R-I-S-K

Last Sunday at church a guy named Brian Blount spoke about what is happening right now in the Kingdom in Oklahoma City. It was one of the most encouraging and challenging times I have had lately and it has brought on more thoughts throughout this week. Basically he was talking about the reality of God and how good He is. A few weeks ago there was a weekend event in OKC called Harvest Fest where a bunch of churches got together to love and serve the community and Brian shared many stories about he and a group going through some of the poorest areas of town praying for people and seeing God show up in amazing ways bringing both healings and salvations.

For me it was a story of a group of people with boldness who really believed that they had “Good News” to share. They just went out and went for it. They asked if they could pray for people, they shared the story of Jesus and a loving God, and as they prayed over people, God healed them!! Salvation happened!! Lives were changed!!

Now that is encouraging stuff, and it actually sounds really easy doesn’t it? But that morning as I was listening and even now I still feel nauseous when I think about walking up to someone and asking to pray and share Jesus. I doubt whether or not Jesus would really heal the people I would pray for. (for the record I did go up and recieve prayer over those feelings). I have prayed for lots of people and have never seen instant healing. I have seen things that I have prayed for come to pass in time, but never that instant healing. I have tried, but I guess it was just not in His timing to heal right when I prayed. So unfortunately I feel doubt when I think about going and doing it. I know that part of it is fear of man and wondering what people would think and that is total BS, because it should not matter. The only thing that should matter is obedience to what I feel God is calling me to do whether it is in the grocery store or restaurant or church. He is in control of my reputation, not me.

Brian talked about how you spell the word “faith” as R-I-S-K. I have heard that statement before and always thought of it as a Christian cliché, but this time it really got me thinking about how much I do not risk in my faith. A risk is walking up to someone with a cane and telling them that God is going to heal them today. That is really laying it on the line, putting it all on God and then just trusting and having faith that He will come and heal. I have prayed for people that were sick before, but I usually just ask God to heal them and hope that at some point they will start getting better, but I have never gone into that situation and risked it all and told that person “God is going to heal you right now so let’s pray.” I think I have never done that because I have no idea whether God is going to heal that person or not….how am I to know the thoughts of God and His plans? I want that confidence and I want that risking faith. I want to trust that God is going to come move, but when I am honest I have to say that I am not sure it will happen.

All in all I guess I just want a deeper faith to believe that He is going to move through me. I want to have fearless confidence and boldness in sharing the “Good News.” I want to be able to risk things and put them on God’s plate and trust Him to do what He knows is best. I want to hear His voice as He speaks and be obedient to what I hear. I really do want this stuff and I want a deeper faith that the kingdom of God is active and moving all around us.

Stuck in a Stage

I allowed myself to admit something the other day that has been true for some time, but I have always pushed it aside. It is something that always comes up when I see a friend or aquaintence and they ask "How have things been?" or "What have you been up to latley?" I think to myself and then answer the same thing every time...."Things are good, not much new going on, just working all day and going home." That seems to pretty much sum up my life over the last 6 months. Same old stuff. Sure there are other things going on from time to time, we are a part of a house church and d-group as well as church on Sunday morning, but it all just feels like a cycle, a rythem where everything is running a little too smooth. Everyday is predictable.

I thank God for the life he has given me, I do not want to complain about it whatsoever becasue I am so blessed, but I guess I just do not feel challenged by many things. I am too comfortable and settled in my life and I feel stuck in this stage.

I also feel that the change that I sense needs to happen is not something that has to do with my circumstances (work, church, relationships etc.), but it has to do with my heart and the way I am choosing to live. I am choosing to be as comfortable as possible and as lazy as I can get away with becasue I think that is what I want, but all it has done is give birth to this viscious cycle that I feel stuck in. A self-obsessed cycle where I am king and what I say goes. It looks silly when I type that, but there is some truth to it.

I do not have all the answers, but I am praying for change in my heart. I also do not want to continue to bash myself over things that I feel are not quite right becasue I know we all have those things in our lives. God has deposited so many good things in my life and I really am trying my best to live them out. I guess what I am feeling right now is just a sense of a change that needs to take place and He needs to do it in me. You can only get stuck if you stay in the same place to long, so I believe it is time to take a step foward and trust.

24

Have you ever wondered what the show 24 would have looked like if it had come out a few years ealier?? Well wonder no more! Enjoy this video and see what CTU would have looked like in 1994....pretty funny stuff if you are a 24 fan. Thanks to my frined Andy Garlich for passing on this video to me.

Is Faith Enough?

I feel like a lot of times I have a lazy faith, one that takes a lot and gives little. One that is self absorbed and so inward focused that my life natuarlly feels out of whack. I know it seems like an extreme because there are some people out there that never bother to take a look inside and what is going on in there, and only focus their attention outward. I have had a strong sense latley that I need a balance in my walk with Jesus.

God brought to mind the book of James and how he talked about the relationship between our faith and our works. Now let me state that I do beleve that I am saved by my faith in Jesus Christ and His grace to save me, and it is not becasue of my deeds that he saves me, but at the same time they still go together in a very intricate way.

Becasue of my love for Jesus I want it (works) to natuarlly come out of me, but that is sadly not the case. I want to see Jesus do some much in this city and in relationships, but what am I doing to activly pursue seeing those things? I watch so many people that I look up to and I see them give their time so freely to serve and love others and I want to get to that place, I need to get to that place becasue I beleive Jesus will meet me there in new ways.

I have a "Little Brother" with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and we have just started our relationship in the last few months and it has been a really tough thing for me. It is something that is way out of my comfort zone, but I felt like Jesus was asking me to do it, with much reluctence I obeyed and it is good, but hard. I want to be more active in the city with such places as The Refuge, and Cross and Crown. I want to be more active in the mission of our House Church in the Village. All these thing are things that I want deep down in my heart, and I want to do them becasue I love Jesus and need to be about giving my life away, not hording it, but in the end it is hard. In the end I work all day and come home tired and ready to veg. In the end I want the weekends to be about me and what I want and my projects.

In the end my faith becomes all about me and how I feel, so I sit at church during worship and evaluate my heart and find my love for Jesus to be present, but I also feel like He has so much more for me, that He is calling me to the front lines of what He is doing, almost like I have a valuble part to play if I would just accept that role and allow Him to lead me. I don't know, I just sense that my faith is not always enough and I need to get off the couch and get to living...get to serving. This is my prayer.

Do You Speak German?

I do not speak German either, but I still think this is pretty cool. About a year or so ago a German publisher got ahold of Crystal and NavPress and wanted the rights to publisher her book in German. Of course everyone involved agreed and here is the finished product:


Crystal has had the oppurtunity to go and speak a few times in Germany and has always had amazing times of ministry while over there. Hopefully this book will further encourage them to live fully for Jesus and what He has for them.

Family Force 5

Speechless....as in I am without speech when it comes to describing a Family Force 5 concert. There are no proper words to describe seeing them live. All I can say is that it is a Party. I was lucky enough to go see them last night over by Tulsa and they did not disappoint.


I want to tell you to check them out, but it may make no sense unless you are able to see them live. They have a cd and I think it is amazing, but I also understand them and how everything they do is built around seeing them live. I guess what I am saying is that if you ever have the chance to go see them live do not pass it by. Do not spend anytime thinking whether or not it is worth it or debate whether you would enjoy it...just Go!


I think in one evening of listening to them at their show I heard so many diferent types and styles within their music. I heard Rock/Hip-Hop/Gangsta Rap/Beastie Boys/Rage Against the Machine/Synth/and even a hint of R&B. It is all a very weird mix, but it is fun. A guy that I was with at the show simply said that they do what everyone else wants to do, they just let loose and have fun. They do not take themselves or the music too seriously, but musically they are so tight, they know what they are doing. Anyway, it was great and you need to see them live!!!


Craziness. Party. Fun.

Once

As tempting as it is to actually write a blog about this movie and how much I love it, I will refrain from doing so right now becasue I want everyone to watch it first and I don't want to spoil anything. All I will say is that it is definatley one of my favorite movies of the past year and the soundtrack is amazing. Check it out!

Burrito Heaven

I moved to Oklahoma almost 3 years ago and and in doing so left behind one of my greatest loves. I arrived on the red soil of Oklahoma only to realize that there were no Chipotle Mexican restaurants within a 2 hour drive. I did what I could, I emailed the company and asked why they were not in Oklahoma City, gave them city statistics, gave them ideas for places they could buy and use. I looked into franchising (which they do not do), and I got time lines on arrival about every 5-6 months. I had to have my burritos.

Well, I am happy to announce that a new Chipotle is opening in Edmond, OK on the corner of 15th and Broadway. Nothing is official yet, but I got an email from an insider at Chipotle today that said they are shooting to open their doors on Friday January 18th. This is a joyous day for Oklahoma indeed.

A little ps. is needed here for all Oklahomans. Chipotle does not have any queso dip for either the burritos or chips. I know this will bother some people, but my advice is to come try it anyway and enjoy the delicious tastes of a gourmet burrito.

300: We Have to Fight!

"We Spartans are descended from Hercules himself. Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Taught that death in the battlefield in service of Sparta is the greatest glory he could achieve in his life."

I watched the movie 300 again last night and once again something within me was stirred. It was not that I was choked up or emotional, but rather I was stirred to live my life better and with more intention. These Spartans are warriors and they know it, there is never a doubt in their minds as to who they are. From a very young age they are trained and taught who they are and how to fight. They are tested and left to fend for themselves, to prove their ability and strength, to test their intelligence. These Spartans do not have an identity crisis, they are raised knowing who they are.

So as I watched the movie again I took stock in who I was and who I was made to be in God's image. It is obvious to me that God is a warrior. Exodus 15:3 "The Lord is a warrior, the Lord is His name." God has so many attributes, and one of those things is a warrior, and being made in his image makes me believe that He has put his warrior heart inside of me. I need to let that truth sink in more and more, I want that to be part of my identity that I do not have to doubt. I am a warrior because I have the Warriors heart inside of me. I can fight, I can battle, I do not have to back down, I do not have to have fear, I can be strong and dangerous. I can be good, but I do not have to be safe. I have freedom to walk this stuff out in my life and I need to do a better job of utilizing the warrior heart inside of me and recognizing the battles that lay in front of me.

Now I am not saying that I am going to war physically, but in the realm of spiritual warfare I have sat and watched far too long and I need to start fighting. If I believe that Jesus is more real than this computer that I am typing on right now, that he is more tangible than the chair I am sitting in, than I also have to believe that his world is real and the spiritual realm is real and there is such a thing as good and evil, which are constantly in opposition to each other and constantly at war. Angels and demons fight. Spiritual oppression and sin are real things. I cannot just slumber and wait and watch anymore, I need to join in the fight, I need to fight alongside my King. I have what is takes.

So this is obviously not 300, I am not going to fight the Persian army, but the war I fight is no less real, no less important. 300 is a picture of what is going on spiritually when good and evil fight. This in mind, what are the battles we fight? I cannot speak for everyone, but I personally feel the battle raging on a lot. I fight against sin and lust. I fight against pride and selfishness (2 of the enemy's best weapons against us!) I fight for my wife and for my marriage when I see attacks coming against us. You might think the big argument you have before church is just an annoying fight, but looking deeper it is so clear that an attack has just happened, the enemy trying to drive a wedge between you. I fight for relationships, I fight to spend time with Jesus, I fight against lies told to me and to the ones I love. I fight passivity, I fight fear, I am supposed to fight for the poor and the widows and orphans, I am supposed to fight for justice (not sure I have ever done that too well). Anyway, you get the point.....there is a lot to fight for and literally speaking, those battles are just as real as the battles we watch in 300, just spiritual.

It is possible to go through life and not fight at all, to be passive and selfish, but as a follower of our King we are called and equipped to fight, we have what it takes and we want to be some of the best warriors and fighters that have ever joined in this battle. We just have to make the decision that we are going to be an active part of these daily battles. Because we have the Holy Spirit in us, we are warriors that are to be feared by the enemy, we are among the best warriors in all the world if we just choose to fight. The Spartans say they are descendants of Hercules himself, and thus they are warriors among warriors, the best in all the known world, but we are descendants of God -the fiercest Warrior, so what does that make us? Even better than the Spartans!

I watched the movie 300 and got such a great picture of how I am to fight spiritually. "Never retreat, never surrender." The best part of the whole movie is how they fight, and it is such a great lesson for us all as we fight. They fight as a single unpenetratable unit, each man protecting the man next to him with his shield. Each man protecting the back of another man, watching for attacks and defending them. What a picture this is for us. We are not meant to do this alone, we are not made to fight by ourselves. We need others to fight with us and help protect us where we are vulnerable. When we are fighting the enemy we are rarely fighting just one attacker, but a legion or an army, so we need an army as well, close brothers and sisters that we trust to go into battle with us and watch our backs, our vulnerability. We Need each other, we cannot fight on our own. Other people have to know our weaknesses and our strengths in order to fight alongside of us. They need to know where to protect us and where to use our abilities. It just makes sense, we are warriors like none other, we are to be feared by the enemy and we are to fight together in order to have victory. That is our law.

This blog is a reminder to me that I have what it takes, the battle is always going on in some capacity and it is time to jump in and fight. I am a warrior filled with the Holy Spirit and most feared among my enemy. We can do this together, we can have victory.

"This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they DIE!" - King Leonidas

2007: What a year.

Being the end of the year and all, I have been in somewhat of a reflective mood on life and community and all the things Jesus has done over the past 12 months. The more I have thought about it I have become so thankful for this life He has blessed me with and for His willingness to include me in His plans.

I have felt like 2007 has been a year where Jesus has really put an emphasis on community in my life. It all started in 2005, and 2006 was a growing year, but this past year has been one where I have felt my deep need for living life with community and not being able to settle for anything less. Within the realm of community so many things have happened this year.


What started out almost a year and a half ago as a prayer time for specific things going on at Bridgeway and specifically with men, I began meeting with Randy and Ryan and Andy on a regular basis. God soon turned that prayer group into something so much better. God took those 3 great frineds of mine and made them so much more. He made them brothers, He made them Warriors always by my side no matter what is going on. Through that process God has taught me as well as them that no matter what, I am not alone in the stuff I am walking out, and better yet I have these 3 guys that will not let me slide in anyway or get away with anything. They keep me in check at all times. I know that in all my actions I am not only accountable to God, but I am accountable to them. This year I have just sensed how refreshing it is to have that kind of a bond. To let others open you up and see all the junk that is really there is such a hard an intimidating thing to do, but the freedom that comes from that openess is unexplainable. It sometimes seems like God is knitting the four of our hearts together for something more, for a purpose, for an adventure, for a battle, for a mission. Maybe not to unlike Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin in Lord of the Rings. Four seemlingly normal, everyday people (hobbits) that are transformed into so much more. Anyway, I digress....

Even outside of those 3 guys and myself, as a greater community of friends and lovers of Jesus I have seen Him do so much this past year. In House church we multiplied into another community that was sent out to have a great impact in OKC and in the hearts of those who attend it. We learned how easy and natural that process was. I have never given birth, but if you allow me the grace of acting like I have, multiplying just felt that natural to me. We grew and matured until it was finally time to give birth to this new House Chuch and it was not a sad thing, but a joyous thing. It needed to happen and God had the perfect timing for it to happen.

God allowed us to learn what it means to rally around the people we love and minister to them. I remember helping Jaime after his car and tools were stolen. I remember many of you making the trip up to Wichita to see Crystal after she had had a really tough week and loving on her. I remember the weekend in Atlanta where some tough stuff was revealed to Crystal and even though I was not there, you guys did such a great job of loving her. I remember people doing Shiloh work days, helping Andy get ready for camp. I remember a lot of prayer times where we were just able to ask God to come intercede because we need Him so badly.

In 2007, as a community God has taught us what it looks like to walk through life together. I went to weddings and saw people joined together in His name and was able to celebrate that. I went to a hospital and got to share in the joy of welcoming a new life that He created, a new life created in His image (sweet Graham). We as a community also shared in sorrow and grief as we walked through lose as an unborn baby was lost and a step father past away. Who knows if we handled any of it correctly, but either way, as a community God allowed us to take part in it all and I have to believe He taught us all stuff in the process. He taught us how to walk with eachother in both the joys and sorrows of life, and in the end we must all believe that He is still so GOOD to us.

This is all such good stuff to remember and be thankful for, and to be honest I am probably forgetting 80% of the stuff that happened this year, but of what I do remember and write about here, I am thankful and hungry for more of it. More of Him teaching us what community is all about and how we cannot live without it. If you think of more things that happened this past year in community that you want to share, feel free to leave a comment so we can all read it and be thankful together.

Pressing Foward,
Pete