Is Peace Elusive? by Pastor Brent Lokker

Ever get that frustrating feeling that peace is just outside of your grasp because one crazy, weird, messed-up situation after another comes your way and there never seems to be a lengthy period of clear skies above you?

Okay, here’s the next essential question: Can you think of the last time when youdid feel peace? 

My guess is there were still plenty of potentially challenging situations going on in your life yet there was a moment, a span of time, when the presence of Jesus overtook you (whether you were aware of His presence or not).  Your heart was awake in that instant to appreciate a dear friendship, to gaze in wonder at a gorgeous sunset, to reflect upon just how blessed your life truly is. 

In our not-so-peaceful moments, it seems that we’ll never get caught up and we believe our happiness depends upon doing so.  Life is passing us by.

In our full-of-peace moments, we realize that checking more things off our to-do list is not the adventure for which we’ve enlisted and that our happiness is directly tied to what we did sign up for—closeness with Jesus!  In these moments, we enjoy life as He intended.

The word for peace in the Hebrew language is SHALOM.  Shalom is a gift that’s already been given, a package that’s already been delivered.  Jesus paid for it and it’s yours to enjoy. Rather than read a dry definition of something that is so life-giving, why don’t you take a moment to enjoy it right now as a declaration (out loud!) over yourself.  And may I encourage you to say it like you mean it and pause over each phrase to let it capture you.

                                                         I am content

                                                         I am complete

                                                         I am whole

                                                         I have health

                                                         I am prosperous

                                                         I am safe

                                                         I am sound

                                                         I am at rest

                                                         I live in harmony

                                                         I live in tranquility

                                                         It is well with my soul!

Here is a description of our beautiful Jesus who purchased all of this for us to enjoy every day of our lives:

Hope of all hopes, dream of our dreams,

    a child is born, sweet-breathed; a son is given to us: a living gift.

And even now, with tiny features and dewy hair, He is great.

    The power of leadership, and the weight of authority, will rest on His shoulders.

His name? His name we’ll know in many ways—

    He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Dear Father everlasting, ever-present never-failing,

    Master of Wholeness, Prince of Peace.

His leadership will bring such prosperity as you’ve never seen before—

    sustainable peace for all time.

This child: God’s promise to David—a throne forever, among us,

    to restore sound leadership that cannot be perverted or shaken.

He will ensure justice without fail and absolute equity. Always.

    The intense passion of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies,

    will carry this to completion.

(Isaiah 9:6-7 in The Voice)

Peace is not elusive.  Peace is your constant companion and He has a name…Jesus!

Love,

Brent

Love Your Wings by Pastor Brent Lokker

Last weekend, Leif Hetland came to Blazing Fire and ignited our hearts again with a passionate flame for Jesus.  He also spoke courage in us to be authentically ourselves as we add our “special sauce” to one another.  He also challenged us by asking, “Can we see the treasure in Saul and love him before he becomes Paul. Here is an excerpt from his book, Seeing Through Heaven’s Eyes: Jesus, the very incarnation of love, saw people through Heaven’s eyes.  In doing so, some were ennobled; others were enraged.  The sinners He dined with were honored.  The scribes, who were taking not of the guest list, were horrified.  Luke records one such dinner party: Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.  And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2) The loveless one sees only the caterpillar, while the lover sees the butterfly. Whose eyes do you want to have?  The eyes of the critic…or the eyes of Christ? If you answered as I think you did, be prepared to receive what Christ received—criticism.  He was criticized for seeing others through Heaven’s eyes.  I am sometimes criticized for doing the same.  And so will you be.  Some people will love you for it; others will loathe you.  And the loathing will likely come from the very religious. Sue Monk Kidd talks about the different responses she experienced from people who had seen the transformation that had taken place in her.  She talks about the critic and the effect the critic had on her. Sometimes people are happy with our wings and support the unfurling.  Sometimes, though, they’re afraid of our wings and try to talk us back into the old larval life. I encountered all sorts of reactions to the changes in my life.  When the reaction was negative, I sometimes went into a temporary tailspin, regressed, and questioned everything. The best advice I received on this subject was from another older woman who’d been through many cocoons and many pairs of wings.  I told her, “People won’t let me change.” (As if people could really do that.) What I was actually saying was, “I;m afraid of people’s reaction to my changes.”  The woman touched my cheek with her hand and said, “Love your wings.” Prayer: My Father in Heaven, How I long to see people the way You see them. Give me eyes to see all the beauty that is emerging everywhere around me. Help me to believe that there is a butterfly struggling to emerge from the gooey mess in all of our lives. Help me to believe in that butterfly, hope in that butterfly, love that butterfly. Thank You for the process of transformation and for being with me in the pain of that process. Don’t stop with the process, Lord, until the beauty of who You created me to be emerges, fully formed and ready to fly. Grant me the courage to rise above the earthbound criticism that comes from so many religious people and manages to worm its way into my life. Help me to love my wings.

Grow Into Your Word by Pastor Todd Benjamin Lout

I feel so blessed to be a part of a prophetic community.  It’s so wonderful to have people around who are willing to take risks in hearing the heart of our perfect Father and relay such things.  How I would rather be surrounded by believers actually practicing the prophetic than ones who don’t really believe and turn that valve off in their life.

Like in every gift, every attribute of God that He shares with us, we have growing to do in this prophetic arena.  We can go down many avenues in discussion about this.  The main focus in this email is on what to do with the words we receive.  Here’s a few pointers that have helped me and I hope will be an inspiration to you as well.

USE DISCERNMENT – If we receive a word and it strikes the heart at all, take it to the Lord.  With Him, we let our heart feel and know what it should about this word.  If, on the other hand, it doesn’t feel quite right, again, take it to the Lord.  Find out if He is having you stretch beyond your comfort zone in something to grow into, or if you should simply disregard the word given.  Either way, it’s good to let these words simmer with the One Who knows every little detail about them.

EXECERSIZE PATIENCE – This is probably the most valuable of my tips here.  Let’s say someone gets a word like, “You will preach the truth to many.”  Rightfully so, there are instant pictures in the heart of standing on stages, in front of large crowds, and preaching.  This could be where a journey actually begins to get the person to that picture.  However, too often, we hear it, want it and believe it should start happening NOW.  It’s possible, but most of the time there needs to be a maturing process first.  What would our motive for preaching truly be?  How about handling the stressful things that come with this?  Or stewarding the good things that come with this?  Could there be a need for practical things like a speech class?  All through the Bible we see words given and then lengthy periods of time before fruition.  Like Joseph, for instance.  Or how about Jesus, Himself?  Remember in James 1 it tells us, “Let patience have it’s perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, LACKING NOTHING.”

When we are not vulnerable enough to allow whatever growth to happen, and become impatient, we tend to expect other people to open the doors to fulfill our word.  We wonder why they don’t recognize the call in us or make things happen for us.  We forget that it’s God’s word to us and He opens the door…when we’re ready.  Ultimately, when we push and shove, we get mad at God for not allowing what He started to come to pass.  However we didn’t allow Him to cultivate maturity in us so that He could bring completion to the word.  Patience is absolutely married to a prophetic word that comes together the way God intends.

BE WISE WITH WHOM YOU SHARE YOUR WORD – Matthew 7:6 says, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”  Here’s where discernment comes in again.  We want to share for various reasons.  Let’s give every possible motive for sharing to Holy Spirit and sort it out with Him. 

Simply put, some people we share with may poison our word with negativity, doubt and fear, thus causing us to feel that way about it too.  Some folks will be jealous and speak words to combat your word.  Some may spread it to others who may abuse it also.  Choose wisely.

TAKE HEALTHY STEPS – Without manipulating others (as mentioned before), begin to move forward.  For instance, if there’s a word that you be a successful business person, and you feel this is correct but you have zero business experience, go ahead and take business classes.  Start taking notes on someone who is already successful in business and learn.  God will help us along the way.

There’s so much more to cover, but these are just a few things that we really need to keep in mind to help us grow into our word.  God wants the very best for us and in us.

Facing Fear by church member contributor Theresa Christian and Pastor Brent Lokker

Pastor Brent's message last Saturday night sure got my attention. I could hardly stay still in my seat the whole message!  Let me take you back one week earlier.....  I was reading 1 Samuel 17 and right after I finished the story of David and Goliath, God reminded me of a dream I just had that same night:     ...In my dream, I was standing in the hallway of a school and a man, who was as tall as the 8' ceiling, was using foul language. I said to the man, "Excuse me, you can not speak that way in this place." He turned around, continued to speak, without looking at me. I said, "Are you not going to acknowledge me?" He looked down at me and left the school.... I realized something here was very important for me.  For the rest of the week I sat with the story, noting what David was facing and how he was able to face his enemy with boldness, confidence and was fearless. He trusted God wholeheartedly. I needed to do this also, so my next step was to make a list of all the giants that I have been facing. Things that were holding me back and lies that were taunting me. Some of those giants were for health, fear of man and fear of loss. My friend, Sarah Yang and I made a plan to face these giants together on a Sunday hike. We spent all afternoon praying, declaring and making our giants acknowledge us. What freedom and strength we felt as we listened to the Spirit of God. We declared freedom in all areas, for not only us, but for our families, knowing that God was doing all the work.  While I was preparing my notes, this song was playing, "We will overcome, by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Everyone overcomes. Jesus, Awesome and Great is Your Name - Your Overcame!"  All that God had shown me the previous week was exactly what Pastor Brent was sharing on Saturday night! God is so amazing!  Be encouraged and know that God sees you.  Be brave and face your giants. Freedom is on the other side!                                                                                    Love, Theresa Christian You can listen right now to the podcast of Brent’s message, “Facing Fear:” http://blazingfire.podbean.com/e/facing-fear-brent-lokker/ //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ And here is a prophetic word from Doug Addison that went out yesterday: I have been encouraging people to help change the spiritual atmosphere that is over the world right now. There is a thick spiritual fog hanging over many people as a result of masses of people being in fear. Since we are the “Body of Christ” and we are interconnected, when Christians begin to move in mass fear and discouragement it has a negative effect on the entire world (1 Corinthians 12:26). I want to assure you that we are entering into a new season. The economy did not crash. The second coming of Christ has not occurred. This is a time like never before to come into agreement with the positive plans God has for us all. As we do this, we will shift the atmosphere to that of hope, blessing and encouragement. (Doug will be with us on New Year’s Eve and Jan. 2nd!)

Moving Beyond Disappointment by Pastor Suzanne Lokker

I've been going through a particularly difficult season of my life where disappointments--specifically not seeing people I love healed the way I prayed--caused me to be angry with God.  "Why do I have to pray for healing and miracles anymore? Why can't I just say, 'God is good,' and leave it at that?"  Of course, Abba-Papa-Yahweh's pursuing love wouldn't let my well constructed walls keep Him out--not that I really wanted that anyway. Recently a friend said something that rocked me out of my pain and complacency.  She said, "Your worship is helping Jesus go to the cross." It was one of those "God moments" where truth gripped my soul.  Suddenly I saw Jesus on the cross with his eyes of love gazing past his dimension of time to see me along with countless numbers of his followers through the ages who were worshipping him.  "We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith's perfection.  His example is this: Because his heart was filled with the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God."  (Hebrews 12:2 in the Passion Translation) Who was I to deny my heart to the One who endured the cross for me? God melted my heart and began showing me what I needed to know.  He showed me that I was restless because I was fighting myself. In His patience and grace, he showed me that He's calling Himself out of me! And He's calling Himself out of you!  It's time to take our disappointments and our broken "trusters" back to the One who knows how to victoriously see us through this journey with Him. It's time to let the authentic you rise up and to let your authentic roar sound!   Suzanne

Relationships, Stress, and Brave Communication by Pastor Russ Fochler

Whether we’re married, in a relationship, have bosses and co-workers, customers, clients, or contractors, have siblings, parents, children, friends, or acquaintances; we’re going to have stresses, conflicts, and even confrontations.    And isn’t it “funny”; the very times we most need relational, effective communication, are the very times that we tend to “forget” the communication tools we’ve heard about.   We need more than “the right words”.  We need help with our hearts.   It’s not simply about getting better at communicating:  We can do a “great job" of communicating anger and disrespect - and creating emotional distance from the other person.   But is that the kind of communication we want to give?     Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John all had a lot to say about how we treat each other.  Many of us have tried to “act” loving or “act Christian” while hoping that someday, somehow our emotions will come into alignment with their words in the Scriptures.     How can we nurture life-giving connections with others?  How do we engage with what we are feeling in the moment, and yet not be enslaved to the strong self-protective impulses that come up when we're stressed?   Part of the answer is engaging with Holy Spirit for the healing/restoration of our own heart.  Susan Fochler will be sharing about this in her class “Healing the Heart” starting Feb 2, 2016.   Another part of the answer is developing practices that strengthen our ability to live from our core values in stressful situations.  Practices that will help "the ways of our being to match the truth of our being” (one of my favorite quotes by William Paul Young about what wholeness is).      Our next World Changers Equipping School class is “Brave Communications: Keeping Your Love On”.  It starts this Tuesday evening November 17th.  We’ll gain insights watching videos by Dann Farrelly and Danny Silk.  And we’ll discuss and practice the material.     I invite you to be part of this class. Please see below for more specifics.   Warmly,   Russ Fochler

Now Is The Time For Healing by guest contributor Joe Smylie

Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the time of salvation (healing)

(2 Corinthians 6:2)

by Joe Smylie

In the gospel of Luke chapter 5, we see Jesus demonstrating the heart of Father God by declaring that he is “willing” to heal sickness and disease as He reached out and touched the man with leprosy and instantly healed him.   Also, we see in verse 17, that many people gathered to hear Jesus teach about the Kingdom of God and the “power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.”  This power in Jesus then translated immediately to a paralyzed man laying on a mat as his friends lowered him through the roof right in front of Jesus.  This account in Luke tells us that when Jesus saw the faith of the men carrying their friend on the mat that He immediately forgave the man’s sins and healed his paralysis instantly.

What do these events in Luke chapter 5 tell us about the heart of God the Father towards each one of us?  In our World Changers Equipping School class “Healing the Sick,” we have answered this question directly during the last four gatherings in our Tuesday evening class.  We have discovered and demonstrated that: 1) it is always God the Father’s will to heal people, 2) that God the Father is always moved with compassion towards the human race, 3) Jesus healed and delivered everyone that came to Him with need during His ministry here on earth, and 4) He (Jesus) still wants to translate that same healing and deliverance power through us to everyone who needs his touch in our 21st century modern society.

During our class meetings and outreach to the streets in Dublin and Pleasanton, we have seen the compassion and power of Father God demonstrated through several authentic physical healings of many types (hips, knees, shoulders, necks, and backs).  One young man last Tuesday, at the Stoneridge Mall, allowed one of our teams to pray for his hurting back.  As the team prayed for his healing, he stood there amazed as a calmness came over him and he stated that “his back was feeling better.”  We also witnessed several young Egyptian and Israeli men and women receive emotional and mental healing in their hearts and souls as we prayed for them to encounter Almighty God in the name of Jesus the Messiah.

This upcoming Tuesday (November 10th) will be our last “Healing the Sick” class offered.  We would like to invite everyone (for free) who needs any kind of healing (physical, emotional, mental, relational, financial,) to come and receive what Jesus “already paid for them on the cross.”  The students of the class will be praying for everyone who has a need in this “Healing Service” finale.  Also, please bring any family or friends who need any type of healing.  We believe the Lord Jesus wants to touch them and set them free, as well.

The “Healing Service” will start at 7pm at Parkway Fellowship Church in Dublin, Ca.  The address is 7485 Village Parkway, Dublin, Ca 94568.   Hope to see you there!

New Chapter for a New Season

We all have a life-story that has been lived up until this very moment, stories which read very different from one another. Your own story line has journeyed through many seasons, with each chapter taking on different themes with a turn of events. Some of you have even wondered what the future of your story holds. What is the next page or chapter going to reveal?

The Holy Spirit declares that you are entering a new season with a new chapter. This is a season where the love of Papa God is going to restore that which was thought lost; a story that defies all odds; a story full of redemption and unconditional love, from a Father who is deeply and passionately in love with you. He is a good, good Father!

Today, the Lord says, “Get ready, this new chapter that I have written is a ‘page turner’, a chapter where the plot thickens in epic and amazing ways.” Victories, success, favor, freedom, provision and sustenance are coming to you as God already “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”, according to Ephesians 1:4

The Holy Spirit declares in your heart this day that you are on a journey of encountering and experiencing the Father's love in a way like never before; in only a way that the Father can touch; in only a way that the Father embraces; in only a way that the Father can heal, restore, redeem; in only a way where the Father's love can transform every area of your life; in only a way where the Author already knows what the next chapter of your life holds. 

Pray this simple prayer. Holy Spirit, I give You permission and access to the places in my heart to go where You want to go, do what You want to do and reveal the truth of who You created me to be, as I continue on this journey in partnering with You. In Jesus Name, Amen. 

A new chapter for a new season is upon you!          Love,   

                                                                       

Two Versions fo the Gospel by Pastor Russ Fochler

As I approached the time to give the message last Saturday, I felt both hope-filled and concerned.  Hope-filled by the freedom and life I felt Holy Spirit wanted to bring.  And concerned about the how my talk could impact people with long-held assumptions about God’s wrath and the Cross. I started out the talk reading this excerpt of “The Shack” by William P. Young: (Papa is talking to Mackenzie) “…At this point, you don’t even comprehend that freedom is an incremental process.”  Gently reaching out, she took Mack’s hands in hers, flour covered and all, looking at him straight in the eyes she continued, “Mackenzie, the Truth shall set you free and the Truth has a name; he’s over in the woodshop right now covered in sawdust.  Everything is about him.  And freedom is a process that happens inside of a relationship with him.  Then all that stuff you feel churnin’ around inside will start to work its way out.”                 “How can you really know how I feel?” Mack asked, looking back into her eyes.                 Papa didn’t answer, only looked down at their hands.  His gaze followed hers and for the first time Mack noticed the scars in her wrists, like those he now assumed Jesus also had on his.  She allowed him to tenderly touch the scars, outlines of a deep piercing, and he finally looked up again into her eyes.  Tears were slowly making their way down her face, little pathways through the flour that dusted her cheeks.     “Don’t ever think that what my son chose to do didn’t cost us dearly.  Love always leaves a mark.” She stated softly and gently.  We were there together.”     Mack was surprised. “At the cross?  Now wait, I thought you left him – you know – ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’”  It was a Scripture that had often haunted Mack in The Great Sadness.     “You misunderstand the mystery there.  Regardless of what he felt at that moment, I never left him.”     “How can you say that?  You abandoned him just like you abandoned me!”     “Mackenzie, I never left him, and I have never left you.”     “That makes no sense to me.” He snapped.”  (~ page 95-96)  This passage from “The Shack” lit a yearning in me to understand this more fully.  I feel drawn to the version shared by Paul Young, Baxter Kruger, and Brad Jersak.  And in the past, I’ve shuddered and tried to hide myself from images of God’s terrible wrath being poured out upon Jesus on my behalf.   Which version is true? What we believe about what happened on the Cross deeply influences how we relate to the Trinity; especially when we're in the midst of our own “Great Sadness”. I invite you to listen to this talk and explore this question with me: http://blazingfire.podbean.com/e/two-versions-of-the-gospel-russ-fochler/ If you use the link above, you can also see the slides. You can also watch “The Gospel in Chairs” video by Brad Jersak which I used in the talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0BUFR9wSko In the midst of all this, I encourage you to engage with the One who is the Way (the process, the journey), the Truth (who sets us free), and the Life (through experiential relationship with Him). Love, Russ Note: The other two books I referenced in the talk were: "The Shack Revisited" by C. Baxter Kruger, and "A More Christlike God" by Bradley Jersak.

Take the Plunge by Pastor Todd Lout

There’s an older, Vineyard song that I still love to sing.  You know the one,

“Let The Winds Blow”, written by David Ruis?  Every time I lead that I just have to repeat a line in it over and over; “You consider me lovely, let this truth open up my soul”.  Also, when we’re singing the song, “Indescribable”, by Laura Story, I always repeat the phrase, “You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same”.  Every time we linger on those phrases there is a definite shift in the room.  The atmosphere becomes more intense and emotions take more color.  These powerful truths touch a deep need in the human heart.

We are longing to be seen and still loved.  But by, “seen”, I mean really seen….to the core.  Have you ever let somebody in on something that is sacred, secret, exposing or even shameful to you?  It is such a huge risk!  It’s a risk because, “What if they see this and reject me?”  “What if they know this and expose me more than I was willing to be exposed?”  “What if they shame me even more??”  BUT, when you take that plunge and discover that there is pure love coming back at you, there’s nothing quite like it! It's like a refreshing plunge into healing waters.

I’m convinced that one large reason people become addicted to alcohol, or other substances, is to tap into a synthetic, and momentary version of this feeling we’re talking about here.  Think about it, when we’re in that drunk state of being we don’t really feel that “what if” feeling....those layers of protection that we typically wear, that fear of man, seemily gone for a minute.  Then, oh the yucky consequences of something not real. 

BUT GOD, sees everything (1 Samuel 16:7) and He still loves us beyond what we tend to even believe about love. (1 Corinthians 13:7, 1 John 4:16).  It's all there, laid bare, in front of Him, Who IS pure love.  Yet His love toward us is an ocean without a shore.

Yes, He does see some things that need correcting and He does help us.  This is certainly one of the scary parts.  It’s because we tend to compare His correction to the disapproval we’ve felt from humans before.  But this, too, is an act of pure love.  He wants the very best for us on the inside and is willing to allow conviction in to help us.  We must get the truth in us, though, to receive this correction.  The truth is that this is still approval of us.  If it wasn’t, He wouldn’t bother. In fact, the Bible even tells us that if He didn’t do this from time to time, we would be “illegitimate” (Hebrews 12:5-11) 

So here’s a wrap up:  Let’s let ourselves experience the euphoria of being seen by perfect love.  It’s like jumping into the ocean.  It could seem scary but once we do, it’s exhilarating, refreshing, all encompassing and there aint no turnin’ back!  Even so, find this joy in the correction and perfecting of love. Being refined by it and simply basking in it.  Step out!  Come out of hiding!  We will find nothing but pure love waiting to soak us through and through.

*Might I offer a great book recommendation?  It's called, "Skinny Dipping With The Savior", by Eric B Blackwell.  I know, I know...it sounds crazy, but it's really good and takes this subject matter into much detail.

                                                    

The River, The Cocoon and The Navigator - by guest contributor Sarah Yang

For most of my life I believed that life's journey took place on train tracks.  The path was linear with specific sub-stations to mark my progress in life (i.e. get an education -> get a job -> get married -> get a house -> have kids.)  Therefore, I was constantly trying to figure out God’s will so I could be at the right place at the right time with the right people on the right train so I could make all the right stops and eventually get to “Destiny Central Station.”  I would know when I finally got to my destination when people around me chanted, “You’ve arrived!” God could be my Conductor so long as He made all the stops at the sub-stations of “success.”  But I came to realize when my life got derailed and became a “train wreck,” that this God I believed in was the make-believe god of karma (do good, get good.)  It has nothing to do with the real God; it is completely founded upon my performance.  And if whoever you think is God can be shaken, it's not really God. That’s when God showed me that His path is more like a river.  In a river, there are infinite paths that you can take but you can always trust the current.  The current will always get you to where you want to go.  No matter what path we choose, as long as we stay in the raft with Jesus as our guide and remain in the current, we’ll get to our destination.  That current is His Love, that destination is His Heart, and the One navigating is not in a rush.  You are safer in the river with Him than anywhere else even though it might lead you into the dark and unknown.   What is dark and unknown?  Cocoons.  Feel like you are hanging by a thread?  Shelved?  In the dark?  Have no clue what's going on but everything in and around you is changing?  So does a caterpillar that’s becoming a butterfly.  And the Invisible Thread that’s holding you in your process of transformation is stronger than all the steel that exists on planet earth.  So don’t shortcut the process – a butterfly freed too soon will never take flight. The other option is religion.  Religion is a “Mirror of Self-Evaluation and Comparison” that is only able to reflect back your performance and productivity.  This mirror also magnifies your flaws and turns molehills in your character into mountains of defects.  You never feel good enough no matter how hard you try because you were never made to behold a mirror… you were made to behold a Person.  You were created for Son-gazing not mirror-gazing.  There is no formula but there is a wild adventure.  We are invited into a journey where the River is His Love, the raft is the cocoon of His Presence, and our faithful companion and guide is Jesus.  So enjoy the ride.  :)

It's Not the Critic Who Counts by Pastor Karena Lout

I’ve been really impacted by this quote by Theodore Roosevelt; “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasm, the great devotions; who spends himself on a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” I’ll be the first to tell you that I’ve fallen down many times. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I’m actually okay with that because I know I wouldn’t grow otherwise. We tend to spotlight our failures and minimize the great courage it actually took to step into the “arena”.  Sometimes the loudest voice we hear is the voice of criticism; whether it’s our own thoughts or the shouts of others. I’ve been criticized and I’ve also been the critic. Criticism is the easier road because it requires nothing from you. It’s easy to stand on the sidelines and point out a problem. But it takes great courage and vulnerability to step into the arena. In Numbers 13, Moses sends out 12 tribal leaders to scout out the land of Canaan, their Promised land. They checked it out to see what the land was like, if it was inhabitable and what kind of enemies they were up against. They report back to Moses that the land is fruitful but there’s giants living there that they can’t overthrow. So the Israelites began yelling and complaining and grumbling. They couldn’t see a way out and end up in the wilderness. The reality was that they could overthrow their enemies. Caleb and Joshua were confident they could conquer the land.  “But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land.” Numbers 14:24. Perspective is everything. Some see a problem, while others see an opportunity. If you are presented with a problem, it’s usually because you hold the answer, the promise. We are living in some pretty intense times. We don’t need to ignore that problems exist. But Jesus is calling us as sons and daughters to survey the land, access the damage and He will give us solutions to remedy some things. Sons and daughters take ownership. You really do have what it takes to step into the arena. Jesus will give you grace when you mess up and courage to get back up when you fall. I pray the loudest voice you hear will be the voice of truth and encouragement. You got this!                                                     Cheering you on, Karena