Because of the Times 2009

On 12 November 2008, i blogged about my upcoming visit to Alexandria, Louisiana for Because of the Times.

BOTT is a conference for ministers and their families hosted by the Pentecostal of Alexandria in Louisiana USA. Thousands of ministers from numerous Apostolic organisations gather with a desire to pursue the deity and vision of Almighty God. It is a time for preachers to be fed and replenished and a time where programs, positions, and prominence are laid aside to let God unify the body and install His purpose in our hearts. BOTT follows a basic format is 13 anointed speakers with diverse delivery methods.

BOTT 2009 was life changing for me.

• the ministry was life-changing (see my revised all-time Top 10 sermons from BOTT);
• the worship / music was first class;
• i met some fantastic people and life long friends (Chris Endsley, Sonny Warbington, Russ Cripps, Johnathan Dean, Paul Pamer, Robby Emery, Kevin Howard, Jimmy Toney);
• got to hang with Wayne Francis, Chris Austin, Angel L Baez jnr and a heap of other cool church planters;
• had great conversation with my travelling buddy Stanley Harvey;
• the food was crazy....i put on 3 kgs in 10 days! (go the BBQ Pork Ribs with unsweet ice tea);
• i got to meet all of the Manguns, Terry Shock and a pile of others who i really look up to in the ministry (i shouldn't name drop hey);
• message by Mark Morgan on the following weekend at POA was unbelievable - "The Tale of Two Trees";
• i went to Tioga - UPC Campground and got to see "the Tabernacle";
• Alexandria is a quite place - i still can't understand why people in the streets wear hunting camo? the weather is crazy as well....i thought Melbourne was bad!
• the people of the POA would have to be some of the most hospitable people that i have ever met - i now understand why they call it "southern hospitality";

Here is my revised Top 10 BOTT sermons (life changing for me). Note: I haven't heard most of the messages pre 1995 so i am probably missing some real "bell ringers" - please forgive me!

As of November 2008

1. This is a Lost World and We Have a Mandate to Reach it - Anthony Mangun
2. 21st Century Apostolic – Anthony Mangun
3. We are measured by God’s pattern – Anthony Mangun
4. Man’s Greatest Need is God’s Greatest Desire (Knowing God) - Jeff Arnold
5. When you stop measuring the miracle will happen – Jeff Arnold
6. Life’s Three Greatest Words (I Am Persuaded) – Jeff Arnold
7. Hath Israel No Sons – Wayne Huntley
8. Condemnation Interferes with Intimacy – Gerald Jeffers
9. There is no substitute for Sons – Wayne Huntley
10. Addicted – Matthew Maddix

After BOTT 2009

1. This is a Lost World and We Have a Mandate to Reach it - Anthony Mangun
2. 21st Century Apostolic – Anthony Mangun
3. Prisoner in the Land of Fulfillment - Royce Wilson (2009)
4. Rediscovering Refuge - Terry Shock (2009)
5. We are measured by God’s pattern – Anthony Mangun
6. Man’s Greatest Need is God’s Greatest Desire (Knowing God) - Jeff Arnold
7. When you stop measuring the miracle will happen – Jeff Arnold
8. Life’s Three Greatest Words (I Am Persuaded) – Jeff Arnold
9. It's time for Aaron's Rod to Bud - Anthony Mangun (2009)
10. Hath Israel No Sons – Wayne Huntley
11. Condemnation Interferes with Intimacy – Gerald Jeffers
12. The Miracle of More or Less - Wayne Huntley (2009)
13. There is no substitute for Sons – Wayne Huntley
14. Addicted – Matthew Maddix