Sunday Sunday (echoing voice)
It seems each week is as great as the week before. This week we were honored to have the Thrive band lead in worship and they did a superb job. Also it is always nice to have Jon Fennel with us.
What a great day!
The message yesterday has provoked some thought and I would like to talk about. Acts 2
There are so many lessons that can be learned from the birth of the first church. However I am intrigued about the action of the Holy Spirit that day and the response from the crowd.
I have been in “Pentecost” all my life and deeply believe in the power of the Living G-d. I love to see how the Holy Spirit guides, directs and even convicts sin. I also love to see the power of the Spirit in healing, miracles, words of wisdom etc.
My interest though is on the response of the crowd that day of Pentecost. If you read in Acts 2:37 the crowd that heard and saw what was going on were pierced to the heart and then asked “what shall we do?”
Wow! That is totally different than responses that you hear about today. I don’t want to even think about the number of people that have come to a Pentecostal church and seen the out pouring of the Holy Spirit and left with a vow to never come back. And most of the fearful attendees rarely darken a door of any church. Sounds a little different than Acts 2. WHY?
Did fear strike the attendee and cause her to shut down? Maybe. Or maybe he was not open to G-d. IDK. But what I do see in Acts is that the crowd was captivated that day and pierced to the heart to change.
Could it be that in this modern day of religion we have lost a sense of the Power of the Spirit? Could it be that we use the Spirit to promote our super spiritual agendas? Could it be that some of the time when we say this is a “move of the spirit” it is actual a move of the flesh? Can I as a Pentecostal person just say the Spirit made me do it with no regards to any person?
The most outstanding picture I see in Acts 2 is found in verse 41. 3000 people said yes to Jesus. Why? Because of the power of the Holy Spirit! A power that brings people in instead of running them off. A power that transcends culture, race and age. A power that unifies. A power that reaches the lost!
Any thoughts
Monday, April 20, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Need
You need people to share in the dream. I would dare to say if you can do it yourself then the dream is not big enough.
Your dream is like a canvas and you begin to draw with a pencil a rough drawing. If your dream is ever going to be something others will enjoy you need color. Family, friends and even strangers add color to your dream. Family guides you like primary colors, friends blend like secondary colors, and strangers add surprise color. Without the color you have just a rough sketch of the dream.
When others begin to share the dream it grows into something beautiful. Sometimes it grows beyond what you can even think or imagine. Let someone share in your dream.
Side note: Many shared in the dream this past Easter weekend at Stockbridge Assembly. It was a beautiful work of art!! It was more then I imagined. (Thank You Lord)
Your dream is like a canvas and you begin to draw with a pencil a rough drawing. If your dream is ever going to be something others will enjoy you need color. Family, friends and even strangers add color to your dream. Family guides you like primary colors, friends blend like secondary colors, and strangers add surprise color. Without the color you have just a rough sketch of the dream.
When others begin to share the dream it grows into something beautiful. Sometimes it grows beyond what you can even think or imagine. Let someone share in your dream.
Side note: Many shared in the dream this past Easter weekend at Stockbridge Assembly. It was a beautiful work of art!! It was more then I imagined. (Thank You Lord)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Share the Dream
Share the Dream is the slogan for Noah’s Ark. Sharing is a great concept when it comes to dreams. I believe you must always connect your life with something larger than your lifestyle. This will cause you to stretch and grow. As you share the dream you see new things. The canvas of your thoughts are stretched and begin to grow new ideas. Ideas that help you dream.
By sharing you also get to experience the enjoyments of a dream that transcends night dreams to life. You share first hand in how the dream comes to life. You know the challenges that were faced and will be faced. You celebrate the small things and take pride in the goals that are reached. You are part of something larger than your life.
When you share a dream that develops community and community builds purpose so go and share the dream.
You need people to see your dream come to life.
By sharing you also get to experience the enjoyments of a dream that transcends night dreams to life. You share first hand in how the dream comes to life. You know the challenges that were faced and will be faced. You celebrate the small things and take pride in the goals that are reached. You are part of something larger than your life.
When you share a dream that develops community and community builds purpose so go and share the dream.
You need people to see your dream come to life.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Dreams
Something interesting Dreams.
There are some dreams that wake you up in the middle of the night and you think wow that was awesome, but then you go back to sleep and forget all about it. Waking up the next morning trying to remember what you dreamt but to no avail. The dream is lost!
Then there are other dreams that keep you up at night. You try to go back to sleep but to no avail. You must deal with the dream. It may take hours and a few pieces of paper to record the dream. But even with this dream it can be lost. It can be lost in a notebook, lost in your memory, lost in reality!
These are dreams you dream at night. They are fun, thrilling and spiritual. But they always happen at night when you are asleep.
But there are dreams that wake up your life. These dreams are under devolved at first. You may not have this dream in color and it may not even be a full picture. However over time and with the help of others you begin to see the dream move from your imagination to reality.
Dare to dream awake.
I have experienced dreams that wake your life. One is the dream of Noah’s Ark. I plan to write about this dream over the next few days stay tuned….
There are some dreams that wake you up in the middle of the night and you think wow that was awesome, but then you go back to sleep and forget all about it. Waking up the next morning trying to remember what you dreamt but to no avail. The dream is lost!
Then there are other dreams that keep you up at night. You try to go back to sleep but to no avail. You must deal with the dream. It may take hours and a few pieces of paper to record the dream. But even with this dream it can be lost. It can be lost in a notebook, lost in your memory, lost in reality!
These are dreams you dream at night. They are fun, thrilling and spiritual. But they always happen at night when you are asleep.
But there are dreams that wake up your life. These dreams are under devolved at first. You may not have this dream in color and it may not even be a full picture. However over time and with the help of others you begin to see the dream move from your imagination to reality.
Dare to dream awake.
I have experienced dreams that wake your life. One is the dream of Noah’s Ark. I plan to write about this dream over the next few days stay tuned….
Thursday, March 19, 2009
When and Where
Joshua 1:16
Any time you venture out into a new path you should make sure those who are going with you are willing. Some paths require willingness not sacrifice. People that sacrifice to go with you tend to walk a little slower. Willingness keeps the pace. Sacrifice is a good thing, and some are willing to sacrifice. However, there is a point when you just say “when and where” instead of “do I have to?” We move our words to phrases like “I get to.” This perspective is a little different.
When I connect to the mission it is my privilege to serve in any capacity.
Just tell me when I need to be there and what I need to do and I will go.
Any time you venture out into a new path you should make sure those who are going with you are willing. Some paths require willingness not sacrifice. People that sacrifice to go with you tend to walk a little slower. Willingness keeps the pace. Sacrifice is a good thing, and some are willing to sacrifice. However, there is a point when you just say “when and where” instead of “do I have to?” We move our words to phrases like “I get to.” This perspective is a little different.
When I connect to the mission it is my privilege to serve in any capacity.
Just tell me when I need to be there and what I need to do and I will go.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Just a thought
Who’s Right
In the world of the church we have so many voices. Just to give you an example I was flipping through “Christian TV” and heard one ministry giving free holy spring water, one ministry giving holy oil, yet another ministry talking about the “Gift of Tongues”, and another speaking about Israel, and still another talking about prophecy. Some had opposing ideas and others agreed. It all seems a bit confusing. Is there a ministry I should follow, is there one I shouldn’t follow? Well of course you would say “YES”. So which one? I believe if a ministry is truly following the leading of G-d then it has its place however
I think I will remain a follower of Jesus…
Matt 22:37 And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR G-D WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
38"This is the great and foremost commandment.
39"The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'
40"On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
In the world of the church we have so many voices. Just to give you an example I was flipping through “Christian TV” and heard one ministry giving free holy spring water, one ministry giving holy oil, yet another ministry talking about the “Gift of Tongues”, and another speaking about Israel, and still another talking about prophecy. Some had opposing ideas and others agreed. It all seems a bit confusing. Is there a ministry I should follow, is there one I shouldn’t follow? Well of course you would say “YES”. So which one? I believe if a ministry is truly following the leading of G-d then it has its place however
I think I will remain a follower of Jesus…
Matt 22:37 And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR G-D WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
38"This is the great and foremost commandment.
39"The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'
40"On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
Saturday, March 7, 2009
He IS!
What does G-d look like? I mean after all he has to have some shape, form or something about Him.
Deuteronomy 4: 15-16a
15"So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, 16 so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure…
Moses warned the children not to shape G-d. huh?
I love asking the question WHY?
As I was reading this passage this morning I thought of all the times I have tried to shape G-d. I tried to shape Him into my box and my world. How is it that I think I can take a being with no shape and shape it? Could it be that I have tried (not successfully) to bring the Almighty G-d down to my way of life? Maybe that is why I’m a little tired? What if I embraced the awesome idea of G-d having no shape or form?
G-d appeared to early followers in a cloud and pillar of fire. Interesting!
Clouds and fire have two things in common.
· There is no cookie cutter shape to either.
· Both change from one second to another.
G-d IS! There is no shape or form. He simply IS!
· He IS covering you
· He IS consuming you
· He IS cooling you from the heat of the day
· He IS warming you from the harsh cold
· He IS leading you
HE IS!
I think I can see G-d working better when I stop trying to get Him to work in my box and on my terms.
Deuteronomy 4: 15-16a
15"So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, 16 so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure…
Moses warned the children not to shape G-d. huh?
I love asking the question WHY?
As I was reading this passage this morning I thought of all the times I have tried to shape G-d. I tried to shape Him into my box and my world. How is it that I think I can take a being with no shape and shape it? Could it be that I have tried (not successfully) to bring the Almighty G-d down to my way of life? Maybe that is why I’m a little tired? What if I embraced the awesome idea of G-d having no shape or form?
G-d appeared to early followers in a cloud and pillar of fire. Interesting!
Clouds and fire have two things in common.
· There is no cookie cutter shape to either.
· Both change from one second to another.
G-d IS! There is no shape or form. He simply IS!
· He IS covering you
· He IS consuming you
· He IS cooling you from the heat of the day
· He IS warming you from the harsh cold
· He IS leading you
HE IS!
I think I can see G-d working better when I stop trying to get Him to work in my box and on my terms.
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