Feeling Empowered

Thanks for the insight.

By His grace....By His grace...
http://speakingonit.com/forum/forum_topics.as...

veman96054 wrote:

Why not just go directly to the hall, hire a Justice of the Peace to come there, save transportation costs. Universalist churches is where people of different faiths go. And try the Campus ministers.
Do you really need marital classes. I personally am offended by the idea.
Did you try explaining to another AME church why you do not want Jamal to marry you.
Try AC Vaughn or Walter Thomas directly. They know the saga very well, maybe they will marry you.

Been married 25 years still happy went to city hall

The Truth wrote:

You are correct! I would just go to the Justice of the Peace and have a nice reception. We have to put our eyes on GOD and not man. There have been so many Pastors that have been involved in things over the years that it will be hard to find someone to marry you that does not have a pass. Not too long ago there were rumors about Walter Thomas but you see that died down and look at where he has taken his ministry. He dealt with his issue and moved on. Yes people talked and yes people left but he has one of the strongest ministries and saved many lives. We have to stop condeming and do more praying for these Pastors. The problem with the mega churches is they are televised and known throughout the world. Soooooo many Pastors are going through the same issues as Jamal but you dont hear about it because they are not in the limelight. That is just the nature of the beast. We are not Pastors but think about how many persons file for divorce each day????? What are we saying about them? I never understood counseling in churches because they have individuals teaching the classes that are gay, never been married, some married, some divorced and so on and so on. Let GOD fight this battle its not ours. Know your mate and make sure you both are saved and filed with the holy ghost! I would recommend going to a certified marriage couselor if you are not comfortable with your chruch. I also would recommend that you pray to GOD and ask HIM where you should be spirtually. HE will give you your answers before any man of the cross! <quoted text>

Those were some quiet rumors. What were they?

Ihave known him for years. He was Asst Pastor at the church I grew up in.

If you havent heard them then it is better not to bring them up. It wasnt quiet back in the day but maybe you were young and wouldnt have understood. Just know that all the mega churches have had their exposure as well. I love Bishop Thomas and what he is doing for the kingdom of GOD. His leadership program is awesome and look what his sons and daughters are doing through his teachings. Trust me JB is not the only one but he got caught with his hands in the cookie jar. Please keep praying for him!

veman96054 wrote:

<quoted text>
Those were some quiet rumors. What were they?
Ihave known him for years. He was Asst Pastor at the church I grew up in.

Thank you claris and derrick you told the God honest truth they want to highlight his sins because he is a pastor and they see what hes going throuhg but what abut you what about your life HE WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE

The Truth wrote:

If you havent heard them then it is better not to bring them up. It wasnt quiet back in the day but maybe you were young and wouldnt have understood. Just know that all the mega churches have had their exposure as well. I love Bishop Thomas and what he is doing for the kingdom of GOD. His leadership program is awesome and look what his sons and daughters are doing through his teachings. Trust me JB is not the only one but he got caught with his hands in the cookie jar. Please keep praying for him! <quoted text>

to bad. I respect Walter.

Assuming it was in the internet age, it is a testament to his standing that I did not hear about it.

As I said, I have known him for years. I am sure if it was largely talked about I would have heard about it.

AS you can tell, I remember a lot of the scandal. So it must not have been to scandal

As I stated before...he is the most respectable Bishop we have in Baltimore. I say this to say that everyone has made mistake and has things from the past that can be used against you. JB is one of them and he will get through this situation as so many other Pastors have done. GOD Bless You! Be encouraged!

veman96054 wrote:

<quoted text>
to bad. I respect Walter.
Assuming it was in the internet age, it is a testament to his standing that I did not hear about it.
As I said, I have known him for years. I am sure if it was largely talked about I would have heard about it.
AS you can tell, I remember a lot of the scandal. So it must not have been to scandal

Has Baltimore forgiven Bishop-Elect David Brown of his past sins?

A Friend wrote:

Has Baltimore forgiven Bishop-Elect David Brown of his past sins?

Poor David

NOPE

Small congregation of like 50. Holding church in an office park in Owings Mills.

Funny thing, is at his height, he was subsidizing like 5 other churhces. Set up Zachary Timms in ORlando. Y'all know how that turned out.

5 of his top people are doing time for major financial scandals.

David Brown was an idiot, who preached the most assinine doctrine I ever heard. He was so pathetic

He took in $50,000 a week. What did he have to show for it nothing.

Him and his wife were renting houses. Buying clothes, and totally wasting money. He should have spent some going to college. At least he would have a fall back job.

Now poor boy is poor financially. I heard he was considering joing the other Pimps in Atlanta.

Please be quiet!! No one is trying to say that we are not without sin. However everyone is not professing to be "called" by God!! I am choosing a career not professing to be "called" by God. Yes, we all fall short, but his fall does not have to be and should not be that he is having relations with women other than his wife. He is the leader of 10,000 in Baltimore, a city where more than 70% of black males do not graduate from high school. If he can afford to drive a Bentley he can afford to get some help for his problems before continuing to exploit the people he says he's been "called" to help.

LOC -love of Christ wrote:

Thank you claris and derrick you told the God honest truth they want to highlight his sins because he is a pastor and they see what hes going throuhg but what abut you what about your life HE WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE

John 7:24 states this: Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously. People use scripture out of contents by making statements "They that is without sin", and "Judge not". Here in John 7:24 it clearly states that we can judge, but we must judge fairly and by what we know - NOT CONDEMING ANYONE, but we can judge. However, I Corinthians 11:31 also states for if we judge ourselves (keep ourselves in check following the word of God) then we would not be judge. If some of these so-called pastors studied this chapter and live according to the word of God then this world would not be in the perdicument that its in. Reading the scripture (a righteous man falleth 7 times) is not a pass to sin. God is calling for repentance in this hour, not for people to give sinners sympathy!

Sooooooooo true, I choose to pray for Pastors and Chritians world wide...when I look in the mirror, I find very little room for negative comments about any body.

Empowerment Temple Members,

I pray the Lord will convict your conscience to
repentance and bring you back into fellowship
by The Power of The Holy Spirit, in Jesus Name.

AMEN!
__________
CONVICTION

GEN 4:13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear.

DEU 28:65 Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place
for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind,
eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart.

66 You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and
day, never sure of your life.

67 In the morning you will say, "If only it were evening!" and in the
evening, "If only it were morning!"--because of the terror that will fill
your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see.

JOB 40:4 "I am unworthy--how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my
mouth.

5 I spoke once, but I have no answer-- twice, but I will say no more."

PSA 31:10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my
strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.

38:1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your
wrath.

2 For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me.

3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no
soundness because of my sin.

4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.

5 My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.

6 I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.

7 My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.

8 I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.

9 All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden
from you.

10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my
eyes.

11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors
stay far away.

12 Those who seek my life set their traps, those who would harm me talk of
my ruin; all day long they plot deception.

13 I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear, like a mute, who cannot open his
mouth;

14 I have become like a man who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no
reply.

15 I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, "Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my
foot slips."

17 For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

18 I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

19 Many are those who are my vigorous enemies; those who hate me without
reason are numerous.

20 Those who repay my good with evil slander me when I pursue what is
good.

21 O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.

22 Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according
to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your
sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you
judge.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be
whiter than snow.

Repent, Return To The Lord!

MALIK AL SAADAT wrote:

ALL THIS NONSENCE ABOUT JAMAL BRYANT IS PISSING ME OFF! THE THINGS BEING POSTED ONLINE ARE RIDICULOUS LIES!! JAMAL BRYANT NEVER STEPPED DOWN, HE WAS NOT HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH A 17 YEAR OLD AND HE IS NOT IN ANY FORM ROBBING THE CHURCH!!
I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF EMPOWERMENT TEMPLE SINCE THE CHURCHES FIRTS YEAR. I WAS A VOLUNTEER FOR 7 YEARS, I KNOW PEOPLE AT THE CHURCH AND I KNOW JAMAL PERSONALLY, SINCE I WAS ONE OF TEH FIRST VOLUNTEERS AT THE CHURCH BEFORE WE EVEN REACHED 2,000 MEMBERS!!
17 YEAR OLD AFFAIR
LIES, HE NEVER ADMITTED TO IT AND HE NEVER STEPPED DOWN! TURTHFULLY WHEN YOU HAVE A WIFE AS GOURGEOUS AS HIS WHY WOULD YOU NEED TO CHEAT!! AND HOLD YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT HIS WIFE BEING A GOLD DIGGER! SHE LETS THE ENTIRE CHURCH KNOW THAT ON THERE FIRST DATE SHE HAD TO PICK UP THE TAB BECAUSE HIS CREDIT CARDS WERE MAXED OUT!! SHE HAD MORE MONEY THAN HIM!!
ROBBING THE CHURCH
HES NOT ROBBING THE CHURCH! HE DOESNT EVEN DEAL WITH FINANCES, THE CHURCH EMPLOYEES ACCOUNTANTS TO HANDLE ITS MILLIONS. MONEY IS COUNTED IN A ROOM F 20 PEOPLE BEING WATCHED BY CHRUCH SECURITY AND CAMERAS! THE SAME WAY EVERY MAJOR CHURCH DOES IT! THEN THE MONEY IS TAKEN STRAIGHT TO THE BANK!! AND BEING WATCHED THE ENTIRE TIME BY AT LEAST 3 OF BALTIMORS CITIES FINEST!!!
HE BRIVES A BENTLEY
SO....WHAT PASTOR DOESNT??? HE HAS A CHURCH SALARY OF $70,000 DOLLARS...THIS IS NOT ENOUGH TO PAY FOR A BENTLEY AND A 3 MILLION DOLLAR HOME!! HE MAKES HIS MONEY OFF OF BUSINESS VENTURE SUCH AS BOOKS, TELVISION APPERANCES, AND RECEIVING OFFERINSG FROM OTHER CHURCHES AS A GUEST PASTOR. HES NOT DOING ANYTHING OTHER PASTORS ARENT DOING!!
DONT WORRY ABOUT THE PASTOR OF A CONGERGATION 15,000 STRONG DRIVING A BENTLEY.....TRUST ME WE TAKE CARE OF OUR PASTOR...BECAUSE HE GAVE UP A WELL PAYING JOB TO START A CHURCH OUT OF HIS OWN HOME..AND WITHIN 3 YEARS IT GREW TO A CONGREGATION OF 4,000 AND IT HASNT STOPPED SINCE!!
ALL I HAVE LEFT TO SAY IS THIS...GOD DOESNT LET FAKE PASTORS PROSPER SO DONT WORRY ABOUT THE FASTEST GROWING A.M.E CHURCH IN HISTORY!! WORRY ABOUT THESE RINKY DINK HOUSE CHURCHES THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTING A BUILDING FUND FOR 30 YEARS AND HAVENT BOUGHT A BUILDING YET!!! O YEAH AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT JAMAL....GODS BLESSING HIM AND HE LIVES A LAVISH LIFE BECAUSE HE DESERVES IT......STOP WORRYING ABOTU HOW ET MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND WORRY ABOUT THAT HOMOSEXUAL PASTORS OUT IN BALTIMORE COUNTY...IM NOT EVEN GONNA NAME NAMES!!!

The problem with what you're saying is that it's a complete contradiction to the biblical description of how Christians are to conduct themselves. Also, financial prosperity IS NOT proof that God is blessing a church. And here's another thought.....why is it that a church like this in one of the poorest cities in Baltimore is concerned about making sure their pastor is pimped out? That's rediculous! I'll bet your church is full of single mothers who are struggling just to keep the lights on. Yet they'll give this man money to make sure he looks good. PLEASE!!

I have read many of the comments posted. I am just hearing about what took place in Dr JHB's life. Granted that we all have our opinions about the whole matter, but the Bible says in Psalms 105:15; "...Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."
John 8:7 "...He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone..."
Isaiah 54:7 "...every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn."
I say all that to say, it is never a wise thing to speak bad against any Man or Woman of God. What ever sin he or she has commited they will be judged in the site of God.
WORD TO REMEMBER
Galatians 6:7-8
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

We must remember that Dr Bryant although he is a leader in the Church, he is also human and being human is to err. We are not perfect people we all make mistakes. The best thing that we can do for Dr Bryant is to pray for his deliverance because prayer does change things.

He is not a doctor. You have to graduate from an accredited university for that, not a diploma mill.