Everything Is Possible

Jen Bricker is a spitfire. If she has anything else left on her bucket list it is not from a lack of effort! This young lady is up for any challenge and according to her book, Everything Is Possible, the word can't is a bad word!

I first came across Jen's story in an issue of the Salvation Army's magazine Faith & Friends. I was intrigued by her story and so when I came across her book at our local library, I picked it up to give it a read.

Well this is by far one of the most encouraging books I have read in a long, long time. Jen was left in the hospital at birth, adopted by a loving family after a time with foster parents, and raised to believe that everything was possible. She never let the fact that she has no legs stand in her way.

Her story has been aired around the world, more so after she found out she was the sister of Olympic Gymnast Dominique Moceanu. Jen is an athlete in her own right and is a professional aerialist. It is her story of faith though, woven throughout the book, that shows Jen Bricker's true strength.

Her's is a story of faith, resilience, passion and possibilities. Vulnerable, open and honest, this is a book that begs to be read and shared with others. I could not put this book down. I also found myself praying for the strength to overcome my own adversities in the same way Jen Bricker has faced hers, in the strength of the Lord.

Do yourself a favor and give Everything Is Possible a read.

Stop by next week and I will have an interview with Jen Bricker in a renewal of my 5 Questions interview series.

I Can Only Imagine

Let me start this off by saying I do not typically enjoy Christian movies. Sad, but true. I find that most Christian films that I have seen are of poor quality, really bad acting and seem to only exist to get a specific message across. Now that may not be true for all films in this genre but I have yet to find one personally that has much in the way of quality when compared to typical Hollywood fare. In my opinion, Christian based media should be just as good as the alternatives.

OK, rant over.

I say all of the above because when Graf-Martin Communications offered me free tickets to see I Can Only Imagine, I was interested, based on the trailer, but not expecting much.

I Can Only Imagine is based on the true story of Bart Millard, lead singer of MercyMe. This is the story behind the hit song and title of the film.

My expectations were low but this film went way above anything I expected. This is how a Christian based move should be done. T|he acting was superb, led by Broadway star J. Michael Finley. With well known cast members including Trace Adkins, Dennis Quaid and Cloris Leachman. Every actor added depth, humor and passion to their roles.

I probably laughed more during this film than  any movie I can recall. The humor was well-timed and most of the theatre was laughing out loud at all the right places. Yet interspersed with that humor was a heart-wrenching story of abuse, romance, abandonment and redemption that also had me wiping my eyes on more than one occasion.  Not many films have ever brought me to this much of a visceral response.

I Can Only Imagine did well at the Box Office in its first week and deserves a wide screening. If you get the chance to see this movie you need to do so. You will not be dissapointed.

You can check out the movie's website here: I Can Only Imagine

Seeking His Grace

I recently took part in a prayer chain and as my time was drawing to a close I started singing these words...after a few times through I decided to write them down.

Jesus
Draw near to Jesus
Come to Him humbly
Seeking His grace

Jesus
Keep seeking Jesus
Come to Him fully
Seeking His grace

For it is Jesus
Only Jesus
The Son of the Most High
The Son of the King
For it is Jesus
Only Jesus
Word from the beginning
The only way

Jesus
Kneel before Jesus
Come in His mercy
Seeking His grace

Jesus
Oh come King Jesus
We need you Jesus
Please give us Your grace

Route 66

Built in 1926, Route 66 originally went from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California. It went through many small towns and past unique shops and businesses. Then the Interstate Highway Act was created by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 and it began the death knell for Route 66. It took some time but the highway was officially decommissioned in 1985.

The highway is still there. The Interstate system incorporated some of it when new roads were being laid down.

Other sections have fallen into disrepair. You can no longer drive from beginning to end. You can still find Route 66 though if you are looking for it.

Many years ago, my wife and I drove across the US and I was determined to ride on Route 66.  Every now and then I got off the interstate and traveled down this lost highway. We saw abandoned buildings and the occasional still operating business. This journey was like taking a step back in time.

This forgotten way wasn’t so bad. There was still life there. With all of the hoopla dispersed by the new way of traveling the old way was called antiquated, useless, worthless. Life still exists on Route 66 though. People make a living and are happy! Today many new travelers dip their toes in the old way, the joy spreads across their face and they know they have found a simpler way. Something 

resonates within them, calling them to travel the road less taken.

I was thinking about Route 66 while contemplating my faith journey. It started off so simple. Just me and Jesus. Read my Bible, attend church spend some time in prayer. Then things got crazy. I pushed in and pulled away many times as I got distracted by life. The older I got the more often I forgot the simple times of the early days. Just me and Jesus. I let to many voices in…the cynics, those who walked away from the faith, or never fully believed. I never gave up but I got distracted.

My faith was built on the substance of things hoped for and the evidence not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Yet in that, I saw God move in mighty ways. The sick, even deathly sick, were healed. Miracles happened. God provided in amazing ways.

I miss those days. I am endeavoring to not go backwards in my faith journey but to remember the simpler days. To return to a time where all I needed was Jesus, my Bible, a healthy prayer life and fellowship with other believers. I want to fully immerse myself again into the waters of a life found in Jesus Christ.

I Believe

Just a little poem that I scribbled out this morning.

I believe in the Holy Father

I believe in the Holy Son

I believe in the Holy Spirit

I believe in the Three in 0ne

God the Father rich in mercy

Jesus the Son rich in love

The Holy Spirit rich in power

I believe in the Three in One

I believe in a gracious Father

I believe in a resurrected Son

I believe in the gifts of the Spirit

I believe in the Three in One

I've Seen too Much

Peter and John were hauled before the leaders and told in no uncertain terms they could not talk about Jesus Christ. They were threatened and that threat was real, palpable. Yet Peter and John, in the face of pressure were able to say:

“As for us, we can’t stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)

Think about that for a moment. These two had every reason to NOT speak abut Jesus. Most people threatened with prison, beatings, death…they would hesitate to continue a course of action that would see that as the end result. Jesus was gone. Taken up into heaven. Peter and John could have very easily pulled back from their public proclamations.

Instead they said they couldn’t stop speaking about what they had seen and heard!

They had a testimony!

Later in Acts we see that James was beheaded and Stephen was stoned to death. Peter was thrown in prison. There were consequences for speaking about this Jesus.

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3)

I think about the state of our faith today.

It seems many have gotten distracted by the “culture wars” and, at least on social media, people seem angrier and have wrapped themselves in an “us against them” mentality. Christians seem to want to fight politically (at least in the US) to stop “those people” from winning! I have to say that the “sins” of society will not be won politically! We can try to legislate morality but political gains will not change the hearts of man. Government funding may allow Christian organizations to keep doing our social service activities but it won’t save lives from the pit of hell!

We need to get back to the Peter and John way of communicating. We need to stop talking about what we’re against/for and start telling our stories.

We have a testimony!

I have seen too much. People may doubt the existence of God but I have seen the sick miraculously healed. I have personally seen the impossible become possible. I have seen not only healings but miraculous acts of provision where no other explanation is possible. I have seen God move in my own life. To that I can testify!  

Let us remember how the Lord has moved in and through our lives and then proclaim HIM boldly!

One Word - The 2018 Edition

It has been a year since I posted and I think I will be getting back into this a bit more. Going back to school in my late 40's has posed a challenge when it came to writing other stuff. However, I wanted to kick the New Year off the way I have the past few years.

Since 2013 I have been encouraging people to seek the Lord for a word for the new year instead of making a new years resolution. The idea is one I originally picked up as a Compassion blogger.

The words over the years have included: PRAYER, TRUST, PEACE and BEGINNINGS. I never know how the word will be applied, what circumstances will arise, but when I reflect on the year that passed, I always see God has been true to His word.

For 2017 I felt the Lord was speaking COMFORT. Well our world was turned upside down in may ways this past year. We took some hits and have been navigating some new waters as a family. I will admit, there were times we felt like giving up. Yet we end the year with the COMFORT that God has helped us through these troubled waters and met every need, both spoken and unspoken! He used friends, family and strangers to speak words of COMFORT and to put action to those words as well.

Now we are on the cusp of 2018 and I have been praying for days asking the Lord what He is speaking to me for this year.

The word is a repeat of one from a few years past: PEACE.

As I prayed and read the Word of the Lord leading up to this post, I was drawn to the book of Titus. There is  a greeting of peace and Titus 3:2 says this, "..to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all  men." Though that is the extent of the word peace as found in Titus the theme of peace is there, especially starting in 3:9 where it talks about avoiding dissension.

I don't know what 2018 holds but I know God is in control. He has sustained me for 47 earthly years and sustained me in the faith for 34! I know whatever happens, He is the God of peace...the provider of peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)

I am excited to see how this word applies to the coming year.

So what is God speaking to you for the New Year?

One Word - The 2017 Edition

It has been awhile since I posted, going back to school at 46 doesn't allow a lot of free time. However, I wanted to kick the New Year off the way I have the past few years.

In 2013 I became a Compassion blogger. I was drawn to the idea for 2 reasons. One, I love Compassion and have sponsored a few children over the years. Two was the challenge they put out encouraging people to seek the Lord for a word for the new year instead of making a new years resolution. I enjoyed the idea and have asked God for a new word each year since.

In 2013 I felt that word was PRAYER. In 2014 the word and pray I did.  Lots.  Things happened (concussions) which forced me to my knees in prayer before the Lord.  In fact I think I only survived that year due to prayer!

In 2014 that word was TRUST. Looking back over that year, I saw areas both personally and professionally where I had to learn to trust God more than ever.  I also saw God open amazing doors as I learned to trust Him more.

In 2015 I felt that the word He had for me was PEACE. A lot happened that year and my peace was challenged greatly at times.  Yet through all of the ups and downs, I felt the peace that passes all understanding!  (Phillipians 4:7)

In 2016 I felt the word the Lord spoke was BEGINNINGS. It was definitely a year of new beginnings. My daughter moved to Germany and my wife and I went back to school. We moved to Winnipeg and are now training to become Salvation Army Officers. Of course beginning mean endings as well and we had a few of those, from the loss of family to the moving away from our home town of 12 years. Yet God was and is good and sustained us through it all.

I never know how the word will be applied, what circumstances will arise, but when I reflect on the year that passed, I always see God has been true to His word.

Now we are on the cusp of 2017 and I have been praying for days asking the Lord what He is speaking to me for this year.

The word is COMFORT.

Two Scriptures come to mind. The first is in John 14:18. In the NIV it says, "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." Most translations use the word orphans but the KJV uses the word comfortless.  The second is 2 Corinthians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort."

I have been a spiritual orphan but then I found Christ. I have lost one of my earthly parents, and Christ comforted me through that time. Many think of loss and comfort together. Yet I look at this word for the year and my thoughts drift to words written by Samuel Bringle. In his book Guest of the Soul he wrote, "When He comes, He arouses and quickens our dull minds, He opens wide the closed eyes and sealed ears of our soul, and we see and hear things that were hidden from us. He brings our inner life into harmony with the mind of God as revealed in the Bible." That to me is comfort!

I want that kind of comfort! I don't know what 2017 holds but I know God is in control. He has sustained me for 46 earthly years and sustained me in the faith for 33! I know whatever happens, He is the God of all comfort. I just want to lean into Him.

I am excited to see how this word applies to the coming year.

So what is God speaking to you for the New Year?

Is God Good?

I have often heard the question asked, "Is God Good?"

When I answer in the affirmative, the follow up tends to be, "well then why does He allow suffering?" Or even, "Then how can He send people to Hell?"

It would seem that everyone wants to experience His grace, mercy and love but no one wants to hear His truth!  We want the good and none of the bad. The Bible clearly says the God is love (1 John 4:8), but it also says that He is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29).

So if God is good, then how come He punishes those who refuse to repent? I appreciate this quote from Salvation Army officer,  Samuel Brengle (1860-1936): In his book Love Slaves he writes that "Fire will not only bake our food, but it will burn us. Water will not only quench our thirst and refresh us, but if we trifle with it, it will drown us."

God is good, but He is not to be trifled with. He has given us the freedom to choose eternal life in Heaven or Hell, to follow or reject Him. We can accept His wisdom and submit to His will, and live in true joy and peace, or, we can reject His offer of life in Christ, and pay the eternal consequences. Holding  us accountable for our sins does not negate His goodness.

God is good, loving, compassionate and slow to anger, but He is also holy and righteous. We can't continue on a path that breaks His laws and not expect to be disciplined anymore than we can continually break man's laws and not expect punishment. I can choose to obey the law of the land and enjoy the privileges of being a citizen in good standing, or violate those laws and reap the consequences...the choice is mine but being punished in the courts is not the fault of the ones who set the law in place, it is the fault of the lawbreaker.

Is God good? Absolutely.

Is He fair? Undoubtedly.

The question isn't really is God good but Who will I follow and obey, my own idea of truth or His?

For me, Psalm 84:10 says it best, "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

This Changed Everything

This Changed Everything is a new DVD that comes out this October. I received a advance copy from my friend John Armstrong, author of Your Church is too Small and president of the Act3 Network.

The three-part documentary looks at the rich history of the Reformation, examining its good parts while also asking the tough questions about what went wrong in the aftermath. Could division have been avoided? Is the fractured and divided church of today beyond hope for reunification? Jesus spoke about unity, does it still apply today?

Hosted by actor David Suchet, church historians across the religious spectrum share deep insights and ask those tough questions about unity and the future of the Christian church.

As a history buff I fell in love with this DVD. The transitions through this period of time were smooth and lead the viewers deeper into the past then the average believer may have gone before. I learned things I never knew and found myself wondering and asking some of the same questions that the historians address.

Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and beyond are examined in a fresh light. We in the church today hold the reformation in such high regard. Have we ever counted the cost? With all of the good that came from this transformative period of history, we cannot ignore the problems it wrought as well.

Is there still hope for unity in the body of Christ? I believe there is.

I recommend this DVD to every student of church history, to every Pastor and leader in the body of Christ and to every Christian who truly believes that we should love one another!

Culture

I love me some A.W. Tozer. He is one of my all-time favorite authors. I have the majority of the books he wrote during his lifetime. I also have many of the ones released after his death. These latter ones are culled from his sermons and magazine articles.

So when I saw that Moody Publishers were putting out a "new" book by A.W. Tozer I immediately requested a review copy.

I started digging into the book as soon as it came.

Culture is a collection of reflections by Tozer on the nature of the church, counting the costs of following Jesus Christ and the hope of Heaven. It is everything I expect from a Tozer book. There are hard-hitting, uncomfortable truths that make the reader sit back, pause, reflect and pray.

Sadly, it has all been said before. This was not a "new" collection of thoughts but parts taken from previous books that all centered around the main theme. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book and any fan of Tozer will as well. It is just not "fresh" words but leftovers put together to make a new meal.

Having said that, as today's believers seem to focus on our place in culture more and more, this is a book that is a must read. At times prophetic, it is also a call back to the Truth. A Truth we all need to rediscover in times like these.

5 Books That Changed My Life

I love to read.

I love to curl up with a good book and will stay up late into the night if I find a real page-turner.

Over the years I have read more books than I can count.

Five of those books changed or impacted my life in significant ways.

Those books are:

1. Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret

This book was handed to me when I was 15 years old. I had talked to one of the Deacons in my church and told him of the call I felt to missions. He gave me this book and I devoured it in a little over a day. I read this book every year for the next 12 years!  I learned so much...the biggest lesson being what Hudson Taylor's secret was. That secret changed my life and set me on the course to where I am today.

2. The Pursuit of God

In 1994, while attending a YWAM DTS in Lindale, TX, I chose this classic for a book report for school.  I had never heard of A.W. Tozer but was intrigued by the title.What I discovered in these pages challenged me in a way I had never been challenged before. This old school Christian and Missionary Alliance pastor wrote a book that rocked me to my core. All these years later I am still pursuing God and this book played a part in that decision.

3. What's So Amazing About Grace

I received this book as a gift while living on the mission field in Croatia back in the late 90's. As I read this book I was greatly disturbed. In fact I tossed the book aside and counted it as rubbish. I could not agree with Yancey's conclusions. I vehemently disagreed in some places. Then in a bored moment I went back to the book and got a little further before tossing it aside. No clue why I did not just toss the book out but on the 3rd read I finished the book and wrestled with its themes. I now count it as one of my all time favorites and have seen, received and attempted to show grace in ways I never did before thanks to this book!

4. Classic Christianity

I came across this simple little book shortly after the Yancey one mentioned above. I was frustrated and then intrigued by it's simple message of Identity in Christ. I read it with excitement, prayed through its pages and have recommended it to many over the years. I can only say that the Biblical truth found in the pages of this book can change your life!

5. Spiritual Rhythms

I picked up this book while in the midst of a spiritual low point. Talk about timely. What Mark Buchanan wrote in this book was nothing short of life altering. I never looked at my faith through the lens of seasons before and yet it resonated with me so completely that it formed the underpinning of many of my sermons over the next year. I soon discovered spring time again and still refer to this book when talking to others in the winter of their faith.

So there you have it. Five books that changed my life. If you have never read these titles I mentioned you should grab them, set aside some time and dive in!

Have you been significantly impacted by a book you've read? Feel free to share.

Finishing Well

Twelve years. It has been 12 years since my family moved back to the Bulkley Valley in northern British Columbia. My wife and I were married here 21 years ago. Both of our children (18 and 6) were born here. We love our community.

Now we are leaving.

This September, we will be moving to Winnipeg for the next two years. My wife and I will be training to become Salvation Army officers. It is a new adventure and we are excited to see what God has in store for us next.

Over the next 2 months we will be planning, packing and then departing. All this has gotten me to thinking about how I will finish here in the Valley. It would be easy to “check out” and leave the work to the next man/woman. However, I look at work as I do life. We should always strive to do our best. It has been said that the Christian life is like a marathon, not a 100-yard dash. I want to finish as well as I started.

In 2 Tim. 4:7, Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

I want to finish well in the Bulkley Valley just like I want to finish well in life. I want to honor God with my life, my conduct, my work and my relationships with others. Jesus told a story in Matthew about a servant who pleased his master greatly.

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21)

When I leave this world for good and stand before our Heavenly Father, I long to hear those words. It starts now. I need to choose each day to walk with Him, to honor Him, and to strive to finish each day well.

I want to leave the Valley encouraging you to make that make that choice as well.

Finish Well!

Finding God in the Hard Times

I missed Finding God in the Hard Times the first time it came out in print. Previously published in 2005 under the title Blessed Be Your Name, this book by Matt and Beth Redman is an encouragement to praise God despite the circumstances. 

Using the Matt Redman song, Blessed be Your Name, as a lead in, the couple look at life and all it's hardships. They don't shy away from sharing their own story and they address serious issues of pain, suffering and death. Throughout the book there is a sense of hope in the God who sees! 

Each chapter ends with reflections questions and the book closes with an effective study guide for use in small groups.

Having personally dealt with a lot of hard issues this year, I found this book to be inspiring and encouraging. It actually arrived in my mailbox at the perfect time. I devoured the book in just a couple days. I finsihed with a renewed sense of God's love and care in the midst of hardship.

I would encourage everyone to have a copy of this book on their shelf!

"This book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review."

We Pray For You

"We pray for you often!"

With those words, spoken by a gentleman in the congregation near the tail end of my sermon, tears began streaming down my face. I choked up and my voice cracked as I finished off my sermon and closed in prayer.

My message this Sunday had been on the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22).  I was drawing my message to a close and had just shared Matthew 22:36-40 where Jesus calls us to love God with everything we have and to love our neighbor as our self.  As I spoke briefly on that passage and it's meaning, I mentioned the sense of community within our fellowship and how touched I was by some of our street entrenched congregants who reached out with compassion when they heard of the recent passing of my dad.

It was then that one of the men, a homeless individual, spoke up. His words brought those aforementioned tears.

"Rick every day we all gather behind the library. We join in a circle and pray. We pray for you often during those times."

I cried.

I was humbled.

As my daughter said shortly after, "This is the side of homelessness people don't see."  It is true. Many will reach out and help but just as many will pass by, silently judging those on the street for their addictions. I have heard to many people say, "They brought it on themselves, the should just get a job, etc."

Today I heard their heart....and I wept.

Unashamedly.

Loving our neighbor has never been more concretely demonstrated to me than today.

What Can the Church Be?

It is easy to see the negative. Ask some people how they view the church, and you will hear words like “hypocrites or unloving.” I choose to see the positive. When a church is operating at its best, it can be many things, such as:

A School – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” At its best a church is a wonderful place to learn about God and to have the Word of God explained. We grow in our knowledge of the King of Kings and out of that teaching, training, discipleship, and correction, we can move forward in sharing His love with others.

A Hospital – Mark 2:16-17 says, “And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” At its best a church is a place of healing, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is a place we can go for prayer when we are sick, for hope when we are emotionally overwhelmed, and to find the salvation that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

A Family – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” At is best a church is a perfect family. A family that loves one another, encourages, supports and prays for one another.

I have experienced the school, the hospital and the family.  This is the church at its best.

Baby Steps

Here in Canada, the CBC has a radio program called Under the Influence with host Terry O’Reilly.

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence

It mostly has to do with advertising. On Feb. 4, 2016 they aired this story:

One day in Afghanistan, a small troop of American soldiers found themselves involved in an exchange of gunfire with a small group of Afghans.

The skirmish goes on for days.

It's a gun battle with no end, as each side just keeps firing shots in the other's direction.

The other group isn't associated with the Taliban, so the Americans aren't sure why they are being fired upon.

Finally, the American Lieutenant in charge has an idea.

He says, why don't we just ask them?

So the Lieutenant signals a ceasefire.

When the shooting stopped, he slowly walked over to the Afghans and asked, "Why are you firing at us?"

They tell him it's because the Americans are not paying rent for the land they're on.

The Lieutenant says, "Oh, OK, so we'll pay rent."

The Afghans say that's fine, but we have to warn you that another group will start shooting at you.

When the Lieutenant asks why, the Afghans tell him that the other group believes they own they land.

Then the Lieutenant asked this one simple question:

Is there a place we can move to where we won't have to pay rent?

The Afghans point to a place just 180 metres away.

So the American squad picked up their equipment, moved 600 feet to the left - and the shooting stopped.

That was all it took.

It was the smallest move that resulted in a surprisingly big gain.

As I listened to that story I thought about the story of Nicodemus in the book of John.

Nicodemus appears three times in the Gospel of John.

He first visits Jesus one night to discuss his teachings.[John 3:1–21]

Nicodemus didn't approach Jesus for all to see. He was curious but he was also a member of the Sanhedrin.  The Sanhedrin legislated all aspects of Jewish religious and political life within the parameters laid down by Biblical and Rabbinic tradition.

Nicodemus came at night to try to figure out who this Jesus was. He took baby steps towards Christ.

The second time Nicodemus is mentioned, he reminds his colleagues in the Sanhedrin that the law requires that a person be heard before being judged.[John 7:50–51]

Nicodemus must have liked what he heard because he puts himself at great risk to defend Jesus here. He is even accused of being one of his followers.

Finally, Nicodemus appears after the Crucifixion to provide the customary embalming spices, and assists Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the body of Jesus for burial.[John 19:39–42]

We have here a man who met Jesus at night, defended him publicly and then helped to bury Him after the crucifixion.

From baby steps to a follower of Jesus Christ!

We all are moving through life. We are either moving closer to Christ or further away.  The steps we take maybe small at first but when we discover who Jesus is, our lives will never be the same.

The Call

What are the different ways in which God calls us?

Before we get the call, we have to know His voice.  I am reminded of 1st Samuel 3. Samuel did not yet know the Lord, the word of the Lord not yet being revealed to Him. (vs 7) Three times the Lord called to Samuel and each time he went to Eli the priest whom he ministered to the Lord under. The first two times, Eli said he did not call him. Then Eli realized the Lord was calling Samuel and taught Samuel how to respond. Samuel had to learn how to hear the voice of the Lord.

Later in John 10:27 Jesus says that His sheep listen to His voice, He knows us and we follow Him.  I believe that as new believers we need to be discipled, taught to hear his voice and that as we lean in to Him, talk wioth Him, pray to Him, read His Word...we will begin to hear Him when He calls.

One way the Lord calls us is through prayer. I remember numerous times in our life when my wife and I spent time in prayer and the Lord spoke specifically to us, calling us to new pathds we had not thought of ourself.  One time, while living in Croatia, my wife and I were praying about taking an outreach team to Macedonia and then staying there ourselves when the team departed. I came home one day and my wife was crying. She said the Lord spoke to her some specific things in prayer about our next steps. I wanted to see the list she had made but she said if it was from God, He would speak it to me as well.  5 days later, as I was prayer planning an evening event in another town, I felt the Lord calling me to grab a pen and He clearly spoke some "next step" things to me.  When I got home a couple days later our list matched exactly.

I also believe the Lord calls us through His Word. My call to Salvation came through His Word. I saw the Scriptures and how clearly it says that I had sinned and Jesus made a way for me to be connected to the Heavenly Father via His death on the cross. I eagerly responded to that call. Later, I felt the Lord calling me to missions via the Great Commission. I spent 4 years in missions ministry as a result of that call.

Finally I belive the Lord confirms His call through the consulting of others. Two specific times in my life, in the above story of our future in Croatia and later when we prayed about a move that brought us to Canada, we consulted a pastor and another spiritual leader, asking them to pray with us and for us and to see if what we felt the Lord speaking was also witnessed in their spirit. Samuel went to Eli when he heard the call and I believe we also need to seek the wisdom of others when we feel God calling.

In summary, I believe God calls us through prayer, His Word and the wisdom of our spiritual leaders.

One Word - The Tradition Continues

Back in 2009 Compassion began challenging people to seek the Lord for a word for the new year instead of making a new years resolution. This challenge has been sent out to their bloggers every year since.  I enjoyed the idea so much that in 2013 I joined the ranks of Compassion bloggers who write about their one word.  I have asked God for a new word each year since.

In 2013 I felt that word was PRAYER and pray I did.  Lots.  Things happened (concussions) which forced me to my knees in prayer before the Lord.  In fact I think I only survived that year due to prayer!

In 2014 that word was TRUST. Looking back over that year, I saw areas both personally and professionally where I had to learn to trust God more than ever.  I also saw God open amazing doors as I learned to trust Him more.

In 2015 I felt that the word He had for me was PEACE. A lot happened this past year and my peace was challenged greatly at times.  Yet through all of the ups and downs, I felt the peace that passes all understanding!  (Phillipians 4:7)

As we approached the new year I asked the Lord for a word for 2016.  That word is BEGINNINGS. 

I was drawn to this passage in Isaiah:

"Behold, I am doing a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19)

As I read and reflect on that passage of Scripture I can't help but get a bit excited. I also get a bit nervous.  Beginnings can signify change.  Change is not always easy or comfortable. However, I believe the Lord is speaking this word for a reason. I don't know what 2016 holds but I know Who holds 2016!  I can makle plans but God can take things in any number of directions. I am usually suprised by how significant the word becomes by the end of each year.

My ultimate goal is to know Him and His will more. 

I am excited to see how this word applies to the coming year.

So what is God speaking to you for the New Year?

5 Questions With Pastor Gregg Matte

Welcome to 5 Questions With.....

Today's guest is Pastor Gregg Matte.

Gregg Matte is the senior pastor of Houston's First Baptist Church and founder of Breakaway Ministries at Texas A&M University, one of the largest college Bible studies in the nation. He is also the author of Finding God's Will and I AM Changes Who I Am. He and his wife, Kelly, have a son and a daughter and live in Houston, Texas.

I just recently reviewed his book, Unstoppable Gospel and Pastor Matte took time to discuss his book with me in a phone interview today.  What follows is a transcript of that call.

OK, let's get started:

1. Why did you decide to write Unstoppable Gospel?

I wanted the people of the church to be encouraged and offer them some practical steps in how to make a difference. We live in a culture where everyone is dogging the church or dogging Christians and acting like the church and the Christians are the problem when it really is the answer. We want to be a part of making the difference. So by looking back at the book of Acts we get some practical steps in how to make a difference, we also are encouraged that we can make a difference. Lastly, in the beginning of Acts, they are hiding, afraid that they are going to be killed just like Jesus was. The last verse of Acts says, "Then the Gospel went out unhindered." (Acts 28:30-31) So you have a very big difference there and that is what I wanted the people of God, the people of the church to really get, that through God we can make a difference. 

2. You mention in your book that we should define ourselves spiritually rather than vocationally. Can you explain that a bit more?

We have to see our primary identity first. That is really our eternal identity, that we are Christians, and then see our roles and our other identitys second. What happens is then you get the order right and that is where Jesus says, "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) and C.S. Lewis says "put first things first and you'll get second things thrown, put second things first and you'll lose the both of them." So what I wanted people to do is to understand that the first thing that you are is a Christian. That is the number one thing that you are as a believer in Christ. Then fron that, that gives us the strength to then be a mom or a dad or a businessman or an engineer or whatever it is. We have to first see ourselves, with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and Him moving through us. Often times we get it mixed up, so if I see myself as a businessman first, then I may never share Christ with anyone at the office or really want to make a difference because that would risk me being a businessman. Instead of having my primary identity being first and the resource of Jesus being from which I do everything.

3. What do you see as the difference between conviction and condemnation?

Condemnation is very ambiguous. Conviction is very procise. The conviction of the Holy Spirit is going to have a prociseness to it that we are going to go, "You know I need to stop doing this or start doing that, or I was rude or God is working on my pride, He is working on my selfishness. Conviction is like a laserbeam flashlight. Condemnation is just this big wet blanket of "Oh woe is me I am terrible." What does that mean that you are terrible? What specifically is God trying to get your attention on? The devil loves to give us condemnation. He just wants to paralyze us with a wet blanket thrown over us. God wants to give us conviction in order to bring growth. Condemnation sends us backwards, conviction sends us forward. Condemnation takes us away from God, conviction actually draws us to God. So they are very different, though they may feel the same because they have a twinge of guilt with them. We have to get past that and say ok I want to grow from this. 

4. You mentioned the "ministry of interruptions" which really gave me pause as a pastor because I do not always look for that. Can you explain that phrase for our readers?

Yes, you know God has got you on a path and He is going to interrupt you throughout the day. What I mean by that is there are going to be people who come along that are either lost person in need of a Saviour or a saved person needing encouragement. When we see people spiritually that makes a difference. So then when the phone rings or someone crosses our path in need of help, we don't see it as an interruption, we see it as an opportunity. That is what they had in the book of Acts. You see Peter and John on the way to the temple and someone would interrupt them asking for money and they would say, "I want to give you Jesus." So they use it as a ministry opportunity. A lot of times we are focused, knocking it out and we have to see that God is going to bring some intersections into our path and those can sometimes be the greatest moments of our day. As opposed to just making it to the store and getting our grocery list checked. 

Let me add one other thing, as a leader, it doesn't mean everything that comes into your inbox is something that you ned to deal with at that moment. That is not what I am saying. I am not trying to call people to reactionary living, I am trying to be attuned with the Spirit to know when they need to turn aside and to take that time to encourage or help that person. There are a thousand things coming at you. You have to be strategic about that and have a listening ear to the Lord. 

5. How is your church, Houston First Baptist, sharing the unstoppable Gospel?

It has gotten a hold of us in a huge way. We're giving and we're going. We are a generous church and want to give financially and also of our time and be able to give and say lets let the Gospel go out, Acts1:8, to our city, nation, world. Also we want to be able to go. To be active in it.  We have people adopting children, we have folks teaching Sunday School, we have folks sharing Christ in their workplace. We want to be difference makers. 
 
Thank You Pastor Matte!

If you get the chance, check out Unstoppable Gospel