The Twenty-Eighth Epistle
Would've,
Should've,
Could've.
DATELINE: Sunday, May 20, 2001.
By Rev. James R. Bingham
Special to corndancer.com
Posted from Memphis, Tennessee
Acts 26:31-32
31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Ceasar.
Dear Fellow CornDancers,
This past week was extraordinary. Revelation upon revelation came to me in a spiritual fire.
Allow me to back up a little bit. This past weekend, I was privileged to attend the Creflo Dollar Convention at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis. I was continuously impressed by the organization and structure of Dr. Dollar's ministry.
I attended with a fellow minister, who was just as excited as I was about the gathering of the saints. Though we are natives of Memphis, we felt like tourists when we entered the arena. Everything had changed. Not really, but the impression of something new and original filled the arena. The Creflo Dollar Ministry had put up an inspiring set of decorations. Religious materials were everywhere. There were three services and, I dare say, each was very well attended.
No one was disappointed. Insight after insight, revelation after revelation was shared with the extremely attentive listeners. There was something for everyone. It didn't matter if you were blind, crippled, skeptic, or a religious fanatic: There was something for you. This was one of those events where you feel that you got your money's worth. Well, let's face it. Every operation has to have some type of funds.
Even so I kept asking myself, "What if I had not come?"
Nurture and Guidance
Through the Hardest of Times.
Sunday was Mother's Day. I had thought to visit several churches and see how others were spending the special day. I was not disappointed. From television services to street ministries, themes of motherhood and womanhood were given spiritual comparison. I called my mother and thought of just how remarkable a woman she is. Just think. She's over sixty years old (she doesn't really like her age to be mentioned) and she has six children and me. Three of her four sons are ministers, and two of her three daughters are ministers as well. She nurtured each of her children through some of the hardest times you can imagine. Urging each to complete high school and attend college. Even me.
I recall entering the second grade. There was some question about how my first name was different on the school's records than it was recorded on my birth certificate. Mama went to the school to clear it up. I was amazed at how she stood and talked with the Principal Buchanan and Ms. Chalmers. She was factual and had documents and looked them straight in the eye. She told them that whatever name she gave me was the name they were to use. Principal Buchanan agreed to contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics to clear up the matter. I was so proud.
Looking back, it seems that never a day went by without Mama having to deal with something that I did, something I caused my siblings to do, or something that my siblings blamed me for. My life included civil rights marches, demonstrations at the University of Arkansas (some of which I orchestrated), experimentation with the college social life (I might have inhaled), experimentation with other religions, political confinement, lawyers, doctors, angry women, and some frustrated institutions.
If to Spare the Rod
Is to Spoil the Child,
Then I Was Not Spoiled.
That's just me. She had six other guys to deal with. She always prayed (mostly for me) and had encouraging words. If the prayers and encouraging words didn't work, Mama had a mean Sammy Sosa swing when she brought down the rod of correction. Needless to say, she had a pretty good batting average when it came to me. I am convinced that she believed that to spare the rod spoils the child. I was not spoiled.
My mind looks back and wonders, "What if I had not had the mother I had?"
Don't misunderstand me. I had a wonderful childhood. I'm not saying that if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing. There are some things I feel could have been avoided. Nevertheless, the choices I made produced the life I have. I believe God ordained that I do exactly what I'm doing right now, this day, in this time. It took some time for me to come to an understanding of that simple truth.
Praise be to God, I know that all things work together for good to those who love God and called according to His purpose. I have willingly accepted that God's purpose is the way, the direction of my life. It's a pretty good feeling.
Pray without Ceasing
And Study the Scriptures.
I've learned to pray without ceasing. I don't mean praying 60 minutes at a time. That's good, too, if that's what you want to do. But I've learned to keep my mind on God. I believe in the scriptures without doubt. I am able to see that great things come to those who study the scriptures and apply them to their life situations.
I know, without a doubt, that had it not been for God's divine intervention, I would have a totally different view of life. His Word helps me to see the fallacies of human intellect, and the senselessness in allowing oneself to be victimized by false doctrines.
Did you know that God has a purpose for you?
Listen to this. Many times in life you are driven to do certain things, regardless of what your own mind and friends say. That's when the Spirit takes over. If it is the spirit of the anointing, what you do will bring you blessings upon blessings.
Going, Growing, and Benefiting
From the Well-Spring of the Anointing.
Imagine failing at something, but realizing a benefit from it. An attitude like that makes it virtually impossible for you to fail completely. You fall down and get back up again. That has been my history. Believe me, I have gotten up many times. Each time I got up, I realized that my cup was half full, with water gushing towards it from a never-ending spring. That's what God has done for me. The anointing keeps me going, growing, and benefiting from the power of resurrection.
I can't help but wonder, "What would I be doing if God was not the head of my life?"
In Acts, Chapter 26, we read that Paul was persecuted for the cause of spreading the teachings of grace and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His eventual end in Rome could have been avoided.
I mention Paul because he was a perfect example of one driven by the Spirit. He was determined, ever since his experience on the road to Damascus, to reach Rome with this gospel of Jesus Christ. He wanted peace, but he realized there could be no peace until Jesus returned. It was in him to make way so that the Gentiles would be ready for Jesus' return. Nevertheless, in his journey through persecution after persecution, he continued to push forward, for years, until he reached Rome.
What if Paul had not continued to respond to the call of the Spirit?
What If....
What if some of the former drug addicts, who are now powerful ministers and evangelists, had not succumbed to the evils of drugs? How could they have experienced the power of resurrection to overcome? It allowed them to be able to share their experience of redemption with others?
What if the prostitute had not realized that her body was more precious than the few coins men gave her for a few moments of pleasure?
What if Moses' mother had not put him in a basket that floated on that river into the arms of the Egyptian sovereign?
What if God had not ordained, before the foundation of the world, that we would understand the mysteries of the universe?
What if you had been born of a different race than you are? What would you have done differently? What could you have done differently? What should you have done differently about human relations?
What if Jesus had not stood as the Mighty Lamb of God, slain for our sins so that we could be justified before the Father?
What would you have done different in your life? Knowing what you know now, would you still have come to Christ?
Have you come to Christ?
God Is Real.
Open Your Heart
And Be Born Again.
Know this truth: You are justified. The lamb is slain as a sacrifice for our sins — yours included! The moment you decide that God is real.... Once you have opened your heart to the Spirit.... After you are born again.... Know, brothers and sisters, that all your sins are blotted out.
Give God some praise.
It doesn't matter how bad you are, or how crooked you might have been: You are forgiven and justified before the Father. All the promises made to the Chosen People are yours.
Yes, that's right! Everything that was promised to Abraham, everything that was promised to Moses, everything that was promised as a reward to the children of Israel is ours. We are the children of God! Give God some praise!
You look in the mirror and mumble, "I've just too far gone down." Think so? Think again. So what if you're so deep in sin that sin is the only life you know. It doesn't matter. The sacrifice of the Mighty Lamb is enough for you, too.
Make way for the new day. It is the day of your new beginning.
A Harvest of Blessings
From the Freely Flowing Rivers of Life.
You say you slipped and failed? Get up! Your cup is half full. Fill it up from the freely flowing rivers of life. Harvest the fresh catch of the day!
Never mind about what you should have done. Do what must be done today and every day. Live the life of love and fruitfulness!
You are going to be blessed for reading this epistle. Look for the blessing. Expect the blessing.
What do you want it to be? The blessing is yours for the asking.
Praise God in the highest! Raise your hands and shout when others around you are stymied by socio-political restraints! That's what you should do to receive your blessing. Once received, share it! Guess what? It shall come right back to you a hundredfold!
Give God Some Praise!!!
EDITOR'S NOTE: Rev. Bingham
can be reached by E-mail at
jamesrbingham@juno.com.
His phone number in Memphis is
901.785.5691.