Be Different

It's time for us to walk to walk and talk the talk. We need not to be a shame to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to show love, joy, peace compassion, an grace but the most important is to show love. We need to quit conforming to the world and give them Jesus. He didn't conform so why should we. Let's let go and let God lead us and see what happens. 

Please click on the link and check out my post: https://www.facebook.com/dan.sullivan.5283166/posts/10155306221795655

Seminary (Master of Divinity) Funding! - GO FUND ME

GO FUND ME @ http://www.gofundme.com/sullyd

I am very excited about God is going to do in 2015! I have learned that we all have to be humble during our lives. I have so learned that when we need help, we need to ask for it. Brothers and Sisters, Seminary is very expensive so I would appreciate any consideration. If you can't give financially, please pray for my family and myself while we are on this journey.

 Many blessings to all,
 Pastor Dan Sullivan
http://www.gofundme.com/sullyd

Everybody Has a Story!- My Call to Ministry

Everybody Has a Story? Here's My Story

My Call to Ministry

I grew up in a small town called Cheraw, South Carolina. I am the youngest of five children. I was raised by my mother and a father who struggled with alcohol. We rarely went to church and I was left with a feeling of uncertainty throughout my adolescent years. During my ninth grade year, my father’s drinking was at its worst and we found out that he was cheating on my mother. My parents’ separation caused a lot of pain for my family and left me feeling even more uncertain about life and faith. After couple of  months of separation, I noticed a change in my father. He stopped drinking and started attending church.  Eventually he rededicated his life to Jesus Christ. This was a major turning point for me and my siblings because we finally had a Dad who was truly leading our family. During my tenth grade year, I finally started to understand about the love of God. I played baseball throughout high school and thankfully my coach was a Godly man. He took the time to show me love and taught me all about God’s love for me. I began attending church every Sunday, became president of my youth group and even started attending Fellowship of Christian Athletes. During this time I learned that Jesus had died for my sins, but I still had not truly accepted Christ as my Savior. 

I was blessed to receive a scholarship to play college baseball from a college in North Carolina, but like many students, I started partying and stopped attending church. In July 2001 when my baseball career was over,  I started coaching football at Catawba College, my life took another turn for the better. I befriended one of the coaches from the football team and he reintroduced me to God. One night he asked me, “When you die do you know where you are going?” I told him that I didn’t know and at that moment my eyes were opened for the first time. On September 1, 2001, I felt God leading me outside, so I decided to walk around the campus. It was during that walk that God got my attention. I was tired of worrying and not knowing where I was going. I was tired of not having a purpose for living.  I sat down by myself and asked Jesus into my life because I couldn’t do it without Him anymore. All at once, the weight I was carrying was lifted off my shoulders.  As John Wesley said, “I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

Eight days later, God blessed with the love of my life. Only weeks before, she had broken up with her boyfriend (a non-believer) and vowed only to date Christian men.  Kelly and I have been happily for nine years and are blessed with two wonderful boys and a girl (Trey, 8, Levi, 4 and Clara, almost 2). I would also add that Kelly is a wonderful wife and strong in her faith.

Together Kelly and I started a FCA program for River Mill Academy (a charter school in North Carolina), where we both worked. When we lived in Graham, we became members of a church and became involved in small ministry, the praise band. For about five years I have felt the calling into ministries but I was unable to step out into the unknown. Since that time, I have felt called to ministry, but I was reluctant to step out in the unknown.

About six years ago, Kelly and my sisters Tana and Dawn paid for me to go to Walk to Emmaus. A weekend without a phone and my watch didn’t feel like a good weekend to me, but at the last minute I decided to go.  I glad I did because Emmaus was one of most influential things that I have ever done.  I saw that weekend that God’s grace is much greater than I could ever imagine. I also discovered not only what I was saved from but I was saved for… my purpose in life. Emmaus gave me the tools to go out into the world and share the Good News. I was very blessed to be asked to go back and give the Fourth Day talk and it was at that moment that I felt God’s call even stronger. Unfortunately I still couldn’t move out of His way and I stayed with what I knew: recreation.

Two years ago I prayed for the strength to give my future completely to God. I read Galatians 2:20, “my old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This passage convinced me that I could surrender my destiny to Him.

God had since revealed to me that He wants me to help lead a flock and spread the Good News. That wasn’t the answer that I was expected to hear, but that is what God has asked of me. I know that being a pastor is what God has called me to do. God has taken me through all the Parks and Recreation jobs and taught me how to organize, budget, administer, etc. in order to be a better pastor. As Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.”

From the moment I accepted the call to ministry, God has blessed me abundantly. I have learned that unexpected grace is possible if we are open to hear God and allow Him to move in our lives. God definitely sent me to the two Churches I have and now serve Pine Forest United Methodist Church (Goldsboro, NC), Bethel United Methodist Church(Midland, NC), and Wesley Memorial United Methodist (Chester, SC)-(Current Position). God is continually doing great things. He has reaffirmed my calling by allowing me to:

·         Prepare and delivered many sermons and talks in a variety of venues;

·         Serve as Assistant Spiritual Director of a Chrysalis Flight;

·         Plan and organize many church functions for Family, Children, and Youth;

·         Visit with those in need

·         Officiated funerals and assisted in several

·         Develop a Local Mission Project (Divine Project)

·         Administer/Organize Bible/Devotion Studies;

·         Organize Marriage Retreat for Couples;

·         Organize Mission Trip

·         Work with young people both in church youth group and as a coach at the local high school

·         Prepare and submit budgets

Through the amazing grace of our Lord and Savior I have seen many folks come to Christ and seen many folks rededicate their lives. God is so good and He truly gets all the glory.

I am also very excited about what God is doing at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Chester, South Carolina. Lives are truly being changed and excitement is coming back to this church.  During this year I still plan on continuing my education at Union Presbyterian Seminary as I strive to get my Masters of Divinity.  I do plan on getting involved with the local Chrysalis and Walk to Emmaus Community; and going on a Mission trip to Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky. Wesley Memorial UMC and myself are excited about what God is going to do; like Noah, we are preparing for rain and waiting on what God has in store for us in the days, months and year ahead!

I ask this question daily: What's next Papa?

God is all around and He knows the direction we ought to go. So my prayer is that we let Him have the wheel and get on the bus and enjoy the ride!

What's your Story?

Many blessings to all!

GET IN THE GAME! 

MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CHRIST!

Nov 14, 2013; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers cornerback Darius Robinson (8), head coach Dabo Swinney (center) and wide receiver Sammy Watkins (2) prior to the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Clemson Memorial Stadium. (Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports)

I am truly not a Clemson Fan but this is going too far! Personally I applaud Dabo Swinney, who is the Head Coach for the Clemson Tigers! Leading people to a higher calling than just the game of Football should be what we challenge kids as parents, mentors, athletes, pastors, and coaches.  Yes winning and loosing is important for a Coach at the Division I level. All these other religions and Civil Rights groups get to say what they want but if you let a Christian stands up and tell the "GOOD NEWS" of Jesus Christ then folks want his head  on a platter and for him to step down from his particular job. 

Calling all Christians, when is enough, enough?  The apostle Paul at the end of his life said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." Folks we have to remain faithful and we have to stand up for the Good News of Jesus Christ. Easter is right the corner and we have to remember that Christ stood for us. You look where you want but here is the truth. He died for our sins on cross and He, being Jesus, whiped those sins as clean as snow. Here is the "Good News" though, He didn't stay dead. On the 3rd Day he rose from the dead. Mark 16:1-6 says,  "Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. 5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!" 

Folks our Savior is a live and well. This great gift we have been given with salvation is a great gift that we all have the opportunity to have it but it isn't just for us. That great gift is for the whole world! Stop being scared and share Jesus and remember He will be with you until the end of the age!

Which Way Will You Choose

Luke 18:9-14

What is Lent?- No I am not talking about what comes out of your dryer or your belly-button.  So again what is Lent? Is it the time where we get extra religious and we give up our Chocolate, or favorite soda, give up Facebook, etc… Doing things like that are great and show a sign of your love for the Savior. When it comes to Lent, Jesus has a greater concern. He desires something that is not temporary. I think Lent is a time of self-denial, a time to give up something and Jesus       wants that something forever! That something is your heart!

Lent can be summed up into two people: Pharisee and a Tax Collector. The  Pharisees were the people who lived good, clean lives. The tax collectors were people who swindled and intimidated others out of their money. Both of them came to church – went to the temple to pray.

“The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” Maybe you can sum up his prayer this way: “I thank you, God, that there’s nothing wrong with me.”

Then Jesus focuses on the tax collector in his story – the opposite of the Pharisee. He had been stealing money from people his whole life – ruining the lives of others so that he could live it up. He knew that his whole life had been a disaster, and that he deserved to go to hell when he died.

Jesus says that “the tax collector stood at a distance” – he wouldn't even walk up to the front of the temple – “He would not even look up to heaven” – he was so ashamed of his sin – “he beat his chest and said, ‘God have mercy on me, a sinner.’” His prayer was the opposite of the Pharisee’s, wasn't it – maybe you can sum it up this way, “God, there’s everything wrong with me. Help me.”

Which one do you think God desires? Self-righteous or Humble… Well Jesus says, that the sinful tax collector was the one that was forgiven by God, and not the perfect Pharisee. Why you might ask? Jesus tells us: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The Pharisee was proud, looking down on others, exalting himself.

So does God’s forgiveness based on how humble we are?  No because our salvation would only be based on how humble we are.  With that said, we would never know if we were truly forgiven because we wouldn't know if we were truly humble enough in God’s eyes. The truth of the matter, we don’t deserve any forgiveness but by God’s grace and mercy we are forgiven.

The truth of the matter is, neither the Pharisee nor the tax collector deserved God’s forgiveness. The Pharisee didn't because he was conceited and self-righteous – thought he was better than everybody else, thought he was perfect. The tax collector didn't deserve God’s forgiveness because of the terrible life he had led. Neither one deserved to be forgiven by God. But again by God’s grace and mercy we are redeemed. We are forgiven because of what Jesus did on Calvary.

For the next six weeks, I challenge you to look deep into your heart, to think about your life and how you've been living it. Again it is great to give up something for Lent but I want you to think deeper than that.  What sin will you give up for the rest of your life?

 Remember, Christ is really concerned about is what’s in your heart. Proverbs. 4:23 says, Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Well if your heart isn’t clean and full of Jesus all good can’t flow from. If the heart is dirty then everything will be affected. So isn’t it time for a clean heart. The clear heart starts with Jesus Christ and He can make it as clean as snow!

So again what’s it going to be:

Pharisee- God, there’s nothing wrong with me.

OR

Tax Collector- God there is everything wrong with me and I need you!

I hope you choose Tax Collector! 

May you enjoy this journey that He has blessed you with and may you look to Him in all you do! Peace be with you always!

What is True Love?

With Valentines just passing and knowing I am going to speaking at the next Funtimers (Sr. Adults) gathering, this came to mind. The word”LOVE” comes up all the time. I see society throwing this word “LOVE” out with no reservation. So with that said it caused me to dive into what is “TRUE LOVE?”

I once heard a story of a wife who came into a pastor’s office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me." The pastor suggested an ingenious plan "Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you've convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, and then drop the bomb. Tell him that you’re getting a divorce. That will really hurt him." With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, "Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised?" And she did it with enthusiasm. Acting "as if." For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, and sharing.

When she didn't return, The Pastor called. "Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?" "Divorce?" she exclaimed, "Never! I discovered I really do love him." Her actions had changed her feelings. The motion resulted in emotion. The ability for her to show love established loved she didn't know was there and she saw the love could and was reciprocated.  
In the world of the 21st century, loves seems to be so far away: Crime rates are increasing, there are more violence on the streets. People are more lovers of themselves as Mark has shared with us in past sermons.

In times of pressures, instead of driving the families closer to each other seems to tear families apart. When there is problem in the church and seeking for a solution, the church as a whole is quarreling and breaking apart. The power of love seems to be absent even in the people of God.

You know thinking about that reminds me about Paul. He wrote a letter to a group of immature Christians in the ancient city of Corinth. The Corinthians were people who had cut loose from their own heritage. Corinth was over thrown by the Romans in 149 B.C. Then nearly a hundred years later the descendants of those who had been carried away in chains came back and rebuilt the city.

Paul came to Corinth and preached; many were converted but still had the culture of their environment in their hearts. But because he loved them he diligently wrote at least 2 letters to them, giving them instructions as to how Christians live and love in a secular world and I want to share them with you.

I. THE VALUE OF LOVE which you will find in (1 Cor. 13:1-3)
Which says:

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. ³ If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.

Remember, the Corinthians were Greeks, and they prided themselves on their great orators. Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle were all Greeks. And Paul is saying though I had their tongues, though I had the power to sway vast crowds with articulation of my speech, if I did not love, I am nothing. Yet, Paul contends, the greatest articulation of speech in the world is nothing apart from love.

Remember Verse 2 says,

If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. 

Paul is basically saying I would be "worthless, meaningless, of no value". Think of it like this. If you have a very tiny amount of something, you can measure it, but when Paul said, "I would be nothing” that means if we don’t have love then we are like a paralyzed person.

Love says psychiatrist A.A. Brill, "is necessary to survival. It is quite as essential for a person to have love," says the doctor, "as to have pure air and food to sustain him."

II. THE TEST OF LOVE (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

A illustration I found speaks of this very thing and I want to share it with you today.

When cartoonist Charles Schulz dined in the home of a friend, the host remarked that he needed to set off his dinner jacket. He disappeared and returned a few minutes with a heavy chain from which a medallion hung, and across the face of the medallion were the letters "love". Schultz fingered it for a few minutes and then handed it back. With a wry "Charley Brown" smile on his face, he said, "It’s just too hard for me. Do you have one that says, LIKE? In his honesty, Schultz pointed out an important truth. No matter how necessary it is, love is not easy.

I truly believe only God can really turn our "likes" to "loves" by the help of Grace and Faith.

Should I really defend the premise that many today really don’t know what love is?

What are the tests of love?

First, says Paul: Love suffers long.

A young man said to his father at breakfast one morning, "Dad, I’m going to get married." "How do you know you’re ready to get married?" asked the father. "Are you in love?" "I sure am," said the son. "How do you know you’re in love?" asked the father. "Last night as I was kissing my girlfriend good-night, her dog bit me and I didn't feel the pain until I got home." 
Those obviously are not expressions of true love. 

"We absolutely can’t wait to get married, "says a young couple in their late teens. You can’t wait? If you can’t, I would seriously question that what attracts you to each other is real love. As you know, many couples enter into marriages because of physical body, attractive appearances, pleasant personalities, stableness, etc. All that factors lead to hasty marriages.

Second THING IS, Love is patience.
The patience of love which helps a person before marriage also helps him after marriage.

Third is , Love is kind.
I was read an article about the impact of love on neglected children who are classified as retarded. The article told, "children were ignored and neglected, not kissed or hugged, or spoken to, and given a little stimulation, their intelligence degenerated."

Then while searching after reading this I ran across this article from Chicago Daily News….
The prominent psychiatrist Karl Menninger was featured in paper called "Love working miracles for the mentally Ill in Kansas." Dr. Menninger contended that Love is one of the most effective cures in healing mental illness. I can speak on that from experience as some of you may know. My mom & Dad ran a mentally challenged assistant living home. I saw where some patients would take medicines, therapy, etc… but a lot of them simply got better just with good old fashion love and care. Dr. Menninger says 80% of his patients recovered not by medicine but by one single word: And that is LOVE!

Love envies not.
The New Living Translation Bible puts it, Love is not jealous. You know, Solomon was a man who knew something of jealousy. Song of Sol. 8:6 says,

"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame.

Real love knows nothing of selfishness.

Philippians 2:4 makes it clear.

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

One of my favorites Paul speaks about Love is…. Love bears all things.

The word “Bear” in 1 Cor. 13:7 tells us quite a bit about Christian love.

Bear is a verb (it describes action).  Bear is also a present tense verb (on-going action). This means when times get hard don’t pick up your ball and leave. It simply means hold on and endure.

III. THE PERMANENCY OF LOVE which you can find

(1 Cor. 13:8-13)

But In verse 8, Paul makes a rather categorical statement when he says, "Love never fails." Paul is saying that on the stage of life, love is bound to win. It is certain to succeed. And those who would practice it will never be defeated no matter how poorly they appear to be playing their part on the stage of life.

I think we all know this, but just as a reminder, will come a day in our lives when everything that we possess will fall away, but love will live on and on.

In Conclusion, one of my favorite definitions I have ever seen of LOVE was on a poster an it went like this:

"Love is like a bridge that connects our hearts when we’re apart, The rainbow that colors our world when we’re together, And the bond that keeps us learning and growing together in the LORD!"

I hope you have an amazing day! God bless!

Just Remember!

I have learned that society puts a lot of time and effort in sports. We have players making multiple millions of dollars. These players do however put their bodies in harms way and risk a lot by playing games they love whether that be football, basketball, hockey, baseball, etc... The world has made them into these heroes and saints and sometimes even demons. 

So with that said, being two days removed from the Super Bowl I am reminded how easily we forget and how I am reminded that this world is, "What Have You Done For Me Lately," kind of world. Peyton Manning who has been nothing but brilliant during his career on and off the football field. The big game, The Super Bowl, he and the Broncos laid an egg;they didn't play well. 

Yesterday there were the announcers, analyst, etc... who asked: Should Peyton retire? Is Peyton's legacy going to be tarnished? Is he a top 10 quarterback of all times? The list just goes on and on. After the game even in defeat Peyton was asked by a reporter to his face, “ Was tonight an embarrassment?”

And Manning said this:

"It’s not embarrassing at all. I would never use that word. The word ‘embarrassing’ is an insulting word, to tell you the truth."

He said, “We played a great team.”

And he was exactly right. The Seahawks have, arguably, one of the three or four best defenses of all time. Over the course of this season, the Seahawks have allowed exactly 16 passing touchdowns, an average of one per game. They allow the fewest number of passing yards per attempt of any team in the league.

The fact is that the Broncos played bad and the Seahawks played great and now they are the World Champs. Folks someone has to win and someone has to loose. In life we are going to fall on our faces and the world might have to see us in this failure. The most important thing is, how do we react to failure?

Peyton Manning, like him or not handled the situation with class and respect. What he did after game speaks volumes of his character. Late in game Richard Sherman of the Seahawks, got hurt and had to get medical assistance. Peyton Manning went to and check on how he was doing. Sherman this about Peyton,

“He was really concerned about my well-being. After a game like that, a guy who’s still classy enough to say ‘How are you doing?’ To show that kind of concern for an opponent shows a lot of humility and class.

“[...] He’s a Hall of Fame player, he’s a living legend, he’s a record-holding quarterback, he’s a Super Bowl champion, he’s been a Super Bowl MVP.”  

This leads to another story of a person who failed but was redeemed and ended up being known as, "THE ROCK."

Luke 22:31-34 Jesus reveals to Peter that he will deny 3 times before the rooster crows. Peter lets Jesus know quick, "Surely not me Lord." 

Then the moment comes, Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested. Peter follows the guards towards the high priest's home but on the way little did he know the moment Jesus was talking about would come so soon. 

The "BIG GAME," "BIG MOMENT," was here for Peter. In Luke 22:56-62 it says,56 "One of the servant-girls saw Peter as he sat by the fire and looked right at him. She said, “This man was with Jesus also.” 57 Peter lied and said, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58 After awhile another person saw him and said, “You are one of them also.” Peter said, “No, sir, I am not.” 59 About an hour later another person said the same thing, “For sure, this man was with Jesus also because he is from Galilee.”60 But Peter said, “Sir, I do not know what you are saying.” And at once, while he was talking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. He remembered the Lord had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know Me.” 62 Peter went outside and cried with a troubled heart."

In this story we find out that even Peter failed and he failed miserably. But isn't awesome that we serve a God that forgives us. I am glad people in general are not the ones who govern me because I feel like they would do what they have done to Peyton Manning and that is just give up on him because I know he didn't perform well in the moment. The thing is, he will fail again. In a lot ways Peter faced his biggest game or test and guess he failed too! 

Check out what was told to Mary Magdalene and Mary (Jesus's Mother)as they noticed Jesus wasn't there. An angel spoke to them and said, "Go, tell his disciples, especially Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you."(Mark 16:7)

Notice what the angel says, "Especially Peter;" Why Peter, he failed Jesus miserably. He denied Jesus three times. Folks it's simply GRACE. By grace we are redeemed by GRACE we are made whole. You see, Jesus paid it all and he forgives us for our sins. He wants us to do the right thing even after we fall on our faces. 

Peyton Manning I applaud you and your actions. Thanks for being a wonderful role-model. Christians on the other hand, lets be easy to forgive and remember that the only Testament someone may see may not be the Holy Bible but simple may be through you. Stay classy and glorify, THE ONE AND ONLY," who redeems you.