like a ton of bricks...

last night at church we were having a discussion on God. no biggy, i know. yet somewhere in the midst of a discussion that i could have swore that i have had before, it hit me like a tone of bricks...

"God is always changing and moving towards change, yet He still remains the same."

i've been thinking about this all day.

any takers on this idea or thoughts on the matter? i dare you to try to explain. 

to an honest reflection...

as i listened to this announcement, again, about the ending of 7.22, i was moved and challenged. in case you didn't know, 7.22 is a ministry that's been around for about 12/13 years and has helped shaped what some churches look like/feel like today - for the good or bad. either way, some of the thoughts that were shared were difficult ones to face. i often wonder what an honest look in the mirror will do to me as a person, minister, husband, or father. i think, no matter which hat we wear, looking in the mirror and seeing the truth is a must.

more over, we must act on what we know to be true and i think that's what the folks at 7.22 are doing. besides the fact that they are huge in numbers and by all measures a successful ministry, they are stopping for a moment and changing. why? because from what i guess, they need to be doing other things to reach those people that aren't being reached.

gutsy, honorable, courageous, and cooky. these are they types of people i want to go into battle with. 

check this out and let me know what you think. click here.

 

friends need help...

it would be most kind of you all to help alex and kristel by purchasing some of their stuff as they get ready to leave to n.c. i'm sure they would greatly appreciate your money and willingness to give it to them. help a brother and sister out!.

much thnx!

to the funk...

recently a friend of mine shared about being in a 'funk' with God and life. i can totally relate. those moments when nothing makes sense. or even if they do, you really don't care. it's almost as if you become stagnant and you cease from living, you merely exist. 

those moments are tough. it's always easy to comment when you're not in the 'funk' about what to do or how to get out or a spiritual prescription on the matter. do this and you're out. fact is, it's been different for me every time. and every time i get out of the 'funk' i too am different. usually better for having gone through it. 

i hate going through the mud and yet mud treatments are great for your skin. maybe perspective is what changes funk from treatments. 

how do you handle the 'funk' when it hits you?

let me know. 

from moments to movements...

how does one separate moments from movements? been thinking about those pivotal moments in history that lead to movements. great depression was a moment that lead to a movement. mass genocide were moments in history that caused movements of response. the stoning of stephen was a moment that sparked a movement of faith. moments of sickness caused movements of cure and healing. moments of poor economy caused movements of innovation and change. 

have you seen moments today that are waiting to happen that will lead to the birthing of movements? good or bad, i bet you they are there. whether we like it or not, once the movement begins, we normally can't do much to stop it. rather we are faced with how we will deal with it; positive or negative. 

there are moments in my life that are clear. moments that marked me and defined part of who or what i am today. just a thought, perhaps my life is a constant movement that is being forged and directed by moments. 

burning bush = moment

parting of the seas = moment

fire from heaven = moment

walking on water = moment

feeding of 5000 = moment

laying of hands for healing = moment

yet, any single one of these moments was and is critical to the lives of those that experienced them. for moses, his moments lead to a nation wide movement. for Christ, his moments lead to a social/spiritual/history changing movement. for paul/peter and the rest, those moments of faith and/or suffering, lead to movements that still seep with spirit and truth. those are the ideas and hopes of something better that run in our veins. it is in the quiet still moments when God speaks movements into place. 

i want to be part of that. 

to hearing from others...

this week i've learned and relearned some pretty profound things from members of our church. so here they are in no particular order

-if there is no risk, can there really be faith?

-if i am are comfortable in my faith, then i'm probably not moving towards Christ and his desire for me

-my discomfort comes from the change that Christ is wanting to create in me

-to trust the Spirit, means to trust the fact that He works through others, not only through me

-God is actively bringing lost people to me, i just need to look up and acknowledge them

-Lost people can validate good things - they know good when they see good

-God is actively working towards change - in people, places, things, and creation (me especially)

i think that's a lot. 

what's God been teaching you?

growing and changing...

to the ever growing and changing church. it looks different every time. i love how God is working anywhere, everywhere, and through anyone that He chooses to use. 

how have you seen God at work lately?

not-yet christians...

so tonight, we heard something that probably caused great praise before our Father. as we gathered together for a time of prayer, after breaking bread with each other, one of our visitors volunteered to pray. his opening line:

God, this is the first time that i've ever prayed out loud...

he's not a christian...yet. for whatever reason, God has been working to bring him to this place. he asked where he could go and was invited into our community of faith...and then he prayed out loud for the first time.

even non-believers can go to God and ask. even not-yet christians can offer up worship. God will have His praise one way or the other...even if it's not through the 'saved.'

how awesome is that?

...enfleshing

philippians 2

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 
 6Who, being in very nature^[a] God, 
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 
 7but made himself nothing, 
      taking the very nature^[b] of a servant, 
      being made in human likeness. 
 8And being found in appearance as a man, 
      he humbled himself 
      and became obedient to death— 
         even death on a cross! 
 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place 
      and gave him the name that is above every name, 
 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 
      to the glory of God the Father.

it floors me every time i try to read and understand this passage. that God, being fully God, came and while being fully God was also fully man; choosing to limit Himself of His "GOD" attributes and abilities in order to fully experience humanity - why? so that a full and complete sacrifice that would be found as good before Himself could be made up. 

a sacrifice by Him, for Him, on our behalf. 

God enfleshed Himself to be one of us, while still being Himself the whole time. 

why? so that when i'm in my corner dealing with my sin, i could have the assurance that i don't need to be worried about being separated from Him. because He knows to the fullest extent the difficulty of sin without succumbing to it. that's why He's good enough; God enough.

how do you explain this? 

ah...selflessness.

as of late, many of my conversations have been occurring around the word 'selfless.' fun to talk about, difficult to act upon, unmistakable when you see it...selfless.

these are the people that make impacts in life. the ones that understood that they gave up their rights when they came to Christ. i find myself wanting to hold on to some of my rights; the ones that i truly enjoy the most. not to selfless of me. the areas that God asks me to sacrifice in are often the areas where it hurts the most; the areas where i have most to lose. i've never seen it any other way - maybe it's just me.

outside of Christ and His sacrifice on the cross...

what's the most selfless action you've ever seen?

why was it so selfless?

what's holding you back from following in those foot steps?

here's one of my favorite verses of all time - a call to selflessness:

1 peter 2:21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 

completing the task...

acts 20:22-24

"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

what a difficult thing to follow God's calling, especially when He leads you to a difficult place. paul did not know exactly what was going to happen in detail; he only knew that it was going to be tough. and at the end of the day, he considers his own life nothing compared to the task that was given to him -- how selfless.

what have you found to be some of the most difficult things that God has asked you to do?

what did you gain from either doing or not doing what He asked you to do? 

to different...

as i continue to meet more people in the city of miami, i'm encouraged to see how God is actively moving and shaking things up. different people, different stories, different ministries, same God. what i wrestle with is...can all of these different ministries and people work together (at the same time) to serve the same God?

what have you seen? what do you think are some of the obstacles? benefits?

let me know. 

powerful words...

as i'm wrestling with acts 20, i find it interesting and difficult to read paul's words:

32"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

makes me wonder about my habits in coveting, work ethic, and discipline in giving. not that i think that i'm really bad at any of these, but am i exceptional at any one of them? not coveting, having the best work ethic, and giving as much as i truly could. 

powerful words paul...you don't even blink! 

i want to be like this man.

brickell and south beach...

some of the cool things that are currently in motion...

an opportunity is still in the works for beginning something in the brickell area. after some chat and connection with some folks down on that side of town, i think God is opening doors that are serious about doing something over there - totally pumped. please keep this in prayer. pray for our friend alexandra who's opening her doors in the next few weeks. she's currently going through some tough times with family illness and other stuff. once she settles down from her traveling, we are set to start something down there. 

something new that might be brewing; an opportunity of starting something at south beach. over the last few weeks, we've been in conversation with folks that are like minded and 2 families right now are considering working with us as this network develops with a potential 3rd family sometime around the end of summer; but that's not for sure.

all to say, good things are happening all around town. i can't wait to see what's gonna happen in the next few months and years. 

as we are reading the book of acts, there is a statement that keeps coming up:

THE LORD ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER DAILY (over 7 times - i'm in chapter 17 right now)

that's what im praying for, for the church in miami - God, please build it and add to our numbers daily

what are you praying about today? for your church? for your self? for your friends? 

to a great beginning...

so we began church tonight. those present: a nurse, police officer, school teacher, administrator, project coordinator, and i. what's cool is that i didn't do most of the talking. lots of questions went unanswered and i think that it was ok that they weren't answered. truth is, some answers i don't have and for some of the ones that i do, maybe God has a better one.

i'm learning that i need to slow down and listen to Him. His leading and direction; especially in His business, i.e. the church. we all agreed that we needed this and that we will continue to walk together, despite the fact that we are all mainly strangers.

it's funny how the common factor is Christ -- that's really all we need. that's all we had. we've decided that before we get into too many details and try to set up parameters, we will walk through the book of Acts as a church together to determine what God wants and not just assume on traditions or personal preferences. 

so we began church tonight. mixed feelings -- pretty positive overall. i don't want to jump the gun, so i'm trying to contain so much because we are just beginning. but i think it's the beginning of something good, something fresh, something new and old at the same time.

to a great beginning...watching God do what He does best!

new opportunities...

so i began this new phase of ministry just over a week ago. i've been in transition for a bit now; one of the reasons i've not done too well in april jotting down what's been going on. regarding new transitions, one of which is the new job that i have with FCFC. check out their website. they are up to lots of good things regarding community development here in s.fla.

here's my story for this week. i better understand james 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

as i consider james (brother of Jesus) and what he must have gone through, it makes a bit more sense to me.

james was probably left fatherless at a pretty young age (the last time we hear of him is when Jesus is only 12 - then he's gone; most believe that he died after Jesus entered manhood...13 years old) 

if Jesus was only 12/13, that means james was much younger than that. imagine the trauma of growing up poor - the man was the one who earned the income. w/o dad, they were stuck depending on Jesus to earn the money - since he entered the workforce as an apprentice, he probably did not earn a whole lot. meaning the family probably suffered a good bit.

james is an orphan and his mom is a widow. 

i had the privilege of serving a widow and an orphan this week. pretty difficult, but i know that it pleased the Father. i'm fortunate in that part of my role at FCFC is to serve and advocate on behalf of those that may not have enough for whatever reason. pretty cool.

let me ask...

how are you serving your community?

how are you serving members of your church?

how are you serving God where He has you? 

did you know....

in 2007, for the first time in 65 years, more churches were actually started than those that closed. could be both positive or negative. good things, i think. 

who i met and what i've learned so far...

so, right off the top, i was invited to be part of a pretty cool dinner last night. among the new 'friends of dave' are a cool group of people responsible of putting on the CATALYST CONFERENCE, Ed Stetzer (church planting beast and SBC rep - i had to walk behind him to take a pic with him), Allan Hirsch (i think he's a modern day prophet and visionary of the organic/missional church movement), and the purpose driven guru himself, mighty rick warren (as i kissed his forehead, he fell over in uncontrollable laughter).

what i've learned...

christianity - christ = religion (duh, but take a look around, sounds all to familiar)

church the way we are doing it is good for about the 20% of americans that would be open to it (about 12 - 15% actually attend once a month based on stats.)

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 80% that don't care??!!! WTF! 

we don't take christ to people - if he's God, then he's already working. our role is to help people interpret these 'religious' experiences through the filter which is christ. this is pretty profound in that most people know that if they want to get closer to god, they would normally go to church. the irony lies in that God is everywhere, whether the church is there or not. so what's he doing? he's prepping the people to meet him through the expression of church - His people and oddly enough, not His building.

meaning, the people in your circles of life, have been waiting for you - God's been working on them before you even got there. how will you engage them to help them understand their experience with the almighty?

the church does not have a mission -- God's mission has the church (missio dei - latin for the mission of God - to reconcile a dead world back to himself by using any means possible, mainly the church (people -- you and i )

how are you involved in this? 

totally psyched because it helps to answer the question of what matters most.

any how, just some tid bits. that's all for now. i believe God's gonna do something amazing in miami soon with our current churches and the ones that are to come! be part of it!

if you are not, consider joining a new effort in your town

what do you think? 

in orlando...

so, i'm in olrlando this week at the national church planters conference. for more info: http://www.exponentialconference.org/

lots of different people, different ideas, different forms...same goal. work with God to build His kingdom.

please pray for me as i discern the next steps of this new work. also, please pray for those that are considering joining this effort. it's not like what most of us know, so it will mean almost detoxing from previous ideas of what is and what was to what could be.

anyway, see you guys on friday.

question for the e-world reading...how are you working with God to build His kingdom where you are?

at work?

at school?

at home?

at church?

let me know. just trying to gather info as we determine the strategy for this new work

peace

to what's next...

just in case you missed it, the announcement was made this last weekend - with God's help, adriana and i will be working towards launching a new church here in town. we've been wrestling with different circumstances to get us overseas, yet we've not been able to go. after prayer and searching for God in his word, we believe that our calling to missions is still valid, we just need to put into practice what we'd be doing over there, over here. so this is where we are and where we hope to go for the next step. 

excited and nervous. anyhow, that's how it is. we are grateful to MBC for all their support and help over the last 4 years. we've been blessed and have grown as we've served there. we know that God is working there and that he has a great plan for MBC and it's team. we love them all dearly.

so...to what's next - there it is. join us in prayer as we venture out to the great unknown...again.

how to pray:

God's direction and guidance for the new church

housing in right area of town

for the lost to know Christ

for God to grow his church here and globally

will you join us in prayer? let me know. thnx again.