Great Movie

Margi and I went to see the movie 'The Bucket List'. I would recommend it for adults and older teens. I was struck on how Morgan Freeman's character lived life serving his family and how that his life lived well is more significant than he could possibly know. That is true for you and me as well. How we live in the day to day, the acts of sacrifice for our children or spouse, the acts of kindness toward others, cuts a much large swath through life than we perceive. Maybe it is my age, but I have wondered have I done enough. I have such big dreams, so many things that I would love to do for the kingdom. Yet I have great joy in my life, my wife and children, and the life we share in serving God. It is enough. Apostle Paul would write "contentment with godliness is great gain." Let us live life well, today in the small things.

This Last Week End

This last week end I attended the NW Newfrontiers Men's Conference. Our church helped administrate some of the details of the conference and our tech team handled sound and general set up. Great job Chris Tipton and Gary Noland! I was struck by how significant it is when a group of church's share the same mission. I was encouraged to see old friends and to meet new ones. Sam Poe and Lee Yarbough brought very timely messages that encouraged us to rely on the Holy Spirit in our endeavors to expand the Kingdom of God. Their messages are posted at Journeysalem.com.

When I read the New Testament I am struck on how the early church accomplished so much so quickly an how strongly relationships played a huge key in their success. The leaders served in different contexts and cultural norms but were solidly committed to working together. I have witnessed the power of committed relationship among leaders first hand here in Salem, OR and even more in the relationships of the different churches in Newfrontiers. We can do much more together than we can individually. It is my conviction that the local church through the power of the Holy Spirit is the hope of the world. It is believers united together, working together and working it out with each other is how God demonstrates His Kingdom to those who are far from Him.

I can understand how people can grow disillusioned with the church, after all it is made up of people! Yet Jesus loves His church and seeks to bring change and maturity in each member through the crucible of relationships. All of the of the New Testament is written with in the context of local church. Each of the apostles sought to establish and strengthen local churches. To say that we love God but don't care for His people gathered in a local setting in my mind is grossly immature. I know some would say that there are bad churches out there, so find a good one and put your efforts there. The answer to bad churches is good churches. To stand outside and criticize takes no talent at all.

If our life is focused on mission vs. 'our needs' we each become a contributing member of a of a body that can accomplish what it was created to do. Magnify and make Christ known.

Let me know what you think!

Grander Vision

Grander Vision living was the theme of our church service today. I have been so stirred as I have been teaching the series "just Walk Across the Room" by Bill Hybills. The message to leave all lesser priority's (wealth, security) to pursue people and to introduce them to Christ is always stirring to me. As part of an exercise was to think on what God had done in our lives, and to put it on paper, a 'before and after' so to speak. When I thought about my story I realized how far from God I was and how little I had to offer Jesus. I was blamer—I blamed all my failures, my poor decisions and choices on my difficult childhood. I took no responsibility for my actions. I had a deep-seated bitterness toward my parents for their divorce and dragging me through years of custody battles. The constant pressure to choose between them, the constant moving from state to state (16 before I was 14 years old) and my fathers remarriage fostered a deep seated anger. I processed all of my life through the lens offense. The festering bitterness of soul lead to all sort of destructive behaviors. Drug addiction, petty crime and debauchery. It was always someone else's fault. When Christ found me he revealed clearly that my life was the sum of the choices I made! I was responsible for the things I had done and the person I had become. I was deeply ashamed. Yet Jesus loved me and saw value in me.

I think that is the point we need to grasp, Jesus saw potential in us, and reached out when we had nothing to offer. He made searching for us a priority. Then he asks us to do likewise with our friends. Looking past their sort comings and extending friendship. It is something we can all do.

Reaching Out

I have been teaching Bill Hybil's course on evangelism called 'Just Walk Across the Room'. It has been fun to see people begin to get excited about the potential of being used by the God to touch other people. Bill talks about the principle of living in 3D. Developing friendships, discovering stories and discerning next steps. If believers would give themselves to this practical approach I believe we would make great inroads in our communities. I would recommend this to anyone.

Whew!

Christmas is over and I can catch my breath. Our Christmas was full of friends and family and food. Thanks to all those who sent warm Holiday wishes.

It is time to consider a New Year. I am personally stirred by the wonder of God's grace and mercy. It causes me to commit to the purposes of God. I have been studying in Romans and have been amazed on how much Paul speaks of obedience. He speaks of how Christ's obedience many were made righteousness (Ro 5:19) and how his life mission was effected. Paul viewed his call and apostleship 'to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of Christ's name among all the nations' (Ro 1:5). He would make no boast except what Christ has accomplished through him to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed (Ro 15:18). His great joy was the testimony of the church and their obedience to the faith. (Ro 16:19).

I wonder how much attention we pay to the idea of obedience. Do we view grace as a way to escape the responsibility to obey God in everything, or do we look at grace as the empowering presence of God to do what is right. One of the great themes of Romans is that we are dead to sin and alive to God. Paul would write 'Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness'.

This is my endeavor and prayer. That I may be a slave to the grace of God.

Merry Christmas

It is 5:30 Sunday morning and I feel extremely grateful for the people in my life. To many to list for sure. Family, friends and our church family, to all, Margi and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and greater revelation of God's grace and love.

Thank you for all that you mean to us!

Survivining The Holidays

It has been an incredibly busy month!! And now the Christmas season is upon us in full roar. We have just crossed the ten week mark at Journey Church and things are going well. It has been a great privilege to serve with such a committed group of folks with a real desire to make Jesus known. I have been teaching a series on Surviving the Holidays that I hope helps people keep a even keel in the holiday season.

I have observed that for many the Holidays are awkward times. Difficult family relationships, broken friendships, the feeling of being in a box, the pressure to spend, not to mention the weight gain, are ever present to rob us of the peace of God. I believe that some keys to navigating relational waters starts with understanding who you are in God. If you have accepted Christ, no matter where you have been or what you have done you are forgiven and have right-standng with the creator of the universe. That fact should give as great confidence. Let your identity be rooted in Gods love for you and quite striving for the affirmation of man. Because of the grace given to us we have the opportunity to represent Christ to our family and friends. If we can approach relationships with the mindset of an ambassador we an live above the fray. Ultimately we need to become better lovers of people. Jesus taught us to love our neighbor as he loved them. As we become less self focused in our relationships and serve and love others it has an impact. I know a man that in his youth found Christ and was very out spoken and confrontational in sharing his faith. When he would go to large family gatherings he would contend with his brothers and sisters about becoming Christians. It was quite a wake up call when it was pointed out that he never lifted a finger to help with dishes or any other family chores at Christmas gatherings. He never helped clear a table, or offered to take out the trash. As a result the family was increasingly hostile to the message and the messenger. We have the power to overcome evil with good. With a difficult family member that rubs you the wrong way, be kind. live above the fray.

1. Understand who you are.
2. See this as a time of opportunity. Remember we are Christ’s Ambassadors
3. Becoming a Better Lover
4. Overcome evil with Good