Vessels of Honor Worldwide 

Ever hear someone say its about time?

Today as I ponder and reflect on many things , my spirit is saying its about time! It's about time my friends!

Time we should rise up and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ!

Time to be rooted in his word in one place

Time to shout it from the roof tops "Jesus Is Lord!

I n a world where most could care less about the Word of God,except to change it

In a world where yes even Christians vote to change laws to justify and thinking it will Validate their sin and still be able to say I am doing the will of the father.The word of God says he changes not! He is the same yesterday and forever! Plainly spoken isn't it

It's about time we turn lose of the carnal side and walk in the supernatural as sons and daughters of the king!

We serve a God who is all about Love-yet he is our father, and what does a Father do? he corrects us when we are wrong protects us from harm and provides for his children. yet he gives you and I free will to make that choice to follow or not.

It's about Time my friends--he is coming back to take us home and what a wonderful day that will be!

Are you ready my friends? Truly ready?

It's About Time!

How many of us have been driving down the road or have seen a picture of animals stretching forth their necks under or over a fence to get something that looks fresher and greener or thriving on that side Not even realizing the pain it will cause them even in them in long run?

Come on now admit it...we all have done this very same thing!

What I am about to talk about may not be pleasing to some and others may amen it it..

I believe that the Lord is looking for a body of believers that is stable and established in all theit ways.

I believe he is calling his people to be rooted just like a tree planted by the waters..Yes we can be doing these things spiritually but my question to you is shouldn't that spill over into our natural walk and life with God?

It has been my experience to see people worshipping and happy where they are at only to be constantly bombarded but others saying you need to come to our church God is really moving there --till finally the person being ask says yes! Now do not get me wrong there is nothing wrong with visiting..but we must be faithfull  and rooted in one place! 

You see to often we leave one place and go to another and another and another is because we are operating in the flesh! Yep you heard me and I did say it the FLESH!

We have somehow come to the conclusion it is all about us! The worship is about us, the people is about us the preaching is about us!

My friends it is all about the Lord! You see the enemy will plant a seed of doubt of maybe this isn't where I am suppose to be I don't think it is growing like I think it should the worship isn't like I think it should, the preaching isn't like I think it should be!  Are you getting a feel for what  is being said here? the key word I...... Yes we may have a talent or a gift and calling but there must be a time of submission sitting and being trained to the things of God! There is a saying what always glitters isn't always Gold! Yes this other place says I will use you come over here your gifts need to be used! DISCERN DISCERN DISCERN!  It may not be the season for you to be there and there are things God wants you to learn! 

What if your calling was dependent upon seeing how faitful and submissive you are right in one place? MANY OF US WOULD NEVER BE IN MINISTRY...Because we don't allow the roots to dig in deeper! What if you were meant to be the catalyst to set things in motion right where you are at!

You know why the grass appears greener on the other side because of false evidence appearing real. If we will just turn around in our own field or back yard so to speak and begin to graze truly graze upon what God has set before us your vision will change  and you possibly will look back and see the other side for what it is..although the word was preached there it wasn't meant for you to be there...Are we Looking to be entertained? Do we have a teachable spirit? Or are we to the point where Lord, whatever you have for me I want it? You see it isn't what we think but the willingness to step up and receive and we receive Our Cup will RUN OVER!

So lets do an evaluation of ourselves do I do this? do I run here ore there because something seems to be happening there ?

Right now I am thinking of the children of ISRAEL and how they roamed and roamed for years! when it was only a few days trip...they didn't arrive..there was a spirit of roaming --yes God had to do what he had to do to remove sin..So what are we doing today...Are we rooted? I mean think about it a moment and then ask God if he is pleased?

A man approached one of our Guest Services volunteers and asked, “Where are the Sno-Cones?”

For the past few summers, we’ve offered Sno-Cones following our weekend services as part of our Guest Services experience. The goal was to give exiting kids a final pleasant memory of their time at Meck (Mecklenburg Community Church), as well as create a “linger” factor for parents to connect with each other and the staff.

This summer, we’ve been offering them as a “surprise” on select weekends, but not every weekend.

“I go to another church,” he continued, “but during the summer I come here for the Sno-Cones. So where are they?”

The volunteer explained to him our current approach to Sno-Cones, and he became rather indignant. “Is there any way you can let people know in advance when it’s a Sno-Cone weekend so that we know when to come?”

I guess people really like crushed ice and syrup.

Let’s talk church hopping, shall we?

Actually, I’m not the one bringing the subject up. It was surprising to find two articles on the matter get picked up and carried nationally – in the same week, no less – this past month.

First, a working definition: church hopping is going from one church to another without committing to any one church for any significant period of time (which makes it different than legitimate church “shopping”).

As Betsy Hart writes, hoppers reflect a growing tendency to decide, after they have officially joined a particular church, that “Oh, that pastor down the street is a little more high-energy than mine,” or “Gee, the music here isn’t really meeting my needs right now,” or “I really am not crazy about that new children’s church director.”

So they hop from church to church.

The hard-core hopper never even makes an initial commitment. They perpetually float between churches, pursuing a Beth Moore study at First Baptist, youth group at First Methodist, weekend services at Hope, Grace, or Community Church, marriage enrichment events at …w ell, you get the picture.

What’s driving this?

For some, it’s simply the consumer mindset of our culture at work.

As Hart writes, “Church ‘hopping’ is the ultimate ‘all about me’ experience.” They take from various churches whatever it is they perceive to be of value without committing to any one church either to serve or support.

For some, it’s insecurity.

They have to be wherever they think it’s “happening” in the Christian world. I know of pastors who joke about a “migratory flow pattern” among Christians in their community who are constantly church-hopping to the “next” thing in church life.

They move from one church to another, looking for the next hot singles group, the next hot church plant, the next hot speaker, the next hot youth group.

Many times they end up full circle where they began, because their original church suddenly became “next.”

For some, it’s spiritual gluttony.

They want nothing more than to be “fed,” and when they feel they’ve eaten all a church has to offer, they move on where there is the potential for more food – as if that is what constitutes growing in Christ or being connected to Christ.

For some, it’s refusing accountability.

A pattern of sin is pursued, or a choice made, and they leave for a place where no one knows, and no one asks.

For some, it’s avoiding stewardship.

If they are not committed to any one church, there is no obligation to give or serve at any one church. They can float above sacrifice without guilt.

For some, it’s emotional immaturity.

A decision is made they don’t agree with, a building campaign is initiated they didn’t vote for, a staff change is made they didn’t like, so they take their marbles and go play somewhere else.

I know, I know. None of these reflect well on the person leaving, which intimates that anyone who leaves a church is somehow in the wrong, and that is not fair.

In truth, there can be times to not simply hop, but leap. If there is scandal that is simply not addressed, doctrinal heresy, or patterns of abuse, you should leave.

But for the typical hopper, it’s not time for self-justification, but loving admonishment.

First, church isn’t about you. Sorry, but it’s not. It isn’t one of many stores in a mall that exists to serve your spiritual shopping list. Church is a gathered community of believers who are pooling together their time, talent and resources to further the Great Commission.

Find one and start investing your life.

Second, the very nature of authentic community is found in the “one anothers.” Love one another, serve one another, encourage one another; this cannot happen apart from doing life with people.

You need community.

Third, the absence of a ministry you desire may be God’s call on your life to start it, rather than leave to find a church that has it. Remember, every member is a minister, and has been given at least one spiritual gift for service in the life and mission of the church.

Fourth, you aren’t going to agree with every decision the leadership of any church makes, regardless of its structure or decision-making process. You either feel you can trust the character of the leadership, or you can’t.

And being able to trust that leadership doesn’t mean they will always do things the way you think they should. In other words, don’t hop every time you disagree. That’s immature.

(And for goodness sake, don’t stay and pout or politic, either. Either get on board once the decision is made, if it was one that didn’t breach doctrine or ethics, or find a place where you can.)

Fifth, don’t worry about being fed as much as learning to feed yourself. Even more, concern yourself with taking what you already know and applying it to your life, and then helping to feed others who are new to the faith!

Finally, spiritual depth isn’t fostered by satiating your sense of felt needs. It’s receiving a balanced diet of teaching and challenge, investing in service and mission, living in community and diversity that you probably would not select for yourself.

If you simply go to where you are drawn, you will miss out on addressing those areas of life where you are blind.

All to say, if you’re ever at Meck, have a Sno-Cone.

But don’t leave your church to come for it.

Start serving them there.

James Emery White

The other night, I was standing out on the patio, and I heard ducks from a distance, but could not see them. I waited and watched in the direction of their call, and after a couple of minutes, I noticed a fantastic sight. There were three different V-formations of them, totaling maybe sixty or seventy birds. It was dusk, and they were headed in the direction of the slipping sun. It's funny how many times - when we are tired and - something like that from nature will appear, to distract us and also to remind me of God's glorious wonder.

As I watched the ducks flying toward the closing moments of the day's sunshine, I was reminded of the fact they have no fear of reaching their goal. They instinctually know exactly the last moment possible, to leave and make it to their destination. How I wish we could all more often be that - fearless!!! While on our daily journey, many sometimes find it difficult to consciously realize the fact that God's got it all in control. After coming to know Him, we intellectually, almost instinctually, realize that our future is assured by his promises. Yet we can be distracted by some of the hurdles we figuratively jump along the way.. So take it from the ducks: Keep moving toward the light, knowing that as long as you're in Him and His will, it's going to be fine!

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12, KJV)