So many of you may have heard here or there that the national day of prayer has been canceled. While it isn't a good direction for our country to trend, that statement is not entirely true either. Judge Barbara Crabb declared that the government sponsorship of a recognized day of prayer was unconstitutional based on the first amendment due to a lawsuit brought against the government by a group called the freedom from religion foundation (they should call it the freedom from Jesus foundation, but whatever). Here are Crabb's comments regarding the government sponsored day of prayer "It goes beyond mere 'acknowledgment' of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context," However Crabb also had these comments "I understand that many may disagree with that conclusion and some may even view it as a criticism of prayer or those who pray. That is unfortunate. A determination that the government may not endorse a religious message is not a determination that the message itself is harmful, unimportant or undeserving of dissemination." and "it is because the nature of prayer is so personal and can have such a powerful effect on a community that the government may not use its authority to try to influence an individual's decision whether and when to pray."

Listen...like I said I don't believe it's a good direction that things are tending in government but the ruling is actually somewhat legit based on the letter of the law. The spirit of the law...maybe a different story. But here is the main question for you and I if we are Christians...what are we going to do about it? Complain about Obama? Obama didn't make the ruling nor did he cancel the day of prayer. He did cancel a service that President Bush routinely engaged in which of course I'm not stoked about but was his decision. But he indicated that he would in spite of the ruling recognize the day of prayer himself. So sorry all you super political people who don't like Obama you don't really have anything (else) to complain about on this one. Which brings me back to my question as Christians what are we going to do about this? We could complain, which seems to be what Christians are best at these days. We could make a bunch of signs and picket...just another way of complaining. We could do nothing...let our own personal issues of life be more important...we're all too busy to actually take the time to do anything but complain anyway right? Or we could actually pray on the national day of prayer! Pray for our government, pray for our cities, pray for people, bless them! Instead of curse them...You see the question is how are you looking at and responding to the situation? If you aren't going to do anything about it, just keep your mouth shut is my opinion. I'm actually really tired of Christians complaining about what the deem as wrong, yet being too lazy or feeling too small to actually do anything about it. Isn't faith without action dead anyway? But if someone will stand up and do something about what they feel...I will definitely give them my ear, even if I don't agree with them because I respect the fact that they are people who DO not just complain and whine...are you sensing my theme yet?

Don't be a complainer, don't be a whiner, be a doer! You may get what you personally want by whining and complaining here and there...but you'll never change the world, and you'll never be remembered for your whines! Complaining isn't faith...faith releases grace and changes things...whatever it is you are passionate about step out in faith today! If you have something to SAY about the national day of prayer issue....then hopefully you can come up with something to DO about the national day of prayer issue. My dream is that more people will pray blessings over our communities, citizens, leaders, government, ec cetera than ever before in history because the issue has been brought to the forefront. When you are a doer God will take the things that were meant for harm and use them for good!

Have a good one all!

Chad

I've had this what I guess you would call a "speech" in my heart for the last little while, basically themed after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech regarding the reformation of the church, and the raising up to the fullness love influence and power of Christ's Bride on the earth that is God's intention. (is that like a horrible sentence or what...hopefully you get the point)

Anyway...God used mixed martial arts (something I love) to speak to me regarding this concept or theme in my heart today. Basically he said this "the best fighters on the planet are not those who specialize in one art, or who try to prove their art is better than another, but who embrace all the arts learn them, implement them, and focus on there personal strengths to obtain victory. Maybe the church should be like that." Would God use the UFC as a model for the reformation of the church? WOW the more I think about it the more I see it! The UFC used to be about styles fighting styles ie, Karate against Ju-Jujitsu, or wrestling against kung fu. However as fighters realized "I don't have everything I need focusing on this one little sector of fighting to be the best I can be" they got better and better. The fights became better, the athletes became better. What ultimately happened? The WORLD took notice! Just some things to think about...and as I read on the back of some dude's shirt the other night at a local cage fight "Jesus Loves MMA" haha.

Later y'all,

Chad

Standing in Grace

WOW...maybe I've set a PR(personal record) for longest non-blogging stint. I apologize because I know everyone reading this anxiously...almost breathlessly awaits this blog. Okay...I'm totally kidding. I do apologize that I've had nothing to say as of late. It's not that God isn't talking or doing anything. It's almost that so much is going on in my head and in my heart that I'm not sure what I should put out there. Well here has what has been going on in my heart lately...I hope you like it, more importantly I hope you think about it and allow God to do what he will on the inside of you because of it...

Ephesians 2:8 says this: It's is by grace you have been saved, through faith. And that not of yourselves. It is a gift from God. What amazingly great news! Thank the Lord we don't earn our way to eternal salvation! It is by GRACE through FAITH we are saved. This has been the model since Abraham the "Father of our Faith". The Bible says Abraham believed God and it was accredited to him as righteousness. Most Christians know that...we don't always live like we know it, but we know this truth none the less. I encourage you to walk strong in the assurance that your salvation is not earned it was is and always will be a gift from a Heavenly Father that loves you and wants the best for you.

I'd like to take a moment to point out an underlying principal in this verse that the Lord showed me recently. I'm sure it's nothing new...I'm sure there has been many a sermon on this very topic. But it was new to me and I found it exciting! We know that we receive salvation and it comes by grace through faith. This very statement shows us that when we release faith, God releases grace.

What is grace? Many define grace as the unearned unmerited favor of God. The Strong's concordance dictionary defines grace as God fanning the flame of our hearts that compels us to live for Him (my paraphrase). I personally truly look at Jesus to define grace for me...because John 1:14 says Jesus came full of grace and truth. Grace and the theology of grace isn't something we have the right to argue about in Christianity. Some people don't like to hear folks talk about grace because they think people will take that truth and contort it into a license to sin. You know what I've found that some people do that. But regardless of what any hard hearted person may do, grace is the foundation of true theology because Jesus is full of grace. The gospel is not the true gospel without grace. I see grace not as a license to sin, but empowerment to raise above sin, sickness, demonic torment, and any issue of life. Jesus came into the world revealing to us the truth of God's kingdom, and to empower us to live eternally and abundantly. Grace is empowerment.


John 10:10 tells us the Jesus came into the world to give us abundant life. Abundant literally means: More than adequate, well and richly supplied. It means we are over supplied with everything we need. Why? Not only so we can have a good life but so that we can be a channel through which grace, resources, and the love and abundance of God flows to the rest of the world.

The thing about the abundant life is that it applies to all areas of our life; family, finances, relationships, work, school, whatever it is that you do in your life. However in and of myself I'm not capable and you are not capable of really living this way. I can't succeed in every area of my life doing it on my own. We've all heard about or seen the guy who is super successful in business because he put everything he has into it, but his relationships his marriage ect are horrible because of it right? It's just a small example of the fact that when we in our own power attempt to succeed in every area of life we ultimately fail. When we try to make it happen for ourselves it can't work. Which is where faith and grace come in. Deuteronomy chapter 28 is an awesome chapter proclaiming the blessings of God. I don't have time or space to quote it here but read it yourself! The Blessing of the Lord affects every area of our life causing abundant life, a whole and complete life which lacks nothing. But how do we qualify? How do we inherit that abundant life of God? Deuteronomy 28:1 - If you OBEY the voice of the Lord......

Obedience...is the key that unlocks the blessing. What do I mean? You are saying...God said don't steal and I don't steal, God said don't commit adultery and I don't commit adultery, somebody told me when I was in youth group don't listen to rock music so I don't listen to rock music...whatever the case may be. Following the 10 commandments is great we should do that...the 10 commandments and other such things in scripture that are standard to the average person are the easy things to be obedient about though...every person knows that it's wrong to commit adultery (Even Tiger)...most of humanity abides by this, everyone knows it's wrong to steal...society has these standards. But to live in the abundant life of God as we mature and develop in our faith we need to go deeper.

It's easy to do what everyone else is doing...that doesn't take any faith. But it does take faith to sow financial seed into God's kingdom in a down economy. It does take faith to love those who persecute you...it does take faith to "Not worry about your life"...it takes faith to believe that God has a plan and a purpose for your life that is exceedingly and abundantly more than you can ask or think of.

If faith releases grace, then by really releasing faith we access empowerment. I stated before that I can't live a life full of blessing in every area on my own...I'll burn out trying...I'll defeat the entire purpose. But if I can release faith by operating according to the order of God's word in every area of my life then GRACE will empower me do do what I could never do on my own. We say as Christians so often that I'm "standing in faith" for my healing, finances, an unsaved family member, or whatever the issue is in our lives we need the power of God to show up in. I understand the point, but I'd like to challenge that thinking with God's word. Romans 5:1-2 says "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have access by FAITH into GRACE in which we STAND". We are trying to stand in faith, which really means we are trying to work ourselves into a position where our faith produces results. But we never get there by trying hard enough. Faith is really a confident assurance in God. Faith results in actions that line up with a confident assurance in God. Ultimately faith is obedience to God's word...that's where we miss it. Many Christians don't know God's word well enough to live it. That's why it is important to be a student of the word of God...so that you can be obedient to it. Because if you are simply obedient to God's word you don't have to try to stand in faith. You don't have to try to work yourself into a position where your faith actually works...you simply release faith by being obedient to God's word...and stand in GRACE stand in empowerment, and Jesus takes care of the rest!

Be a student of the word of God today, get to know Jesus more...live out what you learn. As contradictory to standard thinking as it may seem do what God says to do. It really works...and watch as empowerment, abundance, and the grace of God become reality in your life!!

Chad

Evaluation....

Habakkuk 2:2 says write the vision, make it plain so that he may run who reads it. If you hang around me much at all you know I consider this to be a spiritual principal not just some words on a page. I teach this as a mandate, a playbook, a road map to seeing your dreams come true. The funny thing is that inside or outside the Kingdom of God truth is truth, and it's just a fact of life that if you write down your goals, and dreams and visions, read them, share them you are much more likely to see those things become reality in your life.

However one thing we often leave out is EVALUATION. Where am I? How am I doing? In this process of reaching my goals weather it be in your ministry, personal life, or business it important to write down your goal, keep the goal in front of you consistently by reading it, and share it with others who will support you. I believe it's important also to evaluate your progress. Give yourself a report card...not everyday that's too much pressure, but periodically. Weather that mean monthly, quarterly, or whatever have a plan in place to evaluate your progress....hold yourself accountable! It's the old business adage of "inspect what you expect".

I evaluated myself on my yearly goals the other day and to be honest with you based on my own grading of myself (Im probably harder on myself than anyone) I was ranking a solid B- overall. What does that tell me? Well it tells me that I need to make some adjustments if I truly want these goals to be more than words on paper. Don't be afraid to evaluate your progress as it relates to your goals. It takes 5 minuets and a little courage! I believe it's important and will help you acheive what you are believing for! Faith without action is dead.......Let's breathe life into our faith today!

Have a great weekend all!

Chad

The greatest love of all.....

"I believe that children are our future....teach them well and let them lead the way...give them a sense of pride..." OK depending on your age and your music taste you may or may not already be familiar with the Whitney Houston classic "The greatest love of all" I've got know idea how many weeks that song spent at #1 back in the day, but I'm pretty sure it was a lengthy stint. The essence of the message of the song is that self love is the greatest love of all. I remember singing that song in a school program in the second grade. Wow! That was a long time ago. Whitneys' getting old...come to think of it...so am I!! So what's the point here Chad...Okay I'll get to it eventually.
As Christians, Jesus Lovers, God Chasers, I think we could all agree that "Self Love" is not the greatest love of all. However I believe it is important to love one's self. The important matter is perspective and the filter through which that love flows. Our filter of self love or how we view ourself can flow through one of two avenues. The love that comes from the world and/or our own flesh, which if you know Whitney Houston's story at all let to a road marked with terrible addiction, and heartache. Or a love of self can flow through the filter of the love of God.
If our self perspective and self worth is filtered through the world and our flesh it becomes tainted. Many, many people struggle with self-worth issues, depression, even suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Why? Because the filter through which they view themselves is the world and their flesh. When this is the case we are looking at the media, friends, those we consider to be cool, family members, ect to give us our sense of self worth. This is a loosing battle. I know because I've been there. Proverbs 27:20 tells us death and destruction are never satisfied, so the eyes of a man are never satisfied. The proverb likens the eyes of man to death and destruction. Sin = Death. Romans 6:23 says the wages (or reward, or secondary consequence)of sin is death. We are born into sin as a result of the sin of the first man Adam as the Bible tells us in the book of Genesis. If we never change the filter of our self perspective it's naturally a filter of sin and death and flesh....therefore according to Proverbs it will never satisfy. We will never feel complete, we will always be searching for something we can never find through the filter of the world. This is why we often look to relationships to satisfy and they never do. Some people turn to drugs, or sex, or money to give them a sense of self worth. But what is received from those avenues lasts only momentarily and always leaves us wanting more...eventually resulting in tragic circumstances for you and those around you. So what do we have to do? Change the filter! The one we've got is dirty! It doesn't work right!!
The only way to truly be able to love ourselves or view ourselves in a healthy way that will satisfy is to know that there is a God that loves us with an amazing love. The bible says that this love reaches to the Heavens Psalm 36:5....that's a lot of love! That love is waiting to be poured out on you! It's a love that satisfies...and you can always come back for more without it ruining your life. You can be addicted to the love of God with no possibility of winding up on the TV show "Intervention", and it will take you higher every time you go to God to get your fix! It won't drain you dry, it will fill you up! The love of dudes and chicks outside of the love of God will never satisfy you...because people will fail you, and when they do you'll be a lost soul once again if their love is what was fulfilling you. Sex...well outside of God's love will just turn you into a sick perv, and quite possibly leave you with some nasty diseases or the responsibility of a child you aren't ready for. Drugs...we all know...the high last for moments and only leaves you needing another fix or another hit. The wife of the youth pastor at my church Holly Begneston says "there's a God shaped hole in each one of our hearts and He's the only one that can fill it." I believe that. We are born into a spiritual condition that causes death to our soul. We can try to fill that hole in our heart with any number of things...but anything we fill it with never fits correctly because it was designed for God. It's like a puzzle that you can't find the last piece to. It's never going to be complete until you find that piece. I don't like cheesy plays on words but you could say that God is the "peace" that you are missing. When you respond to his Love you become whole. The missing piece and peace is found...you can be at peace with yourself and who you are because you know that God loves you! You can be an authentic YOU and not a cheap imitation of someone else!
Here are some good scriptures to meditate on about a God who passionately love YOU!
Psalm 36:5, John 3:16, 1st John 4:19, 1st John 4:7, 1st John 3:1............And there are many more throughout scripture. The "Greatest Love of All" is Gods love for you! The scripture says in 1st John 4:19 we love him because he first loved us. It all starts with him! Our ability to love him, others, and ourselves.........starts one place. With the love of God!
I pray that every reader begins today to grow in a greater revelation of God's love for them....in Jesus Name!

Alright peace the heck out homies.....have a great day!

Chad

The blessed year!

Psalm 5:12 – For you Lord will bless the righteous; with favor, you will surround him as a shield.
Matthew 6:33 - Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.

What is 2010 going to look like for you? If you are like me you are believing God for the greatest year of your life! I found out by reading the Bible that blessing comes as a result of righteousness. Are you righteous? I didn't ask if you were perfect...nobody can live up to that standard. But are you righteous? Three times in God's word we are reminded of the model for righteousness from the thoughts inception in Genesis 15:6; Galatians3:6; James 2:23 we read this statement regarding the Father of our faith Abraham. "He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." So we see here that faith is the model to be accounted by God as righteous, which simply means in right standing with God. God isn't looking for perfection he's looking for people who will believe him and have a Godward attitude all the time. The Bible tells us all have sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard which is perfection but if we will make it and act of our will to have faith in God we will be declared as righteous. Which as we see in Psalms places a demand upon the blessing of God for our lives! However we've got to understand that true faith always produces action that backs up the fact that we truly believe what we say we believe. James 2:20 says "faith without corresponding action is dead" or it's not really faith at all. We can say we believe for a healing, or believe that a bad situation is going to turn around, or believe that God wants to prosper us, but if we do nothing about it then we never release that faith we say we have and it stays relegated to the realm of nice words. Words are good and words are powerful, BUT that's only because they generally lead to actions. Knowledge is not power...action is. So when you break down the Psalm that tells us the righteous will be blessed and surrounded with favor from God...you can really break it down to the point of righteous action...are you doing what God says to do in his word? Because that's what qualifies you for blessing...not a prayer you repeated five years ago, or the fact that you attend church regularly, OR even the fact that you read the Bible daily....all those things are good but if it never produces action on your part, then it never really produces the results of blessing on your life.

That's why I like Matthew 6:33 so much - What you do first is important!!! Why is seeking the kingdom important? Because without the knowledge of the Kingdom, you can't get the results of the blessing of the Kingdom. My Pastor is discussing the Kingdom of God on Sunday mornings at our church...I love it. The culture of Christianity needs a dynamic shift from a culture that is very much currently made up of the traditions of men, and traditions of denominations, and the opinions of the board of elders to a culture that is truly Kingdom! It's important to give a legitimate definition to Kingdom...or else it just becomes another christian cliche' that holds no weight, and induces no real change in the hearts and minds of people. Jesus constantly throughout the gospels makes this statement "the kingdom of God is like..." then he goes on to give an allegorical (story like) definition of how God's world operates. The most simple and basic definition I can give to the Kingdom of God that I think holds true however your mind may operate is this: GODS WAY OF DOING THINGS. The kingdom of God is God's way of doing things. Doing things the way God instructs ALWAYS produces good long term results...Now and in eternity!

So how do we command the blessing of God on our own life in 2010? Praying for blessing is wonderful, but God is saying "I heard your prayer, start qualifying yourself". We command the blessing of God on our life by finding out what God's word says and operating in accordance with it! Hearing what God's word is saying to your spirit, and operating in accordance with it (as long as your ear is truly turned into God that is! God's spoken word will never contradict or go against the principals of his written word). So let's be doers of the word not just hearers...not just talkers...let's have the greatest year of our lives! Who's with me baby...Who's with me???!!!??? Glory follows order!

Chad

What are you gonna do?

Christmas weekend is over...and New Years is upon us once again. What are you going to do? What am I going to do, what are we going to do about it? What are you goals, what are your dreams, and what are your desires for this New Year? Will we even take the time to consider what this New Year will bring. What we will accomplish, what we are believing for, what we are praying for? Or will this year look just like last year except your a little older and a little closer to death? Oops that wasn't very nice!

The Bible says Mark 9:23 "All things are possible to them that believe." What did Jesus mean here? I was taught growing up that if we believe in Jesus all things are possible. But if that were true there would not be so many people going to Heaven but living like hell during their time on earth. When the Bible says "All things" it means "All things". I think we make the mistake of thinking the Bible means all things or all kinds the way we use the term. "Bro you have to go check out the sale at Nordstrom they have all kinds of jeans on sale." But Nordstrom doesn't carry every brand of jean that there is out there and they don't carry every style of every brand of jean, therefore they don't really have "all kinds" of jeans on sale. It's just an expression. I think we make the mistake of integrating our modern vernacular into the Bible's teaching so we think that if you believe a bunch of stuff is potentially possible. But that's not what God's word says. It says all things. But if simply believing in Jesus made all things possible then why are so many people who believe that Jesus saved them from their sins and going to heaven sick, and broke, and depressed, ect? Beveling in Jesus and REALLY believing in Jesus is two different things. Every Christian believes that Jesus can take away their sin, but it's obvious that not every Christian believes that God can use them to heal another person, or help them be successful in life, or empower them to live out a lifestyle of holiness. Because if they believed REALLY believed it would be possible. The things that are possible are the things that YOU BELIEVE are possible!!!

So what does the New Year hold for you? I'll tell you what it holds for you...it holds what you believe is possible! Believe in your dreams, believe in yourself, and MOST importantly believe that God is working in you to accomplish great things! Your success as a Christian brings God glory! How are we going to win the world and establish the Kingdom of God on the Earth with Churches, families, bodies, businesses, finances that are broke down as Christians? We aren't! We may be able to win a certain sect of people living like that but God's intent isn't that you are able to win the lower class and not the upper class of society. God cares about and loves everyone and wants his children to shine his light into every corner of society and transform the world for his glory. The thing about having the blessing of God on your life is that it sets you apart and makes you different in a good way. I think God intended Holiness to mean different I don't think he ever intended it to mean weird...the way some of us have made it. Our success is God's success when we live for him and give him glory for all he's blessed us with. Open up your mind, read the word of God, take God out of the box of the religion you grew up with and see that God is bigger than that. He has a great plan and purpose for all for his creation including you! What are you gonna do about it this year? All things are possible to them that believe! I'm believing God this is going to be a great year for you in Jesus Name!

Happy New Year!

Chad