Today, I think about who God has brought to be our House Church Shepherds and elders. I AM SO GRATEFUL!

Don Lovy, Jacob Henson, Tom Mefford

Brad and Julie Burgess, Chris and Geneva Guthrie, Jacob and Adrienne Henson, Steven and Christine Taff and Sarah and I also serve as a shepherd.

I am grateful for these men and couples. In addition to these, we have a host of other servant leaders.

In Numbers, after the fiasco with the “rabble”, the Lord told Moses to gather 70 elders.
“Then I will come down and speak with you there and I will take away some of the Spirit who is upon you and will put Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not have to bear it alone.” (Numbers 11:17)

There are four of us elders and there are 10 of us House Church Shepherds currently.
He gave the body leadership to help bear the hurts and burdens of the people. I am so grateful for them.

This past Thursday we gathered, are a meal and we listened as each house church shepherd shared burdens and victories. What a glorious time. Then we prayed. I have never been more excited to see what God is doing.

A few lessons from Numbers:
1. One man can’t carry the burdens of the church. It’s unhealthy and unbiblical. God saw it was too much and brought help.
(See my post earlier about PTCD-Post Traumatic Church Syndrome)

2. Pastors aren’t the only ones who have the Holy Spirit living in them!
God took some of His Spirit and put Him on them! This is what happened in Acts. He put Him on them! WOW!!!!
What would it look like if we recognized and believed that the Holy Spirit lives in ALL believers. The return of Christ would be here, but we live in a way that has no power. The power of the Holy Spirit sits dormant.
Wake up! All the power you need is in you!!

2. We see Ephesians 4:11-12 played out here and with Moses father in law Jethro, the role of the lead missionary/pastor-to equip. They are not meant to do it all.

3. We need strong, godly men to serve as elders. We as pastors need these “Aaron and Hurs” to help bear the burden, help remain doctrinally sound, help give biblical wisdom and help stay on course. Men, this is a worthy cause!

4. Pray for your pastors and elders. The weight that is put on these ordinary humans is a privilege and hardship, but worth it.
Don’t put unfair expectations on these men. Don’t put them on a pedestal. Don’t compare them with the latest, greatest Celebrity preacher!
Let them lead in their strength and their gifting. Don’t make them someone they are not.

Shoutout to my church:
My gift is missionary/evangelist (Ephesians 4:11,12). I can teach, but it’s not my main gift.
When we started Church Inside Out, one of the foundational scriptures was Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He himself appointed some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and some as teachers to fully equip and perfect the saints for works of service, to build up the body of Christ.”

Our aim was to help people find their gift and utilize their gift. In this, I have been able to recognize those with the gift of teaching and allow then to teach. I still get to teach, but those who have that gift, we empower.

I get to lead out of my strength (missionary/evangelist) and empower others where my weakness lies. They recognize my strength and let me lead.

It’s a beautiful thing happening and I am grateful for my church.

Who do you need to pray for from your church as you think about who God has called to lead?
​
Men, are you pursuing Jesus not to make a name for yourself, but to be used for His purpose?

“I am just not getting fed.”

I’ve heard this and so have many pastors.

“Pastor, we are going to head somewhere else where we can get fed.”

Join the club.

The “I am not getting fed club”originated in Numbers when “rabble among the Israelites who followed from Egypt had greedy desires and the Israelites wept again and said, ‘Who will give us something to eat?” Numbers 11:4

A couple of lessons to determine if you are a rabble:
1. Unfortunately, there will always be rabble in our churches who have greedy desires. Just don’t be among them.
Listen to God, not man.

2. Not being fed stems from selfishness and a desire to be a consumer. They were greedy. It was all about their needs and their comfort. You have heard this before....
—I need something more in a kids/youth ministry. It’s not flashy enough or cool enough
—I don’t like the music
—the preaching is too long or too short or the pastor can’t relate to me
—you mean you want me to serve?
Rabble have a “Poor Me” attitude rather than a “Pour Me” attitude.

3. Rabble want to go back to the good ‘ole days (v. 5). “We remember the fish we ate freely and without cost....”.
They look at past victories and want to relish is those victories rather than chasing new opportunity to advance the Gospel.
They say, “we’ve never done it that way before!”
(We can no longer operate in the good ‘ole days unless you want your church to die!)

4. Rabble aren’t willing to sacrifice. They are looking for free stuff and just want to consume. They don’t want to give, they just want to take.
They aren’t willing to serve anywhere in the church. The only time they show up is to occupy a seat.

5. They can’t see the spiritual food in front of their face. “There is nothing at all to be seen but this manna.” (V. 6)
They can’t see the investment in them from those pouring into them. They really don’t want to make disciples, they want to make complainers.

6. Rabble sound wise but are fools. They are false teachers and instigators. They are instigators of dissatisfaction and make discomfort an excuse to agitate rebellion.

7. These rabble in Numbers weren’t all in. They pretended they were, but all indications pointed to just wanting the benefits.

8. Post traumatic church syndrome is real and most pastors have it.
Moses endured it but it came at a great cost. He wanted to die, “So if this is the way you are going to deal with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in your sight.
Most pastors have been at the end of this rabble and has taken an emotional toll that creates real pain.

Pastors are human too. Pastors are fleeing the ministry in droves not because of the ministry but because of rabble.

Monday’s are the days most pastors think about quitting because of foolish arguments or statements from Rabbles.

Would you do me a favor and examine your heart and ask if you have been a rabble?

If you find yourself being a rabble, STOP IT, confess and repent to God. Then, go to your pastor and seek His forgiveness.

The lack of advancement of the Gospel is not due to the laws of Washington. The lack of advancement is RABBLES. You keep our eyes (pastors) off the goal. You keep the Gospel from moving forward.

Another word for rabble? REBEL.

If you know of a rabble, go to them and lovingly confront these false teachers and instigators.

“I am just not getting fed” excuse needs to stop. If you aren’t spending time in the Word yourself, there is no sermon or ministry that can help you.
​
Just be grateful that the fire of the Lord does not consume you. (Numbers 11:1)
#mobilemissionsnetwork
#churchinsideout

​A long lost spiritual discipline: WAITING and LISTENING.
Our Amazon culture has created a right now frenzy. We want everything right now. Waiting creates tension.
In Numbers 9, there were certain men who were unclean because they touched a dead mans body and they could not observe Passover on the appointed day, so they can to Moses and Aaron to get their wisdom.”
“Why are we being restrained from presenting the Lords offering at its appointed time among the Israelites?”
Check out their response:
“”Wait, and I will listen to what the Lord will command concerning you.”
Moses and Aaron did two things:
1. They waited.
2. They listened.
AND
God answered!
How many of us would have given a quick response/answer. I know I would have. I would have said what I thought was best.
The ability to wait on the Lord stems from being confident and focused on who God is and in what God is doing. It means confidence in God’s person: confidence in His wisdom, love, timing, understanding of our situation and that of the world. It means knowing and trusting in God’s principles, promises, purposes, and power.
As a pastor, there is a lot of waiting. Waiting to make weighty decisions that will affect the whole body. Most want a quick, microwave decision.
But oh how many times has my quick decision derailed God’s process.
In my experience, the waiting has happened through being in the Word and prayer seeking (listening) the Lord for his answer.
Quick decisions without inquiring of the Lord could lead to long term consequences (like wandering in the wilderness).
Inquiring of the Lord and waiting may seem to prolong the issue, but can melt the obstacles and get to the destination quicker.
In our waiting, it’s not just doing nothing. It’s actively waiting through reading His Word and praying.
God will shine a light on the path you are to go. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
How many times do we see that David waited in the book of psalms?
A few examples: Psalm 27, Psalm 33, Psalm 130.
When we wait on the Lord, you have the backing of the creator of the universe.
Think about a doctors note. You have the backing of a doctor to let someone know of your ailment.
God’s note (His Word) gives you the backing to walk forward.
What sounds better? “I think” or “God said”.
Side note: if you say God said, “we must be very careful that we don’t use His name in vain and stick a decision on him that he didn’t make.
Can you back the decision truly from a God’s Word?
Also, don’t allow pressure from people to make you make a quick decision. (There will be times you have to make a decision on a timeline, but in this fast and seek)
Back to Moses and Aaron...
Numbers 9:9, “The Lord spoke to Moses”.....
He told them what to do next.
God still speaks today.
Let me say that again, “God still speaks today!”
In Psalm 127, David gives us insight into how to wait and listen:
1. Abide (4,5)
2. Praise (6,7)
3. Seek (8)
4. Trust (9,10)
5. Learn (11, 12)
6. Believe (13)
7. Wait and Expect (14)
So, we see thought this we don’t just twiddle our thumbs in the waiting, but our minds and hearts are active in seeking.
“Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, Wait for and confidently expect the Lord.” Psalm 127:14
May we develop the art of waiting and listening on the Lord.

​Scaredy Cat Christians.....

Behind every conspiracy theory, every vaccination and every decision coming down from Washington we think is the mark of the beast.

(I don’t disagree that there is terrible legislation happening in our country)

We try and try guessing who the AntiChrist is and what the mark of the beast is going to be.
Give me a vaccine, a tattoo of the mark—these don’t determine my eternity! The Holy Spirit when we were saved (and if we were saved) “were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit as OWNED and PROTECTED by God!” Ephesians 1:13
(Many Christians need to read that again!)

We waste our time playing Bible trivia while friends and neighbors are destined for Hell.
If you are not pursuing Christ and obeying Him, you are the anti-Christ.

““Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12:30‬ ‭

“For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:18-19‬

You are working against His plan and purpose.

So what if something is handed down? Does it affect my faith in Christ! Heck no!
I focus my eyes greater on the cross and His resurrection and my eternal home.

We as believers need to stop being fearful.

“Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set
Me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can mere
Man do to me? The Lord is on my side, He is among those who help me; therefore I will look (in triumph) on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” Psalm 118:5-9

Are you fearful?

My wise words of wisdom :”Stop it”

Now, there are legitimately those fearful. There are legitimate concerns about decisions being made but we can’t be fearful about every single thing.

But then there are those that are Christian fearmongers-everything that pops up is the end of the world and we need to boycott! (Remember Disney? Yikes!)

Many believers proclaim what they are against more than who lives in them!

If you are legitimately fearful:
1. Turn off the tv and talk radio.
2. Open your Bible. Start with Psalm 118:5-9.
3. Confess your fears.
4. Want to hear God speak? Read the Bible out loud .
5. Marinate on the Word. Don’t just eat a crumb of the word and post it on social media. Eat the bread-His Word daily!
6. Remind yourself—the God who created the heavens and there earth is on your side!
7. Look in triumph on those people and situations against you. Look in the other side of the situation.
8. Take refuge in God—this comes through spending time with Him. The amount of time we spend in the Word/prayer vs time in social media amd news determines a lot who our refuge is!

Read the rest of Psalm 118-so Good and stop being a scaredy cat!
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If we want to change the direction of our country: MAKE DISCIPLES and RUN FOR OFFICE

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
Psalm 119:103

The Word...the very words of God.

To think that the Creator of the universe left us with His Word.  Why would I not want that?  Why would I not want to read word for word?

I remember when Sarah and I were dating.  I was living Edmond and she was living in Mounds, OK.  This was before cell phones and texting and internet.  Each week, we would write letters to one another and mail them off.  I remember when I would receive one of her letters, I would smell the letter to see if there was a hint of of her perfume (that's what we did back then).  I would read the letter and then I would re-read the letter, and then I would re-read the letter.  Later that day or the next, I would re-read it.  It was fuel for my day knowing that there was someone that adored me just as much as I adored her.  I would wait anxiously each week for her letter to arrive.

Man, what if I responded to God's Word in a similar fashion.  As a reminder, He is the groom and I am His bride.  He has given me a letter not just weekly but minute by minute and day by day.  It speaks of His love for me.  It speaks encouragement to me.  It reprimands when necessary.  My Groom has written a letter to Me.  Your Groom has written a letter to You.

May we read, re-read, and re-read the very words of our Groom to us in 2021.  I guarantee that your life will be changed.  You will be reminded that there is a Groom that awaits at the altar preparing for eternity.  Until then, He has left us with His very breath to show us to be the "lamp to my feet and the light to my path."  

What do I recommend?

1.  Read the Bible daily.  Some are ready for trying to read the Bible in a year plan.  Others are not.  Start where you are.  Don't compare yourself.  You are not more spiritual if you read through the whole Bible in a year vs reading daily Scripture.  The Lord will speak regardless and it will not return void.

2.  What plan should I use?

• There are so many plans out there, but a good start is YouVersion.  Check out "the Bible Project" as a starter.  Each book includes videos specifically designed to enhance your understanding.  They have partial Bible plans and biblical study plans as well.
• Consider just reading through the New Testament.
• Take your time and find what will work for you
• I am going to go through Live Dead Joy by Dick Brogden again this year.  It gives a devotional, three passages of Scripture and an unreached people group to pray for.  For those not ready to read the whole Bible through in a year, choose one of the three passages of Scripture.  I do have some copies on hand and have more ordered for $15 or you can go to livedead.org to order.  You can also get on Amazon through Kindle for $4.99
• Missionary God, Missionary Bible by Dick Brogden.  Another one I will tackle.  This is a one year, missions-centered, chronological reading of the Bible.  This is in bite size chunks in reading the Bible.  You can get on Amazon through Kindle for $4.99.
• The Journible.  Go through one book for the whole year and hand write your own copy of the Scriptures.  In Deuteronomy 17, Moses is leaving final instructions concerning the future of Israel. As a prophet of God, Moses foretells of when Israel will place a king over the nation (v. 14). In verse 18, the king is commanded to not simply acquire a copy of the law (the entire book of Deuteronomy) from the “scroll publishing house,” but to hand write his own copy of the law. Thirty-four hundred years later, educators are “discovering” that students that physically write out their notes by hand have a much greater retention rate than simply hearing or visually reading the information. Apparently, God knew this to be true of the kings of Israel also. From such understanding came the conception of this series of books.

3.  Other advice

• Go through your plan with other people.  If you are a part of Church Inside Out, get with your House Church and determine a plan and walk together in that plan.
• Don't get discouraged if you miss a day.
• Journal.  Write out what God says to you.  You will be amazed during the course of the year your growth.  Simply write out what you are learning and write down as the Holy Spirit reveals.  Write out your prayer requests daily as well.  
• Set aside the same time each day.  Establish a routine.  They say it takes 21 days to establish a habit.  If this is your first time in establishing a habit of reading the Bible,  your flesh will find every reason not to, but stick with it and make yourself read.
• You aren't going to always feel like reading your Bible, but again remember that these are the very words of your Groom.
• It won't be every day during that particular moment that you will "get something" from the Word.  But in time, the Word will not return void and the Word planted in your heart will grow.  
• You are meeting with a person, the Holy Spirit!  This is not a check the box duty.  You are dining with the King of Kings as you allow the Word to speak to your heart.
• Apart from reading and listening to the Word, you cannot grow as a believer.  Dig in and you will notice the fruits of the Spirit spring from your life.

I guarantee You will notice a difference in a year and I believe others will notice a difference, but the main thing is you get to hear from Jesus, our groom, who is preparing a place for us as believers for all eternity.  This love letter has been gifted to us while on this earth.  Very soon, we won't read the Word, we will SEE the Word and until then His presence is with us!

Our Groom is Coming Soon!

Let's Go!
Mike

*Below is my theme song for 2021

I love to read.  

This I would say is my hobby.  My wife gets frustrated at the number of books I have collected over the years.  There is just something about having a book and a highlighter and allowing my imagination to roam or to allow the Lord to speak to me through others.

These are a few of the books I have read that have been an incredible benefit to me personally.  Take a look and consider taking the Book Challenge in 2021.

1.  The Gospel Comes With a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
This book made me rethink hospitality.  It goes well beyond a "fellowship"--it goes deeper and requires sacrifice.  This book has helped form my thinking on how I can be better at hospitality in order to reach those different from me.

Butterfield invites us into her home to show us how God can use “radical, ordinary hospitality” to bring the gospel to our lost friends and neighbors. Such hospitality sees our homes as not our own, but as God’s tools for the furtherance of his kingdom as we welcome those who look, think, believe, and act differently from us into our everyday, sometimes messy lives―helping them see what true Christian faith really looks like.

2.  Live Dead Joy by Dick Brogden
This devotional will always be on  my yearly reading list as it is the most challenging devotional I have come across.  It encourages me to read the Bible through in a year, steps on my toes spiritually and challenges me to abide in Christ.

Every Christian is called to live the crucified life (Galatians 2:20). In that sense we are all dying daily―dying is how Christians live. We die to ourselves, our wills, our comforts, and our reputations for the glory of Jesus. The wonder of applying this biblical principle to everyday life is that it brings life and joy in the process. This daily devotional celebrates a lifestyle based on the example of Jesus, who showed us how to live dead―not with dread but with great gladness.

3.  The Amplified Study Bible
I use the ASB in my time with Jesus.  I like to preach out of the CSB

4.  The Lost Art of Disciplemaking by LeRoy Eims
This book has challenged me in the realization of how simple it is to disciple someone and how much I need to learn and simply be faithful in this area of my life.  I hope to take these principles and begin using them in 2021.

Eims revives the lost art of disciple making. He explains: - How the early church discipled new Christians - How to meet the basic needs of a growing Christian - How to spot and train potential workers - How to develop mature, godly leaders "True growth takes time and tears and love and patience," Eims states. There is no instant maturity. This book examines the growth process in the life of a Christian and considers what nurture and guidance it takes to develop disciples.

5.  The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero
By far, the most challenging book for me in 2020.  During this season of COVID, it took an emotional toll on my leadership and my identity as a believer.  It helped get me back to center.   Again, this one book that I will carry over into 2021 that will help me stay center.

The Emotionally Healthy Leader shows leaders how to develop a deep, inner life with Christ, examining its profound implications for surviving stress, planning and decision making, building teams, creating healthy culture, and encouraging others.

6.  Gaining by Losing by JD Greear
Great insights by a pastor who sends his people to the mission field.  I love JD's heart for the nations and how he equips his church. 

When Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission, he revealed that the key for reaching the world with the gospel is found in sending, not gathering. Though many churches focus time and energy on attracting people and counting numbers, the real mission of the church isn’t how many people you can gather. It’s about training up disciples and then sending them out. The true measure of success for a church should be its sending capacity, not its seating capacity.
But there is a cost to this. To see ministry multiply, we must release the seeds God has placed in our hands. And to do that, we must ask ourselves whether we are concerned more with building our kingdom or God’s.
​
7.  The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Butterfield
The story of a professor who describes her story as "a train wreck at the hand of the supernatural."  She lived a lesbian lifestyle and because of the the love and hospitality of a pastor, encountered Christ.  This is incredible insight on how to simply love those who may be different than us.

8.  You Can Change by Tim Chester
"The secret to living the Gospel life is being convinced that Jesus is the good life and fountain of joy." When I first read the title of the book my first thought was a "self-help" book, but as I read it, it clearly pegged me.  It is the one book in 2020 that I highlighted the most.

It's about heart change, not behavior change. That's the conviction of Tim Chester as he seeks to help everyday Christians "connect the truth about God with our Monday-morning struggles." This book is for newer Christians struggling with sin and for more mature Christians who have plateaued in their faith as they seek to find victory over sin in their lives.
With a conviction that sanctification is God's work and the journey to holiness is joyful, Chester guides readers through a "change project"-beginning with the selection of one area of life they would like to modify. Each chapter includes a question (e.g., Why would you like to change? What truths do you need to turn to?) to guide you as you deal with a specific sin or struggle, truths from God's word, and a reflection guide to help you through the change project.

9.  The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson
I like to read fiction as it takes my mind off of my responsibility.  I get buried into a world far, far away.  Andrew is not only an author but is also a songwriter.   The wing feather saga is a great series.  I am now on book three out of four.

10.  In His Steps by Charles Sheldon
What if?  What if there was a group of people who allowed the Word of God and the simple question of, "What Would Jesus Do?" dictate the moves we make.  It's a fictional story of a group of people who did this, but could it become reality?

11.   Gospel Fluency by Jeff Vanderstelt
This year, I have realized how unbiblical my life is.  I do my quiet times, I spend time with Jesus, but the Word isn't in every conversation or thought.  Becoming fluent in the gospel happens after believing it, and in believing it, we have to intentionally rehearse it (to ourselves and to others) and immerse ourselves in its truths. Only then will we start to see how everything in our lives, from the mundane to the magnificent, is transformed by the hope of the gospel.

12.  Missional Made Simple Todd and Hannah Mohr  missionalmadesimple.com
It's not a book, it's a website.  Todd has been a mentor over the past year walking me through house church direction.  He has been a great help in being a lending help and hands to  Church Inside Out

13.  You See Bones, I See an Army: Changing the Way We Do Church
So challenging and encouraging to know that I am not the only one who thinks this way.  As I read this book, it resonated so much in my heart.  It seems that what God has called me to do is an uphill battle going against a culture that has created an in the box way of doing things. 

McClung envisions a valley of dry bones ready for use-ready to become an army-but only after they are prophesied over.  The dry bones are the poor, the rebellious, the marginalized of society, the young and the uneducated.  They carry wounds, have been abused, suffer, are widows and single parents.  They are waiting for someone to believe in them, uphold them in community and send them out in service to God.  He presents five principles of leadership, church and mission to help make radical disciples of Jesus

14.  The UNLeader by Lance Ford
How is it we have incorporated a CEO mindset into the church.  The one thing that Jesus said to do in serving is what most of us don't want to do.  We want the spotlight, the accolades, etc.  Jesus himself is not our first choice when it comes to who we model ourselves after as leaders.  It seems we follow John Maxwell more than Jesus when it comes to leading our churches.

​Many times the life of Jesus directly contradicts much of what is being imported into the church under the mantra of effective leadership.  This book is not about eliminating leadership, but it's a call to redefine and recalibrate to Jesus' life.

15.  Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford by Clint Hill.
I love history.  This book was fascinating to see through the eyes of someone there almost every step of the way in history.

His career spanned the administrations of Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and Gerald R. Ford. A witness to some of the most pivotal moments in the twentieth century, Hill lets you walk in his shoes alongside the most powerful men in the world during tumultuous times in America’s history—the Cold War; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy; the Vietnam War; Watergate; and the resignations of Vice President Spiro Agnew and President Nixon.

Our country is looking more and more like Babylon. It is becoming even more clear that this world is not our home.

I am not a fearmonger nor a conspiracy theorist, so as I share this know that these words are meant to prepare for a spiritual battle, not hide from it. It is meant to offer an alternative to the hyper frenzy that is ravaging believers at this time by what they see.

I believe in the sovereignty of God. What comes will come and I have to stand on the secure foundation of my faith in Christ and under the shadow of His wings.

So, how do we live in a post-Christian world-our new Babylon?

1. Abide (John 15)
Before we DO something, BE something. There is power in the Words of God. The words of God will have to be our go-to in this exiled land. It must become our lamp, our guide and our wisdom. We must rest in Him and spend time with Jesus if we are going to thrive in Babylon.

2. Trust (Prov. 3:5,6; Isaiah 9:6)
May we remind ourselves that “the government rests on His shoulders”. The government rested on God’s shoulders during the times of Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, Nero, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump and now, Biden.
Trusting goes back to His Word and being reminded of His promises and His principles. You must spend time with Him.

3. Prepare your mind. (Romans 12:1,2; 1 Cor. 10:5)
First, I must lay mind mid and my heart on the altar-not just my physical body.
We must set ourselves apart and fast from the world so we can be prepared with our minds.
Note: renewing of the mind comes through the Word!

4. Live out Jeremiah 29.
We need to be prepared for the long haul. In Jeremiah, he prescribed how to live in Babylon:
-build houses and live in them, work amd have kids....(we are not meant to bunker down and hide-we are to engage with the Gospel)
-seek peace and well-being for the city He has sent us and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its peace you will have peace
-don’t let false prophets deter you
-CALL ON THE LORD

5. Live out Acts 2
Gospel. Community. Mission.

-Live on purpose with the people God has called you to. Don’t just go to church, be a family of people. Be family of missionary servants SENT to a particular place to make disciples who make disciples in everyday life.

-Take the Gospel to your work, your home, your mission field.

The time has come where we are going to have to move beyond the brick and mortar as believers. The Good News is He has given us help. This is not something we have to try to muster up ourselves-we have an incredible Helper....
​
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:16-17‬
Let’s Go!!!

​In order to hit a homerun you’re gonna have to swing.

In order to see people surrender their lives to Christ you are going to have to GO and BE.

Every swing in baseball isn’t successful, but you don’t hit a ball unless you swing.

Sometimes these swings result in a base hit, sometimes these swings are meant to help advance the runner on base closer to a scored run. Sometimes these swings result in striking out.
But people never hit a home run unless they swing.

The same with seeing God at work and seeing people surrender to Him.  Many don’t “taste and see that the Lord is good” and truly experience this because they never get in the batters box.
They never move beyond the dugout.

They watch surrender happen. They cheer on Sunday mornings for their team, they have their Sunday uniform on, they do the things to make it seem they are in the game, but they never hit and truly taste and see that the Lord is good because they never swing-they never go and tell.

Many have never moved beyond the walls of the church to reach the lost out of fear of striking out—not knowing what to say, fear, nervousness, fear out of what people will think, etc.

In order to hit a home run (see people come to know Christ), there will be times that you will strike out, but guess what? There will be another pitch-another opportunity.

And take note, it’s a season of games, so there are many opportunities and times to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

There are great ministries that are lobbing softballs giving you an opportunity to hit the ball (BE the hands and feet of Jesus), but many stay in the dugout.
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They chill out in the dugout watching others in the game but never have experienced seeing someone else taste and see that the Lord is good. Therefore, they faith becomes stagnant. Or worse, they sit in the stands telling the players how to play! (Translation: or worse yet, they week after week sit in the chairs on Sunday mornings telling the pastor how they should lead)

Is it time for you to get out of the dugout?

I would love to share with ways you can get involved in ministry. I would love for you to partner with us at Mobile Missions Network or Church Inside Out, but that may not be your cup of tea. There is ministry to those who have been abused, street worship, homeless ministry, food ministry-we will help you hit a home run!

Check out The Spring ministering to the abused and sex trafficked, CARA in North Tulsa ministering in North Tulsa, Angus Church ministering through Angus Cares, HOPE Missions ministering in the Forgotten Zip Code, Shouler2Shoulder ministering through street worship, Northstar Bridge feeding thousands of people, Get Out of the Bus ministering to the forgotten on the streets of Tulsa, Church that Matters-ministering throughout Sand Springs. Starfish Enterprises where homeless become family, the Well, Tulsa carrying the cross and bringing hope—all ministries that are lobbing softballs to help you hit a home run-and they are all local!!!!

YOUR CHURCH-I am surprised at how many still simply watch what God is doing in their own church and don’t experience God!

Get in the game!

“For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!””
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:13-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬
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For me, I am going to keep swinging. If you want to join me, call me 918-557-1558.