Friday, October 26, 2007

Get some Rest...

God brought the subject of rest to my attention yesterday while I was in the Word. It may be that God is preparing me for some time away that I will get next week. God's plan is for each of us to receive a day of rest throughout the week. We each need to set apart a day of Sabbath rest for:

Remembering God's work of creation and God's work of spiritual re-creation (Gen. 2:2-3; Ex. 20:8-11; Acts 20:7).

Experiencing the worshipful rest that characterizes Heaven (Heb. 4:9-11).

Setting apart one day each week just for God's enjoyment (Col. 2:16-17).

Trusting that God will provide seven days benefit for six days labor (Jer. 17:21-22, 24-25, 27; Mk. 2:27).

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

World Series Game One...


I'm normally not much of a baseball fan but I will be watching the game tonight. I'm a recovering Texas Rangers Fan who has jumped on the Rockies post-season bandwagon. I confess that I have, as recently as this season, made fun of the Rockies as no better than a minor league team. I do, hereby, repent and turn from my wicked ways. I became hooked when I watched the sudden-death playoff game which allowed the Rockies to enter post-season play. Each playoff game has endeared me more and more to the Rockies. And so, I will be watching the game tonight...Go Rockies!
UPDATE: The Rockies got pounded in game one but I am expecting a full recovery tonight in game two . . .

Monday, October 22, 2007

India Children's Choir...


We hosted the India Children's Choir in our church on Sunday evening. It was an amazing presentation by these talented children who are descendents of Indian headhunters. The songs were awesome and the service was emotionally charged as these young children shared their faith with great passion. The concert was just the beginning of the blessing. We have two 11-year-old boys staying in our home for a few days before the choir heads to Colorado Springs. I'm impressed by their manners and by their faith. These kids tell stories of their life in India that absolutely shames my American lifestyle. Their village has electricity for maybe two hours a day. The boys get two meals each day, neither of which is anything close to what we eat. I would encourage you to take a look at their website and consider inviting the choir to come to your church sometime in the future. These kids are away from home for almost a year touring the United States. You can visit the website here.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Mike Huckabee at the Values Voters Debate

The crowd favorite among the 952 attendees who voted in person at the Value Voters Straw Poll turned out to be Huckabee by a mile. He got 51 percent of the in-person votes, compared to just 10 percent for Mitt Romney.

The Church as it was Meant to be...


The infant church as described in Acts 2:41-47 totally shames the "mature" church as found in most of our communities today. What's the difference? The biggest difference is the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We can debate the presence and power of the Holy Spirit all day long but the result of the Spirit's infilling of the early church cannot be questioned. Please note that what is revealed in Acts 2 is not the result of working harder. It is not the result of better doctrine or stronger leadership. It is ONLY the result of God's Holy Spirit saturating His church. We need to be begging God for the fullness of His Spirit so that the church might be empowered for Gospel effectiveness.
The Holy Spirit empowered the church to be . . .


  1. Adding--" . . . That day there were added about 3000 souls" (v41).

  2. Learning--"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching" (v42).

  3. Uniting--"They were continually devoting themselves . . . to fellowship" (v42).

  4. Remembering--"They were continually devoting themselves . . . to the breaking of bread" (v42).

  5. Praying--"They were continually devoting themselves . . . to prayer" (v42).

  6. Feeling--"Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe" (v43).

  7. Seeing--" . . . Many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles" (v43).

  8. Sharing--"And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common" (v44-45).

  9. Worshipping--"Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple . . . " (v46).

  10. Eating--" . . . and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart" (v46).

  11. Praising--"Day by day . . . they were . . . praising God" (v47).

  12. Influencing--"and having favor with all the people" (v47).

  13. Growing--"And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved" (v47).

Each and everyone of us needs to take a good hard look at the churches to which we belong, compared with the church of Acts 2. If deficiencies are found (and they will be), then let us return to the upper room and pray for power. It appears that we may be filled with many things and yet lacking the Holy Spirit.

Friday, October 19, 2007

CBGC Executive Board

The biggest item of business at our state convention this year was the restructure of the Executive Board. I've had the honor of serving on a task force that has been studying the proposed restructure for almost two years. The change occurs in both philosophy and methodology. We have moved from a 1950's committee-based approach where the board primarily listens to reports to a much more functional and relational approach where the board interacts and discusses issues focused on the broad vision and "ends" of the convention. The size of the board has changed considerably downsizing from 42 board members to 18. A major change in the board structure now calls for the convention officers to serve as the executive board officers. In the past, the convention officers, have at times, been more symbolic than practical. Now the three elected officers will be setting the agenda for the EB. All sessions of the board will be plenary with no committees meeting. Prayer will be a major agenda item each time the board meets. It's exciting to see this new structure approved and put in place. I have a great sense of accomplishment having served on the CBGC Executive Board for the past five years and as it's chairman for the past two years.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Steamboat Springs...

Today was a very busy day. I bypassed my usual 4:00am wake-up since I wouldn't be preaching and slept in until almost 6:00. We were priviledged to have Dr. Charles Wade at Cornerstone this morning bringing the message. He was hilariously insightful in all three services with an extremely practical and relevant presentation. Following the final worship service, I accompanied Dr. Lowery and his wife to the town of Laporte where he spoke at the 50th anniversary celebration of our association--The Long's Peak Association. About 4:30 this afternoon following the associational gathering, I set out along with the assistant BSU director at CSU and the Long's Peak DOM for Steamboat. Coming across Cameron Pass, we encountered quite a bit of snow. It was the first glimpse of snow that I have seen since spring and it was absolutely beautiful. There was a caravan of about four vehicles that joined us in our journey to Steamboat--all pastors from Long's Peak. We finally arrived in Steamboat Springs about 8:00, ate dinner, and checked into the hotel. We're scheduled for golf at nine in the morning in Craig which is about an hour away. I'm a skeptic in terms of the weather tomorrow. I can't imagine that it is going to be warm enough to play. The forecast calls for a high of 55. The pastor's conference begins tomorrow afternoon here in the hotel. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of my pastor friends that I have not seen in some time.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Colorado Baptist Convention...

The annual meeting of the Colorado Baptist General Convention will be held in the early part of next week in Steamboat Springs. Our meetings will be held at the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel pictured here. My church has graciously provided lodging for myself and the youth pastor at the hotel. I have subsequently invited the assistant BSU Director at Colorado State University to share my room with me so that he doesn't have to sleep outside. One of the really special things about our state convention is the sense of family that we feel here. The SBC church in Steamboat has even opened up homes to host anyone coming to the convention who needs a place to stay (don't tell my church). Keep in mind that half of our pastors in Colorado are bivocational. I will be traveling together with the Director of Missions for the association that our church belongs to. I'm hoping to get a free meal out of deal. We will travel into the mountains on Sunday afternoon and arrive in Steamboat sometime Sunday evening. First thing, Monday morning, we have a golf tournament and then the pastor's conference begins on Monday afternoon. My team always gets destroyed in the tournament but it's great fun and fellowship. My team this year includes my DOM, my youth pastor, and a counselor friend. All three are much better golfers than myself--I'm pretty much just along for the ride.
One of the key items to be discussed is the restructuring of our Executive Board. I have chaired a task force that has been working for almost two years to study a new and more effective approach to conducting the business of our convention in between annual meetings. I will be presenting a recommendation from the Executive Board to the convention that our EB be downsized from 40-something members to exactly eighteen. The CBGC Executive Board will be made up of the three convention officers, the Executive Director, one member from each of the eleven associations and 3 members-at-large. The smaller size will allow the board to more effectively discuss and provide oversight of the convention. One of the positives to the new structure is that our elected convention officers will now have genuine influence in the direction of the convention.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Mike Huckabee...

I really am liking Mike Huckabee. Check out his stand on the issues here.

Friday, October 05, 2007

Dream Interpretation...

I shared with you yesterday a dream that I had. As you may know, pastors are often the recipients of criticism and complaint. For me, it's always painful! I'm encouraged that in my dream these painful words (arrows) were not able to cause any real harm to me. They just hurt for a bit. The large arrow represents the largest area of criticism ( I know all too well what it represents) but it does not have a point. It can no longer do any real harm to me. Though I cannot break it--I don't need to fear it! My call to 911 is my prayer to God for help and deliverance. The seven letters in my friend's name represent completion and closure. By walking away, I leave the arena where these specific attacks have occurred. They can no longer harm me.

With this dream fresh on my heart, I entered into a time of study in the Word. I began with Psalm 69 which happens to be a Psalm of deliverance. My Old Testament reading was in Isaiah 51 which begins with these words, "Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance--all who seek the Lord." Verse 7 says, "Do not be afraid of people's scorn or their slanderous talk". Verse 12 promises, "I, even I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?" I was overcome with emotion as I considered verse 16, "I have put my words in your mouth and hidden you safely within my hand". I can't describe to you how comforted and accepted I felt as I pondered the Word of God to me.

As many of you know, I make it a habit to pray using a series of colored beads, each of which is a call to a different focus of prayer. The first bead that I randomly (God chooses) chose was the blue bead--representing the prayer of deliverance. Years ago, I assigned the color blue to the prayer of deliverance in large part because of Psalm 69:1-2, "Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can't find a foothold to stand on. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me." Blue represents the deep waters from which we all need deliverance. My first prayer following the dream was a spiritual 911 call. Praise God for His leadership in my life!

Thursday, October 04, 2007

A Dream...


I dreamed last night that I was being shot at with arrows from a good friend. I don't recall how it all began--just that I was being relentlessly assaulted by these arrows that were being shot one right after another. I was struck by some but most missed as I would dodge forward or back to avoid being hit. Though painful, the arrows that hit me would bounce off without any significant injury. At one point, a very large arrow was fired at me. it missed and I was able to pick it up. I quickly found myself in a struggle with my friend as we both took hold of the arrow and tried to wrestle it from each other. I even tried to break the arrow but I could not. As we wrestled I got a real good look at the arrow. It had a large silver head about three inches long and about 1/4 of an inch thick. The unique thing about this arrow is that it did not have a traditional point--it was flat. It was more like a block "A" might be. Though the arrow would hurt if it hit me, it could do no real harm. It had no point! At some point in the dream, I picked up a phone and dialed 911 in order to get my friend to quit shooting at me. I was asked by the operator to spell his name which is most likely the only reason that I can remember it. I'll not tell you the name except to let you know that it had seven letters. Following the call to 911, I was able to walk away from my friend's house without further incident.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Multi-Cultural Ministry...

My good friend, Fernando Caballero, took Tina and me along with him today for a meeting at the Hope Center, an intercultural ministry in Denver. The purpose of the meeting was to plan an intercultural retreat that will take place in August. I was impressed to be sitting around a table with Russian, Hmong, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and others representing a small sampling of the nations that have come to Colorado. My wife is going to be leading a series of conferences on worship for these multi-cultural churches. I am wanting to continue to see Cornerstone become a multi-cultural gathering of believers. Already we have worshippers in our church from several ethnicities including Romanian, Australian, Polynisian, Hispanic, Vietnamese, and even Texican. Not unlike Pentecost, it appears that God is bringing the nations to us. We need only to speak the Gospel in their language.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Bottom of the 13th...

The Colorado Rockies are in the playoffs for the first time since 1995. It was an amazing finish...

Monday, October 01, 2007

My Response

We hosted a "Love and Respect" marriage conference this past weekend at Cornerstone. Dr. Emerson Eggerichs is a fantastic communicator with some fresh insights into marriage. Check out the clip and then stop by the Love and Respect website at www.loveandrespect.com. By the way, he is really funny!