When I get a vivid dream that leaves me in my waking hours pondering and meditating on it, I generally can label it as "from God." Today, I had the same dream as the day before...so God has gotten my attention in a big way.
I dreamed I was going for an interview as a plant manager for a packaging company. (In my pre-ministry days, I was a packaging foreman for Nabisco for 6 years). During this interview, I viewed the entire plant and gave advice to the owner on a number of things they were doing. One was "availability" of supervision, another was "providing tools workers need" and another was "use red yarn when the thread breaks" (that was very weird). The owner asked me what success I had in my supervision, and I shared that I had personally encouraged and interacted with each worker daily, and made myself readily available for their needs. Then I woke up with a voice going off in my head saying, "Do this in your ministry!"
Last night, I had the same dream. And I awoke with the same voice telling me to do the same thing. The second dream had some additions..."unleash people to their destiny and help them understand what that means and looks like."
So as I reflect upon this, I have to make the choice of implementing it in my ministry...especially considering that it sounded as if God was telling me to do so! On Easter Sunday, we saw some folks return for the service who hadn't been there in a while. I felt like God was pointing them out to me concerning their potential and destiny, and how to help them to not waste their future!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Reflection on where I have been
This week, a former member of our church sent me some harsh emails about our church's practices and beliefs, accusing me of being a false teacher, and a coward for not agreeing to let him try to change my mind. Those accusations hurt. Not because they were true, but because I had once been in his shoes, living a dogmatic, love-less life, believing "knowing" and "practicing" the truths of the bible was evidence of being saved. The truth is, I have not been completely delivered from that mind-set yet. That is why when he lashed out at me, I felt the sting I had inflicted upon so many others over the years.
The issues were pretty typical, over what version of the bible we use, the role of women in the church, and the continued use of the power gifts in the current church. Of course, the disagreement wouldn't have stopped there. It would have then shifted to the type of music and instruments used in services, the role of divorced folks in church, the length of a man's hair (and probably women's dresses). While i hadn't focused upon all of those details in my dogmatic period of my journey, I had my fair share of "my truth or no truth." The bottom line is that I had equated the knowledge and possession of the "correct" interpretation of the truth with righteousness. It turns out that this is just another form of "works" righteousness. Jesus focused a lot less on the don'ts and a lot more on the positive actions he expected his disciples to do.
Among those specific commands Jesus gave his disciples was "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper and preach the Kingdom of God." But since those require supernatural power to do them, we prefer to stick to the things we "CAN DO" in our own strength, which is to tell others what they can and cannot do as a part of their walk with God.
So in a very real sense, I am thankful for the harsh criticism of my ex-friend. It has shown me what I was (and still am) and how far I still have to go to be transformed to the likeness of my Savior.
The issues were pretty typical, over what version of the bible we use, the role of women in the church, and the continued use of the power gifts in the current church. Of course, the disagreement wouldn't have stopped there. It would have then shifted to the type of music and instruments used in services, the role of divorced folks in church, the length of a man's hair (and probably women's dresses). While i hadn't focused upon all of those details in my dogmatic period of my journey, I had my fair share of "my truth or no truth." The bottom line is that I had equated the knowledge and possession of the "correct" interpretation of the truth with righteousness. It turns out that this is just another form of "works" righteousness. Jesus focused a lot less on the don'ts and a lot more on the positive actions he expected his disciples to do.
Among those specific commands Jesus gave his disciples was "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper and preach the Kingdom of God." But since those require supernatural power to do them, we prefer to stick to the things we "CAN DO" in our own strength, which is to tell others what they can and cannot do as a part of their walk with God.
So in a very real sense, I am thankful for the harsh criticism of my ex-friend. It has shown me what I was (and still am) and how far I still have to go to be transformed to the likeness of my Savior.
Sending out the Nine
On Sunday April 10th, we had an 80 degree day. I wish the week after that day was as warm, but it was an exceptional day. We were conducting our Workshop on Supernatural Ministry and only nine folks showed up. I suspect the nice weather had a lot to do with it. But after a brief time of instruction, I told the group we were going to walk around Township Park and find people to pray for.
It was funny at first, because several of those who were there wanted to "flee" because it was going to stretch them. But we were blessed and all agreed to "try." We broke into 3 groups of 3 and went out. My group found a family that wasn't interested, then a few who were open. As we were finishing up, one of the teens with my group suggested we go talk to the people sitting in their cars watching the sunset. Now I was the one who was reluctant! But we went towards one car, and as we did, the sole occupant opened his window. We chatted and noticed he was reading a book on Buddhism. So we chatted some more and asked him questions about his journey toward God, and gave him some suggestions on books he might like. Then we told him we were there to pray for him...and he opened up and let us! He had some serious needs and we prayed for the provision and blessing and revelation of Father God to him.
A second group had several folks they prayed for before they ran across a family on the swings. As they offered to pray with them, the family asked them, "are you the same church that was at Dairy Queen last year praying for people? Because if you were, you guys prayed for us!" I had been among those who had prayed for them then during our practice! Needless to say, we were blessed to see our fruit returning a blessing.
The third group ran across a young woman in dire need, her boyfriend was struggling with emotional issues. The students who knew her also knew she wasn't open to prayer. Yet when they asked her, she began to weep and was very open. We saw God touch this woman who had a divine appointment with the Healer of Hearts.
As we returned to the church building to chat, we all were amazed at how 1) easy it was to talk to strangers and 2) how easy and rewarding to ask people if we can pray with them. Doors were opened for a number of participants to actually do what we had been talking about for the past several months!
It was funny at first, because several of those who were there wanted to "flee" because it was going to stretch them. But we were blessed and all agreed to "try." We broke into 3 groups of 3 and went out. My group found a family that wasn't interested, then a few who were open. As we were finishing up, one of the teens with my group suggested we go talk to the people sitting in their cars watching the sunset. Now I was the one who was reluctant! But we went towards one car, and as we did, the sole occupant opened his window. We chatted and noticed he was reading a book on Buddhism. So we chatted some more and asked him questions about his journey toward God, and gave him some suggestions on books he might like. Then we told him we were there to pray for him...and he opened up and let us! He had some serious needs and we prayed for the provision and blessing and revelation of Father God to him.
A second group had several folks they prayed for before they ran across a family on the swings. As they offered to pray with them, the family asked them, "are you the same church that was at Dairy Queen last year praying for people? Because if you were, you guys prayed for us!" I had been among those who had prayed for them then during our practice! Needless to say, we were blessed to see our fruit returning a blessing.
The third group ran across a young woman in dire need, her boyfriend was struggling with emotional issues. The students who knew her also knew she wasn't open to prayer. Yet when they asked her, she began to weep and was very open. We saw God touch this woman who had a divine appointment with the Healer of Hearts.
As we returned to the church building to chat, we all were amazed at how 1) easy it was to talk to strangers and 2) how easy and rewarding to ask people if we can pray with them. Doors were opened for a number of participants to actually do what we had been talking about for the past several months!
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