Why Are You Afraid?

Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he (Jesus) got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. Matthew 8:26

I grew up in a family with three rambunctious boys of which I'm the oldest.We competed and fought all the time. In order to get the upper hand I have to shamefully admit I exploited my brothers' fears. Now don't let them know I said this but one was afraid of the mop. To get him in check you just had to grab the mop and the scraggly strands would scare him straight. My other brother (who can probably break me in two with his bare hands now) had an even more irrational fear. He was afraid of cotton. All I needed to do to get him in line was to threaten to bring cotton to him. He would be shaking.

My parents would sometimes intercept and ask them "Why are you afraid?" It's the same question Jesus asks the disciples in Matthew 8:26 when they frantically awoke Him during the storm. And I believe it's the same thing He asks us when we get all scared during the stress of life.

I'm sure the disciples thought they were justified in being afraid. And we usually come up with good reasons for our fear. But if we're honest we let fear paralyze us and take it to an irrational point.

Don't let fear stop you for moving forward, stepping up, serving, doing something great, pursuing your dreams, making a change in life. Instead have faith in God and His ability to calm not just the storms outside us but the storms inside us like fear, anxiety and despair.

Why are you afraid? And what can you be doing if you exchanged your fear for faith?

Wireless connection with Jesus...Served Up!

Every Friday evening at 10 pm Central, there is an online rap session hosted on the wiiserve.org website. Our regular host is Pastor Donald Rolle and the title of this interactive bible study, discussion time is Servin It Up.

Each week those who log on to the show are blessed. On one of the past shows Pastor Rolle discussed having a connection with God. Here are some of the responses listed below for features that people wanted in their "wireless connection" with Jesus.
Great stuff! Check it out.

I want in my wireless connection (prayer life) with God...

RIREZY: it should look good! no one wants a phone to look like a land line!

discomookie: its cool to have it

wiiserve: Unlimited Minutes= prayer without ceasing

RIREZY: Sturdy and long lasting= to PRAY FAithfully not matter what!

lpayne7: Strong connectionI want a prayer life were I doesn't lose a connection.

KYKY23: txt to God

discomookie: unlimited text messages = staying in the word

icemanrolle: a personalied phone = because god understands and knows me...

wiiserve: No drop calls= God hears me and doesn't ignore me

DarrienLinwood: STRONG connection and unlimmited everything= praying life better plus when i say Fatha hears me

Dbedward011: Wifi+ 3G= A connection with speed always

Stigmeister: My phone has to be international. We have to commucinate no mater where I am.

PCPhD: Face to Face video conferencing

discomookie: preach collins

discomookie: that is coming

discomookie: its in the next upgrade

Dbedward011: Not international Universal

drewpy_boo: unliminted talk-= no matter what time of day it is, you will always be able to speak with him

wiiserve: How about a network that can "hear me now"

DarrienLinwood: i hope so

PCPhD: Fave All

RIREZY: warranty= i cant get back to praying when i fall in the water and get a few scratches and mess up the screen of my life

ZoZo963: aww shoot that was dope

icemanrolle: lol

PCPhD: No Faves

DarrienLinwood: 4G

discomookie: rirezy that is nice

DarrienLinwood: the new connection

Dbedward011: Noise Canceling= Clear understanding and can recives signs easily Tmobile= Get more God

RIREZY: Ringtones=So catchy that when god calls i cant help but answer

discomookie: custom ringtones = you know who it is

KYKY23: international locations for traveling to you

PCPhD: SYNC

lpayne7: iphone= a prayer life that is worry free

DarrienLinwood: Ringtones= so when God calls i knw who it is

PCPhD: Text to Speech

Dbedward011: Touch One Dialing= NUMBER 1 777-777-7777 (GODS NUMBER)

KYKY23: call me

discomookie: that's deep collins

DarrienLinwood: "call him up, tell him what want"

wiiserve: Prayer Bible text: Luke 11:1-13

PCPhD: pray shows up 365 tims on Biblegateway

DarrienLinwood: thanx cause i have a friend whos needs help

RIREZY: prasie him!!!

ZoZo963: Proverbs 5

DarrienLinwood: Psalms 23

wiiserve: Nehemiah is the Book of the Week

discomookie: 1st Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

wiiserve: Challenge to pray at least 15mins per day

PCPhD: Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his submission

PCPhD: Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

KYKY23: psalm 143:1 hear my prayer o lord; listen to my plea!


For an even greater blessing come online this Friday and every other one at 10 pm Central to Serve it Up...

It is a Good Thing to Say Thanks

The two simple words "thank you" can be used as a tool for ministry. I found that out this week through two simple examples.

The school my children attend, V Lindsay SDA Elementary School, hosted Pastors' Appreciation Day. They brought the local pastors in (including me) and through word and gifts said "thank you." It is amazing the simple things that these little ones and their teachers said thank you for. However it is the fact that someone notices those little things that is encouraging. Let's be honest we don't work for the appreciation but it certainly makes the load a little bit lighter. One of my pastoral colleagues remarked that it was one of his best ministry experiences. All because these teachers and children said thank you.

The second experience occurred when my own children made a thank you card for my Administrative Assistant. She loves baking and sent home a sweet potato pie for our family. They were moved by her kindness and wanted to do something in return. So they made a thank you card with drawings and sentiments of gratitude and love. It was so pure, innocent and at the same time powerful.

Children notice and want to give thanks for the simple things. The things you do that a lot of times go unnoticed. Maybe you can minister to someone today by noticing the simple things they do and telling them thank you. It will make a difference.

Out of the Spotlight, Following the Light

It's been a while since I've blogged. Between readjusting to a 7 hour time zone difference and catching up on all the work left behind after two weeks away, it's been hard getting time to write. But I'm back now. I will be sharing a little bit about my experiences in Lesotho next blog.

I'm here at Oakwood University, a Historically Black Christian University. I was talking with a student from East St Louis, Karyle Barnes Jr, who has worked with me before. He is presently studying to be a minister. Karyle is a deeply spiritual young man but one who has a good grasp of contemporary culture and is able to reach his peers.

We were talking about ministerial experience and preaching opportunities here at Oakwood and the fact that all theology students don't get an opportunity to preach on campus at some of the "spotlight" occasions like chapel and student worship services. That's where everyone on campus gets to know who you are and your renown is established.

But Karyle related to me a ministry that he is involved with called Stand Ministries. In his low key manner he spoke about going to a local juvenile detention center every Friday to speak to the young men about life and making good choices. After speaking to the entire group of teens, these collegiates sit down in smaller groups with the detainees and dialog with them. Some weeks they just play games with the boys and have fun.

Now that is ministry! It's not in the spotlight but it's following the light. And there are so many others who are doing sacrificial service that do not appear in the limelight or get recognition but I am confident that God is smiling down on it.

If you are one of those persons, whether it's helping a neighbor, or contributing to someone's well-being anonymously, know that you are following the light - Jesus Christ. "For as much as you've done it to the least of these, You've done it to me (Jesus)."