If you've been around me much at all in the last few years you likely have heard me share Malachi 4:5,6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.
There is so much to be said about the closing 2 verses of the OT. God closes out the OT and enters a 400 year period of silence with these words. I do believe that "fatherlessness" is at the root of the moral decay in America! I do not believe the drug problems, or the sexual immorality are the real issues! I believe they are but symptoms of a deepeer issue; A root issue! That issue is a generational disconnect. An older generation that did not build the needed relationships with the upcoming generation (for whatever reason). This is not to place blame. We each can so easily just do what our culture has taught us of normal and what we were exposed to as normal. Coming up as a young minister in the PNW; I remember connecting with my call and thinking I had all they answers needed if people would only listen to me. Remember the "novice" statement in scripture(I Timothy 3:6)? That described me well for a season. As I recall I found only 1 or 2 who could see past my behavior into my potential and drew near enough to me to help; though I did not see my need for help at the time. One of those same leaders is still pouring into me today. Still believing in me though not always understanding me. It's ok, I don't always understand me :)
I am realizing more and more that each generation must get a vision of pouring (as a father) into the succeeding generation coming up. Not getting so locked into doing "our thing" that we miss the Generational connection that God intended. When that is not intact each generation has to go through it's own "genesis". I recall that as well as a young Pastor! God intends for each succeeding gneration to build on the previous one. My ceiling would then become the floor of the next generation. I was with my Spiritual son doing a funeral together this week. As we left the cemetary he turned to me and said, "When I'm with you, I see my youth." My heart was instantly flooded by the Holy Spirit and a multitude of thoughts insued. Oh, how the enemy has worked to divide us. We still don't always understand each other. But, oh how being together helps us! How He needs to see "his youth" and understand what he needs help and growth in and I need to see the zeal I had and need stirred again in me. Patrick, I am still feasting on those words.
Are you connected generationally? Remember you cannot be a father until you have been a son.
Do you have someone you process with, turn to, unload the day on when you need to?
Let me know your thoughts
Dwayne
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas NEw Life!!
Merry Christmas NEW LIFE!!!
Janna & I wish you the best Christmas you have ever had! We pray that
the Gift of Christ through Holy Spirit within you, the gift of Family
& Friends and the Gifts given & received are greatfully acknowedge and
that you rejoice at the awesomeness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ! Whether we see much or little in the natural world this
Christmas we are already among the richests people of the world. And
knowing and having Jesus within us makes us "THE RICHEST!"
We want you to know that we really miss each of you! I will tell you
truly that it is much easier to preach about being obedient to the
heavenly voice of God than to obey it sometimes. This is one of those
times for us, but the Lord is both keeping us & guiding us through it.
We absolutely loved being at the Christmas Service last week, yet felt
so "out of pocket" if you know what I mean. We didn't get to greet all
of you and we are really missed that!! Yet we know you are in such
amazingly capable hands with Pat & Jen & NLF Staff, which makes this
whole transition even possible! I have been so blessed by the way you,
as a congregation, are walking through this! It has blessed me to see
you embrace this journey with such faith! And honestly I couldn't me
more proud of each of you!!!!
We will get to have much more time together in the coming weeks, as we
will be in Raymond most Sundays through January! So we look forward to
seeing you then!
Love each of you,
Janna & Dwayne
Janna & I wish you the best Christmas you have ever had! We pray that
the Gift of Christ through Holy Spirit within you, the gift of Family
& Friends and the Gifts given & received are greatfully acknowedge and
that you rejoice at the awesomeness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ! Whether we see much or little in the natural world this
Christmas we are already among the richests people of the world. And
knowing and having Jesus within us makes us "THE RICHEST!"
We want you to know that we really miss each of you! I will tell you
truly that it is much easier to preach about being obedient to the
heavenly voice of God than to obey it sometimes. This is one of those
times for us, but the Lord is both keeping us & guiding us through it.
We absolutely loved being at the Christmas Service last week, yet felt
so "out of pocket" if you know what I mean. We didn't get to greet all
of you and we are really missed that!! Yet we know you are in such
amazingly capable hands with Pat & Jen & NLF Staff, which makes this
whole transition even possible! I have been so blessed by the way you,
as a congregation, are walking through this! It has blessed me to see
you embrace this journey with such faith! And honestly I couldn't me
more proud of each of you!!!!
We will get to have much more time together in the coming weeks, as we
will be in Raymond most Sundays through January! So we look forward to
seeing you then!
Love each of you,
Janna & Dwayne
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
the Journey of Maturity
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 13:11 Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
What does "Growing to maturity" look like
Are we mature in the natural by:
1. Reaching puberty?
2. Graduating High school?
3. Getting Married?
4. Having Children?
We know none of these things really indicates that we are "mature"
So how do we really measure maturity?
Hebrews 6:1 states; Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Perfection here is talking about growing into maturity
So what does true maturity in the kingdom look like?
If we measure our personal maturity by any of the fore mentioned things we would agree that we are greatly in error. So it can be in the realm of the church & among believers if we have the wrong parameters to measure.
I have witnessed much immaturity in the kingdom and actually the immaturity of Christians has been the single greatest heartache I experienced in my years of Pastoring! many times that immaturity was exhibited by those with many years in the church or with a position or title.
So years does not equate maturity. Title or position does not equate maturity.
Kevin Conner wrote in his book "The Church in the New Testament" that he believed the "placement of immature believers was the single greatest travesty in the church today!" And I agree with Him! So in light of that what are we looking for in a "mature believer?"
Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40 ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. ’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. ”
So our foundation stands here:
1. Loving (agape) God with everything
2. Loving (agape) others with everything
Agape love does not depend at all on the behavior of others! We Love them no matter what they do or say! This flows from our Love relationship with God through Christ by the inner working of the Holy Spirit.
When we don't walk this out, we can circle the mountain of immaturity again and again and never look close enough to recognize our own tracks because "we have been here before!" we can easily be offended, angry, gossipers, blaming others, blaming God, etc.
Leaders & Lovers look within at what the Lord is doing in them in the storms of life; not outward toward the circumstances and actions of others!
I have saw more than my share of ministrs through the years taken out by circumstances that were only allowed by God because He was bringing them into maturity and they didn't respond correctly to step up to where He was leading them. They have gotten bitter, hurt, etc. and stepped back or down instead of forward. If that describes you, you can get up today and back on the Journey of Maturity! GO ON UNTO PERFECTION!
I see a progression into maturity from Peters words:
2 Peter 1:5-9
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self- control, and self- control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
Peters leads us on this Journye of Maturity and states your will know when you not only love other Christians unconditionally, but when you love humanity with that saem Agape Love!!Peter lived this out and grew to maturity after working through the bitter weeping of denying Christ!
We need maturing dedicated men & women of God fulfilling there calling today more than ever before: people who don't need to be coddled, petted, encouraged constantly; people who can be spoken to like mature beleivers without fear of "hurting or offending" them. Remember the "truth spoken in love" creates growth according the Ephesians 4. Some will never grow to mature because their own insecurities will keep them away from the God intended relationships that will challenge where they are in an effort by God to help them become all that He paid for!
Where are you in this journey of maturity?
Do you love people regardless?
Do you get easily offended?
Do you distance yourself from those who tend to "speak the truth in love?
Have you looked down closely to see if "you've been here before" going around the same mountain of immaturity?
You can make a couple suttle adjustments and get back on the journey today!
We need you on that journey. God wants you on that journey, for their is so much more that we wants to pour through you into the loves of others!
Thanks you for saying "YES" to the call
Say "YES" daily to the journey of maturity!
Let me know your thoughts :)
What does "Growing to maturity" look like
Are we mature in the natural by:
1. Reaching puberty?
2. Graduating High school?
3. Getting Married?
4. Having Children?
We know none of these things really indicates that we are "mature"
So how do we really measure maturity?
Hebrews 6:1 states; Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Perfection here is talking about growing into maturity
So what does true maturity in the kingdom look like?
If we measure our personal maturity by any of the fore mentioned things we would agree that we are greatly in error. So it can be in the realm of the church & among believers if we have the wrong parameters to measure.
I have witnessed much immaturity in the kingdom and actually the immaturity of Christians has been the single greatest heartache I experienced in my years of Pastoring! many times that immaturity was exhibited by those with many years in the church or with a position or title.
So years does not equate maturity. Title or position does not equate maturity.
Kevin Conner wrote in his book "The Church in the New Testament" that he believed the "placement of immature believers was the single greatest travesty in the church today!" And I agree with Him! So in light of that what are we looking for in a "mature believer?"
Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40 ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. ’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. ”
So our foundation stands here:
1. Loving (agape) God with everything
2. Loving (agape) others with everything
Agape love does not depend at all on the behavior of others! We Love them no matter what they do or say! This flows from our Love relationship with God through Christ by the inner working of the Holy Spirit.
When we don't walk this out, we can circle the mountain of immaturity again and again and never look close enough to recognize our own tracks because "we have been here before!" we can easily be offended, angry, gossipers, blaming others, blaming God, etc.
Leaders & Lovers look within at what the Lord is doing in them in the storms of life; not outward toward the circumstances and actions of others!
I have saw more than my share of ministrs through the years taken out by circumstances that were only allowed by God because He was bringing them into maturity and they didn't respond correctly to step up to where He was leading them. They have gotten bitter, hurt, etc. and stepped back or down instead of forward. If that describes you, you can get up today and back on the Journey of Maturity! GO ON UNTO PERFECTION!
I see a progression into maturity from Peters words:
2 Peter 1:5-9
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self- control, and self- control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
Peters leads us on this Journye of Maturity and states your will know when you not only love other Christians unconditionally, but when you love humanity with that saem Agape Love!!Peter lived this out and grew to maturity after working through the bitter weeping of denying Christ!
We need maturing dedicated men & women of God fulfilling there calling today more than ever before: people who don't need to be coddled, petted, encouraged constantly; people who can be spoken to like mature beleivers without fear of "hurting or offending" them. Remember the "truth spoken in love" creates growth according the Ephesians 4. Some will never grow to mature because their own insecurities will keep them away from the God intended relationships that will challenge where they are in an effort by God to help them become all that He paid for!
Where are you in this journey of maturity?
Do you love people regardless?
Do you get easily offended?
Do you distance yourself from those who tend to "speak the truth in love?
Have you looked down closely to see if "you've been here before" going around the same mountain of immaturity?
You can make a couple suttle adjustments and get back on the journey today!
We need you on that journey. God wants you on that journey, for their is so much more that we wants to pour through you into the loves of others!
Thanks you for saying "YES" to the call
Say "YES" daily to the journey of maturity!
Let me know your thoughts :)
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Acountable or Vulnerable
Ecclesiastes 4:9,10 says, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor, for if they fall one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up." Jesus sent them out "two by two" and great things happened! I have heard it said that they were sent out in twos to help protect each other from attack; which I agree is a good rational reason and I am sure there is much more to it than that.
The attack on ministry is just a real today as ever. Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout or contention in their churches.(http://maranathalife.com/lifeline/stats.htm)most of these Pastors go take an hourly job and many never return to church! I struggle writing this without deep emotion rising within me. I love Pastors!! I love the fact that they said "YES" to the call of God! Not one of them said yes with plans for it to end this way! I'm sure each of them were connected to some sort of denomination or credentialing organization. Yet, I wonder who were they in community with? Who did they turn to in the times of stress and attack? You see you don't turn to your denominational leaders just because they are your leaders. You only turn to someone you trust, someone you have built a relationship with, someone who is for you, not just going the same way you are going. Yet I find most Pastors & people in full time ministry very buried with the ministry and often do not take the time nor the energy to build those relationships that will help them through the storms that will be. And they often do not know how to reach out to build such relationships.
Dave Carder (Who has helped many Pastors and Ministers through issues of failure)
in His book "Close Calls" says that he know longer believes in Accountablility groups. This took me back at first. He said that accountability groups do not work. But that "Vulnerability groups" do work. You see we can not be accountable if we are not willing to be vulnerable; and we will not be vulernable if we have not built a relationship. Relationships are built on trust and they take time.
Ministry is to be done in community with others of like precious faith!
Who knows you? Do you open up to them in the difficult storms?
Are you vulnerable to someone who is for you?
If not, then you are more vulnerable to the storms than Jesus ever intended you to be?
I desire taht you "Fight the good fight, finish your race and keep the Faith" II Timothy 4:7
email me with thoughts questions or answers to this blog: djdeskins@gmail.com
The attack on ministry is just a real today as ever. Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout or contention in their churches.(http://maranathalife.com/lifeline/stats.htm)most of these Pastors go take an hourly job and many never return to church! I struggle writing this without deep emotion rising within me. I love Pastors!! I love the fact that they said "YES" to the call of God! Not one of them said yes with plans for it to end this way! I'm sure each of them were connected to some sort of denomination or credentialing organization. Yet, I wonder who were they in community with? Who did they turn to in the times of stress and attack? You see you don't turn to your denominational leaders just because they are your leaders. You only turn to someone you trust, someone you have built a relationship with, someone who is for you, not just going the same way you are going. Yet I find most Pastors & people in full time ministry very buried with the ministry and often do not take the time nor the energy to build those relationships that will help them through the storms that will be. And they often do not know how to reach out to build such relationships.
Dave Carder (Who has helped many Pastors and Ministers through issues of failure)
in His book "Close Calls" says that he know longer believes in Accountablility groups. This took me back at first. He said that accountability groups do not work. But that "Vulnerability groups" do work. You see we can not be accountable if we are not willing to be vulnerable; and we will not be vulernable if we have not built a relationship. Relationships are built on trust and they take time.
Ministry is to be done in community with others of like precious faith!
Who knows you? Do you open up to them in the difficult storms?
Are you vulnerable to someone who is for you?
If not, then you are more vulnerable to the storms than Jesus ever intended you to be?
I desire taht you "Fight the good fight, finish your race and keep the Faith" II Timothy 4:7
email me with thoughts questions or answers to this blog: djdeskins@gmail.com
Friday, December 10, 2010
Self Aware not Self absorbed
Good Morning,
I am giving this blog thing another try. This time by God's grace, I will post on a more regular basis. :)
As I look at the stats across America and look around me at those who were once in the ministry I realize that we have a very large fall out rate of Pastors & Ministers. I love Pauls word in II Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
These are some of Paul's closing words of his life. They stir me deep in my Spirit as I realize that I am to do the same. I began the fight and the race with faith. I must stay on track and keep the faith. I must finish the race the Lord has given me STRONG!
So, what has made the difference between those who have and are "Finishing the Race while keeping the Faith?"
Why do some lose the passion, the dedication, the vision, THE FAITH they once had and others Finish strong?
Acts 20:28 says, "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers...."
the words "Take heed" can actually be "Be aware"
Self awareness is a very good thing. Yet, growing up we were taught not to think of ourselves but of others. This somehow was considered Spiritual. It was thought of as "Deny yourself"
yet, in heeding this type of thought many shipwrecked. the fruit was not what it should have been.
I believe that, as leaders in the body of Christ; we should be "SELF AWARE not SELF ABSORBED"
What I mean is that if I am not aware of me; how I am doing, how I am feeling, how my health is relationally, devotionally, spiritually, physically, with my bride; then I am not as aware as I could be to those I am to minister.
I must minister to others out of my own health. We reproduce after our own kind. Cows have calves. This is a principle God set in order. Care for myself is caring for the flock. As I am healthy then I can reproduce that health in those I minister too.
They then can refresh my Spirit by the health I see in them.
Let me know your thoughts on this
Hows your health?
How do you become more self aware?
--
Dwayne
I am giving this blog thing another try. This time by God's grace, I will post on a more regular basis. :)
As I look at the stats across America and look around me at those who were once in the ministry I realize that we have a very large fall out rate of Pastors & Ministers. I love Pauls word in II Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
These are some of Paul's closing words of his life. They stir me deep in my Spirit as I realize that I am to do the same. I began the fight and the race with faith. I must stay on track and keep the faith. I must finish the race the Lord has given me STRONG!
So, what has made the difference between those who have and are "Finishing the Race while keeping the Faith?"
Why do some lose the passion, the dedication, the vision, THE FAITH they once had and others Finish strong?
Acts 20:28 says, "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers...."
the words "Take heed" can actually be "Be aware"
Self awareness is a very good thing. Yet, growing up we were taught not to think of ourselves but of others. This somehow was considered Spiritual. It was thought of as "Deny yourself"
yet, in heeding this type of thought many shipwrecked. the fruit was not what it should have been.
I believe that, as leaders in the body of Christ; we should be "SELF AWARE not SELF ABSORBED"
What I mean is that if I am not aware of me; how I am doing, how I am feeling, how my health is relationally, devotionally, spiritually, physically, with my bride; then I am not as aware as I could be to those I am to minister.
I must minister to others out of my own health. We reproduce after our own kind. Cows have calves. This is a principle God set in order. Care for myself is caring for the flock. As I am healthy then I can reproduce that health in those I minister too.
They then can refresh my Spirit by the health I see in them.
Let me know your thoughts on this
Hows your health?
How do you become more self aware?
--
Dwayne
Monday, February 8, 2010
You have not many Fathers
We having several of our Pastors that are taking men through "You have not many Fathers" book by Mark Hanby. I am very excited about this time together across the District. Then we will haveDr. Hanby as our Guest Speaker at our Men's Conference. You can check out the Conference info on our District website: www.pnwpcg.org or at www.nwmen.org
Look for more on each chapter of the book soon to come via this blog.
Headed to Israel now!!! :)
blessings
Dwayne
Look for more on each chapter of the book soon to come via this blog.
Headed to Israel now!!! :)
blessings
Dwayne
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Generational Vision
I'm back at this. Still getting used to making this happen on a regular basis. Hate to admit that it just "could" be an age thing :)
As we understand that our unique purpose on the earth at this time has much to do with what the Lord has written in our hearts. Then we with passion begin to dig it out. We begin to understand "what makes us come alive" "what stirs up passions from deep within us" and "what fulfills us"
We must see the vision beyond just our time & generation. The last verse of the OT declares that if the hearts of the Fathers are not turned to the children & the children to the fathers; that the earth will be smitten with a curse. This we are seeing unfold daily in America. But, we are also experiencing it within the ranks of the church. Ministries, events, Worship styles often are single generation focused. The vision within me must be connected to obedience by me & relationally connected to the next generation! I must then impart things into those "sons & daughters" that God has placed around me so that the Vision lives on in even increasing measure & multiplied to the next generation. Dr. Mark Hanby in His book "You have not many Fathers" declares that this is the only way to have a true "double portion" anointing on our lives.
Questions then arise:
Who from the previous generation are you conncting with that is pouring into you?
Who are you building around you from the next generation that you are pouring into?
As we understand that our unique purpose on the earth at this time has much to do with what the Lord has written in our hearts. Then we with passion begin to dig it out. We begin to understand "what makes us come alive" "what stirs up passions from deep within us" and "what fulfills us"
We must see the vision beyond just our time & generation. The last verse of the OT declares that if the hearts of the Fathers are not turned to the children & the children to the fathers; that the earth will be smitten with a curse. This we are seeing unfold daily in America. But, we are also experiencing it within the ranks of the church. Ministries, events, Worship styles often are single generation focused. The vision within me must be connected to obedience by me & relationally connected to the next generation! I must then impart things into those "sons & daughters" that God has placed around me so that the Vision lives on in even increasing measure & multiplied to the next generation. Dr. Mark Hanby in His book "You have not many Fathers" declares that this is the only way to have a true "double portion" anointing on our lives.
Questions then arise:
Who from the previous generation are you conncting with that is pouring into you?
Who are you building around you from the next generation that you are pouring into?
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