Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 433

The Sea Horse: Project LEO

Aaron couldn’t go in to the room, but he knew who could. He text Henry who was a floor away. “Hello Pavlov, how are you feeling?” “Alive. Henry this is Special Agent Thomas Obadiah Rook. He knows who I am.” Thomas Rook shook his hand. “Thank you for taking care of him. Nicolai is my old mentor. I have to leave now. Goodbye Doctor, and Nicolai stay alive and retired ok?”

“Goodbye Thomas, I plan to continue.” Rook left and Aaron joined Henry and Nicolai a few minutes later. “Gentlemen, you’ve just seen the most dangerous man in the city next to Aaron. He is a threat to anyone who opposes him. I know, he’s the best agent that my group ever saw. He runs it now.”

Henry looked at him. “He’s my cousin, and for years we only knew he worked for the government. Aaron, he’s how I met Nicolai. One night, a Russian showed up at my apartment while I was doing special work at John Hopkins. He had my cousin with him, bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound. I patched him up, and they stayed with me for a few days.”

“Yes. As it turns out both Henry and my relationship with Thomas became distant, but we became close friends.” “What caused the distance?” Both older men bristled. Henry walked to the window as Nicolai answered. “It was called Project LEO, and my guess is that’s why Thomas is in Oceania.”

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#CollageFriday: Birds and Boats

My Wife’s favorite duck is a little black duck with a white bill known as a Coot. It shares #CollageFriday with two views of a boat scene today. We hope you enjoy our “Birds and Boats” #CollageFriday today.

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The Together Sound

The following post are the notes from speaking last night at our Church, Point Of Mercy in Nashville, TN. I was privileged to be asked by our Lead Pastor and friend, Pastor Denny Livingston to speak. The lesson was called, The Together Sound.

Acts 2:1

“1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come,they were all with one accord in one place.”

The word symphony comes to us via Latin from the Greek sumphōnia, from sun- ‘together’ + phōnē ‘sound.’ Simply put, the Together Sound. Today I found myself thinking about our theme for the year, Rhythm, in the form of a symphony orchestra. Especially since our Pastor, the conductor of our local assembly is ill. It was an image that I couldn’t get away from, especially once I saw this definition.

This is what God wants to convey to us as a Church, especially for this year. It’s the message of the early Church of Acts 2:1. They were all in one mind and in one accord. I want to view it tonight through the lens of an orchestra. The interesting thing about a symphony is it’s both the definition of a musical composition, and the body that performs it. In other words, when performed well, the two are one. The orchestra is the very music it plays.

We know the role our Pastor plays in this, he is the conductor. As Point Of Mercy’s conductor he, as he did those two Sundays with powerful anointing and skill, set the tone for us this year. It’s something he does every week, day in and day out. He won’t say this about himself, but tonight I can.

I’ve been in this all my life, and in the ministry 20 years, and he’s one of the greatest Pastor’s I’ve ever known. I’m sure you feel the same way. I don’t just say that to make him feel better, or to honor him. I say it because it’s the truth. It’s in our welfare to realize the gift that God has given us in a wonderful leader and his family.

I’m very protective of our Pastor, and our Church. I don’t deny it. I’m not ashamed of it, in fact I’m very proud of it. The reason for that is, I know who and what we have. I know his, and his family’s lives. I’ve seen great leaders attacked by people who have an agenda. I do not like nor support anyone that would start a fight with God’s Leaders, but that’s not the only reason I feel this way.

A conductor doesn’t just keep the tempo, he schedules the rehearsals. He makes sure that the orchestra is staffed properly. He plans the pieces, in many cases he composes them. When he’s sick, it creates a vacuum.

No matter who fills the podium when our Pastor isn’t here, his absence is felt. That’s not by the Pastor’s design, but by God’s. The Lord never intended for His people not to have a Leader.

In the beginning, it was Adam. We know that before Noah built the ark, Enoch walked with God. Jude tells us that he also prophesied to the people. The voice of the Leader is the very metronome we saw Sunday.

What God did intend, was for the people to follow His Leader’s example of faithfulness. The danger is, while we are to follow, it can be very tempting to just float by. Like an orchestra that takes a conductor for granted, so can a Church a Pastor. Israel did it with Moses.

The Lord Jesus said that “A Prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and among his own people.” If we’re not careful, we can take The Man Of God for granted. Truth be told, most churches do. The reason that it’s important isn’t only for his sake, but for ours.

The example of our Pastor isn’t meant to be the one we put all our weight on, but the one we follow after as we mirror his example. In other words, when God calls him to sacrifice in an area, we should fall in step behind in it. Three ways we can do that, which I want to talk about tonight, are in prayer, study, and in our mindset.

The danger is that we are human, and it’s easy to allow ourselves to lose sight of what we plan to do. How many days has my plan for a thirty minute prayer time turned into five minutes before bed? How many magazine articles can I quote in a conversation, but miss the second line of The Lord’s Prayer?

I’m talking about myself tonight. I must put the time in to carry my weight in The Kingdom Of God. Too many times, just because we can justify to ourselves not accomplishing something, there is still a cold hard fact to contend with.

That fact is, no matter why, what we planned to do didn’t happen. Much like the wonderful musicians we saw Sunday, we must put in the time to make the music happen. They all played their part, they all completed what they were supposed to do.

Each of them did something different, but they each did it well. That’s what Pastor was showing us that day when he, Bro Anthony, and Bro Koda were on the platform. The Lead Pastor was playing his role. Bro Anthony doesn’t speak from a podium, but if you know him, you know he’s committed to our Church. He fulfills his commitments.

Bro Koda, the youngest of the three, may play a different role in life than Pastor or Bro Anthony, but he was ready. He’s not a speaker, he’s not a husband or a father yet, but as part of a younger generation, he’s doing his part. If we all play together, we can accomplish something just as great.

No matter what your circumstances, age, or background, there is a role for you to play. I don’t have to play your part, and I don’t get mad when my part isn’t prominent. In an orchestra, the triangle player is as needed as the violinist. There is a space for all of us to fill, we learned that last year. This year it’s about filling it to the best of our ability.

I’m not called to make the decisions or set the pace, and I’m very okay with that. God never called His body to be the brain of the Church. God called The Pastor to lead the Church. The Lord has a plan, He’s shared it with The Man Of God, and our Pastor has shared it with us from the Pulpit.

Although we have a Leader who welcomes input, my responsibility isn’t to interject my opinion. My calling is to put my back into the work, and I love that. It’s my job, to listen, to learn, and to lift. Listen to the direction, learn what I need to do, and lift the burden when I can. That’s what the Together Sound is all about.

How do we do that? Pastor covered the first area the last three weeks. He has taught some of the greatest lessons on fasting I’ve ever heard. If you’ve missed them, you need them.

Another area is prayer. Tonight, our Pastor needs prayer for his physical body. Every day though, we should be praying for him and his family. I can also be praying for favor for our Church. We can ask God a very simple question, “What could I do for you today?”

That one simple, practical question, will change your life. If it’s witnessing to that person you never thought would accept Christ, go ahead. Consider it a personal favor to The Master Composer who put us in the orchestra. Prayer isn’t like some new age meditation, it’s a practical application of your relationship with God. As Andy Griffith would say, “Call the man!” Or in this case, “Call On God.”

Notice it says “If my people will humble themselves and pray …”, not if my leaders will. God’s leaders have always prayed and sought the face of God. The problem was getting His people, as a whole, to do the same.

Part of the Church, as a whole’s problem in prayer, was our view of it. When you stop viewing prayer as a one sided obligation, and start viewing it as two way communication, it takes on a whole new form.

Contrary to popular belief, most of Elijah’s prayers didn’t involve calling fire down from Heaven. They involved stoking the flame that burned in his soul. Which is why Paul told Timothy, “to stir up The Gift that was within him.” The Bible says that he “was a man of like passions as we are.” In other words, he had hang ups, but he got the job done.

Little Ava Wilson did her part Sunday. By her simple act, countless souls were inspired. What caused her to do it? Faith and passion. Faith to believe in The God she learned about, and passion enough to carry it out. We adults have the faith, but we’ve allowed our passion to wane. It’s time to stir the fire!

Our trouble is we often don’t practice enough to play the instrument. Great musicians still practice every 24 hour period of their lives. Bro Lucian says they spend at least 2-3 hours a day. That’s 12.5% of of a 24 hour period.

Prayer is the skill that teaches you how to use that black backed sword known as The Bible. Prayer is something that is meant to be tied to other things, prayer and fasting, prayer and reading God’s Word.

I was privileged Sunday morning to listen to a conversation in Harvest Cafe. Bro Josh, Sis Jennifer, and Sis Yolanda were discussing their favorite versions of the Bible. We all need more conversations that originate in connection with The Word.

When you read it, you’ll think about it, and when you think on it, it will manifest in our conversations. David said he meditated, or spent time thinking about God’s Word. Do we do that enough? When’s the last time, outside of service, you discussed God’s Word?

I know we may not be able to spend 2-3 hours on each one, but would the time we spend on everything spiritual in a day amount to even 10% of that time? It can, if we sure up the third thing that I want to focus on tonight. It’s all about our mindset.

How we think about our Christian walk will reflect in how we approach the practice of it. A lot of people say they don’t plan out their day. I submit that they may not plan out their entire day, but they plan out what they view as important in their day.

We all got dressed this morning. We’ve all ate some form of food. Most of us went to work, school, or somewhere. If you’re a coffee drinker like me, you’ve had at least one cup.

The point is, you purposely did this. If we will begin to view each day as a personal responsibility, and to attempt to put our all into every service, we’ll truly be playing together. That’s what rhythm is, that Together Sound where each of us does our part to the best of our ability.

A Russian composer wrote a piece called Peter and the wolf to teach children an appreciation for classical music. In it, each character was represented by a different musical instrument. God knows that our leaders, people like Pastor, Sis, Pastor Jason, Sis Brittany, and others are skilled. Now He is calling us to commit ourselves this year, to double our efforts, to play our part.

We can accomplish everything that God wants us to this year. The way to do this is not easy, but very obtainable. We must work to listen to the pattern, to learn the beat, and to lift our walk with God to the level He wants us to go.

Each of us, as individuals, must work to elevate our personal relationship with God, our Leaders, each other, and finally our world. Only then, can we be a part of that Together Sound that is the Rhythm of our Church.

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Pillars: The Attitude Of Helps

Wikimedia Commons Image

Have you ever noticed that the majority of Greek and Roman ruins are made up of pillars that survived? While there are various different types of columns, shapes, and sizes, they all have one thing in common, they’re still standing.  These few upright pillars are the remnants of a faithful builder.

In the only way they can, they’re conveying a message. “Though the roof caved in, the vandals pillaged, and some of our brothers have fallen, we stand faithful.” They held to their calling, they did what they were built to do.  In this sense, those in the ministry of helps have something in common with them.

Above all else, the number one requirement for a successful minister of helps is faithfulness.  Faithfulness, not in one area, but in several.  No one expects perfection, and I myself am far from it, but they do expect consistency.  This is true particularly in the area of attitude.

The attitude of helps dictates your entire effectiveness in this calling.  A brilliant thinker with a lousy attitude is less valuable than a car with a flat tire.  You can be an eloquent speaker with a temperamental streak, and you’ve immediately lessened the impact of every word you say.  However, a man of good attitude will outshine both, in spite of a  lack of education and a speech impediment.

I’ve watched brilliant men and women cause Pastors heartbreak, not troublemakers, but inconsistent supports.  This doesn’t happen on those days when we could take on the world, but days when we feel that it just fell on us.  It’s in those times that we can lose sight of our responsibility, and we can injure the very leaders we are called to serve.

The problem is, our effectiveness isn’t determined by how we react on great days, but on the bad ones.  A pillar stands 24/7, unwavering, no matter how tired, no matter how stressed, no matter how busy.  It’s job is not to complain, but to maintain. We’re human, I realize that, but for that matter, so are the leaders we serve.  An yet, we expect superhuman feats from them, “they’re the Pastor, they’re not supposed to …”

The difference is, if they have a bad day, it’s the talk of the Church.  If you and I have one, they’ll never speak of it.  What they will be forced to do however, is realize that they can’t rely on the person who blows up when stressed.  That person who said they would do anything that was needed, just turned into another broken promise.  Is it any wonder that so many pastor’s children  run from any form of ministry?

When a Help reacts in a negative way, you don’t just scar the relationship between you and the Man Of God.  You scar the same relationship in the next generation.  His children will see the stress that one more broken reed has caused him.  Plus, you’ll silently affirm to your children that it’s okay for them to react when they’re stressed, angry, ignored, or overlooked.

I know this is a hard, and unpopular subject, but the truth is it’s very needed.  We say that it’s the day and age that we’re living in, but I’ve grown up seeing it.  As a grandson, I watched those whom my two Pastor Grandfathers relied on let them down.  As the son of both a Help and a Pastor, I saw those around him do the same thing.

As a Minister, I’ve watched as one reaction derailed the morale of entire staffs of Churches.  This my friends is not the responsibility of the Pastor, it’s ours.  As ministers of Helps, we must realize that while we will get tired, have bad days, and struggle with things, so will they.  What they need is someone who, like we expect them to do, can muscle through the pain.

One of the greatest Helps I’ve ever known wasn’t famous for his eloquence, brilliance, or his charisma, although he had all three.  He was famous for not only constantly being there physically, but emotionally.  Did he get tired?  Yes, but did he allow his attitude to reflect it?  No.  He established a fact with all those he served under, beside of, and led.  You could rely on him to endure, without complaint, whatever was required of him.

Of all the gifts, talents, and abilities that any Help can hope to have, this is the greatest.  Your leaders have to know that they can depend on you.  That your support isn’t dictated by your circumstances, your surroundings, or what you’re worried about.  It’s a tall order. It’s also part of what the Scripture meant when it said, “Be instant in season, and out of season.”

The trouble is we justify what we’re going through.  “I’m not the Pastor, it’s okay that a, b, or c happens.”  I don’t pretend to be innocent in this myself.  I can look back and see my slip ups, but like Paul I follow after.  If we are to help build the Church of, what I believe is the last generation, we must work to improve our own stability.

If called upon, no matter when, why, where, or how, we must stand ready.  Will it be easy?  No.  Is it necessary?  Yes. As necessary as the Apostle John standing at the cross with Mary.  Was it convenient for him to take in another mouth to feed?  No, but he never hesitated.  As Helps, we must work to eliminate our hesitations. Helps must be ready to serve before we are needed.

I’m sure a thousand scenarios are running through your head.  I realize there are circumstances, there are situations, that’s not what I’m talking about.  I’m talking about establishing an attitude of friendship.  One that lets a weary leader, who normally has to carry the entire burden themselves, shift a little of the weight.

We aren’t called to be the visionaries, God called our Pastor to do that.  We are called simply to Help, without excuses, without exceptions, and without expectations.  We must be faithful, not to gain anything. It is our calling to be faithful if it will, or appears that it will, cost us everything.

Helps are called to be pillars with consistent attitudes.  Supports that will stand with, and withstand any obstacle, modeling love, loyalty, and kindness.  Show your Pastor you are all in, regardless of what happens next.

If it’s a storm, be the umbrella.  If it’s an outside intruder, man the front lines.  If it’s an inside attack, stand with your Pastor no matter how tired.  At the end of your ministry, your attitude not your talents, will be the measure of your success as a pillar in the House Of God.

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The Sea Horse: Nicolai

“Aaron, it’s Carla, there’s been an emergency. Nicolai is alive, but he’s had a heart attack. He’s in the Cardiac Clinic under the name Pavlov Laskin.” “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Driver, take me to the hospital asap, it’s an emergency.”

Aaron’s mind went back to his first meeting with Nicolai Tunick. It was while he was bandaged up after the surgeries, after the fire.” Henry brought him to see Aaron, although he never explained how he knew the spy.

He guessed it was from his Mother’s days as an Ambassador, but never asked. Rule One of Mom’s, “Ask only what is vital, and leave the clutter out of it.” So he had, his mind was already filled with enough painful clutter back then.

“I can’t do this, my hands are in bandages.” “You can. Your hands may be wrapped up, but your heart is not. Calm your anxiety, and begin again.” At first, the spy taught him card tricks, small close up feats of magic.

Aaron thought it was to distract him from the pain, it wasn’t. It was to rebuild his dexterity, and enhance it. Over time, they would move on to rebuilding Aaron’s body. Adding muscle, improving endurance, and then came weapons training.

Nicolai was a master with weapons. He was as comfortable with a handgun as he was a whip, a sword, or a spear. “Your weapon is a tool, nothing more, nothing less. Learn it well, but don’t get to attached to any one item. Learn efficiency with them all, you never know which one will save your life.”

It was Nicolai who taught him strategy. Aaron assumed he had been a spy for the Russian government, but he was surprised to learn he worked for the United States. He spoke of a man that was becoming a major part of the life of The Sea Horse, Agent Rook.

Nicolai had trained him. Which is the reason that Aaron couldn’t go in to see Nicolai when he arrived at the hospital. Standing by the bed of his old mentor was another of Nicolai’s former students, Agent Thomas Obadiah Rook.

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#CollageFriday: African Celebration

It’s an African Celebration #CollageFriday @ #PruittWrites

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An Exhibit Of Acrylics

We hope you enjoy our new set of Acrylics. They include a “View From Opryland”, a “South Pacific Volcano”, and a “English Cottage”. They also feature the “House Across The River”, and “Allen’s World”.

The last is something that I would normally never paint, but my Wife is a fan of abstract art. So it’s my view of what Barry Allen, aka The Flash, would see on a quick trip to, well, anywhere. We hope you enjoy them all.

 

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A Little While

Psalms 37:9-10

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

Waiting, it’s not fun. Whether it’s something you’re longing to do, or dreading, waiting upsets us. As humans, we don’t like to wait, but God built it into almost every process.

Think about it, it takes hours for the sun to rise, and then to set. Waters fill the rivers through drips first, and then through streams. Babies are born, not men, and even the mighty lion starts out as a cub.

Why has God placed it in every process? Because what we call endless waiting, He calls growth. The process produces something, and if not for it, the job would be only half done.

Children learn patience by waiting to unwrap a gift. A battle can be costly no matter the time period, but long battles especially. In them, you can learn trust, reinvention, and endurance. These all prepare us, His children, for the next conflict.

God taught us something else about waiting, and that’s small intervals. The sun is highest at noon, it’s not the end of the day, it’s the halfway mark. A tadpole growing it’s legs doesn’t make it a frog, but it’s a time of celebration. We don’t wait until someone’s eighteen to celebrate a birthday.

The Scripture references, “yet a little while”, and all that troubles us will be just a memory. I’ve watched as people faced battles that terrified me, but they made it through. They did this by setting short term goals, by finding joy along the way.

They by no means enjoyed the war, but they found joy in The God that sustained them through it. Small intervals were celebrated, for they knew in a war, you must celebrate small victories. For small battles won, mean campaigns accomplished, and successful campaigns win the war.

Whatever you’re facing today, don’t wait until the final victory to rejoice. Take joy in the fact that you’re still fighting, you are a survivor. Even if you stumbled, you got back up, and if you haven’t yet, you’re still breathing. Stand up, and smile, it’s not over. With God’s help, you will win this battle, it’s just a little while up ahead.

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iPainting: The Magician

This week’s bonus iPainting is in honor of my friend Dave Vaught. On top of being one of my dear friends, he is my favorite magician. I hope that you find this iPainting of “The Magician” half as amazing as Dave is.

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Neglect and Stretch

Philippians 3:13

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

That’s what they mean, my two favorite words in this verse, forgetting and reaching. You see, I tend wrongly, to worry too much. I can allow my mind to get caught up on things, allowing my present to be snagged by my past. That’s why I love the two words in this scripture reference.

Now the past must be dealt with, but once it has, don’t pick at it. The word forgetting here means to neglect out of mind. If Christ has resolved it, we must work to release it.

Paul said I neglect out of mind past things, and I stretch forth to what is before me. They say to get healthy you basically do two things. You stop what isn’t working, and start doing what will work. You stretch towards where you want to be.

It’s very hard to stretch towards the future while you’re holding on to the past. I don’t know the hurt, the shame, or the fear you’re dealing with, but God does. If He’s forgiven you, then why are you still holding onto it?

I know we do that, it’s in our nature. But the good thing about the word neglect is something that happens over time. You carried it yesterday, but today is a new day. Choose not to pick it up today.

You don’t have to release it all right away, just try not to think about it for an hour. Pretend for sixty minutes , that it’s not there. Leave it in the hands of The Master, then neglect to go back and get it. He knows how to deal with it because He already has.

Stretch towards where He is calling you, and ignore the echoes of previous events. Don’t allow what has happened to you to prevent what you could become. Put yesterday in the hands of The Giver of today and walk towards the dawn.

People stretch before a run, and they usually run in the morning. The sun is coming up soon, why not stretch a little. Now that you’ve put down what you were carrying, and stretched towards your dream, why not run after them?

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