theemerge.com blog

:to develop character

2009-12-26T12:04:00.000-08:00

The point of tribulations and trials in this life? To produce true fruit that edifies and builds up those that you influence daily. To bond marriages and raise children the legit way. To become more like the God that created us.

Paul would throughout his ministry "encourage" his brothers saying that through many tribulations they would enter the kingdom of God. The truth remains and is this: God chastises those he loves and he brings down those that are arrogant. Without the pruning of God we would never be more like him, we would never decrease and he would never increase. At least for those of us that love him and hope for his appearing, trials and tribulations are gladly welcome...

So I got the call...

2009-07-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

It was a month and a half later but hey I got the call from the lead pastor afterall. We met and talked for an hour or so. He seemed interested in wanting to know what I was about and how I wanted to get involved. I told him my story and let him know I am good just coming and going for now. But you never know what the future might hold.

To be honest I think I am still, no, I know I am still dealing with my life, the past, and I can't seem to get out of this funk. I was rolling well for a few months from about February to maybe a month ago. I think I just stopped reading the bible, got over worked with my business, and just don't seem to care much about doing church stuff. I gave a larger than normal tithe recently and maybe it was because I felt guilty or something. I don't really know.

Things are well even though my heart isn't in it right now. I'll respond in a few and see what's up. Still enjoy going to church tho...

I'm supossed to get a call...

2009-05-03T21:32:00.001-07:00

from the lead pastor of my home church here in Kennewick, Wa. I've been attending the livingroom community church now for the last six months or so, it's good, I actually call it my home which is a trip. He stopped me this Sunday to ask for my number to see if we can meet this week to discuss my involvement. I was like, "sure, anytime after noon". I have already purposed in my heart to say thanks but no thanks. At least for now. I am in a content, good place right now and I don't want to screw that up.

Getting involved i believe will begin to cause this good thing to end. I'm honestly good showing up at the last minute, sitting, listening, saying hi and bye to a passer by or two and jetting out. To do just that means I've come a long way in the last 4 years. It's amazing how my faith has transformed in these wilderness years.

I read a quote that hit home for real for me, "unshakable faith is faith that has been shaken". My faith was brought as low as it could go without losing it all together. Just lucky I guess but jesus knows what's up and what time it is. He's rocked me these past few months and we'll see how far he wants to go but for now all things are quite good with no complaints.

I have to admit, I am looking forward to what mr. lead guy has to say. i think I'll write a bit about it if it happens...till next year maybe,

Peace,

Wes_Line

"a season to wonder"

2008-03-31T21:33:00.000-07:00

Every time i go to church these days i am so constrained by the spirit to get involved. i have purposely withdrawn myself from the ministry to focus on the more important things in life for a season. It seems that my heart has grown hard toward the calls of god in my life. I know some day i will once again press in to the ministry with all i have yet i feel now is still not the time.

I know to many that seems like foolish and a lame attitude but i understand it quite well, at least in my state of callousness. I believe God is still teaching me in this time of wilderness and i think it will still be a while before i dive deep into the call of god once again. As bad as i want to share of the depths of god through teaching and worship i can hardly make it through a sermon without feeling annoyed by the lack of tact and preparation by the one teaching.

However, i am still pressing on with what jesus has placed before me at this time in life. I will press on, i will continue to grow as a person, a husband, a father, and a child of god. My faith is as real as it's ever been only my heart is the one being called and challenged to engage, to fight and compete for the his mission.

"I love $$money$$"

2008-03-28T18:21:00.000-07:00

So I think I am an investor in the stock market yet I only own about $2000 worth of actual stock. I spend $9.95 to buy and sell per trade and I think I've spent more on those commissions than I've made through investing. My point is that even if I was a real investor and had $20,000 - $2,000,000 invested I would still be looking and wanting the same thing; financial security. As a business owner I will be lucky even to reach a net worth of $2,000,000 let alone have that much in liquid assets (stock, real estate, cash, savings).

There is this guy named Dave Ramsey who is a financial guru of sorts and a claimed follower of Jesus. You can find him weeknights on the Fox Business Network sharing his thoughts and ideologies to call in people throughout the country. His deal is legit, he teaches, no debt - no credit cards - start from nothing and use only cash. As much as I like his stuff I can't help but to think there is more to life than financial security.

We all work, we all strive, we all reach for our goals in life but I think true satisfaction lies in the present; otherwise we'll never reach it. Jesus taught us to strive for eternity, to look heavenward, and set our mind and thoughts to the afterlife. As much as I forget those simple teachings I am reminded of them every time I buy a share of stock and it drops by 10%. I realize how futile my bank account has become and how eternal the love of God is and will always be.

We may never learn in this life the simplicity of living for Jesus but I hope by the time I reach my deathbed I will have lived content and been satisfied.

"Once Again"

2008-03-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that I have been given the urge to begin sharing my thoughts again. As I look over the last few years of my life, where I have come from to where I am going I'm really at a loss. I have accomplished much yet I still feel a longing for something more. I'm never quite satisfied each day I wake up, I am always longing for what I once had or something similar. Not necessarily looking to the past but only guessing for what the future holds.

I have spent time in church, in the bars, at the casinos, along the river, with the saved and the unsaved, trying to figure out the point of my life. I am still looking...

However, my relationship with my wife and children have become bonds so strong only death could bring them to an end. They are the prize of my life, they are my passion, my drive for this season, without them I would be helpless. Christ should be that bond and thankfully he has created and purposed it but my heart is still hurting from all my experience and lack thereof.

As I press on in life I hope to continue here blogging as i once did...

Peace, Wes_Line

"It's been over 18 months"

2007-04-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

I'm not much of a blogger these days but for some reason I can't not share about the reality of Christ, so I finally gave up my rebellion and preached another sermon...thanks for all your prayers.

Crossview is not a normal church

2007-02-19T22:36:00.000-08:00

And we are glad it's different, Crossview that is.

As Josh, Andy, and myself gathered today to discuss the next few weeks of what Crossview would entail we not only surprised ourselves but we surprised one another. As leaders we broke down those barriers of pride and ego as we shared of our deepest intentions and desires. We are in this together and we are willing to be molded and moved by God.

This Saturday night will be our first communion service. It will not be like normal evangelical churches do it rather we are allowing authenticity and transparency lead by Christ to lead us in this venture. Communion is meant to be a time of reverence and awe not a quick drive by bite to eat.

We are not going to have a sermon preached this week, instead a quick history in what communion is followed by personal testimony from a few of the lovers of God we fellowship with. What does communion mean to them will be the heart of their testimonies. Later we will allow the option of real wine and of course good ol' Welch's grape juice along with bread broken from the same loaf.

We will practice our faith personally and relationally while giving room to Christ to convict and break and yet heal and mold.

We are not in this to do just do church again. If that is the case then I am not going to be a part. We will not be satisfied with the status quo; we will not be satisfied doing it all over again. We want to change, we want to move, and we want to be lovers of God in a real and fresh way.

We don't care about the numbers, we don't care about making everyone comfortable, and we don't care about what others might say. What we do care about is believers living revolutionary lives for Christ, in and outside the church building; we care about seeing people break the mold of cultured church life and practicing their faith through action in the community; we care about loving everyone despite their sin and their circumstance.

We are Crossview; we will testify our love of Christ not by what we say but by what we do.

Church as we know it...

2007-02-18T11:23:00.000-08:00

A few things that are really hard for people to get away from what church is as we know it...

:If you don't meet on Sunday Mornings then there's something wrong.

:If you don't have a Senior Pastor then you're doing something wrong.

:If you don't do 4 Chris Tomlin songs and at least 1 hymn then your doing it wrong.

:If you don't have an alter call each service then you're doing something wrong.

:If you don't have chairs lined up or pews facing the alter then you're doing it wrong.

:If you don't have a statement of faith listed somewhere online then you are a heretic.

:And if you actually have wine available for communion then you've caused the whole church to stumble and you should quit calling yourself a Christian.

Another night at Crossview

2007-02-04T02:29:00.000-08:00

Starting a church has been an interesting challenge. This Saturday night was our second gathering so far and yet again it was full of anticipation. The sound was a lot better than last week and the transitions seemed to flow together with more ease than the previous service. There were about forty people that showed this week and it seemed very much like we are beginning to find our core group of family. Our hope for Crossview is to move in our community missionally and purposefully. We want to influence the community not only for the sake of Jesus but also just to be good and loving human beings. I look forward to what opportunities we will find within the next few months.

I have updated the website with podcasting and media so those of you that want see what we're up to you can. This is only the beginning and I have never felt such peace and liberty as I do today.

Have you ever lead only to please God? In my former experiences, rarely, but I did tonight. Here is a little vision of who we are...Listen.

I was an idiot of a pastor once...

2007-02-02T01:43:00.000-08:00

There used to be a time in my life where I would have moved hundreds of miles to just become a worship leader or hold some type of pastorial office at a church. Now, I would rather clean sewers and shovel manure than become a pastor or leader in the modern church. From where I have been it is very rare to see Jesus be the center of it all. Yeah, we may have talked about Him, shared the things He has done, and even spent time singing songs about Him, but He was never the one in control. Modern church has sucked the joy out of me, taken my passion from me, and skewed my vision.

But today is a different day. Church is more than what we make it. It’s more than bible studies and worship songs, more than pastors and secretaries, or bulletins and buildings. Modern church thought and culture is killing and suffocating the generation that is now being raised up as leaders in the church. If there is no continual reform then there is no life and the church is dead. How do we reach a culture that finds no interest in our liturgy? How do we respond to people that see our hypocrisy? We reform, we change, and we allow Christ to do it.

People need more than Moses-type wannabes that run the church as its CEO. If I am going to be a leader then we are all going to be leaders in some way or another. We all have a voice and we are going to continually let that voice be heard…change will happen, action will take place.

Crossview - a new church plant...Kennewick, Wa.

2007-01-31T10:52:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a couple months and I figured I would update a bit on the happenings of the life of wes_line.

I am involved in a new church plant called Crossview. You can find us online at crossviewcommunity.com. We are people that want more in life than just Sunday morning pew warming and non-participatory church life. We are a people of influence that are embracing culture while impacting the community around us for the purpose of the gospel. We are stoked to be able to be flexible to the molding and movement of God and not get stuck in dogmatic traditions and heretical beaurocracies that strip the life of the believer that's involved.

We just launched last Saturday night the 27th at a local church building being loaned to us free of charge. With about sixty people showing up to show their support we were amazed that God would do such a thing as this. Those of you that know me and understand my views on church life in today's culture then you know how much I am an advocate for change and reform. So many in the past said why I don't just do something about it istead of just talking all the time and pissing people off. So my friends, I am now stepping out into that life of movement rather than hanging out in the mudpool of negativity I have grown accustom to.

I still have my thoughts and ideologies toward the modern church which will never change unless they are reformed in some way or another. I still believe all that I have spoken about in the past and I will not just be another church-goer that submits to ever whip and snap of the man with the pope-like complex. Church is more than a man, it's more than a tradition, church is family and I have finally found one that I can call my own.

Peace, wes_line.

Mark Driscoll is the man...

2006-12-02T01:19:00.000-08:00

While I have been off blogging for awhile now I must share my heart on this latest issue. For those of you that don't know Mark Driscoll is probably one of the most watched and criticized church leaders in America today. As the lead pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Wa, he has been making headlines for years but even more so to this date.

Because of his strong stance on certain issues Mark has been very vocal on his convictions. I applaud him for being so outspoken knowing he is only to please the audience of one. In that openness he makes himself vulnerable to the critics that watch his every move.

Growing up in my faith as a Calvary guy I have always noticed how tight Chuck Smith has been on the things he has said. Yes, in the past there were mistakes that were made and I am sure apologizes were made but through much maturity you can now see and hear a wise man.

The sweet think about Mark is that he's still young and fiery and has a passion for Jesus. He says what he feels is the truth and later ends up getting the beat down because someone took it the wrong way. I love it. I love that there are guys out there that are willing to lay it all on the line. And I also understand those that hear it and are offended by it. Some are more sensitive than others and it's absolutely cool. We are all a bit different in the way we are packaged together.

But what makes Driscoll the man is not necessarily what he says but it's what he does when he's confronted with those that oppose him. I have seen and experienced Pastors that are opposed by others and because of that opposition the pastors retaliate because of pride and make the circumstances even worse. Or they just ignore the opposition and hope it all just goes away.

But to go to your accusers and hear their side of the spectrum and listen to their hearts on the issue and then apologize in front of the nation is the radest thing I have ever seen.

Mark you are an example to thousands of believers that are watching you, thousands. Even the apology to McLaren a while back was insane; this is a hundred times more real and transparent. Mark you are the man. Thank you for dying to yourself and letting Christ be magnified through all of this. Believe me if you keep this up Mars Hill isn't going to reach 10,000 it's going to reach millions...

Dricoll's realness here

"Approaching the 300 million mark..."

2006-10-17T01:43:00.000-07:00

Gaining a new person every 11 seconds, just click the picture...

"Evangelism - Done"

2006-10-04T02:00:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to finish up these thoughts on evangelism. I recently read here what Peter John Courson wrote, “While Romans was the Book of Luther’s day, James will be (or ought to be) in ours. We are justified by works, and not faith alone.” And it made me begin to think about the way we view and represent the Christianity we so proudly profess when it comes to evangelism. I think there is much to regard in the book of James. Believe me when I say that we are justified by faith but I think it goes further than that. Yes, it’s Christ and Him alone but there are a lot of things that are direct byproducts of knowing Him.

Read chapter 2 of James again and look for yourself. It’s clear, it’s plain; Abraham was justified by his works. Now it wasn’t his works that justified him in themselves but it was because of the faith behind the works that he was found justified. God seeks a broken and contrite heart and if we are doing for Christ what we ought we are found justified, works working through faith. We do because we have faith in Christ, without faith those works are dead.

In saying these things I believe that if we have faith in Christ we will do what pleases Him. And if it signifies us living a missional life within our culture for Jesus, those works working through faith will continually bring honor to God. So I believe true evangelism comes down to this: It doesn’t really matter how and what we say to share the gospel but rather it’s how we exist to represent Him.

"Evangelism - Continued"

2006-10-03T02:59:00.000-07:00

Is evangelism really being bold to share the gospel when we feel prompted? Doesn't conversion begin with simple belief? I find in reading the book of Acts that the majority of people that condemned the Apostles were the Jews and others that were demon possessed. Most other people were willing to hear what Paul and the Apostles would say. Back then it was a new fresh thing to hear, today its history to our ears. We've all heard it before and people want something new and different. They aren't longing for Sunday church, they don't find identity in a sanctuary, and to them it is foreign.

What are they looking for? Well, it's the same thing we are all looking for, a relational Jesus. All aim is to God for patiently walking us through our experience of simple belief and through years now finally coming to maturity. But to the unbeliever, that thinks church and modern fundamentalist are the lamest ever, how do we share? Well to me, it's not by being bold but rather being relational. I know that if I spend enough quality time with an unbeliever I won't be able to hide the Light that shines through me.

I use to always pray for boldness to be able to walk up to people and ask if they have ever heard the gospel, but now to me that is so futile and so weak. Actually, it's the easy way out. When I used to do that I would feel afterward that I have accomplished something dramatic for the Kingdom of God. When in all reality I was sharing a mystery with a baby. Babies don't get it and they never will, they just look at you and spit up a little bit. I am sure seeds were planted and there is a benefit to those ways of being bold.

But how many people have you heard of that have come to know Jesus by street witnessing? Not many. Sure there are stories of how people said the sinner’s prayer and took a bible but then what, where are they now? I once led a Coast Guard to the Lord at Mission Beach in San Diego, we prayed right on the shore with the waves crashing at our feet. His name was Paul. Where is he now? I don't know, I hope he is a believer and a lover of God. I do think that these events happen and need to happen but why do we have to do it like this. Why is it an activity we do? Shouldn't our lives be a witness continually all day, every day? Christ would command, “Go and make disciples”, and “Be witnesses of me…to the ends of the earth”.

I am just waiting for the multitude to ask me, "What must we do to be saved", they see the light shinning, they know there is something different about me and until then I will continue to live out Jesus to all of them.

I will share my faith not by what I say when the opportunity comes but by what I do.

"Evangelism - Systematical or Relational"

2006-10-02T03:00:00.000-07:00

I went out to the usual Sunday Night group that I attend and we had some sweet conversation about evangelism. As we began to talk about the many ways of evangelism in today’s culture I was slightly annoyed by our typical systematic way of evangelism. Don’t get me wrong, I have been street witnessing my fair share of times in the past but times are changing. I have even gone as far as leading a few guys through the traditional sinner’s prayer after a time of evangelistic talk.

I am one of those bible thumping non-fundamentalist that love it when a JDub (Jehovah’s Witness) comes to the door. I get all excited. I think I get excited not necessarily to scripturally battle with them but because I get to talk spiritual things with people right at my front door. Seriously, I have had deeper theological conversations with JDub’s than with I have with most twenty something lukewarm believers. I found that I don’t tend to battle Scriptures but rather share with them the relational Jesus that I have come to know and love.

And that’s what I believe as a church culture that, we have created in America and abroad, we have systematically set up a plan of attack to save the world. It’s either using the techniques of “The Way of The Master-Ray comfort”, or “The Romans Road”, and even going as far as reading word for word out of a “Chick Tract.” Now please understand I do believe that these are beneficial ways of sharing the gospel but the problem that I see is that they have become the mainline way of evangelism. We have grown to seek to hear the lost say the sinner’s prayer and end it there. But isn’t Jesus so much more than that?

I feel that we have more to offer the world than a ten minute Chick Tract. The relational Jesus that we know is so much more than a plan systematically lined out on a piece of paper. And that’s how I have begun to share Him with others. No longer do I ask people if they have ever heard the good news of the gospel or if they have ever met Jesus but relationally I ask them what they do for fun. I begin to invest in a wondering soul and spend my energy getting to know them and talk with them. I get on their level and hang out with them. I eat with them and drink with them and laugh at their jokes and make some up myself. I become their friend and they become mine. And the most insane thing this entire time they have no idea I am even a Christian.

Is this the right way to evangelize? Maybe and maybe not but all I see in the gospels was a relation Jesus. He loved people, mostly the messed up ones. He ate and drank with them and shared with them the mysteries of the Kingdom. They listened to Him and began to respect and trust Him and become His friend.

Now these guys that I am becoming conversant with are drinkers, partiers, and they cuss a lot. I confess I don’t go with them to the bars or partake in their lifestyle but when I hang out with them I talk of things in life that matter. Things like marriage, family, and work. I even use innuendos to aim toward something spiritual that maybe our conversations would stray that way. I encourage and build them up while the rest of the world tears and beats them down.

Do they wonder why I don’t cuss, nor drink, nor party? I hope so. Do they see my life and see the light? I think so. I am the only one within this group of friends that has goals, and a purpose ahead of me. These guys look at me and think that I have all my aces in a row, they wonder why I used to party like them but I don’t anymore. Do they ask? Not really. I think I have more work to do to earn their trust and transparency. But I know those days will come, those days when their life takes a turn for the worst and they look to the ones who “love” them the most.

My plan is to love them like no one else in the rest of the world does. I will encourage them to find purpose and to set goals to meet in life. And when those times in life come when they begin to wonder what it’s all about Jesus will be the one to rescue their weary souls. With or without me He will have His way. Oh how difficult it is to just invest in one life for the sake of Jesus Christ. May we all invest and become relational with our lost and dying generation…

"What Does it Mean to be Missional?"

2006-10-01T01:58:00.001-07:00

I have had friends over time ask me again and again, “what does it mean to be missional?” Actually, I just had to add that word to my dictionary because it was unrecognized. It is a fairly new and fresh term that has been tossed around for the past few years within and without the emerging church movement. However, the word is around 100 years old according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It states that missional is an adjective that describes the way in which we do all of our activities, rather than identifying any one particular activity. Within the last few years, it has come into more common use.

So what does it mean to be a missional? I believe that it has many definitions and that’s what you will get with the different people you ask. I have read so many definitions that I have begun to believe that no one really has it down for sure. I do think that it will get narrowed down in definition and become such a common word these days as purpose-driven and seeker-friendly.

Are there any missional churches where I live? Many churches already have begun the journey to become more missional, but have never recognized themselves as such. Some believers are becoming more missional and are eager to share the story of their journey. Others make a distinction between witness outside the church and the rest of church life because to be missional means to be witnesses of God in the midst of our culture and daily life and not only in foreign lands.

To be a church in the world but not of the world is the mind set of being missional. Missionally minded is to be a believer that embraces culture not to be defined by it but to be an influence in it. Modern church has created a sub-culture within the four walls of the sanctuary but missional churches are breaking down those barriers and bringing church to the culture.

Fortunately, we have smarter people that take their time to really think about this stuff and make it available for others to read. Here at a friend of missional you will find a very detailed and thorough description of what it means to be missional…

"Is This the Church You Know?"

2006-09-30T00:17:00.000-07:00

What do you think of when you think of church government? Well if you are looking from a top down mentality then this is what you get...

I recently found this new website that has just launched intending to stimulate, question, and to provoke – hopefully in love – the Church. The name of the website is thechurchyouknow.com and they have some pretty unique videos. Either you will like'em or you'll hate'em, check them out...

"Third Day, are they really all that good?"

2006-09-26T01:05:00.000-07:00

Again, I was reading the recent Relevant Magazine and I was a little perturbed by an advertisement of the band Third Day. I remember seeing them live in 1997 at Medford, Or. in a little church with about 100 kids or so. They were touring with little bands named Switchfoot and All Star United. At least they were little at the time.

It seemed back then that it was about a journey, a journey playing music and glorifying God. I loved it and so do the other guys with me at the time, it was real and so raw, the sound even sucked. Back then it would have cost $1000 or so to have them play at your church. Now to get Third Day you have to put up at least $50,000 and have a capacity of about 5000 or more. The same goes for the other big names out there right now.

Anyways, I saw the advertisement and at the bottom it says, “Chevrolet. The Official Vehicle Of Third Day.” I just have to say, c’mon. It’s old news because Chevy has been backing Third Day for a while now but it was the first I heard of it. I guess it’s a good thing if you like to mix culture with Christian music and promote Chevy as a backer of Christianity. I just think it’s a little overboard, seriously, just look at this website, www.thirddaychevrolet.com, too bad only I have the VIP password.

Third Day, you guys have gotten way to Dove Awarded out for me...

"Why I Don't go to Church Anymore"

2006-09-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

I wanted to repost this article that was published on theemerge.com. While theemerge.com was online this article had more hits than any other article posted. I believe the reason why is because the people that found identity in theemerge.com were those that were struggling with the modern church as we know it today and it's relation between believers and our culture.

I do still attend a community of faith and I do not claim to agree with the article entirely but there are amazing points that are made and I think it's the best article I have found on the subject. As a believer that has been mostly outside of the church for the past year I am amazed at how God has brought other believers into my life. At the end of the article the question is asked, "Where can I find that kind of fellowship?", and with how it's explained is how it has happened in my journey. How pleased I am that Christ has been faithful to bring like-minded believers into my life and I must express they are incredibly like-minded.

Dear Fellow-believer,

I do appreciate your concern for me and your willingness to raise issues that have caused you concern. I know the way I relate to the church is a bit unconventional and some even call it dangerous. Believe me, I understand that concern because I used to think that way myself and even taught others to as well.

If you are happy with the status quo of organized religion today, you may not like what you read here. My purpose is not to convince you to see this incredible church the same way I do, but to answer your questions as openly and honestly as I can. Even if we don't end up agreeing, hopefully you will understand that our differences need not estrange us as members of Christ's body.

Where do you go to church?

I have never liked this question, even when I was able to answer it with a specific organization. I know what it means culturally, but it is based on a false premise--that church is something you can go to as in a specific event, location or organized group. I think Jesus looks at the church quite differently. He didn't talk about it as a place to go to, but a way of living in relationship to him and to other followers of his.

Asking me where I go to church is like asking me where I go to Jacobsen. How do I answer that? I am a Jacobsen and where I go a Jacobsen is. 'Church' is that kind of word. It doesn't identify a location or an institution. It describes a people and how they relate to each other. If we lose sight of that, our understanding of the church will be distorted and we'll miss out on much of its joy.

Are you just trying to avoid the question?

I know it may only sound like quibbling over words, but words are important. When we only ascribe the term 'church' to weekend gatherings or institutions that have organized themselves as 'churches' we miss out on what it means to live as Christ's body. It will give us a false sense of security to think that by attending a meeting once a week we are participating in God's church. Conversely I hear people talk about 'leaving the church' when they stop attending a specific congregation.

But if the church is something we are, not someplace we go, how can we leave it unless we abandon Christ himself? And if I think only of a specific congregation as my part of the church, haven't I separated myself from a host of other brothers and sisters that do not attend the same one I do?

The idea that those who gather on Sunday mornings to watch a praise concert and listen to a teaching are part of the church and those who do not, are not, would be foreign to Jesus. The issue is not where we are at a given time during the weekend, but how we are living in him and with other believers all week long.

But don't we need regular fellowship?

I wouldn't say we need it. If we were in a place where we couldn't find other believers, Jesus certainly would be able to take care of us. Thus, I'd phrase that a bit differently: Will people who are growing to know the Living God also desire real and meaningful connections with other believers? Absolutely! The call to the kingdom is not a call to isolation. Every person I've ever met who is thriving in the life of Jesus has a desire to share authentic fellowship with other believers. They realize that whatever they know of God's life is just in part, and only the fullest revelation of him is in the church.

But sometimes that kind of fellowship is not easy to find. Periodically on this journey we may go through times when we can't seem to find any other believers who share our hunger. That's especially true for those who find that conforming to the expectations of the religious institutions around them diminishes their relationship with Jesus. They may find themselves excluded by believers with whom they've shared close friendship. But no one going through that looks on that time as a treat. It is incredibly painful and they will look for other hungry believers to share the journey with.

My favorite expression of body life is where a local group of people chooses to walk together for a bit of the journey by cultivating close friendships and learning how to listen to God together.

Shouldn't we be committed to a local fellowship?

That has been said so often today, that most of us assume it is in the Bible somewhere. I haven't found it yet. Many of us have been led to believe that we can't possibly survive without the 'covering of the body' and will either fall into error or backslide into sin. But doesn't that happen inside our local congregations as well?

I know many people who live outside those structures and find not only an ever-deepening relationship with God, but also connections with other believers that run far deeper than they found in the institution. I haven't lost any of my passion for Jesus or my affection for his church. If anything those have grown by leaps and bounds in recent years.

Scripture does encourage us to be devoted to one another not committed to an institution. Jesus indicated that whenever two or three people get together focused on him, they would experience the vitality of church life.

Is it helpful to regularly participate in a local expression of that reality? Of course. But we make a huge mistake when we assume that fellowship takes place just because we attend the same event together, even regularly, or because we belong to the same organization. Fellowship happens where people share the journey of knowing Jesus together. It consists of open, honest sharing, genuine concern about each other's spiritual well being and encouragement for people to follow Jesus however he leads them.

But don't our institutions keep us from error?

I'm sorry to burst your bubble here, but every major heresy that has been inflicted on God's people for the last 2,000 years has come from organized groups with 'leaders' who thought they knew God's mind better than anyone around them. Conversely, virtually every move of God among people hungering for him was rejected by the 'church' of that day and were excluded, excommunicated or executed for following God.

If that is where you hope to find security, I'm afraid it is sorely misplaced. Jesus didn't tell us that 'going to church' would keep us safe, but that trusting him would. He gave us an anointing of the Spirit so that we would know the difference between truth and error. That anointing is cultivated as we learn his ways in his Word and grow closer to his heart. It will help you recognize when expressions of church you share life with becomes destructive to his work in you.

So are traditional congregations wrong?

Absolutely not! I have found many of them with people who love God and are seeking to grow in his ways. I visit a couple of dozen different congregations a year that I find are far more centered on relationship than religion. Jesus is at the center of their life together, and those who act as leaders are true servants and not playing politics of leadership, so that all are encouraged to minister to one another.

I pray that even more of them are renewed in a passion for Jesus, a genuine concern for each other and a willingness to serve the world with God's love. But I think we'd have to admit that these are rare in our communities and many only last for a short span before they unwittingly look to institutional answers for the needs of the body instead of remaining dependent on Jesus. When that happens do not feel condemned if God leads you not to go along with them.

So should I stop going to church, too?

I'm afraid that question also misses the point. You see I don't believe you're going to church any more than I am. We're just part of it. Be your part, however Jesus calls you to and wherever he places you. Not all of us grow in the same environment.

If you gather with a group of believers at a specific time and place and that participation helps you grow closer to Jesus and allows you to follow his work in you, by all means don't think you have to leave. Keep in mind, however, that of itself is not the church. It is just one of many expressions of it in the place where you live.

Don't be tricked into thinking that just because you attend its meetings you are experiencing real body life. That only comes as God connects you with a handful of brothers and sisters with whom you can build close friendships and share the real ups and downs of this journey.

That can happen among traditional congregations, as it can also happen beyond them. In the last seven years I've meet hundreds if not thousands of people who have grown disillusioned with traditional congregations and are thriving spiritually as they share God's life with others, mostly in their homes.

Then meeting in homes is the answer?

Of course not. But let's be clear: as fun as it is to enjoy large group worship and even be instructed by gifted teachers, the real joy of body life can't be shared in huge groups. The church for its first 300 years found the home the perfect place to gather. They are much more suited to the dynamics of family which is how Jesus described his body.

But meeting in homes is no cure-all. I've been to some very sick home meetings and met in facilities with groups who shared an authentic body life together. But the time I spend in regular body life I want to spend face to face with a group of people. I know it isn't popular today where people find it is far easier to sit through a finely-tuned (or not so finely-tuned) service and go home without ever having to open up our life or care about another person's journey.

But ultimately what matters most to me is not where or how they meet, but whether or not people are focused on Jesus and really helping each other on the journey to becoming like him. Meetings are less the issue here than the quality of relationships. I am always looking for people like that wherever I am and always rejoice when I find it. In our new home in Oxnard, we've found a few folks and are hopeful to find even more.

Aren't you just reacting out of hurt?

I suppose that is possible and time will tell, I guess, but I honestly don't believe so. Anyone who is engaged in real body life will get hurt at times. But there are two kinds of hurt. There's the kind of pain that points to a problem that can be fixed with the right care—such as a badly sprained ankle. Then there's the kind of pain that can only be fixed by pulling away—as when you put your hand on a hot stove.

Perhaps all of us have experienced some measure of pain as we have tried to fit God's life into institutions. For a long time most of us hung in there hoping if we tweaked a few things it would get better. Though we could be successful in limited ways during moments of renewal, we also discovered that eventually the conformity an institution demands and the freedom people need to grow in Christ are at odds with one another. It has happened with virtually every group formed throughout the history of Christianity.

Are you looking for the perfect church?

No, and I don't anticipate finding one this side of eternity. Perfection is not my goal, but finding people with God's priorities. It's one thing for people to struggle toward an ideal they share together. It's another to realize that our ideals have little in common.

I make no secret of the fact that I am deeply troubled by the state of organized Christianity. Most of what we call 'church' today are nothing more than well-planned performances with little actual connection between believers. Believers are encouraged toward a growing dependency on the system or its leadership rather than on Jesus himself. We spend more energy conforming behavior to what the institution needs rather than helping people be transformed at the foot of the cross!

I'm tired of trying to fellowship with people who only view church as a two-hour a week dumping ground for guilt while they live the rest of the week with the same priorities as the world. I'm tired of those who depend on their own works of righteousness but who have no compassion for the people of the world. I'm tired of insecure people using the Body of Christ as an extension of their own ego and will manipulate it to satisfy their own needs. I'm tired of sermons more filled with the bondage of religion than the freedom of God's love and where relationships take a back seat to the demands of an efficient institution.

But don't our children need church activities?

I'd suggest that what they need most is to be integrated into God's life through relational fellowship with other believers. 92% of children who grow up in Sunday schools with all the puppets and high-powered entertainment, leave 'church' when they leave their parents' home? Instead of filling our children with ethics and rules we need to demonstrate how to live in God's life together.

Even sociologists tell us that the #1 factor in determining whether a child will thrive in society is if they have deep, personal friendships with nonrelative adults. No Sunday school can fill that role. I know of one community in Australia who after 20 years of sharing God's life together as families could say that they had not lost one child to the faith as they grew into adulthood. I know I cut across the grain here, but it is far more important that our children experience real fellowship among believers rather than the bells and whistles of a slick children's program.

What dynamics of body life do you look for?

I'm always looking for a people who are seeking to follow the Living Christ. He is at the center of their lives, their affections and their conversation. They look to be authentic and free others to hurt when they hurt, to question what they question and to follow his voice without others accusing them of being divisive or rebellious. I look for people who are not wasting their money on extravagant buildings or flashy programs; where people sitting next to each other are not strangers; and where they all participate as a priesthood to God instead of watch passively from a safe distance.

Aren't you giving people an excuse to sit home and do nothing?

I hope not, though I know it is a danger. I realize some people who leave traditional congregations end up abusing that freedom to satisfy their own desires and thus miss out on church life altogether. Neither am I a fan of 'church hoppers', who whip around to one place after another looking for the latest fad or the best opportunity to fulfill their own selfish desires.

But most of the people I meet and talk with are not outside the system because they have lost their passion for Jesus or his people, but only because the traditional congregations near them couldn't satisfy their hunger for relationship. They are seeking authentic expressions of body life and pay an incredible cost to seek it out. Believe me, we would all find it easier just to go with the flow, but once you've tasted of living fellowship between passionate believers, it is impossible to settle for anything less.

Isn't this view of church divisive?

Not of itself. People make it divisive when they demand that people conform to their revelation of truth. Most of us on the journey are accused of being divisive because freedom can be threatening to those who find their security in a religious system. But must of us aren't trying to recruit others to leave their congregations. We see the body of Christ big enough to encompass God's people however he calls them to gather.

One of the things often said about traditional church is that Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in American culture. We only meet with people who look like we do and like things the way we do. I've found now that I have far more opportunity to get with people from a broader cross-section of his body. I don't demand others do it my way and I hope in time that those who see it differently will stop demanding we conform to theirs.

Where can I find that kind of fellowship?

There's no easy answer here. It might be right in front of you among the fellowship you're already in. It might be down the street in your neighborhood or across a cubicle at work. You can also get involved in compassionate outreaches to the needy and broken in your locality as a way to live out his life in you and meet others with a similar hunger.

Don't expect this kind of fellowship to fall easily into an organization. It is organic, and Jesus can lead you to it right where you are. Look for him to put a dozen or so folks around your life with whom you can share the journey. They may not even all go to the same congregation you do. They might be neighbors or coworkers who are following after God. Wouldn't that kind of interconnection among God's people yield some incredible fruit?

Don't expect it to be easy or run smoothly. It will take some specific choices on our part to be obedient to Jesus. It may take some training to shake off old habits and be free to let him build his community around you, but it is all worth it. I know it bothers some people that I don't take my regular place in a pew on Sunday morning, but I can tell you absolutely that my worst days outside organized religion are still better than my best days inside it. To me the difference is like listening to someone talk about golf or actually taking a set of clubs out to a course and playing golf. Being his church is like that. In our day we don't need more talk about the church, but people who are simply ready to live in its reality.

People all over the world are freshly discovering how to do that again. You can be one of them as you let him place you in his body as he desires.

...As a writer and teacher Wayne Jacobsen hosts Lifestream.org and travels the world helping believers sort out what it means to live freely in the life of Christ. He was a pastor for 20 years and a Contributing Editor to Leadership Journal and has authored 6 books and numerous articles on spiritual formation, relational community and engagement of culture As President of BridgeBuilders he is also a nationally-recognized specialist and mediator in resolving cultural and religious conflicts. He resides in Oxnard, California with his wife Sara and enjoys his new granddaughter who lives not far away. His blog can be found at here ...used by permission...

"Revolution NYC"

2006-09-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

So how true is it to you the statements made here on this picture? I just got the latest Relevant Magazine and in it is a featured article on the founder of a church called Revolution NYC. His name is Jay Bakker and he is the son of well known old school TV Evangelist Jim Bakker who lost everything because of tax evasion and other scandals’ in the 80’s. Jay is one of what Relevant calls, “9 people out to change the world.”

I have been listening and following the ministry of Jay for the last six months or so. I do appreciate his teaching style and his heart for the drifting culture. I think with what Jay has gone through as a kid growing up has defined him for who he is today.

Just last week Jay Bakker launched the newly founded Revolution NYC after building what is called Revolution Atlanta. I am stoked to see guys like this make headlines in the world today. If only the majority of Christianity would find identity is a statement like this, I believe then we would make a difference in our culture today.

Until we realize that we suck and we misrepresent Jesus we’ll never be able to reach this generation.

You can listen to Jay Bakker's opening message to Revolution NYC here or check out their webpage here.

"What I Believe"

2006-09-18T00:29:00.000-07:00

I am first a Christian, secondly an emerging evangelical, after that I consider myself to be missional. A more detailed answer is included below and I admit that I leave out some finer non-essential teachings and secondary issues as I allow God to direct the rest of the way.

First, I am a Christian: and to be so distinguishes me from other religions. Because of that, I agree with both the Apostles and Nicene Creeds.

Secondly, I am an emerging evangelical, I am in agreement with the majority teachings of modern evangelicals, which are as follows, although I allow room for God to move and mold:

• I believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God.

• I believe that there is one God, in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

• I believe in the deity Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

• I believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is needed.

• I believe that the Holy Spirit indwells the believer so they are enabled to live a godly life.

• I believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved go to Heaven and the lost go to Hell.

• I believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

••• However, as emerging I am willing to allow God to mold me and shape me according to His good pleasure beyond my doctrinal statement. If He sees fit to press me beyond where I am as a Christian then so be it. I am willing to change the "way" I believe but not necessarily what I believe.

After that, I am a missional believer:

• I believe that our communities of faith must be faithful to the content of sound biblical teachings so we can know what we believe and why we believe it.

• I believe that our communities must be faithful to the continually changing context of culture in which we are a part.

• I believe that our mission is to bring people into a community of faith so that they can be built up to go out into their culture as effective missionaries.

What I do not believe:

Because I have been often thought of as “Emergent” I frequently get questions about Emergent Conversation association. Although I do not agree with all that is Emergent I do see that God is having His way within the conversation. To help clarify my beliefs, I believe it may also be helpful to declare what I do not believe.

In stating what I am not, I do not seek to attack or bring harm to those who disagree with me, but rather distinguish myself so that people considering listening to me are aware of who I am, as well as who I am not.

• I am not a liberal who embraces culture without discernment and compromise the “absolutes” of the gospel, but relatively a Christian who believes the truths of the Bible are eternal and therefore fitting for every culture unique in its own way.

• I am not a fundamentalist who retreats from cultural involvement and transformation, but rather a missionary faithful both to the content of the gospel and context of culture.

• I am not a eschatological radical or dispensationalist's and believe that divisive and dogmatic certainty surrounding particular details of Jesus coming are unprofitable speculation, because the timing and exact details of His return are unclear to us.

• I do not attend to the Open Theists belief but comparatively I believe in the sovereignty and foreknowledge of God in all things.

• I am not a relativist and do believe that there is no salvation apart from faith in Jesus Christ alone and I do gladly embrace scripture as the highest authority above such things as culture, experience, philosophy, and other forms of revelation.

• I am not embarrassed by the bloody death of Jesus Christ and do believe He died as a substitute for the sins of His people in selfless love.

• I am not ashamed and do proclaim a loving gospel of grace which sounds like foolishness to those who are dying apart from God while it also is that power to those that are being saved.

"Controversy Killed the Cat"

2006-09-16T22:40:00.000-07:00

Why do we like controversy so much more than conformity? Why do we tend to thrive by an attack rather than a blessing?

I find that when I blog about something that pisses people off they respond and read in a fashion that is convincing. People tend to think when you stir up controversy within their minds. They react out of feelings that aren’t usually of good quality but nonetheless they are real.

But that’s what I like. I like to be in the middle of the fight. As punches are thrown I am doing all I can to dodge them, knowing the entire time it’s my fault they are there in the first place. For now on I am going totally controversial. I have no reputation to uphold, an am not a leader of a church, and I am not involved with any special ministry.

I am going to try and make you think rather than zone out. Good luck on keeping your cool.

What is the Point of Church [Part III]

2006-09-11T13:24:00.001-07:00

I think, as I have said before, that there are many valid reasons why we attend church and yet there are many not so valid reasons why we end up going to church. First, I wrote about needing to belong and that we as people long to belong in some way or another. Then it was security and how we feel a sense of security when we attend service at a church. However, this time I want to talk about another reason why we desire to participate in a local church. I believe that we as believers and as human beings long for relationship.

Think about it. What do we do in life? Build relationships, right. Day after day, week after week we build. If it’s in the marriage or with the guys or even on the basketball court we are always being relational. In every aspect in life and in every contact we have with other humans it’s always in relation to something.

To be relational -

1. a connection, association, or involvement.
2. an emotional or other connection between people.

Jesus was the Master of relationships. I’m sure He was inviting as He walked here on earth, people always wanting Him to spend time in their home. I think it’s true that when Jesus was in your company you didn’t care about standing tall and looking good, you probably knew that He would see right through it. When He was around, you would just be real, vulnerable, and transparent because you knew He was. When I am with my wife that’s how I am because I know she doesn’t care. She knows me; we have a strong relationship that we have built on for over the last five years. When I am with a few of my closest friends we are loose in our language and comfortable in our environment. It’s not that we sit around and cuss at each other it’s just that we know that we won’t be offended when or if something inappropriate is spoken.

My point is this, we attend church for many reasons but in all importance we long to know one another. We desire to find those friends that we could communicate our thoughts with without feeling condemned or judged in any way. I believe Christianity is filled with those relationships. It’s just that’s it’s almost impossible to find it on a Sunday morning service thus the reason small groups and more intimate settings for bible study are becoming more desired as Christians maturing in their faith.

Why do we go to church; to belong, to feel secure, to build relationship maybe? Like I said, there are many reasons why, I just pray that we would think about it rather than not. The Church is an amazing body in which Christ has built and He is the most relational person I have ever met. Relationship; it's just another valid point of Church.

"A New Era"

2006-09-04T01:18:00.000-07:00

There is a passion that is beginning to burn once again. Once a flame that burned so bright that not even the worst of struggles in life could have quenched it. Through weeks, months, and years with lack of oxygen the flame began to flicker out. While it burned with little fuel the flame never died, it fought through the tough times, it prevailed through the deep ocean of undertows that seemed to drown it out. Fuel once again has been found as if it was a desired delicacy. That flame is beginning to show new life and how pleased I am to see it. Jesus is burning within my heart at this moment. Burn my God, Burn. Bring back the passion that once burned bright and clear. All that which modernity tried to quench has been given new life today. Bring new life, new passion, and a new journey like nothing before.

Theemerge.com has ceased to exist and I praise God for it. I loved it and I met a lot of great people because of it. But it was too much for me; it was more than I though it would be. I am sorry for letting those of you down that found identity in it. I, just as much as you, desire to find people that feel the way I do. Thank you all for the support and the love.

What I have to say is this.

I am done!

Yeah, I am done ripping on the church and on those that are part of it. My season of bitterness has come to an end. My thoughts of anger have been purged from me. I no longer want to worry about who is right and who is wrong. I am ready to love, I am ready to see what God is really doing. At this point I have no agenda, no enemies, no one that I hate, and I am at peace. I am moving on and I am excelling past the brethren.

Enough is enough.

I want to let you all know this one thing, I love you. And I thank those of you that love back. Please pray that the flame would burn in the hearts of all that know Him and love Him.

I will continue to blog, so please check back.

My paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

2006-08-01T01:41:00.001-07:00

1-3 The question keeps coming up regarding music that has been considered secular: Should you attend concerts where such music is played, or not? We sometimes tend to think we know all we need to know to answer these kinds of questions—but sometimes our lowly hearts can help us more than our arrogant minds. We never really know enough until we realize that God alone knows it all.

4-6 Some people say, rather rightly, that music is harmless, that there's nothing to it, that there is no God other than our one God, that no matter how many concerts you go to and people that attend, it doesn’t add up to anything but old memories. They say again, that there is only one God the Father, that everything comes from him, and that he wants us to live for him. Also, they say that there is only one Master—Jesus the Messiah—and that everything is for his sake, including us. Yes. My friends it is true.

7 In strict logic, then, nothing happened to the music when it was performed in a secular realm. It's just like any other music. I know that, and you know that. But knowing isn't everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn't that insensitive.

We need to be aware to the fact that we're not all at the same level of understanding in this. Before knowing Jesus, some of you have spent your entire lives listening to "secular music," and are sure that there's something bad in the music that then becomes something bad inside of you. An imagination and conscience formed under those conditions isn't going to change overnight.

8-9 But fortunately God doesn't rank us on our taste of music. We're neither commended when we turn up the stereo nor reprimanded when we just can’t stand it. But friends, God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old tunes to be thrown off track.

10 For instance, say you parade your freedom by going to a concert at a secular venue, where the main act is going to be Coldplay. Isn't there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go to that concert? The danger friends is that he will become terribly confused, maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong.

11-13 Christ gave up his life for that person. Wouldn't you at least be willing to give up going to a concert or two for him—because, as you say, it doesn't really make any difference, right? But it does make a difference if you hurt your friend badly, risking his fragile conscience! When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A good concert here and there isn't worth it at the cost of even one of these "fragile ones." So, let’s not go to these concerts if there's any chance it will trip up one of your brothers or sisters, let us consider others before we think of ourselves.

:adapted from the bible:

Vintage21 Jesus Video

2006-07-24T05:05:00.000-07:00

This was a video in a series that Vintage21 did to help relate with the modern thought of church and Christianity. I think it really provokes thought while hitting a real point in the way the world views church. I feel the reason why it's so funny is because it's so true, a jokes not all that funny without a little truth.

Check out their other videos at vintage21/vids and their website at vintage21.com

"What if We Really Loved Jesus?"

2006-07-19T01:56:00.000-07:00

I was just contacted by another blogger and told to never contact him again. He said I was harassing him and that he was going to send my information to the FBI. Fine, so be it.

If me sharing with him my heart felt convictions of Jesus is harassment and him professing that Christ is his Savior then I suppose something is slightly wrong. I respectfully emailed back my apologies and let him know I meant no harm. Then I began to wonder.

I began to wonder what we would look like if we really loved Jesus. What would we look like if we really represented Him right? How would we change who we are to benefit those around us for the sake of Christ? What way would we be willing to reform ourselves to bring glory to God and humility to ourselves?

I am so influenced by Paul when he says in 1 Corinthians, 19-23 ,”Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!” (MSG)

So how is it that when we profess to love Jesus we tend to rather oppose others that are not in the same boat as ourselves. We spend quality time with those that are as narrow-minded as we are and yet we much of the time care less for the others around us. I hate that type of person. And in all reality I find myself in that position more often than not. And it’s when I get a reality check from some no-named blogger that I realize I am at just as much fault as they.

Should it start with me? Should I begin to love Jesus and try to be humble in likeness with Him and then wait for others to tag along and try the same? I probably shouldn’t even worry what others think. But then again maybe I should at least try to see from their perspective.

I want the community of theemerge.com to be a place that is tolerant. Not to sin but to people, people that aren't like us. Other people with shady backgrounds, other seekers with broken families and sin so deep it looks unforgivable. I want theemerge.com to reach the broken churched of our modern culture. The believers and seekers that have no family because all their brothers and sisters do is cast their starry gaze at them in contempt. I want theemerge.com to be a place of safety and solitude and also a place of rebellion and revolt against the status quo. I want the community of theemerge.com to actually love Jesus and to be simply changed by that.

Are you willing? Willing to lay down your life for another that probably isn’t even worth it; for someone that you probably would even want to talk or dine with. Don’t you want to represent Jesus rightly?

What if the community of theemerge.com really loved Jesus? Who would come and who would go and what would we all look like? In spite of all our shortcomings and frailty I implore you all; let us love Christ Jesus. In all that we are and all that we do let us practice Jesus. In our work, our play, and our leisure let us wear Christ wherever we are; not preaching, not judging, not condemning, but rather charitable, unspoken, and commending. Let us give preference to others before we give precedence to ourselves. Let us follow our King and try our best to allow Him to mold us into who He wants us to be. And my friends, in doing this, may we persistently and in all authenticity love Jesus with all we have and with all we are. Thanks for listening...

"The Modern Age Of A Fundamentalist"

2006-07-15T02:33:00.000-07:00

Theologically, I bet that their church would agree with the majority of the rest of the fundamental nation, hard to believe. So why are these fundamentalist so hardcore? I have heard this lady on the xxxChurch.com podcast in the past and it’s always the same crap. Even Alan Combs thinks this lady has gone off the deep end and he’s an atheist. The funny thing is that every interviewer always tries to bring it back to her sin or her faults. And it never works.

I would like to see a really good bible expositor go up against her and make her cry. It’s honestly people like this that make Jesus out to be the punk that haters think He is.

And then I found this one. This journalist does a better job but man the lady is crazy.

It’s extremely unfortunate to be associated in even a small aspect with dogmatic religious fanatics as this one. Thus, this is one voice that we at theemerge.com would have to draw the line. All I can say is good luck Westboro Baptist Church on your chances of dinner with Jesus.

These guys being persecuted, If you want to call it that.(2.3 MB)

the guys says, "Kiss Fag Ass", in this one, unbelievable...

"The Mars Hill Experience"

2006-07-12T03:06:00.001-07:00

This weekend I made my way to Seattle. Now that it’s only about 3 hours away I was destined to travel there sooner or later. My wife lived in Seattle for a year so it wasn’t hard to convince her to go. We primarily spent time in downtown by the fish market and the space needle. We got to experience the first Starbucks coffee house and all the other gross stuff you get in the middle of a big city. However, the experience was fun and amusing to say the least.

The main reason for my wanting to go was to see and experience Mars Hill Church. First, let me say this I have never been to a church that was this amazing. I believe that it is a place that almost anyone would feel comfortable. From the security you feel starting at the children’s ministry to the weekly participation in communion, it’s an awesome place of community. I was expecting something to be wrong or something that I would not agree with but to my surprise I was blown away by the hospitality and the friendliness of all the staff. From every angle and every side I felt comfortable, something that doesn’t happen much too often at a church service for me. I figured if all this was so good than the teaching would be good but not great. I have heard Mark Driscoll teach on many occasions just never in person. One of the usher “ladies” got my wife and me a seat in the second row, something I am also not accustomed to but I was willing because of the welcoming atmosphere. I am a back row kind of guy.

As Driscoll got up to teach I was hoping for the best but expecting a mediocre sermon. As he began I wasn’t so taken because he started with the story of Adam and Eve and linked it all way to Jesus though the meals that have been eaten (Adam and Eve, the fruit in the garden, Passover, Jesus the last supper, and then communion). I’ve heard it a million times before and I began to lose interest, then that’s when something started to happen. Accompanied by the comfortable atmosphere, the dim lighting and the passion of a preacher there’s no wonder why this church is making headlines. Mark Driscoll blew my mind, he almost had me in tears, built me up, beat me down, made me laugh and got me more excited to be going to heaven than I have ever been before. Now that is something very few preachers and pastors can do, mostly when I am the one listening. From the time that he started on the applicable part of his talk I didn’t miss a beat. Almost every allegory, every word, and every story he told was captivating. I was literally humbled. Not because of Mark but because of the One that was speaking through him.

The one thing I was more amazed with than anything was the substance of the sermon. For an emerging missional church there was more talk about Jesus, sin, and the need for repentance than there was anything else. He had to at least reference the name of Jesus 50 – 75 times, something you don’t hear to much these days. And in all that I felt refreshed and revived by the time we participated in communion.

So why is it when I go to almost any local church I find myself uncomfortable and annoyed? Seriously, what’s the difference; dim lights, a few candles, passion maybe? Maybe it’s an anointing? But even the children’s workers were thoroughly great. The people were warm and so inviting. It seems that we are so focused on the “Senior Pastor” that we lose focus on everything else. The greeters seem fine but they’re not on the same mission as the church. The worship singers are good but they seem to be struggling and it’s hard to listen, they’re in their own world. Finally the “Senior Pastor” has arrived, hopefully it will be good. Oh no, we’re in Leviticus again and I am going insane. I can’t handle it; I can’t keep going day in and day out, torturing myself just to be here. I want rest, I want to be revived. I want to experience church for what it really is, fellowship with Jesus. Can’t we please make Him the “Senior Pastor” and let the other guy just be a leader or something. Can our focus be upon Jesus and repentance instead of the one man show?

I believe that when we move away from focusing all our attention on what the main guy has to say then we will have community centered on and around Jesus. It seems that is what Driscoll has done with Mars Hill, you can see it, inside and out. I do also think that movements and churches are lead and started by a one man as they are moved by God, history would teach us that. But when we place all our grievances upon him, that one man, we lose the credibility we had when we used to lay them upon Christ.

Church should be community built in and around Jesus, not a monarchy built around a man.

The church I experienced this weekend was not centered on Driscoll, with or without him the church would thrive. Although he is the man and the name associated with Mars Hill, I saw a church body participating the way it was always meant to, as a whole. From the time I parked my car, walked through the coffee shop, hung out in the foyer, check my kids in, grabbed a cup of coffee, pleasantly seated in the second row, blessed by the music, the dim lights, the powerful communication, and quality candlelight communion, I would have to confess that I had the greatest church experience in my entire Christian walk of almost ten years.

I can’t say that I agree with all that is Mars Hill but it’s the closest I have ever come to an authentic Christian body of believers meeting together congregationally and having Church. I only wish it was a reality in every city of the world. Mars Hill, you rock…thanks for the good times

"Real Reality"

2006-07-04T03:14:00.000-07:00

I was reading the headlines this evening and I was intrigued by an article on the amount of Americans killed in the war with Iraq and the protest against it. According to the press 2,526 US soldiers have died since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, according to a tally based on Pentagon figures, the impact of the deaths has rarely dominated headlines. We have grown used to the war headlines and it seems not to effect us the way it did in the beginning. But the amazing thing to me is when we actually give ear to a news break or a statistic, we seem alarmed and surprised.

Think about it. 2,526 soldiers have been killed. They’re dead, gone, by by, no more. When you sit and think about for a moment, it’s a little frightening.

You see, I believe that we as human beings get so used to the daily culture that we live in. We get so comfortable with our daily lives that we don’t seem to be phased by real reality. We live in our cultured bubble and we feel fine, no one will hurt us.

Then that’s when tragedy strikes.

Maybe it’s a death of a loved one, a loss of a spouse, it could be a life long injury or even a huge hit financially, maybe it’s a hurricane or a plane crashing into a building, a bomb on a bus, a child committing suicide or an accident that leaves pain and grief. Whatever it might be, I believe it’s when these events take place that we begin to think in terms of real reality. We begin to soak up what our life is really all about and we begin to ask ourselves the lifelong question, saying, did I live the right life.

It seems also that most people in American culture have been so blessed that we can’t take it any longer. We get so feed up with this life and we want to call it quits.

Its true 2,526 soldiers have died since 2003 but statistics show that 79,137 Americans have killed themselves since 2003. Now, when I hear of people like Cindy Sheehan, being joined by actors such as Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon, going on a hunger strike to bring the troops home I begin to question. I don’t question their purpose or passion but I question their motive. When we have over 30,000 people killing themselves every year here in America what are we doing making headlines by not eating our McDonalds for the day or a week. When there are millions dying each year from disease in the world why do we care to make a political stand? Why not continually raise money to fight cancer and disease here and across the globe rather than crying about who’s right and who’s wrong. Think about it, 2,526 compared to 79,137. I’m not trying to downplay the war in Iraq, I just can’t help but to think in terms of real reality. I am sick and tired of hard core none realist who think so selfishly about their own agendas when there are millions dying without hope annually.

I only pray that Christ would come oh so quickly, that He would bring an end to our pain and our sorrow, so we could be where He is.

Friends may we begin to think in real reality, may we take a moment out of the day and begin to ponder what it is we are really doing. And may we walk upright, making good use of our time, as the day of Christ draws near.

People are in desperate need. What are we going to do?

"Am I really a Heretic?"

2006-07-02T01:27:00.001-07:00

As I study church history I see many in the faith took risk that were damaging to their relationships with others that once agreed wholly with their doctrines. It seems that these revolutionaries were once pupils to their fathers in the faith, but with a rebellion to the status quo, these so-called heretics cast off all and desired a deeper calling in their faith toward God. They understood and experienced what the norm was at the time but they wanted more and knew that something was in store for them in the future. They knew that God wanted to move, they seemed to not really know where or what God was doing but they were willing to take those steps which so many seldom take. And I find excitement in this. Why? Because I see people taking risk for the kingdom of God, I see people saying I want more, I see people partaking of more. Christ is everlasting and He is never changing. He is deep, He is so much more than we could ever think or imagine. So why not experience more of Him? Why not go beyond any place we’ve ever been before?

Are we considered heretics, when we say we need change? Are we heretics when we shout out for more, just because our way of believing doesn’t meet up to your standard? Are we in the wrong when we say we want something beyond what we have at this moment? Doesn't Paul say to press on toward that upward call? Doesn't he say to walk circumspectly, redeeming the time? Doesn't Christ say occupy until I come? I feel that we are wasting our time arguing about whose right and who’s wrong, when we argue over meaningless words rather than focusing on our purpose and passion which is Jesus. And why must we defend our stance in such a way that it puts our brother or sister on the sideline and outside of the game entirely?

I believe that there is a passion within our time here and now, a passion that goes beyond who we are and what we are all about. Jesus wants more. Jesus desires more than just our Sunday best. I want to be holy; I want to shine before Christ in everyway possible. And in so doing that I know that I will offend some along the way and I apologize for that, I will try to live Romans 14 to the best of my ability. I want to say that I am more in love with Jesus now as I am considered a heretic according to the status quo. I am for Jesus, His Word, His Revolution, and His Church.

"There but for the grace of God go I."

"Believing with liberty"

2006-06-24T19:25:00.000-07:00

Imagine what it would be like to think for yourself. Imagine what would happen if you were given the opportunity to start fresh without any outside criticism. I believe that it's possible to change the way we believe but not necessarily what we believe.

And you may ask what the point of changing the way I believe is.

I feel that we as believers and lovers of God are trained and molded in the image of our mentors. Now that in itself in not a bad thing. But I believe that in time we begin to heretically stand upon theologies and dogmas that were handed down by our fathers in Christ and not necessarily Christ Himself. I have come to realize that the wars of religion are fought upon our fundamentalism. We have passed Christ in our pursuit to achieve greatness and we have laid aside all that was pure and honest. We have separated ourselves from one another for the sake of keeping our God in a tidy little box.

We are forced these days to agree with the mainstream beliefs of our fundamental brothers and sisters. And if we bite the hand that feeds us we might as well forget about the influence we could have made to the people listening.

I am here to say, screw that. There is a movement of believers today that are fed up with the status quo that our founders once taught us, just as they were with their fathers in the faith. The time has passed in which we are to stand upon the foundation of Christ alone, putting away all dogmas that once held us down. The time has come to say we will not follow any longer but now we will be leaders into new and fresh breaths of the Spirit of God.

My friends, may we lay aside all that once bound us down by the distinctives of our denominations. May we walk in a way that brings liberty to our thinking and believing. There is an awesome way of living fully for Christ and not for the institutions that surround us. Let us seek first the Spirit of Christ and there we will find true, lasting liberty to all the ways we think and believe.

"What is the point of church [part 2]"

2006-06-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Most people think that by going to church you are racking up points with God. It's as if God is in heaven waiting for you and when you get there He is going to give you all your rewards for sticking it out every dreadful Sunday morning. "At least if I go to church than God is pleased with my sacrifice," that's what some might say.

I believe that a lot of people in this generation have it all wrong for their reasons of going to church. They say, "Well, my parents go so I figure it's the right thing to do," or they say, "we can't forsake the assembling of the brethren." It's true also in today's church world that if you miss a week here or there people get a bit worried as if you might be backsliding.

While there are many shallow reasons for going to church, I do believe that there are many valid reasons for the body of Christ to gather on a regular basis. Last time, we talked about the desire to "belong" and that belonging to a body gives us comfort and joy knowing we are part of something and we are known and wanted. There is also other reasons why we as Christians love to be part of the body of Christ and one of those reasons is a sense of "Security". Not only do we desire to belong but we also love the feeling of being secure.

1st Security:
Now there are two types of security we feel when we are involved or taking part in a church service. First, the security we feel is a physical security. When we gather we experience a freedom from risk or danger giving us a sense of safety. It seems that when we engage in a worship service we do not sense any feeling of uncertain danger from anyone or anything, it's as if the Holy Spirit provides a surrounding atmosphere and a certainty in the minds of the gathered believers. We know that as lovers of God, while we are together, gathering in fellowship, we are sure He is protecting us. It's just as a father protects his children when they are in his presence.

Now, of course we do not need to meet together to feel security from Christ but the point of the article is concerning gathering as believers to be what we call the church. So please, don't misunderstand me. I feel secure much of the time when I am out of fellowship just because I know that God holds the world in His hands, it's just that I feel that when we gather, something supernatural happens. The only problem being is that our frailty gets in the way and we mess everything up. If we just let God be God and believers be believers, than we have an amazing church with much power.

2nd Security:
The second security we feel is much better than the first if you want my opinion. Not only do we feel a sense of physical safety when we gather but most importantly we feel a spiritual security. When we gather together we experience a freedom from doubt, anxiety, or fear, giving us a sense of confidence. Isn't it true, when you enter a church that you frequent, you feel the weight of the world lifted from your heart of hearts. Isn't it true, when you talk and pray with others within your church community that you forget of the realities in the real world. Now where does that come from, that sense of security? It seems that something supernatural happens when we come together as the body of Christ. Jesus says that where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am. Jesus surrounds us, Jesus comforts us, Jesus secures us. There are healing's(seen and unseen), there are miracles(seen and unseen), there are times of salvation(seen and unseen) during these gatherings and Christ is the maker of them all.

Seemingly, if these things don't happen when you meet together than I would suggest that there is something missing. Either, man has come in and made it a show, tradition has drowned out all that was real, or the Holy Spirit of God no longer resides in such a place. If that is the situation my prayers are with you and you can be confident and secure in Christ knowing that; this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 john 5:14-15)

You see, many days I have woke in the morning with a feeling of anxiety. I begin to pray and it subsides, but only a little. I then open the Scriptures, and a little more, the anxiety goes but there still remains a small amount. But it's when I find myself walking into that place, where we as a body have set apart to gather as the church, that I feel it subside entirely. It's where I go to find peace among the storm, it's the place I hide when the rains come, and it's under those wings of Christ's body that I find "security" like no other.

Security...
It's just another point to the point of Church.

Not "Emergent" but emerging...

2006-06-07T22:24:00.000-07:00

I am not Emergent but I do believe that I am emerging. I am not a fundamentalist but I do believe that the Bible is without error. I feel uncomfortable at church but I can't stop going. I love Jesus but I can't stand most believers.

Now, my question is this, am I alone? I don't think so.

I accepted Christ during the new year of 1997. A chaplain was sharing about Jesus and about the "Last Days," towards the end he asked if anyone would like to say the sinners prayer. I was willing. I do not think it was the prayer that day that made me one with Christ but I believe it was a realization that Jesus was real and that I was in need of a savior. After that day my life would change forever and it has never been the same.

I began to attend a church called Calvary Church in Grants Pass, Or., it was a former Calvary Chapel disaffiliated because of a difference in dispensational thought. I was so new to the faith that I loved anything and everything that had to do with Jesus. I was a zealot without meekness and I believe that I pushed more people away from the gospel than I did bringing them near.

However, I also attended a church called Applegate Christian Fellowship in Ruch, Or.. There the head Pastor Jon Courson was in his 20th year of pasturing that church in the Applegate Valley. I began to grow as a believer and as a follower of Christ while under the teaching of Jon and I loved the atmosphere of that church and I still do to this day. It is a church that I believe almost any follower of Jesus could feel conformable in some fashion. That is absolutely not true with the majority of churches I have frequented in the past.

As the years went on I began to attend Calvary Chapel Grants Pass in 1998. The first service I attended had about 20 people in attendance. I loved the intimacy of the smaller church and the genuine relations that I had with many of the members at the time. Also the pastor was young and fiery which appealed to me. As most Calvary's do this church began to grow. That's when I received the call to attend Bible College and because I was a Calvary guy I applied to attend Calvary Chapel Bible College in Southern California.

In September of 1999 I began my first semester as a student at CCBC. It was at this time that I began to develop a foundation in fundamentalism. During the first 2 years of my walk with Jesus I studied deeply the gifts of the spirit, eschatology(end times), and fasting and prayer. Never was I concerned with "once saved always saved", "bible validity", "hermeneutics", or any other subjects that were non essential. I just figured that God was God and I was not. I was not worried at the time to win the lost world to Christ. Sure I shared my faith but only when it was necessary.

It wasn't until I was trained up in the way of a fundamentalist that I began to be dogmatic in all I thought and believed. After college I was given the opportunity to be a worship leader and then later an assistant pastor at Calvary of Grants Pass, Or. It was there that I toned my skills of being a right winged bible thumper that never gave anyone a chance to be real. Primarilly because I was a pastor and a dogmatic fundamental one at that.

Then that is when it started.

I began to see what the ministry life was all about. I began to see what really went on behind the scenes. I wish I would have never known but I am glad that now I see from a insiders perspective. I don't believe that Christ meant for His church to be the way it is today. Oh how corrupt the church of man has become; will we ever learn?

When I saw the church for what it was that's when I was introduced to the emerging church that we see and hear about today. Little by little I began to question what was not exposed to be questioned. Like, what it was to be a Christian, or what it really meant to be saved, or why we do church this way or that, or what is the point of a Seinor Pastor anyway. These questions will rarely come up within a fundamentalist ideology. They are never considered because Fundies have it all figured out.

However, although I am emerging I do not agree entirely with the "Emergent Church". That is why it has become a conversation with questions rising up without necessarily needing an answer. I would like to distinguish that I believe there is a difference between the "Emergent Church" and the "emerging church". The "Emergent" is headed by a select few chosen from within the confines of conversation, which is fine. They are becoming a church within themselves and a denomination if they like it or not. And I cannot entirely support their views on theology just like I can't with almost every movement within Chrsitianity. Thank God we are given a choice to believe what we believe.

On the other hand I see another church and another movement. I believe birthed from the early conversation of the "Emergent" but is now becoming a church and movement with no other leader than Jesus Christ himself. There is a global cry not for "Emergent" but for an emerging generational church that is beyond human control and thought.

Within the next few years we will see the "emerging church" birth new and refreshing bodies throughout the world, even as we already have. These people of the emerging generation are not about rethinking theology entirely but rather re-defining Christianity as it relates to our generation.

We believe church changes with each and every generation, we believe His word to be true, and we believe that Christ is the center of all that we are and we seek to know Him. We are an emerging generation...are you in?

"What is the point of church"

2006-05-30T23:11:00.000-07:00

In today's modern way of thinking, I have the slightest idea. All I can say is that I have experienced all forms of western church and very few have I found that are actually "Church," at least the one that Christ began. Lately, I have meet friends outside the security of believers that are more real and loving than the majority I have found within the walls of church. So what is the point, why do we strangle ourselves to keep this club together? Why do we brainstorm ideas so we can continue to grow? Why do we write books to teach others our way of doing it?

I believe the main reason for church, other than a desire to build upon what Christ started, is a sense of belonging. Seriously, I WANT TO BELONG!!! I want to be part of something bigger than myself, I want to be doing something that is going to influence others, I want to be part of what GOD is doing. Oh how we corporately long for the Church of Jesus Christ to honestly be, period.

There is something inside of every single one of us that has a intense desire to belong to something and to be loved by that something. Children for example, love. Automatically, they love to cuddle, hug, and be held. They love feeling that sense of security that is around them and knowing that no one will be able to come and hurt them in anyway. My little girl Riley comes in the middle of the night as I'm writing and wiggles her way onto my lap, there is no other place she would ever want to be at that moment. She feels comfortable, she feels secure, she feels a sense of belonging. And I too as a parent feel intense responsibility to secure my children with all I have.

Why do we attend Sunday church services that bore the heck out of us and why do we endure that pain and sorrow that the "church as a whole" causes so many believers? It doesn't matter if the pastor can preach or the singers can actually sing, does it. It doesn't matter if your church teaches verse by verse or topical's each service either. It doesn't even matter if you fall asleep and take a nap every time you go to hear the preacher preach.

What matters?

Is knowing that someone there is blessed to see you. Someone that says, "Hey brother, how's life, do you know that Jesus loves you today." And it doesn't even matter if their real or not. All you really want is to know someone acknowledge you and knows you by name.

Don't get me wrong. I do believe that believers that are mature in the faith and long for more than the everyday Sunday morning ritual desire much more than that. But as the majority of surface deep Christians, let's say 80% of North Americas church, need at least the bare minimum and they are happy and contently satisfied with that.

Seriously, if church was just as simple as the old sitcom "Cheers" where everyone knows your name, where you have your favorite seat, and you always see the same people. Every once in awhile there is a newbe that comes along, you give them a hard time but then, after the initial welcome, they become part of your crew. What a good time it would be to have such companionship.

Now this is the main point of the things I am writing. Christians suck. And I am one of them. I suck so bad that I have mis-represented Jesus in almost every way possible. Being part of the modern church I have made Him out to be a judgmental, arrogant, selfish god that doesn't care how you feel as long as you agree with what I believe. I have wondered why so many feel rejected by modern Christianity, then I just look back to the way I was as a believer and I get the answer.

We all want to be part of something that is bigger and better than our frail lives. We want to be part of something that is tangible and real, something that is authentic and genuine. A place that is tolerant to your opinions and personality, a place that connects with the person rather than the congregation.

I believe it is possible to find such a place here on earth. I believe that God is moving in the midst of His people and He is preparing a Church that will look like nothing that we have seen before and we will be amazed when we realize it. Then we will understand that the point of church is to belong to a body as members of Christ.

Lack of Challenge

2006-05-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

Are there times in your life when you feel a bit unchallenged as an individual? Are there areas in your life that need more challenge?

I believe that we can all answer those two questions with a definite, Yes. It's true, the majority of the time we are dealing with something a bit bigger than ourselves, something that brings extreme challenge and struggle. And that's when we press in and press on, right? But what about when everything is fairly mellow and relaxing, when life is doing great and things are happening. What then? Isn't that when we usually begin to compromise and let a little of that sin in because we have become stuck in a place of comfort?

Well, I personally have come through the most challenging and personal defining time in my life. In a period of about 9 months my life experences have produced on my head a few more gray hairs. While pressing in and pressing on I have had to re-define who I am as a person and as a Christian. Believe me it's all for the good. Most of the time I feel that God is insane because of the way He does things but then I am amazed by the outcome. However, because of this most challenging time I am now at a place of much more comfort and joy and yet I feel much less challenged.

Solomon would encourage us to, "eat, drink and enjoy your labor". And I believe that is a great place to be. It's almost like a place rest in the midst of chaos. I do think that God would have us enter in and out of those places throughout life. How else would we be able to destingish the valley's from the mountains top's.

In Romans 5:3-4 the writer would say, "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope." (NKJV)

I honestly believe that. With all that I am.

Are we really to glory in tribualations? To say, "Hey, thanks God for all the heartache in my life." Are we to praise Him in that place of struggle and dispare? I think so. Why? Maybe, because He is in control, maybe because He is the one that has produced all those tribulations and heartache for a reason. As hard as it is to see, I must say, it's got to be true.

So when those things pass and all is good and the world is all it should be, then what?

I would suggest that we begin to prepare for the next trial. Because it's going to happen, it's going to take place. All I can say is that we must take the more earnest heed of the thinks which we have heard, lest we drift away. Let us press on and press in to Christ as life continues to be a surprise. Let us remember what it is to be Christlike and in love with Jesus. I encourage you to continue in the faith, and that we must through many trials and tribulations enter the kingdom of God.

aim in life?

2006-05-07T01:19:00.001-07:00

I have come to the conclusion that everyone follows someone or something. If it be a person, idea, dream, or goal, everyone follows after something. We all have passion and purpose of some sort, we all have desire and aim. We strive this way and that for something to satisfy and for something to cure our hunger for more.

So what is it. Christians today would say, "Jesus is the purpose of life" other believers would speak, "to do all that we can to honor God is our aim". Well, what about the other 5.5 billion people on the earth what do they say? What are their arguments for meaninglessness. They have aim, devotion, purpose, and goals. And I have seen unbelievers have much more passion to follow after earthly things than I have seen lovers of God strive after Godly things. Do we look only to the end of the week for the extent of our lives or do we press on for goals that out weight our monthly quota for purpose?

Should we sit back and just deal with the few people that we influence in life? Should we strive to build them up and give them advice on how to live? Maybe.

Should we lead and not follow? And If we lead, than who do we follow? Is it Christ? Or Our fellow man? Maybe a pastor or a thought or an idea?

Well, as for me today, I chose to follow. Who, my Creator. Why, He is my aim, my devotion, my purpose, my desire and my goal. Where is He going, I have no idea but I trust He is leading.

How do so many have purpose without having eternity in mind???

Moving on up

2006-05-02T00:10:00.000-07:00

I am in the middle of a move towards the Tri-Cities area in Southeast Washington. I have rented a 24' Budget moving truck for the expedition and we could barely get everything packed in. If the truth be told, we have way too much crap, thanks to the wife. However, the road trip has landed us at the La Quinta Inn in Wilsonville, Or. where we are staying until 9am in the morning. From here we will embark to Pasco, Wa. where Shannon, the kids and I will begin to unload the 24' monster.

I wanted to write tonight because of a thing I was tripping out on while driving on Interstate 5 today. If you spend anytime driving on the freeway you know that Truckers have a secret code that they speak to one another by blinking their lights and stuff like that. Well, to my amazement, while driving this 24' diesel of a moving truck, these Truckers were treating me like one of them.

As I passed a slower moving truck and made my way a few lengths ahead of him, he blinked his lights at me. I wondered what he did that for. Was he being a nice guy and giving me a wink? Was he saying, "Man you're so much faster than me, I'm a slowpoke?" I couldn't really understand what was going on as it happened again and again, truck after truck blinking their lights at me. So I blinked them back. I figured that it was a courteous thing to do. I didn't know what else to do.

After I got to the hotel, I did a Google search on why truckers blink their lights. I come to find out, when a trucker passes a trucker they blink when you have passed and you now have enough room to get back over to the slow lane. Little did I know I stayed in the fast lane the majority of the time and I bet the truckers just shook their heads is annoyance as I flashed them back while in the other lane. But now that I know, I will be a bit more lingual with my trucker buddies

All of that made me think of why we are annoyed with other believers that are, in a way, on a different level of their journeys than we are. We think that if they don't get it they are just a bit more dumb and ignorant to the deep understandings that we have gained. We figure that if believers are legalistic, lenient, too liberal, too strict, uptight, overly tolerant, then they are not getting it.

We speak a language that is a secret code to those that are outside of our circles. Those that hear need to do a Google search on us. Jesus spoke in parables. He did what no other could do. He made conversation simple. He spoke truth and it broke the hearts of all that listened.

Still on vacation

2006-04-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

well, Shannon and I have been enjoying our sweet fifth year anniversary here in Orlando, Florida. On Monday we went to MGM Studios, the lights went out on the "who wants to be a millionaire" live set, then Tuesday was Wet-n-Wild which was a awesome time. Wednesday we headed to Universal Studios and were lucky enough to get on Fear Factor Live. Only six people were selected and Shannon and I were two of the six. We made it to the final two and we competed against each other and of course I won but in front of over a thousand people. We ended up winning 6 free tickets to Universal Orlando so if anybody wants to go let us know. Then Thursday we went to Island Adventure which is Universals theme park, it was also a sweet time, a lot of rides and Spider man was there, we got a picture. Friday was Epcot, this park rocks, if you ever get a chance check it out.

Other than that we went to church on Wednesday night. Calvary Chapel South Orlando. There ware seventeen people there, worship was great but the sermon was as lame as it gets. Makes me wonder why no body was there. My wife and I almost considered it torture. It's not that the guy sucked but he was so stuck on having such a bias opinion on his own agenda. If we really want to reach out to the people in our culture I believe that we should, just as Jesus did, reach out with a arm of community. I mean this guy was a flipping punk. He was so pissed at the world, he was so mad at the people that didn't agree with his ways. This guy will never ever affect his culture for the gospel of Christ. His loss I guess, I just pray that the young pastor matures quickly and that the Lord changes his way of thought. I was sick of him preaching even by the time he made it to verse 4 and he was going to verse 59 of Leviticus chapter 15. Straight suck, that's all I can say.

Every day has been busy and because this is a vacation I have not worked on theemerge.com at all. Part because I have devoted this time to relax and to my wife and also I am moving to tri-Cities Washington on the 2nd of May. SO the podcast and an update on theemerge.com will follow in the next week. Rock on and God Bless....Wes_Line

Vacation in Orlando...

2006-04-23T23:45:00.000-07:00

My wife and I have finally made it to our honeymoon. We were just about five years late but it was worth it. We got married in Las Vegas on the 12th of March 2000 and we never went on a true honeymoon. So we saved airline miles, got a timeshare from the in-laws and bought some tickets to Disney World.

The sweet thing is that my mother-in-law came to watch the kids back in Oregon so my lovely bride and I can have a week alone. We are pretty stoked and today was just the flight and a trip to Buffalo Wild Wings and Downtown Disney. While there, we even watched a movie at the theater; it has been a sweet time so far.

I am amazed that every movie I watch lately I tend to look for spiritual overtones to them. And I have come to find out that they are found in almost every movie I see. Now it may not be the sound theological doctrine portrayed but it nonetheless has some spiritual tone in some way or another.

The movie we saw tonight was Benchwarmers. I love stupid comedies that make no sence and have no real plot to them. I guess it makes me feel like I actually have a life when I watch movies made by old Saturday Night Live cast members. However, during a part of the movie towards the end Rob Schneider, the movies main character, is caught portraying someone that he's not. When he was a kid he picked on others and bullied them around and now after feeling guilty for so many years he pretty much starts this baseball team for kids that are bullied. He became the icon for the poor kids that were always poked fun at and weren't good enough to play sports, thus the kids becoming benchwarmers.

After a little fame, somebody recognized him as the big bully in school and now his cover was blown. He felt remorse for not being truthful but he claimed he just wanted to make up for all the pain he caused in the past. Feeling so bad, he goes and apologizes to the kid he picked on the worst. The next day everyone is happy and they live happily ever after. No not really but I pretty much just told you the whole movie, sorry.

But the part that made me think and wonder, like I always do, was when he took that time to humble himself enough to face up to what he did in the past. He was doing all this good stuff because of the pain he felt for being so lame during his life. It really portrays humanity as a whole. Now I know comparing "Benchwarmers" to humanity is a little out there but I find many similarities. We feel guilt for some bad thing we've done; we do all that we can to make it better by doing outside religious things. We believe that if we can make it high enough on the good list than in some magical way nobody will remember the bad that follows us like a shadow. But like in the movie, when the truth came out, there was no forgiveness until there was realness, honest, true-humble-repentance.

That is why I love to follow Christ. When He knew what it was before Him, He bore the Cross, despising the shame. Chrsit humbled Himself. He was transparent, vulnerable; He was as real as He could be.

I struggle in this life; I'm trying to always portray myself as something I'm not. How I pray, hope, and desire that I, that we too would humble ourselves, be vulnerable, be transparent and be real before our families and closest friends. Because it doesn't matter if we have fame, a following, or even a title, when we are found out most all will forsake us and cast us down as a hypocrite. Let us not put on that face which covers who we are but rather, let us put on Jesus Christ who for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross.

How do we, "be the church?"

2006-04-21T01:12:00.000-07:00

I have a very close friend whose dad is on a ventilator and diagnosed with lew gehrig's disease. Unfortunately, his dad has been confined to his bed and couch and only gets up to use the bathroom. Only once, since he has been home from the hospital (in late Feb. I believe) has he been outside of his house. His wife is with him almost ever hour of the day, she has become a virtuous woman if I've ever knew one. They are believers and love Jesus very much.

Now the question, how are these folks exposed to participate in a church service as we know it today? Some might say, "Well, the wife should go to the church and hear what the Revered had to say and then go home and share it with the husband." Or others may advise the wife and say, "Even though your husband has been incapable of going you should at least participate in church service, that's the least you could do." And of course some would say, "You need not to forsake the assembling of the brethren."

How amazing it is to me, that so many are stuck in tradition of "going to church". The theme in Scripture is not go to church, but rather, be the church.

Is it not true, does the spirit of God dwell in you? Is it true that where the spirit of God is, there is liberty? Doesn’t Christ say, "where two or more are gathered in my name, "That is Church" or I am in their midst, whatever way you prefer.

So, my friend and I had a great idea. Rather than having his parents feel the guilt that church tradition places on you for not "going to church", we were thinking of some way to bring the church to them. And that is what we have done, twice so far.

For the past two weeks we have, with a few others, gathered in the living room of my friends parents house and the most amazing thing has happened each time, we had church. Not just a "bible" study or a worship time, no, we had church in the most real, organic form that I have ever seen it. Intimate, vulnerable, transparent, humbling, and Christ centered. A church with almost no structure or leadership, a church that brought tears along with comfort, a church that was real and authentic, genuine and full of quality. There was open conversation, dialogue, and fellowship that was real and tangible. There was not a senior pastor or worship leader, no tithe offering or ushers at the door. There was no reason to be in a hurry or watch checking, just waiting for the sermon to end. And even in the midst of this church there was the noise of a ventilator and a brother that was napping on the floor. We were actually being the church rather than doing it. And it was sweet.

Now we know that God works in many ways and the local church has its place in God's plan. But my joy is that when Christ leads us into a place of obscurity and unfamiliarity He always gives us the efficient grace that is needed. He gives vision in the place of sorrow and turmoil. And in the situation of my friends’ dad, He gives us the miracle of being the church, even in a living room, even if it is "the ventilator church."

nothing new under the sun

2006-04-14T03:02:00.000-07:00

Solomon knew what was going on when he said vanity of vanities, all is vanity. There is nothing new under the sun; each generation passes by, experiencing the same as the last. But amazingly we think that it's fresh and new and has never been done before. Well maybe not in the exact same way but it has been done, in some form or another. So why do we look for something fresh, why do we search for a new way of doing life? Are we really all that bored with life that we feel the need to change it?

I think, I feel, I believe that we do find ourselves in a rut in life when we have no challenge to change. When we are in comfort, when things are flowing smoothly, when life seems right side up and we have all our ducks in a row, that's when we need to change. Change, why? Well, because life is meaningless says the preacher. There is no point Solomon would say. "But what about Jesus and our mission to save the world?" you might say, or "what about redeeming the time and occupying till he comes?"

Christ would have us press forward and forget those things which are behind, He would have us seek first the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness. He has called us to be His witnesses here on earth.

And yet, we are so consumed with ourselves. We are a sick generation, may God be merciful. Did you know that everything that Christ did He did for others, everything! And He is our King, our example.

Oh, how I can relate with Solomon and his ways. His wisdom supersedes even the philosophers of today. At least he got it right in the end of Ecclesiastes when he said, "Fear God and obey His commands, for this is the duty of man".

2006-04-11T01:59:00.000-07:00

Finally, theemerge.com has been launched. It has been a long time in the making and I am stoked that the time has come. I have gotten a few request to make it more interactive and things will open up for those of you that have asked.

If anyone wants to share anything that pertains to your journeys with Christ then please sent it to theemerge.com.

I was in some sweet conversation tonight with a couple of my close friends. I was blessed to have such uncondemning, non-judgmental, encouraging fellowship. I seems that it is so hard to actually have conversations with people about spiritual things without having such hostility at every mention of doctrine of some sort. That is probably because I live in a traditional town with traditionial folks. My bad I guess.

Nevertheless, I went away feeling that Christ was glorified in our speech. I was amazed that the majority of our conversation was centered on spiritual things that were centered on Christ. It doesn't happen like that too often so tonight was off the hook. i hope and pray that God will continually be glorified as we all constantly seek Him in all we do.

Blessings, wes_line

a break in the silence

2006-04-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I have on a bit of a sabbatical with my contemplations of this life lately. Each day I drive in my car I wonder why and what it is all about. We tend to think we know and we never seem to question the status quo. My heart aches day after day for passion, for desire, for anything that will bring resolution to my thoughts.
Each generation will continue as it has in the past, sure we have different things in life to experience but all in all life will go on, shall the Lord tarry. When you die, the smoke stacks will continue to smoke. When you fade, books will still be written, movies will still be made, music will still be played. Think about it for a moment! What do we do! What are we doing! Are we satisfied will all we've done in this life??? Do we want more? Are we seeking something different then our everyday rituals?
I cannot and will not continue to wake every morning and do it all the same. I will look back when my children have grown, when there children will be my prize, and I will say amen and right on; because I did not sit and do nothing, because I took a stand and said I will not take what hand has been dealt to me. I will not be satisfied with the minimal status of life. Jesus desires more for me, more for us.
Because of my lovers death upon the torturous cross I am given a chance of an exciting, amazing journey. My heart beats to experience this life will all He has to offer. I am extremely thrilled to travel the path that is paved with thorns and thistles, to take part in walking down a road that leads to the unknown, almost fearing each and every step of the way. Oh how terrified I am of this life and for what lies ahead. In fearful expectation and extreme anticipation I wait upon my God.
In a world with so much uncertainty there is only one thing that remains true. Jesus is the only one that will ever sustain, captivate, fulfill, saturate, and comfort. May He be the center of all we do, think, and feel.

theemerge.com website launch this week

2006-04-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

By weeks end the new and improved website theemerge.com will be released. Please stop by and add your voice...

Getting Closer

2006-04-02T23:26:00.000-07:00

Theemerge.com is almost to its launching date. I do believe that it will only be a matter of days before the launch. Please visit when it happens.

theemerge.com launch

2006-03-29T02:19:00.000-08:00

The launching of theemerge.com is happening in the month of April 2006