HNY from RCC!

Know that regardless of how you choose to spend New Year's Eve or what spiritual path you follow, we at Recovery Christian Center love you and are praying for you. Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Are You Ready For Your Season Premier

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Honorarium

Giving honor to God who is head of my life, to the pulpit, to the leadership and to my beautiful wife, Pastor Paula, and to all of you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we welcome all of you The Recovery Christian Center.

Scripture

For a lot of us the holiday season can be rough and this year it seemed for many of us rougher than most so as I was preparing this week for service God dropped in my spirit that even though it’s rough right now we are entering a new season and getting ready to enter a new year. So He brought me to a familiar passage of scripture dealing with seasons.

Those of you that have your bibles please join me in the book of Ecclesiastes, the 3^rd chapter starting at the 1^st verse.

Topic

I want to use those few verses and preach for few moments from the topic “Are you ready for your season premier!”

Turn to your neighbor and tell them, “This is my season premier!”

Prayer

Let us pray.

Message

Every year usually beginning in September our favorite network shows begin a whole new season after being on hiatus since May. We are usually waiting in great anticipation for the start of the new season either because the old season ended in a cliff hanger or just because we know the show has made some changes and we want to see where the new direction is going. Adding to our anticipation is all the hype from the commercials and talk show interviews, the magazine articles and the even the news about what’s happening on this new season. There’s all kinds of hype about the show designed to have us glued to the TV on the night of the premier. Some shows even go as far as to have red carpet moments and after parties to increase the hype. They flood the internet and Facebook and Twitter to keep the buzz going. Usually the week before the premier the cliff hanger is played to bring us back up to speed and increase our anticipation. Some folks are so wound up about the new show that they have viewing parties at their homes to share the experience with their friends. Others turn off their phones, isolate themselves in their living rooms and tell folks don’t call me until after the show. All of this over a TV show.

As I reflected on this I began thinking that every time we get ready to go to another level in our relationship with God, just as we begin to move into a new season the show that is our life goes through a season premier.

God began to show me how the process for a show’s season premier was a lot like what we go through in getting ready for our new season. He showed me that there are certain signs to let me know when He’s about to take us to that next level. Whether it’s in our lives personally or in the life of our ministry it’s the same process.

So what’s the process? How do we know that God’s trying to take us to the next level? We’ve been on hiatus for a while just waiting on God to tell us to move so how do we know when it’s time?

First Point

The Summer Replacements Come To an End!

Ya’ll know what I’m talking about. All those summer filler shows without a lot of substance that are meant to distract us from the shows we really like. Well we got some spiritual summer replacements that try to distract us from getting to our season premier as well. For some of us it might be waiting on our spouse but instead of waiting on God to bring us Mr. or Ms. Right, we messing with Mr. or Mrs. Right Now.

Now don’t get me wrong all summer replacements aren’t bad. Maybe you’re called to preach but God hasn’t released you yet so you continue to serve as an usher or on the choir or on pastor’s aid. See sometimes there can be quite a distance between call and release. King David was anointed king of Israel 20 years before he ever sat on the throne. But God took him through a preparation process that made him a soldier and then a general and then a member of the royal family by marriage so that by the time he became king he was prepared. Some of us are still stuck in summer replacements because we won’t surrender to the preparation process. So once we allow the preparation process to happen the way God wants it to happen then we can be ready for our season premier.

So whatever it is that’s either distracting you or filling your time or your preparation process, it will come to an end prior to your season premier.

Second Point

We revisit the reruns!

Now usually the network doesn’t rerun the entire season, but they will take about 4-5 of the best episodes, the highest rated episodes, the most dramatic episodes and rerun them to peak our curiosity and build up our anticipation for the new season.

Well right before our season premier that same thing begins to happen. We get placed in some situations where we revisit some reruns. Some past issues might pop up so we can see what still needs to be improved. Some situations might re-present themselves so we can see how far we come. And even as we watch an episode we’ve seen before we might just see something we missed last time. Maybe we were on a bathroom break or the phone rang or we went out that night or we fell asleep at the end but whatever the reason we missed it and we need to see it in order to get a clearer picture of what’s about to happen. If you stuck in who you used to be maybe this rerun will provide you just the detail you need to get unstuck. You might have missed it the first time but this time you can find what you need and move forward to get to where you need to be.

See we’ve got to be open to whatever lesson God is trying to teach us but if we don’t get it the first time that episode aired then we will just have to catch it again in reruns. And when we keep finding ourselves in the same rerun over and over again, then maybe we need to ask God what it is we’re supposed to learn that we’re missing. What is it that we need in order to get unstuck from the rerun? Because we can’t move into the new season if we’re still missing something from last season.

Third Point

Some Cast Changes Are Announced!

Now a lot of times especially on long running shows the producers decide to make some casting changes to bring new life into the show or to take it in a different direction, or because this new character will help develop the remaining characters in the new way. Law and Order was on 20 years and always has 6 main characters, The Police C.O., the two detectives, the D.A. and two prosecutors. Over the 20 years there were 2 Police C.O.s and 4 D.A.s and I can’t tell you how many detectives and prosecutors, but each change brought something unique and fresh to the show. The change gave it new life and new perspective and brought out something different.

God sometimes has to make some changes around us to in order to take us to the next level as well. If you got a relationship that is tearing you down or a best friend that doesn’t really know how to be a friend to you no matter how good you’ve been to them, you may find them moved out of the cast of your life and some new folk brought in who will compliment you going to the next level. Sometimes the folk that just drain you will be sent packing and the folk that can help you will get a new role. Don’t believe me, get married and see how many single friends you still have after the first year of marriage. It doesn’t mean your single friends are bad; they just aren’t always good for a happy marriage. Why? Because single friends can do things married folk can’t. Single folk can stay out all night without calling home because they don’t have to answer to anybody but God. Married folk got somebody to answer to. So if I want to stay out of trouble with my wife I might need some casting changes. If I’m stepping up in ministry or going to a new level in recovery or going back to school and the folk around me are stuck in their situation and are trying to bring me down, it might be time for a casting change. Just because they can’t do it or can’t see themselves doing it, they will try to discourage you as well. Why do you think successful people have mainly successful friends? Rich folk don’t have too many broke friends. I’ll even say this sometimes our casting change needs to be somebody who’s at the level I’m trying to get to. If I’m going back to school to get my bachelors maybe I need to surround myself with some folk who already have masters and who can encourage me to get to the next level. If I’m starting a business then maybe I need to surround myself with some folk who already own successful businesses so I can learn from them. Whatever it is my supporting cast need to be just that supporting. If their draining or discouraging, or belittling, it’s time for a cast change.

Last Point

The Intensity of the Hype Begins To Move us Into the Premier!

Ever noticed how the couple of weeks before the show premiers, the network is steadily increasing the hype about the show until it gets almost to fever pitch. It’s all over TV Guide, and commercials and Entertainment Weekly is writing an article. Every cable channel the network owns is talking about it and all of this is designed to make your mouth water in anticipation of the season premier. At the same time the critics and the haters start trying to tear the show apart, talking about how last season was better than this season. The show has lost its focus; the writing isn’t as good, etc.

Well just as we’re about to have our premier that same thing begins to happen. We start to notice God is hyping us up, and trying to show us off. Folks who never gave you a second look are now trying to be your best friend. Doors that you thought would always be shut are now opening up all over the place. All of our previews start pulling us into our destiny. We start to get glimpses of what that next level looks like and we just can’t sit and wait anymore, and just like our favorite show, here comes the haters and the critics trying to discourage us from stepping out and trying to keep others from following. We’ve had it happen here in this ministry. Folk doing all they can to discourage folk from coming. They being used by the enemy and don’t even know it, because he’s trying to stop folk from coming and getting free. Had somebody tell me they didn’t think they would fit in. I said don’t you know this is the place where misfits fit?

And just like the networks ignore the critics because they have too much invested in the show not to let folk see it, God has too much invested in you and you should have too much invested in yourself to let your haters keep you from moving into your new season!

I don’t know about you!!!!!

But God says my new season is coming!!!!

No matter what the critics say!!!

God says what’s for me is for me!!!

You’ve been through the reruns!!!!!

You’ve learned the lessons!!!

You got ya supporting cast together!!!!

Now it’s time to put on the Armani!!!

And step out on the Red Carpet!!!!

God’s already hyped you up!!!!

You just have to step out on Faith!!!

And trust in God!!!

Are you ready????

Are You Ready????

ARE YOU READY???

R U Ready 4 Ur Season Premier? - This weekend at RCC

Did this season leave you feeling in a rut? Are ready to move into something new? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Well since we have entered a new season and it is about to be a new year this weekend at Recovery Christian Centers we are exploring a message entitled, "R U Ready 4 Ur Season Premier?" Join us Friday at 7pm @ RCC Kensington @ SKA, 2418 Kensington Ave or Saturday at 5pm @ RCC West 4110 Haverford Ave both in Philly, PA! It will CHANGE UR LIFE!

Merry Christmas from RCC

From our family and the Recovery Christian Center Family have a blessed, safe, prosperous, and very Merry Christmas!

Prayer Line tonite!

Join us tonight on the Recovery Christian Center Prayer Line for Prayer and Bible Study this evening at 7pm EST 712-432-1500 access code 754905

Immense Love

Do you really know how IMMENSE God's love really is? Come and find out tonight as we explore the vastness of God's love tonight at Recovery Christian CenterKensington @ SKA 2418 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia PA. Join us tonight and Every Friday Nite @ 7pm for a Recovery Gospel Open Mic Nite!

Despite New Technical Difficulties we still had an awesome time at RCC Kensington last night but if you missed it we gonna get it in today at Recovery Christian Center West! 4110 Haverford Avenue in West Philly today and Every Saturday @ 5pm! Join us for Immense Love, Intense Worship, Relevant Word, Life Recovery, a come as you are atmosphere, a come as you are atmosphere and a powerful message from our Executive Pastor Paula Burnett-Kimmenez! We are Radical Ministry for Radical Brokenness! 

Starting Wednesday December 4th @ 7pm @ our Kensington location the kick off of a new Won By One Christian 12 Step Fellowship Meeting @ SKA 2418 Kensington Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19125! Our own Pastor Chris Kimmenez is the kick off speaker!

Recovery Christian Center Daily Meditation - 12/2/2013 - Healthy Relationships

Recovery Christian Center Daily Meditation - 12/2/2013 - Healthy Relationships 

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Galatians 5:13-15

Many times when we first come to Christ and into recovery we are coming out of an extremely lonely and isolated state. Almost immediately we begin to desire companionship. While there is nothing wrong with wanting a relationship the problem is we tend to get our priorities out of order. The first relationships we need to develop are not romantic ones, but the ones with God, self and our sponsor, mentor or accountability partner (depending on the recovery language you use). Until we know who we are and what our spiritual grounding is then we will not know what a healthy relationship really is. 

There is an old saying, "We attract what we are." Well that is only true if we're healthy. Those of us still spiritually, mentally, and emotionally sick and defected up tend to attract whatever responds to our state of being. If we are victims then we attract predators. If we are submissive then we attract domineering folk. If we are caretakers then we attract those who can take care of themselves, etc. etc. and vice versa. We mus first allow God to use His Word and the process of recovery to heal us before we attach ourselves to folk who are bad for us.

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