dennis j adams

March 1, 2008 Kathy and I start a new journey for the Lord in the Santa Cruz/Monterey Area. This is a venture that will take deep commitment and developed sight into the calling of the Lord. I will share more in the next day or so. This is a great time for Potter’s Hand Ministry Center (The Center of Hope) and also for Acts of Love Foundation, Inc.

Peace

Dennis

Just a quick not: I just completed a series of meetings at Crossroads Church of God in Watsonville, CA This church was already rockin’ when I began the meeting! The Lord moved in dynamic ways through His Word! Prophetic moves of the Spirit into the lives of the constituency brought even more life into the congregation. The theme of the meeting was a simple word: “More”. CD’s are available per your request. We had five deep services in the journey for more! If you live or are in the Watsonville area this church is the one to attend! Crossroads Church of God, 48 Atkinson Lane, Watsonville, CA 95076, Phone: 831-728-5497.

Peace

Dennis

Recently I received a message on Facebook about a prophesy given in 1996 (go to sight for prophecy www.misionalcog.com). I was astonished, to say the least, about what I read and heard. So these stats that I found in recently related articles caught my attention. Thought I would share them with you.

ABC News

USA Today

CNN News

Yahoo News

Really important words are being read on these sites. I wonder what the Christian Church in America plans to do about this? What ever it is I want to be involved in turning these statistics to the growth of the Protestant Church.

Peace

Dennis

When I was young and just starting out in my ministry I sought wisdom from seasoned people. These people had walked with the Lord much longer than I and I really respected them for the accomplishments they had made for the Kingdom of God. I am not going to name a name (because I really do not like name droppers) but this person really had it rockin’ for the Lord in the late 70′s. He continued so till he went on to the Dream Giver’s House!

As I remember, we stood in a dusty, dirt parking area outside my first church in Salida, CA on a exceptionally hot summer day. There were six people in attendance at this time, besides, my wife and myself and our four children. We were living in the basement of the church in the three Sunday School rooms. I had been the pastor for about 2 months. This great person of God came to visit me after I made a call to gain audience and lunch with this individual.  As we stood there, I ask about dreaming the dream of faith. The response was incredible and has stayed with me now for about 30 years. The response: “Dream the dream that you have from God. Dream till it comes true. Your dream is over when you let someone or something wake you up from it!” I thought that is it! My dream from the Lord is a not just a small mediocre dream but a big dream! I could not manufacture a dream this big. So here is what I say: “Just dream and dream big! Don’t let anyone or anything take a bite out of your dream!”

Here is an interesting picture that I found to justify the point.

Peace

Dennis

When I read the Book of Judges thoughts enter into my spirit that cause me to stop and reflect. Reflect on the moments we live, day by day. The pursuance of God’s presence in a world that rejects Him. Seeking to find Him in some geographical location where some dynamic happened that is unexplainable to man. Searching for a Word from God in a prophets conjecture of natures “normal” way cleansing. Asking for direction from those who really cannot say where He is!

Gideon’s question to the Angle of Lord strikes my hear with a blow sent from a cannon at ten paces.

And Gideon said to him, O sir, if the Lord is with us, why is all this befallen us? And where are all His wondrous works of which our fathers told us… (Judges 6:13a AMP)

I really believe that this question is relevant in today’s American church. You can turn on the television and get all the answers from all the superstars and send them all the money! Come on now, are really that far away from the altars of God? Has our prayer life suffered a drastic loss? Has God’s presence been so unfamiliar that we will quest to accept “holy-woods” depth of the perception of God?

Gideon, he knew something was missing. He was hiding in the winepress beating wheat! This was an abnormal procedure, you make wine in the winepress and you beat wheat in the barn! Our problem is that we want to be blinded to the procedural events that lead to false prophetic words and call that spectacular and even “godly”. Gideon knew that what was missing was the presence of God’s power! He was not afraid to ask the question: If God is with us, where are His miracles? Oh, they are down at so and so’ church, He used to be here but now He is there. YUK! God declares that we are His children and we need to move out against all odds and He will deliver the enemy at our feet! Stop, stop, stop looking where He is not to be found and move out in the direction of ministry He has purposed for you! To many people have placed Him where He is not! Know that your the temple of the Holy Spirit and you have been purchased by the Blood of Jesus of Nazareth! God’s investment in you is a wondrous work. Before Gideon did anything He questioned the validity of the Angel’s declaration! The Lord responded by accepting the offering and Gideon responded by tearing down that which kept the power of God from doing wondrous works in the land. Peculiar, no, not really. Just the right procedure to make room for your miracle.

Peace

Dennis

All scriptures used in this blog article are The Amplified Bible, containing the Amplified Old Testament and the Amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Each day I wake up with a great hope that the Church world would change its approach and method to reach the beyond the “walls”. These “walls” I refer to here are those that have been built to hold the growth and to sustain that growth. Yes, growth comes from planting, sowing and watering. The soul or heart contains the soil for the seed and the water helps nourish and feed the seed. As it grows it needs to continue to be nurtured and strengthened into maturity. This all makes complete and total sense to me and that is why I again, look for some sign of change. That is right, change, so this post modern society can be nurtured into purpose for His Name sake. The “walls” have become iron and the doors have a way stating that you must be part of this club to come in. I read all sorts of material and get really frustrated on how men can brag about their success and hide their failure to be humble! I remember once that I was asked how my church was doing about ten times by the same person at a seminar (all in the same day). I mean I should have said it is sick and it refuses to grow because of power-political elders and contagiously mean people.

My point being, change is necessary for the appropriation of the lost in the 21st century. I am so burned out about the “way we do it” scenario! The approach is simply love and truth. The method for delivery in these days in a conduit that can be simple, like a hand shake or it can be through bandwidth, like the internet. But please bring Christ along on your ride to success. Stop spoiling the people with dynamic personalities and proposed growth plans. Stop extending budgets that cripple and contain! Break out of the “walls” and sing and dance for the Lord is at hand!  The truth is, when your church cannot invite nor welcome every person from every walk of life, your church has stopped nurturing and has become spoiled!

Peace

Dennis

Jesus wept (John 11:35) He stopped and asked where they had laid Lazarus. His response was that of compassion and care. He was very much man but also very much God. His heart was touched by the afflictions of men. We as the called of Christ, the saved of the Calvary experience, the warriors of the Gospel, must look at this example of true compassion. The lost soul who cannot “roll” back the stone that holds the sin in place. The heart locked in darkness, laid to rest by the enemy of his soul. Deep in the cavern without hope and the future is black, dismal, and without chance. But Jesus of Nazareth, asked where He could find the one He sought. Then in that moment of humanity he weeps over the soul! How much can one do in that instant? Than to stop and weep for the one who He loved. Jesus asked the Father to be part of this seeking out the dead heart, the heart that is now dark and blocked with the negative and contentious values of society. He gave the glory to Him, the Father, who would bless the world with His only Begotten Son’s death and resurrection. The “Resurrection and the Life” would not just silently reach out His hand toward the tomb but would seek the Father, confirming relationship with Him for mankind to see. He speaks out and the heart is healed the body walks again in the light of His love and has hope once again. Oh, that all who read this would weep for the lost and speak unto the Father! He does listen and desires to work through all that are willing. Where are they laid? All around us, in our neighborhoods, schools, stores, and malls. Blinded by the darkenss and insecure waiting for someone to call out their name, someone with faith in God and hope in eternal salvation. Do not let the enemy convince you that men’s hearts are grown cold! This is the time of great power and anointing! Weep, I say weep, for those whom you love!

Peace

Dennis

All scriptures used in this blog article are The Amplified Bible, containing the Amplified Old Testament and the Amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Tonight, I started to walk the streets of Santa Cruz again. As you know, I have been in the east for about about three weeks. I looked in deep and saw so much pain and “conditional” love! I witnessed hurt that was screaming out but no one heard it! I saw wheel chairs that were empty but the occupants had no legs! I witnessed gross ignorance toward the application of the Bible to the ministering to the poor! The silence was so loud that my ears began to ache! I began to thank God that somehow He saw me and has allotted me the honor to sense the compassion of the heart! I listened to stories tonight that I had heard before, but I heard them differently! The sound of their words pierced into my heart like a fiery arrow shot from a 100 pound compound bow. I cried in my heart, Oh God, allow me to help You help these children caught in darkness of suspicion and grief! As I left the city I passed one more who was bent down with his sign, “HELP, anything will do.” I heard that written words say, “I have gone so low that what I used to be able to choose I will accept now without choice! I stopped and expressed His love into the heart that was so attached to the cement. I gave my love through Christ to him and bought a cup of coffee for him! I took all my change and dollars left and just handed them over. The last thing I said to him was ‘this was a meeting that was meant to happen.’ How many people bypass the meetings that were meant to happen?

Peace

Dennis

Well here I sit at my “blogging” machine, wondering just what direction to take in 2008 for all you blogsters (word not yet in dictionaries) out there in blog space! I really desire to be radical, more that I have been! I probably will write stuff that will offend the ordinary and hopefully encourage the relationally courageous. Those that really desire to see change in the world of religion and traditional realms.

I mean I can write and tell you how many I had in my “outside, without walls (literally), church today. O.K. I will: 218! So did that do anything for you? Probably not! It never does for me when I read church statistics. I really think that “normal” church is boring and packed full of pastoral worship and religious design. Sort of like a “cool” glass of milk that looks so refreshing, but when tasted it is really curdled and sour!

A friend of mine, ( a really cool dude) is starting a church in Charlotte, NC. This person has no presumptions of religion just a hope to see change in a lost heart. If I was in Charlotte I would attend his church. He meets in a restaurant. How cool is that? That kind of radical action get my blood flowing in a good way. His church is entitled The Salt Mine Church and it is rockin’ with love and great Bible teaching.

I hope that you catch what I am writing! Go to churches that have radical purpose and get out of those mausoleums that make no noise for the mouse to hear! They are just tombs that entertain the dead above ground!

Peace

Dennis

Last night at 11:00 pm est. my mother-in-law, Theda ended her journey here on this earth as we know it.  Again, I must say that it was such an honor to be able to run the last part of her journey by her side.  She went in such peace, as though, her finish line was embraced and she moved into the presence of Jesus! She lived a life that had four principles:

1. To live passionately.
2. To love completely.
3. To learn humbly.
4. To leave boldly.

 Here is an excerpt from an eNewsletter that I received:

Living passionately is something we all hunger to do, yet most of us allow all the mundane things of the daily grind to drain the passion from us or cause us to put the things we have passion for on a shelf. Loving completely can be frightening because it leaves us vulnerable, but in our hearts we want those we love to know it with certainty. Humility flies in the face of the world’s way of viewing things, yet most of us know the joys that come with allowing ourselves to learn from those around us. Most importantly, leaving boldly means having lived our lives in such a way that when the end comes we have benefited those around us and carry no regrets.

These principles are founded on understanding that we are the branches whose supply comes from Jesus, the vine. He gives us the strength we need to live them in ways that are unique to who He created us to be. Our lives are in His hands and we are given the privilege of choosing what we will do with the time He has given us.

These words ministered to me so much when I read them. I knew immediately that the Lord had brought them to my attention to reflect on Theda’s life! This was her attitude toward life.  She made life grand for so many people and never asked for anything in return.  May God bless us all to live such a life for His Glory.

So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12 AMP)

Peace

Dennis

All scriptures used in this blog article are The Amplified Bible, containing the Amplified Old Testament and the Amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Excerpt from: Adapted from One Month to Live by Kerry & Chris Shook. Watch LIFE Today with the Shooks on Monday and Tuesday, January 28-29 (US/Canada).