By Charles Smoot

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. – (St. John 15: 1-8) KJV (emphasis mine)

Organic Relationship

One of the best known parables of Jesus is that of the Vine and the Branches. It is a metaphor that illustrates the spiritual, vital, and fruitful union shared between Christ and the church.

I particularly like this metaphor because it not only depicts the Headship of Christ; it also alludes to the inter-dependent and organic relationship of believers to each other.

1) This organic relationship underscores the vital dependence of each believer upon Christ, who is the source of our spiritual life and fruitfulness (Jn. 15:4; Col. 3:4).

2) This parable further illustrates the inter-dependent nature of the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:16).

As the individual branches are one with the vine, so we are members one of another, are members in particular, and share the same spiritual life of the Vine (Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:27).

As the relationship of the Vine to the branches is maintained by the husbandman (the Father), likewise the relationship of Christ to the church is maintained by the Father through the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:16; 1 Cor. 12:13).

Although we can readily see the vital relationship between the Vine and the branches, what is often overlooked is the important symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationship of the individual branches to each other (Eph. 4:15-16).

This relationship is also an important spiritual and fruitful union maintained through the agency of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 4:4).

Organic Body Life

How can the metaphor of the Vine and the Branches help us to understand how organic Body life is experienced and maintained within a local faith community such as the House church?

There are three things we must recognize and practice in order to experience the full benefit of organic Body life.

1) We must always recognize the Headship of Christ and practice discerning His presence among us (Matt. 18:20).

2) We must always recognize and discern the Lord’s Body when we meet by recognizing both organic leadership and the gifts and calling of one another as we develop a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship (Rom. 12:3-17; 1 Cor. 11:29).

3) We must always recognize and practice having the same care one for another (see 1 Cor. 12:12-27).

Within every garden exists’ a potential for weeds to encumber or hinder the vitality, growth, and productivity of the Vine. In this case, within the House church the weeds are professing believers, false apostles, and deceitful workers (2 Cor. 11:13). What do we do about this?

Although this is unfortunate, it underscores the necessity of the work of the husbandman who through the Holy Spirit is the dresser of the vineyard. It is He who is responsible to ensure the vitality and fruitfulness of the Vine, and He will do the separating in due time (Lk. 13:6-9)

Often, in the early stages of a House church it is difficult to distinguish a weed from the true vine. The important thing is to remember that the Holy Spirit is at work todress and keep the garden so that it will remain a fruitful, productive, and safe place for all to dwell in (Gen. 2:15).

The vital relationship of the Vine and branches underscore the necessity of the believer abiding in Christ, and Christ in the believer. Fruitfulness is only possible because of our spiritual union and vital relationship with Christ. For Christ said of this relationship,

…for without me ye can do nothing (Jn. 15:5).

Furthermore, lest we take credit for this work of Grace in our lives, we must understand that it is indeed Christ who is doing the works and producing the fruit in the life of the believer, through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Righteousness, peace, joy, souls, etc, are all the work of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:7; Gal.5:22).

 Organic Community

The five dynamics of Organic Community are: Relationship, Fellowship, Intimacy, Vitality, and Fruitfulness.

1) Relationship: is the primary result of the spiritual and vital union between Christ and the believer. We are called to be in unity with one another (Psa. 133:1; Eph. 4:3, 13).

2) Fellowship: In as much as our life is in Christ, our unity with one another depends on the quality of our relationship and fellowship with Christ. Therefore, fellowship must be experienced first with Christ and then with one another.

Although the common meal, prayer, and worship gatherings are expressions of intimacy and fellowship, there should also be times when believers get together outside of the regular House church gatherings to experience koinonia or fellowship.

3) Intimacy: Just as each believer is called into an intimate experience and knowledge of Christ; we are called into intimate fellowship with one another. Intimacy depends on the quality of our fellowship. When the members of the House church achieve a certain level of trust, intimacy is achieved. Transparency, openness, honesty, courtesy, and mutual respect are characteristics of a healthy and vibrant faith community.

4) Vitality: As the spiritual union between Christ (the Vine) and the believer (the branches) is vital; so is the quality of organic Body life within the local faith community.

Vitality is therefore the result of a living union which flows from the symbiotic, inter-dependent, and mutually beneficial relationship of the members of a local faith community. Vitality lends itself to fruitfulness, which is evidenced by the level of joy experienced by members of the House church.

5) Fruitfulness: When relationship, fellowship, intimacy, and vitality are present the result is fruitfulness. There are three degrees of fruitfulness in the Vine depending on the quality of all of the above; they are: fruit, more fruit, and much fruit.

It must be said that fruitfulness is a process which takes time. The vitality of the House church depends on the intimacy between Christ and the believer and of believers to each other. Intimacy then, depends on the quality of fellowship and is measured by the degree of trust that exists in the relationships of the members of a local faith community.

The ultimate end of this spiritual, vital, and fruitful union is the glory of God. Jesus said:

Herein is my Father glorified in that ye bear much fruit.. (Jn. 15:8) emphasis mine.

Copyright © 2010, All Rights Reserved

In 2006 Charles Smoot founded The Grace Network, a “Church Planting Movement” (CPM) based in Maui, Hawaii.

In 2009 Charles and his wife Helen founded Simple Church Ministries of Lancaster, a local House Church community dedicated to the message of Sovereign Grace, House church evangelism, and discipleship.

A published author of the book “Fallen From Grace,” Charles and his wife Helen enjoy planting House and “Simple” churches and encouraging those who are called to House church ministry.

You can find out more about Charles and Simple Church Ministries at http://www.CharlesSmoot.org.

Article Source:  Simple Church – 5 Dynamics of Organic Community

By Charles Smoot

Today many are discovering and experiencing what church life is like when believers come together to share the life of Jesus organically within a local “Simple church” community!

 What is a house church?

A House church or “Simple church” is a local “faith community” of believers in Jesus Christ who enjoy an extended family relationship for the purposes of discovering, experiencing, and celebrating, the life of Jesus within their midst.

A House church is established through the nurturing and care of relationships that are based on a commitment to family, community, discipleship, and mutual support.

A House church may meet in a home, business, restaurant, park, school, office, or other casual setting. It is important to distinguish that:

A House church is not where we meet, but how we meet.

A House church meeting is usually an “open meeting.”

That is, in an organic Simple church setting, members are encouraged to each participate and have part in the gathering as the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit may lead.

However, this does not mean that there are no leaders present. It simply means that even when leaders are present, Jesus will still lead or guide the meeting, as each member is sensitive to the realization that the “open meeting” is under the Headship of Christ, as members participate and function openly as they are lead by His Holy Spirit.

 Why a House church?

The contemporary House church represents the desire of modern 21st believers to return to the simplicity and authenticity of 1st century Christianity. To do this we must understand that our historic roots are in our primitive apostolic heritage as revealed in the New Testament, particularly in the book of Acts.

Some have referred to the modern House church as a “new wine skin.” However, the earliest church model (or wineskin) was not the institutional church model that we see predominately in use today. Nor was it the model handed down to us 1,500 years ago by the Roman Catholic Church.

Indeed, the very first “wineskin” or model was the House church that was predominant during the first three centuries of the church. There are many reasons why believers are returning to the New Testament model of the House church. A few of them are:

In a House church, you can both discover and create your own organic recipe for experiencing church life.

In a House church setting, believers enjoy the nurturing and support of a small group within an extended family, in which they can establish meaningful relationships and friendships.

In a House church, believers interact like “family” as they enjoy spontaneity in worshiping, sharing, praying, teaching, learning, and growing in an atmosphere in which “every-member functioning”and participation is encouraged as they experience the life of Christ together.

Simple churches come in a variety of flavors, sizes, and cross all denominational lines. There are Baptist, Charismatic, Methodist, Lutheran, Mennonite, Pentecostal, Non-denominational, and you name it.

No two Simple churches are exactly alike. Like snowflakes, each is uniquely different; yet there are common characteristics they all seem to share. If there is one thing always in the forefront of my mind, it is:

Jesus is always present as the central person in all House church gatherings. This awareness is fundamental to experiencing Christ in the midst.Through the House church, people all over the world are experiencing Christ within an organic setting. As a student of the house church, like many of you I am learning how to discover and experience the headship of Christ in an organic setting.

The church In Cornelius’ house

” There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. (Acts 10:1-2)

“And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.” (Acts 11:13)

The first Gentile converts to Christ belonged to the “house” or household of Cornelius, a Roman centurion who lived during the first century. His conversion is recorded in the book of Acts. Cornelius’ house in the Greek is called an Oikas. I have found that the very best way to begin a House church is by using the model of the Oikas as found in the book of Acts.

A very important distinction is, a House church is not a House church simply because believers decide to meet in a home; it is a House church because it is centered on the concept of sharing Christ organically (naturally) by means of an Oikas.

An “Oikas” is a network of relationships consisting of immediate family, extended family, and close friends (Acts 10:24; 16:31).

“And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. ” (Acts 10:24) emphasis mine.

This is what is meant by the church in Cornelius’ house. So when we read in the bible about the church in “so and so’s” house, we are not only talking about the structural building (or house) he lived in but the network of relationships joined to make up a local “faith community” of believers in Jesus Christ.

 Who can start a house church?

The early church knew nothing of denominations, seminaries, or the professional training of clergymen for the ministry. These institutions were foreign to first century believers and were introduced during the 4th through 19 centuries. However, it was the House church, which turned the world “right side up” for Jesus during the first century.

The priesthood of the believer affirms that every believer empowered by the Holy Spirit is called to be a witness of the resurrection and a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, any believer who can gather two or three others together in the name of Jesus can start a House church.

Notice, I did not say to gather two or three other believers, but any believer who gathers two or three others (who may or may not be believers) and have come together for the purpose of sharing Christ may start a House church.

A House church is nothing more than an assembly of believers gathered in Christ’s name for the purposes of sharing Christ with one another.

 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mat. 18:20)

You see, evangelism and discipleship does not have to occur en-masse. Although this is certainly possible, we need to understand that conversions take place one believer at a time.

A House church presents the perfect setting for both evangelism (winning souls to Christ) and discipleship(the training of new of new converts in the faith) to occur.

Naturally, not everyone will warm up to the Simple church. For some the Simple church represents a radical change and departure from long cherished religious institutions and traditions, which many hold dear. Thus, it is not easy for some to leave the comfort and familiarity of the institutional church.

Some (including the clergy) see the Simple church as a threat to their established lifestyles, livelihood, and culture. The thought of leaving the traditional church building with its historic architecture and stained glass windows, robed choirs and vested clergy, along with its predictable liturgy, and passive audience participation, unfortunately have become the norm, and anything different (even if it is more scripturally sound) is just too much for some to contemplate.

However, some perceive the contemporary House church movement as a wake up call to shake off the dust of cultural and religious traditions and institutions, which contradict the Headship of Christ, and chokes the life out of the “every member participation” and function of His Body.

Whether we realize it or not the House church is here to stay. As the Coming of the Lord draws near, the era of the House church will shift to the forefront of 21st century church life and experience.

The social and political landscape is changing. This change will require believers to return to the 1st century model of church life. It will not be a matter of convenience, neither of preference, but of one of survival.

Institutional church life as we know it today will not be able to meet the ever-changing demands placed on her by a world system that is becoming more hostile to the Body of Christ and to the message of the cross.

As institutional and traditional churches and ministries come more and more under the scrutiny and control of government, soon we will have no choice but to return to the New Testament way of meeting, sharing, and experiencing Jesus in the midst.

Copyright © 2009 All rights reserved

In 2006 Charles Smoot founded the Grace Network, a “Church Planting Movement” (CPM) based in Maui, Hawaii. In 2009 Charles and his wife Helen founded Simple Church Ministries of Lancaster, a local Simple Church community dedicated to the message of Sovereign Grace, Simple church evangelism, and discipleship. Charles and Helen enjoy planting Simple churches and encouraging those who are called to Simple church ministry. You can find out more about Simple Church Ministries at http://www.CharlesSmoot.org.

Article Source:  Simple Church, An Introduction to an Organic Faith Community

By Michael Tummillo

Abundant Blessing – Are You in the Flow?

By Ruth Seebeck

We have a small creek that flows past our house. At one point, it pours over a large rock, splashing merrily into a mini-pool, as it continues its journey toward greater things. I love to hear the water as it constantly, effortlessly pours itself over the edge. Our pups play in the stream. As kids we searched for crayfish under rocks along the creek bed. On hot summer days, we splashed in the waterfall and waded in the stream. Our philosophy was “the wetter, the better!”

Spring rains and snow-melt push our stream to its banks and sometimes beyond, as it rushes to join the waters of the Allegheny River, then the Ohio, the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. Our little creek…separate from, but part of, the great earthly system of life-giving water.

I was thinking about that stream of ever-flowing water as I contemplated God’s ever-present goodness and supply. The Bible tells us that the windows of heaven are open unto us and that He pours out His blessing upon us so that there is not room enough to receive it. In Psalm 23, the psalmist declares, my cup runneth over. Deuteronomy promises that all these blessings shall come on you and overtake you.

God’s Blessing is like that little waterfall. It flows constantly, continually, effortlessly, eternally. God’s Word declares that He never changes… so the blessing never stops. God’s love, His promises, His goodness and provision never dry up. If you are not experiencing His blessing in your life, it’s because you are not standing under His waterfall. You’re not playing in the creek.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us that you must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. God’s rewards, His Blessings, flow continually. If you don’t believe that, look at the sunshine, the rain and the seasons. The ebb and flow of Life is unending. The waterfall, the blessing-fall, from heaven is available to anyone who will come and stand under it. Love, joy, peace, abundance, forgiveness, grace, mercy, eternal Life, power, blessing, prosperity – the list is as endless as my constantly flowing stream.

My little stream doesn’t move around. It just flows along, doing its God-given task of providing water to every creature and plant along its path. To receive God’s blessing, you just have to get in His stream. Staying in the desert doesn’t make any sense when the Blessing-flow tumbles eternally from the ‘windows of heaven’.

So, jump in! The water’s fine.

For more information on developing life skills, better relationships, and becoming the best YOU possible, visit and sign up to receive your FREE subscription to “Solutions For Success“, a weekly ezine of inspiration, motivation and humor.

Ruth Seebeck has built a reputation over the last three decades as a life-skills coach, mentor, Christian counselor and friend. She is a business owner, author, community volunteer and event coordinator whose passion is helping others overcome life’s challenges.

Article Source:  Abundant Blessing – Are You in the Flow?

A Gift is just that – a gift!  Here is an article about 9 powerful gifts offered to us by God. Enjoy!

9 Gifts of the Holy Spirit

By Chris Bradley

In addition to the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit, the Bible tells us that there are also 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit.

For the record, we feel that the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit are much more important than the 9 gifts are, as the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit have to do with God imparting part of His divine nature into the core of our personalities to help make us into a much better and holy people.

God’s ultimate aim for all of us is our sanctification in Him and part of that sanctification process has to do with the Holy Spirit Himself transmitting 9 specific divine qualities and attributes into our personalities.

But if the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit are the cake, then the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit are the icing on the cake.

Put these two together and allow God to work with a believer with both sets of these 9 fruits and 9 gifts, and you will have one mighty, sanctified soldier of Jesus Christ, as the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit will give you some serious and heavy ammunition to have at your disposal as you walk with God’s anointing in your daily life.

I call the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit torpedo gifts, as the Holy Spirit can manifest any one of these 9 gifts through any believer anytime that He will want to do so.

Each one of these gifts are major power gifts, and they are all direct, supernatural, miraculous manifestations direct from the Holy Spirit Himself – and any Christian can get themselves in place to receive these 9 gifts, as the apostle Paul himself tells us not to be afraid to try and stir up these 9 specific gifts with the Lord.

Here is the direct verse from our Bible on the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit:

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

Now I will list each one of these 9 gifts so you can have them right at the top of this article at a very quick glance:

The Word of Knowledge

The Word of Wisdom

The Gift of Prophecy

The Gift of Faith

The Gifts of Healings

The Working of Miracles

The Discerning of Spirits

Different Kinds of Tongues

The Interpretation of Tongues

Not only does the Bible tell us that these 9 gifts are available to all believers, but then it takes it one step further and tells us that we can actually try and stir up these 9 specific gifts with the Lord. Here are 5 very good verses telling us to not only desire spiritual gifts, but to also not be afraid to try and stir these gifts up with the Lord:

1. “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy.” (1 Corinthians 14:39)

2. “… and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1)

3. “Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophecies.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

4. “Do not neglect the gift that is in you … Meditate on these things, give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” (1 Timothy 4:14)

5. “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6)

As such, every believer should go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to release these 9 gifts through them anytime that He will want to do so.

Let God know that you will be a willing vessel for the manifestations of these gifts, and that you will give Him a full and solid green light to manifest these gifts though you at anytime that He will want to do so.

These 9 gifts are a tremendous aid and help to not only you in your own personal walk with the Lord, but many of them can be also used to help other people out as special needs and circumstances arise in their lives. Notice the very first line in this verse says that these 9 gifts are given to each one for the “profit of all.”

You can learn more on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and also receive a discount from their [http://www.bibleknowledgebookstore.com/christmas.html]Christmas store

Article Source:  9 Gifts of the Holy Spirit

By Dr. Steven J. Lynne

A generous person will never be struck by the fear of lack for that soul has been freed from a small and poverty stricken mentality!

People like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Larry Ellison (three of the five richest people in the world) are heroes in my opinion. Not simply because they have made billions of dollars in their lives, but because they have given billions away! Each man has decided to donate over ninety percent of their wealth to charity.

It takes great courage and determination to accumulate masses of wealth, but it takes a very free individual to be capable of letting go of that wealth towards a selfless cause!

Benefits Of Generosity

A generous heart experiences pleasures that few freely find. It is the generous soul who has discovered true prosperity which ushers a flood of resources back to them. John Bunyan (1628-1688) once said, “He who bestows his goods upon the poor shall have as much again, and ten times more.”

12 Benefits Of Generosity

Generosity has the following benefits; it fulfills our sense of purpose, establishes grounds for our continued increase, celebrates the success of the giver, opposes all sense of self-focus, self-pity and stinginess, liberates the soul from financial control, causes others to take notice, fulfills the cry of the needy, breeds significance, begins a chain reaction among others, restores faith in humanity, points towards the existence of a higher power, and draws humanity closer to the heart of our creator.

The True Sign Of A Generous Soul

The true sign of a generous soul is a satisfied life. When our time has drawn to a close, the generous person will have no regrets. Sir Winston Churchill stated, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”

Freedom From Poverty Of The Soul

Poverty of the soul has more to do with what we hold than what we have. A grasping mentality will only ever grow to the extent of ego! A generous soul destroys the “smallness” of poverty by expanding to a place where the limits of ego are torn apart! Unrestrained compassion and benevolence ensue! This opens us to a richer life experience, free of poverty of the soul.

Ten Ways To Practice Generosity

1. Spend your “time” with a person who’s love language is time.

2. Employ your “talents” to enrich a lonely heart.

3. Release your “service” to aid a person in need!

4. Present your “smile” to a person with a heavy heart!

5. Instill your “encouragement” to build a hopeless soul!

6. Pass your “joy” with wisdom, into a sad situation.

7. Inject your “praise” into a worthy recipient.

8. Remember your “thanks” for those who help you.

9. Stir your “compassion” towards people that others find hard to love.

10. Give a pre-planned amount of your “money” to a worthy charity.

By practicing generosity you will remove the restraints of Soul Poverty from your life experience!

Receive a FREE chapter from my newest e-book “Success Steps Towards Wealthy Living” at http://www.jcspublishing.com

Article Source:  Generosity Overcomes Poverty Of The Soul

You will notice more posts from guest writers on this site.  I have decided to mix things up more.  Our emphasis will primarily be simple church and creative ways to teach and discuss truths that lay a foundation to grow in Christ.  With this in mind, more opinions other than just my own will be our new thrust.  If you want to submit an article for consideration just send it in with contact information and we will let you know our decision.  Remember, comments are welcome and appreciated.

Imagine that you are in the same room with God and you desire to ask Him questions and converse with Him because you really want to know Him.  But for some reason you are afraid to talk to Him because this is God Almighty, the same God that was revealed in the Old Testament to kill whole groups of people and to even deal with His own people in a wrathful and angry way.  Yes, you are afraid of this God so you will not take a chance to talk to Him and then you do something kind of crazy.  You get up and leave the room and you begin a quest to find people who say they know God or at least they have heard about Him and you talk to these people instead of talking to God Himself.

I have had some incredible experiences with the Lord over the years.  Time and time again God has revealed Himself to me as the Father whom Jesus spoke about and revealed to all who would listen.  I have known God to be incredibly loving and kind and at times this revelation has led me into wonderful worship experiences.  But, there have been times when I have left the room, and because of this I either started to look for a way to still know about God or I just remained absent from His presence.

Recently during a time of prayer, I want to say conversation, with God I heard Him speak to my heart.  I was expressing some frustration in my relationship with Him and He spoke to me with some instructions.  I could tell, or better yet, feel His heart of compassion and He told me to filter everything that I hear or think I know about Him through the revelation of Him given by Jesus in the story of the prodigal Father.  You can find this story in Luke 15 in the Bible.  We use the word prodigal to describe the fact that the son had left and was lost to the Father but even before this the Father was prodigal to the son because the son was not experiencing the love, compassion, and grace of the Father.

I began to do this right away; I filtered everything about God through this revelation of the Father.  Later that same morning I had a scheduled meeting with some friends and during the conversation I began to share what God spoke to my heart earlier that morning.  All of these men were what you would call mature believers and they had functioned as pastors for years yet I could sense the relevancy of this word and one of them asked me if this was prophetic.  Because it was so fresh to me I told him I wasn’t sure but I thought it might be a prophetic word for the body of Christ.  Now I am sure.

Since that time I have recognized sin in my life.  This all happened recently yet I still struggle with sin and if you are real with yourself, so do you.  But an interesting thing is happening also, instead of leaving the room where God is I am learning to stay there; and if I recognize that I have left, I return immediately.  I believe guilt and shame related to sin are the reasons why we tend to refuse to approach God.  These two things cause a fear that is not godly because this fear does not move us to know God but to flee from Him.  Adam and Eve experienced this fear and they ran away and it causes us to do the same thing.

This morning I had another experience with the Lord in prayer and He reminded me that His love for me had not changed.  It had not changed since when He spoke to me about the prodigal Father, and it had not changed even before that but I had forgotten.  How soon we forget the extravagant depth of His love.  God spoke to me about how He is love and He can’t stop loving.

Recently I came across an article about the prodigal Father and in it the writer wrote:

“About seven hundred years ago, a German mystic by the name of Meister Eckhart, once said, “Nobody at anytime is cut off from God.” And then he also said, “It is just impossible to lose God.” But somehow, sometime, somewhere in life, we have forgotten this. We have placed limits on the love of God. We often think and feel that if we do certain things we can win God’s love, and if we do some things, we can lose that love, that we will be cut off from him. But God’s love is always there for us, says Meister Eckhart. We cannot buy his love, and we do not have to win God’s love by what we do and accomplish. This does not mean we do what we simply want to do, or do nothing in the face of evil and injustice. But it is one thing to do good things because we have been possessed by God, and another to attempt to buy God’s love. Look at the story. The father forgave and loved his prodigal son even before the son asked his father’s forgiveness. The love and forgiveness were always there. The prodigal father did not ask his son to apologize or to prove himself again trustworthy so as to earn his father’s love. No, the father’s love was simply a given. Love was a constant, abiding, and unchangeable reality. And so is God’s love.”

We can remain in the room with God, “Nobody at anytime is cut off from God”.  If we listen closely we can hear God asking the same question He asked of Adam and Eve, “where are you”?

Attempts to know God without coming to Him cause us to be very judgmental.  We think we know God but we really do not, we just know about Him.  God has given us the Bible to help us come to know Him.  But after years of reading and study let me share with you something I think can happen if we read the Bible like a text book.  We may gather information about God which will lead us to try and get more information from others but we do not experience His heart and love.  I suggest we read the Bible as the love book that it is.  Join me as I filter my reading of the Word through the revelation of the Father heart of God revealed in Luke 15.  Jesus said, “If you see Me you have seen the Father”.  Do you see Him?  Are you recognizing that Jesus is the Great Filter and that it is really impossible to really know God without Him?

“Come unto Me all of you who are burdened and heavy laddened and I will give you rest”.  Instead of running away let us come.  Allow the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the love of God.  Talk with Him and about Him from firsthand experience.  This is the heart of God for you.

Let me start off by saying that I am definitely not a member of the theological police.  I am not    smart enough nor inclined enough to try and straighten out the wrong beliefs of others.  Theology is the study about God and the very word is not that appealing to me – I would much rather relate to God then just study about Him.  A couple years back we had a fire which took care of the many “theological” books that I had accumulated over the years.  Thank God!  I had stopped referring to most of them years before but I just didn’t have the heart to get rid of them.  But less I digress any further let me talk about the real idea about which I am thinking.  There are two people who have affected my life in what I consider a positive way and they have not been very popular with these theological police – I am talking about Oral Roberts who has gone on to be with the Lord, and Robert Schuller who probably wishes he had at times.

Let me talk about Oral Roberts first.  Why do I speak fondly of the man who seems to have courted controversy most of his life?  Recently I took the time to listen to an excellent interview recorded with Oral shortly before he died in 2009.  You can listen to it here.  The most controversial thing Oral Roberts probably ever did was to claim that God spoke to him – not once but many times – and he maintained this stance up to the end of his earthly life as evidenced in this interview.  Now let me get this on the record, God has spoken to me too, and yes it was more than once.

I use to like to tune into Oral Roberts on TV and he would say, “Something good is going to happen to you today”.  I did this mostly before I got “saved” and I even remember my Dad tuning into some of Oral’s crusades when I was a little kid.  “He’s going to break that person’s neck I would think as he forcefully laid those big hands on the heads of seekers, and I think he said something like “heeeeeal”.  I did a Google for the phrase “Something good is going to happen to you today” and one of the results went to a Christianity Today article.  I have no problem with the article but when I read some of the comments made by the readers I was shocked, some of them were just mean.  I have to admit I thought, “What did he ever do to you”.

We all know what the problem was – it was the fact that many disagreed with how he handled donations, many disagreed with his fundraising methods, and many just did not like the man; But my question for many who presume to judge the man, “Who died and made you king?”  Certainly not Jesus who warned about the very attitudes being displayed in these comments I just referenced.  Here is the original article.  It was actually about the Green family choosing to make a substantial donation to help out Oral Roberts University. What’s wrong with that?

Sometime I will share my testimony on this site but let me state that I turned on the TV in 1975 and prayed a prayer with Oral Roberts that transformed my life. This happened while I was living with a woman who was not my wife and engaging in illegal activities.  Yes I speak somewhat fondly of this man.

The other person I want to talk about is Robert Schuller.  No less a controversial figure and in the news for the bankruptcy proceedings at the ministry he once headed which included the sale of the Crystal Cathedral to the Catholic Church.  Schuller came out in favor of the deal and some of his comments stirred up the theological riot squad.  My question is why?

Could it be his comment about the Catholic Church being the “Mother Church”.  Obviously many Catholics probably feel this way but how could a so-called Protestant minister make such a statement.  And why would Robert Schuller come out in favor of the Catholic Church as purchasers of the extensive complex of buildings?  I am sure he had his reasons, some revealed, and some we may never know, but I do not see a problem with his course of actions.  This whole thing was a real estate transaction mandated by a bankruptcy court.

I remember times of struggle as a young father and husband to maintain hope and a good attitude when I would come across a Schuller book promising that I could overcome the difficulty.  I actually appreciated the fact that coupled to the liberal doses of motivational and possibility ideas there were references to a good and loving God.  There is too many who present a God who is mean and vindictive so Schuller with his possibility message is a welcomed relief.

Could it be that Robert Schuller and Oral Roberts both fulfilled something in the purposes of God?  Are you prepared to say that they didn’t and what about the thousands of people helped through their ministries?  Yes, I am not a member of the theological police and I hope you left their ranks too.

Yesterday before taping KINGDOMRISING, our podcast,  Carman Niesley, my co-host, and I were having a little discussion.  We do this to stimulate our thoughts for when we record the program.  Discussion turned to the necessity for us to create an atmosphere or environment in which God can move to establish His kingdom.

Like myself, Carman is an avid reader therefore most of our ideas are probably gleaned from others, but, the thought was a good one nonetheless; which brings me to my current thought.  What is God doing?

The scripture reveals that God is working in us both to will and do.  In other words, He is actively working to create the atmosphere for His movement to come forth.  What is God doing?  Obviously it is a lot but one thing is obvious to me personally.  God works upon me – spirit, soul and body – to bring me to a place of action where I walk by faith.  Some of these things – these actions – look downright silly to others and cause me untold struggles with worry but so be it.

I would rather live my life attempting to do what I sense and say is, God directing me to do,  then to just play it safe.  As Thoreau said, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them. I do not want to die with the song God gave me still in me.

So what is God doing becomes “what is God doing to me?”  This brings me to the idea of my heart’s desire for a certain work during this stage of my life which is really not work at all but joy or as Joseph Campbell calls it, bliss.  I want to follow my bliss, the song God placed within me.  Call it purpose, allude to intentionality, whatever, but I am still on this journey.

For the past 30 years I have identified myself as a pastor and this is how many others related to me; initially as an associate who worked a “secular job, and then later for the last 12 years or so as a primary vocation.  But who am I now?  I still feel the same call to help and serve others but how is this to be worked out now that I no longer lead a church in the traditional sense?

The term the Lord keeps bringing to me is foundation – He has called me to help establish the foundation in His body and we know the foundation is Christ.  My focus now can be summed up in one verse:

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

So I am still on the journey of faith and very aware that God is working upon me, and my environment, to create an atmosphere in which He will move to establish His kingdom.  So be it!