dreams

You ever have a dream, that you just couldn't shake? A dream that penetrated your soul? A dream that was somehow real, and yet somehow a dream. Well, I had one of those dreams two years ago this month. It's a dream that hasn't left me. I can still see it and feel it. This was it:

It was dark. To the right of me was a large red bricked building. Below me was a forest of dead and brittle trees. The presence of evil emanated from the forest. I was hovering slightly above trees, sustained by a supernatural force. As I was hovering above the forest, a vine caught my foot and I fell. I landed face down in the mud-like dirt. I was unable to move, paralyzed by the presence of evil. In front of me was a vast abyss of darkness. The earth began to tremble. In the darkness was coming a horrid beast. Intuitively I knew his sole aim was to ravage and destroy me. He was coming to devour me. And I knew who he was, he was Satan. I was frozen stiff with fear, as if a heavy weight was pinning me to the ground. In my desperation I cried out, Jesus save me! Jesus save me! In an instant, an immeasurable power took a hold of me and pulled me with lighting speed. I was pulled through the forest into an open expanse of white covered hills, with blue light-filled skies. I looked up and there before me were two enormous prehistoric lions, fifteen feet in height. I intuitively knew that these creatures had somehow saved me. One was directly in front of me and one was to my right. Their fir was golden brown and clothed them like a robe. Their faces were massive with saber-like teeth. The one directly in front of me leaned forward; looking directly into my eyes he touched me with his head. Renewed with strength I arose. The two beasts turned and began walking toward the forest. I turned and followed. I knew danger was present, I also knew a great power was with me. Then I awoke.

who are we? continued…

I finished reading the Gospel of John, now I am reading in the book of Ephesians. As I was reading it I was struck by how interwoven the book is with the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John moves from who the Son is to who we are through faith in the Son. The book of Ephesians continues to unpack who we are in Christ. If I were to state the theme of the book I would say it is: who we (the church) are in Christ Jesus and as a result, how we are to live. There are profound statements made in Ephesians about our identity in Christ. If what this book says is true, then through faith in Christ, we have been given far more than we can imagine. Our identity and calling in Christ is immense, even beyond comprehension. What if we believed what Ephesians said was true? How could it impact how we live? Here are some of my gleanings…

People who place their faith in Jesus are:

Saints

Ephesians 1:1 “To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus”

Given every spiritual blessing

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,”

Made holy and blameless

Ephesians 1:4 “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”

Adopted into God’s family

Ephesians 1:5 “he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”

Forgiven

Ephesians 1:7-8 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight…”

United with God the Father in Christ

Ephesians 1:9-10 “…making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

Given an inheritance

Ephesians 1:11 “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,”

Ephesians 1:18 “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,”

Indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:13-14 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

The body of Christ

Ephesians 1:22-23 “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

Ephesians 5:30 “…because we are members of his body.”

Made alive

Ephesians 2:5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ”

Raised up with him and seated with him in heaven

Ephesians 2:6 “…and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”

Saved by grace

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Created to do good works

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Made one with all who believe (both Jews and Gentiles)

Ephesians 2:17-18 “And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”

Citizens and members of God’s household

Ephesians 2:19 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”

A dwelling place, a holy temple for God’s Spirit

Ephesians 2:22 “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

God’s wisdom being made known

Ephesians 3:10 “…so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

Filled with the fullness of God

Ephesians 3:18-19 “…that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

God’s glory

Ephesians 3:21 “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Given spiritual gifts to help each other grow in the fullness of Christ

Ephesians 4:11-13 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…”

Given a new self, created in the likeness of God

Ephesians 4:22-24 “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Light in the world

Ephesians 5:8-9 “…for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),”

Loved by Christ

Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,”

global warming?

I stayed up way to late last night watching this... but it was a major eye opener to me. This guy (Lord Christopher Monckton) is brilliant. If you have the time I would highly recommend viewing it, it will give you the other side of the global warming controversy.



View the powerpoint presentation here.

who are we?

As I have been reading through John I have been pondering the question, who is Jesus? Today the question changed. Today I started asking the question, who are we? In the Gospel of John Jesus makes some profound statements about what becomes of those who believe in him. So my questions are, what happens to those who believe in Jesus? What becomes of them? Who are they? And what are they to do?

This is what I found out, people who believe in Jesus become:

Children of God (God is now their Father)

John 1:12-13 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 20:17 “Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Participants in God’s eternal life

John 3:16, 17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

John 11:25, 26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and
believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Free from the consequence of sin

John 8:24 “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

John 8:34-36 “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Indwelt by Jesus and the Father

John 14:18-20 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

John 14:23 “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

John 17:26 “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Indwelt by God’s Spirit

John 14:15-17 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

John 20:22 “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Sent to represent the Father and the Son

John 13:20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

John 17:18 “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

John 20:21 “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Witnesses of God’s love through imitating Jesus’ love and unity with the Father

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

John 17:20-23 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

Bearers of good fruit

John 15:8 “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

Reflectors of God’s glory

John 15:8 “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

John 16:14 “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

John 17:10 “All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.”

John 17:22 “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,”

People of God, not people of the world

John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

John 17:14 “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

John 17:16 “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

Fellow suffers with Christ

John 15:18, 20 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you… Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

If these scriptures are true of those who believe in Jesus, who wouldn’t want to believe in him? They paint a beautiful picture of forgiveness, renewed life, restoration of God as our Father, intimacy with God, inner transformation, love, and purpose. This is what Jesus intended for those who follow him. He didn’t intend legalistic religion. He intended to give them life, love, fellowship with God, and a purpose to bring life and love to others. And this is what Jesus intended the church to be. Not a religious social club, but a community of people, filled with the life of God, who are loving each other and sharing God’s love with the world. Now that is something I can get excited about being a part of.

who is this man? continued...

Here are some more insane statements by Jesus in the Gospel of John. As C.S. Lewis said, either Jesus is a liar, a lunatic, or he is who he said he was, Lord. Biased on what Jesus said about himself, it is hard to imagine him being a good moral teacher. If he was just a religious teacher then he’d be a liar and no longer good or moral. He is either crazy, a liar, or… God. Trippy stuff… Here are the Scriptures:

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

“I am the bread that came down from heaven.” John 6:41

“I am the bread of life.” John 6:48

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever.” John 6:51

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

“He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” John 8:24

“Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5

“I am the door.” John 10:9

“I am the good shepherd.” John 10:11

“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11:25

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3

“You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world – to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37

It is hard to deny... Jesus thought he was the man. Who makes these kinds of claims? I've met many people who don't believe Jesus is God, instead they think he was a good teacher (and he did teach good things). But how could he be a good teacher and make the above statements? Either he was who he said he was and therefore is good or he's an egotistical nut case. What other options are there?

For me, I started believing in Jesus a number of years ago. I didn't grow up knowing about him, but when I begin believing in him, I experienced the "eternal life" thing he keeps talking about in John. I experienced it in my soul and spirit. It has been like a river of life inside of me. It is hard to explain. It's like a mixture of joy, peace, love, and happiness in the depths of my being. It is like God came into me and breathed life into my soul. It is crazy, but it is amazing. Better then any drug I ever did. And it is free to anyone... all we have to do is turn to Jesus, open up our hearts and believe.

who is this man?

A friend and I decided to read through the Gospel of John, in the Bible. To be honest, I was taken back by the radical statements of Jesus. I have read all kinds of religious writings, from Hinduism to Taoism to Buddhism to Islam, but have never read of a moral religious leader who made the statements that Jesus made. It’s as though Jesus thinks he is equal with and is God. You got to check out these statements and they get more radical as they go…

“Whoever receives his (Jesus’) testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God,…” John 3:33-24

“So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise… Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” John 5:19, 23

“Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.” John 6:45-46

“So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.” John 7:16

“You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” John 8:19

“…I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” John 8:28

“If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I come not on my own accord, but he sent me.” John 8:42

“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

“If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” John 10:37-38

“And Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” John 12:44-45

“For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me." John 12:49-50

“…whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” John 13:20

“Jesus said to him… “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” John 14:7-11

“All I have heard from the Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15

This is wild stuff… it got me thinking…. If Jesus did not speak on his own, but perfectly represented God the Father, what does God want us to know? What does God want to tell us through Jesus? This is what I found in John…

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24

“Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." John 6:28-29

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life…. I am the living bread that comes down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” John 6:47, 51

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

From what I read in John, it seems that God the Father is telling us, in and through Jesus, to believe in Jesus so that we may have eternal life and to love one another as he loved us. What is God’s message to our world? Believe in Jesus and love one another as he loved us. Wow, so when God speaks to us he says... “Jesus." "Believe in him and love like him, and you will have my life in you forever.” Amazing.

Prince of Peace photo

settling in

We've been in Asheville for a little over a month now. Though we've been here a short time we've had some great opportunities to meet people and explore the area. Here are a few of the things we gotten to do.

* Went on a family hike with llamas at Pisgah National Forest

* Went to a square dance fundraiser for the Lord's Acre (now that was some good old fun!)

* Visited the North Asheville Tailgate Market

* Went mountain biking with some folks I meet through the Asheville Mountain Biking Meet Up Group

* Lindy took a canning class at Earth Fare

* Visited the WNC Farmers Market (this market was incredible)

* Went apple picking with some friends at Sky Top Apple Orchard (the apples were for Lindy's apple butter canning project and humm is it yummy)

* Been volunteering at a community garden through The Bountiful Cities Project

* Saw Derek Webb play at the Grey Eagle

* Saw Shane Claiborne speak at Warren Wilson College

In addition to all this we've been enjoying being involved in the start up of Canvas, a new church plant in Asheville.

We are having fun exploring a new place, meeting new people, and getting connected.

harvest prayer

Here is a wonderful prayer I just read by Christine Sine.

God of the Bountiful--A Harvest Prayer
by Christine Sine

"God, we thank you for your harvest, which feeds us so many times each day.

We are nourished with your forgiveness and hope,

We are sustained with your strength and patience,

We are filled with your grace and compassion.

God, we thank you for feeding us with a harvest of plenty.

We are restored through your generosity and healing,

We are replenished with your abundance and joy,

We are reminded of your selfless abandon.

God, we thank you for feeding us with the bread of heaven.

Your gift of Christ sustains our lives,

His presence restores the promise of your love,

His life fills our hearts with your everlasting light.

God, we thank you too for filling us with the water of life.

May we drink deeply that our thirst may be quenched,

May your river continue to flow,

Over us, in us, through us,

And out into the world you love."

in motion

This is something special to watch.



"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth." Psalm 19:1-5

Now imagine with me for a moment, as you watch the video, what if... what if the earth is fixed... what if the sun and the stars and the moon are all spinning around us? What if...

the role of prayer in spiritual awakening and church planting

Another pattern that emerges from the Book of Acts is the importance of prayer in spiritual awakening and church planting. Prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit seem to be directly tied together. I imagine that is why Paul told the Colossian church to "Devote yourselves to prayer." (Col. 4:2)

Here is a collection of verses on the role of prayer in the Acts:

Acts 1:14 - All these were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

Acts 1:24 - Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know the hearts of all; show which of these two You have chosen.”

Acts 2:42 - And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers.

Acts 4:24, 31 “they raised their voices together in prayer to God... After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Acts 6:3b,4 “We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Acts 6:6 - They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

Acts 8:15 - After they went down there, they prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:11 - “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there.”

Acts 9:40 - Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.

Acts 10:2 - He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the [Jewish] people and always prayed to God.

Acts 10:9 - The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the housetop at about noon.

Acts 10:30 - Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Just then a man in a dazzling robe stood before me...”

Acts 12:5 - So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church.

Acts 13:3 - Then, after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.

Acts 14:23 - When they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Acts 16:16 - Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction and made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling.

Acts 16:25 - About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Acts 20:36 - After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them.

Acts 21:5 - When our days there were over, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, escorted us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray...

Acts 22:17 - After I came back to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple complex, I went into a visionary state.

Acts 27:29 - Then, fearing we might run aground in some rocky place, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.

Acts 28:8 - It happened that Publius’ father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.

the role of the Holy Spirit in spirtual awakening and church planting

This is a big week. We are beginning to form the core group of a new church planting initiative I am helping with. As I mentioned in my last post, Asheville is a very spiritual city. As we are forming the team and beginning incarnational missional engagement I am realizing we need to be spiritually centered in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, and sensitive to his leading. Reading through Acts has once again challenged me and opened my eyes to the necessity of God's work being carried out through the power and leading of His Spirit. It is how the church was born and how it is to advance.

Consider the following references in Acts to the work of the Holy Spirit in the context of spiritual awakening and church planting:

Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 2:4 - Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.

Acts 2:17 “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”

Acts 2:33 - Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear.

Acts 4:8 - Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders...”

Acts 4:31 - When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness.

Acts 6:3 - Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.

Acts 6:10 - But they were unable to stand up against the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Acts 7:55 - But Stephen, filled by the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw God’s glory, with Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said...

Acts 8:29 - The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”

Acts 8:39 - When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer. But he went on his way rejoicing.

Acts 9:17 “Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 9:31 - So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers.

Acts 10:19 “While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him…”

Acts 10:44 - While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message.

Acts 11:24 - ...for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith—and large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

Acts 11:28 - Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Claudius.

Acts 13:2 - As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work that I have called them to.”

Acts 13:4 - Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Acts 13:52 “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 16:6-7 - They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in the province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

Acts 19:6 “When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied”

Acts 20:23 - ...except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.

Acts 20:28 - Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

Acts 21:4 - So we found some disciples and stayed there seven days. They said to Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem.

God’s work on earth is a work of the Spirit. The Spirit is God’s life giving gift to all who believe. To do God’s work we must be filled with and guided by the Spirit. He is our life and our guide. If you don’t have the Spirit, ask the Father and he will give it to you.

Luke 11:11-13 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you , then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

John 3:34-36 “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Sons will not see life,…”

jesus centered spirituality

I have been in Asheville only a short time, but one thing I have notice is how spiritual the people are. You see it on posters, in shops, and in the newspapers. One of the local papers listed 39 different spiritual groups meeting on a weekly basis. The groups include such things as "Awakening Practices", "Mystic Gatherings", and "Meditation for Beginners".

As I was pondering this, I believe God reminded me of the deeply spiritual and mystical nature of a relationship with God in Christ. I then began to read through the Gospel of John and was again reminded of the life giving spiritual relationship that Jesus offers us. All this got me thinking about a study I did on the spiritual nature of a relationship with Jesus. The study develops a Biblical picture of God's spiritual work starting with creation and ending with his relationship with us today. Below are the verses from that study. The bold faced words are my highlighting of Biblical spirituality.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2

“The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33:4

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of YHWH will rest on him…” Isaiah 11:1-2

“Immediately as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” Mark 1:10

“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.’” John 3:5-6

“God is spirit, and his worships must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow within him.” By this he meant the Spirit whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” John 7:37-39

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” John 14:15-20

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.”…. “this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” Acts 2:1-4, 16-17

"God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6

“Now the Lord (meaning Jesus) is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Jesus centered spirituality means having the Spirit of Jesus, the Infinite, Personal, Life-Giving, Creator God, living in you. It means walking in step with the Spirit of Jesus, knowing the sweetness of his presence, and following the distinctiveness of his voice. It means living by a power greater than yourself and through that power learning to love others, even your enemies, as Jesus himself did.

Jesus centered spirituality starts with encountering Jesus; it starts by turning from our ways to his ways and from trusting in ourselves to trusting in him. He came to show us “the way” to be human. He offers reconciliation between God and man, man and man, and man and creation. He offers all people forgiveness of sins and with that the restoring, rebirthing Life, of the Spirit of God. As he said himself, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

jesus through photography

I just came across an amazing photography project by Michael Belk. Michael Belk worked as a fashion photographer. He is said to be one of the best. According to his website his work has appeared in Vogue, Elle, GQ and Vanity Fair. And his clients have included Nautica, J.Crew, Polo and Christian Dior. The project is entitled Journeys with the Messiah. It is a gripping portrait of Jesus. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

made it

We made it to Asheville!

We are settling into our new apartment in what is called West Asheville. We are digging the area. We have a park close by where the kids can play. We have a cool downtown area a few minutes away by bike. So far our neighbors have been very friendly. Across the hall from us are three sisters who are 87, 90 and 91. On our first day here Ellen, the 90 year old, gave us all big hugs telling us that Jesus loved us and how happy they were that we moved in. Wow! What a wonderful God filled welcome. It was a true blessing and a confirmation that we are in God's care.

Next week we start jumping in with Highland Christian Church and the coming church plant. Over the next couple weeks a church planting team will be forming, which is exciting to be a part of.

We are on a big adventure. With a lot going on! New city, new job, new church, and new baby on the way.... We have a lot of exploring, learning, and settling to do. We would definitely appreciate your prayers for this new phase of life.

If you are interested in learning more about Asheville you can check out:
Mountain Xpress
Explore Asheville

On a different note, I have a book to recommend. If you are interested in reading an inspiring and challenging book about how Christians can relevantly engage culture through small communities on mission, you got to check out The Tangible Kingdom. It is a well written book from people practicing incarnational church planting. Well worth the read.

the fort

Been in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Fort Collins and Colorado in general have a special place in my heart. I lived here for eight years before moving to Amsterdam. I have many great memories of trekking through the mountains, fishing the rivers, and camping in the wilderness. Yet Colorado is more than mountains to me. I came here for the mountains, but left with a relationship with God.

Fort Collins is where I found God or where God found me. It is where I began my journey of faith, my discovery of the Bible, and my experience of following Jesus together with others. In Fort Collins I not only experienced God's love in Jesus, I experienced the beauty of a community who followed Jesus together. The journey was not always clean, but it was real. And years later, those who I started the faith journey with, and those I saw enter the faith journey, are still some of the closest people to my heart. Seeing them this week has reminded me of the great love I have for them. I miss sharing life with them and sharing in Christ with them. I know we will have all of eternity to enjoy one another and explore Gods works, still I miss doing so now.

These past few months have been a lot of hellos and goodbyes. It is strange having people you love scattered all over the States and the world. It is heart aching to be close to those you care about and then leave again. I can relate to what Paul said when he said:

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-8

There are many wonderful people in Fort Collins. I am grateful for all God did in my life here and for all the friendships we have as a result of it.