6 BOCNEWS.com MAY 2018 Paul was a prisoner on a ship that was going to Rome, and it began to break down in a storm. The thing he was depending on began to break into pieces. Have you ever depended on something or someone, and it began to break into pieces? I don't know about you, but I've come through many storms, and all I had left were broken piec- es. God has a way of bringing His people through storms. Maybe some things have broken down in your life, but God has a way of bringing you through. Paul washed up on shore. It was cold and raining. No matter who you are, there will come a time when a storm will blow into your life. No matter who you are, there will come a time in your life when every- thing you believe in will be tested. Someone you love will let you down. A church leader will fail you and your faith will be tested. Even if things don’t look too good right now, you must believe that it’s only a matter of time until God brings you through this storm. You have to believe that even though you are being tested, God is devel- oping your testimony. You may be going through the biggest test of your life today, but God is in the business of turning your test into a testimony. He is in the business of turning your mess into a message. He specializes in turning tragedy into triumph. If you are in a storm today, you must fight the good fight of faith. Don't be trippin' just because you have some trouble. Learn to stand your ground and know that trouble is making you stronger. If you are walking with the Lord today, don’t listen to the negative things that people say about you. One day they love you and the next day they are talk- ing about you like you are a dog. If you are walking with the Lord, you cannot be concerned with who walks into your life and who walks out. Yes, God puts people together for a rea- son, but sometimes it is only for a season. Paul was in a storm. Make no mistake; the storm arose in order to steal Paul's life. The Bible says that Paul swam safe- ly to shore, where he gathered up a bundle of sticks in order to build a fire. I'm trying to tell you that when you are going through something, that's the time to build a fire. Consecrate your- self to prayer. Get into Church every time the doors open. When Paul built the fire, a snake came out. If you are in a storm today, catch on fire and the devil will have to come out. One thing I have learned about the enemy, he can't stand the fire. The Bible says that the snake attached itself to Paul's hand, in order to kill him. Not everything that attaches itself to you is going to bless you. Sometimes you have to shake off things that have attached themselves to you… Your Haters and the Fakers! Paul was bitten but he was not beaten. We must grow to the point that we believe He is going to bless us, in spite of everything that is coming against us. God wants us to believe that even though we are bit- ten, we cannot be beaten. Paul survived the storm. He survived the ship- wreck. He survived the rain and cold. Now a poi- sonous snake attaches itself to him. He was totally taken by surprise. He never saw the snake coming. You may find yourself between a rock and a hard place. It may appear as though there is no way out. My God will make a way where there is no way. He is the great way maker. Make no mistake, the enemy sends his fiery darts to try and stop you. The reason that depression has hit you so hard is because the enemy is trying to stop you. That is why discouragement has attached itself to you like it has. The problem with this faith business is that you cannot always go by what you see. Sometimes when you’re using your faith, the very opposite will take place temporarily. Paul and Silas were thrown into prison because of their love for the Lord. They praised God so loud in the prison that all the prisoners could hear them. God was so moved by their praise, that He opened their prison door and set them free. They were bitten but not beaten. Dennis Leonard SERMON By Pastor Dennis Leonard You Will Survive The Storm I'm trying to tell you that when you are going through something, that's the time to build a fire. Race Forum: Firefighters and Race As with police officers, a lot of racial tension is swarming around firefight- ers as well. That is why a race forum was held at the Aurora Municipal Center City Council Chambers on April 19, which the topic was “Firefighters and Race.” This is the 13th annual forum that has taken place, according to Dr. Barbara Shannon-Banister with the City of Aurora Community Relations Division. “It’s a forum dealing with race and firefighters. There has been a lot of talk about the inequities going on (with firefighters) and this is why it is spon- sored by the NAACP and Human Rights Commission to talk about these issues,” Shannon-Banister states. Panel discussions took place among experts from the Aurora area, Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and even Wyoming. Special guest speaker was Dekalb Walcott, former batallion chief for the Chicago Fire Department. The next Race Forum Series will take place starting at 6 p.m. on July 19 at the Aurora Municipal Center City Council Chambers in Aurora. Dennis Leonard is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Heritage Christian Center. www.HeritageChristianCenter.comgroup watch the Race Forum video at bocnews.com