GOD, WILL YOU DO THE IMPOSSIBLE?

Matthew 19:26 (NLT)

Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible."

Mission impossible for me has always been to move to this city where we knew practically no one, with practically no money or formal training in church planting and plant this church. Our vision was to be in the interior of Vegas, not on the outer edges where the more affluent people almost always live. Our first several months we met in a hotel meeting room near paradise & twain. If you look at most thriving churches they normally go to the suburbs of the city to where new growth is taking place and wealthier families go to escape the brokeness that often accompanies life closer the to center of town. Our dream was to go into it not away from it. We have faced every kind of challenge along the way-spiritual attack, physical exhaustion, relational heartache, and financial hardship. Each time God has seen us through. So you would think that now I am totally filled with faith to face any challenge right? Not exactly!

If I were honest with you, I would admit that I have wrestled with doubt a lot lately. Once again our church has come upon very hard financial times. 4 straight weeks of deficit giving has left us at the breaking point. I have seen this several times before but this current financial climate in our country has turned this challenge into "my mountain" or my "mission impossible". I know how hard many of our people are struggling right now.

Just yesterday I was speaking with a man in our church who manages a fine dining restraunt in Vegas and he told me in tough times the first thing to go in people's budgets is eating out. Just then I could almost hear they voice of they enemy saying, "No. It is not eating out, it is giving. Your church isn't going to make it this time". He wants me to believe that people don't care about God's church. He wants me to believe that people will lose faith, that they will get nervous and hold tightly to what they think is thiers. He wants me to think that we will have to close the doors. Will I believe these lies and allow a sense of defeat to settle in on me? NO!

God will somehow get us through. Last night about 40 people gathered and prayed for unity in our body. I am praying that God will give us "one heart" in our giving. I am asking you to believe God for the "impossible" in this journey as we continue to build a church where many said it could not be done. It was impossible ten years ago when we started and it is still impossible now.

GOD, WILL YOU DO THE IMPOSSIBLE?

Today is dedicated to the Lord

Today we practice unity by devoting the entire day to Him. We fast and pray until tonight. We gather at 6:30 for prayer and heart-felt worship unto God. I am looking forward to seeing you. Is anybody hungry yet? Jesus said that peaople are blessed when they hunger and thirst for God...they shall be filled. May you be filled with His Holy Spirit all day today and may tonight be a time of refreshing and renewal for all of us as we learn even more what it means to seek God together. Bring some food too!!!!!!!!!!

Fasting together

Here are some practical fasting guidelines:

FASTING GUIDELINES
FOCUS
Fasting is a spiritual discipline designed to better connect us with God. Our motive for fasting should always be to deepen our relationship with God and walk in agreement with His plan and purpose for our life. When fasting from food we are substituting our regular food intake with time with God (prayer, journaling, Bible reading, etc.). God uses our time of fasting and prayer to make us more aware of His presence and more sensitive to His leading. Our goal should be to develop a genuine hunger for intimacy with God.

Be specific about why you are fasting.
Begin a fasting journal by recording your reasons for fasting. Is it for breakthrough in you own life or in the life of a loved one? Is it to seek the Lord for physical or emotional healing? Do you need to hear God concerning major decisions to be made? Or, maybe you are seeking deliverance from an addiction or life-controlling problem.

Decide the type of fast.
Fasting is a spiritual commitment to God to abstain from something that is a normal part of your life in order to focus more on connecting with Him. Decide what, when and how long you will fast. For example, Daniel fasted from eating the King’s rich foods and wine (Daniel 1:8) and ate a vegetarian diet. Some people make fasting a part of their lifestyle by fasting one day or one meal each week. Seek God’s direction on how long and the type of fast. If you realize that you’re spending too much time watching TV or playing video games, it would make sense to fast from these activities and spend this time with God or as He directs.

Plan ahead and prepare for your fast.
1) If you are choosing to do a partial food fast or a juice fast, then you will need to make different food choices and make purchases ahead of time. If you are fasting from all food for more than a day, be sure to clear this with your physician. Always take into consideration the condition of your health and how the fast will affect you.

2) Make a commitment of your time and decide how and when you will spend time alone with God. You may want to do a Bible study on a certain topic or book. Journaling is always recommended so that you can record your thoughts and the insights God gives you.

3) Decide the best time to start and how long you will fast. Check your calendar and plan ahead how you will handle social activities and family meal times.

4) Inform only those individuals who need to know; such as, spouse and/or accountability partner. Remember, fasting is between you and God. It is a spiritual commitment to seek God as the most important relationship in your life and your true source of strength, wisdom, peace, healing and joy.

As you fast, spend quality time with God in prayer.
Each time you are hungry or long for the thing that you have given up, turn your heart to God and relate to Him instead. Remind yourself that your real hunger is to know God and depend on Him to sustain and satisfy you.

1) Be real with God. Tell Him whatever is going on inside you that you can identify. Be honest about how you are experiencing God right then. Do you see Him as a vending machine, a frowning father, a distant, cold force? Or, as a gloriously strong and intimate friend?

2) Remove hindrances. Ask God to reveal anything that would hinder your fully connecting with Him. Put into words whatever makes you uncomfortable or embarrassed when you are real with God (write this in your journal). Confess any sins of attitude, behavior or omission that come to mind and ACCEPT GOD’S TOTAL FORGIVENESS.

3) Approach God as the “first thing” in your life;. Seek Him as your most treasured and needed relationship; the person you want to know more than anyone else. Acknowledge that you have placed other people and things above Him and that you long to desire God more than anything else on earth.

4) Worship God for who He is and not just His earthly blessings.Worship is surrendering all that we are to Him so that He can express His life through us. It is desiring that God’s will be done on earth (in you) as it is in heaven.

5) Seek God’s vision and purpose for your life. Ask God to put His desires in your heart for all that He has planned for your life. Let go of selfish expectations and agendas.

6) Spend time meditating on God’s Word. Ask God to build your faith on His Word instead of on your circumstances and/or feelings. Try personalizing and praying scripture. The Psalms can be very helpful in expressing your deep feelings, needs and trust in God. (see Psalm 16, 23, 25, 27,34, 37, 51, 62, 103, 145)

7) Pray for yourself and others. While fasting, it is easier to hear God and pray according to His will instead of our own understanding. Be available to intercede for others as God brings people to mind. This is also a great time to take authority over the schemes of the evil one and reclaim any areas that you have, knowingly or unknowingly, given-over to him.

Yield all results to God.
We don’t always see immediate results during of our fast. However, God is always using this time to prepare us for what lies ahead. Remember, the goal is to know God better and trust Him more. Thank Him in advance for whatever you are desiring from Him. As you end your fast, stand on His promises and the things He has revealed to you during your fast. If you make fasting a regular part of your relationship with God, you’ll be amazed at how deep and rich your time with Him will become.

Make us one

I don't know about you but I have never seen so much need, so much hurt and so much uncertainty in the world at one time. I am sure that there have been much worse times but I sense something is coming on the horizon. I am concerned about the strength of the church during times like these. We are so divided. A hundred different denominations and a thousand different ideas about the actual mission that Jesus gave us leaves us weakened as a church at best. Think of all the resources the church has...People, property, money, talent, passion...I could go on and on. Much of it is difused. If we could somehow come together we could completely change the world. Maybe there are times just ahead that will force us to drop the differences and rally together and be what Jesus prayed for us to be.

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:20-23

I have often had discussions with other pastors about he possibilty of partnership between churches but inevitably issues of territory and ownership get in the way. Recently I heard someone say that Satan wants churches to compete with each other but God wants churches to complete each other. The church I pastor does some things very well but there are other things we will probably never do well. I suspect the same is true of every church. What if we could just be one? Share everything with each other. What could be possible? How many could be reached? How many churches would move from one level of effectiveness to another?

I have often said that I would join our church with another church in a second if the real opportunity were to arise so we could reach & disciple more people. I mean that is the goal is it not? I long for unity in the church and hope for the opportunity to bring it about. For the next several weeks we are joining with over one thousand churches to do a message series called "One Prayer". It will be a significant time for us to stand together with others in prayer and ask God do great things. This week we pray for unity. Don't miss even one week and pray with me.
Lord, Make us one!

a recent blog I read and want to share

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:29-30

Last year, one of the runaway bestsellers in the book world was Conn and Hal Iggulden’s, The Dangerous Book For Boys. The instant classic relates tales of historical heroes, tells how to tie knots, make a treehouse, and even how to talk with girls. It is a throwback to our grandfather’s boyhood, and is more than a great read. It is part of a reawakening that boys will never learn to be men unless they get off the couch and learn to take risk, try new things, and get dirty.

In an interview with Amazon.com, one of the authors comments on the book:

Amazon: Clearly, you tapped into something big. What do you think it was?

Iggulden: In a word, fathers. I am one myself and I think we’ve become aware that the whole “health and safety” overprotective culture isn’t doing our sons any favors. Boys need to learn about risk. They need to fall off things occasionally, or–and this is the important bit–they’ll take worse risks on their own. If we do away with challenging playgrounds and cancel school trips for fear of being sued, we don’t end up with safer boys–we end up with them walking on train tracks. In the long run, it’s not safe at all to keep our boys in the house with a Playstation. It’s not good for their health or their safety.

You only have to push a boy on a swing to see how much he enjoys the thrill of danger. It’s hard-wired. Remove any opportunity to test his courage and they’ll find ways to test themselves that will be seriously dangerous for everyone around them.

I know this is true. If the church or parents do not give kids, and boys specifically, dangerous things to do, they will end up in trouble. Even Christian kids need to take risks and try new things. They need to take challenges, get uncomfortable, and feel a rush of adrenaline. I believe that God made them this way. And I believe He made them this way for the sake of the gospel.
Let’s face it, the gospel is not for wimps. And the means the real Dangerous Book is the Bible. My friend and fellow pastor has been reading lately to his 5-year old son, and he has been soaking it up. What adventure novel have they been perusing together? The Old Testament. Something resonates in us men when we read stories of men who were real men, and especially men who were real missionaries or martyrs, for this is who we have been called to be.

In another marvelous book called Trials and Triumphs by Richard Hannula, my family has found stories of Polycarp, Augustine, Luther and Bunyan … men who were chased down, imprisoned, persecuted and martyred for their faith. And these stories have resonated in our souls.

We are all created for danger because following Christ in a world gone mad is dangerous. We are made to take risks because the gospel is risky. We are attracted to challenges because the Great Commission is challenging. And God made us this way.

So, as a dad, I teach my kids that sharing the gospel is their responsibility, and mine. We endure hardship at times in order that others might hear about Jesus. We give up creature comforts to share with those less fortunate. And we are teaching them that the goal of school is not to train them to make a lot of money or get a good job after college, but that they might be equipped to serve their King in His work of redemption.

The rise of sensitivity training and lack of training for “dangerous duty” is why so many people stay home from church when they have a cold. And why Sunday School teachers call in sick because “they’re not feeling well” every other week. Or why people get their feelings hurt and quit. Or why church members tell you they cannot serve because they need to take a season (more like a year or two) of rest. I know there are exceptions, but in a general sense, I say to that: “rest when you get to heaven.” God does not need a church of wimps and whiners. He needs a church of heroes. That is who He made us to be.

So suck it up. Go to the park and walk off the asphalt path. Play with BB guns (I gave my son one today for his birthday) and slingshots (you’ll shoot yer eye out, kid), learn to hunt and fish and clean what you catch, buy the book, Last Child in the Woods, and read about Nature-deficit disorder. And most importantly, read to your kids from the Dangerous Book. Take them with you when sharing the gospel. Fill your homes with people who need Jesus. Stuff tracts in all the “atheism” books at Barnes & Noble (we do this frequently - try it, its fun and dangerous). And prepare your hearts, parents, that someday your children might be missionaries instead of masters of the universe, martyrs for the gospel instead of dying the slow death of self-indulgent, self-worshiping consumers.

And be glad.

February 1st, 2008 by Roger Ferrell

The fairest of them all

Deep in the heart of every young girl and every woman is a lingering question: Am I beautiful? Am I worthy of pursuit? Is there one who will see me and be captivated by my feminine qualities? Woman have the desire to be seen as beautiful. It has been describes as the feminine ache. It aches because women rarely feel that way.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) 11 God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

Everything has a time to be beautiful. And every woman has the opportunity to reflect God’s beauty. Beauty has incredible power both for good and evil. One woman’s beauty was said to be so powerful that an entire war was fought to win her heart. She had the “face that launched a thousand ships”. In our movie “The Incredibles” we see two young women: Violet & Mirage. I say we see them-sometimes we do and sometimes we don’t. Violet’s super power enables her to become invisible if she wants. And at first that is what she wants. But it is not from a place of strength but weakness. Like many girls, she insecure about her appearance and often hides who she is out of fear of rejection. Mirage shows you an exterior quite confidently-or so it appears, but what you think you see is not real. It is more a sudective and manipulative exterior designed to get men to look at her and be brought under her power. Both women have power and both struggle with how to use it.

Beauty is powerful. Physical beauty has its power but inner beauty is even more powerful.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 (MSG) 9 And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions 10 but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it.

Violet's beauty emerges when she is released to be who she is and makes a significant contribution to the fight. I believe this is true for women in real life as well. Gifted, confident women who cloth themselves in the purposes of God are the fairest of them all.

incredible weather-incredible times?

Has anybody taken note of all this weather? A cyclone kills 100,000 in Myanmar, tornados bring death to the midwest, floods on the east coast, wild fires on the west, and a devastating earthquake in china with a rising death toll over 10,000-all happening in a week. I've not even mentioned the financial storms or the potential storms of violence/war/terrorism that could happen at any moment. These are at least interesting times. I wonder about these times and the potential correlation to things written by the prophets and apostles. I wonder about the world my son will grow to be a man in. I also wonder about the church and whether she is prepared to stand and be the light of Jesus through these times. Maybe this season of history will call forth something incredible from us-maybe like generations past we will answer the call supernatural love of Jesus Christ. May we be empowered for these days!

Ephesians 1:19 (NLT) 19 I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him...