The Energy Crisis in the American Church

Preface 2017

While the original materials were taken from a extemporaneously given transcribed sermon, these are my current notes.

The Americans in the American church are in trouble – wake up. We're so much about the energy crisis in America and around the world and maybe, in particular where you live reading these words. But the energy crisis extends to the church of our dear Jesus the Christ.

Why is it that we don't experience what we've read about in the New Testament? Why is it that we don't feel like they felt that we read about in the New Testament? Why is it that it seems to be the same old same old every Sunday in so many of our churches? It seems, that so many, many, just go to "log their hour" or "be entertained.". No heart change. It seems that many do have that heart change – we sometimes sing: "Change my heart, oh God". or ,"Changed from one image to another."

What's the solution? Well, in the vernacular today I use the word: "dud". It is so clearly spelled out in the guidebook and I want to blame that in the forthcoming chapters.

There are many I believe in many congregations who believe in the "gifts of the Holy Spirit". They possess them, but they have no opportunity to exercise the gifts!

WE ARE JUST NOT LETTING THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK THROUGH US (Not just IN the church, but outside the church in our everyday lives.)

From my observation and from my association with many, many pastors through my 64 years of being a pastor. Here is a candidate observation.

There have been many, and I was in that group until many years ago, that are afraid to speak it as it is. Why? My feeling is, and certainly it is just a feeling in left field that some pastors do not want to approach the spirit, that is speaking about the working of the Holy Ghost, for several reasons.

Let me list what I think is true. One If a pastor speaks his gut on this subject and tries to lead his church into day of living – irregardless of the year – he faces the consequence of people not liking it, and as a result might even ask him to leave. (As in the case of yours truly –though I did not.) And some have yielded to that pressure unfortunately, others have stayed the course and been faithful to our dear Lord.

Two. In speaking on letting the Holy Ghost have his way (and it is a He, not an "it").

Many have found that the congregation has reacted by not contributing their tithes and offerings.

I like one of the statements of Pope Francis on a different subject. Hs reply was "who am I do judge." Well, I want to reiterate that phrase who am I to judge my fellow pastor. It is just true – the bottom line – there is a energy crisis in the American church. And when I speak of energy. I'm speaking of the Holy Ghost energy

God bless the pastors of the many, many churches that dot the countryside of our great nation, as well as those around the world.

I honor these pastors, and I blessed the pastors/ministers, because they have been faithful to accept the high calling placed upon them in earlier years.

My Prayer: "I give my written blessing to any pastor reading these words, whether in or out of the workings of the Holy Ghost, and I asked the blessings of Abba Father on your life. Thank you for accepting the call into the ministry, May the Windows of heaven be open to you and yours, and the wonderful ministry to which you have been called." Amen and Amen

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