5/31/07

I put this blog address in a first class mail letter today to my entire mailing list. I’m trying to get the word out about what is available on this blog site.

This will be one of my goals at the North American Christian Convention in Kansas City, Missouri the first week of July. I am preparing blog site info on the back of my business card to hand out at our booth (412) in the Exhibition Area and also at our two workshops at 8 AM on the 4th and the 5th.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO HELP ME GET THE WORD OUT BY WORD OF MOUTH.  JUST SAY THAT CHURCH ENCOURAGEMENT SERVICES HAS A HELPFUL BLOG SITE – churchhelp.wordpress.com l appreciate the time and the thoughtfulness in helping me to let church leaders know.

Together, seeking to bear much fruit for our Master, Larry    -   OH, CHECK THE CATEGORIES DIRECTORY & GIVE ME YOUR COMMENTS.

5/30/07

The DVD Master for the North American Christian Convention (Kansas City – July) is completed! Much thanks to the Good Lord, My wife Cathie and Producer/Director Pastor Heath Hiatt. I feel good about it. It is only about four minutes long and on Mini-DVD. Pastor Gary Leary already did the graphics for the DVD label and they are ready to run. I hope, some time in the not too distant future, I will be able to put the DVD on this blog site for all you bloggers. Besides the technology to get this done, their is some minor expence.

The DVD is called “The Tale of Two Churches.”It will be a powerful tool especially for those interested in the CES Seminar to have in their hand to present to their “Decision Makers.”

Look around in the Catgegories Directory and see what sll this site has to offer. Check out the two Power Point presentations. 

I would love to get your input about what you think of this blog site. I want to know if I am providing helpful material, if anything is meaningful to you, if your have some suggestions or even criticism. Just click on the word comments under any post. 

Together, seeking to bear much fruit for our Master, Larry

Larry & Cathie

I have been in the ministry for over forty years. God used this experience to give me a heart for discouraged churches. This ministry “Church Encouragement Services Inc.” is primarily week-end seminars based on my manuscript “Raising the Dead” (new life for churches) The ministry has four focus points: (1) To the unhealthy struggling church   (2)  Equipping and leadership training.  (3) Old fashioned revival and (4) Insights into practical ministries. Cathie & I present these week-end seminars at local churches all over the country. It is primarily for decision making leadership. All that is required is that each participant purchases the manual for $30, round trip transportation, a love offering, along with room and board while we are there. A free CES Introduction Packet is available by contacting us: rtdmin@hoosierlink,net  (574) 274-8288 or 501 Pennsylvania Ave. - Plymouth, IN 46563

SECRET OF A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to talk to God face to face? Like Moses and God at the burning bush? or Moses and God on the mountain? Moses could confidently say that God told me (such and such) and not only believe it , but state it confidently, and others didn’t doubt the claim that he had really talked to God.

If we try to claim that we have talked with God today or say that God told me (such and such) we would most likely have some raised eyebrows, scoffing and doubt. But wait a minute. Let’s consider something that I am calling the secret of a personal relationship with God.

First let’s consider a couple of Biblical truths and facts that apply to Christians today:

(1) The power of the Word of God. Hebrews 4: 12 NLTSE ”for the Word of God is alive and powerful It is sharper than the sharpest two edged sword, cutting between soul and  spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

(2) Hebrews 11:6 NLTSE “And it is impossible to please God without faith.”

I’m sure we agree to the truth of these two Scriptures. (1) the Bible IS powerful (This assumes that you accept the doctrine that the Bible is the Word of God.) and (2) We must practice our faith to please God.

Now let me make my application  to the secret of having a personal relationship with God. And more directly, hearing God speak to us and being able to confidently say God told me (such and such.)

This is how this works. When I read the Scripture to “love your enemies” by faith I believe and freely state that God told me to love my enemies. When I read in the Scripture, “Seek first the Kingdom of God” by faith I believe and freely state that God told me seek first His Kingdom. Or when I read in the Scripture to, “Walk by faith and not by sight) I believe and freely state that God told me to do just that.

There is another level of this kind of relationship that believes by faith that every good thought that comes into your mind is from God. But that is something else altogether.

This is such a blessing to me Not only in my personal relationship to God, but in my teaching and preaching as well.  It makes all the difference in the world when we with confidence in the Bible, through our faith, state that God told me!

What a jump in our personal relationship with God when we come to the place where we believe that (THROUGH SCRIPTURE) God is talking to us personally.

NOW IT’S NO SECRET!

14 BARRIERS & SOLUTIONS

14 Barriers that hinder growth & lead to death            1. Not identifying problems.            2. Not calling out to God.            3. No Vision.            4. The Bible is not the ultimate authority.            5. No one is sharing the Good News.            6. Leadership weak.             7. Confusion of preacher’s job description.            8. Confusion of elder’s job description.            9. Confusion of deacon’s job description.          10. No one being equipped.          11.  Poor preparation.          12. Not making Sunday special.          13. Problems left unsolved.          14. Little or no implementation.  

14 Solutions to the Barriers

1. Problems identified.            2. Now calling out to God.            3.  Vision established.            4. The Bible is the ultimate authority.            5. Now sharing the Good News.            6. Strong Leaders.             7. Clear preacher’s job description.            8. Clear elder’s job description.            9. Clear deacon’s job description.          10. Members being equipped.          11. Quality preparation.          12. Every Sunday special.          13. Problems solved.          14. Strong implementation.

5/23/07

I have added two Power Point presentations for the first time. (1) Is the Power Point slides I use for our half hour introduction to Church Encouragement Services and the Seminar. (2) Is last years Power Point presentation for the 2006 North American Christian Convention. They seem to work well. Try them out and give me your comments.

In the future all slides can be accessed by going to the CATEGORY – POWER POINT

Together, seeking to bear much fruit for our Master. Larry

PP Intro to Why CES & CES Seminar

2006 NACC Intro to CES

5/22/07

In a recent “Daily Journal” I shared how the Church Encouragement Services Executive Board has been doing a great job providing for our needs for the North American Christian Convention (Coming up in July.) and appreciation is rightfully deserved 

Cathie reminded me that there are others than our board members who have also helped greatly in this project. Please forgive my unintended oversight. Several other than board  members have also sent generous gifts and we couldn’t do it without them!

CHECK “CATEGORIES“                                                                       FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP HELP

Together, seeking to bear much fruit for our Master, Larry

COMMENTS are always welcome. 

5/21/07

You’ve probably heard or read about the terrible statistics on Preachers/Pastors leaving the ministry. There are even good studies on reasons why this is happening.

Some of those reasons include strong disillusionment after leaving their formal education. They begin ministry with a beautiful dream and (unprepared for it) reality slaps them in the face. This comes in many forms. But a strong supporting church leadership goes a long way in preventing it. And a weak non-supportng leadership goes a long way in being the primary problem.

This is fixable! Church people (and especially leaders) need to learn how to bless their Preacher/Pastor and be aware of “Preacher/Pastor Killers.” These two subjects are addressed in the next two blog entries.  Today they are here in the front of this blog. In the future they can be accessed by going to the Category – Preachers/Pastors

Together, seeking to bear much fruit for our Master, Larry

TAKE A MINUTE AND GIVE ME YOUR COMMENTS.