6th August, 2008
The Huggers
Today, as I was driving through the mountains of Santa Cruz, I felt the Holy Spirit impress a thought into my heart. Here in California, more precisely, Santa Cruz and Berkley, there is a university called “University of California” each campus ends with the name of the city it is attached to.
Anyway in both locations there are radical students that live in trees twenty four hours a day. The reason they are hugging the trees, per say, is to stop any developers who want to build on and bring needed change because of desired growth. This could be defined as the vision for the university’s have come to the level where new building will bring new growth and opportunity for higher education processes.
The Spirit of the Lord gently placed this thought: These are tree huggers but they are not hurting the heart of the Lord like “church huggers” are. Church huggers, those that move into positions in the church and refuse to move out of the way when growth is necessary and needed to bring higher spiritual application. The Lord is wanting to build on to His Church but the church huggers refuse to vacate their position. As we know the Holy Spirit is a gentleman. However, God is wise, He will find a place where “huggers” are not going to implant their demands on Him and there is where growth will be. Yes, they want to keep religious traditions and political aspirations. They claim ownership to what belongs to God Himself.
Sanballat and Tobiah were “huggers” (Nehemiah 2:9;4-6) and tried to stop the rebuilding of the Wall of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah did what needed to be done, built the Wall and would not debate nor come down to discuss traditions and policies. The Lord gave the direction and the mandate. Nehemiah obeyed and did not give into the “huggers” demands to hug! Because of the obedience and preparation the exiles returned and all the peoples of Israel were in their towns. (Nehemiah 7)
Church huggers need to go and stop “choking” growth and retaining religious “stuff”
Best
Dennis
Posted at 11:14 pm | Comment (0)
7th July, 2008
Anointing Grows
Today, I just sat there and felt the powerful anointing of God just grow all over me! Wow, it is great to know Him as Lord and Master! The power of the Lord is touching lives everywhere on this earth. The refreshing of my weary spirit was beyond the understanding of my mind. My will just surrendered to His presence. When the direction came to me for what He wanted, I just new to “go forward” into the future of hope and blessings. The inner vision He gave me of the demonic power that is holding people, His Church, in the past. It is an ugly demonic being with claws on both the hands and feet which have gripped the Church and the past in traditions and religious expectancies. This ugly, gross, demonic spirit won’t let the Church move into the future blessings. He told me to spiritually jump on its back and break the power by His anointing. So I did just that! I jumped and I jumped till I felt it break! Just do it! Jump on the back of the demonic power that is holding back your church from moving into what God has shown you. The devil wants to hold you in the past, but God wants you to move into the future with Him. Philippians 3:13-14; Jeremiah 29:11: Exodus 14:15; Luke 9:62
Jump on the back of that demonic power and break its back and keep jumping till the anointing falls on you and your church!
Best
Dennis
Posted at 11:53 pm | Comment (1)
19th March, 2008
Church Growth From Emergence Or Transference
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
Posted at 12:09 am | Comment (0)
9th March, 2008
My Religious System Is Upset
What is the reaction of your own heart when religionists negate true religion ? When I look at the different physical and psychological aspects of churches today I really wonder if they know that the reason they exist is to bring healing and restoration. True religion has and adds sweetness to life and it has emotion attached to it. That emotion is joy! It is not asleep nor is it lying in some void waiting to be discovered. Religion is in Christ Jesus and He brings that religion (truth and relationship) to each of our lives on a daily basis. I truly believe that many churches today, especially in the Church of God, need to renew their commitment to Christ and stop the ambitious, prideful application for position. Just love people as they are and He will do the rest. It really upsets my religious system when I here that some people want to attend a church because some “name” brand preacher/teacher is the pastor. I also really believe that partnering with power-driven men who deem that their only place in history is to lead a denomination is cancerous to the soul. Truthfully partnering with people of prayer is the avenue of success and eternal reward. Lastly, even if this does seem scattered, I often wonder if people really get discipled and nourished anymore in church? Because what I notice is that people get prideful and power “heavy” so that it really turns the real seeking person off. True religion is at the door of the church and I have a feeling that if not let in it will just be another anti-religious day on the constituencies part.
Peace
Dennis
Posted at 12:58 am | Comments (2)
25th November, 2007
Great Day
What a wonderful, gracious, tremendous, and awesome day it was in Santa Cruz! No, I am not discussing the weather! Today was a record breaking day for Potter’s Hand, AKA Acts of Love Foundation, Inc. We celebrated our Thanksgiving with all the people we serve right in the center of town. They tell me, I do not count peoples heads, (it really frustrates me when people do that), that we had 286 people came to the function! They came to hear the Word spoken and then have a Thanksgiving dinner together. Thar’s right we do our dinner the following Sunday of Thanksgiving! I am such a rebel!
I spoke from Psalm 63:7
“For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice. ” (Psalm 63:7, AMP)
You see, we do not have a building, we do not have doors to lock nor rules that you have to listen to me speak (or any one else that may speak at any function we have) to partake in the meal and celebration. You come if you want and listen if you want but know this, you are loved anyway! Wow, what a novel idea or concept: You are loved!
I am really stoked (old hippie term) about what happened today. What else is really cool, the only ones I invited was Jesus and a few friends.
By the way the weather was great also!
Peace
Dennis
Can you Post Script in a journal?
P.S. A church, Community Church of God, sent over some helpers, about 12! They were awesome, young people. Then some people showed up who were from Capitola, 2 or 3 and they are Catholics. I mean we don’t play religious Theological and Dogmatic games! Read Luke 10:30-37 then think about it! The people we serve, and Jesus, aren’t hung up on names of faiths, they just know when they are loved! What I am finding out also is that those who want to be part of this ministry are young and desiring to do more that sit in church and be religious!
All Scripture references in this journal are from The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman
Foundation.
Posted at 9:25 pm | Comments (2)
1st November, 2007
Dress Up, Fool Everyone, Go Home
If you know me at all you know I do not like this October 31st holiday. Not because I am religious (and you know that I am not!) There is one main reason, the sin that is committed on this day all over America is GROSS. Don’t click me off! It is really true.
However, I was able to get some spiritual help this time around. The Holy Spirit impressed deeply into my heart this thought: A whole lot of people every Sunday act out this holiday - they get up and dress up and go to my house and then go home and they take off their costumes and BAM there they really are. Ouch!
Peace
Dennis
Posted at 2:16 am | Comment (0)