You know it is always amusing and aggravating at the same time whenever I mention that someone has possibly entered hell. The religious hate it, the grace-mongers who don’t really believe that God would send anyone to hell, and anyone whose conscious is pricked by the awful reality all feel like they need to write in comments to correct and rebuke “mean ol Joel”. (That has a nice ring to it doesn’t it?) It doesn’t matter if I predicate my assumption with a disclaimer like “yet without some supernatural intervention not known by the world” that clearly says it was possible that someone ministered the truth to him and he received without us knowing it publicly, people read what they want and assume that I have acted with God-like authority and doomed him to hell. All I can do is what Jesus said to do and look at the fruit of his life and learn from what could have been.
Is constant suspicion of homosexuality and pedophilia a fruit of righteousness? Is allowing people to worship you and receive glory from man a work of the Cross? Is living in sin and blatant blaspheme of the Lord Jesus a sign of a person redeemed? Let’s get even simpler…is someone who did not profess Jesus as His Lord & Savior and the Bible the Word of God a believer going to heaven? Is a man who is known for his breakout video (Thriller) that portrays him as a demon possessed maniac from hell someone who Jesus was waiting for at the gates of heaven? I not only think not, I KNOW not!
Don’t get me wrong, if he repented and called on the name of Jesus at any time the Lord would be faithful and just to forgive him. I don’t think you can do anything in this earth but NOT call on Jesus that would keep you from the loving arms of God. But you know what? I can say these statements of faith and Biblical foundation all day and people just can’t handle the truth and reality that people are dying and going to hell by the thousands and millions every week and yet many (not everyone) are more passionate about correcting me on a silly blog than going out and saving the lost from that awful reality of hell.
Like it or not, the whole hell thing was God’s idea and not mine. He promised it in His Book, not mine. We need to make sure that we don’t go there and do all we can to reach out to others headed there. And assuming all are not going there just means we shirk our responsibility of reaching out and helping them avoid that terrible place.
My purpose in this blog as a whole and this article is to be a prophetic voice of warning to young people who could easily be deceived or drawn into the cesspool of sin without clear direction and warning from a trumpet being sounded of righteousness and standard. I leave you with a verse from Jesus, the Judge of all mankind.
Matt. 24:9-14- Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be HATED all over the world because you are My followers. And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will DECEIVE many people. SIN WILL BE RAMPANT everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who ENDURES to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom WILL BE PREACHED throughout the whole world, so that all nations WILL hear it: and then the END will come.

Nothing could more picture the enemies desire to use someone for his evil purposes and then chew them up and spit them out (straight into hell) like the recent passing of superstar and world-known Michael Jackson. His bald, sickly frame was resting in a coffin and the world tried to regurgitate some good memories about this fallen star and yet without some supernatural intervention not known by the world he has entered the place of torment for the beginning of forever. What a sad picture!
The once self-proclaimed king of pop was once an icon like no other in whom women fainted and throngs adored. His sale of over 750 million albums shows that talent galore and dance moves for the ages doesn’t mean a hill of beans when faced with the realities of life, love, and eternity. Never finding true love, living in a constant cloud of suspicion over numerous bazaar habits, and destroying his body with more surgeries than we will ever know left the legacy of MJ more than tainted. All who look at this should remember that to be on the top means nothing in light of what really matters.
To me it all seems more than sad. Tragic doesn’t even begin to describe what was of a life lived in fame untold. Despite all his fame and riches he died like every other human will one day and passed through the portals of eternity to stand and give account before an Almighty God who desperately wanted to save him but if not called on could not.
In a day where celebrities are worshipped and then humiliated (see Brittany Spears) young people should be careful in their exaltation of anyone and even more leary of the desire to be lifted up in human glory.
Isa. 2:11-Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment.

The Lord told me to name our annual youth conf Unshakeable to celebrate the testimony of what God has done in my heart and life by the homegoing of my wife Amy. That work, which has transformed my walk with the Lord, has affected our whole ministry in a way that cannot be measured and is continuing to challenge us to new levels of divine faith in our Lord Jesus.
In fact, on the last night of the conf. (Thur night), I will be sharing a message with the title Unshakeable and sharing my journey since Amy’s passing and using it as a challenge for our 220i graduates and all attending the conf. You don’t want to miss it!
Today we have an example of how this message of unshakeable faith has greatly affected our ministry and particularly 220 and the North campus (where i preach most Sunday’s on faith!). One of my mighty men and senior level team members for 220 leadership Mario Spann celebrated the homegoing of his dear Mother early this Sat. morning. He has battled in faith for months with her health (she went on dialysis like me a few months back) and slipped into a coma about 10 days ago. He and all those around him have stood for her total healing in that time. It has been a great witness and encouragement to me and all who have seen this magnificent stand.
As humans we have so many questions that arise in our minds but the Word of God is the final answer for everything. Heb. 11 speaks of those who saw miraculous things while on earth and yet many others who died believing. There faith was just as important and even more rewarded eternally for believing God no matter what. That’s what faith really is! It’s not forming your opinion of God based on experience but on the Word of God. If you ask me today, “do you believe in divine healing?” I would say with more of an emphatic YES than ever! Our experience cannot dictate our belief. The Word must dictate our belief. I leave with you with 2 verses that say everything I am saying but with God’s authority.
Rom. 4:19-20: And Abraham’s faith did NOT weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead–and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew STRONGER, and in this he brought GLORY to God.
Ps. Unshakeable begins Tues night June 23rd at Bethany North 7pm. Come jump in and don’t miss a session. If you can’t be here order the dvd’s!

So the first night was crazy! The fire marshall said 914 max and we blasted that like a Tiger homerun! It was a blast of encouragement to see the vision coming to fruition and over 50 souls saved on the first night we were open. That’s what I’m talking about!!!
Fri. was our first full day open and several hundred kids came in and out of the doors. Hangin out, shootin ball, playin ping pong, and the favorite so far volleyball were all in full operation along with video games and concessions.
If your bored and need something to do, come and hang out with us. If your a parent and you need some time for yourself, drop off your teenagers and get some much needed time! For details go to 220power.com and see the link for Box details. Praise God!!!

Thur night the 4th of June will be the official launch of the 220 Box. What is the Box? It is a massive building that was originally a Compusa that shut down. Over 25000 sq. ft that we are turning into a massive hangout joint for young people with games, concessions, indoor volleyball, many other interesting things and an 800 seat aud. Yea, 800 seats! It is a big ol’ bldg. that is now going to be used for God’s glory.
Starting tom night we will be open Wed through Sat every week till the end of July. 2 months of heavenly craziness. Great things are already planned from car shows to water fights. All events that are 220 will be held there for the next 2 months. Prayer, leadership, Deluge nights, and special events will be hosted by the Box.
We encourage kids to come by, hang out, go out from there to the mall and movies, come to services, and most importantly GET SAVED! We encourage parents to come in and see what is going on. Even though it is not meant for parents to hang out (cause it might scare our target audience away, nothing to hide!) they are welcome to see what God is doing in the hearts of young people from all over the area.
Where is the Box? Look for the big light outside all this week next door to the Mall of La. Cant miss it! Look for updates soon!