The 318 Project

In this episode, I have a conversation with Pastor David Bendett, of Rock City Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. 

Pastor David shares his testimony of how he was born in Miami, Florida till he was 5 years old. His father left him and his mother when he was small till she met his step-dad and they moved to the Excelsior Springs, Kansas, where he grew up for most of his teenage life.

After several years, his mother divorces and moved back to Miami, where David went back after High School. It was during this time that he became addicted to drugs and alcohol and also was arrested with LSD and sentenced to jail. It was while he was in jail that he gave his life to Christ at the prison chapel during a Gideon's service. During this time he began to teach other inmates how to read by using the Bible as he was growing in his faith from reading the Bible.

After his time in jail, David decided he wanted to go to Bible college when the Lord directed him to go to Oral Roberts University to get his Business Degree.  David then served in ministry at various positions when a friend asked him to move to Corpus Christi to help be a campus pastor for a satellite church.

After nearly six and a half years the senior pastor from the home church, which was based in Oklahoma City, decided to close the church. It was from there that Pastor David and the congregation launched and started Rock City Church that has grown from a school cafeteria to now owning a strip mall that the church is in. 

Pastor David shares about his family. His wife Amber, who he met at the church plant, have been married 10 years. They have a daughter, Cadence age 8, and son, Zion age 6. They are currently in the process of adoption.  

David talks about one of the darkest times in the life when Amber had to deliver their daughter Eden Grace, who was a still birth at 32 weeks. Through that tragedy, Amber began writing and share their story. From that she wrote a children's book called The Lost Crown and how it is a story of trading ashes for beauty.

David then tells about how the mission field is in our backyard then into the world. He talks about how through the church they are not just active in the community, but also that he owns 2 coffee shops, voted best in Texas, and even sits on boards and committees for the city. 

Pastor David shares how Rock City Church believes in the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and that is shouldn't be an oddity, but as they have coined the phrase "Super Normal Natural". It should be natural just as Jesus and later the church did and that the Bible is full of the supernatural. 

He talks about how God wants and army and not an audience and that as Christians we should not be consumer, but wind driven. He shares that the fulness of the Holy Spirit comes when we are saved and that initial filling of the Holy Spirit; but that God has more for us through the gifts that we are greater equipped and not all about salvation. 

He uses an illustration of how God is a gardener and that is represented in Genesis 1:27 as the job title; but that the job Description of God is defined in Genesis 3:27 in the five fold ministry of being fruitful, multiply, replenish, rein and dominion. This, he relates that God took it from the Garden Commission the the Great Commission and that the same five fold ministry must be in operation through the body of Christ, the Church. Through this we can have a desire for the super natural gifts of the Holy Spirit without having to chase it.

Resources:
https://www.rockcitycorpus.com
https://www.facebook.com/RockCityCorpus
https://www.facebook.com/david.bendett
https://www.instagram.com/djbendett/

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Paul Cole is a co-founder and current president of Christian Men's Network. He is a husband to Judi Cole for almost 50 years. Father to 2 sons, Brandon and Bryce and 1 daughter, Lindsey, and grandfather. He is a speaker, preacher and author.  Paul has written 2 books entitled "Just a Bartender" and "Daring".

Christian Men's Network was started after Dr. Edwin Louis Cole spoke at a men's event at an Oregon men's camp in the summer of 1977. His passion for men to reach their full potential as Godly men was birthed at that moment.

Dr. Cole wrote the book "Maximized Manhood",that has sold millions of copies and been translated in 36 languages. From that, he also wrote several other books and workbooks to form the Majoring in Men's Curriculum as a tool to help mentor and disciple men.

Christian Men's Network is operating in 134 countries and the books have been translated into 36 languages. 

In this episode, Paul talks about what CMN is doing currently with reaching men and families around the world.

We talk about the lack of father's in the family has led to many societies issues of incarceration, gangs, drug abuse, premarital pregnancy and fatherlessness in the home.

The emphasis of CMN is to help pastors and leaders to be able to train the men in their congregation through discipleship. 

Paul states, "Many pastors are trained to preach sermons but not how to train men.” 
“The immaturity of men has led to the mediocrity of men.”

“God wants us to have a Maximized Manhood and God wants every man to be three things. Consistent, decisive and strong. Consistency, decisiveness and strength are the hallmarks of a mature man”.

Why so many men have struggles in life is because they don’t know their identity. Many have a mid-life crisis because they haven’t found their identity.

“Pressure doesn’t make a man. Pressure only reveals a man for who he really is”.

Paul shares the definition of maturity. Maturity isn’t about age, but the acceptance of responsibility. Maturity is the strength to make the right choice even when the emotions or context of the moment would cause you to do something different”.

Paul also shares how the word “Peace” is misunderstood or misinterpreted. By society’s standard, Peace is the absence of conflict, the absence of storms, the absence of problems. However, “Peace” in the Word of God and lived out in the life of Christ never meant the absence of conflict, it always meant the presence of God even in the middle of the conflict”.

We discuss what CMN is now doing with their Dangerous Nations and Global Fatherhood Initiative. Their goal is to go into the 50 most dangerous nations to help equip 50,000 pastors in the next five years in countries such as Nigeria, Bulgaria, Vietnam and Iran. 

Paul also shares stories of men that have over the years had a heart to reach men and change their countries. Men like Pastor Eddie Leo in Jakarta, Indonesia and Alex Mitala in Uganda. 

Through the “Majoring in Men” in Uganda, they have seen the AIDS rate go from 33% to 6.4% over a 28 year period by teaching men the honor and respect of women and virginity. 

Paul tells how men 30 years ago wanted 3 things:

1. Success
2. Respect
3. Legacy

But, today they are looking for:

1. Identity
2. Purpose
3. Brotherhood/Belonging

For further information about Paul Cole and Christian Men’s Network, I have provided links.

Resources:
http://cmn.men
http://majoringinmen.com
http://paullouiscole.com
Youtube- Christian Men's Network (Monday Night Men)
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/paullouiscole/
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/thewisdomcoach/
Twitter- https://mobile.twitter.com/paullouiscole

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How do you respond when you learn you have a special needs child?

In this episode, I talk with Paul and Maria Muzichuk as they share about what God has done for them during this season of life with a special needs child.

Paul was born in the Ukraine and moved to the United States with his family when he was 4 years old.  Maria was born in Estonia and her family moved to the United States while she was young. Both were raised in Christian homes and met at a Bible College on the West Coast in 2004 and were married in August of 2006. They have 4 children, two girls and 2 boys, ages 13, 10, 5 and 2 1/2 years old.

Both Paul and Maria have a heart for mentoring and counseling. They lead the Arise Biblical Counseling at the Springs Church in Jacksonville, Florida, which they started in 2018.

They both had spiritual mentors that poured into their lives as teenagers and young adults that have helped drive their passion to help others dealing with personal,  marriage, mental, emotional and spiritual struggles.

Nathan is their third child and he is 5 years old. At around 2 years old Maria began to notice that Nathan wasn't developing as the older children had at the same age and wasn't talking much either. A  worker in the church even noticed that he had minimal interaction with other children in the nursery and mentioned to them that Nathan may have a form of Autism. 

When Nathan was around Three and a half years old, Paul and Maria took him for analysis at a place called Childfind, which after a year and a half, said Nathan had a speech delay and possible autism.  

 In August of 2020, Paul and Maria took Nathan to the University of Florida Pediatric Neuro-Developmental Facility where they performed an extensive testing for 9 months and was then diagnosed with Global Development Delay and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

During the testing they were told that Nathan was having 800 screaming or squealing episodes during a 7 hour period, making it difficult for them to take him places. In November of 2020, Nathan started ABA Therapy working on different cognitive and motor skills and the screaming and squealing episodes dropped down to 10-15 episodes during a 7 hour period.

Paul and Maria talk about how they each individually and as a couple and family sought help through each other, mentors, pastors, family and friends. They talked about have even in moments of questioning and fear, they turned to God and allowed Him to speak and share how even in these moments God has a purpose and plan for each of His children, even those with Special Needs.

This has helped then as counselors to be more authentic and open with those that are counseling and understand the struggles and pain they are going through also. 

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In this episode, I talk with Eddie Taylor, co-founder of Taylor Ministry Group, about his and his wife, Beth, and their ministry that is a vision to help every leader live from a healthy core and to do that by reaching, reproducing and resourcing healthy leaders though mentoring and discipleship.

Eddie and Beth have been married for over 33 years and have three sons. Eddie has been a lead pastor, writer, conference speaker and sits on several ministry boards as an advisor and counselor. Eddie was born and raised in Waycross, Georgia.

Early in their marriage, Eddie and Beth were prophesied over that their marriage would one day be their ministry and today they are fulfilling that calling with The Taylor Ministry Group that believes it takes healthy spiritual leadership to promote church revitalization and evangelism for around the world.

Eddie talks about how his brother Kevin led him to the Lord and how he went to a revival service and was saved on November 2nd, 1986 and then on December 31st was filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit at a youth event when he heard a message given out from the Holy Spirit to receive the Holy Spirit and a calling into the ministry.

He tells about Ray Owens, that mentored him and many others, and how he impacted his life even to this day that they still talk. He didn't just give him encouragement, but also at times that they would go for a ride and he would rebuke, or correct, Eddie in love over a comment or action that he had said or done. This was a father's love of correction and not out of hate and spite.

Eddie also talked about how we should have 3 significant people in our lives and relationships. There are those who are a Barnabas, Silas, or a Timothy. They  may be someone that is in your life for a short time that pours into your life or vice versa. Then, there are those that are in your life for a long period of time as either a mentor or disciple.

Eddie planted and started a church in in 2000 till they stepped down in 2018 to start their next season in ministry.

Eddie shared that he has an acronym for mentoring and discipleship. This may be a lifelong or for a season for building and developing a protégé. It is call F. A. T.

F- Faithful ( in that those you are mentoring should be faithful not just to you but in their walk with Christ.)
A- Available ( are they willing to make time for you to pour into their lives and not as a servant to meet your needing.)
T-Teachable ( are they willing to be taught. You can't teach an expert. Looking for those that are hungry to grow in their spiritual walk.)

Eddie shares that when you are mentoring you should always be closing  and always looking for the next Timothy. He shared a quote from Mike Breem, which says, "If you attempt to build a church you will rarely make disciples; but if you attempt to make disciples, you will have a church."

Eddie shares what him and Beth do it to teach what you know, but you reproduce everywhere else and who you are. You impress from a distance but impact up close.

He talked about how pastors and leaders should look at attendance or budgets to gauge the health of a church or ministry, and that size and health of a church are two different ideas of ministry.

What discipleship and accountability relationships do is help us see around us at 360 degrees to keep us from being deceived.

We finally talked briefly about Eddie's new book that he has written and hope to be out later this year about Samson called " The Rise and Fall of Samson".  In it he talks about even with all that Samson did in his life to rebel, he was still called of God and was later mentioned in the Hall of Faith in  Hebrews chapter 11.

Social media links:
https://www.taylorministry.com/
https://www.instagram.com/taylor_ministry_group/
https://twitter.com/taylorgroup3

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Are you Puffed Up or Built Up?

Do you know what foundation your faith is built upon?

In this episode, I talk about knowing and building upon a firm foundation in Jesus Christ.

In the fire department, for a promotional exam we have to study a building construction book. The book talks about the 5 different types of building construction. They range from a Heavy timber down to a light-weight frame (basic home frame).  One type that I remember studying about was the membrane structure. This type of building is nothing more that a cloth type material that is inflated with positive pressure air to keep the structure up while keeping you protected from the elements and weather; but once the air is stopped, the structure deflates much like a bounce house.

Same with you faith.
What is it built on?
Is it built on the Word of God or just on the next fad or wind of doctrine that you like and makes you feel good, but doesn't truly build your faith?

In Luke 6:48-49, Jesus tell the parable of the wise man, who builds his house upon the rock, and the foolish man, who builds his house on the sand.

A high rise building must have a deep foundation to be able to hold the weight and forces that will come against the building and can be several stories large below the surface of the ground. We also need to have a deep foundation in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 talks about the wise master builder and the foundation that will last the test of time.

In the building construction book, it tells that a concrete foundation takes up to 28 days to properly cure and set. If not, then you will have  cracks, air bubbles, air pockets and unlevel floors. If this isn't corrected early on then you will have bigger issues later on as the building settles.

This is where older Christians feel that they need to step in after a new convert gets up from the alter and they want to tell them what they need to change or fix in their lives before God and the Holy Spirit can work in their lives.

We see that with any building the first stone that is set in place will determine how the rest of the construction can go. This is called the cornerstone.

Acts 4:11 and Psalms 118:22 tell us the Jesus is that chief cornerstone in our lives and faith.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa started being built in 1173 A.D. and in 1178 the builder realized that the building had started leaning after only building the first 3 floors. This was due to the soft ground that consisted of clay, fine sand and shell. Over the next several hundreds of years the shifting soil has destabilized the foundation of the tower.

The builder even tried to compensate with the remaining floors to prevent it from leaning more, but to no avail. It has continued to lean even with the builder taking extra precautions to maintain the center of gravity.

So, how do you build a FIRM  foundation on Jesus in you life?
Here are 4 steps to help you.

1. F-  Faith (scriptures for reference: Matthew 16:17-18; Hebrews 11:1-3; Ephesians 2:8)
2. I-   Inspiration (II Timothy 3:16-17)
3. R-  Read God's Word (Deuteronomy 17:19; Psalms 119:11,16; Jeremiah 36:6; Mark 12:10; Ephesians 3:4)
4. M-  Meditate on God's Word( Psalms 1:2, Psalms 119:15; Psalms 119:148; Colossians 4:2; I Thessalonians 5:17; I Timothy 4:15-16

Songs that I remember hearing when I was young and in Children's church that we use to sing were "Kids Under Construction- maybe the paint is still wet" and "He's still working on me". 

Isn't that how we feel at time that God is still working on us like a fixer upper or a refurbished home, but that is how it is once you are saved. You are no longer that old sinful person but a new creation in Christ Jesus!

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Did you ever have that feeling that God had abandoned you when you were facing a difficult trial?
Maybe you wandered from your faith and felt like He left you or gave up on you?

In this episode, I share a story of when I was around 6-8 years old and wandered away from my mom in a department store; and how this event compares to the parable that Jesus told of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15.

Many times we feel that God leaves us or ignores us during hard times or even when we make mistakes and pick up old habits, but that isn't the case. There are many scriptures that tell us that He is always there and never left us.

Just as with the lost sheep, Jesus as that Good Shepherd knows where we are even when we feel lost, abandoned and afraid. He never took his eyes off us and was watching out for us.

It may not have felt like that when you went through a difficult situation and may not have turned out the way you hoped, but God still is wanting the best for us and cares enough to go get us and bring us back to the fold. 

Just as a parent, we care for our children and don't want to see them hurt; but we have to at times allow them to face trials and even get hurt. That is when we step in to restore and bring healing and help to them, much like God, our Heavenly Father, does for us.

King David referenced many of his Psalms about God as a shepherd, because that was what he could relate to as a child and watching over his fathers flock.

Scripture references:
Psalms 23:1,4
Luke 15: 4-7
John 14:16
Matthew 18:20
Matthew 28:20
Matthew 1:23
Isaiah 7:14
Isaiah 58:9
Hebrews 13:5

Cover art provided by www.LumoProject.com

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How many times have you told yourself you didn't have a problem with porn and that you weren't hurting anyone?

Have you had that moment of shame and guilt of being caught watching Porn?

How about the effect it had on your relationship or marriage?
 
Well, the effects that pornography can have on us is just as powerful as any drug or alcohol.

In this episode, I talk about the struggles that I had with pornography and the over 30 year addiction that nearly cost me losing family because of it.

Many men don't see it as an issue or look at it as a right of passage into manhood to look at a X-rated magazine, movie or website. Many fathers even encourage their son's to look or participate with them in watch it. But, we are seeing the effects it is having on marriages and relationships with the lack of intimacy and unity that God wants us to have in a marriage.

Pornography is Satan's attempt to counterfeit what God has created and distort it to think that this is normal.

God even spoke against sin with a women. In Exodus 20:14 it says as one of the Ten Commandments that  "You shall not commit adultery." and then in verse 17 of " You shall not covet your neighbors wife...".
Then in the New Testament when many came to Jesus, He told them in Matthew 5 :27-28 of not only of the physical act of adultery itself, but  "if anyone who even looks on a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Temptation isn't a sin, but when you dwell on it; then it becomes sin. Temptation becomes a sin only when you go after those sinful, wrongful desires.  Being tempted to sin and the sinful act itself are two different things.

Quotes:

Dr. Edwin Louis Cole - " Lust is the desire to benefit self at the expense of others, while love is the desire to benefit others at the expense of self. (Maximized Manhood) (Sexual Integrity)

Michael John Cusick- from the book Surfing For God
 "Desiring something that is contrary to what is God's best that He has for your life."
" The reality is that your heart needs something, and porn promises to meet that need."
"Like all idols, porn promises us something we desire. In reality it overpromises and underdelivers."
"In our minds, porn makes us bigger, stronger and more desirable. It affirms our manhood."
"We run to porn at times than normal intimacy with our spouse due to fear of conflict."
"If you don't have something in your life that regularly inspires adventure, risk, and passion; beware, because if you don't, you will seek the counterfeit.

John Eldridge - What makes porn so addictive is that more that anything else in a man's life, it makes him feel like a man with ever requiring a thing of him."

Resources for statistics mentioned:

https://conquerseries.com/15-mind-blowing-statistics-about-pornography-and-the-church/
https://keyloggers.mobi/pornography-addiction-statistics/?amp
https://www.covenanteyes.com/pornstats/
https://www.guystuffcounseling.com/porn-addiction-statistics

Book resources -

Surfing For God - Michael John Cusick
Maximized Manhood - Dr. Edwin Louis Cole
Sexual Integrity -  Dr. Edwin Louis Cole
The Real Win -  Colt McCoy and Matt Carter

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Do you know that UNFORGIVENESS can bear a physical weight?

Have you been weighted down with worry, concern or fear?

In this episode I discuss and share how in a personal event how much of a weight it was on me physically and emotionally. I also share what you can do to identify those issues and what you can do to move pass them and get the freedom you need. It is the power of release that is so valuable to heal every hurt and pain. You may remember the hurt, but God can remove it if we release it to Him.

Scriptures:
Luke 6:37-38-“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

John 20:23-If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Matthew 6:14-15-“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Quotes:
Albert Einstein -"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results."

Dr. Edwin Louis Cole-  "We do two things in life — enter and leave. How we leave determines how we will enter.” 

Giveaway:
To be entered in the giveaway please send an email with you name and a brief message about what you think of the podcast and how has it blessed you.
 You can sent that to: [email protected]

Deadline to enter is March 1st, 2021.

Resources(Book):
The Unnatural Act of Forgiveness by Jack King.

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In this episode, I interview Mick Moffitt, owner and operator of Training Division Fire Academy. Mick shares about growing up through tragedy and how it eventually led him to a career as a firefighter. 

Mick has been married for over 20+ years to his wife Julie and has 2 sons and 1 daughter. After 17 years with the fire department, Mick took an early retirement to focus on training and building the character of future firefighters around the world.

Mick shares about a tragedy that he faced as a child at age 6 that completely changed his family, but had an impact on his life to eventually become a firefighter. 

During his youth, Mick had struggles and got into trouble, but it wasn't until he was in his 20's with the encouragement from his wife, Julie, that Mick finally became a firefighter. After several years and advancing up through the ranks, Mick felt that it was time to reboot and make a change. Even after stepping away from the fire department, Mick said it was difficult to know that he had left his identity at the fire station and how it took him a few years through a journey to be free from that false sense of who was felt he was.

Mick then started Training Division fire academy in the Fort Worth, Texas area that provides online training as well as the hands on aspect for students to get the hands on training and experience of being in a fire station environment.  They were the first to provide a full online course of this kind and is recognized as the #1 privately owned training academy in North America. They also work with 9 local high schools, several departments and Colleges to provide training and education for future firefighters.

The basis behind the training school that Mick explains is the "6 Pillars of Professional Firefighting Character Traits". Mick shares how God laid on his heart the verse Proverbs 9:1 and the vision of 7 pillars and this was the foundation of helping build strong characters in future firefighters.

Link:
http://trainingdivision.com/

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Did you have a plan in place or goal set and everything went wrong or a different direction? Looking back, do you think this year or season went the way you thought it was going to go.

In this episode, I talk about what God showed me a few years ago that has helped me and I believe with help you also.

As you go into a new year or season of your life, I encourage you to take the time to pray, meditate on God's Word and seek what direction He has for you next. It isn't just about praying a quick pray or reading your Bible on a daily basis, but really taking the time to listen to what He has to say.

For the last couple of years, God has had the word Reposition  on my heart. He showed me that, sometimes, we get routines and Satan knows our patterns and activities and knows where and how to attack us in our lives; but if we reposition our path, much like repositioning a satellite, we can get a better view of what God is wanting for us.

As we are approaching the new year I take the time to pray and seek watch word or verse God has for me in the upcoming year. The words and verse that He put on my heart was Proverbs 29:18 which says " Where there is no vision..." -KJV
"Where there is no Revelation..."-NKJV
"When people do not accept divine guidance..."- NLT

The word that went with this scripture was Clarity. I felt that for me, God was wanting me to take that time to seek His guidance and have clarity in the vision that He has for me in all areas of my life in this coming year. 

I want to encourage you to take the time to see what verse or word that God has for you in the upcoming year or season of your life.

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