Thursday, January 31, 2013

"SAVE YOURSELF!!!"

I believe that Christ experienced the ultimate of temptation from the cross. And what was it?

"Save yourself!" (see Luke 23:32-39)

He heard it from the crowd. He heard it from the religious leaders. He heard it from the guards. He heard it from a criminal that hung on a cross next to him. Even though each group had different things to say, they all said the same thing: "Save yourself!"

And yet, as I write this, this verse came to mind: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23, ESV). DENY himself. At the cross he was tempted to disobey the very first thing that he told his followers was a requirement to be one of his disciples.

DENY YOURSELF.

And from the cross he kept hearing, "Save yourself!"

The temptation was that Jesus would save himself. The result if he fell into that temptation would be that he could not have saved us. EVERYTHING was on him at this moment. He was betrayed. He felt completely alone, seeing all of his disciples run away, Peter denying that he knew him three different times, and God turning away from him. The weight of the sin of the world was upon him. And the temptation came. BUT THE JOY kept him up there. The joy of having those that the Father had given to him, to be with him and see him in all of his glory kept him up there (see Hebrews 12:1-2; John 17:24).

HE ENDURED THE CROSS, SCORNING ITS SHAME!

He DENIED himself. He remained on that cross, not just for us but even for those who were calling out for him to save himself. They had no idea what they were asking, and I am so glad that Jesus didn't grant their request.

Thank you, Jesus, that you overcame that temptation of saving yourself. Because you endured, you saved me and I know you.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Thank you and Here's How To Pray This Week

Hi all,
I just wanted to thank you for praying. I wanted to share four photos with you that will describe how IGNITE went.





This was honestly one of the most powerful worship times that I have ever experienced. It was an incredible night. Thank you for praying.

Here's how you can be praying for me this week:

1). This Thursday night I am continuing through the book of Acts at FLOOD. Please pray for me as I prep, pray through, and preach this message. We've had a great crowd of people coming out to this. I'm so excited about how things are going so far.

2). On Sunday morning I get the opportunity to teach a small group Bible study at Purpose Church. We are going through the book of Philippians in the next 4-5 weeks.

Thank you so much for praying for me.

Friday, January 25, 2013

IGNITE IS TOMORROW!!!

Please come out and join us for this if you're in the southern California area. If you're not, join us live online at www.pfblive.tv.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Prayer for this Week...

First of all, I want to thank you for praying for me for this past weekend up at Hume Lake. I wish I could put into words what I was able to witness Jesus accomplish while I was there. I don't think I have ever preached like I did up there anywhere else ever. I was absolutely blown away by the way that the Holy Spirit took control of that chapel time with the students.

There were about 960 high schoolers at this winter camp. On Sunday night, as I called students to surrender to Christ for the first time, or to repent and come back to that relationship with him that they had enjoyed in the past, the response was nothing less than miraculous. I would guess that between 60-70% of the people stayed back on Sunday night to make a decision for Christ and/or repent and come back to Jesus. I couldn't believe what I saw. I even leaned over to someone who was standing next to me to ask him if he was blown away by what he was looking at. He was right there with me: AMAZED!!! Thank you for praying.

Here's how you can be praying for me this week:

1). On Thursday night I am continuing in our study through the book of Acts at FLOOD in Claremont at Purpose Church. This is the third week that we have been in Claremont, and the third week that we have been in the book of Acts. Please pray for me as I prep, pray through, and preach this message. I spent some good time studying the passage this afternoon but am not sensing just yet where exactly God is wanting to go with this passage.

2). On Saturday evening we have IGNITE (www.igniteusnow.com). I have a smaller part in this IGNITE as Jarrid Wilson and Phillip Allen come out to teach, with James Rensink and Ryan Hall leading worship. I have an absolutely INCREDIBLE leadership team for IGNITE, and they have worked tirelessly to see this happen. It is this Saturday night at 5pm at PFB Church. I have been excited with the registrations that we have received. People from Carson to a group of 20 from Chino have told us that they are coming, youth groups from Pomona as well as Alta Loma are joining us (along with others).

If you have time on Saturday and want to join us, please do. I would love to see you out there for it (601 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, CA. 91767). If you can't join us in person, please join us live online (www.pfblive.tv)

3). On Sunday morning I am starting a 5-part Bible study through the book of Philippians at Purpose Church in Claremont. Please pray for me as I pray through, prep, and teach this class.

That's about it for now. Thank you so much for praying. God is on the move and I am absolutely blown away by what I have been watching.

Thank you all. I love you more than you know.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Prayer for this Week...

Thank you so much for praying for the launch of FLOOD last Thursday night. I don't know how else to explain what the night was like except, WOW!!! It seriously was the best FLOOD worship service that I have ever been a part of. God completely confirmed that we were and are supposed to be in Claremont. So thank you for praying.

Here's how you can be praying for me this week:

1). Tonight I am sharing in a short chapel time with the business students in the masters program of Azusa Pacific.

2). On Thursday night I am speaking out of the book of Acts for our second FLOOD worship service in Claremont. Please pray for me as I prep, pray though and preach this message. I so want people to be drawn to Jesus.

3). This weekend the family and I are traveling up to Hume Lake. I have the opportunity of teaching that weekend to about 1,000 high school students. Please pray for me as I prep, pray through, and preach the messages up there.

Thank you so much for praying. I can't thank you enough.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Prayer for this week...


Hi there,
Here's how you can be praying for me this week:

1). Tomorrow night is the launch of FLOOD in Claremont. I don't think that I have ever been as excited as I am about this season in ministry. We will be starting the book of Acts. Please pray for me and my team as we prep for this transition. So many people have been doing so much to make this next chapter in the ministry become a reality. Please pray for me as I prep, pray through, and preach the message.

2). This weekend the FLOOD lead team is going on a leadership/ministry prep retreat. Please pray that God will reveal his will for FLOOD for this coming year and give us the ideas that will reach most people for Christ.

Thank you so much for praying. We begin the new year together. I'm so thankful for you.

Monday, January 7, 2013

The Keys to Being Blessed By God

"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it." — Luke 11:28, ESV

This is a short post this morning because it is a straightforward statement made by Jesus. Here is the heart of the matter:

If we want to experience the blessed life that God actually wants us to experience, then we have to listen to what he says and then do it. That's it. There's no other way around it.

As some of you read that, a sense of, "I have to what?" comes over you. That phrase "have to" will reveal your heart toward God, his word, and your response. But others will read it and say, "Of course." Why? Arrogance? Some. But for many, it is just an obvious statement.

When we enter into this loving relationship with God through Christ, we come to realize that God's commands are for our ultimate joy. He actually wants us to be blessed in this life. That blessing at times will feel wonderful. At other times, God's blessing is wrapped in the wrapping paper of trial. Either way, God's best is being offered to those who will listen to what he says and then who will do those things.

Do you want God's blessing? It pretty much comes down to listen to and do what God says.

It's that simple. It's our choice.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

FAITHFULNESS > EFFECTIVENESS

I cannot tell you how often I have worried and lost sleep over this one thing: was I being effective for the cause of Christ? I would lose sleep. I would get frustrated over numbers, or lack thereof, that would show up to a worship service or event that I was in charge of.

You see, I want my life to count. I want to know that at the end of my life I actually made a difference for the kingdom of God. And I don't believe that there is anything wrong with this.

But here's the problem with my thinking. When my focus is on whether or not I'm being effective, then my focus is on me. It's not on Christ or his kingdom, but rather my focus rests on myself and is fed by my own insecurities. Do you what that is? Do you see the core problem here? It's one word.

Idolatry.

And do you know what that idol is?

Me.

The remedy? Strive to be FAITHFUL. Effectiveness can be manipulated. I can speak in a worship service and manipulate a crowd if my focus is on being effective, because the response of those that I preach to is of utmost importance because my effectiveness is the priority. But when faithfulness to Jesus is the focus, I stay on task and focus on that which is truly the priority: Jesus. I listen for his leading. I obey his will. I strive to do only that which he wants me to. I seek his approval rather than the approval of the crowd. I actually walk with Jesus rather than pretending to.

Some may read this and say, "There's nothing wrong with being effective. In fact, we are supposed to see multiplication when it comes to making disciples." And for those who would say this, I would agree. Unless... Unless your effectiveness is directly connected to your own personal ego rather than to bring glory to Jesus.

How do I know this? Lets just say I have personal experience.

And the thing about focusing on faithfulness instead of effectiveness is this: when you're faithful to Christ, you're always effective. It really can't be said the other way around.

In the end, it really is true: FAITHFUL > EFFECTIVENESS.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Amazing Guest Post

A great friend of mine forwarded me this email. I read it and was so touched by the honesty that my friend wrote it. I was blessed. I emailed and asked if I could post it on my blog and was given permission. Please read it, be blessed and reminded as you go through it. Brokenness is part of the journey.


I trust that you are who You say you are: Mighty Healer, Great Physician and God of All Comfort. Lord, you would be a false and erroneous God if you allowed us to remain intact with every battle we go through. Yet the goodness of who You are allows shrapnel to injure us and Satan to have his way with us, because we are not in control of our lives- You are. We are completely defenseless in these times- we have run out of ammo, our weapon jams, we are at an utter loss. It is in THIS exact moment when we wave our tiny white flag and surrender that You say "NOW I can work!" It is at this broken crossroads where You step up and go to battle for us. You protect us mightily, as only a perfect and loving Father could. You make armies as NOTHING in Your presence, and the demons know Your name, and SHUDDER. How could I NOT trust You?

You would also be a liar if you only gave us healthy lives, where we needed no physician. Yet we are sick, bloodied, bruised and broken. We are desperately in need of a mighty and perfect Physician, who knows our every groan, pain and ache. You know each tear that falls, silently in a dark room where no one is around. You hold those tears in Your hands and You promise to wipe them all away. You Lord, mend the brokenness, soothe the bruises and you sew together our wounds with a kind, gentle, strong love and a beautiful grace. 

Comfort is never useful when we are whole. Comfort is openly received, however, when the peaceful and calming tides have turned and the violent waves are up over our heads, pouring in over us, and we don't know right from left or up from down.  Jesus, it was You who comforted Your friends on the stormy seas, and it was You who decided when the seas would cease their crashing. Just so in our lives- the waves crash and the thunder rolls, yet not only are you right next to us, in the midst of the storm with us, You control the storm and You allow it to whip us and beat us, knowing Your comfort and the healing it gives makes up for those times. Those storms are the times we see You most, not because You leave us when things are calm, but because we think we don't need You. Lord, I will embrace the storm, and allow Your arms to embrace me. What else do I need? I don't need the ways of this world or the temporary fixes it so emptily offers. I choose You, not on my own strength but simply because You chose me first. You own me, You heal me and it is only with You that I entrust my life.