tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77133193647368998192024-03-05T20:27:08.112-05:00Living Surrendereda space to record my thoughts and discoveries in the greatest adventure in life: the adventure of becoming more like Christ. I summarize this adventure with the phrases: Loving God, Loving People and Living Surrendered.Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-8887264579061513322011-04-14T08:57:00.004-04:002011-04-14T09:24:35.220-04:00Worship at the Wall<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzskD4gUX1wbU1Phm-L_dyLFDlNuGIWnMeOq0MEUxrWn9yAUFe01F3ywnYxbMg1srEXniG8vA2Uk-yFwvtC2LjmLqy-e9rbge5P0okxLt-mQgnY6_A7qbYBO3bUZSsU72wad8MDoMtVnI/s1600/praise+on+Jesus%2527steps.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595424671637678546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzskD4gUX1wbU1Phm-L_dyLFDlNuGIWnMeOq0MEUxrWn9yAUFe01F3ywnYxbMg1srEXniG8vA2Uk-yFwvtC2LjmLqy-e9rbge5P0okxLt-mQgnY6_A7qbYBO3bUZSsU72wad8MDoMtVnI/s320/praise+on+Jesus%2527steps.jpg" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5QHPaJu2YtmEl8L6KmHB1S6O9qfw-c3tKTThrokkHLwquDru8RBDFKtYsVq3in7T7G929VTOHliE4Xv3bh_2WkqLPT9ZMwfoiv7bvfqWqGnbQaMkPY2LxWPTeuWdbLVzR5fDNilmBoc/s1600/western+wall+night+j+n+a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595424666733618130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5QHPaJu2YtmEl8L6KmHB1S6O9qfw-c3tKTThrokkHLwquDru8RBDFKtYsVq3in7T7G929VTOHliE4Xv3bh_2WkqLPT9ZMwfoiv7bvfqWqGnbQaMkPY2LxWPTeuWdbLVzR5fDNilmBoc/s320/western+wall+night+j+n+a.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>Technology has been wonderful to us, enabling us to share almost daily what has happened to us on this tour of a lifetime. Our very busy last day schedule has not permitted us to finish this blog without buying another hour of computer time on a very busy, early morning, so we write from over the Atlantic Ocean-- 2,500 miles from touchdown at JFK in NYC. Let me fill you in on our last day in the Promised Land. The setting for our last day of this pastor’s educational tour was the bustling town of Jerusalem, filled with faces from around the world. How do I know? Listening to the languages spoken—Russian, German, French, Italian, Hindi, Farsi, proper British English, Greek, Hebrew, Spanish, Dutch…and on the list goes…it has to….I could not identify them all. They practice many religions, as evidenced by the Muslim call to worship in the streets near the Arab market and the ornate Catholic sepulchers, the bowing and nodding at the Western Wall of the Chasidic Jews and the worship songs sung spontaneously by Protestants visiting the place where Jesus was beaten, awaiting his punishment. Yes, my friends, we joined people from other lands on many occasions to praise the King of King and Lord of All. It was life-transforming. Our hosts, Mark, and our guide, Mr. Ben-David taught us many things about the culture of this land. We spent hours exploring the central location of the Jewish culture on our last day: the Temple Mount. It is there where Jews gather unashamedly to pray, many with Torah in hand. It is there where these folks are joined by non-Jews who also leave their handwritten request gently pushed into a cranny in the wall. We were fortunate that the wall had been cleaned in observation of Passover so there was a lot of room to place a note. Placing a note at that location was significant for my spiritual journey. What I wrote was between me and the Lord. What I sensed sitting writing what was in my heart I will remember forever. After I wrote it, I looked up and came face to face with this massive, rugged dolomite structure. It reminded me of the awesomeness of God. It spoke of the permanence of His presence. I sensed that I was there all by myself in a sea of people and He wanted me there. He cared about what I had written. He would answer my heart cries. The Jews have a custom that your back never faces that Western Wall. You always approach the wall facing it. I was on the women’s side, cordoned off by a 6 foot semi-private man-made fence. I could see the men on the other side in all sorts of stages of prayer and interaction. The ages of the women varied—teens to elderly. They were respectful, submitting their deepest heart cries to their god. One young woman stuck out to me. She had her prayer book over her face and her ear against that Great Wall, in deep conversation. I stretched out my hand with my folded up prayer; it took three tries to find a spot where it would catch and stay. Even then, it fell near the feet of another woman sitting at that Wall. I picked up a note and successfully placed it in the wall. Shuffling backwards, I rejoined my friends. It was a moment I will never forget. I pray that you will encounter our awesome God in a moment like this one day. A moment that shifts your paradigm about who God is in your life, that enlarges the territory of your heart in such a way that God becomes bigger and greater than you can imagine right now. He is awesome; He is permanent; He is your God. Now, let’s live a life of surrender and worship.</div></div>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-33390267119147731412011-04-14T08:42:00.004-04:002011-04-14T09:10:34.890-04:00Drop of joy at the Pool of Bethesda<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxygjkchyphenhyphenfDOZ3Kar0Wwa-HUonOz8W5oxi65R2RcJqIbocjzIxgVGMQdaHqJxZCTzFGlIL6oPv5qUiuB_2DGBFwmk3XK1L5KInYZF4LzgXVnKIas7yuQF-c2_nm4VSdN62iIMXN5okMA/s1600/pool+of+bethesda+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595420521502630914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxygjkchyphenhyphenfDOZ3Kar0Wwa-HUonOz8W5oxi65R2RcJqIbocjzIxgVGMQdaHqJxZCTzFGlIL6oPv5qUiuB_2DGBFwmk3XK1L5KInYZF4LzgXVnKIas7yuQF-c2_nm4VSdN62iIMXN5okMA/s320/pool+of+bethesda+1.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>For many years I (Andrea) have been dealing with a physical issue. I remember sharing about it with a dear older woman at Open Door over 7 years ago when she asked about something she noticed in me. I politely told her about it and she said she would be praying specifically about that for me. On many occasions she has prayed for many things in my life. Tuesday, April 12 something happened that resulted in a great praise. We were visiting the Pools of Bethesda. It is a large rocky area where water gathered back in Jesus day. It is not hard to imagine what happened that day recorded in John 5:1-24. I will not recount this familiar story. But I will tell you my own story…</div><br /><div>Each pastor on this trip had two devotionals to give. We had finished listening to Nasir share what God had put on his heart about healing. Both he and his wife have been miraculously healed by the Lord from shingles that almost took his life and blindness and MS that left her in a wheelchair. Today they are full-time ministers, whole and healed. He shared that the Holy Spirit is a force in our lives. I had this flip-flop sense in my gut and we rose to “get to the next location.” I asked our host if we had five minutes. He first said no, then sensing this was an unusual request, he called everyone over. I courageously asked for prayer for this physical issue that has plagued me for as long as I can remember. Tears were unashamedly streaming down my face. I followed up on what I sensed in my spirit that the Holy Spirit wanted to do at this very special place. These friends I had only known for a week, laid hands on me, surrounding me like a fortress, speaking truth over me. We prayed with faith believing for a miracle, just like what the lame man experienced 2,000 years ago. It was a sweet concert of loving conversation to the Father we share, who meets our every need. I surrendered that moment to the Lord and His perfect work in my life. The physical symptoms that were quite regular in the sort of circumstances we were in that day were gone. Hallelujah! I know God has touched me. Sometimes our obedience isn’t for us. Elsa reminded me of that when we continued on our journey of faith that day. God used my bold request to speak into her life. Believe me when I say I almost did not speak up. The temptation was so real to just shrug off Mark’s decision and maybe even believe that “this was not my time; I guess I heard wrong.” But, thank God, this dear brother in the Lord perceived in his spirit something more was happening at the Pools of Bethesda. It was after the prayer was over that I learned I was not the first to take a bold step of faith. Mark pointed across the stone courtyard to another spot where a pastor named Sam was healed from Parkinson’s on a trip like this one. Later on Sharon shared with me that when she opened her eyes after prayer, she was looking down and saw a single teardrop on the rocks below. It had not dried, and you could see the wet on the rock. In her spirit she sensed the Lord's affirmation for my surrender that day. We formed a choir at the small cathedral located just a few yards away from the pools. The acoustics were amazing as we sang “How Great Thou Art” with abandon. For HE truly is GREAT!</div>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-22054279979506612122011-04-14T07:39:00.002-04:002011-04-14T08:02:01.271-04:00Bon Appetit!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6bcBLuBpcFOkBvMrOxZzaM9oRM8bQko3pQgWUp9q8IwhPIfgw5aH-trjQggiYmkp8lwWPU10y2ghL3ntf9A-Nqz9QkYBVfgR_UAQ38rM9pvbsyFiLQadZeIth3hz_abtPJQrtK40nrY/s1600/pizza+at+arab+mkt.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595408193572718722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6bcBLuBpcFOkBvMrOxZzaM9oRM8bQko3pQgWUp9q8IwhPIfgw5aH-trjQggiYmkp8lwWPU10y2ghL3ntf9A-Nqz9QkYBVfgR_UAQ38rM9pvbsyFiLQadZeIth3hz_abtPJQrtK40nrY/s400/pizza+at+arab+mkt.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvFoZJ8RktTw60LicQTE9D4xGn9yUfXeFXAhihIx1Bl501ltIS4vzmy9pxxZ8lK1aqp1ev3gbGF804Epv17hJQ0u0BBCwvR_fouNebJfSRa4TOMke2T2cRpTXXZhlV3kVD8n52FXj2Ag/s1600/pizza+rest+at+arab+mkt.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595408188723641858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvFoZJ8RktTw60LicQTE9D4xGn9yUfXeFXAhihIx1Bl501ltIS4vzmy9pxxZ8lK1aqp1ev3gbGF804Epv17hJQ0u0BBCwvR_fouNebJfSRa4TOMke2T2cRpTXXZhlV3kVD8n52FXj2Ag/s400/pizza+rest+at+arab+mkt.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbR5J7WpB_YxlWVVHOEgEevUokHqgxYaKQOREUrWzCO5tKYyr4EwDWly23FQ259Mg_tNf9Z-kVTSSfKJikoc_jlWxry3JFmfIuV-w5oFngH89w1mNZS3prd92WbqoMXMPodzq2-ovzI6M/s1600/arab+mkt+old+jerusalem.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595408179592094242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbR5J7WpB_YxlWVVHOEgEevUokHqgxYaKQOREUrWzCO5tKYyr4EwDWly23FQ259Mg_tNf9Z-kVTSSfKJikoc_jlWxry3JFmfIuV-w5oFngH89w1mNZS3prd92WbqoMXMPodzq2-ovzI6M/s400/arab+mkt+old+jerusalem.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Back in Jesus day the commerce happened in the marketplace. Vendors sold fresh fruits, clothing, articles needed for everyday life. We experienced the Arab market on the ground level today, a sea of people bartering, calling out about their products. It is a fascinating experience to dicker with these merchants. Pastor Jim is actually very good at it. If I had only known what a shopper he is… lol!<br />We came away with a new sense of this community and how life in Jerusalem still happens today. We even had our first “American food” in Israel since we’ve been here—pizza. And it was delicious! The food has been absolutely amazing. They use the freshest ingredients, lots of fresh vegetables, meats and cheeses. We were always commenting that we never used salt. It was unnecessary, not because the food was already salty, but because the unusual combination of spices and ingredients they used. We enjoyed the likes of spinach with apples and mango sauce, fresh fish from the Red Sea, crusty breads, multiple kinds of cheeses, smashed chickpeas rolled into balls and fried (called Falafel), just delightful combination of tastes.<br /><br />Sometimes God asks us to try new things, to get a new taste of life in our “oatmeal as usual” existence. I am so glad I went into this trip with the mindset to try so many new things. May it be a ‘taste” of things yet to come! Shalom and, like they always say when they serve you a meal in Israel—“bon appetit!”</div></div></div>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-56716948467876510872011-04-12T01:34:00.004-04:002011-04-14T08:56:44.758-04:00Heartfelt Agony<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4MQd2WnaWhjmMMCdsgFM9H_7O3fw5zs4jEQ4MV5PoC93yWKKe9Vn1DD5XzNfFkFU8MAKFJe2bWmwn-XhFMwrTGaHr8TlsjNl2Z4AEeJ2jijm4RZqW7X9gpmvDdV3LJkb5115NExvVD4/s1600/olive+garden+mt+of+olives.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595421356268549954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4MQd2WnaWhjmMMCdsgFM9H_7O3fw5zs4jEQ4MV5PoC93yWKKe9Vn1DD5XzNfFkFU8MAKFJe2bWmwn-XhFMwrTGaHr8TlsjNl2Z4AEeJ2jijm4RZqW7X9gpmvDdV3LJkb5115NExvVD4/s320/olive+garden+mt+of+olives.jpg" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoq94Usqws6PdqakVbFfwb8c5m9l6hJaH0wXkEMY8_Ee_IyuoOKsZ4xkodfsxpVwUlwhEkCZFf9BT7L2lej3vKrLGM132kZ0nHt9xa0-5b86-gfDP6swTQdgFdMd7ibP-rDTfRWJ8A0CI/s1600/gardendevos.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595421343479194530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoq94Usqws6PdqakVbFfwb8c5m9l6hJaH0wXkEMY8_Ee_IyuoOKsZ4xkodfsxpVwUlwhEkCZFf9BT7L2lej3vKrLGM132kZ0nHt9xa0-5b86-gfDP6swTQdgFdMd7ibP-rDTfRWJ8A0CI/s320/gardendevos.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>It was a day of agony. It was not as you might think, however. We had a very packed schedule after the frolicking in the Dead Sea yesterday. Today, Pastor Jim shared some amazing insights in the Garden of Gethsemane about the agony that Christ went through there in the garden of olive trees. To see the gnarly, knotted trunks of olive trees dating back to Jesus day made my heart just skip. The olive tree is not a particularly beautiful tree. The trunk is not smooth like other trees in the US. It is a trunk of character. As much as Christ displayed great character and obedience going to the cross, the real battle of wills was won not on the cross, but right there in the Garden. If he has not made up in his mind to purpose to go the cross there in the Garden, the war of wills would have failed miserably before his complete and selfless obedience paid for all of our sin. Not one of us is excluded from this powerful vignette. The day ended with another scene of agony as we visited the Holocaust museum commemorating the tragedy of inconceivable proportions in Germany in the 1940’s. While the world watched, millions of Jews died needlessly, painfully and without a chance or a choice. The moving, sometimes graphic pictures and artifacts were haunting. At the end of the exhibit was a unique room: rows and rows of bound books cataloguing the names of those who died. A shaft of light streaming through a hole in the pinnacle of the ceiling with a dome full of 600 pictures—faces of those whose names are written in these books. They had no chance, their voices will never be heard again. The name of the museum is Yad Vashem, a reference to “remembering the names.” God brought a song into my mind after seeing this museum. It goes like this: He knows my name…He knows my every thought; He hears my cry and -----me when I call…..I have to believe that our merciful God heard everyone of those 6+ million cries. The question is did we?</div></div>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-89132101541629786272011-04-12T01:30:00.002-04:002011-04-14T08:42:02.617-04:00Camels and Friends at the Dead Sea<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnyOU47TGqWOQA9m752GexUi8prPBcMcvHaLVvfPUzg2qOZEXFCw_5VTZxQETqJJSrNylp_ZSWW0znlsorkUovgDHjMW3WSS3qojhRQzFIAeKRN7Kz_8xRC_sIIEAGI7rySgNNh7GkAI/s1600/my+friend+Ya%2527El.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595418221050509442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnyOU47TGqWOQA9m752GexUi8prPBcMcvHaLVvfPUzg2qOZEXFCw_5VTZxQETqJJSrNylp_ZSWW0znlsorkUovgDHjMW3WSS3qojhRQzFIAeKRN7Kz_8xRC_sIIEAGI7rySgNNh7GkAI/s320/my+friend+Ya%2527El.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvOcEfKyB2Rr43ZGveHQ7hcfNfhsUBNjQIEfAFjv3JtcHvnZ2g2RmJr5ZpAmA7FM-rXTHdsE9gxn2yFanSt1aLgn58Hwts405kWOp2289Ro6pMci2cp1WyvmgQxobGrUyR8_HwyMEUwM/s1600/float.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594566146934120322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvOcEfKyB2Rr43ZGveHQ7hcfNfhsUBNjQIEfAFjv3JtcHvnZ2g2RmJr5ZpAmA7FM-rXTHdsE9gxn2yFanSt1aLgn58Hwts405kWOp2289Ro6pMci2cp1WyvmgQxobGrUyR8_HwyMEUwM/s400/float.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>It all started with a camel. The kind we saw on the sides of roadways near the Dead Sea. A couple of the pastors in our group wanted to get a ride and a picture with a camel. So, we stopped by the roadside on their curious behalf. While walking in the parking lot, Jim noticed a snakeskin wallet on the ground. I almost walked by it, but decided to pick it up; the credit card and the large wad of cash inside the wallet was a sure indication that the owner was not going to be happy. I looked to the van that was parked nearby; no one was looking for anything. I went into the gas station/food stand to see if anyone might be alarmed that they were missing the pouch. Not finding anyone our tour guide gave me several suggestions as to what was appropriate to do in his country. God had already spoken the urgency in my heart to return it to this person who appeared to be from Russia. With a name like Svetlana, I was fairly certain it would not be someone from the US. Remember I blogged earlier about being in the movies? This was certainly turning into some sort of drama. I counted the money; over $3,000 in cash! A lost wallet with a large wad of American bills, a credit card from a German bank, a Russian woman missing items that are critical to the success of her vacation. I still did not know anything about her, but I was determined to get this wallet and all of the money back to her quickly. Our host, Mark, savvy with his computer while riding the minibus back to Jerusalem, googled Svetlana's name and by the time we arrived had found out enough information to give us another clue as to where she maybe. He then sent her an email, hoping for the best. Maybe something she had in her wallet could also help us: a paper with a SIM card. Our guide had made arrangements for us to eat dinner out at a neighboring hotel…and it just so happened that his contact at that hotel is Russian who left when she was 5 years old. She was able to decipher the SIM card phone number information that was in the Ukrainian language and made a phone call on my behalf. No answer…bummer. After we got back from dinner, I asked the hotel if anyone knew Russian that worked there. I was connected with the operator, Ya’el. She was so helpful; she called the phone number and with success! She conferenced the call so that I could hear the conversation with Svetlana. Over the course of the next 20 minutes, arrangements were made for Svetlana to come to the hotel and pick up her very significant belongings. She was almost in tears that someone would actually return her wallet with all of its contents. Ya’el promised to follow up with her along the way until the money and credit card were safely in her hands. As I was writing this story tonight, I was prompted to go downstairs and do my own follow up with Ya’el. God had prompted me to bring a new silver beaded bracelet designed with two prayer box charms to Israel. I knew I was going to give it away here to someone. Tonight was my opportunity. As I headed downstairs on the elevator, I was so excited to see if she was still here. Yes; she was getting off her shift at 1 am and I could see her. With great joy, I told her I had something for her and that she was the answer to my prayers. I handed her the bracelet which she instantly admired. With eyes welling up with tears, she thanked me. There we were two women from two different nations, thankful that our paths had crossed. I know that God used her to find Svetlana…I could not do it by myself. I was thankful that God’s Holy Spirit prompted me to act and to give. God gave me back a sense of contentment and satisfaction knowing that I was obedient and it made a world of difference in two family’s lives. The blessing of this trip to Israel has been multiplied over and over. Svetlana gave me a reward which allowed us to have a little extra money in Israel to cover unexpected expenses. God knew that we had a need and He provided as I was obedient. Hallelujah to Jehovah, the God of Israel! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-61972939509518897092011-04-12T01:24:00.002-04:002011-04-14T08:56:13.094-04:00Uniqueness Experienced<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02wNoNj520kh7GN5y7zi4e0MH8zpRbSeztP74OuIwG8bYYKTGm5X4wKjzkwEc0FcPfLqiuSA8VBNxeme8VHwxnWSEWPPZ1mFEfkZ1wVzUHtsnRzyIiaJSKwm60xeBLBw6nwhS3-mZxaA/s1600/masada+mountain+tram+.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595422068572368178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02wNoNj520kh7GN5y7zi4e0MH8zpRbSeztP74OuIwG8bYYKTGm5X4wKjzkwEc0FcPfLqiuSA8VBNxeme8VHwxnWSEWPPZ1mFEfkZ1wVzUHtsnRzyIiaJSKwm60xeBLBw6nwhS3-mZxaA/s320/masada+mountain+tram+.jpg" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mIbGOWSPohdDzIf7JWh6c0mCs236ZYBJeIK73DN0OlBEO7gmkqduM-dnGpCcNgIeJBgfugwC6obZt9NJ4S6Bn3pIDndHa9ijWxU03wAKXyb7lE28KQa9doCUdtSJp0vA4qCZ2EaLZOw/s1600/masada4.10.11+Israel+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594565152163204706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mIbGOWSPohdDzIf7JWh6c0mCs236ZYBJeIK73DN0OlBEO7gmkqduM-dnGpCcNgIeJBgfugwC6obZt9NJ4S6Bn3pIDndHa9ijWxU03wAKXyb7lE28KQa9doCUdtSJp0vA4qCZ2EaLZOw/s400/masada4.10.11+Israel+001.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>Have you ever heard someone say, “My life is like a movie?” or “They ought to make a movie out of that?” Today was one of those days for Pastor Jim and I. Picture that old James Bond 007 movie starring Pierce Brosnan where 007 is riding a cable car with some oversized gold toothed guy trying to knock him off as the cable car is speeding along a cable suspended many kilometers above the hard ground. We were on that cable car today (well, not that exact one, but one such vehicle of transportation.) We visited the ruins of Masada, a community living high above the Judean desert near the Dead Sea that was just mind-boggling. You may recognize the main characters of this drama on the heights: King Herod (remember his tie to Jesus?) and the Jewish zealots. The effects and remains are unparalleled in geological significance. I wish we had a shekel for every time our guide said, “no where else in the world can you find…..!” The landscape is breathtaking; the water is as clear and spectacularly blue as any island south of the United States. But, no where else in the world, can you float in a lake which in 33% salt. Pastor Jim and I bobbed up and down like a cork in the ocean in the Dead Sea. It was truly effortless, and the water was even warm! Those of you who say, “I don’t float” need to try it out. This place called Israel really is a paradise of sorts, vastly diverse in landscape, temperature, culture and spiritual significance. There really is no where else in the world you can find what we are finding here. We are walking through history, truth written in books including the Word of God. We see, sense, taste, experience this land and her history and as a result are drawn into a deeper walk with God. Won’t you come along sometime and walk with us? It’s as close as your own quiet time and not a cable car, but a plane ride. </div></div>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-86509093913522000752011-04-10T01:09:00.001-04:002011-04-10T01:11:58.066-04:00A Day of ContrastsLittle did I know that today would be a day of distinction, discovering stark comparisons in many areas during our fourth day here in Israel. These disparities were not all glaring, some were very subtle. Yet all were woven together to form a tapestry of surprise. Just when I thought I saw one thing, my eyes were opened to see the contrast…. On our way from Tiberias through Cana (remember the story of contrast that occurred here—Jesus taking everyday water and changing it into not so everyday wine), we stopped at a real live re-creation of Nazareth. (Check out <a href="http://www.nazarethvillage.com/">www.nazarethvillage.com</a>This plot of land was discovered and Nazareth Village was born. Amidst the bustling city of post-Jesus Nazareth, there was a 1st century farm which was uncovered. It included terraces for farming, stone buildings and even a lookout for a shepherd for his sheep. This was such an amazing experience to see how people actually lived in Jesus’ day. Each character was true to the period; even the children dressed and played from that time (sorry, no ipods or xbox here). As we left the simple lifestyle of that farm, we encountered the vast complex city of modern-day Nazareth. Simple to complex…contrast. The drive through the West Bank was a real eye-opener. The lush green hills gave way to less and less vegetation. The diversity was great. Our tour guide has said it was going to be like this. He was right. Where elevated green hills, trees of many kinds and beautiful flowers bloomed, dry desert tan earth abounded for miles. Some of our group took naps on the bus ride through this area. They were really shocked when they woke up to what looked like Death Valley….contrast. The Word talks about the last battlefield in Revelation. We stood at Megiddo, the valleys of the different “ites’ before us. Amidst the ruins of 26 civilizations, layered upon on another, rock horse troughs, and vast altars for sacrificing children called out to us to remember the vast contrast between the spiritual warfare of the day. Evil is always pitted against good; only in this case however, our good God will be victorious…contrast. Bedouins, the nomadic Palestinian people eeking out an existence in Israel set up primitive shacks on the land. Think homeless people in the US, in shanty towns. The drive between the Dead Sea at 1,500 feet below sea level and the Dome of the Rock at 400 plus feet above sea level gave us a panoramic view of the famous salty lake. The Bedouins homes were overshadowed as we got our first view of the Holy City. Multi-unit housing, high rises, congested neighborhoods, modern transportation instead of camels.…a land of great contrast. We drove and walked in the steps of Jesus today. Most days in the US, we are good to pause to take in the life of Christ written on the pages of the precious Word He so wisely gave to us. We have seen authentic locations where Christ did life everyday, in contrast to letters on pages of our Bibles that only speak of His amazing life and ministry. We are thoroughly taken by the reality of Scripture as we see it come to life here in Israel. It is more than words on a page, history in letters. We are thankful that these facts are written for us to further believe. Seeing, my friends, really is believing. This life-altering experience only highlights what we are now able to see because we have seen with our own eyes this amazing place.…contrast. May you see God with new eyes today. Shalom! Pastor Jim and AndreaPastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-89650524468881123192011-04-08T11:36:00.000-04:002011-04-08T11:39:14.626-04:00Water from start to finishHello everyone! We have had quite a day today! We started out in Tiberias for an incredible breakfast of fresh fruits, salad, bakery, eggs, cheeses I've never heard of, etc. Then we drove to see the 2,000 year old boat at the museum near Capernum. It was totally fascinating. What a gift to the world to have such a treasure. We then sailed on the Sea of Galilee; Jim was in his element!! The sound of our voices singing and sharing rebounded across the still water. It was like sailing on glass. We were treated to the Israeli national anthem, and the US National anthem and flag raising as well. Our Canadian friends were troopers singing with us. The boat captain/crew demonstrated with agility and skill the art of fishing by net, Jesus' era style. No fish for us for lunch, but no worries. It was quite a sight to see Pastor Jim do a Jewish folk dance on the deck with 12 of his new friends. Fast forward toward Capernaum, the "town of Jesus." Remember the passages in the Bible where Jesus spoke to 5,000 or more people? I used to think, how in the world is that possible? Today, at the Mount of Beatitudes Jim and I saw first hand the reality of Jesus' ministry to the multitudes. It was such an eye opener; history, Biblical truth is jumping out at us as we listened to the Word on that hillside. Our faith is being validated and we are being drawn in to a supernatural experience here in the land of our Savior. Jim led an insightful devotion at the place that commemorates Jesus asking Peter if his love was for him. "Follow, no matter what" was the distinct and powerful word. Jesus is able to sustain even Peter's shaky faith and use him as a leader. He has that desire for us as well. As we stood in the grove of ancient trees outside the site of the destroyed synagogue from Jesus' day and heard about how God wants us to receive His spirit as a guide and to live faithful lives as leaders, I could not help but be grateful for this physical town as well as the new community of leaders/pastors which have now become our friends. Many pictures later, we found ourselves laughing, eatin falafel, the Israel national snack. We are so enjoying the new flavors of this country. The personal highlight of the day for us was putting on white robes over our swimsuits and wading into the chilly Jordan River. A community of Asian believers were singing, praising God as their friends were baptized. It was a powerful reminder of the God who loves all nations and people. We have heard less English here than I expected. Pastor Jim was baptized by our tourleader, Mark. He has baptized over a hundred of pastors in the 17 years he has been coming here. Jim then baptized me, which was an amazing experience. When we can, we will post some pics to the blogsite. The day long journey around the Sea of Galilee came to an end as we passed by the electric fence that secures Jordan from Israel. The winding mountain road reminded me of a great Cedar Point ride--windy, narrow and adrenaline inducing. This country is so diverse and beautiful, it is hard to describe. God sure had quite an imagination when he created this landscape. It is not hard to realize the diversity of both population and geography. WIth diversity brings a wealth of learning, and we are learning so much! Thanks for praying for us! We'll catch up with you around the next bend... Love and shalom, Pastor Jim and AndreaPastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-77402282279611910982011-04-08T06:39:00.002-04:002011-04-08T06:44:46.391-04:00Blessed beyond ourselves.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPeJPKEshq0RHFNKCQ88W757TpY1bJhi9X26Vcsvym3i-UqROzlwnghffRKo0fW9LCZhIAOxzzieVUAeFKZCInf9eKVYdG7FVHVUZNtMnZgeien4v6hLP-N9OG-3Oh3h9NJk5H0uvqBU/s1600/sea-of-galilee.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPeJPKEshq0RHFNKCQ88W757TpY1bJhi9X26Vcsvym3i-UqROzlwnghffRKo0fW9LCZhIAOxzzieVUAeFKZCInf9eKVYdG7FVHVUZNtMnZgeien4v6hLP-N9OG-3Oh3h9NJk5H0uvqBU/s400/sea-of-galilee.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593161847370899186" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><p><br /></p><p>Hello friends,</p><p><br />We are certainly on the adventure of a lifetime, doing things we have never done and seeing a land we only dreamed that someday we would be able to see. Our flight was delayed going out of JFK--we left at 4:00 am on Wed. We have been all through Tel Aviv, experienced Joppa, picked up a rock from Mt. Carmel (remember the big BBQ contest held there?) We have been inspired as we walked through Caeserea in Peter's footsteps and stood where Paul once stepped into the awaiting ship to sail past Herrod's great temple at the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Today as we ate dinner (the food is beyond amazing) over the Sea of Galilee, we felt blessed beyond ourselves. Tomorrow we will see Galilee from a whole new perspective as we walk the shore, visit famous places in the Bible and later are baptized in the Jordan River. The only thing that could be better than this is if you were here in person to experience this with us.<br /><br />Thank you for your prayers. Jim shares his first devotional at the place where Jesus told Peter to "feed my lambs" tomorrow morning at 10. (It will be 3 am your time.)</p><p>We are safe, well-fed, and have a wonderful and knowledgable tour guide. We look forward to sharing a ton of pictures and our hearts with you in the next several days. </p><p><br />Love,<br />Jim and Andrea</p></span>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-7389179148792455822011-04-07T06:29:00.000-04:002011-04-08T06:39:11.279-04:00The adventure of a lifetime!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNGBdjQuTFQjUFXEEnQIG3WfdBb6WBmh9TS27g-SxNz6Dm-wyFPra83LybqsezhnUHyV5NeSJNn_nz7yRb3aclFEgl01LHlM0eKCYN4bTbS9O4hy0rF3qPtnOYzPzHdTBYNkpUXKJfHA/s1600/israel_map.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 370px; height: 370px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNGBdjQuTFQjUFXEEnQIG3WfdBb6WBmh9TS27g-SxNz6Dm-wyFPra83LybqsezhnUHyV5NeSJNn_nz7yRb3aclFEgl01LHlM0eKCYN4bTbS9O4hy0rF3qPtnOYzPzHdTBYNkpUXKJfHA/s400/israel_map.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593159084841629506" /></a>
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<br /></div><div>Hello friends,
<br />
<br /></div><div>We are certainly on the adventure of a lifetime, doing things we have never done and seeing a land we only dreamed that someday we would be able to see. Our flight was delayed going out of JFK--we left at 4:00 am on Wed. We have been all through Tel Aviv, experienced Joppa, picked up a rock from Mt. Carmel (remember the big BBQ contest held there?) We have been inspired as we walked through Caeserea in Peter's footsteps and stood where Paul once stepped into the awaiting ship to sail past Herrod's great temple at the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Today as we ate dinner (the food is beyond amazing) over the Sea of Galilee, we felt blessed beyond ourselves. Tomorrow we will see Galilee from a whole new perspective as we walk the shore, visit famous places in the Bible and later are baptized in the Jordan River. The only thing that could be better than this is if you were here in person to experience this with us.</div><div> </div><div>Thank you for your prayers. Jim shares his first devotional at the place where Jesus told Peter to "feed my lambs" tomorrow morning at 10. (It will be 3 am your time.)
<br />
<br />We are safe, well-fed, and have a wonderful and knowledgable tour guide. We look forward to sharing a ton of pictures and our hearts with you in the next several days.
<br />Love,</div><div>Jim and Andrea</div></span>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-89800864686512844392011-03-26T20:45:00.003-04:002011-03-26T21:05:54.457-04:00What Happens After We Die?<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span">I’ve received quite a few emails about last week’s sermon. Seems the sermon sparked some questions and raised a few issues. I thought this might be a good excuse to jump back into my blog. So, I will use this blog to answer some of the most common questions I have received.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span">One of the more frequent questions is represented by this email: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i>Pastor Jim, during your sermon on Sunday, you made mention of the mortality of the soul, you stated that there was no mortality of the soul. I thought maybe I misheard or you misspoke, so I listened to the message again. At the 11:42 mark in your sermon, that was what you said, so now it raises the question as what Paul meant by "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." 2 Cor 5:8. Please explain.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span>Yes, Paul is stating his belief in the resurrection just like he does in Acts 24:15, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Rom.</st1:place></st1:country-region> 6:5, 1 Cor. 15, et al. Whether he is killed by his enemies or executed by the Romans, Paul says that is not the end. When I die, and my body is limp and absent of life, I will be raised from the dead to be present with the Lord. <span> </span>Verse 8 (and vv. 6&7 before it)</span></span> recap the theme first introduced in 4:16-18. “<i>A<span>t home in the body</span></i>” means to dwell in “the earthly tent” (5:1), to be outwardly “wasting away” (4:16), to be <span>away from the<b> </b></span>immediate presence of the <span>Lord<b>. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span>When we die, we don't stay dead, merely rotting away into all eternity. When this body dies, we will be resurrected into a new body where (as Christians) we will be present with the Lord. God will raise each of us from the dead. As you can see from the context in 2 Cor. 5:1-10, Paul is not contrasting the difference between body and soul, he is contrasting the difference between our earthly bodies and our heavenly bodies. When we die and this earthly body is destroyed, God will raise us up from the dead and give us new bodies.</span></span><span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span">The belief in the immortality of the soul, (that the soul doesn't die) is a very popular belief but is a dangerous lie first introduced by Satan in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:4). It was made popular by secular Greek philosophers like Plato and Socrates and has infiltrated first the Catholic church and then the Protestant church both to a deep degree. The Hebrew word for soul is ‘nephesh’ ("soul, breathing one, a person's lifesource" used of God giving life to Adam in Gen. 2:7). Using that word ‘nephesh,’ the Bible plainly states in Ezekiel 18:4 "The soul who sins will die." Our soul, that is, our life, has a lifespan, that is, we die, our soul dies. Our soul is mortal, not immortal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span">When we die, all of us dies: body, soul, mind, heart, all of it. Again, it was the Greeks who introduced this idea that you can separate us into compartments: body, soul, spirit, mind, etc. The Bible sees each of us as a unity of personhood, not some tripartite or dualistic entity. It’s important that we recognize the Bible as our authority and not Greek philosophy. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span">It’s also essential that we maintain the centrality of the resurrection. It is the core doctrine of the Christian faith. If the soul does not die, there is no need for a resurrection. By definition, resurrection can only happen after a death. If you teach the immortality of the soul, that the soul never really dies, then you have no need for a resurrection and you have destroyed the foundation of the Christian faith. Read 1 Corinthians 15 where the first Christian theologian argues for the centrality of the doctrine of the resurrection. It might help to read it in a clear translation like the NLT where you can see the brilliance of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">St. Paul</st1:place></st1:city>’s argument with more clarity. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">If you have any questions (or comments), feel free to comment here.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></span>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-76463870066393573632010-12-16T16:24:00.002-05:002010-12-16T16:28:06.615-05:00Painting Theo-logy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaftC4xhBvsQCYnrw4ZY6agUBnC2nTAzhLA8mJPuhqnnbkZmaCtbYGAFTWI-mimghXgGWHQeufS-zmoMDbd2bsmlaYm0R4ytQ-sr5oYCTexZejCofw5nlEf4Q66rloUR0C0P45cWT60o/s1600/DSC04045.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaftC4xhBvsQCYnrw4ZY6agUBnC2nTAzhLA8mJPuhqnnbkZmaCtbYGAFTWI-mimghXgGWHQeufS-zmoMDbd2bsmlaYm0R4ytQ-sr5oYCTexZejCofw5nlEf4Q66rloUR0C0P45cWT60o/s200/DSC04045.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551394977802057794" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; ">I am so excited about our new Children’s ministry space. We’re making great progress and it is awesome!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s fascinating to watch each room progress. I have to admit, at first, some of the artwork was confusing and messy, but each time I go back, I see the progress and I am more and more amazed.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Saturday, I was admiring the work of one of our artists airbrushing when he looked up at me and said, “you wanna give it shot?” I said, “uh, well, I’m a pastor not a painter, and I want this children’s space to look nice, so I’ll just pass, but thanks a lot.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia">This particular artist’s name is Theo (which just so happens to come from the Greek word “theos,” which is the word for “God” which makes him the first Theo) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">just like God</i>, Theo knew I had abilities in me that he knew he could draw out. So, he said, “ah come on, try it, you can do it, I’ll show you how; come here.” So, emboldened by his belief in me, I thought, “I’ll give it a shot, if I mess it up, Theo can probably fix it anyway.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Next thing I knew, he had taught me how to hold the airbrush just right and artfully depress the trigger, releasing a mixture of air and paint while deftly swinging my hand in a precise arc that combined proximity and speed for maximum results. I was amazed. He just grinned knowingly. When you enter what’s called the Giant room (for two year olds), and marvel at the huge blades of grass, just remember, I contributed to the art work (albeit an extremely small part) of that very cool room. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; ">It’s all because of Theo.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The study of God, his nature and character, his attributes and how he works in our world, is called Theo-logy. But God doesn’t express himself and his nature just to himself; he loves to create and then to interact with his creation, especially the crown of his creation: human beings. He is always working in us, creating and shaping and personally handcrafting in us his divine art. Like a working artist, things may look messy at first, and you may not even recognize what he’s crafting, but when it’s all done, it’s a masterpiece. The New Living translation of Eph. 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” God is a master artist, utilizing his perfect wisdom and skill to bring about his purposes in our lives. He is making us like Christ.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Next time you feel like you or a fellow Christian’s life is messy or far from Christlike, remember it’s a process and to withhold judgment until it’s all done and the masterpiece is complete: Christlikeness. And when we get to heaven and finally are like Christ, we can all smile and say to each other:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia">It’s all because of Theo.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-4559204554855406582010-12-10T15:52:00.002-05:002010-12-10T15:55:39.263-05:00Tree Riding<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; ">Disclaimer: I am currently on Vicadin ES, so the coherence of the following blog may or may not be clear. I broke a rib yesterday while tree riding and I’ve gotten so many questions about it, I thought it would be a good subject to jump back into my blog with. Tree riding is when you climb a (20-30 foot) tree to the top where the trunk/main stem becomes thin and then lean out away from the tree toward the ground, kicking your feet out and letting your weight bend the tree, delivering you to the ground in an exhilarating ride. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve also jumped off the branch of a bigger tree grabbing the top of a smaller one nearby; same ride, just different approach.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The trick is to find a strong, healthy, supple tree (Red Maples and Oaks are best) that won’t snap under your weight and getting your feet out soon enough so you land standing up.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I failed on both accounts yesterday and paid the consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Unfortunately, it’s hard to conclusively determine whether the tree is healthy or not in the winter, because all of the leaves are gone. So that was my first problem. But secondly, I got my feet tangled up in the small branches and didn’t get them kicked out soon enough after I started the bend and about halfway into the bend (about 15 feet in the air), the tree snapped and I fell face/chest down, landing hard and breaking my 5<sup>th</sup> rib on the left side. Ouch. I knew laying there on the ground, I had either cracked or broken a rib. I think Gideon, my chocolate lab, knew too. Not as agile as I once was. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia">Once I got back to the house, I did a little research on cracked and broken ribs and it seems that while there’s nothing they can do to treat rib injuries, its good to have an xray to make sure there are no further internal injuries. That meant I had to call my wife. But tree riding is one of those things I never got around to telling my wife that I did, and this turned out to be a less than optimal time to share.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Later I tried to argue that there’s biblical precedence for tree riding, with less than favorable results.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The beginning of Luke 19 tells the delightful story of Zacchaeus, the vertically challenged man who was so eager to see Jesus, he climbed a tree so he could see over the crowd. When Jesus came to the tree where Zacchaeus had climbed, he told Zacchaeus to “come down immediately” (the NLT says come down quickly). That’s what tree riding is; it’s coming down quickly from a tree. See, it’s biblical. (Right, my wife wasn’t convinced either.) At least I didn’t try to use 2 Samuel 18:10: “I just saw Absalom hanging from an oak tree!” <o:p></o:p></span></p>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-60944040968272076572010-08-29T20:42:00.001-04:002010-08-29T20:47:47.939-04:00Spiritual Oxygen<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">August 27, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">As you can see, it’s been a while since I’ve blogged, June 19<sup>th</sup> to be exact. Now that I open this thing back up I realize I probably should have told you then where I was going, but since “was going” has turned into “went,” I’ll tell you where I’ve been. You may or may not know, I was on vacation for 3 weeks in July, then worked like a dog in the office to catch up for 2 weeks and then left the office again and entered into a focused time to work on my book the first 3 weeks off August.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I have seen other blogs where people blogged about writing their book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">while</i> they were writing their book, but all of them were writing over an extended period of time, chipping away at the book a little at a time. I need blocks of time or it’s a waste of time for me and since I don’t have any time to waste and am not able to find big blocks of time during my weekly schedule, I have to schedule them away from the church. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Furthermore, I am already writing a sermon each week and I guess I’m just not prolific enough to find time to write a sermon, answer emails, write a blog and write a book. So, my plan was to devote all my attention on the book over an intense 3 week period and write furiously for those 3 weeks. (I did the same thing last year.) I just finished those 3 weeks and they were awesome! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I am so grateful to our church for letting me take a study leave and I’m jazzed about how much I got done. I’ve told a few people that I’m done with the book, and seasoned writers have scolded me not to say those words. “You’re not done until it’s published” they said with that knowing voice. “There’s always changes to be made and the publisher may have you do a major re-write.” Of course, those of you who know me, know I will be tinkering, editing, revising until they wrench it out of my hands. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">So, I’m done, but I’m not done. Either way, it still feels awesome! More than one person has commented about how free and liberated I seem. I have to say it is an exhilarating experience writing a book. I couldn’t wait to get out to my writing space each day (a card table under a patio umbrella), arriving there most days before 7 AM and writing till late at night. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"></span></p><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia">The current title for the book is “Spiritual Oxygen” The subtitle is: “How the Holy Spirit Makes Us More Like Christ.” I explore the concept of spiritual breathing and learning how Jesus cooperated with the Holy Spirit and how we can too. Just recently I’ve also toyed with the possibility of “Only A Breath Away” the idea being that “all that we need from God; help, grace, power, etc. is only a breath away.” <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>More knowing people have also told me not to fret about the title, since if a publisher buys the book, they’ll probably change the title. <o:p></o:p></span></p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">So, 2/3 of the book is off to an editor friend of mine. I’ve been warned about that too! I’ve told her I am a big boy and to go ahead and have all the freedom she needs to edit, but we’ll see how big I am really am when I see all her edits!</span></p>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-82702538748492299262010-06-19T21:56:00.005-04:002010-06-19T22:40:04.135-04:00Caninical Compassion<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Sp5WFeftM3LNwL-Wr2TzuLe-zvtVhjiRT0o6N5qFneUbQp0lvrKIy5cqycxtat9aum5IHDax5F7SJhNGLjzylBtg5mdKYIN_nQu-MNHwIE7MF9MrX5LELi1EhxUGOF8l7r1I3m8ZEIA/s1600/DSCN6967.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484679431852115218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Sp5WFeftM3LNwL-Wr2TzuLe-zvtVhjiRT0o6N5qFneUbQp0lvrKIy5cqycxtat9aum5IHDax5F7SJhNGLjzylBtg5mdKYIN_nQu-MNHwIE7MF9MrX5LELi1EhxUGOF8l7r1I3m8ZEIA/s200/DSCN6967.JPG" /></a><br /><div>My wife and oldest daughter left today on a missions trip to El Salvador. They are going to love people and share the gospel in the little city of La Libertad. Its a win-win deal. The people of La Libertad win by hearing the gospel, and my wife, daughter and tripmates going win as they will grow in Christlikeness as they directly obey Jesus' words to make disciples of all nations. </div><br /><div>But it doesn't feel like a win right now for my youngest daughter who already misses her mother like crazy. Tonight she came over and put her head on my shoulder, then my lap, tears flowing freely. I put my arm around her gave her a squeeze and said something that was intended to be soothing. It didn't work. </div><br /><div>Next thing we both knew, our Chocolate Lab, Gideon, got up and snuggled up close to her, nuzzling her leg to somehow get closer. In distinct Labrador dialect he communicated "I sense your sadness and I just want to be close to you." Drawn by his compassion, my daughter slid down from the couch and he nestled his chin right on her leg. We couldn't resist getting a picture. This wasn't the first time Gideon sensed sadness or pain or sorrow from one of our family members and I marveled at yet another example of our dog's inate sense of compassion. </div><div></div><br /><div>I've been resisting for a long time blogging about my wonder dog Gideon but today I just can't stand it any longer. Now that I've set a precedent, I'm sure more is to come in future blogs. In the meantime, I got thinking how much I talk about wanting to be more like Christ, maybe I should start by just trying to be more like my dog.</div>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-82428875709664766652010-06-16T20:13:00.004-04:002010-06-16T20:49:10.795-04:00Marrriage RhythmA very cool thing happened Sunday that I just had to blog about. As I was wrapping up the sermon from Mark 10:15, I asked if anyone would like to surrender their life to Christ. Numerous hands went up, two of which were a couple.<br /><br />I thought to myself, “how cool is this, a man and his wife both surrendering their life to Christ in the same service, what a transformation that home is going to experience.” I couldn’t tell who went first, but it was definitely a decision they made together, husband and wife, to follow Jesus; isn’t that awesome! Later I thought about the only account I know of in the Bible where a couple both came to Christ, Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 18, and the incredible things that God did through that couple as they both surrendered their lives to Christ and served him as a couple.<br /><br />Then as I was greeting people at the end, another couple came up to me and told me they had both raised their hands way in the back, but here’s the kicker: both of them had their heads bowed and neither one knew at the time that the other was raising their hand! The Holy Spirit was working in each of their hearts independently of each other; they responded in obedience to God, and to their surprise both of them came to Christ in the same moment!<br /><br />I got thinking about that later. I believe the Holy Spirit is working in each of our lives as individuals but also (for those who are married,) as couples and I wonder how many times couples expect that, recognize that and cooperate with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of unity and He is seeking to unify us with the Father, the Son and with each other. If you are married, I invite you to ask God what is He doing in your marriage <em>as a couple? </em>What's your next step <em>as a couple?</em><br /><br />May we be open to everything the Holy Spirit wants to do in our own lives, in our marriages, in our families, in our church and in our world. When the Holy Spirit prompts us, may we respond in obedience. And may those who are married move in the rhythm of the Spirit in such a way that we experience increasing levels of unity as a couple.Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-23969975402988932412010-05-22T23:19:00.001-04:002010-05-22T23:21:42.694-04:00Adventure StoriesEverybody loves an adventure, don’t they? But some of us don’t share those experiences with others. We take pictures, but leave them in our digital cameras. We may write a postcard and send it back home, but put it in the trash after it has been read. We may put a few words on Facebook to let everyone know we are now back after an adventure. So, why tell anyone about what we did while rafting in Colorado? Or skiing in Vermont? Or surfing in Hawaii? (that last one sounds rather appealing, doesn’t it?) <br /><br />Well, one reason we tell stories is to help people capture in their minds where we’ve been and what we are doing in our lives. Another reason is to make them wish they were there too. A third reason is to get them excited and maybe inspire them to want to go to a destination or accomplish something they think is impossible. Any of these is a good reason to tell about your latest adventure. It doesn’t have to be long; it doesn’t have to be international in nature. It just has to be your story. Out of your story will flow passion, energy, a draw for others. <br /><br />If you are looking for some real inspiration, go to our website and click on Adventure stories. Why go there when there are other places like Facebook, Ebay and iTickets calling your name? For the simple reason, you will be inspired! Inspired by an adventure story you say? Absolutely!! I am so jazzed after I read the latest adventure story, I want to go out on another adventure myself.<br /><br />I challenge you to go there sometime this week. Poke around and see what God is up to through your brothers and sisters here at Open Door. And then, here’s the challenge…leave a story from your own life adventure. It doesn’t have to be about Serve Elyria…just make it personal and from your own life. God is up to so many things here in this body of believers. I’ll be checking that link myself this week…so…let’s read about your adventure story, shall we?Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-78236984384461115852010-05-15T21:47:00.003-04:002010-05-15T22:09:19.685-04:00Serve Elyria<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVf8R_uhEfzkvzud8GbxLT29VeLs4T4qdvYwwltFI-AHZmdZTnaYZOwZv1HEZSH2BEAruwR263pNY9bucPbgRF83faak5bn4IDb9s_TtV5d6ewwpg-0kJIxevNTvp3eubDTGO2DMQU1Ew/s1600/SDC10750.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471684052882233890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVf8R_uhEfzkvzud8GbxLT29VeLs4T4qdvYwwltFI-AHZmdZTnaYZOwZv1HEZSH2BEAruwR263pNY9bucPbgRF83faak5bn4IDb9s_TtV5d6ewwpg-0kJIxevNTvp3eubDTGO2DMQU1Ew/s400/SDC10750.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Wow, what a day today was! It was one of those days where I was so proud to be the Pastor of Church of the Open Door. Over 500 volunteers demonstrated the love of God to the people of Elyria at Serve Elyria completing over 360 projects throughout the city. 260 of those were gardens using the organic and super creative <a href="http://www.gardensoxx.com/category_s/33.htm">gardensoxx</a> from Filtrexx (check them out <a href="http://www.gardensoxx.com/category_s/33.htm">here</a>). Our Pastor of Life Groups, Dan Samms, led the project this year and he and his team did a great job organizing and leading. He reported that in addition to the gardensoxx projects, we completed over 100 other projects throughout the city! Is that incredible or what?<br /><br />My goal was to serve at the most projects and encourage the most people throughout the city. So as Pastor Jamie, my wife Andrea, and I traveled from site to site and encouraged, we helped out and loaded and unloaded gardensoxx, worked on landscaping projects, raked leaves, helped insulate and rebrick the foundation of a mobile home, cleaned up trash, and heard one person after another talk about what a great day it was.<br /><br />One lady who I’ll call Judy, because that’s what her name is, cried when we helped her with some yard work and fixed her roof and said, “I can’t do any of these things anymore and I didn’t have anyone who could help me. I can’t believe what you all are doing today. Thank you so much.” (more tears.) I told her we just wanted to show her the love of God in tangible ways. She said, “well you did. Thank you.” (more tears.) Then I found out that one of the couples in our church who was up on her roof also left her a check to help out with expenses!<br /><br />Another guy, I’ll call Ryan, because that’s what his name is, has only been coming to our church for about a month. He was out serving today and said to me: “this is what we’ve been looking for, a church that serves.” What a statement.<br /><br />You know what? I think God is looking for a church like that and so are people in the community. Let’s continue to be that church!</div>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-10979714158018074472010-04-30T10:55:00.004-04:002010-04-30T11:08:04.945-04:00Marriage Grace<span style="font-family:georgia;">This past Sunday, I finished preaching a sermon series called “Resurrecting Marriage: Learning Marriage CPR.” My dual goals when preaching are: to be faithful to what the Scripture text actually says, and, communicate relevantly with love and clarity. Some Scripture texts are very difficult to either accept or preach. Mark 10:2-12 is both hard to accept and hard to preach, especially vv. 10-12. My desire was to bring a word of grace to the strong words of vv. 10-12 without watering down what Jesus said. You can watch or listen to the messages <a href="http://www.churchoftheopendoor.org/stream.html">here</a>.
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<br />Some feel I wasn’t clear enough as to what do you do if you’re divorced (regardless of the reason) and remarried, in other words, “now what?” The way forward for those who are remarried is the same for those who are still in their current marriage: practice Marriage CPR.
<br />Commit (in this new marriage) to God’s Vision for that marriage,
<br />Pay Attention to Your Heart and
<br />Relate with Christlike Love
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<br />Keep doing those three steps (as explained in each of the 3 sermons). Especially the last letter/point, “R,” Relate with Christlike love, is how you relate in order to move forward: Love with Christ’s love, which is Compassionate, Forgiving, Initiating, and Sacrificial. But keep doing “C” and “P” too (paying attention to your heart and stay committed to God’s vision for your [new] marriage.)
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<br />Some may ask, “If you’re remarried, and are faithful to your spouse, are you therefore “living” in adultery? No. There’s a difference between “living in adultery” and “committing adultery.” <em>If you’re legally divorced, or your spouse is deceased, and then you remarry and are faithful to that spouse, you are not “living in adultery.”</em> Living in adultery is either:
<br />a. living in an ongoing <em><strong>pattern</strong></em> of marriage-divorce-remarriage-divorce-remarriage-divorce-remarriage, etc. or
<br />b. living with/having sex with another person who is not your spouse.
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<br />So, if you’re remarried, the past is past, receive God’s grace and move on; you have made a new covenant before God (your new marriage vows), now go back to the “CPR” and
<br />Commit (in this new marriage) to God’s Vision for that marriage,
<br />Pay Attention to Your Heart and
<br />Relate with Christlike Love.
<br />
<br />You don’t undo one wrong with another one. It is not God’s will for you to divorce your current spouse to remarry your first (or former) one. Remember, we’ve got to stop treating this area of our lives different from other areas: every single one of us needs God’s grace whether we’ve been divorced or not and God’s grace is available for each of us regardless of our past. Thank God! Grace is the only way to move forward.
<br />Some may ask: if our souls are “glued” together, and we get divorced, can we ever”be free” of that person in our new marriage; will we always be carrying around part of that person in our soul, even into our next relationship? </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">
<br />The answer is to look at divorce for what it is: a death. Divorce isn’t like a death, it <strong><em>is</em></strong> a death. The same question asked in the previous paragraph is asked of people grieving the loss of their spouse through that spouse dying. Can you totally forget the person? Probably not. Can you get past that death and get remarried and have a healthy relationship? Absolutely. Is it easy? No. The longer you were married, truthfully, the harder it will be to “get past” the former marriage. But by God’s grace, it is most definitely possible; and not only possible, again, because God is God of grace, it is what God desires for you.
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<br />This is why it is so absolutely critical that we grieve well the death (and/or divorce) of the first marriage; the grieving/healing process is critical for the viability of the new marriage. You need to take <em><strong>at the very least</strong></em> a full year to process/heal the death of that marriage and, depending on the situation, you <strong><em>may</em></strong> need 5 or more years. To the degree that you process well, grieve well and get healed up, your new marriage can be better than the first one, even if the first one was great.
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<br />With God’s grace, incredible vistas of fulfillment and joy are waiting to be experienced and explored. God’s grace is not a hack patch job. He is the God who heals the brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3). His grace is healing, restorative, re-creating, and unbelievably satisfying. But we must learn to receive and assimilate that grace into our lives - again, the exact same thing, everyone else must learn to do - regardless of our pasts.
<br />For all of us, an incredible future of joy and fulfillment is available because of God’s grace. Let me give you 2 great verses to meditate on:
<br />2 Corinthians 9:8: <em>And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
<br /></em>2 Peter 3:18: <em>Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.</em>
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<br />An area of confusion that some have mentioned to me is reconciling the Bible’s strong stance against divorce with the “exception passages” that seem to “allow” divorce. There is a tension there, but it’s the same tension present in the verses that call us to holiness while recognizing that sin happens and providing grace when it does.
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<br />God’s original plan never included divorce, but he recognizes that it happens. The key word is “recognize.” That doesn’t mean he “approves” it or “endorses” it. When we talk about the Bible “allowing” divorce or when we talk about “valid” biblical divorces, (e.g. Matt. 5:32, 1 Cor. 7, etc.) we are using language that <em><strong>recognizes</strong></em> that divorce does happen, but its not as if God is saying “I approve of/endorse divorce.” That puts words in God’s mouth he never intends to say. We must live with the tension that “recognize” and “allow” do not mean “approve” and “endorse.”
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<br />We must also recognize that the Bible never intends to answer the question “what are all the circumstances in which a divorce is allowed?” The Bible declares God’s original desire and then in different places recognizes circumstances where divorce might happen. Taking these exception occurrences and recognizing that the Bible doesn’t intend to speak comprehensively or exhaustively on the issue of each of the individual circumstances that lead to divorce, wise counsel calls us to examine each situation in the light of the Scriptures and seek the best path forward for that relationship. Combing the Bible to look for exceptions and loopholes is a distortion of the purpose of the Bible. Seeking wise counsel in light of Biblical truth honors God’s Word and the purpose for which it was given.
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<br />Because this is an area that is fraught with so many questions and issues, our Church Life Board (of which I am a part) has written a brief </span><a href="http://www.churchoftheopendoor.org/marriagepolicy.pdf"><span style="font-family:georgia;">position paper on Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> that I believe will be helpful. I urge you to read it carefully. </span>
<br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">
<br />May God’s great grace be upon you and your family as you seek to live your life in a way that honors Him. </span>
<br />Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-61615600854639895692010-04-15T10:53:00.003-04:002010-04-15T21:24:18.565-04:00RecalibrateI got a ton of comments about my message this past week. I think one of the things that struck a chord with so many of us is how self-oriented we all are. I know I am. (I’ve already used the I/my word 5 times in 2 sentences!)<br /><br />One of my favorite meetings each week is our SAT (Strategic Advisory Team). We start off the meeting with a Life Group type section where we share life with each other, laugh, pray, laugh, share how God is speaking to us through His Word, share struggles, laugh and generally practice healthy team relationships. This past week we got talking about how rampant self-orientation is in our society. Everywhere you turn, you are trained, tempted and taught to believe that “it’s all about you.” Each of us admitted that our default mode is to look at life through self-oriented glasses. American society is known for its individualism and it has infected all our life including our marriages in very ugly ways. We actually are offended when God doesn’t make everything work out the way we think it should be. This may be our biggest struggle in becoming like Christ. Jesus lived a thorougly God-oriented life; everything revolved around the Father. Our self-orientation is so deeply ingrained that living a thoroughly God-oriented life seems strange if not impossible.<br /><br />Try this experiment. Monitor how you react to people and situations the next couple of days. Listen to your thoughts; notice how often you receive and interpret life around you from a self-oriented perspective. Don’t do it any longer than a couple of days as it only reinforces self-orientation. Then begin an experiment where you seek to intentionally see life, what happens to you, how you interact with people, everything, from a God-oriented perspective. Throughout the day, ask God to recalibrate your thinking to a God-oriented way of thinking. Ask him, point blank, “how do you see this, Lord; what’s your perspective on this; what do you think about this?” When you get hurt, or something happens you don’t like, immediately ask him for the grace to see this from his perspective; how can he use this for his purposes. Tell him you belong to him and you want to live surrendered to him. Tell him “it’s not about me, its all about you, Lord.”<br /><br />Then write me and tell me how it went!Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-20865521263212749802010-04-13T17:19:00.002-04:002010-04-13T17:25:55.671-04:00Missional LivingAbout 30 years ago, some people began using the word “missional” to describe living every moment of every day as a disciple sent by Christ into the world and incorporating the mission Jesus gave us into our lives 24/7 vs. the prevailing mentality of compartmentalizing our lives into segments like family, job, activities, friendships, and church. The church had become a place you went and watched for a couple of hours a week and then got back to the rest of your life. The language of “missional” was crafted to call the church back to its original mission of being the presence of Christ in the world 24/7.<br /><br />Today this language of living “missional” lives is getting more and more press and in some circles has almost become faddish (which is scary since we all know what happens to fads.) To read a brief (vs. a whole book) and excellent history of the missional movement see <a href="http://missionalchurchnetwork.com/history-of-the-missional-church-part-i/">here</a>. To see a definition of a missional church, see <a href="http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/missional-church-network/8b3ccbee1427c1025e581507669b0dda">here</a>. Below I have copied an excellent description of a <a href="http://missionalchurchnetwork.com/history-of-missional-church-part-iii/">missional church</a>. These are the indicators of a missional church. I long for Church of the Open Door to become more missional and it is the direction I have been leading the church ever since I arrived. It is a long, arduous process but recently I am seeing more and more signs that are very encouraging. There have always been people at this church living missional lives, even before the language was coined, but they have been a minority. It seems that every day I am hearing news of the people of Open Door really living out their faith, becoming more like Christ, living missional lives. I encourage you to look at these indicators of a missional church below and ask yourself, is this true of our church? What can I do to live out this kind of missional life? In other words, what can I do to become more like Christ in the way I live my day to day life?<br /><br />1. The missional church proclaims the gospel.<br /><br />What it looks like: The story of God’s salvation is faithfully repeated in a multitude of different ways.<br /><br />2. The missional church is a community where all members are involved in learning to become disciples of Jesus.<br /><br />What it looks like: The disciple identity is held by all; growth in discipleship is expected of all.<br /><br />3. The Bible is normative in the church’s life.<br /><br />What it looks like: The church is reading the Bible together to learn what it can learn nowhere else – God’s good and gracious intent for all creation, the salvation mystery, and the identity and purpose of life together.<br /><br />4. The church understands itself as different from the world because of its participation in the life, death, and resurrection of its Lord.<br /><br />What it looks like: In its corporate life and public witness, the church is consciously seeking to conform to its Lord instead of the multitude of cultures in which it finds itself.<br /><br />5. The church seeks to discern God’s specific missional vocation for the entire community and for all of its members.<br /><br />What it looks like: The church has made its “mission” it priority, and in overt and communal ways is seeking to be and do “what God is calling us to know, be, and do.”<br /><br />6. A missional community is indicated by how Christians behave toward one another.<br /><br />What it looks like: Acts of self-sacrifice on behalf of one another both in the church and in the locale characterize the generosity of the community.<br /><br />7. It is a community that practices reconciliation.<br /><br />What it looks like: The church community is moving beyond homogeneity toward a more heterogeneous community in its racial, ethnic, age, gender, and socioeconomic makeup.<br /><br />8. Peoples within the community hold themselves accountable to one another in love.<br /><br />What it looks like: Substantial time is spent with one another for the purpose of watching over one another in love.<br /><br />9. The church practices hospitality.<br /><br />What it looks like: Welcoming the stranger into the midst of the community plays a central role.<br /><br />10. Worship is the central act by which the community celebrates with joy and thanksgiving both God’s presence and God’s promised future.<br /><br />What it looks like: There is a significant and meaningful engagement in communal worship of God, reflecting appropriately and addressing the culture of those who worship together.<br /><br />11. The community has a vital public witness.<br /><br />What it looks like: The church makes an observable impact that contributes to the transformation of life, society, and human relationships.<br />12. There is a recognition that the church itself is an incomplete expression of the reign of God.<br /><br />What it looks like: There is a widely help perception that this church is going somewhere – and that “somewhere” is a more faithfully lived life in the reign of God.[3]<br /><br />One final note from the writings of the Gospel and Culture Network: Darrell Guder emphasizes the importance of having congregations formed by hearing the Bible “missionally.” He points out that when missional renewal is happening, different kinds of questions are brought to the Bible. He writes:<br /><br />Congregations are open to being challenged, to looking hard at their deeply ingrained attitudes and expectations. The missional approach asks, How does God’s Word call, shape, transform, and send me . . . and us? Coupled with this openness is the awareness, that biblical formation must mean change, and often conversion. Christian communities may discover that their discipling will require repentance and that their way of being church will have to change.<br /><br />What do you think?Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-16774860244161760602010-04-10T08:36:00.004-04:002010-04-10T08:49:34.938-04:00Fearing JesusI don’t usually get afraid when reading the Bible, though it has happened on more than one occasion. This morning I read in Luke 8:26-39 a story that made me afraid. The story includes things that have been known to scare other people as well: talk of torture, tombs, demons, high cliffs, deep water, and a pig stampede; but they aren’t related like you might think. You have to read the story to find out where the fear shows up, and when you do maybe you’ll be stunned by the same phrases that got me.<br /><br />Read <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%208:26-39&version=NLT">Luke 8:26-39</a><br /><br />Did you read it? Two reactions to the story are juxtaposed with each other and I wonder which one best describes you and me. Both reactions are associated with fear. The first one is in v. 37: <em>“the people asked Jesus to leave them.”</em> The second one is in v. 39 where Jesus says, <em>“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”</em> Three things about these verses make me afraid:<br /><br />1. It is possible to get so comfortable with the way I have arranged my life that when Jesus upsets it, I might find myself wishing he would leave. In this story when it’s clear that Jesus isn’t welcome, he leaves. That scares me.<br />2. It is possible to care more about my comfort level than about someone getting their life miraculously changed. A man is liberated from bondage and death, his life is forever changed, he is saved, rescued, miraculously delivered, and all people can think about is themselves. That scares me.<br />3. Jesus has instructed all of us who have had our lives changed to <em>“Tell how much God has done for you.”</em> But we don’t. Or at least few of us do. What did this man do? Verse 39 continues: <em>“So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.”</em> Why don’t we? One word: fear. Fear of what people may think; fear of what to say, fear of how people will respond, etc.<br /><br />I fear the fear that keeps us silent and preoccupied with lesser things while people all around us live in bondage and death. Do we keep Jesus at arms length out of fear? Are we more concerned with our comfort level than changed lives? Do we share the good news of Jesus or are we silenced by fear?<br /><br />“Lord, I praise you for all that you have done for me. Help me recognize opportunities where I can tell others of all you’ve done. You’ve healed me, forgiven me, saved me, adopted me. You’ve cleansed me from my sin and filled me with your Holy Spirit. You’ve given me a purpose and hope and a reason for living. You’ve given me a calling and spiritual gifts to serve you and others. You have surrounded me with blessings, with family, with friends, and placed me in a church that is inspired by a clear mission from you. I am blessed beyond measure and its all because of you! Forgive me of my fear, I surrender it to you. You have not given me a spirit of fear and timidity, but of love and power and self-discipline. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me boldness me to tell others of what you’ve done for me. Amen.”Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-12911929497517331612010-03-30T08:59:00.003-04:002010-03-30T09:44:23.580-04:00Fire of God<p>I've had enough people ask me to post the words to my song that we did this past week to cause me to assent. The song is called <em>Fire of God</em>. </p><p>I actually started the song years ago, but it just sat dormant and felt unfinished. I picked it up again 3 or 4 weeks ago when I began studying Mark 9:49 and meditating on what it might mean. I was really wrestling with the whole idea of the purifying fires of God and how the Holy Spirit uses this part of the sanctification process to to purify our love. </p><p>I thought I had finished the song again but as I was singing it for Chad, our worship pastor, it just didn't feel right. He said he liked it, and we were going to do it a couple of Sundays ago and then again the 28th, but something just didn't feel right about it, so I yanked it. The next week, I wrote a completely new melody and changed some of the words to how we did it this past Sunday. </p><p>I thought Chad and the band did a great job with it in the Auditorium services and I heard Terry Adkins and the band who were leading worship in our video venue in the RNC, did a great job with it too. (Thanks guys!)</p><p>I wanted simple words and a simple melody so the song could be learned quickly and sung as an expression of a heart crying out to God. </p><p><em>Fill me Lord, with Your holy love;<br />Come Wind of God, blow through my life.<br />Fire of God, ignite my heart to love.<br />Spirit come.<br />I want to love like You.<br />I want to be more like You.<br /><br />So, fill me Lord, with Your holy love;<br />Come Wind of God, blow through my life.<br />Fire of God, ignite my heart to love.<br />Spirit come.<br /><br />Let the Fire fall!<br />I give You my life, I give You my all.<br />I dare to draw near to Your Holy Flame<br />Fire of God, purify my love<br />Fire of God, purify my love<br /></em><em>I surrender all.</em></p><p><em>“Fire of God”/</em>Words and music by Jim Mindling/© 2010 CrossWinds Music</p>Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-42879177724548414702010-03-24T10:28:00.001-04:002010-03-24T10:28:59.980-04:00Happy BirthdayThis past week, both my parents, Jim and Pat, celebrated birthdays. Both of them are in their 70’s and are 3 years and 3 days apart in age. As I visited with them on the phone this past week, I was struck once again both by the privilege of being raised by godly parents and how they continue to model what it means to live surrendered to Christ and his mission. My parents have never been on the official paid staff of a church but have poured themselves into every church they’ve been at, serving as volunteers in the ministries of the church and living “missional” lives in the community. <br /><br />They have served under many pastors in several churches over the years. All of these pastors come and go, but my parents keep serving, keep loving, keep building relationships and in my humble opinion are the backbone of their church. They have not slowed down but it seems to me have picked up momentum, displaying lives of servanthood and stewardship in every aspect of their lives. I have often thought, wow, what if one could develop a church loaded full of “Jim and Pat Mindlings” what a difference a church could make in a community! It would be nothing short of revolutionary! And yet, that is exactly what Jesus had in mind! Living out the gospel in everyday lives, engaged with their neighborhood, their community, “being” the church, not “going” to church. <br /><br />May I challenge us all to stop “going to church” and grow in “being the church”? What could happen in our communities if we did?!Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7713319364736899819.post-15948919520811676672010-03-09T16:07:00.000-05:002010-03-09T16:11:12.768-05:00Favorite Moment This WeekendI experienced a lot of moments this weekend where I saw the people of Open Door loving, serving, and being the church. I love the serving heart our church has! It was also exciting seeing the CrossRoads full of energy at the Burger Bash. It was wall to wall people, and the burgers were awesome! Our new Student Ministries Pastor, Joel Zaborowski is doing a great job with our students and they raised over $3800 for missions trips to extend the love of Jesus Christ beyond North Central Ohio. (51 volunteers served over 1000 burgers.)<br /><br />But my favorite moment this weekend was Saturday morning in our 5B Evangelism Seminar where the energy and excitement in the room was palpable as people told stories of loving their friends to Christ and learned tools and skills to better reach those around them with the life-changing love of Jesus Christ! Is there anyone you love so much that you want them to experience the life-changing love of Christ? God, fill us with your love!Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249459400288986263noreply@blogger.com0