The Possibilities with JESUS!

My wife and I would like to share some news with our facebook friends and family. A few of you may already know....but we wanted to make it facebook official!

This Sunday will be our 12th wedding anniversary. Throughout the 12 years we have spent 8 of those years battling infertility. We have spent thousands of dollars trying to beat infertility. My wife has had 2 surgeries, medically induced men

opause, endless shots and has asked why thousands of times. We have battled depression, emotional nightmares, more downs than ups. Hearing of someone getting pregnant would deepen our emotions. We were never envious of them personally. But we were envious of the experience of becoming parents. (We've repented)

Earlier this year our friends Mark D. Sanders & Contessa Sanders recommended a Dr. in Cincinnati to us that was successful with helping them have a baby. We went in August and after meeting with Dr. Awadalla he highly recommended IVF due to the extreme endometriosis and PCOS. Having one of either of these is bad news for someone trying to conceive, having both is 99.8% certain you'll never conceive. For those of you that do not know this costs between $10k and $15k. We didn't have that kind of money but he assured us that his office would help us with applying for grants from organizations that would assist us with the associated costs. So we agreed, he gave my wife some instructions, a prescription of Metformin (to regulate how her body handled insulin, she's not diabetic) and a date to be back to him to begin IVF procedures. Today was that day. 

A couple weeks ago my wife began having some weird things happen. We took her to the ER and it was confirmed that we are PREGNANT!!!! We were confirmed pregnant in the very hospital that my wife was told 18 months ago that we have a 1% or less chance of ever getting pregnant. This happened without drugs, doctors...it was JESUS CHRIST!

So we showed up at the Dr.'s office today and Dr. Awadalla walks in to start the IVF procedures. That is until we informed him that we didn't need IVF now! (We had called the office 2 weeks ago but they obviously didn't relay the message!)

I have it documented on video of the Dr. saying that this was in fact a MIRACLE. He was blown away. Speechless at first. While doing the ultra sound he stated that the heart beat is "very strong and looked great". 

We would like to thank everyone from the bottoms of our hearts for praying for us through this torturous season called infertility. Please continue praying for us. Especially for my wonderful and beautiful wife and baby Young. It is still a sort of a shock even after seeing the ultra sound. I'm going to be a DADDY!!! :-)

Baptism in Jesus' Name is supported by historical accounts

Why the controversy over one of the most plain accounts in the Holy Scripture? Why do folks not invoke the Name of Jesus in Baptism?

Most folks says it doesn't matter if you are even baptized at all. The Bible speaks very clearly that it does matter.

Some say that it doesn't matter how your baptized. The Bible says differently.

Then there's some that has the made up mind of baptism is absolutely necessary. The Bible supports this, if done correctly.

Below you will find historical accounts, published, of the faultiness of the trinity formula of baptism. The Bible does not support it, nor was anyone ever baptized using that method. The Name of Jesus was the only formula used in the Bible and remains as the only Biblical formula to be used in our day.


The Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics:

As to Matthew 28:19, it says: It is the central piece of evidence for the traditional (Trinitarian) view. If it were undisputed, this would, of course, be decisive, but its trustworthiness is impugned on grounds of textual criticism, literary criticism and historical criticism. The same Encyclopedia further states that: "The obvious explanation of the silence of the New Testament on the triune name, and the use of another (JESUS NAME) formula in Acts and Paul, is that this other formula was the earlier, and the triune formula is a later addition."

Edmund Schlink, The Doctrine of Baptism, page 28:

"The baptismal command in its Matthew 28:19 form can not be the historical origin of Christian baptism. At the very least, it must be assumed that the text has been transmitted in a form expanded by the [Catholic] church."

The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, I, 275:

"It is often affirmed that the words in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost are not the ipsissima verba [exact words] of Jesus, but...a later liturgical addition."

Wilhelm Bousset, Kyrios Christianity, page 295:

"The testimony for the wide distribution of the simple baptismal formula [in the Name of Jesus] down into the second century is so overwhelming that even in Matthew 28:19, the Trinitarian formula was later inserted."

The Catholic Encyclopedia, II, page 263:

"The baptismal formula was changed from the name of Jesus Christ to the words Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by the Catholic Church in the second century."

Hastings Dictionary of the Bible 1963, page 1015:

"The Trinity.-...is not demonstrable by logic or by Scriptural proofs,...The term Trias was first used by Theophilus of Antioch (c AD 180),...(The term Trinity) not found in Scripture..." "The chief Trinitarian text in the NT is the baptismal formula in Mt 28:19...This late post-resurrection saying, not found in any other Gospel or anywhere else in the NT, has been viewed by some scholars as an interpolation into Matthew. It has also been pointed out that the idea of making disciples is continued in teaching them, so that the intervening reference to baptism with its Trinitarian formula was perhaps a later insertion into the saying. Finally, Eusebius's form of the (ancient) text ("in my name" rather than in the name of the Trinity) has had certain advocates. (Although the Trinitarian formula is now found in the modern-day book of Matthew), this does not guarantee its source in the historical teaching of Jesus. It is doubtless better to view the (Trinitarian) formula as derived from early (Catholic) Christian, perhaps Syrian or Palestinian, baptismal usage (cf Didache 7:1-4), and as a brief summary of the (Catholic) Church's teaching about God, Christ, and the Spirit:..."

The Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge:

"Jesus, however, cannot have given His disciples this Trinitarian order of baptism after His resurrection; for the New Testament knows only one baptism in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:43; 19:5; Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 1:13-15), which still occurs even in the second and third centuries, while the Trinitarian formula occurs only in Matt. 28:19, and then only again (in the) Didache 7:1 and Justin, Apol. 1:61...Finally, the distinctly liturgical character of the formula...is strange; it was not the way of Jesus to make such formulas... the formal authenticity of Matt. 28:19 must be disputed..." page 435.

The Jerusalem Bible, a scholarly Catholic work, states:

"It may be that this formula, (Triune Matthew 28:19) so far as the fullness of its expression is concerned, is a reflection of the (Man-made) liturgical usage established later in the primitive (Catholic) community. It will be remembered that Acts speaks of baptizing "in the name of Jesus,"..."

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, page 2637, Under "Baptism," says:

"Matthew 28:19 in particular only canonizes a later ecclesiastical situation, that its universalism is contrary to the facts of early Christian history, and its Trinitarian formula (is) foreign to the mouth of Jesus."

New Revised Standard Version says this about Matthew 28:19:

"Modern critics claim this formula is falsely ascribed to Jesus and that it represents later (Catholic) church tradition, for nowhere in the book of Acts (or any other book of the Bible) is baptism performed with the name of the Trinity..."

James Moffett's New Testament Translation:

In a footnote on page 64 about Matthew 28:19 he makes this statement: "It may be that this (Trinitarian) formula, so far as the fullness of its expression is concerned, is a reflection of the (Catholic) liturgical usage established later in the primitive (Catholic) community, It will be remembered that Acts speaks of baptizing "in the name of Jesus, cf. Acts 1:5 +."

Tom Harpur:

Tom Harpur, former Religion Editor of the Toronto Star in his "For Christ's sake," page 103 informs us of these facts: "All but the most conservative scholars agree that at least the latter part of this command [Triune part of Matthew 28:19] was inserted later. The [Trinitarian] formula occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, and we know from the only evidence available [the rest of the New Testament] that the earliest Church did not baptize people using these words ("in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost") baptism was "into" or "in" the name of Jesus alone. Thus it is argued that the verse originally read "baptizing them in My Name" and then was expanded [changed] to work in the [later Catholic Trinitarian] dogma. In fact, the first view put forward by German critical scholars as well as the Unitarians in the nineteenth century, was stated as the accepted position of mainline scholarship as long ago as 1919, when Peake's commentary was first published: "The Church of the first days (AD 33) did not observe this world-wide (Trinitarian) commandment, even if they knew it. The command to baptize into the threefold [Trinity] name is a late doctrinal expansion."

The Bible Commentary 1919 page 723:

Dr. Peake makes it clear that: "The command to baptize into the threefold name is a late doctrinal expansion. Instead of the words baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost we should probably read simply-"into My Name."

Theology of the New Testament:

By R. Bultmann, 1951, page 133 under Kerygma of the Hellenistic Church and the Sacraments. The historical fact that the verse Matthew 28:19 was altered is openly confesses to very plainly. "As to the rite of baptism, it was normally consummated as a bath in which the one receiving baptism completely submerged, and if possible in flowing water as the allusions of Acts 8:36, Heb. 10:22, Barn. 11:11 permit us to gather, and as Did. 7:1-3 specifically says. According to the last passage, [the apocryphal Catholic Didache] suffices in case of the need if water is three times poured [false Catholic sprinkling doctrine] on the head. The one baptizing names over the one being baptized the name of the Lord Jesus Christ," later expanded [changed] to the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Doctrine and Practice in the Early Church:

By Dr. Stuart G. Hall 1992, pages 20 and 21. Professor Stuart G. Hall was the former Chair of Ecclesiastical History at King's College, London England. Dr. Hall makes the factual statement that Catholic Trinitarian Baptism was not the original form of Christian Baptism, rather the original was Jesus name baptism. "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," although those words were not used, as they later are, as a formula. Not all baptisms fitted this rule." Dr Hall further, states: "More common and perhaps more ancient was the simple, "In the name of the Lord Jesus or, Jesus Christ." This practice was known among Marcionites and Orthodox; it is certainly the subject of controversy in Rome and Africa about 254, as the anonymous tract De rebaptismate ("On rebaptism") shows."

The Beginnings of Christianity: The Acts of the Apostles Volume 1, Prolegomena 1:

The Jewish Gentile, and Christian Backgrounds by F. J. Foakes Jackson and Kirsopp Lake 1979 version pages 335-337. "There is little doubt as to the sacramental nature of baptism by the middle of the first century in the circles represented by the Pauline Epistles, and it is indisputable in the second century. The problem is whether it can in this (Trinitarian) form be traced back to Jesus, and if not what light is thrown upon its history by the analysis of the synoptic Gospels and Acts.

According to Catholic teaching, (traditional Trinitarian) baptism was instituted by Jesus. It is easy to see how necessary this was for the belief in sacramental regeneration. Mysteries, or sacraments, were always the institution of the Lord of the cult; by them, and by them only, were its supernatural benefits obtained by the faithful. Nevertheless, if evidence counts for anything, few points in the problem of the Gospels are so clear as the improbability of this teaching.

The reason for this assertion is the absence of any mention of Christian baptism in Mark, Q, or the third Gospel, and the suspicious nature of the account of its institution in Matthew 28:19: "Go ye into all the world, and make disciples of all Gentiles (nations), baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." It is not even certain whether this verse ought to be regarded as part of the genuine text of Matthew. No other text, indeed, is found in any extant manuscripts, in any language, but it is arguable that Justin Martyr, though he used the trine formula, did not find it in his text of the Gospels; Hermas seems to be unacquainted with it; the evidence of the Didache is ambiguous, and Eusebius habitually, though not invariably, quotes it in another form, "Go ye into all the world and make diciples of all the Gentiles in My Name."

No one acquainted with the facts of textual history and patristic evidence can doubt the tendency would have been to replace the Eusebian text (In My Name) by the ecclesiastical (Catholic Trinitarian) formula of baptism, so that transcriptional evedence" is certainly on the side of the text omitting baptism.

But it is unnecessary to discuss this point at length, because even if the ordinary (modern Trinity) text of Matthew 28:19 be sound it can not represent historical fact.

Would they have baptized, as Acts says that they did, and Paul seem to confirm the statement, in the name of the Lord Jesus if the Lord himself had commanded them to use the (Catholic Trinitarian) formula of the Church? On every point the evidence of Acts is convincing proof that the (Catholic) tradition embodied in Matthew 28:19 is a late (non-Scriptural Creed) and unhistorical.

Neither in the third gospel nor in Acts is there any reference to the (Catholic Trinitarian) Matthaean tradition, nor any mention of the institution of (Catholic Trinitarian) Christian baptism. Nevertheless, a little later in the narrative we find several references to baptism in water in the name of the Lord Jesus as part of recognized (Early) Christian practice. Thus we are faced by the problem of a Christian rite, not directly ascribed to Jesus, but assumed to be a universal (and original) practice. That it was so is confirmed by the Epistles, but the facts of importance are all contained in Acts."

Also in the same book on page 336 in the footnote number one, Professor Lake makes an astonishing discovery in the so-called Teaching or Didache. The Didache has an astonishing contradiction that is found in it. One passage refers to the necessity of baptism in the name of the Lord, which is Jesus the other famous passage teaches a Trinitarian Baptism. Lake raises the probability that the apocryphal Didache or the early Catholic Church Manual may have also been edited or changed to promote the later Trinitarian doctrine. It is a historical fact that the Catholic Church at one time baptized its converts in the name of Jesus but later changed to Trinity baptism.

"1. In the actual description of baptism in the Didache the trine (Trinity) formula is used; in the instructions for the Eucharist (communion) the condition for admission is baptism in the name of the Lord. It is obvious that in the case of an eleventh-century manuscript *the trine formula was almost certain to be inserted in the description of baptism, while the less usual formula had a chance of escaping notice when it was only used incidentally."

The Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C. 1923, New Testament Studies Number 5:

The Lord's Command To Baptize An Historical Critical Investigation. By Bernard Henry Cuneo page 27. "The passages in Acts and the Letters of St. Paul. These passages seem to point to the earliest form as baptism in the name of the Lord." Also we find. "Is it possible to reconcile these facts with the belief that Christ commanded his disciples to baptize in the trine form? Had Christ given such a command, it is urged, the Apostolic Church would have followed him, and we should have some trace of this obedience in the New Testament. No such trace can be found. The only explanation of this silence, according to the anti-traditional view, is this the short christological (Jesus Name) formula was (the) original, and the longer trine formula was a later development."

A History of The Christian Church:

1953 by Williston Walker former Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale University. On page 95 we see the historical facts again declared. "With the early disciples generally baptism was "in the name of Jesus Christ." There is no mention of baptism in the name of the Trinity in the New Testament, except in the command attributed to Christ in Matthew 28:19. That text is early, (but not the original) however. It underlies the Apostles' Creed, and the practice recorded (*or interpolated) in the Teaching, (or the Didache) and by Justin. The Christian leaders of the third century retained the recognition of the earlier form, and, in Rome at least, baptism in the name of Christ was deemed valid, if irregular, certainly from the time of Bishop Stephen (254-257)."

On page 61 Professor and Church historian Walker, reviles the true origin and purpose of Matthew 28:19. This Text is the first man-made Roman Catholic Creed that was the prototype for the later Apocryphal Apostles' Creed. Matthew 28:19 was invented along with the Apocryphal Apostles' Creed to counter so-called heretics and Gnostics that baptized in the name of Jesus Christ! Marcion although somewhat mixed up in some of his doctrine still baptized his converts the Biblical way in the name of Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:19 is the first non-Biblical Roman Catholic Creed! The spurious Catholic text of Matthew 28:19 was invented to support the newer triune, Trinity doctrine. Therefore, Matthew 28:19 is not the "Great Commission of Jesus Christ." Matthew 28:19 is the great Catholic hoax! Acts 2:38, Luke 24:47, and 1 Corinthians 6:11 give us the ancient original words and teaching of Yeshua/Jesus! Is it not also strange that Matthew 28:19 is missing from the old manuscripts of Sinaiticus, Curetonianus and Bobiensis?

"While the power of the episcopate and the significance of churches of apostolical (Catholic) foundation was thus greatly enhanced, the Gnostic crisis saw a corresponding development of (man-made non-inspired spurious) creed, at least in the West. Some form of instruction before baptism was common by the middle of the second century. At Rome this developed, apparently, between 150 and 175, and probably in opposition to Marcionite Gnosticism, into an explication of the baptismal formula of Matthew 28:19 the earliest known form of the so-called Apostles Creed."

Catholic Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger:

He makes this confession as to the origin of the chief Trinity text of Matthew 28:19. "The basic form of our (Matthew 28:19 Trinitarian) profession of faith took shape during the course of the second and third centuries in connection with the ceremony of baptism. So far as its place of origin is concerned, the text (Matthew 28:19) came from the city of Rome." The Trinity baptism and text of Matthew 28:19 therefore did not originate from the original Church that started in Jerusalem around AD 33. It was rather as the evidence proves a later invention of Roman Catholicism completely fabricated. Very few know about these historical facts.

"The Demonstratio Evangelica" by Eusebius:

Eusebius was the Church historian and Bishop of Caesarea. On page 152 Eusebius quotes the early book of Matthew that he had in his library in Caesarea. According to this eyewitness of an unaltered Book of Matthew that could have been the original book or the first copy of the original of Matthew. Eusebius informs us of Jesus' actual words to his disciples in the original text of Matthew 28:19: "With one word and voice He said to His disciples: "Go, and make disciples of all nations in My Name, teaching them to observe all things whatsover I have commanded you." That "Name" is Jesus.


******************************************************************************************************

I beckon you to search the scriptures. Friend it's there. Just read the Book, forsake tradition, forsake pride and follow Jesus' Name Baptism. 

(Thanks to a friend, Lee Wells, for sharing the above references.) 


In the only Saving Name of Jesus,  

Brian Young
859.334.0070

A few ramblings on leadership and Church stuff!

This blog is for the general manager, team leader, Pastor, Youth pastor or for pretty much anyone that is in charge of managing a team. It’s just a few ramblings and may be a sparse to some.

I realize that it’s impossible for one person to do everything. I, at one time, thought I could do everything.Therein lies the common issue I’ve observed that most pastors/youth leaders have yet to overcome. That’s the issue or thought that YOU must be the one to do everything. If we are truth lovers as much as we say we are please accept this truth, one person can’t do everything and that includes you Pastor, youth leader, sales manager, sales associate, banker, restaurant worker, convenient store clerk…we must have a collaborative approach in nearly every aspect of any position!

Being in management for the better part of my working life I have learned how to build teams. The very first thing I had to surrender in order to become an effective manager and to accomplish building a team was my will to do everything in my store. As leaders we just simply cannot do everything. You will eventually burn out and not have the will to do anything or to even lead your team, which in return affects everyone around us negatively and lead to great sorrows in the days to come.

It’s really no secret on how to produce results. There’s no hidden gimmicks or pyramid schemes! Here’s a sort of an outline of the plan I’ve had as a manager/leader.

·      BUILD A TEAM. I had a regional manager make a statement to me one time and it went like this, “Brian, you are only as good as those you surround yourself with”. Be picky on who you ask to be on your team. If you made the decision to bring them on then trust them to do the job! Yes, coach, direct, but instill the vision in them and let them do the job. You CAN NOT  have the mentality of I’ll do it all! In Churches use others outside of the family. Often times the reason people leave Churches is because they feel like there’s a secret squirrel club and they’re not a part of it. There’s no room for “my 4 and no more”! If they mess up coach them IN PRIVATE! If there was ever a morale killer it is correcting/correcting someone in front of others. Use common sense when coaching. It's as necessary as breathing, but do it sensibly. Don't compliment them on a job and then correct them on the same job. This confuses people and creates a trust issue. 

·      I realize I don’t have all the right ideas. No one has all of the right ideas. Listen to your people! You will be surprised at the hidden talent sitting in your Church or section or organization! It’s a sad thing to see many talents going to waste simply because we choose not to listen to them. Whether you realize it or realize it and don’t want to admit it, you NEED other people and they NEED you!

·      Plan your work and work your plan. Proper planning prevents poor performance. Some great people, companies & Churches have not survived due to a lack of planning and organization. Somewhere in Pentecost we’ve missed this part. It’s not a sin to plan! It’s not a sin to be organized! Though I’m not the greatest, I do plan things on a sectional level and get detailed. Be meticulous. I would rather over plan and not need it than to under plan and need it! Even in speeches or sermons it’s better to know 40% more than you will ever use. When all eyes are on you-BE PREPARED! When a new person/customer walks into your Church or company what do they see? First impressions are lasting ones and often times make or break that person’s interest in ever coming back.

·      Communicate and get good at it. The people that you surround yourself with expect and need proper and effective communication. Don’t blame failures on those around you when it could have been prevented with proper communication from YOU! I have never heard a complaint from anyone in my section or on my sales team that I’ve communicated too much. Communication also builds trust with those you’re communicating with.

·      Finally, be open to new ideas. Don’t be fearful of scraping an idea if it isn’t working, even if it was your idea. Another HUGE failure I’ve observed is a Church/organization doing what they’ve always done and it just simply isn’t working. Open your mind! Pray! Embrace innovation! It’s not wrong to be wrong, it’s wrong to stay wrong!

I truly pray this helps someone and will motivate you to become a better leader, communicator and team builder!

Our Thankful Thanksgiving

In the spirit of the season we want to say that we are thankful. We are very thankful for God's provision upon our lives. Though we don't understand His plan for our ministry/life currently we're just truly thankful that we're in His plan. We're both blessed with great jobs, a beautiful home, our family (though we have enough fruit cakes to distribute to the entire world), and our Church.

There's so many friends that we're thankful for that we can't name all of them so if you're not listed don't take it personal. But a few that sticks out in our minds are Shellie Stephens Leep (and Danny, Kyle & Christian-my buddy!), Allen Dummitt, Starr Westmoreland Dummitt (and their beautiful (no pun intended-inside joke) and very talented daughters; Mikaela, Mackenna, and McKenzie), my Pastor Barney Bates, my Presbytr Anthony Keaton (that believes in me when no one else on earth does), Bishop J.R. & Sis. Linda Brindley (that literally poured some things into our lives in a crucial time for our ministry and marriage) Bro. Eugene McIntosh & Sis. Wanda Gumm McIntosh that lifted us, blessed us, took us under there wings and were baptized under their ministry.

One of my closest and dearest friends that speaks into my life a lot, even when it hurts and always seems to be on time, A.J. Dummitt and his wife Cathy Bond Dummitt. Jaron Rucker and his wife Anna Rucker have been a great help and support in Section N this year and we are ever so thankful for their friendship and help. My Director Debbi Howard is the absolute greatest boss (and sometimes she can get bossy...haha) that anyone could work for. She's taught me to never back down from convictions!

(And we're thankful for the uncertainty of us ever having children. Though it's nearly unbearable emotional pain at times that no one knows unless you've been there. However we know and reluctantly understand that God's plan is bigger than our feeble minds and desires, and we accept that.)

We could go on and on. We're truly thankful for God's blessing and provision for we would be nothing without Him.

Thank you Jesus....

Brian & Casey

There's chains on their wings

(this may be lengthy for some)

When a bird breaks way through it's containment it's hard not to notice the look in it's eyes. It's eyes have a bright, fresh look with nothing but expectancy. The future begins now!

One other thing that's hard not to notice is it's very rough, feather soaked look that it has. Abruptly putting it, it's ugly. It's young, doesn't really understand everything about it's new job of this nest thing. Maybe it's steps aren't too strong. But through mentoring of it's parent and nature in time the young bird finally finds it's groove. New understanding and meaning happens. A place of belonging is born.

But then what about these attachments on both sides. What do I do with them? I see what Mama is doing, but look at mine, they're too small. I'm not strong enough to really even move them very fast. But as time progresses, weeks and perhaps even months in some cases, the young birds continue to exercise their wings with brisk flapping, while some even experience falling out of the nest only to be rescued by it's mother.

Finally there's the day. The day that the nest is no longer home. The place of refuge and safety under the wings of another have come to an end. Today, you learn how to fly. Often times before that young bird wants to it's carried from the nest on the back of it's mother into the vast, open skies. It must fly.

In a bird's life there is no question as to what they're designed to do. They have to fly, someway, somehow in order to survive they have to fly.

There's a stark difference in the way the Church treats our young. Mind you I've only been in truth for 9 years, so I don't know everything. But I do know what I've saw first hand and experienced personally. Our young that feels a call to fly above their un-biblical family lifestyles, to change the world that they live in, they have a zeal that's fresh, bright eyed and full of expectancy. But oh wait....they're just coming out of their containment, they're still kind of ugly and well, maybe we shouldn't get too carried away here. After all, what if they mess up? What if this and what if that? Before you know it chains are being slowly placed over their wings. The very things that can lift them out of their traditional family lifestyles have become bound with chains.

That burning zeal is now cold ash, maybe their family lifestyle wasn't so bad and yeah, the expectancy...maybe I was just too carried away in my emotions. At last we've finally tightened the chains tight enough to settle them down. Maybe they won't come to me now with ideas or suggestions. I got tired of dealing with that. We'll do it our way, God has blessed us. Then finally, when you enter the nest on Sunday morning or Wednesday night.....but what happened? It wasn't time for them to leave the nest!

Could it be that the reason we can look up into the sky and see flocks of birds flying in perfect harmony is that they propel their young into the realm that God called them to? What would happen if the Apostolic movement embraced this idea of using what God has given us? Those young people that aren't so pretty right now, but if given an opportunity to do what God has called them to do can mature into something spectacular.

My heart is heavy tonight, as it has been for most of this year over this topic, and many others really concerning our movement. I am saddened and spiritually depressed when I look into the skies and see a flock of birds and look into our churches to find only the remnants of old chains. This brings me to a very familiar portion of scripture in I Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth;.....

I'm pleading to a generation of leaders in our movement, though this will not be well received by most, to yes, preach and instill the doctrine of one God, Acts 2:38 Salvation, Holiness living and separation from the world. These are non-negotiable! But please use the most valuable asset that God has given you. They may be ugly now, but God has called them for such a time as this. Encourage them. Bless them. Lead them. And throw the chains away.

After all, it's hard for them to fly with chains on their wings.

Building the Kingdom,

Brian Young

New Historical Findings on Baptism in Jesus' Name in Europe

New Historical Findings on Baptism in Jesus’ Name in Europe
Posted by Paul Baumeister
Jul 21st, 2011 at 6:26 am PT


MICHIGAN – July 19, 2011. There has been recent findings that support the recognition of baptism in Jesus’ Name during the patristic era (during the early history of the Church period) and the 9th century in Europe. In a recent interview, Apostolic historian Kulwant Boora shared some of his research in his forthcoming publication, The Roman Catholic Church And Its Recognition of The Validity of Baptism In The Name of Jesus (Acts 2:38) From 100 A.D. to 500 A.D. This work notes that during the time of an early ante-Nicene Greek apologist, an event of historical significance has been noted.
This event entails the trial of a student who was baptized in the name of Jesus, sustaining indirect evidence of baptism in the name of Jesus in communication of Justin Marty’s pupil within his life time. He also produces scholarly studies that now suggest that the Shepherd of Hermas pointed towards baptism in the name of Jesus or name of Christ. Additional observations have also been cited in support of Oneness theology, one being the prolific Princeton Theologian, Professor Benjamin B. Warfield whom is cited as confessedly stating that the early Church held to an Oneness view. It was also revealed during the interview that it would be a mistake to assume that only Popes, Stephen and Nicholas deemed baptism in the name of Jesus as valid.  In fact, the opposite has been revealed. Such findings are currently being verified through the appropriate authorities and institutions that will be released very soon.
Furthermore, the author’s prior work, Baptism in the Name of Jesus (Acts 2:38) From Jerusalem to Great Britain, has also revealed substantial evidence in support of apostolic oneness theology and doctrine in Britain and Europe. This work notes for example that the King of France about the 6th century wrote a treatise in defense of Sabellian theology that was presented to Pope Gregory. Thereby denying the doctrine of the trinity and that during the 9th century in England evidence has been preserved and housed in a University in the United Kingdom that demonstrates writings pointing towards the Jesus name baptismal formula used by an ancient British tribe. On a final point, from this book the following abstract from a Church of England Oxford University scholar has been provided in a modified form for readers of this article:
“The renowned Church of England, Anglican Theologian and sometime Vice-Principal of…College, Oxford, [Trinitarian scholar and clergyman] the late…undertook a study titled…[1] in which he spoke on the subject of the sacrament of baptism and its related form or formula. What the learned Church of England theologian stated, was that, if baptism is administered in the name of Jesus only, it was certainly not an invalid form according to his viewpoint…” [Emphasis added]
Apostolic News is delighted to be the first to reveal some of the newly discovered evidence supporting baptism in the name of Jesus alongside the authority of the Bible. The Apostolic heritage has been uniquely preserved that aligns itself with the teaching of the true New Testament Church and Apostles that is still paramount for salvation today.
Boora, K. S. (2010). Baptism in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38): From Jerusalem to Great Britain. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse.

Related link: http://www.apostolicnews.org/2011/07/new-historical-findings-on-baptism-in-jesus-name-in-europe/

The Ramblings of a hungry Apostolic

Well, in January I wrote about having more of Heaven in 2011, and while I must say that there's been plenty of the contrary I've also experienced some things that I have never experienced before in my 8 years of living for the Lord.

In February it began, a dear brother in the Lord came to me while at the Kentucky District Youth Retreat in Louisville and prophesied to me. Now, I'll be the first to point out that prophecy is abused in the world today so I'm extremely careful in what I receive through what the Church world calls prophecy, but this my friend was delivered fresh. From the very portals of a place none of us have been but we've all heard of. Heaven.

He wasn't screaming, spitting, running, hollering...just a simple soft spoken heart rendering prophecy from God. "God has something greater, don't settle for anything less than what He has for you". As he uttered the last word of the prophesy there was a wave of the awesome Spirit of God that swept over me and I wept, profusely. Never before had a prophecy done to me what this had done for me. It was God talking through man to me, I didn't deserve it, I don't deserve it even now. I'm so thankful that God doesn't call the qualified but he qualifies the called.

Some 2 months later (maybe less) another man from the other end of the state that wasn't even in attendence at the event in February came to me and conveyed the very same message. This brought new meaning, a fresh anointed meaning to Brian Young to the scripture 2 Corinthians 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

It was established. Will God's established Word falter? I know not of any instances.

But what is it? When will it happen? I wish I had the answer to these questions. The last 3 months of my wife's life and my own have been handed a lot of highs and lows. Every time we go up, we're knocked back down. Every time we get knocked down, we're lifted back up by the mighty Hand of the Lord Jesus.

I wasn't raised Apostolic. I was raised under the influence of an alcoholic dad and a trinity, non-church goer, mother which she was the absolute only thing that held our fragile, often times wrecked family, together. I went to the local Baptist Churches in our community from which I have developed life long friendships with those fine people. I was baptized in the Hunter Memorial Baptist Church according to Matthew 28:19, Billy Joe Williams, one of the best friends anyone could ask for while growing up, was also baptized that day. So not being raised Apostolic brings me into this movement as sort of an outsider with an inside peek into Pentecost, and I have Godly pride to be Apostolic Pentecostal. I'm glad we stand for what we stand for.

It also brings me to a place of Spiritual disturbance. Where are we in our movement? Where are we in revival? Yes, I realize we still have our foundation of Acts 2:38 as the only salvation that the Bible teaches. We all shout about that. But why are we here? Why did God bring us into the truth? I have an astounding answer that may have varying opinions among the readers of this blog. God didn't bring us into the truth of His Word to do what we're doing. I would really hate to see my report card and for that matter our movement's report card of how we're doing in bringing lost souls to God. Which, by the way is the only reason God saved us. Sheep begat sheep.

God never saved us to come and get a feel good message on Sunday, go home, come back to Church on Wednesday just to get another feel good message. I'm so disturbed by the lack of, true Apostolic moves of God in our Churches. Who's seeking God? Who's praying? Who's fasting? We're dying a Spiritual death due to the lack of seeking God. Yeah, we can still have "good" Church. But when did we become satisfied with "good" Church? When did that replace genuine, heart felt Apostolic Church? Life changing, mind altering, heart transforming services where we are led only by the Spirit and not by man?

This, my friend, is what I'm longing for and in my prayers I pray that Jesus himself will continue to direct me in this direction. Yes, I know that people generally fizz out after a burning desire such as this, but I pray against that. If it be worldly influences that would dampen the fire that I'm feeling then move it Lord, in fact, do whatever, take me wherever by whatever means, to allow me to lead people that so share this desire for Apostolic Restoration. I'm throwing out my Pentecostal rhetoric and walking where I've never walked in order to do this. Every time we preach Apostolic messages and we don't see Apostolic results we're losing our credibility...God help me to establish this in my life and wherever you take me in the future.

I praise the only saving Name of Jesus and close in the same.....

Brian