Onething 2010

I'm currently attending the International House Of Prayer's (IHOP) onething 2010 conference in Kansas City, Missouri! Stay tuned!

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UNITY- taught but not found.

I love everything about Jesus Christ.

I could easily scribe a list that reaches pages beyond the length of an average notepad.
However, during this season, one thing in particular has penetrated my mind. With the holiday festivities under way; moving from one party to the next, dinners, church services and events, time celebrating the birth of our Savior- one thing has been clear. We are not celebrating as mere individuals, but as a family. As Christians, disciples, believers, missionary's, and servants, we are one; and we are all called to unity. Unity. . .

Jesus Christ gives us the opportunity to come together as one family, under one belief, one hope, and one faith. There is no discrimination in our Lord. Nor is there prejudice or condemnation. We are all called to one body. In fact, the essence of the book of Acts is the forming of one church, under His name, in unity. The Apostle Paul also spoke very clearly about this.

I love it. I love that I can meet a complete stranger who is a believer, and be able to worship with them, side by side, as brother or sister, sharing the same prefaces of love and commitment to the one who made us both whole.
We share this bond.
We share this connection.
We share this love.
We are family.
We are both children of a living King.
We are both heirs to the throne.
We are both seated together with Him in the heavenly place.

However, along with this reality, another one arose. We do not always embrace this Unity. How true is that?

The other night I was with a group of friends. Amazing friends- good people, loving people who are all being used by the Lord in different facets. We were just about to leave to go see a movie. I had invited a friend of mine earlier that night and he had not showed up yet. Great guy, amazing heart, with a gentle Christ-loving spirit. Humble. I called him as we sat in the car.
"Hey brother, are you still coming?"
"I would really love to . . . but I just don't fit in, and I don't know any of them."
The thing is, everyone in the car who knew him, loved him. Wanted him there. Wanted him to feel like he "fit-in". The question really was, did we show that? Had we, or do we, make him feel that way? Do we all act in a way that is perceived as openly accepting to all those in our community?

Unity. How many times have we seen a deep separation within "our" church. A split within a congregation. How many times have we seen cliques form here or there. One body divided amongst one another. This may happen for many reasons:
Theological differences, or different worship styles become offensive; maybe a word is misconstrued. Congregations become split amongst different races and cultures. Married couples and singles; this ministry or that ministry. I live here and you live there. You look this way, and I look that way. I did this event and you didn't. I share this bond with them, and you weren't there. Simple fears; stepping outside comfort zones, and strongholds of rejection......
And these things become divisive. They become excuses to the "why". Now, I am completely aware that the Church is, was, and will be imperfect for it is made up of imperfect people- sinners. However, we are redeemed sinners called to heed to His word. Furthermore, I am also aware that often times these "excuses" are schemes of the enemy. They are deceitful and cunning schemes by the enemy used to separate us- used to steal and rob of us of our joy, power, and unity.

Picture this: There is an army. A large army. This army is fighting a war. This army has the same mission - defeat the enemy. However, this army is split amongst itself. There are different groups, with different voices, and different tactics. They are weakened, for they are fighting on numerous fronts. They are spread thin; powerless against an enemy who out numbers them. They have no cohesiveness. Even inside their smaller divisions, units, and platoons there is a sense of division. If they could only come together as one army they would have the strength to push through. They would have the unity and belief in one another to complete the task at hand. They could share in the purpose to accomplish the task.

Now, Imagine with me... Imagine. Imagine what all our churches, within one body, would look like if we didn't fall to these petty schemes. Imagine. Imagine with me that we all stepped outside of our fears and embraced one another in unity. Imagine the power in that. Imagine the power of the Holy Spirit being used as one, not many. Imagine the relationships that would flourish. Imagine the intellect that would come from the sharing in each others struggles, cultures, and backgrounds. Imagine the sound that would be heard. Imagine the sound of one worship to one King. Imagine how hard it would be to deafen that voice, that cry. Imagine. Imagine the love.


"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20

Father, I pray.. 

The strength in each one of us to overcome separation

To indulge in one another

To let ourselves be who you intended us to be as your church

Father, I pray..

For your love to out-pour in our relationships

For your love to overcome boundaries

For your love to be shown in us.

Father, I pray..

That we drink deep in your word.

That we look hard at ourselves.

That we find ways to embrace one another.

In Jesus' name... 

May we break down the walls that divide us within our own reach.

May we seek opportunities to bring unity within our own reach.

May we be one body.

God bless us all, and use us each, in every way, as to bring Glory to You!

Amen.

CHANGES

Change.

Ive been through a lot of changes in my life. We all have.

Change is transformational.
Change is purifying.
Change is interpretable.

I think change is what we make it. Or, more like, change is what we allow God to make it. Most importantly, are we thankful for the changes in our lives. Some change is obvious blessing. Its a new job, or relationship; it could be the birth of a child, a monetary bonus at your job, a promotion, or the sudden end to a time of despair. But often times, the changes we experience are ones that may cause distress or suffering. Its in these changes that we need to seek the blessings amidst the tragedy. It's when we do this that the change becomes transformational. Its when we do this that we become thankful; and in thankfulness, ultimately results in the glorifying of God.

At one point in my life, I got heavy into the use of PCP- angel dust, sherm, or getting "wet". If your not familiar with this drug, its basically dipping a cigarette or cigar in embalming fluid and smoking it. One particular occasion, I decided to drop about four morphine pills, drink myself to oblivion, snort some cocaine, indulge in marijuana, and than smoke a few sticks of PCP. I remember going out that night. . and that's all I remember. I ended up in the hospital for a drug overdose the next day. I stayed in the hospital for about four days. This event- this destruction of my body and soul, led to the losing of all my memory. I could no longer remember who my family was. I couldn't remember the day before, or so much as what a loaf of bread was. At one point, I looked down upon my arm, where a tattoo of Jesus rests embedded in my skin, and asked "what is this? Why is this on me?" Its a tattoo, was the response. "Why do people have them....who is Jesus?" I had gone so far as to lose sight of my own creator. I didn't even know who Jesus Christ was... The questions continued. I didn't know where I came from, or the details of a conversation that had happened five minutes ago. It was as if nothing in my brain would stick and take hold. I was the epitome of lost. Its a scary thing to not know who you are. Its a scary thing to not know anything. To not be anyone. . . This was a change.

I love sharing this story. I love thinking back on my complete confusion and helplessness. At that point, I was strategically positioned for the power of God in my life. God took a broken, lost, confused, and scared mess-of-a-man and transformed him. He took the sin that satan had brought forth with a hurricane force and crushed it. He said, I will use this for my glory. See, only God can do that with the changes we encounter in our lives. He can take a situation, a horrible, sinful, destructive situation, and make it transformational and holy. ONLY GOD. Enough said.

May God, take the painful situations...
divorce,
broken relationships,
financial struggles,
abortion,
hunger,
prostitution,
addictions,
all the other things, that we face everyday,
and use them to transform lives.
Amen.

Being Faithful In Return

The Lord is faithful.

Faith.

Faithful

Faithfulness.

How often do we hear this word used to describe an attribute of God. We hear it in almost every church service. The walls in every Christian bookstore are usually adorned with different pictures and frames with the words "faith", "faithful", or "faithfulness" either inscribed, or outlined upon them. Some people have bracelets or necklaces, or possibly a journal with it on there as well. Most sermons, worship songs, or hymns use it. And I'm sure everyone has a book or two with the word "faith" in the title, on their bookshelf.  But... do we really let the word penetrate the proverbial inner sanctum of our minds? Has it been used so much, that we have become somewhat immune to it. Possibly. Maybe, just maybe, some of us take God's faithfulness for granted. That's a hard notion to admit to ourselves right? The notion that we accept God's faithfulness as a free gift to us. That we store it in that back department, way back in our minds, knowing its not going anywhere. . .

Let me tell you a story....

There is a Pastor. This Pastor is in Asia. More specifically, he is in China. He is sitting in a room. The room is dark. It's dimly lit by the light seeping in through the bottom of window shades that have been pulled down tightly. This is a small room. About the size of your bedroom. The floors are made of wood and the walls are bare. There is a bike in one corner, and a few strewn across different walls outside. A large man stands in the corner. He is the security. Every time a knock on the door comes, everyone freezes in tension as he rushes over to see who it was. Now, they come. They come at different times, and they come from different areas. They come this way as to avoid the perception that there is a meeting going on. A meeting like this is strictly prohibited and illegal here. No one must know. They are men and women from different churches throughout the region. These are members of secret churches. They assemble themselves in the middle of the room. There is about thirteen of them all together. They form a circle and fall to their knees.

Their bibles lay open in front of them. Small and medium-sized bibles that have seen better times. Their pages are ruffled, some are torn, and their covers are rough with bended edges. These bibles have seen back pockets upon rough roads and back trails. They have seen dusty floors in many villages, and most of them...have seen the rough concrete floors of different prisons. As they began to speak, one at a time, they tell stories. Stories of life in their own small churches and villages. These are stories of persecution. These are stories of martyrdom, suffering, pain, and frustration. One woman speaks of about the government. How they had confronted one family in her area, saying that if they heard about them meeting to read the bible, they would be killed and lose everything. Another speaks of a cult luring away their believers. This cult was known for taking believers, cutting out their tongues, and torturing them. ... They began to pray. In their prayers they use phrases like: "We love you God", "Thank you Lord", and "Jesus, we give our lives to and for you". They continue to pray as they ask for God's grace in leading their church. They all stand up. The Pastor notices a puddle of tears in a circle where they had been kneeling. These are tears of love. These are tears of devotion. These are tears of people who are willing to see the Kingdom of God furthered. Pushed forward though love- at any cost. This is their lives.

These are faithful Christians. These disciples know the cost of following Jesus, and they know the faithfulness of doing so. They keep front and center God's faithfulness to them, and His promise to them as followers of Jesus Christ. More importantly, they know the cost of being a disciple for our Father.

Now, I wonder how many of "us" are as faithful to Him, as He is faithful to "us". As faithful as the men and women crying puddles of tears. And when I say "us", I mean "us" as Christians in America. I can be the first to say... I am not. I am nowhere near the cost that Jesus asks us to pay for His fellowship. It's amazing how many times throughout the Gospel Jesus turns away potential followers of his. He always warns them of the incredibly high cost of following him. In fact, he often turned away thousands in return for one who is completely sold out for Him.

Are we completely sold out?

Are we meeting the high standards that Jesus requires of His followers?

Or are we creating our own standards.... and in this creating a Jesus that we can follow within our own capacities. You know what I mean; within our own comfort zone. A Jesus we can follow without giving up everything we own; forgetting our own lives in exchange for His; without letting the dead bury their dead; without saying goodbye to our family. Are we ready to drop our nets, and willing to leave our family, kids, spouses, friends all to follow in His dusty footsteps..... Are we willing to lose our lives for the Messiah?

Jesus was straight-forward about the life of a disciple. He didn't hide the suffering or difficulty of it. He also never said "All I require of you, is that you attend an hour long message on Sunday, pray once a day, and celebrate me on my birthday". No, He said "to die" for Him. After all, He did die for us. Paul said it like this: "It is I who no longer live, but Christ who lives within me" (Gal 2:20a). He wants us all. Every bit of us for every bit of Him. I think that's worth the price for everlasting life. Do you?

My prayer is that we as a church in this country.... 

Break down the walls of our churches,

give all that we are,

bring heaven to earth,

light the world with His love,

live humbly like Jesus, 

return his gift of faithfulness,

be servants with no regard,

and GIVE ALL THAT WE ARE... 

to see every soul saved from an eternity of damnation,

through the beautiful sanctification of our Lord,

that allows us to live in joy and freedom.

Amen.

*For more info. on our brothers and sisters suffering for His cause check out:
http://www.persecutionblog.com/2009/06/update-rock-church-of-zhengzhou-henan-banned-7-christians-still-detained.html

Being Thankful

Lately I have come to find the one thing that brings refreshment to my life. When times have gotten rough, and the waters have become turbulent. When the clouds rolled in and the rain fall. When confusion set in or the path looked unclear. When darkness took over light, or my words have become stutters... I thank God.

This morning I woke with a mind set on questions and thoughts. Sometimes, I get those. Those questions and thoughts. Feeble I suppose, but human none the less. You know the ones:

"Why does this happen?"
"What was the purpose behind THAT comment, that (so-and-so) said?"
"I wish this would have went more like that...why didn't it?
"Why did this lead to that?"
"...that was weird. That wasn't the outcome I expected!"
"I tried so hard, yet..."

Searching for the answers to those questions can become exhausting. Is it that there are sometimes answers that God doesn't WANT us to know. Maybe, He just knows that we don't NEED to know the answer. Either way, I'm sure of one thing- that we need to come to Him with those questions. We need to come to Him regardless of the outcome we have in mind. We need to come to Him in thanksgiving, and in need. I was praying this morning and God, as good as He is, always faithful, spoke to me Psalm 100. He spoke this passage to me while I was praying thanksgiving to God. Guess what it's called- His Steadfast Love Endures Forever: A PSALM FOR GIVING THANKS! Ironic? No. It is our God who knows our hearts and what we need at that moment. All we need to do is listen.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord,
all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast loves endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

While meditating on this verse, I picked out the words that spoke to my heart:

Joyful
Serve
Come
Know
Enter
Thanksgiving
Thanks
Bless

What a wonderful melody of words to enter into His court with. How lucky are we that we belong to a Father who asks us to live in this way! A life full of joy, thanksgiving, and blessings. What a fresh change from the way many of of us were taught to live by our earthly fathers; or the world in general.

Anyways, I regress.... I realized that when we come to the Lord in thanksgiving, and not full of questions, we find peace. We find peace that the Lord of all is in control. Not us. That "those" questions need not to be answered, but our need lies in Him; and Him alone. Try it. When someone makes you angry. When you find yourself confused over someone or a certain situation. When you are lonely, down-stricken, fatigued, sorrowful, or unsure- Give thanks. I pray you will find yourself joyful and blessed!



P.S. God just blessed my day. Just got done meeting with Ross Stewart (area director for YoungLife in Tacoma, and club leader for Stadium High School) about reaching kids at Stadium and in our community for two hours. Great guy! Was really encouraging! I am blessed to be able to join in on ministry at this school! Thanks to both Ross and Julie Walton! GOD BLESSES US WHEN WE ARE THANKFUL!!

(Coolest school ever- Stadium High School, GO TIGERS!)