Rychus Ruckus

Love With An Agenda

2011-11-22T13:24:00.000-08:00

Have you ever loved someone with an agenda? I have preached and heard that we shouldn't love people with an agenda. After contemplating that more I have come to notice that it is said more as a crutch for not sharing the gospel.

Sometimes it takes us having an agenda to get involved in a persons life.

When my wife and I first met...I had an agenda. I wanted her to like me. I wanted her to be charmed only by me. I wanted nothing else than to have her as mine. So I planned, purposed, and proposed. My plan was simple. Communicate with her as much as possible. We had a long distance relationship so I was going to write, IM, email, talk on the phone, do whatever I had to in order to stay at the front of her mind. My purpose was to win her heart. I did that by driving approx 2,000 miles to see her. Every moment I was with her I drank it in so I could pour out my own affection toward her. After several trips (not all by car) she moved to the city I lived in. About two months later I proposed. It all started with an agenda.

If I didn't have an agenda I could have lost out on the very best person I have ever had in my life.

I don't need to approach a person as another spiritual conquest. However, I need to have an agenda to open a pathway for people who don't have a relationship with God to encounter Him. If I don't because I don't want to love a person with an agenda I could very well miss out on daily opportunities to tell people I should connect with about Jesus.

People we come into contact with deserve to hear about Jesus. We cannot fail in this rudimentary portion of our faith.

Jesus didn't say "Love people if you like them" or "Just tell the people you like about Me." One thing He did say that should cut us to the heart is: "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?"

You don't love a person well if they don't have a relationship with God and you remain silent.

Love with an agenda because some people don't love at all.

Mission HQ or Mission Field

2011-11-18T15:19:00.000-08:00

Generally speaking the most dominate movement within the modern day American church is to be MISSIONAL. This movement, when done with compassion, consistency, and tenacity will reshape the structure of the church.

Sinner has to assimilate to the Church
before they actually have an encounter
with God.

The predominant "missional" practice is to compel people to come to a church function (youth group, men's/women's ministries, outreach located at or near the church, etc) A great deal of time, energy, and money is spent on outreaches that draw people to the Church. This is not bad but it makes the "Sinner" take the first step...and that not toward God but toward the Church. We can believe that what we are doing is missional but it is far from it.

Church goes to where the Sinner is at
and opens the door for the Sinner to have
an encounter with God in their context.

I love the practice of those that attend Mars Hill in Seattle, WA. Their pastor, Mark Driscoll, says that you can look at his church's budget and you won't see a lot of money being spent on outreaches. And the reason that is because within his church the people know that outreach is a thing that they are supposed to do every day. So instead of 1 outreach committee and 1 outreach event a month or whatever; you have 100's of "outreaches" going every single day. That is the reality of Christians actually being missional.

Just think of the tremendous impact a truly missional church would make for Christ. Picture your church. How many people attend? How many of the people either do nothing or do everything? How often do you have a strategic evangelistic emphasis? Who gets involved? Is it the same people? Just imagine the impact your church could have if the DNA of the church was that each person intentionally reached out to someone everyday.

Let's say your church has 50 people and everyone of them reaches out everyday to one person. Now lets say that only 10% of those that they reached out to everyday accepted Christ and started attending your church with that type of DNA: Sunday 50, Monday 55, Tuesday 61, Wednesday 67, Thursday 74, Friday 81, Saturday 89, Sunday 98 so in a sense by the time the next week rolls around you would have nearly doubled the attendance of your church.

In order for that to take place we need to infuse a new DNA within the church. It can be catastrophic or revolutionary. But it takes visionaries to start making those steps to create the change in their context to reach their communities for Jesus.

How Well Do You Believe

2011-11-11T16:12:00.000-08:00

Matthew 10:22
All men will hate you because of Me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

This is one of those hard statements of Jesus' that we don't hear often in church. The reason being is because we have made belief in Jesus something that you stumble upon or that you just need to say "Yes" at the right places in a prayer. We even think that belief is acknowledging a particular religion or having decent church attendance. We have become so casual with our belief that it is not evident in who we are.

This verse pulls no punches. In essence it says that, "Everyone is going to hate you because you love Me over anything in this world to the point that it makes everyone uncomfortable. Because of that pressure many won't stand firm for long but those that do stand firm to the complete end will be saved."

Saying I believe is easy; acting upon that belief is hard. When I was going to a youth group I heard several different people say that believing in Jesus was easy. They would quote John 3:16 like it was just a One-A-Day vitamin to get saved. The reality is that to follow Jesus is more than just saying "I believe." When the Bible says, "...whoever believes in [Jesus] will have eternal life" it is not talking about those that say, "Uh huh" in a prayer but of those that say, "I am" in a lifestyle.

Believing in Jesus has cost me friendships.
Believing in Jesus has cost me relationships.
Believing in Jesus has cost me certain pleasures.
Believing in Jesus has cost me a tremendous amount of life's experiences.
Believing in Jesus has cost me my life.
All of these are well worth giving up to Him over and over again.

I think instead of asking a person, "What do you believe," a better question would be "How well do you believe?"

PUT DOWN YOUR SIGN

2011-11-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

I think the longer and longer that I am in ministry the more and more intolerant I have become. I know what you may be thinking as soon as I said that politically incorrect word but you've got it wrong.

I have become more and more intolerant of Christians who pretend that they have just finished having their regular morning frap with Jesus at Starbucks and then they pick up their picket signs and go stand on the street encouraged by the new app Jesus showed them.

Really??

I hope God smites them. I have never used the word smite before but it fit. That may have been a little unChristian but I DON'T CARE!

How we respond to a sinner reflects on how they view our God. I don't have to be a jerk to show God's love and justice to a person. Put down the picket sign and pick up a heart for people who need Jesus; not the phony cover-up of your own mess type of righteousness.

Also, when we passively dismiss, ignore and turn away from people needing a relationship with Jesus we're holding a sign just as big and don't even realize that we are just as lost as they. We break God's heart when we treat others with disdain for the same reason we needed His Son to be our Savior.

If you are so inclined to picket; start at home and stop at the Church.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people - not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked person from among you."

----------------
When was the last time you broke down sobbing for this lost generation? They don't need any more fools with signs. They need fools with hearts who are crazy enough to love them where they are.

Jesus' Bucket List

2011-09-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

1) Hate none, serve all

2) Love God, Love People

3) Walk on Water

4) Forgive everybody

5) Teach those who think they know

6) Invite those who don't know to fall in love

7) Touch lives at all costs

8) Give hope to all

9) Disturb and disrupt the status quo

10) Embrace pain so others can live eternally

11) Set free those who deserve bondage

12) See My tomb after this is done

How "Christian" Am I

2011-08-22T16:08:00.000-07:00

A Christian by true definition is supposed to be Christ-like. It is not about liking Christ or being in "agreement" with His beliefs. It is living, doing, and being LIKE Christ. Christ-likeness is not accomplished in a bible study or a prayer gathering. It is an undeniable identity.

So lets check and see how Christ-like us Christians are:

How many non-Christians do you hang out with?
Jesus was ridiculed, by the religious, for His constant FELLOWSHIP with sinners. We preach that we should do this but evaluate your relationships.
Matthew 9:10-13; Luke 5:30; Luke 15:2

How often have you healed the sick, lame, blind, dead?
Jesus said that we will be able to do all this and greater...was He lying or are we denying?
John 14:12

When was the last time you stopped doing the program of church but acted as the church?
We can't deny that the modern church has become so programmatic that we often miss the presence of God moving. We may feel Holy Ghost goosebumps during a worship set but when did that completely entail all of our Christian experience?
Matthew 12:9-14; John 9

How often is your faith expressed outside the church (never, annually, monthly, weekly, daily)?
Jesus was consistently doing kingdom business. He lived and breathed His mission.
John 4:34; 5:17; 1 Peter 2:9

How many people have you pointed to God the Father?
We always point people to church or a program of the church to begin or have a relationship with God. Jesus never did that. Jesus was relationally missional. He came to accomplish something and gave us a commission to complete it.
Luke 19:10; 1 Corinthians 9:19-22

When was the last time you walked on water?
Ok, I'll give that to the Son of God alone.

But clearly there is something missing in our Christian expression if these things are not evident. I would have to say that the something that is missing is Christ.

Church Planting?

2011-08-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

First, I'd like to say that I think planting churches is necessary. Second, I'd like to say that I think planting churches is a backwards step in America.

Ok, here's the deal. I recently received an informal invitation at our church address to go to a 1 DAY CHURCH PLANTING CONFERENCE. My issue with what we call "church planting" is that it is all about establishing a new church in an area that already has a Gospel witness. Can we really call that church planting? Or is it just a multisite endeavor a few miles away from the host church for those too lazy to drive another 10 miles? For instance I know that there is a large church a few miles south of where we are that wants to plant a church a few miles north of where we are. Within just a couple mile radius of our church there are 6 or 7 other churches.

I understand if the current church is not doing anything to reach the community something must be done. Well in all honesty it's not the churches problem it's the believers problem who attend those churches. They are just attending church and not being the church. From their book ON THE VERGE by Alan Hirsch and Dave Ferguson (which I highly recommend to any church leader) they say that most Western churches are fighting for the same 40% of people while the 60% that don't have anything to do with church still go unreached. (follow @OnTheVergeBook on twitter)

So is planting a "new" church the answer?

I say plant the Gospel and watch the church grow. If you want to see a neighborhood changed for the glory of Christ instead of putting money towards a facility; facilitate the Gospel spreading in that neighborhood then see the church flourish.

Now I know what I may say right here may sound disconcerting towards church planting but that is not my heart or intention. I just feel that there are many people who want to set up THEIR kingdom, THEIR way, and be the next big preacher.

But the reality is that we don't need more churches we need better Christians who take the mission of Christ seriously.

Let me put it this way:

There are over 16,000 nations (people groups) in the world today and over 6,600 of those are still considered unreached with the Gospel (unreached means that less than 2% of the people group are considered Christians).

About 90% of all missionary work and missions giving goes to parts of the world that already have access to the Gospel.

An estimated 6.7 billion people live in the world today. 2.7 billion live in an unreached people group.

There are 632 unengaged unreached people groups (different from just an unreached people group) with populations over 50,000; together numbering over 366,000,000 souls that are still beyond the reach of the Gospel. The 632 are perhaps the neediest of the needy as they are unengaged, which means that no church, no mission agency, no one has yet taken responsibility to tell them about Jesus Christ. (this information was gathered from Global Frontier Missions)

So before you follow the hype of planting another church on a street corner in America down the street from another church tell me how you feel about those 2.7 billion people around the world who live without an adequate witness?

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? - Romans 10:14

The Sword

2011-07-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 6:17

[Take] the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

The Sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon mentioned in Ephesians 6. Everything else was defensive to protect against the enemy.

Without the sword (Word of God) you cannot attack the enemy. The better a person knows how to use the sword (Word of God) the better fighter they become.

I just want to use an Old Testament story as an illustration of this. You may have heard of King David's Mighty Men. Eleazar was one of the chiefs.

2 Samuel 23:9-10
Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. The the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

This dude is my freakin hero. Eleazar and David are taunting the Philistine army while everyone else is shaking and rattling in their armor. Eleazar is saying "Bring it." While the army of Israel is telling him to shut up. Whatever he did along with David to taunt the Philistines into battle it worked. It reminds me of the movie Braveheart where William Wallace offends the British guy to provoke a battle and rides back to the Scottish army and his buddy ends up saying. "At least we didn't get dressed up for nothin."

One thing I find amazingly interesting about this story is how hard Eleazar fought. It says that his hand was so tired from the battle that it froze to his sword. Oh that we would cling to the Word of God in that way. That we would till our dying breath be clutching without fear, without doubt, and with complete faith in the Word of God.

That verse says that the army of Israel only came back to strip the dead. It's the same type of thing when a person can only lean on the trust another has in the Word of God. "My Sunday School teacher said she..." or "My Pastor said that he..." but not have a story of their own. They do not fully understand the Word and so their revelation of God is small. A small understanding of God only leads to a forfeit faith. If we had an understanding what the Word of God can do for us we'd do more than just preach, memorize certain scriptures, or let it save our seat in the pew.

God's Word:

Generates Life | Creates Faith | Produces Change | Frightens Satan | Causes Miracles | Heals Hurts | Builds Character | Transforms Circumstances | Imparts Joy | Overcomes Adversity | Defeats Temptation | Infuses Hope | Releases Power | Cleanses Minds | Brings Into Being | Guarantees Our Future Forever

That's the reason this is our only weapon. We need to be so diligent and so proficiently savvy with the Word of God that we are like Eleazar with the sword; unwavering, unstoppable, unashamed, and unrelenting.

Notice this one last thing about the "Full Armor of God." There is nothing to guard your back. You can't run and hide from this. So the best option is to pick up your sword and become skilled at using it.

Deeper Than Acceptance

2011-07-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 6:12

Take the helmet of salvation...

A soldier's helmet protected his skull and neck from his enemy's weapons and falling objects. It also identified the soldier to whom he had allegiance to.

A person can survive most injuries depending on the severity; a broken arm, a missing limb, a stubbed toe all of which are painful but survivable. But head trauma is different. It doesn't take a neuroscientist to point out that head injuries are the most traumatic injuries a person can sustain. Head injuries can cause aneurysms, hemorrhages, hematomas and several other big fancy scary medical terms.

We, Christians, for decades have put an emphasis on salvation being something God offers and we accept. Not necessarily as a life changing new identity that we often tote as a "free gift". But more or less like an added credit card to our wallets.

God: "Do you want to accept this Heaven Express Platinum Card with a very low APR offer? We can also roll all your credit cards into your new Heaven Express Platinum Card in order to make your payments quick and easy. If you act now we'll give you this special bonus of touring our location once this card has expired. What do you say?"

Us: "Yes, sign me up today!"

Then as we incur the dept we work hard at paying it off. We don't make any true changes except for who we are in "debted" to. We pay off that debt by trying to have better behavior around church people and give Jesus a shout out now and then. But what happened to the life change?

As often as you read in Scripture where salvation is a discussed topic it mostly describes a new life or a transformation taking place. Salvation isn't found in a nod of agreement to a doctrine but in a life transformed by the person of Jesus Christ.

So if we get this salvation wrong we screw up how we view God, what we think about God, how we respond to God, and what we do for God. It's like a hemorrhage that leads to a spiritual coma. That is why it is so crucial for us to understand that salvation is meant to be worked out and lived daily.

I do accept what Jesus has done for me; that is just the beginning. Who I am is a representation of the salvation that has renewed my mind, transformed my heart, and opened my life up to a divine purpose.

Sweet Liberty

2011-07-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

“Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.” – Patrick Henry

Tomorrow our nation will celebrate Independence Day; our national birthday. 235 years old. We should often be reminded how fortunate we are to live in this great country. We've got all the best food: hamburgers, hotdogs, pizzas, and Chinese buffets. We have so much freedom in America we can hardly tolerate ourselves. The funny thing is that all of us are slaves.

We have tasted the bitterness of slavery whether we are aware of it or not. Though it isn’t a physical bondage it definitely is a spiritual one.

Think back to the life you had before Christ or the life you're living right now. What was it really like? What benefits did you reap from the things you might now be ashamed of?

In this world people will struggle to keep from coming under the will of God even though they can find their true freedom and independence there. They will still dislike, even despise, those who so gladly submit to God’s will.

So what is the appropriate way to celebrate Independence Day? By getting drunk, firing off fireworks and guns? Gorging ourselves on barbequed whatever? How about this; why don’t we celebrate the independence of our “one nation” by staying “under God”?

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” - John 8:36

Never has there been a more true statement. Never has there been a more comforting statement. When Christ has freed you there is no force in this world that can take that away from you. When Christ has freed you, it is of little matter where you live, or how well or poorly you live. When Christ has freed you the things of this world become less and less important.

You can lock me up but I can be as happy as I choose wherever I am. You cannot jail my spirit. You can kill those I love, but in Christ, we will reunite. You can kill me, but in Christ I can even find comfort there. Who cares if I am in jail when heaven awaits me? Why should I be depressed about a body that is slowly getting weaker and older when there is a new one that awaits me? Why should I fret about money when I shall have everything I need and more in my next life?

I am one man, under God, indivisible, filled with liberty and justice that is available to all through the freedom in Jesus Christ. Such sweet liberty.

The Shield

2011-06-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 6:16

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

The Shield of Fatih is the Christian's protection against the attack of the enemy. When faced with authentic faith in God the powers of darkness are overcome. This is why the apostle John could say for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

One of the greatest pieces of armament that was ever created was the shield. Shields have been key in any successful military force. From ancient warriors to modern riot police; shields are being used. Though the type and durability of shields have changed over the centuries shields are an essential piece of equipment. Imagine being a warrior without a shield. You have a lot more to worry about than before and a lot more energy is exerted to dodge attacks because the shield isn't present.

A shields elementary purpose is to intecept an attack or redirect a blow. That is what our faith does. Sometimes we pray that God delivers us from stuff we are meant to endure. When we engage in a battle and must step out in faith as the enemy approaches to attack we can have confidence to know that as the blow comes in we can position our faith in a way to break up its intended purpose.

Don't just have faith. Actually PUT faith in God.

To have faith in something is like having faith a wall will hold you up. I have faith that if I lean against any wall in my office it will be able to hold me up. Yet if I never lean against it what good is that faith? So what you can quote books of the Bible. So what you got gold stars for perfect attendance in Sunday School. If what you now isn't how you act, than what you know is worthless. It is a whole other thing to say I have faith and actually commit to leaning on that very faith.

One other great thing about a shield is that you can use it to help those battling beside you. Our faith can be an encouragment to others who may be struggling to endure the very trials that we are in or have already overcome.

Intercept, redirect, endure...you can't do any of it if you're not engaged in faith.

God's Foot Locker

2011-06-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 6:15
And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Without good shoes or shoes that actually fit the soldier that soldier would not be able to hold his ground in battle.

Your feet fitted: is a call to step into YOUR anointing, YOUR purpose, YOUR life with God and not living someone else's. It is easy to see the glory in a persons life but you may not know the struggle that person went through to get there. I remember in Bible college all us young buck preachers wanted to be like T.D. Jakes. One of his catch phrases was "Get ready, get ready, get ready." It was often imitated by several of us. I believe I sounded most like the Bishop. But T.D. Jakes has an anointing for what he does where he is by God. I am not to be T.D. Jakes Jr. I am to be like Christ and find my identity in Him.

When we try to live a life based on the outward appearance of another human we fail to see God's original purpose for us. Try God's Foot Locker and put on the shoes that have been designed with you in mind.

The readiness means to be ready to make a faithful stand. Sometimes peace is brought about through an act of aggression. Like I have said before part of living right is being prepared to fight. There must come a point where as Christians we become intolerant of the nonsense and speak the truth of the gospel. In doing so the message of the gospel of peace which is that those who trust and believe in God are no longer on the receiving end of His wrath.

Those who stand firm in their anointing and their God directed purpose are not easily tripped up by temptation. The peace that Jesus gives in knowing who we are in Him is liberating. We are liberated to have life to the fullest when we experience it in the way God intended for us.

Go in this peace and return in the victory.

Righteous Swag

2011-06-10T13:55:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 6:14

...with the breastplate of righteousness in place.

The Breastplate of Righteousness
The breastplate was one of the single most important elements of the Roman armor. If any soldier decided not to wear their breastplate they were asking to be killed. The breastplate protected the vital organs. Many commanders would also wear it for swagger.

Righteousness means to be just or act justly. Isaiah 59 says that the Lord puts on "righteousness as a breastplate" and goes into battle against injustice and corruption, restoring peace and order to the land. God offers us His righteousness and the duties that go along with it.

Sometimes as Christians we can assume that our religion makes us righteous but that is NOT the case.

James 1:27 says,
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Our duties in righteousness is to "look after" which means protect, stand up for, support, and be a guardian of. To act, think, walk, and talk justly. This involves getting involved. No one believes a person to be righteous if they don't act accordingly.

You keep yourself from being polluted by guarding your own heart. You can only guard your heart with something that is as pure as righteousness. To be righteous a person must have integrity; publicly and privately. A righteous person is not enticed to lay it down for momentary pleasures.

Having the breastplate of righteousness in place means that it is secured; not in oneself but in Jesus. It is a command to never retreat. There is no rear defense. Nothing to guard the back. Only to engage in the mission. Righteousness must stand the test of time. It must endure to the end. When the battle gets difficult they don't run they raze hell.

Those who stay true to righteousness definitely have some swag.

Keep the Belt Tight

2011-06-03T16:09:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 6:14

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist...

The Belt of Truth
When preparing for battle, the belt would have been the first piece of protective armor put on. It was more than a strap around the waist. It had other leather straps with brass plates connected to them which hung over the groin area of the soldier.

Belts were used to tie up the garments so they would not get in the way while fighting. Without the belt the armor becomes weak and wobbly. The same goes with the truth. If we don't have a definite absolute truth everything else becomes weak, awkward and a burden. The call to already have "buckled" is a call to already be prepared. You start with the truth. You can't go any further if you don't have the truth.

This truth is not relative. This isn't theology or doctrine. It is the one simple truth that everything else hangs on. JESUS. In the movie A Few Good Men Colonel Jessep says, "You can't handle the truth!" I believe when we try to add so many other things (theologies and doctrines) to the truth of Jesus whether they're indeed the truth or not it begins to make the truth harder to handle. The person of Jesus begins to get blurred. We are meant to be replicas of Jesus and a replica is no good if it has things added to it based on a belief about the original.

Jesus said that He is the truth. There is no other truth besides Him.

In our faith we cannot get anything else right if our understanding of Jesus is askew. It doesn't matter what you believe about the rapture, if you are pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, or about speaking in tongues, and all the other debatable topics. They come second to Jesus and a far second at best.

We cannot do Christianity right with a false Christ. An image of a true Christian is found in Christ. We find our purpose, our mission, our hope, our joy, our peace, our freedom and our life in Jesus.

So make sure the belt is tight and you'll be able to stay in the fight.

Stand Ready

2011-05-31T18:24:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Depending on the translation of the Bible you read it says to "stand against", "withstand", "done all to stand", "stand". Paul is trying to create a picture here. Imagine old style Roman warfare, where there are two opposing forces on separate ends of the battlefield. Every soldier is lined up in place standing. They are ready for the conflict to begin at a moment's notice. It is a picture of being in the midst of the battle and not losing your strength but to endure to the end. So knowing that you are capable of standing and can endure; STAND now.

All of this is done in preparation long before the "day of evil". If we aren't prepared to fight we will loose the battle every time. A reason, I believe, so many Christians walk around beat down and have the faith like soggy fries is because they only begin to "stand" when the enemy has already started to attack. So they run defeated.

"Stand your ground" is a determination not to back down. There is no second guesses. The soldier is all in. You've probably heard this before, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." You can not deceive a person or quickly defeat a person who has an understanding.

This is our understanding:

Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels not demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You are to stand, prepared to fight. Nothing has the ability to overcome you unless you are not ready.

Don't Just Sit There, FIGHT

2011-05-27T16:17:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 6:10-12
Finally, be strong in the Lord in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Notice all these phrases:

Be strong. Be spiritually powerful, tough, resilient in the Lord. Be empowered through your union with God. Draw strength from Him.

Put on. This is a command to commit to action. It is something that we must do. We're never told to take off.

Full armor of God. Every time it is mentioned it is the full or whole armor. Without putting on the full armor of God we won't be fully equipped for battle.

Here are some of the devil's schemes: pride - lies - fear - discouragement - anger - complaining - gossip - regret - greed - self-pity - laziness - unfaithfulness - worry - anxiety; just to name a few.

Too long have we just got comfortable in our church pews and comfortable building churches that we forgot that we're meant to cause a righteous ruckus with holy indignation that hates mediocrity and self-absorption. We go to church not for our sake but to give the enemy a break.

Our battle isn't with the theology of another. Our battle isn't with an atheist, a homosexual, or a satanist. It is with the one who is behind all of it playing the puppeteer. Our battle is with:

The rulers. A person (in this case a spirit) exercising dominion.

The authorities. The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.

The powers. The capability of doing or accomplishing something.

The forces. The capacity or active power to cause change.

This is not as cartoonist portray it as the fat angel and seductive devil on our shoulders. There is a spiritual battle that we are fighting. There is no spectating. Let me say this there are no innocent bystanders. I don't believe there is a demon behind every rock but I do believe that we have overlooked the reality of the conflict. We have become disengaged from the warfare we are called to fight in.

We are soldiers who fight the good fight.
We are soldiers who don't get caught in the nonsense.
We are soldiers who raze hell.

Don't just sit around in church, pick a fight.

Don't Drink the Kool-Aid

2011-05-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Harold Camping has gotten a lot of attention lately. In case you have no idea what I'm talking about Harold Camping "prophesied" that the rapture would occur May 21st, 2011 at 5:59 PM. Since I am posting this at 11:50ish AM on May 25, 2011 you can logically assume that the rapture didn't take place.

This isn't about refuting some persons prophecy. This is a legitimate plea from my heart to all who may read this not to get caught up in the mockery of Harold Camping. This man has done more damage to undermine the truth that Jesus is going to be returning to take His bride (the church) to heaven than anyone in my lifetime. The mockery that even I have made (my Facebook status: It's May 22nd and we're all still here...AWWKWARRRRRD) about Harold Camping's prediction has cast a dim light on that truth.

2 Peter 3:3-18 tells of the End Times and mentions two types of ignorance.

The first is mentioned in verses 3 & 4. They are people who scoff at His coming. Their statement is "Where is this 'coming' He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." These type of people don't even realize how ridiculous that argument is. In a message entitled Live For the Moment, Francis Chan says :

It's like saying, "Ok really, I'm going to die? I've never died. I've never experienced this so why would you say I'm going to die someday. Everyday I wake up. Every single day I wake up and you're going to tell me one day I'm not going to?" That's just like these scoffers argument "Come on the earth is going to end. It's never ended." Duh, it only ends once.

Verse 5-7 says that these people don't get that God did create the world at one point and that this same God will cause it to end at a point.

The second type of ignorance, the kind that plagues Harold Camping, distorts the truth because they are "ignorant and unstable" (vs 16). They do things for their name to be in lights and line their pockets with the wealth of others. They lead many people away from the truth because of their lies and cause callousness in the hearts of others to the real truth.

The first type of fool really just poisons his own mind with his declaration of disbelief. The second however, poisons others.

How easy it is to fall away and be deceived if we don't search scripture ourselves. How sad it is for those who listen to the prophecies of mankind and forsake God's own Word.

DON'T DRINK THE KOOL-AID. Read God's Word to find out God's plan. And most importantly "make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him." (vs 14)

Raze Hell

2011-05-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

Raze

1. to demolish completely (town, building, etc);

2. level (esp in the phrase: Raze to the ground).

3. to delete, erase

I'm going to reference an old blog of mine: Who In Hell Are You (if you want to read it fully click on the link).

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

This verse is not a defensive scripture for the church. This verse isn't referring to the church being under siege by the enemy. Using this scripture as such is foolish and completely counterproductive to the true meaning of the church. This verse is about the church, or the True Christians, being on the offensive taking the battle to Hades. Look at this verse. The gates only belonged to the stronghold of that city. Gates don't fight a battle. They withstand the battle. True Christians take action in breaking down the strongholds of the enemy.

You can't raze something unless you battle against it. The principle for us is that in order for us to live right we must be prepared to fight. To be battle ready. Hell has dominated community after community and the church has idly watched from a distance rather than taking the battle to the enemy.

Forgive what I am about to say, but Christians "pray" about stuff too much. I don't need to pray about witnessing to my neighbor; I should just do it. I don't need to pray about whether or not I should serve somewhere in my local church or in the community; I should just serve. I don't need to pray to God for boldness and strength; He promised that to us already.

~ [sidenote] I can't tell you how many people I know that have asked for prayer to be bold in witnessing and when the time comes to act boldly they run away. What good is their prayer if they don't allow God to use them through it? ~

AW Tozer said, "If God gives you a watch, are you honoring Him more by asking Him what time it is or by simply consulting the watch?"

God has declared some things to us and we now have to stand on them and take the fight to the enemy.

You are a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)
You are victorious. (Psalm 18:35)
You are an overcomer. (1 John 4:4)
You are equipped. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Don't back down from the fight, start it!

Speak the Truth

2011-05-19T16:10:00.000-07:00

Speak the truth without deceit
Speak the truth and there won't be defeat.
Speak the truth to each face
Yet don't forget that truth never trumps grace.

2 Ways 2 Look at Life

2011-05-09T16:57:00.000-07:00

There are 2 ways to look at life; through our history or through His glory.

I've been:
     Cussed at
          Cheated on
               Beat upon
                    Lied about
                         Thrown out
                              Torn down
                                   Shirked at
                                        Spit upon
                                             Broke down
                                                  Stolen from
                                                       Slapped about
                                                            Trampled on
                                                                 Pushed around
                                                                      Hated on

Because of Jesus I've also been:
     Raised up
          Gifted to
               Anointed by
                    Heir of
                         Set free
                              Brought near
                                   Sent out
                                        Inspired by
                                             Made good
                                                  Prayed for
                                                       Filled up
                                                            United with
                                                                 Loved by
                                                                      Shown grace

Luke 22:31-32 (personalized)
[Billy, Billy,] Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I (Jesus) have prayed for you, [Billy], that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.

Whatever may come your way, big or small, don't let that thing rob you of how God wants you to look at life. The life that He's purposed and the life that He has destined to do greater things.

What's The Point

2011-05-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

For the last ten to fifteen years, I would say, there has been a tremendous focus from the church to "Love Thy Neighbor". I happen to be a firm believer in the idea that the world doesn't care how much you know until it knows how much you care. Also, that you have to earn the right to speak into a persons life.With these core thoughts compassion ministries are being birthed.

Specially in America you can see compassion ministries popping up everywhere now. If you Googled those words approximately 2.8 million sites would be listed. They are all meant for a great purpose; to put an end to the suffering of people at home and abroad. Which I think strums at the heart strings of God.

When these ministries go out to do their good without bringing along with them the good news of the gospel they are just doing charity work.

What's the point if we save a person from hell on earth but don't try to save them from hell for eternity?

We do great in the church to love God. We're doing better at showing love in our communities. The problem is that we're not mixing the two. There has to be this melting pot of our inward devotion to God that resounds while I show compassion to my neighbor.

We have to do more than pass out water bottles that say "Jesus is the Living Water" if we really want to show Christ in our efforts. I think Paul stated it best:

1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Grace Scandal: Grace Because Your Life Depends on It

2011-04-28T16:44:00.000-07:00

Galatians 5:2-6
Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

In the OT it was a requirement for all men within the Israelite community to be circumcised. Jesus was circumcised and Paul was too. The issue is not with circumcision but with what following religion leads too. it leads to being alienated from Jesus. The greatest threat to grace-living is religion-honoring.

We don't look at grace-living as a life or death issue but it really is. Once I allow religion to start playing a role in my relationship with God I begin to feel that I don't need His grace. I start looking at my goodness like the Pharisees. When I live as though I don't need God's grace I take God out of my worship, my prayer life, the intent of my reading and understanding Scripture.

People that are religion focused point out the faults in others without remembering that they need, and still need, God's grace. The grace we've received is not a badge to wear to show how holy we are. If anything grace does quite the opposite it points out that I am like everyone else; in need of a Savior.

Hebrew 12:4
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

I don't know anyone who has ever hated their own sin to the point that they were willing to shed their own blood for it. In the OT countless animals were killed for mankind's mistakes. Then Jesus the perfect Son of God came as the last and final sacrifice so that we could live. Still we have yet to shed our own. It is so easy to point out the sin in others and ignore the secret battle raging inside one's own soul.

What Jesus did so long ago was to shatter religions death grip on humanity. You can read of His criticism towards the religious leaders and teachers of His day in Matthew 23. One of my favorite, if I can call it that, is this verse.

Matthew 23:15
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

They made people fear their religious power rather than let them experience the redemptive freedom of God's grace.

When dying on the cross Jesus completed God's plan to have a personal relationship with His creation that He had missed since Adam and Eve.

Matthew 27:50-51
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.

God is tired of religious hearts. He doesn't need any more bad press. God was tired of playing hide and seek with His children. He could now make Himself known to each one who sought after Him.

God wants people to realize that they can accomplish nothing outside of His grace and freely live as though their life depended on it.

Every part of your life needs to be dependent on God's grace. Without it your life in Christ will fade to just religion.

Love God

2011-04-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

God is love. Therefore love. Without distinction, without calculation, without procrastination, love. - Henry Drummond

Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

A family member and I were talking about this the other day. Many times we divert to our strength in knowing God. If you are an intellectual person it may be very easy for you to build a relationship with God with your "mind". You can read theological books and become enamored with God. If you are an emotional person than you would find your relationship built with your "heart". You turn your iPod on and begin to listen to Jesus Culture and the culture around you surrenders to your starvation to be in His presence. And so on.

But what about, lets say, the intellectual who is very emotionally challenged? They find it hard to even talk about their feelings; let alone build a relationship with them. Is it ok for them to neglect the "heart" part of this command? I mean they love God with all their "mind". Shouldn't that be good enough?

I would have to say, "No, it's not good enough." You don't do one of these you're not loving God with your whole being and that is what we are called to do. Love God with every portion of your being. Your passions, your personality, your perceptions and your power are all meant to end on God.

Here's an argument:
But I'm not good at the "mind" thing! I like to feel God! (or whatever the weaker portion may be)

That may be the case but your worship of Him is incomplete. Just as in any relationship our communication has to be built. For instance, if I only loved my wife because of our physical attraction to each other sooner or later there is going to be a fall out in our relationship if I don't begin to try to know her more intimately. If I just say, "Well Honey, that's the way I am so you're going to have to deal with it" will only start a fight. Here is a good example for the fellas. If I am passionate about sports but don't show that same passion toward my wife she begins to feel less important to me. And I would get questions like, "Do you really love me?"

I believe that is what God asks when we only desire to know Him where it's comfortable, "Do you really love me?" I need to be at a place whether it's easy for me or not to want to know God in every single way possible.

Don't just pursue a love for God with your strength, make your pursuit perfect by enjoying a relationship that is complete.

The Grace Scandal: No Right to Be Ungracious

2011-04-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Matthew 18:21-35 contains the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant that was in response to Peter's question, "How many times shall I forgive my brother?" A servant in this parable was forgiven of a tremendous debt he owed his master only to turn around and have an argument with another servant who owed him very little. When the master heard about this he became angry with the servant and had him thrown in prison until he could pay back what he owed.

In The Grace Scandal: Grace Abuse I said that we are not meant to keep a count of peoples' sins against us. Here is why:

Our debt to God far outweighs the debt any man can owe us; and God forgave us of it all.

What if you've been abused mentally, emotionally, physically, and/or spiritually?

You still need to give grace.

Our actions toward others should always reflect the grace that we've been given. Not one of us is worthy before God without His grace. So we do not have the right to be ungracious.

What about people who take advantage of you?

It's not about playing dumb to peoples' actions but not allowing their influence in your life. If you know a person is abusive than that person needs to have limited access into your life. You have been given a brain so respond with intelligence and act with grace. Honestly, what rights do you really have? If your life is lived in Christ what can people rob you of here?

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

That is one of the toughest and pointed statements about forgiveness I believe in Scripture. It clearly says that my forgiveness depends on if I'm forgiving.

That servant should have been very generous toward his friends. He should have forgiven every single debt that his fellow servants owed him. This is a major fault within the church where we received our righteousness from God and so think, whether intentionally or unintentionally, that we are better than the sinners around us. We don't have a special place in God's eyes that isn't offered to every person.

So in our search sometimes to find fault with others so we can feel better about our own faults we become angry and bitter towards those who have hurt us. It's easy to forgive someone of something insignificant; but those who leave wounds that cut deep are rarely easily forgiven. The forgiveness we're meant to show is toward all.

Matthew 5:43-48
You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The Kim Phuc Story (pronounced "fook") is an amazing story about forgiveness. You may not remember her name but you probably have seen this picture of her:

She was 9 years old when her small village had a napalm bomb dropped on it during the Vietnam War. This picture shows her running down the street naked because the clothes she was wearing had burned off. She had to have 17 different operations. She was angry and bitter towards those who caused her such suffering. She envied those who were "normal".

At age 19 she became a Christian. When she read the words "Love your enemies" she didn't know how. It didn't happen over night. She eventually learned to count her blessings instead of thinking negative thoughts:

"Why did I get the scars?", "Why did I get burned in the fire?", I thought, "Kim your face and your hands are fine; and your feet weren't burned! You were able to run out of that fire and live!"

Kim went through hellacious pain and agony and carries quite literally the scars of her past. She could easily use them to remind her of the evil of those that did this to her. But instead those scars remind her that her freedom comes when she forgives.

Don't hold a grudge.
Don't be bitter.
Don't live in anger.

Don't let the sins of others be the thing that prevents freedom and grace in your life. You must show grace because you've been shown grace. You have no right not to.

99-1 Principle

2011-04-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

Today I was asked, "Why are there so many different churches?"

My reply, "Because the churches are building their kingdoms instead of God's"

My thought is foundationally (I don't want to use the word fundamentally) all true Christian churches believe in the same crucial theology and that being Jesus Christ is the Son of God and paid our debt of sin so we can have a relationship with God. Simply put that is the only thing that matters.

I feel that we (mankind) want church done our way so we seek out churches that fit us. If a church moves more in the Holy Spirit than what makes a person comfortable they go somewhere else. If the music isn't as sacred they go somewhere where it is. If the pastor is too boisterous they look for a more reserved reverend. These are bad things but if we get to comfortable anywhere we risk being ineffective.

Pleasing parishioners has been a big focus in the church. I remember in Bible college hearing what I'd call sound advice at the time that, "Many people aren't willing to change. So you have to take it slow or you'll risk people leaving." I made this mistake at the first church I pastored. The people wanted and knew change needed to happen. They weren't sure where to start. I had an idea but in my compassion for them I brought some change about very slowly. Not willing to completely raddle their chains and take off running. I wasn't trying to build my kingdom and I know the people weren't wanting their kingdom established so out of mutual consideration we journeyed slowly.

That advice while good is deathly. It can cause a church to become stagnant and lifeless.

I'm about the 99-1 PRINCIPLE. The 99-1 Principle is based from Jesus' Parable of the Lost Sheep. The Shepherd leaves 99 sheep to look for the 1 that is missing. See the 99 are where they should be. So there is isn't a concern for they're comfort, joy, or security. But the missing 1 is gone out of the view of the shepherd. The 99 are ok (at least for now) so the one that needs to have the focus of the shepherd is the 1 missing. I've got to be more concerned about those I'm trying to reach on the streets than with those filling the seats.

So if people leave a church because I am unwilling to cater to them by all means they can get their grub on somewhere else.

The Grace Scandal: Grace Abuse

2011-04-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked,"Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins agains me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

The idea behind this scripture is that we, mere humans, aren't meant to keep count of a person's sin against us. So if that is the standard that Jesus made for us humans by all means God's standard is greater.

If God's grace is limitless can I abuse it?

A human life is filled with many stories. Some of those stories are completely joyful and wonderful. Like the story of when a man and woman marry. However, in every human life there are some stories that we wish we had never encountered. Many of those stories bare a cold and dreary question; can God forgive me, can God forgive what I have done, can God forgive what I'm about to do?

And these are the questions of the ages. The truthful and simple answer is, yes. God can and will forgive. Because we're all jacked up Jesus had to be raised up. Ever since then we can find forgiveness from God every day, all day, and till our vary last day. God's grace is meant to be abused. We shrink at that thought but God wants us to run to Him instead of away from Him because of our sin.

Because God's grace can be abused doesn't mean it should.

The problem we have is that we confuse overlooking and forgiving. Overlooking sin is simply ignoring it or treating it as ok. That is not what grace does. Forgiveness, on the other hand, needs to be accepted and that acceptance requires a change in my relation to that sin.

Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

When we ask, "Can God forgive me," do we really want that forgiveness if it requires repentance?

Grace pushes us towards repentance. Grace that is followed through with repentance makes me free. Grace that is misunderstood makes me fear. When I abuse God's grace I constantly worry if God will truly forgive my sin.

What we go through to commit sin breaks our relationship with God. And because of that we change; and there is no guarantee that we will ever come back to God.

See many people in these situations who abuse grace and when they are confronted about their actions say, "Only God can judge me." God is the judge but the reality is that they wouldn't want Him to judge them at that moment.

Romans 6:14
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

None of us are sinless but grace should cause us to sin less not more. God's grace dictates that I can sin and He'll still love me but my love for Him and His grace towards me should prompt me not to sin.

A sinner sins; it's their nature. Sin is not a choice. Even their good deeds are sin based. But for a Christian sin is a choice. A Christian who is not struggling with sin but is addicted to it says, "I have more faith in the power of sin than the power of Christ's sacrifice." And I would have to wonder about the genuineness of their salvation.

At the heart of this issue isn't can I abuse God's grace but why would I. The closer I come to the Light of the World the more evident becomes my need for His grace. The closer I come to Him the more I am in love with Him and would hate to cause anything to come between us.

Are you asking, Can God forgive my sin? Yes.
Can I abuse God's grace and be forgiven? Yes.
Should I? No.

Say It If It's Worth Savin' Me

2011-04-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

Nickelback has a song entitled: Savin' Me. The chorus of the song says:

             And say it for me, say it to me
             And I'll leave this life behind me
             Say it if it's worth saving me

The video of Savin' Me has a guy who gets saved from a near death situation. His salvation makes him aware of the countdown looming over people's heads. At the end of the video that guy sees a young woman whose countdown is plummeting and he rescues her; which makes her aware of the countdown.

Although it's to illustrate the message of the song, there really is a countdown looming over everyone. We don't know when we'll breathe our last breath. We don't know what tomorrow holds for us. I don't know the time that I will die, but I am confident that whenever that time comes I'll be headed to heaven.

That confidence is great but it should push me towards giving others an opportunity to have that same confidence.

Every single True Christian should be running the streets in an attempt to let people know about the salvation that we have. But we're too comfortable in our church pew. We don't want to give up our seat to make room for another. So in affect we tell Jesus to take His Great Commission and shove it. Can I tell you if we neglect to tell others I feel what we are saying to them is "You are not worth saving".

We are not saved to take up a seat at the church. We are saved to reach others.

Just say it if it's worth saving ____________ (insert name).

Why do you call me, "Lord," and do not do what I say? - Luke 6:46

The Church is a Relay Race

2011-04-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 12:12
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

I believe the church is a lot like a relay race. Where you have a team composed of different people (backgrounds, cultures, world views, etc) but they have the same goal.

The baton race tips are from Coach Nigel Hetherington, the Scottish National Sprints and Hurdles coach.

The race is about the baton, not the runners. The objective is to keep the baton moving at maximum speed at all times throughout the race.

Somewhere along the lines of the modern church we've made it about us. It's never about us. It's about God getting His glory out of us and us being obedient to the mission of Christ.

When you hand the baton to the next generation what condition will the church be in? Healthy? Unhealthy? How would you be missed? What would change? What difference does your presence make? What if everyone was as committed as you are? How would the church look if everyone studied the Word, prayed, and served exactly like you?

Your faith is not an add-on. You play a intricate role.

This generation of teenage and young adult Christians need to see tangible compassion in the lives of the people who make up the body of Christ.

The relay brings out the best in everyone. The relay should increase, not decrease, the speed of the athletes. A properly trained 400 meter relay team will post a time that is less than the four runners' combined 100 meter times.

You can be a good Christian and not go to church. But you cannot be a great one. The church is meant to create an opportunity for people to reach their God given potential. We're not meant to be Lone Rangers.

Have you reached your full potential? Are you helping someone else reach theirs?

Practice until the handover becomes instinctual. Athletes must learn to trust one another; no looking back.

It's important that we understand that the church is made of imperfect people and if you are in search for the perfect church and find one don't go there because you'll jack it up. What we do here in our worship is mere practice for all eternity. So we better learn how to worship, love, and show grace to others now.

The baton exchange should occur at very close maximum speed. The incoming athlete should not be overstretched or they will be off-balance when making the exchange. The outgoing runner must focus on reaching full speed.

Here's the deal. We often segregate the people in the church into age brackets and gender (youth, young adult, experienced adults, men, women ministries). At times these are good but healthy churches have the older or spiritually mature influencing the younger or spiritually immature. We need to allow these walls to fall in order that the next generation of believers have a better introduction to the church.

How many of you were mentored by someone besides a parent or pastor? We need this in the church. This is why experienced adults can get frustrated with the younger. "They don't know how to act in church." Has anyone come along side of them to teach them how?...and with more than a "stop it".

A baton drop does not automatically disqualify a team. Whoever had the baton when it was dropped may retrieve it and continue the race. If the incoming runner drops it, they may pick it up and complete the pass.

Like I said earlier we are not perfect. Because of that we need to allow room for things to get dropped. We may not do everything right in the eyes of every person, but we should allow room for those dropped batons and encourage each other to finish strong.

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

The Grace Scandal: You Never Give Up On Me

2011-03-31T11:39:00.000-07:00

Romans 8:35, 38-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The amazing implications of Romans 8:35, 38-39 is that you cannot out-sin God's love.

God never gives up on us.

This portion of Scripture is well known almost to the point that familiarity has lessened it. But the reality of Jesus' life on earth proves that He will never give up on us.

John 1:10-11
[Jesus] was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.

The very people that Jesus was coming to show His love and grace to rejected Him. He gave them life and they spit in His face. At any moment Jesus could have said,

"I'm tired of the disrespect. I quit! I've had enough; if they are going to act like this than so be it! To hell with them all."

But He didn't.

His love remained through all the hatred, all the conspiracy, all the way to the cross. If He didn't give up then He won't give up on you now.

While hanging of the cross Jesus showed His love for all mankind (Luke 23:33-35). I believe Jesus would have hugged the Roman soldiers as they beat Him and nailed Him to the cross. So I seriously doubt that what I do right now would make Him give up on me.

Luke 15 contains three parables that illustrate God going after something that had been lost. The Shepherd left 99 sheep to go looking for the 1 that was lost. The Woman with 10 silver coins loses 1 and does some spring cleaning to find it. The Father whose son left with his inheritance to squander it on the world's pleasures only to return back home with nothing and starving. Following each story of the lost being found there is a great celebration not condemnation.

The Shepherd and the Woman in these stories went searching for what was lost. The Father waited for the son to return. He waited patiently and still looked for his son hoping one day he would return home. Understand this the father loved his son so much that he allowed the son to do with his life as he chose. But once the son's journey brought him back to the father; the father ran to him.

The reality is that we quit on God; not the other way around. Don't get that twisted.

If one Christian wrongs a person, from that point on all Christians are hypocrites and God is fake. But for some reason they miss how many times the world has brought them down because they always retreat to the world. The world lets them do what they want. They give up on God simply because they don't want to deal with the reality of their circumstances. What they don't realize is that God loves them so much that He will allow them to go to hell if that's the course they choose.

There is only one thing that can separate us from God's love and grace and that is SELF; us simply not wanting His love and grace. However, even that won't stop God from loving you and offering you His grace.

I would have written myself off a long time ago. But God went after me. His love found me. His grace was too irresistible. I don't completely know why but He never gave up on me. So I know God won't give up on you.

The Grace Scandal: One Way Love

2011-03-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Bible college definition of grace is: unmerited or undeserved favor.

What I want us to understand about grace is more than the definition but actually what it is. Grace simply is "one way love". I first heard this tweeted by Pastor Tullian Tchividjian and it is spot on with what God's grace is.

Matthew 15:1-14 talks about an encounter that Jesus had with the religious leaders of His time. They accused Jesus' disciples of not keeping certain traditions. Jesus' reply was that they keep their traditions but squash what God has said to do. Then Jesus quotes Isaiah. In essence saying that they only honored God externally (by doing religious acts and accusing those who didn't) but internally there was no connection with God.

What motivated people in the Old Testament (OT) was guilt. God used guilt in the OT to point out that something had to be done to pay for the sin that was committed. What pointed out the guilt was the Law.

Israel had 613 Laws to follow perfectly for them not to be broken in their lives. Of course no one is perfect. When just one Law was broken by a person then all the Law was broken by that person. So guilt reigned in their lives. Each time they broke a Law they had to DO something to make it right. The Law never says "You are forgiven" only "You are guilty." We desperately need a "Not guilty" verdict.

Religion than can be interpreted as guiltyism. No matter what I do in attempting to be free from my guilt I will fail; going to church, giving money, and doing good deeds will never be good enough. We can never pay this debt. Religion tries to make you feel guilty so that you will DO something to please religion.

Guilt does not equal grace.

Romans 8:3-4
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

The word guilt appears in the OT 170 times and in the NT 16 times.
The word grace appears in the OT 11 times and in the NT 116 times.

Motivation by guilt was replaced with a motivation to accept His grace. Rather than focusing on obeying a long list of requirements Jesus emphasized grace; so guilt-oriented religion was replaced by grace-oriented relationship.

Grace is not about doing but about receiving. Jesus already did everything that God required.

Guilt accused us so we needed a sacrifice. A payment was needed for the wrong done. Jesus paid the debt so we wouldn't have to. He did it without humanity even realizing it. That is one way love.

Romans 11:6
And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

The Pharisees were all about rules and traditions. They were grace killers. They looked at the letter of the law. From creation God has desired a relationship with mankind. He constantly walked with Adam and Eve before they sinned. He said that He would raise up a people not a religion from the children of Abraham. So with Jesus' sacrifice God can have a relationship with us once again.

The grace of God is God showing love to a people who really don't deserve it. Nothing we can DO can pay God back for His grace. It's a one way love and God just asks that we accept it before it's too late.

The Grace Scandal: Who is Really Guilty?

2011-03-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

What would you say if you were following a trial of a well-known repeat felon who pleaded "Guilty" to several crimes and the prosecution had a mountain of evidence to prove his guilt; then the judge hands down his verdict of "Not Guilty?"

What would you say?
"That is unjust!"
"The judge must have been paid off!"
"This is outrageous!"

After all the shock is over with and the judge gets the attention of the whispering onlookers in the courtroom he looks at the victim and says, "Guilty."

What would you say?
"Are you kidding me?"
"That is wrong! How can you punish the victim?"
"This is scandalous!"

This of course wouldn't fly in our judicial system but in God's judicial system it happens every time a person accepts God's grace. The criminal goes free because of God's love for them and because of Jesus' willingness to take on the criminal's punishment.

GRACE IS SCANDALOUS!

You may ask, "Can God really forgive..."

The father that lets his drug dealer friend rape his teenage daughter for another fix?

What about the mother who was too tired to fight anymore with her two toddlers so she drowned them?

What about the guy who was molested as a child who now stalks and then molests other children?

What about the terrorist who strapped a bomb to himself and walked into a school and fulfilled his deadly mission by taking the lives of all the innocent children?

What about the abortion doctor?

The homosexual?

Me?

What about me? Is the question we ask. Can God forgive me? What about the sin I battle with every day? Did I mess up too much? Did I out sin the love of God?

Before I can understand grace's greatness I need to understand whom I've offended and the cost of the grace He's giving.

We understand sin in the context of a human problem; the "right and wrong" and the "good and bad" defines those things. Because we discriminate and segregate sin into compartments like "the little white lie" or "it's not hurting anyone."

Psalm 51:4
Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are proved right when You speak and justified when You judge.

Sin is a human problem in the sense that we humans are born sinful. But the Person that is offended each and every time we sin we don't consider. Some sin has earthly ramifications. All sin has heavenly consequences.

When we sin regularly we tell God that we enjoy earthly pleasures more than Your eternal presence. Yet each time we sin God offers us grace.

God's reply is, "I don't like what you are doing, in fact I hate it, because you put yourself above Me. I love you even though you do this and I want to make it right."

God wants to make it right? But He's the one who has been offended and He's also the one who loves you beyond your sin, beyond the darkness of your past, beyond the sinfulness of your present and beyond the struggles of the future.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The cost was the life of Jesus.

While you and I were functioning in our dysfunction and could care less about the love of God; He loved us regardless. That word "still" gets me. It means that I couldn't get any farther away from God than that. In fact I enjoyed what I was doing; yet He loved me and yet Jesus died in my place.

This amazing love that Jesus has for us is so tremendous. What person could have loved you so much that they decided to take on and endure the full wrath of God so you wouldn't have to? What person went through such tumultuous torture so that one day He could wipe all your tears away?

We have all offended God. Jesus took all of our punishment. All I have to do to receive this grace is admit that I have sinned.

That amazing grace is scandalous!

Our Message Should Be...

2011-03-08T16:26:00.002-08:00

The main message that should be preached regularly at every church from each pulpit each week is the same as Jesus' message.

Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Luke 5:32
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

REPENTANCE. In many churches the word "repent" is a 4-letter word. Because we think it is full of condemnation when actually it is a word that is overflowing with such amazing grace. Here is why:

In the Old Testament sin was the big issue. People constantly had to supply their own sacrifice whether from their own herd/flock or purchased by them to get "annual" forgiveness. That only being done on the Day of Atonement once a year. At that specific time of the year a human being could enter into God's presence (the Most Holy Place) and that also only being the high priest. This went on for generations because the sacrifices that were made were not good enough to completely atone for the sin of the people.

Hebrew 10:4
Because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

That all changed with what we read in the New Testament. When Jesus went to the cross sin ceased being the issue and repentance became the issue.

Jesus was the perfect sacrifice to cover all sin once and for all...past, present and future.

Hebrews 9:25-26
Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Sin is done. Sin has been conquered. There is victory. All because Jesus did "away" with it. Meaning sin no longer has a death grip on us. Understand I'm not denying that sin is an issue. I'm not denying that we will struggle with sin in our lives. What I am saying is that we don't need to focus on a particular sin whether from the pulpit or in private but start working towards repentance.

So it's not do I sin but do I repent. In God's eyes it doesn't matter what sin is committed because it already had a sacrifice; it does matter, however, if you repent of it. Instead of us, who have offended God with our sin buy an offering God brought a sacrifice to the table so now all we must do is repent. God's sacrifice was good enough. I just need to accept it and repent.

God's desire is not that I find happiness, success or any other seeker-sensitive bull. He desires that I repent so that I don't have to remain on the outside of the Most Holy Place but enter into it.

Don't think for 1 minute that you have more compassion for the lost because you bow to their will then the Son of God. He made His grace wide open for everyone who repents. God wants us because He bought us with a great price that we were never worth the value of.

So what greater message can ever be preached, than repentance?

Mark 6:12
They went out and preached that people should repent.

That was the message Jesus sent the twelve disciples out to preach. Great things took place as well. People were healed and the demon possessed were given liberty; yet, the miraculous followed the message of repentance.

If we really want to be a church that shows grace, reaches the lost and honors Christ then our message should resonate the same theme as His.

Yes, Jesus Loves Me

2011-03-04T12:35:00.001-08:00

If you ever went to church as a child you probably were taught the song, "Jesus Loves Me." Just in case you may not know it or have forgotten the words let me tell you of them:

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong

Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so

It's amazing how we sometimes miss the marvelous nature of that chorus because it's a song for children. But what a great hope comes from hearing the words, "Yes, Jesus loves me." Jesus died on the cross as payment for our sin and not only that but to show us His very own love for you and me.

Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2)
Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. (Ephesians 5:25)
[He] loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Jesus loves me personally. What an amazing thought. The Beginning and the End, the I AM, the Son of the living God, the Word that became flesh, the King above all kings and the Lord above all lords LOVES ME. No matter my past or my present Jesus loves me unconditionally.

You may ask if you are included in this and the answer is simple.

Because we were weak in our efforts to get out from God's wrath Jesus was willing to be beaten, mocked, nailed to a cross and put in a tomb all for His limitless love for you. Whenever you start to feel lonely, unloved or in need of some encouragement just begin to sing,

Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so

Just Throw the Seed

2011-02-11T17:20:00.000-08:00

Matthew 13:3-23 is the Parable of the Sower. In that parable a farmer throws seed onto pieces of land that would never produce a harvest. He threw it on a path, a rocky place, among thorns, and also on good soil. In each instance, except on the good soil, the seed did not produce what it was meant to. We can read this parable and miss a key point: Though most of the objects the seeds landed on did not produce; the objective was that the seed was thrown onto them regardless.

A wise and conservative farmer would never throw seed onto soil that would never produce a crop. However, a reckless farmer would. A reckless farmer would throw out seed unconditionally.

In sharing our faith we can become too wise and conservative to the point that if we feel that the seed of the gospel won't be produced in a persons life we don't bother throwing out the seed. That is never the point of the gospel. We don't pick and choose who God reaches.

We need to be like the reckless farmer who throws out the seed undaunted by where it may fall and what may happen. The reckless farmer loses a lot of energy throwing the seed everywhere but God will bless his harvest.

the Chase

2011-02-03T17:15:00.000-08:00

You ever have your kids come and chase after you? It's one of my favorite games to play with Caleb.

When I tell Caleb to, "come and get me" instantly a smile breaks across his face and he lunges toward me. I move...the CHASE begins. As we're running around the house laughing and giggling I let him get close enough that when he's just about to get me I sprint off. Then an outburst of laughter rolls out from the bottom of his little feet and he continues his joyous pursuit.

Sometimes in the house I get far enough away from him where I go to my secret hiding place (he's never found me there yet). I get in there and I listen. I listen to the sound of my son wanting me so badly that he's running up and down the hall laughing and asking himself, "Where's Daddy?"

Now I can tell when he's about to get upset so I let him catch me or find me (somewhere else). By that time I'm nearly out of breath anyway and want a break. Of course Caleb insists on another chase.

Caleb's pursuit of me is what our pursuit of God should look like: excitable, joyful, nothing else matters including the landmine of toys. Jeremiah 29:13 says,

You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.
Now I could totally disappear out of Caleb's grasp if I wanted to, I have that ability over a 3 year old. I don't because I want him to enjoy the chase. God doesn't use all of His ability to vanish from us; He wants to be pursued. He's never out of reach just waiting for the moments we catch Him.

If I asked any adult to "come and get me" they'd think I'm nuts. All of us can get comfortable and forget what it's like to pursue our Daddy. We need to be in reckless pursuit. My son doesn't chase me just because I told him to. He chases because he loves the moment he catches me. I know God does too.

So what are you waiting for...start the CHASE.

My One Flaw

2011-01-27T18:06:00.000-08:00

I believe that when you surrender your life to God you become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and in many ways you still are being created. My one flaw is that by nature I'm a smart-aleck. I've been blessed with this gift of saying something then inserting foot right after. However, today was a day that I wish I wasn't tired and had a little more self-restraint.

I had to go through the last step of being "badged" as a UPS employee working at the airlines. This badging process takes you through so many things. Including spending time with your friendly and oh so delightful TSA agents.

This quaint little woman with an obnoxious chewing gum habit...ya know the chewing like a cow chomping on it's cud...handled my paperwork. As she's wiping some dribble off the paper she notices that my employer accidentally put an extra "e" in my middle name. This set off a red flag, at least in her mind. She ended up quadruple checking my drivers license and social security card. Once that episode was over I was sent to a viewing room where we'd watch an "informative but not meant for you to know everything" video.

After watching this 20 min. video guess who comes in but our wonderful Dentyne crackin' TSA agent. She hands us paperwork with the "highlights" of the video. She proceeds to tell us everything we heard in our 20 min. video only with the added 3D rain effect.

When she finished the verbal portion she went to spit out her gum. I figured we were done so I began to sign my paperwork. Unlucky for me that wasn't what was next on the agenda. She shouts from near the trash can, while unwrapping another piece of gum, "Excuse me sir, don't sign anything yet. I haven't given you those instructions."

Right after that she had to give me the "tsk tsk naughty naughty" look while inserting her fresh undefiled piece of gum. Then proceeding she gave us the instructions, "Sign where it says sign and print where it says print and do not forget to date."

Since we were having such a pleasant time I asked her to repeat those instructions. Since 2 seconds earlier she yelled at me for DOING the very thing she told us to do. Everyone else thought it was funny.

I once again got the "look". So as I was inserting my foot she once again began to insert some gum. She must have forgot that she was already masticating a piece. She asked if I thought I was funny. My reply, "I wouldn't be here if I didn't". Right after that she was called to the other room and we were dismissed. Lucky for the both of us because I was running out of feet and she was running out of gum.

Every Saint Has a Past

2011-01-22T20:18:00.000-08:00

I don't know who said it but it's true, "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."

I'm about to lay some stuff out there that those of you that have known me for years may have never known about in my past.

First, I was born...

I was born into an abusive home. Not towards me as much but between my dad and mom. My dad was a very mean alcoholic. My mom fought back when she was able. I would escape to my room hoping the yelling and fighting would stop.

My mom was your average Christian. She went to church as often as we could get a ride but she didn't live it at home. It made me question the reality of God.

When I was 9 I was molested by a leader in the church my mom took me to. From that moment on I had a deep hatred for God, the church and anyone in authority.

I became extremely violent. I never used drugs or alcohol but violence gave me a high. Without going into detail all I can say is if it wasn't for the grace of God I should have spent years in prison.

I started going to Faith Assembly of God with my mom right before I went into high school. Little did I know that this was the place where God would get a hold of my life in a very real and significant way. I gave lip-service for several years going to church. But one summer when I was 16 I went to a youth camp with the church and God began to work on my heart. I came back home and talked with Pastor Mack and he told me that I can't let anyone else determine my walk with God.

So at that moment I sincerely gave my life over to God.

At the start of my junior year in high school I was targeted by a group of people who tried to take my life on different occasions. So by divine providence I was transferred to a high school closer to Faith Assembly; where I continued to grow in my love for God.

I gave you a glimpse into my past to let you know that the following I also had to learn and live.

Everyone has a past. Some may have been dealt worse hands than others but that doesn't give us liberty to remain beat and living in the past.

Your terrible past does not determine future defeat. You choose to remain bound. Divine grace is too great to waste it defeated by man. You and I have the ability to take what has been thrown at us and use it for God's glory or continue to wallow in it in misery. God's grace is so magnificent why would we let anyone rob us of this great experience?

It's easy to cop out. To say people are holding you down when in reality it is your choices that are. I don't pass the buck for the violent acts that I did on the one who harmed me. I choose not to continue that cycle of ignorance. I made those mistakes and it is by God's grace that I've been forgiven and am free.

We all should strive toward the future and you can not do that in the past. Whether you have a relationship with God or not...don't hold onto the things that keep you chained to your history. Trust in God's grace, learn from your past but live in this day.

A Panoramic View

2011-01-17T11:14:00.001-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I was on my way to work at UPS at 3:30 AM. It has been fairly chilly here in Alaska which I think is out of character. So there were some icy spots on the road.

I was less than a mile from the building as I came to this left curve. As I turned with the road my jeep decided to go adjacent to the road. So now I am facing at a 90 degree angle to the left with my car sliding right and my blood pressure rising. I took my foot off the gas and cranked my steering wheel to the right.

In that process I spun around now adjacent at about a 90 degree angle to the road facing right and sliding left. Now I'm cranking the steering wheel to the left. My blood pressure is soaring as I see the oncoming ditch or steel barricade that is in my immediate future.

At this point I just said, "Jesus". It had the tone of taking His name in vain but He knew it was a cry for help. Before I got too close to the side of the road I was able to get my jeep facing in the correct direction and headed on to work.

You know how they say when you have a near death experience or something traumatic happen your LIFE flashes before your eyes. It's not true if you're married. My WIFE flashed before my eyes. And I wondered how am I going to explain this. I could hear all the questions coming from her: "Are you ok?" "How did this happen?" "Were you speeding?" (which I wasn't) "How are we going to pay for the repairs?" I wasn't the only person who had trouble that morning. I was fortunate not to be one of the many who needed a tow truck to come to their rescue.

Needless to say when I arrived at work I was wide awake. I'm glad I got to see a panoramic view that day but from now on I'll only do that outside of my jeep.

The Bible Says...

2011-01-14T17:44:00.000-08:00

The Bible says I will be persecuted

The Bible says I will suffer

The Bible says I will encounter all kinds of trials and tribulation

The Bible says I will be like a sheep led to the slaughter

Yet,

The Bible also says that I'm an overcomer in all things

The Bible also says that I will run and not be weary; I will walk and not faint

The Bible also says that I'm a child of God

The Bible teaches that death is just the beginning for me

So BRING ON the persecution

So BRING ON the suffering

So BRING ON the trials and tribulations

So BRING ON the slaughter house

Because in the end my body will fall but my spirit will rise

That's why,

I fear no man

I fear no government

I fear no movement

Take my "rights"

Take my life

For in the "end times" time won't end for me.

Am I the Object of Christianity?

2010-12-31T17:36:00.001-08:00

RADICAL Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt is a book that is not only a "must read" but a "must intake". This is not a book review or anything like that. I have been studying some things in the book of Daniel recently and today while doing some reading of Radical this jumped out at me:

"God loves me" is not the essence of biblical Christianity. Because if "God loves me" is the message of Christianity, then who is the object of Christianity?

God loves me.

Me.

Christianity's object is me.

Therefore, when I look for a church, I look for the music that best fits me and the programs that best cater to me and my family. When I make plans for my life and career, it is about what works best for me and my family. When I consider the house I will live in, the car I will drive, the clothes I will wear, the way I will live, I will choose according to what is best for me. This is the version of Christianity that largely prevails in our culture.

But it is not biblical Christianity.

The message of biblical Christianity is not "God loves me, period," as if we were the object of our own faith. The message of biblical Christianity is "God loves me so that I might make Him - His ways, His salvation, His glory, and His greatness - known among all nations." Now God is the object of our faith, and Christianity centers around Him. We are not the end of the gospel; God is.

In the book of Daniel Chapter 4 and 5 talk about 2 different kings (Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar) who in knowing how great and awesome God is dishonored God with their pride and actions. Nebuchadnezzar changed quite literally into a beast and Belshazzar saw the writing on the wall and died that evening.

Nebuchadnezzar repented of his ways and glorified God. Belshazzar knew better but decided to praise things rather than God and his life was taken.

How much should we repent of our "Christian" egos? How much have we twisted the gospel's message and the Bride of Christ to mankind's agenda?

I'm finna go King James for a minute: WOE to the Church in America if we don't turn back to real faith, real true biblical Christianity! Our fate will not be lessoned but increased since we know all too well of how GREAT and GLORIOUS OUR GOD IS!

To the Flight Attendants

2010-09-16T15:25:00.000-07:00

Recently the family and I were flying up to Alaska to see my in-laws. I don't know about you but when I get excited about a trip (or Christmas) I can't sleep the night before. So I'm pretty tired just to start off. We have two evening flights. We're expected to be in Alaska around mid-night and I have a 2 hour drive to get to the airport. So just like everyone else I tune out when I got on the plane. Especially during the "presentation".

As per FAA regulations every flight has the Flight Attendant Presentation. The demonstration on how to fasten your seat-belt...which I would get if you're under 2 yrs old and your mom and dad didn't care about you. Then they tell you where the doors are for your "convenience". Like I'm going to say mid-flight, "Hey let me off here". After that is all said and done they give the oxygen mask / flotation device location demonstration. Which is great to know because if I need any of those I hope we've landed in water that way it'll cover up any other "accident" that has occured. When all is said and done they tell you that you can find the demonstration on the "shoulda been listening" emergency card on the seat back pocket in front of you.

While all this is helpful information I know I don't pay attention and here is why...I look at everybody else who is not paying attention. People are sleeping. Whispering. Reading books. Doing work. Looking ahead aimlessly. Some are even mocking the flight attendant. And this happens on every flight.

You, flight attendants are so chipper trying to let everyone know what to do if they are about to DIE and no one seems to care. You may feel you're speaking to the wind. You may say to yourself, "I've done this a gazillion times and 99.99% of that gazillion times nobody pays attention." You may think that your job is pointless but it's not.

I remember one flight I was on and the plane hit some really harsh turbulance. I love rollercoasters; the more it pushes you the better. This one had me getting those butterflies in my stomach fluttering. I recall at one point as we dropped I was ready for that oxygen mask to drop or for the flight attendants to say, "Get your floaties".

Well I think your job is a lot like mine. I've preached salvation messages in churches, youth camps and street corners across America. I've seen people respond to the messages while others sleep. Whisper. Read the tithe envelope. Look aimlessly at me. I want to scream and say "Pay attention...you need this!"

I feel your frustration Flight Attendants. The thing is if we quit with our message it's quite possible that someone might slip by who has never heard.

The Christmas Light

2009-12-22T22:46:00.000-08:00

We all have something that we enjoy the most about the Christmas season. Spending much needed time with family and friends. Giving and receiving gifts. Playing in the snow (if you get some). I personally love decorations. Not so much the putting up or the taking down part. But I love to see homes, trees, and small town parks lite up. The creativity people put into making their homes help guide aircraft (or Santa...lol) just stirs within me the anticipation of Christmas. I love seeing trees take on whole different personas with ornaments and lights that twinkle with holiday music.

Of course none of this really matters. All these things fade. The snow melts, we go our separate ways, the lights come down and get stored until next Christmas. But there is a light that does matter. It never dims. It is eternal. That light is Christ.

John 1:4-5, 9
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 12:46
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

Christmas is Jesus expressed. It's about love, service, praise, reflection and worship.

If this is true than Christmas is an action rather than a holiday.

When the weak are sustained,
When the burdened are uplifted,
When the weary are restored,
When the sick are healed,
When the suffering are solaced,
When a believer proclaims Christ boldly,
When a soul is redeemed THAT'S CHRISTMAS.

Christmas is a time to remember Emmanuel; GOD WITH US.

God in the valley,
God on the mountain top,
God on the homeless street,
God in the midst of the chains of addiction,
God when I'm mourning death,
God when I'm losing my mind,
God when my health is failing,
God when my bills are greater than my income,
God is the midst of war,
God who brings peace, joy, good-will and salvation to every man, woman and child.

So instead of celebrating the holiday put Christmas in action.

When you see a light twinkle on the tree or in your front yard let that be a reminder that Jesus has called us to action and that He is with us to bring light into the darkness. More than just on December 25th but from January 1st to December 31st. The true Spirit of Christmas is something that is year round.

The Great Commission

2009-10-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

Mark 16:15 puts the Great Commission this way: He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

He is no Christian who does not seek to serve his God. The very motto of the Christian should be "I serve." - Charles Spurgeon

Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that. - Charles Spurgeon

If you do not make it a matter of study, how you may successfully act in building up the kingdom of Christ, you are acting a very wicked and absurd part as a Christian. - Charles Finney

Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." - Matthew 9:37-38

Oh, my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the church, that of evangelizing the world and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected! - Oswald J. Smith

Why do you call me, "Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say? - Luke 6:46

My friend, I stand in judgment now,
And feel that you're to blame somehow.
On earth I walked with you by day,
And never did you show the way.

You knew the Savior, in truth and glory,
But never did you tell the story.
My knowledge then was very dim,
You could have led me safe to Him.

Though we lived together, here on earth,
You never told me of the second birth.
And now I stand before eternal hell,
Because of heaven's glory you did not tell!
- Anonymous

Truly if we want to be like Christ we must accept the very mission He had: to seek and save the lost. - Luke 19:10.

Where do we put our effort in this kingdom business? Is our time spent inside the church? Is our time spent on planning "insider" events? Is it spent worshipping? These aren't bad things. But our time must be spent on what Christ would. Jesus spent time doing things with His followers but that never distracted Him enough to take His eyes off of His mission.

Love finds a way. Indifference finds an excuse.

The Best Place To Have Church

2009-08-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east...As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. He asked me, "Son of man, do you see this?...When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live." (Ezekiel 47:1-9)

I love coming out of a church service feeling pumped up for God. Many times I'd get into a conversation that would get started by saying, "We had church today!" (Waving my white hanky). I'd get so hungry in a sense for God after that service that I would go to my local Mexican food restaurant and grab a bite to eat. I'd get so full that I'd go home and take my Sunday afternoon nap before the evening service. I've come to wonder now if I'd really had church.

These verses have several implications for those who are True Christians. We could look at the depths of spiritual maturity - from ankle deep to in over our head - mostly the location of the water is what I want to look at.

The shallower the river the closer it is to the temple. The deeper the river the further it is from the temple. Now I believe church, the organization, is important to bring a foundation to its people. Where the people know where they stand in the faith (ankle deep). The church has a great place in teaching and training believers. But they still aren't deep yet. They maybe deep theologically but not necessarily spiritually.

The further we get from the church as an organization to the place where it is an organism we see great depths spiritually.

Now this scripture is telling of how the Dead Sea, which cannot sustain any life because of its salt content, will have fresh life sustaining water.

Our depth in the Spirit depends greatly on how much we impact the "Dead Sea" around us. How Christian am I if I only live my life in Christ at my local church? How much am I like Christ if all I do is hang around saints?

We seriously need to get in over our head in the Spirit of God to where the current takes us where God directs and a long that way give the life giving message to those who are dead spiritually.

Would your community weep if your church suddenly vanished or would it not even notice? A church that impacts it's "Dead Sea" is a spiritually deep community changing organism. The church that has little to no impact in it's community is spiritually dead and is nothing more than an organization.

So maybe the best place to have church is not in a sanctuary but at the local tavern.

What Have We Come To?

2009-07-18T23:28:00.000-07:00

"Believe in the inspiration of the Bible. Believe in the Deity of Christ. Believe in Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection; and you will become a Christian."

So the whole plan of salvation is to give intellectual assent to some doctrine?

A person is considered a "Christian" because they could say "Yup" at places they were asked to? A simple cure for the spiritual issue.

Colossians 2:8
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ."

Have we been cheating people of true salvation by giving them philosophy and doctrine instead of giving them the Spirit of God that gives us life and that causes all spiritual change? We have removed ourselves from the spiritual because it is uncontrollable. We have a few moments in the Spirit here and there but where is the consistency of life that the Spirit gives the believer? There are great cathedrals that have been built in honor to God but have the people who worship in those beautiful establishments honored Him as well?

Don't get me wrong. I know salvation is not earned and that it is a free gift of God. But here lies the issue as well; just like every free gift I must take ownership of it. For example, if I were given a gym membership as a gift but I never spent time at the gym would I really know what it is like to workout in that gym? No. I can show you my membership card...but the evidence of me being at the gym is missing.

I fully believe that salvation comes through a truly repentant heart but I believe it also goes so much deeper. Paul told the church in Philippi to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling". It is not a 2 minute prayer at an altar. It is taking that 2 minute time at an altar and letting God take our life time to alter us.

We act as though we are doing God a favor by accepting His salvation. We are not saved so we can go to heaven. Salvation is not a fire insurance policy. We are not saved to see what we can get out of God; salvation is about God getting glory out of our lives.

We work out our salvation by devoting our LIVES to God. Letting the spiritual impact our physical. We must start to let God interrupt how we usually act toward people, how we work, how we play. It all is affected by our salvation.

Psalm 42:1
"As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God."

Does that sound like a person who let their salvation become a thing to be forgotten? That is the heart of a person truly repentant and needing more of their God.

The question boils down to this...how's your salvation? Is it being worked out or is it some vain philosophy?

I guess if we take it a step further still can Jesus be our Savior and NOT our Lord? This question however has an easy answer but a harsh reality.

Reconciled?????

2009-07-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

Have you heard anyone use the word "reconcile"? I hear it all over the place now. First, with Oprah and her New Age beliefs. She reconciled her idea of God with other ways of thinking (kinda old news there). I hear it from those who reconcile their faith in Christ with their homosexuality. These are not the only two instances of people or groups of people reconciling themselves with God. Those who abuse much of anything try to reconcile their actions with God. This goes beyond justification (being declared righteous). Their reconciling is saying that my acts or thoughts or beliefs are "OK" with God because we've worked out our differences.

Those who do such make it almost sound spiritual their act of reconciling. Yet, they are far from being truly reconciled to God.

Do they really know what reconciliation is? And who does the reconciling?

The dictionary definition and most common usage of reconciling is to: bring into agreement or harmony; make compatible or balanced. For example, when you balance your check book to your bank account. When it is balanced then it is reconciled. There is no disagreement in either record.

At some point we've got the reconciliation process flipped. We've reconciled ourselves "with" God; rather than us being reconciled "to" God.

Here is what I mean...

In order for someone to be reconciled there must be something broken between the offended and the offender. When we look at scripture the roles that are played as mankind being the offender and God being the offended. The act of reconciliation must be initiated by the offended party.

For example, if I had offended my wife in some way that caused our relationship to be broken; no matter how much I apologized and sent sweet messages and all those types of things to her we would not be reconciled. I was the one in the wrong and therefore cannot bring harmony to the situation. Now if my wife comes to me and forgives me and starts the process of reconciliation then we will have our relationship restored.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19
"All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation."

The message that Christians should preach is the message of reconciliation that God will not hold the sins of mankind against them if they come to God through Christ. God wants to have mankind's relationship restored with Him. And that comes through being reconciled. We cannot do the divine act of reconciliation and believe that all things are peachy. If we want to be reconciled then we must come before God in the light of our actions and be forgiven. And keep in balance with God and that means the actions that cause us to be separated or in disagreement to Him should be abandoned.

"By My Spirit"

2009-05-18T23:07:00.000-07:00

Zechariah 4:6, 7
"So he answered and said to me: This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"'"

First I just gotta give props to Zerubbabel. He had to have been awesome to rock that kinda name. I wanted to name my son that but my wife wouldn't even consider it. Seriously, if you got mad at him and like most parents start stuttering their kid's names; you'd get caught on the "bbabababel's" and start to laugh and calm down before you disciplined your kid.

Anyway, to be more serious. The Israelites were in a building program. They were trying to build a new temple. The temple is significant because it symbolizes the place where God dwells. It wasn't like the church on every corner. It was the one and only.

Well in taking on any task of this magnitude it was going to take all of their might and all of their power to accomplish it. What this verse is saying though is that the obstacles that are and will be before it are much greater than the people are and it will only be by God's Holy Spirit that they will overcome those "mountains".

According to 1 Corinthians 6:19 True Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit (if you want to know my thoughts on TRUE Christians check out my September 2008 blog: Who in Hell are You?). And according to Romans, True Christians have been given a new nature and a new way of life. A nature and life that are led by the Spirit of God.

Matthew 16:18 says that hell cannot withstand the Church or aka the body of Christ. Well, I'm not a doom and gloom type of person but I look at the news and see the people on the streets of my small town and see how hell has overcome the Church. I believe it is because the Church has forgotten what it should have been. The Church has used it's own resources, it's own agenda, it's own authority to become the "body of Christ". The Church has negated the Spirit and by doing so crippled itself. It was in the days of Zechariah as for today that the place where God dwells must be built upon the Spirit of God.

As a nation when a horrible tragedy strikes we act swiftly to take care of those suffering (i.e. those who helped their neighbor or flew across the country to give aid to the Katrina victims). How often is it that we act as selflessly during normal business hours to our neighbors? We want to show people the love of God. We want to show compassion to the widow and orphan. To be charitable to those who are less fortunate. Surely, we can do all these things with our own might and power but what makes the biggest impact and causes those efforts to have an incredible force to make a change is the Spirit of God.

The reason for this lack within the Church is because it has focused on and became a Physical Organization and left it's origin as a Spiritual Organism. I feel this to be our primary "mountain" that must become a "plain" if the Church is to be what it was intended to be. An organization can still thrive and be successful if the founders are no longer present. All they need to do is establish new leaders that will direct that organization into the future. However, the Church cannot do so. If you remove the Spirit the organism dies. All that is left is a corpse. Proof that it once had life but no longer has a future. The Church needs it's life back. There is no life-support. Either we live by the Spirit or we don't have life at all.

I am a Pentecostal. Not because I think the name is cool but I believe in the prompting, leading, and guidance of the Holy Spirit in my daily life. I want the might and power of the Holy Spirit flowing through me. Because I know that the only way the Church will prevail against the spiritual darkness in this world is to operate in the Spirit. The only way for the Church to truly be established as the dwelling place of God is to allow the Spirit of God to reign.

Jesus Covered It!

2009-04-10T12:22:00.000-07:00

Exodus 25:22

There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all My commands for the Israelites.

The Atonement Cover was a very ornate object that was the cover for the Ark of the Covenant. Make a mental picture of the Atonement Cover. On one end there is a pure gold angel and on the other side is another pure gold angel facing each other with their wings raised and their heads bowed.

Inside the Ark were a few things. One thing in particular was the 10 Commandments, also known as the Law. This was where God would meet with the priest. The Atonement Cover was also known as the Mercy Seat. God’s presence was there and His mercy rested on it

Leviticus 16:15 tells us that the Atonement Cover had the blood of the Sin Offering sprinkled on it between the angels. This only happened once a year on the Day of Atonement where the priest would meet with God and made atonement for the sins of the people.

So put these two things together so far. The Atonement Cover had two angels on each end depicted in worship to God. This is where God met with the priest on the Day of Atonement. It is where the atonement took place. Without the Atonement Cover there wouldn’t have been fellowship between God and man. Finally it is where the requirements of the Law were Covered by the Atonement.

Now skip forward many, many years to the time of Jesus Christ. John chapter 20 verse 11 & 12.

but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

Mary saw what? Two angels. Where at? At the head and at the foot where Jesus’ body was laid.

This is what I think is awesome. We have a picture of the Mercy Seat inside the tomb. The perfect sin offering was in between these two angels (check out Hebrews 9:12-28). Colossians 2 says that the requirements of the Law that were against us were wiped out because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

The first Mercy Seat had to have a sacrifice sprinkled on it once a year on the Day of Atonement. The new Mercy Seat had a sacrifice laid upon it that made atonement once and for all.

Jesus brought more out of the Mercy Seat that Resurrection morning because the power of the grave had no power over the mercy given by God through His Son.

The Old Testament Mercy Seat covered the Law that was against us temporarily. The new Mercy Seat covered the Law permanently.

The Law had been fulfilled by the death and Resurrection of Christ. We have mercy because the wrath and judgment was poured out on Christ..

The very place where God had fellowship with the high priest in the Old Testament during the Day of Atonement has greater power because of the Resurrection. God could only abide on the Mercy Seat because of the sins of the people. Now He can move and abide in His people because of the Resurrection power of Christ.

God was showing in the days of Moses and throughout the religious history of Israel to the day Jesus rose from the grave that the Law will be Covered by the Atonement. God wants to meet with His people. And it is only through the acceptance of Jesus Christ’s atonement that we can have fellowship with God.

You Might Be A Preacher If...

2009-03-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

You Might Be A Preacher If...

10. You've ever dreamed that you were preaching only to awaken and discover that you are.

09. You've ever asked for a clergy discount at a garage sale.

08. You get your home and church address mixed up.

07. You get paid weakly.

06. You've checked your fly as you stood for an opening prayer.

05. When you talk to people it always has a happy ending - everyone is happy it ended.

04. You suffer weekly form P.M.S. (Pre-Message Syndrome).

03. You've fantasized about re-baptizing a deacon.

02. Instead of getting "ticked off" you get "grieved in your spirit".

01. You've secretly wanted the worship team to drench you with Gatorade after a particularly good sermon.

Parable of the Rich Fool

2009-01-13T15:02:00.000-08:00

Luke 12:19-21

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good
things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat drink and be merry." But God
said to him. "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.
Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" This is how it will be
with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.

In this parable this dude had everything materially. He was not in want of anything. The one thing he lacked though was a good relationship with God. It wasn't a bad thing that he had wealth. It wasn't a horrible thing for this guy to want to take life easy for awhile. We can all use a break now and then. But the problem was that this guy from morning till evening strived to prepare for himself a home here. He wanted to be like the Jeffersons and move on up to the east side. All of this was taken in one swoop. This parable ended with this dude's life being taken. Everything he had was now forfeit.

Seriously we need to evaluate our lives. As Christians we should give a portion of EVERY DAY to God. As much as we do to make sure we provide for ourselves here on earth we should strive with as much effort to prepare for our home in heaven. How often do we read the Bible? How many times do we pray? How long are we in His presence daily? If we give poor answers to these questions our fate will be the same as that dude in the parable of the Rich Fool.

LIFE Journaling

2009-01-09T18:47:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody -

Just wanted to tell ya what has been going on recently since I haven't blogged in a bit. The beginning of this year myself and the leaders of Lapwai Assembly of God have committed to LIFE Journal.

What is a LIFE Journal? Well the idea came from Wayne Cordeiro, pastor of New Hope in Hawaii. It is a fabulous tool for every Christian to grow in their faith. There is a Daily Bible Reading Plan that you read each day. When you have completed the reading for the day you write down the scripture(s) that spoke to you. Then you write down what you have observed. Then of course you write down how you will apply this in your life. Finally, take it a step further and write out a prayer asking God to help you become different because of what was read.

We have read for over a week and I have been extremely blessed. I would encourage you to do a LIFE Journal. You can find the Daily Reading on our church's website: www.LapwaiAssembly.com. If you would like to purchase an official LIFE Journal with the Daily Reading Plan and other helpful tips for journaling visit www.lifejournal.cc or call 1-877-755-9555. It is worth the investment of your time and money for your relationship with God to flourish.

Many Blessing to you and to yours.

What Our Response Should Be To The President-Elect

2008-11-06T00:58:00.000-08:00

I meant to write this earlier today (Nov 5th) but have been real busy with other things going on. Anyway here are my 2 cents.

First, I did not vote for Barack Obama. I have a lot of concerns about his capabilities as being the Commander and Chief. I also question if all the promises that were made will come to pass (yet you can expect that from every politician).

Now that is out of the way. I feel it our duty, as True Christians, to uphold in prayer our President-Elect rather than make foolish Christian rhetoric. I can't believe how many times I saw statements that dealt with Barack Obama ushering in the end of the world. Really people!? IS that what we Christians do when we don't get our way: "Something didn't go my way, so it must be close to the end of the world." A Christian temper tantrum.

Have you ever watched the movie "Ice Age". You remember the Dodo birds. They tried to prepare for the end of the world with just 3 melons. When our herd of misfits came near the birds started chanting "Doom on You, Doom on You." We Christians can't afford in this season to act like the Dodo birds but we are. We think we have it all figured out but trust me we have fallen short in our preparations to establish the Kingdom of God. Our "Doom on You" mentality when things don't go our way just shows our ignorance of scripture, gives us a bad testimony, and further prevents the work of God to take place.

When Jesus was asked what the two greatest commandments were He said the first was to love God and the second was to love your neighbor. That means every person we know on earth we are meant to show love and compassion for. The neighbor who blasts music way too loud and way too early in the morning - we need to love him. The grocery store clerk who charged you twice for items in your cart - we need to love her. The homosexual who is proud of his lifestyle - we need to love him. The person driving their car 5 miles under the speed limit when we're 10 minutes late - we need to love her. The President-Elect who you may not agree with - we need to love him.

Our prayers for Barack Obama should not be ones that are tainted with hatred. But heart-felt prayers for the man and those who he chooses to serve with him to be guided by God. Christians are good activists when it comes to things not turning out their way (Doom on You). Christians should be known for their proactive love and sincere prayers (But we're not). Let's try to make steps to change that. Pray for Barack Obama. Pray for Joe Biden. Pray for Rahm Emanuel. Show love; that's truly what Jesus would do.

Father, we come before You rejoicing. Knowing that You know all things and have greater understanding then we do. Forgive us for our "Doom on You" attitude. Help us to show Your love by loving our neighbors. As You well know our country made many choices recently. Some that we agree with and some we don't. Father, I lift up our President-Elect, Barack Obama. Guide him. Give him courage and strength for the tasks that are set before him. Bless his family. With the same prayer I lift up those who are working with him, Joe Biden the Vice President-Elect and Rahm Emanuel the White House Chief of Staff. You alone have laid out the future and know what stands before these men. Lord, guide them to do their work with integrity and morality. If they do not have a relationship with You bring someone in their path that will point to You. Thank You. We love You. Amen.

"In the world but not of the world." - Christianese

2008-10-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

Christians say the darnedest things. If you are a Christian you might have said this; or if you have been around any Christians or gone to a church service in the past 10+ years you have probably heard this: "We are 'in' the world but not 'of' the world." This statement is so often said that many believe that it is scriptural. But this is just some Christianese that really is not biblical. Some may say I am splitting hairs but hear me out.

Now I am not denying the fact that we are "in" this world. I'm not denying the fact that scripture does say that we are "not of the world". What I do deny is the concept taught here is that we live in the world but we should not have fellowship with those in the world. It suggests that those who do not have a relationship with Jesus are horrible people that we, "holier-than-thou", Christians should stay away from. (FYI: this is crap)

There are many scriptures that say that we are not of the world and that we should not be friends with the world. But this type of friendship is meaning to "be like" or "reflecting" it's personality.

"In the world but not of the world" is such a separatist statement. We are in the world to be the salt and the light (Matthew 5) and yes our destiny is heaven. This statement, however, releases me of my responsibility "in" this world. To me this statement is saying, "I am in this world but since I am not of the world I don't need to make an impact on it".

This Christianese statement should be "Not of the world but in the world". This reflects more of what scripture as a whole teaches; "I am not of this world but since I am in the world I'm going to make an impact on it". This makes me responsible to fulfill the Great Commission. Look at what Paul says:

"I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner - not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges." - 1 Corinthians 5:9-12

Paul is saying that if anything we are not to separate ourselves from the people of the world. On contrary, be with them. But if you are to separate yourselves from a person it is to be from the believer who is living like the world.

Pharisees judged Jesus for eating with sinners. I don't think I need to point out who we should emulate. TRUE Christians are not Pharisees. Let's not get caught up in Christianese and forget what the true Word of God says.

Who In Hell Are You?

2008-09-19T14:26:00.000-07:00

Reality TV finds a limitless amount of people who are willing to eat insects, lie in a bath tub of roaches, humiliate themselves trying to sing, dance, and match their intellect to 5th Graders. Why? Mostly because like one of today's popular songs says "I wanna be famous". Many people strive to do what they can to make their mark in this world. In this world, though, moments of fame come and go. The greatest mark a human can make in this world truly makes the biggest impact in the supernatural.

Accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord makes an impact on our present world. How we live, treat others, view social issues. Even more so "TRUE" Christians (emphasis on TRUE) also make a significant mark in the supernatural. We realize that the life we live in the flesh now is only temporary. In that realization there comes an action. An action that causes hell to tremble because a True Christian realized their purpose and authority.

"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18

First lets get past the idea that this church has four walls, a steeple, a nice encouraging marquee in front. This is not a church that has a superior sound system, comfortable seats, a choir, or a pastor. The church talked about here has life. It has two legs to take the gospel message where ever it goes. It has two knees that are bent often in prayer. It has two arms to show compassion to those around it. It has two eyes to see the need for a loving Savior. It has only one mouth and that mouth speaks the Word of God with authority, authenticity, and love. It only has one heart that beats after the will of the One who established it. The church is the True Christian.

This verse is not a defensive scripture for the church. This verse isn't referring to the church being under siege by the enemy. Using this scripture as such is foolish and completely counterproductive to the true meaning of the church. This verse is about the church, or the True Christians, being on the offensive taking the battle to Hades. Look at this verse. The gates only belonged to the stronghold of that city. Gates don't fight a battle. They withstand the battle. True Christians take action in breaking down the strongholds of the enemy.

So who are the True Christians? They are famous. I don't mean televangelist famous. I don't mean mega church famous either. I'm talking about hella famous. They are famous in hell.

"And the evil spirit answered and said, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know but who are you?'" - Acts 19:15

Of course, the evil spirit knew Jesus. Jesus took part in it's creation. At a time this evil spirit was holy and had dwelt with God. Until, along with Lucifer, this evil spirit rebelled. So this evil spirit knew Jesus well. It was Lucifer, aka Satan, who tried to have Jesus killed as a baby. It was Jesus who Satan personally tempted in the wilderness. It was Satan who prompted Judas to betray Jesus. And it is by the name of Jesus that evil spirits are cast out. Jesus is the King of kings so the evil spirit understood who the ruler was.

Paul, previously known as Saul was a great persecutor of True Christians. Yet one day he realized his need for Jesus as his Savior and took action. He told everyone he came into contact with about Jesus. Paul is a fantastic example of a True Christian. Leonard Ravenhill says this about Paul in his book Why Revival Tarries:

"He had no side issues, no books to sell. He had no ambitions - and so had nothing to be jealous about. He had no reputation - and so had nothing to fight about. He had no possessions - and therefore had nothing to worry about. He had no 'rights' - so therefore he could not suffer wrong. He was already broken - so no one could brake him. He was 'dead' - so no one could kill him. He was less than the least - so who could humble him? He had suffered the loss of all things - so none could defraud him. Does this throw light on why the demon said, 'Paul I know'? Over this God-intoxicated man, hell suffered headaches."

If we say we are Christians does hell know us? Is there a "Wanted" picture of us hanging up in hell saying, "Approach Carefully - Considered Armed and Extremely Dangerous"? Do we take hell by storm or are we overcome by the storm of hell? Do the gates of hell oppose us or are we comfortable inside those gates. We can only be on one side or the other. Are we like Paul? Do we give hell headaches? If you can't say that this is true about you; than more than likely you are not a True Christian. Only by name have you become a Christian.

Take time and think. Ask yourself, "Who in hell am I"? If you are a nobody in hell than you are a nobody in heaven. However, if you are a somebody in hell than you are a somebody in heaven.

Reflection

2008-08-05T02:17:00.000-07:00

The main reason I started to blog, and it isn't as often as I'd like, was to just express my thoughts. Like most guys I don't just say what I am feeling. I need time to digest what is going on. This bugs my wife of course. She'll ask me many times what I am thinking and I tell her honestly "I don't know." She looks at me and wonders how in the world do I not know what I am feeling. I usually say soon after my greatly insightful answer that I need time to think. When things occur in my life I need time to reflect.

Lately I've been looking through and reflecting on old journals that I wrote. Most of them only having around 7 entries. They all were written at different times in my life. However, there was always a theme. A reoccurring theme. One that resounds in my heart still today....is nothing too hard for God?

The Assemblies of God have a campaign that makes this bold statement that Nothing Is Too Hard For God. We are taking part of this campaign at my church. This campaign deals with 8 different subjects that many people deal with. This past Sunday was our first service with one of these subjects. Yet I had to wonder, does everyone here truly believe this statement? I can do all I can to share with what little life experience I have, being only 28 years old and ministering to people that are old enough to be my parents, that truly nothing is too hard for God. Yet, it all comes down to each individual and how they reflect on their life with God.

I can reflect on the time that I know the hand of God stopped a hurricane because of my prayers. I can reflect on the times that I know God healed a person that I prayed for. I can reflect on the numerous times I called on God for help and He supplied, provided, protected, and restored what I needed.

I can also reflect on the times that God didn't. When I prayed for people to be healed and they weren't. I can tell of times that things didn't work out the way I hoped or thought they should.

So is it true that nothing is too hard for God? My answer would be an unwavering "YES". Nothing is too hard for God. I can reflect all I want and the times that God showed up greatly out numbers the times I think He doesn't.

When I take time to reflect on any occasion I can always see God at work. Whether I get the answer I am looking for or not. God is still God. God is still on the throne. God is still in control. Whether you or I believe it all the time or not...Nothing Is Too Hard For God!

Fans or Disciples

2008-07-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

The common definition for the word disciple among Christians, preached from pulpits and taught in Bible colleges, is that a disciple is a close follower of Christ.

That is a pretty weak definition of a disciple.

Someone who is a close follower of a sports team can tell you in great detail the statistics of that team, who plays for the team, and a bunch of other frivolous information. They can possibly even tell you why that team has a good chance at being in the championship game at the end of the season.

That person spent a lot of time investing into that game. More specifically that team. They watch every game. They listen to Sports News. Read and watch archives of the team's history. So is this person considered a disciple? By that weak definition, yes. But really they are called a fan.

Webster's Dictionary says:

Fan - an enthusiastic devotee or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.

Disciple - a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrine of another.

Both deal with an understanding of the fundamentals of what they follow. However, a fan is always a spectator and a disciple is always a participator.

So are we creating fans or disciples in our churches?

In today's modern church we have separated discipleship from salvation. These churches feel discipleship to be a matter that is handled latter on. Those who do this are spiritually stupid. Our relationship to Christ as our Savior is just as crucial as our relationship to Him as our Lord. When we accept Christ's salvation we also accept our need and responsibility to become a disciple. We take Jesus completely as He is without reservation. He is our Savior AND Lord.

There are no fans in heaven. We are more than close followers. We are involved head to toe, day in and day out in our need for spiritual growth. We should be in a perpetually growing experiential relationship with God. Training our bodies, minds, and spirits to fulfuilling our responsibility to become a disciple.

If all we are doing is creating fans then we are populating hell through the fake ministry of the church. The church exists to worship God first and foremost then to create disciples who create disciples. Our relationship with God is not a game so it makes no sense to stay in the seats of the church and cheer when there is growth that needs to take place.

Dependence Day

2008-07-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own
understanding.

Today we celebrate our country's independence. This is a great time to celebrate. We have much to be thankful for as Americans. All of our freedoms that we many times take for granted. Just to name a couple: The First Amendment - Our Freedom of Speech, The Second Amendment - The Right to Bear Arms, and The Fifth Amendment - Our Freedom from Self-Incrimination.

This last one gets me. If you have ever watched a court TV show you may hear someone say "I plead the Fifth." When someone says that I tend to automatically think they are guilty of something.

I believe all of us are guilty of something...independence. We have adapted the mentality that we are independent in all areas of our life including our relationship with God. Even the most church going saint struggles with this independence. We many times trust in ourselves more than we trust in God. We feel we can do so many things on our own that we fail to trust in God like we should. I plead the Fifth when it comes to all the times that I have done things through my own strength and abilities when I should have trusted in God more.

Most people like to be in the driver seat and not give control to anyone else. I hate it. If I'm not the driver I get cautious about what the driver is doing. I start to think they are intentionally trying to drive off the road and kill me. And of course many of us have used the phrase, "If you want to get something done right you got to do it yourself." But we must free ourselves from this mentality.

We need to get back to our DEPENDENCE on God. The more and more we depend on God the more and more we transform into His likeness. We become a living example of what Romans 12:1-2 says that we should become.

Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

This is an amazing concept that the more we depend on God the freer we become. DEPENDENCE on GOD = FREEDOM from this WORLD.

Coram Deo

2008-05-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

My friend and I were having a discussion about discipleship: what it is and what it is not. We came to the conclusion in our churches discipleship has become a trivial part of our christian walk; even though we may have discipleship initiatives. Funny isn't it. The very thing that is meant to strengthen us is what is put on the back burner. Looking at the church in whole here is what the church in general does with each new convert. (1) Get them "saved" (2) Take them through a new believers class (3) Place them in some sort of ministry or in a small leadership roll. I don't see anything wrong with any of these individually. Don't get me wrong; I am a guy who loves to evangelize. I will throw out seed until I have nothing left to throw. But what happened to the seed that landed everywhere else but the fertile soil? It got choked, scorched, and eaten. Without proper care our people will be too burdened, burnt out or devoured by the enemy.

So where is the discipleship? Churches need volunteers and lay people but to what extent? I see more clearly why the majority of our youth start drinking and having sex, if they haven't already, when they go to secular colleges. They don't have a good foundation and they are burnt out on their faith. Also, it is why the deacon is sleeping with the church secretary and why the pastor fell from grace. Because we have not trained our "soldiers" to fight. They are missing a very crucial part of their training...the training.

Why can't our students defend their faith? Well, it could be because they don't know what they believe. We think discipleship is setting a solid devotional life. That is not accurate. A devotional life consists of Bible reading/study and prayer correct? Those things are good but they are not signs of a disciple. Those things, without decreasing their important value, are genetic instincts we should have as a Christian. Because I am a Christian I should pray and read the Word. Just as it is my instinct to get something to drink when I am thirsty or eat when I am hungry so should it be with prayer and Bible reading with Christians.

Discipleship is how we live "coram Deo" (before the face of God). Every God given moment of our lives we should portray and develop the fruits of the Spirit. Are we desiring to be more like Him or just enough like Him to get to heaven? Coram Deo is how we live under His authority, how we live to honor and worship God. Discipleship goes beyond memorizing scripture...it is the holy scriptures living through us. Every thought we have, every word we speak, and every action we make is based on our desire to honor God. Discipleship must be more than an initiative. It must be more than a class. It must be a lifestyle. We don't become a disciple at a certain point in which we have reached the pinnacle of understanding. It is a lifestyle that is life-long.

Where Would Jesus Worship?

2008-05-27T18:48:00.000-07:00

Sup erbody. I recently read one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is called The Jesus Sensitive Church by Ron Auch and Dean Niforatos. It posses the question stated by the title of the blog. Where Would Jesus Worship? If Christ were in bodily form would He worship at your church or at my church? Most Christians probably would say "yes". Let's think about it though. It seems that many of the standards that the Father has set have become an offense to the church. The church tries to convince people to come by appealing to their vanity and pride rather than with the truth.

Have our churches substituted ploys (coffee shops, game rooms, free gas cards, give aways, feel good messages, etc.) for the presence of God? Here is a quote from this book:

"...we make His desires the primary thrust of the church. I don't believe there
is anyone more sensitive to the needs of those seeking than Jesus. When did we
ever get it in our heads that we had to protect the seeker from Jesus? When did
the presence of God become inadequate to do the work of God?...They (seekers)
need an encounter with Him, and that is not going to happen without a strong
sense of His presence in our services."

Is the method just as sacred as the message? Or have we come to the point to say "the end justifies the means"? They put it this way in the book. Why stop at a coffee shop if you want to draw people to your church. Why not have some female greeters dress in Hooters outfits to draw a mass of men to your church? If the end justifies the means why not? As long as we are not depending on the Holy Spirit to do the drawing than what would be the problem? People will come but would the presence of God come? Ploys have a way of doing more damage than good. Think about it. A ploy will attract a person but it can't change them. A church gets the person to come because of that ploy. But once, IF THEY EVER, start telling the seeker about the need for repentance they feel betrayed and turn away. Why? Because it wasn't God doing the drawing.

I have always felt that the seeker-sensitive philosophy is truly sinner-sensitive. Where we try to make sinners comfortable at church. Should sinners be comfortable at church? No! God doesn't tolerate sin. He convicts people of it. So when a sinner enters a church he should feel convicted, some tug at his heart for repentance, if the presence of God is there. We think the word convicted is such a bad word but it is what will truly draw a man to true repentance. True conviction is not a horrible experience but a sweet one because of the hope we have in Christ.

Maybe the churches now are like a chicken with its head cut off. The chicken's body can still run around even after it's head has been cut off. At first glance you can see a church body that seems lively, very active, involved in lots of things. But the head of that body is missing. After a while you would come to see that even though the body is moving...it's not attached to it's Head. Jesus is not in control. The source of all that activity wasn't God but man. Jesus is the head of the church and in order for the body of Christ to stay alive it must be dependant on the Spirit not a ploy.