GET” married?

To be continued... (feel free to comment)

Weekend Revival at the West End Church

Atlanta, GA

One the most progressive and productive congregations amongst the churches of Christ  in the City of Atlanta is the West End church of Christ.   I feel blessed to have received the opportunity to go there after being extended the invitation by the minister of that church and one of my best friends, Orpheus Heyward.   I was invited to be a part of their “harvest week”.   They’re sacrificing and sowing in an effort to build a bigger edifice.   One of the activities and tasks of that weekend was the Saturday recording of their television talk show in front of their live congregational audience.  Brother Heyward and I talked about issues ranging from what the word has to say about homosexuality, immorality, dating, marriage and biblical relevancy.  I must say, having facilitated a television program at Mountain View before, it was quite refreshing to be a part of their television broadcast.   They are certainly doing a great work and making an impact in that city.  

The worship experience at the West End church was a jubilant experience.   The affinity that brother Heyward has for hearing the word preached was evident in the attitude of the West End church.  It was also a pleasant surprise to see so many people who I hadn’t seen since my childhood years who moved from Brooklyn to Atlanta.   If you’re ever in Georgia and in particular in Atlanta, you’d be doing yourself a spiritual favor to visit the West End Church of Christ.    Be blessed

Blessed in Birmingham

I feel overwhelmingly blessed to have been given the opportunity to preach the word of God in Birmingham, Alabama…specifically, the Avondale church of Christ.   This highly spirited, down to earth, family oriented congregation, led by the renown Elijah Bush Sr. is a great congregation.   I jokingly pride myself at times that I’m not the crying type being from Brooklyn, N.Y. and all.  However, sitting in worship service at the Avondale church just before getting up to preach I found that the levies of my tear ducts were broken and almost involuntarily the tears begin to roll down my cheeks as Brother Bush sung “Thank you Lord” and brother Rashawn Booker, aka “boopy” sang “Tis so Sweet to trust in Jesus”.   My New York pride was not successful in stop the flow of tears from my eyes.  It was a very moving experience.  

            The congregation showed sterling hospitality.   Because of other conflicting engagements, my wife Carole was unable to accompany me on this meeting.   However, that did not stop the Avondale church from showing hospitality to the two brethren who accompanied me… “Wood”, being one of them and Brian being the other one.   I was really encouraged by the hospitality shown to us by different members of that congregation who, because of work schedules, couldn’t take us out themselves, but sponsored our meals.  I must admit that I was a bit “star-struck” to spend time with Brother Elijah Bush who I had always heard about and watched from a distance along with brother Ivory who also preaches in that city.  It was overwhelming to sit with these brotherhood patriarchs, both upwards of 70 years age as they talked bout how things used to be .   Brother Bush and Brother Malone in Rogersville remind me of one another as far as their paternal positions in the congregation.  The Bush family is a large singing family and make up a large percentage of that church.   They were very accepting and it didn’t take long for us to feel like family as we’d go out every night after the meeting each night.   On one particular night I can recall going to a bowling alley with the Bush family… we also played dominoes.   Needless to say, they can now testify that this Dallas Preacher from New York has skills… and in the words of Forest Gump… “that’s all I have to say about that”.

I believe that the meeting was a success.   On the last night a young lady met Jesus in Baptism and from what I understand is still hanging in there.   I’d be remised if I failed to mention the comical, spirited, hilariously entertaining assistant minister to Brother Bush… Brother Pugh.  There was never a dull moment with him.   There was also never a moment when he wasn’t talking about the love he had for his preacher.   I will not forget the great experience that I had at the Avondale church in Birmingham.   Thank you Brother Bush for sharing history and for sharing yourself with this Young Preacher and his traveling companions.  We love you for that!

Gospel Mission in South Haven, Mississippi

It never ceases to amaze me how unique each traveling experience is.   There are no two experiences that are the same.  Before I go on let me say that I'm appreciative to Woodrow, a minister's minister, for yeilding himself to be to me what Epaphraditus was to Paul (Phil 2:25).  (Be looking for his up-coming book on armorbearing: ministering to the minister).  Thus I share with you the unique yet spirit-lifting experience that I had in South Haven Mississippi.   Tre Beard, the minister of the newly established North West church of Christ was a gracious.  Tre, an ambitious, zealous and courageous young minister and his wife Darlisha took on the challenging and enormous task of establishing a congregation from ground zero.   It's one thing to begin with a congregation after it has already been established for a time; but to exert energy and toil in establishing a congregation with little resources and humble beginnings is not only an act of courage but an act of faith.   This meeting was part of the mission of the continued establishment of this congregation.  Brother Beard, along with Brother Jeffrey Bohana, of Ripley MS,  pushed, publicized and solicited support for this event.  Because the Northwest Church meets at a storefront that seats approximately 40 people they appealed to the Goodman Oaks church (a larger congregation - predominately Anglo) to utilize their building for this event during the week.   On Sunday they were allowed to utilize the facilities of the Sandyridge Congregation in Olive Branch.  Many people may call these arrangements inconvenient, however, Tre Beard and the Northwest church were willing to do what they had to do without complaint.  The meeting was well attended.  It was very well supported by other Congregations in that area and other ministers;  Terry Wallace, Jimmy Stokes, Jeremy Flowers, Gary Young, Jeff Bohana, Jackie Rodgers just to name a few.    The weekend that the meeting started was marked by a gospel concert to which the Mountain View Choir was invited to sing.   That Sunday upon leaving Mississippi, (at least about 30 miles out),  the old faithful church bus which carried the precious choir cargo from Dallas broke down due to bad gasoline.  


  The Mountain View group rested at a truck stop for upwards of 15 hours WITHOUT COMPLAINT till a charter bus carried them to Dallas.    What an experience!!!   I was very encouraged by my home congregation that they were content even in their discomfort.   Special thanks to Brother Jackson, Woodrow, Stokes and Bohanna for their efforts to make the situation as comfortable as possible.   
Anyway, I commend the Northwest church for their vision.   Sight says we're just a seed... vision says we're a garden.  Sight says we have a store front... vision says this won't be able to hold us soon.   Sight says we're limited on what we can do... vision says our eyes have not seen and our ears have not heard what the Lord has in store for us.    God Bless you Northwest Church... for going beyond sight and having vision.   I'm soooooo full of anticipation of what the Lord is going to do with you.  Keep going and growing.    Tre Beard... Stay Fired up!!!! 

P.S. -  Rosemary (Mother Hen) -  The fried chicken was Ecclesiastically Delectable!!  

A pleasant “double-date” surprise.

Being a minister can be or should I say IS very time consuming.   Sometimes the very momentum of ministry can make time seem like it whizzes by, leaving you no time to rest.  Calling those in distress, counseling people before they marry, putting out congregational fires, engaging bible studies for those seeking the truth, traveling to do gospel meetings and revivals, tending to the needs of your own family, sitting in leadership meetings and discussing the business of the church, performing weddings and funerals, preparing for lessons and bible classes, returning important emails and phone calls, and the list seems to go on and on.  If you get a chance for leisure it is an absolute treat, however, the momentum of ministry makes leisure seem impossible at times.  This is why I was so encouraged when a wonderful couple took it upon themselves to invite Carole and I to an exquisite dinner in a restaurant overlooking downtown Dallas.   I believe that the Lord placed it on the heart of some friends of ours and members of the Mountain View church to invite us tobreak from the momentum of ministry to slow down, eat and enjoy their company along with each others (Carole and I).   On last Friday, which was the last night of Mountain View’s vacation bible school, the Flemings decided that we would come with them to a beautiful dinner.  We laughed, we talked and we shared.   We discussed our families, futures and financial challenges.   The food was so pretty I didn’t know whether to justtake a picture of it or dig in.    All in all it was a wonderful experience that slowed down the momentumof ministry long enough to enjoy the simple pleasure of just having a conversation that was unrelated to work.   I’ve learned that it is no accident when God puts something on someone’s mind.  God’s timing is impeccable.   Thanks Anthony….. Thanks Tameka…. Thank you Lord.

Gospel Meeting in Rogersville, Alabama

If you’ve been among the fellowship of the churches of Christ for any considerable amount of time then you’ve heard of ensembles such as the “Southside singers” , “Committed”,  “C3”.  Perhaps you’ve also heard of names such as Chris Turner, The Malones (any/all of them – Jerome, Bryant, John, Tiffany etc.).  These are some of the names and groups associated with music in the brotherhood of the churches of Christ.   Well this year I received an invitation to come to the Southside church for their Gospel Explosion.  I’d always heard about Southside but had never visited.   I was filled with anticipation to see for myself what I’d been hearing from other people.  Brother Freeman Malone, the local evangelist of that church, gave the okay to his son and Daughter-in-law, Jerome and Tiffany.   I was encouraged by the invitation.  Especially because one of the unofficial, unwritten rules of ministry among preachers is that you don’t let someone in the pulpit that you haven’t heard before (doing so can be potentially disastrous) … Brother Freeman Malone had only heard about me through Jerome and Tiffany, yet at their word extended to me an invitation to come.   Brother Freeman and his eldest son who is the assistant minister, John Malone, were very emphatic and insistent that this was an evangelistic meeting…as opposed to a revival.   “We believe in Sound teaching here”, is what brother Freeman repeatedly said from the pulpit on Saturday before the meeting.   Brother Freeman would be considered by many to be a doctrinally conservative minister, having a strong emphasis on fundamental teaching.  This is why I was so encouraged; because while Brother Freeman may be considered conservative, the congregations worship and praise is very expressive, lively, high-octane as some would put it.  I’ll get to that in a moment though.   So Carole , myself and my brother-in-law Gerald got in a rental and began our 11 hour journey to the sweet home Alabama.   We left the Wednesday before the Sunday of the meeting because prior to the meeting the Southside church hosted a youth vocal camp.  That’s right;  A vocal boot camp for young people teaching them not only to sing but about all of the scriptural and spiritual aspects of praising the Lord through song.   From small toddlers to young adults the vocal camp was designed to equip them all in the area of praise and worship.   Carole and Gerald were invited by the Malones to make presentations in this camp.  

Saturday Night -  On Saturday night there was a musical extravaganza highlighting all of the groups, presenters and youth that participating in the vocal camp.   “WOW” was the word that repeatedly came from my mouth as I watched young children sing in four part harmony with enthusiasm the songs that they were taught in the camp.  It was amazing!!!  While many occupy themselves fighting expressions of praise in our brotherhood, Southside is busy raising up generations of young people who shameless praise the Lord with free sincere expression not based upon zeal only… but knowledge.   Praise the Lord!!!  And again, WOW.  The small frame building that the Southside church worships from was packed wall to wall with people young and old praise God.   It was unforgettable.   I’ve been to many congregations in my ministry but never experienced a congregation where just about EVERYBODY sang and loved to do it.  It was wonderful!!!   I have to admit, by the end of the concert on Saturday I had a godly fatigue that charged me up to preach the Gospel for the next 5 days.  (smile)  Carole, Gerald and I were floored by what we experienced.   

Brother Freeman Malone, the Patriarch-like minister of that church is a firm but loving man.  Being 70 years of age he still packs a mean punch. He’s very lively and exciting to be around.   It’s easy to tell that he loves the church, he loves the word and he enjoys seeing young people praising the Lord.   Upon my arrival to the building that Saturday night brother Malone took be to a room where he had various preachers (both living and deceased) hanging on a wall who had been to the Southside church.   Pictures of men like Reginald Dulin, Marshall Keeble, Richard Barclay (younger days), Harvey Jackson (younger days) and many others.  He informed me that now that I had been to Southside that I would be on the wall as well… what an honor. 

The meeting went well.   Carole and I had a good time fellowshipping with the saints of that church.  We got a chance to record in the renown Trinity ONE recording studio which was based in the home of Brother Bryant Malone.   We got a chance to sing with Tiffany and Jerome (vocal giants) and John Malone as well.   It was great.   The accommodations were wonderful.  We stayed at a resort like lodge that overlooked a lake; a good place to enjoy and appreciate God’s green earth.   The deer just walked around freely.  Lol.  All that good venison just walking around carelessly (of course it wasn’t deer season).   The family like environment of that church made it very easy for us to just feel at home.  Carole and I got a chance to meet many of the people we were friends with on facebook face to face.  

The Southside church would be considered a relatively small congregation yet the Lord is clearly using them to do some BIG things in their neighborhood and in the brotherhood.   They’re a fine example of what the Lord can do with a congregation that thinks bigger than its size.   I was deeply encouraged.  I am grateful to God for the opportunity to become acquainted with such a great congregation.  Near the end of the meeting there was a “watermelon fellowship” where everyone was encouraged to bring a “cold” watermelon (smile).   “Don’t bring no hot watermelon!!”, Brother Freeman said.   The whole experience felt like a big family reunion.   Southside also hosts a large homecoming every April with literally thousands in attendance, as well as a ministers retreat every year in February… small church, big things.  

I can go on and on but I guess it will suffice to just say that if you ever get the opportunity to go the small town of Rogersville, Alabama for any of their venues… take it.     It will leave you spiritually charged, encouraged and edified.  Thanks Southside.  Thanks Jerome and Tiffany.  Thanks Brother Freeman.  Thanks John, Bryant and oh yeah Tyrone too (smile).   Thanks for being family and for a wonderful experience;  and for being visionaries.  Thanks Liddel Newsome and Sean Bernard for your fire and encouragement.  The word was preached, the fellowship was sweet and this young preacher from Dallas is better for having been there. 

P.S. -  Genary… the dishes were off the chain.  An empty plate is the proof.  Lol. 

Southside… keep praising the LORD!!!!!

Fishing in the Deep Sea!!!

Fishing is one of my favorite hobbies.  It’s a hobby that will certainly exercise your patience and temperance.  As a matter of fact, there are a host of people who enjoy fishing.   A month ago I took advantage of the opportunity to go deep sea fishing with some good friends from Houston.  Frank Melton (minister of the Shady Acres Church in Houston), affectionately called “uncle frank”, his son (Frank III), Lamont Robbins (old classmate from SwCC) and Brian (a brother who attends shady Acres church).  All of us went on a deep sea fishing expedition in the Gulf of Mexico off of the coast in Galveston, Tx.   Carole came with me but stayed with Lamont’s wife to prepare the feast that would be served with the great catch of fish.  Let me not forget my good friend and brother Allen Carter… who incidentally jumped off of the boat into the gulf of Mexico the year before to fetch his reel.   He REALLY loves to fish (smile).   Anyway, we went on a fishing boat called the New Buccaneer.  An Older Preacher, a younger preacher, 2 song leaders, and two brethren on a boat in the gulf of Mexico with fishing poles in hand and faith in our hearts that the trip would yield our dinner for that evening.   It was a 12 hour long expedition.   We rode for three hours out into the deep blue sea.  The staff or “deck hand”, as they are called, were really great hosts on the New Buccaneer.  Uncle Frank shared stories on previous expeditions of catching large fish.   We left the dock early that morning excited, energetic and anticipating a great catch of fish.  When the boat got about 60 or 70 miles into the gulf, the captain told everyone to drop their line.  Our lines were baited with squid.  The stench from the squid alone was enough to make you regurgitate a years worth of dinner.  We were determined.  It’s red snapper season so we all were anticipating red snapper… and boy were they biting.  Left and right people were reeling in the ferocious red snapper;  some were small and others were huge.   There was a two fish maximum of red snapper so after our limit was reached we began fishing for other fish.   King fish, red liners, grouper, porgie and  sword fish were all on the menu to catch.   I have to pause and let you know that if you’ve never eaten Red Snapper you are missing out!!!  Anyway,  as the day went on and the sun beamed down on the fishing boat in the middle of the day, fatigue began to set in.   After wrestling with the relentless fish, and enduring the noon day sun, we were beat.   We  did however end up with enough fish to eat for that night and the morning after.   It was great fellowship and a good work out.   We all decided that this would be an annual expedition and that we  will invite others to share in the bounty of fish.   What a great expedition!!!   Oh yeah... Allen didn't feel the urge to jump into the gulf of Mexico this year!!!  Yeah!!!  (The deck hand remembered him because of this)

Next Blog:  Gospel Explosion in Rogersville, Alabaman....