Darren Dix - what's on my mind

A Heart of Gratitude

2011-10-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

1 Thess 5:16-18
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. -NIV

I read a sign the other day that said, "the simplest form of Joy is gratitude."

Want to start your day out with a smile and lifted spirit? Take time to be grateful. Pause for a moment and tell God thanks for all of the many wonderful things in your life.

Yeah, I know that all of us could list the "not so good" things but guess what? There is no joy there!

Trust me, just a few moments spent telling God thanks for all the many blessings in your life and you will be on your way to a day filled with gratitude and joy.

Oh and the other "not so good" things, don't worry, God will give you grace for those as well!

Blessings,
Darren

Grab a Shovel

2011-10-04T12:55:00.000-07:00

Matt 17:20
20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." –NIV

God desires to produce in us mountain moving faith and expectancy. Jesus made it clear that nothing is impossible to God. As our faith grows in God so does our ability to see mountains moved in our lives, our church our community and our world.

So I ask a question…who moves the mountain? God? Us? Both! God moves mountains through believers that will trust and follow Him. God uses the obedience of His children, empowered by His Spirit to do the impossible.

James 2:17
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. –NIV

See any mountains needing moved? In your life, our church, our community, our world? GRAB A SHOVEL and ask God to empower you by His Spirit to be a mountain mover!

Blessings,

Darren

Believed not Explained

2011-09-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

"One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed" – Leonard Ravenhill

Christianity is a message to be believed not dissected. The power of Christianity is not found in sharp intellect or quick whit but rather a burning heart.

Ever find yourself trying to explain the Word of God, hoping you can make people understand, only to finish feeling frustrated??? So often we start with the head (endless attempts at explanation and convincing) and it never moves to the heart (faith and belief), therefore it doesn't manifest into obedience in their life. We live for Christ from our heart. Perhaps this is why Jesus told us that so often our barrier to receiving from him is our need to become like children. Children live from their heart (belief). So often as adults we try to live from our head (knowledge).

The ability to quote scripture, teach without error, move in religious motion does not mean there is BELIEF. You can believe without fully understanding but you can understand and not believe! There are many things I still do not fully understand about God but believe - such as His grace in my life, the work of the Holy Spirit, His sovereignty, the list is endless!!! If I can only believe what I can explain I won't have faith for most of what God wants to do in my life!

I don't think the woman with the issue of blood understood how God would heal her but she believed. I don't think Peter really understood how Christ would turn him from a fisher of fish to a fisher of men but he believed. I don't think the thief on the cross understood how he would see Jesus in paradise that day but he believed. Don't misunderstand me we have a logic, we have a knowledge, but it is not from our head, but rather birthed from the Spirit of God in us (I Cor 2)

I encourage you...let open your heart. Let people see your passion, feel your love, sense your belief. This is the great need in church today. Let's dare to simply BELIEVE God's Word, and if we are in need let us join with the apostles in asking, "Lord, increase our faith!" (not our knowledge)

Blessings,
Darren

WIN / WIN

2011-09-13T11:10:00.000-07:00

Dan 3:16-18
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." –NIV

We all know the story. Nebuchadnezzar has demanded that everyone bow down and worship the image of gold he has set up. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego flatly refuse. Things went from bad to worse. The furnace is heated up seven times hotter than normal and then the gauntlet is laid down – worship or burn.

How can this be a win / win situation?

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s priority wasn’t their circumstances but their faith. Regardless of circumstances, whether good or bad, their determination was to honor, love and serve God. If that meant being delivered from the fire...wonderful, but if it meant being thrown into the flames, then so be it. Either way these young men had made up their mind what the priority of their lives would be…honoring God. Nothing or no one could take that away from them. No matter what, they could not lose. Miraculously delivered…we will declare the power of our God. Thrown in the furnace…we will testify to the faithfulness of our God. Either way…Win / Win.

Paul states it this way to the Philippians…
Phil 4:12-13
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

I encourage you today as a believer to remember that your priority is to honor God. Nothing or no one can keep you from that so no matter what you face today, miraculous deliverance or a burning furnace, remember its WIN / WIN!

Blessings,
Darren

In Love with a Man

2011-08-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

1 Peter 1:8-9
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,-NIV

I’m a grown man in love with a man. Crazier than that is that it is a man I have never seen! It baffles my mind at times. He is more real to me than anything that I can physically see, touch or smell. He consumes my thoughts, fills my dreams and stirs my soul. Paul writes of his passion for Christ…

Phil 3:8-10
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 …10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, -

Both Paul and Peter write to remind us that Christ is the message of Christianity. To have any other focus is to miss the mark completely. Jesus himself made it clear.

John 15:5-6
5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.- NIV

One day I will see this man that saved my soul nearly 20 years ago, has filled my heart everyday since and guides my path into tomorrow. What a day that will be…

Rev 22:12-13
12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. - NIV

For today, I remain in love with a man I have not seen. Yet this love is more real than anything thing else in my life. While I wait patiently, I also join in prayer with the Apostle John…

Rev 22:20
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. –NIV

How about you?

Blessings,
Darren

Boomerang Effect

2011-07-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

Ex 32:1
32 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him." -NIV

It takes longer to get the Egypt out of people than the people out of Egypt! The Lord had delivered His people. They were no longer physical slaves of Egypt. They were out of Egypt physically but Egypt was not yet out of them. Each time the Israelites were in trouble, afraid or challenged their natural tendency was to revert back to their old ways, old habits, old mindsets.

Paul dealt with this same situation as he instructs the believers in Galatia
Gal 4:9-10
9 But now that you know God — or rather are known by God — how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? NIV

Change has a boomerang effect. Unless you keep on top of change, refusing to revert back, continuing to push forward the natural pull of change will draw you back to the beginning. Change isn’t change until it is change. Change is more than a decision; it is a process of transformation. You can get out of Egypt but it takes a while to get Egypt out of you.
Rom 12:2
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. –NIV

Don’t retreat. Press forward. Don’t let the boomerang bring you back. Let Christ form in you until there is permanent, life giving change

Gal 4:19-20
19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,- NIV

Remember…
Gal 5:1
5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. – NIV

Blessings,
Darren

God's Ingredients for a Miracle

2011-07-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

Heb 11:1-2
11 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. -NIV

We are called to be a people of faith. Faith is what God wants us to have in Him. So much so that the book of Hebrews goes on to say that without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is to be rooted in God’s ability to work for good in our lives according to His plan and purposes. Faith in the provision and power of our God to do in us and through us exactly what He desires.

Are you in need of a miracle? Are you in a circumstance or situation beyond your control, beyond your ability, beyond your power? Guess what…you may have all the ingredients necessary for God to do a miracle. What are the ingredients?

Heb 11:3
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. –NIV

NOTHING.

What does God need to create something miraculous in our life…NOTHING. In fact, often times I believe we still have too much; to many options, to many opinions, to many alternative solutions left that get in the way of God’s miraculous provision in our life.

Are you at rock bottom? Are you out of options? Are you beyond your resources or your wisdom? Are you at NOTHING? Guess what, you have everything God needs for a miracle!

2 Cor 4:18
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. - NIV

Remember, our faith is in God, nothing else. With God you have all things, even if you have nothing. With all things, you have nothing without God.

2 Cor 5:7-8
7 We live by faith, not by sight. –NIV

Blessings,
Darren

By My Spirit

2011-07-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

Zech 4:6
6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty. – NIV

Though this message was spoken to Zerubbabel, it applies to all believers (2 Tim 3:16). As a follower of Christ we are to resist trying to do things in our own strength and instead rely on and depend upon God’s Spirit through us. Keen intellect, political maneuvering, or human strength cannot accomplish God’s work; we can only do His work if we are enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus entered his ministry in the power of the Spirit (Lk. 4:1, 18) and the church was empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:8). Only if the Spirit continues to govern and empower our lives will we accomplish God’s will for us; this is why Jesus baptizes his followers in the Holy Spirit

Luke 3:16-17
16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. – NIV

For most believers the greatest need is NOT to try harder, do more or plan better. These are human endeavors done with human power. The greater need is a FRESH outpouring and infilling of God’s Spirit in their lives.

Resist the temptation to pursue Spiritual matters by mere human effort. Instead, get away for seasons of prayer, renew yourself in God’s Word and wait for God’s presence fresh and new in your life.

Acts 3:19
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, - NIV

Remember, God wants to do MORE in you than you can ask or imagine BUT it is through HIS POWER by HIS SPIRIT, not yours…

Eph 3:20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, - NIV

Have a GREAT week!

Blessings,
Darren

Faith is a Verb

2011-06-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

FAITH IS A VERB

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" Heb 11:6

Faith is a verb not a noun. Faith is an action not a possession. There is a world of difference between those who talk faith and those who take action. God desires us to step out in faith (or action) for His kingdom and His purposes. In fact, scripture says if we want our life to be pleasing to God we must be stepping out in faith.

This means that you and I can be a good moral person, do what is expected - read our Bible, go to church, mind our P's and Q's, and even serve our community...but if we are not living by faith, you and I may not be very pleasing to God.

I believe everyone's Christian life is marked by windows of opportunity that demand a radical step of faith in order to follow Christ and fulfill His purpose. Our walk with Christ is defined by our response to such opportunities - will we step out in faith or shrink back?

"But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him" Heb 10:38

Where do you sense God challenging you to step out in faith? There is no "diet" Christianity. God wants us, expects us, to break out of our comfort zones and take radical steps of faith that bring Him glory and build His Kingdom.

Remember, risk is different for everyone. What one calls risk may mean little to someone else or vice versa. Faith can not be defined by measuring ourselves to others.

I encourage you to make a decision to please God. Be willing to take a risk for God's Glory and step out of your comfort zone for His Kingdom.

Remember, Faith is a verb, not a noun!

Blessings,

Darren

Inward Strength

2011-06-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

Eph 3:14-19
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

One of God’s greatest promises is to strengthen our inner being. The core, or foundation, of our life becoming firmly rooted in Him. A deep foundation gives strength to face and overcome any and all storms in life.

Matt 7:24-27
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." - NIV

God may not remove all our storms but He will ALWAYS strengthen our foundation! Rest assured God wants to INCREASE our grip on Him. Weary? Stressed? Weak? Ready to give up? Lost and looking for direction? Determine to strengthen your grip on CHRIST!

Set aside time for PRAYER. Read and MEDITATE on God’s Word.

The provision, promises and resources from God’s Word and Spirit stand ready to strengthen you today in your inner being!

Have a great week!

Blessings,

Darren

Simple...but not easy

2011-06-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

1 Thess 5:16-18
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Some of the most profound things God prescribes in His Word for His Children are the most simple. Not simple as in easy, but practical. Be Joyful, Pray Continually, Give Thanks in all circumstances. Simple…but not easy!

Paul understands that the devil’s number one weapon against believers is their mind. What we think on, dwell on, how you perceive yourself, others, your circumstances has a direct impact on your faith and life. A mind focused on the negative will produce fear, doubt and confusion. All of which moves us away from faith and away from God’s will for our lives.

Consider the words of Jesus…
John 16:33
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

The point? Even Jesus himself has told us that in this life there will always be something to complain about.

Paul’s instructions to us are not because everything is perfect BUT because everything is not perfect. Giving Thanks reminds you & I to keep our minds on what is good and positive which for all of us is a whole lot more than what is bad! I encourage you to begin and end your day with the practice of Giving Thanks for all the blessings in your life. Resist the tendency to complain.

One more encouraging verse from Paul (which he wrote while in prison!)…
Phil 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Stay in God’s Will…be joyful, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances!

Blessings,
Darren

Begin Again

2011-05-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

Phil 2:1-2
2 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Perhaps often the main problem in the Christian life is not that we don’t try hard enough to be good but that we haven’t believed the Gospel and received its finished reality into all parts of our life. To often, we miss understand the Gospel by spending to much time thinking about ourselves and what we need to do rather than Jesus and what He has already done.

Oftentimes we misunderstand spiritual progress by measuring our own effort or lack there of. Focusing on the quality of our works or our stand against sin places the focus off of Christ and on to ourselves. The focus of the Gospel, the beauty of the Gospel, the power of the Gospel is not in us and our efforts but in Christ and His finished work!

Believing again and again the Gospel of God’s free justifying grace everyday is the spiritual progress we are called to. Spiritual growth is returning to the beginning over and over again! Meditating on, thinking on, and receiving the fullness of Christ and His Work in your life.

Martin Luther wrote, “It is not imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.” Once the Gospel frees you from having to do anything for Jesus, you will want to do everything for Jesus.

Desire spiritual progress in your life? Go back to the beginning. Meditate on Christ –His life, His message, His work. Marvel at His grace, the power of His name, the completeness of His work. Believe and receive all that Christ has done, that is the Gospel.

Once you have done that again and again, what are you going to do now that you do not have to do anything? That is Spiritual Progress!

Blessings,

Darren

It's Not What is Happening, It's What's Really Going On

2011-05-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you are struggling to understand? When life has more questions than answers? Times where the present is trying and the future is unclear? During a long period of drought, extended time of confusion? In short, what do you do when you do not know what to do? Gain insight and strength today from Job’s progression through difficult circumstances…

Job 6:29
29...for my integrity is at stake.
-Job was careful to realize that what we do when we do not understand speaks volumes about the character of our life.
-Guard yourself. Guard your heart and your tongue. God is watching.

Job 23:10
10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
-Job reminded himself that God sees me even when I do not see Him.
-Though you may feel far from God, He is near to you. Take comfort.

Job 34:10,12
10 “… Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.
-Job resisted the temptation to question the character of God in his frustration with his circumstances.
-This is a slippery slope…do not go there!

Job 42:3
3…Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
-After God spoke to Job, Job was reminded…it’s not what’s happening, it’s what’s really going on!
-There is more to the story when we see through eternal eyes!

Hear Paul’s advice when facing disheartening and difficult circumstances…
2 Cor 4:16-18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Want to hear more? Visit our website at www.rockag.org and click on the sermon tab to listen to the message It’s Not What’s Happening, But What’s Really Going On

Have a GREAT week!

Blessings,
Pastors Darren & Toyie

Beyond the Big Event

2011-04-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

1 Kings 8:63
63 Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the Lord: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the Lord. –NIV

Wow! It is hard for me to even imagine this scene in my mind. Over a two week period Solomon offered 144,000 sacrifices. Indulge me for a minute as I process this…that is 10,286 sacrifices every day, or 429 sacrifices every hour or 7 sacrifices every minute of every hour of every day for two whole weeks!

What an event. What a sight. What an incredible experience that must have been. A powerful moment and I am sure an incredibly emotional encounter. As humans we tend to migrate to the grandiose, to the spectacular to the big event. Yet, the event was just that – 2 weeks. What happened after the event?

Like many believers today, Solomon burst on the scene shining bright and full of passion. However, like a falling star that shines brightest in the sky for a moment before fading away, so Solomon’s faithfulness diminished after the Big Event. For Solomon it was his lack of consistency that became his downfall. Solomon neglected to put the everyday effort necessary to honor God. He ignored God’s Word, married foreign wives, allowed false worship to creep in and got distracted with worldly pursuits.

Big events, spiritual mountain tops, are great but it is the small decisions, the everyday stuff; the day in, day out consistency of honoring God that determines the legacy of our life. Reflecting back on his life it wasn’t the big events Solomon remembered but rather it was his lament that he wished he would have been consistent with his life…

Eccl 12:13-14
13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. – NIV

I encourage you, look beyond the big events of your Christian experience, the spiritual mountain tops, to the small things of your life. Develop consistency in honoring God and there lies the blessings of God!

Blessings,
Darren

Living FREE

2011-04-12T14:59:00.001-07:00

Living FREE

James 3:1-2
2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. –NIV

This past Sunday I spoke on the subject of SHAME. How the devil loves to use shame to keep us from a loving God. Shame distorts our view of ourselves. Shame wrongly says that we ARE what we did. I haven’t made a mistake, I am a mistake. I haven’t done something wrong, I am wrong. I didn’t make a bad decision, I am bad. Shame tries to attach our identity to what has happened.

Shame goes beyond conviction and convinces us we do not deserve to be free. Shame leaves you feeling guilty, terrible, humiliated, embarrassed, unforgiveable, unwanted.

I have news for you today…YOU ARE NOT YOUR SIN! You are God’s Child and as such you are FORGIVABLE, CHANGEABLE, CAPABLE and MOLDABLE!

What is God’s solution to break shame off our life?

1 John 1:9-10
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – NIV

COME CLEAN –
Fess up. No denying, no hiding, no blaming others. Fess up…to yourself, to God and to others if necessary. Accept the past. What is done is done. You can not change the past, but God can change the future.

RECEIVE FORGIVENESS
Yes, God loves us that much…more than you love yourself! Here is something else…God knows you are not perfect!. We serve a God that forgives sin

Ps 103:12
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Christ came and died that we might be FORGIVEN. Now that is the Good News of the Gospel!

Blessings,
Darren

Small Details

2011-04-04T14:55:00.000-07:00

15 Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer — Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. - Judges 3:15

I love the fact that I serve a big God. A God that holds the world in His hand. A God large enough to oversee all the works of mankind without the slightest limitation. A God that knows the beginning from the end. A God that always has a plan that He is working through mankind for His glory and His purpose.

This is what is happening here in our text. God hears the cries of his people as a nation and rises up a leader to deliver them. I love that.

But there is something else that I love about God. He is a God that cares about the small details. He knows us individually. He concerns Himself with even the smallest matters of our lives. Ehud wasn’t just a man, any man, generic in man or personality or individuality. He was a man that God knew personally and took note of. A left handed man.

Remember something today. Yes, God is big. Big enough to handle any and every situation that could ever arise. But God is also personal enough to care about the small details of your life. He knows you. Your heart, your feelings, your preferences, your circumstances, your name. Nothing is too big for Him but neither is anything to small.

Feeling insignificant? Unnoticed among the crowd? Unimportant in this big world?

Not to God. He notices it all and cares deeply about you…about me.

Matt 10:30-31
30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
NIV

Blessings,
Darren

The Unexpected Adventure

2011-03-31T16:57:00.000-07:00

1 Peter 3:15
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. –NIV

Today was one of those days that involved running errands. Like most people who have “to do” lists that never seem to get completely done the errands felt more like an irritation to me rather than a break away.

As I was walking down the aisle I saw someone who I had not seen in a while. We stopped and visited. Life has been tough on this person lately and the few words of encouragement lifted his spirit, reminding him of God’s love and reassured him that he was cared about. Supplies picked up, it was time to head to the check out register. There sat a gentleman retirement age, leather skin and tough outer shell. Within a couple minutes of conversation his soft heart was exposed and his story emerged - working a part time job to help support the grandkids now living with him and his wife while his own children and sister’s children are struggling. A familiar story in our day. Some friendly words, an invite to our upcoming Easter Outreach as an opportunity for his family to connect together and an exchange of smiles later I was headed to my car.

On the way to the car I looked at my friend who was with me. We smiled at each other as he said…God sent us here. I set out to run inconvenient errands, God had an UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE.

Now it is late (nearly 7pm) as I prepare to leave the office for the night. As I reflect on my “done list” for the day I can’t help but smile at God’s UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE for my day. Thank you, Lord. Life is best in the UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES.

Blessings,
Darren

Finish the Work

2011-03-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

Josh 13:1,6
13 When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the Lord said to him, "You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over..6 "As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you,- NIV

Joshua led the people of Israel over into the Promise Land and they completed a tremendous military campaign – conquering 31 ungodly kings, claiming their territory for God’s people. They have paused to divide the land and God reminds them that there is still land to conquer and not to grow complacent. Yes they have had 31 victories but unless they conquer ALL of the ungodly kingdoms it will come back to hinder them.

What happened? They grew comfortable with their partial success and spoils. They settled into their new land and did not fully conquer the remaining ungodly kingdoms. The rest of the Old Testament reveals the story – God’s people constantly dealing with the consequences of not finishing what they started. Fighting needless wars, dealing with needless controversy and being influenced by needless godlessness.

A little procrastination can do a lot of damage! Most people live life full of good intentions & broken promises. Don’t put of today’s work or responsibility.

Prov 24:30-34
30 I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment;
31 thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. 32 I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest — 34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man. NIV

I encourage you to DO IT NOW. There is tremendous power in starting something – get moving! Don’t stop, don’t stop half way, see it to completion!

Things left undone pile up. Too many undone items invites needless discouragement, irritation and depression. Has God been speaking to you about something? An area of your life to address, a situation to confront, a project to complete and promise to fulfill?

I encourage you, do today’s work today and you’ll feel better about tomorrow!

Blessings,

Darren

Tell Your Stories

2011-03-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

Josh 4:5-7
5…. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off….NIV

The children of Israel are crossing over into the Promise Land. On their way across Joshua tells them to pick up some stones and build a memorial. WHY? So that in the future when their children and grandchildren asked they could tell them the STORY of how God supernaturally parted the waters and delivered them.

STORIES, not theological treaties. STORIES, not academic knowledge. God’s work in mankind is not detached and theoretical it is deeply personal and intimate. It is the story of God moving through and in mankind that the Bible tells, not some abstract doctrine that is removed, cold and callous. It is alive, with all the ups and downs, victories and failures and real life circumstances that help make a very big and sovereign God suddenly feel very close and personal.

What are your STORIES with God? Real life stuff that He has brought you through, things He has taught you and ways He has made Himself known. Stories of victory, stories of doubt, stories of faithfulness, stories of courage. Stories of answered prayer and God’s miraculous power. Stories of God’s grace, His love, His mercy and His patience. Stories already experienced and stories you are still waiting to unfold.

I encourage you to TELL YOUR STORIES. It is your stories that your children, grandchildren, co-workers and friends need to hear. Stories bring God present, stir our faith and draw us close to Him. Stories touch our heart. Just like the stones in Joshua’s times, your STORIES also do something else…they bring God glory.

Josh 4:24
24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God." NIV

I encourage you, tell your STORIES. This is what those who do not know our awesome God need to hear!

Blessings,
Darren

Do Your Own Dishes

2011-03-17T15:14:00.000-07:00

1 Tim 4-8
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. NIV

Many want, or believe, spiritual maturity is something mystical or supernatural –
that it just happens – perhaps through osmosis, time, one special moment/service... That may sound spiritual – but honestly beneath it all usually lies the real reason – spiritual laziness – we want, expect, God to do all the work. Great Christians grasp the fact that Spiritual Maturity is INTENTIONAL. Like all things in life – our spiritual maturity will be shaped by the HABITS we form and dictate our life. The kind of Christian you are 5, 10, 20 years from now will be determined by the spiritual growth habits you form TODAY.

Let me share one point from our message this Sunday…Develop Great Habits as we continue our series Good to GREAT.

Principle of Responsibility – Do Your Own Dishes
We live in a victim mentality and blame game society. Always looking to pass responsibility for the decisions we have made or circumstances we are in or attitudes we have to someone or something else, anywhere but ourselves.

As a Christian, if you have a performance based faith it will often keep you from accepting responsibility for your decisions and circumstances as well. Afraid to admit to God your imperfections, need for help or short comings rather than trusting in His grace to forgive and transform you.

The bottom line however is…people who do not take responsibility for their own life & actions will NEVER change.
Luke 16:10-11
10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. NIV

However, when you accept responsibility for your life you UNLEASH God’s grace to transform you!

Blessings,
Darren

Period or Comma?

2011-03-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

“The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” 2 Tim 2:2

Good Christians live the Christian life. They love God, walk with integrity, read the Word and spend time in prayer. They tithe, volunteer to serve, go on mission trips and do what God calls them to do. GREAT Christians on the other hand, do all that and then PASS IT ON.

What did Paul tell Timothy? Equip Others.

You can be a good Christian by obeying God and loving people but if you haven’t poured your life into others your life ends with a period. Great Christians end their life with a comma. Our ultimate service to others is to help them become all God intends for them to be. Great Christians empower other people.

A lot of Christians are very active doing a lot of things and attending a lot of meetings. Some are actually quite productive bearing fruit. But few Christians are reproducing their life – leaving a legacy by developing a spiritual lineage.

Who can you pour yourself into so that your ceiling becomes their floor? Your end becomes their beginning? Ask God to help you discover those you can invest your life in. I encourage to first look under your own roof (family) and then for F.A.T people. Not overweight. Faithful, Available and Teachable people. Help many but train a few.

Remember, good Christians serve the Lord well. Great Christians serve Him well and empower others to do the same.

Blessings,
Darren

Slim Down

2011-03-07T13:22:00.001-08:00

“Joy is the serious business of heaven” C.S. Lewis

This statement makes some people uncomfortable, as if joy, especially fun, is illegal, or at least unspiritual. Yet, the Bible is full of reminders and reasons for us to rejoice! In this broken, sinful world we have been given the promises and life of God – we have both reason and permission to enjoy God’s promises and provision!

Here is a question? Are you enjoying your life? Most people are not. Most are waiting to enjoy life. After the to-do list is completed…after retirement…after raise kids…when circumstances change, when have more money…after, later, someday…

Jesus said He came that we may have life and life more abundantly. I ask again – are you deeply enjoying the life God has given you? If life is a gift to enjoy, why are so many discouraged and weighed down all the time? Why so much depression, stress and anxiety?

Let me offer 5 suggestions to help you go against the grain of our American culture and rediscover JOY.

SLOW DOWN
– Speed kills joy. Spiritual development and intimacy with Christ are impossible in a hurried life.
“Be still and know that I am God” Ps 46:10

SLIM DOWN
-Not your diet, you schedule. Simplify your schedule, commitments and goals. Do not get over extended – Learn the word NO. Don’t live other people’s expectations for your life. Ask God where you may need to subtract.

SIT DOWN
-Live in today. Not tomorrow (what may be), not yesterday (what already happened).

LOOK AROUND
-What blessings can you celebrate today? Take time to notice beauty, people, blessings in your life. Grab a pen and paper and make a list. You’ll be surprised and refreshed!

PLAN IN
-Make FUN a priority. Schedule it. Time off, vacations, date night, meals with friends, family time, walk in the morning…other wise life will always be go…go…go. Be intentional about how you spend your time or you will never have any to spend!

Remember, BALANCE is key. To experience abundant life requires us to examine our unhealthy behavior and habits and ask God to help us change them. People who plan time for family, friends, and enjoyment will have a much closer walk with Christ and others. Be different, defy the American culture, live your life to a different beat and ENJOY!

Blessings,
Darren

Initiative

2011-03-03T15:07:00.000-08:00

Gen 41:32-35
32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. 33 "And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance…NIV

Joseph has been drug out of prison, cleaned up and presented to Pharaoh because the cupbearer has finally remembered him after two years as the one who interpreted his dream while in prison. Pharaoh presents both dreams to Joseph and asks for an interpretation. Joseph reminds Pharaoh that only God gives interpretations and then commences to give Pharaoh the interpretation of the coming 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine.

Joseph has done what he was asked to do. Interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. BUT the story doesn’t stop there…Joseph takes INITIATIVE and offers Pharaoh a solution. Appoint a man; take a fifth of each year’s provision…

What is Pharaoh’s response? You be that man! Joseph moves from prison to second in command of all of Egypt. God used Joseph’s INITIATIVE as a platform to advance him.

Initiative – the action of taking the first step or move. Ability in originating new ideas or methods.

Does this define you? What would you have done in Joseph’s position? Are you a go to person? At work, at home, at church…are you known as the person who gets things done, does more than required, offers more than expected???

If you and I want to be all that God has for us to be we must be people of INITIATIVE.

God uses those who want to do more than just the minimum.

Blessings,
Darren

365 Challenge - SERVE

2011-03-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

365 CHALLENGE – Pray, Give, Serve

March Emphasis – SERVE

It is impossible to separate the message of Christianity from the good works that must follow as a result. Jesus constantly challenged his followers to use their life and deeds as a means to glorify God.

Matt 5:14-16
14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. -NIV

Every believer has both the privilege and responsibility to use their time, talents and gifting to promote and advance God’s Kingdom

1 Peter 4:10-11
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. - NIV

Here Are Some Thoughts On SERVING:

1. Serving is ESSENTIAL to Spiritual Growth
-our motto is “Growing Upwards, Serving Outwards”
-Spiritual maturity only comes as we grow UP in our relationship to the Lord
and OUT in service towards others

2. You Have a PURPOSE
Eph 2:10
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – NIV
-You have a divine design. Until you figure it out, life will not make sense

3. Only What is Done For ETERNITY Will Last
-Don’t buy the lie of giving your best time, best talent, best resources
for this world and its toys and accolades. Don’t waste your life, make an
eternal difference!

4. EVERYONE has a Part
-God has designed His Kingdom so that everyone is needed! Christianity is
NOT a spectator sport. Participation is required! Every believer needs to
be both receiving and giving to be spiritually healthy.

If you & I want to experience all that God has for us. If we want God’s Kingdom to be our priority. If we want to make a difference in this world for God’s glory. WE HAVE TO GET INVOLVED. God isn’t looking for perfect people, talented people, super spiritual people…No, God is looking for AVAILABLE people. People ready and willing to make their lives available to serve Him

How Do You Make Yourself Available?

1. Be Spiritually prepared…not perfect, but open to Christ.
2. Listen & Open Your Heart
3. Obey when the Lord Prompts You
4. Volunteer – Find a Need and Fill It

Make a decision in 2011 to SERVE God with greater priority and greater capacity. After all, who knows what God can do in your life in ONE YEAR! Our Church in ONE YEAR!

Take the Challenge!

Blessings,
Darren

Optimism

2011-03-02T11:55:00.001-08:00

10 Plagues, Passover, parting of the Red Seas, manna from heaven, water from a rock, cloud by day, fire by night…all miracles from God’s hand…all in the past.

Ever notice how hard it can be to trust God for today, even though you just watched His powerful hand move yesterday? We are human, aren’t we???

The spies sent to the Promise land have returned and given their report. All 12 spies agree the land is plentiful and the promises of God are as good as promised. However, 10 see only struggles – enemies to conquer, problems to solve, giants to face. 2 spies, Joshua and Caleb see OPPORTUNITY.

Num 14:9
9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." –NIV

Where does this OPTIMISM come from? Our verse in clear, focused on the promises and character of God, Joshua and Caleb were fully confident they would succeed.

The world teaches positive thinking. That is good to a small extent but still has it basis in dependence on self. As Christians our faith is not in self, but Christ. Now that is OPTIMSIM. Paul said it this way…

Phil 1:6
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – NIV

If you want to live life to its fullest you will have to face it with OPTIMISM. Not human positive thinking, but Christ centered optimism.

Are you facing a battle against sin, feeling overcome with situations or circumstances, needing fresh faith for your next challenge??? Be reminded…

“Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us…”

Blessings,
Darren

Wait

2011-02-24T13:01:00.001-08:00

Ex 24:15-17
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. –NIV

Did you notice that??? SIX DAYS Moses waited and on the seventh day God showed up. Not six minutes, not six hours…six days.

If you are like me, it can be difficult to wait and scriptures like this can make you uncomfortable. Yet time and again I am reminded that God does not feel the need nor pressure to conform to our microwave society but rather often prefers to make me slow down and use the crock pot!

Delayed gratification is not highly valued in our now society. Quick, fast, easy is our motto. Yet quick is not always most effective, fast is not always most efficient and easy is not always excellence.

I am convinced that often times the answer to our hurried pace and frantic schedule is exactly what God made Moses do…WAIT. Wait until our mind quits racing, our bodies relax and our spirits are open so that we can HEAR what God has to say.

God will answer, just remember that His answers sometimes requires us to WAIT FIRST.

Isa 40:31
31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. –NKJV

Blessings,
Darren

Follow the Directions

2011-02-22T13:43:00.000-08:00

Prov 8:17
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. -NIV

As part of the 365 Challenge (reading through the Bible in one year) I am currently reading the book of Leviticus. Leviticus is a difficult read for many because of the seemingly endless tedious details of the offerings and civil laws given to the people of God to obey. It is certainly easy to get lost in the details but in the big picture God is setting the stage for His newly delivered people from Egypt to have relationship with Him and receive blessing from Him. The key was of course their obedience to His Way of doing things.

Isn’t that often our struggle with God? We love the relationship and blessings part, but on our terms, not His. There is something stubborn within the human race that constantly tries to domesticate God. Bring God down to our terms. Tame God until He fits our plans rather than us fitting into His. The truth is that we cannot use God – God is not a tool, or appliance or credit card. God’s singular purpose in delivering the Israelites out of Egypt was to establish a relationship with them where he could bless them and display His goodness through them. But that purpose could only be accomplished as the Israelites conformed to God, not God conforming to them.

How about you? Do you realize that God desires to have a relationship with you? God desires to fulfill His will in your life. Display His glory through you. Through Jesus Christ the door has been opened to a relationship with God. Here is the kicker…the relationship must be on God’s terms. The Good News is that just like to the Israelites in the book of Leviticus, God has given us ALL the directions we need…His Word.

The instructions are available. The path has been shown. God won’t conform to us – can’t be used or manipulated for our convenience BUT can always be found…if we will follow the instructions!

Jer 29:13-14
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - NIV

Have a GREAT week!

Blessings,
Darren

Partly Cloudy or Partly Sunny?

2011-02-10T14:14:00.000-08:00

****In light of the snow the last two weeks, I thought I would repost this devotion from a couple months ago...ENJOY!****

Partly Cloudy or Partly Sunny?The other day a friend of mine on Facebook made this statement. My comment was simply…partly sunny!

Much of life is about PERSPECTIVE.

To determine the effects of media on how people think, in a recent research study, individuals were divided into two groups. One group heard 5 minutes a day of negative news stories: car bombs, death, earthquakes, riots, etc. The other group heard more positive and uplifting stories. The results?

After listening to only five minutes of negative news the first group experienced four discernable effects:
1. they were more depressed than before
2. they believed the world was a negative place
3. they were less likely to help others
4. they began to believe what they heard would soon happen to them

What we think will determine the course of our life. Wrong thinking produces negative emotions which produces unwise behavior which results in devastating consequences. Likewise right thinking produces positive emotions which produces wise behavior resulting in fruitful consequences. The old adage is so often true…you are what you think!

Listen to Paul’s advice…
Phil 4:6-9
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. NIV

Each day we must choose what we will feed our mind. God wants us to have a POSITVIE mental diet! Thinking great thoughts means taking the incredible ability to focus on negatives and using it for more positive and truthful purposes.

In light of Paul’s advice, listen to the words of a prayer a friend sent me this week…
Jesus, in accordance with your Word, I choose to lay aside all my anxiety and take up your mind-bending peace instead. Supernatural tranquility will pervade my thoughts throughout this day as your Living Word renews my mind and way of thinking. I will purposefully and willfully choose to deliberate and ponder on things that are true, pure, noble, right, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. As a result, your peace will rule my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Never forget…It is always PARTLY SUNNY!

Blessings,
Darren

To busy to ENJOY?

2011-02-04T11:39:00.000-08:00

I have lived in Oklahoma my whole life and this week is the largest snow fall that I can remember. To top it off it is February! I find myself asking this question…Ever think God is not as interested in our schedule as we are?

Have you been able to enjoy the “down time” that this snow fall has brought? Time inside, break from the routine, opportunity to do others things or even nothing at all? Time to enjoy today, unworried about tomorrow.

James 4:13-15
13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.- NIV

I submit there is something wrong if our lives and schedules are so busy that we can not pause for a few days. It is easy to live life so fast and furious that there is never time to enjoy the NOW. As I sit looking outside my office window, it is snowing again and I am in awe at the beauty. This marks the fifth day of snow and the first day I have made it back to the office. What have I been doing? Watching movies with my family, sledding with the kids, eating too much, odd and end projects.

Who told us that we cannot stop to enjoy the NOW? How long will it last? When will things be back to normal? Will we get more next week? I do not know. But this I do know…I am going to enjoy the MOMENT. Why? Because now is what there is to ENJOY.

Blessings,

Darren

365 CHALLENGE - Pray, Give, Serve

2011-02-04T10:44:00.000-08:00

In January we began the challenge of spending time with God every day in PRAYER and BIBLE READING in 2011! Now we look to the next step...

February Emphasis- GIVING

The heart of God is GIVING not getting. The life of a GIVER is completely different from the life of a taker. GIVERS take control of their life, become conduits of God’s blessings and are motivate by eternal rewards.
Matt 6:24
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. - NIV

GIVING breaks the tyranny of things off our life. How serious is Jesus about setting us FREE from the tyranny of money? 16 out of 38 of Jesus’ parables involved our use of money, over 2,000 verses of scriptures deal with money and 2 out of the 10 commandments deal with greed

Our heart in 2011 is to get serious about what God says in His Word! Reject the American Dream mentality that enslaves and experience the FREEDOM that Christ offers!!

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT MONEY?

EVERYTHING IS GOD’S
Ps 24:1
The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
-We are stewards NOT owners. Stewardship is the principle behind the TITHE (10%), obeying God to return back to Him what is HIS.
*We RETURN the tithe to God, we GIVE offerings

GOD USES MONEY AS A TEST
Luke 16:11
11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
-Faithfulness in the area of finances opens up our spiritual life to TRUE Blessings.
*Many believers struggle with heaven and eternal values because all their treasures are
stored up on earth and temporal things

GOD BLESSES THOSE HE CAN TRUST
2 Cor 9:10-11
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed…You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion,
-God looks for people who will SOW seeds of giving not hoard His blessings

Get serious about GIVING this year and EXPERIENCE FREEDOM. Freedom from this world and its standards in exchange for RADICALLY VALUING God’s Kingdom above all things!

HOW?
1. Make a decision to begin faithfully and consistently GIVING to God’s Kingdom with the goal of returning back to God a full TITHE
2. Take control of the other 90% - reduce debt, set a budget, seek help…BREAK FREE from bondage
3. Ask God where you can SOW seeds above the tithe to bring Him glory and build His Kingdom…this is where the real FUN begins!

JOIN the Challenge…YOU will never regret it!

Blessings,
Darren

20 Minutes a Day...

2011-01-31T08:50:00.000-08:00

Today marks the beginning of our 365 CHALLENGE to read through God’s Word in one year! I hope you will take the challenge. Don’t make it a legalistic journey but rather a journey of JOY and ANTICIPATION of meeting with God every day in His Word and prayer.

Listen to the words of the Psalmist as he describes the benefits to those who READ, MEDITATE ON and OBEY the Word of God.

Ps 1
1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or
stand in the way of sinners or
sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish. –NIV

Every journey begins with one step! Reading the entire Bible may seem a formidable task but it is not. It only takes 3 chapters of the Old Testament and ½ chapter of the New Testament…20 minutes a day.

3 ways to join the JOURNEY:

1. Follow the Bible Reading listed in the bulletin each week. This week is Genesis 1-15 and Matthew 1-5:26
2. Google “Bible Reading Plan” and sign up for on the many online resources available
3. Follow your own path, just make sure to read at least 3 OT chapters and ½ NT chapter

Enjoy the JOURNEY and have a GREAT WEEK!

Blessings,
Darren & Toyie

Think Great Thoughts

2011-01-20T15:36:00.000-08:00

As you head into the weekend here are some AREAS in your life to CULTIVATE Great Thinking…

-Think Great Thoughts about God

Isa 55:8-9
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth ,so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. NIV

*A High View of God will lift your faith, enlarge your heart and expand
your expectations

-Think Great Thoughts about Yourself
*Insecurity and Low Self Esteem in pandemic in our culture
-our whole society/economy is based on making you feel inferior

1 John 4:18
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. -NIV

*I've said often 2nd only to love for Christ, the greatest work of God's Spirit in my life has been finding peace with myself - I am OK, I am loved

-Think Great Thoughts about Others
*How would our attitude change if we would learn to look beyond the externals and tried to see people as God sees them???

1 Sam 16:7
The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." -NIV

*Our love and compassion for others greatly increases as we look to the inside of people rather than the outside - dress, appearance, behavior, status

-Think Great Thoughts about Life
-Eph. 2:10 - Life has a HIGH purpose - bringing God glory through Good Works
*not stuff, status, possessions, accomplishments,
-Solomon in Ecclesiastes "meaningless" is life not focused on God

-Think Great Thoughts about the Future
*worry and anxiety ROB Peace & Joy

Jer 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - NIV

*God has a plan for your life & you can TRUST Him

-Think Great Thoughts about the Past
*God is not 3 strikes and you are out
-a lot of people struggle letting go of the past

Ps 103:12
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. NIV

-Think Great Thoughts about the Challenges
*You are NOT a victim, you are not powerless

James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. -NIV

*Nothing you are facing can keep you from growing in God's GRACE &
PROVISION

Blessings,
Darren

What's Your MENTAL DIET?

2011-01-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

What do you spend your time thinking on, meditating on, listening to, talking about…what kinds of things feed your mind??? Our culture can be so smart and deliberate about physical nutrition and health. Watching fat, counting calories, monitoring blood pressure, limiting salt, watching what is eaten, intentional about exercise. However, most people are completely careless about what enters their mind, giving little thought to what they hear, see, watch or listen to.
1 Tim 4:8
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. -NIV

Paul’s words to young Timothy were a powerful reminder that while physical health is important we cannot be mindless about the spiritual, intellectual and emotional content of the ideas we consume!

Wrong Thinking > negative emotions > unwise behavior > devastating consequences

Right Thinking > positive emotions > wise behavior > fruitful consequences

If you want to cultivate the kind of thinking that will unleash God’s greatest potential in your life you will need to learn to pay attention to your Mental Diet! Where Do Great Thoughts Come From?

START WITH SCRIPTURE –
-Not just reading the Word but letting it GET INTO YOU. Spend time thinking on scripture, not just when you are reading but throughout the day. Worry (rehearsing negative thoughts over and over) is a form of meditation. Use that same energy to meditate on Scripture instead!

DWELL ON GREAT TRUTHS-
-Great thoughts challenge us, ignite us, and stir us. Lift us above the mundane, simple, materialistic and mindlessness. I read this quote this morning
“Life is not measured by longevity but quality” – Martin Luther King
-Your mind is going to be filled with something. Why not great thoughts instead of gossip, sitcoms, CNN, youtube or facebook!

TAKE TIME TO NOTICE BEAUTY-
-I’ve noticed something since moving back to the city…the stars don’t shine as bright.
Ps 19:1
19 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. NIV
-Get outside the borders on concrete and street lights: strip malls and flat screen TVs
-Spend some time outdoors, God will speak to you through His creation

MEDITATE ON SPIRITUAL TRUTHS-
-What spiritual insights or truths has God revealed to you by His Spirit? The more you dwell on God’s promises for you the more they become apart of you.
-Spiritual Truths have incredible transforming power in the lives of those who reject the world’s view or opinion and instead meditate on what God has said to them

Remember, thinking great thoughts is a matter of practice and developing healthy habits. INTENTIONALLY decide seek God’s highest and best purposes for your life.

Blessings,
Darren

Which Train are YOU On?

2011-01-11T15:33:00.000-08:00

What you spend your time thinking on has a direct effect on your life.

Prov 23:7
"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" -KJV

Our concept of reality is shaped by our thought life. Billions of dollars is spent each year on counseling, medication, training groups, teaching materials, to try to get our moods, feelings and/or behavior back on course.

Over nearly 20 years of ministry I can attest that most of the time beneath the behavior or emotions, lies the greater need…a PATTERN OF THINKING THAT NEEDS CHANGED!

Picture a TRAIN. Our thinking is the Engine, which pulls the car of emotions, which connects to the car of behavior which ends with the caboose of consequences.

Wrong Thinking > negative emotions > unwise behavior > devastating consequences

Right Thinking > positive emotions > wise behavior > fruitful consequences

Where ever your thought life leads, your emotions and behavior will follow! DO NOT underestimate the power of your thought life. Choose wisely which train you will get on!

God invites us to a life of higher thinking! God invites us to a life of RADICAL TRANSFORMATION through the power of His Spirit and His Word RENEWING our mind (Rom 12:1-2).

A renewed mind comes by filling it with Great Thoughts!

Phil 4:6-9
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. NIV

A spiritually trained mind will TRANSFORM our emotions and behavior in line with God's will and desire for our life. Are you struggling with your emotions or behavior??? Take a look at your thought life. What is your mental diet??? Which train are you on???

Trade in your train ticket. Exit off Wrong Thinking and HOP ON BOARD Right Thinking. The destination is life-changing!

Find out more this Sunday as we continue our series…GOOD TO GREAT.

Have a great week!

Blessings,
Darren

TOP 10 Predictions for 2011

2011-01-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

10. The Bible will still have all the answers
9. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth
8. The Holy Spirit will still move
7. God will still honor the praises of His people
6. There will still be God-anointed preaching
5. There will still be singing of praise to God
4. God will still pour out blessings upon His people
3. There will still be room at the Cross
2. Jesus will still love you
1. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him

Isn't it great to remember who is really in control and that "the Word of the Lord endures forever" (1 Pet 1:25)

In a world of uncertainty, be encouraged, some things NEVER CHANGE!!!

Blessings,
Darren

PS. A friend sent me this top 10 last week. Enjoy!

JOY

2010-12-29T07:25:00.000-08:00

Phil 1:4,6
4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy… 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. –NIV

The word happiness evokes visions of unwrapping gifts of Christmas morning, strolling hand in hand with the one you love, responding with unbridled laughter to a comedian, or vacationing in an exotic locale. Everyone wants to be happy; we make chasing this elusive ideal a lifelong pursuit: spending money, collecting things, and searching for new experiences.

But if happiness depends on our circumstances, what happens when the toys rust, loved ones die, health deteriorates, money is stolen and the party’s over? Often happiness flees and despair sets in.

In contrast to happiness stands JOY. Running deeper and stronger, joy is the quiet, confident assurance of God’s love and work in our lives – that He will be there no matter what! Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends of Christ.

Philippians is Paul’s JOY letter. The concept of rejoicing or joy appears sixteen times in its four short chapters and the pages radiate a positive message, culminating in the exhortation to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again Rejoice!” (4:4). More amazing is that Paul wrote Philippians while in prison! Whatever the circumstances, Paul learned to be content, and find his JOY in knowing Christ and obeying Him.

May we share Paul’s aspiration and seek to know Jesus Christ more and more.

I encourage you to READ Paul’s short letter to the Philippians. Take time to Rejoice with Paul and rededicate yourself to finding joy in Christ.

Blessings,
Darren

God Came Down

2010-12-22T07:56:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:11-12
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. –NIV

Every other world religion attempts to reach up to God. Good deeds, rituals, acts of service, penance. Some focus on self abasement, afflicting enough “abuse” on ourselves in attempt to appease God. Others focus on self improvement believing that the divine can be found within man through self improvement, science or enlightenment. Most just do not know what to do so they create rules, acts of service or elaborate religious rituals to adhere to in hopes of reaching up to God. All in vain.

The truth is man cannot reach God. God is holy, man is a sinner. In the words of Paul, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Man cannot reach up to God. Any attempts to do so are arrogant in self pride or fool hearty from lack of knowledge.

The wonder of Christmas is that while we are unable to reach God, God CAME DOWN TO US. While we were powerless, God demonstrated his love for us by reaching out to His Creation. God brings us back to Himself. Through His love, His grace, His mercy.

How great is the love and mercy of our God! Ponder today the fact that God CHOSE to come down to us. Why? Because it is impossible for us to reach Him. What great love God demonstrated to His Creation at Christmas!

Phil 2:5-11
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. –NIV

Take time this holiday season to remember…you did not come to God, He came to you!

Merry Christmas!

Blessings,
Darren

Filled to Fullness

2010-12-17T08:07:00.000-08:00

Eph 3:16
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. –NIV

“The church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshipping men” – AW Tozer

I believe a fundamental stumbling block for many Christians is the LOW view of God that has either consciously or unconsciously been adopted. When we come to a right belief about God a thousand other temporal problems are relieved.

Paul’s wish is that we would come to have a greater understanding of God’s love. That understanding would lead to experiencing God’s love in ways that would fill our lives in ever increasing ways. Imagine, God’s love as vast as the ocean being poured out into our lives the size of a thimble.

Here is a great thought to think on today…God is infinite and capable of giving more and you are expandable and capable of receiving more.

Imagine the possibilities!!!

Blessings,
Darren

by my Spirit

2010-12-06T15:14:00.001-08:00

WHY NOT PRAY?

2010-12-01T15:14:00.000-08:00

2 Chron 7:14-15
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. –NIV

As Christians why wouldn’t we pray? We all know that prayer should be as much a part of a follower of Christ as eating, drinking and sleeping. The question isn’t whether we should pray but how, when, where or what.

BUT the truth is we DO have to be encouraged to pray. It is not a modern day phenomena either. Paul constantly had to remind and encourage the early church to pray, church history gives further evidence of our neglect for prayer, and in pulpits across America today church leaders are forever having to remind their flocks to pray.

Why? Let’s be honest and list a few reasons Christians do not pray…

*Do we really believe in Prayer?
-intellectual acceptance and personal experience are worlds apart. We would all say we believe in prayer but if you’ve never experienced meeting God in prayer it is hard to believe it is necessary or beneficial

*Some avoid prayer because they are avoiding God
-it is absurd of course. We know we cannot hide from God. Yet guilt, fear or shame can keep us from coming to God in prayer.

*Avoid prayer out of laziness
-Prayer is a spiritual discipline and takes effort. In a world full of distractions it takes effort to pray.

*Some give up on prayer because they are angry with unmet expectations
-Believe in God, trust in Christ but give up on prayer because God did not respond in a particular way they felt He should

*Some people do not know how to pray
-many people avoid conversation with other people. Same goes with God. Initiating a conversation can be intimidating.

The truth is Satan does not want us to pray. As a Christ follower, Satan will use whatever distractions, discouragements or intimidation to keep you from prayer. WHY? Because as Christ followers PRAY IS OUR GREATEST WEAPON.

2 Cor 10:2-6
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. – NIV

I encourage you to revisit your prayer time. Reflect on God’s promises above and the potential hindrances to prayer. Why should we pray? A better question is: why wouldn’t we?

Blessings,
Darren

GIVE THANKS

2010-11-30T08:34:00.000-08:00

1 Thess 5:16-18
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. –NIV

While on vacation last week in Branson with my family I saw a church marquee that read…We do not need more to be thankful, we need to be more thankful.

What a powerful truth. Paul reminds his readers that being THANKFUL is God’s will for our life. Taking time to reflect and think on God’s blessings, rather than our challenges, pleases our Father and keeps life in proper perspective.

On this week after Thanksgiving I encourage you to intentionally begin this new week being THANKFUL. Before offering up to God any needs, complaints or problems you will have to face this week, first take time to THANK Him for all that you have. Health, family, faith, job, provision, friends…more than that God’s love, His grace, His faithfulness and His promises. Everyone’s list will be different but this I promise it won’t take long to come up with many, many things to be thankful for.

One tradition that my wife had as a child growing up that we have brought into our own family is taking time before the Thanksgiving meal to go around the table having everyone give thanks for something or someone over the past year. It never fails to be a powerful time by intentionally pausing to offer God thanksgiving and appreciation.

Perspective is a powerful thing. Almost every situation can be seen as negative or positive. This year one of the things I was thankful for my mother’s successful chemotherapy and the renewed appreciation it has given many in our family for the simple blessing of life.

I encourage you today…grab a piece of paper, list them out loud or tell a friend about all that you have to be THANKFUL for today. It will lift your spirit, lighten your load and place you smack dab in the center of God’s Will for your life!

Have a great week!

Blessings,
Darren

Need Refreshed?

2010-11-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

Ps 19:7
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. –NIV

Let the Word of God REFRESH you. God’s Word is the Bread of Life. It never grows stale, is never outdated and feeds the soul. The Word brings healing, strength, comfort, direction and eternal priorities. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God

God’s Word is eternal, unchanging, steadfast and true.

It is trustworthy, comforting, challenging and convicting.

God’s Word is a firm foundation

Matt 7:24-25
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. – NIV

In the Word you will find JESUS and in Jesus you will find the WORD

John 1:14
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.- NIV

In Christ you will find life

John 10:10
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – NIV

Make a practice to coming to God’s Word daily. It’s not just any book, it is THE BOOK

Heb 4:12, 16
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – NIV

God’s great gift to His Children, His Word! Read it, meditate on it, believe it and BE REFRESHED!

Blessings,
Darren

IF

2010-11-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

2 Chron 7:14-15
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. – NIV

God has a preferred destiny that hinges on our obedience. Free will allows us to walk in the general will of God but does not unleash the fullness of God’s preferred will. To receive all that God desires requires submission to Him. As John the Baptist declared…”He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).

God’s condition of “if” is a startling reminder as believers that God has given us a responsibility of choice…our limited earthly supply or Heaven’s unlimited bounty. Spiritual apathy is the enemy of our soul and the church. It keeps us impotent as believers, anemic as a church and powerless in the world in which we live.

Jesus declared that He has given us “the keys to the Kingdom” (Matt. 16:19) and with it “all authority” (Matt. 28:18). Prayer removes the keys from our pocket and begins to unlock the door of the Kingdom where we will find the authority and power needed for the day and age we live in.

IF we will do our part in obedience to God, He will do His. In this verse God asks four things from His people.

HUMILITY
- Without Christ we have nothing, with Him we have everything

John 15:5-6
5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. – NIV

-Pride constantly draws us away from dependence on God to live our life, walk with Christ and perform ministry dependant on our own strength

James 4:6-8
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – NIV

-The path to Spiritual authority always begins with humility.

PRAY-
-God waits for us to call upon Him.
-James reminds us that we have not because we ask not (James 4:2).
-Prayer connects the unseen with the seen. Is the channel through which
Heaven’s provision reaches Earth’s need. Prayer binds the work of the
enemy and gains victory in spiritual warfare. (Matt. 6:9-13)
-Prayer develops dependence of God and fellowship with Him. Prayer
melts away the blinders of this world and let’s us glimpse into eternity
-Prayer is the Christian’s weapon, the greatest power on earth because it is the only thing that affects the spiritual world (2 Cor. 10:4)

SEEK MY FACE -
-We are called into fellowship with God, sons and daughters of the
King. True spiritual hunger produces a desire to know Christ
more intimately.
-The longing to know the Blesser more than the blessings. Like
the words of this old song, “turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full
into His wonderful face, and the things of this world grow
strangely dim in the light of His mercy and grace...”

TURN FROM WICKED WAYS-
-Spiritual renewal always begins within the heart and life of the seeker

Heb 12:14
…without holiness no one will see the Lord. –NIV

-a pure life makes way for God’s presence

GOD’S RESPONSE to our obedience?
-He promises to HEAR from heaven, FORGIVE our sins and HEAL our land.

Resist spiritual apathy. Refuse to live in anything less than God’s full provision. Let us rise up in obedience and seize God’s promise of IF to us today…

Ex 9:16-17
16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. – NIV

Blessings,

Darren

NOTE: I have set aside Sunday Nights in Nov & Dec at The Rock as a CORPORATE
PRAYER TIME for our church family. JOIN US as we agree together for spiritual break through in our homes, our church and in our community!

HUNGER

2010-10-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

Ps 42:1-2
42 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? –NIV

An ongoing desire to know God more fully is a prerequisite to maintaining a current experience of God’s presence and power in our life. As believers we are called to a task that we are unable to accomplish on our own. We are dependant upon God and He desires to meet with us if we will call upon Him.

Matt 5:6
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. -NIV

As believers we are expandable. No matter where we are on our spiritual journey there is the ability for more expansion, more growth, more experience. We are capable of receiving more and God is capable of giving more. Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul in the twilight of His ministry…

Phil 3:10-13
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection…12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on…-NIV

There are many things God desires to do IN us and THROUGH us. Works of God that will not be fulfilled without seeking Him. We must be cautious not to allow our selves to become full with this world or we will lose our appetite for God. On the contrary, if we will feast on God He has already given us His promise…

Ps 34:8
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. –NIV

How do you increase your hunger for God?
*Ask God – there are some prayers that God loves to hear
*Make Room – it is hard to be hungry for God when you are full of the world
*Taste & See – commit to seeking God in a renewed season of prayer and fasting.
*Join with Others – seek out fellowship with other believers hungry for more of God

One final promise from God’s Word…

Prov 8:17
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. – NIV

Blessings,
Darren

A New Thing

2010-10-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

Isa 43:19
19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. – NIV

Are you looking to the past or the future for your spiritual strength? When the past is brighter than the future we are in danger spiritually. All of us should look to our past for direction, wisdom, encouragement but BEWARE…anytime our memories become greater than our dreams we will experience a loss of motivation, passion and strength for TODAY!

The Lord reminded Jeremiah very clearly what His thoughts were about the future…

Jer 29:11-12
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – NIV

God has plans for our lives YET fulfilled! Unreached destinies, new destinations, untapped resources, giftings to be discovered and good works to accomplish.

Eph 2:10
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - NIV

God is a FORWARD moving God. I encourage you today to look forward. What does the future hold? What NEW thing is God speaking to you? God wants to speak NEW life, NEW passion, NEW direction into our lives as we look forward in anticipation and faith. Hear the passion of the Apostle Paul after serving God for many, many years…

Phil 3:13-14
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. –NIV

I encourage you today to KEEP PRESSING FORWARD. Thank God for the past but look to the future. God is not through with you yet! The best is yet to come!

Blessings,
Darren

Open Our Eyes!

2010-10-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

With God you are always in the majority.

The King of Aram, weary of the prophet Elisha, sent his army to surround the city of Dothan. When morning came the servant could only see one thing…that in the middle of the night the enemy had surrounded them! The prophet on the other hand saw something different…

2 Kings 6:15-16
15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. 16 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

In the midst of their enemies Elisha and the servant were not alone. The servant needed his eyes opened so that he could see that they were surrounded by the power and protection of God.

17 And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. – NIV

The most frequent promise in the Bible is “I will be with you.” God spoke to Joshua a promise for every believer, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” and before Jesus left He reminded us of this great promise…

Matt 28:20
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." – NIV

You are not alone today. I encourage you to do as the prophet Elisha. Next time you are challenged or burdened, face difficulty or feel surrounded by your enemies…PAUSE and PRAY a simple prayer…

“O Lord, open my eyes so that I may see what I can not see… that your power and protection surrounds me. I am not alone, you are with me.”

Remember, with God you are always in the majority!

Blessings,
Darren

LOOK AGAIN!

2010-10-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

Luke 1:41
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. -NIV

John the Baptist and Jesus were second cousins. Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, were cousins. While pregnant Mary visited her pregnant cousin Elizabeth and scripture records that Elizabeth’s baby, John, recognized Jesus as Lord and leaped for joy.

Fast forward…over 30 years have passed. John has grown up and is preaching the anticipation of the coming Messiah, “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” John was around Jesus, but did not perceive what he had recognized as a baby in his mother’s womb. Years of interacting with Jesus…family reunions, social gatherings, every day events. Jesus, my second cousin. UNTIL one day, John LOOKS AGAIN…

John 1:29-30
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! - NIV

In a moment, in an instance John saw again what he had seen before…Jesus! That fresh revelation changed everything. No longer Jesus, second cousin, but Jesus, Savior !

John 1:34
34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." – NIV

Sometimes we just need to LOOK AGAIN. It is easy to get so busy, so caught up, so comfortable with all the religious and church activity around us that we can quit seeing Jesus for who He is. A name, a prayer, a song sung, an event attended, t-shirt worn, another service, another lesson to teach…

When we see Jesus for who He really is everything changes. Renewed love, refreshed desire, rekindled passion. Take some time today and LOOK AGAIN, you may see what you haven’t seen in awhile!

"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! – NIV

Blessings,
Darren

The Power of an INVITATION

2010-09-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

The Power of an INVITATION

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

For 4 weeks in September, Pastor Brian challenged our students to step out of their comfort zone, shine their light and INVITE their friends so they could experience RSSM Student Ministry and hear the life changing message of Jesus Christ. THE RESULT? Over four weeks our students brought 222 FIRST TIME visitors. GUESS WHAT? 47 young people made a commitment to Christ! Think about it, about 1 out of 5 students invited gave their hearts to Christ and in one month our youth ministry experienced a growth of about 50 students! All because students stepped out of their comfort zones, let their light shine and INVITED their friends and fellow students to come.

What is the power of an invitation? For 47 students it was the difference between eternal life and eternal death.

Obviously, we do not save anyone, only Jesus can do that, BUT God does use us in the process. God has promised if we will lift up Jesus He will draw all men to Himself. I want to encourage you to let your light shine. Step out of your comfort zone, take the bowl off and GO FOR IT! INVITE someone in your family, at your work, in your neighborhood, at the ball field or marketplace to JOIN YOU at church this Sunday. You never know, the power of that invitation! Just ask 47 students!!!

Blessings,
Darren

Keep Standing!

2010-09-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

1 Cor 10:13
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. –NIV

Nobody likes to go through difficult or hard times but the truth is that no one lives a completely trial free life and seasons of hardship can actually mature and develop our faith in God

James 1:2-5
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – NIV

Real quick, 3 things Paul reminds us about overcoming trials/temptations…

#1 Common to Man –
DO NOT face trails/temptations alone! Others before us have faced similar trials and great strength is available for us if we will open up our lives to others
2 Cor 1:3-5
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. –NIV

#2 God is Faithful-
You will never know the full measure of God’s grace until you have come to the end of yourself. Allow your temptations/trials to cause you to draw closer to God and lean into Him
2 Cor 12:9-10
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. – NIV

#3 Always a Way Out-
If we will trust the Lord and not abandon ship He always works for our good.
Rom 8:28-29
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. –NIV
God’s way isn’t always our way but He always provides a way out. Expect God’s strength and His deliverance. Are you feeling tempted? Are you facing trials?

I encourage you today to take God at His Word and KEEP STANDING!
Eph 6:13-14
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. – NIV

Blessings,
Darren

Our God Reigns!

2010-09-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

Our God Reigns!

1 Chron 16:31
31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns!" -NIV

Ps 47:8
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. -NIV

Ps 93:1
93 The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength.- NIV

Our God reigns. He reigns over all the earth, all mankind and all circumstances. God sets above all, beyond all, outside of His creation. He is not limited to, affected by, taken by surprise or without answer to the needs of His creation.

Rest assured today that our God, YOUR God, reigns over…every circumstance, every burden, every trial, every pain, poverty, injustice, sickness and death. He reigns over sin, brokenness, confusion and heart ache. He holds our past, is aware of the present and controls the future. Rest assured OUR GOD REIGNS!

Try something today…instead of telling God how big your circumstance is, tell your circumstance how BIG your God is!

Mark 11:22-24
22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. -NIV

Join with all of Heaven today and declare OUR GOD REIGNS!

Rev 19:6
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

Have a Great Day and Incredible Weekend!

Blessings,
Pastors Darren & Toyie

Any Lost Loved Ones?

2010-09-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

Last night at CATALYST 2010 - BEYOND ORDINARY over 185 teens were in attendance and 32 teenagers responded to the call to live for Christ!!! Over the last 3 weeks more than 250 different teenagers have walked through the doors of RSSM Student Ministries. God is moving!!

Do you have any loved ones that you are praying for their salvation? I want to encourage you, DO NOT stop praying and believing.

A couple days ago in my devotion time this statement from Paul stuck out to me as he was expressing thank you's to people in the 16th chapter of Romans.

"Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me.They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was" -Romans 16:7

Did you see that? Andronicus and Junias were Paul's relatives in Christ praying for Paul's salvation while he was still Saul the persecutor of the church. What a glorious day it was not just for Paul in Acts 9, when he met Christ but for those who had PRAYED for him as well.

I am sure there were days when Andronicus and Junias were discouraged and frustrated about praying for their relative Saul. After all, nothing about his outward behavior gave them any hope. ALL of that CHANGED in a moment. When they least expected, Christ appeared to Saul the persecutor of the church and transformed him into Paul the Apostle.

It does not matter what outward circumstances are. Christ can change a life in a moment. Keep Praying and Keep Believing!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" Gal 6:9

Have a Great Day!

Blessings,
Pastors Darren & Toyie

One of life's toughest decisions...

2010-09-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

Gen 12:1
12 The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. - NIV

Leaving comfortable for the promise of a greater destiny in one of life’s toughest decisions. Abraham knew Haran. For seventy five years he had live there, built a life and I am sure grown comfortable and in many ways satisfied. Now God shows up in his life desiring to take Abraham to a greater destiny.

Gen 12:2-3
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." -NIV

One Catch…he has to leave comfortable for the unknown.

Heb 11:8-9
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. - NIV

Here lies a great truth…often to experience the future requires letting go of the past. Leaving the land of comfortable is often a prerequisite for God to move us to a place of greater destiny. God knows the most dangerous place for a believer to be is too comfortable. Why???
1. You stop growing personally
2. Faith dwindles while reliance on the past increases
3. Loss of passion
4. Become increasingly critical of others

What about YOU? Have you grown too comfortable? Is everything in your spiritual life explainable, predictable and routine? It is an easy place to fall into. Believers do it, churches do it as well. We have all been there, but not all come out.

How do you leave comfortable?

1. REDISCOVER your First Love – everything starts with a renewed desire for personal prayer, worship and God’s Word. A clear picture of eternity changes everything!

Heb 11:10
0 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. - NIV

2. Be willing to let God STRETCH YOU – step out, take a chance, follow your heart, obey and trust God’s leading

Gen 12:4
4 So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran – NIV

Be fore warned, it will not come without pressing pass some fear but do not give in! Outside of comfortable is where passion is found, faith is alive and destiny unfolds.

Remember, leaving comfortable for the promise of a greater destiny is one of life’s toughest decisions. I’m glad Abraham said YES. What will you and I do???

Blessings,

Pastor Darren

Believed not Explained

2010-09-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

"One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed"

I came across this quote from Leonard Ravenhill not long ago and it simply will not leave me. He goes on, "We have adopted the convenient theory that the Bible is to be explained, whereas first and foremost it is a book to be believed (and after that obeyed)."

As a believer ever find yourself trying to explain the Word of God, hoping you could make people understand, only to finish feeling frustrated??? How often do we approach our class, or small group or teaching forgetting that it is not the head we are trying to reach but the heart of our listeners. Christianity is a message to be believed not dissected. The power of Christianity is not found in sharp intellect or quick whit but rather a burning heart.

Touch the heart of your listener and their mind will follow. Touch only the mind and you may never have their heart. So often we start with the head (endless attempts at explanation and convincing) and it never moves to the heart (faith and belief), therefore it doesn't manifest into obedience in their life. We live for Christ from our heart. Perhaps this is why Jesus told us that so often our barrier to receiving from him is our need to become like children. Children live from their heart (belief). So often as adults we try to live from our head (knowledge).

The ability to quote scripture, teach without error, move in religious motion does not mean their is BELIEF. You can believe without fully understanding but you can understand and not believe! There are many things I still do not fully understand about God but believe - such as His grace in my life, the work of the Holy Spirit, His sovereignty, the list is endless!!! If I can only believe what I can explain I won't have faith for most of what God wants to do in my life!

I don't think the woman with the issue of blood understood how God would heal her but she believed. I don't think Peter really understood how Christ would turn him from a fisher of fish to a fisher of men but he believed. I don't think the thief on the cross understood how he would see Jesus in paradise that day but he believed.

On the other hand, the religious of the day claim to understand everything yet believed nothing. Be careful, your head can get in the way of your heart! Quite honestly my greatest belief has often come with the least knowledge. My "knowledge" can get in the way!

BEWARE: Try to explain to long to others what God has put in your heart and your faith will shrink - snuffed out by human logic! Sabotaged by the head.

Don't misunderstand me we have a logic, we have a knowledge, but it is not from our head, but rather birthed from the Spirit of God in us (I Cor 2)

Are you ministering from your head or your heart? I encourage you...let open your heart. Let people see your passion, feel your love, sense your belief. This is the great need in church today. Let's dare to simply BELIEVE God's Word, and if we are in need let us join with the apostles in asking, "Lord, increase our faith!" (not our knowledge)

Have a great day!

Blessings,

Darren & Toyie

We are a PENTCOSTAL Church

2010-08-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

Someone asked me the other day what that means. In a nutshell I responded that it means we believe, and expect, in the modern day supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and world.

The Rock is a PENTECOSTAL church.

Jesus told the early followers to wait and be filled with the Holy Spirit before heading out for ministry (Acts 1:4). They obeyed and guess what? God baptized them in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues and immediately they were filled with boldness for evangelism accompanied by signs and wonders (Acts 2). So much so that scripture records that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47)!

When asked about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues Peter responded that the promise was for every believer!

"Peter replied, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for YOU and YOUR CHILDREN and for ALL who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call" -Acts 2:38-39

We are a PENTECOSTAL Church:

*We believe in and practice the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the intituled evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 2, 10, 19)

*We believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit - Healing, Miraculous signs, Word of Knowledge, Word of Wisdom, Faith, etc. (I Cor 12)

*We believe in Spirit empowered boldness for evangelism (Acts 1:8)

*We believe in the laying on of hands, the anointing and the supernatural (James 5, I John 2)

Do YOU believe in PENTECOST?

Does your life reflect your belief in Pentecost? Have you received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues? Do desire for God's Spirit to move in your life?

As a leader at The Rock does your ministry reflect your belief in Pentecost? Do you often speak of the necessity of the Holy Spirit? Do you allow time to hear what the Spirit is saying, lay hands on those you minister too and believe for the supernatural?

Paul has warned us about doing ministry on our own...

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit' s powered, so that your faith might not rest of men's wisdom, but on God's power" I Cor 2:4-5

We need what the early church prayed and waited for...

"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of you holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly" Acts 4: 29-31

Would you agree with me in lifting up this request to the Lord for our church family?

Funny, while many seem to worry about new people or unbelievers being offended or resistant to Pentecost that is not my experience.

Usually it is comfortable Christians that are the most resistant to the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to focus your energy and faith on those that are hungry and seeking...I promise...they're out there!!!

If we can encourage or help you in any way let me know!

Blessings,

Darren and Toyie

PS. - Did you know that there are over 600 million tongue talking Pentecostals around the world? Estimated 1 out of every 3 believers alive today!!

The Power of ONE

2010-08-23T16:04:00.001-07:00

Happy Monday!!!

It is BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO CHURCH time. The summer break has been awesome but now it is time to get back into the routine!!! (those of you like me who work year round are going...what break! I know, I know but still the summer is awesome!!!!!)

Seriously, though, we often talk about reaching our city or changing our world. Statements like that sound great and certainly spiritual BUT IMPOSSIBLE! The truth is, none of us can change reach the whole world and quite frankly God isn't asking us to.

However, we can all reach ONE. Is there ONE person you can invite??? ONE co-worker, neighbor, family member or even stranger??? Instead of thinking about the impossibility of the whole world, concentrate on the POSSIBILITY OF JUST ONE!

I challenge to ask God the ONE He is asking you to reach out to. Make the call, drop by their house, send them a text or email. If everyone just reached ONE can you imagine the possibilities?????

Have a great week!

Blessings,

Darren & Toyie

Time to Reboot?

2010-08-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

The other day my IPhone wasn’t working right. It was ok, but slow. Dropping calls, struggling to load data, sluggish. It was functioning but something was wrong. It has happened before and the man at the store told me to turn it off and give it time to reboot. It seems nowadays phones are more like computers than phones. He said sometimes the phone gets a bug, small virus, or just a glitch that affects the performance. It will work but not as efficiently, making every task much more difficult and take longer than necessary.

So I turned the phone off and rebooted it. Amazing, the thing is like brand new! I forgot how good that phone works!

The Lord spoke to my heart. Sometimes you need to reboot. It works but something is wrong. You will never know how wrong until you reboot. Only after rebooting will the difference be clearly seen.

If you are like me, when circumstances or life feels bogged down my natural solution is to simply work harder. Keep on keeping on. Sometimes that is the answer. Perseverance is certainly a part of life as well as Christian character. However, perseverance isn’t always the answer. More effort doesn’t always produce more results.

Eccl 10:10 If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success. – NIV

Sometimes we just have to “turn it off” spend time alone with God and let him “reboot” our system.

Acts 3:19-20
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
NIV

Let us never forget that for a believer it is not by might, nor by power but by God’s Spirit. In Him we live and move and have our being. Christ in us the hope of glory.

Perhaps like me, sometimes you need to let Christ REBOOT your system so that you can gain fresh perspective, new insight and greater clarity for the tasks before you.

Blessings!

Love over knowledge

2010-08-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

This morning in my devotion time it occured to me that it is more love in my life that I need not knowledge. How often in times of need,or circumstance do we look for knowlege to bring an answer or solution. It is certainly natural, the widsom of man, but what does God say?

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God" - Phil 1:9-11

Paul told the Phillipians that it was LOVE they needed more of above all things. Paul said that as their Love for Christ deepened so would their knowledge and depth of insight. Knowledge and insight gained through Love leads to righteousness and brings glory and praise to God.

So often I seem to pass over love and go straight to knowledge. After all love is a "feeling" and knowledge is logical, pracitcal and readily useful. Is it? The Bible warns that knowledge without love can puff up leading to self righteousness, arrogance, pride and in the end - less love. Knoweldge can lead us to that precarious place of being right yet wrong at the same time. Ever find yourself at that dead end street? I seem to end up there more often than I would like to admit. Time and time again Christ leads me back to the path of LOVE.

Love has the power to melt pride, teach us to consider others first and open our hearts to renewed insight and wisdom. Love brings praise to God and honors Him. Love seeks no wrong, is patient, kind, trusting and above all never fails (I Cor 13). Love opens our heart to see things we have never seen, consider options never thought of and purifiies motives. Paul says the fruit of that will produce greater knowledge and insight than I could ever have without it.

Lord, today I ask you to increase my love. Both my love for you and others. I am tempted to today to rely on my own knowledge. Help me, to seek love, above knoweldge, for the situations I will face today; bringing greater glory and praise to your name. Amen

Blessings!

How much will we win by?

2010-06-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Are you content to just win or run up the score???

In Matthew 16 after Peter responded that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus made the declaration, "upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hell will not overpower it"

Hell cannot hold back the church. The church is not a building or creed or program but a movement of people who are passionately following Christ.

As believers we give hell and the devil way to much credit. Jesus likened Hell to a gate. A gate that was powerless to contain the movement of the Gospel. It cannot contain it. Also, gates are defensive not offensive. Designed to guard or protect. They never attack. Hell is always on defense, while the church is always on offensive. Aggresively carrying the light of the Gospel into the darkness. Hell's only hope is that the church quits playing offensive.

The good news is that victory is guaranteed. Christ has already won the victory. We win in the end. The kingdom of darkness is on continual defense while the church is on perpetual offense.

The question then is not will we win, but rather by how much??? How big of a dent in the gates of Hell will we make? Will we run up the score??? Forcefully advancing the Gospel without growing satisfied?

Every one of us as believers make a choice. To win or win big. Every church must make a choice, to win or win big. Resist the temptation to just win, keep pressing full court and win big...in your life, in your ministry, in your community.

Personally, I don't want to just win...I want to keep running up the score!!!

Blessings,
Darren

What are you planting?

2010-06-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

Two farmers, one a novice and the other seasoned, are visiting over coffee early one morning at the local diner. The novice farmer, visibly shaken and frustrated, is complaining to the seasoned farmer about his recent harvest. The novice farmer is irate that his field has produced green beans. On and on he belly aches about how his worthless field produced nothing but green beans. Green beans everywhere.

Finally getting a word in, the seasoned farmer asks the novice farmer, "what were you wanting you grow?" "Corn, I wanted corn!" the novice farmer exclaims. The seasoned farmer graps his coffee of cup, leans back, takes a sip and then simply asks the novice farmer, "if you wanted corn, why did you plant green bean seed?"

HONESTY CHECK...ever find yourself wanting to harvest something you didn't sow???

Wanting love, sowing anger. Wanting financial peace, sowing debt. Wanting a stronger family, sowing work. Wanting spiritual vitality, sowing sin. Wanting honesty, sowing white lies. Wanting respect, sowing gossip. Wanting God's blessings, sowing disobedience

God's Word teaches us an invaluable principle in Galatians 5:7 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows"

Green bean seed produces green beans. Corn seed produces corn. That is the way life works. God set it up that way. He also set up His Kingdom in the same way.

I cannot tell you how much time I spend visiting with people who want to continue to sow green bean seed and somehow magically harvest corn. Whatever you sow you will reap. Whatever relational decisions, financial decisions, family decisions, life decisions, spritual decisions you sow you will reap.

How silly the noivce farmer was to be so mad and irate about not harvesting corn. Honestly, if it was a true story we would consider him crazy! How many Christians do you know that are mad, even at God, about their harvest despite the seed they sowed! Isn't that just as crazy???

Likewise, don't you think it is funny for Christians to sing about, pray about, believe "by faith" every week about reaping a harvest of corn when they are planting green bean seed in their life???? Isn't that crazy??? I think it is.

If I want corn, I have to plant corn. The most spiritual thing I can usually do in my life is simply change the seed I am sowing!

What kind of things does God say we should plant in our life? Probably most important is the Fruit of the Spirit listed in Galations 5:22 "but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control."

I don't know about you but I would LOVE to have a HUGE harvest of these things in my life and my family. I guess I better get sowing seed...what about you???

Just don't forget to sow the right kind of seed!

Blessings,
Darren

Spiritual Osmosis???

2010-06-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Webster one definition of osmosis is "an apparently effortless absorbtion of ideas, feelings, etc."

One of the greatest misconceptions is that spiritual growth in our lives will "just happen" in time. By attending enough services, singing enough songs, listening to enough sermons, participating in enough Bible studies that somehow through a Spiritual Osmosis transformation is destined to happen in our lives and others.

Honestly, who hasn't watched people soak in church for years and years and years with little, if anything, seeming to "absorb" into their life?? What's worse, what about our own lives. How many truthes have I heard time and time again that just don't seem to effortlessly happen in my life! What gives???

Spiritual growth must be intentional. Check out the action words I capitalized in the following scripture from my devotion time this morning...

Prov 2:1-5
1 My son, if you accept my words and STORE up my commands within you,
2 TURNING your ear to wisdom and APPLYING your heart to understanding,
3 and if you CALL out for insight and CRY aloud for understanding,
4 and if you LOOK for it as for silver and SEARCH for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Although not through Osmosis, God's Word promises that we can all grow spiritually. God has promised to empower us through his Spirit but we must ACTIVELY ENAGAGE in the process. In the New Testament a variety of ACTION words or phrases are used to describe Christ's spritual growth process in our life as well as our responses- being transformed, putting off/putting on, Christ being formed in us, maturing, growing, birthed in us, submitting, humbling, fighting fight of faith, enduring, testing, faith, etc. ALOT OF ACTION WORDS, NO OSMOSIS!

My point? God wants to partner with you and I to mature us into the image of His Son so that we can fulfill His purpose for our lives (Eph. 2:10). Where is God wanting to grow you? It won't happen by accident. Spend some time in prayer, pick an area needing spiritual growth in your life and take some ACTION. Make a decision to grow spritually. Follow the advice of Solomon, purpose in your heart to make spiritual growth a priority...I promise that is one prayer that God is always ready to answer!

Blessings,
Darren

Is wrong wrong even when no one is looking?

2010-05-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

As most are aware we have had quite the weather in Oklahoma over the last couple of weeks. Like many, I have suffered some property damage, although nothing compared to those who have lost so much.

Now that the storms have passed the real fun has begun. Contractors are out in groves, every imagineable insurance company has set up camp and like most I find myself right in the middle of all the frenzy needing to get estimates, claims filed and settlements. This morning I came across a verse of scripture in my devotion time-

Prov. 20:17 "Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel"

How easy it is during times like this to let greed override integrity. Tell me, will those who claim to be followers of Christ resist the tempation to take more than what is rightfully theirs during this chaotic time? It is certainly easy to exagerate claims, roll in old damage as new, pad estimates, or upcharge customers since the insurance company is footing the bill.

Is integrity required at all times even if the victim is the insurance company, who after all charges to much anyway????

Is integrity something we do for others or for ourselves? I would be lying if I didn't say for a fleeting moment it was tempting to fudge about an answer, leave off some information or answer round about some of the questions asked me by the insurance company - none of us our immune to the temptation of the carrot when the enemy dangles it in front of us.

However, it isn't to the insurance company I owe honsety to. It is to myself. More than that it is to Christ - the one I represent.

I was reminded of a couple other verses in Proverbs today...

Prov. 11:3 "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity"
*****It is a comforting feeling to not have to try and remember what you
said in fear that you might not say it the same way again!

Prov. 4:18 "The path of the irghteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day"
*****Right is always bright and clear. Wrong comes in many shades of
darkness

Is wrong wrong even when no one is looking? I guess the answer is the same as it is to another age old question...If a tree falls in the forest when no one is around does it still make noise?

Have a great day.

Blessings,
Darren

Shut Your Mouth

2010-05-18T07:36:00.000-07:00

This morning during my devotion time I was reminded just how quick our mouths can get us into trouble. It is humbling but look at what God's Word says...

Prov 18:2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. NIV

Prov 18:6 A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. NIV

Prov 18:7 A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. NIV

Ever find yourself speaking without listening, speaking without even thinking??? I know I do at times and seldom does it turn out good. I hate the taste of rubber, but I sure have stuck my foot in my mouth enough times to know what it tastes like!

Listen to what James warns us about the tongue...

James 3:5-6
5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. NIV

So what is a proven remedy to help keep our mouths shut? LISTENING!

In the same chapter in Proverbs, God teaches us a better way...

Prov 18:13 He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame. NIV

Prov 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge;the ears of the wise seek it out. NIV

Prov 18:17 The first to present his case seems right,till another comes forward and questions him. NIV

God Word is straight to the point at times. Those who speak before listening will be fools. Those who listen before speaking will be wise.

It is difficult at times to remind myself but 9 out of 10 times the best thing I could do is SHUT MY MOUTH and let wisdom fill my life. After all, who wants to be a fool???

Have a great day!

Blessings,
Darren

He who walks with the wise grows wise...

2010-05-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

I never cease to be amazed at the practical life changing truths in God's Word. So powerful, yet so often so very practical.

For example just look at a few verses from my devotion time this morning in Proverbs 13 (Note: great devotion is to read the proverb of what ever day of the month it is!)

Prov 13:1 A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

Prov 13:3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

Prov 13:10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Prov 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Prov 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Prov 13:24 He who spares the rod hates his son,but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

In just a few verses such incredible wisdom on subjects as diverse as personal growth, gaining wisdom, handling of money, raising of children...

None of the wisdom is complex, difficult to understand or beyond the reach of any reader. The question simply remains for me and you...will we trust that God's way is better than ours? His ways are simple, ours are often complex. His ways are light, ours are often heavy. His ways are steadfast, ours are often subjective. His ways are clear, ours are often muddied.

Personally, when I read God's Word I am reminded how simple life can really be if I will accept and live by God's wisdom.

Yet, if I am completely honest with me it seems that my nature is to try to make things more complex and difficult than the need to be

Lord, help me sit at your feet and learn a better way.

Blessings,
Darren

A continual reminder to me that so often truth is very simplistic and striaght forward whereas deception is every shade of complex, muddied and multi-faceted.

The Deception of Good

2010-04-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

Today while visiting with a friend about walking with Christ the Lord dropped this nugget in my Spirit…a good thing becomes bad thing when it distracts from a greater thing.

As I pondered this thought I was reminded at how true and challenging this thought is. “Bad” things are easy to detect and clear to see that a greater thing is better. A wrong attitude, wrong action, wrong choice is often easy to recognize and a better choice or path is often clear. Following through on such an observation can be much more challenging but the ability to see that a greater thing is needed to replace the bad thing is seldom in dispute.

Is not the greater challenge when it is the good thing being questioned? Good by nature is exactly that…good. Yet a good attitude, good action, good choice can actually prevent us or keep us from a greater thing. How deceptive it can be to fill our lives with good things leaving no more room for greater things. Isn’t this Jesus' challenge to Martha in Luke 10:38-42? Martha was busy with many good things but was distracted from the greater thing. The good things became a bad thing when they kept her from the greater thing…spending time with Jesus.

For the sincere follower of Christ the question is not whether our life is filled with good things. That is a given. The question is will good things keep us from greater things. Is there any room in our lives for Christ to challenge us to something better? To leave good for great?

This is the challenge before us not only as individuals but as a church family. Not the forsaking of bad. Our church is good. Many good things, many good ministries, many good people. It is not a wrong we are trying to right but a greater we are seeking to discover.

Experiencing Christ ourselves is good, helping others experience Him is greater! Living life is good, opening our lives to live with others is greater! Enjoying God’s blessings is good, sharing it with our community is greater!

There are many good Christians and good churches in our community. I don’t want to be good. I don’t want to let the distraction of good to keep me from greater. I want to hear Christ speak over me the words He spoke to Mary, “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

So I ask us...what good things in our life might God be trying to challenge and replace with greater things?

What an adventure we are on...Eph. 2:10!!!!

Blessings,
Darren

Jesus and Tradition

2010-02-25T11:00:00.000-08:00

***Below are excerpts from my response to an email I received today about drinks in the sanctuary. The real underlying question is about tradition. Before younger readers launch into a bariage against tradtion let me say that part of tradition is expecting others to do what you do. Anytime I find myself in a different environment outside of my preferences and struggle to connect with Christ I must ask myself if I am locked into a tradition. I know perhaps as many in the younger generation stuck their form of tradition as the older are in theirs. With that said enjoy...I would love feedback***

Wow, this is such a touchy subject because it really has nothing to do with logic but rather is processed by people at an emotional level.

Most people who feel so strong about no drink in the sanctuary do not feel that way during non service times – such as changing light bulbs, hanging Christmas decorations, etc. Why then at a certain day, certain moment, certain time does something that is otherwise ok become not ok? Obviously the answer is not a logical one but an emotional one. The feeling that drinking a beverage in the sanctuary dishonors God, yet to drink the same beverage at the same time in a different location such as a classroom while studying God’s Word is not dishonoring.

Is God honestly offended on a Wednesday night by a person drinking coffee in the sanctuary studying his Word while at the same time not being offended by someone drinking coffee at the same time in the Young Professionals class studying His Word? The logical answer is clear but once again we are not dealing with logic but people’s emotions.

Paul wrote about this in I Cor 8. Some believers still bound up in tradition felt “sinful” if they ate meat sacrificed to Idols and were trying to oppose their opinion on everyone else. Other believers, especially gentiles, who did not have the hang up of Jewish tradition about “unclean meats” couldn’t understand the problem with eating the meat. After all, what does meat have to do with their relationship with Christ??? While clearly expressing that the act itself of eating of the meat is not “sinful” Paul tries to bring balance to keeping peace among believers of different mindsets. In this case, Paul says that while he himself and others eat meat and don’t worry about it, while in the presence of someone who does he would abstain so as not to cause their faith to weaken. However, at the same time Paul constantly presented teaching on the sufficiency of Christ, rather than outward deeds, so that those same people weak in faith could grow in their understanding to embrace different cultures and different modes and expressions of worship.

My point? The only logical reason to keep drinks out of the sanctuary is 1) is it a cleaning issue – spills, etc. 2) is it a distraction

To me during worship times it can be a distraction as well as a potential mess since there is standing and sitting and much moving around. Bible study times on the other hand it is neither distracting nor any greater risk of mess than elsewhere on the campus.

I know you asked a simple question and I wrote a book response but do not under estimate how significant this question is. It is about way more than drinks in the sanctuary. It is about whether we as a church family will transition to reach out to our community. They don’t come in with our traditions. They act different, think different, dress different, etc. Which is more important to us…to give them Jesus or traditions. These are tough questions because we answer them logically but feel them emotionally. There are many people in our church that are going to have to go through a period of emotional stretching out of traditions to get back to the priority of connecting people with Jesus. It will be felt at all levels – music, service order, service times, dress, etc…

We must continue to pave the way in prayer, be consistent in clear teaching and demonstrate steady love to those experiencing emotional stretching without being moved from the task before us…which is transitioning our church to reach our growing community with the wonderful message of Jesus Christ.

There is a reason why every AG church in South OKC has shrunk over the last 10 years. It isn’t about drinks or no drinks, contemporary or traditional, casual or dress…it is about priority – keeping the traditions or reaching people for Christ. Turning a church from inward focused to outward focuse is the constant task of church leadership.

It is good to take a personal evaluation once in awhile of your own focus. I do regularly. Ask yourself, do I spend more time talking and visiting with new people or people that I already know? The answer to that question reveals our focus – outward or inward.

To see the harvest that we have prayed so many years for it will take more and more people becoming outward rather than inward focused. That transition is an emotional journey that our church family must travel. It is my prayer that the majority will make the journey, but it is a journey that we must take.

Thoughts????

Something that can change Everything

2010-02-04T09:55:00.000-08:00

The REVOLUTION continues within our church family. One by one people responding to the challenge to "BE the change you want the World to be"

What does this change look like? Our idea of change or someone else's? Is there an unchanging change that we can look for or is change subject to mulitple opinions? After all if there is not one change that is correct then why change at all???

The foundation of this REVOLUTION must be the return to and rediscovery of GOD'S WORD. Here is where we will find the power so desperately needed in our day.

Below are my notes for this Sunday's message "REVOLUTION - Power of God's Word". Take a look, let me know your thoughts...

Text: II Kings 22: 3,8,11-13

Intro.: -One of the saddest passages of scripture is found at the very end of the book of
Judges
Judg 21:25
25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.
-A time when the Word of God and the MEN of God were silent
*A time when man was left to make his own decisions, his own set of
Ethics which of course led to no distinction between God’s people & the
world
-This is exactly what has happened again in our text
-King Josiah has taken over the throne & the Word of God is absent
*in fact, there is now a generation alive that does not even know about the
Word of God
*As a result scripture records that the temple was in shambles, Passover
was not being observed, and sin had taken over the hearts of the people:
-To the point they were even sacrificing their own children
(You can read more about Josiah in II Chron. 34)
-In our text, however, something happens that changes EVERYTHING
*it is a changes that creates a REVOLUTION - revives the people, reunites them with God, purges the sin out of their life and restores their relationship with God
-What happened that was so profound, that had such an impact, that fueled a
REVOLUTION??? THE WORD OF GOD WAS FOUND!

I. The Word of God Brings REVOLUTION
-Many people are looking for revival, the renewal of the church
*it is no secret that the church needs revived today!
-What will revival look like when it comes?
*Does revival have a certain look? Does it have to be packaged in a
certain manner? Is revival an experience or a lifestyle? Can the church
live in revival (it certainly cannot live in a constant EMOTIONAL HIGH)
-Make NO MISTAKE about it, God is stirring a REVOLUTION in our church
*What all will that entail? What will it look like?
*I do not know what all a supernatural move of God in our midst will
look like BUT I DO KNOW THIS…
A TRUE MOVE OF GOD WILL BRING THE CHURCH BACK TO GOD’S WORD
John 1:1-2
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
*To know God is to know His Word
*Jesus is God’s Word incarnate

II. Every REVOLUTION begins with an awakening!
-II Chron 34 - tells us that in the eighth year of his reign King Josiah began to
seek the Lord (he was sixteen)
Teenagers listen:
1 Tim 4:12-13
12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
-An awakening begins as God stirs a hunger in our hearts for Him
*there is increasing dissatisfaction with the status quo
-As our hunger increases, BELIEVERS WILL BEGIN TO DRAW CLOSER TO THE LORD
James 4:8,10
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up
-(Chron 34:8) As Josiah’s hunger for the Lord grew he began to purify the land
and the temple
-even without being told, Josiah knew to draw close to the Lord it was going to
take some changes!
*Josiah had hunger BUT WHAT WAS HE TO DO?
-He had to discover God’s WORD!

III. Discovering God’s Word
-It is great to have a hunger for God but without the Word of God that hunger has
no direction
Prov 19:2
2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.
-So many believers have gotten of track in their spiritual walk because they have
neglected the Word of God
*estimated only 10% of Christians understand and have a Christian
Worldview
-Without the Foundation of God’s Word TRUTH erodes
*Jesus warns only the TRUTH sets us free & has power
-any lesser form of Truth is not the TRUTH and therefore does not have power
*Is maybe man’s “good teachings” but it does not have God’s supernatural
power – I Cor 2 – only TRUTH undiluted has power
-When we don’t know the Word we are left on our own power/strength and will
inevitably fall back into the sinful nature

IV. When Josiah Found the Book of the Law (God’s Word) Three Things took
place:*He was CONVICTED, He was CHANGED, He was CHALLENGED

Josiah was CONVICTED
*Without the book of the Law, Josiah was left to live the best He knew how
-Sin nature always takes over!!!
-Barna research reveals “born –again Christians” live at the same standard as non-
Believers…why? No conviction
*The Word of God revealed to Josiah how far He had fallen from God
2 Kings 22:11-13
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant: 13 "Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us."
*The Word of God is meant to invade our lives!!!
Heb 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
-God’s Word does more than comfort it CONVICTS
*God’s Word is designed to point sinful man to a Holy God!!!

Josiah was CHANGED
*true REVOLUTION will bring people beyond emotion and into CHANGE
*God’s likens His Word to a mirror that is meant to show us what we look like so that we can CHANGE to become what we should look like!
James 1:22-25
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.
-To hear the Word of God and not be changed is to deny the purpose of the Word!
*Great DECEPTION is to confuse hearing with doing
*Josiah was changed by the Word of God
2 Kings 23:3
3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD-to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
-You can read for yourself BUT the Word of God CHANGED the way Josiah
lived, what he did and what he allowed!
*we are called to be Followers of Christ (I Jn. 2:6)
*If God’s Word doesn’t change our actions than our hearts have not been
changed

Josiah was CHALLENGED by the Word of God
*to often all we hear about is the “No’s” of scripture
-don’t do this, quit that, stop this
-and for many of us we do need to be told NO!
*However, the Bible is not written to take away from our life BUT to lead us to a HIGHER LIFE
-the Word of God CHALLENGES us to a REVOLUTION of a higher level of
Living
*Scripture shows us a different way of living…apart for the world’s standard
*This is the call of Christianity…this is the REVOLUTION
-living in the world but not of it…foreigners, ambassadors
-living by a higher standard that lifts our life, our family, our community,
humanity up rather than keeping them down
*ACCEPT the challenge to live at a higher place…join the REVOLUTION
-“Be the Change You Want the World to Be”
-Let God’s Word set the standard of our life
*not looking to bring Christ down to us but rather letting God lift us up to HIM
-life of good works, higher purpose, greater values, agents of change

IV. If you want a REVOLUTION in your life, in your family, in our church, let us
REDISCOVER THE WORD OF GOD!
*let the Word of God begin to change you through the preaching of the Word and
the DAILY reading of the Word.
(Revolution Bible reading journal, commit to Live It group)

V. CLOSE
-Let’s begin our journey towards a REVOLUTION by letting the Word of God
CONVICT & CHANGE us today
Heb 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

-Is the Word of God penetrating you today? Is God speaking to your heart and
drawing you to Him?
-Gut check honesty this morning…if you want a REVOLUTION in your life you
will have to let the Word of God Convict and Change you
-God has held up the mirror of His Word this morning?
*What do you see?
-Is there Conviction?
-Is there need for Change?
-Begin the REVOLUTION in your life at the altar this morning!

Death to Agnostic Christianity

2010-01-21T14:28:00.000-08:00

Everyone struggles with doubt from time to time whether prayer matters. Left unchecked it is easy to fall into what I call Agnostic Christianity. As part of the REVOLUTION taking place God is awakening believers to the necessity and power of prayer. Join the Revolution!

***Below are the notes for my message this Sunday morning to our church family at The Rock as we conitnue our series "REVOLUTION"

“Death to Agnostic Christianity”
REVOLUTION series

Text: Gen. 28:10-22

Intro.: -We have many AGNOSTIC Christians in our churches today
*Agnostic vs. Atheist
-Agnostic Christians are those who believe that there is a God, believe they need
to know Jesus as their savior, believe they are going to go to heaven when they
die BUT ARE NOT CONVINCED that God cares or is involved in their day to
day life
*No one comes out and says “I’m an agnostic Christian” in fact, most
Who find themselves in this mentality probably do not even recognize it
-There is sincere belief that one day in heaven everything will be
better BUT the struggle is to believe that God can, or will, change
circumstances NOW!
-Perhaps from lack of good teaching/knowledge of God’s Word, feelings of
insignificance, or the disappointment of previous “unanswered prayers”
*the overall feeling is that God’s only concern is for their salvation and
then leaves us to struggle through this life on our own until Heaven
-PRAYER then is a good exercise to vent, throw up wish lists or even gripe and
complain BUT FAITH & EXPECTATION grows slim as circumstances
are accepted at face value

I. In our text we find a man, Jacob, that has spent his whole life born into
Abraham’s lineage and interacting with God through Agnostic faith.
-Moving through the rituals, family expectations and religious obligations with
little to no personal interaction or relationship
*hearing about the God of his father, the God of his grandfather and
relating to their God at a distance – perhaps a “force of good” but nothing
intimate, nothing personal
-Jacob comes to a spiritual crossroad
*He has heard the promises of God over his life yet he is struggling to
own them as personal
-Jacob has a Revolution in his soul when he is awakened to the reality of the
ACTIVE presence of God in his life (vs. 16)
*Jacob’s response was to begin a conversation with God (PRAYER) and a
personal relationship was born (vs. 20-22)

II. How can we have a relationship with a spiritual God while we live in a physical
body?
-How do we bridge this gap???? PRAYER
-God has connected the unseen with the seen through prayer
-Listen again to the famous prayer Jesus taught His disciples and see the
connection between the unseen & the seen:
Matt 6:9-13
9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come ,your will be don eon earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.' NIV

-The unseen and the seen (heaven & earth / spiritual world & natural world) are
connected more than we can fully understand
Matt 16:17-20
. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
NIV
2 Cor 10:3-6
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
NIV
Eph 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
NIV

-This is why Jesus constantly taught the importance and necessity of prayer
Luke 18:1-8
18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
NIV

III. God has linked His activity in our life & our world through our active
relationship with Him
-God chooses to use PRAYER
*Jesus prayed for Peter, Abraham intercede for Sodom, Paul requests the
prayers of others, disciples prayed for boldness
-As Christians the power/strength of our relationship with God is tied to PRAYER
James 5:13-18
13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
NIV

-There are things in our lives, in our families, in our community, in our world that
simply WILL NOT be accomplished with out prayer
Mark 9:17-29
17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."
NIV
James 4:2
You do not have, because you do not ask God.
NIV
-Not because God is agnostic but because He interacts with us through Prayer
****Illus: Treasure Chest in Heaven

IV. How much of our life, our church would be REVOLUTIONIZED by first
praying?
-Taking time to connect the unseen with the seen
Phil 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
NIV

-Revolution of Death to Agnostic Christianity
*renewed faith in God’s concern, God power, God’s presence & our
responsibility to connect with Him through PRAYER!

(JOIN ME – Revolution Prayer & Reading Journal)

-This morning we are going to close in a time of prayer asking God to connect the
unseen with the seen
*If you have a prayer need…join us…let’s ask & believe God to intervene

Ps 20
20 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
Selah
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
he answers him from his holy heaven
with the saving power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.

9 O Lord, save the king!
Answer us when we call!
NIV

PRAY

Haiti Update

2010-01-14T09:55:00.000-08:00

****Here is the updated report I have from Mission of Hope in Haiti concerning the earthquake that has devastated the capitol of Port au Prince. In addition to being able to donate online I plan to give opportunity this Sunday morning for those who would like to respond. Please be in prayer for all Haitians. If you have never been to Haiti it is impossible to imagine the difficulty of their living situation prior to this earthquake let alone now.

Darren

Updated Haiti report:

Thanks to all for your calls, texts, and emails. Many of you have already responded financially. I just want to share an update of the first full day (seems like a week) of the earthquake. I know many of you have been watching the news and I am not sure the news can do justice to the devastation. However, the news also, cannot destroy our HOPE!

Today, not a lot has changed at the mission. Our entire North American team is ok, and we have heard from a few of our staff in Port au Prince. Our medical team spent 33 straight hours working with injured that came to the clinic (some died). You can go to our web site www.mohhaiti.org and see some pictures of this activity. We are expecting more of the same in the days ahead.

We are beginning to give out food, and will do so as long as food is available. We actually have 1.5 million meals in our warehouse, but please know, even though that sounds like a lot, it will go fast. Our medical supplies are already running low, and of course water will be a major problem.

I know that many of you have asked about going to Haiti, and that may be something we request in the next few days, but the immediate need will be to replenish the food, water, and medical supplies. We have the contacts to get containers of these items, but we will need the funds to ship. A 40’ container will cost $8500 to ship. We also need funds for fuel.

The days ahead will be challenging, but we know this is a huge opportunity for a nation to be transformed from a cursed past to Godly future. Thank you for your prayers and support. If you would like to donate you can send checks to Mission of Hope, PO Box 325, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063, or you can give online by going to the site below.

Sincerely Yours
Otis Garrison

MOH DISASTER RELIEF: Please click t he link below
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=11132385

Grassroots Revolution

2010-01-07T16:35:00.000-08:00

***Here is the outline for my message this Sunday. The notes are quite a bit lengther than normal for me. This message is heavy on my spirit. I truly believe there is a revolution stirring both within our local church family as well as the American church as a whole

FEEDBACK??? COMMENTS???

Text: John 6:26-27

Intro: -Because our Father loves us so much I believe that from time to time within the
heart of every believer and every church comes those moments, some fleeting
others lingering longer, where the God’s Spirit pulls back the veil from our eyes
to let us clearly see our spiritual condition
*It is in those moments or seasons of life that often a state of discomfort is
aroused…for some it feels like anger, for others frustration, for others fear
BUT yet there is also most often an undeniable, sometimes faint or times more defined, excitement of the possibility that there is an invitation to a place where one has not yet journeyed.
-I also believe it is at those moments that, like all forks in the road, we are forced
to choose the path in which we will travel
*The first is to ignore the dilemma within and simply settle or remain in a
state of spiritual apathy – allow ones senses to numb, close ones eye’s,
and deafen one’s ears until in the words of Jesus
Luke 7:31-32
31 "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other :"'We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'
NIV
-where the song of the redeemed looses its beautiful melody and the dance
seems silly and the tears of the broken hearted seems antiquated and the
words of the Psalmist are forgotten “My tears have been my food day &
night”
-it is to simply settle into a spiritual comatose contented with the loaves
only sufficient enough to feed ourselves

I.. Or, we can in the words of Robert Frost…
“I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference”
-we can embrace the awakening of our souls and allow it to move us towards a
Revolution
*the throwing off of the old and the creation of something new
-Gandhi said “be the change you want the world to be”
*trace backwards any revolution and you will find that it had its beginning
not in a group, nor a committee, but within ONE
*ONE person catching a vision, willingly separating themselves from the status quo and living out their new found passion
-the exponential possibility of one person’s revolution spreading
into the lives of others can literally be used by God to change the
direction of a family, a church, the body of Christ

Martin Luther-
*frustrated with corruption of the Roman Catholic church as well as the
inadequacy of his own works theology Martin Luther turned in desperation to the
Word of God…there in the book of Romans Martin Luther discovered a truth that changed his life…”the just shall live by Faith”
-from this experience rang a battle cry that could be heard around the
world “Sola Fida”
*On Oct. 31, 1517 Luther nailed his 95 Thesis on the door of Castle Church in
Whittenburg challenging the corrupt church to a debate on the truths of God’s
Word thus begin the Protestant Reformation in which we are still apart
*One Man

Agnes Ozman-
*a young female student attending a small Holiness Bible college named Bethel
Bible College in Kansas housed in an old Topeka mansion known as “Stone
Folly”
*Agnes, along with a handful of students, was challenged by their college
president, Charles Parham, to study diligently what the Bible said about the evidence of receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit
*on the first day of 1901, Agnes Ozman, became the first to receive the baptism at
Topeka…here is her story:
The presence of the Lord was with us in a marked way, stilling hearts to wait upon Him for greater things. The spirit of prayer was upon us in the evening. It was nearly elevn o’clock when it came into my heart to ask that hands might be laid upon me that I might receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. As hands were laid upon my hear, the Holy Spirit fell upon me, and I began to speak in tongues, glorifying God…It was as though rivers of living water were proceeding from my innermost being”
*Other students present jumped to their feet and began singing simultaneously
“The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come”
*revival swept through that student body and beyond and the begins of Pentecost
in American had begun
-by 1906 Pentecost has spread from one girl to estimated 13,000 and in
1914 300 Pentecostal workers and preachers gathered from 17 states in
Hot Springs, AR to form the General Council of the Assemblies of God with the distinct purpose of becoming the “total evangelization of the world”
*Today from 1 to 300 to nearly 60 million world wide…one soul every 10
seconds, one church every 20 minutes
*One Woman

Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu-
*for twenty years worked as a simple geography teacher in Calcutta, India each
morning making her way to St Mary’s High School to inspire young minds
*her route to work took her right by men and women who were homeless,
destitute, and incapacitated by disease. Gut wrenching poverty assaulted her
senses and wrecked her soul day in and day out. Every day something in her
spirit would cry out “That’s all I can stand, I just can’t stand this anymore.”
*One day Agnes decided to take action and the legacy of Mother Theresa began.
*Mother Theresa quit her job rallied some students around her to help and began
taking in the dying and those lying in the open sewers
*dubbed the “Saint of the Gutters” in 1950 Mother Theresa founded Missionaries
of Charity…today four thousand nuns strong who are all working diligently to ensure that refugees, alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes, the homeless, the blind, the disabled, the deaf, the poor and the destitute are being cared for
*One Woman

Martin Luther King, Jr.-
-a pastor by occupation
-a black man living in the racial oppression of the 1950s and 60s – the “White
Only” signs on drinking fountains and bathrooms and doors to restaurants; blacks
by law pushed to the back of the bus or forced to give up their seats to white
patrons
-Tired of the reality that his people were always found at the end of the receiving
line for educational, employment and housing opportunities
-King wanted the lynching of black people to stop and segregation banished so that his kids could grow up in a different world than the one he was living in!
-A day finally came when enough was enough and King began a civil rights movement – characterized by nonviolence, freedom and justice.
-Although gunned down outside his hotel one evening in April 1968 it was to late to stop the revolution that had already begun
-listen to the words of King spoken at the acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize
“I refuse to accept the idea that the “is-ness” of man’s present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal “ought-ness” that forever confronts him”
-One Man

II. Every revolution begins with ONE…why not you? Why not me?
-the power of ONE to change a family, change a church, change a community…
-someone who throws off mediocrity, rejects Sunday Christianity
*someone who will not hide beneath religion, refuse to be satisfied with
ritual and beg God to break them out of routine
-To embrace the cry of the Psalmist
Ps 42:1-2
42 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
NIV
-not as eloquent literature but a soul stirring challenge
Ps 42:4
4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
NIV

-To hear the cry of Jesus that to be a sincere follower of Him means to:

Count the Cost-
Luke 14:26-33
27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
NIV

Matt 13:23
23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
NIV

Take the Road Less Traveled-
Luke 6:46-49
46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
NIV

2 Cor 12:7-10
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
NIV

Volunteer to Be the Change God Desires-
Isa 6:1-8
6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
NIV

John 6:65-69
65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
NIV

Dare to Sing to the Darkness-
Ezek 37:1-10
37 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"I said, "O Sovereign Lord, you alone know." 4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.'" 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'" 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet — a vast army.
NIV

2 Kings 6:16-17
16 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
NIV

III. Will you be ONE? Will you be part of a Grassroots Revolution?
-What God could do in us and through us if we dared to take Him seriously,
actually act upon what we know and truly believe in what we amen
-Scripture records the promise of Jesus
*He is returning with His reward
Rev 22:12-15
12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
NIV
*As His follower I will have a place with Him
John 14:1-4
14 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
NIV

-Where do you want to be when Christ returns?
John 4:34-37
34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do 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. 36 Even 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.
NIV
*I want to be on the far side of the field…sickle in hand…”one more
minute God, just a few more swings…”
*Where do you want to be?

PRAYER
Rev 3:14-22
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
NIV

-Jesus stands at the door of the lukewarm American church and knocks
today…asking…will you join my revolution???
*one by one the door knob is turning…believers are being awakened and
inviting Christ in…the Grassroot Revolution is beginning…will you be
ONE?

Career or Calling?

2009-12-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

I begin with a quote from John Ortberg:
"American society does not talk much about calling anymore. It is more likely to think in terms of career. Yet, for many people a career becomes the altar on which they sacrifice their lives.
A calling, which is something I do for God, is replaced by a career, which threatens to become my god. A career is something I choose for myself; a calling is something I receive. A career is something I do for myself; a calling is something I do for God. A career promises status, money or power; a calling generally promises difficulty and even some suffering - and the opportunity to be used by God. A career is about upward mobility; a calling generally lead to downward mobility."

I will add that a career is man chosen and often enslaves people - becoming the thing by which their life is defined. A calling is God given and releases us.

A career, like many things, can easily increase the busyness of our life that it can be hard to hear God's call. Are you fulfilling God's call in your life? Are you open to fulfilling God's call?

Many a calling has died on the altar of career

***Would love feedback***

Blessings,
Darren

Do as I say or do as I do???

2009-12-01T11:19:00.000-08:00

***Here is a response I wrote to a friend about an article dealing with a Christian organization bashing the actions/behaviors of non-Christian companies***

Taking AFA out of the conversation and addressing the broader issue I have a couple reflections?

I agree it is silly for Christians to expect non-Christians to understand, let alone uphold, Christian values. The Bible is clear it is their hearts we are after not their actions. Actions will follow the heart. In some ways I think the secularization of our nation will actually help the cause of Christ in America. After all, when everyone in America claims to be Christian it is very difficult to not focus on actions – it does lend it self to frustrations, arguments, confusion over the behavior of those who claim by name Christian. As people are becoming more open to claim secularization, or even other religions, it helps clarify the line between believers and non-believers. At that point it becomes clear who should be expected to live by the Christian world view they confess and who shouldn’t. Once that line has been drawn the moral argument from Christian obedience is lost until the one being talked to claims to be a follower of Christ.
I do believe there is still a moral argument for society that must be raised. It is on these issues that we can, and must, reach across political and religious lines to voice a united moral voice to the whole of society. The minority cannot be allowed to dictate the standards to the majority because the majority is divided in its voice.
As Christ followers the burden is upon us as believers living in such a way that we are light and salt. A Christian’s talk of hating sin but life of enjoying it is what confuses the non-Christian and mutes our voice – actually mocks it. For example, the AMA awards. I t does not surprise me that a gay guy would kiss a gay guy. It also does not surprise me that I whole industry built around sex would have sex laden performances. Where is the surprise in any of this? As long as neither Adam nor AMA is claiming to be Christ followers then their actions are not the issue – it is their need for Christ. NOW, I do think a complaint is merited to the network. The moral voice of America is still opposed to this behavior being openly displayed for children viewing and they should be held accountable to respect the moral voice of our nation. Obviously, our moral voice is quickly diminishing but for now it remains and the network, not Adam or AMA, should be fined and held accountable.
For me however the real issue is those that claim Christ that are watching, buying and supporting the values/behaviors that should be easily discernable as morally wrong to a Christ follower. My concern is not that lost people do not have a Christian world view but that many, if not most, who claim Christ do not have a Christian world view. Why would I have to convince a Christ follower that sexual immorality, homosexuality, mistreatment of women, foul language, crude behavior, etc. is wrong? Isn’t it as clear as can be throughout Scripture? Doesn’t God’s Spirit within us teach us to say “no” to ungodliness? How hilarious it must be for Adam and AMA to hear angry “Christians” griping and complaining about their actions when they could walk right into their homes and cars and see all of their products being bought and listened to. To me that is hilarious, and overwhelmingly sad.

The need for America is not a revival in Hollywood or Washington, Professional Sports or our Schools… it is in the church. True Christ followers must once again learn to “preach the Gospel at all times…use words only when necessary.”

It is for this reason that I don’t fear the darkness. Sin only allows righteousness to shine more clearly.

***Thoughts, reflections, opinions???

Darren

Are we asking the right questions?

2009-11-24T06:29:00.000-08:00

****Below is part of a response I recently wrote to a friend who sent me a business article about customer service. It prompted the question - how will we measure success within our own church family?****

Great article and thought provoking questions to ask. Interesting to note how the very thing that businesses dread, financial downturn, is the very thing that can help them return to making the main thing the main thing.

In many ways I think churches face the same seasons and situations that bring them to the place to ask questions. I think the questions we must ask are different from the ones businesses must ask.
*Businesses at the heart are self motivated. That is the nature of business – to make a profit. . Obviously, customer satisfaction is a key component to business. Happy customers make return customers so it sounds good to have a slogan such as “customer’s first”, etc.
But the truth is the customer is not first, the business is first. All efforts to keep and retain customers and make them happy are driven by the unspoken goal of making the priority of the business, making a profit, first. It may appear selfless and not selfish driven
but the reality is the business world runs on profits. Nothing wrong with that in the business world; as long as there are ethics. We are suffering the consequences now of the selfish nature of business tippy toeing the border of ethics – financing homes people
couldn’t afford, loosening debt ratios, focusing on quantity rather than quality - All because of the driving need to keep the customer happy so they would continue to purchase which all means greater profits for the company which is the whole goal in the first place.
Obviously this is simplistic but I think all would agree that businesses fed off the lust for more they encouraged within the consumer with the effective marketing and advertising tools they utilized until finally we were eating our own young!
So businesses ask questions such as: 1. What can we do to get customer hits
2. How can we create a dissatisfaction in their current circumstance so that they will feel the need for our product to help?
3. How can we make our product look like the best way to satisfy the need they have
4. How can we keep them happy about their choice while we wait for them to be dissatisfied again so that we can start the process all over?
Thus as much as it may appear to be customer friendly it is still self centered, self motivated, self driven. Once again, this is not wrong in the business world unless taken to far.

*Churches are not supposed to run like businesses. If we are self motivated we are in error. On the flip side if we are “customer” motivated we are in error. We must be Christ focused and constantly asking what is Christ wanting us to do. What is Christ wanting us to be?
What is Christ wanting us to teach people?
-certainly these are not easy questions to answer. In fact I believe they are very difficult questions to answer because of the immense pressure we feel as humans to either please others or please ourselves. It can be very difficult to distinguish between the three at
times – pleasing Christ, pleasing ourselves, pleasing others. All of us of course want to feel like when we are pleasing ourselves we are pleasing God – it causes great discomfort to have to consider the alternative. Likewise I want to feel like when I am pleasing
people it is pleasing God – after all apparent success is much more self pleasing than apparent failure.

So to me the questions we must ask are:
1. What does Christ want us to be?
2. How can we effectively communicate that so that as many people as possible can fully understand it?
3. What are the God orchestrated steps, not mine or others, to take us to where He wants us?
4. Can I/we set aside our personal agendas, comfort, pride, preferences, opinions, desires, fears to follow?

I am convinced that Christ is leading us to an absolute transformation from within. To a people that are Experiencing Grace, Living life together and Sharing their faith outside the walls. This is a heart transformation not a program or budget one. This is deep waters, challenging the very fiber of who we are, why we do what we do, what we believe, what we value, what we will we deem “success” and “failure”.

Believers experiencing true freedom in Christ that manifests itself in authentic/transparent living with other believers producing a deep motivation of love to be the salt and light of the world is what I believe Christ is asking us to be. This places helping, challenging, equipping, releasing people to discover and fulfill their Eph. 2:10 good works over the benefit to our church or their own personal comfort.

For this I think we must rethink our measurement tools. Exactly what will those measurement tools be? For such a uniquely individual quest we are asking people to take it certainly raises some unique challenges.

This is why, at this season, I am simply asking our people to be willing to ask these questions that are very scary for some, frustrating to others, frivolous to still more, and exciting to others

I believe an unreached world is tired of seeing churches that despite what they say are still about themselves.

Darren

****I would love thoughts and feedback on this subject****

Truth & Tradition

2009-10-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

If you read the NT you will discover that one of the major themes is the continual emphasis on the sufficiency of Christ for salvation. Christ and Christ alone. From the beginning the church was tempted to add additions to following Christ. Various rules, rituals, standards. Each time Paul would vigorously refute this Jesus + gospel as no Gospel at all.
They debated it at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, Paul records confronting Peter about his hypocrisy in Galatians 2 and in every letter Paul writes he emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ and Christ alone for salvations. We are saved by GRACE. Anything else added to the Gospel becomes a Jesus + gospel and is no Gospel at all.

Jesus said we would know the Truth and the Truth would set us free. Of course the Truth was not a moral code, system of rituals or religion...the Truth was a person...Jesus. Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life. Jesus is Truth and it is for that reason that He calls us into a personal relationship with Him.

It is not the actions of people that Christ desires it is the heart. Jesus knows that love for Him will motivate all necessary actions. When the church reverses this order and begins dictating actions in hopes of winning the heart it is no longer preaching the Gospel. At this point the church begins using control and manipulation over people - blending the truth of the Gospel with man made traditions and rituals necessary for acceptance. Thus each church develops all of the unspoken, and often spoken, rules for Christianity. Fear is the typical method of control - frightening people into acceptable behavior, consistent attendance, service and giving. It is not overt fear but the subtle message that God's love is conditional. It isn't just Jesus it is Jesus +. Yet John writes that perfect love would cast out all fear and those that fear have not been made perfect.

In this way, the church can often become an enemy of the true Gospel. At this point its critics are justified although their motives are often personally driven.

Let's not place all the blame on the church. I am not convinced that in many cases the motive is intentional but the result is still equally damaging. Jesus said you would know the Truth and the truth would set you free. Jesus is the truth and His Word is Truth. In order to know Truth beleivers must know the Word of God or else all they have is tradition. Most believers I know do not know the Truth (have not read, studied the Bible) and therefore must live their Christian faith by tradition. They are a victim of their own ignorance. Trapped in a Gospel defined by the experiences they have been exposed to unable to distinguish Truth from traditions. Unfortunately, many ministers do not adequately know the Truth. As a result their ministries are simply a continuation of the traiditions they were mentored under. Understand, not all traditions are bad. In fact many traditions are beneficial - creating comfortable paths to open up to and connect with God. On the other hand, anytime a tradition becomes linked with the Gospel it is at that point determential. Likewise if my traditions are a requirement for others to experience Christ they have become a false teaching. A Jesus + gospel is no Gospel at all.

Let me leave this thought with some personal reflection:
How well do you know the Truth? Can you seperate tradition from Truth? How much of your life in Christ is dictated by tradition? What are the dangers of confusing tradition with Truth.

Obviously the primary danger is in accepting a gospel that is really no Gospel at all. What greater trajedy could there be than hearing Christ say "depart from me I never knew you" after partipating in endless religious traditions. This concerns me greatly.

What are some other dangers:
1. God shrinks to be contained only within our traditions
-this is why mission trips are a spiritual shocker to many. Experiencing God outside their
small box
2. We limit God and define Him only by our traditions
-like looking at only one side of a block - parital picture but not wholly correct
3. We limit the Gospel, we distort the Truth, if we require our traditions for people
to experience Christ.
-#1 hindrance to passing down our faith to the next generation is tradition not Truth.
Jesus said if He was lifted up He would draw all men unto Himself. Traditions cloud the
way.

This blog turned out lengther than intended. I would love feedback and comments.

Blessings,
Darren

A Strange Thing

2009-09-30T09:42:00.001-07:00

My mother is in the hospital. Has a tumor in her bladder that she will be having removed and biopsied next week. In addition one of my children who broke his arm, had to have surgery to set it and is still in a cast came down with Strep throat. Another one of my children has swine flu. And in all honesty, like most I could keep the list going. Life has storms and certainly right now I am in a season of thunderstorms.

That is not the strange thing. It does not strike me as odd when life is....well life. Jesus makes it abundantly clear in passages such as Matt. 7:24-27 that the storms of life come to all people. Where did this escapist mentality that invades the church come from? It is certainly not Biblical. Anyway...that is another blog.

The strange thing to me is how many believers assume that those facing trials will question their faith, blame God or quit. Perhaps because I did not come to Christ out of crisis it never has dawned on me to abandon Him while I am in one.

My response when I face the trials of life is Thank God Jesus is The Rock - that in every storm there is Truth that is unshakeable, Peace that is unexplainable and strength that is undeniable.

Is your faith shaken during hard times? Why??? Who said there wouldn't be hard times? The TV preacher, the church, wishful thinking? Jesus never said that. Jesus said that in this life we will face trouble but to take heart that He has overcome the world. That is why He came. Jesus is my hero.

Feedback???

Darren

The Road Less Traveled

2009-09-23T07:02:00.000-07:00

This morning in my devotion time I was reading in Exodus 13, just after the passover and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Vs. 17-18 says that the Lord purposely did not let them take the shorter route but instead lead them through the longer road in the desert. WHY? Because he knew they had been slaves for 400 years and were not prepared to battle. The short road would have led them staright into battle unprepared. Taking the longer road would protect them while allowing them opportunity to learn to trust and depend on God.

QUESTION?
*Am I willing to accept the fact that sometimes God will take me on the longer road to develop in me the character necessary to please Him that I would not develop on the shorter road?
*Am I willing to trust that God is more interested in accomplishing His will in me than I am, just not in the manner that I always see fit?
*Am I willing to accept that what God is doing in me is more important than what He is doing through me?
*Am I willing to understand that it is in the longer desert road that the qualities necessary for where I am going will be learned and developed and will become the foundation for the future.
*Am I willing to follow God no matter what road He leads simply because He is God and I am not.

I am ashamed to admit that I may kick and scream at times and even whine like the Israelites about the journey but in the end I am confident that God will carry onto completion every good work that He has begun in me. It is not unspiritual to question, process, express frustration, or even be weary at times as long as it is followed up with obedience. Personally, I think God appreciates the transparency, after all my true feelings are not hid from Him.

More than that, long roads remind me that my true passion is to be like Christ anyway. It has never been about the destination. It is about Love. My love for Christ and more importantly, His love for me.

Thoughts and/or comments?

Blessings,
Darren

Thoughts and comments?

What I'm reading

2009-09-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

Books I have recently read:
-Mere Christianity and The Probelm of Pain by CS Lewis
-The Whole Gospel for the Whole World the life of PC Nelson by Bob Burke
-It by Craig Groschel
-Wild Goose Chase and In the Pit with a Lion On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson
-Fellowship of the Burning Heart by AW Tozer
-Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson

Books begun not completed:
-The Unexpected Adventure by Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg
-The Beauty of the Balance by Terry Tramel
-8th Habit by Stephen Covey
-Knowing God by JI Packer
-Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus

I would love comments or feedback on any of these books or others.

I was lost,now I am found

2009-09-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

As you can tell it has been awhile since my last post. Why? Well the easy answer is because I lost the link - yeah, I know I should have wrote it down, but hey it was after midnight when I opended the account. The deeper truth is that I have drug my feet to find it. One of my commitments for 2009 was to become a bit more techy. I have moved into the ranks of facebook, Iphone and slowly blogging - does twice count as blogging??? No tweeter yet. Am I the only one that sees both the blessing and curse of all this technology. Yes, it has a thousand if not more benefits. I do not disagree or argue and certainly for my children - they could not imagine a world without it. However, there is a peace in a less hectic life. More is not always better. Better is better. Am I the only one that relishes the moments of not being connected to a phone? Can you be successful, connected and cutting edge in this information age if you don't immediately answer every call, read every email and facebook your every move?

Have we lost the art of being still? Early this morning in my office I just sat quitely. I felt impressed to just pause. My plan with coming extra early was to read and study - of which there never seems to be enough time - not just sit. I felt guilty, lazy, uncommitted, frustrated, irritated, idle...yet it also felt refreshing, relaxing, cleansing, restoring, clarifying...

I will not lie, the constant temptation to touch a book, check my email, work on my to-do list remained throughout. Funny thing about quiet time. The more you stop, the easier it is to stop. I was reminded that I haven't been stopping as much lately.

While facebook, email, phone calls may help me stay connected on the surface...quite times connect the deep parts of my soul to myself and to Christ. My tendency is to always look to, strive for and long for the future. Stopping helps me see the now. This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Help me embrace this verse today.

Blessings,
Darren

a new day

2009-05-07T22:06:00.000-07:00

It is 12:07 in the morning and I have finally gotten around to beginning a blog. It is my intention for this blog to serve a few purposes. First, simply a place to share the thoughts, questions and perhaps insights that I have along the way of my personal life's journey; my walk with Christ, personal growth, leadership development, and family I am sure will dominant many of my entries.
I also desire for this blog to be a portal for others to view me, right or wrongly. A place where perhaps the why of me comes across more than the what. There can be many motives for the same action. I have found many times in life that two people can be doing the same activity for completely different reasons. Through my honest relfections and self evaluations perhaps I can provoke others to think about the whys of their life - not so that they will agree with me - rather so that they will seek to better understand themselves and come to their own conclusions (Prov. 20:5).
It is also my desire to have a platform to communicate and interact with those within my church family, especially existing and emerging leaders; offering insight, encouragement and inspiration of what God is up to and where we are headed. As well as sharing praise reports and prayer requests. Perhaps this will be better served as a seperate blog, time will tell...for now my goal is to start small and try to remain faithful.