2nd June, 2008
Being A Caring Person
Caring is a very difficult word to define in a world where being self-centered is in vogue. When one stops and ponders on the events of the time it is not to long before it is noticed that people need to be cared for. When the Lord, our God, looked across the heavens and saw us in the future He knew we needed to be gently delivered from our worries and fears. God knew and He cared! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, NKJV) He took a step into time in the form a man who was took on our infirmities. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:5-7, NKJV) He took on our infirmities…”that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”” (Matthew 8:17, NKJV) As He became our likeness we became His when we received Him in our hearts. That same character or attitude for caring now resides in a believer’s heart. In one sense it is as though once we did not care but now we do! We care for the hurting, sick, the lost and one another. Being a Christian is not just a title but an honor that bears responsibility. In another sense we are to bear one another’s burdens as Christ bore ours. He was nailed to a cross…”who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24, NKJV) When He appears we are to be like Him…”Beloved, now…we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2, NKJV) This matter of caring begins with relationships being built. The relationship with the Lord has been solidified through belief, repentance and confession. He listens to the Christian as supplication our made. He listens because He cares. The Christian prays knowing that God will listen. As you enter into each day have a listening ear. People have burdens to share and their heart is burdened with pain and troubles. Just by stopping and listening you could make a difference in the life of another person. You could build a friendship that would bring someone into the moment of repentance. By caring and bearing someone’s heart-felt pain you would show Jesus’ love and compassion. Just ponder for a moment on what He saw from the cross! He was in His own anguish yet He saw you and the world in pain. He looked past His own pain to the joy of care.
Best
Dennis
Scriptures used in this blog post are from The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Posted at 10:21 pm | Comment (0)
19th April, 2008
Elephant Fears Mouse - Myth Or Not?
Watch this video in reference to my post on “Taking Elephant Steps”. It answers a question that may have been a thought of humor or not!
Consider this in reference to the above mentioned post.
Dennis
Posted at 6:35 pm | Comment (0)
9th March, 2008
Concerned About Church Growth
Lately, I have been deeply pondering the decline of church growth in America. Not only in the denomination or movement, as some would like to characterize it as, that I serve but the Church as a whole. I am still trying to mentally calculate the negative news blogs on USA, CNN, The Onion and others. Just what is happening to the faith in people who have attended churches and decided to stop going is not some surface bruise. There is a real problem with relationships and trust. There are deep wounds in the faith of those deciding to change the way they worship. Not by any means do I think going to another church is wrong! However when the decline grows past the thimble measurement to a vast media conduit that will fed the negative and not give a solution to the problem at hand. This problem or cataclysm is not something we should wait for to be over, such as, the changing housing market or the upswing of a new government embarking on a “savior” roll. The people of and for the Church need to apprehend this and contain the crisis till a solution is at hand. Now how can this be solved? Let’s look at how it cannot be solved first: It cannot be solved by ignoring the decline of church growth. It cannot be solved by the riddle “it is just for season.” Certainly it will never be solved by forming a committee of people who already are part of the predicament. I hope that no one believes that we should wait and “vote” in new leaders at any upcoming Assemblies. Even though I would like to point to other negative solution finders, one that comes to mind is what is going on right now. That is, everywhere I look, there are heads in the sand and what should be behind, is showing itself. This is not a struggle for power nor position this is an ardent and crucial moment in the history of the Church. The approach we have been taking is causing a lack of trust in leadership and in the church as a whole. Here in California, the Church of God is suffering and certainly not growing. The population is growing, the cultural affect on society is changing and the social levels are becoming more distant than ever before. Social hostility is on the increase and unemployment is also escalating. Fear is gripping families everywhere along with doubt that there is a elucidation that can really determine the future of the church. My observations of this only details more to me that we, those of us that our talking, noticing and truly burdened, must pray in the “turn about” of the shocking events that are happening to the Church in America. Live like Christ, with integrity, purity, honesty, and with motives that will bring glory to God. I hope that many read this and desire to talk about this!
My Heart To Yours
Dennis
Posted at 11:07 pm | Comment (0)
4th December, 2007
God’s Plan Works Better
Monday night is always special for us. This is the night we go down to the “avenue” and just build relationships with the hurting. Actually, we build relationships with the whole community. We spend about three hours just walking the “avenue” waiting for the Lord to speak to us about who He would have us minister too.
Tonight was really different and surprising. When Kathy and I stepped out on the “avenue” it seemed that all the people were acting really strange and almost unreachable. Most were dissolved in their own personalities. Wow, I thought, this is really off set! Then is hit me, the enemy does not want us here! (DUH moment on my part, oops!) We continued on though and about an hour and a half later I looked at Kathy and said “It is lifted, the enemy has ceased the attack!” Everyone was cool and the night went on to be very fruitful and helpful to many.
As we were leaving to go home, we thought it would be nice to go out and get a bite to eat. Well, we went to the Santa Cruz Diner and as we were entering in, there was one of the guys that we help standing out front: “Bear” is his street name! (By the way he can really play the guitar). Most of the people who think these are just “bums” and “rejects” do not realize that these hurting people have a story and lot of talent! Anyway, we invited him in for dinner and he politely refused and ask for some money that he needed for tobacco! So, yes, I gave it to him! (Sorry to shock you religious people). As Kathy and I took our seat, in walked one of the most famous homeless persons in all Santa Cruz County, my friend Levi. He was drunk and walked right by me. I reached out and grabbed his arm and ask if he would join us for dinner. He was so stoked, that he sat down and I ordered him, mashed potatoes and Yankee Pot Roast with vegetables. We all ate dinner together and laughed.
The cool thing about this is we were all done for the night, heading home, thinking it was a great night! It was not over though! God had a better plan. To take Levi to dinner at one of the most popular restaurants in Santa Cruz. Here is the key: As we were eating, Levi stopped for a long moment and looked at me. He said: “Preacher, would you pray for me tonight? Because I may not wake up in the morning” My heart broke, my eyes swelled with tears and of course I agreed to pray. Wow, God had a plan! Here we are thinking it is over and God sets up a prayer meeting!
“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure. ” (Proverbs 16:9, AMP)
I just wanted to share this exciting moment with you! The picture is of Levi!
Peace
Dennis
P.S. Kathy and I are going to do a prayer walk on a different night in Santa Cruz on the “avenue” We are going to just pray up and down the street. Breaking the enemies power over this city!
All scripture references are: The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Posted at 12:42 am | Comment (1)
24th October, 2007
Grandad Had His Day
Today, I had the great pleasure spending time with my granddaughter. We spent time going out to the store and getting some lunch. As I was on the way into town with her, I realized that this was the first time we spent together as grand to grand. Sierra Rose is just 20 months old. She has just returned from Cleveland, TN with mom and dad. So we went the store together to get bread and to eat at Foster’s Freeze. She had fries, an old fashion cheeseburger, chocolate shake and a small ice cream cone. I had what she did not finish. We had so much fun. Obviously this will be memory for me that will never pass. Today, granddad had his day!
Peace
Dennis
Posted at 12:26 am | Comment (0)
16th October, 2007
Are You Ever Confused?
I am glad I read the Word of God (the B-I-B-L-E). Often when I watch those TV Evangelists ( and I know some of them personally) I get really frustrated. Lately during these telethons great preaching has been accomplished. But……. then here it comes…… you cannot receive the word they gave you till you give them some financial renumeration. UGH! Why are these people lying? If I was not so nurtured (I did not say perfect or perfected) I would be freaked out at God! I am sick of the manipulation of these people asking for funds. Don’t misunderstand me, I know the importance of an offering for a work that is being done for His kingdom. However, Jesus never said He would sell a blessing! I remember some churches that I have visited and also preached crusades (revival: old fashion term) at that they would have prayer lines with dollar amounts attached. Did not Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our (His) faith state that the fisrt shall be last and the last shall be first? Did He not refer to the worker who started at an early hour and the one who made it just for a few minutes of the work day, did they not get the same wage? STOP! It is not about how fancy or how big! It is about loving people who need a Savior. I am not saying that fancy and big is not good, I am saying stop lying!!!!! Just do what Jesus did and does through those who trust Him: Go around blessing people, He will take care of the funding! There are no superstars, just Jesus! He is all we need. He does not lie.
We just gave a church to a personality here in California. It was a political manipulation! He fired all the great people that had served there for years! How do we expect a generation of young, hungry (spiritually speaking) personalities to buy into this. It not emotionalism, it is relation-ism. They see it, and if they don’t we should tell them. Did you ever see the movie, “The Body Snatchers”? Well, two things: There was manipulation of “the body” and when one was not right everyone would point it out. I think we should begin to point out this perverted political manipulation of the Word and start pointing people to Jesus. What do you say?
Peace
Dennis
Posted at 1:42 pm | Comment (0)
17th September, 2007
Building Relationships
What a great week! So many people were blessed by the Word of God!
As I was going to Santa Cruz to minister to the hurting (and anyone else who just needed God’s great mercy and love). The Lord spoke something into my spirit-man. He said “Just build relationships. That’s all I want you to do.” ( I got chills and bumps just was I was typing this). Of course, the hard head that I am I asked “what do you mean?” ( I feeling God right now as I am typing this, this is awesome.) (I wonder if you can type in tongues?) So He so kindly replied “Just build relationships. that’s all I want you to do.” So I again asked, “so that is all you want me to do, right?” Then He allowed me the revelation, “Just love me, obey me, and build relationships and I will do the rest.” _____ (the underscores there is me shouting in the Spirit. My Lord, how I love you! I am so stoked and pleased with this, this is great!
So now I just build relationships, I connect with people and God does the rest.
I know some my think or say, I knew that already. I have been at this thing called “Christianity” since 1976 (I think it was ‘76) and I have had so much “stuff” taught me by men: preach this, go to that seminar, get to know this group, this person, do not relate with that group, do not go to movies, don’t watch that, fast this long, pray that long, read this book, where these clothes, be this way….. After a while I felt like I have been put into a pickle barrel and forgotten about. So it takes this person (with the hard head) a little longer to get it! Get it?
I am so glad that I know Him, and love Him, and obey Him (the best that I can), and now I get to build relationships. I believe that I just got told by the Holy Spirit - that is what my purpose has always been.
I have spent years searching for this…and the enemy of our soul, the evil one has manipulated my old man to try to be something else. Great God, you have taken me through a long desert experience to find out who I am in you! Thanks God, I really dig you.
Peace
Dennis
Posted at 5:22 am | Comment (0)