Faith

Give God your faith and he will give you the victory. (healing, finance, substance)
Just trust God!

Bishop Charles Henry Taliefero

As I Remember

I was hired that day as a musician for the Pastor's Choir. I also watched and gave heed as he spoke that day.

I wondered to myself, who is this old blind man talking about faith? He said by faith, he was able to drive to the store and back home.

He couldn't have too much faith, he couldn't see...

He spoke in a pastoral cadence which was much a more deliberate and slower cadence, wanting everyone to hear his words clearly. He certainly had great command of the English language, as his word choices demonstrated. His gravelly voice caused me to focus more on the things he was saying. He was not faking his way through as one trying to impress the crowd. He actually knew what he was saying and he knew how to say it.

He was dressed in dark colors. His clothes were heavily starched and pressed. He wore a white shirt and colorful tie. His black wing tip shoes were shined to perfection. He wore a diamond studded tie clamp. In his presence you could smell his spicy cologne. My first impression was not that be had a lot of money, but that he was serious about being a gospel preacher. He wanted his words to touch the hearts of the people. He wanted his life to count for God. The evil days

(Days of ill health) of old age was upon him and one of the only pleasures he enjoyed was preaching.

As he continued, I was somewhat captured. As a person in my early twenties, he sounded like the orators of yesteryear. Looking back on it as an older man, I appreciate preachers who know what they are talking about, and are very passionate about it also.

As time went on I became a member of the Emmanuel Temple church. I traveled extensively as a musician for the Pastor's Choir. I began sitting in his bible classes and found out as I suspected he was an avid reader who read everything. His library was full of books he read. There were at least 500 books of which he could quote verbatim from any of them.

His mantra seems to me at that time, was in the form of a question, what do you really know?

He searched diligently to find answers to all of his questions and the questions others posed.

Always reaching to learn something new, his quest for life was to speak as one with a learned tongue. Was he perfect? He was perfect at being who he was. He couldn't be everything to everyone. He was just a man trying to take in all the he could. Most people are looking for a pie in the sky and they never grow into the fullness of what God desires for them.

As time moved on I discovered many things about him, some I liked and some I disfavored. At the same time through his entire serious disposition, of which I eventually broke through like breaking through an ice door, I discovered a gentle man who share some of the beliefs that I had and I his. We had some common ground. He did not believe in some of the things people attributed to him, or that he had as a young pastor. You learn over time those things that are traditional and those things that are truth.

For many years I sat under his ministry and tutelage. I learned so many things that as a minister I was never exposed to under others. In his bible classes he taught homiletics, apologetics, bible study methods and church history. He wanted to make sure the people would be well rounded.

One day he decided to make me an assistant to one of his churches. It was not an assignment I cared for. I was happy just being who I was and where I was.

The people received me causally, some warmly and some not at all. I was sent in his stead. The Spirit of God moved and every Sunday someone was getting saved. The people who received me coldly said, that ain't just your preaching that getting these people saved. What would you do if no one invited anyone? I knew it was people responding to the word of God in faith. Come to find out later these same people had a takeover agenda.

One Wednesday night Bishop sent me there to teach. One of these persons came and told me you can't teach tonight because all things are null and void because Bishop Taliefero died today and we are going to have a special meeting and you are not invited. You have to leave now or we will have the men physically remove you. I was not afraid but angry.

I had nothing to do but to turn around and walk away.

At the funeral we were given select slices of his life was and times.

I will always remember who he was whether in front of people of behind closed doors. He had a zest for learning new things and his always wanting to know the power of God demonstrated in his life.

He was the pastor of my young adult life.

The Old Sycamore Tree (How To Live And Not Die) Part 2

Explanation of the Sycamore Tree

In the Bible, the Sycamore is considered a symbol of strength, divinity, and eternity.

The strength of any tree is determined in the way that it holds up in weather and how resistant it is to disease.

You can find Sycamore trees by a steam of water, although they grow in other places, and like the bible says,

Psalms 1:3

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Jeremiah 17:3

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

There was a lyric from a Rap song that says "Everybody dies, but not everybody lives". When I first heard it, I was really taken a back at the message it gave. It described me and many people I know. We can die, not knowing the extent of why we were created. What things were only possible through us alone? Just as each individual has their own finger prints, signature, personality and talents, each person has their own set purpose here on earth. No one else has the right to make decisions about the path we take. It has been determined by God. In fact those in authority must have the wisdom to guide not determine on the basis of one with gifts in certain areas. That responsibility lies solely on us follow it.

We spend a lot of time looking at the things others have and not paying attention to the things God has given us. He has given us these gifts to survive, prosper, and profit from them.

No one can tell the old sycamore why it was created. It knows its purpose and its destiny. It reaches high in the sky to connect to the only thing greater than itself. It surrenders its all only to God to reach up. The tree reaches up to its creator as a child reaches up to its parents to be cared for and protected. As it reaches up, the sunshine and the rain gives it nourishment and strength. Its leaves replenish the earth's oxygen supply. It also reaches down in the earth. It roots reach deep into the earth to perhaps find a rock to anchor itself. The roots go deep and wide.

Our relationship to Christ Jesus is described as a tree. The bible says, he is the vine and we are the branches.

The life of the earth is described through the trees God created to cover the earth.

For Adam and Eve, God planted a garden and put two trees in the midst of all the other trees and plant life, a tree of life and a tree of the knowledge and evil. God put a river that ran out of the garden (the first irrigation). Man would have done well eating of the tree of life. Satan described as the Serpent was there to change mans destiny, even as he lies in wait to change ours. Do not be deceived by the tempter to change your destiny.

No matter how old you are, you have to get back on track.. The only way for us to live and not die is to follow the course that God has set for us.

The sycamore connects to God above and to earth below and lives its happy destiny. God who is purpose and earth which is purpose manifested.

Thanks for the counseling, Nancy!

The Old Sycamore Tree (How To Live And Not Die)

The old sycamore tree stood in its place unmoved by the great storm.
It reached into the heavens and declared "I trust you God".

During the storm the old tree rocked back and forth , bending not breaking,
It reached in the ground just as high as it reached up to do its part.

It held on to a large rock and wrapped it roots without relent, knowing that it stood secure.

I have been here many years holding on and never letting go.
I have seen and heard many things.Yet in this place I endure.

When the storm was ended and everything came back to calm.
"Thank you Lord for another time you have kept me safe".

"I give you the honor, and you are so worthy to be praised".
"I will agian lift my branches and give you unselfesh praise".

 

 

 

 

 

  I  was created for praise!!!

From Terror To Jesus Part 2

Liam Doyle Smyth arrived at the Statesville Prison Facility sentenced to serve twenty years for the crime he committed against the church. Liam was about twenty four years old and was not afraid, because he had seen the inside of many penal institutions long before he arrived at this one. He knew we would be challenged as a man. He knew the inmates would try him as many were possible to see what type of man he was. He was not an Muslim. He was not associated with any of the gangs anymore. He would tell all that he was a born again Christian, as he had seen others do. This wouldn't stop the challenges, but most would respect him for his stand. He also knew he would be watched because of it.

After being processed and moved in, he shared a cell with Ernest Wayne Johns a thirty year old businessman. Ernest was not a dealer, he owned several warehouses and was caught up on a drug bust that implicated him in on the crime. He claims he knew nothing about drugs being in any of the six warehouses. Ernest wasn't particularly religious, but grew up in a very religious home, where he and his siblings were forced to go to church. He vowed at an early age, he would not go to church after he left home. It wasn't that he didn't believe in God. He didn't believe that a child should be forced into something they did not want to be forced into.

From the first day Liam and Ernest formed a great bond. They were like brothers.

Liam began telling his story to Ernest of how he went from terror to Jesus. At the end of his story he told Ernest how happy that things turned out the way they did. He is here in prison, but his mind is finally free. Ernest began calling Liam, Bird. Liam began calling Ernest, Ern.

The thing that gets me is that preacher was not afraid of us coming in to kill him. He acted as if; his life means anything to him. He looked at us like he was looking through us. How was this so, seeing we had the guns turned on him?

Eyebrows raised and head tilted, Liam looking at Ernest as if to say, I know you are not going to believe that next part.

Every round we fired got stuck in the air.

STUCK IN THE AIR!

I wanted to run out of there. My legs felt like a million pounds of lead. I couldn't move. Our leader Eric could not move either. We fired so many clips of rounds. With all three automatic weapon no more than twenty feet from the pastor, at least seven other automatic weapons there had to be at least 500 rounds stuck in the air.

He invited all of us to the front and my legs that wouldn't move carried me to the front of the altar. When we got there, he yelled something that knocked us all unconscious for a moment. When I came to, I was speaking in a different language that I didn't understand. He preached to us about our lives and how they would now change. He looked at us and addressed each one of us individually and told us things about ourselves that no one knew, but us. I cried the whole time in front of my friends. Some of them cried. We before that time would never let another see us cry.

Pastor Mitch started coming to see as many of us that would let him. I let him talk. I knew there was a change in me. I didn't know how far it would go. He gave be a bible that had highlighted passages. I began to read about this man called Jesus. I asked him to come into my life and forgive me of all the wrong things I committed against him. I begin speaking in that language I didn't understand. When Pastor Mitch came around I asked him what was happening to me. He told me that God was sealing me and preparing me for his work. He told me not all conversions take place this way. God was doing a special work in my life. I am now here as you see me. At the trial Pastor Mitch stood with Eric and me. He never said anything about what we tried to do to him. I looked at him and fell to my knees. Eric did the same thing. Pastor Mitch, please forgive us for trying to kill you. Forgive us for trying to take your life. Forgive us. Pastor Mitch grabbed both of us by the arms and lifted us up and said, I forgave you long ago.

From Terror to Jesus Part 1

 
The three terrorist stood waiting for the moment to arrive. They prepared for this moment. It was five months in planning. They only had five minutes for execution. Every operative must be as an eye of a camera. Nothing can go wrong. Execution must be perfect. They had the support of a ten person team that stood in the background.

 

Eric asked himself, what was different about this time? Why was killing this pastor and staff different. Everything was too perfect. Conditions for every mission are different. Strangely, the conditions seemed too perfect.

 The plan is, they would storm in the church execute the pastor and those staff members that were outspoken against their religion. They were converting more citizens every day. Eric stood as something deep inside was telling him something was not right. Liam who was soft spoken and walked with a limp said nothing and Wister who was an experience soldier stood ready.

"I can't get this feeling out of my head. This is too perfect and perfect conditions are very rare". Everything is lined up. We have less than five minutes before we strike. We are the Pythons and we live for the strike. We are trained for adverse conditions. We live to improvise and improvise to live. We are not going to terminate this mission because things are too perfect. I just can't shake this strange feeling.

He texted his look out operative the text @$××€ which is the code for are things good from where you stand. He then received the text 123 which is the code for all is well.

The target was a Pentecostal church with about 300 members. There Pastor Mitch Pesche was from New York a no non sense pastor who believed in the miraculous power of God to deliver his people from the power of the "Evil One". The church now represented 50 nations of different ethnicities.

Pastor Mitch was now in the flow of the spirit, said to the congregation, "today we will be tested for our faith in God". "This is the day I spoke of in prophecy six months ago". "No matter what happens, keep your focus on the power of Jesus Christ".

Eric stood ready. Go..., he commanded.

The three men started running toward the doors of the church.

The inside operative cut off the security cameras and killed all the security alarms. He gathered all three security officers by gun point and handcuffed them to each other and moved toward the main auditorium.

Suddenly there was a loud boom at the main auditorium doors. The three men charged in while several men came forth out of the auditorium seats. Some of the members began screaming.

Pastor Mitch seemed unmoved by the chaos. He raised his hand and said "peace". The congregation grew still.

Eric shouted out, "You are a dead man". Pastor Mitch said, "More than you know". Eric and the other men began firing their weapons upon the pastor. Everyone saw the rounds come out of the automatic weapons and freeze in mid-air. To the amazement of the dozen terrorist, they thought to themselves this cannot be happening.

There must have been hundreds of rounds suspended in the air. Some people said they saw angels. Some began to speak in tongues.

Pastor Mitch said, "Silence".

The terrorist now were unable to move had terror in their eyes. Liam looked at Eric and Wister in horror. Wister who never said much said, "There is a God".

Pastor Mitch said “Now unto him that is able we give you the glory"! Eleven out of the twelve men began cussing.

"Come to the front all of you". Their legs began to move them to the front.

Pastor Mitch shouted out, "in the name of Jesus". They all fell as dead men at the altar. Their weapons fell beside them. They all begin hissing like snakes. "Be thou delivered from the things that has brought these spirits of hate upon you", shouted Pastor Mitch. Several terrorists began to scream with terror. Then there was a sound from heaven as a rushing of a mighty wind and it filled the auditorium. Everybody, men women boys and girls began to speak with tongues.

Liam stood there with tears streaming down his eyes, saying, "Oh God I am sorry I ran away from my calling as a child, return to me what I ran away from and I will serve you for the rest of my life". Liam who always walked with a limp, now walked straight. He praised God and begin to speak in tongues. The men who laid on the floor began to speak in tongues and prophesy. The bullets that were suspended in the air fell to the floor. A member just coming to church came in screaming about ten men laying dead in the street outside of the church, whom were later identified as terrorists.

Pastor Mitch had all the men seated in the front row as he made known many of the mysteries of the bible. He must have preached for thirty minutes until the police got there and escorted the men downtown. Pastor Mitch Pesche told the church that day, we must trust God no matter what the circumstance, no matter what the problem. Today God showed us in a miraculous way that he is on the side of the believer. This is not always the case because believers are killed every day. You must trust God!

Years later after serving a long prison sentence, Liam found Pastor Mitch now older. You saved our lives that day. Several men became lifelong Christians. Eric died in prison as a Christian. I got out earlier than the rest on a technicality. I quickly found a small Pentecostal assembly where I serve as a minister for years until I was elevated to pastor. I am thankful for that day Christ turned our lives around. Not all were saved. Some went farther into the religion of hate. Some were killed very torturously.

God be praised forever more.

Life Goes Fast

Life is continually moving ahead like a passenger train on the the track to who knows where. If you blink you will fall behind.

 

The scene constantly changes. Sometimes you can map it out, and sometimes not. There are times that the road is the driver and for some that’s best because they have no clue to where they want to go. Some take a more old fashioned approach and a use plans written by others who have travel the road before with some success. That could prove to be both good and bad, because many things change more than they stay the same. There are those that for a cost, sell you a plan of travel. They will tell you that if you don't use their plan you will absolutely become a statistic. Who wants to become a statistic? No one!

How do we get from point a to point b.? Some will say just keep riding. But what if you arrive at a destination in which you know nothing. You could wind up behind the eight ball to use an old cliché.

Doesn't your ticket have a destination? Funny, on this trip, it is according who you bought the ticket from.

To the point of this story,

The only way you can have a sure destination is to know the Master. He is the only one who have traveled this way and came back to tell about it. In fact, he inspired others to write about the way.

He will direct you from the cradle to the grave. You must accept his way to be successful.

Lord God direct my way in this life. I have come to the place where I have to trust you alone. I need your protection. I need your love. I need your guidance. Lord direct my way on the train known as life.

I bless you from this time forth In Jesus Name Amen!