Pastor Samuel M. Dade, Jr

Here are Helpful Tips to Maintain Your Focus in 2009

The great Apostle Paul was facing death in a cold and lonely Roman prison cell.  Recorded in the book of 2 Timothy is in essence his final thoughts before his execution (4:6).  He wrote those thoughts to his “son” Timothy, passing to him the torch of leadership, focusing his attention on that which was important, and encouraging him in the faith.  You can almost imagine how young Timothy must have felt reading and rereading every word in the letter.  It was the last message from his beloved mentor and spiritual father, Paul.  Due to the dynamics, this is the most intimate and moving of all Paul’s letters, and his last.  Perhaps Paul saved his best for last.
Contained in chapter 2 Paul gives Timothy several tips of instruction written to keep him focused on leadership and discipleship within God’s church.  These tips are as applicable to us today as they were to Timothy in A.D. 66 or 67 as we attempt to remain balanced and focused in our spiritual lives.
Below are 10 helpful tips extracted from Paul’s last  letter to assist you as you strive to you’re your focus on Christ’s Kingdom in these unpredictable times in earth’s history.

1.  Be disciplined enough to endure hardship in both your personal and spiritual life which includes church.  (2: 3-7)

2.  Keep your eyes and mind focused on Christ. (2: 8-13)

3.  Avoid quarreling and warn against it, it has no value and only ruins those who listen. (2: 14)

4.  Do your best to present yourself to God as a workman who has no reason to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2: 15)

5.  Avoid godless chatter because those who engage in it will become more and more ungodly.  Their teaching will spread like gangrene. (2: 16, 17)

6.  Remember the Lord knows those who are His and those who confess Him must turn away from wickedness.  (2: 19)

7.  Commit your life to purity.  Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the name of the Lord out of the depths of a pure heart.  (2: 20-22)

8.  Do not participate or engage in foolish and stupid arguments, because they only produce quarrels. (2: 23)

9.  The Lords servants must not quarrel; instead they must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. (2: 24)

10.  Those who oppose you must be gently instructed in the hope that God will grant them repentance, restoration and salvation. (2: 25, 26)

The Christian journey is never easy but if we focus on Christ and follow His counsel we will be successful, He guarantees it!  It is my prayer and desire that each of you who read this article will learn the importance of being focused.

Greetings in Christ,
Pastor Dade

The Bible’s Stance on Homosexuality 

Is there such a thing as a gay Christian? Is one born homosexual or is it learned behavior? Is it sinful to participate in homosexual activities? Is homosexuality a sin? I have seen and heard countless programs promoted in the media over the past 20 years that perpetuate the notion that homosexuals are born that way and had no choice in their sexual preference .“It’s just the way I am.” or “It just seems and feels right to be gay.” The Bible says, “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 16:25 (NIV). That text was not specifically aimed at homosexuals, but it is true nonetheless. Let’s examine this issue further. Genesis chapter 19 records the men of Sodom and Gomorrah being punished for their sexual perversion. Two angels paid a visit to Lot’s home in Sodom. Verse four tells that the men from every part of Sodom surrounded Lot’s house and told Lot to bring out his visitors so they could have sex with them. Jude 7 makes it clear that Sodom and Gomorrah’s punishment was due to their sexual perversion. Stay with me, we are just warming up. Check this out: Romans 1:26-27 is very specific when Paul says, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was met.”

Where do you stand on homosexuality? (Calm down! I am not asking if you are gay. I don’t want to know and please don’t tell me if you are J). I don’t know about you, but I must side with the bible which describes homosexuality as sin. Now that we have established that homosexuality is sin, we must come to grips with the fact that we live in a pro-homosexual world that has given media and some schools the right to promote the gay subculture. Some people have gone too far and have hurt the fight for morality by becoming violent towards homosexuals. This is wrong. Hate is not the answer. Love should rule regardless of the person. Hate the sin, but love the sinner. Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of America have instructed their local chapters to have at least one homosexual volunteer per chapter! Not so with The Boys Scouts of America, who has been under repeated attacks to permit homosexual men to be troop leaders. Kudos to the Boy Scouts of America for standing strong!!

Now let’s talk about sex. Sex is the creation of God. Sexuality is not sinful. It is a wonderful part of God’s plan. Sex is meant to be enjoyed in the context of marriage – not outside of it. Unfortunately, these days we must be very specific and say that sex is to be enjoyed within the context of marriage between a man and a woman. Genesis 2:24-25 says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage is honorable in all, and in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Are you still there? Then go with me here.

Let’s consider the Seventh-day Adventist Position on Homosexuality and same sex unions.

 “Marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman in loving companionship. Though sin has perverted Gods’ ideals for marriage and family, the family is the closest; the most tender and sacred of any human relationship............God instituted marriage, a covenant-based union of two genders physically, emotionally, and spiritually, spoken of in scripture as one flesh.” The monogamous union in marriage of a man and a woman is ....the only morally appropriate locus of genital or related intimate sexual expression. Any lowering of this high view is to that extent of lowering of the heavenly ideal. Homosexuality is a manifestation of the disorder and brokenness in human inclinations and relations caused by sin coming into the world. While everyone is subject to fallen human nature, we can also believe that by God’s grace and through the encouragement of the community of faith, an individual may live in harmony with the principles of God’s Word. The Seventh-day Adventist Church recognizes that every human being is valuable in the sight of God, and we seek to minister to all men and woman in the spirit of Jesus.”

Is there such a thing as a gay Christian? No. Is one born homosexual? No, it is a choice, but I won’t ask, if you won’t tell!


Sources:

An Affirmation of Marriage, 1996
Seventh-day Adventist Position Statement on Homosexuality, 1994 as approved and voted by the General Conference Administrative Committee (ADCOM) March 9, 2004

More texts for further study:

• 1Corinthians 6:9-11
• Matthew 19:4-6
• Romans 1:24-27

Inside Anointed Praise ....Information on what our Youth is doing Today .................................. .If you recall on the December 2008 Issue of PCN, there was an article by a member of Anointed Praise. His name was Fred Hidalgo. He wrote the amazing .article entitled Before Kings. Corey Williams is the director and mentor of Anointed Praise. The following reel is his take on this mission given by God. ....................... ...The Following is an Interview between the Corey Williams of Anointed Praise and PCN: PCN: How did you get started in Anointed Praise? CW: [I] was asked by the Minister of Music to relocate to Orlando and start the youth choir. Anointed Praise started in April 2002 and perform for the first time for Divine Worship that same month.  We can go more in depth at a later time PCN: How long have you been their choir director? CW: 7 years PCN: What is the age range for AP? CW:12 until they don't want to sing with the choir anymore LOL PCN: How could one get involved? CW:Just come PCN: Were you in a Youth Choir when you were their age? CW: Yes PCN: What are the biggest challenges you face as being the chior director? CW: Keeping the family together, sometimes getting them hype about a song that they may not like LOL... PCN: I hear parents complain all the time how their young ones act out, and that they can not seem to get them under control. How difficult is it really for you to keep their focus? CW: They are young people and young people want to do their own things.  I am not transparent to them and i always let them i understand where they are coming from. I don't have problems keeping them under control.  Maybe parents need to talk to their children more and get a understanding of where they are coming from. PCN: You obviously have built a relationship with the Youth. How has that impacted your life? CW: I have 2 plus 92 children that is how it has impacted my life. I love everyone of them and worry about them on a daily basis.  I keep them in prayer and glad to see them on the weekends when we rehearse. PCN: This is a unique ministry that comes with it's challenges (as you previously acknowledged); what are some the blessings that you have experienced? CW: Seeing grow into adulthood and going out in the world and not straying away. Don't get me wrong some have but eventually they all come back by the grace of GOD. PCN: Do you feel that the church family really understands the amount of time and work that AP puts in? CW: Some due but most don't PCN: Do you feel supported by the church family. And how can the church family get involved with and by supporting AP? CW: This question requires a one on one PCN: I know you probably have many wonderful moments; but what is your favorite when working with the Youth. CW: When I see them get emotional about the songs they sing.  When they minister to each other and to the world PCN: What are your goals for them in 2009? CW: We are currently finishing the goals for 2009 so I can't share them now until the Executive Committee has given final approval.: Corey thank you for taking this time out to speak with PCN and about what God is doing through you for Him! Click here to listen and watch Anointed Praise with over 30,000 hits on Youtube!

I had just concluded the best school year of my life.   I read Project Sunlight, which is still my favorite book, learned how to balance a checkbook and so much about this thing called Adventism.  I was not ready to leave by any means.  I thought that I needed to be surrounded by my family in order to function properly.  I was very active in my church, probably because we had about twenty-five members and the church was made up of my family.  I was playing sports and a proud member of the Boys and Girls Club of America.  I thought I had it made.

When I first came to Florida, I hated it.  I wanted to go back home every time there was a break from school.  I did not really like my new church or school, because it was so different from anything I had ever seen; then something changed.  I started to really enjoy school and the friendship of my new classmates.  I had gone to private and public schools that were predominantly white from Kindergarten to fifth grade, but then in sixth grade, everyone looked like me.  "Black Adventism" was very new to me and I loved it.  I grew to love my church family; some of my best friendships were formed at Patmos.  As I grew older, I realized the different opportunities that were afforded me, solely because of a change of location.  I was able to attend academy and sing under the world-renowned Gale Murphy.  I was able to attend and graduate from one of the top schools in the country, Lake Brantley High School.  I voted in a swing state and helped Barack Obama become the 44th President of the United States of America!  I belong to a wonderful church and I am once again surrounded by family members who love and care for me, including my Aunt Sharon and my cousin Ashley.

Family, my point is this: yes, sometimes change is hard and it is usually inevitable. However, with prayer and God's guidance, change can be positive and beneficial for all those. It is not always easy to adjust our comfort level, do things with which we are not already familiar, go unusual places, or work with new people. Sometimes, being too comfortable in the life with which God has blessed us, blocks us from receiving new blessings and the growth He has in store for us. When we trust God to do as He has promised, we expose ourselves to His wonderful plan for us, which we may not see. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV).  He told us in Psalms 32:8 KJV, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." It is not enough to just sit around and watch life pass us by. Sometimes we have to allow God to direct us into new places, new thinking, sometimes a new life altogether. Just remember that we cannot always get what we want, but in trusting God, we always get exactly what we need.

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