To be Continued

This blog has ended here. To see the continuance of our journey, please go to Staying in the Overflow. See you there!

Your J. O. B.

The following post was taken from an Ol' Broad and edited for content:

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn’t pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a back story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see us as free and self-employed. You’ve imagine us in a big house; dining out with our children. I’m sure all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about our life.

However, what you don’t see is the back story.

We started this company 10 years ago. At that time, We lived in a run down apartment, someone's basement where, as my 8 month pregnant wife and I laid on our mattress on the floor, we could hear the tinkle of everyone in the toilet over our heads, and an unkempt friend's rental for 5 years. More than half of our living room was converted into an office so we could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you at a wage of WELL OVER the minimum.

Our diet consisted of Macaroni and cheese on Monday, white rice on Tuesday, white rice with beef bullion on Wednesday, white rice with chicken bullion on Thursday, Spaghetti on Friday and leftovers on the weekends because every dollar we made went right back into this company. If we had any meat to eat, it came from the food pantry in town. We drove broken down, third hand cars with defective transmissions & may-pop tires. Our children sacrificed time with their parents. We didn’t have money to go out. Often times, we stayed home on weekends, while our friends went out to the movies and dinners. While everyone else was secure in their HMO coverage, we depended solely upon the Mercy of God and favor of man.

We lived our business - hard work, discipline, and sacrifice. You can not POSSIBLY tell us how difficult it is to make ends meet. Do not even try.

Meanwhile, our friends and relatives got jobs. They worked 40+ hours a week and made a modest $100K plus a year and spent every dime they earned. They enjoyed good health coverage. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom’s for the latest hot fashion item, we were trolling through the clearance racks at Wal-Mart extracting any clothing item that would fit our children. Our own clothes we never bought, but depended on the kindness of wealthier clients to give us their hand-me-downs. Our friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. We, however, did not even own our own home until recently. We put a lot of time, money, and our life into a business with a vision so that eventually, some day, we too, would be able to afford these luxuries our friends supposedly enjoyed.

So, while you physically arrive at to work at 7am, mentally check in at about 11, and then leave at 2pm, we don’t. There is no “off” button for us. When you go home, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. We unfortunately do not have the freedom. We eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to our family like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden - the house, the cars, the trips … you never realize the back story and the sacrifices we’ve made. But we wouldn't have had it any other way. It was our dream; our vision for our family's future.

Now, the economy is falling apart and we, the couple that made all the right decisions and saved our money, have to bail-out all the people who didn’t. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that we earned and sacrificed a decade of our life for.

Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price we’ve paid is steep and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:

We are being taxed to the brink and the government thinks we don’t pay enough. We have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. We have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. Sometime between now and April 15th, I will clench my teeth as I find out if I can even break even with our personal taxes or will we have to pay even more.

The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Us, the couple who has provided all of you good people with good paying jobs servicing homes and offices in 2 states and 9 counties with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.

The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you’d quit and you wouldn’t work here. I mean, why should you? That’s nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don’t understand … to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to us that we didn’t need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing over $100,000 into the Washington black-hole, we would spend it, hiring more employees, start new business outlets and ventures and generate substantial economic growth. Our employees would enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.

When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don’t defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the new power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you you will get.

So where are we going with all of this? It’s quite simple.

If any new taxes are levied on us, or our company, our reaction will be swift and simple. We will sell off our business assets. We will fire you. We will fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child’s future. Frankly, it isn’t our problem any more.

Then, we will close this company down, sell most of out possessions and move to another country, do mission work and eventually retire. You see, we're done. We're done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. Our motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, the dream we worked so hard to achieve.

So, if you lose your job, it won’t be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find us teaching some foreign children the Word of God, being appreciated simply because of what we have to offer and not the tax base we can provide, and with no employees to worry about …

Signed,
your employers.

Prayer in Topsham

Worship at New Covenant

Jamaica - Sunday - Wow!

Hallelujah! Byron was the first person in the doors of New Covenant on Sunday morning!

He even got a new shirt for church from someone!


We ministered in their Sunday morning service, teaching and preaching on the importance of submitting to the vision of the house, the man and woman of God and how that is all connected to fulfilling your destiny.

After the message, as we prayed for the people of New Covenant,

Brother Smith


Sister G


and Sister Donna
all were healed of deafness or pain in their ears!

Byron recommitted himself to follow God and claimed Pastor White as his man of God!

Sunday night, we were back in Topsham.

Perla and Lee

The church in Wanstead joined us there. It was good to see Pastor and Mother Stevens again.

(Should I get a hat?)

New Covenant from Mandeville also came and all three churches joined together for a great time of worship.






God showed up and God showed off!

The people were encouraged by the Word of God. There was another man healed in his ears that night. As we prayed for the people, the presence and power of God fell and filled all the believers anew. Everyone was refreshed by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

The mission work of Revival Fires Fellowship International and Overflowing Life Christian Center is bearing much fruit in Jamaica.

When it is time to give to missions, we ask that you remember the faces and places we have shared with you today. Your giving facilitates these good works.

The churches in Jamaica are moving forward in God.

Come back this week for videos from our trip...

Jamaica - Saturday

TOPSHAM, Jamaica

The view from the Topsham church.

We arrived on Friday afternoon, (without our carry-on). After the drive from Kingston to Mandeville, we checked and freshened up a bit. Then we went to Pastor Williams’ house in Topsham for dinner. We spent some time with him and his family.

During our time in Topsham, we had some time to see some of the work that has been done on the church building. They have installed beautiful new doors.

The floor has been completely tiled.

It was bare cement before. They have completed the new lettering over the pulpit area also.

The back room, for visiting ministers, is finished and fully furnished.

The bathroom also has been completed.

Pastor Williams also showed us some of the damage caused by this year’s hurricanes. He personally lost about 2/3 of his crops. The stones were washed away on the path to the church in certain places,

as well as under the various footbridges. Hurricane Gilbert was severe enough to uproot trees.

The pigs, however, survived.

They are reproducing.

This one is even currently, ‘with pig’, Pastor Williams said.

MANDEVILLE, Jamaica

On Saturday, we spent some time preparing for ministry on Sunday. We also got out and about in Mandeville waiting for our afternoon appointment with Pastor White.

We came across Byron.

Actually, he came across us. He appeared very concerned with whether or not we were enjoying our vacation. We shared with him why we were actually in Jamaica. After speaking with Byron for a bit, he started asking us for money for food. Since we were on our way to Juici Patti, the Jamaican equivalent of McDonald’s, we told Byron that we would buy him a beef patty.

The security guard at Juici Patti was none too pleased to have Byron there. Byron sells packets of seeds on the street and they did not want him selling his seeds inside. That was their verbal statement anyway. Byron put down his box of seed packets but they still were insisting that he leave. I assured the guard that Byron was with us; he would be eating with us and leaving with us. I got that all too familiar ‘you silly american’ knowing smile look from the guard as he walked away.

While we spent time in Juici Patti with Byron, the Spirit of God moved in the restaurant and gave us a word for Byron’s life. Many others were listening attentively as we shared the truth of God’s Word with this man. We could see people listening in and nodding in agreement to what was being said.

Byron had been speaking very negatively about people and the way he gets treated. We shared with Byron the truth of sowing and reaping and that the negative treatment that he regularly receives could be a direct result of the negative way he treats others. It is a biblical principle of sowing and reaping.

As we left Juici Patti, we encouraged Byron to come to church right there in Mandeville the next day where we would be ministering.

PASTOR ALANDO WHITE

Later that afternoon, we met with Pastor Alando White and his wife, as well as another member of their church. Pastor White was the one who had contacted Bishop McIver with a desire to come under his leadership and apostolic covering. Pastor White showed us around some different areas of town and told us about their various ministries there in Mandeville. It turns out that the main part of Pastor White’s vision for ministry is to minister to street people and rehabilitate them and place them back into society. I think we found Byron’s pastor.

After our time with the Whites, Perla and I had dinner at the hotel, continued preparing for Sunday and then rested up for a full day of ministry in Jamaica on Sunday.

Coming up...Jamaica - Sunday - Wow!

Jamaica 2008 - Part One - $15.00, for what?!

We flew from Philadelphia through Montego Bay, (where USAir lost my ONLY bag I checked; yeah the one they charged me 15.00 to check), then on to Kingston.

So, this bag you see, was our only checked baggage. We had our full alotment of carry-ons. We could carry on everything we needed. I just didn't want to go through the whole little-plastic-bottle-for-everything-your-body-needs-in-a-ziploc-bag-please ordeal. So we shoved all those liquids, etc. into one bag and checked it.

The USAir lady said it was going through to Kingston. Since, I have traveled multiple times internationally, I knew better. So, I asked her to clarify it. She assured me that it would go through to Kingston. I asked her again if I needed to pick it up in Montego Bay to clear through customs and recheck it. She said once again that the bag would be in Kingston when I got there and showed me the tag on the bag to prove it.

Our flight into Montego Bay was delayed almost an hour. As we ran through the airport to make our connection, we passed the baggage claim. I actually thought of stopping to check if my bag was there, but we had NO TIME. As we ran past, I glanced over. I didn't see any small black bag with a blue ribbon tied to it on the carousel. Ok, I thought, maybe this was what I was now paying $15.00 for anyway. They'll put it through inspection and it will come out on the other end.

Off to immigration and customs.

I am a big man. If I have to run through the airport, I sweat. The whole security thing, taking off my shoes, my belt, watch, check your pockets, and don't lose your passport and boarding pass in the process! Some airports they want your passport through the x-ray, in others keep it with you.

Anyway, security and immigration officials are told to always be suspicious of anyone sweating profusely. HA! I almost always get pulled aside at security and I almost always get the extra questions at immigration. But this time I had my blood pressure under control. No sweating this trip.

We went through immigration and customs, barely made it to our plane. They actually were calling our names on the speaker to get to the gate.

Off to Kingston!

We arrived in 25 minutes, on time. We went to the baggage claim and found no bag. I knew at that moment what had happened. I went to the 'lost baggage' counter. I was so happy to be at my destination. Jamaica is so friendly. They quickly determined that my bag was in Montego Bay and they would have it delivered to me at our hotel, and charge US Air.

I should have it by morning; but this is Jamaica, where the ruling mentality still stands, "soon come".

We got our bag LATE the next night. We had already bought everything we needed. But it was good to have the bag.

Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.


Philippians 4:11

Jamaica 2008 - Introduction

This was not my first trip to Jamaica. It was my third. We have been working with Bishop Jim and Mary McIver for several years in Jamaica. When we are in Jamaica, we stay in Mandeville, the third largest city on the island. It is the closest city to the churches we work with. This was Perla's first trip to Jamaica.

Revival Fires Fellowship International has two churches in Jamaica in its fellowship; now three.

Pastor Williams' church is in Topsham*. He has been with us for several years now. Topsham is in the mountains. The roads to get there are very curvy. People beep when driving on them as they are coming to a curve. This is to let any oncoming traffic know you are coming. At night, the beep becomes a flash of the high beams. They also beep when they know someone, think they know someone, live in the same area as them, have seen them a lot or to say thanks for letting them pass. Needless to say there can be a lot of beeping. Where I would rush to the mechanic if my air conditioner wasn't working, I imagine they really need that horn.

Pastor Stevens' church is in Wanstead. Wanstead is even farther into the country. Pastor Stevens has been with RFFI for a couple years now also.

Pastor White of New Covenant Church in Mandeville contacted Bishop McIver with an interest to come under his leadership. The other churches were also desiring a visit from us. Bishop was not able to make the trip at this time due to prior obligations, so he sent Perla and I in his place.

It was a very fruitful trip!

*I discovered during this trip that it may actually be Topsand, but everyone there says and spells it as Topsham. I may never know. Neither one googles for Jamaica. However, there are cities in the US, Canada and the UK called Topsham, so I'm inclined to go with that one.

Jamaica

We're back. What a successful trip!

I will bring you more details in the following days.

God showed up!

New news

Some time ago, we changed the look of our blog, explaining that we were heading in a new direction. We are now at liberty to reveal that direction.

We will be doing more mission work abroad. We will be operating out of Revival Fires Fellowship International / Overflowing Life Christian Center in Allentown, PA. This is our home church and missions is a large part of the vision of our leadership. We are committed to that vision.

We will be going to Jamaica at the end of this month. There are already two Revival Fires Fellowship churches in Jamaica with more on the way. We are impacting the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are excited to go and fellowship with the churches in Jamaica. We are believing that the Holy Spirit will move in the midst of His People. We are believing for signs and wonders, healing, deliverance and the Power of God. Please pray for us as we go. We are currently raising the funds for this trip and future mission work in Jamaica and Mexico. Any donations may be made to the address of RFFI which can be found in the link above.

Thank you for your support and prayers.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58