Thanks for Noblesse Oblige Blogger's Award

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so thatI will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" Ephesians 6:19.

Ann Brock at This Old Black Church Blogwas nice enough to bless me with the Noblesse Oblige Award. Below are the comment I left on Annie's blog on April 28th:

"Thank you so much for thinking of the Jesus Saves Ministries Blog! You have made my day. On Sunday, April 26th, I celebrated my 17th year as a member of St. Stephen Church, and yesterday, April 27th, the day you gave me the award, I celebrated the 2nd anniversary of my initial sermon. This is the icing on the cake! Congratulations to you, too! You inspire me to keep on keeping on in the name of Jesus!
April 28, 2009 10:30 AM "

In an upcoming post, I will elaborate on the following links and the work Jesus Saves Ministries is doing to help former felons in Kentucky regain their civil rights, including the right to vote.

Jesus Saves Gangsters, Too!
Miracle On the Ohio
Civil Rights Restored to 11 Former Felons
NAACP Effort Helps Former Felons

THE NOBLESSE OBLIGE AWARD Criteria for receiving this award:

1. The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs.
2. The Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage and offers solutions.
3. There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economic, the Arts, Culture and Sciences and Beliefs.
4. The Blog is refreshing and creative.
5. The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.

THE RULES:The Blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following steps:Create a Post with a mention and link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award.The Award Conditions must be displayed at the Post.Write a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved – preferably citing one or more older post to support.The Blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the Award conditions.

St. Stephen Church Breaks Ground on New 3,400-Seat Sanctuary

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

On Saturday, April 11th amongst a large gathering of church members, city officials, and guests, the largest African American church in the state of Kentucky, St. Stephen Church, under the theme "Building 4 Generations" broke ground on a new 3,400-seat worship center. The worship center will be located on the grounds adjacent to the current 1,700-seat facility in the city's California community.

The ceremony opened with a call to worship and song, "We Are Standing on Holy Ground," and statement of purpose, a call-and-response litany consecrating the church congregation and land. Four church members prayed prayers while instructing the congregation to face north, south, east, and west. After recognizing special guests, Senior Pastor Kevin Cosby lead the congregation in the ceremonial groundbreaking and prayer of dedication. The ceremony concluded with aerial photos and ceremonial staking as the congregation traced the perimeter of the new sanctuary. The state of the art worship center is expected to be completed in 75 weeks.

Find more photos like this on Jesus Saves Ministries

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Remembering Pastor Timothy Wright

Pastor and renowned gospel artist Rev. Timothy Wright died April 23rd at age 61 of complications from a tragic July 4, 2008 automobile accident that took the life of his wife and grandson. He was the pastor of Grace Tabernacle Christian Center Church of God In Christ, Brooklyn, New York. The song Jesus, Jesus, Jesus (The Katrina Song) on his last album touched the hearts of so many African Americans. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Wright family, and the Grace Tabernacle church congregation.

Look Who's Playing Hanky Panky With God's Miracles

Rev. Angela Lee Price
You see them everyday on cable television early in the morning and in the wee hours of the night, the prosperity "profits "peddling their miracle products. It seems there is a "free" product for every situation, for every "going through," and it appears handkerchiefs are the stuff miracles are made of this season. There is...

1. Don Stewart and his green "Miracle Prosperity" handkerchief. He says if you make a vow of tithe of $1,000 or $500 and he will get 'Pookie' out of jail. I say that if you had $1,000, you could get 'Pookie' out of jail yourself.
2. The screaming Kerney Thomas and his Personal Prayer Package. His is the red "Blood of Jesus" handkerchief. Hmm...He needs to talk to Don Stewart so that they can get their colors straight. Which is it, the red hanky or the green one? I bet a few Deltas and AKAs could have some fun with this one.
3. Paul Lewis and his Miracle Olive Oil Soap. Won't a bar of pure shea butter soap and a bottle of olive oil do?
4. Peter Popoff and his Miracle Spring Water. Popoff got caught several years ago lying at one of his crusades about personal prophecies. It wasn't God talking to him afterall, but his wife talking to him through a hearing aid concealed in his ear. He is back and on BET. Lie to me once, shame on you. Lie to me twice, shame on me!
   
   

Judging from all I've seen on television lately, it would appear that this is the stuff miracles are made of this season! The cable television "profits" often quote Acts 19:11-12 to support their claims that handkerchiefs can heal you, that handkerchiefs can bring you financial blessings, "God was performing unusual miracles through Paul. Even handkerchiefs and aprons he had used were taken to the sick, and their diseases were driven away, and evil spirits would go out of them."

However, read down a little further in that chapter. You will discover that the seven sons of Sceva tried to do the same thing, but "...the evil spirit said to them 'I know Jesus, and I know about Paul, but you-who are you?' The man who had the evil spirit in him attacked them with such violence that he overpowered them all. They ran away from his house, wounded and with their clothes torn off " (Acts 19: 15-16).

Don't call on the "seven sons of Sceva," and their miracle products. Be careful when preachers tell you that you need certain objects, handkerchiefs, soaps, oils to give you what only God can give. It's a trick of the enemy that diverts your attention away from God and on to man. I'm not saying don't use anointing oil. I am saying it is wrong to use such items as gimmicks and as the sole remedies for healings and miracles.

Call on Jesus Christ and the whole counsel of His Word. Call Him up, as the seniors use to say, and tell'em what you want. He is a miracle worker! He will pick you up, turn you around, and place your feet on solid ground. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will direct your paths." Turn off the television, open the door to the Word of God, and Jesus will come in.

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

T.G.I.F. And It's Good Friday!

Rev. Angela Lee Price
A "bad" thing happened to Jesus on Good Friday, so what makes Good Friday so "good'? Jesus was falsely accused, scorned, rejected, whipped, humiliated, and nailed to the Cross on Good Friday. He suffered an agonizing death that day at the hands of the Jewish and Roman authorities.

What happened on Good Friday definitely was not good, but the results were very good for you and me. Scripture tells us that because Jesus endured the suffering of the Cross, Christians can shout, T.G.I.F.!, thank God I'm forgiven and it's Good Friday!

Good Friday is good because Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Isaiah 53:5 says, "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisment of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." What can wash away are sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Good Friday is good for another reason. Jesus defeated Satan and his evil forces at the Cross. Colossians 2:15 states, "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them at the cross." Hebrews 2:14-15 says, "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil-and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."

Finally, Good Friday is good because it proves to us that when you put your faith in Jesus, it ain’t over, as Maurette Brown Clark sings, until God says it’s over! A lot of conversation occurred up on the Cross as Jesus died between two thieves. Jesus prayed to God. One thief taunted Jesus. The second thief rebuked the first thief. The second thief asked Jesus to remember him in His kingdom. Finally, Jesus promised the second thief that he would spend eternity with Him. In lst Peter 3:8 we read, "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the Spirit." Acts 4:12 says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Good Friday is good because our sin debt was paid, Satan was defeated, and it proves that through faith in Jesus Christ there's hope for eternal life even in our darkest hour. For these reasons, you can say, T.G.I.F.!, thank God I'm forgiven and it's Good Friday!

It is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

Maurette Brown Clark: The Dream Come True

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

There was a "Holy Ghost party" Sunday night, April 5th as Stellar Award-winning national gospel artist Maurette Brown Clark and St. Stephen praise team, From the Heart rendered songs of praise and celebration to our One God, our Sovereign God, Jesus Christ during the Palm Sunday Concert entitled The Greatest held at St. Stephen Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

Maurette Brown Clark ministered in song with, One God, Sovereign God, Has God Done Anything For You?, and It Ain't Over from her latest award-winning CD, The Dream. She told the audiencee that her number one subject to sing and talk about is Jesus Christ. Maurette stated that people are busy surfing the network and cable news channels trying to get knowledge when their only source for true knowledge should be Jesus Christ. She shared testimony on the recording and release of The Dream, stating that the CD was recorded in 2004, but wasn't released until 2007. "I have been singing songs from the The Dream for five years," she stated. She encouraged other gospel artists and everyone in attendance to wait on their dream by waiting on God's timing. She recognized Joe Leavell and the Temple Choir for their CD and single, God Is Able being on the national charts, and stated that the nation has to hear singer, songwriter Jason Clayborn who was in attendance.

St. Stephen Church Praise Team, From the Heart, under the direction of concert organizer CJ Akins opened the concert with a number of up-tempo praise songs including Isaiah D. Thomas & Elements of Praise's song, The Greatest. The Greatest was their second Palm Sunday Celebration to set the record straight on the difference between Palm Sunday, the day Jesus made His trumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey and Good Friday, the day he was crucified.

Maurette's twin brother Maurice was in the audience as well as CJ Akins' mother, Roslyn Akins who opened in prayer and St. Stephen Church Senior Pastor Dr. Kevin, who gave closing remarks and the benediction.

Video from the April 5th Palm Sunday Celebration, The Greatest featuring Maurette Brown Clark and From The Heart held at St. Stephen Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

See Yourself As God Sees You

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

"She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me," for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me'" Gen. 16:13.

The story of Hagar is timely tailored to teach us three things:

1. Admit Our Sins –The angel asked Hagar, “Where have you come from and where are you going? God asked an almost identical question of Satan in the book of Job, “Satan, Where have you come from?” God already knows the answer to every question He asks. It’s up to you to provide the correct answer. Admit your sins. The bible says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness….” Hagar admitted, “I am running away….”

2. Submit to God – The angel of the Lord told Hagar, “...go back to your mistress and submit to her” and “I will so increase you descendants that they will be too numerous to count.” I love this part of the story. Oftentimes, we think we have a plan. We think we know what we are doing. We think we’ve got it “going on!” But watch this! Hagar’s plan had nothing to do with her returning back to her abusive circumstance and everything to do with her running as far away from Sarai as she could possibly run. Can’t you hear The Temptations in your sanctified imagination, “Runaway Child running wild! You’d better go back home where you belong!”

That’s the problem now. We’ve developed “run-away” mentalities. The least little thing happens and what do we do? We run away. When there’s a problem in our marriage, we run away. When there’s a problem on the job, we run away. When there’s a problem with our children, we run away and they run away. We don’t discipline them. We don’t correct them. We throw money at them. We run away. When there’s a problem at church, we run here, there, and everywhere. We run away.

Hagar’s life should convince you tonight that you have to be where God wants you to be even if it is not the place of your first choosing. I know I’ve just said something. Yes, it can be painful, but you’ve got to be where God wants you to be even if it is not the place of your first choosing. That means you’ve got to get on God’s agenda and take Him off your agenda. Submit to God. He’s working it out for your good!

If we are going to be the women and men God has called us to be, we have to take our eyes off our situation and put them on Jesus. If we are going to be the women God is calling us to be, we have to see ourselves not as disobedient, selfish divas running, and ducking and dodging responsibility and every little problem, but as queens humbly submitting to the will of God for our lives. James 4:7 says, “Submit to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you! You must see yourself as God sees you!When you see yourself as God sees you, you can dare to declare with all authority, "On Christ, the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!" If it had not been for the Lord on my side, where would I be? When I think about His goodness, and all He’s done for me, my soul shouts, “Hallelujah!”

3. Don’t Quit – Hagar went back and God blessed her son Ishmael. After his exile, a grown Ishmael later returned and help his brother Issac bury their father Abraham. (Gen. 25:9). Ishmael had 12 sons who became the heads of 12 tribes that spread from Egypt to modern-day Iraq. Arabs are descendants of Ishmael. God was faithful to his promise to Hagar. And He will be faithful to His promise to you.

Admit your sins, submit to God, and don’t quit!

Sermon originally preached at Coke Memorial United Methodist Church, Louisville, Kentucky, Those Preachin' Women, July 18-20, 2008. Rev. Kathy Goodwin, Senior Pastor

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus Saves!

Jesus Saves Let's Down The Net

In Luke Chapter 5, Jesus is preaching to a great crowd on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He sees two empty boats left there by the fishermen, and He gets into the one belonging to Simon. At the conclusion of his sermon, he says to Simon, "Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch" (v4). Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets" (v5). They caught so many fish that their nets began to break, and they had to signal for a second boat. Simon Peter, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, his partners "...were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken..." (v9). Jesus replied to Simon, "...Don't be afraid! From now on you will catch men" (v10). So, they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him" ( v11).

Bishop Noel Jones and the City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir has a song on their debut CD, Welcome to the City called Harvest Time. The lyrics say, "Get our your nets! Get ready for the catch! 'Cause it's your harvest time! When I heard the song a little over a year ago, I began to shout because on February 1, 2008, Jesus Saves Ministries had already gotten out The Net.

The Net Christian E-Newsletter is our one-page weekly e-newsletter. By faith, we are letting down our "nets," casting them on the deep waters of the internet, by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world from an African American perspective. We pray that Jesus Christ is gloried, and you are edified, strengthen and encouraged by the sermonnettes, devotionals, testimonies, articles, people, and the gifts given away on The Net Christian E-Newsletter.

The Jesus Saves Ministries Blog

Most of "the catch" on The Net will be posted on the Jesus Saves Ministries Blog. Here, you will find "the other boat," full-length articles, video clips, and links to other websites. You can add to "the catch," too, by posting your comments on the blog. It is our hope that as we lift up Jesus Christ on the internet many will come running asking, "What must I do to be saved!"

The Jesus Saves Newsletter

Selected "catch" from The Net will be featured in the Jesus Saves Newsletter, our bi-monthly multi-page publication. This newsletter features contributing writers, pastors and preachers, addressing important topics like the Presidential election, Hurricane Katrina, voting rights, predatory lending, health, wealth and prosperity, cults and the occult, economic empowerment and issues of importance to Black Church and African Americans.

The Jesus Saves Newsletter is distributed locally and nationally to churches, ministries, schools, organizations, businesses and civic groups.

Jesus Saves Ministries LIVE!
Jesus Saves Ministries has a radio show on blogtalkradio.com. Visit www.blogtalkradio.com/jesussavesministrieslive listen to previous shows, become a listener and call in on live shows.

Forward this post to your pastors, church members, colleagues, co-workers and friends today. Tell them about Jesus Saves Ministries and our ministry components, The Net, the Jesus Saves Newsletter, Jesus Saves Ministries Live!, and the Jesus Saves Ministries Blog.

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

WoW! St. Stephen Women's Weekend A Winner!

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

Last Sunday was Women's Weekend at St. Stephen Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Led by Rev. Ton'ya "T.N.T." Triplett, the dynamic Women’s Day Choir was pretty in pink singing powerfully and soulfully.

On Saturday night, the preacher was Ms. Cheryl D. Walker, ordained associated minister and wife of Rev. Dr. T. Vaugh Walker, Senior Pastor, First Gethsemane Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky. Her message was entitled, You’ve Got to Die Before You Fly, based on Romans 12:1-2.

Sunday, Rev. Dr. Jazmin Sculark "practiced" preaching at all four services. Better known as “Dr. Jazz,” Rev. Sculark is the Pastor of the historical 100+ year old Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in York, Pennsylvania. She is the first female to be called to pastor a Baptist church in York, Pennsylvania. She preached powerful messages, Can You Help A Sista Out?, Making Something Out of Nothing, and Coming From Behind.

In Can You Help A Sista Out, based on the parable of the Canaanite woman's faith in Matthew Chapter 15:21-28, Dr. Sculark said, "A desperate woman meets a disinterested Savior and has to deal with some deluted saints....Your praise is no good until it bothers somebody...Your praise is for real when you can praise God when the answer He gives you doesn't make any sense....He shouldn't have to give you a house for you to praise him. He shouldn't have to give you a car for you to praise Him. You should praise Him for who He is, and not for what He gives you," she told the responsive congregation. She went on to say, "God is not moved by desperation, and He cannot be manipulated by worship." Although God can't be manipulated by worship, it saturates the atmosphere for Him to entertain the request. "While you're waiting on your bread, you can praise Him for your crumbs," she preached.

In the parable of the widow's oil, based 2 Kings 4:1-7, Dr. Sculark said in Making Something Out of Nothing, "If you are going to make something out of nothing you need to properly evaluate your present situation, be willing to ask for help, and trust God to make up the difference." In the parable of women with the issue of blood, based on Luke 8:40-44, Dr. Sculark said in Coming From Behind, “If you are going to come from behind, you’ve got to get out of your flow, get into God’s flow, and he will give you the overflow.” Also, she exclaimed, "You have to push past the pain and bust a move."

Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

An excerpt from the book, A Knock at Midnight: Inspiration from the Great Sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.Luke 12:16-20

I want to share with you a dramatic little story from the gospel as recorded by Saint Luke. It is a story of a man who by all standards (Yes, Speak doc, speak) of measurement would be considered a highly successful man. (Yes) And yet Jesus called him a fool. (Yes)

If you will read that parable, you will discover that the central character in the drama is a certain rich man. (Yes) This man was so rich that his farm yielded tremendous crops. (Yes) In fact, the crops were so great that he didn't know what to do. It occurred to him that he had only one alternative and that was to build some new and bigger barns so he could store all of his crops. (Yes) And then as he thought about this, he said, "Then I'm going to do something after I build my new and bigger barns." He said, "I'm going to store my goods and my fruit there, and then I'm going to say to my soul, 'Soul, thou hast much goods, laid up for many years. Take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.'" (Yes) That brother thought that was the end of life. (All right)But the parable doesn't end with that man making his statement. (My Lord) It ends by saying that God said to him, (Yes) "Thou fool (Yes) Not next year, not next week, not tomorrow, but this night, (Yes) thy sould is required of the." (Yes)

And so it was at the height of his prosperity he died. Look at that parable. (Yes) Think about it. (Yes) Think of this man: If he lived in Chicago today, he would be considered "a big shot." (My Lord) And he would abound with all of the social prestiage and all of the community influence that could be afforded. (Yes) Most people would look up to him because he would have that something called money. (Yes) And yet a Galilean peasant had the audacity to call that man a fool....
I'd like for you to look at this parable with me and try to decipher the real reason that Jesus called his man a fool.

Read Complete Sermon: Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool

Delivered at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, IL on August 27, 1967.

It is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!