SPIRITUALITY

Eugene Peterson talks about lies and illusions that destroy the church

found here

"You make spirituality sound so mundane."

"I don't want to suggest that those of us who are following Jesus don't have any fun, that there's no joy, no exuberance, no ecstasy. They're just not what the consumer thinks they are. When we advertise the gospel in terms of the world's values, we lie to people. We lie to them, because this is a new life. It involves following Jesus. It involves the Cross. It involves death, an acceptable sacrifice. We give up our lives.

The Gospel of Mark is so graphic this way. The first half of the Gospel is Jesus showing people how to live. He's healing everybody. Then right in the middle, he shifts. He starts showing people how to die: "Now that you've got a life, I'm going to show you how to give it up." That's the whole spiritual life. It's learning how to die. And as you learn how to die, you start losing all your illusions, and you start being capable now of true intimacy and love.

It involves a kind of learned passivity, so that our primary mode of relationship is receiving, submitting, instead of giving and getting and doing. We don't do that very well. We're trained to be assertive, to get, to apply, or to consume and to perform."

A Church That Changes Lives

Below is an excerpt from the introduction to a new book I'm reading and i recommend.

"Many years ago we began a journey with countless others to discover how we could actually live out the gospel.........

......I remember so many people who,over the years, who found in ........ a family and made it their spiritual home. I recall some others who shared some time with us but chose to move on. I have learnt from all these people how to follow Jesus and to give him first place in my life. I have also learnt that life in christian community is very complex.
peoples hope, expectations, and wishes can only be satisfied in and through Jesus Christ. At the same time, I can see clearly how he wants to lead and use his people. Life in the Christian community is a worthwhile adventure.

The Christian Church in the western world is in crisis. Society is increasingly running away from christian standards. We have taken God out of the family, education economics, politics, the health care system,art, science and the media. What remains is an inner vacuum, a search for a fulfilling life, direction and security. What answers can the followers of Jesus Christ offer these seekers?

We regularly hear from church growth strategists about new ideas and models. New structures and forms of church and Sunday services offered to help the Western Christians out of their crisis: seeker oriented services, purpose-oriented buildings, cell churches, house churches, youth churches. Each new growth-promising idea is touted as "the answer" to restore the Christian church. However the gospel is not about form or structure, it's about content. This tendency to seek refuge in technical questions prevents us from having to ask: How should I be living my life?

Every church growth idea can be right or wrong; structures are only a means to an end. When they become an end in themselves, they kill life. Form structures and models for church growth are only helpful when they fit a particular church community and can be understood by the society that church serves. They are acceptable when they help the follower of Jesus make his life visible to the world. If adherence to a idea or structure becomes more important than the content-in our case the gospel-it is unbiblical.

What then, is life in a Christian community all about? It is about the gospel content of life. Its about a living relationship with Jesus Christ, understanding the consequence of the example of servanthood he set us."

by
Martin Buehlmann

Discipleship

I follow along with some others a friend's blog linked on the right here called 'REVOLUTION'. In it we have been discussing discipleship and what that means. What it meant back when Jesus taught and discipled. What it means today. Below is one of my postings under comments from there in this link.

Let me try to tie this back into the original theme here on discipleship.

As "Living Stones where the King resides" how is the Kingdom of God being expressed or manifested in culture? In the culture where each of us lives? Isn't this part of Jesus command? As disciples aren't we to be training others to walk with the King and "BE" witnesses, to be living stones?

To make disciples, learners and of what? Luke an eye witness records this about Jesus in chapter 8:

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Jesus himself said to John's disciples in reply to their questioning of him as to whether he was the King of the Kingdom they were expecting in Matt:11

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
Is this not the expression of the Kingdom we are to be training?

Let me share with you one of my recent experiences. I have been volunteering
at a nearby food bank for over a year now. Most of the people are very poor, drunks, addicts, elderly, sickly needing set free both physically, mentally and spiritually. As a volunteer handing out the food I have been given the freedom so far to share with the people (approx 80) before the distribution of food while they wait eat donuts and drink coffee.

I have used this opportunity to share as I'm led stories about life and Jesus, offering to pray for each of them. At first their willingness to let me pray was resistant. After a year now they are more receptive. This past week a woman shared with me that last time I prayed with her, about an hour later she received what ever it was we prayed for. Truthfully I don't even remember what I prayed for. But the delightful part was when I saw her eyes as she was telling me that it had restored her faith in God because she was touched by him when we did pray. I could see it in her that a change had taken place.

Where did Jesus focus? It wasn't on the educated religious Hebrews. In fact Matthew (an eye witness with a Hebrew cultural perspective) records Jesus's words in chapter 21:31

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

So as disciples and those who train, what have we received from him and what are we giving away? How are we like Jesus?

I know we all have stories and maybe we could here some. What say you Carm?

Revolutionary Change

Anyone up for doing something like this?

Healing Testimony

Approximately 25 yrs ago I went out the door of my home in mid winter to my detached garage. As I hit the steps of the porch filled with ice my feet went flying out from under my feet. I was in better shape then and was still pretty quick at catching myself and protecting my self from such potential disasters. On this occasion I only had enough time to get my arms back and subsequently landed on my elbows. As I did I remembered feeling something tear in my shoulder. At the time I was self employed, younger, and had to work, so I did. As the years go by these bumps and bruises we collect along the way have a way of reminding us what happened:) In my case now for as long as I can remember I haven't been able to raise my right arm straight up with out pain in my rotator cuff.

During a time of worship and prayer this weekend a woman I did not know had a word that God wanted to heal a rotator cuff and asked if there was anyone with that condition. I raised my hand. Another woman came towards me and asked if I wanted God to heal me? I replied Yes!!

I really was just wanting a fresh touch from his Spirit but if he chose to heal my shoulder in the process that was ok with me too. So I let them pray and I didn't feel anything significant at the time. No heat, no twitching in my muscles nothing. You can imagine all the things that go through ones mind. So when they were done and walked away I was thinking well my shoulder feels the same but I hadn't really tested it :) So I raised my arm and it felt pretty good. Then one can say to themselves (or satan can) well maybe its just a short term kinda thing, that's happened before. As soon as this thought came I remembered when the woman asked me "do you want God to heal your shoulder?" It was as if He was asking me myself and when I recognized this I said yes. So I had to remind myself, hey! remember what God said.

So for the next day and a half I tested it and retested it and no pain. At least not there. I did mention to him, not only my rotator cuff Lord, but all the things in my body that need repaired :)
Since then and even until now as I write this, I have been meditating on this. I have prayed for a lot of people and seen a lot of restoration in people whether physical, spiritual or emotional and God has done some great things for them but never me and I was really OK with that. I have always been glad just to be a part of what he was doing. So I asked Him why? Why now? And this is personal but I have been before Him, recently asking for a fresh touch from him. You know, like getting your batteries recharged, only in the Spirit. And the sense I got back from Him as I was mediating was, because when He asked me, I said Yes!! And because He wanted to show me His Love once again :)
In John 5:6 Jesus asked the man "Do you want to get well?" Yes is always a good answer, but the man in this story had another and I will comment on this next.

Thank you Lord

FISHER'S OF MEN?

Jesus calls us all to be fishers of men. Some people think that a fisherman is a man with a license, or a man with a boat, or a man who can tie flies really well, or has a good tackle box. Actually a fisherman is a man with a fish. In the body of Christ we have a lot of fisherman who have nice boats, a license and very good tackle, but they don't have any fish ! So I guess they really not fisherman.

By C. Simpson

IS YOUR GOSPEL TOO SMALL?

Just what is the gospel? What did Jesus say it was? How does that compare to what you think or thought it was? Mat. 11:15, Mat. 24:14, Lu. 4:34

God's Dilemma

An excerpt from Bill Jackson's series

Importance of the Holy Spirit

An excerpt from Bill Jackson

What is the Kingdom

A friend has a blog site HERE where they were discussing some thoughts on the Kingdom. Below are some of my thoughts I posted there.

So according to Myers' all we have to do is provide the right environment? I submit that right behavior or right being precedes environment. Otherwise we have the same old formula making structures for community.

As for the theme 'GOVERNMENT OF GOD’ I’d like to suggest a paradigm shift. The word government has a bad connotation these days in our culture. Jesus, who is the King and therefore has a kingdom, was asked by John's disciples, "are you the one we are to expect?" Meaning they were expecting a king to come and rule and reign like previously in their history.

When asked Jesus reply was “Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?” Jesus told them, “Go back and tell John what’s going on: The blind see, the lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side."

This is the closest Jesus comes to defining what the Kingdom is. As we read Jesus, his main message was the Kingdom and he showed how when it manifests. It is an order of things, different from this world and its ruler. So when we talk about the Government of God we at least need this understanding.

Back to the original post then; providing the right environment so others will want to be a part of community. Jesus didn’t seem to have a problem gathering a community. He provided the kingdom (as he saw what the father was doing), the environment that others wanted by DOING.

Are we Disciples of Christ? Then we should be doing what he was doing. Proclaiming the same message, providing the same environment for the rule of God to manifest as we see the fathers hand.

For further thoughts on this subject you can read a summary of my Thesis by clicking
Incarnating the Kingdom

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

I came across a website by Robert K. Greenleaf. It reminded me of Jesus prayer "that we might be one" (Jn 17:22). Here are comments from other authors regarding and servant leadership:

Margaret Wheatley gave a talk on “The Work of the Servant Leader” at the 1999 conference. In her talk, which was published in Focus on Leadership, she said:

"There are many patterns, many beliefs, out there about leadership, about people, about motivation, about human development. The essential truth I’m discovering right now is that when we are together, more becomes possible. When we are together, joy is available. In the midst of a world that is insane, that will continue to surprise us with new outrages…in the midst of that future, the gift is each other. We have lived with a belief system that has not told us that. We have lived with a belief that has said, ‘We’re in it for ourselves. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. Only the strong survive and you can’t trust anybody.’ That’s the belief that’s operating in most organizations if you scratch the surface. The belief that called you to be a servant-leader, I believe, is the belief of who we are as a species. We have need for each other. We have a desire for each other, and, more and more, I believe that if the real work is to stay together, then we are not only the best resource to move into this future—we are the only resource….We need to learn how to be together: that is the essential work of the servant-leader."

I purpose in my heart to be a servant leader

WORLDVIEW

Human family:
7 billion by 2011
The global population is likely to reach 7 billion by 2011, only 12 years after topping 6 billion, according to the Population Reference Bureau based in Washington, D.C. Of that number, about one in five are between the ages of 15 and 24. That means responding to the ongoing youth explosion in the developing world is a major concern. The church must — must — do whatever it takes to assist, evangelize and make disciples of these young people. Anything less would be a tragic abdication of obedience to God’s mission in our day.

By IMB

G20 Summit and the Mystery of the Kingdom

G20 Summit and the Mystery of the Kingdom

September of 2009 there is a G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, Pa. Leaders from around the world are coming representing the various kingdoms from around the world. I was asked a few weeks ago if I had heard anything from the Lord on this. My response was no. I was aware there were many gathering in their churches praying for this summit, in particular and for what I do not know. Perhaps some are praying for the leaders, some are praying for peaceful demonstrations and for our president. I just really never thought much of it.

I thought, “I wonder what God thinks about this?” Then I read chapter four of G.E. Ladd’s book on ‘THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM’ online here:

http://www.gospelpedlar.com/articles/Last%20Things/GK/gk_ch4.html

After reading chapter four I had this perspective on the G20 Summit. Ladd refers to Daniel 2:31-46 where King Nebuchadnezzar summons Daniel to see if he can tell him what dream he had. Not only does he tell him his dream but then interprets it for him and Nebuchadnezzar falls on the ground and honors him and his God. Daniel had just told him of all the various kingdoms of the world that were to come and what would become of them. Ladd goes on to give more in depth explanations of the various scripture related to the Kingdom of God. Still I wondered what God thought about the G20 Summit.

I googled the G20 and found a website http://www.g20pittsburghsummit.org It describes this gathering in Pittsburgh with world leaders for the purpose of demonstrating a model city for economic and environmental transformation in the United States and abroad. How we have supposedly reinvented ourselves by building a balanced, innovation-drive-economy based on its strengths in advanced manufacturing, financial services, information and Communications Technologies, health care and life sciences. You can see a list of who’s attending here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-20_major_economies It would appear that 20 major earthly kingdom leaders are gathering to decide what to do about us in the world, what is best for us.

As I read further in chapter four of Ladd’s book he discusses the Parables of the Kingdom, what Jesus said about it, what the religious people of the day were expecting, and how they missed the coming Kingdom because they didn’t understand what the Kingdom was. I’m not suggesting that religious people today are missing it, you can decide that for yourself. In Dan. 2:44-45 he interprets the dream:

“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.”

When Jesus came into our world he brought the Kingdom with him. Jesus indicated to Nicodemus that unless you were born of the Spirit you could not see the Kingdom and yet many times Jesus said the Kingdom had come. This is part of the mystery (secret) of the kingdom that it is here but not always visible with the natural eye. If you read the other parables along with Ladd’s 4th chapter you can easily see how the two Kingdoms now exist side by side until the fullness of completion occurs.

Again I wondered ok what do you think about the Summit Lord? I got a sense that he said “let them be, pray for their souls, the souls of those they lead, render only to Cesar what is due. Don’t you remember when my parents were looking for me and I said, you should have known I would be about my father’s business.”I got the sense that he was saying to me to keep on doing what he had for me to do.

Devil Dusters Sleeping

Have we fallen asleep in the light here in the western church? Below is another excerpt from John Wimber's teaching on Signs and Wonders You may be surprised what you hear. John states; "on one occasion Jesus said here comes the enemy and he has nothing in me." I can't make that same claim.

WESTERNIZED CHURCHES

Are Churches Worldly today? Do you have a worldly view? How would one know? Is it possible that one could be worldly when it comes to your beliefs and not know it? What is the standard? Below is a short video excerpt from a conference where this question is explored.





Recorded live in Anaheim California in the 1980s, this in-depth seminar taught by John Wimber includes hands on clinics where the audience puts in to practice the things they are learning!