The subject at hand is that of worldview. It is the “basic belief system” that determines how we view everything else and out of which every decision and action originates. Basically, we see through who we are, and we do what we believe.

“To the pure in heart and conscience all things are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled and polluted. They profess to know God, but deny and disown and renounce Him by what they do;…” (Titus 1:15, 16)

This becomes a problem when we say that we represent a particular conglomeration of beliefs but act contrarily to those things which we previously claim to prescribe. Herein we become a contradiction.

We are currently in the midst of a great clashing of ideologies that will ultimately determine the direction of individuals, communities, churches, businesses, and nations.

Now more than ever we need to objectively assess what we believe and make sure that our worldview is properly focused according to Truth.

“So everyone who hears these words of mine and acts upon them will be like a sensible man who built his house upon the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24, 25)

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“Adversity is to the spirit and soul what going to the gym is to the body.”

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!” (Romans 8:18)

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Through perseverance and commitment, I am seeing a principle at work: I am progressing past my original limits. I am finding it increasingly easier to push past what once was a physical limitation into a new realm of ability. Muscles that had become soft and mushy are beginning to take definition and are finding new levels of strength.

This principle is not just applicable to physical development, but can be applied to all dimensions of our life. Discomfort, fear, and other factors create limits over us that become barriers to advancing into new vistas of living. Certain thoughts and beliefs can hold us down and keep us from fulfilling our full potential.

Has anything created a threshold of over your life that is limiting you from living out your full potential? Work to identify what it is and then develop a strategy that will give you a track to press through into a new level of growth.

You can do it!

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The schedule of movement and nature of issues that we were dealing with did not allow for much time alone and a horribly inadequate internet availability made it technologically impossible.

We are basing our ministry to nations on several core values:

Teaching that reconciliation to God is the primary need for every person on the face of the earth.

Communicating a kingdom world-view from the Bible that incarnates into a lifestyle that challenges and redeems cultural beliefs that oppress and impoverish people.

Developing long-term relationships with individuals who desire to be catalysts for community and national transformation within the spheres of influence that have been granted to them.

As a result, we are continuously searching out and connecting with people who have discovered and live by the same values. Our ongoing involvement with the oppressed and poor is giving us the opportunity to witness people being delivered from the bondage of corruption, deception, abuse, oppression, and poverty as they believe and apply the truth of God’s Word to their lives.

“…thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”

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“Now you collectively are Christ’s body and individually you are members of it…” (1 Corinthians 12:27)

The most powerful community on the face of the earth is the Body of Christ. Within it its members is the power to nurture, heal, restore, transform, and mature. We so often overlook the potential by viewing other members according to their natural limitations and shortcomings.

Many people stand aloof from connection to the body due to negative experiences and unrealistic expectations. We will never access the power from within as long as we focus on the faults of the natural man. We must look beyond to the spiritual potential and the anointing that teaches us all things.

“Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view in terms of natural standards of value. Even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer in terms of the flesh.” (2 Corinthians 5:16)

Let’s look to the power of Christ that is resident in every local body to see it released not just for those who are connected to it, but for the world around it.

“His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints, that they should do the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body. That it might develop until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God, that we might arrive at really mature manhood, the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.” (Ephesians 4:12,13)

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The “new man” is a unique re-creation and I don’t believe that there is anything that can compare to the spiritual life we have in Christ.

Our “spirit man” born from above is housed in a biological body born out of the earth. We live in two realms at the same time. We are caught in the tension between the limits of the physical while in touch with the superior realities of the spirit.

We need our “biological life” in order to fulfill our heavenly purposes here on earth. Let’s maximize our potential by being good stewards with the bodies God has given us so that we can…

“…run with patient endurance the and steady and active persistance the appointed course of the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

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As I turned 51 years old this year, I realized the need to be more intentional about keeping my body in shape. I started working out in a gym and got serious about eating healthier. I changed some old habits and made some new friends who had the same goals. It didn’t take me long to see the power of reinforcement that comes through active participation in health conscious community.

People were encouraging me in my workout regimen (which was nothing to boast about, some of the stuff I couldn’t even do at first.) A real hit to my ego, but who cares when you are setting yourself towards a goal? Others were opening my eyes to new ways of cooking and eating.  We made commitments to each other and even joked about what we would look like a year from now. The more I participated, the more I started to see a difference and my desire increased to become even more involved.

One day on the treadmill I saw the application of this principle to our involvement in the Body of Christ. Although this should be a given perspective, such is not always the case. There is nothing more important than our spiritual development.

“Now you collectively are Christ’s body and individually you are members of it, each part severally and distinct, each with its place and function.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)

There is an inherent power in community that we cannot afford to overlook, and actually need to delve into deeper. The spiritual power that resides within us individually and that can be accessed corporately as the Body of Christ may be the greatest untapped resource in the universe.

“Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together as believers, as is the habit of some people, but admonishing one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

I wonder how much we are missing by not actively participating in the community life of faith with other believers. I also wonder what our lives could look like if we became more intentional about it.

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Words are not adequate to fully express my gratitude to God for his faithfulness and unconditional love! Amazing, confounding, and awesome!

Our faith family at Grace Community Fellowship in Starke, Florida is the most incredible body of believers that I have ever been associated with. God’s grace, glory, and anointing continues to saturate us week by week transforming and maturing us into His image. The Holy Spirit is truly changing us “from glory to glory” and we get to witness it in each other! What a gift to be able to pastor such a people.

All of the ministers and ministries that I have the privilege to be connected to - thank you for your input, encouragement, prayers, and association in the work of the ministry. Our relational alliances have been a holy bond and a source of strength in the tough times. I need you.

Many others whom we have been blessed to know and connect with through the internet and missions outreaches in other parts of the world. You have helped me to see the world through your eyes and broadened my perspective on the greater Body of Christ and the advancement of His Kingdom in your part of the earth. You have taught me many things that I could never learn on my own.

I am expectant and pregnant with anticipation for what God will be bringing forth through us during this next season. Allow Him to broaden your vision and renew your thinking to align with His purposes for your life. Don’t be satisfied with just “maintaining” where you are, but keep your eyes on the land that you are destined to possess. It is yours.

Be blessed in this new year!

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Prior to his fall only ten verses earlier (2:25), he was aware of his nakedness yet unashamed in the presence of his wife and God. The entrance of sin into the earth released fear and shame and continues its ravaging affects by distorting the image of God and man.

Our “fig leaves” are just a little more sophisticated today. They occur in the form of material possessions, occupations, and many other things that mask our true identity. The creation that we have been mandated to steward through Adam’s original responsibility in the garden has completely dominated us as we peer through the trees at each other all the while hoping no one discovers us for who we really are. We are even afraid of God, (as if He doesn’t know the real us) and doubt His intentions to restore us.

The greatest provision in scripture is presented in the form of a garment. Not one formed out of any natural substance as that would make it insufficient to cover us. Adam had to trade his fig leaf for a garment that God fashioned for him in the form of skin and that subsequently required the “shedding of blood.”

In the New Covenant our full provision for fear and shame has been made through the blood of Jesus Christ. Nothing can cover us like the glorious “robe of righteousness” that He freely offers all men. It is time to come out from the twilight of the trees and into the Light and learn how to live in His presence.

“For you have stripped off the old unregenerate self with its evil practices, and have clothed yourselves with the new spiritual self, which is ever in the process of being renewed and remolded into fuller and more perfect knowledge upon knowledge after the image the likeness of Him Who created it.” (Colossians 3:9, 10)

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“There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” (Henry David Thoreau)

“Kind hearts are the gardens, kind thoughts are the roots, kind words are the flowers, kind deeds are the fruits. Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds, fill it with sunshine, kind words and kind deeds.” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

“Deep roots are not reached by frost” (J.R.R.Tolkien)

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