Leading The Way

Last weekend I was driving north on I-69 when I found myself behind a vehicle traveling 55 miles per hour in a 60 mile per hour zone. 

I didn't realize that we were traveling below the speed limit right away. Thinking back on the situation, it seems as though I was in a sort of semi-zombie trans where I was not fully processing my speed and not fully considering my surroundings.

I became aware of my decreased speed when another vehicle, one that had been behind us for some time, passed me as well as the vehicle I was following. 

As I was being passed, I thought one thing; "I could have - and should have - passed this car a while ago".

Then it occurred to me how the car that was passing me at the moment was leading the way. Not only was this vehicle reminding me of my decreased speed and of my ability and opportunity to pass, the driver was leading the way by giving me an example to follow.

Leadership is not only needed on the interstate, taking an initiative and leading by example is needed everyday. 

I wonder how often people around us are operating in a sort of semi-zombie trans where they are not fully processing their thoughts and not fully considering their surroundings. 

I wonder how often people around us are waiting for someone to lead the way. 

I wonder how often people around us are waiting for someone to remind them of their abilities and their opportunities. 

I wonder how often people around us are waiting for someone to give them an example to follow.

So, who are you leading? 

And, who will you lead? 

Rest In His Love

Every night, when it is time to turn in for the night, my wife and I go through a series of routines; taking the dog out, locking up the house, taking kids to the bathroom one last time, and much more. Often I take this opportunity to pray over each of our children one last time before the day concludes. 

Tonight the words of Zephaniah 3:17 came to my mind as I prayed over each of my children. Zephaniah writes, "The Lord will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." 

 

As I stand next to the beds of each of my children - praying for them, delighting in them, rejoicing over them - I am struck with the awareness that God is doing the same in my life. 

And, tonight it occurs to me that God does this often with no thankfulness from us - often with no awareness that He is taking the time and the energy to love us. 

Why does God take great delight in us? 

Why does God comfort and quiet us?

Why does God rejoice over us in song?

Why does God do any of this? Because He loves us more than we can ever hope to understand and more than we will ever be able to love him back. 

What an amazing God we serve!

Let us rest tonight knowing that God loves us for who we are - who He has created us to be. 

Opportunities

Opportunities to share the Gospel message - the truth of Jesus - the love of Christ - are all around us every day. 

Freely Justified To Be Righteous

Romans 3:21-24: But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

RESET: heart

Several nights ago I sat in my living room and God began to move in my heart. He moved me to a new level of passion for His Church and for His Kingdom. He stirred within me the desire to see His Church conquer new ground and to move throughout communities like never before. He stirred within me the hunger to see His Kingdom come on earth. 

Several nights ago I sat in my living room and God began to speak to my mind. He spoke a clear vision to instruct and commission His Church in new ways. He spoke a simple method for directing His Church in ways that enable His Spirit to move and His will to be done. 

Several nights ago I sat in my living room and God gave me a word; "RESET".

 

After God gave me this word - although I did not fully comprehend what He was directing me to - I began to write and dream

I began to write and dream. 

Today, several days later - still struggling to comprehend the magnitude of what God has called me to share - I want to share the first stage of "RESET". 

I am confident that God is not moving in and speaking to me alone. I believe that the hearts and minds of many others are being moved in the same direction. I believe that this movement of God's Spirit is going to transcend denominational, political, racial, and cultural lines. God is about to move through His Church in a powerful way and I believe that He is calling for you and I to join together to accomplish His call. 

This is not a local church ministry. 

This is not a program or an initiative.

This is not a community activity.

This is not a outreach event.

This is a movement of God. 

For those who have a shared passion for Christ's Church and for God's Kingdom, I want to invite you to join me. 

The call to you is simple and clear, a heart for the call. More specifically - the words shared with me - a "missional heart". 

Who is in?

More to come...

Joy of Proclaiming the Gospel

There is great joy in proclaiming the Gospel message - the truth of Jesus Christ. 

Whether we be in the church building, a grocery store, our home, or simply walking down the street, let us proclaim the Gospel with great joy 

RESET

Some days I want to hit the "RESET" button.

Some days, things seem to overly complicated and I find myself overburdened and struggling to fix the mess that surrounds me. 

Other days, things just aren't going right and I want to go back to the beginning of the day and start over. 

Have you ever wanted to hit the "RESET" button? 

Often I look at The Church in America and I want to hit the "RESET" button. 

Some days I look at the operation of The Church and I can't help but recognize that we have overly complicated the call - we are overburdened and struggling and we need to fix the mess. Other times I look at the ministry of The Church and I can't help but wonder if we need to start over in order to remember the mission that we have been called to. 

Often I look at The Church in America and I want to hit the "RESET" button. 

Let me introduce "RESET". A mission to refocus The Church on the call.

 

Watch for more soon. And watch for your opportunity to join me on this mission. 

Blessed To Share

Matthew 14:14-20; 

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Be Love

 

Love. The foundation of the teachings by Jesus. Love is why Jesus came to dwell among us. Love is why Jesus healed the sick and fed the poor. Love is why Jesus led His followers and taught the multitudes. Love is why Jesus allowed Himself to be nailed to a Roman cross. Love is why Jesus did not remain in the tomb. Love is why Jesus went back to heaven and sent His Spirit. Love is what Jesus called us to.

Jesus's words are recorded for us in John 13:34-35 (ESV); "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

Yet, love is not something that we are left to do as though love is simply a verb - an action that we choose to take. Instead, love is to be who we are in Jesus and through Jesus. Love is to be a noun - how we are defined.

In Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan we find that Jesus is calling us to a new level of love - a level of mercy to all. Jesus calls us to consider the love of the good Samaritan and to "go and do likewise". 

Jesus calls us to love without limits. We must love without parameters. We must love without boundaries. We must love without question. 

So, the question that we must all consider; "who are you withholding love from?".

In Matthew 5:44 Jesus calls His followers to "love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you".

Are there any prejudices in your life? Are there any preconceived opinions that you have formed - not based on reasoning or actual experiences - that you need to rid your mind of?

Are there any racisms or classisms in your life?  Any there any favortisms that you hold on to or show toward a certain group of people - perhaps those that belong to a particular social class - that you need to rid your heart of?

Do you recognize any areas of your life where you are withholding love - through your words, your thoughts, or your actions?

Let me challenge you, not only to begin to love but, to become love to all those that you encounter today.

When You Ask

 

What are you asking God for? 

God invites us to ask Him for what we need, when we need it. He will give us what we need. 

What are your motives when you ask? 

When we ask God to give us what we need it is important that our reason for asking is pure. 

How will you use what God gives you? 

God will give us what we need. When He does we must use it to bless others and glorify God. 

Give Me One Hundred

 

I was reminded of this quote of John Wesley's the other day, "Give me one hundred..."

As I contemplated this statement I allowed my imagination to run. As a local church Pastor I spend hours considering how I might inspire large groups of people to take up the call and fulfill the mission that Jesus has called The Church to; "Go and make disciples of all nations..."

Yet, this statement is not about inspiring the masses. This statement has to do with pouring into leaders and inspiring those that have a heart and a passion for God and for His kingdom. This statement speaks of those who have not only recognized God's call, but have taken it up - accepting and affirming His call in their lives. This statements speaks of those that have a heart - and love - for God and a desire to share His love with all those they encounter. 

As I continued to contemplate this statement I found myself shifting my focus. I shifted my focus from simply inspiring The Church as a whole. I shifted my focus toward identifying the leaders that God was calling me to pour into and inspiring them. 

Then, as I continued to contemplate this statement, I was wrecked by a convicting question; "Am I one of the one hundred?". 

Am I one of the one hundred that truly fear nothing but sin? One of the one hundred that have a boldness to call sin sin rather than striving to appease others with soft language and softer discipline?

Am I one of the one hundred that truly desire nothing but God? One of the one hundred that show evidence of my commitment to God through the use of my time, my attention, my money, my talents, and my resources?

Am I one of the one hundred that will truly shake the gates of hell? One of the one hundred that will go up against the perversion, the sin, and the evil that dominates our culture, ruins lives, and seems to be overcoming our world?

Am I one of the one hundred that will truly set up the kingdom of heaven on earth? One of the one hundred that will live a life of joy, hope, and love that will transform lives and change the world?

Am I one of the one hundred?

As I continue to contemplate this statement, let me invite you to do the same. Let me invite you to go through this statement, line by line, and ask yourself "Am I one of the one hundred?". 

Give me one hundred who fear nothing but sin...

Give me one hundred who desire nothing but God...

Give me one hundred who will shake the gates of hell...

Give me one hundred who will set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth...