Overcoming the Trials of Life

Over the course of life, there will be many obstacles that every person must navigate. Unfortunately, no one is exempt from what has been described as the trials of life. I write this blog to address the feeling of being overwhelmed when dealing with problems. Being overwhelmed and discouraged can take the joy out of your life. If allowed, these negative feeling will continue to intensify and make your problems worse than they have to be. What you need to know today is that there is hope. The plan of God is to strengthen you in such a way that you experience victory in the midst of all chaos. To think that you can experience happiness in the midst of your troubles may sound crazy, but it is true. The Prophet Jeremiah reveals to the world that the plan of God is to prosper us and not hurt us (Jeremiah 29). Regardless of what your situation entails, the plan of God towards you has not change. Look you hurt in the eye and know that there is a plan concerning you, A plan to give you hope and a future.

Just my thoughts on overcoming discouragement,

Pastor Sean

Never Take the Bait and Never Retaliate

As you go through life, you must recognize that you will encounter many things. Some of these things will allow you to experience great joy, and others will try to strip away any excitement that you have. However, the key to winning in the battle of life is to never take the bait. In an effort to protect yourselves and our happiness, you must evaluate every opportunity that is set before you. In the beginning, everything looks good. To be truthful, even some of the lies that were told appear to be great stories of truth when you are emotional. I encourage you to think before you act. Do not take the bait simply because you are in need. Don’t take it because you are lonely; instead, wait for the right opportunity. Wait for what the Lord has promised you.

Another area that can cause you heartache and pain is the desire to retaliate. Although you may have experienced disappointment in life, the desire to get even must be avoided. There is truth in an old saying that states, I will not stoop to their level. Because others have acted ungodly, does not give you permission to do the same. So how do you handle this? My suggestion is that you remain quiet. The best way to ensure that you do not do or say something that will make things worse is to remain silent and never retaliate. Take a moment, gather your thoughts, get some fresh air, and think on the goodness of the Lord. Guess what, you’ve won!

Praying your strength
Pastor Sean

What's Going On!

During the 1970’s, Marvin Gaye performed a song called What’s Going On. I am not sure if anyone else agrees with me, but I believe that it is time to revisit that question. In the city of Baltimore, like many other cities in our country, there is an over abundance of crime. However, a disturbing case has been filling the news airways in Baltimore over the past week. An 18-month-old baby was molested and given gonorrhea by an attacker. According to the news reports, the mother left her child with what she thought was a trusted family friend who interacted with the child sexually. Will someone please explain to me what’s going on. I have often said that out of all of God’s creations, man is the only creation that has totally lost sight of who they are. Dogs and cats mate according to a season and predatory animals kill for food. However, humankind will kill for a pair of high dollar tennis shoes, and find sexual pleasure anytime, anywhere, with anybody, including an 18-month-old child. Will someone please explain to me what’s going on? If ever there was a time to pray or learn to pray it is now. The further humanity strays from God, the worse things become.

When I was a child in the city of Baltimore, I could stay outside and play all day long. As a young teen, I could catch the bus wherever I wanted to go. I could attend a movie dowtown and never have to worry about making it home. What happened to the days when you could trust your neighbor to watch your children while you went to the store? My heart is heavy Saints of God. Satan has made an attack on the minds of men and women and it is time to fight back. Matthew 16:13-20 states that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. It also states that whatever we bind shall be bound, and whatever we loose shall be loosed. It is time church, time to bind the works of the enemy and take back our world from the grip of sin. Dr. Elmer Towns once wrote that the church has forgotten the power of prayer and fasting. However, today is they day that we are reminded that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us. Today, I pray for the child that suffered abuse at the hands of a wicked individual, and for every other child on the face of the earth. Lord, in the name of Jesus, keep the children and turn the hearts of humanity back to you.

Just my prayer on the subject,

Pastor Sean

To Leave A Church

After reading a blog by Tim Stevens (http://www.leadingsmart.com/leadingsmart/2010/01/how-to-leave-your-church.html) on the proper way to leave a church, I was inspired to write this blog. In his blog, he states that 19% of people leave a church in a loud boisterous manner, and 79% just slip away and you never hear from them again. It is with sadness that I agree with the comments made by this pastor. In my 11 years as a senior pastor, I have found that people leave churches exactly as he said. The question that should arise in the mind of the pastor is why. How could someone who smiled with us, dined with us, and even used the resources of the church just walk away. I have been told by most that they left because someone said this, that, or the other. Others have also said that they left a church because they felt that some things were not right.

Whatever the reason, we are charged by God to do all things in decency and order. When leaving a church, communicate to the leadership your problems. Let them know that your life has been changed in some way at the church. Most importantly, do not badmouth the church in anyway. This is the proper way for a believer to leave a church and keep everything on one accord.

In reality, there will always be those that gossip, lie, and steal. There will always be people that run your pressure through the roof, but how much stronger could we be if we stood together to defeat the enemy on every level. You would not just walk off your job to never return. For those that have done this, they usually face difficulties with obtaining a good report from that employer. Many may not be concerned with the report that the local church will give about them, but we all should be concerned about what the Lord thinks about us. We must all give an account concerning the good and bad that we have done (1 Corinthians 5:10). It is not good to leave cursing everyone and their parents, it is not appropiate to just slip away, the right way to leave any organization is through positive communication.

Just my thoughts on the subject,
Pastor Sean

One Praise, One Worship

My wife and I enjoy all types of Christian music. This in itself is not an odd thing because as a teenager, I enjoyed everything from Run D MC to Joan Jett. The problem that we are having is that radio stations appear to be segregated. The station that we prefer plays music by casting crowns and Toby Mac; however, they only play one song geared towards an African American listener. The one song that they play is Mary Mary, Shackles. This song is ten years old and it does not reflect what is happening today in Gospel music. We loved the song Shackles in its day, but are they saying that they cannot find a recent song to play on their station? Some may say if you do not like what the station plays, turn the channel. Well, if I turn to a station that caters to African Americans, I will not hear Casting Crowns, Sing until the Whole World Hears.


Where do we turn when we want to enjoy all the gifts that God has given to his people? Is the answer switching radio stations every five minutes to enjoy the praise and worship from different groups of people? Do we accept defeat and believe we can never do better? Maybe, I should just play my IPod where the worship is mixed just the way I like it. If we are ever going to be one in Christ, we must stop segregation on all levels.

Just my thoughts on the subject.


Pastor Sean

The New Year Resolution

Once again, society is faced with transitioning into a new year. In the past, the turn of the clock has been a time when people make promises and goals that they do not keep. The question to be asked is why, why do people have such a hard time meeting the goals that they set in their lives. Maybe, a focused is place on the wrong things. Things that are not important or goals that will make us look good in the eyes of another person. Whatever the reason, it is time that we set goals that will benefit us in the future. Let me ask you, when was the last time your New Year’s resolution read like this; Lord, draw me close to you? This is a resolution that all humanity will need to be successful in the upcoming year. Regardless of your current situation, despite the abundance of finances or the lack thereof, whether your in good health or bad, a closer walk with God Jesus will bring about Joy and prosperity. As 2009 comes to a close, place your attention on a closer walk with Jesus. A sonwriter once penned, there is not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no not one. Be blessed in the upcoming year.

Pastor Sean