Today is Maundy Thursday on the liturgical calendar—the day Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples before He went to the cross.

Today, to commemorate Holy Week, we had a short worship service in our office with my staff. I invited several staff, who also serve as pastors, to take part in serving, and we took communion together. We also prayed for the volatile situation in our community following the tragic death of Trayvon Martin, which has created uproar in our country.

Next week, I'll write more about this situation, which has really hit home for me. The reason: the tragic killing took place 2.9 miles from our offices in Lake Mary, Fla., which abuts Sanford, Fla. As a result we have decided to focus our June issue on The Church's Response to Racism. Today I attended a meeting with black and white ministers in our city. Tomorrow I'm attending a prayer service on Good Friday. Some very interesting things came out, from a spiritual point of view, which I'll comment on later. read more

5:26PM EDT 4/5/2012

Pastor Alex Clattenburg has been a good friend for nearly 40 years. I got an email about a great Good Friday service he is having next week at Church in the Son in Orlando, Fla. I wish I could attend but I’ll be out of state. We close our offices every year on Good Friday. I always try to attend a service and it’s hard to find a Spirit-filled church that has one. What a pity. It’s part of our culture which comes out of the revivalist tradition of the sawdust trail. It’s as if anything liturgical is something we should avoid.

I had a good friend in the Episcopal Church that talked about how they had things all week long. I had to ask what Maundy Thursday was! We didn’t celebrate it in the Assemblies of God. But it’s the night before Good Friday. Okay, maybe we don’t need to go for the bells and smells of some churches. But sometimes we are so casual about special days, we go too far the other way. On Good Friday I like to take communion and to think about the sacrifice the Lord made on the cross. I encourage you to think about that sacrifice. read more

4:53PM EDT 3/30/2012

Robert Stearns, founder of Eagles’ Wings, did a magnificent job as guest editor for the new issue of Ministry Today. He highlighted a very important topic: the New Zionism.  I’m happy to post the new digital issue below in hopes that you’ll read it and benefit from the articles.  You’re getting it before it is emailed to our regular list.  I hope you’ll subscribe and be among the first people to receive it on your iPad.

The issue of Zionism and Israel is near and dear to me. For years I’ve been a strong supporter of Israel. So it’s an honor for me to have been invited by Robert to be one of the “conveners” for the Jerusalem Banquet in New York City on May 17. Even though I’ll write about it later I wanted to send this out right away because it was announced this week that the keynote speaker will be former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. read more

9:26AM EDT 3/23/2012

I’ve been to more networking meetings than I can count. Sometimes I leave discouraged over what I see and hear: leaders with their own agendas whose lives don’t match the New Testament because they tolerate compromise.

But a week ago my reaction at Converge21 in Virginia Beach, Va., was opposite. Instead, there were leaders who see the problems in the church and who are committed to getting the church back on track. Several hundred even signed a resolution articulating this commitment. Keep reading to see the entire resolution.

Converge21—held at Regent University—included many significant leaders like Dr. George Wood of the Assemblies of God, Robert Morris from Gateway Church in Dallas, Billy Wilson of Empowered21 and Pastor Jack Hayford from The King’s University. It was really three meetings in one: the Society for Pentecostal Studies, which held its annual meeting; there was a small invitation only meeting of mostly older charismatic ministries; and Empowered21, which brought in “younger leaders.” Any time you get young people together who are eager to learn and be mentored, there is a tremendous energy! read more

8:55AM EDT 3/14/2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Mark West, President

423-240-8288

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www.chattanoogateaparty.com

“I AM AMERICA” SINGER KRISTA BRANCH TO PERFORM AT LIBERTY FORUM FEB. 25

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Feb. 21) – Singer Krista Branch, who gained notoriety when her underground Tea Party hit, “I Am America,” went viral on YouTube, will perform at the Chattanooga Tea Party’s Liberty Forum event Saturday, February 25, at Abba’s House in Hixson. The event will run from 1 to 4 p.m. with Krista performing a “mini-concert” prior to the start as well as singing during the event.

Krista has sung at tea party rallies and concerts around the nation and appeared on “Fox & Friends,” “The O'Reilly Factor” and other programs. Her song, "I Am America," was the official song of the Herman Cain campaign.

Krista developed her love for music at a young age, singing at a small church in east Texas. Krista now lives in Nashville, Tennessee where she is working on an upcoming album. She takes pride in being a devoted wife, mother, patriot and woman of deep faith.

In addition to Krista, the event will feature GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum and local, state and federal candidates and officials, who will address their vision for each of the different levels of government. The CTP will also offer refreshments to celebrate the tea party movement’s 3^rd Anniversary.

Although there will be no cost to attend the event, donations will be welcomed to help defray costs.

The CTP also asks attendees to bring food donations, which will be collected for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.

The Chattanooga Tea Party is a non-partisan grassroots organization seeking to educate and inform its members and the public at large of the fundamental issues and struggles our country is facing. We are committed to energizing voters to become engaged in the process of solving the nation’s problems.

  read more

4:08PM EST 2/23/2012