dennis j adams

Many people today walk around with a blank look on their face, almost to say ‘They have no future!’ Families are scouring around to fix everything but never get anything fixed, almost to say ‘Everything keeps breaking!’ The Church is searching for answers to the dilemma that the institutionalized traditions that worked in the beginning are producing failure in growth and individualistic, idealistic maturity, almost to say ‘We have not an answer to this hopeless society!’

However, take hold and put full attention to the fact that God has planned for His creation, His families and His Bride to live in victory and always to triumph in troubled times!

He has given us a hope, a distinct trust and belief with expectation that He has promised us victory and He cannot lie!

There are three distinct areas that can be addressed on the subject of hope:

1. Hope has its place

2. Hope has its pronunciation

3. Hope has its power

Hope will never disappoint and grasps faith with a tight grip! A believer’s hope, since it is centered in God and His promises, does not disappoint him. One must believe the promises of God and those that pertain to the individual. Hope is a present possession which speaks to the heart the words of truth and integrity.

Here is an ancronym that will explain the hope in each person’s heart:

Hopefulness

Optimism

Perseverance

Expectation

Speak that trust, that hope, that confidence, that courage knowing that God’s plan for your life, your families life, and your church is full of hope and goodness.

“For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. ” (Jeremiah 29:11, AMP)

Have hope and hang in there, it is all worth it! There is real power in faith and as mentioned, hope embraces faith!

My Heart To Yours

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.

Oh, yes it is. When this song was song by the Rolling Stones it seemed that time was on the side of those that had the world by the world’s standards. Yes, the Church was doing its religious thing and not wanting anything to do with those hippies and dirty people. They are of the devil! Now nearly 40 years later the Church is still doing its religious thing! However, I wonder if the time is still on the side of the religious people? There is a generation out there in this world who are searching, yes, searching for “real” truth, not lies that sound like truth. The Beatles sang, “All We Need Is Love”. Would I be so courageous to say that maybe these bands were prophesying to us? I certainly also can say, with real comfort, that the song “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd was a prophetic statement to the Church today! It is time to wake up, get up and stand up for the “real” truth and shine a bright beacon of hope to those that are searching!

My Heart To Yours

Dennis

Before you make a statement about what you believe to anyone, go before the Throne of Grace and check in to see if you really are who you are in Him! Just a thought for you to ponder and consider!

My Heart To Yours

Dennis

I often wonder how blind can Church leaders be when they look at the decline of the Church populous! I mean the answers that I get when I address certain pastors about the “shrinkage” in America’s normally affluent growing churches. It as though they do not want o admit that there is a problem. It seems to me that as long as you look through a “tunnel” you will see only so far to the right or left. However, looking at the broad view of things you will notice a great deal of discouraged and faithless people wandering around aimlessly. They are seeking truth and comfort. Their eyes are open to “change” and their ears are clearly listening for a “call” to the “real” Gospel of Jesus Christ. That gospel that declares the obedience to God and the command to love your neighbor! Pastors are groping in the dark for answers when the answer is so clear to see. Not to overstate this, but the “World is Flat” and the internet has opened up vast communities of knowledge to help in repairing the breach. It is really dismal to read some of the statistics that are being broad casted over the internet. I have dialogued with some wonderful people about this and there is a real line of information that is being formed. Looking into the heart of God you see truth, hope, encouragement, love, and compassion. All these characteristics are placed in our lives that know Him! I pray thae we can all share these characteristics with this hurting world and those that are wandering about looking for what they do not see or hear!

I love people, and my heart cries out to God that we all can reach more for Him. Let’s stop playing church and all the political games that have are attached. Let us be simple and mend the broken hearted together!

My Heart To Yours

Dennis

Some days it is just hard to see the beauty that the Lord is already placing before you! That is where it takes faith to keep going through the “ugly” that you see! Just a short note about some inner feelings lately.

My Heart To Yours

Dennis

Had a real exciting day today.   The Central Coast Church came alive as I preached, “Jesus Is Alive” from Luke 24:5 stating the three obvious points:

1. Revelation
2. Reconciliation
3. Redemption

The Santa Cruz Church, well what can I say, these folks were raising their hands and showing the appreciation that they are loved by Jesus.   We had a great time in both locations! You know what… If it was not for Jesus…! Oh, yeah baby!

My Heart To Yours

Dennis

Stepping out from behind the lens can engender a feeling of real vulnerability! You then can allow others to see you as you are and not seeing you through the lenses of your eyes. I hope and pray that as the Church comes forth in an emergent state that those involved in a “grassroots” movement of decentralization will be able to be real to those that they interact with. Trust is so important in times where one becomes vulnerable to the sight of others.Jesus stated to the Philip:”…Have I been with all of you for so long a time, and do you not recognize and know Me yet, Philip? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father… ” (John 14:9, AMP). If individuals are going to stay behind the lens and see or be seen as they want too, then the outcome or creativity of the movement becomes politically correct and not significant to the purpose of change. Jesus was who He was. He said what He meant and meant what He said. I hope that everyone can emerge from behind their own personal lens and join in some dialogue about what they really believe. There is an open door to dialogue being opened to you, take advantage and share your heart.

My Heart To Yours

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.

This week, as many of you know, is a week that brings sorrow and celebration together in one place, Calvary. Yet, on Sunday we celebrate the Risen Christ Jesus! I hope and pray that everyone has a great time in what they are doing this week leading up to Sunday. Reading about what some are doing in their churches is really cool! As you read this it is either Good Friday or somewhere in time before or after Easter. I hope that we all can take a momnet out of the hectic schedules that are placed on us by ourselves or others and pray for souls to be saved throughout the world. Have fun in your preparations and celebrations!

Happy Easter

Dennis

I have read thousands of pages, gone to more seminars than I would like to admit and listened to some of the most popular preachers and teachers in world speak on the subject: Church Growth. I have even had a private meeting with David Yonggi Cho! I absolutely know that we need change in the Church for this postmodern era that we live in. When one studies the history of the Church it is easy to see that change came about right at the time when it was most needed. This is one of those times! Yes, one of those “God wants this done now times!” (my quote not anyone else’s.)

Some want to defend her at the present state. Some want to just leave her and try to adjust to the secular world (good luck!). Some desire to dialogue about what can be done. Dialogue is a good thing. There is power in words and words can bring change. I know that some of you reading this blog may feel that you cannot trust who you may be in dialogue with. There is a serious problem in the Church when trust is an issue. That is a true gauge or measure, if you will, to point to the fact that change is necessary. We do not need clichés to keep this boat floating and we do not need weighty statements of promise with no action either.

At this point we need dialogue and that dialogue to be prayerful and sincere. With the exit strategy going on in America I really get grrrish, (I like that better than bullish or bearish), about sticking up for what was! What was is not working so let us move into what is or at least what will. Yes, we need change and we need it now.

I wonder if men and women who have decision making privileges really know what their strengths are. Being voted into a position does not tell me that you know who you are or what you may be able to do! What it tells me is that you can really politic well. What makes me want to follow a leader in Church growth is when that leader lives in the present, reaches back to pull from history, values, so when he sees into the future he knows where he is leading us! Go over to missionalcog.com and view the Engage21 videos. Read the comments and get involved! We are in a period of our Church that certainly needs attention and plausible change.

My Heart To Yours

Dennis

Church growth is the topic of discussion lately! Rightfully so seeing that a healthy church should grow at some rate. Transferring members from one church to another is not “pure” growth. I mean if your take a grape and graft it to another bunch of grapes you did not grow because you started with the same number of grapes. However, when you fertilize, protect, and nurture, new grapes appear on the vine. It is simple for me to type this out because being a simple man that I am, I can readily observe that some churches like the easy way of growth, transference! The difficult way to growth, which embraces sacrifice and commitment is when you emerge from the “bunch” and begin to take this Gospel of Christ seriously and sound it to the “outside” the they are welcome in the “inside” no matter what they are like. The door is open come on in and be loved by the God’s love. Jesus was always where everyone did not want Him to be, everyone meaning the religious and anti- social aristocrats of His day. He was always doing things with sinners. Just hanging out with people and listening to them. Jesus liked the little guy and he was anointed by a prostitute. I begin to laugh as I type this because He would really be a topic of conversation in this 21st century religious aristocrats design for a new growth paradigm.

Here is a cool thought: When the prodigal son came home, his father ran out, kissed him, gave him the utmost respect and through a party just for him. Yet, the brother was jealous and showed his butt about the whole thing. I really clearly see the church in this matter. There is a world of prodigals out there who need to come home! Why does the Church get so jealous over normal growth?”

“Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?” (Malachi 2:10, NASB95)

Here is my question to the world and the Church? Does Church growth come from an emerging Church or an emerging group of prodigals coming home?

My Heart To Yours

Dennis

All scriptures used in this blog article are New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.