February52012

Developing Strong-Minded Men and Women! (Part 2)

“A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan.”                      

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I think we got the picture that those who historically purchase huge chunks of the “inspirational corners” of our heart are more human than we would like to credit them with! They had issues, challenges, heartache, and probably more self-doubt than anyone would ever know. That’s usually NOT a result of the Dr. Kings or Mother Theresas of the world excusing their self-doubts or merely keeping them secret on purpose. On the contrary, strong-minded people are ALWAYS worried about the impact their actions (many times to a self-destructive fault) their words, and yes – even their thoughts have on others they are serving! They were NOT soft-minded – but they were human and normal!

            Being soft-minded is not hereditary but instead is a choice! We looked at some of the contributory elements that lead to being a soft-minded person in order to avoid such thinking.  I will cover the last two in this entry.

#3 THE IDEA THAT WE “CAN’T” BECAUSE “THEY WON’T!”

This excuse to forward movement in life rides on the back of the self-entitlement horse for sure! This thinking squarely pits our inability to grow or mature on others’ lack of contribution to OUR success! It’s always someone else’s lack of effort or help or anything that has hindered our ability to fully achieve or do something rewarding with our life. For sure, scriptures like the following tend to mysteriously disappear from the average soft-minded creatures around us:

2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” (NLT)

Our judgment and our fruitfulness in this life are based on doing our expected best with the tools God has given us. Simply put, a strong-minded individual is not looking for scapegoats as reasons for immaturity—but instead looks for reasons to overcome! The more resilient we become in the daily obstacles placed before us – the greater the resolve will be to look beyond the whining and complaining about never getting a “fair shake!” No matter how talented you are – that thinking will most certainly give you an early retirement from anything that smells like responsibility! Attempt to view people around you as your “instructors” and the natural stumbling blocks that attempt to hinder your progress as your textbooks in life! There are a ton of gifted athletes, inventors, teachers, and yes – gifted ministers, who will never accomplish much because they are too busy blaming others for their lack of success.

#4 THE NOTION THAT YOUR MIND (OR THINKING) ALONE CAN GET YOU OUT OF YOUR MESS!”

It should be understood at this point that there is NOTHING you can do effectively for God – without God! Sadly, this is not that well understood today in Christian circles.

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (NASB)

 

Accountability to God is the FIRST requirement to growth and certainly to accentuated responsibility in a believer’s life. A soft-minded individual tends to look for ways to excuse themselves from accountability because it draws them towards personal responsibility to “produce.” The idea that something could be required from them or that there would be a need to give an account—to someone, is like the kiss of death to visitors in our modern-day churches! Why? Primarily because we haven’t taught that accountability is love in demonstration.

 

The fact that God is a willing participant in your life and even better—a fully devoted co-worker to your success is no small thing! Your mind cannot work your way out of every jam you find yourself in since your mind didn’t create it to begin with most times. The world qualifies that type of thinking as ingenious, yet God in the scriptures identifies it as purely selfish. Self-government is what enticed Adam to forego the blessing of intimate fellowship with the Creator and now it is the leading cause of under-achievement in the Body of Christ! Strong-minded men and women realize that what they have been called for requires more than their faculties alone—THEY NEEED GOD! You need Him too and you will never stop needing Him. Why not arm yourself with these four eye-openers to soft-mindedness and make a serious effort to press toward maturity? You won’t regret it and those around you will thank your for it!  

January162012

Developing Strong-Minded Men and Women! (Part 1)

 

“A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan.” 

                                                                     Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

I’ve recently reminded our church that if God ever decided to “grade on the curve,” people like Dr. King and Mother Theresa of our past generation would mess things up for us! Thank God He doesn’t and thank God He has given us such wonderful role models of self-sacrifice and purpose to emulate. Historical vision has a way of distorting the real humanity and devotion people such as Dr. King possessed because we’d like to think of them as super-human or beyond special. The truth is so far more distressing to those who would like to coast through life walking on the backs of those who laid their lives down for us! You see, the truth is – they were very much HUMAN, with weaknesses, fears and even self-doubt. But somehow, through their trust in God and devotion to the lives of others – they surrendered their weaknesses and thereby accomplished great strides in the development of others. Why? Well, to observe Dr. King’s quote is to observe his belief system and it speaks volumes of the type of person Mother Theresa of Calcutta was as well as others who dot our history’s landscape. They were NOT soft-minded!

I thought I would contribute something to the discussion since Lord knows I want to be a strong-minded man! But I also would like to see the corner turned in our present developmental crisis by helping us steer people in the right direction toward maturity. Perhaps seeing what are some of the contributory elements to a soft-minded person will help us avoid its pitfalls.

#1 THE IDEA THAT WE ARE “ENTITLED” TO ANYTHING WITHOUT SACRIFICE

We are definitely living in a time of unprecedented entitlement in the western world and the church has not been excused from this “spirit.” This speaks to the notion that somehow we deserve certain things or better stated we deserve things that others have worked hard to attain! It’s as if there exists a wonderful bubble of exclusion for our current generation from all things labeled “work” or “sacrifice.” 

Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (NIV)

This mindset of entitlement has almost depleted us of generational reaping were it not for the longsuffering of past generations, or the sacrificial “planting” of a relative few! We simply cannot produce or birth strong minded believers until they understand that God’s principle of sowing and reaping still exists. Sometimes we just have to come to grips with the reality that we have not—because we plant not!

#2 THE NOTION THAT OUR MISHAPS ARE MERELY THE PRODUCT OF EVERYONE ELSE’S “OFFERINGS” TO OUR LIFE

I am deeply grateful for the truth (and science) that has made the connection between the outgrowths of people’s maladies and their associated past. Many, many people have discovered freedom when they realized they were “living out” of loss because of issues that had little to do with them but were reactions to actions perpetrated against them in different times throughout their life! I have seen countless “releases” as folks were able to exchange real forgiveness for absolute freedom! Who can argue that? Through Scripture, Christians have discovered the trail of curses that follow generations, which at times have real design in keeping them bound. However, these scenarios are a far cry from what I believe to be a current malaise in the Body of Christ. 

Philippians 4:11-12 “… I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (NLT)

Strong-minded people accept their circumstances (as Paul did) not as permanent shackles of impotence – but as the starting point for their race to begin! When the proverbial starter fires his round – it awakens us to our current condition. It is at that point that we determine whether we sill start running forward or simply ignore the gun! What I have heard over and over again from those who are stagnant in their maturing process is not the response to age-old curses or past crimes perpetuated against their soul as the culprit to holding them back. Instead, it is always their boss, their spouse, their work schedule, their lack of work, their lack of money, their pastor, their sadness, their loneliness, their church, etc. etc.  It’s ALWAYS somebody else’s “offering” that has been sown or withheld from their life—that keeps them bound! Paul found the antidote to such childishness by discovering contentment IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE! The secret – was trust in his offering before God! Paul realized that God had already purchased freedom for him and he wasn’t going to trade that in for a momentary pity-party, which would have the potential to put him back in chains! On the contrary, even when HE WAS IN CHAINS, Paul acted as if he wasn’t – because he TRUSTED that the One he sowed to had the power to give him his harvest. Now THAT – is strong-mindedness!

We must take credit for our own lack of starting-power as well as, the mistakes we make along the way. When we “share” the burden of responsibility with others, we perpetuate a condition that allows us to produce NOTHING since we have no power over others in our race.  Take stock right now of your life and make the decision to free others by releasing yourself to acknowledge YOUR OWN CONDITION. When you do—you’ll be free to avoid the real curse of being soft-minded!

January52012

30 Years… Starting The Next Chapter!

The Story Continues…

In 1982 Floyd M. Baker Sr. took on the task of pastoring a fledgling church plant of which I was already an existing member of the leadership team. He quickly took Terrie and I under his wing and within a year we were ordained and on staff full-time as assistant pastors. In June of 1986 through his and our church network’s leader, John Kelly, we assumed the role of Lead Pastors of what at that time, was a small work with great vision!

Since those days thirty years ago our church has remained a stalwart example of what it means to “stay the course!”  The last thirty years have seen its share of ministry exploits as our church members have traveled to over twenty nations to do short-term and long-term missions. Missionary ventures and support has well exceeded the $1,000,000.00 mark we first established in our infant stage. In fact, it can said with complete confidence that Solera (Covenant Life as we were known for so long) has always limited her own establishment of a permanent home so that we could sow, send, and equip to fulfill Kingdom vision! As a result, Terrie and I with the church have enjoyed a worldwide respect and favor, for our diligence to build and shape this ministry with the end in mind! Only by God’s grace could this have been done for He has taken our “little” and translated it into much.

On the home front our church has always retained its stability in the midst of storms – both physical (Andrew, Katrina, and WILMA!) and spiritual due to a strong base of well-equipped men and women who have served this church with unparalleled sacrifice. All who have crossed our doors and those whose thresholds we have crossed to bring relief has enjoyed our genuine care and warmth. I am proud of our diligence to provide spiritual nourishment and equipping for all who desire to grow in both His Word and in devotion to Christ. Our multi-cultural commitment has not gone unnoticed by those who realize that God’s expression of church life should resemble the picture of the heavens found in Revelation where there is representation from every clan and tribe! And because our multi-generational commitment has been firm over the years—we have striven to make ourselves adapt to use new models in order to communicate an unchanging message to our children and young people in its present culture.

I could go on but what about our next thirty? A new chapter is being written though the script is established. A new chapter that begins with YOU in mind! In fact, this chapter cannot exist without you! Throughout 2012 – we will celebrate our vision and promise for the future generations who should come to Christ through our efforts. Our ministry team is dedicated to amp it up on a high level this year to exemplify giving of ourselves more, sowing our resources and time more, and sharing the love of Christ more! Our hope is that when we celebrate our 30-Year Anniversary later in the year, you will see the accomplishments we have all contributed to—together throughout this year. It’s going to be some party! Will you join us? Will you allow God to use you more this year? Will you stand with us to see what God can do with a willing people who love Him, His Church, and the community we have been blessed to reside in? Terrie and I pray that our efforts will aid the next generation to experience a “new 30” of ministry-exploding growth!

December212011

God’s Provision for a Life of Purpose - HIS CHURCH!

Hebrews11: 8-10 “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  9  By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (NIV)

I am so sorry that December wrapped me up in such a way that hindered a timely submission to my blog. But timing being what it is – I thought this last submission of 2011 would be fitting on this subject of His “Church” being our source of provision! Words could never do justice to what bubbles up in my spirit when I consider the role the church has played in my life. Her role in my life from new convert to budding servant; from deacon to lead pastor and so on, has been monumental. In this Christmas season where the real “hustle and bustle” of life takes on new meaning, my prayer is that we would all take real stock in this message—The Church, is God’s vehicle to provide a life of purpose for us!! In my last submission I offered this take on overstressed schedules:

“Church participation and engagement usually gets the boot when the schedule is bulging with activity that is simply not clear focus as Jesus intended. After all – the church is HIS body. What better terminology exists in the scripture to highlight the connection Christ intended with His people?  When the Church connection takes center stage – the rest of the priorities take on greater meaning and life actually becomes manageable!”

If we could just take some cues from Abraham’s “faithful” engagement with the land of promise and his Lord, I believe we can get the most of a great start to 2012! We understood that “he made his home in the promised land,” leaving him no room to turn back to some other pre-existing condition for supply or even some fantasy of a better “place!” Instead he logged in his hours, his thoughts, and yes—his faith to structure his life to God’s provision. Here are some other interesting thoughts to apply:

“Like A Stranger…Lived in Tents”

He walked out, what in essence is to be our prophetic understanding of what it means to live in this world and yet not be of it!  Does that sound familiar? “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.” (John 1:10 NASB)

 

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12 NLT)

Even though Abraham was taking possession of the provided territory – he still saw the bigger picture! It allowed him to flow easily between the world of conflict he was currently in and the connection to an eternity of promise he was in full possession of! The “land” was the continual reminder of the greater relational connection to God’s Presence in his life. And so it should be with us. The western mindset of the church being a place to attend and vacate repeatedly – leaves no room for the faith that accompanies TRULY BELONGING! We don’t “go to church,” – we are the church, the Body of Christ, fully connected to His Presence at all times!  The church life and community is the constant reminder of God’s abiding Presence and His promise toward full union in the future. So many believers are sensing great loneliness and abandonment because they have misdirected passions and limited application of the life of God. We can change or reverse course by simply taking advantage of the “life” He provides and not just the “services!”

The tents represent an amazing picture of the temporary nature of our journey “in the world.” Tents speak to movement and the absence of permanence. Our root systems are not in this world. When we trade our newfound relationship with the Lord for the temporary nature of this world’s devices – we trade away our “movement” towards His purpose and our chances at obedience! When we sow our life into this “land of promise” called the church and allow ourselves to connect with a temporary mindset toward the world we are in – our chances at engaging a continuous flow of God’s provision are increased. This entitlement—generational culture that exists today has left a handful to truly live the life while most are attempting to enjoy the provisions at someone else’s expense. That’s why so many in our churches have abbreviated, need-associated connections to the church rather than a vibrant, life-giving experience—because they never trade their allegiance to one provider while attempting to secure a new one! Can you imagine what life would be like if those who had children had to spend up to 80% of their parenting time just reminding their kids that they had to EAT FOOD EVERYDAY? L What a colossal waste of time – since the natural hunger cues our body gives us does most of that work!! Well, that is what the average church spends time doing these days—simply reminding the members that they should eat and when they should eat, over and over, and over! Yikes, no wonder the world is not clamoring to get in! And finally, here is the ultimate lesson Abraham leaves us…

“As Did Isaac and Jacob, Who were Heirs…”

It appears that Abraham translated much of the purpose and design for living to his son and grandson! For use this speaks directly to the prophetic continuity of the “community” and the provision associated with it. Let’s face it; the Bible is clear on the fact that the inheritance is ONLY accessible through continual obedience to the culture of God’s Purpose! We do a disservice to our children and our children’s children after them—when we relegate our worship to religious activity as opposed to purposeful connection to our identity and provision for continued existence! Belonging to the Church is not just a benefit or a cultural ingredient that we can add and dismiss periodically based on feelings of the moment. On the contrary, it is the single greatest gift we can give our succeeding generations because we provide for an identity that no despot, governmental shift, cultural malaise, or worldwide tragedy CAN EVER WIPE OUT! Isaac and Jacob fully understood that the land was merely the reminder of the greater connection to the Father. That the “land” would provide because they recognized the connection between obedience and covenantal promise. This territory they had was still on the earth but relational interaction with the Lord was the full promise. The church is more than an oasis in a world of conflict – it is the vehicle of God’s provision for our life, a life that was meant to be lived on purpose and in purpose!  Will you consider living life with a greater degree of “buy-in” to God’s plan in the coming year? I pray that this understanding helps you on your way!       

November152011

The Community That God Speaks To…

Hebrews11: 8-10 “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  9   By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (NIV) 

Way too many believers treat the church as an addendum to their already busy life—to the degree that it rarely (if ever) achieves a prominent role in their priorities. Church participation and engagement usually gets the boot when the schedule is bulging with activity that is simply not clear focus as Jesus intended. After all – the church is HIS body. What better terminology exists in the scripture to highlight the connection Christ intended with His people?  When the Church connection takes center stage – the rest of the priorities take on greater meaning and life actually becomes manageable! 

As I mentioned in the previous post – God’s desire is that our life come into line with His. This process does not occur in a vacuum however!  But instead it takes place through consistent interaction and equipping within the local body of believers, which He calls us to identify with.  Purposely or inadvertently we continue to perpetuate this solely “western” concept of “going to church,” which in itself implies a disconnect when you “leave the church building!” Nothing could be farther from God’s truth as He intended. Besides the notion that God clears up our focus and brings our life closer in line with His – there are some additional benefits to consider when truly connecting with His church.

GIVES US HIS PROTECTION AND RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE ONLY THROUGH COVENANT RELATIONSHIP

It’s no small wonder that many of the unchurched are not even remotely curious to the type of life that occurs within church facilities these days. Yes, there are many contributing factors to this problem—but none so debilitating than the existing attitude modern believers’ have toward their own church!  Why? Because we don’t clearly emphasize nor demonstrate the amazing protection that comes through participating in community as God intended. Not some weird, move-to-a-mountain mentality of isolation far from the world, but one that declares boldly that we are not alone! That there is a God who cares and ministers to those who need it and provides loving support in the context of belonging. The mere idea that we can simply locate the God of the universe on the proverbial golf course of life – whenever and wherever, (“You go to church but I can find God on the golf course on Sundays!”) is sloppy theology at best and confused selfishness at worst!

I believe it is this understanding that has created more damage to the Body of Christ in our neck of the woods so to speak, than anything else the devil could have conjured up. That would explain the growing apathy and disconnection amongst the millennial generation toward all things associated with expectation, demand, or even sacrifice! And why not—since scores of parents have blindly told their children that they didn’t have to any longer since God loves us all the same! Though God’s love is never in question – His benefits don’t all gain access where the established, universal law of sowing and reaping is always in operation. Do you want your people to engage the blood-bought provisions of protection and resources? Do you as a leader? Then we must exemplify our own trust of God’s Vehicle for that provision by loving the church with OUR WHOLE HEART and preach and teach that resolve to our people. The local church is not just an expression of community – it IS the community God speaks to and nurtures!

November12011

Faith for God’s Church

Hebrews11: 8-10 “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  9   By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (NIV) 

It is fitting that Abraham is looked at as an example of the faithful pursuit of God’s purpose since the Word declares him to be the “father of our faith.”  It is truly remarkable when you realize that he was completely “blind” to what God provided since he was a stranger in a land he had not proven! Or was he?  Was he blind or did he really see?I am fully convinced that Abraham simply trusted and could care less what the circumstances declared or even the inhabitants of the land shouted. God had a plan and a place for Abraham!

Metaphorically, that place is the CHURCH for every Christ-follower! The local church to be exact, since God never asks us to merely give ourselves to a “notion” but a real place where life is worked out and our faith is established.  For the most part every believer is a “stranger” when introduced to this land of promise called the church. That stranger-like existence presses us to learn and abide by a very different culture than we were accustomed to before we came to Christ. The terrain is different, the customs are different, and certainly the world-view is super-different! You can quickly identify when the faithful are having difficulty with this new life when their language is punctuated by “it’s so hard,” or “I tried…” That language immediately coughs up the realization that they still haven’t truly LEFT THEIR OLD HOME! There’s got to be a better way of establishing our faith. There is! It is our identification with the “land” of provision God has given—the Church.  It’s up to us as church leaders to emphasize the true benefits of being truly connected.

Here are some of the amazing benefits that identifying with the church enthusiastically and actively can bring to EVERY believer just as it did for Abraham:

CLEARS UP OUR FOCUS

It certainly did for Abraham! He never looked back and he certainly did not focus on escape clauses to get him out of there! Believers need to establish deep roots in the church and make it the “center” of their new cultural identity.  Abraham had no intention of ever walking away from that identity that God provided through His gift of this new land of promise! Way too many believers treat the church as an addendum to their already busy life—to the degree that it rarely (if ever) achieves a prominent role in their priorities. Church participation and engagement usually gets the boot when the schedule is bulging with activity that is simply not clear focus as Jesus intended. After all – the church is HIS body. What better terminology exists in the scripture to highlight the connection Christ intended with His people?  When the Church connection takes center stage – the rest of the priorities take on greater meaning and life actually becomes manageable! 

BRINGS OUR LIFE IN LINE WITH HIS

It makes sense then that to the degree we value importance in being the Body of Christ in the world—is the degree to which we become closer aligned with His purpose? Perhaps this is the reason so many believers live such disjointed lives or experience such drastic highs and lows when it comes to victorious living.  Many times we chase other ways to self-help at the expense of true connection with God’s lifeline. Our life disconnects from “being” to just “doing” when there is no real reason for our connection. Our theology should be rooted in the understanding that God has intended that we do life together in close proximity with other Christians.  Why? Because it brings balance to our life, surrender to sacrifice (because we share others’ pain) and accountability because others will feel ours! That after all, is the way to be Jesus to our world. What better way is there to learn what it means to live Christ-like, than to see and hear your fellow family members doing life in community with you! 

If we are going to recapture faith for God’s Church – we must start with positioning ourselves to receive from Him. You cannot get your life in order any other way.  Don’t miss out on the “vehicle” God uses to do orient us to Kingdom living. He orders your world through connection to Himself—and that connection cannot occur away from connection to the Church, which is His Body!  This is what leaders must teach as well as mirror to those they lead.

October212011

God’s Vehicle for Provision

It seems that the deeper we move into the 21st century — more church attenders shift toward apathy when it concerns the local church. In fact, it is my contention that much of the distraction, the weight of burdens, and the weariness with which the average Christ-follower deals with these days, can be attributed to a lack of faith in the“vehicle” God designed to actually aid us in living victoriously! That specially-designed vehicle is the LOCAL CHURCH!

While church leaders and ministry departments have become more savvy in the presentation and overall communication of the Gospel — the truth is, that it doesn’t mean we have extended the faith of most church goers. Church leaders are now faced with the added challenge of continuously checking the actual foundational understanding of their members since faith is generally weak even if participation or attendance is high! Part of our problem is that our “western” mindset tends to believe that if we just “do” something— then results will follow. However, God is challenging us to “be something” through our doing!  This explains why so many Christians’ relationship with their local church these days (if they have one) is casual, intermittent, and usually on the low end of REGULAR and sacrificial participation. Why? Because much of what is done in this present generation is done without conviction and faith. The “Church” is God’s vehicle for providing the necessary provision the pressures of the world constantly overload us with. So what can we do?

As church leaders it is up to us to provide the reasons to believe in the church—so that Christ-followers and those in our communities who are far from God know how to draw their nourishment from the Body of Christ. In the ancient world every small and large community knew one thing above all other things — that was where to draw their water! So it is with the local church. It is the local “well” for living water and those who participate or belong to her MUST LIVE LIKE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE! Using Abraham (the father of our faith) as an example, I believe we can draw out some prophetic conclusions that will help us understand God’s provision of the Local Church to address our needs. 

Hebrews11:8-10 8 “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  9   By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10   For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (NIV)

BY FAITH—ABRAHAM MADE HIS HOME IN THE PROMISED LAND…

  • Even though Abraham was a stranger to the land God had promised, he put his trust in what GOD HAD PROVIDED—even if he had to live in temporary dwellings! He was so convinced in his quality of life based solely on God’s provision for him— that he NEVER allowed the condition of the existing territory to speak to his future! 
  • Abraham so trusted God and what he had given him— that he never put stock in what he felt, what he saw, or how strange he felt being in untested territory. The truth is that for many believers today, there is no contrast between their so-called “church-life” or experience and what they experience daily in the world. It is simply something else to do rather than to be. 
  • Having faith in God’s provision of the local church simply means that we have to buy into the notion that we are to sell out to her FIRST. Then simply open our eyes to seeing just what it is that God has provided. THIS IS HOME friend! The church is the well, the church is the provision of God, the church is where plant, water, sow, reap, and above all— BELONG!!  

We must be like Abraham and see beyond what others see and TRUST that God has our best interest in mind. The church is not a “place” but an organism, a community to belong to. Stay tuned as I unpack more related to how our faith can increase for the church.

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