This past week has been to say the least, "interesting week." As some of you know on Monday, I was found responsible for the violations that existed on the property. I was responsible for the violations like Demolition of a Pool, Putting electrical circuits in the garage, misusing an extension cord, putting up a Costco tent without proper permits or foundation and too close to a building. Putting chairs that were used for worship in the storage in the rear. Folks this is not a joke. Really if you move in a house and your previous owner did work on the property without a permit and the city finds out 4 years after you moved in that there was no permit you are responsible and violated.
Here is the dussy. I was also prosecuted for conducting Christian worship on the property. The Judge who I believe is a good judge and fair through out the trial made a comment, she stated, "I hope Mr. Salman understands that he is not being prosecuted for religious worship on the property only that if he wants to have worship on the property he must conform to the requirements and the standards that the city is asking." This statement sounds very fair. But is it really the truth? Am I not being prosecuted for religious worship. Here is what I mean.
During the trial the City witnesses stated that if I had birthday parties on the property I do not need these things, If I had used the room to play games I do not need these things. Yet, because I gather to worship on the property in a building that looks like a religious building with chairs, pulpit, art and stuff I must conform my property to commercial standards. The fact is I AM BEING PROSECUTED because I worship on the property with my family and friends. PERIOD. If I had a big screen T.V. with football posters and art and pool table and bar and stuff they would not violate me for a Sports Bar. EVERYONE of those who worship with me, know we DO NOT publicly advertise. We do not have signs, or service times in the front or on a website. We are private individuals and so forth.
Nonetheless, I believe the laws that are in place are wrong and discriminatory and I will put my money where my mouth is. May God give me strength and we battle this injustice. Please pray as we get through this. IN JESUS NAME!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Its All Good - Trial
For those of you know what the theme is for this past month it is "Its all good." Today we completed a 5 day trial. During the trial we made our points to the best we can. We filed our paperwork and did what we needed to do. There really is not more we could have done. I believe we did the best anyone can do. Nonetheless, I was found guilty and a responsible party for the violations that existed on the property. The reason I was found guilty was not due to the evidence that I was seen doing it, ordered it or anything like that but rather because I live there. Let me say that I am sure glad no one committed murder because then I would really be in trouble. Since I live there I would have been responsible.
On the bright side we were not discouraged. We believe we are in the hands of God and to be prosecuted for worshipping God is really not that bad. A blessing if you must. There has been a lot of stress on our family but nonetheless it is the same thing you go through just because you go through it. The verdict has catapulted us to the Federal Arena. The judge stated in her verdict that she was not here to argue the law. This is true, she can not change the law. Even thou we were not asking her to, only that this law not be applied to us but rather to public assemblies which we are not. Oh well what can you do. This is why it is important to take this to another venue because there are courts that are there to change the law. This is our goal not only for us but for all Christians who have worship in thier homes and should not fear persecution because neighbors don't want a "CHURCH" there.
Please pray earnestly and fervently for us as we make our way through. God has and is bringing victory to us in the name of Jesus.
On the bright side we were not discouraged. We believe we are in the hands of God and to be prosecuted for worshipping God is really not that bad. A blessing if you must. There has been a lot of stress on our family but nonetheless it is the same thing you go through just because you go through it. The verdict has catapulted us to the Federal Arena. The judge stated in her verdict that she was not here to argue the law. This is true, she can not change the law. Even thou we were not asking her to, only that this law not be applied to us but rather to public assemblies which we are not. Oh well what can you do. This is why it is important to take this to another venue because there are courts that are there to change the law. This is our goal not only for us but for all Christians who have worship in thier homes and should not fear persecution because neighbors don't want a "CHURCH" there.
Please pray earnestly and fervently for us as we make our way through. God has and is bringing victory to us in the name of Jesus.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wanda Earles - In Memory 8/24/2010
It was a beautiful afternoon and we were at a Prison Fellowship function. All the ministers were gathering together and the meeting was on the way. I stood at the soda area filling a cup of soda when I was approached by Debbie Petty the coordinator of the prison ministers. She said she wanted me to meet someone. She called to her and out from the crowd emerged a bright red hair spunky little lady. "Pastor Michael, this is Wanda." There she stood in front of me, she was a 10 foot 300 pound wrestler in a 5 foot 4 110 lb frame. Hello, I am Wanda. I gave her a big hug. Debbie said, "I want you to take Wanda under your wing Pastor, she is a sweet little lady." From that day on she never left my side.
She was a sweet lady. She also was also a handful. Full of opinions and she was never afraid to tell you what she thought about anything. You can always count on Sister Wanda being there. She always wanted me to do this and that. She had some great points and some were just plain silly but of course I listened. After service you can always count on her telling me that it was the best sermon she had ever heard. "I love you Pastor Michael, that message was great." She would say as she held my hand.
"I love you guys" was always something you heard her say. The last year was probably the hardest for her and for us. The Firey red hair began to lose its fire. Her quick walk in was replaced with a walker. Of course she was in denial with that walker the first year. She would just come in with the walker so slow and then after worship she would almost trot to the front to tell me how much she loved me. This lady just loved God. She was the sweetest. Of course I would never forget the stories she told. Stories that you would find in a movie. Never a dull moment for sister Wanda.
It was not too long ago when things started to effect this strong, stubborn saint of God. No matter what happened she refused to be hurt and refused to accept she was getting old. We all knew thou and she also was told by God to prepare. I know God told her. The things she began to do was only things people begin to do only if you had a personal relationship with God.
Even while getting ready she still had that fire. I saw it the day I walked into service with a beard. "Hello Sister Wanda" was my normal greeting. A kiss on the cheek and a hug. Suddenly it was met with a finger point to the face and a sharp rebuke. "You go right back into that house and shave that off." She gave me such a hard time. "None of my men wear a beard." Boy she never let it go. Yet, it never stopped her from telling me she loved me. Even sometimes with tears in her eyes telling me she loved me, "But you still need to shave that beard off."
I remember seeing her a week before she left. I walked into the hospital and there she laid all drugged out with IV's in her arm, really tired and exhausted, she looked up and I gave her a hug and kiss and she said to me, "You still have that beard?" Every nurse that walked in, she would say, "That is my Pastor, I am so happy he is here, but he needs to shave that beard." I promised her that as soon as she gets better and comes back to worship I will shave it off just for her, that the only thing she needs to do is just get better. I put on some Christian Music and we sat for about an hour or so singing as she dozed in and out.
This beautiful saint of God, will never be forgotten. My family adored her and she just loved my kids. I won't even go into the fact that she would talk to me about how precious my family was and how lucky I was to have 5 girls and how precious they were.
I love you Sister Wanda and one thing I am assure of is you were leaning on the everlasting arms. Rest in Peace you beautiful saint of God. You will be missed.
Pastor Michael Salman
She was a sweet lady. She also was also a handful. Full of opinions and she was never afraid to tell you what she thought about anything. You can always count on Sister Wanda being there. She always wanted me to do this and that. She had some great points and some were just plain silly but of course I listened. After service you can always count on her telling me that it was the best sermon she had ever heard. "I love you Pastor Michael, that message was great." She would say as she held my hand.
"I love you guys" was always something you heard her say. The last year was probably the hardest for her and for us. The Firey red hair began to lose its fire. Her quick walk in was replaced with a walker. Of course she was in denial with that walker the first year. She would just come in with the walker so slow and then after worship she would almost trot to the front to tell me how much she loved me. This lady just loved God. She was the sweetest. Of course I would never forget the stories she told. Stories that you would find in a movie. Never a dull moment for sister Wanda.
It was not too long ago when things started to effect this strong, stubborn saint of God. No matter what happened she refused to be hurt and refused to accept she was getting old. We all knew thou and she also was told by God to prepare. I know God told her. The things she began to do was only things people begin to do only if you had a personal relationship with God.
Even while getting ready she still had that fire. I saw it the day I walked into service with a beard. "Hello Sister Wanda" was my normal greeting. A kiss on the cheek and a hug. Suddenly it was met with a finger point to the face and a sharp rebuke. "You go right back into that house and shave that off." She gave me such a hard time. "None of my men wear a beard." Boy she never let it go. Yet, it never stopped her from telling me she loved me. Even sometimes with tears in her eyes telling me she loved me, "But you still need to shave that beard off."
I remember seeing her a week before she left. I walked into the hospital and there she laid all drugged out with IV's in her arm, really tired and exhausted, she looked up and I gave her a hug and kiss and she said to me, "You still have that beard?" Every nurse that walked in, she would say, "That is my Pastor, I am so happy he is here, but he needs to shave that beard." I promised her that as soon as she gets better and comes back to worship I will shave it off just for her, that the only thing she needs to do is just get better. I put on some Christian Music and we sat for about an hour or so singing as she dozed in and out.
This beautiful saint of God, will never be forgotten. My family adored her and she just loved my kids. I won't even go into the fact that she would talk to me about how precious my family was and how lucky I was to have 5 girls and how precious they were.
I love you Sister Wanda and one thing I am assure of is you were leaning on the everlasting arms. Rest in Peace you beautiful saint of God. You will be missed.
Pastor Michael Salman
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The New Immigration Enforcement
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. I thought I would start this blog just because I believe that many people have forgotten what it means to be a Christian. We are Christians FIRST and Americans SECOND. If you don't believe this then you will not agree with what I have to say and you might as well just move on to the next blog. If you do believe this then you should believe what I am about to say or at least consider it.
People say we have an immigration problem. This is true. Why is it such a problem? It is not because we don't have room or we don't have the money, God knows many of us Americans live in more than our necessities and if any of you complain about money spent on our healthcare and food than you might as well complain on the 1 million dollar patriot missle:
The fact is the reason why so many are upset, is the crime issue. Does cracking down on immigration help that?? Some say yes and some say no. So with that said, lets consider this, if of course your still reading this Christian.
How many BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN families will be effected by this law? Think about it. Legal or illegal, they are CHRISTIANS AND THEY ARE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. I mean you can dismiss them as Christians they are illegal and breaking the law??? How many CHURCHES, MINISTRIES, PASTORS and OTHER CHRISITAN organizations will be effected??? Really think about. You are a Christian right??? HOW MANY FAMILIES THAT ARE CHRISTIAN BORN AGAIN AND LOVE OUR LORD will be effected??? How many will lose their mother or father or even a child because MANY years ago they came here illegally??? HOW MANY??? THINK ABOUT IT.
FOR CRYING OUT LOUD WE ARE CHRISTIANS FIRST, AMERICANS SECOND!! Do you love your LORD and HIS PEOPLE or DO YOU LOVE YOUR COUNTRY MORE?
THE fact is any law legal or not, passed or not, voted on or not, if it effects the Christian Community, it is a law from Hell! If you think I am wrong then you are a hypocrite and I will prove it by the next statement...
If tomorrow they pass a law saying that Same Sex Marriage is legal andyou as a Christian must accept it. I assure you that you as a Christian and we as the CHURCH OF GOD WILL NOT ACCEPT it. Legal or Not, to us marriage is man and woman. PERIOD!
Enough Said.
Pastor Michael Salman
Servant of the Most High God
People say we have an immigration problem. This is true. Why is it such a problem? It is not because we don't have room or we don't have the money, God knows many of us Americans live in more than our necessities and if any of you complain about money spent on our healthcare and food than you might as well complain on the 1 million dollar patriot missle:
"US Army Budget FY2011". http://asafm.army.mil/Documents/OfficeDocuments/Budget/BudgetMaterials/FY11//pbhl.pdfRetrieved 2010-04-06.
We have spent 100 Billions of Dollars on Countries that none of us benefit from. So stop with this money thing. It is getting really old and for some of us, it only proves your ignorance and your hypocrisies. Now with that out of the way.
The fact is the reason why so many are upset, is the crime issue. Does cracking down on immigration help that?? Some say yes and some say no. So with that said, lets consider this, if of course your still reading this Christian.
How many BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN families will be effected by this law? Think about it. Legal or illegal, they are CHRISTIANS AND THEY ARE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. I mean you can dismiss them as Christians they are illegal and breaking the law??? How many CHURCHES, MINISTRIES, PASTORS and OTHER CHRISITAN organizations will be effected??? Really think about. You are a Christian right??? HOW MANY FAMILIES THAT ARE CHRISTIAN BORN AGAIN AND LOVE OUR LORD will be effected??? How many will lose their mother or father or even a child because MANY years ago they came here illegally??? HOW MANY??? THINK ABOUT IT.
FOR CRYING OUT LOUD WE ARE CHRISTIANS FIRST, AMERICANS SECOND!! Do you love your LORD and HIS PEOPLE or DO YOU LOVE YOUR COUNTRY MORE?
THE fact is any law legal or not, passed or not, voted on or not, if it effects the Christian Community, it is a law from Hell! If you think I am wrong then you are a hypocrite and I will prove it by the next statement...
If tomorrow they pass a law saying that Same Sex Marriage is legal andyou as a Christian must accept it. I assure you that you as a Christian and we as the CHURCH OF GOD WILL NOT ACCEPT it. Legal or Not, to us marriage is man and woman. PERIOD!
Enough Said.
Pastor Michael Salman
Servant of the Most High God
Friday, August 6, 2010
Why, Yes! I Don't!
Tonight we had about a 2 hour discussion on the Trinity. The subject was on Jesus The Begotten. From there it went into the Trinity. It was very good to say the least. Of course it probably was to me and those who love these discussions.
So at the end someone came and asked me if I believed in the TRINITY? So here is what I do believe. I know as does everyone, the Trinity is a man made description of a concept which is seen in the Bible. Not directly taught just seen. (EMPHASIS ADDED) There is no real teaching of it in the Bible other than the interchanging of words of Father, Son, and Spirit. With that said and that understood here is what I believe is the TRUTH and is TAUGHT and PREACHED and UNDERSTOOD IN THE BIBLE.
1) I believe there is ONLY 1 God.
2) This 1 God is the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
3) This 1 God became Flesh and we saw Him as the Son Of God.
4) This 1 God in the flesh died and was buried and rose from the dead.
5) I believe that this God has given us the Name of Jesus, in which all those who believe in Him shall be saved.
6) This 1 God deals with humanity by living in all those who believed in Him and the Sacrifice on the Cross.
7) I believe when I go into heaven I will see and only be with this 1 God.
So this is what I believe and this is what I know is the truth. Anything more or less is man's definition and grasp of what they are trying to explain. Every time I meet someone who does not like my aspect of Trinity, which by the way is what the Bible teaches, they always seem to think they have a better answer.
It's funny thou because no matter what they say they always end up with the word, it just a mystery and no one can understand. All that tells me is that their concept of Trinity is not important to humanity and their salvation or else God would have made it clear. WHICH BY THE WAY, I do not agree. I believe God has made it very clear and understandable. It's just those who believe in the Trinity refuse to believe in any other way then to say it is a mystery hard to explain.
It's kind of like a rule to a bad game. I'm thinking of a number from 1 to 1 million and after you have said every number, we are all wrong, and when asked what is the number their answer is, I don't know but it was not any of the ones you said.
God the Father in Creation - God the Son in Salvation - God Living in Us by and through the Spirit.
This is what the Bible Teaches and what the bibles shows. PERIOD. Of course maybe some people prefer to guess a number from 1 to 1 million. LOL
So at the end someone came and asked me if I believed in the TRINITY? So here is what I do believe. I know as does everyone, the Trinity is a man made description of a concept which is seen in the Bible. Not directly taught just seen. (EMPHASIS ADDED) There is no real teaching of it in the Bible other than the interchanging of words of Father, Son, and Spirit. With that said and that understood here is what I believe is the TRUTH and is TAUGHT and PREACHED and UNDERSTOOD IN THE BIBLE.
1) I believe there is ONLY 1 God.
2) This 1 God is the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
3) This 1 God became Flesh and we saw Him as the Son Of God.
4) This 1 God in the flesh died and was buried and rose from the dead.
5) I believe that this God has given us the Name of Jesus, in which all those who believe in Him shall be saved.
6) This 1 God deals with humanity by living in all those who believed in Him and the Sacrifice on the Cross.
7) I believe when I go into heaven I will see and only be with this 1 God.
So this is what I believe and this is what I know is the truth. Anything more or less is man's definition and grasp of what they are trying to explain. Every time I meet someone who does not like my aspect of Trinity, which by the way is what the Bible teaches, they always seem to think they have a better answer.
It's funny thou because no matter what they say they always end up with the word, it just a mystery and no one can understand. All that tells me is that their concept of Trinity is not important to humanity and their salvation or else God would have made it clear. WHICH BY THE WAY, I do not agree. I believe God has made it very clear and understandable. It's just those who believe in the Trinity refuse to believe in any other way then to say it is a mystery hard to explain.
It's kind of like a rule to a bad game. I'm thinking of a number from 1 to 1 million and after you have said every number, we are all wrong, and when asked what is the number their answer is, I don't know but it was not any of the ones you said.
God the Father in Creation - God the Son in Salvation - God Living in Us by and through the Spirit.
This is what the Bible Teaches and what the bibles shows. PERIOD. Of course maybe some people prefer to guess a number from 1 to 1 million. LOL
Monday, August 2, 2010
Why People Have Nothing...
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. I preached a sermon a long time ago of why people have nothing. There was a time in my life when I sold my business to a Christian. He of course could not run the business like I did. He closed up early and opened late and instead of using the money for re-inventory he used it for his personal stuff. You can't make money off something you do not have. Eventually he made 5 payments and then closed the business. So here I am with 3 children and depending on the income of this business. My Real Estate endeavor did not work so it was hard to say the least. So I started a few things. I began a roadside assistance service where I would help people on the side of the road and ask them to send money or give for the help. Well that flopped. LOL. Then I began painting. That went very well. I worked hard and very long hours. From 6 am to 8 pm painting, sanding and stuff. God provided. Then I began driving cab. I enjoyed it very well. Then out of nowhere God provided me an opportunity to open an Arizona Office for a National Company. Praise God from that point on God continued to provide.
One thing I can truly say about this experience is that even thou it was hard my wife and I continued in the promises and word of God. 1) We never failed to Tithe even thou sometimes it hurt. AND 2) I never ever ever ever allowed work to get in between me and my service to God.
From attending Club Jesus, to being a member of Covenant of Grace to being promoted to Youth Pastor and then Assistant Pastor at First Arabic to Associate Pastor at Four Square Gospel up until Harvest, I have never missed a Sunday and never allowed anything and I mean anything come between me and my God.
I look at so many Christians and see so many have nothing. I mean nothing. I sometimes don't know why??? I mean God gives us promises of prosperity and success. Yet, as I draw closer in their lives and see what they go through it becomes evident why they have nothing.
Unless a person asks I will not bring it up but let me share with you reading why some people have nothing.
1) Disobedience to God.
2) Not a Whole Heart for God.
3) Just plain mean and rude and no Christian manners or etiquette.
4) Excuses about everything and everyone.
5) Hatred and Unforgiveness
How do Christians expect God to bless them while living like this? If my own children had any of these traits I would not give them a thing. Now with that said, have you ever heard you get what you put in? Yah? Well this is with God also. Salvation is FREE. But FREEDOM is at a COST.
If you ABIDE IN MY WORD then shall you BE MY DISCIPLE and you SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH and the TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.
So you can be saved and Go to heaven but you should not have to live in Hell while you are here.
May the Lord Bless You and May He Open the Doors.
One thing I can truly say about this experience is that even thou it was hard my wife and I continued in the promises and word of God. 1) We never failed to Tithe even thou sometimes it hurt. AND 2) I never ever ever ever allowed work to get in between me and my service to God.
From attending Club Jesus, to being a member of Covenant of Grace to being promoted to Youth Pastor and then Assistant Pastor at First Arabic to Associate Pastor at Four Square Gospel up until Harvest, I have never missed a Sunday and never allowed anything and I mean anything come between me and my God.
I look at so many Christians and see so many have nothing. I mean nothing. I sometimes don't know why??? I mean God gives us promises of prosperity and success. Yet, as I draw closer in their lives and see what they go through it becomes evident why they have nothing.
Unless a person asks I will not bring it up but let me share with you reading why some people have nothing.
1) Disobedience to God.
2) Not a Whole Heart for God.
3) Just plain mean and rude and no Christian manners or etiquette.
4) Excuses about everything and everyone.
5) Hatred and Unforgiveness
How do Christians expect God to bless them while living like this? If my own children had any of these traits I would not give them a thing. Now with that said, have you ever heard you get what you put in? Yah? Well this is with God also. Salvation is FREE. But FREEDOM is at a COST.
If you ABIDE IN MY WORD then shall you BE MY DISCIPLE and you SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH and the TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.
So you can be saved and Go to heaven but you should not have to live in Hell while you are here.
May the Lord Bless You and May He Open the Doors.
The Lone Ranger
This past month has been a very interesting month. I had come across a man who thinks that bashing other Christians and their means of worship and service is what Christianity is all about. People who like to cut down other Christians and their way of preaching is truly an abomination to the Lord. I guess this is what happens when you have a theology that is so corrupted by bitterness and anger, than any Christian who does something different than you do is no good. The thing is, this believer is living a miserable life. Sad, lonely and broken. No family or true friends just a superficial religion. I feel sorry for Christians like that. I guess you really do come to understand why some people have nothing. I do not mean third world Christians.
I can only pray that God will help us all understand that He does have a purpose in our lives. That just because you are not a foot does not mean you don't need the foot or you are not a hand means you do not need the hand. Every person in the body of Christ should know that we are all important in the Body and that we all have a function. If more Christians paid attention on what others preach rather how they preach we would find ourselves obedient. Did I tell you the time when I was on the corner preaching and handing out tracts? This guy parked got out of the car and said, "Dude what are you doing, this is not how you are to preach." I of course asked him, whether he knew Christ and he said, yes he was a deacon at his church. I said to him then he needs to spend more energy winning people to Christ rather than cutting down Christians. People like that make God vomit. For a glimpse I knew why.
I can only pray that God will help us all understand that He does have a purpose in our lives. That just because you are not a foot does not mean you don't need the foot or you are not a hand means you do not need the hand. Every person in the body of Christ should know that we are all important in the Body and that we all have a function. If more Christians paid attention on what others preach rather how they preach we would find ourselves obedient. Did I tell you the time when I was on the corner preaching and handing out tracts? This guy parked got out of the car and said, "Dude what are you doing, this is not how you are to preach." I of course asked him, whether he knew Christ and he said, yes he was a deacon at his church. I said to him then he needs to spend more energy winning people to Christ rather than cutting down Christians. People like that make God vomit. For a glimpse I knew why.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)