LIVING ON THE EDGE

Over the past several months I have been reevaluating and taking a hard look at how we do church. “WE” meaning me. This has proven to be very difficult and very revealing. What I have discovered is church is not very relevant and does not speak to the real needs of the community.

As a church planter, I was totally stoked about birthing a new church and poured my life into making this church a relevant addition to our community.

Over the years, once the newness wore off and the excitement died down, I fell into the trap of mediocrity. Doing church the way every other church does it. Not that this is bad, it’s just not what God told me to do.

While doing this reval on our church, and myself I came across a video, a parable that whipped my butt. As I watched it I started out laughing but then found myself getting angry. “How dare them make fun of the church like this”? I got mad. But as I stopped to ponder this video, I realized I was mad because this is who I am. From that moment on, I decided to look at every area of our ministry and see if we are doing church the way God intends. To reach those who need to the message more than the method. To reach those who need Jesus more than they need a cup of coffee.

If our church is not doing that then we need to close the doors and do something else. Something that is more meaningful and life changing.

Watch the video and then ask yourself, if you’re a church leader, are you doing church the way God has told you to do church or are you trapped in a method that is out dated and not relevant. This not for everyone. Only those who have a real desire to see a move of God like never before.

It is never too late to change.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_dZTrjw9I

I have a short blog today. My words could never come close to saying what this one video says in two minutes.
Listen and let this speak to your heart like has mine.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/

After watching the events of this truly historic day in the life of America, I could not help but be drawn to the prayer offered by Pastor Rick Warren. Of all the prayers that have been or could have been offered this day, God knew whom He wanted to pray on this day for our new president.

I, for one, was moved to tears and have a greater since of hope for this new administration because of Pastor Rick’s GOD focused and Christ honoring prayer. As you read his prayer, let the spirit of God speak to you and make it your prayer as well.

Rick Warren’s Prayer.

“Almighty God, our Father:

Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.
It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.
History is your story.

The Scripture tells us, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African-American president of the United States.

We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity.

Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.

Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans—united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.

When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you—forgive us.

When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone—forgive us.

When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve—forgive us.

And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.

Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.

May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.

And may we never forget that one day, all nations–and all people–will stand accountable before you.

We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.

I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, ‘Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.”