Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Please Be Praying...

Hey all,
Here's how you can be praying for me this week.

Tomorrow night I am teaching at FLOOD out of 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 for our I WILL FOLLOW event. We are SO excited for this. Here's the purpose of the evening:

to challenge the FLOOD community to accept Christ's specific mission for our lives and to actively advance his kingdom according to the gift of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God.


Please be praying for this. We are praying and expecting the Holy Spirit to move in a great way. Thank you so much.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

UPDATE FROM FLOOD LAST NIGHT


HEY PRAYER TEAM:

I just posted an update on the FLOOD website about last night, challenging and encouraging the people of FLOOD. Click here to read all about it.

However, I wanted to let you know about this. Last night, after preaching from Luke 15:1–7, I did two things. First, I called those who do not have a relationship with Jesus to surrender their lives to him. No one stood up. However, the second “invitation” was this: I called them to stand up if they had been “lost” but had realized that they were home. I gave that invitation and all of a sudden, and all at once with no hesitation, between 8–12 people stood up confessing that they were lost and were now home. IT BLEW MY MIND!!!

That never gets old. God is on the move. Thank you for always praying. I cannot put into words how much I appreciate and love you.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

When We're Proud of Dad

A few weeks ago I experienced the most draining and exhausting hour of my life. It wasn't me working out with Insanity. It wasn't me running a marathon. It was me volunteering in my boy's kindergarten class. OH MY!!! Kindergarten teachers - you are my heroes.  :)

As all of the kids sat on the carpet in their squares, I was sitting on a counter in the back of the room.  My boy's teacher said, "Now we have some helpers here today that have never helped before."  There was another woman who was volunteering as well.  The teacher had this woman stand up and asked, "Now who does she belong to?" A little girl stood up and told everyone that she was her grandma. It was cute. And then it was my turn. There I was, all 6'5", 250 pounds of me standing before a group of kindergarteners.  The thing is: I think I was more nervous of them than they were of me.  She then asked the questions, "Now who does he belong to?"  My boy, Dylan, shot up.  She then asked him, "Well who is he"? Dylan, without any hesitation and with all confidence and excitement said, "That's my dad."

My heart melted. My boy was proud of me. My boy was proud that I was his dad. He was so proud that he told the whole classroom that he and I were together.

After finishing that morning, I walked to the car still thinking about what had happened. I was so touched by the fact that my boy wanted everyone else to know that I was his dad. And then it happened. As I walked I heard the Holy Spirit say, "That's what I feel like when you stand up for me."

Realize this: when we stand up for our Heavenly Father, uniting ourselves to him and saying that we belong to him in Christ, I am convinced that he is touched by the fact that his children are willing to stand and say, "That's my dad."

Be blessed today, and look for ways to be a blessing to Jesus.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

At the Driving Range

Enjoy the unbelievable form and power of me at the driving range.  Now please understand this: I haven't swung a golf club in 6 years.  I used to play (not well at all but I still played) and then kids came and life got crazy with everything on top of being a dad and husband.  But I needed some time to rest and relax - to do nothing.  So, I went to the driving range with Ryan Hall and did this.

Now notice two key things here: 1). The length of my legs when I bend over to put a ball on the tee.  I'm 6'5" and I believe that 80% of my height is in my legs.  2). On the second swing I incorporated more power by adding a karate yell. Enjoy. :)


Monday, October 17, 2011

Please Be Praying...

Here's the update for this week.

1).  Tonight I will be teaching at the Graduate Chapel for Azusa Pacific University.  This chapel is designed to create a spiritual connection with graduate students at APU and to make a difference in their lives spiritually.

2).  This Wednesday morning I am speaking to the high school students at Ontario Christian.  The topic is worshipping God in spirit and in truth: worship as a lifestyle.  Please pray for me as I prep this one.  I'm excited.

3).  On Wednesday night at FLOOD we are finishing our UPGRADE series with the topic, "Second Chances."  OH MY GOODNESS I'M EXCITED!!!

Thank you so much for praying.

Friday, October 14, 2011

How To Be Successful

I pray that this teaching is helpful to you.




This teaching was taken from Perry Noble's message from Newspring Church.
It BLEW me away!!!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Sinners Liked Jesus


Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “this man receives sinners and eats with them.” — Luke 15:1,2 (ESV)

Notice the contrast in these 2 verses. The contrast is between the “tax collectors and sinners” and the “Pharisees and scribes.” In other words, it is between the sinners and the religious. Now notice what each group does with Jesus.

The “sinners” are the ones who were “drawing near to him.” They wanted to be around Jesus. They were not running from him, but were rather drawing near to him. There is an account in Matthew's gospel where he shares his story of how he met Jesus. And after that 1st encounter, Matthew threw a party at his house that Jesus attended. That's right. Jesus hung out with a bunch of “sinners and tax collectors” at a party. They loved Jesus. Why? My guess is because they knew he loved them and because he treated them as valuable.

In contrast, the Pharisees and scribes sat together in a huddled little group and grumbled and complained about Jesus. They did not like what he was doing. What exactly was he doing? Accepting and eating with “sinners.” They did not like the fact that he kept company with those, who in their minds, were not worthy. These were people who were broken, confused, and even rebellious. These were people who did not make the cut or hold up to the standard set up by those with religious power. In other words, they were just like us.

As you read these 2 verses, you should be able to relate with one of 2 sides. Either you realize that you are a sinner who can be (or has been) saved by the grace of God because you have surrendered to Jesus - receiving his gift of salvation, and nothing else, and therefore, have a new identity in Christ as a son or daughter of the King, or you are religiously arrogant and cannot stand it when Jesus does things outside of your level of comfort. If you find yourself in the 2nd category, please know this: you are dearly loved by Jesus. However, realize that you bring him much frustration as did the Pharisees in his day. But he does love you. And he wants to free you from religion so you that you can experience the reality that comes with a relationship with Jesus. Trust me: I am a recovering legalist. I have learned the scandal of grace and the freedom that comes with actually loving and being in a relationship with Jesus.

Let us draw near to Jesus. He has invited us to do so. He welcomes us to do so. May we not lose our relationship with Jesus in the confusion and the emptiness of religion. And may we have a heart like Jesus for those who “just don't make the cut.” May we love them so well that they cannot help but draw near to us, Christ's followers, because they mistook us for Jesus.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Time to Pray...

Right now I am sitting on the floor of the Vancouver airport waiting for my flight home. It was a great few days up here speaking and hanging with a youth pastor buddy of mine.

UPDATE FROM CANADA:
On Thursday night I preached through Ephesians 2:8-10 in detail. At the end of the message I called people to surrender to Jesus. It was silent for about 10 seconds, and then Victoria stood up to surrender to Jesus. After that, around 200 people stood up to proclaim to Christ that they were all-in for his mission. AWESOME!!!

PLEASE PRAY:
1). On Wednesday night I will be preaching at FLOOD, continuing through the series called, "UPGRADE." The topic for Wednesday night: "The Right Lord." Please pray for me as I prep, pray through, and preach this message. God has been doing great things through this series. Last week we saw two young ladies proclaim their faith in Christ through believer's baptism.

2). On Thursday morning I am preaching to the high schoolers at Maranatha High School in Pasadena.

3). Thursday night I will be finishing up a series on the Holy Spirit for a small group of people from Pomona First Baptist. It has been a great time but, as always, I am still very overwhelmed by the topic.

Thank you for praying. I am looking forward to being home.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Did You Hear Heaven?

I just wanted to give an update about what's been going on the past couple of days.

AT FLOOD ON WEDNESDAY...
This past Wednesday night was a wonderful time of unexpected celebration. It was unexpected for this reason: no one was on the docket to get baptized, but God had other things in mind.  The first Wednesday of every month at FLOOD is baptism.  Like I said, no one was scheduled to get baptized.  But before the worship service started, two young ladies came up and told me that they wanted to get baptized.  One of them had come to Christ at FLOOD a couple of weeks ago.  Baptism was sweet!!!

IN CANADA...
Last night I spoke in a horse ring.  That`s right.  You heard correctly.  A covered horse ring.  That`s how they do worship nights up her in Abbotsford, Canada.  :)

I spoke out of Ephesians 2:8-10.  At the end of the message, I called people to two things:

1).  Stand up if they wanted to surrender to Christ.  It was silent for about 10 seconds until Victoria stood up in front of everyone and everyone cheered for her.  Victoria surrendered to Christ and is now a daughter of the King.

2).  Stand up if they were ``all in`` to follow and serve Christ in Abbotsford.  Almost the whole place stood up.  I can`t wait to hear about what God does through the 200 or so people that came out for this worship event.

So there you have it.  Thank you so much for praying.  I love getting to be a part of what God is doing.  And actually my part: not that impressive.  It really is all about Jesus.

Love you all.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Prayer for this Week

Hi all,
Here is how you an be praying for me this week as God has me out teaching.

1).  This Wednesday night at FLOOD we are continuing through the series called, "UPGRADE". The topic this week: How To Be Successful.  This is not a name-it-and-claim-it message, but Scripture does give us principles that lead us toward being successful.  Of course there's a catch but I will be sharing that on Wednesday night. :) (Join us in person if you can [601 N. Garey Ave, Pomona] or watch live online [www.floodnow.com]).

2).  On Thursday morning, I catch a flight out of LAX at 7am for Canada.  I'm going to be spending time teaching up there on Thursday evening and on Sunday morning a buddy's church.  I am very excited about this opportunity.  Thursday night is a youth gathering/worship service and Sunday morning is their main worship service.  Please pray for God's clarity as I seek him about what he wants me to teach.

UPDATE ABOUT IGNITE:
I prayed one thing for IGNITE: God, do something so amazing that the English language would fail in its ability to describe what happened.  He answered my prayers.  There were around 500-600 people who showed up for this and it was absolutely MIND-BLOWING!!! Three people surrendered to Jesus, receiving him as their Lord.  And about 95% of the people that were there stood up proclaiming to Christ that they were all in for his mission and for his kingdom.  AWESOME!!!

March 3rd is the next Ignite event.

Thank you all so much.  You're unbelievable!!! So thankful for you.