Steve Alessi: Author of Alessi’s Angle, Pastor of Metro Life Church in Miami, Husband of World Renown Worship Leader Mary Alessi and Father of Four. The Worst and The Best of Times
Though our government was doing its best to respond to the destruction caused by the storm, what most South Floridians recall is how neighbors reached out to help each other begin the rebuilding process. The instinct to survive gave way to a spirit of generosity and, what once was a cold and divided city, became a community of people whose spirit to work and fight through the insurmountable odds brought us all together through simple acts of kindness.
I can also remember the outpouring of help that came from people and organizations we had never known. Fortunately, our church at that time, Grace Church, only sustained damage to the roof and a few of its surrounding buildings, as the facility held its own through the damaging winds. Grace Church stood out as a lighthouse to the area and a beacon of hope and help. The generosity of the nation and ministries across America had semi-tractor trailers full of food, clothes, bedding, baby supplies, and batteries delivered to our front door, and every room in the church was filled to capacity. That in turn allowed us to care for those in our church family and the surrounding neighbors. We also became the drop-off and pick-up location for other churches which were providing much needed supplies to their members and communities.
Yes, Hurricane Andrew brought us the worst of times, but it also allowed us to experience the best of times, because we learned as a people that no matter how hard and difficult the storm is, together, we can get through it.
Our prayers go out to the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Right now, it seems as though this is the worst of times for the East Coast, but I've got a feeling that the generosity of America is about to show love and support for the region in a way that will help rebuild homes and businesses in order to restore lives. I know the churches in the region already are feeding, caring and providing support and aid, as they're postured to be a first responder in times like this, just like Grace Church did 20 years ago. And that's why we, at Metro Life Church, are already in contact with a few of our dear friends in ministry to see where we can help.
We can all help by praying and giving, and that's why this weekend at all of our MLC services we'll be having a time of prayer, and will be taking a special offering to help the victims of Sandy. Please join us in being a beacon of hope and help.
To donate, click on the photo above or CLICK HERE.
Better Than Fine Wine
Recently, I spent a few days with my wife in Napa Valley, California, celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. We had a wonderful time just kicking back and enjoying the serenity of the vineyards and beautiful mountains surrounding the region and, to our fortune, we visited during harvest season when the vines are filled with beautiful clusters of grapes, creating a lot of buzz and activity around town.
On one of our stops, we visited the Beaulieu Vineyards, which is one of my favorite Napa wines, and our host Peter gave us the grand tour. Along the way, we were inspecting the vines from the vineyard and learned that the region was perfect for wine production due to the little rain fall in the area. That in turn causes the roots of the vine to dig deep into the hard, rocky soil of the earth, and fight through drought-like conditions in order to find a water source. Naturally, one would think that the lack of water would cause the vines to die, but that's not the case. The opposite occurs, in that the lack of water doesn't kill the vines, but instead strengthens them by causing the roots to fight harder and go deeper in order to find a water source.
Meanwhile, the vinedresser is happy to let the roots of the vine do all the fighting because he's hoping the fight in the roots translates back into the grapes. So in winemaking, one of the keys to producing an excellent wine begins in the root's ability to fight through seemingly unbearable circumstances. The greater the fight of the vine, the sweeter the grape … and the sweeter the grape, the better the wine.
That right there should make you look at the things you're going through a little differently. Instead of dreading the fight and trying to pray away the hard times, be thankful for them and try to find out what they're producing in you. It's not time to give up or give in – it's time to keep fighting and digging deeper so that you can stand strong, endure the hard times, and succeed. You are going to win, as long as you don't quit in the fight. Sure, your enemy is banking on you throwing in the towel because that's the only way he'll win. But not now, not tomorrow, not ever. There's no quitting. This fight is producing greatness in you!
So the next time someone asks you how you're doing, just simply answer, "I'm doing better than fine wine!"
I enjoy hearing from you so let me know how you've been able to starve your doubts and feed your faith.
Video Blog -- Pastor Appreciation Weekend is Here!
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. --
1 Timothy 5:17 (NKJV)
How will YOU show DOUBLE HONOR to our great leaders, Pastor Steve and Pastor Mary? Share your thoughts and words of appreciation by commenting on today’s blog.
Audio Blog -- A Special Anniversary Greeting from Pastor Steve and Pastor Mary!
To listen, click on the picture to your left.
Don’t you feel incredibly blessed to have Pastor Steve and Mary at Metro Life Church?
Take this awesome opportunity to share your anniversary wishes for Pastor Steve and Mary by posting your comments!
Audio Blog -- Pastor Steve Speaks a Word on FEAR
FEAR – it’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of greatness. In today’s audio blog, Pastor Steve Alessi encourages YOU to step into your destiny. Put your trust in the Lord, and conquer your greatest fear – FACE it … and FIGHT it!To listen, click on the photo (left).
Has this audio blog sparked a desire to face and fight one of YOUR biggest fears? Share your story HERE so we can pray for you!
Mary's Reflection
Well, actually I'm more exhilarated about my life than ever. When Steve and I started contemplating stepping out and starting Metro Life Church, we had no way of knowing that we would be walking into an incredible season of our lives. It was scary and exciting all at the same time. The "should we or shouldn't we’s" quickly faded when God's voice became clear – all roads pointed in the "we have to" direction.
Although it has had its challenges, there's never been one day that we ever wondered if we'd made the right decision. God's grace reminded us that He had called us to pastoring; we hadn't called ourselves. We knew this because even when money was tight or when struggles came, we never asked what we were doing wrong. God kept us focused on the call.
Over the years people have asked us, "How did you know pastoring was for you?" and we would say, "It's a call you can't silence. If you don't do it, you know you're being disobedient."
Yes, there's a "knowing" but I would be lying to you if I told you Steve and I "just knew" and so, off we went to start a church. Yes, our spirits knew, but we also had a great desire to be faithful where we were. The reality was that God had to push us out. Working with family in ministry is a special calling all in its own. Steve's mom and dad had mentored us, cared for us and provided jobs for us. It would have caused great pain to just pick up roots and leave, in order to do what then would have been perceived as "our own thing."
I never understood that term anyway – "my own thing". Steve and I have never been on our own in anything. God will always use other people to help you fulfill what He's called you to fulfill. In our case it was a prophet, Kathy Lechner. Backing up just a little in this story, Steve and I battled with "the call" for three years before we moved forward. And then, a prophet came to our church and spoke a word that would change the course of history for our lives. Wait … what??? Thank you Jesus … this is it … the prophetic release! I just knew she was going to speak over our lives, the good news of “go start a church!” But, she didn't do that. No, she prophesied these words: "Steve and Mary, you've been faithful to this work and God sees it, but it's not time to go. You need to stay a little longer."
Now, most prophets I know prophesy big houses, lands, territories, ministries to thousands of people, fame, fortune … “go out from here” kind of prophecies. But not Kathy Lechner. No, she prophesied a word that would put our obedience level to the test – “Stay, not go." We had to trust her, but more importantly we had to trust that this was a word from God.
She also prophesied that even though we were battling infertility, we would have more children, with ease this time. No more struggling. Her exact words were, "You've prayed to get started; now you'll pray to stop!" Boy was she right on the money with that one! She was also correct about staying. We stayed for two more years and were so grateful that we did. When we finally stepped out to start Metro Life Church it was perfect timing. All roads led to … go. Leaving any sooner would have been detrimental in our new beginning. I'm sure of that.
Maybe today you're in a place where you need God to confirm His word to you, and you wish you had a prophet that would walk into your life and prophecy over you. Well, the powerful truth is that the prophet Jeremiah has already spoken a prophetic word for you.
My favorite verse of scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 – "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. To give you a hope and a future."
There it is. There's the word for you. Wait on Him and don't be in a hurry. Rushing into a new season isn't always the answer. Wait on Him and trust His timing for everything.
Why don't you take a moment right now, and let me know how has this spoken to you so that Steve and I can be praying for you.
UFO or GOD Encounter
I never really got into the whole aliens craze because I don't believe they exist and it seems like those who claim to have seen a UFO are people I don't think would be my friends. Mary says the real reason is because I'm a sissy and afraid. Whatever. All I can say is when I was in high school back in the '70's, I was not one of those standing in the long lines waiting to get into the UFO classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
From what I understand, the whole premise of the movie was based on system of classification started by an astronomer and UFO researcher, J. Allen Hyneck. Evidently, in UFO-ology, a close encounter is an event in which a person witnesses an unidentified flying object. Hyneck devised a classification for these sightings: First is the visual sightings of an unidentified flying object; second is the visual sightings plus physical effects on animate and inanimate objects; and third is the sightings of "occupants" in and around the UFO. (Really?) Can you guess what the fourth would be? You got it, abduction.
As odd as all this sounds to me, I'm fascinated that so much attention is given to this notion of humans having contact with an extraterrestrial being, yet when we speak of a person connecting with a loving God, the gloves come off and a fight ensues with an innuendo that's weird and claims of absurdity.
When I read stories in the Bible of people having an encounter with God, I'll admit that it can seem a bit odd. Yet, when I see the outcome of such events, I find those individuals have been impacted in a good way, which allows them to walk out their destiny, and at times even change the course of human history. And that makes me wish I had these characters in my friendship circle. Who wouldn't want a friend like David the Giant Killer, or Daniel the Lion Whisperer?
One story that really stands out to me is the encounter Moses has as an 80-year-old -- seemingly a washed up, wasting away fugitive tending to his father-in-law's sheep on the back side of a desert. He stumbles upon a bush that's on fire, and yet the bush isn't consumed. As he approaches the plant, suddenly a voice begins speaking to him out of the fire, and this encounter with God so radically changes him that he spends the next 40 years of his life leading millions of people out of slavery and into a national power house known as Israel.
Now you tell me, which classification of Hyneck's sightings system would you rank this encounter? From what I see it was definitely a four... abduction. And I would say it's the kind of encounter we all could use in life.
If you're ready for that kind of God encounter, then come join me tonight at Metro Life Church (www.metrolifechurch.com) as we kick off our 15th Anniversary Celebration Worship Encounter. For 15 years we've seen people's lives changed for the better. After all, having an encounter with the Almighty will have that affect on a person's life.
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