Building Disciples: People who Live and Love like Jesus!

Have you ever looked around the spiritual landscape and asked yourself the question, that "for a people who are supposedly filled with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, why isn't the church making more of an impact upon society?" Or even more perplexing, why has society so infected the church that we, in many cases, have been neutralized and have compromised our God given position in our country and the world at large. I believe that one answer rises above all others.

Recently, a person came to Sunday service that I had not seen in years. He proceeded to share with me his journey and all the failures and unwise decisions that he had made along the way. In short, he was "Christian" in name only but otherwise empty, joyless, and certainly powerless to overcome his circumstances. He has represented a growing number of people that I have met over the past year that could be his spiritual clone. Why? Why is it that someone, as a new believer, can be so filled with zeal and radiant with joy and power, to only become a spiritual nomad, wandering the church landscape trying to recapture something that was once there but now seems so out of reach? I believe that there is a way to eradicate the scourge of " impotent faith" from the spiritual landscape. It is found in the building of a "spiritual infrastructure" in the heart and soul of a new believer; it is commonly known as "Building a Heart of Discipleship."

A writer once said that " Most unhappy people in the world are not unbelievers but "unsalty" Christians; In other words those who have enough of the truth implanted within to not renounce faith, but not enough power to forge ahead. Without a Heart of Discipleship becoming central to our every day existence, we stand in danger of becoming a spiritual casuality like so many that once had great futures but now languish in spiritual obscurity. Where am I headed with all of this?

High Mill was birthed in 1974 with the vision of building, training, and sending forth young leaders into a world so desperate for spiritual leadership. Through the years, we have succeeded as well as failed in our commitment to " steady the course" and stay true to that calling. Yet, through many joys and tears, blessings and pain, we have been birthed for this moment in history. As part of a larger "Kingdom Vision" involving many other Godly leaders and followers, we have spent, as leaders the past two years fasting and praying about God's direction for this new decade of the 21st century.

We haven't come up with a "new" plan or concept but have been revived by a fresh commitment to our original vision: "Building Disciples. Living and Loving Like Jesus." Our desire is not a new "campaign" with flashy promos but a profound desire to seek out those who have an old fashioned hunger and passion to produce mature fruit; a passion that is so focused that it won't give up until the job is done.

For the next six weeks, we will be sharing with you who are part of this wonderful body of believers, not so much where we have come from but where we are and most of all, vision wise, where we are headed. We won't be satisfied until every leader and ministry in our church clearly understands what our mission as a church is and focus's it's passion and energy on that mission, building Biblically strong models that can produce lasting spiritual fruit.

Most of you attending High Mill, know where our strengths lie, but what would happen if each of us as leaders intentionally focused our energies and giftings, like a Lazar, on bringing together all of our good efforts under the umbrella of not just serving but intentionally producing radical models of discipleship,( Radical Models of Jesus' Love) while we serve? Come the next six weeks, and we are going to show you how! By the way, if you don't attend a church, you are welcome to jump on board for an exciting experience that just might change the direction of your life FOREVER!

Leia Mais…

Remembering the Shepherd's Fields one Night near Bethlehem

I will never forget the night. We had been in Jerusalem for just a few days and were at the home of some friends having a traditional Jewish dinner just a few miles from Bethlehem. It was the Christmas season which made being near Bethlehem even more special.

As dinner concluded, I left the small home of our guests and climbed to the top of a small ridge. The night air was very still and the temperature was rather balmy for November in Israel. I will never forget the sky. It seemed like a million stars were shining and the brilliance of that moment seemed to usher me back 2,000 years to another night and another time when those very same stars shone so brightly.

As I gazed across the landscape, I suddenly realized that before me were shepherds grazing their sheep and shining brightly in the distance was the little town of Bethlehem. The feeling was so surreal that I just stood there and allowed my imagination to carry me on an incredible journey back in time. But it is what happened next that touched my heart forever.

As a young child, the meaning of Worship only consisted of a song or two that would get everyone's attention for the church service about to begin. I must admit that it was not the most exciting thing happening, or something that moved my heart. When I came to know Jesus, worship took on added importance, because it was the time when the church body would come together and sing for maybe one half hour in preparation for the sermon. As a new believer, I knew that this worship thing was important, but I often times found myself singing words but not sensing their significance.

As the years have passed so quickly, I have come to appreciate the times of pure worship where I can quiet my heart and soul and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to me. But it was one early evening near Bethlehem that God defined true Worship for me in such a way that it not only overwhelmed my thought process and emotions but instilled within me the passion to serve Him no matter what difficulties might lie ahead.

As my thoughts were directed towards those shepherds 2,000 years ago, I suddenly grasped a simple truth that had been there all the time, but I HADN'T SEEN IT. Simply, worship is not something that I do but becomes something that I am. Worship can be identified with singing, hand clapping, and prayer, but those are only outward manifestations of a heart that has been surrendered to worship as a lifestyle. Worship is not how many church services I attend per week nor is it listening to the latest CD, But Pure Worship is a lifestyle rooted in a heart of service to those who need a Savior's love.

Paul in Romans 12:1-2 tells us that " offering our bodies as a living sacrifice is our spiritual act of worship." But then, he added something very powerful. " Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." It is here that I want to share with you the key to living a life worthy of the Lord Jesus and leaving a legacy behind that others have had their life changed by your heart of worship.

In Matthew 17:2 Jesus is transfigured before His disciples as well as Moses and Elijah. Here is the correlation; the word used for transfigured is the very word used for transformed in Romans 12:2. So what Paul is saying about those choosing to live a lifestyle of worship after Jesus' example, is that by living in such a way, you are anointed and glorified with His supernatural Authority which in turn allows you to function in the dimension of God's Kingdom Rule and Presence.

That night as I gazed over the shepherd's fields near Bethlehem, I was reminded that, like the Wise Men who followed, they were willing to leave behind everything and seek after a Star that shown over a simple stable in a dusty little town. Their worship was surrendered lives, because nothing less was befitting of a King. Can we settle for anything less if we are to be His hands and feet in the time that we have remaining?

Leia Mais…

Never In A Thousand Years Would I Have Believed!

I was raised in Canton, Ohio and had no intentions of ever leaving, let alone getting on an airplane and flying half way around the world. I believed in "missions" and even supported some. But my argument (or should I say excuse), was that there was enough work to be done here at home and then, after that work was completed, we could think about going somewhere in the world. Never mind the "Great Commission" that commanded us to go to the world; I was a young pastor that had made up his mind that there would always be an excuse as to why missions weren't for me.

It didn't seem to really matter that my pastor in Anaheim, California had called me out of 4,000 people and prophesied over me that my destiny and legacy would take me to the nations. I had never met him nor did he know anything about me, but so strongly rooted within my emotions was the fear of missionary work that I figured he had definitely called out the wrong guy even though he had mentioned my home town, Canton, by name. That was amazing and unexplainable but not enough to get me on a plane.

So you can imagine what was going through my mind in April, 1993 as I boarded a plane bound for L'viv Ukraine. For me to tell you the events that got me to this point, would occupy a hundred blogs, and most of you wouldn't believe a lot of it anyways. That was 1993, and less than one year later, I was on a 48 hour trek to India. Since those early days, with I'm sure the Holy Spirit laughing at me (God has a sense of humor), I have traveled all over Europe, organized History Maker I in Cyprus, which was a healing conference for youth that included believing Jews and believing Arabs from 8 different nations, gone to Australia twice, have come to have a passion for the people of Armenia, traveled extensively in the Middle East and have fallen in love with the land of Abraham , Isaac, and Jacob nine times over! How could I explain each of these incredible seasons of my life? I have done just that in the second book that I am just now finishing," Legacy: The Power Purpose and Passion of Divine Appointments."But for the purpose of this blog, I want to reveal the "rhema" or spiritual truth revealed to me when I said,"YES." I might just mention that if I had said no, I would have not experienced events that have made me who I am.

Why do I mention that the "missionary" part of my journey has been one of those greatest parts of my walk? Let me tell you. Foundational, when you confront your fears and defeat them, He will turn your weaknesses into strengths! He will take the very thing that you don't want to do and make it your passion, if He is in it. Secondly, when we come "out of the box " so to speak and realize just how blessed we are as American believers, we gain a new appreciation of our place and responsibility to reach out to those less fortunate. Thirdly, I have been humbled many times over by the hospitality of poor believers who have nothing of financial substance but serve us beyond measure when we stay at their homes. I have found out after the fact that believers in Ukraine, for one example, had saved money for months, just to serve us incredible meals. Hospitality in America is a lost art for many believers, but in my travels, I have learned from my brothers and sisters the true meaning of practicing and living in hospitality.

Finally, who I am...my destiny, and my legacy (the life deposit that I will leave behind) have all been formed by the relationships of those whom have become "family," from Ukraine to Armenia and from India to Syria. My life has been enriched by so many customs and cultural experiences too numerous to mention. All because of saying Yes to Jesus and no to my fears, I have come to visualize the world as my horizon and in a very small way helped others to gain spiritual sight while overcoming their fears. What area of your walk do you need to say Yes to today so that your future can be unlocked and your legacy established?

Leia Mais…

Twelve Unforgettable Experiences!

As time moves steadily ahead, I find myself looking back and considering the events that have gotten me to where I am at in this season of time in my life. The order of events may not necessarily be in sequence of importance, but each has played a prominent role in shaping me on the "potter's wheel."

Putting aside my marriage and God's gift to us of three incredible children, what I am about to share is what has shaped my passion, destiny, and hopefully legacy. As I consider the season's of time and experience that God has led me through, I am truly grateful to Him and all that He has given me and allowed me to do.

I can remember, as a young boy of 11 years old sitting in our Civic Center for over 3 hours listening to a crowd chant, "We want Kennedy...We want Kennedy..." It was the 1960 presidential campaign and being young and very impressionable, the aura of 10,000 people crammed into a 5,000 seat arena screaming their heads off for three hours, was indescribable.(I often wondered since just where the fire marshals were). How ironic was it recently, while going through some old newspapers, I found the front page of The Canton Repository newspaper depicting the pandemonium in the civic center that night, and there in the middle of that front page, was me and my mom cheering with everybody else. Yes, the Kennedy mystique won me over and the "Age of Camelot" spoke into my young heart that I too wanted to make a difference some day. It would be some 25 years later that another political giant would speak into my life the importance of public service, for I was blessed to go to the White House twice and be part of political action conferences led by Ronald Reagan. While President Kennedy inspired me to reach for greatness beyond my own abilities, President Regan taught me to laugh at myself and take each day as an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. I would have to say that these two "political adventures" combined to give me a new found courage to challenge the status quot and change my world.

It was 1968 and the Viet Nam war was about to engulf our nation and the lives of many young men and women. It was then, that I first began to really hear about Jesus in a way that I had never heard before; like He wanted to be my friend and companion. It was during this time of searching in my life that I was introduced to a Methodist youth group by some "born again" friends. Born again...? Never really had heard much about it, but something had begun to transform my quiet little Methodist church into a radically talking and faith believing group of believers that acted and really believed like this Jesus thing really did work. To my amazement, the love and dedication of my friends, and their faith in Jesus and even me, would begin my faith journey that turned me into zealots like them. A short time later, I met an eye doctor and his wife...the Kings, who actually believed in healing and it's present day application. I must say that the Holy Spirit knew what He was doing because Claire and Miriam King became my "spiritual parents" and took me to a whole different level. Over a 3 year period, a small Bible Study that began in their home eventually had over 3,000 people come through their doors. You might ask, "Where did the 100 plus sit each week?" I can tell you that the front yard with open windows and even the bathroom became "pews" with hungry teens and even parents drawn by the love, joy, and victory that was found in the King's home. Many of you reading this blog know exactly what I am talking about, because you came to know Jesus and found your role in the kingdom coming to those wonderful meetings in the early 1970's!

Well, because I don't want to make this too long and bore you, I'm going to pick it back up next week and write about how 5 nations have radically grown my faith and shaped my destiny and the plan that God has for High Mill.

Leia Mais…

Could This Be the Beginning of Something Great?

I wanted to write this from the moment that I got home Saturday night at 1:00 am. It wasn't that I didn't know what to write; I just didn't know what to leave out. Three days have now passed since the Rally at the Lincoln Memorial, and I still am having a hard time understanding and digesting what we experienced there Saturday afternoon.

The "Restoring Honor" rally (see my face book photo album) on the Mall grounds seemed like being in church with 500,000 believers, yet it contained all the elements of a giant political rally that never became political. It could have passed for a giant tent revival or religious pilgrimage containing people of every color, ethnicity, and social background. But for whatever reason that 500,000 people came together, one thing was certain: everyone felt a sense of awe and destiny. Without anyone having to say it, we knew that we were called there to draw a line in the spiritual sand, letting the world know that the sleeping giant, that great silent spiritual majority the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST was ready to assume it's role again in shaping the last chapter of this great countries history.

There have been several "Great Awakenings" that have swept America when her very soul languished in division and pain, with the last one being after the great Civil War. Now some are saying that the "Third Great Awakening' began on 8-28. Whether that is true, only time will tell. But I will add this: On 8-28, something happened on the mall that, despite all the political pundits and bias, has shaken America to its very core. In great times of distress and fear, God has always raised up those who would stand in the gap and be counted on to stem the tide of moral decay and hedonism. Last Saturday, 500,000 showed up to fill that gap, being led by a tv talk show host, who has laid his life on the line for the America that he loves, and not hiding behind his radio microphone.

Glenn Beck challenged the pastors present to take the "fire" back home and light it in their congregations for the world to see. He challenged moms and dads to fall on their knees and pray where their children could see them and thus know that God does matter in the lives of those who want to make a difference. I challenge you: "Could this be the beginning of something great?" Or was 8-28 just another rally on a sunny Saturday afternoon in downtown Washington, DC. ? For those of us who were there, it will never be business as usual again. The sleeping giant has been awakened, and his message will resonate in every sermon, speech, and coffee break conversation til Jesus comes again and until honor and integrity are again' honorable' in this land we love so much.

Leia Mais…

Communicating The Message

For the next three weeks on Sunday mornings, I have the privilege to communicate my passion concerning what makes High Mill distinct and why someone would ever want to become part of this committed band of followers of Jesus Christ. I want to preface my comments with two thoughts; the first being that there are other solid Bible believing churches in the area, so we don't have a " corner on the truth". And secondly, High Mill Church of the Resurrection in it's "distinctness" might not be for everyone. But one thing that I know for sure is that countless lives have been changed and mature leaders formed as His unconditional love and healing have been modeled by those who have attended here through the years. So, what makes us distinct?

First, I believe that we are Authentic in our approach to vision casting. Vision is cast, not by programs, seminars, rallys, or ad campaigns, but by lives that are living out the message. That is why it so mightily important that we realize that church is not Sunday morning attendance but lives that are mentoring, building relationships, and teaching others what we have been taught! I can illustrate this through numerous illustrations of conversations that I have had this summer involving those who have come through our doors. I have heard the same words over and over again; "I am here because of what I have seen in the lives of people who attend your church." You see, when we are living out the "vision" which must be the heart of what Jesus taught, people will be drawn. We don't need an expensive ad campaign to promote our "brand of Jesus," we simply have to become His hands and feet, and the vision will be understood. The problem is that we all must see the necessity of discipleship and be willing to be stretched. We cannot just have parts of the body or church on board, but we must realize the importance that each of us has an appointment with "destiny" and how we use the gifts that God has given us.

Secondly, I believe that because of our unconditional love and acceptance, those who have experienced the wrong side of life, feel safe here. It is never the church's job to pass judgment but to lift up Jesus as an alternative to what our present day culture offers. Now before you counter with "where does sin fit in and what about dealing with sinful attitudes," let me again say that it is the Holy Spirit's job to bring conviction, not ours; our job is to listen for His voice and know when and what to say, not to have a list of rules and regulations waiting to be passed out at the church door with the Sunday morning bulletin. Let me illustrate. Many years ago, I witnessed a young man walk down the isle in a church to receive Jesus. As he knelt, with his long hair, tatted arms, and glistening ear rings, a faithful deacon or usher, who only modeled what he had seen and been taught, rushed to the front, grabbed him by the hair and yanked him off of his knees. What happened next has pierced my heart for ever and would have caused me to never have come back to any church, if I hadn't been rooted in Jesus. He said to the young man,"You get up, go take a bath,and cut your hair and then you can come back into this church and get saved." "Saved?" "Saved to be like him with an attitude like that?" God save us from such legalism that, unfortunately today, is driving many away before they even have a chance to come and understand Your love. Now, while this example might be extreme, subtle legalism can be just as lethal; attempting to shape and form others by our own set of rules instead of the love that Jesus offers.

Just to conclude these introductory thoughts, we are a church that embraces discipleship as our passion and desire. And through modeling unconditional love and working through relational evangelism, we are out to build mature and effective followers of Jesus Christ and release them as "kingdom builders" and leaders. But such a vision cannot be fulfilled if we are not all on the same page. Let me illustrate from a book written by Craig Groeschel, "How Church Leaders can Get It and Keep It."

The writer talks about three levels of "Church Buy-In." Those churches who are filled with people that are flowing in the same direction have caught the flavor and vision of the church. Others might like the church and, though they attend, they have not grasped the gift of shared purpose and vision that can be theirs. The author goes on to list the Three levels of"Vision-Buy in."

Level one: Those people who believe in the vision enough to benefit from it. "Like the person who benefits from the service at their local restaurant or work out gym. These church members have a consumer mindset. They come to church, because they like it. They recieve something that is important to them.

Level two: Those people who believe in the vision to contribute to it. "Like the person who drops some change in the Salvation Army basket at Christmas, these are people who, as consumers, are ready to contribute as long as it is easy. They are happy to help if it doesn't interfere with their schedules and or other priorities."

Level three: People who believe in the vision enough to give their lives to it. " These are people who understand the vision and get it. They recognize that their lives are not their own. They belong to Jesus. They are part of the greatest cause on earth!"

Groeschel concludes by sharing some very powerful thoughts. " Everyone craves a cause to fight for. We love to be part of something that is making a difference. As leaders, it is our role to seek God, see the vision, communicate it in a compelling way, and invite people to give their lives for the greatest cause on earth-the cause of Christ."

Let me conclude by asking you a question. If you attend High Mill, is our vision clear and is the role that you must play for it to succeed clear?" Granted, we can always do a much better job in communicating what that vision is. But could it be that you have not been seeing around you the hands and feet of Jesus being lived out in our vision? Could it be that you have not realized existing right in front of you is a church living out a dream and vision that it was called to 33 years ago? Could it be that you have allowed circumstances, self, and every day life to rob you from reaching that passion and commitment that others have been living before you? Nothing less than realizing that our lives are not our own, and that we belong to Jesus will do. It is happening before your very eyes. Look around you and see. Vision is being modeled and lived out before you this very moment!

Leia Mais…

Discerning God's Plan for Times Like These

If my grandpa were alive today, he would be asking the question that so many of us should be asking: "What, in God's Name, is happening to the United States of America?" Now my grandpa wasn't all that religious, though he died a believer, but grandpa had an old fashioned virtue that so many of us seem to be lacking today and that simply being "common sense." Granted, our culture and wealth has allotted, for some of us, the privilege of focusing on self, while showing an indifference to the rest of the world around us. And save for those brave men and women who are sacrificing and dying overseas for our right to that self indulgence, much of America seems to be indifferent to the freedoms that we are losing every day, let alone the fact that the hand of "big brother" is encroaching in every area of our private lives.

I wonder how many of us know or even care that a monument is being built in the state of Virginia in memory of Joseph Stalin, a man responsible for the murder of 20 million people during and after WWII.? Did you know that a Muslim mosque is being built only blocks from the site of the former World Trade Center, and what's worse, it is being reported that the radical terrorist organization Hamas, has contributed 130 million dollars to the project?! Let's go from such despicable acts to something more contemporary and amusing. It is about to be illegal to own a pet in the city of San Francisco, because people can be inhumane to animals. Really, what genius thought that up? Also in the City by the Bay, soda drinks are no longer allowed to be sold on the streets, because the government has decided for you that Coke might take 5 years off of your life. The US government is considering suing Mcdonalds over the fat content in it's burgers. Let them try to take my Big Mac! And by the way, as our government is spending like a bunch of drunken sailors, putting us 13 trillion dollars in debt at this moment and more by the time that you read this, it will now take every bit of your pay check through June 15th to pay your taxes, and still they want more.

Well, I could go on from the absurd to the more ridiculous all day long, but I think that you get my point. We as citizens are like the "frog in the kettle" of water; We are about to be boiled alive, and because the heat is increasing ever so gently, we are being lulled into abstract apathy.

In I. Chronicles 12:32, it is said of the "Sons of Issachar," "That they were men who understood the times with knowledge of what Israel should do." The NLT translation reads that they were men who understood the best course Israel should take. As a result, their knowledge and judgment provided needed wisdom to make needed decisions for the nation. Let me make it as simple as I can. For leaders today, it is vitally important that we have a grasp on what is happening in the society around us in order that we can take the best course of action for the church. Knowledge of current events, trends, and needs helps us to understand people's thoughts and attitudes. This in turn gives those in leadership the ability to make wise decisions that God's message might become relevant in people's lives.

I don't know about you, but my heart's cry is, " God send us "Issachar Warriors" who will stand up while there is still time and confront the lethargy that seems to grip so many of us." As I see it from the vantage point of being a believer for over 40 years and having the privilege of seeing America through the eyes of so many in various parts of the world, this is where the church has ceded it's rightful position on the world's platform. First, in the 1950's, it was very fashionable from US pulpits for the clergy to disdain our country and call politics and politicians the epitome of evil, noting that the church should completely separate itself from such worldliness. Well that sort of genius and "spiritual blindness" placed secularists and non religious zealots in charge of our courts and judiciary and has led to the murder of over 40 million babies, prayer outlawed in schools, and the very mention of anything pertaining to our Judeo-Christian heritage expressly forbidden.

Secondly, as Dr. Billy Graham once put it, "There are those who have developed a sort of "spiritual fatalism" that says there really isn't any way to change anything, so why should I try; it's all part of an "end times" scenario." If the early disciples had felt that all was lost in Jerusalem one fateful Good Friday, you and I would be wearing yamikas today and going to the temple instead of church.

Thirdly, there are those who just bury their heads in the sand and say that what ever is going to happen will happen, putting all of the responsibility on Jesus by saying that it is all up to Him. In the long run, that is ultimately the truth we live by, but HE has given us a brain to use. He has filled us with His Spirit that wisdom might be available to us. He has given us healing, words of knowledge, prophetic utterances, and most of all love to war with. We must preach "Jesus" and prepare the people for the times that we are facing and about to face, but we must also call upon God to fill us as leaders with authority from above and not be afraid to speak out at injustice political or otherwise. We cannot just sit around waiting for the ax to fall but "understand the times" with Godly wisdom and draw a line in the sand that says, "I am willing to stand upon the principles espoused by our founding fathers, "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain inalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Shortly after WWII, in the basement of a bombed out building in Berlin, one where some poor Jewish souls had lived a life in hiding and fear, were scribbled these words, " They came for the politicians, but no one said anything. Then they came for the teachers, but no one lifted a hand. Then they came for the religious, and they were taken away in the night with not even a complaint. And now no one is left, and they have come for me."

Yes, the world of today is quite different than in Grandpa's day, but one truth remains, "The only way for evil to exist and triumph is for good men to do nothing."

Leia Mais…