Ecuador 2024: A Journey of Faith and Miracles
As many of you know, I just returned from another amazing Ecuador Mission Trip from July 25th through August 2nd. We traveled to several locations across Ecuador, witnessing God’s hand at work in powerful ways.
Quito and Riobamba
Our journey began in Quito, Ecuador, where we met with Pastor Mario Benavides, who oversees 40 churches throughout the country. From there, we traveled to Riobamba. On Friday, we gathered with 100 leaders from two churches, equipping them to fulfill the Great Commission and minister healing. It was a profound moment as we witnessed 24 people receive healing during this meeting.
Puyo
On Saturday, we ventured into a new city called Puyo, located in the Amazon jungle. That evening, we ministered in a small church with around 100 people. The Holy Spirit moved mightily, leading to 11 salvations and 10 healings. While in Puyo, we also visited the home of Jim and Elizabeth Elliot, the missionaries whose remarkable story of faith and sacrifice has inspired many. It was humbling to stand in the place where Elizabeth continued the mission, even after the tragic death of her husband and his fellow missionaries.
Sunday Miracles and Restorations
Sunday morning brought new blessings. We preached a fresh message to a congregation of 100 people. The response was overwhelming—5 people received salvation, 19 were healed, and 12 couples stood up to have their marriages restored. The love and grace of God were evident, bringing healing and reconciliation to so many lives.
Cumbaya and Loja
On Monday, we returned to Quito, and that evening, we met with a small group of 20 leaders in a new church in Cumbaya, Ecuador. In that intimate setting, we witnessed another miraculous healing.
Our journey continued on Tuesday as we flew to a new city called Loja. That evening, over 450 people gathered at a vibrant church. The message of the gospel touched many hearts, and more than 150 people stood up to repent and be restored to Jesus as prodigal sons and daughters. It was a sight to behold as 71 individuals experienced healing, including three deaf people who were completely healed for the glory of Jesus!
Final Revival
Wednesday night marked our final revival meeting at the Verbo church in Loja, with 450 beautiful souls present. I preached a message titled "Navigating the Storms of Life," and the response was overwhelming. A total of 248 people repented and confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Additionally, 58 more people were healed that night.
Returning Home
We concluded our mission on Thursday, flying back to Quito, and then on Friday, we returned to Phoenix. Reflecting on our time in Ecuador, we saw 414 people repent and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior and 183 individuals healed, including three deaf people. We also made wonderful new friends in Puyo, Loja, and Cumbaya, all of whom are eager for us to return next year.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for your prayers and support. All glory goes to Him!
Thank you,
Pastor Kurt
When we go, we grow!
If we're going to be a sent people, we have to be a believing people. Let’s believe together in the saving power of Jesus, and the great mission ahead of us to make disciples of all nations. Let’s ask in faith that God would multiply and send many of us out from our corner of Central and Glendale to the ends of the earth.
This week was the first week of the next ten months!
Our lead pastor, David and his family are officially on their way to Ireland to serve on mission till next summer. We're already missing him and his family and really looking forward to their return!
On top of this, Mario Benavides just moved with his family from Ecuador to join our staff and lead our Spanish-speaking expression of Living Streams! His family uprooted from a thriving ministry in their hometown because they felt the call of God to serve our church and our city. He's a seasoned leader and church planter and we are so excited that God has called him to come here to help us creatively expand God’s Kingdom!
The Church is always on the move and we are a people on mission.
This last weekend we dove into the heart God has for the nations and our call to go. What David and Mario just did may be unique in the context of contemporary church leadership, but when you look at the Bible it suddenly looks a lot more normal. God has always been in the business of sending his people to the nations. And when we go, we grow.
We grow in our trust in the Lord. We grow in our perspective of the vastness of the world. We grow in our appreciation for the diversity of cultures that God created. Above all else, we go because we believe in the saving power of Jesus. This is the fuel for our mission. This is the foundation for our lives. The Gospel is not just a nice story. It’s a true story. It’s the story.
If we're going to be a sent people, we have to be a believing people. Let’s believe together in the saving power of Jesus, and the great mission ahead of us to make disciples of all nations. Let’s ask in faith that God would multiply and send many of us out from our corner of Central and Glendale to the ends of the earth.
Let’s get ready Living Streams!
— Ryan
God Knew. God Loves.
God knew there would be something called abortion. God knew there would be sexually transmitted diseases. God knew there would be adultery and pornography. God knew there would be rape and incest. God knew there would be “swiping right” and “hook-up” culture. God knew that in 1960’s America many would think it was important to free sexual activity from the confines of a marriage covenant. God knew that in the 2020’s there would be a LGBTQ+ community, and that many would be trying to free sex from the confines of heterosexual normality, as well as trying to free people from the confines of identifying with their biological gender reality.
God knew there would be something called abortion. God knew there would be sexually transmitted diseases. God knew there would be adultery and pornography. God knew there would be rape and incest. God knew there would be “swiping right” and “hook-up” culture. God knew that in 1960’s America many would think it was important to free sexual activity from the confines of a marriage covenant. God knew that in the 2020’s there would be a LGBTQ+ community, and that many would be trying to free sex from the confines of heterosexual normality, as well as trying to free people from the confines of identifying with their biological gender reality.
God knew.
So, God spoke to people at various times and in various ways about how each person can get all the good that sex can bring and be free from all the bad that sex can bring. There is no higher view of human sexuality than the Biblical sexual ethic. First, God created sex. It is His idea and He calls it good. Second, sex is a part of holiness. According to the Bible, sex is not dirty or carnal. It is something which brings a sense of belonging, one of the deepest human needs (Genesis 2). Third, sex can bring life, human life. The most powerful thing we can think of is an atomic bomb, but all that power only takes life. Sex can actually make life. Fourth, sex brings healing and restoration. First Corinthians 7 teaches about sex and how important it is to helping a married couple recover from a time of separation and division.
God knew.
Because God knew that the misuse of sexual power would bring brokenness, He gave instructions regarding sex. His instructions are clear from the beginning to the end of the Bible. According to God, sex brings good when it is between one man and one woman in a faithful covenant of marriage. God goes even further to say there is a mystery to sex which affects the spiritual aspect of life as well as the physical. Two actually become one in some spiritual way. But just as true and important as how sex can bring good, misuse of sex can bring bad. Any sexual activity outside the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman brings negative consequences.
God knows.
Because God knew that the misuse of sexual power would bring brokenness, He gave us something else. God gave Himself. God, who is 100% sinless. God, who knows the truth and is the truth. God, who knows what is right and does what is right every time in every way. God, who knows there will be people who distrust Him, rebel against Him, and ignore Him. God gave Himself to pay the price for all the sin, pain, brokenness and death. The best way for us to understand how God did this is with these words: God gave His one and only Son to suffer the penalty of every single person’s sin—sexual or otherwise. God’s Son suffered physically, as well as spiritually, in order to swallow up all the fury of God’s wrath which brings justice. And God did it because, though He knew we would cause so much agony and brokenness through our sin, His love for us has never wavered for an instant.
God loves.
If you have dealt with any of the consequences of sexual sin, just know that God loves you and has already taken care of everything necessary for you to be clean, forgiven, and in right relationship with Him forever. Just take His hand, turn away from sin, and times of refreshing will come.
Jesus came full of grace and truth. If we want to see an end to the pain and damage of abortion, we will commit ourselves to the truth and reality of God’s sexual ethic. If we want to see an end to the pain and damage of abortion we will commit ourselves to the grace of God first for others, but also for ourselves.
Thankful for God’s truth, and super thankful for God’s grace,
David
Blessed To Be a Blessing
I know you are thinking this is going to be an “ask for money” letter. Actually, we are fully funded. Yep, you read right, fully funded. We have received so many blessings financially. An Irish mechanic heard we were coming and gave us a car. One family heard we were going and bought our airline tickets. The First Baptist Foundation who we pay our church’s monthly mortgage to gave us a large donation. Some family members gave significant donations. A few people I don’t even really know have pitched in. A guy I was good friends with in Oregon 25 years ago gave us ministry supplies, money for doing kids nights, and airfare so we can come home for Christmas. I have qualified for a three-month sabbatical so Living Streams is giving me three months of salary. And on and on and on.
Right now my family is feeling very blessed. There are many blessings to count, but the one right in front of us is the Lord’s provision for our Ireland mission trip. My wife Brit and I feel a specific call to be pioneering missionaries in foreign lands. At first is was more my wife than me, but after we went to Belize to help establish kids and youth services and leadership for those services, I was hooked. We were able to do it again for a year and a half at a later time, and we are now looking forward to going on mission again for ten months, starting in August.
With any move comes tons of details, needs, and challenges, but a cross-cultural, international move with a family of five and a large German Shepherd dog is next level. We’re learning needs so we don’t end up misunderstanding or offending people before we get a chance to be a blessing. And there are financial needs to survive and thrive as a family and as missionaries trying to bear lasting fruit for Jesus.
I know you are thinking this is going to be an “ask for money” letter. Actually, we are fully funded. Yep, you read right, fully funded. We have received so many blessings financially. An Irish mechanic heard we were coming and gave us a car. One family heard we were going and bought our airline tickets. The First Baptist Foundation who we pay our church’s monthly mortgage to gave us a large donation. Some family members gave significant donations. A few people I don’t even really know have pitched in. A guy I was good friends with in Oregon 25 years ago gave us ministry supplies, money for doing kids nights, and airfare so we can come home for Christmas. I have qualified for a three-month sabbatical so Living Streams is giving me three months of salary. And on and on and on.
One of the main reasons we chose to go to Ireland was because I have Irish citizenship and Brit or I could get a job over there. But now because of all these wonderful people, Brit and I can focus more on helping a little church in Tipperary grow into all God has in mind for it. We’ll teach as many kids as possible that following Jesus is the greatest adventure, and train up some young men and women to be leaders in the church for years to come. We are very grateful we have been blessed to be a blessing.
I want to mention another reality, especially as we celebrate fathers this weekend. The Bible makes it very clear fathers are supposed to bless their children so their children can be a blessing. Proverbs teaches on this. The high priestly prayers of the Torah allude to this. Abraham, the father of faith, was told God’s plan was to bless him so every nation on earth could be blessed through him. The great commission Jesus gave to His disciples echoes the same concept: go into all the world and give my teachings to others. Or think of Jesus’ teaching on prayer: forgive others as You have received forgiveness.
This is God’s plan. This is the way it is supposed to work. But every Father’s Day, I am reminded of the dads who did not receive a father’s blessing from their dad. How can someone give their children a blessing they never received from their own father? Or teach something no one ever taught them?
The simple answer is, with God all things are possible. The more helpful answer is, do it a little clumsy and messy at first, but keep trying and you’ll get the hang of it. Remember kids do not really want what their dad can give them, they just want their dad. Dads, know that YOU ARE THE BLESSING. Your time, your attention, your presence, your strength, your jokes (no matter how corny), your apologies, your laughter, your wisdom, your faithfulness, and your weaknesses. Your kids need to see and know all of it.
The greatest blessing Jesus ever gave us was His incarnate presence. What your kids really need—whether you have received blessing from your father or endless amounts of insecurities from your father—is your incarnate presence. They need you to stay. They need you to study them and learn about them. They need you to enjoy them. They need you to warn them. And they need you to hold them.
Don’t ever forget, dads, YOU ARE THE BLESSING.
David
I just want to let you know I’m PROUD
A few years ago my wife and I had two boys living with us as a part of the Arizona foster care system. One of the boys used to love a song by Marshmello which sings “I just want to let you know I’m proud.” Whenever we drove somewhere, my wife would let each of our kids pick a song and he always picked that one. It wasn’t my favorite song, but it was a lot better than “Space Unicorn” and the “Sofia the First” theme song which my youngest used to pick.
A few years ago my wife and I had two boys living with us as a part of the Arizona foster care system. One of the boys used to love a song by Marshmello which sings “I just want to let you know I’m proud.” Whenever we drove somewhere, my wife would let each of our kids pick a song and he always picked that one. It wasn’t my favorite song, but it was a lot better than “Space Unicorn” and the “Sofia the First” theme song which my youngest used to pick.
Watching him listen to the song, I could tell how badly he wanted to have someone be proud of him. He has a deeply broken dad who gave his family cursing instead of blessing. He has nine siblings who spent most of their time in survival mode. And his mom, who is slightly disabled, spent all her time and energy trying to keep her kids out of foster care, which obviously didn’t work.
At the church we have a home for young men who have aged out of foster care. Four young men live in the house right now and each of their stories are riddled with pain. Like Rocky Balboa, they are fighting hard to prove they are not bums. They fight with fear. They fight with shame. They fight the government system. They fight with addiction. They fight authority. They fight to trust anyone. They fight themselves. And they even fight with anyone trying to help them. They want to see if you love them enough to climb over the defenses they put up. Sometimes I take them to get food or something and they will be rude and stand offish at first. If after that time I am still pressing into them, they let the defenses down and I get to see the real them. Let me tell you this: the real them is beautiful and unique and full of dreams and hopes, as well as desires to help others who have been hurt like them. I count it a great privilege to know them and to be known by them.
I am writing this email because I just want to let you know I’m proud of them. I am so very proud of them. I want you to be proud of them as well. And ultimately I want them to know Jesus is proud of them so they can be proud of the good in themselves.
One of the young men has been working hard to stabilize his heart and mind. He has quit nicotine. Did you hear that? He quit nicotine. That’s huge. When we were able to get close enough to his heart he shared his dream of being a mechanic. He wanted to attend Universal Technical Institute to be trained as a mechanic. What stood in his way were things like a FASFA, getting a driver’s license and a vehicle, and funds. One by one, he made those happen with quiet determination and consistent discipline. Different people in the church pitched in to fill gaps and help him overcome, but also he worked so hard. When the day came for him to go through orientation, he looked sharp and was full of innocent excitement. He has chosen to show up at the 6:30am class every day instead of the later class because he knows the committed people will be there early and he wants to be in that crowd.
At the very beginning of the program, his car broke down and his phone got stolen. He took those on the chin but did not give up. He problem solved, some people stepped up to help, and he never skipped a beat.
Though statistically these young men are on their way to prison, homelessness, or a brutal life of addiction, I am hopeful Jesus and His church can rescue some. I am proud of our elders who okayed the vision of this house for young men who have aged out of foster care. I am proud of all the people who have pitched in and stepped up. And I just want to let you know I am proud of this young man.
By His grace and for His glory,
David
P.S. Though this young man received a lot of grant money, he has taken on about $20,000 in government aid and $8000 in personal debt to make it possible to attend this program. If any of you would like to help out financially, we would be very grateful.
A Little Heaven on Earth
Last Sunday we were gathered together singing about the powerful name of Jesus when something different occurred. The one leading the song sang the same melody, to the same music, but began to sing in a different language. He used words from his native tongue, Spanish, to express the same sentiments we had been singing in English.
Last Sunday we were gathered together singing about the powerful name of Jesus when something different occurred. The one leading the song sang the same melody, to the same music, but began to sing in a different language. He used words from his native tongue, Spanish, to express the same sentiments we had been singing in English.
What took place in my mind and heart in that moment was expansive. I was struck—more deeply than when I was singing in English—with how big and powerful Jesus is. I hadn’t consciously been thinking Jesus was an English God, but when the leader started singing in Spanish, I consciously thought about Jesus as the Savior of every tribe and tongue and nation. I thought about how He is not limited to one language or one cultural context. I contemplated how God is not racial at all. He is “…Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:1, NIV). I thought about how difficult it is for us to navigate racial tension and how in God there is complete love and justice and mercy and resolve. It was as if a window of Heaven was opened up or the prism of God’s beauty turned slightly, refracting new facets of His endless holiness.
When my wife and I lived as missionaries in Belize, Central America, we often prayed for Jesus to show up. And I distinctly remember asking that when He showed up it would look Belizean instead of American. Both my wife and I are American; we were born and raised as Americans. And we speak “American.” I am very grateful to be American, but Jesus was not and is not American. I know it sounds a little silly, but there are many stories of missionaries going out and preaching an American gospel, instead of Jesus’ gospel. We need a constant refining and filtering process in order to remain in the gospel of Jesus and not a gospel of our making.
Just like a message in the game “Telephone”, the good news about Jesus can quickly be added to or subtracted from, watered down or manipulated. When this happens, the gospel loses it power and/or worse, it can bear rotten fruit. I once heard a sermon from John Mark Comer where he tried to articulate what he called, “The Four American Gospels.” This sermon is a very challenging teaching which requires a great deal of humility and self-examination. If you would like to listen to it, I put the link below.
There is no way to avoid the contextualization of the gospel of Jesus. Anytime anyone interacts with Jesus’ life and message it comes surrounded by context. When Jesus showed up in our time-space continuum, the context was Roman domination and religious oppression. The gospel personified in Christ was young, male, Jewish, and poor. But Jesus made it clear the good news of HIs gospel is for all people, at all times through His teachings and actions. The Apostle Paul wrestled with the challenge of a Jewish-only gospel and discovered Jesus’ gospel was aimed at all nations. He said it well in Ephesians chapter 3: “…through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known…” When we—Jesus’ church—love and unite in Christ with those who are different than us, it gives the world a picture of God’s heaven.
I sometimes think of the day depicted in Revelation 7 when God’s people will stand before the tangible throne of God declaring His marvelous works in their lives. We will sing the song of His holiness with men and women from around the world and throughout time. All the saints who have gone before us will be there. And we will join our diverse realities to lift up the name of Jesus and it will be absolute joy to His ears.
I’m thankful last Sunday Jesus saw fit to give us a little taste of what’s to come, a little Heaven on Earth.
https://bridgetown.church/teaching/preaching-the-gospel/part-2-the-four-american-gospels/
David
Something's Cooking
Mario Benavides and Mark Buckley met 10 years ago in Ecuador. At the time, Mark Buckley was the senior pastor at Living Streams Church and Mario was an elder at Iglesia Verbo Manosca church. They both describe their meeting as a significant moment in the Spirit. (For Christians, “in the Spirit” is a phrase referencing the fact that God is Spirit and the physical world He made has a spiritual component to it. As Christians, we are taught to acknowledge and give priority to the spiritual components.)
For over ten years something has been cooking, and this Sunday we are going to get a taste.
Mario Benavides and Mark Buckley met 10 years ago in Ecuador. At the time, Mark Buckley was the senior pastor at Living Streams Church and Mario was an elder at Iglesia Verbo Manosca church. They both describe their meeting as a significant moment in the Spirit. (For Christians, “in the Spirit” is a phrase referencing the fact that God is Spirit and the physical world He made has a spiritual component to it. As Christians, we are taught to acknowledge and give priority to the spiritual components.) All they did was meet and pray, but both Mario and Mark felt something of spiritual significant had taken place.
As the relationship between our churches grew, Mario shared with Mark about the vision God had given to him and his wife to plant a church in the U.S.A. Mark was excited to hear it. He was excited because he had seen Mario in action and knew his capabilities and his capacity. He was excited because Mario’s wife shared the vision, and the pair would need to be united for it to come to pass. Mark was also excited because he loves church planting and had always wanted to see Living Streams plant a church for Spanish speakers in Phoenix. Mark shared all this with me (David) and I began to pray and process.
In the same span of time, Living Streams has been growing in relationship with two churches in Ecuador, Mario’s church in Quito, Ecuador and an Arco church in Cuenca. A number of Living Streams people have been down to serve in those churches and Pastor Kurt is continuing to foster deep partnership in ministry with them as well. We currently have two of our long term missionaries planted in the church in Cuenca for the next two years and others planning to visit Cuenca during that time.
Planting a church in the U.S.A. is a massive undertaking for Mario, his wife, and two sons. Mario is a businessman and has all his business dealings in Ecuador. And though his kids speak perfect English, he is still working on his, and his wife Sylvana speaks very little. There is also the problem of immigration. But where God guides, He provides. Sylvana is confident God is guiding her family to plant a church with Living Streams in Phoenix, Arizona.
One night, my wife and I were staying with Mario’s family in Ecuador. We were sitting in their living room at the end of a good day, watching the sky turn from blue to gray to black over the lush mountains that reached high into the sky around Quito. My wife was chatting with Mario’s boys about Led Zeppelin and fast food restaurants. Mario and I were listening and laughing. The whole time we had been there, Sylvana was a bit quiet and seemed even more reserved because she doesn’t speak much English. Now, she boldly motioned for all of us to pay attention to her.
Sylvana told her oldest son to translate for her. She told us that she and Mario had felt a call to plant a church in the U.S.A for a long time, and that there had been many opportunities for them to go. Yet, for some reason, moving to Phoenix and partnering with Living Streams was the first opportunity she felt the Spirit in. The sense she was describing sounded a lot like the sense Mark and Mario described in their prayer meeting all those years earlier.
Living Streams has always wanted to creatively expand God’s kingdom and we think planting churches is a great way to do it. We have seen our church grow to 1000 adults on a Sunday morning. We have been praying about what Jesus wants to do next. Around 2019 we started to talk about the next 1000 people Jesus would to bring in. For whatever reason, we started praying that the next 1000 would be mostly Spanish speakers and from South Phoenix. We even prayed some of those next 1000 would be homeless. When we heard about Mario and Sylvana’s hope and vision for planting a church in Phoenix with Living Streams, we were very interested. The more we have met with Mario and Sylvana, the more we sense the Spirit bringing something significant to pass.
Getting Mario a religious worker’s visa was the biggest challenge to the realization of this church planting vision. I’m happy to announce—thanks to the diligence of Arthur Le and Tammy Valdez—Mario received his R-9 visa last month. We are overjoyed to announce that he and his family will be here in August and will start a Spanish-speaking version of Living Streams sometime in September. We are also excited because Mario will be preaching at our church services this Sunday and we’ll get a taste of what’s to come. Hallelujah and Let’s Go Jesus!!!!!!!!
Dios le bendiga,
David
In God's Eyes
I find it interesting what has happened this past week. Alec Seekins preached a message at our church last Sunday, giving a Biblical perspective on unintended pregnancy and abortion. The next day we all heard about the Supreme Court leak regarding Roe v. Wade. And this Sunday, we are having a special service for Mother’s Day. With all that in mind, here are some thoughts.
I find it interesting what has happened this past week. Alec Seekins preached a message at our church last Sunday, giving a Biblical perspective on unintended pregnancy and abortion. The next day we all heard about the Supreme Court leak regarding Roe v. Wade. And this Sunday, we are having a special service for Mother’s Day. With all that in mind, here are some thoughts.
There is a wild story in the Bible where God gives King David, king of Israel, the choice between three different severe consequences for his sin. Each consequence is devastating for the people of Israel, and God makes David choose which one will happen. There are multiple unique messages in this account from 2 Samuel 24, but the main message is clear: sin always has devastating consequences for you and the ones you have charge over.
I have witnessed some examples of this cause and effect… When a pastor falls into sexual immorality, it destroys his own soul, but also his family and the community he is connected with. When a husband/father lies about his families financial situation, he darkens and drains his own soul, but also darkens the light in his marriage and destroys the trust necessary to make family thrive. When a youth uses an illegal substance or abuses a legal one, it diminishes his own soul, but also opens a door for demonic influence which will affect everyone he is connected to.
When it comes to abortion, the connection between sin and consequence is a little bit different. Abortion is not the sin which causes the consequence of an unwanted pregnancy. Sexual immorality is usually the cause. Abortion has been created to try and eliminate the consequence of the sin. No one gets pregnant so they can have an abortion as if having an abortion is some desirable thing. Yet, last year in America, there were 630,000 decisions to get rid of the consequence of sexual activity through abortion (Statista Research Department, 2022).
Though I am sure some of these were very complex and heart-wrenching situations, I am sure the vast majority of these were attempts from a man and woman to avoid the consequences of their sin. They chose to do what seemed right in their own eyes and unleashed unintended and unwanted consequences for themselves, for their unborn baby, and for all those affected by their decision. This is a very grievous thing.
When doctors found out my second daughter would be born with Spina Bfida, they definitely encouraged my wife and I to get an abortion. The pregnancy was not unwanted or unintended, but the diagnosis was unwanted and heartbreaking. I didn’t quite realize what they were saying until I saw my wife, Brit, looking at the doctor with steel and daggers in her eyes. Brit was not going to do what seemed right in the eyes of a doctor, what seemed right in the eyes of this world’s economy. She told the doctor we would not be terminating the pregnancy. She was declaring, “as for me and my house we will do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.” She chose to trust the Lord with whatever would come. Since then, life has been very hard at times, but it has been oh-so-good all the time.
So, what am I trying to get across in all these words?
First, God knows what He’s doing. God sees everything perfectly. Doing what is right in the Lord’s eyes is always right. Doing what is right in our own eyes is only right when it is in line with what is right in God’s eyes. But, like a broken clock, we have a hard time being right most of the time
Second, when the consequences come from doing what is right in our own eyes, we should not try to avoid them. Avoiding consequences is ultimately impossible. And trying to avoid consequences actually increases the consequences. The best thing to do is face the consequences. By doing so, you put yourself in the Lord’s hands. Like David said in 2 Samuel 24:14, “Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great…” And when the consequences come, remember what Micah says in Micah 7:9: “I will be patient as the Lord punishes me for the wrongs I’ve done against Him. Then after that, He’ll take my cause and bring me to light and to justice for all I have suffered.”
I pray you and I will trust the Lord and be sons and daughters who do not despise His discipline.
David
P.S. What I have written here is to affirm the truth of God’s words and to help us heed the warnings of God’s words. If you are someone who is in the midst of sin or have been avoiding consequences for some time, I want to bring up some of God’s other words. He really does love you and have a plan to get you to green pastures and still waters no matter what you have done against Him, yourself, or others. There is no sin God is not eager and willing to forgive.
I would be happy to connect you with someone who could help you navigate your situation if you would like some help, especially if you are considering an abortion.
Before Assisting Others
Once in 4th grade my teacher handed out a paper and said to read the instruction at the top before answering the questions. When I received my paper, I read a few questions and they seemed super easy, so I jumped right in.
Once in 4th grade, my teacher handed out a paper and said to read the instruction at the top before answering the questions. When I received my paper, I read a few questions and they seemed super easy, so I jumped right in. I knew if I could finish this test quickly, I would get more recess, so I answered the questions as fast as I could. I was flying through. Thought I was way ahead of everyone else. But then, a few kids were giggling a little as they walked up and handed the test to the teacher. The teacher smiled at them and said, “Well done.” I was confused as I still had a bunch more questions to do.
When I and the rest of the class finally finished, our teacher told us to read the instruction at the top of the paper. We read and were pierced with great regret. The instruction read, “Thank you for reading the instructions first. You don’t have to answer any of the questions on this paper. Just write your name on the bottom and hand it to the teacher.”
I have always had trouble following directions. When I see a barricade corralling people at Disneyland, everything in me wants to find out what it's keeping us from. If I push the boundary a little, maybe I can create an awesome shortcut for me and my crew. There is a song in Les Misérables which says, “Beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see.” And I answer, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Testing the boundaries is one of my favorite things in life.
There is one instruction which many will be very familiar with: the instruction given at the beginning of a commercial airplane flight. “In case of a cabin pressure emergency, put on your own mask first before assisting others.” When I first heard this, my brain did the same thing it always does: challenged it. I thought, that seems selfish and horrible. Everyone should put their child’s mask on first. Serve others before yourself. That’s the right thing to do.
I have never been in a situation where the cabin pressure has caused masks have to come down. I have, however, been in seasons of life where pressure has changed dramatically. In fact, right now the pressure is feeling pretty intense with forecasted intensity ahead. So, I look to see what Jesus did when the pressure on Him increased, and it is fascinating.
Jesus had more pressure on Him than anyone else, ever. The book of the Bible called Hebrews tells us Jesus was tested in every way possible. Every test a human has gone through Jesus went through as well. That’s a lot of tests.
And yet, Jesus never sinned. He passed every test. He handled the pressure perfectly every time. Even when the test was his being crucified unjustly as a criminal.
Jesus’ life is the most influential and inspirational life ever lived in all of history. What was His secret to handling the pressure?
He put on His own mask before assisting others. He “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Jesus was known for a lot of things, but the ones who wrote Bible books about Him made sure their readers knew Jesus took lots of time to be filled by His father. Jesus, who had the biggest job of any person ever—saving the world—took time to rest. Jesus was not selfish in any way,ever. Jesus was not in a hurry. In fact, though He had such a big job, He didn’t even really get started until He was thirty. (If you’re under thirty and reading this, it’s all good if you haven’t figured it all out yet)
Thankfully, in all my years with my weird brain, I haven’t had trouble trusting Jesus’ instructions are worth following. Jesus exemplifies the concept of putting on your own mask first before assisting others. He also extended an invitation to all who are feeling the pressure. He said, “come to Me and I will give you rest.” He will give us the oxygen we need to assist others. He will not give us oxygen simply to serve ourselves. Jesus really does want us to give ourselves away, but He doesn’t want us to do it from a place of lack or exhaustion or worse. He wants us to do it from a place of overflow and strength because of our deep and daily connection with His infinite love and eternal life.
Today, if you hear His voice calling you, stop what you are doing, get to a lonely place, and breathe in His breath of love and life and grace and wisdom.
Happy Easter weekend,
David
P.S. Today if you can get free from 12-1pm please join us for a meaningful and peaceful Good Friday service at Living Streams Church.
The Third Kind of People
It was 6:00am. 80 seventh graders and 13 adult chaperones—who had driven six hours out of Phoenix—arrived at the ocean before the sun rose. They boarded a boat to Catalina Island, anticipating a day of fun and some scientific education.
It was 6:00am. 80 seventh graders and 13 adult chaperones—who had driven six hours out of Phoenix—arrived at the ocean before the sun rose. They boarded a boat to Catalina Island, anticipating a day of fun and some scientific education.
About an hour into the boat trip, the sea roughened, and a storm rumbled over the water. The passengers began to feel very queasy. As queasiness turned into sickness, some of the kids had a hard time making it to the bathroom with their stomach expulsion. At one point, a seventh-grade girl was asking a chaperone something when her stomach decided to fire, and the chaperone got a whole bunch of you-know-what in his face and ear.
After a few hours of rough sailing, the captain decided to turn the boat around and take everyone to shore. The group made it back to dry land with empty, worn-out stomachs.
When I heard this story from my extended family members who experienced it, I envisioned the different types of people on that seasick boat. All the passengers were experiencing the choppy waters, but I imagine there were three groups with different responses: 1) those who needed someone to take care of them, 2) those who were able to take care of themselves, and 3) those who took care of others.
When I told my three daughters the story about the boat trip, I told them that as Stocktons—and more importantly, as Christians—we are supposed to be that third type of person, the kind that takes care of others.
I am not saying it is wrong to occasionally be in a position where you need someone to take care of you. Life hits hard, and we need to be okay with asking for help when we need it. And I am not saying it is wrong to take care of yourself; sometimes all God is asking you to do is to get yourself to a healthy place. But more than these things, the life of Jesus (and the lives of his followers) included a whole lot of caring for others.
There are many ways to be this type of caring-for-others person. I told my daughters (who are very different from each other) that they each provide care in different ways.
My oldest daughter, for example, is decisive, protective, and strong. I told her that in the boat situation her job would be to keep her eyes on the captain to help him make decisions and warn of possible threats. She would also make sure to keep people out of the storm and away from the railings.
My middle daughter is abounding in mercy, tenderness, and compassion. I told her she would be going around rubbing people’s backs to comfort them. If she found someone who was freaking out, she’d grab their hands, tell them to look into her eyes, and encourage them to breathe deeply.
My youngest daughter is courageous, fun, and loves to be helpful. I told her she would be showing people where the bathroom is, handing them buckets, opening windows, and assuring people that they would be laughing about the situation when it was over.
I understand that there is a risk that, by telling my daughters how I envisions them serving, I might put too strong of an expectation on them; they are still forming their identity and calling. But I think there is a much greater danger involved if I failed to help them discover who they are. I want them to know as early as possible and as clearly as possible who Jesus made them to be and how they are uniquely fashioned to beautifully impact this world. When you know how Jesus made you, life gets full and fun and fulfilling.
Lord, help us each be this “third kind of person,” serving others like Jesus and not shying away from rough waters. Help us meet crises and challenges in the way you have in mind and, as a result, may people be saved and protected, healed and comforted, and lifted and encouraged.
David
Charged Up!
The last two weeks have gotten me all charged up. First, my family spent spring break at a friend’s house in Rocky Point. What got me embistió (charged up) was two different things: 1) our three run-ins with the policía and 2) the amazing beach views from the house we stayed in.
The last two weeks have gotten me all charged up.
First, my family spent spring break at a friend’s house in Rocky Point. What got me embistió (charged up) was two different things:
1) our three run-ins with the policía and
2) the amazing beach views from the house we stayed in.
Although it sounds intense to have “run-ins with the policía,” they were mild and only cost a total of $138. The house, however, was intense. It was away from the hustle and bustle of the tourism and spring breakers. It was right on the beach.
Because of the enormous tidal variance of the Sea of Cortés, at one part of each day the water reached the sea wall attached to the house, and another part of the day the water was 100 yards away. Each hour, as the water receded, the beach scene would change. Different patterns and textures of sand would appear due to wind and underwater currents. Pools and estuaries would form due to the contours of the sea-floor-now-turned-beach. Rocks, coral and sea shells would appear, revealing hidden treasures such as sand dollars, sea creatures, and even carcasses of crab or fish. Everything looked clean and the angle of the sun would artistically shade and highlight each hour of the day.
Somehow, watching the work of the tide and waves on the shore made me aware of my own soul being washed as God’s Spirit artistically uses both the shade and light realities to reveal treasures of His goodness and mercy all over the landscape of my life.
Second, March Madness NCAA Men’s basketball tournament has me all charged up.
Since we were in Mexico, none of our US television or streaming subscriptions allowed us to view the games. Luckily, we know some Belizeans who have discovered creative ways of navigating US systems in order to make possible what others have tried to make impossible. Thanks to them, we were able to watch some of the games.
The exhilaration of the little “Cinderella schools” taking down the “Goliath blue blood schools,” the last second buzzer beaters and overtimes, and the fact that there are four channels playing games for 12 hours is enough to charge up any basketball fan. And it is so fun to watch my wife watch these games. She gets so wrapped up in them, even screaming at the top of her lungs at times. We have been longtime University of Arizona fans, and their games nearly gave us a heart attack. Each Monday, after four days of games, my adrenaline withdrawals made it clear I had been all charged up.
Lastly, some things at Living Streams Church have me all fired up.
I came to all three services on Sunday, March 20 and watched 11 people get baptized. The short testimony stories and professions of faith filled my tank way past the brim. The diversity display was wonderful: some younger, some older, some from homeless backgrounds, some fleeing persecution in Iran, some just getting to know Jesus, and some who have been wrestling with Jesus for a while. I felt honored to be part of a community where God saw fit to add these precious people to our family.
Then, on Tuesday, March 22, we had a little ceremony wherein we licensed six members of our staff as pastors. We stepped into the longstanding apostolic tradition of Jesus’ Church by laying on hands and calling as pastors those who have shown themselves called by God to serve in a pastoral way, committed to lay down their life for Jesus’ kingdom, full of good character, and competent to steward God’s people and resources well. Again, I felt honored and privileged to be a part of a community so rich in spiritual maturity, resilient in the face of the devil’s schemes, and full of one-another-type love and grace.
I hope and pray you are finding moments that charge you up and are also finding moments to recharge.
David
A Few Reports from Ukraine
Last Sunday I shared with our congregation some reports from our missionaries close to the war in Ukraine. The first was a report from Billy Miller, who has been doing ministry in Romania for the last 10 years, but felt compelled by God’s Spirit to go into Ukraine and find a way to serve those in need.
Last Sunday I shared with our congregation some reports from our missionaries close to the war in Ukraine.
The first was a report from Billy Miller, who has been doing ministry in Romania for the last 10 years, but felt compelled by God’s Spirit to go into Ukraine and find a way to serve those in need.
Here is what Billy’s dad shared with us:
“Thank you for all the generosity to Assured Hope. Billy and 3 Pastors from Romania have been in Chernivtsi, Ukraine for the last 3 days ministering at a small church. They are sleeping at the church. The Russians have not gone west yet, so Chernivtsi is not under siege. They delivered provisions on Thursday and are helping set up a refugee center. They have been having prayer meetings for hours at a time, and there is much weeping and angst, yet Billy says the Lord is bringing comfort. Yesterday they bought beds, a washing machine and blankets.”
The second report was from Roger and Robin Harsh, who have served for 20+ years in the Czech Republic.
“Today 3,000 refugees came into Czech on a train which would normally carry 900 people. Many had not had food or water for 3 days. Two women gave birth on the train and another person died. Robin was at a relief center preparing items for the refugees. As soon as the refugees arrived to the Prague main train station they called over to the center frantically asking Robin to bring baby food, diapers, water, bread, cookies, and granola bars. Robin and others quickly loaded the cars and zoomed over to the station. They were met by the Prague fire department who helped them unload the cars.
It was amazing that 10 minutes before they got the call to quickly bring the baby food, a couple had come in and dropped off cases of baby food. Little did they know it was God’s perfect timing. It is a testimony to the fact that God hears the cries of the children and mothers. We were reminded of the tender care and love He has for children.”
After sharing these with our congregation on Sunday, a young lady came up to me after service to tell me she is a Ukrainian attending Grand Canyon University and her father is a pastor in Ukraine. I asked her where in Ukraine, and she said her dad is two hours southeast of Kiev. Though that sounds like one of the worst places to be, she said there haven’t been any bombings for the last week. Her father is spending each day driving people to the Moldovan border as the best way he can pastor in that community.
Here is what she wrote to Alec Seekins, the head of our missions department, after we connected with her father and sent funds to help him do the ministry God is calling him to:
“Alec, thank you for making all these things work and for navigating all this to help my dad. And I thank God for the unity of the body of Christ these days! What you’re doing has such a big value! Praise God for the Church and for His ministers. I can’t fully express my gratitude for the support of my people! It reminds me of the story when Aaron and Hur were supporting the hands of Moses during the battle with Amelek. Thank you for supporting the hands of people that got heavy! God bless you and your family and our Living Streams Church.”
We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You Jesus. We have so many troubles in our world right now, but our eyes are on You, Jesus. We have so many troubles right here in our country and state and city, but our eyes are on You, Jesus. We have so many troubles in our families and in our own souls, but our eyes are on You, Jesus. If You stay still, help us to be still. If You move, help us move in step and stride with You. If You go, help us follow, even if it is scary or sacrificial. Thank You for loving us and loving this world. Let Your love be strong, strong enough to weather every trial or tempest.
David
P.S. If you are interested in sending some funds to the trustworthy missionaries we have positioned to really help in Ukraine you can give at livingstreams.org and add the comment “Aid for Ukraine” to the donation.
A Missional Call...
in January of this year I completed 6 years of being the lead pastor at Living Streams. It has been awesome. I have enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. My family has enjoyed it a lot more than I thought they would. Our elder team, direction team, and staff are enjoying a strong sense of unity and momentum. And with all that going so …
In January of this year I completed 6 years of being the lead pastor at Living Streams. It has been awesome. I have enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. My family has enjoyed it a lot more than I thought they would. Our elder team, direction team, and staff are enjoying a strong sense of unity and momentum. And with all that going so well, Brit and I are planning to go on a “one-school-year” mission to strengthen churches and spread God’s word in the Republic of Ireland.
Now, please stay with me here and read to the end, because there’s more to this story!
For our entire marriage, Brittany and I have felt a missional call, a sabbatical call, and a Living Streams call.
Our missional call was tested and expressed when we spent 9 months in Gales Point, Belize, and 16 months in Dangriga, Belize. We were able to teach a lot of kids about the great adventure of following Jesus. We were able to help re-establish a church and raise up Belizean leadership for it. We were able to disciple young men and women as followers of Christ. We strengthened and brought some unity to churches. We found that our relationship with Jesus, our marriage, and our family bond has always grown through those times.
Our sabbatical call has been expressed by a rhythm of serving in Phoenix for 6 years and then going out to serve in another field for a time — just like the rhythm God ordained for the farmers in the Old Testament. God told them to work a field 6 years and then let it lie fallow for a year. We have twice spent 6 years serving at Living Streams, followed by a year of working a different field. While we’ve worked the foreign field, God has always done a deep work of renewal in regard to our identities and pace of life.
Our Living Streams call is expressed by the fact that I am 44 years old and have spent 26 of those years as a part of the Living Streams Church family, with 21 of those years working for Living Streams. My wife is 37 years old and has spent 25 years as a part of the Living Streams family, with 25 of those years working with the children at Living Streams. We have been — and remain — committed to seeing the Lord have His way in and through Living Streams Church. And since the elder team has asked me to be the lead pastor again when we come back from Ireland — and my family wants me to do it, as well — I am all in for the future at Living Streams.
Now, that’s enough about me. I want to tell you what will happen at Living Streams while I am away.
As last summer was ending, I asked the Lord to talk with me about my family’s future. The Lord brought a picture to mind and we had a fun and confirming conversation about my family’s plans for a missional sabbatical in Ireland.
Next, I asked the Lord to talk with me about Living Streams’ future. Each year for the last six years this has been a fun conversation between the Lord and me. But this time I wasn’t hearing anything. No picture, no thoughts, just void and silence. I found myself asking God if He wasn’t talking to me about Living Streams future, then who was He talking to? Immediately, Ryan Romeo came to mind. And I smiled.
Ryan has been my right-hand man, my confidant, my friend and co-laborer in almost everything at church. There really isn’t a plan or idea we have come up with which hasn’t been improved or pulled off by Ryan. He and his wife, Blake, have been very faithful to serve our church and have done so with great joy. Ryan has a unique skill set for ideation and implementation. He is steady and brave. He loves to go big, but has curated a deep appreciation and respect for the small. He has grown so much and also has so much potential for more. I have thoroughly enjoyed being on the same team with him. I am excited to see what Jesus will continue to do through Ryan, and I am confident that he will help continue the vision, mission, heart and culture of Living Streams.
I also have so much joy knowing that our elder team, direction team, preaching team and staff are all united in this pivotal year of 2022. By God’s grace we will bounce back from the depletion of the last two years. We will launch Living Streams in Spanish with Mario Benavides and his family here in Phoenix. We will send out missionaries to strengthen churches and spread God’s word. And right here on the corner of Central and Glendale, we will see a healthy local church continue to creatively expand God’s kingdom by putting His glory on display, building courageous people, and engaging in society’s pain, just as we have always done.
– David
Please watch this little video for more clarity on this topic:
What to Pray
Last Sunday I preached about Israel being invaded by neighboring countries during Jehoshaphat’s reign. As I walked out of the sanctuary a man asked me if I knew Russia had moved troops into Ukraine and was about to attack. I knew something was up, but didn’t know how imminent combat was. As Jehoshaphat was told the really bad news of war…
Last Sunday I preached about Israel being invaded by neighboring countries during Jehoshaphat’s reign. As I walked out of the sanctuary a man asked me if I knew Russia had moved troops into Ukraine and was about to attack. I knew something was up, but didn’t know how imminent combat was.
As Jehoshaphat was told the really bad news of war coming to his door, he called out to the God of All Creation. He said, “We don’t know what to do but our eyes are on You.” This seems a fitting phrase for many things we face in our life, but definitely when we face the brutality and depravity of war.
Jesus, we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.
Jesus, we know that you know what to do. Please help the people of Ukraine and Russia see you move.
Please God, let whatever is prideful or hateful, deceitful or evil be brought to absolute confusion and ruin.
Please God, pour out your Spirit on the Church in Russia and Ukraine to empower them to be your witnesses and move in your mighty power.
Let Your prophets have courage and help their voices be heard.
Let the children hear Your voice and know how close you are and how much you care.
And please Jesus, cause our leaders to look to You and lead us in Your ways. Help them admit they don’t know what to do, and to put their eyes on You.
For more info on what to pray you can check out https://www.ifapray.org and https://radical.net/article/how-to-pray-for-ukraine/
David
The Heart of the Matter
Martin Luther King Jr. was the face and voice of a beautiful, powerful awakening in American history. Though imperfect, he and others who proclaimed the message of love and justice were used by God as modern-day prophets to make some crooked places straight. I am thankful for their words, actions and vision, as well as the good …
Martin Luther King Jr. was the face and voice of a beautiful, powerful awakening in American history. Though imperfect, he and others who proclaimed the message of love and justice were used by God as modern-day prophets to make some crooked places straight. I am thankful for their words, actions and vision, as well as the good which has come from it.
Though Dr. King first focused on the crooked causes and fruits of segregation, he ultimately, concluded the three greatest evils against humanity are racism, poverty and war. Though it is easy to agree with that sentiment, Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life, brought to light three other evils. In His “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus focused on anger, lust, and divorce. Though anger, lust, and divorce don’t sound quite as ominous as racism, poverty and war, there would be no racism, poverty and war, without anger, lust and divorce.
You see, anger leads to hate. Whether you are angry because of a broken home or because a parent left, anger could be the way you were taught to deal with problems. Or maybe your anger is justified because you’ve been treated unjustly. No matter how it has come, if anger goes unchecked, it will lead to hate. And hatred can be attached to race, but it can also be attached to many other things: hatred of men or women, hatred of the rich or poor, hatred of people who do not agree with you.
Lust in many ways is what leads to poverty. Now, lust in Jesus’ teaching is definitely applied to sexual appetites. And it is true our sexual appetites can cause poverty, but if we broaden the understanding of lust as referring to all of our appetites, it is easy to see how lust causes poverty. The earth has enough resources for everyone to have the food they need, yet there are many hungry because some people take too much. The lust of the rich can cause the hunger of the poor. I know it is more complex than that, but left unchecked, our lustful appetites can cause others to go without.
As for divorce, again, Jesus was literally speaking about marriage between a man and a woman, but with a little broadening we can see divorce as the source of war. On one hand, the trauma of divorce can cause a person to grow up insecure and wounded, prone to lash out and become divorced themselves. But deeper than that is the trauma of divorce can cause profound, even non-conscious mistrust, which will foster compounding broken relationships in all areas of life. When you apply that to nations, it leads to war.
Jesus knows how to get to the heart of the matter for us humans because He created the hearts of us humans. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life because He is the only one with access to actual reality. His message and vision is what leads us to life, truth and beauty. If we will listen to His teaching, follow His example, and fall more and more in love with Him and His ways, we will become aware of the crooked places in our lives. We will not be fooled by the “Angel of Light” messages swirling around us. And we will become the answer to Jesus’ John 17 prayer, and in turn, Dr. King’s March 31, 1968 prayer:
"Eternal God, out of whose mind this great cosmic universe was made, we bless you. Help us to seek that which is high, noble and good. Help us in the moment of difficult decision. Help us to work with renewed vigor for a warless world, a better distribution of wealth, and a brother/sisterhood that transcends race or color.
God grant that right here in America and all over this world, we will choose the high way; a way in which men will live together as brothers. A way in which the nations of the world will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. A way in which every man will respect the dignity and worth of all human personality. A way in which every nation will allow justice to run down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. A way in which men will do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. A way in which men will be able to stand up, and in the midst of oppression, in the midst of darkness and agony, they will be able to stand there and love their enemies, bless those persons that curse them, pray for those individuals that despitefully use them. And this is the way that will bring us once more into that society which we think of as the brotherhood of man.”
–David
Two New Guys and a Conference
First, let me introduce you to Nathan Del Turco. Nathan has been on Living Streams staff for a year and serves as the Creative Arts Director. The only word you really need pay attention to from that last sentence is “serves.” Nathan serves. Like Jesus, Nathan sees himself as the servant of all. Nathan has not come to be served, but to serve. He is …
First, let me introduce you to Nathan Del Turco. Nathan has been on Living Streams’ staff for a year and serves as the Creative Arts Director. The only word you really need pay attention to from that last sentence is “serves.” Nathan serves. Like Jesus, Nathan sees himself as the servant of all. Nathan has not come to be served, but to serve. He is highly skilled, tremendously experienced, lively, compassionate, funny, and yet, finds his joy and meaning in serving. He works extremely hard, is always very teachable, and is quick to clear the air anytime he senses a strange breeze in the area of relationships. (And although he says he has some sort of mafia connection in his Italian ancestry, he is either lying or some grandma must have done a good job praying that out of their heritage.)
Next, let me introduce you to Stuart Laws. Stuart has been hanging about since last Easter. He joined our staff at the beginning of 2022. He serves as the Production Director and frequently leads our music times of worship. He has a heart to serve as well, but it feels very different with Stuart. Being with Stuart is like being being home for Christmas — not the home you live in now, but the home in which you grew up and made warm Christmas memories. The way he interacts, listens, and is attentive to you is like being surrounded with mom, dad, brothers and sisters all happy to be together. He dresses sharp, but not to impress. He does things very well, but is not controlling. He is “West Coast laid-back,” but he hasn’t lost his “Carolina Southern charm.” I don’t think he has ever met someone he did not think more highly of than himself. And he uses his quick wit to figure out how to cheer you on with what you are saying (or trying to say and not doing a very good job).
Now, let me tell you about the Dwell Conference these guys helped put on at Living Streams. The Dwell Conference is a gathering for church leaders and creative teams. It is primarily aimed at churches in Phoenix and churches of medium to small size. We want to make a really good conference for the little guy who may not have the funds to go out of state to a big-time conference. We also really want the Church in Phoenix to be united and to know one another so we can love one another just as Jesus prayed for us to do. (One of my favorite examples of this is a worship team from River Church in Safford, Arizona that always attends Dwell.)
This year’s Dwell Conference was really wonderful. Somehow, in all the sound, song, silence, lights, technology and programming, the message that health and humility are what is best and most beautiful was loud and clear. Like the Apostle Paul, our creative arts team knows God’s strength is found as they glory in their weaknesses. They figured out a way to help all of us offer those beautiful, broken and contrite sacrifices that Psalm 51 teaches us about, yet it still felt joyful and full of life.
I am very thankful for all of the people I get to work with. I am very thankful the Lord saw fit to add these two individuals to our church family. I am very excited that they care deeply about our multi-generational call, and how sound, volume, creativity and technology serve that call. I am also very excited about what we will be learning, experiencing, and enjoying as they continue to serve and lead our family with humble, helpful, grateful and generous hearts.
The only thing I am not excited about is some of the parking lot issues and over-crowding that all this goodness is (and will be) causing. For more on that please watch this video.
David
Joy!
Walking on air. Over the moon. On cloud nine. Grinning from ear to ear. On top of the world. Tickled pink. These are all idioms for joy. “Walking on air” describes joy as a feeling like there is no more burden and not even gravity can get you down. “Over the moon” and “On cloud nine” again connect with weightlessness, but add an out-of-this-world …
Walking on air. Over the moon. On cloud nine. Grinning from ear to ear. On top of the world. Tickled pink. These are all idioms for joy. “Walking on air” describes joy as a feeling like there is no more burden and not even gravity can get you down. “Over the moon” and “On cloud nine” again connect with weightlessness, but add an out-of-this-world element, because earth is also a place of sadness. I like “grinning from ear to ear” because, when you are really filled with joy, you feel a little silly and joy is so powerful that your body can’t help but express it. And often the expressions of joy can be somewhat embarrassing. (At least if you’ve got no rhythm.)
What I’m about to say may sound strange to some, depending on your understanding of the gifts of Jesus’ Spirit; but there was a time when I was filled with an immense amount of supernatural joy. I had been attending a ministry training school with about eighteen other guys. We were actually on a three-day silent retreat where we were not supposed to talk or communicate at all. Then, the last night, some people came and prayed for us to receive whatever the Spirit of God wanted to give us. After I was prayed for, I remember being filled with joy. This joy was different than any joy I had experienced before. It seemed to have much of the same ingredients, but it was far more powerful and way more pervasive. I literally felt the joy all over my body, to the point where I couldn’t walk normally. My feet felt too springy and all my muscles just wanted to be used at the same time. I was at a silent retreat and everyone was being super-spiritual, but the joy in me was demanding that I run, dance, do push-ups or something like that. Since some guys were weeping, I just walked away with a herky-jerky gate, trying not to be distracting.
It is a wonderful thing to know that one of the fruits of God’s Spirit is joy. It is awesome that the Creator God — Ruler over everything, and the One who orders every facet of creation and our lives — is filled with joy. What may be even more amazing is, time and time again, God has made it clear that what brings Him joy is you and I. When God was creating the world, He would stop and rejoice over what He created each day. But the day He created mankind, He didn’t just say it was good like the other days’ creations, but He said the creation of mankind was very good. We are also told in Zephaniah that God rejoices over His people with singing. Did you hear that? When God looks at you, His first reaction, His most intense feeling and sentiment is pure delight. Yes, Jesus’ Spirit can be grieved by our sins, and even angry with us for the wrongs we do to others and ourselves. But those are secondary feelings and sentiments always subordinate to the great delight and joy every fiber of your being brings to God.
So why am I writing about joy? Because we need it. Because we are commanded by the Scriptures to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Because we are told “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (and, boy, do we need strength these days). Because we are told Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness above everyone else. And because the Pharisees thought Jesus was a glutton and wine-bibber because He loves to celebrate so much. I love that!
It is so easy for me to associate only with the “acquainted with grief” side of Jesus. It is so easy for me to look at our world, or the heavy loads on my shoulders, and get weighed down and weary. But the remedy for that — in the life of Jesus and in the rest of the Biblical counsel— is to rejoice. To practice rejoicing. To “put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” To “bless the Lord O my soul.” To know that Jesus’ gave us His teachings so our joy may be complete and full.
Today, seek the heart of Christ and find how much joy is there. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with joy. Don’t pretend the world does not have pain or your life is not full of sorrow, but practice rejoicing in the presence of God. Put on a song and do a little dance. Count your blessings out loud at the top of your lungs. As you do, you will not only be surprised at how joyful our Father in heaven is, but you will find that you are a big reason He is so full of joy.
David
Fasting Day
This is not complaining. It is testifying. Yesterday, I woke up and everything was okay. I didn’t sleep that great, but it’s been par for the course ever since we decided to tile our house while living there, with full-time jobs, and three daughters. Back to the testifying…
I was feeling okay and started working my way through my daily responsibilities. As I …
This is not complaining. It is testifying.
Yesterday, I woke up and everything was okay. I didn’t sleep that great, but it’s been par for the course ever since we decided to tile our house while living there, with full-time jobs, and three daughters.
Back to the testifying…
I was feeling okay and started working my way through my daily responsibilities. As I was getting the kids ready for school, I instinctively grabbed for some food, but caught myself…remembering it’s Wednesday — fasting day.
I drove my kids to school and came home to clean everything out of some rooms so tile could be laid. Our house became more disarrayed, but for a brief moment, I soaked up how clean and simple and uncluttered the empty room was.
I quickly threw on a nice shirt and jumped on a Zoom call with Karrin Robson, who is running for governor. She wanted to meet with a couple of pastors, and someone told her to talk with me. She told me why she is running and how she feels about Ducey, Biden and Trump. I asked her some questions — mostly fueled by my wife, Brit, who has become politically savvy over the last couple of years. (Brit’s an enneagram 8 and feels the responsibility to make sure people are not getting fooled or manipulated.) Karrin Robson said she was impressed with how informed my questions were and she gave me some good answers. Her answer to my question about faith, politics and a pastor’s role was not very deep so I gave her some more info on that — things like the Christian Church being the single most dominant force for good, no matter where in the world or when in its history — and how the Judeo-Christian ethic has led to the freest, most prosperous societies of all time.
After the call, a slight headache was coming on, so I drank some water and it went away. The hunger pains were minimal and I jumped onto another Zoom call with our teaching team.
That call was really fun and it stirred up some excitement as we plotted and planned our sermon series through the summer. Ryan Romeo, Alec Seekins, and Jeff Gokee and I make up our teaching team currently and I am starting to call them “The Trifecta.”
After that, it was noon and I was definitely feeling some hunger. A mild headache was threatening again, but no big deal. As the hunger feelings would catch my attention I would respond with prayers for what is burdening me these days. As the hunger feelings increased over the next few hours, I began to feel some empathy for those who don’t go without food by choice but because of lack. I prayed for them. This then led me to pray for the ones I know who are hurting for a variety of reasons. Mercy was increasing in my heart.
I was feeling weaker as I unloaded a pallet full of tile at my house. I spent some time prepping for our Wednesday night prayer night and did some studying for my message on Sunday. I called the folks I have been doing some mediation with to share some thoughts and hear some more perspective. I could tell the weakness I felt when I called them affected the way I heard and communicated with them. It is an intense situation, but I didn’t feel the intensity. I felt empathy and the weight of how hurt they are and scared they are.
After this, I picked up my kids and spent some time with them as we got home. They had told me they were going to fast with us on Wednesdays, but they pigged out when they got home without even thinking about it. It made me smile.
The headache on the horizons had now become a marching band inside my head. The only positive thing about it was my headache totally drowned out my hunger feelings.
When Brit got home, we hugged for a long time. She was feeling weak and tired. She hadn’t slept well either and spent the entire day teaching/corralling middle schoolers. We tried to clean our chaotic house a bit. She also spent some time working on her plan for the 30+ 3rd through 5th graders she teaches every Wednesday night at church. (She is amazing)
We headed to church and could not stop thinking about how good soup sounded. Now, with the finish line in sight, the headache and hunger didn’t hold much sway.
The prayer night was awesome. The sanctuary filled with people who had fasted because they want to be more hungry for God than for anything in this world and had taken time on a Wednesday night to pray for people who don’t know Jesus. It was an inspiring thing to be a part of. We also prayed for each other, since we are people who know Jesus but are still trying to have faith over fear and peace in the midst of pain.
As I write this on Thursday morning, the headache is still there, but my heart is so full — encouraged by the encounters with Jesus in the sacred space of fasting hunger — comforted by the unity and righteous hunger of the faith family I am a part of at Living Streams — and hopeful to see people come to know Jesus because of the fasting and praying, serving and sharing we are doing.
David
p.s. if you haven’t started yet, no worries. You can fast next Wednesday and join us at 6pm for soup that will taste almost magical after a day of fasting. Click for details & registration.
Insider Information
Yesterday I saw an old friend that I haven’t seen in a long time. We were best friends all through elementary school. We’ve seen each other a little since then, but it had been at least ten years since the last time. He gave me a big hug and we caught up a little bit. When we started talking about the new year, he asked me if I had any insider information. He asked it with a smile…
Yesterday I saw an old friend that I haven’t seen in a long time. We were best friends all through elementary school. We’ve seen each other a little since then, but it had been at least ten years since the last time. He gave me a big hug and we caught up a little bit. When we started talking about the new year, he asked me if I had any insider information. He asked it with a smile because he knows I am a pastor, and from what I know, he is not following Jesus. Though I knew he was joking, I was able to say, “I think I do.”
This is one of the amazing things about being a Christian. Jesus doesn’t call us “servants,” but “friends.” He loves to reveal his plans to His people. John 15:15 says this: “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.”
There wasn’t enough time for me to share my “inside information” with him in the burger place, but I’m going to send it to him. I’m also going to share with you what I received from the Lord in the form of a prophecy for the year 2022. (As with all prophecy it is important to “weigh carefully what is said.”)
Here it is…
I woke up last Tuesday morning feeling overwhelmed, weary and unexcited about the new year. But as I sat there trying to cast my cares on Jesus, I felt the Spirit of God‘s thoughts begin to mingle with mine. It seemed like heaven’s perspective was trying to break in to my earthly perspective. So, I got out my journal and begin to write down what I sensed the Spirit saying:
Watch as the shaking of 2020 will give way to the breaking of 2022. It’s not the separating of the sheep and goats yet, but it is the separating of the fake and false from the true and holy. Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatever a man sows that he will reap.
Many will rage against God and His ways, but many will repent and be saved. So preach, my people, says the Lord. Be ready to give a reason for the hope inside; the hope of heaven, the hope of redemption, and the hope of God’s faithful presence, provision and guidance.
You will know the power of the gospel of God as You preach the good news about what Jesus has done for You, personally, and what Jesus has done, and will do, for the world. Preach the restoration of all things and the restoration that has been done in you already.
This is the year you will either bounce back or be broken. God is going to finish the work He began by allowing the pandemic. The only way to be buoyant in the flood of failure of nerve, failure of heart, or falling away is to increase the buoyancy of your inner life. The despair, the loneliness, the division, and the disruption will cause many to sink and their faith to be shipwrecked.
But, like filling your lungs with air can help you float, filling your soul with God’s word will make you buoyant. Like putting on a life jacket can keep you afloat, putting on the armor of God — assurance of salvation, walking in righteousness, defending your faith, held up by truth, and standing fast in the good news of Jesus’ love and forgiveness — will make you buoyant against the flood.
The harvest is ripe. Salvation is near. Expect to see signs and wonders as you boldly speak about the beauty, power and kindness of Jesus. Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened in a unique way this year. A season of visitation. Eagerly desire Spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. Keep your eyes on Jesus, but also on Israel.
Now, I don’t know what stands out to you or what sentiment you are left with after this. But as for me, I felt energized and the clouds of heaviness and anxiety dissipated. God was telling me His plans. That was awesome all by itself. But His plans include many people turning to Jesus as a result of the prolonged disruption and the reaping of bad seeds they have sown. That Jesus will use the pain and angst to awaken people to repentance and redemption is a beautiful thing.
The other thing that stood out to me was how we need to ramp up our preaching game. I am not talking about Sunday morning preaching. I am talking about Tuesday afternoon at work, Thursday night at soccer practice, or maybe even when we randomly see an old friend in a burger place.
The bottom line is this: Jesus has plans for you, and for me, and for the salvation of others this year. And Jesus’ plans are always good — and all good. Be encouraged and be bold, my friends.
David
P.S. I would love to hear any prophecies you feel Jesus has laid on your heart for the new year. Even if you are not quite comfortable using the fancy (and sometimes scary) word prophecy, you can call it something else and send it my way.
A Little Christmas Message
The summer after I graduated high school I was looking for something to do before my fall plans kicked in. I got a job at Subway because I had a connection and I heard you get a free sub every day. It was fine, but after a week of working there, a friend told me about a trip his church was taking to Mexico to work with orphans and rescue a boat.
The summer after I graduated high school I was looking for something to do before my fall plans kicked in. I got a job at Subway because I had a connection and I heard you get a free sub every day. It was fine, but after a week of working there, a friend told me about a trip his church was taking to Mexico to work with orphans and rescue a boat. That sounded much more intriguing, so I asked my Subway boss if I could have two weeks off. He laughed and said, “No problem,” knowing I would not be coming back — and he was right!
At the beginning of the trip, we gathered at a church. We met in the sanctuary before boarding the bus. At the end of the meeting a couple of young people — just like me — started playing guitar and singing a simple song:
You came from heaven to earth, to show the way
From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay
From the cross to the grave,
From the grave to the sky,
Lord I lift Your name on high
This was a new experience for me — not the singing of a worship song, I had done that before — but this song of worship was led by young people, and it didn’t seem like it was written a thousand years ago, and I was surrounded by young people drawing deep meaning and connection in singing these words altogether.
Over the years it has amazed me to find people all over the world who know this song and draw the same deep meaning and connection in singing the words altogether. When I lived in Belize as a missionary, we sang this song in our church services. It was the same song, but a guy added a couple of rap interludes which gave it more meaning and connection in that context. There is nothing particularly special or unique about the song, but the message is clear and simple, and it echoes the best news the world has ever heard.
Though It is not a Christmas song, much of the Christmas message is summed up in the chorus. Jesus came to earth to show us the way. Jesus went to the cross to pay the price for all the times we veer from His way. And then, Jesus went from cross to grave and grave to the sky to prove He was, is, and always will be the Lord on high. That is some good tidings of great joy for all people on whom His favor rests and are willing to call Him Lord.
Scripture says it this way:
1 Peter 2:21 (NLT) tells us how Jesus came “to show the way” to life:
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:”
1 John 2:1-2 (NIV) tells us how Jesus came “to pay” our sin debt:“He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”
Philippians 2:6-11 (NIV) tells us how “lifting His name on high” is the correct response to what Jesus did through His advent:“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Over the next few days, take a good half hour or so and get away from it all. In that silence and solitude draw near to Jesus. Listen for His thoughts and feelings. And thank Him for ten things He has done for you, naming them one by one.
Merry Christmas to you and yours as you remember when the hopes and fears of all the years met in one holy night.
– David
Reminder:
Christmas Eve services 3:00, 4:30, 6:00 pm
Sunday December 26th only one service 10 am
If you are interested in volunteering to help an evangelistic outreach on New Year’s Eve, let me know.