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Some look for any reason to not sit under teaching, but spiritualize their lives in such a way that they are the one who is the expert.  Truth be told, these are the kind of people I wouldn't allow my dog to sit under.  They are reminiscent of the Gnostics and false teachers spoken of in the New Testament. 

Those who love Jesus love His Word and will do just about anything to stay in contact with it.

Stacks

Once again I've moved into my stacks...

Books everywhere.

I do something at our church each Summer that has proven to be helpful.  I teach a large adult Sunday School class, giving our teachers a much deserved break.  It is my way of giving them a gift to be able to enjoy their Summer and families a little bit more. 

Bend, Oregon (where I live) is a beautiful place.  It is a wonderful place to raise a family and enjoy great weather and outdoor amenities.  As it turns out, it is also a great place for all of our family and friends who live outside of the area to come and visit.  Not that any of us are complaining, it IS a great spot on the planet.  All we ask is that when you come, you help us out by bringing LOTS of money to spend in our restaurants and attractions so it will further help us recover from a devastating (in Bend) recession.  Come one, come all, but please bring lots of loot...

Commercial over.

Back to the books.  My subject this Summer at Faith in this class is, "Our Coming World: Chaos, Crisis and the Coming Fulfillment of Bible Prophecy."  Basically I will be using a range of resources to put together a curriculum that will feature such topics as end time prophecy, the American Christian church culture and the rise of Islam.  It should be a tremendous study, equipping hearers to look for the signs of the times and have knowledge of what the Bible says about such things.

I really enjoy the study of Bible prophecy.  The fact is if we remove prophecy from our Bibles, it would be one-third lighter.  That's why it is so remarkable to think about how few people are involved in prophetic study.

And so, the stacks on my desk abound...

If you live in Central Oregon and do not regularly attend a church, you're invited to Faith Christian Center in Bend at 9:30 AM Sunday mornings.  We'd love to have you!

Passages

I've noticed as time goes by that there are passages in life that you just can't ignore.  I'm terribly pleased to announce that my daughter Lauren has been received into the Northwest University Choralons.  This is the large choir from the University that travels throughout the Pacific Northwest during the school year.  She is really pumped up!

And so are her mother and I.

Ah yes, life comes full circle at times.  I graduated in '83 from NU (then Northwest College).  The irony is that the director of the group was one of my classmates.

Yup.  I've finally arrived.  Today this gray hair I've sported for decades is now considered "natural" instead of "premature..."

Sermon Club

This is more of an announcement and opportunity than a blog post.  If you would like to receive a digital word document copy of my weekend messages at Faith, you can sign up by emailing me at pastormike@bendfaith.com.

All you need to do is put in the subject line, Sermon Club, and I will add your email to my list.

I write manuscript outlines, meaning that the messages are word-for-word. While I may not preach them this way, the original document would come to your computer.

The benefits are several.  You would have a workable document to study from.  It would also be helpful to read along when we FINALLY get our verbal message recordings on our church website (www.bendfaith.com).  This should take place before July. 

Don't ask.

The stories, life applications and helps for lay person and pastors could be life-changers.  Specifically for pastors, I challenge you to take what I've written and make it your own.

Blessings,

PM

The Right Side of the Can

Things are growing.  When things grow there can quickly come chaos from within and outside an organization.

When a church grows spiritually inward and outward in Christ, it awakens a hornet's nest from hell.  When those critters arrive, you know you're on the right track.

 And yes, the Holy Spirit has a special formula of Raid to bring things into perspective and right standing.  The key is to be on the right side of the can...

Integrity

This morning I watched with great interest the Today Show's interview and coverage of the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library on the campus of Southern Methodist University.  As I watched I was reminded of the President's own comments that he did the very best he could and did not violate his principles in regard to the important decisions he made.  One of those decisions was going to war again with Iraq to take away their weapons of mass destruction.

One problem: they weren't there when our troops arrived.

It was believed by some that these wmd's were spirited away to Syria.  Bush's opposition party had a field day with progressives chanting, "Bush lied, people died."

Breitbart's article from July 11, 2012 posed the question, "Where did Syria's chemical weapons come from?"  The conservative-caused news agency reiterated the original source of information from one of Iraq's key former leaders, that the destructive treasures of Iraq had made their way to Syria.

Today our government admitted that Syria has recently used chemical weapons against their own people, a page right out of Saddam Husain's playbook.

Bush 43 says that history will dictate how good his decisions were.  I believe that anyone, regardless of what side of the political aisle they sit on should be commended for having the integrity to stick to their convictions no matter how unpopular they are, in order to do the right thing.  These people are heroes.  We should expect no less from our elected leaders because that is why we put them in office.

We don't know what will come of the question, "Where did Syria get their chemical weapons?"  We know that if the answer is Iraq, there will likely be few who will publicly apologize to a former president for doing the right thing.  It's just not in the nature of the arrogant and self absorbed from either end of the political spectrum.  But the fact remains, President Bush is looking more like a hero everyday...

Funny that having integrity makes one a hero these days.  Shouldn't integrity simply be normal?

We Both Know the Truth

I took our docubind machine from the church I serve home so I could work on it over lunch.  That's where my tools are.  It's funny how much you miss something when it is suddenly not availible to you.  A docubind machine punches rectangular holes and inserts a comb to make a workbook out of (in our case) paper up to 15 inches in length.

We use that crazy machine all the time.

It broke because someone was trying to chop too many pages at once.  A little pin "flexed" its way out of a hole, holding one of the hole cutting pieces in place.  As mentioned, I took the machine home to our kitchen counter where there was good light, took it apart, discovered the problem, turned it upside down and shook it.

Yup, found the missing pin...

I was using a long pair of needlenose pliers to reinsert the pin.  Unfortunately, there was flexation around the small hole, that I obviously wasn't doing a good enough job at hitting with the pin.  The pin slipped out of the grip of the pliers and went sailing...into our garbage disposal.

Now I'm getting upset with myself.

I felt around in the garbage disposal.  I couldn't get my hand down in there very well, so I went to the garage to get a magnet tool that has a long, flexible handle.  When I came back into the house, my lovely wife was running water down the disposal...

It was one of those common moments when you've blown it, and suddenly find a scapegoat for your miscue.  Now it's HER FAULT.

Scapegoats have a long history.  In Bible times they were used by a community to have the priest symbolically lay hands on the beast, representative of the sins of the people.  The animal would then be turned away from the village, never to return.

The problem with turning my sweet wife into a scapegoat for my shortcoming is that I want her to stay.  That also means I need to own up to MY problem.

I lost the pin...

Scapegoats ended their tour of duty when Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice, dying for our sins.  As much as I want to blame others for my own shortcomings I find it's pretty difficult to go to Jesus and tell Him, "It's someone elses fault."

The problem is, we both know the truth.

Shifts

Last Sunday at the church I serve, attendance was up, even though we were missing a good number of regular attenders.  It means the church is growing.  It also means that we're experiencing new kinds of problems as the influx is primarily coming from an overpopulated un-christian and unchurched community.

I am grateful for new life.  What is ever so surprizing is the current culture that wants to mix the spirituality of their past life outside of Christ, with new life in Christ.

Patience and relationships make all the difference within these shifts.  Lovingly leading these precious ones that God sends is is of utmost importance.

Shifts are the new normal.

Sounds a lot like the early church...

Words and BHAG's

The following was part of the conclusion of yesterday's (4.21.13) message at Faith titled, "Our Word."  The beginning of the year was marked by our praying and asking God to give us individual "words" for the year, and also to reveal to us one "Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal" that with God's help would come to pass during 2013.  We've collected these materials and asked our intercessors at Faith to pray over them.  The following are a sampling of cards that the intercessors responded to, believing that the Holy Spirit has given them a directional word for the person as a source of encouragement.  I’m posting these as not everyone had opportunity to see if one of these cards was theirs.  Here they are:

“Finances” – Debt Freedom

BHAG: Buying a home/or being in a home versus apartment living.

Intercessors: “God’s Word says He will provide for all our needs.  Bring all the tithe into the storehouse – see the blessing He will pour out for your faithfulness.”

“Live”

BHAG – Financial independence and freedom.

Intercessors: “God wants abundant life to pour out on His people.” Malachi 3:10

“Love/Joy”

BHAG – Show love to people every day.  Let joy shine out from me to others.

Intercessors: “Two of the fruit of the Spirit are love and joy.  Be filled with the Holy Spirit – experience the fullness of God’s love and joy – it will spill out to those around you.  He desires for His kids to walk in His love and His joy.  This is for you…”

“Manifest”

BHAG – To learn to remove myself and allow God to manifest Himself through me.

Intercessors: Manifest your Spirit that we would express your love Lord.  Along w/manifest that you Lord would magnify Yourself.”

“Discipline, Miracles”

Intercessors: “Discipline to ‘believe’ agreeing with God’s Word; being blessed because of our faith that God answers.  We know He hears us.”

“Evidence”

BHAG: To receive the gifts of being filled with the Holy Spirit (speaking in tongues, prophecy).

Intercessors: John 7:38 - Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" NLT

“Fresh”

Intercessors: God intends to move her from a place were stagnant waters rest.  New beginnings wash over and that which must wash away will be released.  No longer anchored in the past moving into the future.

“Courageous”

BHAG: This year, I will publish my novel I’ve been writing.

Intercessors: “An audience is being prepared.”

“Faith”

BHAG: Witnessing.

Intercessors: Daniel 9:23.  Keep praying and God will show you what he wants you to do.

“Generosity”

BHAG: Allow the Holy Spirit to manifest and flow through me, no holding back.
Intercessors: “God has you exactly where He wants you.  You have that tender heart that He needs to use you.  Stay in tune to His leading.  Get ready for your ‘helps’ ministry to grow.”

“Behold”

Intercessors: “God is about to show Himself.”

“Draw Closer”

BHAG: God will use me more in the future.

Intercessors: “Lord, I ask that this person acts upon what they have written that It would not be just a thought.  For it is Your desire to use us to glorify You.”

“Billboard”

Intercessors: In everything you do, do it as unto the Lord – with joy and thanksgiving.”

“Consistency”

Intercessors: “Draw near to God and cling to Him – don’t let go!  Do not waver in your faith in God.”

“Hope”

Intercessors: “Hope maketh not ashamed.”

“Teach”

BHAG: Return home as a family still loving each other.

Intercessors: “Ephesians 3:14-21”

“Heart”

Intercessors: “God’s Word would take root in his heart and with the passion of God.  Lord, I ask for Your Spirit of Repentance and weeping intercession would fall on this one.  There would be a changing.”

BHAG: Kids and Grandchildren saved.

Intercessors: “Salvation is in fact for the generations as the Word of God declares – we agree with the covenant established by God’s Word.”

“Overcome”

BHAG: Find a woman who is for me…a blessings, with a sweet heart, who loves the Lord.

Intercessors: Pray that priorities continue to be established.  Friendship first then more to come.”

“Understanding”

BHAG: Depth, health, strength, travel, finances.  Understand the Bible more and draw closer to Jesus.  Get the Holy Spirit back and be more obedient to God.

Intercessors: “Ephesians 1:17-18.  Oh Father, I pray for more of You and less of himself.  Fill him with your compassionate love.”

“Remain/Prepare”

BHAG: Berean Studies Certification.

Intercessors: Isaiah 66:1-2

“Women’s Prayer Meeting”

BHAG: Take a vacation.

Intercessors: “This individual didn’t specify ‘one word’ but it is my impression that the Word is ‘prayer’.  This is a word and desire that pleases His heart.”

“Faith Unswerving”

BHAG: Ministry, a thankful heart.

Intercessors: “James 3:17-18; 4:10”

“Move”

BHAG: Work remote or new job/new house.

Intercessors: “God has placed you where you’re at for a reason.  His ways are not your ways.  Seek His direction, step out in faith…  He will guide you.  Be still and listen for His sweet soft voice…to lead and provide for you and your desires of your heart.  His goodness never fails.

“Organization”

BHAG: Adventure.

Intercessors: “God is your priority; all else will fall into place.  He has a plan for you.  Don’t get distracted.”

“Forgive”

Intercessors: “Forgive your father – especially forgive your mother – then you can forgive yourself as I (God) forgive you.”

“Faith”

BHAG: Financial freedom.

Intercessors: “You worry far too much my child.”

“Trust” – in the Lord

Intercessors: “God has a manner for us.

The best is yet to come!