Men want to control their lives –it is our training and our nature. We are raised to be independent. Most men are taught to “pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.” Be a Man! Life is what you make of it!” we’re told. We are taught early-on that we can author our own destiny; we can be the captain of our soul, the master of our fate—Wrong! Flawed teaching.

 Men want to control their own lives. To “be a man.” Even if we were not taught to seek independence, which most of us were, our own human nature gravitates in that direction. We want the freedom to chart our own course. We want the power to shape the events of our lives. These are the hallmarks of our desire to be independent. But too often in our effort to be self-reliant, we move away from God and go our own independent way.

 There is a marked difference between taking responsibility for our lives and trying to live independently from God. We are to take responsibility for our lives—no one will go to work in our place, in most instances, no one will continually pay our bills. The difference is this: responsibility fully recognizes our part and God’s part. Our part is to trust God and faithfully fulfill our duties. God’s part is to provide for all our need and well-being.

 Independence rebels against the influence of God, thinking it can meet its own needs. The independent man thinks, “I want to do what I want to do, when I want to do it, wherever I want to do it, with whomever I want to do it. I want to be in control. I want to satisfy my ambitions. I don’t want to be dependent upon anyone. People let me down. God will let me down. I can make it on my own. With independence, I am in control of my life. I have the power, whether through money or influence, to have my way.” The opposite of desiring to be independent of God is to trust Him.

 The Apostle Paul states it so well: “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring” (Acts 17:28).

Be blessed, Brethren, as we live responsible, yet dependent upon Him, lives

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

On today we celebrate and honor all fathers. Be it natural fathers or our spiritual fathers, we thank our heavenly Father for every one of you. We praise Him for your love, your wisdom, your guidance, your fatherhood.

We thank God for your commitment to Him as you carry out your duties toward your children. The following is a partial listing of Biblical duties of fathers:

(1) Love                                  Genesis 37:4

(2) Command                      Genesis 50:16

(3) Instruct                          Proverbs 1:8

(4) Guide and Warn         1 Thessalonians 2:11

(5) Train                               Hosea 11:3

(6) Rebuke                           Genesis 34:30

(7) Restrain                        I Samuel 3:13

(8) Chasten                        Hebrews 12:7

(9) Nourish                        Isaiah 1:2

 (10) Punish                       Deuteronomy 21:18-21

 (11) Supply Needs          Matthew 7:8-11

 (12) Provoke Not           Ephesians 6:4

 (Taken from the greatest manual on parenting, the Bible)

 Be blessed on this, your day,  fathers, as you emulate our heavenly Father.

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

Musings with the Pastor.

“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord (Proverbs 18:22).

 Husbands, have you considered what the Lord has done for you in causing you to find a true wife?  Such a woman is fully described in Proverbs 31:10-31.  A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.  She brings him honor and joy.  My dear brothers, you do know that a good wife is an integral part of God’s plan for your life.  “House and riches are the inheritance of fathers:  and a prudent wife is from the Lord.”  (Proverbs 19:14).  Well, that only makes sense because James 1:17 tells us that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”  This Pastor can certainly attest to the veracity of that statement.  He did indeed obtain favor of the Lord when he married Thelma Odessa Flix Bates on June 13, 1957.  If your math is not good, let me help you.  On tomorrow, that will be fifty-nine years.

 Dear Ones, there is no secret to a long and godly marriage.  Just stay married and keep the Lord in your marriage!  Two other things:

•  Divorce should never be an option and
• Commit to live out the provisions of Ephesians 5:22-23.

 June 13, 2012 is the date that this Pastor’s mother went to be with the Lord.  We praise the Lord for the Life and Legacy of Mother Mattie Pearl Britton.

 On June 13, 1957, this Pastor married a good wife.  On June 13, 2012, Mother Britton was received into the Courts of Glory.  Amen and Amen.

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

It is easier to build strong children than it is to repair broken men.

This vision statement adopted for the Youth Church is a recognizable reality.  This Pastor finds in the Director of the Children’s Church, Dr. Suntera Scott, the personification of this statement.  Here is a young lady that has been with the Children’s Church since 1999.  That in itself is a major accomplishment.  Can you see the commitment?  Seventeen years of sharing the things of God with impressionable minds.

 Dr. Scott has impeccable academic credentials that she has placed under the subjection of the Holy Spirit.  What I draw from the life of Sunny Scott, I see as a potential for all of our children.  Young people, you can be whatever you want to be!  There are no limits in the Lord.  The only limits you have are either self-imposed or limits you allow others to impose on you.  The Bible says:  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

Suntera Scott is demonstrable a strategic thinker.  This is a comprehensive, long-term, theoretical manner of thinking.  Broken men tend to be poor thinkers.  Most of them (yes, I am dealing in generalities) do not think things through to a reasonable conclusion.  You reduce the probability of becoming all that the Lord has ordained for your life when you make poor choices as a child or young person.

The Bible tells us that Esau was not a strategic thinker.  Esau despised (was indifferent to) his birthright.  Esau was deprived of the blessings which would have fallen to him as the eldest son because he failed to think long-term.

Dr. Suntera Scott, strategic thinker, focused person, servant of the Lord.  This can be any of our young people.  Therefore, young folk, “Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Pastor J. Amos Jones

It is this Pastor’s prayer that “Each One Reach Out to One (or more)” will become more than a new initiative. 

 Yes, a new initiative, manifested by a burning passion for the lost.  A commitment to the Great Commission.  Our task is to explain as best as we can how God has provided for our redemption and justification.  But first, we must begin with the fact that the world, all mankind, is guilty before God.  “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one:  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:10-11).

 The wicked, the lost are not seeking God, however, God is seeking them.  Dear Ones, you are the instrumentality whereby God seeks out the lost.  “And all things of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation (2^nd Corinthians 5:18-19).  The amplified version of that passage, ending with:  “the ministry of reconciliation” states it this way “that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him.”  Each One Reach Out to One (or more).

Dear people of God, you are the personal representatives of Christ, and God is making His appeal through you.

Behold, now is the day of salvation!

Pastor J. Amos Jones