At Some Point---It Will All Be Washed To The Sea

 

Life is all about tension....
We live in a time of tension.
May not like it....
May not believe it...
But it is there and you can't deny it.
John Wimber referred to this tension as "a time between the times", or we live in an age between the first appearance of Christ and His 2nd appearance which is a future event.
Tension brought about by the return of Christ and the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God.
The completeness of the Kingdom...
The fullness of the Kingdom.
Paul states that we live in this "Present Evil Age".....And that we, in fact, have been rescued by God from it.
Funny...some day's I don't feel rescued.
Aren't you glad that God doesn't operate on feelings....
Imagine Him looking at us and thinking to Himself, "You know, I wiped out once, I could do it again. In fact, I feel like doing it!" Feelings are not a good measurement to live by.
Enjoy them when they are good, but don't put too much stock in them.
I've seen many a person crash and burn because of the uppity and down-di-ty side of feelings.
On top with God one moment.....glory bumps and angels dancing on the head of a pin....
Down in the valley the very next moment crying out..."Oh God, am I even saved?"

I guess the thing I'm seeing now, at this point in my life, is a kind of  "head in the sand" attitude when it comes to life. Don't mention bad things! Don't say anything about suffering or pain. Please, oh please, don't talk about entering into the fellowship of Christ's suffering. Now there are 3 kind of sufferings that we have to deal with in life here on planet earth.

1.) The kind of suffering that comes with simply being a human. It may be a physical disease such as cancer or M.S.
Then there is .....
2.) The kind of suffering that comes with really bad decisions that we make. We have a tendency to make some whopper's, and then want God to come and straighten everything out.
Then there is the last king.
3.) The kind of suffering that comes from being a child of the King......a follower of Jesus Christ. So called friends that you use to run with suddenly want nothing to do with you.

No matter what type of suffering it is that comes to us....If we stay the course and keep following Jesus....
If we cling to........rely on..........trust in........lay hold of Him, by faith...then, as Mark Heard sings in the song, "My tears will be washed to the sea."
Dare I say that a part of me desires to be with Him? Death wish? No. Life wish.
But, like Paul, I realize that there are still a lot of people out there who don't know or haven't heard about my Jesus. So, I guess I'll hang around for a while.

I guess the message that I want to convey this morning is that no matter where you find yourself....emotionally and spiritually....lift your vision. Look a little higher above your current state and see the grace and mercy that God is pouring out on you. Don't drive your tent pegs down in the darkness and make camp there, but keep moving...keep trusting...keep believing that God is who He claims to be and will do what He has promised He will do.Believe me, it is worth it.

God on you....
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GRACE IS EVERYWHERE!!

 

I have been camped in Titus 2:11-13

Verse 11
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
Grace....
One of the most misunderstood nature of God. Grace is not God's "unmerited" favor. It isn't God giving us something we don't deserve. It isn't even a prayer we say at meal time.
Grace is the empowering presence of God in me that enables me to be who I was created to be and do what God created me to do.
Grace is a force.
Grace is a power.
Grace is God!
Noticed that the grace has appeared to all men.
Just like in Joel where he says, "I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh." That doesn't mean that all flesh will receive it. It means that it is offered.

Verse 12
It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Grace teaches us.....
So if Grace is teaching, what's my part?
To listen and learn and do.
Grace is the teacher and empower-er (how do you like that word?) that helps me to navigate through this present age with all its enticements and temptations.
You don't hear much about self-control any more do you? What you do hear is "live life to the fullest" which is kind of secret catch phrase that means "feed your sinful nature". Sounds contrary to what God is saying in Titus.
Notice also that these godly lives are to be lived out here and now. The mindset that follows some folks around is "live for today and go to heaven tomorrow." Wouldn't it be a hoot if God gave us this life to learn how to live so when it was over, we'd have an inkling of how to live in heaven?

Verse 13
While we wait for the blessed hope---the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
To some, it will not be a glorious appearing, but rather a confirmation and condemnation of a life spent in sin. A life that rejected the goodness and salvation that God offered.
What a terrible thought. To suddenly see Jesus. The real Jesus, coming back and you know in your heart of hearts you have rejected him. So you cry out to be saved. You cry out for Jesus to have mercy, but it's too late. 
I praise God this morning for the blessed hope of his return. I am comforted by it. There is nothing here in this world that has my affection or love.

I guess how you read and view this posting this morning is kind of found in where your relationship with Christ is.
I pray that they are words of hope and encouragement.
Words that strengthen you and give you resolve to live today for Jesus.

Until tomorrow....
God on you.....
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I WILL MISS YOU MIKE

 

You won't read about it in the newspaper. It will not be mentioned on the radio or tv. Yesterday has come and gone and with it, Mike Hensley. I received news about his death yesterday from a man who lived next door to Mike.

I first met Mike when he was at Rapha paying off fines he owed the city. At that time, he was a dynamo. Work like no ones business and loved being out doors. To say that Mike lacked some social skills would be an understatement. In Mike's world, he was right and everyone else was wrong. Mike use to classify himself as a "survivor", and there were times he did exactly that...survive. When Mike's fines were paid off, he had an opportunity to stay at Rapha and continue to be the grounds keeper, but the "roaming" bug was to great in Mike and he had to move on. Never mind that he had no plan, no where to stay, and no job. That was Mike.

Over the next 8 years, Mike and I became friends. I watched him struggle with each day always landing on his feet (so to speak). He lived where ever he could find cover. For over a year, Mike lived under an abandoned house. Not in a basement, because the house did not have one, but simply under it in the crawl space. He managed to keep a cell phone and would call me at least once a week to talk. He called it "Talking"...I call it venting. I would listen as he went on about one thing or another, always being the victim.

During holidays, I would invite Mike to come and share a meal but he always refused. So each holiday, Vicki would load up plates of food and I would take them to Mike. Sometimes my sons went, sometimes my grandchildren. First couple of years we'd meet Mike at various locations around town. Mike could put away some food.

Eventually Mikes health began to decline. He was able to get an apartment at Gateway community on Walnut street. That was a relief to me for him to be out of the weather. He also started receiving a check each month so he was able to buy groceries. 

As the years passed, me taking Mike to the hospital for various reasons became more frequent. At one point, the doctor's told Mike that he had congestive heart failure. Even that news did not change Mike from his lifestyle. Full speed ahead was his moto.

The last time I saw Mike was shortly after Christmas last year. I took him to buy some groceries and on the way home he told me that he probably was going to the hospital after the first of the year. I suggested that he needed to go now and asked him to let me take him so he could check in. He would have none of that.

Shortly after the first year, I called to see if he needed anything and we set a date for him to make a trip to the grocery store. On the day we were suppose to go, I called and he told me that it was too cold for him to get out, that we would reschedule. A week past and I didn't hear from Mike. I called several times but no answer. I thought that Mike was in the hospital, that he'd gotten a neighbor to take him. Another week, more calls, no answer.

Finally I made the trek to the hospital only to find that they had no listing for Mike. He wasn't a patient. I began to be concerned. So yesterday I went to Mike's apartment to see if he was there. No answer to my knock upon the door. Mike's neighbor informed that Mike had passed over the weekend. I stood there kind of numb to the news, then suddenly was flooded with all these memories of Mike.

As I drove home, I played the should-a / could-a / would-a game. Bottom line none of that mattered. What had happened was final. No do overs. The only strand of hope that I have is something Mike told me. I always shared with Mike of God's love and desire to see him receive His salvation. Mike would always get quiet, tears would come to his eyes and he would speak in a quivering voice..."Me and Jesus are o.k."

Mike Hensely...... I will miss you

Your friend, "Bro." Mike

RUN TO THE ROCK

 

From QUICK STUDY DAILY DEVOTION:
Obedience to God's WORD provides the protection we need.

Obedience is not a "willy-nilly" happenstance of events that we find ourselves in.
Obedience is focus of our will toward what God's will is showing us to be the proper way to make choices.
I no longer do what I think I should...
I no longer do what I want to do...
I no longer barter with myself as to what is the best thing to do....
I look to God's directive for my life and the life of my family.
Then I do it.
Sounds simple.
Yet sometimes it is very hard to carry out.
Why?
Because I sometimes only want to follow God's will when my own will had gotten me in "the ditch" so to speak. In other words, when I have messed up my choices and the situations are closing in...then I want God to come make it all better....kiss the boo-boo on my knee and tell me everything is going to be okey dokey.

It seems as though being obedient is only fashionable when it truly is something we want to do. True obedience is found when God's choice conflicts with my choice.......and God's choice wins. The more I walk (or go about my daily business) in this manner, the easier it becomes to follow God.

Psalm 91:1-2 reads: "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust!'"
To dwell or place yourself in God's protection comes about through following God's WORD. Then and only then can I make the statement that God is my refuge and my fortress. It is not a matter of semantics or flowery words.......this becomes truth.

I received a number of phone calls this past week from people who are really struggling with their addiction.
They were dwelling the in the shelter of the Most High but chose to leave. They chose to return to their old ways and old lifestyle. Now the pain is unbearable. The shame and guilt is smothering them. They are at their wits end and have turned once again to God for help. God has reached out to them to redeem them and bring them back into a place where healing can began. I am grateful for God's redemptive hand, but also fearful for those who continue to live in darkness, pushing God's hand away each time He reaches to them. I pray that they don't die before they receive God's salvation.

Father God....
I pray that you would loose Your Holy Spirit this morning and seek out those who are living in spiritual darkness. Bound by sin and addiction. There isn't any thing the enemy (devil) can do that you cannot break and bring freedom to those entrapped by it. I pray that today would be a day of liberation for those living the lie of addiction. That You would bring Your Kingdom Will to earth and accomplish here, what is going on in heaven right now, right this minute.
In Jesus name.....
Amen.....

God on you....
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GSL FOR 1-25-22

 

Verse For Today:

Psalm 139:1-2 - O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.

To some who would read these verses, they would take comfort in knowing that God understands what they are going through. That He has the capability to know our thoughts, intentions and motivations for our behavior. There would be a level of peace knowing that God was always with them, watching over them, and guiding them. Nothing ever catches God off guard or surprises Him, so that He is slow to act or move on our behalf. Of course for us, we need to trust Him. We need to live a life of obedience to His desire and not our own self will run desires. I can hear someone say at this point, "Easy to say---Hard to do!" And they would be partly right. Our old nature...the flesh....sin nature (call it what you may) rises up to demands its way from time to time, and a battle ensues when it does. A struggle between "What I want!" and what God wants. At this point of my life, I have found benefit in daily turning my will over to God.

Think on this today!

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Prayer Request:

I stopped by a store yesterday afternoon to pick up some things for supper and I saw him sitting near the front door. He looked to me as if the world had beaten him into submission and that he was simply marking time. His eyes had seen way too much and his posture revealed that he really didn't want anyone to bother him. My first thought was to do just that.....avoid him, but you know that God wanted something else to take place. I got out of the car and started toward him and as I did he seemed to draw back. Keeping my distance, I asked him how he was doing. His reply, "I'm making it." Then came the classic line I have heard more times than I care to count..."Hey mister, can you spare some change?" I managed to come up with some and as I handed to him I asked, "Hey, what's your name?" "Aaron," he replied. 

We talked and as we did, bits and pieces of Aaron's story came out. Talk of bad luck and loss. Downward slide into addiction and time in jail. Now here he was homeless. Suggestion on my part to offer a ride to Salvation Army was quickly shot down, as he didn't want to live under anyone else's rules. Talk turned to prayer as I asked, "How can I pray for you this week?" He let me know that he didn't believe in prayer, to which I replied, "Well I do, so if this prayer thing was real, how would you want me to pray?" His answer was very simple...."Pray that I can get back on my feet."

So here is the deal. I need you to join your prayers with mind. Pray that God would break the hardness away from Aaron's heart...remove the spiritual blindness from his eyes and deafness from his ears. Pray that someone, some where today would be placed in Aaron's path that God might use to open him up to the truth of who Jesus is. Also pray protection over Aaron that the enemy would be kept at bay and do no harm to him.

Thanks!

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This coming Saturday will be our breakfast give-away! If you are in need of a hot meal, or you know someone who is...then send them our way and we will fix them up. Times for the meal are 7:30 a.m. until we run out (which is usually between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m.) Hope to see you there...

Until tomorrow, thanks for stopping by the Greene Street Letters: Tell your friends (and even your enemies if you have any) about us.

God on you...

Michael b.

CHOOSE? NAW-----NOT NOW

 

John 17:14
I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

We should not be surprised at the hatred the world is showing Jesus.
The world will tolerate Jesus.
The Jesus of it's own creation, not the true Messiah.
Love the Baby Jesus....
That Adult, risen, glorified Son of God is a a bit overbearing (the world's view).
That adult Jesus is not very tolerant  of the many path's which lead to God (also the world's view)
The world believes that sincerity is the key to heaven. Just be sincere in whatever you believe.
Even today much of the truth has been re-covered, re-imagined in an Emergent-Post-modern hodge podge that lays claim to the fact that all this doctrine and theology and Scripture is beyond our knowing. IF we do claim to know anything, the very fact that we understand under minds the validity of that truth.
Press on this point and you'll soon hear the words, "It's a mystery and we can't understand".


I have been accused of being closed minded and single focused.
I tell those who accuse me that I'm not closed minded. I'm right.
I didn't make the rules up.
I didn't write the words that say, "I am the way, the truth and the life...no one comes to the Father but by me."
The world loves the songs of Christmas as long as we remove shepherds and wise men and Mary and Joseph and any mention of the Inn.
Do you think Mary and Joseph ever thought they would be associated with such a stink as this Jesus?
Well, here's the truth. Not of my own concoction but according to that worn out, out dated, non relating book called the Bible.
Jesus died for all mankind.
Without his death and resurrection, we were doomed to eternity in hell.
Jesus has opened the door for any who would repent and confess, receiving him as Lord and being filled with God's Holy Spirit.
Ain't magic....
Ain't Twilight Zone or Star Trek...it is Faith in action.
Faith that God is who he says he is and will do what he claims he will do.
A person suddenly being awakened (by God) to the extent of their sinfulness and that they are lost without hope. I think the Bible refers to this as being "Poor in Spirit". When you reach this place then the Kingdom of Heaven is available. God's personal rule and reign in your heart that will guide you through this mess called the world.

I'm sure my age and the focus God has given me by calling me to help those in addiction has a lot to do with my view. I won't dispute that.
When your eyes see the things I have seen.
When your ears have heard the stories I have heard.
When your heart breaks a million times because someone rejects truth...
well, you tend to lose patience with those who wish to word-wrangle or discount the Bible.
I pray for patience that I may instruct in gentleness and in humility.
I don't hate them.
I don't loathe them.
I don't even wish them harm.
I love them.
I pray for them as I hope they pray for me.
If I have seen or heard wrong, I would that the Holy Spirit convicts me.

I pray that I can grow up (mature in Christ) before I grow older.

God on you...

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WE WILL BE LIVE AND SOMEWHAT IN PERSON TONIGHT @ THE RECOVERY CHURCH

 

Live stream our meeting tonight @ the ReCovery Church!

You can find us on Facebook on The ReCovery Church On Broad Street.

Meeting begins at 7 p.m. /  Look forward to you joining us.

POWER TO THOSE WHO ADMIT THEY ARE POWERLESS

 

Matthew 10:1
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them POWER over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

This is one of those scriptures, that when we read it we almost hear it like it is part of a fairy tale. Oh, we do believe in Jesus. We believe that the word of God is true, but somehow these so called "super-natural" occurrences just don't compute as real in our world.  Well, let me ask you something. Just because we can't wrap our minds and brains around the fact that Jesus deals in and operates out of a place of power, doesn't negate the simple fact that such is true.

What's even more whacky is that He wants to fill us with His power and give us authority to live and operate in this world. We read the steps of A.A. and we acknowledge them, but when it comes to Step # 2 and the whole "POWER" concept, we seem to get lost. Maybe it's because we watched to much POWER RANGERS....or we think of Alabama POWER, when we try to understand. Maybe we think God acts like a POWER Drink, or a POWER bar. 

Actually, according to Acts 1:8, Jesus told us that we would be "Clothed with power". Draped in.....covered with.....filled up.....with the Holy Spirit of God. This is the Power we have searched for in our quest to be free from sin/addiction. And all we have to do is receive Him.
In our journey to real freedom, we come to believe (rely on, trust it, cling to) that a Power greater than ourselves and our own ability can restore us to sanity, or right thinking in our decisions making.

The natural progression after coming to this place of believing in this Power, is to make the decision, based on God speaking to our hearts telling us that this is the better way, to turn our will and live over to His care. Turn them both over to the God of our understanding. I have always loved this part......God of my own understanding. That doesn't mean I get to construct my own version of God, or create a God that I want to........what it does mean is that I don't have to have a college degree or be able to dissect the Greek and Hebrew of Scripture, to come to Him for salvation and freedom from my sin/addiction. I just have to turn my will and life over to Him. 

When I finally reach this place of decision, the Power comes.....The Power is given......I am filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Now, school is in session. My days are filled with learning a new way to walk through this life. A new way of doing business in the world, so to speak. Believe you me, it is a learning process, but our teacher, the Holy Spirit, is patient and kind and all those other "fruits" of His that we read about in Galatians 5:22-25. At first, as we become acquainted with this new Power that lives in us, this new day doesn't seem natural. We feel uncomfortable with it and there is a strong desire to cut and run back to the old ways. Don't give into that thought or feeling. It will only kill you..........both spiritually and physically. Every time the anxiousness or the "not knowing" what is next leads you to want to cut and run....sit down and relax. Take out your Bible and turn to Matthew 11:28-30 and read this promise that Jesus has made to you.

A promise of rest...
A promise that what He is teaching you is easy to learn and is not a burden.
A promise that you can participate in real living, and not have to mask yourself with a false reality of using.
You can do this....
This is your time, and your day!

God on you....
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NO NEED TO CONTINUE IN THE DARKNESS

 

Found myself in the book of Jeremiah this morning. The heading to the chapter I was reading was "Deception by false prophets".  It caused me to think about how we all are influenced by things we hear, be they true spiritual leading by God, or the dark voices of our society and culture.

God speaks to Jeremiah and gives him a message for the people, and to me it sounded just like a description of someone who is following the dark path of addiction.

"When people fall down, don't they get up again? When they discover they're on the wrong road, don't they turn back?  Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back?"

"They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around. I listen to their conversations and don't hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, 'What terrible things I have done"?

No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle!

That is why our teachings on recovery and this relationship with Jesus is most important. He IS the highest power. Each time we do a teaching, we should spend time in prayer asking God to open hearts and minds to receive the truth. Sometimes when we are confronted with truth, it is painful, especially when the truth hits home and we are uncovered. But this is what is needed so that truth can do its work. Truth does not simply accuse and then disappear leaving the individual wallowing in self pity, despair and hopelessness. God's truth uncovers so we can see ourselves and our need for Him....then offers us a way to freedom, leaving this old life behind. 

Too many are walking headlong into the darkness....

Too many are not coming back.....

Too many are spending their final hours and days clinging to the lies of the devil....

Oh God, let your truth fall upon any who may come across this posting today. Let it strike their heart and allow your Holy Spirit to lead them into a new way of living. Mercy and grace be upon those who find Your truth today...

God on you....

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READING THE PSALMS OUT LOUD

 

Days are hard.
Times are dark.
Fear is the emotion of the day.
Newscast are depressing.
God still reigns.
He is not taken back by the events of the day.
His hand moves in and out of the lives of everyone, believer and non-believer. His plans are yes and amen!

Since I am saved and have relationship with God, I feel an urging inside to return to the Psalm's.  A leading to read them once again.
To read them out loud.
To praise God through them.
To let them be a part of my day and my life.
Turning my attention away from the tug of the world and focus it on God.

Psalm 105
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
Seek his face always.

Today I choose to walk with a thankful heart.
To let others know what God has done. Not from pride but from humility will I proclaim God's goodness. Believe me when I say that people are hungy and looking for something that is real. What could be more real than God's love and guiding Spirit?
Be salt today.
Be light today.

God on you.....
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CLEANING OUT THE JUNK DRAWER

 

(Re-post from January 2016)

Psalm 25:4-5
Show me Your ways, O Lord. Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. On you I will wait all the day.

Vicki and I spent the better part of the weekend emptying out drawers and cabinets in our kitchen. We having some renovation done on our house so it was time to prepare for the make over. You know when you start emptying out thirty three years of "Stuff"....you learn a lot about yourself. It was almost like taking a trip back in time. Old pictures.....Coffee cups and glasses that hadn't been used in a while. Receipts and letters. Pictures of family and friends. Drawer after drawer was opened and emptied. We kept some things, others were thrown away or placed in a pile to be taken to the thrift store.

If your trying to move ahead in your own recovery, you've got to do a similar work. It's called a "Moral inventory". It's writing down the good and the bad of your personal  history. Step #4 says that we are to "Make a searching and fearless moral inventory." Truth be known, you can't move forward in life until you've dealt with past. Sometimes we refuse to deal with our past and our life becomes like the junk drawers we had to empty out yesterday. Life becomes full and the bad we've done begins to define how we see ourselves. Our self worth is wrapped up in the bad we've had done. Not a good way to follow if we truly want to be free.

The verse from Psalm 25 opens with a request..."Show me Your ways, O Lord."
How can we see the way's of God? How will He show us? Such will take place as you become a part of a community of like minded people. People who love Jesus and are about the business of moving forward in life. You'll see the hand of God in the individual lives as they demonstrate what this new life looks like. You'll discover God's ways when you begin to read His book. If you start in the Gospels, Matthew - Mark - Luke - John, you'll see Jesus interacting with a group of men who left everything to follow Him. In some ways, we become like those twelve disciples who left family, friends, and businesses to go off on an adventure. They would never be the same. To be shown the ways of the Lord means that we are given a glimpse of His character...His nature. The patience and gentleness of God. 

Next part of Psalm 25 ask that God teach us His paths. 
A path is a direction that has been marked out by repeated traveling over and over and over.
A certain direction is taken by numerous people over and over till the ground has been hardened by their steps. The grass is beat down, and weeds are pushed to the side by the repeated footsteps. We are following a direction that God set the boundaries for. Jesus' call to His disciples was to "Follow Me".  Life...real life....recovery life is all about learning to follow and not giving into to our old nature of wanting to control everything. It's about doing the work, or things necessary to give us a good foundation. Like those junk drawers Vicki and I tackled this weekend, life is about discarding the worthless, keeping the good, and remembering what has taken place over the years. Being thankful for where you are today....thankful that you not where you could be...and thankful for the opportunity to change.

It's a new day.....
It's Monday....
You've been given a gift.
What are you going to do with it?
Spend it wisely?
Or waste it on the past?
It's time to be about the business of living.

God on you...
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ROCKETED INTO THE FOURTH DIMENSION

 

Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart. I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways. According to the fruit of his doings.

Psalm 51:1-2
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving kindness. According to Your tender mercy. Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

2022....new year....
Fresh start....
Chance to get it right....
January 17th....one more day....
One day at a time...
We take care of today so we can have a tomorrow.
We stand at the convergence of the future and the past. We call it today...
The future is always one second away, rushing at us at a never ending flow of time.
The past is always one second away, leaving us in this moment as the seconds pile up behind us. The past is filled and defined by choices and memories that we have created. Sometimes the power of the past is so overwhelming that it binds us to our old thoughts and habits. No matter how bright the future may seems to others, to those who are bound by the past, the future is a yet to happen version of their past. such is the reason for out need of a POWER greater than ourselves who can deliver us from our old sin/addiction nature.

That is why this year, 2022...we are going to be taking a look at the destination we desire to achieve in recovery, and the only one who can make it possible for us to arrive. Our Higher Power, Jesus. 

In the big book of A.A., on page 25 we read the following: ...."there was nothing left for us but to pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools laid at our feet. We have found much of heaven and we have been rocketed into a fourth dimension of existence of which we had not ever dreamed. The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God's universe. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do by ourselves."

Did you catch that phrase..."We have had deep and effective spiritual experiences"? Encounters with the living God. I do not wish to clothe this in some sort of religious garb or language, but the simple truth is, we are in need of encountering this God on a daily basis, and it is a need that God desires to bring about in our lives. First thing we have to shake loose from our collective thinking is that God can only show up at church. The idea of running into God on the streets, or in our homes, or even at Wal-Mart is ludicrous to some. But truth is, in my own experiences, I do meet God in all the places I have listed. He speaks in my thoughts. He speaks through others during a conversation. I will meet Him in a encounter with someone else where He is urging me to pray for that person. We have got to shake loose from our outdated, Southern ideology that God only shows up in places where there are steeples and pews or, in our case, store front churches in downtown. 

If that be the case, then why do we need to gather together at the ReCovery church or at any other meeting? Because we need the connection and dynamic of being with like minded people. Of having a place where we can get our spiritual batteries recharged for the coming week. A place where, if we have messed up the week before, we can confess, repent and be set free to move on in our life. We need a family that understands what we are going through, and will not cast us aside if we mess up. At the same time, we need that family to hold us accountable and not excuse old ways and old thoughts when they see them manifest in us.  IF any of what I have written this morning speaks to you..then consider coming and being a part of our family. Notice I didn't say "Come and be a part of our church"...but rather family. That's what we are...a collected group of people that God has brought together who are learning how to live. If not our meeting, then find one. There are numerous meeting all through the week in our town....just get connected!


God on you....
mb

I WANT TO BE PART OF THE REAL DEAL

 

Church is not the building or facility....
Church is the people. We know this. I'm not some kind of visionary who thought this up. If you talk to anyone who goes to church, or has gone for any length of time, they will tell you right up front.."The church is the people not the building".
But the people have a function and purpose....everyone who claims to be a child of God and a follower of Jesus. Their very being is to be used by God as an instrument for His dynamic rule and reign here on this earth. Or, as John Wimber would say, "We are the vehicle through which the Kingdom of God is revealed to others who do not know our Jesus.
         A.) We proclaim, or tell others about our encounters with this Jesus. How He has changed our lives (you were changed, weren't you?).
         
         B.)We demonstrate and validate the truth of the Word of God by allowing the Holy Spirit to move when we pray. Remember, whatever happens...someone gets healed...someone gets saved....someone gets delivered from demonic spirits....we only a conduit through which the Holy Spirit and the power of God moves.
         
        C.)We care for the poor.
         
        D.) We are to replicate or reproduce by making disciples. Our business isn't making converts. Seems like sometimes the church is more excited about seeing people saved than helping them to move into being a disciple. Don't get me wrong, I'm all up in the salvation thing. Nothing stirs me more than to see a person be transformed by the saving power of God. But nothing is more fulfilling than to see that person chasing God, and doing the works of Jesus.

I use the word "experiential" a lot. Some think that I am discounting the discipline of being a disciple, that somehow all I want to do is run around getting a "warm fuzzy" from God (or if your really into the religious terminology..."glory bumps").  I do know people who spend their entire life running from meeting to meeting...conference to conference seeking out an encounter from God so they can tell their latest story of how God touched them. Such seems to be coming from a selfish view of God. Like He is some sort of personal feel-good dispenser. When I speak of "experiential" encounters with God, I speak from a view that every meeting we attend, we should go expecting to meet with Him. God is sovereign. He moves and touches at His desire. God is not manipulated or cajoled into coming so our flesh can be touched and we can have new "God" story to share in Church.  For those who have some doubt about this experiential stuff....then tell me, how did you get saved if God did not come down and touch you? How were you suddenly aware of your current spiritual state if God did not open your heart up to your need to be saved. I believe that experiencing God is the key to living and moving under the purpose we were created for. 

For the most part, I believe that the current, professing church is living in the past. I have heard many state that we need to get back to being the church we read about in Acts...the first church. Somehow we have fallen prey to the idea that the first church is the high water mark of what church is suppose to be. I happen to believe that the church has yet to hit a high water mark. That anything is possible to a people who are sold out to Jesus. A people who have a corporate mission to their location, town, community and, at the same time, each member has an individual calling to be carried out outside of the corporate group. The church is not to be directed or lead by those who are perceived to be the "Movers and the Shakers".....but rather should be lead by the "Listener's and the Doer's".  We must never forget that the church is Jesus'. He birthed it. He died for it. He empowers it. He directs it.

I need the structure of community. 
I need to be surrounded by like minded people who share a vision and the purpose to which God has called us to.
I need to worship in a way that speaks to me. A worship that proclaims the greatness of God, yet is culturally current. 

I want what we do as a community of believers to speak and draw those around us who do not understand what Church truly is, to come and join in to experience God for themselves.

 I want to break off the stereotypical view of church that has been burned into the consciousness of those who have been injured or hurt by church. I desire to have a place where all of us can encounter the living God and go away at the end of the night having fallen in love with Jesus a little more than when we got there.

 I want everyone who comes through the door on Saturday night to understand for themselves that when we talk about a Power greater than ourselves who could restore us to sanity...we really mean POWER. Power in a person. The person of Jesus. The same power that raised Him from the dead should be evident and moving in our services, and in our lives when we leave to back out into our communities.. Maybe it is time we start standing on the promises, and quit sitting on the premises.

Think on these things....
What is the mission of The ReCovery church?
To Follow In His Steps.

God on you..
mb