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Joshua holds a Masters degree, from Trinity Seminary of the Bible, in Philosophy with a concentration in Christian Apologetics and Theology as well as an undergraduate from Gordon College in Political Science and History.

Purpose in Your Heart…Don’t Give Up…He Will Deliver

Daniel 6:16 [widescreen]Pastor Joshua’s Two Minute Blog:

There is nothing fun about a lion’s den, that is unless your the lion. The wild, powerful and predatory instinct of a lion kills without mercy or remorse and yet Daniel found himself locked away with these massive cats awaiting a certain death. Or was he?

Often we hear people say, “God would never…” but for Daniel God had placed him face to face with very real and deadly lions and for one reason: “That your God, whom you continually serve may deliver you.” 

For some it may seem as God sort of made His point backwards. But we cannot loose site of the fact that God didn’t place Daniel in the lions den, Daniel’s uncompromising faith, in God, put Daniel in the den of lions…and God delivered him!

I often look at my own circumstances and wonder, “How did I get here?” Or “What have I done wrong to find myself in this trap?” Certainly, at times, we can all make poor life choices that place us in challenging circumstances. But not every adversity is because of something negative you have done; nor have you arrived in such a place because God has put you there.

Again, consider Daniel…he was placed in the den of certain death because He loved God with all of his heart, soul and being. It was known to Daniel’s enemies, friends and earthly king Daniel continually worshipped and served God above all others. The result? He was now face to face with lions. Was this a test of faith? Certainly! Was it a personal bad decision followed by worsening situation? Certainly not!

I tend to think everyone knew (except the lions), from Darius to Daniel, somehow Daniel’s God was going to deliver Him. Do you know why? “Because I was found blameless before him.” Like Job, despite how bad the situation became, Daniel didn’t give up on God’s deliverance. You may have questions, doubts and even lion like struggles but never give up on God’s love for you and His desire to deliver you from all adversity because you are committed to a life that is blameless before Him.

This amazing testimony of uncompromising faithfulness, a blameless heart and God’s miraculous work should encourage us to better understand our own “lion’s den” moments and remember the conclusion of our story can read like the king’s decree, when we are delivered,

“I decree that in every part of my kingdom people should tremble with terror in front of Daniel’s God, the living God who continues forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed. His power lasts to the end of time. He saves, rescues, and does miraculous signs and amazing things in heaven and on earth. He saved Daniel from the lions.”

May God deliver you from your lion’s den and allow the fame of His name be spread far and wide!

Blessings – Pastor JOSHUA

GOD’S WORD Translation. (1995). (Da 6:26–27). Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group.

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“Hang Up’s That Need to Be Hung Up!”

Ezekiel 34:30 [widescreen]Have you ever attended a social event (IE: Party, family gathering, community occasion or church meeting) and upon meeting another individual your thoughts race asking such questions as, What do they think about me? Am I making a good impression? Do I connect with them? Etc… Ironically the very people we are inwardly concerned about making a solid first impression on are probably asking similar questions. As the awkward introductions progress into deeper conversations we either find ourselves rambling on or providing such little responses that a new level of anxiety kicks in. Finally the discussion ends with a sigh of relief only to then torture ourselves by revisiting the meeting over and over wishing we had done or said things differently.

Of course there are other individuals that, in such social interactions, are completely self-unaware and say anything they want while thinking or caring very little on what others feel. While some may find such an approach very liberating the reality is such people are often sitting in a corner of the room, alone, with others doing their best to avoid any contact with the individual at all.

In conclusion what both groups of people suffer from are a series of hang-ups. While everyone struggles with different hang-ups the very purpose of a hang up is to hang us up! Of course there is validity in desiring to make a strong first impression as well as possessing an honest and direct approach; but there is also a need for us all to consider others when we are trying to express an opinion or belief.

I have hang-ups, my wife has them, your pastor has them even your banker, doctor, coach and best friend…WE ALL HAVE THEM! But guess what? While we have become used to, and in most cases accepted, hang ups God’s prescribed way of living makes no room for such road blocks in our life and desires us to remove the hang ups for a new image, and confidence, in His identity being manifest in and through our life.

Most, if not all, hang ups come from hurts and offenses that have become so familiar we no longer realize their crippling effects. But what would our life be like if we replaced the hang-ups with a God reality of who He sees us to be and what that life looks and behaves like? “Our lack of identity controls us and keeps us from truly being who He has called us to be.” – Jeannette Johnian

How levitra 40 mg http://respitecaresa.org/christmas-wish-list/ does kamagra work? Kamagra is prepared with an active ingredient well-known as ‘sildenafil citrate’. Early cancer symptoms are a lot such as cost of sildenafil the vasodilator papaverine and the alpha-blocker phentolamine to improve its efficiency. Many doctors recommend Kamagra jelly for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. get viagra prescription Most of the colleges and driver’s impotency classes on-line also will offer pages packed with resources, or books to respitecaresa.org cialis 20 mg review, which may assist you throughout the exams, schoolwork assignments, and alternative work that’s needed in order to complete the glasses. “Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them and that they, the people of Israel, are my people, declares the Almighty LORD.”

The covenant promise God extended to Israel (Ezekiel 34:30) echoes loudly to every Christian within the context of everyone knowing He is with us. We can be down, in a dark season or even in a time of blessing and great reward; in either case everyone should know our God is with us and we are His sons and daughters and that reality is far more rewarding than the hang-ups.

What is true of the King is also true of the Kings people and the call from Jesus, to all who will listen and obey, is to draw closer to Him in the higher places. We are all called to be in Him and project His image without the hang-ups that keep us focused inward. It’s time to hang up the hang-ups and pick up our identity in Jesus! God is looking for a people in whom He can declare, through our circumstances, He is our God and we are His people. While the hurts and hang ups may want to keep us bound in a false narrative let us reject the lies and embrace the liberating freedom of an identity in Jesus and how such as likeness will bless others we encounter along life’s way.

Blessings – Pastor JOSHUA

‪#‎hangupthehangup‬ ‪#‎inChristalone‬ ‪#‎identity‬  ‪#‎songofsolomon‬

Seize the Moment! Don’t Let Go! You Have a Promise!

Proverbs 4:13 [widescreen]We have all experienced the adventurous, fun, foolish and even rebellious pre-teen/ teen years where often the best thought of the day was created in our own mind and greatly influenced by whatever made us feel good at the moment. I know this to be true because I am often trying to instruct my sixteen-year-old son through some of his random life choices, and whenever I try to walk him through his odd thought process his reply often sounds something like, “Every time you talk to me it is like a life lesson.” It is as if my son believes I am incapable of seeing far beyond the snapshot of life, he is passing through, when I am try to share my insights.

Just when I want to get frustrated with my teenage son I remember I also ignored more wise instruction, and warning, than I took in. At the time I honestly believed the counselors in my life had never been a youth, made mistakes, learned from their past and, from a heart of genuine love, were trying to save me from my own immaturity.

Despite best efforts the fool-heartiness of youth pressed on and throughout the journey I, like many of you, collected my own tales of setback, disappointment, failure and loss; adventures I could have avoided if I had just listened to wise instruction. Unfortunately we are all guilty in allowing seasons of personal failure to dominate our journey when Jesus offers an alternative path.

What is Jesus’ alternative path? Cling to instruction and don’t let go! In all of Solomon’s wisdom, also learned through failures, he encourages us to, Cling to discipline (instruction). Do not relax your grip on it. Keep it because it is your life.”[1] Said another way Solomon, like a wise and loving parent, tells the reader to be strong, hard and even harsh when seizing instruction and wisdom; and once you have a firm grip on that counsel don’t relax your grasp because the words will keep (preserve) your life and promise!

Our best journey is the one when we allow Jesus to set our life to listening, learning and retention mode. We have all been guilty of hearing but not listening, given answers but not learning and having the best solutions but never applying them. Jesus is not some killjoy grump that wants to ruin your years of purpose and enjoyment. In fact, it is just the opposite…Jesus wants to impart into all the years of your life and fill them with growth, maturity, blessing, joy and purpose. How does He do this? By speaking into our life daily and providing us with loving instruction so we learn how to navigate the foolish and dangerous challenges of life. The end result? If we will cling to instruction and not let go then His guarantee is our life will be preserved with great promise. After all are not Jesus’ promises, “Yes and Amen” to those who believe?
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Therefore, “Seize the Moment! Don’t Let Go! You Have a Promise, from Jesus, on the line and His love desires for you experience all of it!

Blessings – Pastor JOSHUA

#SeizetheMoment#DontLetGo#YouHaveaPromise

[1] GOD’S WORD Translation. (1995). (Pr 4:13). Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group.

God’s Promises Are Complete

Hosea 2:18 [widescreen]Have you ever lived through despair and joy during the same season? For me the seasons of despair always seem to “feel” longer than the refreshing periods of joy but I would gladly trade my despair for joy any day.

The Prophet Hosea has the unenviable call to share, with God’s covenant people, the reality of their despair; yet in same breath he also points them toward their coming season of joy and reunion with Jesus. What I find especially encouraging is the complete nature of this prophetic promise. God not only reminds them of a wedding reunion but a day in which all things, in creation, will be perfect as it was intended.

Imagine a day when “On that day I will make an arrangement with the wild animals, the birds, and the animals that crawl on the ground. I will destroy all the bows, swords, and weapons of war,
so people can live safely.”

In an increasing age of war, violence and societal despair creation longs for the restoration of all things back unto Him. What a day when we live no longer under the social and moral ills that plague our daily life. What a life to expect when we are no longer burdened with unfaithful thoughts, misplaced affections and distractions that turn our priorities all around. I am longing for that day of joy in my life…what about you?

One final thought….All of God’s promises are complete. Remember Hosea not only prophesied to Israel but the entirety of creation. Perhaps many of us have only experienced partial seasons of blessings that too quickly passed and were replaced with times of despair. While we can all reflect on the “How we arrived at such a place?” let’s also live with the glad expectation that seasons of refreshing and joy are waiting. God never leaves life half-done. The complete and perfect nature of God guarantees He will see His promises fulfilled as He spoke them.

What does that mean for us? Those who are part of His wedding plans have the joy of anticipating a great reunion, festival and eternal season of happiness….one where despair is so distant a memory we can never feel its curse or remember its burden…and I, for one, gladly anticipate that soon coming day!

Blessings – Pastor JOSHUA

GOD’S WORD Translation. (1995). (Ho 2:18). Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group.

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The Purple Ink Society and the Need for Watchman

neighborhood_watch_sign Not to long ago I read an education article that wrote in certain schools teachers were no longer going to use red ink to mark a mistake. The reason? Certain educators felt the color red was to psychologically harmful and the color purple was a “softer” way to let students know there was a better answer than the one they provided.

 

You have no doubt heard similar stories range from athletics, education, or society but it seems as if our purple ink society is expressing a deep anxiety over matters of right and wrong, correct and incorrect and absolute or relative truth.

When I was a young boy I remember seeing an eyeball sign posting a neighborhood watch was present. By itself the sign could do nothing but its very presence made you wonder who was watching and what were they looking for? Long before the neighborhood crime watch God addressed the necessity of watchmen always being present and alert. But I wonder if we are now living in a day where absolutes are not absolute and right may be wrong, or a vice versa, what can the watchmen be looking out for? Said another way do the majority of people still believe there is a need for watchmen in an age of social, moral, societal and spiritual relativism?

Despite what society may want you to believe, and accept, Scripture actually weighs in heavily for the ongoing need of watchmen, and thankfully their role has not changed from antiquity to today. While civilization has always had some version of local police, military support and spiritual shepherds their assignments were never designed to remove the individuals responsibility to be watchmen for their personal walk, family and spiritual identity of their community.

By its very name a watchman must be watching for something. Simply defined watchmen must watch for danger and potential enemies that may be abroad or much closer. While society is prone to define and identify certain evils, or wrongs, there are many dangers that continue to sneak in past our “walls of safety” because we are missing qualified watchmen who are looking out for clever errors, mistruths and willful deceptions. Such inaccuracies have a way of subtly seeping into our spiritual culture and infecting the minds, and spirit, of many who are living under the assumption they are safe when they are very much at risk. If we have become comfortable accepting unaware watchmen, or assuming someone else is looking out for us when they are not, then not only are we at personal risk but our future generations are in danger of being overtaken with duplicity and deception.

Vasculogenic etiologies type usually represents largest group, with arterial or inflow getting viagra in australia https://unica-web.com/ENGLISH/2015/GA2015-presidents-report-2.html failure which is most common. The drug is not a branded version but the effects allow you to become erect at will up to four days. viagra side online You do on line cialis unica-web.com not have to be completely impotent to suffer – some people may suffer from poor libido. IUI is a procedure that involves placing sperm inside a visit that web-site cialis no prescription woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization. The purple ink society is one without absolutes and far worse it deceives many of the reality discovered in the “red ink” of sin. Most Christians are aware of the Thou Shalt Not’s but what about the little foxes that creep in from their lurking places where deception is born? (See Song of Solomon Ch.3)

While the police and pastors provide a great line of societal and spiritual defense you must, yourself, build your own watch-tower and faithfully continue to stay on duty. Certainly God foresees all would be attacks, and attackers, but He has also positioned watchmen for the express purposes to hear His voice and follow His instruction so as to protect those He so greatly loves. Charles Spurgeon once encouraged fellow Christians, “Continue O gracious Watchman, to forewarn us of our foes, and for Zion’s sake hold not thy peace.”

Could it be that today’s church and culture has lost the need for watchmen? Have we arrived in such a place of spiritual and natural safety there is no longer a need to watch in the night or day?” Has the local church prayerfully watched for what weather may be coming in this season? Does our nation discern the spiritual and natural clouds that are lowering and warning everyone what may be overhead? (See Isaiah 21:11)

The reason Scripture provides us with the role of watchmen is because we must care for the Church with the same measure of anxious love the King has for His bride. The additional reward and responsibility for the watchmen is their ability to also see the Lord’s promises on the horizon. While a watchman may be looking for dangers he or she is also looking to Jesus, as the lodestar, so they may prepare His sons and daughters for the seasons ahead.

Get your ladder, climb your tower and stay on watch!

 Blessings – Pastor JOSHUA

Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

Genesis 4:9 [widescreen]How often have I heard this verse applied to Christians, and Christianity, when the secular world is looking to criticize a “loveless church.” When the very real suffering of a world, void of the love of Jesus, reaches a painful point instead of turning to Jesus the hurting world criticizes the church with this verse.

Are Christians, and the church, supposed to be the “keeper of world?” No! In context Cain was specifically speaking about his relationship to his brother; but we must remember these two men were raised, as a next generation, with the full knowledge of God and even giving sacrifices of worship unto to Him. This is a very different relationship Christians (light) are called to have with world (darkness).

Today’s world / society hardly acknowledges God let alone offers Him any kind of worship. The result? A suffering world without any relief from their sin. Of course complete relief, from all sin, is in Christ alone; but when the world comes face to face with their sin it is not the fault or place of the church to be the “keeper of the world.”

The church, and Christians, are called to be keepers of the Word and our relationship to our “brothers” are to be experienced, as well as nurtured, through this dynamic and not one a godless and loveless world places on us.

As Christians we will only be able to serve a hurting world, not as their bonded brother, but as a lifeline pointing a drifting soul toward the direction of adoption. But the process of adoption must come through Jesus and not through a relationship with “the church.”

Christians and the church must first be keepers of their relationship with Jesus, than keepers of His Word and finally voices of hope… but never offering themselves as the hope…the only hope of the world is Jesus!

Blessings – Pastor JOSHUA

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The Honor of Being in Debt…to Jesus!

GoodDebt-BadDebt1When I was a young man fresh out of school, and working in ministry, I discovered very quickly the ministry doesn’t pay but life quickly demands payment. The exciting prospect of just you, God and the Call, was hit with the reality of a wife, children and expenses that soon proved my few pennies couldn’t stretch far enough to cover my needs.

What began as “infant” steps of crawling debt soon grew into a full blown “teenager” that devoured my life, family and calling. The long road to living debt free took a tremendous amount of time, family cooperation, opportune blessings and careful planning; but the life lessons that followed forever taught me there is such a thing as “bad debt” and “good debt.”

There are some who believe in “good debt” and while I am not a savvy financier I do understand certain investments, such as owning a home, can often require you to carry a level of debt before you reap its long-term rewards; and we have all lived with the bad debt we continue to pay Visa or Master Card for purchases we no longer own or on meals we can’t even remember. Therefore, while good versus bad debt can be debated there should be little discussion in considering the honor every Christian possesses being “in debt” to Jesus.

 The Apostle Paul often wrote of his indebtedness, to Jesus, and modeled his entire life by sharing about this honor with others. Often we sing songs on the amazing grace or mercy that flows from Jesus into the lives of His faithful; but having such grace and mercy should compel us to appreciate a higher sense of indebtedness to Jesus. Certainly when we investigate the “good debt” we owe Jesus we would not dare compare it to the burden we experience when paying a credit card or car note. Rather I would encourage us to reflect on the unquenchable gratitude we feel for Jesus’ ongoing labor of love manifest in the salvation of any soul, beginning with our own!

As Christians we need to recapture the honor of living our lives worthy of the great price paid for our souls. We can all remember those exciting days when freedom and joy flooded our loneliness and we began to comprehend what a genuine relationship with the Father, Son and Spirit behaved like.
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So let me ask? What are you doing to pay back “the debt?” While our sin is paid in full are we not obliged to live fully for Him? Of course Jesus is not some heartless collection agency harassing you for a payoff; but He is searching for those intentional moments when we “pay it forward.” Perhaps the reason we share less, or privatize our faith, is because we are ashamed of carrying debt? Nobody boasts about what they owe unless they wish to look like a fool or long to demonstrate their personal gratitude for the gift of the Spirit alive in them. When the Spirit is alive, in the life of the Christian, our sense of indebtedness to Jesus becomes a place of honor.

Again, the Apostle Paul referred to himself as one who was not a superior Christian, among men, but a bond slave indebted to Jesus. “You are not your own” Paul wrote as he explained his life as one gladly in debt and sold back to Christ. The result? Paul now became “a debtor to everyone on the face of the earth because of the Gospel of Jesus; I am free to be an absolute slave only.”

Earlier I considered there might be such a thing as “good debt” and I believe, in matters of faith and the Spirit that is absolutely true. As Christians we need to live, and be encouraged to demonstrate, a life that possesses the characteristics of a life of honor. While we all go to great lengths expressing our love for His mercy, grace and new found freedom let us remember there is an even greater honor in taking your freedom and becoming His bond slave, forever in debt to Jesus.

Blessings – Pastor JOSHUA

The Uncomfortable Reality of Persecution in America and How We Can Spiritually Prepare.

UnknownGrowing up in the era of the 80’s and 90’s the very thought of Christians being persecuted seemed remote, distant and foreign to me. Of course I read about persecution from the Scriptures, historical accounts, such as Foxes Book of Martyrs or Jesus Freak, and through foreign missionaries who would always share and harrowing tale or two. However for me, and most of America, the reality of being a Christian and facing persecution was unimaginable bordering on hysterical fantasy.

Yet since 2001 the global community, and certainly the United States, has experienced a series of social, economic and spiritual shifts that have also ushered in a cycle of  cause and effect that is reshaping the lives of Christians globally. What were once considered isolated and remote accounts of people being persecuted for their Christian faith has spread like an uncontrollable wildfire across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and now is smoldering within Europe and North America.

In light of the changing circumstances facing every person, who consider themselves part of the global Body of Christ, is the question of how do we prepare? While Christians in heavily persecuted regions have long ago learned how to prepare spiritually, and naturally, for such a difficult and dangerous reality we, in the United States, must also spiritually adjust for such changes and the uncomfortable reality of persecution within our own land.

“But I say unto you, whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matthew 5:39)

Over many years of study, and debate, some have interpreted Jesus’ words as a call for pacifism while others have understood His words within a different context. Either way the reality of being insulted, mocked and persecuted is an expectation every Christian must live with. Therefore, when we face such trials and tribulations we must also make such occasions to exhibit Jesus, with us, and His Holy Spirit illuminating our witness.

Oswald Chambers once said, “Matthew 5:39 reveals the humiliation of being a Christian.” [1] and naturally when faced with hardship we must consider appropriate counter actions to off-set  great injustices. But let me challenge us to reflect on what is at the heart of Chamber’s thoughts by considering the following approach:  Before we take any action we must allow the Holy Spirit to first spiritually prepare our hearts, minds and wills so our actions will be pure, blessed, just and reflect Jesus’ Kingdom heart.

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The purpose of this reflection is to address and answer the question, How can we spiritually prepare for the uncomfortable reality of persecution? My conclusion? Every Christian must advocate for a Christ-centered response, and approach, that resists self and embraces the Holy Spirit’s guidance for Jesus’ will and purposes.

Every Christian is called to resist evil and speak boldly by standing strong, in the faith of Jesus’ Word, when we are met with evil and persecution. But to stand strong also means we have first spiritually prepared for the challenging seasons ahead. We cannot assume we will be able to naturally stand, or have the equipping tools, to resist such adversity unless we commit to actions that are designed to honor to Jesus and His glory. This was part of the powerful testimony the early church lived and realized the Lord’s honor is what was at stake in their lives, not their own honor.

While Christians, in our nation, face the unsettling reality of persecution we must spiritually prepare by not looking for other people to do what we are responsible to do for ourselves. Every Christian, of every age, is looking for justice; and while we contemplate what are just and righteous responses, to persecution, let us commit to the spiritual “heavy lifting” of prayer, fasting and holding firm to the truth of God’s Holy Word. These tried and true approaches are the foundational pieces that will prepare us for the days ahead as we address and rebuff any persecution we may encounter.

Blessings – Pastor JOSHUA

[1] Chambers, O. (1986). My utmost for his highest: Selections for the year. Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering.

NEW RELEASE FOR 2015: VICTORY OVER SELF: THROUGH PRAYER & FASTING

Throughout most of 2014 I have had the privilege to work with many partners on this project: Victory Over Self Through Prayer and Fasting. What began as a three month teaching series, in the summer of 2013, slowly developed into 88 pages of challenge, change and trust. When I started to initially discuss this project with literary agents and publishers I was met with the variety of mixed responses which, at times, caused me to wonder if this timely message would ever see the light of day.

Thankfully many ministry partners, family and Bridge Logos Publishers saw the importance of this book and how its Biblical truths are meant for today’s seeker, searcher and disciple of Jesus Christ. I pray Victory Over Self Through Prayer and Fasting will be a welcomed deposit into your spiritual bank as you pursue a deeper walk with the Lord. – JOSHUA-PAUL JOHNIAN

Victory Over Self Through Prayer and Fasting will be available for sale in local booksellers January 15th. However, you can order your copy today and it will be shipped before the it’s official launch.

VOSA STURDY BRIDGE BACK TO GOD

Learn how to pull away from the self-life and rediscover your story in Christ’s life. Sharpen your world view. Learn how to overcome daily obstacles. Through prayer and fasting you can help yourself to a rich and endless supply of the complete life of faith in Jesus. This book shows you how to find solid answers for life’s challenges and disappointments.

Not a typical how – to book, Victory Over Self Through Prayer and Fasting shows you how to remove negative feelings associated with prayer and fasting. It takes away the staleness and boredom that some may have toward these vitally important subjects.

The conversational and approachable style of the book includes real-life stories from people who have struggled with what C.S. Lewis has called the “inner ugliness” that creates many of our problems and hardships. This book, while addressing prayer and fasting, also deals extensively with the challenges of the self-life, human nature, current social evils and the need for personal redemption through Jesus. You will be encouraged to return to divine innocence and to reexamine prayer and fasting as a sturdy bridge back to God.

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Another Look At Ebenezer (1 SAMUEL 7:10-13)

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The world is busy, but the Christmas season has always been a time of drawing us aside to revisit our favorite holiday traditions -from skiing to sledding and to adding that extra pound of something delicious. And, in a sense, there is no better story than Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol,” to portray the tenuous hope many feel across the world in this season when our expectations traditionally shine their best. Ebenezer Scrooge and Christ always come to the forefront of Western thought when the season for hope and giving weigh in on our priorities, even though our current generation may have forgotten both. As I thought about our world, this Christmas, I thought it would be a good opportunity to revisit Ebenezer and a gift of three simple words that you can use all year, and be blesssed! EBENEZER, THUNDER and HEROES.

Like today’s world, the classic Ebenezer Scrooge was a man of great monetary wealth but greater spiritual poverty. He simply had no time for God or people, yet his soul was bankrupt and on the verge of an irreversible dark eternity. But of the many traps and bondages Ebenezer Scrooge found himself in perhaps the hardest to overcome was his trap of self-sufficiency.

Recently my wife, Jeannette, and I faced a series of unprecedented emotional, physical and spiritual challenges. On some days we did our best just to weather the storm. On other days we sank under the crashing waves of pressure and not until a few weeks ago did we finally managed to rediscover how to trust, obey and count on God’s help in our time of need. To our surprise, we found our greatest comfort in the life of the ancient prophet/judge Samuel; and in rediscovering Samuel we also discovered the true meaning behind Ebenezer.

EBENEZER

Peering back into the life of Samuel one discovers the making of a God appointed hero. In his lifetime, much like out present world, ancient Israel had degraded to a place of divine intervention on a national scale. Israel had all but turned its back on God and as a result, for twenty years Israel suffered at the hands of oppressive overlords. Despite this God was still grooming a hero and what we may feel is too late for us, because of our circumstances, is seldom too late for God.

We can all attest to experiencing the pains of misfortune because we did not discern the times, live in His presence or seek His glory. And while those pains leave wounds and reminders, God in His omnipotence, prepares a way of escape for those we will seek Him with all their heart, mind and soul. As it was with Samuel, and ancient Israel, His grace continues to groom heroes and cultivate His message in their hearts. In fact the ancient message of Samuel is eternally relevant: It is time to serve the Lord, alone! It is time to humble, seek, pray and turn so that He may visit us, again, in a time of desperation and trouble. Furthermore it is time we come to know this grace-filled and merciful God as our Ebenezer.

What a wonderful word. It may be that Charles Dickens used it on purpose. What a gift again today: Ebenezer: Our Stone of Help wrapped in eternal certainty. For those who are willing to look beyond the frustrations of a season of giving and receiving, we can learn to appreciate Christmas even more, because there is always more from our “Stone” that we first envision.

Preceding Samuel’s introduction of Ebenezer Israel was in despair and growing danger seemed poised to overtake them. Yet Samuel’s words continued to ring true by saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the LORD alone.”

In response to Samuel’s instruction Israel finally obeyed and positioned their lives, and walk, in perfect alignment with God once again. But just as Israel made their first steps towards faithfulness we read their enemies arrived, on cue, with the intention of sowing doubt, division, fear and retreat from their faithful return back to God. Earlier in this same account we discover all we need to know about Israel, and therefore ourselves, as well as the tactics of our enemy, When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the Philistine rulers came to attack Israel. The Israelites heard about the Philistine plan and were afraid of them. The Israelites said to Samuel, “Don’t turn a deaf ear to us! Don’t stop crying to the Lord our God for us! Ask him to save us from the Philistines!”[1]

During a time of stress, we often resort to complaining, “I’ll be glad when its over.” But the lessons we learn from this Biblical account reminds us the answer to our stress in our lives, and in our world, is to continue to call on God in a time of trouble and to relax in His purposes and His unexpected plans. This truth leads us to our second “gift.”

THUNDER
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1 Samuel 7: 10-13: While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines came to fight against Israel. On that day the Lord thundered loudly at the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel. 11 Israel’s soldiers left Mizpah, pursued the Philistines, and killed them as far as Beth Car. 12 Then Samuel took a rock and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer [Rock of Help] and said, “Until now the Lord has helped us.” 13 The power of the Philistines was crushed, so they didn’t come into Israel’s territory again. The Lord restrained the Philistines as long as Samuel lived. 14 [2]

No sooner had Israel recommitted to serving the Lord, alone, the Philistines were on the attack and genuine fear gripped at the courage of the men of Israel. Fear is such a simple word and yet it remains a powerful influence in our lives. Fear can rob our peace, sleep, passion, love and hope while also managing to paralyze us and open the door for a multitude of lies to flood our lives. Fear is what was clawing at the hearts of Israel and this same fear has the ability to interfere with us when we are trying to make our way toward God. Fear is what clutched at the heart of Ebenezer Scrooge when he came face to face with his past, present and future. Yet, while fear may stall many we need only return to the faithfulness of God to be reminded if we run to the Lord, and trust in Him, He will do a great and mighty work on behalf of His faithful. God’s thundering exclamation is a mighty expression that not only causes the enemies of God to stumble, but also gives courage to the panicked, stricken and afraid.

HEROES

Our final “gift” is revealed in the beauty of transformation. The lives of the once fear-filled men of Israel had now turned heroic. But it was not an overnight change. Israel’s transformation was years in the making and even started with Samuel whose entire life was being groomed for such a critical turning point in Israel’s history. But what was responsible to the transformation from fearful to courageous and unfaithful to faithful? Was it just in a man? No. What had changed was Israel’s heart.

Through turning back to the Lord in obedience and serving Him alone, courage became gift of Ebenezer. Like Israel we should take great courage in the powerful chain of events we can expect when we turn our hearts back to God and joyfully serve Him alone. God is always looking for an opportunity to thunder in behalf of those who love Him. God is always looking to raise up a hero that will serve Him with all they have and God is always looking to redeem the stumbling and fearful by giving them His Spirit and victory. God is always looking for an opportunity to give us a reason to lay an EBENEZER (a rock of remembrance of His help) for His glory.

In a sense, the Christmas story has the same handprint as Samuel’s story. Across the globe Christians return to the simple, life changing reality of Emmanuel “God with us” in the form of the infant child, Jesus. To a creation that had lost its way, an unlikely Hero was given, in unlikely circumstances, to an unlikely, simple girl and unimportant people. It may have seemed relatively insignificant for Samuel to establish a memorial stone named Ebenezer (stone of help) after the victory of Israel over their enemies. But this small “stone of help” was as profound as God in flesh wrapped in swaddling clothes. Samuel reminded Israel God was the source of their help during their critical moments and Jesus birth likewise reminds us He is the Everlasting Stone of this evidence throughout the year. In Ebenezer, Israel, and we, are reminded that He is always on the side of the person who loves Him with everything.

Ebenezer Scrooge lived long enough to discover the gift of redemption. Scrooge learned he truly had something to fear…a cold and heartless world without the love and compassion of genuine family. A world without Jesus is as unforgiving and unloving as Scrooges’ bleak existence. But once we, like Scrooge, find the true meaning of purpose, life and destiny our fear prisons become broken and our circumstances are alleviated in the thunderous and compassionate mercy of God. At the close of “A Christmas Carol” Scrooge becomes an Ebenezer for many in need, and in Christ’s glorious birth He reminds everyone of the lasting truth He is the answer to our needs today. To experience the lasting joy and hope of this Christmas season turn your heart to serve the Lord alone, and let your New Year’s resolution be: This year I will expect the THUNDER of God in my circumstances!

Merry Christmas! – JOSHUA-PAUL

 

 

[1] GOD’S WORD Translation. (1995). (1 Sa 7:7–8). Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group.

[2] GOD’S WORD Translation. (1995). (1 Sa 7:10–14). Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group.

A Forgotten Baptism…A Need for Revival!

imagesRecently, my wife and I were invited to a wonderful dinner with friends and members of our faith community. As we enjoyed a fantastic meal, and even better fellowship, an interesting conversation emerged which revealed some of the generational sensibilities and opinions of today. Boomers, Gen X/Y and Millennials were seated around a table discussing a variety of issues ranging from society to faith and even a little sports mixed in. It was evident, from the outset, our initial opinions seemed miles apart; however, in short time, the gaps in our understandings began to narrow and we all realized we were closer in our personal goals than we first assumed.

A reoccurring theme that managed to weave itself through our conversation was the desperate need for authenticity and genuineness in expressing our Christian faith across all generations. To my knowledge every generation has a great list of “world changers.” Throughout history the world changer is often the man, or woman, that stands out and above their peers during a critical time. Pericles for Athens, Churchill for England and Washington for the colonies, just provide a short list of “great men”; and yet for all their combined greatness, prose and acts of valor they pale in comparison to one man who deserves to be numbered highest among the greats and is often overlooked.

The benefits of technology, movie making and story-telling has only added to the myth-like greatness of men and moments; and often we point to certain “instances in time” when the obscure or unknown hero emerges from the shadows and takes their place on the world stage.

But what happens when our ordinary hero’s are overlooked? How much attention do we give to the story that doesn’t seem to move us in any tangible way? We might be quick to say the person is not as great as or heroic as we first thought. But should we judge a persons actions on what they changed in the moment? Or would we be best served to evaluate their life, and actions, based on what they set in motion or prepared?

By now you are probably wondering which man “great man” I am referring to that has been overlooked and undervalued? Few complimentary essays have been written about this man whose seminary was solitude in a blistering desert. His professor didn’t come from a linage of respected scholars or elitist intellectuals; but his roots tapped into everlasting waters and eternal truth. His professor was God and his mind was so sharp that he memorized God’s word without the benefit of an app or library. His command of the Scriptures was such he knew when they were being violated. He was so convinced of Scripture’s accuracy he was willing to challenge the ruling authorities of society. His critics tried to dismiss him as a raving, delusional lunatic or spiritual guru with a “small” following. But despite their best efforts his audience and eloquence was strong enough to debate and confound the religious establishment. Was he a leader whose “radical” nature made him detached from the common man? Hardly. His appeal was ordinary enough to relate, and compel, many who had grown spiritually indifferent or disillusioned.

Jesus said of this man “Among them that are born of women there is not one born greater than John the Baptist.” (Mt. 11:11)  Among the great Caesars, generals, prophets, ancient authors, philosophers, amazing architects and world changers Jesus was willing to place John the Baptist as the greatest?

The Gospels tell us one day when Jesus, who created the world (Jn. 1:3), saw John calling covenant people (Jews) to repent because the Kingdom of God was at hand. Such a call for change went beyond the words of minor adjustments and subtle shifts in lifestyle. The very words, passion, zeal and leading by the Spirit was a call for a radical departure from the status quo and a changing of their direction, mind, heart and way of life. While a verbal and impassioned response might have been sufficient, this new call was forever symbolized in the act of baptism; and since the concept of ritual cleansing was not alien to Jews this baptism must have been understood as something different. Why? Upon hearing John’s words Jesus submitted and was Himself baptized, saying, “it behooves us to fulfill all righteousness.” 

John’s call was reaching into the ‘heart” of mankind’s problem. The problem was sin, and the solution was repentance. This past 4th of July weekend my family was spending some relaxing time around a friend’s pool and while we are talking, and watching the World Cup, my mother asked me to baptize her later that afternoon. Soon after I baptized her I also had the privilege to baptize another friend and this only began a process of something amazing God has chosen to reveal to our entire church family.

My mother later shared with me what triggered her desire to be baptized, again; and I would like to share with you her words as she passed them on to me:

“Recently I awoke with the image of today’s society brokenness at the forefront of my mind – individuals, families and nations.  The scene of John the Baptist appeared and I heard the Holy Spirit say: Families Healed! Family casualties are increasing rapidly in this generation.  But there is a cure.  If the broken family would come together in the Baptism of Repentance without speaking a word to each other – only to God – years of brokenness would be healed.  No counseling, no accusations, no what ifs – only personal repentance to God, and personal forgiveness. The pain and brokenness in the baptism would bury the wounds and restoration would begin; and in many cases newness would happen at that very time.
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Churches Revived – Next I saw whole churches receiving the Baptism of Repentance.  Every church member and every church has failed God somewhere along the way; we all carry burdens of “if only.” Some are living in disobedience to God and some are living in ignorance of His Spirit.  Baptism, as it was in John’s day, would set us free, enable us to feel clean and begin with a fresh start. Repentance would help prepare the way for the Lord in this generation.

Imagine the scene: An entire church lining a riverbank or a beach – imagine the headlines: “X church” meets for a Baptism of Repentance.” It is not about church membership but Kingdom membership. Jesus never sinned, yet He humbled Himself to John’s baptism. If pastors, from all denominations, would call their church to the Baptism of repentance, (and in fact include the great sacrament) God would hear and move over the people that have lost their way.”

Referring to my earlier dinner story I, like many of you, are sitting at the table of generations in transition. Daily we are challenged with living our Christian walk of faith with genuine authenticity. Perhaps the challenge facing every pastor, parishioner and new convert is to set aside our busy agendas and acknowledge we all carry the unnecessary burdens of guilt and regret. But what if we were to return to a place of repentance, like in the time of John’s baptism, and humble ourselves anew?

What would happen if we would be faithful to seek His face, pray and turn from our past ways? Would we experience a fresh walk with God again? Would revival pour out and heal our lands?  If our greatest objection to such an action is, “But I’m already a believer, baptized and living for God.” Then remember So was Jesus! He was God in flesh, and without sin, and still saw every reason to participate in this baptism to fulfill all righteousness.

The baptism of repentance is not about church identity, but it is about the clean and holy life of repentance that pleases God, and renews our covenant with Him, regardless where we worship.

The result of a nationwide “Church Baptism” would be earth shaking.  Many would doubtless come into the Kingdom for the first time by such a genuine return to faith and life.  Such an invitation would also welcome many more to experience the joy of genuine commitment to God for the first time. What a witness when the church highlights one of its two great sacraments, publicly  and for no other reason than to declare God and draw closer to Him!

I lay the challenge before us all….

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

THE ITCH, THE CHALLENGE, THE ANSWER

imagesThis past Christmas we bought a family pet for our kids, Prince Casper, and as you can imagine this little five-pound Maltese has quickly settled in as part of our family. Of course with any new pet there is a period of adjustments and some training; but animals are pretty smart and soon they gravitate to particular places and people in the home. While I have always enjoyed the company of a family pet the last thing I really wanted was for our new furry friend to be attached to me. In the dining room, where I do most of my work, he will often wait for me to sit down before he jumps up in my lap and sits there for hours on end.  One day while I was typing, and he was sitting in my lap, I noticed a patch of hair that was thinning around his neck and then another thinning spot on his back.  This was followed by an itch that didn’t seem to go away with even the proper shampoo. Quickly I made an appointment with the local vet and he prescribed some medicine that slowed some of the conditions but Casper’s itch continued. After a few more weeks of trial and error the vet finally concluded Casper’s itching problem wasn’t the serious issue but actually a symptom that pointed to something deeper going on.

There is nothing more annoying than having an itch you can’t reach; but there is also nothing more relieving than the itch you can get at and scratch away. The thing about any itch is its ability to drive us all a little crazy and if it is bad enough, no matter how much we scratch, we seem no closer to really getting at the source of what created the itch in the first place.  Today’s post is about an itch, a challenge and a cure.

My recent posts on evangelism, discipleship and community have all led us to a place of rediscovering the nature of Jesus and how we, as Christians, can reach our world. We all know we are commanded to compel the world around us, as stated in the Great commission, but if you are anything like me with such a command an “itch” soon surfaces. Questions such as, Where do we begin? Who do we reach? Are their limitations in our reach? Are only the surface itches and no matter how much we scratch we seem no closer to arriving at satisfactory solutions, or cures.  Like Casper’s vet, we need to understand the itch is only pointing us to something deeper that exists within a greater context of what is really occurring in our world.

Perhaps no other decade has seen so much transition than ours. It is as if since post 9/11 our world has rapidly sped up. Economic swings have been fast and furious, social changes have been rapid and boundary breaking, entrainment has become more about agenda’s and politics and less about relaxing diversions,  politics have become more ugly and the church has flipped, flopped, splashed, grown, shrank, been rocked by scandals and rebranded more than a popular coffee chain.  Our sons and daughters have grown up in a decade of war that, while it remains miles away, brings uncertainty, fear, depression and anxiety.  With the technological boom and social media today, more than any other generation, has created endless voices clamoring for attention, stage space and recognition. And since there is nothing new under the sun what we are all witnessing is the resurfacing of age-old questions that are adding to a growing itch.

Today’s Christian is experiencing their faith in a post-Christian world; and today most of society borrows their philosophy from modern thinkers like Jean-Francis Lyotard who said, “it is difficult to believe one story, any story about the world and human condition, can be true.” Such a skeptical philosophy has only added to a world with multiple itches with each younger generation scratching without getting any closer to their cure.  Coming from the Gen X/Y generation I now parent Millennials; and while I know my generation was far from perfect I am witnessing today’s generations are marked with an alarming sense of hopelessness and disillusionment.

America had experienced a similar swing during the post-Vietnam war generation which experienced a great loss of life, questions of authority, purpose, life and truth. And similar age of skepticism plagued Europe, post WW I, that also resulted in a backlash against traditional values, belief, thought and faith from which Europe never recovered. And so, here we are again…old itches repackaged for a new age and the need for a Christian response to reach a lost generation with real and lasting truth!

Several posts prior I addressed three toxins that poison, and eventually kill, the Biblical community. They are consumerism, isolationism and individualism.  Added to these toxins is an added pressure facing every Christian, non-Christians and seeker: Privatism. What is this new term mean? Privatism is defined as, I have my truth, you have your truth and let’s not bother each other with conflicting views. And do not bother me with your truth even if you think you have reason to believe it.

Today’s world is trying to survive on the motto, “The only thing that matters in the world is me. I am the center of my universe and I determine my own future and existence.”

Let me suggest: You did not create this world but you are called to minister to the world. Many will try to reach their contemporaries by looking, sounding and acting like the environment that surrounds them. Others will try to impact their world by being counter-cultural and express a world-view that is perceived as opposite of today’s trends and assumptions.  I would like to suggest, and challenge all of us, to consider the latter.

A counter-cultural Christ-centered community can, and should be, a family of faith that isn’t primarily about you, me, our specific needs, particular happiness, fulfillment and or meaning.  In fact a counter-cultural Christianity is not about one story of many stories that borrows a little from here and there to make a good case for a our way of life.  Counter-cultural Christianity will always make the claim to be truth universally, not American truth, the truth of another nation and certainly not truth for just today, but God’s truth for everybody and for every generation. Counter-Cultural Christianity has always challenged the prevailing wisdoms, ways of life, thinking and living while calling its disciples to live a radical faith that is committed to full-time discipleship in Christ alone!

Radical? The very word scares us and conjures all sorts of stereotypes and falsehoods. By radical I am not referring to a certain dress code or throw back version of Christianity. What I am calling for is a radical counter-cultural faith that is rooted in the Biblical Jesus and expresses the entire Bible (from Genesis to Revelation) as the best possible guide, for everyone, to understand a particular view of the human condition, an exclusive way for salvation and a certain hope for the entire world. If the Christian faith will not dare to live counter-cultural than we will never be able to reach a world with any message, any hope and or lasting truth. Remember the world has an itch that needs scratching.

I am challenging all of us to consider after we have our discussions on the nature of the Biblical community, the heart of evangelism and the call for discipleship we must answer the restlessness of the world with the counter-cultural message of the Biblical Jesus and break through the carefully constructed veneer of the post-Christian, post-modern restlessness of our current culture.

The world is desperately searching for enduring truth and we alone have the tools to reconnect our seeking world with a vibrant truth, community and relationship that will guarantee wisdom and direction for all generations.

Sadly many of our current thinkers, universities and churches have revised history into a narrative that is exists largely disconnected from centuries of verifiable fact. Such a disconnect has further contributed to a society that has developed as a religious and social “vessel” that is free-floating, without an anchor, hoping not to wreck upon the rocks or find whatever port of call is safest at the moment. If this is true then what Larry Hurtado says is all the more impactful as to why Christianity today must be counter-cultural, “the rise of Christianity existed in a setting where religion was varied prominent, pervasive and popular.”  In fact Hurtado later goes as far as to connect how every part of 1st Century life was connected to religious practice in some way; and this was the spiritual seedbed from which Christianity burst into the world. Within a short period of time (three centuries) the faith of the ancient apostles, and their disciples, confronted pagan practices, ancient religions, philosophical assumptions and even the most powerful cult of the emperor while managing to overcome them all and rise eventually to the faith of an empire.  Did Christianity overtake the world by borrowing from the worship of Zeus? Apollo? Or Caesar? Did the church overcome with the witness and thoughts of Plato and Aristotle?

Today’s world is filled with spiritual pluralism, TV celebrities and part-time philosophers that have only added to the normalization of many roads that can eventually reach God. Yet, the itch continues and the infection, which drives the itch, is well beneath the surface to the place where it hurts most. So, how do we reach our world for Jesus while facing the dangers, challenges and obstacles?

  1. We can either be identified with the culture
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  3. We can be identified against the culture or,
  4. The church can transform the culture.

I propose a way of life where we are to be identified in the culture because we need to live and interact with a real world. It will be impossible to share the Gospel with any part of the world if we remain huddled in a bunker and shut away from the spiritually sick and needy. Therefore, we should be encouraged to live balanced lives, marry, have children, buy food, eat out and engage in the marketplace of ideas. However, we must also resist the urge to be shaped by the culture:

 

  1. Do not be shaped by unrighteousness (Romans 6:12)
  2. Live like the old man (Col. 3:5-9)
  3. Walk in the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21)

But live shaped by:

  1. Righteousness (Romans 6)
  2. According to the new man in Christ (Col. 3: 12-27)
  3. Walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26)
  4. Overcommers of darkness and spiritual oppression (Eph. 6:12)

Finally, Transform Your Culture! Whatever walk of life you are in let the world know of how Jesus has transformed your life and why your faith, and worship, rests in Him alone! Today’s Christian is to be the salt, light and ointment that provides the soothing balm to the itch of the world.  You provide a “thinking world” a deeper question to ponder and answer: How you, a Christian that live in the same world as they, are not trapped by the spiritual / secular paradox that creates “the itch” in your life. As a missional follower of Jesus you have a unique opportunity to provide the world with an invitation to a real community of truth that is committed to a deeper identity than “self” and rooted in Jesus!

You, I and all believers in the BIBLICAL JESUS have a story to tell and it is worth sharing.  Jesus’ story is not an account of a moral, spiritual or philosophical relativism. Rather it is the story of a world that begins with a glorious creation and later experiences a cataclysmic fall. Yet, despite this, God provided the Seed (Jesus) to redeem and revived the heavens, earth and humanity. Jesus’ message is one of enduring hope that has always been best expressed in the Judeo- Christian ethic, standards of right and wrong and commitment to a Biblical worldview that remains proven true yesterday, today and forever.

Judeo – Christianity has always been dramatically counter-cultural because it is born from the DNA of Jesus as Lord. To be His disciple, and make disciples of others, will always be counter-cultural because you will be developing people into one true faith, ethical absolutes and not some confused god-speak that borrows from everything but means nothing!

Yes, the culture has changed and some changes are good and acceptable, especially when we want to communicate and reach our world. Some may wear jeans, different hairstyles and our meeting places may be from coffee shops to living rooms and even spacious buildings. But none of the cosmetic changes are ever acceptable if they alter the absolute message of Jesus.  As Christians we must recognize we no longer a “Christian society” as our president reminded us of six years ago. As such we need to understand the challenges of our world and seek to transform it in every arena of life.

There is an itch that requires scratching. But there is also a hurt that runs deeper.  You represent the bringers of the great medicine that will not only stop the itch but also cure the real ailment. The disconnect from God can be bridged by today’s Christian if we will accept our counter-cultural faith, represent a transformational message and embrace a life of real people, living in a real world, with real hope and promise in the power to change lives…the power is in Jesus!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

TIME TO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES! (The Gift of Work and the Christian’s Responsibility)

th_2I was fourteen years old and it was the first Monday of summer vacation. Comfortably sleeping in my bed I had already mapped out a summer filled with playing games, hanging out with my best friend and managing to use as much of the day to just chill (as my son would say).To my surprise those dreams, of summer fun, were soon to be replaced with a new reality when my dad woke me up informing me it was time to get ready and take a drive with him. Within thirty minutes I found myself riding shotgun in a 1987 blue Grand Marquis headed downtown; and within the next half hour I was riding back with new summer activity which circumvented my entire summer…a job!

In a recent family episode of life imitating reality I found myself sitting in my car explaining to my son, again at age 14, why it was time to work and his days of “chillin” would be forever in his rear view mirror. No matter what age we begin this journey, of labor and responsibility, it is a God ordained reality would should embrace and not avoid.

Let’s face it we don’t always like work and we also know people who would be defined as “workaholics.” These are the types who claim to love their job and, while that may be true, a closer examination of their story would no doubt include their share of hated professional seasons. Whether we love, like or dislike our current field of labor, as Christians, there is another dimension to work that should compel us to be the best at what we do; even when we are temporarily stuck in a “dead-end” circumstance.

Most of us cherish the idea of a vacation because after a long trying season of work we need time to unwind and recharge. But, after a while our minds begin to shift gears and we start thinking about what work awaits us. My father and father-in-law were both high performing professionals in their chosen fields. As long as I have known them they always worked lengthy hours and gave their very best skill and talent to their job.  Now, though officially “retired” they still continue to work. Certainly they are not working as hard, or as extensive, as they once did; but they are continually finding ways to benefit their world, church and own life. I find it curious why after giving themselves to so many years of labor they didn’t just “retire.” And you know why? Because an ethic has been instilled in them to be the very best at whatever they are tasked to do. This amazing ethic has also filtered into their walk with Christ and is often witnessed daily in their church community and beyond.

My past two posts have focused on different angles of discipleship from the practical to the spiritual. Today I want to challenge you to think differently about work and more specifically how, and why, you labor in a community of faith (local church). Studies have proven the 80/20 Rule applies to most churches, non-profits and volunteer based operations.  If you have never heard of this rule what it means is 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people. No matter the denomination, church size or cause there will always remain a certain number of  critical needs, that require either funds to hire the workers or the volunteers to accomplish the work. But what happens when neither the funds nor the volunteers are available because nobody wants to work or sacrifice?  Simply answered the job doesn’t get accomplished and the goal falls well beneath its intended mark.

If the 80/20 Rule applies, within the church today, than there is a more troubling trend we must address and correct if we have any hope of the church affecting the world around us.  What is the troubling trend? Most Christians have either an apathetic or unwilling approach to work, within the local body, and as such they drain more resources away, from the church, than what they contribute.  

If we are to be living the disciplined walk of faith, with Jesus, then we must be committed to an ethic of work that enables us to mature and bring added value to the community we seek to connect and serve. Many bristle at the idea of “added work” especially after a long week and even longer hours. But when we no longer consider laboring for the Kingdom, through the body of Christ, we stunt our growth as disciples and even worse such inactivity eventually bleeds into other areas of our witness and evangelism.

Taking a brief glance at the work of evangelism reveals very real work with people will take time, effort, resources and emotional, as well as spiritual energy. So while we can rightfully assume God will do His part in provoking the spiritual hearts of the needy; He commands us to share the Good News and make disciples. How is this done? On a very real and basic level it requires work. Jesus already taught the problem of reaching people has never been the “fields of harvest” were too obscure, but the sad truth is the laborers are too few.

When we, as Christians, make excuses as to why we cannot volunteer time and or provide the added financial resource, to pursue active evangelism, we miss the opportunity to enrich our communities and actually do far worse by nourishing the very elements that destroy the community of faith in consumerism, individualism and isolationism. Could this be why large segments of Western Christianity have lost their vibrancy and effectiveness within the world?

Christian vocation is not a new concept. St. Paul often uses the word “strive” to refer to his work in the ministry; and yet the word strive feels so counter-cultural to today’s church and society. Today’s culture has conditioned Christians to think as individuals first and servants last. However Scripture goes well beyond assumption, and implied behavior, when addressing His “called out ones” and “chosen people” are to be those who behave, belong and believe in a Christ-ethic. It is this Christ-like ethic that draws work and life together and allows us to experience a community where labor is seen as worship and less as burdensome activity (See. 1 Peter 2:9 / 1 Peter 2:11-12).

It must be stressed the concept of being a disciple, of Jesus, extends well beyond living as cultural Christians. At the heart of living “in Him” brings with it a distinctive way of life that exists within a Biblically distinctive pattern where His people are genuinely alive and not just living (See. 2 Peter 3:11, 14).
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I mentioned earlier, from my first days of work, we are all faced with the reality and eventuality of labor. We are also surrounded by a world in which you are not only part of but are also called to serve; and that service should begin in your local community of faith (church). When, and if, you embrace the entire Word of God through the lens of Biblical Hebraic Holism you can only logically arrive at a singular conclusion that places ones “church life” not in a context of “vacation time.” Rather one’s life in the community of faith is an extension of their everyday living and should be embraced as an opportunity to express one’s calling.

It is easy to read the Scriptures and desire to live the calling of Moses, Joshua, Peter or Paul. But what if your walk can be just as impactful as these men? What each of these men shared was a lifestyle committed to living a Kingdom reality. With their steadfastness came an understanding in which they saw their purpose was woven intimately into a larger tapestry of what God was developing. Simply said, the heros of our faith lived in a pattern set by the Father and expressed through the Son. Everything Jesus taught, accomplished and expressed pointed His disciples back to the reality of living with Kingdom purpose and laboring in the King’s fields of harvest. Is God not the King who owns the cattle on a thousand hills?  As His disciples we are called to live in the pattern of Jesus’ death and resurrection as well as carry out his works of mercy, grace, love and speaking Biblical truth to the seeking, searching and lost. If we will commit to real work in all areas of life we will share in the joy of His harvest and His blessings!

When God calls He commissions! It is up to us to remain faithfully obedient to His direction. To be personally formed into “usable material” (clay in the potters hand) means we should not settle for just showing up, but also look for opportunities to build the Kingdom. To be formed brings with it the welcomed excitement of being transformed; and that can only be witnessed when born-again disciples are actively revolutionize their communities of faith and communities where they live, work and experience life.

One final thought on the Christian ethic of work. While we tend to live in the “hear and now” we frequently miss the moments where our today is shaped by yesterday. What I hope to express is a deeper appreciation of our rich Christian history that brings with it the understanding of work as a blessing from the very beginning in the Garden  (See. Gen. 1:28, 2:15) Labor was never a by-product of the fall or an extension of the curse. Rather labor has always been part of God’s design. The curse (sin) attached itself to work by making the earth harder and the seasons less fruitful. But striving for the Kingdom is not a man-made system of labor followed by retirement (Gen.3:17-19). Unfortunately we have done ourselves a spiritual disservice when we choose to view eternity as some type of modern / futuristic retirement plan. Though eternity will be free from the curse, and as a result will not carry with it the same burdens we experience today, the very idea that work will cease is hard to Scripturally imagine or support. Just a brief glance into the Throne Room (See Revelation) allows us glimpses of worship and work. Such a heavenly reality should give us all pause and reconsideration if we are looking to wade in a crystal pool or drift away in a heavenly hammock?

A concluding challenge for us all. Work has always been a mandate that was birthed with creation. Therefore labor is a gift from God and for His purposes. It took literal, not theoretical, work for the death and resurrection to be carried through. Likewise, it will take real effort in His second coming and in the rebuilding of making all things new.

Yes, in the summation of all things the peace of God, His Shalom, will fall over a renewed earth and then those who are in Him will experience work as it was once was in the Garden before the curse. But what would happen, in our world today, if we re-examined our call to work as a divine mandate? What if your work, in the here an now, is in some way connected to your supernatural calling to build the Kingdom of God and support the community of faith where God has placed you?

It is clear Christian work is not for the casual, for the part-time or for the uncommitted and lazy. Yes, Christian work will be the hardest thing you can ever apply yourself to because it requires a full-time dedication unto the Lord. When we serve Him, serve one another and serve the community, by sharing Him, His real Spirit- birthed power is expressed in our lives and continues to testify of one body, one resurrection, one life, one truth, one way, JESUS!

True revival is freedom for the soul that leads to total freedom for humanity.” – Dennis Kutzner

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

A Three –Fold Attitude that Stimulates Discipleship and Forms a Genuine Community of Faith

thLast week I shared some thoughts on my immersion into a community of disciples and discipleship. But what happens when you have gone beyond “putting your feet in the water” and are fully enveloped by the waves of a genuine Jesus formed community?  I acknowledge by using the word “genuine” that must imply there also can be “less than genuine” communities of faith. And guess what? Sadly there are. This is not to say people set out to be purposely disingenuous, but it does mean people can believe they are living in the nature of Jesus when they are not; and so, by default, they become immersed into a community that looks, feels, sounds and may even act with some version of Jesus but entirely miss the opportunity to become a community that engages His true nature.

 

Simply stated to be a disciple of anyone, means you have learned directly, and accurately, from the disciple-maker. As a New England Patriots fan I have been spoiled by a high level of competition the Patriots provide every season. At the lead of the team’s success is their quarterback, Tom Brady. But before Brady became a Super Bowl MVP, and top quarterback in the NFL, he had to learn from someone. Beginning in high school, through college and even into his professional career Brady routinely sought advice, counsel and training from his long time mentor Tom Martinez. Perhaps few will ever know of the man who helped form Brady into the player millions watch on Sunday afternoons, but his legacy and counsel are witnessed every game Brady leads the New England Patriots out to play.  In like manner the greatest violinist the world has ever heard, Jascha Heifetz, learned from Leopold Auer. Tom Brady was developed by Tom Martinez and Plato was instructed by the words and methods of Socrates.  While subtle variations in one’s style, approach, look or feel may develop differently, from teacher to student, there will always be a common thread throughout the life of the mentor and mentee: Fundamentally they will be the same in their approach, application, intent and drive to succeed without compromising the richness of truth in their chosen field.

As Christians should we be any less careful to attention, detail, passion, perfection and desire to share Biblical truth with our world? When one becomes immersed in the life of discipleship, in Jesus, there can be no room to compromise His message, and divine nature, in favor of our personal “variations.” Jesus commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of all men commanding them (the Apostles) to instruct everyone in all He (Jesus) had shared.  Woven within the DNA of discipleship is a sanctified template of how one becomes His disciple without compromise and with the guarantee of blessing. Getting one’s feet wet, in the community of Christ, is where it all begins; but that has never been a substitute for continuing on the journey of discipleship. True Biblical discipleship begins when we live immersed in the community of faith while being mentored into developing unique techniques and strategies, not gimmicks, that help us draw people to encounter the nature of Jesus!

In my attempt to unpack the heart of discipleship, as well as understand the nature of Jesus, I have come to understand there are three necessary attitudes that invite people and engage them into immersion in the community of faith. The three attitudes are worship, preaching / teaching and mentoring.

ATTITUDE #1: WORSHIP. Try to define worship and the exercise quickly opens into a very large umbrella that the Bible stuffs a lot of action underneath. You can worship God through prayer, fasting, singing, reading and meditating on His Word, tithes and offerings, work, life, common grace acts and the list goes on and on. But to help me better understand worship, within the context of discipleship, I needed to have a simple working definition that could cover all the bases. So, here is a definition I part borrowed and retooled: Worship is not a program but an invitation for people to participate in the truth of Jesus; and we celebrate His story in a variety of forms and activities. There is so much opinion regarding the state of worship within the church today. But wherever you may come down on the issue, worship is always meant to form any community into authentic adoration of Jesus with integrity. What I personally find so inviting about worship is how it really is meant to be apart of everyday, as well as every portion of life, and not just Sunday morning.

While some choose to debate various styles and expressions, of Sunday worship, I feel there is a deeper concern if we allow our times of worship to fall into the traps of being another program or routine.  For some, if not most, it may be a little frightening to provide the breathing room necessary for the Holy Spirit to move through our times of worship. But when we give Him the room necessary to move He draws the community of worshippers into the rhythm of God’s nature. It is then our individual and communal moments of celebration merge into the signing of Jesus’ story and our songs become those of great thanksgiving.  Worship was at the heart of the early church’s liturgical calendar and the same reason why God gave Ancient Israel the Feasts of the Lord. Life, every day, was to be a celebration of God’s nature and it is meant to immerse His disciples entire lives into Him.

The added by-product of worship is the development of disciple and disciples. Worship has the unique ability to draw everyone into one community that lives, talks, hears and shares the rich celebration of Jesus’ life. Here again this is why disciples should find opportunities to raise our hands, clap and even shout; because a corporate action of thanksgiving, love, relief and even celebration become the moments where the Holy Spirit’s presence can be truly experienced through the cycles of life. Rudolph Otto said,  “Good worship will use language of mystery.” And I honestly believe the mystery of worship should be one we all long to uncover. When people, in the Body of Christ, genuinely live lives of worship not only will we experience Him but we will know Him and desire to learn more of Him as our lives behave more like His. All who are in Him are gladly invited to be worshipers; and worship has the basic power to shape the disciple!

ATTITUDE #2: PREACHING / TEACHING: A recent survey, by Thom Rainer, concluded the most decisive factor for visitors, in choosing a fellowship, is the preaching/ teaching.  One need only thumb through the pages of the Gospels and book of Acts to discover Jesus routinely taught His disciples wherever they traveled. The development of lay ministry underscores the necessity for trained and qualified men and women who are in a position to teach and disciple within the local church.

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Certainly the Holy Spirit is the one who illuminates the need for change in any one’s heart but the inspiration of Spirit-birthed teaching / preaching always encourages faith in the pattern of Jesus.  It is well documented Augustine, for example, always used his teachings as an opportunity to weave doctrine with moral living. So what kind of preaching / teaching should we accept as those pursuing a journey of discipleship? Biblically speaking (and this is always the safest way to judge anything) only teachings that are based on Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)! Of course there is always a place for sharing how to raise your kids, manage money, discover purpose, etc… but if such themes are not based in Scripture, as the primary source, they will eventually draw people away from the pattern of Jesus and point others toward worldly solutions. Simply put, teaching rooted in anything other than Scripture will make you a disciple of that teacher, or cause, but such an approach will not draw you any closer to the nature of the Father or a disciple of Jesus.  Again, teaching and preaching, within the context of discipleship, must always focus on what the Bible says, no more and no less.

Genuine disciples are always called to live submitted not to ones favorite minister, or ministry, but to God’s Word. Let me be so bold as to say, Scripture from Genesis to Revelation is true…..all of it! And so, as disciples of Jesus, we are put ourselves under it and live in obedience to it!

 A final thought on preaching / teaching: Tell the Whole Story.  I am guilty of watching ESPN for the purposes of viewing the highlight real in order to follow my favorite sporting events. But just watching the highlights will never tell the entire tale of the tape. Highlights are exciting because by their very definition they are “HIGH –LIGHTS!” But three-second clips are incapable of really helping one understand the “why” of the game. To appreciate the highlight you need to know the details of the game. Likewise, discipleship is not meant to be lived, or seen. in highlights. Rather discipleship should always be a public witness and full portrayal of God’s grand design for all creation. Biblical preaching that is coupled with proactive discipleship always keeps Jesus at the center of life’s story, and there He is meant to always remain.

ATTITUDE #3: MENTORING. One of my favorite Seinfeld episodes is, “The Mentor.” In this particular episode Jerry was dating a girl that relied so heavily on her mentor she was incapable of making a move without her advice. Too often we have adopted a “top-down” approach to mentorship and as a result our bonds of mentorship become more like chains of control. Could it be we have somehow misapplied Biblical mentorship? Robert Clinton defines mentorship as, “one person helping another person grow.” Henry Simon explained mentorship as, “having something to share with another who needs it to help him grow.” Today the best form of mentorship remains as it was in the days of the early church and John Wesley, discipleship through class meetings and peer to peer cooperation.  While there is a definite need for a one on one relationships it has been my experience an attitude of community mentorship is best suited to knit people together in relatable and personal ways. Within the small group, or home koinonia, a fellowship can discuss a teaching, pray and even provide mutual support and accountability. A single mentor doesn’t, and can’t, have all the answers. But mentors, within the community of Christ, can help others grow and share in Christ. Combined with genuine care, support and prayer the disciple quickly matures; and when this change occurs the entire community becomes immersed in the Jesus cycle of life.

People are searching for genuine Christ-centered communities of faith that expand beyond the church walls and touch real need and real lives. When genuine disciples, in Jesus, invigorate the church then we become an antibiotic to the illness (sin) and perhaps then the world will no longer perceive the church as the illness but an aide for healing and restoration?

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

 

Immersed in the Community of Disciples & Discipleship

thRecently, I was visiting with the owner of a new business launch that was giving me a sneak peak through his new site. The facility was top notch with every “bell and whistle” that would cater to potential clients in his industry. As we walked through the various workstations he stopped to introduce me to one of the men applying the finishing touches to a particular section of the office. Our conversation was brief and while the man was polite and engaging I could tell there was more to his story than the work he was currently doing. Later I learned the young man, I met earlier, is an excellent guitar player and by some peoples opinions one of the best they have heard in a long time. As I considered such a bold statement I asked, for me, the next logical question, “Then why is he woodworking and not even pursuing music on any level?” Of course I am not privy to this man’s life story; but like most people there is a strong possibility that a man with such talent, and not working in his field of calling, is also a man who stopped being a disciple or disciplined in his craft some time ago. As it is with our chosen profession, or calling, so to the same standards apply toward discipleship. Truthfully, discipleship never ends because everyone is to be constantly led by the Spirit, maturing in Jesus and challenged by one another. If there is such a thing as “steps toward Biblical discipleship” these progressions need to be modeled, in the initial stages, if we desire to help seekers to become converts and converts into disciples.

Bill Hull, who wrote The Disciple-Making Pastor said, “The Great Commission has been worshipped, but not obeyed. The church tried to get to world evangelism without disciple making.” In my opinion his quote accurately sums up the challenges we are facing in a post-Christian / post-Modern church age. Daily we encounter people, spread across life’s journey, whose experiences and backgrounds are unwittingly making them resistant to the hard work of being discipled. Even though the secular / spiritual paradox faces everyone this cannot become the sole excuse for us to avoid the obvious process and spiritual discipline and discipleship. Sadly, Michael Wilkins, a professor of Theology and trainer of pastors, says “The most common answer when asked if anybody has discipled you is, no.” Discipleship has always been, and will forever remain, a life-long process we are meant to experience and be immersed in. Yet many adopt the belief that a semester of discipleship classes will suffice for lifetime journey. The results, and state of our church today, does not bear this out as true or helpful for the maturation of the body of Christ. Therefore, to better understand discipleship let’s take a moment to first explore the nature from which discipleship is developed.

Where Does the Nature of Discipleship Come From? You don’t need to dig through the archives of a denominational library, or a trendy new release on Amazon, to find a manual for discipleship. Beginning with the ancients (Abraham and Eliezer), through the Patriarchs and more specifically with Moses and Joshua we discover a pattern for discipleship. This same process is replicated in the lives of Elijah and Elisha, Jeremiah, Daniel, his three friends and the list is far more exhaustive than limited. So it really should not come as any surprise, within the structure of the Hebraic Holistic worldview, discipleship would be practiced and readily accepted by Jesus and His chosen twelve.

Many of us, me included, have been guilty of assuming the process of discipleship started with Jesus’ earthly ministry but, in reality, this ancient method was just as much a spiritual practice, from the beginning, as a natural relationship designed to share the Word, keep it pure and replicate it throughout each generation. Therefore, when Jesus instructs His disciples in Matt. 10:24-25 He frames the nature of discipleship, and roots for future Christian disciples, in His nature alone.

Contextually speaking when Jesus was sharing such truths it wasn’t revealed in a time too removed from our world today. In Jesus’ day there were many examples of disciples learning under various educated rabbi’s. St. Paul, learning under the instruction of Gamileal, was one example of a long accepted tradition that was the custom of the day. However there was a stark difference in the discipleship, advocated by Jesus, and that of Rabbinic Judaism. Whereas Rabbinic Judaism advocated the process of “leap frog “, where the student would eventually exceed his master, Jesus instructed His disciples by telling them the student will never be above the master. It could be argued Jesus’ teachings did far more than other models of discipleship to help the church rapidly developed through the early years and then exploded through the reformation age. It is discovered in the nature of Jesus His system of discipleship wasn’t a organization of one trying to outdo the other; rather it was a long series of disciples that studied under other disciples. In a very significant way Jesus never encouraged or made disciples that were independent of Him. Every man and woman, who were taught in the model of Jesus, understood their goal was to make disciples back into Jesus.

Six Ways Jesus Taught Discipleship:

  1. Jesus focus and teaching was developed around repentance and the reality the Kingdom of Heaven was near. (Matt. 4:17)
  2. Jesus taught the exercise of His compassion. (Matt. 9:36)
  3. Jesus commanded His disciples to follow the traditions of Him and not others. (Matt. 12:1-8)
  4. All disciples belonged to family obedience. (Matt. 12:46-50)
  5. A disciple must live the life of servanthood. (Matt. 20:24-28)
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  7. A disciple shares in the destiny of suffering. (Matt. 10:16-25)

Late 2013 NT Wright published an amazing work on the writings, life and ministry of St. Paul. Throughout his work NT challenges the thought, some hold, that St. Paul’s teaching were in some way a rival to Jesus’. Sadly, those who see St. Paul and Jesus as rivals have adopted pure liberal foolishness! In fact, Rabbinic Judaism today uses a similar argument against Jesus and Christianity by claiming Christians are following a Jesus reinterpreted through the lens of Paul. In short, for Rabbinic Judaism, Jesus should only be viewed as a rabbi of the first century who taught people how to live whereas Paul turned Jesus into a Savior / Redeemer. NT does an amazing job of addressing this in far more detail than I can in today’s post. But the reason I cited this example was to validate St. Paul’s mission, within the framework of discipleship, was always to make people in Jesus’ image and not his own. Paul’ sole mission was to introduce Jesus, from the Tanakh, to the developing and emerging gentile church. (See. Phil. 1:20-21) True disciples and genuine Biblical discipleship will always follow Jesus’ nature and pattern. This is why we need to be encouraged to avoid discipleship built upon spiritual gurus, specific pastors or our favorite theological teachers. We are all meant to mature, through this life, into sound discipleship in Jesus alone!

How do you become a disciple? Believe! Behave! Belong! (See: John 20:31 , Acts 2:42, 47, Romans 12:2)

How Does the Community of Faith Disciple? While some people will be persuaded by the rational apologetic approach, of which I am a big fan, most people will be discipled through the process of relationship, community and work. When we worship together,  learn together and labor together we grow, in Him, together! This is why life groups and peer to peer discipleship, or coffee shop Gospel, can effectively form a Biblical community for today!

Get Immersed into the Life of the Community: The church is you and all of us gathered together; and we collectively are telling the story of Jesus. While we may share His story through a variety of methods and approaches we must never loose site of the fact we are called together for the purposes of glorifying Him as well as be a witness for the entire story of God. This amazing story is worth sharing! It is a remarkable account of how a Triune God is Creator, involved throughout history, incarnate as Jesus, sacrificial in death and in resurrection becomes victory over death and all evil. In the ascension of Jesus He took His place as the sole ruler over all things and will soon return restoring all things, in creation, unto Himself in a new heavens and new earth. THAT IS A STORY WORTH SHARING!

We are all called to not just recite this remarkable account but to live these words as a community that reflects the values of a relationship with the Father, Son and Spirit. We are called, as a community immersed in Him, to reflect the many creative gifts that reveal His majesty. We are called to be a community of love, redemption and reconciliation. Discipleship and maturity, in Him, also affords us the opportunity to have the deep conversations of how we will address sin, through heart and sight of Jesus. Biblical discipleship will also teach us how to care for the needs of a suffering world and also provide hope of a glorious future for those who are in Him.

Immersion is part of life. The community of Christ is more than capable, by His Holy Spirit, to immerse everyone into the life of Jesus. For those who are willing to shape their life around the reality of Jesus they will truly discover a different story, and vision, than the life they are currently have. Remember we are all on a journey and people are looking for a lasting truth, peace and bonds of relationship. So share His story and live the discipled life of a disciple in Jesus!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Evangelism on the Flip Flop

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My son is fond of saying, as he leaves the house, “Catch you on the flip-flop Daddy-O!” I’m not quiet sure where or what the flip-flop is but I know, when I see him next, something new will have happened or is getting ready to happen. So, since I wanted share with you some reflections on evangelism, and community, I thought we may need a “flip-flop” conversation since I know something new is about to happen.

It all started at the beginning of this year when my wife, Jeannette, shared two messages on communion and the importance of the love feast. In both instances these teachings were designed to invite and draw us back to the table of thanksgiving with Jesus and then with one another. Like a frog hopping from one lily pad to another our community of faith, at Maranatha, leapt “back the future” and started repairing, as well as revisiting, some of our broken bridges from our ancient to present faith. The weeks that followed brought us through a series of teachings where we re-examined the value of living in a community, like a little house on the prairie, that shared in a unique nature of  faith, hope and love, in Jesus, and whose expressions were very different than the language or culture of our current age. Did this mean we were out of touch with the people we hoped to reach with the Gospel message? Far from it!  In fact, what we discovered was we were part of exclusive mission, vision and purpose. A plan in which we can be those who carry the sole message of Truth to a people searching for lasting truth in their lives.

For me, and for those who were committed to this journey, it also meant we needed to comprehend our ancient faith was so much older than the 1st Century. As Christians we have given little thought to a term we often say in passing, as if it is understood by everyone, when in reality we seldom preach or teach with such beliefs and conviction. The term? “Judeo-Christian.” Our Christian journey is unique and  exclusive, in part but not limited to, the reality of our  Judeo-Christian roots. And once you reset your Biblical worldview in Hebraic holism then you better understand the words and nature of Jesus, His Great Commission, evangelism every Biblical principle.

And so here is the point: From communion to discipleship the local church is in place to help you discover your gifts, mature in Jesus and go out making disciples in His name. In it’s simplest form this is what is meant when we are to proclaim the Good News (Great Commission). But before we actually have a discussion about evangelism we need to comprehend what is happening in our present, and future, to help us better understand the world around us.

Today’s society lives in a paradox. Actually we all live with some kind of paradox around us everyday. We are encouraged to save but the government spends out of control. We are told to eat and live healthy but the majority of what is offered are unhealthy options. It is said we should develop our “spiritual persona” but the spiritual menu is often endless and with more customizable options than what you would expect to see in a buffet line. And this sums up society. People live secular, Christians included, but everyone is influenced by some type of spirituality. So while people are open to exploring their spiritual nature, and solutions, they are not necessarily open to exploring exclusive answers. So for Christian evangelism to really hit the target, effectively, we need to understand this paradox and begin to work through it.

It is at this point I want to also make you aware of a remarkable parallel today’s church shares with the historic church of the first three centuries. If we were to travel back in time we would find a church living in an array of spiritual alternatives ranging from the mythological to the mysterious and even familiar, for their time, pagan cults. Tucked away in this sea of spirituality was also Judaism and the growing community of people identified at Christians. And despite the early church being considered a cult the Christian faith grew primarily on three natural factors, and this is not to excluded the power of the Holy Spirit.

What were the 3 Natural Factors for Church Explosion and Growth?

#1 The Christian Community was Open: Remove from your mind the way we define open and accepting. In the ancient world an open group had a very different meaning and practice (as you will soon see) and in most instances the ancient world was not as open as some like to think. In fact, most cults were secretive and so heavily regimented by rules they excluded the simple, slaves and women. So, in a sense, spiritual communities of the past behaved and operated like country clubs today. And so while it may have been difficult, if not impossible, for some to find a spiritual place of belonging the Christian community was considered open and welcoming to those who lived life on the outside.

#2 The Christian Community was Open but Exclusive: While other cults and pagans practices were  willing to compromise their beliefs to adapt or include other worldviews, such spiritual “wishy-washiness” only contributed to a world already sinking in uncertainty. Enter Christianity with an exclusive  and certain message that cut right to the heart of the spiritual mosh pit. While it was not widely accepted, at first, for those who believed it must have felt like a welcomed glass of cold water on a hot and desperate day. The exclusive message and reality of Jesus was then, and remains so this day, a reassurance of hope in times of hopelessness.

#3 The Christian Community was a Close Family, Organized and Disciplined Disciples: Of course we will read of debates within the early church community (the Book of Acts) as well as other Ecumenical Councils that discussed the Scriptures and theological challenges. And while their world did not have some of the structures of today they knew how to live in accountability, as a family, and even     shared in needs, risks, dangers and hope. Unlike what most experience when today’s church doesn’t work in cooperation with one another the early Christian community was a true family that met the needs of the Christian family first, and then was able to better meet the needs of the seeking world around them. I wonder what our world would look like if the church really behaved like a genuine family in Christ?

So, borrowing from some of our ancient church roots, and knowing they were able to extend into the world around them, we can only conclude they did so with the paradox also surrounding them. Let’s take a page from the second century church’s rich history. Though hardly strange to them, but perhaps odd to us today, the early church saw themselves as citizens who shared things with others but endured all things as foreigners. They saw their entire world as a mission field and not their place of citizenry. Perhaps this is one subtle reason why evangelism is largely ineffective in America today? Could it be too many Christians have misplaced passports?  Have we become so use to”the world” that it is now our home and we have forgotten our divine residency?

The early church was far more hospitable and looking for opportunities to out do one another in kindness, to the church first, and then their world in need. Furthermore, just like today, the church existed in a very real social world. Of course they did not have Facebook or Twitter but the early church was very willing to invade and create a social paradox by sharing their faith with friends, co-workers and family. The church saw their “social web” as an opportunity to influence people through their world and invite them into the Christian community. Long before large churches and fellowship halls the church met in homes and lived as a community that gathered as well as ate around the table.  As for so many of us, growing up, the table always presented a central opportunity to share and live life.
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Consider portions of Jesus’ earthly ministry and you will discover much of His ministry was done around tables, weddings, feasts and dinners. Why?  Because the table has always been a safe place to engage one another in love, charity and hospitality.  Whether Starbucks knows it or not the church is operating a lot of ministry and evangelism through their doors. Question? What would happen if you opened your home, one night a week, to somebody in your community, for the sole purpose of ministering to them, discipling them and sharing your faith? What might happen in your neighborhood?

But…Back to the Secular / Spiritual Paradox:  We cannot forget the paradox exists and because it is alive it also presents dangerous poisons to the community of faith that work will against us.

Three Enemies to the Christian Community: Individualism, Isolationism & Consumerism.

#1 Individualism has become the father and mother of the selfie generation. You need only know that individualism is alive and well when last year’s “word of the year” was selfie.  Truthfully I have also contributed a few selfies and most likely the majority us have taken atleast one picture while, others are minored in a degree in photography on self. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with taking a picture but the very idea of a world where “selfie” exists sums up the dangers individualism at it’s best (or worst).  Sadly, individualism has also become a firm set piece within the Western church culture because it encourages a community that says proudly: I think what I want, I do what I want, I go where I want and I am responsible to only myself.  Whereas our early church community was about reaching out, hospitality and sacrifice our individualism of today encourages “ME FIRST” over “OTHERS FIRST.”  When we become a “Me First” generation, and church, then it becomes impossible to have a common creed, common language or common culture.

#2 Individualism has Spawned Isolationism. How so? Consider this: If you can earn enough money or control enough of your surroundings then you really do not need anything or anybody else.  We have become a generation that has been encouraged to be ourselves and form our own controllable community while not worrying about the world we are attached to. I once knew a fellow Christian that said, “If I could just wall off the world and live with my family, by myself, that would be ideal.”  Looking at his specific circumstances, his job, earning potential etc… his personal desire was the epitome of individualism that leads to isolationism. Sadly, this same man and his family never joined our community and soon disappeared behind their self-created walls of isolationism.  I thought about my mothers stories of growing up, on Sand Mountain, and while I am certain there were individuals that wanted little to do with other people (called hermits) they missed out on what others enjoyed in the development of the community church, community festivals, weddings, funerals, jobs and the blessing of being with other people.

Let me ask us again to reconsider if we were a genuine community what might we look and behave like?  What if we were not a community of a programs driven church, that operates like an corporation,  but a community within a deeper community that invites people to believe, behave and belong to something bigger than themselves, their money or their personal wants. What if we were a community that actually was changing our world through our language and culture while also helping converts become disciples?

You see this will never be accomplished through what is called linear relationships where we are disconnected and don’t stick. The ancient church, and the church for many generations, lived on what was known as the Parish principle and that resulted in generations, that lived in a neighborhood, where the local church was the focal point of that community and served the church family as well as the city searching for hope. We need to get back to living this concept.

#3 The Final Enemy: Consumerism. As Robbert E. Webber said so wonderfully “Consumerism  encourages your rights over your responsibility.” By its very nature consumerism undermines the community and always keeps us focused on ourselves and not others.

So with our enemies now defined if we want to be effective evangelist of the “good news” then the obvious question is how do we build that ancient community? Again, the secular / sacred paradox comes into play because it has proven that certain approaches no longer work as they once did. For example statistics have proven .5 percent of people come into a church community through crusades. Crusades are wonderful and still have a place in making the broad appeal for Christ. But the crusade can never do what the missional relationship can do best. Looking back to the ancient church, and their approach, they saw their focus was missional. For the early church missional meant the community you lived, and interacted with, was the same community you shared your Christ-like language, culture and beliefs with. Literally the missional Christian verbalized the Gospel message and sought to meet the seeker and connect with them and their journey. Statistically speaking 79% of people who are converted enter into a church community, and discipleship, because of personal contact with a relative or friend.

Our dynamic faith, life-style and witness will speak volumes more than a media blitz, fancy building or flashy style because our life, in Jesus, is one that has been renewed from the inside out. And while the cosmetic changes are great they are just superficial and people today are in search for the real thing! Someone who lives on displayed and is alive, in Jesus, can not be argued away. The Christian witness must either be accepted or rejected; and that is the power behind you as the evangelist and your witness. When you are the display of Christ people have to accept you or reject you just as they will have to do with Jesus.  This becomes a powerful truth that, when done with the right Spirit and filled with the Holy Spirit, invigorates the community of faith and fuels our evangelism from the awkward and stale to the bold and life changing.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA 

I’M BACK

i_m_back

 

Be on the look out for a new post…..this week.
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Blessings!

JOSHUA

PERSPECTIVE

boat-land-perspective1PERSPECTIVE

Have you ever heard the expression, You can look at the glass half empty or half full? Any combinations of these sayings are meant to ask the deeper questions of ones perspective and, of course, we are heavily influenced by our dispositions, presuppositions and upbringings as to how we view our world.  But the very concept of perspective is universal and essential in all phases and walks of life. From architecture, to art and even how we deal with changing circumstances, in our lives, perspective keeps us rooted in a bigger picture or larger narrative.

As individuals we need perspective in the ordinary of life but as Christians we require a divine perspective that grounds our lives in a story richer, deeper and enduring more than the temporary of here and now. Truthfully it is difficult to comprehend, especially during hardship, divine perspective. We are prone to ask questions of Why? Or Where was God when? And while these questions are logical responses, expected from emotional people, divine perspective allows us to take a step back and evaluate the highest and biggest picture.

What is the highest and biggest picture? While we all may be tempted to answer such a question with our family, job and professional / personal goals the reality is all of these pale in comparison to the reality of the eternal Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Therefore, while perspective can be framed by immediate circumstances it also must be influenced by divine perspective so we do not misdirect our lives from the plans and purposes of God.

The highest possible point of view is His (God) and the greatest of all purposes are His as well. Therefore the Christian must be led, by His Spirit, to maintain the careful balance of perspective at all times and in every situation. The viewpoint we, as Christians, are called to preserve is that we are here for one purpose: to be vessels of His honor in His triumphs. While the showroom of heaven is filled with many wonders, people and testimonies they all bring us back to a reality of an eternal story rooted in someone bigger than us (Jesus).

THE STORY IS ABOUT VICTORY IN JESUS AND THROUGH HIM ALONE! When our story is no longer about us, but what He did for all of creation, then our perspective forever changes. No longer should we view ourselves as small, great, less or more rather, with divine perspective, creation points us back to maintaining our cause is in Christ alone!  St. Paul reminds us of the greater divine perspective when he says, I am in the train of a conqueror, and it does not matter what the difficulties are, I am always led in triumph.

But e-mail marketing is becoming much cialis canadian more common these days. Atherosclerosis affects not only the cardiovascular system levitra line pharmacy but also the male sexual health. levitra 20 mg http://deeprootsmag.org/2015/01/12/condemned-live-1935/ If the chemist denies then change the chemist but get only general medicines. This mainly happens when the PDE5 enzymes acting in the penile region causing erectile dysfunction.Thus, it allows for smooth circulation of blood to the man’s sex organ. order cialis online deeprootsmag.org Is this a perspective we possess today? Do we live this divine purpose practically in our lives? The happiness expressed in Paul’s bold words reveal a secret joy he was often quick to share. It was the new humanity, in Jesus, that rescued a religious, spiritually blind rebel and led him to the life of bondservant for the King and the Kingdom. And now? Now St. Paul states that this is all he is here for…this was his new perspective and he considered it a great joy to be a prisoner for Jesus’ sake with no other perspectives rivaling his new vision and new life.

In desiring to live by divine perspective I have had to curb my enthusiasm that allows me to believe victory, in life, is attributed to my ingenuity and force of will. It is a dishonorable attitude for today’s Christian to talk about attaining any success, without Him, when the True Champion (Jesus) ought to own every part of our victorious story. But this takes divine perspective that comes only through the Holy Spirit’s illuminating our understanding to comprehend the incomprehensible, and see with spiritual and not natural vision.

It continues to be my personal prayer we all share, and rejoice, in the larger reality of what He is continuing to do with us and through us, despite ourselves, so His manifold wisdom is expressed throughout all creation.

“Now thanks be to God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” (2 Cor. 2:14)


Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE

thEvery election cycle we hear the same series of promises from the same people, parties or special interest groups. In a familiar slogan everyone promises CHANGE. Whether people want to change the “old way” of doing things or others want to return the “new way” back to the old we are a community who want and often demand change. It is almost as if we get bored with the status quo and borrow life from the expression, the grass is greener on the other side. Still, for all of the promises it seems very little actually changes. We fluctuate between political parties and government still runs with the same level of arrogance, waste and broken pledges. We adjust our immediate surroundings hoping a fresh coat of paint will make things better. But after the paint has dried whatever walls were not cleaned before will reveal the same old stains and smells. Why? (more in this later)

Ancient Israel were a people not too different from us today. They had experienced some tough years of leadership with Moses and, as a young nation, lived their fair share of set-backs, failures and successes. Nevertheless, through it all, God used Moses to prepare His people to inherit their land of promise; and many years later leadership changed from Moses to Joshua with Israel’s story continuing from the wilderness to Canaan. Given time leadership shifted again from Joshua, to a series of unnamed elders then to judges and eventually a king. And so, born from a desire for change, many kings policies affected the people and land of Israel from then to today.

Like ancient Israel we too assume a person, policy or shifting in the scenery can provide us with the lasting change we long for. Sadly, like ancient Israel, we still have failed to comprehend what kind of change we are all desperately in need of. While a cosmetic modification will always look and feel right, in the moment, it soon fades because what is at the heart of the problem is THE HEART! If the heart of the individual, or nation, has not been altered by Jesus then there will never be enough suitable changes that will last long enough to bring us into right relationship with Him or with one another.

In fact, is this not the great appeal, and testimony, we share when speaking of a relationship with Jesus? Simply stated we are all expressing a story of how He rescued us and then changed our lives for the better. But when you consider how you have been changed, by a relationship with Jesus, you quickly discover what He has touched is deep within your heart. Certainly God has applied a “fresh coat of paint” to our cosmetic surroundings and we often point to a better life, friends or favor we are experiencing. But for some, if not most, the aesthetic changes can be few and far between and never as glorious as the lasting peace, hope and love we experience because we are born again by His Spirit.

What did Jesus really change? THE HEART! Granted we are all living through a process where the “old us” is adjusting daily into a new humanity in Jesus; but for this to happen we must allow Jesus to confront our prejudices, fears, hurts, offenses, pride, EVERYTHING! If we genuinely desire lasting change, that will impact us and our world, then we must be willing to allow Jesus to humble us to the place where He is the “changing” agent that cleans our hearts from everything that robs the fruits of His Spirit being alive in us.

Too often we think our personal relationship with Jesus equates to Him working around our special interests and particular prejudices when, in reality, God’s track record of dealing with people is pressing us into situations where we conform to His likeness, or reject Him in favor of our manufactured image of self-worth.  The other side of “For God so loved…” is with His love also comes the stern adoration of the Father that desires His sons and daughters to no longer be controlled by the passions of selfishness and self-centeredness but selflessness and Christ-Centeredness. 

We all say we want change….BUT if we don’t come to a place of acknowledgment where we know our hearts need to be amended, and He is the only one who can change our heart for His goodness, than any “changes” outside of Him will only be temporary and eventually fail.  In reaction to Jesus’ changing of our hearts we need to resist the desire to default to our past prejudices and learn to say we no longer want to return to the past of who we once were!

The reality is instead of thinking God is on the side of our prejudices we need to comprehend He is deliberately clearing them out. Why? Because all things from creation to humanity are on a collision course with the Missio Dei (the mission of God) where He (the Father) will redeem all things back unto Himself through Jesus alone (see Colossians and Philippians) and only He is Holy perfect in love and justice.
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When we are born again, we are to live in a new way of believing, behaving and belonging. It continues to be a mysterious and amazing outpouring of the Holy Spirit that renews our heart, mind and soul to work for His Kingdom. Through this supernatural process His new renewal, in us, wipes away the old order of doing things in favor of a new order of living His way, with His Heart, love and passion.

How can we attain a life that has no lust, self-interest, offenses or love that is manipulated by want and desire? The only way is by rejecting the old life and placing our full trust in God. Daily we must make ourselves vulnerable to allow the Holy Spirit to do a ruinous work in our life for His glory.

Yes, it is time for change but not the kind of change than embraces Jesus for what blessings we can borrow from His rich treasury, but change born from a desire to want Him and Him alone! If we do not come to a place where we accept God can remove His blessings from our lives, and it not affect our trust in Him, we may remain prone to consider God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as just another temporary change. But once we come to a place of fully trusting in Him, and our hearts are truly beating for the heart of the Father, over the heart of self, then we will have the lasting change that will transform our lives, communities, churches and nations for the His glory and the coming Kingdom.

Change is good, necessary and eventually destined to occur; but we, as Christians, should look to the only change that really matters…the life changed by Him. And one by one, if we are changed into His likeness then our world cannot help but be changed for His glory as well.

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away.” (2 Cor. 5:17)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

I LOST MY SON!

th (1)Several years ago I experienced a frightening moment that I hope to never repeat. To make this story all the more relatable you need to understand a little more about my parenting approach. While I am not as strict as my father was with me I am certainly not one of those dads who is stuck in his smartphone as his kid roams through the county fair on his own. I’m just the opposite, I want to know where my son is, who he is with and where he is planning on going at all times. If I call his phone and it rings past one time that is too late for my comfort zone. And when it gets dark my son loves to laugh at me by asking, “What do you have against the dark?” My answer? “Just about everything.”

So, you can imagine how I must have felt when I went to pick my son up from an after school event only discover he wasn’t there. I called his phone and it went straight to voice mail. Then I went into the school, where I thought he was supposed to be, only to discover the lights were off with all the doors locked. Beginning to panic I rushed home to see if by some miscommunication he walked home or perhaps Jeannette picked him up…again Joshua was no where to be found. As I drove back to the school I could feel the shortness of breathe and my thoughts racing through every possible scenario. Arriving back at the school I ran inside looking for someone that could possible help me find my lost son when I heard several voices coming from the gym. Sure enough there he was with his friends and teachers still participating in the afterschool activity. I wanted to be angry but I felt more relieved knowing it was just one big miscommunication that was compounded by his phone battery having died; and though my story ended harmlessly the desperation I experienced was very real.

Scripture reminds us there is nothing new under the sun, and that would also have to include how some have come to communicate and understand God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In our community there is a very large, successful and influential church that, from the outside, seems to be the perfect place for faith and family. I have had the opportunity to meet several members of this church and in our brief social engagements they are pleasant, generous and kind.  Again, from the outside this fellowship appears to be an ideal community of faith, that is until you learn what or who they believe in. While they ascribe their beliefs are Biblical, and claim to worship God, they are quick to assert Jesus is not God and there is no such person as the Holy Spirit. Yes, there is a spirit of the Father, and that is holy, but the concept of a person as the Holy Spirit is rejected. Again, the Bible reminds us there is nothing new under the sun and this fellowships beliefs have been debated, argued and even deemed heretical from the first century thru today.

But my purpose in writing today’s post is not to “get down into the weeds” of a Trinitarian versus non- Trinitarian debates. Rather I wanted to use the story of my lost son, and this local fellowship, to highlight a dangerous place today’s Christian may be unknowingly living in. As I encounter a wide variety of seekers, searchers, Christians and people from other faiths I can’t help but detect a certain level of “panic” in us all. It is as if what we once believed has been debated, questioned and undermined to the point of our willingness to no longer trust what once helped us manage life and faith. While I am less surprised by the unease being experienced by those living outside of the Judeo-Christian worldview I am find myself shocked by the great anxiety and growing tension within the Christian community itself. After all shouldn’t the Christian’s witness, testimony and faith be the only lasting confidence in an age of uncertainty?

What this comes down to, for Christians, is what we once believed and or trusted as “truth” has been replaced with a spirit of doubt. Our “what if” generation of thinkers, pastors, teachers and authors have adopted a questioning spirit to the point of allowing insecurity to subtly eroded universal value and divine truth. Sadly, within some of our Christian communities, our desire to revisit and or incorporate ancient pagan practices, beliefs and philosophies have revived a dissonant chord within the harmonious music of the Kingdom. Furthermore, I am even more concerned there are many who no longer hear the dissonance, or feel the “panic” because they have already lost what was once a valued spiritual treasure: the Holy Spirit.

Today I believe we are approaching a dangerous tipping within our Christian faith where even the foundational truths, of this ancient story, are redefined and reformed into something that looks and feels “Christian” but is absent of Him. Sadly too many Christians are settling for a faith of either entertainment, or dead religion, and in both instances God is no longer revealing Himself to us.

When I thought I had “lost” my son I didn’t even want to acknowledge that I, in some way, I may have been responsible for his being lost. I was looking for excuses and scapegoats when I had been part of the confusion in the first place. Likewise, within the body of Christ, we are slow to acknowledge we are loosing sight of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Yes, they still reside in hymnals, liturgies, prayers, creeds, stain glass, church logos and traditions but they are further removed from our hearts, minds and being. We still claim Jesus is Lord and God and Risen; but we do not take into account the role of the Holy Spirit. Too often our discussions of the Holy Spirit descend into debates on tongues, supernatural manifestations or a dislocated concept of God’s Spirit but not a person of the Holy Spirit. We create neat and perfect boxes to set God in that have allowed us to gradually get comfortable with a tradition of Him but not His presence.

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Jesus tells is just as He was sent by the Father so to He is sending the Holy Spirit to birth His church.  St. Paul tells the church at Ephesus the Spirit-birthed church will express the manifold wisdom of God to all powers seen and unseen. A large portion of our  ‘Christian doubt”, or fear,  comes from a selfish desire to understand God by simplifying spiritually legal and divine matters.  One cannot comprehend or explain sanctification, justification, redemption and salvation without a work of the Trinity. Furthermore in an attempt to “make it simple” we have made it more complex and confusing by allowing the seeds of doubt tell us the Trinity is incomprehensible.

The truth is “the Spirit witnesses only to His own nature and to the work of Redemption, never to our reason and if we try to make Him witness to our reason, it is no wonder we are in darkness and perplexity. Fling it all overboard, trust in God, and He will give the witness of the Holy Spirit.” (Chambers)

I FOUND MY SON…The relief I experienced when I saw my son, in that gym, must have felt something like what Mary and Joseph experienced when they thought Jesus had gone missing, only discover He was in His Fathers house. My son saw the expression on my face and no doubt wondered why I was panicked? He hadn’t gone anywhere and he was where he was supposed to be. It was me that lost him and now he was found.

With all of the noise, debate, fear and panic I would like to encourage all of us to return to the simple, profound and universally true. With Easter soon approaching I pray we can strip away the skepticism, doubt and “what if’s” and come like a child just believing. Finally, as we wave palm branches, contemplate Good Friday and worship on Resurrection Sunday lets remember the full story of the Missio Dei (the Mission of God): To redeem all things to Himself, through Himself (Jesus), to break the bondages and curse of sin, to legally take ownership of all creation and to enable us to be filled by the Holy Spirit, so we can proclaim to every tribe, nation and people the “Good News” of the Kingdom!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA