Boring.....Tedious.....Step By Step

Numbers 3:36-37
Now the appointed duties of the sons of Merari involved the frames of the Tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its equipment and the service concerning them, and the pillars around the court with their sockets and their pegs and their cords.

Sometimes this new life of recovery is simply us doing the every day things.
But doing them correctly and with the proper attitude.
What attitude?
Why an attitude of gratitude of course. Having this view of life, gratitude, keeps me from sliding over into the darkness and path that will take me back to old ways and old thoughts.


Just like the men and families that God appointed to carry the tabernacle (the tent and Ark of the Covenant) during their wilderness wanderings, it wasn't all glamour and 10 Commandment moments. A lot of the time it was simply doing the right thing, over and over and over. Set the tabernacle up.........make sure everything is in place according to God's design.....do the daily, monthly and yearly sacrifices according to instructions....take the whole she-bang down, pack it up and move to the next location. 

It would be really easy to slide over into a place of apathy or even resentment. Thinking to yourself, "Hey...look at the family Jones! They don't have to carry any of this tabernacle stuff! Why don't they have to? Why am I stuck with carrying the tent pegs while others get to carry the Ark? Why don't I get to carry the Ark? I'm as good as they are. I am not going to do this anymore. I had it better in my old life and job".

We need to guard ourselves and be grateful and content with what God has given us and the place he has given us to occupy. It is there in the place of his calling that we will receive his blessing and favor if we are faithful. It's more than simply doing what God has called us to do, it also involves the motive and attitude we carry as we do the job. We simply do the next thing.

The apostle Paul writes: Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
What was Paul's secret?
That God can be trusted.
Knowing that there is purpose behind what we know we are suppose to do. We are building a new life, a new way of dealing with the world one day at a time..
If God called us to carry the tent pegs of the tabernacle, why then we should be the happiest, most content tent-peg-carrying people that ever existed.
No matter what is going on in your life today, fall on the fact and comfort that God can be trusted and that your circumstance has not caught him off guard.

This relationship we now live with Jesus Christ is built on faith, his grace to us and trust.
Did you see how Paul's situations were always changing? Prosperity...or want....full stomach or going hungry...abundance or suffering...no matter what, Paul's faith in God did not waver. This is the kind of life I desire to have. How about you?

God on you......
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Randy

Psalm 116:15
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Vicki was on Facebook yesterday, when she came across a posting by John Barnett about the death of Randy Rigsby. I know....that name may not jump out for most you reading this, but Randy was a special person to me.

I am not going to say I knew him well, but I do have a story to tell.
The year was 2002 and Danny Daniels was coming to play at our Saturday night meeting, The House Of Blue. I had met Danny two years before that when he was at the Anniston Vineyard for a night of worship. I had told Danny about what we were doing with our Saturday night group and he was genuinely interested in trying to set something up where he could come and be with us.
Two years go by. Lots of phone tag and schedule conflicts, finally a date is set. Danny is coming to Gadsden.

Three days before Danny's arrival, he calls me to ask if it is o.k. if a compatriot of his comes along to play. "No problem," I said. Turned out his cohort in crime was Randy. That was a very special night, as these two took the stage to play, sing and teach. I would be less than honest if I said the two of them, Danny and Randy, looked like mischief X 10. There was just this sparkle in their eyes that kind of said, "I can't believe we still get to play and sing for God!!!"

Randy really loved the room we held our meeting in. Just for the record, if you've never seen it, it looks more like a night club than a church. That evening, Randy and I swapped stories of where we had come from, and what God was doing in that season of our lives. I'm not usually very comfortable talking to others.....especially those I consider to be accomplished musicians. I tend to want to hang back and give them their space. Not pester them or try to get up under them to look like some sort of pseudo-relationship. But Randy was different. He sought me out to ask questions about our meeting. How we got started. If he said it once, he said it a million times...."We need to duplicate this! We need to have more of these type of churches." 

I guess the highlight of the evening was the very last song that Danny did. "Amazing Grace" which Randy played this incredible slow lead break on. Sustained note after note took us through the melody until he hit the last one which seem to hang in the air forever.....I know it may sound silly at this juncture in time, but when I think of that last note, I can't help but see God smiling and saying, "That's my boy!".

As Vicki read me John Barnett's posting about Randy's death, I wanted to cry, but it just didn't happen. Don't get me wrong...it's not that I didn't care, or that his death didn't affect me...it did. But for one brief instant, I was back in 2002, Randy was up on that stage playing...I could see him.......and a smile came over me.
That was who Randy Rigsby was to me.
More than one of the co-founders of Vineyard Music....
More than an incredible brother-in-Christ.....
More than a musician with more talent than most.....
That night I spent talking with Randy was a memory I will always treasure.

Prayers to the Rigsby family this morning....
Until I see you again, Randy....
I will miss you....

God on you...
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Even The Wind And The Waves Obey Him

Luke 8:25
But He (Jesus) said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!"

Jesus and His disciples are crossing the sea of Galilee.
Storms come up.
Boat is tossed about, filling with water.
These are experienced fishermen, they've been on this water before. They fully know and understand when danger and death are eminent. When things look the darkest, they turn to Jesus, who was asleep in the front of the boat. Asleep? Yep...asleep. Seems this here Jesus knows something they don't. 

Eventually, overcome with fear, they wake Jesus up. What does He do? Steands up and rebukes the and the raging sea. Scripture says that "They ceased, and there was calm." End of story, right? No.

Why do we doubt such things could happen today? Or do we doubt? Do we really believe that God still moves, even in the elements. That they are subject to His commands, used for His purposes? 

Well, I came across a video while listening to teaching the other day. It is a video that was taken by Israeli soldiers at the border of with Syria. It seems that Isis fighters were attempting to cross the border into Israel. As the fighters approached the Israeli border, a dust cloud came up out of nowhere. Not unusual for this terrain. What was unusual, was that it stopped at the border. It covered the Isis fighters and prevented them from entering Israeli territory to carry out their mission. Would God do such a thing? I think maybe yes He would. 

I think God still looks at Israel with great favor. The church can say what they want to, but Israel is still God's people. In fact, the reason we Gentiles were even given access to the Father was to make Israel jealous (Romans 11). 
SO God does move in the natural world we see around us.

Oh yeah, one last thing.
This event took place on December 23 of last year.
Three days later the U.N. Security council voted to declare that Israel had no legal right to have settlements in Eastern Jerusalem, thereby declaring such territory to be free of Israeli rule. Could it be.....could it possibly be that God declared to those in the U.N. to not proceed with this vote? That He still has His hand on this nation, and that anyone who attempted to come against them would understand exactly who He is. I've included this video so you could see for yourselves. Was it God, or was it just a coincidence that this happened at this place, at the time it did just before a vote by the U.N. to undo Israeli territory.

God on you....
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Prayer Needs

Good morning....
Once again, late night / early morning. If my train of thought seems to have gone off the rails, forgive me.
Lots of prayer needs this morning, so let's get to it.

Yesterday's Bible study at Rapha was a good one.
We had six join in for the study, including one new guy who stated that he'd had enough of the old life. We'll see if his words are backed by a real desire. Isn't that the way it is when it comes to recovery? You hear the same old lines, but the truth is always revealed by the actions of the heart. I digress.

Most immediate need is for focus. Pray that God would remove the fog from the minds of these men. Minds that have been lost in the haze of addiction. Minds that have been lost in the haze of their old sin nature. Choices that they made were done so because of their flesh (driven by the desire to sin). Choices made because of the effects the drugs and alcohol have had on their brains. So the need to be able to focus on the task at hand (recovery) is a much needed thing. I kept reminding them that focus is just for today...not tomorrow or the next week, or month. The need is on today, to take care of what needs taking care of.

There are a lot of families out there hurting because of addiction.
Marriages that can never truly be what God intended them to be because of this darkness that fills the homes. Pray that there would be a great uncovering in these matters. Uncovering of the ones who have broken covenant with their spouse, to love another more. The one they have fallen in love with causes them to lie about this demonic relationship. Where there are lies in a relationship, true love can never exist. Always, always remember that our prayer to uncover should always be connected with God having mercy on everyone involved. 

Some of these I've written about have lost loved ones recently. Families are struggling with the loss. Some are blaming themselves, thinking that they could have done more,or something different to have saved the one they lost to death. Pray for God's Spirit to come to them and comfort and lead them through this time of grief.

Never ever forget that addiction is almost like a living organism, and it will fight to retain control over an individual's life. The workbook at Rapha use to say that "addiction was cunning, baffling, and powerful. I use to add one more to that list.....addiction is patient. It will wait for you, and if we move at any point in our recovery process toward that old life, old thoughts and old ways, it will pounce to reclaim you for its purposes.

If you could, join me in praying for these needs....
I mean really pray.
Thanks...you are the best.

God on you..
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Way To Go Libby!!!

Psalm 90:12
Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Number our days?
That is a huge thing in A.A....this numbering of days.
Each day is a celebration along the way to sustaining this new life we have committed ourselves to.
Days have a way of turning into weeks....cause for celebration.
Weeks have a way of rolling into months.....cause for celebration.
And months have a way of moving into years....Now that is a cause for real celebration.

Every Wednesday morning, I have a breakfast appointment with Barry Hooks and Wayne Wimpee. We meet at the Waffle House across from the Gadsden Mall, and it has turned into a time for us to share our struggles, our hopes and our failures...a time to "Confess to one another". Been doing this for a while. Over the course of time, we got to know our waitress, Libby. This happens when you share some of your story about what God is doing and has done for you.

Well like I said, over the course of time, we gotten to know Miss Libby, as she has shared her story with us. She is a recovering alcoholic and this week, she celebrates her 10th year of sobriety. That is a big deal! So Barry, Wayne, and your's truly are going to present Miss Libby with her Ten Year Chip this morning.

These are the times when you understand the gift that sobriety brings to an individual. It I had not shared this story with you this morning, you probably would never have recognized that this woman has applied the discipline of the Steps to her personal struggle, and has put together ten years of defeating that which sought to kill her. I sure if you talked with Libby she would tell of times where she wanted to go back to her old ways....but for whatever reason, she didn't. She didn't do what she wanted to do...what her mind and body said to do...For once she did what she ought to do. And now, ten years latter, she continues to reap the benefits of the life she is experiencing. That is cause to celebrate.

So if sometimes today, Libby's name pops into your head, throw up a prayer for her. Pray that she would draw closer to God. Pray that she would continue on this journey that God has given to her. Pray blessings on Libby today. Pray that there will be an 11th year to celebrate.

God on you....
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Discipline

Philippians 3:18
For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.

Funny thing about this particular verse....
It doesn't say that they are enemies of Jesus....
Just the cross...
What does it mean to be an enemy of the cross? Well, to me it means that I reject the power and the work that Jesus accomplished by dying on this cross.

If I reject the Power of the cross, then for the most part, I am looking to myself as having what power I need to live life. Is there evidence that I am still in control (or at least have convinced myself) of my daily life.

You know, you can say all the right things. You can learn the jargon of religion and it can roll off your tongue with the greatest of ease, and still be as lost as a ball in high weeds. You can call everyone "brother" and "sister" till the cows come home and still not have a real relationship with Jesus or with others who are following Him.

Salvation brings something to each who receive Christ that is very evident (or at least should be)..........discipline. That is the one thing I see in the lives of those who truly have their lives turned from addiction.  It isn't a discipline that is done with clenched teeth and seething anger because you're having to do something you detest. It is a discipline that comes with a level of acceptance knowing that this new of living is going to pay off in the long run.

Colossians 1:10 
Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

In growing, we will put into place the discipline that we need to never return to our old ways. We will go to meetings... We will find a group of like-minded people who can help us to do the necessary things to move away, and stay away from our old ways. We study the Bible...not just read it, but asking God "how do I apply what I am reading". We pray...a lot...and then when you're finished, you pray some more.We watch who we hang around. Bad company corrupts. Sorry, but that is the truth. There's only one way to look at this. The people I am hanging around with either help me in my recovery, or they hurt me by their behavior. No matter how hard you tell yourself you are not going to get dirty, if you choose to jump into a mud hole...well, you get the picture.

One thing that we must always keep at the forefront of our thinking comes from the big book of A.A. -----We have a tendency to look for the easier, softer way. Discipline will not let you do this. You may want to...you may even think about it, but you will not carry it out. If someone tells me to do something that will aid my recovery, and I start trying how to figure out a faster way to carry it out...I'm in trouble. 

I leave you with this verse...
Colossians 1:13-14
For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Have a good day...
God on you...
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Church 101

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 Vineyard ReCovery?
To Follow In His Steps.

God on you..
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