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The Church Asleep On the J.O.B!

This is what the church looks like today, asleep and comfortable while on the job. In Matthew 26, Jesus rebuked the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, and more than once for falling asleep on the J.O.B., Jesus Official Business. Like the disciples, the church have been given official business to do, to "go ye therefore" and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, as the gospel is watered down, Jesus is reinvented to appeal to a materialistic society, and Christianity is marginalized even further on the world stage, too many of us are asleep on the job.

In Matt. 26:38, Jesus told the disciples, “Stay here and keep watch with me.” After rebuking them in verses 40-43, He prayed and returned to them a third time and said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed in the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer."

My Bible tells me the Garden of Gethsemane was the place of Jesus' agonizing prayer, Judas' brutal betrayal, and Christ's wrongful arrest. However, when Jesus needed His disciples most, they didn't have His back. They were asleep on their J.O.B. Jesus needs His church today to "have His back," to pray, be alert and on her J.O.B. Too many false religions are out there out-witnessing the church. And, as a result the church is in decline and losing ground.

What makes matters worse is this wasn't the only time Jesus told the disciples to be on guard. In Luke 12:1 (NIV) He said, "Be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." In Mark 13:35, “…keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back….do not let him find you sleeping.” He told the brothers in Luke 21:36, "be always on watch, and pray...." Another translations says, "Keep on the alert at all times...." But like too many Christians today, the brothers were asleep on the job. Yes, their bodies where there with Jesus, but their minds where way on the other side of the town. They were absent-minded, missing in action, asleep on the job, and snoring even!

Scripture says to be faithful over a few things, and He will make you ruler over many. Are you faithful in Sunday school, ministry, and church attendance? Are you in the Word of God this Resurrection Week equipping yourself daily and watching for opportunities to "go ye therefore," and witness the Good News that Jesus saves? Or, are you, like the disciples were in the Garden of Gethsemane, asleep on your J.O.B.?

Download Jesus Saves Newsletter Special Women's Month Edition!

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

It is here just in time for Holy Week! The Jesus Saves Newsletter Special Women's Month Edition!
Inside This Special Edition Are Bios on Ten Featured Women:

Bertha Johnson, Stacee Spurling, Jackie Lee, Dr. Carolyn Kennedy, Evangelist Carolyn McKinney, Pastor Syvoskia Bray, Therese Warrick, Min. Angela Kelly, Porsha Taylor, and Mona Page.

These women represent a cross-section of the Christian community from across the nation, clergy, ministry leaders, business owners, single mothers, and college students who are lifting up Jesus Christ on the Jesus Saves Social Network.

Plus Pictures of 15 Additional Women:

The story of God's grace upon the women on the Jesus Saves Social Network cannot be told in one newsletter. So, pictured on page 6 are 15 additional women who put God first in their lives. Several of these women are very active in Women's Ministries and are trailblazers for women in ministry. We are so grateful they have chosen to share with us in ministry!

• Top Left to Right: Christine King, Johnette Houston, Ta'Neka Vaden, RaMonica Hughes, Crystal Allen, Karen O'Bannon, and Chalina Clayton (and mother).
  Bottom Left to Right: Shanea Cox, Paula McCraney, MaLissa Love, Barbara Ice Trammell, Cheryl Johnson, Rev. Altonnette Hawkins, Stella Davis, and Pastor Kathy Goodwin.

Also Inside This Special Edition:

• Route 66 and Saving S.O.U.L.S. Way: Can I Go? - Read responses from Therese Warrick (Winner of Ruth 1:16 Friendship Plaque!), Rev. Herman Maxwell, and Stacee Spurling.
• Who Is Your Favorite Female In the Bible? Read responses from Rev. Herman Maxwell, Shanea Cox, Steve Jones, and Min. Angela Kelly.
• Praise Break Reports from Rev. Angela Lee Price, Deaconness Stella Davis, and RaMonica Hughes.
• Support Jesus Saves Ministries by Ordering a Jesus Saves Journal.
• Jesus Saves Ministries 2009 Initiatives.

Download the Jesus Saves Newsletter and share it with your relatives, church members, friends, and co-workers. Tell everybody Jesus saves!

Follow Jesus Saves Ministries:
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Celebrating Five Years of Lifting Up Jesus Christ!

Can I Go?

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

"Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God" Ruth 1:16.

We are in the book of Ruth through Palm Sunday. Last weekend, in my Sunday school class, Learning About Jesus, we talked about Ruth the Moabite, and how her loyal, loving relationship with her mother-in-law Naomi, a Jew originally from the town of Bethlehem (the birthplace of Jesus), lead her to transition to a new land, new life, and new Lord.

Naomi in Ruth chapter one is an awesome model for effective evangelism, demonstrating that one's faith in God, perseverance in the midst of severe trial, hospitality, and genuine concern for the well-being of family members, (who in this instance happen to be daughters-in-law of a different race, ethnicity, and religion) can, with the help of the Holy Spirit lead them to Jesus Christ.

As we close out Women's month and turn to Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Weekend, I urge you to share your insights on Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz (who comes on the scene Palm Sunday weekend), to this Blog post "Can I Go?" "Can I Go" was the buzz phrase brothers use to say to sisters back in the day when they wanted to get their attention, "Hey, Baby, "Can I go?" Captivated by the sisters' outer beauty and "got it it going on" style, brothers didn't care where the sisters were going just so long as they could go too. In today's society, men are "going with" women, women are "going with" men, and men and women are "going with" each other, and next to no one is "going with" God it seems. How then do Christians help unsaved family members, people of different races, ethnicities, and religions follow the One True God?What do you think about Ruth's Can I Go question in Ruth 1:16?" What about Orpha, "the fish" that got away? She wanted to go too, but was told to go back home. Who asks Can I Go? in the encounter between Ruth and Boaz? If we are going to "go with" God, what are some of the things we should be willing to do/not do?

Post your comments today in either the Route 66 or Saving S.O.U.L.S. group on the Jesus Saves Social Network, and enter our drawing to win a beautiful bronze Ruth 1:16 Friendship Plaque. Some responses will be included in our Jesus Saves Newsletter, a multi-page Women's Month Special Edition featuring ten members of the Jesus Saves Social Network about to be released.

Is T. D. Jakes A Prosperity Preacher?

I have to ask the question. So many people have said that he is. He apparently doesn't think so and has said so in a November 2009 interview with Larry King. A portion of that interview follows. I will say that lately, I have noticed a change in his focus, much more on Jesus and a lot less on prosperity. This is great! But does six months undo years of prosperity preaching?

Interview Excerpt:

KING: We mentioned the fact about Christianity causing the crash. That's a headline from an article in the new edition of "The Atlantic" magazine.

Here's a short part of it. The author writes that: "America's mainstream religious denominations used to teach the faithful that they'd be rewarded in the afterlife. But over the past generation, a different strain of Christian faith has proliferated, one that promises to make believers rich in the here and now. And it's known as the prosperity gospel. Claiming tens of millions of adherents, it fosters risk taking and intense material optimism. It pumped air into the housing bubble and one year into the worst downtown since the Depression, it's still going strong."

We've linked this article to my blog at CNN.com/larryking.

What do you make of that concept?

JAKES: You know, it's a funny thing. I'm old enough to remember when religion focused on the hereafter and that was the total focus. And they were criticized for that. They said that we were so heavenly minded, we were no Earthly good.

There are those that go to extreme views about prosperity. But I thought that the article did not interview the people that it mentioned to get their perspective on it. I was briefly mentioned in the article. And I don't -- I don't consider myself a prosperity preacher. And...

KING: You're not a prosperity gospel? JAKES: No. No. That's not my gospel. My good news is that he rose from the dead.

But I do believe that, to those of us who work with people to encourage them and to give them hope, it's not a negative thing to encourage them to be all that they can be. To say that The Potter's House, for example, focuses on how to make people rich means you don't go there, because if you went to our church, we taught debt management. I wrote an op-ed about unfair practices in banking long before the crash came along. We teach people how to get out of debt. We did encourage people for home ownership. We also encouraged them to go back to school.

KING: Are you offended by the article?

JAKES: Not at all.

KING: No?

JAKES: Not at all.

Check out video of Larry King's Interview with T. D. Jakes

Jesus Saves Members Take Praise Break

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

Share Praise Report, Testimonies, and Breakthroughs

David said in Psalm 34, "I will bless the Lord at all times. His praises shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord. The humble shall hear thereof and be glad. O, magnify the Lord with me! Let us exalt His name together." Jesus Saves Social Network introduces our newest group, Praise Break.

Praise Break is an opportunity to bless and exalt our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Praise Break is an opportunity to express joy, gladness, and thanksgiving for the Lord's goodness, mercy and sustaining grace over our lives. It is another place where you can view gospel videos, Christian comedy and win Jesus Saves gifts and gospel music.

David wrote Psalm 34 while he was pretending to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left. Today, many people are facing or going through crazy, insane situations. Many people are experiencing bouts of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, some are even flirting with the thoughts of suicide. In spite of their situation, they need to know how to bless the Lord. In the face of crazy makers, dire circumstances, cruel and unusual punishment, and outlandish demands, they need to know to bless the Lord! Scripture also tells us the joy of the Lord is our strength. Blessing the Lord at all times gives us strength to endure the Haitis and Katrinas in our lives. When coupled with prayer, praise can move the heart and hand of God (Acts 16:16-38).

Your act of faith today in sharing your testimony, praise report or breakthroughs could be just the word of encouragement needed in someone else's life. Moreover, Revelations 12:11 assures us the enemy is overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. What a blessed assurance that is! Take a praise break today on the Jesus Saves Social Network.

Praise Break Spotlight Testimony: RaMonica Hughes

"Thirteen years ago, I had my first child and was looked down upon because I was 18 having my first child and was 3 months away from graduation, so people just knew I was going to be a high school dropout, BUT GOD. Not only did I graduate with my class, I graduated with 30 credits more then what I needed. At 19, I had my second one and at 23, I had my 3rd one, but by the grace of God, I have never lived on the system, my babies are healthy and ALL 3 of them are straight A students….”

Also, we invite you to join The Prayers of the Righteous group on the Jesus Saves Social Network. Pray and fast with us as we strive to draw closer to God in prayer, devotion, and Bible study during this Holy season leading up to Resurrection weekend April 3-4th.

Christian Comedy Is Good Medicine

When was the last time you really enjoyed a good laugh? Laughter is good medicine. If its been a while, then maybe it's time to take a praise break with us and enjoy Christian comedy from comedian Spike Davis of BET's Comic View fame. He was the featured guest comedian at St. Stephen Church in Louisville on Saturday, March 13th for the Women's Ministry Comic Relief event. The morning of comedy also featured BET's Slo Yo Roll and several local comedians. It was one in a series of events celebrating Women's Month. Below, Spike talks about differences in worship styles in black and white churches.


Jesus Saves Social Network member Karen O'Bannon and Stephanie Lackey tried their hand at comedy by telling Bible jokes at the Women's Month Comic Relief celebration.

To view additional Comic Relief video excerpts, click on Jesus Saves Channel on YouTube.com

Who Is Your Favorite Female In the Bible?

Min. Angela Lee Price

Who is your favorite or most notable female in the Bible? Is she Mary, the mother of Jesus, Ruth, Naomi, Rahab, Mary Magdalene, Deborah, Jael, Elizabeth, Esther, Martha, Anna, Sarah, Hagar, Bathsheba or the Queen of Sheba?

Maybe the woman you admire most in the Bible doesn't get a lot of "press" on Sunday mornings, but there is something about her that has helped you growth spritually. Is she Lydia, Priscilla, Phoebe, or Dorcas? What makes her your favorite or most notable Bible female?

Maybe the woman you admire most has no name like the woman with the issue of blood, the woman with the infirmity, the women caught in the midst of adultery, the Canannite woman, the Samaritan woman, but there is something about her great faith, and/or humility in the midst trial and physical adversity that has won your heart. Tell us about her.

Maybe she is seen as a "bad girl" by most, but not by you. Is she Eve, Tamar, Lot's wife, Potiphar's wife, Delilah, Sapphira, or that really bad girl, Jezebel?

There is no right or wrong to this discussion. We will draw from among participants and feature 3-4 comment excerpts in an upcoming newsletter. Brothers, here's your opportunity to share your thoughts. We would like to hear from you, too!

Post your comments here or join the Jesus Saves Social Network and post them on this blog post.

Is the Black Church Dead or Is It Just Lukewarm? - BCNN1

Although the black church has its share of problems, to call it dead would be stretching the truth more than a little bit. However, this article grapples with some of the hotly debated issues for the past 20 years, the effects of the megachurch, prosperity movement, and the impact of liberal and conservative political ideologies upon the black church.

Is the Black Church Dead or Is It Just Lukewarm? - BCNN1

Leroy Thompson and His Slot Machine Called Jesus

Min. Angela Lee Price

I have a "love jones" for Jesus, as we use to say back in the day. I must admit. But, I declare, Leroy Thompson has a slot machine jones! Because some preachers are mishandling the Word of God, many Christians think God owes them riches simply because they accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They view God as a genie, butler, chef, maid, ATM or, as Leroy does, a slot machine. We see them all the time with their hands on their hips, rolling their eyes, and pointing their fingers at God shouting with attitude, "Yo, Jesus! Show me the money!

Beware the prosperity preachers. Their gospel is a distortion of the Word of God. We can't just demand what we want, and expect God to give it to us. If that were the case, we'd all be rich. Here, Leroy Thompson and crew are seen on their "gambling boat" at the "slot machine" called Jesus. There was big money to be had that night!

A Prayer for Haiti

Heavenly Father,

You are Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end and we bless Your holy name. You are God all by Yourself and beside You there is no other. We thank You for Your son Jesus, for His sinless sacrifice for all humanity. It is through Him that we have eternal life. I am so glad He defeated principalities and powers at the Cross. I am so glad He sits at your right side and intercedes for us. Thank you that while we were sinners, Jesus died for us!

Lord, through this horrible tragedy in Haiti show us Your will. Help us to have compassion and love for our fellow man. Protect the children of Haiti, the orphans and those who have been displaced. Give them a joy that surpasses all understanding. Keep their minds and hearts stayed on You.

Father, we pray that resources that have been sent to Haiti get distributed properly. We have faith in Your ability to supply the need there. We have faith in your ability to restore lives, homes, and property. We pray for Your intervention in situations of confusion, hostility, doubt, despair, hopelessness, and uncertainty. Defeat the enemy by Your mighty name, we pray.

Thank you for the souls that have been saved in Haiti, Lord. Continue to turn the hearts of the people to Jesus Christ. Thank you in advance for the victory. Thank you for the miracles. Thank you for your magnificent love for the people of Haiti.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

We invite you to join The Prayers of the Righteous group on the Jesus Saves Social Network. Pray and fast with us as we strive to draw closer to God in prayer, devotion, and Bible study during this Holy season leading up to Resurrection weekend April 3-4th.