April 1st Edition of Monday Morning Quarterback

Strength and Blessings to you as we thank God for another day of life. We had a great time in the Lord on Sunday at the Macedonia Church. For the first time in a long time, we had room!!! After 108.1 inches of snow for the year for the first time in 170 days the temperature got above 60 degrees.

That may not be a big deal where you are from but that is a national holiday up here. It is the holiday called, "WE AIN'T GOING TO CHURCH TODAY HOLIDAY". Blizzard, church full, 30 inches fell last night, church full, sun shining no clouds in the sky and it is warm, Pastor I will see you next Sunday.

Church folk acted like roaches do when the lights come on, they left. Good thing I was always taught, don't fuss at the people who are there about the people who aren't. plus I understand, it was a beautiful day. (did i just call church folk roaches.......nah it was an example)

Although we missed our early vacationing members, we still had a great time in the Lord finishing up our Growing Up in Christ Series on the Book of James preaching James 5:19-20 "The Church's Position to the Backsliders Problem. The Lord blessed.

It is Winter Thaw here so our churches are in service almost every Sunday catching up for the winter months we were in hibernation. We worshipped with the Zion Hill MBC and Pastor Chris Derrickson as they celebrated their 28th Church Anniversary. It was an honor to go, The fellowship is always both refreshing and rewarding and God let me preach a little bit.

My voice thought I was back home in the South, warm outside, hot on the inside and had voice too. It was a great time. Preached Deuteronomy 8 "How I Got Over", It was good just to have the responsibility to preach again and not the burden to teach or cast vision.

Felt so good I decided to invade Bethlehem MBC where my boy Pastor Keith D. Witherspoon is Pastor. It was musical time for their church "A New Song for a New Season". The worship was amazing and the choir ministered under the power of God. Very proud of Bethlehem and Pastor Witherspoon.

I think they trying to start a choir war in this town the way they sang. We concede at Macedonia. We can't do it like the big church does. Thought Witherspoon was gonna sing but he chickened out, lol.

Lots of work, limited time but an all powerful God, sounds like a great combination.

Owens

Monday Morning Quarterback 2/23/14 Edition James 1:19-27

94.4 inches of snow to date in South Bend but I am still standing, the Macedonia roof  hasn't collapsed, no leaking in between the shingles and the gutters are still standing. God be praised!!!!!!

We had a wonderful time in the Lord this Sunday. I was absent this past Sunday as I worshipped with my best friend and newly installed Pastor, Rev. Kevin D. Moss and the Antioch Fellowship Church. The Lord has blessed him with a wonderful wife and a following church family. Great things are in store.

Even though I love being around other churches and Pastors for inspiration and illumination, there is still no church family like Macedonia at 1862 N. Olive Street. The spirit was high, attendance was packed, money was great, I pray the replication of the word preached today will be even greater than the numerical numbers of people and finances.

We thank God for our minister of music Jovan Lewis for allowing God to flow through him as the Praise team and choir were on point today. One of our directors and praise leaders, Brother Charles Coleman is stepping out more in faith on the platform God is building for him God was heavy in the place even I sang................................ gotta be quick, my folk will stop singing and start recording and I'll be on Youtube or facebook some where.

We continued our Bible Study and Sunday Morning preaching series in the book of James. It is shouting me and killing me all at the same time. This morning we dealt with James 1:19-27 "A Belief that Behaves".

Building on the idea that trials attack us from without and temptations challenge us from within, and it takes the wisdom of God to help us deal with them, we expanded the idea to this wisdom is found in the word of God, not the listening to but the doing.

In order to deal with the temptations and trials of life and make our Belief behave we must:

Remove those things that Hinder us: vs 19-21
Receive those things that Help us Vs 22

Review those things that Hone us Vs 23-25

If we do these things, our action principles of the text will be:

We will respond to those that are Hurting Vs 26

We will React to those Hurting people in a Holy manner Vs 27

I left a lot on the table but the good thing about preaching and teaching this series is, what I miss on Sunday, I get on Wednesday.

I pray service was great for you. Pray for us as we are traveling back to OKC AGAIN, as my oldest daughter Rachael is being inducted into the national Honor Society. If I can run for churches, members, districts and state conventions, then you better believe I will run, jump, fetch and light a match for my daughters.

Rachael, Daddy is proud of you and if some boy tries to come and congratulate you in my presence, there is gonna be a misunderstanding,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, don't worry pretty girl I won't embarrass you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, lol

Owens