5 ways to tell if your Church is Suspect...

1. Money Problems
If your church is always having money problems, then more than likely either your
leadership is not good with money or they are not doing good with the money.
Now in some cases the offerings my come up short from week to week. But for
the most part if churches did not bite off more than they could chew then their
expenses would not be so great in the first place.

2. In Debt
If your church is in debt there are a few reasons for this.  Firstly, some churches
have a high attendance of working class folks who may or may not be able to tithe
on a regular basis.  But for those churches who have an abundance of tithes and
tremendous offerings from week to week, more than likely have a spending problem
or a consumers mentality.  Yes it cost to run a church, but when you build a church
without counting the cost well...it cost!  It ends up costing you more in the long run
when a man builds a church for his ego rather than for the edification of the body.
The word tells us to owe no man nothing but the debt of love, this includes the church.
So even though the banks offer money, the church should consider raising money
before they build a church so that they may stand a chance of building a debt free facility.
How can leadership expect the churches congregants to be goods stewards and live a
debt free life if the church is not being a good steward and has a ton of debt?

3. False Imagery
Now this one is my favorite!  This is when the church works harder at branding their
name than they do the name of Jesus.  While the church is steady spending time branding
themselves they forget that the church does not save but Jesus does.  Before anyone
can fully commit to church they most fully commit to God.  Here's why I say that.
There are a lot of devoted, faithful church goers that are uncommitted to God.  These
people use the pulpit as their own personal stage for their own live show from the
pastor on down.  These church people prostitute the gifts and talents of others for
their own personal gain and benefit. Watch out for them because they are smoother
than the common pick pocket-er.  Before you know it you have been got and you
didn't even realize that you were being robbed!  Don't get me wrong branding is
great to attract people to church, however when branding your church and it's
pastor and first lady takes precedence over branding the kingdom of God and
all of its benefits and splendor, than this becomes a problem.

4. Co-dependence
Any time a church leads you to believe that you can and will not make it without
them is called codependency and it is a form of witchcraft and divination.  They
are thirsty and trying to get you to stay with their church until Jesus returns so
that you can pay for all the unnecessary debt that they have accrued through
their careless spending and egotistical endeavors.  They want to make you
think that you will not reach your destiny without them.  I just received a vision
in my head about when God raises you up; the people that tried to hold you
down are going to wonder how on earth did you surpass them and what the
hick is going on?  Well you can just tell them that you went straight to the King
and bypassed all of the buffoonery of church and its politics...  I have heard
with my own ears a pastor make reference to a person dying because they left
his church?  But the sad part about all of this is that people fill the pews  week
after week being crammed with an Ike Turner mentality "you anit go be nothing
without me lil Ann"
If someone told me that I could not make it without them I would leave just to
prove them wrong and to show my God strong!

5. Pacifying the People
This happens when a preacher dares not to tell the truth to his congregants about
themselves for fear that they will be offended and leave.  On one hand I can see it
being hard to tell people what they don’t want to hear but need to hear, but on the
other hand only the truth will make us free.  One thing I want to give credit to pastors
is that it cannot be easy engaging people from week to week with the hope of their
continued support.  However, the gospel of Jesus Christ cannot be compromised for
crowds, money or fame.  We must tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth despite
of the trails that come along with pastoring a church.  I have seen pastors flourish and
at the best one week and the next week disparate and seemly worried?  But this would
not even be they case if they would follow God’s plan instead of their own plan. 

Lastly, I would like to say to those of you reading this blog or any other blog that I
have written; I am not against the church.  And by all means I honor and respect the
men and women of God who fearlessly go before his people week after week declaring
the good news.  I am just tires of seeing people some people who attend weekly church s
services weighed down, depressed and broke when they should be overjoyed and prosperous.
This happens when people are so selfish to only want to see their dreams come to pass,
and then they become successful while caring less about what you want to do. These
selfish beings also ride on the wings of those who support them thinking that in return
they too may be supported, but if their greed is not satisfied the supporters support my
never come.  If you are feeling down and confused while attending church, there may
be a good reason why…stay tuned for the next blog and I will tell you!

Apostle Magdalene

The Great Separation

What ever happened to the time when going to church was for the love of ministry, people and  your community?  Now it seems as if going to church is more or less for the love of money,  fame, and power. Singers would sing for free to the glory of God and preachers preached for little to nothing.   Well my friend, that time has long pass for some but for most we are still there because we  obviously  didn't get the memo that you could capitalize greatly off of your relationship with Jesus Christ! As for me, I have been singing in church for years and never really thought about getting paid until now.   My reason for this is because, back home we still sing for ministry and not money so most of us singers  get paid very little to nothing.  But we love what God has called us to do for Him and a price tag cannot  be put on the anointing. However, since I have been a Georgian I realized that people here know how  to capitalize off of their   relationship with Jesus Christ even if it cost them everything including their anointing.  Now I am not  saying that paid gospel singers are not anointed but let's be honest there is a cost to fame and sometimes  that cost is trading ministry in for money. Every since I got out the box and found out that you could get paid for singing the praises of God it hit me  all at once.  "What the hick I'm I doing singing for free"?  And I mean all of it choir, praise team, singing in  the congregation?  Well, maybe not that far but you know what I mean!   After much evaluation, I had to ask myself a question.  That question was "out of all these years that  I have been singing for free what have I lost and why no one told me that I should be paid to sing like  everyone us?  The answer is that back home we are not paid singers for the most part so we don't know much about  the music biz but here in the big city, well these folks cash out and some of them won't even sing the  praises of God if they are not paid? Wow, once I found this out I was mortified I felt like an idiot, a fool and a complete failure.   I asked God what was wrong with me, was I not good enough to earn a living singing?   Or was I just a good enough singer to sing in the choir you know backup for someone else?   Not that there's anything wrong with backup I truly believe in supporting people.   Yet and still there is a fine line between supporting someone else’s ministry and just flat out being used! You are using people when you are able to make money off of other people's gifts and talents.   Back home we call this "prostituting ones gifts". Here, they simply call it the Mega Church.   Now don't get me wrong I love the mega movement but I just can't seem to fathom why the  leaders in the mega church live so well by capitalizing off of their relationship with Christ while  most of the members lack far behind living in mediocrity?  And the members that are doing well  are sometimes there for business or a good look? So, to my point the Great Separation is when church leaders live like Kings and Queens while  the rest of us serving have to keep our day jobs and live like paupers.  Now here's my bigger  question, why does the church allow people to sing for free knowing that many people come  to church just to hear the choir blow and they due the pastor a courteous by staying to hear  him preach.  All the while the choir and praise team for the most part are treated like we  should just be happy to have a mic?  Huh?  You mean to tell me while you get paid to do  the same thing that I am doing which is being a witness for Christ that I should just be  happy to be here? That's probably what the slave owners were thinking to. "Oh these niggers don't have to  be paid to pick cotton, there too stupid to realize that this is free labor something they  could be paid to do" And I am sure that they got a good laugh as they cashed in on all  the cotton that the slaves had picked for them for little to no pay. Meanwhile the church sits and capitalizes from the blood, sweat, and tears of the innocent  in heart who do not think of God as a cash cow but as their provider and way maker.   We must put an end to how we allow people to trick us and pimp us just because we are saved. I said it once and I will say it again, I respect people like Oprah, Tyler Perry and TD. Jakes  because not only are their educating and empowering people to create wealth like the word  tells us to do with our gifts but they also open doors so that people can live their dreams while  earning a living doing so.  At the same time I do not respect the preacher who not only creates wealth by asking for ten percent  of one’s income but also by earning a living from his or her God giving talents while the rest of us get  pimped to no return.  My question is brother preacher why get mad rich off of the blood sweat  and tears of willing volunteers and why not teach us what you know as a business man in order  that we may stop giving our gifts away and start creating wealth from them just like you do.   In the infamous words of Obama “spread the wealth" don't be greedy emphasis mine! Apostle Magdalene

Don't be greedy...

Contrary to popular belief not every person fits every church.  For anyone that likes to attend church there may be a good fit out there for you and for some they are called to their own ministries.  Many churches will allow people that do not fit their churches vision to join and become active anyway just to generate numbers and revenue.  By doing this, the member is boxed and limited which leads to misery and frustration.  Mean while the church is profiting off of tithes and talents of the faithful member.

This should not be. Instead of allowing people with vision to die up under the pastors vision the church should seek out ways to make sure that faithful members are placed in their area of anointing and expertise. For example, instead of throwing all of the musical people in the choir why not find ways for them to flourish in music and in business.  The reason I say this is because most pastors are not just preachers but they are business men also.  Therefore they have what it takes to teach people who are gifted how to earn a living doing ministry just like they do.  The pastor sure does a good job making a living from preaching and other God given gifts that he or she has.  So why is it so hard to pass the type of wealth of knowledge down to your ever so trusting church members?

Why?  Because they are greedy that's why!  If they told you how to do what they do some may think that you will become their competition.  So instead of educating you, they hold you captive to there false hopes and empty promises just long enough to suck the very life and purpose out of you so that when they are done you feel handicap to your vision and assignment.

I know these days you hear about the church empowering people? But at the end of the day that ends up being a load of crap as well. Once again they build you up only to let you down.

People of God if you are not happy at your church there is a reason why, on the other hand if you are happy being content and not growing and earning a living in you calling then you need a rude awaking just like I had to have. It hit me when I bought my home that everything I do for free I needed to start earning a living doing these things because I have to live just like everybody else.  We are Gods children just like they are but yet they want us to work for free while they rack up off of our giving and free labour.  If I am going to donate my time it is going to be at the homeless shelter or someplace that helps women and children on a daily basis.  I am now also helping ex-convicts to get education and employment.

The moral to the story is don't be fooled  by church people who pretend to be on your side but really they are fishing to keep your interest in their church for their own personal gain.  Now don't get me wrong God is raising up ministries that understand the real Kingdom of God and what it's all about which is winning souls to Christ and taking care of the needy with education and emergency resources.  Let's support these churches and allow God to use us mightily with people who care about us and not just people who want to use us!

The One

The One

 

There are times where we feel like we need a whole lot to get something done for God. 

 But I declare to you to today the significance of one

God took one rib from Adam

He made one woman for Adam

It takes one mom

And one dad

One egg

One sperm to make one baby

In one day

The sun rises and falls

One brain controls the whole body

Our country has one president

Our city has One Mayor and One Governor

We have one life

Because of one virgin (Mary)

We have one Savior (Jesus)

He died once

He rose once

And He is coming once again!

Will you be the one?

Love and Warfare: Preacher vs. Gangster

New to Blogging: Preacher vs. Gangster: What's the difference between a preacher and a gangster?  Nothing...they a both notorious hustlers all about the dollar bill...

Preacher vs. Gangster

What's the difference between a preacher and a gangster?  Nothing...they a both notorious hustlers all about the dollar bill and both of them will get their paper at all cost.  I think the only slight difference would be is that gangsters hustle the street while preachers hustle the word of God and the people of God.  I have never in my life seen preachers capitalize off of their relationship with Jesus Christ like they do now.  And I now some may consider me to be a hater.  But let's be clear, I see absolutely nothing wrong with the preacher or preacherett prospering.  I just have a problem with them rising to the top while most of the congregants stay at rock bottom.

What is the cause of this epidemic?  At what point did we lose sight on what church was really about?  The people of God must understand that you do not have to be apart of a corrupt and broken system.  If you are like me and you have many questions about churches today's structure please believe that you have every right to ask questions.  And If you don't get the answers you need then you have every right to change the structure.

I don't know why volunteers think that they have to stay somewhere to be mistreated, abused, and manipulated in order to stay save and in the good graces of God.  Most people stay in a corrupt and broken system because fear has gainfully been instilled into them.
What I mean by that is preachers these days spend more time bullying people and leading them to feel as if following them and them only is their only road to destiny ville.  And if they stray, they will either wind up dead or the will "miss the destiny" and for the record none of these thing are true.  If you leave your church you will not die and if you leave the church you will not miss your destiny.
For most of us we are marketplace prophets called outside the four walls to minister to the people that won't step foot into the church.  But church leaders do not care about this because if you are called to the streets then not only does that shorten church attendance but it may as shorten their offerings as well.

So they don't care about the ministry brewing inside you, they only care if it benefits them.  And they love to tell people that they helped you when they finally do and then they take some of the credit for your hard work and success.  When Jesus healed a man in the bible he told him to tell no-one but the man went and told everybody not Jesus.  There was also a story about Abraham where a King was trying to help him and he told him No because he did not want him going around telling people that he had helped him.  Abraham knew the man's character and he declined his offer.
People of God we must not continue to allow Pharaoh to keep us in bondage.  Pharaoh used slaves to build his kingdom, slave owners used slaves to build their fortune by forcing them to do free labour.  Even though the church uses volunteers to build the pastors empire by way of free labour, giving, and by also using mental and emotional bandage, yet and still nobody is forcing you to do so.  You have every right to be happy in ministry, you have a right to be fulfilled by doing the work of the Lord and just like your preacher you have every right to do what's in your heart to do while being productive and prosperous at the same time!

Apostle Magdalene

Commitment vs. Companion

Often times we as women set goals in every area in of lives except for one area and that's our personal lives.  Just like with every other goal that we set ladies, we have to have a plan for our personal relationships as well.   Believe it or not men have personal relationship goals just like we do.  It's all about how you reach those goals and developing your plan, so that you may achieve your personal relationship goal rather it is commitment or companionship.

Ladies when you date you should have your dating goals in mind before you even put yourself on the market. One of your goals should include what it is that you actually want from a man?  You should really consider rather you want to have a commitment or be a companion?   There is a BIG difference between the two. Now let's talk about the easier one first and that's companionship.  For those of you who don't already know, companionship is when you meet a person that you are attracted to.  The two of you may even possibly be like minded and share similar interest or you may be the complete opposite.  In other words the two of you may either complete each other or complement one another. After talking a bit you start to get to know each other and then eventually you began to date.

Now the term dating varies from person to person because it means something totally different to each person than what it really means.  Dating is simply hanging out and spending time with someone in whom which you are attracted to nothing more, nothing less.
Ladies this means sex or no sex dating does not mean commitment!  This may be common knowledge to most and a surprise to some?  The women that did not already know this are the ones that are more than likely to get their hearts broken in the process of dating. Rather than enjoying the moment, they are often disappointed with their false expectations of what dating is and should be.
 
Next,  I will briefly discuss what I like to call the 3 M's Monogamy, Merging, and Marriage.  These 3 M's are constantly confused and used in the wrong order.  Instead of Marriage, Merging, and Monogamy most unmarried women opt for Monogamy, Merging and infinitely, never get to the Marriage part.  And if they do, it is well after they having already been playing wifey for many years (in-house sex, kids, and shared finances). 
Ladies this epidemic does not have to be, if you do not want it to.  If playing wifey is what you want then that's fine but if you want to become a wife then stay tuned for the next blog to see what you can change to reclaim your right and honor to be a wife for life and not just play one at night!

Apostle Magdalene