Visionary Moments with Pastor Crenshaw - Keep It Simple!

What prompts you to pray? For some it is a crisis or calamity. Many are prompted by an unexpected diagnosis, discouraging prognosis or tragic event. A more meaningful question is why do you pray? As new converts most of us presented to God a catalog of desires or simply asked God to solve it, stop it, take it away or give me more of it.

When you pray, concentrate on the focus of your prayers. Unintentionally, sometimes our prayers become models of selfishness. Our prayers may consist of things we genuinely need however in some instances; we pray so intently for self that we forget we are our brothers' keeper.

The model prayer Jesus shared with the disciples is simple. At a time when all the majesty of Heaven was to be revealed, Jesus kept it simple. When revealing to us how to grasp the keys to the Kingdom, our Master keeps it simple. He charges us not to reiterate empty phrases and commands us not to repeat buzz words. Jesus teaches us that our prayers only need to be sincere, honest and real.

Our Savior patiently awaits fellowship with us. The mature Christian has learned the Father lovingly encourages us to establish a prayer life that reflects a meaningful relationship, not simply a wish list. We have been invited to that sacred sanctuary where the True Source dispenses resources.

The Lords Prayer as recorded by Luke focuses on daily living, looking not to tomorrow but concentrating on today. Jesus reveals to the disciples what should have been obvious; life is a daily gift that can only be given by God. The more we focus on each moment the more mindful we are of the blessings in our existing circumstances.

Jesus' prayer pushes us toward a life of substance and significance. When it comes to prayer, Jesus prefers genuine communication. Grand and eloquent speech has its place, but when it comes to prayer, Jesus prefers if we keep it simple.

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One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." Luke 11:1

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Crenshaw
Shaw Temple AME Zion Church
http://www.shawtemple.org

Holy Hip-Hop Month at Oasis Family Life Church

Sup everybody
I know it's been a minute since I shared a few thoughts with you, but please excuse my absence and know ya man has been on his grind for Christ! I had to pull away a little and go back to the lab so to speak, out in the wilderness by myself and spend sometime with God. I had to start mentally preparing myself for what God is doin and is about to do to me and thru me.
I stay physically prepared but sometimes
we need to step away and get mentally prepared for what's about to go down!!!!
But not Im back, baby.... Let me catch you up....

The book SPIRITUAL MINDED da daily devotion for the hip-hop generation
is starting to really move some units now that it's available on Amazon.com
http://www.Amazon.com/shops/tahirbooks1 - if you havent already cop a copy or two!!!
Past the word on to your people tell ya fiends, youth ministers etc...
I have also been invited to speak a few places, (I will share them all with you as they come together) and have been doin a lot of radio interviews
as well to promote everything.
Then I have been gearing up for the launch of the newly birthed
SPIRITUAL MINDED RADIO SHOW
if ya still haven't heard the teaser yet check it at
http://spiritualminded.podcastpeople.com/posts/30675 and
leave me ya feedback in the comment section and let me know what you think please!
I had the chance to do this one a few stations but they were takin their time to get back to me and what about to go down could not wait so I will just post the shows on my podcast page weekly for you to check out, stream, down load, load up on ya podcast, whatever. I will be spotlighting alot of really good emcees who are really holding it down for Christ! I will also be speaking with alot of ya seculre artists, favoriet athletes and actors about their spirituality as well
It will be a great mixture of music you have to really experience it for yourself.
If you like what you hear week after week tell everyone you know and leave ya feedback in the comment section. For all of you tired of what you hear on commercial radio this is for you. But I can't do it alone, I can't change radio all by myself if you like what you hear and want to hear much more of it I need you to hit the site often and leave ya feedback and let those who control what you hear do on radio know this is what you want.. ok enuf of that on to the reason for this entry....

Tonight Monday March 2nd I just got in from speaking to the Youth
at Oasis Family Life Church in Dallas, GA.
First let me give props to what they are doin over there at Oasis
Big up to my man, Carlos Torres the Youth Pastor who uses hip-hop as a tool to teach, reach and preach to the youth, it is an amazing thing to see. This month they are having they Holy Hip Hop Month and they invited ya boy down to help kick it off.
The youth ministry was really a beautiful thing to see as the youth held it down from the sound booth to the band to the praise and worship team. It is really great to see the youth on fire for the Lord, to find out more about the church check their website http://www.oasisfamilylife.com/clubo.htm
They set up the evening like a talk show, had the chairs on stage for me and Carlos and we just kicked it about hip hop and spirituality, promoted my book a little and answered question from the audience, largerly made up on the Youth Ministry. I really want to thank Carlos for seeing my vision and inviting me down to be a part of what they are doin.
The more I do these I am getting a little more comfortable with each speakin engagement! I will be doin much more speaking starting next month, but I will save that for another entry. Tonight I just wanted to big up Oasis, the Youth Ministry and their pastor for having the vision and the courage to step out of the box and the traditionalism that is pushing too many of our youth right out the doors of the church. If you are in the Atlanta areas, especially anywhere near Dallas, GA stop by Oasis and see how God is moving thru that place....
Thank you for letting me share this with you and I pray you all have a blessed day, HOLLA AT YA BOY!!!!!!
- AJ ROK
da professional hip-hop junkie!!!!!