Can’t we SEE what’s happening? Are we really this BLIND? When will we be HONEST with ourselves and stop the HYPOCRISY? It’s easy to point the finger and point out the faults in others while we justify the junk in our own lives. When it comes to JUDGING, Jesus was simply saying, “Start with Yourself!” We’re trying to see specks in others, but we can’t see and won’t deal with the LOG in our own eyes. The Lord is not saying that we can’t call out another person’s sins. When it comes to JUDGING, Jesus was simply saying, “Start with Yourself!”

“Team Jesus” (Mark 2:13-17 NLT) What a Crowd!  Everywhere Jesus went, news spread, and the crowd came.  We see it Mark 2:1-2.  We see it in Mark 2:13. Oh, brothers and sisters, let’s spread the news so that the crowds will come.  That is Jesus’ desire for each one of us.  Luke 14:23 “So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.”  What a Controversy!  Everybody wasn’t happy about the miracles taking place, the message going forth and the multitudes being impacted.  What a reminder!  Haters still exist!  Naysayers will always have something to say.  Unfortunately, like with Jesus, it wasn’t outsiders but other so-called church folks!  (Funerals) Yet, Jesus didn’t stop, didn’t slow down, didn’t sway from His purpose!  Because of His example and empowerment, Brown, after 34 years I’m still excited to be with Team Jesus!  I just wanted to remind us of Who’s Team we’re on.  Not Orr Team!  Team Jesus!  My mind’s made up.  My eyes are looking up.  My steps have been pepped up.  Are you on the Team?  Since life’s only meaning is in Jesus Christ, join the Winning Team

“Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way!”(Philemon 14-15 NLT). I’ll Never! Over My Dead Body! It’ll be a cold day in . . . before I ever speak to them again! It will never happen! It’s too Much! I’ll Never Be Able To Do That! Have you ever been Stubborn and Stuck in your way about something? Have you ever sold yourself short, thinking that certain things were just impossible to do? Do you ever feel Stressed and Strained because somebody is making you do something you really don’t want to do? Paul asked a HUGE favor of his friend, Philemon! Onesimus had stolen from his master, Philemon – Loss of Money! Onesimus had run away from his master – Loss of Labor! Now, Paul is asking the unthinkable. Paul wants to send Onesimus

back in a new position, with a higher pay, and with more power! And Paul wanted Philemon to do is Willingly! I want you to do this WILLINGLY. I don’t want to have to force you, call your hand, hold something over your head . . . Since by CHOICE and not by FORCE puts you on a whole another COURSE, always be WILLING to work things out!

John 1:16-18 NLT From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

What’s the right way of doing church? In Person or Online? At home or in the sanctuary? Virtual or Hybrid? Podcast or Facebook or Radio – Is that enough? Do you join or just attend? Is Membership really important? Do I need a congregation, a church building, a crowd, company or can I have church all by myself? What a reminder in this small, personal letter of what makes church really CHURCH! Philemon is the beautiful, personal letter of the Apostle Paul to his friend, Philemon, on behalf of Onesimus. Onesimus was Philemon’s runaway slave who had possibly robbed Philemon before running away (Philemon 16, 18). Onesimus went to Rome and got saved under Paul’s ministry. Now, Paul was sending him back to right the wrong of his past and to chart a new course for his present and future. What a Reminder – More than Rules to Follow, Church is about Relationships to Fortify! More than just the Place we Gather, Church is about the People and how we Grow! More than just Getting Even and point out Faults, Church is about Getting Ahead and Pointing others to the Father! Since we can only get out of church what we put into the church, get it right and Church will bless you for a lifetime!

SCANDAL! SLANDER! STRIFE! SUCCESS! These are the vices that the church must guard herself against! Matter of fact, from politics to business to schools and even hospitals, these are the killers to an organization, a business, a church, a relationship and even a nation! SCANDAL – Open Sin! SLANDER – Open Lips! STRIFE – Internal Fighting! SUCCESS – prideful arrogance! All this week, we have read of how these vices had caused a serious decline in Judah! Jehoshaphat had SUCCESS and still allied himself with an evil king and paid for it II Chronicles 20:37 “Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, ‘Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy your work.’ So, the ships met with disaster and never put out to

sea.” Talk about STRIFE, Jehoram, Jehoshaphat’s son, when he became king, he killed all his brothers and some leaders – II Chronicles 21:4 “But when Jehoram had become solidly established as king, he killed all his brothers and some of the other leaders of Judah.” Talk about SCANDAL, Ahaziah continued the evil reign and when he was killed, his mother, Athaliah, killed all her grandsons so she could become the Queen Mother. I can’t even begin to grasp the SLANDEROUS talk that would have turned Joash against Jehoiada and Jehosheba’s own son, Zechariah. This was after Jehoiada and Jehosheba had saved him and raised

him. Since the LORD keeps His promises, we must still be responsible and do our part to avoid DECLINE and DEATH!

How? How did he do it? How do you succeed in everything you do? How do you defeat your enemies, develop your country, defend the weak, destroy idolatry, decrease poverty, and defy death and the odds? How do we stop the headlines?How do we protect our babies? How do we grow our businesses? How do we raise our families? How do we improve our marriage? How do we improve our churches? How do we heal our city? HOW? Since “Who” is tied up in the “How,” to be successful takes Real TEAMWORK and the Right TECHNIQUES!

What happened? Talk about screw-ups and loose screws! Asa, did you lose your mind? You screwed up BIG TIME! Wait a minute! My name could go here. I’ve screwed up! Many times, I have messed up and missed the mark. Your name could go here. Turn on the TV and every day we hear of somebody else just screwing up regardless of their riches (with money and still acting a fool), regardless of their respect (from politicians to presidents to PREACHERS), regardless of their renown. Since Screw-Ups can happen to anyone at any age, keep it TIGHT!

 It took Solomon twenty years to build the Lord’s Temple and his own royal palace. At the end of that time, 2 Solomon turned his attention to rebuilding the towns that King Hiram had given him, and he settled Israelites in them.

Life is a Burden you must Bear! “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No, there’s a cross for everyone and there’s a cross for me.” Life is a Battle you must Fight! Anybody ever feel like Muhammad Ali “I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee . . .” Life is a Blessing that you can Enjoy! Oh, the thrill at the end of the fight when your hands are lifted and you are declared – Winner, Champion! From the Belt to the Title to the Prize Monies – oh what a Blessing you enjoy when you WIN THE FIGHT!