Pick of the Month
They
started out in 1969 as the The Sensational Six from West Memphis,
Arkansas singing all over the country. In the early 90s the Harris
brothers chose family over fame. 15 years later The Sensational
Harris Brothers - Willie Roy, Vertro, Fred and Larry - are back on
the gospel quartet scene.
"The Wait is Over" was recorded live April 16, 2005 at GCT's
historic North location and they haven't missed a beat
since!!!!!
Since many have found a new appreciation for this country, "Dear
America" puts emotions into words. "Take the Lord With You," and
"Don't Let the Devil Fool You" are life lessons for everyone.
They give glimpses of their walks with God in songs like "Never
Been This Close," "I Won't Stop Serving God" and "New Walk." Leader
Willie Roy sets the church on fire when he shares his story of
healing in "Willie Roy's Testimony."
It's been a while, but whether you are a quartet lover or just
enjoy good down home gospel music, The Sensational Harris Brothers
are back........The Wait is Over !
Zacchaeus
Hayslett
Contributing Writer
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Welcome!
Once again we have the privilege to greet you in our monthly
Inspirer newsletter.
Take your time and peruse each article because there is a lot of
good information for you and yours. We have tidbits from many areas
of ministry we know you will enjoy. So don't just scroll down to
the end and look at pictures; you will miss out on some very
valuable information.
Always remember, if ever you are in our area, we would love to
have you and your family come by and visit with us.
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Inspiration
God,
The Relationship
Process
By Pam Kendrick
Continued from September
You must understand that no relationship is the same because
everybody is different. When we connect with people, we must pay
attention to the red flags, those characteristics and habits that
we tend to ignore, simply because our desires outweigh our
commitment to please God.
You must also understand a person's season and learn to walk with
them while relying on God to assist. Every relationship goes
through a developing stage that cannot be ignored. If you are not
equipped to walk with that person or willing to know them through
God, then you must stop and ask yourself the question "is this
someone I am willing to grow with and know them on every
level?" In every relationship, there are some things that will
come as a test and different types of storms will arise. That is
why it is so important to check (discern) people in the Spirit, in
order to grow with them in the natural.
Lastly, in every relationship there is a God who is in control of
the process, there to aid us in the relationship. Let's take a look
at the natural definition of the word process: a series of
actions, or changes or functions bringing about a result. In
the spiritual realm, Jeremiah says it like this: "For I know
the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Meditate right there: what would you like to accomplish in your
marriage or relationship? Is it so challenging that you have lost
hope? Now, think about the word process and ask
yourself this question, "Am I willing to wait on the results of
what I believe God said He would do or will I just throw in the
towel and move on to something else?".
Hebrews 6:9 reminds us that faith is a sure confidence of things
which are hoped for and a certainty of things which are not seen.
Stay with God, meditate on His Word and all things will become
clear. He is the greatest Overseer of every episode; but you must
acknowledge that He is everything and apart from Him you know
no-thing. So just "think" about it: if
there is only one good reason to stay, go to the source because
only HE knows what that one good reason is.
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Reap
What You
Sow
By Shana Bibbs-Hampton
Whatever a man sows he will also reap
How you live your life will determine the Harvest you seek
Do not be deceived by the tangled web you weave
God is not mocked; He looks closely at your spiritual crop
Life is filled with choices we have to make
We should seek God's wisdom for the road we must take
Be careful, make the most of your time
For the Bible warns, do not get drunk with wine
Be filled with the Spirit and be blessed by what God has done on
your behalf
He has given you talents, opportunities for success, and the living
Word as your raft
Harvest designates the end of a growing season
A process focused on reaping that which is pleasing
With knowledge, faith, love and hope your harvest is sure to
grow
But realize with every decision made, we will reap what we
sow
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Special Edition
What's Wrong with
Halloween?
http://www.history.com/topics/halloween
Many deeply devoted Christians refuse to celebrate Halloween. Is it
because of the ghost-inspired masks and costumes? Have they been
instructed by their Pastors to denounce this holiday? Is it just a
Christian fad? Although this may be distressing to some children
who look forward to wearing costumes and getting lots of candy, is
it more important for Christian parents to say no to Halloween to
stay true to Christian morals and values? Before we answer that
question, I think we should explore the origin of Halloween and
some of its traditions.
Halloween's origin is linked to an ancient practice of the Celtics.
At the end of the harvest months, the Celtics believed that the
dead came back to roam the earth right before the beginning of
winter. They held a festival called the Samhain. During this time
their priests gave predications of the future because of the
believed heightned spiritual activity that took place on this day.
They built huge bonfires and made animal sacrifices. The people
also wore costumes hoping to confuse and repel the returning
dead.
In 43 AD the new Roman conquerors added its pagan fall holiday with
Samhain, which also recognized the passing of the dead. It's not
until the 800s, that the Christian's influences found its way in.
In result, Pope Boniface IV tried to draw the people away from the
Samhain and declared a new celebration, "All Saints Day" or
"All-hallows" on November 1st. The night before "All-hallows" day
became known as "Hallows eve", now known as Halloween.
When the immigrants traveled to America they also brought their
beliefs and customs including "Halloween" as we call it. Today
Halloween, with its origin of over 2000 years ago, is a common
holiday celebrated here in America. Now that we know a part of its
history, is it more important for Christian parents to say no to
Halloween to stay true to Christian morals and values? It's a
decision each parent must make. Hopefully, having a little more
insight and information about the essence of this day, will help
every Christian parent to better decide.
Contributing Writer: Lamartra Cox
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Money Matters
A Time For
Harvest
For many of us, the concept of growing what you
plant is easy right? The scripture says you reap what you sow but
it's the same thing right? Of course it is: if you plant [sow]
watermelon seeds, you will grow [reap] watermelons. Okay, so we got
that down - what you plant/sow IS what you
grow/reap.
This month's emphasis is Harvest. Harvesting indicates the joyful
celebration of finally being able to gather the mature crops.
Harvest timing is a critical decision because you have to ensure
that the conditions are balanced with the degree of maturity. What
that simply means is, you have to make sure the plant is ready to
be plucked out and this readiness is determined by past experiences
and even current circumstances.
This sounds a lot like investing to me! Many of us
have made some wise financial investments but the current state of
the economy causes us to be concerned about how that investment is
doing and if it will be ready for harvesting. For some, harvest
time is the ripe age of 65 when they retire from that job they've
worked on for the best of their years. For many concerned parents,
harvest time is that wayward child walking across the stage to
receive that high school diploma that seemed unachievable. For
others harvest time may simply be getting that raise that you
deserve and desperately need. Whatever harvest time means to you,
make sure that one thing is satisfied - make sure you've sown
properly.
How do you ensure proper sowing and harvesting? Read II Corinthians
9:6-7 and follow the instructions. Sow bountifully every single
chance you get. When you're in service, don't think about what you
don't have when the preacher says "it's offering time"! If you harp
on what you don't have you won't sow and remember, you can't grow
what you don't plant. Also, be careful of how you give. The
scripture admonishes us to give cheerfully, not grudgingly, or of
necessity. Lastly, mediate on Ecclesiastes 3:13: "...that every
man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it
is a gift of God." Wow, it's a blessing to know that God wants
us to enjoy the fruit {the seeds we've sown} of our labor!
Thank you Lord for this season.....a season of harvest.
Stephanie Hill
Contributing Writer
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Living Single
Better With
Time
I must admit that when I write for this column I am thinking 40 and
younger. I know that "50 is the new 40" but I can't help it; when I
think single, I usually don't think about a 58 year old man or
woman.
I was recently made aware of a different set of obstacles in the
single life when a friend and I were discussing the kind of person
you would have to be to marry the widow of Dr. Malinda P. Sapp,
John F. Kennedy or Bishop W. L. Porter. Our conversation delved
even deeper into dating scenarios for those that are senior and
have NEVER been married. Oh my! By the end of dinner, we'd
discovered several advantages to dating later in life.
First of all, you know yourself better. As we age,
we get to know our good and bad points, as well as what we like and
don't like. By middle age, most people have been in enough
relationships to know (almost) exactly what kind of person we are
most compatible with.
This knowledge consequently leads to a confident self-image and
usually you're able to communicate effectively -
and we all know that effective communication is important in any
successful relationship. Being able to express ourselves openly and
honestly is something that comes with age, as we realize that what
we have to say is worthy of attention.
Because you consider yourself more, you've learned to enjoy
your own company. You realize that time doesn't have to be
spent with others to be enjoyable. It also tends to lessen the
demand of our partner's time and attention - which could enhance
the relationship even more. Learning to enjoy our own company is
part of the process of learning to like ourselves, and only when
we're able to do that are others able to do that too.
Other revelations come with time, like what's important in a
relationship. When we are young "tall, dark and handsome" may be
enough. Later in life, you place emphasis on the
characteristics of a relationship that will help it
endure: respect, kindness, friendship and spiritual
compatibility.
With the lessons learned in their youth and the wisdom that they
carry into their later years, I find myself admiring the great
foundation that the older adults have to build their next
relationship on. I guess what they say is true..... "it does get
better with time."
Emma Devine
Contributing Writer |
Holy Matrimony
Take Time!
Make Time!
With
our schedules being so hectic nowadays, it is sometimes hard for
couples to find "quality" time. Prior to marriage and children,
date nights were the norm and you looked forward to getting out and
spending time together. You would spend countless hours on the
telephone listening to each other breathe and I believe it's time
to bring some of these things back. It's important for marriages to
have spontaneity; something to spice up the relationship that will
totally catch our spouses by surprise. I don't believe there is a
person on this earth that knows your spouse better than you do. You
know what they like as well as what they dislike. You know what
turns them on and you know what turns them completely off. Hello,
somebody! I honestly believe that nobody can make my husband
happier than I can, but I have to make a conscience decision to do
what it takes to not only make him happy; I have to keep him happy.
The same is true for you. You know what to do and what to say to
make your spouse feel like the most blessed person on the planet.
You just have to make up in your mind that pleasing them is of
utmost importance to you...then go about doing those things.
With only 3 months left in 2010, I'd like to propose a challenge:
make a commitment to go out of your way to do something special for
your spouse. I don't know what would put a smile on their face, but
you do. I would also like to challenge you to incorporate at least
one "date night" into your monthly routine. Depending on your
schedules, some of you can do it more frequently. This "date night"
could either be alone or with other couples. The whole point is to
find the time to do something TOGETHER! And don't just stop with
the "date night". I want you to be spontaneous; leave little love
notes on their steering wheel, mail them a "mushy-gushy" card, send
flowers or a gift to their job, book a weekend getaway, run their
bath water, take them out to dinner and/or a movie, etc. You know
what it takes to get their attention. Just do something! Not only
will your spouse appreciate it; your marriage will benefit from it
too. So take time! Make time! I believe your marriage is worth the
investment.
LaKesha Calhoun
Contributing Writer
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Monthly Emphasis: Harvest
Scripture Reference
Luke 10:1-2
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent
them two and two before his face into every city and place, wither
he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest
truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the
Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his
harvest.
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GREATER COMMUNITY
TEMPLE'S mission is to impact its community through evangelism,
discipleship in order to change the world. We are committed to
developing the believer in their faith of the Lord Jesus Christ
through the consistent and systematic study of God's word. We exist
to celebrate God's presence, to demonstrate God's love, to
communicate God's word, and to educate God's
people.
Bishop Brandon B.
Porter
Senior
Pastor
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