no flash forwards..

no skipping to the end of the book..

no foreshadowing..

in LIFE..

We are the sum of our choices as we either submit to God, ignore Him, or try our best to discern His direction (sometimes getting it right..sometimes blowing it)..

and all in all..it is complicated..

To think we have it all figured out is utterly ridiculous..things change in an instance..whether God changes them, allows them to change, or life circumstances flip the change-switch to ON..the fact remains that our plans are just that, plans..they may make me feel confident..but they are still just plans..

13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. (Eph. 4:13-16)

I like to know what is going to happen in the future..I like to make plans..and I would like to think that I have thought through every scenario, played every decision out to the Nth degree, uncovered every obstacle and appropriately planned for each and every outcome..but..that is impossible..

and frustrating..

So, I’m left to trust..trust that scripture is true and that Jeremiah 29:11 is written for me:

11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.“

I will seek God and do my sincere best to submit all my ways to Him..so seek first His kingdom..then let the chips fall..

I will make plans based on that submission and do my homework..then let the chips fall..

I will look at as many scenarios as I possibly can..plan contingency strategies if necessary..and then let the chips fall..

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Trusting..Seeking..Hoping..

6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (Deut. 31:6)

[Scott Moore, Lead Pastor :: April 7 & 8, 2012]

The resurrection was the beginning of His revolution.

As a kid we kinda perceive the Christ story as a movie; Christmas felt like the beginning of the movie and then Easter felt like the end of the movie.

Think back to Rocky and the end of the movie. Rocky wins..we get a little fired up..then the movie is over and we go on about our life.

But that’s not the story of Jesus or his disciples..

• Andrew crucified on an olive tree
• James was stoned
• another James beheaded
• Peter/Bartholomew was crucified upside down
• Philip was stoned to death
• Thomas was speared to death in India

The disciples didn’t quit or give up when Jesus died. They fought on and shared the gospel and even died for their faith in Christ.

Easter is not the end..it is the beginning of the revolution.

What is the heart behind the revolution?

This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. (2 Peter 3:1-9 NLT)

How does He take the message to the entire world?

Through the local church.

Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her.

God loves multiplication! (verses on multiplication)

• Gen. 1:22
• Gen. 1:28
• Gen. 3:16
• Gen. 8:17
• Gen. 9:1
• Gen. 9:7
• Gen. 16:10
• Psalms 107:38
• Jer. 30:19
• Ezekiel 37:26
• Acts 2:40-41
• Acts 8:1
• Acts 27:28

Jesus commands his disciples to multiply.

It doesnt matter your personality..your gift mix..your wiring..

He tells you and me to multiply.

So..what do we do?

Exactly what the church has always done..

What Jesus has always expected from the Church..multiplication.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39 NLT)

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)

So we’re gonna go and love our neighbors and build disciples…..

• Next 25 years..100 campuses..100 more communities who know Christ..
• Next 10 years.. 10 campuses..that are also multiplying and reaching the world for Christ..
• This year.. Jackson Lake Campus!

If we are able to do this then we will begin to see hope for the hopeless.

We will see depression diminish in these communities.

We will see the crime rate go down in these communities.

We will see the suicide rate go down in these communities.

We will see healthier communities when Christ’s church is central in those communities.

[There will be a $150/month line item in the JLC budget to start campuses in India. For every multi-site campus ECC starts here in America there will be one simultaneously started in India. In 4 years the new campus in India will be self-supportive yet the ECC multi-site campuses WILL CONTINUE to give $150/month to start MORE new campuses in India.]

The most important one right now is Jackson Lake Campus.

We are praying for 100 volunteers to commit to start the JLC on August 12, 2012.

You have a lot of questions..we have a lot of questions..

LET’S BE A PART OF SOMETHING UNEXPLAINABLE!!!

By definition a leader is out front.

And by being out front a leader will be the first of her team to encounter obstacles hindering her from getting to the goal.

Good leadership keeps the goal in mind constantly, is consistently communicating why the goal is important, and tirelessly listens to the team, sifting the good ideas from the ok ideas, making sure that all of the implemented ideas are still taking the team closer to the goal.

In 2 Samuel 20 Joab has the goal of capturing a rebel leader, Sheba, who has the potential to destroy the kingdom and David’s reign. Joab is a strong, courageous, and driven leader. He is the man who gutted Absalom, David’s son, as he hung from a tree. Joab is described as a ruthless killer but a man who was loyal to David. So, when the leader of David’s army, Amasa, didn’t respond quick enough to the goal of capturing Sheba, Joab stealthily stabs Amasa and kills him during an unarmed greeting between the two of them.

Joab had his mind set on the goal. Amasa was an obstacle. Obstacle removed.

Joab chases Sheba, the rebel leader, into the fortified city of Abel. Here is where Joab’s leadership makes an about-face (he will listen before acting). The army besieged the city (which means they closed up all entrances and exits to the city, not allowing anyone in or out, not allowing food and provisions in or out, essentially starving the entire city to death.)

Joab had his mind set on the goal. Abel was an obstacle. So Joab was prepared to destroy the entire city to meet his goal.

But then a “wise woman cried out from the city.” One person. One voice. One small idea. One quasi-peaceful solution.

The wise woman suggests that the people inside the city walls cut off the head of Sheba, the rebel leader, and deliver it to Joab. That would spare the entire city death and insure that none of Joab’s men would die in battle. Win-win.

Joab had his mind set on the goal. He was prepared to let an entire city die (innocent men, women, and children) to meet his goal. He knew his idea would work. But, the wise woman suggested another option. Her idea still got them to Joab’s goal. Joab listened. Goal accomplished.

Sometimes it only takes one voice..and a leader willing to listen..
Are you willing to be that voice?
Are you willing to be that leader?

Church, there is a sense of holy anticipation that we’re feeling. God is fanning the flame of revolution that started with our Savior.

American Revolution: 13 British colonies..we began receiving taxation from British Parliament but without fair representation. The colonies begin feeling this unfairness and began demanding their rights. Someone had the nerve to stand up and say, “That’s not right.”

“That’s not right!”

As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. So they went on to another village. (Luke 9:51-56 NLT)

 

He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. (Luke 18:32 NLT)

Two types of courage:

• Spontaneous – when something bad happens and surprises us, we react..
• Anticipated – but when we KNOW something bad is about to happen and STILL endure it..that is courage!

Dread..when is the last time you dreaded something?

If Jesus is sweating blood and anticipating the torture he will receive then WHY?

Why would Jesus endure this? Because this world is not right!

This world is not right:

• The homeless of India
• The pagan gods they worship
• The disease that can be easily cured
• The children at Egleston
• The hurting and oppressed
• The divorce rate
• The drug abuse
• The abuse of children, sex trafficking, etc.

Have you stopped to think about what God hears at any given moment in time:

• The cries of the hopeless
• The screams from the woman raped
• The tears of the abused child
• The despair of the depressed and lonely

Jesus came to bring salvation and restoration!

He doesn’t just change the victim but can change the heart of the victim AND the perpetrator.

Alisha, Indian girl, witnessed her parents brutal murder. But she is full of joy, because she believes in Jesus as her restorer. (Here, Pastor Scott showed a video clip of Alisha reciting the 23rd Psalm in her native language.) The third line says, “He restoreth my soul.” Alisha feels she has been restored and she knows she will see her parents again when she reaches heaven. [Because of the intense persecution of Christians in India, the child's name has been changed in this blog to Alisha, meaning "Gods protected", for her safety.]

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;

it was our sorrows that weighed him down.

And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,

a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed. (Isaiah 53:4, 5 NLT)

 

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23 NLT)

The goal for this week:

Look around and see what God sees.. (try to see things through God’s eyes and see that “this is not right.”)

Try to make a list of all the things you see that are not right on a daily basis.

When we understand what God sees, we will have a compassion that will compel us to share this Good News we have been given.

Jesus did not set his face to Jerusalem (the cross) just for a personal salvation for us..but for millions..

Let us lose our sense of entitlement and be compelled to change this world of what is not right.

What if just a few of us were so moved, so convicted, and so compelled to go out and change this world for His name sake?

Can you outrun unconditional love?

One of my most favorite stories of the Bible is of the Prodigal Son. Sure, many of us can relate to running away from our Father, and returning to Him. But it’s the Father in the story and His overwhelming emotion that strikes me every time. The amount of grace and compassion He shows is nearly unfathomable. Unless you are a father..then..maybe..you can understand the deep and unconditional love expressed here:

So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)

As a father now, I have been learning more and more about this indescribable love for my children. (You can read more here and here.)

I have a feeling that David had similar sentiments about his son Absalom. We read about the tragic end of this relationship in 2 Samuel 18. Absalom is similar to the prodigal son inasmuch as he rebels against his father. But taking it to the next level, Absalom overtakes his father’s kingdom, shames him in more ways than one, and even goes as far as sleeping with his dad’s concubines in front of the entire city. YIKES! (Yes, you can’t make this stuff up..this is better than soap operas.)

But through all of this..yes, all of it..David continues to love his son. He continues to hope against hope that he will get to see his son returning home. And you better believe that if David saw his prodigal son, Absalom retuning, he would’ve been filled with love and compassion and would’ve run to his son, embracing him, and kissing him..

But instead, David sees a messenger running to him (actually two), and the news is not good. Yes, the army they were fighting against had been defeated..that was good news..but the leader of that rebellion was Absalom. And he was not spared. Justice was served to the rebel this time..not grace.

And like any father who has just lost his son, David reacts with deep emotion:

The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.” (2 Samuel 18:33)

Two similar stories..
Two similar sons..
Two similar fathers..
Two different results..
ONE unconditional passionate gracious LOVE..

Our Father LOVES us this way..with great passion..so if you think you’ve

• rebelled too strong
• ran too far
• sinned too much
• or squandered it all..

your Father STILL LOVES YOU..and He is waiting for you to turn around so He can take off running toward you!

Have you ever experienced THAT kind of love?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ggwfTTnilo

For the Lord ordained…

For the Lord purposed…

After receiving good counsel from Ahithophel, Absalom sought the counsel of Hushai…because the Lord ordained it. Even though Absalom was in Jerusalem seated in his father’s throne…God was still sovereign. God’s purposes for David, Israel…the world had not changed. All of them would still come to pass.

• How quick are we to see harsh circumstances and suspect that God has changed his plans…
• That God’s favor has departed…
• That life is  spiraling out of control?

Situations can produce incredible feelings of loneliness, fear, insecurity and maybe even abandonment. We may doubt our calling and even our salvation.

Never trust our feelings but always trust the Word and character of our God. David does this so well. Even in the darkest times when his own son is pursuing him to take his life.

Why? Look at the Psalms for his love of the law.

Amazing.

It is exciting and inspirational to read about David when all his battles end in victory… life seems to be success followed by success.

But that is not life.

Life has valleys…and I like the way David lives in the valleys. This could be one of his greatest battles ever.

Do you feel like you are in a valley?
Is it difficult to take solace in David’s example, and his writings in Psalms (23).

[Greg Miller, Associate Pastor :: March 25, 2012]

This staff, pastors and elders are passionately seeking the Lord and His will. We are growing and evolving.

You can feel the atmosphere changing and the energy growing to see God move in a mighty way.

The body of Christ should be like kudzu. Growing. Taking over. Consuming an entire area.

So…what now?

We’ve all been convicted and had the mountain-top experiences but then we lose that momentum when we hit the wall. We let life get in the way. We let our insecurities twist our perspective. We perpetually undershoot the will of God in our lives.

Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me?”

Be humble.

Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. (John 21:6 NLT)

You’re gonna tell me that even though we’ve been throwing our nets out on the eastside, now God is telling us to throw our nets out just down the road on the southside in the Jackson Lake area..then down the street..and again a little further down the road. That’s gonna take trust in God that He’s pointing us in the right direction.

In order to do great things for God..we will need to humble ourselves before Him and recognize His awesome power and holiness.

Can we say everyday that we belong to Him?

Be hungry.

When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. (John 21:9-13 NLT)

Are we willing and ready to experience God?

Are we hungry to sit at His feet and hear His voice?

Be His.

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. (John 21:15 NLT)

Jesus is telling Peter to be like him. To do the things Jesus was doing. To follow him. Make the choices That Jesus would make.

Be like him, be with him, and be for him.

God is calling us to do great things for him.

Will we take ownership of our faith?

he’s victorious one minute..

deep in sin and despair the next..

he follows..

he falls..

he wins..

he loses..

he fights..

and he writes..

he massacres..

and he sings..

he boldly leads..

and he runs in fear..

he worships..

and he turns his back..

i relate to David..

so..for whatever reason..this song reminds me of David..and me..

one of the best written songs of all time..

often misunderstood..

seems appropriate as we read about David and Bathsheba yesterday and today..

this has to be the best version of this song ever..

Jeff Buckley..take it away..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4

• ..I’ve really screwed up now..there’s no way out of this.
• ..There’s no way God can use me..look at how messed up I am.
• ..I’ve blown it too many times..so I guess this is what I deserve.
• ..God is paying me back for all the bad things I’ve done.
• ..I want to do what is right..but its too hard..so I’ve given up.
• ..I can’t be perfect like “so-and-so.”
• ..Why would I try to disciple someone? Look at me..I’m a mess.
• ..Once I get my act together..THEN I’ll go to church.

Let me remind you of a woman in the bible named Bathsheba. Most of us know the story of how she had an adulterous affair with King David (many years after he killed Goliath with his sling shot.) Bathsheba was married at the time. But David had her faithful and honorable husband, Uriah, murdered. Yup, we have what sounds like an Old Testament soap opera developing (2 Samuel 11-12).

The story continues with one of David’s trusted advisers, Nathan, rebuking David.

David comes clean and cries out to the Lord for forgiveness.

He receives forgiveness but the earthly circumstances of his sin would still haunt him..first with the death of his newborn..and later one of his sons runs him out of town and sleeps with all his wives making David a laughingstock of the kingdom.

But David repents and trusts God. He forgives himself, just as God did, and he moves on.

David rules Israel with the strength of God for many years.

BUT WAIT..WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BATHSHEBA…….

• Bathsheba had an affair..
• and then her husband was murdered..
• and her newborn child died..
• she was probably the talk of the town..
• she was more than likely called every name in the book..
• it looked like her life was over..
• she probably felt like she had really blown it and screwed up the life God had given her..
• I bet she felt like she deserved whatever ridicule and scorn she received..
• I’m sure she compared herself to others and felt shame and unworthiness..

But guess who shows up again in 1 Kings 1?

Yup..Bathsheba.

I guess God was working all things for the good of those who love him and have been “called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Because in this follow up story about Bathsheba we find out that she is now married to David. And she and David have given birth to a son named Solomon. Solomon eventually became king of Israel and the most wise and discerning man in history (1 Kings 3:12).

• Bathsheba was instrumental in Solomon’s ascent to the throne.
• Bathsheba was the Queen Mother (the most powerful woman in the land) when her husband King David died.
• Bathsheba is a link in the lineage from David to Jesus (Matthew 1:6).

Yes..Bathsheba..the adulterous wife and accomplice to murder (?)  was forgiven..and used by God in a mighty way.

So..you think YOU screwed up?

I’m guessing God is bigger than that..and I bet he can work ALL things for the good of those who love him.

You, me, Bathsheba..we’re all people of the second chance..(<–check this site out for more modern day second chance stories..)

What’s your story?
Are you a living, breathing second chance?

In 2 Samuel 10 we see a similar picture. After a gesture of compassion from King David to an opposing country’s grieving leader, the people of Ammon embarrass and humiliate David’s couriers. This angers King David. And he will repay the Ammonites for disgracing his men, and ultimately himself and God.

So he sent Joab, the leader of David’s “mighty men”, to take care of business.

I love stories where you see someone stand up for what is right. I guess that’s why Braveheart ranks so high on my favorite movies list. And like William Wallace, Joab makes a stirring, and revealingly honest, speech:

Be courageous! Let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. May the LORD’s will be done. (v12)

Three important points to note (taken from EnduringWord.com):

1. Be courageous!: Courage and strength are not matters of feeling and circumstance. They are matters of choice, especially when God makes His strength available to us. We can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might(Ephesians 6:10).
2. Let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God.: Joab called them to remember all they had to lose. If they lost this battle they would lose both their people and their cities. This was a battle bigger than themselves, and the army of the mighty men had to remember that.
3. May the Lord’s will be done.: Joab wisely prepared for the battle to the best of his ability and worked hard for the victory. At the same time, he knew that the outcome was ultimately in God’s hands.

Who will you stand up for today?
Will you be courageous?
Will you fight for something bigger than yourself?
And through it all, can you remember that the outcome is ultimately in the hands of the Might Warrior?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLrrBs8JBQo