Fellowship during A.W.E. 4/8/09

As many of you know Pastor Kevin Pullam is having a month long revival that takes place each Wednesday of the month of April. I have been in attendance on each night so far. I must say, we have been blessed to hear a mighty word from two very gifted preachers already. It promises to be one of the city's most exciting and beneficial revivals we have had in many years. I know that it had to be God inspired to bring this together for such a time as this. Thank you Pastor Kevin for your step of faith and obedience to except this challenge to render unto God's people a chance to be revived and renewed through this great revival.

The first Wednesday of the month Pastor Lester Gillespie was the Evangelist. He did a marvolous job in his exposition of the word. He is from a long linage of Preachers and singers and he brought a message that brought a clearer understanding of today's issues and misconceptions. Even though, Pastor Gillespie did all of that....little did the congregation know one of MY sons was on the way for the second round of AWE.

Pastor Lance A. Mann was understandably under estimated by most since he had not yet made his debut in this area. It was immediately apparent to ME that the crowd was pleasantly surprised from the moment he began to speak. Oh My God!! We could have opened the doors of the church when he finished singing the song BEFORE he preached. I had heard about Lance's preaching, caught a small glimpse on utube, but... Mann, oh mann, oh mann!! He brought us up to another level. God really blessed him to preach. He is so gifted in all areas of the "art" of preaching. I'm not going to even talk about his tune on the end of the message. I thought he was going to hurt himself, REALLY!! We were all either on our feet or on the edge of our seats. He was Practical yet profound. Masterful exposition of the written word. He taught us, he advised us, he warned us, as well as giving us hope. YES, I'm bias. but, I KNOW preaching, I'm not a liar, I am an honest person, I try to be fair and I call it like I see it. All I can say is God be Praised for such a wonderful worship experience through the "foolishness of preaching" done by Pastor Mann.

Lastly, I would like to express, how honored I was to sit there in the midst of the congregation and beam with pride as his surrogate Mother. I stepped into the role of Lance's late Mother and was moved to tears as I felt what she would have felt if she had been in attendance. I know that kind of pride, because I experience it first hand whenever any one of my gifted, preaching, biological sons stand in John's shoes. We had great fellowship as a family the whole time he was here. Lance met new brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins that he will have for life. Everyone who has inquired about Pastor Mann since he left, addresses him as our son. Of course, it always brings a big smile on my face. Thank you Pastor Lance for coming to Corpus Christi, Texas and leaving it better than when you arrived. I can't wait to see you again.

Lance and I at the airport when he arrived in Corpus.

Pastor Arthur Lane and Pastor Lance Mann at the restaurant after we left the airport

Before Lance preached sitting in Pastor Kevin's church office

Pastors Kraig Pullam, Lance Mann, and Arthur Lane before service

My sons: Pastor Kevin, Pastor Lance, Bro. Keith, Pastor Kraig

Pastor Lance Mann at the Corpus Christi International Airport. On his departure back to Newark, New Jersey

These are just a few photos we took while our son Pastor Lance was in town. If you want to see all of the photos we took while he was here, you can view them on my facebook photo album. We had wonderful fellowship the short time we were together as a family. I look forward to the same experience with the rest of my Blog Sons in the near future.

Have a "Happy Easter" experience in Worship tomorrow! Be blessed.

Tell Me Something...(Altered)

Yeah, it's really this time of the morning and I haven't been to bed yet. Well, I almost have. I signed off facebook around 2:20 a.m. and went straight to the shower and got ready for bed. I brushed my teeth, said my prayers, pulled back the covers and got into bed. I can never fall asleep without my tv on but it was off already because my husband had been asleep for a long while. I didn't want to disturb him so I left the room to sit in my arm chair in the den to watch tv. All of a sudden an earlier conversation came to mind and it bothered me a little. I wondered if I was alone in my thinking, if a man's point of view in this situation was so different from a woman's, or was I alone in my thoughts on the subject. Here's the thing....

......The rest of the original contents of this blog has been removed to protect the integrity of the commentators on my blog's comment page. I DO appreciate every one who helped with my predicament and perplexity with my bewilderment of the mindset of the sexes and/or thinking in general. I did learn a LOT more than I asked for within this particular blog experience, ESPECIALLY about my good and LOYAL friend, Melvin. Love to each of you.


Be blessed
Proverbs 3:5&6

Spring Break

Hello Family,

Well, I finally bite the bullet and crossed over to facebook. Kraig and Tony finally convinced me that I was a missing person over there. I was beginning to feel very lonesome here in blogsville U.S.A. because the majority of you were becoming acquainted with a new vice. Now it has become a vice of mine. I have very quickly learned where some people I haven't seen or heard from in years are located. I've seen some great pictures and glimpsed into a few of the "hanging out" sessions/parties of my freshman grandson and other college students of our congregation ~ lol ~. Very enlightening. Thanks Pastor Kraig and Tony for taking me by the hand and helping this old lady find her way to where the action is. The reaction to most of the young people that know me was... "I didn't think I'd ever see the day, you would be on facebook". Except my grandson, Kory. He knew it was just a matter of time.

I think I will be spending my Spring Break on facebook and a little less time here on the blog. There is a lot I want to see there. But, I didn't want to be AWOL without my blog family knowing why. I'm not sick, I haven't quit, nor am I discouraged. I'm taking some time off to do research. I will be checking on the family though. Behave yourselves. I'll be back soon. Love you.

Take care.

Kristian Lanier Pullam

This is my third born grandson. Today is his birthday. A very intellegent, "know it all", beautiful, low key young man. In my opinion he has the brains/smarts of both his parents, Kevin and LaTonya Pullam, and some mannerism of his Uncle Keith. He knows exactly how to be in FULL mode adolescence. And, I love him a LOT!

His name is Kristian Lanier Pullam. Affectionately known (by me) as Mini-Me. Yeah, you guessed it, he looks a lot like me. The older he gets, the more he comes into his own look. Nevertheless, still very handsome. Happy fourteenth Birthday Nana's Baby! May you have many, many, many more wonderful years. Be blessed.

Love,

Nana

"Instructing Our Children"

This is my Grandson Kamaron LeSean Pullam. By the look of this fish, I would have to label him as a "fisherman in the

making". As a brand new fisherman, he is so happy and thrilled about his Catch of the day. Could he be in training for more important and meaningful prey? One of many GREAT CATCHES of a lifetime? In order to do anything well one should be taught, and give wise instruction from those who are equipped to do so.

It is suggested that our parents and guardians are charged to be good stewards over our children to prepare them for life and to exist on their own, fulfill their destiny and will for their lives. It is also a responsibility to guide towards the things of God.

We as believers and those charged to preach the gospel of Christ, take on the awesome task of the great commission mentioned in Matthew, teaching all nations, domestic and those abroad about Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation.

My Mama always told me that mission begins at home. It is a bad preacher who does not commence a ministry in his own home by precept or example. Yes, the heathen are to be sought, the highways and the hedges are to be searched, but home has first claim. Do not reverse the order of the Lord's arrangements.

Teaching our children is a personal duty. We cannot delegate it to Sunday School teachers or other friendly aids. They can assist, but this sacred obligation is primarily ours, and proxies and sponsors are unbiblical substitutes. Mothers and fathers must, like Abraham, teach their households the fear of the Lord (Geneis 17:23).

Parental teaching is a natural duty (Proverbs 22:6). Who is more able to look after a child's well-being than the parents or it's guardian? If you neglect the instruction of your children, you are worse than a brute and will prove to be powerless with a unruly, contrary, and rebellious child.

A family's religious instruction is necessary for the nation, the family, and the church. By a thousand plots, false teachings are advancing. One of the most effective methods for resisting its inroads, however, is almost neglected; namely, the instruction of children in the faith. Parents should wake up to its importance. My son Pastor Kevin, Kamaron's father, included in his sermon last Sunday, that he and his brother's were instructed by his parents, that ALL young men should read the book of Proverbs. There is great instruction through the word of God in Proverbs about most things you will face in life, even how to choose a wife.

Working in my church with the young people through our singing ministry (the St. John First Singing Angels) is a pleasant duty, to talk about Jesus to our sons and daughters, and through it God saves the children by the parent's biblical instruction, prayers and admonitions.

Who knows through this spiritual command of instructing our children as "fishermen in the making", will reap even greater rewards for the kingdom of God, and many GREAT CATCHES throughout their lifetime and generations to come.

"Tell your children about it. Let your children

tell their children. And their children

another generation

Joel 1:3

The Inner Fight

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit,

and the Spirit againt the flesh."

Galatians 5:17

This week I shared with my Son, some disturbing news of a friend of his (to protect the innocent, I will call this friend "Kemp"). By Kemp's inordinate behavior and uncontrolled vices, he has single handedly pushed himself against the wall. Not only is this a disservice to his young family, but it also contributed to him being excommunicated as a Pastor and gifted Preacher. The overall impression of most who are aware, seems to think (by the arrogence of Kemp) that there was no lessons learned from his fiascos. Unfortunately, from years of him burning bridges among his relationships, there is little tolerence by most in stretching out a brotherly hand only to be disappointed by Kemp's inability to take charge over his battles.

Knowing Kemp's family, when I first heard the news, I allowed myself to think, (Lord forgive me) "he was destined to fall into divers temptation". Having preaching Sons myself, I feel a great sense of urgency in this young man's situation. I felt horrible for borderlining into self-righteous judging. If not by the grace of God this could be ME, my family, my sons, and our situation.

In EVERY believer's heart there is a constant struggle between the old and the new natures. The old nature is still active and loses no opportunity to employ its deadly weapons against newborn grace. On the other hand, the new nature is always watching to resist and destroy its enemy. Grace within us will employ prayer, faith, hope, and love to cast out evil. Grace puts on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11)

These two opposing natures will never cease their struggle as long as we are in this world. We battle with ourselves from the Wicket Gate to the river Jordan. The enemy is so securely entrenched that it can never be totally driven out while we are in this body.

What adversary are WE fighting today? I want to tell Kemp and many others, do not be discouraged, fight on. God is with us. He is the healer of our wounds. Fight on, looking unto Jesus. Though the conflict is long and demanding, sweet will be the victory, glorious the promised reward:

From strength to strength go on;

Wrestle, and fight, and pray,

Tread all the powers of darkness down,

And win the well-fought day.

____Unknown

Keep Kemp, his family, church family, and his " Inner Fight" in your prayers.

VALENTINE'S DAY!!

This is one of my favorite times of the year. Not because of any material gain. Although, it could be an added bonus. But, just setting aside a time to acknowlege and have a celebration of Love itself , to me is truly AWESOME. Recognizing all the wonderful people I love and cherish, and reflecting and communicating with all those I am privileged to be loved by, thrills my very being. I love the idea of love. I love everything love represents. I love being IN love with a significant other/my husband and everything that it entails.

Valentine's Day is also a special anniversary for my husband and I. This was the day we officially began courting one another. This happened after growing up and serving together in the same youth fellowship at the same church, then becoming good friends and confidants. My life changed after Valentine's Day 1967 that began my life's destiny. I regret nothing or would I change anything in my tranformation from being a singularity to a plural with William L. Pullam. By the goodness of God our plural has gotten bigger and bigger. He has richly enlarged our territory, and I am thankful.

Whenever my husband/pastor has the opportunity to introduce me publicly, he always borrow some of the lyrics of a song produced in the 50's that was sung by Sam Cook. The crowd always anticipate the words because he never fails to include them in his narration. I also have the words in print, matted, framed and it's one of my cherished posessions. Here are a few of the words.

You are the Apple of my Eye

my Cherry Pie

my Cake and Ice Cream

My Sugar and Spice

and Everything Nice

You are the Girl of my Dreams!

He has treated me as though I am everything that is good in his life. I have always felt loved through the good and throughout our struggles. But most of all, I thank God for His love and the awesome love displayed by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago. John 15;13

Thank you for the Beautiful two dozen Roses

that reflects the beauty of our relationship

and

our Eternal Love

I love you William with my Whole Heart. You mean so much to me and there is non that can compare. Thank you for your Love and Respect. I'm yours forever and a day.

Happy Valentine's Day

to all

of my Loved Ones and Dear Friends

Be blessed

1 John 4:7