Many times I have been asked what is the use of going to church, what good does it do me, what will I get out of it? It is like being asked what is the use of getting married, what good does it do me? If I answered such a question by saying, “Well, it is very useful to get married! You have someone to do the housework, the shopping, cook the meals, etc.,” it would clearly be a false view of marriage. No woman wants to be merely a housekeeper, kept because of her functionality. There is only one supreme reason for getting married—for love’s sake, for the other’s sake, for mutual love, self-giving, a longing for intimate communion, and sharing everything.
So in Christian worship, we worship God for God’s sake; we come together for Christ’s sake, motivated by love. An awareness of God’s holy love for us, revealed in Jesus Christ, awakens in us a longing for intimate communion—to know the love of the Father and to participate in the life and ministry of Christ.
Love always implies a communion between persons. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is a community of Love! God is Love! The Church (those adopted into the Father’s family of love) gathers in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—in love; to commune with the God of love and each other. We were created for communion – to be “co-lovers.” We are to find our identity, our fulfillment in this community of love—our true “being” is in “being-in-communion” with God and one another, sharing in God’s love for the world as “co-lovers.”
So, what is the use of going to church, what good does it do me, what will I get out of it? I discover who I am by realizing “whose” I am! I develop who I am by living in this community of love! I am deployed (or sent) into the world as a living expression of the God who is love!
Only as I commune with God in His “body” (the church) do I truly become the “image” of who He created me to be. Only in this atmosphere of love, THE BODY OF LOVE, can I really come to my fullest and highest potential in Christ.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
The Power of Your Words
I thank God for the people who have believed in me through out my life. The words that they spoke over me and the encouragement that they have given me are beyond anything that money can buy. I think that we forget just how powerful our words are to those around us. Words are life or death. Our Father used words to create and to heal and He has entrusted us with the privilege of speech.
I was preaching last Sunday and I remember this story about Ben Hooper. It is a great story and I wanted to share it with all of you ... Please take the time to watch the 3 minute outtake of last Sunday. And remember you can make a difference in the life of those around you by your Words!
Pastor Quintin
Monday, August 25, 2008
Now is the Time
We mark our lives by keeping time and I believe we need to understand what time it is. There is ordinary time (chronos) and extraordinary time (kairos). We are living in an unprecedented time of worship!
There is a call going forth right now that is the fullness of what Christ spoke when he was here; “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” (John 4:23).
I have this gut feeling, this suspicion that the angel of the Lord spoken about in Revelation 14:1-7 is right now calling the nations to worship. “….worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea, and springs of water,” (v.7b) The question is are we hearing this call? Is that call to worship being heard in our community?
It is my sense that there are marks of worship; “radical, rooted, relative, revelatory, and relational.” I think that you can see the youth’s radical expression, I also think that there are those who understand that worship must be connected to our continuum of history (rooted in the truths). I understand the need to relate to those who don’t know our story or language. There is also a need for revelation or prophetic insight in the midst of our worship. And worship is intensified in the context of our human relationships. It is my sense that worship should be; “radical, rooted, relative, revelatory and relational.”
I truly believe that there is a renewal of the convergence of these basic marks of worship within our community right now. There is always an emphases on one or two of these markers but all are needed in our lives.
“The hour is coming and NOW IS…” This is the time to worship Him with a new or renewed passion. There is truly something in the air that is refreshing. I am trying to blow the trumpet so that all can hear.
Come and encounter the Goodness of God in the midst of His People! We as human beings are changed by being exposed to the very presence of God that is encountered in the midst of worship. I fully believe that there is a call being issued for worship. Help me give this call.... "come and worship."
Pastor Quintin
There is a call going forth right now that is the fullness of what Christ spoke when he was here; “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” (John 4:23).
I have this gut feeling, this suspicion that the angel of the Lord spoken about in Revelation 14:1-7 is right now calling the nations to worship. “….worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea, and springs of water,” (v.7b) The question is are we hearing this call? Is that call to worship being heard in our community?
It is my sense that there are marks of worship; “radical, rooted, relative, revelatory, and relational.” I think that you can see the youth’s radical expression, I also think that there are those who understand that worship must be connected to our continuum of history (rooted in the truths). I understand the need to relate to those who don’t know our story or language. There is also a need for revelation or prophetic insight in the midst of our worship. And worship is intensified in the context of our human relationships. It is my sense that worship should be; “radical, rooted, relative, revelatory and relational.”
I truly believe that there is a renewal of the convergence of these basic marks of worship within our community right now. There is always an emphases on one or two of these markers but all are needed in our lives.
“The hour is coming and NOW IS…” This is the time to worship Him with a new or renewed passion. There is truly something in the air that is refreshing. I am trying to blow the trumpet so that all can hear.
Come and encounter the Goodness of God in the midst of His People! We as human beings are changed by being exposed to the very presence of God that is encountered in the midst of worship. I fully believe that there is a call being issued for worship. Help me give this call.... "come and worship."
Pastor Quintin
Friday, August 22, 2008
It's All About His Prsence
Is was a Presence, not faith, that drew Moses to the burning bush, and what happened there was a revelation, not a seminar. It was a Presence, not faith, which drew the disciples to Jesus and what what happened then was not an educational program but his revelation to them of himself as the long promised Anointed One.
Their lives, just like Moses, were changed radically by that encounter with a Presence which upended all their ordinary expectations.
David said, "Cast me not away from your Presence, take not your Holy Spirit from me." I wonder today if we cherish the Presence of God the way we should. Jesus promised to be with us when we gather together.
I am living in such expectation of our being together and His Presence! I hope you are too!
Their lives, just like Moses, were changed radically by that encounter with a Presence which upended all their ordinary expectations.
David said, "Cast me not away from your Presence, take not your Holy Spirit from me." I wonder today if we cherish the Presence of God the way we should. Jesus promised to be with us when we gather together.
I am living in such expectation of our being together and His Presence! I hope you are too!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Lets Go Swimming
Life with God is an ongoing, ever-changing, relational adventure. It is not a matter of being driven through life, and then ever once in a while stopping and looking around. No, God expects us to journey with Him, breathing in the breath of life, feeling the blood of life flow through our hearts, and experiencing the very wonder of having been given a body with which we can see and hear and smell and taste and touch this amazing world that He has provided.
Sometimes I wonder if we truly want a life with God? This God who is a Spirit and who has created us to live in the revelation of Him desires us to live in spiritual union with Him. We have the ability to live in the created order as spiritual beings, "his divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (2 Peter 1:3). We have been given "everything needed" because God wants an active partner in relationship.
The Spiritual life is just that -- A LIFE!
We learn as we as we go. We learn as we do. As we go and do with God, we are changed along the way. Thus we are called into the struggle and the joy of being changed by the relationship with God. We are either drifting along in the world around us, or we are moving with the very currents of God's love.
What we are called to intentionally live within the Spiritual Disciplines (or exercises), which are merely directed actions, that place us in a position to receive from God the power of His loving presence which enables us to accomplish what we can not do on our own.
"For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). These exercises will allow God to work in our lives that which alone we are unable to do.
Michael Phelps is propelled through the water by the use of human strokes. Spiritual disciplines or exercises are the strokes that move us into the transforming streams of God's Presence. In order to learn how to swim you must overcome several fears, so it is with learning how to move in the very Spirit of God. We must shed our dependency upon self and trust in God's provision.
We are all being called to learn some strokes (ways and means) by which we can move into this Spiritual life. We have all been caught up in worship, or prayer and sensed God's Presence. There are some exercises (practices) that will give us some ways of finding our way into His Presence where we belong and where we are called to live continually.
Let's swim for the REAL GOLD!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Over the last several weeks Stephan has been asking me all kinds of questions about how to grow in his spirituality. Of course we all know the usual answers, but his questions have required a more thoughtful and ordered response. The truth is that you can't get a perfect body in one fell swoop, no matter what the latest magazine headline tells you! Michael Phelps did not become the gold metal athlete that he is over night.
We can learn a lot about being "spiritually fit" by understanding physical fitness. There are many people who suffer from attitudes toward spirituality similar to their attitudes toward fitness; namely, wanting the results without really understanding the process that leads to results. We want to have inner peace, a sense of meaning, a connection to other people, a knowledge of God and the World -- and we want it now! Generally we realize the need for spirituality in the midst of a crisis. We realize that something is missing and we try to quickly find whatever it is so that we can feel better right now. But it doesn't work that way. We must come into reality and understand that this will take time and accept the fact that our work and dedication to spirituality will pay off in the end.
What is spirituality?
Unfortunately, a lot of people think that spirituality is just about themselves -- it becomes a "self-help" exercise, just another kind of consumer product. If spirituality is to have any meaning at all, it must be about God. Spirituality is what leads us deeper and deeper into the mystery of life, of beauty, of truth, of goodness -- in short, into the mystery of the person we call God.
Ignatius said, "spirituality is the practice, a regular endeavor through which we come to build our lives on the love of God -- to order our lives according to God's plan for us." Therefore, its focus, then, is not primarily ourselves, but God.
"A regular endeavor through which we come to build...." We then are called to develop a long-term spiritual "workout." A workout that first and foremost confronts the reality of God and the reality of ourselves. The first step is to "repent," or identify the wrongs ways of living and don't do them again. Secondly, is to build good habits in place of the bad ones. This may sound overly simple, but truthfully it is the only way to begin. If we want to develop spiritually we must learn what we're doing that is harmful to us and we must also learn to do those things that are helpful to us.
Thus spiritual "workouts" or "endeavors" will help us to become better human beings by practicing the love of God and neighbor.
I will try to walk you through some of these endeavors.... so come walk with me!!!
We can learn a lot about being "spiritually fit" by understanding physical fitness. There are many people who suffer from attitudes toward spirituality similar to their attitudes toward fitness; namely, wanting the results without really understanding the process that leads to results. We want to have inner peace, a sense of meaning, a connection to other people, a knowledge of God and the World -- and we want it now! Generally we realize the need for spirituality in the midst of a crisis. We realize that something is missing and we try to quickly find whatever it is so that we can feel better right now. But it doesn't work that way. We must come into reality and understand that this will take time and accept the fact that our work and dedication to spirituality will pay off in the end.
What is spirituality?
Unfortunately, a lot of people think that spirituality is just about themselves -- it becomes a "self-help" exercise, just another kind of consumer product. If spirituality is to have any meaning at all, it must be about God. Spirituality is what leads us deeper and deeper into the mystery of life, of beauty, of truth, of goodness -- in short, into the mystery of the person we call God.
Ignatius said, "spirituality is the practice, a regular endeavor through which we come to build our lives on the love of God -- to order our lives according to God's plan for us." Therefore, its focus, then, is not primarily ourselves, but God.
"A regular endeavor through which we come to build...." We then are called to develop a long-term spiritual "workout." A workout that first and foremost confronts the reality of God and the reality of ourselves. The first step is to "repent," or identify the wrongs ways of living and don't do them again. Secondly, is to build good habits in place of the bad ones. This may sound overly simple, but truthfully it is the only way to begin. If we want to develop spiritually we must learn what we're doing that is harmful to us and we must also learn to do those things that are helpful to us.
Thus spiritual "workouts" or "endeavors" will help us to become better human beings by practicing the love of God and neighbor.
I will try to walk you through some of these endeavors.... so come walk with me!!!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
A Wake Up Call
As I stood there during Sunday’s seconded service these words became mine; “This is my son in whom I am well pleased….” I was overwhelmed with gratitude as I watched and listened to Stephan express his passion for Christ and encourage others to renew their own passion for the Lord.
He was truly giving us all a “wake-up” call. We are instructed to “seek the Lord while He can be found.” God seeks us and desires that we seek Him. Just this morning Susie Hutchinson reminded me of Psalm 24. In the Amplified, verses 3-7, reads: "Who shall go up into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in HIS holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted himself up to falsehood, or to what is false, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. THIS IS THE GENERATION [description] of those who seek HIM, who inquire of and for Him, and [of necessity] require Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, you age-abiding doors; that the King of Glory may come in."
We are to be that GENERATION that seek HIM. Christ told us ; “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). And the writer of the letter to the Hebrews says, “…that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (11:6).
What we witnessed Sunday was not only Stephan’s hunger for the very Presence of God, but many other young (and not so young) people. While the world offers all kinds of experiences and a multitude of stuff it is only the Presence of the Risen Christ who can fill and fulfill the human experience. In the midst of difficult times it is His “real Presence” that can not only save, but sustain us. We must he hear His voice as He is calling us to “seek Him.”
Some of you might be wondering how do I do that? Or what does a seeker look like? I thought of this verse first, “But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul,” (Deut. 4:29).
With ALL of our heart and soul, in other words we must make a commitment, a decision to FOCUS on Him. We all are so torn by all the demands of living that we many times only think to seek or search for Him when we have a need that we know we can’t fill alone. We come running to Him to “fix” the stuff of life and forget that He really is “LIFE.”
Rather than treating God as a mechanic who we visit to fix life, I believe that we are to daily read the word, to daily pray and to daily give thanks for His Presence in our lives all the time. It is too easy to forget about who it is that is sharing His life with us every moment of every day.
What happen last Sunday was awesome in the sense that you and I witnessed the “raw hunger” of a young man who wants not to be seen by you or anyone else, but who wants to be accepted and embraced by the “ONE” who is and always shall be the source of Life and Love.
On May the 11th, (Pentecost Sunday) the Lord gave me this perception: “My perception is that spiritual authority is going to increase in the next 6-12 weeks. The thing that I am seeing is that you are going to be given the power and authority to break and destroy the limitations and strongholds that you have been dealing with in your lives for years. You are going to go free from those limitations in areas of your life that you have been merely coping with because you couldn’t get rid of it. There is going be such an experience of freedom in the lives of individuals and families that strongholds will be broken off of people’s lives. Listen to me, it is happening to you. You need to exercise it. The authority is coming up into your life, but you need to be the one who exercises it and says, “I am going free of that.”
Stephan (and it think others as well) went free. He merely exercised it. He took a step and got out of the boat and walked where he had not walked before. Strongholds were broken and freedom was experienced.
You and I are also called to “step out” of our own boat and walk with Christ. To walk in ways we have never walked before. To walk in freedom that we have never had before, to walk in authority that we have never experienced and to find ourselves with Christ in ways we have never know before, that is our calling.
This is your moment…. Now is your time! Wake up and Walk with Jesus!
Bishop Quintin
He was truly giving us all a “wake-up” call. We are instructed to “seek the Lord while He can be found.” God seeks us and desires that we seek Him. Just this morning Susie Hutchinson reminded me of Psalm 24. In the Amplified, verses 3-7, reads: "Who shall go up into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in HIS holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted himself up to falsehood, or to what is false, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. THIS IS THE GENERATION [description] of those who seek HIM, who inquire of and for Him, and [of necessity] require Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, you age-abiding doors; that the King of Glory may come in."
We are to be that GENERATION that seek HIM. Christ told us ; “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). And the writer of the letter to the Hebrews says, “…that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (11:6).
What we witnessed Sunday was not only Stephan’s hunger for the very Presence of God, but many other young (and not so young) people. While the world offers all kinds of experiences and a multitude of stuff it is only the Presence of the Risen Christ who can fill and fulfill the human experience. In the midst of difficult times it is His “real Presence” that can not only save, but sustain us. We must he hear His voice as He is calling us to “seek Him.”
Some of you might be wondering how do I do that? Or what does a seeker look like? I thought of this verse first, “But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul,” (Deut. 4:29).
With ALL of our heart and soul, in other words we must make a commitment, a decision to FOCUS on Him. We all are so torn by all the demands of living that we many times only think to seek or search for Him when we have a need that we know we can’t fill alone. We come running to Him to “fix” the stuff of life and forget that He really is “LIFE.”
Rather than treating God as a mechanic who we visit to fix life, I believe that we are to daily read the word, to daily pray and to daily give thanks for His Presence in our lives all the time. It is too easy to forget about who it is that is sharing His life with us every moment of every day.
What happen last Sunday was awesome in the sense that you and I witnessed the “raw hunger” of a young man who wants not to be seen by you or anyone else, but who wants to be accepted and embraced by the “ONE” who is and always shall be the source of Life and Love.
On May the 11th, (Pentecost Sunday) the Lord gave me this perception: “My perception is that spiritual authority is going to increase in the next 6-12 weeks. The thing that I am seeing is that you are going to be given the power and authority to break and destroy the limitations and strongholds that you have been dealing with in your lives for years. You are going to go free from those limitations in areas of your life that you have been merely coping with because you couldn’t get rid of it. There is going be such an experience of freedom in the lives of individuals and families that strongholds will be broken off of people’s lives. Listen to me, it is happening to you. You need to exercise it. The authority is coming up into your life, but you need to be the one who exercises it and says, “I am going free of that.”
Stephan (and it think others as well) went free. He merely exercised it. He took a step and got out of the boat and walked where he had not walked before. Strongholds were broken and freedom was experienced.
You and I are also called to “step out” of our own boat and walk with Christ. To walk in ways we have never walked before. To walk in freedom that we have never had before, to walk in authority that we have never experienced and to find ourselves with Christ in ways we have never know before, that is our calling.
This is your moment…. Now is your time! Wake up and Walk with Jesus!
Bishop Quintin
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