So, here I am, thinking again about how I came to be where I am today, at least spiritually.
Raised mainline Am. Baptist; born-again in a charismatic Baptist church; ordained an elder/pastor in a full-gospel pentecostal fellowship; served in a small A.G. pentecostal NA mission fellowship on the res.; then, after much spiritual warfare/turmoil/doubt/soul-searching and frustration, founded an independent fellowship/house assembly with one over arching desire: to build a Biblical fellowship, faithful to the Lord and to His Word in every way (and what an eye-opener this has been).
Now, Father, where would you have us and what would you have us to do? You, who knows me better than any; who knows my desire and love to teach and preach, plant the seeds and watch them grow; what is the next thing for us, Lord? In Jesus Name, Amen!!

Lord, help us to know how near You are! RO

"he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" Phil. 1:6
More and more and more I am convinced that we who call ourselves 'believers' and 'followers of Jesus Christ' must absolutely be Bereans, especially today.

I've been doing much study and research in an effort to know and understand what is being foisted on the body of Christ today as 'truth' when the truth is far from it. The Emergent or Emerging Church; Contemplative Prayer/mysticism & Yoga which have roots in eastern religion; rejection of many doctrines or teachings of Scripture on which our faith hinges; racing back to Rome and rejecting all that was accomplished by the Reformation (in the name of unity or ecumenism, of course). Brian MacLaren, and others denying that there is "One Way" to the Father, which means, then, that we can do pretty much what we want; follow whichever god or gods because the end is, after all, the same destination, right? No where in the Word do I find any mention of all this 'stuff' except as a warning that such would come and we should NOT receive it!! (In the last days, false teachers will come, deceiving many)

Jesus said it was good that he ascend to the Father so the Comforter, Holy Spirit, could come and dwell in us. He said that we would be baptized by/in the Holy Spirit and with FIRE. Some may think that fire stands for the power we'd have but a closer examination shows that the fire is consuming, sent to remove the dross; burn the chaff; to get rid of all that is in me/us that is abhorrent to God so that we might be ready to stand before Him, pure, complete, finished.

Please all who read this, seek Him first according to His Holy Word. Don't be trapped and deceived by all you hear. TEST EVERYTHING, whether it is from God

Lord help us know how near you are. RO