Stop Chasing Fleas and Dead Dogs

What are you pursuing this year?  What do you have in your sites to achieve?  Set your heart on something worthy of your time, talent, and treasure.  In 1 Samuel 24:14, Saul was jealous of David and hoped to kill him.  David asked Saul what he was pursuing.  He told Saul that pursuing him was like chasing a dead dog or a flea.  Don't waste your efforts on chasing less-than-worthy goals this year.  Aim high!  You matter and you have something to contribute.  Go Big!

When Church Services Are Cancelled

Church Service Announcement

To those whose church services are cancelled due to the weather (or any reason)-
Please remember that the expenses of the local church continue even when a service is cancelled and no congregation gathers and gives tithes and offerings to meet the financial needs of the church.  Consider mailing your financial contributions ASAP so deposits can be made and bills can be paid in a timely manner. If your church website allows online giving, consider giving in that way.  If you cannot give online or mail your contribution, when you go to church the next Sunday, be certain to contribute what you should give that day along with what you would have given on the day of the cancelled service(s).  Missing part or all of a week's income would affect any family.  Those who are committed to the Biblical principle of supporting the local church with tithes and offerings will give in support of the church even when services have to be cancelled or we are absent because of other reasons, including vacations.

 

Deuteronomy 2:7

“…these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee;
thou hast lacked nothing.”

A sixteen-year-old teenager in August 1976 was fighting for a starting position on his high school football team in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  The fact that the young man had lettered as a sophomore meant nothing going into his junior year as two new coaches, the head coach and the defensive line coach, were taking over the helm, having just arrived from Texas.  The young man needed to impress the new coaches as being tough, physically and mentally.  Imagine how the defensive down lineman-want-to-be felt within the first few days of practice nervously going to the new coach and saying, “I need to leave practice early next Wednesday.  I’ve been called to preach and the pastor has asked me to preach my first sermon at our church.”  I was the teenager, Coy Stewart and Don Gibson were the head and defensive coaches, respectively, and Reverend Curtis White was the pastor.  God brought these men and others, alongside my father, D. Dwight Snider, the greatest man I’ve ever known, to assist him in shaping me into the man I am today.

Recently while packing for the relocation of my residence and ministry office, I discovered the hand-written outline on ruled paper used for that first sermon in August 1976.  I preached on the subject of obedience, beginning a journey on a path that would direct the rest of my life.  When perusing through my Dad’s desk after he went to Heaven on August 11, 2012, I noticed a newspaper article and picture he had cut from the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise showcasing my desire to join sports and ministry together in my future career.  Eventually after not being awarded a football scholarship to play for a state university in Oklahoma due to NCAA sanctions, I chose to attend Oral Roberts University to prepare for a life in ministry and walked away from playing the game of football.  Though I’ve wondered a few times what my life would look like had I taken a different path, I’ve never looked back and wished I had.

In Spring of 1977, I received an entry level credential, a Mission Worker’s License, from the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC).  Two months later, seven men, Archie Beller, Ed Philpot, Del Hunnicutt, Melvin Garrison, Dan Beller, Don Reed, and Glen Eaves, who served as credentials examination committee, granted me an IPHC Minister’s License.  Reverend H. Bob Woodward, who would become my father-in-law, regularly provided opportunity for me to gain pulpit experience.  Waiting the customary two years, I was awarded my ordination certificate in June 1979, two weeks after marrying the young lady who had won my heart and would be my life partner and dearest friend, Teresa.

Nine months into our marriage, Teresa and I quit our jobs and accepted a pastoral assignment to a church.  She was eighteen; I was twenty.  Together, we have provided senior pastoral care and leadership for four congregations, served in denominational leadership, founded a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation, and have done the work of a full-time evangelist for about nineteen years.  In 1984, my son, Jared, was born and joined our team.  He gave us a daughter named Lindsey when he married her in 2010.  Their children, Brooklyn and Jackson, provide immeasurable joy and delight to their Papa and Mimi.

The Bible teaches that a man’s gifts will provide a place for him to use them and bring him into the presence of great people.  During the past forty years, I have been blessed with great colleagues, faithful supporters, and dear friends.  Being part of such a wonderful collegium of fellow servants of the Lord Jesus Christ offers camaraderie like no other.  Having the support of family members, business people, and others who believe in me is very humbling and a great honor.  Sharing life with my friends generates tremendous gratitude to God for allowing me to walk beside men and women who know me and love me.

It is my pleasure to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I rejoice in each person who has placed faith in Him for salvation, in every believer who has been blessed in some way, and in the honor of being identified with Him and His Kingdom.  He called me to preach the gospel and has been faithful to make provision for me to do the Lord’s work for four decades.  I desire to live for Him in such a way that, from the platform of my changed life, I can tell the world that Jesus saves and His blood washes whiter than snow.  

I haven't changed my mind about serving Him and I don't regret a mile I've traveled for the Lord.

The Top 10 Reasons Why I Believe the Church Will Prevail

Much is said about the church in today’s world.  Jesus declared in Matthew chapter 16, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  The church is both inclusive and inclusive.  It includes everyone who places their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation and excludes everyone who does not.  Whosoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.  With all of its challenges and victories, shortcomings and accomplishments, strengths and weaknesses, etc., I am glad to be part of Christ’s Church.  The Church will neither be destroyed by outside forces nor self-destruct from within.  Christ will always have a Church.  Here are The Top 10 Reasons Why I Believe the Church Will Prevail.

10.  The Church belongs to God.

Acts 20:28 teaches that Christ purchased the church with his own blood.  We who are saved are the ecclesia, the called out ones.  He has separated us unto himself.  We are his and only his.

9.  The foundation of The Church is Jesus Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 3:11, the Apostle Paul writes to say there is no other foundation than Jesus.  The stone that was rejected by the builders is now the chief cornerstone.

8.  The Church is not of this world.

Jesus speaks to the Jews in John 8:23 saying, “I am from above.  I am not of this world.”  Elsewhere we read that this world will pass away but, Jesus tells Pontius Pilate in John 18:36 that his kingdom is not of this world.

7.  Christ is interceding for The Church.

According to Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25, Christ is “at the right hand of God” and “ever liveth to make intercession” for us.

6.  The Holy Spirit is working in The Church.

He bears witness to our spiritual adoption.  He leads us into truth.  He empowers us to witness about Jesus.  He directs our leadership.  He anoints our ministries.

5.  God has a plan for The Church.

Jeremiah speaks for God in chapter 29, verse 11 saying, “I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

4.  The world needs to hear the message entrusted to The Church.

Jesus instructs his followers to go into the whole world and preach the gospel to everyone.  From the platform of our changed lives, we must tell the world that Jesus saves and his blood washes whiter than snow.  We must proclaim the whole counsel of God.

3.  Saints, past and present, have prayed for The Church.

Whether in corporate gatherings in church facilities, smaller meetings in people’s homes, or in secluded places scattered around the globe, the people who are called by His name spend time in intercession for the work of God around the world to prosper.  Old and young, educated and unlearned, male and female, light skinned and dark skinned, people bathe the work of the Lord in prayer that it will spread to every group of people and bring to bear Christ’s gospel upon every culture in every place.

2.  The Church has tremendous resources.

Our human resources include people with various passions, skills, and desires to make a difference in others’ lives and bring the blessings of God to them.  Our financial resources are without limit because God will supply all our need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

1.  Christians believe in The Church.

The Church is the body of Christ.  Believers are committed to Christ and to each other.  To adapt the words of a young African pastor:  We are part of the fellowship of the unashamed.  We have Holy Spirit power.  The die is cast.  We have stepped over the line.  The decision has been made.  We are disciples of Christ.  We won’t look back, let up, slow down back away or be still.  Our past is redeemed.  Our present makes sense.  Our future is secure.  We are finished with low living. Sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.  We no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, plaudits, or popularity.  We don’t have to be right, first, top, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.  We live by faith, lean on his presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer and labor by love.  Our face is set, our gait is fast, our goal is Heaven, our road is narrow, our way is rough, our companions are few, our guide is reliable, our mission is clear.  We cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed.  We will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.  We won’t give up, shut up, or let up, until we have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.  We are disciples of Jesus.  We must go ‘til he comes, give ‘til we drop, preach ‘til all know, and work ‘til he stops us.  And, when he comes for his own, he will have no problem recognizing us.  We are his Church!

Dealing With Holiday Stress

Luke 10:38-42 ³⁸ Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

On the Sunday before Christmas, a little boy and girl were singing their favorite carol, Silent Night.  The boy concluded the song with the words, “sleep in Heavenly beans.”  The girl elbowed him and said, “Not beans, peas.”  For many, the song may as well end with beans or peas because, for them, the Christmas season doesn’t end with peace.  In the passage above, we learn that Martha was experiencing stress.  She was distracted, anxious, and troubled. 

Some holiday stress creators include shopping for gifts, attending holiday parties, putting up decorations, cooking, wrapping gifts, fighting traffic, funding the holiday budget, gathering with family members without offending other family members, gaining weight, sending Christmas cards, hearing “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”, and so many more. 

Everyone experiences some degree of stress.  Stress can result from feeling annoyed, threatened, pressured, excited, scared, worried, hurried, angered, frustrated, or criticized, etc.  Think about a rubber band for a moment.  It can be stretched and then it returns to normal when the external force is removed.  If stretched for a long time, it can lose its elasticity and will eventually snap. 

Stress can cause headaches, stiffness in the neck, shoulders, jaws, arms, legs, hands, irregular heartbeats, dizziness, indigestion, nausea, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, waking up tired, anger, irritability, and a myriad of other negative issues. 

Martha became distracted with much serving.  We, too, can get distracted by the things we feel are seemingly necessary.  It is easy to miss out on the “one thing” that “is necessary” by making priorities of some things that don’t deserve priority.  Martha was serving.  Mary was worshiping.  Martha was distracted.  Mary was focused.  Martha was worried.  Mary was contented.

Mary realized the most important thing was to spend time with Jesus.  Preparation for an event is not to be compared with spending time in the presence of Him Who is the central figure of the event.  She chose the “one thing” that was most important and it could not be taken away from her.  Parties come and go but spending time with Jesus is life-changing.  We must never get so busy during the holidays that we neglect the quiet and peaceful worship of, and fellowship with, our Lord Jesus.

To deal with holiday stress, consider this:

1) Understand what Christmas is really all about. 
 2) Plan ahead. 
 3) Let others help. 
 4) Lighten your calendar.  Remember, some things and events are optional. 
 5) Stick with your budget. 
 6) Put priority on your most significant relationships:  Christ, spouse, family, closest friends.

On the night Jesus was born, Angels sang “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  During this Christmas season, may each of us choose to spend time with Jesus, the Son of God, Who came to save us from our sin.  Don’t allow the celebration of the most peace-filled night in history to become the most stress-filled time of the year.

Silent night! Holy night!

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and Child.

Holy Infant, so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace;

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night! Holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight!

Glories stream from heaven afar;

Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia!

Christ, the Savior, is born!

Christ, the Savior, is born!

Silent night! Holy night!

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face,

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth;

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

For Whom are You Thankful? Who Is Thankful For You?

Romans 1:8 (KJV) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Philippians 1:3 (KJV) I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

1 Thessalonians 1:2 (KJV) We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

2 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV) We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

Philemon 1:4 (KJV) I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

It is the season to give thanks.  We do well to remember those for whom we are thankful and be a person for whom others are thankful.  May each of us live in such a way as to bless others.  May we make someone’s burden lighter.  May we touch someone so deeply that he or she senses the hand of our Lord Jesus at work within.  May we cause someone to feel loved and accepted unconditionally.  May we bring cheer and happiness to those around us.  May those we love never feel alone.

Teresa and I give thanks for our family and friends, especially those who stand by our side as we do the work of an evangelist.  These people are to us as Aaron and Hur were to the prophet Moses, holding up our hands as we endeavor to provide leadership and ministry with the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

First, we are thankful for those who pray for our ministry.  This prayer covering shields us from the attack of the enemy.  He attacks but he cannot defeat us.  He may knock us down but he cannot knock us out.  He is bound in failure because of Him to Whom our family and friends pray for our protection and success.  Prayer brings good to us rather than the evil that the enemy intended.  Recently, a man told me the Lord had revealed things to him about an experience in my life and ministry.  He said the Lord has set me free and is launching me into a greater ministry than I have ever known.  What a Word from the Lord!  May it be so!  I believe I am seeing this Word fulfilled.  God is raising up people who pray for us and our ministry each day.  We are thankful.

Second, we are thankful for those who promote our ministry.  Since March 2015, we have been honored to operate with the designation from Evangelism USA as National Evangelist of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC).  It is my understanding that Teresa and I are the first itinerant evangelistic ministry to have this official designation, though the IPHC has been blessed with countless numbers of powerfully anointed evangelistic teams through the years.  We are grateful to the leadership of the IPHC on every level; general, conference, and local.  The IPHC General Officials encourage us through their lives and ministry.  The Conference Superintendents and Evangelism Directors who use us and encourage their pastors to invite us to minister in revivals, retreats, camp meetings, and special services help to open doors of opportunity for us.  Pastors, whose invitations allow us to minister in local churches, give us a place to utilize our abilities and exercise our spiritual gifts. 

People who log on to www.micksnider.org or LIKE the Mick Snider Ministries Facebook page and LIKE and SHARE posts from it or our personal Facebook pages help us reach more people with the message of Jesus Christ.  Each LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT is a blessing to us and others.  We are thankful.

Third, we are thankful for those who provide for our ministry.  Since 1979 when Teresa and I left our employment as a therapist in a chiropractic practice and a steelworker, respectively, we have been in full-time ministry.  God, through the generosity of people, has provided for and met every need we have had.  As an evangelist, we have no set minimum fee for our services.  Some have asked if being the National Evangelist for the IPHC means that the denomination arranges my ministry schedule and financially underwrites my ministry.  The answer to both questions is no.  We operate completely by faith.  Admittedly, this means we experience times of sufficiency and shortfall. 

Most revival meetings run Sunday through Wednesday, five services.  In general, a full-time evangelist is able, at the most, to conduct about forty weeks of meetings each year due to the church calendar being affected with holidays, vacation seasons, Conference events, and other church events, etc., all of which prevent a local church from scheduling an evangelist for a revival.  This means the evangelist has about twelve weeks each year as down time with no income.  While the people in each local church do their best to provide a meaningful offering, the churches cannot offset a full fiscal quarter of no income for an evangelist.  God is touching the hearts of congregations, individuals, families, and business owners and using them to provide financial support each month to help offset the shortfall.  The regular and faithful giving of churches and our ministry partners makes it possible for Teresa and me to do what we do. 

Prayer support can be given on a 24/7 basis.  Financial support can be given in a couple of ways.  The quickest way to get funds to us is to write a check payable  and send to Mick Snider Ministries, Inc., 6809 S 1^ST Street, Broken Arrow, OK, 74011.  Because Mick Snider Ministries, Inc. is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation, we provide a letter of thanks and acknowledgement to assist donors with their tax returns.  Another way to help fund this ministry (this may take about three months for the funds to arrive in our office) is to give through a local IPHC congregation or write a check payable and send to Evangelism USA, P.O. Box 270420, OKC, OK, 73137.  NOTE:  Giving through the IPHC must be marked with the account #03129PxMSnider. 

The generosity of God and those He uses to support Mick Snider Ministries, Inc. provides the funds necessary for our personal needs and those of the ministry.  Each church that assists with the expenses of airfare, car rental, lodging, meals, etc. blesses our ministry immeasurably.  The individuals and businesses who partner with us are of inestimable value.  We could not fulfill our mission without the faithful support of our family, friends, and partners.  We are grateful.

So, if you ever wonder if anyone is thankful for you, the answer is a resounding YES!  We who minister under the name Mick Snider Ministries and those to whom we minister are thankful for you.  We are grateful.