Pastor Leon Bing Everyone Has A Plan Jacksonville , Florida Black History 2016
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We are seeing a society out of control . Crime has reached new heights with the different ways murders are being committed . Politicians continue to show those who vote them into office , that they really only look out for themselves and not the people they promised to work for . Big business , well , we know where they stand . Law Enforcement , here is a group of people that has allowed themselves to be a real disappointment to the people that they swore to protect . Not every officer , and not every agency is to blame . It is not just officers , but agencies that have shown their corrupt ways . The Federal Government have shut down several agencies in the past year alone . The unlawful killing of black men has the nation rioting , looking for justice . Sexual predators are still roaming our streets , and men from all walks of life are still getting caught in sex stings by police , looking for under aged girls . And finally sexual identity is still a growing issue in the land .
So I said all of that to get us thinking , who has a plan to save this sinful generation ? Well , in many locations everyone has a plan . There is nothing wrong with that , but are we operating in what we are called to do ? Before I get into the heart of my message today , I want to point out another thing .
Growing up on the eastside of Jacksonville , FL , back in the 60 ' s and ? O ' s ( I can ' t believe I said that ), I attended the Boys Club at 10th & Liberty St . I remained a member until I was 18 years old . That was by choice ! If it were not for the Boys Club , I ' m afraid of what my life would have been . It only cost $ 1.00 per year , and many boys grew up in that facility rather than hanging out on the streets getting into trouble . At the Boys Club I wrestled the great Dusty Rhodes , Don Curtis and Jack Brisco , all professional wrestlers who took time to come out and spend time with us .
The very first year I was there we had a Turkey shoot . At 8 years old and from the eastside , I had no clue what a turkey shoot was ! At the end of the event they awarded prizes , with the overall winner receiving a turkey and a large bag of groceries . Well they called every one of the boys up and gave them a prize , but they did not
EVERYONE HAS A PLAN
BY PASTOR LEON R . BING call my name . We had our parents there , and I had my mother there with me . I was about to cry because I did not hear my name called , until my mother started screaming and cheering . I was so hurt that I did not hear my name called as the grand prize winner !
As time went on we had summer league baseball . I played for the braves , and we had a pitcher named Mark Buchannan . He was a white boy who was an outstanding pitcher . No one on our team could catch for him because he threw a fast ball that would take your hand off ! I was asked to catch for him , and I accepted the challenge . Well we won the title that year and Mark and I were very good friends . Finally , the Boys Club had a Jr . Toastmasters Club . I joined the To astmasters and learned things such as the Robert ' s Rules of Order , how to speak from a podium , and how to speak to a crowd . Little did in know that it would pay off some 40 years later !
I went down memory lane to say this , if an organization such as the United Way could provide a center for area kids to grow up in a safe environment the way me and other boys did , for only one dollar annually , why can ' t people put the resources into organizations like that today ! I know things cost more , but the real reason is greed ! It is no more about children , it is about profit .
Well let me close with this thought . Everyone has a plan ! lf we work the plan we were called to do , we can save this generation , and even save the nation . We have pastors who are devising plans to curb violence , and other social issues . On the surface it sounds great . Be seen doing something - I guess . It is my belief that if we allow law enforcement to handle crime ; business and government to handle social issues ; and the church to deal with the spiritual well-being of the communities , things would be in order and change can come about . When will the day come when pastors stop going downtown ( only to be seen ), and just call on other pastors and lead people to pray for communities ? The media is not needed for that . We packed arenas for Promise Keepers , for a T . D . Jakes Conference , or Billy Graham , ( all good things ), but what about just meeting from church to church to pray for our communities ?
It all goes back to 2 Chronicles 7:14 , " If my people who are called by my name , would humble themselves and pray , seek my face turn from there wicked ways , then I will hear from heaven I will forgive their sin and heal their land ." As corny as people will want to say this is , it is God ' s Word , and we as believers either believe the Word or we don ' t . The thing is , if we don ' t believe the Word , then there is no hope for the land . We can throw all the money we want at the problems , and it won ' t help . We can come up with all kinds of plans , they will all fail . To get the full scope of what took place in 2 Chronicles , you must go back to chapter 6 and read Solomon ' s prayer from the beginning . After Solomon finished then God spoke in chapter 7:12-16 .
Pastors , if you are going to be on television , give God ' s plan not yours . I LOVE YOU ALL IN JESUS , BLESSINGS !
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