He used a prop. He used a flashlight. He kept saying, this is a simple illustration and it was. A flashlight. He showed us how a flashlight was a flashlight but could not do what it was created to do without having batteries in it. He told us we were created by God but could not do what we were specifically designed to do by God with having Him in us. He stopped to put batteries in. You know the metal coiled spring inside? It gave him a little problem. He had a little fight with it. He got the top half way on and the flashlight didn’t work. Then he got the batteries in it and it still didn’t work. Why? There were two possible reasons: #1. He could have been using the wrong batteries (power source) or #2. He didn’t have them in the right way!

He knew eventually the flashlight would work. He knew eventually the flashlight would do what it was designed to do. He knew eventually the flashlight would have POWER! And it did! But not until he put in the right batteries and not until he put them in the right way! That is what we have to do! We have to put the right thing into our souls and spirit in order to have the power we were each customized to have! There is a plan and method to what God instructs us to do and empowers us to do! Once we follow that plan and have sought the power only He can bestow upon us, we will work!

Just like the flashlight, there are many things in our lives and in our core spirit that work against getting that power instilled within us. We might have family, friends, jobs, co-workers, husbands, wives, children, addictions, preoccupations, etc. that are like that spring in the flashlight! Things that won’t allow easy insertion of the device needed to make the flashlight function properly. Identically we have things that fight and hinder a quick and easy infilling of the holy-spirit into our vessel. The outside part of the flashlight we hold in our hand and see with our eyes is only a pretty case. Nothing on the outside is capable of enabling power. Nothing we do to that flashlight on the outside can make it work and bring light into darkness without the necessary power within! With us, no matter how good we think we are and how well we look or are put together on the outside, until we have the proper mechanism (Jesus) on the inside, we have no power! We have no power! We have no power!

The flashlight is one of the most powerful things you can have in the house when the electricity goes out and everything around you is pitch black. But what happens if you don’t periodically check the power/batteries? What happens if you don’t occasionally change the power/batteries? What happens if you don’t continually use the power/batteries? Acid/ugliness builds up! The light/witness goes dim! And eventually the flashlight no longer works/you are backslidden!

Once you get your flashlight to work/once we have the power within, just like the flashlight, we have got to renew, refresh, maintain and give due diligence to our power within, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

I don’t know about you, but I enjoyed myself at church yesterday, did you?

Holla back!

While watching Nancy, controversy arose when one of the ladies speaking said it was documented that she had mental issues and her society of friends, neighbors, church family and acquaintances should be made aware of this, in the same way society is made aware of sex offenders living within our communities. I believe Nancy was the one vehemently opposing the thought. One of the things she pointed out was, if you get a group of people in a room, a large percentage – 85% is what I believe she quoted – would all have some level of mental illness/challenges. I agree! But what does any of this have to do with her being a Sunday School teacher?

Literally, ever article begins by calling her “The Sunday School teacher”. Lol. Why? From a journalistic standpoint, I imagine using something as sacred as a role affiliated with church is the hook and apparently what they think will make readers/listeners shake their heads in disbelief.  I say so what if she was a Sunday School teacher at her grandfather’s church. I don’t get the point. I grew up in church all my life and to be honest, I myself have witnessed Sunday School teachers with mental challenges, but what do you do? Where else do we not discriminate, and let whosoever will be a part of the work to be done, but the Kingdom of God aka church? I don’t necessarily fault the grandfather for letting her work in the church, unless he knew deep in his heart she shouldn’t be around children.  Whether she is a Sunday School Teacher, elementary school teacher or Mother Theresa’s sister, the real issue is, she is a kidnapper, murderer and very troubled individual.  Leave the titles off and call it what it is!

The charges against her are monumental! 28 years old and life as she knows it is over! She is facing either a life sentence without the possibility of parole or the death penalty…. How could she do this and should society have been notified that she is mentally ill? Would us knowing her affliction rendered different results?

Let me say, my heart goes out to the family of this young girl, the small close knit community, the church family and the daughter who lost a friend at the hand of her mother. (heavy sigh…) Share your thoughts. Holla back!

God is so good! So did you go to church today? Did you communicate with God today? Did you read His word today? Holla back and tell me what God has done for you, what scripture resonated with your spirit today and anything else to bless us and give us spirit fuel for the week!

Seeking the best for Kingdom, Bishop Fonzer’s goal is to mentor ministers in their proper calling and send them out to build the Kingdom.  But everybody can’t preach!  Don’t Make Me Preach, I’m an Exhorter breaks it down and teaches us, we all have a place!  Ministry is in every pew, in every willing Christian, we just have to find our niche.  Don’t Make Me Preach, I’m an Exhorter challenges who we are and what we are called to do. 

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From Chapter 1: Don’t Make Me Preach; I’m An Exhorter
Congregations need to be taught about this indispensable ministry of exhortation and what it means to be an exhorter. Exhorters have long been misunderstood and undervalued. They have even misunderstood themselves.
In some circles, especially those churches that still have testimony services, there are almost always exhorters in the midst, using the gift God has given them. These saints are sometimes playfully and incorrectly referred to as “bootleg preachers” who have not accepted their calling. Some of them know they are not preachers; but unfortunately they don’t know what they are. They know only that they have a special calling and a fire in their bones; and they know that testimony service offers them a platform. Desiring to pursue a greater work for God, many of them chase after what they mistakenly feel are the greater gifts instead of understanding what a priceless gift they have in the gift of exhortation.

Because exhorters are so enthusiastic, have a wonderful gift of communication, and are well received, many pastors have mistaken them for preachers. When these pastors begin using them in a preacher’s role, they quickly understand their mistake. The same person who was so dynamic while clenching a pew or even venturing down the aisle a bit, sounds inept and even afraid in the pulpit. “What happened to them?” people ask. “Maybe it’s just stage fright” they add, for lack of a better answer.
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The truth is that the pulpit is quite full of males in clergy collars and robes who are exhorters and not preachers. And because they are charismatic—and male—some of them are in the senior pastorate just because they are great at inspiring people to follow them.

What an injustice to us it is when we misidentify gifts and mislabel the bearers of gifts. It is no secret. There are apostles who mistakenly serve as pastors, teachers who serve as evangelists and prophets who serve in the wrong capacities as well. Adding to the chaos, certain spiritual gifts and offices are “back-staged” or minimized. If these gifts were put in their right place, they would bring much benefit to the Body—the true benefit that Christ intended.

To get to know Bishop J. Louis Fonzer and purchase Don’t Make Me Preach, I’m an Exhorter or any of his other soul stirring books of guidance for Kingdom building visit: www.dontmakemepreach.com.