We hear Joel 2:28 in church and think about how revival needs to come to the younger generation. But, instead of concentrating on that part of Joel 2:28, I want to draw your attention to the “old men will dream dreams” phrase.

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” - Joel 2:28

I used to overlook that part of the verse most of the time, thinking, “I’m not going to be old for a long time yet, so I’m not going to talk or think much about the old men dreaming dreams.” But it is the older people in our society who dream dreams for the younger generation; and so it must be the parents who dream dreams for their children.

They Didn’t Ask for This Garbage

Looking at the culture barrage hammering our teens, whether it’s what is sold to them, written to them––movies and music––or the point-and-click pornography available to them, there is one thing we can all agree on: Our children are not the ones who invented these things.

Just about every one of these social influences, media entertainment, technological inventions or opportunities on the Web destroying kids, have been dreamed up by the older generation. These older dreamers prey on young people because they have plenty of money. They appeal to young people’s most corrupt desires to get them to empty their pockets.

The fact is, the kids didn’t ask for this garbage; they were sold it by people trying to make a lot of money without any thought to moral consequences. Of course they will tell us, “If people didn’t buy it, we wouldn’t make it” as if it’s a moral obligation to sell people things that will destroy them just because they buy it.

Here’s the question: Are we not dreamers? Cannot we, the people who love God, dream a dream for the young people in our churches? Is it only the secular culture that has a dream for our children?

You can protect your kids from the disaster of being shaped by a confused generation of adults selling media, but it will take deliberation. It will take sweat. It will require emotional and mental engagement with your kids, starting when they are at a very young age.

Dream for Your Kids

Dream a dream for your kids. You can determine if they will be entertainment oriented or service-to-others oriented; constantly appeasing the flesh and desiring the next thing to engage and tantalize them, or those men and women who lay down their lives as a sacrifice for others? As you dream for your kids teach them how to think critically and pursue growth in their relationship with the Lord. If you sacrifice now, you’ll reap a blessing for the rest of your life; and the world will never be the same.

Not only must we be the dreamers, but we must also teach our kids to be the dreamers for their own generation. These will soon to become the leaders who will soon determine the culture and morals of America. You can help them get a vision of how God could use them to change their generation and make a difference in the world.

Every time we allow our kids to watch, see, feel, touch and embrace this culture, they become a part of a dream belonging to someone else. The fact is, we must either be the dreamers or we will be a part of somebody else’s dream.

Merely giving birth does not make you a parent. Sacrificing while your children are small, laying down your “deserved” freedoms and deeply thinking about how you’re shaping your children will ensure their lifelong freedom from the chains of slavery to our culture. It’s called loving your children.

It’s called being a parent.

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” - Joel 2:28 (NIV)

Originally seen on streamingfaith.com

— Milan Ford

I was trading emails with a friend of mine a few months ago that had recently gotten married just last year. He had asked me if I had any suggestions to help him ward off some of his ex-girlfriends from trying to reconnect with him online. I remember giving him a few suggestions, one of which was to insure that his wife had all of the username and passwords to all of his email / social media accounts.

From Facebook to Gmail, she should have it all. He replied and said that he thought that was a bit too ‘extreme.’ Interesting enough, I found out last week that he is NO LONGER married.

For generations, married couples have toggled between what should be shared between one another, and what should remain exclusive and separate. From his or her cars, to his or her bank accounts, many married couples today find solace in knowing that there is at least one aspect of their lives that they can still enjoy by themselves outside of their spouse.

However, I am glad my wife and I are NOT one of those couples!

I am extremely thankful that my wife (Imani) has complete access to all of my online activity. From my personal email accounts, to both my Facebook and Twitter accounts, there is nothing that she cannot access if she desires to do so. While I may only be 33 years old, I have learned that when it comes to maintaining a healthy marriage in today’s media-saturated culture…

…a spouse can be the greatest SPAM BLOCKER one can find.

Now before someone reading this today assumes that this access is one-sided, know that I have access to her accounts as well. However, if you asked each of us today how many times we’ve checked each other’s accounts, we probably couldn’t tell you. It is very rare.

Our decision to provide one another with access to our individual online activities was not a result of any distrust towards each other, but rather a reflection of trust. More often than not, it is the presence of accountability that is often more stronger than accountability itself.

Whenever I’m online, there are places I just don’t go, as well as people I refuse to connect with primarily because whenever I do, my activity online does not only represent myself alone.

It represents (and impacts) her as well.

You’d be surprised how many ‘status’ updates I have deleted before they were ever posted, simply because something inside of me told me I probably should run it by her first. And as it so often turns out, I was right to do so. I have even found my wife to be a great filter as it relates to certain work related emails I just KNEW I needed to send to a boss or a co-worker, yet by sending them to her FIRST, I discovered how often the tone of my emails trumps my words. Because of this, her email has found a permanent home in my BCC fields!

For those reading this today who are married and still keep certain online activities hidden away from their spouses, please know that there are more marriages today destroyed by the click of a mouse, than any hotel room in America.

Marriage exclusivity, especially when it comes to finance, is a dangerous game to play. While some have managed to make it work, there are far too many examples of failure to permit your marriage to rely heavily upon it. Trust me; there is no greater compliment in the world for me and my wife to receive than to hear others tell us that when they see us together…

…we look and act as ONE.

While ONENESS is something that at times can be difficult (especially when it comes to finances or social media outlets), know that it is in ONENESS that our God finds his greatest delight:

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become ONE flesh.” – Ephesians 5:31v.

May we always pursue HIS delight in our marriages.

Originally seen on streamingfaith.com

Over 1,000 victims in the faith community were duped into believing that 30-year-old Winans, would give them 100% return of their investments within 60 days, using Saudi Arabian oil bonds, as he promised.

Despite learning the bonds were not legit, he continued the scam, gaining new investors, to pay off earlier ones, as well as, his personal expenses. The Winans name carries weight in the gospel and faith communities, and he used that good name and reputation to manipulate trusting families looking for a secure investment opportunity.

Even after learning the bonds were bogus, he continued robbing families of their life savings to pay off earlier investors, and fund personal expenses.

Before sentencing, Judge Cox in U.S. District Court said Winans swindled “good, decent, church-going people…That is very, very troubling to me…You used…churches to perpetuate this fraud. “No one knows why you did it. You know right from wrong. You come from a stellar family, with a good reputation. I could see why almost anyone would fall victim to this fraud,” according to Christian Post.

Fox 2 News has reported that his uncle, Pastor Marvin Winans, sat in court and listened to the victim testimonies, shaking his head and sighing, appearing to be deeply moved by the proceedings.

When Winans addressed the court and admitted “I did make mistakes, and I caused “financial and emotional damage. For that I repent.” Despite name or church position, we need to keep our eyes open to see the wolves. 

During these services, Canton has exposed the youth to action packed nights of activities, including games and contests, engaging videos, a live DJ, praise & worship, and culminating with a relevant Word from God.

“New Hope is excited Canton is joining our ministry staff at our North Campus,” states Pastor Al Mead, Associate Pastor.  “He has already made a huge impact in reaching students for Christ in our community.  Canton’s ordination into the ministry is just the beginning of how God is going to use Canton greatly for His kingdom.”

Canton is thrilled to be in the position to minister the Word of God, especially to teens.  As a married father of three, he values the importance of family and understands the impact that the next generation will have. Canton has a passion for young people, discipleship and outreach and is eager to serve.

Canton’s birthday was January 9th and he celebrated it officially on Wednesday, January 30th during the Alive service. 2013 promises to be an event filled year for Canton and the CAJO Family coming off the recent success of a Christmas song “Merry Christ-Mas”, which features Canton, Ramona Jones, Cory (Coco Brother) Condrey, Joann Rosario Condrey, Vashawn Mitchell, William McDowell, Erica Cumbo and Zebulon Ellis. 

Canton also has noted features with Vickie Yohe on “So Many Reasons” and “I Won’t Give Up” with Percy Bady.  Upcoming features include “Awesome Remix” with Canton, Pastor Charles Jenkins, Isaac Carree, Jessica Reedy and DA T.R.U.T.H; “All Day Jesus Remix” with Canton, Angie Stone, Cory Condrey, and Joann Rosario Condrey; “You’ll be Here” with Jonathan Phillips; and Canton is featured along with Fred Hammond on a song with Veronica from Angelo and Veronica.

Steadily riding the success of the Kingdom Business release (CAJO Records) and artist Erica Cumbo’s project Beauty for Ashes, Canton will continue to release EP’s based on themes such as healing, worship, etc.  The two EP’s available now are For The Love of Christmas and Short Fuse.  Also, there is an exciting new program, CAJOTunes, which offers unsigned, independent artists an opportunity to sell and promote their music on theCAJOTunes site.

Canton explains, “In the past, my wife Ramona and I have tried to promote artists through Kingdom Business and fit as many as we could on the CD’s.  Though we featured a lot of people, we had to turn away a great number.  CAJO Tunes gives us the chance to afford many more artists an opportunity to showcase their music and be affiliated with CAJO.”

For more info, contact Sheryl@cajointernational.com or (770)716-2256. For booking, visit our website cantonjones.net and select the booking tab.