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The Pastor’s Conference at Harvest Chapel Fellowship in Riverside, CA is now history.  We flew from 93 degree weather back to cold weather with flurries!  But…it is always good to come back home and back to this ministry!  What a rich conference.  The worship, led by the worship team at Harvest and also by their guest Fernando Ortega was so heart-touching and genuine.  And then came one powerful message after another aimed at feeding pastors accompanied with practical nuggets for challenging us on the subject of preaching.  

There was the deepness and academia of John MacArthur as we walked through church history and wrestled with the lordship of Jesus Christ.  There was the immense practicality of Charles Swindoll imbedded in solid biblical truth.  Then there was the hard-hitting prophetical style of James MacDonald - you never have to guess what he is thinking about any subject!  Then the gracious balance of a tender heart with the solid biblical foundation of host pastor Greg Laurie.  And that’s not all of the speakers! 

It was so refreshing and I am so grateful.  God knows just what we need and when we need it!

I have one more evening session and one more morning session to go and then the long flight across country back home.  I am anxious to get back home because I miss home but this has been an outstanding conference.  I have enjoyed time with Jason and Martin.  But what I have found to be most beneficial is the fact that this conference is not about leadership and the nuts and bolts of church administration and church growth.  It has had one focus and one focus only - preaching!  And the theme has been preaching from some of the greatest preachers alive today.  It has been motivating but has also been so refreshing to me spiritually.  I don’t know that I realized how much I needed this until I was sitting here and aborbing and listening instead of giving out and speaking.  This morning I found myself teared up and emotional just listening to the Word of God expounded as Charles Swindoll opened the Word to a room full of over 1000 preachers.  It’s been unusual because along with being motivated I have been feed and I was in need of that more than I thought.  To sit at the feet of James MacDonald, Greg Laurie, Chuck Swindoll and John MacArthur (to just name a few) has been rich.  I can’t quite describe all of what I am feeling right now, but I know it is good!

I am looking forward to being away for several days and attending a Pastor’s Conference at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, CA., Greg Laurie’s church.  We saw this conference back in the early part of the summer and decided then that this was going to be a “must”.  Pastor Laurie will be speaking along with Chuck Swindoll, John MacArthur, James MacDonald, Jack Graham, Alistair Begg, and others. 

Back in the summer when Jason first brought this to my attention I thought this looked like a great conference for spiritual renewal and encouragement for pastors so I did not have to be sold on it - I jumped at the chance.  But little did I know how timely this would be…I feel dry…I feel the battle of discouragement…I feel spiritually exhausted and I am so glad that God has this ready in His timing for me right now. 

A time away like this gives extra time for us as pastors to talk in depth about more than surface issues as well…we need to do that…it’s important for us and important for this ministry.  Pray for us and pray for the power of God’s Spirit to refresh and renew us.

Demons and the Powerless Disciples - Podcast

Demons again?  When are you going to stop talking about demons?  The answer is easy…when Luke does!  We are journeying through Luke and it is amazing how much confrontation Jesus had in his ministry with demons.  This time the disciples tried unsuccessfully to minister to a dad who brought his demonized son to them.  Jesus stepped in and even gave some secrets to having success in this kind of ministry.

Figuring out the Transfiguration - Podcast

This story in the Scripture is weird!  A cloud, a voice from heaven, Jesus’ face changing, and Peter wanting to make tents for 2 OT characters who come back to life and actually talk to Jesus!  Let’s try to make some sense out of this story which we know as the Transfiguration!

The 2008 election is now history.  Like many others I am glad the commercials are done.  I am grateful that the over-all number of voters who came out and voted was strong - that is part of what this country is all about - a government of the people - the people vote and decide.  The people have voted and the people have decided.  As I stated before it is a privilege to elect leaders.  (One sad statistic is that many new registered voters voted this time but as many as 10% in some places of those who voted in the last presidential election did not exercise their right to vote this time.  Some of the typical apathy that permeates much of our culture has carried over into the arena of voting - likely some who will sit in their La-Z-Boy chairs and watch the news and complain, but who didn’t get out and vote.) 

But…now we turn a new page and we need to remember that God’s Word states God has established our authorities (Romans 13) and that we have a responsibility to uphold them in prayer (1 Timothy 2).  We must pray for God’s wisdom to be granted to our new president-elect as he even now begins to choose his leadership team and formulates his agenda, plans, and strategies for the years in front of us.  It’s obvious that the task in front of him is difficult on all fronts including domestically, internationally, and economically.  His office demands that we give him our respect and uphold him with fervent prayer. 

The campaigning and debating is over.   It’s time to move on and put our support behind our new leaders and remember that in the end, it is “In God we Trust”.  HE is the one who in control and it is HIM to whom we turn for our help and to HIM we turn to plead for help and wisdom for our new leaders. 

As I write this, I can say that in about one week, the 2008 election will be history and hopefully we will know the results (we know from past history that it is not something to take for granted!).  I have seen a lot of elections, including a lot of presidential elections come and go.  Many have had similar characteristics - vain promises, mud slinging, and millions of dollars spent on advertising - millions of dollars that could have fed thousands of starving people all over the world - ironically, while both candidates express outrage over the waste of money in spending while human needs go unmet!  Both candidates and both parties ooze with disgusting hypocrisy!  Yet…it’s a far better system than just about anywhere else in the world - just check out the current investigation of the cruel treatment of prisoners in North Korea - I guarantee it will turn your stomach!  Or…think of the sex slavery going on in African nations or the Christians in many places around the world who have to worship in “hiding” because of fear, even though their government proclaims there is freedom of religion!

America is a blessed nation and it is a privilege to elect leaders.  I hope believers realize it is also their responsibility to vote!  Every believer needs to be at the polls on Tuesday!  And…every believer needs to put self aside and vote for candidates that that will lead America on the basis of biblical values…not on the basis of what is best for “me and my wallet”…but, oh…I forgot…it’s all about me isn’t it?   Not if you are a true follower of Christ!!  Contrary to much of what we hear, this election is not about the economy!  It’s about what is right and what is wrong.  I marvel at how many believers have forgotten the history of the kings of the Old Testament and how God views “right and wrong”.  Don’t get me wrong - I am concerned about the economy today.  In fact, I challenge anyone reading this to compare financial statements with me - I don’t own my own house and therefore have no equity, my limited annuity is decreasing as fast as anyone else’s, I hate seeing inequities & tax breaks to certain corporations as much as the next guy, but the bottom line is that when you look through the lenses of the Word of God, we are to elect leaders who have a biblical world-view and who are committed to honoring Him, not those who make the best promises to make my future look the best financially!  Do I want to debate party lines, topics, or candidates?  No.  Do I want to debate the foundational philosophies of life?  Yes.  That’s where the problems lie.  Bring out the Word of God and then let’s discuss the issues with the Bible open and party lines and candidate profiles in the background! 

Am I still going to whine about the economy?  Probably, because I am a sinner!  (Nobody is shocked at that!)  But I also know God takes care of those who honor Him!  So I choose to honor Him first, then lead a church to move forward in taking care of those who are in need, and then watch and ”believe God” to take care of me in the end. 

A Bigger Loss than Wall Street! - Podcast

Deny self, take up your cross and follow Christ” is a familiar phrase from the gospel (in fact it is the most repeated phrase from the gospels). It is sometimes called part of discipleship (whatever people mean at that point) but I am convinced it has been misunderstood and misapplied. Let’s look at it in a fresh way today.

Message given October 19, 2008.

The Fish Sandwich! - Podcast

The familiar miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 gives us some practical and encouraging life lessons for us where we live today.

Message given on October 12, 2008.

To the Work! - Podcast

To be real blunt, a lot of Christ followers are lazy. Many want all the benefits, but they don’t want the challenge of the work that comes along with being a believer. That’s the challenge of this passage.

Message given on September 28, 2008.