I didn’t ask for this

Ephesians 2:8 - 10 (NIV) 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The following account seems to fit with this. What do you think?

I didn’t ask for this


We talk a lot about discovering your purpose.
But most of the time in Scripture, people’s purpose discovered them.
When God places His hand on you to accomplish great things through you, part of you will feel like: “Hey, I didn’t ask for all this!”
If you’re the parent of a strong willed child, a decision maker in a struggling company, or a youth pastor with little budget and no support, no doubt you’ve felt the frustration:
“I didn’t ask for this!”

Mary didn’t ask for a full-term teenage pregnancy.
Noah didn’t ask for a 102,000 square foot, 43,000 ton building project upon which the preservation of the human race depended.
Moses didn’t ask for the responsibility of leading a fledgling nation of couple million ingrates through the wilderness.

God doesn’t ask your permission to fulfill His purpose through you.
You don’t get a vote, much less veto power.
You may as well give a gracious acceptance speech, and get on with it…

by Pastor Steven Furtick
Lead Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.


blessings on Ya!
Pastor Kitner

When Your Hut is on Fire...!

When Your Hut is on Fire...

Below is a story that may help someone see that God is answering their prayer. So many time when we pray we either don't believe that God will answer us or we want the prayer answered the way we think it ought to be answered.

See the story: --

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, “God! How could you do this to me?” Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island!

It had come to rescue him! “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.

It’s easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.


1 John 5:14 - 15 (NIV) 14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Blessings on Ya!
Pastor Kitner

Examine your commitment...

Examine your commitment...


O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. (1 Timothy 6:20-21 NKJV)


For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. (2 Timothy 1:12-14 NKJV)


You are a New Testament believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, correct? So please take some time and examine your commitment. What has He committed to you? We can see from the Scriptures above that we must guard that which He has committed to us. The way to be successful is to avoid worldly wisdom and knowledge that contradicts God's Word. Taking such a stand creates suffering (persecution) for each one of us. But the Lord will keep His commitment to us. The Holy Spirit in us will overcome! So our responsibility is to hold fast to the pattern of teaching in God's Word.


So let me ask you, what is the fruit coming from your behavior? How committed are you to walking in the Spirit to obey His Words? If you see lack of commitment and unfaithfulness to His Word in your behavior, isn't it time for repentance?


from Chuck King

Working With God’s Seasons

by Craig Groeschel

Proverbs 20:4 says, “If you are too lazy to plow in the right season, you will have no food at the harvest.”

In ministry it is so important to work with God’s seasons. Instead of always wishing for the next season, we should embrace the season we’re in.

Here are a few examples of how to work with the seasons:

1. If you’re a church planter, you won’t be any more of a real church when you have a real building. Enjoy the ride in portable facilities. You’re in a special season.

2. If you’re 50 years old and not naturally a cool person, you’ll look silly trying to act and dress 28. Embrace your season and be a mentor instead of a buddy to the next generation.

3. If your church is debt free and strong, don’t pretend like everything you have is for you. During this season, your greatest calling might be to fund the next generation’s vision.

4. If you had a singles ministry that worked for 9 years, but is no longer effective, celebrate the 9 years of success. Close it down and do something different. Don’t keep something on life support once its season has passed.

Because I was 28 years old when I started Life Church, I always felt like I was the young guy with everything in front of me. I’m not the young guy any more. (It happened so fast.) Now rather than just building our church, I embrace this season of lifting the next generation to do more than I’m able to do.

How can you better embrace this season?

Maybe it's time to re-evaluate what you are doing and where. Maybe a change is in the wind and you should embrace it with the knowledge that it is God's time for you to change but maybe you need to accept the place where you are at. Consider it as you seek the will of God.

Blessings On Ya!
Pastor Kitner

You are invited to a special TEA party! - click here

Special TEA party just what the doctor is ordering once again or so it would seem.

What do you think on this one? Click on the word comments and give me some comments on this one.

Are you going?

Pastor Kitner

OOP's

I did something this week that caused me some frustration for sure.
I had recorded the message that I preached last Sunday morning. This was to be made available to anyone who wanted one. I went to make some copies during this week and I pushed the wrong buttons on the recorders to get this done. Instead of copying the tape I erased it so I have no recording now of the service. It is frustrating because I had done this same move last year trying to copy another tape of a service.(I pushed a syncronize recording button instead of fast dubbing) They were both one of a kind so there is no redemption available and the message is lost to anyone other than those who happened to be in the service on Sunday morning. I had told those present to take notes or get the tape.(I hope they took notes)
What I need is someone to do the recording and copying of the tapes so I don't get involved and mess everything up.
I did find out what I did wrong and did make some other recording copies but Sunday's service is gone, gone, Gone!

Blessings on Ya!
Pastor Kitner

Build-A-Baby? Huh? yeh click here

Just tell them what you want and ----!

Is this what God intends for His man? Is it a moral issue or not?
Let me know.

Pastor Kitner

"RECLAIMING Genuine APOSTOLIC ANOINTING" - click here

"RECLAIMING Genuine APOSTOLIC ANOINTING"
-by J. Lee Grady.

The Bible tells us there are both true and false apostles. Let's
learn to discern the difference.

For many years traditional denominations taught that the ministry
of the apostle passed away after the New Testament era. It was
assumed that the only people who served in apostolic roles were
early followers of Jesus who witnessed His resurrection.
Cessationists (those who believe that miracles stopped after the
canon of Scripture was completed) believe that healing,
deliverance, prophecy and all other supernatural phenomena
ceased and that apostles are no longer necessary.

But as Christians in recent years began to experience the
supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, church leaders and even some
theologians began to teach that the gift of apostle is vital if we
hope to advance the gospel in our generation. The logic makes
sense: If we still need pastors, teachers and evangelists (all part
of Jesus' five-fold ministry mentioned in Ephesians 4:11), we also
need the apostles and prophets who are listed in the same
passage. The Bible never says these functions were discontinued.

During the 1990s there was a renewed interest in the ministry of
the apostle. Many books were written on the topic, explaining that
the Greek word apostolos refers to God's special ambassadors, or
"sent ones," who are commissioned to contend for pure doctrine,
preserve unity among the saints, equip leaders, model Christian
character and help the church advance into new territory.

But a strange thing happened on the way to recovering genuine
apostolic anointing. In true American fashion we began to merchandise it.

No sooner had the first book on apostles been written that some
men began to claim the title and print it on their business cards.
Apostleship became a fad. Before too long, some men were
creating networks of independent churches answerable to a
governing apostle who took ownership of their buildings and
controlled their congregations.

Some charismatic apostles became mini-popes who carved out
their fiefdoms. Suddenly the independent charismatic movement
had more invasive authoritarianism than the denominations these
pastors abandoned 10 years earlier.

In some circles apostles demanded total allegiance from the
leaders who were "under" them. Some required a policy of "tithing
up," creating a monstrous organizational structure similar to a
spiritual Amway. So-called apostles with huge "downlines" made
exorbitant amounts of money. One leader even offered pastors the
opportunity to become "spiritual sons" by contributing $1,000 a
month to his ministry.

Apostolic covering could now be bought. And apostolic grace was
reduced to the level of a motivational coach. May God forgive us
for reducing the value of such a precious gift.

I still believe we need the apostolic anointing-and I know many
wonderful apostles who have planted churches in many parts of
the world. As I have watched them, and studied the life of the
apostle Paul, I've seen three key truths we must reclaim today:

1. True apostles are servants. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:28:
"And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings,
helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues" (NASB,
emphasis added). When carnally minded people read this verse
they assume God has set up some kind of ecclesiastical
hierarchy, with apostles sitting on thrones at the top.

But if we view leadership in the way Jesus taught it, we know that
being first is not about being on top. Apostles are at the bottom of
the pecking order. They are the servants of all. And because they
serve a foundational role, their work will often remain hidden in
obscurity. They are not looking for fame or celebrity, nor are they
grasping for a title; their role is to empower everyone else.

2. True apostles are unselfish. I know one apostle in India who
goes by the name of Pastor Howell. He has planted 600 churches
in the Punjab region, trained countless young church leaders in a
makeshift Bible school and led thousands of people to Christ. He
has also seen whole villages impacted by the gospel through one
miracle of healing. He has never ridden in a limousine and he lives
in a modest home with a straw roof that he shares with about 12
Bible college students.

The apostle Paul would have gagged if he could see how some
modern American apostles profit from their downlines or how they
require pampered treatment. Apostleship has nothing to do with
privilege. In fact Paul sometimes made tents for a living in order to
avoid the appearance of entitlement.

3. True apostles share Christ's suffering. True apostles live on the
edge. They push the boundaries of Christianity forward, into hostile
territory-and as a result they encounter more than their fair share
of persecution and spiritual warfare. They are never content to live
in a comfort zone. Yet even in foreign prisons they find joy and fulfillment.

One of my new heroes is a Nigerian pastor named Tunde Bolanta,
who bases his ministry in the dangerous northern area of his
country. I spent time with him last month when I was visiting
England. He lives in a city where Muslims have killed pastors,
maimed Christians with machetes and drowned their children in wells.

For Tunde, apostleship is not about getting the best seat on a
plane or having the largest TV audience. It is about teaching his
congregation to remain faithful to Christ even when receiving death
threats. And it is about sending his church members into difficult
regions where they could face martyrdom.

As our nation faces a turbulent economic crisis, I pray that we will
allow the Holy Spirit to shake the greed, pride and self-centeredness
out of our movement. False apostles prefer the primrose path over
the Calvary road. May God grant us true apostolic anointing that is
marked by New Testament courage, unquestionable integrity and
Christ-like humility.

-J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma.

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A Pastor On Porn

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Pastor Kitner

The Wooden Bowl

The Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. We must do something about Grandfather," said the son. I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.
I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

Author Unknown by me

Pastor Charles Kitner

"Long Walk Part of Gift"

John 3:16 - 17 (KJV) 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

As you read the following story I believe that you will be blessed.

An African boy listened carefully as his teacher explained why Christians give presents to each other on Christmas day. "The gift is an expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our friendship for each other," she said. When Christmas day came, the boy brought the teacher a seashell of lustrous beauty. "Where did you ever find such a beautiful shell?" the teacher asked. The youth told her that there was only one spot where such extraordinary shells could be found. When he named the place, a certain bay several miles away, the teacher was left speechless. "Why ... why, it’s gorgeous ... wonderful, but you shouldn’t have gone all that way to get the gift for me." His eyes brightening, the boy answered, "Long walk part of gift." God came from heaven to a manger, from a manger to a cross, from a cross to the grave and from a grave back to heaven. And we ask, "Why all this trouble, God?" And God would say to us, "Long walk part of gift."
Author: Unknown to me.

Blessings on Ya!
Pastor Kitner