The Dawn of a New Day

My spirit has been stirred within me this morning. As I consider all that God has promised His children, how is it possible that we would accept any theology that keeps us from entering into His fullness. Hebrews 6:18 teaches us that it is impossible for God to lie. So I want you to cast aside any thoughts that will keep you from experiencing all that He has provided.

I want you to think about something for just a moment. How often have you heard someone take one of the promises of Jesus and say "What He was really saying is..."? Then we get to hear their dissertation on why we cannot expect Jesus to fulfill His Word to us. These types of arguments are typically based upon logic and/or a person's lack of experience. Any mindset or theology that keeps me from stepping into the fullness of God is not from Him. In fact, Scripture teaches us that we can be filled with all the fullness of God.

John 14:21, "Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." I want you to consider the weight of these words to the disciples. Do you think there was anything in them that expected less than what Jesus promised? I don't think so. I believe that they expected exactly what He said. They were not looking for an explanation that would play down the words of their Master. They trusted Him, they trusted His heart, and they lived with an expectancy of continually experiencing the presence of Christ. I'm not saying that Jesus cannot manifest Himself in a variety of ways, but I am saying that He can manifest Himself to His followers.

Another passage from John (verse 12) teaches us that the followers of Christ will do the works that He has done AND even greater works because of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us. This is a verse of great debate because there are many people who refuse to believe that we can even attain to the works of Jesus. Did the disciples question what they would be able to walk in? Did the disciples think that Jesus meant anything other than what He said? I don't think so. I believe they fully expected to do the things that Jesus did and to walk in greater works. Why? Because Jesus never lied to them. Whatever He said - He delivered. And on the day of Pentecost when they received the fullness of the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, the stepped into the realization of this promise.

I think it's time for the church to rethink her position in many areas. We have allowed ourselves to live in a mediocre Christianity that expects less than what God has promised. We have settled for a faith that can be explained, that can be controlled, and can be argued. Rather than step into the fullness of what it means to be sons and daughters of God in the earth, we have settled for church membership. Please hear my heart - today is the dawning of a new day for many of you. God is stirring something inside of you that cannot be contained. You are refusing to settle for less than Jesus promised. You are looking for the blessed hope of His coming but you are also expecting to experience His fullness while living in the earth. You are not settling for a faith that simply looks for its culmination in heaven but stepping out in a faith that believes you are the righteousness of God in Christ. You are not settling for a faith that sits and soaks and sours but pressing forward in a faith that is reaching for the mark that was set in the life of Christ.

One of my favorite images is the rising of the sun over the mountains. You know...it's a foggy morning but as the sun rises higher and gets warmer you see the fog disappear into nothing and everything is revealed. Today is one of those days. This morning is one of those mornings. As you allow the Spirit of God to continue to illuminate His Word in your hearts, you will no longer be looking through a glass darkly. You will be able to see clearly all that God has planned for those who love Him. As this illumination continues, you will feel the warmth of His grace, love, and mercy. The heartbeat of God becomes your heartbeat. Faith begins to rise up in you that screams "You are everything that God says you are and you can do everything that God says you can do!!!"

This is the dawn of a new day!!!

The Desires of Your Heart & His

Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."

I want to continue in the thought from yesterday: "The dreams of your heart may actually be the dreams of God's heart that He has entrusted to you."

Psalm 37:4 has been a favorite source of encouragement for many people. We find here the heart of God in answering the heart cry of the believer who is set on delighting themselves in Him. The basic idea from David is that when we are willing to be sensitive to the Lord (not just the things of God) that we will experience God's answer to our petitions. But...you know me...I want to take this a step further. The fact of the matter is that I grow tired of a Christianity that is self-centered. We often read verses like this and immediately think of what we get in return. I realize that God does reward us for our devotion to Him but I don't want the blessing to become my focus.

What if...
What if the desires of your heart were actually the desires of His heart for you?
Think about it this way: If you have devoted yourself to find your delight in the Lord then you will also find yourself consumed with the things that consume Him. Our value systems become rearranged. The things we used to long for are no longer an issue. We discover a contentment that is based upon the heart of God for us rather than our heart for ourselves. Therefore, if I am finding my delight in the Lord, could it be that I have also come to desire the same things that He desires? Could it be that God has actually placed things within my heart that were not there originally? I think it can happen. Actually...I'm sure that it does.

As a follower of Christ it shouldn't surprise us that His dreams become our dreams or that desires of His heart become the desires of our hearts as well. David sought the Lord with all of his heart and God turned right around and gave him His. How often do we focus upon David as a man after God's own heart without questioning where David received this heart in the first place? Every one of us was created by God for a relationship with Him. I believe that there is something planted firmly into our DNA - the part of our makeup that was created in the image of God - that longs to seek after His presence. We want to know God and be known by Him in a relational way. David took that hunger and elevated it to such a place where he was able to receive a heart that was like the one He pursued.

It seems to me that we have been presented with a Christianity that is so focused on how much we are not like God that we have failed to recognize the God-like qualities that are actually present. How is it possible that people who do not know God seek to have a solid marriage? Or a parent that is not a follower of Jesus that seeks to give his/her children a stable family environment? Some would say that this is the work of society. My question would be: where did society get this idea? Through the Spirit of God I have been able to see things that God has placed within the hearts of people even when they are not walking in relationship with Him. I have seen the desires of the hearts rise to the surface and have been able to call them out. It's an awesome thing when you can look at an unbeliever and say "That desire you have is actually from God and He wants to bless you in it." Because in that moment they realize that the God they have not been walking with has actually placed something wonderful inside of them. And when they are ready to walk in the relationship that He has provided through Christ, then they will be able to step into a greater ability to accomplish the desires of their heart and His.

Some people may ask how it is possible to view humanity in this light. The answer is quite simple - it is because of the finished work of Christ. I have been able to view every man, woman, and child through the accomplishments of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. When you and I are able to do this then we will be able to see past all of the other things. We can (through the Spirit of God) begin to see what God has intended for another person to walk in. In this way we are also able to see the desires of His heart.

Never allow yourself to stop dreaming the dreams of God.
Never allow others to keep you from following after the desires of your heart when you discover that they are in line with His.
Never allow your faith to waiver because of the circumstances that surround you.
Let His dream become your dream - Let His heart become your heart - and Let His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Enjoy the journey!!!

Have You Ever Considered...?

Have you ever considered that God's plans and your dreams may be one and the same? I understand that this isn't always the case. However, there could be much more truth in that statement than you realize. The reason that I'm pointing this out is because none of us should abandon our dreams unless they keep us from fulfilling the purposes of God. This is part of the journey to becoming everything He has created us to become.

This type of thinking usually causes a couple of different reactions:
1) It will scare people away from pursuing something with God.
2) It will encourage people to keep pressing after something that they know is from God.

Typically when I encounter someone who has stopped pressing after a God-given dream (something that is most desirable) it's because they haven't discovered how to trust the heart of God. This may mean that they don't believe that God has their best intention at heart. Or it could mean that they don't want to be what God is leading them to become. It's hard to say, but that's what I normally encounter. The only response that I have for people in this type of situation is to question them in the relationship. How do they approach God with their lives? Have them come to an understanding of the unconditional love of God? Is Jesus really Lord of their lives (not just in confession but in practice)?

Allow me to give you an example: When I answered the call to ministry (that I would give my life to it) it came out of a place where I knew that I wanted to do more than just sit in a pew. My relationship with God had propelled me to a place where I enjoyed sharing His Word, I had a desire to share the Gospel, and I loved helping others grow in their relationship with Christ. I wasn't sure how it would all play out but I was willing to make the journey. I allowed God to set the agenda from that point forward. I knew that my plans and God's plans were running together. It was just a matter of allowing Him to set the pace. I'm sure that I could have done what many others have done. I could have sensed the leadership of God in my life and ran in the other direction. But there was something inside of me that continued to pursue this belief that I was destined to experience more of Him. His leadership led me down a path that was very different than what I expected, but as I sit here and type these words I can't imagine my life being any different or any greater. Knowing that God wanted to use me for His purpose allowed me to fulfill my dream and His.

Here's what you and I must discover in the whole process of dreaming with God. We must allow Him to be Lord of our dreams. I've seen way too many people dream without God and wonder why they struggle. This doesn't mean that they were wrong in their assumptions but it could mean that they took the wrong path. I also want to say that just because you struggle doesn't mean that you missed God. Anything worth doing is worth going through the difficulties. I'm simply encouraging each and every one of us to find a place in our relationship with God where we are completely secure. We can know what He desires from us. We can know His direction for our lives. We can hear His voice and we can follow His instructions.

Never allow your faith to just become something that you have added to your life. From the moment we receive Jesus as Lord, He gets to call the shots. My life has been blessed by knowing people who have made career changes, forsaken every other dream to pursue God's, or chose to use their retirement to be a part of what God was doing in the earth rather than just "enjoy" the golden years. Here's what I have realized: we are never too young or too old to see God's dreams become our own.

Allow me to encourage you with one more thing: Don't automatically assume that your dreams are not from God. It could be that you aren't as far from the heart of God as you think. I believe that God places something inside each of us when we are created. I also believe that God trusts us with this part of His heart. And when our lives become consumed with understanding who He has created us to become, we will also allow Him to shape and mold our lives in this particular direction. That boy or girl in your home that dreams of being an artist, a musician, a singer, an athlete, a doctor, or an engineer - those dreams may very well be the dreams of God. It's up to us as parents to help them follow the Lord in those directions.

In the meantime...know this - He trusts you with His heart. He has done absolutely everything so that you would know that you are loved. He wants you to enjoy this life. He wants you to get the most out of it. There may be times where the things that you pursue are not God's best but He will help you to see that. He will also help you find your way to discover what His best looks like for you.

Enjoy the journey!!!

Park Day!!!

Hope everyone can join us for this wonderful community event. It has been the heart of PBC to give back to our community. The PBC Park Day Event is a way that we can bring an entertaining family environment to Max Meadows free of charge. I look forward to seeing you there.

Admission: FREE!!!

TIME: 10:00am - 2:30pm

Date: THIS SATURDAY - May 26th

Location: Max Meadows Ball Field

You will enjoy...
Music
Food
Games
Fellowship
And FUN for the entire family!!!

A Word About Honor

I cannot explain to you the reason why...but every time I have the opportunity to see someone honored, it moves me. I'm not talking about the type of emotions where you are happy for the one who is receiving honor, but the type of emotion that says something just shifted in the atmosphere around me.

Most of us understand what the Bible says about honoring one another. Therefore, it is not my intention to define the word or tell you how to properly operate in it. What I want to share with you is what I witnessed this morning:

- The honoring of a woman who had served as a custodian for 20+ years in an elementary school. The honor that was given to her wasn't because it was "necessary." It was given because of who she has consistently been during those years. A woman who came to work with a smile on her face. A woman who genuinely cared for the people (adults and kids) around her. A woman who received a standing ovation from parents and children. She wasn't honored for her service. She was honored for who she was.

- The honoring of an administrator. He was honored not because of his position but because of his person. It's who he is that has made the difference in the lives of kids. It's who he is that contributes to the culture around him. When children were asked to remember some of their most memorable times as a student in this elementary school, one after another said that it was when he came to be the principal of their school. WOW!!!

I'm beginning to see that...
Honor brings life.
Honor allows people to function at their best.
Honor is given to people not for what they do but for who they are.
Honor recognizes the greatness in an individual.
Honor never says what can I get from you but what can I give to you.

Honor is a powerful force. The world will even take notice for the honor that is given from the church for those in the community. And when the people of God begin to display honor among one another, it creates an atmosphere that is hard to not be around.

There is a part of me that believes there was a time when honor had left the house of God. I think it was just a response to the culture. It seems as though there has been such a disdain for those in leadership that we have failed to recognize the place of authority that God has given to a Pastor, Teacher, etc. There was also a lack of honor among the membership. I don't know if this had to do with their particular class or social standing...but it was there. However, what I am witnessing (at least in my own church family) is a return to honor. It's an exciting thing to be a part of and an exciting thing to see.

- There was another moment of honoring someone that I have to talk about as well. We personally know several of the teachers within this particular school. They love God, the love kids, and they want to represent God's goodness in their vocation. These teachers go beyond just giving these kids what they need to pass a test. The become a crucial part of their lives. And every year, at the end of school, I hear these kids talk about the wonderful teachers they had and honor them among the parents, staff, and their fellow classmates. How is it possible to see this kind of honor coming from kids? It's possible when you have teachers who honor their students.

Jesus' words continue to ring loud and clear:
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
This is one of the most basic principles of kingdom life. I pray that we continue to see a reawakening of this powerful tool in the lives of our churches and our communities.

A Partnership With Holy Spirit

2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." This verse is continually becoming one of my favorites. Not only does it give us a great description of the Spirit of God, but it also shows me what partnering with the Spirit of God looks like in my life.

In the natural, the opposite of fear is courage. I mean...how often do we hear people talk about the need to be courageous when facing a fear. However, in the Spirit, the opposite of fear is faith. If you look at this verse in the original language, the word translated as "fear" literally means "faithless." If you want to come out from under fear then you must operate in faith.

By faith you must understand that the Spirit of God within you is POWER:
- This is the inherent power available through the life of Christ within us. The enemy would love for us to believe that we are not powerful. The Spirit of God tells us something different. Scripture teaches us that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now dwells within us. We have the VERY power of God available to us for every task, every need, and every situation. Fear would love to keep us from every tapping into the power of God. That's why you must operate faith in what God has already granted you.

By faith you must understand that the Spirit of God within you is LOVE:
- Fear would always keep you from putting yourself out there or paralyze you with the thought that you could never be loved. Since you have the very nature of God in you then you must understand that His nature is love. You have all the love of God that you could ever want or ever need. You also have the ability to draw upon His love in your daily life. In John's letter to the church, he teaches us that perfect love casts out all fear and that the one who fears is not made perfect in love. So there is a need in our lives to be rooted and grounded in the unconditional love of God.

By faith you must understand that the Spirit of God within you is SELF-CONTROL:
- This one is huge! I'm continually reminding myself (and my children) that the Spirit of God within us is self-control. Therefore, I never have to be out of control. This doesn't mean that I can control every situation that I enter into but that I can control myself. I can control my responses, my behavior, and my attitudes. Self-control is also listed as a fruit of the Spirit. When you and I choose to partner with the Holy Spirit in our lives then we are always in control.

In case you didn't notice, I started every heading statement with "By faith..." Remember, the opposite of fear in the Spirit is faith. That means the only way that we can counter fear in our lives is by choosing to believe what God's Word says about us. We must allow our identity to be rooted in God's definition. Initially, until we become renewed in our thinking, we will have to accept these statements by faith. We must choose to believe. The good news is that the more accustomed we become in accepting God's definition then we will also learn to refuse anything that would come from the voice of fear.

The Spirit of God is also the Spirit of Truth in our lives. He cannot and will not lead us in error. He works to keep us established in the righteousness of God that is in Christ. He calls to remembrance the words of Christ in our lives. He will continually guide us into even more truth. In this way, you never have to live in bondage to fear. Even if God is directing your life in an area that you are unsure of you can be confident in His heart for you. Never allow your life to be dominated by fear. Instead, choose to partner with the Holy Spirit's power, love, and self-control.

Staying On Track

"Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." {3 John 2}

I'm always amazed at how easily we can get off track. What John meant as an encouragement to the church has been radically altered to the place where many believe we can have everything we want.

Over the years we have seen an increase in what has been termed as the "Health & Wealth" or "Prosperity Gospel" - the teaching that it is God's will for you to be blessed financially and to never walk in sickness. While I do not support a Health & Wealth Gospel, I do not resort to Disease & Poverty one. The problem is that we have taken the idea of prosperity and relegated it to finances rather than understanding what prosperity of soul really means.
Do I believe that God wants to prosper His people in the area of finances? Yes!
Do I believe that God has provided for the health of His people through the atonement? Yes!
However, I do believe that those who preach the Health & Wealth Gospel have gotten off track. I believe that in their pursuit to unlock (if you will) the abundance that is ours through Christ that we have missed out on what true prosperity means.

There is a huge difference in watching God provide for all my needs and being in a place where I'm never in need. There is a great divide in trusting God with all I have versus believing God for all I want. What is lost in all the jargon of those who follow the prosperity doctrine is the idea of stewardship, what it means to be poor in spirit, and sacrificial living. While I refuse to partner with the spirit of poverty, I also reject the idea that money solves all our problems.

I do believe that the prosperity of soul that John speaks of is tied to our prosperity in other areas of life as well as to our well being physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You may be asking what the difference is in my thinking versus those who promote prosperity theology. I think it's a difference in my approach to finances, my understanding of prosperity, and my willingness to submit everything to the Lordship of Christ. The Bible teaches us that the earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord. I am to be a steward of all these things. While I have dominion, I am also a servant. I seek His glory through my life rather than just my own gratification. The problem isn't the belief system as much as it is the attitude. The constant references to finances. The inability to accept God's provision if it seems to be below our standards. I've seen this attitude reflected in people who don't adhere to Health and Wealth teachings. What this tells me is that any and all areas of our life come back to heart issues.

How do we stay on track?
According to Ephesians 3:16-20:
That Christ would dwell in our hearts by faith
That we would be rooted and grounded in love
That we would comprehend the breadth, length, the depth, and the height of God's incredible love
And that we would trust in the one who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think.

Please understand my heart in all of this. I AM NOT condemning those who follow health and wealth teachings. I am also NOT supporting a gospel that keeps me sick and poor. What I am trusting in IS the unconditional love of God and learning to live in the abundant life of Christ. What I have experienced is God's blessings in every area of life. I have seen God bring healing and provision. I have watched as God did things financially that I could have not imagined. I have witnessed God touching broken lives and bring about victory in every area. I do what I can to guard against a presumptive nature with God and to keep from thinking that I just have to endure everything that life throws at me. It's a fine line (yes) but I am secure in His heart and I'm allowing Him to shape my theology. I am privileged to walk with others who share my heart in these things. We are a people who completely believe God for incredible provision while never casting a negative glance toward those who are not as blessed financially. We then take the provision that the Lord gives and do our best to sow back into the Kingdom of God. I have friends who are driving around in brand new vehicles that God provided rather than driving new vehicles that they bought with God's money (do you understand the difference?). How is this possible? It's the Lordship of Jesus applied to every area of life.

Never underestimate what is unlocked for you when you choose to live under the Lordship of Christ.
Give what He says to give
Do what He says to do
Trust Him in what He says to trust Him in
Believe Him for EVERYTHING
Follow Him wherever He leads
Renew your mind through His Word and watch God transform your life
And be willing to step out in this incredible journey of faith.

Get Off The Fence!!!

Our nation is full of people who want to live out a "Practical Faith." In other words, they want something that can bring them comfort, that will not ask too much of them, and fits nicely into their lifestyle. The problem with that type of mindset is that I have yet to find anything practical when it comes to following Jesus.

The dictionary definition of the word "practical" is:
- Of or concerned with the actual doing or use of something.
- (of an idea, plan, or method) Likely to succeed or be effective in real circumstances; feasible.
With that being said, let's talk about being practical. If you are looking for a belief system that is concerned with the actual doing of something or the actual use of something then you can get caught up in a religious lifestyle. That means your faith is totally focused in what you do (works) and what you can get out of it (blessing). Not only that but much of what we are called to do as followers of Christ doesn't seem to be likely to succeed or to be effective in "real" circumstances. There is so much about faith in God that doesn't seem feasible because it requires such an abandonment and an emptying of ourselves that logic will always war with the spirit.

Romans 8:7 teaches us that the carnal mind is at enmity with God. That means that the mind that is set on the flesh (set on being practical) actually wars with God's purposes. If you don't believe me then read Matthew 5-7. Read the Sermon on the Mount and tell me that is sounds practical. I was actually sharing some of that with my son the other day and he had a lot of questions. In his mind some of the standards that Jesus put out there just didn't make a lot of sense. I told him that was the point. A life that is completely focused upon the kingdom of God doesn't make sense. It is a spiritual life that is based upon the work of the Holy Spirit in and through us. What we know is that this type of life is available when we learn to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

Rarely has the world seen what God can do through a person that is completely abandoned to God. Instead we have witnessed a faith that simply lines up with where we already live and manifests itself in what we already do. It's a pseudo-faith that makes perfect sense to a people who simply want a better existence in what they are already doing. We like the idea of forgiveness and we love the idea of heaven but we don't necessarily like the idea of God having complete access to our lives. The fact is that we were created in the image of God to establish His kingdom - not ours. Jesus came and destroyed the works of the enemy and ask us to do the same. There is nothing practical about this. At least...not until you start living with the mind of Christ. Once you begin to transform your thinking into His thinking then you will be able to make some sense of it all.

Here's the deal - it's time for those who say they follow Christ to get off the fence and get all in when it comes to their faith. This doesn't mean that we will not own a home or that God doesn't want to bless our lives. It just means that we will allow the Kingdom of God to become our focus thus allowing our needs to become God's [Read Matthew 6:33]. It means to rise up and walk in all that God has created you to be. In this way you demonstrate to the world the reality of who God is and what He is willing to establish in all of our lives.

Get ready for ABUNDANT LIVING!!!

Disciplining Your...SELF (For Parents)

We are celebrating a birthday in our home today. It's my sons 12th birthday. I know we always say this around this time of year but..."Where did all the time go?" These milestones cause me to become reflective. What could I have done differently?

Ephesians 6:4 continues to ring loudly in my heart: "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Someone may say, "Well that's easy for you to say." I would say it's easy for you to do.

Allow me to share a few tips based upon some areas where I have blown it as a parent. Listen...nobody gave me a manual with these kids. Therefore, we all had to learn together through trial and error. And believe it or not - most of the error was on me.

1) Let Your Kid Be A Kid
There's no telling how many times I have expected my children to act older than they really were. I'm not condoning bad behavior but what I am saying is that we need to be realistic. Every age along with every stage of life has its own unique challenges. Babies cry
Infants need a lot of attention
Toddlers make messes
Older children do and say childish things
Teenagers are trying to discover who they are
Etc.
The point is that it's the parents job to parent the children through each of these stages.

2) Enjoy Every Stage Of Life
This is one of the greatest difficulties of parenting. We act as though it is our job to continually push them to the next level. We can't wait for them to crawl, walk, talk, potty, and feed themselves. Then we can't wait for them to sit down, shut-up, hold it, and stop being messy. I want to encourage every parent but especially those with babies: ENJOY EVERY MOMENT and take none of them for granted. I often wish that I would have let my kids get dirty more often. I wish that I wouldn't have been so concerned over things that didn't matter. I think I enjoyed every stage but I doubt that I enjoyed them as much as I could.

3) Teach Your Children To Control Themselves By Controlling Yourself
One of the greatest lessons that I have learned is the necessity of teaching my children how to control themselves. However, this is difficult if I'm the one that is out of control. This is where we get to lead by example (Woo-Hoo!!!). I know that most people think that I just need to get my kids to listen, obey, and comply with all of our authority. The only problem is that we can lose sight of what it means to teach our kids how to honor one another and control themselves in every situation.

4) Show Them What Love Looks Like
If we are going to raise our children in the training and instruction of the Lord then our lives must be do what I do rather than just do what I say. If we want our children to follow the Lord then we must follow Him as well. Show your child what it means to love like the Father and what it means to live according to His leadership. Pray with them, share with them, involve them in ministry, teach them, hug them, etc. Do whatever is necessary for them to have a good view of their Heavenly Father.

Well...these are just SOME of the areas that we could cover. If I could encourage you with one more thing it would be this: Let Love and Peace rule in your home. These are natural fruits of the Spirit in our lives. Lets make them a priority in our parenting. And Parents...discipline yourself first. They really do learn from us.

HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY HAYDEN!!!

How Do You See?

"...the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know...the exceeding greatness of His power toward us...that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend...to know the love of Christ...filled with all the fullness of God." {Excerpts from Ephesians 1:18 & 3:19}

If you would like to read all of Paul's prayer for the church in Ephesus then I would encourage you to read those first three chapters of Ephesians. Early in my ministry I committed these passages to memory. They gave me a vocabulary for the things that I had need of in my own life. What I'm discovering today is that if I want to walk in the fullness of God then I must understand the love of Christ and allow the eyes of my understanding to be enlightened to know the exceeding greatness of His power toward us. Why is this important? It's important because the love of God in Christ must be the lens through which we view one another and the rest of the world.

I had a conversation with a friend of mine through email where we discussed this important aspect of life. The necessity of having the proper lens through which we view/understand Scripture and/or the nature of God must be the finished work of Christ. The lens through which we view one another must be the love of God in Christ Jesus. If we are not able to see God through these lenses then we will be viewing Him in the wrong light. And if we are unable to see our neighbors through His love then we will never understand the greatness that God has placed in them.

Most of you know that I came from a very traditional church background. Much of my understanding of God, the Bible, the Church, and the World was shaped through this upbringing. While I am grateful for many of the things that I received in those formative years of life, I have had to radically reshape the way I see things. As I grew in my understanding of the love of God, the freedom we have in Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives (just to name a few), something had to give. There were just too many questions left unanswered. I continued to see things in the Bible that did not match up with how I was taught to see them. So I had to come to a conclusion: Either I would keep God in the box that He was given to me and see Him through that lens or I could let God out of the box and begin to see Him for who He really is. I'm glad that I let Him out!!!

Please don't misunderstand what I am saying. I have a great respect for those who tried to model Jesus to me. I'm incredibly grateful for those who led me to Christ. They displayed His love to me. They cared for me. They were the ones that God used to bring me to salvation. I will always be grateful for that because I have seen God in them all. However, as I grew in my faith I knew that changes had to be made. I was in awe of the incredible love that Jesus displayed for the lost. I was blown away be the way the Holy Spirit would move in the book of Acts. I was continually challenged by Paul's presentation of grace in His writings and recognize that even today many of us just don't understand how AMAZING God's grace truly is. I mean...when you read the Bible do you see these things? Are you constantly challenged in your understanding of God and His nature? Is there anything about the life of Jesus that makes you question what you were taught to believe? I honestly think that God loves to bring us to the tipping point of our belief systems. He loves to question what we hold in theology but lack in experience because He wants us to enter into the fullness of who He is.

This is how we are strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man
This is how Christ dwells in our hearts through faith
This is how we become rooted and grounded in love
It happens when we begin to view EVERYTHING through His love and His finished work.

I pray that you will be challenged and that you will choose to change the lens through which you view everything. And I pray that you will know the One who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think according to His power at work in us.

START

I have been sitting in front of the computer for some time now trying to find something (anything) to share with you. I guess Friday has brought with it too many thoughts and ideas to be able to put my finger on a subject. With all that being said, I am going to share a word with you.

That word?

START

START:
Verb - Come into being; begin or be reckoned from a particular point in time or space.
Noun - The point in time or space at which something has its origin; the beginning of something.

There are far too many people who have yet to come into their being. Instead, they sit idly by and wait for life to happen to them. Many of these people have received a prophetic word from someone or even had God speak to them through His Spirit or a verse from Scripture. However, even though the possibilities are endless, they have yet to start.

The fact is that you will never start unless you create the environment to start.

Everything that comes into being has a place of origin. Every change that has taken place in a people or society started in someone at some point in time. You have heard the phrase: "You have got to start somewhere." Let that somewhere be here, that sometime be now, and that someone be you.

The changes you want to see...
The things you want to happen...
The person you want to be...
The relationships you want to have...
The dreams you want to pursue...
The power you want to walk in...
The peace you want to enjoy...
The joy you want to experience...
It starts now and it starts today.

Allow this blog to bring you to the starting line of discovering everything that God wants you to walk in. There is a greater level of spirituality that awaits you. There are better days ahead in your relationships. There is a greater anointing to walk in that will allow you to see your dreams unfold. The peace, power, and joy of the Holy Spirit is yours to enjoy. Go ahead...start that journey. Start that conversation with God. Start seeking His kingdom first. Start being who you were created to be.

START NOW!!!

START TODAY!!!

The good news: Whatever God starts in you - He will complete!!! (See Philippians 1:6)

In Defense of Marriage

Looks like another state has taken a stand for traditional marriage. Yesterday, North Carolina became the 31st state to add an amendment on marriage to their state constitution. An incomplete return showed the amendment up 61.05% to 38.95% which would ban same-sex marriage as well as barring legal recognition of unmarried couples by state and local governments.

Rather than come at this topic from a faith standpoint, I want to address the rights of the individual states. I know this is a hot debate all across our nation that will continue as long as the Supreme Court attempts to legislate from the bench. As far as I'm concerned, the Bible is very clear on the subject of marriage - one man and one woman. That's why I don't feel the need to defend traditional marriage from the Bible. What was on display yesterday was the will of an individual state. North Carolina said overwhelmingly that they did not want to recognize same-sex marriage and that it was their right as a state to make this decision.

I'm a firm believer in the rights of the individual states. I have said from the beginning that each state should be able to choose how they recognize marriage rather than the federal government or federal courts deciding. What often gets lost in these types of debates is that the government of the United States was always meant to be a government by the people and for the people. I realize that we haven't seen this for some time in America but the times are changing.

One thing that I would like to say as a representative of the faith community is that just because I'm a firm believer in the traditional view of marriage it doesn't mean that I hate homosexuals. In fact, it bothers me that there are those who want to say that this type of vote is the legislation of hate. This vote has nothing to do with hate. It has everything to do with a state's decision on how it wants to define and recognize marriage. I approach the definition of marriage in the same way that I approach the definition of life. It is my belief that the Bible gives us a clear understanding of both. God is the Creator of life and the Creator of marriage. He has the right to define each of them. And just because I take God's view on the right to life and the definition of marriage doesn't mean that I hate those who are opposed to these ideals.

This is where the faith community must be very careful in how it approaches such difficult debates in the political arena. We do not need to be hostile in our approach. We do not need to be condemning or judgmental. We simply need to say "This is what we believe and if you believe like us then vote your conscience." It really is that simple. I don't have to demonize those who are in favor of abortion or same-sex marriage. We don't have to picket or protest. You simply take your decision to the ballot box or voting booth.

Over the last couple of years I have tried very hard to stay out of the political spectrum while writing the blog. It has been my desire to focus on the life that God has granted us in Christ and encourage people to go deeper in their faith. However, what I am witnessing in these types of votes is that there is a majority of people in this country who believe in a traditional view of marriage. That is good news. Now...we need to see this same type of passion translated into the defense of our own marriages. If you have a majority of people who believe in biblical marriage then maybe we can change the divorce rate in this country as well. Maybe...just maybe...these same people will take a stand for their own relationships. It is my hope that we can do more than just defend the definition of marriage. Now let us look into our own marriages and begin to defend the sanctity of it as well.

To those who would consider my affirmation of the vote in North Carolina as hatred, I would say that you simply do not know my heart. I don't believe that any state can legislate morality. But I do believe that every state has a right to say this is how we are going to recognize marriage.

Finding Life in Christ

Mark 8:36, "...how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process?" There are a couple of statements that I want to make regarding this very famous verse.
#1 - It is possible to gain the whole world.
#2 - But what good is it?

A couple of weeks ago we witnessed the NFL Draft - a day that many kids dream about. While there are plenty of kids in the world who think they are going to play professional ball, these are the guys that at one point in life knew they had a legitimate shot at making it to the Pros. The money that these guys get paid is unreal...and that doesn't even bring into consideration the endorsements, incentives to make more money, and the recognition. Not only do these guys get to fulfill a life-long dream of playing professional football, but they get their dream job.

I say all of that because of another incident involving a former NFL player that took place this week: the death of Junior Seau. Seau was a very accomplished football player (one of the best at his position). He spent many years with the San Diego Chargers before finishing up his career in New England. He came into the NFL in 1990 as the 5th overall pick and retired in 2010. He died from what has been reported as self-inflicted gunshot wounds at the age of 43.

Folks, I don't know what was going on in his life. I'm not even sure if the investigation into his death is final. However, what I do know is this: A man who was only 5 years older than me, who at one time had the world in the palm of his hand, is dead. This is a tragic story and unfortunately this type of tragedy happens every single day. Men, Women, and Young people who leave this world long before they should. It's truly heart-breaking.

You don't have to live very long in this life to recognize that you CAN have it all. You can have the money, the relationships, the possession, the prestige, etc. - if you are willing to make it happen. The history of our nation has been forged by men and women who never gave up in adversity and were willing to pay the price to make their dreams a reality. The only question that needs to be answered is: Is it enough?

You can gain the whole world, but if you lose your soul in the process what have you really gained?

Jesus said in the verses preceding:
"If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.
BUT (and this is a huge "but") if you give up your life for my sake and the sake of the Good News, you will find true life." {This come from Mark 8:35 NLT}

Please take notice of what Jesus is saying. He is not saying that you cannot earn great wealth. He is not saying that you cannot have nice things. He is not saying that following Him is a rigid "do/don't do" type of life. All He IS saying is that you can only find true life when you learn to give yours over to Him. This is the way our lives were meant to be lived. We were created to be worshipers and followers of God. This only happens when we learn to lay aside any selfish desires and find all of our fulfillment in Him.

Does that mean you can never play professional ball?
Does that mean you can only play certain types of music as a musician?
Does that mean you have to be a pastor or a missionary?
NO! NO! NO! NO! And...again...NO!

What it does mean is that you will find the truest meaning in life when you learn to make Jesus your priority. You will also discover that many of the dreams that you have for yourself were actually God's dreams before they were yours. This life isn't a matter of not being able to do some of the things you want to do but we just learn how to make Him Lord in every area. Then you can experience the blessings of abundant life in every area.

The Power of Praying in the Spirit

Jude 20-21, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

There is great power that comes through praying in the Holy Spirit.

A lot has been said regarding these particular verses in Jude. Some contend the necessity of the Spirit enabling us in all types of prayer, while others say this as a mandate for praying in tongues. While I'm not here to settle theological debates, I am here to encourage you to learn what it means to pray "in" the Holy Spirit. I will also share with you my personal belief on the matter (I mean that's why you are here...right?).

First of all, let's discover other instances within the Bible that teach about praying in the Spirit.
Romans 8:26, "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
Ephesians 6:18, "Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere."

I don't know about you, but it seems to me that praying in the power of the Holy Spirit is a crucial part of our lives. The Spirit of God is committed to helping us in our weakness - because we don't always know how to pray. He is willing to pray through us and for us. Paul also directed the Ephesians to pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. The fact of the matter is that every follower of Jesus Christ has the ability to pray in the Spirit and each of us should seek to be empowered by Him to pray. It is the Spirit of God that motivates us to pray, enables us to pray, and also energizes our prayers. To pray "in the Spirit" is to pray in the moving and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Another aspect of praying in the Spirit is the ability to pray in tongues. Tongues (of course) are one of the gifts of the Spirit that we find listed in 1 Corinthians. For centuries the ability to speak or pray in tongues has been debated. Questions have come up over whether or not speaking in tongues is the same as praying in tongues. Once again I want to state that I'm not here to clear up theological arguments, but I am going to share my personal opinion on the matter.
1) It is my belief that the ability to speak in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit
2) It is my belief that when a message is given in tongues (in a church setting) that the message needs to be interpreted
3) It is my belief that this is a valid and active gift for the church of today
4) It is also my belief that the ability to pray in tongues is different from the gift of speaking in tongues
5) Praying in tongues (or in the Spirit) is actually our spirit empowered by the Holy Spirit engaged in prayer
6) It is my belief that every follower of Christ can pray in tongues (in the Spirit)
7) It is my belief that praying in tongues builds up the individual believer

How did I come to this understanding?
Allow me to summarize: In 1 Corinthians 14:14 Paul described praying in tongues as something he did through his own spirit. He said that it was his spirit praying. Jesus also spoke about our spirits being engaged with God when He said that the Father was seeking those who would worship Him in spirit and in truth. In both of these instances we discover the same Greek word for spirit and it refers to the spirit that is within man rather than the Holy Spirit. I also looked back at Romans 8:26 and found that when the Spirit of God intercedes for us that He does so with groanings too deep for words. What I believe happens is that the spirit of man becomes engaged in prayer through the Holy Spirit and gives utterance to those things that are too deep for words. In this way, although our understanding is unfruitful we are being edified (1 Corinthians 14:4). When you consider that it is the spirit of man that has been redeemed (that which was made after the image of God) then it seems to me that each and every one of us can engage God in our own spirit. Praying in tongues isn't something that is just for those who have been given the gift of speaking but is available to every believer who is ready to give voice to his own spirit. Paul's conclusion on the matter is found in verse 15, "What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also." Regardless of how Paul is praying...with or without understanding...he was going to pray in the Spirit.

I realize that this may seem to be a poor explanation to what I am trying to say but it is a quick summary of what took me years to discover. The link between Jude 20 and praying in tongues comes from the fact that Paul spoke of the believer being edified in 1 Corinthians and that in Jude we are told to build ourselves up on the most holy faith. That is why praying in tongues is always referred to as building up the believers. Praying in the Spirit is also a VERY POWERFUL tool against shame and condemnation. It's powerful because it operates completely opposite of those two destructive forces. Shame and condemnation are used by the enemy to keep us pressed down. Praying in the Spirit is used to build us up. Which one of these things would you rather operate in?

How do I pray in the Spirit (or in tongues)?
You have to pay attention to what is going on in your spirit. The greatest battle we face is in our mind. Too often we lose in these moments because we trust our logic rather than what is happening in the spirit. It is actually up to us to give voice to all that God is doing in us. And when you and I begin to release the prayers of the Spirit, we will be strengthened in a way that is beyond compare.

More on the Holy Spirit

Several years ago I came across a book by D.L. Moody titled "The Secret of Success in the Christian Life." The book quickly became on of my favorite reads. As a preacher in the Baptist denomination, I was always interested in the lives of people who sought after a greater experience with the Holy Spirit than what they received at salvation. What I have discovered is that there were many great men (and women) of God who were radically changed through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I want to do more than just share excerpts from one book. Instead I want to share testimonies of some great men of God and how they came to experience the Holy Spirit in their lives and ministry.

D.L. Moody
D.L. Moody was a successful minister but by his own admission later, he lacked the power in his ministry. One day two women came up to him after a service. They said,
"We have been praying for you."
"Why don't you pray for the people?" he asked.
"Because you need the power of the Spirit," they said.
"I need the power! Why," said Mr. Moody, in relating the incident years after, "I thought I had power. I had the largest congregations in Chicago, and there were many conversions.”

Moody was unable to get this experience off of his mind and said, “There came a great hunger in my soul. I did not know what it was and I began to cry out to God as never before. I felt I did not want to live if I could not have this power for service”.

He explains his experience this way:
“Well, one day, in the city of New York -- oh, what a day! -- I cannot describe it, I seldom refer to it; it is almost too sacred an experience to name. Paul had an experience of which he never spoke for fourteen years. I can only say that God revealed Himself to me, and I had such an experience of His love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand. I went to preaching again. The sermons were not different; I did not present any new truths, and yet hundreds were converted. I would not now be placed back where I was before that blessed experience if you should give me all the world -- it would be as the small dust of the balance.”

R. A. Torrey
R. A. Torrey gives his testimony:
"The address of this afternoon, and the addresses of the days immediately to follow, are the outcome of an experience, and that experience was the outcome of a study of the Word of God. After I had been a Christian for some years, and after I had been in the ministry for some years, my attention was strongly attracted to certain phrases found in the Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles, and in the Epistles, such as 'baptized with the Holy Spirit,' 'filled with the Spirit,' 'the Holy Spirit fell upon them,' 'the gift of the Holy Spirit,' 'endued with power from on high,' and other closely allied phrases. As I studied these various phrases in their context, it became clear to me that they all stood for essentially the same experience; and it also became clear to me that God has provided for each child of His in this present dispensation that they should be thus 'baptized with the Spirit,' or, 'filled with the Spirit.'

"As I studied the subject still further, I became convinced that they described an experience which I did not myself possess, and I went to work to secure for myself the experience thus described...I went at it very ignorantly. I have often wondered if anyone ever went at it any more ignorantly than I did. But while I was ignorant, I was thoroughly sincere and in earnest, and God met me, as He always meets the sincere and earnest soul, no matter how ignorant he may be; and God gave me what I sought, I was 'baptized with the Holy Spirit.' And the result was a transformed Christian life and a transformed ministry."

Charles G. Finney
"I was powerfully converted on the morning of the month of October, 1822. In the evening of the same day I received overwhelming baptisms of the Holy Ghost, that went through me, as it seemed to me, body and soul. I immediately found myself endued with such power from on high that a few words dropped here and there to individuals were the means of their immediate conversion. My words seemed to fasten like barbed arrows in the souls of men. They cut like a sword. They broke the heart like a hammer. Multitudes can attest to this. Oftentimes a word dropped without my remembering it would fasten conviction, and often result in almost immediate conversion. Sometimes I would find myself, in a great measure, empty of this power. I would go and visit, and find that I made no saving impression. I would exhort and pray, with the same result. I would then set apart a day for private fasting and prayer, fearing that this power had departed from me, and would inquire anxiously after the reason of this apparent emptiness. After humbling myself, and crying out for help, the power would return upon me with all its freshness. This has been the experience of my life."

I share these testimonies for encouragement. As Moody states in his book, the Holy Spirit is the key to success in the Christian life. He is the all consuming fire of God who will set you ablaze for His glory. I pray these words along with what I have shared with you in the past will stir a hunger in you for more of Him. Be FILLED and Be blessed!!!

Trusting in His Spirit

Whether or not you choose to believe what I'm about to say is entirely up to you. I am going to propose something that is difficult for many people to receive. I recognize the controversial nature of what I'm about to say AND I embrace it. With all that being said...here we go...

I Corinthians 2:12, "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God."

Galatians 4:6, "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'"

1 John 2:27, "But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him."

Over and over again, the Bible is very clear on the necessity of the Holy Spirit's power and leadership in our lives. If you read the book of Acts (post Pentecost) you will discover the Spirit of God moving mightily in the lives of the Apostles and early church. As you continue reading the Bible you will also read of the reason we possess the Spirit of God and how we are to continue trusting His work in our lives. The Spirit of God is proof of our sonship, He is God's seal upon our lives, and He is the primary source for learning what it means to walk in the abundant life of Christ. We must never get away from this understanding...WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!

I don't believe the Apostles ever imagined the Body of Christ ever operating apart from the Spirit of God. I believe that they pressed forward with the idea that His gifts would always be in operation, the people of God would learn how to live according to His leadership, and that the church would always be sensitive to all that He was/is doing. I also don't believe that they had any notion of the church simply giving token reference to His activity or that focusing upon Him in our lives would be seen as taking anything away from Jesus Christ. However, I cannot tell you how many times I have heard church leaders today make those types of references.

The Holy Spirit is MORE than a logo:
While I have seen many logos that have some type of reference to the Spirit of God - His activity isn't witnessed as easily.
Fire, Doves, and Waterfalls are a poor replacement for His power. What may look good on the side of a building isn't always translated into the lives of the people who gather inside.

The Holy Spirit is MORE than just a comforter:
I honestly don't believe that Jesus intended us to only look for the Spirit of God to give us comfort in difficult times. The word just falls WAY short of what "paraklētos" means. The Holy Spirit was destined to take the place of Christ in the lives of the Apostles and the believers. He would teach them all things, call to remembrance all that was spoken by Jesus, and lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth. He would give them strength to endure all that would lie ahead. He is the indwelling Spirit of God who unlocks all of the things that have been freely given to us!

The Holy Spirit is MORE than just a gifter and fruit producer:
Too often people simply look to the Spirit of God for an experience in the gifts or when their life seems to be lacking the fruit of the Spirit. Don't get me wrong here - the Spirit of God is the source of our gifts and the source of the fruit. However, when we have Him dwelling inside of us, the fruit and gifts of the Spirit can actually flow as a byproduct of a life of intimacy in Him. We are given permission in the Bible to desire greater gifts but His work in us is so much more.

Let me explain:
Intimacy with the Holy Spirit is the key to understanding spiritual truth, moving and operating in His gifts, and the most proven method of living in the Love, Joy, Peace, etc. that flows from God. It's not a greater knowledge that we need but a greater intimacy. In respect to how we treat the work of the Holy Spirit within us it shouldn't be any different than if Jesus was walking beside of us. This was the picture that He was painting in John 14. This is what the Apostles were able to learn. They were able to hear His voice, trust His leadership, and move in His power. Of course they were...they had just spent the last three and half years walking with the ONE whose life was completely controlled by the Spirit of God.

What is needed in our lives is a greater understanding of what it means to be spiritual beings. What it looks and sounds like to be led by the Spirit of God. And what it means to be "continually" filled with the Spirit of God. Depending upon your church background all of this may sound very challenging (it does to me at times). However, I truly believe this is why He was deposited in our lives at salvation. It was to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship that led to a life in this world that looked like Christ. And when we are baptized in His Spirit (something that happens apart from salvation) - we place ourselves in the position of being fully controlled by Him. It is at this moment that we become more aware of His power at work in our lives, His gifts become more accessible, and His voice becomes even louder. Are you ready to trust your Christian life to the Holy Spirit? Are you ready to leave a life filled with rituals and disciplines so that you can enter into a life of intimacy? He's already inside of you - now you just need to allow Him to be that river of living water that flows out of you.