This I Believe by Pastor Russ Fochler

If someone asked you what you believe; about what some of your core values are – what would you share? 

Recently, I was intrigued to learn about a national project that solicited and broadcast brief essays about what individuals believed:

During its four years on NPR (National Public Radio), This I Believe engaged listeners in a discussion of the core beliefs that guide their daily lives. 

Now, “This I Believe” http://thisibelieve.org/ is an international organization engaging people in writing and sharing essays describing the core values that guide their daily lives. Some 100,000 of these essays, written by people from all walks of life, are archived here on their website, heard on  public radio, chronicled through their books, and featured in weekly podcasts. The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow.

As you consider this question about your own core beliefs, you may be surprised by the deeply-felt values that now rise to the surface.  They may be as earthy as believing in the transformational value of growing a garden.  Or community focused, like the man who believed in inviting a new group of strangers to his house for dinner and conversation each week.   They may be as practical as a strong belief in the value of keeping things organized and neat….

One of my favorites essays in “This I Believe” was by 6-year-old Tarak McLain of Texas.  Here are seven of the 100 beliefs that Tarak came up with:

·      I believe we’re all equal.

·      I believe we can help people.

·      I believe everyone is weird in their own way.

·      I believe we should be generous.

·      I believe I should not whine.

·      I believe that God helps us to have a good time.

·      I believe people should go outside more.

So, what core beliefs guide your daily life?

When we consider what we believe in and what we value, we then make more room for them in our daily life.   What are we “tuning into” in the moments that we have?  What are we planning for and sowing into for the days, months, and years that we have on this earth?

One of the things that I received last summer through almost dying, was a heightened sensitivity to the gift of each moment: To cherish the ones I love and to “drink in” the beauty around me. 

And I’m convinced that one doesn’t need a “close call with death” in order to live more aligned with our deepest values....  

Years ago, the original Blazing Fire Elders recognized and wrote down the core values of this fellowship.  These core values are not what we’re “supposed to believe” in order to please God.  Rather, they reflect our understanding of Father God’s heart for us.  And we embrace them as keys to living well in Father God’s family. 

You can read these core values at: http://www.blazingfire.org/corevalues.htm . 

Do they resonate with what you value in a spiritual community?

To further encourage you to write down your own “This I Believe” statements, here are some of mine:

• I believe that not all truth in the Bible has equal priority.  Some things are more important to God’s heart.  As I read the Bible with the Holy Spirit, He helps me understand how all aspects of life-giving truth fit together.  (Thank you to Kris Vallotton for passing along this revelation)
• I believe in being authentic with everyone.  And I seek to be vulnerable with people to the degree that they value and receive my vulnerability.
• I believe in "drinking in" the glory of sun-lit leaves in the late afternoon.
• I believe in keeping grace and truth together.

I’d love to hear from you about the core beliefs that guide your daily life.   I invite you to send me some of the ones that speak most uniquely and powerfully to you. 

And keep in mind Tarak’s observation:

“I believe everyone is weird in their own way.”   ; )

Russ Fochler

rfochler@yahoo.com

Unrestrained Extravagant Love by Pastor Karena Lout

When Todd and I were engaged, he'd often put his affection for me on display by extravagantly proposing to me over and over again when we were out on a date. But if you know Todd, this probably doesn't come as a surprise. Whether we were at a restaurant or a park, onlookers would applaud every time as I said, "Yes!" Love makes you do crazy things. You want to shout it out across every mountaintop. Embarrassment and restraint are pretty nonexistent.

I revel in the unrestrained, radical love that Jesus continually lavishes over me. Love tore the veil and broke down any wall that would separate. Christ took death upon Himself to guarantee that we would enjoy inseparable union together for eternity. Our hearts can't help but respond in sweet adoration and abandoned devotion.

"Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil." John 12:3

Mary of Bethany was a young single woman, with no known public ministry. She unashamedly spent a year's wages, her whole inheritance, as she poured her costly perfume out over Jesus. This was simply her response to love. She was mocked for what was considered a "waste" but Jesus openly received it with love and honor. He says in Mark 14, "Wherever the Gospel is preached throughout the world, I want what this woman has done to also be told." This is His value for intimate relationship. Mary wasn't known in the courts of men during her lifetime, yet her devotion would be remembered all throughout history. Mark 14:8 says, "She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial." Mary saw the cross before it happened. Her heart was postured in a way that she could recognize her inclusion in Christ's burial and resurrection. The sweet fragrance of her love would forever be intertwined with her Beloved's.

I love the song "Dress Us Up" by John Mark Mcmillan. As you read some of the lyrics below, I encourage you to dive into this uncontrolled, uninhibited ocean of LOVE with Jesus right now:

"Dress us up in your righteousness

Bring us in with a ring and a kiss

When you walk into the room you know we can't resist

Every bottle of perfume always ends up on the floor in a mess"

Jesus is the author and finisher of this kind of intimate relationship. He can't take His eyes off of you. You ravish His heart in a way that causes the earth to sing out and the heavens to resound with the heartbeat of His love for you. If you're feeling apprehensive or afraid to let Him that close, I encourage you to ask Jesus to show you what it would look like to have this kind of intimacy with Him. And I pray you feel the sweet kisses of His love and pleasure over you like never before!

Love, Karena

Thought Provoking Questions by Brent Lokker

Last Saturday during Blazing Fire's worship service, I asked many questions to provoke people into higher places with the Lord (The Lord often asked questions in the Scriptures to invite us into deeper places with Him).  I have included some Scripture verses, not as proof-texts, but as a starting point for you to explore greater truth with the Lord.  Enjoy the journey with Him!  Rather than just zipping through these, stop at the ones that hit you and talk with Papa about it--He loves the time with you!

What if we knew we were Daddy’s favorite ALL the time?
(Luke 4:19; John 1:16; 2 Corinthians 6:2)

What if we were absolutely certain God wasn’t disappointed with us in any way?
(Romans 5:1-8)

What if we gave ourselves the exact same value and worth God does?
(1 Peter 1:18-19)

What if we always knew that God was good?
(Psalm 106:1; Romans 8:28)

What would our relationship with God be like if we were convinced we were blameless?
(1 Corinthians 1:8; Ephesians 1:4; 5:27)

What if we always operated in our true nature of perfect love so that fear did not exist?
(1 John 4:16-18)

What if we really believed we died to sin and sin wasn’t our master anymore?
(Romans 6:6-7; 17-18)

What would happen if we always lived as free people under the covenant of grace?
(John 8:36; Romans 8:2; 2 Corinthians 3:17)

What if the only addiction we had was to the all-consuming love of God?
(Ephesians 5:18; Matthew 4:4; Romans 8:38-39)

What if shame and condemnation were feelings we knew nothing about?
(Romans 8:1; 10:11)

What would happen if we actually believed we hear the voice of God?
(John 10:3; 16)

What if we saw money as a powerful tool in our hands for the sake of the Kingdom instead of something that would save us?
(2 Corinthians 9:8-11; Luke 19:17)

What if we lived with no impossibilities, knowing that we would never die?
(Mark 10:27; Philippians 4:13; John 11:26)

What would our lives be like if we continuously rested in God, never working for what’s already ours in Christ?
(Matthew 11:28-30; Galatians 3:2-3; Hebrews 4:1-11)

What if we were never tempted to doubt that Jesus is totally infatuated with and love-struck for his bride?
(Song of Songs 4:1; 7)

What would the family of God look like if we never got offended at each other?
(Colossians 3:3; 13)

How would husbands and wives treat each other if we always knew we were one flesh?
(Ephesians 5:25-33, especially in The Message Bible)

How quickly would the world believe in Jesus if all the Believers valued each other as God does?
(John 13:34-35; 17:21)

What would happen if we extended the same forgiveness, grace and mercy to each other that God has extended to us?
(Colossians 3:13; James 2:13)

What if we believed God that each and every member of the body of Christ is completely indispensible?
(1 Corinthians 12:12-26)

What if we believed that every single person in this world all had the very same Father?
(Ephesians 3:14-15)

What would we be doing if we believed God all the time?
(Hebrews 11; 1 John 5:5)

What would the world look like if the sons of God were revealed?
(Romans 8:19)

What would our lives be like if we always believed Christ lives in us?
(Galatians 2:20; 3:27)

What would happen if we trusted God with our whole heart and didn’t lean on our own understanding?
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

What We Do for God's Heart by Pastor Susan Fochler

In the Song of Solomon 4:9, the Shulamite’s lover says to her, “You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride; you have ravished My heart with one look from your eyes”.  It astonishes me that our God, dwelling in heaven in all perfection, could be so touched by us finite, sometimes struggling human beings.  His view of what is beautiful and desirable clearly is far beyond mine.   I began processing these thoughts with Papa.  And I recognized how at times I have compared myself to others in my insecurity, and wondered what He could possibly see in me that so touches Him.  He started sharing His heart with me.  So this is a little stream-of-consciousness from my journal:

We are each uniquely special and known to God
“How can I compare one sunset with another?  A radiant moonlit night, a majestic waterfall, one with another?  All have intrinsic beauty and worth.  They are incomparable.  So are My children.  Each of you, incredible, with intrinsic beauty and worth, individually created with unique facets of My glory integrated into your life.  I love those things that touch your heart and make you cry.  I love how you think and approach issues; I adore how you enjoy the beauty of your world.  I even appreciate those moments when offense comes and your heart hardens; for in those times I see ahead to the instant your heart will melt again as My kindness and truth warm you and insight comes.  I’m not expecting, ever, that you figure everything out.  I am with you; that’s enough.

“You are all beauty, all desirable to Me.  I never tire of watching and enjoying you.  I enjoy you with all My senses; I see you, I smell you, I taste you, I hear you.  I listen to your every word, as well as your unspoken thoughts.  I have given my whole heart to you, without reservation.  I am not capable of feeling rejected; I will never be offended in those moments when you forget I am there because I understand your human limitations.  So please do not be so quick to judge yourself.  I am ever eager to help you; however, my desire to help will always be tempered by My wisdom to choose the best way, even at risk of being misunderstood.  I understand your misunderstandings.

“My love for you flows with the same holiness, the same tenderness, the same firey passion that inspired Me to plan your life from before the beginning of time.  I so desire that you would see yourself as I do!  The colors, the hues, the sounds, the melodies; the unique, indescribable aroma of your life fills My senses.  I can actually taste your life...truly a feast that satisfies My heart!  Your life flows as a river to Me, as My life flows as a river to you.

Being with us is God's deepest passion
“You really do ravish Me, dear one; with one look of your eyes.  One small effort to invite Me in touches Me so deeply that My passion rises up fresh and new all over again.  Every day my thoughts toward you are re-invigorated and newly inspired.  For Me there is no mundane, “same old, same old”.  Every contour of your soul, every yearning of your spirit fascinates and draws a response of deep affection from Me.

“Never underestimate the power of your attractiveness to Me.  I so look forward to our eternity together, yet I see it all in every present moment.  To be with you is My hearts delight.  It doesn’t get better than this for Me:  to have your thoughts, your desire focused upon Me, acknowledging whatever you can of My essence, to whatever extent you are able.  My infinite, all-knowing and all-powerful Self is satisfied by your finite love.  Your small measure, poured into My measurelessness meets Me.

"I am your consuming fire, a fire that burns holy but tender, and I’m all yours.  I hold, with you, all the passion we need, together.”

Living Whole-Hearted by Pastor Russ Fochler

The word “courage” comes from the Latin root “cor” which means “heart”.  Courage originally meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.”
During a recent trip with Paul Manwaring to the U.K., Paul frequently talked about and lived-out before us the “keys” of authenticity and vulnerability.  “Keys” to what?  I believe that authenticity and emotional vulnerability are keys to living whole-hearted and connected.
As humans, we are “wired” for connection.   Babies instinctively look for a human face, for eyes that are happy to see them - and then seek for the heart behind those eyes to connect with.  Our greatest joys and our greatest griefs have to do with the quality of our attachments to others.  Authenticity and a healthy vulnerability make it possible for us to live connected - with God, with loved ones, and indeed with our own heart.  

Jesus lived His life on this earth whole-hearted – truly authentic and vulnerable.  And He got exasperated with those who taught and modeled a religiosity that was full of pretense and hard-heartedness.   Jesus was consistently authentic about who He was – even though it was sometimes offensive for many.   Jesus was vulnerable to those who were close to Him.   And we are invited to live like Jesus.

And while its tempting to think that if we had the same power that Jesus had – that vulnerability would no longer be a challenge for us; this is clearly not true.  Jesus lived with vulnerability.  So did His powerful ambassadors including the apostles Peter and Paul.  Leif Hetland lives in great faith and power - and also with vulnerability.

There are powerful forces that work against authenticity and vulnerability.   These include shame and fear.  How we respond to these forces either limits or expands the realms of our lives.

During our UK trip, the Holy Spirit showed me several people who were locked-up by a fear of disappointment.  It was scary for them to trust God because of past disappointments.  I could relate.  I’m chagrinned to acknowledge that for most of my life; I’ve limited my hopes and endeavors so as to avoid being “devastated” by failure or disappointment.   But, it turns out that failure and disappointment are just part of living – not a “life sentence” upon our identity.  The whole-hearted do not live in fear of failure and disappointment – and that frees them to be “present” and engaged with the gifts and opportunities of each moment.

Invitation to go deeper:

Do you have “no go” areas in your life because of fear of disappointment (or another fear)?   Simply acknowledging this to someone will remove most, if not all of the shame.  And then, I encourage you to ask Jesus: “What would it look like for me, if I gave You my fear of disappointment?”   Then wait and watch in your imagination what He shows you (or the feelings He releases).   With the truth that Jesus reveals, I’ve seen many people now choose to reach inside and hand over that fear to Jesus.  Declare: “I break all agreements with “fear”.  I will no longer look to fear to keep me safe.  Instead I look to Jesus to be my protector”.  Sometimes, people feel something like tendrils of fear trying to hold on.  Simply ask Jesus to remove those tendrils.   After that fear (and often associated spirit of fear) are removed, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His light, His love, His power, peace, and clear thinking (from 2 Tim 1:7).   You can also ask Jesus what He would like to give you in exchange for the fear.   Jesus is wonderful and often surprising in how He responds.

Engaging with our vulnerability - or trying to "numb" it:

Author and speaker Brene Brown writes:
“Vulnerability is not weakness, and the uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure we face every day are not optional. Our only choice is a question of engagement.”

So, I invite you to reflect about how you respond to the uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure of your daily life.   Many of us react by trying to “numb” or distract ourselves with food, TV, shopping, the internet, drugs, alcohol, or video games.  We crave control, certainty, and a “safe” distance.

Experiencing the Truth that frees us:

How do we find the strength to live authentically and vulnerably instead?  Only in experiencing the truth that we are eternally loved and celebrated by our Abba.  Only in experiencing the presence of our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty (Hero) God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (Is 9:6) do we receive the continual grace to live whole-hearted.   And where our hearts are still fragmented, Jesus has come to restore our hearts to wholeness.  (Is 61:1)

Our heart connection with the Trinity empowers us to live authentically and vulnerably.  And being real and vulnerable enables us to have deeper heart connections with God and with each other.  It starts because He loves us first.

His love gives us courage!

Russ Fochler

Living as True Sons and Daughters! by Senior Pastor Brent Lokker

"I have called you by name~You are MINE!" Isaiah 43:1

My spirit is more alive and energized about the days we are living than ever before!  Sometimes in my alone times with God, I'm so "amped" I can barely stand it!  It has everything in the world to do with my status as Papa's favored son who He's chosen to be alive at this time and place in history.  My spirit is super excited even though I don't know all of what it means yet.  What I do know is I'm not missing my appointed destiny and neither are you!  I also know that It's a very, very good time to be alive in the Lord!!

Doug Addison recently wrote, "There are things that God is calling us to do over the next year that will bring an amazing amount of blessing and purpose into our lives, but first we need to complete things that have been left undone.  Over the next fifteen weeks, from June 12 to September 25, we have a strategic window of opportunity to finish things that have been hanging around undone or that God has been calling us to do. This is time to work hard toward completing things and tying up loose ends, as God is releasing new assignments this September. It is time to find anything that God had asked us to do and get it done! It is an exciting time of accomplishment toward your destiny!

"A good thing to do in response to this word is to take a look for things that are unfinished, even if it's as simple or mundane as cleaning out the garage, signing up for school, or updating your resume.

"June is a time that we will need to work hard to break through old mindsets and ungodly thinking. God is removing all limits. The major limitation we face is our own thinking. Watch on June 20th, a window of opportunity is going to open that will allow us to see more clearly. By July, we will begin to understand and gain insight into God's new plans that are being established in us."

Shifting out of an orphan mindset into True Sons & Daughters

One of the huge shifts in our thinking happening right now is from the old orphan mindset to the new mindset of living in the fulness of being Papa God's sons and daughters!  Last Saturday night, the title of my message was  "Entrepreneurial Sons and Daughters of the King!"  An entrepreneur is an innovator who is highly creative with a tendency to imagine new solutions by finding opportunities for profit or reward--An enterprising individual who builds capital through risk and/or initiative.

That's you and the Lord together thinking brilliantly for the sake of bringing heaven to earth with solutions not only to your own problems, but also to those of the world around you.  In a nutshell, here was the content of my message from last week:

Living as true sons and daughters of the King means:

    * No more orphan mindset for you!

    * No more entitlement mindset for you either!

    * You have an entrepreneurial spirit and the mind of Christ!

    * You continually ask God for His brilliant solutions and then act on them!

    * You are here to represent Jesus and nothing is going to stop Christ in you from impacting this world!

    * It's time to think Brilliantly!!

God won't let me put this down.  This Saturday night at Blazing Fire I'm going to build from last week and take this deeper still.  We MUST get this identity as Royal Sons and Daughters to the core of our being!  Even the earth itself is counting on it...

"The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters." (Romans 8:19, The Common English Bible)

Why don't you stop and ask Him right now in whatever situation you are facing, "Papa, if you were me, what would you do in this situation?"  He has the answers and He longs to share with you as His favored son or daughter.  It's time to think brilliantly with Him as true sons and daughters!

The Palace Is Your Playground by Pastor Karena Lout

"You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation," 1 Peter 2:9.  

Last Saturday night, I took our awesome kids (the Swordbearers) to the playground after worship. After awhile of running around and playing catch, one of the girls and I decided to play "Princesses of the Playground." It was very easy for her to assume the role of princess. It is obvious that she knows her worth as a daughter of the King and doesn't need to make apologies for it. A few other kids joined in the fun and soon dragons were being slain, imaginary ice cream appeared on command and the playground became our Kingdom.

CHILDLIKE FAITH
I love the way children look at the world with such awe as their creativity and imagination is encouraged. It is probably one of the reasons why Jesus said in Mark 10:14 "Let the children come to me for the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." Children are a constant reminder to look at the world through the lenses of pure faith and trust that nothing is impossible with God. During our healing service a few weeks ago, one of the kids had a word of knowledge that God wanted to heal cancer. She told me with such assurance that Papa was going to do it without question. As Princes and Princesses, we've been given authority to rule and reign with Christ. Sometimes we tend to complicate things. But truly, beauty is found in the simplicity of the Gospel.

SUPERNATURAL EXPLORATION
As His beloved children, the Father has given you the keys to explore His Kingdom. Several years ago at Blazing Fire, I remember one of the kids would point out all the angels in the room to me during worship. She would describe their appearance in detail and explain why they were there and what they were doing. I got so much joy watching her giggle as she played and danced with them. This is our inheritance as sons and daughters. We get to see into the unseen realm and receive it with childlike faith and abandon. There's nothing you need to do to make it happen. Our efforts to gain something that is already ours are futile. In The Chronicles of Narnia, young Lucy had eyes to see Aslan, simply because she BELIEVED.

AN ADVENTUROUS LIFE
As a little girl, my Dad used to take me to the beach where we'd play for hours on end. We'd swim out into the ocean where he'd toss me high in the air and I'd come crashing down with a huge splash. I felt like I was flying. Everything was an adventure and anything seemed possible. I want to bless you right now to return to that place of childlike faith and innocence. As a new creation, you really are born again into a life of freedom, supernatural exploration, awe and wonder. The palace is your home. Your significance rests in the truth that you are the Father's beloved son or daughter and He takes so much pleasure in you.

*SWORDBEARERS AND PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN GATHER SAT. NIGHTS AFTER WORSHIP

Much Love, Karena