The Joy's in the Ride

While there may be some who think that the journey is referring to Steve Perry and the boys, I'm actually talking about this life-altering, day-by-day, relationship between GOD and me.


Although I was first Spirit-baptized when I was a young warthog of 12-years-old, I didn't truly begin my journey until just after my 30th birthday. This isn't something of which I'm proud, just the reality. It was around this time that my pastor, Jeff Morgan, introduced me to transparent Christianity, and I haven't looked back since. Brings to mind that old Gospel tune, …drinkin' of the wine, the wine, the wine…, but I digress.


What I can't understand is the fear and loathing within the Apostolic Movement for referencing our walk with GOD as our journey. Are we not in day-by-day interaction with GOD; do we not experience good days and bad days; are we not daily learning more about Him and His Mission in our lives?


Are we scared of calling it a journey because we've listened to our own headlines for too long and are now convinced that we do—in fact—have all Truth and have arrived; that this is truly the epitomy of everything GOD has for us in this life? Are we really this arrogant?


Could it be that we're afraid of a journey because this realization lessens the congregation's dependence on a dictatorial overseer who calls all the shots from a hiarchial poteum that was constructed by organizational methodology rather than in the Text?


Are we afraid of the journey because this understanding reminds us that each of us should work out our own salvation individually, with reverence and sobriety?


No, I'm not advocating a rejection of pastors; however, I am encouraging a biblical understanding that we must all find GOD for ourselves. We will not be able to hide behind our pastor when we stand before GOD to answer for our individual actions. I've said it before, our pastor is a gift from GOD, not our intermediary between us and GOD. Why are so many of us waiting to hear from GOD through His man? What is wrong with spending time with GOD every day, and hearing from Him individually? Sure we need authority over us, but that doesn't negate the importance of personal relationship with the Lover of our soul.


This relationship is our journey to salvation. We haven't arrived, we're on the path. We may see the prize, but we have to keep walking until we obtain.


Don't be scared of the journey. As Amanda Marshall sang back in the 90s, …the joy's in the ride…. When was the last time you allowed GOD to court you? When was the last time you flirted with GOD? When was the last time you curled up in His arms of grace and mercy and allowed Him to whisper in your ear sweet somethings of His Character and Essence?


I dare you to try it.




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Location:Daisy St,Trabuco,United States

Returning to Antiquity

I was recently asked why I place so much focus on the rabbinic ministry of Jesus, and why I reference Hebraic tradition so often. They continued, "Why listen to rabbis when we have the Messiah?" So, I figured I'd take the time to explain my passion for 1st Century ethos.


First, while it's a very good educational practice to question modern rabbis, it would be a huge mistake to follow any of them. The only Rabbi that we should follow is Jesus. For this to make any sense you have to first understand that Jesus lived His earthly life and conducted His earthly ministry according to the rabbinic tradition. He gathered disciples, He traveled around Judea and the Decapolis interpreting the Torah and the Nevi'im and He commissioned His disciples with His yoke (or doctrine) at the end of His earthly ministry. Throughout the four Gospels Jesus is referred to by His followers as Rabbi (or Master: KJV; or Teacher: ESV and others). It is important to note that He came in the ministry of interpreting the Torah, and thus fulfilled the Torah with His sacrifice. Denying His rabbinic ministry denies an integral aspect of His Mission.


The next reason why I focus on the 1st Century Community is because of Diaspora. Diaspora loosely refers to the spread of the Good News that occured after the Day of Pentecost. Diasporic Communities sprang up all across the known world—as far even as the Brittanic Islands—almost overnight. Luke reference this in the second chapter of his Acts, where he says that GOD added to the Community daily... Before Paul's Illumination, and even before he wrote his first letter to the 1st Century Community, there were thousands of Diasporic Communities in homes who had already dedicated themselves to following their Rabbi, Jesus Messiah (Jesus Christ, or Jesus the Savior, or Jesus—YHWH's Salvation). Not since the 1st Century has there been such a vast and rapid dispersion of the Good News; no, not even Azusa.


The next reason why I focus on the 1st Century is because of the advent of 4th Century cath holos (Roman Catholicism) that perverted and merged GOD's Community with human religion. Far too much of what we call Church Tradition has it's genesis in cath holos rather than in the Missio Dei (Mission of GOD). As a result I am calling for a return to biblical antiquity, a return to the 1st Century ethos that is dedicated and sold out to our Rabbi, Jesus—GOD's manifested Salvation.


I believe that GOD has called me to rip the facade off of denominationalism and religiosity so that the Light of His Illumination can shine again in the hearts of His Community, so that we return our focus to His Mission and His Kingdom. GOD didn't commission us to construct organizations and fellowships that are more akin to humanistic religion; He baptized us with His Spirit and Essence so that we would spread His Yoke, shining His Identity, building His Kingdom.


I wholeheartedly believe that the time has come to lay aside the trappings of denominational religion and return again to biblical antiquity; primarily 1st Century antiquity. When GOD's people today allow themselves to have all things in common, and to live in common unity, as the Ekklesia did in the 1st Century, we will begin to see a 1st Century outpouring of GOD's Spirit.


I've dedicated my life and the lives of my family to this return. We welcome you to join us on the journey.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Snapdragon St,Trabuco,United States

I'm Ok Not Being First

Every Sunday Olga, our four chicks and myself leave Orange County and drive three-and-a-half hours to Tulare where we are helping to launch a new church plant. We normally leave to come home as soon as that service is over; however, this week was a bit different because of the school holiday, so we stayed over. Because I have night blindness Olga normally drives home, but since we weren't in a rush (or simply because I have an inner death wish) I decided that I would drive home and let her rest.


I love to drive fast. In fact, if you've ever ridden in a car with me driving through the OC traffic, you know I'm not scared to push my car to the height of its German engineering. This—however—is not the case when I'm out on the highway; out there I'm the most observant observer of the the speed laws. My blinker is used almost to the point of ridiculous. You see, I hate getting tickets. You know the pillars of cloud and/or fire that followed and led the Israelites in the Old Testament? I have a large neon sign that floats above me when I travel that says, "I want a ticket!" Thus, my over-adherence to the laws of the road.


So—getting back to the story at hand—there I was meandering along at 70 mph on Hwy 99 South, approaching the Grapevine… Now, those of you who are familiar with this part of California know of which I speak. The Grapevine is a beautiful respite after the sheer boredom and flatness of the Central Valley (primarily Bakersfield; the town that GOD forgot, but Dwight Yoakum didn't). Because of the steep inclines, the speed drops to 65 mph on the Grapevine, and is strictly enforced. This in no way deters many of the heavy footed travelers from barreling on at 70 mph + (but such were some of you… no wait, such were me). So as not to alert any of our good CHP officers, I calmly drop my cruise control to 66 mph (sheesh, I'm such a rebel) and begin the trek across the mountains. I am immediately in a borage of cars, SUVs and cross-overs careening past me on every side (have you ever felt compassed about on every side by so great a cloud of speeders?). Several are very friendly, they even extend to me the finger of friendship. Others are giving me a love tap on their horns as they speed past me. One individual felt like he would take time out of his busy schedule to teach me a lesson, so he began to drive right beside me, then suddenly whip in front of me, slowing down, then whip to the other side in his best Fast and the Furious impression. He was having a blast in his after-market decked rice rocket, but my gas-guzzling SUV (actually 27 mpg on the road) never faltered; I figured he had more to lose if I accidently bumped his uber-large wing (I've always wondered if those actually would help a car fly).


These antics continued on for about 10 to 15 miles until he apparently grew bored and sped off. While I would never have given him the satisfaction of knowing that he had gotten my goat, inwardly I was seething. I remember thinking, "Dude, if we had been on the 405 or the 5 in Central County I would've run your fiberglass pile of junk off the road!" (angry much?). Having been known to jump out of cars at red lights to verbally accost particularly bad drivers, for the next few miles I fantasized about what I would've said to him if the opportunity had presented itself. I was so engrossed in my mind-movie (on 8mm for the more "conservative" of my readers) that I almost missed the beautiful scene playing out on the side of the road, not unlike a road-side Nativity scene at Christmas. In his hast to demonstrate to me his purchasing prowess in regards to his after-market acceleration system, this poor Paul Walker wannabe had forgotten that the steep inclines of the Grapevine are a haven for patrolling CHP officers. There he was, pulled over, with not one, but two CHP teams, lights a-flashing, wearing their tight-fitting polyester uniforms.


I laughed.


Sad to say that my inner smart alec took over, and as I drove past in the slow lane at a brisk 66 mph, I couldn't help but bump a quick horn blast and offer a light wave.


It was at this moment that GOD reminded me of several things, not the least of which was the fact that gloating is not a virtue. The crux of the Illumination was a reminder that the first won't always finish first.


I was reminded of the majority of the time when I do everything in my power to be first, to be the best, to outdo someone else, to have the best church, to have the best worship band, to teach better than anyone else, to know more than anyone else, to have more, to wear nicer clothes, to drive a better car, to spend more, etc. that I'm still finishing dead last. Honestly, I could go on and on regaling you with examples of my personal drive to beat everyone else, but that doesn't change the facts at hand.


Now, don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with striving to better yourself. In fact, the striving to be more than we are is a GOD-inspired endeavor. However, trying to be better than everyone else is where the problem lies. It's when we are seeking to rise above everyone else that we overlook the fact that in our ascension we are actually putting other people down.


It is impossible to elevate yourself without stepping on someone else.


I think that Jesus' cousin John had it right: He must increase, but I must decrease. I like how Patterson paraphrased this in The Message: This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines, [John 3:30]. I wonder how many times we stop the plan of GOD because we are unwilling to give Him the center or the focus?


In my mind, this is played out more prevalently in our misunderstanding of ministry. Our primary usage of the word ministry comes from the koine Greek word διακονία or diakonia [dee-ak-on-ee'-ah]. If you properly study this word usage you'll see that every definition of ministry indicates either servitude or subservience. Now, ask yourself this question: how do we as Christians define ministry? Have we not placed ministers on a pedestal? I'm not talking about giving honor to whom honor is due, I'm referring to an almost minister-worship. And this is not simply an action of the laity, far too often we ministers—either drunk on the accolades of the crowd, or blinded by our own self-worth—continually strive for superiority in our arrogant, GOD-ignoring ladder climbing. If you don't believe me look at our church buildings and tell me we're not trying to outdo each other.


Jesus made Himself a servant to the world, and even debased Himself by washing the disciple's feet and by allowing Himself to be hung naked on the cross. Yet, His called oracles (preachers and non-preachers alike) are often found preening and prancing, drawing the attention to ourselves rather than to Him.


Have you ever made a similar statement: "Well, they don't have all the Truth," or "Their standards aren't as high as mine." Truth be told, we've all fallen prey, at one point or another, to the fallacy that we've received all of GOD. The arrogance of this assumption is sickening. Who are we to think, even for a second, that it's even possible for us to remotely comprehend more than a fraction of All that GOD is? Illumination comes to the seeker not the one who feels that they've gained everything there is to know about Truth.


We don't have to be the best.


And, not being the best doesn't mean that we've missed the boat. As long as we're seeking Truth, He will reveal Himself to us [John 16:12-14]. Jonathan Stockstill wrote a song that says, Come reveal Yourself to me… You're all I want to see… What if this were true in all of our lives? What if GOD were the only thing that we tried to see; His purpose, His mission, His call, His heart…? I wonder what would happen in our world if GOD's people would lay down their swords of defense (they're kind of pointless what with Him being our defense and all) and genuinely begin to seek His face? Oh wait, didn't He say something about this already in 2 Chronicles 7:13-15? Yeah, I think He did. This was GOD's promise to Solomon that if His people were ever without rain, without food, abused by pestilence that all they (we) had to do was simply start by humbling themselves (ourselves), then pray, then seek, then turn, that He would be there ready for them (us). Strains of when the enemy comes in like a flood are floating through my mind even now.


We don't have to have the largest congregation on the most prime piece of real estate to have GOD's favor; all we have to do is seek Him. If your local Community doesn't have the funding to be a mega church, stop faking it. Start asking GOD to reveal Himself in every gathering, start focusing on the Mission Dei in every aspect of your process, start discipling individuals into relationship with GOD rather than conversion to your religious denomination… GOD will promote you in His time. If your reach is only 35 people, do whatever you can to make sure that all 35 know GOD, know His voice, know His face, it won't be long before that 35 make an eternal impact.


We don't have to the be the best, only someone who seeks His best.

What Is Church?

Have you ever truly paid attention in a pentecostal church service? No, I'm not talking about simply listening to the man of GOD teach or preach; I'm asking if you've ever truly observed and absorbed the actions, order, worship, and possibly even the sermon content of what we call church. If you have, have you ever noticed that the vast majority of our church services are centered around people who are already saved?

How do you define church?

Did GOD call us to have church or to be the Church?

Wasn't the foolishness of preaching given for the saving of the lost? If so, when did it morph into saint maintenance? Or—more importantly—when did going to church become more important than building a personal, intimate relationship with GOD?

There may be many reasons for the purpose-shift that seemingly has taken place in the Community, but it is my opinion that for too long we have ignored what Jesus actually said when He handed out the keys to the Kingdom in Matthew 16:13-20. Let's look specifically at verse 18:

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

When this Text is translated into English the word church is always used as the translation of the koine Greek word that Jesus actually spoke, which was ekklesia. Ekklesia can be translated as a church, or group of religious believers, but it translates more accurately into community, a gathering of individuals, committed to a common cause, theme, mission or goal. By the context, both in subject and geography, we can see that Jesus' words usage was not referring to a religious group, but rather a communal body. Jesus spoke these words while He and the twelve were visiting Caesarea Philippi; which was a community establish by the Caesar Philip, and was dedicated to the worship of Caesar as the son of god.

Jesus was not establishing another religious movement, He was establishing a community of believers who were to be dedicated to His Mission and Purpose.

So, getting back to the reason for the purpose shift, I believe that for too long we have focused on being religious rather than being communal. We want to build our churches rather than His Kingdom. We are dedicated to creeds established on conference floors rather than in the mouth of GOD. Because we've shifted away from His Purpose, we have focused on our religion. We have focused on us. Therefore, why wouldn't our church services be centered on us and the maintaining of ourselves?

In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus gave His Community His Mission: go make disciples, teach and baptize. He never said go build cathedrals, tabernacles or mini-franchises all over the globe. He never instructed us to gather together and go through rituals that have their root in spin-offs of Roman cath holos, that demand that everyone, everywhere adhere to same structure and methodology.

We do ourselves a great disservice when we force the under-shepherd to preach to us (we who claim salvation). I've searched the Text, but I can't find one place where the 1st Century Community was instructed to preach to those who had been Spirit-baptized. Now, I'm not saying it's not there, I just can't find it. What I have found is many instances of deep teaching to the Community. But every instance of preaching I've found is to the unregenerate.

Who do we preach to on a regular basis?

Why are our sermons filled with pentecostal colloquialisms with which many a guest have no connection?

Why is there so much tongue-talking in our gatherings, when Paul specifically taught us not to babble in tongues in public?

Why are the vast majority of our song choices horizontal rather than vertical?

Why do we go to church so that we can connect with GOD, yet throughout the week we have little or no interaction with Him whatsoever?

Why are we so fixated with that old tyme religion? (Yes, I spelled the word that way on purpose). What took place in the 1st Century wasn't a religious happening, it was a GOD-happening. Our obsession with the early 1900s is stealing our focus away from GOD's Mission, to reach the lost. Not to put another butt on the pew (or chair), but to lead another hungry soul to Christ.

Honestly ask and answer these questions:

1. If what we've been given truly is everything we say it is, then why are so many of us leaving?
2. If what we've been given will truly change lives, how come many of those who are Spirit-baptized in our services do not stay for more than a few weeks?

The attrition in the Apostolic Movement is real.

Within the last three months I have heard the statement, "I go to church, then I go home and watch [insert the name of your favorite mega-preacher] so I can get fed," at least a dozen times. Look around. Be honest. Don't blame it on the economy. Place the blame where it belongs: in our own laps. We are the problem.

I know, I know, there are some who are already beginning the rip campaign. But you are the ones who truly need to ask the question. If it's so great, then why?

The truth is, what we've been entrusted with is the greatest gift GOD ever gave humanity. The problem is not with the gift, the problem is with us. We've stopped sharing the gift and have begun spreading a religion based on the gift.

Please don't get me wrong. I'm not bashing anyone. No, wait. That's not true. I'm bashing myself. I'm the problem. I've focused more on pentecostalism than on discipleship. I've been more concerned about building a church than growing His Kingdom. This blog post is self-medication that is awaking me to the realization that I have shifted away from the Missio Dei and into denominational religion.

What is church?

Church is not a religious gathering in which ceremonial worship is conducted according to the rites passed down from Azusa or the subsequent, myriad denominations. At least it's not supposed to be. Church is the assembling of ourselves together with people of like precious faith, who have come together to worship GOD in both Spirit and in Truth, to create an atmosphere in which GOD can begin to prick the hearts of the unbelievers, so that when they hear the Word of GOD preached with anointing they repent of their sins and are filled with the Spirit of GOD.

For too many of us, church has become either our social connection or our spiritual all-you-can-eat buffet. We come and shake hands with those in the congregation who we can actually stomach for more than five minutes, then we find our seat (the same seat we've sat in for years, passed down from our forefathers who held that patch of ground when we still sat in pews) and settle in for our me-fest, in which the worship leader can only sing songs that remind us of when were young, and the preacher can only preach sermons that challenge our spiritual intellect (an intellect not from study, but from countless repetition of the Text throughout the years). All the while we're ignoring those to whom Jesus Commissioned us.

Church is not about us, it is about the lost.

Steven Furtick made the statement that if you received the baptism of the Spirit last Sunday then that was the last service that Elevation Church was about you.

No, I don't agree with everything that he preaches or does. But I do agree with this. We may not like it, but he's right. It may make us very uncomfortable, but it is still truth. It's biblical. It's not a truth found in our manuals or fellowship articles, but it is a Truth found within the very Character of the Text. It is a truth that dates all the way back to GOD's covenant with Abram: I will bless you so that you can bless every nation in the world. GOD hasn't entrusted us with this awesome treasure so that we will build walls of protection that block the world's path to Truth. GOD's Mission is for us to take this treasure—in our jars of clay—beyond our walls to the hurt, hungry and lost world that surrounds us.

Yes, I want to be seeker-friendly (and with that I am forever damned by those who will completely miss my point). I want anyone who is seeking GOD to know that I won't get in their way, but rather I will take their hand and lead them into His Presence. No, I don't want to be like the world, nor adhere to the thought process of humanism, but I also don't want to be so heavenly minded that I'm no earthly good. No, I won't be so pentecostal that I'm afraid to get the stench of sin on my lily white robes that I use to conceal the rake, putrid, decaying rot that is my true underbelly.

Jesus took the twelve to the other side. The other side is where the sinners lived. The other side is that uncomfortable place where we're surrounded by prostitutes, drug addicts, spouse abusers, homosexuals, child molesters, murderers…

That is where Jesus ministered.

Are we ready to go?

And—when we get there—are we ready for church?

L'Chaim [repost from NoNegativityNow.com]

I was asked recently to write an article for nonegativitynow.com, which was an extreme honor. This is one of my favorite websites, and I encourage you to check it out often. There are great writers (myself excluded) and and lot of whatnot that will help you in your walk with GOD. 

l’chaim

Have you ever noticed those people who go through life devoid of true interaction with anything other than themselves? These sad individuals are constantly surrounded in a shroud of negativity that clouds their judgement and blocks meaningful connections. I was once one such sorry soul, but a life-changing event positively altered my existence; I discovered GOD.

Now, I know what you're thinking, here he goes on some lame conversion story, but you'd be wrong. While I had known about GOD for my entire life, had even claimed to be filled with GOD, I existed empty, void, negative. The god I knew was only full of judgement, but the GOD I discovered called me to a deep intimate relationship. It was (and is) amazing. I was almost like GOD turned to me and (in a Joey Tribbiani voice) said, "How you doin'?" I was hooked.

The most amazing thing about this relationship with GOD is, the negativity has disappeared. Where I was once judgmental, I now extend mercy. Where I once pulled away from interaction with other people, I now embrace new friends and acquaintances. All because of intimacy with GOD.

In my opinion the reason that so many so-call "Christians" live such negative lives, is because they haven't discovered the difference between existence and life. The Jews have a phrase they use when toasting a drink, "la chaim," which simply means "to life." However, this phrase doesn't simply indicate a toast to life, it indicates a conscience choice of life over existence. We exist when we absorb but never give out. The only time we truly live is when we give out of ourselves. To choose life we have to give life. For example, the money in our wallets exists, but when we take that existing money and give it to someone in need, we are giving life to them, thus altering the money from mere existence to life.

To truly live we have to spill ourselves out to the world in which we live. It is physiologically impossible for you to stay depressed when you are helping someone else. The giving of ourselves gets our focus off of us and onto others. When we stop focusing on ourselves it is easy to let go of our negativity. Could this be the "more abundant life" that Jesus talked about; a life dedicated to giving to others?

Think about it, GOD gave so that we could live. This is GOD's character. When we discover GOD, we discover the power of giving ourselves away. When we give ourselves away, we release the negativity of simply existing. When we choose life, we choose GOD.

I chose GOD and He changed everything about me. No, this is not a product nor cure-all that "you too" can receive by sending in your check or money order for $19.95 to some obscure address in White Plains, NY. This is a choice that you have to make: either to live without GOD, or to be intimate with Him.

I dare you to try it.

I dare you to try GOD.

The king is Dead, Long Live the KING

Who or what is distracting you from GOD’s mission? Have you ever really thought about it, or is this a subject that makes you uncomfortable?

We’ve all read Isaiah 6 and seen the transformation in the prophet’s life when the king died. But, have you ever truly dug into this Text to find the personal application? There is much Truth here. 

Uzziah was a king anointed by GOD. There were a lot of positives from his reign, but all his good was overshadowed by the fact that he overstepped his boundaries. He died a leper because he lost sight of what GOD wanted him to be.

In the beginning of chapter 6 we see that Uzziah has just died and that Isaiah sees GOD, sees himself, then hears GOD’s missional call. The dynamic of Uzziah’s personality, and his personal interaction with Isaiah, both served to distract Isaiah from his call to be a prophet. Isaiah couldn’t see GOD nor hear His voice because of Uzziah. We’ve all heard this subject preached time and again, how we need to examine our lives and find the things that distract us from GOD. All of these sermons are well and good, however, I believe there is a deeper Truth to be found in the story of Uzziah and Isaiah. My thoughts will no doubt damn me further into the nether regions of the pentecostal waste bin, but oh well; such is life.

Sure, we can allow things, hobbies, work, school, habits, etc. to distract us from GOD, but it is also possible for people—anointed people—to distract us from the Missio Dei. Because of the acute ministry worship in modern Pentecostalism, anointed men of GOD can become distractions from the Commission that is given to every believer. Often times people are too distracted by the dynamics of their pastor’s preaching, or his personality, or his credenda, or the mission statement of their local congregation… to truly see GOD and hear His voice for themselves.

Ask yourself this question: are you so enamored with the pastoral staff or ministry team of your local community that you can’t hear GOD’s voice for yourself? Do you wait to hear instruction from the pulpit before you’ll proceed to fulfill the Commission? Do you run your burdens past committee prior to you embarking on a mission-walk? Does the organizational structure of your local community or your denomination dictate GOD’s will in your life? Be honest. Answering yes to any of these questions, and feeling the subsequent pain of realization, doesn’t mean that you’re not submitted to GOD’s delegated authority. It simply means that you’re finally willing to be honest with GOD and yourself.

GOD never called His Community to build small mini-franchises all over the world. He never called us to build our own kingdoms, nor to serve a man’s vision. He called us to fulfill His mission. We all need a pastor. Pastors are GOD-called men who have been given the responsibilities of an under-shepherd. But far too often we forget that GOD also called each one of us, individually. In our attempts to submit we allow ourselves to become distracted from GOD.

GOD is calling. Are you listening to your king, or are can you hear GOD’s voice? 

When Uzziah died, Isaiah finally saw GOD and heard His voice, but he also saw himself. We need to allow our Uzziahs to die so that all the distractions are gone from our lives and we can see GOD, see ourselves and hear again His Call. Isaiah didn’t receive a vision until he first saw GOD and then himself.

There is a lot of talk today about worldview. It has become a buzz word of christianity. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with a worldview. In fact, more of us should work to develop a godly worldview. However, it is impossible to have a godly worldview until we first see GOD, then ourselves. Then and only then will we receive vision. Then and only then will we truly see understand GOD’s mission.

As a man who has been called by GOD to be a minister to His Community, I have to ask myself the questions: am I a distraction to the people I serve? Is my personal credenda blocking their path to GOD’s mission in their lives? Am I demanding subservience to me when I should be teaching true discipleship? Have I become like Uzziah; a GOD-anointed man bound for banishment and leprosy because I think too highly of myself? How many people in my local community aren’t fulfilling the Commission because of me?

This is not a call to rebellion, rather it is a call to true submission. Submission to GOD by all of us; from the oldest patriarch to the newest believer. Let’s let our Uzziahs die so that we can see GOD, see ourselves and hear GOD’s voice. Let this be our credo: the king is dead, long live the King.

The Call

I’ve recently been focusing a lot on the Call that GOD placed in my life. This was not something that I sought out, nor—to be honest—even wanted. Yet, despite my myriad efforts to disqualify myself, GOD still wanted me.

Thing that I’ve had the most trouble accepting this in the fact that this Call came from GOD, not man. I kept looking to man for affirmation for something with which they had no connection. Add to this the fact that I felt completely unworthy of the Call, and you can see my predicament.

How often, do you think, do we advance or quash GOD’s process so that it can fit into our system?

A friend of mine was called to be a preacher several years back, but not one door has ever opened to him. He’s come to me often asking what he needs to do with this call to preach. He tells me that he never feels an overwhelming burden to share something. When he hears sermons or lessons, he never sees himself in that position, thus his extreme discomfort with the calling. I asked him how he knew he was called to preach. He responded that a preacher walked up to him at the end of an altar service and said, “GOD’s calling you to preach, so start acting like a preacher.” 

How does a preacher act? Aren’t we all called to go make disciples? Does acting like a preacher involve over-spiritualizing life, or wearing suites all the time, or using so much hair spray held over from the 70s that your coiffure could be used as a foundation for a small house? How does one act like a preacher.

After much conversation, my friend finally admitted that he had never heard from GOD that he was called to a pulpit ministry. Since he’s stopped trying to fit into a man-created mold his walk with GOD has flourished, and he’s actually reaching people, and he never sets foot in the pulpit. The well-intentioned preacher maker was correct about one thing: GOD was calling my friend, but not to fill a pulpit. GOD was calling him to be a disciple maker.

The Call to be a minister is not a Call to a hierarchy of ϋber-spiritual leaders, rather it is a Call to be a servant to the Community of Christ and to the rest of the world. GOD never called us to a pedestal, He called us to serve. Methinks that far too often we misuse the Text that admonishes to give honor to whom honor is due. This is not a commandment for the congregation to wait on the ministry hand and foot. This is a commandment to acknowledge that anointing flows down. It is perfectly natural for the laity to want to honor the authorities that GOD has delegated above them, but those to whom He has delegated authority must never allow ourselves to be placed above the people who we are to serve.

It is impossible to serve someone while at the same time lording over them.

I thank GOD that He saw fit to Call me to His ministry. I thank GOD that He Called me to be a servant. Lord, help me to be humble as I serve Your Community and the world in which I live. Help me to lead in the same way that You led, from within, not from above.

Why Discipleship? Why Now?

Those of you who know me or have spent time with me over the past seven years or so know that I have a passion for studying the Text and applying it to my own life as best I can. One of my favorite passages in the Text is Matthew 28:16-20 where Jesus gave His rabbinic yoke (His doctrine) to His disciples. When we understand just how important Jesus’ words on the mountain were to the eleven remaining disciples, we can begin to understand how this Commission applies in our own lives.

Throughout the three-and-a-half years of His earthly ministry, Jesus continually reiterated—whether by word or by action—that He had no intention of establishing an earthly kingdom. This somewhat flew in the face of the zealot-leaning twelve that He had chosen to be His talmidim (Hebrew idiom referring to a group of rabbinic students), as they believed—as did many of the common Jews—that the Messianic Reign would be earthly in nature, banishing to nothingness all dictatorial rule over the Chosen Nation. It wasn’t until the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry that they began to comprehend that His Plan and Purpose was to establish a Spiritual Kingdom within the hearts and lives of people.

Let’s fast-forward a couple thousand years or so to our time. Are our out-reach methods fulfilling the Commission, or are they building our churches? Are we making converts to our brand of religious, denominational Christianity, or are we making disciples, one individual at a time?

Jesus commissioned His disciples to individually and collectively go and make disciples themselves; teaching the new believers everything that Jesus had taught them. He never commissioned them to go build denominal religious organizations or mini-franchises of the same. He never commissioned them to go make converts; individuals who have been swayed by the veracity of our argument rather than by personal intimacy with God. Are we—when we examine our collective efforts today—willing to admit that we have somewhat drifted from the original Commission?

Do we invite people to church or do we take Jesus to them? Let’s be honest, would we spend as much time in an out-reach effort if we knew that the people we reach would never become members of our local congregation? How much funding would we apply to efforts that didn’t butts on the chairs or pews that we purchased?

A disciple-maker doesn’t have the agenda of adding numbers to a roster. A disciple-maker is only concerned about one thing: taking Jesus to individuals, then teaching those individuals about His love. Getting those individuals to become a part of our local congregation should be at least secondary, if not even further down the priority list.

Somewhere along with way we lost sight of the fact that our responsibility is to plant the seed, care for the seed and to bring the plant to fruition. God has reserved the right of harvest for Himself. If we do our part, God will do His. If we begin to put His missional Purpose (the Missio Dei) first, then He will fill our congregations with individuals who are not only hungry for more Truth, but who are believers rather than converts to pentecostalism.

Why now? The answer is simple: we’re running out of time. Jesus said that if we aren’t gathering for Him, we’re scattering against Him. The time for gathering disciples for Him is now. We don’t have the luxury of passing this responsibility down to future generations. This task is ours; we have to assume full responsibility and begin to fulfill the Commission to go everywhere and make disciples for Jesus Christ.

If the congregation you’re a part of doesn’t have a discipleship effort, start one. If it does, become a part of it. Get involved in the Kingdom. Grow His Kingdom. You’ll never experience true spiritual fulfillment until you bear fruit. Let Hanna’s passion become your own: give me children or I’ll die!

South County Burden

Last night some friends and I were talking about the burden that God has given us for South Orange County. God has definitely opened doors for us to reach people here, but it is also very easy to become overwhelmed by the task. The initial demographic study of the area designated as South County is roughly 750,000+ people living between the intersection of the 405 and the San Diego County Line. To further overwhelm us, while there are many churches in South County, there remains a mass of unchurched people in the area.

The burden that God has laid so heavily on Olga and I and the team that is working with us is not to make any of these people churched, but that we can shine God’s love to them where they are. God hasn’t called us to bring these lost and hurting people religion, He commissioned us to go to where they are with the Good News of His Love and Salvation.

We’re beginning this work with little or no budget, no building… only the burden. Our first few gatherings have been held at the Mission Viejo Community Center, outside in their park area. I know this is really out there for some of the more traditional blog followers, but South Orange County is a different kettle of fish. Traditional methods of growing a church simply won’t work. We’re surrounded by the pinnacle or mega-churches from all over the religious spectrum; emerging, fundamental, charismatic, evangelical, etc. Coming in to this area with just another average congregation will end in failure; and frankly, failure is simply not an option.

After much prayer and discussion from within the team, this is the direction that we feel God is directing us. We are beginning a viral campaign that will direct people to our website, http://lifepointcommunity.cc. On the website we’ll be adding a series of Bible studies and Life-Lessons that will introduce them to God in a fresh, innovative way without the confines of a church building or religious structure. We will direct people to our website through direct mailers, posters and flyers all over the area, one city at a time. In addition to this, the LifePoint team will continue our efforts to connect with people individually through our small groups and social events (BBQs, dinners, ballgames, parties, etc.). We will also continue to teach one-on-one Bible studies to anyone who is hungry to know more about God.

We also feel strongly that God is calling us to make more than just a religious impact on South County. There are thousands of people who are in need of food, clothing and other essentials. We are partnering with the OC Food Bank to provide food for as many families as we can reach. Each Sunday afternoon we’ll be delivering grocery bags with food and other items to families all over South County. It is our prayer that by our shining God’s Love to these hurting and needy families that God will open the door for us to teach them the Good News.

God called us to be disciple-makers (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8), and this is what we intend to do. I’m not asking any of you to support our efforts monetarily (although we won’t turn down a donation, lol), but I am asking that each one you pray for the work in South County. I know that there will be some who don’t agree with our approach, and might even criticize, but we can all agree that God loves these people and that they need to hear the Good News. Partner with us in prayer. Share with us this burden to see God revolutionize people’s lives with the power of His Love.

Thanks to all of you who have sent the many emails of support and love. Your words have encouraged and strengthened. We’ll keep y’all up-to-date on everything going on in South County.

Look Mom... No Training Wheels!

Sunday afternoon—after my grueling, mostly uphill mountain bike ride (how is it possible to go uphill both leaving home and returning?)—I was back home watching my brood and their friends ride their various bikes, scooters, big wheels, etc. Jade was having trouble with her bike because the training wheels were stuck and wouldn't turn. She was forced to push so hard to try to turn the wheels that she could barely stay on the bike.

After watching for a while I could take it no longer; I promptly turned her bike over and performed a trainingwheeldetactomy (medical term for sure). She was none too happy. So as not to embarrass her in front of her friends, I called her off to the side to find out why she was so upset. I wiped the tears from her eyes and as calmly as I could told her that she was a big girl now and needed to ride her bike without the training wheels. Amidst her snuffles, she said, "but Jefe (that's what she calls me… means the boss in Espanol), I'm scared." "Of what?" I asked. Her response made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. She said, "I'm scared of growing up."

Yesterday afternoon, when I returned from my myriad errands, I walked into the house to the peels of laughter from my three and their friends. The chicks were ecstatic that I was back home. Eden—despite her stuttering—informed me that I had to go outside with them because Jade was going to ride her bike with "no trainin wheelds," (exact quote). We all marched outside (they marched, I sauntered… for some reason Aerosmith's Walk This Way comes to mind) and pulled the bikes out of the garage. After some brief explanation, Jade was on her bike with me walking beside her, holding her steady. I walked her up and down the alley behind our house a few times, then told her it was time for her to try it on her own. At first she was a bit nervous, but I talked her into it.

Then—without warning—I let go.

She warbled, but then corrected herself and was off down the alley without me. Eden was beside herself with glea. She ran inside the house to get Olga. I could hear her yelling all the way out in the street, "Look Mom! No trainin wheelds!" Jade wasn't laughing or talking, she was too busy concentrating on not falling. It was awesome.

After a couple of small tumbles she realized that she wasn't really going fast enough to hurt herself, so she ventured further down the alley. Then, without me having to teach her, she turned around (without having to get off the bike) and came back to me. Just as she got even with me she said, "Jefe, look what I just learned." She turned around me and headed back the other way.

She is—of course—now a pro, and ready to get her own wristband campaign started.

I thought about our afternoon all evening. Jade had said something the day before that I didn't understand. I called her aside and asked her why she was scared to grow up. Her answer was, "I was scared I would hurt myself if I fell. But I'm not scared anymore, cuz I fell, but it wasn't so bad."

Now, y'all know me well enough to know that I can't simply let this kind of good stuff go by without a comment.

I began to think about my own journey to salvation and Christ-imitation. When I started really trying eight or so years ago I was so scared that I would get something wrong, that I would stumble, that I would disappoint, that I would hurt myself… During that time God was patient with me; He held my hand, He guided me through my pastor to fall in love with His Word, His Character, Him. At first, I could only handle the milk of the Text, and Pastor would have to prepare a warm bottle so that there would be no shock to my fragile system. Then, as I developed and grew stronger, I could handle stronger Spiritual food. God never left me, and yes, I still relied entirely on my pastor to feed me what God had prepared, but I was stronger.

Then the day came that God wanted to speak to me directly. I heard a Voice (not literally, but go with me on this journey for a bit). I didn't recognize it. It was almost as if the Voice spoke from within me. The Voice called my name. I ran to my pastor and told him what had happened, he patiently told me to respond to the Voice. So, I did. The next thing I knew, God was talking to me, speaking things into my character, illuminating His Character…

But… I didn't understand… how could God speak to me directly? As I became more brave I told God that I was scared to go where He was calling me. I was scared because I knew this was a place I had to go alone. This was a place that Pastor couldn't take me. God was calling me to a relationship with Him. The lyrics that Toby Mac wrote for DC Talk came to mind: "What if I stumble, what I fall, what if I lose my step and make fools of us all…" But God was gently pulling me, reassuring me all along the way. Pastor was right there supporting me as I moved toward God.

Then… there was a peace. A peace that far surpassed anything that I could have imagined. I was completely and totally surrounded by God Himself. I floated for a bit, simply because it was so amazing. Then, as I got my bearings, I began to move deeper into relationship with God. The ride was (and is) amazing. For a while I didn't even notice that it was just me and God. Then, I felt fear bubble up from my belly into my throat. Where was Pastor? Doesn't he know that I can't make it without him? Why did he let me go? I looked down to where Pastor had been, supporting me as I moved deeper into God, but he wasn't there. It was then that I heard him, I turned to the side and saw him running beside me, calling out encouragement, warning me to watch out for the obstacles that were strewn across the path. He wasn't holding my hand any more, but he was still there.

It was like my training wheels were gone.

I was lost in God's Essence.

Sure, this was mostly allegory, but I hope you see my deeper point. I truly thank God for a pastor who was willing to let me go into God. If any of you ever get the opportunity to sit under their ministry, Jeff and Sandra Morgan are the greatest pastors to have ever filled the sacred desk.

Discipleship

Discipleship is becoming my passion.

Over the past few months God has been working me over about my lack of true discipleship. I was Spirit-baptized when I was twelve years old, I've grown up attending and working in church and my spiritual heritage is stellar. However, the vast majority of my life has been spent in the futile attempt to be more Pentecostal rather than actually imitating Jesus Christ.

This is what God has been working on in my life.

Around six months ago my wife and I began discipling a young couple. The subject of God wasn't necessarily new to him, but she was brand new. We met weekly for what was supposed to be an hour-long Bible study and discussion, but—because of their hunger—the sessions lasted longer and longer each time we met. Probably the most impacting day was the Saturday that we spent over twelve hours together, talking about God and His purpose for our lives. The next day she was Spirit-baptized.

Now, I have no inclination that her finally yielding to God had anything to do with me or what I said to her the previous day, but I do believe that the time that my wife and I spent with her, allowing her to question us (really God, we were just the people she was looking at) brought her to the point where she was ready to surrender to God's purpose for her life. Olga and I are continuing to disciple them two-to-three times a month, and I can't express in words the awesome feeling that we all experience in each session. I am blown away each time that God illuminates a different aspect of Himself to both them and us, and I thank Him for the opportunity to fulfill the call He has given to my family.

Why is it that we (a collective moniker applied to the Apostolic Movement as a whole) have spent so much time focusing on making converts and building churches rather than discipling people to God?

A convert is someone that we've swayed to our way of thinking by the veracity of our argument, not necessarily the content of our position. This is fine until the day comes along—and we all know that these days will come—that someone presents a better argument. At that moment we've lost our convert. Sometimes it doesn't even take another argument to move our converts; it may be the underlying questions that eat at them night after night that slowly move them away from our position.

Conversely, a disciple is an individual with whom we've spent time with, taught, shared, Jesus Christ. We haven't convinced them with our argument, we've taught them what we've learned (and nothing else until we've we've learned more) and walked with them as they process the information.

A disciple can't be swayed because they are a believer.

God is calling us to stop converting people to pentecostalism and to begin making disciples. This is the Commission He gave us in Matthew 28:19-20. It's time to stop building our churches and grow His Kingdom, one disciple at a time.