I had a wonderful lunch with a very, very young and sharp Brazilian pastor today. The conversation was challenging and insightful.
I learned a lot from this younger pastor. It is good to keep growing!
We ended up discussing two very different models of leadership that are prevalent in Brazil at this time. The fastest growing and largest evangelical churches in Brazil are the single, dynamic leader style churches. They are impossible to ignore as they grow larger and larger and attract more and more of Brazil's young leaders into their sphere of influence.
What we concluded as our conversation neared its end was truly a useful question for evaluating where these aggressive and huge ministries are taking Brazil and its sharp young leaders. Here is the question....
"Does the local church exist to express the deep spirituality of its key leader or does it exist to express the deep spirituality of all of its members?"
In the anointed key leader model the entire organization expresses the "anointing" of its leader. These leaders have names like "apostle" or "bishop" and the entire church is a reflection of their unique spiritual style. No one resists their style.
In the New Testament the church is to be the expression of Jesus' presence in all the members. Sounds like a vineyard to me! That is a significantly different reality and a significantly different kind of environment in which to be the senior leader.
This choice of leadership styles is being forced on all young Brazilian leaders. They must chose but the choice has not been clear for me as I mentor them. For me this lunch conversation brought clarity to me and hopefully for them.
I told my young pastor friend "I don't want to express someone else's spiritual experience. I want to express our experience of Jesus--The Vine."
His question was "Can this kind community expressed spiritual life be large and active?" I told him that I believe it can. Can it be done quickly and with little regard for the members individual spiritual state? It cannot.
The community spiritual life expressed together approach requires a real commitment on the part of a leader to the group spiritual state. The "anointed" model requires little regard for individual spiritual life and is heavy on control. It also leads to isolation and loneliness.
it feels good to learn and grow. Never stop learning and growing.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
T-shirts
The official shirt of Brazil is the T-shirt. Whoever invented this simple shirt should be famous. Does anyone know who invented the T-shirt. I don't.
If you want to get your message out here in Brazil just have it stamped or printed or sown on a T-shirt and the message will get out. What I have seen on T-shirts here has been nothing short of amazing and crazy.
I once saw a T-shirt that said "The Marines are Arriving!" I guess they wanted the Marines to sound less threatening.
Anything with English sells better here so people who don't read or speak English do their best.
I recently received a T-shirt that I proudly accepted and wore. It says "Disciple 24X7-moment by moment" on the front.
On the back it says "100% Satisfied in Jesus".
The shirt is the official shirt of the Celebrate Recovery ministry of a dynamic church near Rio. They have successfully made Abiding in Jesus moment by moment their definition of true Recovery.
Would you be willing to go public with this shirt? I hope so!
A Great idea
Our fantastic daughter Rachel has recently moved to Lynchburg, Virginia with her equally fatastic family. Pam and I were able to visit Rachel, Mark and the 3 kids, Reese, Rylan and Micah, in June. It was wonderful.
While we were with Rachel we also saw old friends and made some new ones. Among Rachel's dearest friends is Jana Verstraete whose husband Ed goes back to our years at First Baptist of West Hollywood, FL. Jana also hosts a weekly Bible Study for young women. Rachel just joined the group.
Jana decided that the group would read my book The Satisfying Life over a 5 week period and discuss the book's content.
Week one has come and gone and the group has covered chapters one to three. According to Rachel it created a great discussion and challenged their thinking about the Christian life and the abundance we have in Jesus.
I had not considered this kind of use for the book. I had prepared the DVD series for small groups, but this idea could catch on, too. Whatever gets people focused on Jesus is fine with me!
To get Rachel's personal perspective on this kind of group just e-mail her at info@thesatisfyinglife.com
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Starting Point
In any attempt to effectively live, one's starting point in the thinking process is critical. Every day we live here in Brazil this starting point issue becomes more and more clear.
For example, in the USA we cherish the idea that "A person is innocent until proven guilty." We have heard that since childhood so we take it for granted. Here in Brazil the thought that is the starting point is "A person is guilty until proven innocent."
That is not what the Brazilian constitution says, but that is what the Brazilian public thinks and feels. I have asked dozens of Brazilians which starting point is true and they have all agreed that suspicion is king.
The practical consequence of this difference in this innocent or guilty is that Brazil is filled with rules and regulations for starting everything from business to marriages. The documents and proofs one is required to provide before beginning is truly amazing. It is an enormous and profitable industry.
Interestingly enough, after one gets started there are hardly any further questions or punishments.
In the USA getting started is so simple when compared to Brazil. In the USA the hassles and punishments come after you start and when you break the rules.
Imagine for a moment that you are in a city and you plan to be there two years. Would you buy a home or rent? I was taught that one needed a 5 year plan to stay before buying. If one is going to stay only two years it is better to rent. That is the power of the starting point in one's thinking.
In discipleship our starting point is Jesus' perfection for us at Calvary and Jesus' perfection in us right now. If we start with what is missing we will build an enormous and unneeded structure for trying to prove we are fit to be disciples. If we start with the perfect presence of Jesus the structures for discipleship will be as clean and simple as a vineyard.
The starting point makes the difference. Start with this thought in discipleship--Christ is all and is in all. Col. 3:11
Keep it simple and perfect.
For example, in the USA we cherish the idea that "A person is innocent until proven guilty." We have heard that since childhood so we take it for granted. Here in Brazil the thought that is the starting point is "A person is guilty until proven innocent."
That is not what the Brazilian constitution says, but that is what the Brazilian public thinks and feels. I have asked dozens of Brazilians which starting point is true and they have all agreed that suspicion is king.
The practical consequence of this difference in this innocent or guilty is that Brazil is filled with rules and regulations for starting everything from business to marriages. The documents and proofs one is required to provide before beginning is truly amazing. It is an enormous and profitable industry.
Interestingly enough, after one gets started there are hardly any further questions or punishments.
In the USA getting started is so simple when compared to Brazil. In the USA the hassles and punishments come after you start and when you break the rules.
Imagine for a moment that you are in a city and you plan to be there two years. Would you buy a home or rent? I was taught that one needed a 5 year plan to stay before buying. If one is going to stay only two years it is better to rent. That is the power of the starting point in one's thinking.
In discipleship our starting point is Jesus' perfection for us at Calvary and Jesus' perfection in us right now. If we start with what is missing we will build an enormous and unneeded structure for trying to prove we are fit to be disciples. If we start with the perfect presence of Jesus the structures for discipleship will be as clean and simple as a vineyard.
The starting point makes the difference. Start with this thought in discipleship--Christ is all and is in all. Col. 3:11
Keep it simple and perfect.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Back in Brazil
Pam and I arrived safely back in Brazil last night. It feels good to be back.
I love the feeling one gets when arriving back home. I feel at home in the USA and I feel at home in Brazil. I love both cultures.
It is really fun to get off the plane in either country and immediately feel like I know the way life is to be lived here or there. Everything from smells to sounds seem familiar and good.
The same should be true of our experience of God's kingdom every day. We should feel completely at home in God's kingdom 24/7 and moment by moment. Today we should feel completely comfortable turning the other cheek and going the extra mile. We should feel completely at home forgiving and forgiving. We should feel completely at home not fretting about my circumstances. After all, this is our culture!
When we arrived at the airport last night there were a group of short-term missionary teams on our flight. From the look of excitement, confusion and fear on their faces as they retrieved their luggage, I could tell they were not yet at home in Brazil. They will soon learn to love and be at home in Brazil if they will learn to let Brazil be Brazil and not try to change it to fit their own preferences.
Christians who try to change the Kingdom of God and Jesus' words make a huge mistake. Every other culture--including the USA and Brazil---will pass away. The Kingdom of God is forever. Adapt! It will become home to you, too, when you stop trying to change it and choose to live it.
I love the feeling one gets when arriving back home. I feel at home in the USA and I feel at home in Brazil. I love both cultures.
It is really fun to get off the plane in either country and immediately feel like I know the way life is to be lived here or there. Everything from smells to sounds seem familiar and good.
The same should be true of our experience of God's kingdom every day. We should feel completely at home in God's kingdom 24/7 and moment by moment. Today we should feel completely comfortable turning the other cheek and going the extra mile. We should feel completely at home forgiving and forgiving. We should feel completely at home not fretting about my circumstances. After all, this is our culture!
When we arrived at the airport last night there were a group of short-term missionary teams on our flight. From the look of excitement, confusion and fear on their faces as they retrieved their luggage, I could tell they were not yet at home in Brazil. They will soon learn to love and be at home in Brazil if they will learn to let Brazil be Brazil and not try to change it to fit their own preferences.
Christians who try to change the Kingdom of God and Jesus' words make a huge mistake. Every other culture--including the USA and Brazil---will pass away. The Kingdom of God is forever. Adapt! It will become home to you, too, when you stop trying to change it and choose to live it.
Friday, June 27, 2008
What do you do in Brazil?
I am frequently asked what I do in Brazil. I have had to work on my answer over the past three years since what I do in Brazil is so different from what I have been doing for most of my life as the lead pastor of local churches. Answering the question has been a good exercise and has been helpful to keep me focused.
So, here goes.....
What do you do in Brazil? I help leaders clearly define what it means to disciple the people they lead. Through preaching, seminars, retreats, literature and mentoring I attempt to create an ongoing dialog with leaders about discipleship which is the most important thing that Christian leaders do after a person accepts Jesus as their Saviour.
Sounds simple, doesn't it? It is not as simple as it seems. The work is not complicated. The problem is the word discipleship. Discipleship has become a word that is so common it has become almost impossible to use with precision, accuracy and simplicity. That is dangerous and tragic.
Jesus commanded his first disciples to go into the world and "make disciples". He knew exactly what he meant and so did His first disciples. As hard as it may be to recapture a clear picture of what it means to make disciples, we must not lose His true meaning of this word. Confusion about discipleship is tragic to all involved.
I have been led to use John 15 to frame this ongoing dialog about discipleship. Using Jesus' last words I have found that any Christian can accurately and simply describe discipleship. When a Christian can clearly describe discipleship using the Vineyard metaphor of John 15 amazing transformation takes place. It did in my life and I have seen it happen time and time again. Define what it means to abide in the Vine and bear fruit and discipleship is clear and simple again.
The passion I have for this task is surprising even to me! I have never been more motivated in my life. To see people understand how beautiful and simple Jesus' plan has been truly worth the effort. I feel like the person who has discovered the lost cure for the common cold. Seeing people lose the symptoms of weakened relationship with Jesus is truly rewarding.
Consider a few of the statements I often use to describe discipleship and I hope you will be motivated to keep your ideas of discipleship clear and simple.
To be a disciple is to be like Jesus moment by moment. Jesus delivered God's love 24/7 and moment by moment without stopping. We can, too, as we abide moment by moment in Him.
To be a disciple is to deliver God's love as Jesus delivers God's love to us moment by moment.
To be a disciple is to enjoy a barrier-free relationship with the perfect presence of Jesus in us and deliver the fruit of that relationship to others moment by moment.
To be a disciple is to Receive, Rejoice in and Release the perfect life of Jesus moment by moment like a branch receives, rejoices in and releases the fruit of the Vine.
To be a disciple is to enjoy the perfect satisfaction Jesus provides moment by moment and release that satisfaction to those God puts in our path for His purposes and glory.
To be a disciple is to be 100% satisfied in God moment by moment just like Jesus was.
What do I do in Brazil? I watch Christians learn to enjoy God moment by moment like Jesus did. It is awesome!
If you want to follow up on these ideas, you can always e-mail me with comments or questions at mccord@abide.com.br or get a copy of my new book The Satisfying Life by e-mailing from the site www.satisfyinglife com.
Enjoy the Christian Life that is in you right now. Remember, Jesus is the Christian life so you lack nothing to live the Christian life at this very moment.
So, here goes.....
What do you do in Brazil? I help leaders clearly define what it means to disciple the people they lead. Through preaching, seminars, retreats, literature and mentoring I attempt to create an ongoing dialog with leaders about discipleship which is the most important thing that Christian leaders do after a person accepts Jesus as their Saviour.
Sounds simple, doesn't it? It is not as simple as it seems. The work is not complicated. The problem is the word discipleship. Discipleship has become a word that is so common it has become almost impossible to use with precision, accuracy and simplicity. That is dangerous and tragic.
Jesus commanded his first disciples to go into the world and "make disciples". He knew exactly what he meant and so did His first disciples. As hard as it may be to recapture a clear picture of what it means to make disciples, we must not lose His true meaning of this word. Confusion about discipleship is tragic to all involved.
I have been led to use John 15 to frame this ongoing dialog about discipleship. Using Jesus' last words I have found that any Christian can accurately and simply describe discipleship. When a Christian can clearly describe discipleship using the Vineyard metaphor of John 15 amazing transformation takes place. It did in my life and I have seen it happen time and time again. Define what it means to abide in the Vine and bear fruit and discipleship is clear and simple again.
The passion I have for this task is surprising even to me! I have never been more motivated in my life. To see people understand how beautiful and simple Jesus' plan has been truly worth the effort. I feel like the person who has discovered the lost cure for the common cold. Seeing people lose the symptoms of weakened relationship with Jesus is truly rewarding.
Consider a few of the statements I often use to describe discipleship and I hope you will be motivated to keep your ideas of discipleship clear and simple.
To be a disciple is to be like Jesus moment by moment. Jesus delivered God's love 24/7 and moment by moment without stopping. We can, too, as we abide moment by moment in Him.
To be a disciple is to deliver God's love as Jesus delivers God's love to us moment by moment.
To be a disciple is to enjoy a barrier-free relationship with the perfect presence of Jesus in us and deliver the fruit of that relationship to others moment by moment.
To be a disciple is to Receive, Rejoice in and Release the perfect life of Jesus moment by moment like a branch receives, rejoices in and releases the fruit of the Vine.
To be a disciple is to enjoy the perfect satisfaction Jesus provides moment by moment and release that satisfaction to those God puts in our path for His purposes and glory.
To be a disciple is to be 100% satisfied in God moment by moment just like Jesus was.
What do I do in Brazil? I watch Christians learn to enjoy God moment by moment like Jesus did. It is awesome!
If you want to follow up on these ideas, you can always e-mail me with comments or questions at mccord@abide.com.br or get a copy of my new book The Satisfying Life by e-mailing from the site www.satisfyinglife com.
Enjoy the Christian Life that is in you right now. Remember, Jesus is the Christian life so you lack nothing to live the Christian life at this very moment.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Is Abiding a command?
Last night I enjoyed a wonderful dinner with my two sons Ken and Kevin together with Raphael who is like an adopted son. Raphael, his wife Rachel and their three beautiful children live in Orlando. "Rapha" goes way back with the McCord clan--all the way back to Brazil and to living for over a year in our home as a high school exchange student. Seeing "Rapha" is always great. His passion for Jesus is infectious. There are no better people than "Rapha".
As is usual with the McCord clan the subject ended up in John 15 and Raphael asked this question "Is Abiding a command?" The question started a really great time of discussion.
I believe Abiding is a command. For me, a command from God through Jesus is a statement of what is obvious and non-negotiable in the Kingdom. A command from Jesus is not a "Do this or else". A command from Jesus is "Do this because there is nothing else better and more joyful to do than this." A command from Jesus is a command from God who is love. A command is Jesus saying, "This is how true, joyful life works." It is Jesus saying, " Do this because this is non-negotiable and obviously good for you and everyone else."
Jesus said that we would be His friends if we do what He commands. To modern ears that may sound like a strange way to create a friendship. The reality is that people connect as friends when what they both see and do the same thing joyfully.
Friendship is forged in a mutually shared pleasures and joy. When there is a "What? You enjoy this, too!" moment between two people a potential friendship is born. "What? You like to fish, too!?" "What? You are a Tolkein fan, too!" "What? You want to bear fruit and glorify God, too!"
When Jesus told His followers to abide, he was telling them that there is no other way to enjoy life, glorify God and bear the fruit God wants to release into the world. Abiding is a non-negotiable. It is a command for joyful living.
During the discussion I made the statement "My true discipleship began in 1995 when I committed 100% to abiding." I was serious. Ken, Kevin and Raphael seemed shocked that I would make such a firm statement about my spiritual formation since they have known me to be passionate for Jesus for so much longer than the past 13 years.
In 1995 I finally accepted abiding as an obvious, moment by moment non-negotiable command from Jesus for God's glory and my good. Doing this, my personal discipleship moved into an entirely different reality. Discipleship became moment by moment. As of 1995 I knew if I wanted to sustain love and truly be a disciple of Jesus I had to abide moment by moment. Abiding made my Christian life began to simplify and have moment by moment satisfaction.
Jesus' command to abide didn't complicate. It simplified and brought friendly joy.
It was in in 1995 that I finally gave into the words "Without Me you can do nothing." When Jesus' words become obvious and non-negotiable (commands) a deeper kind of friendship is born with Jesus. Deeper kinds of friendship with others are born, too.
To sit at the table with Ken, Kevin and Raphael was to sit with true, abiding friends who find abiding in Jesus obvious and non-negotiable. It was a wonderful night. "What? You are committed to finding satisfaction in Jesus moment by moment? Me, too!" I am sure Jesus was enjoying last night with us moment by moment. He, too, is our abiding Friend.
Abiding is non-negotiable for all who truly want to experience a barrier-free friendship with Jesus and glorify God. Enjoy this command like you would the command to rest after a long, long day of hard work given by someone who loves you very much.
As is usual with the McCord clan the subject ended up in John 15 and Raphael asked this question "Is Abiding a command?" The question started a really great time of discussion.
I believe Abiding is a command. For me, a command from God through Jesus is a statement of what is obvious and non-negotiable in the Kingdom. A command from Jesus is not a "Do this or else". A command from Jesus is "Do this because there is nothing else better and more joyful to do than this." A command from Jesus is a command from God who is love. A command is Jesus saying, "This is how true, joyful life works." It is Jesus saying, " Do this because this is non-negotiable and obviously good for you and everyone else."
Jesus said that we would be His friends if we do what He commands. To modern ears that may sound like a strange way to create a friendship. The reality is that people connect as friends when what they both see and do the same thing joyfully.
Friendship is forged in a mutually shared pleasures and joy. When there is a "What? You enjoy this, too!" moment between two people a potential friendship is born. "What? You like to fish, too!?" "What? You are a Tolkein fan, too!" "What? You want to bear fruit and glorify God, too!"
When Jesus told His followers to abide, he was telling them that there is no other way to enjoy life, glorify God and bear the fruit God wants to release into the world. Abiding is a non-negotiable. It is a command for joyful living.
During the discussion I made the statement "My true discipleship began in 1995 when I committed 100% to abiding." I was serious. Ken, Kevin and Raphael seemed shocked that I would make such a firm statement about my spiritual formation since they have known me to be passionate for Jesus for so much longer than the past 13 years.
In 1995 I finally accepted abiding as an obvious, moment by moment non-negotiable command from Jesus for God's glory and my good. Doing this, my personal discipleship moved into an entirely different reality. Discipleship became moment by moment. As of 1995 I knew if I wanted to sustain love and truly be a disciple of Jesus I had to abide moment by moment. Abiding made my Christian life began to simplify and have moment by moment satisfaction.
Jesus' command to abide didn't complicate. It simplified and brought friendly joy.
It was in in 1995 that I finally gave into the words "Without Me you can do nothing." When Jesus' words become obvious and non-negotiable (commands) a deeper kind of friendship is born with Jesus. Deeper kinds of friendship with others are born, too.
To sit at the table with Ken, Kevin and Raphael was to sit with true, abiding friends who find abiding in Jesus obvious and non-negotiable. It was a wonderful night. "What? You are committed to finding satisfaction in Jesus moment by moment? Me, too!" I am sure Jesus was enjoying last night with us moment by moment. He, too, is our abiding Friend.
Abiding is non-negotiable for all who truly want to experience a barrier-free friendship with Jesus and glorify God. Enjoy this command like you would the command to rest after a long, long day of hard work given by someone who loves you very much.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The Satisfying Life
The book The Satisfying LIfe is finally a reality! The International Bible Baptist Church in Miami hosted a book signing last night.
it was a great time to friends and share the story of how God has made this moment possible.
The book has also been on sale at Oasis Church in Pembroke Pines, Florida where the church is having the Satisfying Life campaign.
For more information go to http://www.thesatisfyinglife.com Our online store is not ready yet, but we can take e-mail orders.
Thanks for all who have supported this project!
Bud and Pam McCord
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Yes and No
Many of you who have known me for a long time know that I do not like to fly. Actually, I could live forever without getting on another plane and still be happy.
I am not sure if my fear is a control problem (I want to be the pilot) or a thinking problem (I have seen too many movies). Either way, I have been tormented by the fear of flying--or crashing.
The crazy thing is, I fly all the time. I have never been one to run from things that cause me fear, but I have been one to suffer due to the fear. I also make others who fly with me miserable.
Recently I have begun to discover a new spiritual truth that has helped me immensely with the flying and fear issue. It is what I call "Yes" and "No" deciding with Jesus. Here is how it works.
In the sermon on the mount Jesus says that our "yes should be yes and our no should be no." He goes on to say that anything that is beyond "yes" and "no" is of the evil one or the devil. I have spent years and years meditating on the words of Jesus and I have found that I very often try to make His words make common sense. They do not. They need to be obeyed to be understood and experienced. They are supernatural and they are for grace, peace and love not for giving me control or intellectually satisfying reasons.
So, I have begun to fly "yes" and "no" with Jesus. I simply begin the entire flying experience by asking Jesus, who abides in me, if He wants me to fly. So far, the answer has be "yes" every time. Instead of trying to fight the fear by reasoning, discipline and will as I normally do, I just go with the "yes". When turbulence hits during the flight, I ask "Jesus, should I be afraid?" Every time the answer is "no." Peace immediately comes. No kidding!
This may sound like a mind game, but I believe I am being released from fear by "yes" and "no" relationship with the only One who really knows me and my fear.
I have begun to use this same approach to all kinds of situations that I find troubling, irritating or frightening. It works.
"Jesus, should this person make me so irritated?" "No." As soon as the "no" comes I am released. It is as if asking Jesus takes the person's irritating behavior away as my main stimulus and in its place Jesus' peaceful "no" takes over. "Jesus, should I fear this person's rejection?" "No." Peace comes.
Paul said in the book of Colossians that we let the peace of Christ "rule" in our hearts. Rule means submitting to another as the final word. I guess "yes" and "no" is about a final as one can get and it certainly brings peace when we trust the one in charge.
This all may sound humorous, but for one fearful flyer it has made an enormous difference. What are you afraid of? Maybe asking Jesus for a "yes" or a "no" instead of figuring it out on your own is your answer, too. I believe it is.
I am not sure if my fear is a control problem (I want to be the pilot) or a thinking problem (I have seen too many movies). Either way, I have been tormented by the fear of flying--or crashing.
The crazy thing is, I fly all the time. I have never been one to run from things that cause me fear, but I have been one to suffer due to the fear. I also make others who fly with me miserable.
Recently I have begun to discover a new spiritual truth that has helped me immensely with the flying and fear issue. It is what I call "Yes" and "No" deciding with Jesus. Here is how it works.
In the sermon on the mount Jesus says that our "yes should be yes and our no should be no." He goes on to say that anything that is beyond "yes" and "no" is of the evil one or the devil. I have spent years and years meditating on the words of Jesus and I have found that I very often try to make His words make common sense. They do not. They need to be obeyed to be understood and experienced. They are supernatural and they are for grace, peace and love not for giving me control or intellectually satisfying reasons.
So, I have begun to fly "yes" and "no" with Jesus. I simply begin the entire flying experience by asking Jesus, who abides in me, if He wants me to fly. So far, the answer has be "yes" every time. Instead of trying to fight the fear by reasoning, discipline and will as I normally do, I just go with the "yes". When turbulence hits during the flight, I ask "Jesus, should I be afraid?" Every time the answer is "no." Peace immediately comes. No kidding!
This may sound like a mind game, but I believe I am being released from fear by "yes" and "no" relationship with the only One who really knows me and my fear.
I have begun to use this same approach to all kinds of situations that I find troubling, irritating or frightening. It works.
"Jesus, should this person make me so irritated?" "No." As soon as the "no" comes I am released. It is as if asking Jesus takes the person's irritating behavior away as my main stimulus and in its place Jesus' peaceful "no" takes over. "Jesus, should I fear this person's rejection?" "No." Peace comes.
Paul said in the book of Colossians that we let the peace of Christ "rule" in our hearts. Rule means submitting to another as the final word. I guess "yes" and "no" is about a final as one can get and it certainly brings peace when we trust the one in charge.
This all may sound humorous, but for one fearful flyer it has made an enormous difference. What are you afraid of? Maybe asking Jesus for a "yes" or a "no" instead of figuring it out on your own is your answer, too. I believe it is.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Love's delivery system
There is no shortage of love in the universe.
Think about that for a moment. Could that really be true? If there is no shortage of love then what is wrong with our world?
There is certainly a shortage here.
The problem is not in the supply, it is in the delivery.
The pending global food crisis that is in the news is a similar case in point. There is ample technology and land to produce ample food for the world's 6.5 billion people. The problem is in the delivery system. Protectionism, corruption, greed, wars and ignorance create barriers to what is abundant. If these kinds of mindsets and barriers were gone, the food crisis would be on its way to an end.
I have no degree in economics and I am certainly not a farmer. What I know is that the earth is abundant because God created it to be abundant for us. The food of the human spirit and soul is love. It, too, is abundant but it must be delivered. That is why Jesus said to His first followers. "Abide in my love...."
Jesus is the restoration of love's delivery. Every Christian is a restored delivery system (a branch) for love if we will abide. To the extent we do not abide, we impede the delivery of love. There is a global love crisis and every believer is a part of the solution.
Personal protectionism (fear), corruption, greed, war and ignorance must be destroyed in me for love to flow to those who need it. Only satisfaction found in Jesus moment by moment can overcome these barriers to love.
Think about that for a moment. Could that really be true? If there is no shortage of love then what is wrong with our world?
There is certainly a shortage here.
The problem is not in the supply, it is in the delivery.
The pending global food crisis that is in the news is a similar case in point. There is ample technology and land to produce ample food for the world's 6.5 billion people. The problem is in the delivery system. Protectionism, corruption, greed, wars and ignorance create barriers to what is abundant. If these kinds of mindsets and barriers were gone, the food crisis would be on its way to an end.
I have no degree in economics and I am certainly not a farmer. What I know is that the earth is abundant because God created it to be abundant for us. The food of the human spirit and soul is love. It, too, is abundant but it must be delivered. That is why Jesus said to His first followers. "Abide in my love...."
Jesus is the restoration of love's delivery. Every Christian is a restored delivery system (a branch) for love if we will abide. To the extent we do not abide, we impede the delivery of love. There is a global love crisis and every believer is a part of the solution.
Personal protectionism (fear), corruption, greed, war and ignorance must be destroyed in me for love to flow to those who need it. Only satisfaction found in Jesus moment by moment can overcome these barriers to love.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Abide Peru
One never knows where the Lord will lead us as we abide. We truly become citizens of the kingdom and the entire world becomes a possible place for delivering the love of God.
I never dreamed that God would allow me to find a place to serve in Lima, Peru. It is amazing to watch the Lord put together more and more connections for the Abide ministry.
Together with our sending church Pastor, Russell Johnson, the past six days have been busy with teaching and conversations all across this enormous city of over 14 million. Nearly half the population of Peru lives in this town where it never rains. You can imagine the challenge it is to have this many people in one place and never have rain. To say the least dust is a problem.
Even so, the hearts of the people are open and ready for the message of Jesus' perfect presence. We have been loved and cared for every step of the way.
From taxis with cages to protect the driver or the passengers to wonderful views of the Pacific ocean, life for one who abides is never ordinary or boring. Be sure abiding in Christ will take you to places you never dreamed you would see.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Pastors
One of the most interesting things I have experienced over the last three years here in Brazil is seeing pastors from all denominational backgrounds grasp the abide message. I have learned to say to pastors "We may not have all the exact same doctrines, but we have the same problems." We do.
Pastors are all having difficulty making disciples and, in some cases, being disciples. The Abide Metaphor of John 15 gives them great hope and a great new vision for what is possible.
This past weekend I spent three days in a city that is part of the greater Rio de Janeiro area. The entire area has over 9 million people and it is an enormous social challenge. In many places it borders on chaos. While I was there they were facing 1000 cases a day of dengue fever from mosquitos. Over 50 had recently died from disease. Pastors and their church members face these challenges daily and they long for a comprehensive view of discipleship that fits these ever changing circumstances.
The message of Jesus' perfect presence in us 24/7 and moment by moment is the comprehensive answer to almost insurmountable odds. As I teach these wonderful truths in such places, my own faith is tested again and again. It is only when I focus on Jesus that I can see the plan fitting all of us in all places. Truly Jesus is enough.
The pictures are from the weekend event at the church near Rio.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
VIP Visit
Some people bring with them a very special kind of presence. Some people have what I call a Very Inspired Presence. They are people who are Inspired by the Presence of Jesus in their lives. A recent visiter to our home and to the Abide Center in Campos do Jordao was just such a VIP. His name is Greg Gregory.
Greg came into our lives back in 2000 through Hollywood Christian School. Problems in the public school in South Florida led Greg and his wife Zully to put their children into Hollywood Christian which is a ministry of the First Baptist Church of West Hollywood. Problems led Greg, Zully and family into a community of people inspired by Jesus. Now Greg, Zully and their entire family are all Very Inspired People. They are all inspired by the presence of Jesus in their lives. They are VIPs.
Greg has business interests in 17 countries. Among those countries are Brazil and Argentina. We reaped the blessing of two days that Greg had open during his business trips to Brazil and Argentina. Next time we hope Zully can come, too.
For now his presence was a VIP moment for Pam and me. Thanks Greg.
Monday, March 10, 2008
First Abide Retreat 2008
The weekend of March 7-9 marked the beginning of our monthly Abide retreats in our Abide Retreat Center in the mountain city of Campos do Jordão. The retreat was exactly what we dreamed it would be nearly 5 years ago when we began to see this vision from the Lord.
There is something very powerful about focusing a willing group of people on the abundance of having the living presence of Jesus in us 24/7. Remarkable things happen to those who dare focus their mind, emotions and will on the perfection Jesus within. The Light really goes on!
The retreat allows this happen as we "coach" others to seek the abundance of Christ within moment by moment. Once they learn that this possibility exists for them and for every believer moment by moment, it is the beginning of learning to receive this joy in the much noisier world they will meet when they go back to the valley where they live and work.
Taking the state of soul one gains in an abide retreat back into the very real and turbulent world of day to day living is the goal.
True Christian life is not designed to run from reality. It is taking the calm of Jesus right into the center of the storm.
Just like surfers look at large waves as a wonderful challenge, so, too, those who abide see the "waves" of life as a challenge the abiding soul can face with joy found in Jesus' perfect presence moment by moment.
Souls at rest can surf the waves of life.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Legalists
I continue to be fascinated with the idea that evil is the development and defense of a list of people I have been given permission not to love. I am evil to the extent that I keep a list of people who deserve less than the best I am and the best I have.
Jesus had no such list. The sermon on the mount is designed to show us how a person without a list would behave in the most pressing realities of the world.
This morning during my devotional time the word "legalist" came to mind. I had not noticed that the word "Legalist" communicates the idea that a Legal List can be developed. How interesting!
Religious evil is always about a legally justified list of unlovable people. Political evil is always about a legally justified list of unlovable people. Personal evil is also legalized lack of love. I personally write the law of love in my own heart as my personal evil. It only takes one Legal list to make a legalist.
Jesus is the end of the law for righteousness. Jesus is the new law written in our hearts. Jesus is the kingdom where their are no Legal Lists. The laws one used to make legal lists are not needed since Jesus kept every law for all mankind so no more lists should be made to stop love.
Watch out for any Legal Lists of unlovable people. They are everywhere and very well written. Watch out for the most dangerous Legal List of all. That is the one you write within your own heart.
Jesus had no such list. The sermon on the mount is designed to show us how a person without a list would behave in the most pressing realities of the world.
This morning during my devotional time the word "legalist" came to mind. I had not noticed that the word "Legalist" communicates the idea that a Legal List can be developed. How interesting!
Religious evil is always about a legally justified list of unlovable people. Political evil is always about a legally justified list of unlovable people. Personal evil is also legalized lack of love. I personally write the law of love in my own heart as my personal evil. It only takes one Legal list to make a legalist.
Jesus is the end of the law for righteousness. Jesus is the new law written in our hearts. Jesus is the kingdom where their are no Legal Lists. The laws one used to make legal lists are not needed since Jesus kept every law for all mankind so no more lists should be made to stop love.
Watch out for any Legal Lists of unlovable people. They are everywhere and very well written. Watch out for the most dangerous Legal List of all. That is the one you write within your own heart.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
A Small World
I was deeply touched by this e-mail from our sending pastor Russell Johnson. God is good and God is in control.
Bud,
One of our Spanish men has been deployed in Afghanistan since early December. I received a note from him today telling me that they have put him in charge of the Spanish chapel service each week. The first week no one came, so he went back over our Men's prayer lists since 2004 and just watched how God had answered so many prayers, and those we still are praying for. The second week two guys showed up and they had a wonderful time in Luke 24. Here is the part that will bless you - Next week he is going to begin with "The Satisfying Life" We sent the DVDs and a book with him and he is going to begin sharing it with his Spanish speaking group. I'm not sure, but I don't believe that country was on your radar screen, but the vine keeps extending out!
Just thought you would want to know.
Russell
God is using each of lives to deliver fruit as we abide.
Bud,
One of our Spanish men has been deployed in Afghanistan since early December. I received a note from him today telling me that they have put him in charge of the Spanish chapel service each week. The first week no one came, so he went back over our Men's prayer lists since 2004 and just watched how God had answered so many prayers, and those we still are praying for. The second week two guys showed up and they had a wonderful time in Luke 24. Here is the part that will bless you - Next week he is going to begin with "The Satisfying Life" We sent the DVDs and a book with him and he is going to begin sharing it with his Spanish speaking group. I'm not sure, but I don't believe that country was on your radar screen, but the vine keeps extending out!
Just thought you would want to know.
Russell
God is using each of lives to deliver fruit as we abide.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Christian Life
If someone asked you to tell them where the Christian life is, where would you direct them? Would you dare point to yourself and claim to possess the entire Christian life?
It is amazing to me how reticent we are to claim for ourselves what Jesus said is ours. He said He is our life (the only Christian life) and we still refuse to believe it and behave as if it is true. The truth we often will not own is that every Christian has the entire Christian life. That entire Christian life is the perfect presence of Jesus in us right now. If we look for the Christian life anywhere else we will look in vain. All the Christian life we will ever have is in us from the moment of our new birth.
Like the DNA we live our physical lives with from conception, Jesus is all the Christian life we will ever have and all the Christian life we will ever need.
The Apostle Paul said "for to me to live is Christ...". He also said that he no longer lived but Christ lived in Him. He also was concerned that the Christian life would not be "formed" in all those in whom that life dwelt. He wasn't concerned they did not have the Christian life. He was concerned that life would not occupy its rightful place of influence and stimulus. Clearly Paul looked at every believer as possessing the entire Christian life since Jesus was abiding in them. Do we see every Christian like Paul did?
As I have struggled to believe I have the entire Christian life already in me, I have sensed that my own pride is what keeps me from surrendering to this profound yet simple way of seeing. I don't want a finished and perfect life in me because that means I will have to live exclusively by grace from now on. Grace means I didn't produce anything. Grace means I simply receive from the resources of another. That offends my desire to contribute something additional to the source of my life other than faith.
We cannot and must not add to the cross of Jesus or we will distort the Gospel. We cannot and must not add to the life of Jesus which is the Christian life. Both Christ crucified and Christ are to be received as perfect and gracious from the moment of receiving by faith.
Little by little I am learning to stop making excuses about the qualify of my Christian life. My Christian life is perfect since my Christian life is Jesus. I have the perfect Christian life right now. I don't need to go looking for it or try to produce it. I need to receive it, rejoice in it and release it.
The next time someone asks you to help them find the Christian life, don't take them to a bookstore or even a pastor. Tell them you know right where the Christian life resides 24X7. Tell them that same life can be theirs the same way you received it-by faith.
"For by grace are you saved and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God."
Oh, the unimaginable patience of God with me. He gives me the entire Christian life and I still live as though Jesus is not enough.
It is amazing to me how reticent we are to claim for ourselves what Jesus said is ours. He said He is our life (the only Christian life) and we still refuse to believe it and behave as if it is true. The truth we often will not own is that every Christian has the entire Christian life. That entire Christian life is the perfect presence of Jesus in us right now. If we look for the Christian life anywhere else we will look in vain. All the Christian life we will ever have is in us from the moment of our new birth.
Like the DNA we live our physical lives with from conception, Jesus is all the Christian life we will ever have and all the Christian life we will ever need.
The Apostle Paul said "for to me to live is Christ...". He also said that he no longer lived but Christ lived in Him. He also was concerned that the Christian life would not be "formed" in all those in whom that life dwelt. He wasn't concerned they did not have the Christian life. He was concerned that life would not occupy its rightful place of influence and stimulus. Clearly Paul looked at every believer as possessing the entire Christian life since Jesus was abiding in them. Do we see every Christian like Paul did?
As I have struggled to believe I have the entire Christian life already in me, I have sensed that my own pride is what keeps me from surrendering to this profound yet simple way of seeing. I don't want a finished and perfect life in me because that means I will have to live exclusively by grace from now on. Grace means I didn't produce anything. Grace means I simply receive from the resources of another. That offends my desire to contribute something additional to the source of my life other than faith.
We cannot and must not add to the cross of Jesus or we will distort the Gospel. We cannot and must not add to the life of Jesus which is the Christian life. Both Christ crucified and Christ are to be received as perfect and gracious from the moment of receiving by faith.
Little by little I am learning to stop making excuses about the qualify of my Christian life. My Christian life is perfect since my Christian life is Jesus. I have the perfect Christian life right now. I don't need to go looking for it or try to produce it. I need to receive it, rejoice in it and release it.
The next time someone asks you to help them find the Christian life, don't take them to a bookstore or even a pastor. Tell them you know right where the Christian life resides 24X7. Tell them that same life can be theirs the same way you received it-by faith.
"For by grace are you saved and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God."
Oh, the unimaginable patience of God with me. He gives me the entire Christian life and I still live as though Jesus is not enough.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Back In Brazil
Pam and I arrived safely back in Brazil this morning the 21st of February. Our flight was great and we were greeted at the São Paulo airport by Tom and Diana Turley along with their daughter Charity. We felt truly welcomed home.
Tomorrow I begin a three day retreat with the people of the First Baptist Church of JacareÃ. We are off and running.
A special thanks for all who made our stay in the USA such a wonderful time. Here are a few pictures of the great time we had while in the USA.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Marriage Seminars
Pam and I are headed back to Brazil on the 20th of February. Our time in the USA and in India have been wonderful. We are living the promise of Jesus that said we would have houses and lands everywhere if we would follow Him. We have only spent a few nights in hotels in the past two months. We personally own no home in the USA or Brazil, but we sure have stayed in some wonderful places that felt like home. God is good.
We have also experienced the great joy of presenting the seminar "Six Metaphors of Happy Marriage" in Riverdale, Maryland and in Houston, Texas. This 5 to 6 hour course on marriage is being greatly used to challenge couples to do a spiritual diagnosis of their marriages. We are extremely gratified with the way this material is being received in Brazil and the USA.
A special thanks to all who made their home our home. A special thanks to all who love us in Jesus' name.
The Question of Evil
Have you ever thought of yourself as being evil? I have to admit I have reserved the title "evil" for the really bad people of history.
People like Hitler and Stalin come to mind for my evil list.
As usual, the words of Jesus recently challenged my habit of personally excluding myself and other "good" people from the list of evil. Jesus said in Matt. 7: 11 "if you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"
Jesus' words "you, being evil" really hit me hard at the exact moment I was thinking of a person who had hurt some people I deeply love and I heard myself saying "He is evil."
So, I asked Jesus to explain the meaning of evil to me and that set in motion some days of intense connecting of Bible verses and Jesus' use of the word evil. Here is what finally came together for me and I have had to extend my evil list to include me.
Evil is the creating of a list of people I give myself permission not to love.
Jesus said we are all able to create a list of people we choose to love. "...being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children"
The children made it on my personal list so they receive the best I am and the best I have.
I know that the Devil is on our list of evil beings. I am beginning to see that the Devil was expelled from heaven because he wanted to be like God. The devil is not a creator. The devil is not omnipresent, omniscient or omnipotent. So, what was the devil wanting that only God is? I think the devil wanted to decide who he would love. I don't think God was really concerned with any other power the devil might grasp for except the power to lead others to live with a list of God's creatures who did not deserve to be loved.
Instead of loving all, the devil wanted to reserve the right for himself and his followers to create a list of people or beings that did not deserve to be loved. This, then, is the birth of evil. Jesus is the birth of the cure for evil among men.
Jesus' birth is the arrival of the first man who would never have a list of who should be loved. Jesus had no list. "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son..." John 3:16 Jesus' arrival is the arrival of the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom with no list.
I am evil whenever I keep a list of who deserves my love. When I have such a list I am competing with God for the one thing I can do that only God should be doing. God has already decided who is worthy of love and the list is everyone so I don't need a list at all.
Whenever we insist of keeping a list of who deserves the best of us and the best we have, we compete with God's decsion that love is for all.
Jesus had no list. That is what infuriated the devil, the pharisees and the romans. They all had lists and wanted Jesus either to adopt their list or end up on their list. The no list Jesus even upset the apostles shortly before the crucifixion as Peter tried to stop Jesus from going to His death. Jesus confronted that interference with God's love with the words "Get behind me Satan."
To be a disciple is give up our list of who deserves the best we are and the best we have. Read the sermon on the mount with that thought about evil in mind and verses like "go the second mile" or "turn the other cheek" or "love your enemy" will suddenly seem completely in tune with a kingdom that allows no lists.
The person I was calling evil is evil to the extent that they actually promote lists of who should be loved. The problem is, their evil was leading me to create a list, too. Evil is closer to me than I wanted to admit. "You, being evil" fits us all when we grab our pen to add a new name to our list.
People like Hitler and Stalin come to mind for my evil list.
As usual, the words of Jesus recently challenged my habit of personally excluding myself and other "good" people from the list of evil. Jesus said in Matt. 7: 11 "if you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"
Jesus' words "you, being evil" really hit me hard at the exact moment I was thinking of a person who had hurt some people I deeply love and I heard myself saying "He is evil."
So, I asked Jesus to explain the meaning of evil to me and that set in motion some days of intense connecting of Bible verses and Jesus' use of the word evil. Here is what finally came together for me and I have had to extend my evil list to include me.
Evil is the creating of a list of people I give myself permission not to love.
Jesus said we are all able to create a list of people we choose to love. "...being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children"
The children made it on my personal list so they receive the best I am and the best I have.
I know that the Devil is on our list of evil beings. I am beginning to see that the Devil was expelled from heaven because he wanted to be like God. The devil is not a creator. The devil is not omnipresent, omniscient or omnipotent. So, what was the devil wanting that only God is? I think the devil wanted to decide who he would love. I don't think God was really concerned with any other power the devil might grasp for except the power to lead others to live with a list of God's creatures who did not deserve to be loved.
Instead of loving all, the devil wanted to reserve the right for himself and his followers to create a list of people or beings that did not deserve to be loved. This, then, is the birth of evil. Jesus is the birth of the cure for evil among men.
Jesus' birth is the arrival of the first man who would never have a list of who should be loved. Jesus had no list. "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son..." John 3:16 Jesus' arrival is the arrival of the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom with no list.
I am evil whenever I keep a list of who deserves my love. When I have such a list I am competing with God for the one thing I can do that only God should be doing. God has already decided who is worthy of love and the list is everyone so I don't need a list at all.
Whenever we insist of keeping a list of who deserves the best of us and the best we have, we compete with God's decsion that love is for all.
Jesus had no list. That is what infuriated the devil, the pharisees and the romans. They all had lists and wanted Jesus either to adopt their list or end up on their list. The no list Jesus even upset the apostles shortly before the crucifixion as Peter tried to stop Jesus from going to His death. Jesus confronted that interference with God's love with the words "Get behind me Satan."
To be a disciple is give up our list of who deserves the best we are and the best we have. Read the sermon on the mount with that thought about evil in mind and verses like "go the second mile" or "turn the other cheek" or "love your enemy" will suddenly seem completely in tune with a kingdom that allows no lists.
The person I was calling evil is evil to the extent that they actually promote lists of who should be loved. The problem is, their evil was leading me to create a list, too. Evil is closer to me than I wanted to admit. "You, being evil" fits us all when we grab our pen to add a new name to our list.
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