dennis j adams

I know it is Sunday and why would I blog after a long, over the top, day?  The reason is simple, it has been the most exciting to be part of what God is doing in these hours of ministry.  What a motivating time to be placed in and witnessing the shifting of God’s Spirit in the church.  All these conferences and “special” meeting that are happening publicly and privately! The Lord in His way of evangelism and appropriating the the attention of people is awesome.  Listening to certain conversations and reading “spiritual” news blips on other blogs certainly intrigues my awareness.  There is a generation that God has raised up to bring a “new” awareness of His great love and grace to planet earth. America certainly needs a “true” visitation of grace now!  The economy in a crucial place. The political “dirt” that is being thrown at each candidate. The division that all this is causing the families and the church is incredible! This “gen” that He has spoken to and set forth has its work cut out for them.  With a nation shrinking from faith and embracing whatever works. There certainly is a great need for post-modern evangelism.  Young ministries are sprouting up across America reaching the communities and cities where they have been placed. This is truly exciting and the dynamics are awesome.  Bob Dylan, in his song, “The Times They Are A-Changin’”, he penned prophetically and sung words that seem to have greater meaning in this hour.  In the song he penned this:

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.

My hope and actually you could say, a hope against hope, is that these ministers and ministries, that the Lord has strategically placed throughout America, will be those that bring the times we have prayed earnestly for.  For these times are really changing and to be quite frank, I am truly glad to be able to witness all that He is doing!

Time is a very large word with only with only one accented syllable. Yet, this word spans life as we know it. Statements such as, “time heals”, “redeeming the time”, “making up lost time” “time being”, “most of the time” and “such a time as this” mark memories in our lives and secure mental land marks deep within our minds. Time also entraps relationships that have wondered off or passed by for a moment. As this planet matures and the Church continues to carve out time in this 21st century, there are relationships to rebuild and restore. Rekindling past friendships and acquaintances can be a challenge but it can also be some of the most rewarding times in our lives. When Jesus came to this earth he came to rekindle, in essence, our relationships with the Father. The Lord looked beyond all the circumstances and turned soiled, bruised, and broken relationships into new and restored friendships.  The cost was the death of Jesus, His Son! Breaking down the wall of separation and the hymn of reconciliation in Colossians 1:15-21 was birthed into our lives by His obedience.

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.

Turning enemies into friends, distances to closeness, hope into reality, brokenness into healing.  This is the offering He made for us.

We have come into the new era where we have an opportunity to reestablish and rebuild relationships that may have slipped away through the lapse of time and the shortness of the moment. If there is time in your life, rekindle the flame of past relationships and bring all relationships to the centrality of the Cross of Christ.

Best

Dennis

All scripture used in this blog post are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, 1996, 2004, 2007.

Today as I began to rev up my day I saw a friend who came to see me for some advice. He was going to leave his church that he birthed and go into global ministry. His itinerary was set over in Europe and elsewhere. He was wanting the timing of the Lord even though his words were clear to the fact that he felt this was a spiritual move. Yes, steps ordered by the Lord.

My advice was simple go into what you believe you are called to do. Since God is leading He will keep you going toward what He has called you to do. For a moment though, ponder the fact that God will lead you right even if you make a wrong step. Trust God for everything and do not let men detain you from following a spirit-led heart.  When God has done His maintenance on you, your are ready for the next level, no matter how large it may be. Be prepared to see what the Lord is going to do for your church you founded and rejoice at His provision now, even through you do not see it.

I spoke to the Santa Cruz congregation last week and stated that you need to have plan…and when you get one move into it.  You will never get to where you are going till you take the first step.

So this all being brought into a simple but profound statement: Timing is everything!

Best

Dennis

When the 60′s broke out with an impact on not only America but the world many thought “strange days” were upon them. The Doors and other musical artists wrote songs that were very prophetic. Such as, “All We Need Is Love”, “Comfortably Numb”, to name a few.  Again, I believe that Jim Morrison along with others were speaking into the future of America and the Church: Being “strangely” prophetic if you will!

The lyrics to the song Strange Days are as follows along with a YouTube Video:

Strange days have found us
Strange days have tracked us down
They’re going to destroy
Our casual joys
We shall go on playing
Or find a new town

Yeah!

Strange eyes fill strange rooms
Voices will signal their tired end
The hostess is grinning
Her guests sleep from sinning
Hear me talk of sin
And you know this is it

Yeah!

Strange days have found us
And through their strange hours
We linger alone
Bodies confused
Memories misused
As we run from the day
To a strange night of stone

Watch this YouTube live performance and see a flash experience of these words.  Christ is shown on the Cross for a moment!

Strange Days

This speaks loudly to where we are today in the compounds of American lifestyles. Which reflects deeply and richly on the response the Church has in this hour of “Strange Days”.  Are we responding or are we lurking around the strange night of stone?

Best

Dennis

Worship is the best seat in the house. When I heard that in my spirit I rejoiced deeply to almost a groaning. The best seat in the house… We are the House of God! The Temple of the Holy Spirit! The dwelling place of our God! Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?… (1 Cor. 6:19)

This is so exciting to know that at all times we can be part of the “best seat in the house”. True worship, just letting go and pursuing Him with praise and all that is within us… David cried out: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! (Psalm 103:1).

Often times I think we just make a place for comfort or play time! We fill the seat with “stuff” that causes worry, fear, bitterness, anger and ultimately restlessness and frustration. Speak out loud and ask the Lord to come and take His seat in your heart daily. The Word does declare that He inhabits the praises of His people…But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3).

Make a place for His glory to rest on you with pure worship from the heart and soul. Do this daily and make a habit out of worship, not to the point of loosing its value in your spirit but be hungry for God! A great price was paid for the “best seat in the house”. I have witnessed people paying exorbitant prices for tickets just to be close to the stage of home plate. Some even pay top dollar to fly first class! But God gives the best seat in the house to anyone who just invites Him to come and rest on the wonders of worship.

Best

Dennis

So many today, live in fear of the future and even of the moment. The enemies of our lives and the ruler of darkness desires deeply to instill fear in our hearts.  I believe, wholeheartedly, that fear nor only cripples the believer, but also has the tendency to paralyze a denomination.

What is fear? Well defined it is: an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger, anxious concern, profound reverence and awe especially toward God.

Certainly, if we accept our faith in the most valued way then we would embrace the latter part of the definition. However, most embrace the first two statements of the defined word. Fear makes it almost impossible to make a decision that will bring the Kingdom Principles found in God’s word into fruition.  The peace that we seek daily is hidden under a thick cloak of fear that is dictated to the heart by negative comments or mistrusting the commands of the Lord into our lives.

Truthfully, when reading the Bible there are plenty of testimonies that referred to the defeat of God;s people because of the fear that paralyzed them. The simple one that we can all relate to is the David and Goliath story found in 1 Samuel 17. To refer to the New Testament we could amply agree that the disciples, after the death of Jesus, were hiding in fear.  (Found in Luke 24:35-41). The question is asked today: What are you frightened about? There is no reason to be frightened only faithful. Faithful to the promise God has given you! He is faithful to fulfill all that He has spoken into your heart.

I have touched in this blog upon the individual battle of fear but I wonder if the COG is making decisions in fear? Fear is that mighty, when allowed to enter in and manufacture the depth of lies and obscurity’s to God’s promises. Remember the”elephant and mouse” myth that has proven not to be a myth.  The mouse has truly convinced, somehow, that the elephant should be afraid of it.  Yes, when you look at the Israeli turning from what was already given to them and wandering for forty years in the desert because they were afraid to accept what was promised can be a testimony to us in this 21st Century.

My hope is that the COG and individuals leading the denomination or movement, if you will, will make decisions based on promised faith and not insightful fear. That as the people who lead, will hear the voice of promise and not the voice of lies.  There is magnificent future for this denomination and I believe that the “fear darts” can be stopped by prayer and applied faith. I am committed to pray for this denomination and its leaders along with the constituency across this world.

Best

Dennis

Have you ever asked yourself, am I making a difference? Here is the way to agressively always answer, yes. Make a point to enter into each day with prayer, not a ‘Get ‘er done’ attitude. The place to start is on your knees, in the presence of His mercy and grace. The ‘making a differece’ attitude births in the prayer closet.

I know how easy it is to become to busy too make a difference in others lives in positive way. First of all, making a difference in your own life, personally. Second, making a difference in your family. Last but not least, making a difference in your ministry. All these must and should be pondered and pursued through prayer. The essence of this blog is to propel you to pray about your day and embrace the direction of the Lord.

Best

Dennis

Every idea has its positive influence on people, whether it is the holder of the idea or the receiver.  But as the idea becomes more of an influence “obstacles” begin to pop up like popcorn! Simply put: You have an idea to have baptism in a river or lake and everyone who wants to be baptized is stoked and can’t wait. Then at the baptism or soon after some knucklehead decides to complain about what you are doing. Maybe you decide to have a non-traditional service and everyone who will be involved is happy and some religious “buff” jumps up and complains that it will bring displeasure to the others.

At this point you can say , oh yeah, oh man, this is exactly what happens! The key to all this falls into place when you take your idea and lift it up above the obstacles. You go from being a manager to a visionary. You stop trying to maintain and contain and begin to release your idea into the hearts of others.

Start to build your team and partners in your vision. Embrace each idea as you would a rung on a ladder to lift you where you want to be.  Bring others along on this visionary journey that blows out old wine skins and transforms old news into fresh news.

Never look an an obstacle as something that cannot be overcome. Stare at it as a new adventure to strengthen your dream and hone your character.  Drink in the strength that it brings you as each obstacle is removed.

I am really glad that Jesus looked beyond the cross to the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2-3).  I rejoice to know that He found strength in each obstacle that tried to destroy His purpose. He never contained anything, He just released all that He was so we could be all that we are purposed to be.

Best

Dennis

Sometimes, I just ask myself what am I doing in Santa Cruz, CA? Doing urban mission ministry in this city, am I nuts or just a bit unstable? (maybe both)

When I go to the streets and gather about 300 of the most incorrigible people around me and they listen to me preach I wonder, am I really doing this?  I have not a building, just a small park in the center of the city! No offerings are taken, we just give of ourselves. Spent by the Lord daily. Cars going by and also stopping at the traffic light, rolling down their windows and listening to me preach the Gospel Christ to a most motley crew. What am I doing?

I remember a great friend of mine told a story about a girl who ran up the street to his mission in San Francisco with blood all over a Bible and she literally began to curse him out. She then proceeded to urinate on his feet. He just stood there and wept for her soul.  Now that is compassion! That friend is, Steve Wright, a true pioneer in urban missions and the founder of Providence Christian Center in San Francisco.  I testified this story at a church in Illinois and the people became angry and actually several left the church because it was to gross to tell in the church setting!

So this made me stop and think recently, when I remembered this incident that happened nearly ten years ago: What am I doing: Well here is the answer why I am in Santa Cruz, CA for these past seven years

1. It is nick named Satan Cruz.
2. It is one of the largest New Age areas in the nation.
3. Smoking marijuana is the lowest crime in the city. Jay walking is a more severe crime.
4. A new mayor is placed in position every year. Revolving off a city council of all liberal men and women.
5. Lesbianism and homosexuality is a welcome lifestyle and embraced in high schools.
6. People actually walk totally naked throughout the city and are not arrested.
7. Poverty is growing in leaps amongst the younger generation.
8. All types of philosophies are embraced and practiced leaving out Jesus as Lord.
9. Recently there is a movement that has started that equates receiving Jesus by snorting Him like cocaine or shooting Him in your arm like heroin.
10. U.C. Santa Cruz is located here with nearly 35,000 students who embrace worldly cultures as “gospel”.
11. There are coed dorms and also a dorm site, that is actually a campsite, which everyone is naked at.
12. It is a training center for the A.C.L.U. and abortions centers.
13. Most all the guru’s that people worship have centers here in Santa Cruz.
14. Witchcraft is practiced openly and in the surrounding mountains.
15. The spiritual power that hovers over the city is powerful and controls most of the political arenas.
16. You can grow marijuana legally and sell it to the three marijuana stores in the city. You just need a permit and that only costs about $100.00.
17. There has never been a dynamic move of the Spirit in this region or city.
18. It has been also labeled as the “true” Gates of Hell.
19. It has been labeled as Satan’s resting place where no one bothers him in Santa Cruz.
20. Most every church service I have someone tells me to stop ministering and servicing the poor. They are not people they are just bums according to the criticizers.
21. Immorality rages throughout the city streets.

Well those are some of the reasons why I stay here and fight for souls. Why did I write this blog tonight? I needed to be reminded that God has called me here and there is real purpose. You see when you tell the “classic” traditional churches the testimonies that really happen, they turn their back and run for comfort.

I am glad Jesus never turns His back! There are no exaggerations in this blog, actually I could have been more descriptive.

Here is a closing story that just happened last Sunday at my street church: This guy walks up and starts screaming at me and telling me to move my church away from his establishment. He said I am ruining his business. I looked at him and told him that he is selling alcohol and killing people. He responded ‘I agree with that but get these bums away from my bar’. He is angry with me because I openly tell my street church to stop drinking and turn to Jesus.  Got to love the logic from this guy!

Best

Dennis

Here we are at the brink of change again. New developments in Church Administration across the nation and through out the world. Political fires have been lit with all the conventions recently and Americans are on hold till she gets a new leader. The COG is also on hold as the newness of the Excutive Committee tenders itself across world. Just what happens in this “quiet” time?

It seems natural to me that this time is used to adjust and prepare for what God is planning to do with this nation and with the COG. With this being a “season” it is also to the utmost importance that prayer continues in the vain of purity and integrity. Praying for leaders to adjust and hear from God. I know that through this blog I am referring to both secular and religious seasons but in 2008 they are running consecutively with extremely needed change. 

Looking into the latter part of Fall the impression to be hoped for is one of unity and deep sincerity in bringing to the Church the needed affirmations and visions for ministry. Also, in the forefront of the political race is a desire for trust and truth.  That is exactly what I am writing about in this blog post.

My prayer is that the COG will again trust and hear truth that will bring renewal of relations and restoration of the vision to reach the harvest.  Jointly with all ministries amply pursuing Him daily for direction. 

The last thing we need is to fall again into a season of words and promises that never come into fruition or tangible application.  We are in the season of “quiet” right now. So, let us listen for the voice that will speak comfort and refreshing to our hearts.

Best

Dennis