THE UPRISING

I can think of no better setting for a sighting of You than a full surrender of me

- What the Evil One couldn't do in thousands of years of persecution, torture, & intimidation, he does in our day, & in our culture, with something as trivial as, "I'm too busy."-

“The Bible demonstrates our need for a double conversion,

first, out of the world and into Christ,

then, back into the world with Christ.”

~ John Stott. Quote lifted from Here

And now comes the season of iron sharpening iron as we shoulder close to know God's heart, bear His likeness, & live out His message. In childlike wonder, engaging in the pleasures of this life, we drink deep from the people, places, & things that make this world provocatively beautiful. We live full. We play hard. We leisure well. We pray hard. We laugh deep - we kingdom eunichs. We, Christ-apprentices, who take on the yoke, take up our cross, & put on the mantle of serving others as we simultaneously engage every "Follow Me" discipline that will help in our swift pursuit of the holiness & wholeheartedness which enables us to see beyond the headlines & into the details of God.  We'll live wide & deep in the joys of earth but remain willingly severed from that which would distract us from companioning the King & fulfilling His earthly desires. He alone is now our deepest delight.

I wonder what my son Jaxon is thinking at this very moment.

Before there was the 'all this' You called me to & set me into & keep in missional motion...  Before there was the 'this & that' & all the ministrations & ministries which fill the bulk & span of my day's day. Before there was an office & a building & a budget & a pushing into the city with a mandate & a pushing into men's hearts with a swab or a sword. Before all of this, there was You & I. And when all 'this' passes away, there will still be You & I. So here now, in the middle of the 'all this' that You started & keep going by grace; here I sit low to do nothing more than to seek & see You. Because for me it has never really been all about the 'what', but the 'Who with'.   So... pardon my stare here in the wee hours of pre-day's start. And pardon my repetitive glances, down in the thick of this day's middles. And pardon my sins, too. To the One of whom I am cultivating an addiction, pardon the stalking tendencies I intend to display as I disentangle myself from the affairs of this life so that I may have  a well tangled affair with You... and You alone.

                       Most of us have settled for being stirred 

                    as a substitute for being transformed.

The savage bows down to idols of wood and stone,

the civilized man to idols of flesh and blood,

the religous man to idols of ministry & mission,

the godly man to none but God alone.

-George Bernard Shaw & L. Koons-

"I've heard the quote once too often. It's time to set the record straight—about the quote, & about the gospel. Francis of Assisi is said to have said, "Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words."  This saying is carted out whenever someone wants to suggest that Christians talk about the gospel too much, and live the gospel too little. Fair enough—that can be a problem. Much of the rhetorical power of the quotation comes from the assumption that Francis not only said it but lived it. The problem is that he did not say it. Nor did he live it. And those two contra-facts tell us something about the spirit of our age."

Rest of the Story HERE

"My people meander, roam in circles, wander aimlessly, fail to reach the places, purposes, & provisions I've prepared & intended for them, because they lack goals; they fail to actively & consistently pursue My desires & goals for them" -God{ASV}

If it's not on your schedule, if it's not on your schedule consistently, if you are not intentionally striving toward it... it's not a goal. 

It may be a wish or a want, but it's not a goal.  

Summon the misfits & liars & the losers... I will make them leaders & load bearers & lovers of God. And though I will ultimately make them strong, even there on the way in the midst of their weaknesses I will be glorified & inhabit their efforts & lunges at doing My will.

The Letter

To

listen,

click

Here

.

.

love it? hate it?

 

I'm@24-7 this evening till closing filling in for Jason Goodnight who is out under the weather.  Great opportunity to upfit some of the prayer stations. Feel better, dude. Hope the Renovatus Staff Pastors meeting tonight rocks! Hate that I'll miss it. I love those guys.  Meanwhile there are some women in there 40s hanging out in prayer here & it's been pretty awesome to watch em engage God in the liturgy. 

 Discipled by dead men.
Lately I've been stuck in Proverbs one & two. The book of Proverbs is the collected sayings of wisdom, many directly from someone God referred to as the wisest man that ever lived.  Just when I think I've gotten plenty out of chapters one & two, God's Spirit opens up some other vista with views more spectacular than the last. And at once I am both arrested & impaled by each new thought laid bare for the taking. The precepts, paradigms, & principles there disciple me.

"You can carry 

the measure of His presence 

that you're willing to 

jealously guard" 

-B. Johnson

Spent the early morning walking the streets of the city, some of its thoroughfares & some of its alley ways. While the traffic whizzed by I talked & listened to God talk about the city. And also about some of the work I'm called to in it. His words were straight & to the point at every turn, & yet immensely emotive.  For me, one of the hallmarks of the walk was this profound realization that I was in conversation with a person fully vested - fully focused - & full of clear purpose around which every other aspect of our conversation sat. He was singular, undivided, & fixed in both his attention & direction. Like a guy with the finish line in sight just about a mile down the road. I could tell there was purpose even in Him highlighting this aspect of Himself during our jaunt. While there was a warm undercurrent of expressed appreciation for the companionship & the partnership on this road, the over-current & overarching theme of our engagement was on strategy for, striving for, & reaching the goal -Ya know, the targets I was sent out to run toward - all those reasons we set out on that specific road together in the 1st place.  -There was much reiteration of the need to not be distracted, veer off, or zigzag on this particular stretch of the course, no matter the noise from the sidelines.

On this morning's walk, I saw some things I wanted to see, some things I needed to see, & some things I did not wish to see. Sometimes I think a big part of walking with God involves simply resisting the urge to run when He starts to tell you some of what's on His mind in a clear expectancy for you to do something about it.

"This bride we are preparing -love her well. Serve her with the mission & gifts I've given you. And don't be distracted by either her beauty or her scars. Remember your charge, & keep moving forward to fulfill it. This body we are preparing -serve it well. But remember your 1st love & loyalty is not to this body but to the head of this body. Remember your charge, & keep moving forward to fulfill it. For I will be with you."

To the jealousy of angels & to the infuriating of demons, I, a mere human, a flawed human, just a kid really, drew near to the living God in reckless abandon - & there - worshiped...  Worshiped like there was no tomorrow & no later today .  I took soul-immersed, cocky delight in drawing near to see God, to stare in those eyes & gaze at His heart with wonder & awe.  Wanted Him to experience my undivided attention. Wanted Him to feel the heat of my love.  Released it like a wildfire onto the landscape of my soul. Wanted nothing left unscorched - & nothing but the scent of the burning to fill the morning air as I sat still & simply waited on Him. This morning I had a fire-baptism in the deep of the first commandment. It's what will fuel today's walk in the second. Got off my knees & anchored myself to the pursuit of communion with God today. Then grabbed my sword - in case there'd be times I'd have to fight for it. Starting to walk forward now, daring the day to present a distraction to this my greatest desire. All my adventure now lies here.

Oh this bittersweet & tender burning 

kindled in my heart every time I 

lock gaze with God.

 

"Let he who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls" -Apostle Paul.

And even if you flat out don't agree with their take on things, no matter how remote or unlikely, sincerely consider the possibility that they could be right.  It's strange the way God will use even our seeming enemies to teach us a thing or two about ourselves.

________________________________________
I've been recently inclined to define revival; commonly known as that thing that takes place when God moves corporately in a very pronounced way among a whole bunch of people at the same time, as the same thing that takes place between God & I privately every time He & I gather together & I dare to run up near Him with all my guards down.

 

Sparking an Intentional Revival is as simple as us 

setting aside some time in every given day,  

inviting God to play that game called "Chicken" with us, 

& putting our pedal to the medal, 

having every intention of not letting Him win...

Come what may.

theosophy

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

                                 WE ARE ALL THIS... AND MORE.

                           we are sinners…  we are not only sinners
                              we are weak… we are not only weak
                               we fail… we are not always failures
                            we have destroyed… also we have loved

You, God, do not limit us to the stories by which the world knows us. you see much more in us than the labels we give ourselves. give us courage to defy all expectations - especially our own - and in your love become all of who we are.

We see each other's dirt & tend to use it as grounds of accusation, strife, & division... as grounds for anger, offense, & hate. But with one knee bowed before dirt on the feet of his disciples, Jesus expresses a new way to live; One that would differentiate his followers from the darkness & the ways of the world. One that is evangelistic in the seeing of it & transforming in the doing of it. As Jesus bowed the knee getting down low enough to wash the dirty feet of those he was in community with, a precedent was set, that we should & would go and do likewise with the dirt of others. There are only two positions set before us to

walk in, that of an accuser of the brethren or that of an intercessor of the brethren. Either we're on our knees with a towel or on our feet with a sword. Which posture we take down in the deep of each day depends entirely on who we really serve.  Hate can not cast out hate. Only love has the power to do that. May God give us a revelation of the power found in the confines of this crazy little thing called love. We followers of Christ, with a calling to greatness & a God capable enough to bring is into it if we would but yield... We apostles & living epistles, is there anything greater or more world changing than answering the call to defeat hate? This is your call. What will your answer be?  Don't despise these dirty trials, use them. Use them to show the world & every Judas & Peter therein what God is like.

If you are being tempted to divide, push back from, or distance yourself from someone in your tribe, 1st put yourself squarely in their corner, take you place at their side as their chief intercessor & greatest cheerleader... Then & only then begin to think through & make decisions about what you should do. You'll get more clarity coming at a quicker pace when you start inquiries from the right posture.

woke up intensely hungry - hungry to eat the bread of the covenant. hungry for its contract promises. hungry to swallow whole every word of life swallowing death, peace swallowing anxiety,  health swallowing sickness, rest swallowing tension, forward movement swallowing circle patterned strongholds, abundance swallowing lack, contentment swallowing discontentment, self value swallowing self devaluing, love swallowing hate, acceptance swallowing rejection, purpose swallowing wandering, joy swallowing depression, courage swallowing cowardice, faith swallowing fear, victory swallowing bondage - life swallowing death.  let the sweet smell of holy contract legalities marinaded waft through this house, & the judicial scent of appropriated God-promises fill the morning air.

from each meaty portion to every last sweet dainty morsel- i'm hungry to eat the bread of the covenant. hungry to taste "it is written".

There is a joy; provision from Dad. There is a joy that's unattached from & doesn't require the aid of any pleasant outward circumstance. There is a joy that's there for the taking. For all who would go get it, it's there for the taking. Same with peace.

                   Keep back no part for yourself from Me

              & all parts of yourself will reverberate with Me

God Has Many Worshipers,

But Few Worshipers Of God Alone.

There once was a breed of people for whom God himself was their aim & end, & not merely a means to an end. Yes, there were once & are still those whose alabaster boxes are all broken. Those of whom God Himself is their all in all. Ub1

Test

 the depth of my surrender. 

 Shake

 everything that can be shaken. 

 Let 

only that which is instigated, 

inspired, & planted of You remain. 

 Into 

the narrow straights I go. 

Lo,

 I have come to do your will, 

oh God.

A women in her 30's came into the prayer room tonight. She made it to the center circle before she broke down in tears. I came to her asking what had broken her so. She recounted a tale of a broken life, despite her many blessings. She spoke of wanting to be free of that certain nameless something that had her so terribly bound. She barely made it back to the surrender booth before God worked an impromptu deliverance on her. Could hear her there in the back space coughing & a crying & coming free without the assistance of anyone but God's own Spirit. Yeah, this is why we exist. This is why we open up these sacred space doors 7days a week. Hosting the encounter - What a great calling.

"Do all things without grumbling, faultfinding, complaining, that you may be blameless & harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the mist of a crooked & perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." -Phil 2:14-15.

I spoke to a room full of Gideons the other day. And the words I said kinda scared em. I think they wanted a simple speech about mission. And while they got the tools needed to carry on, they also got much more. I know the revelations shook them up a bit. Well at least I'd hoped it would. Needed their fears to rise to the surface to be addressed stoutly & directly among each other & with God. I wanted any misconception about the scope of their role to be clarified & seen for the grandeur it actually is instead of the considerably smaller statured mission they likely had in their heads when they 1st said. "Yeah, I'll take that job". 

And now  I labor. I labor in faith for them, even as I await the initial fallout that goes with a room full of Gideons encountering a call that is much more than they bargained for.

They will either push against me or the commission, & close ranks against the call in order to stay where they are, or they will own the call & move albeit timidly at first, toward being used of God to release a people into wider freedoms than they have ever know.  A lot rides on their response, though they know it not.

Father, open their eyes.

I'm not courting God like a ravished lover - No.    Mine is a much messier quest.  I'm courting Him like a cocaine addict  - counting worthless & selling off anything that stands between having what I seek....

Scouring the deep recesses of all my comfort zones for any remnant of change that may have slipped between the cushions...  every penny counts & everything that is mine is handed over that I might apprehend Him, know Him, walk in the pleasure of His presence, & in His resurrection life... Even if it means fellowshipping with suffering. Here, anchored in the sweat & snot & tears & shakes of a morning 'episode' .. my longing overtakes my logic & reason. I curse my brokenness, swear through a vow, & hand over all my gods & goods for another sight of His face, his heart, His soul... Him.  I'm not courting God like a ravished lover -  This morning my Philippians 3:7-12 is a much, much messier quest -  I court Him like a cocaine addict. 

Sunk down under the weight of the will of God appropriated, demons bow before the N

ame, slide away, & slink plain out of sight. Heading out after a deliverance session, the city traffic I sit in is bumper to bumper in the dusky night. The brake lights beat on in a rhythmic pulse, & their red lights are swung down low like the eyes of soldier demons retreating from a church beginning to stand up & take her place in the world.

The Prosperity Gospel from The Global Conversation on Vimeo.

As Jesus' time on the earth was coming to a close, He turned to His small band of disciples & said;  "You are the light of the world". "Go make disciples of all nations...". In essence He communicated that He was leaving & it was now gonna fall on them, that they were going to be the instruments God was going to use to change the world.

Bet they must have been shaking in their boots.  Their 1st thought must have been; "How in the world...?"  It's likely that their first thoughts were not, "Well If He said it, then He's got a plan & a pace that both cares for us & for the world we're called light up.

I find most people are intimidated by any sizable call from God.  

I know I sometimes am.

What was that Chinese proverb? "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step".     I'm intrigued by the fact that after commissioning His disciples to  "Be light of the world" & carry out His mission to "make disciples of all nations..",  his following immediate instruction was for them to go sit down, chill, wait.   So they gathered & waited for the Director & direction as they shared ideas, & talked together about life & ministry & the goodness of God in the context of there one step at a time great big call.

If it is indeed God that's calling you to something - Understand the the call has weight, but beware of the shadows that make things appear much more intimidating than they actually are. Don't let your imagination convince you it will all be too overwhelming. It will always only ever be one step at a time thing.   And remember, God will be with you.

“The heart can go a lifetime 

doing religious services & exercises, 

yet never gaze, 

never adore the object of worship. 

We were made for encounter, 

for experiencing the 

presence & depths of God”

-Allen Hood

Standing in the defect of not being God... I am tempted to rage against injustice - To hurl insults or judgments into it, like a kid throwing snowballs into Hell. When I am tempted to rage against rage  or to appear with the others throwing stones, words, bullets & bombs to protect, increase or secure my slice of the pie, I pause... & make the ascent inward & upward to God. In the midst of hunger & hurricanes, holocaust & horrors - I find in the curve & quiet corner of His Person - a peace - unaffected by the fray of this world. Unaltered by its paradox & changing paradigms. 

There in the curve - There in quiet interplay with The Eternal - In the passion of intercourse with Christ - I feel the pulsing impact of His heart against mine. All other sounds fade into the backdrop of this backslidden world - As I view the temporal from the eternal - The now from what will be - And the how from the heart of God imparted & impacting the soul of me. 

Then... I  quiet myself - Knowing that whether I live or die - Whether I stand or fall in the chaos of contention, calamity, or calm - I find my security & sanity in the curve - In the sanctuary of this Person & His peace. Not in the safety of my flesh nor in the serenity of my surroundings, but in the surrender & safekeeping of my self to the savior of my soul. 

Trusting - In spite of terrorism & tragedy & changes to all my best laid plans - Trusting - Whether I come up in this world or come out of this world - Constrain me -in this curve - this palace - this peace - This power to stand spasmless in storms. Keep me - resting in the curve.

Books stacked in front of me, I'm settling into my favorite coffeehouse to dive into some study. In walks a guy that strikes up a conversation with the barista. Wait... is he... this guy is actually evangelizing for atheism. As he orders coffee he's not obnoxious, but confident in his clearly presented teasers that invite further  conversation. I wish there were more Christians as well equipped to share their faith.

Most, I find, are fearful, or either too Christian-huddle or self absorbed to actively be sharing their faith with the world they encounter everyday.

The barista comes around, after things settle down, & asks the guy what had brought him to atheist conclusion. He  begins recounting the bloody history of religion as a whole, but hohns in on Christianity whose people, he says, "had never been kind to him". I'm reminded of a passage of scripture that states some will curse God because of what they see Christians do. These Christian had provided no proof of a living powerful loving God. Now that is more anti-Christ than this guy is.

On the outside, errands, starbucks, lease payment, parent, employee, a missed appointment, a quick hello. On the inside, vicious skirmishes & ambushes. Swords drawn, blood spilled. Hurling some aspect of my inflamed or inflated self onto that cross i drag everywhere i go. Kill it, i say to God's Spirit in me. Crucify it, He does. When i hurl it up onto that splintered, blood splattered beam, my part is over & His begins. On the outside, errands, starbucks, lease payment, parent, employee, & a quick goodbye. On the inside, at red lights, eyes close & head hits the steering wheel in worship. Messy, stilted, wordless pockets of worship at the red lights & stop signs, & in the starbucks addiction line. Gritty worship in the summer heat - the cityscape ahead & my heart hurling itself ahead - head on into the oncoming come closer now of a hide & seek God. On the outside, i'm tapping out these aimless words like a pregnant soul needing to deliver. On the inside, warfare & worship... tenderness & grittyness... fasting & feasting.... jagged-edged worship.

So many Christians think it will be so cool when we get to 

rule & reign with our King...

But I think we forget that our King was a Servant.

The truth is...

We get to reign like a servant now. 

We get to carry the King's heart...now. 

-Maryann Mease.

We live in a kingdom where Love rules & servants reign.

MB devotional Life developement

More than I want salvation,

I want the Savior.

More than I want the answers

I want the Teacher.

I come,

Hands empty.

Nothing but my longing heart

To recommend me.

A longing so deep...

That it is an ache.

To the One who will one day take my breath away... You take my breath away even now. And for this death-life-missional-heart-colliding-dance called discipleship, I thank You.

I got to thinking about us, the way we were made…The way we are created for greatness, but can equally handle smallness if that sometimes be the road to it. The way we are allowed to take up the Life of Christ & let that deep shift transform, addict, & grab us body & soul.

I got to thinking about us -The way we are empowered to taste the Passover; judgment flying over we hidden souls behind blood stained doors. And the way we are subsquently empowered to passover transgressions from others with that same unshakeable & irresistible power of mercy & forgiveness. The way we are empowered to lay down our life for others as if it were an honor to be asked, instead of an imposition to be endured.

Got to thinking about us…  Been thinking about how we are wired for greatness - The greatness it takes to take no account of suffered wrong, & to love strong enough for two when the love of one grows cold.  For loving when hated. For embracing when rejected – Rejecting rejection when it comes at us like arrows. For interceding when denied- For standing against the tide… We're created for greatness.

Been thinking how we been given enough love for us & ours & for everybody else too.  How we can take it, when required. And dish it out when righteously necessary. How we can go it, when the second mile is calling from out of some trying situation. Been thinking about how we can bend when flexibility is the better choice, & stand erect in the winds of foolish change.

Been thinkin' bout how we’ve been wired to hold the secrets of others & spread them spilling out like a whisper before the Lord alone in prayer. Bout how we can have that love of God spilling over, plenty for come what may protection against bitterness & criticalness offenses & grudges.  Protecting one another instead of lashing out.  Been thinking about how we are wired for twisting anger to peace with a calm response & gentle edifying words. For practicing ruthless mercy. For offering two garments & taking two slaps with the bigger picture in mind.For taking the high road when the low road seeks to evangelize us to its side.

Been thinking about us… About the way we are destined to bring shift change to our corner of the world with radical generosity & a revolution of goodness which runs headlong against the spirit of me, myself & I as well as the spirit of us & them. Yeah, we're called to greatness. Empowered to walk in it. Encouraged to yeild to it, to accept the truth of it. And with that acceptance, to "forever north crying freedom, run on unshakled"

5 Common Great Commission Myths »

By Jay Lorenzen on Aug 25, 2009

1. The Myth of Accidental Discipleship

The myth here is that merely “doing life” with others is an straight path to making disciples. Like all pervasive myths, this contains a nugget of truth, but it is incomplete: living your life with others is a part of making disciples, but without intentional proclamation and demonstration of the Gospel, just doing life with others will not lead alone to making and multiplying disciples.

2. The Myth that “Crossing Cultures is a Step Beyond The General Mandate of the The Great Commission”

The model of Jesus mandates crossing cultures. Jesus left his home (with the Father), his culture, his language, his people (the trinity) to come to our home (earth), to our people, to speak our language, to grow up in a Jewish culture, and so on. Jesus was a cross-cultural missionary and he commands us to follow in his steps, cross any boundary, live incarnationally and make disciples.

3. The Myth that Jesus Wants Converts

The most interesting thing about the Great Commission is that it does not command us to make converts of Christianity. Instead, we are to make disciples of Jesus. The difference between convert making and disciple making is crucial. Converts change religions. Disciples change masters. Converts follow a system. Disciples follow a Person. Converts build Christendom. Disciples build the Kingdom of God. Converts embrace rituals. Disciples embrace a way of life. Converts love the command to “baptize them” in the Great Commission, but that is all. Disciples baptize others but only in context of “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you”. Converts love conversion. Disciples love transformation.

4. They Myth that says: “When I’m ready and able, I’ll start making disciples.”

Have you ever thought of someone who is making and multiplying disciples as a super Christian? Have you ever said or prayed something like this, “We just ask you God to send out to the nations the best among us, yes, Lord, send out our marines!” If so, then you have fallen to believe the myth that making and multiplying disciples is for “elite Christians”.

5. The Myth that Making Disciples is Great Advice

Cultural Christianity loves this myth. Cultural Christians love to sing the praise of disciple makers while themselves simultaneously avoiding, through the most crafty cop-outs, actually engaging in obedience to the Great Commission. In other words, when it comes down to it, many view the Great Commission as merely great advice.

Take some time to read the whole article with your team (including the comments where Joey discusses crossing the cultural barriers–excellent.)

Ask you team: Is our movement really “making disciples”? Again as we’ve argued over and over, there is no movement without “transforming discipleship” and “multiplying leadership.”

struggling with the vision today. not in the sense of wanting to bail, or retreat. but in the sense of ominous mostly sweet weighty slightly bitter moments that happen upon me, in which i feel swallowed up by longing to fulfill my charge. coming to rest in the belly of this vision Christ has given me, a simple mission to "call them to come near", while i myself am still learning the same - i struggle, not with my own inadequacy, though much, but with how to carry the worship & the responsibility well - letting it spill out portion by measured portion into each moment that i'm given. quietly in a starbuck's chair, i weep from nervous joy.                 -foolish thirsty me-

It's easier to work for God than to talk to God. And it's easier to talk at God than to come near God. Easier to talk about God than to... It's always been easier to diligently serve him than to diligently seek Him. Easier to debate his truths than to seek His face. Easier to divide our money with him than to give him our undivided attention.  Easier to open a book & read about him than to lay bare our heart before Him, daring Him to do the same. Many are they addicted to his mission but few to His person. 

Which are you?                              Unrequited Love poem here

Two roads diverge in the woods...  Take the one less traveled.