When your summer travel plans get canceled, and then your backup plans get canceled as well, what do you do? I don’t know what you do, but me and my Stockton five, we quarantine ourselves in our big van and head north.
So the last couple weeks have come with stirred up a lot of feelings. I was filled to the brim with the uncertainty and unrest that COVID-19 has brought about. I was deeply stirred with indignation over the horrible murder of George Floyd by someone who abused the special authority given to police officers.
I really believe it’s the Church’s job to lead people back to each other.
In this time of COVID-19 quarantine we have experienced intense separation due to biological realities. These months of social distancing and the lingering uncertainty make it seem scary to try to get back together.
The music of my childhood was the music of my parents. My dad loved goofy 60’s music like “G.T.O.” by Rohnny and the Daytonas. My mom bounced back and forth between Les Miserable and Country.
Many people are asking what I think the church should do in light of all the Covid-19 questions and re-opening questions. I know the main reason they are asking is because they care about the church. We are a church family and there is a beautiful covenantal bond that takes place when people commit to worship Jesus together and journey life’s challenges alongside each other.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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 …
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…
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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…
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.
Some say, and sing, that Christmas is the “most wonderful” and “hap-happiest season of all.” Their reasoning for this is, kids are “jingle belling”, people are telling you “be of good cheer”, and there are “holiday greetings and gay, happy meetings.” Though that sings well, it is insufficient against the real life challenges humanity is creating across the globe.
