tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343407271067602362024-03-05T23:32:31.052-06:00Ft. Campbell Navigators MinistryNews and thoughts from the Ft. Campbell Navigators MinistryJoseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-83229620510610318712020-03-03T15:53:00.001-06:002020-03-03T15:53:12.086-06:003 Points on Disciplemaking
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_i3RComDhw0IOuot1rgmI0ijQNi9RiwOy00IwqSuuUZX-YiW5qr3Tdsd4LsWZ1zGJ8KrPli9EsCuAp2w7YsxGdu-mQqmrJZWvHZOrUNhWmrzd10L2MZ2lNozV6y_NQvjgrO2xPphhZmWh/s1600/walking-with-God_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="898" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_i3RComDhw0IOuot1rgmI0ijQNi9RiwOy00IwqSuuUZX-YiW5qr3Tdsd4LsWZ1zGJ8KrPli9EsCuAp2w7YsxGdu-mQqmrJZWvHZOrUNhWmrzd10L2MZ2lNozV6y_NQvjgrO2xPphhZmWh/s400/walking-with-God_Fotor.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Star Jedi"; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 80%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Star Jedi"; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 80%;">3 Points on
the “Personal-Ness” of Disciple-making</span></div>
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Jesus accomplished many things with His ‘in the flesh’ visit
to Earth so many years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wanted
to ensure that The Father’s Message was put out clearly AND that it would
continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would not let His message
be left to uncertainty- so… in order to make sure it got through AND that it
continued- He sent His Son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A VERY
PERSONAL touch to this whole thing….<br />
<br />
<br />
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So… I wanted to share 3 points on Disciple-making that I’ve
observed in the Life of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
things we must continue and apply in order to ensure generations after us will
continue walking with Christ and reaching the generations after them.<br />
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First of
all, Disciplemaking is about PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus first recruited the disciples-
Jesus recruited them to BE WITH HIM- not to a program or to a class- but to
enter into a personal relationship with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .4in; margin-top: 0in;">
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me,"
Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." </div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .4in; margin-top: 0in;">
And again we see that similarly in </div>
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Mark 3:13-14 Jesus went up on a
mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He
appointed twelve — designating them apostles-that they might be with him and
that he might send them out to preach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The ‘MUST’ about having a personal relationship in a
discipleship relationship is because information alone will NOT be the driving
force that brings about change in a person’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider this… Every box of cigarettes has a
warning that warns people about the dangers of nicotine addiction and the
potential for cancer and emphysema- yet so many are continuing to smoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even more recently we had a craze (that
luckily only lasted for several months) where people where eating Tide
pods!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On every pouch and every box of
Tide pods- there are warning signs about not allowing children to have them and
that if ingested- you should call the poison control center immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, information alone, will not cause someone
to change how they are living.<br />
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Jesus was calling us to change our lives- to change how we
think- to change to become people who walk with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said:<br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt 4:17 From that
time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is
near." <br />
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<br />
Repent used here is the greek word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">metanoeo</i> . Which means to think differently or to reconsider.<br />
<br />
Jesus wanted us to do this and NOT continue in our worldly
ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way this happens is if we open
ourselves and are willing to make close relationships with disciplemakers who
can and will speak into our lives and insert the Word so that we can
‘reconsider’ how we are living and how we are thinking and choose a different
course- a course that is characterized by Jesus living in us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<br />
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But also,
if we are making the choice to be in disciplemaking relationships with others-
it gives us the opportunity to be impacted by the models that disciplemakers
can imprint into our lives.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .4in; margin-top: 0in;">
Acts 4:18-20 Then they called them in
again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19
But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in
God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." </b></div>
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Seeing Jesus’ boldness, seeing
and experiencing Jesus teaching- for the disciples there was no escaping the
power of His modeling to them. It is not a wonder, that although Jesus had left
physically- they are continuing with the same work that Jesus had modeled in
front of them.</div>
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<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
This takes us to our Second Point-
Disciplemaking is about Profound Impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The test of how much Jesus truly matters to us is not when we are making
simple and superficial decisions- that is not what discipleship is about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Test to see if the roots of the Word are
sinking in deeply into our lives because of Jesus’ influence on us through a
disciplemaker- is seen through our Lordship decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the Believer- Jesus is the supreme rule
and power and influence over our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This doesn’t mean that we stop having our own emotions, thoughts,
attitudes, dreams, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But because the
believer is submitting to the authority of Jesus- we ought to have a growing
list of Lordship decisions in our lives where we are submitting our own
thoughts, choices, and life decisions to the direction of our Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider this…</div>
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Matt 4:21-22 Going on from there, he
saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in
a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22
and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. </div>
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Ever thought to consider what
Zebedee was thinking?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey… where are
you guys going?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s work to be done
here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you guys going to leave your
old man here to handle all this work by himself?!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly, the bible DOESN’T show anything
about this statement from Zebedee after James and John leave him to go along
with Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to not consider what is
going on is to be naïve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James and John
were working in the family business with their father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The probability of Zebedee’s expectation on
them to continue with the family business after their father- probably pretty
high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that is NOT what happened
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They walked away from that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while in the Jewish culture- having the
opportunity to study under the tutelage of a rabbi IS an opportunity that so
many want- there is still the thought of leaving your family to pursue work
with Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A tough decision that isn’t
made lightly….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for the Believer-
there OUGHT TO BE demonstrated points where we are making these kind of
decisions to meet God’s objectives and not our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a person will build a track record in
their life where they are CHOOSING to meet God’s objectives rather than their
own- then God can use them mightily to affect everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This brings us to our last point….</div>
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Disciplemaking is about Potential Impact for
Generations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disciplemaking is not just
a story about an individual- while it may start there- it ought to continue with
the impact they have made on another person SO THAT this person would now
impact another person for Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through
this pattern of Discipling one person in such a way that they would then not
only be able to disciple another- but that they would have the dedication to do
it too- through this pattern of disciplemaking- we could reach the world for
Christ. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This reminds me of a story told
by John Crawford.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Crawford was a
WWII veteran and was reached by the Navigators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He passed away several years ago- but before then he shared a story
about Dawson Trotman- who started the Navigators ministry, had challenged him
with making disciples.<br />
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Close…<br />
<br />
Love that story…<br />
<br />
John talks about how God can multiply our lives through
Generation Discipleship- one person discipling another- and doing this in such
a way- that this disciple not only has the know how- but now also has the
commitment and dedication to Jesus Christ so that he now goes and disciples
someone else too- That pattern continues today<br />
<br />
Jesus started this pattern for us by discipling the 12
Disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They in turn reached and
discipled others…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and then during the
next few more decades, the whole world had been reached for Christ.<br />
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What about us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wherever
we are … whatever we may be doing… whatever circle we are in… God can use you
to impact someone personally for Him… to Impact them profoundly to where they
are making Life decisions that reflect a dedication to him… and to Impact
generations of peoples who will impact other Generations as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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How do I start?<br />
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Start spending personal time in prayer and in the Word.<br />
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Find a mentor to disciple you…<br />
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Find someone you can begin to disciple…<br />
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The Quest begins… <br />
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Matt 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them
and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19
Therefore <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">go and make disciples of all
nations</b>, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, 20 and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you</b>. And <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." </b></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-7923153579294413752016-06-12T14:44:00.001-05:002016-06-12T14:44:16.305-05:00Choosing to be Entertained
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<div align="center" style="line-height: 80%; margin: 1em 0px 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Star Jedi"; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 80%;">Misunderstandings
with God because we’re choosing to be Entertained</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Going through The Gospel of John with
our STS team and it is EXCITING!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also,
I’m realizing more and more about how much I DON’T Know about God- How much I
don’t really know Christ… therefore, I must keep pursuing Him and investigating
or else, I will choose to follow ‘MY IDEA of GOD’ vs actually truly following
Him.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqD1StMG935f8b2fLAcxqgjUKG6OdUBQhvrQ7pXgzU831Y-jpFtVydkS7aQc0H8HxIVdfq6x8YJirYZ0Kz6h4mnMLPT8x5oXYiLd1PzjNT-VeHjsNvGs_4X-9WLbQYWZsqAkCCipoIZMQ/s320/CSI.jpg" width="320" /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So… Just as a crime scene investigation
team would look at the evidence, make observations, take pictures, samples,
test samples, canvas the neighborhoods to ask questions etc…. they are trying
to figure out what happened exactly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then… conclusion can be made that are MORE accurate- rather than just
assuming what happened.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
would say many of us that are Christians today DON’T do the same thing as far
as pursuing Christ and following God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are perfectly comfortable going off of someone elses’ opinion on ‘what
happened’ rather than taking the time and energy to investigate what really
happened, what the Bible really says, what God has done, what Christ did, what
Christ said….</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
I’m finishing up study in John 6 with our STS team at Ft. Campbell, I saw
something interesting…</span></div>
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John 6:24- 33 <span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Once
the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got
into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. </span><a href="https://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=joh%206:25&t1=en_niv&sr=1" title="Click to study this verse"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666193;">25</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did
you get here?” </span><a href="https://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=joh%206:26&t1=en_niv&sr=1" title="Click to study this verse"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666193;">26</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jesus
answered, <b><span style="color: #781f66;">“Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,
not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and
had your fill.</span></b> </span><a href="https://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=joh%206:27&t1=en_niv&sr=1" title="Click to study this verse"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666193;">27</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b><span style="color: #781f66;">Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to
eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has
placed his seal of approval.”</span></b> </span><a href="https://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=joh%206:28&t1=en_niv&sr=1" title="Click to study this verse"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666193;">28</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Then
they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” </span><a href="https://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=joh%206:29&t1=en_niv&sr=1" title="Click to study this verse"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666193;">29</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jesus
answered, <b><span style="color: #781f66;">“The work of God is this: to believe in the one
he has sent.”</span></b> </span><a href="https://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=joh%206:30&t1=en_niv&sr=1" title="Click to study this verse"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666193;">30</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> So they
asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you?
What will you do? </span><a href="https://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=joh%206:31&t1=en_niv&sr=1" title="Click to study this verse"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666193;">31</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Our
ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them
bread from heaven to eat.’<span><span style="display: none; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-hide: all;">[c]</span></span>”
</span><a href="https://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=joh%206:32&t1=en_niv&sr=1" title="Click to study this verse"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666193;">32</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jesus
said to them, <b><span style="color: #781f66;">“Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who
has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true
bread from heaven.</span></b> </span><a href="https://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=joh%206:33&t1=en_niv&sr=1" title="Click to study this verse"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666193;">33</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b><span style="color: #781f66;">For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.”</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Observations:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The people searched
after Jesus and wanted to see ‘Fireworks’- IE another miracle… (vs 30)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus tells the people
about God’s work- and then they immediately go to ‘We want to see a sign’-this
response says… “I’m not interested in what you’re talking about- I want
something else.”</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If the people WERE
interested in what Jesus was attempting to communicate, they would have asked
further about God’s work and what our part is – but they did not… </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ultimately, the people
were seeking to be entertained…</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqVBYhbHUutFLEE_cCCyeVfes4pgTGus0jblH8Xlva1jPm-UgzhYRFJnon070wWKk1uaL58EFjrqBJtvG3G7rs-GY38VPxmnm_5KxFFg_14XM_Viy4Zk3AzGkrfPERH9jWLNvi5B2uAEc/s320/Maximus.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So…
I wanted to share a thought with you from the rest of John 6…</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Some
conclusions as Jesus continues attempting to challenge and teach the people…</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
People were seeking a ‘sign’, but really just looking to be entertained by
miracles…</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
continues teaching and challenging, but the people entirely missed with Jesus
was trying to teach and communicate because they were caught up with being
entertained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So… here are some of the
points Jesus was trying to teach and challenge the people with…</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Everyone who comes to Him, He will not drive
away</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>He has come to do the Father’s will- not His own</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The will of the Father is NOT to lose any that
the Father has given Him</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Everyone who looks to Christ will have eternal
life</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Why
am I making this point?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I’m thinking
through this whole thing, I’m trying to connect these dots.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s
what I’m thinking…</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">IF
I am only seeking to be ‘entertained’ by God- then I will entirely MISS and
MISUNDERSTAND these points that Jesus was trying to communicate. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">IF
I am struggling through these points, have I been seeking God only to be
‘entertained’?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to hear your guys thoughts and
would love to discuss these things with you guys…</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-37841213342281281372016-05-26T14:57:00.002-05:002016-05-26T14:58:16.087-05:00<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "sf distant galaxy"; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Leadership, Lordship, Laboring</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We were blessed to have the opportunity
to have Tom Yeakley join us as our keynote speaker this past April at the
Cedarmore Retreat Center just outside of Louisville, KY. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrh7EWK19YdBsCYlg1dnUMmwHAuFELfqC2zIrP3IJczVwbwcpg_FFRbBDEVo_hYBHt0kgI_VlkG2RjKqbBZ_zTdqNN7GAHcFQ-HeQCLg1RsZ5NaZNQKgAtChBkMRWTgQMfBg8-xjnwhRgq/s1600/Spring+Conference+2016+pic+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrh7EWK19YdBsCYlg1dnUMmwHAuFELfqC2zIrP3IJczVwbwcpg_FFRbBDEVo_hYBHt0kgI_VlkG2RjKqbBZ_zTdqNN7GAHcFQ-HeQCLg1RsZ5NaZNQKgAtChBkMRWTgQMfBg8-xjnwhRgq/s320/Spring+Conference+2016+pic+for+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Tom is one of 3 Sphere directors for
the Navigators (vice-presidents) and has been very influential in the area of
leadership development for the Navigators ministry- not only in the United
States but also abroad.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the things that I walked away
with continuing to think more about was on Tom’s 1<sup>st</sup> Message on the Privilege
of Leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first part that
generated MUCH healthy discussion was in the area of Leadership and ‘Followership’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our world today, leadership is looked upon
in a very good way- but also ‘hyper-celebrated’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is done in such a way that the idea of ‘followership’
is really seems to have no value whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But in God’s economy…. The follower AND the leader are BOTH valued highly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Particularly in the military culture- this
idea can be lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as men and women
who are pursuing God and helping others to pursue God while being immersed in a
military culture- it is important to remember to keep God’s perspective on
value.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Good teaching on leadership is a sought
after issue for us- as many times it is a topic that just isn’t mentioned
enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore we were VERY grateful
to have Tom and Dan Daetz come and join us for our conference and to talk about
this topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are the 4 points Tom
made in his first message.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">4
Components of Good Leadership</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Set
Direction</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Align
Resources to Direction</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Inspire
and Motivate</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Manage
the Work of Others</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I particularly enjoyed the 1<sup>st</sup>
point on setting direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Setting
Direction is the point that answers the ‘why’ we do what we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we can’t help others to see the ‘WHY’
behind what we’re doing and what we’re trying to help others move toward- they
won’t decide to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They won’t put
their own discretionary effort toward these goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if we can help those we are discipling
and leading in gaining clarity toward God’s objectives and goals- each young
disciple can move forward with their own conviction, energy, and creativity in
reaching the World for Christ. Therefore, we must each continue to move forward in our own personal walk with God- so that we can continue to point people to Christ- the real, personal, God that we know.... not some distant God who is uninterested and uninvolved. As we continue personally with Christ, we can connect those who God is allowing us to influence, to connect with Him personally as well.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-86034123944224229882014-07-16T16:28:00.000-05:002014-07-16T16:28:22.138-05:00Allowing The Word to Change Us/ Mature Us<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT Black","serif"; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">‘Allowing’ God to Use The Word to Change Us/
Mature Us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Had
a great conversation just a few days ago with one of the guys involved with our
ministry, Andrew Younkin. Andrew is and
active duty soldier and has been involved with us for almost 5 years. He is getting set to PCS to Germany.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> As
we got some talk time the other day, Andrew began to mention to me several
things that he’s realizing about himself that he needs to grow, mature through,
and get past. One of them is the idea of
leading through influence rather than attempting to control people. We discussed that although soldiers have to
follow the orders of those who are higher ranking than them- they HAVE to
follow the orders of those who out rank them.
But, if leaders would not only use their rank and authority to direct
soldiers- but also influence them toward goals and missions- then things would
be accomplished not only in a more timely fashion- but also the subordinate
soldiers would follow with greater involvement, engagement, and commitment. This also applies in the spiritual realm as
well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> We
cannot control younger believers- even though we are discipling them. We have to figure out how to influence them
toward growing in the Walk with God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> The
thing that was encouraging for me to see with Andrew was how he said, “I
realize my tendency is to want to control people. But I’m memorizing this verse to remind me
how I’m not supposed to try to control people- but to try to influence them and
set the example.” This was the verse
that Andrew was referencing:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 35.1pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1 Peter 5:2-3 Be shepherds of
God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you
must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for
money, but eager to serve; 3 <b>not lording it over those entrusted to you, but
being examples</b> to the flock. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Andrew began to mention a few more
things that he saw that he was struggling with- but each time he pointed out a
verse that he found in his Quiet time or a verse that Matthew Clark or Jeff
Stone had shared with him. And each time
he said he was memorizing the verse in order to remind him about how God wants
us to be a certain way- despite what his own tendency or personality might be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This reminds me of another verse: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 35.1pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 35.1pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Psalm 119:9,11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your Word. <b>I have hidden your Word in my heart,</b> that I
might not sin against You.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Psalmist said that he would ‘hide’
God’s Word in his heart/ memorize it so that it would help him to be
obedient. This word ‘hide’- actually
means to ‘lurk’. The word ‘lurk’ always
makes me think of the the National Geographic Nature shows, where the lions
would lurk in the tall grasses and attempt to pounce on some unsuspecting
prey. If we memorize God’s Word- the
Word will ‘lurk’ in our hearts- waiting to pounce on temptation or situations
where we are in trouble- and instead of pouncing on us in a bad way (like a
lion killing its prey) the Word will pounce in on our hearts and minds-
reminding us toward the way to obedience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> In
the end… just a great time talking with Andrew and watching how he is allowing
the Word (and Allowing God) and using
the Word to shape and mold him toward spiritual maturity. May we each continue forward in the same way
that Andrew allowing God to grow him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Andrew Younkin (bottom left) pictured with his </span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">roommates</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> from the Guys house a few months ago.</span></div>
Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-61311708359372966462013-12-02T10:03:00.001-06:002013-12-02T10:04:16.433-06:00Measuring Our Effectiveness<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Measuring our Effectiveness</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Wanted to take some time to have a friend of ours share a thought he shared with our STS team at Ft. Campbell a few weeks ago. Matthew Clark is currently leading the Ft. Campbell Navigators ministry as I am coaching him as he is leading our ministry. Matthew has done a great job of helping our ministry continue to progress in the depth and commitment level to in depth bible study. He is also doing a great job of continuing to push the vision of discipleship that Jesus modeled for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Here are a few points that I asked Matthew to post on our blog to share with everyone...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hope it stirs some good and challenging thoughts and applications as we move closer and closer toward the model that Christ left us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> Recently I had a conversation with a fellow soldier
and they were confessing to me the age old frustration. They were banging their
heads against the wall in ministry but seeming to go nowhere. As we talked
through the challenges of being a Christian in their unit and trying to be an
example for Christ the inevitable phrase came out: “I am doing the best I can
but no one in my unit seems to be interested in Christ.” As I drove the two and
a half hours home that night this began to stir up a lot of thoughts in my
head. I confess that I have often felt this way myself. As a young Specialist,
newly arrived at Ft. Campbell, I was often frustrated that no one in my unit
seemed to respond to me talking about Christ. I could easily throw my hands up
and say that no one was interested. And I would wash my hands and say that I
had done my best and move on. But I have
come across some verses that are worth consideration. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Matthew 9:37 – T<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">hen he said to his disciples,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">“The harvest is
plentiful, but the laborers are few. </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">John 17:20 - <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">“I do not<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>ask for these only, but also for those<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>who will believe in me through their
word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 10pt;">If God promises that the harvest is plentiful,
and if He also promises that there will be those that believe through my word,
then the question dramatically changes. No longer can I say that no one in my
unit or sphere of influence is interested in Christ. Now I have to ask myself
why am I am being effective in reaching out to them?</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> Christianity is a very different culture from the
World. And because of that we create a gaping chasm of a rift between the two
worlds. Lots of things contribute to this gap; culture, values, purpose. In all
reality we are living for very different things than the world is. And if we
let it this can very easily alienate us and set the distance further and
further away until we become irrelevant. Normally our approach is to invite
people to church or to a bible study if they do not come then we throw our
hands up and say, “Well I tried, they just weren’t interested.” But again if
Jesus promises a harvest then either Christ is lying or we are using the wrong
tactic. We expect those people to come out of their culture, their comfort
zone, their family to take part in ours. What would persuade someone to want to
cross this gaping chasm by themselves to take part in what is going on with us?
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In truth people will make
this jump. But I argue that these are the people that are already desperate for
Christ, people who are already relationally isolated, and people who are
broken. Because these are the people that we are attracting to us it is no
wonder that we spend massive amounts of energy bandaging them and taking care
of them and very quickly lose an offensive and aggressive mindset. And although
these people need Christ desperately I think we are losing the battle in long
term influence by separating ourselves and only being attractive to the
relationally isolated population.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> And first and foremost I do not think this is the
model that Jesus left for us. Jesus did not remain on the fringes of society,
drastically different, and expect everyone to come to Him. Jesus was attractive
to them. Jesus went to them. And Jesus sent us to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Matthew 9:35 - <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">And Jesus went throughout all the cities
and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the
kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 10pt;">Luke
10:1 - After this the Lord appointed<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>seventy-two<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>others and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>sent them on ahead of him, two by two,
into every town and place where he himself was about to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jesus bridged this chasm
leaving us an example of minimizing the distance people have to go. And He went
to the world rather than expecting them to come to Him. Jesus’ example was to
be close enough to the world to influence them but different and challenging
enough to show them something different. But the most important thing is Jesus
went to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Often times people are
afraid to grab a beer with their fellow soldiers after work. They are afraid to
go to a cook-out. Or they don’t know how to interact with the world because the
divide is so far apart. But if we want to have a global impact and a lasting
impact then these are fundamental skills we need to develop along with an
understanding that we need to go to them, not the other way around. And it
starts with me engaging one person in my unit, relating to him, and influencing
him the way Jesus modeled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">God promises a harvest. So
either God is a liar or we are becoming increasingly ineffective and
irrelevant. Let’s look back at Jesus’ example and do what He did. Let’s go to
the world instead of expecting them to come to us. And let’s influence one
person and watch it grow exponentially.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-59513603843409949332013-11-01T13:48:00.001-05:002013-11-01T13:48:16.255-05:00NEW Creation... NEW IdentityFriends....<br />
<br />
I'm excited to Introduce Caleb Tate- whom I asked to write up a few thoughts from something we discussed over IM the other day. Caleb is prepping to deploy with the Army and although he is away from our fellowship, God is continuing to work out things in his life and help him grasp and understand truths that HE is trying to communicate with us. I've asked him to be our guest blogger.... enjoy...<br />
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The following thoughts come from my recent experiences in dealing with my identity in Christ. I believe God has revealed to me something profound. While this may seem a small thing, my experience has been that when God drops a pebble in a still pond, the ripple can turn into a tsunami. </div>
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2 Corinthians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1872541383" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:17</span></span>, "Therefore, if anyone is Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come". I've had this passage memorized for several years. The concept is pretty simple and easy to understand, but until recently, I haven't truly grasped onto this truth in order to apply it to my life. Understanding that my identity comes from Christ is a big deal, and I've always known that, yet I never quite realized one small detail - that my identity is IN Christ. This makes a couple of times now that God has chosen to reveal a profound truth to me in a verse of scripture that I've had memorized for quite some time (others include Ephesians <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1872541384" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2:20</span></span> and Isaiah 53:6). I knew that two things needed to happen: I needed to stop viewing myself as I always have, and I needed to begin to view myself as God does (through the blood of Jesus). These two things were as easy for me as explaining string theory. I didn't understand how to just switch perspectives simply by reading in the Word how God looks at His children. </div>
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People can respond in many ways in conversations. They either don't care about the other person in the slightest, they only talk to the other person because the circumstance happens to have both of them in the same place at the same time, or they are genuinely interested in what the other person has to say. Very recently, as I lay down to sleep, I was having a bout of loneliness and I knew that I needed to pray on it. The idea that God <em>wants</em> me to talk with Him has always been foreign to me. This fact was frustrating to me at that particular time as I lay there. I knew that my upbringing wasn't the most conducive to me having an accurate understanding of who God is and how He views me. I've known that for quite some time. What I did not know was that I had not properly dealt with it.</div>
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I woke up early the next morning and did pray. I can't remember exactly how the prayer went, but I thought about all the events that were burned in my head that helped to shape my current identity. The gist of what God showed me is this: I don't need to hang on to those memories. I'm not talking about God magically erasing those memories from my brain, I'm talking about asking God to heal the scars and the pain that the memories continue to cause. Jesus healed all kinds of people when He was here in human form, and He continues to heal people today, but for whatever reason, I never thought to ask Jesus to heal me. What does Jesus say to people? "Go in peace, your faith has made you well." I guess I just thought that the emotional pain and scars were just a normal part of life. That morning God showed me that it isn't. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; <strong><em><u>the old has gone</u></em></strong>, and the new has come." Unfortunately, in my Bible the phrase, "the old has gone", is not bolded, italicised, and underlined, but that's what the Holy Spirit is there for at the proper time. Matthew <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1872541385" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">7:16</span></span>, "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" In this passage Jesus is talking about the difference between a true prophet and a false one but I believe this principle can be applied here. Grapes do not grow on thornbushes. If I want to have an accurate understanding of who I am in Christ (grapes), it can't come from my current way of thinking (thornbush). The thornbush must be uprooted: the old has gone. The roots are the memories. The unfortunate scenes in my head that shape how I think and bring legitimate pain must be properly put to rest. I've written down specific events and memories from my past to ask God to heal. "Your faith has healed you, go in peace." </div>
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This process is not like a substitution in a basketball game. It is better compared to an actual thornbush being chopped down at the root. A shovel is needed to pick out bits of root and rock from the dirt so the soil is fertile for the new seed to be planted. Water, sunlight, and time bring about the new identity. This process will not happen automatically; deliberation is key. God knows this process isn't easy, but I think that may be why He invented the gift of hope. </div>
Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-27318376409273279352013-07-22T00:12:00.001-05:002013-07-22T16:52:43.637-05:00Making God Centered Decisions<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Star Jedi"; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Making
God-Centered Decisions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Life
is about making decisions … so how is a person who is trying to follow Christ,
able to negotiate decisions in life that will definitely bring blessings or
consequences?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9VPR2HdxMPI2fchu2Mh0ZthJsr4jTUViIuqtjHUVaUoBgffac8t8CkgYnGYRv5vp9121rVZbN4iaPR7tEOpUMgQY37U510oVbYUD6Q4CdMw9fRMu8V4RZZrTLzonUXZOtzuzj2OlwcPm/s1600/Fork+in+the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9VPR2HdxMPI2fchu2Mh0ZthJsr4jTUViIuqtjHUVaUoBgffac8t8CkgYnGYRv5vp9121rVZbN4iaPR7tEOpUMgQY37U510oVbYUD6Q4CdMw9fRMu8V4RZZrTLzonUXZOtzuzj2OlwcPm/s400/Fork+in+the+road.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm going to digress for a bit....</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">I’m thoroughly enjoying our
STS/Character study about the Life of David.
</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">David was an ordinary person- that reckoned that God would be with
him.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">As a result- he does marvelous
things.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">As a result of following God and
being more concerned about what God thinks of him- he makes tough choices that
reveal a character about him that God says how David is a “man after my own
heart.”</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">(1 Sam 13:14 But now your
kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and
appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's
command." </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> One
of the things that caught my attention this past week from my study that has
really impacted me and is causing me to rethink how I think about decisions and
talking to God about them….This is the passage that has gotten me thinking…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 Sam 26:1-12 The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said,
"Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?" 2
So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand chosen men of
Israel, to search there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the
hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert. When he saw
that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul
had definitely arrived. 5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul
had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army,
had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around
him. 6 David then asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah,
Joab's brother, "Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?" "I'll
go with you," said Abishai. 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by
night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in
the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. 8
Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your
hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't
strike him twice." 9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him!
Who can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the
Lord lives," he said, "the Lord himself will strike him; either his
time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But
the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. Now get the
spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go." 12 So David
took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or
knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. <b>They
were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep</b>. NIV<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(I’ll tell you in a little bit why I
highlighted this last verse) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So… David is being chased down by
Saul. God makes the entire Israelite
camp fall asleep. This gives David and
Abishai a great opportunity to sneak down into the camp and finish off the man
who is causing him so much trouble and heartache. David and Abishai stand over king Saul and
Abishai tells David this is the chance to finish off his enemy and God has
given him the chance. Abishai says he
will run him through with his spear- “I won’t need to do it twice,” Abishai
says. But, David is convicted. He cannot be part of such an act and
decision. David chooses the high road
and instead chooses to take the king’s spear and water jug as a testament that
he was there and had the opportunity to kill the king- but didn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> This
is my point….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> God
made the entire Israelite camp fall into a deep sleep- EVERYONE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> So
God engineered this opportunity for David to kill the king.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> GOD
MADE THIS OPPORTUNITY!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> David
entered the camp. David saw the
opportunity. David …….. did NOT kill the king. David proves his character before God, before
the men, before himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
wasn’t just enough to have an opportunity or an open door. The issue for David was to have the kind of
character that would CHOOSE the high road, the Godly decision (even though it
meant prolonged trouble, discomfort, pain).
David saw the open door and was able to make a BETTER decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My
conclusion and application:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t pray for opportunities
or open doors- pray for the character to know what decision to make<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That is my hope and prayer for me, my
family, my friends, and our ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">No doubt someone out there is feeling a
little upset or insecure about the idea of not praying for opportunities or
open doors- I’m not intending in any way
to attack or demean those who do (I have prayed for these opportunities and
open doors too) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My point is that I believe it takes a
higher degree of commitment to Godlike character to pray for Christ like wisdom-
so that I can make God centered decisions in the face of these decisions
throughout my life. Just like David,
just because the door was open, doesn’t mean that I MUST take it. David had the opportunity to take the open
door (in this case, end the man who was hunting him down). But, David doesn’t take the open door and
instead, he proves his God like character.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lord… May you bless me, my family, my
friends, and those who’ve partnered with us in our ministry, that we can all
display your wisdom and God like character in the face of life’s decisions… Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-78872680039989989972013-05-08T12:58:00.002-05:002013-05-08T12:58:53.626-05:00Campbell/Knox Spring Conference 2013<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Star Jedi'; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 80%;">Campbell/ Knox Spring Conference 2013
at White Mills Christian Camp</span><span style="font-family: "Star Jedi"; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 80%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The Ft. Campbell Nav ministry met with the Ft. Knox Nav ministry just this past weekend for our Spring Conference. It was a quick conference, with the bulk of the conference occurring this past Saturday. Doug Cote was the key note speaker. We had some great fellowship time, fun, and great discussion as we mulled over the things Doug shared with us from his testimony and the 2 messages he shared with us. Here are few high points from the weekend talks....<br />
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<li>Doug had opportunity to get bitter with God- but he chose not to get bitter with God or with people </li>
<li>Doug made Lordship decisions to CHOOSE to spend time with the people who could effectively train him and develop him as a laborer and disciple-maker</li>
<li>We use our logic to determine life decisions- but many times God has his OWN PLAN on what He wants to do and what He will do with us</li>
<li>The POA ensures that God will always send men and women who are committed to Him </li>
<li>We need to pray for WORTHY men and women for God</li>
<li>We need to BE... WORTHY men and women for God</li>
<li>Our ministries are led by sinners- so we need to give each other some slack because we all need Jesus' help</li>
<li>Job 2:10- Accept adversity from God </li>
<li>We need to realize we WILL go through adversity in our lifetime</li>
<li>We need to quit talking about being 'broken' when we're really not</li>
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Hope a few of these points will re-energize the thoughts from the conference and that it will also challenge us to move forward and further in our personal walk with Christ and how we can build and invest in others as well.</div>
Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-47512631869882868762013-02-11T17:09:00.000-06:002013-02-11T17:09:36.106-06:00God's Blueprint Diagram<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Star Jedi"; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 80%;">God’s
BluePrint Diagram<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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A diagram that I drew up to highlight some key points in how a young believer begins to move forward toward maturity. Just to head off any confusion.....<br />
THIS IS NOT A SALVATION DIAGRAM/ ILLUSTRATION-<br />
Once we've shared the Gospel or hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we have taken the steps to now walk with Jesus Christ- this outlines some key points in how a believer can move toward maturity and Engage in the Mission of Christ.<br />
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First we have to accept and submit to the Lordship of Christ. What hamstrings many believers from even moving forward toward maturity in Christ is that we talk about following God- but yet we keep the control of our lives and do not submit to God's authority to direct our lives. Which means we continue living how we WANT to live rather than finding out about what God is after and submitting ourselves to Him so that we can begin moving toward accomplishing those things.<br />
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Next... a person must realize that we are sent by God to accomplish a Misison. If we dodge this issue- there is NO reason to grow and invest in the Basics of the Christian life. The Basics of the Christian life will simply be things that I check on the block on sundays and maybe every so often on wednesday evenings or when a friend drags me off to biblestudy during the week. Just an aside..... I met a Vietnam veteran in the mid 90s when I was on active duty and there were no current conflicts we were engaged in at the time.... One of the things he said to me was "It was pretty hard getting (GI) joes to clean their M-16s... but as soon as the war (Vietnam) hit- it wasn't a problem convincing guys to clean their weapons or go to the range to practice." <br />
We are in similar situations spiritually- if the believer doesn't see a mission that they are called to be part of- they will not see the need to invest in biblestudy, prayer, fellowship, evangelism training or any of those things that will help us move toward maturity.<br />
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The Basics of the Christian life- Time in the Word, Prayer, Fellowship, Witnessing, Obeying Christ, M2M discipleship... these things are going to form the backbone of what helps us move forward toward maturing in our Walk with God.<br />
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Maturity- Becoming the Warrior Leader on the battlefield that God has called us to be...<br />
I love the story of Gideon where the Angel comes to him and calls him a "Valiant Warrior"- but Gideon has NO IDEA of what that means... particularly as he is hiding out in a cave. But God sees us that way and wants us all to ENGAGE IN REACHING OUT TO EVERYONE around us for His Name.<br />
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Reproduce...<br />
The test of Discipleship<br />
The Test of who we TRULY are as Believers<br />
This is what Christ has called us to.... so.... are there disciples in our wake?<br />
Matt 4:19 "Follow Me", Jesus said , "And I will make you Fishers of Men." Can I truly call myself a follower of Christ if I'm not involved with Fishing for people the way Jesus did?<br />
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God's Desire- that all men come to Know Him....<br />
Even in the OT we see that this was on God's heart.<br />
His people knew that too.<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1 Sam 17:45-47 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, <b>and </b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands." NIV</span><br />
Young David knew this...<br />
The story of David and Goliath was NOT a neat, little, fun story for us to talk about overcoming giants and bullies... it is about God doing something BIG to bring glory to Himself- to create VISIBILITY to His name.<br />
SO...<br />
throughout the WHOLE world people would know and realize that there was A REAL GOD in Israel that moves and interacts and fights and is involved with people.<br />
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That is what God wants.<br />
He wants to be involved with us and have us KNOW Him.<br />
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So....<br />
Lets find someone who doesn't know Christ and bring the Message to them... Lets find a believer that needs direction and lets get them trained... Lets go hunting for some giants.....<br />
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<br />Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-26776403493833764472013-01-15T00:53:00.003-06:002013-01-15T00:54:38.103-06:00Daniel- 1st STS study of 2013<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Ringbearer","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Daniel- A Great Picture of God Orchestrating the
Continued Visibility of His Name<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Working
through the study of Daniel 1 with our STS team and I’m excited and encouraged
to continue to see how God is bringing forward His own name to people
everywhere- even though His own people have not stayed obedient and loyal to
His name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Why would a
conquering king bring nobility from a conquered nation into his own palace to
become his own advisers??</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe a
strategy to keep exiled Israelites from become restless?</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe the exiles would follow their own who
were part of the Babylonian government?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Nevertheless…
the result of this decision by the king
brings Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah into the service of the
king. As a result, God is made visible
not only to the King- but to everyone in the nation as well as the Babylonian
kings order their people to recognize and follow the God of Daniel, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> There are so many things to take away from studying Daniel.... one of them: seeing how God orchestrates and works to the benefit of His people and His own Name at the Micro-level (with us and our own interpersonal interactions) but also at a Macro-level. (creating visibility and recognition of His name through the city of Babylon, the Babylonian Empire, and the world)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Daniel and his friends must have been through quite an ordeal to be conquered and taken away into exile and also to be 'educated' in the Chaldean culture and wisdom. Yet throughout all this... we do NOT see Daniel or his friends wavering in the commitment and loyalty to God nor do we see them losing ground to bitterness. If we are to continue forward with God and continue with boldness, conviction, while also managing to counter the effects that bitterness can have on our lives- it will be through the recognition and understanding that God is in control AND does have the best in mind for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Prov 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the
Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Rom 8:28</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"> And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. </span></div>
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Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-36445755472911069782012-12-10T19:54:00.000-06:002012-12-10T19:54:04.143-06:00Merry Christmas from the Ft. Campbell Navigators Ministry<br />
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<b>Ft. Campbell Navigators Ministry</b></div>
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<b>Christmas Party 2012</b></div>
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Merry Christmas from the Ft. Campbell Navigators Ministry!!!</div>
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We’ve had a tremendous year reaching soldiers with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and helping many soldiers understand what it means to grow and mature in their walk with God. We’re looking forward with anticipation to a great new year and another year of impacting soldiers for Christ.</div>
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We urge and pray that each of you will understand and know the joy and peace that Christ can bring even through the business of the season.</div>
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Merry Christmas!!</div>
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Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-6222672217320460032012-11-28T09:34:00.000-06:002012-11-28T09:35:35.275-06:00A Candid Interview with Matthew Clark on Life and Ministry My friend and fellow Laborer, Matthew Clark, does a quick interview on life and ministry while also being involved in the Military. Hope you all take the time to listen and grab a few points on what this might look like in your own life and you can engage in battle as well.<br />
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<div class="ab-player" data-boourl="http://audioboo.fm/boos/1082361-a-perspective-from-a-military/embed">
<a href="http://audioboo.fm/boos/1082361-a-perspective-from-a-military">listen to ‘A perspective from a military’ on Audioboo</a></div>
<script type="text/javascript">(function() { var po = document.createElement("script"); po.type = "text/javascript"; po.async = true; po.src = "http://d15mj6e6qmt1na.cloudfront.net/assets/embed.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })();</script>Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-46745552948759307672012-08-15T13:51:00.005-05:002012-08-15T13:51:42.203-05:00The VOICE..... Compels us<br />
Just wanted to share a short email I got from a good friend of mine deployed overseas.<br />
I'm encouraged by his heart to pursue Jesus and bring Him to others.<br />
I hope you are as encouraged and challenged by him as I am.<br />
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Things my way have been cool. It's up tempo and long hours but I am continuing to stay in the word and in prayer. I had a neat nugget form my qt yesterday.<br />
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"One voice"<br />
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My new reading plan consists of reading the gospels for the next sixth months. Matthew 1, Mark 1, Luke 1, John 1. It has been really neat to take a closer look at who Jesus was and what he did to accomplish God's vision for mankind. I came across Matthew 3:3, This is a quotation from Isaiah 40:3, Concerning John the baptist.<br />
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" The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the dessert A highway for our GOD."<br />
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In each gospel I see that John was called to be a "voice" to people of Judea, mainly to bring them to Jesus. I just recently read the whole book of Acts to get grasp a overall view of what Luke was trying to convey. It is really cool if you haven't, just to read a book of the bible in one setting. And I came up with a thought. "Voice" The one voice that the original apostles, Paul and other missionaries obeyed and Listen to, was the Holy Spirit. This impacted the course of mankind.<br />
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The Voice is God wanting us to be his witnesses so the world may know him and guiding and directing us to be faithful to him . (John B prepared the way)<br />
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I was challenged in this area , The Holy spirit led me to make a vow that for the rest of this month I will not go to sleep unless I share the gospel with at least one person a day. Its funny because I was being hesitant but finally gave in. So, last night I was doing sts at the coffee shop and a couple of guys sat next to me. It led to small talk but no hope. So, I continued to sts. Then my new friend Colin Crow sat across from me to do his qt. (answer to prayer in regards to fellowship) He talked about our own personal testimonies and what we have been getting out of the word and prayer. We will be meeting everyday at the coffee shop. :) Really cool and humble guy too! Looking forward to that!<br />
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But the night wasn't over yet. I thought this was the guy but I could not go to sleep because the Holy Spirit was too convicting. So, I got out of my bed and walked around the barracks to see who would I share Jesus with. I came across some guys who were smoking and shared Jesus with them. They really wasn't interested but we had a neat conversation about Jesus and religion. What a day it was!<br />
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I am praying that I will be voice for others so they would come to know and walk with Jesus. Ultimately the Holy Spirit doing the work in them.Thanks for lending a ear brother. Miss you! Pray for the guys my Battalion has been taking a beating. Also, my buddy Damian Ortiz. I have been helping him with reading the bible and him hearing from God himself.<br />
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Thanks for lending a ear.<br />
In him,<br />
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Friends....</div>
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Reading the Word is not enough- it is a great start. But allowing the Word to sink deeply into our minds and hearts in such a way as it compels us to respond and live with a mission minded focus- this is how we are marked as followers of Christ and where God begins to do a work to transform who we are.</div>
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I'm hoping and praying that each us us are giving God the opportunity to impact us and transform us through allowing ourselves to get fully exposed to the Word of God. Unless we dive in with curiosity and a hunger to know Him- these kinds of responses may not be possible.</div>
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But...</div>
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If we do...</div>
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If we put in the time to dig into God's Word...</div>
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If we invest in understanding what God was wanting- the possibility for God to transform us and use us becomes reality.</div>
Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-42454506380739032112012-06-05T09:48:00.003-05:002012-06-05T09:48:48.172-05:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: Army;">It doesn't take a hero to
order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into
battle. - Norman Schwarzkopf<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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James and Monica moved to Ft. Campbell with the expressed
interest in getting training and discipleship so that they might be able to
engage in the mission of Jesus Christ to make disciples of all nations. Some have arrived at Campbell- through
nothing of their own choosing…. But the
Carters arrived through a direct, intentional, and purposeful choice. They recognized the command of Christ to make
disciples- they were already doing as best they can to do it- they saw people
at Ft. Campbell who can help them to do this effectively. They made intentional decisions to be away
from the comfort of their own homes, their own families, and their own friends-
to get the training in how to lead others as they engage in Christ’s work to
make disciples. </div>
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Over 500
miles to move away from the familiar, from the comfort, security, and safety of
home- to allow others to invest into their lives so that they can meet the
mission of Christ. That’s what they
did…. That’s what they are doing again…..</div>
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The
decision to move here, for training 7 years ago….. has culminated to what is
going to happen in the next few days… and the next few months…. And the next
few years.</div>
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Not an issue of safety, comfort,
security- but one of dedication, courage, and commitment to Christ. I'm reminded of a great quote from John Shedd.</div>
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<b> "A ship
in harbor is safe - but that is not what ships are for.- John A. Shedd</b></div>
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We’re not
here for safety, or comfort, or our happiness…. We’ve been chosen by God to do
a work, to execute his gameplan, to fulfill His desires to see the world come
to know Jesus Christ. That is going to
take men and women who are not worried about playing it safe. They've chosen to take on the great adventure as God matures them and uses their lives to send them out and make disciples of all nations. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Jedi; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Matt 28:18-20 All
authority on Heaven and Earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And
surely, I will be with you till the end of the age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Maybe there are some risks... maybe there isn't safety... maybe we have to take a step away from the familiar- But Jesus promises He will be there for us. That's enough for me. That's enough for the Carters as well. Godspeed to our fellow laborers, our team-mates, our friends.</div>
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<br /></div>Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-84611656532548689802012-04-25T16:39:00.001-05:002012-04-25T16:39:24.829-05:00The Search .... The Man Hunt for a Worthy Man<br />
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Flipping through some movie clips of "The Fugitive" with Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford, where US Marshall Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) is on the manhunt for Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) who just escaped from a prison transfer.</div>
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Reminded of a conversation and question we had at this past
Spring Conference….</div>
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Cecil Bean had just finished talking about Jesus being our
Example…. And how we must follow what He did and How He did it- meaning we must
be making disciples as He did.</div>
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One of the questions was “How do I bring this back to my
church back at home?”</div>
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The Response “You don’t have to … just find one worthy man.” That’s what Jesus did. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Heavy","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matt
10:11 "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person
there and stay at his house until you leave. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Jesus’ pattern was to find a few… someone who was hungry to
know God and to grow as a believer- He found several- but He picked out 12 to
invest in and train. In turn- these men
would pick out a few “worthy” men themselves and invest and train them as well.</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><br />
This is what we are
to do in a nutshell. As we are growing
and progressing in our own, personal walk with Christ- as we are investing in
the Basics of the Christian life (prayer, biblestudy, QTs, fellowship,
outreach) then we are to be on the search… on the lookout… on the manhunt for
that particular one that not only says they want to know more- but are willing
to move forward in doing something about it as well. That’s what a worthy man looks like- not only
‘curious’ and interested about the bible… <b>not only interested about God… but
willing and able and determined to DO what they are finding and seeing</b></span>Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-1152787073378793502012-01-26T00:24:00.004-06:002012-02-20T21:05:41.976-06:00The Battle is What Unites Us and Heals Us<div>Hope everyone had a Great CHRIST-mas and good New years as well...</div><div>Looking forward to a great new year of ministry..</div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:22.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Jedi">The Battle is what Unites Us<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div>Sharing some thought from my biblestudy this past week with our STS team at Campbell….</div><div>We are doing our STS study through Acts and we just finished Chapters 3-4… </div><div>I just wanted to share some thoughts from chapter 4.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Acts 4:23-35 </div><div>23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.' 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. </div><div><br /></div></div><div>Everyone is looking to develop this kind of community among believers… they early church had it-</div><div>BUT…..</div><div><br /></div><div>It was the result of a focus, concentration, and direction toward meeting the mission. The Apostles were about making disciples and bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to EVERYONE. They set the stage and set the face and the direction to focus on this mission- everyone who bought in and threw their lot in with them- understood this AND they wanted this too. Therefore, everyone looked after each others’ needs because they saw the mission as being the most important- so they looked out for each other- so that each one could continue with a focus on the mission.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also…the banding together and engaging in this mission together is what built the foundation for the community as well. Its amazing too- to see and experience the building of trust- which is the mortar that holds the community together is built through the working together in ministry and in our pursuit of Jesus Christ… together, with each other.</div><div><br /></div><div>It even solves a lot of conflict that unfortunately plagues every group of people- even those in churches, even those involved in ministries such as ours…</div><div><br /></div><div>Jim Downing, one of the great leaders of the Navigators ministry, wrote in his book, Living Legacy, “Although the Navigator family was exceptionally close, there were some wounded souls who felt like they were outsiders and second-class citizens. They were only healed as they banded together and bonded in new spiritual battles, of which there was an abundance of opportunity.” (Living Legacy 2007 Navpress)</div><div><br /></div><div>Community was built through the focus on Christ’s Mission.</div><div>The Engagement in the Mission builds Trust</div><div>Trust is built among people in the community that CHOOSE to focus on the Mission of Christ together with those who are engaged in it.</div><div><br /></div><div>So…</div><div>Are you engaged in the Mission?</div><div>Are you battling along with others who are engaged in the Mission?</div>Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-5249394664982873042011-11-28T22:24:00.000-06:002011-11-28T22:25:33.385-06:00The Need for Training<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-line-height-alt:10.55pt; background:white"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Jedi;mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;color:#333333">MORE Training is NEEDED<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:10.55pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:10.55pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#333333">Just wanted to share with everyone an email I received from a good friend of mine, Matthew Clark. Matthew is currently at Ft. Rucker, AL undergoing the rigors of flights school. At the same time, he is contributing to the Laborer led ministry at Ft. Rucker AL which is being led by Perry Alliman and Alan Simmons. Matthew has been with our ministry at Campbell for over 6 years and although it wasn't always the smoothest- Matthew has endured and has seized the essence of what the Vision of Jesus Christ is- Generations.....<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333">And since Christ is about the Generations- we must train others...<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333">And since we are looking to develop laborers who will labor for the rest of their lives- we must commit and invest in training...<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333">I'm looking forward to continuing our search to find men like Matthew who God is working in and encouraging those guys at Ft. Rucker as they are doing a tremendous job!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333">[Matthew to Joe]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333">Ok so I think the ministry at Rucker is doing really well. Perry and Alan are focusing more on sharing vision more often and more consistently so there is no mistaking what we are about. Perry has grown into leading the ministry and has taken responsibility for the vision and direction. As a result he is continually upping the standards with the leadership and guys are continually rising to the challenge. I think a fear in the past was not to put too much on the guys because of the rigors of flight school but the guys are consistently rising to the challenge. We have a few very healthy guys and some up and comers as well as some fringe guys who are starting to poke their heads up. It is very exciting. We are also having an expanding impact with the AIT here and growing influence among the chaplains.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333">Perry has also changed his thinking into training the few rather than helping the whole. Most of our focus is directed towards the next generation of leaders and in turn encouraging them to take responsibility for the people in their group. A recurrence at Rucker is that there is no need to recruit. Guys come out of the woodwork to come to study. So we put guys in groups but the group leaders haven't necessarily taken responsibility for them in the past as they thought Perry or Alan would. With a growing emphasis on training the leaders the young guys are developing that responsibility. And as a result Rucker is becoming more a community rather than an additional study to attend. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333">There are so many challenges to TRADOC that I am not sure I can or will figure out in my remaining time here. But I am very encouraged by Perry's vision and direction. The ministry has changed faces dramatically since I've been here and all for the better. Christ continues to open doors and work in the hearts of the people here. One of the questions Perry and I have been praying about is the idea that we only have a short time with guys because of the schedule and length of flight school. I think in the past the idea has been we will do the best we can with the time but don't expect a whole lot. If a guy can do a quiet time when he leaves that's successful. Lately as Perry and I have been praying he has been asking why not. Why can we not start to train guys? Why are we not asking for guys who will be fully committed all the way through flight school? Why not give a guy everything instead of just some Bible Study and Quiet Time skills. Guys are very hungry for Christ down here and as Perry is figuring out how to train and communicate vision we are asking for committed guys who want to know Christ, not just attend the study. And God is giving us those guys.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 10.55pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color:#333333">I hope you all are encouraged by Matthew's email as I am.... <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-family:Jedi; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333">"If you build it- they will come"- Field of Dreams<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-family:Jedi; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333">"If you play a Man's game- men will Come"- Cecil Bean<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-family:Jedi; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333">"If you focus on the Person of Jesus Christ- He will send you men that will pursue Him as you are"- me</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#333333"> </span><span style="font-family:Jedi;mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-25761750625701735392011-10-19T17:15:00.000-05:002011-10-19T17:17:29.640-05:00Matt 11:25-30.... Jesus Revealing God through Challenging us to Labor<br />
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<span style="font-family: Jedi; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus Reveals God to
Us</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span style="font-family: Jedi; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jesus challenges us
with <b>Laboring for God= THIS is what He
wanted to Reveal to us about God</b></span><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Matt 11:25-30 At that time Jesus said,
"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden
these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. 27 "All things have been
committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no
one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal
him. 28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give
you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light." NIV<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Sharing some thoughts from my QT this
past week with our STS group…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Interesting thought for me as God is
revealing more to me about Him through Christ and through His Word. I never connected verses 25-27 to verses
28-30. Verses 28-30 are REALLY popular
with most Christians- as most see it as God wanting to give us rest… one thing
about this one is that God’s idea of rest- that Jesus is telling us- is that HE
wants to put on HIS yoke on OUR necks…. A yoke is a device placed on the necks
of beasts of burden in order to harness their energy to do work—WE are those beasts
of burden- God wants to harness our energy to do work- to labor for Him…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">The first thing with this passage is
that God WANTS to hide some things from people- verses 25-26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">The
next thing is that in verse 27 we find that Jesus is telling us 4 things:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">No one knows the
Father except the Son</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">No one knows the Son
except the Father</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Jesus will be the one
to reveal God to us</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Jesus will be CHOOSING
the people who He will reveal God to</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Then He tells
us that He wants us to Labor for God and that this labor will be REST for us…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Connecting the
dots….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Jesus is
revealing to us something about God- and that something is that God wants us to
Labor. Therefore, those who labor- will
be understanding more and more about who God is and what He is about- we will
understand God more in a way that others will not- since they are not joining
in on the labor for God…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">THIS is what
God wants to hide from people…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Is that IF we
want to KNOW God and Understand Him- then we must Labor for Him…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">There are alot of implications that go along with this too...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">One of them is that... IF we don't labor- then we won't know God- and this may be because we are resisting Jesus revealing God to us through us laboring...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">SO... if we don't labor- that may mean that we DON'T want to Know God...</span></div>Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-70154130364827295122011-09-07T13:32:00.000-05:002011-09-07T13:32:11.867-05:00Navigators Military SE Regional Conference 2011Our SouthEastern Regional conference kicked off with a strong message and theme about Laboring for the Cause of Christ and bringing to fulfillment what was on God's mind to reach the world. <br />
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One of the slides from our 1st talk of the weekend that centered on Vision and how each one of us can be part of bringing God's objectives to fruition. God said what He wanted to see happen in:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> 1 Tim 2:3-4 This is good an pleases God our savior who wants all </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the Truth.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If we are going to be part of meeting God's objective here- we must accept the Lordship of Christ. That means WHATEVER is on Christ's mind- what He wants to do..... how He wants to do it.... that is what we are to do....</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then we must realize that we are sent by God on a mission.... the mission is Matt 28:18-20</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since we are charged with a mission to accomplish- we MUST mature and grow and develop into laborers and REAL disciples of Jesus Christ. As we are growing through the Basics of the Christian life- we must also be growing in 3 roles.... those roles are:</span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ambassador- A Representative of God bringing a Message of reconciliation to others</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recruiter- A Representative of God that pulls other Christians in to join in on the mission</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Trainer/ Disicplemaker- A Representative of God who is able to train, develop, and mature believers to become the same thing he is.... a fisher of men Matt 4:19</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">IF.... we mature....</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">then we will be able to reproduce spiritually.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If we reproduce spiritually, then we will be able to meet God's objectives that He showed us He wanted in 1 Tim 2:3-4. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is the strategy and gameplan installed by Christ for us to use.....</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Can we come up with another plan?? Probably- but Christ outlined this pattern for us...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We must accept the Mission because this mission is given to all those who believe.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">so....</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Great time at this years Fall South East Military conference. I had a great time talking with several people about this topic and helping them understand how they might speak vision to their fellow Christians around them that have not yet joined in on the 'War Effort'. The need is urgent and our task is daunting.... but our Lord is MORE than a match.... He has ALL AUTHORITY (Matt 28:18) and He has ALREADY OVERCOME THE WORLD (John 16:33)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">consider how you might join in with us in the war effort.... </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Get in the Word...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Get trained...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Find a worthy man...</span></div>
Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-25753595787417425392011-07-13T12:56:00.001-05:002011-07-13T12:57:57.335-05:00Exciting and Terrifying!!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> 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mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Impact","sans-serif";">Exciting and Terrifying all at the Same Time!!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=""><span style=""> </span>Great conversation with one our young soldiers attending biblestudy at our Soldiers Chapel study.<span style=""> </span>This particular soldier was led to Christ by a chaplain and was referred to us to begin discipling him and helping him grow to maturity in his pursuit of Christ.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=""><span style=""> </span>“John” (as we’ll call him) just started coming to the biblestudy and one of our biblestudy group leaders has been encouraging him to continue spending time in the Word in daily quiet time and also in investing in biblestudy.<span style=""> </span>As John continued doing biblestudy- he realized more and more how he was to look to God to answer questions for him such as “should I get out of the army?” or “does God want me to move my family somewhere else to reach out to people who are not being reached?”<span style=""> </span>Great questions!!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="">John’s response to it all was that he was excited to realize that God could be directing him toward what GOD WANTED FOR THEM and to realize that he needed to submit more and more to God’s directing rather than directing things for himself and for his own thoughts and desires.<span style=""> </span>But John also said that it was terrifying as he saw more and more that ‘someone else’ would be doing the directing and not him…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="">“Its Exciting and terrifying all at the same time!!”<span style=""> </span>John exclaimed at biblestudy that evening…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=""><span style=""> </span>“John” eventually deployed and is currently overseas.<span style=""> </span>We’re hoping and praying that God will put us in touch with more and more soldiers like “John” who have a hunger to meet Christ and know Him personally and submit to Christ’s call and direction for their lives….</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=""><span style=""> </span>As Peter told Christ so many years ago…<span style=""> </span></span>"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."- John 6:68-69<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=""> </span>At Ft. Campbell, we are creating an atmosphere where soldiers can discover these truths and find a face to face, personal interaction with Christ…. And eventually come to the same realization that Peter did in those days that Christ walked with the 12 disciples…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=""> </span>Then we encourage them and challenge to take the plunge and begin the adventure of laboring for Christ wherever He might take them…<span style=""></span></p>Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-53764183165213819422011-04-18T11:43:00.001-05:002011-04-18T11:44:07.317-05:00The Art of Sending<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> 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mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: normal;">Team Campbell and Friends…</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: normal;">Our STS team at the Campbell Ministry has been steadily studying through the Book of Luke…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Always a great time to study the Gospels and take a closer, investigative look into the life of Jesus Christ and take inventory of what things each of us has made a priority versus the things that Jesus has given us insight into what the Heavenly Father considers as a priority.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=""> </span>One of the things that Jesus made a heavy priority was the training and sending out of His disciples.<span style=""> </span>Jesus invests a large amount of time modeling for the disciples what to do and how to go about doing it…. And then He sends them out to get out there and gain some experience in ‘laboring’ for the Kingdom while also making a heavy impact toward taking ground from Satan and beating back where he has formerly controlled regions and areas in people’s hearts and minds…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=""> </span>Just wanted to share a few points from James C’s devotional before our STS study as we went over Luke 10 just last week…</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Jedi;">The 6 I</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">’</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Jedi;">s of Sending</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">...</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="">INVOLVED- Jesus involved the disciples in the process of laboring and fishing for the Kingdom-<span style=""> </span>Lk 10:1</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="">IDENTIFY needs- Jesus saw the need for laborers for the harvest and communicated to the disciples the great need Lk 10:2</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="">INFORMED them of the dangers- Jesus told them that they would be sent out like sheep among wolves<span style=""> </span>Lk 10:3</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="">IGNITED a sense of urgency- Jesus told the disciples to move out quickly and not stop on the road and avoid distractions to get out to the places to interact in the villages Lk 10:4</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="">INTRUCTED them with a course of action- Jesus told them how to go about being received and what to do when they were rejected Lk 10:10</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="">ILLUMINATED the difference between majors and minors- Lk 10:17<span style=""> </span>Jesus was excited for them but continued to keep them focused on what to be truly excited about</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> Jesus told us in Matt 4:19<span style=""> </span>“Come follow Me and I will MAKE you Fishers of men”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="">As followers of Christ- we OUGHT to be becoming skilled in the art of sending out others and training others to be sent out- as we must also be interacting with others around us for Christ as well. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="">If you are finding yourself unskilled and fumbling as a ‘fisher of men’… it may mean a re-prioritization of time is in order and a re-determining of who you spend your time with is in order as well…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="">The pattern Jesus sets as an example for us is a more mature believer guides us an trains us for the battle- we must therefore make diligent effort to find these people and ensure that we are getting as much time with them as possible so that they can train us- much in the manner as Jesus trained the 12 Disciples too…</span></p>Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-42078296908803809062011-01-10T14:49:00.002-06:002011-01-10T15:00:32.059-06:00Some thoughts from One of our Team mates overseas..<div>Team Campbell and Friends,<br /><br />Just wanted to share a quick email from one of our guys overseas, Drew M.<br />Drew has been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">involved</span> with us for 2+ years now and has caught an infectious desire to bring Christ to others and be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">involved</span> with reaching the world for Christ through the multiplication of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Disciplemakers</span> and Laborers...<br />I just wanted to share with you guys a few thoughts that he sent me recently:<br /><br /><br />Dude...<br />I cannot explain what God has in stored for us. I was reading in my q.t. yesterday and I came across this verse in Deuteronomy 1:8. " See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore he would give to your fathers-to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-and their descendants after them." I have been thinking about the word <strong><em>possession.</em></strong> This word is used frequently in the old testament. Joe, when you said about having a Disciple and a labor in every Battalion on Campbell, it hit me that morning that God wants us to possess the Land. GO-GET IT! It starts with the insiders (Jeff V, myself and others) I did some research and there are 32 Battalions at Campbell. That is going to be a lot lot of work but I am standing by Jeremiah 32: 17 "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. <strong>Nothing is too hard for you"</strong> We have promises by God himself to back this up!<strong> </strong>I really believe this Joe! I am encouraged that the LEADERS have instilled in us the <strong>vision</strong> and how important it to take hold of it. </div> <div> </div> <div>Thank your for lending your ear bro and I cannot wait for you to mentor me in a much effective way! </div> <div> </div> <div>Love you,<br /><br /><br /><br />Team Campbell and Friends.......<br />Drew's excitement and desire reminds me of Caleb in the OT when the other guys gave a bad report about the land that they had spied out and that God has given them. <br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Num</span> 13:30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."<br /><br />Caleb was confident that they could take the land- no matter what was in their path BECAUSE God was with them. His fellow brother spies however responded in fear despite Joshua and Caleb's urging to go up to take the land. And..... the Israelites paid for their discouragement, fear, and inaction with their lives.<br /><br />Team Campbell and Friends....<br />Our task and vision for Ft. Campbell is ambitious and challenging- but our God is BIG AND POWERFUL...... and on OUR SIDE. Therefore- our vision to reach Ft. Campbell and put a laboring disciple in every <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">battalion</span> is reachable and attainable. <br /><br />Do you want to be part of reaching and changing the world for Christ??<br />We are starting here at Campbell.....<br /><br /></div>Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-28633316384253287812010-12-23T00:28:00.002-06:002010-12-23T00:33:20.623-06:00Reading the book "Living Legacy"Team Campbell and Friends....<br />Our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">STS</span> team finished the year reading the book "Living Legacy"<br />Written by Jim Downing to celebrate the 75 year anniversary of the Navigators Ministry.<br />Here are a few points that people drew out as we read it and discussed it together.<br />If you have not had a chance to read it- I highly recommend it as it will give you each an idea of how the Navigators ministry started and what it took to get this tremendous work off the ground and running to where it is today....<br />The book is divided into 2 parts. <br />The first part covering Dawson <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Trotman</span>- the founder of the Navigators<br />The second part covering Lorne <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Sanny</span>- the leader who took over after <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Daws</span> died<br /><br />Part I<br /><ul><li>The book presented <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Daws</span> as Human- Lindsey Stone</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Daws</span> recognized that it Was God who did all the work- Jake</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Daws</span> was assured of the Promises of God- Mercy</li><li>Jim had every reason to never come back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Daws</span> and the ministry since he felt offended, but he DID return- Joe<br /></li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Daws</span> prioritized laborers at the cost of casualties- Matthew</li><li>Depending on how much we put into it is what God allows us to produce- Jake</li><li>Simple Mission: Christ + maturity- Jake</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Daws</span> made the mission simple- find one man, help him grow to where he can help another- Caleb</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Daws</span> knew what God gave him and made no apologies for his weaknesses but was never satisfied with the state of things- Matthew</li><li>The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">sovereignty</span> of God is what started things and what continued things- Mercy</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Daws</span> passion and Vision changed people's lives- Matthew</li></ul>Part II<br /><ul><li>The mentality that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Daws</span> created was that everyone was responsible for everything- Matthew</li><li>Jim's perspective on the ministry: "The Navigators were on the front lines, waging spiritual warfare, releasing captives out of darkness, and equipping them and enlisting them in spiritual battle" - Jake</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Daws</span> perfectionist attitude caused him to be a micro-manager, we need to be careful not to fall into this trap- Joe</li><li>Having a 'protector' like Jim was for Lorne is key to our survival- Joe</li><li>The community that they had, re-emphasizes for me what the environment can do for ministry- Andrew V</li><li>Lorne modeled submission to God, He was an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">undershepherd</span> to the Great Shepherd- Jake</li><li>Quote from page 80 "Although the Navigator family was exceptionally close, there were some wounded souls who felt like they were outsiders and second-class citizens. They were only healed as they banded together and bonded in new spiritual battles, of which there was an abundance of opportunity" - Joe</li></ul>Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-17951247291424175762010-11-02T20:02:00.002-05:002010-11-02T20:11:11.256-05:00John 14Greetings Team Campbell and Friends....<br /><br />Our STS team went over John 14 last night. I've posted a few of the thoughts from our discussion. I hope each of you guys are getting and taking opportunity to do some digging in the Word- especially these particular chapters alongside with us.<br /><br /><ul><li>Seeing Jesus IS seeing God.</li><li>The miracles were to establish Christ's credibility- not to PROVE God- but they were show the people why they should listen to Christ. Victor P/Matthew C</li><li>Obedience to God = Loving God</li><li>Loving Christ = Obeying Christ's commands</li><li>Jesus tells the 12D that He DOES intend to only reveal Himself to those who are willing to be obedient- not to everyone else.... vs.22-23</li><li>This 'peace' promised to them is different from the OT version of peace</li><li>Seems that Jesus is saying one of the main reasons I'm going to the Cross is not only to take care of the sin issue for us- but to show the world- I WILL AND AM OBEDIENT TO THE FATHER</li></ul>Hope these thoughts will drive you each to look at the Word closer and investigate more and more who is Christ and what did He say and want....Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234340727106760236.post-76896736378362894312010-10-26T13:29:00.002-05:002010-10-26T13:35:28.370-05:00John 13Team Campbell and Friends...<br /><br />Our STS team just went over John 13 and though we did go over the scheduled time- it made for outstanding discussion...<br /><br />A few high points and questions that were drawn out:<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><br /></span><ul><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> 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</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Experience is what drives teaching more than teaching driving the experience. –James Carter</span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Consider verse 30: is that a spiritual or physical element? Is it really night time?</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ver 34-35 consider the different loves, and is this really a new commandment or really is it in the Leviticus 19:18? So what is new about this? It was the way that Jesus demonstrated it. Are they different “loves?” When do we give up our lives for others? Is that what we are encouraged to do in the New Testament verse the Old Testament? Or was there something that Jesus did for the 11-12 that he didn’t do with the masses? </span></li><li><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jesus didn’t ask about the new command but asked about where he was going. They might have just been scared to be alone but he might be forcing them to actually having to do it. We will have victories and then we will fall. The most growth comes after a big fall. –Victor Pedilla</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“What do I need to do to extend God’s love more than just putting someone through a program" - William</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When Jesus says "A new command I give you..." why does He say its a NEW command?- Jonathan Bennett<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Possibly a failure in fellowship- none of the other disciples knew what Judas was thinking or about to do...<br />- Joe E</span></li></ul>Just a few thoughts from the chapter...<br />Feel free to respond to these or add your own thoughts as well...<br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">”</span></p>Joseph R. Ebuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03632866731474430150noreply@blogger.com3