KINGDOM STUFF

2011-10-24T11:41:00.000-05:00

If Christianity werea Football Game

What would that looklike?

Would you be a quarterback, wide receiver, running back,lineman defense-man, coach, cheer leader, in the stands, selling food, or in theparking lot playing?

The scripture says everyone should test themselves Gal.6 3-4for if you think your something when your not you have been deceived.

We know what football is but what is a Christian? Accordingto God’s word in Acts 11: 26 “the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch”.So one would have to be a disciple of Jesus first, learning and doing what hesaid, yes?

So it’s a good thing to examine one’s self. Where do you fitin this analogy? Are you in the game, watching from a distance in the stands,out in the concession stand making $$$, playing in the parking lot?

Does going to church, or going to a small group qualify usas disciples and where does that put us in this analogy of Football?

1Cor.11: ²⁷Therefore,whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner willbe guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread anddrinks of the cup. ²⁹Foranyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats anddrinks judgment on himself. ³⁰That iswhy many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallenasleep. ³¹But ifwe judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. ³²When weare judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not becondemned with the world.

The GOOD NEWS is God LOVES you and wants a relationship withyou, a real personal one that allows you to be in the middle of what HE isdoing today and not somewhere else in the stands etc. If you haven’t or aren’texperiencing that just ask and you’ll receive.

AMBASSADORS OF FREEDOM

2011-05-11T07:21:00.001-05:00

Mt 4:

²³Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. ²⁴News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. ²⁵Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

I make allowances that other times in scripture Jesus only healed or set free one or a few. The point is He did it proclaiming the good news of the kingdom which was just that, getting free from one kingdom (darkness) and entering into his kingdom of light. So from reading this we could say ALL the sick and every one with a dis-ease in Galilee was healed or set free. At the very least we as ambassadors get to assist in bringing others to Jesus so they too can be well and free. It's not up to us who or what gets healed or set free. So what would that look like in our day? Maybe it would look like believers loving others?

ROBELLOUSNESS

2011-04-22T10:36:00.005-05:00

Myself and some good friends brothers and sisters have been discussing on and off again Rob Bell's latest book 'LOVE WINS'. Below is one of the latest responses;

Concerning the issue of an Everlasting Hell for those Unredeemed in Christ

Definition; robelliousness(n), robellion (adj), "Challenging approved orthodox theological doctrine. An intellectual or philosophical argument rooted in the Western conflict metaphor, incited by the powers that wage war against the Kingdom of God." RMacD 22 April 2011.

ref: Love Wins, Rob Bell, 2011

A Challenge to Rob Bell's proposal of a "non-everlasting" hell and a possible ultimate reconciliation.

If "love" is sufficient to ultimately cover our sins, why did Jesus have to be crucified?

Along that argument, if Jesus had not been crucified, would God still have excused our sin because of His loving nature?

If Jesus had not died for us, would God's love, as envisioned by Rob Bell, be any less than would be still necessary for ultimate reconciliation?

Love didn't save us, Jesus did! Love is not justice for sin, but the motivation to pay the price righteousness and justice require of the infinite offense committed. If nothing is required from a recipient, why could love not merely make that declaration unilaterally? The absolute minimum must require the guilty plea and accepting of the fine paid in full.

Bell's argument leans more toward the issue of timing. Even if under incarceration (in hell), one then becomes aware of that previously unknown redemptive event and gives a guilty plea, and only then being aware of the payment available claims it, why is he then not excused? Or, "why does the 'get out of jail free' card expire upon one's death?

Eternal life is not knowing the Gospel, but knowing Jesus and the Father. It is not knowing about them or any other doctrine. The Gospel is only the invitation into that relationship.

God appoints the timing. Heb 9:27-28 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

Jesus must be known and eagerly anticipated prior to that judgment. (Jn 17:3, 7-9, 20; 2 Cor 6:1-2 ) It all involves the timing of the "Book of Life"- not that written after it is closed. Ps 69:28, Phil 4:3, Rev 3:5; 13:8; 17:8 [God's foreknowledge, predestination?]; 20:12.

Present theologians and writers are wrestling and philosophizing around resurrection and eternal judgment, when they are considered as foundational elementary teachings in the beginning of Hebrews 6. The Church is illiterate as the result of the long abandonment of Biblical discipleship.

by RMacD

Mission and Community

2011-03-23T09:11:00.001-05:00

The question I ask is does God have a mission? I think he does and it goes back to Gen.3 where god steps up to the plate and says he is going to get back what satan has just robbed him off, his relationship with man. It has always been his mission and Jesus has invited us to be a part.

If you take two examples, Peter and Paul, Peter in Acts had 3000 in one day, Paul in Acts 17 in Areopagus had a few .. "A few men became followers of Paul and believed."

A friend pointed out recently that he thought Peter was a cheater because he had a pool of religious people he was drawing from whereas Paul went way outside the box, to those way out people you might even put in the postmodern new age category, the talking heads, emerging churcher's not unlike most of America who philosophize about truth.

If the statistics are correct those in the pool are leaving, more and more they are not going to church. By the year 2040 there will be a whole generation who's primary experience with God in America is from watching Oprah and TV Church. Kinda scary. So the pool of religious churcher's is getting smaller. The ocean of others is getting bigger.

If our mission is the same as God's where are we going to fish? Paul fished in the ocean, way outside the box in Aeropagus. His community developed from there, a few who followed him.

I disagreed with a friend who said the twelve accepted a call to a mission with Jesus. They didn't have a clue what they were doing. They accepted Jesus, accepted a relationship with him and in Lu.9-10 went out and healed people, casting out demons. They didn't even have the Holy Spirit yet. One who was healing people was his traitor. They were following a man. They had no clue about mission. Their community was because of a man.

Most people will form a relationship with us or follow us because we are interesting and not because of mission. They may not even understand God but have a belief that we know what were doing and follow us first, then get to know him.

Community is the relationship we have with others on this journey. But I submit the Mission is and always has been the same. Community is what happens along the way.

Furious Love

2011-03-22T13:51:00.000-05:00

An except from the movie

UNSEEN FORTUNE

2011-03-14T17:05:00.000-05:00

Suppose by some chance you found a piece of land that had a hidden fortune just below the surface. This unseen fortune would provide you everything you need for your life, your families life and their children. The cost to obtain this fortune is everything you possess right now. In western Pa. they are talking about how the vast resources of Natural Gas below the surface are like the early days of the gold rush for land owners and those able to purchase land. Many are hoping to cash in on this treasure. Jesus said this was the same with his Spiritual Kingdom. You just have to recognize the treasure hidden in the field. It will cost you everything, but it will be worth it.

WHAT THE HELL?

2011-03-08T13:57:00.008-05:00

There seems to be a bit of controversy these days regarding HELL so I thought I'd post some comments by a well know Theologian J.I. PACKER;

HELL

THE WICKED WILL BE BANISHED INTO ENDLESS MISERY

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

REVELATION 20:14-15

The sentimental secularism of modern Western culture, with its exalted optimism about human nature, its shrunken idea of God, and its skepticism as to whether personal morality really matters—in other words, its decay of conscience—makes it hard for Christians to take the reality of hell seriously. The revelation of hell in Scripture assumes a depth of insight into divine holiness and human and demonic sinfulness that most of us do not have. However, the doctrine of hell appears in the New Testament as a Christian essential, and we are called to try to understand it as Jesus and his apostles did.

The New Testament views hell (Gehenna, as Jesus calls it, the place of incineration, Matt. 5:22; 18:9) as the final abode of those consigned to eternal punishment at the Last Judgment (Matt. 25:41-46; Rev. 20:11-15). It is thought of as a place of fire and darkness (Jude 7, 13), of weeping and grinding of teeth (Matt. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30), of destruction (2 Thess. 1:7-9; 2 Pet. 3:7; 1 Thess. 5:3), and of torment (Rev. 20:10; Luke 16:23)—in other words, of total distress and misery. If, as it seems, these terms are symbolic rather than literal (fire and darkness would be mutually exclusive in literal terms), we may be sure that the reality, which is beyond our imagining, exceeds the symbol in dreadfulness. New Testament teaching about hell is meant to appall us and strike us dumb with horror, assuring us that, as heaven will be better than we could dream, so hell will be worse than we can conceive. Such are the issues of eternity, which need now to be realistically faced.

The concept of hell is of a negative relationship to God, an experience not of his absence so much as of his presence in wrath and displeasure. The experience of God’s anger as a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29), his righteous condemnation for defying him and clinging to the sins he loathes, and the deprivation of all that is valuable, pleasant, and worthwhile will be the shape of the experience of hell (Rom. 2:6, 8-9, 12). The concept is formed by systematically negating every element in the experience of God’s goodness as believers know it through grace and as all mankind knows it through kindly providences (Acts 14:16-17; Ps. 104:10-30; Rom. 2:4). The reality, as was said above, will be more terrible than the concept; no one can imagine how bad hell will be.

Scripture envisages hell as unending (Jude 13; Rev. 20:10). Speculations about a “second chance” after death, or personal annihilation of the ungodly at some stage, have no biblical warrant.

Scripture sees hell as self-chosen; those in hell will realize that they sentenced themselves to it by loving darkness rather than light, choosing not to have their Creator as their Lord, preferring self-indulgent sin to self-denying righteousness, and (if they encountered the gospel) rejecting Jesus rather than coming to him (John 3:18-21; Rom. 1:18, 24, 26, 28, 32; 2:8; 2 Thess. 2:9-11). General revelation confronts all mankind with this issue, and from this standpoint hell appears as God’s gesture of respect for human choice. All receive what they actually chose, either to be with God forever, worshiping him, or without God forever, worshiping themselves. Those who are in hell will know not only that for their doings they deserve it but also that in their hearts they chose it.

The purpose of Bible teaching about hell is to make us appreciate, thankfully embrace, and rationally prefer the grace of Christ that saves us from it (Matt. 5:29-30; 13:48-50). It is really a mercy to mankind that God in Scripture is so explicit about hell. We cannot now say that we have not been warned.

CONCISE THEOLOGY, J.I. Packer pg, 261

World Events

2011-02-18T09:08:00.012-05:00

Most of the news these days are filled with many of the things Jesus described as signs of the times. These signs for some can be disturbing depending on where your faith is. At the very least it should make us think and ask where we stand with Jesus.

³Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, “Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time’s up?”

⁴Jesus said, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. ⁵Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ, the Messiah.’ They will deceive a lot of people. ⁶When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. ⁷Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. ⁸This is nothing compared to what is coming.

⁹“They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. ¹⁰And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other’s throat, everyone hating each other.

¹¹“In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. ¹²For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.

¹³“Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved. ¹⁴All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come. the Message Mat 24.

SEEING THE MINISTRY

2011-02-07T14:16:00.002-05:00

The late John Wimber explains the second important step in becoming a radical disciple of Christ in this link

God's Heart

2011-01-31T10:56:00.005-05:00

What is God's heart? Do we have it?

If we have God's heart we will want to instruct and practice, we will want to Love others

Mat 28:19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ²⁰Then instruct (teach) them in the practice (observe) of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” the msg

TEACH

didaskō

did-as'-ko

A prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb δάω daō (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application):—teach.

OBSERVE

τηρέω

tēreō

tay-reh'-o

From τηρός teros (a watch; perhaps akin to G2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from G5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from G2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), that is, to note (a prophecy; figuratively to fulfil a command); by implication to detain (in custody; figuratively to maintain); by extension to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively to keep unmarried):—hold fast, keep (-er), (ob-, pre-, re) serve, watch.

Wimberism

2011-01-30T00:13:00.000-05:00

Wimberism-"We've been given the keys of the Kingdom; the authority & power over the enemy. But if we don't exercise that power then its of no use. The Kingdom of darkness is organized to distract us & to prevent us from doing God's bidding. We must know the power we have, use the power we have and not allow ourselves to become distracted..."

Raised From the Dead

2011-01-27T14:48:00.006-05:00

In our western mindsets we can just about rationalize anything these days. Being raised from the dead is where it begins to stretch our minds. Even though most of us have heard Jesus say;
"Tell them that the Kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead."
There were supposedly 16 people raised from the dead recently in and around Brazil who had died from the massive flooding there. Take a look at this link below and see;
LINK HERE

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

2011-01-13T11:35:00.004-05:00

How many of us say we are Christian or have Christian values yet don't love our neighbors? I have found myself asking myself that question recently. What does it mean to love your neighbor? Who is my neighbor? I can only tell you one of my neighbor's names and I have lived here nine years. That is not good. I find that I haven't done this very well.

I say I'm a follower of Jesus but when He was asked about fulfilling the law in his day he replied; "Love the lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself and you'll fulfill all of the law."

When Jesus was asked "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He replied with the story about the Good Samaritan and said "Go and do likewise", calling him the good neighbor. I think most of would say we love everybody, yet in loving everyone we really don't love many at all. We have Good Samaritan values and we really don't even know our neighbors.

I think at least for me loving my neighbor is confusing. with maybe mixed ideas about what it means to love. How about we say just being nice? If we only tried that would it make a difference?

I have a friend who purposed to get to know those who live in front, back alongside etc by hosting barbecues in the summer, was just plane ole nice to them, and as a result developed relationships meeting one another needs. Most of these were people who never wanted anything to do with quote Christianity. I think Jesus might have had some idea what he was doing when he told us to love our neighbors. Just think what community might develop or what growth might take place if everyone just got to know the four people around us? What would our world look like then?

SILVER and GOLD

2010-12-21T17:10:00.007-05:00

I was thinking about the upcoming Christmas day event most of us participate in. I wondered if I had a chance to ask the question "what is it about Christmas that you love"? I can imagine that there would be a variety of answers such as; I like the snow, the lights, the caroling, the family dinners. Then I thought there would be an over whelming responses saying it's the giving of gifts. I would agree. I believe most of us would say you enjoyed the giving and watching peoples hearts being blessed with gifts, especially the children. What is it about giving that both blesses us and the ones receiving?

Then I remembered the Sunday school story where the teacher asked the kids; what has 4 legs, a furry tail climbs trees and collects nuts? The little boy answered, "it sure sounds like a squirrel to me but I know the answer is Jesus". It really is suppose to be about Jesus right. I think it is, we just have forgotten. We haven't forgotten to give or to receive. Well maybe some us have. Most of us give to bless someone else especially the children. Ahh if we only looked at it all that way.

Jesus was a giver. He did a lot of giving, he gave food to the hungry, he gave health, he gave good news to people all the time. At the end of his time on earth he gave his own life so we could be free and live forever. He also instructed his followers to do the same. He promised us he would send a helper, the Holy Spirit, another gift from Him.

This led my thoughts to Peter and John two of his followers. The were on their way to the Church building of their day. A guy who was physically carried there each day at the entrance purposefully to beg for money was lying there and asked for some. The scripture says "Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you." And they gave, the man jumped up healed and walked. This man was not only given healing but even greater, he was given Jesus, the way the truth and the life.

I was still meditating on Peter's response "silver and gold I do not have" in other words not one nickle buddy. But they had so much more.

We have choices to make. Those of us who have this same deposit in our lives can be a blessing to others. Some will only have nickles to give and some will try to rob the blessing.

I know where I want to be, how about you?

Dreams and the movie Inception

2010-09-17T23:05:00.003-05:00

I just finished watching the movie inception for the second time. A very fascinating movie. It reminded me of the scripture:

Job 33:

¹⁴For God does speak—now one way, now another—

though man may not perceive it.

¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night,

when deep sleep falls on men

as they slumber in their beds,

¹⁶ he may speak in their ears

and terrify them with warnings,

¹⁷ to turn man from wrongdoing

and keep him from pride,

¹⁸ to preserve his soul from the pit,

his life from perishing by the sword

So what do you think?.

Resources

2010-09-02T09:13:00.001-05:00

I heard a story about a man who called the police to say there was a guy outside stealing from his garage, could they send someone over. The police said they didn't have the resources. 5 minutes later the man called back and said not to worry he had shot him. When the police arrived they found the man had not been shot and asked, "I thought you said you shot him?" The man replied yeah and I thought you said you didn't have any resources. All that to say when it comes to resources we can rely on our heavenly father who has all the resources we will ever need :)

Road Trip

2010-08-17T14:03:00.010-05:00

This past weekend we went on a road trip through Cincinnati, Columbus, Delaware County north of Columbus and finally in Cleveland Sunday evening. We had a good time, blessed with personal times of worship, the word and fellowship. while waiting for a heavy metal show to start in Cleveland Rob and Andrew D. while walking met a young man who asked them if they would buy him something to eat which they did and brought him back to where i was sitting in front of this pizza shop in the photo where he finished his Subway and drink. we had a conversation with him, and some prayer time, encouraging him with prayer and God's presence. He indicated he had been blessed by meeting us. Andrew gave him his personal bible. We gave him some contacts in the area we knew of if he needed more help and said good bye.

All this plus an article i recently read reminded me that ....We must tell the story of who we are and why we are. And not only tell the story, but show them time and again. Demonstration of the Kingdom isn’t an option. The poor being cared for, as well as healing, deliverance and salvation are all signs pointing to Gods Spirit at work. We are a people of His presence. Bringing God and His Spirit into every area of people’s lives. Without His Spirit we are good as dead. People don’t need us or what we have to offer; they need an encounter with the living God.

...We are a called people... to be followers of Jesus, meeting people in the streets, reaching into our community, outward to the nations, and leaving fingerprints on the walls of our culture...

It was one of the highlights of the weekend.

Yes I did say heavy metal and you probably wouldn't think God was in such a place but he was, and His Holy Spirit touched many!! Chains were broken, people set free, healing !!!

p.s. .. no that's not a cat in the window. It was a spur of the moment photo while praying and the glare from the window was so strong I tried to block it out :)

Religion, Christianity & Jesus

2010-04-28T08:07:00.003-05:00

Excellent distinctions as to where we have lost some of our focus as believers

Total Truth

2010-04-19T11:55:00.005-05:00

Here is a comment I left a on a friend's blog called Kingdom Rising

Back from the East Coast. Just came bu to see whats been happening here Carm and saw the title Total Truth. I have not read the book either but had a few thoughts on truth. Recently I was thinking how to encourage those who are somehow entangled by the world the darkness? In bondage, captive or struggling to be free yes? We all know some and might even admit we too are captive in some ways because we too have flesh or bodies that are the not yet of the kingdom. So as I was meditating on this my thoughts came to the place where Jesus said he was the truth, the way and the life.

We all have heard preachers and others say that as well, SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM, I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH. As I reflected back on my own life I was always looking for answers, looking for truth. One day he found me :) The one thing about truth is when you find it, or it finds you, you know you have found it because all of a sudden your FREE. No longer captive, no longer entangled, no longer struggling in that area of your life.

So I have been reflecting on that and how we help others to be free because as followers of Jesus isn't that part of his mission, to set captives free? I think I came to the conclusion to encourage those I come in contact with to keep seeking truth, because ultimately it leads to Jesus and he's the one who sets us free. (Yes I know we have him with us and we participate). Some people don't want to hear about Jesus they are so entangled all they can handle is being loved and encouraged. Anyway that's what I thought when I saw the title to this post. Hope that makes some sense.

When Jesus encountered people he didn't condemn them for the condition they were in. He spoke to the issue of their freedom. He forgave them, he brought release, setting them free, by not judging. If he had any problem with anyone it was the religious people, the pastors and teachers of that day. Yes no?

Playing It Safe

2010-04-19T11:08:00.002-05:00

This April I was on the East Coast near Boston working with individuals and families affected by the recent flooding. While there I had a meal at a Chinese take out. In my fortune cookie it said "A SHIP IN HARBOR IS SAFE, BUT THAT'S NOT WHY SHIPS ARE BUILT". As I thought about it, I reasoned it to be true and that ships are built for the ocean and rough seas. I found my thoughts running to how we live as followers of Jesus. Many in America when filling out an application would check the box CHRISTIAN and not think twice about it.

Recently myself and a few others have been studying the life of Jesus and come to the conclusion that Jesus was not a 'Christian'. He was a Jew. Yes we call ourselves followers of Jesus and if that makes us Christ like so be it. But just calling ourselves a Christians is safe maybe, but it doesn't enable us to navigate the rough waters of life. In our world today, our culture here in America many have found the safety of the harbor calling themselves Christians, meeting once a week and going back to their other life between Sundays. True followers of Christ are called to go out into the ocean. John recorded Jesus saying in chapter 14:12 of his writing, "if you have faith in me you would be doing what I'm doing". I believe this requires getting out of the safe harbor. The good news is he said he would send us a helper and when He the holy spirit comes, He would guide us. So we can go out into the rough seas without fear for he is with us.

Bread

2010-03-19T10:59:00.002-05:00

Bread

There is a baking firm in the south called Sunbeam Bakeries. For many years they erected scores of billboards each Christmas showing a little girl in prayer. The legend read simply, “Not by Bread Alone.” The implication was clear. Man is a spiritual being and must have food for his soul.

See: Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4

Read the label on the last loaf of bread you bought. More than likely you’ll discover that it has been vitaminized, fortified, and pulverized. Bread is not the simple thing it once was. But how can you improve on the bread of life? More than that, it is unique. You can make physical bread from wheat, rye, rice, barley, corn, even potatoes. Bread for the soul can come from only one source. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:48).

See: John 6:32-35, John 6:48-51, John 6:58

A common expression to describe extreme conditions of poverty is “bread and water.” Prisoners in solitary confinement have sometimes been given nothing more than that. Monks in their ascetic zeal have sometimes limited their diet to that. Bread and water is not very nourishing. Spiritually, though, it is all we need. Jesus is the bread of life and the water of life. He’s all we need.

See: John 4:10-14; John 6:32-35, John 6:48-51, John 6:58

The Matrix...Knowing vs.Walking

2010-03-09T00:46:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure I totally agree with the first statement that it leads to heaven. I do agree that we can know a lot and still achieve very little. Jesus once said "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing." Jn14:12

Engage Promo-7 Days with Jesus in a Bar

2010-02-19T12:06:00.004-05:00

The Video speaks for itself, leave a comment if you like :-) Enjoy!!

REASONS TO REJOICE

2010-01-29T06:55:00.001-05:00

My heart rejoices in you oh Lord when I see how some youth worship you.

Wounded Healer

2010-01-14T02:43:00.004-05:00

"Carl Young rightly said "unless we begin a religious journey of healing in the second half of our lives, to address the accumulated unresolved hurt from the first half of our lives, those hurts will demonize and destroy us as we grow old.""

"Our particular assumptions with regard to human nature underlie our approach to sickness and healing." 'DOING HEALING' by Alexander Venter

Both quotes above are from this new book I'm reading. Jesus is a wounded healer. We too sure as we look at ourselves and carry on His mission come from wounded backgrounds but can participate in healing.

Wash Away

2009-12-22T23:09:00.004-05:00

I was given this CD as a gift and can't get enough right now :)

Here you can find more about Don Poythress

May I Suggest

2009-12-21T21:16:00.010-05:00

Check out this audio Link from Red Molly. I know some who it has blessed as a timely word.

I liked it so much I bought the song myself.

Lyrics

(May I suggest
May I suggest to) you now
That yes this is the best part of your life
May I suggest
This time is blessed for you
This time is blessed and shining almost blinding bright
Just turn your head
And you'll begin to see
The thousand reasons that were just beyond your sight
The reasons why
Why I suggest to you
Why I suggest that this is the best part of your life

There is a world
That's been addressed to you
Addressed to you and intended only for your eyes
A secret world
Like a treasure chest to you
Of private scenes and brilliant dreams that mesmerize
A tender lovers smile
A tiny baby's hands
The million stars that fill the turning sky at night
Yes I suggest
Yes I suggest to you
Yes I suggest this is the best part of your life

There is a hope
That's been expressed in you
Its the hope of seven generations, maybe more
And this is the faith
That they invest in you
It's that you'll do one better than was done before
And inside you know
Inside you understand
Inside you know what's yours to finally set right
And I suggest
Yes I suggest to you
Yes I suggest this is the best part of your life

This is a song
That comes from the west to you
Comes from the west, comes from the slowly setting sun
This is a song
With a request of you
To see how very short the endless days will run
And when they're gone, well,
The dark descends
Oh we'd give anything for one more hour of light

And I suggest this is the best part of your life

Leadership

2009-12-03T14:20:00.006-05:00

A friend of mine posted on his blog some questions regarding leadership today. Could they be found behind the walls of of the institutional church? Or could they be found more like when Jesus found them? Below was my short response. What say you?

"If these new leaders are found like in Jesus time and there not in the traditional setting where will we find them? Will they be like Peter? A stinky ole sea faring fishermen found in the local pub? Does this mean we have to be out there in the world to find them? How will we recognize them when we see them? Or perhaps its a tax cheating consultant working for H & R Block?

I think your point is well made. I'm not sure there are enough trained workers (disciples) for the harvest to come. Father pour out your spirit again to give us vision, to see what you see, men and woman already redeemed, amen."

In order for new leadership to rise up, trained followers who can mentor them need to be ready to go to work :)

SPIRITUALITY

2009-11-27T12:00:00.003-05:00

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

2009-11-18T20:55:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-15T11:24:00.004-05:00

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

2009-11-11T16:05:00.001-05:00

Anyone up for doing something like this?

Healing Testimony

2009-11-08T15:52:00.004-05:00

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?

2009-10-27T19:35:00.004-05:00

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?

2009-10-22T21:53:00.003-05:00

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

2009-10-20T21:27:00.000-05:00

An excerpt from Bill Jackson's series

Importance of the Holy Spirit

2009-10-19T21:49:00.003-05:00

An excerpt from Bill Jackson

What is the Kingdom

2009-10-13T16:32:00.005-05:00

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

2009-09-22T15:17:00.011-05:00

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

2009-09-16T19:54:00.001-05:00

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

2009-09-09T21:58:00.003-05:00

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

2009-08-27T10:48:00.005-05:00

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

2009-08-16T09:05:00.005-05:00

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!

Playing for Change No More Trouble ??

2009-08-14T23:44:00.006-05:00

About six months ago I came across a 'PLAYING FOR CHANGE' music video online of the popular song "STAND BY ME" which I thought was an amazing video. Playing for change is now a DVD movie. These started out as not well known artist around the world coming together hoping that music will have some change on our world. Blow is one of the newer music videos with the theme no more trouble, no wars etc.

In JN 16:33 Jesus says “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The world is crying out "no more trouble" but will only find peace in Him. According to Jesus we will have trouble in this world but our assurance is He has overcome it.

This song made me think of that.

Still a pretty good song

Friendship with Benefits

2009-06-25T10:26:00.009-05:00

I recently heard a talk given by Dr. Cherith Fee Nording on suffering that I would recommend. The audio is linked here in session # 2 I believe it is a word for the whole body of Christ. It is not a comforting word from the worlds perspective because like Jesus, in order to be glorified something has to die. When it comes to our relationship with him we tend to want our comfort and not to die.

Nording tells the story of where she teaches. The students have a saying "friendship with benefits". She had to inquire as would I what that meant. They explained that it meant you could have a friend and have sex with that person without any commitment, friendship with benefits. Nording went on to say that we as Christians have friendship with benefits when it comes to our relationship with God. We want the benefits without the cost, without the commitment.

Nording told another story how at a board meeting in her church they decided to eliminate a salary for ministry because they had not enough money and she asked why. They said because we haven't the money. She stated, "I know the money isn't there but why eliminate the ministry? We need that pastor." She suggested maybe someone could sell one of their lake front vacation homes and then they would have the money. I don't know how well that went over but you get the point. It was not very comfortable.

Another individual she knows from I believe was an African country said to Nording, "you say that you care about me and then you go back to your nice comfy home. You really don't want to be around me or have much to do with me."

Jesus said in...

Mt.5
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.....NIV

and
43“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ 44 I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, 45 for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. 46If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. 47 If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

48“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.
the MSG.

In Mat 26 we have this account recorded...

34“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

In the next few verses following Jesus has to ask them 3 times to pray with them but they don't. Are we so different? Do we really understand what it means to suffer with him? In America we the church tends to want to be glorified with him but we don't really want to die. I'm not speaking of being martyred but we tend to not even be able to die to ourselves. We want friendship with benfits only.

UNIQUE THUMB PRINTS

2009-06-07T06:31:00.007-05:00

"If we are followers of Jesus, there are tremendous ramifications if we grasp the whole story of God and how it works in our personal lives. Are we living our lives in alignment with the way His story goes? Are we playing our role in the play improvising our lines in such a way that it’s commensurate with how his story goes? Am I part of bringing God’s purposes for history into completion and fulfillment? Because every one of us has a part to play, every one of us is valuable in the Kingdom, every one of us has some unique assignment and we are gifted by the Holy Spirit with certain abilities and talents to perform things nobody else can do. We are unique thumb prints." by Bill Jackson
Bottom of the page here called 'Acting Our Part'

I woke up this morning thinking ever one is somebody's fool, who's fool are you? There is only One God, One Plan, One Story. How do we fit into it? Whats your part? Are we fitting into His purposes?

CHILDREN and the KINGDOM

2009-06-01T08:44:00.004-05:00

Mat.18: ²For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, ³and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in.

To Enter God’s Kingdom

Mat.19:¹³One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. ¹⁴But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” ¹⁵After laying hands on them, he left.

So what is the significance God puts on Children and how does it relate to the Kingdom? I recommend a talk on the subject here. It starts about 3 min into the audio.

KINGDOM OF GOD

2009-05-23T05:28:00.004-05:00

Here is an excerpt from John Wimber teaching on Kingdom of God and mp3 link worth listening to.

"It bothers me that so much of the Church of Jesus Christ today is so ineffectual, in doing the deeds of Jesus. When He said, "greater works than these would the church do." It bothers me that we are so preoccupied with the word that we forgot the works. It bothers me that we are such good students that we forgot to graduate and go out and begin doing the things we have been studying about. It bothers me that the church is such a good audience that it has forgotten that its called to be an army. It bothers me" - John Wimber

Listen to John Wimber here

WALKING IN THE KINGDOM

2009-05-12T14:21:00.005-05:00

On a friends blog he stated this;

There have been all kinds of reasons suggested for the decline of Christianity in the West while secular postmodernism continues to gain momentum. Whole ministries are devoted to restoring Christianity in the public place. Yet secularism continues to increase.

It's common to hear scriptures quoted in support of efforts to turn the tide, but they seem little more than empty platitudes in the midst of a profane culture. One of the most used scriptures is Matthew 16:18 where Jesus says the gates of Hades will not be able to prevail against the community that Jesus builds. However, what we see occurring in our culture appears to be the reverse, with the gates of Hades prevailing against God's people. How can this be? Full text here

These were my thoughts;

Mat. 16:18 in context... Jesus is asking who they say he is? Peter's response is given to him by divine revelation, and Jesus says "upon this rock I will build my church" What rock? Are there other rocks? Jesus goes on to say "and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it". Prevail against what? The Church?

Then Jesus says something interesting; "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven", or God.

What I find interesting is that Jesus has been going around through all the villages and towns proclaiming the Kingdom saying "it's upon you, near you, not hear yet, and coming". As I reread the Mat.16 passage I see that Peter's divine revelation came by way of the Spirit revealing Jesus to him. His presence or his Kingdom had come to Peter and of this there is nothing that can come against, not even the gates of Hades.

In my understanding Jesus is building his Kingdom of which we the "Ekklesia" = called out ones, church get to participate in if we choose.

I believe the keys to the Kingdom we receive is the understanding that his Kingdom is simultaneously here, near, delayed, and coming all at the same time. In us, upon us, not yet. and coming in fullness. The beauty is His kingdom can breakthrough at any given moment if were looking for it, and sometimes in spite of us.

this maybe the reason we in the church in the west are the way we are. were not walking in the Kingdom and we don't expect we can.

FREEDOM

2009-05-01T07:09:00.007-05:00

When was the last time you had an introduction such as this to a movie? Any chance of this in Hollywood today?

This video happened to be mentioned on a local radio station this morning which led me down a few rabbit trails. One being that I didn't know that the movie 'THE TEN COMMANDMENTS' was based in part of some ancient historians named Philo, Josephus, and Eusebius along with the scriptures. Upon reading some of Josephus' writings I came across this;

"The reader is therefore to know, that Moses deemed it exceeding necessary, that he who would conduct his own life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the divine nature; and upon contemplation of God’s operations, should thereby imitate the best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature to do, and to try to follow after it;"

The New Complete Works of Josephus
by Flavius Josephus, William Whiston pg 47-48

There is a saying; "your never too old to learn", which brings me comfort that I'm not that old, just yet :)

CYNICAL ?

2009-04-15T23:11:00.004-05:00

Watch this video and see if you are?

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent
Uploaded by dwarthy

1Cor. 1:26 Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. 27Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, 28chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? 29That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. 30Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. 31That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.”

TIMES UP?

2009-04-09T12:19:00.005-05:00

Recently I was asked to share the word and did so this past week. When asked to do so I try to prepare something in advanced based on what I'm hearing in my spirit from God. I have been around long enough to know this usually changes by the time I have to share and it did. So hear is the synopsis;

According to George Barna , 9% of Americans have a biblical world view. That's 1 out of 10 who believe and understand that God is the creator, he sent his son Jesus to die four sins, he was born of a virgin and rose from the dead, if we believe that we have eternal life.

Philip Jenkins says in the year 2050; 1out of 5 Christians will be white and non Latino. Why because the next Christiandom will be in south America Indonesia, Asia and Africa and not in the western world.

The United States is now the third largest mission field. Tens of thousands are coming to the Lord in China and Indonesia every day. So why not here in the States. The church has fallen asleep.

As I was thinking, meditating it was like He said to me tell them; "You gather week after week, month after month and ask me to bless you. Why? What For? I didn't send my Son into the world to save the church. I sent him to save the lost and their not in here but out on the street."

This was not a word I wanted to share but I was able on two occasions now. On Palm Sunday I read from the Message in Jn. 12; 20-23

There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: “Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?” Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip together told Jesus. Jesus answered, “Time’s up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

We don't want to wait to hear "Times up" its too late. The reason America is in the condition were in is the body of christ is asleep in the dark. we need to wake up and be about the Father's business as a whole. At least thats the impression I got. What say you?

CONNECTING MORE DOTS

2009-03-26T14:15:00.002-05:00

Like the previous post the bible is such a huge book and the fact that it is a compilation of individual books and letters with such a variety of of styles and formats, sometimes I have found myself scratching my head to figure how one book relates to another what the chronology is or whats the story? You now like a movie, just give me a beginning a middle and an end right?

Well while reading the book below I came across another source that does just that in 7 hrs of video chat online for free. Get out you say for free? Yes amazing isn't it. In a day where many are selling their spin on the word, God bless these who are doing it for free. I've just started it so I can't comment on it totally yet. I know the source and it looks like a site with a lot of resource. It's called 'NOTHING GOING TO STOP IT' but spelled like this in the web link;
http://www.nothinsgonnastopit.com/

Watch the short video and follow the links to the stuff. Enjoy!

CONNECTING THE DOTS

2009-03-26T13:56:00.006-05:00

Recently I read 'THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT' by Frank Viola. It was recommended to me by a friend and I purchased it online for about $10 on Buy.com

What I valued from reading this was that it takes you through the book of Acts, the Apostles, and Paul's journey. The author takes you on a journey in a chronological order with all the cast members. It put a lot of the puzzled pieces together for me in a way I hadn't viewed it before. I highly recommend it to everyone. I will never look at the N.T. the same again. See what you think.

You can get a glimpse of the book here on Amazon

COOPERATIVE FRIENDS OF JESUS?

2009-03-21T23:14:00.010-05:00

Todd hunter states in his new book 'WHY CHRISTIANITY BEYOND BELIEF?' and his blog ;

"First, I am convinced the low level of discipleship in the American church is not in spite of the gospel Christian leaders have been teaching and preaching, but precisely because of it. I know that may be a counter intuitive, even subversive thought—so let me explain.

A gospel that has only to do with sins being forgiven so that one can go to heaven when they die cannot produce and sustain and life of spiritual transformation for the sake of being God’s people. We need a larger view of the Good News of what God is up to in and through human beings. We need Jesus’ Gospel: the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Jesus’ gospel includes forgiveness of sins and eternal life, but—and this is crucial—it cannot be reduced to it. The gospel of the Kingdom has to do with becoming, through grace and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the cooperative friends of Jesus, who live constant lives of creative goodness for the sake of others through the power of the Holy Spirit. That story, unlike the story of going to heaven when you die, can produce a new life—which is of course an eternal kind of life.

Second, my decades long practice as a pastor tells me that we Christians tend to misunderstand the nature of community and its essential connection to both evangelism and serving others. Driving 20 to 30 minutes across town to go to church for an hour or so does not constitute community. Neither does adding a drive 20 to 30 minutes in the other direction mid-week to attend a home group.

Community, by definition, means unplanned, routine contact. Community is what you have at work, school, recreation or neighborhood. Those are the places in which we learn to follow Jesus for the sake of others. My Three is Enough groups are a way to help get going with a vision for discipleship and mission within the already existing rhythms and routines of your life."

Here in the USA we have 130 million people that are considered unreached. 20 more million in Canada. We are the 3rd largest mission field in the world now. We have a tremendous opportunities in our backyards, and every community as defined above. I would like to add to the "driving 20 to 30 minutes", blogging, for unless there is some verifiable means of seeing fruit, is no better. Its worth repeating;

"The gospel of the Kingdom has to do with becoming, through grace and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the cooperative friends of Jesus, who live constant lives of creative goodness for the sake of others through the power of the Holy Spirit."

"Seek first" He did say first? So why do we spend so much time on everything but?

AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN?

2009-03-11T13:49:00.011-05:00

Recently there has been a posting of some prophetic words by David Wilkerson regarding a An Urgent Message of calamity coming to America. I have been around long enough to remember some of his first prophetic words. I'm not aware of how many have actually come to pass. Maybe some of you might know. Although for some time now I have seen the hand writing on the wall so to speak. It's not difficult to see America is under the judgment of God. All one has to do is read is read Rom.1:18.

So what are we to make of stuff like this? Is it Kingdom stuff? The prophetic is for the building up of the body of Christ. Eph. 4:11. In 2Pet 1:20 it also says that no prophecy is for private interpretation but given to Holy men led of the Spirit. So while I have sensed for years now America has been on a downward spiral in terms of being a nation under God, I'm not certain of the specific results or the way it will happen. Only that if we as a nation do not repent we will suffer as a nation. In Amos3:7 we are told;

Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.

If He's not speaking to you then who? Do you know who those servants are?

The good news is still the same The Kingdom of God is here, near, delayed and coming simultaneously all at the same time. We are not to fear, we have not been given this spirit, but a spirit of peace even in the midst of troubles within this world. The calamity that is coming is more fearful for those who don't believe. That which is coming upon the unbeliever is something to be fearful of. There is work to be done, souls to be reached, a body of believers to be built up into unity. We need to be ready.

In the house of the lord are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. Prov. 21:20

So it may be wise to look ahead, hear his voice and obey.

Others speaking;
Christian Responders
Testing

I HEAR A VOICE

2009-03-03T14:34:00.003-05:00

See what you hear,

Revival

I hear the voice of one calling, prepare ye the way of the Lord.
And make His paths straight in the wilderness
And let your light shine in the darkness
And let your rain fall in the desert.

As sure as gold is precious and the honey sweet,
So you love this city and you love these streets.
Every child out playing by their own front door
Every baby laying on the bedroom floor.

Every dreamer dreaming in her dead-end job
Every driver driving through the rush hour mob
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You're going to send revival, bring them all back home

I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
"Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down".

From the Preacher preaching when the well is dry
To the lost soul reaching for a higher high
From the young man working through his hopes and fears
To the widow walking through the veil of tears

Every man and woman, every old and young
Every fathers daughter, every mothers son.
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You're going to send revival, bring them all back home

I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
"Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down".

Revive us, Revive us,
Revive us with your fire!

I have to say the Spirit has done something to me with this song. I do honestly feel it in my spirit and my bones :)

REVELATION

2009-03-01T11:59:00.007-05:00

Have you ever heard some say "get it" at the end of a sentence or while they're speaking? Or another say in reference to someone "they just don't get it" ? Why do you suppose one wouldn't "get it" ? How important is it?

Well a friend and I were having a discussion about Mary Magdalene who was a disciple of Jesus. She was the one who was first at the tomb of Jesus remember? She also was one who helped support the ministry Lk8:1. She had been there all along with the Master. She was there as we call it on Easter morning to anoint the body of Jesus. But he was not in the tomb. In Jn20:10 we have the testimony that she was outside the tomb crying. Mary had know Jesus as intimately as any of the other disciples having been one herself. I think because of the culture at the time and the view of woman it was not recorded as much how the woman were involved.

But here we have Mary in despair outside the tomb crying over the loss of a beloved one. She knew Jesus and Jesus knew her. They had a relationship as master and disciple. Jn. 20 states two angels ask her why she is crying"; She replies....

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

She didn't realize who she was talking to. Why not, she had been with Jesus for some years now? Well her focus certainly was looking for a dead body true, and one severely beaten and disfigured, but she knew him. She thought he was the gardener, why? Then is vs.16 we have this testimony;

16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

I imagine Jesus saying it like this; "Maarrrry, come on its me" sorta like when you would say to someone's name when they don't get it? And then the revelation came. She recognizes Jesus. The same thing happened to the two on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24. They didn't now who He was. It says in verse 45 that he "opened their mind" or gave them understanding.

How important is it to have revelation, understanding, to get it? Do you hear the Master saying your name? He is saying your name. I'm trying to listen more and more to hear his voice so I don't miss him when he speaks. And when he speaks to do what he says. To do the Father's bidding? Yes No?

After all we do n ot want to be like the one who looks in the mirror and walks away and forgets James 1:23

KINGDOM HOUSES

2009-02-12T21:52:00.015-05:00

If our lives with God were described by a house, what would it look like. A hut, small ranch or 3 story colonial? No, what I mean by our lives, is our story, or walk with God each and every day, week, month, year. How we live in His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven?

Recently a friend and I were discussing this. He was relating to me another person he knew in the church community who was now going through economic hardship having to sell their home and move 300 mile to live with their Aunt. This person was disappointed because the church was not aware of their circumstance and didn't seemed to really care.

My friend asked ... wasn't there a prophet who talked about paneled houses? So I looked it up and her it is in Haggai 1;

3Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4“Is it a
time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this
house remains a ruin?”

5Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your
ways. 6You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but
never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on
clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse
with holes in it.”

7This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your
ways. 8Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the
house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD.
9“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you
brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because
of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his
own house.

Now I realize he is referring to the Lords house here so how does this apply to us today? Where does the Lord reside today? He tabernacles with us. The question we asked ourselves was, are we living in paneled homes while the Lord's is in dismay. If all his people represent his house corporately or the community how are we treating it? How should we treat it? I know sometimes I fail to see it and sometimes fall much too short.

Beware of becoming a sneetches. See post below

What do you think?

SNEETCHES AND SNAILS

2009-02-11T18:50:00.009-05:00

Now the Star-bellied Sneetches
Had bellies with stars.

The Plain-bellied Sneetches
Had none upon thars.

The stars weren't so big;
They were really quite small.

You would think such a thing
Wouldn't matter at all.

But because they had stars,
All the Star-bellied Sneetches

Would brag, "We're the best kind of
Sneetch on the beaches."

~ from The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss Pg 3

So what does this have to do with the body of Christ?

Before Community, continued

2009-01-31T21:16:00.006-05:00

The Church is a structure of human relationships

Brothers and sisters, shepherds and sheep, teachers and pupils, servants, exhorters, leaders and followers. This structure is created wherever the kingdom [of God] breaks into society. The life of the kingdom brings the church into being; the resulting network of human relationships must seek to contain, express, and transmit the presence of the kingdom. However, sometimes this structure impedes ad even resists the power of the kingdom.

The kingdom is illustrated by the analogy of a snail and its shell. The secretions of the snail create the shell which the snail inhabits. Many shells lie empty and lifeless. As church history has progressed, God has given successive interventions of his kingdom. Each time, a shell has been created appropriate to the life of the church. But church history is strewn with empty shells where the structure remains but the life has disappeared. The kingdom perspective should cure us of a preoccupation with shells. Different outpourings of God's presence take on various modes of expression. Our eye should be fixed on the event of the kingdom. Where is God intervening? Where are his mighty deeds being performed? Where can we see the power of the age to come? Our interest in the shells should be functional. The shell is holy while the snail is there. The shape of the shell is not holy and neither is the shell once the snail has disappeared.

Kingdom Breakthrough, Derek Morphew

~Before Community; continued~

2009-01-31T19:04:00.008-05:00

The Church is not the Kingdom

By most definitions the church is a people or gathering of those who serve Jesus as the Lord. The kingdom is the personal, dynamic reign of God in the in the affairs of man upon the earth. We might reign with him in the sense that we share in His triumph but the dominion and lordship belongs to God. Furthermore God reigns over all; the whole universe, the stars, angels and the redeemed of the earth. The kingdom is therefore much wider than the church.

The Kingdom Creates the Church

Mathew 18:18-20 shows the inseparable link between the church and the kingdom. The building of the church is discussed in terms of the keys of the kingdom of God. Those who enter the kingdom automatically enter the church. As the rule and reign of God breaks into this world, men are confronted with the demands of God the king. They are called to give their allegiance to Jesus. The moment they accept his Lordship, they become part of the company that has already accepted his Lordship, the Church

Kingdom Breakthrough, Derek Morphew & The Presence of the Future, George Eldon Ladd

Before Community

2009-01-30T17:56:00.016-05:00

Before we can have community we need to know who we are and what were to do. Below is a sumerization from Derek Morphew's book 'KINGDOM BREAKTHROUGH' which I am in agreement.

The Kingdom and the Church

The Old Testament expectation was that the arrival of the “Age to Come” would terminate that present age. The mystery Jesus proclaimed was that the end of the world could break through before this world actually ended. The breakthrough of this “age to come” occurred with Christ’s birth, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. These last two events of the breakthrough set up the nature of this period of waiting and tension between this age and the age to come.

In Acts 1:6 the disciples asked

Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?

They were expecting an over throw of the Roman Empire. The disciples /Jews believed the kingdom of this world would be destroyed and replaced by God’s kingdom. The messiah would rule and Israel would be the capitol.

Jesus answer to the disciples announces there will be a delay, eluding what we are to do while were waiting;

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem,and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8

This provisional period is therefore a time of the Holy Spirit for the church. We as believers are to be faithful until the end, proclaiming, announcing the kingdom until the close of the age.

So which is the Kingdom and which is the Church?

The traditional Roman’s and the Protestant’s views of the past identified the kingdom with the church. A more recent view is dispensational separating the kingdom and the church. This view assumes a Davidic type kingdom related to the nation of Israel and the body of Christ being the church with a different destiny.

Next up;
The Church is not the Kingdom
The Kingdom creates the Church
The Church is a structure of human relationships

Community

2009-01-18T09:18:00.012-05:00

This is a thread to the posting below on community. See what the word has to say on the subject and again ask the question how we have gotten so far away from it. What is God saying to us through this? Is it possible to live in such a way that we could be in community again?

And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved. Acts 2:44-47 The Msg.

Yet the called out (Church) does not exist to fulfill a duty, but to facilitate a relationship with Him and others alongside.

Community?

2009-01-17T14:26:00.004-05:00

A brother and I were discussing this excerpt below from a book;

"The man who's wife brings him to church might respond, You should be glad that I at least come to church occasionally with my family, even if I don't pray or want any relationship with God or the others there.

Yet Church does not exist to fulfill a duty, but to facilitate a relationship. How can I believe a brother has cut himself off from life itself, from his very Creator and fellow creatures?
Indeed in the earliest church, "all the believers continued together in close fellowship"
Acts 2:44 *

According to the author he eludes to this passage saying the church is comprised of believers, not just family members, and promises the "sharing" in the common life, together even unto your total "belongings" vs.44 "The Good News is that we no longer to fear closeness with one another, as a burden; instead we can celebrate it as a gift and rely upon it as the major context for God's saving power in our lives." *

"The interdependent warp and woof of the church life-fabric is therefore spirituality--that is, relationship with God, as through prayer, worship, and bible study--and community, our relationship with one another through close fellowship. We in the christian church are therefore a spiritual community, people gathered because of God who is "spirit" (Jn 4:24) has called us together. And we proclaim a communal spirituality, one discerned, cultivated, and brought to loving service only together with others in close fellowship.

Clearly those who are oriented toward a life of both spirituality and community--who value spiritual reality and enjoy sharing intimately with others--will be drawn to the Christian church. On the other hand those who are oriented to a life of physical/rational/ reality and individuality--who value natural human power and independence from others--will not.

From this perspective the traditional feminine orientation is far more amenable to the biblical understanding of church life than the masculine." *

The author in this chapter is striving to show that our secular society sees men not created in the image of God but in the image of the world. That separation and isolation are the result over time of a non conformist mentality we suffer from in the pursuit of becoming independent, "pick your self up by your boot straps", "momma don't let you babies grow up to be cowboys" outlaw type lifestyle portrayed in our media. So we suffer from this being a part of our inherited DNA as it were.

So my question is; have we believers gotten so far away from our origin? Can we achieve this in our day? Are we suppose to?

* HEALING THE MASCULINE SOUL; by Gordon Dalbey 1988, 2003, p204-205

YEAR 2009

2009-01-10T11:33:00.009-05:00

As I was reading 2 Timothy 4:1-5 I was impressed by the words "keep it simple" and "spiritual junk food" I felt as if this text was a word for the year 2009

"I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple.
You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant". The Msg.

If you have any words you were impressed with for the year I'd like to hear them.

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T18:11:00.005-05:00

Exodus 12:1-11

calendar. This event established Abib (later called Nisan) as the first month in the religious calendar of Israel. By the civil calendar, Tishri, six months later, was the first month, and thus the month that “New Year’s Day” was celebrated. The Israelite calendar was a lunar calendar with periodic adjustments to the solar year. Abib began with the first new moon after the spring equinox, generally mid-March, and went through mid-April.

Isaiah 1:13

New Moons and Sabbaths. Keyed to its use of a lunar calendar, ancient Israel marked the first day of the month, with its “new moon” phase, as a festival day (every twenty-nine or thirty days). As on the Sabbath all work was to cease (see Amos 8:5), and there were sacrifices to be made (see comments on Numbers 28:11-15). The festival continued to be observed in the postexilic period (Ezra 3:5; Nehemiah 10:33). New Moon festivals were also prominent in Mesopotamia from late in the third millennium down to the Neo-Babylonian period in the middle of the first millennium B.C.

convocations, assemblies, appointed feasts. There were three major festivals that featured pilgrimage gatherings in Jerusalem and several others that would have included more local gatherings. Religious festivals offered frequent opportunity for celebrations, communal meals and social gatherings. What had been designed as a means to praise and honor God, however, was not bringing any pleasure to him.

IVP commentaries

N.I.V. Isa 1:

¹³Stop bringing meaningless offerings!

Your incense is detestable to me.

New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—

I cannot bear your evil assemblies.

The MSG. Isa.1:

¹³“Quit your worship charades.

I can’t stand your trivial religious games:

Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—

meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more!

Well this is a word for Israel and how the New Moon Festival use to be a time for the passover meal and reflection of what God had done for them as a nation. How far we have come in celebrating the new year. So maybe as in Christmas we remember the reason for the season we could remember the significance for the New Year

Spaghetti Sauce or the Spirit?

2008-12-24T10:29:00.016-05:00

Here is an excerpt from a recent article I read;

"I am talking about Christian people, about church members gathered together as they have done so many times before. Suddenly they are aware of his presence, they are aware of the majesty and the awe of God. The Holy Spirit literally seems to be presiding over the meeting and taking charge of it, and manifesting his power and guiding them, and leading them, and directing them. That is the essence of revival....

.....“The next morning I awakened and spent some private time in prayer and Bible reading. Then it happened. The first thing that I noticed was that my fingers and toes began to tingle. As these physical sensations increased, my pulse sped up and my breathing became shortened. I sensed something (or better, Someone) coming over me. I responded with both fear and excitement. What was going on? Was it last night’s spaghetti sauce? Or was God trying to do something more in me? I knew as I sat before my roll-top desk that I had to make a decision. Either I could go with what was happening to me, or I could shut it off. I recall praying, ‘Lord, if this is you, if you want to do something more in my life, then I give you permission to do it.’ The sensations now increased and I had a great urge to go somewhere to be alone and pray".

Full Article Here

The Wright Brothers

2008-12-02T13:56:00.005-05:00

No not the ones from North Carolina who flew the first airplane, NT Wright and Christopher Wright seem to be complementing each other these days. Follow the link.

DOES GOD HAVE A MISSION?

2008-11-28T11:21:00.012-05:00

In the book 'THE MISSION OF GOD' by Christopher Wright, he states;

Fundamentally our mission (if it is biblically informed and validated) means our committed participation as God's people, at God's invitation and command, in God's own mission within the history of God's world for the redemption of God's creation.

The word mission along with the definition have developed a variety of stereotypes over the years. We here in the western world typically think of mission as something a person (missionary) does by going overseas or to a foreign land to reclaim indigenous people for God.

The question that rarely comes up and I raise here is, does God have a mission? When you read the bible do read it as God's overal missional view of what he is doing?

Today there is much talk about being "postmodern____" and you fill in the blank. How this all works in our society today. From how we do church to how we live as Christians.

He has a mission and if we are serious about following Him (I include myself) then we ought to have a good perspective along with good participation of HIS plans and His mission. Are we fitting into His plan? Are we participating in His mission?

Reread Wright's quote above and ask yourself when you read the whole of the bible do you view that way?

I'll keep you posted as I read further into the book.

Lending to God

2008-11-14T23:32:00.006-05:00

Approximately every two weeks I have the opportunity to serve the at a local food bank. Each time there was an abundance of bread left over donated by local grocers. I asked what they did with the left over bread so much so it would fill the back of my six foot pickup. It was explained that it would go bad after a few days so they gave it to a local farmer for his pigs. For weeks this was on my heart thinking surely there are people that could use this bread but where to find them.

So I asked and was given permission to take it next time with no idea where to take it. We not only got all the left over bread but 120lbs of oranges, apples, bags of lettuce, peppers, and misc. vegetables. Three of us loaded the truck and headed to Butler, Pa. and parked outside the County Asst office. After an hour this was the result.

The Spirit reminded me much later that day of Pro.19:17 He who is kind to the poor lends to God

TRUTH vs. LIES

2008-11-10T22:50:00.004-05:00

I recently read an account of a company called Thyssen-Krupp. It is a German firm investing billions of dollars building a steel mill plant near Mobile, Al. They’re intention is to employ 2700 people, creating hundreds jobs in that area. As a result a man pretended to be an agent for this firm advertising His firm was representing them and doing all the hiring. He met with potential employees at a local hotel taking applications and an advanced union fee of $110 to get these positions. He said he would get back to them but never did. 1

The result was that people believed a lie. Once this occurs people become skeptical, cynical and some never recover at all. People often then have a hard time trusting anyone. The dilemma is twofold. There is always truth and lies. Two camps so to speak or what I prefer to say is two Kingdoms.

The truth is there was a company who was going to hire people to work for them. The lie was an individual whose desire was to deceive people for his own personal gain. Two Kingdoms, Truth and Deception.

The difficulty is being able to discern rightly between the two because we face many lies on a daily basis these days, from false advertising, false cures, false religion, false investments etc.

Discernment according to the ‘American Heritage Dictionary’ is; “the act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment”.
Or
Webster’s;
“the power or faculty of the mind by which it distinguishes one thing from another”.

Ultimately there is truth to be discovered, truth in life regarding our everyday situations and circumstances. We know truly 2 +2=4 and 2+1=4 is false. Truth is an absolute and all truth can be traced to a source. Whether one believes it or not 2+2 always =4, always.

Back to our story of the German firm which demonstrated how people were deceived. The result was people had been had. Why is it we are deceived. Lack of discernment yes but sometimes LIES offer us what we want and that wanting leads to believing a lie. In our wanting, not being armed with the truth we allow ourselves to be deceived.

Ultimate truth protects us from what is false and from being deceived. The problem with deception is you don’t know your deceived or been lied to until it’s too late creating more skepticism because the tendency then is not to trust anyone or believe anything including the truth. The worst scenario is when we start to lie to ourselves because we want something bad enough. This can cost more than $110 and ultimately cost one’s life.

There are many historical accounts where we find truth. Jesus himself said He was the truth the way and the life, that no one comes to the father except through Him. Those who were with him and knew him said he was the truth. When we receive or accept Jesus we receive the truth within us.2

Everyone in this world at one point or another knows what a lie is or what being deceived feels like. There’s something that happens on the inside as a result. The old proverb 23:23 that says “buy the truth and do not sell it” provides us much wisdom. Anyone who has been lied to or deceived probably wishes they could go online or to a store and order some truth. You know like the catalogues;

“yes I’d like to order some truth please. How much would you like? Oh enough to get me by until next month should be ok, besides its all I can afford right now.”

Remember or math problem 2+2=? Well if Jesus = Truth = no Lies or deception would that be worth buying? Absolutely! If you think it doesn’t, just because you think 2+1=4 doesn’t make it so. The truth is it still adds up to 4.
In our world today there are many views, many voices and they all cannot be right at the same time. In ancient times if you were bitten by a viper surely you would die. On one occasion a man named Paul was bitten while making a fire. Those who saw it said “he must have done something wrong, he’s a bad person”. Then he didn’t die and they said, “Whoa he must therefore be a god.” Because Naturalism still exists today if you were bitten at a picnic by a rattlesnake and nothing happened some would say, “oh it was an old snake” or “ it probably just bit a rabbit and had no venom left” which is possible. The problem is we tend not to believe that God could have anything to do with it at all.

Thus we have the two Kingdoms Truth and Deception. One always is building up the other is always tearing down. Choose wisely.

1. CSM, Autun 2008
2. 1 Jn. 1:6-8, 2:21-27, 3:19, 5:6

Election Morning

2008-11-04T08:54:00.003-05:00

Just a quick note with more to come later as I go out the door to vote this morning.

With all the rhetoric to this point, pros and cons for each canidate, some are expressing fear for the results of the 2008 presidential election. Here is a reminder from 2 Chronicles 20:15;

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

The battle is not ours but the Lords

FROM THE OUTSIDE IN

2008-10-21T22:30:00.006-05:00

Recently I spent about a month in Houston Tx. inspecting homes for FEMA which is my current tent making work. Along the way I had several opportunities to proclaim the Kingdom of God and it's presence. What I mean by proclaim is to announce or let be known that it is here, really here. On the very first day of my journey I had the opportunity to encourage a brother/pastor and you could feel God's presence in the room. There were several other experiences during the month long trip.

One of the things I noticed while driving between inspections was the amount of large church buildings every where and how empty they were except for Sunday. I thought how sad to see all that resource being used for a building that only seemed to be used once or twice a week. I wondered how much the Kingdom was being expanded in these fellowships?

I hadn't had much time for internet or blogging because I was too busy. Then I get back home and it's like nothings changed. I got online looked at my usual favorite blogs and its like i didn't miss a thing.

I wondered how long we might continue until we became BLUE IN THE FACE, from repeating the same thing over and over and not doing anything different than last week, last month, or last year except for becoming more eloquent in our speech? No power, no demonstration?

I don't know about you but I long for change but not just for change sake. Change because its what God is doing now. The scriptures that have been on my heart of late are Jn 3. where Jesus says you can't see the Kingdom if your not born of the Spirit and water. You can't SEE it ! If we can't see it, is it because were not born of the .......... Or because we recently have not been re filled? If not I would reccomend what Jesus said "seek the KINGDOM"

How Does It All End?

2008-09-08T11:47:00.005-05:00

Maybe it has already ended ? Take a listen

Hearing His Voice

2008-09-03T12:24:00.008-05:00

Heb.11:6 says;

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

And just what is the reward? Him, having a relationship with him. 1Corth 12. which has been quoted a lot regarding the gifts cannot be read without reading chapter 13. The context is relational. Its more about the Love of God than the gifts. Seek ye first the King, his kingdom and all these things will be added. In order to be lead of the spirit you have to hear something from him? I think so. So when we seek God with all our heart mind and soul, we gain Him. He is the prize.

Some Christians get off track, out of place, become comfortable with seeking the gift of prophecy, the gift of healing, the gift of miracles. God is a rewarder of those that diligently SEEK HIM. When we get him we get it all. The prophetic along with the other manifested gifts are simply tools or expressions of his love for man, and not what our focus should be.

As discussed in the previous article the H.S. has been given to us. Promised by Jesus to guide us in all truth. We receive power when he comes to us, Lu.24:49, Acts 1:8.

In Acts 2:38-39 it Peter says;

Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.

For all who are called. Have you been called? Promised to them, you and your offspring. Eph. 1:13 Sealed with the Holy Spirit.

What does it take then to walk in this? A willingness, a welcoming heart. One who says "Lord come and do what you will in me and through me. Your will be done your kingdom come? On earth"? Yes! That's the beginning.

Does God Still Talk?

2008-09-03T01:22:00.003-05:00

Have you ever had one of those experiences where you realized you had made a big mistake but didn’t have a clue until it was over? I was reminded recently of a time when I had gone to the bathroom while out at a restaurant. I had been to this place before which is located in the mountains near a friends camp where we have hunted for years. So this place was familiar to me. While in the bathroom I remember thinking “my they have really cleaned this place up”. When I return to my seat is when I realized I had been in the woman’s bathroom. I was so embarrassed thinking I hope no one noticed. Or thank goodness no one came in while I was there. I recently read about this pastor who had done a similar thing while in England. He too had gone into the woman’s bathroom but he had visitors while he was sitting in his stall. He thought for sure he was going to be the scandal in the next day’s paper that read ‘PASTOR PERVERT’. He let them know he was there and politely they let him leave.

What’s the point you say? Well as he explained God began to speak to him how many Christians believe they are in a certain place in life, but they are actually “out of place according to what God wants them to do in them”1. They are just in a place they have become comfortable in and are use to it. So much so that it feels normal but not where they should be, (like the bathroom). It is an environment of our own making. How do we get in these places in life? By not listening to God.

Jesus said in John 16: 12-15

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

So the question to ask is, how do we hear from Him? How do we hear the Holy Spirit without it getting all weird?

1 by Rick Evens, 'GODSPEAKS'

Religion

2008-08-27T10:31:00.003-05:00

I came across a blog today that appeared to be an honest man's view of why he got up in church one day, walked out the door and never went back. He stated that a lot of expectations had been put upon him to experience and know things about God at an early age in his traditional church. Most of us can relate whatever denomination we've been in. In his adolescence there came a time where he realized it was not real for him. The question I ask here is why?

This was my initial reaction and reply to him;

Hello ...,

Having been raised Catholic I too was subject to religion at an early age only to be dismayed in adolescence. On the journey to find out the truth I met a man who showed me what the truth is. Having seen that changed my life. Since then I have had a relationship with the creator and it has been worth everything along the journey. I know for me it was because I was always seeking the truth. When He found me it all changed. Religion is the enemy of any relationship with God. Seek the Truth and you will find that Jesus is the truth and more you can have a relationship with Him not just a religion.

When the focus is on the experience or knowledge we all miss the truth.

Real Religion

2008-08-26T12:07:00.014-05:00

Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
MSG.Ja.Ch.1

I want to be cautious here and try not to be misunderstood. I have been examining my self as we are encouraged to do in the word. Blogging has become a modern day phenomenon. My question is for those of us who call ourselves Christian and blog. How does this line up with being a disciple of Christ? I include myself in this question.

The word above refers to a REAL RELIGION. The age ole question comes to mind,

if being a christian were a crime would there be evidence to convict you?

Recently some online reports tell the story of bibles being confiscated at the airport in KunMing China. This raised my curiosity having been there myself. This was a group of believers smuggling 300 bibles. I only brought one in when I went there. Some have gone to jail because of their faith. We don't have to go to China or smuggle bibles but James does speak about whether or not our actions line up with our faith.

Faith in Action

Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?

I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works (blogging, writing, etc.) department.”

Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.

Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?
MSG.Ja.Ch.2

So who are the homeless and loveless around us? Where do we find them? Have you seen any? I ask myself these questions because this is what Jesus referred to in Luke 4 and what he was anointed for. Are we an extension of his ministry, or are we in our own? Can blogging become like what James describes above, just works? If we can not point to any works that show our faith, what do we have?

My intention is not to judge, for I do not want to be judged likewise. My intention in to think about what I'm doing. In my imperfection my desire is to be found faithful to continue to do the Kingdom Stuff like Jesus, to see what the Father is doing now and get in on it.

Pray for Renewal ?

2008-08-10T12:06:00.009-05:00

Recently I received an email to attend a monthly gathering to pray for renewal and revival to our city. I have to admit I was disappointed after reading it. The intentions to do just that I believe are good. The focus and direction however in my opinion have become off target.

Attention has been given to the prophetic, numerology, and what I believe is modern day Gnosticism which I’ll explain below. Relying on extra biblical words given and trying to make them happen isn’t prophetic. Prophetic words are first of all subject to the prophets and need to be tested. Prophetic words for a corporate group in the Lord are for encouragement, building up, edification and correction, again subject to the Spirit of prophecy within believers. I believe there is validity in this if properly done. There is a select group called Elijah’s List who give prophetic words periodically yet do not allow for them to be tested by others. They give the proposed words and take the position that’s it, take it or not.

Numerology is not something I see Jesus practicing, yet some gave attention to the recent date 8-8-08 or 888 which some say ads up to the name of Jesus in the Greek. Or a DAY OF NEW BEGINNINGS. There was another 888 in 1908, so who is to say it's for this one and not other centuries gone by, what about 8-8-2108? Will that be a new beginning too? This form is a mixing of mystic beliefs and Christianity and has roots in Gnosticism which the Apostle Paul dealt with heavily in Corinth. It is a mix of mystic knowledge and biblical knowledge but not very much the knowledge of Jesus himself. There are some good resources on this subject that describe modern day Gnostic practices and how they have crept back into our beliefs and practices. It would take way too much space here to address properly. ‘THE SPIRITUAL SPIDER WEB’ by Derek Morphew is one.

Members of this gathering began in a good place, feeding the hungry, poor, clothing the naked etc. and still do to this day. Where I think this gathering maybe headed is off center when it gets away from the ministry of Jesus. Recently I had been reading Isaiah 58-61 again way too much to address here but just a few points. In 58:1-5 the prophet gives a word that their fasting and praying is not acceptable to the Lord. They cry out but God doesn’t hear them. Then in vs. 6 he describes the chosen way in which to humble (fast) yourself.

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard."

If our hearts are for Him and what he wants, then we would be doing this. It would be our focus. In vs. 8 he says THEN, THEN your healing will come, THEN your light will break forth. Why do we desire to see revival or renewal to come to our city? What for? To have fabulous meetings, high worship? I have nothing against that if it’s a result of the chosen fast but according to the word it’s a result that happens. It’s not the result we are to seek.

Later on in Isaiah 61 the prophet states;
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound"

This is what Jesus read in the temple Synagogue and proclaimed was his ministry in Luke 4. If we are to continue Jesus ministry (which is the only valid ministry we have) we should be doing what he was doing, John 14:12.
So in this case I say we have the cart before the horse. Renewal for the city comes after. It’s a result of another focus. Recently in a discussion a friend pointed out Heb. 13:14-15 and I like the reading in the Message;

So let’s go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is—not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This “insider world” is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come.

NIV; The writer of Hebrews makes this declaration: "For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come"

Our focus needs to be His focus.

Worth Your Weight in Salt?

2008-07-13T11:22:00.012-05:00

There use to be a common practice of salting your meat to preserve it. Since the modern age of refrigeration this is not a common practice anymore. Recently I decided to make some venison jerky with a new recipe. The recipe called for curing the meat with salt and then further processing it with mid eastern spices. In the book ‘Butchering, Processing, and the Preservation of Meat’ the author Ashbrook states “meat curing has a twofold aim; first to preserve the meat for future use; second to give it added desired flavor.”
My recipe calls for smothering the meat in salt for three days, washing it and hanging it for some time. Then applying the spices and drying it further to make jerky.

This caused me to research the salting process. What I learned was that the salt draws out the moisture keeping bacteria from growing and putrefying the meat. The salting prevents the meat from spoiling or being contaminated.

This process is ancient. Then I remembered the phrase, “being worth your weight in salt”. I wondered where that came from so I looked it up. The common explanation is that the Roman soldier’s wages were paid in salt. Slaves were sold and salt was used as payment. Thus ones worth being the weight of salt paid for a slave or wages earned.

Now recall Jesus beatitude teaching to his disciples and the crowd on the shoreline. Jesus tells them blessed are you when….. over and over. As I reread this in Matt. 5 Jesus is telling them they are blessed "WHEN". In hindsight we can see how we are blessed as well "WHEN" we behave the same way. But right on the heels of this Jesus also throws this in.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

How can you become salty again? As I was curing the venison I realized that after awhile the salt loses its ability to draw out the moisture thus becoming ineffective and of no real use anymore. According to Jesus we are the salt of the earth. We should be able to have an effect on the earth and those in it, to penetrate and preserve it. We have been given gifts from the Father that is salt to the earth.

Yet as I read various reports and statistics the Church as a whole has become ineffective. Christianity in America alone is decreasing. We are no longer salt and no longer good for anything as the scripture says.

So the question arises, how did we lose our salt? As in the process of curing meat, once it is used it is of no use anymore. More fresh salt is required to continue or do the process again. As followers of Christ we have an unending supply from the Father.

Acts 1:8 says;
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We should be salt to people,Preserving them for other usage, to be witnesses, and be effective as in Phil 1:6 “I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ.”

All one needs to do is pause and look around. Just about everywhere you look people have become spoiled like meat without salt, contaminated by the world, not to mention ourselves. My prayer is that I myself as well as those I know may become more salty, have more salt and have a good effect on this dying world we live in. That we would seek the supplier of the salt for His presence, His anointing, in order to have an effect of preserving.

The phrase "pass the salt please" should take on a new meaning.

Where is America in the Bible?

2008-07-10T09:34:00.004-05:00

A good friend asked this question on his blog site called 'NOT NECESSARILY THE CHURCH'(right column below). It provoked me to post a response. I liked the question based on my newer world view of the Kingdom of God that I decided to post my answer here as well. Thanks Dave for provoking me :).....

I use to ask the same question, where is the USA mentioned? I can't seem to find it either. But neither is south America, Australia, or many others. There are references to kingdoms of the north, east, west, and south. The word kingdom is mentioned over 400 times and the plural is 55 times. This was the main focus of Jesus as well as Paul at the end of Acts 28.

So where does America fit in? I think like any other kingdom before the USA started out with a Christian Godly view making it one of the grafted in nations, ethos or people groups. Like Israel though, over 250 plus years America has since given itself to some other Gods and we know what happened in the history of Israel. They were given over to their oppressors time and time again. They repented again and again too. What a cycle to have to rebuild all the time.

When you boil it down though there are only Two Kingdoms, Gods and Satan. Thus the reason for Jesus coming and bringing the Kingdom of God into our time space world. Having written on this extensively I could go on and on. Suffice it to say we are given an opportunity to live in one Kingdom or the other regardless where the USA ends up.

Great question though !!

Can God heal someone who is angry at Him?

2008-06-13T15:28:00.004-05:00

Recently I was sent an email about a person who was helping a woman in a wheelchair at the checkout at Walmart. She asked if she could pray for her and the woman said No! She responded that God could have done that long ago. She was angry at God, seemed to have a lot of hurt from it over the years and very bitter. I was asked if God could heal this person anyway?

This reminded me some years ago of a woman who came up for prayer once. Very angry at God, bitter for some reason she wouldn't say. She wouldn't let anyone pray for her except me. I thought you don't get it. It's not me. So we prayed for a bit, soaking her and I left her standing there. Told her to keep waiting on the Lord. A few min later someone else came over and prayed and down she went LOL which is what was suppose to happen. For what ever reason I knew it wasn't going to happen with me praying. So I went back and told the woman praying for her to keep soaking her. After the eve was over she came up to me smiling and said "you won't believe what happened to me". I could see it all over her face. Her anger was gone, her bitterness was gone. She had been set free. She went from being angry and bitter towards God to a sweet person full of the Joy of the Lord.

So the answer is Yes!! he will do it for them, especially for those held captive.

I realize maybe she was embarrassed and uncomfortable but mostly just bound by the enemy. We need to take risks like this person as the Lord leads, you never know what could happen.

Playing the Game

2008-05-23T09:28:00.000-05:00

What Does it Mean to Be Missional

2008-05-23T00:17:00.003-05:00

Missional Wrap Up

2008-05-22T09:26:00.002-05:00

AMAZED

2008-05-13T08:43:00.006-05:00

Zeph.3:17

He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His Love,
He will rejoice over you with singing

I AM CONSTANTLY AMAZED BY HIM AND HOW MUCH HE LOVES ME

The Risen Lord and the Kingdom of God in Mark’s Gospel

2008-04-19T10:37:00.002-05:00

The following is an excerpt from an in depth study

By Don Williams

Assumptions for Reading this Gospel

1. Jesus is alive. He is the risen Lord. When we approach the Gospels we do not come to a dead figure locked into past history. We come to the living Lord, now reigning in heaven and present by his Spirit in the fellowship of his people. This determines how we approach studying and reading the Gospel records. Luke Timothy Johnson writes:

“It makes a big difference whether we think someone is dead or alive. People who are alive are still capable of doing new things and saying new things. They can change their minds. When someone is still living and we are in relationship with that person…new data is still coming in. As a result of this continued contact, knowledge of the living person grows and changes.

“The dead, on the other hand, stay still. Their deeds are ended; their words are complete; their power – however impressive it may once have been - is gone. Others have quite literally taken their place, walking over the spot where they lie buried. The most important question concerning Jesus, then, is simply this: Do we think he is dead or alive? If Jesus is simply dead…we cannot reasonably expect to learn more from him. If he is alive, however, everything changes. It is no longer a matter of our questioning a historical record, but a matter of our being put in question by the one who has broken every rule of ordinary human existence. If Jesus lives, then it must be as life-giver. Jesus is not simply a figure of the past in that case, but a person in the present: not merely a memory that we can analyze and manipulate, but an agent who can confront and instruct us. What we learn about him must therefore include what we continue to learn from him.

“This seems to be one of those very few choices that allow no equivocation. There is no middle ground between dead and alive. If Jesus is dead, then his story is completed. If he is alive, then his story continues. To be a Christian…means confessing that Jesus is alive in the sense of that ancient declaration, ‘Jesus is Lord’ (I Cor. 12:3).” [Selected from Living Jesus, chapter 1]

Vineyard History

2008-03-29T09:06:00.000-05:00

Vineyard USA 25th Anniversary from Vineyard USA on Vimeo.

Faith in Men's Wisdom or God's Power

2008-02-24T03:47:00.005-05:00

1Cor.2:4-5 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

I think 1st Cor.2 is a rich with insight from Paul. I love the fact that he says he didn't come to the Corinthians with eloquent speech or a superior wisdom regarding his testimony of God. How he came shaking in fear and weakness. His proclaiming was not with wise or persuasive words but demonstrated the power of God.

What does that look like? Luke 7:22? In Acts1:4-8 Jesus told the disciples to WAIT in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit and when He comes they would receive Power. What's the Power for? So that Men's faith would not rest on Men but on God.

I believe this to be true and that we as disciples are to receive the same Holy Spirit we have been promised by Jesus for the purpose of proclaiming His Kingdom then demonstrating it with God's power so people will put their faith in God.

We need to begin to expect He wants this to. To seek His Presence in all we do. We might just be surprised when He shows up.

Kingdom Works

2008-02-16T16:42:00.006-05:00

John Wimber commenting on the Works of the Kingdom
9-29-1995 (b)

Kingdom Works and Training

2008-02-16T16:40:00.001-05:00

The video excerpt below is from a conference I attended with John Wimber.
9-29-1995 (a)

Physical Healing-Signs and Wonders

2008-02-16T10:23:00.001-05:00

“According to current church-growth principles, if Jesus were to plant a church today, He would begin by canvassing the neighborhood to find those interested in hearing Him preach. He would send out a mailing announcing His new church. He would identify the felt needs of people and plan to meet them. He would instruct His disciples how to be ‘seeker-friendly’, or how to identify emotional and relational needs that He could address. All of these are helpful ideas on how to start a new church. Yet Jesus began His ministry by casting out demons. Francis MacNutt has said that if you want to start a worldwide ministry, just heal a few people….

Jesus calls us into Kingdom ministry to set captives free. The Gospel of Mark tells us that after Jesus taught the disciples how to cast out demons in His name, ‘He sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits’ (Mark 6:7). The result? ‘They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them’ (Mark 6:12-13).

This was no isolated event. This was their entrance into Kingdom ministry. We should expect no less!”

Dr. Don Williams, Vineyard Pastor

“Start Here: Kingdom Essentials for Christians”

Regal Books, 2006

pgs 62, 72

more to come on this subject

IN A NUT SHELL

2008-02-03T14:17:00.000-05:00

You probably heard the story of the teacher who asked the Sunday schools kids, "What has four legs, a furry tail, collects nuts and climbs trees?" The student answered, "I know the answer is Jesus but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me."

I think sometimes we get caught up in doctrine, theology, philosophy, and the cultural mindset at times as we search for truth but the answer really is Jesus.

Jesus himself in Luke 4:18 said,

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

In verse 21 He declares this prophetic word, this scripture from Isaiah 61 had been fulfilled at the moment he read it.

In John 14:12 Jesus states, If you have faith in me, you would be doing what I'm doing. So theres no limitation to the mission we have. By Jesus words it was expected to be more than him that did these works. He didn't say only the Apostles would be able to do the works.

The model we have from Jesus is to proclaim the good news of the gospel along with the works. There is no separating this. It is the same now as it was then.

Theres a difference between proclaiming the good news with and without his presence. If you've not experienced this, you can !! Trust me it works better when you are able to proclaim the good news and God manifests his power. This is not a popular teaching today but its truth.

Ok follow this with me for a moment. In Acts 10:38, God anoints Jesus with the Holy Spirit, as he went around doing good, healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with Him. None of us, no prophet, scribe or Jesus could do it with out God. He was the example of one who could fulfill the task of teaching a hurting world by bringing them God's presence, power, and Love. There is a need for anointing, but it's available.

So we have the Mission in Luke 4, we have multitudes of scriptures that talk of Empowering
us for the mission; (Acts, 5:12, 14-16, 6:8, 8: 6-8, 9:32-35, 14:3, 19:11-12).

Then if one is looking for the method or reason we have Jn. 5: 19-20 Jesus' ministry model;

“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does t.he Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does."

Jesus clues us in to the necessity to be in an intimate relationship with the Father. This is how we know who and when to minister. Jesus didn't heal everyone Jn 5:2, but this important principle needs to be embraced if we are to be empowered. He's the one who heals through us being empowered.

Frank Decenso sums it up this way in his book 'Presence Powered Living'; "Embracing Jesus' mission, being empowered by God for the mission, and following the Fathers leading in the mission, together constitute a model of ministry that will enable us to be much more effective in advancing God's Kingdom in this pain-laden world."
pg.57
see my abstract

If we identify with Jesus and have faith in him and his power we should be compelled to be doing Luke 4.

So I ask the same question; Whats furry, has four legs collects nuts and climbs trees?

Zephaniah

2008-02-02T21:12:00.000-05:00

Zeph. 3:17

The Lord God is in your midst,

The Mighty One will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His Love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.

The word midst translated means “the nearest part, the center" He is in us at the very center of our being.

In Exodus 40 we see the presence of God in the midst of the Israelites.I can imagine that after awhile one might look for God to manifest His presence in only extraordinary ways and perhaps miss Him when comes in various gentle ways.

More than likely the Israelites would have noticed when the cloud moved. Is it possible we can miss Him when He comes to fellowship or talk or lead us in quiet tender ways?

I love the fact that His word says he is at the center of us. He dwells among us. We are now the tabernacles, Christ in us the Hope of Glory.

He rejoices over us, He's glad, He quiets us with His Love, He sings over us.

What an awesome God we have.

The View From Up There

2008-01-28T00:06:00.002-05:00

Excerpt from "Witnesses for a Powerful Christ" by John Wimber

The book of Revelation gives us little snapshots of worship as it is in heaven. These heavenly scenes lead us into a deeper understanding and appreciation of worship since we see it in its perfect state. First of all, everyone is worshipping-there are no spectators. Also, Revelation shows worshippers using their voices and bodies to express their adoration to God. Furthermore, their worship is not only about God, it is directed to God as well. Lastly, worship serves to prepare believers to reign with God for eternity. Day and night, they never stop saying Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come, and whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship with their lives forever and ever, and they lay their crowns before the throne and say: 'You are worthy, our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.' (Revelation 4:8)

I love these elders. Not only do they unceasingly cry out "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord," but they can't stay on their feet. Every time the glory of God is revealed-Bam! Down they go!

In Revelations 5:8 we see the same response again from the elders. "And when the Lamb had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb." They fell down because their worship drew them into the presence of God and Jesus; falling down in worship was automatic.

Revelation 7:9 says, "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne, in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands and they cried out in a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.'"

This is some picture! Imagine millions of people shouting at the top of their voices in worship of God. The text continues, "And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures and they fell down."

Here they go again. These elders can't stay on their feet before God when they're worshipping him. This is the only natural response to an encounter with God. "They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God saying, 'Amen, praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever.' " When they worship, evidently they must express it with both body and voice.

Do you get it? It isn't enough to simply get a little religion into your life. When we are consumed with adoration and worship for the Creator, we are becoming the men and women to whom God wants to entrust his kingdom. God is stirring, stimulating, marking, touching, blessing, healing and calling a people to himself, and he is forming and preparing them to be a kingdom of people who will worship and reign.

Excerpted from Witnesses For a Powerful Christ, VMI Publishing (1996). Used with permission.

Unity and the Kingdom

2008-01-22T09:55:00.000-05:00

Following up on previous threads; keys to maturity & potential lost, I had a discussion with a friend regarding Jesus prayer in John 17:22. Jesus lets us know what his heart is;

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Complete unity is attainable according to Jesus but the question is how? How do you get us believers especially here in America where we pride ourselves on being rugged individuals to be in unity? It looks like it could take a very long time before unity is obtained. In the area of church, faith, and our beliefs we are all over the map when it comes to unity. Just start counting the number of denominations and then each one of them differ to some degree on what to really focus on, evangelism, growth, holiness, baptism, tongues, etc. The list could go on and on.

This is where I believe the Kingdom of God comes in. To refresh, when we speak of the KOG I would refer you to my thesis on the subject for an in depth study. But when one hears the words KOG most think of some heavenly realm which would be partly true. To understand where I'm going with this we must see the KOG as the "rule and reign" of God as defined by theologians.(1) A kingdom has a King. A king rules and reigns. In history there have been good and bad kings but it was always there rules and reigning that brought governing order, good and bad.

Next we need to think about Jesus. Do you see him as King? Do you see him ruling and reigning? Today? Lets take it a step further. Jesus broke through into our world bringing the Kingdom. He proclaimed the KOG to be here, He demonstrated it by his works and He left a deposit (Eph.), the holy spirit. He told us "to wait until the power comes", or manifests. Yes?, No?

So His Kingdom again not a place in the heavenly skies but a ruling and reigning in the earth and is truly here now. We just don't always walk in it as believers. We don't pray for it to come like Jesus told us to, and we don't expect it to come because we don't have a vision for it.

So how does this tie into Jesus prayer that we be one or in complete unity? 1st- we must begin to see that his Kingdom brings order, governing our lives if we allow it (ruling and reigning). 2nd- as we fall in love with him again and again, maturing in our love relationship with him and he will rule more and more in us. 3rd- When this occurs, we as believer's, desiring for, praying for, expecting, and accepting God's rule and reign to breakthrough into our lives, unity will be present. Unity will be the natural by product for us.

So it is my belief that we need to receive what has already been put into motion. We love him because he first loved us. But are we receiving his love? Are you? Are we allowing him to love us? Until we do we can't love ourselves nor can we see his Kingdom, nor will we be in unity.

(1) George E. Ladd, The Presence of the Future, Derek Morphew, Kingdom Breakthrough

Key to Maturity

2008-01-14T09:17:00.000-05:00

I'm reading a book called PRESENCE POWERED LIVING. Below is an excerpt from p24. In regards to the thread below on potential maturity I believe this to be pertinent.

“Unfortunately, it seems we are seldom advised that the primary goal of the Christian life should be a growing, intimate love relationship with our God. This is a lamentable omission, foe when we increasingly fall in love with God we will become more mature believers, we will become more mature believers, we will become equipped against sin, we will be better stewards, and our marriages will be enhanced. In other words, as we advance in our intimate love with God, all areas of life are supernaturally benefited from our living in God’s loving presence.

Some discipleship methodologies have put the cart before the proverbial horse. For example churches and para-church organizations have endless programs for alcohol recovery, addiction relief, and the prevention of extra marital affairs. But interestingly, many of those churches and organizations do not focus on life-integration of the primary commandment given to believers to love God with all that we are and have.

I may be naive but I think the primary discipleship focus should be to lead believers into deeper levels of intimacy with the love for God, which will naturally bring God’s presence into all the areas of life. As a result, many of the issues facing believers that churches try to counter with classes, programs, and accountability sessions, will be eliminated by that intimate, mutual love between the Father and His children.

Tozer said,”The Teaching of the bible is that God is Himself the end for which man was created…The first and greatest commandment is to love God with every power of our entire being. Where love like that exists there can be no place for a second object.”[1]

A growing love and passion for God will consume a believer much more than addictions, or sinful habits, or anything else of an insidious nature invading their life.”

[1] Man: The dwelling place of God, p 58

Potential Maturity Lost ?

2008-01-07T20:14:00.000-05:00

^{Heb 6:1-3 NIV}

¹Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, ²instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. ³And God permitting, we will do so.

I was recently discussing the scriptures above with a professor, mentor, and good brother of mine along with a few others. As I meditated on Heb. 5:12 – 6:20 I had these thoughts.

My generation in the Lord began in the Charismatic movement of the late 60’s, early 70’s in Pittsburgh; the Jesus movement, getting saved, baptized in water, and baptism in the Spirit, --- the elementary teachings.

As in verse 5, having tasted of the powers of the age to come I had a desire for more of what God was doing. My thoughts quickly were on the fact that a generation of believers has grown physically and spiritually from that point some 38 yrs now.

I think the Message captures this best;

“Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit, once they’ve personally experienced the sheer goodness of God’s Word and the powers breaking in on us-” Having tasted one should want to move on. Is this happening?

My opinion is that there are a number of believers out there have not been released into ministry or their growth has been stymied due to the religious systems we have made. If these brothers and sisters aren’t released the potential maturity that exists in them will die with this generation or be wasted and therefore have to wait for the next generation to mature. Once this window passes it’s over.

In 6:12 it says “so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” nrsv.

If we become imitators of Christ, proclaim the gospel good news, pray, we can expect his Kingdom to come just as he promised in vs.13-20, we can go to “¹⁹the inner shrine behind the curtain, ²⁰where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered,”

Bill Hybel’s asst. recently did a survey of 300 churches including their own and found that they do well meeting the needs of the new and young believers but not much after that. The more mature then tend to get discouraged or have their senses dulled. It is my belief that is because the system doesn’t encourage or facilitate releasing these to do the stuff. Kingdom stuff. It’s time leadership arises to allow, encourage and facilitate those seeking maturity before the generation dies and it has to start all over.

Is it too late?

Next post I will talk about how the mature can go on without becoming dull, or discouraged.

Missions?

2007-12-08T12:59:00.000-05:00

The word mission is seldom used in the scriptures. The King James translation doesn’t use it at all. In the N.I.V. translation it is used only six times. The Revised Standard Version uses it five times and the Message uses it sixteen times[i]. It would appear to be a more modern usage of the word. As I began to think of what missions really are in modern terms I asked myself what was Jesus mission and how did He model that for us? Scripture tells us, 1. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work[ii]. 2. Jesus himself said He was sent to proclaim the Kingdom of God, heal the sick and every disease in all the towns and villages[iii]. Jesus modeled for us what to say and what to do. Then sent us to do the same; proclaim the Kingdom of God, and heal the sick[iv]. Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom, the rule and reign of God and then demonstrated it by healing, casting out demons, setting people free. This is the mission; the telling and the doing, the word and the illumination of it[v], you have to have both. Missions are usually associated with a foreign work. If we as Christ followers obey what Jesus taught, then we too will be on a mission from God wherever we find ourselves geographically.

[ii] N.I.V., 1John 3:8

[iii] N.I.V., Matt. 4:23, 9:35, Lu.4:43, 8:1,

[iv] N.I.V., Matt.28:18-20, Lu. 9:1-2

[v] Wimber, John, Back to Our Roots, Stories of the Vineyard, DVD, Doin’ the Stuff,2006