Sunday’s Rhema

Since today was 5th Sunday, I decided to go and visit one of the popular churches here in the area of the United States that I live in. I’ve learned in my Christian walk to be able to listen to the Word of God from MEN of God even if the MAN that is delivering the message does not believe exactly what I believe. Now, I do not promote church hoping, as you need to be a member of a local assembly that teaches the whole truth of God as was taught by the Apostles. No matter what the title is on the outside, the Acts 2:38 message needs to be taught so that when you do decide to visit other churches, you will be able to EAT THE MEAT and SPIT OUT THE BONES! Here is what I learned today in church.

Guest Speaker: Pastor Larry Covington of Burlington, NC

Sermon:The Testimony Of A Giver

Scripture Acts 3:1-7

As a believer, your highest motive that you need to pursue is to be a blessing. In order to be a blessing, you must put yourself in the position to be used by God.

1. People who are doing the right things can be used by God. As in our Scripture text, Peter and the apostoles were on there way to the synagogue to pray. YOU MUST HAVE A PRAYER LIFE! We will be a better person if we spent more time praying. The disciples were involved in companionship with one another. You must also learn to invite people to church with you. The disciples were sensitive to the needs of others. As in the scripture, they disciples showed sensitivity to the beggar at the temple gates who was crippled.

2. God uses people who are willing to be interrupted for His Name sake. As in our scripture, the disciples were interrupted right before they went in to the synagogue to pray because the man was begging. Jesus had a track record of being interrupted. He literally came down from heaven and wrapped Himself in flesh just to interrupt the plans of the enemy in order to give us eternal life. Don’t be so consumed with your occupation that you cant be interrupted for His Name sake.

3. People who allow themselves to be used by God are people who will pay attention to peoples needs as Peter who paid attention to the needs of the beggar. Its more of a blessing to give then to receive. Givers are people who give based on what they have received and what they have. Since Peter did not have SILVER nor GOLD, the only thing they could offer this man was what they had, and that was complete healing in Jesus Name!

God gave you GRACE, MERCY, LOVE, HEALING and JOY. Take the time today to offer that back to the people in your church and community who need it. As the apostles did to the man who was at the Gate called Beautiful.

Claude R. Alexander Jr of Charlotte NC is the pastor of “The Park Ministries”

Noose Found Hanging in New York Police Station

It was my plans to leave all secular news off this blog and keep it 100% religious, but I could not help but write my comments on the sporadic incidents that are springing up in the United States of America concerning RACE and NOOSES!

It is a shame before God and Man that people have not learned from the past, to embrace the present, and to look forward to a brighter future. Instead, people would prefer to relish in the things of old in hopes of making one self more inferior then then next. It is therefore my job to set the record straight using the bible as the final authority over all.

Mankind does not have the right to decide whether a person gets to live or die according to scripture. (Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill) I feel I have a divine mandate to let the whole world know that violence towards any particular race will not solve anything at all. (Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.) Christ does not look upon us according to our skin completion. (Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.)

There is only ONE VALID HANGING in history and this HANGING was to give us all eternal life in Jesus Our Lord! Therefore embrace the One true hanging, that is, the HANGING OF THE LORD JESUS ON THE CROSS for your sin’s and you WILL have LIFE EVERLASTING!

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — A noose was found dangling in the headquarters of a suburban police department that prides itself on its diversity, the police chief said. The noose was spotted in a locker room Friday morning, said Chief Joseph Wing, who called in Nassau County police to help investigate what he called a “horrific and intolerable” incident with racist overtones. Nooses are reviled by many as symbols of lynchings in the Old South. About half of Hempstead’s 107 police officers are minorities, most of them black, said Wing, who is of Asian and European descent. The department recently displayed a banner noting its participation in a countywide effort to recruit minorities and women as police officers. “It’s astonishing to hear something like this is happening in Nassau County in 2007, especially in Hempstead Village,” said John Nedd, president of the Nassau County Guardian Association, a black police officers’ group. Corey Pegues, a New York City police captain and the president of the Long Island chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, said members believed the noose may have been directed at a high-ranking Hempstead police official who is black.

Choir Ministry: A Song To Live By

The purpose of the choir is to help bring a sense of celebration to the worship of our God, to prompt the congregation in singing praise to God, and to support those in the congregation in their efforts to become creative worshipers, true worshipers who worship God in spirit and in truth. Each choir member should sense a personal ministry through his or her musical participation and service as a worship leader. The Holy Spirit uses the choir to teach, inspire, and convict. The deepest spiritual needs of people can be reached through music and the ministry of the choir.

Bynum, granted restraining order, seeks financial support

NOW SHE WANTS MONEY? THIS HAS TO STOP! You had a public wedding that was played over and over again on TBN yet you want to try to divorce your husband and list everything as PRIVATE! STOP IT! 

Well Saints, Enjoy your weekend! See you Monday. I gotta take this one straight to the altar (Move out the way Missionaries, I need to testify and make the devil out to be the liar he is. In the words of Bishop Bonner, DAMNED WOMEN PREACHERS(Opppsss did I say that ha ha ha ha……..the Bishop said it not me lol…Oh gawd pray for me…just one of those moods) 

By D. AILEEN DODD
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/28/07

National evangelist Juanita Bynum has filed for divorce in Gwinnett County and has been granted a restraining order as the proceedings move forward.

The petition for divorce and the mutual restraining order was received by the Gwinnett County Superior Court Thursday afternoon.

Bynum, who separated from her estranged husband Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III in June, is seeking a divorce based on the argument that her marriage has been “irretrievably broken,” and that she is a victim of “cruel treatment.”

The wealthy author-singer is also asking the court for possible financial support “that the court may deem equitable or appropriate.”

Bynum, 48, told police in August that Weeks beat, choked and stomped her to the ground in the parking lot of an Atlanta hotel. Weeks, also a pastor, has denied the alleged abuse.

He was charged with felony aggravated assault, felony terroristic threats and two counts of simple battery in connection with the alleged attack.

The divorce petition in Gwinnett mirrors a petition Bynum had filed earlier this month in Ware County. That petition was dismissed because it was filed in the wrong jurisdiction. Lawyers for Weeks, 40, said the case had to move north to Gwinnett because that’s where Weeks resides. The couple have a $2.5 million home at a Duluth country club.

Attorneys for Weeks said Friday they will respond to the divorce petition, but said they question Bynum’s motives for her recent media appearances. In recent weeks Bynum has appeared on the front page of The New York Times and has been a guest on Christian radio and Good Morning America.

Bynum, who has declared herself the “face of domestic violence,” has said she plans to launch a ministry to help women who suffer partner abuse.

“She thinks she is going to get some benefit by going public with this,” said Randy Kessler, Weeks’ attorney. “It is not necessary for divorce purposes. We are going to take the high road.”

Bynum’s attorney Karla Walker also sought a restraining order in the divorce petition.

The protection order prohibits both Bynum and Weeks from “any act that injures, maltreats … intimidates or harasses” each other. It also prevents the couple from retaliating against each other by disconnecting the utilities or canceling insurance policies.

Bynum, who uses the married name Bynum-Weeks, is asking the court that her last name be restored to Bynum, which she uses for professional purposes on occasion.

Bynum and Weeks married in an elaborate ceremony in 2002. They moved to metro Atlanta in 2006 to start Global Destiny Church in Duluth.

Religion and Violence e-Learning

In the day in age that we live in, it is very important for us to recognize that in the “church world” there are a lot of things that are going un-answered, un-noticed, basically swept under the rug and our pastors are not doing a great job in dealing with the issues at hand. We are told to jump up 3 times and do a split, turn to your neighbor and shake there hand like your going to shake it off, but there are hurting people who walk into church wanting to find a true REFUGE when all they get is a whole lot of emotional sensationalism. In particular there is a lot of abuse going on in peoples households both physically and mental. People are backsliding right before our very eyes and we don’t even do anything about it except to say “hold on” “just pray” “God will fix it”.

The time is now to stop all the cliches! These families are dealing with life and death situations at hand. Drug abuse, molestations, sexual immorality, pornography, rape, incest, and the like and all we can offer them is a DANCE and SHOUT and a $50 offering line? Say it isn’t so! Your church is called Deliverance Tabernacle, yet everyone is bound! Your pastor has a masters of divinity degree but only 10% of your congregation comes to Sunday School while the other 90% are still trying to figure out how many books are in the bible. I find the problem is that we are not trained to handle these situations and we need to educate ourselves (using the Word of God as our final authority) when it comes to these issues.

There is a brand new website that just came out that I’d like to promote called http://www.theraveproject.com ”THE RAVE PROJECT”! It is a faith based site that we all (pastors, teachers, missionaries etc etc) can use to get well equipped for dealing with these types of problems in our church. It is my sole desire yes, to educate the body of Christ, not just in the “latest church happenings” but also the latest tools one can use to battle violence and abuse that goes on in our homes. Take the time to read the website. I am sure you will find it most educational. And as always, feel free to post your comments and views on the problems at hand. Ask yourself this question. When will the CHURCH be THE CHURCH?

Funeral Director Won’t Face Charges After Shooting Intruder

UNION, S.C. — Authorities say a 37-year-old funeral director in Union will not face charges for shooting an intruder. Scott Lewis says he was embalming a body early Wednesday morning when someone broke into Lewis Funeral Home, threatened to kill him and demanded money. Lewis says he told the man he had cash in his van and when the two went out to the vehicle, he pulled his gun out of a bag and shot the would-be robber.Authorities say 26-year-old Tracey Bishop is at an Upstate hospital recovering from a gunshot to his left arm. Deputies say he will be charged with second-degree burglary and attempted armed robbery when he is released.

WHAT!!!!!!!!!! Oh Lord! Please don’t ruin the funeral. Lord knows I love a good homegoing. So you mean to tell me you cant even take your loved one to be embalmed without someone coming in and threatening to kill the funeral director. THE POPE OF PENTECOST IS NOT PLEASED!!!!!!!!! Lord have mercy! Dont have me take off of work and go on yet ANOTHER funeral leave for this person. JESUS!!!!!!!!!

Choir Music “MUST HAVES” For Fall 2007

Live at Foxwoods
James Hall and Worship & Praise

Thank you Jesus! Its about time James Hall and Worship and Praise come back onto the scene. I truly look forward to teaching all of those “gothic” gospel tunes with full vibrato and words only the song writer will ever know (cause God knows I have no clue what they are saying in there single, but it sounds good). Be on the look out for that 10/2 and go to there myspace page to listen to there single http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=118125624 “THAT SHALL HE REAP” Word to the wise, make sure you hire a good organist and someone who knows the words when you try to teach this song to your church choir (lol).

7th Episode: Live in Toronto
Ricky Dillard & New Generation

Ricky Dillard and New G are HOTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!! Its almost like Christmas, yet another choir album hitting the charts 10/2. All praise goes to God for this one because without a doubt, Ricky is a heavy hitter. Can we say GRAMMY and STELLAR next year. Check out there myspace page for there singles http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=75032576 Full Vibrato! Clear Tone! Us choir directors are going to have a field day this fall (although the song sounds like “NO ONE LIKE JESUS, NO ONE LIKE HIM which was off of one of those James Hall albums, but hey, who cares, I’m just glad for yet another choir album.

Stronger
Myron Butler & Levi

Have yall heard Myron Butlers new CD. Came out in August. That hotttt song STRONGER is off the chain, and I pray the rest of the CD is the same. According to sources, they say its pretty similar to his first album, but hey, I like them, so you be the judge.  http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=37101423

Exalted
Youthful Praise

Finally, YOUTHFUL PRAISE new album set to be released 10/23. I have heard there single and it had a studio sound to it, but yet that Brooklyn “ma-shun-da” feel to it. Prayerfully the entire CD will not sound like it was made it a studio. I need VIBRATO! I need SCREAMING! I need a NEW CHOIR ROBE is what I need (lol) Check out http://www.youthfulpraise.org/ to hear there latest single “We Worship You”.

Bishop G.E. Patterson Homegoing (The Un-Edited Version).

I’ve finally been able to sit down and write to you the Saints of the Most High God with details about the homegoing of Bishop G.E. Patterson. Over the years, I’ve brought you reports on all types of funerals from saints to sinners. I’ve given you reports on Holy Convocations, my travels throughout the world, legendary church services, personal testimonies of myself and my family, and now, a full un-edited version of the homegoing of Bishop GE Patterson. I say un-edited because the cameras edited out plenty of things “they” did not want you to see. With that in mind, grab a seat, relax and enjoy once again, the Gospel according to THE POPE OF PENTECOST! You can always count on me!!!!!! Forgive me for any mis-spellings as spell checker does not always catch everything and I am typing this out in haste.Thursday night which was really Friday morning I and delegates from the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ and Bibleway World Wide met in Columbia SC to start our pilgrimage to Memphis, Mecca of the COGIC Headquarters. With plenty of gas, dvd’s, gospel music and great conversation we started our way out west. You could feel the excitement in the air. As a side bar, for those of you who ever drive out to Memphis (for what ever reason) the best way to get there would be to go through Atlanta GA, Birmingham AL, Mississippi and finally come out in Memphis. We arrived at our hotel too early so we decided to take a trial run to Temple of Deliverance and get acquainted with the City roads as we knew later on we would have no time for error.When I tell you, Temple of Deliverance is one GRAND OLE CATHEDRAL in the heart of the ghetto. We tried to ignore the bums on the street, the projects/slummy housing conditions with clothes lines hanging from window to window, but we could not help but notice how one could build such a huge church and NOT clean up the surrounding neighborhood. Picture “skid row” with a magnificent worship facility in the middle of it. We were sadly disappointed to say the least (and pretty frightened). Never the less, we noticed that there were lots of Bishops, Pastors and Evangelist who were already in there clerical attire walking back and forth having secret meetings in the different fellowship halls of the church grounds. What were they talking about? Who knows. Perhaps who will be the next Presider of the COGIC, others thought they were discussing final preparations for the funeral. I personally believe it was a combination of both. Since we are Apostolic and have never been on the grounds of the Headquarters of the COGIC we immediately took our cameras out and began taking pictures of any and everything we could see. We were able to go to Mason Temple which was about 5 minutes from Temple of Deliverance but they would not let us in. Why? Once again, secret meetings that only bishops could attend. We began to joke and say “white smoke means we have a new pope and black smoke means we still don’t have a new pope” lol (well, that’s the way at least the catholics choose there new leader once there old leader dies).After a few pictures and a bite to eat, we finally were able to check into our hotel to begin getting dressed for the Friday Night Jurisdictional Memorial. Service starts at 7pm and we were already dressed and lined up back at the church by 3:00pm for the viewing. The rule was, you were to view the body then walk out the church and line up again to get back into the church for the 7pm service. Robes, Clergy Attire, Nuns Uniforms were the norm for the entire weekend. It appears everyone in the COGIC has some type of calling on there lives but don’t be fooled by the clerical attire, these people are just as nutts as a baptist person who speaks in tongues. There was NO ORDER what so ever when it came to the line up (with the exception of the viewing of the body line). Bishop Patterson looked extremely well in the casket. The pictures that I took were on the low because you dare not snap your camera for fear some wanna be preacher scold you for bringing your camera into the HOLY SANCTUARY so the pics from the inside of the church don’t look that well I apologize. Picture this, 50+ ushers on the inside with hands extended toward the body and 0 ushers on the outside for crowd control. This is were it gets kinda crazy. Temple of Deliverance only holds about 5,000 people with I guess 200+ seats in the choir stand for those lucky enough to sing that night. You have over 200 limos outside and 10,000 plus people waiting on the outside trying to get a seat for the evening service (of which 100 plus people were either in wheel chairs or crutches or had some type of physical ailment) and 0 ushers outside for crowd control. YOU DO THE MATH! By 4pm people were acting a plum fool trying to push there way back into the church. Stand in line? THERE IS NO LINE! Just people cramming at doors pushing back and forth and crying wanting to make sure they get a seat. And all the ushers on the inside could do was stand there. NO help what so ever. 5pm comes and people are now making there own lines while consistently being mis-informed by people on the inside as to how to line up. Everyone started claiming they were a Bishop, A Missionary, A Supervisor, A Nun, A Priest, A Monk, whatever title you could come up with, people claimed it THAT NIGHT! WHY? Because they wanted to get one of the best seats in the house. The Old Temple Of Deliverance and Mason Temple as well as the Fellowship Hall were already filled to capacity. We had no choice but to stand there and pray we get in. One sister started crying saying “Bishop would not want all this chaos, Bishop would not be pleased, PLEASE LET US IN!” She was not even saved (and had her pants on…yeah I said it…) But hey, other people showed up in shorts and pajama bottoms with tank tops and they all got in!!!! Horrendous! Other people were saying “I am in a wheel chair, let me in” Missionary so and so is out here, she needs a seat, open the door!!!!!! Finally they opened the door about 1.5 hours before the Friday night service began. Amazingly my group got split up but were able to re-unite on the inside of the church and we all had wonderful seats in the lower part of the balcony. We could see everything. During the service, we danced, we cried, we spoke in tongues, we hollered, it was your typical Pentecostal Homegoing. The only problem we had once in the church was the fact that we were told 18 boxes of obituaries were stolen so we have no obituaries for Friday nights service. I don’t get it! You come from so far and cant even get an obituary. The saints almost rioted when they heard the news. If it was not for most people being filled with the Holy Ghost, I think folks would have started cursing and cutting folks! That’s how angry people were. The ushers were no help! I witnessed some ushers getting “jumped on” by parishioners demanding obituaries. It was sad. But you know how us Pentecostals are, the minute another dance broke out, everyone was HOLY AGAIN! LOLFriday night we got about 3 hours of sleep each as we were back on line at 6:00AM Saturday morning for the 10AM service. I was able to get some poor footage from my cell phone of the arrival of the body. It looked like there was going to be order and then when the doors opened only 1 hour prior to the funeral, everyone went to stampeding one more time. It was worse then Friday Night! Then the doors shut and signs were placed on the doors stating there was no more room in the church. Nuns, Bishops and choir members in there Holy Robes were all stuck outside with no way of getting in. It was a SHAME! Once again, people started crying begging to get in. I even witnessed a person take a $100 bill out of his pocket and tried to buy his way into the sanctuary! Huh??????? My group ended up splitting up. Those with Clergy Collars went one way and lay members went another way. I got into the church at around 11:00AM just in time to hear Timothy Wright sing “Jesus, Jesus Jesus”! Then a massive dance broke out. I had not danced all weekend and I just decided to take off running and dancing through the church just because I was so happy to get a seat amongst the elite clergy men. I shouted till I broke a good sweat then sat my happy butt down and fell asleep the rest of the service ha ha ha ha ha. People were snoring next to me, crying next to me, slobbering next to me. I woke up when the choir started singing again and Dorinda Clark was leading a song in her Holy White robe with a gawd awful weave (why do those Clark sisters never do there hair…..at least she had no earrings and make up on) as the rule for the choir was you could not wear any type of adornment except your robe. Needless to say, her white robe looked better then the other choir members robes.

All right I’m done! You can view all 3 funerals online right now if you want. I just wanted to give you a taste of what I experienced and boy was it worth it. Even though we were tired, all of us had to agree we were happy we were there to see history in the making. Never the less, dont come down to hard on the COOLJC, the grass is not always greener. COGIC deals with the same junk we deal with, they just know how to “dress up” there junk! I’ve learned this Christian race is a personal thing and that not one particular organization is better then the next. (Ahhhh, but the Acts 2:38 way is still right….don’t get it twisted!)

I hope my dissertation was fun and entertaining. Most of you I’ve known now for about 5 years now. Yall know how my mouth is. Yall know my beliefs. Yall know I tell it like it is when it comes to these legendary church services. Until the next homegoing or major convention (which ever comes first) GOD BLESS YA! (LOL)

Tonex’s Apology

THE POPE OF PENTECOST FORGIVES YOU AND RESTORES YOU TONEX! Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

The following is taken from his myspace…..“September 14, 2007 – Friday”THE NAKED TRUTH pt.3

Greetings & Salutations in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To our Presiding Bishop, Horace D. Smith To my own Bishop in California Henry Johnson and in the the Loving memory and honor of the Late Great Bishop R.W. Mc Murray, Bishop Charles L. Taylor and My Father District Elder A.C. Williams Sr. I would like to say Praise the Lord.

I am writing on this Myspace Page of my organization to say that due to the high volume of controversy around the world concerning my recent but distant decisions, I would like to submit my deepest regret for any shame that this may have caused my Bishops and or Body Members.

This was not meant to bring a reproach , but it was meant to bring closure to one of the darkest chapters of my life from whence I came out alive, thank God.

I would like to publically apologize for any action deed or word that may have caused breach, embarrassment, or shame to the legacy of our great organization P.A.W. and to any other Denominations that have done their best to support me even if they didn’t understand me.

I justify nothing, but I repent for anything that may have caused some to stumble. Indeed, I did tell the “Naked” truth but the bible also does state that “all things are lawful but not expedient.”

The world experienced my purging, my therapy session and the release of puss, vomit, anger, and rage that all humans have the propensity to demonstrate — I do not ask a pardon for the Sin, only for the anger and discouragement and resentment that came from years of misappropriated slander toward myself and my family.
In other words, things just honestly came to a head and busted.

To every Youth Pastor, to every parent and young person that I hurt or let down , I am truly and deeply remorsed if I caused you pain or embarrasment, please forgive me and restore me. My issue was public, so therefore I needed to publically ask for forgiveness. From your understanding of your own private stuggles I ask that you at least understand. I’m not asking any of you to agree, just forgive me….I’m truly sorry. However, I’m glad to report that since that song released in June of 2007 I have become a new creature.
I have never been so relieved and freed from my past and the future looks very bright ahead.

I’m am currently under the care and counsel of Bishop Norman Wagoner, and locally I’m am covered by District Elder Dwayne Shepherd of Greater Apostolic Faith Temple Church which is my Home church where I came from.

All of these things I submit humbly and respectfully and pray restoration with meekness. If a public rebuke is neccessary I’m willing to recieve it, but please know in my heart that I know Who Jesus really is. I still teach and preach the apostles’ doctrine accodring to Acts 2:38 and I’m a TOTALLY on fire for Jesus. My mission is clear; unify the body for the edification of the Kingdom. To reach the masses through mainstream media with creativity and a real flow of the unadulterated anointing.

Am I perfect ? no . Will I still make mistakes, most likely. But I am completely and totally striving for excellence through Jesus Christ Our Savior. Anyone that needs to respond feel free to hit me up at

www.myspace.com/theofficialtonex

Thank you all for reading this lengthy but imperative open apology.Sincerely
Anthony C. Williams II
P.K.A. Tonex

Juanita Bynum and The Star Jones Show & Good Morning America

Praise Him Saints:

I usually don’t wake up to watch Good Morning America but today I had to wake up and see what Juanita Bynum was talking about. Funny thing is that I had no clue she was on the Star Jones Show the other day. As we all know, it was a very quick broadcast and she really did not say much. I expected her to talk about domestic violence, I expected her to be extremly dramatic but instead it was a very calm interview about her now healing from the situation.

“I’m very conscious to keep my heart on schedule to heal properly,” Bynum said during a nationally-televised interview on ABC’s Good Morning America.

When GMA’s Robin Roberts asked Bynum about an abusive first marriage, and her seperation from her second husband, Thomas Weeks III, she said, “My first marriage is something that, he repented for what he did, and I made a vow that I would not talk about that situation because it was over 20 years ago.

“I think right now my focus lately has been on why have I allowed this kind of behavior for a second time,” she said. “I’m really focusing on my own healing rather than looking at the faults of the individuals because I can’t do anything about their actions; I can only do something about my own.” (By MIKE MORRIS The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

In my search on youtube, I found a clip from the Star Jones Show and want to open up the floor for your quick comments on this whole matter. All I can say is “COME OUT OF THOSE PANTS JUANITA BYNUM AND PUT THAT SKIRT ON AGAIN!” (I’ll never understand women who believe and preached against pants and make up and now in 2007 your wearing them, something is wrong with that picture. Its still Holiness or Hell!) But thats neither here nor there (yall know my position on women and pants and men in skirts). There are always 2 sides to every story. REMEMBER, Juanita was the one that stood before GOD and MAN stating she would never leave her husband on her wedding day.

The husband of evangelist Juanita Bynum held a press conference Friday at his Duluth Church to tell the world he is not an abuser of women.

Thomas W. Weeks, 40, also a preacher, said he felt compelled to speak his peace after his famous wife announced to the public recently that she was “the new face of domestic violence.”

Weeks, who faces felony charges for allegedly beating, choking and stomping his wife to the ground at a hotel parking lot on Aug. 21, said there are “two sides to every story.”

“I want to be clear in saying I do not condone in any way, shape or form violence of any kind towards women,” said Weeks in a conference room at Global Destiny Church of Duluth. “My role has always been to operate as a protector and not as an aggressor. I have walked away from many situations between the two of us, just like I walked away that night.”

Weeks said he and Bynum, 48, were trying to reconcile the night before the alleged attack. They separated in June.

“I was with my wife the entire night and felt that our love for each other was going to get us through these hard times,” Weeks said.

On the day of the alleged attack, Weeks said he went to the hotel restaurant because his wife needed help. Weeks said Bynum had banned him from using her likeness at his church in June when they separated. But on Aug. 21, Weeks said, Bynum asked to return to Global Destiny Church to raise money for her mentorship classes.

“She shared her urgency that we meet that night because she needed to solidify the location to make her commercials,” he said.

Bynum has said she was beaten that night and that she had a stormy relationship with Weeks that included pushing and shoving. She filed for divorce on Monday, claiming “cruel treatment” as the grounds.

Weeks said the facts of the criminal case will come out at the appropriate time. He said he still wants to avoid a divorce.

“In the last five years, I have always loved my wife and have been nothing but faithful to her,” he said. “I understand that my silence to date has given me the perception of guilt, but understand that it was because my belief in the sacredness of marriage and hopes of true and full reconciliaiton as to why I kept silent.” (By D. AILEEN DODD The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

T.D. Jakes and Dr. Phil Tag Team

I want to open up a discussion with you to see your thoughts on TD. Jakes (which you know is a Oneness Pastor) going on Dr. Phil today and literally tag teaming with him  in order to promote his new “self help / inspirational” book (REPOSITION YOURSELF: LIVING LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS). What are your thoughts of the clergy (of whom already have plenty of TV air time, church conferences and the like, going on a secular show such as Dr. Phil and attempting to straighten people out that are going through divorce, don’t want to work, and harbor unforgiveness in there hearts for certain events that might have taken place in there life and NOT being allowed per say to actually introduce Christ to these individuals who obviously are not saved.

Here is some feedback from personal friends of mine who had something to say about this issue:

Comment 1

To be honest, I’m not exactly sure what I think of
this. One side of me says that money talks (and it
talks loud). The other side says that while Jakes
probably won’t be able to introduce these folks to
Christ while actually on the air, he may be able to do
so at some other point in the show that isn’t aired.

 Comment 2

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  It is true that many people need emotional or psychological help that goes farther than salvation, but complete healing cannot be achieved without salvation being somewhere in the equation.  To really form an opinion about this I would have to see the show, or one of the shows, but if it is anything like what I am imagining, then Jakes’ actions might be considered compromising.  Unless he plans to maintain relationships with the people he talks to on the show and introduce them to Jesus at another time that is not aired on television, then he is on the show as an ambassador of T.D. Jakes, not an ambassador of Christ.  People try to disguise this as “being wise to win souls”, but in all of Jesus’ and the disciples’ wise strategies they never left out the message of salvation or the gospel. 

I wonder if he agreed by verbal or written contract not to proselytize or evangelize during taped shows.  Isn’t this reminiscent of singers who take Jesus out of their music in order to be marketed as “inspirational”, not Christian or gospel?  Are they choosing money over soul-winning?  Or are they just being more open in deciding where their career will take them?  Why can’t Jakes be a preacher and inspirational speaker and life coach?  I think he can, as long as he remembers that above all of these he is saved.  And the same goes for all of us.  Whether at work, at the gym, in school, wherever…our identity as a Christian should never be a contract negotiable item, to be included or excluded depending on the circumstance.  Just like I can never take off my race or gender, I can never take off my faith.  We belong to God, and as his children we are required to win more people to be his body.  This includes letting people know that in order to solve their problems they may indeed need therapy or counseling, but the ultimate answer is always Jesus.

 

FURTHERMORE…lol… Like you said, Jakes and other preachers like him already have TV shows, church conferences, books, etc.  I hate to say it, but appearances on secular TV shows like Dr. Phil are just another way to pad their pockets.  As much money as Jakes charges, Dr. Phil and others in the secular world are probably the only ones who can afford him! lol

Comment 3

Jakes needs to sit his tail DOWN! hasn’t he made enuff $ off of “Women Thou Art the Loosed”, the sermon, the conference, the movie and the cookbook?!!!!

Comment 4

Well let me first say that I truly respect TD Jakes and the contributions that he has made to the church and the community.  But spiritually speaking, I beleive that he has allowed too much too filter in to the church.  I understand that we as the church should focus on love.  In the words of Bishop Groover, “Love the ‘hell’ out of them. Ths is true, but I believe the TD Jakes has taken it to a new level.  He teaches about progressiveness and striving for greatness, but he hardly ever talks about the soul.  You have thousands of people who come to his church Sunday after Sunday that leave “inspired”, but that’s all they are–inspired.  You have thousands of members who are church-goers, but not are not saved and professing holiness.  He never talks about needing the Holy Ghost.  And that’s what I have a problem with.  See, it’s okay to leave the building inspired, but when you go through the week, you are going to need something greater than you to keep you.  And this is what is going on.  He has millions of followers, but hardly anyone is getting saved. Or if they’re ”saved”, they are not set apart. But as far as him teaming up with Dr. Phil, to be honest, to don’t know how to feel about that.  One can argue that if he is supposedly a man of God, he wouldn’t even be associated with the show.  His answers should only be ‘take it to Jesus’.  But on the other hand, it can be viewed as an opportunity for Pastor Jakes to show the love of Christ in his words of wisdom.  Even though on air, he would not be able to mention Christ, being that people know he is a “man of God” already, that is not one thing that he would have to prove to anyone.  I believe that even though Dr. Phil is a licensed psyocotherapist, TD Jakes can offer better counsel.  For the word of God tells us that the annointing will teach us all things. And with the annointing of God being over Pastor Jakes’ life, God can give him a revelation or a word that could only be from Him in order to be a help in someone else’s life. Look at Esther.  In the the entire book, not one time does it mention God’s name, but she manages to be viewed as one of the most powerful and influential women recorded in the Bible.  Because of her circumstance and surroundings, in order to protect her country, she was not able to mention the name of God freely.  But in her attitude and demeanor, it clearly exemplified God’s hand over her life.But the best example is Solomon.  Because God annointed Solomon with the gift of wisdom, he was able to offer wise counsel on many occasions without even mentioning spirituality.  Even when looking at Proverbs, a good portion of the book does not even mention God.  There are just basic principles of life that we should practice. See, what the world do is go ahead and practice the principles of life, in order to be succesful and they just leave out the spirituality. And what the church do is leave out the principles and focus on the spirituality.  But the reality of the situation is that we need both.  In God’s word, it clearly shows that this is true.  We need balanced lives.

So in writing this response to you, I guess that I can come to the conclusion that I feel that it would be a good thing if Pastor Jakes and Dr. Phil join together.  I believe that through this tag team, it can still be a blessing.

WHAT! Is This Another Ploy?

Well Praise Him!

Just when you thought things were simmering down, here comes another ploy to bring yet more shame on the Christian race. Why does Juanita Bynum feel she needs to go on Good Morning America tomorrow 9/26/2007?????? Tune in and we will ALL find out. If your at work when it airs, you’ll be able to see it online at http://abcnews.go.com/gma

As the Pope of Pentecost, I promise to bring you the latest and greatest news concerning the church world like only I can. From funerals to public beat downs, be on the look out for my new up and coming blog http://thepopeofpentecost.wordpress.com/ coming soon.

P.S. Thanks for all the responses concerning your thoughts about Bishop T.D. Jakes being on Dr. Phil the other day. And now we wait. 

–
….and since Jesus Christ is the Almighty God, we cannot be defeated!
-THE POPE OF PENTECOST-