Our generation needs a reformation.
But a single person won’t lead it.
A single event won’t define it.
Our reformation will be a movement of reformers living creatively, compassionately, courageously for the cause of Christ.
 
This reformation will not be born of a new discovery.  It will be the rediscovery of something old, something ancient. 
 
Something primal.
 
—Mark Batterson, Primal

Have you ever read a book that just makes you stop? Stop the madness of church activity, leading, planning, etc. The book I’ve been reading the last few days named Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity by Mark Batterson made me do just that. That alone is an accomplishment because not many books have that effect on me. I need books that either wow me or slap me because of the reality of what I need to be thinking/acting/doing. This book kind of did both to me. For that I give Mark a high five!

What makes this even more interesting to me was that I was featured with Mark in Rev. Magazine a few years ago as pastors who “blog” when we both kind of started out in pastoring. Since then I’ve always tracked him to see what he is up to and obviously Mark has “blown up” so to speak and has gone on to be a noted figure in the faith-based world especially in church planting. Bottomline, I was honored to be in his company even if it was only in print media!

I have also read one of his other books “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day” so I was happy to read that he was working on Primal and after reading it I have to say I like this guy even more, I would love to meet him one day!

Now to get to the book…

1. I liked the title of the book and made me pause because I do feel that something has been lost in Christianity. Some people think it is the “spiritiual gifts”, others believe its the way “we do church” but Mark suggests in his book that its the fact that Christians have lost their way and have lost their first love. I love the way he put what our primal problem is “It goes without saying that Christianity has a perception problem. At the heart of the problem is the simple fact that Christians are more known for what we’re against that what we’re for.”

2. I liked the way it flows. Reading Primal is like having Mark over for coffee and he’s just sharing his heart and his travel adventures and how they related to his spiritual walk.

3.  It’s just the right amount of pages. With only 167 pages you could read it in a week.  Faster if you have uninterrupted time on your hands.

4. Format of book: The book is divided into four parts: 1) The Heart of Christianity; 2) The Soul of Christianity; 3) The Mind of Christianity; 4) The Strength of Christianity.

5. My reaction to some key highlights of the book:When I began reading the book I was afraid I was not going to like it. Mark takes us back to early Christianity and the catacombs (I never was a big history buff) but he then reminds us that there was a time where serving and worshipping God was not so complicated, I mean when we knuckleheaded Christians didn’t complicate things so much. Mark reminds us that for God its really as simple as this one commandment: Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength.Mark shares (on pg 7) how 20-somethings who grew up in the church are leaving the church and how our first thought would probably be “what is wrong with this generation?” but he goes on to say that that is the wrong question, the right question is “what’s wrong with the church?” And his answer? “We’re not great at the Great Commandment. In too many instances, we’re not even good at it.” Ouch! [First slap to Liz]

• One of the key themes throughout the book was  Re.

Mark challenges us that the quest for the lost soul of Christianity involves us1.      Rediscovering “what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, strength”2.      Returning “to the primal place where God loved you and you loved God”3.      Reacting right because “it’s much easier to ‘act’ like a Christian than it is to ‘react’ like one” [Second slap to Liz]

In the first part of the book, there is a chapter called “Tribe of the Transplanted” a reference to the new heart “we are supposed” to get one made of flesh versus stone when we come to KNOW God, Mark reminds us that one act of compassion can change history…not just our history, world history. He retells the story of Joseph and how his simple act of compassion while in prison got him noticed by a cupbearer who NOW knew Joseph could interpret dreams and that simple relational link connected him to the Pharaoh later on and the rest is well…history. So this part of the book challenges us to keep in mind that every little thing we do yes, whatever we view as little could have major impact to someone but that someone could know someone who knows someone that could be the anchor to YOUR destiny fulfillment.

I could go on and on about the fantastic illustrations Mark used in his book to bring a message home for us. My personal favorites were his 93 year old friend who made God his “senior partner” (p. 33) making a reference to how when we make God the first priority he blesses our efforts, the island of the colorblind (p.58) making a tie between colorblind people who live on an island with amazing color filled life and the travesty that they could not enjoy it while living there and how that could be us Christians how we can take everything we have available to us for granted or even worse, that we could be just as blind to the wonder and miracles around us all the time. [slap, slap]

I think Primal is a great book to get even before the year is up so you can reflect on how your new year is going to be different and it’s a must read to begin in 2010. Everyone needs to read this book but I especially encourage  leaders/pastors to read it because if we are honest-we are the first ones to be about Kingdom business and forget the awe of the King.  We need to go back. We need to re-mind ourselves of that PRIMAL encounter with the King of King and Lord of Lords.

This book provided for review by Random House. Buy it here. 

Believe it or not, I still don’t feel like I’ve achieved a lot in life. Don’t get me wrong I am grateful for what I have done, what I have and what my life looks like right now but as I look back I realize many times in my life I had to tune ‘em out.  Not feeling like I have ‘arrived’ keeps me from getting comfortable. Not feeling like I’ve reached the pinnacle of my life keeps me focused on the many  dreams still inside me and able to tune ‘em out.

Right now I have a few dreams still left in me and since I am still breathing I guess God wants me around. However just like Joseph had his brothers trying to kill him and his dreams, we have a lot of people in our lives whether they are close or close enough that want to be dream killers as well.

These people can be found everywhere. At your job, at school, in your dance class, at the gym, in your family and in your church. It reminds me of a story I read about Martin Luther King Jr. once that stated that when he was at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA one of his “speech” professors marked up one of his speeches with a note, it said “Martin, if you continue to use such lofty words and flamboyant language, you will never be very effective in public speaking.” Ha! I wonder where that professor was when MLK Jr. gave his “I Have A Dream” speech. Martin had learned a lesson from all the naysayers in his life, he learned to tune ‘em out.

There are people right now you need to tune out. Now don’t get me wrong. Not every dream is a God dream. It could be a good dream but not a God dream. And not every dream is achievable because you are doing absolutely NOTHING to change your circumstances. You are still doing the same thing (s) day after day, you are still failing your classes, you have been in “school” for like 10 years and still don’t even have that AA to show for your time there, you still carry that muffin top everywhere you go (this is for me J) yet somehow you expect things to be “different” and your dream to come to pass.

Honey, it don’t work that way. You have to put sweat equity into ANY dream. Things will not fall on your lap. But rest assured as soon as you make up your mind to work hard on any dream there “they” come, the ones who say you will never be able to do it, the ones who say they care about you and even love you but won’t even help you make it in your new business by becoming a customer and trying out whatever it is that you are offering. They exist everywhere and yes they even come with a God bless you tag line. Tune ‘em out!

I don’t care if you have been trying to lose weight for years now (again talking to myself), I don’t care if you thought you could never ever go back to school and get that degree, I don’t care if you tell me that no one in your family has EVER amounted to much, tomorrow can be a new day, you don’t have to listen to the biggest enemy of our souls and dream stealer Satan and you most certainly don’t have to listen to other people who are in just as big of a mess as you are. Why is it that we so quickly accept the negative and listen to the advice of people who have never achieved anything in life, yet never look to someone who has made it despite great obstacles and pain. Whether they have the material wealth to show for it or the spiritual health to show for their journey in success, wouldn’t you rather hear the advice of people who have gone before you and made it. I’m tellin’ you, all those naysayers and dream killers around you need to be tuned out!

And don’t go feeling sorry for anyone you’ve tuned out either. Don’t go getting all Christianese on me saying that a “good Christian” doesn’t tune people out. You have to tune people out if you expect to make it as a Christian, as a good wife or husband, as a good businessman/woman, anything. I don’t know who this is for, maybe its just for me since as a pastor I often have to tune ‘em out so I don’t get discouraged on the journey. The ‘em will stay nameless to protect the very guilty J. Sister, brother, go after your dreams-if you are still breathing…there is still time. Try again tomorrow and when those ill-speaking, dream killing, busy bodies enter your dream/faith zone, politely excuse yourself and tune ‘em out.

I came across this prayer guide as I was looking for resources for our prayer team. I think everyone could utilize this.

Got problems in your church, then pray, have a great pastor? Then pray more…

Do you desire to fire your pastor? Perhaps you should fire them up instead! Do you want to leave your church? Perhaps you should be the one to build it up! 

The best way to build your church and fire up your pastor is to be involved and pray for them constantly and continually! If you really what to put your faith where it is needed the most, commit yourself to support your Church and Pastoral Staff, and realize that God loves us all, and we are still in His Hands. Pastors and church leaders face many opportunities and challenges each day. They balance the stresses of ministry while they are researching and writing the sermons, managing the affairs of the church, going to countless meetings and counseling others significant problems. They wear many hats as the pastor, priest, counselor, preacher, teacher, manager, organizer, visionary, administrator and janitor all rolled into one with little to no free time. As well as dealing with the stresses of modern life with their family all under personal attack and usually doing life with a lower salary and an ungrateful congregation who expects them to be perfect. They need your help, they need your prayers! When we commit ourselves to pray for our pastors and church leaders, we will have no need to bicker, gossip, slander, withdraw, place blame, or seek to usurp our will as God’s (Rom. 8:28, 8:33-34, 37-39). For our confidence in the fact Christ is our Sovereign Shepherd and He is in complete control of our church and staff, we are in His Hands and all will work out. Our pastors and leaders are here to serve, but they need our prayers and support to make this work! When we pray and come together tighter, we will have no need to fear or stress or remain in our hurts. We can come together triumphantly as a caring, loving community powerfully for His glory impacting our community (Isa. 6:1-12; Gal. 5:22-23; 1 Pet. 3:12)!  Praying for your church is like filling a balloon with helium, the more it is filled, the more it will soar and not sore! For us to grow not just numerically, but in what is much more important, spiritually and in community to one another, requires our discipline and passion to pursue Christ more and ourselves less. We have to grow in Christ in a cherished, intimate growing relationship with Him as LORD over all and LORD over us. We are called to become purpose driven with His purpose at our helm of leadership and lives so that our trust and intimacy is rooted in Him and not in our personal ideas or distractions (1 Chron. 16:11; John 3:30;Eph. 6:16; Col. 2:6-8).  

Use this prayer guide to pray daily for your church. Take one point each day of every month, and as you grow more in your discipline of prayer, double up by taking two or more.  First, praise God and thank Him for His blessings and goodness in all He has bestowed, even if you do not feel or see them. Remember your walk with Christ is all about Him working in and through us so your faith and love flourishes!  

Day 1.    Pray that we realize that our inheritance and hope as a church family is in God’s incomparable and incredible great power which is available to us (Gal. 1:12; Eph. 1:18-19; Phil. 3:10).  Day 2.    Pray that our Church, Leadership and Pastoral Staff becomes more surrendered and poured out to Christ, so they can have spiritual breakthroughs by seeking the fear of God and the mind of Christ and the Spirit’s leading (1 Cor. 2:16; Gal. 2:20-21).  

Day 3.    Pray that your Church and Pastor have and continue to take hold a growing, consistent walk with Christ with a devotional life and prayer that is steadfast. Pray that they realize and allow Christ to work and use them as they grow closer in their faith, spiritual formation, maturity and love (Psalm 16:8-11; 73:28; Rom. 8:31; 2 Pet. 1:5-7).   Day 4.    Pray that all of the leadership exhibit good Christian character and integrity with all of their relationships and dealings in life (Micah 6:8).  

Day 5.    Pray that your Church leaders and Pastors families will be cared for and respected and receive good consideration, so they can to grow too, as they are usually misunderstood, under-appreciated, and ignored or overworked. Pray that all the staff be committed to their families with authentic love and care, that they will be strong and learn in the midst of trials, their homes a refuge and haven of rest and not be condescending or withdrawing from their own families (Psalm 91:9-15; Phil. 4:19; 1 Peter 2:23).   Day 6.    Pray for discernment in exposing any plans of the enemy against our Church or attacking our pastors and staff. Ask Christ to protect us as we wage spiritual warfare against the enemy on behalf of our Church (Eph. 6:11-12, 16; Col. 2:6-8; 1 Pet. 3:12). 

Day 7.     Pray for an increase of vitality, renewal and vision that is from God for the pastors and leaders personally and collectively so that the church can be galvanized then take a hold of, and then be revitalized as a caring committed community for His Kingdom and purpose (Isa. 61:3; Rom. 12). Day 8.    Pray for the willingness and ability to authentically confess and repent of any wrong doing, false dependencies, misplaced ideas and loss of spiritual passion (Luke 13:1-3; Acts 2:38-39; Rev. 2:5-6).  

Day 9.    Pray that you and your church commits to follow the biblical mandate to support and encourage the leadership of the church (Eph. 4:11-13; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 Pet. 5:1-2).  Day 10.  Pray against gossip, negative criticism, false expectations, unhealthy burdens, strife and weariness that will seek to invade our church family (Psalm 91:5-6, 11; Luke 10:19; Eph. 4: 17, 32-5:1).  

Day 11.  Pray that your church be a community of grace and forgiveness. That your church has an atmosphere of encouragement by being grateful for Christ’s work in them that enables the congregation to be inspired to give genuine hospitality to all who comes though your doors (Rom. 15:4-6; 2 Thess. 2:16-17).  Day 12.  Pray that your church commits to a healthy understanding, wisdom and accounting and handling of its stewardship and Finances to better receive God’s blessings (Prov. 3:9-10; 1 Cor. 9:15-18).  

Day 13.  Pray that your Church and Pastor will have the strength and endurance that they need to serve with excellence by the power of the Spirit and the support of the congregation (Philippians 4:13). Day 14.  Pray for healing, forgiveness and reconciliation for any misplaced expectations, criticism, ungrateful attitudes, flawed thinking, grief, hurts, and abuse (Isa. 61:3; Mark 11:22-24, 2 Cor. 10:3-5; Eph. 4:32-5:1; Phil. 4:19). 

Day 15.  Pray that your church would receive God’s direction and vision. That the congregation gets nourished from the substance of His Word and the needs of the congregation are met (Psalm 119:9-12; Matt. 18:20).  Day 16.  Pray that our church becomes real authentic disciples of Christ who are learning, growing and making Fruit and in turn making more disciples (Prov. 19:23; Mal. 3:11; Matt. 28:18-20; John. 15:16; Gal. 5:22-23) 

Day 17.  Pray that the spirit and practice of Humility is utilized and practiced in and outside of your church, and that false humility does not take root (1 Pet. 5:5-7).  Day 18.  Pray that pride does not set in with our Leadership and Pastoral Staff (Psalm 10:4; Prov. 8:13).  

Day 19.  Pray that our church commits to place our focus on the Supremacy of Christ and be dependant upon Him (Gal. 6:14; Col. 1: 15-17)!  Day 20.  Pray that our Church and Pastor give real biblical help and Counseling from God’s wisdom and Word to those in need (Isaiah 61:3).  

Day 21.  Pray that our church family will give Christ real authentic adoration, praise, impassioned worship and glory in private and collectively as a Church. That worship is never to be a show, entertainment or talent focused, rather God is the audience to our praise (Gal. 6:14).  Day 22.  Pray that our Church and Pastor take accountability seriously and each be protected and have people they are accountable too. Also, that each would cultivate and pursue healthy relationships (Gal. 6: 1-10; Eph. 5:21).  

Day 23.  Pray that the Word of God will never be compromised, cheapened or dumped down; rather be delivered in confidence with power, conviction, clarity, boldness, with love and in truth (Acts 6:4; Col. 1:28; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; 2 Tim. 2:15).  Day 24.  Pray for discernment to seek God’s leading and direction for the leaders and pastoral staff, that they seek His ways and not trends, traditions, personal agendas or anything that is not from the Spirit and Word. Pray that they can discern and prioritize what is important and precious and what is not (Isa. 6; 2 Cor. 11:14; 2 Tim. 3:5; 1 John. 4:1; Rev. 4). 

Day 25.  Pray that God protects our Church, Leadership and Pastoral Staff from sin and misdirection and they have the wiliness and boldness to flee and confront sin (Prov. 19:23; 1 Pet. 1:16). Day 26.  Pray we all draw near to Christ and seek holiness and His presence with more prayer (Acts 1:14; 1 Thess. 5:17; Jas. 4:7-8). 

Day 27.  Pray that we as a church family remain faithful and good stewards, so the financial needs are met (Psalm. 91:15-16; Phil. 4:19). Day 28.  Pray that negative thinking, stress, being overwhelmed, the ways of the world, the tyranny of the urgent, being overcommitted, over busyness, fatigue, compromise, pressures, overworked, under-appreciated, misunderstandings, and stress to not get in our Spiritual Home and take over (John 14:1; Acts 6:2-4; 2 Cor. 10:3-5; Eph. 4:17).  

Day 29.  Pray that Unity infuses your church so that your congregation is binding to Christ in love so the work of the Kingdom is promoted (2 Chron. 30:12; Psalm 133:1; Rom. 15:5). Day 30.  Pray that congregation is willing and able to come and support the church and staff with grateful hands and words. That you all realize that the pastors and leadership are necessary and called and accountable to God (Matt. 9:37; Acts 14; 1 Tim. 3:1-7, 10-15; 5:22-23).  

Day 31.  Pray that our church community commits to pray for our church, pastors, staff, missionaries, those in need, community and issues powerfully every day (Acts 1:14;16:16;1 Thess. 5:17).  It is God’s call for all of us to Pray for our Church and Pastor! Print this out and pass it to those in your congregation and watch your church grow closer to Christ!

© 1989, 2005 Dr. R.J. Krejcir Into Thy Word Ministries

Once upon a time, I believe God called me out to start a church. I never wanted to do anything like that and I never thought I would be a pastor. However, my husband and I went forth and after much prayer, guidance, advise, etc. we launched a church in South Florida. Long story short, it ended after 3 years.

The thing is it didn’t have to end. Everything pretty much was going well and to this day I miss our church. It was such a great “sanchocho” or mixture of philsophies of ministry I still don’t see anything like it and I’m a pastor again in another church plant (although it doesn’t really see itself as one) we just made three years this past Sunday (but that’s another story). We end our church plant adventure due to two things…money and leadership. Was it the right or wrong thing to do, I think it was. First let’s talk about the money part, it was a struggle to do anything we wanted to do because we just didn’t have the money. And friends, before you go and say I and my team was so “not connected to God” don’t say a word until you’ve been there. Outreach, supplies, rent, all require money. Next reason…leadership. My second son almost died on me May 2007 Mother’s Day. With all the drama of being in the hospital about two weeks with him after five resusitations, we realized we really didn’t have a great core team of people to help lead the church while we were away.  I was emotionally, physically and spiritually spent. We made the decision soon after that.

Was this difficult. Uh, yeah! Did I feel like a failure? Yes very much so for the first time in my life. (I’m an overachiever so says personality tests so this took me months to get over!) But mostly I felt that I didn’t hear God right. Think about it…I didn’t want to do anything like this ever, then I believe God is telling me to do it, I do it and then it fails. How would you feel?

Since then I am just fine. I learned not to fear failure and trust me that is liberating. You are able to go forward and risk more when you failed at least once and in my eyes NOW it really wasn’t failure (so to speak) I’ve learned how much I really love doing what I am doing. Pastoring is about empowering people to go forth and believe God for EVERYTHING in their lives. You may still think I am a failure but honestly I don’t care what you think.  Me and God are what count and I must truly say what a ride that adventure was.

I say all that to get to this point. I admire church planters. I want to help them any way I can. It takes alot to go forth and believe God for something to come from nothing. So when I read about this church at this blog and read about this woman leaving the corporate world to plant a church I prayed for her.

I am part of a three-year old church now and I truly love the people there.  I love my STN peeps. So yes I am still on a church planting team and still have the same issues that I faced when I had my own church but its much better when you have a “team” with you and people in the church who want to build something with you.

I give a high-five to all the church planters out there especially women because there are so few networks that acknowledge our role in church planting teams. But thankfully more and more are popping up.

A mindset can keep you in a prison forever. It can keep you from achieving God’s best for your life and it can keep you from destiny. Unfortunately, most people don’t think about mindsets when they go about their daily lives.I have met and come in contact everyday with Christians who have lives that are just so drastically pathetic whether it be work life, marriage life, relationships, business, education, etc. We are supposed to have different lives, lives in abundance, lives of joy, etc. Yet we think so small-minded and when we run across people who have dreams…who actually believe that God wants something different for us, we think they are fools. Worse yet, we think they are unspiritual.I for one have had enough. I am all about risk and yes I am not afraid to fail. I’ve already failed at one big endeavor once. That was enough to get me to a place where I know it won’t kill me. One thing I’d like you to consider is thinking about your life as an employee.  Due to various circumstances, I don’t have a 9 to 5 job, I rather am a consultant to faith-based organizations and for the most part I love what I do. However, I wish I had money to invest in my organization the Center for Emerging Female Leadership. We are about to launch our magazine SOAR, we envision so many programs to help women in society and church become better leaders but all of it takes money. As a fundraiser, I know how hard it is to develop people’s thinking especially in the Latino community on giving. Thus, I recently joined an organization called ACN and became a micro-franchise owner in the communications industry. I am so thrilled about it and I want to develop a team of like-minded Christians who believe in the “more than enough” God that we so boldly proclaim from our pulpits and amen from our seats.I came across this article and I think it helps to reshuffle a mindset for the type of business I’m in.  All I am saying people is if you want a change in your life, you have to rethink your present mindsets and then do something about it. I did.If you are interested in joining my team of people who believe in the more than enough God and have dreams of your own I want to help you get there as I too get there. This is the extreme dream team–changing mindsets, changing lives.Email me if you want to know more.  

Happy Labor Day!

Have you heard the quote “It’s Lonely at the Top?” As leaders we have different philosophies of leading. Whether we realize it or not. Some of these mental maps will definitely make that quote true. What would some of those be? Here are some I thought of, perhaps you can add to the list:

Positional Thinking. Positional thinking will make you a lonely leader, because every time you use your title to persuade someone, you create a distance with people and end up lonely. It’s like when your moms would say “do it cause I said so!” It can certainly drive a wedge between you and the people you are trying to lead.The individual who takes the relational approach and gets to know his or her people will never be lonely.  I had written an MMM email a few months ago about being a connector not a climber, this is in line with that thinking. No one likes to be stepped on so YOU can get where you want to go and no one wants to feel like they don’t matter because only YOUR title does. So avoid positional thinking.

Realize the unhealthy downsides of success and failure. Sometimes when we view ourselves as “successful” we tend to withdraw because  we think “I don’t need those people.” This thinking separates us from others we view as less successful. Failure can also lead to withdrawal. If you think of yourself as a failure you are more prone to withdraw from others because you’re worried that they might think of you the same way you think of yourself. None of these extremes are healthy. No matter how successful God helps us to be we will always need people and if we’ve failed people are the ones that will help us dust ourselves off and keep it moving.

Understand that you are in the people business. I remember hearing a preacher and numerous pastors throughout the years say “ministry would be great if it wasn’t for the people”. Granted, people can be difficult and sometimes just downright mean or flaky but being a marketplace leader, small business owner, ministry leader all have to do with working with and alongside PEOPLE. Leaders who don’t like people never contribute to others’ growth and improvement. Soon, they begin to manipulate and strangulate people’s dreams and desires, and no leader should ever do that. If you truly don’t like people, become a vet.

Take people with you. Sistahs, here is the main thing about what we do, you need to take people with you. If you have had an awesome experience with God, share it with a sister. If you found a great business that is helping you reach your dreams, share it with a sister. If you have a great church that God has used to transform your life, share it with a sister who doesn’t have a home church or maybe doesn’t even know the Lord. Where ever it is that God has you, it was meant to be shared. Take a sister with you and when you do, you will never be lonely at the top.

Lately I’ve been thinking alot about what church is and is not. The other day over a celebration outing for my husband’s birthday a pastor said over ice cream “church is a business, no one really knows all the things that go into having church”. True. As an Executive Pastor, I do alot of the behind the scenes work in my church for various different projects. However, I also see that people come and people go. I see that people prefer a certain style of ministry and many decide if they will stay in the “church” based on time of services. Preferences seems pretty normal right? I mean I have preferences too. But is that church? No.

Frank Viola has had alot lashed out on him because of his take on what church is. I am currently reading Reimaging Church as well. I really am flowing with what he has to say about what church is and isn’t. A good summary can be found here. But like I tell my friend, my sancocho theology is showing again! As i’ve posted in my blog recently, I don’t like the flaky stuff that happens in alot of Pentecostal churches but I still believe wholeheartedly in the power and movement of the Holy Spirit which is why I couldn’t stay very long in really great churches I’ve seen around me. As a matter of fact, the openness to the Holy Spirit was one of my criteria for the church I would ultimately join in South Florida after my church plant experience.

 In that regard I look forward to reading the new book by Francis chan “Forgotten God-Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit”. But with all my love for the Holy Spirit, a focus or openness to it doesn’t mean that is “church”.

I am often at this place, questioning what is church? When I see some crazy things going on and I see what some people think is a “powerful service” because of those flaky things that went on, I want to run because everything in me says this is not what God intended. Yet those very same things that I think are off are things that God used to touch someone. That is why the above summary by Frank is something I’d like you to read. God uses alot of things but that doesn’t make it church, holy, or his original intent.

If there is ANYONE reading this, please share your thoughts on what YOU think church is and isn’t and what you wish services would focus more on?

J. Lee Grady is the Editor of Charisma Magazine and he wrote this post I’ll like to share with you.

“I hate to be a party pooper, but the Bible warns us to “be of sound
judgment and sober spirit” (1 Pet. 4:7). There is plenty of freedom
and joy in the Holy Spirit; we don’t have to quench it by introducing
people to pagan revelry. Christian worship is not about losing
control. Those who worship Jesus do it “in spirit and in truth” (John
4:24), and our love for God is not measured by how violently we
shake or how many times we fall on the floor.”

Visit Charisma here.  Read the rest of the article here.

Psalms 85:6 says: Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

In reality, we all need a real revival. Christians who are going with the flow of serving God and unbelievers who need to pointed to salvation. As I mentioned in my last post, I believe in God’s move of the Spirit, I just don’t believe in man’s move calling it God’s Spirit. There is more of that going on than true revival and I’m so sick of it.

Revival comes from the word “revive” which means literally “to live again” or “to come back to life.” The lack of the presence of God in church meetings and the numerous problems in the church are seen to be evidence of the need for revival. But I often wonder – if we have never experienced revival, then how do we know what it is? And if we don’t know what it is, then how can we be so sure that we want revival?

Apply this illustration to yourself. Revival means to come back to life. But this implies something more – to say that you need to come back to life is to say that you are dead. This is a startling revelation. Revival can only come when you admit that you are dead and far away from God. Are you in need of revival today? If you see yourself as being alive and yet sense that something is still lacking in your spiritual life, then it is the natural life, or the flesh, that still has to die.

“Self is the opaque veil that hides the face of God from us. It can only be removed in spiritual experience, never by mere instruction. We may as well try to instruct leprosy out of our system. There must be a work of God in destruction before we are set free. Let us remember that when we talk of rending the veil we are speaking in a figure, and the thought of it is poetical, almost pleasant, but in actuality there is nothing pleasant about it. It is never fun to die. To rip through the dear and tender stuff of which life is made can never be anything but deeply painful. Yet this is what the cross did to Jesus and it is what the cross would do to every man to set him free” (A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God).

How much of your own life is merely religious activity and how much of it is truly born of God? Do you allow the Holy Spirit to conduct your life? Or do you have your own agenda? You may be excelling spiritually compared to others, but without revival this is still a status quo experience. Even if you are above average compared to others, you are still very religious. Listen I think this happens more than we care to admit. When I see myself getting into this frenzy I have to stop and remember why I do what I do. It’s not about the activity or the “call” it’s about the one who called me!

This revelation challenges everything that appears to be a move of the Holy Spirit in the Church. Although many appear to have a measure of the Presence of God in their lives, most Christians rely on the strength of their own flesh and much of their activity is devoid of the Presence of the Holy Spirit. I am preparing for a retreat with the theme “Keeping In Step with the Spirit” and my heart is so grieved by what I’ve been seeing. We need more of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we most certainly do. But instead we crave the hyper-emotionalism, we chase after “anointed” speakers who we think can take us closer to the throne of God. It’s just sad how much of the Word most believers DON’T KNOW.

The contrast between a religious experience and real revival is seen in Luke 7:36-50. In this passage Jesus is invited to have dinner with Simon the Pharisee. A woman, who perhaps had been a prostitute, comes and stands behind Jesus holding an alabaster jar of perfume. She then sits at His feet weeping and begins to wet his feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair and kissing them. She pours perfume on his feet, weeping all the time.

Simon the Pharisee is content to have Jesus, a great prophet, at his table and hear his teaching. Perhaps he may be able to pick his brains for some interesting sermon material, or gain some insight into the scriptures. He is disturbed by this woman, a repulsive sinner, who is carrying on at Jesus’ feet. To his dismay, Jesus doesn’t seem to care and goes on teaching:

“Simon, two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii, and the other owed him 50. Neither one of them had the money to pay him back so he canceled the debts of both. Now which one of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your home. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman has not stopped kissing my feet since the time I came in. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

The woman in this passage has no name. She is of no position in society; she has no reputation. Simon was a man of great reputation – a teacher among the Jews, God’s chosen people. Yet the woman was more highly esteemed in Jesus’ eyes.

Jesus turned to the woman and said, “Do you see this woman?” Jesus was able to praise the person of low esteem because she saw her desperate position in life. She humbled herself, lowering herself at Jesus’ feet and shedding many tears. Her love for Jesus consisted of a great awareness of her need and a deep thankfulness for Jesus as her Savior.

Simon the Pharisee, on the other hand, was self-righteous. He had already arrived at a high position in life and did not perceive a great spiritual need in himself. He saw himself as already having great favor with God. Simon looked to Jesus solely for intellectual stimulation. Simon was absorbed by Jesus’ teaching and neglected his great need for spiritual salvation. Jesus turned to Simon and rebuked him, “You did not wash My feet … You did not give Me a kiss… You did not put oil on My head.”

Now I ask you – be honest with yourself – which one of these people do you more closely resemble – Simon or the woman? When was the last time you truly wept before the Lord? When was the last time you truly thanked Jesus for redeeming your life from the pit? Are you like the sinful woman who bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears? – Or are you like Simon who looked to Jesus to feed his intellect? Although his head was swollen with theology, his heart was shrunken and lukewarm

The woman in this story brought an alabaster box of ointment. Back in those days perfume was very expensive – a person would have to spend a life’s savings to buy enough perfume to anoint another person. The woman came with one purpose only – to worship Jesus. She poured her life out at his feet, then as she cleansed Him with her tears and hair, the fragrance of God came back upon her.

If you desire the fragrance of God in your life then you must spend time loving Jesus and pouring your life out to Him. God is not impressed with your natural talents or your intellect. We are the ones that need to see all that. The glossy veneer of religion is more repulsive to Jesus than the sin of a harlot. Imagine that! You may have three degrees and a colossal I.Q. but if you are not intimate with Him then you are dead and you need revival. So again I say don’t we ALL need REAL revival?

So, What Is Real Revival?It is a realization of a great need for forgiveness, deep conviction of sin, followed by repentance and a fresh experience of joyful obedience. This experience begins with personal holiness and results in the transformation of society. A.W. Tozer has said, “Revival changes the moral climate of a community.”

Psalms 85:6 says: Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

The greatest characteristic of revival is the great joy found in the people of God for the work he has done in their lives. A revived people speak only of loving Jesus. They have a set of doctrines but these are merely primary teachings. They have moved on to a passionate love relationship with their Savior. Their lives are a testimony of his holiness.

Of course, it is important to receive biblically balanced teaching. But if you are like most Christians in America today, you have already soaked in enough teaching to save China. The great need for the Church today is not more teaching, but realization of need and conviction.

We have become like the church at Laodicea. Jesus beckons to us, “Behold I stand at the door and knock.” Although we appear to be rich in God on the surface, in our hearts we have become miserable, wretched, poor, blind and naked. Many churches in America today are among the richest and most prosperous that have ever appeared on the face of the earth. And yet Jesus is pounding on the door! While many are excelling among their peers, few are changing the moral climate of our nation. Most spiritual experience remains within the four walls of a church building, but little emerges on the outside. We still are inwardly focused, survival oriented and unfortunately sometimes that takes precedence over revival in our hearts.

We are in the end times for sure. The Word tells us that there will be all manner of errors and deception bring people into  bondage to evil spirits instead of true faith in God through the Messiah Jesus. Sadly we are  seeing more and more error and deception taking over the professing church of Jesus Christ. 

People all I am saying is DISCERN. Pray earnestly for the Holy Spirit to show you in some form or manner if something is truly of God. Remember that our Word also tells us Matthew 7:22-23 “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…”  John 4:1

“Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” John 5:21-22

Ok I got all this off my chest. I’m good now. J

I’ve posted on this blog, updated my status on Facebook, and twittered many times how I am a Pentecostal. Thru and thru I am not ashamed that I believe in the HOLY SPIRIT, that I believe all his gifts are manifested today and not something we should look at only as a historical frame of reference. Yet sometimes I feel like other Pentecostal, evangelical, Charismatic  family members think I am unholy. Maybe even God forbid “not Spirit filled”. Why? Because I don’t believe in the abuse of power. The abuse of unknowledgeable people and feeding them a rah-rah theology where everything is roses when you serve the Lord. And better yet, I’m seen this way because I don’t think every one falling out on the floor, someone breathing on me or blowing wind in my face is so “powerful”. Truth is I think many Christians are just down right gullible. Yeap, I said it. Impressed with visibly powerful speakers and even the not so great speakers just because they have “revival talk”.

I am hard to impress. I am a big advocate for discernment. Let me see your fruit. Let me see how you treat people on an every day basis. Let me see how you try to handle your life and how you make decisions. That usually tells me a lot. But let’s say I don’t know the person, I am still not one to go all weak knee’d because someone is giving me a prophesy.

I mean if a so called “revivalist” says you should know who she/he is and that you are in for “a treat” because you are there to hear them, that’s scary. Right there I would tune out. Unfortunately, people are so hungry in our day for “true revival” and a move of God that they eat anything.

We’ve already read (if you are a reader) of the false revivalists and revivals out there. Come to find out all these lies. Yes, there are big movements attracting thousands of seekers of the supernatural but no change in the towns, cities and countries where these campaigns are held. We should not be surprised since the Word of God tells us that false prophets and ministries will arise and even the elect (those who say they are disciples of Jesus), that’s you and me if you are not sure, will be deceived.

Yes there’s a lot of talk about revival because many see our time as the final harvest of the age. I think that is right. However, there is emphasis on power, dominion, miracles, signs, healings, spiritual gifts, prophecy, etc, and the Body of Christ rising up in power and the sons of God manifesting themselves to the world. Yet, disturbingly, in relation to this kind of teaching, there is often a haughty, arrogant-like spirit that accompanies it, which honors God with the lips and not the heart. This is evidenced by the lack of real fruit in many Christians’ lives, and the preoccupation with money, and physical and financial success. There is also a severe lack of the fear of God, while these preachers rant and rave about ‘God saying this’, and ‘the Holy Spirit saying that,’ and ‘the Lord commands this. They are not feeding the sheep of God, they are often trampling on them, lording it over the flock, using manipulation and control to force feed the people with contaminated milk! And of course, they are living an entirely differerent lifestyle (like the stories I’ve posted of fallen mega church pastors). This is not the meek and humble way of Christ, who guides His Sheep with loving care, being an Example to the flock in righteousness and truth and life.

Yet I believe that there is an element of truth in the teachings and ‘prophecies’ that speak of a revival and a harvest before Christ returns, but I don’t believe it will necessarily be the kind of revival that most Christians are expecting. I don’t think it will be all the BIG revival campaigns or the “special revivalists” coming in to share the “glory” with a church and as soon as he/she leaves the “glory” departs with them. Duh. No. I believe in my heart that when we expect things to always be like that we are like the Jewish religious leaders in Jesus’ time who expected their Messiah to come like the Grand King they expected not a lowly boy born in a barn. Why does everything have to be big and flashy with God? Do I believe he wants the best for us. Yes. Do I believe he is going to give you EVERYTHING you desire. No. Why? Because God’s ultimate desire for us is for us to desire him above all things. When our focus is on the “things” then our first priority is getting those things even if we are using God (or so we think we are – uh he is smarter than that) to get them. This is where I believe a lot of the newer churches have it right. A focus on intimacy with Christ, discipleship, learning and education, understanding the Kingdom not a salivating congregation waiting for  “thus saith the Lord you shall be great and thus saith the Lord you will expand your territory”. And no I don’t believe you should be travelling after every so called man/woman of God to see what they will “prophe lie cy” to those who attend. God should be speaking TO YOU through His Word. If you only hear from God when you run after a person who tells you “come to my conference and you will receive a prophetic word” you already missed it.

Bottomline, I believe true revival based on the patterns in history on true revival are divinely disordered. They are not so planned and easily advertised. Revival  happens to a church it is not planned by the church. We just use the word “revival” instead of using “special campaign” or something of that sort. If we could plan a true revival, then we could also plan signs and wonders would we not? This is something that has been stirring in me for a while because of the lack of discernment I see, even in pastors who give out their pulpit to any Prophetress X or Evangelist y or Revivalist A.  This is why I respect my old pastor Marc Rivera so much and others like A. R. Bernard and T.D. Jakes. They are VERY CAREEFUL who they give up their pulpit. We should all be that careful.