Creativity and Encouragement

The optimistic dreamer, envisioning what could be.

The creative thinker, compelled by possibility.

A gift to the body, a catalyst for change.

A gift that is accompanied by numerous pains.

The deceiver will discourage you from all that you see.

He will speak in your ear, he does not want you free.

That will never work, you'll never get the chance.

Your different, a freak, you'll never advance.

Stay where you are, and let the status quo be.

Because nobody cares about the things that you see.

If he can't get your mind its your body he'll attack.

Through sickness, disease, or a crick in your back.

Anything at all to make you feeble and tired.

He knows its discouraging to walk in the mire.

He'll tempt you to wait till your body is whole.

To rest and not work is the sum of his goal.

If he can't get to you, just wait and you'll see.

The next on his list is your work or family.

Through finances, tantrums, or discipline protracted.

His aim is so simple, it's to keep you distracted.

Do not fear, do not worry, for your God he cares.

These battles are won on your knees with your prayers.

Now a word to the self, one opponent of three.

Don't suppose that you'll complete everything you see.

There is nothing you can build that can ever satisfy.

Ressurrection brings that, and our King draws nigh.

Simply hope that your work points to heaven from earth,

and pray that your efforts bring others new birth.

Be encouraged and work in the midst of each trial.

Let your vision of the kingdom be the source of your smile.

Give a taste or a light for the lost ones to see.

Keep watch for the dark one, resist him, he'll flee.

By faith you must work, but if little you make,

Know little is much when His glory's at stake.

May the Lord send brothers and sisters to encourage

May the work of your hand prosper and flourish

Father, let your kingdom be first in our eye

So that all we envision, will the church edify.

"Kids Church"

While the ladies met together upstairs, the men organized an impromptu children's activity :-) The pictograph song was "Oh how I love Jesus" and this is Gary reading a chapter of "Christie's Old Organ". Every day is new in the Lord! Can't say that this was planned, but it sure was a good time. The children loved the singing and story. Too bad I didn't get a picture of Chris and Dan with the musical accompaniment.

RESURRECTION The Power to Love

It is God’s promise of the resurrection that sets us free to love others as we would want to be loved.

True Love is sacrificing of our life

and comforts for the benefit of others.

The world witnessed this love when Jesus suffered to bring us truth and willingly sacrificed his own life on the cross, so that we can be free from guilt and condemnation.

The Scriptures say: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

We are tempted to fear loving the way Jesus commands us to, because it will cost us dearly. However, the promise of a resurrection and of an inheritance in heaven leads us to overcome this fear and embrace hope.

THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION IS THIS:

Your soul will never cease to exist, and every person will be physically raised from the dead to stand before God at the Final judgment.

The Scriptures say: “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

Realizing that our lives are short allows us to look beyond this life and consider eternity. It is wise to sacrifice the life you cannot keep to receive a life that you cannot lose.

The Scriptures say: And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?

To receive the promises of Jesus, you must love others as Jesus has loved you. To be free to love others in this way, you must have faith in Jesus’ promises, and place your hope in the resurrection.

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Are You Crazy?

What can I say? I believe Jesus.

Don't think for a second that I enjoy the scorn and revulsion that often comes from preaching the Gospel. I don't, I really don't. But, in my estimation it is worth enduring, so that others can be saved. I believe that this is love.

Personally, I would like to pursue a quiet life in the country, a few acres, a nice house, a garden, maybe have a boat, and build a nice savings for a comfortable retirement. Shoot, I have a pretty nice job and it is very tempting to pursue these things.

But, because I believe Jesus, I also believe in the Judgment, and in the Resurrection. This changes everything.

Jesus the author of my faith; for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, not caring about the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Following Jesus is NOT something that makes your time on earth more comfortable. Don't misunderstand, following the Lord brings many wonderful blessings, but the path always leads to the cross. This means we sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others, knowing that our reward is at the resurrection.

The hope of the resurrection and the promise of eternal rest in Jesus' kingdom give me the freedom to love others and my own expense.

Now is the time for work and sacrifice, later comes the rest and reward.This is why Jesus says to count the cost before following him. It requires faith to make the sacrifice.

So, am I crazy?

Well, if the Judgment and Resurrection are real, then making the sacrifice to love and preach the Gospel is the wisest thing a person could do.

But if the words of Jesus are false, and there is no resurrection, then I am a fool who has wasted his only chance for earthly comfort.

I know what I believe, you can decide for yourself.

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Why So Blunt?

I often get asked why I am so blunt about the gospel, or why I don't present Jesus in a more attractive way. I think that is a fair question, which deserves a sincere answer.

There is a lot at stake concerning the message of Jesus. From Adam, to Noah, to Moses, to Jesus and everything in between and after, the theme has been about sin and redemption. Sin has serious consequences, earthly justice has the power to punish the guilty, and heavenly justice even more so. Every person is equal under the law of God. Everyone is guilty of sin, and all under the wrath of God's justice. The day of Judgment will be terrible for those who receive justice for the wrongs they have done against God and their fellow man.

Sin and punishment are a major theme of the scriptures. From first to last, Adam sinned and was punished, Jesus suffered the wrath of the Father so that sins could be forgiven, the last book of Revelation is about the final Judgment.

So although there is much to be said about the goodness, love, and mercy of God, it is all meaningless and unprofitable to a person who doesn't yet understand the wrath of God toward sin. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". God is holy and will punish all sin. It is in the light of his holiness and just nature that we are able to appreciate the grace and mercy that have been revealed in the later days through Jesus. But, First things First.

Preaching the Gospel to the world is a big task, and there is no time to waste. A sincere, direct, and "blunt" approach seems to be the best way to get the job done.

No matter how you dress up the truth, or try to make it more attractive, a person still needs to be confronted with their guilt under the law. This is quite offensive, and difficult to accept, but there is no way to soften the blow, so it seems best to get to the heart of the issue so people can decide what to do with it. (Best to lance a boil quickly so the healing can begin)

The purpose is not to make people believe, (That is the Holy Spirit's job) but to present the truth clearly, so it can be accepted or rejected for what it is. There are many other versions of Jesus that are easy to accept, but have no power to save. My job is to present the warning as an invitation to seek Jesus, and let it fall where it may. If your heart is hard you will reject it, if it is soft you will accept it.

The objective is not to argue, persuade, push, or coerce by any violent means, but simply to present the message as an opportunity to be saved. Do with it what you will, but hopefully you can at least understand why it would be fruitless to "beat around the bush". If there is destruction coming, it's best to sound a loud and clear alarm. I don't want to be found guilty of being a poor watchman and not warning my neighbors.

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About The Author: HearWisdom.org

I live with my wife and five children, in the city of Rochester’s 19^th Ward, which is the area between Genesee St and the Airport.

We are followers of Jesus and therefore part of his Church. We meet with the Church in each others homes to read the scriptures, pray, and share the Lord’s Table with one another. Our assemblies have no government other than the Lord Jesus, and his Spirit. This leaves room for each person to bless the Church with the unique gifts that God has given them. The expectation is that each will strive to maintain good order and use their gifts to love and build others up.

Because no brother rules over another, and because we have no creed other than the scriptures, it is every person’s responsibility to maintain the Spirit of unity and the bond of peace. Although this is difficult at times, it produces strong and healthy believers because it requires patience, love, and knowledge of the Scriptures. We strive to be of one mind and one Spirit without fearing disagreement because there is only one Lord, and one Truth. Those who earnestly seek Him will find him. We can wait on the Lord to clarify areas of knowledge, and only divide over matters of law and sin

While the local gatherings are small and intimate, the larger Church is connected through the many relationships that weave them together. Through both personal knowledge and commendation, connections are made that allow for the sharing of gifts and resources where there is need. The Lord also gives elders to help oversee, guide, and build relationships between the various local assemblies.

The Lord gives various gifts to each member of the Church so that they can perform different roles and functions within the whole. The Lord has equipped and called me to the work of evangelism, which is the sharing and spreading of the good news of God’s kingdom, and the forgiveness of sins. As a result, I strive to sow the seed of the gospel with the hope that it will find good soil and save those with ears to hear.

As this message goes out, I expect it will have a number of effects. Many will hear and be hardened in their sin and unbelief. Many outsiders will hear the gospel and respond in faith, repenting and being baptized into the Church. Some of the religious “Pharisees” of our day will hear the simplicity of the gospel and forsake their religion for the true and simple way, while those who are already followers of Jesus will be able form new relationships, as they find each other throughout the community. The preaching of the Gospel is never in vain, and God’s word never comes back void.

I look forward to hearing from you as the Lord leads and as your heart responds.

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The Gospel

More about The Gospel of Jesus

Over 10 years ago, I heard the story that changed my life forever. The story is about life & death, love & fear, good & evil, sacrifice & selfishness. I am compelled to share it with everyone who hasn't yet heard it, with the hope that they too will be transformed by the beauty and power of the greatest story ever recorded.

The story is BEAUTIFUL enough to capture all of your other DESIRES
…It is POWERFUL enough to set you free from the strongest chains of GUILT
…It is TERRIFYING enough to stop you in your tracks and make you flee from SIN
…It is COHERRENT enough to bring understand, and make sense out of REALITY
…It is AWESOME enough to humble the most SELF-RIGHTEOUS
…It is GENTLE enough to lift up and heal the most BROKEN HEARTED
…It is TRUTH and it will bring PEACE to your soul in the darkest hours.

The following pages are a brief summary of the story to help you know whether you want to hear more, or just ignore it and walk away.
If you see the beauty of this message and believe, then your life will never be the same.
If you don’t…well… then you don’t.

The Bible IS what it IS.

An Introduction

There are three simple truths about God which are as plain to everyone as the nose on their face. You can deny it, suppress it, or even forget it, but it is written on the heart of every person.

Creation shows that God exists. Everyone who looks at the vastness of the universe, and the detailed design of every living creature can see that it was no accident. The awesome forces in nature give testimony to the even greater power of the God who made them. While some people may honestly believe that God does not exist, they must first have denied and suppressed what is obvious to every child.

Our conscience testifies to our own guilt. The fact that you have done evil is plain to your conscience. When you do things which you know are wrong, or don’t do what you know is right, you have broken the law, and you have done evil. The law is written on your heart. Your conscience accuses you of your guilt, and although the voice can be minimized, medicated, diverted, or denied it finds a way to remind you of your evil deeds during your sober moments. Although no living person may know about your secret sins, you still know and God still knows. Your conscience calls for a cleansing, it wants forgiveness, and it seeks to find relief from the guilt you are carrying. Some may be successful at hardening themselves against their consciences so that they no longer hear its voice, but still it is impossible to undo the actual guilt of the crimes once they have been committed.

You know the power of God through creation, and you know your guilt through the breaking of laws. This naturally leads you to fear death and judgment. Laws demand justice and require punishment. It doesn’t matter how much time passes between committing the crime and having to answer for your crime. The righteousness of God requires your punishment because you have rejected what is good and chosen what is evil. You are never forced to do wrong, but you choose to do it anyway because of your selfish desires and fears. Anyone can appear to be good when they are satisfied and comfortable, but in moments of fear and want, we discover that our hearts are selfish and capable of doing any evil thing to meet our desires. Take an honest lookat yourself and you’ll see that it’s true. Deceit, theft, perversion, hatred, jealousy, anger, lust, arrogance, and selfishness are inside everyone. Would you want your every secret thought exposed and your every secret deed revealed? Take an honest look at how messed up our world is and you’ll see that is the true of all mankind. It is a big obvious fact, and people are too afraid to admit it, because each one of us is a part of the problem and we have no solution.
These terrifying truths are the birthright of all mankind. You know and feel these facts because they are written inside of you. They are felt by every man, woman, and child on earth, who is willing to face the obvious. This is enough to bring you to your knees seeking relief from your guilt, and mercy for the wrath that is to come. To deny these plain truths is foolish, and to argue with those who deny them is foolish as well. They have already been made plain to every person, they don’t need to be proved or defended. The first responsibility of every person is to seek an answer. The good new is that God has provided an answer for those with ears to hear.

The Solution – Jesus

God is one, and yet the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all God. My intent is not to explain this mystery, but rather to explain why this truth makes our salvation possible.

In the heavenly court the Father is the supreme law giver and judge. He is perfectly good and loves justice; he blesses all righteousness and punishes every evil. It is right to worship him as Lord over his creation, and to fear him because of his burninghatred toward sin and evil. This is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. However, because he is also merciful and compassionate he loves the people that he created, even in their guilty and condemned condition. The Father loves justice and must punish every sin, but at the same time he desires to show mercy to the creation which he also loves.

How can God uphold justice by punishing sin, and at the same time mercifully provide a way to escape the punishment that justice demands? The answer to this question is found only in Jesus! The Father loved mankind by sending his Son into the world to pay the enormous price for ALL the sins that EVERY person has ever committed. Each sinner owes a debt of eternal death and suffering, but the holy, sinless, priceless blood of the infinite and all-powerful Son was worth far more than the debts of all mankind. By His horrible suffering and sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus offered to the Father something infinitely more valuable than the debts of every person. Because Jesus paid the debt that Justice required, he will freely offer mercy to any sinner whom He chooses. Those who love him, trust him, and follow him are the ones who will receive this gift. Anyone who rejects his love will instead receive thejustice that they have earned.

The good news is simply this…that Jesus loved us by giving his life to provide salvation for every person who will believe and follow him. Because Jesus was more powerful than death itself, he overcame the grave by rising from the dead, and returned to heaven where he sits as king on the throne. He will come again when it is time to set up his kingdom and restore the earth. Then, he will judge the lives of every person, and give them justice or mercy.

His judgment will no longer be based on keeping the law, which condemns you, but he will judge whether you truly love and believe him. If you hear the message of Jesus, agree that it is good, and follow him by faith, he will pay your debt and set you free. Following what is good (even though you are not good yourself) at any cost, reveals that you love him, and your reward is that he will transform you to become like him. He calls us to follow him by laying down our lives for others in the same way he laid down his life for us. This is good. We are free to love people like this because he promises to raise us from the dead, in the same way that he raised from the dead. If we believe, we no longer need to protect our lives, but are free to lay them down knowing that we will get them back in the resurrection. If we try to protect our lives, and hold on to them in selfishness, we will lose them forever on the Day of Judgment. What good is it if we get everything the world has to offer but lose our own soul?

How to Follow Jesus

Jesus alone has the power to pardon sins and ransom you from the demands of Justice, so you must follow him if you want to be saved. When Jesus returned to heaven he sent the Holy Spirit to live within his followers, and to lead them. The Spirit of God has the ability to guide you in truth and to convict you of sin. Those who hear his voice and obey it are His children. If you do not continue to follow because of fear, temptation, or laziness you will be lost. There is no other way to be saved than to follow Him to the end.

Work hard to know Jesus, because this clearly reveals that you love Him and are willing to sacrifice all other things to have him. Read the Bible and measure all things by its patterns so that you can follow Him without being led astray. Look for others who are doing the same and work together to understand what the Bible says. By doing this you will grow in your knowledge of the Lord.

Sin is when you break the law, and do not conform to what is right. When you realize that you have sinned, or been led astray, Jesus expects you to repent and obey him. This goes beyond saying “I’m sorry, please forgive me” but rather paying the price necessary to fix what you have done, and to stop yourself from doing it again. It doesn’t do any good to say “sorry” and then go do it again. Your works and your deeds will reveal what you truly want. True repentance requires a deep change where your innermost desires become like God’s. When you find yourself disobeying, be afraid. The problem is that you want what you want; even if you know that you should want something else. Humbly turn to God and ask Him to change your heart, because this is something only He can do. Confess your sins to other children of God and put them out in the open so that you will be freed from their hold. You must deal with reality and refuse to conceal what is true. Expose it to the light, no matter how ugly it appears, and you will find freedom.

God expects you to maintain a clear conscience at all times, and to do what you know is right. Do not be afraid that you are committing sins which you are not aware of, trust God to reveal them in his time. You will find mercy where you are ignorant, but you are responsible to obey everything that He does reveal to you. The one who is faithful with what they have will be given more, and the one who is not…even what he has been given will be lost.

This path will always lead you away from sin and toward the cross. You will follow Him by laying down your life for the needs of others, knowing that you will also follow Him to the resurrection where you will enter His kingdom with an eternal inheritance and reward. The way is difficult, and has great cost, but it is right that we should offer back to God the very life which he gave us. He clearly says that if you try to keep your life, you will lose it, but if you lay it down for His sake you will keep it eternally. What good is it if you gain the whole world, but lose your soul?

There is much more to know about Jesus and his promises, but this letter contains enough to help you decide whether you want to keep asking more questions. You are being offered an opportunity to follow God himself, and you will either believe him or reject him. If you hear his voice, do not harden your heart.

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House Church - Repentance or Preference

2 Kings 23:4-… And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second order and the keepers of the threshold to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel. And he deposed the priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to make offerings in the high places at the cities of Judah and around Jerusalem; those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and the moon and the constellations and all the host of the heavens. And he brought out the Asherah…

Doing church in homes is not a law of God. It cannot be imposed on the Church and it cannot be commanded as “thus sayeth the Lord”. God has not legislated the type of building or the location where his church should assemble. After all we ARE the very temple of God. So, what category does the teaching of “house church” fall into? If it is not law, then it must be wisdom. There are two types of wisdom: That from above, and that from below. Godly and Earthly wisdom are always in competition with each other. The Church does not need to divide over disagreements about wisdom, as it must with disagreements over the law, because wisdom will be vindicated by its fruit. We can be patient with matters of wisdom knowing that wisdom from above will lead to godliness and that wisdom from below will eventually result in sin which can then be judged.

Those who see the wisdom of house church recognize that traditional church, because it is based on the wisdom of men, will inevitably lead its adherents into sin. While tradition is not sin in itself, the earthly wisdom which it is based on will eventually bear its fruit. The movement to meet in homes is not itself repentance from sin, but it is intimately connected to repentance of sin and dead works. The following are just two of the sins which the traditional church promotes. Scripture does speak directly to these, so that they must be agreed about and repented of:

Divisiveness- We are not to divide up the church into sects (1 Cor ), and a divisive man is not remain in our midst. Divisiveness is sin. There is no place for believers to say I am of Luther, or of Calvin, or of Wesley, or the Church of Christ, or First Baptist, or of Pastor “so and so” for that matter. The Church is not held together by men, doctrinal statements, and non-profit corporations. Those who walk by faith see that the Church is only held together by the Spirit, and that the Spirit is one, just as Christ is one, and the Church is one, regardless of what your eyes tell you. However it is not enough just to recognize this, it requires repentance. To perpetuate division is to participate in the sin. Woe to the man who causes division, but also woe to the one who knows the truth and does not obey.

Arrogance – Man was directed to stay away from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We disobeyed, and we have suffered as a result. We were created to live by every word that proceeds from the Father, from the tree of life, from the revelation that IS Jesus. Pride is sin, and to judge things good or evil apart from God is arrogant pride. In first Corinthians Paul exhorts the brethren to become fools so they can be wise. He says not to go beyond what is written so we won’t be puffed up. What do we have that hasn’t been given to us? Let the reader understand, I am not saying there is no freedom in Christ to do things the way you want to. Only, that not everything which is lawful is necessarily helpful, and things that are built by man’s wisdom will bear fruit accordingly. The man who thinks that the simple patters of scripture are insufficient for today, and seeks to invent better ways of doing church, is guilty of arrogance. Who is capable of judging such things? We live in a time when it seems that every man does what is right in his own eyes. Like Josiah and Hilkiah, cast the world’s ways out of the temple of God. Recognize and believe that the simple pattern of scripture is effective in every culture and in every time, precisely because it is built on the things that all men share in common.

For those who are mature, by way of grace and not of law, pursue orderly assemblies. Let every member be free to participate as the scriptures direct (1 Cor 14). Let the Lords Table be a regular sign of those who desire to be included in the New Covenant, and treated as brethren, with all the responsibility that it entails. Let loving discipline maintain the integrity and cleanliness of the body by recognizing those who defile themselves with sin, and only receiving them back again into fellowship through repentance. Don’t follow men because of positional or traditional authority, but rather follow those who lead by pursuing the needs and welfare of others at their own expense. Let love rule by pursuing reconciliation, by patiently working out beliefs in the light of the scripture. Do not agree to disagree…the scriptures say to Agree! If you love your brother, be apt to teach, and kind in your persuasion so that they can grow as the Spirit gives them grace. These exhortations could go on and on…but here is the point.

Those who seek to repent of sin, live according to the pattern of scripture, love their brethren, and tear down every stronghold that sets itself against such things, will come to see the wisdom of meeting in each others homes. So by way of final exhortation, preach repentance of sin and the Kingdom of God so others can see the wisdom of meeting in simplicity. There is nothing so persuasive as seeing brothers dwell together in unity and humility, with sacrificial love for one another. This is the fruit that will vindicate the wisdom of the house-church.
May the Lord give grace, and may it be met by faith. --Bill

Can you say Pakistan?

Here is picture of an assembly from a couple weeks ago where we assembled with a group of brother and sisters from out in Chili. What a great time in the Lord. Our older brother Dan rented a pavilion for us all to meet in and it was great being able to get to hear what the Lord is doing in their midst. Dan invited and was able to commend to us Ralph and his wife who have been serving the Church over in Pakistan for many years. Seems that we as an assembly are regularly being confronted with the needs of Pakistan!

As a side note, when Rachel and I were first married (both of us were in a missions training program) she said that the one place she wouldn't go was to Pakistan. It really frightened her. Isn't it just like the Lord to confront us with our fears. It was great to see that after speaking with Ralph's wife during the meal time, Rachel's thoughts about Pakistan were transformed. God is great!

It was great getting together with the other brothers and sisters to hear what the Lord is doing in their midst and abroad. As time goes on it becomes so much clearer how the Church of Jesus is actually related and connected to one another. It is very good to see how each part of the body is doing its part to build up the Church and thereby send forth the Gospel to every corner of the world. I don't think our family will be traveling abroad anytime soon,with 4 children to raise and so much work to be done in our own neighborhood, but I am glad to participate in the work as the Lord has equipped me. I have never seen my role in the body of Christ so clearly, and I have never been so intimately connected to the Church at large.

Everyday the Lord grows brighter and the world grows duller!

Pakistan or Bust

Two great occurrences on this last Lord's day.


First, Wilmer's dad came to visit from NYC. It was his first trip to Rochester and he came to meet the church that his son assembles with. Awesome! Leli is from the Dominican Republic and doesn't speak english so it was awesome to hear Wilmer do all the translating. He was glad to see that his son is part of an assembly that loves his son like family, and we were glad to meet Wilmer's dad.


Second, Tim's family came from Syracuse to talk together about what it means for him to be sent to Pakistan. Wow, did his dad bless all of us young fathers by sharing the belief he has about sending his son to a place where he may be killed for the love of others in need. A blog can't do justice to his words. Tim (In the Yellow) will be traveling with Steven (in the tie) to Pakistan in a few weeks to deliver money from our assembly to the brothers there who are in need. I am so thankful for the opportunity to bear the burden of the brothers in Pakistan, and very thankful for young men who are willing and able to make the trip on the our assembly's behalf.


I am eager to hear the report of the Church in Pakistan. Karl (far right) went a number of years ago and expressed how they are rich in ways that we are poor, and visa versa. I expect it will be a mutual blessing.

A Second Objective

The men of our assembly and I have been having a number of discussions regarding what Biblical preaching of the Gospel looks like outside of the institutional models that we had experienced.

Keeping in line with the desire to make a distinction between 1) the church as the assembly of the brethren and 2) Preaching to those who are outside of that assembly, we have previously been aiming solely at reaching people who have never heard the gospel through some very simple means and methods.

However, in looking at the mess of the contemporary church (division, structures that war against knowing god, unclear relationships, "positions" of authority, undisciplined sin, etc. etc. etc.)it becomes apparent that there is a great need for a watchman to call the Church to "Wake Up!", as well as reaching those who have never heard.

Based upon the order of the scriptures I believe it is appropriate to preach first to the Olive Tree, and then to the outsiders as those who should be seeking the Lord's correction fail to receive it.

May the Lord prune the dead branches so that the living ones may flourish, and others may be grafted in!

The Word Goes Out

Everything has finally come together to begin preaching the Gospel to the city of Rochester. The sign above is to salt the highways and byways of each area of the city and those who respond are invited to come and hear through the website www.hearwisdom.org
Brothers and Sisters I would enjoy your prayers, and to those outside the covenant, you are invited to come and hear. There is no "rehearsed" presentation, but simple faith that the Lord will provide the right words at the right time :-) It certainly creates an exhilaration to wait and see what the Lord will do.
This was the simplest, and most coherent way I could think to spread the seed of the Gospel far and wide. Plus it works within my means ;-)
I have no idea what to expect, but rather trust that there are people whom the Lord has already begun calling are waiting for an opportunity to respond. We will see how ripe these fields are for the harvest. Let's pray for the harvest!

Worship Leading

I think most people would agree that it is rather vain and destructive for an assembly to argue over worship music, style, song selection etc. The splits and divisions which have resulted from something that should be drawing brothers closer together begs a reconciliation with the scriptures. These things shouldn't be, and it is the job of every believer and every assembly to seek conformity with the Biblical pattern.

It appears that at the heart of the mater lies a wrestling for control over the music. Where there are authorities and powers at play (other than the Spirit of God) then wrestling and striving for control will always be close by. Creating positions like a worship leader may help solve disputes, and give some sort of centralized direction to the singing of songs, but it will never accomplish true agreement and unity among believers. This can only be accomplished through the Spirit. (To the doubter: Yes, He is real and He is able)

What would have to change for the Spirit, through the assembled body, to have the rightful rule over worship and singing? Are there some structures which war against the manifestation of the Spirit? Paul the Apostle seems to think so. He also says that tearing them down is the work of believers.

What would have to change so that we could follow the pattern of the scripture, and be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Is it possible in the assembly to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God?
What would happen if when you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation and all things were done for building up one another?

For this to happen would it require a change of belief about how the body of Christ is to assemble together? Remember, nothing every changes without repentance. Remember also that repentance always has a cost.

Think about this: When worship is led by the Spirit, through the whole body, it puts the glory where it belongs. It also allows for potential disaster because you have to take your hand off the wheel of the assembly and stop controlling it. We put ourselves in a position which requires God to be present and to lead his body or there will be in a wreck. All we need to do is get out of the way and have some faith in his promises.

Think about it: You would always have the opportunity to bless the assembly with an old treasure or even a new song. You would have the opportunity to love one another and give preference to their desires in a way that is freely given. When things are out of order and there is a "train wreck" then questions can be asked and problems addressed rather than sweeping things under the carpet. It allows the Lord to bless the assembly with unplanned and unexpected blessings.

As a word of encouragement, I see this happen every week. The Lord honors those who walk by faith and seek to keep his will at any cost. Our assemblies have overflowed with blessings as a result of repentance and change, and we continue to be amazed how the Lord shows up in so many different ways. It is not a good idea to try to put Jesus in a box and conform him to our traditions. He's not a tame lion :-) but he is Good!

Regarding those who are currently trapped in traditions which keep the Spirit out, remember that Jesus still found his way into a locked upper room. The Spirit blows where he wills and there is always hope. May he walk through walls to find them. Amen.

Where have all the prophets gone?

I have been wondering lately, where have the prophets gone?

So much of the OT writings were by the prophets and about the prophets. What a significant part of God's ministry to his people! Even the NT speaks of prophets as an normal part of the body.

When I speak about the gift of prophecy I am referring to the biblical concept. Their function was not primarily telling the future, or giving "new" direct revelations from God. The primary ministry of the prophets is to bring what God has already spoken back to his people and call them to repent in the light of his word. The prophets served as watchmen who warned, rebuked, and reminded the people of who God was and what he was about. They warned about the consequences of disobedience, lack of faith, and forgetting the words God has spoken.

Isn't one of the major themes in the history of God's people that they are always going astray? Continually going after other gods, idols, nations, and images.? Always requiring judges, prophets, and a few righteous kings who call God's people to repentance from their whorings, wanderings, and unions with the world?

So where are the prophets today, in these Last Days? We know that things are winding down and that there will scarcely be faith left when Christ returns. We know that the spirit of anti-Christ is already at work in the world and against the church. We know that the enemy is subtle and deceptive and seeks to divide and devour. So where have the prophets gone? Where is the cry of warning in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation?

Prophets are never popular, and if the patterns of scripture are still valid it is usually people who claim to be the people of God that seek to kill them. Darkness and deceit hate being called into the light and those who bring light and warning are targeted quickly by those who love darkness. Jesus said
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. (Matt 13)
Has all that much changed? Are the last days getting better or worse?

So where are the prophets today? Is there room for them in the typical church? If a prophet showed up on a given Sunday, would they be allowed to speak to the people? To warn, to rebuke, to correct the whorings of our day?

Even in Jesus day, visitors were allowed to speak in the assemblies. Prophets were allowed to stand and speak to the people. What about today?
Is there room in the busy order of contemporary services? Is there room for other speakers who aren't pre-approved? What if God sent a prophet today, where would they find opportunity in the traditional church? What if it was the leaders or rulers of the assembly whom God wanted to rebuke? Would a prophet be denied an opportunity to speak?

Take a look around you and I am sure that you can see at least some of the sins in the midst of God's people that need rebuke. I am sure you can see errors that require warnings and correction. Let each of us open our eyes to recognize that we too must have errors which we are currently blind to.

Watch for the prophets and listen for them. They will be the ones saying things which are hard to hear. Things bitter to the taste, but sweet to the stomach. Things that look like death, but bring new life. Be wise and listen for rebuke! If you want to grow in Christ it will only be in the areas where you are currently ignorant.

I don't think you will find many prophets within traditional or institutional churches. There are too many competing authorities. Prophets are usually outside the camp, standing in the wilderness where they can be found by those who are watching and listening.

Meekness

No passage of scripture better fuels my understanding of what it means for the Gospel to be lived out in the Christian life than Paul's words in his letter to the Philippians:

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

It's found in chapter 2 if you want to read it in context.

WOW...In yet another place he calls us throught the cross, not around it!

"House Church Movement"

Recently I have heard some talk of a house church movement, which seems to be a big thing both locally and abroad.

While I find this interesting for a number of reasons, I have chosen to decline participation in such a movement.

Yes, our assembly meet in homes, but the idea of a "movement" revolving around where you meet seems contrary to what the Lord has taught us about being the Church. If what gives a group its identity is based on externally measurable things then it simply becomes a new denomination which allows people to pigeon-hole each other from a distance.

I am quite sure there are many groups which meet in homes, but are led by different spirits, just as there are many people led by different spirits within a traditional institutionalized church. It's not the location which is essential, but the Spirit which is at work. This can't be known at a distance or measured externally, but only through relationship. Meeting in homes has made it easier for us to keep the assembly personal and to actually know each other. If it became necessary to move out of homes and into some other sort of building, it wouldn't be a big deal as long as the unity and relationship is preserved. This is what we have been pursuing (unity, agreement, understanding, growth, compassion, love - Church the way Jesus intended) and the reason why we have ended up meeting in homes. Simply put, it is the only place we have to meet, and it works very well!

If I were to visit your assembly, would we come to know each other? Would there be time to focus on discussion and working through our understandings of the scriptures to build agreement?

Or would the main focus be on listening to a monologue and assuming that we are in agreement because we are without an opportunity for others voices to speak in the assembly?

We don't seek to fellowship with other house church people, but rather with those who desire to be disciples of Jesus, and are not afraid to pay the price of following him in Spirit and truth. Getting close to people leaves you vulnerable, and can often be messy, but would you have it any other way? Can there be real unity without it?

New Hymn - #2

Gather at The Table
(To the tune of The First Noel)

At the table of the Lord, where the brethren meet.
There’s the heart of assembly, and fellowship sweet.
To know, and to be known. To declare where you stand.
Pilgrims must walk together in this foreign land.

Our bodies are clean, yet we still wash our feet.
We’re aware that our sins may cause sickness or sleep.
Confess, repent, keep your conscience clean.
Bless-ed is the pure heart, for the Lord shall be seen.

We remember through the bread, where the Lord of Lords led.
His body was broken, follow me he said.
Rejoice and do not fear, to carry your cross.
On the day of redemption you’ll suffer no loss.

In the wine we see the blood, of a covenant made.
Forgiveness of sins and a debt that was paid.
One cup is shared by all, and all are made one.
Keep watch o’er your brother, so says the Son.

Heavenly marriage that is forged, groom coming for bride.
An early taste now of what God will provide.
Dining all together now, a love feast so sweet.
Eternally joyful at our saviors feet.

A New Hymn

A new hymn - To the tune of "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing"
(Nettleton 8.7.8.7.D.)

Governance

Holy Spirit come and bind us, baptize us in your body
Though the Church has many members, we can live in unity
Make us people with one judgment, with one spirit, and one mind
Guard our souls from worldly wisdom, it is your way we would find

There’s no elder who serves as Moses, Jesus came to set us free
We are governed by the Spirit, walking in him we agree
There is one Lord, undivided, there is one truth, one way
We must learn to abide in him, so we are not led astray

Looking at the world around you, it may tempt you to despair
Satan seeks to find a foothold, Jesus’ body he will tear
Keep your eyes upon the scriptures, walk by faith, and not by sight
Do not fear, your strength will fail you, live in resurrections’ light

Fleshly men suppressing knowledge, build their strongholds all around
Marching faithful, sound a clear note, and their walls will tumble down
Waiting for the second coming we shall know as we are known
What was dim will come to light and we shall reap what we have sown

Homesteader Wanna Be's

Yup that right...Homesteaders in the Hood!

Some of my brothers and I just love to make stuff, and learn how to do stuff. It seems that the weekends have been filled with experiments and studies of all sorts. As much as I love the idea of homesteading, I would have no clue about what to do. There are so many skills that I have yet to learn, but I can't think of a better use of time then learning to do them all.

We have been having great family events, and the kids (mostly the older ones) just love to participate and learn.
Yesterday a bunch of us brothers got together and started learning to pan fry fish with a wide variety of herbs and spices. The goal was to achieve simplicity in preparation and excellence in flavor. It was a success, and even the pickiest eaters were chowing down. (Let's just say that Maggie is to fish what cookie monster is to cookies, plus it passed the Luke test)

Kurt taught us all how to bake bread from scratch and we produced a fine set of dense and hearty loaves which were absolutely full of flavor. Danny doesn't have anything that compares (That's Danny Wegman of the Wegmans supermarkets for you non-locals)
Gotta love that fresh out of the oven yeasty goodness. Next morning we had it with real butter and Rachel's delicious canned apple butter. That evening we finished it with an olive oil, rosemary, and garlic dip. Yum!

Since the weather is so unfriendly we have been focusing on indoor activities and skills.
Here are some current undertakings combined with a few future goals.
-I have slowly been re-arranging the basement to have a few sections dedicated to different activities. There is a brewing room, a growing room, a laundry area, a workshop area, and storage area.
-I am still learning guitar. (slow, but steady)
-Rachel is looking for a reasonably priced piano on craig's list for teaching the family. (If anyone sees something locally give me a shout)
-Rachel has made great progress in knitting! (I think she is so attractive when she's knitting :)
-We are contemplating an indoor hydroponic garden...that may be for next fall after we finish the outdoor season. But it doesn't hurt to start your homework early.
-The boys are learning some boxing.
-Rachel has been up on the reading and art/craft lessons with the kids.
-And lastly...lots of culinary endeavors. We have really begun to rethink how we eat and need to develop new cooking and food preparation skills.

So if any of those subjects interest you too lets talk and exchange ideas. If you have any interesting indoor skills, I would be happy to talk about swapping lessons!

With Love,

Your Hood Homesteadin' Homies

Brother, Brother James

Rachel's brother James came to visit us for a day this week as he was in the area for work. This was the first time we really able to get to know one another(the 1st time we met was at his wedding, but he was a little busy that day).
We had some great conversation about the Lord and his Church, and it was truly exciting to find that we were of the same Spirit, and were being led by the Lord down a very similar path. By the end of our short time together I was confident that he is eager to know the Lord and the he desires to sacrifice whatever it takes to follow him.
It is hard to get to know people, let alone in just a few hours, but sometimes the Lord moves relationships along faster than usual. I have to confess that I am still struggling to not be presumptuous and make assumptions in conversations. I think this is the context for the struggles of a "younger" according to Timothy, and James' (the Book, not my brother-in-law)exhortation about listening.

2 Tim 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
James 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

No worries..God is at work addressing those things, and in spite of my limited ability to communicate God proved faithful to help us bear fruit in our conversation. I can't wait to get to know my brother, brother more. I also can't wait to have gray hair someday, and be past my youthful struggles!

So...Why Brother, Brother James?
Well, 'cause covenants are such great and wonderful things, never to be taken lightly or for granted. They change relationships. (friends, enemies, brothers, wives, children of God)
I entered into the covenant of marriage with Rachel, and she became my wife.
God's people entered into the new covenant with him, and they became his bride (the Church).
God's people entered into the new covenant together, and became Brothers & Sisters.

The covenant of marriage made a stranger into my brother-in-law, and the New Covenant makes my brother-in-law into a brother-in-Christ. I am thankful that the Lord has given me a brother, as a brother. Can't say I have too many of those!

And to answer Cain's question...YES I AM.