Forgiveness? You, yes I am speaking to you...

So what do we do with where we have been?  How do I process past my past?  Because of the fight within us to journey onward and survive we will find ways (many are unhealthy) to "forget" or "suppress" but what if there was something so much greater available to you? The following thoughts are intended to assist you in experiencing true, biblical forgiveness.

Being sorry does not lead to forgiveness because that originates within us.  The identification with Jesus' death provides my acceptance to God.  Hebrews 10:14, "For by that one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy."  I am not in any way in a position to earn this forgiveness but because of the cross in the perfect place to receive it.  To attempt another way would be like beating on a door right next to the one that Jesus has opened.  As I pass through this door opened by the death of Jesus I am forgiven and this powerful moment is made visible because of the changed man!  "Atonement is a propitiation whereby God, through the death of Jesus, makes an unholy man holy" (Oswald Chambers).

If this seems too good to be true it is because you are seeing this correctly.  Not completely understanding something hasn't prevented us from learning to read, write, ride a bike or operate the smart phone in your purse.  If you have read this, you have enough information and access to truth to respond to it.

Am I living to please man or God?

I care way too much about what others think and far too little about what pleases God.  My life has been granted tremendous value because of Jesus' sacrifice for me however if I am living for man's approval then I am drastically limiting God's access to utilize this life He has transformed.  The frustrating part is that I know how foolish it is to allow another imperfect person to be a greater influence than the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit.  Why would I settle for less than the unlimited power, wisdom and grace available to the obedient child of the King?  Father force all other desires to be released so that I have ample room to grasp on to more of You.

Lessons from the Journey--Kind of

This entry is more of a journal than a blog for me so forgive me if this lacks continuity but here is a peek into my thoughts (scary I know).  Today my thoughts are far from VA.  As grateful as I am for Liberty Seminary and as much as I enjoy the people in Lynchburg this is now a launching pad (as Dr. Falwell envisioned) for what God has in store for us...Discover Church.  Many of Brittni and my conversations are consumed with the dream that God has given us for a church that will enable the people of Palm Beach County to find life in Jesus Christ.  So many, and who can blame them, are trying to do life the best they know how and for most that leads them on an endless pursuit of empty things.  This HAS to end and in many ways we will gear our ministry towards pointing these people that are far from God to have their needs (felt and unfelt) met in Him.  

Matt Willmington's list of top 20 lessons from a church plant

One of the blogs I keep up with is a former professor, of youth ministry at LU, who has recently returned to Thomas Road.  Matt has been a tremendous influence on me over the years and I am VERY excited to have him around for my last year.  Below is a list of the top 20 lessons he learned from being in a church plant that he hopes will stay in his life in the years to come.  I thought they were great and wanted to pass them along to you.  Check out his blog it's great and so is this list...

Living close to the pages of the Book

Starting with a fresh page, no rules, only possibilities

Desperation of the staff and people for God

“Lifeboat” spirit among the staff and people – we MUST work together to survive

“Lighthouse” spirit - connection with and burden for the community

Speed of change that is possible

Commitment to excellence, no room for mediocrity

“Its all up to me” feeling – I have to show up for my volunteer job every week or church won’t happen

“No net” abandonment

Creativity unleashed

Need to rethink biblical positions – no room to hold to pat answers I thought I knew in college - “What does the Bible actually teach?”

Dependence on the Holy Spirit

Right-sizing my financial priorities

Doing life together

Courageous living by faith

Seeing the impossible happen

Experiencing grace in my life and the lives of broken, outcast people

Meeting a bigger God than I ever knew

Living like pilgrims on an adventure

Having my wife and children experience all of this with me.

Innovate Conference--Day 2

Another full day @ TRBC's Innovate Church Conference.  The main sessions today were truly life-altering for me.  I had the privilege of hearing from Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship,Tom Mullins, Sr. Pastor of Christ Fellowship, and Jim Cymballa, Sr. Pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle.  After experiencing God's conviction and encouragement through these men I have a renewed commitment towards the vision placed in my heart.  I found it amazing how my personal insecurities have limited my willingness to trust God with the dreams He has given to me.  The thing I find interesting is this... I am allowing the lack of ability I see in myself to stifle my dependency on a limitless God.

Real Community?

One of the things I have been giving a lot of thought lately is what New Testament community could look like today.  The type of togetherness that fleshes out no one having need in their community.  How much altering of our lifestyle would it take to accomplish such a miracle?  This would be a good test of where our love really really resides.  Jesus said that the mark of our discipleship would be the love we show others (John 13:35).  Needless to say, Jesus put an extremely high emphasis on loving others.  So what would it really look like to flesh this out?  Some of the books I am reading on this issue are:

• Unchristian by Dave Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons
• Organic Community by Joseph R. Myers
• Creating Community by Andy Stanley and Bill Willits
• The Externally Focused Church by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson

  
  

 Ill throw out some of my thoughts in the coming days...

Lessons from the Journey

Evangelism should be the natural outflow of worship.  I was challenged by this thought most recently as I watched on TV the Hillsong Conference from Sydney, Australia.  The speaker was Mike Pilavachi from the UK and spoke with great conviction and clarity.  If you are anything like me, evangelism does not naturally flow out of you.  

We both know that is no excuse to not intentionally pass along the hope we have found in Jesus Christ.  Pilavachi's point was that worship is a worthy expression of a love relationship and the first evangelistic message given by the church was communicated by Peter in response to questions raised by the worship of the church.  I found this to be a revolutionary thought!  The Holy Spirit so inhabits the praises of His people that the lost are drawn to the "explosive power of a greater affection".  He went on to say that worship that does not lead out into evangelism becomes self-indulgence.  What a great challenge!  

God help me be so enamored by You that my display of love (worship) draws others to curiosity about the Object of my affection... 

Lessons from the Journey

Motivation is a peculiar thing.  Why do we do what we do?  Behind each and every action there is a drive of some sort.  I have been wrestling with this concept a lot lately.  To be quite honest I have not liked some of what I have discovered.  More often than I would like to admit my motivations are for all kinds of self (promotion, gratification, etc.).  

This becomes an issue when the situation doesn't work out as intended and my motives are revealed.  My frustration, disappointment, etc is most commonly an indicator of an unhealthy drive.  It certainly is a struggle to enter most circumstances for the correct reasons however a worthy battle.  Journey on...

Aim High--Chuck Swindoll

"The greatest waste of our natural resources is the number of people who never achieve their potential.  Get out of that slow lane.  Shift into that fast lane.  If you think you can't you won't.  If you think you can, there's a good chance you will.  Even making the effort will make you feel like a new person.  Reputations are made by searching for things that can't be done and doing them.  Aim low: boring.  Aim high: soaring."

taken from:

"Aim So High You'll Never Be Bored"

Chuck Swindoll, Living Above The Level Of Mediocrity

What is  God is calling you to, but your fear is stronger at this point than your faith?  Your view of God will be enlarged when you take off the blinders of impossibility and see that all is possible with Him.  What good is living life in the safety of the harbor?  I believe that life is intended to be lived in the open seas.  These are just a couple of questions I am struggling through and thought I would pass them along to you...

• Safety of return is all but guaranteed in the harbor but is it really living?  
  
• How big of a God does your life demand?  
  
• How much glory is brought to Him by your daily living?  
  

Feel free to comment with answers to these questions or some of your own...