Sunday Afterhoughts 09.12.10

Here are my Sunday afterthoughts:  

• We had a leadership meeting and we read from the book of Acts the dramatic change that had happened in the church.  I mentioned that our church has experienced dramatic change, but quite the opposite.  Smaller leadership and smaller attenders.  But God's vision remains the same and we should be faithful.
• Leaders were asked if they were on board with the vision of our chruch.  All said, "YES!"
• Our Boomers class expanded when we combined it with our Youth class.  Miraculously God added more than what we started with!
• I have been recording my messages, so if you have a chance listen to this Challenges Part 3
• When God leads, people respond.
• We had a few make first time commitments or recommitments to Christ!
• One family filled a whole pew yesterday!  If you have pews, you know that is AWESOME!
• Thankful that people see the need to decorate the church so it is inviting to guests.
• Very grateful to Pastor Alex of our Spanish Ministry and their gifts in repairing the church.  They do it because they love JESUS!
• Praying for God to bring more people and for us to be motivated to inviting other to join us!

A Broken Promise...

It has been nearly a month since I updated my blog.  I am a bit disappointed in myself.  I set out to regularly update my blog.  It was a goal I set for myself earlier this year.  I was pretty gung ho about it and was commenting fairly regularly on the book of Acts, but then something happened.

BUSYNESS!  Busyness can distract us from goals.  It can distract us from those things that are important!  It can distract us from being a God follower.  The cost of busyness is life changing in the wrong way!  It can be destructive to your health and it can be destructive in your spiritual walk with Jesus.  Jesus said to the rich man:  "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."  His possession, his wealth, his money is what kept him away from Jesus.  He even knew the commands, but he would not live by the commands of grace, love, forgivenss and a pursuit for Jesus.

What is keeping you busy from attending church?  from praying?  from reading the Bible?  from making some significant lifestyle changes?  from following Christ?  You know what they are.  God knows what they are.  All you need to do as I have done...confess...give it to God.  He has made a difference in the world and he can make a difference in YOU!

I ain't afraid of no Ghost! Or am I?

I have been reading a book called Forgotten God by Francis Chan.  It doesn't imply that God is missing, although that is what I thought when I picked it up.  But it talks about this person, the Holy Ghost (or Spirit)!  He explains how we are missing out on the Holy Spirit being active in the church.  Francis spends alot of time developing the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers and the believer of the NT times.  Then he goes on to define the Holy Spirit.  He continues to develop the theology of the Holy Spirit and then...I get to Chapter 4.  And then...I get to page 84.  Here is what he says:

Right now I want you to take a break from reading and some some time asking yourself why you want the Holy Spirit.  Is it for power?  Is it for your own betterment and purposes?  Or is it because you want to experience all that God has for you?  Is it because you love the church and desire to be a better servant to your sisters and brothers?

So I stopped.  I said, "Okay.  I am going to stop reading and really ponder what Francis is writing."  So I stopped at the very first sentence.  Here is some of what I recall my thoughts were: 

• Lord, work in me and straighten me out give me Your Spirit.
• With Your Spirit, I can do all things!
• Father, bring the Holy Spirit to Your church, so I can see it grow.
• Holy Spirit, work with in this situation to resolve the feelings I have.

Did you notice a trend?  Did you notice what I was asking this Holy Spirit, this "Ghost" to do.  First, let me say, I do believe in the Holy Spirit.  Totally.  But what I was asking for were selfish things.  Look at the two statements after the first sentence.  Yes....some of what I asked was for power for me.  I asked for ability.  I asked for the future to be seen by me.  I asked the Spirit to work within me and another person.  Those things I mentioned are "spiritual" for the most part.  We ask that from God and they are not necessarily "bad things".  We have all said things like that.  But what got me, what convicted me, and what I hope will convict you is that last two sentences:  Or is it because you want to experience all that God has for you? Is it because you love the church and desire to be a better servant to your sisters and brothers?

I don't believe what I asked was for either of those things.  My heart was dislocated from God's Spirit.  My heart was only asking for a partial grasp of the Spirit instead of the fullness and "sold out" life that listens to the Spirit.  Where is your relationship with the Holy Spirit?  Are you afraid what He can do for you?  Have you said, "I ain't afraid of no Ghost!", but in reality you truly are?  Take advantage of what the Spirit of God wants to do in your life.  He wants to take it up a notch.  Because He is God and there is no other.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:4 (NIV)

Click on this video to introduce you to Forgotten God.

6 things about family and future

Inspired by another blog, I am answering the questions about my family and future:

Tell us more about your family. (Married, siblings, etc)

1. Are you married? Yes.  I love my wife, Marie!
2. Do you have brothers and sisters? I have one brother who is five years younger than me.  No sisters.
3. Where do you live and what type of house? I live in Southern California, in an unincorporated area of Riverside.  I have a two story house in an average neighbrohood.
4. How about mom and dad? My mom and dad live in the community where I grew up in.  I work for that particular city.
5. Are you in school? I will be returning to seminary this fall.  Hopefully, I will.
6. Do you have children? Yes.  I have two daughters and one son.  By the end of this year, I will have a total of 5 grandchildren from each one of my children.  I love to spoil them!

The Future

1. Where would you like to “be” ten years from now? (if the Lord hasn’t returned) – I will be 50 in 10 years, so I hope that I will be living in a newer home or remodeled my current home.  I would pray that the church I am apart of will be transformed.
2. Marriage? I will be married to my same beautiful wife.
3. Do you plan on having children? Already had them and don't think I will have anymore at the age of 50.
4. Having a job? Begin to think about retirement and dedicate myself to working more at the church.
5. School? Prayerfully, be able to teach at a school or conduct workshop or leadership meetings.
6. Where do you want to live? I want to live where God wants to put me.

One of the best Mother's Day Messages...

This video definitely should hit your heart on what we are supposed to do. It is worth watching.