Jeremiah 3:15-17 - The blog of pastor.ctj

It is true that I pastor a house or simple church, but in my travels, I have spent many years in the ‘traditional’ denominational system, and in the Mega-Church. During my Mega-church time, the pastor began to teach what he called ‘principles’. At first I was impressed by this new thing, thinking it to be innovative, clever, and full of wisdom. But subtly, almost imperceptibly, they began to supplant what they were intended to supplement. The scripture (Please note that I will be dealing with this in a later blog post) I do however remember two of the principles, which are apropos in this moment: 1) Error increases with distance and 2) Success reinforces error What do these things mean, you ask? Consider the following: 1), the further that you are away from an object, a concept, an event or a truth, the harder it is to properly discern just what it is/was. Perception is skewed by things that create distance, like time, and actual space (distance). This increases the potential for and...

Too many people these days, naming and claiming, and too few people kneeling and pleading... 'Lord Have Mercy On Me' By Michael W. Smith Jesus, I've forgotten the words that You have spoken Promises that burned within my heart have now grown dim With a doubting heart I follow the paths of earthly wisdom Forgive me for my unbelief Renew the fire again Chorus Lord have mercy Christ have mercy Lord have mercy on me Repeat I have built an altar where I worship things of men I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You Now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing Pardon my transgressions Help me love You again Repeat Chorus I have longed to know You and Your tender mercies Like a river of forgiveness ever flowing without end I bow my heart before You in the goodness of Your presence Your grace forever shining Like a beacon in the night

April 1, 1949 - May 27, 2011 From His website : "...an American poet, musician, and author known primarily for his late 1960s and early 1970s work as a spoken word soul performer and his collaborative work with musician Brian Jackson. His collaborative efforts with Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues and soul music, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron. The music of these albums, most notably Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul. Scott-Heron’s recording work is often associated with black militant activism and has received much critical acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. The Revolution will not be televised Home is where the hatred is The Bottle I'm new here "Turn around, turn ar...

A strange title for a blog post from a Pastor to be sure, but an accurate one. I find that the more deeply one studies the scriptures, the more seriously one takes what they read, and the more determined one becomes in the application of the Word of God in their daily lives, the more friction occurs with others of supposedly ‘like faith’. This was initially surprising to me, but I have now come to accept it for what it is, and more importantly I see that once again, Yahshuah/Jesus was quite right in his assessment of the religious world. In America today, we are surrounded by ‘religion’ . There are religions of all sorts, shapes, practices, and beliefs, and unfortunately much of it claims to be ‘Christian’ . Am I of the belief that anyone is 100% correct, no. I would never make such a statement, it is far too naïve. However, it is clear that far too many people in the ‘the church’ rely on the teachings of the men and women under whom they sit, and do not spend nearly enough time readin...

The Pimp Chronicles, Episode Four Blogger's note: I recently came across the journal of 'The Right Reverend Riley R. Robinson' Prophet, Pastor and Presiding Prelate of the T rue A nointing C hurch, Kentucky (TAC KY) May 17 2011 So I came across a guidebook, on how to keep control of the flock. You can't have them sheep wanderin', you know. Anyway, here's a tip for y'all who wanna make sure that they don't get outta line... The formula for Spiritual Character Assassination And congregational control – By Roscoe D. Levygne In leadership, control is key. The Sheep must be led, and it is the responsibility of the shepherd to show them the error of their ways, while lovingly correcting them. The rod corrects, while the staff guides.(Psalm 23) There comes a time though, where one sheep has to be made an example of, in order to keep the others in line. Inevitably, you will be challenged. When this happens, the following strategy should be depl...

I heard today that the Oprah show will end soon, and as I began to ponder it, a dream sequence began... In the middle of her last show, after a particularly touching montage of the 25+ years she has hosted... She stands, center stage, surrounded by those who owe her their careers and her favorite guests and suddenly, without warning... Pulls off her face and hair revealing mottled, scaly flesh and gnarled horns, and she spreads her leathery wings, and opens her gaping maw to bear her long rotting flesh-flecked fangs, utters a deep throaty growl, announces herself to be: Orpaoh (Or-Pah-oh ) the reaper of souls, That which up to now has been known as Gail begins its slow descent from the ceiling where it has been poised upside down since the show began. In its natural state it is Luthu, spawn of Orpaoh the reaper... Orpaoh hisses for silence amid the terrified screams of the audience, who are only then beginning to realize in horror, that this is not some TV trick, and that ...

Our dear sister Linda, departed this life January 20, 2011. She is missed, but we trust God. Below is a video montage, set to Linda singing. After that her Eulogy, as delivered by her Pastor, Rev. Cyril T. Jermin... God's Grace: The Root and the Proof of Love... Psalm 95:3-7 3 For the LORD is the great God, And the great King above all gods. 4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. 5 The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. 1 John 3:1-3 1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be li...