Neil Schultz

Baptism

2011-04-29T08:47:00.000-06:00

"Baptism is coming out of the closet for Christ." - Rick Warren

I just experienced an incredible scene of genuine missional life. A young woman who works for Exponential, whose mother was baptized by Rick Warren many years ago, trusted in Christ as her Lord and Savior a week ago and requested that Rick baptize her. He did that here at Exponential Conference 2011.

4,000 of us sang "Jesus Paid it All" as a result... wow. Powerful.

Safe Christianity?

2011-04-28T20:37:00.000-06:00

Thank you Francis Chan!

All You Need to Know About Leadership and Followership

2011-04-28T20:28:00.000-06:00

What gets Celebrated gets Reproduced

2011-04-28T19:08:00.001-06:00

This is true in our households as well as church. Whatever we celebrate in others gets reproduced.

Remember the last time you praised your child when they were first learning how to walk? Did you clap for them, say "Yay!" with an excited voice?

What about the last time your child obeyed you? Did you encourage and celebrate that?

If you're a leader, what about the last time someone in your organization did something that which you have been directing or encouraging them to do? Did you celebrate them?

What gets celebrated in your household? your church? your neighborhood? your company?

What Changes Lives

2011-04-28T08:40:00.000-06:00

"Church doesn't change lives, JESUS changes lives."

"Let's lower the bar on how we do church, and raise the bar on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus."

Thank you, Neil Cole. I agree. Great name, by the way.

Here's my take: Life change happens as a by-product of several factors converging together: relationship, challenge, pain, experiences, but most importantly, LOVE.

The producer/instigator of life change is the Holy Spirit of God. He uses people in various forms (family, friendships, enemies, authors, actors, musicians, coaches, teammates, co-workers, neighbors, etc.)

May life change happen in me, my family, our church, our community, and our world for Jesus Christ!

Exponential Conference 2011

2011-04-26T20:46:00.001-06:00

I'm here at the Exponential Conference 2011 in Orlando, FL with my friends from Christ Fellowship and loving every minute of it! Beyond the workshops and main sessions we will be experiencing, I'm grateful and rejoicing in the time we have to reconnect. The only thing that would make this week better is if my family were with me!

Are We a NOUN or an ADJECTIVE?

2011-04-19T11:18:00.000-06:00

of·fen·sive

noun /əˈfensiv/
offensives, plural

An attacking military campaign

- an impending military offensive against the guerrillas

An organized and forceful campaign to achieve something, typically a political or social end

- the need to launch an offensive against crime

adjective

Causing someone to feel deeply hurt, upset, or angry

- the allegations made are deeply offensive to us
- offensive language

(of a sight or smell) Disgusting; repulsive

- an offensive odor

Actively aggressive; attacking

- offensive operations against the insurgents

(of a weapon) Meant for use in attack

(in a game) Of or relating to the team or player who is seeking to score

Protesting... The Church Offensive?

2011-04-14T00:41:00.000-06:00

Ok... Is Christian Protesting such as this, an example of The Church Offensive? Or is it The Offensive Church?

I'd say the latter. Although these brave people are bold and proactively taking action against evil, they are in fact, going about it in ways that not only bring shame upon other Christians, I wonder what God thinks of this style of aggressive evangelism.

Evangelism is sharing the good news the Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead with a person who does not yet believe in Him. It is most effective when it's a conversation between two people, and usually not in a shouting match.

Does God "HATE" people who fit into categories outside of a Judeo-Christian morality?

What happened to "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

The Best Defense is a Good Offense

2011-04-13T04:16:00.000-06:00

"The best defense is a good offense" is an old proverb that has been applied to many fields of endeavor, including games and military combat. Generally the idea is that offensive action preoccupies the opposition and ultimately its ability to directly harm. Mao Zedong opined that "the only real defense is active defense", meaning defense for the purpose of counter-attacking and taking the offensive.Often success rests on destroying the enemy's ability to attack. In reference to fighting terrorists, Matthew Levitt opines, "It’s important to pre-emptively strike at those who intend to do us harm." The principle is echoed in the writings of Machiavelli and Sun Tzu.

In some board games, such as Risk, one's ability to build up armies depends on aggressively attacking so as to acquire territory; however, in Risk, luck in rolling the dice is the ultimate determining factor. Players who fail to do so, and concentrate instead on holding the line against enemy attack, will likely end up in a weak position.

Indepthinfo argues that this adage does not always apply: "When the battle rages between two players one should put every ounce of power in the offense, but when several players are involved, the political element changes this dynamic." In chess, one's ability to prevent enemy attacks often depends on maintaining the initiative – i.e., making a series of threats that the opponent must use his turns to parry, rather than launching his own attacks; thus, common tips used in conjunction with this adage are that the best way to upset your opponent’s plans is to become menacing and that the best way to stop an enemy threat to your own king is to attack his.

In sports such as soccer and basketball, the adage is used to note that success can hinge on an effective offense that keeps the ball on the other team's side of the field, thus not only creating scoring opportunities but preventing the opposing team from scoring.

In a culture like ours in modern America, which embraces diversity, to suggest that certain truths apply to everyone is downright offensive. Pointing out sin isn’t popular and many Christians are labeled as “intolerant” for refusing to accept certain behaviors and ideas.

Unfortunately, many people have embraced a distorted Christianity that tries to be “politically correct.” They don’t want to offend anyone, so they accept sin rather than confronting it. Ultimately, their words of “love” ring empty because they accept sins that ruin people’s lives.

Other Christians just try to avoid sinful culture altogether. They have been taught to go on the defense—to hide in their homes, churches and schools to shut the door on the evil influences of culture. This is where we end up having the church of “We Don’t Do That” and Christian schools appear no different than public schools.

But Jesus challenged His followers to be on the offense—to proclaim the truth without shame.

Our households, churches and schools should become staging areas rather than fortresses; training environments that equip God’s people to confront a sinful world instead of hiding from it.Jesus knows that the pagan world will resist, but He dares us to go there anyway, and to be His conduits for HIS building HIS church in those very places that are most morally decayed.

As we listen to Jesus’ challenge today, we as Christians should ask ourselves the important question:

Are we on defense or offense?

Take the Offense Without Shame

2011-04-13T00:11:00.000-06:00

After Jesus spoke to his disciples about storming the gates of hell, he also gave them a word of caution: “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory” (Luke 9:26).

Jesus knew that His followers would face ridicule and anger as they tried to confront evil. And His words came as a sharp challenge: no matter how fierce the resistance, His followers should never shrink back and hide their faith in God. His followers weren’t made to “Circle the Wagons.”

Jesus taught with passionate concern, even when bystanders may have thought him a total fool. Jesus continued his short lesson, ‘calling’ (In Greek, literally meaning shouting at the top of his voice; better translated, “Yelling”) to the crowd and his disciples right there in Caesarea Philippi, he challenged everyone within hearing: “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very soul?” (v. 25). This begs a few questions:

What crowd did He call to himself?
Could it have been the Pan worshippers? Any crowd from this region would NOT have been religiously Jewish.
Was the last statement aimed at his disciples, who might have been embarrassed at the spectacle Jesus was creating?

In a city filled with false idols, Jesus asked his followers to commit to the one true God. While false gods promised prosperity and happiness, they would ultimately fail to deliver. Jesus didn’t promise an easy life, but He delivered on the promise of salvation—the only kind of prosperity that really matters.

Today, Christians must heed the words of our Rabbi King, especially when we are tempted to hide our faith because of embarrassment or fear. Our world is filled with those who have “gained the world” but lost their souls. If we hide our faith, they may never find the salvation they need.

Jesus' Challenge

2011-04-12T17:39:00.000-06:00

Standing near the pagan temples of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples “Who do you say that I am?” Peter, with perhaps the greatest clarity in his life, replied, “You are the Messiah; the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16). The disciples were probably stirred by the contrast between Jesus, the true and living God, and the false hopes of the pagans who trusted in “dead” gods, whose worship consisted of sacrifices thrown out the back of the Temple of Augustus into the immeasurable water in the Cave of Pan. If the sacrifices disappeared they were accepted.

Jesus continued, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (see Matt. 16:13-20).

The Catholic tradition has taken Jesus’ pronouncement in Matthew 16:18 to mean that Jesus was declaring that the church was to be built on the authority of Peter and the other disciples. It is true that they led the early church, so this would be a possible interpretation.

The Protestant tradition has taken Jesus’ declaration here to say that His church was to be built upon the confession recognizing Him as the Messiah and the Son of the living God. This is a valid interpretation, as well, and is a practice supported by other scriptures.

With the help of Ray VanderLaan and other Hebrew contextual scholars, a third interpretation is suggested which may be even more powerful as the others, based on the context. It seems clear that Jesus’ words also had symbolic meaning. His church would be built on the “rock” of Caesarea Philippi—a rock literally filled with niches for pagan idols, where ungodly values dominated.

Why would Jesus choose this place, the morally filthiest place within walking distance of His earthly region of ministry?

It is possible that he took his disciples to the most degenerate place possible to say to them “THIS is where I want you to build my church. I want you to walk into the most repugnantly degenerate places, where God is not even known. I want you to go out to places that make Caesarea Philippi look tame, and THAT is where I want you to build my church.” That is exactly what they did. They went to places in Asia Minor and the ends of the earth, where “gods” were worshipped in unspeakably awful manners and where Christians would be persecuted in horrific manner, and they gave their lives doing EXACTLY what they were told to do by their Rabbi.

Gates were defensive structures in the ancient world. By saying that the gates of Hades would not overcome, Jesus suggested that those gates were going to be attacked.

Standing as they were at a literal “gate of Hades,” the disciples may have been overwhelmed by Jesus’ challenge. They had studied under their rabbi for a couple of years, and now He was commissioning them to a huge task: to attack evil—go on the assault—and to build the church on the very places that were most filled with moral corruption.

Jesus presented a clear challenge with his words at Caesarea Philippi. He didn’t want His followers hiding from evil: He wanted them to storm the gates of hell. He didn’t want His Church to be characterized by “We Don’t Do That,” but by “ATTACK!”

The Gates of Hades

2011-04-12T13:46:00.000-06:00

In first century Israel, Caesarea Philippi would be an equivalent of Las Vegas – Sin City – but much worse than the modern city in the American West. The location of Caesarea Philippi was especially unique because it stood at the base of a cliff where spring water flowed. At one time, the water ran directly from the mouth of a cave set in the bottom of the cliff.

In Jesus' time a temple stood in front of this cave. A powerful stream of water flowed out of the measureless and very deep pool emanating from the grotto (cave), according to Josephus. This cave was believed to be the gates to Hades. Other shrines and temples stood here including this one to Caesar. The niches in the wall held images of the gods Pan, Echo and Hermes

The common belief of pagans in this era was that their fertility gods lived in the underworld during the winter and returned to earth each spring. Water was a symbol of the underworld and it was commonly thought that their gods traveled to and from that world through caves.

To the pagan mind, then, the cave and spring water at Caesarea Philippi created a gate to the underworld. They believed that their city was literally at the gates of the underworld—the gates of Hades. In order to entice the return of their god, Pan, each year, the people of Caesarea Philippi engaged in horrible behavior, including prostitution and sexual interaction between humans and goats. In the open-air Pan Shrine, next to the cave mouth, there was a large niche, in which a statue of Pan (a half-goat, half-human creature) stood, with a large erect phallus, worshipped for its fertility properties. Surrounding him in the wall were many smaller niches, in which were statues of his attending nymphs. On the shrine in front of these niches, worshippers of Pan would congregate and partake in bizarre sexual rites, including copulation with goats – worshipped for their relationship to Pan.

This was no place for a good Jew! When Jesus brought his disciples to this awful place, they must have been shocked. Caesarea Philippi was like a red-light district in their world and devout Jews would have avoided any contact with the despicable acts committed there.

This was a city of people eagerly knocking on the doors of hell.

What city comes to mind when you think of Caesarea Philippi?

Ancient Rome - Why it Matters to YOU

2011-04-11T01:20:00.000-06:00

Every once in a great while, a book finally makes sense of current world events. There truly IS "nothing new under the sun." If you care about our nation and where it's headed, I highly recommend you purchase a copy of this book. First, read it yourself. Next, if you're married, read it with your spouse. Third, read it AGAIN after you've watched/surfed/read the news. You will see just how far reaching the fascist principles of Rome have pervaded through our world. Rome was truly the Phantom Menace, which is still alive and well today.

In our Church Offensive, we must be aware of the current battlefield situation we find ourselves in. "Rome" is not the Enemy. It's just the context where we find ourselves today. Onward!

City of Pagans - Backdrop of Evil

2011-04-10T15:00:00.000-06:00

Caesarea Philippi stood only twenty miles or so from the religious communities of Galilee. But their religious practices were light-years apart from those of the nearby Jewish towns.

In Old Testament times, the northeastern area of Israel became a center for Baal worship. In the nearby city of Dan, Israelite king Jeroboam built the high place that angered God and eventually led the Israelites to worship false gods (1 Kings 12:29-31). Eventually, fertility worship of the Baals was replaced with worship of Greek fertility gods.

Caesarea Philippi, which stood in a lush area near the Southern foot of Mount Hermon, became the religious center for worship of the Greek god, Pan. The Greeks named the city Panias in his honor.

Years later, when Romans conquered the territory, Herod Philip rebuilt the city and named it after himself. But Caesarea Philippi continued to focus on worship of Greek gods. In the cliff that stood above the city, local people built shrines and temples to Pan.

Interestingly, Jesus chose to deliver a motivational speech to his disciples at Caesarea Philippi. In that pagan setting, he encouraged his disciples to build a church that would overcome the worst evils.

Let's Storm This Place Together!

2011-04-10T13:53:00.000-06:00

I am the way into the city of woe.
I am the way to a forsaken people.
I am the way to eternal sorrow.

Sacred justice moved my architect.
I was raised here by divine omnipotence,
Primordial love and ultimate intelligence.

Only those elements time cannot wear
Were made before me, and beyond time I stand.
Abandon all hope ye who enter here.

The Gate of Hell, from The Inferno by Dante Alighieri

Matthew 16:13-20 (ESV)

2011-04-10T10:45:00.000-06:00

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Complete this sentence...

2009-10-13T15:15:00.000-06:00

"We don't need no..."

Peace-making at its finest

2009-10-13T15:09:00.000-06:00

Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers." (Matthew 5:9) Sometimes, the only way we can do that as a nation is to go MAKE peace by using the tool called "war." It ought to be a last resort, but it IS a viable option to make peace. May God still choose to bless America.

Finally Going... "Crunchy"

2009-09-12T13:56:00.000-06:00

We bought a canner the other day. Wal-Mart... $16.88. Good deal.

Yesterday, we bought 24 more pint-size Kerr canning jars.

Today, we bought two boxes of blackberries, a box of flame peaches, and a crate of raspberries (add 3 cucumbers to round it all out) at The Berry Ranch in Nampa, ID.

We are conservatives going Crunchy. We Love it.

Transformed Lives

2009-02-04T17:52:00.001-07:00

“Living the Bible, Not Just Knowing the Bible.”

(Romans 8:29; 2 Cor. 5:17; 13:8; 1 John 2:6)

We believe the Bible is God’s Word to our world. Therefore, as disciples of Jesus, we must live and practice the life changing principles we discover. God gave us His Word in order to equip us and change us for His glory and our benefit.

Shared Ministry

2009-02-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

“Every Member is a Minister.”

(Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 2:5, 9)

We believe God has equipped every Christ-Follower with gifts and passions so they can become difference makers for Jesus Christ. We will encourage everyone to use and develop their gifts and talents in service to our church, community and world. We believe that even leaders serve in community as a team of friends together.

Intentional Evangelism

2009-02-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

“Lost People Matter to God, So Lost People Matter to Us.”

(Matt 28:16-20; Acts 1:8)

God demonstrated the high value He places on people when he gave His very best, His Son, to provide the gift of salvation. Wellsprings intentionally purposes to individually and corporately, locally and globally share the message of this good news in all our spheres of influence.

Intentional Evangelism

2009-02-04T17:49:00.000-07:00

“Lost People Matter to God, So Lost People Matter to Us.”

(Matt 28:16-20; Acts 1:8)

God demonstrated the high value He places on people when he gave His very best, His Son, to provide the gift of salvation. Wellsprings intentionally purposes to individually and corporately, locally and globally share the message of this good news in all our spheres of influence.

Relational Community

2009-02-04T17:45:00.000-07:00

“Doing Life Together.”

(Psalm 68:6; Acts 2:42-48; 1 Thessalonians 2:8)

We believe real authenticity is best described as openness with others about our strengths and weaknesses. Through hospitality and Productive Fellowship, we will help people find their way from anonymity into authentic relationships where people do life together. Come and find your extended family in a church where NO ONE stands alone.

Happy, Healthy and Holy Families

2009-02-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

“Raising Men Up, Honoring Women, Building Solid Marriages, Training Children in Godliness."

(Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Matt 19:14; Ephesians 5:21-31)

We want to help households grow Happy, Healthy and Holy together. We foresee this happening best in an environment that fosters and coaches men/husband/father in his role as the proactive spiritual leader of his household seeking to lead, love and train those under his authority to follow Christ.