This morning while pondering thoughts, events and such, I began to think on the following. Before I begin I want to establish “this is opinion” and not to be construed to be teaching or doctrine. (I do not want my phone pinging through worship this morning!)

As the church continues to find her place, her future, her destiny, there are a couple of things I want to put out there.

• Doing because we can or doing because we have to.
• Reaching out or cloistering up.
• Doomsday or bright future.
• Church government or on your own.

I figure those 4 comparisons are more than enough to light a fire. Now I want to be clear. By the time I get done you will understand me, my reasons and thought process. Many can write more or teach better. I simply back my mine with what I see in scripture and how I proceed.

Here we go.

Doing because we can or doing because we have to.

This is a big deal to me because for years I got a lot done under the second part of of doing because I wanted to “please” God. The downside is I ended up a hamster wheel where I felt I could never take a break. Some not so great things happened during those days. At some point though I realized that there were two understandings I was missing out on. One was the empowerment of life by the person of Grace, Jesus Christ. Grace was the divine movings of the spirit of God empowering me to do great things. Add in my increasing understanding of the finished work and entering His rest and I soon came to realize I could take a breath. Relax. And still accomplish amazing things because I could rather than because I had to.

Reaching out or cloistering up.

Let me simply begin with this scripture. Mark 16:15 As you go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to everyone… Right there we begin to understand that “hiding out” is not an option. (Oh, please.  Take vacations and times of respite and restoration.) The pattern of God is all inclusive (For God so loved the world He gave His only son… John 3:16)and not one of hiding away or developing the “us four and no more” thinking. “But what about John the Baptist?” Old covenant. Jesus is new and He commissioned us to reach all the world. “But they are spooky, scary, evil,____ (put in your own thought.) and I don’t like them!” Really? Really? Yes they hid out in the upper room before the Spirit of God empowered them with boldness. A lot of doomsday thinking has got in the way of a lot of missing “children”. We should reach out in crisis. Not huddle up.

Doomsday or bright future.

Is there evil in the world. Of course. Should we fear it? Of course not. Should we prophesy doom? Of course not. Granted it is harder to look at a difficult situation and speak words of life, light and liberty, but if we don’t, then who will? I came from the doom and gloom side of life. I was not the prophet Eeyore but I could sure frighten people. We have a bright future. Here on earth. Now! Today! Christianity is taking the world by storm. Embrace His goodness!

Church government or on your own.

In the coming days this will be a big one. Whose kingdom will you embrace? If you embrace God’s you will see the formation and establishment of government. Five fold ministry, elders and deacons. If you choose your way (Which you have the freedom to do.) you will miss out on what God has planned. One of the greatest hindrances to church has been the way it is has been established in so many areas. Deacons are people of the spirit. Not glorified building workers. Elders were left behind by the the five fold to establish and maintain the church. Clearly being on your own is “easier” but it is not in keeping with the pattern of God and His voice.

I am sure we may disagree on some of this. But I hope and believe your heart is just as much to see His kingdom come here on earth as mine is. With that in mind these points are not to be fire starters (Though I know they are. I received the “left boot of fellowship” through people’s emails, messages and the dreaded Facebook defriending over time!) but actually to be points of discussion in determining of the will of God.

We are in the midst of a great ground swell of His spirit. Whether you called it a quake, a wave or a tsunami, it is happening. My reasoning behind these topics is not to make you “see it my way” but to provoke you to thinking and deepening your kingdom mentality and thought process.

With that said. It is going to be a bright future. I want all my friends, family and community to receive His blessings. Surf’s up!