(After reading some blogs and statements from others we cannot let this happen…read and weep or get involved and stop this from happening.)
I have tried my best to keep up with the political polls concerning our upcoming presidential campaigns and election. I have realized our nation is in major trouble. We are no longer the declared Superpower of the world, even though we are in three major fields of battle at this time and have troops all over the world. We have literally sat by and allowed our Constitution to become undermined and our freedoms and liberties have become weakened. We heard President Obama state that change was coming to America when he became president. He really has been true to his word we are facing change today that we will never recover from. Our liberal media and our liberal politicians have promoted all of these detrimental changes and we have little to no recourse in this hour.
I am personally registered as a Republican on the Covington County voting ledger. I really do not vote party I vote for the individual who most supports my personal Christian ideals which I have very few to choose from. Even those who are classed as conservative lean toward a weak agenda for our great nation.
I do know that there will be presidential candidates who will run as candidates hoping to fill President Obama’s position as President, the top position in this great nation. There are several candidates who are running for the white house from the Republican Party. But, it really does not matter how great all the other candidates are, I believe President Barak Obama will win a second term of office, (even though he will not win because of my vote.)
The media will not tell us these things in clarity because a good election campaign means hundreds of millions or billions of dollars to them in advertising dollars. Let the truth be known and understood today, there is no way by which I cannot perceive Barak Obama can be defeated in the upcoming 2012 election. The Democratic Party is not going to try to remove him. The Republican Party can run the best quality of candidate (male or female) it will not make a difference. Obama will be re-elected.
The unemployment can go even higher and probably will, than the nine percent it is at this time. Obama will still win the election as a second term President. Our gasoline prices, which for the moment have started downward, but will rise again quickly soon, can reach five dollars a gallon and Obama will win the election as a second term President. The economy, which is classed as the American voters number one concern can still go to the bottom, Obama will still win the election as a second term President. Even with this new war in the Middle East and others on the horizon, Obama will win a second term as President. Even with the USA losing her role as the worlds greatest Superpower, Obama will still win re-election, a second term as President in 2012.
The U.S. government is at this moment on the brink of bankruptcy, the dollar continues to decline in value. The World Markets and the price of daily goods and services are soaring due to out of control inflation, which is fueled by Obama's extraordinary deficit spending. Yes, President Obama will win the 2012 presidential race with no problem.
I know that many of you think I am way off the mark. I do understand how volatile politics in America can be when overall economic, governmental, and world conditions are on such a dire decline. This is one of the main reasons that I am so sure that Obama is going to win again.
The overall American public is so very ignorant when it comes to the economics concerning this nation, yet economics is the number one issue that many voters state should be why President Obama should be voted out and defeated. With our nation on the brink of its final ruin the majority of the American public who are controlled by the liberal media, are being sucked in to believing the bait-and-switch tactics Obama and his supporters in the media are using to explain why these problems and conditions are not his fault. After all it was George Bush who he replaced and things were worse than we all understood when Obama took office.
President Obama’s reelection is very simple to figure out. Follow this line of thinking: 1st the majority of blacks in the USA will vote for Obama, this is a fact, it does not matter what he does or does not accomplish. I hate to use this term, but it is a race thing, He is black and that means the most to so many. 2nd so many college educated women will vote for Obama even though they will try to deny this thinking, but they are swooned by his great oratory. It is that simple they are moved by his ability to speak. 3rd liberals will vote in mass for Obama, he is and will continue to be their great hope of changing this great nation with his liberal agenda to meet their liberal goals. 4th Democrats will vote for Obama simply because he is Democrat no matter how bad he has handled everything up to this date. He is a leader of their party and will be voted for by them on the simple fact he is a Democrat. 5th Hispanic majorities will also vote pro-Obama, because he is their path to citizenship, even though many of them are still illegal in this country the Hispanic leaders realize they carry more clout in the Democratic party and among the Democratic Leaders. 6th most union members will vote overwhelmingly for President Obama. He is the key to union bosses remaining in power and their controlling several major manufacturing companies and at the same time controlling local and state politics. 7th Big Business seems to support President Obama they have been with him during his tenure of his presidency. President Obama has almost one billion dollars in his reelection account, which was gained in large portion from his connections with Big Business. His account is growing rapidly, actually daily. President Obama has given big Business access to taxpayer’s money as long as they support his social and political agenda. 8th The media loves President Obama. They do attack people who work for him, but when they do talk against him, they are gentle, because they really do love this president. After all it would be politically incorrect not to love him, because those who do not are classed as racist. 9th Most of the other minorities and even the special interest groups will vote for him. The majority of Hispanics do vote Democratic, because the Democrats usually favor giving illegal’s more and more financial aid. Believe it or not the overwhelming majority of Jews will support him because they will not support a Republican. Muslims will support him, because he is sympathetic to their causes and they seem to think Republicans are not with them at all. American Indians will support him, they overwhelmingly vote Democratic. Obviously homosexuals tend to vote Democratic because most Democrats vote in favor of their agenda’s. And lastly 10th Approximately half of independent voters will vote for Obama.
Yes, I am of the opinion President Obama will win an overwhelming victory in 2012. What a shame and what a detriment to this great nation. It will be very hard to turn this nation around after Obama’s first term as President, but it will be an impossibility to turn it around after His second term, because we will no longer be One Nation Under God, With Liberty and Justice For All.
Please understand this is just a thought, you and I can change the outcome of the 2012 Presidential Election if we simply vote our Christian Morals and ideals.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
I WAS JUST THINKING ON THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
I CANNOT EXPECT EVERYONE TO BE PLEASED WITH MY PREACHING
I learned early on in my ministry, that I could not please everyone with my preaching. The goal in my preaching is not to please all of those who are listeners. But it should be my goal to touch them and change them forever. In my preparation of a sermon, I try to follow the leading of the Holy Ghost. I also try to keep the messages I preach from being prepared and then presented so as to point out an individual or individuals, especially when I do know specific situations. But try as I might, I do know that if I am going to preach the Word of God in the Spirit of Truth, I will step on someone’s toes.
But knowing all of these things I still deal with my own vulnerabilities, it is very uncomfortable to hear that some church members are not happy with my preaching.
The challenge is for me to figure out why and then know whether to adjust my messages or not. Here are some possible reasons some do not like my preaching and some possible responses or ways to change my presentation.
I am not a really intellectual preacher, but I still preach Over The Heads of many—Perhaps my preaching is simply not pitched effectively for the members that are faithful in attendance. Maybe I use terminology or words that are academically above the listeners and the people simply struggle to understand my points. There is no real reason or virtue in doing this and I must be willing to hear the response of the people and follow their line of feedback.
If I cannot make it understandable for those I pastor or preach to, it is my problem to deal with rather than their problem. The carnal nature of men or the flesh has a tendency to showoff our intelligence, but there is no good excuse for carnal fleshly preaching. I as a pastor, preacher must listen to the feedback from the church members or the faithful saints. I must listen to them graciously and seek ways and means to change my presentation of God’s Word so that they can be moved and changed by the preaching of His Holy Word. This does not mean I compromise or water my messages down, but it does mean I present it in such a way the people I am preaching to understand it and are convicted by the preached Word.
I really do try to show compassion and to be tolerant of the people I pastor and preach to, but I do understand there are those times I can Overly Grate Their Tolerance—I do know that I have a strong personality that can come across as coarse and grating to some people and because of this some people have a personal struggle with my preaching on certain subjects. This is a hard area for me to adjust or even to know how to change. I suppose in an ideal church situation I try my best to increase the fruit of the Spirit through my life as I preach hoping and praying that as I mature in these spiritual areas this should alleviate this problem over a short period of time. No matter how I try to fix and change myself sometimes two personalities will clash, and because of this it will always be a struggle in some cases. Sometimes people hide behind the clash of personalities when there is an underlying sin issue that should be addressed (jealousy, bitterness, contempt, control, etc.). This is a harder problem to address, but loving these who struggle is not a bad path for me to take.
Sometimes I can preach so that I Overly Burdening The Lives of The Saints Who Are In Attendance—Sometimes my preaching can simply weigh some of the saints down with duty and burden. This may be a misunderstanding of both the saints and myself or a misunderstanding of our Biblical principles. There are too many Pentecostal’s who think that the preacher needs to “spiritually beat and berate” listeners in order to be truly preaching the Word. Too many Pentecostal’s have a sort of “flagellation by sermon” approach to spirituality. Some Pentecostal saints feel like they are somehow better off when they can walk out of church feeling like they have been flogged by the preaching. Yes they feel great when they say, “Man, I needed that!” But this approach to preaching is not my style, nor do I like to overly burden the lives of those I preach to. This beating and berating of the saints will break bruised reeds and snuff out lives. I have not been called by the Lord to be harsh, hard or to abuse the saints of God that I pastor or that come hear me preach. I am to present to these people the Word of God with love and a Christ-like attitude.
Yes there are those times I Overly Touch The Hearts Of Those I Am Preaching—Perhaps my preaching is simply touching too close to home for them, actually doing everything but calling their names. If I am preaching in such a way as to target the hearts of those who are listening, then many will resonate deeply with what I am doing. But in any church there will be some who are essentially hard-hearted, who want the preaching to meet certain criteria and stroke their religious egos and pious. Some find it deeply convicting to feel as if they do not really have a loving personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Some hearers of the Word, whose hearts are overly charged by my preaching have openly revolted at the notion that those who are not born again as the Word of the Lord says, are actually lost and undone.. It is so sad to know there are so many in our churches that prefer to have everyone who attends to be pleasantly untouched, and feel comfortable just as they are.
There are other reasons that I cannot expect everyone to be pleased by my preaching, and often it is a blend of more than one reason. The challenge is to sort and present my preaching for every listening audience so it will be received and cherished with a loving sensitivity to the many who sit and listen to me. It is wrong for me to refuse to hear feedback, and it is wrong for me to try to please everyone. I am to Love Him, love them and I am to respond to the feedback and adjust my preaching only when and where it is appropriate.
I learned early on in my ministry, that I could not please everyone with my preaching. The goal in my preaching is not to please all of those who are listeners. But it should be my goal to touch them and change them forever. In my preparation of a sermon, I try to follow the leading of the Holy Ghost. I also try to keep the messages I preach from being prepared and then presented so as to point out an individual or individuals, especially when I do know specific situations. But try as I might, I do know that if I am going to preach the Word of God in the Spirit of Truth, I will step on someone’s toes.
But knowing all of these things I still deal with my own vulnerabilities, it is very uncomfortable to hear that some church members are not happy with my preaching.
The challenge is for me to figure out why and then know whether to adjust my messages or not. Here are some possible reasons some do not like my preaching and some possible responses or ways to change my presentation.
I am not a really intellectual preacher, but I still preach Over The Heads of many—Perhaps my preaching is simply not pitched effectively for the members that are faithful in attendance. Maybe I use terminology or words that are academically above the listeners and the people simply struggle to understand my points. There is no real reason or virtue in doing this and I must be willing to hear the response of the people and follow their line of feedback.
If I cannot make it understandable for those I pastor or preach to, it is my problem to deal with rather than their problem. The carnal nature of men or the flesh has a tendency to showoff our intelligence, but there is no good excuse for carnal fleshly preaching. I as a pastor, preacher must listen to the feedback from the church members or the faithful saints. I must listen to them graciously and seek ways and means to change my presentation of God’s Word so that they can be moved and changed by the preaching of His Holy Word. This does not mean I compromise or water my messages down, but it does mean I present it in such a way the people I am preaching to understand it and are convicted by the preached Word.
I really do try to show compassion and to be tolerant of the people I pastor and preach to, but I do understand there are those times I can Overly Grate Their Tolerance—I do know that I have a strong personality that can come across as coarse and grating to some people and because of this some people have a personal struggle with my preaching on certain subjects. This is a hard area for me to adjust or even to know how to change. I suppose in an ideal church situation I try my best to increase the fruit of the Spirit through my life as I preach hoping and praying that as I mature in these spiritual areas this should alleviate this problem over a short period of time. No matter how I try to fix and change myself sometimes two personalities will clash, and because of this it will always be a struggle in some cases. Sometimes people hide behind the clash of personalities when there is an underlying sin issue that should be addressed (jealousy, bitterness, contempt, control, etc.). This is a harder problem to address, but loving these who struggle is not a bad path for me to take.
Sometimes I can preach so that I Overly Burdening The Lives of The Saints Who Are In Attendance—Sometimes my preaching can simply weigh some of the saints down with duty and burden. This may be a misunderstanding of both the saints and myself or a misunderstanding of our Biblical principles. There are too many Pentecostal’s who think that the preacher needs to “spiritually beat and berate” listeners in order to be truly preaching the Word. Too many Pentecostal’s have a sort of “flagellation by sermon” approach to spirituality. Some Pentecostal saints feel like they are somehow better off when they can walk out of church feeling like they have been flogged by the preaching. Yes they feel great when they say, “Man, I needed that!” But this approach to preaching is not my style, nor do I like to overly burden the lives of those I preach to. This beating and berating of the saints will break bruised reeds and snuff out lives. I have not been called by the Lord to be harsh, hard or to abuse the saints of God that I pastor or that come hear me preach. I am to present to these people the Word of God with love and a Christ-like attitude.
Yes there are those times I Overly Touch The Hearts Of Those I Am Preaching—Perhaps my preaching is simply touching too close to home for them, actually doing everything but calling their names. If I am preaching in such a way as to target the hearts of those who are listening, then many will resonate deeply with what I am doing. But in any church there will be some who are essentially hard-hearted, who want the preaching to meet certain criteria and stroke their religious egos and pious. Some find it deeply convicting to feel as if they do not really have a loving personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Some hearers of the Word, whose hearts are overly charged by my preaching have openly revolted at the notion that those who are not born again as the Word of the Lord says, are actually lost and undone.. It is so sad to know there are so many in our churches that prefer to have everyone who attends to be pleasantly untouched, and feel comfortable just as they are.
There are other reasons that I cannot expect everyone to be pleased by my preaching, and often it is a blend of more than one reason. The challenge is to sort and present my preaching for every listening audience so it will be received and cherished with a loving sensitivity to the many who sit and listen to me. It is wrong for me to refuse to hear feedback, and it is wrong for me to try to please everyone. I am to Love Him, love them and I am to respond to the feedback and adjust my preaching only when and where it is appropriate.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
THIS IS A REPOST...ABOUT GREAT PEOPLE
Just Thinking, Sunday, December 12, 2010
Great people do not think of themselves as being great; they just go out and do great things. Dr. M. D. Treece has been one of the greatest students and teachers of the Bible languages, of this generation. He is a modern-day Charles Haddon Spurgeon to Pentecostal pastors and preachers all over our world. I have personally learned so much from him. When we spend time with the right people in our life-time, we can become the right person our self. From simply knowing, and being pastored by Dr. M. D. Treece, I can honestly say, “he is truly one of the most amazing giants to walk this earth, of all times.
Dr. M. D. Treece taught that the programs of the local church flowed out of the preaching from the pulpit. In other words, his preaching became the fountainhead for the ministry programs of Apostolic Temple United Pentecostal Church. The pulpit was the central focus for this great church. Praise and worship set the stage for the “Word from God” for each week. Today, much is written about “church growth” but little expressed about “pulpit growth.” There are many roles that we can fill as pastors, but our number one assignment is to be ready when we step into the pulpit. Dr. M. D. Treece believed that his number one assignment each week for more than fifty years was to be “ready in season and out of season.” If we fill the pulpit, we can expect the Holy Ghost to fill everyone in the building.
Over the years that I evangelized, I would often purposely take some weekends off my busy schedule just to go home to Apostolic Temple so I could watch and listen to my favorite preacher preach to the great people there. I remember once making a distinct effort to sneak in and sit on the back row, so I could feel the impact of this mighty man of God from the furthest possible place from the pulpit. On that particular Sunday evening, he was preaching his annual message “Past Feeling.” Although I had heard him preach that wonderful message many times before, I watched him preach it as though it was his first time, with such freshness and anointing. Dr. M. D. Treece preached with such passion that the entire congregation was moved to prayer, many were making fresh decisions as to where they would spend eternity. Today, it seems that such God-given crescendos are often replaced, in many churches, with man-made ideas and little to no anointing. To Dr. M. D. Treece, the preacher’s role developed the local church’s goal. When he walked into the church service, everyone knew who the leader of Apostolic Temple United Pentecostal Church was, because he led with authority, love and much compassion.
Dr. M. D. Treece has always made preaching the Word clearer to me than any other preacher I have ever heard. I have been one of many who have had the privilege to sit with him and his wife in his study and talk about the Word of God. His study was the place where he met with God and crafted thousands of sermon messages, prophecy conference notes, Bible studies, Camp-meeting and General Conference messages. His study was also the place where he penned the books he wrote and distributed to so many ministers of the gospel. His writings will forever direct and help the ministry of the Pentecostal movement around the world.
In his study was a vast library of study books and good reading though out the ages of time. His large desk was centered in front of these many library shelves. His large desk was set up in such a manner that he could leave one study for awhile and go to another study without removing his work. He would have his book writings on the desk to go to when he had the time to devote, go to the other section of his desk to prepare for his coming services or meeting. Dr. M. D. Treece progressive study was not because he had a large desk, a massive library, and a large beautiful study, but because he had personalized a process that directed his desire to stay fresh in the Word of God. I can almost envision some pastors contemplating having a large desk, large library and a beautiful study for their future studying of sermonic messages and still miss the real point. It is not the size of his desks, or the beauty of his study that has made the difference, but the reality that when a preacher has a process of study, time is redeemed and his sermon quality continues to rise over the years, as did Dr. M. D. Treece, my wonderful Pastor. What has made Dr. M. D. Treece the preacher he has become over his life-time was that he knew where he was going and had a process to get him to that place? Whatever looks so simple to those on the outside, this great preacher has paid a great price to keep himself in the presence of God, and to bring so many of us with him.
I may have met many men who are lovers of Christ Jesus, but never have I met another man who loved Jesus as much as Dr. M. D. Treece. When a pastor reads the books “The Literal Word” they will see the Word of God has been open and real to Dr. M. D. Treece. His passion to serve the Lord Jesus Christ is still overflowing into every level of his life, especially now in his conversations with his family and friends. When he has preached about Jesus, it has not been an uncommon sight to see him fight tears that were rolling down his cheeks.
Even though Dr. M. D. Treece has always been a public figure in Apostolic Temple and a strong voice in the United Pentecostal Church International, he has at the same time been a very private person. One thing I can personally say about him, he did not share his biblical insights until he had clearly thought them through and was ready to deliver them as God had given them to him. So much of what is often said in ministry today is made up of random thoughts or parroted expressions heard from another preacher, without much serious thought to how these ideas were marinated over a long period of time, this was never done by my pastor. When Dr. M. D. Treece preached to the masses or shared conversation or lessons with a few, the people knew they were hearing from a godly man who had truly thought through the subject before sharing. I have sat with him on many occasions and just in general conversation the nuggets I have taken with me have been so powerful.
Dr. M. D. Treece has been and still is the greatest man in my life. He is the best pastor and leader that I have ever had. He not only has been a student of the Word himself, but he taught me to love the study of the Word. He is the greatest orator that I have ever listened to, the best teacher that ever taught me, the wisest counselor that I have ever been counseled by. Dr. M. D Treece is the one that taught me what relationships are all about.
My wonderful pastor I do not have words to express my love and thanks to you so I will keep it simple.
Thank you for being who you are,
Rodney Bankens, your son in the gospel
As my thinking continues, Sunday, December 12, 2010
As I have gotten older in my years, I realize the old statement behind every successful man is a great wife. Sister Betty Treece is that wonderful individual who has been at the side of Dr. M. D. Treece all these many years.
Words cannot express my feeling to this wonderful godly lady. Sister Betty Treece is a very strong hard working leader at Apostolic Temple. She has never tried to take the place of her wonderful husband, but she has supported all his efforts and has stood with him in his ministry. Dr. M. D. Treece has always talked about her being “The Wind Beneath His Wings.” She has given him such positive support and still to this day is his strongest support.
I have never had a more positive, prayer warrior praying for me, my family and my ministry than this great lady. She has been a teacher to so many other women as to how to be a great wife, mother, grand-mother and pastors wife. So many families have survived failure simply because she has been there to give them so much great advice and counsel.
I have watched her support her elderly parents in their waning years, she did this with strength and dignity. She has been the strength of her family as they have seen Brother Treece face so many medical obstacles and she has been beside him through it all.
Sister Betty Treece, have two wonderful children that idolize her and Brother Treece. Their grand-children look up to them with so much respect, love and honor. What a wonderful family that they have.
Sister Betty Treece, I have heard her play the organ all of these years and her singing voice always moved me, because she is so anointed. What a gracious lady of faith she has always been. The strength she posses is beyond measure. She is always thinking of others above her own self. She is a gracious servant of the Lord, her family and the church she loves so dear. I know no greater lady that Sister Betty Treece. I am so thankful that this great lady has been a part of my life these many years. Such a great pastor’s wife she has been to all of us who have been a part of Apostolic Temple through-out all of these years.
To my wonderful pastor’s wife I really do not have the words to express my real feelings.
Thank you so much for simply being you,
Rodney Bankens, your son in the gospel
Great people do not think of themselves as being great; they just go out and do great things. Dr. M. D. Treece has been one of the greatest students and teachers of the Bible languages, of this generation. He is a modern-day Charles Haddon Spurgeon to Pentecostal pastors and preachers all over our world. I have personally learned so much from him. When we spend time with the right people in our life-time, we can become the right person our self. From simply knowing, and being pastored by Dr. M. D. Treece, I can honestly say, “he is truly one of the most amazing giants to walk this earth, of all times.
Dr. M. D. Treece taught that the programs of the local church flowed out of the preaching from the pulpit. In other words, his preaching became the fountainhead for the ministry programs of Apostolic Temple United Pentecostal Church. The pulpit was the central focus for this great church. Praise and worship set the stage for the “Word from God” for each week. Today, much is written about “church growth” but little expressed about “pulpit growth.” There are many roles that we can fill as pastors, but our number one assignment is to be ready when we step into the pulpit. Dr. M. D. Treece believed that his number one assignment each week for more than fifty years was to be “ready in season and out of season.” If we fill the pulpit, we can expect the Holy Ghost to fill everyone in the building.
Over the years that I evangelized, I would often purposely take some weekends off my busy schedule just to go home to Apostolic Temple so I could watch and listen to my favorite preacher preach to the great people there. I remember once making a distinct effort to sneak in and sit on the back row, so I could feel the impact of this mighty man of God from the furthest possible place from the pulpit. On that particular Sunday evening, he was preaching his annual message “Past Feeling.” Although I had heard him preach that wonderful message many times before, I watched him preach it as though it was his first time, with such freshness and anointing. Dr. M. D. Treece preached with such passion that the entire congregation was moved to prayer, many were making fresh decisions as to where they would spend eternity. Today, it seems that such God-given crescendos are often replaced, in many churches, with man-made ideas and little to no anointing. To Dr. M. D. Treece, the preacher’s role developed the local church’s goal. When he walked into the church service, everyone knew who the leader of Apostolic Temple United Pentecostal Church was, because he led with authority, love and much compassion.
Dr. M. D. Treece has always made preaching the Word clearer to me than any other preacher I have ever heard. I have been one of many who have had the privilege to sit with him and his wife in his study and talk about the Word of God. His study was the place where he met with God and crafted thousands of sermon messages, prophecy conference notes, Bible studies, Camp-meeting and General Conference messages. His study was also the place where he penned the books he wrote and distributed to so many ministers of the gospel. His writings will forever direct and help the ministry of the Pentecostal movement around the world.
In his study was a vast library of study books and good reading though out the ages of time. His large desk was centered in front of these many library shelves. His large desk was set up in such a manner that he could leave one study for awhile and go to another study without removing his work. He would have his book writings on the desk to go to when he had the time to devote, go to the other section of his desk to prepare for his coming services or meeting. Dr. M. D. Treece progressive study was not because he had a large desk, a massive library, and a large beautiful study, but because he had personalized a process that directed his desire to stay fresh in the Word of God. I can almost envision some pastors contemplating having a large desk, large library and a beautiful study for their future studying of sermonic messages and still miss the real point. It is not the size of his desks, or the beauty of his study that has made the difference, but the reality that when a preacher has a process of study, time is redeemed and his sermon quality continues to rise over the years, as did Dr. M. D. Treece, my wonderful Pastor. What has made Dr. M. D. Treece the preacher he has become over his life-time was that he knew where he was going and had a process to get him to that place? Whatever looks so simple to those on the outside, this great preacher has paid a great price to keep himself in the presence of God, and to bring so many of us with him.
I may have met many men who are lovers of Christ Jesus, but never have I met another man who loved Jesus as much as Dr. M. D. Treece. When a pastor reads the books “The Literal Word” they will see the Word of God has been open and real to Dr. M. D. Treece. His passion to serve the Lord Jesus Christ is still overflowing into every level of his life, especially now in his conversations with his family and friends. When he has preached about Jesus, it has not been an uncommon sight to see him fight tears that were rolling down his cheeks.
Even though Dr. M. D. Treece has always been a public figure in Apostolic Temple and a strong voice in the United Pentecostal Church International, he has at the same time been a very private person. One thing I can personally say about him, he did not share his biblical insights until he had clearly thought them through and was ready to deliver them as God had given them to him. So much of what is often said in ministry today is made up of random thoughts or parroted expressions heard from another preacher, without much serious thought to how these ideas were marinated over a long period of time, this was never done by my pastor. When Dr. M. D. Treece preached to the masses or shared conversation or lessons with a few, the people knew they were hearing from a godly man who had truly thought through the subject before sharing. I have sat with him on many occasions and just in general conversation the nuggets I have taken with me have been so powerful.
Dr. M. D. Treece has been and still is the greatest man in my life. He is the best pastor and leader that I have ever had. He not only has been a student of the Word himself, but he taught me to love the study of the Word. He is the greatest orator that I have ever listened to, the best teacher that ever taught me, the wisest counselor that I have ever been counseled by. Dr. M. D Treece is the one that taught me what relationships are all about.
My wonderful pastor I do not have words to express my love and thanks to you so I will keep it simple.
Thank you for being who you are,
Rodney Bankens, your son in the gospel
As my thinking continues, Sunday, December 12, 2010
As I have gotten older in my years, I realize the old statement behind every successful man is a great wife. Sister Betty Treece is that wonderful individual who has been at the side of Dr. M. D. Treece all these many years.
Words cannot express my feeling to this wonderful godly lady. Sister Betty Treece is a very strong hard working leader at Apostolic Temple. She has never tried to take the place of her wonderful husband, but she has supported all his efforts and has stood with him in his ministry. Dr. M. D. Treece has always talked about her being “The Wind Beneath His Wings.” She has given him such positive support and still to this day is his strongest support.
I have never had a more positive, prayer warrior praying for me, my family and my ministry than this great lady. She has been a teacher to so many other women as to how to be a great wife, mother, grand-mother and pastors wife. So many families have survived failure simply because she has been there to give them so much great advice and counsel.
I have watched her support her elderly parents in their waning years, she did this with strength and dignity. She has been the strength of her family as they have seen Brother Treece face so many medical obstacles and she has been beside him through it all.
Sister Betty Treece, have two wonderful children that idolize her and Brother Treece. Their grand-children look up to them with so much respect, love and honor. What a wonderful family that they have.
Sister Betty Treece, I have heard her play the organ all of these years and her singing voice always moved me, because she is so anointed. What a gracious lady of faith she has always been. The strength she posses is beyond measure. She is always thinking of others above her own self. She is a gracious servant of the Lord, her family and the church she loves so dear. I know no greater lady that Sister Betty Treece. I am so thankful that this great lady has been a part of my life these many years. Such a great pastor’s wife she has been to all of us who have been a part of Apostolic Temple through-out all of these years.
To my wonderful pastor’s wife I really do not have the words to express my real feelings.
Thank you so much for simply being you,
Rodney Bankens, your son in the gospel
Friday, June 17, 2011
I WAS JUST THINKING ON THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2011
“In Small Church America, The People Are Perishing”
I spent my first few months as a traveling evangelist in a very hard learning curve, because I had never preached before, and I was forty years old. I began buying books written by all types of preachers. I listened to so many preaching tapes, even tapes from preachers with different viewpoints of doctrine. I went to conferences and conventions of all different types. I traveled all over the USA, including Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. This was a very great time of my life and my ministry. Revival services seemed to be very successful and what a great time I had in seeing so many people repent, being baptized in Jesus name, and filled with the Holy Ghost. Such a great many miracles happened in these great services. My wife and I had such a marvelous time during this time.
When I began to feel that a change was coming to my ministry and my life I realized again I was going to face a very hard learning curve, because I had never been a pastor before. I again began devouring books on how to determine and communicate vision to the church I was pastoring. I went to all types of conferences and pastor meetings. I met with many different pastors and leaders from everywhere. I talked with my pastor and several of the pastors in the UPCI. Pastors I respect still to this day told me, "Decide how big you want your church to be, and get out there and grow it. Many of my UPCI brothers told me I could build a church of several hundred if I really worked it, but they told me the average church you can build, will be seventy five to eighty people. But my Baptist and Charismatic pastor friends told me I could build a church if I did it properly to five hundred, one thousand, or even three thousand members. They said you must envision what your church campus (or multiple campuses) will look like five, ten, or twenty years from now, and start working toward it. Dream about how your worship services can become more innovative. Put together a good leadership team and cast your vision before them often.
Proverbs 29:18 says, “where there is no vision, the people perish."
All of this advice seemed to make sense at first. But over time, after being beat up a few times by people, who were kind and friendly to me at first, but who do not want change or church growth, I found myself struggling to even have a fresh vision. All the goals I set and the programs I tried were quickly shredded by so many of the people in these small churches I was trying to pastor and lead. I quickly found that the average CHURCH MEMBER in small church America are not really full of the Lords Spirit and do not want any type of change or church growth. They are satisfied being average, lukewarm, normal Church going people.
I am now pastoring my second church. I am in a different part of the country, different church environment and the church setting is uniquely different, but the people have the same attitude about church and spiritual things. The people feel that the church is strictly here to make them feel comfortable as they live and do as they please. They want no change and they do not really desire any growth.
I sat down with members in our church, and together we asked ourselves, "What do we want to see? Where do we want to fasten our attention in the days to come? What do we want to work toward with all our hearts?" As we talked this over together, the answer became very obvious. The only possible vision for this church is to make us comfortable and give us a place of community and fellowship. This kind of attitude and vision are so hard to change in small church America. Yes, these wonderful people simply want a place where they can come alone and feel warm and welcomed, with no change. So here we prioritize this nice church campus for people to drive onto where they can find their convenient parking space. We will give them a soft drink, coffee or a latte when they walk in the door, and then we'll provide them with the best praise and worship team, provide entertainment and snacks for their children while treating them to a great time that leaves them feeling good when the family drives away in a very timely fashion.
In the American church today, very few want BIBLE TRUTH preached. Very few who attend church today are there to change, they are there to fulfill a tradition, to find some fellowship and the feel of community. Yes, many simply want to belong to something that makes them feel comfortable, yet requires very little personal effort or change. Variations of this vision are engineered for the average modern day Christian consumer in small church America today. The crowds are usually about the same size in number, with very little variation and by all means very little growth. But the average Church members are satisfied, parking in their parking space, sitting on their pew, being entertained and seeing no changes nor accomplishing anything as people perish and small church America fades away and most do not realize they are even dying.
I spent my first few months as a traveling evangelist in a very hard learning curve, because I had never preached before, and I was forty years old. I began buying books written by all types of preachers. I listened to so many preaching tapes, even tapes from preachers with different viewpoints of doctrine. I went to conferences and conventions of all different types. I traveled all over the USA, including Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. This was a very great time of my life and my ministry. Revival services seemed to be very successful and what a great time I had in seeing so many people repent, being baptized in Jesus name, and filled with the Holy Ghost. Such a great many miracles happened in these great services. My wife and I had such a marvelous time during this time.
When I began to feel that a change was coming to my ministry and my life I realized again I was going to face a very hard learning curve, because I had never been a pastor before. I again began devouring books on how to determine and communicate vision to the church I was pastoring. I went to all types of conferences and pastor meetings. I met with many different pastors and leaders from everywhere. I talked with my pastor and several of the pastors in the UPCI. Pastors I respect still to this day told me, "Decide how big you want your church to be, and get out there and grow it. Many of my UPCI brothers told me I could build a church of several hundred if I really worked it, but they told me the average church you can build, will be seventy five to eighty people. But my Baptist and Charismatic pastor friends told me I could build a church if I did it properly to five hundred, one thousand, or even three thousand members. They said you must envision what your church campus (or multiple campuses) will look like five, ten, or twenty years from now, and start working toward it. Dream about how your worship services can become more innovative. Put together a good leadership team and cast your vision before them often.
Proverbs 29:18 says, “where there is no vision, the people perish."
All of this advice seemed to make sense at first. But over time, after being beat up a few times by people, who were kind and friendly to me at first, but who do not want change or church growth, I found myself struggling to even have a fresh vision. All the goals I set and the programs I tried were quickly shredded by so many of the people in these small churches I was trying to pastor and lead. I quickly found that the average CHURCH MEMBER in small church America are not really full of the Lords Spirit and do not want any type of change or church growth. They are satisfied being average, lukewarm, normal Church going people.
I am now pastoring my second church. I am in a different part of the country, different church environment and the church setting is uniquely different, but the people have the same attitude about church and spiritual things. The people feel that the church is strictly here to make them feel comfortable as they live and do as they please. They want no change and they do not really desire any growth.
I sat down with members in our church, and together we asked ourselves, "What do we want to see? Where do we want to fasten our attention in the days to come? What do we want to work toward with all our hearts?" As we talked this over together, the answer became very obvious. The only possible vision for this church is to make us comfortable and give us a place of community and fellowship. This kind of attitude and vision are so hard to change in small church America. Yes, these wonderful people simply want a place where they can come alone and feel warm and welcomed, with no change. So here we prioritize this nice church campus for people to drive onto where they can find their convenient parking space. We will give them a soft drink, coffee or a latte when they walk in the door, and then we'll provide them with the best praise and worship team, provide entertainment and snacks for their children while treating them to a great time that leaves them feeling good when the family drives away in a very timely fashion.
In the American church today, very few want BIBLE TRUTH preached. Very few who attend church today are there to change, they are there to fulfill a tradition, to find some fellowship and the feel of community. Yes, many simply want to belong to something that makes them feel comfortable, yet requires very little personal effort or change. Variations of this vision are engineered for the average modern day Christian consumer in small church America today. The crowds are usually about the same size in number, with very little variation and by all means very little growth. But the average Church members are satisfied, parking in their parking space, sitting on their pew, being entertained and seeing no changes nor accomplishing anything as people perish and small church America fades away and most do not realize they are even dying.
Friday, June 3, 2011
JUST THINKING ON THIS FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 3, 2011
This question was sent to me from a Bible School Student who is doing a project.
How do you write the sermon notes that you preach from?
My pattern is not really a textbook type manuscript. In fact I will go so far as to say, I probably would not get an A+ if this were written for a college class. I do write in a fashion that others can follow my line of thinking, but most preachers do not write their preaching notes in this same style. I do not teach any of the younger preachers who are under my leadership to follow my style in writing their notes for preaching or teaching. I teach others to follow their own instincts and write their own notes so they will be able to follow what they have been inspired to preach or teach. Actually, I tell everyone I prefer preaching with notes, because I want to always stand behind the pulpit prepared and if inspiration and for that matter anointing leaves me for that time, I still have something to leave with the congregation. I teach them to simply be themselves in inspiration and writing, and they will be who they are supposed to be when preaching or teaching.
Let me give you my approach to study and writing. I was not the best student that graduated from Westlake High School. In fact I had a very serious reading comprehension problem. When I would read I usually could not pass a test, but when someone would read the lesson to me, I could pass the test. Therefore I was shy, timid and really had a very low self-esteem. I had learned how to cover all of this though my carefree, joking mannerisms. My High school speech teacher, Mr. Haddnot told me he passed me, just to help me. But he said Rodney, you will never have the ability to write a speech that can be used and by all means you will never have the ability to stand before even a small group to speak. (I wish Mr. Haddnot could see me today.)
I want to add a note here to help any who are reading, to understand my techniques and style. I did not go to Bible School or Seminary and I was forty years old before I went into the pulpit ministry. Therefore I did not have anyone to teach me how to study or write notes for teaching or preaching messages. Because of my insecurities and low self-esteem I had to develop a method that fit me. I do not feel that everyone else has to study and prepare notes just as I do. I simply tell them all to read and study often so when they step behind the pulpit they are prepared. Remember when you preach people like fresh spiritual bread.
I do not wait for the night before I am going to preach or teach to get my message notes prepared. I study almost every day of the week. I do tell those who are following after me, I know most of them have a fulltime job and do not have the time to study in depth every day. I teach them to read their Bibles and other books everyday. But I tell them to set aside an evening or day to study every week. A teacher or a preacher must stay fresh so the lessons or messages they preach can be fresh. When I go to a restaurant to eat, I want good hot fresh bread brought to my table, no one likes stale bread, neither should we serve stale messages from our pulpits. Preachers, teachers of the Word our world is hungry for truth, it is up to you and I to deliver it fresh.
If I really get into a deep flow of study and things are coming together in a fashion I could loose something in my thoughts by my stopping, I will continue on even into the midnight hours if I need to. There are also those times that my Pastoral duties cause interruption in my daytime studies and these type interruptions are a part and portion of a ministers life, these interruptions causes me to stay up late studying into the night. I use the nights as my study and writing buffer; however, I prefer getting up extra early and study, if I know I have some pastoral duties to attend that day. Then we all have our family duties and obligations to attend to. I tell all who are in the ministry, do not neglect your family.
I now write all my works and store all my messages electronically and very seldom use paper or write a hard copy. But I still write my messages and manuscripts in detail. I put more detail in my writing now than even before, when I wrote it out by hand.
When I first started preaching I was forty years old and had never written notes for a message. I had put together Bible studies and also Sunday School lessons, but never notes to preach. When I started preaching I had no repertoire or collection of messages to reach back to and therefore I had to come up with a new message almost every day, because I was traveling and preaching revival services almost every night. My circle of preaching was very small so I had to have fresh messages every night. People must understand the pressure it is to need fresh material every night of the week and really not knowing how to put it together. Also I had such a low self-esteem and knew I was not really capable to write a manuscript or even to deliver a message from a manuscript I had written. I had to spend six to eight hours a day almost every day so I could preach to people who were expecting a fresh message from an evangelist behind the pulpit.
I prayed before I began to put together any manuscripts or notes to preach from. I would ask the Lord to give me a thought to preach. I would then search for a scripture text to fit the thought, often I would do this in reverse, I would get a text and then would come the thought. I always wanted something that would stir the saints of God, convict the sinner and draw many people to the altar of repentance and see lives changed and people transformed.
I had never opened a Strong’s Concordance; had never seen a collection of commentaries. I did not know study books even existed. I bought many study books and commentaries and read many types of Christian books. I read anything I could get my hands on. I listened to many preaching tapes, attended every conference or convention I possibly could. I had so much catching up to do and I needed it to be done quickly.
As I would begin to write out the text, or write down my thought I would be praying, "God, show me what I must preach to touch and change the people who will hear this message preached. Lord, show me what is really here in this text, do not let me miss your will show me things that I've never seen before." And as I would write back then, and still write messages and manuscripts today for whatever reason, things begin to open up. When I hand wrote my messages I would think of something that I knew would not fit into the position of the manuscript I was writing at the moment, but I did not want to loose the thought, so I would write it in the margin and circle it. My pages often looked like an absolute jumble when I was done. I drew arrows from circled writing in the margins up or down and lines were drawn all over the place.
Then I look at all these things I had written and say, "MY, my what am I going to do with all that? I could talk on that for hours, but I've only got thirty or forty five minutes to preach this thought." What I would actually take into the pulpit in those days were about fifteen or so half pages that were so marked up they looked like chicken scratch, and they would function as my outline of points while I was preaching. It worked for me back then. Most people who hear how I did it back then say, "No way that I could preach from that." Or, "No way can I take a manuscript into the pulpit and not have it sound like it is canned." I understood that even David could not fight Goliath wearing King Saul’s armor. Everyone cannot preach from my chaotic notes.
Here I am now pastoring a good church some twenty-three years later. I still study some every day, but my writing is so different. I do not struggle as much to find a text or a thought. I still read so many books and I am online to many sights every week. I still go to as many conferences and conventions as I can. I hear many different preachers preach during the year. I now have a repertoire or a collection of some two thousand eight hundred plus personal messages and manuscripts to reach back to and help me even as I put together new messages. I have written three books that are on the market for sell. I have written for several magazine publications that have been read by thousands. I write an average of three new messages a week not counting all the Bible Lessons that I have put together. I have several preachers who use some of my material to preach and teach today.
My manuscripts and messages are type written to a hard drive now and I convert them over to Word Documents or PDF files and download them on my IPAD and preach them using this electronic book.
Who would have ever thought, a forty year old man who had such low self-esteem and did not know how to write now types thousands of words a week and uses those notes to feed the spiritually hungry who sit in the congregation weekly. If I can do it anyone can.
How do you write the sermon notes that you preach from?
My pattern is not really a textbook type manuscript. In fact I will go so far as to say, I probably would not get an A+ if this were written for a college class. I do write in a fashion that others can follow my line of thinking, but most preachers do not write their preaching notes in this same style. I do not teach any of the younger preachers who are under my leadership to follow my style in writing their notes for preaching or teaching. I teach others to follow their own instincts and write their own notes so they will be able to follow what they have been inspired to preach or teach. Actually, I tell everyone I prefer preaching with notes, because I want to always stand behind the pulpit prepared and if inspiration and for that matter anointing leaves me for that time, I still have something to leave with the congregation. I teach them to simply be themselves in inspiration and writing, and they will be who they are supposed to be when preaching or teaching.
Let me give you my approach to study and writing. I was not the best student that graduated from Westlake High School. In fact I had a very serious reading comprehension problem. When I would read I usually could not pass a test, but when someone would read the lesson to me, I could pass the test. Therefore I was shy, timid and really had a very low self-esteem. I had learned how to cover all of this though my carefree, joking mannerisms. My High school speech teacher, Mr. Haddnot told me he passed me, just to help me. But he said Rodney, you will never have the ability to write a speech that can be used and by all means you will never have the ability to stand before even a small group to speak. (I wish Mr. Haddnot could see me today.)
I want to add a note here to help any who are reading, to understand my techniques and style. I did not go to Bible School or Seminary and I was forty years old before I went into the pulpit ministry. Therefore I did not have anyone to teach me how to study or write notes for teaching or preaching messages. Because of my insecurities and low self-esteem I had to develop a method that fit me. I do not feel that everyone else has to study and prepare notes just as I do. I simply tell them all to read and study often so when they step behind the pulpit they are prepared. Remember when you preach people like fresh spiritual bread.
I do not wait for the night before I am going to preach or teach to get my message notes prepared. I study almost every day of the week. I do tell those who are following after me, I know most of them have a fulltime job and do not have the time to study in depth every day. I teach them to read their Bibles and other books everyday. But I tell them to set aside an evening or day to study every week. A teacher or a preacher must stay fresh so the lessons or messages they preach can be fresh. When I go to a restaurant to eat, I want good hot fresh bread brought to my table, no one likes stale bread, neither should we serve stale messages from our pulpits. Preachers, teachers of the Word our world is hungry for truth, it is up to you and I to deliver it fresh.
If I really get into a deep flow of study and things are coming together in a fashion I could loose something in my thoughts by my stopping, I will continue on even into the midnight hours if I need to. There are also those times that my Pastoral duties cause interruption in my daytime studies and these type interruptions are a part and portion of a ministers life, these interruptions causes me to stay up late studying into the night. I use the nights as my study and writing buffer; however, I prefer getting up extra early and study, if I know I have some pastoral duties to attend that day. Then we all have our family duties and obligations to attend to. I tell all who are in the ministry, do not neglect your family.
I now write all my works and store all my messages electronically and very seldom use paper or write a hard copy. But I still write my messages and manuscripts in detail. I put more detail in my writing now than even before, when I wrote it out by hand.
When I first started preaching I was forty years old and had never written notes for a message. I had put together Bible studies and also Sunday School lessons, but never notes to preach. When I started preaching I had no repertoire or collection of messages to reach back to and therefore I had to come up with a new message almost every day, because I was traveling and preaching revival services almost every night. My circle of preaching was very small so I had to have fresh messages every night. People must understand the pressure it is to need fresh material every night of the week and really not knowing how to put it together. Also I had such a low self-esteem and knew I was not really capable to write a manuscript or even to deliver a message from a manuscript I had written. I had to spend six to eight hours a day almost every day so I could preach to people who were expecting a fresh message from an evangelist behind the pulpit.
I prayed before I began to put together any manuscripts or notes to preach from. I would ask the Lord to give me a thought to preach. I would then search for a scripture text to fit the thought, often I would do this in reverse, I would get a text and then would come the thought. I always wanted something that would stir the saints of God, convict the sinner and draw many people to the altar of repentance and see lives changed and people transformed.
I had never opened a Strong’s Concordance; had never seen a collection of commentaries. I did not know study books even existed. I bought many study books and commentaries and read many types of Christian books. I read anything I could get my hands on. I listened to many preaching tapes, attended every conference or convention I possibly could. I had so much catching up to do and I needed it to be done quickly.
As I would begin to write out the text, or write down my thought I would be praying, "God, show me what I must preach to touch and change the people who will hear this message preached. Lord, show me what is really here in this text, do not let me miss your will show me things that I've never seen before." And as I would write back then, and still write messages and manuscripts today for whatever reason, things begin to open up. When I hand wrote my messages I would think of something that I knew would not fit into the position of the manuscript I was writing at the moment, but I did not want to loose the thought, so I would write it in the margin and circle it. My pages often looked like an absolute jumble when I was done. I drew arrows from circled writing in the margins up or down and lines were drawn all over the place.
Then I look at all these things I had written and say, "MY, my what am I going to do with all that? I could talk on that for hours, but I've only got thirty or forty five minutes to preach this thought." What I would actually take into the pulpit in those days were about fifteen or so half pages that were so marked up they looked like chicken scratch, and they would function as my outline of points while I was preaching. It worked for me back then. Most people who hear how I did it back then say, "No way that I could preach from that." Or, "No way can I take a manuscript into the pulpit and not have it sound like it is canned." I understood that even David could not fight Goliath wearing King Saul’s armor. Everyone cannot preach from my chaotic notes.
Here I am now pastoring a good church some twenty-three years later. I still study some every day, but my writing is so different. I do not struggle as much to find a text or a thought. I still read so many books and I am online to many sights every week. I still go to as many conferences and conventions as I can. I hear many different preachers preach during the year. I now have a repertoire or a collection of some two thousand eight hundred plus personal messages and manuscripts to reach back to and help me even as I put together new messages. I have written three books that are on the market for sell. I have written for several magazine publications that have been read by thousands. I write an average of three new messages a week not counting all the Bible Lessons that I have put together. I have several preachers who use some of my material to preach and teach today.
My manuscripts and messages are type written to a hard drive now and I convert them over to Word Documents or PDF files and download them on my IPAD and preach them using this electronic book.
Who would have ever thought, a forty year old man who had such low self-esteem and did not know how to write now types thousands of words a week and uses those notes to feed the spiritually hungry who sit in the congregation weekly. If I can do it anyone can.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
