Liars are losers, the rest already lost

Posted on June 12, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Lying drains anointing, and cheapens your appointing.

1 Kings 21:1-10, (11-14), 15-21a Psalm 5:1-8 Galatians 2:15-21 Luke 7:36-8:3

Last week we saw that we are not to trust in princes of the earth…. they seek appointing to utilize power to control others…. This week we see an indicator of those who seem to lack anointing, yet seek appointing – they speak and follow lies. Liars are losers, because they are constantly losing favor, credibility and character. The irony of lying is that the hope in or reason to lie is to increase one’s power or status, which is an appointing. While the lies may prove “successful” to grant appointing, it is at the demise of one’s anointing. (You can’t lose the anointing, but you can lose the blessing and favor of it.  – see post two weeks forward) The reminder from last week is that ServantLeaders follow their anointing to gain and appointing for the Kingdom. This exchange of lies for truth, is the beginning of a slippery-slope that nullifies anointing and forces one to trust and seek worldly appointing.

This week we see Ahab is spineless & follower of lies– Jezebel is manipulative and a deceiver to the core. The Pharisee who invites Jesus to dinner hopes to ensnare him and to reveal his unrighteousness, but in setting the trap the Pharisee reveals his own unrighteousness. Jesus in-turn stands on grace and truth which is expressed in faith and forgiveness. We have seen that Paul is looking for no man’s approval, yet he is also not willing to give approval simply because of who someone’s appointing may be – this includes Peter or any other Jew who minimizes the grace of Christ. Being justified by faith, through grace – Paul stands righteously, not by the Law but filled with the Life of Christ in him. He therefore has nothing to lose and nothing to gain in this world. (Phil 1:21) God is the King and ruler of all! – The Psalmist seeks the ways and desires of God –and rejects the ways of the liar, whom God also rejects, that he might remain in the presence and blessing of the Lord.

While the truth will set you free (John 8:32) it does not provide a guarantee to help you win or keep you from losing. It is for his reason that many choose the short-term gain of a lie over the lifestyle choice of the truth. The people who are least likely to lie are those who have nothing to lose or gain….  This is true for those who are at the end of their life and have no hope, (listen to these death bed confessions) as well as those who are being filled with life and have hope as the anchor of their soul. Liars often seek to increase their appointed power or to avoid any potential fear that might cause them harm and decrease their approval.

The truth doesn’t help Naboth win not does it keep Naboth from losing. Be it also is the way in which Naboth declares his obedience to the LORD. He knows as the Psalmist proclaims “I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. 8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness,  because of my enemies—    make your way straight before me.” By the worlds standards Naboth has much to win –more time with his wife and kids, restitution or vengeance against Ahab, but these are not the concerns of a Kingdom ServantLeader.  It is only the King’s win that the ServantLeader seeks. And an outwardly perceived loss to a ServantLeader has no impact, for the ServantLeader has already lost all things for the cause of the King. This is not weakness or giving in to the enemy– it is quite the opposite – it is a call to strength not to bend at the power of evil, conviction to resist the temptation of money, and character to stand tall defending the Truth of Scriptures when no one else shares that same value.

When are you most apt to lie? What is the gain of lying that can get the best of you? Social acceptance, financial gain, avoidance of pain… the experts say the everyone lies, but that certainly some do more than others… I won’t get in to that here – you can read more if you want – But the focus here is that those who are lying are attempting to protect themselves – they have a fear which they are avoiding. This is not the fear of the Lord, that is the beginning of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:7,  James 3:13-18) but rather it is a fear that is rooted in the father of lies and has no love in it. (1 John 4:18)

Ahab and Jezebel represent the epitome of a lying relationship that is despised by God. Ahab is a weak, man who holds the position of the appointed King of Israel, doing more evil that those who have ruled before him. His wife a devout Baal worshipper, who strong arms her husband to do her will through manipulation and all around her are controlled with deception and fear. (To various degrees, the church is filled with Ahab’s and Jezebeel’s all who are to seek lead others, but themselves are lost) Ahab and Jezbeel have exchanged the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:18) and all the while Elijah comes proclaiming the truth.

What does this means for you and I today in the Kingdom. Either we are trusting in the anointing of the Spirit by living in the truth or we are playing to the hand of the enemy. (Col 1:13, 2:20-22)  If we are justified by faith in Christ, then we have nothing to gain or lose, and this world has nothing to entice with…  Where you find yourself with lying lips, your heart is corrupted. (Matt. 15:18-20)  This does not mean you lack salvation, but it does mean you have not fully crucified the flesh . (Gal. 5:24) Since,  we all are confronted with the challenge to tame the tongue (James 1:19-21, 3:1-8) we need not be ashamed of who we are, rather  we are to turn to Christ all that much more, so that we gain may die to our flesh and take up the grace of God as the only means by which life is worth living. (Paul argues in Gal 2 and Jesus in Matt 15, it is not what one does on the outside that matters, it is a matter of the heart, but that one’s actions will follow the heart.) Lying is an indicator of the life lived out of the flesh.

If you ever wonder why you can’t seem to figure out what God wants you to do with your life – it may be because he actually is waiting for you to die to this life, so that you might begin to live for Him. If this be the case, then come to the feet of Jesus and weep, for he is ready to receive you and send you on your way in peace.

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Annoyed? then not Annointed

Posted on June 4, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Anointing not Appointing is the bases of Kingdom Servant Leadership

Psalm 1461 Kings 17:8-16, (17-24) Galatians 1:11-24 Luke 7:11-17

The last two posts have established two truths: there are to be Kingdom Leaders & Kingdom Servants – yet when we bring these two realities together, we discover that the Leaders and Servants are to be one in the same – they are Servant Leaders. Let me say that more directly, you cannot be a Kingdom Leader, without also being a Kingdom Servant.

This is not to say that there is no uniqueness in the aspects of being a Kingdom Servant and a Kingdom Leader.  The Kingdom Leader is outwardly marked with Favor, Credibility and Character. The Kingdom Servant is inwardly marked with Intimacy, Fecundity and Ecstasy. This inward call of the Holy Spirit develops the conviction and responsibility which leads to the resiliency of a Kingdom ServantLeader.

This post is not about what a Servant Leader is, nor how to become a servant leader, I have written elsewhere on that – based on Robert Greenleaf’s work. Here I wish to address the anointing of a servant leader and how appointing can actually interfere or contaminate with the purity of the anointing.

We see in Galatians this week – Paul doing everything he can do to remove any possible appointing from the other apostles. Paul knows the danger of trusting in the power granted from appointing.  Leaders who are appointed are voted in or win the approval of the masses. Leaders who are anointed, are grafted into a role of leadership based on forces beyond themselves or the people whom they will lead. Elijah did not have the favor of the masses, but by God’s leading he did find favor with a widow had had very little to give, but gave everything she had.  Elijah does not march into town and attempt to win favor based on his credibility with God, he simply follows the leading of the Lord and serves and is served.

There are two problems I will address here when the power of appointing verses anointing as the bases for one’s leadership. The first is disproportionate benefits exist in appointed leadership circles. The people at the top of appointed circles, make more money, have more power, and are served by those beneath them.  Whereas in anointed Servant Leadership every person is equally and mutually benefited in the interaction of the experience. Stephen Covey calls this Win-Win. The ServantLeader in their act of leadership, causes others around them discover themselves more clearly and to become healthier due the service they experienced. It is not uncommon for a person being served to become dependent on the leader, if this is the outcome ,it was not Servant Leadership.  To put in “church language” servant leadership is a form of discipleship. If the disciple does not learn and grow, then the leadership was not healthy.

The second issue of appointing verses anointing is one of promotion or advancement.  This takes place because we have an unhealthy view of hierarchy. So out of this comes the idea that to be beneath someone is to be less than them or that to be a servant is to be weak. Therefore we seek to climb the ladder and advance to success and strength.  This is a notorious problem of leadership in the church, we promote to incompetence. What that means is, if you serve in a capacity well, you are promoted to take on more responsibility. (regardless of if it is your calling to take on more responsibility… you almost can’t say  No.) Therefore the youth volunteer, becomes a small group leader, the small group leader becomes an intern, the intern becomes a youth pastor, who then becomes a associate, then a senior pastor…. And then the truly most “gifted” become a denomination a leader or maybe a become a consultant to teach others how to succeed… most often this leader is no longer serving where they truly loved or were anointed to be. This is not intended to be a rejection of promotions or denomination leadership. Yet, I believe that God promotes out of suffering and trials, not worldly success, and that denomination leadership needs to be redefined by the gifts of  Ephesians 4, and less by administration and business acumen. In the system of the church, Kingdom Leaders are often pulled apart from Kingdom Servants, because we reward and value Leadership, while making Service a burden.  Kingdom ServantLeaders never see their contribution as a burden, it is a blessing to serve, to give and to move in the anointing as God designed.

One further truth is that Kingdom ServantLeaders acknowledge that their very gift or contribution is dependent on the anointing of the Spirit, and without that – their life and all they give is equivalent to the dust. There is no reason to put our trust in those who are marked as Leaders – if their leadership is not that of ServantLeadership, and if they are ServantLeaders our trust in their anointing not in their works.

Caution: This does not mean you should avoid all areas of appointed leadership! However you shall not seek it for the sake of having power, even if it is intended to extend the message of the gospel or ministry. To seek a role beyond what is your responsibility (based on God’s leading and anointing) is to be careless. This was the error of King David, he exchanged his power of anointing for the power of appointing.  This is also the wisdom of Elisha at the end f Elijah, he asks for a double portion of his anointing. Anointing is all that matters to the Kingdom ServantLeader. So become the PTA president, not because you can or because others won’t, but rather because you can’t avoid or deny the passion burning inside of you to lead in that domain of education.  Join the Chamber of Commerce board of directors not because it will expand your business, but rather because God has placed a burden for the city to seek peace and prosperity and you feel a conviction to help that cause.  Lead a boy or girl Scouts Troup not because your child wants you too, but because God has anointed you with a gift for loving children and helping parents to connect with their children. (just because your child asks you to do something does not mean you should do it, even if it’s a good thing… that is an appointing on a very minor scale.) Each of these examples has to do with the domains of the Kingdom. Further, there is nothing wrong with being a doctor, who is required to have appointed leadership and to make more money than a fast-food worker. Position and Prosperity are not outside of the realm of ServantLeadership. (Look at Jim Collins description of the best CEO’s in the world – he calls them Level 5 Leaders and they are making a whole lot of money.) The difference is that they see their lives as given for a cause or something beyond themselves… This is business language – how much more might the church grasp these concepts for the Kingdom.  Regardless of where God has anointed you to lead (which he has) once you discover it, if you fail to recognize that God gave this opportunity to lead for him verses how hard you worked to get there, you have exchanged an anointing blessing for an appointing blessing.

There is so much more I wish to say on Servant Leadership and I can only hope and trust the Scriptures will lead us there. The last things I will address from our Scriptures this week is that ServantLeaders have great authority, therefore acts of healing flow from them. This healing is holistic. The compassion that flows from Jesus is as much an act of healing as the act of raising the widow’s son from the dead. When you think of Paul, do you think of him more as a servant or a leader? The scriptures defend both his servant nature and his leadership qualities… and this must be true for us as well – we are to be Kingdom ServantLeaders.

How do you see those around you discovering more about themselves in your presence?

Which Domain do you feel most anointed for leadership?   Government & Law, Business, Education, Medicine & Technology, Church, Communication & Service, Family, Arts & Leisure.

In your life have you been considered by others more of a servant or more of a leader? How might you seek the anointing of the Spirit to bring those into perfect balance?

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Dare to care less, but not careless

Posted on May 29, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Resiliency requires Conviction & Responsibility

Kingdom Servants may care less as long as they are not careless about what they carry.

1 Kings 18:20-21, (22-29), 30-39 Psalm 96:1-9 Galatians 1:1-12 Luke 7:1-10

I am in this world for a purpose, and so are you! As I discover my purpose as a Kingdom Servant –in service of the King I live out my life as He decrees and wills. As I live into this commissioning I must not  be careless in regards to the responsibilities that God has given me in this world. This task would be easier if everyone fulfilled their calling and cared about what God is calling them to be focused on… When others “miss” their God calling, gaping holes appear (from our perspective) in what needs to be take care of, this is called the tyranny of the urgent vs. the important. When we turn to the urgent we play the role of the King, not the servant, we become side-tracked and ensnared by something that was not our responsibility. These may be noble or needed issues that must (again our perspective) be addressed, but if we are constantly running around to save the world, we have become its savior. To know the difference between a temptation of deviation verses the “cause” that God has called us to engage we need a deep awareness and conviction of the Holy Spirit. (John 16:5-15). This conviction will root itself in our awareness our role (Who am I?) and be expressed in our responsibility (What is my impact?).

The background: Last year, I laid the foundation of how a Kingdom Servant lives. (see below) This is begins with our calling(which connects with our choosing and God’s commissioning) and is clarified in our trials & suffering. Living into our God given identity will produce in us humility and confidence. Kingdom Servants are humble and confident, yet they will need to draw upon the conviction of their role and responsibility to stand firm when as the world seeks to raise them from the role of a servant to that of a savior. We see this most clearly in the hope of Judas, to force Jesus to rise up against the Romans moving out of the role of a suffering servant, into the role of a conquering king. It is one thing to discover the fruit and joy of being a Kingdom Servant, it is quite another to resist the pull and temptation to exchange the role of servant for that of savior. Very few choose this exchange, yet many discover they have exchanged the truth for a lie. This week we build on these concepts and look at the inner convictions of a Kingdom Servant.

The inner Convictions of a Kingdom Servant: Know your role, be responsible, & model resiliency.

1. God gave me a role. There is one true authority… to which a servant submits – their master’s. (This builds off of last week’s concept of order and hierarchy.) When you know the order and hierarchy of the Kingdom, you fulfill your role will excellence and submission. We know the kingdom is a paradox, so we must not be confused in that our role is both a bond-servant to the King, as well as co-heirs to the throne. (be among the list of servants Romans 1:1, 1 Cor. 3:5, James 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1, Jude 1:1, Rev. 1:1, Matt 12:15-18)  Much of our journey is to discover our role, then to contribute in that direction. In general, a person rarely figures out their role much before 35, and that is not a benchmark to reach, rather an indicator of how much time it takes in abiding with Christ to silence the distractions of this world. A role is not a title or label it is a conviction of the spirit which overrules ones soul’s desire for immortality. Further a rule is not your job, it is your commissioning which while is expressed often in one’s vocation, it is not limited to work or income. One’s Conviction to this role is the described by Jesus as the ability to put one’s hand to the plow without looking back. (Luke 9:59-62)

2. God gave me responsibility. Once I’m commissioned, I’m always on mission. The question of responsibility is a two-fold issue. You are responsible for your attitude and your actions, but not for the attitudes and actions of others.  When it comes to your attitude – it certainly has a lot to do with your perspective, and this derives from you understanding of your role. Not everyone will agree that there is no such thing as failure or that all suffering has purpose and meaning. If your role is to be a servant of the King, then life is not a matter of wants and personal achievements, it is a matter of the King’s desire and will. So while I am responsible for my attitude, without the conviction of my role, my contribution may be lost.

The conviction of the Kingdom Servant goes beyond one’s own perspective. If you have the ability to respond to a situation and you do not, then you must give account for why you did not act. You may simply say this is not my responsibility, and if that be so, then you were correct not to respond. But if you choose to say; I did not want to or you did see the need, you will indeed be held responsible for the outcome. The actions you take or do not take are your responsibility. In living this out our “Yes” shall be “Yes” and our “No” shall be “No”. (Matt 5:37, James 5:12, 2 Cor 1:15-22) One’s Conviction to this responsibility is modeled in relationship to Jesus by the Centurion solider of this week’s scriptures. His attitude and his actions reveal both his role (reverence to those above him, respecting those around as well as taking responsibility for those beneath) and his responsibility was not swayed by public option or expectations, rather he resiliently follows his conviction.

This is where many kingdom servants simply miss the permission to care less. If we fear the judgment of the world, for not helping someone when we “could of”, or if we are overwhelmed by the “should of” lists in our mind, or further if we get stalled by the “what if’s” and “would have” we are moved out of the role of servant by allowing our mind, will and emotions to become our master.  I have called this trap spiritual OCD. It takes unresolved conviction to overcome this trap, and it is possible when we embrace the notion that I can care less about something, so I can care more about what I have been commissioned to carry.

3.  Resiliency is my reward. There will be opposition, suffering, trials, and failures… but none of it needs to be in vain. Resiliency is the ability to bend and not break, to rebound from a situation that may take another out, but for you it renews your hope and strength. (Romans 5:1-5) One’s Conviction to your role (who am I?) and responsibility (What is my impact?) yields a resiliency that is the described by Jesus as the peace that comes when you have nowhere to lay your head at night, yet you are advancing the Kingdom. (Luke 9:57-58) The conviction of the Kingdom servant is that I am to have resiliency. Therefore when we lack resiliency, which is indicated by our acceptance of the lies our body and soul tell us, it means that we are not being propelled in the power of the Spirit. If our conviction is first to be a Kingdom Servant, then a short-coming in resiliency is not a short-coming of my faith, rather it is renewal in my clarity of my role and responsibility which will lead me deeper hope and love.

We see these realities in the scriptures this week in Paul and Elijah’s life – Elijah leads with conviction, even if he (thinks he) is the last prophet he will still stand and declare Yahweh is King, for this is his role. There is no lack of responsibility, he has proclaimed the drought (1 Kings 17:1) and now he knows it is his responsibility to bring an end to the confusion. We have to read further to discover his resiliency and his mis-step… but it is there and he rules as God leads. Paul has quite of history of conviction… prior to his conversion and calling from the Lord, his conviction led him to murder followers of the Way.  But now he lives with little concern as to who he offends and how he is received by those who rule the synagogues – they are not his mission.  He declares his is responsible to Jesus and Jesus alone.  This conviction makes him offensive to some, but that is not his responsibility, rather it is undivided conviction that makes him resilient even unto death. (2 Cor. 6:4-10, 11:16-33)

Do you believe you are resilient to opposition, trials and struggles… if so – how can you see this in your awareness of your role and responsibility? If not, how might you begin today to pursue the answers to the questions, “Who am I” and “What is my impact” so that you might fully step into your commission… it may be easier to discover these questions by looking back in your life, than trying to forecast it into the future. Use this outline to help you look back to uncover the truths in your life, and answer these questions to help you share your story that reveals the King’s redemption in your life.

Color-Blind & grateful

Kingdom Principle:  Kingdom Servants – love all regardless of color, creed, class or connections.            Kingdom Servants are People of Faith.

When God laughs it’s not funny

Kingdom Principle: Kingdom Servants – know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. Kingdom Servants follow a plan of Hope

John Mayer & Jesus – Got it Right.

Kingdom Principle: Kingdom Servants enjoy peace & prosperity as a way of life.            Kingdom Servants – Fulfill their Purpose of Love

A Long way off- is not Lost

Kingdom Principle: God’s Power flows from the Center to the outer-most edge.                   Prayer moves Kingdom Servants from the outer-most edge to the center.

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Love Shack Drive-thru

Posted on May 21, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Order and Hierarchy bring Movement and Mystery

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 Psalm 8 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15

Ever ordered food at a drive thru and felt like they didn’t get a word right… because what you asked for is not what you received… unfortunately that is often how the church interacts with those who are hurting (or hungry) in the world. People come seeking one thing… often not really caring who is on the other side of the “window” yet hoping to find something that will satisfy their current and immediate need. When the church even with good intention goes on to solve a problem (be it eternal) that the seekers are not even aware of, their response to the church is a blanket rejection. Bill Johnson (of Bethel Church) captured this concept beautifully a year ago (a quick 2 min video). When someone comes to a drive thru to order a cheeseburger, they don’t want a dietary explanation of why vegetarian is a better choice.

The lectionary calendar leads us to Trinity Sunday. When it comes to answering the question of the Trinity… the early church (first 150 years) did not truly even ask the question of how to explain the Trinity. Then for centuries it was debated and caused division throughout the church and today it continues to do the same. However, while the word Trinity is not even in the Bible, the Word of God speaks of the Trinitarian relationship as if it is a matter of fact and never seeks to solve it or truly explain it. It just is…. Imagine ordering a cheeseburger, and first getting a descriptive explanation of how to slaughter a cow, might you lose your appetite? How might those who are wondering if even God exists, get lost in the crossfire of the best way to explain the Trinity. Yet that is what I am trained as a Master of Divinity to do– explain the Trinity. I have a certificate and many papers to prove it… but that will not be the blog here! (3 cheers!) In fact it will be just the opposite.  If we approach the Trinity as if it simply is a matter of fact – how then are to move forward and experience this reality? This I believe this has been captured in a book called The Shack, by William P. Young. For many this book contains heresy about the Trinity and has been blasted by some in the church as being a road to universalism. I do not share this view, because I do not read The Shack as a theological treaty, nor an attempt to solve the ontological aspects of the Trinity… (look it up if you care & if you know what it means you’re more than likely already irritated with this post.) The Shack answers the question of “Where is God when bad things happen?”, “How do I find peace in my life when evil abounds?”,  “Is there healing from pain?”,  “Is God distant and angry?”.  These are the questions that society is asking, and this book seeks to show how great and mysterious God is, not how to divide God into three “modes” or persons to understand God. Rather the focus is, “How do I move in the direction of a God that is already moving in my direction?” Listen to a short interview (7 min) with William P. Young as he explains what is behind the book.  As he says it took him personally 38 years to return to his own shack experience and 11 years to go through it… that is the journey of many in this world.  That’s 49 years where suffering produced perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. There is no short-cut to character in this life, and yet without character you will never truly enjoy hope.

When Jesus looks at his disciples with compassion and tells, them, there is more I wish to tell you, but you simply can’t bear it… it is a wonder how he was able to tell them anything at all.  He does not tell them, toughen up, or listen here, he tells them there is hope and that hope comes through the Holy Spirit. What is essential, is that Jesus revealed only what the Father told him to reveal. Even though there was more truth to share, it was their faith which was imperative, not their thinking or even understanding. It is a good thing that peace is a result of faith and not understanding.(Phil 4:7) This peace is a gift that as we seek the truth of the Holy Spirit, He alone can and will give it to us. Again, the Holy Spirit only speaks to us what he hears for Jesus. Here is the reality of the Trinity, there is a flow from the Father, to the Son through the Spirit to all who are listening. To those who are listening they hear that God is delighting in mankind. Even that thought might be too much for some to bear.

The paradox of this post on the Trinity – is not the Love  that takes place in a Shack or that you always get your order right at a drive thru, it is that God in perfect union (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) enjoys a perfect relationship, operating in a hierarchical structure. You may have heard it said, “three-in-one”, and all are the “same substance”, yet there is a mysterious hierarchy in the Trinity. As I highlight the message flows from the Father, to the Son, through the Holy Spirit to all the world. (to explain this further would be to give an explanation of the economy of the Trinity – not going there either…) The same hierarchy is true for humanity and the angels, and it that we are created a bit lower than the angels. Yet we are rulers over the animals of the globe.  (Another post later may look at how this hierarchy shifts after Christ’s return.) But for now – How does the reality of a hierarchy blend with perfect unity? The answer returns to Love. How else can a Holy God, lift up an Unholy people to rule and be in relationship with Him? Love.

Finally, since God is mindful of the “little” humans on the earth, even going so far as to rejoice and delighting in them. How might we response to this? The answer is simple – open thy ears and heart to hear what is being said by the Spirit. God has chosen to offer redemption for all suffering, that His creation may  boast in the hope of the glory of God. This is what that message means for humanity who turn to God, they shall overcome all shame and suffering. That is the great Love Shack. What does that have to do with the Trinity? Everything. Jesus in the power of the Spirit, lived out the will of the Father, such that he overcame the shame of the cross and the suffering of death. We to must live out this hierarchical paradox, being rulers of this world, heirs of God, yet the least shall be the greatest and the first shall be last and all this shall come through suffering  by which we boast in the hope of the Glory of God.

Making this tangible – befriend someone who is clearly of a different “class” than you… you may attempt to befriend someone of a higher class than you but it will most likely not work, unless they know God’s love. Therefore as most assume, you will be better off to befriend someone of a lower class. –The key to all of this is that you do not move in judgment – yet how then are you to assess who is of a lower class of people without judgment. You must wait on the Lord to lead you, and then you must be led from love and not power. (Or know that you are of the lowest class of people, “chief among sinners as Paul saw it, then you are limited to only befriending up.) This is why the Trinity is so hard to grasp, God’s love flows perfectly not only through the Father, Son and Spirit, but also to all of creation. This little exercise will be amazing if you are willing to try it.  Truly try to share your love with another who is of another “class”. Seek God, Listen to his voice (let God bring someone to you – if you dare) and let your life become a testimony of hope to someone who is stuck in shame or suffering. If you discover a new relationship you have entered Love Shack of God.

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Birthday gifts are to be given

Posted on May 15, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Updated 5/12/16

Kingdom Principle: God gives, but not all receive.

Tis better to give than receive (Acts 20:35)…. Therefore God gives.

Genesis 11:1-9 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Romans 8:14-17
Acts 2:1-21		 John 14:8-17, (25-27)

In order to give to others, you have to have something to give. God does not seem to have the concern. God is constantly giving, in fact it is part of God’s nature to give, so He cannot cease to be giving. (James 1:17, Matt. 7:11) However not all experience God’s giving in the same manner. God gives, yet it is our posture and understanding which determines how or what we receive. To the one the gift is direction and hope filling their sails, to the other it is a violent act of destruction uprooting and destroying… to both it was the wind. God’s Spirit has been poured out upon this world as a rushing wind since before the creation blowing over the waters and filling the lungs of humanity with life. To the one this breath and wind brings life and hope. (Ez. 37:1-14, Job 33:4, John 6:63, Acts 2:2, 2 Cor. 3:6) To the other this breath and wind brings death and destruction. (Exodus 15:8, Daniel 11:4, Ez. 17:9-10, Isaiah 11:4, 27:8, 28:2, 40:7, Luke 21:10-11, James 1:6 )

Pentecost is the day the church celebrates life and hope. It has been seen as the Birthday of the church. God gave the greatest of gifts to the church on Pentecost, the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is the day that life entered its body and it became of source of life for all to come. The words of the Scriptures this week announce this movement: The Spirit you received; I will pour out my Spirit, the Father will give you an advocate – the Spirit of Truth, when you (LORD) sends your Spirit- life is created. The Power of God is displayed through creation, and it remains on display in the lives of those who love him. For in those who love and obey the Father, the Spirit dwells mightily. This mighty indwelling is so powerful that Jesus declares that “whoever believes in me, will do even greater works that he has been doing”. How can this be? Only by the fact that God has loosed his Spirit to demonstrate the power of God to the world and after the ascension of Christ from the world God sent his Spirit to dwell inside of those who love and obey His commands.

All that is life giving flows from the throne (Hebrews 4:16, Rev. 22:1-2)… it is an act of Heaven coming to earth. The church (in general) has labored and focused much of its work with the hope of getting people into heaven, however the true flow of God is to bring heaven to earth. Dallas Willard captures this misplaced and faulty thinking in his book “The Divine Conspiracy”. As humanity worked to build a city with a tower to heaven, their goal was to get to heaven. The story of the tower of Babel shows us that the flow of God is of the utmost importance. While humanity’s effort was accomplished in unity, it produced a glorious result out of the wrong flow and motivation which led to their destruction. Imagine the irony of building a tower to the heavens while God is walking amongst you on earth (read it again – it’s in there)… How have we (the church) today fallen into the same pattern of trying to reach God, while God is dwelling within us.

The Father sent Jesus to the earth in the flesh (John 1:1-14) like never before, in doing this God established His willingness to “give” life eternally. (John 3:14-16, 4:14, 5:24, 17:3 Romans 5:21, 6:22-23, 1 Tim 1:16, 1 John 5:11) Jesus by giving his life removes any obstacle between the Heavens and earth (veil was torn), not that we must go to the heavens, rather His Spirit shall rest on earth. In fact again Dallas Willard says that the Church is in error when it preaches the message that you need to accept Jesus to get into heaven when you die – his hope for the gospel of Jesus is lead people to get into heaven BEFORE you Die. (John 3:14 says that no has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven…) Yet it is the longing of humanity to earn our way to God and God-likeness… In this pursuit God’s wind/breath is experienced as uprooting and destructive blow to their efforts… Many cultures and worldviews have told the  story of what happens when humanity seeks to attain the heavens and power of the god’s, (Go enjoy the Avenger’s movies…)  but it is only the God Most High that lowers himself to dwell with humanity that they may be lifted up. Pentecost redeems the Babel narrative – bringing all that was lost unto death, back to life. The greatest paradox of the Kingdom dwells in the fact that you can’t earn or attain God-like status; rather it is given freely to all who ask. Redemption is God’s greatest act of Giving. For in redemption God takes what has no value and redeems it with His value.

Babel                       is redeemed through                Pentecost
Confusion

Clarify
Movement from                    Earth to Heaven

           Movement from Heaven to Earth
One common Language separated into many

Many languages united and heard as one
God prevents humanity from doing the impossible

God give power that nothing shall be impossible
The work is done by               the effort of man’s labor

           The work is done by no effort of man
The motivation is               based in pride

             The motivation is based in prayer

What shall we say then this Pentecost – what are you to look for…shall we wait for flaming tongues of fire to appear on our heads, shall we debate if speaking in tongues is needed or not, shall we condemn those who are sinners, Or shall we live like heirs of the Kingdom of God, seeking redemption of every aspect of our lives that appears to lack value. Might we live as if we have already entered heaven… for if we have not, then we are apt to dangerously live our lives out of fear, not truly knowing if we are going to get in to heaven or not…  this is not the fear of God’s children.

However for those who have received the Spirit of Truth, for those whom the Advocate comes alongside us to comfort us and to testify to our spirit that there is life and hope beyond what this world has to offer.  This message is a hard for some and to other it brings comfort and joy… however the message is a gift to all – God’s Spirit is the greatest gift of life and love. It is the same gift to ALL people…. But again not all will receive this gift, but those who do, call on the name of the Lord and shall be saved. What do the unsaved have because of this gift? They have “heaven” on earth, because this life is the “best” they are ever going to know. What do those who receive this gift have– Heaven on earth as well– but this is because Heaven is truly breaking through to earth to give them all that the Father has for them. (Luke15:31-32)

Heaven on earth according to Romans 8 is – living in a place of no condemnation… where we once lived orphaned by death, we are now adopted as children. Where we once lived as slaves to a debt, we now are heir’s of freedom. Where we once lived and suffered without purpose, we now share in the Glory of our God…. this life is lived from the inside-out…. (where as the others live from the outside-in) It is the Spirit of God who lives in us (1 John 3:24), which was freely given (1 Cor. 2:14) that we might no longer fear being One people of the globe, but that we might move in Love and unity to proclaim the message that God gives Life to all who come to him.

Last night after the blazing heat of a few days I wanted to soak our young Avocado tree roots… so I turned the water on low and let it run – I forgot about it only to wake up the next morning to 4 inches of standing water against the house and water running into our garden on the side yard. It reminded me on a very small scale what it would be like for God to pour out his Spirit on all peoples… it was a constant flow for 16 hours… and want an impact it had….  The truth is I simply forgot that I turned the water on – my only regret is now I have to pay for the water… I view it as waste – my vegetables, grass and avocado tree view it as life… God certainly must be forgetful – and having already paid the debt  – I know understand why is so willing to freely give. May we swim deep and truly be filled with the Spirit this Pentecost.

Posted in Easter, Year C | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Stand under -to- Understand

Posted on May 7, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Updated 5/3/15

Kingdom Principle: Glory is not a means to unity, Love is.

Acts 16:16-34 Psalm 97 Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 John 17:20-26

In the lectionary calendar during this week the ascension of Christ from this earth is marked. 40 days after his resurrection, Christ returns to the heavens with a two-fold promise. First, I will send the Holy Spirit. Second, I will come again. While next week we will celebrate Pentecost, which is the coming of the Holy Spirit, this week we celebrate the truth that He is coming again quickly. As the disciples watched the Lord ascend to heaven as when He returns, we will stand under the clouds and understand with clarity all that is coming to pass. On that day, every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Phil 2:9-11)

Unity can be defined as being in a state that is undivided or unbroken. This is not biblical unity. The world enjoyed this unity with one common language and a mutual goal: to build a city, with a tower that reaches the heavens. So in unity – humanity collaborated together in undivided and unbroken dedication to achieve a goal. (Genesis 11:4) Yet this display of unity displeased God to the point that he separated them all over the earth and confused their language. How can a God who longs for unity, be so disappointed with humanity’s efforts to be unified?

The answer is simple; if Love is not the basis of unity, then whatever unifies people will fail to display God’s glory. The problem of unity is that love breaks you and even becomes a dividing line of truth. So the higher purpose of unity is to display glory. In an effort have unity the church has reached for glory. The attempts to do something glorious in order to call for unity are yet to work.  God desires His glory to be displayed, but will not allow His glory be confused with a man-made version of Glory. (Isaiah 43:6-7, 48:9-11, Matt5:16, John 14:13, Acts 12:23, Romans 11:36, 1 Cor. 10:31) And if anything less than God’s glory is displayed then it has no eternal value. And as C.S. Lewis has said, anything that lacks eternal value is eternally useless. We see this today in so many attempts to unify –whether it be by the church or nations… They set contracts, agreements or doctrinal statements often reducing things to the lowest-common denominator and then unify around a mutual and often noble goal. But again if that goal is not Love – then unity will not result.

The irony is that God has chosen “us” to be the display of his Glory. (Ephesians 1:4-6, 12, 14) This week we wrap up the concept that in knowing the I AM –our I. A.M. is revealed. Each of us has an Identity, Authority and Motivation which reveals God’s unique purpose and calling in our lives to serve his Kingdom Come. Discovering your I. A.M. does not elevate you to a higher status rather it brings glory to the Great I AM. Your I. A.M. is God’s holiness in you expressed in confident humility bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:1-2) This is because all those who know their I. A.M. become unified in the love of the Great I AM. We can’t create unity, we simply step into unity. The prayer of Jesus is not to rally the church to become unified for the purpose of having a global impact, nor for causing the lost to notice them, nor even to unify the believers in the world so that they can demonstrate unity. Rather the prayer of Jesus is that all those believe will be one, as the Father and Jesus are one. This is a cry for unity so that love can be in them. This has nothing to do with conformity, or even unified diversity; rather it opens the door to intimacy in the face of adversity. We are not to seek unity, rather we seek to be found in Him. John 17 was a prayer to the Father, not a mandate to the church. Jesus prayed this to the Father, so let us follow his lead and pray for unity and oneness, rather than focusing our efforts on being the answer to the prayer. Let us pray and allow God to shape us on the journey.

Unity was displayed in the jail cells of Paul & Silas after the earthquake. They were bound by love not simply shackled in prison; yet it was the jailer who needed to be saved. This expression of love & acceptance had not hint of judgment as if they did not deserve to be in jail. But the jailer did not know this nor did Paul do anything other than to authentically worship God everywhere he found himself.  Their signing was an expression of love.  And because there was love others felt accepted, hence unity was expressed and glory was given. If Paul first would have sought (worldly) glory, by demonstrating power to break-out of the chains, then rallying the prisoners to his side (expressing unity) then calling for the jailer to join with them because of Love – it would make a great movie, and demonstrate the wrong motivation.  Which leads us back to our I.A.M.

While we can’t make unity happen, we can do things that prevent unity. This is where the call to “stand under” before we can “understand” is a must. The barrier to unity we are to remove is judgment. (Matt 7:1-5) Yet it is clear in this weeks Scriptures that there are “insider’s” and “outsiders”, the  “saved” and “lost”, and that God brings “destruction” to some & “delight” to others. Those who love the Lord are even called to hate evil. How then can judgment be a hindrance to unity? When we stand in judgment attempting to bring conviction of change– we are working against the prayer of unity. This is because we are attempting to do the work of the Spirit rather than being led by the Spirit. (John 16:7-9) May it suffice to say here – Love is Just, not to Judge. There is only one true Judge and we are not the one. We must move in Love, acceptance and forgiveness. A book by the same title shares the valuable inside that “The church is not broken and it is the broken people who can change the world.”  The call this week is not to minimize what it means to be separate; rather call is in our separation to bring understanding of what it means to be saved.

In seeking holiness as means to unity, we embrace our inability to make unity happen. Unity is a bond of the Spirit of Peace. (Eph 4:3) In Holiness we shall walk the path of Submission and Separation from which we will stand under those who walk in Stardom and Splendor in the world. This stance “under” others in this world yields a humility and confidence that allows us to stand in the presence of God- to even see Him Face-to-Face. (Matt. 5:8) “Under” is in relationship to the power and positions of this world, so that God’s granting of favor and flow are displays of Glory demonstrating our unity with Him.

Do you desire Unity – Learn 2LAF (hopefully this is a future post)

Listen – Accept –  Forgiven              Love – Appreciate – Forgive

In the pursuit of Holiness, (2LAF)  it will break you from the patter 2CRI

Condemn – Reject – Ignore           Conceal – Rationale – Inflate

Which of the 6 words above describe you and how you interact with others, especially those you are not in unity?

Posted in Easter, Year C | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Busy Bee’s eat no Honey

Posted on May 3, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Updated 4/27/16

Kingdom Principle: The Kingdom is a constantly in motion.

Jesus was not busy, but he was in business. To be in the flow of the Kingdom is to move with God.

Acts 16:9-15 Psalm 67 Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 John 14:23-29

Most people are trying to get all they can out of their time and energy.  However humanity is restricted by the number of hours in a day, and if we don’t recharge our “batteries” we end up sick or just flat out exhausted.  When people continue to push themselves to do more, accomplish more, and to get it all done – they end up running themselves into the ground or simply being a “busy bee”. Sure they look important and they are constantly involved in the most important things imaginable. But at the end of the day, how will God answer the question, “Did it really matter?”. The only true test of did it matter is to not do something and to see if it was missed. The question has been posed to churches, “If your church was to close, and no longer exist, who would miss you?” This sobering question forces a church to look at its impact beyond the walls and see if it is serving the community in love. However ask the same church, “What is keeping you busy?”–  the laundry list of programs and activities will be unbelievable, and rarely is there an end in sight. So much of life has become simply moving from one project to the next to the next to the next….  This will set up the contrast between being in the flow and being busy. God sets the flow, and is never busy. When we are in the flow we enjoy the sweetness of honey on our lips.

Our culture has given us the allusion that busy is better. If someone is not busy, they must not be doing a good job. If there is no wait for a service the service must be sub-par.  So we have adopted this same approach to our lives – Be Busy or you must be wasting your time or you simply are a waste of time. Yet God is not busy, so why are we? In fact God is calling us to be still,(Psalm 46:10)and to come to the quiet still waters to be refreshed and to hear from him. (Psalm 1 & 23)  How can we be still and still get it all done? You can’t and that is why you must learn to flow, which means not always doing it all.

If you are floating down a rushing river as a speed of 40 miles an hour, how fast are you moving…  the answer is at least 40 miles an hour…. But how hard are you working to move that fast – Your not – if you are in the flow.  Yet, if you are in a river flowing at 4 miles an hour, but you are moving up stream at 2 miles an hour – you are working tremendously hard, yet advancing at a negative pace…. There are many in this world who feel like they are doing everything they can do to simply stay afloat, but still feel like they are drowning. (refer back to last week’s drowning  questions) God’s flow is not as simple as a river float – the reality is that being in the flow might mean working to get out of the river before you go over the falls. Flow is very similar to Favor. Favor is given by God but it is often experienced from others to you. If someone throws you a rope line from the river bank, and pulls you out when God say’s “it’s time to get out”, you have experienced favor. Flow is given by God, but it is the power or wind beneath your wings that keeps you going forward.  When you are floating down the river and someone else is running alongside just to keep up – you are in the flow. We often see flow in relation to our Time.

This week in the Scriptures, highlight flow. The Flow is from God, to his peoples, and then back to God. This circuit is much like the energy flow of power. When the circuit is broken, the flow is disrupted and regardless of the power source… without a complete circuit the light bulb just won’t go on. We know we are in the flow of God when our light is shining and we are not the power source. (Matt 5:14-16) We are the power source when it is our efforts and people are praising us for the good that results from the efforts. We see a complete circuit in Psalm 67 and perfect flow of power in Acts 16. Further in Acts 16 the verses before the selection this week demonstrate Paul’s dependence to be in the flow of the Spirit, we can see, that when the wind blows, Paul adjusts his sails to flow the wind. This submission and obediencekeeps us in the flow.

By now some may be asking – How do I get in the flow? Paul demonstrates this clearly as well – the short answer is Prayer. But looking deeper – to be in the flow is to value what God values. Jesus made that clear last week – the answer is Love. God sends Paul on a great missionary journey across the sea to the land of Macedonia – and there – Paul leaves the city and heads to a prayer gathering by a river. Why does Paul have time to wonder across the land to talk with a woman who worships a God that she does not truly even know?  Because time is irrelevant to Paul; as is his power or proximity. What is relevant is being at the very place that God has called him to be at that very moment.  Jesus teaches the disciples this in John 14 – he has to leave, because that is the flow that the Father as set before him. If the disciples understood this – they would rejoice, but instead they mourn and are filled with fear.  To this Jesus reminds them that he will give to them and Advocate to teach them the flow of the Father – the Holy Spirit.

The Gift of the Holy Spirit is the ultimate flow indicator… the best analogy in my opinion to understand the flow of the Holy Spirit is wind or breathe…   but flowing water is often used as well. The breathe or wind of the Holy Spirit is not seen directly rather as it is the effect on other things that is seen – like the wind blowing the leaves of a tree, or the wind filling the sails of a ship. The ship captain can use the wind to direct the ship, if the sails are set correctly, but if the ship desires to go against the wind there is no hope in that motivation.

In the Revelation passage, we see the culmination of God’s flow in all things.  The water flows from the throne and brings life and healing to all whom are at the river banks. All who gather there will see the face of God and not only live, but be radiant in His Presence. Being busy requires you to be about own business, being in the flow is to be about the Father’s business.  (John 4:34, 5:36, 15:15) Eugene Peterson captures the impact of being busy in his book Contemplative Pastor – “the adjective busy set as a modifier to pastor should sound to our ears like adulterous to characterize wife or embezzling to describe banker.”  Further when we justify our busy schedules as work FOR the Lord, we have missed the flow of being WITH God.

Final thoughts on Flow –  (these come from the lens positive psychology perspective but are substantiated by Scripture) Being in the flow is not meant to be easy – in fact true flow is discovered where the greatest challenges in your life are matched with the rise of your greatest skills and abilities are being fully utilized.  Meaning if you are looking for the easy way out – where there is low challenge and it requires low skill, the result will be apathy & boredom.  But simply having high challenge with low skill will result in worry or anxiety. (Here you can substitute skill for authority cross reference this thought with the concepts of 3 weeks ago) Finally if you have low challenge, but great skill – while you may enjoy relaxation, you will miss the gratification of being in the flow.  You can see this as a grid here.

In Summary – Flow is the movement of power from the throne of God to all of creation. Being in the flow is to best summarized in Acts 17:28 “In him we move and have our being….” According to Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, (one of the author’s of positive psychology) flow is completely focused motivation. You can see that as we live into our IAM we must discover flow or we will simply be doing good works on our own.

To increase your awareness of Flow:

1. Stop doing something and measure the impact it has on everything else.  I have often reminded myself and others – you are more defined by what you say No to, that what you say Yes too.

2. Ask God before you do something…  BUT more importantly wait for the answer. Do this through the practice of have conversations with God.  We practiced this via our activity this last Sunday. In short – take two color pens, and have a conversation with God, ask Him questions in one color, then write his answer in another. Don’t worry about the content, just begin to build the practice…  you may need help with this at first – if so  – We let me know – we can even do this on-line together.

3. Increase the size of your spirit’s sail…. Meaning as your spirit grows through prayer and spiritual disciplines you will be more apt to know when the wind shifts directions.  This will help you release control and go with the flow.

Posted in Easter, Year C | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Lifeboat vs. Loveboat

Posted on April 24, 2013 by chaplaincasey

 

Updated 4/18/16

Kingdom Principle:  Love is Power.  God communicates love.

Kingdom Servants will  hear the voice of God or learn God’s sign-language.

Acts 11:1-18 Psalm 148 Revelation 21:1-6 John 13:31-35

Unfortunately many in the Christian church have lived with a lifeboat mentality. In this way of thinking; one looks around and sees the “signs” that the world is quickly sinking into a hellish and repulsive state. Since they believe that doing anything about it futile, they separate themselves from the “world” before they go down with the ship.  It is time we re-ignite a Love Boat mentality.  (not the one of the early 80’s) but the one where the world knows that we are Christians ( better said Disciples of Jesus) by our Love. Those who see the signs as more than suffering have learned to understand God’s sign-language, others simply wander in fear. The reason I believe that God communicates mainly using sign-language is because we are generally deaf.  Bob Goff author of Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World says it this way, “I used to think God wouldn’t talk to me, but now I know I’m just selective with what I choose to hear.”  God is constantly communicating with His Kingdom. This communication is powerful, and it is Love.  “But the kind of love that God created and demonstrated is a costly one because it involves sacrifice and presence. It’s a love that operates more like a sign language than being spoken outright.” What to hear more from Bob Goff – click here Love Does .

Last week we looked briefly at the difference between healings and miracles. There we established that Authority brings healing, and Power brings Miracles. If authority is grown and matured in relationship, then Power is given and expressed as a gift. (Mark 5:30, John 19:10-11, & throughout the Book of Revelation power is seen as being given) Miracles do not need to be the exceptions. C.S. Lewis argues that while a Miracle is improbable the fact that it takes place does not need to render it incredible… this argument is based in the fact that God is supernatural and it is His natural way of communicating with his creation. It is not incredible from God’s perspective to send Jesus to the world to die for our sin, and to raise him from the grave – it is an act of Love which is altogether a very expected act of God. While this act seems improbable to us, that is only due to the fact that we remain at a distance from God, all the while He summons us to be intimate with him.  . God is Love and He cannot act without the action being love and powerful. When this love and power flows through us we experience it as Intimacy, Fecundity and Ecstasy. Miracles are the work of Ecstasy.

Why then don’t we see more miracles? The answer is not in a lack of miracles or even a lack of faith – rather it is in an abundance of noise and choas. It is as if you are trying to have a personal conversation while there is a resounding  gong or clanging cymbal drowning the out the movement of God in our lives. (1 Cor 13) This movement is love and it is powerful. The more we dwell with God, the more we are aligned with His purpose in our lives, the more we hear His voice and see His sign-language. This type of living removes the desire to escape in a life-boat – rather we take on an improbable act and demonstrate the joy of the Love boat  amongst as dark and dying world as an everyday experience.

Looking back in time we see that this as possible. A Roman historian named Tertullian, who lived in the late second to early third centuries (AD 155-220), wrote that even those who opposed Christianity knew that the mutual love of those who followed Christ was unique.  “Our (disciples) care for the derelict and our active love have become our distinctive sign before the enemy … See, they say, how they love one another and how ready they are to die for each other.” (Apology 39) Another historian Tacitus, writing earlier in the first decade of the second century C.E., contasts the Jewish understanding of love from that of we just read above. ““The Jews are extremely loyal toward one another, and always ready to show compassion, but toward every other people they feel only hate and enmity”

In the last 72 posts – I have addressed the theme of Love on an average of 1 every 8 posts. Love must be foundation to all that is…. I’ve summarize those posts below.  This week we see Jesus telling the disciples of new commandment – Love One Another – Yet it is not so new (Lev. 19:18, 19:34) it had simply been lost amongst the “noise”.  Jesus is calling for love not of obligation or even religion, rather to be one of demonstration and relationship.  This demonstration much like a miracle is not supposed to be incredible much less improbable; it is to be an everyday conversation.  Further last week we also brought to light that the enemy has not lost their power. (Luke 10:19, Acts 10:38, 26:18, Romans 3:9, Eph. 6:12, 2 Thess. 2:7, Hebrews 2:14) So there are two expressions of power – The pure source of power which is Love, (Mark 9:1, Luke 1:35, Acts 1:8, 1 Cor. 1:24, 4:20, 2 Cor. 13:4, Col. 1:16, 2:10)  and the corrupted expression of power which is anything less than love. (This act is much like “Good is the Enemy of Great” – Jim Collins) There are many good ways to be with God, but only one GREAT I AM.  For the vast majority of you reading this blog, there is no question as to which source of power we desire to draw from, however it may not be so clear if we are living with a life-boat or love-boat purpose. If you struggle to love those who are hard to love – it may simply be a lack of power… not faith or authority. You need a power boost! You need a re-charge of your Love bank.

We all have come to grips with the tangible need for a power source. We have accepted the fact that technology  (especially smart phones) must be re-charged daily. But we struggle to accept that we must be “re-charged” daily. (this applies body, soul & spirit) It is this reason that Jesus teaches us to pray for our daily bread, not because God is limited, but rather, because we are – we can only contain so much of God’s power at any one time… and we must return to him in dependence daily.  And thus – Power is a gift, and when we are fully charged, we are a gift of love to those around us. Peter had no intention to love Cornelius the way he ended up doing so – but God spoke and Peter heard and saw the signs, then had the power to overcome the tradition, social, religious and Jewish expectations that still were rooted in his life.

Close with a Question: Do you have the power?

Assuming you can reach the person and will not fall victim yourself….

Do you have the power to save a drowning victim if they are 5000 miles away?

Do you have the power to save a drowning victim if they are 500 miles away?

Do you have the power to save a drowning victim if they are 50 miles away?

Do you have the power to save a drowning victim if they are 5 miles away?

Do you have the power to save a drowning victim if they are 5 feet away?

Our answer is usually dependent on proximity, rather than power… Now let’s intentionally shift our proximity to be with God – this is called intimacy.  If God grants you the power – how do the answers to the questions change? If proximity is what is limiting you from loving others – you may without knowing have found your seat in a life-boat.

 

RECAP of LOVE posts:

Love or Fear – What motivates you more?

Posted on December 14, 2011 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle –  Fail forward in Love, rather than being frozen in Fear.

Love drives out fear, freeing us to doing the impossible.

the paradox of love and hate when following Jesus

Posted on March 22, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: The Kingdom advances, but not at a consistent pace or set direction. Kingdom progress cannot be measured in linear distance or positive experiences.

Love is to embrace God’s plan to use brokenness in our lives.

How big is your “but”?

Posted on May 2, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle:  Fear causes us to look at our obstacles, love moves us to opportunity.

Love empowers and removes all excuses (the “but”). We need to take our eyes off the obstacles of love and focus our attention on the source of all love.

Acne & Herpes – Puberty of the Soul

Posted on August 28, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: The war of the Kingdom is not of flesh and blood, but first we must win the war that wages within us.

Love is expressed via partnership between a disciplined body and a developed soul.

John Mayer & Jesus – Got it Right.

Posted on September 18, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Kingdom Servants enjoy peace & prosperity as a way of life.            Kingdom Servants – Fulfill their Purpose of Love

Love is Action. We are to live out our purpose (of love) as the Bride of Christ.

Love; to be broken!

Posted on December 17, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Loves does not make you strong, rather it breaks you.

Love is to be vulnerable by giving up worldly sources of security.

The greatest need of 2013

Posted on January 1, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle:  A kingdom servant’s need to give is greater than other’s need to receive.

To Love is our greatest need, rather than as many assume it is to be loved.

 Love it or Lose it

Posted on January 29, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle: Love is the only constant of the Kingdom.

Love is the only eternal thing that we can truly touch in this life and world until Jesus Christ returns to make all things new.

Jesus or Bigfoot

Posted on April 4, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle:  I. A.M.  witness of the great I AM

Love is to be our Motivation in all things. This Purpose of Love leads us to Praise the Lord in all things.

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Dog Training vs. Owner Obedience

Posted on April 16, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Updated 4/11/16

Kingdom Principle:  Healing is an act of Authority not Power.

Acts 9:36-43 Psalm 23 Revelation 7:9-17 John 10:22-30

Attending the dog obedience school for our first family dog, we quickly learned that the trainer was not training the dogs, rather the trainer was teaching or “discipling” the owners. The obedience training had very little to do with the dog, it the owners responses and commitment to the discipleship that then resulted in an obedient reaction from the dog. Without the obedience school the dog owner did not know how to engage in a healthy relationship with the dog.  The owner’s authority over the dog resulted out of healthy relationship with the dog.

Our authority as disciples is grown out of our relationship with God. The more intimate we are with God, the more our identity will be formed by God, thus the more authority we will enjoy. Satan was created to be in relationship with God in this he was endowed with Authority and Power. When Satan chose to rebel and break his relationship with God – he lost his authority. He did not lose his power – more on that later. Without authority Satan was bound to the world and allowed to rule the air (Eph. 2:1-3) and be the prince of this world (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). When Christ came to the world and tore the veil of the heavens, in His resurrection he conquered death and gave us authority over the power of the Enemy. (Luke 10:19) Authority is fostered and grown in relationship, Power remains a gift. John Paul Jackson says that Authority “controls and changes the visible as well as the invisible, while Power only controls and changes the visible”. What this means is that we don’t need to pursue Power, what we need is to enjoy Authority. Authority is delegated and declarative right over someone or something.  It is the ability to influence or impact as desired. But one must remain clear that authority is imparted based on the relationship with the Father, so it is by his desire and will that authority alone will be exercised.

Peter had authority because of his relationship with God through Jesus. When he went to be with the disciples in the death of Dorcas, he was granted power to raise her from the dead, but it was authority that paved the way for him to call out to God. Those who are gathered in Rev. 7 – and have washed their robes and mad them white in the blood of the Lamb – sharing in the intimacy and authority of the King… they have overcome based on the authority of being in relationship with their shepherd. It is this Great Shepherd (1 Peter ) that is spoken of in Psalm 23 in whom we have all things. We lack nothing and he guides us along the right paths – this is the path of discipleship for those who are following the Plan of Hope.  Jesus is very clear to the people of his day, because they do not believe (they are not people of faith) they have no relationship with him, hence they are not his sheep. Therefore they have no authority or ability to hear his words or remain in him. This leads them to desire power for what they are unable to enjoy via authority.  (Hence they demand for miracles and demonstrations rather than to be followers.)  The world will chase power, because that is what the enemy has to offer them. Disciples do not need power, because they seek to be in relationship with the All Powerful One – with whom Him Authority is enjoyed.  (I am not saying disciples lack power, only that a pursuit of power is of the world.) This Authority grants true Peace because believers know they have overcome the world. (1 John 4:4) Peter does not need to raise Dorcas to prove his faith or to demonstrate God’s power; rather Peter is present with the disciples out of Love. And where Love flows there is Power (again next week).

Connecting to last week – while faith is the root of our identity, faith remains something that you believe in and confess even if you don’t fully understand. Hope on the other hand is very tangible. Hope is something that you can think about, understand, and wrestle with. This is the relational aspect of Authority. Following a Plan of Hope, yields you Authority. But Hope without faith shrivels to nothing.  Authority does rise and fall, based on obedience and submission. Therefore where there is a lack of Authority it will be evident when one lives in a state of being afraid, overcome by anxiety or living in a state of anarchy.  Conversely where there is Authority, the plans of the enemy will be thwarted and Healing will take place.

I am again indebted to John Paul Jackson for my understanding the difference between Healings and Miracles. Healings are based on Authority and an act of healing is removes the evil and damage done by evil against God’s creation. Miracles are done based on Power, and they are the restorative acts of God to repair and return someone or something to it original intended state prior to being damaged by evil.  I believe that God longs for us to apply his Kingdom principles in order to confront the chaos of this world, in order that we can demonstrate health, healing and (w)holness to the world.

Authority will overcome Anarchy. When a disciple enters a room, their authority is measured up in the spiritual realm by all those present. In this sizing up the larger your authority the larger the target is on your back, because where ever you plant your feet  – Peace overcomes. Peace is an outward expression of Authority. It is peace that Jesus gives his disciples. (John 19) If you have authority you can be near someone one who is in chaos, whether that be guilt, shame, fear, anger or in any emotional distress and your authority will bring peace. (Your peace may be rejected, but it will demand a response.) A person who lives in the absence of peace, based on lacking authority will develop anxiety that will cause damage to their physical body.  Thus Authority to Heal is evident in the lives of disciples who walk intimately with the Father by faith. Remember healing does not require visible demonstration to take place, it may simply be the removal of evil, but by removing evil, restoration can begin.

So what if you live in a constant state of fear, or have anxiety about the world around you… does this mean you lack authority… unfortunately yes, but authority rises and fall in relationship with the Father… Therefore Fear not and do not let your hearts be troubled. (Jesus says it best) 1. Submit your soul to the will of the Father. Seeking His Kingdom and His Righteousness (Matthew 6:33) will release you from the pursuit of power in this world and peace will be the fruit… 2. Relinquish your right to be right  this is an act of forgiveness and promotes humility in the steps of the Son… (Micah 6:8) 3. Accept your right to be broken as a movement of the Holy Spirit and discovering the direction of the spirit… (John 16:8).

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On your Mark, Get Set, Go!

Posted on April 10, 2013 by chaplaincasey

Updated 4/6/2016

Kingdom Principle: Identity matures throughout life, beginning with death.

Identity is formed in uniquely in People of Faith by being Called, Chosen, & Commissioned. Identity is formed universally in People of Faith by being a Kingdom & Priests

Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)

Psalm 30

Revelation 5:11-14

John 21:1-19

Do you think you are more likely to be a sprinter or a marathon runner?  Paul was more of a marathon runner (Acts 20:24, 1 Cor. 9:24), while Peter was a sprinter (Luke 24:12, John 21:7-8).  Regardless they were both runners in the race. In order to run with perseverance the race marked out of you, you must throw off that which entangles you. (Hebrews 12:1) The Book of Hebrews establishes how it is that we are to be people of faith – living as a kingdom and priests. (Rev. 1:6; 5:10) This call is our witness as we serve our God who revealed himself to  Moses as I AM. (Exodus 3:14) In our reflection and bearing his image, we have our own I. A.M. established as Identity, Authority and Motivation. Over the next three posts we will look at each of postures separately….

When you are about to run a race, the famous call is to be “On your Mark” – this is to be in position. Sin at times has been described as missing the mark, based on an archery term. While that is not totally wrong, it may be more correct to say that sin is not only missing the mark it is also hitting the wrong mark. Like being in the wrong lane, on the wrong mark…  Before you can run a race it is important you have your appointed mark – you know where you stand and you are in the correct posture. Your true identity is rooted on your mark. This mark is established in being called by God, to be “right” with God. From the point of our  “calling” there must be movement, in a race the runners hear “Get Set”. To get set, is to move into a ready position. While in this shift runners do not yet run, the race has begun, and this is where most fouls occur, but the purpose here to prepare yourself to give it all you got. “Getting Set” is affirming your awareness of being Chosen and for you to choose to move solely in the direction of God.  “Go!” confirms your commissioning and your unique identity expression in the Kingdom. Anticipating the “Go!” is being totally ready to run at a moment’s notice, but not moving until you are released. This is the point of breaking your will and seeking only His. In the scriptures this week we see Ananias leave his mark flawlessly.   In a race, when everyone is lined up on the line – they all look somewhat similar, not identical, but generally in the same posture and position… but once the gun is sounding everyone’s race becomes their own. This is why it is so important to be “On your mark” – called, “Get set” – Chosen, so that when you  “Go!” –  you run in such a way to win the prize – for this is your Commission.

This week in the lectionary we see the calling of Saul (to be renamed and commissioned as Paul), the conclusion of the choosing and the re-launching of Peter’s Commissioning. We have a glimpse into Heaven where the billions of angel’s, the elders and four living creatures are encircling the throne of Jesus where they fulfill their lives purpose to bow in worship of the Lamb who was slain and is worthy to open the scroll. (Rev. 4:1-5:10) Imagine for just a moment, to be in a place where you sole purpose was to worship the Lord. (Further – know that is the purpose of your life here and now… but for most of us we remain stuck somewhere between our Calling and Choosing.  The Psalm is a beautiful picture of worship and exalting of the Lord forever and ever living out our commissioning uniquely.

I have oversimplified here the process of Identity maturity via the metaphor, but you can look at it elsewhere in more theological terms but the focus this week is to take a personal relational lens on it. I have also addressed that fact that taking 2 steps forward and one back, may be 3 steps in the wrong direction – that is when your steps are not lead by the Spirit.

Calling happens in a moment’s time, and is unique to each person. For some it seems as if they must receive multiple calls from God before they every truly pick up on the other side of the call. Both Paul and Peter hear the call of Jesus to “Follow Me”. Peter hears these words directly (Matt. 4:18-20), while Paul is blinded and told where to go and what to do (Acts 9:6, 22:10). Our Calling is reveals our Blindness – what we once did not see we now are able to see. For Peter, His calling matured over a longer period of time – but he two had his eyes opened (Matthew 16:15-17). Paul we read the story this week – it was a matter of three days and Ananias prayed for his eyes to be opened…

Choosing happens throughout a life time.  This is the process of our brokenness and wilderness experiences where we come to know and trust the Lord.  Here is where we see Peter as a sprinter and Paul as a marathon runner. Peter often and quickly chooses to sprint off to accomplish a task for the Lord, only to discover it was on his strength and his will that things were pursued. Paul’s choosing is a long obedience in the same direction. In choosing we encounter Brokenness. Paul is told by Jesus how much he will have to suffer, but also what his Commissioning will be. (Acts 9:15-16) Without being totally broken we will not chose the Lord, he has Called and Chosen us – but now we must choose him and “Get Set”… Matthew 22:14 states that “many are called but few are chosen”

Commissioning begins in a moment and culminates in a life time.  To be faithful follower of Jesus Christ, we are to be both called (our eyes open) and chosen (our heart set for Christ). (1 Peter2:9, Rev. 17:14) Calling is an act of God of alone, Choosing falls on both, God and us, while Commissioning returns to be an act of God in response to our choosing His will over ours. Since Choosing is a process that never ends, in making the choices that surrender our will to his, our commissioning is clarified which brings God’s Blessing and Favor in our lives.  Again to be commissioned is an act of God that takes but a moment, but culminates in a life time.  Commissioning is identified in favor, which is grasped only by faith. Faith again is the root of our identity.

Paul is commissioned to reach the Gentiles (Acts 9:15, 22:21), Peter is to establish the foundation of the Church in Jerusalem. (Matt. 16:18, Acts Chapter 1 – 12 show Peter’s Commission, Chapter 13-26 show Paul’s) Our Identity matures as we move from Blindness to Sight revealing our Calling (On your Mark), into Brokenness via Wholeness to Holiness revealing Chosen-ness (Get Set), and into Blessedness and Favor revealing our Commissioning (Go!)

Further thoughts for those with children and forming their identity in Christ:

My wife & I have wondered and worked on encouraging the maturity process for our kids. I remind you that both Calling and Commissioning are an act of God, and Choosing is done  between God and the person – so what can we do as parents to assist in the process of forming our children’s identity in Christ.  First, (1) Release your children to God. This is a part of your own Brokenness and Choosing as a child of God, which is a must for you to both be a parent in this world, but an eternal brother or sister of your children in the Kingdom. (2) Prayer. Pray for your kids and Pray with your kids and Pray you’re your kids (see below). And finally you must (3) model the journey.

Every morning on the way to school each of our children individually say a motto  we have taught them – they began this early as kindergarten and we would say it together… now my middle school says it as he hops out of the car – without being asked…

“I am a child of God, a friend and follower of Jesus and a temple of the Holy Spirit. I will lead, love and listen first, Today” As they say this they are participating in choosing to live into their identity in Christ…

Each night I pray over them and seek God’s blessing for them; I pray…

“Father, I ask that you Bless these boys with wisdom, stature, favor and abundant life in you. That they will come to know you & love you with their heart, mind, soul and strength. Cover us with your blood, for we have been given your righteousness and your holiness, may this lead us to peace and joy as we come into your Kingdom, enjoying your peace & presence, protection and provision. I pray this in Jesus Name – Amen.”

There is purpose behind each of these words, and this prayer has grown over the years, but has remained consistent for the last 5 years… and I am pleased to say that I believe it keeps them healthy, strong, able bodied and doing great is so many aspects of life… as well as keeping me in the state of release and dependence on God for his provision and protection over them.

Finally – we pray and read the scriptures together. We read the weekly lectionary scriptures together each week. We do this only once or twice a week, but we do it before or after dinner. Each child will read a verse or two at a time. We pray before meals as a family, and we pray at night before we go to bed. Each child is asked if they want to pray – they do not have to… if they don’t want to prayer we usually ask them to name one thing and one person they are thankful for and one then they hope for….

Our Default prayer is what I have taught them at the 5 word prayer –

Abba, Hallelujah, Maranatha, Shalom, Hosanna…  These five words capture the heart of the Lord’s Prayer – since teaching them this they have all since learned the Lord’s prayer which we pray all-together at least once a week.

There is much more to share – I’m sure there will be another blog….

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