tweets from @ourprimary

1 John 3:23 - And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

tweets from @ourprimary

1 John 3:1- How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! ...


RT @JohnBevere “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God...” Eph 2:8–9


RT @XploreMyFaith Instead of focusing on Jesus, Judas focused on 30 pieces of silver. Let's not focus on the temporary things of this world

Twitter post from @ourprimary

Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent." - John 6:29

Twitter post from @ourprimary

Mark 12:30 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

World Mandate

hey y'all
Just got back from the World Mandate conference in Texas! I went down with a group from our church and had an incredible weekend of worship, prayer and teaching. I'm really not a conference junky but this is the second time I have been to World Mandate and have come away changed and truly inspired each time. I captured some notes that I feel are worthy of passing along. If you don't have the time to read through all notes here is the point: God has set us apart for His Kingdom purposes and called us to be light in the darkness (i.e. what good is a flashlight if you never end up in the dark?) SO...RUN TO THE BATTLE!!!! Go find the darkest parts of your work environment, your neighborhood, your city, etc., and courageously bring the light of Christ and His Kingdom. Do things Jesus' way and get Jesus' results! Simple...but not easy. Here's the extended notes:

World Mandate 2011

Running into the Battle Notes

Session 1: Jimmy Seibert, “Running to the Battle”

“…let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” “…but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel…the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” “As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.” 1 Samuel 17

· David’s life provides the perspective needed to run into the battle

· God is not intimidated by our pain and weakness

· If we don’t face the Goliaths they will overtake us

· Passivity will not change the world

· We need to appeal to our leaders righteously

· We can’t have boldness without intimacy

Session 2: Floyd McClung, “Not turning back”

· “The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by His law. They forgot what He had done, the wonders He had shown them.” Psalm 78:9-11

· Surrender sight unseen…it starts with us volunteering. God is waiting to see if we want to do something

· Stay focused to what you have surrendered to. God will bring/allow tests to come

· Align your values with the Kingdom. The kingdom of self needs to surrender to the Kingdom of God. Not words but deeds….”I want to be a man who really cares!”

o Humility

o Brokenness/compassion

o Meekness

o Hunger/thirst for righteousness

o Merciful/forgiveness

o Pure in heart/holiness

o Peacemakers

o persecution

· Focus on Discipleship: we have to get behind the scenes and start investing in people. Always asking, “what is the Holy Spirit saying to the person I am meeting with?”

o Call them into their destiny

o Encourage and build them up

· Humility/Honesty. Be willing to start over. God I need a new beginning will you give me a fresh start.

Session 3: Jim Yost, “Running like Jesus”

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.” Luke 10:2-4

· Do things Jesus’ way and get Jesus’ results

· Can’t have success without opposition…they go hand in hand

· We need Jesus to kick laborers out into the field

· 1 qualification: “Don’t look back”

· We just have to like to talk about God

· Don’t get side-tracked from the harvest…this is our calling

· Disciple = radical commitment to Jesus Christ

· No more meetings without non-believers

o Cell groups must have non-believers

o Small groups meet in non-believers home

· Strategy: Luke 10:4-12

o Eat with them

o Do not greet anyone on the road/ do not move around…in other words stay focused

o Bring the Kingdom/blessing

Session 4: Kristine Cane

· Do you pose any danger to the Kingdom of darkness?

· We can’t play it safe, we have to risk

· The purpose of life is not to arrive at death safely

· We must be careful not to confuse empathy/sympathy with compassion. Compassion goes. Empathy/sympathy stays put and keeps it safe.

· What is God saying today to the church?

o Ephesians 5 = Awaken. We are sleep walking and going nowhere

§ Imitate God

§ Live a life of Love

§ Not even a hint of sexual immorality

§ Don’t be deceived by empty words

§ Live as children of the light

§ Find out what pleases the Lord

§ Be filled with the Spirit

o Romans 13 = wake up from your slumber

§ Love one another

§ Put on the armor of light

§ Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ

o Isaiah 1:12-17 = re-calibrating the church. There is a shift needed in our priorities

§ Stop the meaningless offerings, evil assemblies, there is blood on your hands

§ Seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless

o First Works (OUR PRIMARY!) = Luke 9:23 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:59-60 “He said to another man, ‘follow me.’ But the man replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God.”

§ We want to do the things of God after we’ve done our things. God wants His will to be first (Primary!!!)

o Revelation 2:4 “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

o Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

True Fasting?

Isaiah 58:4b - YOU CANNOT FAST AS YOU DO TODAY AND EXPECT YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD ON HIGH.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:"

* loose the chains of injustice

* untie the cords of the yoke

* set the oppressed free

* break every yoke

* share your food with the hungry

* provide the poor wanderer with shelter

* clothe the naked

* do not turn away your own flesh and blood in need

* do away with the yoke of oppression

* quit pointing the finger

* stop malicious talk

* spend yourself in behalf of the hungry

* satisfy the needs of the oppressed

* keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath

* honor the Lord's holy day by not going your own way

* not doing as you please

* not speaking idle words

God says 'THEN your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; THEN your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. THEN you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: HERE I AM! ... THEN your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs when there is no hope, he'll strengthen your frame ... THEN you will find your joy in the LORD!'

[This looks just a little different than my current 'skipping breakfast, lunch, and dinner one day about every other week' ... ]

The Oasis

Imagine being out in the middle of a desert.  The sun is high in the sky, unrelenting.  The sand beneath your sandals almost smolders, and the heat from the ground lofts up to your nostrils.  You're beyond dry, you're parched.  Your throat becomes a heated kiln.  It is like the earth when it forms into the endless cracks of broken pottery, opening, straining for any drop of moisture.  The dampness of saliva would be nice, but even the pebble you've placed under your tongue no longer fools the body.  There's just nothing left, and you're withering away from the face of the Earth.  Is this your final hour?

Off in the distance, through the ripples of heat you see something.  A hint of color,  something waving? Is it real? Is it another mirage taunting your soul?  Closer you walk, not really believing, no hope in your steps.

The trail behind you is not the walk of a man so much as the slither of a snake.  Your toes drag with each movement.

But then the wind changes and there is the wisp of a scent that drifts across your nose.  Your body realizes it even before your drowsy thoughts can awaken, and then comes the exclamation!   Water?

That's the smell of WATER!

A new drive takes over.  Your feet begin to leave the earth with a bounce.   Your hopes are rekindled and the new vision before you almost carries you on wings.   In fact, almost nothing in this world could stop you now.  You recognize the palms and can even see the tall grasses.  You are driven.

"I am not finished!" you scream to your spirit!

To the waters edge you fall, and it isn't enough.  Your whole body, as if by pure impulse, pushes you in.  It's cold!  It's pure and fresh and life-giving.  Some sort of artesian well, broken from the bowels of the deep dark canyons of bedrock below, bubbling up at the same rate as the joy renewing in your heart.

Your thoughts become your own again.  Clarity returns.   You sit beneath the shade of the Palm.   Your canteens are filled and your lips, once again moist and elastic.  You smile, even laugh at how close you came to Death's door.  Your voice is raised to Heaven as you thank God for your good fortune.....but then....

What's that?  Out in the ripples.  A speck, just a rock....no, it's moving.  Slowly, but yes, it's certainly moving.  Whatever it is, it's still alive.  It doesn't have your fortune though.  It's not moving towards this dreamy place.  It's moving to the side.

Doesn't it see this palm?   Does it see and not believe?

"Life," you whisper beneath your breath, still not sure.  "There is life here you foolish beast."

Then the heat relents for just a moment, and you make out the figure of a woman.

Yes, no doubt a woman!

You see her hair tossing about.  Her frame in full view.  You can even see her dragging steps, familiar in your mind to your own not long ago. To your feet you pounce as air fills your lungs!

Your arms waving frantically you jump into the air, and from the very core of your soul comes your scream,

"WATER!"

"HEY!"

"WATER!"

"THIS WAY!"

"THERE IS, THERE IS WATER HERE! THIS WAY!"

The figure, just about to cross the horizon of the next sand dune, seems not to hear.  Your voice must not be cutting through this heat.  You run towards her, gambling in your mind, 'how far will I chase her, will I lose sight of this place, will I find it again if I run all the way to her?',  and just before she takes the last step out of your sight, you scream with all you've got,

"WATER!  LIFE-GIVING WATER!"

The winds shift, just for a moment, and your message rides the waves.   Faintly, she stops in her tracks.  She turns and peers through the hot sun.   There is an eternity that passes, as her drifting thoughts push through.   Are you real?   Could it be?   Is it worth it to change course?  You catch your breath and hold it.... and finally she turns your direction.

YES!  YES!  YES!

SALVATION!

That, my friends, is this verse to me, written from a man in prison, about to die for his love of Christ, to another, younger and more timid brother in the faith.  He was just a beggar, telling another beggar where to find food, once a lost and hopeless soul who'd had the fortune of finding the Oasis:

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but that of power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,  who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time..."  2 Tim 1 ~ Paul

This message is life-giving.  We should never be afraid to shout it from the rooftops, let alone the basement.   May we have the confidence to venture out from the shade of the Palm for the sake of another.  May we all have the spirit of search-and-rescue.  May we approach them with child-like understanding.  May we share.  Anything less would be criminal.

Imagine being out in the middle of a desert.  The sun is high in the sky, unrelenting.  The sand beneath your sandals almost smolders, and the heat from the ground lofts up to your nostrils.  You're beyond dry, your parched.  Your throat becomes a heated kiln, as the earth when it forms into the endless cracks like broken pottery, opening, straining for any drop of moisture.  The dampness of saliva would be nice, but even the pebble you've placed under your tongue no longer fools the body.  There's just nothing left, and your are withering away from the face of the Earth.  Is this your final hour?

Off in the distance, through the ripples of heat you see something.  A hint of color,  something waving? Is it real? Is it another mirage taunting your soul?  Closer you walk, not really believing, no hope in your steps.

The trail behind you is not the walk of a man so much as the slither of a snake.  Your toes drag with each movement.

But then the wind changes and there is the wisp of a scent that drifts across your nose.  Your body realizes it even before your drowsy thoughts can awaken, and then comes the exclamation!   Water?

That's the smell of WATER!

A new drive takes over.  Your feet begin to leave the earth with a bounce.   Your hopes are rekindled and the new vision before you almost carries you on wings.   In fact, almost nothing in this world could stop you now.  You recognize the palms and can even see the tall grasses.  You are driven.

"I am not finished!" you scream to your spirit!

To the waters edge you fall, and it isn't enough.  Your whole body, as if by pure impulse, pushes you in.  It's cold!  It's pure and fresh and life-giving.  Some sort of artesian well, broken from the bowels of the deep dark canyons of bedrock below, bubbling up at the same rate as the joy renewing in your heart.

Your thoughts become your own again.  Clarity returns.   You sit beneath the shade of the Palm.   Your canteens are filled and your lips, once again moist and elastic.  You smile, even laugh at how close you came to Death's door.  Your voice is raised to Heaven as you thank God for your good fortune.....but then....

What's that?  Out in the ripples.  A speck, just a rock....no, it's moving.  Slowly, but yes, it's certainly moving.  Whatever it is, it's still alive.  It doesn't have your fortune though.  It's not moving towards this dreamy place.  It's moving to the side.

Doesn't it see this palm?   Does it see and not believe?

"Life," you whisper beneath your breath, still not sure.  "There is life here you foolish beast."

Then the heat relents for just a moment, and you make out the figure of a woman.

Yes, no doubt a woman!

You see her hair tossing about.  Her frame in full view.  You can even see her dragging steps, familiar in your mind to your own not long ago. To your feet you pounce as air fills your lungs!

Your arms waving frantically you jump into the air, and from the very core of your soul comes your scream,

"WATER!"

"HEY!"

"WATER!"

"THIS WAY!"

"THERE IS, THERE IS WATER HERE! THIS WAY!"

The figure, just about to cross the horizon of the next sand dune, seems not to hear.  Your voice must not be cutting through this heat.  You run towards her, gambling in your mind, 'how far will I chase her, will I lose sight of this place, will I find it again if I run all the way to her?',  and just before she takes the last step out of your sight, you scream with all you've got,

"WATER!  LIFE-GIVING WATER!"

The winds shift, just for a moment, and your message rides the waves.   Faintly, she stops in her tracks.  She turns and peers through the hot sun.   There is an eternity that passes, as her drifting thoughts push through.   Are you real?   Could it be?   Is it worth it to change course?  You catch your breath and hold it.... and finally she turns your direction.

YES!  YES!  YES!

SALVATION!

That, my friends, is this verse to me, written from a man in prison, about to die for his love of Christ, to another, younger and more timid brother in the faith.  He was just a beggar, telling another beggar where to find food, once a lost and hopeless soul who'd had the fortune of finding the Oasis:

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but that of power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,  who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time..."  2 Tim 1 ~ Paul

This message is life-giving.  We should never be afraid to shout it from the rooftops, let alone the basement.   May we have the confidence to venture out from the shade of the Palm for the sake of another.  May we all have the spirit of search-and-rescue.  May we approach them with child-like understanding.  May we share.  Anything less would be criminal.

~ Rob Chaffart (from Reflecting Reflections: Awake Series, Part 19)~ ...

"As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." (Prov 27:19)

Isn't it interesting that none of these elements - Sand, water or snow, can stop themselves from reflecting the sun!

We, too, reflect who we fix our eyes on. If it is worldly pleasure, our reflection will be geared towards the selfish side. If it is the Son of God, we will reflect Him, the source of all life. We can't help but reflect His light! He is our source of happiness as well as our inner peace!

As we contemplate our Master at work, that reflection of Him in our lives will become clearer and clearer. After all, we ARE sons and daughters of God!

Who are you reflecting?

2 Corinthians 3:18 … "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Hebrews 12:1-3 (The Message) … ^1-3Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) … ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.