WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT #YearOfLivingYourBestLife - 2

 "...The challenge that has affected me the most, is getting more sunshine. It is healing. Today, as I sat on my back porch soaking up the sunshine and meditating, I immersed myself in the sounds and smells of the forest, as well as the feel of the gentle breezes on my skin. After an hour of that, I felt energized and peaceful at the same time.....Love it!"

-MBC

Starbucks and "The Reason for the Season"

I was planning to write about this even before this latest thing about the supposed "War on Christmas" made the news again because of this year's Starbucks holiday season cup, but my original idea was to do it closer to December 25. Tonight, however, it seems that "now" is the right time for this post.

We just left our local Starbucks a little while ago, after going there for some delicious after-dinner coffee. I visit one of their stores every day for my beloved venti iced coffee fixed just the way I like it (when Ken is with me, he usually orders something different every time). 

I like to go to Starbucks with my mac and write or get caught up on social media, and since I no longer have office space, I also do a lot of my counseling appointments there. 

I love all things Starbucks.

Tonight while we were there, I noticed that they were selling both a Christmas coffee blend, and a large Advent Calendar, as they do every year. After we finished our coffee, we got in the car and I turned on sirius radio to listen to one of the two holiday channels that they have this year. I noted that Channel 13 was playing Bing Crosby's cover of 'The Little Drummer Boy', (a song about the birth of Jesus), and then I turned it over to see what they were playing on Channel 18, and heard some orchestra's rendition of 'What Child is This?' (yet another song about the birth of Jesus). Both of these Channels play at least as many songs about the Nativity, 24 hours a day, as they do songs about Santa Claus and reindeer and snow.

I suppose that we all see what we're looking for, and since I have no religious paranoia and am not constantly on the lookout for a politically correct "War on Christmas", I just don't see it. In fact, I see Christmas being observed earlier and earlier every year, and I hear songs about the birth of the Christ-child being played in every store, restaurant or mall that I patronize.

But I also hear the phrases, "Let's put Christ back in Christmas" and "Jesus is the reason for the season" quite a bit from some Christians who think that there is a grand plot to banish it, altogether, and that's what I want to address here.

First of all, "Christ" (as in Jesus Christ) wasn't initially even in what we now know as Christmas, so technically, Jesus wasn't originally the "reason for the season". 

The Christian ecclesiastical calendar contains many remnants of pre-Christian festivals that were all rooted in paganism, and were celebrated for centuries before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The Church in later centuries made it a habit to "Christianize" all of the pagan holidays and festivals, which is why Christmas includes elements of the Roman feast of the Saturnalia and the birthday of Mithra, and why we have christmas trees (which came from the druids), and why we have the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs, which have nothing to do with the resurrection of Jesus.

Historians believe that Jesus was actually born the first week of April. We only celebrate Christmas on December 25 because of the Winter Solstice and the ancient pre-Christian winter festivals which took place on or around that date. That's why we sing songs like 'Jingle Bells', 'White Christmas', 'Winter Wonderland', 'Frosty the Snowman', 'Let it Snow', 'Baby it's Cold Outside', 'Marshmallow World', etc, which are all about winter and snow (and have nothing to do with Jesus), only at Christmas time.

Secondly, Jesus never told His disciples or any of His followers to celebrate His birthday. I'm not saying it's not a good thing to celebrate it, just that it doesn't seem like it mattered to Him.

I could go on about Nativity scenes that don't look anything like what it actually/probably looked like when Jesus was born, and why it doesn't matter to me if they aren't put up in public places. I don't care, and furthermore, I really don't think Jesus cares, either.

Jesus isn't in competition with Santa Claus (whose myth is based on the real Bishop, Saint Nicholas), and I don't think He's worried that His "birthday" isn't all about Him. It never was, really, at least not on December 25. And I REALLY don't think that He cares about what a Starbucks cup looks like!

If your Jesus is all whiny about that kind of stuff, then more power to ya, but that's not the Jesus that I know. The Jesus I know through the Scriptures and by the Spirit has a much different set of priorities. I also don't think that He would want His "birthday" celebration crammed down the throats of people who may see Him differently.

I love all things Christmas. 

Every carol is my favorite. 

It doesn't matter to me that Jesus was actually born in April. 

It doesn't matter to me when He was born, because the Daystar has already risen in my heart, and that reality isn't limited to a day or even to a season.

I'm happy to celebrate the Incarnation whenever.

I see nothing wrong with saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas", because to me it's simply a salutation that refers to all the events of December and January, including "Happy New Year".

I see nothing at all sinister or evil about an elegantly simple red coffee cup.

If there's a "War on Christmas", I just don't see it.

Maybe I've been drinking too much coffee.

TODAY AT METRON - 6/28/15

"I watched the service today as I typically do. I don't know what it was, but, like you said, "You changed the energy" in the room today. There was a like a harmony the turned into unison with the energy and it seem to be the most electrifying service at METRON that I've experienced and watched. Just wanted to reach out like I would if I were there and let you know it. Have a wonderful week."
- RN


"Today at Metron Service. What a great word to start an outstanding week.
Thanks, Jim so powerful!"
- JBW


"Bishop, the message today was so profound and insightful, full of grace, wisdom & prophecy! "In my Father's house are many rooms", really cut through the streaming computer with the anointing! Thank you for your persistence in teaching us even in this climate of change! We love you so much!"
- LY


"Awesome message Bish ! Can't wait to share ... A great perspective!"
- NLP


"Today was awesome..I don't know when I have felt the energy in a place as good...


...It's always good but today it was like everyone was connecting into the energy you were sending out with your message."
- FM


"I was watching! I was in tears while listening. I felt the Spirit! During the time you mentioned my situation, and before that too...when you had a word of prophesy and you looked directly into the camera, it felt like you were talking directly to me! I have been feeling pretty low lately...including yesterday, but now I feel uplifted and encouraged! You and Ken's energy is uplifting! I can't thank you both enough!"
- PD


"Today's message was intense. Life altering. I'm undone..crying the 'ugly' cry. I finished watching over 20 minutes ago..and I can't seem to gather myself from the emotional effects of your word this morning. You never fail to deliver a powerful insight, but there are these magical moments when it's so obvious that you have just stepped over onto holy ground. I just want to thank you for taking us IN today."
-DS


"Bishop, this is what I heard today. My Father's house has many rooms (options, choices, possibilities, etc.). In other words, (as you've said many times), I put before you a buffet, you get to choose what items you want or don't want....Great Word!"
- MBC

LET ME 'SPELL' IT OUT FOR YOU, Pt. II

"There is talk that is like stabbings of a sword, Yet the tongue of the wise is healing." (Proverbs 12:18 - CLV)

In Part I we discussed the word "spell", and how it possibly has a dual meaning as in "Let me SPELL it out for you" and "The witch cast a SPELL on him..."...words create reality, which may be why we call the composition of letters to form an idea "spelling"...words spoken into the heart of an individual by another person, especially by a person with whom that individual has an emotional bond or connection definitely creates some dimension of reality in and for that person...we also discussed the word "INCANTATION", which is simply defined as a series of words used to make something magic happen, or a use of SPELLS or verbal charms spoken or sung as a part of a ritual of magic...in this context it is possible to believe that some people are living under the "SPELL" of someone else's "INCANTATION" over them, and are possibly living out the illusion of someone else's reality...

Life as hypnosis...the power of suggestion...

In a previous post we talked about the phrase “Abracadabra”, which may derive from an Aramaic phrase meaning “I create as I speak”...

This etymology is rather dubious, however, as אברא כדברא in Aramaic is more reasonably translated "I create like the word"... the second lexeme* in this supposedly Aramaic phrase must be a noun given the presence of the definite article on the end of the word (it cannot be an infinitive construct, as the infinitive cannot take the definite article)...

Regardless, this phrase would actually be pronounced "ebra kidbara", which is clearly different from abracadabra...however, Semitic languages like Aramiac are not always hard and fast with the assignment of vowels, and abracadabra is similar enough to ebra kidebra, given the tendency of vowels to shift...

In the Hebrew language, the phrase translates more accurately as "it came to pass as it was spoken"...

In Genesis we see that the Elohim (literally translated "the gods", plural) spoke the Universe into existence...later in Genesis, as Abraham developed and promoted the idea of monotheism, we begin to see "God" referred to less and less as "them", and almost completely as "Him"...we see the concept used again when David said, "You have made them (people) a little lower than the Elohim (translated into English as "angels")...but in the opening verses of the Bible, it is clearly "them", as in "Let US create people in OUR image"...in the Khaboris Manuscript (Aramaic), Jesus refers to God as "Alaha" , which is a derivative of Elohim (also spelled Alueim)...Muslims use the very same word as "Allah"...(everything is connected to everything)...

The bottom line of all this as it relates to "SPELLS", is that on some level we are continuing to create ourselves and even one another by the words we speak to ourselves, and to those with whom we have relationship...

In any case, the language that we use to communicate with one another is very much like a knife, which is why the above Proverb which references "talk that is like stabbings of a sword" deeply resonates with me...in the hands of a skilled and careful surgeon, the sharp blade of a knife can work to do great good, and can even save lives...but that very same sharp knife in the hands of an ignorant or careless person can be used to do great harm, and can even become a murder weapon..."Death AND life are in the power of the tongue", and there are people all over this world who are being repeatedly or constantly "stabbed" in their souls by words that were spoken over them in their youth, or during a time of great vulnerability...

Mother Teresa said that kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are endless...that's exactly what a "SPELL" is...a word or phrase that continues to echo in the mind of the hearer, and we know that Paul said that "faith comes by hearing"...whatever you continue to hear inside your own head ultimately becomes the source of what you believe...

"A healing tongue is a tree of life, Yet words of subversion in it are a breaking of the spirit."

(Proverbs 15:4 - CLV)

REMEMBER...you have the power over your own life, over your own thoughts, to believe what you want to believe about yourself...the TREE OF LIFE in your own healing tongue can and will overpower every judgment that has been pronounced over you through the paradigm of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil...if words or INCANTATIONS of subversion have broken your spirit, you can save yourself by simply knowing and speaking the truth about yourself that makes you free...

TRUTH ALWAYS WINS!

"But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong." (Isaiah 54:17 - AMP)




*Lexeme: a basic lexical unit of a language, consisting of one word or several words, considered as an abstract unit, and applied to a family of words related by form or meaning.

LET ME 'SPELL' IT OUT FOR YOU!, Pt. 1

"How long will you vex and torment me and break me in pieces with words?"

(Job 19:2 - AMP)

The online etymology dictionary explains that the word "spell" is from the early 14th century, and it means to "read letter by letter, write or say the letters of", or to "form words by means of letters"...it's apparently a French word that merged with or displaced a native Old English one, and both are from the same Germanic root, but the French word had evolved a different sense...the native word is Old English SPELLIAN, which means "to tell, speak, discourse, talk", and/or from Proto-Germanic SPELLAM (cognates: Old High German SPELLON "to tell", Old Norse SPJALLA, Gothic SPILLON "to talk, tell" or "to say aloud, recite"...

But the current senses seem to come from Anglo-French ESPELLER, Old French ESPELIR "mean, signify, explain, interpret", also "spell out letters, pronounce, recite", from Frankish SPELLON, which means "to tell" or some other Germanic source, ultimately identical with the native word...

The English word GOSPEL was originally the word GOOD-SPELL or GOODSPELL ("to tell what is good"), and is the source of the name of the Broadway Musical 'Godspell'​...

Isn't it interesting that the word used for the concept in witchcraft of "casting a SPELL" on someone, is the same word that we use for SPELLing Bees? Is that why we call it "SPELLING", as in "taking a SPELLing test, or "SPELLCHECK" on our smartphones?

In Galatians 5, Paul lists witchcraft simply as a work of the flesh...he didn't describe it as anything supernatural...

When we talk about the power of words, and the effect that they have on our lives, we have to look into what has been spoken over us, especially in our formative years, and examine whether or not we are living out the manifestation of someone else's "spell" over us...

I need to do more study on this, but I don't think it's a fluke that these words are the same...I have counseled with people for 40+ years, many of whom seem to be living under the "SPELL" of someone who spoke words over them that they believed about themselves, and are now acting out...

In the same way that hypnosis works by the power of suggestion, many people are existing in a trance-like state, not thinking for themselves, or realizing who they really are, simply because someone else's words have hijacked their destiny!

Incantations don't always begin with "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble", the words that the witches in Macbeth used...sometimes they just begin with "You always ______", or "You never _____", or "You never will ______"...

Those of you from my generation probably grew up hearing Samantha or Endora or Aunt Clara on 'Bewitched' say little rhyming speeches that made things happen...but real incantations aren't necessarily like that...they are just words spoken over you, often by yourself to yourself, that produce certain results in your life...

In the same way that a prophecy spoken over you can move your life in a positive direction, a negative word SPELLED out for you can permeate your consciousness, and literally "cast a spell" over your life!

A "spell" is really nothing more than the power of words becoming your reality...

Today is the day to break free by knowing the truth about yourself...

Maybe it's time to break a SPELL...

More about this later...

SUPPORTING THE ARTS AT METRON

There is nothing so secular that it cannot be sacred, 

and that is one of the deepest messages of the Incarnation.”

― Madeleine L'Engle

One of the things that I love most about METRON is that we are able to make an investment in young artists who are a part of the Atlanta music scene...of course, every month we give to a different ministry or charity...last month it was Church on the Street...themonth before that it was St. Jude Children's Research Hospital...for May our outreach will be an orphanage in Haiti that feeds and care for children who lost their families in the earthquake...and all of that is important, but I also love that we can make an investment into what is happening in The Arts here in our community...

Not everyone that we have as 'Artist of the Month' is a gospel singer or worship leader or even someone who sings Christian songs...I personally do not believe that there is a gulf between the secular and the sacred, and that all art is spiritual and valid, at least on some level, and originates in the heart of God...

I have loved every person who has performed at METRON since we started...some of them have led worship and ministered what we would call in church "anointed" songs, and others have performed completely secular music, and it's all been awesome...and then someone like Chandra Currelley (our very first Artist of the Month) effortlessly flows between ministry songs and the type of stuff she does professionally...the truth is that it's ALL been outstanding...

But I do have a special affection in my heart for young artists like the ones pictured here who have appeared at METRON over the last several months, who have been able to perform their own stuff, most of which could never be played in a typical church...I'm working on getting the legendary Sammy Blue for June, and I had scheduled the inimitable @Paulette Washington for this coming month, but she had a couple of calendar conflicts, so we're going to reschedule (Paulette has already performed for us, and no one can belt out a gospel tune like her!)

But I'm happy to announce that Marshall Ruffin is returning to METRON for all Sundays in May, and I couldn't be happier about it!

I love that those of you who are a part of what I'm doing now really get it...I founded and pastored a church for 30 years that had the finest worship, worship leaders, choirs, praise teams and bands that you could find anywhere...I'm sure I'm partial, but I honestly believe nobody did it better than CITN did, and that includes everyone who ever walked across that stage...

But my head and my heart are in a very different place now...I have nothing against worship...I have nothing against the "move of the Spirit"...I have nothing against music ministry...and if that's what you're looking for, it's easy to find...Atlanta has some of the best churches in the world, with some of the most amazing music...

But METRON is something different, and if I have to explain it to you, then it's not for you...

But I am very committed to the 'Artist of the Month' concept, including secular artists...

It's all very cool

TODAY AT METRON - 4/19/15

"I truly enjoyed service once again this morning. I love Metron. 

My daughter and three other young ladies came with me today. 

If they get this at their ages now (20-25), they are going to be some "AWESOME" women. 

This is some good teaching. They left wanting more. I know the feeling. Lol.

 I am excited about where I'm going. I feel FABULOUS. 

Thanks Bishop for EVERYTHING! 

Happy Birthday Ken."

-YR

LET THERE BE LIGHT!

Last Friday morning I met Danny Colclough for coffee at my neighborhood Starbucks...many of you know Danny from CHURCH IN THE NOW as "Pastor Danny", and he and his wife, Gloria, are now a part of METRON, and Danny serves on the Board of JESM...I didn't know this before, but found out while talking to him that day that we have a connection that goes all the way back to the early 80's (before I even started CITN) when his family was attending a church at which I ministered...that's when he said that he first "heard" my Voice, and now he and his family have been "hearing" it (and following it) for all these many years...to say that I love the Colcloughs is an understatement...

Anyway, Danny just wanted to run a couple of things by me that have to do with his career and the future of it, but we ended up talking for about two hours about God and about METRON and about revelation and about the good things that are happening in the world, and it was just a wonderful, empowering meeting and conversation that kept me buzzing all day...I told him that we should meet more often, because he always speaks into my life, and when you're on the giving side most of the time, it's nice to receive once in a while!

Those of you who know Danny, know that he really operates at a high, energetic vibration...he's always positive and insightful, and his words pull you up to a higher frequency (at least they do with me), because they are always full of light...

So after our awesome talk, Danny had to go, and I stayed there with my computer to look at FB and answer some email...but just minutes after he left and I was still at the table, I picked up my phone and shot this selfie...there was a light above my head that apparently created a sort of halo effect which hit me right at eye level...I didn't do anything to the pic, it just looks like this, and I love it...I love it because it looks cool and kind of superhero-like, and it reminds me of what happened last Friday in Starbucks...that amazing occurrence of two or more people who are in agreement exchanging power-words in love...it creates an atmosphere, and even though I know it was just the electric light that made the picture look like this, I want to believe that it was more than that; that it was a manifestation of what had just taken place at that very table...

It's currently my profile pic on FB, and after I posted it yesterday I got a lot of humorous comments about it, but I have to tell you, it's really one of my favorite profile pics, ever...

I made me think of this Scripture, which is one that I love and to which I have always related (and, yes, Paul said it...when he was in the zone he could write some really good stuff!):

"But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him]." (1 Corinthians 2:15Amplified Bible)

I love this stuff...

TODAY AT METRON - 4/12/15

"The Vibration of Life!!!! 

Tuning in to a Higher Frequency!!!! 

AWESOME, SUPERB, AMAZING!!!!"

- PW

"...Thanks Bishop once again for the life changing experience today. Life is good. 

Thanks for being BRAVE."

- YR

ALL MEANS ALL

"...wherein (or: in which place) there is no Greek [figure of the multitudes who are non-Jews, and of those who are cultured and civilized] and Jew [figure of a covenant people of God], circumcision and uncircumcision [figure for religious in-groups and out-groups; there is no longer a covenant people versus non-covenant people], barbarian [foreigner who speaks a different language], Scythian [figure or example of wild, uncivilized groups], slave, freeman, but to the contrary, Christ [is] all, and within all (or: Christ [is] all humanity, and within all mankind; or: Christ [is] everything or all things, and within everything and all things; [note: the Greek is plural, and is either masculine, signifying “mankind,” or neuter, signifying all creation, in these phrases])."
(Colossians 3:11 - JMNT)

TODAY AT METRON - 4/5/15

"Awesome service today. I enjoy the judgement free zone. When I walked in, I felt the presence of God. It's liberating. I attract goodness in my life and Metron is good to me. Thanks Bishop for the word, inspiration, and of course the laughter. I feel tall today. I feel like I can conquer the world. You inspire me to be "GREAT"."

- YR

"The Vibration of Life: Tuning In To a Higher Frequency!!!!!Today is a GREAT day...
Awesome word"

 - PW

Thanks, Avery Rogers, for the candy eggs for everyone!

"Great Word Bish! Jesus totally understood quantum entanglements...I do loves me some quantum physics...especially on a gorgeous Easter morning!"

- PLC