What Has You?

What has you?  What I mean is, is there anything in your life that you simply just have to have or do?  I felt in this season, the Lord is challenging me, "Don't let anything have you."  For me there have been times in my life where I had to watch a Duke basketball game.  Or I had to watch all 64 teams in the NCAA tournament.  I had to have a cup of coffee or I had to look at my emails for the 10th time in 5 hours.  This season for 180-degrees is and surely my life is a season to go deeper into the presence of the Lord.  God wants to show Himself mighty and strong and I have been so excited that He is offering me an invitation to experience more of His presence and His glory in my life.  As we have been on this journey, the Lord asks this of me and I ask it of you, "what has you?"  So in seeking the Lord, He is responding, make room for me.  In this season, I laugh about making a commitment to quit coffee because it "has me".  The first 3 days all I could think about was my mistress, "coffee".  I know it sounds over the top, but I realized that in my putting it down, all I could do was think of it.  Now, you may ask, what good is that doing?  Not much for 3 days, but after 7 I start to realize, OK, this thing ain't so hard.  So, in a sense, I feel like I have begun to cut away of some of the clamor in my life to hear more clearly from the Lord.  God is asking of us to move stuff out of the way and invite Him to operate in our lives.  The Holy Spirit is a gift....that must be received.  He doesn't just "operate" over our will, He more like dances with us in relationship.  No interest in Him, seasons of dryness....No desire for Him? Lack of peace....No Spirit activity, no Kingdom work done in and through your life.  I want to encourage you all this season to see "what has you".  Consider laying it down...for how long?  I don't know....maybe till it doesn't "have you".  Make way for the greater working in the Spirit of God.

Stuart

Holy Spirit "Want To"

So, I was walking my dog Scooby and I was thinking to myself and reaching out to God with it at the same time, "Lord, I know I am not what I want to be, and I could use so much more of your fire in me.  I think how my chest feels normal, and how I remember times when I could not keep my heart in my chest, like I was going to die if some of the Lord inside of me didn't get "out".  I mulled back and forth about how many people in the church struggle with so many issues and sins, and yet they have a desire to do the will of the Lord.  I felt the Spirit speak to me, "That desire comes from Me."  What a revelation.  Too often we take credit for wanting to do the right thing, maybe even taking credit for doing it (pharisee-ism).  The reality is that it is God by His Holy Spirit doing the work. Philippians 2:13 says it this way:

 ¹³for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 

People need to know that!  You and I need to know this!  The very urge to do right (even when we are not walking in it) is a sign that the Holy Spirit is indeed AT WORK IN US.  Why does that matter?  Because so often people give up without enduring, thinking that they will never "get there".  So they settle for lower level living and the promise of God eludes them (peace, joy, fulness).  The promise of having the "Helper" with us?

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.- Philippians 1:6

Believer in Christ, be encouraged in your desires if they are for God's work in your life.  Don't focus on quitting now, you are about to see the will of God done if you will only hold onto the promptings of the Spirit with obedient steps of response.  Today is actually a day for a deeper experience with the Holy Spirit. I encourage you all to make steps to do what He is urging you to do so that His presence will pour out more fully in your lives.

Lets pray for our struggling brothers and sisters today with their desire to do right in their lives and make sure to pray them to the other side of walking it out!

- Stu

Ten Tough Questions to Ministry Leaders

Ten questions that I was challenged to ask myself as a pastor recently in reading Darrin Patrick's Church Planter. 


1.Am I addressing problems that arise in the church directly and boldly, or am I allowing problems and dysfunctions to fester?
2. Am I making wise use of the time that God has given me?  Are there any ungodly hobbies or habits that I need to eliminate from my schedule to further my effectiveness in ministry?
3.  Am I being thoughtful about how I am taking care of my body?   Am I practicing godly sleeping and eating habits?  Am I taking Sabbath rest? 
4) Are there any areas in my life that call for me to make a vow before the Lord?
5) Am I surrounding myself with godly influences that will make my ministry sustainable over the long term?  Do I have wise counselors and close male friendship to whom I can turn?  Am I building a godly marriage and family life?
6) Am I applying the gospel that I preach to others to myself as well?  Do I believe that through Christ, God is for me and not against me?
7) Where do I turn when I get discouraged?  Is Christ my functional hope and source of refreshment throughout the day?
8) Am I leaning on the power of the Holy Spirit?  Am I trusting God to do what is impossible through my own strength?

"All these practices of determination can only be done in conscious dependence upon the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).  A determined man is not a man who is simply driven by his will, but a man who is empowered by the Spirit."  Take a moment to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to encourage and strengthen you in the ministry to which God has called you."


MMMMMM....this is good.  I feel like I need to realign some things.  I so appreciate a good word in a needful time.  The Holy Spirit is allowing me to come across things that will help me succeed because He is the "paraclete" the HELPER!

- Stu

Canine Frustration

Ok, it has been a while but I woke up this morning with a very vivid thought.  I hate to say it, but I think it was the Lord.  The thought was:  "We protect our dogs better than our children."  The image was very ruff,  pun intended, so please excuse me if it comes across crude. 
  Many of us know that spring fever comes into play sometime about now, and we know that even nature claws to "do the natural" and when they do we are sure to make sure we protect our dogs and domesticated animals from roving the neighborhood while in "heat."
  I sensed this morning that we often do more for our dogs than we do our own children.  I was shocked going through the childrens "Gap" to find "Daisy Duke Shorts" for kids my Alexandra's age.  It made me so sick.  All I could think of was all the wicked influences of our modern and not so modern "grown ups".  I am not mad at the culture, I get it....people want to shake their thing and yada yada....  I also understand that it is going to continue that way.  Yet Church, we as fathers and mothers gotta do better.  We gotta protect our little girls better than that.  We gotta make sure when they get that lovin feelin all about middle school and even now a bit sooner, we have to make sure we don't let them roam around the neighborhood.  We have to make sure that we don't let those stray dogs come in and lay on our leather. 
  Come on, as I am writing I feel a bit more ticked.  I can't imagine all the frustration and agony the 16 year old daughter's dad has when he realizes the boy he "handed off" his daughter is doing the "do" in his own sedan.  Well, maybe we ought not be so quick to let our daughters off with boys who are in heat(all of them).  I could think nothing better than to let one of those stray dogs come in and prance with the big dog while he talks with the momma poodle and helps us do work around the house and eat with us as a family and maybe even leave right after dinner to go be with his "pack".  In it all he is supervised with baby chihuahua. 
 Feminists and moderns cringe when I write in this style, but to see those little girls all over the boys at the christian concert last night made me want to ask, where is the lead dog?  We will do better to start keeping a watch over our little pups, and that is just the little pup girls.  The boys?  We need to keep a leash on those bad boys.  Take em fishin, get em in sports, but be there to pick em up.  Don't just drop em off.  Expect them to be pure and make sure if they aren't going to be, at least make it be hard on them :)
   The travesty to me in it all is that we PROTECT our in heat dogs more than our spring fevered children.  And in it all we have been duped to believe we are protecting our dogs and making it hard on our kids.  Who is the lead dog here?  Let's get that pack mentality again and take care of these precious little ones.

-Stu

Rain On Us Lord

"When I'm dry and thirsty Lord, and I'm crying out for more, I know I can trust in Your love."  Lyrics from a contemporary psalm.  How often have you been dry?  Or another way of saying, how many times have the circumstances and burdens of life attracted your thoughts and attention over the loving care and affirmation of God?

How do we, "undry" ourselves?  We can't!  But as we continue to look to the Holy Spirit we can trust that God wants us to be wet, filled and brimming with expectant hope and joy with His presence!
  

¹⁹"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;  ACTS 3:19

Sin squelches....grimes and bogs us down.  The presence of the Lord is a Holy presence.  The Lord is a refreshing God....He wants us to prosper and be filled with energetic praise, even in the difficult and ridiculous trials we face.  Psalm 23 is the most well known reminder of God's heart for us as His children:

    The LORD is my shepherd;
    I shall not want.
2    He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
    He leads me beside the still waters.
3    He restores my soul;
    He leads me in the paths of righteousness
    For His name's sake.
4    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil;
    For You are with me;
    Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
    You anoint my head with oil;
    My cup runs over.
6    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    All the days of my life;
    And I will dwell in the house of the LORD



I know that the underlines and the bolds and big fonts are way over the top, but come on....lets break this bad boy out of the Psalms and recognize, if God is all this to us, why is it so stinkin hard to prioritize time with Him in prayer and Bible study?  Busy, busy, distracted and doing stuff.  Wow.  The presence of the Lord is able to bring all this stuff in my life, that is what I am talking about.  I pray today that the PRESENCE OF THE LORD overtake you and bring you to a place of complete contentment!




Holy Spirit on a rampage to refresh the BRIDE!  - Stu

Baptized In The Spirit

It has been a week almost since the last post, and I can say that things are really picking up.  I have been blessed to celebrate my girls 9th birthday and get my other daughter kindergarten ready.   Soccer season is winding down and there is a lot of things vying for my time as usual.  It is so hard to prioritize, accept and reject things in life, but with this 10 week study on the Holy Spirit, I am once again getting back to basics.

In the picture in the post it shows a momentous occasion in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  It is when at 30 years old, He was baptized by John.  The scripture reports that the Father opened the heavens and down descended a dove (The Holy Spirit) that rested on Christ as the Father speaks, "this is my Beloved Son."  Baptism of the Son, recognized by the Father and the sending forth of the Holy Spirit.  Wow, a power packed event for all time.  One of the few times we see Father, Son and Holy Spirit all in one show manifested in the earthly realm.  What it means for me is several things. 1) Without the Holy Spirit we have no power for ministry at all   I can't tell you I have always operated in the Spirit's power.  Many time my wife would say to me, "Stuart, you just ceased operating in the Spirit and started operating in the Stuart.  Operating in the Spirit means to have a heart of compassion and anointing.  Anointing as I understand it means ENABLING.  God makes us able for the task.  When it is impossible for man, nothing is impossible with God.  As I move forward looking to make an impact in the earth for Christ, I can rest in knowing that if He can, I can trust Him to, believe Him to, ask Him to, and watch Him perform!  2) If Jesus needed it, then I need it. Jesus was baptized in The Spirit, and it was the commencement of all His ministry.  After this scene we see the Spirit lead Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  We then see Jesus endure the temptation by the power of the Spirit and be led forth to minister to all in POWER.  If Jesus needed that event then I surely need it too!  3) The Holy Spirit is a gift.   This week we will be discussing about how the Holy Spirit is a gift.  If The Spirit is given to us by God for His divine purpose, how much more should we receive Him in fulness and with all joy and expectation.

My prayer this week is:   Lord help us to wait on you, to be filled in you with power and to receive you and love to fellowship with your sweet Holy Spirit.

Stu-

Fire!!!

 Some more thoughts from the sermon on Sunday: "The Holy Spirit" ( http://www.vimeo.com/oneeighty/videos) Because the Holy Spirit is invisible and intangible, there is a unique way that He manifests Himself to us in symbols.  Below I have listed the New Testament symbolic terms.  Each symbol deserves recognition and explanation,but for the purpose of keeping it simple and short, let me elaborate on one of these symbols, the Holy Spirit as fire.

New Testament Symbols Referencing The Holy Spirit

• Wind
• Water
• Dove
• Seal
• Oil
• FIRE

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew 3:11

“The chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.  Matthew 3:12

“And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  Acts 2:3-4

“The baptism with the Spirit is closely conjoined with fire.  And this fire, as the succeeding statements suggest, deals with the consuming of evil;  The spirit of burning, likely symbolizes the Spirit of God in His role of fire cleansing away evil.”   Williams, Renewal Theology

Following up on the preaching Sunday, I was encouraged by so many people ready to pray in response to the word.  I found that as I prayed for people the theme was constant...."I am so ready to be free from this" or "I truly need to start doing this and can't seem to do it."  Upon hearing all the requests for prayer, I was able to confidently lay hands on each person and say to them purposefully, THE HOLY SPIRIT WANTS TO HELP!!!  He is a FIRE.  He will burn off the chaff.  He is the Helper.  When we find ourselves in deadly cycles and generational sins, we find that it is only God who can make the change for us.  Each believer that I prayed for simply needs to connect with this great Helper so that He can burn that stuff up.  That stuff is.... lack of motivation, meanness to children, lack of diligence in financial management, continuing to run into sins of destruction.  It is ANYTHING that is creating havoc on your spiritual advancement WITH GOD!  The Helper is with us believers!  He is the ONE who makes the difference.  Today, if you call on Him, I trust He will HELP YOU!!!


FIRE!

THE

I have been studying and preparing a sermon series on The Holy Spirit.  There is so much to say about the 3rd person in the Trinity/Godhead.  So much so that I am about to give 10 weeks or so to just dig and search for more and more about this wonderful Helper that Jesus has left with us in the earth since His ascension.  Sunday I shared a thought from J. Rodman Williams in his book, Renewal Theology about the article "the" on the front of the Holy Spirit's name.  Sometimes preachers can get a little overboard with the greek renderings and all the nuances about interpretations, but I was overwhelmed by the simplicity and power of the article, "the" in the name of God's third person.   Rodman writes:

"The article “the” speaks quite simply of singularity and uniqueness.  There are many ‘spirits’- angels, demons, even human (the spirit in man) but there is only “one Spirit” (1 Cor.12:13).  Other spirits are called holy, such as the ‘holy angels’ (Mark 8:38), who are ‘ministering spirits” (Hebrews 1:14) But no such holy spirit is ‘the Holy Spirit.’  Christians have sanctified spirits that someday will be spirits perfected in holiness- hence ‘holy spirits.’  But we will never be ’the Holy Spirit.’  ‘The Holy Spirit’ is the source of all freedom and energy, the quintessence of all righteousness and purity: there can be no other.” Pg 139.

How bout the God that we serve is the ONLY God!  The ONLY Holy Spirit.  There may be many "spirits", but there will only be one THE!  HA!  I am humbled at the magnificent greatness of God the Holy Spirit.

Let's get to know Him better today!- Stu

The Whole Gospel not the Hole Gospel

Had a great week of anticipation this week.  At 180 we are delving into a 10 week study on the Holy Spirit.  I tell you, last night we studied the name and nature of The Holy Spirit.  I was blessed to see how God is stirring people up in their hearts for more of Him.

I am so excited to see God move in His power.  The timing for this word is right on I feel.  My prayers are for all of us to grow in our relationship with God through His Holy Spirit.  That is a sweet thing.

Was a bit disappointed this weekend as we were looking to baptize two teenage girls this Sunday in the ocean.  Last week I preached to them after the service was over.  They came up for prayer because they were moved in their heart to better understand God.  They "wanted" God, but did not know what that meant.  So I was so blessed to preach the "Whole Gospel" not the "Hole Gospel" to them.  What I mean is this....I fear the church is filled with people today who have been duped with the Hole Gospel.  The Gospel with a Hole in it.  This Gospel is the one that says, "God loves you", and "God wants to make your life better."  It treats Heaven as a fire insurance plan, so that one can go on living the way they are and that they can still receive the benefits of all that God has for His children.  Although these premises are partly true, and I say partly because there is a big missing piece in this presentation.  There is a Hole in this gospel.  The hole is that there is no need for repentance for sin.

I suggest that we ought to be a church on Sunday with our hands raised up high worshiping with all our hearts, sweating under our arms and shouting chants of praise.  Much like a Jesus Culture concert, or even Michael W. Smith or something of the like that.  You cannot "produce" that type of response to Christ unless you stir up emotional frenzy, but it is not authentic.  But a people who have been hell bound and recognize their need for forgiveness truly are willing to enter into an atmosphere of praise and worship that is full on submitted to Christ as the center of the show.  He is worthy of a hoop and holler!  Even more than that He is worthy of a life being laid down and sacrificed for His purposes and no longer our own.  And also, that type of worship spills out of worship services on Sunday to radical and totally submitted lives to Christ.

So how do we preach this "Whole Gospel" we have to preach the portion about our response to what God has done.  A simple altar call and leading someone in the prayer of salvation is not going to cut it.  As I led these girls to the cross last week, I needed to explain about sin.  I had to go to Adam and Eve.  I had to share about how they missed the mark.  Sin entered in the world and it literally through the relationship with God out of the window.  I explained how we have been born "INTO" sin because our world is now tainted and separated from God.  I explained about the nation Israel and how they need to have priests to shed blood from the animals to cover their sin.  I shared then that is why Jesus died.  It wasn't because He just wanted to go to the cross.  It was because He became the LAST SACRIFICE for their sins.  And I explained if they could be down with that, then they were not far from salvation and the benefits of God, including being snatched from eternal hellfire and torment to receiving the blessed assurance of a good conscience towards God and becoming citizens of Heaven and aliens of this world.  Not to mention receiving the seal of the Holy Spirit to guide and protect them in all truth! 

What I did next was the part that is often missing in the gospel....it is the "hole".  I asked them to acknowledge their sins and repent (turn from/stop) from them.  Going  back to the authentic worship example above...the church is riddled with unrepentant sinners who want to believe that their souls are saved, but I fear, if that was not the case, we would see a lot more freedom in the body of Christ as well as victory.  Instead the church is filled with depressed, anxious and fearful souls. Christ's gospel does not produce this type of follower.  I explained how we need to make inventory of our lives and then turn from every evil deed.  In Acts 19:19 we see how a new believer responds to sinful lifestyles, we read of those practicing sorcery responded to the preaching of the gospel immediately repented of their sins with ACTION:

"19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. "

WOW!  So what happened with those 2 girls?  They did not show up to the baptism.  My heart is grieved over that.  I know there is hope for them.  On one front I greatly respect them for not going through baptism as half hearted and unrepentant as scores of "believers" do.  But I must not fault them, but us as leaders for preaching an "incomplete gospel."  On the other hand, I am honestly saddened to the fact that these girls still stand in the desperate waters of separation from God.  Please pray for these two precious souls that they may be washed in the blood of the perfect blood of Christ.  And lets remember to "preach the WHOLE Gospel!"

Peace,- Stu

The GREATER PRINCIPLE

In John's 1st Epistle chapter 3, it is written that Christians ought love one another.

"10    In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous.  13    Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16    By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?"

Here I see that God puts the fact out there that if we are to be His children we are to love each other.  I have heard over and over and over from certain people that they can't be in community groups or church cause all the people are like this or like that.  They come sporadically then realize that they struggle to connect.  I am finding that it is easy to throw stones over God's people.  They are struggling with sin, they are often a messed up bunch.  One ironic thing is that the beat against God's Bride is that they are all hypocrites. One is only a hypocrite if they announce they are someone that they truly are not.  Christians are forgiven not perfect, a distinction true hypocrites do not understand.  

There is a "GREATER PRINCIPLE" I have learned in parenting that applies to the church of God and the people in it.  This principle is not in the fact that someone is right or wrong...but that they are part of a family.   Let me explain:

If one of my kids eats the other kids candy it is wrong.  The other kid looks to me and says look what happens.  I tell the thieving child that they were wrong.  I may discipline them.  Usually I do not go out and buy them new candy.  It is unfortunate.  So the Greater Principle means, we don't always get back something.  But we are always in a family.  One of my kids wants to sing in the car....the other wants quiet.  You cannot have both.  But the GREATER PRINCIPLE is we remain a family.  My kids do love one another.  They are just immature.  And for that matter, I get on their nerves a good bunch.  The point is that the GREATER PRINCIPLE over-arches the inconsistency of personalities.  My son wants to hang out with this friend, my daughter this activity...but at some point we REMAIN family.

I think the greatest challenge we have as a church with all the incompleteness and frailty of humanity, is to love each other and DESIRE to be together and walk through this broken life until we become glorified.

To love the brethren means to be saved and it is a true mark of being a follower of Jesus.  Let's examine how we see each other (brethren) and kick the devil in the teeth by walking in the GREATER PRINCIPLE. 

Sweet Holy Spirit

Sunday was a special time for me as a pastor.  It has been a long time in a Sunday service since I have seen the Lord move like yesterday. 

We were having the worship service like we usually do, welcoming, cafe and then moving into worship time.  Worship was sweet.  We ended on a song that talks about how much we love the presence of God.  As I began to sing I just wanted more and more to really experience God's presence.  For me, and I am just like many of you in that many days are totally "normal".  No spiritual highs, just chuggin through the day.  But this song reminded me of how we should be hungering and thirsting for the presence of God.  I know that there are times when I feel that the Lord is "thick" around me.  I sense a reverential respect and awe as my spiritual senses are heightened by His nearness.  Often times this will cause me to just cry tears of gratitude of all that He is to me, all that He has brought me through.  I just simply longed for Him like that Sunday.  When it was time for me to preach, I felt like I just could not enter into that presence.  I felt like I just wanted to sit in that song until we had a breakthrough.  A breakthrough to more of His presence in our midst.

I released the youth to go with their teacher and began to preach a pretty straight forward message about this season being the season between Jesus' resurrection and ascension.  How for 40 days he showed himself to many, many people in the earth.  It was during this time that He promised to send "The Promise"- the Holy Spirit.  We discussed the mystery of the triune nature of God, how God is Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  This mystery, a bit much to be grasped was the majority of our discussion.  Then we moved onto looking ahead to the ascension.  Christ offered the disciples, something better.  He said in the gospel of John that it was "to your advantage that I go away."  In other words, the Holy Spirit would now empower every believer after Christ's ascension.  Closing the service I mentioned that we were going to spend a few weeks on discussing the nature of the Holy Spirit and what He means to us now as believers.   I shared how He brings us power, comforts us and leads us into ALL truth.

 Simply said, I offered up a simple call to the altar to anyone who would like this relationship with God, the Holy Spirit.  But I reminded them that they had to come through Christ to experience this life transformative relationship with the Spirit.  Two teenage girls came forward and I had the privilege of leading them to Christ. Just this next Sunday, we will be baptizing them in their new faith walk with Jesus right in front of the Sea Mist resort in the chilly Atlantic.  I am already thinking of all the obstacles that will be in front of them...wanting to help prepare the way for them to run the race with victory.  I am so ready to get some ladies around them willing to help disciple them in their faith.  What amazes me most about yesterday, that confounds me is that honestly, I think it might have been a sermon that I struggled through the most.  I felt like I just couldn't go where I was supposed to go, like there was some hindrances.  Yet the Spirit of God, worked in the midst of that.  I am reminded that the simplicity of the gospel has power.  And that power is connected to the sweet working of the Holy Spirit.  I am reminded that God brought those young girls to church (one had never come to church before in her life).  And He knew just when they needed to come and what they needed to hear.  I am excited to study the Holy Spirit closer in the weeks ahead.  Be praying for us, I sense the Spirit will be moving more and more with us like this in these last days.


Peace,

Stuart

Why the Resurrection of Christ Matters!

I have been blessed to be a part of a church.  It is messy business the church.  Many look at the church and call it a bunch of hypocritical people.  Some stare at the church from a distance and say that they don't want to engage in all the religious hoopla.  Coming out of this Easter season, all I can think about is how Jesus resurrected from the dead.  How over 500 people eyewitnessed His back up from the dead. There are so many arguments about how the disciples must have been like all the other religious crazies like David Koresh, Jim Jones or Stargate (?).  Many Muslims will die for 72 eternal virgins to join them in their personal "harem". Kamikaze pilots die for the national cause as do soldiers in our own troops.  I remember the images across the world magazines of the student protest in Tienanmen square. So why do I mention this?  It is one thing to die for a cause or a reason,but it is another thing to die for a lie.  If the disciples did not see Jesus raise from the dead, why would they be crucified, burned, eaten by lions and isolated on islands with no life to live?  Why would they die for a lie?  They wouldn't.  I see clearer and clearer now that it takes more conjuring up of hope that Jesus did not raise than that He did!  But you see, Peter the chief apostle was scared for his life, and so he denied Jesus and that he had any affiliation with Him not once, twice, but 3 times.  All of the disciples scattered and at Christ's resurrection we see that He had to come into the room where they were all locked in for "fear of the Jews."  Jesus had to come back and gather His scattered saints.  A bunch of scardy-cats and fearful self preserving bunch they were.  Only in a few weeks would they take the world by storm by raising the dead, healing the sick and freeing bondaged and demon possessed hopeless hordes of peoples.  What made the difference in these men and women?  Glory!  Can you see, the early apostles, the gospel writers were not writing fables, not myths, or hopeful legends.  They wrote EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS that were confirmed by many...even Roman soldiers, Jewish Religious leaders (radical conversion as they lost all position and power), and common citizens!  The resurrection is what Christianity is all about.  As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15

13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up --- if in fact the dead do not rise.16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

So what I am just stoked about this season...is that truly JESUS IS RISEN.  HE IS ALIVE.  We are not just some moral bunch of believers of a man who died on a tree.  If Jesus died on the tree and didn't rise, WE ARE WORSHIPING IN VAIN!!!!  So then, call us fools if you will for believing.  I know that Jesus is arisen... and I thank my God that my sins (being many) are forgiven!  And they are forgiven because He is alive.  Thank you God for raising from the dead and kicking sin and hell to the curb.  There is no sting in death now, (who cares about it!  Bring it on!  To be with Jesus is better!!!!) and hell....where is your victory?  HA! Our Lord Jesus has rescued us from condemnation, shame and the grave.  Today, let the revelation of the resurrection bring you hope!

Peace,

Stuart

Leading Others....Bibically-

"Shepherds are willing to bear the pain and endure the brunt of the sheep for the sheep.  True elders do not command the consciences of their brethren but appeal to their brethren to faithfully follow God's Word.  Out of love, true elders suffer and bear the brunt of difficult people and problems so that the lambs are not bruised.  The elders bear the misunderstandings and sins of other people so that the assembly may rest.  They make great personal sacrifices of time and energy for the welfare of others.  They see themselves as men under authority.  They depend on God for wisdom and help, not on their own power and cleverness.  They face the false teachers' fierce attacks.  They guard the community's liberty and freedom in Christ so that the saints are encouraged to develop their gifts, to mature, and to serve one another." (Alexander Strauch- Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership)

Passion Week Comin....What Has Jesus Done????

As we prepare this Sunday for Palm Sunday, I was talking to my wife how often the Passion Week sneaks up on us and we are not really ready for it like Christmas season.  It is so, so important to see what Christ has done for us and how He went to the cross and resurrected from the dead, and then sent the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth.  Too often, my wife says, does this season sneak up on her and she misses the whole richness of the season.  I have copied an excerpt from John MacArthur's Bible Commentary on the Passion Week for you to help  your heart preparation for the season this year.  If I could say one last thing today, just remember that in this point of the week, Tuesday night, Jesus would just be a few days from entering Jerusalem on the back of a colt.... and from there the Passion week would begin.  As Jesus says, it would be "His hour", or the "appointed time."  Enjoy this week before Sunday by reading the Gospel of John in Chapters 15-16 and see how Christ prepares the hearts of His disciples by some awesome last minute teaching before His last hour.  See in Chapter 17 this week how He prays that knowing the Father is glorified, it is now time for Him to be glorified, then finally, those that believe.  See how Jesus knowing His earthly ministry is about done, goes about washing feet, telling what will happen, assuring His followers of His great love for them and asking the Father to keep those who were "given to Him."  I pray this guide will be helpful for your heart prep, much as Jesus took great care to prepare His followers before this mighty week occurred 2000 years ago.  Looking forward to an awesome Palm Sunday, and hoping that the Lord will reveal the riches of His grace and love, especially expressed through the Scriptures of the week of extreme passion that Christ poured out Himself for us all.- Stu

 Passion Week- Sunday to Sunday Biblical Reference

Sunday      The triumphal entry into Jerusalem                    Mark 11:1-11

Monday     Cleanses the temple in Jerusalem                       Mark 11:15-19

Tuesday     The Sanhedrin Challenges Jesus’ authority        Luke 20:1-8

                          Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem

                                and His second coming                                   Matt. 24:25

                          Mary anoints Jesus at Bethany                            John 12:2-8

Wednesday Judas bargains wit the Jewish rulers to

betray Jesus                                                          Luke 22:3-6

Thursday   Jesus eats the Passover meal with His                 John 13:1-30

                               disciples and institutes the

  Memorial Supper                                                Mark 14:22-26

                        Prays in Gethsemane for His disciples                    John 17

Friday           His betrayal and arrest in the Garden of

Gethsemane                                                          Mark 14:43-50

                        Jesus questioned by Annas, the former

                              high priest                                                            John 18:15-27

                        Condemned by Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin      Mark 14:53

                        Peter denies Jesus three times                               John 18:15-27

                        Jesus is formally condemned by the Sanhedrin   Luke 22:66-71

                        Judas commits suicide                                              Matt. 27:3-10

                        The trial of Jesus before Pilate                                Luke 23:1-5

                        Jesus’ appearance before Herod Antipas              Luke 23:6-12

                        Formally sentenced to death by Pilate                  Luke 23:13-25

                        Jesus is mocked and crucified between

                               two thieves                                                          Mark 15:16-27

                        The veil of the temple is torn as Jesus dies           Matthew 27:51-56

                        His burial in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea     John 19:31-42

Saturday        The women rested on the Sabbath                        Luke 23:56

Sunday       Jesus is raised from the dead                                  Luke 24:1-9

What Kinda Church We Is?

Reading a magazine article from Neue Magazine.  Francis Chan, renowned contemporary Christian author was interviewed about resigning from his mega church.  Chan lends some great thought about the transition away from the "Big Church"....

Chan Writes:

"Over the years as I studied the Bible more, I saw so much that we were missing." Chan says, "With the elders as well, we sat down and realized, 'where did we get this idea that the goal of the church was to fill a room just to hear the word of God and sing worship songs to Him?'  There's so much more in Scripture.  So as we saw those things, whether it was caring for the poor, reaching the lost, loving one another- pretty major themes- we realized, 'Wow, we've neglected a lot of those things.'  As Chan and the elders of Cornerstone Church encouraged their community to get involved in their neighborhoods and take discipleship more seriously, Chan became frustrated by the lack of commitment he witnessed."

I can give a strong message and people will not their heads and its like, 'ok, cool, he gave a tough message.'  But in the confines of the local church, when I'm with these people day in and day out, I'm like: 'Wait, you haven't applied that message.  Let's come up with ways in which you have to do it and not skirt around it.'  Well, that really bothers people."  Chan says.  "And pretty soon they're like, 'You know what, never mind, quit pushing me; I'm going to go to another church,...'i guess I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to be rejected by people who've been in the church for 10 years or more, and it's pretty painful."

Chan's dissatisfaction with church extends beyond his experiences; when he starts talking about his vision for a new kind of church community, the usually eloquent Chan gushes.

"I'd love to just be in a room with some people who really believed and had absolute faith in their prayers....who just wanted to obey the Scriptures and share their faith with whomever and disciple and just get in a group and pray like crazy, and go and talk about how God moved in our lives throughout the week, share Scriptures, and those type of things.  And that looks so different from your typical church service.  I think more and more people are hungering for the same thing I am.  As I read the Scriptures and feel led by the Spirit in a certain direction, it seems like other people are having that same restlessness."

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!  DAT WHAT I TAWKIN ABOUT.  Lets B da church!

Guest Writer Jaimie Baskin: Army Crawlin It!

Have you ever felt that at any moment “the bottom’s gonna drop out”. This vague feeling that someone is gonna snatch the cornerstone of your house of cards. Silent...pressing...heaviness.... Its been hanging in the air all around me. Usually I write it off but not this time this was different. A sensing from the Holy Spirit...”stay low and keep quiet” Feeling like just being on the ground wasn’t low enough. If I could have dug a hole and gotten under the ground I would’ve done it, believe me. Anything to shake it. As my day was whisking by full of meetings, deadlines and everyday errands, I found myself asking “What is this?”

Ditching the gym I pressed in. I opened my bible to Jeremiah 17 and just started reading and there it was. Jumping off the page, vs. 5 hit me like a slap from my momma.

“Thus says the Lord: CURSED is the strong man who trusts in and relies on frail man, making weak (human) flesh his arm, and whose mind and heart turn aside from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub or a person naked and destitute in the desert;and he shall not see ANY good come, but shall dwell in the parched places in the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed us the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.”

The pressure of being a busy mom, head of household or whatever your life entails can silently..slowly... have you putting your trust in ....well ...YOU! The “make it happen” anointing”. That heaviness is from the Lord, the feeling of living under a curse. And as you take off that mantle and give it to Christ going low with repentance you feel it start to lift. NEWS FLASH We can’t do it! “Apart from HIM we can do NOTHING” Isn’t it relieving to know He has to do it!

MUCH GRACE NEEDED

Finished Sunday Talk with 180-Degrees this Sunday.  The Talk centered around the need for much grace not only from God, but from one another.  I just received this email from my good friend Caleb Oswago, pastor of  Salem International Church, Nairobi, Kenya.  Very good help to for practical wisdom in helping others through their messes with MUCH GRACE!!!

What would you do if a friend or your spouse or your child confessed to you that he was really struggling with drinking alcohol to the point of drunkenness? Or looking at pornography? Or extreme anger?

Let me give you a few suggestions of what to do and not to do…

Do Respond Humbly

Confessing sin to another person is one of the most humbling, unpleasant experiences out there. When a person confesses sin to you, respond with humble gratitude. Thank them for coming to you and encourage them for the humility that they have demonstrated. Remind them that God gives grace to the humble, and that God is eager to give them grace. Help them see that God is for them and eager to help them.

Do Identify With Their Struggle

If possible, identify with the sin that has been confessed. You may not have struggled in exactly the same way, but it’s a good bet that you’ve struggled in a similar way. I don’t struggle with drunkenness, but I certainly can relate to the battle for self-control and the desire to escape from my problems. When someone shares their struggles with you, tell them how you have struggled and how you can relate to their temptation. Also, tell them how God has helped you in the midst of your struggle. It’s just helpful to know that we don’t struggle alone.  Most importantly, remind them that Christ was tempted in every way as we are which makes him the perfect one to help us in the midst of temptation.

Don’t Act Shocked

When someone confesses sin to you, don’t act shocked or surprised. Don’t shake your head in disbelief or make your eyes go wide. Don’t say, “I just can’t believe that you would do something like that.” We are sinners and our friends are sinners, and we should expect each other to act like sinners. That doesn’t mean we encourage sin. It does mean that we shouldn’t be stunned when someone tells us that they are struggling with sin. Plus, when we act shocked at sin, it discourages our friends from confessing sin in the future.

Don’t Blow It Off

If your friend or spouse or fellow church member confesses their sin to you, it means that God is at work in them. The Holy Spirit is convicting them of their sin and their need for help from others. In light of this, when they bring their sin to light, don’t just say, “Hey man, it’s no big deal. Everyone struggles with that kind of stuff.” Instead, go a little bit deeper. Find out the particulars of the struggle and ask how you can best serve them. Even pray for them right in the moment.

Do Follow Up Later

If possible, follow up with your friend at a later date. Ask them how they are doing in the area of sin that they confessed. Don’t wait for them to come to you, because it might not happen. As a godly friend, go after them.

Do Remember the Gospel

After a confession it is crucial that we remind our friend, spouse, or child of the gospel. The gospel is what gives them hope for forgiveness and for change. We don’t just want to supply people with strategies for being morally better people. We want to connect them to the power of God. The gospel is what breaks the power of canceled sin, and we need to remind people of the gospel on a regular basis. That’s our only hope for change.

God Fills Our Needs

Matthew 6:33 is simple and straight forward.  It reads, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."  This is a great comfort to me.  Seeking first God's Kingdom...and more simply Him.  We have the opportunity to seek God and have the resources we need or we result to going our own way in our own wisdom, often resulting in frustration and fear.  Walking with Jesus just doesn't get easy.  Following Him is the narrow way.  It is "difficult".  Scripture reminds us that every day has struggles.  Job declares in 14:1, "Man, who is born of woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil."  Why I mention all of this is that we all know what to do, but the reality is we struggle to do it.  Life is busy, life is hectic.  To simply take time to be with Jesus and get in His word, allowing Him to speak to our hearts through the Word and by the Spirit takes some cultivation and dedication.  Most of us are willing to go to work, and get our children ready for school, but a lot of us are not even dedicated to exercise, or eating right, or a hobby for that matter.  You get out what you put in, is true with the Lord I think.  For instance our family has been in a tight financial squeeze for months.  This weekend the Lord blessed us immensely and we were able to pay off some medical bills.  It seems like in my desperation to see God move in my life, after I paid the bills, I just went on with my life.  I soon found out that I was missing something.  My joy was not full, my peace was bothering me, grumpy with my kids etc...  Heather seemed to be struggling with some loose ends at home etc.  We looked at each other and she reminded me, our time with Jesus is not an option.  Not even a breakthrough financially can bring long term peace.  Let me tell you, I NEED PEACE.  I need it every day.  That is what God gives His children.  For me not to walk in peace with God is like being  hungry in the grocery store with a loaded wallet!  The reminder this morning is precious.  You have to seek God.  And keep on seeking Him.  Peace, joy, direction, love, confirmation, all we need is IN HIM.  To go a day without it (Him) would be arrogant and unwise.  Help me Lord to seek You daily!

Stu

We Could Use Somma This In 2011

Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day Washington, D.C. March 30, 1863 Senator James Harlan of Iowa, whose daughter later married President Lincoln's son Robert, introduced this Resolution in the Senate on March 2, 1863. The Resolution asked President Lincoln to proclaim a national day of prayer and fasting. The Resolution was adopted on March 3, and signed by Lincoln on March 30, one month before the fast day was observed.

By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation.  And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.
And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!  It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.  Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.  All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.  In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.  Done at the City of Washington, this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty seventh.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

Weekend Blurr

Picture on the right is a blow up that is featured on our 180 facebook page. Me playing basketball for the first time in ages with some teenagers at the Plantation Apartments Outreach in Socastee, SC.  The outreach was fun, -I turned purple in the face and ran my back into the pole.  Still sore.  But the old men won against the kids.  I always knew I would be a wily old man playing with tricks and elbows and stuff.  It was fun to compete again!

The weekend was great.  I was so blessed to bring the Word of God to Street Reach Mission in Myrtle Beach on Wednesday night, as well as Sunday am at Sunset Beach Community Church and again Sunday p.m. at 180.  I was so blessed and encouraged by all who attended.  Mixed in on Saturday was an outreach door to door invitation to the communities in Sunset Beach and an outreach at Plantation Apartments in Socastee.  Monday came and I drove Heather down to Charleston for a post-op office visit and just really enjoyed soaking up all the weekend activities.  Reflecting on the weekend with our nearly 2 hour car ride down and back, we discussed everything from the sermon, to the music, to the new faces and what we felt like what God has been speaking to us.  We were filled with love for the community in the outreaches, but a special love gushed from our hearts as we were surrounded by "old faithful" friends and co-laborers in ministry.  Rosa and Alberto, Tiana, Cassandra and Berto, Jr; Tom Ditzler and Elizabeth Fletcher all joined us for the Sunday am preaching.  Tom closed us out on acoustic guitar.  Having the posse with me was another level.  I felt the love of my brothers and sisters as they traveled an hour in the early am on their weekend time.  As well They traveled back and served in ministry positions at 180 in the evening.  We were reminded that we are to "hold on" and not faint in this season.  That if we can just endure, God is going to make a way for us if we do not lose heart.  The Lord continues to encourage all of us and what a blessing the meeting was.  We had a new drummer and bass player, a returning keyboard player and the band was "fulled" up.  The seats really filled up as well as we had many guests in the house.  The youth ministry is thriving, the cafe is up and running and people are worshiping God with all their hearts.  The Word of God continues to run effectively and we are blessed as the tourist season promises to bring many people into the mix of worshipers already assembled week to week at the ocean front venue, Sea Mist Resort, where 180 is located on Sunday nights.  Praise God with us as many of our medical bills have been paid off and our financial situation seems to be leveled out for the moment.  The reality is that our home is going to have to be sold so please pray for that to happen very very quickly.  We need FAVOR as this is one thing we are not able to carry right now.  Continue to pray for us to be effective witnesses as we reach out in the name of Jesus to those in Myrtle Beach this spring and summer.