Messages of 2015...
12/31/2015 - I long for with all of my heart a church like the church of old…a church filled to the brim and overflowing with the Holy Spirit. A church where the gifts of the Holy Spirit are at work continuously, the things that last forever being faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13) are abundant, and where God is so stirred by the body of Christ that He can’t bear to be idle. A church that unabashedly lifts up the name and message of Jesus; living it so profoundly, that it can’t be ignored or overlooked.
These last several months have taught me that the hearts of men have been made callus by this dark and gritty world. That the evil and distractions surrounding us are so deafening that we hardly hear the voice of our Lord any longer, and that our worship and lifestyles have become so lukewarm that God is rarely stirred into action.
I don’t know how, or when, or where, but I believe this coming year will be the turning point for the body of Christ. A revival that hasn’t been seen or felt since the beginning of the church that professed the name and message of Jesus; an awakening that will prepare and make spotless the bride of Christ. All efforts of the www.chooseJesus.today ministry and 1st Campaign will be focused on this revival. I pray with all of my heart, faith, and love that God use this ministry and all those who love God as a mighty tool for ushering in this great revival of 2016. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!
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12/8/2015 - This post was intended for yesterday, but after a busy day at work and 7th celebration dinner with my family, I failed to do so. For all who participated in the 7th celebration yesterday, may glory and honor be to God and His son, Jesus! As planned, all 1st Campaign item purchase refunds have been sent out, so bracelet and sticker counts now represent 1st Campaign items distributed freely. Please let friends and family know about the 1st Campaign item request form on the "Free" page so they can participate with us in lifting up the name of Jesus and message of God, “choose Jesus today”! Thousands of 1st Campaign items are currently in stock and ready to be sent out freely to anyone who requests them!
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12/5/2015 - 1st Campaign update > 2,111 Bracelets, 1,019 Stickers. With the potential of each 1st Campaign item in circulation being read or recognized an average of 10 times a day, the name of Jesus and message of God, “choose Jesus today”, could be seen 31,300 times daily!
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12/2/2015 - By two people nearest to my heart, I have been told “this ministry has made you look like a fool” by one and it has been completely rejected by the other. I hold no resentment towards either whom I love dearly, and I am so grateful to God for this opportunity to spread the name of Jesus and messages of God. Though these first three months since the ministry’s creation have felt fruitless and been filled with tests of my faith, God has steered me towards this scripture today in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” (NLT)
Like a whisper in my heart, God has also let me know that any article blessed by the Holy Spirit cannot be bought or sold by men for their benefit. Even though profit was never a goal of this ministry but instead intended as a means of distribution of 1st Campaign items, the purchasing aspect of these items must be removed entirely due to the message I received on 10/17 (and later posted on 10/22). To that end, over the next five days leading up to the three month anniversary of the ministry which coincides with the third 7th celebration, I will be refunding all money received from 1st Campaign item purchases. “Like a fool”, I declare today that this ministry will give away freely the 100 million items related to the 1st Campaign. I don’t pretend to know how or why God does the things He does, but I do have steadfast faith that the purpose of this ministry can and will be fulfilled through His action and my listening to His direction.
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11/18/2015 - How have Christians become so divided in our efforts and worship? How have we benefited God’s plans or brought glory to Jesus Christ through our division? Let all who take part in the 1st Campaign realize that there is strength in unification as one body of Christ, and that through this unification we can lift the name of Jesus vastly higher than we ever could apart!
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11/13/2015 - The fourth commandment may be the most commonly ignored commandment (by those who love God) of the ten commandments. Saturday has been declared a holy day of rest by God, and may those who choose to observe it with reverence by not working, selling, or buying (which promotes the work of others) bring great honor and glory to God while not condemning those who do not as stated in Colossians 2:16, “So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.” (NLT) I realize many Christians will struggle with this commandment due to work schedules that we sometimes cannot control, but as much as we are able, let us please God by keeping this commandment. God announced in Exodus 20:8-11, “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” (NLT) Again in Isaiah 58:13-14, “Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. Then the lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (NLT) May there be peace and understanding through the Holy Spirit concerning this holy day and the ways in which we can please God, in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!
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11/7/2015 - 1st Campaign update > 2,111 Bracelets, 1,019 Stickers. With the potential of each 1st Campaign item in circulation being read or recognized an average of 10 times a day, the name of Jesus and message of God, “choose Jesus today”, could be seen 31,300 times daily!
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11/5/2015 - How far have we come from following a commandment announced by God even before not to murder, commit adultery, or steal and only after three others concerning Himself? Shouldn’t we rejoice and give thanks for a day of rest ordained by God instead of turning a blind eye and carrying on life as usual on a day called holy by God? Exodus 20:8-11, “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” (NLT) We try to reason why this commandment shouldn’t apply to us because it interferes with our own interests, but have we done the same with the commandments not to murder, commit adultery, or steal? Jesus states in Matthew 5:17-19, "Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven." (NLT)
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11/4/2015 - To really know the condition of our faith, might we consider this encounter between Jesus and the Apostle Thomas in John 20:26-29, “Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. ’Peace be with you,’ he said. Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!’ ‘My Lord and my God!’ Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, ‘You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." (NLT) Must we see miracles, healings, or even Jesus himself for our faith to be made firm, or will our faith be firm and only made stronger by seeing such things?
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10/31/2015 - 1st Campaign update > 2,111 Bracelets, 1,019 Stickers. With the potential of each 1st Campaign item in circulation being read or recognized an average of 10 times a day, the name of Jesus and message of God, “choose Jesus today”, could be seen 31,300 times daily!
1000 church gifts of introduction, 100 letters to individuals of introduction, and 1 bracelet blessed by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of bringing glory to God and His son, Jesus, through healing have been sent out in this month of October. I believe I have completed all plains laid out before me by God for presenting this ministry and 1st Campaign to the world, and now I will wait patiently with steadfast faith for God to move. Thank you for all prayers and support, and may peace be with you brothers and sisters in Christ.
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10/30/2015 - Many questions still loom around this ministry for people that find it, so I post this question from a pastor (with no disrespect) along with my reply in hopes of further clarifying this ministry.
Question:
Before promoting this in our church, I would like to know more about who you are. I visited your web site but found no church affiliation or statement of beliefs. Your message in the box says that you heard directly from God, but you didn't put your name on anything.
Please don't give me goblty goop about not taking any credit for yourself. If I can't know who you are, what you believe, or what organization you represent, I will not promote this in our church.
Response:
To know more about me you simply need to read the “About” page of the ministry site. I state my name, occupation, basic information about my family, and even the general area in which I live. On that same page it plainly states this ministry was not created or managed by any organization or specific church. This is a God led ministry whose care has been placed solely in my hands. I whole-heartedly stand by my statement in both the message you received and also all statements on this ministry site concerning the direction God has given me in the creation of and purpose for this ministry.
While I attend a non-denominational church regularly and have for many years, you will not find denomination affiliation mentioned anywhere on this site now or ever. Man-created division of the church (believers in Jesus Christ and his message) only serves to weaken the body of Christ and not strengthen it, and this separation has never been part of God’s design or desire, so I will not promote it. Just so that you are aware, the 1000 churches across the U.S. that received that same gift of introduction were not specific denominations, but many different churches/denominations.
As for what I believe, you simply need to pick up a Holy Bible. I have plainly stated on the “Salvation” page seven pieces of scripture that provide a summation of my beliefs and the path to salvation through Jesus Christ. Why should I list out “what I believe” when I can simply tell someone the word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their heart?
If you have any other specific questions I will gladly answer them, but if it is worldly credentials you seek, then I have no better credentials than the fisherman Jesus called on. Nothing is hidden in this ministry and I hope you take the time to read the entire ministry site accompanied by prayer and wisdom from God before deciding for or against this ministry.
Peace be with you…
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10/22/2015 - I post this message today with a heavy heart, for all last week I felt like God was telling me that His plans for bringing legitimacy to and placing His mark on this ministry would be revealed last Saturday, October 17th. To honor Him and in anticipation and excitement for this expected revelation, I fasted the first 23 hours of each day for the 5 days leading up to and ending on the 17th. On the morning of the 17th, before I could even get out of bed, a quiet voice almost like a whisper spoke to my spirit. The voice simply paraphrased this scripture from Acts 19:11-12, “God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.” (NLT) I immediately brushed this quiet message aside, and said to myself “That would be amazing, but I think God must have something much bigger to show me and the world today! Some type of miraculous sign that no one can deny!” For the rest of the day I waited in full anticipation of something miraculous happening…but nothing. I thought again on Sunday, the 18th, maybe this is the day…but no miraculous sign. By Monday my faith felt weakened, and I complained to God foolishly as if He had abandoned me, because I had been so sure He was going to reveal SOMETHING.
Probably not a day has gone by since the 17th that I haven’t had a quiet reminder in my spirit of that same piece of scripture (Acts 19:11-12). I believe God has even called to my attention the words of Jesus from Matthew 16:4, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” (NLT) I realize now that only my stubborn and fearful heart is in the way of God’s plans, and I now give you this message as it was given to me. I realize that many will scoff at and mock this message and ministry, but I step out in faith so that all of God’s plans and purposes for this ministry can be fully achieved. May the Holy Spirit open the hearts and minds of all who receive this message, Acts 2:17-21, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy. And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved.” (NLT)
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10/21/2015 - How many times has God’s voice been drowned out by distractions in our lives? I once thought the following scripture was only a test for the man seeking eternal life to see if he loved worldly possessions more than God. Jesus said to him in Luke 18:22, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (NLT) Might it have been to remove the distractions from his life so that he could fully embrace his relationship with God? How much more could God speak to us if we simply laid down our phones, turned off our televisions, and gave Him time each day to speak to us uninterrupted?
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10/20/2015 - How many times have we said or heard, “I just want my kids to have more than I did growing up”? We buy material things for our kids, encourage them in every hobby and sport available, and constantly take them here and there so that they will miss nothing. All the while, we ourselves distract them from the most important thing in life, a relationship with God. Then we wonder why they grow up without knowledge of, a passion for, or even a desire to please God. We must shed this worldly way of thinking and realize that anything not benefiting our relationship with God is merely a distraction from that relationship. Satan, the great deceiver, will cleverly use possessions, entertainment, our interests, and all worldly things to draw our eyes off of God and lead us into a weak, stagnate, and unfruitful relationship with God.
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10/17/2015 - 1st Campaign update > 2,080 Bracelets, 1,019 Stickers. With the potential of each 1st Campaign item in circulation being read or recognized an average of 10 times a day, the name of Jesus and message of God, “choose Jesus today”, could be seen 30,990 times daily!
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10/14/2015 - If anything about this ministry is displeasing to or misrepresenting the true intention of God, I pray wholeheartedly that God Himself trample it beneath His feet! However if God’s hand truly is on this ministry may He lift it up Himself, not for the glory of the ministry, but for the glory of God and His son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray this prayer with all of my heart, spirit, faith, and love. AMEN!
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10/13/2015 - How many people wander aimlessly in search of answers and wisdom in this world when the book of life sits on a shelf in their house collecting dust? True wisdom comes from our Father in heaven, and He will make all things clear for those who read His word and pray for understanding.
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10/10/2015 - 1st Campaign update > 2,064 Bracelets, 1,019 Stickers. With the potential of each 1st Campaign item in circulation being read or recognized an average of 10 times a day, the name of Jesus and message of God, “choose Jesus today”, could be seen 30,830 times daily! Not much change since last week on the 1st Campaign counts, but with a patient and steadfast faith, I will wait on our Father in heaven to rally all those who belong to Him.
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10/8/2015 - A comforting piece of scripture for all who love God and seek His will from Psalms 37:23-24, “The lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the lord holds them by the hand.” (NLT)
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10/5/2015 - I can't help but be excited to see what God does with this new ministry and 1st Campaign, because God's plans are always so much greater than what we could hope for or even imagine!
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10/3/2015 - 1st Campaign update > 2,063 Bracelets, 1,019 Stickers. With the potential of each 1st Campaign item in circulation being read or recognized an average of 10 times a day, the name of Jesus and message of God, “choose Jesus today”, could be seen 30,820 times daily! The seeds of the 1st Campaign launch have been cast far and wide, so may the Holy Spirit now rain down on the recipient of each one opening their heart and mind to this God led effort, in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!
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10/1/2015 - My basement may have looked like a warehouse for the last few weeks, but 800 church gifts made it to the post office today for the 1st Campaign launch with the remaining 200 going out tomorrow. In several weeks, 20 churches in each of the 50 states will be aware of this new God led ministry and the 1st Campaign.
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9/26/2015 - 1st Campaign update > 50 Bracelets, 18 Stickers. With the potential of each 1st Campaign item in circulation being read or recognized an average of 10 times a day, the name of Jesus and message of God, “choose Jesus today”, could be seen 680 times daily!
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9/24/2015 - When God was first calling me to this ministry, He reminded me of Peter’s denial of Christ. Peter denied that he even knew Jesus three times after Jesus was arrested, even though Peter was one of his most devout followers. I couldn’t help but wonder how many times I had denied Christ by simply not telling others about him when I felt God pulling at my heart. How many opportunities did I miss in showing the people around me the AWESOME victory, joy, and peace we have in Christ? Just imagine if you had been given the most precious jewel in all the world, would you hide it and never tell anyone about it? Of course not, you would tell the world and show everyone your good fortune! How much greater is the gift we have received from God through our salvation in Jesus Christ? My hopes and prayers are that all believers will join this God led effort in showing the world our great victory by supporting the 1st Campaign and celebrating on the 7th of every month.
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9/12/2015 - 1st Campaign update > 25 Bracelets, 8 Stickers. With the potential of each 1st Campaign item in circulation being read or recognized an average of 10 times a day, the name of Jesus and message of God, “choose Jesus today”, could be seen 330 times daily!
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9/7/2015 - After being inspired and led by God on its creation, the www.chooseJesus.today ministry was first published online on September 7th, 2015.