California Here I Come ... There I Go!

I am so honored that my dear friend and brother the Reverend R.G. Moore III has invited the Canaan Missionary Baptist Church and I back to Church on The Rock in San Jose California as their guests during their Church Anniversary Celebration 2012. Pastor Moore, we have not long returned from San Jose. You are a great and gracious host. The food was excellent, the fellowship was great and the worship services were wonderful. Thank you my friend for the invitation. The pastor and people of CMBC look forward to your return to the valley of the sun ... that is "The Valley of The SON" very soon. I thank our God for His love, mercy and kindness toward me where this experience is concerned. In addition to seeing Rev. Moore, I was also able to see family members in the Bay Area. Including my sisters Melinda and Arnita; and my aunt Derothy Triplett- along with my brother in law and cousins. I am always glad to see my brother the Reverend Thomas E. Fisher. He attended the afternoon service along with the great Pastor H.L. Davis of San Francisco and others. May our God continue to bless and keep you all is my prayer. Safe in CHRIST, S.J. Fort, Servant of JESUS CHRIST

THANK YOU PASTOR WESNER!

Several weeks ago I was honored (again); to be asked to preach at the First Southern Baptist Church in Wellton Arizona. The church is pastored by my friend and brother Rev. Charles Wesner. I am ever grateful to the pastor and good people of First Southern for the kindness they've shown me over the years. For allowing me to come and preach God's Word at your church and for treating so very kindly ... I am grateful. I learned long ago that people don't have to be kind to you. And when they are it's right to say "thank you". I thanked the pastor and people of First Southern in person some time ago, but I want to thank The LORD Jesus Christ (again) for them- and most of all for His (God's); love, mercy and grace! I'm sure I speak for millions of preachers around the country when I say preaching revivals, or any other service (especially- out of town); does not only bless the people being preached to, but it is a real blessing for the preacher who is doing the preaching. Agape, Sherman J. Fort, servant of JESUS CHRIST

"LIFE SEASONS"- ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER 3

Recently I listened again to a sermon from my friend and brother Rev. Dr. Emil M. Thomas. In the sermon Dr. Thomas talked about "seasons". Specifically, he talked about the ways in which our God often deals with people in and through various seasons in our lives. Rev. Thomas told a funny yet fateful tale connected to his youth (I won't go into the whole piece here); where he shared in short how our God blessed him to come into his "season" in due time. The LORD has me in a strange season right now. One I've never been in before? It's an exciting season. It's an exceptional season ... it is a strange season. Since the last quarter of last year- AT LEAST, I've been in the season. It's one that requires prayer, patience and poise. The LORD has blessed me in sooooooooo many ways ... I cannot tell it all? Yet, I'm convinced my best season is yet to come! Remember- no matter what season you are in right now- Spring? Summer? Winter? Or Fall? ... GOD is in control of every season. Safe in CHRIST, Sherman J. Fort, Servant of JESUS CHRIST

IT'S BEEN A WHILE!

Since the last time the Canaan Missionary Baptist church website was updated- and the button connecting the website to this bog was not included- I have not written any blogs.

It's been a while and much has taken place.

In addition to personal growth and development The LORD Jesus Christ has blessed me with opportunities to declare His Word at a variety of places to include Pastor Appreciation service, church anniversary celebrations and even an opportunity to preach in Nottinghamshire England while attending the Proclaimers Place Oxford 2011 conference with the inimitable Dr. Joel C. Gregory.

As I write this blog I am at the Holiday Inn Express in Sierra Vista Arizona with my wife Angela and our youngest daughter Kennedi. We're here in celebration of the pastor and wife appreciation weekend honoring Rev. Shawn L. Buckhanan and his wife Roslyn. Angela has been asked to speak this evening and I've been asked to speak tomorrow. The weekend will close out with the one and only Rev. D. Previn Carr, pastor of Ekklesia Christian Church in north Phoenix preaching on Sunday.

Thank you LORD for your lovingkindness and tender mercies toward all of us.

Pray for me. I'm praying with and for you.

safe in CHRIST,
Sherman J. Fort

EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES!

"For I know the plans I have for you says The LORD ..."
-Jeremiah 29:11

I'm in the midst of being RE-ENERGIZED" for ministry. My focus is becoming clearer and I'm counting the cost of discipleship in a fresh way.

Look for some CHRIST-centered, Bible regulated, HOLY SPIRIT led and very basic things from Pastor Fort and Canaan Missionary Baptist church in the near future.

Pray for me. I'm praying with and for you.

safe in CHRIST,
pastor fort

Holy Harmony and Biblical Balance #2

I haven't written much on my blog in some time. And even now as I write this short piece I'm immediately reminded that this subject matter is one I've visited before.

In recent weeks as in in recent years, The LORD has been unusually kind to me in that He has allowed me to receive invitations to preach or teach at a number of places for various occasions.

That said, I am reminded of the fact that every invitation we receive to do whatever it is we are called and commissioned by The LORD to do is not for us to take. In truth each invitation should be prayed over and we should receive clearance from The LORD before we say "yes". In the last month I initially accepted two invitations only to later pull out of each invitation due to circumstances. I think I knew I had no business saying "yes" in the first place ... but I did. And they were so called "good" invitations too.

But you know what? No invitation is a "good" invitation if that invitation is not intended for you. We can get in our own way, get in God's way and get in another believer's way when we accept invitations we should not take.

Finally, I want to say something about balance and harmony- about putting first things first. I'm reading a book now, recommended to me by another pastor titled: "Leading On Empty" by Wayne Cordeiro. It's a good book that speaks about the need to prioritize our lives.

This is the piece I blogged about before. And for the record I'm still working on it. Wayne Cordeiro writes that most of what we do can be done by other people. He goes on to say that we need to focus on the five percent that matters most. These are the things that only we can do.

Among the five percent is the development of our personal relationship with Jesus Christ

Are you focusing on the five percent?

Have a harmonious and balanced night. Have a holy and Bible-based night.

Remember to: KNOW CHRIST AND MAKE HIM KNOWN ... today!

safe in CHRIST,
sherman j. fort

LORD HAVE MERCY!

It's been a good while since I last shared anything on my blog.

That said, I'll keep it short today.

Osama Bin-Laden is dead. Mubarak is out as the leader of Egypt. Many in Lybia want their leader Moamar Ghadafi out. Thus there's an internal war going on right now. There's unrest on the continent of Asia. There is craziness right here in America.

Jesus is coming soon!

Are you ready? If not, you can be right now! Place your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD! Do it today.

agape,
pastor fort