Ge | two weekends, two states, two encounters :: PART 1

Two weeks ago my wife and I boarded a plan from Seattle and flew to our new home in Connecticut.  I knew that this transition would bring about some exciting challenges and opportunities, not the least of these was the two Ge events that were approaching.  

On June 20 I arrived at the PA Conference Campmeeting grounds, aka Blue Mountain Academy.  After getting somewhat acquainted with the team we had a prayer and the worship experience began.  Erich Mace started with an all acoustic set of worship music which set the tone nicely.  That evening I shared a message entitled Reality which emphasized the fact that Jesus knows everything about us and still loves us.  This love is what enables us to worship him 24-7.  On Sabbath morning, in a message entitled BE we identified the fact that all Jesus wants from us is to be still and know that HE IS GOD!  The apex of the weekend, however, was Saturday night.  As the Sabbath hours were drawing to a close, the young adults started filling in.  Erich lead us in a powerful season of prayerful worship and then I shared a message called Temple where we payed attention to the fact that Jesus went into the Temple and threw over the tables of those who were standing in the way of people worshiping God.  The parallel was then made that we are the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (I Cor 6:19) and a challenge was given to take time to consider what “tables” in your temple would Jesus turn over.  At this the invitation was given to write these issues down on the provided piece of paper.  A fire was burning during the entire meeting just outside a side door.  As people wrote down the various issues that were prohibiting their walk with God, they took the sheets of paper and placed them in the fire.  As they came back in, juice and bread were provided as a time to commune with God, accepting his body and blood.  It was a powerful time of repentance, contemplation, and forgiveness.  The evening ended with a celebration as we sang corporately songs of praise to God!

As I have reflected on the weekend, I truly believe that Jesus showed up in powerful ways.  What impressed me most about the Ge in PA was the simplicity of it all.  While the room was nicely decorated, the set up was simple.  Erich Mace is a phenomenal musician, but again the simplicity of song selection played acoustically created a atmosphere where every voice could be heard and people were free to sing with all their hearts.  Regarding the messages, I truly believe that God put it all together as we learned to be authentic with Jesus, be still with him, and give him freedom to rearrange the furniture in our lives that our preventing us from worshiping him 24-7.  

 

Who knows the entirety of the impact made over the course of this weekend, but for this vagabond, it was a blessing that I will not quickly forget.  

 

mwg

 

GOOD FRIDAY, BETTER SUNDAY

What is “good” about Good Friday?  Granted it is the commemorative day that we celebrate Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, but if you were there that day, would you have called it good?

I have just revisited the account of Jesus dying on the cross.  If I had been there that day I am not sure that I would have thought good of that day.  While I am sure that there would have been confusion in my head as to why this was happening, I am confident that my emotions would have gotten the best of me as I would have been devastated to see my best friend being crucified.  This would not have been a good day.  As a matter-a-fact, I would imagine that this would not have been a good weekend.  Sabbath would simply have not been the same without Jesus there.  The singing, the worship, the meal, the fellowship: all of it would have felt empty.  

Then waking up Sunday morning the first thought on my mind is that Jesus is dead.  That empty feeling would have filled my stomach once more.  My appetite would  be gone as I could hardly eat breakfast.  All I can think about is that Jesus is dead.  Where there used to be light, now there is darkness.  Where there used to be life, now I feel like death.  

I make my way out to his tomb to prepare his body further.  Upon arrival I find that He is not there and I am told by an angel that He is risen.  Suddenly I am mixed with an emotion of both excitement and confusion.  ”Where could He be?!”  I turn to leave and I ask the gardner who is working on his crops if he has seen Jesus?  After some brief dialogue this gardner calls me by name and I realize that it is Jesus!  This day has become GREAT SUNDAY!

If you have seen Mel Gibson’s, The Passion you will remember the terrible scenes of Jesus being beaten, spit upon, and crucified.  Many were horrified over how gruesome Jesus’ plot was portrayed, some even left unable to watch any more.  What bothered me the most was how little emphasis was given to the resurrection.  Why?  Because while Jesus’ sacrifice on Friday is something that I am thankful for every day, it is the resurrection that assures me that Jesus is alive and well today.  He has defeated death and the grave.  He is victorious over all of the sins on this planet.  He lives so that I too my have life and life more abundant.  This to me is GREAT NEWS!

 I know that Ellen White makes the statement that, “It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ from the manger to Calvary. We should take it point by point and let the imagination vividly grasp each scene, especially the closing ones of His earthly life.”  While I see this as I too think that it would be well for us to spend one of the other 24 hours in the day praising God that He is alive and well today! 

 

 

“Go therefore and make ________”

What is a disciple?  If you were to define what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ what would you say?  Further, would you say that you have been discipled?  Jesus tells us to go and make disciples. Has anyone made you a follower of Jesus?

I have been a follower of Jesus just shy of 12 years now. I did not come into faith in him through my parents or an evangelistic series. While I believe that Jesus was/is the initiator, I came to faith after going through some intense events in my life. I was an atheist, but became an agnostic and started calling out to God in prayer. Some time passed and I met a pastor who, after hearing my journey, handed me a Bible. No one invited me to church, I looked up the closest one in the phone book, called and went. Some months later after attending the church and reading the Bible, I felt convicted to get baptized so I called the pastor and told him that I wanted to be baptized. My point with all of this is simply that it is hard for me to say that a disciple-er came along and discipled me to be a follower of Jesus. Granted I had people along the way that gave me encouragement, prayed for me, and clarified my questions, but I wonder what Jesus had in mind when he called us to go and make disciples.

I would like to hear from you. What do you think a disciple-maker looks like? Have you had a disciple-er disciple you? If so, what did that experience look like?

 

Ignition Ambition – prayers for James and Allan

I am still buzzing after last weekends experience.  The Spirit of Jesus is stirring in the hearts of young adults from all over this nation.  I am wondering if next years event will be called IGNITED as the ignition has been turned on and we are on the move!

While I have found both of these men to turn away from public praise, I want to take this time to give a huge SHOT OUT to James Black and A. Allan Martin.  I thank God for James because under his leadership as the NAD’s Youth/Young Adult Ministry Director he recognized the need to develop young adult ministry in the NAD.  Allan was a great choice as he not only has a legacy with young adult ministry, but he is passionate about seeing effective ministry’s develop so that by the time his daughter is a young adult the church will be thriving.  Would you join me in saying a word of prayer for these two leaders.  Take a moment to write a word of encouragement and a word of prayer on their behalf.

 

Jesus, I thank you for men like James Black and Allan Martin who are sticking their necks out for young adult ministry.  Truly Your presence has Ignited a passion in them.  We lift them up to you today asking you to continue to protect both them and their families.  Additionally we ask that you will continue to bless them with discernment to know Your will and Your power to carry it out.  Amen.

Keep up the stellar work gentlemen!  Prayers ascend in your behalf!mwg