Kingdom Horizons http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog Discover. Explore. Meditate. Transform. Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:07:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 en KingdomHorizonshttp://feedburner.google.com Confusion In The Airwaves http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KingdomHorizons/~3/tj-idNHDwOc/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/confusion-in-the-airwaves/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:06:19 +0000 Greg http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/?p=139 After an eight hour flight from Miami we were closing in on the runway in Rio when we were diverted by air traffic control due to intense heavy fog. We would have to redirect to Belo Horizonte (which would be our final destination that day anyway). After a safe landing in Belo and some negotiating we were able to disembark and even get our bags. That would put us at our final destination over two hours ahead of schedule! Never had that happen before.

Unknown to us, the people who were supposed to meet us in Belo to coordinate our ground transportation were sitting grounded on the runway in Rio (yes, due to the fog). So we wait for three hours taking a chance that they will arrive later that morning and thankfully everyone showed up late except us who were supposed to be late but were early. You figure it out…

We arrive at our hotel to a mob scene. ESPN, Fox News, reporters and sportscasters are doing live feeds from the lobby. We soon find out that the Argentinean Soccer team is staying there tonight. (For those that do not know, Brazil and Argentina are vicious soccer rivals.)

Bad news — we find that this was a perfect opportunity to more than double the rates for the night and that our reservation had been conveniently cancelled. So here we are at the Mercure and ready to head out tonight to meet the other team members who have come for Fire and Glory!

]]> http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/confusion-in-the-airwaves/feed/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/confusion-in-the-airwaves/ The Surreal World 2 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KingdomHorizons/~3/lRH5NV3Md5Q/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/the-surreal-world-2/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:51:09 +0000 Greg http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/?p=138 Actually, this experience ranks as one of the most surreal of my lifetime.

I wish all of my enemies would have to forbear the freak show that we suffered through on the flight from Jax to Miami. A husband, wife, and two children (yes, they were sitting right in from of us!) acted out the most amazing theatrical performance of “Dysfunction on Vacation.” Everone on the flight  sat speechless and shocked as these four screamed (yes, loud enough to be heard throuought the whole plane — which I think was part of their strange, narcicistic intention), yelled, cried, temper-tantrumed, and revealed to the world how not to raise children.

Tempted to call 411 to get the number to the Dr. Phill show, I told Annette that someone needed to love these parents enough to tell them the truth. Sensing an even greater possibility of increase in drama, she quickly assured me with “the look” and affirmed, “Yes, but it will not be you and it will not be now.”

The guy across the aisle from me is contemplating climbing out th window. The dude next to me just turned up his i-pod to 10. I am tempted to close my eyes and try to escape somehow, but choose to keep them open to protect my turf. I’m doing my best to remember the lyrics to that old Jimmy Buffet song, “I Wish I Were Somewhere Other Than Here.”

Unbelievable…

]]> http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/the-surreal-world-2/feed/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/the-surreal-world-2/ The Surreal World http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KingdomHorizons/~3/nLMcr7dGCAo/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/the-surreal-world/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:36:35 +0000 Greg http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/?p=137 Have I ever mentioned that I love airports?

I was really  enjoying my humongous Southwestern Cobb Salad at Chilli’s Too in the Jacksonville airport when some chick and a preppy guy walk in with a dog in an animal carrier. Oh, how cute. Not five feet from my food it’s not!

This ratty-looking thing starts barking and yapping like a cat just walked by. Oh, poor Fifi or Fido (or whatever…). “Give me a break — Hello, we are trying to eat here — Isn’t there some kind of law against animals in a restaurant?” A few hard glances and they stick him back into the carrier and huddle over their nachos like they are having some secret liason. Little Fido pays no attention to their intermittant shhhh’s.

Side note: It is 5:34 PM here in Belo Horizonte and we are witnessing an incredible sunset from our vantage point on the 15th floor of the Mercure hotel. Simply awesome. Thank you Lord.

]]> http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/the-surreal-world/feed/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/the-surreal-world/ I Love Airports http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KingdomHorizons/~3/WQLSMNbUWlI/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/i-love-airports/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:23:27 +0000 Greg http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/?p=136 “Just a two-edged sword” I snapped back to the TSA agent who was opening my carry-on after asking, “Is there anything sharp or dangerous in this bag?” My humor was definitely out of place and this guy was having trouble taking a joke. I could easily tell that he had no clue what I was referring to. He mumbled something about the x-ray machine as he unzipped my Bible case and leafed through the pages.

Finding no weapons, explosives, or other dangerous items that could threaten the lives of the passengers he was hired to protect (and sometimes harass), he tossed the Bible back into the bag and shoved it across the table giving me a stern “I’m not amused by you” look.

]]> http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/i-love-airports/feed/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/i-love-airports/ Cool Friends http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KingdomHorizons/~3/k0oSL6VNdak/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/cool-friends/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:17:11 +0000 Greg http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/?p=135 The ride to the airport held a special treat as I was able to pass the time on the phone with a good friend of 40+ years. Dynamic business mogul and entreprenurial wizard Antonio Davanzo is a fellow Christian soldier and Italian brother from the hood! (childhood and neighborhood)

]]> http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/cool-friends/feed/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/cool-friends/ Fire and Glory http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KingdomHorizons/~3/BJx39bp4wPo/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/fire-and-glory/#comments Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:25:33 +0000 Greg http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/?p=134 I want to thank all of our blog subscribers for being a part of our ministry community. I appreciate your friendship and connection as we work together to advance God’s Kingdom.

Next Monday, Annette and I will be leaving for Brazil to attend the annual Fire and Glory conference hosted by Dan Duke and his ministry team. If technological capabilities permit (which they should), we will be giving daily updates on what is happening there. It has been four years since we have been to Brazil, so we have great anticipation for what is in store.

We appreciate any prayer on our behalf as we travel.

]]> http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/fire-and-glory/feed/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/fire-and-glory/ Where Is Jesus In The Church? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KingdomHorizons/~3/yh5e0NRIK_w/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/where-is-jesus-in-the-church/#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:17:45 +0000 Greg http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/?p=133 I just stumbled across two awesome quotes by Alan Hirsch that are totally worthy of passing on:

“Christianity minus Jesus equals religion.”

“Christianity plus Jesus equals world transformation.”

Enough said.

]]> http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/where-is-jesus-in-the-church/feed/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/07/where-is-jesus-in-the-church/ Behind The Scenes http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KingdomHorizons/~3/Um8E0UTIoiw/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/06/behind-the-scenes/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:20:19 +0000 Greg http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/?p=132 In the midst of all the clamor and confusion, I am gaining greater awareness of an undisputable fact — God is very much at work behind the scenes orchestrating the movement of His people to carry out His will.

It is just simply amazing when He allows us, through some special observation, to see Him sovereignly doing something in a particular situation where we were previously unsure of what to do, or how to respond, or maybe even doubting His concern for.

These kind of special moments serve to increase our faith and further establish us to be able to fulfill our purposes.

Tune your ears to hear what The Holy Spirit wants to speak to you today. Train your eyes to observe how God is working in your life. Agree with heaven on everything concerning you! Let His Kingdom come and His will be done for you today.

]]> http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/06/behind-the-scenes/feed/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/06/behind-the-scenes/ New Post http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KingdomHorizons/~3/oB_YUZq63T4/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/06/new-post/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:02:00 +0000 Greg http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/?p=131 I just posted a new article on Kingdom empowerment on the Grace Community Fellowship site. You can click here to link to it.

]]> http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/06/new-post/feed/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/06/new-post/ Four Observations For Discipleship http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KingdomHorizons/~3/BYdS72Or7Uk/ http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/2009/06/four-observations-for-discipl/#comments Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:06:47 +0000 Greg http://www.globaladvancement.org/blog/?p=130 One of our core values at Grace Community Fellowship is to see Christ formed in His people. We live with the apostolic burden of Paul that is found in Galatians 4:19:

“My little children, for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded) within you.”

Here are four things that can make us more effective as we work to see Christ formed in others.

Understanding that the Kingdom of God is advanced through reproducing disciples. Mere converts cannot reproduce. The Great Commission is a mandate to make disciples out of those who have come to faith and been converted.

“Go then and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 18:19, 20)

To be discipled into Christ requires and diligent study and application of everything Jesus commanded in the Gospels. There are 50 basic commands that Jesus issued that when obeyed would prove our love for Him and be the designated marks of a disciple.

“If you abide in My word (hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them), you are truly my disciples.” (John 8:31)

Discipleship is accomplished in small group settings. Our Western fascination with big meetings has created a lot of excitement, but has not accomplished the task of forming Christ in others. Jesus’ model is still the most productive method.

“And He appointed twelve to continue to be with Him, and that He might send them out to preach…” (Mark 3:14)

Discipleship includes personal impartation from what God has accomplished in the life of the discipler. The deeper the work of God in the discipler, the deeper the impartation to the disciple.

“I am yearning to see you, that I may impart and share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen and establish you.” (Romans 1:11)

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