Part II of this post is coming soon! Stay tuned!

Gimme a Break! Christianity is NOT Boring! Part I

I'm always puzzled when I hear people...people who follow Christ...and people who do not follow Christ, say, "Christianity is boring."  Really?!?!

I guess if your version of following Christ puts you in a recliner, flipping channels...hey, and even landing on Christian channels like TBN or EWTN...if that's your version of following Christ, than yea...I can see why you might think Christianity is boring.  But, is that where Jesus is leading you?  Is that what you see Dad (our heavenly Father) doing?

Jesus said, as recorded in John 5:19, that He only does what He sees Dad doing.  In other words, Dad is always doing something...and Jesus lived life, by first discovering what Dad was doing around Him, and then He chose to agree with...enter into...do that.  What is Dad doing around you?  What do you see Dad doing right now?

So, five courageous people from the church I pastor, RiverRock Christian Fellowship, and I, headed down south on I-295 in two vehicles from Augusta to Portland...to the Glickman Family Library on the campus of University of Southern Maine.  There, on the seventh floor, would be a gathering of pro-choice men and women, to view a movie, "The Abortion Diaries," with a discussion following.  The event was sponsored by Planned Parenthood and Family Planning Association.  The discussion would be framed and facilitated by pro-choice USM professor of Gender and Women's Studies, Nancy Gish.  In the room were two pro-choice legislators, at least one pro-choice professor, the Northern New England Director of Planned Parenthood, the Director of the Family Planning Association of Maine, the grassroots director for Planned Parenthood, and several other leaders in the pro-choice movement, as well as college students, and various other pro-choice advocates.

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppnne/roe-anniversary-31315.htm

It's important to note...to arrive at this place...the abortion discussion...we (the six of us) did NOT ask, "What would Jesus do?"...no, I believe that's a question that religious people ask...it's a question about guessing what Jesus might do in this same kind of situation, based on Christian principles and looking at the gospels historically...and, in my opinion, that's what religious people do...

Instead we asked, "Dad, what ARE You doing?" which is a question that someone asks when they have a real, authentic relationship with Dad (our heavenly Father).  It is a question that someone asks when they believe that Father will show His sons and daughters what He's doing because He loves them, and because He wants us to come into agreement with what He's doing, rather than have His sons and daughters try and drag Him into what they are doing.

To the six of us, Dad was clearly driving the more than 1 hour from our warm, comfortable living rooms, down to the library, taking the elevator up to the seventh floor and entering into the discussion.  We went down not to engage the enemy, but to enter into what Dad was doing...and shine the light.

From the room where the event was held, I posted to Facebook from my blackberry phone, "in the devil's playground..."  Surely, some may have read that post and thought I was calling Planned Parenthood or pro-choice people, the Devil.  But, nothing could be further from the truth.  Flesh and blood are not the enemy of Christians...followers of Christ.  Scripture makes that really clear.  No...Satan and his demonic principalities, powers and dominions...those are our enemies.  Now, certainly, in their blindness, Planned Parenthood and pro-choice people have come into agreement with the Devil and his strategy to destroy human life, which is created in the image of the very God he hates.  Yes, they've come into agreement with the enemy, but they are NOT the enemy.  And, the strategy to help them break their agreement with the enemy looks like Jesus interactions with the adulterous woman, and NOT the man who shoots an abortion doctor.

Check out the next post for more on what Dad did...

Personal Growth

Recently, I've felt drawn by the Holy Spirit to spend some time each day reading a book on leadership.  Typically, I'll read one chapter, set the book aside, and then listen to the Master Teacher...Rabbi Holy Spirit.  It's been pretty cool how God has taken leadership concepts I've just read about and given me greater understanding by expanding, explaining, or unpacking them.  Plus, He's been showing me how I can make practical application that will benefit me and my local church.

The first book I read was Christian Leadership I by Dr. Leon van Rooyen.

The second book was Christian Leadership II by Dr. Leon van Rooyen.

Gaining an understanding of the leadership concepts in these first two books has been very, very helpful to me.  As I've read each book, it's been like having my very own, top-notch, personal mentor sit with me and help me navigate through some very basic, foundational concepts.  Because the material in both books is so practical, I've already begun applying this stuff to my personal life, as well as adjusting the way that I pastor my local congregation.  I'm already seeing some very encouraging results.  I get a sense that I'll be revisiting these two books in the future on a regular basis.

Now, the third book I'm reading is entitled Master-planning by Bobb Biehl.  Bob is the director and founder of Bobb Biehl Leadership Academny.  He's been credited by Bill Bright, Josh McDowell, R.C. Sproul and a host of other significant leaders in bringing breakthroughs to their leadership capacity and their ministry's effectiveness.

I've ordered a copy for each elder, and as I wait for the books to come in, I've been getting a head start on reading the first few chapters.  My plan is to lead the elders through the reading and completion of each of the assignments.  We'll complete the exercises together and as a result, I anticipate each of the elders to gain a greater sense of ownership in RiverRock's ministry.

When we've completed each of Bobb Biehl's assignments in the book, we'll have: (1) articulated very clearly the vision and purpose for our church, (2) identified the 3-7 major ministry focuses that will step us forward toward vision manifestation, (3) established an organizational structure that fits and supports the vision, (4) set immediate/short-term/mid-term/long-term goals, and (5) established a tracking system of accountability for our objectives.

Now, that may bore you to death, but this is the very thing that excites me about ministry.  I get excited about it because it mean we'll be making significant progress in clarifying RiverRock's vision/focus and establish a leadership structure that greatly reduce frustration and encourage growth.  In addition, by illuminating RiverRock's vision and purpose, the day-to-day, seemingly mundane tasks become important and enjoyable!

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How to Read, Examine, and Understand the Bible VI

Having gone this far, I should take time to ensure you know just how crooked and arrogant it is to try and superimpose your own interpretation upon God's Word, the Bible.  To read and examine God's Word with the intention of making it teach what you want it to teach, is to align your will with the devil's will. 

Satan was created by God, as an angel to worship God.  God named him Lucifer and he led heaven's angels in adoration of the Lord.  The Bible describes Lucifer as a beautifully adorned angel.  At some point, Lucifer made the horrific decision of being so enamored with himself that he led a rebellion against God.  He became jealous of the attention given to God and preferred to receive the adoration of heaven for himself.  One third of the angels of heaven followed Lucifer in the rebellion.  God judged them for their arrogant rebellion and cast them down to earth, hence they are called "fallen angels," having fallen from heaven to earth.  Lucifer's name was changed to Satan.  The New Testament frequently refers to fallen angels as demons.

There's a significant passage in the New Testament that immediately follows Jesus' 40 day fast.  The passage is significant for many reasons but in the context of today's brief teaching, these Scriptures illuminate Satan's pride and self-centered nature for us all to see.

During Jesus' journey in the wilderness, He encounters the Devil and He is tested by him three times.  In the second test, Satan uses a very wicked, yet wily technique.  Read the following passage and see if you can detect what the Devil tries to do...

5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,

'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU';
and
'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP,
SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'"

7 Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'"  Matt 4:5-7  NASU

Do you see?  Satan quoted Scripture, not only out of context, but purposefully with the intent of making God's Word say what he wanted it to say, to advance his own agenda.  The Bible teaches us that Satan is wicked, deceitful, self-centered and arrogant.  It is of the highest order of arrogance to try and twist God's word around to agree with your personal agenda, rather than discover what His Word has to say about God's agenda.  Do not go down this well-worn path.  Much of the New Testament is devoted to confronting the erroneous teaching of false apostles and false teachers who tried to make God's Word fit their agenda.  Paul says such men are "accursed" and "condemned" (Gal 1:8,9).

Be careful not to fall prey to the temptation of twisting and turning God's Word around to back your agenda.  It is far better to simply discover God's intention and interpretation of His own Word.  The Lord had an understanding, a specific will and a plan in mind when He spoke the Word, and we are best served by discovering what He had in mind.  Remember, what's on God's mind is very much accessible to those who know the Lord, and listen to the Holy Spirit...

...the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God... 1 Cor 2:11-12  NASU

Until the next post...be blessed!

How to Read, Examine, and Understand the Bible V

Well, at this point, we are ready for Principle #2.  Principle #2 is "Use Simple Observation to Determine What is Present."  This begins with the simple...read, reread, and re-reread.  Again (from Principle #1), as you are reading, have an ear open to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  You will be amazed by what you gain in understanding by simply "camping out" in a passage in this way.

This kind of reading is very much like meditating.  The Biblical discipline of meditation is the least appreciated, most underutilized, but possibly the most important of all the disciplines encouraged in Scripture.  Biblical meditation is far different from the unfruitful discipline practiced by the middle eastern religions.  Rather than "emptying your mind," Biblical meditation is the practice of allowing your heart and mind to be filled by "chewing on" or "pondering on" God, His works, or a passage or a verse, much like a cow chews on its' cud.  A cow chews on the grass, swallows it, partially digests it, brings it up to the mouth and chews again on it...and repeats this action several times.  It's the necessary process for the cow to successfully digest food. 

The Hebrew word that is translated into meditation throughout the Old Testament refers to a second concept, as well.  One concept that this Hebrew word refers to is this process of chewing, but the second concept is one of muttering words under one's breath.  You'll see the connection between the mouth and meditation more clearly in the following passage...

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night..."  Josh 1:8  NASU

So, for all those who've been chided for talking to themselves...now, you've got a far better use of those moving lips, and far more rewarding.  Consider the attractive benefit guaranteed in the promise declared by God, at the end of the above Scripture...

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."  Josh 1:8  NASU

In my next post, I'll discuss the principle of "simple observation" a bit more...so, be sure and stay tuned to check it out!

How to Read, Examine and Understand the Bible IV

Again, just as a reminder, as we delve deeper into this...the rest of these principles on growing in "How to Read, Examine and Understand the Bible" are simply to assist us in hearing the Holy Spirit as we read God's Word, which is our first and foundational principle.

The rest of the principles address the "how to's" of Apostle Paul's fatherly exhortation to his spiritual son and protege, Timothy...

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."  2 Tim 2:15  NASU

Now, this exhortation is a clear instruction to Timothy that skimming over God's word is insufficient.  In fact, Paul relentlessly presses the point of a labor-intensive approach towards the word of God.  You cannot read this verse and come away persuaded that a lackadaisical effort of perusing the Bible will suffice.  Paul uses terms like "diligent...approved...a workman...accurately handling" to describe his expectation of his son, Timothy, in regards to examining the Scriptures.  By listening in to Paul's fatherly counsel, we should be getting a sense that the Holy Spirit is leading us to take a painstaking approach to God's word, as well.  Let me ask you...is this how you are approaching the word of God?

The word of God is clear...diligent people will prosper (Prov 10:4), rule (Prov 12:24), have an abundance (Prov 13:4), and have an advantage (Prov 21:5).  The opposite of diligence is laziness.  Scripture says that the lazy will be poor (Prov 10:4; Prov 21:5), be enslaved (Prov 12:24), and receive nothing (Prov 13:4).

Let us be children of the King...a people who prosper, rule, have an abundance, and have the advantage.  Let us be a diligent people...ambassadors of a diligent Kingdom...diligent in our workman-like attitude towards examining the Word of God.  The Spirit of God is already working this in you (Philippians 2:13)...it's as simple as surrendering to the work of the Holy Spirit in your inner man.

Do you have a question about life?  Do you wonder how to parent or relate with your spouse?  Would you like to know how to handle the finances that God has blessed you with?  Would you like favor with your neighbors or a promotion at work?  How about, would you like to know who God is and who you are?  All these answers, and more, are found in the Bible.  Life-changing, destiny-changing, world-changing wisdom is deep in God's word.  It's just sitting there waiting to be mined.  It simply takes someone who will listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as he digs, and digs, and digs until the treasures of God's wisdom are found.

How to Read, Examine and Understand the Bible III

Heading into our first principle of reading and examining Spirit-breathed Scripture in such a way that we are assured of understanding the "spiritual words" that we read, it is essential that we embrace the following declaration from Apostle Paul...

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God...he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Cor 2:14 NASU

It's absolutely a prerequisite for us to understand God's Word, that you and I are sold on this truth.  We must embrace wholeheartedly, without reservation, that God's Word is spiritual and the natural man doesn't have the first clue about it.  The natural man can read, reread, re-reread, and read again the Scriptures and still not gain any understanding of what he reads.  The natural man can meditate on the Word and be found just as dumbfounded about it as a 2 year old child.  The natural man can study the Word and still be as perplexed as a monkey about the intention of the Writer of the Scriptures.  The natural man can pray as he reads the Word and still be as confused as a lion paralyzed by the 3-legs of a lion-tamers stool.

Embracing this weakness of the natural man is called humility.  It cuts directly against the arrogance of the flesh, but agrees one hundred percent with the Spirit's position on understanding His Word.  The flesh is in opposition to the Spirit (Rom 8:7), disagreeing with the Spirit of God along every point of our journey.  But, humility is the position to receive grace (James 4:6).  You and I can't receive grace-given unless we are humble in our heart.  God gives grace, only to the humble, but, to the proud He does not give grace, but rather, He resists them (1 Peter 5:5).

So, now you might say, "Ok, I can't understand God's word, but God fully expects me to understand God's word (Mark 12:24)...where do I go from here?"  Where you go is...to depend completely on the Holy Spirit to give you understanding, to illuminate the Word to you, to teach you and give you understanding of His words.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things... John 14:26 NASU

This Scripture leads us directly to Principle #1...

Listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit as You Read God's Word

Every other principle that I'll share in later posts about gaining understanding of God's word, has one purpose, and one purpose only, and that is to put us in the best position to hear clearly the voice of the Holy Spirit teaching us about His own words.

If you want to understand God's thoughts, the Holy Spirit must teach them to you because He's the only One that knows God's thoughts...

"...the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God."  1 Cor 2:11 NASU

So, as you read the Bible, be sure to ask, believing for, the Holy Spirit to teach you.  Let me assure you, if you ask, believing and not doubting, for the Holy Spirit to teach you His word, He will do just that.  Just be sure to listen to His voice as you read.  He has never, never let me down...nor has the Holy Spirit disappointed any man throughout history regarding this principle.  Stay tuned for additional tips on understanding God's word!

How to Read, Examine and Understand the Bible II

I'm challenged in my own walk by the "in your face" words of Jesus and Apostle Paul as they "got up in the grill" of people who apparently didn't read (or listen to) the Scriptures, or didn't understand what they were reading/hearing.  Listen to these prodding questions...

Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?" Mark 12:24 NASU

"Have you not even read this Scripture:..." Mark 12:10 NASU

Rom 11:2 Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah... Rom 11:2 NASU

How important is it to you (1) to read God's word and (2) to understand what you are reading?  Both Jesus and Paul believed that people should take reading and understanding God's word, very seriously.  Why?  Why was this so important to Jesus and Paul, that they actually confronted people about their lackadaisical approach to handling the word?

One of many passages in the Bible that God has used to transform my life was the account of the Jesus and His disciples visiting Mary and Martha's house (Luke 10:38-42).  Martha is running around like a mad woman, trying to get a meal and the house ready for company while Mary is sitting down at Jesus' feet, just listening to every word that falls from His lips.  Martha gets quite irate with her sister...probably thinking that Mary is trying to get out of doing some housework.  So, Martha pleads with Jesus to get Mary off her duff, so that she can lighten the load.  But, Jesus tells Martha that she's not seeing things in the right perspective.  In fact, He describes what Mary's doing...sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to His voice...as the "one thing...necessary."  Imagine that!  There is "one thing...necessary" in our daily walk, and that "one thing" is to sit "at the Lord's feet and" listen "to His word."

In other passages in the New Testament, we are admonished to "walk by the Spirit," to be "led by the Spirit," and so on.  We are exhorted to "pray at all times."  These are passages that give us guidance on how to live our lives.  We are to live daily by listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and walking in His counsel, His leading. 

The newbie to the faith might ask, "How can I tell what the Holy Spirit's voice sounds like?  Or, which voice is the Holy Spirit?"  Well, that's what makes reading and understanding God's word so significant to our lives.  See, the Holy Spirit will never give counsel that is contrary to the word of God, because "all Scripture is God-breathed" and God isn't confused or schizophrenic.  The Bible says that He is "the same yesterday, today and forever."  What the Holy Spirit said to the authors of the Bible, He is still saying today!

So, reading and understanding the Bible help us to discern the voice of God in our hearts.  Can you see now, just how important reading and understanding God's word is to your life?  Can you see why Jesus and Paul put such a serious tone to the necessity of spending time in the word?  Can you see why it could be so very important for you to learn how to read, examine and understand God's word?  Good, stay tuned!

How to Read, Examine, and Understand the Bible

In a 2008 Barna survey of 1,871 adults who described themselves as Christian, these troubling worldviews were uncovered:

"Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.”

"Although a core teaching of the Christian faith is the divinity and perfection of Jesus Christ, tens of millions of Christians do not accept that teaching."

"Much like their perceptions of Satan, most Christians do not believe that the Holy Spirit is a living force, either. Overall, 38% strongly agreed and 20% agreed somewhat that the Holy Spirit is 'a symbol of God’s power or presence but is not a living entity.'”

This is frustrating because it proves that a significant percentage of those who describe themselves as Christians (1) are not reading their Bible, and/or (2) do not know how to read the Bible in a way that results in them understanding God's Word.

How can a nation live their lives as God's Word directs, if many in the body of Christ do not read the Bible, or do not understand what they are reading?

I've met a significant number of Christians that are convinced that having their own personal interpretation of God's Word is permissible, even endorsed.  This dangerous position has been the result of a significant number of those not grounded in God's Word, yet claiming to be Christians, having yielded to the forceful, postmodern voices demanding that truth is relative, and not absolute.

Centuries ago, in Egypt, Pharaoh had two dreams.  The dreams were from God.  God had chosen to speak to Pharaoh through these dreams, but Pharaoh didn't know the Lord and he didn't have the interpretation of the dreams.  Joseph was brought before Pharaoh to hear an account of the dreams, that they might be interpreted correctly.  Joseph made it rather clear that it wasn't for him to interpret the dreams.  Listen to Joseph's sage counsel...

'Do not interpretations belong to God?'  Gen 40:8  NASU

Joseph understood something that we should all understand.  He understood that God's word was not to be interpreted by man.  Joseph understand that God was the only One qualified to interpret His own word.  Man's responsibility is not to interpret the Word of God, but rather to discover God's interpretation of His own Word.

In some upcoming posts to this blog, I'll be sharing some principles and tips on how to discover God's interpretation of His Word.  Stay tuned!

Selling All That You Possess

This morning I was reading the passage about the rich young ruler and saw something in this passage that I had never seen before.  It was one of those moments, encounters really, with the Holy Spirit that you remember for a long, long time.  It was like the Holy Spirit opened a box that somehow had been either left unopened or slightly ajar and when it was fully opened, and light allowed to come in, it caused all the other previously opened boxes to somehow be illuminated to a greater measure, and thus, fit better in my understanding.  It also may be one of those moments that is far better experienced than shared, but I'll give a whack at it anyway.  Here's the passage...

Luke 18:18-23  18  A ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"  19  And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good?  No one is good except God alone.  20  You know the commandments, 'DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"  21  And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth."  22  When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."  23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.  NASU

I think we've all read this passage a thousand times or more.  And many of you probably have had the Holy Spirit illuminate what I'll be sharing about in this post, already, what I saw for the first time today.  The Bible instructs us as to Who possesses what...

Ps 24:1
The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it.  NASU

The Lord owns everything.  It is all His.  The earth, the entire earth belongs to Him.  Not only does the earth belong to Him, but everything that is in and on the earth, belongs to Him...this includes man.  Every man, woman and child belong to God.  Every human being, every one of them, without exception belongs to God.  Every penny, every ruble, every peso, every yen, every single expression of material and wealth on this earth, belong to the Lord.

Now, since everything belongs to the Lord...how much of what is on the earth belongs to man, or any single man, woman or child?  Nothing!  There is nothing that belongs to any of us.  It all belongs to God.  This is the stewardship principle/concept that the Bible clearly instructs us all to apply to our lives.  This much I had laid hold of already, long before this morning.  What grabbed me this morning in the rich young ruler passage was how Jesus addressed the idolatry and stewardship and prosperity issues with one proposal.  In one offer, "give everything to the poor and I'll give you eternal life"...Jesus brings the rich young ruler face-to-face with what has captivated his heart, more than God.  Now, had the rich young ruler embraced this truth...that all that he possessed already belonged to God...that he wasn't a possessor of anything, rather a steward of God's possessions, the offer would've been responded to differently by the rich man.

Consider this...Jesus only asked the rich young ruler to give up what the rich young ruler possessed.  Had the rich young ruler come to Jesus already embracing in his heart that he was no more than a steward of all the wealth in his hands, he could've truthfully responded to Jesus offer to "give all that you possess" with, "but I don't possess anything, it all belongs to the Father."

Jesus could've very well responded to this by saying, "You are correct, the earth and all it contains belongs to the Father, and since it belongs to Him, He is requiring of you, this very moment, to give all that you manage for Him, to be given to the poor."  The rich young ruler would've then been able to, without fear, without anxiety, without stress, to simply let it all go, because it never belonged to him in the first place...it wasn't his to keep...he was just a steward.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that, until this morning, I never saw Jesus emphasizing, "give all that you possess...".  Had the rich young ruler somehow felt that God owned 80% of the wealth that he oversaw, and that he owned 20% of the wealth...in this encounter, by requesting, "give all that you possess," Jesus was only asking for the 20% that had somehow come to possess the rich young ruler's heart.  Jesus was only asking for that part of the wealth that the rich young ruler managed, that he would struggle giving up because he "believed" it was his, and not God's.

If we will manage God's money rather than possess it for ourselves, it sure will be a lot easier when He comes to us asking for a redistribution of it.  After all, can't He do with His wealth what He wants to do?

Great Day Off with My Family

Today was a great day!

My wife, 3 kids and I went to the YMCA this morning.  Lynn and I played racquetball while the 3 kids were playing in childcare.  Afterwards, all 5 of us went into the swimming pool and had a blast.  Sadly, I made little Hannah (4 months) cry by dunking her twice in the pool.  She calmed down and relaxed as long as she sat on Daddy's shoulder, her face next to mine.  David had a blast showing me how he could jump from the side into the pool.  He really, really had a great time doing that.  Later, Lynn took Hannah into the observation room and fed Hannah while I played in the pool with the boys.  We had a blast playing with rubber duckies, learning how to use a noodle, and throwing rings (that sank) across the pool.  David especially enjoyed having me throw him high in the air and landing in the water.  It won't be long before he can take off his floating device and really swim on his own.  He's learning how to doggie paddle and is getting better at kicking.

After we got out of the pool, took showers, and got dressed, we started to head out of the facility and I peeked into the basketball gym and saw a few friends playing 3-on-3.  I asked Lynn if she wouldn't mind taking the kids home and coming back in about an hour to pick me up.  I hadn't played hoops in at least 2 1/2 months and thought I was going to be rusty out there.  Actually, I had a hot hand and everything seemed to work well...passing, dribbling, shooting and defense.

Lynn came and picked me up and we headed home.  I was dead tired!  Eventually, Lynn wanted to go to the store, so David, Joshua and I went up stairs, jumped in Mom and Dad's bed and took naps...ooooohhhh, did that feel great!

Lynn made tacos for dinner while I played with Hannah.  Just before bed, the boys and I played follow the leader and we sat on the floor and played with blocks.  Afterwards, I took the boys upstairs and put them to bed, telling them another thriller of a story about 2 young boys named Prince David and Prince Joshua who rode through a jungle on elephants and came upon a dinosaur and a lion (their choice for the animals) who had been terrorizing a tribe in the jungle.  The dinosaur and lion came after Prince David and Prince Joshua, who had gotten off of their elephants, but because of their faith that Jesus was with them, they stood their ground.  Then, they pulled out their swords and killed these ferocious creatures, saving an entire tribe from any more terror!

Being a Dad is great!  I think I'm starting to catch on how Father God looks at me (us).  Last Sunday night, the "Experiencing the Father's Embrace" DVD challenged our small group to move from a relationship with the Father that was primarily "gimme, gimme, gimme" to "change me, change me, change me."  Jack Frost challenged us with this question, "When you pray, is most of your prayer time consisting of, 'God, give me this or give me that.'"  Or is it simply "being with the Father" and experiencing intimacy with Him?

Jack used the parable of the Prodigal Father (the religious church has focused on the sin of the younger son, and entitled it "The Prodigal Son") to teach us how easy it is to move adrift of the Father and His love by only coming to the Father for the "gimme, gimme, gimme".  We were challenged to move from valuing the Father for what He can give us, to valuing Him for who He is and intimacy with Him.

Luke 15:11  And He said, "A man had two sons.  12 "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me...'"  NASU

Any thoughts on this?

Who's Feet You Sittin' At?

I've noticed that when I sit at the feet of certain talk radio guys, I begin to see the world from an unbiblical perspective.  Let me explain.  I begin to see people from a certain party or a certain political perspective, as the enemy, as my enemy.  My "blood boils" when I think of them, and soon that turns to rage.  My issue is this...the Bible clearly tells us that "flesh and blood" are not our enemies.  Is sitting at the feet of someone for any length of time, that has an unbiblical worldview, a wise thing?  If, while sitting at their feet, I sense a shift within my heart to see people as the enemy, rather than a mission field to be reached...is it a wise thing to sit at their feet?  Consider this passage...

Eph 6:12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  NASU

Are these very popular talk radio guys viewing the world through accurate lens?  I've found myself having struggles with reaching out to people of vastly different political perspectives.  And I believe it's because I'm putting up contentious walls when I sit at the feet of certain talk radio guys.  Shouldn't I be viewing the devil and his minions as who I wrestle with, who I war against?

How much better it is when I sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to what He has to say about the world, about government, about everything!  When I do sit at His feet, I begin to see the world in the way that He sees the world.  Jesus told us it is the one thing necessary for us...to sit at His feet and listen to Him.  He didn't tell us that listening to talk radio was the one thing necessary, or that serving was the one thing necessary...no, He said sitting at His feet and listening is the one thing necessary!

Luke 10:38-42  38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.  39  She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word.  40  But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."  41  But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."  NASU

I wonder if the Lord would say to me when I'm listening to talk radio..."Kevin, Kevin, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary...choose the better part, sit at My feet and listen to My voice."

I find it interesting, compelling, convincing and inspiring that history is replete with an abundance of people that do this and are fruitful, successful and world changers....Joseph (son of Jacob), Mary, George Washington Carver, Yonggi Cho, and so on and so on. 

May we be those who sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His voice!

Faithing Puts On

Eph 6:13-18  13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  14  Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16  in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  18  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit,  NASU

Tonight during our cell group, we concluded our study of the personal benefits of the blood, body and Cross of Jesus Christ, by reviewing this passage.  I've typically examined this passage with a magnifying glass-type of perspective, but tonight was a good opportunity to take a few steps back and look at it with a broader view in mind.  A broader view helped me to view this passage from the "battle" perspective.  The terms "armor" and "stand firm" and "sword" and "breastplate," all make it clear that this passage is about battle!  Battle is a hostile engagement by two or more foes.  And our foe is the Devil!  It was encouraging to not only review the personal benefits of the blood, body and Cross of Christ, but to take a stand on that which is promised to us, the inheritance of the saints.

The enemy, the Devil, has come to steal...and, if possible, to steal our inheritance.  Jesus came to give us an inheritance and the Devil has come to take it away.  We receive the inheritance by faith and the enemy tries to take it away by tempting us to doubt what God has accomplished for us on the Cross.  This is the fight that Paul urged his spiritual son, Timothy, to wage...the fight of faith!  I was reminded afresh tonight that we need to contend for these benefits, to "stand firm" against Satan, the one who would desire to steal away our inheritance by deceiving us into doubting the benefits of the Cross.  Paul encouraged Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith."  Who was Timothy to wage this fight against?  The Devil is our foe!  He desires to use our past experiences, or even most recent experiences against us in his scheme to get us to believing amiss.

But the Word of God says we are to embrace the truth only, and not to fall for Satan's deceptive trickery!  And as we stand on the truth, and appropriate the inheritance through faith in Christ and what He successfully accomplished through the Cross, we will defeat Satan!

Let us not be ignorant of the blessings Christ so painfully worked to deliver to us!  He went to great extremes to provide an inheritance to us, how apathetic it would be to not delve into the Word of God and discover the great treasures He has paid for us to possess by faith!

Be encouraged!  Father loves you with an everlasting love, and He desires that you discover every bit of the inheritance that He has purchased for you.  It is not greedy or self-centered to diligently discover what He longs for you to possess!  Will you search the Word of God thoroughly to discover how rich an inheritance you have through Christ?  It's definitely worth the effort!

Equipping Inmates for Ministry

On Friday, Sept 19th, the Greater Augusta Pastors' Society Inmate Ministry (GAPSIM) held a strategic planning meeting at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Vassalboro, Maine. There were 15 people present desiring to plug in to this expanding ministry that purposes (1) to lead incarcerated men and women to Christ, (2) equip them to walk victoriously in their newfound faith, and (3) assist them in transitioning to their new life of freedom outside the Kennebec County Correctional Facility (KCCF).

Currently, GAPSIM has 3 teams that goes in to KCCF to preach and teach the gospel. All 3 teams are reporting that lives are being changed as they minister to these inmates. Team 1 goes into the jail once a week (on Sunday afternoon) and ministers to a rotating segment of the jail population (minimum security, medium security, maximum security, women). Team 2 goes into the jail once a month and ministers to the female population. Team 3 goes into the jail once a month and ministers to the male population.

There is a growing desire and commitment to provide mentoring to interested and willing inmates that begins while they are in the jail and continues for a period of time after they are released. The "reentry" of inmates into society is one of the key elements in grounding these men and women into God's Word and a healthy community that can support them in walking with Christ, and walking free from their "old" life. Many inmates need assistance in starting afresh...finding a new place to live, getting a job, receiving assistance with food, furniture and clothing, and much, much more.

Many of these inmates are incarcerated because of crimes committed to support their drug addiction. We believe that as we bring the Word of God to these men and women, and faith rises in their hearts, they can walk in the freedom that Christ has obtained for them already. Society is ready to put these people out to the curb like garbage. Jesus Christ has a far better plan! The Lord has already spoke about His plan for the inmates, "For I know the plans I have for you...plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jer 29:11, NLT)

There are many facets of God's plan to bring them out of the slavery they have settled for in their lives, and this plan requires an abundance of laborers...from mentors, to letter/card writers, to those that preach and teach the gospel, to leaders to organize and strategize, to those who will pray for the incarcerated men and women as well as those ministering to the inmates. Will you ask the Lord if He wants you to put your shoulder to the load?

Under Law or Under Grace?

One of my favorite people in the Bible is David.  There's so much to love about him.  He's real...just read the psalms that he wrote.  I mean he just opens up his heart to us and let's us inside.  He taught me how to be real that way.  Also, he was rejected by his own family...when Samuel, the prophet of Israel came to town and the Lord directed Samuel to go to Jesse's house, all the boys, all 7 of the boys were invited to come and sit with the prophet...well, all of them but one...that's right, David was the only one left out from this very important meeting.  David was treated with hostility by his older brothers when he came to the front lines to bring them food.  And yet, not only a reject, but David was a man's man...he killed a lion AND a bear, before he took on the 9 foot giant, Goliath!

So there is so much to love about him.  Another thing I love about David is that when it came to expressing worship to God...he didn't stick his wet finger in the air to discover what the winds of opinion had to say about the issue.  David was just downright FREE with his worship of God.  He didn't settle for lame excuses about why he couldn't be really expressive during worship...he just went for it...and let the opinions of others take a hike!  I love it!

So, David, in one of his first acts as King of united Israel...he gets the troops ready to go to battle against the Philistines...primarily for one reason...they've got the ark of the covenant.  The ark of the covenant was where the Presence of God dwelt in the tabernacle of Moses.  There was nothing more important to David than restoring the Presence of God to the nation of Israel.  So David and the army beat the Philistines so badly that they never again become a formidable foe to Israel, and David returns to Jerusalem, with the ark.  There is such joy in David's heart that the Presence of God is returning to Israel, that he assembles a band of worshipful musicians to lead worship before the ark as it is brought along the journey...and David is dancing and whirling about in celebration of God's Presence!  Let's read about it...

2 Sam 6:14-16, 20-23  14  And David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod.  15  So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouting and the sound of the trumpet.  16  Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.  20  But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel distinguished himself today!  He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants' maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!"  21  So David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 "I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished." 23 Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.  NASU

Michal, his wife, judged David for being free in his worship, for dancing before the Lord in a celebratory and free way!  There is one who flows in this accusatory way towards God's people...in fact, his title is...the accuser of the brethren.  Michal made the choice to flow in accusing David and her womb suffered from the curse of poverty.  When you flow in the enemy's path...poverty will hunt you down.

On the other hand, David celebrated as does anyone that has been the recipient of God's abundant grace!  And David would prosper, as did Israel under his leadership.

Let this be a lesson to all of us...we can either flow in the Holy Spirit or we can flow with the enemy, the judgmental accuser of the brethren.  One releases blessing upon blessing, and the other releases a curse upon our lives.  One is to live under grace (the flow of the Holy Spirit) and the other is to live under the Law.  Michal lived under the law, and probably felt like God was always judging her, which in turn caused her thought life to be full of judging others.  Do you feel like God is always judging you?  Consider this verse...

John 5:22  "For not even the Father judges anyone...  NASU

Is your thought life filled with accusatory thoughts towards yourself for failing to measure up?  Or is it filled with accusatory thoughts towards others for failing to measure up?

Is your thought life filled with thoughts of how pleased God is with you?

What does the word of God say about all this?

Why? Why Vietnam and Why Not Barbary Wars?

I have a 4 1/2 year old boy, an almost 3 year old boy and a 4 month old baby girl.  I am loving being a father.  Tomorrow afternoon I get to take my 4 1/2 year old and almost 3 year old out to their soccer game.  I can hardly wait!

My 4 1/2 year old is going through a bit of a challenging stage right now...no pun intended.  Whenever he is given direction, given an order...he now frequently responds with, "Why?"  For the most part, I'd say, he asks for the following 2 reasons, (1) he's genuinely curious and is wanting to know more info, and (2) he is simply parroting what he's heard other kids say without realizing what he's asking.

Sometimes I wish adults, myself included, were more like my 4 1/2 year old.  I find myself wondering "why?" when I consider this research that I've just completed, that I'm going to describe to you so you can do the same.  You can search a wide variety of news websites for specific words or phrases simply by typing the word(s) or phrase into the search window of http://news.google.com.  Try entering the term in quotations "Barbary Wars" in the news search and see how many news articles pop up in the search.  Just one news article comes up with the exact phrase "Barbary Wars."  Now, try typing in the news search box Vietnam and Iraq.  In other words, research how many articles are probably drawing upon the Vietnam War as a frame of reference for the Iraq War.  Well, you end up with 13,142 news articles.  Now, to even the casual observer, this makes one's antenna perk up!

Let me ask you a question.  What do you know about the Barbary Wars?  If you do not know anything about the Barbary Wars or very little...why is that?  Is it possible that you don't know much because it isn't being referenced in the news?  If you are not aware of the history of the Barbary Wars please click on the following link and be astonished along with me...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_Wars

Now, let me ask you another question...why are news reporters and/or editors intentionally framing the Iraq War in the context of the Vietnam War, but are intentionally not referring to the Barbary Wars?  After reading the above article...doesn't it seem quite odd that a reporter/editor would not even mention the Barbary Wars?  Doesn't it seem odd that the ONLY frame of reference, the only filter the reporters/journalists/editors want you to have is the Vietnam War filter?  Why is that?

Let's be discerning people when it comes to what we watch on the TV.  Everyone has an agenda.  Networks have an agenda...journalists have an agenda...reporters have an agenda...editors have an agenda.  Don't assume that simply because it's on TV news, or in the newspaper, or on an internet news site, that that makes it true.  Consider the source and consider their agenda.

What did our nation learn about Islamic fundamentalists from the Barbary Wars?

Kennebec County - Cry Out America

Today, pastors from 7 different churches and attendees from 10 different churches gathered at the steps of Kennebec County Superior Court on the 7th anniversary of the horrendous, Satanic attacks by Islamic terrorists on our nation.  We gathered to remember that immediately following the attack there was this measurable desperation in our hearts as we ran to God.  But this day, 7 years later, we gathered at the steps where justice is dispensed and cried out to God for mercy upon our county and our nation, for having returned back to "business as usual."  It didn't take long for our nation to forget about God and resume life as it was pre-9/11.  So, we gathered to repent of our own sins and to identificationally repent of the sins of our county and our nation, and to cry out for revival in our land.

The Awakening America Alliance, a coalition of like-minded ministries, denominations, and Christian leaders, exhorted the body of Christ to gather as a solemn assembly at the county courthouse steps in the 3,141 counties throughout the U.S. to fast and pray, and cry out for revival in the spirit of Joel 1:14.

Joel 1:14
Consecrate a fast,
Proclaim a solemn assembly;
Gather the elders
And all the inhabitants of the land
To the house of the Lord your God,
And cry out to the Lord.  NASU

God assures us that if we, His people, called by His name, will humble ourselves and pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, He will hear us, forgive us and heal our land.  Our desire was to see God begin to heal our land.  Heal our land of what, you might ask.

Over 50 million babies have been slaughtered in the womb of pregnant women since Roe v. Wade.  There are so many women out there that have made this horrific, sinful choice and they are now overwhelmed with guilt, shame and a multitude of other life-debilitating issues.  There is an entire generation of men and women that are not with us today because they never got the chance to take their first breath out of the womb.  Innocent, indefensible, weak, and vulnerable, they were destroyed before they could dream, before they could love, before they could look in their mother's eyes, before they could hold hands and stare in the eyes of their future mate.

Our prisons and jails are overfilled with the mentally ill and the drug addicted.  The church has reneged on one of its God-mandated purposes...to minister to the poor, and so our government has had to step up and fill in the gap.  Child abuse, spouse abuse, child pornography, middle school and high school teachers sexually abusing their students, soft porn on prime time TV, embryonic stem cell research, gay marriage, etc, etc...

The Church is in need of an awakening.  It is NOT hopeless, because Christ is still Lord of all.  He has entrusted the Church with the authority and the power (through the baptism of the Holy Spirit...Acts 1:8), to face the enemy and destroy him and set the captives free.  God is innocent, the blame is upon those who know better, those who have the equipment (the Holy Spirit) to do something about it.  Let us rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit and walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit to walk in our destiny as God has established it for us!

This is why we gathered...to repent of our lethargy, our lukewarmness, our doubting and unbelief.  Let us move forward in faith, knowing that Father leads the way!

Walking in Your Identity

For most of our lives we identify ourselves by our first, middle and last name.  If someone were to walk up to you and say, "Who are you?" most likely, your knee-jerk reaction would be to respond, "My name is..."  You might say, "What's wrong with that?"

It's interesting to me that as believers in Jesus Christ, and His Word, that we settle for identifying ourselves according to what our temporal parents with their finite wisdom selected as our name.  What alternative is available to us regarding identifying ourselves?  The alternative is to make the wise choice to seek out in God's Word how He has chosen to identify us in His ETERNAL, infinite wisdom.

Another trap that we fall into when attempting to identify ourselves is to identify ourselves according to what we do.  "I'm a surgeon...I'm a carpenter...I'm a housewife, etc"  My question to you is this...how does God identify us in His Word?  I'm not going to answer the question on this post.  It's better for you to search the Word of God and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit to discover what God has to say about this subject.  How does God identify you?