Psalm 71:18 said to me yesterday, "Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your POWER to this NEW generation, your mighty MIRACLES to all who come after me."
I may not be "old" but I have been gray for over 20 years! And I do want to proclaim God's power and miracles to the new generation!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Revive to Survive
Last week, after a tough couple of days and some troubling news concerning several of our members deciding it was time to move on, I was have difficulty sleeping (Tues. March 23rd). Waking at 2:30 am to let the dog out, I went back to sleep, or at least a twilight sleep and had two words appear in my mind. "Revival" and "Survival." A voice told me that the difference between these two words is minor, just a few letters, but the meaning of these two words is much more significant.
When I awoke, I tried to recall the words, and only remembered "revival.' But a day later, in a conversation with Jennifer, the word "Survival" came back to me and the impact of the dream/vision became clearer.
Then, on Friday night, we went to the "Wave" at Gateway to see some friends and to celebrate God together. I asked several people for prayer and shared the dream with them. They were very encouraging. But on Saturday, the strangest thing happened. It was stranger than having a donkey talk, actually. As I was watching the College Basketball playoffs, a banner rolls across the bottom of the screen, an advertisement for a vitamin water. What did it say? "Revive2 Survive.com"
This impacted me greatly, as I realized that if I merely try to "survive" as a pastor or a church leader, or to help the church to merely survive, to maintain the status quo, the present state, or to backtrack to keep people from leaving, I will be in "survival mode." And there is no future in that. If anything, survival is a living death. The only option is Revival. "If my people, who are called by My Name, HUMBLE themselves and PRAY..." (2 Chr. 7:14)
When I awoke, I tried to recall the words, and only remembered "revival.' But a day later, in a conversation with Jennifer, the word "Survival" came back to me and the impact of the dream/vision became clearer.
Then, on Friday night, we went to the "Wave" at Gateway to see some friends and to celebrate God together. I asked several people for prayer and shared the dream with them. They were very encouraging. But on Saturday, the strangest thing happened. It was stranger than having a donkey talk, actually. As I was watching the College Basketball playoffs, a banner rolls across the bottom of the screen, an advertisement for a vitamin water. What did it say? "Revive2 Survive.com"
This impacted me greatly, as I realized that if I merely try to "survive" as a pastor or a church leader, or to help the church to merely survive, to maintain the status quo, the present state, or to backtrack to keep people from leaving, I will be in "survival mode." And there is no future in that. If anything, survival is a living death. The only option is Revival. "If my people, who are called by My Name, HUMBLE themselves and PRAY..." (2 Chr. 7:14)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
God's Presence
On Valentines Day, God did something special in our services...that took us all by surprise. About halfway through our singing, our worship leader stopped the services and called us to press in to God, that halfheartedness wasn't enough! Then, a few minutes later, another member piped up prophetically and asked if we could open the altar for people to come forward to seek the face of God.
As the front of the church filled, I went to my knees and asked God what I should do. After all, I had a well written sermon that I was certain that came from God. God answered me with love and firmness, "they aren't here to hear you..they are here to meet Me." That was enough for me, and I set aside my agenda and we called the body to intimacy and prayer. One member proclaimed that we are Jesus' valentine...He loved us to make us HIS. That cut us to our hearts. Weeping. Then others called out for laying down our lives and agendas. More weeping. Prayers were offered, some introspective, others in adoration of God and His Suprising Move!
Then I shared how just this week I had read in the Didache how the early church proclaimed the Word first and worship followed ...because the purpose of the Word is to point us to encounter/revelation with God.
Subdued but peaceful, we parted. One lady called us on the way home to say "I feel free, and light as a bird" and she was giddy! Another couple who brought their unsaved daughter said, "this is what she needed!" (an encounter, not a sermon).
We look forward to learning how to encounter God and not tell God what to do!
As the front of the church filled, I went to my knees and asked God what I should do. After all, I had a well written sermon that I was certain that came from God. God answered me with love and firmness, "they aren't here to hear you..they are here to meet Me." That was enough for me, and I set aside my agenda and we called the body to intimacy and prayer. One member proclaimed that we are Jesus' valentine...He loved us to make us HIS. That cut us to our hearts. Weeping. Then others called out for laying down our lives and agendas. More weeping. Prayers were offered, some introspective, others in adoration of God and His Suprising Move!
Then I shared how just this week I had read in the Didache how the early church proclaimed the Word first and worship followed ...because the purpose of the Word is to point us to encounter/revelation with God.
Subdued but peaceful, we parted. One lady called us on the way home to say "I feel free, and light as a bird" and she was giddy! Another couple who brought their unsaved daughter said, "this is what she needed!" (an encounter, not a sermon).
We look forward to learning how to encounter God and not tell God what to do!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Intimacy with God
God is birthing a new hunger in His church. A hunger for Himself. He is placing that hunger in me. I know He is placing it in others around me too. Over the past month, threaded through my sermons and even the books I have been reading, a curious pattern has been emerging. "Seek Me with all your heart."
Last week, at the urging of a member, we began a study by Bob Mumford on Sunday night called 'unshared love.' Little did I know it would be about intimacy with God. And oh, did God get ahold of us! Jealous love! Awesome love.
This week, an email solicitation by a Christian video site caught my eye. I never watch them...in fact, I have never watched a video there before. But something drew me to the one, "Revival Redux." It was a compilation of Revivalist sermons - all pointing to one thing: Intimacy with God. After watching it, I wept and went to my knees. Everytime I spoke of it, I wept. I was ovewhelmed.
By coincidence - my sermon was on "The kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force." - which I only wrote one page on and felt led to show that video to conclude the service with prayer and repentance.
I am fully expecting God to do something remarkable this Sunday.
Last week, at the urging of a member, we began a study by Bob Mumford on Sunday night called 'unshared love.' Little did I know it would be about intimacy with God. And oh, did God get ahold of us! Jealous love! Awesome love.
This week, an email solicitation by a Christian video site caught my eye. I never watch them...in fact, I have never watched a video there before. But something drew me to the one, "Revival Redux." It was a compilation of Revivalist sermons - all pointing to one thing: Intimacy with God. After watching it, I wept and went to my knees. Everytime I spoke of it, I wept. I was ovewhelmed.
By coincidence - my sermon was on "The kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force." - which I only wrote one page on and felt led to show that video to conclude the service with prayer and repentance.
I am fully expecting God to do something remarkable this Sunday.
Sweet Smell of God's Presence
On Sunday October 11th, our community gathered for a worship event called UNO (unity in northeast ohio). People from over 30 churches gathered at the Mentor Arts Center to worship together. 16 pastors read/proclaimed the word of God. It was an awesome event. It was also the fulfillment of a literal dream God had given me nearly 6 months ago.
In that dream, I was speaking in a multi-tiered worship center, crowded with people. The Mentor Arts Center is a sloped auditorium with a spacious balcony. After I read my scriptures, and walked off the stage, I felt the overwhelming sensation that I was on staff at a large church with a whole bunch of other pastors.
Four days later, while driving to our pastor's meeting in Madison, driving with my windows shut, I was overwhelmed by the scent of perfume. When I reached my destination and stepped out of my car, I could still smell it. So I told the pastors about it...who kind of smiled. Later that week, one of them told me that on his way home from the meeting, he also caught the smell at the intersection of 528 and Rt. 20...unmistakeable and with his windows shut!
Concusion? God was displaying His glory for our community! His favor rests upon our city and our community as we have gathered in His Name and unified for the sake of the Gospel of the Kingdom!
In that dream, I was speaking in a multi-tiered worship center, crowded with people. The Mentor Arts Center is a sloped auditorium with a spacious balcony. After I read my scriptures, and walked off the stage, I felt the overwhelming sensation that I was on staff at a large church with a whole bunch of other pastors.
Four days later, while driving to our pastor's meeting in Madison, driving with my windows shut, I was overwhelmed by the scent of perfume. When I reached my destination and stepped out of my car, I could still smell it. So I told the pastors about it...who kind of smiled. Later that week, one of them told me that on his way home from the meeting, he also caught the smell at the intersection of 528 and Rt. 20...unmistakeable and with his windows shut!
Concusion? God was displaying His glory for our community! His favor rests upon our city and our community as we have gathered in His Name and unified for the sake of the Gospel of the Kingdom!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Treasure Hunting at Old Fashioned Days
I meant to post this earlier, but forgot I had a blog. About 10 of us went to Old Fashioned Days in Madison and met at the Open Door for prayer. There we listened intently to God giving us various clues concerning people we were going to meet and that God wanted to touch. My clues were red hat, green shirt, sunglasses, name: John, needs: neckpain, cervical, job.
So we went out, and after a few good encounters, we came across a man with a red hat. He rebuffed us saying, "I'm a Christian, but there's a guy with a red hat." As we turned around, sure enough it was a man with a red hat, but also a green shirt and sunglasses. We hurried toward him. When we caught up to him and his family we shared how we were on a treasure hunt and how God had highlighted him to us. He was pretty amazed that God would want to bless him. Then I asked him about his needs...and he said he just had his hours cut at work, so I showed him my list about job needs. And then I asked, "do you have any problems with your neck?" To which his wife got in the act and said, "Yes!" And then I pointed out the cervical words on my map. She got really excited and said thats it! I asked if the name John meant anything to him and he said his dad was named John. So we prayed over him, knowing God had lined our paths to cross.
Others had remarkable encounters too, including teens, a man in a motorized wheelchair, and others. It was an exciting time, and as we returned, God highlighted a woman on a bench. She came to receive Jesus Christ as a result. How Great is Our God!
So we went out, and after a few good encounters, we came across a man with a red hat. He rebuffed us saying, "I'm a Christian, but there's a guy with a red hat." As we turned around, sure enough it was a man with a red hat, but also a green shirt and sunglasses. We hurried toward him. When we caught up to him and his family we shared how we were on a treasure hunt and how God had highlighted him to us. He was pretty amazed that God would want to bless him. Then I asked him about his needs...and he said he just had his hours cut at work, so I showed him my list about job needs. And then I asked, "do you have any problems with your neck?" To which his wife got in the act and said, "Yes!" And then I pointed out the cervical words on my map. She got really excited and said thats it! I asked if the name John meant anything to him and he said his dad was named John. So we prayed over him, knowing God had lined our paths to cross.
Others had remarkable encounters too, including teens, a man in a motorized wheelchair, and others. It was an exciting time, and as we returned, God highlighted a woman on a bench. She came to receive Jesus Christ as a result. How Great is Our God!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
More God, More!
This past Friday, 4 of us went to Bethel Church's "Firestorm" at Metro Church in Cleveland. We were blessed beyond our wildest imagination, with Kevin Dedmon giving life changing preaching and testimonies and words of knowledge.
Jennifer and I went back on Saturday during the day for leader training. Of course, we were the only Southern Baptists there...and took a bit of ribbing for it, but all in fun. On Saturday, we had more teaching, prophetic words spoken over us (which hit me like a sledgehammer) and after lunch we (about 40 of us) broke up into groups of 4 and did a "treasure hunt" in the community. (I'll explain that one later). God showed up big time and we saw Him work powerfully in one divine appointment that shook one woman's world to the core.
By Sunday morning, our pump was primed for God. As we went back to Here's Hope, we prepared for worship. God told me to be prepared to sing "You're all I need" and to change it to "I'm all you need." which fit perfectly with the priesthood of the believer sermon I was about to preach. What I didn't expect was that our worship leader had picked a song that included that line in it! God led us to have a time of ministry BEFORE the sermon and at least 15 people came for prayer. One woman was healed of deafness in her left ear. Many others received prayer and commented on feeling the power of God touching them.
Then Sunday night, we had UNO: Unity in Northeastern Ohio - a worship gathering in which about 20 churches gathered for an evening of worship and upbuilding of the body of Christ. Nearly 800 people showed up to praise God together. (found out later that Cleveland had a similar event on the same night). Now we are hearing reports that revival is taking root all over Northeastern Ohio. Wow God! More!
Jennifer and I went back on Saturday during the day for leader training. Of course, we were the only Southern Baptists there...and took a bit of ribbing for it, but all in fun. On Saturday, we had more teaching, prophetic words spoken over us (which hit me like a sledgehammer) and after lunch we (about 40 of us) broke up into groups of 4 and did a "treasure hunt" in the community. (I'll explain that one later). God showed up big time and we saw Him work powerfully in one divine appointment that shook one woman's world to the core.
By Sunday morning, our pump was primed for God. As we went back to Here's Hope, we prepared for worship. God told me to be prepared to sing "You're all I need" and to change it to "I'm all you need." which fit perfectly with the priesthood of the believer sermon I was about to preach. What I didn't expect was that our worship leader had picked a song that included that line in it! God led us to have a time of ministry BEFORE the sermon and at least 15 people came for prayer. One woman was healed of deafness in her left ear. Many others received prayer and commented on feeling the power of God touching them.
Then Sunday night, we had UNO: Unity in Northeastern Ohio - a worship gathering in which about 20 churches gathered for an evening of worship and upbuilding of the body of Christ. Nearly 800 people showed up to praise God together. (found out later that Cleveland had a similar event on the same night). Now we are hearing reports that revival is taking root all over Northeastern Ohio. Wow God! More!
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