A friendly rebuke

Yesterday we had an unplanned visit from some good friends of ours who needed to borrow our car.  During their time at our house we had some very God-ordained conversation which basically consisted of them calling us out on some things.  Their biggest concern was that we had been neglecting to walk out some very specific things the Lord spoke into our life about a year ago.  Their challenge was filled with love and encouragement, yet stern and truth-filled.

If I could sum up their words, it would come from Acts 4:29, "We must obey God rather than men."  Lately in many ways, I have been obeying man.  I have been more concerned with how people view me and my ministry, instead of knowing my acceptance in Christ and being freed up to not be concerned with man's thoughts toward me.  The Apostles in this passage were able to walk in massive amounts of obedience because their focus was on the greatness of their God and his mission for their life, and not on those around them, namely the religious authorities who were telling them not to preach the gospel.

I believe part of the answer to this problem of living to please man is found in Acts 4:32 - "And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

What is it that enabled the Apostles to endure the abuse and opposition of man?  They were fully engaged in the Spirit, to the point where even to consider obeying man and not living out Christ's mission was not even on their minds.  Why?  Because their minds were full of the Lord and their spirit (The Holy Spirit) was filled with His power to walk out God's calling on them.

Questions to consider:
1.  Who is speaking Truth into your life?
2.  Are you allowing them to walk with you in what obedience looks like?
3.  Is your focus on YOUR abilities/inabilities or HIS ever-enabling Spirit?
4.  What's keeping you from walking in obedience?

Surrendering with you!
Dave

Build an orphanage in Sudan for only $1 on Nov 16!

All it takes is one. All it took was one strand of E.coli to be processed into one hamburger patty, to make it to one burger king, to one mom, whose one son, took one bite and the one life he had would then be over. All it took was a series of one events to lead to one of the biggest recalls on beef. Because of one situation America has never been the same.
In 2001, one man, Vernon burger, who had, one passion, that being Jesus, took one trip, to Southern Sudan and connected with one bishop, who was trying to love and spread the gospel to many who were orphaned by the civil war. Since that one trip in 2001,  HIS VOICE GLOBAL  has been in an ongoing relationship with the EPC (Evangelical Presbyterian Church), 10 years and three orphanages later they seek to continue the movement to open a fourth.


You might ask the question what makes this place so special? Sudan was in war for over 20 years before signing a peace agreement in 2006. Until the peace agreement this was the longest civil war to date in human history, leaving over 2 million dead and many children without parents. So what makes this place unique!?!? Many things but one is there are many who have teamed up, like  HIS VOICE GLOBAL  and The Village Church, to be a gospel centered presence through proclamation and practice. While The Village Church has sent many teams to train pastors, equip leaders and love the children in these orphanages in Yei,  HIS VOICE GLOBAL was the door that God used to bring a gospel centered presence from the west into this area of the world. Now there is an opportunity for you to be a part of this continued movement of Christ in this region for as little as a dollar.
This past September a group of 13 from all walks of life from Reach Records, The village Church, Red Revolution, Collision Records and HIS VOICE GLOBAL partnered under The Village banner to go and minister to those in Southern Sudan. They ministered through teaching, medical, music, and loving children who were victims of the Civil War that now live in one of the three Orphanages sponsored by HIS VOICE GLOBAL. Moved by the fruit there and continued need, Tedashii, Lecrae (Reach Records artist), Swoope (Collision Records artist) and Jai teamed up to do a single to raise awareness and funds for a fourth orphanage in Southern Sudan. The single, which is slated to be released November 16th under new label Collision Records is called Actions Speak Louder. This single and symbol seen above calls believers to move beyond awareness and put their prayers in motion, to quote the song. The symbol inspired by the scriptures that say a strand of three cords are not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12), the exclamation points showing the immediate nature of the call to apply the gospel (Luke 4:18-19), the highlight of one exclamation point showing the power of one to change and lead others and the patch like design showing the reality that there is strength in numbers, calling believers to action,  an action beyond themselves.
So leading up to this date will you be the one to blog, the one to tweet, the one to put a twibbon on your twitter account (see the twibbon below click on the link to support), the one to Facebook, the one to lead and allow you actions to speak as loud as your words. The average number of songs downloaded per day are close to 10,000,000 yes that is correct 10 million. Come November 16th HIS VOICE GLOBAL only needs over 250,000 one’s to download this amazing song (which is not even 10% of the daily average) to complete and have a fourth self sustaining orphanage. We are not asking you to change your lifestyle just point your efforts toward something that will last. The amazing thing about this whole campaign is that 100 percent of the profits from the song will go toward this fourth orphanage. All it takes is one!!!

Download a song...help orphans!

All it takes is one!

GL + RR + GC = MI

A helpful formula from Pastor Darrin Patrick of The Journey Church in St. Louis:

Gospel Life + Relational Rent + Gospel Clarity = Missional Impact

"Gospel Life" = I allow the gospel to saturate every aspect of my life.

"Relational Rent" = I "pay the rent" relationally with lost people.  I am a friend of sinners (Luke 7).

"Gospel Clarity" = I clearly articulate the gospel to those around me.

"Missional Impact" = Gospel fruit is seen in the lives of the people I encounter.

Make disciples!

"Make disciples" (Matt. 28:19) is a command of Jesus that requires action not just thought. Quit talking about it and do it!


Francis Chan: Make Disciples [VERGE Video Clip] from Verge Network on Vimeo.

You can change the world!

What would the world be like if every Christian realized and embraced the power of God's Spirit within them?  How would it change the way we lived our lives?  Alan Hirsch has some good things to say about it!


Alan Hirsch: Every Believer A Church Planter [VERGE video clip] from Verge Network on Vimeo.