"Don't Jump Ship"

It's been about a year since I've blogged last but due to the civil war breaking loose between L.A. NBA fans I felt compelled to speak my mind.  "So here we go!"

Ever since Chris Paul went to the Clippers I've been hearing that L.A. is no longer painted purple & gold but now red, white, & blue.  That those fair weather Laker fans are jumping ship.  I said, Say What!!!  I must of slipped into some sort of parallel universe where the Lakers are no longer the greatest NBA franchise of all time.   

Listen I've been a Laker fan since "Showtime" (that's the early 80's for all you youngsters).  I ain't bout to jump ship!  When we moved to Phoenix from L.A. thirteen years ago my wife tried to get me to change my allegiance from the Lakers to the Suns.  And although at times I'll root for the Suns & D'Backs I've never been able to switch up.  How could I leave my roots!  The team that I grew up with.  I told her "I don't think so homie don't play that!" 

 If you grew up in L.A. in the 80's & 90's you know very well that whoever was caught wearing the Clippers shirt on the playground was the joke of the day.  What these new Clipper bandwagon, Captain Kangaroo fans don't know is that this ain't the first time the Clippers have had good players.  I know they've got some superstars right now but for crying out loud they've had a top ten draft pick for the last thirty years!  Now if they haven't been able to do anything with that I'd say theres a serious problem somewhere within the organization.  My suspicion is that the problem lies with the head of the organization, and if the head is no good there will eventually be serious problems throughout the rest of the body. 

Laker fans! I know it's hard right now.  Downright frustrating especially after finding out David Stern himself is a Laker hater (I guess he could join the crowd).  We are in a time where we must role with the punches and STAY PUT! I know we lost Lamar for nothing, we look old, & slow but this parallel universe won't last for very long. 

Now along the same lines (bare with me here).  I must say that as of late I've noticed the bandwagon, hopping trend occurring even within the church.  Beloved brethren leaving the church, or switching to a church that flat out teaches false doctrine.  People jumping ship because of a storm or because that other place appears to be more attractive to the eye or should I just say it the flesh.  "Ya I said it!"

In Acts 27 the Apostle Paul found himself in the middle of not just a storm but a tempest to where all hope of survival was lost.  You want to know what he did?  He held on to Gods word and he stayed on the ship.  "...as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship,  ...Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”  It was necessary for them to stay on the boat and not jump ship! 

C'mon now!  Don't forget that although the waves and the winds may be beating upon your ship Jesus is on the boat with you.  He that could calm the winds and the waves of your storm with just a word.  Don't give up, don't allow frustration cause you to switch teams.  Hold on to Gods word & stay on the boat!  By the way the ship called the church will never sink!  Remember Gods' team will always be victorious & as long as you don't jump ship you will also be victorious. 

“I WILL FIGHT I WONT GIVE UP”

I felt the need to share this testimony with you it is so important for me to voice it out. If it were not for the mercy and grace of God I would not be here today writing this.

2006 was the most difficult year for me and my husband. I found myself facing the most terrible moments in my life. I felt as if I was taking my last breath of air. I Thank God for my husband, he has been with me through thick and thin. Even though this is one of many miracles God has done for us I will share this one with you.

I was diagnosed with a severe case of hyperthyroidism, a thyroid disorder. My thyroid gland and metabolism was over active. I was weighing a healthy 160 pounds at the time, but I started noticing that I was losing weight fast. The most terrible thing was when I was unable to swallow my food any more. It was horrible, I felt as if I was chocking I don’t wish that on anyone. In a short period of time I went from 160 pounds to a shocking 106 pounds. During that time I was getting worse I would shake a lot, I felt extremely cold, and my vision was failing as well. I kid you not my meals were this, mashed potatoes, juices, and broth soups. Every time I would wake up I found bruises on my legs for sleeping on my side, that’s how thin I was. My doctor had recommended I burn my thyroid gland with radiation, but I would have to be on medication for the rest of my life to keep me normalized. He told me the risks, and in my despair I decided to wait on God. I had refused to take medication, why you might ask? I know everyone is different and in my case you would have probably took the medication, I don’t know. But at that moment I decided to wait on God for a miracle. I remember one day in the shower I was feeling so weak and hopeless; I almost wanted to give up. I knelt down and cried out to God and asked him for a miracle. My husband and my local church started to pray and fast on my behalf, and sure enough God answered our prayers. I started feeling strength and the need to eat again. I was able to swallow my food, everything started to fall into place slowly but surely. When I went to my doc’s appointment he was very upset at me for not taking my medication. He decided to test me again and when the results came back he was shocked. He said “what did you do”! He knew we were Christian, he said “you must have been praying to your God, because no one gets healed from this”. He smiled and tears started running down my face, I responded “yes Jesus healed me”!

At that moment I understood that sometimes we need to go through trials so God can get the glory. I also learned how to have faith and trust in God. He has never failed me He has always been one prayer away. Through this trial my husband and I learned to encourage, love, and appreciate each other more. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we won’t have trials. No one said it was going to be a walk in the park on the contrary we have more devils to fight now. We all go through trials and sicknesses, but that’s when God reminds me that he will always give me strength. When I’m weak and when I’m unable to fight he fights for me and always gives me the victory.

This is one testimony from so many others. I will fight I wont give up. Soon I will be sharing what I am currently going through right now. 13 years married and awaiting a miracle.  That will be about how my husband and I have so desperately prayed to have children of our own and the process we are going through. It hurts to go through the process but every promise has its process what is important is that God gets the glory Awaiting a Miracle………

Revival in Tucson

My wife, nephew and I this weekend had the privilege to be part of a two day revival at the 3rd Apostolic church of Tucson. Recently installed Pastor Juan Reyes there is leading a growing church that God is definitely blessing. My wife and I were part of two day revival here at 3rd Tucson back in October of 09' were I preached for Pastor Reyes and the Lord filled 8 people with the Holy Ghost, 14 asked to be baptized, & many were healed.

Their was much expectation at this revival the house was jammed packed with brethren and visitors. It amazed me to see a young man who in the October revival was liberated of Demonic powers to seeing him in this revival as the M.C. leading worship under the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost. Wow God is good! Pastor Reyes, his wife, and family are wonderful and tremendous people of God. They are dedicated to the work in Tucson winning many souls fighting and standing against the enemy! They were so kind and generous to us, we were so blessed by their fellowship, hospitality and by their congregation in a mighty way.

The first night of the revival God spoke to us powerfully reminding us of his specific promises He has for Tucson. The manifestation of His Spirit that He desires to demonstrate through His people in a glorious way! It didn't take long before the gift of faith was in operation and God giving us a demonstration of miracles that night by instantaneously healing 7 people from pain in their bodies. They were able to walk out of that service totally healed! It allowed for others to believe for their miracle. Many were renewed with faith and confidence in God.

The second night of the revival God spoke to us saying how more than our service and having ministries, He wants to have an intimate relationship with us. A sacrifice of praise was lifted up to the Lord, and then it went into the level of worship were Gods presence was able to be felt in a very powerful way. The prophetic went into operation and God touched many lives. Eight people were filled with the Holy Ghost diverse miracles & healing went into effect. Praise God!

God gave us a demonstration of His Spirit and power those two days and has a greater demonstration yet for Tucson. My wife, nephew and I were definitely blessed by this revival. May the Lord continue to bless 3rd Tucson and give Pastor Reyes and his family continued strength and anointing to fill the city of Tucson with apostolics.

"St. Patrick Never Hated the Lakers"

Ever since I've moved to Phoenix from L.A. I have noticed a huge amount of Laker hating taking place in the "valley of the sun". I guess it's just on of those things. Phoenix is supposed to be "Planet Orange", but whenever the Lakers come to town purple & gold seems to invade. The funny thing is that in my 18 years of growing up in the Los Angeles area I never heard of anybody hating on the Suns. You see contrary to popular belief Laker fans out here in Phoenix don't hate the Suns. We really don't! We even root for them at times, that's of course when they're not facing the Lakers. The only team true Laker fans hate are the Celtics. The Celtics in the minds of us Laker fans is synonymous with evil. I guess that's why today on St. Patricks day I refuse to were green (you can say it's against my convictions). So Suns fans chill out! Your hating for no reason at all. Or is it that human nature of ours that likes to hate for no reason. Or maybe it's that sometimes we tend to hate a champion (ooh, I know that one hurt).

Why is it that we hate for no reason at all? Out of nowhere we'll say "I don't like that person"! Then when we're asked why we say something like "I don't know what it is, there's just something about that person I don't like"! When all along we don't even know the person we're hating. Why do we do this?!

When Jesus came he gave us a new law. He said in John 13: 34-35 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as i have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another". Instead of this though our human nature just "loves to hate". Now I know right about now someone is probably saying "how did we jump from the Lakers to the Bible? Just bare with me a quick minute & let me explain whats on my heart.

Hate could be found in something as simple as a fan rivalry or something as serious as gang violence, & it could even be present within some of us that sit in a church pew on a Sunday morning (if you put Rev. in front of your name I'm talking to you too). Whatever the case we must be careful. Out there in the world they don't know any better, but within the house of God there is no place for it!

What happens though when someone in the church does you wrong? You got a good point there. The only problem is the hate we're directing toward someone that's done us wrong is most of the time they're not even phased by it. You would be better off giving them a piece of the 5 fold ministry if you know what I mean (if you don't take your hand and make a fist). No just kidding, but on the serious side the bible teaches us the one affected the most from hate is the one that's dishing it out. 1 John 3: 15 reads "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him". You see the way God looks at this is how can we hate & not forgive someone for offending or hurting us when we were doing the same thing to God before he saved us. Check out this verse I know your going to like it Romans 5: 8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us". We cannot direct our hate toward another human being (that's of course unless he's Larry Bird or some other Celtic player). According to Psalms 97: 10 the only thing were directed to hate is evil. So lets not hate each other, God will hold us accountable. Let God deal with the person who's wronged you. Believe me He knows how to handle them the right way. Now on the other hand if your hating your brother just because he's been blessed or holds some sort of position or title that you desire. All I'm going to say about that is "PLEASE GROW UP"!

Now before I bring this to an end, Suns fans stop hating on the Lakers. If there's anyone you should hate it would be the San Antonio Spurs. Remember that Tim Duncan 3 pointer or when Robert Horry took out Steve Nash back in '07. Hey even I got mad at that one. And if by any chance a Celtic fan found his way to this blog don't get mad the next time you get run out of the Staple Center. It's just that we don't accept evil in our house. Neither should we as the church!

"Stop, Look, & Listen"

The other day I was contemplating on what lengths we cause God to go to sometimes just to get our attention. Many times we get so busy within our own little worlds with things that are "yes important" such as family, ministry, career, entertainment, etc. that we often forget to "Stop, Look, & Listen" for the MOST IMPORTANT. What's that you ask. GOD!

God yearns to have constant dialogue with His children. Not once a month, once a week, but on a daily basis. He often speaks to us but because our antenna is not synchronized to the Holy Ghost radio signal we don't even hear Him. Imagine if Abraham's spirit wouldn't of been in tune with God's Spirit when he had the knife raised in the air ready to come down upon his son Issac. He would of not heard God's voice "Lay not thy hand upon the lad". Needless to say the story in Genesis would of been a lot different.

If we desire to hear Gods voice, have a healthy relationship with Him, & not miss His will in our lives we (I'm including myself here) must "Stop, Look, & Listen" on a daily basis. Stop to speak to God (PRAY), Look at His word (STUDY), and Listen for His voice (THAT'S WHEN WE STOP TALKING).

Now I could already hear somebody saying "Whatcha talkin bout Willis"! "My relationship with God is good"! "I mean just look at how saturated my calendar is with ministry & activities for God"! My response to you is I've heard that one before. Where you may ask. Matthew 7: 22-23 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works"? Let me stop here and say WOW! These dudes were heavy duty. In our day they'd be considered superstars. Just look at their resume. Prophesying (with accuracy), Casting out devils (like it aint no thang), & many wonderful works (talk about a miracle crusade). To their surprise the Lord's response wasn't "Man you guys were awesome", no it was more like "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity". God dropped the "I never knew you" BOMB on them. How is this possible? Surely we would expect these guys that apparently had it all together, to have it all together".

When I read this passage of scripture for the first time it scared me half to death. After the nightmares stopped about this passage I began to look at how this could be. The only thing I was able to discover (bare with me here) was when Jesus tells these apostolics "I never knew you" the Greek word he uses for knew is (ginosko) which is defined as "to become acquainted with, to know, & it's a Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman". In other words "INTIMACY". Kind of like in Genesis 4: 1 "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived...". Or like in Luke 1: 34 "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man"? I realized that more important than being a superstar in ministry is to have an intimate relationship with God. My Pastor has always said "God is more interested in who we are in him, than what we could do for him".

So here's a word to the wise. Why not "Stop, Look, & Listen" before God makes us "Stop, Look, & Listen". Perhaps through a dilemma with no way out, or a hospital bed such as I found myself in a few weeks back. What about a jail cell. Extreme you say. Maybe, maybe not. Don't force God to get your attention. God loves you so much he'd rather we suffer a little now than an eternity later. 2 Peter 3: 9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance".

Dad Always said "When It Rains It Pours"

January's calendar started out not overly saturated. I was scheduled to teach a 4 part series to our adult bible class, on the calendar to preach once on Sunday & Tuesday January 12Th would be the start of our family cell group. Also on the calendar was our monthly ministerial training class & a leadership appreciation dinner. Definitely looking forward to that.

Week 1: Well I started a 4 part series on the book of Esther, it was awesome, it even amazed me. What a book! Maybe I'll go into detail at a later time. I'll give you this much "God has called you for such a time OF OPPORTUNITY as this".

Week 2: Driving to Sunday service I got a last minute call to fill in for Pastor to preach. I usually carry an emergency message with me & I of course I could always put in a re-run, but hey were talking about people coming to receive a fresh word from the Lord. Que No? Instead of taking the easy way out I preached a fresh word from the Lord. You must understand I didn't actually receive the message until I walked into the church building. I went "A Capella" (without notes). Talk about nerve racking! Well needless to say God did many miracles & 3 visitors were liberated from demon possession. PRAISE GOD, the devil is definitely defeated!Still in week 2 went ahead with our family cell group in my home as planned. We started off with a short word & a good time of prayer. Actually had a few neighbors stop by on our first night. Wow! It was a very refreshing time.It started to rain on me Wednesday (not in a positive way either). What happened you ask? ATTACK OF THE PINK EYE, RUUUNNN! Thank God I got it under control before Thursday night bible study where I was sharing part 2 of the Esther series. You must know I was determined to step behind the pulpit with one eye. May I say part 2 was powerful! We finished off week 2 with a leadership appreciation dinner @ the Radisson. Oh ya Italian food. Bless Pastor! Hey my last name is Russi & Italian food runs through my blood.

Week 3: The rain started to pour. It started of great with Pastor preaching an awesome message on Sunday & our monthly ministerial training class on Tuesday where Brother Anthony shared an excellent lesson on finding our gifts & place in God. I left that class dreaming BIG!Before part 3 of the Esther series on Thursday (here comes the bad news) I received a phone call that my Grandpa had a serious stroke. Oh no! No way to get out of town due to the Arizona winter storm that stopped all flights & closed interstate 8 to San Diego (that's where my Grandpa was in the hospital) & with much on my mind I decided to teach the Thursday night bible study & head out of town Friday morning. Thank God the storm ceased. We headed out to L.A. to pick up my Mom. My wife & I got drenched the night before after bible study our van was soaked & Friday morning the van stunk to high heaven. We got to L.A. in record time, coincidence? the book of Esther taught us better (may of had something to do with the damp stinkiness of the van), whatever it was we arrived in West Covina (love that city, some day will plant an end time apostolic church there). Picked up Mom, Carlos & Noah & headed out to San Diego.Grandpa was doing bad! I was able to lay my hands on him & pray the prayer of faith. My Grandpa is getting up there, 80 something but why not 100. Well anyways I had the privilege of baptizing my Grandpa in Jesus name a few years ago in L.A. while I preached for Pastor Joel Ledezma in South Gate, CA. Before I finish up week 3 let me add we stopped for some tacos in San Diego "Tacos El Gordo" in Belmont Park it had to be a fake one because it was literally the worst carne asada taco I had ever tasted. I took one bite & WA-CA-TE-LA! To the trash. I should of know better when the guy in the taco stand was Arabian or something. Nothing against Arabians but come on selling tacos!

Week 4: Caught the Sunday service via online http://www.phoenixapostolic.com/ thank God for online service. Well had to get back to Phoenix for work. E.O.M. week, very demanding. Made it back on Wednesday spent some extra time with Mom. I know I was definitely feeling much pain due to my Grandpas stroke. You know me in Phoenix, he's in San Diego, & Mom, Sis & family in L.A. Talk about heart ache. With all that I had part 4 of the Esther series coming up. I didn't have much time to prepare for this one but I was ready to go.Thursday morning woke up a little nauseous, but miss another day of work no way. Headed to work via I-10 east. It wasn't 1 hour into the shift & off to the restroom & I blew chunks all over the place ( I had to clean it up). On break headed to Walgreen's picked up some pepto, crackers, 7up, & water. Soon as I got back from break off to the restroom again. You may of thought I was off to Santa Anita (inside joke, never mind). Blew chunks again, time to go home. "Boss I know its E.O.M. but what can I do". When I got home strait to the restroom you could imagine. Thank God for my wife, she took care of me. I was hoping to feel better & teach but I knew this time something was not right. Pastor filled in for me & I finally took my wife's advice & headed to the emergency room (it wasn't till midnight I actually heeded to my wife's advise). To make a long story short even though that emergency room wait was nothing but short. It turned out to be appendicitis. I went under the knife early Friday morning. Missed a 10 days of work, depleted my sick time. No pay! That's when I heard the words of my Dad the late Thomas Leroy Russi "Son, When it rains, it pours"!

Maybe this blog sounds like a bunch of complaining. Believe me I'm not. I'll close with these encouraging words from the Apostle Paul in Romans 8: 28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose".