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Eat at Yafa
When we find ways as a church to connect well with our community, it charges me up. Last night was one of those times. Our community puts on a big parade every year to celebrate the city and it’s always well attended. Our church usually puts on some event to join in the celebration. Over the years we’ve tied to…
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Getting past the “high” and moving into the routine of his presence
I am Pentecostal. We live for the experience. When I see things advertised on Facebook for some Pentecostal service, youth service, etc., the hype words are always there. EPIC! UBER EPIC! CUTTING EDGE! DON’T MISS THIS ONE! (or the next one… or the next one…) I am soaking in Richard Foster’s little book, Sanctuary of the Soul, again. He relates…
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The when and where of the Kingdom of God
An extension of the interview with Gary Black, Jr., over at BibleGateway included this blurb from his just released book: What is important to understand here is that there is no “then” or “when” to the kingdom of God. This reign is a current, progressing, maturing reality, which means Jesus rules today. Jesus is the one who sits on the…
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20 for 20
Over the past few weeks I have posted occasionally on Facebook and Twitter about my trip to Africa. More details are HERE. I am so grateful to those who have given and all who will pray this September when I go to Ethiopia. I am incredibly close to completing my fundraising for the plane ticket. Here is the challenge: If…
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Quit praying for healing
As a Pentecostal who believes in healing, this thought strikes me today: Quit praying for healing. When Peter and John walked by the lame man in Acts 3, it wasn’t a matter of asking for healing. It wasn’t a matter of giving alms. Both were possible options in that moment. What is needed is a sensitivity to the Spirit to what to do…
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Hearing the Voice of God
Breathe through the heat of our desire Thy coolness and Thy balm; Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire, O still, small voice of calm. (John Greenleaf Whittier) Be still before the Lord. Wait patiently for him. (Ps. 37:7) He always ready… and willing… to speak. It is us who need to be…
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It’s just not that hard
I returned from a funeral celebrating the life of a great lady. Her husband is a tremendous influence in my life. They pastored several churches in Minnesota, and I have the privilege of pastoring a church they served many years ago. The celebration of life was amazing as we heard from grandchildren about the faithfulness of their grandmother. Grandpa and…
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The Divine Conspiracy Continued
Gary Black, Jr. has co-authored a continuation of The Divine Conspiracy with Dallas Willard, finishing it off after the passing of Dallas. Biblegateway has this interview with Gary Black, Jr. The new book is now out. I hope to have it in the near future. Explaining the title and what “conspiracy” means, Black had this to say: The word “conspiracy” comes from…
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Paper or… digital?
A recent BibleGateway poll found that people still like taking a physical Bible to church. Overwhelmingly. I haven’t found that percentage to be SO high in our church. There are a good number of people using their phones or tablets now. But we still have a majority using physical Bibles. While I am getting more adapted to putting notes into…
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The favor of God
As I am rereading the Old Testament, I come again to the concept of Israel having the “favor” of God. As I pray through this concept, the Spirit spoke a word to me: “The FAVOR of God comes with your FAITHFULNESS. Follow me.” Let us hear the voice of the Spirit!
