Fellow Journeyer

I've Moved

2009-07-09T14:59:00.002-05:00

I just moved to a new blog site. You can now find my thoughts and rants here.

If the above doesn't link over then try cutting and pasting:

www.mikerea.wordpress.com

I am still in process of making the transition but all my old posts and pictures should eventually be found at my new wordpress location.

Stop by and drop me a note.

I'm Back!

2009-06-11T08:23:00.002-05:00

from the dead or at least blogosphere jail.

I guess some "robots" determined my blog was potentially a spam site so they locked me down. (maybe there is something to the Terminator movies)

Unfortunately once you are locked down you can't talk to any live people with blogger, it's like I don't even get my one phone call to plead my case. I could only submit a request and wait.

Hey I know my writings aren't the best but I don't think they qualify as artificial meat.

What was most concerning to me is that I did not have access to all my old writings over the past few years.

Gone in an instant...no warning.

Fortunately in my searching I found a website guru in Switzerland that works with google and sent him an email last night. Even though blogger is not his thing or his department he had sympathy on this old novice and sent my email along to the proper people and
voila
I'm back this morning!

Thank you John.

A Light in a Dark Place

2009-05-29T13:51:00.000-05:00

This is a recent post by a friend, Kristin, and is well worth the read. It was originally an email from about 5 years ago.

It's the kind of real, raw stuff we tend to not want to talk or know about.

It's also the stuff where Jesus is seen so clearly...

Hey everyone,
I am sorry for all the e-mails I haven't written back to yet. I haven't had consistent e-mail access in Thailand and the area of nepal I was in it is so slow but I have to write you and tell you some amazing stories.The retreat with the staff was so good. The island was beautiful and the time with the staff was so good. I had to say good-bye to Josh and that way, way sucked. I think that I am going to be a little lost for a while with out him in Calcutta. I will write more about all the changes later...but I wanted to tell about how God sent me into the darkness of the thai sex trade.The sex industry in Thailand is huge....not for Thai people but for forgein men coming to sleep with Thai girls, or boys, or both. At the beach we stayed with probably 1 out of the six couples were older men with young Thai girls. It was rather sickening to see. I had read some about the sex trade in different books but really could believe that I was seeing this right in front of my eyes on my vacation. Their stories are so similar to the girls in India....rape, beatings, desperation, poverty, shame. bangkok is renown for its sex trade and people actually just come to thailand to purchase sex.
So....here is how Jesus let me minister to the people not in the sex trade this time.....but the men themselves.
Let me start this story off. I left the beach two days earlier than the staff b/c I had to fly to nepal to meet the servant team. So i left the beach last saturday the 25th. I took the boat back to the mainland and ended up meeting these two guys from Germany who were going back to bangkok. Their were both 25 and studying in China and were on holiday. Their names were Thomas and Andrew.WE ended up getting a taxi b/c the bus wasn't coming for another two hours and we wanted to have some time in bangkok. So the whole three hour cab ride we chatted....about so much stuff. Communism, germany, american, china, living overseas......But within the first 30 minutes Thomas says to me "Yeah China girls are so easy. all you have to do is say Hi and they are yours". Then he asked me if I knew any dirty jokes...mind you Andrew is in the back of the cab dying of embarassment. We got our rooms at our hostel. I had to catch a cab at 4:30 in the morning and realized that I did't have alarm clock. They guys said I should just not go to bed and stay out all night....I never do things like that anymore but I was kinda like...what the heck. These guys had made me laugh, I have enough money in my pocket for a cab ride home, and I was up for some adventure...so I went.
We first went to this outdoor market and sat and listened to a thai band sing Britney spears, the beatles...and a lot of other random music. Thomas started to tell me about this bar that he knows in the red-light district in bagkok called goldfinger. I told him if it was anything like I had heard about them I wasn't going in. He reassured me that it wasn't...they have bars in this area that aren't "sex bars". I told them I was a tad scared...images of the red-light district in Calcutta came racing to my mind and they reassured me that I would be okay.So we hopped in a touk-touk (like a golf cart type thing) and headed toward the red-light district that I had heard so much about.
On the way there a strange holy spirit thing happened in my heart and I started to pray for them and somehow I knew it was going to be okay and that i was actually supposed to be here in this moment.So we end up in the red-light district right smack dab in the middle of the action. It is so different than India.....there are tourist every where!!!! The street in the middle is lined with shops that sell tourist things (normal things...like tshirts and purses) and the sides of the streets are lined with bars...some "sex bars" and some normal (i think) bars. I am propositioned (along with the guys) to come inside this one bar and they have a menu of "sex acts". that you can purchase. It makes me so sad.
WE find this bar called "goldfinger". Thomas had heard about it from a friend and it was supposed to be the best bar around. So we go in.I walk in and the first thing I see is girls on top of the bar dancing in bikini's and that is it. So we sit in the corner some and they get a beer and then I end up meeting the owner. He is american!!!
And i begin to notice the whole bar is filled with old american men!!! I ask how and why he started this. I think now he is around 48 years old and he said that 25 years ago he moved to Korea after his divorce and had worked for ITT for 5 years there and wanted a change so he came to this area and bought this bar. He said that he is married to a thai woman. He met her when she was fifteen!!!!! and the day she turned 18 she moved in with him!!! and now they have been married for 6 years....so you do the math. He says this bar is strictly for drinking only and the girls.....well they just happen to be there.
So we move on. We finish walking down the street and it is filled with dancing bar girls and some of the names of the bar are really explicit....really different from caluctta.So....we get to the end of the street and ended up playing some pool and then going to mcdonald's!!! It was really, really fun.
So we go back to the tourist area. WE end up at this bar that they had gone to the other night. SO i once again begin to look around began to notice...not old white men with thai girls....but young men....guys my age....I mean in this bar alone I saw about 20 different men with thai girls.So I start to talk to thomas and andrew about this when we get interrupted by this waiter who says these men who know thomas and andrew want us to join them for a drink.So we move tables and I am with six men now...four older french men and thomas and andrew. I start to ask thomas more questions and find out that two nights ago he hired a thai girl for the entire night for 800 bhat (about $20). I just kinda sat there for a little bit.THen the french guy was looking at some pictures and I made the mistake of asking who they were......he then showed me a picture of thomas with a thai girl ( no big deal), then andrew sitting at a bar with a thai girl, and then a picture of the thai girl that I won't even tell about here because the image still haunts my mind.Then the gross french men starts talking about tahi girls and how he wants to marry me and they are just so gross and creepy.
So thomas and andrew and I start talking again and I end up telling them what I do exactly in Calucutta....I work to get girl out of the sex trade.thomas is silent.The french men get up to leave and the french man whispers in my ear something that makes my body twinge with disgust and hate and I wondered what vile acts he has done to women.as they get up to leave I turn to andrew and say "I am sitting at a table of men that I hate. I am sitting here with the very people who are doing what God wants undone". He looks at me and says "I know. I think it is wrong to"
the french men left and I start to ask my two friends questions. WHy? lonliness? pleasure? they tell me it is all of the above.
SO then I get to tell them (actually andrew already has a basic knowledge of how bad the sex trade is) about how these girls get to the streets here. I get to tell them about how its not a choice. I get to tell them my dreams for the girls. It was awesome.And then somehow Thomas ended up asking me how many people I had slept with....when I said no one they about fell out of their chairs. They could believe it. So that led in to this whole other conversation about marriage, and commitment, and God. I wish you could of seen the way, specifically Thomas, looked at me differently. I think that is possible the most beautiful I have ever felt in my life. I think something connected with Thomas that night....for the first time he saw past his own lust and started to see the girls and where they come from.
I asked thomas how many people he had slept with. HE said before China....six...but since he went to china he had slept with at least twice that many. His goal was to sleep with a woman in every county he went to. When I look at this man I could so clearly see the stronghold of lust over his life. He was so obsesses with sex and what he called "fun times" that it was almost like an additicion and sex and pleasure was all he could see. I actually felt sorry for him.So we then started to talk about marriage and it was just so good.The french men invited them to go to this hotel and get some girls but instead they wanted to hang out more and we went to this other bar and ended up meeting other really cool travelers and just talked about life and culture until 4:15 in the morning and it was time to go.As they walked me upstairs THomas gave me a hug...I wish I had words to describe the hug....it was honoring to me in so many ways but also so desperate in some. I knew that his heart was hurting and craved something pure and craved to be loved. This night was so huge for me....so huge...
I was in the midst of the darkness but yet I have never felt like such a light. I realized that I am not just waiting to have sex till i am married for my husband but for guys like Thomas and anderew and the girls in Sonagatchie and the girls in Thailand. IT made me see how obedience to Jesus makes me beautiful. I have no doubt in my heart those men saw Jesus in me. Jesus is the only reason that I am waiting and the only reason I do the work I do....and I felt like I was oozing Jesus. And the most amazing thing is that this whole night just came from being available.....from trusting the Spirit. It wasn't planned or manipulated.I just got an e-mail yesterday from andrew saying how it was really impactful to meet me and apologized again for thomas. and said that he couldn't believe he took me into those places and that he is rethinking what commitment is......Isn't that amazing???? JEsus rips my face off.
But the thing that stayed with me the whole night is that i knew that Jesus was in the red-light district. I knew that he was in that bar goldfinger and at that table amongst those men. He is there b/c he loves both the thai girls and those dirty french men and me and thomas and andrew. I didin't have to be afraid.
I was blown away that in thailand the problem are not the uneducated men of thailand or the poor or the perverts....it is the average white college educated man. It is us...the westerners capitalizing on the poverty of the young women. It is us....not them. This night in bangkok brought this issue home for me. In India it is easy to blame the indian man....but I see just a glimpse in the gatch of the power of lust. It made me so clearly see that sexual sin permeates us all....all cultures, races, countries...it is not just india's problem......it is ours.
So...on a closing note. Men ( and women). IF you are caught in lust. Tell someone. Confess to your friends and your church family. Get free. I see to many men whose lives are destroyed by it and too many young girls whose lives are forever destroyed by it. I know there is freedom. Jesus wants to give it.So if you could say a prayer for thomas and andrew. I will write another mass e-mail soon and catch you up on things in sonagachie.....sorry this was sooo long. if you read to the end thank you. love in Christ,

Quotes

2009-05-07T14:11:00.002-05:00

I love quotes. So much gets said in such a few words.
Here are a few I have come across recently:

This adventure is not about me but Jesus, and apart from Him and the grace of the Spirit and Abba’s love in this process I would be lost and destroyed, or dead already. So let’s be people who rock the world, who fight for the unity of the heart, who embrace powerlessness and a love that is so wondrously painful that it threatens daily to pull us out of this age and into the presence of the One we so desperately love.
Paul Young, Author of The Shack, found in most recent edition of Body Life by Wayne Jacobsen

The hijacking of the concept of morality began, of course, when we reduced Scripture to formula and a love story to theology, and finally morality to rules. It is a very different thing to break a rule than it is to cheat on a Lover.”

Donald Miller, In Search of God Knows What

“The mind of a Pharisee thinks truth is more important than love
but Jesus showed us that love is the most important part of truth.”

Don Francisco--Rocky Mountain Ministries
“When religion replaces the actual experience of the living Jesus, when we lose the authority of personal knowing and rely on the authority of books, institutions, and leaders, when we let religion interpose between us and the primary experience of Jesus as the Christ, we lose the very reality that religion itself describes as ultimate.”

Brennan Manning in The Wisdom of Tenderness
"Much Christian leadership is exercised by people who do not know how to develop healthy, intimate relationships and have opted for power and control instead. Many Christian empire builders have been people unable to give and receive love."

Henri Nouwen
“Nothing makes people n the church more angry than grace. It’s ironic: we stumble into a party we weren’t invited to and find the uninvited standing at the door making sure no other uninviteds get in. Then a strange phenomenon occurs: as soon as we are included in the party because of Jesus’ irresponsible love, we decide to make grace 'more responsible' by becoming self-appointed Kingdom Monitors, guarding the kingdom of God, keeping the riffraff out (which as I understand it, are who the kingdom of God is supposed to include.)"

Michael Yaconelli in Messy Spirituality
"Even in its ruined condition a human being is regarded by God as something immensely worth saving. Sin does not make you worthless, but only lost."

Dallas Willard in The Renovation of the Heart
"Why, then, is there so much unfreedom in religious circles today? The sad truth is that many Christians fear the responsibility of being free. It's often easier to let others make the decisions or to rely exclusively on the letter of the law. Some men and women want to be slaves."

Brennan Manning in The Wisdom of Tenderness
"Not forgiving is like swallowing rat poison and waiting for the rat to die."

Anne Lamott in Traveling Mercies

And we'll finish with one more from Brother Brennan:

"Anyone God uses significantly is always deeply wounded... We are, each and every one of us, insignificant people who God has called and graced to use in a significant way... On the last day, Jesus will look us over not for medals, diplomas, or honors, but for scars."

Brennan Manning in Ruthless Trust

To "Be"

2009-05-01T10:25:00.003-05:00

What we are called to do is be. Our whole being should be saturated with the presence of God. People who choose to be around us become familiar with this. They will not have unrealistic expectations of us, since we do not pretend to be anything we are not. We are simply ourselves, distinct individuals who have an awareness of the reality of God. That fact of His reality has affected our lives in various ways that are contagious, but do not need defending. We can include our friends in our normal activities and conversation, of which God is a natural part. This need not and must not be self-conscious in any way. Any distancing or request for discretion on our part will come from our friends. We must only exercise the sensitivity necessary to relate to any person, not assume there are barriers in place which do not necessarily exist. Children will often be our teachers in this regard. They have no artificial concept of spiritual or secular, of Christian or 'worldly'- they are happy to love God and get on with it, and talk freely with whoever they please. --From Celtic Daily Prayer

Easter: Rethinking the Cross

2009-04-10T08:32:00.005-05:00

I read this article this morning by Wayne Jacobsen and loved it!

When I hear the gospel recited by word and life what I hear most often communicated is an angry God looking for someone to whack.

Jesus is compassionate but God is going to "get me" if I make a mistake.

Wayne nails it here:

Something about the story made me cringe every time I heard it, and since I grew up a Baptist, I heard it a lot: To satisfy His need for justice and His demand for holiness, God sentenced His own Son to death in the brutal agony of a crucifixion as punishment for the failures and excesses of humanity.

Don't get me wrong. I want as much mercy as I can get. If someone else wants to take a punishment I deserve and I get off scot free, I'm fine with that. But what does this narrative force us to conclude about the nature of God?

As we approach Easter, the crucifixion story most often told paints God as an angry, blood-thirsty deity whose appetite for vengeance can only be satisfied by the death of an innocent—the most compassionate and gracious human that ever lived. Am I the only one who struggles with that? The case could be made that it makes God not much different from Molech, Baal or any of the other false deities that required human sacrifice to sate their uncontrollable rage. read more

I highly recommend Wayne's book, "He Loves Me" for those who want more.

Meet Daniel

2009-03-27T09:02:00.003-05:00

In a few weeks Daniel is coming to live with us for a couple of months before he gets hitched for life with our dear friend Nicole.

He just finished a crazy kayaking trip up the entire St. Johns River. Over 300 miles in 9 days, most of it alone. Set some kind of record.

He says he's sort of a health nut. We'll try to fix that problem...

We're looking forward to him moving in and sharing life with us.

How Un-Godly

2009-03-23T14:34:00.000-05:00

Been thinking a lot about the reality of being of friend of Jesus lately. In Revelations He says,
"I stand at the door and knock and if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

I am sure most have heard the teaching of what it means in Jewish culture to welcome a person into your house and eat and share a meal. It's not taken lightly and means that we are now deep close personal friends.

I think what blows me away the most about this verse is how vulnerable and meek Jesus appears.

To think,
the One whom about the psalmist writes, "who is man that you are mindful of him?"
The One in who's presence Moses removed his sandals
the One who holds the universe in the palm of His hand
the One who created the universe in said hand
Alpha
Omega
creator of time itself
The one whom Job asks but one simple question and and gets a flood of questions in response that makes ya feel smaller than a gnat.
the one who created the gnat.
The one who down thru the centuries men and women have tried to
figure out,
rationalize away,
study
worship.
The one whom one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is indeed Lord,
stands at my door and knocks as if to ask,
"will you be my friend?"

In the words of another friend when I was talking about this very thing,
How un-Godly!

One

2009-03-21T08:38:00.004-05:00

Over the past couple of months my sons have been exposed to U2. They think it is pretty awesome that they can find some of their old stuff in my cd collection.

Bout every time we get in the car we're jamming to "Rattle and Hum" or "Achtung Baby" or something of the sort...stuff we used to listen to when we were close to their age. We're cruising with Edge playing some amazing guitar riffs and Bono belting out the deep lyrics.
It's Great!!
Some of their lyrics are more Jesus centered than much of what I hear on the Christian radio station. The lyrics make for great conversations well at least until my boys start inching up the volume to drown me out...

I've been contemplating the meaning of the song "One". I have only heard it about 40 times in the past month. It seems to be about body life and the unfortunate reality often found in religious systems. At one point Bono sings:

You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl...

What a great description of the trappings of religion.

Backsliding

2009-03-10T08:49:00.003-05:00

About unbelievers today, there is no doubt that many really are unbelievers in that they have met the God of Jesus,
the compassionate Father
who loves them
more than anyone ever has or
ever will,
and they have rejected Him.

However others are not really unbelievers as such since what they have rejected is a false image of God shown to them by some Christians either now or in history.

This begs the question: If one is moving away from a false image of God does that take you closer to Him?

A former baptist pastor friend once told me that upon running into some of his old friends they accused him of backsliding. His response was simply backsliding is not necessarily a bad thing it just depends on what you are sliding back from.

Christianity today is so often defined as religious moralism. You know, do these things faithfully(read repeatedly) and be a "good" person.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves will not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice a son of hell as you are" Mt 23:13,15

Happy Birthday Mom

2009-02-27T10:23:00.001-05:00

We celebrated Mom's 70th birthday last night at Sapporos in Daytona Beach.

This guy is hilarious

We love you Mom!!

Politics

2009-02-21T08:23:00.002-05:00

Everything you ever need to know about politics can be learned by watching this 4.5 minute video.

What's the old saying, "if you can't dazzle them with brilliance baffle them with bull..."

Good Read

2009-02-12T13:43:00.005-05:00

I love to read. I only wish that I was one of those people that can read a book in an hour or two. Actually prolly a good thing I can't.

At some point I'd like to set up this blog with a link to books I have read complete with reviews but I have no idea how. I am willing to learn though. (hint)

I just finished reading Rob Bell's latest entitled, "Jesus Wants to Save Christians". The name alone makes it worth the time.

Once again Rob pulls from his knowledge of Hebrew history and culture and does a fine job opening the scriptures in a fresh way as he takes a look at Israel in the time of King Solomon to help explain the problem with empires and empire thinking. He goes on to draw some sobering parallels to Western Christianity, ask some gut level questions, and then finishes by exhorting the church to truly be the body of Christ.

Each chapter builds on the previous and this particular quote comes from the last chapter:

A church is not a center for religious goods and services, where people pay a fee and receive a product in return. A church is not an organization that surveys its demographic to find out what the market is demanding at this particular moment and then adjusts its strategy to meet that consumer niche.

The way of Jesus is the path of descent. It's about our death. It's our willingness to join the world in its suffering, it's our participation in the new humanity, it's our weakness calling out to others in their weakness.

To turn that into a product blasphemes the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is what happens when the question is asked, What does it look like for us to be a Eucharist for these people, here and now?

What does it look like for us to break ourselves open and pour ourselves out for the healing of these people in this time and place?

His style is easy and reads more like a blog post than a literary work. He does an excellent job of siting scripture and sources in his endnotes (he has 34 pages worth for this rather short read).

Rob has more than his share of critics most of whom I have found quote him out of context and then label him a heretic.

BTW in this day and age I am not sure it is a bad thing to be labeled a heretic by mainstream religion.

If you happen to have already read this book and want more along the same lines I recommend 2 by Nouwen; "Life of the Beloved" and "In the Name of Jesus" or
you might just try
the Gospels,
Acts,
the letters of Paul,
the letters of John,
the letters of Peter...

Basketball

2009-02-10T10:05:00.003-05:00

In my younger days basketball was my life. Literally would play 8 times a week at various parks and gyms. I played so much I would wear a hole in the bottom of my shoes in about a month to 6 weeks.

Just ask my mom for verification.

I quit a long time ago because it was a rough lifestyle for me.

Now, both my sons love basketball. They are playing in Y leagues this winter, first year for Josh, Nick has been playing for a few seasons.

I have assistant coached Nick's team the past couple of seasons but this year I am head coaching both of their teams. Challenging but fun.

I also got lassoed in to playing in the adult league this year. First time I have played in a league in 20 years at least....seriously. I'm wondering what part of this body is going to break down first. This game is hard on the knees, ankles and back.

A few of us are also organizing and coaching a few new teams in the Deland area. The school district is doing budget cuts and eliminating middle school and much of the high school sports programs. So we are working to put an organization in place for the kids.

What a blessing to be able to share life in this way with my sons. Truly Abba's grace in my life.

I'm blessed...sore, but blessed.

Theo and Josh's creative side

2009-02-02T09:42:00.003-05:00

Take me to your leader

Actually meet Theodore, Josh's new hamster.

No Lew we aren't going to introduce him to your pet(sorry can't remember her name) cuz Kim has grown attached to Theo and I highly doubt you want to deal with that reality.Here's a couple of Josh's most recent quick creations.

Clay Pots

2009-01-29T15:35:00.004-05:00

I'm not a really religious person. We consider ourselves to be Catholics, but we think of it more as a cultural thing. But what I love about Ted's story, at least about Ted's family, is that the Bible got them through. They read the Bible. They would read these passages, and it moved me. I went out and bought a new Bible. When I was making Friends with God, everybody quoted the Bible, but I was never inspired to go buy one. But this experience with Ted turned me onto the Bible in a whole new way, because he would read these passages and it would really inspire me. People might come away from this movie being a little anti-church, but it makes you really pro-Bible. It makes you really pro-God in a way, because you read these things in the Bible and you're like, wow. --Alexandra Pelosi in this interview about her upcoming documentary on Ted Haggard.

I watched an interview with Ted and his wife, Gayle, this morning. When asked why she stayed with Ted her answer was basically, "Jesus says to forgive, love, and not judge. It was hard but we love Ted."

In a time when Christians are often defined as religious conservatives and known for shooting their wounded (all those who don't measure up) this story of grace and truth shouts loudly a message of another way,
a narrow way.
This is the Jesus who I believe in.
One whom I know and love because He first loved me.

For years Ted's message was "Look at everything God has done for me" Now his message really is "Look at everything God has done for me."

We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us.

Been a while

2009-01-28T09:24:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since I posted anything.

My new year's resolution was to post more...I wanted to get the failure out of the way quickly so I could get on with the year.

You know...take the pressure off....

Here's an encouraging word for us from the pen of Paul:

I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people--free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!
He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free--signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life. (Eph 1:2-14)

Perspective to what ever life looks like today

Blessings

What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable.

2008-12-29T15:34:00.001-05:00

Holy Innocents

2008-12-28T09:17:00.003-05:00

Today, December 28th, is a day many commemorate in remembrance for the Bethlehem children, age 2 years and younger, who were murdered at the hand of Herod the great in his attempt to eliminate the rival king.

It is also of remembrance of all the unborn children taken by abortion. Pray for the healing and forgiveness of all the parents of the unborn.

I don't know who wrote this but..

Where is the sound of hope,
   the cry of a child that wakes?
The dull, aching, continued breathing
   of the mother
becomes a wail of grief,
   a weeping for the children
   who are no more.
The silent landscape shudders.
   God of mercy, light in the darkness,
hold gently to Your heart
   the tiny ones we cradle in our prayer
whose life was over
   before it had begun.

The Problem with Grace

2008-12-01T09:41:00.002-05:00

The gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the truth that it reveals is not palatable or easy to swallow. There is a certain pride in people that causes them to give and give, but to come and accept a gift is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom; I will dedicate my life to service- I will do anything. But do not humiliate me to level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all I have to do is accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. –Oswald Chambers

I have heard it said that the door to the manger was small and low to the ground and only those who got on their knees were able to enter in.

I tell you the truth, the whores and the crooks are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. -Jesus

Wisdom of the Cross

2008-11-24T13:23:00.001-05:00

Sat at the table this morning with a cup of hot coffee, western omelette, grits and a dear brother and we got on a discussion about philosophy. He said he had a philosophy class once where the professor defined philosophy as there is no absolute truth but rather truth would be reasoned out thru the questioning of everything. I actually would have enjoyed that class.

It got me thinking of the verse of 1 Corinthians 1 where Paul says basically that the Greeks(the philosophers of that age) demand wisdom but the cross was folly to them since the foolishness of God is wiser than men.

The cross really is foolish in the eyes of men. It makes such little sense that no one could possibly even make up a story like it. Of all the false gods and folklore that has been handed down thru the generations in all the different cultures nothing compares to the foolishness of the cross.

The creator of the universe, of time, and of space, would leave His throne and take on the limitations of flesh.
become sin
and give his life on a cross
For whom?
His enemies.
Not people who loved him or people who even did good but
His enemies.
Why?
because He loved and wanted to make them His friends.
Abe Lincoln said if you want to totally destroy your enemy make them your friend.
Yea but make them your friend by freely giving your life,
naked,
alone,
in the most humiliating of ways?

We can understand someone dying for a good person or possibly even a righteous person but who dies for an enemy?(Romans 5) In the wisdom of man this simply doesn't compute.

Yet this is the great mystery revealed that is spoken of in Ephesians. I think it even took the angels by surprise.

Somehow philosophy proves out the absolute truth of the cross.

"Fall Festivals"

2008-11-10T19:26:00.003-05:00

Have you noticed the increase of "Fall Festivals" being put on by local churches over the past couple of years? Well we have.
(sidenote: when you read this every time you read "Fall Festival" you have to make the quotation mark sign with your hands...yea that one. Go ahead and practice here.."Fall Festival")

So my son and I were having fun with this concept in the car Halloween night, errr am I aloud to call it Halloween night or should I call it "Fall Festival" night? hmmmm...anyway we were having fun with the concept on the way to a "Fall Festival" at one of the local churches.

Actually we had just left one "Fall Festival" and were on the way to another "Fall Festival"...hey these are the things we do when you have two boys that eat as much as ours do and churches are offering free food. Anyway we were talking about how we are Christians and therefore we don't go to Halloween parties but rather we go to "Fall Festivals".

If your a Christian you really shouldn't go to the pagan Halloween parties but you should go to the more appropriate "Fall Festival". I mean the differences are obvious. For instance at a "Fall Festival" kids dress up in costumes and play lame games and get free candy where as at a Halloween party kids dress up in costumes, play lame games and, well, uhhh, never mind.

Romans for Today

2008-11-03T10:35:00.005-05:00

We’ve been spending time here digging into Romans. The parallels to the church today are amazing.For instance 1:18 thru the end of the chapter echoes what I hear so often:

Homosexuality

Murder/abortion

All kinds of godlessness and evil going on in the world

God’s wrath is being revealed against all this stuff.

“Yea that’s right, they’re going to get what’s coming to them!” I can almost hear the church screaming in self-righteous approval.

It seems there is so much time spent pointing out the sins of the world and screaming for justice. Here’s a news flash: sinners sin…it’s what they do. Is it really our place to go around condemning them? This is something that Jesus said He didn’t even come to do. (John 3)

However, if you stop at the end of chapter 1 and draw conclusions more than likely you'll be off in the weeds because chapter 2 starts by saying “hey but you who pass judgment on these people don’t you do the same thing and in doing so don’t you know you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience not realizing that it is God’s kindness that leads you to repentance?"

Chapter 1 is a set up or lead in for chapter’s 2 &3. He makes this clear in 3:19. Chapter 2 is a scathing indictment of God’s chosen people, saying in affect, “If the other end of the boat is sinking don’t feel safe because your end is going up…”

So yea, homosexuality, murder, drunkenness and the like is horribly bad but what about gossip, slander, greed, ignoring the needs of the poor and oppressed? It’s all bad! And this whole pointing the finger deal it’s the worst because it has caused my name to be blasphemed among the pagans.

Brennan Manning said it this way once, “the single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians. People who acknowledge God with their lips but deny him with their actions. This is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

The point of Paul's argument in chapter's 1 & 2 is to set up the end of chapter 3 and actually on thru the rest of the letter where he says that the real good news is that now a righteousness from God is being made known.

What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public--to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it's now--this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness. (3:21-26)

My hope is not that I am somehow morally superior than other people. And the race I run is not a race where I try to become more morally superior than others. My hope is that I will be found in Christ, in His righteousness and not putting on one of my own. Thanks be to God for His mercy, grace, and love found in Jesus.

Election Hysteria

2008-10-31T10:21:00.004-05:00

I've grown more than tired of the election hysteria this year. I'm not talking about what I see on tv and pull out of the mail box, I can understand that. No, I am more than tired of what I hear coming from the church.

As Christians I do believe we should exercise our right to vote. I do believe abortion is a travesty and we should stand for justice for those who can't stand for themselves, and I think there are other issues that are important as well. But my hope is not in our government.

The amount of fear based thinking coming from the church is incredible to me. I receive emails almost daily that are dripping in fear. For instance, I got a lengthy email a couple of weeks back in which part of it talked about how Obama's grandmother was in Kenya killing chickens to affect the election here. Even if that is true, which I highly doubt, am I honestly supposed to walk in fear of what some little old lady is doing to chickens in Africa? If that be the case I have a lot more to worry about than just who the next president will be.

1 Peter says "...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have..."

Hear that? The hope that we have not why we are so afraid of what may or may not happen.

Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
Interlude

4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel^[b] is our fortress.
Interlude

8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”

11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

My hope is in Jesus.
All my eggs are in His basket
He is the only one with the words that give Life

On a light note....The Dark Knight

2008-10-11T11:47:00.002-05:00

Set Free by God's Love

2008-10-01T15:50:00.004-05:00

I borrowed this from Wayne's blog. It's so good that I wanted to post it here in it's entirety.

Tammy writes, "It was so bizarre reading it because it was as though you had somehow read my mind and quoted my thoughts in your book!" When I met Wayne a couple of months back these were almost my exact words to him.

I have a stack of Christian books a mile high. To me, reading is a bit like breathing. But of all the wonderful books I’ve read none of them have touched me as much as He Loves Me. It was so bizarre reading it because it was as though you had somehow read my mind and quoted my thoughts in your book!

For along time I have felt so weary of “Christianity”. I don’t know how many times I must have told my husband “there has to be more to it than this…”. But I mistakenly thought that I wasn’t trying hard enough… not reading my Bible enough or attending church enough. What else could be making me feel so empty? It all came to a head when last spring I found myself fighting another battle with major depression. One Saturday my husband said he just couldn’t do it anymore. He just couldn’t give me what I needed and it had drained him of his very life and that maybe we shouldn’t be married any more.

I remember so clearly going into my bedroom and falling on my knees beside the bed. I literally began yelling at God. “Why? Why have you abandoned us when we have tried so hard? What more do you want us to do?”. And in my heart I heard Him say “Nothing. I want you to do nothing but give it all to me. My love for you has never depended on what you do. If I had fixed your problems in the midst of your best effort you would have believed that you had earned it. But now I will show you that my best gifts come when you know you don’t deserve them.”

Wayne, it all turned around that day. I began having revelations from God like I have NEVER experienced in my life. Not that I was hearing an audible voice, but His Spirit was communing with mine in such a way as I could hardly keep up! Moment be moment He began giving me bits and pieces that made every incomplete picture in my life make sense. When I prayed for Him to change my husband as much as I was changing, He asked me if I really wanted to be different or did I only want to change as much as could be used to guilt my husband into change? When I prayed in anger because my Christian “friends” had abandoned me He asked me if I wanted revenge or redemption? On and on it went. Sometimes many times a day these amazing truths came to me and all I could do was weep that He had reached out to me with His very “voice”. Finally one day I fell on my face on the floor and declared, “You are MY God”. And I haven’t looked back since.

I began to recognize the lies that I had been told about God. All of them in church I’m afraid. I began to see how much I had feared Him. I summed up what I imagined He thought of me in one word—”Disappointed”. Praise God for an amazing Christian counselor who began to set me straight about who I am to God. She’s a pastor’s wife yet she often says she doesn’t fit in church. It has gotten in the way of too many people and their Father.

So much has happened in the last 8 months I could write a book myself! My marriage is better than EVER! I have been so overwhelmed with Fathers love that even colors look brighter. Even on days that I face a struggle I am filled with joy like I have never known. I look around my church now at faces that look so sad. I listen for people to laugh and shout about God’s love (because thats all I want to do) and all I hear is silence. One day I asked God how Christians can be so silent about something that fills you to overflowing? He simply said “if they REALLY knew how much I loved them, they would not be able to keep it to themselves. Tell them.”

Only a few days ago I came across He Loves Me and have already finished it. I laughed out loud when you said that people who knew that God loved them would never be able to keep it to themselves. Amazing how Father is teaching us about love!

I am preparing to take a small group of ladies on a journey into this book. I pray they will discover the joy that I have found. Thank you for putting into words what so many of us have learned at the Father’s knee.

I was having coffee with a friend yesterday. She has been so hurt by religion and I want so much for her to be free. As I shared some of these things with her she asked quietly, “Why can’t they tell us this from the pulpit?”. I too pondered the question until God’s voice (that I’m learning to listen for and recognize) spoke again. “This lesson of love will not come from the pulpit right now. It will begin as a silent revolution. One heart to another, telling of my love, seeing people set free.”

Thank you again Wayne. Perhaps someday God will allow me to put my journey to paper as you have. God is using you to set His people

Tammy is super willing to correspond with anyone that wants to know more about what Father is doing in her life. If you would like to correspond with her you can contact her at campfancy@auracom.com

At Home in Papa (part 3)

2008-09-27T13:49:00.002-05:00

Making our home in Jesus sounds awesome but how is it lived out in the day to day?

I think there is a renewing of our mind that is helpful in getting us to the place of abiding.

First is to stay in the truth. Jesus says abide in the truth and the truth will set you free. The whores and drunks had no problem with this challenge they knew who they were and everyone else did as well. That's why it was so easy for them to rush into the kingdom. For most people the truth about themselves or the situation they are in isn't that easy because they have an image to maintain.

Second is to stay in the present. In Matthew 6 Jesus is telling his disciples not to worry about food, clothing, etc. Actually I love the message translation here because Jesus says, "Relax..."
He says basically stay in the moment because you can't do anything about tomorrow and today has enough mess of it's own to deal with . In Luke 8 when he gives the parable of sewing seeds he says basically the same thing, "the worries and cares of the world choke out the plant..." I know from my own life I often get in the weeds when I focus on the worries of the things around me and what may happen tomorrow or next week or next year. The reason the future is such a stumbling block is simply because God is not there. He is in the present. "I Am". He is a God of the present the here and now. Everything we worry about in the future the things that may happen. Well He isn't there yet. He will be when it is time. He knows about it.

If I follow today, then tomorrow, and so on. A month, year, 10 years from now I will be exactly where He wants me.

Finally, simple obedience to King Jesus. Following the way of love, mercy forgiveness, grace, and truth. I have seen more people get free of inner conflict:
guilt
shame
anger
etc,
when they simply forgive someone who has wronged them. The weight is lifted the conflict gone and the peace of Christ comes rushing in.

At Home in Papa (part 2)

2008-09-04T12:48:00.003-05:00

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (Jn 14:2,3)

We have so often reduced these verses, and the whole gospel, to mean that when we die Jesus is going to take us to a mansion in heaven that He has built us. Often this is taken further to say something like depending on how hard you work here that mansion may be big or small so serve hard so you earn a big mansion in which to spend eternity.

Quick sidenote for all my evangelical bro's I still believe in heaven and hell but check out what is really going on in these verses.

The Gk for house is oikia which means abode or by implication "family". The Gk for rooms is monē which is a noun that means residence. The only other place this word is used in the New Testament is in John 14:23

"If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home(mone) with him."

This is a very present reality.

Also this word "mone" is the noun form of the verb "meno" which means abide or dwell that I talked about in part 1. Jesus isn't talking about a physical place, that's what the disciples were thinking and they were confused, but something far better...a relationship that he brings us in to. He uses this intimate relationship language throughout this final conversation he is having with his disciples in the upper room.

Finally, take a look at the present tense of verse 3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Not sometime out there somewhere but here, now.

You can see this kind of language going on in the old testament as well particularly in the psalms.

At Home in Papa (part 1)

2008-09-04T12:22:00.003-05:00

I have been spending a lot of time studying the upper room discourse (John 13-17) and particularly this idea of "abiding" in Him. This reality is central to the good-news message.

We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!(1Jn 1:3,4)

The greek word for communion or fellowship here is koinonia which literally means partnership, participation, intercourse. Jesus describes what this looks like with the abide language He uses in John chapters 14-17.

"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me. "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. (Jn 15:4-5)

And then He prays here:

that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (Jn 17:21-23)

Simply put? I am in Jesus, Jesus is in me, Jesus is in the Father, the Father is in Jesus again who is in me. I'm in the Father who is in Jesus who is also in me. Then we throw in the Holy Spirit who is also in me as well as in Jesus and the Father...wow! I can't get my mind around it but maybe looks something like this:

The point is that there is this incredibly intimate relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit that has been in place before time existed and we have been created and invited to take part in that relationship fully and completely...mind melting, life changing!

Dutch Sheets on Lakeland and Charismaticism

2008-08-26T09:51:00.003-05:00

This is long but really worth the read. I have lost trust in most all the leaders in the charismatic movement. Dutch, however, has taken a step in the right direction.
I don't know much of anything about Dutch or his ministry but I can take this statement at face value and say thanks.
A STATEMENT and APPEAL REGARDING LAKELAND
-Dutch Sheets. (Aug 21, 2008).
It has now been a couple of weeks since I heard about Todd Bentley's plans for separation and divorce. Like everyone, I have had a variety of emotions including anger, sadness, and grief. Every time I see this scenario repeated, I grieve: for the husband and wife involved; for the family that will be scarred in so many ways; because of the incredible reproach it brings to Christ; and the distortion it gives concerning God's heart and ways. I am praying for Todd and his family.
I was asked numerous times to write my position on Lakeland while it was happening, but always felt checked by the Lord—the waters were too muddy and emotions too high. I now feel strongly that the Lord wants me to do so. It will be arguably one of the greatest risks of my ministry to date, but one I feel must be taken. Fathers, when given the voice to do so, bear the responsibility of giving correction and wisdom. I hope mine qualifies for the latter. I assure you I have spent many hours praying and thinking through the situation. The risks are broad: with some of my dearest friends and co-laborers, I risk harming those relationships; with many in the charismatic body of Christ, I risk appearing to be an arrogant, "self-appointed" spokesperson for them; to the "I told you so" crowd, I risk the accusation of "spinning" the situation. (As far as the heresy hunters and revival police—not those who raised legitimate questions about Lakeland, but the attack dogs who make their living and build their ministries criticizing everyone else—I lost respect for them long ago and couldn't care less what they think.)
My purpose and sincere prayer in writing this statement, however, is three-fold: to see healing begin for the body of Christ; to initiate a process that can remove the reproach brought to Christ and the Church; and to do these things while preserving and honoring my current relationships. I pray that these desires, along with my heart, come through loudly. And I hope I'm writing this with true humility— who among us clearly sees all hidden in our own hearts? Let me also preface this statement by saying that what needs to be said cannot be done quickly or carelessly. I do not want my heart to be missed and am not willing to run that risk for the sake of brevity, so please bear with the length. (Incidentally, I think it will be obvious no one involved in the Lakeland situation has asked me to write this; and for the sake of integrity on my part, none have been consulted concerning what I'm stating.)
Mistakes at Lakeland
Did leaders handling the Lakeland situation make mistakes? Yes— huge mistakes. Beyond the obvious fruit of salvations and healings, can good come from Lakeland, as some have suggested, even with the recent revelations concerning Todd Bentley? Yes, but only if there is complete honesty and transparency, the removal of all attempts at self-preservation, and absolute humility from all sides.
Did I endorse the Lakeland meetings? No, I did not, nor did I condemn them. I acknowledged that healings were occurring and some were being saved, which I still believe and rejoice over. I realized and stated that the thousands of people attending were hungry and sincere, as were those involved in leading the 2 meetings. The worship was regularly good. But looking past some of the immediate and positive results, I, like many, also looked ahead to the possible fruit from questionable doctrine and experiences, exaggeration and hype, youthful pride, character issues and the frightening potential of a 32 year "young" man leading a movement that could shape the future of the Church.
These things were frightening, very frightening, to others and me. When something has the potential of setting precedent, birthing a movement and being reproduced as a prototype, we are no longer simply endorsing good brothers, good intentions and miracles. Doctrine and foundations will be built on these events. Teachings and paradigms for future ministries will be formed—in short, the next generation of the church and the move of God in the earth could be greatly impacted. This is why I stopped short of endorsing everything at Lakeland. Just as importantly, I could not ignore the "check", the uneasiness, the sickening feeling deep in my spirit telling me something else was wrong—terribly wrong—in this situation. Like other leaders I tried to push past my uneasiness with the showmanship, the "bams," the head butts and kneeing, along with certain experiences and doctrines, all in order to embrace the good. Like many of my friends I tried to be—and believe I was—gracious, accepting, ready to think "out of the box", etc. But try as I may, the uneasiness in my spirit just wouldn't leave.
Did I voice my concerns to the appropriate people? Yes, including stating my concerns for Todd's marriage to the Lakeland Outpouring Apostolic Team. Did they listen? Some did, some didn't. But I want to state emphatically, this is not an "I told you so" statement. In fact, much of what I want to address goes back several years into our charismatic Christian history. And I assure you that concerning our present weaknesses in the charismatic church, there is plenty of blame to go around. Personally, I've been right at times with my discernment and decisions, wrong at others. It would be worse than hypocritical for me to point the finger of accusation—I have no stones of judgment to throw.
Nonetheless, mistakes were made and must be acknowledged and learned from in order for us to heal, grow and move forward.
Some of my closest friends endorsed and participated in the Lakeland meetings. For them I have both criticism—all of us lose credibility at this point if we're not completely honest—and affirmation. Should they have been more discerning and have listened to the warnings they received? Obviously. Should those who "aligned" Todd with spiritual fathers (which was a good thing and positioned him to receive help if he chooses to accept it) have realized to do so publicly was a mistake and could be interpreted by those watching in no other way than as a complete endorsement? Yes, they should have, especially when the event became a commissioning ceremony, complete with decrees and prophecies of going to higher levels, predictions of Todd's increasing world-wide influence and leading a world-wide revival, emphatic and prolific endorsements of his character, etc.
How could those watching believe the evening was anything but an aligning, endorsing and commissioning ceremony? It was. It really doesn't matter who laid their hands on Todd—all share responsibility. This was unwise at best, naïve at least and at its worst, foolish. And should the leaders involved have realized that those of us connected to them relationally, ministerially, and as movements—some even in alignment with them apostolically and as sons and daughters—would feel minimalized, if not betrayed, by the fact that they were in essence taking us onto the stage with them? Yes. These feelings were inevitable, especially when we had such uneasiness and asked them not to. Should there be an acknowledgment of these mistakes to the body of Christ for the sake of accountability and in order to rebuild trust? I believe so, and remain hopeful this will happen.
With such strong statements of disagreement, what is the affirmation toward my friends who led, participated in or endorsed this ceremony (and the meetings in general)? Simply stated, I know their hearts. It is not a contradiction of my criticisms toward some of their actions to, at the same time, defend and endorse their hearts and character. It is completely appropriate — when true—to defend a person's heart and integrity while disagreeing with their actions.
I think the blunder of that night was huge and very damaging to the body of Christ, but I also realize that in their hearts, those involved honestly felt they were doing the right things. Again, while not defending the action taken, I would defend the character and integrity of Peter and Doris Wagner as vigorously as anyone I know, and do so with absolute confidence. There are no two people, and I mean that literally, who embody the qualities of humility, integrity, holiness (no compromise!), sacrifice, unselfish kingdom-thinking, the tireless giving of themselves to Christ's cause and the body of Christ—and do I need to add risk-taking?— as much as Peter and Doris Wagner. It remains my great honor to be associated with them and call them a spiritual father and mother. And again, while not minimizing or "sweeping under the rug" any wrong decisions, I remain steadfast in my belief that similar affirmations could be made of others involved—either directly or indirectly—in the ceremony. And some of them still see their endorsing of Lakeland as an endorsement of revival generally, not of Todd personally.
The Bigger Picture
It may come as a surprise, however, that my real purpose in writing this is not to only state the above, as important as I believe saying it is. My primary purpose, and I believe my assignment from the Lord, is to identificationally repent on behalf of the leadership of the charismatic body of Christ (see Nehemiah 1:4-7; Daniel 9:1-19). In doing so, I do not have a pompous, "no one else will, so I'll do it" attitude, nor am I arrogant enough to think I have become the spokesperson for the charismatic church. But in the same way that I can identify with the racism of white predecessors and repent to blacks, Native Americans and other races, I can represent the leadership of the charismatic body of Christ and identificationally repent for our sins and weaknesses. I encourage leaders who find my statements true and appropriate to join me.
Beyond the simple fact of it being appropriate, I firmly believe it is the only way to begin the process of rebuilding trust with those asked to follow us and to remove the cynicism of the world we ask to listen to us. As you know, regaining credibility is much more difficult than attaining credibility. Concerning what I'm about to say, I don't believe I have a critical spirit, nor do I want to diminish the sacrifices, faithfulness, and hard work done by so many in ministry. The fact remains, however, that we have failed the Lord and His people in many ways—not just with Lakeland but in countless other situations—and must repent if we are to be trusted in the future. And as you also know, no repentance is effective if watered down and couched in excuses, therefore, I intend to be brutally honest:
We, the leaders of the charismatic community, have operated in an extremely low level of discernment. Frankly, we often don't even try to discern. We assume a person's credibility based on gifts, charisma, the size of their ministry or church, whether they can prophesy or work a miracle, etc. (Miracles and signs are intended to validate God and His message, not the messenger; sometimes they validate the assignment of an individual, but never the person's character, lifestyle or spiritual maturity.) We leaders in the Church have become no different than the world around us in our standards for measuring success and greatness. This has contributed to the body of Christ giving millions of dollars to undeserving individuals; it has allowed people living in sin to become influential leaders—even to lead movements, allowing them influence all the way to the White House. Through our lack of discernment we built their stages and gave them their platforms. We have been gullible beyond words—gullible leaders producing gullible sheep. When a spiritual leader we're connected with violates trust, is exposed for immorality or falls below other accepted standards of behavior, it does not exonerate us simply to say we don't condone such behavior. Those we lead trust us to let them know whom to trust. We have failed them miserably in this regard. For this lack of discernment, and for employing and passing on inappropriate standards of judgment, I repent to the Lord and ask forgiveness of the body of Christ.
We, the leaders of the charismatic church, spin our involvement and fail to acknowledge our responsibility when other leaders fall— all of which stems from our self-preservation and pride. Enough of the spin—we're no different than Washington, DC. Every time another embarrassing and disgraceful situation is exposed, the dancing begins. It seems that no one bears any real responsibility except the man or woman who actually commits sin. Incredibly, we even blame "revival" itself—the pressures, attacks, weariness, the "revival is messy" argument, etc., saying it is responsible for the failures. This is disgusting. Those of us on boards of fallen leaders, those who helped give them a voice, put them on TV, published and endorsed their books (yes, I have), etc., are not exonerated simply by saying we don't condone the wrong behavior or that we didn't know. We're supposed to know. I don't believe anyone is expecting perfection from us—I know I'm not. We're far too human for that. But we are expected to have enough humility to look the world and those who follow us in the eye when we miss it and say, "we were wrong and we are sorry." Our careless accountability has caused the body of Christ to be spiritually raped and abused. It has produced disillusionment and brought immeasurable reproach to our God and cynicism to His message. Concerning Lakeland, what was called the "greatest revival since Azusa Street" has become possibly one of the greatest reproaches. We, the leaders of the charismatic church, are responsible. For not accepting and acknowledging our responsibility, for caring more about our own reputation than Christ's, I repent to God and ask forgiveness of the body of Christ.
Our procedures and standards of accountability are incredibly inadequate. We have provided camaraderie, not biblical accountability. For those on Todd Bentley's board who had previous knowledge of his marriage problems and said nothing, it was more than a mistake—it was reckless, foolish, and irresponsible. For those on the stage the night of his aligning and commissioning who knew and said nothing—ditto. For those there who didn't know, my question is, "why didn't you?" You were trusted to know. That is one of the purposes of public commissioning and the purpose behind the concept of endorsement. I'm not trying to point the finger; I'm endeavoring to get us to be honest about our failures—we have serious credibility issues. Have I ever laid hands on, commissioned or endorsed anyone without adequately checking them out? Yes, but you better believe I'll be more careful next time! And we must not single out Lakeland. We're all guilty. What about the leader in my city who ran with some of the leading spiritual fathers in our nation— sincere and good men, I might add, and not all "charismatic" leaders—who sang his praises and helped build his stage—all while he was doing drugs and having sex with other men? But we shouldn't blame only the high profile cases—what about those of us who unknowingly have had adulterers on our staffs or appointed elders that turned out to have compromise in their life? Sounding familiar yet? This is so epidemic that every member of the body of Christ stands guilty—what pastor or leader did you follow that turned out to have sin issues? What ministry did you support that was unworthy? There is plenty of blame to go around. The big question becomes not "who do we blame" but "how do we fix this mess?" Leaders can live in sin—adultery, homosexuality, financial wrongdoing, drugs, etc.—for years without it being realized. They can offer completely unacceptable lifestyles for the body of Christ to follow and still keep their TV programs and lavish lifestyles. In the name of grace, compassion and forgiveness we have lowered the standard so much that often there isn't one. We have bought into the lie that true discipline is "shooting our wounded." We have made a mockery of biblical restoration, making "ministry"—not healthy individuals, marriages and families—its ultimate goal. The fact is, integrity matters. No, we don't need legalistic, pharisaical standards, but we must have standards. For this lack of biblical accountability, I repent to God and I ask forgiveness of the body of Christ.
We, the leaders of the charismatic church, have built on hype, sensation, innovation, programs, personality and charisma. This has produced: shallowness; false movements; novice leaders— gifted but immature and untested; a deficient understanding of God's word; the building of man-centered rather than kingdom- centered churches and ministries; competition rather than cooperation; humanistic, self-centered Christians who don't understand sacrifice and commitment; Christians without discernment; superstar leaders; a perverted and powerless gospel; prayerless and anemic Christians; a replacement of the fear of the Lord with the fear of man; and a young generation that is cynical of it all. We are responsible, not the devil; he takes what we give him. For this compromise in the way we build, for giving the Church watered down wine, commercial Christianity, a flashy but weak Church and hype disguised as anointing, I repent to God and ask forgiveness of the body of Christ. Galatians 6:1-5 is an appropriate reference with which to end this statement: "Brethren, even if a man caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one shall bear his own load." NAS
My passionate prayer is that God honors this repentance — I believe He led me to do it and therefore, will—and uses it to begin a process of cleansing and healing for all of us. In order for the coming great awakening to bear maximum fruit we must have both, as well as a course correction that sets us on a path of wisdom leading to life. There is no doubt that past moves of God have been aborted, ended prematurely and contained error or heresy that have wounded, if not destroyed, many. The healing revival of the 40's and 50's, the charismatic movement, discipleship movement and Jesus movement are all examples. My heart is to help shape a movement, the fruit of which will last for decades — better yet, forever. And I have great expectations for us—I am not a cynic.
My passionate prayer is also that Todd Bentley's marriage survives and thrives…that he turns his heart fully toward Christ and toward those with whom he is aligned, and allows them, as God leads, to put him on a path of complete restoration. I thank God for those who were touched by the Holy Spirit at Lakeland and while watching it on God TV and the web. May we all move forward into all God has planned for us in this awesome season of endless possibility.
With great hope—Dutch Sheets.

Fay Watch (cont)

2008-08-22T11:53:00.003-05:00

One more picture...these guys just took off down the street and I had to get a photo of it.

Fay Watch

2008-08-22T10:50:00.011-05:00

Rain, rain, and more rain. We have had over 30 inches of rain and counting since Monday.
Here are a few pics from near us. These first two are in front of Han's bookstore about a mile from our house.

This one below is a retention pond behind our subdivision. It is normally 6 feet deep and empty.

The kids are bored. They've played halo for 3 straight days other than a small break to go to the Y to get in some basketball.

Meet Nicole!!

2008-08-15T10:17:00.003-05:00

You can check out her blog by hitting the link in my "friends along the way" section on the right.

She went to India about a year ago and came back forever ruined for Jesus.

Kim and I have known Nicole for over 10 years now. We have had the opportunity to watch her grow up physically and spiritually.

She's an amazing woman.

More Tales from the Bookstore

2008-07-28T07:22:00.002-05:00

People say the darnedest things. It seems that time at the store is never short of the odd comments requests and statements. Below are some of my favorites to date. Not all were said to me but some were said to Hans over the years and are too good to keep to myself.

We have had requests for the "Homes and Christian Translation" should be "Holman Christian" as well as the "New International King James Version" which I guess is some confused hybrid.

A few years back a lady came in and said, "I need to get a bible and start reading it." When asked why she responded, "I have just been voted in as an elder in my church."

And our all time favorite...a person came in looking for the Vines Expository Dictionary but instead asked for the "Vines Suppository Dictionary"....ouch!

Bookstore life

2008-07-23T16:04:00.004-05:00

so yea, the past week I have been covering for my buddy Hans, who owns the local christian bookstore. This is like the only christian bookstore between Daytona and Altamonte which is prolly 40 miles I guess.

It has been fun, I get to influence people in what to read..or at least try too. I am amazed at the number of bibles that get purchased. I reckon that to be a good thing. Have had some good conversations with people dealing with real issues, like the lady who just left that has a 10 year old daughter that's struggling with life. Didn't sell her anything but did encourage her a bit I think. I like that.

so I'm in it...Christian retail...wow, how bizarre. I'm like selling almost everything that is wrong in christianity today. Did you know they have scripture toilet paper? Yep toilet paper with scripture verses written on it. Now I'm not against reading the bible while on the john...just kind of weird to like, well, you know...Sometimes I expect Jesus to come rushin in, whip in hand, tossing the bumper-sticker rack.

I'm not throwin down on my buddy, he struggles with it waaayyy more than I do. He does lots of ministry here though and like I said you can gently encourage people in what to read and listen too.

The most bizarre conversation to date was a guy who was looking for a book to read so I recommended "The Shack". He said he has heard of it but hasn't read it because he doesn't agree with the theology. So I said "That's pretty close-minded don't ya think?" No I really didn't say that cuz I imagine he's just following what someone told him he should believe. Poor guy is probably afraid his eyes might fall out of his skull if he reads the wrong thing. Better safe than sorry I guess. So I just smiled and took his money for some books on the "approved reading" list.

It's raining outside and about time to close up for the night.

Abba's Embrace

2008-07-23T07:18:00.001-05:00

Who are you in this picture?

I love This

2008-07-21T08:47:00.002-05:00

Once God is known as Father all methods to attain security, prosperity and assurance in the world are exposed as useless enslavement. If one knows God as Father then there is security about everything. --David Boan & John Yates

New Found Friends

2008-07-15T16:07:00.010-05:00

We were incredibly blessed this past week to have Wayne Jacobsen spend a few days here with us. We scheduled a couple of small gatherings and one larger speaking engagement which were all fruitful in numerous ways but in between all of it he and I got plenty of time to talk about the reality of living loved. Simply put, there are many things that have been stirring in my heart for a long time...years really, and they got formed up and started to make sense. But not only that I also saw it lived out in front of my eyes...at least for the few days we were together. The time was encouraging and freeing and I am sure this is only the beginning of a deeper walk of trust in Father that I don't begin to understand.

I can't begin to express my deep appreciation for Wayne's writings and the time we spent together.

As it happens, or as Father planned it, we also met Shirley. She just happened to be in Florida on holiday(she lives in the Netherlands) and heard Wayne was going to be in the area so she contacted us. She met Wayne just a few weeks ago in Germany. Anyway, she came to visit and we (especially Kim) felt an instant connection with her and she ended up coming to stay in our home for the rest of the week.

Maybe possibly there is a trip to the Netherlands in the Rea family's future? That would be good.

New Family

2008-07-15T07:12:00.004-05:00

Meet the new family.

Mike and Virginia were married about two weeks ago on the beach.

There's lots of girls in Mike's life now!

Revival

2008-07-11T07:47:00.002-05:00

Revival....I have lots of conversations with many different people about it over the past couple of months.

Listen to the last two podcasts, "Revival Fever" and "Gracious in Conflict" for what I believe to be really healthy, mature conversations about revival. Gracious in Conflict is a response to some of the email they received from Revival Fever.

These are both on podcast called "The God Journey" hosted by Wayne Jacobsen and Brad Cummings. Lots of good rich teaching to be found here. Personally love the light conversational approach they take to it. I have added the link permanently over on the right.

Rooted in Love

2008-07-07T09:02:00.002-05:00

Won't the awareness God loves us no matter what lead to spiritual laziness and moral laxity? Theoretically, this seems a reasonable fear, but in reality the opposite is true...The more rooted we are in the love of God, the more generously we will live our faith. --Brennan Manning in "Lion and Lamb"

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. (Eph 3:14-19)

Jesus the self-help guru

2008-07-05T08:33:00.003-05:00

So much of the christianity I see today is about making your "self" or life a little better.

Jesus can help you achieve all your plans and goals,
scriptural basics of success,
have faith and your next deal will go thru. the devil can't stop ya, etc.
Take a walk thru your local christian bookstore and you will see what I mean. Read the popular devotionals or listen to the latest sermons and so much of it is the same.(I know I am painting with a broad stroke here) It's self-centered christianity and it sucks life out of ya. It may help you feel good for a little while, kinda like a beer buzz, but it leaves you empty inside and devoid of true life.

The kingdom message Jesus preached wasn't about helping self but rather He said to deny yourself. He said if you want to enter into real life than give up your present life. He doesn't leave any option to hang on to your current life and also get new life. This life He is talking about isn't where you go when you die but rather eternal life now....this side of the grave.

The new life He offers is absolutely amazing really it's the best. He's the best. But you can't get there in your current state, the doorway is death.

The masks we wear

2008-07-04T22:40:00.003-05:00

Jesus loves you more than you can possibly imagine. He loves you beyond the mask (the person people pretend to be but aren't...the impostor). He doesn't love the person the mask represents...He can't, that person doesn't really exist. It's the person behind the mask that He longs to have an intimate relationship with.

Something interesting I've learned about the masks people wear is that the person wearing the mask always thinks their mask looks more real than anyone else's. Actually I think the masks people put on look more like the face of a circus clown than a real person.

If you listen to a group of people all comfortable in their masks get together you tend to hear one of two conversations or maybe the conversations run together. 1st everyone is bragging about and admiring the masks...then they start talking about the mask wearer who didn't make it that day elevating themselves in the process. Both of these conversation keep a person a safe distance from the reality of who they are and make them feel pretty good about themselves or at least pretty good about their mask. Wear the mask long enough and often times you will begin to believe it's really who you are. That's a sad state.

Often times people get tired of wearing the mask but it's hard to take it off. The fear of "then what" is strong.

There's power in the mask...at least a perceived power. With the mask on we believe we have control of our life and what people think about us. The great fear is if we take the mask off people will know who we really are and we will lose control and people may hurt us.

Allow me to help you with this fear, you will lose control, people will hurt you. After all, when the mask comes off the smile on the face of those still wearing a mask tends to grow religious fangs and they get mad or rather envious.

But when the mask comes off and the impostor is put to rest you give up control to a good God and you learn to live in the love and grace of Abba. There is incredible freedom from performance and fear. You live loved and you love.

Intense church

2008-07-02T07:10:00.004-05:00

My good brother Lew had an excellent post a few weeks back about an intense day of church. It got me thinking about church life here and the times it has been "intense".

It's typically good, rarely boring, sometimes, err, odd, but intense?

hmmm...

I remember the time we had a family blow up at one another during the wine and bread and we spent the next 30 minutes talking to the family, me outside with the kids, others inside with husband and wife...that was intense,

or, the time some visitors came and introduced false teaching in our midst, probably could call that intense,

or, the times when sacred cows are being turned into hamburger meat and Jesus is challenging us to step into more abundant life,

or, perhaps the multiple times a bro/sis gets offended by the comment of another bro/sis and they spend time "workin it thru" we are, after all, people sharing life and, well, stuff happens,

perhaps the most "intense" time ever was years ago the 1st time the GrubbyKuppers from natti came to stay with us and they had dropped their bags in the bathroom and the toilet flooded during worship. Oddly they felt right at home with us....

"Intense" yea that is a pretty good word to describe life here at times.

Church was amazing Sunday

2008-07-01T08:19:00.003-05:00

A dear brother came home on Sunday. He had been gone for a while stuck in the thorns that choke the life out of ya.

It's always beautiful to me when I see the body function like the body.
encouragement
mercy
compassion
lots of shared tears
wisdom
prayer seeking Father's will
visions
prophecy
even some laughs in the midst of it all.

He's hurting but restored and not alone.

He's going thru some tuff stuff but he has his eyes fixed on Jesus and Father is holding him tightly.

Don't Speak Out Against The Lord's Annointed

2008-06-21T14:48:00.005-05:00

I wonder how many have had that phrase directed at them when they questioned something someone was doing in ministry? I had it spoken to me by a close friend, and mentor/leader at the time, when a whole group of us questioned some peculiar behavior.

It's a popular phrase in some circles when someone questions what a "leader" or "God's annointed" is doing, saying, and/or teaching. It is used as a defense mechanism to control and shutdown any question or potential opposition to their authority...there I said it.

Let's be clear about this teaching. They are referencing the story of David and Saul found in 1 Samuel 24 & 26. The scripture actually says:

"...I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD'S anointed." 1 Sam 24:10

David is not talking about questioning Saul but actually touching him. He twice has the opportunity to kill Saul. In both cases, chap 24 & 26, David gets a safe distant from Saul and then shouts out to him and rebukes him, or at the very least questions him rather sternly about why Saul is doing what he is doing.

Get that though...he question & rebukes him. v12-13 says:

"May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you."

Pretty strong words spoken too the person David himself calls, "God's annointed".

Over and over in scripture, particularly the New Testament, we are told to question the teaching and test the spirits. The Bereans are commended for listening to what is taught and searching the scriptures. In Galatians Paul publicly rebukes Peter...Peter, the one Jesus named the rock! By the way, Paul didn't pull Peter aside to do one on one with him like it says in Mt 18. (Another teaching for another time) He rebuked him right in front of the entire church.

2:14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

How do ya like that?! Real church is often messy because it's made up of real people and so you get that sort of thing from time to time.

I'm not writing this because I'm hurt or angry or anything like that but simply to help people get free. If you are questioning what the "leader" is doing it is ok and he/she should be open to your questions. If they aren't...you should ask more questions.

New Addition

2008-06-21T14:34:00.003-05:00

I made a new addition to my "friends along the journey" section on the right. It's under the title "Supernatural Blogger" and it's Art Thomas from up in Michigan.

I stumbled across his blog while searching for some healthy perspectives about the "Lakeland Outpouring" that is currently going on. I found Art's insight and especially his humility and consideration of people's responses who don't necessarily agree with him to be refreshing and helpful.

I haven't posted anything on Lakeland and don't know that I will. I find myself in conversations about it almost daily and that's enough for now. Suffice to say I line up pretty closely with Art's take on things so if you want to take the time to get some good perspective take a look at his blog.

Welcome Art...and thanks!

Celtics

2008-06-20T08:11:00.003-05:00

My boys were excited about the Celtics recent win of the NBA Finals so they made their own... Jerseys?

Wanna buy one?Life is good here.

They're Hitched!!

2008-06-17T08:22:00.005-05:00

It's official, on Saturday June 14th Jesse & Sara exchanged vows and started life together. Everyone knew about it even Batman was present.
There are more pics on my Picasa photo album.

It was a real honor and privilege for me to be able to do the ceremony. I have so much love and respect for these two. They are world changers.
Congratulations guys! Live long and prosper!

Church and The Shack

2008-06-09T08:19:00.004-05:00

These excerpts from the book "The Shack" set off an amazing time of conversation and prayer with the church last night.

"Most birds were created to fly. Being grounded for them is a limitation within their ability to fly, not the other way around....You, on the other hand, were created to be loved. So for you to live as if you were unloved is a limitation, not the other way around....Jesus is fully human. Although he is also fully God, he has never drawn upon his nature as God to do anything. He has only lived out of his relationship with me, living in the very same manner that I desire to be in relationship with every human being. He is just the first to believe in my love and goodness without regard for appearance or consequence....A bird's not defined by being grounded but by his ability to fly. Remember this, humans are not defined by their limitations, but by the intentions I have for them; not by what they seem to be, but by everything it means to be created in my image."

I highly recommend this book. It is fiction but it has more truth in it than many non-fiction.

Something to Consider

2008-06-08T08:19:00.003-05:00

I read this the other day on Kristin's blog. It is worth soaking your head in for a while.

"i am forgiving you not because you are a sinner, but because you are my daughter"

If your a guy it's ok to exchange the word son for daughter.

The Heart of the Gospel

2008-05-31T19:55:00.005-05:00

A young boy is standing next to his Father staring at the cross.
boy: Why did he die on the cross?
Father: because He loves.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only son....

sometimes in the muck of it all we tend to forget that simple reality.
If we could have saved ourselves the cross wouldn't have been necessary.
Equally: If He didn't love, the cross wouldn't have been necessary.

I hate when someone says, "I am just a worthless sinner that has been saved by grace."

Tell me, could something that cost God so much really be worthless?

Miracles

2008-05-20T13:32:00.012-05:00

We were super blessed recently to be able to attend a friend's ordination ceremony.

This one was very special because when we first met him about 5 years ago he was getting out of prison. At the time he had almost spent more years of his life in prison than out.
Of all the incredible miracles Father does on a daily basis the one that inspires me the most is a transformed, restored life.
This is a life truly transformed by God. No man can take credit for the transformation not even Richie himself.

A few years ago he and I sat on my back porch and prayed about his son who he had not seen in almost 4 years and his parents who he couldn't forgive. Just the thought of these relationships somehow being mended was way too big and much too painful to even talk about.

We met his parents at his ordination and his son comes to stay permanently with him this June. (over the past year he has been able to spend quite a bit of time with his son).
Praise you Abba that your goodness is beyond my compre-
hension.
Congratulations Richie!!

New Found Family

2008-05-13T08:19:00.009-05:00

For the past few months we have been hanging with the folks at Extreme Faith Church. I thought the name was kinda hokie at 1st but once I got to know these beautiful people and hear their stories I understand just how extreme their faith really is. Check out Hb 11:36-40 for some scripture that deals with what I am saying.
Let me introduce you to some of the family.

What better place to start than with John or better knows as "Mr President" Politics is his subject but I think he got his nickname because he will always agree with anything you say. "yeah, I like that too."

This is Terry. He loves to talk about science. We are to take him to see Ironman on Saturday.

Meet Mike and Melony. Melony was burned at a young age. She just got two new legs about a week ago. She is an amazing person.

Wendy works with the kids on Sunday. Ernest loves to talk about colleges and fraternities. On Friday nights you can often find him sitting quietly listening to praise music.Mike loves to talk about Jesus forgiving him. It's great. Here's some more of the folks sitting out back. That is David in the blue. A couple of years ago he was beat up by a few teenagers for no apparent reason other than being homeless. Kimberly is the lady on the left in the gray dress. She recently moved out to live in Daytona. She comes back every now and then and we have gone over to visit her.
I set up a link to their website "Extreme" over on the right. You can check out more pics of the family as well as prayer requests and stuff.

Solid teaching on the poor

2008-04-22T12:19:00.002-05:00

Brother Lew has been throwin down some teaching on the poor on the Grubby Kupp blog.

Check it out.

The Way

2008-04-22T08:40:00.003-05:00

Somewhere along the line the way of Christianity has been turned largely into a series of events, programs & meetings. "The Way" has been reduced down to a statement of belief. You've heard it

"Jesus is Lord"

"Jesus is my savior" or what's popular today

"Jesus is my homie"

Often times I have heard it taught or stated that Jesus came to show us the way we should live our lives.

But a serious look at the sermon on the mount makes me quickly realize that the sermon on the mount is well beyond my very best Sunday efforts. This isn't a life I can just make a decision one day to live...yet another model to be followed.

I need Jesus in me to live the life of the way.

The Rabbi from Nazareth says a lot when He says, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life". Actually He says a lot every time He opens His mouth.

Jesus offers us a new way to live life. It's a life to be lived in every facet of our day to day activities. We live this life breath by breath whether at school, work, home, wherever but not whenever we want.

I don't think when Jesus says to "follow me" he meant to do what I have done and say what I have said. No rather He calls us into a deep and abiding current real time relationship with Him. In this relationship we get handled, changed, formed by the truth (the person Jesus) and we live a new life born of the spirit.

And it is a most beautiful life!

When we live this "new" life we see church in a new light. Church is no longer a series of events & meetings nor is it a model to be followed. Rather we begin to see church as all these ongoing relationships we have with other brothers and sisters who are with us on this journey.

These are relationships lived out in close proximity. Close geographical proximity (something I believe to be a necessity). But also close spiritual proximity with saints who may live 100's or 1000's of miles away from us as well as all the saints who we are temporarily separated with by time. All the saints who have gone before us or are to come after us.

This is the Way we are invited to take part in.

Pagan Christianity--Too Funny

2008-04-15T14:06:00.001-05:00

I read the book, it's fact, but it really didn't do much for me. This is hilarious though.

Overcoming evil with Love

2008-04-05T16:11:00.001-05:00

What a beautiful saint.

Pilgrims

2008-03-19T08:49:00.006-05:00

Hebrews 11:8-16 has been speaking to me this morning.
Abe sets out not knowing where he was going.
go to a land that I will show you.
So he sets out in faith trusting the one who called him.
All those saints died without receiving what they had been promised.
Pilgrims in the land.
Strangers in unfamiliar territory.
Comfort was as foreign as the soil on their feet.
It wasn't meant for them.
How often did they want to give up?
Despair,
depression
peace
joy
hope
these were feelings that were familiar to them.
Often lonely but never alone.
Their eyes were set on home and their hands clung tightly to the one who knew the way.

And because of all this God was not ashamed to be their God.

Quote

2008-02-21T21:28:00.002-05:00

I recently read this quote on Kristen's blog and loved it. It came from Charlie Hall but don't know if it is his or if he picked it up from someone else.

“May God Bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.”

The first part really speaks to me. Relationships and relational church are pop topics these days. Maybe it is a fad or maybe it is a true longing in the heart of many people.

We live in a culture and time where most relationships are only about an inch deep and only last as long as the purpose they serve.

I guess we really do reap what we sow.

Obedience?

2008-02-19T14:07:00.002-05:00

I have two sons. In all their years they have never once asked me if I was really their Father. Even when they did something I didn't approve of and I disciplined them they never asked if they were still my kids or if I had rejected them.

Ouch, I don't want to imagine what that would feel like, "Do you still love us? Are we still your sons? Can we still sleep in your home tonight?" Man questions like that would break my heart.

"Don't you know you're my kids! Everything I have belongs to you!"

I've had a few conversations with them about obedience and doing what mom and I expect but never ever in the context that if they mess up they would no longer be considered my children. And make no mistake it is a few conversations certainly not the focal point of our relationship.

Reality is most of our conversations have nothing to do with obedience. Yea there is encouragement and teaching but almost always in the context of enjoying our relationship. I say "almost always" because I am less than perfect.

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven..." Lk 11:13

The Narrow Path

2008-02-17T14:45:00.004-05:00

The grime, filth, hurt, pain, sin and rebellion around me aren't obstacles to the path of Jesus they are the path of Jesus.

The filth and pain is an opportunity to extend God's kingdom through love, humility, and compassionate service.

When He saw sin He saw an opportunity to redeem,
when He saw disease He saw opportunity to heel,
and when He saw dirty feet He saw an opportunity to get on His knees and wash the dust off.

Jn 13:13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Meet Allan

2008-02-07T10:23:00.000-05:00

Allan was baptized in early December and recently has come to live with us for a while.

He's a rollerblading maniac. Hardcore crazy stuff like 540's and grinding off roofs.

Please pray for him as you think of him. He is fresh and new and has more questions than answers which is frustrating to him. Pray that he would become content with the questions and the reality that we see but dimly and it's a walk of trust not knowledge.

Life Here

2008-01-20T14:24:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I take for granted how blessed we are and how beautiful life is here with this family. As we have pursued Jesus our lives have naturally become closer and intertwined. I was recently reminded of it during one of our church gatherings and took some pics:

A single dad came over early with his girls to work on a single mom's car

All the kids were outside playing and hanging out with the kids in the neighborhood. Some of the adults were indoors preparing dinner...me, I was taking pics and bbq some chicken.

This wan't a special outreach or anything like that it was simply life in the family of the redeemed. Not spectacular but very special. We are Blessed.

Chand Family

2008-01-20T14:05:00.000-05:00

Meet the Chand Family!Dinesh, Rachel, Aron, Nathan, & Anna

They came and spent some time with us towards the end of the year. They live in the Himalayan region of India in an area known as "abode of idols". Basically little villages all over the mountain side. Something like 1 christian for every 1000 people.

10 years ago God asked them to raise up indigenous workers in the area. They have taken part in the planting of about 37 churches thru out the region.

They are here in the states for about a year praying and networking with local bodies all over the country. We are planning a trip up to the Midwest in March. If you are interested in meeting them let me know and we can work it out I am sure.

While they were here the 1st time we took them to Blue Springs, right down the road from our house, to see some manatee. We got an extra treat by coming across this black bear.

Yea we got pretty close it, I think I heard someone say she was about 300 lbs.

Baby Blue

2008-01-18T21:15:00.001-05:00

Wow, life has been full the past couple of months. It has been a while since my last post and I have lots that I want to share. I hope to make quite a few posts over the next couple of days but in case I don't...well at least know that I am trying...

If you look back a couple of posts you will see our dog Sandy died just 2 months ago. About a month ago we brought home a new dog. My parents bought her as a Christmas gift for our boys.

Thanks Mom & Dad!

It's kinda hard to tell in the pics but she has some amazing blue eyes. Baby, is a Heinz 57, she has some pointer, catalouha leopard dog, and akita in her. We got her at a rescue shelter in Orlando. They got her from a kill shelter in Georgia where she was set to be put to sleep. Yep rescued from death row.

Baby was only about 6 months old when we got her and had been thru a bunch in her young life. She is settling in quite well though. Sleeping on her back with my wife on the couch at the moment.

Jesus people in Cincinnati

2007-12-10T09:28:00.000-05:00

Check out this recent newspaper article about our close relatives in Cincinnati.

You can also read Lew's response and corrections to the article by clicking on the "Lewminator" link in my friends section to the right -->

I'm not sure I like the nickname "bearded minister" I would much prefer "the bearded one" or simply "da beard".

Also think you need to get over the whole holding the bible thing...Let it go man!!

Sitting with Jesus

2007-11-19T08:58:00.000-05:00

We have a member in the body who has fallen. They got caught in a snare and are struggling greatly.
Please pray for them. Pray they wouldn't hear their own shouts of condemnation but the whispers of Jesus.
I have tried multiple times over the past couple of weeks to get together with the person and talk with them about what is going on but there is always an excuse why the date has to be broken.
They didn't make it to fellowship last night and I felt it was right and time to call on the others to pray and let them know a bit of what was going on. Not sure what kind of response there would be since there were lies, manipulation, and people taken advantage of.
Certainly reason to be angry, resentful, bitter and the like but instead...
urgency.
Urgency born out of sincere compassion and love. Compassion that can only be found when Jesus is present.
Prayer
Tears
more prayer
We read again Galatians 6 and we all had a deep understanding of what it means to be careful that we ourselves don't fall into sin.
The sin of judgement and condemnation of thinking we are somehow better and beyond falling ourselves. That's what he is talking about there.
Self-righteousness is gnarly.
Some recounted how just a few weeks back they were in need of gentle restoration and how thankful they were in receiving it.
We're a ragtag bunch here. grubby cups (to borrow a name from a friend) for sure.
We often don't look very mature. If you said turn to Philemon many would look dumbfounded.
But we get compassion,
we get grace
we see clearly our need for it every day.

Someone once said that
if you call Jesus good He'll be good.
If you call Him love He'll be love
but if you call Him compassion He will know that you know.

Please pray for our brother/sister. Pray for us too.

Sandy

2007-11-14T19:55:00.000-05:00

Kim took this picture early Tuesday morning. Hard to tell from the angle but her feet aren't touching the ground. I'm not sure how this was comfortable but...
If the picture had sound you would hear her snoring...hard.
We used to try and train her to not sleep on the couch but it never really worked and in the end we were pretty much ok with it.

She died unexpectedly last night and we buried her in the backyard this morning.
She was almost 5. Early 30's for a human I guess. None of the 3 vets that were working with her were sure what was happening. She has had trouble with her back legs for years and over the past couple of months it was getting worse.
But within a couple of hours she was unable to walk or lift her head. She died a few hours later.
It may have been a coral snake bite (I killed one in the backyard this morning)
Someone could have thrown something poisonous over the fence for her to eat
or most likely she had been fighting something for a long time and her body finally couldn't fight any longer.
Everyone who knew her knew "rubabelly"...
say it and she would immediately drop and roll on her back so her belly could be rubbed.
Actually all you typically had to do was look at her and she would want her belly rubbed.
She was a blackhole for affection but it was great...
Lew nicknamed her "flumix" I'm not sure any of us know what the heck that means but it sure seemed to fit.

It's been a hard day here.
tears,
prayers,
hugs.
Kind words from many people.
We feel loved.
Death is a part of life, not the end though, a doorway to the imperishable.
Jesus made sure of that.
Thanks Sandy for all you taught me. You'll be missed.

Fall Retreat

2007-11-01T18:35:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pics from our fall retreat at Roan mountain.

Lew, Judy and some of the folks from the church in Cincy made it down as well as my niece from up near Dayton.

One of the many blessings was Judy's dad, Mr. Weiss, who came along. His testimony is truly inspiring. If I understand correctly at almost 50 he and his wife sold everything to become missionaries. Most places wouldn't take him because of his age and lack of theological schooling. He persevered and went on to plant 18 churches in the Philippines and now at almost 80 is headed back to continue the work Father has given him.

We also had a baptism in the river. It was great.

To see all the pics click on the title above or the "Picasa" link to the right.

He's Baaack!!

2007-11-01T09:11:00.001-05:00

After 8 months working with Jesus in Calcutta, India my good bro' Jesse is back!

(sorry the pic stinks. I took it on my phone and we had bad lighting. I would have ran out to my car and got the good camera but I had a pulled pork basket sitting in front of me.)

We celebrated by going to our favorite eating establishment:

The original Bubbalou's Bodacious BBQ.

We won't talk about what the BBQ did to his system after 8 months of Indian food.

It's great to have you back!

Psalm 130

2007-10-29T14:01:00.000-05:00

I love how this reads in the New Jerusalem Translation:

"From the depths I call to you, Yahweh:
Lord, hear my cry. Listen attentiviely to the sound of my pleading!
If you kept a record of our sins, Lord who could stand their ground?
But with you is forgiveness, that YOU may be revered.

I rely, my whole being relies, on Yahweh, on your promise.
My whole being hopes in the Lord, more than a watchmen for daybreak;
more than a watchmen for daybreak let Israel hope in Yahweh.

For with Yahweh is FAITHFUL LOVE, with him generous ransom;
and he will ransom Israel from all its sins."

I have heard it said there are 3 ways to commit suicide: Taking my own life, letting myself die, and allowing myself to live without hope.

Brennan Manning said that

Living without hope is so subtle it often goes unnoticed until it is too late. It's getting caught up in the drudergy and monotany of life. Believing there is no real purpose or reason or worse yet believing your greatest purpose is loyalty to your:

job
school
country
ministry
or image

I said that.

There sure is a lot of good theology found in this one little psalm but I think today it is best to read it as a cry from the depths of my being and soak in the love of my Abba found in Jesus.

I said that too...

Changes & New Additions

2007-10-10T15:54:00.000-05:00

I made a few slight changes to this blog.

Basically I have added some new links over in the "Friends along the Way" section and also added a resource section. I plan to continue to add to both of these.

"Father's House Europe" is a good friend, Jeff Scaldwell, in England who we had the honor of having in our home a few months back. He's got some excellent teachings and downloads on his web page.

Also added a link to some good friends and amazing people Heather & Jordan. They are extremely gifted musicians and they got the corner on cool. You can listen to some of their original stuff at their site.
Look for their debut cd to be released soon.
The song "here with you" was written by Heather right after they lost their first child. I had the privilege of worshipping with them just a few days after their loss.
tears,
pain,
love,
comfort,
and the sweet sweet presence of Jesus.

I have heard it said lamentations...even when things are bad still I will praise you...is the deepest, sincerest form of worship....yea.

Redemptive Violence & the Kingdom of God

2007-09-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

Recently I received one of those forwards from a brother that says basically republicans are good democrats are evil, if it wasn't for Clinton and his cronies the world would be safe. Once the person found out that the forward wasn't true to the facts they quickly sent out an apology for forwarding it along.
I don't really care about the forward itself. What bothers me is how the church has largely bought into this myth of redemptive violence. Below is an excerpt from our exchange.

My Reply to the original forward:

...Help me here I really struggle with the emails that deal with killing our enemies. I mean if the 1st church had the mindset of killing the terrorists we would not have a huge chunk of the New Testament…after all, Saul of Tarsus was a terrorist.
Their Response:
These two scriptures deal with the issue. There's probably more. Of course, they'd have to be read in context.
LUK 22:36 And He said to them, "But now, let him who has a purse take it along, likewise also a bag, and let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one.
ROM 13:4 for it (government or rulers) is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.
This statement offers to totally confuse and misrepresent the present terrorist threat: "after all, Saul of Tarsus was a terrorist."
Can you look at the terrorist atrocities over the past 30-40 years and seriously relate them to Saul's work as an ignorant Jew? Was he part of a world wide effort to bring all on the earth into submission to their false god and religion or murder them to bring glory to that god?
Further, you must believe that the God who is described by his actions and judgments as seen in the Mosaic Covenant is a different God from the other two members of the trinity? "If you've seen the Father, you've seen me, should be accurate if stated If you've seen the Father, you've seem me" should Jesus say that. I and the Father are one. So, then why not believe he would want us to totally annihilate two cities in Japan, for instance, if that would result in saving many more lives in Japan and those who are going to invade and stop their madness?
My Response:
...To be clear my contention is not with the country or our government but the church. Wars will happen. How does the church respond to war and violence? This is one of those subjects that I believe we can't be silent about because it cuts to the heart of the "kingdom" Jesus told us to pray for to come on Earth as it is in heaven. It's a kingdom that He says we can have now. When I read the sermon on the mount I see a glimpse into this kingdom…blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God, pray for those who persecute you, do no resist an evil person, love your enemy, offer the other cheek, if they want your tunic give them your cloak as well. Then you will be sons of the Most High because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Am I only to love my enemy in the kingdom that is to come? It doesn't seem to me like there will be much need for me to love my enemy beyond the grave.
According to Jesus at what point do we stop loving our enemies and start retaliating? Jesus didn't retaliate but asked that they would be forgiven. Stephen didn't retaliate but asked that his murder wouldn't be held against them. Is there a place in the New Testament when we see the church picking up the sword? Is there a time in church history where we see the church RIGHTLY picking up the sword? The crusades but for sure that wasn't led by the Spirit. Remember when James and John wanted to call down fire on the city that didn't accept Jesus? Jesus rebuked them harshly. That is not the kingdom He was ushering in.
When I look at Acts as well as church history, when persecution happens the church didn't rally, centralize, and stand their ground but instead they dispersed and spread out carrying the gospel of a new kingdom with them.
If the kingdom is "love your friends, forgive only those who ask for it, destroy your enemies" how are we any different than the rest of the world? Because we do it in the name of the real God? Please no!
The kingdom we are a part of is different than the kingdoms of this world right?
It's a kingdom where love triumphs over evil, light pierces the darkness, life defeats death, grass pierces concrete, the lion lays with the lamb, and swords are beat into ploughshares. It's a kingdom where we walk in a scandalous grace that doesn't make sense to the world or to me. Because of this grace we learn there are things worth dying for but nothing worth killing for. Love triumphs not violence.
Violence only begets more violence. Jesus said this when he said, "Who ever lives by the sword dies by the sword." By the way He said this shortly after He said "sell a robe and buy a sword". And if I may digress even further in looking at commentaries by John Wesley, Mathew Henry, and Adam Clarke they all point to this verse as being a figure of speech and not to be taken literal. The spirit bears witness to this as well if the verse is taken in context. The disciples are excited and say here is a couple of swords to which Jesus responds ENOUGH! (that's not what I am talking about). The disciples as well as all the Jews always expected the warrior Messiah that was going to stand up against evil not the one who was going to defeat evil by not resisting it…that's why they could never understand his words about the cross. Peter was ready to die with Jesus but he was expecting a battle. When Jesus went quietly with his enemies Pete got confused.
When will we see the myth of redemptive violence for what it is? A myth, a trap, the way of the world. How can we possibly teach our kids to turn the other cheek while we support dropping a bomb on those who supposedly threaten us?
In response to your questions, do I believe that Saul was as bad as the terrorists today? How do we even begin to rate evil? Saul was an infamous terrorist for sure. From Paul's own pen he says of himself, "He was the worst of sinners." "The least of the apostles, and "I do not even deserve to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church". With a zeal for God he killed and approved of the killing of Christians. Make no mistake he wanted to rid the earth of people who followed Jesus and took pride in his efforts. Think about it. In a time when there was no internet, newspapers, or 6 o'clock news Saul's reputation preceded him. Even when he was converted, the church was still afraid of him and thought it was a trap. If Osama would announce tomorrow that he is a born again follower of Jesus what would we do? We would be skeptical at best and rightfully so.

If I understand your last question correctly I think you are basically asking me if I believe that the Father of Jesus is the same God of the Mosaic Covenant. Of course I do, He doesn't change. I don't begin to claim I understand all the ways and thoughts of our Father. He is the divine mystery. But I do know that, while He doesn't change, because of the cross, the way He can relate to all of us changed dramatically.
Do I believe He would have us drop the bomb on Japan, Iraq or anywhere else…no. He is God of the universe not just America. We have brothers and sisters who are dying over there at the hands of our government. This should grieve us deeply. We claim to be pro-life. Are we pro ALL life or just some? If Germany would decide tomorrow to bomb America because of the 3 million babies a year we murder in the name of free choice would we the church support them and say they are stopping the madness? Certainly not! As much as I detest abortion I know that killing the doctors as well as the innocent isn't the answer.
This isn't the easy way it's the narrow road. After all does it take more courage to fight our enemy or to love them?

Man of Sorrows

2007-08-24T08:58:00.000-05:00

"...There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief..." Is 53:2-3

"Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death..." Mt 26:38

"that I may come to know him and the power of his resurrection, and partake of his sufferings by being moulded to the pattern of his death" Phil 3:10

Is it possible to know the real Jesus without experiencing his sorrow, loneliness, and pain?

Summer is Over

2007-08-20T12:40:00.000-05:00

Summer has come to an end...well, at least summer vacation for my sons is over. They went back to school today. It was kind of hard for me. We had a great summer. It was busy with

a trip to the Midwest,

a vacation to the mountains,

a friend coming to stay,

and multiple short excursions to the beach.

The summer went by fast though. Kids really do grow up quick.

Ya know the old saying, "it's not about how much time but what you do with the time that is important."? That's bunk. Spend quantity time and quality time will happen. Our kids need us. Your kids need you.

There is no greater calling than to be a parent...really.

They're both so different and yet similar and best friends.

Nick is a young man in just a few months he will be 13...wow! He's becoming a leader. Something that was spoken over him by some friends a couple years back while praying. Kim and I have seen it in him for a while now.

Josh on the other hand is so amazingly different. He had the word "warrior" spoken over him, yeah and it's there. He's got a huge heart and it's really soft. He doesn't like seeing people mistreated. I mean it really bothers him. He sees the world thru a set of eyes that I believe few have. It's easy for me (us) to miss or not understand things as he sees them.

Please pray for them and us. Pray that we would raise them well.

Thank you Jesus for these precious gifts.

Proverbs 18:16

2007-07-30T21:10:00.001-05:00

As I understand the story Paul is from Wales and had dreamed of being an opera singer but medical bills forced him into getting a regular job. No surprise he ended up winning the competition and is getting ready to release his first album.

Particularly pay attention to the looks on the judges faces both before and after Paul's audition.

Recent trip to Roan Mountain

2007-07-26T18:04:00.000-05:00

Over the 4th of July we went with some good friends up to Roan Mountain for a few days. We had an incredible time. It was great to take a short break from the Florida heat. You can check out all the pics from the trip here.

The Church...alive and well

2007-06-27T08:55:00.000-05:00

I recently received this article from a friend down in Mexico. It is well said and timely for me. I often struggle with what I see called the church in west.
The church that Nee describes below is not a building, a denomination, or the house church movement but it is very often present in these things.

SEEING THE ACCOMPLISHED FACTby Watchman Nee
"We are His masterpiece." (Ephesians 2:10) The Church is the very best God can produce. It can never be improved upon. We look around and see breakdown everywhere and we wonder, "What is the Church coming to?" I tell you she is not coming to anything; she has arrived! We do not look forward to discover her goal; we look back. God reached His end in Christ before the foundation of the world and we move forward with Him on the basis of what already is. As we move in the light of that eternal fact, we witness its progressive manifestation - you advance spiritually by finding out what you already are, not by trying to become what you hope to be. It is when you see you are dead that you die (i.e. manifest ones death in Christ);It is when you see you are risen that you arise;It is when your see you are holy that you become holy. Seeing the accomplished fact determines the pathway to the realizing of that fact. The end is reached by seeing, not desiring or working. The only possibility of spiritual progress lies in us discovering the truth as God sees it; the truth concerning Christ, the truth concerning ourselves in Christ, and the truth concerning the Church, the Body of Christ."

My friend Cody said it well,
"The true church is all those people out there who are following King Jesus, trusting in him, allowing him to wrought changes in them, people becoming transformed, people who begin to reflect his image. These are real Christians which is literally translated as LITTLE CHRISTS, and this is the way of love, if you too are of this way you will know these others because the same spirit that is in you will leap in joyful recognition whenever you meet."

Easter 2007

2007-05-16T21:49:00.000-05:00

Ok, this post is a bit late.

I have been trying to get the pictures of Easter rounded up from different people who brought a camera and then also been trying to get a handle on this online photo album technology. Not that online photo album technology is all that difficult but then no one has ever accused me of being a tecky.I am pretty sure this shouldn't have taken me 2 months but....that's my story.

Hopefully if you click here you will get to my photo's of our Easter party on the beach. It was great being with family, relaxing on the beach, and celebrating our Risen Lord. The Ross family was able to make it down from Cincinatti which made is extra-special. Father has really blessed us with a super close brother and sister in Lew and Judy.

So this is my 1st attempt at an online photo album something I hope to use on a regular basis. If anyone has any suggestions that would make this more user friendly and my life a bit easier please speak up.

We were visited

2007-05-16T20:06:00.000-05:00

We were super blessed last week to have Jeff Scaldwell from Father's House Europe come visit us. I love this guys heart and we were truly blessed to be able to spend some time with him.

Thanks Jeff!

Disobedience

2007-05-07T08:59:00.000-05:00

I have been reflecting on a recent post by Wayne Jacobsen entitled "What about Disobedience"

Romans 8:15 is a snapshot of the before and after of the cross. In OT times God demanded obedience with the threat of punishment. This was His way of making us righteous. Fear was the primary motivator. Although I would add that there is plenty of scripture that leads me to believe that this is not how He wanted it but more how we wanted it. However, I am sure it was part of His plan.

Enough digression.

Romans 8:15 sheds light on the fact that now because of the cross He is able to deal with us differently. He is able to bring us into Holiness (obedience) thru love and grace. God hasn't changed but because of the cross His ability to deal with us has changed.

When I know that I am loved I can follow freely in righteousness produced by trust/faith.

Think of it this way, my child relates to me differently than does a neighbor or outsider. Why? Because he is my son. He knows me, I know him. He knows he is loved and accepted. Certainly this analogy breaks down because of my imperfection but...

how much more should we be able to trust a Father who is perfect and loves perfectly?!

Interesting that when I study Hebrews 3-5 (also take a look at Numbers 13-14 this is the circumstantial reference of Hb 3-5) I see that disobedience wasn't the issue but a symptom of a greater disease...lack of trust. They couldn't enter into His rest because they simply didn't believe God loved them and was worthy of trust. Isn't this the real sin throughout scripture, the same whisper many of us hear time and again that causes us to stumble and fall:

Look at you, does God really love you?
Can you really trust Him?
Are you really His child?
Is He a Father really worth trusting?

When Satan tempted Eve in the garden wasn't he simply saying, "can you really trust what He said?" Something that had never even entered her mind prior to that moment.

Wayne writes, "As we grow in trust of a loving father our sin gets displaced and we find ourselves living in a righteousness that comes by faith."

How about God punishing us today? Hebrews 12 says God disciplines His children. The Greek word used for discipline is "paideia" which means tutorage, that is, education or training; by implication disciplinary correction: - chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.

Simply put discipline is training to follow His ways not punishment. (For those who have kids think about that the next time you are preparing to discipline your child)

We are being trained to live Free in Christ. Free to follow the Father with complete trust and live no longer in bondage to our own self indulgences.

The New Covenant doesn't change the goal to bring us to holiness but rather changes the process. Love takes us to deeper more complete levels of obedient trust than fear ever could.

Thanks Wayne for helping to bring some clarity to this issue for me.

Right Direction Wrong Reason

2007-04-20T13:02:00.000-05:00

This article is a great example of bad religion. Basically it says, that the Pope and his councilors have rethought the Roman Catholic long held stance on babies that die prior to Baptism. They now believe there are "serious theological and liturgical grounds for hope that unbaptized infants who die will be saved and brought into eternal happiness."

This is not about bashing or finding fault with Roman Catholics because I see Protestants do similar things.

My point of contention is the reasoning behind their positional shift. The article states, "Pope John Paul II and Benedict had urged further study on limbo, in part because of 'the pressing pastoral needs' sparked by the increase in abortion and the growing number of children who die without being baptized."
Basically they are saying that because our soceity is in the toilet they are changing their theology to fit the needs of the time.

What the heck?!

We are in trouble when we allow societal pressure or circumstantial pressure or even our own rational minds dictate truth. Does God change because society is digressing or flourishing?

I for one believe that infants who die go to heaven. But not because I have studied what scripture or other liturgy says about the issue but rather because I know God.

Isn't this the reason for the cross? So we no longer have to know about Him but so that we can come to know Him personally?

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (Jn 17:4)

When we know God our theology and truth may change or rather grow as we see Him more clearly but it certainly doesn't change based on circumstances or societal pressures.

Lizard Attack

2007-04-04T15:03:00.001-05:00

This gets better the more you watch it.

Forest Rangers

2007-03-24T13:28:00.000-05:00

I was at a meeting about a week ago and one of the guys there was talking about God being wild and how we have tamed him, put him in a box...nothing really new. But then he said something that I have been seriously pondering, "christian leaders need to be more like forest rangers than gardeners".
So what's the difference?
Gardeners spend most of their time manicuring what they oversee..lots of "hands-on" time grooming, pruning, pulling, planting and replanting making the garden fit the preconceived picture in their mind. The gardener is THE artist.

In contrast a forest ranger's job is to keep human hands off of what they are overseeing. No planting, pulling, trimming, or grooming. Occasionally picking up some trash or putting out a fire both of which often come at the hands of...well...humans. He protects and mends the bruised reed instead of uprooting and replacing it. The beauty of a forest is often found in its wild spontaneity. A forest ranger recognizes he is not the artist but he is a steward for the artist.

What does this look like in church life...messy and uncontrolled for sure. Much more reactive than proactive. It means we minister ample portions of grace and truth and leave plenty of room for the Holy Spirit to work in people's live. It means we spend most of our time cleaning up messes instead of preventing them.

By Grace

2007-03-11T11:50:00.000-05:00

Ya know, as I reflect on my last post about Jesse's honesty and journey in Kolkata. I am reminded of how we stand by grace alone. Here is a guy who really is doing all the stuff yet openly admits that he was missing Jesus.

Sorry bro' not picking on you, ya just got me thinking a bunch.

Along these same lines, what if we were to hear Mother Theresa openly speak of her own wretchedness and need for forgiveness?

Yes I know she past on years ago.

I think most of us would say something like, "oh she's just being humble" and we either would not be able to comprehend it or we would quietly accuse her of false modesty. The truth is that apart from Christ she is as bankrupt as anyone else who has walked the earth.

On that infamous Thursday night both Judas and Peter, and all the disciples for that matter, denied Jesus. Peter said he didn't even know who He was. Judas allowed the guilt and reality of his evil to drive him away from His saviour and ultimately take his life. Peter on the other hand was willing to return, hurt and humiliated, but still in love and he received restoration.

See up to that point Peter's problem, just like many of us, was simply that he believed his relationship with the Rabbi was grounded in his own ability to follow. After all, he was THE ROCK, and even if all these others leave you I won't. I will die with you.

When the flood came his house came crashing down in the reality that he had built it on the rock of his own shifting sands of self-righteousness instead of the real ROCK...the grace and truth of the Son, and the incomprehensible love of the Father.

1st Love

2007-03-11T10:11:00.000-05:00

Here is a recent update from Jesse, a bro' who has gone out into the fields of India. This is really good stuff but hard. Jesse is one of the most kingdom focused hard working people I know. He’s been doing all the "stuff" for years:
at the abortion clinics at 6:00 on Saturday mornings talking to people who are going to kill their kids,
getting punched,
spit on,
hot coffee thrown at him.
but here he is admitting that in the process of it all he lost his focus, his relationship with Jesus had become lukewarm at best.

Relationships take time and work, anyone who is married and honest will agree.

Getting honest about where you are at is a good thing. It’s the 1st step to freedom. Ya got to fight though. Jesus said the kingdom of God is advancing forcefully and forceful men take hold of it. Paul says we have to persevere. That means we fight, but fight who and persevere against what? Most often ourselves, our sinful nature, carnal minds, our own great ideas and desires…our flesh…pick your translation it is all the same.

Living in America

2007-03-04T09:57:00.000-05:00

This is an excerpt from an email I received a couple of weeks ago from a brother who has recently gone to India to do some work for Jesus and/or get worked on by Jesus. If you want to read more of his thoughts click on the Gusseology link to the right.

Thus far India has been very difficult on me. I am very very very homesick.
I am also very ill. So physicaly and mentally it's been very straining.
My spirit is also in very unkown waters right now. As soon as I landed in
Kolkata (Calcutta) and walked out of the airport there was no question I was
in a new world. The poverty here is astounding. I have spent some time in
Mexico City and that didn't even begin to prepare me for what I would see
here.
The poverty smacks you accross the face and I don't think I'll ever
get used
to it. I know you hear it all the time, "Americans don't know how
good they
got it"....but we really really don't. I've been in a constant
state of
struggle as I look at what is around me.
A few nights ago I was
ready to throw the towel in. I think that is mostly
because we hadn't
started anything yet. We were still kind of settling in
and so all I had was
time to think about how much I miss home and how
chaotic the conditions are
here.
But then we started actually doing stuff a few days ago, and it has
really
lifted my spirits. We aren't working in the brothels with the sex
trade
girls yet. They said that is so intense that we need a couple months
here
before we do that. And in that time we are taking Bengali classes.
Bengali
is the language of this area. So what we have been doing is serving
the
poor. Mother Teresa had done amazing things in this area in her
lifetime.
The Indian people absolutely adore her. She started a number of
compunds
called "homes" throughout the city that are used to help the
helpless. Her
first "home" was a place to bring people who were dying. She
couldn't stand
seeing them just die on the street, so she started a house
where they could
die with dignity. Since that first one she has started many
others. Homes
for the extremely handicapped. Mentally ill. Long term
sufferers.
Addicts. On and on and on. So we have been working at one of the
homes.
I get there in the morning and wash the clothes of the patients. Then
when
I finish that I wash the compound. After that I go around and massage
the
patients. They are foul, puss filled, bloody, etc., etc....but....Mother
Teresa once said that when she washed the feet of the poor she couldn't help
but imagine she was washing they very feet of Jesus. I am no mother teresa,
but I do get a taste of what an honor it is to serve the poor. I also get
to joke with them. I say my jokes in english, and they don't understand a
word, but they still laugh :)

When I read this I cried. Not only for him or the people there but mostly I think for myself. Why? Why Father? Why was I born in this country...born with so much...wealth, opportunities, convienence, ease. I didn't have any input in where I was born and to whom I was born. I have a great family, awesome parents but I didn't choose nor did they. Scripture says God decides where we are born and the number of our days. Sure we make many decisions that will ultimately affect how our life is lived out but the core basics of where, when and to whom we have no control over...they are God ordained.

I am sure of this, I wasn't blessed this way for my comfort and convienence. To those who much is given much is expected. Jesus is including everything in this statement, time, gifts, talents and yes money as well.

Upon deeper reflection though I certainly wouldn't hasten to say I am blessed and they aren't. America is a tough place to live and have a real relationship with Jesus. Not because we are persecuted and burned at the stake like many of our brothers and sisters but because it is easy to fall asleep and miss Him. With all the stuff it is easy to think we have Him or worse don't think we need Him. I remember when my wife came back from a mission trip to Haiti she said that Satan was the distracter of our souls. That is so right on. In other countries such as Haiti, India and many more the need for Jesus is so much more obvious than here. So much easier to here his voice and follow. They don't have near the stuff to leave. When Jesus says give up your life and come follow me that truly is good news for them. For us it feels more like the rich young ruler...we know Jesus is right, we know He has the way of abundant life but we walk away sad, can't let go, not yet, haven't ate my fill. Lord have mercy!

Thanks Jesse. Thanks for following Jesus and being transparent about your journey. Jesus is working on more than just you with your time in India.

Recent Addition

2007-02-19T10:24:00.000-05:00

Here is the most recent addition to the folks down here. He ways in at 9 pounds 9 ounces and 23 inches long. WOW!!

Welcome to the world Deklan!!

The Passenger

2007-01-24T21:52:00.000-05:00

This poem is a follow-up to the previous post.

I found myself in anger, I cried out in despair.I prayed, "Lord let them hear me! Let just one person care!"
I raised my voice to heaven as the train kept moving on, as we passed behind the church yard! I could hear the worship songs.

I cried out all the louder to the Christians there inside, but they raised the chorus louder not hearing me outside.
I knew they heard the whistle and the clacking of the tracks. They knew that I was going to die and still they turned their backs.
I said, "Father in heaven how can your people be so very hard of
hearing to the cry of one like me? I shouted, "Please have mercy! Just a prayer
before I die!" But they sang a little louder to the Holy One on High.
They raised their hands to Heaven but the blood was dripping down. The blood of all the innocent their voices tried to drown.
They have devotions daily, they function in My Name, and they never even realized it was I upon that train.--Penny Lea

Sing A Little Louder

2007-01-24T21:24:00.000-05:00

"I lived in Germany during the Nazi holocaust. I considered myself a Christian. I attended Church since I was a small boy. We had heard
the stories of what was happening to the Jews, but like most people today in this country, we tried to distance ourselves from the reality
of what was really taking place. What could anyone do to stop it?
A railroad track ran behind our small church, and each Sunday morning we would hear the whistle from the distance and then the clacking of the wheels moving over the track. We became disturbed when one Sunday
we noticed cries coming from the train as it passed by. We grimly realized that the train was carrying Jews. They were like cattle in those cars!

Week after week that train whistle would blow. We would dread to
hear the sound of those old wheels because we knew that the Jews
would begin to cry to us as they passed our church. It was so terribly disturbing! We could do nothing to help these poor miserable people,
yet their screams tormented us. We knew exactly at what time that whistle would blow, and we decided the only way to keep from being so disturbed by the cries was to start singing our hymns. By the time the train came rumbling past the church yard, we were singing at the top of our voices. If some of the screams reached our ears, we'd just sing a little louder until we could hear them no more. Years passed
and no one talks about it much anymore, but I still hear that train whistle in my sleep. I can still hear them crying out for help. God forgive all of us who called ourselves Christians, yet did nothing to intervene." --By Penny Lea

I had lunch with Jesse today and he told me the above story. I got chills as I listened. Can you hear the warning to the church in the West today?

Finding Grace

2007-01-12T21:45:00.001-05:00

This is excellent. I loved the music choice.

WE'RE BAAACK!

2007-01-03T10:26:00.000-05:00

We got back home late Jan. 1st from an 11 day road trip. The whole trip went way better than expected as we felt Father's hand on us for every step of the journey. Physically and spiritually I left for the trip feeling pretty empty. I was actually more worn down than I realized so I was amazed to see Father use us as much as He did. There is a lesson to be learned here.

Here are a few pics with the family we stayed with along the way:

This is my sister and her family. We spent Christmas with them. They really love Jesus. Lots of peace and rest here.

It was great! They live in a little Midwest town, Brookville, near Dayton.

Ths is my nephew Chris. I hear he goes to college but judging by his skills on guitar hero I have my doubts! Nick and Josh learned this game from the master and spent about 6 hours a day playing it while we were there.

Then it was off to Akron for some time with Kim's brother and his family. It has been a few years since we had been up their way. The time with them was great. Fortunately his daughter, Victoria, got guitar hero for Christmas so Nick and Josh were more than content!

We got in a lil hoops at a nearby playground while we were there.

From Akron we headed back south to Cincinnati and some time with our Grubby Kupp family. We always have a great time with Lew, Judy and the crew. Our kids all play so well together we rarily see them unless they are hungry.

Guys we loved the time seeking the Lord together around your table. We hammered out some good stuff!

We finished our travels with a quick stop in Lexington to visit my cousins. These are the folks that led me to the Lord many years ago. It was great seeing them again.

So we are home again. Tired but refreshed and encouraged.

Hope for the Church

2006-12-23T13:22:00.000-05:00

I met with an old friend a couple of weeks ago. At one point the conversation turned to the state of the church in America. He said, "the bride is limping" and asked if I thought there was any hope left for the church. It didn't seem like he thought there was. Before I had a chance to answer the conversation turned again.

It is certainly no new revelation that the world has infiltrated the church. Power point presentations have taken the place of prayer. More dollars are spent on buildings and projects then brothers and sisters in need. Instead of following the lead of the Holy Spirit we look and follow the lead of Mcdonalds. Often times the opening of a new church building takes on the look of a grand opening for Walmart. The words of Jesus spoken to the church in Laodicea seem to ring all to true, "...you say, 'I am rich, I have become wealthy, and need nothing,' and you don't know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked..."

But is all hope lost? Elijah believed all hope was lost when Ahab and Jezebel were promising his death. He ran out to the desert thinking he was the last one who loved God. But God rebuked him and said there is a remnant; 7000 who have not yet bowed their knee to Baal.

It is no different today...well, actually it is different. There is more reason for hope now than in the days of Elijah. Not only is there a remnant but more importantly Elijah, and others like him, looked forward to the promise of the cross. We get to look back to the reality of the cross and because of it we KNOW that sin has been paid for, the curtain has been rent, and we all have access to a loving Father.

Yes, the bride is limping. Yes there is a need for repentance. Yes there is a need for us to let go of life as we know it. But I look around and I see people repenting, I see people giving up their lives and truly finding life in the process. Maybe it is not happening in mass yet but I see the new buds on the once thought dead branch.

I look around and I see people who are falling back in love with Jesus, or falling in love with Him for the 1st time. Either way their desire is to simply follow Him.

I look around and I see glimpses of THE church. She is beautiful and without blemish. I see her in the inner city and on the mountains. I see her amongst the poor and homeless and I see her in the marketplace. I see her in homes, coffee shops, bars, and religious institutions.

I know this post is not complete. There are more thoughts running around in my spirit but...yes there is hope.

Condemning Jesus

2006-11-22T09:29:00.000-05:00

This is really well done. I wonder how many of us have had this image of Jesus or still do have this image of Jesus. This is hilarious.

Toys for Tots rejects Jesus Doll

2006-11-14T14:43:00.000-05:00

This has got to be one of the funniest things I have read. Toys for Tots would not accept a donation of 4,000 Jesus dolls.

"As a government entity, Marines 'don't profess one religion over another,' Grein said Tuesday. 'We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family.'"

Bill Grein is Vice President of the Marine toys for tots foundation.

I looked at the objective, goal, and mission statements of the toys for tots organization as printed on their website and all three state it is their desire to bring the "joy of Christmas" to needy children. This leads me to ask but one question, how many Jewish and Muslim families do they run into that celebrate Christmas? At least Jewish and Muslim families that are devout enough to be offended by a talking Jesus given as a gift to their child.

You can read the full story by clicking on the title of this post.

Well Said

2006-11-04T11:36:00.000-05:00

"I would rather live on the verge of falling and let my security be in the all sufficiency of the grace of God than in some kind of pietistic illusion of moral excellence - not that I don't want to be morally excellent, but my faith isn't in the idea that I'm more moral than anybody else. My faith is in the idea that God and His love are greater than whatever sins any of us commit."
--Rich Mullins

2006-11-04T10:45:00.000-05:00

Fatherless Statistics

This is eye-opening

It's Gone

2006-11-03T09:41:00.000-05:00

This thing was narly, I could actually make it touch my eyebrows.
Kim and the boys were disappointed. They loved it. Lew, I assume you still have yours. You rock bro!
You should have heard my dad when I finally shaved it. He was so happy it made me wish I hadn't cut it off.

A night with an old Saint

2006-10-26T08:34:00.000-05:00

We recently had the privledge to spend a few hours with Arthur Burt. Arthur is from Wales. He has been walking with the Lord since he was 15 and is now 95. An 80 year relationship with Jesus...wow. He came to Deland and met with about 50 of us.

I loved his style. He would simply spit out these one liners or occasionaly tell a story/parable. These things were easy to remember and are deep and rich in truth. He wasn't heady at all. As a matter of fact he spent much of the night talking to my kids and they were tuned in virtually the whole time.

Here are lines that I can remember. If you were there and see something that I forgot or have a comment please post it here!

-"The fire of God never falls on an empty altar." He repeated this probably 10 times. "are you getting it?" What are you putting on the altar?

-"God is waiting for you." We often gather and say come Lord we are waiting on you come fill us but in reality it is God who is waiting on us. "the last time God spoke to you did you answer? Who is waiting for who?"

-"We have to go back to the beginning to find the problem. 'who told you?' Where did you get your information from? Right in the beginning- God spoke"

-"The whole gospel can be summed up, 'God had mercy on a wretch like me'".

-"The love of God didn't start with my birth and it doesn't end at my wretchedness". Possibly my favorite.

-"In order to get what you want you have to buy what you don't want." See the parable in Luke 15 of the treasure in the field. The man didn't want the field he wanted the treasure in the field but he had to buy what he didn't want in order to get what he wanted.

-"You put in the shop window what you want to sell" Numerous times Arthur would give a truth that had both a negative and positive meaning. This was such a line. He went on to say, "God has yet to create the man who can do nothing." "If you are a foot the only effective ministry you will have is in your boot. All life is sacred."

-"Is there anything more scary than that God would allow us to have what we want? (God wants to be King but Israel wanted their own King so he gave it to them). God will allow us to have our own way.

-"We talk about obedience but we have never done what Jesus prayed. That we would all be one just as Jesus is one with the Father." "It will happen though because Jesus prayed it!" I loved this one.

- "The spending power of the Father depends on what you want." Talking about the story of the prodigal son.

-"David didn't kill Goliath with a rock. He stunned him with the rock. He killed Goliath with Goliath's own sword. The enemy's weapon is how he will be defeated." I've already had lots of conversations around this truth.

- He finished by saying this to a small group of us, "If you forget everything else I said tonight remember this, 'Satan was defeated and his power was totally stripped at the cross. It is up to us to keep it that way'".

-Arthur was asked what he would say to a person who just gave their life to Jesus. His response was, "it's not what but why." "It's not what you do for God that matters but why you do anything. Do everything for the Glory of God. If there is something that you are doing that is not for the Glory of God stop it immediately."