A song I wrote

Wrote a song that I feel like the Lord placed on my heart yesterday morn. Can't wait to put it to music. It is a song to help teach my children and our spiritual children how to pray.

When We Pray

When we pray
We thank Him for another day
We tell Him how great He is
For He gives us all good things

(chorus: Then we quiet ourselves
We focus on Him alone
We listen for Him to speak
In whatever way He wants to speak)

Then we confess
Our faults to Him who loves us so
Loves us more than life itself
His mercy will renew us

(repeat chorus)

And then we ask
For strength to make it through the day
Keep us walking in Him today
And give us help to do His will

(repeat chorus)

Of course we ask
For Him to help our families
Our close brothers and sisters
The ones we live & work with in Him

(repeat chorus)

Not afraid to ask
He said ask and you will receive
He said you don’t have because you don’t ask
The constant cries of His church will yield results

(repeat chorus)

And as He leads
We cry out for our lost friends
The ones stuck in sadness and sin
The ones who do not yet know Him
We ask believing
We plead for them as for ourselves
Cry and wail as the Spirit leads
We don’t take no for an answer

(repeat chorus)

And He will lead
His Spirit will lead our prayers
He’ll show us where to go from there
He’ll take us into the deep

(repeat chorus)

And when we’re done
We worship and we love on Him
He wraps us in His arms again
And tells us we’re His own again

Tells us we’re His own again (repeat)
We’ll always be His own

Simplicity

Well,
As life moves forward, repeating themes and thoughts and burdens seem to emerge. One of the key disciplines that always seems to come back to the forefront of my mind and heart is that of simplicity. Living simply - cutting out the extras, the unnecessaries, the weights, or the distractions - and filling my life with the simple and straightforward, the rich and the pure.

I don't want to waste my time. I don't want to be throwing punches into the air. I don't want to finish my life wondering where all the time went. I want to finish it knowing I lived it right and full - and that I put my thoughts and energy on what was truly important.

My kids are what is important. My wife is what is important. Learning to spend time with Jesus constantly is important. Loving sinners is important. Living in community. Working hard. Being honest. Being totally available.

The words from a John Mayer song come to mind. "How come everything I think I need, always comes with batteries - what do you think that means?"

Preach it, brother John :)

If something in my life needs batteries to work, then its probably just a filler or a substitute for something organic and real - and the organic and real comes straight from the LORD.

Christianity: Philosophy or action?

When did Christianity become a practce of philosophizing rather than a practice of doing?

It is quite easy for a believer to fall into the modern trap of study and philosophy around the Christian faith rather than one of practice. It seems to me that much of modern Christianity has fallen into this trap - and it's an easy one to fall into! So much time is spent in churches sermonizing and teaching doctrines and belief systems and intellectual aseertions as they regard the Christian faith... but little time is spent actually putting those beliefs and doctrines into practice.

You believe in baptizing a certain way -- when's the last time you baptized someone? You believe in praying a certain way -- but is enough time spent practicing this type of prayer? You believe in the great commission -- but how much time is spent practicing it? You believe in helping the poor, fatherless, and widows -- but when's the last time you actually did it?

I was convicted the other day that recently I have been spending much time studying the scriptures to gain clarity on what I believe around certain doctrinal issues. This is not a bad thing... however it struck me that perhaps I have allowed my faith to become one of philosophizing and intellectualism and "figuring things out", when shouldn't my faith be one of practice?

I wonder if the doctrines and principles of the Christian faith were only meant to be understood through practice? As I reach the unreached, I understand more and more the grace of God and his wonderful salvation and I learn little by little how to better reach them... As I pray and spend time listening to Jesus I understand more and more the purpose and power of prayer and more and more of the character and love of God for me and this world... As I fellowship closely and daily with my spiritual brethren I learn more and more about the church, the body, and its ultimate purpose on this earth, as well as how to be used to edify the church...

So here I sit, convicted and making a new resolution with Him. To practice the little I know that I may learn more. To act on what I do know and in so doing learn what I dont yet know. To do and not just to know. To make living it out rather than studying it out the foundation of my life with Him.

I know this is right because the first century church didn't have all the doctrines figured out (they actually had a lot of doctrinal diversity among the early church), and still they turned their world upside down! And what about the poor saints in remote areas of Africa and Asia, or the persecuted underground church in communist countries? These have alot of weird and crazy doctrines in them but are growing like crazy, reaching their world for Jesus, and are seeing all kinds of signs and wonders as they go. Im not saying right doctrine is not important and in many cases crucial. I am saying that action is the one needful thing.

Jesus, forgive us of thinking, even subconsciously, that right doctrine is in any way a substitute for right works. Make us doers of the word, first and foremost, every day of our lives! May we understand, deeply and truly, that you would rather have us messed up doctrinally but reaching sinners with the little we know. You would rather have us to be prayer warriors with the small amount of faith and knowledge we have, rather than have all understanding and not practicing it. You would rather have us misunderstanding some of your truths rather than neglecting sharing with the poor, widows, and orphans of this world. All glory to you and your glorious good news!

Clarity

Well, it's been too long since I posted on my personal blog. I plan on doing it a bit more.

Recently I felt like my Lord called me to shut myself off from all secondary Christian voices in my life. I got to the point where from reading different books, listening to different Christian radio programs, and reading different articles and websites, I reached a full point. Honestly I dont read and listen to much... but nonetheless all these different voices in my head over the months and years culminated in a lot of confusion. Suddenly I realized that I didn't have clarity on issues like prayer, outreach, and body life and practice - not from lack of information but from an abundance! I am almost always clear on doctrinal issues, as I feel like God has given me clarity in this area. What I have been lacking clarity on is the practical.

How often to pray? How to pray? How and when and why to outreach? What about church gatherings, church planting, and making disciples? All practical aspects of my faith are under fire right now -- not that I'm lacking faith, but that I am lacking clarity and understanding.

So far, I have received some understanding... It seems that Jesus is not into formulas. It seems that he doesnt always give clarity. It would seem that He is more interested in me gaining understanding through relationship with Him little by little rather than gaining understanding from secondary sources in one fell swoop.

Im getting the feeling that God isn't going to give me understanding on these things overnight... but rather that it will take some time. Im getting the feeling also that what might be true and effective in another time and another place with another individual, may not be true or effective with me in 2008, in Aurora Colorado.

Lord, deliver me from the need to have a magic formula. Deliver me from the godless drive to see results rather than the godly effort of having fellowship with God and making disciples... Deliver me from myself, Jesus. Help me to come to you for clarity.

My time away from secondary sources has already given me more room for God. More room for Him. More space to understand and rest in His understanding.

Every good gift

Was hanging with my good buddy Isaac on Sunday night. We went to Jazz at Jack's to see Nelson Rangell (a world-class smooth jazz artist) free of charge, have a drink, and hang out. Had a great time!

One thing that Isaac and I ended up discussing that evening was that every good gift comes from God. As we listened intently to the sweet and soulful melodies coming from the instruments of some extremely gifted musicians, we were in awe of how awesome God is. That's right, sitting in a "secular" atmosphere taking in a "secular" concert, we experienced God! Reminded us of what James said in his letter to the churches:

"Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows." (James 1:17, NLT version)

James was speaking of God's character, and using it to encourage his audience to live holy and right before him... but this statement about God's character reveals something important to us: Every good thing comes from above - from God. What is good? Well, that can be an interesting question in and of itself - yet there are at least a few things we know are good. God is good, and everything God created is good. He said it in Genesis 1!

Sitting there enjoying an amazing gift of God on display was incredible. It was nothing less than his creation on display - God created the lips and the lungs and the brain to work together in rhythm and unity to create unique and spontaneous joyful sounds of musical ingenuity. Nelson Rangell wasnt performing to God directly, I think he was playing about love, and life and passion. I dont know if he knows God. However, the gift of God was on full display nonetheless, and for that reason, we could sit and enjoy God's handywork in all its reflective glory.

This brought us to the fact that every good gift of man is from God. Watching a star athlete compete with vigor in his sport, or a visual artist creating something beautiful and unique from paint and an empty canvas, or a skillful surgeon cutting and repairing the human body. The same with a mathematician at his computations, an Olympic diver coming off the board in perfect form, or a skilled botanist caring for his plants. All are good things, because God created them and the ability to do them in us, the human race -- the amazing creshendo of all his creation.

In this way, what some call secular can be deeply Christian. The line between "secular" and "Christian" has been skewed for centuries by religious men. Yet God created every good thing, be it directly aimed to Him or indirectly. Thank God we have the freedom to enjoy it, and celebrate it!

Our responsibility then, as sincere followers of Jesus the Christ, is to tell others the good news of what he has done for us in making us right with God... so that in turn others can practice their gifting within the context of a restored relationship with God for themselves. But let us no longer seperate ourselves from the everyday activities of the world (which in most cases are laced with the gifts of Gods creation), but let us enter in to the worlds systems with the purpose of redeeming them (and the lost within them) back to God for His glory.

Thank God for every good thing in this life - for they all come from Him.

A Worthy Steward?

Ever get the feeling that you are just not fulfilling your destiny?

I've been feeling that way lately, and it's got me thinking. In the parable of the talents (so called), each servant was given a different amount, and each was required to produce a generous return on their Lord's investment in them. A powerful comment was made by the Lord when the lazy servant was approached, which stops me in my tracks...

He told the servant who had hidden his money out of fear and hadn't produced any return on the investment that he "Should've at least put his money in the bank where it would at least have earned interest."

I wonder if I'll ever leave the bank.

The bank is fine -- and it is better than nothing -- but it is not where the Lord wants us to remain; and personally, it's not where I want to remain! What if me gathering with small groups, ministering in the simple gifts God has given me, praying here and there for the saints, mentoring a few young ones, giving the first part of all my increase to the work of the Lord and to the needy, and just working and living the rest of the time is little more than putting HIS money in the bank to earn interest?

Maybe I'm not giving my current "ministry" enough credit here, but there's got to be more than this. Perhaps me truly reaching my potential is more than this. Maybe there's a special work that God has called me to do that I have not realized and moved into yet... Or maybe this discontenment is from the Lord because He is getting ready to do something amazing! Or perhaps something very trying... Perhaps something no one would have ever guessed.

All I know is that I have so much more to offer, and up to this point I have lacked the opportunity to show it...

Legalism: The Law

Modern legalism is much like the difficult Old Testament law. Those of you who were brought up in a legalistic mindset will understand what I am saying...

I read the whole book of Galatians in the NLT today and it made sense like never before. Paul was writing to the Galatian church who were being persuaded by Judaizers to turn back to keeping the law of Moses. They were being told that faith in Christ was not enough -- that they also all needed to be circumcised. This outraged Paul, who had laid the foundation of their faith and freedom in Christ through many trials, sweat, and tears. Paul himself had many stripes and beatings from the Jews for preaching the freedom from the law that is found in Christ. Paul knew that those Judaizers only wanted to control the churches thenmselves (rather than letting Christ be in charge) and be praised by men for all the people they had following them.

How was the law of Moses like legalistic belief-systems today? Well, it was based on works. It didn't have the power to justify (save) the person resting on it. It was only good enough to show people how powerless they were to save themselves. It paved the way for the freedom and grace found under Christ...

Reading through Galatians was like reading my own mail. I feel like Jesus has freed me from my own personal "law" I grew up with. It was my teacher that pointed me to Christ!

Even though I am infinitely thankful for the organization and church I grew up in, I am well aware of the dangerous effects of its legalistic side. As a small boy I was constantly fearful of going to hell because I had not yet spoken in tongues. As a teenager I could not pray or fast or witness enough to feel "right" with God. As a young adult minister in my church I was expected to look, talk, and act a certain way or I was not even considered saved...

The infant Christian church centuries ago (initially comprised only of Jewish worshippers) had been rejected by their parents, wives, children, etc for their newfound freedom in Christ. They could not even buy or sell at the worst point of their persecution just before the fall of Jerusalem in the first century. They were constantly shunned by the ones they loved for refusing to follow the pointless traditions and customs they were brought up with.

That is how my wife and I, and some of the others that God was good enough to bring out of our previous organization, feel. It is so hard to move on when everyone and everything you ever knew is saying you are the devil... We are being shunned and looked down on now for rejecting our man-made standards of so-called holiness (having all to do with appearances) and it hurts... but we have no desire whatsoever to go back under that law -- now that we are experiencing freedom in Christ! Now of course, as Paul said, we do not use that freedom to please the flesh -- but rather to serve one another! My previous yoke was hard, but the yoke I now am bound to (Christ alone) is easy and light! It frees me to do the will of God from my heart and fulfill the great commission as I was always meant to...

I will close with the words of Paul:
Gal 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision (fleshly ordinances and outward appearances: the law) mean any thing -- nor uncircumcision; but only faith which works by love!

Instead of focusing on a list of standards regarding jewelry, makeup, pants, skirts, beards, uncut hair, etc, we now can focus on the issue that Jesus died for: faith that works by love!

I realize that what I just posted may offend a few of my readers, but I must tell the truth and please God from my heart. Again, your opinion may be different than mine, and if that is such regarding this subject, then I hope that you will pray for me. Either way, thanks for taking the time to listen to my voice.

Half-truths I grew up with

Growing up in a traditional church environment, I see now looking back, that there are many half-truths I bought into. I have had to re-learn and un-learn many things since my wife and I decided to follow Christ's command to go everywhere and make disciples of all nations... Not necessarily because they were directly taught to me this way, but rather they are unspoken teachings endorsed by churches that are a by-product of the traditional church system so prevalent today...

1.The only valid form of church is in a special "church building."
Although the church I grew up in started on the Capitol steps of Denver in the early 70's with a bunch of radicals praying for hungry people on the street corners every night, the ultimate goal from the beginning was to get a group of faithful people into a church building all under one roof. Is it any wonder that after my church left the streets of downtown Denver and went into comfortable pews in a heated auditorium that people got comfortable and the soulwinning subsided? What is this thing about church buildings?

When did the church go from a grassroots movement with the hungry masses spreading the gospel of the kingdom from house to house and everywhere in public, to a formal institution shut out to the masses and supervised by only the spiritually elite? Church has become a business -- with a CEO, a board of directors, and a majority of disgruntled employees -- rather than a naturally growing family with spiritual parents overseeing the newer spiritual children, and Jesus calling the shots, and the Lord adding to the church daily...

This is an issue that the modern church needs to seriously reconsider.

2.Not everyone is called to win souls.
It may sound far-fetched, but this is the pattern and the mindset of many traditional churches. Even if they don't teach it, they believe that certain people have a gift for soul-winning, and that some don't. They teach soulwinning as an option rather than a divine command. You end up only doing what you are comfortable with rather than what works. You end up sitting in a church building waiting for God to "bring" souls to you, rather than "going" and making disciples everywhere!

We are all called to win souls -- some may bring forth 30 times, some 60 times, and some 100 times what they sow, but I believe that all are called to sow the word of God to the lost.

3.Revival comes by praying and waiting, praying and waiting...
Only one important thing missing: GO therefore, and be witnesses! The only reason I can think of for this doctrine coming about in the first place is that people are so uncomfortable with going out and being witnesses, that they have opted to sit back instead and make an excuse for their laziness. Pass out a few flyers, and hire a preacher, and sit back and wait for people to come... Many churches are not like this, but more often than not this is a rut that churches get into. Mine did.

4.Only a preacher can baptize people.
This is a new one for me. I never understood this, but in the early church, anyone who won a soul baptized them. Jesus said he did not come to baptize -- rather his disciples did it for him. Paul went out of his way to tell the church that he was not sent to baptize, but to preach the gospel. The common people who were spiritual mothers and fathers baptized their converts! Parents baptized their children, regular everyday saints baptized those who they had witnessed to, and those new converts also went and baptized others... Baptism was synonymous with making disciples! The "great commission" was to everyone, not just to the apostles!

This truth excites me, because it empowers everyday Christians to do what God has called them to do!

5.The church and the world is in a downward spiral and cannot be rescued... we are just along for the ride. The antichrist is already here and the church going down the tubes has already been foretold in Revelation.
Although different churches have varying viewpoints on this, I believe this is one of the biggest lies of the enemy to the church today. After all, what's the point in polishing the brass on a sinking ship?

These 5 things are not the condition of every church or every church organization, and of course there are differing doctrinal opinions on all these things, but everyone is entitled to their voice and this is mine. I just dream of being like the New Testament church in all its blood, sweat, and tears... and less like the institutionalized version I grew up in...

Perhaps you disagree, and that is okay. Thanks for listening.

Books that Have Changed My Life

Just recently, two different books have been brought to me by the Lord to teach me some incredibly important and timely messages in my life and in my ministry. Sharing them with you is to me one of the most important things I can do on this blog, because they have done a huge part in rescuing me from my own version of Christianity... rather I want HIS version of Christianity.

If you get your hands on them somehow you will be soooooo blessed and touched and enlightened. Each contains a message that is pertinent for our generation and for our phase of Christianity right now in the US and the world. Each will take you deeper into Jesus, drive you to your knees, and enlighten you concerning his work in this world in the 21st century!

Organic Church - Neil Cole









I am avidly searching for the definition of church - Christ’s definition. And the church that raised me (and to whom I am most grateful) I do not believe is it at its essence. It has too much else added on. It’s “Jesus + ...” Neil Cole has, in my opinion, removed all the extra and found the essence, the DNA, of the church, at its simplest.

Anyone who shares a burning desire to fulfill the great commission should read this book!

I just bought half a dozen of these books, so if you would like to read a few chapters of this book to sample it before reading the whole thing, just let me know...


Revolution in World Missions - K.P. Yohannan












Dr. KP Yohannan will greatly encourage you with stories of what God is doing among the unreached of Asia. Many have said recently that other than the Bible, this book has had the greatest impact on their life of any book they'd ever read! I can already sense that time will show that this will be the same for me too... It's that powerful!

You can get the world missions book free by going to gfa.org (gospel for asia). You'll see a link and I think you just have to do a quick free sign up and then they send you the book free of charge, no strings attached. I did it and I will never be the same.

I also just bought a gaggle of these books to give to every sincere Christian I know...


Thanks for listening to my recommendations. I have read a lot of books on church growth, small groups, prayer, missions... but never any like these two. I guarantee that they will be worth the small investment of time that they take to read the first few chapters to sample! They are not specifically about dictrine, but rather the heart and purpose behind Christ's message. They are so awesome.

Kids

Here's a couple pics from our visit over to our friends the Ramirez's place yesterday. Virginia gives us haircuts and we love hanging with this family...

Here's some of the kiddos hanging out.

Here's me and my godson Jayce.

I hope to post lots more pics in the future.

I have a friend in my current LTG who is about 46 years old. When he was a child his parents called him "stupid" and "dummie." This was his nickname by his father while growing up and he tells how he was almost invisible to his parents and that he would sometimes leave the house for days at a time and come back and they would never know he was gone. One time a couple of his childhood friends ran away with him and they lived in a treehouse for almost three days. When his friends parents found them he watched his friends getting spanked with switches and getting laid into by their parents for running away.

He remembers telling his friends how lucky they were for getting laid into by their parents.

Because he was told he was a loser all his life by his dad his self image was so bad that he never learned how to read and today still only reads a little. By the grace of God, though, he is learning to read his Bible and has a whole new self image. Thank God that in spite of his upbringing, he is now one of the best people and dads that I know.

The Bible tells us that children are the heritage of the Lord, and they are our reward in life.
Sometimes with the busy-ness of life we let our kids innermost needs slip through the cracks... If we do not sacrificially love our children -- spending time with them, teaching them the ways of the Lord, and truly being there for them as patient mentors as they grow, we will lose the greatest assett we have been given by God, and will be in danger of the judgment of God. Let us pray that God makes us better parents.

Thank God for our parents and thank God for our children.

Ready to give an answer? Not so sure...

I was driving to grab some Wendy's today during my lunch break (don't worry, I don't make fast food a habit -- it is more like an enjoyable hobby :)) , and as I was getting ready to turn on some Audio A, my ears caught a bit of a sermon.

It was Josh McDowell, preaching I don't know where, on Focus on the Family's broadcast, and he was talking about an ongoing survey he has been performing for many years. He speaks at conferences all across the nation focusing on high school aged kids and youth leaders. At every conference he goes to, he picks the brightest, most on-fire and successful youth leader he can find and asks them three simple questions:

1. Do you believe that the Bible is true? (usual answer is yes)
2. Do you believe that the Bible is the word of God and you can believe whatever it says as absolute truth? (usual answer is yes)
3. Why? (usually dumbfounded silence, or a blatently wrong answer)

He said that he has given this survey to nearly 1500 students in all this time, and only 1 knew how to confidently answer the question. One young person, after seriously thinking about it, answered, "Because I believe it!" He thought that because he believed it, it was true for him. To him, if someone else believed something else, then that was okay for them. That's called moral relativism.

Another time, a youth leader answered, "Because I have faith." Again a serious problem. Just because you have faith to believe that the Bible is the word of God, doesn't make it anymore true. If a muslim has faith that the Koran is the word of God, does that make it true?

Josh Mcdowell told each of them, "Well, that's the difference between you and me -- you say the Bible is true because you believe it, and I believe the Bible BECAUSE it is true."

Now I don't know much about this Josh McDowell dude, but his story here made me think.

At that moment, I wasn't ready to confidently answer that question.

Are you?

A few reasons I came up with are as follows:

-The Bible is historically, scientifically, and chronologically accurate, and was written by over 40 men over a period of 1500 years...
-The Bible bears viable testimony of the reasons behind the corrupt condition of mankind
-Jesus of Nazareth, the greatest man who walked the earth, who healed all manner of sickness and disease, and raised the dead, and died for his faith, said so.
-Because it has proven itself to be true in my life...

- - -> Right or wrong, what's your reason?