Thanksgiving Success!

Thanksgiving at the Community Center was such a great success thanks to the whole family. All of us working together as the Body of Jesus enabled us to make this work again. Whether you actively participated or not you are a part of the success by virtue of being in the family. When one rejoices we all rejoice. Thanks to all who participated in prayer as well as providing financially, with turkeys and volunteering time.

The whole event from preparation to execution went so smooth that sometimes we felt like we must be missing something. Even with sickness in our family we still managed to push through without a hitch. Thank you Father!

There was such a wonderful atmosphere yesterday as we were able to feed somewhere between 250 and 300 people on site. Several people I spoke said that they felt the family atmosphere and the happiness in the room. God is so good. He was there having dinner with us! Everyone was so grateful and so on behalf of our guests I thank you!

As usual we had volunteers come to help that are not believers but just wanted a place to serve on Thanksgiving. They came in as strangers and left as friends to many! Please continue to pray for them as God is working in their lives.

We had a few experiences of people just showing up with supplies that we needed! Some anonymous person came by and left enough bread for all the stuffing plus extra to give away to the dinner participants. Another local farmer showed up with a box of onions, some squash and other pumpkins and gourds. Deanna randomly met a man who works at Scolari's and took it upon himself to provide a lot of our food needs along with some other kitchen items! With all of this we were able to save quite a bit of money...thank you Jesus!!!

These are just a few of the many things that happened in the course of preparing for and serving the Thanksgiving meal. If you have any cool stories to share please feel free to pass them along.

Thanks again,

Paul

Sketchy Start To A Great Day...

Earlier last week I went and had keys made for our storage locker where we keep our clothing and supplies. Being a former locksmith I should have known better and checked the keys, but when we arrived at the locker the new key didn't work! I was able to modify the key with some effort, which allowed it to go into the lock but it still didn't work. So, we had to drive to the church office to hopefully find another key, which we did...thank you Jesus!

While we were struggling to get downtown with the clothing the rest of the team was already there handing out wonderful handmade sandwiches and cookies. Jamila and Hannah made well over 100 (they think closer to 140) sandwiches which were received with much thanks. Judy and Michael were already there as well giving out first-aid supplies, socks, underwear, combs, towelettes, deodorant and other items. We rolled in about 30 minutes late with the clothing and some other food and drinks that Janice Aramaki provided for the folks.

We made some really good connections again and had some wonderful conversations. One friend, Billy, is new to the area and had such a sweet heart. He is living at the Rescue Mission and volunteering there while looking for work. He seems very willing and able, would you please pray for him? I believe we will see him at church sometime soon...he is a believer.

One irony of the day was watching a group of young homeless folks in their early 20's. They came early and stayed till the end, mostly just sitting in a group nearby. As one of the young girls was going through the clothing finding some nice stuff I noticed her hoodie had "In Satan We Trust" emblazoned on the back. I thought of the irony as it was Jesus that was taking care of her in such a tangible way today and every day. The one she flippantly promotes came only to steal, kill and destroy, often slowly with small gradual step, while Jesus came to give life with a bold display of love and acceptance not wanting any to perish.

We gave away quite a bit of stuff Saturday so would you please pray that we could replenish our supplies? Please consider making a clothing donation yourself too, it is the only way we can keep this up. Thank you all for being a partner in this effort to put God's Love In Action! Keep looking for ways to do it today and every day. Paul

Zogby Poll: Most Americans Want Strengths and Weaknesses of Darwinism Taught In Schools

Zogby Poll: Most Americans Want Strengths and Weaknesses of Darwinism Taught In Schools
Monday, July 13, 2009
By Christopher Neefus


Charles Darwin
(CNSNews.com) - A Zogby poll commissioned by the Seattle-based Discovery Institute says more than three-quarters of Americans would like teachers to have the freedom to discuss both the strengths and weaknesses of Darwinian evolution, with an even higher number reported among Democrats.

According to the report, which was commissioned by the Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture, respondents were given the two following statements:

Statement A: “Biology teachers should teach only Darwin’s theory of evolution and the scientific evidence that supports it.”

Statement B: “Biology teachers should teach Darwin’s theory of evolution, but also the scientific evidence against it.”

Of those surveyed, 78 percent said Statement B came closest to their own point of view on the issue, representing a 9 percent increase over 2006, the last time the question was asked.

More striking, though, was the finding that 82 percent of Democrats also chose statement B, versus 73 percent of Republicans.

Self-identified liberals showed stronger support than self-identified conservatives, 86 percent to 72 percent. Those who did not identify with any Christian or Jewish denominations supported teaching evidence against Darwinian evolution at a level of 82 percent.

When young adults age 18-24 were posed with the same choice, the poll said no respondents -- 0 percent -- thought only Darwinism and its supporting evidence should be taught.

Another question, asked in the same poll but released separately, showed a corresponding skepticism of pure natural selection as the basis of human evolution.

Respondents were asked whether they believed “the development of life came about through an unguided process of random mutations and natural selection” or “the development of life was guided by intelligent design.”

A slim majority, 52 percent, said they believed intelligent design played a role in evolution, but only 33 percent alternatively believed evolution was an unguided process. 8 percent were unsure and 7 percent chose “Other.”

Dr. John West, associate director of the Center for Science and Culture, said the findings contradict the prevailing notion that “a small group of the uneducated” – as critics charge -- drove skepticism over Darwin’s theory.

“Media reports insinuate that a right-wing conspiracy of know-nothings and religious-extremists is afoot,” he said. “But the new Zogby poll represents a broad-based and well-informed public consensus for academic freedom on evolution. The Darwin lobby has isolated itself from public opinion.”

But Glenn Branch, deputy director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), told CNSNews.com the poll was “meaningless” because the phrasing of the questions skewed the results.

Branch said asking whether or not respondents believe all evidence should be taught puts them in the position of being for or against freedom of information.

“(I)f you commission someone to do a poll asking whether we should teach the evidence for and the evidence against heliocentrism, they’d say yes, too,” he argued, “even though it’s scientifically established that the Earth goes around the sun, rather than the other way around.

“The very terms of the question presuppose that there is credible scientific evidence against evolution, which there isn’t,” he said.

Branch also said the poll muddles the distinction between “evidence against” Darwin’s theory of evolution and “intelligent design.”

The second question “presupposes that evolution is incompatible with guidance by a divine being,” Branch alleged, pointing out that many scientists accept Darwin’s theory and believe in God.

“There are plenty of people [who believe both], including for example, Kenneth Miller, who is a biologist and also the coauthor of one of the most widely used high school biology text books in the United States,” he said.

In a 2005 Gallup survey, 52 percent said they were “not too familiar” or “not familiar at all” with the term “intelligent design.”

Similarly, a 1999 FOX News poll found 26 percent of respondents said both the Bible’s account of creation and Darwin’s theory of evolution, conflicting ideas, were accurate.

In the Gallup poll, only 35 percent disagreed with the notion that evolution should be presented as the most convincing theory for how humans developed.

Chris Mooney of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry has criticized Zogby polling methodology in the past, agreeing that their wording accounts for the disparity in their poll numbers.

“The answer to the first question is a no-brainer for anyone who believes in open-mindedness, no matter what they think about evolution,” he said. “Sure enough, Zogby-Intelligent Design polls have shown overwhelming support for option B.”

As for general polling on the subject of evolution, Mooney says steps need to be taken to clear the confusion, and Americans need to be better educated on these terms.

“Taken as a whole, polls about evolution certainly do suggest that we need much better science education in this country,” he said, and “Americans need to understand the difference between evolution and its pseudoscientific rivals.”

But John Zogby, president and CEO of Zogby International, defended his poll, saying that he wasn’t polling people about pseudoscience.

“[W]e’re polling people’s perceptions and attitudes, not their level of knowledge,” Zogby told CNSNews.com.

“I know that one might quibble with the scientific evidence against Darwin’s theory . . . but the fact of the matter is, in terms of the public response to the way this question was asked, the public just says, ‘If there is scientific evidence against it, it should be taught.’ It doesn’t make a premise, it doesn’t lead, it is statement A vs. statement B.”

He pointed out that problems with the fossil record – what he called the “Cambrian explosion” and current studies on the mutations of bacteria pose purely scientific challenges to the natural selection explanation at the root of Darwinian evolutionary theory – and have nothing to do with creationism.

West also denied that intelligent design factored into the question about science curricula.

“We don’t advocate requiring people to learn about intelligent design,” he said.
“[W]e don’t favor mandating it, although we think teachers should be free to discuss it.”

West told CNSNews.com this year was the first time Discovery and Zogby had asked the intelligent design question, so he could not say whether the results corresponded to a desire for it to be taught in classrooms.

“What we do know is there was a nine point jump in people who thought you should teach both sides and a corresponding six or seven point drop in the minority who thought you should just teach one side,” he said.

“I think we certainly have been seeing more openness on the part of the general public to wanting to get all the evidence.”

In a press release distributed with the poll West said, “There seems to be a backlash against the strong-arm tactics that have been used in recent years to censor and intimidate scientists, teachers, and students who raise criticisms of Darwin.”

With regard to the 52 percent of respondents who said they subscribed to the perhaps-confusing intelligent design concept, Zogby said, “I think more today know about [intelligent design] than two years ago,” and “folks need to understand there’s a lot of conservatives in this country.”

The Zogby poll, conducted in January among 1,053 people, has a margin of errors of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

The new poll was conducted ahead of the 150th anniversary this November of the publication of Darwin’s seminal book, On the Origin of Species. The book outlined the scientist’s theory about natural selection as the engine of biological evolution.

Are You A Slave?

Someone asked the question the other day. Do you consider yourself a slave of Jesus as Paul did in writing to the Corinthian church. Here is my reply.

Yes, I am a slave...a bond slave. The Lord Jesus has set me free from my chains of sin and given me complete liberty to choose a direction to walk. Like Peter I have to say, "Where else will I go Lord, You have the words of life." I have chosen to submit myself to Him now willingly. I have given up my right to make money...I have chosen to make some hard decisions and not to pursue money but to pursue relationships and to encourage others in their relationship with Jesus. I have suffered greatly in one sense because of these decisions, but I have also had the privilege of seeing God provide in ways that causes Him to receive glory and honor. If we never live our life fully trusting in Him, we never get to experience His provision. I we take control of our life and are able to do everything on our own where is the need for God? As a bond slave it is my Master that tells me what to do. I have to admit that at times it is very hard, but if I will pray and talk with Jesus He speaks the words that set me free and help me to do the right thing. Just the other day I was riding my bicycle home from the store. While I was riding I was telling God how hard life was for me and I was asking if all of the sacrifices are even worth it. I wasn't sure I was even making the right choices. As I was riding along and talking with Jesus I looked down and rode past a coin in the street. I turned around and picked up the quarter and the first words I read on the coin was, "In God We Trust". I knew immediately that God was asking me once again to trust Him. He was encouraging me to be like Peter and "choose" once again to trust Jesus. To choose to be a "living sacrifice". I will continue to be His bond slave because He has the power of life.

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I am always amazed at God's faithfulness when we step out to serve and touch people in love. Yesterday's trip downtown to give away clothing, first-aid supplies and personal hygiene items was such a great time of connecting. We had so many wonderful conversations, times of prayer and giving of practical aid. We can sense that the people there trust us and value the efforts we make to help out.

The theme that kept coming up all morning was to be faithful in the small things. This was a topic that others kept bringing up and it became obvious it was the theme of the day. We talked amongst the homeless about how the giveaway is just one small act of sacrifice and service...but if each one of us would live a life of sacrifice and serve the other God could literally use us to change the climate on the streets. Many of them had stories already of the small things that they are doing to help others on the streets. We talked about how Jesus is the example of true love, sacrifice and service and how he can give us strength through by His Holy Spirit.

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Patrick had a wonderful conversation with a gentleman during the giveaway who came to church today. Patrick is working hard to help meet some of his immediate needs and perhaps someone can come along side and help too.
During the giveaway Ralph came up and asked for prayer. When he was asked what he would like prayer for he responded that he wanted to give his life back to Jesus. He had become addicted to alcohol and let it push him away from Jesus. We prayed for him and then encouraged him to pour out his heart in prayer. He did and God heard from heaven I am sure. We encouraged him to not isolate and to connect with the family. Who knows, we may see him joining us soon.
Shortly after that we got to meet "Amanda" who is dying of cancer. She had visited Santa Barbara once before and when she was diagnosed she "came here to die." We listened to her story, prayed for healing and then bought her a round trip bus ticket to visit her 7 year old son in L.A. who she gave up to the foster care system. She will be back in Santa Barbara in a day or two and we are praying she will make good on her promise to visit us and be baptised. There was a sparkle in her eye as she left and was giving thanks to Jesus. She has a good friend on the streets who is a Christian and is working with her. Please pray for them.
After we had packed up a few of us were sitting around talking about the day when a group of college aged kids came up and asked us if we would like a free lunch. Turns out this crazy bunch of Jesus lovers were down there to provide a meal for the homeless. We went down and joined them for a wonderful meal, worship and fellowship. I was so encouraged to see these guys out there all on their own providing such a banquet. They had one of the homeless guys cooking the food they provided which was carne asada, sausages, pasta salad, tortillas and dessert. They had chicken in the cooler they were going to cook for dinner in a couple hours too! I was humbled as I stood in line with my friends who we just gave clothes to and was served by this gracious group of Jesus People.

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Keeping Our Focus

May 2009

Keeping Our Focus

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses

Surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance

And the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run

With endurance the race that is set before us,

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith”

(Heb 12.1-2)

Turbulent Times

We are living in times of increasing storm winds of change, bringing fear and uncertainty to those around us. Economic crisis, climate change, natural disasters, violent conflicts that take a terrible toll—especially on women and children, breakdown of the family and relationships

leaving children subject to abandonment, abuse, and the tragic fallout that follows.

We witnessed a powerful declaration of the Redeeming Love of God from the fury of the

tempest in Tevis’ life this past Sunday. God reigns in the midst of the storm!

Refuge in the Storm

We have been called out as the Family of God to be a place of safety and restoration into the fullness of our true identity—a place of face to face personal transformation in the midst of the

tumult of an increasingly impersonal world. We need to remember who we are!

Our Core Values

Warm – Embracing all with God’s love, committed to cultivating deep friendships and small groups where we receive God’s heart and each other’s hearts—to be the family we need, and

the world around us needs!

Worship – Come early—to welcome newcomers and greet friends—with an undivided heart to experience the Presence of God that restores our souls, renews our vision, strengthens our

faith, and inspires fresh hope to run the race.

Word – Building our lives upon the rock that withstands every storm…The Word of God.

1^st Sunday – Marty, family communion service, Living out the Lord’s Prayer.

2d Sunday – Dan, Colossians, Newcomers, Specialty Coffee in the Courtyard.

3d Sunday – Fresh input of other voices, young and old.

4^th Sunday – Dan, Colossians, strengthening the foundations of the family of God.

Wind – Receiving the power of the Holy Spirit to love, heal, sustain, and transform.

World – Reaching out to all, especially those unlike us—those unfamiliar with God and His

ways—providing a way home to His heart and into His family.

Each of us are MVP’s: Most Valuable Players

M = Mission = Messengers of Heaven

V = Vision = Bringing Heaven to Earth

P = Purpose = Discovering Our Potential in Him—and helping others find theirs

Each of us has a sphere of influence no one else has, with a story no one else has.

Let’s let God use it to bring healing to hearts and to welcome His kids home!

National Vineyard Conference: Heroic Leadership in Times of Change

There were six keynote messages that were gripping:

• Paying any price to follow Jesus – Cherith Fee Nordling
• To reach our generation – Bert Waggoner, National Director
• By the Power of the Holy Spirit – Don Williams, Elder Emeritus in the Vineyard
• Moving beyond our comfort zones to reach our cities – Jay Pathak, Church Planter, CO
• Especially Our Children! – Wes Stafford, Director of Compassion International
• Ultimately to love our enemies – Sami Awad (Palestinian Christian) and Rich Nathan

Check out www.holylandtrust.org for Sami’s ministry in Palestine.

You can hear each of these outstanding messages at our National Website. Go to:

www.vineyardusa.org, click on “National Conference” at the top of the screen, and enjoy!

The Treasure of the Generations

For those of us approaching fifty or beyond, it is not time to “relax,” but to pray, to impart the legacy God has entrusted to us, to invest in and support those younger than us, and to

strengthen each other to run faithfully to the finish. Let’s finish well and strong.

For those of you in your 40’s, you are modeling and carrying primary leadership in our family in this season of your lives. We love you, are grateful beyond words, and pray for God’s strength

and vision as you provide such vital strength to our family.

For those of you in your 20’s and 30’s, it’s your turn to lead a new generation into the adventure of the Kingdom of God with a model and wineskin that reflects who you are. Every

generation has its own unique personality and expression. Go for it! We’re with you.

For our teens and children… they are our Father’s highest priority investment!

Take a fresh look at Matthew 18.1-14.

85% of all who say “Yes” to Jesus, make that decision between the ages of 4 and 14.

9% make that choice between the ages of 15 to 20. That means 94% by age 20!

6% make that choice after the age of 20.

“It is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.”

Giving Our Best

Let’s invest in the values of eternity—giving the Lover of our souls our first and best, not just

the margins and leftovers of our lives.

Let’s give the first and best of our Time, our Strength, and our Money to see His Kingdom reach our city, our region, and the nations—and to hear those wonderful words at the end of the race

“well done, good and faithful servant.”

Proud to be with you on the adventure as our God Protects, Provides, and Empowers us to be

and do all that He has called us to!

P.S. Don’t toss this aside… keep it visible so we can remind ourselves to “Keep Our Focus.”

Are You Healthy?

Over the years I have thought a lot about what it looks like to be "healthy" as a believer and as a church because one thing that I want for my life is to be as healthy spiritually as God would allow.  

Before I was a Christian I had way too much experience in living an unhealthy life and to be quite honest I didn't even know what a healthy life would be like.  I guess that if I had thought about it I would have pictured a life in black and white, looking like something out of Leave In To Beaver.  But when I became a follower of Jesus it was like a splash of vibrant color and my life turned completely right side up.

I rode on that high for a while and then I started asking, "Now that I'm a follower, what should I do?"  "How should I live?"  I want to grow and be healthy because everything that is healthy grows; that's just the way God made things.  Jesus said that, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."   That's for you Dave!  I want that.

As I read through what Jesus said and what the writers of the New Testament were saying it became obvious that the main focus of our life has to be about Love.  I think that we would all agree on that.  I have said it before and I guess I will say it again, when it's my time at the mic I really have only one message and the message is: Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.     But one thing I figured out is that I didn't really have a clue as to what love really was.  I realized that the Love that Jesus is talking about is not an emotional love or a passive love, but a love that reaches out in real tangible ways.  But what does that look like in the "real world"?  What does it mean?  

Jesus gave his followers a job to do before he went up to heaven.  He laid it out pretty plainly what He wants us to do until He returns and it has to do with love as well.  Jesus told us, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 

I think that God's love is wrapped up in these two verses and believe that as followers of Jesus we should be focusing on 5 things.

1. Loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength: Worship

2. Love our neighbor as ourselves: Ministry

3. Go and make disciples: Evangelism

4. Baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Fellowship

5. Teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded: Discipleship/Teaching

 

I think that these 5 areas are like broad categories that we need to focus on in our lives as individuals and in the life of the church. The first is toward God, and all the rest have to do with others with the exception of loving others as ourselves which has do with others and ourselves.  I think that most of us will be able to agree that they are important.  The question will be, "How important?", and, "How are these being lived out in my life?" 

My belief is that if we want to be healthy as individuals and as a church, we have to be growing first of all in our love of God and second in our love for the people that Jesus came and laid down His life for.  It's pretty much as simple as that.  The love of others comes from our understanding of God's love for us.  It is our response to a merciful and loving God who looks at our crazy lives and loves us anyway.

Over the years I have ebbed and flowed with these, but they are the overarching aim of my life.  I have to make it clear that this life of faith is progression and that none of these things are meant to be put on you as a burden.  They are here to guide us and help keep us on track, especially as the winds of change blow in the church and kicks up dust to disorient us.  You know in those times when we are not sure if we are doing what God wants us to be doing?  Those times when we are trying to decide what to do and which way to go.  When we are trying to figure our the direction God had for us.  It's at those times that we can measure our life against these things to help evaluate the road ahead.

What you will find is that while all of these things are important and even necessary, you will be stronger in some and weaker in the others.  It's just the way it is.  We all have natural gifts, talents, and abilities so we will tend to favor some over the other.  It's like having a dominant hand, both work but you will favor one over the other and can do some things better using the one.  And, while having two hands is not totally necessary and you can live without one or both, you will be able to accomplish more by having both.  So what you will find is that some of these will be easier for you, while others will need to be a spiritual discipline.

This is also why we need each other and why we need to be in the body using our gifts.  We need to use our strengths to bless others and allow ourselves to be blessed by others.

 

I'm only going to talk about the first two today which in my mind is actually one.  Worship and ministry.  So let me share a few of the things that have helped me over the years. Why I love God and why I love my neighbor.

What I am realizing is that the message of love never changes but my understanding of what love is and what love looks like continues to be challenged and grows all the time.  

Love is a heart issue and looks differently at different times because love is actually our response to others and what is most helpful to them at the time.  True love has nothing to with how we are treated, but has to do with our heart and how we treat others. 

The other thing I am realizing is that I can't separate how I love God and how I love people.  How I love my brother is how I love God.  "If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 

So, I guess what I am realizing more and more is that Love really is a verb.  It is not a feeling.  Love is action.  Love is what we do.  It is the way we treat people "in spite" of how we feel.  Love actually looks to the interest of others rather than looking out for itself.  Love is Sacrifice. 

But I have to say that it's really easy in the church to get caught up in so many good "things" and completely miss the heart of God.  We can easily get so focused on the trappings of church culture we forget what we are really about...loving God and loving our neighbor.  We subtly shift from self-sacrifice to being self-centered.  We are always looking for "the blessing".  We want to feel good in worship, in the message, in our marriage, with our kids, at work etc.  Now, none of that's bad in and of itself, but when the focus becomes "what can I get" we are off base in my opinion.

From what I can tell He has already given us everything and it's up to us to give what he has given us away...for His sake.  We do it because we love Him and that's what He did for us.  I'm not talking about material things although it could include that.

I am also not talking about a works mentality here.  Most of us have read 1 Corinthians 13 where Paul says that he can do all of these seemingly righteous things, but if he doesn't have love it's all worthless.  Or what about when Jesus talked about those that come before Him and say, "Lord, didn't we prophecy in your name and cast out demons and do all these miracles?"  And he will say, "Away from me!  I never knew you."  "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.   Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'   Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' 

To me these are two of the scariest verses in the bible and keep me focused on trying to love God and my neighbor.  It's not about some of the things that we value so highly...it's about love.  It's about knowing Jesus and if we know Jesus will work at loving our neighbor.  But equally scary are the verses that rebuke us for not showing God's love in tangible ways.

So what is love?

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."   Love is God literally sending His Son into the world to die...for us!  And, love is Jesus agreeing to go.  He wasn't forced.  It's like Abraham who took his son Isaac and laid him on the altar because he knew that God had made a promise raise up a nation through Isaac and God's promise was good!  He knew that even if Isaac died, God could raise him up from the dead and that is really what He did, because Abraham had gone through with it in his heart.  If God had not provided the substitute Isaac would have died that day.  Abraham passed the test.

You know who also passed the test?  Isaac!  Isaac knew that there was no sacrifice other than himself.  There were all the necessary items for a sacrifice that day...except the offering.  Isaac knew it and allowed himself to be bound and put on the altar.  He willingly followed his father's directions.

Jesus too was literally led to the altar willingly.  He was there when Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac and God provided the substitute Ram.  And, He knew that this time He was the sacrifice and there would be no substitute for Him.  Indeed, He WAS the substitute....for us!  It was going to be Him nailed to the cross, taking the pain of separation from God and the penalty of sin...for us!  THIS is love.  Laying down His life for His friends.

The bible says that, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son."   Some people look at that and say, "How could a loving God do that?"  "How could he send His own Son to die?"  What they don't know, or forget, is that Jesus willingly came and laid down his life.  This is love in action.  Both the Father AND the Son sacrificing for US!  The bible tells us that God is Love.  He is the very definition.  We can look to the Father and to Jesus as the premier example of Love In Action.

So, the first is: Love the Lord your God, or Worship.  This is where we begin.  Now it has to be said that even before this can happen there has to be a spiritual awakening, a re-birth.  We can't even begin this relationship with God without first surrendering our lives to him in Faith and having our spirit re-generated.  That is actually our first act of worship.  If we try and impress God before that happens we will fall into "religion" and not "relationship".  

We cant even begin to please God without faith.  The bible says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."   He will give you life...abundantly.  You will have living waters flowing out of your innermost being.  You won't necessarily be rich, healthy, or successful...but you will be satisfied.  Your life will be rich, your soul will be healthy, your life successful...you will be satisfied.

Once we have this re-birth, once we realize the depth of His love, surrendering our life to him is the natural result.  This surrendering of our life is true worship.  This is what Jesus did.  He was so secure in His Father's love and His ability to watch over and protect Him that He could fully surrender Himself.

We know that ultimately He will never leave us or forsake us.  We know that He will never lose any of those entrusted to Him. "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.   I and the Father are one."   If you haven't had this type of revelation about Jesus and you want it you need to start calling out to Him and seek Him with all your heart.  Ask Him to open your spiritual eyes.  Once your eyes are opened you will know what I'm talking about and the natural response will be to lay down your life for Jesus because He laid down His for you.  

 

 

This where we start if we want to be healthy; with a right understanding of God's love for us.  Knowing that the Father gave up his Son, and the Son gave up His life for us so that we could be brought back into a right relationship with them.  Because the bottom line is, if you are not following Jesus, if you haven't laid your life down willingly on his altar like Jesus did, you are separated from Him.  

Jesus came so that we could have life to the fullest, but we can't have that life unless we are willing to die to ourselves first.  It is the greatest paradox ever.  Jesus said, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;  and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."   Hard words I know...but Truth nonetheless.  When we can enter into the place of surrender, we enter into the place of true spiritual worship.

Paul the Apostle said it this way, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

 

What we're talking about is total surrender.  To love God with ALL that we have and ALL that we are is true worship.  The songs that we sing put words to what is hopefully in our hearts as we open them up to Jesus.  Often the words express an ideal that we are striving for and that God is producing, but they are just a reflection of our heart.  What Jesus is talking about is total, all-out 100% commitment to the Father.  It is an act of the will to love Him, or serve Him with everything.  This is what Jesus did.  It is about considering others as more important than ourselves, whether that be in our marriage, with our kids, our friends, our brothers and sisters, our parents!  What would this world look like if all the people of God started to really look out for the welfare of others more than their own welfare? ^"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.   Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." 

You see, this is why these two cannot be separated.  Jesus loved His Father, and because His Father loved the world, He loved the world.  It is the same with us.  If we love Jesus, we will love the world, because Jesus loves the world.  We will love our neighbor because Jesus loves our neighbor.  We will love our parents, our spouses, our fellow christians, even our enemies...because Jesus love them and laid down His life for them.  So, we too should lay down our lives for one another.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.  

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command. 

Who Are The Poor?

Saturday we went out to pass out clothing and make friends on the streets.  Again, a big thank you to the Goleta Vineyard family for providing the means to allow us to go out and be light in a dark place.  Without your donations of clothes and finances we would not be able to continue to provide this assistance.  Also, many thanks to Jennifer, Matt & Jamila, Chris, Todd, Michael & Glenn for all your help on the ground loading, unloading, sorting, greeting, praying and making friends with the folks on the streets.

Our next giveaway will be on the 20th of June and we are hoping to provide a meal as well.  Anyone is welcome join in and help.

Perhaps some of you noticed that Glenn had been missing for several weeks at church.  The enemy had been working hard to keep him away from the church family and live in isolation.  Through a couple of divine encounters, including at the giveaway Saturday, he decided to come back to the family.  Thank you Jesus!  If you see him around he could use some encouraging.

I'll tell you, it is so exciting for me to be having a conversation with someone and then turn around and see the same thing happening all around me.   God's people befriending those others would walk right past is a beautiful thing to see.

We had some good conversations Saturday on what it really means to be poor and who really are the poor.  It occured to us that it is society tries to dictate to us what it means to be poor, and to the degree that we buy into it it determines our contentment in life.

When God put Adam and Eve in the Garden all they had was God, their skin, each other and creation. ..and it was enough.   It was all about the relationships and God took care of everything else.  They were content...at least for a time.  Then the enemy came in and convinced them that there was more.  He got them to believe that God was holding back good things from them and that they would need to take control if they didn't want to miss out.  So they took control and lost out on life.  From that moment on people have been self-consumed and intent on aquiring "stuff" to make them feel valuable and worth while.  Contentment was replaced with greed as man struggled to grow in power and prosperity.

We also realized as we talked that some of the poorest people live in the hills above Santa Barbara in nice homes with all their ducks seemingly lined up in a row.  They may have the things that society says makes them worthy, but inside their heart aches with an emptiness that only God can fill.  It's a lonliness that no amount of money, toys, education, family or promiscuity can fill.  There is a lack of contentment and desire for more.

It is also true that I have met some very content individuals who are considered "poor" by societies definintion.  They don't have much, but they have a deep joy the comes from knowing Jesus.   This doesn't make life easy by any means, but there is an understanding that one day this life will be over and a new eternal life with Jesus will begin.  As one man told me yesterday, "This body is just a rental."  Even though they are in poverty by people's definintion, they are rich by God's because they know him.  They have the relationship.

All of this offends our way of thinking because society is built on a merit system.  If you do well you are rewarded.  We carry that into our understanding of scripture and God as well.  We find it hard to believe that these people actually know God, because if they did their lives would look different.  We believe that if we're doing what we are supposed to be doing and loving God, we should have a good job, nice house, big bank account, peaceful family, etc.  In other words God will reward those who diligently seek him.  The problem is in our definintion of reward.  The prosperity doctrine has subtely infiltrated the ranks.  Many of God's rewards won't be realized in this lifetime.  Go read Hebrews chapter 11 and see how some of the faithful were seemingly slighted.  Or, read 2 Corinthians 6 and see if that lines up with your idea of being rewarded.

For instance, what is one of the first things that goes through your mind when something bad happens?  How about, "What have I done wrong Lord?"  We immediately think we are being punnished rather than trained and given the chance to transform into his image.  That's  how Paul could consider it true joy when he was facing various hardships.  He never doubted that God was for him and had a plan to work out even the worst of his beatings for His own glory.  All those things were making him more like Jesus and less like Paul.

So, now when I see the poor I am less likely to see their condition as God's punishment, but rather as a complex set of circumstances and choices that God wants to take and redeem in order to draw them closer to himself.  It is not my job to "fix" anyone, but to be a signpost pointing the One who is the healer, redeemer and giver of life.  Jesus can "fix" anyone.  It's like when Jesus' disciples asked him about the blind man.  Remember the encounter?  His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"  "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 

We need to stop judging and analyzing and just need to see opportunity for the work of God to be displayed in a persons life, or my own for that matter.  Sometimes the complexities that have led up to a certain point in life are too huge to be untangled and we just need a re-do.  We need to start over and be born again.  We need to get back into a relationship with our Creator through Jesus Christ and be content exactly where we are.

If Adam and Eve could be content in the garden with nothing but their skin, their God, each other and creation, I am sure my God can bring contentment to us either in our lack or our abundance. 

Freedom In Chains

Dear Church Family,

Because you were all faithful to pray for our Kairos #29 team this is what happened.

What Happened to Me?


Ambushed by a our God who loves all men and women everywhere, yes even the ones incarcerated.
Overwhelmed with the goodness of God to break down walls, age, race, socio-economic backgrounds. At my family table alone we had a Mexican, Laotian. African-American, Hawaiian, and two Caucasians.
Amazed to see these men begin to break down their walls of fear and shame. The walls that by definition alone one to stay alive in prison. Men sharing their deepest darkest secrets and then praying for each other.
Simple and powerful prayers from men who are facing the next 10 to 50 years separated from life on the outside, Separated from wives, children- some who they have never me as they were born after they went into prison.
Men who wept when they looked up and saw drawings from hundreds of kids, encouraging them to trust God in the midst of their circumstances.
Men who opened letters from complete strangers encouraging them to follow God and live for Him in prison. Some of them have never received one letter.
I was privileged to bring four meditations on forgiveness. It was key to the weekend. This was followed by a forgiveness service where the team and the inmates wrote down on a piece of paper those they need to forgive. They those papers were dropped in water and dissolved. Team members then washed their hands and prayed forgiveness over them. Some of them have never gone to this place before.


What Happened to Our Team?

Many of the team have been a part of Kairos for years. One of the older men has been involved faithfully for 16 years. We came from all walks of life, all church backgrounds- Vineyard, Calvary, Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal. That in itself is a miracle. Men who came for one purpose- to bring the love of Jesus to these men. There was no "pros". No super stars. It was the body of Christ in action in a way I have not seen it before. Men who took no thought about how tired we were or how terrible the food was, and it was terrible. We spent 40 plus hours in the prison between Thursday night and Monday night.

Let me summarize it this way: God has an on fire, powerful church in the Lompoc Federal Penitentiary !!!!

I think the men can express what happened way better than I can. Here are some direct quotes from the men on the closing night where each of them had an opportunity to answer these three questions:

“In what spiritual condition did you arrive at Kairos?”

“What did you find here?”

“What are you taking away with you?”

“It’s a beautiful thing. I wa s overcome with emotion. I went back to my cell, glad I didn’t have a cell-mate, because I broke down. What you see lasts a minute; what you don’t see lasts forever. I discussed some things I haven’t discussed in four years.”

“It’s hard to be humble in the jungle, but I’ve been with you cats for four days, and we’ll take this outside to the yard.”

“I knew God, but not like I do now. I came here with a spiritual higher power, but now I know God.”

“We found a room full of love and a spiritual atmosphere.”

“We’ll be taking away some sharing from [Table] Family members20that broke my heart, strong support from the Spirit of the Lord. I’m enjoying this to its fullest.”

“When we got here Friday, we were on the ground … down, more or less. We found peace, support, and the truth that exists among us here. We found the joy of love, the peace and love of our brothers.”

“I arrived here a baby in Christ. I found a family and experienced God’s unconditional love, a spiritual awakening. We found genuine, honest, outstretched hands of friendship. We’re taking with us a desire to find some strong brothers to fellowship with here.”

“When I see you guys, love is in the air. I’m feeling=2 0very courageous for the Lord. All the nations are like a drop of water to Him. I’d forgotten how much love you can see from God. Instead of just standing around, going through the motions, I need to step up and spread the love of God. Our God is an awesome God!”

“I don’t have any children, but even so, I just can’t fathom sending my son to die for all of your sins.”

“There’s a lot of men I’ve seen over the last four days, and I’ve never seen that kind of love. When we get together like this, it takes us out of this prison.”

0A

“I’m the last person you’d expect to hear here at this microphone. My spiritual direction is the Native American sweat lodge, etc. I cannot turn my back on my native religion, but these forty hours have planted a seed. This is a humbling experience, and I’m glad I experienced it. I’m looking forward to what’s coming up down the road.”

Traditionally, a member of the Inside Team is asked to give a closing talk. This time a man named Al, nicknamed “A.K.” gave a very short talk. Here’s some of it:

“I’ve been saying no to God all my life, and that’s what got me in here. I got this note here that says, ‘God has chosen you to give this talk.’ That’s not fair! I can’t say no to that.

“Don’t run from God anymore. The guys that do – you see them here wearing khakis.

“I haven’t had a visit for the last ten years. Those old, bald-headed, gray-haired men over there? Those are our visits. So don’t say we don’t get visits.”

(old, bald headed...well yes, the gray is accurate...)

So thank you, thank you, thank you for blessing us to go and praying for us. Some of you at 1, 2 am.

Very Thankful In Love,

Marty

Two Years and Counting

I can hardly believe that it has been two years since we first stepped into the streets with a few bags of clothing and some canned food.  Here us a link to our very first blog entry on our experience. When you stop to think about it it is absolutely amazing that our little Goleta Vineyard family has been able to sustain this effort for so long from the clothes in our closets.  I would have thought we would have run out long ago, but the clothes just keep coming!  Now we have a significant portion of our storage shed loaded with clothing (new and used) and first aid supplies.  There is also a faithful group of you committed to going out to the streets and help with the sorting, folding, purchasing, packing, and loading of all our supplies.  THANK YOU!!!!

As a direct result of our time on the streets we have seen some wonderful signs of God's grace.  Our sister Tiffany re-dedicated her life to Jesus, moved from Casa Esperanza and eventually into I.V. Church's D.P. House.  She is also enrolled in school and doing well.  Jess has also dedicated himself to Jesus and is now working on restoring and selling bicycles.  We have seen our dear brother Michael move from the Rescue Mission and into his own apartment downtown.  We have seen our brother Glenn grow deeper as the church family has come along side to encourage him and show him the love of Jesus.  We have also seen Michael and Glenn step up and become agents of change amongst their friends by inviting them to church, Cody's on Monday mornings and other special events.  None of this could have happened without you, the church family, creating a loving and embracing environment.  THANK YOU!!!!

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who has so generously donated clothing, time, prayer and money for our giveaways.  Our last outing was a very special time with about 75 people in attendance.  We were able to provide a wonderful meal for everyone as well as our normal giveaway items, and it is only possible because of your support and donations.  I think we had around 12 volunteers helping to make it a success and be there to talk with, pray with and serve our friends on the streets.  THANK YOU!!!!

Our next outing will be January 31st and as usual you are all welcome to come and join us.  We also need more mens clothing if you have access to any.  

Right now we have at least one person who is soliciting donations from people at work.  This is a great way to get additional clothes as well as stimulate conversation.  It is a great way to show others that Jesus cares for the poor through His church and help break the stereotypes.

Any donations can be brought to church on Sunday (make sure you let me know), or you can contact me to arrange a time for me to pick them up or drop them by the church office.

Blessings,

Paul

Caution: This could change your life!

The following is a wonderful vision William Booth had.  He was the founder of The Salvation Army along with his wife Catherine and lived a life devoted to Jesus and to the aid of those who were suffering.  Of course the legacy of his work still impacts the world.

Who Really Cares?

William Booth

On one of my recent journeys, as I gazed from the coach window, I was led into a train of thought concerning the conditions of the multitudes around me. They were living carelessly in the most open and shameless rebellion against God, without a thought for their eternal welfare. As I looked out the window, I seemed to see them all - millions of people all around me - given up to their drink and their pleasure, their dancing and their music, their business and their anxieties, their politics and their troubles. Ignorant - willfully ignorant in many cases - and in other instances knowing all about the truth and not caring at all. But all of them, the whole mass of them, sweeping on and up in their blasphemies and devilries to the throne of God. While my mind was thus engaged, I had a vision.

I saw a dark and stormy ocean. Over it the black clouds hung heavily; through them every now and then vivid lightning flashed and loud thunder rolled, while the winds moaned, and the waves rose and foamed, towered and broke, only to rise and foam, tower and break again.

In that ocean I thought I saw myriads of poor human beings plunging and floating, shouting and shrieking, cursing and struggling and drowning; and as they cursed and screamed, they rose and shrieked again, and then some sank to rise no more.

And I saw out of this dark, angry ocean, a mighty rock that rose up with its summit towering high above the black clouds that overhung the stormy sea. And all around the base of this rock I saw a vast platform. Onto this platform, I saw with delight a number of the poor struggling, drowning wretches continually climbing out of the angry ocean. And I saw that a few of those, who were already safe on the platform, were helping the poor creatures still in the angry waters to reach the place of safety.

On looking more closely, I found a number of those who had been rescued, industriously working and scheming by ladders, ropes, boats, and other means more effective, to deliver the poor strugglers out of this sea. Here and there were some who actually jumped into the water, regardless of all the consequences, in their passion to "rescue the perishing." And I hardly know which gladdened me most - the sight of the poor drowning people climbing onto the rocks, reaching the place of safety, or the devotion and self-sacrifice of those whose whole beings were wrapped up in the effort for their deliverance.

As I looked on, I saw that the occupants of that platform were quite a mixed company. That is, they were divided into different "sets" or classes, and they occupied themselves with different pleasures and employments. But only a very few of them seemed to make it their business to get the people out of the sea.

But what puzzled me most was the fact that though all of them had been rescued at one time or another from the ocean, nearly everyone seemed to have for gotten all about it. Anyway, it seemed the memory of its darkness and danger no longer troubled them at all. And what seemed equally strange and perplexing to me was that these people did not even seem to have any care - that is, any agonizing care - about the poor perishing ones who were struggling and drowning right before their very eyes... many of whom were their own husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and even their own children.

Now this astonishing unconcern could not have been the result of ignorance or lack of knowledge, because they lived right there in full sight of it all and even talked about it sometimes. Many even went regularly to hear lectures and sermons in which the awful state of these poor drowning creatures was described.

I have already said that the occupants of this platform were engaged in different pursuits and pastimes. Some of them were absorbed night and day in trading and business in order to make gain, storing up their savings in boxes, safes, and the like.

Many spent their time in amusing themselves with growing flowers on the side of the rock, others in painting pieces of cloth, or in playing music, or in dressing themselves up in different styles and walking about to be admired. Some occupied themselves chiefly in eating and drinking, others were taken up with arguing about the poor drowning creatures that had already been rescued.

But the thing to me that seemed the most amazing was that those on the platform to whom He called, who heard His voice and felt they ought to obey it - at least they said they did - those who confessed to love Him much and were in full sympathy with Him in the task He had undertaken - who worshipped Him or who professed to do so - were so taken up with their trades and professions, their money saving and pleasures, their families and circles, their religions and arguments about it, and their preparation for going to the mainland, that they did not listen to the cry that came to them from this Wonderful Being who had Himself gone down into the sea. Anyway, if they heard it, they did not heed it. They did not care. And so the multitude went on right before them struggling and shrieking and drowning in the darkness.

And then I saw something that seemed to me even more strange than anything that had gone on before in this strange vision. I saw that some of these people on the platform whom this Wonderful Being had called to, wanting them to come and help Him in His difficult task of saving these perishing creatures, were always praying and crying out to Him to come to them!

Some wanted Him to come and stay with them, and spend His time and strength in making them happier. Others wanted Him to come and take away various doubts and misgivings they had concerning the truth of some letters which He had written them. Some wanted Him to come and make them feel more secure on the rock - so secure that they would be quite sure that they should never slip off again into the ocean. Numbers of others wanted Him to make them feel quite certain that they would really get off the rock and onto the mainland someday; because as a matter of fact, it was well known that some had walked so carelessly as to lose their footing and had fallen back again into the stormy waters.

So these people used to meet and get up as high on the rock as they could, and looking toward the mainland (where they thought the Great Being was) they would cry out, "Come to us! Come, help us!" And all the while He was down (by His Spirit) among the poor struggling, drowning creatures in the angry deep, with His arms around them trying to drag them out, and looking up oh! so longingly, but all in vain to those on the rock, crying to them with His voice all hoarse from calling, "Come to Me! Come and help Me!"

And then I understood it all. It was plain enough. That sea was the ocean of life - the sea of real, actual human existence. That lightning was the gleaming of piercing truth coming from Jehovah's throne. That thunder was the distant echoing of the wrath of God. Those multitudes of people shrieking, struggling, and agonizing in the stormy sea were the thousands and thousands of poor harlots and harlot-makers, of drunkards and drunkard-makers, of thieves, liars, blasphemers, and ungodly people of every kindred, tongue, and nation.

Oh, what a black sea it was! And oh, what multitudes of rich and poor, ignorant and educated were there. They were all so unalike in their outward circumstances and conditions, yet all alike in one thing - all sinners before God - all held by, and holding onto, some iniquity, fascinated by some idol, the slaves of some devilish lust, and ruled by the foul fiend from the bottomless pit!

"All alike in one thing?" No, all alike in two things. Not only the same in their wickedness, but unless rescued, the same in their sinning, sinking... down, down, down... to the same terrible doom. That great sheltering rock represented Calvary, the place where Jesus had died for them. And the people on it were those who had been rescued. The way they used their energies, gifts, and time represented the occupations and amusements of those who professed to be saved from sin and hell - followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The handful of fierce, determined ones, who were risking their own lives in saving the perishing, were true soldiers of the cross of Jesus. That Mighty Being who was calling to them from the midst of the angry waters was the Son of God, "the same yesterday, today, and forever," who is still struggling and interceding to save the dying multitudes about us from this terrible doom of damnation, and whose voice can be heard above the music, machinery, and noise of life, calling on the rescued to come and help Him save the world.

My friends in Christ, you are rescued from the waters. You are on the rock. He is in the dark sea calling on you to come to Him and help Him. Will you go? Look for yourselves. The surging sea of life crowded with perishing multitudes rolls up to the very spot on which you stand. Leaving the vision, I now come to speak of the fact - a fact that is as real as the Bible, as real as the Christ who hung upon the cross, as real as the judgment day will be, and as real as the heaven and hell that will follow it.

Look! Don't be deceived by appearances - men and things are not what they seem. All who are not on the rock are in the sea! Look at them from the standpoint of the great white throne, and what a sight you have! Jesus Christ, the Son of God is, through His Spirit, in the midst of this dying multitude, struggling to save them. And He is calling on you to jump into the sea - to go right away to His side and help Him in the holy strife. Will you jump? That is, will you go to His feet and place yourself absolutely at His disposal?

A young Christian once came to me and told me that for some time she had been giving the Lord her profession and prayers and money, but now she wanted to give Him her life. She wanted to go right into the fight. In other words, she wanted to go to His assistance in the sea. As when a man from the shore, seeing another struggling in the water, takes off those outer garments that would hinder his efforts and leaps to the rescue, so will you who still linger on the bank, thinking and singing and praying about the poor perishing souls, lay aside your shame, your pride, your cares about other people's opinions, your love of ease, and all the selfish loves that have kept you back for so long, and rush to the rescue of this multitude of dying men and women?

Does the surging sea look dark and dangerous? Unquestionably it is so. There is no doubt that the leap for you, as for everyone who takes it means difficulty and scorn and suffering. For you it may mean more than this. It may mean death. He who beckons you from the sea, however, knows what it will mean - and knowing, He still calls to you and bids you come.

You must do it! You cannot hold back. You have enjoyed yourself in Christianity long enough. You have had pleasant feelings, pleasant songs, pleasant meetings, pleasant prospects. There has been much of human happiness, much clapping of hands and shouting of praises - very much of heaven on earth.

Now then, go to God and tell Him you are prepared as much as necessary to turn your back upon it all, and that you are willing to spend the rest of your days struggling in the midst of these perishing multitudes, whatever it may cost you.

You must do it. With the light that has now broken in upon your mind, and the call that is now sounding in your ears, and the beckoning hands that are now before your eyes, you have no alternative. To go down among the perishing crowds is your duty. Your happiness from now on will consist in sharing their misery, your ease in sharing their pain, your crown in helping them to bear their cross, and your heaven in going into the very jaws of hell to rescue them.

Now, what will you do?