When Church As Usual Just Isn't Enough

Have you ever gotten to the place when church as we know it just isn't enough?  You know that place where 2 fast songs, 1 medium song, 2 slow songs followed by offering and announcements then a 35 minute message just doesn't do it any more?  I know I get there.  Sometimes you just need more!

This Sunday, we are beginning a series entitled "Encounters" where we will be discussing face to face encounters throughout the Bible.  In every Sunday service for the next 3 to 4 weeks, we will have designated time for you to have a personal encounter with God.  The amazing thing about God is that despite His greatness and power, He wants and desires to come and meet us face to face.  This is your opportunity.  Every person will have the opportunity to encounter God as they desire to, whether in communion, at the altar, in your pew, or by kneeling at the cross.  You don't want to miss this exciting time as we encounter the presence of God.

So pass on the word that it is time to encounter God.  Invite someone new to be with you.  I fully believe that you will be challenged, enlightened, and encountered by the presence of God. 

On another subject, we are about a month or so in to our new service time.  I hope you are enjoying the extra time on Sunday mornings before church.  I know that you are taking that time to fast, pray, and seek the face of God before coming to church right?  No, just kidding.  I fully believe that we are doing exactly what God has lead us to do.  This is your time to be great.  This is TC-Bmt's time to reach our city.  This is God's time to show Himself strong and mighty in your life.

I'll see you this Sunday at 10:30am.  And leave me a comment or two when you get the chance.  My "blogergy" (energy and desire to blog) is fueled by your response.

See you soon!

P Randon

SOT coming to a close

Ok, so here's the deal...I'm pretty bad at this whole blogging thing. 3 blogs in 3 months - not so hot. Well, I'll keep working on it.

So we've got a week and a half left on our summer of transformation. I hope that you are having as great of a summer as I am having. We have seen miracle after miracle. I hate for it to end, but basically, its just too hot! God has really been moving in our services. You can feel the weight of the presence of God building week after week.

Last Sunday night was powerful for Lindsay and I. John Ragsdale did a great job and gave many people prophetic words that I hope touched their lives. He called me today just to say that he still had Linz and I on his mind. He kept telling me that God has continued to speak to him this week about where we are, our church is, and where we are headed. Its exciting. I believe that we are moving into a new season where God is going to fulfill EVERY promise or word he has spoken over us. This Sunday, I think that I am going to be speaking about the difference between the desert and the land of Canaan. How God wants us to move from relying on a momentary miracle to a time of maximized return on our labor. God doesn't want us to sick back and do nothing all the time. The Bible says that "faith without works is dead." Those works refer to me getting up and doing something. God has placed giftings, talents, and anointings in our hands. I said a couple of weeks ago that the works of God are most often done through the hands of men. Its time to get our hands moving and start working the field, moving toward the promises that God has for us. Better slow down before I give it all away.

Just a note for those who haven't heard...Linz and I need your help on Saturday, September 6th at 8:30AM for a men' & women's workday. We are going to get this building in top shape by completing several projects like finishing the carpet, laying wood floors, deep cleaning the restrooms, foyer, and sanctuary, and dusting the plants. It's conference time, and we need your help. Please be here and call someone else to come as well. If we work together, we can get it all done quickly and efficiently.

On Wednesday night of the conference, TC Bmt will host pastors, elders, and leaders from all over as we kick off the conference with Bishop Tudor Bismark. And then on Sunday, Bishop Joseph Garlington will be with us. With Apostle Mike Hayes packed in the middle, it promises to be a great year. I've almost got John Ragsdale to come back and be with us for our anointing service on Saturday. Please put this conference on your prayer list. 25 years!! Holy Cow!!

Thank for everyone who has commented on my previous posts. Don't forget to subscribe so you know when I post something new, next year. (Just kidding) See you on Sunday!

P Randon

Sorry, It's been a while

Hello Bloggerworld,

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to my blog.  No excuses, just kept forgetting.  

So I hope your summer of transformation is going well.  Its been pretty awesome for me so far (all except the whole "lose 10lbs" thing).  I started off with a bang, but between vacation, 4th of July, and homeade ice cream, things start to crumble.  As usual, I'll be back in the game tomorrow.  Isn't that what we always say?  You know there is an interesting paradox I find in my life.  I know that God will continue to forgive me and work with me as long as I keep trying, but at what point is, "I'll start tomorrow" no good anymore.  Not to God necessarily, but to myself.  How long do I say this concerning all types of things from my health to my prayer time, my bible reading to my relationships?  At some point it isn't about God, its about my ability to get off my rear and stick to the things I know I need to do.  

It seems like everyone has their areas of "weaknesses".  Not always sins, just places where our self-discipline seems to run a little short.  But there's always tomorrow.  Its like the sign at Joe's Crab Shack that says "Free Crabs Tomorrow".  Sometimes I feel that I've got great discipline, but the truth is, some things are just easy for me.  That doesn't mean it takes discipline to get them done.  For instance, getting up and getting to work on time, staying late, working hard, is not a problem for me.  Long hours are no big deal.  Why?  Because God & church are my #1 passion outside my family.  I love it.  I'm eaten up with it as my Dad used to say.  Even when I'm on vacation or playing golf, I'm thinking and talking about church.  So is it really discipline when I do what I do?  Probably not, discipline kicks in when its hard or difficult.  When it's not the easy and natural thing to do.  

This applies in many areas of life.  One of them for me, also for many other Christians is having a regular prayer time.  Its not that I don't want to or don't have time or don't try.  I have several issues beginning with my struggle to shut my brain down.  When you combine my overactive imagination with a little A.D.D., it can be difficult to focus on God for an extended period of time.  I start thinking of everything I need to do.  Who I need to call.  Where I need to go. etc. etc. etc.  So here are a couple tips that I use to try to focus in my quiet time:

1 - Keep something to right with nearby.  This allows me to write down anything God shows me.  It also allows me to right down those things that come to my mind.  This way, I can move on knowing that I won't forget it later.

2 - When praying for an extended time, I sometimes take a 10-15 nap in the middle of my prayer time.  Its interesting how as soon as I wake up, my mind is often clear and receptive to what God might be saying.  Its in those first few minutes after I wake up, that I often get the answers I'm looking for.

3 - Worship but not too much.  I love to worship, but if I'm not careful, I will spend all my time worshiping and not praying and listening.  Worship is a great way to focus your mind, but if all we do is worship, we may never give God time to speak.

4 - Find a quiet place.  Too much going on around us causes our minds to wander.  Find your "prayer closet".

5 - Don't always wait until you have an hour.  Take time whenever you have it.  15 minutes 30 minutes, 45 minutes.  Take the moments that you have.

Anyway, hope I've helped you in some way.  God is moving.  Momentum is building.  TC Beaumont is on the verge of something great.  Don't miss it!!  Jump in!

P Randon

Getting Ready...

Well, it's Friday Night about 11:00 PM, and I can't wait for the weekend.  All week long, I've had this expectancy building.  Something big is happening in the atmosphere right now.  I don't know if you feel it or not, but it's there.  As I fasted today, I found myself praying continually.  I hope that others are praying and fasting.  My father has always said that the prayer meter of the church is in direct correlation to the measure of the presence of God in our services.  I feel the prayer meter rising.  

I have had this song in my head all day called "Moving Forward" by Ricardo Sanchez.  Wow, its great.  It speaks right to where we are in the Summer of Transformation.  Here are some of the words...

I'm not going back

I'm moving ahead

I'm here to declare

In You old things are made new

Surrender my life to Christ

I'm moving, moving forward

Here is a link to youtube where you can watch the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi_hYBwx6L0&feature=related

Well, how is your 90 challenge going?  Its been a wild week for me, but I already feel God changing things in my life.  I know He will for you as well.  Shoot me back a post or email.  I'm looking forward to hearing great reports.

I'm going to try to sleep now.  Be praying.  God is moving.  Its your time for God to move.  Tap in.

See you Sunday.

P Randon

And we're off to the races!

Hello Fellow Cyberspace Dwellers!

Its about 11:55 Pm on Saturday Evening and I am just wrapping up my final notes for Sunday morning.  Tomorrow is huge because we kick off our Summer of Transformation 90-Day Challenge.  By the time you read this, you will probably have already heard about many of the exciting things coming up.  If not, check it out at www.summeroftransformation.com.

This is my first attempt at blogging, and I'm pumped, "stoked" as my crazy-wild Dad said last Sunday. (What was he thinking?)  Anyway, this summer, I'm going to share with you my 90 days of transformation.  You're going to see pictures and videos of me going about my life as I allow God to work in me.  I'll be writing in every week to give you an update on how things are going.  Apparently, Pastor Deamon and I had the "wonderful" (note: sarcasm) idea to lose 10 pounds this summer.  I really am excited about it.  Maybe I can fit back into my leather pants from High School, hmm.  

That's all I have for now as it is 12:02 Am and I will be up seeking the face of the Lord at the crack of dawn in the morning.  Make sure you subscribe to my post.  I have to have more subscribers than Pastor Deamon, Pastor Carlos, & Dad.  Beaumont Pride is on the line.  Seriously, give me a shout back so I know your out there.  I can't wait to hear what God is doing to transform your life this summer as well.

And we're off to the races! 

P Randon