dennis j adams

It has been almost two weeks since I blogged. I know, who is counting. Well, I do! The inspiration just has not been there. So tonight, on this rainy night here in California, I thought I would stir up some inspiration and blog a bit.

I am not really sure who reads these blogs anymore. I don’t keep stats like I used to. It does not make any sense to me to do stats. I mean, I am blogging this and not sure if it is read or just hanging out in the blog-o-sphere somewhere. Oh well, I feel like typing on my Apple and maybe I will get an inspiration for myself. Considering that I have mastered the computer industry, working on them and coding since 1985, all this stuff is just habit, and simple fun.

Anyway, not to bore myself or maybe someone that happened to Google me, it is the season to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a big time of the year, the world actually goes into this “numbness” for a day. That is kind of cool if you ask me. So let me wish anyone or someone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We had our church service today and it was awesome. This was our Christmas celebration service and it was really beyond my expectations. I am not a number counter, if you know me you will agree with that last typed statement. Let me say that we had over 450 in the service and I spoke on the subject: “Magnifying Grace”. It is a “Part 2″ in a small series which ensues the subject of mentoring grace in each individual.  As far as I know the message was delivered to each mailbox and that is what I do. I deliver the message and the Holy Spirit does the rest.

I am going to try to do more blogging. I know many people are busy and not writing as much as they did in the past. Yes, I read other blogs, some are really interesting and of course, many are my friends. I like to Twitter but I have not twittered in a long time. I am so busy with the ministry here in Santa Cruz. What a lame excuse for not even typing 140 characters to let the followers know what I am doing. I go to Twitter and read what the people our doing that I follow! So I guess that gives me some comfort that I am not totally alone in the “information” that hangs out there in cyberspace.

The wonders of blogging and twittering can be very interesting at times, but also quite burdensome if you let it become a “job” or a “must do” in your already over scheduled day. So what I am going to try to do is not blog just inspiration but go back to what I first started to do and that is type radical stuff. It is for my benefit. I need to be reminded that tradition really is boring and completely unnecessary in this age we live in now. Jesus was really radical and so was Paul and the boys. Somewhere along the way tradition “bit” hard and messed it all up. I am more myself when I am radical. I sense more of the purpose of my existence when I move in the radical zone. I guess some say that I live on the edge. I like to live on the edge. That is where I really believe Jesus lived when He walked physically on this earth.

Man I have just blogged on…. I’ll be back with radical and edge lifestyle stuff.  If you are reading this stuff I type, thanks!

Prayer does move the Hand of God

Dennis

As we continue in our relationship with the Lord our lives are confronted with different circumstances that challenge us.  Often times we become discouraged or even negative in our speech toward the promises of God.  Being a Christian means that we are to be persons of faith and integrity.  Faith means that we are to believe the impossible.  Integrity means that we are to live life in the light of the gospel. When becoming a child of God the Gospel of Christ declares to us that we have a specific outfit or uniform that we must put on of God.  This is called the Armor of Righteousness or the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).  We are to put on Christ and we are to walk by faith and have the knowledge of the Word of God in our hearts.  Actually the Word speaks of much more that just putting on the spiritual armor it also declares that we must live and move and have our being in Him.  Having a relationship with the Lord is an important part of each day in a Christian’s life.  The day should begin with a prayer, meditation, devotional reading and also seeking the will of God for that day through His Word.   When Paul wrote to the Church in Ephesus he declared that they should put on the Armor of God such as  — Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, Knowledge of Salvation, having the Word in your heart.  He also made strong reference to prayer and to the extent of praying in the Spirit!  The actions that are being referred to in this writing and in the Word of God are all actions of faith that must be appraised by the Word and by the Spirit of God.  When we hold the shield of faith up before the enemy is it will stop the “wiles” and the fiery “darts” that he will shot and you and speak to you.  Keep the shield raised high and remember that negative speech can tear down the shield and leave you open to being pierced by his “darts” (Colossians 3:16-17).

Best

Dennis

Churches today are searching for new identities. Certainly, when the absolute goal is to grow or too become more successful, a church would need a powerful identity. Identity plays a huge factor when you are striving to build a spiritual church! One common question arises in the process of becoming what has so habitually  impounded replication of identifying to the right style of church.  That question is: Which church type or identity is effectual for positive growth in this time and place?

There are three types that popularize the identity discussions that impact lives nationally and globally.

1. Attractional churches – Churches that attract
2. Missional churches – Churches that go out to those far from the front doors of the church
3. Dysfunctional churches – Churches that seem to think inbound struggles are God’s plan for discipleship

Personally, I think that the third identity images most churches in America today.  However, the first two offer growth applications if each is done with the proper motives.

1. To grow a church that honors God’s Word and plan for salvation.
2. To grow a church that continues to establish positive results in Kingdom principles.
3. To grow a church that implants truth and purity, evidenced by an outward life style that glorifies God.
4. To grow a church that is willing to move with God as He moves and when He moves.
5. To grow a church that is not identified with man’s apparent flaws but with God’s holiness.
6. To grow a church that is influential in community and social applications.
7. To grow a church that is sold out to the directives of God’s mercies and passions.

I would add here that the third choice, dysfunctional, has caused so much pain and schisms that one would wonder how it even exists? It does in a huge way.  Controlling spirits (another blog in another inspirational moment) have just what they are titled: control.

The Attractional church can also be defined as the church that promotes huge in house events and markets itself well. That a person senses an attraction to the event through the marketing of name brand, not generic, personalities that are advertised. This type of church is really great and offers plenty of ministry opportunities to those who are attracted.

The Missional church can be defined as the ‘go group’. They mix with the neighbors, the co-workers, the unfamiliar and the lonely. They make friends with people and build relationships slowly, with positive results for evangelism in its purest sense.  Their quest is to take the love of Christ beyond ‘walls’ that separate and build ties that communicate a lasting, trustful relationship with Jesus.

To learn to identify can be a life long adventure with many twists and turns. The journey can take you to the far left in thought and bring you back to the far right. The key is to get a balance on identity and build on that.  Don’t follow that crowd, follow the leading of your heart as Jesus leads. Find the identity that fits like a glove and wear it with confidence.

So many articles are written today on which identity is the right one. By the time that decision is made there will be another discussion on something ‘new’ that just broke over the horizon. One thing you can be assured of, the dysfunctional one is the one you do not want to be identified with. What works is what God is doing. So find out where He has moved to and move away from where He isn’t to where He is.

Best

Dennis