God in Culture...

God is in culture. It's the tool that He's chosen to communicate Himself by. What's crazy is that

God, is a-cultural (unless you consider HOLY His culture). That's not the crazy part. The fact that

He is absent of culture and yet crosses all cultural lines and is able to relate culturally

appropriate and relative is what's incredible!

He is above culture and yet chooses to work through it. Makes one wonder on the value of

studying one's surrounding when it comes to effectiveness in out reach and service to others of

a different culture; whether it be a ethnic, social, spiritual, different age or class. God can

perfectly relate to everyone, at anytime, and in any place.

There is great value in diversity. I think that's simple to praise and difficult to embrace; for some

impossible. That may be why we're so far behind and slipping by the day, hour, and moment.

Cultural relevance is critical unless we withdraw from the culture altogether - it happens. Xn

school, Xn college, Xn job, Xn fast food, etc. One could literally live among a culture and yet be

absent to it.

This is true not only in spiritual terms but in social ones as well. Consider a foreigner moving to

a new city with new rules, customs, and people. One could easily navigate and make contact

with culture only when necessary and then withdraw just as easily. It happens, we all know that

guy.

Let's not forsake what is. Let's see how God is operating among the broken and see what He's teaching us

on how to love people where they are. Not embrace the sin of the culture, embrace the sinner that Christ

died for. We don't change people, God does. God and His culture of Holiness does.

Thoughts on culture, anthropology, and other stuff...

So I'm in the middle of finishing my masters; over the next few months, some excerpts will be from some of my working thesis...enjoy!

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Often times, culture and ethnicity are commonly mistaken for being the same thing. However, culture does not equal ethnicity. Culture crosses all lines of race, class, socio economics, and even ethnicities.

Because all aspects of life evidence culture, one’s culture is a learned process of incorporative behaviors, languages, responses, and beliefs (enculturation).

Learned culture will begin to lead to the most effective forms of communicating, thus creating clearer opportunities for the gospel to be shared. However significant enculturation may be, it’s critical to maintain that biblical culture will always supplant any and all cultural ethics. Often times, this will lead to problems, especially when biblical culture is in direct opposition to the culture being engaged by the missionary/church planter.

Splash...

if you've ever done a cannon ball into a pool, you know how fun it can be, especially when the splash is great and you get folks wet...on purpose.

however, sometimes, i've splashed more people than i had originally planned. why? because when i jump in, i close my eyes and then come what may. that's good if i'm aiming to be reckless. that's not so good if i'm trying to calculate my move.

so i said something the other day that i regretted when it came out and i still regret it to this moment.

it was one of those comments that had a much larger affect than i expected it to have. rest assure that it wasn't a curse word or a poor joke. no, it was a comment that was pretty egotistical. i know, can you believe it? me? nah...

anyhow, my language made a pretty big splash, for the worst. especially to the folks that were around me whom heard me say the comment.

i know in time the splash dries off, but it takes time. same thing with the comment. but it takes different amounts of time for language to dry off of different people

all of that could have been avoided, had i controlled my tongue - James, authentic faith. DOH!

open your eyes before you jump. the splash may not be worth it

Apprentice...

as the new year is getting started, i've been challenged early by my leadership to think farther and beyond. the only way that the movement of God will sustain and grow in the future will be thru:

a. the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of His people

b. replication of the saints (at all levels)

as one who leads, the question that i'm facing most is "how many other folks am i training to lead at the same level as i, or greater?"

with that in mind, i've looked in the mirror and have stared at the statement "replication is intentional"

unless i replicate into others, it dies with me.

a goal for this year will be to apprentice others into leadership; intentionally.

who are you intentionally building into? how long is the process taking you?

we all need to learn together

He's got the whole world in His hands...

Colossians 1:17 - He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

He is the source; the starting place. And because He is, all things are. They are kept in order and in sync with everything else because He is. That is reason enough to want to know Him more deeply.

HNY!

number your days...

may we number our days. don't miss the opportunity to love and care for those that God has placed around you.

i'm not sure why i'm always surprised at how God uses tragedy to bring his children closer to Him. yet He tells us to number our days, because one day it will end.

don't wait to love your spouse, do it today. don't wait to pray for your family, do it today. don't wait to serve your loved ones, do it today, because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

if there's one thing that's certain about life, it will one day end. don't miss your opportunity

major changes...

to make major changes, you have to make major changes.

Joel 1:13-14

specifically to those that seek to minister on behalf of Christ. as we lead where God has called us to lead, may we be striving towards having the same 'attitude of Christ'

the greatest change that needs to occur, is most often in me. in order for God to use me to make major changes, God has to work in me to make major changes.

Simple decisions...

Psalm 1:6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

This scripture makes most decisions pretty simple. Will it lead me towards His righteousness or towards wickedness?

Why is it then that at times we seem to prefer steps towards wickedness knowing that it openly displeases the Lord and it's end will always lead to our ruin? This is an incredible promise with great benefits that are based on our choice. Will we obey or not?

May we be drawn to paths that honor Him...He's will watch over us and our lives when we do so.

Dec 1...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Why would God do that? Why would he leave everything that is perfect to come and be with us, me? why?

I don't know. It's almost as if He becomes the visitor who knocks at your door unexpectedly. You peek thru the window and you're not sure if you should open the door or not.

Have you ever been pleasantly surprised by a guest visitor?

For some reason, God came to make His dwelling among us. That's greatly in part because we could not go to Him. Again, why? Because He loves us.

This is the story of Christmas.

We stand behind Christ so we can stand before God

So here's the basic premise of what we shared yesterday at CF DT:

James 5 talks about prayer for trouble, praise in the good, prayer for healing, and prayer for the forgiveness of sins.

We know that He is able. So we take comfort in that truth. Our position is to approach Him thru Christ, the only One who is righteous. The prayer of a righteous man avails much. Our position should be behind Christ as we approach the Father.

We stand behind Christ so we can stand before God.

Let us approach with confidence, not in ourselves or our own abilities, but in HIm and His righteousness.

Qualities of Leadership, Part 1...

1 Timothy 3:2-7 (NIV)

² Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. - Paul (apostle, pharisee, church planter, servant, author, example)

DISCIPLINE

Without this essential quality, all other gifts remain as dwarfs: they cannot grow. So discipline appears first on our list. BEFORE WE CAN CONQUER THE WORLD, WE MUST FIRST CONQUER THE SELF. - J. Oswald Sanders

This truly is a game changer. I've noticed it in my life and among my peers. Where discipline exists and has existed, a tendency for effectiveness and success follows. Whether business, social services, or even church, without discipline, no work will ever grow beyond an individual.

I think that's why it may be so hard to intentionally develop self discipline. We don't want it to grow beyond ourselves. And if we honestly look inside, at times, leaders find validation in others looking to them and only them. A disciplined leader will develop and lead other leaders, not just the people of his/her company. If this is truly the case, an effective leader eventually works him/herself out of a job.

Similarly, it's ironic how discipline can exist at a work place, but not in the home place. Whether personal or with family, if effectiveness and success follow discipline at work, would the same not be true at home? Discipline in finances yields savings, better succession planning, vacation planning, and retirement planning. All excellent and valuable things, in light of our current realities. Discipline in time with spouse and children will all lead to deeper and more intimate relationships = meaningful homes. Discipline in time with God develops more of Christ in one's self and less of self in one's self.

Discipline. The best athletes are the best because they were more disciplined than the rest. The best businesses are the best, because they are more disciplined. Churches, small or large, are the best because of their disciplined practices to serve and disciple.

Discipline, the road less traveled.

Peter on leadership...

1 Peter 5:1-7 (NIV)

¹ To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: ² Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. ⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

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The flock belongs to God; He's entrusted their care to us. So then, what is our motivation to care for others?

It must have been difficult to be a leader when your life and the lives of others were riding on it. Similarly, modern leadership can undervalue the worth of a life. Lives still hang in the balance. Our urgency isn't there, thus causing a half hearted approach to leadership and caring for the flock. Where care occurs, genuine concern is present.

Peter says to the leaders, "Shepherd your people like God." Just as Israel is God's special allotment, the people we have to serve in the church or anywhere else are our special allotment; and our whole attitude to them must be the attitude of God; we must shepherd them like God. What a vision opens out! What an ideal! And what a condemnation! It is our task to show people the forbearance of God, the forgiveness of God, the seeking love of God, the limitless service of God. - William Barclay

Insights on Leadership from Paul, Chapter 6

1 Timothy 3:2-7

Social Qualifications - Example is much more potent than precept.

Moral Qualifications - A leader cannot allow a secret indulgence that would undermine public witness

Mental Qualifications - A leader must be prudent, a person with sound judgment...coming from daily self-discipline

Personality Qualifications - If you would rather pick a fight than solve a problem, do not consider leading the church. It can't be about money or position. Hospitality to all is common among shepherds

Domestic Qualifications - While a leader is caring for church and mission, he must not neglect the family, which is his primary and personal responsibility. The discharge of one duty in God's kingdom does not excuse us from another. There is time for every legitimate duty. Paul implies that a person's ability to lead at home is a strong indicator of his readiness to lead in ministry.

qualified...

we do what we do because God has seen the potential in us to do more. in the areas where we are strong and in the areas of untapped resource, God sees that and moves despite our fallibility.

in colossians 1, scripture teaches that we are where we are, not because of our own inherent abilities or choices. rather, we are qualified to do so, by God Himself.

¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

it's not education, although it helps. it's not resources, although it helps. it's not physical appearance, although it helps. it's not the people that i know, although it helps.

ultimately, it is the work of God thru the Holy Spirit that "qualifies" us to share in the ultimate inheritance.

in light of what's to come and what we will be sharing in for all eternity, how does this shape our current temporary lives?

if God is the One that has qualified us to serve, should we not serve more diligently and faithfully?

If God is the One that has qualified us to teach, should we not teach more passionately and with greater conviction?

if God is the One that has qualified us to lead, should we not lead better, further, and faster?

qualified to do what we do. if we could see what God sees (what we are capable of doing in/thru HIM), maybe we would be more inclined to do more of what God wants.

the gospel in the everyday...

Colossians 1:3-14

what have people heard about your faith and work for Christ?

some time was spent this am praying for the folks i'm privileged to serve with in a variety of capacities - church, non-profit, professional. i prayed for blessing, favor, health, and other good things. as i read this passage, it began to help me shift "how" i pray for others. besides personal gain, it's been a while since i prayed for the gain of Christ and His Kingdom through my friends/co-workers and their relationships. may the gospel and our love for the saints be what we are remembered most for.

^{often times i'll find myself chatting more about family, sports, poker, fantasy football, or sports talk more so than the gospel. none of these bad things. my concern mainly was with myself and how the gospel is not normally a priority. if that's true for me, then what about all of those around me? what if it's true for them?}

my prayer time needs to severely change because of this thought. obviously, personal need and requests for self and others are not bad. they cannot, however, always be the priority of my personal time with Christ. "Your will be done." His will is the Gospel to those in our lives...fact!

the Gospel in the everyday is waiting to be responded to.

"We can lead other only as far along the road as we ourselves have traveled. Merely pointing the way is not enough. If we are not walking, then no one can be following, and we are not leading anyone." - J. Oswald Sanders

Appointed...for what?

Effective spiritual leadership does not come as a result of theological training or seminary degree, as important as education is . Jesus told his disciples, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you" (John 15:16). The sovereign selection of God gives great confidence to Christian workers. We can truly say, "I am here neither by selection of an individual nor election of a group, but by the almighty appointment of God."

-J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership

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Colossians 1:28-29

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. - Paul, Apostle, Servant, Example

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God is the One that has called us to serve because of His choice. As a result, this should have some serious implications on the way we lead. Should we not be more bold in what we attempt? Should we not be willing to take greater risks within the leading of His Spirit? When we operate within the clear and known will of God, the blessing and result of greatness is immeasurable.

I believe that Paul accomplished much because he attempted much. He was not about himself or about others. He was about the mission that God had called him to. In Colossians we read about both the power of God in a man and a man's resolve to work and to work hard. Paul labors and struggles, but he does so with the energy of God, which was "powerfully working in him."

Does this same energy of God, AKA the Holy Spirit, not reside within each of us that have been regenerated through Christ, His suffering, His sacrifice, and His resurrection?

Then what is it? What is it that slows us down? What is it that keeps us going further? What is it that hampers God's work in us to see more people come to Christ, more churches started, more people served, more people fed, or more people blessed?

I believe it's 2 things.

The first, since life is convenient, we've grown lazy. Imagine if Paul were alive today, would we not see even more incredible things?

Second, I think we doubt what God is able to do in and thru us. Not just pastors, evangelists, or ..., but through "regular people" (whatever that means). When the people of God learn to tap into the power of God, I believe that we'll see the movement of God. Education helps, but God is smarter. Resources help, but God is richer.

An appointment by God, more powerful than we can fully understand.

learning to lead...

^{Colossians 1:9 --} For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Excerpts from Spiritual Leadership, Chapter 2:

"If the world is to hear the church's voice today, leaders are needed who are authoritative, spiritual, and sacrificial. Authoritative, because people desire leaders who know where they are going and are confident of getting there. Spiritual, because without a strong relationship to God, even the most attractive and competent person cannot lead people to God. Sacrificial, because this follows the model of Jesus, who gave himself for the whole world and who calls us to follow in His steps.

True leaders must be willing to suffer for the sake of objectives great enough to demand their wholehearted obedience.

One last thing must be said, a kind of warning. If those who hold influence over others fail to lead toward the spiritual uplands, then surely the path to the lowlands will be well worn. People travel together, no one live detached and alone."

If we lead, then let's do it right!

this morning at CF DT

this morning at CF DT, i was given the privilege to teach; both at the leaders service and the regular attendee service.

the gospel was shared and people gave their lives to Christ.

i'm always amazed and humbled that God chooses to work through such a messed vessel like myself

the best is yet to come

i would have to say that the best for ministry and city work is yet to come. i can't really say why, other than God is doing incredible things and i'm just grateful to be a part of it.

the best is yet to come.

reload conference miami

today i was given the privelage of sharing the little of experience that i've gained with the brightest folks serving in south florida.

today at Christ Fellowship DT, we were able to host the RELOAD conference; sponsored by the Urban Training Network, Youth For Christ, First Priority of South FL, and Family & Children Faith Coalition.

There were about 275 folks there for the same reason. to learn how to be better in serving and ministering to their communities.

I'm inspired by the great things that God is doing through so many folks. I'm also humbled because I realize after gatherings like this one, I am not needed...thank God.