tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636598704526256212024-03-13T12:22:15.245-07:00PNG TimesSteve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-15074432029966022402021-03-31T10:00:00.012-07:002021-04-12T16:09:13.410-07:00Misunderstanding the Mark of the Beast<p>The <b>"Mark of the Beast,"</b> spoken of in the Book of the Revelation is a hot topic today.</p><p><i>(You can read about this issue in the Book of the Revelation chapter 13.)</i></p><p>Frankly, most of what I hear is total rubbish. I readily allow for differences of opinion in the interpretation of some scriptures that do not have a bearing on the fundamentals of Christianity. There is room for honest disagreement. However, I have never been one to put up with idiotic Christian conspiracy theories and doctrines that simply do not even bother to consider the whole counsel of God. Because of a lack of Biblical understanding concerning the end-time doctrine, Christians tend to pull random teachings from here and there and sew them together like a theological Frankenstein. </p><p>Paul spoke of those who wanted to be teachers but didn't know what they were talking about. Maybe some time spent actually reading the Bible would stop some of the nonsense. The Mark of the Beast is at the top of the list for some of the dumbest things I have ever heard. </p><p><b>Are vaccines are the Mark of the Beast.</b></p><p><i>(Please note, I am not advocating for or against the vaccines.)</i></p><p>Some have said the CoVid vaccine was the Mark of the Beast. NO! The CoVid vaccine (or any other vaccine for that matter) is NOT the Mark of the Beast. Why?</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Because the mark is a MARK, not a shot. The word "mark", in Greek, means, "a scratch or etching, i.e. stamp (as a badge of servitude), or sculptured figure (statue): — graven, mark." It is more likely a tattoo of some sort. A shot does not match the meaning of the word. The Mark was visible, a shot is not.</li><li>The mark was placed on the forehead or the right hand. I got the CoVid vaccine and it was in my shoulder, as all of them are. So again, it doesn't meet the criteria. For the same reason, it isn't really feasible that the mark is an implanted computer chip, however, I would hold out the possibility that some sort of QR or bar code could be placed into a picture or graphic that could be scanned.</li><li>Along these lines, I have seen people teaching that the government was injecting people with demons through vaccines. (I'm picturing a waiting room full of demons at Pfizer or Johnson and Johnson, drinking beer, smoking cigarettes, watching porn, and waiting to be placed into vials of vaccine. Okay, you next bunch, in you go. Demons don't travel in needles. They are spiritual beings, not corporeal beings. Likewise, you can't accidentally become demon-possessed. You can be demon-possessed, but I think that requires willfully opening doors to the demonic realm through occult practice, overt continual sin, or perhaps traumatic experience. You don't get them from shots. Additionally, some of the fundamentalists who teach this also declare that a Christian can't have a demon. "Come on man" - get your doctrines tied together.</li></ol><div><b>The Mark of the Beast, the name of the Beast or his number - 666.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>"...no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666."</div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever the Mark of the Beast is, it has to do with the name of the Beast and number 666. The Bible indicates that 666 is directly associated with his name somehow, although it doesn't specifically say it is the Mark of the Beast. As the true counterfeiter that he is, Satan uses the authority in a name, like Christians use the authority granted to us through the name of Jesus. Remember he is the antichrist - that which is opposed to the Christ - or literally - the anointed one. It used to be that all the Christian art representing this passage had people with 666 tattooed on their head or hand. Somehow we have lost that imagery and substituted it for all kinds of weird ideas. If we are to accept that the Mark of the Beast is a literal thing, it cannot be an arbitrary image or non-image, it must be a physical mark on the forehead or hand and it must be associated with the name of the antichrist. Unless of course, you want to take these passages figurative.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>How can we be given the Mark of the Beast at this point in history?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Wouldn't it require that the Antichrist and the Beast already be in power? Duh! That hasn't happened yet, so how can the Mark of the Beast, symbolizing his power and control, be given out right now? I would dare say that most of the people advocating that the vaccine is the Mark of the Beast also believe in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church. That hasn't happened - or a bunch of us missed it, including the ones teaching the vaccine is the Mark of the Beast. Once again, we have conflicting doctrines that make no sense. "Come on man" - get your doctrines tied together.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The government is going to force you or trick you into taking the Mark of the Beast</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>No! Those who take the Mark of the Beast do so willingly. If people simply read the Bible instead of just listening to others, they would see that those who took the Mark of the Beast were already worshipping the Beast. While the Mark of the Beast is the focal point of the issue, the underlying reality is that those who choose to accept the mark also purposely choose to worship the anti-christ instead of God. No one can force you to do that. Likewise, no one can be tricked into taking the mark. The mark is a symbol of a decision that each person makes to follow God or turn from Him. Let me say it again. You can not accidentally accept the Mark of the Beast. The time will come where every man, woman, and child will have to make a decision, but it is their decision to make, not some trick of the government. Of course, those accepting the Mark are deceived, but they will make a decision because they "did not receive the love of the truth," and will buy into the end-time lies because they love unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:10). You can not unknowingly take the Mark of the Beast.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Is it possible for every person in the entire world to be offered the Mark of the Beast?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I live in Papua New Guinea. The government there can't even get everyone a birth certificate or national ID card. Ditto, the third world countries around the globe. The logistic problems are staggering. Consider how long it is taking to vaccinate people today in America. I'm not sure how the Antichrist will accomplish a global program to give every person in the world the Mark of the Beast in the amount of time he would have - either 3 1/2 or 7 years, depending on your doctrine. Most Christians believe the Mark is just about the economy - being able to buy and sell or have a job. Again, in many third-world countries, a large number of people don't have jobs and don't shop in stores. A simple economic control wouldn't be very significant to these people. While I acknowledge the Bible says that the Antichrist will compel everyone to take the mark or suffer the consequences, I have a hard time seeing the practical outworking of it globally, if indeed it is simply some sort of physical mark. American Christians tend to view the Bible solely in terms of life in America. American life is not the standard for the world by any means. I simply think we need to consider the ramifications of what we say we believe. Could it be possible the Mark of the Beast is figurative of a spiritual decision we make? The Book of the Revelation is a highly figurative book. Just a thought.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Conclusion</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The truth is we simply don't know how the Mark of the Beast will play out. It is useless to speculate because that is all it is - speculation. Paul admonished Timothy with these words,, "O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith."</div><div><br /></div><div>I call on all Christians everywhere to preach the Word of God without useless speculations and conspiracy theories. Stay in the WORD of God.</div><div><br /></div><div>(PS. And just to be safe, avoid Tattoo shops and green apples, I heard it was a green apple that caused Eve to sin. You can't be too careful.)</div><p></p>Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-63346826436466728612021-03-23T14:54:00.004-07:002021-03-23T14:54:38.412-07:00Finding God's Will for Your Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZ-yYFDa_E3NXVVHu86hFjE8pFOFMnVXPeIetZsaiGw2riSJjsE6fbZ2gOha04FTH-uDvfvcbsMQcCD7wVsntK5rRoQt0pnzb5tLweXqztvK-0WDcHHM5op9qrBggDfCo56q_nDcLwNk/s771/gw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="771" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZ-yYFDa_E3NXVVHu86hFjE8pFOFMnVXPeIetZsaiGw2riSJjsE6fbZ2gOha04FTH-uDvfvcbsMQcCD7wVsntK5rRoQt0pnzb5tLweXqztvK-0WDcHHM5op9qrBggDfCo56q_nDcLwNk/w536-h266/gw.png" width="536" /></a></div><br /><p>-- Author's note: I run a website called Talk to a Pastor (www.talktoapastorcom). For twenty years we have answered questions from people around the world on about every subject you can think of. Recently a young man asked how he could submit to God's will for his life. I sent him the following email in response to his question. --</p><p>Hi ________,</p><p>Thanks for writing TTAP. Wow, that is a good question.</p><p>If I were to provide you with some steps I think the first one is knowing God's will for your life.</p><p>There is the general will of God for every Christian and there is the specific will of God for every Christian. </p><p>God's general will includes being saved and baptized. It is to become a disciple of Christ and grow in spiritual maturity. To be a give-and-take member of a local church. As we grow we learn to serve the Lord and His church. Romans chapter 8 tells us, "we are predestined to be conformed to the image of His dear Son." So God's general will for every Christian is to be like Jesus.</p><p>God's specific will includes the gifts and abilities God gives us to fulfill His call on our lives. The Bible speaks of three gift-sets. Read Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 to see these gifts that are available to Christians. It is the Holy Spirit that imparts, activates, and empowers various gifts in your life.</p><p>As we learn to serve God we begin to discover His purpose for us. This includes the what and where questions. What does God want you to do and where does he want you to do it.</p><p>Moving into the will of God means we are seeking Him for His plans and purposes in our lives. I love the passage in Ephesians 2:8-10:</p><p>"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."</p><p>This passage tells us we don't save ourselves. Salvation is God's gift to us. It goes on to say that God is handcrafting your life to fit the purpose and calling He plans for you. God takes the raw material of your life and forms it into the life He can use, for the purpose he already knows. You may look at a wooden log and see nothing. A woodcarver looks at the same log and sees a beautifully carved statue. God looks at all the junk and raw material in your life and sees what He can create through you - even when you or others can't see it. </p><p>Rest assured God has a plan for you and He is at work to bring that plan and purpose to pass in your life. Part of the process is resting in the assurance that He is at work in your life.</p><p>Here are some thoughts.</p><p>1. Never stop seeking God's will for your life, because it will change somewhat over time.</p><p>2. Make sure you are working on God's general will for your life as you you seek his specific will for your life.</p><p>3. Obey the small steps He asks you to take. Faith and obedience go hand in hand. Faith without obedience will produce nothing. Obedience without faith will burn you out.</p><p>4. Place your faith in God that He is at work. If you want God's will, He will bring it to pass. He is not working against you on this, He wants it more than you do.</p><p>5. Understand that God already has a plan for you. You do not have to talk Him into something. You may have one plan and He may have another and you will have to get together on it, but know God already has a plan. Don't try to talk him into your plan.</p><p>6. Watch how God is preparing your life. The lessons you are learning along the way prepare you for the purpose you have in God.</p><p>7. Discover your spiritual gifts and use them. They will be the keys to your service in the Kingdom of God.</p><p>8. When in doubt ask! God said we should ask whenever we needed wisdom and He would give it to us. James 1.</p><p>I trust this helps you out _______. Please feel free to write back any time with thoughts or questions. Above all else serve the Lord, He will bring you into His will and it will be great.</p><p>Father, I bring _______ to you in Jesus's name. I ask that you speak to him and reveal yourself to him in a way he can know and understand. Father show him your will for His life. Shine the light on the work you are already doing in him as you prepare him for service in your kingdom. Father, I pray that you keep him from all spiritual error, deception, and distraction as he seeks your face. Bless him with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places, AMEN!</p><p>Be blessed,</p><p>
</p><p>Pastor Steve</p>Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-11608480806621649402020-01-15T13:02:00.002-08:002020-01-15T13:02:46.257-08:00Free-Range Christians<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Free-Range</b> <b>Christians</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZs8HHAWyqsGK9oailykPov3X2wvZfQ4zPHNBFDhs1tvylJf7bKfea9wdQe6gFJxZDcrrfJZGaW1NLKZ5EU0HeE7ktkfMNInDXN8jiIrzMYDLmC29ptq2semyhRPkunn8JM8D0ZOAt9o/s1600/business-people-running-through-field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZs8HHAWyqsGK9oailykPov3X2wvZfQ4zPHNBFDhs1tvylJf7bKfea9wdQe6gFJxZDcrrfJZGaW1NLKZ5EU0HeE7ktkfMNInDXN8jiIrzMYDLmC29ptq2semyhRPkunn8JM8D0ZOAt9o/s400/business-people-running-through-field.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">You are probably curious about the title of this article.
You are probably thinking, “Where is this guy going with this.” Will I rebuke
Christians who float around unattached to any faith community? Or perhaps he
will recommend that everyone break free from such attachments? Neither is true.
Before we get into what the real issues are, we need to get a working
definition of free-range so we can apply it to Christianity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is popular today for agricultural companies to promote
their products as <i>free-range</i>. This opposed to caged or penned
production. Dictionary.com defines free-range (in part) this way: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">(of livestock and domestic poultry) permitted
to graze or forage for grain, etc., rather than being confined to a feedlot or
a small enclosure:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span class="luna-label"><i><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Informal</span></i></span><span class="luna-labset"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">.</span></span><span class="one-click-content"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> noting
or relating to a style of child-rearing in which parents allow their children
to move about without constant adult supervision:</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="one-click-content"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Free-range has become popular for two reasons. The first is
in response to an outcry from consumers concerning animal cruelty. The second is
driven by consumer expectations for healthier food. People are willing to pay a
higher price for free-range or organic products. Notice it is the consumers who
are driving the free-range concept. Free-range costs more, so companies aren’t
all that interested unless there is a profit involved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Basically, the free-range concept is much better for the animals
involved and healthier for consumers. It is a good idea for several reasons. I
think we need to apply the same principles to Christianity to overcome several
problems in the church today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Spoiler alert! I’m going to tell you where we are going so
you don’t have to read to the end for a surprise ending. I think the church would
be much healthier and produce more—and better— fruit for the Kingdom of God if
Christians encouraged to be more free-range. It’s time more of our churches and
our leaders committed to free-range Christianity where every believer is
empowered to move in the gifts and callings of God without undue control by leaders
with agendas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let’s explore this concept.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am not suggesting free-for-all Christianity. A
Christianity where there is no significant attachment to a faith community or accountability.
Even free-range animals have boundaries. There’s a fence somewhere that keeps
them from wandering too far. In a Christian sense, there will always be
scriptural boundaries that all Christians need to stay within. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of those boundaries is genuine fellowship (real community,
not fellowship dinners). Another is a basic doctrinal framework. Then there is the
process of helping people find their gifts and calling and fulfill their
God-ordained role in the Kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are three things that need to happen. The first two
are deconstructive. There needs to be less emphasis on the organization of the
Church (services, doctrinal statements, programs, etc.). Perhaps I am somewhat
cynical—I admit it is quite possible. However, I wonder if Christianity was outlawed,
and people could not go to a traditional church on Sunday morning (a real
possibility in our generation), how many would know how to be a Christian? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Much of our western version of Christianity is centered
around what happens in Sunday morning. Could they maintain their spiritual lives
without the Sunday morning props? Would evangelism grind to a halt (because
most evangelism happens in public gatherings rather than one-on-one)? Could all
of the people who “minister” in a church setting find true minister outside of
Sunday morning? Could the average churchgoer make the transition from a formal,
public service to an informal small group gathering? It isn’t just downsizing
the space or the numbers. There are significantly different dynamics that need
to take place in small groups that can’t or don’t happen in large public events
(and vice versa). These are questions that need to be asked—and answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The second thing that needs to happen is a release of
control from “leadership.” The trend in business and organizational development
(church included) the past 20 years has been “leadership development.” However,
you really can’t find that emphasis in the Bible. What you find in the bible is
<i>servantship</i> development. Several times the disciples were arguing over
who was going to be the “greatest.” James and John even tried to get the right-hand
and left-hand positions next to Jesus. Even their mother got in on the act,
trying to trick Jesus into guaranteeing her request before she told Him what she
wanted —that her two sons would be first and second under Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If Jesus’ disciples were not immune to this powerful pull of
fleshly ego and worldly principles, what makes us think we don’t have to deal
with it also? Jesus wanted servants who lead, not leaders who serve. While it
may not seem like much of a difference, there is. What is the primary identity
in the two designations? The first is a person who sees their primary roles as
a servant and leads from that position. The other is a person who primarily sees
themself as a leader who should serve because of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Frankly, we need to develop more servants in the Church. These
will end up leading with the power of the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Leaders who are focused on controlling everything and
everyone involved in their ministries have done much damage in the Body of
Christ. Churches have been split and individuals and families ruined spiritually
because of these false leaders. They were bent on having things their own way
or leading for their own gain. “Submission” is the keyword you hear from these
people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The positive thing that needs to happen is an emphasis on
the Baptism of the Holy Spirit for every individual. Leaders must commit to teaching
and ministering the Baptism with the Holy Spirit to our congregations. With
that, we must have a fresh commitment to teach, encourage and facilitate the
gifts of the Holy Spirit in the context of the Body of Christ (Romans 12, 1
Corinthians 12-14, and Ephesians 4). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am using the idea of free-range as a metaphor for the
spirit-filled life of the believers in service to the King. Christians who have
been released for the religious cages of total dependence on some leaders and
have been released to flow in the power of the Holy Spirit as we are encouraged
to do in the Word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am a part of a Pentecostal denomination. However, in the
past couple of years, they have acknowledged that “Pentecost” has become more of
a doctrinal ideal than practical experience. This is a common scenario in
many Pentecostal denominations. In some cases, our pastors are not even Spirit
baptized. While I am not condemning them in any way, I must wonder how our churches
will maintain the power of the Holy Spirit in the future if their leaders are
not modeling it now. Slowly the reality of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the
power of speaking in other tongues and the operating in the Spirit has given
way to seeker-sensitive services and slick presentations including light shows,
fog, and big screens. Could it be that we are trying to compensate for the lack
of God’s manifest presence via the gifts of the Spirit?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As a result of this recognition, my denomination has made
significant steps to make sure the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is once again
being taught, ministered and practiced in our churches worldwide. It has been
my privilege to minister to thousands of Christians in Bible colleges, churches
and pastors/leaders conference across the country of Papua New Guinea about the
Baptism with the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit and the Body of Christ. We
have seen hundreds of people filled with the Spirit, speak in tongues and find
a fresh empowering for their lives and ministries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have discovered one thing that hinders this fresh revival
of Pentecost. Pastors and leaders are often afraid of letting go of control.
They are afraid things will get out of hand. They are afraid some will start experiencing
the power of God and they will lose their position, influence, and income. Jealousy
and insecurity combined with a lack of understanding cause many to simply
ignore this vital aspect of Christianity. Regardless of the motive, it boils
down to one thing: control. This control results in a reluctance to help people
find, develop and use their gifts and callings in the Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is this control that must stop. Christians have to be
left out of their cages of religious control. They must be discipled into the Spirit-filled lifestyle. They must be encouraged and given the opportunity to share the
gifts of the Spirit as outlined in 1 Corinthians chapters twelve through fourteen.
This will not happen without a solid commitment from the leadership of any
given church. It is my experience that if God does start to move by the spirit
in the congregation, the leadership will quench it unless they release control
to the Spirit. We are warned not to “quench the Spirit.” Unfortunately, this
happens too frequently. When it does happen, our churches are left powerless. Personalities
and programs take the place of the Holy Spirit and nothing truly spiritual
happens in these churches. There may be lots of activity. Money is spent.
Events go on. However, little life comes from it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There must be a commitment from the leadership of the Church
to open the cages, to let the sheep roam freely in the Holy Spirit. As I
mentioned above, even free-range stock encounter fences. Opening the
congregation to the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean a free-for-all. That only happens when there has not been a
proper spiritual foundation laid. Leaders who have not made the effort to teach
on the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit and the Body of
Christ only have themselves to blame if things get out of order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In fact, trusting the Holy Spirit to impart and empower the
use of the charismatic gifts in the church will result in better order than
fleshly control. Another advantage is that it will take the workload off the
pastor(s) and spread it out across the congregation—in the long run. Opening the
door to a true expression of the Body of Christ will result in more souls
saved. More people healed and delivered, stronger discipleship and ultimately healthier
churches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the definitions or free-range was parents allowing
their children to go without <i>CONSTANT</i> adult supervision. Leaders must release their grip a bit and
trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide the congregations into a free-flowing
expression of the Body of Christ. Children who are overly protected end up
having emotional and even social issues. Maturing is a process of trial and
error. At various and appropriate times parents have to release some controls
so a child can develop into a mature adult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As evangelicals, we affirm the priesthood of every believer.
Unfortunately, we don’t practice it. We maintain a clergy/laity mentality,
even though there is no biblical justification for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I advocate for a mindset of free-range Christianity.
I challenge our leaders to take the high road to trust the Spirit and release a
controlling grip. I encourage every church member to be baptized with the Holy
Spirit and find discover your spiritual gifts given to every person by the Holy
Spirit.</span>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span>Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-27004818147765761722019-08-15T19:14:00.000-07:002019-08-16T08:28:34.400-07:00A Letter to a Young Leader<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<b></b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7alQ29kyYdMFhDEcoGfqgdTn70LdkS2ofaKH9uWToFjm35Pe5znPoed1EVpZqnAbjldG5fCgzuSvIyRpnZHdh6IrQRe42FnF_9FLJo-TfePg3tDBmhcEaWLhl-dj91uNOIEWBsEkqP0/s1600/encourage-one-another-e1456447960390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="450" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7alQ29kyYdMFhDEcoGfqgdTn70LdkS2ofaKH9uWToFjm35Pe5znPoed1EVpZqnAbjldG5fCgzuSvIyRpnZHdh6IrQRe42FnF_9FLJo-TfePg3tDBmhcEaWLhl-dj91uNOIEWBsEkqP0/s320/encourage-one-another-e1456447960390.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<b>
NOTE:</b> The post is significantly different from most of my articles. This a personal letter of encouragement I wrote to a young pastor I was mentoring (He and his wife have now been pastoring that same church for much longer than I did). I wrote the letter to him in December 2006, some 13 years ago. I find it is still good information. It is worth the read for anyone in the ministry - or who wants to to be in the ministry. Please feel free to insert your name into the letter - for I would say the same thing to your today. I trust it impacts your life and ministry in a powerful way. Be Blessed, Steve.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
December 2006</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear J----,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Greetings in the most holy and precious name of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to think that phrases like that were
silly sentiment, but the older I get the more I understand how truly precious,
holy and powerful His name really is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is the name above every other name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is the name to which we have the privilege of worshiping, bowing to and
calling on in a time of need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus has
lent us His name to call for the resources of heaven, to run into in a time of
trouble, to use as a definitive weapon against all the powers of hell. Above
all things – honor the name, love the name, learn the name and use the name of
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has placed more in that NAME
than we really know.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have genuinely enjoyed watching you grow in grace and
knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ over the past 1 ½ years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you have walked with the Lord for a
long time, but God takes us to places for special seasons in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">[our town]</st1:place></st1:city> is a divine appointment for you; a
season of growth and fruitfulness; a place where God could take you to the next
level in your life and ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
thing for sure is that you will never forget your time at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">[our town]</st1:place></st1:city>. It has been an awesome time of
faith, obedience, grace, learning and usefulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I appreciate you more than you know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your faithfulness to me, the church and the
call placed on your life by the Holy Spirit has been encouraging to me as well
as inspirational.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wanted to write to you to encourage you as you move into a
new year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God does not wear a wristwatch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is unmoved by the tiny elements of time
which control our lives – seconds, minutes and hours. He never gets in a
hurry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time is a man-made concept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A day with the Lord is as 1000 years and 1000
years as a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learn to wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s plans are so grand
they can not be accomplished in a day, week, month or sometimes even a
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, as the master strategist,
moves satan around like a pawn to accomplish His own agenda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We too are pieces on God’s chess board … not
pawns though, we’re kings and queens, knights and rooks and bishops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re the power pieces that get the job
done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might notice that a chess set
has 8 pawns of limited power (like the devil), however the Rook, knight and
bishop only have two each; and each one of those moves and acts and functions
in a different way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How much like the gifts and callings of God these are?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God using different people in different ways,
moving us around the chess board of this world, forming a strategy of ultimate
defeat for the devil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, knowing the
power and ability of each piece, knows just where to place us in relationship
to the other playing pieces to affect strategic victory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grand checkmate comes when the King
Himself returns to finish the devil off once and for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be a part of that glorious victory,
if we do not become weary in well doing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Bible tells us that Jesus will descend from heaven with
a shout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t say for sure, but it
just might be “CHECKMATE!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I long to
hear, “well done my good and faithful servants.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope I am standing close to you when that
happens.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of all the pieces I think you are a Bishop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bishop in the Bible is an overseer, one
who watches over God’s heritage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul
said that he has espoused the church to Jesus as a chaste virgin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He saw his role as the “best man.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One in whom the groom trusted to take care of
the bride; to protect her and prepare her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paul claimed he never touched the bride of Christ for his own
pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always remember this one thing
- as leaders, pastors, bishops and shepherds - the church belongs to Jesus
Christ. He is a jealous God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too many
people today claiming to be pastors, prophets, teachers, evangelists and
apostles are using the Bride of Christ for their own gratification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They lust after her affections and
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They long for the power to
control her, to use her and to make a profit from her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They prepare the church for their own glory,
not for Jesus’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I trust we are not
like that – you and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I trust that I
have demonstrated for you (although imperfectly many times) the role of a
pastor: Faithfulness to the Bridegroom to prepare a Bride for His glory.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like chess, no single piece can defeat the enemy alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes at least two pieces to win. The best
one can do alone is a stalemate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too
many of God’s people settle for a stalemate; rather than a win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God created the Body of Christ to work
together in unity, we need each other - always have and always will: God made
it so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Jesus returned to heaven, He gave gifts to men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He literally broke his perfect divine
ministry into parts we now call the 5-fold ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that it is not “your ministry,” but
rather His ministry through you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Successful strategies on the chess board take each piece’s unique
strength into consideration and use them in conjunction with each other to back
the devil into a corner and defeat him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So goes the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you progress in leadership remember to
always allow God to build a team around you, no matter if you are a leader or a
team member. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Refuse the urge to collect
or group with people just like yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Allow God to build diversity, for in the long run it will take a
combination of each gift, personality and ministry to get the job done.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is so much easier (we think) to get talented, like-minded
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if we look at the example
of Jesus, he collected an eclectic, ragtag group that was diverse in
personality, philosophy and education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For the most part they were “ignorant and unlearned fishermen.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was noted that they had “been with
Jesus.” There is always the tendency to discount those that God puts in your
care and ultimately on your team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try
not to “judge in the flesh,” but “judge righteous judgment.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is a better judge of potential then we
are (since he knows the beginning from the end.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the greatest things you can do for a person is to
believe in them, even when they can’t believe in themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had someone do that for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes all the difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to do that we must see the
overwhelming ability of God to impact and change a person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God can change anyone – look at you and
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for people until they can pray
for themselves.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hear one scripture ringing in my spirit for you as I
write.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">“<a href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=1063&version=kjv"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">For</span></a> you <a href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=2192&version=kjv"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">have</span></a> <a href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=5532&version=kjv"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">need</span></a> of
<a href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=5281&version=kjv"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">patience,</span></a>
<a href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=2443&version=kjv"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">that,</span></a>
after ye have <a href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=4160&version=kjv"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">done</span></a>
the <a href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=2307&version=kjv"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">will</span></a> of
<a href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=2316&version=kjv"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">God,</span></a> ye
might <a href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=2865&version=kjv"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">receive</span></a>
the <a href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=1860&version=kjv"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">promise.</span></a>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: black;">Heb
10:36<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">There are several key thoughts
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, the main one is
“patience”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not our most favorite
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patience is probably one of the
most difficult virtues to develop (right after humility).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you become more and more a leader,
patience is an absolute necessity. As leaders our impatience can destroy
people; impatience will slow personal growth in people; impatience that our
grand plans and schemes aren’t moving faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Be an example to the flock in all things, especially patience. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Don't let anyone think less of you because
you are young. Be an <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">example</span> to
all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">faith</span>, and your purity.”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Tim. 4:12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Impatience causes us to take short
cuts and make compromises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can also
cause us to overlook people that might be a significant part of God’s
plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can create offenses in us and
others. Always remember that in, general, God’s people are more important than
our goals and plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">The second important concept in
this verse is “after”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We usually must
do something first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is where faith
comes in. You will often have to step out on faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll find yourself convinced of things that
you (and others) can’t see and it will require risk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We often want to know new ventures, radical
ideas and new directions will work out before we start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore it is so much easier to stay with
tradition, because even if it is not really working as well as we like, it is
at least familiar and predictable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
is raising up people who can not take “church as is” anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But keep in mind, if we rush ahead without
bringing people along with us, we still won’t have much when we get there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">We’ll have to step out, take risks
and be willing to be more spontaneous. Religion requires following a
predictable order. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Discipleship requires
following the Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be willing to “do”
before you get to the “receive” part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But never forget about the receiving part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hebrews tells us that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“He that comes to God must believe…that He is a REWARDER of those that
diligently seek Him.”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe God
is pleased when we believe for the reward as much as we believe anything else
in His word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">You will find there will be sometimes
you won’t know what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t panic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will come through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David Wilkerson preached a message I heard a
long time ago titled<u>,</u> <u>The Making of a Man of God</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was about the things God takes us through
in our journey to usefulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One part
particularly stood out: God will take you through your<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Night of Confusion</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sir
John of the Cross called it “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Dark
Night of the Soul</b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Thankfully they seem to be
limited, but when you enter one it can be excruciating to your flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are two things to keep in mind
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is that the purpose of
these periods is to totally separate us to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All the things that define us seem to disappear and we are left with a
raw dependency on God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not a bad
thing, regardless of what your flesh seems to think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">When Mary left and I moved from
Oberlin to LeCompton, everything that had defined my life for several years was
gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My marriage, my ministry, my
career was all non- existent. I didn’t even have a house to live in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was reduced to being “a child of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Too often we let external things
define us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants us to remember that
our most important role among all the others we have (husband, minister,
employee, manager, father, son, brother, etc) is that of a Son (or Daughter) of
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the thing that must define
everything else we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is these “dark”
times that bring us back to that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">The second thing to remember about
the “Dark Night of the Soul” is that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“joy
comes in the morning.”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Night never
lasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will not leave us in darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will bring us into the light again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray you never have to go through “the
night of confusion,” but, with David Wilkerson, I am more realistic than
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is just part of the package.
Since I can’t stop it from happening, I wanted to give you some insight on how
to handle it and come through it a better Son of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">One last thing: I think we can
determine how long our “night” might be by how we respond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith, obedience and yielding shorten those
times dramatically it seems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good luck!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Here are a few things to
remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An eclectic collection of
saying from me and others:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Learn
to please people without being a “people pleaser.”<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Have
devotion, not just devotions.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Don’t
just serve, be a servant.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">God
would rather have servants who lead than leaders who serve.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Find
a good sheep dog!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are a big
help.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Everyone
needs three basic relationships:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple
of Pauls to mentor us, no matter how old and wise we get; A larger group
of Barnabus’ to walk with us as a friends and peers, A few Timothys to
pour ourselves into.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Worship
passionately, pray fervently, serve faithfully, and believe completely.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Our
job is to preach the Kingdom, Jesus said He’d build His Church<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">If
you are going to be used by God, you are going to be used by people.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">If
your disciples never outgrow you, when you die the church goes backwards.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">“Onward
and upward, further up and further in.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>C.S. Lewis<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">“Spiritual
warfare starts with the name of Jesus on your lips and ends with the
nature of Jesus in your heart.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Frances Frangipane<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">If
you can’t run, walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can’t
walk, crawl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can’t crawl,
drag yourself along on your bleeding elbows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just don’t stop and you’ll get there.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">“Every
earthly plan, that be known to man, He is unconcerned, because he has
plans of His own, to set up His throne, when He returns.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When
He Returns</i>, Bob Dillon<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Never
forget, Jesus wins and so do we if we endure to the end.)<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: black;">Well J----, I pray with all my
heart that somewhere in this missive you will have found a few things that will
make a difference, a few things that will change you and a few things that will
radically transform your life and ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our ministries are pretty much worthless if we don’t aim at transforming
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">I encourage you to pull this
letter out from time to time and reread it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You will find at different times in your life different things will
stand out to you as your life progresses through various stages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I trust the Lord to have provided encouragement
and a few answers in advance, even if you are not sure of all the questions
yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">And now I finish with a prayer and
a blessing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Dear Jesus, I bring my brother
J----- to you right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ask that you
protect him, body, soul and spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
pray that you will perfect that which concerns him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that you will work everything in his
life according to the counsel of your own will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I place a blessing on him as one ordained by God to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pronounce peace!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I speak spiritual authority to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray the spirit of wisdom and revelation
you’ve given me be imparted to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Open
the Word of God to him as never before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Grant him patience, love and faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Give Him favor with God and man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I pray that, as John the Baptist, he “prepares the way of the Lord” in
the lives of those he ministers to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
most of all Father, I ask that you walk with him as a friend and that he comes
to know you in a greater way than ever before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That he learns to hear your heartbeat and know your thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AMEN!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">My Bother J---- be blessed with
all spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Another grape on the vine,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Bro. Steve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-27667483675942072482019-08-12T10:30:00.001-07:002020-01-01T09:17:43.651-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Blue Elephants and Christianity</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>C</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;">onformation vs. Transformation</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoFBGqUhL8pR505SQ7amB90K9T-7RafcSR3N_lPPkyL278JqS2DDvOYrsGXnjF0EKbr7siL52O7DS8Sb6qquMDaHjO-eEBxHF8EJ-NcZVUBevq0npS4PQzBtZmWPmi-NGlcz6lxOe800/s1600/water+to+wine+graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="867" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoFBGqUhL8pR505SQ7amB90K9T-7RafcSR3N_lPPkyL278JqS2DDvOYrsGXnjF0EKbr7siL52O7DS8Sb6qquMDaHjO-eEBxHF8EJ-NcZVUBevq0npS4PQzBtZmWPmi-NGlcz6lxOe800/s400/water+to+wine+graphic.png" width="266" /></a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Religious conformity has always been what the organized religious
systems want – and what the members of those systems have come to expect – as
normalized Christianity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The premise of this article is simply this: Information produces
conformation and revelation produces transformation. Generally speaking,
religious people expect religious conformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It sounds like this: we will give you the right information and you
conform to it. In the Bible we find a different virtue: Transformation produced
by revelation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As humans we tend to associate with people who are much like
ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We identify with a particular
group by the way we dress, the things we like, and by our beliefs and
interests. For instance, a person may wear country western style clothes,
cowboy boots and listen to country music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Others may wear ripped jeans, graphic tee shirts and listen to rock
music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still others paint their faces,
wear shells, crocodile teeth, vegetation and dance with drums.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Others may accept a political label, such a democrat, republican, socialist
or communist as a means of identifying with a particular ideology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">No matter what our beliefs and interests, we have a built-in need to be
a part of something larger than ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Psychologically, we want and need <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">community</i>
– to be accepted among those we consider our peers. Those that don’t have this
drive are often labeled as “anti-social.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I live in Papua New Guinea (PNG).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the International airport there are many graphics representing the
rich and diverse cultural of this Island nation. One has a person in tribal
dress dancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The caption says, “We
dance to disappear into something bigger.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Tribal dances (called singsings) are group affairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are dictated by culture. Everyone wears
similar tribal dress and paints their faces with their tribal colors and
motifs. There are around one thousand district ethnic tribes in PNG, all with
unique tribal distinctives. The dances have been carefully choreographed for
decades – if not centuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are a
part of the tribe. It is their identity. These things differentiate one tribe
from another tribe. Even tribes that live close to one another, and have
regional similarities, will have unique aspects of face painting and dancing. It
is tribalism – an ‘us and them’ mentality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you are not with ‘us’ you are automatically part of ‘them.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What a perfect – and primal – illustration of this principle of
conformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be like the rest of us. Only do what everyone
else has done for years – or centuries in some cases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While the social and cultural value of these singsings are significant
(I love and appreciate the cultural diversity), there are a couple of inherent
problems with any system that encourages conformity over diversity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">First, nothing is different. Most likely nothing will ever be different.
The cultural expressions and traditions probably won’t change; they are rooted
in ancient culture. They will probably just end up dying out and fading away as
they become irrelevant to modern society and a younger generation who will
leave the villages to seek education and work. The older folks will make an
effort to maintain and teach the traditions, as well some of the younger ones
who see value in preserving the culture. The sad fact is, that after a
generation or two, the old traditions will be gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The second problem is that anyone who thinks differently will be treated,
more or less, as an outsider by the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For many, their religious experience is no different. To be accepted,
they conform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We call this <i>peer
pressure</i>. The influence exerted by a group value to be like the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CONFORMITY</i>! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We should ask if this is God’s plan? According to the Bible, we discover
a resounding NO!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“</span><span lang="X-NONE">And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good
and acceptable and perfect will of God.</span></b><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">”</span></b><span lang="X-NONE"> Romans 12:2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="X-NONE"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Paul was a very educated man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
had both Jewish religious training and secular education in the philosophical
systems of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He often used opposing
words to emphasize a truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
verse he uses the words <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">conformed</i> and
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">transformed</i>, to make his point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Strong’s Greek Lexicon (#G</span><span lang="X-NONE">4862</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">) provides some insight into the meaning of the
word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">conformed.</i> In part, it says, “T</span><span lang="X-NONE">o conform one's self (i.e. one's mind and character) to another's
pattern, (fashion one's self</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE">according to)</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.”</span> <span lang="X-NONE"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Did you catch that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To conform to
another’s way of doing things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The world wants to conform us to its way of doing and thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The religious systems of the world are no different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As human-driven institutions, they want
conformity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do not tolerate
differences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as a result, those who
want to belong – regardless of their motivation – feel the pressure to conform
to that group’s thoughts and deeds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Let’s look at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">conformation</i>
from a different aspect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was a young,
I liked to play with modeling clay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
once made a blue elephant I was quite proud of. You know, with clay <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you have can smash it up and form something
else out of it – UNLESS – you let it dry in the form you made. I kept that blue
elephant for some time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Here’s one takeaway. I could change th</span>e outward appearance of the clay as much as I
wanted, but its substance remained the same – blue modeling clay. Here’s another
takeaway. Our hearts can become the same: molded and hardened. God often accused His people of being “hardhearted
and stiff-necked.” Selah!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Conformity is pressure applied to change the <i>external appearance</i>
of a person or thing. This is the nature of religion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever felt the pressure at church to
be, act, talk or think a certain way – even if it wasn’t really a true
expression of your own self? We all have! The danger is the tendency to conform
without being transformed. The great tragedy is that this is what most people
think church is all about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On the other hand, Paul contrasted conformity with transformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “Don’t be conformed (even
religiously) …but be transformed….”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Transformation has to do with changing the nature of someone or
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider the first miracle
that Jesus did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned ordinary water
into the best wine at a wedding feast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is transformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus did
not add color and flavoring to the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He changed its very nature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is unfortunate but, for many, all religion has done is added flavor
and color to their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have
never actually been transformed. They have only taken on a religious look and
flavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When this happens one of two
extremes tends to occur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either they end
up being very legalistic and critical of everyone and everything that doesn’t
conform to their religious views or, they tend to become very liberal and don’t
really take a stand for much of anything. They talk about God and the Bible,
but humanism prevails in their thinking. God is there for the benefit of man,
not the other way around. The saying, “Don’t drink the Kool-aide” might apply
here. (For those that don’t understand this cultural reference look up the Reverend
Jim Jones and the People’s Temple on Google.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There is a third – and a more spiritual option – spiritual
transformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most certainly a
transformed person will look, think and act differently, but it will be powered
by the Spirit of God and love, not religious legalism or liberalism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Transformation is initially internal and becomes external, the
transformed person is changed from the inside out. </span>Confirmation is always external and, while it promises inward change, it
has no ability to produce it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Religion starts on the outside with rules and
rituals and attempts to work its way in. Spirituality starts on the inside and
works its way out. This is why Jesus
told so many parables about the kingdom of God being like a seed. It also
explains Jesus’ sharp word picture to the religious leaders about being
white-washed tombs – outwardly decorated, but inwardly full of death (and by extension
unclean).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now, back to the water-made-wine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several things about this story should make us
stop to see what was really happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First, on the surface, the first miracle Jesus did was kind of inconsequential
don’t you think?. Only a relatively few drunk people at a wedding party
benefited. (I know I will get flack over that statement, but it is true
none-the-less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to get past the
wine/grape juice theology to get to revelation truth here.) Second, it was done
in relative secrecy. The only people who knew about it were very few servants
who saw the water turned to wine and took it to the master of the feast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do these facts make you curious as to what
God might be saying to us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If it had been me, and I was going to perform my first miracle as the
Christ (anointed one), I would have gathered a crowd and done something big and
undeniable – like calling fire down from heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all knew the story of Elijah and how he
proved God was with him by calling fire down from heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This most certainly would have been an attention-getting
event to launch His public ministry with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But no, Jesus didn’t take this route to fame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The fact that this miracle was His first one tells us something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That it happened at a wedding tells us
something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The miracle indicates
that the basic ministry of Jesus is transformation, not conformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was miraculous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not by human effort and it was not a mere
human result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was spiritual from
start to finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water, the most common
thing on the earth, was changed into the rarest wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God transforms us from mere men and women to
“new creatures in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">From the moment Adam sinned, man lost the indwelling Spirit of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, God breathed the breath of life
(His own Holy Spirit) into the man and he “became a living soul.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Adam sinned, he “surely died,” according
to God’s warning. Throughout the next four thousand years, no person had the
Spirit of God in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Spirit of God
only came on them in an external anointing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">God’s plan was to put His Spirit back on the inside of mankind
(Galatians chapter 3).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This required Him
to deal with the issue of sin – which was the original cause of the disconnect.
He accomplished this with the death and resurrection of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is significant then, that on the night of
His resurrection Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy
Ghost.” Faith – belief in the resurrection – pro</span>duced salvation (Ephesians
2:8-9) and the Holy Spirit could once again dwell in a person.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The second point – that the miracle was performed at a wedding –
indicates that this transformation takes place as a result of marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t just a party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul tells us in Romans that we are dead to
the law that we might be married to Christ (Romans 7:4).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result of this spiritual union would be
“fruit to God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">God does not want us to be conformed to external religious
experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants us to be
transformed through intimate union with Christ and the indwelling power of the
Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In our keynote scripture (Romans 12), Paul tells us this transformation
comes as a result of “renewing our minds.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In other words, it is only as we learn to think differently that we
really transform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise, our
religious efforts conform us at best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This explains why some people try very hard to change – and seem to for
a season – but often return to the old life struggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being different requires thinking
differently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This is the foundational message of both John the Baptist and
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven
is at hand” (Matthew 3).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word
translated “repent” literally means to think again, or to change your
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t necessarily mean to
stop sinning. What John and Jesus really said was, ‘You need to change the way
you are thinking, because God’s Kingdom is here now.’ The old way of thinking
was not going to get them into the spiritual Kingdom that was now on the
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Bible schools generally train preachers to provide information – usually doctrinal
instruction or motivational encouragement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are not taught how to preach revelation truth. The goal of these
institutions – and by extension – the preachers, is to produce religious
conformity to the particular beliefs of the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, people are not transformed, and
church becomes an exercise in trying to get new people into the organization
and keep the ones that are already members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When membership becomes the driving force of the church, compromises are
made to entertain the crowds to maintain the numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On the other hand, revelation comes from the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Revelation knowledge and understanding is
gained by spending time with God in the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not man-taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is God taught! Consider what Paul said
about his preaching and teaching, In Ephesians chapter three he said that he
received the understanding of the mysteries of God by revelation. Paul prayed
for the Ephesian believers that God would “grant them a spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of Christ…”. (Ephesians 1:17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Paul knew others would need this same spirit of Wisdom and revelation he
had experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can not teach the
Bible like math or science. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Information can only produce conformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, revelation brings transformation. We
can look at this issue from a different angle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the day of the resurrection, Jesus appeared to two disciples on the
road to Emmaus and taught them everything in scriptures concerning Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made an interesting statement:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="X-NONE">And they said to one
another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road,
and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="X-NONE"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Notice He “opened the scriptures to them.” The result as that their very
beings were being impacted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
revelation and it transforms those who hear it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We do not need religious conformity in our churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want transformed saints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not need information and motivational messages;
we need revelation from the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Because revelation and transformation do not generally produce
conformity, many preachers avoid it like the plague (pun intended). It requires
more work, more faith, and more trust in the Holy Spirit to pastor a church
full of transformed saints than a group of docile conformers who never question
anything. However, we need to consider if the results we are experiencing with
religious conformity are the ones we really want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, I don’t think so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have to take some risks to allow the
transformation of souls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You decide:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Information and Conformation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Revelation and Transformation!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-20784579400248818732019-01-05T03:32:00.000-08:002019-08-12T10:01:25.964-07:00Strategic Living<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Strategic Living</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0V2UNMnAKUhoZjQfc_ogv8h3twQ3tQoN1S6l-6Yu4RhuWDI7-XomFDJ-nb-rKdAih51mxJ6AQSVWJA14ku_DrMnQefbfPcCdsgz1BSSgvIdus6nQ4wAaXm2b4ElX9clMVgRUkohrK4o/s1600/hand-moving-chess-piece-2051655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0V2UNMnAKUhoZjQfc_ogv8h3twQ3tQoN1S6l-6Yu4RhuWDI7-XomFDJ-nb-rKdAih51mxJ6AQSVWJA14ku_DrMnQefbfPcCdsgz1BSSgvIdus6nQ4wAaXm2b4ElX9clMVgRUkohrK4o/s320/hand-moving-chess-piece-2051655.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As I was
praying about 2019 I kept hearing the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">strategic</i>
coming to mind. I believe with all my heart that this is a strategic time in
the Kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">strategic</i> carries with it some
significant thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at several
dictionaries to get a working definition of strategic. Allow me to mash them
together to create a definition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Pertaining to the identification and implementation
of plans to achieve the specified long-term goals of an individual or
organization.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That is a powerful
thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If 2019 is a strategic time we
should carefully consider our working definition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are the elements of strategy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">First there
are the “specified, long-term goals.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
a nut shell, this is vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
two things to consider here: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What is God’s purpose for this season
in the church as a whole, and more specifically, your particular part in the kingdom?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is unfortunate that Evangelicalism has so
individualized the Christian experience that we no longer think in terms of the
“big picture.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has long-term, strategic
plans and goals for and through the church (Ephesians 3:10). Does God’s “big
picture” will take precedence over our little piece of the kingdom? Yes indeed!
The plans and purposes are from eternity past to eternity future. Our brief
tenure in the earthly Kingdom is small part of something far greater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to stop praying and acting as if what
happens in my life (lifetime) is all that matters. Consider how the writer of
Hebrews sums up the entire Old Testament population, “</span><span lang="X-NONE">God
having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect
apart from us </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(</span><span lang="X-NONE">Hebrews 11:40</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">).
I think it is safe to assume that future generations might say the same
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our lives are a small part of a
very big whole. That doesn’t make us meaningless or insignificant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every man and woman of God played their part
in their generation. I love what the Bible says about King David, “</span><span lang="X-NONE">For David, after he had <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">served his own generation</i></b> by the
will of God, fell asleep</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">….”</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(</span><span lang="X-NONE">Acts 13:36</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
emphasis mine.)<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What are you trying to accomplish long-term?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many people their long-term goal is to
get through the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may sound
crass, but how many Christians actually have long-term spiritual goals?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps everyone does, if we include going to
heaven – but what about here on earth? What are you supposed to accomplish for
the Kingdom of God in 2019?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For many
years I wore several hats. I was a pastor, online Christian counselor, and I
owned a full time business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also did a
variety of ministry things like jail ministry, writing and more. During this
period of time I would often see myself as the little silver ball in a pinball
game table. I would be moving one direction at a high rate of speed, then,
bang, I would hit a bumper and shoot off in a different direction. I think I
suffered spiritual whiplash. (Can anyone relate to my analogy?) Honestly, I was
so busy doing “stuff” that I could not be strategic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all good stuff, too. People were being
touched and ministered to in significant ways. I enjoyed doing most of it, but
I had no ability to be strategic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
projects got started but never finished. My long-term goal was to prepare for
the next ministry opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A long time
ago I learned <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the psychological fact that
people either act, or react to things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Reacting is an involuntary response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For instance you may see a snake in the grass and scream and jump
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You didn’t even have time to think
through a response, you just did it as an automatic reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes reaction is good – like in the case
of stepping on a snake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However you cannot
live your live effectively simply reacting to everything. People who do this
are always caught up in some sort of Jr. High-type drama. They are carried
along by their emotions and opinions, and little – if any – ever changes in their
life because they never learn to act with decision and purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Action, on
the other hand, is a planned response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This
happened and I will do <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this as a result.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, perhaps even more importantly, “I will do
this, IF that happens.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have thought
about and planned our actions in advance. Having made good decisions before
they are needed keeps us from reacting poorly. Reactionary people never make
much ground. Action oriented people do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Strategic
living requires knowing your purpose and where you are headed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means you have heard something from God. You
can do lots of things, but are you doing what you are called to do – where you
are<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>called to do it? The second half of
that statement is as important as the first part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">King
Solomon said this, “Without a vision the people perish.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(</span><span lang="X-NONE">Proverbs 29:18</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">) The Amplified Bible puts it this
way, “</span><span lang="X-NONE">Where there is no vision, the people are
unrestrained</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A more modern proverb says it a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bit differently, “If you aim at nothing you
will hit it every time.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Too many
individuals, churches and organizations spend a lot of time, money and effort
and don’t really accomplish much because, either they have not identified their
purpose, or the business of doing the work takes them off course. I can’t help but
remember a sober arning Jesus gave. He said many would come to him on the day
of accounting and point out all the wonderful works they <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had done in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">His name</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “Depart
from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you.” Iniquity is the word for self-will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically Jesus said, you were not doing my
will, you were doing your will in my name. They had activity and supposed
results. They were using Jesus’ name. To the casual bystander they were successful
Christian ministries. Jesus though otherwise. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This is not some judgemental statement
in my part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an assessment tool for
each of us to make sure we have the mind of God and are accomplishing the will
of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus would not have said it if
it were not going to be a reality. “Many will come….”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What are
you aiming at? Anything? Nothing? Some vague idea of what you might want some
day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time to become more strategic
than ever before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strategy requires visions
and goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write them down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Spirit of God told the prophet Habakkuk, “Write
the vision and make it plain…” I encourage you to define and write your vision
and mission statements and let them guide you in your Christian life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The second
part of strategic living involves identifying the plans to achieve the goals
and vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best plans will never
materialize if there are no steps taken to realize them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This involves the HOW of strategy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How will you achieve your vision? Basically
this is the brainstorming time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
plans need to be made?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What resources
will be needed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who might need to be
included? What methods will be used to assess the level of success along the way.
Identifying the ways and means is important. Having a God-given vision without
a plan simply won’t work. While your plan needs to be flexible and adjustable
along the way, you have to have a plan to move forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am a
chess player. Chess is a strategy game. There is no luck involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no roll of the dice or deal of a
card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you win it is because you
thought further ahead than your opponent did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chess player who react to their opponent’s moves lose quickly. The goal of
chess is to force your opponent to move where you want him too. You have already
thought several moves ahead and know where you want to push your enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can think of no better analogy for the
spiritual battle that we are in than a chess game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The devil
has a strategy and he is at work to maneuver you into<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>potion to lose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, God has a strategy and
has, at times used the devil to accomplish His long-term plans and goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider the cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The devil moved the religious people with
pride, self-righteousness and hatred and got them to crucify Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This played right into God’s plans. In God’s
mind, Jesus was the “lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation
13:8), He simply maneuvered the devil into fulfilling His will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Strategy
has both long and short-term goals. Have you ever written down the things you
feel like God wants you to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you
considered what strategy it might take to fulfill them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not, take some time to plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Develop a strategy. Remember the wisdom
mentioned above, “without a vision the people run unrestrained.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The third
part of strategy is implementation. You simply have to act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your plans are in line with God’s will you
have the assurance that He is working with you. Twice in John 15 (verses7-8 and
verse 16) Jesus made a very powerful promise that many Christians fail to
appropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, because of a false
application, they literally rob the promise of its power. That promise is that
we could ask anything we desired in His name and it would be done for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That indeed is a powerful promise. However in
the immediate context of the story and the individual verses the theme is
fruitfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The promise actually was
not generic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was specifically that we
could ask for anything we desire – or need – to be fruitful for the Kingdom of
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not a blank Check with
Jesus’ signature on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a promise,
that in the course of serving the purposes of God, you could ask for and
receive whatever you needed, “That you should bear fruit and your fruit should
be remain.” By simply tacking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jesus’ name</i>
to the end of every prayer waters this verse down and ends up producing doubt
when self-oriented prayers don’t get the answers we were expecting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Strategy
has to be acted on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes this means
we have to forego one plan of action in favor of another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question should not be what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can</i> I do, but what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should</i> I do. We have to sort these things out in our strategy plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can do lots of things, but which are the
most important – or most strategic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
the other hand I often want to do things I am not really able to do, due to a
lack of training or gifting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some Christians
spend their lives doing what they can. Others spend their lives trying to do
what they can’t. Both often miss their strategic purpose in life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So, with a
vision and goals in hand and plans made, we start to act to strategically bring
about the purpose of God in and through our lives in context of the eternal
purposes of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I share
this last thought – perhaps seemingly a bit off topic – as way of providing a
prophetic word within a word. In other words: someone needs to hear this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In December
2018 I had the privilege of speaking to the Enga Province, Foursquare Christmas
Camp in Papua New Guinea. The theme was doing the will of the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was speaking, the Spirit of God emphasized
a very strong message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes the
will of God changes and we have to be willing to change with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some miss God’s strategic purpose in their
life because they never consider that God’s plans and purposes might shift in
regards to how He uses them. Over the past 38 years I have had to continually
discern and adjust to stay in God’s will. Jesus said the Holy Spirit was like
the wind. It blew where it wanted, when it wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To get to your destination you have to adjust
your sails to catch the wind to propel you to your destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same wind that drives your boat can also
blow against you if your sails are not set right. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Over the
past 38 years I have to constantly discern and adjust to the Spirit of God
directing my life. God has called me to different ministries and then closed
the door on those ministries when they no longer served His purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was called to places and then called
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can not assume that once God
does something in your life that it will never change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
some reading this, you will discover that God’s strategic plan for you is
changing in 2019.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p>Live strategically this year/</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-61552754635117634512018-09-02T04:05:00.001-07:002019-12-14T15:22:48.813-08:00My Soul is Convinced .... But I Know Not How!<br />
<h3 style="margin: 8pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
I was up to my neck in hot water―literally. I was laying in my
antique, six-foot long, claw foot bath tub, filled to the rim with water as hot
as I could stand it. That tub was my favorite place to escape from the
pressures of business, ministry and the cares of the world. </h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">It is there I often have my most intimate discussions with God.
That night I heard myself say, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“My
soul is convinced, but I know not how….”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">The journey of the last few years has included a lot of changes.
Most of those changes have come as bits and pieces of revelation of what
the Kingdom of God, and God’s eternal purposes, are really all about. It
started some fifteen years ago when I was pastor of a small church in
Rockville, MO. It grew during a year and a half of seeking God outside of
formal connection with a local church. It gained expression when I helped
to start a new, nontraditional church. It took on a different expression when
I moved to Papua New Guinea to serve on the mission field. It is becoming
more defined as I continue to seek the Lord for truth and reality. I
expect it will find its culmination in a legitimate expression of the Body of
Christ on the earth in the last days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">That night, more than ever, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
felt my soul convinced that God is expecting something much different than what
we experience as 21st century Evangelical Christians. I know I am about
to slay the sacred cow of evangelicalism, but what if Christianity isn’t just
about getting a ticket to heaven and trying to live a moral life until we get
there?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">What if the gospel message could not be summed up in the Four Spiritual
Laws or the Roman’s Road to Salvation? What if it was more than just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘having your sins forgiven,’</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘giving your heart to God,</i>’ or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘getting saved?’</i> What if you
couldn’t explain the essence of Christianity in a 4″ x 6″ tri fold tract?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN">My soul is convinced</span></i><span lang="EN">―after several years of frustration, prayer, thought, meditation and
seeking―that what we have come to accept as normal church experience in the
past century is not at all what God intended. I’ll be quick to say that
He has used it―as He has always uses imperfect people and means to declare His
great power and glory. However, I am also sure His use of our methods
does not necessarily indicate His satisfaction with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN">“My Soul is convinced</span></i><span lang="EN">.…” I found myself in a quandary. I am thoroughly convinced
of something I am not quite sure how to express or even achieve. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“But I know not how ….”</i> The
knowing of a thing is much different from the doing of a thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">It is that moment when revelation sweeps away the last excuse for the
status quo and you’re left with the stark realization you just can’t do things
the same way you used to do them. However, you are not sure what or how to do
them differently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">What, you might ask, am I even talking about? I think it mostly
has to do with the way we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> Christianity.
The things we emphasize and the way we present the message. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">It is the emphasis of a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ticket to
heaven</i> gospel that avoids the requirements of making God the central part
of our lives. In his challenging book The Cost of Discipleship, WWII era
German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, said, “Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on
ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring
repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession….cheap
grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without
Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">It is the fact that we place far more importance on the organization of
church than the organism of the Body of Christ. The modern, western version
of Christianity is about more events and
programs and presentations and such. It should be about Christ; and
honestly, with all our protestations, it is not. The church is often about
how can we get more people so we can get more money, to do more things and get
a bigger building to get more people―ad nuaseum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">I am disillusioned with the ineffectiveness of a watered-down gospel
that is only about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">having your sins
forgiven</i>. The only requirement is to say a prayer. The gospel is
about much more than having your sins forgiven. Being born again is just
the beginning―not the end―of our salvation. Paul tells us in Romans 8:14,
“Those that are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.” How does
that fit in with our easy believism that is preached today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">I am frustrated with a professional clergy and pastoral system that
hinders the true expression of the Body of Christ while burning out men and
women of God. It is the fact that most pastors are taught that their key
responsibilities are to preach sermons, run the organization and keep people in
church (a difficult combination to say the least). What happened to
discipleship―real discipleship where young Christians are raised up to serve
the Lord―not just coaxed and coddled to stay in the church. What has happened
to developing and mentoring new ministries within the church and allowing them
to have space to serve and grow? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">I am embarrassed by the political rhetoric coming out of the religious
right. The anger and hatred being spewed in the name of Jesus bring more
harm to the Kingdom of God than just about any other thing. I’ve been
shocked to hear ‘evangelical Christians’ resort to mockery, lies and
misinformation to malign the folks they oppose politically. The truth is,
Jesus said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">love</i> your enemies.”
He also said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” It is not that
Christians should distance themselves from politics―it is that Christians
should act like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christians</i> in
politics. What is being expressed by the political/religious right is not
the character of Christ. It is scary to me that so many Christians ae
buying into it and calling it the Kingdom of God. That movement needs to
repent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">My soul is not just convinced of what I am against. Christians <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should not</i> be known mostly for what they
are opposed to, but rather what they stand <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">I am convinced that the genuine expression of Christianity has a lot
more to do with love than we care to imagine. Not a love that condones or
excuses sin. A love that overcomes sin with forgiveness and grace and
resurrection power. A Christianity that presents Christ, not in anger at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">unrighteousness</i>, but in love of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">unrighteous</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">My soul is convinced that a true expression of Christianity has a lot
more to do with serving others―even to the point of sacrifice―than it is about
being more comfortable as a Christian. It embraces the truth that “if we
suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">I am convinced that God is wanting to do more in us, and through us
than ever before, but the current religious structure we worship keeps Him at a
distance. There is a shaking coming to the church. Some will endure it
and some will not. I want to get rid of the “shakable” now so I will not
be greatly moved in the coming days of shaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape
who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn
away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now
He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth but
also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those
things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which
cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which
cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with
reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews
12:25-29<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">God is shaking things up―let Him do it. God is changing things</span></div>
<br />
<h1 style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.0pt; page-break-before: always;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="My_Soul_is_Convinced__But_I_know"><span lang="EN">My Soul is Convinced, But I know Not How…</span></a><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">I was up to my neck in hot water―literally. I was laying in my
antique, six-foot-long, claw foot bath tub, filled to the rim with water as hot
as I could stand it. That tub was my favorite place to escape from the
pressures of business, ministry and the cares of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">It is there I often have my most intimate discussions with God.
That night I heard myself say, <i>“My
soul is convinced, but I know not how….”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">The journey of the last few years has included a lot of changes.
Most of those changes have come as bits and pieces of revelation of what
the Kingdom of God, and God’s eternal purposes, are really all about. It
started some fifteen years ago when I was pastor of a small church in
Rockville, MO. It grew during a year and a half of seeking God outside of
formal connection with a local church. It gained expression when I helped
to start a new, nontraditional church. It took on a different expression when
I moved to Papua New Guinea to serve on the mission field. It is becoming
more defined as I continue to seek the Lord for truth and reality. I
expect it will find its culmination in a legitimate expression of the Body of
Christ on the earth in the last days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">That night, more than ever, I
felt my soul convinced that God is expecting something much different than what
we experience as 21st century Evangelical Christians. I know I am about
to slay the sacred cow of evangelicalism, but what if Christianity isn’t just
about getting a ticket to heaven and trying to live a moral life until we get
there?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">What if the gospel message could not be summed up in the Four Spiritual
Laws or the Roman’s Road to Salvation? What if it was more than just <i>‘having your sins forgiven,’</i> or <i>‘giving your heart to God,</i>’ or <i>‘getting saved?’</i> What if you
couldn’t explain the essence of Christianity in a 4″ x 6″ tri-fold tract?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN">My soul is convinced</span></i><span lang="EN">―after several years of frustration, prayer, thought, meditation and
seeking―that what we have come to accept as normal church experience in the
past century is not at all what God intended. I’ll be quick to say that
He has used it―as He has always uses imperfect people and means to declare His
great power and glory. However, I am also sure His use of our methods
does not necessarily indicate His satisfaction with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN">“My Soul is convinced</span></i><span lang="EN">.…” I found myself in a quandary. I am thoroughly convinced
of something I am not quite sure how to express or even achieve. <i>“But I know not how ….”</i> The
knowing of a thing is much different from the doing of a thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">It is that moment when revelation sweeps away the last excuse for the
status quo and you’re left with the stark realization you just can’t do things
the same way you used to do them. However, you are not sure what or how to do
them differently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">What, you might ask, am I even talking about? I think it mostly
has to do with the way we <i>do</i> Christianity.
The things we emphasize and the way we present the message. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">It is the emphasis of a <i>ticket to
heaven</i> gospel that avoids the requirements of making God the central part
of our lives. In his challenging book The Cost of Discipleship, WWII era
German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, said, “Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on
ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring
repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession…. heap
grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without
Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">It is the fact that we place far more importance on the organization of
church than the organism of the Body of Christ. The modern, western version
of Christianity is about more events and
programs and presentations and such. It should be about Christ; and
honestly, with all our protestations, it is not. Church is often about
how can we get more people so we can get more money, to do more things and get
a bigger building to get more people―ad nuaseum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">I am disillusioned with the ineffectiveness of a watered-down gospel
that is only about <i>having your sins
forgiven</i>. The only requirement is to say a prayer. The gospel is
about much more than having your sins forgiven. Being born again is just
the beginning―not the end―of our salvation. Paul tells us in Romans 8:14,
“Those that are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.” How does
that fit in with our easy believism that is preached today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">I am frustrated with a professional clergy and pastoral system that
hinders the true expression of the Body of Christ, while burning out men and
women of God. It is the fact that most pastors are taught that their key
responsibilities are to preach sermons, run the organization and keep people in
church (a difficult combination to say the least). What happened to
discipleship―real discipleship where young Christians are raised up to serve
the Lord―not just coaxed and coddled to stay in church. What has happened
to developing and mentoring new ministries within the church and allowing them
to have space to serve and grow? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">I am embarrassed by the political rhetoric coming out of the religious
right. The anger and hatred being spewed in the name of Jesus brings more
harm to the Kingdom of God than just about any other thing. I’ve been
shocked to hear ‘evangelical Christians’ resort to mockery, lies and
misinformation to malign the folks they oppose politically. The truth is,
Jesus said, “<i>love</i> your enemies.”
He also said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” It is not that
Christians should distance themselves from politics―it is that Christians
should act like <i>Christians</i> in
politics. What is being expressed by the political/religious right is not
the character of Christ. It is scary to me that so many Christians ae
buying into it and calling it the Kingdom of God. That movement needs to
repent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">My soul is not just convinced of what I am against. Christians <i>should not</i> be known mostly for what they
are opposed to, but rather what they stand <i>for</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">I am convinced that the genuine expression of Christianity has a lot
more to do with love than we care to imagine. Not a love that condones or
excuses sin. A love that overcomes sin with forgiveness and grace and
resurrection power. A Christianity that presents Christ, not in anger at <i>unrighteousness</i>, but in love of the <i>unrighteous</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">My soul is convinced that a true expression of Christianity has a lot
more to do with serving others―even to the point of sacrifice―than it is about
being more comfortable as a Christian. It embraces the truth that, “if we
suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">I am convinced that God is wanting to do more in us, and through us
than ever before, but the current religious structure we worship keeps Him at a
distance. There is a shaking coming to the church. Some will endure it
and some will not. I want to get rid of the “shakable” now so I will not
be greatly moved in the coming days of shaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape
who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn
away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now
He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but
also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those
things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which
cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which
cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with
reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews
12:25-29<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN"><span lang="EN">God is changing things</span>―don't be afraid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN">God is shaking things up―let Him do it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
That which remains cannot
be shaken. It you lose it in the shaking, it was never really of eternal
worth anyway. That which remains cannot
be shaken. It you lose it in the shaking, it was never really of eternal
worth anyway. Be blessed.</div>
<br />Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-53086765356624323892018-08-29T05:25:00.002-07:002018-08-29T05:46:06.097-07:00You are a Hand-crafted Masterpiece<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 119%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">
<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">You are God’s craftsmanship, created in Jesus, for a purpose.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">
<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="mso-pagination: none;">
<b><i>For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]</i>. </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ephesians 2:10 Amplified Bible</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 119%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">In Ephesians 2:10 Paul reveals a startling truth. God has been handcrafting your life for a purpose. There are two things that are revealed here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxxgcxdXdRnZVB0lFP3rf3s0q9SKadw507PzVKnT7J6NAZlHeIBQMkbpHRht9MuEmMuoNil2T2KxgOiewtGR6DR9-KbGnXk44curma55Wurw0sCaa_pO4U5_w7DNi_j6QRo8_-C__Ve4/s1600/dolphin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxxgcxdXdRnZVB0lFP3rf3s0q9SKadw507PzVKnT7J6NAZlHeIBQMkbpHRht9MuEmMuoNil2T2KxgOiewtGR6DR9-KbGnXk44curma55Wurw0sCaa_pO4U5_w7DNi_j6QRo8_-C__Ve4/s1600/dolphin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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(<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 14.28px; text-align: justify;">Photo: a carved dolphin from </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt;">East New</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt;">Brittan </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt;">Island Brooke</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt;"> got me for my</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt;">birthday </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt;">last year.)</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-align: justify; text-justify: newspaper; text-justify: newspaper; text-kashida-space: 50%; text-kashida-space: 50%;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">First, handcrafted items are beautiful and valuable things. In an age of mass production and cheap knock-offs, it is important to know God does not mass-produce Christians–He handcrafts them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> He is handcrafting YOU! </span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">God takes the raw materials of your life – your experience, personality, education, the good, the bad and the ugly – and begins creating something of beauty, value and usefulness. This work starts the the minute you accepted Jesus as your Savior. it will not end until Christ comes back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-align: justify; text-justify: newspaper; text-justify: newspaper; text-kashida-space: 50%; text-kashida-space: 50%;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><b style="font-style: italic;">"And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you." </b>Philippians 1:6 Amplpified Bible</span></blockquote>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">A craftsmen can look at a piece of wood, a rock or a lump of clay and imagine what the finished product will look like - before he starts. The unskilled eye sees nothing but a stick or a rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The craftsman sees a masterpiece. Slowly but surely the excess material that hides the final image is removed and the masterpiece takes shape. This is God’s work in your life. Throughout your life God removes the unnecessary and futile things that take away from God's will and purpose in your life. Bit by bit - experience by experience - year by year - you are transformed into the image of Christ.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-align: justify; text-justify: newspaper; text-justify: newspaper; text-kashida-space: 50%; text-kashida-space: 50%;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><i><b>For those whom He foreknew [of whom He wasaware andloved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. </b></i>Romans 8:29 Amplified Bible</span></blockquote>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">The second thing to note in the Ephesian passage is that each person is handcrafted for a </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">purpose. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Jesus did not save you just to get you to heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has a plan and a purpose for you, here on earth, before you leave this life for eternity. The Bible speaks much of rewards and crowns for those who serve and overcome.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Paul said that God's plan and purpose for your life was preordained for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t have to talk God into using you,or struggle figuring out what you are to do for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He already knows your purpose and He will be glad to tell you if you just ask. </span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Jesus saved you for a purpose, and God has been at work in your life to make you into a vessel that can be used for that specific purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why you are unique – and </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic;">uniquely qualified </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">– to serve God in the thing He has called you to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Many people can not figure out why things have happened in their lives. While there are a few reasons for confusing things, the Bible assures us of two things:</span></span><br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">1. God works in every circumstance to make us what He wants us to be.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><b>We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose</b></i>. Romans 8:28</span></span></blockquote>
2. God's redeems our lives - and everything about them - if we let Him. Redemption means to buy-back. When God redeems us we belong to Him - the good, the bad and the ugly. As He works in our life, all of those things are redeemed - converted to the purpose of His kingdom. Sin that was once a source of guilt and shame becomes the testimony that sets others free. The redemption of the hurts and abuses we have suffered become the storyline that gives others, in the same situation, hope! But these things only happen in context of God's plan and purpose for your life. Otherwise these life-experiences just seem pointless and worthless. Bad things have happened to all of us. In Christ even the bad things become a positive when we allow God to redeem them and use us according ot His plan.</div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: "arial";">In Matthew 24 & 25 Jesus spoke several parables</span><span style="font-family: "arial";">. These parables all deal with the truth of Jesus giving His servants something to do - and returning at a future time to require an accounting and give out rewards or consequences. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Jesus did not save you to sit in church. He saved you for a purpose in His kingdom and your life will never make sense until you find that plan and purpose. True fulfillment is only found in God's destiny for your life.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold;">Do you know your purpose? Are You fulfilling it? </span></h2>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">If you need to discuss these thoughts, please contact me and I will be glad to visit with you about finding and fulfilling God's plan and purpose in you life.</span></span><br />
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Just email me: steve@stevehighlander.com</span></span></div>
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<br />Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-72193103159156324672018-03-08T01:43:00.002-08:002018-03-08T02:34:29.978-08:00The Second Coming - The Sign Nobody Talks About<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>"What is the sign of your coming and the end of the age?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
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<b>Why Jesus won't come back today or tomorrow.</b></div>
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Everyone wants to know when Jesus is coming back. It is a question that is nearly 2000 years old. In response to these questions (Matthew 24) Jesus gave a number of signs. Since that day people have been watching for the fulfillment of those signs.<br />
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Through the last 2000 years we have had many predictions, based on those signs, that Jesus's return was imminent. In the 1500s, the Archbishop of York and Primate of England said, <span style="font-style: italic;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The signs mentioned by Christ in the Gospel which should be the foreshewers of this terrible day, are almost all fulfilled." </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Other groups have variously predicted the years 1538, 1590, 1844 (three different dates after the first two didn't happen), shortly after WWI, 1981 and 1988 and 1989 and more recently 2016 -- among others.</span><br />
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There is no question that Jesus is coming back. There are some debate over when and how that will happen. The Second Coming of Jesus is a big deal - as it should be to any serious Christian. I do not intend to get into the pre-tribulation / post-tribulation debate. That is not the purpose of this blog. Maybe another day, because I certainly have my beliefs (though they tend to change decade to decade).<br />
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I grew up (spiritually) hearing that Jesus could come any day and that I should live as though it could be today. While there is a nugget of motivational truth in that thought I would like to suggest that it is a very limited way of looking at things.<br />
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"You mean to tell me that you don't think Jesus could come back today?" Well, God is God, He can do anything He wants, but Jesus did not say, "Listen up boys it could be any day." He did say something would happen first and, "....then the end would come."<br />
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For many years I have heard Christians talk about the signs Jesus spoke of: earthquakes, disease, wars, etc. In all of that time I have never heard a sermon on the one thing Jesus said must happen before the end would come. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, <b>and then the end will come.</b>" Matthew 24:14<br />
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The signs Jesus referred to earlier in this discourse were called "birth pangs." They were preliminary events to alert us to the fact the end was drawing near. They were meant to wake us up - break us out of the status quo and the routine of life as usual - for a purpose. However, the evangelization of the entire world wasn't a birth pang (a painful thing) it was the hallmark -- it was the last word on the issue. It was the vision, the anticipation and the joy that made the rest of the end time events bearable. The joy of the birth overshadowed the pain of the process.<br />
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In various places the Bible gets specific about just what evangelizing the world actually means. Consider the Revelation song: "You are worthy...For You were slain,and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of <b>every tribe and tongue and people and nation</b>...."<br />
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The song lists four four, inclusive distinctives:<br />
<ol>
<li>Tribes: Meaning kindred or clan - extended family groups if you will</li>
<li>Tongues: Literally languages (estimated 7102 languages in the world)</li>
<li>People: A different race than one's own</li>
<li>Nations: Basically a national identity (i.e. American, Mexican, French, etc)</li>
</ol>
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Westerners really don't get the implications of how specific this scripture actually is. Let me illustrate. In Papua New Guinea (a nation) we have 1000 tribes. Within those tribes there are various family clans (land ownership in by clan usually) and those 1000 tribes and related clans speak 830 languages . Some of those languages have less than 200 people who speak it. Do you see how specific the work of world evangelism actually is? All the way down to a people group containing 200 persons.</div>
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Again in Revelation 14:6 we find, "And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto <b>every nation and tribe and tongue and people;</b>:"</div>
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God is serious about reaching the world -- down to the smallest tribe or people group.</div>
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Currently, various mission organizations number unreached people groups from 6741 groups containing 3.11 billion people (travelingteams.org) to 7040 groups containing 3.14 billion people) (The Joshua Project www.joshuaproject.org) These groups represent over 40% of the world's population. The fact remains, the world has not yet been evangelized according to Jesus and the book of Revelation.</div>
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So, could Jesus come today? According to His own word - NO! </div>
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While he gave a few signs indicating birth pangs, the one thing that must happen before he comes back is the preaching of the gospel to every tribe, tongue, people and nation. We have work to do if we want to see Jesus return in our lifetime. Is it possible that you and I have a say in the timing of the Lord's return? it is something to think about. Maybe that is why Jesus was unable to answer the question about the day or the hour.</div>
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For those who want to talk about the end time signs and make dire predictions and useless speculations, I simply say, "What are you doing about the great commission?" Are you going? Are you praying? Are you giving? If you are serious about the second coming, I encourage you to get serious (or more serious) about finding your place in world missions.<br />
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Here is a resource I wrote on becoming more involved in world missions without going to the mission field. <a href="http://stevehighlander.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Become-a-Virtual-Missionary.pdf">http://stevehighlander.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Become-a-Virtual-Missionary.pdf</a></div>
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Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-79733901841874294772018-01-03T23:19:00.001-08:002018-01-03T23:19:31.007-08:00Part 3 Have we Messed up the Whole "Presence of God" Thing?<div class="MsoNormal">
Part 3 of 3<br />
Have We Messed Up the Whole “Presence of God” Thing? <br />
Am I limiting God with My Limited Expectation?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Part one of this series looked at
the issue of the manifest presence of God in our lives and churches. Part two looked at the issue of God’s “ever-present-ness”
in our lives. In other words, He doesn’t
come and go, He lives in and with us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My third point deals with the
question of expectation. Is “feeling the
presence of God” the epitome of our Christian experience? </div>
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I have known many Christians who chased
revival. They were addicted to the
excitement and manifest presence of God in a service. They would drive hours to go to the next
meeting. The only problem was, I never
saw their lives change very much. It was
all about “feeling” or seeing some manifestation (real or contrived). </div>
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I must stop and relate a humorous experience
I had in a church I was attending one morning.
The pastor was caught up in a movement which emphasized outward
manifestations like gold dust, feathers, and other things in services. During
the sermon he stopped and fixed his eyes on something. He followed it down (no one else could see
it) and stuck out his finger and claimed to have “caught” a little tiny fluff
of feather. It was so small (if indeed
it was there at all) that you couldn’t see it.
But he gave the indication that a feather had fallen in his service: The
manifest presence of God and the validation that we were indeed in the right
place. </div>
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So my thought was, “you have a
very tiny God, if His feathers aren’t any bigger than a tiny piece of down”. Or perhaps the angel was shedding. I am not sure what the message was supposed
to be, but the intent was clear – God is here and this is proof. Honestly, it was one (I’ve seen more) of the
most ridiculous things I have seen in church. (It is a shame that I feel the
urgent need to place this disclaimer – but here it is: I am not saying that God
cannot or has not done things like gold dust or feathers, my point here was
that we cannot make the stuff up to fit in.
And, if the “manifestations” don’t result in changed lives, what good
are they?)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Back to the main point. If the
presence of God is really in a place -- either for a visitation or as a
habitation – lives will be changed on a regular basis. The idea that the revival meeting (read that
the exciting manifest presence of God) is the epitome of the Christian
experience is erroneous. In fact, I was
asked not to come back to a church because of this point. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have known pastors and leaders who
wanted continual revival meetings, but were not concerned with genuine
revival. The truth is a revival meeting
will only last as long as there are people who need to be revived. Since “vive” is Latin for Life, “revival”
means to bring life back to something that was dead – or perhaps -- to
resuscitate. Those that are “vived” don’t need “revival.” Once those in need of
revival stop coming, those type of meetings will cease for the time being. A simple look through the history of revival
shows that revivals tend to run their course – some sooner than later, and for a
variety of reasons. The fact is, once you and I are revived, we need to start
living out that revival in our lives – not attend more meetings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have also known ministries that
were caught up in the “soaking” movement.
This is where Christians gather to “soak in the presence of God” while
worshipping or listening to worship music.
Once again, I have observed a two-fold problem. The first that it is self-focused, and the second:
I haven’t seen any real fruit for the Kingdom come out of it. Those I have personally known to do this
still aren’t really accomplishing anything significant for God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If the “manifest presence of God”
is not changing lives, we must question if it is really a spiritual thing or
simply an emotional thing. Emotions,
while real and valid – and necessary – cannot produce Spiritual results – only
the Spirit of God can. Spiritual
experiences can produce emotional responses, but the reverse is not true. Jesus said, that which is flesh is flesh and
that which is Spirit is Spirit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The bottom line of this series of
articles is simple. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One: Do I stop at sensing the
presence of God through my five senses and calling it good, or must I allow the
Holy Spirit to do a deeper work in my life? It is sometimes easier to allow God
to work when we sense His presence, but it does not automatically follow that
we will let Him or that He isn’t doing anything when we can’t feel Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Two: Am I chasing God, or some experience in
God? There is a difference! Christianity
is not a “spectator sport.” We don’t
gather in stadiums to watch God do all the stuff through a limited number of
specialized players. The apostle Paul linked
two critical components of Christianity together in three different books. The two issues were the gifts of the Holy
Spirit in relationship to the Body of Christ.
In each passage he emphatically declares that “each one of us” have been
given Spiritual gifts for the benefit of all. Christianity should not be “me”
centered. In other words, it should not
be about my experience, my blessing, my healing, my ministry, or any other “my”
you can name. It is to be Christ-centered
first and people-centered second. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Three: We need to be aware that God does not come
and go. He is ever-present in the life
of the believer – and the non-believer for that matter. It is more of a matter of taking time to be
consciously aware of what is already present.
When Paul presented the gospel message to the pagan philosophers on Mars
Hill in Athens (Acts 17) he said, “So that they should seek God, in the hope
that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each
one of us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here Paul indicated God is close
enough to a spiritually blinded person that he could “feel around and find
Him,” if he wanted to. It is our job to
recognize where God is at work in a person’s life and point them in that
direction.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“…And they shall call His name
Emmanuel—which, when translated, means, God with us.” God with us -- not, the
God that visits on occasion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I commend you to the presence of
God.<o:p></o:p></div>
Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-60108989331158496982018-01-03T23:15:00.000-08:002018-01-03T23:19:52.765-08:00Have We Messed up the Whole Presence of God Thing - Part 2<div class="MsoNormal">
Part 2 of 3<br />
Have We Messed Up the Whole “Presence of God” Thing? <br />
I don’t Feel God, What’s Wrong?<o:p></o:p></div>
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In The first article I looked at
the issue of God’s presence as a visitation or a habitation. In the second part
we want to look at the issue of being in God’s presence when we don’t feel it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Not feeling the presence of God does not mean
we are not in the presence of God all the time – Just that we are more aware of
it at times, and others, not so much.
Our experience has dictated our theology – which is never good. Consider the clear word of God. In Psalm 139
(Message Bible), David cries out: <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Is there any place I can go to
avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you're
there! If I go underground, you're there! If I flew on morning's wings to the
far western horizon, you’d find me in a minute— you're already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I'm
immersed in the light!" It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you; night and
day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Paul picks up this thought in
Romans 9, when he says we don’t ascend to heaven to bring God down, nor descend
to hell to Bring Christ up. He is near
always. He isn’t somewhere else needing
to show up. In Ephesians 4:6 Paul put it
this way. “Now this, He ascended, what
is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He that
descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, <b>that he might fill all things</b>.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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The book of Hebrews says Christ
ever lives to make intercession for us according to the will of God. He doesn’t only do that when we consciously
ask Him to – but perhaps especially when we aren’t all that conscious of Him in
our lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If the universe is filled with
Christ, there is no place where you or I could go not to be in His presence.
This ought to be a sobering thought for two reasons. The first is that you and I can’t hide from
God – Adam tried it and it didn’t work for him. Sooner or later – if you are a
child of God – God will call you out.
“Adam, where are you?” It is a fact that some Christians try to hide
from God by not going to church, while others try to hide from God in
church. Are you hiding from God for some
reason? If so, God is calling your name
right now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The second sobering thought is
that God really does see all -- bad and good!
He sees your sacrifice and your motives – which might have been ignored
or questioned by others. He sees your
heart and soul. He sees how hard you
try, even when you fail. He knows you inside and out – and He still loves
you. Gaining a proper understanding of
the absolute presence of God will bring a release in our lives in many ways. One you understand that the presence of God in
your life is not based on your good performance, it frees you to walk with God
in a greater measure than ever before.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is particularly relevant
with the power of God in and through our lives. We make the same mistake with
the “anointing.” We tend to believe the
“anointing” comes and goes in our lives.
It does not. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“But the anointing which you have
received from Him <b>abides</b> in
you….” I John 2:27<o:p></o:p></div>
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The anointing does not come and
go in your life. It ABIDES! This is because the anointing is not
something you put on and take off- or something that God gives and takes. The Anointing is the HOLY SPIRIT. He does not come and go, He lives in you
24/7/365. This means that when I go to a
store, God goes to that store. When I
enter the hospital, God enters the hospital.
You and I are carriers of the Anointing – The Holy Spirit. That means you can, at any time and in any
place, allow the Holy Spirit to move in and through you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Most definitely there are times
when we can feel the presence of God in more tangible ways. Most definitely we see God more powerfully at
certain times than at others. However,
is it Him not being present or is it us, not being aware of and placing our
faith in His presence?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The idea that I somehow must be
worthy of that anointing is a mistake we have made for years. The Gifts of God (Romans 12, I Corinthians 12
and Ephesians 4) that manifest His power in and through believers are just that
– GIFTS. Undeserved. Unearned. Unmerited
in any way. For if it is anything other
than freely given and freely received it immediately ceases to be a gift.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The significant truth of this
article is that God does not come and go in our lives. The Holy Spirit Abides. Jesus said, “I will never leave or forsake
you.” Acknowledging God’s ever-present-ness
releases us from a performance-based view and causes us to understand that God
is at work in and through our lives all the time. Sometimes we are more aware of it than
others, but the more we are aware, the more things get done.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://steveinthesouthpacific.blogspot.com/2018/01/part-3-have-we-messed-up-whole-presence.html" target="_blank">(Keep reading Article three inthe Series: Have We Messed Up the Whole “Presence of God” Thing?)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-18474640460246380212018-01-03T23:13:00.000-08:002018-01-03T23:24:37.210-08:00Have We Messed up the Whole "Presence of God" Thing? Part 1<div class="MsoNormal">
Part 1/3 - Understanding Visitation and Habitation - <o:p></o:p></div>
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I stood on the platform of the
small, midwestern church I was pastoring.
It was during our worship time in the service. I was struggling because I could not feel the
presence of God. I prayed, “Father,
please come and be with us.” A few
minutes later, I “felt” the presence of God come into the service. As I stood there I said, “Thank you God for
coming.” God said, “Now that I am here,
what are you going to do with me?” This
is a true story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A few years later I was working
for a friend of mine who was a Christian attending an old line denominational
church. Our Office manager was a Spirit-filled
Christian. On Friday mornings the three of us would have an office prayer
meeting. One morning as we prayed, the
presence of God was very strong. No one said a word for about 10-15
minutes. We just sat in the awesome
silence. My friend broke the
silence. “So that’s what that feels
like!” He had “felt” the presence of God
for the first time in his Christian life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have had many more powerful experiences
with what I call the “manifest presence of God,” but these will suffice for
this series of articles. I want to make
three points about the presence of God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Point one: There are times when
we sense the presence of God in more significant ways than others. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Point two: This does not mean we are not in the presence
of God when we don’t feel Him at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Point three: Should “feeling the
presence of God” be the epitome of our experience? Or is there something more we should be
after?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Point one<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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My experience from the first
story taught me two important things.
First, that my assumption was wrong.
I thought God was only there when I felt Him. The second was that I limited what God wanted
to do by limiting my expectation. I was
content to “feel the presence of God” (whether anyone else could wasn’t even a
consideration at that point.) My expectation was fulfilled. I had my experience. I could cross my arms and say, “okay, we had
a good service.” I was very naive in the
past.<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, God pulled me up short
with His challenge. “What are you going
to do with me now that I am here?” Do
with you? I hadn’t even considered that.
My expectation never went beyond feeling His presence. I had always stopped there. I assumed if He was there -- and I could feel
it -- that others could too, and that was enough. We would know we were the chosen people of God
because God showed up. It validated us. We
felt good that we had invited God and He came. However, God’s manifest presence
in our individual or congregational lives isn’t a badge of approval. It is a sign that He wants to work, and God
works in very unlikely and unholy people at times.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Bible speaks of a visitation
of God and a habitation of God. Visitations
were times when God would “visit” His people for the specific purpose of either
for blessing or judgment. A visitation is relatively brief compared to
habitation. In the first, someone visits
and leaves; the other is where you live. If you are having visitors over, you might
clean the house and prepare some special things. Then the visit will end and
things will be back to normal. However, in a dwelling, things are much more
casual. You let your hair down. You get real.
You walk around in your underwear – something you probably wouldn’t do
with visitors present. Life happens in dwellings – the good, the bad and the
ugly. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Christianity is a daily lifestyle
not a weekly service. I believe we have settled for visitations when God wants
a habitation. In Exodus 25 we find God challenging
the Israelites to, “Build me a sanctuary, that I might dwell among you.” This was the beginning. We find the conclusion of God’s desire in
Revelation 21:3, “And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold,
the tabernacle of God is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall
be His people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I find it difficult to think His
desire changed in the middle. The very concept of the indwelling Spirit is that
we are never apart from God – as if God and Jesus were somewhere in outer space
and had to be called down to where we are.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While we would never minimize the
presence of God, we need ask the question: should “feeling the presence of God”
be the end goal of our experience with God, or is it the doorway to a greater
work of God in our lives? Christian singers and songwriters Steve and Annie
Chapman wrote a song which, in part, said, “To come into the presence of the
living God is to be changed. You cannot
come into His high and Holy Place and stay the same. So, change me Lord, remake me Lord, conform
me to the image of your son.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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When the Bible relates stories of
people who encountered God there was always a significant reaction. It was not a ho-hum experience. However today, some people can come to church
and nothing ever changes. In fact for
many, church is a necessary evil to be endured, at least on occasion, with no
thought that something life-changing is going to happen. (If there were some
life-changing expectation, our churches would be full!) What is wrong with this picture?<o:p></o:p></div>
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God wants to work in and through
us. It takes a genuine understanding of
His ever-present-ness in our lives and churches for this to happen on a
consistent basis. Are you settling for
visitations, or are you building a habitation for God?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://steveinthesouthpacific.blogspot.com/2018/01/have-we-messed-up-whole-presence-of-god_3.html" target="_blank">(Keep reading part two "I don't Feel God's Presence, What's WRong?" in theSeries: Have We Messed Up the Whole “Presence of God” Thing?)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-10702309835538663712017-03-09T20:03:00.000-08:002017-03-10T08:17:32.290-08:00The Lies We Believe and the Truth That Sets Us Free<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtr_tPpfAG8yeCjOCX1-mmp9H0nguSqyb7ZS7Cb-1od6AISnx7y1zCgvvrehRQhbJL3oGr4uFtqBF8thYR9rOUyuFC26ZwO0P8BIn4Ua5BwaM_IJM4PPQTLD1sEJeX28OVgTT-MByYzE/s1600/jesus+truth+satan+liar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtr_tPpfAG8yeCjOCX1-mmp9H0nguSqyb7ZS7Cb-1od6AISnx7y1zCgvvrehRQhbJL3oGr4uFtqBF8thYR9rOUyuFC26ZwO0P8BIn4Ua5BwaM_IJM4PPQTLD1sEJeX28OVgTT-MByYzE/s320/jesus+truth+satan+liar.jpg" width="233" /></a>No one wants to believe a lie – unfortunately most of us do at one time or another. The most dangerous lies are religious ones. I am not talking about false doctrine – although the Bible warns of lying spirits and doctrines of demons. The most damaging lies are the ones we let govern our personal thoughts and actions.<br />
<br />
Our brains are super computers – and like regular computers –
they are programmable. The programming
comes in the form of the belief systems we accept as real and valid as we go
through our lives. Some people have
heard the words, “You are good for nothing and will never amount to anything,”
their whole lives. It is now a base operating
program in their belief system. Every opportunity,
every possibility is filtered through this false belief. Since they believe they would never be
successful they fail to try – or worse – sabotage their own opportunities so
they don’t have to go through the expected pain of failure. The end game is the same, their false belief
system keeps them from being more than they are right now. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Others have the old style reel-to-reel recording playing
constantly in their minds, “I’m ugly.” Or “I’m a failure.” Still others succumb
to more spiritual lies such as: “God couldn’t possibly love you.” or “I’ll
never be good enough for God to use me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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These thought programs, and dozens more like them, plague a
significant amount of people. But they
are LIES! Just because a lie seems to be
true, doesn’t make it so. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Consider this powerful scripture carefully:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed<br />
by the RENEWING of your mind….”</span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Romans 12:2</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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Conformation and transformation is contrasted. Conformation is outward; it is pressure applied externally to get you to look or act a certain way. Much like modeling clay, conformation changes the outward appearance, but not the substance.
It is peer pressure – even religious
peer pressure -- to make you look like something you are not. Many people go to church and are conformed,
but never transformed. Have you ever felt pressured to act or talk a certain way in church to avoid criticism or judgement? You did it just to fit in, when you needed to, but you were not changed by it.</div>
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On the other hand is transformation. The nature of a thing
is changed during transformation. It is
for this reason Jesus’ first miracle was significant. Have you ever stopped to wonder why God chose
the wedding at Canaan and turning water to wine as the first recorded
miracle? Precisely because God wanted to
demonstrate that He wanted to transform lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Paul tells us in this passage in Romans that we are
transformed by renewing our minds – or, in other words, learning to think
differently. Why is this? Because your belief system is your basic
operating system for your life. When
your thinking starts to line up with God and His word your life is changed by
it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A person can desperately want to change, but if they do not
think differently about the issues bothering them, they will return to the old habits
and patterns. I ministered to a man that
was an alcoholic. He told me beer was
his friend, because it kept him alive.
If he didn’t drink he would kill himself. That man never overcame alcohol, because he
could change his mind about alcohol being his friend. Another dear friend of
mine (and a member of my church) loved God, but could never totally overcome
alcohol. He even preached a little, sharing
his testimony of how God saved him when he was sitting on the edge of a bed
with a gun in his hand getting ready to commit suicide. It was at that moment a preacher knocked on
his door and led him to the Lord. All his life his father had told him, “You’re
a no good son of a bitch and you will always be a no good son of a bitch.” He started
drinking in his early teens. All he ever
wanted was a nice word from his father.
That tape played in his head constantly and he never could totally
overcome it. He died sitting in his
truck in front of a liquor store from a ruptured appendix. The lies we believe
must be replaced if we are to experience transformation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and<br />
the truth shall make you free.” </span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 8:31</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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How can we determine what belief
systems we operate with are lies? There
is only ONE way. Anything that
contradicts the TRUTH is a lie. So how
do we determine TRUTH? You can’t operate
on emotions here – after all, the lies you believe seem so real. We simply need to accept some source of
truth. Is there one? Of course there is – first there is
Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the way, THE
TRUTH, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me.” (John14:6)
Then there is the Word of God – the Bible.
Jesus was, “the Word made flesh.” (John 1:14) When tempted by the devil, just before starting His public ministry, Jesus rebuked the old serpent with a
quote from the Old Testament, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every
word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Deut. 8:2)<b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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We have a promise that, “The truth
will set us free.” However, it is not
just hearing the truth, or even acknowledging the truth – it is believing the
truth, and replacing the lies we have accepted with the truth of God’s
Word. Let’s look at this in real
life. For one reason or another a person accepts the religious lie that God doesn’t (or couldn't) love them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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All of our lives we are
programmed to believe that our personal value is based on performance. It starts early. “Be good and Santa Claus will bring you
presents,” is the earliest reinforcement of this false principle. “Eat your spinach and you can have some ice
cream,” we heard growing up. If you don’t
obey you have stand in the corner or go to bed.
In Sunday school and kindergarten, we learned that we got stars on our
chart for good behavior or performance, such as memorizing a scripture or learning
your ABC’s. Good performance landed you
on the basketball team or the cheerleading squad. A’s and B’s on report cards garnered smiles
and approval. Poor performance got you laughed at, disciplined, or disapproved
of. Slowly, through our whole childhood,
we are programmed to believe our personal worth and value are based on how well
we perform. That we have to earn what we get through good performance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then that person goes to church
and hears the Good News that God loves them.
That sounds good -- too good to be true.
The thought surfaces on cue, “Yes God does love people, but He couldn’t
possibly love ME because I have terrible performance. I have nothing to offer
Him. I have done too many bad
things. I am a loser, why would He love
me?” Do you see the effect of the
programmed lie? God tells us our
personal worth and value is not based on our performance. The TRUTH is found in Romans 5:8 “But God
shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that <b>while we were still sinners<i>,</i></b> Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed
One) died for us.” (Amplified Bible) The lie that person has believed for years
is now confronted. They have to decide
which programming they are going to allow to operate in their life. For some reason the lies that have been
pounded into our lives hold tremendous emotional and even spiritual power over
us. The fresh Truth contained in the Bible
doesn’t seem to be as real as the established lie.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is right here that a decision
has to be made. A trade has to take
place. The lie has to be replaced with
the truth. We must choose what we
believe. This is the essence of faith. You
may not feel like the scripture is true, because the longstanding power of the
lie, but faith is not based on emotion.
Faith is based on the Word of God. You must choose to replace every lie
with the truth revealed in God’s Word.
At first a conscious effort has to be made. You choose to believe the
scripture. You then must make the effort
to start replacing the lie with the truth.
This can be done through confessing scripture. Let’s use our example. The lie is, “God couldn’t possibly love me.” The truth is, “God loved you while you were
still sinning.” Every time that old
recording starts play, you must choose to replace the recording with a new one –
a scriptural one.</div>
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Do you have areas of your life
that just are not changing? Nothing
seems to work long term. You should
consider the possibility that life or satan has implanted a lie into your belief system and your operating
on that. I have seen people get set free
instantly by replacing a lie with the truth from God’s word. Truth is powerful.<o:p></o:p></div>
Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-44123404418973714532016-12-09T10:17:00.000-08:002016-12-10T21:10:31.727-08:00Three "Rs": Why the Church in America HAS to Change - Part 1In days gone by the "Three Rs" referred to basic educational elements of: "readin', writin' and rithmatic."<br />
<br />
Today I believe there are "Three Rs" that relate specifically the Church in America today (and to some extent the model of the church we export to the world through media and mission work). Those three Rs are: Relevance, Riches and Retention. Unfortunately these three Rs are having a negative impact on the church and need to be addressed.<br />
<br />
Before I get started I want to say that I think the best days of the Church of Jesus Christ are just ahead of us. I believe wholeheartedly that a massive move of God -- through the Church -- will usher many into the Kingdom and bring back many who have fallen away. How you define "best days," however depends a lot on your theology. If it means more fancy church buildings, programs and a socio/political system that looks favorably on Christianity, I think we are in for a nasty let-down. If we define "best days" as the Church functioning as the Body of Christ, standing up for and expressing a genuine Christianity with a love and power that draws people to Christ (not our church or particular flavor of doctrine) we will be pleasantly surprised. I am not a doomsdayist. I believe God will powerfully impact and transform the church in the last days and that Church -- empowered and emboldened by the Holy Spirit -- will impact the world during an all-out clash of spiritual kingdoms.<br />
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I have always said God will have a church on earth in the last days that fully displays Christ, through the many-membered Body of Christ. That there will be a church that displays God's power, love and glory is not the question. The question is, "Will you and I be a part of that Church?"<br />
<br />
Something HAS to change.<br />
<br />
Most statistic show that church membership across the board is declining -- especially in mainline denominations. The churches that are showing significant growth often are forced to attribute that growth to transfer membership rather than evangelism. If you talk to many pastors you discover the plight of revolving door membership. In many churches membership remains relatively stable, with the same amount of people coming in as going out over the long run. If you are growing and sustaining that growth - congratulations. We cannot simply afford to take a head-in-the-sand approach any more and ignore the fact that something is fundamentally wrong with church as usual. The easy answer is to blame the people who won't come or won't stay. "They are just a bunch of sinners that don't want God," we might be tempted to say, therefore making it about them and not us. This approach allows us to justify ourselves and our efforts. Is it really everyone else's fault? I mean really? Is there not something we could do differently? Do we really have all the answers and the perfect way of doing church?<br />
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I believe this is where the "Three Rs" (Relevance, Riches and Retention) come into play -- and not in a positive way. Let's examine the issues:<br />
<br />
Is the Church relevant to today's lives and issues? I want you to understand that I am not talking about the Gospel message or the Bible itself - those don't change and don't need to change. They are applicable and adaptable to every culture in the world. I am talking about the model of church we practice. The way we teach and preach. Our evangelistic models. Our worship. Our measure of success. Our goals.<br />
<br />
Many people are leaving church because it has simply lost relevance for them.<br />
They aren't necessarily turning from God, they just refuse to sit in church Sunday after Sunday without their real spiritual needs being met. They are refusing to go through the motions when their lives are broken. They are struggling with addictions, broken relationships, parenting, the economy and a world that is constantly assaulting their worth and values. Frankly, the American church -- for the most part -- is not meeting these needs is a real and significant way.<br />
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Realizing the need for RELEVANCE, but missing the point entirely, churches have turned to a world based model. "We need to reach the younger generation," they say, "so let's make church like the world, then we will be relevant. Enter stage right: lights, fog, modern dance, huge-screen TVs, Starbucks, etc. We need to ask the question though, "Will a tall, skinny, sugar-free, Caramel Mocha with soy milk fix a broken heart (for more than a few minutes)? Will an extra big screen focusing on the drummer make a difference in someone's life (other than perhaps a backslidden drummer)? How does a fog machine reach into a soul?<br />
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Now, lest I offend anyone, if you have or want those things, it is ok (to some degree) with me. My point is, that is not the relevance people are needing or looking for. There is nothing inherently sinful about technology or theatrics, if they are tools to help us minister. If they become the "ministry" in and of themselves, it is a problem. If we think we can attract people with flash and then spoon-feed them the gospel, there is a problem. <br />
<br />
Paul lived in a society that was built on Greek philosophy. He said, "My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom (competing with the philosopher's of the day) but with power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit. In a direct apples-to-apples comparison, if Paul were around today I don't think he would be advocating the use all the worldly entertainment devices we depend on to make our churches "relevant."<br />
<br />
So what would relevance look like if it doesn't come with lights and a show?<br />
<br />
I believe real relationships would be number one on the list. Not the kind that requires a mask to protect one's self from criticism and judgement. Relationships that allow us to feel comfortable with who we are and where we are on our spiritual journey. Relationships that involve give and take. One day you are the giver and the next you may be the receiver. One-sided relationships are never real relationships. Mostly churches offer a one-sided relationship: We are here to talk and you are here to listen. Small group dynamic are essential for this type of two-sided relevance.<br />
<br />
The second thing on the relevance list would be the power of God. While this might seem primary, I think that for many the idea of the miraculous is a bit overwhelming. People who have been in a church that does not pray publicly for people will feel very intimidated about "going down front for prayer." Many see the people on TV with lavish lifestyles and hear about the scandals and form an opinion about everyone based on a few. Relationships will pave the way for people to be open to the power of God. People are simply tired of being told about a powerful, loving God and failing to realize that in their lives. For many there is a real disconnect between what they hear and believe and what they experience. They are simply tired and don't know anything else. I have often said that religion is like getting an inoculation: people get just enough of something to keep them from getting the real thing.<br />
<br />
The third thing on the relevance list would be significance. One of the seven deep psychological needs of a person is to be involved with something bigger than themselves. People want significance and they settle for success. The church in America has often promoted success as a means of significance.<br />
<br />
Success and significance are not the same thing. (<a href="https://stevehighlander.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/success-or-significance/" target="_blank">I wrote an entire blog article on the difference between success and significance - read it here</a>). The most significant thing a person can do is find their place in the Body of Christ and serve God in the power of the Holy Spirit - whatever that might be. Jesus said, "I ordained you to bear fruit and that your fruit should remain." Churches must get past the "noses and nickels" mentality of Church growth. We must realize that to stop the revolving door we must become relevant. We must actively purpose to disciple people, help them find their spiritual gifts, their place in the Body of Christ, and allow them the opportunity to develop and grow in their particular ministry, If people are not developing a sense of significance, they will not stay in a church. To put it another was, to be relevant we need to make people relevant. There is even a danger that this statement can be taken wrong. Someone could read this and think we have to make the person feel more welcome or special. This is not what I am talking about. I am talking about helping people find their relevance in the world through the Kingdom of God -- and that may or may not look successful in the eyes of the world.<br />
<br />
Stop back for Part two of this article and I will discuss Riches and Retention and how they need to be adjusted for sustained growth.Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-48745750484678567762015-08-26T04:52:00.002-07:002015-08-26T04:52:46.279-07:00Papua New Guinea: A Christian Nation<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">August 26 is National Day of Repentance</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Prime Minister renounces idolatry and enters into Covenant with the God of Israel</span></span><br />
</h2>
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Only time and eternity will tell how significant of an hour this is spiritually for Papua New Guinea (PNG). The longer I am here the greater sense I get that this is a pivotal time in PNG history and that prayer, Christian workers and resources must be thrown into this harvest field while the harvest is ripe and the doors are wide open for the gospel.</div>
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It seems very odd to me to think that I left the USA, a self-proclaimed Christian Nation (now considered post Christian by many) to become a missionary in one of the least developed countries in the world. (PNG is still pretty wild. <a href="http://www.steveinthesouthpacific.blogspot.com/">Read some earlier blog posts</a> for different stats on the country.)</div>
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The thing I find so odd is that PNG is also a self-proclaimed Christian nation, Today is the <b>National Day of Repentance</b> - not National Day of Prayer like in the USA, but <b>Repentance</b>. It is a national holiday. It is a day that the government sets aside for the citizens to repent of idolatry and turn to Christ. Of course for many it is just a day off work,...just like Thanksgiving in the USA. Many people never bother to give thanks, they just enjoy the holiday and make it about family and food ... and shopping. However many here do take it seriously. There have been reports of whole villages coming together to pray, repent and worship,</div>
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A little significant history must be shared. On the 5th of September 2007, then Prime Minister, Founding Father and Grand Chief Michael Somare, prayed and made a public declaration on behalf of the nation:</div>
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<b><i>"I renounce the worship of all idols and evil gods. I renounce all covenants with with evil spirits and demonic powers. I renounce all their actions and reverse all their evil effects...on this day I pledge our allegiance to serve no other gods but YOU, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit....Lead us into this new beginning to the fulfillment of your plans and destiny for our nation."</i></b></div>
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Twenty one days later, on the 26th of September 2007 Prime Minister Somare signed a written document entering into covenant with God for the nation. The document quotes the New Covenant and Somare wrote:</div>
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<b><i>"I Michael Thomas Somare, Prime Minister do concur with the conditions of this covenant and entreat the Lord on behalf of the people of Papua New Guinea, that god would fulfill the stated intent of this covenant to become applicable to my nation and the peoples who join me today in declaring that the Gd of Israel is also Their God."</i></b></div>
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That was a mere 8 years ago. </div>
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The Spirit of God has been moving in PNG for several decades now, There are more Foursquare Gospel Churches in PNG than in America. (PNG is about the size of California.) Today Christianity has great respect and an open door in most places. There are few Muslims and homosexuality is still a crime. </div>
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My title as "Pastor Steve" here carries more weight than my title Dr. Steve. Missionaries are honored and churches are respected because they are not only preaching the gospel but they are genuinely meeting the needs of society by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, tending to the sick and bring education and hope (all that stuff Jesus talked about in the parable of the sheep and the goats) to one of the most underdeveloped nation in the world. It is a crucial hour for this country.</div>
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Today, being the National Day of Repentance, the Holy Spirit is speaking to me that today is the day of salvation for many in PNG, We must reach this country while the flame is still burning and the harvest is white. While the door is still open and people are receptive to the gospel. A look back at history will show the sad trail of countries who were once shining lights of the gospel: The middle east, Northern Africa, Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden, England, Ireland, Switzerland and others... but those countries have either lost the light or, like the USA, is allowing the lamps to burn out.</div>
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But in PNG and other places in the world the lamps are burning bright, The laborers are few for sure but we have a promise that if we ask God to thrust laborers into the harvest field He will do it, I share this with you today because the need is great and the window of opportunity to impacts the Kingdom of God for eternity is wide open. We don't know how long it will be open. Certainly the spiritual battles rages, but satan is on the defensive right now and losing losing ground. If history repeats itself as it has in the past, the nation can lose that gain and actually become worse off then before, There are reasons for this that I don't have time to go into here. But suffice to say when the gospel stops changing society and becomes a part of society, the beginning of the end is pretty close.</div>
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I would like to appeal to you to consider investing in PNG with prayer, finances, support for workers and, of course, by opening your heart to God to see if His will for your life includes coming to PNG for short-term or long-term missions work. You can be a part of the exciting and strategic move of God's Spirit in this country. Albert Einstein once said, "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." </div>
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One thing that is so great about being here is that every little thing you do HAS TREMENDOUS VALUE TO THE MEN WOMAN AND CHILDREN OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.</div>
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Please join us in making a difference in PNG,</div>
Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-35366489746058565852015-02-21T03:04:00.000-08:002015-02-21T03:10:31.479-08:00PNG Socially Needy and Spiritually HungryTime really does "fly." One year ago we were still in the process of making a decision to sell everything and move to PNG. Today we've been in the country over 7 months and have settled into live and ministry here.<br />
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Even though we are used to Port Moresby and the sights, sounds (and smells) occasionally it still seems very surreal to me that I am living where we are. It is almost like seeing myself in a movie that was shot in a third world country.<br />
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I would never have guessed I would end up in the South Pacific and especially Papua New Guinea. I love the exotic nature of this region. PNG, as it is called, is the poster child for the wild untamed "ends of the earth." Eighty percent of the population still live without the basics of running water and electricity, A large segment still live in tribal conditions and many still live stone-age lifestyles. Even the regional labels are exotic to me: The South Pacific, Oceania, Melanesia, and The Ring of Fire are all still somewhat romantic ideas to a guy who was born, raised and lived 55 years in the Midwest of the United States, Other labels like ExPat, missionary, working for an NGO in a 3rd world country, are also foreign to my previous experience.<br />
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PNG is a country of extreme contrasts. There is tremendous wealth in natural resources here and ExPats come to PNG to make a LOT of money. Typical salaries range in the 6 figures with all expenses paid, including furnished housing, utilities, internet, cell phones, vehicles and fuel and security, Usually the only thing an ExPat has to buy is food and personal items. Sometimes only 100 yards away are people living in a cobbled shack of corrugated tin and old boards without water or electricity. The natural tropical beauty is too often overshadowed (especially in town) by the abundance of razor-wire and the endless supply of trash.<br />
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One major change for me is my perception of the people. When we first started talking about coming to PNG we made the typical jokes about headhunters and cannibals (they still have a few). We were also told how dangerous the country is (not from headhunters and cannibals, but from gangs called Raskols and from general crime like theft, muggings, assault, rape and car jackings, born of illiteracy, poverty and sheer boredom. Port Moresby has 300,000 people (and growing) with a 60% unemployment rate. People have to steal to live and it becomes a way of life.<br />
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However we have discovered that the majority of people we encounter every day are extremely friendly when you show them the slightest attention. The are so used to being ignored, if not treated poorly, by the ExPats that a "hello" or a smile produced a big toothy grin and happy response. Because of the crime, security guards are everywhere. They are a basic low paying job as mostly you stand around all day inside of a store or outside in the parking lot. I make it a point to speak to all the security guards and often shake their hand or give them a piece of gum or a couple of cookies (when you make $1.20 an hour you don't often have money for gum or cookies). Now many of them know me by name and make sure I get good parking spots, :)<br />
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Port Moresby has a bad reputation (and deservedly so). However we believe the city is changing and actually like being here. All in all it is an awesome time to be in this country as it is certainly in the birth pangs of entering the the the 21st century and we believe that we are statistically placed by God to make a difference in this socially needy and spiritually hungry country,<br />
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Don't settle for comfort and convenience - be willing to get out of your comfort zone - where the real needs are - and allow God to use you. Whatever you THINK you are giving up will be nothing compared to the life experience and blessing you will get from "Spreading the love of God and meeting human needs." (Our City Mission mission statement.)<br />
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Blessings, Steve<br />
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<br />Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-63108683541973041112014-08-07T16:46:00.000-07:002014-08-07T16:46:13.087-07:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Some Random Thoughts.</b></h2>
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We've been in-country for 3 weeks now; enough time to learnt to get around, drive on the left, buy groceries without getting mugged and settle into our new home.<br />
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From a spiritual perspective I have felt God speaking to me very strongly at times. Twice during church services and once this past week as I was praying about what we were really doing in PNG. So what is God saying to me you ask? I think God might in some ways be saying the same thing to all of us (in context of our specific lives) Two things.<br />
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1. Remain humble. If we allow God to promote us it works a lot better. When we try to promote ourselves and present "who we are" as a means of gaining favor, position or respect, we are left to our own efforts to make good on the deal. Frankly every time I have tried to impress people over the years I generally end up making a fool of myself --- lesson learned --- hopefully. My favorite (unofficial) definition of humility is, "having nothing to prove." How often are we driven to prove who were are, what rights we deserve or what we believe? By making a conscious effort to eliminate the need to prove anything we truly pen the door to allow God to supply the proof. So far this "word from the Lord" has severed me well on a couple of occasions. The scripture for this is "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God and in due time, He will raise you up."<br />
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2. God can do more than we ask or think. I have a strong desire to see lives changed. People saved, healed, delivered and filled with the Holy Spirit and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God reinforced the idea of obedience as the key to a release of the anointing. This is somewhat tied into humility as it keeps us dependent on God, instead of us just going about seeking our own fame and fortune. Jesus said, "I only do what I see the Father doing." Jesus never missed an opportunity and he never failed at His ministry to people. God assured me that I would see His life-changing power touch many people if I would commit to obedient service, only doing what I see the Father doing.<br />
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I share these thoughts that you might glean something of value for your own lives and ministries,<br />
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Well in the "gee that's different" category, we have gotten used to driving on the left, and paying 2-3 times the cost for most items here. a 12 oz can of Coke can cost up to $2. We bought a large, freshly butcher cockaroo (chicken) for 12.00. However a lunch out ranges from 15-35 Kina (US $6-$15). It is almost cheaper to eat out. I mentioned in a Facebook post that only in a country with roundabouts (that drives on the left) do you take the first left to go left, the second left to go straight and the 3rd left to go right.<br />
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Favorite dish so far...Chinese Clay Pot. A clay dish with broth, rice noodles, fresh vegetables, steamed prawns and chicken. The soup is heated in its own clay pot to boiling and then a raw egg is dropped on top and served. The dinner mixes the egg in and the broth is hot enough to cook the egg like an egg drop soup. Hamburgers really are not hamburgers, and a lot of sandwiches get served with a fried egg on top.<br />
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In the "I'm not sure why they call it that" category, we live about 12 miles out of town on Magi Highway. It isn't - well sometimes. There are no speed limits or stop signs (kind of reminds me of the old AC/DC song "Highway to Hell.") Max speed possible is about 90 KPH - average speed 30 KPH. 18 mile trip takes about 35 minutes on a good day, due to road conditions and traffic.<br />
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Security is always a concern. So far we have not had any issues but we have to stay aware of where we are and whats going on around us. <br />
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Duty calls, more later...<br />
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Be blessed, take some time to worship today.<br />
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Steve<br />
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<br />Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-1880822288156428022014-07-22T22:38:00.000-07:002014-07-22T23:41:36.744-07:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Life in PNG</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We arrived in PNG on Saturday July 19<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>,
2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is exciting to be in the South
Pacific.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PNG is truly a unique place in
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The absolute extremes of
culture and diversity are amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course there is much need here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crime
and violence, abuse against women and unemployment are all fueled by
illiteracy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A recent study revealed:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The median age in PNG is 20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">40% of the population have no education<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About 40% have completed up to 6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
grade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Less than 20% have finished 7-12th grades<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sexual heath education and STD/AIDS education
starts in 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> grade (do you see a problem?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PNG has the highest population with AIDS of all
of Asia Pacific Countries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Girls 15-19 have 4 times the rate of AIDS as boys
in the same age group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The gospel has made a tremendous impact in PNG and continues
to do so, but as Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, the laborers are
few."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We encourage you to get involved in
the harvest field in PNG in any way your feel led of the Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many have asked about our daily life here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Weather</b>:
Currently we are in the winter season which is dry and cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning I am wearing a long sleeved
shirt<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Temp low 70s-low 80s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mission Compound and Housing</b>:
We have a small furnished 2 bedroom apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stove fridge, microwave, coffee pot, Sat. TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live on the New Life Training Center compound
about 18 miles outside of Port Moresby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The compound is fenced and gated with 24 hour security<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The compound consist of married and single
staff housing, dorms for the boys (current population of about 170), the CEO’s
house, vocational ed building, kitchen, elementary school and we have a public
coffee shop on the highway<strong>.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong> </strong>New Life Training Center teaches basic education in the midst of Christian discipleship, vocational training, job skills and has a working farm with pigs, rabbits, wallaby, chickens and a variety of fruit trees and tended gardens, with corn, peanuts, and some other crops for local use.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Church: </b>We also
have a chapel on the compound with about 200 in attendance, including the boys,
staff and local village people. I will work with the pastor doing services,
bible studies and discipleship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Transportation: </b>I
drive a Honda CRV 4WD, a small SUV provided by the Mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They drive on the left side of the road-which
takes a little getting used to. Mostly roundabouts with very few traffic lights
and NO stop signs, very few road rules – defensive driving is a matter of
extreme importance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving anywhere
after dark is not safe, so we are always home by 6 pm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My job:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Still a bit unclear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will generally drive into the Koki office 4
or 5 days a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About a 30 minute drive
with road conditions and traffic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
leave about 7 am, home by 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My title is
Administrative Manager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I oversee all
the services and staff in Port Moresby including: the Koki headquarters, Haus
(house) Ruth, a single women’s hostel, Meri’s (woman’s) safe house, a temporary
shelter for abused (or about to be abused) women and the Men’s hostel. I will
also provide pastoral care to </span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Steve/Documents/e"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">the</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> men and women in the Koki
facilities. Marketing and fundraising will<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>also fall under my area, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brooke will
counsel the women in Koki a couple of days a week as well as provide
administrative services in the realm of grant writing, Human Resources and
other duties as needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<strong>Food</strong>: We can get typical food at the modern grocery store but at 1.5 to 2 times the price in America. We will have to learn how to shop and have already decided to cut out many of the non-essential extras we typically buy in the USA.<br />
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<strong>Contacting us: </strong>We do have cell phones. Incoming calls are free for us, so you can call our USA based SKYPE NUMBER 417-283-4664 and it should forward to my cell phone. This should not be an international long distance call for you. You can also contact us via SKYPE and email. We are also finding that the Internet service VIBER allows us to voice chat for free. You may want to sign up with VIBER to contact us occasionally. For all contact info or in case of emergencies please refer to our numbers on <a href="http://www.stevehighlander.com/">www.stevehighlander.com</a>.Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-28040352558816096362014-04-21T20:12:00.000-07:002014-04-21T20:12:37.196-07:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The Clock Started Ticking Today</h2>
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Monday, April 21, 2014 is a day that will live in infamy (at least for me). Today we sent off the visa application and related paperwork for the move to PNG. Literally the clock started ticking for our pending move.</div>
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I have had many changes in my life over the years, changes like: jobs, careers, spouses, geographical locations. There was a time when everything that defined me was gone. However I can truly say that I have yet to have the "life as you know it is about to change" experience that looms on the horizon for us. We will be selling most of our possessions, leaving jobs and businesses, friends and family and moving to a totally different culture. </div>
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People have started asking us "how do you feel about the move?' I share the following from a perspective of what it means to follow the Lord. </div>
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We are excited about this new (ad)venture in our lives. We are not naïve enough to think there won't be faith issues and problems along the way. A lot of things have to happen, including raising around $5000 in upfront money for the move. This includes tickets, and things like medicals, physicals, immunizations, background checks, photos, etc.</div>
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Another issue is selling our stuff. The rubber really meets the road when you start to divest of stuff you just knew you had to have 5 years (or more) ago. One very strange feeling is to have no reason to go shopping. Typically Brooke and I might make a trip to Wal Mart or, if we are in another town, we usually stop in at a local store or flea market. Now we look at each other and realize we have absolutely no need to buy anything - even if we wanted to. Honestly as I began to go through things to sell or give away, I haven't had an significant sense of loss or sacrifice. The thing I will miss the most (of my stuff) is my dog, Sam. He's been a great friend for 8 years - we're buds. :(</div>
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People say things like, "I just can't imagine leaving the USA and living in a developing country." Leaving the USA is not really an issue for me or Brooke. I love the USA and, with all its problems, still think it is the best country in the world, however when God calls there is also a grace for the change. Frankly I am looking forward to living overseas. I'm sure there are things I will miss, however the trade-off is the significance of the Lord's work. There are so many needs in developing countries around the world. While we have needs here too, the felt needs are much more urgent in the areas of extreme poverty and hopelessness. It takes a lot to make a difference in the USA, while every little thing you do can make a difference to someone overseas. <br />
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We are looking forward to be able to concentrate on a single ministry. I have almost always been a bi-vocational minister. I have maintained my career in multi-media areas while I was ministering. First newspapers, then Cable TV and finally the Internet. It is really hard at times to give multiple tasks your best. About the time you want to pour into ministry the job calls, and vive versa. Accepting the position with City mission will allow us to concentrate more fully on the ministry. <br />
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When people understand the conditions in PNG they sometimes wonder if we shouldn't be scared to go. Truthfully, the conditions are rough. The climate is tropical (read that hot and humid) and poverty, violence and crime are significant social issues. Throw in 67 active volcanoes, earthquakes, typhoons and the largest crocodiles in the world and it is not the safest place on earth. However we are firmly convinced that if comfort, convenience, security and safety is our first concern we will never doing anything significant for the Lord. I like to say that the Gospel was wrought in sacrifice and will be perpetuated in sacrifice. Again we are not naïve, but we know that we have to trust the Lord no matter where we are - missionaries just have to trust a little more.<br />
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My biggest thing to overcome is my loathing of hassle. Making the decisions, getting the paperwork in order, spending time and effort going through stuff and having garage sales, worrying about selling cars and (possibly the house), are the things that occasionally pop into my mind as reason not to go. However they are small things and very temporary - after all in a couple of months all those things will over and we will be in PNG. <br />
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I encourage you, my friend to resist the urge to embrace comfort, convenience and security to embark on a spiritual quest of your own. I have often said that God doesn't live on the edge, He lives 5 feet on the other side of the edge and if you want to see the power of God in significant and consistent ways, you need to be where He is. We covet your prayers and appreciate any encouragement and support you many give. May the Lord richly bless you as you seek and serve Him, Steve</div>
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Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863659870452625621.post-6254209988290004032014-03-17T19:33:00.000-07:002014-03-17T20:32:47.971-07:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Faith of the Heart</span></h2>
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Following God has never been a straight path. There are usually many twists and turns along the way. In the fact the Celtic Christians had a pet name for the Holy Spirit - they called him the "wild goose." Ever chase a goose? They don't run in a straight line. I have found the Spirit to "blow where it wants," in my life.</div>
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This year the "wild goose chase" will lead Brooke and I to Papua New Guinea. It has been a long time coming. For the 18 years we've been together we have longed to go to the mission field.<br />
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Being a Star Trek fan, we've watched almost every episode of every show. This past year we watched Enterprise again. The theme song speaks volumes to me and the words resonates strongly in my spirit. We too have waited a long time, have endured setbacks and disappointments and have continued to try to balance being faithful in patience and dreaming of the future. So, if you want to know what's in my heart right now, just listen to the word of this song and you will get a real glimpse of what I am feeling. I have "faith of the heart, and strength of the soul," through Jesus Christ.</div>
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Steve Highlanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16901036946153394225noreply@blogger.com0