Archive for the ‘Leadership’ Category
Once The Seal Is Broken
Once The Seal Is Broken
Jams and jellies are a necessity in my home. I love them. I like jam on toast, and a big gob on each half of my biscuit. I even have been known to spread jam on my pancakes. I have many memories of my mother making dozens of jars of preserves and jellies each year. My daughter, Marisa Hartzell carries on the family tradition and her jams and jellies taste every bit as wonderful as my Mother’s. I am blessed.
One common practice in my Mom’s canning was the use of paraffin. Once the jam in the jar was ready, she poured melted paraffin on top of the jam. The paraffin would make a seal about a quarter of an inch thick or more. When the wax was cool and the jar sealed, a lid was tightly screwed into place.
Later, when we needed jam, the paraffin seal was broken. The contents of the jar immediately became subject to spoiling if not treated refrigerated properly. The seal was broken and could not be put back into place.
Kerr came out with a special two-part lid for the home-canner. When the contents of the jars are still hot, the rims were wiped clean, and flat Kerr lids were put into place.
As the jar cools, a vacuum is created and the lid is sucked tight onto the rim. The center of the lid is sunken; showing that the seal was successful. Tapping on the lid strikes a musical note only if sealed correctly.
Once the lid is pried off, safe food measures must be immediately taken because the seal cannot be put back into place. Food spoilage is a danger.
Eighteen wheel big rigs are often seen pulling a trailer with a metal seal or seals in the door latch. Something very important and valuable is inside. The owner is worried, that’s why he placed a seal upon the door. Every trucker knows that if that seal is broken, foul play is suspected. It can’t be restored. The seal is broken. Answers will be demanded. Explanations are in order and the contents of the whole trailer are subject to inventory.
What about the seal between the saint and their pastor?
Charlie was a sinner. He came to church, repented, got baptized and was filled with the Holy Ghost. Bro. Charlie did wonderful for 18 years. Then one day his son Josh rebelled and sinned. It caused quite a stir in the church. Several young people were involved. It became an issue that couldn’t be ignored or allow to continue. The pastor had to respond.
Bro. Charlie wasn’t happy with the pastor’s response to his son’s sinning in his preaching or in the counseling sessions. He got offended. He protected his son from the pulpit and eventually told his friends he wasn’t coming back. He didn’t, he changed churches.
In the next 15 years, Bro. Charlie went to at least eight different churches in almost that many states. He still feels saved, so does his son. His boy is now married to a Charismatic woman who cut her hair, wears slacks, and has lots of jewelry. She also talks in tongues.
Charlie wouldn’t take correction. He wouldn’t allow Josh to be corrected. He allowed the seal to be broken between himself and the man of God. Consequently, he has spent many years taking his soul in his own hands, and drifting from church to church. If he doesn’t like the pastor’s stand, on an issue, he moves on. The seal of a Pastor-Saint relationship is permanently missing in his heart.. He broke the seal. Not only him, but also his son has experienced the spoilage that only comes with broken seals.
Don’t ever allow the seal to be broken between you and your man of God. It may never be restored.
Jude 13 referred to those with broken seals as: ‘wandering stars.’
Never let the old flesh bring separation between your pastor and yourself. It is impossible to go back to a life of innocence. It’s impossible to replace that seal. Once you learn how to take your soul in your own hands and make your own life decisions, you can’t be pastored anymore.
Is your seal in place?
The Obed-Edom Interview
Several years ago, I heard one of the most amazing sermons I will ever hear in my life. It was Bro. Kenneth Bow’s sermon about Obed-Edom. It was anointed and unforgettable. His love for research and attention to historical facts makes this outstanding.
Please go to his blog and find the link or go to http://www.savecom.org/orderform.htm and get it for yourself. It will change your life.
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The Obed-Edom Interview
TBB: Welcome Obed-Edom, to The Ballestero Blog. I’m so glad you agreed to grant me a short interview today. I’m very honored to have you here. I know that you are a very busy man.
OE: I am pleased to be here. Thank you for the opportunity.
TBB: For the record, you are of the tribe of Levi, and of the family of Korhite. You’re also from Gath-Rimmon if I remember. That makes you a Gittite?
OE: That’s true.
TBB: And let’s see here…you and your wife have 8 sons?
OE: That we do, counting my sons and grandsons, there are 62 men in my family. It’s never quiet at my house.
TBB: Whew. I can imagine. Tell me, what’s a day like in the life of Obed-Edom?
OE: Well, the first thing every morning after daybreak, I get a report from my Gate Security Office concerning the activities of the past night. I report then to the King. At 9 am I go to Prayers every morning, then later in the day I have either choir practice or orchestra practice. I check on the Storehouse during the day also.
TBB: The Gate Security Office. That’s right, you are in charge of keeping the gates of the city of Jerusalem secure. Let’s talk about that first. So then, is Captain Obed-Edom your official title?
OE: (Nodding modestly) Don’t call me captain. My guards do that out of respect. My friends just call me by my name.
TBB: How many men do you command as the Keeper of the Gate?
OE: Right now, about 1,000. My sons and grandsons included. I might add that we also are in charge of the storehouse as well.
TBB: Wow. The King must really trust you to commission you to this post.
OE: We’ve been friends for quite a while now. I’m honored to do everything I can for My God, my King and for Israel.
TBB: How long have you known King David?
OE: A long time. Remember when the King was transporting the Ark to the Tabernacle and there was a problem and Uzzah touched the Ark and he died because the Lord smote him?
TBB: Yes.
OE: I know it was the Lord that my house was close by, but it didn’t hurt that out of all the houses in the area, the King chose mine as the place to put the Ark. Our friendship, no doubt, helped make that choice easier. It may have made a few of my neighbors a little jealous though.
TBB: I’m sure. How long was the Ark in your home?
OE: About 3 months.
TBB: What was it like to have the Ark in your home?
OE: It was THE biggest Blessings of my life. When I say my home was Blessed, I mean Blessed with a capital B. My finances were blessed, my herds multiplied from that time on. Our health mysteriously improved over night. Everything I touched seemed to turn to gold. It’s never stopped.
TBB: How wonderful. You’re the only man in Israel that has had that honor.
OE: I know. I am thrilled that my house was home for the Ark of God, even for a brief time.
TBB: What was it like after the Ark was moved from your house to where it is now?
OE: I don’t know. I couldn’t bear the thoughts of staying in that house without the Ark in it. So I moved too.
TBB: You moved?
OE: Yes I did. After our home was blessed like it had been because of the Ark., my wife and I decided that wherever the Ark was, that’s where we wanted to be. So we moved here and bought a house just to be close by. Here, I can look in the direction of where the Ark sits and know I am close to His presence. There’s nothing like being in the presence of Jehovah. I wish everyone could have experienced that.
TBB: I do too. That’s amazing. You mentioned about choir practice and orchestra earlier. That’s because you are the worship leader?
OE: Actually Asaph is the Chief Musician and there are 68 others that do what I do. I’m just honored to be part of the worship. We all take turns. You might laugh at me, but after my experience with the Ark, I volunteer for every opening that Asaph has. I’m willing to be a singer or a musician. Sometimes I get the job, sometimes I don’t, but they can count on my name being on the list. I do my best to stay involved.
TBB: You have one of Israel’s greatest hero’s in your lineage. Samuel, the Prophet and Judge, is one of your ancestors!
OE: That’s true!
TBB: He’d sure be proud of you if he was alive today.
OE: That’s kind, thank you. I hope he would.
TBB: It’s common knowledge that King David is proud of you too and wrote Psalm 24 in your honor. That’s a very high honor.
OE: Yes it is. It is the highest of honors the King can bestow me. It is worth more to me than great riches. I am greatly honored by that and yet humbled as well.
TBB: Can you remember any of that Psalm offhand?
OE: I sure can:
“The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
“For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
“He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
“This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
“Lift up your head, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
TBB: That’s a beautiful Psalm. Every family has a skeleton in the closet or some dark family secret. I know you’re probably wishing I wouldn’t bring up yours, because I imagine it’s uncomfortable for you.
OE: No, actually I’m glad you did. It’s really Okay; I want to talk about it. I believe that event was what reshaped the future of our whole family.
TBB: We’re talking about Korah, your ancestor and what happened to him, Is that correct?
OE: Yes.
TBB: In respect of where you are now and the high stations your family now holds, how did you tell your sons about your family’s dark days?
OE: Well Korah, as you know, was a very prominent leader in our tribe when Israel was in the wilderness. He was quite influential as well. I just hate it that he let pride and ambition get in his heart and got crossed up with Moses and Aaron. He was wrong. His thinking led him into rebellion. His actions invited the wrath of Jehovah.
TBB: I remember the Rabbi reading about the ground opening up and swallowing the rebellious men, and fire coming out of heaven. Then there was that plague that came because some sympathizers accused Moses of getting the people of God killed. 14,000 of them died in that plague. When I first heard the story, I thought the sons on Korah perished along with their father.
OE: Those living a home did, but not all. Some of Korah’s sons were married and living in their own homes when judgment fell. They loved their father, but they did not join him in his rebellion. Our family has handed down the story that when they saw they’re lives were spared; they fell on their faces and prayed. From that time on, all the sons of Korah have been extremely careful about our attitude concerning the House of God and the man of God. We have all been very respectful of our leader and submit ourselves to him. We refuse to let God have a problem with us again. We are thankful God doesn’t hold the sins for our father’s against us. I stress the importance of the fear of God and respect for God’s man to my sons lest history should repeat itself.
TBB: An amazing story. Your life lessons to your sons are extremely powerful as well. You mentioned the sons of Korah. Word on the street is that when King David fled from Absalom and went into hiding, the sons of Korah went with him to protect him. Do you know anything about that?
OE: I’ve heard that too.
TBB: There are a number of Psalms that are written just for your family to sing. That’s a very special honor. Since that includes you, maybe you could share your thoughts on a few of them or at least tell us about them.
OE: Thank you, it would be my pleasure. Well, the first one that comes to mind is the one that starts out… “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”
That’s from Psalms 42. I love that one. That’s how I feel. I cry sometimes when we sing Psalms 43 and it gets to the part where it says: “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
When I sing those words, the memory of my family’s dark past comes to mind. Then I see that God has blessed me more than anyone. I just can’t keep quiet about it.
TBB: That’s beautiful.
OE: Psalm 46 starts out with: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
I need to sing that song some days. Then there are other days we feel like dancing while we’re singing. See if you remember this one from Psalm 47. “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”
I really love that one. The last one I’m going to talk about is one I can’t just quote. Would you mind if I sing a few lines?
TBB: Please do. I would love it.
OE: If you know what’s happened to my family, then maybe you can understand why I love to sing Psalms 84.
TBB: Sing it.
OE: “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
“My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
“Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.
“Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.”
TBB: Thank you for that. You have a beautiful voice.
OE: Every time I sing that last line, I am reminded how blessed I am to be close to the House of God. I thank Him everyday.
TBB: I’m about out of time. What word of wisdom or advice can you give me before you go?
OE: I’ve been honored to be here. Thank you for giving me a chance to speak about my passion. As far as imparting any wisdom to you, I can’t do much better than this. This one is from the 88th Psalm, which is another one written just for the sons of Korah to sing.
“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
“I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
“For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.”
We must walk in truth, fear God, praise Him with all of our hearts, and then God will find a way to deliver us and to bless us. That about sums it up for me.
TBB: That it does. It sums it up for me too. Thank you for coming and God bless you.
What’s Going To Happen To Your Mantle?
What’s Going To Happen To Your Mantle?
As a father and a grandfather, it becomes easy for me to see the importance of imparting things both natural and spiritual to my children and grandchildren.
It is important in my mind that they all have the benefit of learning from my mistakes and life experiences. It’s not right that I should make them start where I started. I want them to be able to start where I finished. After all, I had help. I want to boost them as high as I can and then let them build on from there.
Look at these Bible characters. One Prophet passed his mantle, one didn’t. To a Prophet, his mantle was an important and powerful symbol.
Elijah:
1. Cast his mantle on Elisha as he passed by as an invitation to join him in ministry.
- 1Kings 19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
2. Used it to perform miracles.
- 2Kings 2:8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
3. Left his mantle behind as a gift to his protégé.
- 2Kings 2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
- 2Kings 2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
That is the story we love to preach about. The power packed lives and ministries of those men are not easily forgotten. They impacted their generations.
Samuel:
Where would you have to go to find a better example of what a Prophet should be?
Yet his sons were wicked. They had not learned to love the things of God as had Samuel. Regardless, he promoted them and appointed them judges even though God had not sanctioned them.
- 1Sam. 8:1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
- 1Sam. 8:2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.
- 1Sam. 8:3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
In King Saul’s final hours he visits the witch of Endor. The Prophet Samuel has died. Saul has no direction. God has ignored him. He asks the witch to bring up Samuel so he can talk to him.
- 1Sam. 28:11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
- 1Sam. 28:12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
- 1Sam. 28:13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
- 1Sam. 28:14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
Samuel died still in possession of his mantle.
I wonder how different some chapters would have read if his mantle had been passed on.
Don’t die still wrapped up in your mantle. Take the time to invest yourself in the following generations.
- Don’t get too possessive of your mantle!
- Someone else really needs you to give it to them.
- There’s still much work to be done in God’s Kingdom.
What’s Going To Happen To Your Mantle?
The Star Search In Pentecost
The Star Search Of Pentecost
Today’s Christianity is sadly becoming more and more about personalities than about the Savior. The focus of some seems to be about making money and a name for themselves.
Mr. Bill Breen wrote an impressive article on leadership. Part of which, I wish to share here. In this excerpt Breen explains that the head of the Caterpillar Company never promoted himself, just his company.
The Three Ways of Great Leaders
By Bill Breen
The Leader as Manager: Louis B. Neumiller
“Whereas entrepreneurs are company creators and charismatic leaders are agents of change, managers are value maximizers — they make the most out of 
something that already exists. Such is the case with Louis B. Neumiller, who rose through the ranks of Caterpillar and became its chief executive in 1941. Two months later, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Just as C.W. Post used changing demographics to launch the cereal industry, Neumiller seized on the massive geopolitical event that was World War II to build Caterpillar into a global organization.
Neumiller really didn’t build anything new. By the end of his era, Caterpillar’s product portfolio didn’t look all that radically different. What changed was the corporation’s scale and scope. Neumiller capitalized on the war effort and then the rebuilding effort to transform Caterpillar into a global giant. And like all great managers, he took his identity out of the business — he let his company become a hero instead of himself.”
http://www.fastcompany.com/node/54065/print
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Harvard Business School wrote:
“Under Neumiller’s “”home-town-boy”” leadership style, Caterpillar’s revenues grew from over $100 million in 1941 to $827 million in 1963, prospering through World War II and the global post-war boom. Neumiller built the Caterpillar brand into a common worldwide name, developing only the highest quality products, and expanding Caterpillar’s dealer network to include 258 dealers with as many employees as Caterpillar itself.”
http://www.hbs.edu/leadership/database/leaders/louis_b_neumiller.html
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† John never allowed himself to be looked at as a hero, although thousands followed his teaching.
He refused to allow his ministry to point arrows towards himself, but rather let his words be arrows pointing towards the Lamb of God.
- John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
† Paul had to deal with hero worship issues in the minds of saints nearly 2,000 years ago. (It’s nothing new.)
- 1Cor. 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
- 1Cor. 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Paul had to remind the Corinthians that they were wrong in focusing on personalities and not on Christ.
I detest the spirit that seeks to promote itself, and then encourages others to join their self made fan club.
† Even Jesus was careful about how He approached the ministry that was before him.
- Phil. 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
My Father taught me that if you have a gift, it will make room for you, don’t make room for your gift. It still makes sense to me today.
While I thank God for the gifts of music and ministry in these last days, Pentecost doesn’t need to run after stars, superheroes and holy action figures. Are we promoting the Kingdom or ourselves?
This life we’re living is not about us. It’s ALL about Him! We need another revelation of that.
If there is ever a ‘star’ search in our ranks, let it be the same search the 3 wise men had. I know where that search will end.
There’s Only Two Biblical Pastoring Styles Mentioned!
There’s Only Two Biblical Examples Of Pastoring Styles Mentioned!
Ezra – He sat down and pulled his hair. It took him 25 years to get his goals accomplished.
- Ezra 9:3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
Nehemiah – He pulled their hair and got his goal accomplished in 52 days.
- Nehemiah 13:25 I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God’s name and said:
(I ain’t saying nothing else!)
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
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