John 1:12
Becoming puts us in a place of transformation, revelation, and flexibility. No matter where we find ourselves we have not arrived when it comes to “becoming;” mystery keeps us moving, finding, and searching. This is what it means to be flexible in the sight of uncertainty. The answers, directions, or moves we need to take appear as we become relational with God, people, and life itself. Therefore, being relational is this process of becoming and is the same as being in partnership with God. It is tapping into God as He taps into us, it becomes discovering, acknowledging and living in the awareness of God, ourselves, and each other in the process. Significantly, the process comes about layer by layer as we lend ourselves to the Holy Spirit.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Friday, November 27, 2015
Formational Leadership
John 17:22-26
Formational leadership is relational and transformational and is unique in what is formed as a result of that relational transformation. The inner workings of the Trinity manifested as Jesus took shape and dwelt among us. The Father chose to send us Jesus, Jesus chose to come and the Holy Spirit chose to assist and insist that He come. He came. No one is in charge when the movement is in the same direction and the directive is the same. It is not about control, it is about moving as one, about being one. Therefore, the holy deference between them is not about submitting to control it is interpenetration of love in action becoming what each one needs to act in agreement. God took the lead to love us.
Formational leadership is relational and transformational and is unique in what is formed as a result of that relational transformation. The inner workings of the Trinity manifested as Jesus took shape and dwelt among us. The Father chose to send us Jesus, Jesus chose to come and the Holy Spirit chose to assist and insist that He come. He came. No one is in charge when the movement is in the same direction and the directive is the same. It is not about control, it is about moving as one, about being one. Therefore, the holy deference between them is not about submitting to control it is interpenetration of love in action becoming what each one needs to act in agreement. God took the lead to love us.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
Psalm 107:43 (KJV)
“Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.”
What a way to end this song. This last scripture capitulates and defines the whole song (emotion, desire, longing, musing, etc. in the heart of God over us); yes, God’s lovingkindness sings over us songs of deliverance. Not only after the deliverance; His lovingkindness is singing over us while we are in our mess. How are we going to wrap our minds around the lovingkindness of the LORD. To recognize we have gone as far as we can go, become as lost as we can be; in our deepest ignorance and “gross” darkness His lovingkindness is present. It is a move of wisdom on our part to recognize this and a move of mercy on His part to help us recognize this. “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 107:1).
“Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.”
What a way to end this song. This last scripture capitulates and defines the whole song (emotion, desire, longing, musing, etc. in the heart of God over us); yes, God’s lovingkindness sings over us songs of deliverance. Not only after the deliverance; His lovingkindness is singing over us while we are in our mess. How are we going to wrap our minds around the lovingkindness of the LORD. To recognize we have gone as far as we can go, become as lost as we can be; in our deepest ignorance and “gross” darkness His lovingkindness is present. It is a move of wisdom on our part to recognize this and a move of mercy on His part to help us recognize this. “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 107:1).
Friday, November 20, 2015
LOST AND UNDONE
The first two years of ministry I hitched hiked from church to church conducting revivals. During my second revival I was sleeping on the streets among the homeless in Venture California. As I was walking the streets in what seem to be a foreign country for a Georgia boy like me, I passed many people during the day. I saw not only homeless people; I saw every class of people one could think of from children to adults. One morning as I was taking all this in, a deep burden hit me concerning what I was seeing and I began to sing a new song out of my spirit over and over all that day. This song still rings in my heart 40 years later.
"Tell me tell me tell me why people everywhere they cry, seeking for some hope, seeking for some peace, and never finding their reality" (repeat).
What is this reality? Ontologically, without Jesus we are not complete, we are lost and undone.
"Tell me tell me tell me why people everywhere they cry, seeking for some hope, seeking for some peace, and never finding their reality" (repeat).
What is this reality? Ontologically, without Jesus we are not complete, we are lost and undone.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
FIG TREE AND FAITH
Mark 11:20-26 (KJV)
"20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. ...
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."
Jesus did not curse the fig tree because He was hungry and the tree was not delivering breakfast or a snack. He cursed it because it was not being what it was designed to be. In other words, His action towards the tree was not an iniquity driven act (it was not about His selfish dissatisfaction); His action was driven by the spirit of judgement as to bring balance to an unbalanced situation. And, what in the world does this fig tree narrative have to do with the narrative of forgiveness in relationship to faith. Forgiveness brings balance and accountability to our faith. It is not having faith in people that forgiveness works; it is having faith in God that forgiveness works. We can issue forgiveness without expecting accountability or we can issue forgiveness expecting accountability. Forgiveness that is managed by faith in God brings about righteous judgment; not judgment (condemnation), a judgment that brings things into alignment with balance. Consistent faith is believing things can change when nothing makes sense; that is, if our faith is in God and not humans.
Jesus said to a person caught in the act of adultery - Go and sin no more - this was forgiveness expecting accountability. Things can change when the power of forgiveness is released.
"20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. ...
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."
Jesus did not curse the fig tree because He was hungry and the tree was not delivering breakfast or a snack. He cursed it because it was not being what it was designed to be. In other words, His action towards the tree was not an iniquity driven act (it was not about His selfish dissatisfaction); His action was driven by the spirit of judgement as to bring balance to an unbalanced situation. And, what in the world does this fig tree narrative have to do with the narrative of forgiveness in relationship to faith. Forgiveness brings balance and accountability to our faith. It is not having faith in people that forgiveness works; it is having faith in God that forgiveness works. We can issue forgiveness without expecting accountability or we can issue forgiveness expecting accountability. Forgiveness that is managed by faith in God brings about righteous judgment; not judgment (condemnation), a judgment that brings things into alignment with balance. Consistent faith is believing things can change when nothing makes sense; that is, if our faith is in God and not humans.
Jesus said to a person caught in the act of adultery - Go and sin no more - this was forgiveness expecting accountability. Things can change when the power of forgiveness is released.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
JESUS DELIVERS US
2 Timothy 3:10-12 (KJV)
“10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
This is packed with content; could even be another book in itself. Our lives are a narrative; it is in our story that Jesus is present and active. It is as He delivers us we encounter His love, instruction, and, covenant commitment to be with us through it all even to the ends of the world.
Being hooked up to Jesus does not end our suffering. His loving and caring presence secures us in it, through it, and out the other side of it, and becomes a tenacity that cannot let go; He is Emanuel (God with us). “…but out of them all the Lord delivers us.”
“10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
This is packed with content; could even be another book in itself. Our lives are a narrative; it is in our story that Jesus is present and active. It is as He delivers us we encounter His love, instruction, and, covenant commitment to be with us through it all even to the ends of the world.
Being hooked up to Jesus does not end our suffering. His loving and caring presence secures us in it, through it, and out the other side of it, and becomes a tenacity that cannot let go; He is Emanuel (God with us). “…but out of them all the Lord delivers us.”
Saturday, November 7, 2015
THE CUTTING EDGE
Matthew 10:32-35 (KJV)
“32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”
Heaven always gives a new slice on things. We cannot have that slice unless we own it. To confess Him is to own that slice. Our confession reveals what we are willing to own; He is our LORD. He owns us and this is what we own. This is a sword. This sword gives us a slice otherwise we would not have. It is cutting, it slices things, and it brings division and definition. Once we own it, once it owns us, it divides us from this world and all that is connected to this world. The cutting edge.
“32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”
Heaven always gives a new slice on things. We cannot have that slice unless we own it. To confess Him is to own that slice. Our confession reveals what we are willing to own; He is our LORD. He owns us and this is what we own. This is a sword. This sword gives us a slice otherwise we would not have. It is cutting, it slices things, and it brings division and definition. Once we own it, once it owns us, it divides us from this world and all that is connected to this world. The cutting edge.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
RELINQUISHING ALL CONTROL
Power is the ability to act and authority is the right to act. We may know what to do; yet, if we do not have the invitation it becomes intrusion. It is not up to us to change people; It is up to us to love them whether they change or not. Love covers the multitude of sins. What does this mean? This word cover in scriptural language does not mean we cover it up as to hide it, it means to overcome it and to overcome it does not mean we overpower it. “...He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” (Revelation 21:7). “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things”. No matter the odds bear through it, not matter the statistics believe it can change, no matter the evidence hope it can be; enduring all things is to simply resist control.
Think about it. Why did God give us “free will?” He is willing to bear, believe, and hope we would choose His heart. Love is not about power; however, love is all powerful. “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5). In other words, our God is full of power because He is “understanding,” He understands, His understanding is infinite. "Jesus fell beneath the load of the cross walking the Delarosa; even to the point, He could no longer bear it. Do we think He understands when we cannot any longer bear it?" (RR) I say He does. He bore the cross, He bore the shame, He overcame; He relinquished all control to love us.
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