The Open Door

Be Glad In This Day

2009-10-18T07:54:00.000-07:00

Psalms 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

The other day I was reflecting on all reasons to have a positive outlook when I was approached by a co-worker for the purpose of council on a difficult issue. His circumstances were very challenging and it is safe to say that he was desperate for some assistance. At the time, I did not have the physical resources to accommodate his immediate needs. I felt lead to talk to him about God’s provision and the miracles associated with our faith. We talked about the difference in our attitude when we place our faith in God as opposed to looking to the world for our solutions. It is amazing how much difference there is when we have a smile on our face and confidence in our heart knowing that we have nothing to worry about.

After about 10 minutes of conversation we turned to prayer and agreed to submit everything to the Lord. We chose to trust God to provide, and we also decided to change our countenance from sadness to joy as we believed for an answer. We had no sooner closed our prayer and my friend received notice of a work opportunity that would provide the resources that we had just prayed for.

God already knows the choices we will make in every situation. When we turn from the world and to the Kingdom God is there and faithful to lift our burdens and give us rest. My friend and I shared in the opportunity to watch the Lord fulfill His promise and turn tragedy into triumph. What started out as a bad day, trusting in the world’s provision, turned into a day that we could clearly thank God for.

Every day is the day that the Lord has made and we always have reason to rejoice and be glad. Joshua 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. When we start the day expecting Gods best He is always faithful to provide.

Our Job is to choose, regardless of how things look from the world’s perspective. Our job is to surrender in all things. Our job is to trust, no matter how bad things seem. Our job is to rejoice and be glad because God has already prepared the way for those who trust Him.

Today I will start my day with joy in my heart because I know that God’s Love will not fail me.

Be Blessed in all your days.
Skip McNutt

Liberty – The Absence of Bondage

2009-10-04T06:32:00.000-07:00

There is always something special about the early morning. I love to get up early and tap into God’s presence. It seems as though everyone else is asleep and I get to have God all to myself.

This morning I was once again reminded of a powerful scripture that has always been special for me. 2Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Our liberty is so precious, particularly when we recognize the source of true liberty. We are not only free to embrace liberty in those special moments when God’s manifest presence is so clear, we are privileged to recognize liberty in every waking moment.

As I meditate on the concept of liberty I am seeing liberty as the absence of bondage. I speak for myself when I recognize my own self imposed bondage when my attention turns to what I don’t have. In reality we are blessed with unlimited abundance. Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Spending time with the Lord is like spending time in complete liberty. All the bondage is gone and there is nothing in this world that can hold back God’s blessings when we simply surrender to His Spirit.

Prayer:
Lord thank you for your presence, for your Spirit, and for your liberty. Thank you for your provision in every area of my life. Thank you for removing the burden of my own efforts to lift the weight of my daily challenges.

I give it all to you. I trust you, and I will share with others the gifts that you have so freely given.

Lord bless all you read this message and wrap them in the liberty that only you can provide.
Amen.

Be Blessed in all of you doing.
Skip McNutt

God Is Still In Charge

2009-09-09T08:11:00.000-07:00

There is no question that we are living in a time like no other. Our government is actively pursuing unprecedented legislation and record spending. It is up to each one of us to draw our own conclusions about how we feel about this activity. I can say with certainty that this is a good time to be politically aware. Your voice counts when you speak up and take a stand.

Important: This not a time to let fear rule over us. This is a time for prayer. I’m not in a position to promote my personal opinion on these issues; however, it is safe to say that God is still in charge and those who seek the Lord will prosper.

Psalms 31:1-8
1 In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth. 6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the Lord. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. 8 You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.

Last Sunday we read all of Psalms 31. It is comforting to know that we have a place of refuge. The Bible also tells us to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;. (Philippians 4:6)

There is a very real enemy that would have us hide, keep silent, and fail to take a stand. I feel compelled to express the importance of recognizing the work God did in the founding fathers as they wrote the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Many brave citizens have fought and died for the freedoms that we enjoy. Let’s not allow these sacrifices to go in vain. We Have God on our side, we have the truth on our sid, and we have the promises that God will honor.

Fear not, take a stand, and pray.

God Bless
Skip McNutt

“I’ll Pray for You”

2009-09-07T08:34:00.000-07:00

I’m having one of those moments of reflection. I have recently mentioned that I would pray for a friend. I know that I had good intentions and it seemed like the thing to say at the time, however, I don’t recall actually praying for him. While I don’t make a habit out of breaking my word, I certainly did in this case.

As I reflected on the practice of telling others that we will pray for them I began to ask why this exchange occurs so often without the actual prayer. Perhaps it has become fashionable to make the comment as a positive gesture with the intention of making someone feel good. Perhaps we have inadvertently diminished the power of prayer. Perhaps we are just too busy to take the time. The remaining possibility is that our belief system falls short of knowing without doubt that God, not only answers prayer, but He will most certainly answer this one.

In a recent conversation with a fellow believer I was asked why so many faithful people have so many bad things happen to them. I don’t pretend to have all of the answers, however, I believe that there is a general rule that we can consider. We must believe without doubt.

Matthew 21:21 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.

James 1:6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Perhaps the next time we tell someone that we will pray for them, we need to check our heart. Do we believe without doubt that our prayer will be answered with the result we are seeking? Perhaps we can take a moment and pray with the individual instead of waiting until later. We can take advantage of the power of two or more being in agreement.

Matthew 18:19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

God Bless
Skip

The 24/7 Church

2009-09-05T11:12:00.000-07:00

The conversation that takes place more than any other, regarding The Open Door, is on the topic of how our church operates. It has been interesting to be a part of our evolution as a church body. We planted the church without a building and without any intention to acquire a building. Keep in mind that we are the church, and the building simply provides the convenience of a place to meet with the comforts that a building can provide.

Central buildings can actually become a hindrance to the 24/7 church. People tend to encapsulate their church experience within the confines of the building. As a result, we tend to think of church as something we go to. In reality, church is something we are. It is amazing to witness the transformation that takes place when we begin living as “The Church,” as opposed to making time for church activities.

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

This is it! It cannot get any simpler. Anytime you are in discussion with another individual, proclaiming the name of Jesus, you are “doing church.” Our objective is found in being aware of opportunities to share our testimony, share a biblical truth, or provide confirmation for someone.

Our formal weekly gatherings take place in various homes. The life we live during the week is the heart of our participation as church members. We think of ourselves as family. Family relationships don’t require a place or a time to be valid.

Our mobile food bank is one example of a church outreach that does not require a building to be considered a legitimate church activity.

Question:
Why is this so important during this time in our history?

Answer:
We are clearly living in a time of unprecedented change. The church is under attack. An increasing number of people would like to see any and all church activities silenced. The Bible promises that we will encounter persecution. There is no question about the devastating persecution that has taken place in many third world countries. Today we are witnessing a worldwide assault on the Christian church.

Those who quote the Bible are being accused of “hate speech.” Churches are singled out as being intolerant. Freedom of speech is being redefined as the privilege of anyone who agrees with enemies of the church. Those who publicly invoke the name of Jesus are considered to be religious nut cases. Sadly, we are approaching a day when the church may, by necessity, have to go underground. Church gatherings will, more commonly, take place in homes as opposed to public buildings.

The Open Door has provided a platform for greater understanding of what it is to live as the church. We continue to evolve and expand our operational base without the expense and responsibility of maintaining a building. Our resources are primarily directed toward those in need as opposed to maintaining the image that is established with a building.

Buildings help to establish a public image and tend to set the tone for what an individual might expect from the church. When you remove the building, the public image will be determined by the effectiveness of those who carry the message. We are the church. We, as the church, represent the central message of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the living 24/7 truth. We are not limited to an outward image based on where we meet. We are liberated to be the 24/7 church for the world around us to experience.

Let me be clear on this one point. I do not condemn the traditional church that so many of us grew up in. God has done great and mighty works through church as we have come to know it. I believe that God is taking us back to basics. God is moving and preparing us for a new battle. We cannot become complacent and expect someone else to be the church while we limit our church experience to our weekly gatherings. Yes, the church as we know it is still relevant!

We have been blessed to live in a time when we will see an unprecedented move of God. The church today requires much more than we can accomplish with our current resources. We can no longer rely on our ability to build extra classrooms and larger sanctuaries in order to accommodate the needs of those who will come to know the Lord. It is time to think outside of the box.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

When we seek God, we need not limit ourselves in when, where, and how we will find Him. Seek God in your heart and He will find you were you are.
God Bless,
Skip McNutt

Welcome Home Open Door Missionaries

2009-06-11T18:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome home to our international missionaries, Bre and Cali Whittenberg. Bre was in Argentina for six months and Cali was in Costa Rica for the same amount of time. Both were attending a YWAM (Youth With a Mission) Discipleship Training School. They also each participated in a 3 month outreach project where they were able to use what they learned in school.

Bre and Cali are planning to go back to Costa Rica for a school on building community and following that Bre will go back to Argentina for a year.

We are very proud of Bre and Cali and excited about the plans that God has for their lives.

The Future of House Church

2008-09-16T09:24:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned in the previous post, Karen and I attended the House2Harvest house church conference in Dallas, TX. There were over 400 people from around the world in attendance. Many prophetic words about the future of house church were issued by the speakers and those attending. Here are a few:

Mega churches, community churches, and house churches working together to pastor a city and build the Kingdom.
Large scale evangelistic meetings working with house church networks to handle the harvest from the events.
Alpha Course being used to locate people of peace and plant new house churches.
Missions will adjust to include our local cities. God will call people out of the house churches to be local missionaries. We will pray, fast, lay hands, and send them out into our communities. We will support them financially, just as we do international missionaries.
God is calling us to radical giving - way beyond the tithe. We are so blessed here in the U.S. and other places have so little. Let's start selling our stuff, downsizing our lives, and use the money to take care of the needy and build the Kingdom.
The Lord of the Harvest is preparing the workers for a huge harvest. House churches are simple to start and multiply quickly, which is why God is calling so many people into house church planting.

For the first 3 centuries, Christians met in houses. For about 1700 years, God has used and will continue to use the traditional church to reach people with the good news of Jesus Christ. He is also pouring out a new wine into a new wineskin called house or simple church. Church is not a building or a place you go on Saturday night or Sunday morning. We, the Believers, are the Church. Wherever we go and wherever we meet, it's church. God has a big plan, that no one is left behind, and that is going to require a huge harvest and many laborers. House church will play a big part in that and we, at The Open Door, are excited to be smack dab in the middle of His plan.

House Church Conference

2008-09-01T12:44:00.000-07:00

Karen and I just attended the annual House2House conference in Dallas, TX. What an amazing experience. There were more than 400 people from all around the world, all doing house church in some manner or another. Many of the top authors were there - William Paul Young, author of The Shack; Frank Viola, author of many books on house church; Wolfgang Simson, author of Houses that Change the World; and many others. It was an incredible time. In future days, I will be blogging on the various things we heard, learned, and the revelation we are receiving from the Lord about house church, so visit us often.

Blessings,

Rod

Let's Talk Discipleship

2008-07-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

One of the definitions of the word “Disciple” refers to an intellectual endeavor.

This is saying that there is a mental activity or active thought that leads to a greater understanding. A disciple is a student. A student is a person who makes observations and actively considers the meaning of what they have observed. When considering the word “Endeavor” you can ascertain two forms of endeavor. There is mental endeavor or meditation and there is physical endeavor. Physical endeavor is a form of adherence. Once you have gained understanding of a concept you can then begin to incorporate that concept in your behavior and the choices that you make. A disciple of Jesus is one who has listened to His Word, meditated on it, and acted on it by following Him in his teaching and His ways.

To say that you are a follower of Christ is saying a lot. It is saying that you listen to His Word, you take it seriously, and you live it. Becoming a disciple of Christ means setting aside one’s own ambitions and replacing them with the will of God. It is appropriate to point out that, while you become a disciple with the choice to believe in and follow Jesus, there is an ongoing process of maturation that will render a follower to become more Christ like over time. When Jesus turned to Peter and said “come follow me” Peter became a disciple as soon as he turned to follow Jesus. It was 3 years later that Peter walked in the fullness of God and reflected the anointing that was on his life.

The primary objective of The Open Door as a ministry is to go into the world and make disciples. This means we need to have a good understanding of what it is to be a disciple and we must make the commitment to live by what we learn about Christ. Having made the choice to be a disciple we need to be open to what God has to say about leading others into the same decision. Do we hold classes, by books, or do we put it God’s hands and simply do as He says on a daily basis. It would appear that simply teaching about Jesus and the ways of God might fall short of the target. The early disciples learned through their observations of how Jesus lived. Jesus taught the word but He also lived it. He spent time with the disciples in building relationships and demonstrating the word and the power of God through the miracles, signs and wonders that He performed. Jesus was an active mentor to His followers and in turn His followers set an example for other followers. Thus was the beginning of a multiplication process that has lead to untold millions of disciples.

As I see it, in as much as The Open Door is committed to the process of making disciples, we must individually commit to being the best disciples we can be. It becomes the position of those who have made this choice to become mentors through intellectual endeavor and active adherence.

Listen Learn and Live. This could be a simple model of the commitment that we have made.

Listen:

Romans 10:17
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word.

Proverbs 1: 5
let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance

Learn:

Deuteronomy 4:40
10 especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, 'Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.'

Deuteronomy 5:1
1 And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them.

Matthew 11:29
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Titus 3:14
And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

Live:

John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Luke 10:27
So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' " 28 And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

We are clearly called to make disciples. This is a mandate that is not reserved for any one individual, group or organization. This a universal call to the body of Christ. It is perfectly alright to establish priorities and key areas of focus from one ministry to another or one season to the next. The process of being a disciple or making disciples is more of a way of life than a particular program or focus. In fact, making disciples is a command and not a suggestion. God provided us with the authority and the power to accomplish all that he has commanded. I would even suggest that the real joy of living is found in the rewards of obedience and the knowledge that you have personally made a real and sustaining change in the lives of those that you have influenced as a disciple. “The Joy of the Lord is my strength.” I am personally strengthened for the challenges that await me in my walk by the knowledge that God works miracles through adherence to His commandments.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News. There is no real down side when living life according to the plan of God who gave us life. We have some great news for a hurting world. We are facing the soon return of our Lord and savior. He is coming for a church without spot or wrinkle. This would be an excellent time to “Listen, Learn, and Live.

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Be Blessed in your walk,

Skip McNutt

The Early Church

2008-07-18T11:26:00.001-07:00

Lately, I've spent a great deal of time studying scripture for and thinking about church in houses. We know from scripture and reliable historical sources that the early church met in houses for the first 300 years. Yet, today when we think of "church" we think of the big building down on the corner. Now, before you shout me down, I want you to know that I was saved in one of those buildings and helped plant a traditional church back in 2001. I have nothing against churches that meet in buildings and there is not a question in my mind that God is using them mightily.

What I want to do in this blog message is to challenge you to a deeper understanding of the early church. The Greek word that is translated as "church" in the New Testament is Ecclesia. This was actually a governmental word that described a gathering. The early church adopted the term because it best fit their gatherings. Now, clearly I was not there, but I would like to piece together my view of those early days.

After three years of walking the earth with his disciples, Jesus was crucified, resurrected and appeared to many people for forty days. His last words to the disciples were to wait in Jerusalem for the promised comforter (the Holy Spirit) and that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came on them and they were to his witnesses in Jerusalem, all of Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

So, the confused disciples go to Jerusalem and begin to pray and talk. They figured that Jesus was going to set up a new Kingdom, overthrowing the Roman government. That didn't happen, so they began to wonder what was next. Jesus' followers met in the upper room for fifty days. I imagine that many became impatient and began questioning. Some probably gave up, but finally one day, the promised Holy Spirit arrived like a wind and flames of fire and everyone was changed.

Peter went from a bumbler who denounced Jesus three times to a mighty preacher and 3000 were saved. He and the disciples then sent those 3,000 down to the local mega-church, right? Actually, they dispersed to the marketplace and their houses and began talking about the hottest news in town - "Did you hear about what happened in the upper room? Man, at first we thought those crazy Jesus freaks were drunk, but it turned out that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and then WHAM we got it too. It's awesome! All you've got to do is acknowledge that you're a sinner, ask God to forgive you, and recognize Jesus as your Savior and Lord and not only will you receive the Holy Spirit, but you'll get to go to heaven when you die. Can you believe it? Sounds too good to be true, but it is!"

So, they start talking with each other in the marketplace and meeting from house to house. They had lots of questions and so the disciples spread out and began teaching them about Jesus and how to live life the way he instructed. Unlike today, they were meeting every night for communal meals and probably talked late into the night about Jesus. The Holy Spirit provided regular revelation and so everyone was expected to come prepared to deliver a song, teaching, revelation, tongue, or interpretation of a tongue (1 Cor. 14:26-28). All of this was to be done for the strenthening of the church body. Paul also gave instructions for orderly conduct at these gatherings in verses 27-33.

We learn in Acts 2:42 that the early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, breaking of bread (full meals like the last supper), and prayer. When we combine the scriptures, it's pretty easy to get a picture of these gatherings. The houses were stuffed with excited people who were eating, talking, singing, teaching, learning, and praying. They also gave generously. Those who had more, sold things and brought the funds to the apostles, so it could be used for the good of the church - to take care of the apostles and the poor - and no one was in lack.

The Open Door is our humble attempt to restore some of the early church. We live in a different culture, so we wouldn't even attempt to try to recreate the scene in exact details, but we do gather in houses. We eat and fellowship. We sing, teach, learn, and pray. We love God, love each other, and seek to serve in our community. It won't be right for everyone, but it is our hope that we can attract those who would not attend a traditional church, but are interested in learning more about God, Jesus, and the Bible. If you live in the Tacoma, WA area, let us know where you live and we'll connect you up with the nearest house church. If you would like to start a house church (even outside the Tacoma area), we would be happy to help you plant and oversee your gatherings.

For more about The Open Door, check out our web site at www.TheOpenDoor.us.

Manifestations of God

2008-07-16T07:38:00.001-07:00

The Open Door Tacoma #1
Many people have observed the revival in Lakeland Florida. I have been hearing comments made by people who have something to say about the manifestations of healing and move of God that has captured so much attention. I count it a privilege to have attended a genuine move of God in the form of a revival in Toronto. I would like to make a few comments of my own regarding the manifestations of God that attend the services like those that are being experienced in Lakeland.
I have not attended these Lakeland services. I have heard reports from trusted sources that say that the manifestations of healing that are taking place are real. Caution: We should not be critical of things that we don’t fully understand.
Romans 8:33
33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

The word is very clear. It is not our position to judge other ministries. Throughout the Bible we read stories of God’s power and manifestations that are so difficult to comprehend with our natural mind. These manifestations are not natural. They are indeed supernatural. Who of us can wrap our brain around the supernatural power of God? When you consider God’s power what do we expect to see? Moses was cautioned not to look on God’s face because the raw power of God’s countenance would kill him. We can’t see electricity, though we see what it does, we can’t see the wind yet we see what it can do. We can’t see God but it doesn’t make Him any less powerful.
How do you see God’s power? What do you expect to see when the Holy Spirit shows up with power? I personally believe that God’s power is supposed to get our attention. If nothing happens out of the ordinary how do you give credit to God for something “Supernatural?” Healing, Raising of the dead, or parting the sea are all manifestations that get our attention. We give very little pause the scripture explaining events that surrounded the tomb were Jesus was buried. A guard of Roma solders where swept off their feet and rendered unconscious at the appearance of an angel of the Lord. That’s power in the Glory of the Lord that was present with the angels. Why is it so hard to imagine the power of God showing up in a service where the focus is on seeking God and His presents? Yes! People fall down under the power of God. We shouldn’t be so surprised. Perhaps we should be surprised when these things don’t happen.

Let’s take the next step. Should we focus on the manifestation or should we focus on the life of the person who has been touched by the power of God. I believe we are pursuing the wrong thing if all we seek is the goose bumps or being knocked off of our feet. The real story is found in the lives of those who have been forever changed as a result of their encounter with God. People get healed of life threatening conditions and are never the same. People turn their lives around to serve the Lord as never before. I have not only witnessed these things in the lives of others I have personal experience. I know what it is to be “Blasted” by the presents of God, knocked down, turned around, anointed and raised up speaking in an unknown language. The objective is not in the manifestation. The objective is in the ways that God will use you once His Hand has come upon you, and turned your attention to His will.

Consider a common application of electricity in the form of a printing press. The printing press is an in-adamant object serving no great purpose until electricity surges through its components and brings it to life. Once charged and properly fed it will produce a wide range of documents that, by their content could change the world. If man can produce a life changing machine, couldn’t God change lives by adding His power to His creation that can change the world. And what are we focused on? Are we focused on the power, the manifestation of moving parts in a machine, or that which is produced by the machine? If you follow this logic you will look past the manifestations and look to the results. Are lives changed, is Christ in the middle of the changes, and do we see unmistakable fruit in the lives of those who have had a firsthand experience with God?

I cannot allow myself to rush to judgment of other ministries. Especially when I spend so much time seeking the presents of God and wanting revival to break out here in the NW. We need to strip ourselves of the critical spirit and expect to see the “Supper” in supernatural. Brace ourselves for a movement of God, look past the manifestations, and receive the fullness of God that He promises.
Be blessed in the fullness of God’s promises.
Skip

The Open Door - Tacoma #1

2008-07-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

Simple church can be celebrated any day of the week. Our group gathers in a coffee shop on Saturday mornings. Our emphasis has been on discipleship and developing future leaders that will eventually have their own group. We have had some great experiences through our prayer time and during our discussions. There is no lack of Holy Spirit presents as a result of meeting in a public place.
I believe we tend to manufacture limitations to the Holy Spirit by superimposing rules about how and when we meet. We want the world around us to be curious and to overhear of conversations. Market place ministry is effective because it reaches into the community and finds people where they live. It was the Holy Spirit that lead us to establish our group in a coffee shop and I believe that the Holy Spirit is right at home as we meet in the name of Jesus.
Last Saturday we received a new member and we discussed the values of our group, some aspects of our vision and our approach to meeting the needs of the individuals in the group. We all agree that these gathers are not limited to the teachings and opinions of any one person. Rather, it is through providing everyone with the opportunity to share that we gain a broader view of the topics being covered. Everyone contributes, everyone is encouraged to ask questions and no one is condemned for any differences in belief. Our conversation covered a lot of ground and there were challenges to some of our Biblical interposition. These challenges lead to a healthy discussion and plenty of scripture as we pursued greater understanding.
Healing was one of the subjects we dealt with. The question was; “Does God use infirmity to teach us lessons.” We concluded that Healing is God’s will and the only requirement is found in belief without doubt. I am confident that this conversation will continue in weeks to come.
Every week is different, and every group is different. The constant is the Spirit and the pursuit of God. Everyone wants greater understanding of who God is and how to live the life that we are called to. Simple church has become an adventure with numerous trails and a unifying drive to become more Christ like.
Blessings to all who enter.
Skip

July 13 Lakewood Open Door

2008-07-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning we had a great time together at the Lakewood Open Door. There were seventeen people in attendance, including five teenagers and one near teenager.

We had a great time singing to the Lord and then discussed the barriers that keep us from all that God has to offer. We talked about fear and how our fear of what God might ask us to do or where He might ask us to go, or who He might ask us to talk with, can keep us from drawing close to Him.

Our discussion led us to recognize that God always has our best interest in mind and would never throw us into something that He hadn't prepared us for. Oh, we might end up in some challenging situations, where we have to rely on God, but He will never leave us or forsake us.

We also talked about how our busy worlds can keep us from intimacy with God. In order to develop a relationship, we have to invest time together with the person. It's the same with God. If we don't invest time in the Bible, in prayer, in quiet time with God, and in fellowship with other Believers, we won't draw close enough to receive all the blessing He has for us.

After our discussion, we took a number of prayer requests and then enjoyed a nice time of corporate prayer. This was followed by a barbeque feast. Our hosts had prepared chicken for the barby and everyone brought side dishes. It was an amazing selection of food and drink. Even more amazing was the conversation. A great time was had by all.