February 25th, 2010
ALC HOME It took nearly a decade to find a mutually agreeable screenplay, but the stars and director of Pretty Woman (1990) finally reunited to make Runaway Bride in 1999. I’m sure we all remember both of these movies, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.
I am convinced this new decade of seekers are our churches runaway bride of Christ… seeking answers everywhere except the church because they can’t see the story in it anymore.
The church through demanding traditions and chronic condemnation has given them no choice except to look in other avenues. They are looking for happiness in career and success plans and if not there, in excessive drugs, and alcohol abuse. They are using their gifts, callings, and talents outside of the church when God wants to gather them together for the soul purpose of promoting HIS church to the place where all can come to repentance without feeling like a failure.
I think the American Church is beginning to realize this and have offered apologies in their own way; but from what I hear and see all the seekers can perceive is our ample arrogance.
I believe they still love the church but are confused by the way we have portrayed the church in years past as being perfect individuals when we were far from – due to the fact… we are human and we make mistakes. They know this and it is time for us to be honest and say, “hey guys we make mistakes but God forgives us through repentance… we are just like you but we see our need for God’s love… just as he did for others all through the Bible.”
The seekers want to see real people… hear real stories; not preaching them into hell yet becoming genuine because we all find our answers through love using the tools of grace and truth.
Why would a bride run away and leave the groom at the altar:
Trust issues
Can’t measure up to the grooms standards
Finds it too difficult to deal with the problems
Afraid of what the future holds
Also sounds like the American Church as well. To choose HIS will, we have to give up our will so fear of commitment comes to play. We can trust God but we can never trust the preacher or the people in the church, we might find out they are human; and no one can measure up to the standards of the church or deal with the problems of the people in the church and anyone can see there is no future for the church… they are worse than we are… right, that is what they say?
Yet God instituted The Church with the standards in the Bible where you will find the answer to every problem. You do not have to worry about the future when you live in love and forgiveness. It is not as complicated as the church made it. It is simple.
God is not looking for perfect people, He is looking for imperfect people who will give him their all and re-establish His church where it excludes no one but leads everyone into the grace and truth through the love of Jesus Christ.
Tags: American Church, career, Church, decade, pretty woman, prupose failure, real, Runaway Bride, seekers, story, success
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February 12th, 2010
Leadership Hardin County open with windows media 
First a special thank you to the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director, Beth Pippin. Also Bud Young and our community for nominating my amazing husband, Pastor Marvin Norris of Amazing Life Church, formerly Cross N Crown for ‘GOING THE EXTRA MILE (GEM) AWARD. Click on our One Life Journey about page to learn about all our giving. click on this link to see our annual community project: Backpack Give-A-Way
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The Awards were presented this past Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at the Pickwick Inn Convention Center. It was the 14th Annual Community Distinguished Service Awards and Leadership Hardin County.
Congratulations! Here are the winners:
* Service Award– David Channell
* Community Service– Carl Perkins Center
* Going the Extra Mile-- (GEM) DeShawn Martin Other Going the Extra Mile-- (GEM) Nominees were: Amazing Life Church Pastor Marvin Norris, Larry Lowery, Savannah Fire Dept Fire Fighters
* Public Servant– Gary Combs
Other Public Servant Nominees were: Terry Hosea, Lisa Shaw Taylor, Stacy Wilson
* Student– Kristen Lackey
Other Student Nominees were: Corey Horton, Ethan Hosea, Kara Wyatt, Christopher Jerrolds
* Educator– Cyndy Brooks
OtherEducator Nominees were: Jimmy Neal Bain & Diane Griffin
* Volunteer– Harrison Perry
Other Volunteer Nominees were: Patsy Gibbs & Jeff Woodside
* Friend of Tourism– Kent Collier
* Industry– ISR Group
* Woman of the Year– Helen Hamilton
Other Woman Of The Year Nominees were: Sondra Apple & Micki Greer
* Man of the Year– Gordon Majors
Other Man Of The Year Nominee was: Steve WarrenHC C of C Annual Membership Banquet
Tags: amazing life church, Beth Pippin, Bud Young, Hardin County Chamber Of Commerce
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February 10th, 2010
God listens to the prayers of anyone!!!!!!
I was born in a small town called Savannah, Tennessee. My parents were not perfect and made mistakes but I love them dearly. We were a large family. I have 2 older brothers and had 2 younger brothers {one died 1995} and 2 sisters. {one died when I was 6 years old, I remember it like it was yesterday}
I’m so thankful they taught us about God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Many children do not have any Christian background… they do not know there is a God they can turn to for help when life just doesn’t make sense.
We were a family working like little ants in the fields and on the farm. We all worked together to accomplish what we had materially in this life.
My parents instilled in me good and bad as most parents do; I never dwell on the bad but I do remember… I don’t have amnesia; but there are four good things stuck with me and they are: there is a God, prayer, love and forgiveness.
Childhood can be very challenging even with the knowledge of Christ; but I would have never made it if I had not known about God and how I could pour my heart out to Him.
You know sometimes we just need someone to listen… so His ears were full of my cries.
Why? Because people will not always act the way our Holy Father wants them too… that is why we have prayer.
We all face situations we wish we didn’t have to face. I did… others have… and that is called life. It makes us who we are today.
I faced situations for many years where I could not understand why I was born… why God would allow my dilemma, but I always prayed and somehow I made it through without tremendous mental distortion. {some people would argue that fact ha! ha!}
It taught me great love… great forgiveness… what we need a lot more of today.
Do you know who your real Father is? Mom and Dad came together in love but God created me…
It’s amazing to know God chose me to be one of His. I received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior when I was sixteen years old. I had always prayed even as a little child; because I knew there was a God who would listen to everything I had to say and even what I couldn’t say.
He always answers prayers… keep praying!!!
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January 25th, 2010
ALC HOME PAGE The American church has entered into unfamiliar territory – a cross forward – from past religious concepts into a relationship experience with God as His authoritative power propels us forward with a fresh and a new oil for this NOW generations.
We as the body of Christ thought we knew who we were for centuries – forming a denomination only to birth – denominations out of a denomination – dividing God’s people, fighting and disputing the Holy scriptures in debates across the land – following traditions after traditions – interpretations after interpretations – founded upon the wisdom of that era…
I believe God is saying to our leaders; “hear my heart church, it is time to lead by example… this amazing generation needs to see authenticity… they need to see a coming together as you did in Haiti: feeding, clothing, sheltering and reaching into the hearts of my ‘hurting world’ so they can see me through your eyes and know me through your hearts of love and giving others the desire to choose me.”
His divine calling confirms who we are as leaders in Christ. His authoritative power urges our spirits as leaders to push and tear down the strongholds and walls built by traditions of our own fore-fathers which slows the progress for the NOW generation to know Christ.
If our fore-fathers were here today, they would shout to the top of their voices, “obey God, as we did in our era; because what we preached is now cloudy to your generations; today, as in our day you must preach God’s heart and this oil will cleanse and renew NOW generations.”
I’m convinced God is calling leaders who will reconstruct from the contradictions and failures of man’s religion and run to this generation with God’s love & word tearing down walls which divide & begin a-new… building purpose in holy relationships as inspirational examples for the now generations.
It takes faith and boldness to be this type of leader – who will follow God and lead God’s people into places they’ve never been. My Pastor, Marvin Norris is that type of leader.
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January 20th, 2010
WE ARE THE WORLD
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We’ve all heard people complicate the Word of God with all their intellect… their interpretation, as well as their delivery… when in reality God is a God of simplicity. Your IQ… (intelligence quotient) in general, is an assessment of your ability to think and reason) intellectual level is not required to be a successful & passionate Christian for the advancement of “HIS” kingdom… believing like the thief on the cross will advance His kingdom… compassion like the good Samaritan will advance His kingdom… obedience like Ra-hab the harlot, will advance His kingdom… genuine love like Jonathan for a friend will advance His kingdom… sincere giving like the widow’s mite will advance His kingdom… passionate prayer like Job will advance His kingdom… heartfelt praise & worship like David will advance His kingdom… witnessing like the woman at the well will advance His kingdom… forgiveness like the father with the prodigal son will advance His kingdom… etc. simple stories… intense drama… filled with passion. A post worth reading Pete Wilson
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January 5th, 2010
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The amazing life of Christ is ours to share with the world, and even the next door neighbor we do not like.
The amazing gift of love sent from the Father above, who cared more for his creation than we can ever comprehend. The redeeming power through his son.
We are to share HIS story with the world and even with the people we do not like… those, who we can not comprehend how they can do the deeds they do, say the things they say and entertain and react upon the thoughts they harbor yet God still loves them.
We as Christians recognize forgiving as a God virtue because it is difficult for us to comprehend how God could still love, but he does because these are usually the ones that do not know HIS story or have not accepted HIS story. This is called grace… thank God for grace. Grace gives birth to a living hope for all.
The amazing church will love with open arms the world, the next door neighbor, the one who carry a past, the wrong doer, and the believer who has failed – needing a hand to stand again. This is the church Christ is building. The Amazing Life Church – fulfilling the acts of Christ and the will of the Father.
Tags: amazing, amazing life church, awesome buy back, Born, Brother's Keeper, Change, Children, Choice, Christian, Church, Community, Congregation, Countries, Cross N Crown, direction, Drilling, Feeding, Gifts. Christmas, gives, Giving Backpacks, Glory, God, God the father, Guard, Heal, Hungry, Husband, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leaders, Life, living hope, Local, lost, Love, neighbor, Opportunity, Pastor's Wife, Pastors, People, Preacher's Wife, purchase. grace, Purpose, Reaching, share, Students, Third, Wells, World
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January 3rd, 2010
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The Moment
Life keeps living through the moment… through the good and through the bad.
Life does not wait for your next big break… until you get on your feet… get it all together… find your self or accomplish your next dream.
Life just lives; why not live your life… in ‘HIM’ …’HE’ is life.
‘HE’ is the air we breathe… a precious creator and redeemer through ‘HIS’ throne of grace.
Live, rejoice, learn to be content, smile…
because no matter what the future holds, He holds our future.
My Mom is such an example… a severe stroke afflicted the entire left side of her body but she remains happy and courageous…
She can not do anything for herself but she understands God is still in total control… she has total trust, just like a child.
By Betty Norris, the pastor’s wife, some say the preacher’s wife
www.amazinglifetalk.com
www.healingimpact.com
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December 10th, 2009
My husband preaching about our words http://crossncrownchurch.blip.tv/file/1326810/
www.healingimpact.com
Be Who You Are
You’re familiar with the bible story: David And Goliath. How David was instructed to put on the armor of Saul; and how it wasn’t David’s style… it didn’t fit… he had to walk in his own style to please God.
You must be who you are in God, and don’t try to wear another man’s armor. It didn’t work for David and it will not work for you.
God does not want you to be bound in fear suffocating you from being who you are… you need to shine in Christ. Allow God to show off within you! If you will be the person God made you… you will attract others… they will want to be around you and when you are… who you are; you can go forth and conquer every giant in your life.
It is sad to be around someone, trying to act like someone they are not. In their minds they are really fitting in… making an impression, when in reality they look exactly the way they didn’t want to look; and the irony of it all is, the person usually has a dynamic-sparkling personality but no one knows it except a close friend and God… such a loss to the world.
God loves stretching you. God made you different with a unique personality. If Christ is in you and you are in Him… you can grasp life and walk boldly in Him; accomplishing more than you ever dreamed. God wants to take you to greater heights! He loves to surprise you and raise you up in places where you couldn’t go by yourself… He enjoys stretching you until you become flexible and of use to Him. He is the best that is within you; allow him to shine.
Tags: actually, armor, attract, be who you are, bound, Christ, conquer, david, david and goliath, did not fit, dynamic, familiar, fear, friends, giant, God, impression, irony, Jesus, loss, minds, others, person, personality, please, saul, shine, show off, someone, sparkling, style, suffocating, walk, work, World
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October 13th, 2009
When Will Your Enemy Show Up?
He will show up in your peace… when everything is going great and the presence of God is flowing in your life every day. The enemy will appear to deceive, just as he did in the Garden of Eden with Adam & Eve. Genesis the 3rd chapter. But God will always show out, cover us and put the enemy in his place.
The enemy will show up in increase… when everything is going your way: in your blessings… in your prosperity… in your righteousness… in your perfection… The enemy will show up to kill or destroy your godly legacy… just as he did in Job’s life when he took away everything he had even the lives of his children; as his friends began to accuse him of sin.
Job’s enemy showed up in the first chapter but as time prevailed It brought him closer to God; because by the 42 chapter Job said, “God, I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.” Job made a stand and stood firmly on the God that he knew regardless of his loss and was given back double for his trouble.
The enemy will show up when you are full of the Holy Spirit… Jesus was full of the Holy Ghost, and was led by God into the wilderness. The enemy showed up with every temptation… natural food, worldly power & fame & mind control. The enemy tried to get him to jump off the pinnacle of the temple. Jesus fought the enemy with the Word of God and won every battle and conquered every temptation. This all took place in Luke the 4th chapter.
I love the 18th & 19th verses… after he came out of the wilderness, Jesus read this passage: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Tags: accuse, adam and eve, blessings, closer, cover increase, destroy, enemy. peace, every day, flowing, food, fought, garden of eden, great, Holy Spirit, job, kill, legacy, Life, mind control, perfection, power, presence, prosperity, righteousness, stand, stood firmly, temptation, the word of god, wilderness, won battle
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October 1st, 2009
What’s in your life you want to change? DO A CROSS FORWARD!
We live in a world of extreme circumstances: uncertainty, violence, abuse, immoral conduct and addictions. A world where individuals, couples, parents & children… ‘JUST’ can’t cope… extreme living in a world of extreme change.
It is time to Cross forward into your amazing life. God offers a Cross forward to anyone desiring an extreme life change; who’s committed to change… because as long as we ‘love’ what we’re doing or will tolerate what’s going on in our lives; we will never experience our Cross forward. We will first, have to get fed up enough to find the Cross in our extreme circumstances that leads us from extreme living into ‘HIS’ amazing life for us. We will continue to deal with problems and issues; but if we’re committed to change; we can… because God will change us and help us cope and conquer the enemy of our destiny. If we fall, ‘HE’ will lift us up again… restore and never condemn.
The Most radical extreme life change in the Bible, in my opinion is in Luke the eight chapter starting at the 25th verse where the man is possessed… living in the tombs… out of his mind… unclothed but when Jesus walked into his life… a Cross forward took place… His life was turned around from extreme living to abundant living. I believe he was committed to change and God saw that sincerity in his heart and delivered him. Jesus went through EXTREME living to give us our CROSS forward into ‘HIS’ abundant life… it is time… we find the CROSS.
Tags: abundant living, abuse, amazing life, Change, committed, conquer, cross, Cross Forward, destiny, extreme change, extreme life change, extreme living, God, issues, just can't cope, leader, leads, Life, living in the tombs, opinion, possessed, problems, radical, Son cross n crown, tolerate, world circumstances
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