How long has it been since your last post? For me, over four months! Wow!
I personally subscribe to a particular blogger that updates his post every single day. It's not long, but it's potent. It's not time-consuming to read, but I imagine the thoughts contained took a little while to pen. What if we all took a little time each day to reflect on the things that we've learned that could help someone else? What if we shared those ideas with others and actually helped them? What if we stopped focusing on ourselves so much and looked outward to influence a generation? Maybe there's one thought you could share today that would impact someone for a long time to come. Be a fork in the road and force those you encounter to make a decision on where their lives are headed.
11.23.2009
7.21.2009
.something to work with
We just finished our eleventh IMPACT service at Good News Church tonight. We've spent 6 days on the streets offering to pray for people & sharing the gospel with them. We've had services every night since Sunday, July 12. All in all we've had 953 people saved through the ministry at the church in just a week and a half!
It's so true that if you just give God something to work with, He'll use you and it will blow your mind what He can do in and through you. Here's the breakdown of people being saved:
Impact Services - 26
Wild n Wacky Kids Services - 45
Blast Kids Camp - 7
Individuals praying with others - 12 (that have been reported to us)
Outreach on the streets - 863
We've seen God do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think and He's not finished with us yet!
It's so true that if you just give God something to work with, He'll use you and it will blow your mind what He can do in and through you. Here's the breakdown of people being saved:
Impact Services - 26
Wild n Wacky Kids Services - 45
Blast Kids Camp - 7
Individuals praying with others - 12 (that have been reported to us)
Outreach on the streets - 863
We've seen God do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think and He's not finished with us yet!
6.26.2009
.blinded
According to 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, the "god of this world," our enemy otherwise known as satan, has blinded the minds of unbelievers. Blinded them to the gospel. In order to effectively share the gospel, we must exercise our authority by commanding the blinders to be removed!
But what about believers? Could it be that we are sporting our own special set of spiritual blinders? Could it be that we fail to see what’s right in front of our very eyes? Yes, indeed!
John 4:34-36 NIV 34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
This interaction between Jesus and his disciples occurred shortly after Jesus’ dealings with the “woman at the well.” You remember the story? Read the entire chapter for a refresher.
The disciples just didn’t get it. They were concerned about Jesus getting some lunch. Yet Jesus was concerned about the spiritual harvest that was right before them! What happened after Jesus said these things to his disciples? The people from the town came and many of them became believers!
The same kind of thing happened over in Matthew 9. (Read Matthew 9:35-Matthew 10:1) Even after Jesus spent time preaching the good news and healing the sick, he was MOVED WITH COMPASSION. Why? Because there were so many people and he knew he couldn't do it all alone. He said, "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray for 'HARVEST HANDS!'" But he didn't stop there, he proceeded to give them authority.
A lot of people think that if they just pray for the laborers, they are doing their part. NOT SO! Jesus said pray for the workers, but then he turned around and essentially said, "BE THE WORKERS!"
It's time for we as believers to open our eyes to the spiritual harvest right in front of us. What about the guy on the other side of the cubicle? What about the lady behind you in line at the supermarket? What about the student sitting across from you in class? Could their hearts be ripe for the harvest? Open your eyes and look!
For further reading along these lines, check out Luke 10:1-3!
But what about believers? Could it be that we are sporting our own special set of spiritual blinders? Could it be that we fail to see what’s right in front of our very eyes? Yes, indeed!
John 4:34-36 NIV 34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
This interaction between Jesus and his disciples occurred shortly after Jesus’ dealings with the “woman at the well.” You remember the story? Read the entire chapter for a refresher.
The disciples just didn’t get it. They were concerned about Jesus getting some lunch. Yet Jesus was concerned about the spiritual harvest that was right before them! What happened after Jesus said these things to his disciples? The people from the town came and many of them became believers!
The same kind of thing happened over in Matthew 9. (Read Matthew 9:35-Matthew 10:1) Even after Jesus spent time preaching the good news and healing the sick, he was MOVED WITH COMPASSION. Why? Because there were so many people and he knew he couldn't do it all alone. He said, "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray for 'HARVEST HANDS!'" But he didn't stop there, he proceeded to give them authority.
A lot of people think that if they just pray for the laborers, they are doing their part. NOT SO! Jesus said pray for the workers, but then he turned around and essentially said, "BE THE WORKERS!"
It's time for we as believers to open our eyes to the spiritual harvest right in front of us. What about the guy on the other side of the cubicle? What about the lady behind you in line at the supermarket? What about the student sitting across from you in class? Could their hearts be ripe for the harvest? Open your eyes and look!
For further reading along these lines, check out Luke 10:1-3!
5.29.2009
.holding nothing back
It's time for believers everywhere to give ourselves over to the concept of reckless abandon.
reckless abandon - a complete surrender to SUPERnatural impulses without restraint or moderation; freedom from inhibition or conventionality.
This concept is more than a concept. It's an attitude, an action and more importantly, a state of being. It says, in essence, "I choose not to allow anything or anyone, including myself, to hold me back from living my life as God designed...in abundance and complete surrender to His purpose and plan!"
In this life, there are countless obstacles that would present themselves in order to dissuade or distract us from living the abundant life. Obstacles brought about by the enemy or just obstacles from life itself. However, many times the obstacle standing in our way is in fact ourselves.
I've identified several ways that we as believers hold back:
1. Caring Too Much About What People Think
What will they think if I lift my hands in worship? Everybody will stare at me if I "jump for joy." I can't share the gospel, what will my friends say?
2. Absence of Trust
How can I follow God's plan for my life when I need x amount of dollars to sustain my comfortable lifestyle? My future is uncertain right now, so I'm going to do what I think is best for me.
See Matthew 6 and start seeking first HIS kingdom...
3. Ignorance of Who We Are in Christ
E.W. Kenyon said “The reason that the majority of Christians are weak, though they are earnest, yet they are weak, is because they have never dared to make a confession of who they are in Christ.”
We have to learn and acknowledge every good thing we have in Christ. (Philemon 1:6)
4. Focusing on Past Mistakes
No one will listen to me because I used to do the same thing they're doing. I can’t witness to my friends because they heard me cuss last week. I acted up in class last year so I won’t do well this year either. I failed 9th grade because I slacked off, I should just drop out.
Let's follow Paul's example in Philippians 3:13-14 by forgetting those things that are behind and moving forward! God has chosen to forget our sins and past mistakes. Let's accept his forgiveness and advance!
If we want to live the abundant life, we have to make a quality decision that we will live our lives with reckless abandon!
reckless abandon - a complete surrender to SUPERnatural impulses without restraint or moderation; freedom from inhibition or conventionality.
This concept is more than a concept. It's an attitude, an action and more importantly, a state of being. It says, in essence, "I choose not to allow anything or anyone, including myself, to hold me back from living my life as God designed...in abundance and complete surrender to His purpose and plan!"
In this life, there are countless obstacles that would present themselves in order to dissuade or distract us from living the abundant life. Obstacles brought about by the enemy or just obstacles from life itself. However, many times the obstacle standing in our way is in fact ourselves.
I've identified several ways that we as believers hold back:
1. Caring Too Much About What People Think
What will they think if I lift my hands in worship? Everybody will stare at me if I "jump for joy." I can't share the gospel, what will my friends say?
2. Absence of Trust
How can I follow God's plan for my life when I need x amount of dollars to sustain my comfortable lifestyle? My future is uncertain right now, so I'm going to do what I think is best for me.
See Matthew 6 and start seeking first HIS kingdom...
3. Ignorance of Who We Are in Christ
E.W. Kenyon said “The reason that the majority of Christians are weak, though they are earnest, yet they are weak, is because they have never dared to make a confession of who they are in Christ.”
We have to learn and acknowledge every good thing we have in Christ. (Philemon 1:6)
4. Focusing on Past Mistakes
No one will listen to me because I used to do the same thing they're doing. I can’t witness to my friends because they heard me cuss last week. I acted up in class last year so I won’t do well this year either. I failed 9th grade because I slacked off, I should just drop out.
Let's follow Paul's example in Philippians 3:13-14 by forgetting those things that are behind and moving forward! God has chosen to forget our sins and past mistakes. Let's accept his forgiveness and advance!
If we want to live the abundant life, we have to make a quality decision that we will live our lives with reckless abandon!
5.20.2009
.fishin' tools
At the beginning of this month, our church started an outreach campaign called Launch. Based on Luke 5:4 where Jesus commanded Peter to "launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch," this campaign is an all-out effort to launch out in our respective worlds and be fishers of men.
So I've been doing a little research on some tools for doing just that in order to help our congregation make fishing a reality in their lives. One such tool that I've discovered is simply to create a link on your web page (i.e. blog, facebook, myspace, twitter, etc.) to one of the sites created by NAMB with a clear and compelling gospel presentation.
Here is a link to one that I like: FLIPZ.
Here are two more: ALIVE. SEEK.
So, go ahead. Launch out and put a link on your page. It may lead one of your friends into a relationship with Jesus Christ!
So I've been doing a little research on some tools for doing just that in order to help our congregation make fishing a reality in their lives. One such tool that I've discovered is simply to create a link on your web page (i.e. blog, facebook, myspace, twitter, etc.) to one of the sites created by NAMB with a clear and compelling gospel presentation.
Here is a link to one that I like: FLIPZ.
Here are two more: ALIVE. SEEK.
So, go ahead. Launch out and put a link on your page. It may lead one of your friends into a relationship with Jesus Christ!
5.07.2009
.eager or ashamed?
When it comes to preaching or proclaiming the gospel to others, we can be in one of two categories. We can either be eager or ashamed. Now I realize that you may categorize yourself in the middle, but you should work toward going in the direction of EAGER! If you're not eager, then you're ashamed.
Romans 1:15-16 NIV "15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. 16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (italics mine)
eager - adj. - marked by enthusiastic or impatient desire or interest (impatient at delay or restraint)
ashamed - adj. - restrained by anticipation of shame (a consciousness of shame or guilt, i.e. embarrasment)
You and I should be eagerly looking for the opportunity to rescue the perishing instead of looking the other way when those around us are lost, hurting and dying.
Naturally speaking, what kind of human being would you be if you had a lifesaver and someone around you was drowning yet you didn't throw in the very device that would save his life? In the same way, you and I have the very thing that will turn their broken and tired lives around, yet we hesitate to dive in and rescue them.
Being ashamed will hold you back from not only sharing the gospel with others, but also from living life to your full potential. Break through the barrier of shame and recognize that what you have inside you is the POWER of God to rescue those in need.
Romans 1:15-16 NIV "15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. 16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (italics mine)
eager - adj. - marked by enthusiastic or impatient desire or interest (impatient at delay or restraint)
ashamed - adj. - restrained by anticipation of shame (a consciousness of shame or guilt, i.e. embarrasment)
You and I should be eagerly looking for the opportunity to rescue the perishing instead of looking the other way when those around us are lost, hurting and dying.
Naturally speaking, what kind of human being would you be if you had a lifesaver and someone around you was drowning yet you didn't throw in the very device that would save his life? In the same way, you and I have the very thing that will turn their broken and tired lives around, yet we hesitate to dive in and rescue them.
Being ashamed will hold you back from not only sharing the gospel with others, but also from living life to your full potential. Break through the barrier of shame and recognize that what you have inside you is the POWER of God to rescue those in need.
4.02.2009
.to ask or not to ask
As I was compiling some of our medical bills for Karis's birth and following readmittance due to high bilirubin, I noticed something interesting on our $1700 bill for anesthesia. It wasn't the fact that the insurance paid nada, zip, zilch, zero. We were expecting that because of our maximum maternity benefit being well...maxed out! No, the interesting thing was a phone number prefaced by "for assistance, please call..."
So, you know what I did? I called. I asked if they offered financial assistance or could set us up on payments. She explained that their policy was to usually not do any discount or write-off for customers that have insurance, but she would ask her supervisor for me. I thanked her and waited.
When she came back to the line, she said her supervisor was in a giving mood and they lowered our bill by 40%! I thanked her again...even more exuberantly! Our $1700 bill had just transformed into $944! That's the favor of God...overriding policies for His children!
James 4:2b Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
So when $700 and some change is on the line, it literally pays to ask. The next time you're afraid to ask for assistance, remember the payoff for just a little bit of nerve. And be encouraged by the words of Jesus, "ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)
So, you know what I did? I called. I asked if they offered financial assistance or could set us up on payments. She explained that their policy was to usually not do any discount or write-off for customers that have insurance, but she would ask her supervisor for me. I thanked her and waited.
When she came back to the line, she said her supervisor was in a giving mood and they lowered our bill by 40%! I thanked her again...even more exuberantly! Our $1700 bill had just transformed into $944! That's the favor of God...overriding policies for His children!
James 4:2b Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
So when $700 and some change is on the line, it literally pays to ask. The next time you're afraid to ask for assistance, remember the payoff for just a little bit of nerve. And be encouraged by the words of Jesus, "ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)
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