Freedom!

This past week, we celebrated the independence of our country. Brave people hundreds of years ago fought to ensure our country could be established and governed by democracy. “The Great Experiment,” as it has often been called, has worked out pretty well in most ways. The United States is one of, if not the, most prosperous and powerful countries that has ever existed. But we must ensure that our civil freedoms are not used or misused and confused with the spiritual freedom obtained through faith in Jesus. 

The early Christians had a similar problem, which Paul addresses in Galatians 5:13-14: “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.” Freedom is not meant to create a free-for-all lifestyle. It is intended to produce a lifestyle that demonstrates the love of God. As this verse warned the early Christians, it stands as a warning for us today: “Don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.” In our day, more and more things are legal and socially acceptable, but are nonetheless merely the indulgence of the sinful nature. The very thing Jesus died to free us from—sin and its stranglehold on our lives—is so often casually taken up again, leading many to become entangled and bound. 

In 1 Peter 2:16, the same idea is expressed: “As free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God” (NKJV translation). We are commanded to not hide our indulgence in carnal, sinful, destructive thoughts and actions under the disguise of being free. Another translation (NLT) of this same verse reads: “For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.” Our freedom enables us to be slaves (Greek doulos, “a slave”—literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily) of God. In fact, we cannot serve God fully until we are set free from evil and our sinful nature through faith in Jesus. Freedom from sin enables us to be slaves of God. The bottom line here is that in truth Christians are not created to be “free agents.” In the words of a famous poet, “You gonna serve somebody.” Whenever we think we are free from God, we are certainly entangled in bondage to evil and sin. And the only way to be free from sin according to Jesus Christ is by following Him. As we see in John 8:31-32: “Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, ‘You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

Onto the Field

At the close of Saturday night’s Revival Service, Pastor Cameron gave us a charge to go “out of the locker room and onto the field.” He wanted us to realize that the primary mission hasn’t been accomplished yet. We had a pep talk in the locker room from “Coach” Josh, but now we each need to go out onto the field and carry out the plan. 

Josh taught us that night to seize the Kairos moments as the Holy Spirit presents them, in the midst of our being faithful in the Chronos times. Both are Greek words for “time”:

Kairos = A time for the accomplishment of a crucial action

Chronos = Linear schedule of our lives

Josh said that often Kairos moments come dressed as a crisis. He said to look at the crises around us and be willing to say, “I volunteer. I have no idea how, but I will go.” He called for us to faithfully look into our community and ask God: Who have you placed in my influence? Who am I called to bring the gospel to?

This message challenged me. That night, I was presented with a cultural crisis that I was stirred by the Holy Spirit to enter with the love and power of the gospel. I had received an email from the volleyball league I am a part of entitled “Expanding Gender Inclusivity.” They explained that they will now include eight gender options and that the term “co-ed” is inaccurate and outdated. To be more inclusive, they hope to add pronoun options to the member profile soon. The email ended with inviting anyone with feedback about these changes to fill out a survey. 

Prior to Revival Weekend, I would have felt unsettled by the email, hopefully prayed about it and probably felt discouraged thinking there was nothing I could really do. But this time, I stepped into the cultural crisis before me and clicked on the survey, stating that “I have a different perspective” and thanked them for the invitation to share it. I said that I believe what the Bible says about gender to be true. In the beginning, God created male and female in His image. I shared how, when God is our defining lens, we understand ourselves through His perspective. When we choose to make Him King of our lives, we follow His ways and live according to His design. I encouraged anyone reading my feedback that it wouldn’t be loving for me not to encourage them to make their lives right with their Creator and choose to follow God while there is still time to do so. I concluded the survey by checking the box that I would be willing to be a part of a focus group to discuss gender inclusion. 

This is just one of the many storms within my influence that God pointed out to me over the weekend. I’m going to walk into them now. Why? Because there are people inside that are confused, without hope, or barely hanging onto life—disconnected from Jesus. I have a new urgency and willingness to walk into the storm, meet people where they are at, bring the light of the gospel, and help them navigate out of the mud. 

We all must act on the word we were given last weekend and shine the light of truth into the crises around us with the grace and boldness of the Holy Spirit. Remember, we are responsible TO share and for HOW we share. We are NOT responsible for how others respond. We each have a part to play. I cannot wait to hear your stories too. Here we go—out of the locker room and onto the field!

41 Years Ago

Forty-one years ago, as a young man only recently saved, I attended a conference on missions in Urbana, Illinois. 14,000 people gathered to learn the state of world missions and the challenge the church faced. I vividly remember many of the sessions. 

The challenge to reach the Muslim world was a focus, as it was identified as a cultural powerhouse about to be unleashed upon the world. At that time, most Americans had little knowledge of the influence and potential of Islam upon world religions. For example, if you watch movies from the early ‘80s, the terrorists weren’t Middle Eastern; they were from Ireland. The influence of many aspects of Islam has grown exponentially as predicted.  I was ready to sell all (actually I didn’t have much) and go to the front lines of missions. 

I found a recording of Billy Graham speaking, which I vividly remember. Interestingly, Russia had just invaded Poland and the world was on the brink of war. How eerily similar it is to today, as Russia is invading Ukraine and the world again is on the brink of war. Billy Graham's message was that the answer to a world in need of peace is the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  You can listen to the message at this link: https://bit.ly/urbana1981

I fervently prayed concerning my response to the call of missions at the conference. God spoke clearly to me: “You are not to go, but to send.” I was ready to go full-time as a missionary to any country. But my calling was not to move and become a missionary, but to send others and resources. I have obeyed that calling consistently. During my ministry with New Day, we have sent and/or supported long-term missionaries to many countries: Japan, Peru, Israel, Ireland, Burma (Myanmar), Haiti, Uganda, China, Malawi, and others. The number of countries that we have sent short-term missions to is too long to list. I cannot even begin to calculate how much money we as a church have sent to resource the Great Commission over the past 40 years. 

Reg Layzell, a leading revivalist in the mid-20th century, would often say, “The purpose of missions is to produce churches, and the purpose of the church is to send and resource missions.” My next season of ministry, as I step down as lead pastor, will enable me to continue this focus. I will continue to build New Day but will have more freedom to assist church planting and missions. Never think that you have to leave your town or your church to be effective. Embrace wholeheartedly what God had put in your hand and use it to build Christ’s Kingdom. As you do so faithfully, God will open doors. My life is a testimony of this truth. My willingness to stay and send has opened up countless doors of opportunity for me to visit and assist those called to long-term missions and church planting. Church, we have the Good News—let’s share it!

The Power of Love

The power of love is a curious thing
Make one man weep, make another man sing
Change a hawk to a little white dove
More than a feeling, that's the power of love

This is the opening verse for Huey Lewis’s song “The Power of Love”. Inspired by his wife and two small children, he penned it for the movie Back to the Future. The song is still his most popular to date. 

“More than a feeling”—the song sings a truth that we, as Christians, know. Love is an action, a call to arms, a powerful thing. Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

This powerful action can build a bridge between people and break down barriers people erect to keep themselves safe. But why don’t we always love others well? I believe it’s due in part to losing connection from the source. Love comes from God! We can see that and how we are to respond when we read 1 John 4:

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (vs. 7-10).

God’s love compelled Him to save us. When you encounter that love, you may weep or shout for joy, but you are forever changed! And we must respond to that love: “since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us” (vs. 11-12).

How will you demonstrate His love to others this week?

Five Trends of Growing Churches by Carey Nieuwhof

 (Adapted from: https://careynieuwhof.com/5-reasons-charismatic-churches-are-growing-and-attractional-churches-are-past-peak/)

1. The Foyer Moved

Now, almost everyone who attends your church for the first time has already been to your church…online.

Which means…the foyer moved. The implication? When someone shows up at your church now, they’re likely to want more than they did when their first visit was their first exposure to your church. They’re ready to go a little further, somewhat faster, because they’ve already taken their first step. They're more likely to sample something real, want to experience something different, and are likely to engage faster.

2. People Want Transformation, Not Information

We tend to share information about Jesus or Christianity. That’s not entirely bad. Who, after all, wants to lose people completely? But now the internet is completely intertwined with daily life. We are drowning in a sea of information.  People aren’t looking for information. They’re looking for transformation. When people come to church, fewer are looking for information about God; they’re looking for an experience with God. Information is everywhere. Transformation is scarce. Too many people who have been to church know about God—not enough know God.

3. Transcendent is Connecting More than Immanent Right Now

People are hungry for true community, deeper experiences, and authentic transcendence. Growing churches are focusing more on creating experiences that engage more than just the head, but also engage the heart and relationships. People don’t just want to know what’s true; they want to know what’s real. And what’s real is deeper than just an idea—it’s an experience. They come looking for something bigger than themselves, and something, frankly, bigger than us. They come looking for God. The best option will have content that leans toward the immanent—practical, helpful, and digestible—and also offer experiences that feel transcendent: a sense that “you had to be there” to experience what happened. 

4. Downloadable Experiences Have Become Resistible Experiences

Online provides a HUGE front door. Everyone you’re trying to reach with the love of Christ is online. The consumption of content is also leaving people hungry for greater community, greater experience, and greater transcendence. Growing churches design their in-person experience to:

• Move people quickly from anonymity to a sense of belonging

• Focus on the engagement of the heart, not just the head, both in the message and the music 

• Offer more variety of services than three songs and a message

• Facilitate more passionate expressions of worship

• Create moments and additional space during the service for prayer

• Put more thought into engaging a variety of emotions and personalities

5. Passion Is Beating Polish

If you’re sitting there thinking that you need a better soundboard, new LEDs, and a better band, think again. Passion is free. And passion beats polish. Effective churches by no means had the best lights, stage, or production. What did they all have in common? Passion. It’s not that polish is bad, but I think polish falls flat unless accompanied by a raw passion that exudes from leaders who love connecting people with God. One caveat: Don’t fake passion—people can smell fake from a mile away. And don’t exaggerate it. Different people have different levels of passion. But if yours has faded, rekindle it. Pray about it. Evoke what’s in there, and bring it to church. In an age where nothing seems real anymore, people are looking for authenticity. Church, we have it.

The Power of Remembering

Terra and I recently went out to a fantastic Thai restaurant.  We ordered something called Tom Ka.  I have no memory of ever eating it, but the moment I tasted its unique flavor I knew I had enjoyed it long ago.  Most likely it was when I was overseas, but I was not sure. Even though I could not remember exactly when I had enjoyed that unique flavor, I was still filled with the feelings of excitement and joy that I experienced last time I encountered it years ago.

Something long forgotten can instantly be brought to the forefront of our minds by a smell, a taste, a sound, or a location.  A while ago I read a book by Skye Jethani called What if Jesus Was Serious About Prayer? In one chapter, he talks about the importance the Bible puts on remembering.  Many times we see God telling the Isrealites to do something out of remembrance for what He has done for them.  Jethani points out that the Hebrew understanding of remembrance and our modern view of it are quite different.  He references the theologian Paul Bradshaw, who said, “In the Jewish world, remembrance was not a purely mental activity … it was not simply about nostalgia for the past, but about asking God to remember His people and complete His saving purpose today.”  Jethani goes on to say, “To remember meant to bring all the power from the past event into the present.”  

At the last supper, Jesus told his disciples to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).  If remembering brings all the power from a past event into the present, then when we take communion, we are bringing the world-changing power of Christ’s sacrifice into the present.  Wow.  We do not solely take communion to remember what Christ did.  We do it in remembrance of Him so that the power of His sacrifice can be brought into our lives TODAY.  Christ’s death and resurrection are not just things in the past that we benefit from.  We are privileged to walk in that resurrection power in the here and now.  I am being healed now.  I am being saved now.  I am being transformed now. I am being forgiven now. 

When you drink from the cup and eat the bread this week during communion, think about how the power of Christ's sacrifice is being brought into our present lives.  Thank you Jesus!

River Sunday!

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”  (John 7:37-39)

John explains that the river Jesus speaks of is the Holy Spirit. Rivers are not static; they move. The flow of a river brings life and is powerful. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is dynamic, bringing life and power. This week we will have our first River Sunday—a service designed to follow the flow of the Holy Spirit with time for us to experience the gifts of the Spirit that I taught earlier this month. 

New Day South Carolina has done these types of Sundays for some time, I’ve witnessed it, and want to reproduce it in our congregation. There is a “learning curve”, as this is a different type of service than what we are used to, but it is good. And it is leaning into an area in which we are already strong. It is important to understand that this is NOT simply an extended time of worship. The worship team will be involved, but the focus will be on following the Spirit’s lead. 

1 Corinthians 14:26 says, “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” This verse is a guide for us. The Bible also says in 1 Corinthians 14:40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” We will seek to pattern the service after these verses, providing opportunities for individuals to come share a prophecy (rhema word), tongue with interpretation, song, word of wisdom or knowledge, prayer for healing, or whatever the Holy Spirit gives. We will bring order to this by having Pastors Bill & Marilee Menser lead and direct the flow of the service. 

We already do this during our worship every Sunday by allowing people to share an exhortation, scripture, or rhema word. This Sunday will simply be giving more time for this and intentionally following the flow of the river of the Holy Spirit. Although we will not have a sermon planned, we have nevertheless spent a lot of time seeking God and following the Spirit’s lead in preparing for this service. I invite you to come with high expectations of what God will do through us. I also invite you to come ready to contribute your part. This doesn’t mean you know in advance what you will do or say, although that is possible. It primarily means you come ready and willing to be used by the Lord and to receive from one another. 

Under the Shadow of Your Wings

I have been meditating on the phrase “in the shelter of your wings,” or “under the shadow of your wing,” a lot lately. David used it routinely in his Psalms. The ark of the covenant had two cherubim facing each other with wings outstretched toward one another, and scripture says that is where the Lord dwelled. It makes sense that David used that imagery to evoke a feeling of safety, since under the wings is where you find God himself. 

I like the imagery for that reason, but also for the fact that when I imagine myself under God’s wing, I know I’m covered, shielded, and protected. An enemy can’t see me if I’m under there. A storm can’t drench me if I’m under there. I imagine the warmth and the safety. It’s a good place to be!

I read this scripture during worship in our church service on Mother’s Day: “I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name” (Psalm 61:4-5). I became overcome with emotion when I read the words “you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.” I felt such strong gratitude for the profound gift my church community is. I have greatly benefited from the heavenly heritage of parents and leaders who fear the Lord. This family has been a shelter and a safe haven for me! They have taught me so much!

Psalm 61 concludes: “Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day.” I believe it is only possible to fulfill our vows to the Lord day after day if we continue to seek refuge in him, and to do so side-by-side with our fellow servants of Jesus. We find comfort in the Lord, and we have the support, encouragement, and fellowship from our fellow saints along the way. We’re all nestled in, together, under the shelter of his wings. This is such good news for us!

"And the Survey Says..."

On Sunday, 5/8/22, Pastor Cameron preached on twelve elements of being the church. After he shared, the congregation took time to ask God, "what are two or three of these areas in which you have gifted me?" We wrote down these giftings and brought them to the foot of the 12-ft cross in the corner of the room. It was a way of saying, "God, I see where you have gifted me and I will bring this gift to the community to share it."

We see that we have many strengths in our congregation. Fellowship, Worship, Generosity, and Hospitality all were very strong, but also Prayer, Steadfastness, and Unity. There is a principle of productivity that teaches you’ll gain more by developing your strengths, so these are the areas our church should lean into and continue to see growth through these expressions of our faith.

We also need to give attention to our weaknesses, and this chart clearly points out one—Salvations. In a similar survey we did with our leaders a few years ago, evangelism was indicated as lacking in our gift mix. This led us to invite Curtis Hinds to come and teach on evangelism, which we had intended to do annually until the pandemic shut things down. Additionally, we’ve already planned to teach a series next month on “Good News - sharing the good news of the gospel through our actions, words, and by participating in global missions.” So this is an area we are intending to build.

I think an important lesson from this survey is that we can use our strengths to improve our weaknesses. Inviting people into a group that knows how to connect through fellowship, generosity, and hospitality is actually a very powerful way to share the gospel. When non-believers witness genuine worship and prayer, they can encounter God personally and are often very open to committing to follow Jesus. In John 17:21, Jesus prays that Christians “all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” And in John 13:35, Jesus says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Unity and fellowship and hospitality are all effective means of evangelism if we take the important step to invite non-Christians into our community and communicate how all of this is an outworking of accepting Jesus as Lord.

Fan the Flames

I grew up camping, and a big part of the camping experience is playing with fire! Is it just the engineer in me, or is this everyone’s experience?! Moving the firewood around to get it to burn efficiently makes me happy. Laying a new piece of wood in just the right spot shows skill. Getting the coals set for roasting hot dogs or marshmallows is a true camping art!

But there is one fire-related move that surpasses them all…fanning those roasting coals back into flames! There’s nothing like it. Just imagine it for a moment. Your family makes a fire, sets the coals, and roasts the marshmallows. Then everyone runs down to the lake for sunset. You’re the first one back after dark and the coals are all yours. You add some fresh firewood and arrange things just right. You grab a plate, frisbee, or other flame-resurrecting device nearby and start fanning at the base of the fire. You fan hard and fast for a few seconds. Then you pull back and watch the flames jump up off the coals. What a satisfying feeling as the warmth of the fire washes over you!

The Apostle Paul writes as a mentor to Timothy and draws on the flame-fanning metaphor to encourage him. He acknowledges Timothy’s sincere faith. And he encourages Timothy to fan the gift of God into flames in his life (2 Timothy 1:6).

Maybe you and I need the same encouragement today. Maybe we have sincere faith like Timothy. But maybe, like Timothy, we need a flame-fanning season in our spiritual life. Maybe there are gifts in us just waiting for a little fanning to burst into fervent flame. Maybe the prophetic words spoken over us just need a little fanning to come to life. Maybe now is the time we catch on fire for Jesus like never before.

In Acts chapter 2, Jesus’ followers were gathered together, there was a mighty rushing wind, flames of fire, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Let’s follow their example. Let’s gather and look for what God wants to do. Let’s fan our flames! Let’s be filled with the Holy Spirit! And let’s live with purpose the life we are called to in our savior Jesus Christ.

"Do Not Be Afraid"

The Israelites were entering the Promised Land, led by Joshua after Moses their longtime leader had died. They battled five Amorite kings at the same time and, in a massive victory, conquered the combined Amorite armies. Joshua told the people, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight" (Joshua 10:25).

This was almost verbatim what the Lord had told Joshua when he was inaugurated as leader of the people of Israel: “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them” (Joshua 1:5-6).

From this we see that Joshua fully believed the words that he heard from the Lord and had integrated that prophetic promise into his life, to the degree that he spoke it out to those he was leading. I think there is a lesson in this. We also need to hear from the Lord through prayer, Bible study, rhema words, and our conscience, to the degree that it becomes evident in our lives that we are living out the word spoken over us. Then we are to take from what God has told us and share it with others. The courage and encouragement Joshua received from the Lord he shared with the rest of God’s people. In the same way, we can share testimonies from things we have overcome in our lives and promises God has spoken to us to encourage others. 

Thankfully, we are not called to physical warfare as the Old Testament Israelites were when they were clearing the land promised to Abraham from those that inhabited it. This is made extremely clear in Scripture: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). But we are nevertheless in a very real war. In fact, the warfare we wage is all the more difficult because it is a spiritual war and it is often hard to realize the battles we are facing. We need to be strong and courageous, just as Joshua and the Israelites needed to. And we have the opportunity and responsibility to encourage one another in this struggle with the words and promises God has given us. Encouragement is a powerful weapon—let us all learn how to use it well!

Easter Awe

Many of us have heard the beautiful story of Easter year after year. God gifted his precious son to die in our place, be raised from the dead, and provide a way for us to have our sins forgiven and restore our relationship with Heavenly Father. It's absolutely wonderful! 

This year I'm pondering how wild this circumstance was and how it might have felt to experience it for the first time over 2,000 years ago. I was inspired to revisit a poem I wrote a few years back.

I invite you to reflect upon Easter with renewed awe along with me...

No one could have imagined it.
No one could have fathomed it.
No one could have dreamed up such a harsh, audacious plan.
How about the God Of Heaven come and die for man?
How shocking and unthinkable such an ask would be!
No human would have thought up such absurdity:
“King of Kings, please leave your throne, come live here as a man!
O, and live a sinless life, ‘cause we need a spotless lamb.
Then die the most agonizing, painful, bloody way,
With the weight of every sin upon you alone to pay.
After torture of the cross brings your life here to an end,
Confusion and deepest sorrow consuming every friend,
Being placed inside a tomb won't conclude your story,
God will resurrect you, alive again in glory!
Jesus, would you do that, pay the consequence for sin?
Then we could all be close to you, healed, forgiven.
Yes, that plan sounds great to me.
Are you up for it, God Almighty?”

“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)

You see, only God, who is love, could have dreamed up this harsh, audacious plan. It is laughable to think a human could have come up with this magnificent restoration/rescue mission. Love knew it was the only way that would work to rescue us. So Love dreamed it up and Love did it! That’s Easter! And my awe is renewed yet again.

Resurrection Hope

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

The word hope is used in our day more like wish, as in “I hope this works out.” It expresses a desired outcome but no assurance. But in the Bible, it means something quite different. The Greek word can be translated as “confident expectation.” The hope we have in Christ is a confident expectation, an assurance that in the end we have an inheritance that will never fade away and cannot be taken away. This confidence enables us to endure the hardships and the times of uncertainty we face in our daily lives. 

There are very few things in life in which we can have confidence. If the last few years have taught us anything, it is that institutions and ideas that may have formerly been held secure are not anywhere near as stable or trustworthy as we may have believed. When I was in England, I was explaining to some friends that throughout my life the recommendations of the CDC were considered trustworthy and the best advice medically available. But throughout the pandemic, that assurance has been obliterated. Another example might be that the assurance we had in our judicial system and the election process has been seriously eroded as they are being challenged by seemingly every side. Our economy is another example. No one seems to be able to define what “The Great Resignation” is, let alone how to overcome it and the other breakdowns we are seeing economically. 

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:19-20). Paul, like Peter in the passage above, directs our hope to the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus overcame every obstacle, even death, to rise from the grave. This is our “Living Hope.” Christ is alive, and that fact is able—through faith—to infuse every circumstance in our lives with hope. Not wishful thinking, nor positive thoughts, but a confident expectation that in and through everything this life throws at us, we know that we, like Jesus, will rise to a life eternal, free from sin, sickness, Satan, breakdown, burnout, brokenness, oppression, injustice, and every form of suffering. We have HOPE because Jesus LIVES!

Divine Face Time

“Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. … So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.” (Exodus 33:7-11)

Wow. Can you imagine experiencing what this verse describes? A tent set up dedicated to talking with God. Everyone who sought the Lord would go to this tent. When Moses entered the tent, God’s cloud of glory would be visible above it. Moses and God would talk face to face, like friends. What would you give to have a turn in the tent of meeting? What would you pay to listen in on God and Moses, and even speak to God and hear from Him personally as well? What was special about Moses? Why did God give him this special privilege, this respect, and not others? 

Well, the truth is, there wasn’t anything special about Moses. He wasn’t sinless; in fact, he had murdered a man in Egypt and then fled to escape the authorities. He spent his life hiding in the desert and apparently had a speech impediment. We see from Scripture that he often was angry, overwhelmed, and frustrated. Many theologians believe he would have been diagnosed with depression or at least an anxiety disorder if he were alive today. Yet God showed up when he went to the tent of meeting. 

The truth is, “There is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:11, KJV); or from a more modern translation, “God does not show favoritism.” (NLT). Just because the Bible says that God talked to Moses like a friend doesn’t imply that God doesn’t talk to others in the same way. 2 Corinthians 3:8 says that the glory, ministry, and access we have to God in the new covenant far exceeds what Moses had in his day. You and I have access to far more of God than Moses did. Do you believe this? Does your prayer life reflect this truth? Are you taking time in the tent of meeting to talk with God?  

We now have a “tent of meeting” time before our church services to gather with other believers and pray. Will you pay the price to enter the tent? The price of getting up earlier and getting to church. The price of praying with others. The price of praying aloud. The price of expending time, energy, and expectation, so that God’s glory will show up. Saints, let’s not miss this opportunity to get some “face time” with the Lord!

Transformation Takes Effort

Ephesians 4:21-24: “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

Oh, what joy to become new again! We all know that the work of salvation is nothing that we do but is only by His grace. But the life of a Christian doesn’t stop there. We are to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. In verse 24 of the passage above, it says we are to “put on [our] new nature.” That means we are to take action. 

Throughout Scripture, we learn that we are to continue to change to become more like Jesus. We are called to be active in the process of our transformation. 

Ephesians 4:3 tells us to “make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” And again, in Hebrews 12:14, we are to “work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” Our relationship with others matters to God. We need to actively pursue peace with others. In doing so, we are transformed. 

In 2 Timothy 3:15, it says to “work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive approval. Be a good worker.” God cares about our work life as it also affects our spiritual life. 

Even in times of rest, we are called to actively pursue it.  Hebrews 4:11 says “so let’s do our best to enter that rest.” We need to plan our Sabbath rest times and make them happen.

And while we are waiting for the Lord’s return, we are instructed in 2 Peter 3:14 to “make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight.”

Our salvation is free! We don’t have to work for it; however, we do have to work at our transformation. We are called to become more and more like Jesus. What are you doing to heed His call?

Align My Heart With Yours

I’ve been contemplating three things Jesus said in the book of Matthew and how they may connect.  

Matthew 9:36 
36 And what pity he felt for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know what to do or where to go for help. 

I picture Jesus walking into any crowded area today.  No doubt he would have compassion for the crowds “because their problems were so great and they didn’t know what to do or where to go for help”.  Abuse, betrayal, death, depression, divorce, no love, no purpose, unemployment—the list goes on.   

Matthew 22:37-38
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

How can the second commandment about loving our neighbor be “equally important”?  Other translations say the second commandment is “like the first.”  Could the connection be that it is through loving our neighbor that we love God?  

Matthew 25:44-45
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’  45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’”

How easy it is for me to live my life ignoring the hurts and problems of all those around me.  I can attend church and read my Bible, and then check loving God off my to-do list while completely missing the heart of Jesus.  How many times have I ignored the practical, emotional, physical, spiritual, mental, and financial needs of others?  I think of my own problems and I talk to God about all my issues while ignoring the people that Jesus clearly is calling me to love.

Jesus, forgive me for not loving my neighbor.  I pray to the Lord of the harvest and ask you to align my heart with yours so that I may love the refugee, the prisoner, the foreigner, the orphan, the widow, the poor, the downtrodden, the neglected, and the ignored.  Teach me what it means to love my neighbor and, in turn, teach me what it means to love you.

Harvest Alliance

“From Christ the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love,” Ephesians 4:16. The church is often compared to a physical body and each of us are like parts of that body. “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12. Every part has a unique function and the body is dependent upon each part doing its share in order to be whole and healthy.

In the same way an individual needs to be part of a church body, churches need to belong to a larger network or affiliation. To continue the metaphor, if a local church is a body, that body must belong to a community. Isolation as an individual or as a local church is not healthy. We need one another to thrive. 

Harvest Alliance (H.A.) is an international network of churches and ministries pursuing revival. It was founded in 2019 after our former association, Partners In Harvest, was dissolved. At the time this was very difficult for me. I had invested 20 years into, and was involved in the top leadership of Partners. But circumstances beyond my control led to its dissolution. Now I believe that in order for growth to happen it requires a new “wineskin” or organizational structure. Harvest Alliance continues with the same F.I.R.E. values we have held dear - Father heart of God; Intimacy with God and others; Restoration of our heart, soul, mind, and body; and Equipping through the Holy Spirit. 

Unlike Partners which was a top down hierarchical leadership, Harvest Alliance is a true alliance of churches and groups of churches working together. God is far from finished and as a church and a network of churches we are called to chase after that to which God has called us. Harvest Alliance has over 60 churches in 9 nations and is growing.

Our sister churches in Vandalia and South Carolina are also members of Harvest Alliance. We gain a great deal of strength, encouragement, and resources from being linked together with a larger expression of the Body of Christ. Throughout the past two years we have conducted monthly meetings via Zoom to equip and encourage the leaders of churches. In October 2021 we held our first in person gathering in England. In February we held a retreat hosted by New Day S.C. My trip to Turkey to support our sister church there is supported through Harvest Alliance. And on the way back I will spend 4 days in England at an H.A. leadership conference. It is an honor to be part of this vibrant growing affiliation. Find out more at www.harvestalliance.org.

Jesus is the Way

I have been really edified with the daily reading and commentary from the Bible in a Year podcast. I keep finding myself moved by the Holy Spirit. I’ve been impacted routinely, and I have been filled with great thankfulness and appreciation as I read (or hear) Jesus’ words. He is so wise and so compassionate. He is SO REAL. Hearing his assurances, over and over, to his disciples is bringing me a lot of peace, even in the mist of some challenges and trials in the current season of life.

How often, when we are going through a challenging time, do we wonder what the Lord could possibly be up to? It is hard to wait on the Lord when we really need an answer to prayer! We desperately want to know what is happening, and how he is going to come through for us. Sometimes we can’t see him working in the middle of the circumstance or situation. We ask, “Where are you, Lord?!”

In John 14, Jesus is speaking to his disciples and telling them that he is going to prepare a place for them, and tells them they’ll know the way to the place where he is going. Thomas responds that they definitely don’t know where he is going, nor the way to get there. In answer, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

I think Jesus is saying that we actually don’t have to know the way. We have to know WHO the way is. If we follow Jesus closely, walking with him daily, we don’t really have to know the exact destination or how long it’s going to take to get there. But we can know HIM, and the more we know him, the greater the sense of peace we’ll have, waiting on the answers to our prayers. He is WITH us.

So, friends, keep reading his word to learn about his character. Keep listening to his assurances contained therein. Keep talking to him and seeking him in prayer. Grow in knowing Him, and he’ll keep leading the way by being your Way. 

“War and Rumors of War”

As a child I remember watching the daily reports of the Vietnam War. My brothers and I often played army, even receiving matching army uniforms for Christmas one year.  I recall the many years of the Cold War when the Western nations opposed the Soviet nations in a constant push for influence. I recall vividly in 1980 when the Soviet Union sent troops into Poland attempting to crush the fledgling Solidarity movement. That eventually led to a free Poland and the end of the Soviet Union. I recall the 1980s Falklands War when Britain battled Argentina over territories. I remember the Eastern European and African wars in the ‘90s. 

I met a man in Thailand while doing street evangelism who was blind in one eye. When he found out I was an American, he told me the story of being a young soldier in Bosnia. He was overtaken by an enemy soldier and they wrestled to the ground. The enemy pinned him to the ground and removed one eye. Then, in an act of mercy, they left his other eye intact and him lying in the field. He was crying when he told me this story. He was extremely grateful to the USA, as we sent military aid to end that conflict. President Bill Clinton was his hero because the aid was sent during Clinton’s term. 

Those old enough cannot forget the powerful images of the tragic attack of 9/11 in 2001, which plunged our nation and many others into a decades-long battle against terrorism. I have seen war, from a distance, far too often in my short life. This past week, war erupted again as Russia invaded Ukraine. I’ve been to Ukraine. I have friends who live there, and there are churches at which I have ministered. Again we see the images of suffering and destruction in the news reports. 

Jesus said in Matthew 24:6, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Because this is in a chapter in which Jesus discusses His return, many mistake that war is a sign of the end. Jesus actually says the opposite when He states, “See that you are not troubled … the end is not yet.” In other words, wars and rumors of wars are and have always been a constant in human history. Until Christ returns as the Prince of Peace, the world will be at war. 

As Christ-followers, we should not be overcome with fear or become complacent. We are on a mission from our commander-in-chief, Jesus, to influence those around us with the message of hope. We have the weapons of the gospel. As we communicate the truth of Jesus and the promise of salvation, we can change lives which results in a changed world. We have the mighty power of prayer to call upon God’s mercy to end suffering and injustice and to deliver those in need. Each of us can do our part if we remain faithful.

Travel & Missions

As a boy I dreamed of traveling the world. I loved geography and social studies, as we studied how people around the world lived. I devoured every issue of National Geographic magazine I could get my hands on. I was 40 when I finally was able to travel to another country (not counting Toronto). My first trip was to Japan for the dedication of the new building for our sister church Every Nation Izu. It was an amazing trip and it opened my eyes to the world.

Another trip that fundamentally changed how I saw the world was to Morocco, a Muslim nation in northern Africa. We stayed with an indiginous Berber family in the High Atlas mountains. It's difficult to describe how simply these people lived. Their houses were constructed of layers of mud and straw. But they were not mud huts. They were nice homes, large with many rooms and incredibly clean. They had absolutely no furniture, and would cook on a fire built on the floor. Once cooking was done, the fire was removed and the area cleaned up as though it had never happened. The food was amazing. There were raised platforms with mats used for beds, and we sat on mats for meals. On the way home I purchased the National Geographic magazine for that month. The cover story was about the Berber tribes in the High Atlas mountains. I was actually there, in the very region the current issue of National Geographic magazine was featuring—a childhood dream fulfilled.

Jesus said, in Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” When Jesus said this to his disciples on the mountain, it was beyond the capabilities of his listeners. Jesus’ command was not just to the 11, but to all his followers, including you and me. They did manage to travel great distances. Peter made it to Rome, where he was martyred. Paul is believed to have gone as far as Spain. Others traveled throughout northern Africa. Thomas traveled the farthest, reaching India. To this day, the church in India recognizes the Apostle Thomas as its founder, and I have met a man who is an ordained pastor from that denomination.

I am fortunate to go to the nations for short-term missions. Others devote their lives long-term to missions. But all of us can help fulfill the call by supporting financially. Before every missions trip I’ve taken, I did not have the finances when I made the decision. I decided it was right, and then believed God for the provision for the vision. In March, I need to travel to a region where the church is currently under oppression. I will share about this on Sunday 2/27. In addition to providing for my travel, I feel called to bring a generous gift to both the new pastors of the church, and a gift to the church. This church is incredibly effective at ministering to those who have never heard the gospel before, even though the church has suffered greatly. Please prayerfully consider financially supporting this endeavor as we work together to fulfill the Great Commission by indicating an amount to “March Mission” on your offering.