God keeps revisiting this theme in my life. He is impressing upon me that we are too easily satisfied. It's like a person invited to a banquet, who comes in, takes a cube of celery (nothing against celery, but I'm not persuaded that it has any significant nutritional value) and leaves saying, "I'm full. No need to eat any more." I'm praying for hunger for God like David expresses in the Psalms. "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?" (Ps. 42:2ESV) Or "I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land." (Ps. 143:6) "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." (Ps. 63:1 ESV) Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matt 5:6 ESV) Father, give us hunger for you.
For those keeping track, my departure from N. CA has been delayed one week. I'll leave Monday, March 8, for S. CA.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Conference
Last weekend had the privilege of accompanying my friend Andrew, who lives here at the house, and our friend Mari to a "School of Healing and Impartation" Conference in Camarillo, CA. (Thanks for driving, Andrew) Featured speakers included Randy Clark, Bill Johnson of Bethel in Redding, CA. Randy Hoague, Tom Jones, and Will Taylor. This is the first time I had encountered any of these men in person. We came midway of the second day, just in time for the panel to respond to a series of questions written down previously by conference attendees. These ranged from A to Z. What struck me most was not their responses per se, but the humorous tenor of their replies. Each one showed a sense of humor, often self-deprecating. I am encouraged when leaders/teachers don't take themselves too seriously.
Over the remainder of that day & most of the next I heard each of these men speak. Although none would qualify as a Bible teacher, based on what I heard, each brought forceful, pertinent testimony and cogent thoughts with allusions to the Word. The audience, averaging perhaps four hundred, was quite responsive. At the end of most of these sessions there were times of prayer, which many desired. As it happened I traveled to the conference in the third day of a worsening illness, which included fever, chills, and later a deep, raw cough & loss of voice. A number of people prayed for me over the course of time. I was not healed and am just recovering five days later.
However, the last man who prayed for me mentioned three separate things in the course of his prayer that were all true concerning me. It is important to note that I met this man sixty seconds before he commenced his prayer, my companions did not know these three things nor could he have guessed them by looking at me. He did not say anything that was incorrect. So coincidence or word of knowledge? (1 Cor 12:8) I did hear testimony of dramatic healing albeit only one or two cases.
We paid $35 per day for the conference, an offering was taken, and a separate room contained tables of books, CD's etc. for sale. Of course only the conference fee was compulsory.
In 1 Cor 12, beginning in verse 12 Paul compares the believers to a physical body. If this part of the body is a knee or an arm does that mean they aren't necessary? As stated before in this blog I believe in gleaning. If it is necessary to have spotless doctrine before we can receive from anyone then we will receive from no one. Jesus makes it clear that He desires fruit in our lives. (John 15) So while I am not interested in becoming a Word of Faith devotee, I wish to respond to the Holy Spirit.
Over the remainder of that day & most of the next I heard each of these men speak. Although none would qualify as a Bible teacher, based on what I heard, each brought forceful, pertinent testimony and cogent thoughts with allusions to the Word. The audience, averaging perhaps four hundred, was quite responsive. At the end of most of these sessions there were times of prayer, which many desired. As it happened I traveled to the conference in the third day of a worsening illness, which included fever, chills, and later a deep, raw cough & loss of voice. A number of people prayed for me over the course of time. I was not healed and am just recovering five days later.
However, the last man who prayed for me mentioned three separate things in the course of his prayer that were all true concerning me. It is important to note that I met this man sixty seconds before he commenced his prayer, my companions did not know these three things nor could he have guessed them by looking at me. He did not say anything that was incorrect. So coincidence or word of knowledge? (1 Cor 12:8) I did hear testimony of dramatic healing albeit only one or two cases.
We paid $35 per day for the conference, an offering was taken, and a separate room contained tables of books, CD's etc. for sale. Of course only the conference fee was compulsory.
In 1 Cor 12, beginning in verse 12 Paul compares the believers to a physical body. If this part of the body is a knee or an arm does that mean they aren't necessary? As stated before in this blog I believe in gleaning. If it is necessary to have spotless doctrine before we can receive from anyone then we will receive from no one. Jesus makes it clear that He desires fruit in our lives. (John 15) So while I am not interested in becoming a Word of Faith devotee, I wish to respond to the Holy Spirit.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Maturing
Seven days of illness, fever, chills and a deep hacking cough, have slowed me down some but God continues faithful. I am excited about e-mail contact with a brother Felix, who is planting house churches in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I am thankful that I am seeing God more clearly in my life, and in those around me.
In previous posts I have mentioned a brother named Marvin a number of times. He regards me as a spiritual father. (1 Cor. 4:15) I regard this role as one of the greatest privileges I have in Christ. While I attended a conference in Southern CA, which I intend to blog about in my next post, his 22 year old son died in an automobile accident. Marvin's first thought was to find me. When I wasn't around he made a mistake. Through this God taught him a crucial, indispensable lesson. Humans have limitations, are not always available, will disappoint us. God will never leave us or forsake us." (Hebrews 13:5) God is always available, always wants to hears from us. He has infinite resources; man has puny ones.
God may choose to minister through people but He alone can meet our needs. The lack of a deep, trusting, intimate, growing personal relationship with God is the source of much dysfunction within the Body of Christ. People latch on to a person, often draining them dry, or put someone on a pedestal. Their inevitable fall causes much pain and sorrow.
In previous posts I have mentioned a brother named Marvin a number of times. He regards me as a spiritual father. (1 Cor. 4:15) I regard this role as one of the greatest privileges I have in Christ. While I attended a conference in Southern CA, which I intend to blog about in my next post, his 22 year old son died in an automobile accident. Marvin's first thought was to find me. When I wasn't around he made a mistake. Through this God taught him a crucial, indispensable lesson. Humans have limitations, are not always available, will disappoint us. God will never leave us or forsake us." (Hebrews 13:5) God is always available, always wants to hears from us. He has infinite resources; man has puny ones.
God may choose to minister through people but He alone can meet our needs. The lack of a deep, trusting, intimate, growing personal relationship with God is the source of much dysfunction within the Body of Christ. People latch on to a person, often draining them dry, or put someone on a pedestal. Their inevitable fall causes much pain and sorrow.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Santa Cruz "Advance"
Returned earlier today from an "advance," (I'm reluctant to call it a retreat) in Santa Cruz, CA with the San Francisco Bay area house church. Ten adults and two children participated in their first advance as a group. They are blessed with a number of people gifted in facilitating worship and we enjoyed several times of praise and prayer. I had the privilege of offering some reflections on singleness and marriage from a Scriptural perspective. I'm sensing that this group, which originated approximately two years ago, is entering a new season, which will see both growth in numbers and increased hunger to know God more deeply. I look forward with great anticipation to see what God will do in and with them in the months and years to come.
Am reading a Christian classic, J. I. Packer's "Knowing God," which I never quite got around to before. We also look forward to the visit of our brother Brian Anderson and other believers from a house church in Sacramento this coming Sunday. Two weeks from today I hit the road again and head south and east towards an eventual return to New England sometime in May, God willing.
"To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen." (Romans 16:27 ESV)
"To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Philippians 4:20ESV)
"To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude v. 25 ESV)
Am reading a Christian classic, J. I. Packer's "Knowing God," which I never quite got around to before. We also look forward to the visit of our brother Brian Anderson and other believers from a house church in Sacramento this coming Sunday. Two weeks from today I hit the road again and head south and east towards an eventual return to New England sometime in May, God willing.
"To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen." (Romans 16:27 ESV)
"To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Philippians 4:20ESV)
"To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude v. 25 ESV)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
House of Cards
Way back in my senior year of high school I took a course in economics by a Mr. Herring, one of the best teachers I ever had. To my surprise, my sense at the conclusion of the year was that the world economic system was a house of cards. Decades later I have no reason to change that view. I am not a prophet so I am not predicting anything but I do have the strong impression that only God is holding this whole thing together, and He could let it crash at any time. I am not advocating physical preparation such as precious metals or food storage (been there, done that in the 70's) that's up to you, but rather spiritual preparation. If the whole thing does come tumbling down it should provide the best opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lifetimes. So let's not wait for something that may or may not occur but get to work now.
Some verses on the love of God.
"This is my beloved Son; listen to him." (Mark 9:7)
"For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God." (John 16:27)
Jesus prays "that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26)
Nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 8:39)
"Finally brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV)
Some verses on the love of God.
"This is my beloved Son; listen to him." (Mark 9:7)
"For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God." (John 16:27)
Jesus prays "that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26)
Nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 8:39)
"Finally brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV)
Monday, February 8, 2010
Tunnel Vision
The first twelve years of my Christian journey were spent in a ministry that arose out of the Jesus People Movement of the early 1970's. I joined within a few months of its beginning. I did everything within the group- working in ministry businesses, living communally, finding friends, going to church. It amazes me how quickly we developed our own traditions and ways of interpreting the Bible. We never said we were the only church but we thought we were the best and the revelations that we received superior to others. Even when the leader made a major time frame prediction, and it failed to come to pass, that didn't shake us. We had tunnel vision.
God took me out of that group many years ago. Once I became Biblically literate, I reproduced the same patterns. I said, "I live by my convictions" a thousand times over many years before God hit me with a sledgehammer in the Spirit. Now I say, "I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
In the course of my travels and interaction with sincere, genuine believers in all parts of the Body of Christ, I am struck by the wide diversity of fervently held views on everything from A to Z. (Also by the intense criticism of those with other understandings)Now if I come to you and say that Jesus is not God, or preach a different gospel (Galatians 1) then please don't listen to me. Rebuke me. But let us consider (2 Timothy 2:7) what one another has to say. Let us be teachable, which is an outgrowth of humility. (Phil 2:5-8) One need not accept 100% of what anyone has to say. Perhaps we glean only 10 or 20 per cent. I believe it imperative, especially for those in house churches, which tend to be small and isolated, to interact with the larger Body of Christ.
God took me out of that group many years ago. Once I became Biblically literate, I reproduced the same patterns. I said, "I live by my convictions" a thousand times over many years before God hit me with a sledgehammer in the Spirit. Now I say, "I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
In the course of my travels and interaction with sincere, genuine believers in all parts of the Body of Christ, I am struck by the wide diversity of fervently held views on everything from A to Z. (Also by the intense criticism of those with other understandings)Now if I come to you and say that Jesus is not God, or preach a different gospel (Galatians 1) then please don't listen to me. Rebuke me. But let us consider (2 Timothy 2:7) what one another has to say. Let us be teachable, which is an outgrowth of humility. (Phil 2:5-8) One need not accept 100% of what anyone has to say. Perhaps we glean only 10 or 20 per cent. I believe it imperative, especially for those in house churches, which tend to be small and isolated, to interact with the larger Body of Christ.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Bearing Fruit
Just finished Malachi, according to some of my friends, an Italian prophet, and with him the end of the Old Testament. As I emerge from the so-called minor prophets into the gospels, which I have read numerous times, I am acutely conscious of not wanting to read over them. I am asking God, through the Holy Spirit, to have the words of Jesus penetrate my soul and lodge in my heart so I may bear good fruit. I have a penchant for reading academic theological writing and amassing "head" knowledge. While this may have some value, it has definite limits.
God has given me the privilege of mentoring a man named Marvin who lacks formal education but had the benefit of a believing mother. As we work through the gospel of Mark together I am impressed again and again at how straightforward Jesus is. He teaches, heals, delivers, ministers in various ways. He came to serve, not to be served. (Matt. 20:28) I don't want to give Marvin factoids but to exemplify walking with Christ by applying what we read.
American Christianity seems to focus on a Sunday experience in which a highly educated, gifted person disseminates information. I hear Jesus saying to me- "Go with Marvin to his neighborhood and preach the gospel."
God has given me the privilege of mentoring a man named Marvin who lacks formal education but had the benefit of a believing mother. As we work through the gospel of Mark together I am impressed again and again at how straightforward Jesus is. He teaches, heals, delivers, ministers in various ways. He came to serve, not to be served. (Matt. 20:28) I don't want to give Marvin factoids but to exemplify walking with Christ by applying what we read.
American Christianity seems to focus on a Sunday experience in which a highly educated, gifted person disseminates information. I hear Jesus saying to me- "Go with Marvin to his neighborhood and preach the gospel."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)