What Have We Learned If Anything From The Exposures Of The Error In The Prophetic Movement?

Sadly, I had been troubled by what I saw for several years in the Prophetic Movement. I fully believe in Prophecy, Prophets, & Prophetic Gifting; in fact I wrote a book that took me 11 years to write by that same title. 

Prophets, Prophecy, & Prophetic Gifting: Fram, Rev. Michael: 9780984300365: Amazon.com: Books 

I believe we made Prophecy more about performance placing some unrealistic expectations on Prophets and Prophetically Gifted Ones. We treated the Prophetic like a circus side show instead of a sacred trust and manifestation of the Person, Presence, and Power of the Holy Spirit. I believe in our excitement over the fact that many were leaving cessationism and embracing that the supernatural power of God was for today, and not for just a select few, but for everyone because the Spirit was being poured out on all flesh, we let some stuff slide.

Unfortunately we ignored a lot of errors and let things slide. We did not police ourselves nor correct ourselves. Too many were not accountable to anybody and therefore were not corrected. There are safeguards built into the Body of Christ, such as Mutual Submission, Mutual Honor, and Mutual Accountability amongst leaders. But, when those safeguards are not in place folks can and do get away with much that is not of God and the rest of the Church gets a black eye.

If we would have stopped giving these people a platform to promote their ‘pseudo prophetic’, they would have gone away. But, because we didn’t, they thrived and many were hurt by their ‘Prophelying!’ If these that were in error were not corrected in the beginning while it was small, before anyone knew it it got as big a snowball rolling down a hill gaining size and momentum until it was out of control. 

Where were the Mentors and Fathers that had the right to speak into their lives and bring necessary correction? Surely, some people knew it! Sadly when one does not make themselves accountable to Mentors and Fathers untold heartache and damage is the result!

We expected that “The Prophet Was Always Going To Have A Word For Us”. We placed more value on the Prophet’s Word than the Bible! When the Prophetic Word holds more weight and value than the Written Word of God, then we are indeed in trouble. Have we forgotten that the Prophetic Word is judged by the Written Word and does not stand by itself?!

Over the last several years I have been warning that familiar spirits know your name, your loved ones names, your address, and your phone # too; just because it is supernatural does not mean that it is God! Have we forgotten to try and test the spirits to see whether they are from God?!

Now we need to add to that…the Internet and Facebook know all about you too! Data Mining is not a Word of Knowledge or Prophetic, nor of God! It is a sham and the work of a charlatan, worthy of exposure! I believe God is behind this exposure Purifying The Prophetic! We have been praying that everything hidden would be exposed, God has answered our prayers. Let us not be mad because God has answered, but rather rejoice!

Don’t Be Too Quick To Ordain Or Commission People

As I look back over my life and call to ministry, I have learned a few things if even as Rev. Kenneth E. (Dad) Hagin used to say – “By Accident.”

I have been at this for a while now. I am in my 45th year of active ministry. I started Teaching and Preaching at 17 years of age. Today I function in the Ministry Grace of Apostle, it is the primary way I serve the Body of Christ. In retrospect, I believe it has always been my ultimate destiny and assignment.

But truth be told, where I started at 17 years of age, 4+ decades ago is miles apart from where I am now. There have been many stages and levels of growth through these years. I initially was so excited when my Father, (my both natural and spiritual father) confirmed to me that he knew I was called to preach since I was 5.

But Even through he knew I was called to preach, he did not Ordain or Commission me at 17. He knew I was not ready yet for either one of those steps.(all I had confirmed to me by him was that he knew I was called.) Sadly, many in our day believe that we are called one day and are ready to be Ordained or Commissioned the next.

I have seen many step out too soon before they were ready, and cause many problems for themselves and others. I have even made mistakes in recognizing people’s call and promoting them before they were ready. We have had far too much of both scenarios in the Kingdom.

The Biblical narrative teaches us the major foundational principle of development before one is ready for either one of those steps. We have many examples from Scripture of folks needing to go through “Process” (a word we hate, perhaps a “Christian cuss word” 😉) before they were ready for such action. We could speak of and name Bible Characters like:

• Moses
• David
• Joseph
• Elisha
• Jesus
• The Original 12
• Paul

What do all these Bible Characters have in common? Before they were ready to fully step into and manifest the full expression of their ministry, there was a period of Maturation of Character Development, many times through sufferings, trials, temptations, and stages of development. It seems to be very evident to even just the average Bible Reader, if they are honest, there are no “Overnight Sensations” in the Holy Scriptures.

Even as I look back over my evolution in ministry, I can see clearly defined intervals of acceptance and readiness defined by the actions my Father approved and activated in my life. (I know that last statement maybe made some folks mad) But my Father knew when I was ready to be Ordained, and he knew when I was ready to be Commissioned Apostle. And it wasn’t when he confirmed that I was called to preach at 17!

Back when I was 17 when the Call was confirmed, that would have been around 1979. I was not Ordained to the Ministry until 1993. In the interim there were 2 years of formal Bible and Ministry Training at Rhema Bible Training Center, and several years of ‘helps ministry’, serving other men of God in their ministries. I was not Commissioned Apostle until 2016 by my Parents and a Presbytery of my Peers.

From 1993 to 2016, there was much development in my calling through many stages of function, including:

• Evangelist
• Short-term Missionary
• Bible School Teacher
• Revivalist
• Seminar Speaker
• Prophet
• Writer and Blogger

After all these years, my Father agreed that I was now ready to be Commissioned to my ultimate call. I believe many seek to be Ordained and/or Commissioned too soon prematurely, way before they are ready, even though they legitimately have the call of God on their life.

The Bible is clear that many are called, but few are chosen. I personally believe that the thing that separates the Called from the Chosen is the Process of serving others in the Kingdom, character development, and yielding to our Fathers.

My Father knew where I was in my process and when I was ready for each Major Step. He was not trying to hold me back, he was trying to insure that I would not fail and that I would go further than he did, and do more than he did!

I believe that many do not have the blessing of a godly father equipped with the heart of Father God in their lives that they are accountable to. I am grateful for my Father, and even though I did not understand many of the things he tried to tell me all through my development, it is evident he knew what he was doing and there surely was “a method to his madness!”

So please fathers, wait until you know that folks are ready to be Ordained and/or Commissioned. Many have been lifted up in pride when Ordained or Commissioned to soon. Hence Paul’s admonition about “Not A Novice.”

Please you that are up-and-coming ones, learn from the Biblical examples. Learn from my life story. Wait for the timing of God. Don’t run off half-cocked into a brick wall, I know “smushed nose syndrome” is not fun, and it is painful too. By pushing for that recognition too soon, you may be doing more harm than good to others, and yourself in the Process.

#Ordained #Commissioned #FullnessOfTime #YieldedToFathers #CharacterDevelopment #ServeSomeoneElse #WaitForPropperTiming #AvoidingProblems #DontBeInAHurry

Don’t Be Too Quick To Ordain Or Commission People

Some Practical Thoughts About Metrons, Spheres, & Measures

I believe most of us are familiar with this verse from Paul the Apostle.

“But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.” 2 Corinthians 10:13 NASB 1977 Edition

I find it interesting how some feel like they are ‘God’s Gift’ to everyone…literally! As my Grandmother used to tell me when she corrected and reprimanded me in my teenage years – “You’re getting too big for your britches!”

Grandma was not telling me that I was getting fat, but rather that my head was getting fat! I thought who I was, and not really who I was. I had an overinflated opinion of myself. Well, this is common in adolescence. But as we mature we do realize and thank God, eventually, I did figure out that – “I was not all that and a bag of chips!” (NJ street expression)

Sadly, many in the church are spiritually like I was naturally in my adolescence, “too big for my own britches.” So many many of us believe our own hype and our own press. We really do think we are all that when in reality we are not!

We are NOT God’s Gift to everyone! But, we are God’s Gift to some. I have figured out a long time ago I am just not everybody’s “cup of tea.” Some folks like me and some folks don’t. It can be based on personality, style of delivery, age, gender, ethnicity, or any plethora of factors…but some people I just will never be able to minister to or help.

Even though I endeavor to become: “All things to all men,” I know that I have my limitations! Romans chapter 12 tells us to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, but to think soberly. It is high time some of us actually did that.

Did you notice what Paul wrote? “We will not boast beyond our measure.” He understood that he did have a measure, metron, or sphere; and that it was limited. Let’s face it, we are not assigned to everybody, and everybody is not assigned to us!

Paul went on to say: “But within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us a measure.” He recognized that it was God that set the parameters and the measure of their sphere, not themselves. We must come to the same place!

Paul clearly understood that he was assigned to the Gentiles and that Peter was assigned to the Jews. Those were their metrons, spheres, and measures. We must identify ours, not with an overinflated opinion of ourselves, thinking more highly than we ought, but thinking soberly.

I have a Spiritual Daughter that is gifted and graced in ways that I am not, and she reaches and ministers to people that I could never reach. Truth be told, the only reason that some of those that she reaches listen to me at all or give me the time of day is that I am her father, she honors me, and they listen to and honor her.

I have understood this on a personal level about my personal ministry for quite a few years now. I know I can minister to some, I can help some and some I can’t! My metron, sphere, and measure is limited, not limitless.

However, what I am now discovering is that we need to see beyond just our personal ministries, and consider our corporate ministries, alliances, networks, etcetera. Not every camp, stream, move of God, network, etcetera is the same…”Not everybody’s cup of tea.”

We help those we can help, and those we can’t, we can’t. If our group can help…wonderful! If our group cannot, God has a stream, group, camp, etcetera that can. Whenever a group thinks they are the only game in town it is a danger. There is a big body of Christ out there and every group, camp, stream, etcetera has its own metron, sphere, and measure; but none of them are- “God’s Gift To Everyone,”

Rejection Wounds: Healing Attachment Part 2: Avoidance

An excellent Blog from one of my Spiritual Daughters!

The Anchored Soul

In the previous part 1 of this blog, I shared how Jesus experienced rejection. I also noted the correlation between attachment wounds and feelings of rejection.

Let’s face it, every human-being has experienced some sort of rejection in his or her life. Thus that rejection may or may not have stemmed from some attachment tear by a caregiver. Needless to say rejection is a real phenomena. Unfortunately, it is unavoidable because not everyone is going to respond positively to us. In addition, there will be those people who silently betray and turn their heel against us for no apparent reason. Confused, we can be left reeling from their avoidant and silent actions. Racking our brain, we try desperately to figure out what we may or may not have done. In reality, we seldom receive the closure we seek. The silence makes it challenging to offer genuine remorse and repair. It…

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Rejection Wounds: Healing Attachment Part 1

An Excellent Blog written by one of my Daughters!

The Anchored Soul

Psalm 27:10 “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in” esv

Rejection of any kind is brutal to handle. It can mercilessly rip through one’s soul. Jesus was familiar with rejection As 1 Peter 2:4 states, “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious” . . . A prophecy of his coming in Isaiah 53:3-5 also states, He was despised and rejectedby men, a man of sorrowsand acquainted withgrief;^[ and as one from whom men hide their faceshe was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Jesus is familiar with the rejection that we face in this world. For those of us rejected from the womb, I believe the Lord Himself counters that satanic onslaught against our soul and accepts us instead. That doesn’t…

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The Manifestation Of The Sons Of God

This morning during worship the Holy Spirit spoke to me saying: “This is the season of the manifestation of the Sons of God.” As I pressed into what I heard, I stepped forward and released words along this line (it was not recorded, so I am going off my memory).

It is not the season of Apostles.

It is not the season of Prophets.

It is not the season of Evangelists.

It is not the season of Pastors.

It is not the season of Teachers.

It is the season of the Manifestation of the Sons of God!

We have focused on what we do as opposed to being who we are!

Even though Jesus functioned in all five ministry graces, when Father spoke from heaven, He did not say that was My Beloved Apostle in whom I am well pleased, or My Beloved Prophet in whom I am well pleased…but My Beloved SON in whom I am well pleased!

Scripture clearly says that the whole earth is groaning waiting for the manifestation of the Sons of God, not for the manifestation of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, or Teachers.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the (power, right, authority, privilege to become SONS of God.”  (see John 1:12)

Notice we were not given the right to become Five-fold Ministers, we were given the right to become Sons of God. Sadly, I believe many of us have been pursuing the wrong thing. It is time for us to function from our identity as opposed to functioning from our gift, title, calling, or anointing.

This is not about what we do, but who we are! We function out of our identity and position as sons. If the earth is groaning and waiting to see it…why aren’t we?!

Are You Really All That?

There is an expression that is popular in the street that says: “You’re not all that and a bag of chips.” The origin of the expression refers back to the Subway Restaurant Chain. The original shop offered freshly baked bread with a variety of cold cuts and condiments for a bargain price. A bag of chips was included in the price, so you got “all that and a bag of chips.”

In our modern slang though it has an entirely different meaning. Today it means that the person being referred to thinks they are “Very Special.”

Sadly, many of us today, especially those of us in leadership or ministry have a tendency to believe our own press, marketing slogans, or hype. We really do have unrealistic evaluations of ourselves. We think we are all that and a bag of chips, but the perception of others is quite often much different than our own.

I am reminded of Paul’s words to the church at Rome:

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly…” Romans 12:3 a & b NKJV

It is indeed sad when we think of ourselves more highly than we ought to. We are told to think soberly. Sometimes it would help us if we realized how others saw and perceived us and compared it to how we see ourselves.

Someone once rightly said: “Perception equals reality.” In other words how someone sees a person or a thing will be how they receive that person or thing. Years ago my Dad said:”One can only receive what they perceive. If they don’t perceive it, they can’t receive it.”

So if John Q Christian is called to be and is beginning to function as a Prophet, but you don’t perceive him as one, will you receive him as one? That may be his call and assignment from the Father, but if you don’t see him like that, you will never receive him like that. You may say he is a Brother-in-the-Lord, a teacher, or a preacher; but that Prophetic calling and gifting will never benefit you because you don’t perceive it. (Just remember Jesus in Nazareth)

Earlier today, I posted this on Facebook:

“Sometimes seeing how others perceive you is a good reality check of where you are in your mantel, maturity, and metron.”

Most folks liked this post and/or left a positive comment, but there were some that were negative. This does not bother me one bit because I am used to ruffling people’s feathers.

I often tell my sons and daughters that you can judge where you are by people’s perceptions of you. I began to take note of my metron (sphere of influence or scope of reach) growing as people from outside of my region began to refer to me as Pastor, Prophet, or Apostle. This was how they perceived me, and received me. 

Now I knew I could impart to these people at a much deeper level than others who just saw me as a fellow-believer, because of how they perceived and received me. So from time to time, it is beneficial to us to think soberly and take an honest look. The question we really need to ask ourselves is:

ARE YOU REALLY ALL THAT?

False Humility

I have noticed this trend amongst folks that I understand to a certain extent, but it does make me wonder if it isn’t really a case of False Humility. I see expressions like:

“I just want to be used”

“It doesn’t matter what you call me”

“It doesn’t matter what my title or function is”

In a sense that is right and correct, but is there just an underlying hint of False Humility in these expressions? Google explains False Humility as:

“Since others value humility, false humility is usually a strategy to gain the benefits of coming across as truly humble.”

In reality, False Humility is rooted in Pride. Believe me, I understand that God is opposed to the Proud and gives Grace to the Humble. But is False Humility really True Humility? Are we trying to keep up the appearance of humility so folks will think correctly about us? Are these thoughts truly in line with the way Paul the Apostle thought?

“For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry.” Romans 11:13 NKJV

“Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead).” Galatians 1:1 NKJV

“For which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” 1 Timothy 2:7 NKJV

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3 NKJV

You may be wondering why I chose this array of Scriptures to base my points upon. I trust I will make them clear from these verses. Please allow me to list them in Bullet Format.

• In three of the texts listed Paul referred to himself as an apostle.
• In one case he stresses his Metron as an Apostle to the Gentiles.
• In another case he stresses that his apostleship was not through man but by God.
• In the last case he stresses that he is telling the truth and not lying, that he was appointed as a Preacher, Apostle, and Teacher.
• We also see that Paul said that he magnified his ministry. (other translations use the word office.)
• Notice Paul did not have an issue with either recognizing how he functioned, or what his calling and assignment was.
• This is the same man who writes in Romans 12 not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, but to think soberly.
• So I guess going by Paul’s practice, identifying who he was and what he was called to was within the confines of not thinking of himself more highly than he ought to.
• Yet today if someone refers to themselves by their function…like  an Apostle or Prophet…they are ridiculed as being prideful.
• Was Paul Prideful or was he just thinking of himself soberly?
• Now I can hear the naysayers saying…well that was Paul…and you are not Paul! 
• Correct…we are not…but if Paul could be identified as an Apostle, If Junia could be identified as an Apostle, if James the Lord’s half Brother could be identified as an Apostle, if Adronicus could be identified as an Apostle…why can’t you or I?

My Brother and Sister, I submit to you that knowing who you are, knowing your Metron, knowing your assignment, knowing your calling, and Identifying it is not Pride at all; put True Humility thinking soberly as Paul did. Did not Paul say: “By the grace of God I am what I am”? (1 Corinthians 15:10)

I often tell folks that have the “Popeye” anointing…”I yam what I yam”. This is what Paul did. Identifying the grace God has placed on your life magnifies His grace…not you. So I ask again, are we exercising True Humility or False Humility?

Realistic Expectations

https://www.propheticdestinyministriesintl.org/single-post/realistic-expectations

I think many times in the church we set ourselves up for disappointment because we have Unrealistic Expectations of certain leaders that either we like or that speak to us on a certain level. Because they speak to us at one level we automatically think that they can speak to us at every level that we may need or want them to.

It will serve us in good stead to remember Peter’s words to the lame beggar in Acts Chapter 3:

“Such as I have, give I thee.”

The Biblical principle is very simple. We can only give what we have. I often say: “If I haven’t received it, I can’t impart it, If I haven’t learned it, I can’t teach it, and If I haven’t been there, I can’t lead you there.”

It seems simple enough. It is even logical and makes sense. It is also spiritual, but yet it goes against the grain of how we think many times.

Please allow me to use myself as an example. Currently, one of my functions is to serve the Body and those Abba has granted me relationship with as a Spiritual Father. I did not always function this way throughout all of my 42 years of ministry. It may be true that God in His infinite wisdom and Omniscience saw me as this from when I answered the call to ministry at 17 years of age, but I certainly was not ready to walk in it.

All the years that I functioned as a “Screaming Evangelist” I did not have Father’s Heart and was not able to function in this current capacity. All the years that I functioned as a “Prophet” I did not have a Father’s Heart until about 6 months before my Apostolic Commissioning in March of 2016, when Father spoke to me very clearly and said: “It is time for you to do for others what Leo (my earthly and spiritual father) did for you.”

It was at that moment that a Fathers Heart was dropped into my spirit. It was not developed or matured yet, but it was there in seed form. Now I could begin to function as a Spiritual Father because I had been Gifted/Graced for it.

To expect me to function as a Spiritual Father as a “Screaming Evangelist” would have been unrealistic because I did not have the capacity to do it. To expect me to function as a Spiritual Father as a “Prophet” would have been unrealistic because I did not have the capacity to do it.

So it is in many cases today. We expect folks to function in certain ways that we either want them to, or believe that they should, which is really unfair to them, if they have not been Graced/Gifted for it. They can only give us what they have according to their Grace/Giftedness.

I see many that are disgruntled, frustrated, and sometimes even upset because they are expecting someone to give them what they are incapable of giving. I could not Father until Abba graced me with a Fathers Heart. Even if I wanted to…I could not fulfill that function…because I wasn’t graced for it.

Every Gifting/Grace has certain things in their wheelhouse that they are good at, that they can impart, that they can teach, where they can lead…but expecting them to impart, teach, or lead apart from where and how they have been gifted or graced, is error on our part, not theirs.

Evangelists think a certain way and bring certain things to Ecclesia. Stirring the Body of Christ, Bringing Salvation, Healing, & Deliverance to the masses is their Forte; but being a Father is not! Prophets think a certain way and bring certain things to Ecclesia. Getting Believers to understand that they can hear God for themselves and seeing proper Biblical operation of the Manifestation Gifts of the Spirit in the assembly is their Forte; but being a Father is not!

How I long for the Body to cease putting Unrealistic Expectations on Leaders/Ministers, expecting them to function where they are not capable based on Gifting/Grace to function. Receive from them what they are Graced/Gifted to impart. Where they are not…realize that God has Graced/Gifted others with that aspect of what you need. It is up to you to recognize it and find it. God is faithful to His Body by providing a Plethora of Grace/Gifting to many vessels in the Body to minister to every member of the Body, by that which each has been Gifted/Graced with. 

Ours is not a “One-Stop-Shop Kingdom” where one gift provides everything that we need. We must get past the False Leadership Paradigm of: “If I can’t give it to you, you don’t need it” and get it out of our thinking once and for all! Remember the words “Diversities” or “Varieties” depending on the Translation? God is BIG on them! He Believes in Them! He Practices Them! So should we! It is time that we stopped looking for folks to function where they can’t and had Realistic Expectations!

Congratulations You Are Called, Welcome To The Process!

If I had a dollar for every time that some well-meaning, excited, Believer has said: “I am called”, I might not have to ever work another day in my life. Sadly, we have treated being called of God as being the end of our ‘Process’ when in reality it is the beginning of our ‘Process’. So many receive ‘Prophetic Words’ these days regarding their purpose or destiny, and then run out to manifest them very prematurely.

I have a friend who one time said something to the effect of: “You have received a ‘Word’ about your future…congratulations…the process is about to begin!” This is absolutely the truth. Just because we have received a ‘Word’ does not mean we are ready to manifest that ‘Word’.

I have often said: “The Prophetic Word releases the Potential of the Purpose of God for your Life.” So often we think that just because we have received a legitimate ‘Word’ that we are ready to manifest and walk in that ‘Word’ immediately. Oh, if only that were true…life would be so much easier…but alas…that is not how this works!

In 2011 I was on a short-term missions trip to Trinidad. At that time I was functioning as a 5-fold Prophet, and had been in the ministry about 32 years. Not exactly a novice or “Johnny-come-lately”. While there, a Prophet friend of mine, who is still a covenant Brother to this day, began to prophesy to me. He said: “Prophet, you are going to be changing again.” (I started in ministry as an Evangelist, but around the year 2000 God began to transition me to the Prophet’s function) When he said this to me, I responded with: “Yeah, I know, Shut Up.” 

I knew what he was saying. I knew that meant that just as I had transitioned from Evangelist to Prophet, I would be transitioning again from Prophet to Apostle. He did not hold his peace, but went on to prophesy to me: “As far as God is concerned, He already sees you as an Apostle. But, you have to go through the Process, the Process, the Process, the Process, the Process.” 

He said the word ‘Process’ five times…this occurred in 2011…it wasn’t until 2016…5 years later…that I was commissioned to the Function of Apostle. It was one year of ‘Process’ for each time he recited the word ‘Process’. He released the Potential of the Purpose of God for my life. I was called to be an Apostle, but I was not ready to function in the fullness of that call yet…I needed more process. Even though I had already functioned as an Evangelist and a Prophet, and had been in ministry for 32 years…I was not ready…I required more ‘Process’. Do you see the point I am trying to make?!

Folks, you can’t short-circuit the ‘Process’! It is required. Receiving the ‘Prophetic Word’ is not enough. Elisha received Elijah’s mantle thrown over his shoulders, signifying: “The Call of God”, but he wasn’t ready to carry it yet. Bible scholars tell us that Elisha walked with Elijah for 7 or 8 years before Elijah was taken up from him and Elijah’s mantle fell to Elisha and he picked it up permanently.

The mantle being thrown was the Call. The mantle falling and being picked up was the Commission. What was in between was 7 or 8 years of ‘Process’. Congratulations You Are Called, Welcome To The Process!