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From today’s time of Intentional Intimacy
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Here is what I wrote in my journal as I spent time with the Lord this morning.
3457 family of God
191
Luke 8
21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
I love that when Jesus is told His mother and brothers are outside, He redefines family relationships.
It is those who hear and those who do!
Believing would be both. To say we believe and do not really know what He says would be foolish. Yet many are that way today. They think they know and yet they do not. They are ignorant of the truths and calling of scripture because they have never really heard.
This may be because they have not taken the time. This also could be because they have gone to a “church” and yet the Word is not taught.
Believing is not just hearing, it is also doing. To hear and not do would either be rebellion or lack of faith. It is often the latter. True faith will give birth to obedience. True faith will mean that one will take to heart the truths and calling of God found in His Word.
I want to be close to the Lord. Amazingly, He wants to be close to me. He wants us to be family. For this to happen I must hear the Word and do it.
My Abba, Father,
I do want to be close with You. I love we all are called to a truly intimate relationship. We become a part of Your family. May I and others find the reality of this life. Today and every day I want to take the time to hear and be one who does what You say.
Love,
Chuck
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
This Sunday
This Sunday I am going to be sharing about how God moved and changed me while I was in Israel.
I initially did not plan to take a Sunday service to share about this.
Yet, what happened was so incredible I find it hard to not talk about it.
Our staff and many of our friends have told me this is a must for the Church family to hear.
By the way there is a night service this Sunday at our normal time and the service will be the same as the morning.
Connecting with God: A Lesson From Israel
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Going to Israel challenged me and changed my thoughts on quite a few things. One of these being, how we connect most deeply with God.
At the Western Wall, I found that the reading of the Word, prayer, and the pronouncing of a rite of passage was done loudly and with passion. We often think that the best way to connect with God is to do so in silence. While that is a good way to connect, I found the Jewish culture connecting with God out loud! They tend to express themselves at a volume that all can hear. They boisterously celebrate and wail loudly. Both expressions were beautiful and caused me to feel God’s presence all around me.
Hearing the Word read out loud in a public place also made me feel connected to God in a way I’ve never experienced before. In a cave- like area on the left side of the Western Wall, men gathered to read the Torah. As they read passionately, they rocked back and forth. Their reading sounded like prayer. It was intimate, vibrant, and personal. As I heard the sounds of hundreds of men reading in this manner, I found, to my surprise, that it was not distracting. Instead it was inviting.
Being in this setting and walking the steps of the Temple area also confirmed something I have known for years: People connect with God in community. Many people think that the best way to connect with God most deeply is in solitude. However, connecting with God together with a group of people, is just as vital to growth in our relationship with Him. Being in a community that is seeking God together causes us to experience Him and His presence in a significant way. The steps that lead up to the Temple were designed for this purpose. The steps are narrow when they begin but as you ascend you get to a step that is very wide. This was meant to gather a group together to enter the Temple and the presence of God. It was assumed that you would come to this Holy place with others. The ascension was meant to be a pilgrimage experienced in community.
I am very excited to gather together this Sunday and worship together with you with passion. I can’t wait to share with you what God showed us while we were in the Holy Land, some of which is very personal. It brings me such joy to think that we get to worship God loudly as a community of believers who love Him.
Random Thoughts on Being in the Holy Land
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I am back in the office trying to adjust to the time change from our amazing trip to Israel. It is a trip that I hope everyone in our church family will get a chance to experience.
Until then, here are some random thoughts on interesting things I experienced in Israel…
1. There are cats everywhere! I do not think I have ever seen so many cats just wandering around. Think about the number of sparrows you see here and multiply the number by 3. Natalya decided to start counting and found that she had seen 87 different cats.
2. Pam had to open the door for me wherever we went. Women in the Holy Land are still seen by many as subservient. Time and again, people would come up to talk to Ronny and I. When I would introduce them to Natalya and Pam, they would act like they were not there. On more than one occasion, I asked Pam to ask something and she was just ignored. When I would ask, I’d get an immediate response. So after the first day, it was funny that the door on my side of the car broke. That meant that whenever we stopped, Pam had to get out and open the door for me. I saw some men look at me and acknowledge me with respect as she waited on me. What I did not tell Pam is that after a couple of days, the door was fixed but I really liked having her open it. Just kidding.
3. Bathrooms. There were bathrooms everywhere. For me, that is a huge deal…in a good way! Most of them were actually really nice.
4. The food. The food was amazing. We felt like we went from feast to feast. There was Hummus, Tahini, Schwerma, Chicken, and Beef, all of which was served in the same meal. I love that each meal had a pre meal that filled us up which was then, followed by the main meal that was so good we could not stop eating.
5. The friendliness of the people. It did not matter whether we were with Jewish, Palestinain, Arab Christians, Korean, Nigerian or Indonesian. All were friendly and helpful.
6. Our Christian family. We felt an immediate kinship and family feeling with all the Christians we met from all around the world.
7. The passionate prayer and worship exposed to us. I got chills hearing Palestinians pray. I got emotional hearing the passion with which the Jewish people read the Torah. I cannot describe the joy and jubilation of people celebrating Bar Mitzvahs.
8. Being called “Papa.” It seemed that everywhere I went, I was addressed as Papa. On Mount Carmel, Nigerian Christians called me Papa and wanted to have their picture taken with me. In the cave where the Torah is read at the Western Wall, an orthodox Jew approached me calling me “Papa.” Walking on the streets of Ramallah, in the City of Tiberias, and throughout all our journeys I was respectfully and affectionately addressed in this way.
Day 11: One Final Day in Jersalem
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Ronny, Natalya, Pam and I got together knowing we had one final day in Jerusalem and quickly agreed on the places we wanted to revisit…
First stop, the Garden Tomb which overlooks Golgotha. Hardly anyone was there which allowed us to take all the time we wanted. We prayed together then took time to just sit and contemplate the sacrifice He made and the victory over death that He brings. The four of us sat in the garden, looking at Calvary, and marveling at the face of the skull on the mountainside. I could not help but think how odd it is that a bus station now sits on Calvary. Do the bus drivers even know or care that Jesus died here? I am sure just like with all mankind, there are some who care and some who do not. After all, He came to show and offer love that only a few will choose to receive.
Next stop the Eastern Gate. It is sealed shut. According to what we read, the Moslem’s knew the prophecy of the Messiah entering through this very gate, so they sealed it shut. What they did not know is that they were fulfilling a prophecy by sealing the Gate (Ezekiel 44)! According to Zechariah 14 Jesus will descend and set foot on the Mount of Olives when He returns causing an earthquake to split the valley. Then, He will enter Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate. We stood at the Gate and prayed and then Ronny went and touched it…even though it is illegal! After he did, I could not resist and I touched the Gate too! Praying with the Mount of Olives behind me and my hand touching the Gate through which my Savior will return sent chills through my body.
We walked from there to the Western Wall. Ronny and I went to the men’s side to pray. We went to the far left and entered a cavern which Jewish men come to so they can look at the wall and read the Law. They do this with passion and we got caught up in their passion for the Word. I left to pray at the wall on the outside when Ronny came to get me. He had gone further into the cavern and discovered a place covered with plexiglass where when kneeling you could see down to the bottom of the wall. As I knelt here looking at the bottom of this wall of the temple, listening to the passionate prayers and reading of the Word in Hebrew, I was inspired. I, then, felt drawn back outside to praise God as I touched the wall.
We took a short walk across the street to The City of David where we went under ground to see the excavation of his fortress. Standing looking down on the Valley that would have been a part of his kingdom, various thoughts swam through my mind. The wisdom of building here was clear because the view is beautiful and he would be able to see what was going on with his people. However, the problem was that from this fortress, you could see onto the rooftops below. At one point he would see Bathsheba bathing and that would cause a place of security to become one of tragedy.
The last stop was the Jewish Quarter. Here the Lamp-stand is on display which will one day be placed in the Temple. Today, Jewish school children were surrounding it listening to their teacher tell them of the coming Temple and how this would cause the revealing of the Messiah. I knew they were right. I also, knew they are going to be surprised that this will be His second coming not the first.
Zechariah 12:9-10
9 “And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.
This was a great way to spend our last day in Jerusalem!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Jerusalem
Day 10: Jerusalem and the Work in Ramallah
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Day 10
As I was spending time with Lord this morning in a cafe in Jerusalem, I met a man who had moved here from Italy. He moved here because he could feel the presence of the Spirit here more than anywhere else on earth. Now that I have had my quiet times here in the Holy Land, I understand what this man feels. Asah Shama!
From there we all traveled to the Old City of Jerusalem. Being here a second time multiplied the effect it had on us. It was more powerful and more meaningful the second time around. Pam befriended a Jewish man who directed us to a roof top view of the Western Wall. As we walked up, the people who had been standing there left, leaving this incredible place all to the four of us! Praying in view of Temple Mount and the Wall was awesome!
We left from there and stumbled upon the Temple Institute. I had wanted to visit this place, but gave up thinking we would never find it or have the time. The Temple Institute is working to bring about the building of the third and final Temple. They have made all of the furniture required. While at the Institute we saw the Laver, Table of Showbread, the Clothing of the High Priest, and the mult-million dollar Lamp-stand.
Next we headed to Ramallah. This is where God has opened the door for us to Empower Change in an incredible ministry. It is a church and a children’s home that are doing great things in an area that needs the love of Jesus. Natalya said that being there caused her heart to go out to Ramallah. We all agreed. I was humbled by these brothers’ and sisters’ faithfulness and passionate commitment to God. The greatest part is that we as a church body can help bring hope and increased effectiveness for the Gospel of Christ to this place. Soon, I will share the whole story with you.
One thing I do want to share with you is how you, the Crossroads family have already affected lives in Ramallah. Pam was talking to two High School girls from the school and they were telling her how excited they were because they now have 2 soccer goals to put on the field so that they can play soccer! What they did not know is that we, Crossroads, had purchased the goals for them. If all of you who are faithful members of Crossroads could only see the joy you have caused in the lives of these children, I know you would be blessed. I do know that our heavenly Father sees and is blessed!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Jerusalem
Day 9: Love Lost or Love Shown.
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Waking up next to the Sea of Galilee and spending time with the Lord is just plain awesome! This intentional intimacy is one of the main joys of my life and today I spent this time studying all the passages in Scripture that relate to Bethlehem because we would be traveling there.
A Place of Love Lost
Bethlehem was where Jacob, “to his sorrow,” buried Rachel when she died. He never got over losing her. This place would always be special to him and the Lord (Genesis 35:19 & 48:7).
A Place of Love Found
Bethlehem was the place where Ruth and Boaz fell in love. Here they met and he showed her great compassion. He saw her as an amazing beautiful woman. She, with the help of her mother-in-law Naomi, saw him for the man God made him to be. We got to look out over the area where the fields would have been.
A Place Where Love was Shown
Bethlehem was the place Jesus was born. From his birthplace, we could see where Boaz and Ruth met. Just to the right, were the shepherd’s fields where God sent a choir of Angels to announce Jesus’ birth. As we wound our way down into this place of our Savior’s birth, Ronny was overwhelmed with emotion. He prayed and was moved by the reality of One who has changed His life. It is a place that he will never forget.
A Place Where Love Must Be Shown
We visited a Christian school in Bethlehem that is shining for Christ. The couple who runs it founded a coffee shop that students flock too. The couple received permission from the University to freely come on the campus which is significant because this in an area that is controlled by the Islamic population. The opportunity is incredible, but they need our help. As I sat there thinking and praying, I wondered, Will this be a place where love is lost or where love is shown? I pray that the Crossroads family will seize the moment and take the opportunity to make it the latter.
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Day 8: Jesus’ Baptism, Transfiguration, & Declaration!
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For me this trip is like being in the ocean! You get moments of calm followed by waves of exhilaration. Today, I had both serene reflective moments as well as moments of utter exhilaration.
Our day started at the River Jordan. The spot we visited was most likely not the spot Jesus was baptized, but to me, all that mattered was that I was at the same river Jesus was baptized in! The Jordan is captivating and teeming with wildlife. I watched an Indonesian woman get baptized in the River and I could not keep the tears from welling in my eyes. The group with her was praising God passionately as she cried out to the Lord. After the baptism, our Indonesian brothers and sisters were joined by a group of Christians from Nigeria to worship, praise, and dance. I will never tire of watching the family of God celebrate together!
I did slip away to pray with the sound of the Jordan and the praise in the background. Like a wave crashing over me, I was immersed in the presence of the One I love most; His love consuming me.
We continued our journey to Mount Tabor which towers over the Valley of Jezreel. The view from here is breathtaking. It is on this mountain that I believe Jesus was transfigured. Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus in radiant glory. Imagine what it must have been like for them to see and hear Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah. As, I was standing there, over the ruins of an ancient church, another wave of exhilaration flooded over me. The power of His presence and the realization of His magnificence overwhelmed me. I was humbled by the fact that even with all that power, He humbled Himself to die for you and me. As I sat in His presence, I felt the “selfish” requests fill my heart and mind. I desperately want to bring my son Rich and his family Mel, Cara and Myra here. I want Tim, Jill, Liam and Ellani by our sides. I want to pray together as a family in this place. I want to pray over Liam to be the man of God he is called to be. I began to repent of my selfishness and I heard God say, “No, it is okay.” I felt like crying and singing all at the same time.
Next, we traveled down the Mountain toward Caesarea Philippi where Jesus brought the disciples to reveal that He is the Messiah. He asked them, “Who do men say that I am?” Peter answered that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Then Jesus declared that on this Rock He would build His Church and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. The place He chose to have this conversation is a huge cave used to worship and sacrifice to the god Pan. Pan was supposedly a god who could take messages to and from the dead in Hades. At this same place, is a temple for Zeus who would not allow Hades to come forth. There is even more meaning to this place, but it suffices to say that Jesus chose the place that was the very gate of Hell to proclaim that nothing would or could ever prevail against Him. This area where these pagan gods were worshiped lies in ruins while He reigns and His Church is triumphant. We all gathered to pray here where the ruins from the time of Jesus could be clearly seen. The final wave of joy swept over me at this place. The gravity of knowing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and that I have a personal relationship with Him, this Man whom death could not hold, captivated me and lifted my spirits.
Three times today, waves of His love and presence took hold of me. Today, I am caught up in His grace and drenched in His love.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Israel
Day 7: The Region Around the Sea of Galilee
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Day 7 started with the 4 of us all having our intentional time with the Lord just after sunrise in the city of Nazareth. We were all moved by God’s presence in that place.
Then, we went to a school where I preached freely to the freshman and sophomore students. Twenty-five percent of the students are from Islamic families. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing with themas they clapped and cheered at one point during my message! This school is doing amazing ministry and I think Crossroads can help them go to another level.
After a tasty Arabic lunch, we headed to Galilee and specifically to the area of Mathis which is where Jesus performed the majority of His miracles. We sat, prayed, and read the Sermon on the Mount from the spot where He most likely preached that message. Reading His words while looking over the Sea of Galilee was incredible!
From there, we went to the place where He fed the 5,000. Then, off to the shore of the Sea of Galilee where we filmed this Video Greeting. Here is where it is believed that He called out to Peter, James and John after the resurrection. They came to Him and He had breakfast waiting. I touched the water and sat on the shore and prayed. It was a moment too big and too deep for words. He was so near me that I almost cried tears of pure joy.
Two minutes from the shore was our next stop, Caperneum which is the area where Peter lived and Jesus taught. I sat in the Synagogue that He would have taught in and again, I was caught up in His presence and love! This is indeed His land and I love experiencing Him in this place!
Video Greeting
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Location:Sea of Galilee
Day 6: Our Church Family in Nazareth
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Posted January 23rd, 2012 by Chuck |
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Day 6 started out with a near comedic disaster. We walked into the wrong church. The pastor welcomed us and when I told him I was there to speak, he was going to let me! Someone finally figured out that I was at the wrong church. Praise God because I would have been preaching at one church while another church was waiting for me!
I have loved the Holy places we have visited so far but, none is more holy than the Local Baptist Church that invited me to preach today. The worship was passionate, the congregation was loving, and the church itself, just brought back wonderful memories of our early days of ministry.
At the close of the service, the pastor who usually teaches felt God move and he shared an anointed message. I was thrilled that they thought my message was too short and that I should have preached longer!
After church, we went to the home of Botrus Mansour. He and his family were amazing hosts and the food was incredible. Hearing about the huge challenges that our brothers and sisters in Christ face here in Israel made me view them as heroes. I am praying we get to be a real support to them as they faithfully serve in our Lord’s hometown.
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