Keith,
We were blown away at the non-con. Saturday night I had an amazing dream. I had a spiritual awakening again.
I am still trying to sort out the whole dream. When we got to where we were staying after the NON_CON I went to sleep and had a lot of short choppy dreams. All I remember was throughout the dreams I kept hearing the word ADAMO and I could see the word written out flashing in my mind. I clearly remember a voice telling me to remember this word. I GOOGLED the word and found out this word refers to a Entity-Relationship model, related to high energy physics.
I was tripping out because I have no idea what the heck that is.
If you know me you would realize that I am a simple person. I am still trying to find more out about ADAMO. I did find out that an Entity-Relationship model views the world as consisting of entities and relationships between them where:
An entity is a thing that can be distinctly identified.
A relationship is an association between entities.
I work for a local utility company and my job is to plan jobs for service whether it be residential or commercial. Last week I met a customer that owns a winery about a mile from my home. It just so happens that the name of the winery is ADDAMO. I am not sure what God is doing, but I drive by the estate some times and just pray for the owner.
Besides this great things have been happening ever since we attended the non-con. God really opened something in our lives. I have been learning a lot about the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. I can't see the kingdom and this is all new to me. I believe God is showing me the relationship between the two entities. on earth and the kingdom of God on earth.
I want to see miracles! Healings, dreams, poor fed, and people having radical experiences with God, myself included. Feel free to call me anytime. My wife and I are having a wonderful adventure with God together.
Well done to you and your team! My wife and I are learning Love the one in front of us, and to the side of us.
-Brad and Veronica Leach, Santa Maria, California
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Friday, May 02, 2008
SEND GAP A MESSAGE
My friend Jarred's SENDGAPCLOTHESBACK.COM initiative continues.
In order to protest the use of child slavery to produce clothing for the Gap Inc. store chain (which includes Old Navy and Bannanna Republic), my friend Jarred set up this website and activist initiative to send Gap, Inc. a message.
Phase 1 saw hundreds of people returning their Gap clothing en masse at stores in Miami, Orange County, New York (Times Square) and San Francisco.
Phase 2 is a little more...subversive.
Find out more and participate
HERE
-KG
In order to protest the use of child slavery to produce clothing for the Gap Inc. store chain (which includes Old Navy and Bannanna Republic), my friend Jarred set up this website and activist initiative to send Gap, Inc. a message.
Phase 1 saw hundreds of people returning their Gap clothing en masse at stores in Miami, Orange County, New York (Times Square) and San Francisco.
Phase 2 is a little more...subversive.
Find out more and participate
HERE
-KG
Thursday, May 01, 2008
BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED
When I was a young man, still in High School, I had a mentor who discipled me and taught me a lot about hearing God's voice, teaching the Word of God, and following Jesus.
His name was Bud McGriff and he was the music pastor at the small Southern Baptist Church my family attended in El Paso, Texas.
It was largely because of Bud that I felt compelled to enter the ministry, and eventually I was even licensed and ordained by this church as young man of just 22 years of age.
I have two special gifts that Bud gave to me. One was a leather-bound hymnal which he bought and gave to me with a special note scribbled inside on the front cover. I was always singing, and I loved music. When Bud died I became the music pastor at this same church. Standing in his place was intimidating in some ways, but it also gave me a sense of the responsibility I was being given to lead others in worship, as he had done.
One night, after Bud had taught a youth Bible study in our house, he took me aside and privately informed me that God had shown him what the calling on my life was going to be. I nearly begged him to share it with me but he felt, at the time, that I wasn't ready for this news.
A few weeks later Bud had died.
I remember singing at his funeral, a song he had loved called "Walk With Me". It took all the strength I had to stand there and sing this song without breaking into tears. The room was full of students who had been his students at the local junior high school. I didn't know any of those kids, but I knew they knew Bud, and that he had touched their lives even as he had touched mine.
The second gift that Bud gave to me was a simple, laminated square book mark. Next to a crudely painted flower were the words, "Bloom Where You Are Planted".
I still have that little card in my Bible. Often I will take it out and hold it, remembering Bud's encouragement to me, his faith in me, his investment in my spiritual development, and sometimes I just smile.
It used to really disappoint me that Bud had never told me what God had revealed to him about my calling. How many times would I have loved to know whether to pursue my music, or my writing, or preaching, or ministry to the poor, or...whatever?
Whenever I hold that bookmark and read those words, I realize that Bud really did tell me what God's calling on my life was: "Bloom Where You Are Planted".
It's good advice, isn't it?
-kg
His name was Bud McGriff and he was the music pastor at the small Southern Baptist Church my family attended in El Paso, Texas.
It was largely because of Bud that I felt compelled to enter the ministry, and eventually I was even licensed and ordained by this church as young man of just 22 years of age.
I have two special gifts that Bud gave to me. One was a leather-bound hymnal which he bought and gave to me with a special note scribbled inside on the front cover. I was always singing, and I loved music. When Bud died I became the music pastor at this same church. Standing in his place was intimidating in some ways, but it also gave me a sense of the responsibility I was being given to lead others in worship, as he had done.
One night, after Bud had taught a youth Bible study in our house, he took me aside and privately informed me that God had shown him what the calling on my life was going to be. I nearly begged him to share it with me but he felt, at the time, that I wasn't ready for this news.
A few weeks later Bud had died.
I remember singing at his funeral, a song he had loved called "Walk With Me". It took all the strength I had to stand there and sing this song without breaking into tears. The room was full of students who had been his students at the local junior high school. I didn't know any of those kids, but I knew they knew Bud, and that he had touched their lives even as he had touched mine.
The second gift that Bud gave to me was a simple, laminated square book mark. Next to a crudely painted flower were the words, "Bloom Where You Are Planted".
I still have that little card in my Bible. Often I will take it out and hold it, remembering Bud's encouragement to me, his faith in me, his investment in my spiritual development, and sometimes I just smile.
It used to really disappoint me that Bud had never told me what God had revealed to him about my calling. How many times would I have loved to know whether to pursue my music, or my writing, or preaching, or ministry to the poor, or...whatever?
Whenever I hold that bookmark and read those words, I realize that Bud really did tell me what God's calling on my life was: "Bloom Where You Are Planted".
It's good advice, isn't it?
-kg
ARE WE GOOD?
This week's [Subversive Underground] article was all about the problem of suffering and the dilemna we sometimes face answering those who claim that God cannot be "Good" if He allows innocent children to suffer and die.
I read yesterday that something like 35,000 children die every day in Africa due to poverty and disease. What did you do about that today?
Does our inaction prove that we are not good?
Does it mean that we do not care?
It's like the scene in "Bruce Almighty" where he tells God how much better he would be at easing the suffering of the innocents if he had God's power. After a week or so of making himself famous and wealthy and indulging all of God's power on his own comfort and success, God shows up and asks him, "So, how many orphans did you feed today?"
We accuse God of being uncaring and unloving, and yet we, who stand here and live daily in the reality of these sufferings also do nothing.
It's a bit like being angry at the policeman for not being there to stop the speeding car that kills a young child, when we were standing on the curb and stood by, watching it all happen.
In the words of Mother Teresa, "It is not enough for us to say, 'I love God, but I do not love my neighbor, since in dying on the Cross, God has made himself the hungry one — the naked one — the homeless one. Jesus' hunger is what you and I must find and alleviate."
"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." - Jesus
I read yesterday that something like 35,000 children die every day in Africa due to poverty and disease. What did you do about that today?
Does our inaction prove that we are not good?
Does it mean that we do not care?
It's like the scene in "Bruce Almighty" where he tells God how much better he would be at easing the suffering of the innocents if he had God's power. After a week or so of making himself famous and wealthy and indulging all of God's power on his own comfort and success, God shows up and asks him, "So, how many orphans did you feed today?"
We accuse God of being uncaring and unloving, and yet we, who stand here and live daily in the reality of these sufferings also do nothing.
It's a bit like being angry at the policeman for not being there to stop the speeding car that kills a young child, when we were standing on the curb and stood by, watching it all happen.
In the words of Mother Teresa, "It is not enough for us to say, 'I love God, but I do not love my neighbor, since in dying on the Cross, God has made himself the hungry one — the naked one — the homeless one. Jesus' hunger is what you and I must find and alleviate."
"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." - Jesus
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
GREAT ALISTER MCGRATH QUOTE AND MP3
Spreading the MP3 love this week.
Alister McGrath, one of my favorite scholars and theologians (and author of "What Was God Doing On The Cross?") has a great rebuttal of Richard Dawkin's "God Delusion" online in the form of an MP3
FREE DOWNLOAD HERE
In this talk he has a great quote which jumped out at me:
"Faith is not something that goes against the evidence, it goes beyond it. The evidence is saying to us, 'There is another country. There is something beyond mere reason'." - Alister McGrath
Download that puppy and gorge your mind and spirit on the frightful goodness of his unbearable wisdom and wit.
-kg
Alister McGrath, one of my favorite scholars and theologians (and author of "What Was God Doing On The Cross?") has a great rebuttal of Richard Dawkin's "God Delusion" online in the form of an MP3
FREE DOWNLOAD HERE
In this talk he has a great quote which jumped out at me:
"Faith is not something that goes against the evidence, it goes beyond it. The evidence is saying to us, 'There is another country. There is something beyond mere reason'." - Alister McGrath
Download that puppy and gorge your mind and spirit on the frightful goodness of his unbearable wisdom and wit.
-kg
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
WHAT I REALLY BELIEVE
Over the weekend I began reflecting on the importance of being a difference in the lives of people around us.
Our house church, The Mission, is founded on the principle that all of us as followers of Jesus are called to be missionaries in our community, our workplace, our neighborhood and our culture. As such, this means we are expected to make disciples, to live extravagant lives of intentional kindness and to demonstrate the Kingdom to people around us in tangible ways.
As I meditated on this I had to stop and ask myself, Am I discipling anyone? Am I in relationship with anyone for the hope of bringing them to Jesus? Am I actively praying for my neighbors and co-workers and friends to discover the Kingdom?
The only person I am currently discipling is my oldest son, Dylan (12) and perhaps a few of the people in our house church. Is that enough? Should I be doing more?
At my new job as a copywriter for a large technology distributor I have started to develop several friendships. We've had some amazing conversations over lunch, now and again, but is that enough? Should I be doing more?
I've especially been convicted that I need to pray more often for those who are part of our house church family. As their pastor it's my spiritual duty to spend time praying for their spiritual development, their marriages, their walk with Christ and their individual mission to reflect Jesus to those around them.
THE PLANK IN MY OWN EYE
I can be very critical of local mega-churches who lead 250 people to Christ at Easter and then forget to disciple them, (and I do feel that this is a serious blind spot for many traditional churches today), but then I have to ask myself how many did I lead to Christ this year? How many did I disciple?
As I ask myself these hard questions I realize that my focus should be on what I am doing, or not doing, not on what my sisters and brothers "over there" are doing....or not doing.
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER
I have realized that we put feet to the things we really have faith in. To paraphrase the second chaper of James, "Show me what you're actually doing each day and I'll show you what you really believe in your heart of hearts".
Do my actions give away my deepest values? Yes, they do...and that may be the most frightening realization of all; That I am already actively living out my real "Faith" every moment of every day. What do my actions say about what I really value and hold to be true? Do the words I speak and the actions I take line up as they should?
If I really believe that God has filled me with His Holy Spirit and that He desires to reveal Himself to people around me, then I will actively cooperate with God to share His love with them. Not just be nice to them (which is a great start), but actually pray for God to give me the words to say and to know the best way to speak Truth into their lives.
WHY WE NEED EACH OTHER
The purpose of our house church gatherings should be to help each other live out our calling to love others, serve others and be ambassadors of Christ. We need to be encouraged and to be reminded of what this life of faith is for. We must bear one another's burdens. We must hold one another accountable for the calling we have responded to.
I've heard from some friends lately about some horrific behavior within their churches, things that I won't even share here out of respect for those who have been so abused and shamed and persecuted. This is not the way the Family of God is meant to be. We are called to lift one another up, to pray for one another and to support one another as we do our best to follow Jesus each and every day of our lives.
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." - 1 Cor 12:27
More later...
kg
Our house church, The Mission, is founded on the principle that all of us as followers of Jesus are called to be missionaries in our community, our workplace, our neighborhood and our culture. As such, this means we are expected to make disciples, to live extravagant lives of intentional kindness and to demonstrate the Kingdom to people around us in tangible ways.
As I meditated on this I had to stop and ask myself, Am I discipling anyone? Am I in relationship with anyone for the hope of bringing them to Jesus? Am I actively praying for my neighbors and co-workers and friends to discover the Kingdom?
The only person I am currently discipling is my oldest son, Dylan (12) and perhaps a few of the people in our house church. Is that enough? Should I be doing more?
At my new job as a copywriter for a large technology distributor I have started to develop several friendships. We've had some amazing conversations over lunch, now and again, but is that enough? Should I be doing more?
I've especially been convicted that I need to pray more often for those who are part of our house church family. As their pastor it's my spiritual duty to spend time praying for their spiritual development, their marriages, their walk with Christ and their individual mission to reflect Jesus to those around them.
THE PLANK IN MY OWN EYE
I can be very critical of local mega-churches who lead 250 people to Christ at Easter and then forget to disciple them, (and I do feel that this is a serious blind spot for many traditional churches today), but then I have to ask myself how many did I lead to Christ this year? How many did I disciple?
As I ask myself these hard questions I realize that my focus should be on what I am doing, or not doing, not on what my sisters and brothers "over there" are doing....or not doing.
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER
I have realized that we put feet to the things we really have faith in. To paraphrase the second chaper of James, "Show me what you're actually doing each day and I'll show you what you really believe in your heart of hearts".
Do my actions give away my deepest values? Yes, they do...and that may be the most frightening realization of all; That I am already actively living out my real "Faith" every moment of every day. What do my actions say about what I really value and hold to be true? Do the words I speak and the actions I take line up as they should?
If I really believe that God has filled me with His Holy Spirit and that He desires to reveal Himself to people around me, then I will actively cooperate with God to share His love with them. Not just be nice to them (which is a great start), but actually pray for God to give me the words to say and to know the best way to speak Truth into their lives.
WHY WE NEED EACH OTHER
The purpose of our house church gatherings should be to help each other live out our calling to love others, serve others and be ambassadors of Christ. We need to be encouraged and to be reminded of what this life of faith is for. We must bear one another's burdens. We must hold one another accountable for the calling we have responded to.
I've heard from some friends lately about some horrific behavior within their churches, things that I won't even share here out of respect for those who have been so abused and shamed and persecuted. This is not the way the Family of God is meant to be. We are called to lift one another up, to pray for one another and to support one another as we do our best to follow Jesus each and every day of our lives.
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." - 1 Cor 12:27
More later...
kg
TODD HUNTER: THREE IS ENOUGH MP3
Todd Hunter gave a great talk last Thursday concerning the state of Christianity in America today and what he feels we can do to change things for the better.
This was a very inspiring session and it's now available as a free MP3 download over at my podcast page on ITunes.
IF YOU USE ITUNES: GO TO [SUBVERSIVE UNDERGROUND] PODCAST
You can find Todd Hunter's "Three Is Enough" mp3 for free on ITunes under my [Subversive Underground] podcast page (which also has all 3 Non-Con messages).
IF YOU DON'T USE ITUNES: DOWNLOAD FOR FREE
HERE
Whether you use IMac or Ipod or PC, the free ITunes player will work on your computer. There's no charge to download ITunes.
Todd has some great things to share about the state of Christianity in America and his vision to help people to re-imagine their daily life in a Kingdom perspective.
Watch this podcast page for more podcasts to come...
-kg
This was a very inspiring session and it's now available as a free MP3 download over at my podcast page on ITunes.
IF YOU USE ITUNES: GO TO [SUBVERSIVE UNDERGROUND] PODCAST
You can find Todd Hunter's "Three Is Enough" mp3 for free on ITunes under my [Subversive Underground] podcast page (which also has all 3 Non-Con messages).
IF YOU DON'T USE ITUNES: DOWNLOAD FOR FREE
HERE
Whether you use IMac or Ipod or PC, the free ITunes player will work on your computer. There's no charge to download ITunes.
Todd has some great things to share about the state of Christianity in America and his vision to help people to re-imagine their daily life in a Kingdom perspective.
Watch this podcast page for more podcasts to come...
-kg
Monday, April 28, 2008
WHAT ABOUT THE RAPTURE?
A friend of mine asked me via email today what my take on the Rapture was. She was curious because her opinion didn't seem to match the vast majority of church-going Christians she was talking to and she was curious what my take on the subject would be.
PROPHECY IN GENERAL
I always begin these sorts of conversations about End Times and Prophecy by making the observation that, if we're close-minded and dogmatic about issues of Prophecy we are in danger of falling into the same trap that the religious leaders of Jesus' day fell into.
The Pharisee and other Jewish leaders of the day actually missed the FIRST COMING of the Messiah because he didn't fit their preconceived theories. The Messiah was right in front of them and they couldn't see him because he didn't come in the form or fashion that they had decided ahead of time he needed to arrive in.
GOD LOVES TO COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES
If we hold tightly to our version of End Times Prophecy I feel like we could do the same thing again - miss the Messiah's coming in our time.
The prophetic scriptures found in Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Revelations are all very cryptic and open to multiple interpretations. This is not an accident. God could have easily said, "The Anti-Christ will arrive seventy years after the Nation of Israel is re-established following a War of the Nations and he will have red hair and his name will be Conan O'Brien"...for example.
But, God did not choose to communicate the details of End Times events in this straight-forward, plain Hebrew (or Greek...or English) format. God purposely veiled much of the prophetic details in figurative, metaphorical and difficult to decipher terminology. Why did He do that?
MY CRAZY THEORY
I believe that the prophetic words spoken of in the Scriptures are not meant to give us advance knowledge of when or how things are going to turn out in the future.
"Really? Then what are these prophecies for?" I can hear you asking.
Well, I believe that these passages are for those who are living through the actual events at the moment, primarily. When you are living through something that God has prophesied in advance, and you suddenly realize as you're reading the Scriptures that what is happening at the moment is a fulfillment of that prophecy, you are instantly comforted and filled with hope because you know that God is in control of everything.
I also believe that the purpose of those propecies is for those who live after the events have taken place. It gives them the perspective of knowing that God spoke the prophetic word hundreds, or thousands, of years ago and then fulfilled His promises just as He said He would, but in a way that none of us saw coming. That gives us hope in the present and builds our faith for the future.
So, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, on the day that the sacrificial lamb was traditionally chosen for the upcoming Passover, and the people began laying down palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!", it was pretty obvious to most who were standing around that they were living through something that had been prophesied hundreds of years previously.
When the disciples reflected back on the words of Jesus, and on the events of His crucifixion, they realized just how much of what they had just lived through had been prophesied in advance...but not until after it had already taken place! This strengthened their faith and provided evidence for God's hand in everything that had happened.
So, I believe that we will not ever know exactly what the great dragon with seven heads and ten horns is referring to until either
A) Just as it is being fulfilled or
B) A few months after it has already taken place
Why? Because that is the pattern we see regarding prophecy throughout Scripture.
If that's the pattern we see, and if these things we're debating (Rapture, Tribulation, The Beast, The Whore of Babylon, etc.) aren't clear to us, then we should not be dividing over our opinions of these things.
EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE RAPTURE
Another reason I find discussions of End Times Prophecy to be counter productive and pointless is that these arguments distract us from what we are actually commanded by our Lord Jesus to be doing - Following Him with our lives, loving others, making disciples and baptizing new believers.
One frightening tendency I see in many of those who are caught up in the End Times Prophetic movement is their amazing lack of inactivity and their attitude of "duck and cover". Most are just waiting for Jesus to come back "any day now" and smite those Heathen and take them home to Glory! (Halleluiah)
I always have to caution people to make sure their focus is on how they are following Jesus today...right now, not about when or how or in what way Jesus is supposed to come again.
We can get so hung up on the signs of the times and our version of the Rapture, the End Times, etc. that we forget to live our lives here and now.
THE DANGER OF MISUNDERSTANDING
Let's imagine what it would have been like for us as Christians if we had lived in Nazi Germany during WW2.
We would have seen an Anti-Christ figure rounding up God's Chosen people and putting them to death with a Satanic power and influence over the masses. We would've experienced imposed persecution and poverty because of this oppression. It would have nearly impossible for us to read Revelation and Ezekiel and Daniel and not conclude, beyond any reasonable doubt that this must be the end times. (At least, that's what I would've assumed).
But...we would have been very wrong about that.
It was horrific, and Hitler was a "type" of Anti-Christ, and a lot of the prophecies in the Old and New Testaments appear to have been fulfilled concerning the persecution of the Church...but they were not.
We could be living in the End Times today...but it could also be several generations away.
OUR EXAMPLE IS THE EARLY CHURCH
I look at the early Church, the one in the New Testament, and I see them living expectantly concerning the imminent return of Christ, and yet they all shared a daily determination to be found in the act of obeying Jesus and serving Him through the ministry of compassion towards others at the same time.
Our hope in the return of Jesus cannot paralyze us to be passive and wait for the Rapture to come and for Jesus to rescue us and judge these heathen people. The earliest Christians were a great model for us to follow. They expected Jesus to return at any moment, and yet they were loving and forgiving and outwardly involved in expressing the tangible love of Jesus to people in their community every single day.
RAPTURE OR NOT?
Whether or not I am to be Raptured in my lifetime, or if I die an old man, my calling and my mission are the same - to follow Jesus with all that is within me and to live a life of outward compassion towards those who are made in the image of God.
When it comes to the popular teaching concerning the End Times- that we will be Raptured before any persecution comes- I have to say that it doesn't seem to fit what I read in Scripture.
Having said that, let me add two more things:
1) For me to hold my position and argue with other Christians about it is just as bad as what they're doing, at least in my opinion. The whole dogmatic, "I'm right and you're wrong" thing just doesn't get us anywhere, I believe.
2) The issue of the End Times is about more than just The Rapture, it's actually about what your idea of "Heaven" is...and most of the Church has that completely backwards.
WHAT ABOUT HEAVEN?
I recently wrote an article here that was a reaction to a new book by celebrated theologian and scholar N.T. Wright about how most Christians take their understanding of Heaven from a cultural mythology (meaning, we made it up) and from John Milton's "Paradise Lost" --not from the Bible.
Most Christians believe we're going to be Raptured and then spend Eternity in a wispy, cloudy, spiritual realm filled with singing, harps and gold-encrusted mansions...far away from here.
THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF HEAVEN, AND WHAT COMES AFTER
The Bible teaches that God will come here to live with us, we will not "go there" to live with Him.
Revelation 21 and Isaiah 65 both describe a final reality where God creates a New Heaven and a New Earth...and we live on the New Earth with Jesus as our Eternal King. We will not live in a spiritual reality in ghostly bodies and strum harps, etc. We will have bodies which will be as solid as the ones we have now (or as solid as the body Jesus had at His Resurrection), and we will live in a brand-new physical reality which will be this same Earth, but re-made.
Rather than re-type the whole thing I'll direct you to the article and let you look for yourself.
Here:
IN CONCLUSION
I am totally ok with everyone studying the prophetic scriptures and doing their best to understand them as much as possible. What I do strongly caution is that we do not cause arguments or divisions in the Body of Christ over differences in opinion (because there's a very good chance that we're all wrong). I also strongly advise that, whatever our perspective regarding the End Times we do not allow our opinions of escatology to paralyze our individual walk with Jesus or distract us from our daily dying to self.
peas,
kg
PROPHECY IN GENERAL
I always begin these sorts of conversations about End Times and Prophecy by making the observation that, if we're close-minded and dogmatic about issues of Prophecy we are in danger of falling into the same trap that the religious leaders of Jesus' day fell into.
The Pharisee and other Jewish leaders of the day actually missed the FIRST COMING of the Messiah because he didn't fit their preconceived theories. The Messiah was right in front of them and they couldn't see him because he didn't come in the form or fashion that they had decided ahead of time he needed to arrive in.
GOD LOVES TO COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES
If we hold tightly to our version of End Times Prophecy I feel like we could do the same thing again - miss the Messiah's coming in our time.
The prophetic scriptures found in Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Revelations are all very cryptic and open to multiple interpretations. This is not an accident. God could have easily said, "The Anti-Christ will arrive seventy years after the Nation of Israel is re-established following a War of the Nations and he will have red hair and his name will be Conan O'Brien"...for example.
But, God did not choose to communicate the details of End Times events in this straight-forward, plain Hebrew (or Greek...or English) format. God purposely veiled much of the prophetic details in figurative, metaphorical and difficult to decipher terminology. Why did He do that?
MY CRAZY THEORY
I believe that the prophetic words spoken of in the Scriptures are not meant to give us advance knowledge of when or how things are going to turn out in the future.
"Really? Then what are these prophecies for?" I can hear you asking.
Well, I believe that these passages are for those who are living through the actual events at the moment, primarily. When you are living through something that God has prophesied in advance, and you suddenly realize as you're reading the Scriptures that what is happening at the moment is a fulfillment of that prophecy, you are instantly comforted and filled with hope because you know that God is in control of everything.
I also believe that the purpose of those propecies is for those who live after the events have taken place. It gives them the perspective of knowing that God spoke the prophetic word hundreds, or thousands, of years ago and then fulfilled His promises just as He said He would, but in a way that none of us saw coming. That gives us hope in the present and builds our faith for the future.
So, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, on the day that the sacrificial lamb was traditionally chosen for the upcoming Passover, and the people began laying down palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!", it was pretty obvious to most who were standing around that they were living through something that had been prophesied hundreds of years previously.
When the disciples reflected back on the words of Jesus, and on the events of His crucifixion, they realized just how much of what they had just lived through had been prophesied in advance...but not until after it had already taken place! This strengthened their faith and provided evidence for God's hand in everything that had happened.
So, I believe that we will not ever know exactly what the great dragon with seven heads and ten horns is referring to until either
A) Just as it is being fulfilled or
B) A few months after it has already taken place
Why? Because that is the pattern we see regarding prophecy throughout Scripture.
If that's the pattern we see, and if these things we're debating (Rapture, Tribulation, The Beast, The Whore of Babylon, etc.) aren't clear to us, then we should not be dividing over our opinions of these things.
EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE RAPTURE
Another reason I find discussions of End Times Prophecy to be counter productive and pointless is that these arguments distract us from what we are actually commanded by our Lord Jesus to be doing - Following Him with our lives, loving others, making disciples and baptizing new believers.
One frightening tendency I see in many of those who are caught up in the End Times Prophetic movement is their amazing lack of inactivity and their attitude of "duck and cover". Most are just waiting for Jesus to come back "any day now" and smite those Heathen and take them home to Glory! (Halleluiah)
I always have to caution people to make sure their focus is on how they are following Jesus today...right now, not about when or how or in what way Jesus is supposed to come again.
We can get so hung up on the signs of the times and our version of the Rapture, the End Times, etc. that we forget to live our lives here and now.
THE DANGER OF MISUNDERSTANDING
Let's imagine what it would have been like for us as Christians if we had lived in Nazi Germany during WW2.
We would have seen an Anti-Christ figure rounding up God's Chosen people and putting them to death with a Satanic power and influence over the masses. We would've experienced imposed persecution and poverty because of this oppression. It would have nearly impossible for us to read Revelation and Ezekiel and Daniel and not conclude, beyond any reasonable doubt that this must be the end times. (At least, that's what I would've assumed).
But...we would have been very wrong about that.
It was horrific, and Hitler was a "type" of Anti-Christ, and a lot of the prophecies in the Old and New Testaments appear to have been fulfilled concerning the persecution of the Church...but they were not.
We could be living in the End Times today...but it could also be several generations away.
OUR EXAMPLE IS THE EARLY CHURCH
I look at the early Church, the one in the New Testament, and I see them living expectantly concerning the imminent return of Christ, and yet they all shared a daily determination to be found in the act of obeying Jesus and serving Him through the ministry of compassion towards others at the same time.
Our hope in the return of Jesus cannot paralyze us to be passive and wait for the Rapture to come and for Jesus to rescue us and judge these heathen people. The earliest Christians were a great model for us to follow. They expected Jesus to return at any moment, and yet they were loving and forgiving and outwardly involved in expressing the tangible love of Jesus to people in their community every single day.
RAPTURE OR NOT?
Whether or not I am to be Raptured in my lifetime, or if I die an old man, my calling and my mission are the same - to follow Jesus with all that is within me and to live a life of outward compassion towards those who are made in the image of God.
When it comes to the popular teaching concerning the End Times- that we will be Raptured before any persecution comes- I have to say that it doesn't seem to fit what I read in Scripture.
Having said that, let me add two more things:
1) For me to hold my position and argue with other Christians about it is just as bad as what they're doing, at least in my opinion. The whole dogmatic, "I'm right and you're wrong" thing just doesn't get us anywhere, I believe.
2) The issue of the End Times is about more than just The Rapture, it's actually about what your idea of "Heaven" is...and most of the Church has that completely backwards.
WHAT ABOUT HEAVEN?
I recently wrote an article here that was a reaction to a new book by celebrated theologian and scholar N.T. Wright about how most Christians take their understanding of Heaven from a cultural mythology (meaning, we made it up) and from John Milton's "Paradise Lost" --not from the Bible.
Most Christians believe we're going to be Raptured and then spend Eternity in a wispy, cloudy, spiritual realm filled with singing, harps and gold-encrusted mansions...far away from here.
THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF HEAVEN, AND WHAT COMES AFTER
The Bible teaches that God will come here to live with us, we will not "go there" to live with Him.
Revelation 21 and Isaiah 65 both describe a final reality where God creates a New Heaven and a New Earth...and we live on the New Earth with Jesus as our Eternal King. We will not live in a spiritual reality in ghostly bodies and strum harps, etc. We will have bodies which will be as solid as the ones we have now (or as solid as the body Jesus had at His Resurrection), and we will live in a brand-new physical reality which will be this same Earth, but re-made.
Rather than re-type the whole thing I'll direct you to the article and let you look for yourself.
Here:
IN CONCLUSION
I am totally ok with everyone studying the prophetic scriptures and doing their best to understand them as much as possible. What I do strongly caution is that we do not cause arguments or divisions in the Body of Christ over differences in opinion (because there's a very good chance that we're all wrong). I also strongly advise that, whatever our perspective regarding the End Times we do not allow our opinions of escatology to paralyze our individual walk with Jesus or distract us from our daily dying to self.
peas,
kg
Friday, April 25, 2008
Tisha B'Av
Tisha B'Av is the ninth day (Tisha) of the Jewish month of Av and it is called the "saddest day in Jewish history".
Why?
Because the destruction of the first Jewish Temple and the destruction of the second Jewish Temple both occurred on this same exact day - 656 years apart.
Does anyone else find that fascinating?
Coincidence?
I think not...
Perhaps God was trying to send a message to His people about the fact that He is in control of even the bad things we experience in our lives?
Who knows? I guess trying to second guess God on these things isn't the point, but still...the temple destroyed twice, on the same day, 656 years apart?
Amazing.
kg
Why?
Because the destruction of the first Jewish Temple and the destruction of the second Jewish Temple both occurred on this same exact day - 656 years apart.
Does anyone else find that fascinating?
Coincidence?
I think not...
Perhaps God was trying to send a message to His people about the fact that He is in control of even the bad things we experience in our lives?
Who knows? I guess trying to second guess God on these things isn't the point, but still...the temple destroyed twice, on the same day, 656 years apart?
Amazing.
kg
Thursday, April 24, 2008
WHAT REMAINS - ONLINE GALLERY
Photos from Saturday's opening night celebration featuring art from my friends Heather Wright, Scott Laumann and Bill Burgess are online now
RIGHT HERE
Enjoy!
kg
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Constantine: The Father of Our Faith
Although Constantine was not a church member, or leader, or pastor, or teacher his influence on the Christian church today is equal, if not greater than, that of Paul the Apostle and even Jesus Himself.
As the first Christian Emperor of Rome, Constantine declared himself to be a Christian at the age of 40, although he put his own sons to death and killed his wife because his mother wanted him to. He also beat his own sister for her worship of Jesus.
Constantine hated the crucifix because it showed Jesus in a place of weakness. For him, the cross was a sign of power and he had no understanding of Jesus as a suffering servant, preferring instead to fashion a triumphant, powerful version of Jesus who would bless his bloody escapades as a warrior and a conquerer.
Even though he publicly declared himself to be Christian, Constantine also continued to hold the title of "Pontifex Maximus" which signified his leadership of the pagan priesthood.
Why did the Church allow a man who held the title of High Priest in the Pagan Temple to influence the way they worshipped and practiced their faith?
Maybe it was because he was their largest financial supporter? Or because he ended the brutal persecutions of his predecessors? Or because he gave them non-profit, tax-exempt status in the Empire? Maybe it was because he promoted several of the clergy to high-ranking offices within the Empire? Or because he built large temples for them to worship in?
Whatever the reason, Constantine was allowed to dictate to the Church how and when and where they would worship God. Instead of meeting in the home and sharing a meal together, Constantine mandated that Christians meet in the pagan temples which he had provided for them. Instead of a shared and open dialog of faith, Constantine instituted a liturgy which looked very much like that of the pagan's, and of the Roman Empire itself. Worship services were presided over by the clergy who held power much like a king or an emperor. The members of the church were no longer treated as dearly loved members of a family but were treated as peasants to be taxed (via the tithe) and ruled over like subjects.
To this day the Christian church continues to meet in the same pagan temple system, with a select clergy held in honor as small kings who rule over the people and maintain the building, and their own livelihood, via the taxing of the peasants via the tithe.
Many who are Christians today aren't even aware of the influence that Constantine had on their faith and continue to read the New Testament as if the references to "Church" and "worship" found there corresponds to the sort of church life they experience.
I've only realized these things myself in the last few years, having been a Christian now for over 30 years and even licensed and ordained as a minister of the Gospel, this news unsettles me.
Many, like me, who have come to realize these facts can only stand back and ask, "What now?"
Honestly, I am not exactly sure what to do, other than what I've already done which is step outside the traditional church and to begin to re-discover the family-based, Jesus-inspired, shared Koinonia of House Church.
I don't do this to condemn my family and friends who are still part of traditonal church. I do not write this to smear the Bride of Christ. I simply write this to share what I have learned and to communicate my personal response.
Those who remain in the traditional church are as loved by God as anyone else is. I have nothing but love and respect for the pastors and members of traditional denominational churches around the world. Without them I wouldn't have come this far. None of us would.
But, if you knew there was a way to facilitate community and encourage participation and inspire followers of Jesus to live out their faith in brand new, exciting ways, why would you oppose it? Especially if this was something supported by the New Testament and proven by the exponential growth of the Church throughout the world via the simple, organic model of house church?
I acknowledge that, thus far, Constantine has had a fantastic amount of influence over the Church. But my hope is that we would allow Jesus to lead us once again. My hope is that we would humble ourselves before Jesus and daily die to ourselves to follow Him and to love Him and to love others as He commanded us.
It's time for a Church that is more like Jesus than it is like Constantine.
-kg
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Thursday Night - Todd Hunter
Todd Hunter, a long time friend and mentor of mine, will be hosting a night of vision this Thursday night at Triangle Square at 7 pm.
NOTE: This will be in the same room where we had our Non-Con last month.
ABOUT THIS SPECIAL NIGHT-
Recently Todd left ALPHA USA to start his own Non-Profit ministry "Society for Kingdom Living" which aims to explore a holistic approach to missional evangelism and spiritual formation. He will be sharing the vision for this new Kingdom-focused non-profit and also to share from his new book coming soon from Intervarsity on re-imagining the Christian life.
ABOUT TODD HUNTER:
Todd has previously served as the president of Alpha USA, an organization that focuses on motivating and equipping Christians to connect with unbelievers, and as the president of the National Association of Vineyard Churches Todd was afforded the “mega-church” experience as well as the opportunity to observe a historic renewal movement up close.
Todd has worked with many individuals and organizations including Alleon, Off The Map, Emergent, Soul Survivor, and various church planters who want to shape their ministries around a kingdom-based, missional encounter with contemporary realities.
**
Todd Hunter has been a significant influence on my life in various ways, including my personal epiphany regarding the Gospel of the Kingdom.
In many ways, Todd Hunter is an apostle. God has given him influence over many pastors and he has fathered several churches throughout his years with Vineyard, Allelon, Soul Survivor, Alpha and now Society for Kingdom Living.
This will be an important time to hear what God has placed on his heart for us and for this geographic region.
I hope to see you there!
This Thursday Evening at 7pm -
at Soul Survivor Church (Triangle Square)
1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
*Directly underneath the Edwards Cinema, on the corner of Harbor and 19th
THERE'S AN ONLINE GOOGLE MAP FEATURE
HERE
NOTE: This will be in the same room where we had our Non-Con last month.
ABOUT THIS SPECIAL NIGHT-
Recently Todd left ALPHA USA to start his own Non-Profit ministry "Society for Kingdom Living" which aims to explore a holistic approach to missional evangelism and spiritual formation. He will be sharing the vision for this new Kingdom-focused non-profit and also to share from his new book coming soon from Intervarsity on re-imagining the Christian life.
ABOUT TODD HUNTER:
Todd has previously served as the president of Alpha USA, an organization that focuses on motivating and equipping Christians to connect with unbelievers, and as the president of the National Association of Vineyard Churches Todd was afforded the “mega-church” experience as well as the opportunity to observe a historic renewal movement up close.
Todd has worked with many individuals and organizations including Alleon, Off The Map, Emergent, Soul Survivor, and various church planters who want to shape their ministries around a kingdom-based, missional encounter with contemporary realities.
**
Todd Hunter has been a significant influence on my life in various ways, including my personal epiphany regarding the Gospel of the Kingdom.
In many ways, Todd Hunter is an apostle. God has given him influence over many pastors and he has fathered several churches throughout his years with Vineyard, Allelon, Soul Survivor, Alpha and now Society for Kingdom Living.
This will be an important time to hear what God has placed on his heart for us and for this geographic region.
I hope to see you there!
This Thursday Evening at 7pm -
at Soul Survivor Church (Triangle Square)
1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
*Directly underneath the Edwards Cinema, on the corner of Harbor and 19th
THERE'S AN ONLINE GOOGLE MAP FEATURE
HERE
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Final Days of the America Empire?
Gas prices are soaring, the economy is in free fall, the housing market has crashed, Wall Street is a roller coaster, the American dollar is becoming the new Peso, and now...we're rationing food?
Yes we are. Read it
HERE
FOOD RATIONING CONFRONTS THE BREADBASKET OF THE WORLD?
(FROM THE ARTICLE LINKED ABOVE)
"Many parts of America, long considered the breadbasket of the world, are now confronting a once unthinkable phenomenon: food rationing."
"Major retailers in New York, in areas of New England, and on the West Coast are limiting purchases of flour, rice, and cooking oil as demand outstrips supply. There are also anecdotal reports that some consumers are hoarding grain stocks."
As I contemplate our slouching towards the sunset of our fair Empire I can't help but reflect on this passage of prophecy from Revelation and wonder, if the fall of Babylon were to happen this week, what is the most likely nation to qualify as "Babylon" here? Is it America? Haven't we recently conquered the physical Babylon (which is geographically Iraq)? Are we the spiritual equivalent of Babylon today?
Decide for yourself...
"The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more— cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.
"They will say, 'The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.' The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment.
"Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?' They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out.."
-Full Text is found in Revelation 18:1-24
What other nation could disappear today and be so mourned over? Are we (The United States of America) not the world's largest consumers of the World's goods? (Electronics, Clothing, Spices, Automobiles, etc.)
Either way, repentance is a good response to the crisis our nation faces today.
kg
Yes we are. Read it
HERE
FOOD RATIONING CONFRONTS THE BREADBASKET OF THE WORLD?
(FROM THE ARTICLE LINKED ABOVE)
"Many parts of America, long considered the breadbasket of the world, are now confronting a once unthinkable phenomenon: food rationing."
"Major retailers in New York, in areas of New England, and on the West Coast are limiting purchases of flour, rice, and cooking oil as demand outstrips supply. There are also anecdotal reports that some consumers are hoarding grain stocks."
As I contemplate our slouching towards the sunset of our fair Empire I can't help but reflect on this passage of prophecy from Revelation and wonder, if the fall of Babylon were to happen this week, what is the most likely nation to qualify as "Babylon" here? Is it America? Haven't we recently conquered the physical Babylon (which is geographically Iraq)? Are we the spiritual equivalent of Babylon today?
Decide for yourself...
"The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more— cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.
"They will say, 'The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.' The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment.
"Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?' They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out.."
-Full Text is found in Revelation 18:1-24
What other nation could disappear today and be so mourned over? Are we (The United States of America) not the world's largest consumers of the World's goods? (Electronics, Clothing, Spices, Automobiles, etc.)
Either way, repentance is a good response to the crisis our nation faces today.
kg
Friday, April 18, 2008
Jesus Revealed In The Passover Seder
Last night our house church, The Mission, enjoyed our very first Passover Seder dinner together. It was so amazing.
I've posted some pictures over at the Mission blog
HERE
We couldn't have done this without the incredible sacrifice and servanthood of our dear sisters in Christ, Betsy and Candy.
What's even more amazing is that Wendy and I only met these two amazing ladies last Sunday--for the very first time.
And yet, they came to our home, set up these tables, donated their finest china, printed up the Seder books for each place setting, came early to set up, carried out the food to serve us, went from person to person with a bowl and towels to wash our hands, washed dishes in the kitchen while we ate, and cleaned everything up afterwards.
This is the amazing love of God. This is what it means to be part of a larger Family of God.
Even though we barely know these women, they loved us all enough to come and to serve us and to bless our socks off, just because we're brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
Betsy and Candy are both part of my friend Marti Clark's home church. They graciously made our amazing Passover Seder possible and we cannot wait to serve them in return someday soon.
The Seder itself was phenomenal. Several times my wife and I had to pause to hold back our tears as we were touched by God's love for us and by His incredible wisdom, revealed within the Seder itself.
To me one of the most profound things was knowing that thousands of years ago, God gave the Jewish people a command to celebrate this dinner on a specific date each year. Thousands of years later he fulfilled His promise to them by sacrificing Himself on the cross - the very same day.
Not only that, but at 3pm that same day, when Christ cried out "It Is Finished", the Jews customarily blow the shofar trumpet and sacrifice the passover lamb.
Incredible stuff.
-kg
I've posted some pictures over at the Mission blog
HERE
We couldn't have done this without the incredible sacrifice and servanthood of our dear sisters in Christ, Betsy and Candy.
What's even more amazing is that Wendy and I only met these two amazing ladies last Sunday--for the very first time.
And yet, they came to our home, set up these tables, donated their finest china, printed up the Seder books for each place setting, came early to set up, carried out the food to serve us, went from person to person with a bowl and towels to wash our hands, washed dishes in the kitchen while we ate, and cleaned everything up afterwards.
This is the amazing love of God. This is what it means to be part of a larger Family of God.
Even though we barely know these women, they loved us all enough to come and to serve us and to bless our socks off, just because we're brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
Betsy and Candy are both part of my friend Marti Clark's home church. They graciously made our amazing Passover Seder possible and we cannot wait to serve them in return someday soon.
The Seder itself was phenomenal. Several times my wife and I had to pause to hold back our tears as we were touched by God's love for us and by His incredible wisdom, revealed within the Seder itself.
To me one of the most profound things was knowing that thousands of years ago, God gave the Jewish people a command to celebrate this dinner on a specific date each year. Thousands of years later he fulfilled His promise to them by sacrificing Himself on the cross - the very same day.
Not only that, but at 3pm that same day, when Christ cried out "It Is Finished", the Jews customarily blow the shofar trumpet and sacrifice the passover lamb.
Incredible stuff.
-kg
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Join The Movement
The truth is, all anyone can do is to join the movement, no one can actually start one. At least, not on purpose anyway.
If you look back over history, at religion, politics, and the arts you find numerous movements which impacted the culture and society. Most of them, if not all, were not originally designed to be movements, they were simply the spontaneous, synergistic developments which came about because the words, or the actions, or the combined societal zeitgeist converged to bring about a sudden, sweeping change within the culture.
Most of the time, whenever you hear someone say, "I want to start a movement" you can bet on one thing: They will not start a movement.
They might start a business, or a trend, or a temporary ripple within a small segment or subculture, but the rest of the world will hardly notice.
When Luther nailed his treatise to the door, he was not attempting to start a movement. He was hoping to change the way people practiced their faith.
When Jackson Pollock dribbled paint on the canvas and created art without a brush, he was not attempting to start a movement. He was trying to end years of frustration with his own artistic expression and scratch an itch that existing methods of art couldn't touch.
When Jesus walked to the cross, he was not attempting to start a movement. He was attempting to please the Father and to demonstrate to his disciples what love really was.
Did these men inspire movements? Yes. Did they start out with the plan to create a movement? No. Their focus was simply to do what they were born to do. The movement was a byproduct of their obedience to their own inner desire to create, to educate, and to demonstrate the beauty and the truth that only they could see at the moment.
So, if you're planning to start a movement, here's my advice: Don't.
Instead, just be who God made you to be and pursue that calling with everything inside of you.
Your destiny is to run the race that has been laid out before you. Don't miss your chance to be yourself.
-kg
If you look back over history, at religion, politics, and the arts you find numerous movements which impacted the culture and society. Most of them, if not all, were not originally designed to be movements, they were simply the spontaneous, synergistic developments which came about because the words, or the actions, or the combined societal zeitgeist converged to bring about a sudden, sweeping change within the culture.
Most of the time, whenever you hear someone say, "I want to start a movement" you can bet on one thing: They will not start a movement.
They might start a business, or a trend, or a temporary ripple within a small segment or subculture, but the rest of the world will hardly notice.
When Luther nailed his treatise to the door, he was not attempting to start a movement. He was hoping to change the way people practiced their faith.
When Jackson Pollock dribbled paint on the canvas and created art without a brush, he was not attempting to start a movement. He was trying to end years of frustration with his own artistic expression and scratch an itch that existing methods of art couldn't touch.
When Jesus walked to the cross, he was not attempting to start a movement. He was attempting to please the Father and to demonstrate to his disciples what love really was.
Did these men inspire movements? Yes. Did they start out with the plan to create a movement? No. Their focus was simply to do what they were born to do. The movement was a byproduct of their obedience to their own inner desire to create, to educate, and to demonstrate the beauty and the truth that only they could see at the moment.
So, if you're planning to start a movement, here's my advice: Don't.
Instead, just be who God made you to be and pursue that calling with everything inside of you.
Your destiny is to run the race that has been laid out before you. Don't miss your chance to be yourself.
-kg
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
What Remains - This Saturday
Three of my favorite artists, and good friends Heather Wright, Scott Laumann and Bill Burgess (image above) will be showing original works of art for an exclusive 2 week show at The Artery in Costa Mesa, California.
If you're in the area be sure to come and join in the fun this Saturday night at 7pm.
Bill Burgess will be playing his own brand of eclectronica live between 7:30 and 8:30pm so you don't want to miss that, do ya?
Of course you don't.
The ARTery Gallery @ The LAB
2930 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
This Saturday night - April 19th
7pm to 9pm
See ya there!
kg
Jesus in the Pulpit
This week's [Subversive Underground] will be about something that's been on my mind since our Non-Con last month.
Another blog post today by a fellow Kingdom-minded writer sparked my desire to respond to this in a more definite way.
Basically, it pains me to hear Christians say that they've never heard about the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached, or to quote Jesus to someone and have them look at me as if they've never heard that before in their life.
What are our Pastor's preaching every Sunday? How can we be a generation, and a nation, of Christians who are unfamiliar with the teachings and the message of Jesus?
My friend whose blog inspired me this morning commented that he has experienced this same lack of understanding regarding Jesus and His message. He noted that most Christians seem to know a whole lot about Paul and the teachings found in the Epistles, but not so much about the Gospels and the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed.
Imagine meeting a Muslim who had no real concept of what Muhammed taught? Or meeting a Jew who had no understanding of what Moses said or did? In what way would that person be a Muslim, or a Jew?
How can we call ourselves "Christians" if we have no concept of who Jesus was and what he taught?
We've made being a Christian about knowing stuff and believing information, not about what Jesus made it all about which was following him.
Maybe that's why I have a hard time calling myself a "Christian"? Because more and more I am being convinced that a Christian and a Follower of Jesus are not the same thing.
More in this week's [Subversive Underground], coming soon...
kg
Another blog post today by a fellow Kingdom-minded writer sparked my desire to respond to this in a more definite way.
Basically, it pains me to hear Christians say that they've never heard about the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached, or to quote Jesus to someone and have them look at me as if they've never heard that before in their life.
What are our Pastor's preaching every Sunday? How can we be a generation, and a nation, of Christians who are unfamiliar with the teachings and the message of Jesus?
My friend whose blog inspired me this morning commented that he has experienced this same lack of understanding regarding Jesus and His message. He noted that most Christians seem to know a whole lot about Paul and the teachings found in the Epistles, but not so much about the Gospels and the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed.
Imagine meeting a Muslim who had no real concept of what Muhammed taught? Or meeting a Jew who had no understanding of what Moses said or did? In what way would that person be a Muslim, or a Jew?
How can we call ourselves "Christians" if we have no concept of who Jesus was and what he taught?
We've made being a Christian about knowing stuff and believing information, not about what Jesus made it all about which was following him.
Maybe that's why I have a hard time calling myself a "Christian"? Because more and more I am being convinced that a Christian and a Follower of Jesus are not the same thing.
More in this week's [Subversive Underground], coming soon...
kg
Monday, April 14, 2008
Partnering For Tomorrow
I've had two (seemingly) divergent threads of thought recently regarding the idea of partnering with other like-minded people in this geographic region for Kingdom purposes.
First, after the Non-Con I had a meeting with Tommy Nixon of Solidarity Rising and then an email from my friend Max McGee of Saddleback church regarding unrelated ideas of partnering together to achieve a common goal.
I began to wonder if all of us weren't after the same thing but pursuing different means to accomplish a small piece of the same plan.
Tommy was interested (as I have been) in finding ways to help local Orange County believers see the Kingdom and begin a lifestyle of mission and service to others (as opposed to undertaking occassional mission trips to serve for a day, etc.).
Max was interested in partnering together to find ways to train and inspire local churches and small group leaders to begin to adopt local poverty motels (as Max and I have done with our house churches/home groups).
My other friend, Jarred Rowland, is also interested in finding partners to help him raise awareness about poverty in Orange County but he wants to publish a subversive magazine that would provoke response and put a face to the invisible poor in this area.
My friend Scott Laumann and I had a similar idea about 4 years ago but never got the idea off the ground. Now that Jarred has started moving forward it appears that we've found our missing, catalytic piece of this puzzle.
Yesterday my wife and I took our boys to another house church to share about poverty in Orange County with them, and leaders from a second house church. Afterwards I shared with Marti Clark (my friend from ALPHA USA who also lead one of our Non-Con workshops) about the possibility of partnering together with her house church, and the one lead by Van and Joyce Pewthers in Placentia, for future ministry and service opportunities.
Somehow all of these open doors to partner with others is connected. I know it. I'm just not sure, exactly, yet how.
I keep hearing that verse in my head where Jesus says that he only does what he sees the Father doing. This feels a bit like that. I can see that the Father is up to something...but I'm not exactly sure what just yet.
In (seemingly) unrelated news, my friend and mentor (of sorts) Todd Hunter is in town next Thursday evening. Marti and I will be gathering our house churches, alongside Soul Survivor church and the Pewther's house church group to hear him share about his vision for helping followers in Orange County to un-learn how to be Christian.
Hmmm....maybe these things aren't so unrelated after all?
kg
First, after the Non-Con I had a meeting with Tommy Nixon of Solidarity Rising and then an email from my friend Max McGee of Saddleback church regarding unrelated ideas of partnering together to achieve a common goal.
I began to wonder if all of us weren't after the same thing but pursuing different means to accomplish a small piece of the same plan.
Tommy was interested (as I have been) in finding ways to help local Orange County believers see the Kingdom and begin a lifestyle of mission and service to others (as opposed to undertaking occassional mission trips to serve for a day, etc.).
Max was interested in partnering together to find ways to train and inspire local churches and small group leaders to begin to adopt local poverty motels (as Max and I have done with our house churches/home groups).
My other friend, Jarred Rowland, is also interested in finding partners to help him raise awareness about poverty in Orange County but he wants to publish a subversive magazine that would provoke response and put a face to the invisible poor in this area.
My friend Scott Laumann and I had a similar idea about 4 years ago but never got the idea off the ground. Now that Jarred has started moving forward it appears that we've found our missing, catalytic piece of this puzzle.
Yesterday my wife and I took our boys to another house church to share about poverty in Orange County with them, and leaders from a second house church. Afterwards I shared with Marti Clark (my friend from ALPHA USA who also lead one of our Non-Con workshops) about the possibility of partnering together with her house church, and the one lead by Van and Joyce Pewthers in Placentia, for future ministry and service opportunities.
Somehow all of these open doors to partner with others is connected. I know it. I'm just not sure, exactly, yet how.
I keep hearing that verse in my head where Jesus says that he only does what he sees the Father doing. This feels a bit like that. I can see that the Father is up to something...but I'm not exactly sure what just yet.
In (seemingly) unrelated news, my friend and mentor (of sorts) Todd Hunter is in town next Thursday evening. Marti and I will be gathering our house churches, alongside Soul Survivor church and the Pewther's house church group to hear him share about his vision for helping followers in Orange County to un-learn how to be Christian.
Hmmm....maybe these things aren't so unrelated after all?
kg
Friday, April 11, 2008
CONSTANTINE AND THE MODERN CHURCH
If you want to blow your mind and challenge your idea of what the modern Church is up to I'd recommend reading a little on Emperor Constantine. I picked up the book "Constantine, The Great" by Michael Grant on sale at Barnes and Noble a while back and it is a real eye-opening book about how the modern church was shaped by this one person. Fascinating stuff, and a little disturbing to be honest.
Barna and Viola have re-published "Pagan Christianity" recently which I am sure contains a lot of the same ideas as what I discovered by reading about the History of the early church and what Constantine did to shape our modern Christian practice.
What's fascinating to me is that, even after Constantine stepped in and protected the Christians, gave them the pagan temples to worship in, and stopped the persecutions, many kept meeting in homes and Constantine actually had to make it illegal for them to keep doing this in order to funnel believers into his new way of meeting.
I've not written anything yet on the effects of Constantine on the practice of the modern Church, but this is a pretty fascinating subject for me.
I mean, yes, God has used this form of church for over 1,700 years now. And, yes, God certainly "allowed" this change to take place and to remain up until this very day, predominantly around the world...but it still troubles me that our modern forms of worship are built upon setting up a
royal clergy, handing them a castle, creating a peasant congregation for them to "tax" and support the royalty and the upkeep of the castle, etc.
This just doesn't seem right to me...or Biblical either.
We try to make connections between this modern form of church and the OT synagogue/temple form of worship...but clearly this was not Constantine's intention. He simply removed pagan priests and installed Christian "priests", adding a cross to the back of the room and changing the subject
of the worship to God.
So, to this very day, we have a paganized form of Christianity? I guess I never noticed before, but now it does trouble me. Every Christian Holiday is a Christianization of a pagan feast or holiday, (not a jewish one...except for Pentecost and Passover), and I'm not so sure that Constantine himself
really "got it". At least according to the book I'm reading now. Constantine had a problem with the crucifixion, rebuked his own sister for worshiping Jesus, and mainly wanted to re-define God as a warlike "Zeus" figure, a god of war and power and victory, not a God who, as Jesus suggested, was like Him, a loving, compassionate, merciful God.
Honestly, these ideas disturb me. What do I do with them? How do I reconcile these thoughts in my own head?
I'm really still grappling with these thoughts and trying to understand how to communicate the truth of what I'm learning with the Grace and Love that God expects of me.
More later...
Keith Giles
Barna and Viola have re-published "Pagan Christianity" recently which I am sure contains a lot of the same ideas as what I discovered by reading about the History of the early church and what Constantine did to shape our modern Christian practice.
What's fascinating to me is that, even after Constantine stepped in and protected the Christians, gave them the pagan temples to worship in, and stopped the persecutions, many kept meeting in homes and Constantine actually had to make it illegal for them to keep doing this in order to funnel believers into his new way of meeting.
I've not written anything yet on the effects of Constantine on the practice of the modern Church, but this is a pretty fascinating subject for me.
I mean, yes, God has used this form of church for over 1,700 years now. And, yes, God certainly "allowed" this change to take place and to remain up until this very day, predominantly around the world...but it still troubles me that our modern forms of worship are built upon setting up a
royal clergy, handing them a castle, creating a peasant congregation for them to "tax" and support the royalty and the upkeep of the castle, etc.
This just doesn't seem right to me...or Biblical either.
We try to make connections between this modern form of church and the OT synagogue/temple form of worship...but clearly this was not Constantine's intention. He simply removed pagan priests and installed Christian "priests", adding a cross to the back of the room and changing the subject
of the worship to God.
So, to this very day, we have a paganized form of Christianity? I guess I never noticed before, but now it does trouble me. Every Christian Holiday is a Christianization of a pagan feast or holiday, (not a jewish one...except for Pentecost and Passover), and I'm not so sure that Constantine himself
really "got it". At least according to the book I'm reading now. Constantine had a problem with the crucifixion, rebuked his own sister for worshiping Jesus, and mainly wanted to re-define God as a warlike "Zeus" figure, a god of war and power and victory, not a God who, as Jesus suggested, was like Him, a loving, compassionate, merciful God.
Honestly, these ideas disturb me. What do I do with them? How do I reconcile these thoughts in my own head?
I'm really still grappling with these thoughts and trying to understand how to communicate the truth of what I'm learning with the Grace and Love that God expects of me.
More later...
Keith Giles
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Breaking Radio Silence
Work has kept me insanely busy lately so I've not been posting here quite as often as I'd like.
Sorry.
I have posted stuff over at The Mission house church blog on "Rules of Engagement" which sort of qualifies as an article, I guess. It's
RIGHT HERE
This week's [Subversive Underground] was on the simple invitation of Jesus to just follow Him. I'm not sure I really got the exact idea down that has been on my heart lately, but it's a good start.
So, here's what's been going on this week with me...other than writing copy for technology reseller websites and stuff.
DISCIPLING DYLAN
My oldest son, Dylan Lee, is 12 years old. He will be a teenager in December. I've been very concerned lately about discipling him and making sure that he crosses the threshold into pre-adulthood with a firm grasp of The Kingdom of God, the heart of Jesus and a sense of his place within God's Kingdom.
So, last night he and I had dinner together at Panda Express (yum!) and we talked about the first chapter of the book of James. Our plan is to read one chapter at a time and meet together a few times each week to discuss the scripture and what it means to us. After we finish the book of James he and I are going to go through my book, "Nobody Follows Jesus (So Why Should You?)" since it deals with discipleship and developing a personal idea of what it means to follow Jesus with your actual life. For now this is my plan. I'll try to update everyone on how this goes. So far it's amazing to see how smart my son is and how much he already understands. It's also great to connect with him over these ideas.
Next I'll have to develop a plan for my youngest son, David Michael, who is 10 years old.
PRAYING IN TONGUES
About two years ago God gave me the gift of praying in tongues. It wasn't something I asked for, or really even wanted, but out of the clear blue one night God downloaded this gift into my brain, or spirit, what have you, and now I can pray this way. It's weird, but very cool.
I prayed this morning, around 5am, for several in our house church who are going through hard times. As I was praying for them in tongues God began to show me things about what was causing their difficulties and gave me some direction on how to encourage each of them. Very cool.
More later...work beckons.
kg
"Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed, you might say in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in His great campaign of sabotage."
--C.S. Lewis
Sorry.
I have posted stuff over at The Mission house church blog on "Rules of Engagement" which sort of qualifies as an article, I guess. It's
RIGHT HERE
This week's [Subversive Underground] was on the simple invitation of Jesus to just follow Him. I'm not sure I really got the exact idea down that has been on my heart lately, but it's a good start.
So, here's what's been going on this week with me...other than writing copy for technology reseller websites and stuff.
DISCIPLING DYLAN
My oldest son, Dylan Lee, is 12 years old. He will be a teenager in December. I've been very concerned lately about discipling him and making sure that he crosses the threshold into pre-adulthood with a firm grasp of The Kingdom of God, the heart of Jesus and a sense of his place within God's Kingdom.
So, last night he and I had dinner together at Panda Express (yum!) and we talked about the first chapter of the book of James. Our plan is to read one chapter at a time and meet together a few times each week to discuss the scripture and what it means to us. After we finish the book of James he and I are going to go through my book, "Nobody Follows Jesus (So Why Should You?)" since it deals with discipleship and developing a personal idea of what it means to follow Jesus with your actual life. For now this is my plan. I'll try to update everyone on how this goes. So far it's amazing to see how smart my son is and how much he already understands. It's also great to connect with him over these ideas.
Next I'll have to develop a plan for my youngest son, David Michael, who is 10 years old.
PRAYING IN TONGUES
About two years ago God gave me the gift of praying in tongues. It wasn't something I asked for, or really even wanted, but out of the clear blue one night God downloaded this gift into my brain, or spirit, what have you, and now I can pray this way. It's weird, but very cool.
I prayed this morning, around 5am, for several in our house church who are going through hard times. As I was praying for them in tongues God began to show me things about what was causing their difficulties and gave me some direction on how to encourage each of them. Very cool.
More later...work beckons.
kg
"Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed, you might say in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in His great campaign of sabotage."
--C.S. Lewis
Friday, April 04, 2008
PLANTING A NEW HOUSE CHURCH?
Those of you who joined us at the Non-Con know what an incredible blessing it was to be reminded of God's heart for the poor, our calling to live a Jesus kind of life, and our need to daily seek God's strength and guidance.
On the Sunday after the Non-Con we got to encourage my friend's Daniel and Heather Cosby who drove down from Washington to come to the Non-Con and to visit our house church, The Mission.
Heather and Daniel are both feeling called to plant a house church where they live, near Seattle. It was awesome to pray over them and encourage them to take those first few steps towards this adventure. They are feeling the pain of rejection from many of their friends and family right now (which, unfortunately seems to be part of this birthing process for many) and they are in need of our prayer support and encouragement going forward.
Daniel asked if we could think of their new house church as a sister church to The Mission, which of course I agreed to. So, he will be updating us on their progress and giving us direction about how we can pray for them and encourage them as they step out.
Check out their blog too:
HERE
Keep them in your prayers as they move forward in this new adventure.
peas,
kg
On the Sunday after the Non-Con we got to encourage my friend's Daniel and Heather Cosby who drove down from Washington to come to the Non-Con and to visit our house church, The Mission.
Heather and Daniel are both feeling called to plant a house church where they live, near Seattle. It was awesome to pray over them and encourage them to take those first few steps towards this adventure. They are feeling the pain of rejection from many of their friends and family right now (which, unfortunately seems to be part of this birthing process for many) and they are in need of our prayer support and encouragement going forward.
Daniel asked if we could think of their new house church as a sister church to The Mission, which of course I agreed to. So, he will be updating us on their progress and giving us direction about how we can pray for them and encourage them as they step out.
Check out their blog too:
HERE
Keep them in your prayers as they move forward in this new adventure.
peas,
kg
Thursday, April 03, 2008
INDIA - Short Indie Film
My good friend Dean Krueger went to India and made this amazing short film set to music by my other friend, David Ruis.
It's powerful stuff and worth your 4 and a half minutes of time.
Watch
Here
Say a prayer for the starving children who go to sleep hungry tonight, and every night, around the world.
kg
It's powerful stuff and worth your 4 and a half minutes of time.
Watch
Here
Say a prayer for the starving children who go to sleep hungry tonight, and every night, around the world.
kg
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
What Remains - A Celebration of Survival
Our Non-Con artist panel will be headlining an amazing art show on April 19th at the Artery Gallery in the Anti-Mall/Lab in Costa Mesa.
"WHAT REMAINS" FEATURING ARTISTS:
*HEATHER WRIGHT
*SCOTT LAUMANN
*BILL BURGESS
*ANDREW DUNN.
2 WEEKS EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT STARTS APRIL 19TH AT THE ARTERY GALLERY.
I am so excited to announce that three of the most gifted artists I personally know will all be together in the same gallery space at the same time. This will be so amazing!
Links to Heather, Scott and Bill's websites are at the lower left-hand navbar.
Don't miss this one.
kg
"WHAT REMAINS" FEATURING ARTISTS:
*HEATHER WRIGHT
*SCOTT LAUMANN
*BILL BURGESS
*ANDREW DUNN.
2 WEEKS EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT STARTS APRIL 19TH AT THE ARTERY GALLERY.
I am so excited to announce that three of the most gifted artists I personally know will all be together in the same gallery space at the same time. This will be so amazing!
Links to Heather, Scott and Bill's websites are at the lower left-hand navbar.
Don't miss this one.
kg
Friday, March 28, 2008
This Is What Jesus Had In Mind
Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner.
But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.
He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.
"He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says.
As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"
READ THE FULL STORY
HERE
**
If those who call themselves followers of Jesus would do exactly what this man did, we could change the evening news. We could change the hearts of men. We could turn the world upside down.
If only we could take Jesus seriously...
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." - JESUS (Matthew 5:38-42
-kg
But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.
He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.
"He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says.
As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"
READ THE FULL STORY
HERE
**
If those who call themselves followers of Jesus would do exactly what this man did, we could change the evening news. We could change the hearts of men. We could turn the world upside down.
If only we could take Jesus seriously...
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." - JESUS (Matthew 5:38-42
-kg
Thursday, March 27, 2008
How To Start Your Own Non-Con
by Keith Giles
When I first came up with the idea for this "Non-Conference" I wanted it to be something simple, easy to pull off and to duplicate.
I've had about 4 years of experience planning, marketing and running conferences and events of this sort, which really helped me to understand how a scaled-down "Non-Con" could be done effectively.
SMALLER IS BETTER
The advantages of doing an event like the Non-Con is that its "small on purpose" design takes a lot of the pressure off of constantly trying to get more people to come. The Non-Con works best if it's small. In fact, the smaller the better.
Our first Non-Con was just over 100 people and honestly, I would have been happier had it been more like 50 or possibly 65 people, but, even as awesome as our first Non-Con was (and it really, really was awesome), I would have personally been happier with a smaller, more interactive group.
So, the pressure is off in many respects when you're promoting and planning a Non-Con. If you end up with 30 people count that as a success. It will be a great day with less people who are truly interested and passionate about your shared dialog.
BASIC ELEMENTS
To effectively plan a Non-Con you'll need to outline the basics of your day. I'll use our Non-Con as an example, but please feel free to tweak or change any of the day's elements as you see fit. It's your Non-Con, after all, not mine.
FIRST PLAN THE DAY
I usually break the day up into thirds. The first third is the check-in, meet and greet time, shared breakfast/coffee, welcome and session one (which includes worship songs and response time, along with the main speaker/facilitator).
The second third is lunch, workshops, and session 2. The third session is dinner, session 3 and possibly a late-night session where people are more free to hang out, find a corner to relax in and connect with their new friends.
So, plan out your day. Who are your 3 main session facilitators? Will you have one person lead all 3 sessions or will you invite 3 different people to share? Who will lead your workshops? How many will you have? How long will they be? Our workshops were only 1 hour and next time (if there is a next time) I'll make them 2 hours long so that everyone can really take the time they need to explore our themes.
No matter what you plan throughout your day be sure to keep in mind that simple is better, less is more and those long stretches of time where people are just eating and talking to each other? Those are the best parts of your day! Give people time to connect, to talk and to interact. That's one of the things that makes the Non-Con so different from the average, large-scale conference.
CHOOSE A THEME
Our Non-Con had a 3 pronged focus. We started by talking about the Gospel of the Kingdom (David Ruis), we followed that by talking about our calling to live out the Gospel in our everyday life (Keith Giles), and we ended by exploring God's heart for the poor and the broken and the outcast (Jackie Pullinger). To be fair, all 3 of those discussions spilled over into each other throughout the day. That was totally cool, actually. It helped to illustrate how these 3 things are intertwined in the life of those who follow Jesus.
So, you may want to follow a similar theme, or maybe you want to focus on human trafficking, or on the homeless, or on Christian Unity, or...whatever. It's your choice, but be sure up front what your themes are and be sure to communicate those clearly in your marketing and messaging about this day. (More on this later).
CHOOSE YOUR SPEAKERS/FACILITATORS
In this area I feel like I am overly blessed. God has brought some amazing people into my life and some of them are good friends. I mean, I have relationships with a wide variety of published authors, worship leaders, artists, and a few world-class leaders. You might not be in that same position. So, when you sit down and begin to draw up your wish list of facilitators your options might not include someone with a well-known name or a recognizable face. Honestly, that's ok. Again, your goal isn't to draw a crowd of 500 or more. Your goal is to gather just 50 to 100 people who share your interest and your passion about the theme in question.
Once you've made your wish list of facilitators go ahead and invite them to your Non-Con. Start by introducing yourself (if you need to) and by explaining the vision for this special day. Your facilitators need to understand that you are inviting them to speak for less than 100 people, not a massive event with thousands of people. If they catch the vision for this day (conversational, relational, interactive, open dialog, on a theme, etc.) they will be more likely to cooperate with your vision and their expectation will be for something small and humble right off the bat.
SET YOUR WORKSHOPS AND FIND LEADERS
Again, I have some flat-out amazing friends who are front-line practitioners in the area of justice, community development, evangelism, missional life, and the arts. These are people who may not have written books or appeared on television but they have the talent and the experience to really speak to people.
Once you've established a theme for your day try to build workshops that (more or less) touch on that theme. At our Non-Con I had an Arts workshop even though our main sessions didn't touch on the arts, but I did so because a lot of what we were talking about are topics that are very challenging to artists and have an incredible impact on the arts today. It's ok to go off the map a bit and it adds to the value of your day.
When you invite your workshop leaders, again, plainly explain to them the vision for this day and lower their expectations. You're not calling them to fame and fortune, you're calling them to teach and to encourage and to share what God has invested in them with others who will be blessed by that experience.
WORSHIP LEADERS
If you know a few people who can lead worship in a small group setting, invite them to come and hang out for your Non-Con and lead others in worship. Keep it to one guitar and maybe one percussionist. No big bands. No loud guitars. No "buy my new cd" please. Keep it simple and the worship will be sweet and people will be drawn to a place of humble adoration. God is the object of our worship time. Let's remember that.
CHOOSE A LOCATION
If possible, try not to do this inside a church. Our Non-Con was at Triangle Square, a local shopping center in Costa Mesa. I think nearly everyone who came to our Non-Con was amazed to find out that this was a church. Soul Survivor Church was gracious enough to let us use their facility. The reason I chose this location was that it didn't look like a church, it didn't have a sign outside that identified it as a church, and it didn't "feel" like a church. It was a neutral location and that was by design.
Why? Because I've learned over the years that if you say, "Come to Conference X at Hillside Baptist Church" people who are not Baptist will say, "Oh...it's a Baptist event" and they will stay home. It's sad, but it's the hard truth.
If you want your Non-Con to attract a nice cross-section of the Body of Christ in your area, please avoid denominational language and locations and terminology in all of your correspondence.
I'd recommend scouting out a local community center, or look into renting a local high school gymnasium.
One option would be to look into using a local college chapel or perhaps a reasonably priced hotel conference room.
BUILDING A WEBSITE PRESENCE
I use blogger.com to set up all of my website stuff. I used it to build the Non-Con site because it was free, it was simple and easy to set up and it fit our whole "we're not a conference" vibe. Oh, and it was free.
Setting up your Non-Con blog/website is very simple. First, register for a Google Mail (gmail.com) account. Next go to www.blogger.com and set up your blog page. It really doesn't matter what you call it, (i.e. - "http://nonconblog.blogspot.com"), because the next thing you'll need to do is to go over to www.hostway.com and sign up to purchase a URL name for about $6.95. I purchased "www.non-con.com" for two years (since my event would fall just after that first year expired) and did a re-direct for that URL to point to my blogspot page: http://nonconference.blogspot.com
It took about 30 minutes and cost me $15.00. You can do this. Really.
Once you've set up your main website/blogger page, you can begin posting your basic "What Is The Non-Con?" teaser post. Use mine at www.Non-Con.com if you like. Go ahead and steal it and make it your own. That's what it's for.
If you want to get fancy (and I did), you can open two new blogspot/blogger websites (all under your same gmail login ID) and call one "SCHEDULE" and call the other "WORKSHOPS".
Next, link those two pages to each other in the sidebar and then link all of them back to the Main Page sidebar. (The dashboard function in your blog will show you how to do this. If you have trouble just set up all blogs and then email me for help with the linking function or ask a friend who knows HTML).
NOTE: I'll offer the option to anyone who wants to do their own Non-Con to use the existing www.Non-Con.com link as a main hub. I'll be your webmaster for your event and all of the Non-Con events can be hosted on this one main website. You don't HAVE to do this, but if you want to have me take care of the website updates and links and stuff for your Non-Con event I'll happily do that for you. Just let me know.
BE SURE TO INCLUDE:
Details about WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN and WHY are essential. You can embed a Google Maps link into your page (like I did, under "SCHEDULE") and search up hotels in the area (again, thank you Google), and post that info too.
Have your email contact on their somewhere so people can ask you questions. Use an alternate email just for this event if you're afraid of getting spammed into oblivion on your main, personal email (recommended).
Be sure to tell everyone a bit about who your speakers and worship leaders are (but don't go overboard. Remember, less is more).
Feel free to link back to our main NON-CON page (www.non-con.com) so people can get a sense that this isn't the first one. It helps build credibility if they can connect what you're doing with what we did here. Use us to make yourself look good. We don't mind.
MARKETING YOUR EVENT
Again, I have benefitted from years of event marketing experience with Soul Survivor, Arms of Love and my own little conference stuff over the years. The Non-Con was actually my 3rd event with David Ruis, for example. So, I've slightly perfected this in my area.
To get your marketing started for your Non-Con you'll need an email list. First, start with your own personal list. Ask your friends to forward your emails to their friends, and if you use an email service such as Topica (recommended) be sure to check that box that says, "Forward to a friend" so others can do just that.
My secret is that a few years ago I googled every local church website I could find and went to every one of them and harvested email addresses for worship leaders, pastors and especially benevolence pastors.
I also have friends at Soul Survivor, Transparent Productions (a local Christian concert promoter), and since I write for TheOoze.com, SeedStories.com, and other websites, I have friends who are willing to send out my event info and website link via their own email blasts. You should do what you can to leverage similar resources.
I also marketed the Non-Con via this blog and my free, weekly e-newsletter [Subversive Undergound]. If you decide to do your own Non-Con you can count on me to market your event on my blog and newsletter too. It's all in the family now.
POSTCARDS?
I usually use a local full-color glossy print company to purchase 2,000 postcards for like $250. (Remember, you'll need someone with graphic design skills and photoshop or illustrator, etc. to help you design the postcard graphic front and back and set it up on the printers template...this will cost you money too).
For the Non-Con I decided not to go the postcard route since we were getting steady registrations and it didn't seem necessary to spend that money. However, if you want to do postcards and you don't want to spend a lot of money here's what I recommend.
MAKE YOUR OWN POSTCARDS!
Get a stack of brown paper grocery bags and a box of sharpie markers. Assemble a group of friends together and buy some pizzas. Have everyone tear out rectangles and start hand-writing on each the following:
"NON-CON
MARCH 1, 2009
SMITH * BROWN * PULLINGER
ONLY 100 SEATS AVAILABLE
$40
WWW.NON-CON99.COM"
*Again, keep it simple. The name "Non-Con", the date, last names of your speakers, the price, the website (most important), and the price.
Drop these at local christian bookstores or, if you're really feeling adventurous, stuff them inside your local free weekly news magazines (if you have one), or drop them in local restrooms, tape them to bulletin boards at the local college, etc.
Guerilla marketing is fun, effective and best of all, it works!
REGISTRATION
I absolutely demand that you use www.acteva.com for your online registration. They are a free online service. They allow you pass along the credit card fees to the customer and they mail you a check each month. Nothing could be easier.
If you're having shared meals, I'd recommend charging the $40 per person, or if you feel like your speakers/facilitators are interesting enough even $50.
Our event just about broke even on everything, but we also paid out an honorarium for David and Jackie and we bought a little gift card for each of our workshop leaders too.
SET UP A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT
I used a very basic Microsoft Xcel spreadsheet to map out my break-even point on registrants based on the $40 per person price. I knew that if I didn't get at least 45 people were were dead meat. You need to know that sort of stuff too.
FOOD
The shared meals were very crucial to our interactive element at The Non-Con. This meant that I had to be sure that people would stick around to eat together and that the food we provided didn't suck. We had pizza for lunch (about 30 pizzas altogether) and El Pollo Loco for dinner (they have party packs to serve 50 and 100 people).
We purchased water, drinks, chips, nuts, snacks, etc. at the local Costco (or Smart and Final or other bulk food store).
Coffee was purchased in 5 gallon jugs from a local coffeeshop we love (not Starbucks). They provided the cups, sugar, creamer, stirrers, etc.
LOGISTICS
Find volunteers to help you. For the Non-Con, especially if it's your first event, I'd recommend you have dedicated volunteers (not you) handling these jobs:
*Registration (2 people)
*Set up/Tear down (2 people)
*Food Prep/Clean up (2 people)
Please try not to let all of this be done by the same 2 people. Please don't make yourself one of those 2 people. As the event coordinator, you need to be available to see the big picture and to make sure that everything else about the day goes as planned.
ABOVE ALL
Pray!! I cannot stress enough the importance of prayer in these cases. Make sure that it's really God's idea for you to do something like this and that you've heard from Him about the theme, the speakers, and the details of this day.
Also, keep in mind, things WILL go wrong. Not everything you plan will work out as you had intended. It's ok to roll with the flow, and most likely the average person at your event will not even notice most of what doesn't go as you planned.
ANY QUESTIONS?
Please feel free to email me if you are seriously considering doing your own NON-CON event in the next year or so. I'll be happy to assist you and to answer any questions I can.
My email is:
"elysiansky" (at) hotmail (dot) com
Peace,
kg
When I first came up with the idea for this "Non-Conference" I wanted it to be something simple, easy to pull off and to duplicate.
I've had about 4 years of experience planning, marketing and running conferences and events of this sort, which really helped me to understand how a scaled-down "Non-Con" could be done effectively.
SMALLER IS BETTER
The advantages of doing an event like the Non-Con is that its "small on purpose" design takes a lot of the pressure off of constantly trying to get more people to come. The Non-Con works best if it's small. In fact, the smaller the better.
Our first Non-Con was just over 100 people and honestly, I would have been happier had it been more like 50 or possibly 65 people, but, even as awesome as our first Non-Con was (and it really, really was awesome), I would have personally been happier with a smaller, more interactive group.
So, the pressure is off in many respects when you're promoting and planning a Non-Con. If you end up with 30 people count that as a success. It will be a great day with less people who are truly interested and passionate about your shared dialog.
BASIC ELEMENTS
To effectively plan a Non-Con you'll need to outline the basics of your day. I'll use our Non-Con as an example, but please feel free to tweak or change any of the day's elements as you see fit. It's your Non-Con, after all, not mine.
FIRST PLAN THE DAY
I usually break the day up into thirds. The first third is the check-in, meet and greet time, shared breakfast/coffee, welcome and session one (which includes worship songs and response time, along with the main speaker/facilitator).
The second third is lunch, workshops, and session 2. The third session is dinner, session 3 and possibly a late-night session where people are more free to hang out, find a corner to relax in and connect with their new friends.
So, plan out your day. Who are your 3 main session facilitators? Will you have one person lead all 3 sessions or will you invite 3 different people to share? Who will lead your workshops? How many will you have? How long will they be? Our workshops were only 1 hour and next time (if there is a next time) I'll make them 2 hours long so that everyone can really take the time they need to explore our themes.
No matter what you plan throughout your day be sure to keep in mind that simple is better, less is more and those long stretches of time where people are just eating and talking to each other? Those are the best parts of your day! Give people time to connect, to talk and to interact. That's one of the things that makes the Non-Con so different from the average, large-scale conference.
CHOOSE A THEME
Our Non-Con had a 3 pronged focus. We started by talking about the Gospel of the Kingdom (David Ruis), we followed that by talking about our calling to live out the Gospel in our everyday life (Keith Giles), and we ended by exploring God's heart for the poor and the broken and the outcast (Jackie Pullinger). To be fair, all 3 of those discussions spilled over into each other throughout the day. That was totally cool, actually. It helped to illustrate how these 3 things are intertwined in the life of those who follow Jesus.
So, you may want to follow a similar theme, or maybe you want to focus on human trafficking, or on the homeless, or on Christian Unity, or...whatever. It's your choice, but be sure up front what your themes are and be sure to communicate those clearly in your marketing and messaging about this day. (More on this later).
CHOOSE YOUR SPEAKERS/FACILITATORS
In this area I feel like I am overly blessed. God has brought some amazing people into my life and some of them are good friends. I mean, I have relationships with a wide variety of published authors, worship leaders, artists, and a few world-class leaders. You might not be in that same position. So, when you sit down and begin to draw up your wish list of facilitators your options might not include someone with a well-known name or a recognizable face. Honestly, that's ok. Again, your goal isn't to draw a crowd of 500 or more. Your goal is to gather just 50 to 100 people who share your interest and your passion about the theme in question.
Once you've made your wish list of facilitators go ahead and invite them to your Non-Con. Start by introducing yourself (if you need to) and by explaining the vision for this special day. Your facilitators need to understand that you are inviting them to speak for less than 100 people, not a massive event with thousands of people. If they catch the vision for this day (conversational, relational, interactive, open dialog, on a theme, etc.) they will be more likely to cooperate with your vision and their expectation will be for something small and humble right off the bat.
SET YOUR WORKSHOPS AND FIND LEADERS
Again, I have some flat-out amazing friends who are front-line practitioners in the area of justice, community development, evangelism, missional life, and the arts. These are people who may not have written books or appeared on television but they have the talent and the experience to really speak to people.
Once you've established a theme for your day try to build workshops that (more or less) touch on that theme. At our Non-Con I had an Arts workshop even though our main sessions didn't touch on the arts, but I did so because a lot of what we were talking about are topics that are very challenging to artists and have an incredible impact on the arts today. It's ok to go off the map a bit and it adds to the value of your day.
When you invite your workshop leaders, again, plainly explain to them the vision for this day and lower their expectations. You're not calling them to fame and fortune, you're calling them to teach and to encourage and to share what God has invested in them with others who will be blessed by that experience.
WORSHIP LEADERS
If you know a few people who can lead worship in a small group setting, invite them to come and hang out for your Non-Con and lead others in worship. Keep it to one guitar and maybe one percussionist. No big bands. No loud guitars. No "buy my new cd" please. Keep it simple and the worship will be sweet and people will be drawn to a place of humble adoration. God is the object of our worship time. Let's remember that.
CHOOSE A LOCATION
If possible, try not to do this inside a church. Our Non-Con was at Triangle Square, a local shopping center in Costa Mesa. I think nearly everyone who came to our Non-Con was amazed to find out that this was a church. Soul Survivor Church was gracious enough to let us use their facility. The reason I chose this location was that it didn't look like a church, it didn't have a sign outside that identified it as a church, and it didn't "feel" like a church. It was a neutral location and that was by design.
Why? Because I've learned over the years that if you say, "Come to Conference X at Hillside Baptist Church" people who are not Baptist will say, "Oh...it's a Baptist event" and they will stay home. It's sad, but it's the hard truth.
If you want your Non-Con to attract a nice cross-section of the Body of Christ in your area, please avoid denominational language and locations and terminology in all of your correspondence.
I'd recommend scouting out a local community center, or look into renting a local high school gymnasium.
One option would be to look into using a local college chapel or perhaps a reasonably priced hotel conference room.
BUILDING A WEBSITE PRESENCE
I use blogger.com to set up all of my website stuff. I used it to build the Non-Con site because it was free, it was simple and easy to set up and it fit our whole "we're not a conference" vibe. Oh, and it was free.
Setting up your Non-Con blog/website is very simple. First, register for a Google Mail (gmail.com) account. Next go to www.blogger.com and set up your blog page. It really doesn't matter what you call it, (i.e. - "http://nonconblog.blogspot.com"), because the next thing you'll need to do is to go over to www.hostway.com and sign up to purchase a URL name for about $6.95. I purchased "www.non-con.com" for two years (since my event would fall just after that first year expired) and did a re-direct for that URL to point to my blogspot page: http://nonconference.blogspot.com
It took about 30 minutes and cost me $15.00. You can do this. Really.
Once you've set up your main website/blogger page, you can begin posting your basic "What Is The Non-Con?" teaser post. Use mine at www.Non-Con.com if you like. Go ahead and steal it and make it your own. That's what it's for.
If you want to get fancy (and I did), you can open two new blogspot/blogger websites (all under your same gmail login ID) and call one "SCHEDULE" and call the other "WORKSHOPS".
Next, link those two pages to each other in the sidebar and then link all of them back to the Main Page sidebar. (The dashboard function in your blog will show you how to do this. If you have trouble just set up all blogs and then email me for help with the linking function or ask a friend who knows HTML).
NOTE: I'll offer the option to anyone who wants to do their own Non-Con to use the existing www.Non-Con.com link as a main hub. I'll be your webmaster for your event and all of the Non-Con events can be hosted on this one main website. You don't HAVE to do this, but if you want to have me take care of the website updates and links and stuff for your Non-Con event I'll happily do that for you. Just let me know.
BE SURE TO INCLUDE:
Details about WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN and WHY are essential. You can embed a Google Maps link into your page (like I did, under "SCHEDULE") and search up hotels in the area (again, thank you Google), and post that info too.
Have your email contact on their somewhere so people can ask you questions. Use an alternate email just for this event if you're afraid of getting spammed into oblivion on your main, personal email (recommended).
Be sure to tell everyone a bit about who your speakers and worship leaders are (but don't go overboard. Remember, less is more).
Feel free to link back to our main NON-CON page (www.non-con.com) so people can get a sense that this isn't the first one. It helps build credibility if they can connect what you're doing with what we did here. Use us to make yourself look good. We don't mind.
MARKETING YOUR EVENT
Again, I have benefitted from years of event marketing experience with Soul Survivor, Arms of Love and my own little conference stuff over the years. The Non-Con was actually my 3rd event with David Ruis, for example. So, I've slightly perfected this in my area.
To get your marketing started for your Non-Con you'll need an email list. First, start with your own personal list. Ask your friends to forward your emails to their friends, and if you use an email service such as Topica (recommended) be sure to check that box that says, "Forward to a friend" so others can do just that.
My secret is that a few years ago I googled every local church website I could find and went to every one of them and harvested email addresses for worship leaders, pastors and especially benevolence pastors.
I also have friends at Soul Survivor, Transparent Productions (a local Christian concert promoter), and since I write for TheOoze.com, SeedStories.com, and other websites, I have friends who are willing to send out my event info and website link via their own email blasts. You should do what you can to leverage similar resources.
I also marketed the Non-Con via this blog and my free, weekly e-newsletter [Subversive Undergound]. If you decide to do your own Non-Con you can count on me to market your event on my blog and newsletter too. It's all in the family now.
POSTCARDS?
I usually use a local full-color glossy print company to purchase 2,000 postcards for like $250. (Remember, you'll need someone with graphic design skills and photoshop or illustrator, etc. to help you design the postcard graphic front and back and set it up on the printers template...this will cost you money too).
For the Non-Con I decided not to go the postcard route since we were getting steady registrations and it didn't seem necessary to spend that money. However, if you want to do postcards and you don't want to spend a lot of money here's what I recommend.
MAKE YOUR OWN POSTCARDS!
Get a stack of brown paper grocery bags and a box of sharpie markers. Assemble a group of friends together and buy some pizzas. Have everyone tear out rectangles and start hand-writing on each the following:
"NON-CON
MARCH 1, 2009
SMITH * BROWN * PULLINGER
ONLY 100 SEATS AVAILABLE
$40
WWW.NON-CON99.COM"
*Again, keep it simple. The name "Non-Con", the date, last names of your speakers, the price, the website (most important), and the price.
Drop these at local christian bookstores or, if you're really feeling adventurous, stuff them inside your local free weekly news magazines (if you have one), or drop them in local restrooms, tape them to bulletin boards at the local college, etc.
Guerilla marketing is fun, effective and best of all, it works!
REGISTRATION
I absolutely demand that you use www.acteva.com for your online registration. They are a free online service. They allow you pass along the credit card fees to the customer and they mail you a check each month. Nothing could be easier.
If you're having shared meals, I'd recommend charging the $40 per person, or if you feel like your speakers/facilitators are interesting enough even $50.
Our event just about broke even on everything, but we also paid out an honorarium for David and Jackie and we bought a little gift card for each of our workshop leaders too.
SET UP A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT
I used a very basic Microsoft Xcel spreadsheet to map out my break-even point on registrants based on the $40 per person price. I knew that if I didn't get at least 45 people were were dead meat. You need to know that sort of stuff too.
FOOD
The shared meals were very crucial to our interactive element at The Non-Con. This meant that I had to be sure that people would stick around to eat together and that the food we provided didn't suck. We had pizza for lunch (about 30 pizzas altogether) and El Pollo Loco for dinner (they have party packs to serve 50 and 100 people).
We purchased water, drinks, chips, nuts, snacks, etc. at the local Costco (or Smart and Final or other bulk food store).
Coffee was purchased in 5 gallon jugs from a local coffeeshop we love (not Starbucks). They provided the cups, sugar, creamer, stirrers, etc.
LOGISTICS
Find volunteers to help you. For the Non-Con, especially if it's your first event, I'd recommend you have dedicated volunteers (not you) handling these jobs:
*Registration (2 people)
*Set up/Tear down (2 people)
*Food Prep/Clean up (2 people)
Please try not to let all of this be done by the same 2 people. Please don't make yourself one of those 2 people. As the event coordinator, you need to be available to see the big picture and to make sure that everything else about the day goes as planned.
ABOVE ALL
Pray!! I cannot stress enough the importance of prayer in these cases. Make sure that it's really God's idea for you to do something like this and that you've heard from Him about the theme, the speakers, and the details of this day.
Also, keep in mind, things WILL go wrong. Not everything you plan will work out as you had intended. It's ok to roll with the flow, and most likely the average person at your event will not even notice most of what doesn't go as you planned.
ANY QUESTIONS?
Please feel free to email me if you are seriously considering doing your own NON-CON event in the next year or so. I'll be happy to assist you and to answer any questions I can.
My email is:
"elysiansky" (at) hotmail (dot) com
Peace,
kg
SEX AND CHOCOLATE
Just4One.org is a nonprofit organization that brings attention to the issue of Human Trafficking and sex slavery.
Their current Sex and Chocolate Tour (a two hour experiential learning forum about the world of sex and slavery that exists in cocoa farms) has already visited cities including Ventura, Torrance, Azusa, San Dimas, and Portland.
If you are interested in participating or hosting a Sex and Chocolate learning forum, please email us at info@just4one.org. We can help you put on a successful awareness, networking, and mobilization event that addresses these issues of slavery.
For more info visit them online
HERE
-kg
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
NON-CON: JACKIE PULLINGER PODCAST
Back in 2008, Keith Giles created a one-day conference called the "Non-Con" - a conference for people who never want to attend another conference again.
WHAT WAS THE NON-CON?
*An intentionally small gathering of 100 people who were curious about living out their faith outside their comfort zone.
*A time for serving the poor in the community together.
*A dialog-driven, interactive discussion with front-line practitioners of Justice and Mercy.
*A place for shared meals.
*A place for simple worship with one guitar in the center of our circle.
*A time for artistic expression and interaction.
WHY "Non-Con"?
*The aim was to create something unlike any previous conference experience. We wanted this to be small, hype-free, intentional and interactive where everyone who attended would be free to speak, to minister and to become involved with our leaders, and others.
RECORDED AT: The Non-Con at Triangle Square in Newport Beach, CA back in 2008.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Support For Jackie Pullinger and St. Stephen's Society
Many people have been asking me how they can financially support the work that Jackie Pullinger and others are doing for the poor in Hong Kong.
Jackie herself has asked that no one send money to her if they are not first helping their own poor. This means she would prefer that you discover who your poor are, those who live in poverty in your own city and your own community, and help them and love them and serve them first of all.
If, in addition to serving the poor in your community ("Your Poor"), you would like to send financial assistance to Jackie and those who are helping her to serve the poor in Hong Kong, here are the instructions for doing so:
"For those sending checks from the United States, you can send them through the Desert Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 1011 E Avenue I, Lancaster CA 93535, USA. These checks will need to be made out to the Desert Vineyard with a note that they are designated for us (St. Stephen's Society).
"These donations are tax deductible through the Desert Vineyard. Be sure to address all correspondence to the attention of CAROLYNE GUY."
Jackie herself has asked that no one send money to her if they are not first helping their own poor. This means she would prefer that you discover who your poor are, those who live in poverty in your own city and your own community, and help them and love them and serve them first of all.
If, in addition to serving the poor in your community ("Your Poor"), you would like to send financial assistance to Jackie and those who are helping her to serve the poor in Hong Kong, here are the instructions for doing so:
"For those sending checks from the United States, you can send them through the Desert Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 1011 E Avenue I, Lancaster CA 93535, USA. These checks will need to be made out to the Desert Vineyard with a note that they are designated for us (St. Stephen's Society).
"These donations are tax deductible through the Desert Vineyard. Be sure to address all correspondence to the attention of CAROLYNE GUY."
Sunday, March 23, 2008
HOLY WEEK UPDATE
I've posted some images and details of our Good Friday and Easter services at The Mission over the weekend.
It was an awesome time to reflect on the sacrifice of our Lord and to celebrate the wonder of His resurrection under the wide open sky in the park together.
Photos and details
HERE
It was an awesome time to reflect on the sacrifice of our Lord and to celebrate the wonder of His resurrection under the wide open sky in the park together.
Photos and details
HERE
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Kingdom Contrast
The world we live in is upside down from reality. Reality, the way things really are, is seen in The Kingdom of God.
Here are the contrasts we see between the World and God's Kingdom:
Generosity is defined in the World as: "How much we give"
Generosity is defined in God's Kingdom as: "How much we hold on to"
Love is defined by the World as: "What you can do for me"
Love is defined in God's Kingdom as: "Unconditional, sacrificial service"
Friendship is defined by the World as: "How you make me feel or look"
Friendship is defined in God's Kingdom as: "I am willing to lay down my life for you"
Greatness is defined by the World as: "What I've accomplished and how much I am honored"
Greatness in God's Kingdom is defined as: "How much I have humbled myself and served others"
Righteousness is defined in the World as: "What I have done to deserve it"
Righteousness in God's Kingdom is defined as: "What Jesus has done for me"
-kg
Here are the contrasts we see between the World and God's Kingdom:
Generosity is defined in the World as: "How much we give"
Generosity is defined in God's Kingdom as: "How much we hold on to"
Love is defined by the World as: "What you can do for me"
Love is defined in God's Kingdom as: "Unconditional, sacrificial service"
Friendship is defined by the World as: "How you make me feel or look"
Friendship is defined in God's Kingdom as: "I am willing to lay down my life for you"
Greatness is defined by the World as: "What I've accomplished and how much I am honored"
Greatness in God's Kingdom is defined as: "How much I have humbled myself and served others"
Righteousness is defined in the World as: "What I have done to deserve it"
Righteousness in God's Kingdom is defined as: "What Jesus has done for me"
-kg
Monday, March 17, 2008
NON-CON: DE-BRIEF
It's impossible for me to summarize all the amazing stuff that God did on Saturday at our first-ever Non-Con here in Costa Mesa, but let me simply say that it was off the charts, over the top, 100% amazing and more than I could have ever hoped for or dreamed of or imagined.
How's that?
I'd like to ask everyone who attended to send me an email about what God did in your life this weekend, and any photos you took during the day or thoughts you could share with everyone else will be posted over at www.Non-Con.com over the next few weeks.
I want to thank David Ruis, Jackie Pullinger, John Thomas, Cindy Rethmeier, Crissy Brooks, Marti Clark, Spencer Burke, Paul Martin, Scott Laumann, Heather Wright and Bill Burgess for their investment in this day and their part in facilitating what God wanted to do in the lives of everyone who was there.
Many people came up throughout the day and at the end of the day to thank me for putting this together and many asked about how they could do something just like it back home.
Watch for a "Start Your Own Non-Con" resource coming soon, either here and/or over at TheOoze.com going forward.
I can honestly say that all of the most amazing stuff that happened was absolutely nothing to do with me or what I had planned to happen. God showed up in powerful ways and totally blew us all away with His amazing presence, love, heart, and blessing.
People were challenged, inspired, tweaked, humbled, broken, encouraged and set free.
I can't even begin to entertain the possibility of doing another one next year, or to talk about the possible "Art-Con" later this Fall. Right now I'm simply astounded by what God did on Saturday and excited beyond words about what He will continue to do in the lives of each of us as we return to our mission field, our lives, our churches, and start to practice what God has shown us is right.
More later...
kg
How's that?
I'd like to ask everyone who attended to send me an email about what God did in your life this weekend, and any photos you took during the day or thoughts you could share with everyone else will be posted over at www.Non-Con.com over the next few weeks.
I want to thank David Ruis, Jackie Pullinger, John Thomas, Cindy Rethmeier, Crissy Brooks, Marti Clark, Spencer Burke, Paul Martin, Scott Laumann, Heather Wright and Bill Burgess for their investment in this day and their part in facilitating what God wanted to do in the lives of everyone who was there.
Many people came up throughout the day and at the end of the day to thank me for putting this together and many asked about how they could do something just like it back home.
Watch for a "Start Your Own Non-Con" resource coming soon, either here and/or over at TheOoze.com going forward.
I can honestly say that all of the most amazing stuff that happened was absolutely nothing to do with me or what I had planned to happen. God showed up in powerful ways and totally blew us all away with His amazing presence, love, heart, and blessing.
People were challenged, inspired, tweaked, humbled, broken, encouraged and set free.
I can't even begin to entertain the possibility of doing another one next year, or to talk about the possible "Art-Con" later this Fall. Right now I'm simply astounded by what God did on Saturday and excited beyond words about what He will continue to do in the lives of each of us as we return to our mission field, our lives, our churches, and start to practice what God has shown us is right.
More later...
kg
Friday, March 14, 2008
I Have A Super Power
My youngest son, David, is ten years old.
He has a way of pausing for a moment in mid-sentence and spouting off a sentence bristling with simple genius.
One day he was sitting at the kitchen table doing his math homework. Suddenly he looked up for a moment as if he were contemplating an insect's upside-down journey across the ceiling and then he said, "Hey Dad, did you know that any number you multiply by 5 is the same as taking half of that number and adding a zero?"
I stopped sipping my coffee and mentally attempted to refute his simplistic theory. "Let's see, half of 4 is 2, so 5 times 4 would be...20. And half of 10 is 5 so, 5 times 10 would be...50," I said, to my own amazement.
David got back to working on his math again and said, "Yeah, but it only works on even numbers."
I tried the odd numbers next. "Well, half of 3 is 1.5, so 5 times 3 would be...15. Hey David," I said, "It still works with odd numbers. You just move the decimal place over one space to the right."
I was dumbfounded at my son's accidental genius. As a college graduate who is over 40 years old, this mathematical truth had never occurred to me. Not once.
A quick check of my son's math book revealed that he had actually dreamed this up on his own, and after quizzing my wife I discovered that she hadn't taught this to him either.
My son is a genius.
The other day he had another little epiphany. This time it was a spiritual one.
He came into the room and said, "I used to think I had a super power, when I was little. But I could never figure out what it could be." We waited for the punchline to this observation and he matter of factly concluded, "But last night I remembered that I have the power to encourage people and make them feel better. It's my spiritual gift from the Lord. So, I do have a super power, but it's from God."
And then he went back to playing with his Bionicles.
Our house church has made it a priority this year to help each person in our group discover their spiritual gift. We've realized that, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians, God has built us into a church. He's made us, on purpose, a diverse group of people, each with different gifts and talents and interests and abilities.
Because each person performs a specific function within our body, we need each other.
So, if you're part of the Body of Christ, you have a spiritual gift. That gift is specifically given to build up the Body. This means that you matter. You have something each of us needs in our own personal spiritual development.
You, as my son David would say, have a Super Power. Now you need to learn how to use it so that everyone else in the Body can function the way God intended.
Here's a pretty comprehensive listing from scripture regarding the various spiritual gifts that God has given to build and encourage His Church. Which ones do you have?
BIBLICAL LISTINGS OF THE 28 SPIRITUAL GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
*Ephesians 4:11 - Apostles; Prophets; Evangelists; Pastors; Teachers.
*1 Cor 12:8-11 - Word of Wisdom; Word of Knowledge; Faith; Healing; Miracles; Prophecy; Discerning Spirits; Tongues; Interpreting tongues.
*Romans 12:6-8 - Prophecy; Service; Teaching; Exhortation; Giving; Leading; Acts of Mercy.
*Miscellaneous - Administration (1 Cor 12:28); Hospitality (1 Pet 4:10); Celibacy (1 Cor 7:7); Martyrdom (1 Cor 13:3); Prophesying in Song (1 Chr 25:2 & 7); Prophesying with instruments (1 Chr 25: 1 & 6); Craftsmanship (Ex 31:3); Dream interpretation (Gen 41:12)
"If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body." - 1 Corinthians 12:19
As we each begin to discover our spiritual gift (or gifts) we can better understand our place in the rest of the Body of Christ.
I personally believe that there are probably even more spiritual gifts than these listed for us in the Bible. Again, variety seems to be God's forte. The list could be endless.
So...what's your Super Power? And more importantly, are you currently free to use it the way God intended?
-kg
He has a way of pausing for a moment in mid-sentence and spouting off a sentence bristling with simple genius.
One day he was sitting at the kitchen table doing his math homework. Suddenly he looked up for a moment as if he were contemplating an insect's upside-down journey across the ceiling and then he said, "Hey Dad, did you know that any number you multiply by 5 is the same as taking half of that number and adding a zero?"
I stopped sipping my coffee and mentally attempted to refute his simplistic theory. "Let's see, half of 4 is 2, so 5 times 4 would be...20. And half of 10 is 5 so, 5 times 10 would be...50," I said, to my own amazement.
David got back to working on his math again and said, "Yeah, but it only works on even numbers."
I tried the odd numbers next. "Well, half of 3 is 1.5, so 5 times 3 would be...15. Hey David," I said, "It still works with odd numbers. You just move the decimal place over one space to the right."
I was dumbfounded at my son's accidental genius. As a college graduate who is over 40 years old, this mathematical truth had never occurred to me. Not once.
A quick check of my son's math book revealed that he had actually dreamed this up on his own, and after quizzing my wife I discovered that she hadn't taught this to him either.
My son is a genius.
The other day he had another little epiphany. This time it was a spiritual one.
He came into the room and said, "I used to think I had a super power, when I was little. But I could never figure out what it could be." We waited for the punchline to this observation and he matter of factly concluded, "But last night I remembered that I have the power to encourage people and make them feel better. It's my spiritual gift from the Lord. So, I do have a super power, but it's from God."
And then he went back to playing with his Bionicles.
Our house church has made it a priority this year to help each person in our group discover their spiritual gift. We've realized that, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians, God has built us into a church. He's made us, on purpose, a diverse group of people, each with different gifts and talents and interests and abilities.
Because each person performs a specific function within our body, we need each other.
So, if you're part of the Body of Christ, you have a spiritual gift. That gift is specifically given to build up the Body. This means that you matter. You have something each of us needs in our own personal spiritual development.
You, as my son David would say, have a Super Power. Now you need to learn how to use it so that everyone else in the Body can function the way God intended.
Here's a pretty comprehensive listing from scripture regarding the various spiritual gifts that God has given to build and encourage His Church. Which ones do you have?
BIBLICAL LISTINGS OF THE 28 SPIRITUAL GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
*Ephesians 4:11 - Apostles; Prophets; Evangelists; Pastors; Teachers.
*1 Cor 12:8-11 - Word of Wisdom; Word of Knowledge; Faith; Healing; Miracles; Prophecy; Discerning Spirits; Tongues; Interpreting tongues.
*Romans 12:6-8 - Prophecy; Service; Teaching; Exhortation; Giving; Leading; Acts of Mercy.
*Miscellaneous - Administration (1 Cor 12:28); Hospitality (1 Pet 4:10); Celibacy (1 Cor 7:7); Martyrdom (1 Cor 13:3); Prophesying in Song (1 Chr 25:2 & 7); Prophesying with instruments (1 Chr 25: 1 & 6); Craftsmanship (Ex 31:3); Dream interpretation (Gen 41:12)
"If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body." - 1 Corinthians 12:19
As we each begin to discover our spiritual gift (or gifts) we can better understand our place in the rest of the Body of Christ.
I personally believe that there are probably even more spiritual gifts than these listed for us in the Bible. Again, variety seems to be God's forte. The list could be endless.
So...what's your Super Power? And more importantly, are you currently free to use it the way God intended?
-kg
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Author Struggles to Stay Removed from Slave Trade
Read the complete story
HERE
(From the link above)
"With $50 and a plane ticket to Haiti, one can buy a slave. This was just one of the difficult lessons writer Benjamin Skinner learned while researching his book, A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern-Day Slavery."
"Though now illegal throughout the world, slavery is more or less the same as it was hundreds of years ago, Skinner explains...Something disturbing has changed however — the price of a human. After adjusting for inflation, Skinner found that, 'In 1850, a slave would cost roughly $30,000 to $40,000 — in other words it was like investing in a Mercedes. Today you can go to Haiti and buy a 9-year-old girl to use as a sexual and domestic slave for $50. The devaluation of human life is incredibly pronounced.'"
Slavery is alive and well in 2008...
kg
HERE
(From the link above)
"With $50 and a plane ticket to Haiti, one can buy a slave. This was just one of the difficult lessons writer Benjamin Skinner learned while researching his book, A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern-Day Slavery."
"Though now illegal throughout the world, slavery is more or less the same as it was hundreds of years ago, Skinner explains...Something disturbing has changed however — the price of a human. After adjusting for inflation, Skinner found that, 'In 1850, a slave would cost roughly $30,000 to $40,000 — in other words it was like investing in a Mercedes. Today you can go to Haiti and buy a 9-year-old girl to use as a sexual and domestic slave for $50. The devaluation of human life is incredibly pronounced.'"
Slavery is alive and well in 2008...
kg
Monday, March 10, 2008
Ben Stein Presents: "Expelled"
This video clip for the new independent film "Expelled" (produced and narrated by actor Ben Stein) is well-worth your time and attention.
Here
I've studied extensively and even taught seminars on the evidence in favor of intelligent design, as well as the various pseudo-scientific data used to support the theory of Evolution. This film will bring some much-needed light to the back-room politics involved with those scientists who dare to question the popular opinion of the scientific community on issues of origins.
Spread the virus.
kg
Here
I've studied extensively and even taught seminars on the evidence in favor of intelligent design, as well as the various pseudo-scientific data used to support the theory of Evolution. This film will bring some much-needed light to the back-room politics involved with those scientists who dare to question the popular opinion of the scientific community on issues of origins.
Spread the virus.
kg
Friday, March 07, 2008
MOST CHRISTIANS WRONG ABOUT HEAVEN
According to N.T. Wright
Full Story:
HERE
And
HERE
(From the first link above)
"...but conservative Christian readers often scrunch together two very different things. One is going to heaven after you die, and the other is the resurrection of the body as the final destination. Many conservatives are puzzled when I tell them that there's not very much in the New Testament about going to heaven when you die, and that where you do find material in the New Testament about going to heaven when you die, this is a temporary thing. What really matters is resurrection, or Life After Life After Death." - N.T. Wright
Now that someone of Wright's calibre has fired the opening shot I have to say that I agree with him and it has always puzzled me why so many Christians talk about "Heaven" and living eternally in a mansion on a cloud in some quasi-spiritual plane of existence.
According to the Scriptures, our ultimate destination is the New Heaven and the New Earth. The plan seems to be that Jesus comes to live with us, we don't go to live with him.
I'm pretty sure N.T. doesn't mention this other part, since I've never heard anyone else express this opinion, but it's my conviction that when we die we are all instantly transported to the Judgement Seat. I know, that's at the end of all time, yet when we die we leave the time-stream and enter the realm of Eternity which is outside of time and space.
This means, if I'm right, that when you die you'll see Napolean, Moses, Paul the Apostle, Elvis and your Grandma and all of you will look at each other and say that you've "just arrived" at that same moment...because you have.
Love to hear what others think about this...
kg
Full Story:
HERE
And
HERE
(From the first link above)
"...but conservative Christian readers often scrunch together two very different things. One is going to heaven after you die, and the other is the resurrection of the body as the final destination. Many conservatives are puzzled when I tell them that there's not very much in the New Testament about going to heaven when you die, and that where you do find material in the New Testament about going to heaven when you die, this is a temporary thing. What really matters is resurrection, or Life After Life After Death." - N.T. Wright
Now that someone of Wright's calibre has fired the opening shot I have to say that I agree with him and it has always puzzled me why so many Christians talk about "Heaven" and living eternally in a mansion on a cloud in some quasi-spiritual plane of existence.
According to the Scriptures, our ultimate destination is the New Heaven and the New Earth. The plan seems to be that Jesus comes to live with us, we don't go to live with him.
I'm pretty sure N.T. doesn't mention this other part, since I've never heard anyone else express this opinion, but it's my conviction that when we die we are all instantly transported to the Judgement Seat. I know, that's at the end of all time, yet when we die we leave the time-stream and enter the realm of Eternity which is outside of time and space.
This means, if I'm right, that when you die you'll see Napolean, Moses, Paul the Apostle, Elvis and your Grandma and all of you will look at each other and say that you've "just arrived" at that same moment...because you have.
Love to hear what others think about this...
kg
Thursday, March 06, 2008
JACKIE PULLINGER IN CHARISMA MAGAZINE
With the Non-Con only a week or so away I thought it was fascinating that Jackie Pullinger, one of our main session facilitators at the event, is featured in this month's issue of CHARISMA Magazine.
Take a look:
HERE
For those who would like to support Jackie Pullinger's work in China-
Tax-deductible contributions to St. Stephen's Society can be made online at christianlifemissions.org or mailed to P.O. Box 952248, Lake Mary, FL 32795-2248.
Take a look:
HERE
For those who would like to support Jackie Pullinger's work in China-
Tax-deductible contributions to St. Stephen's Society can be made online at christianlifemissions.org or mailed to P.O. Box 952248, Lake Mary, FL 32795-2248.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Human Slavery In America - 2008
*A spin-off article from this week's [Subversive Underground]
It's very shocking to realize that human slavery is alive and well in the United States of America. Many people believe we abolished slavery as a practice hundreds of years ago, but the reality is that human trafficking is going on right now, in your city, possibly even in your neighborhood.
"The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency estimates that 50,000 people are trafficked into or transited through the U.S.A. annually as sex slaves, domestics, garment, and agricultural slaves."
"The United States is a source and destination country for thousands of men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation. Women and girls, largely from East Asia, Eastern Europe, Mexico and Central America are trafficked to the United States into prostitution. Some men and women, responding to fraudulent offers of employment in the United States, migrate willingly-legally and illegally-but are subsequently subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude at work sites or in the commercial sex trade. An unknown number of American citizens and legal residents are trafficked within the country primarily for sexual servitude and, to a lesser extent, forced labor."
*Read the full story linked
HERE
The link above contains a long list of recent examples of human slavery in America today. Just read through a few of those and ask yourself how this could happen in our Nation today. Ask how it escapes the notice of our media. Ask why it is not an issue in our ongoing Presidential election. Ask what you and I can do to help these people in need.
AROUND THE WORLD
The facts are sobering. There are 27 million people around the globe who are trapped in forced labor at this very moment. Some are children between 7 and 12 years of age. Some of them are enslaved in America today, forced to work as prostitutes out of massage parlors, on the streets of your city, or even out of homes in neighborhoods like yours and mine.
IN MY OWN BACK YARD
Just about a year ago the Orange County Police Department broke up the largest human trafficking/forced prostitution ring in the history of this region. I remember it because it was just weeks before the Freedom Day on March 25th at Vanguard University where hundreds gathered to protest slavery and bring attention to this very real problem.
America is one of the top markets for human sexual slavery. Anaheim, the home of Disneyland, is one of the largest markets for human trafficking in the Nation.
If you want to know how you can help please visit
StopTheTraffik
-kg
It's very shocking to realize that human slavery is alive and well in the United States of America. Many people believe we abolished slavery as a practice hundreds of years ago, but the reality is that human trafficking is going on right now, in your city, possibly even in your neighborhood.
"The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency estimates that 50,000 people are trafficked into or transited through the U.S.A. annually as sex slaves, domestics, garment, and agricultural slaves."
"The United States is a source and destination country for thousands of men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation. Women and girls, largely from East Asia, Eastern Europe, Mexico and Central America are trafficked to the United States into prostitution. Some men and women, responding to fraudulent offers of employment in the United States, migrate willingly-legally and illegally-but are subsequently subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude at work sites or in the commercial sex trade. An unknown number of American citizens and legal residents are trafficked within the country primarily for sexual servitude and, to a lesser extent, forced labor."
*Read the full story linked
HERE
The link above contains a long list of recent examples of human slavery in America today. Just read through a few of those and ask yourself how this could happen in our Nation today. Ask how it escapes the notice of our media. Ask why it is not an issue in our ongoing Presidential election. Ask what you and I can do to help these people in need.
AROUND THE WORLD
The facts are sobering. There are 27 million people around the globe who are trapped in forced labor at this very moment. Some are children between 7 and 12 years of age. Some of them are enslaved in America today, forced to work as prostitutes out of massage parlors, on the streets of your city, or even out of homes in neighborhoods like yours and mine.
IN MY OWN BACK YARD
Just about a year ago the Orange County Police Department broke up the largest human trafficking/forced prostitution ring in the history of this region. I remember it because it was just weeks before the Freedom Day on March 25th at Vanguard University where hundreds gathered to protest slavery and bring attention to this very real problem.
America is one of the top markets for human sexual slavery. Anaheim, the home of Disneyland, is one of the largest markets for human trafficking in the Nation.
If you want to know how you can help please visit
StopTheTraffik
-kg
Monday, March 03, 2008
THE KINGDOM REALITY
The Kingdom of God is the present reality which breaks into this illusion of ours intermittently, like very bad cell phone reception. It’s God’s way of saying, “Can you hear me now?”
In fact, experiencing and living in this Kingdom Reality is, in itself, an exercise in the Kingdom principles of “Letting Go” and “The Power of Weakness”. When we give up on our strength and wait for God’s power to come and to move it’s a testimony of our trust in His promise to us that “Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar like Eagles”, resting and gliding under the power of the wind of the Holy Spirit.
Waiting and trusting in His power, not our own, taking confidence in His strength, not ours, is a demonstration of The Power of Weakness in action.
For us, this coming, advancing, intermittent reality is counter-intuitive. We’ve been born into this illusion – falsely labeled “Reality”- and have been immersed in this do-it-yourself mentality all of our lives. We need to learn to “Re-Think” everything – or as Jesus said, to “Repent,” (Metanoia = Rethink), “for the Kingdom of God (Heaven) is near” (Or, “It is within our grasp, our reach, and close enough to touch.”)
It is very much like taking the red pill and finding ourselves wide awake in a reality which is upside down and backwards from the world we have been born into. At first we reel with the vertigo of a world where up is down and the first are last. Those who humble themselves are exalted, the greatest is the servant of all, and those who lose their lives find everlasting, eternal life, even though they die daily. This is the Kingdom of God.
Welcome to reality. Because this upside down world, we quickly discover, is NOT upside down, it is right side up. We have lived so long, head over heels, immersed in an illusion of selfish fulfillment and a pursuit of more, more, more, that we need to detoxify our minds and hearts and flesh in order to remain in God’s Kingdom Reality.
Jesus announced this Kingdom, told us how to see it, how to walk in it and remain in it, and gave us the best news possible: We could enter and begin living in Reality anytime we wanted to.
In the Kingdom of God there is just one King; God Himself. He is a good, loving, kind, and wildly, unpredictably, sometimes uncomfortably intimate, inclusive and wonderful King, and Father, and Friend.
His Kingdom is a place where His perfect will is always done and those who rest in His will are refreshed and delighted and fulfilled and at peace and overjoyed. They are children born into the poverty of excess wealth and selfishness who have been adopted into a new Family of the unending wealth of generosity and the joy of always having enough to share and give away.
This is reality. Before God made this vast oasis called “Space and Time” there was no space or time. Everything was perfectly “Now” and Eternally present with Him. This is the only reality there has ever been. God’s Kingdom was, and is, and is to come.
Our temporary stay in this unusual experiment called “Time and Space” will eventually expire and the temporary Kingdoms of this Earth will soon fade away. The Kingdom of Pleasure will fall to the ground. The Kingdom of Greed will perish. The Kingdom of Exploitation and Oppression and Excess and Fashion and Wealth and Flesh, will all crumble and burn and disappear into oblivion. Only one Kingdom will remain and that is the Kingdom which was here “In The Beginning” – which has even now come, and which we can enter today. And, one day, soon, this Kingdom will break forever into this illusion we drift through for the moment, and overtake all we see and know.
Are you ready to enter this Kingdom? Are you ready to begin living under the awesome rule and reign of The King? There’s just one thing, before you take that leap, before you swallow the red pill, that you should know, so that you can count the cost. Those who enter the Kingdom can only step across the threshold if they pay the price. It’s really nothing when you think about it, when you compare the amazing riches of God’s Eternal Kingdom with the tokens and trinkets of our counterfeit reality. The price of admission, the way to step across, is to let go of this world.
Just as you were born naked and weak and vulnerable and empty-handed into this world, so you can take nothing with you into God’s Kingdom. It’s called being “Born Again”.
The things of this world are not truly treasures. When you die they will stay here anyway, and just as you can take nothing with you beyond the grave, you can take nothing with you when you step into God’s Kingdom.
Jesus only asks for one thing- It’s called Everything.
But what you gain, what you receive in exchange, is beyond anything you can dream of or hope for or imagine. The Kingdom of God, when you see it, when you really understand it, you will gladly rush out to sell all that you have, as quickly as possible, to step across the threshold into Heaven.
This is the moment where many people stop and turn back. Their grip on this world, or its grip on them, is so strong that they can never let go of their tiny, petty lives in this place in order to receive real life and treasure in God’s Kingdom.
If we have really seen the Kingdom, if we really understood and believed that this Kingdom was real (in a way that nothing else can ever be “real”), then we would rush quickly to surrender all that we have and all that we are in order to receive the treasure that does not rust or face or disappoint.
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." - Luke 9:24
“The Kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44)
All God wants is all of you. All He asks is that you Trust Him and Believe Him and surrender your meager treasures and petty personal kingdoms in exchange for His Kingdom. God wants to be your God. He wants you to be one of His People.
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” – Jesus (Luke 9:23). There is no other way but the Cross.
Jesus says it is very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom.” Who then can be saved? His disciples asked. “With man this is impossible,” Jesus replied, “But not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10: 23-27)
Will you let go? Will you surrender it all? Will you seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness? This is the only question we need to answer in order to step across the threshold into the amazing reality of God’s Kingdom.
You can stay here, on this side of reality, where you are safe and miserable, in your tiny kingdom where your will is what matters. Or you can sell it all, exchange the handful of crumbling mud for real treasure which lasts forever.
Is your kingdom so wonderful? Aren’t you tired of wearing the crown? Haven’t you suffered long enough under your own rule and reign?
When you are ready to set fire to your kingdom, and surrender your lordship, and dance as the flames consume your empty way of living, He is ready to invite you to experience Reality, today.
There is only One King, and He is good. He really wants what is best for you, and He can, above all, beyond any other, be Trusted. His Name is Faithful and True.
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father but by me” – Jesus (John 14)
-Keith Giles
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