This is from  the new book I am currently working on.  The working title is …. “The Power of Unity–  Relationships that Make Us Whole. ” I have yet to settle on the final title.  I hope to have this book done and published before fall.  We shall see.  This excerpt is the introduction to chapter eight…  Let me know what you think! Do not take the bait,  don’t bite the apple.  One of my favorite childhood movies was the Disney hit, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  The beautiful and innocent Snow White had a wicked stepmother, the queen. The stepmother became so jealous of Snow White’s beauty that she devised a plot to have her killed.  I’m sure you remember the story. Instead of killing her, she was taken to a cottage to live with the seven dwarfs. All was well and life was good in the cottage with seven dwarfs. That is, until the queen discovered that Snow White was not really dead. Her anger at being tricked became volatile. So, she came up with another plan and this time she would take care of it herself. She disguised herself and took Snow White a poisoned apple. I remember sitting […]

  Is it any wonder that people worldwide lay awake at night wondering what may come next?  In a world that seems to be turned upside down and without faith, unity, even unity within the church, seems to be fleeting. Neighbor rises against neighbor, and family members are unable to agree; the idea of unity in the world as we know it seems nearly impossible. The concept of free speech is challenged by those who feel they know what is best for all.  Any who disagree with their personal ideology may find themselves the subject of angry outbursts, and at times, even violence. Actually, violent outbursts may be observed on all sides of the political spectrum.  It would seem in some circles that freedom of speech only applies to those who comply with the concepts they mutually agree on.  Unity, ah yes.  How might a city, country, nation, or even the church hope to achieve unity in a world so torn apart by controversy, violence, and hate?  It can’t, except by the grace of God.  But for God, we would have no hope.  But therein comes our peace and joy, that by His grace we will someday attain the unity […]

  “Even the eagle knows not to fight the storm. The process of climbing higher allows it to soar above the tumultuous wind and the pounding rain. We cannot allow apprehension, anger, resentment, offense, fear, hate, or bitterness to overcome us when the day of trouble comes. Emotional baggage weighs down our hope and hinders our movement. Its heaviness hinders our spiritual ascent. Rather, we must rejoice in the victory and promotion that are sure to come. We must rest in him and move forward in him, with the understanding that the storm is just a part of the process.” — excerpt “Power of Unity”  power, struggle, unity

  Excerpt from “The Power Of Unity” Empowered Believers Empower the Church.  Jesus lived on earth for thirty years and began His ministry with a rag tag group of men that became His first twelve disciples.  For three years He walked with them, He talked with them, He broke bread with them, and He showed them the Father.  He planted the seed of the word in their hearts and demonstrated the manifestation of God’s love through the many signs, wonders, and the miracles He performed.  Jesus envisioned the church, His body, as whole. He envisioned His body as unified, and so He prayed. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;  I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. John 17:22-23 Jesus prayed that we would all be one.  But how?  How can people from so many different cultures, social backgrounds, walks of life, even different skin colors become one? It all begins with a relationship with Jesus. We know that the first twelve disciples were a very unlikely group […]