Good morning Father, Son and Spirit, I enter into this day you have set before me with eyes wide open in anticipation and complete gratitude.--
I pray wherever you are, you are safe from the effects of Irma. I am posting a day late this week. This past weekend was a couple days of fluctuating, real, and raw ministry.
On the challenging side the church that lets me have space in it for an office in was broken into and every office vandalized including mine. In ministering to people I was assaulted, had my headlights and windshield smashed out, and I had a person pull a gun on me.
On the blessing side, I witnessed and heard the testimony of 22 men who’s lives get completely wrecked by the love of God on their Emmaus walk. I got to mentor 4 teenage girls who hearts on now on fire for God. I attended an amazing outreach of the Gospel in a high-crime and high-drug use Latino apartment complex. And I was invited to participate in a community celebration in a HUD housing project. You never know what the next moment will bring in life. I was reminded of this again last night.
Yesterday was the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York City. My wife Nancy and I watched a documentary on the tragic event on the History Channel, “102 Minutes that Changed America.” We remembered and prayed over those families that lost loved ones in the tragedy. We were also reminded that nothing is guaranteed in this life. As God’s word tells us:
“ 13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin”. (Jam 4:13-17)
Those that died, were injured, or affected by 9/11 were engaged in their normal day of business when something unimaginable happened; the millions to one odds of a jet crashing into the building they were in. No one would have imagined that happening at the start of their day. Nothing is guaranteed today. All of today is a gift. If there is a “right thing” you know you need to do: towards a family member, friend, co-worker, neighbor, acquaintance, maybe even yourself; then simply do it. Do it today. That is what today was intended for.
My family, I simply pray you will do the right things you know you are to do today. And do them in love and out of love and appreciation for the gift of today. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends! You are a gift to me!
Gary Liederbach-Lead Follower
One Direction Community
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Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead my heart, renew my mind, and guide my steps in the way, the truth, and the life of Christ today.
"I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.... Do not, O Lord, withhold Your mercy from me; let Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness keep me safe forever.... Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me.... As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!" (Psalm 40:1-17)
O Lord, our God, hear our cry. Hear the cry of every soul whose patience is running thin and whose faith is growing weary. Reach down into their pit of despair and lift them out of the miry bog of confusion and disillusionment. Set their feet on the solid ground of the assurance of Your presence, Your protection, and Your provision. Bring order out of their chaos and hope to their hearts.
O God, hear! O God, act! O God, come in Your power and love in both Your supernatural miracles and in Your Spirit-led people, reaching out to the hurting and taking hold of the helpless, to weather this storm and rebuild their lives in You. We need Your hope! We need Your help! "You are (our) Help and (our) Deliverer; do not delay, O (our) God! (v. 17) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray in agreement with you and all who are led to join us in prayer by the Holy Spirit over those affected by Hurricane Harvey and those who now find themselves in the path of Hurricane Irma, that all who are suffering in the wake of these storms would experience the protection and provision of our God, in Jesus' name! May the presence of God in His mercy and love and through His people be evident in the midst of it all. And may these terrible storms be turned into a great harvest. God bless you, my friends!
Gary Liederbach - Lead Follower
One Direction Community
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“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:5)
As I stated in my last post this past Friday, I spent this past weekend with my daughter serving as a spiritual director on a Chrysalis team in which 14 mainly teenage girls attended. We left Friday afternoon and returned late Monday night. It was an amazing weekend of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the love and presence of Christ.
As I heard some of these girls stories shared in counseling and conversations, I was amazed and saddened at the trials and struggles many of them have gone through already in life at such an early age. They were two young to have been exposed to such “adult” circumstances that required them to be “strong” and “hold things in” way to early in life.
As the weekend progressed the girls opened up and let go of their loads and simply became beautiful teenagers girls. Saturday night during a time of examination of conscience and letting go and releasing while gathered in the chapel, The Holy Spirit fell in a real tangible way. The girls in spontaneous ways came to the altar, turned to each other in their chairs, on the floor in corners and shared prayers and tears over each other. Myself and others on the team had the privilege of being invited into these groups and leading prayer over them and being led by prayer over them. Their prayers flowed out of true repentance and a desperate desire for God in their lives. Their prayers flowed from their hearts and souls and the Holy Spirit met them there and real healing, restoration, release, and renewing of faith took place as these ladies, all of us present, found and re-affirmed our identity in Christ.
I remember getting off my knees with one group and before being led into another group just standing there and looking around the room. In every corner of it every girl and team member was huddled in true prayer and worship, and it was so beautiful that all I could do was look and praise God! It was raw, it was real, it was simple, it was Holy, it was church!! And I was convicted of the ways some church's youth groups in their programs and attempts to be “seeker friendly” and “fun” don’t expose their youth to simply the Gospel and raw worship. Our youth are far more capable of deep spiritual encounters and being sources of spiritual renewal and leadership in our churches than we give them credit. Their prayers and praise that surrounded me impacted me and drew me into Christ’s presence as much as any “adult” led gathering I have attend. I was so blessed.
““..I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.” (Matthew 18:3-5)
My ODC family, I pray today if you run into a teenager today, you will see in them and share with them and encourage them to understand what an amazing potential vessel they are of the Holy Spirit. I pray that in your churches you will encourage and place your youth in leadership, and allow them to lead you “become like little children” and enter the kingdom of heaven! Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
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Good morning Jesus, Lover of my soul. I start my day in that complete assurance of your love for me.
“While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue rulerʼs house saying, “Your daughter has died. Why trouble the teacher any longer?” But Jesus, paying no attention to what was said, told the synagogue ruler, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”…. When he entered he said to them, “Why are you distressed and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they began making fun of him. But he put them all outside and he took the childʼs father and mother and his own companions and went into the room where the child was. Then, gently taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up.” The girl got up at once and began to walk around ... They were completely astonished at this. “ (Mark 5:35-42)
My heart and mind this morning is on our youth. Our teenage sons and daughters who are growing up in raw and unfiltered exposure to the world through the unlimited access to social media. Teenagers, who because of the proliferation of divorce, the break down of the family and the re-defining of family lack the safe place to be loved, mentored and guided through these experiences. Teenagers, who because of societies perversion of what is “success” have egotistical and narcissistic role models to follow. Teenagers, who the ruler of the world is subversively whispering into their parents, teachers, and pastors ears, “Your daughter is dead.” V.35.
Over our teenage youth I cry out, Lord have mercy! Christ have mercy! Lord have mercy! I pray the Holy Spirit will surround them and protect and empower them. I pray that through men and women in love with Jesus, and direct revelation form the Father in prayer, they will experience Jesus taking them by the hand, bring them back to life, and get up and walk, run, and lead a renewal in our churches. communities and families.
“Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them.” (Mark 10:14-16)
My ODC family, I pray today you will seek out a teenager who needs the love and guidance of a mentor who is in love with and guided by Jesus. You may be 80, and they may be 16, however both of you will be richly blessed by the time you spend together. Pray over this today. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
My daughter Milan and I will be leaving this afternoon to serve this weekend on a Chrysalis weekend. This Chrysalis is a weekend spiritual retreat for teenage girls ages 15-20. Through prayer, mentoring, and discussions these girls will experience Jesus and discover/re-discover their identity in him and their calling as daughters of the King of Kings. We will not return home until late Monday evening so it will be Tuesday before I post another blog.
Please pray daily by name over these teenage girls attending this weekend.
1. LeighAnn
2. Hannah W
3. Rachel
4. Cylah
5. Taylor C.
6. Taylor L.
7. Melisa
8. Brea
9. Andi
10. Naomi
11. McKenzie
12. Alexis
13. Alyssa
14. Madison
15. Hannah L
Please pray over, Milan, myself, and the staff as we listen. love, and lead these girls to Christ. Milan and I are both giving 20 minute talks in which we share our testimonies. We both would appreciate if you stopped and said a prayer during our times.
Milan: 9:00pm Saturday night
Gary: 11:00am Monday morning.
Gary Liederbach-Lead Planter
One Direction Community.
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Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your sheep hear Your voice, so I call on Your name and listen for Your leading.
"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress; He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they had quiet, and He brought them to their desired haven" (Psalm 107:28-30).
I watched the news this morning of the first hurricane to hit the coast of Texas in twelve years. Though the hurricane has passed, the rains remain (up to another 24 inches!!) and the rivers are rising in what they're calling unprecedented, catastrophic flooding on the Texas coast. Thousands are stranded and wait for rescue. Thousands more wonder when it will ever end. While I'm thankful that we were not impacted in our community, I'm moved with compassion and stirred to intercession for all who were and for all who long for this nightmare to be over.
So I join with every heart crying out to You, calling on Your name, and seeking Your help. Lord, dry up the rains, push back the clouds, clear up the skies, and send forth Your word. Bring provision and protection for all who are in need. Send out Your angels and send out Your servants to be Your hands and Your heart.
You've stilled the storm and hushed the waves, now be our Rescue and our Refuge for all who are crying out in distress. We need You now in our hour of need. And we thank You now for every way we will see You come through and bring each soul "to their desired haven.
We set aside our pride and humble our hearts to be desperately dependent upon You alone. You are our Rock and our Refuge. Be our Strong Tower, our Mighty God, as we call on Your name. "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in You my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by" (Psalm 57:1). May our prayers of urgency become prayers of consistency, as we continue to keep our hearts humble and our faith strong before the One who is our only true and lasting Hope, come hell or high water. In Jesus’ name I pray.
My ODC family, I pray you'll be rescued and comforted if you're in distress and that you'll be moved to intercession for all who are. Please join me in prayer for all who are suffering in the wake of this hurricane. May the presence of God in His mercy and love and through His people be evident in the midst of it all. God bless you, my friends!
Gary Liederbach-Lead Follower
One Direction Community
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Good morning Father, Son and Spirit,
I give you my day, in every way,
Whether at work or play,
All I will do or say,
Lead and direct I pray.
I graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2012 and church planting was the focus of my Master of Divinity. I saw a blog from someone who went to seminary in the seventies. He stated, I don’t recall the language of church growth and church planting figuring prominently, if at all, in the conversations we had, and we certainly weren’t talking about “the decline of the mainline church” or “the end of the Protestant Reformation.” My classmates were a conscientious lot and, in truth, I suppose we worried more about doing a good and faithful job than about the longevity of our congregations.
That isn’t the case any longer. Most congregations, regardless of their size all seem to be and need to be asking themselves questions about the future. But the most important question is, “Do you want your church?”
The answer to that question will probably depend upon what you think “your church” is.
For far too many, the answer is often that it is a place that my needs, and/or the needs of our family are met. It’s not uncommon for people to say that they have chosen a church because it had a program for their children or that the church had an outstanding worship service, that the time of the services fit with their lives, or that they liked the preaching. To put it bluntly, some people treat the church as an end-user of a product and, to be fair, most in the church often “advertise” their church in conversations with friends and to perspective new members as if that’s exactly what it is and that is the reason they need to attend.
But a better way of defining “church,” apart from the all important definition of it as “the body of Christ,” is to ask ourselves, “Where can I be available for the work of Christ in the world?” Because, in the final analysis, it’s not all about us, about meeting our needs, or about meeting the needs of our families; The church is a living extension of the incarnation and is meant to be a living, breathing embodiment of Christ’s love in the world that draws and embraces a broken world.
As an end user, the answer to the question, “Do you want your church?” is always conditional and it can be answered by asking the question, “What is it doing for me now?” Or your answer may change in a conversation as a friend “advertises” what a new or another church has to offer you that sounds like it can better meet your needs. For the Christians who have sought out a community were they can be the living, breathing embodiment of Christ’s love in the world, the answer is never conditional, but always “yes.”
My friends, I pray today in the Holy Spirit you will seek to answer the question, “Do you want your church?” That’s not a question I, your priest, pastor, minister, spouse or parents can answer for you. However, the future of your church depends upon it. The embodiment of Christ’s church into the world depends on it. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
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Good morning, Lord Jesus. By the moving of Your Holy Spirit, I come to You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus the Son, and give You the glory for all the great things You've done and for the great God You are.
"With my whole heart I seek You… Let Your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to Your promise….. Remember Your word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope.... I implore Your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise.... Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.... Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your custom toward those who love Your name.... You are near, O Lord, and all Your commandments are true.... Let my cry come before You, O Lord; give me understanding according to Your word.... My lips will pour forth praise, because You teach me Your statutes. My tongue will sing of Your promise, for all your commandments are right" (Psalm 119:10-172).
O Lord, give me a love for Your ways, just as You've given me a trust in Your nature. Give me faith to believe You know what's best and give me courage to act according to the faith You give. "O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Your statutes" (v. 5). "Happy are those who keep (Your) decrees, who seek (You) with their whole heart" (v. 2).
I admit I don't always follow Your ways from a faithful heart or honor Your statutes with a willing spirit or keep Your commandments in the way that expresses my trust in You as my wisest Father, loving Savior, and constant Companion. I admit I don't always seek You "with my whole heart." And those are the very places where I lose my peace and let go of my hope and allow my joy to fade away. That's no way to be; that's no way to live, when there's so much more of life and peace and joy in You and the wisdom of Your ways. "O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Your statutes! (v. 5)
But by the power of Your grace at work within me, my part is not to do this in my power and strength or strong will and self-determination, trying to try harder and praying to pray harder. No, my part is to humble my heart and ask for Your help, to willingly choose to be desperately dependent on You alone. Then like a mighty rushing wind, You move in my heart to give me the desire and the power to seek You and trust You, to desire to obey You and then act in obedience to You (Philippians 2:13).
My part is call on Your name, as I choose to trust in Your nature. "For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on You" (Psalm 86:5). My part is set my mind and my heart on the things of Your Spirit, rather than the things of my flesh. "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind of the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:5-6).
Come, Holy Spirit. Help me set my mind right, as You get my heart right. Give me the desire and the power to seek You with all my heart, "with my whole heart," so I can obey Your leading from my heart. I, of course, can't do it alone. And You never intended me to. That's why You are my Helper, just as God is my Father and Jesus is my Savior. How I need You today and every day. And O, how You're faithful to help me day after day -- especially on the days I deserve it the least.
As I finish this prayer this morning, not even knowing where all this came from or where this is going, I hear in my heart Your reminder of one of my favorite promises of Your Word: "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul 'therefore I will hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:21-25). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My ODC family, I pray you will be empowered with the desire to seek the Lord with your whole heart, holding nothing back, and embracing His steadfast love and tender mercies to live your life today filled with His joy and peace and favor, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me as I want to embrace this as well! God bless you, my friends!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
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Good morning Father, Son and Spirit! I begin today with a heart of thanksgiving for all that you have in store for me today.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
Last night I was at a dinner at 5 Guys with a group and my daughter Milan was sitting next to me. My daughter and I were in a side discussion together arguing a point when the person across the table commented at us, “You two look just alike.”
I thought of who is Milan? She has a passion for life and people that is contagious. She questions and examines the reason why and purpose for everything and loves discussing and arguing points. Milan pushes back at the “status quo,” and establishment with a rebel heart that doesn’t like conformity or doing things “just because..” She stands her ground when she knows she is right despite the consequences. Yep, she is just like me. So parenting her for me at times has been challenging when our “likenesses” collide. Parenting her has also been amazing.
Back to the dinner table we were atin 5 Guys. My wife, Milan, and I were at the table, with other 17-19 year old teenage girls. Milan and I are serving on a Chrysalis flight for three days over Labor Day Weekend. It is a girls flight, where teenage girls are invited to come and spend a weekend on a spiritual retreat to deeper discover their identity in Christ, their purpose, gifts and their calling. All the girls around the table Milan had missional reached out to and invited to attend the Chrysalis weekend and I had invited the girls to come have dinner with us to discuss, explain, answer questions, and pray over the weekend.
I looked at these girls Milan had reached out to: One is a teen mom who the father of the baby left her to raise it alone. One girl, her father left her and her mom when she was a child. Her mom got into a relationship with a man who did not want her around, so her mom chose him over her daughter and literally kicked her out. She lived in her car for over a year, got into drugs, is clean now however is pregnant. One girl’s father has little to do with her and she spends time living either with her mom who is a recovering meth addict or her grandparents. Another girl who’s family does not have a vehicle questions if there is a God and struggles with her identity.
I began the meal with a prayer then started explaining the weekend to the girls. However, after a minute Milan jumped in and took over most of the conversation with these young ladies. With love for them she told them about the weekend and Jesus and the blessing they will receive by letting go and opening their hearts to Christ. She told them how excited and proud she was they were going, that she is here for them, and wants to start a group meeting weekly with them for accountability and support after the weekend. After the discussion Milan had all of us hold hands in a circle and prayed over these young ladies.
During the meal as I looked around at these young ladies Milan had sought out who are marginalized by society and I listened to my daughter share the Gospel with them out of love for them, my heart praised God! Yep, she was just like me.
I am the Lead Follower at One Direction Community. I launched One Direction Community (ODC) to be just that, a community of house churches that meets in homes, restaurants, laundromats, flea markets, apartments and other locations in the Madison-Huntsville, Al area. I believe we can more effectively reach our city through a network of reproducing churches. My home is the central gathering place of ODC where trainings take place, food for feeding the community is cooked, accountability groups meet, counseling and prayer takes place, and a house church meets every Wednesday night. Our home always has people coming and going, spending the night, and hanging out. Sometimes the lack of privacy and dynamics of this can be a challenge for my daughters and they at times have brought this up to me. I at times questioned how it was effecting them and their faith. Last night, as I sat their and watched and listened to the Holy Spirit just work through my daughter and reveal her missional heart and love for people and her love for Jesus, it answered my question about what I have been exposing her to. She gets it. She led church last night. She is just like me. I am full of praise!!!
My ODC family, I pray today you will seek and allow the Holy Spirit to work through you and create and reveal a missional heart and love for people and love for Jesus. I pray you will invite to coffee, lunch, or dinner today someone who needs you to speak the Gospel of grace and love into their lives. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!
Gary Liederbach-Lead Follower
One Direction Community
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Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God! I worship You in every dimension of Your Being and welcome You into every dimension of my being.
"And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls" (Joel 2:30-32 NKJV).
Yesterday we all experienced "the sun shall be turned into darkness" across America. Many of us gathered to celebrate the signs in the heavens, and many gathered to cry out to God in repentance and prayer for the sins in the heart of our nation. Many studied the science of this event, and many searched in all kinds of ways for it's spiritual significance.
It's of interest to me that this day of the total eclipse of the sun marks the first of the forty days leading up to the Day of Atonement on the Biblical calendar -- the forty days set apart for prayer and repentance to prepare for the most holy day on the Jewish year. Perhaps it's a sign in the heavens of a call to prayer for repentance and revival in our hearts and in our land, as with all the hate, racism and violence we have experienced lately we needed one.
And just as the ancient prophecy speaks of dramatic moves in the heavens, it also speaks of a dramatic move of the Spirit: "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days" (Joel 2:28-29).
So often in Your Word and in our lives, Your judgment leads to conviction; conviction leads to repentance; repentance leads to mercy; and mercy leads to revival, as You "create in (us) a clean heart," "renew a (right) spirit with (us)," and "restore unto (us) the joy of Your salvation" (Psalm 51:10-12). May Your signs in the heavens lead us to seek Your Scriptures and search our hearts and lead us to our Savior. And by the power of the grace of God, may we yet repent and return to You in our hearts and in our land to experience a great breakthrough revival and awakening and outpouring of Your Spirit in the great "harvest" Your Word promises to come (Matthew 9:37-38; 13:24-30 and 36-43).
Thank You for Your covenant of revival that comes in power, as Your people see what You're revealing, hear what You're saying, and obey what You're doing. "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV). "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12 NKJV).
So come, Holy Spirit. May we hear the voice of Jesus and "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 4:17) May You use these signs in the heavens to lead us to repentance in our hearts and revival in our land. Thank You that though the 40 days of preparation began yesterday for the Day of Atonement, it is simply now a remembrance as the Day of Atonement was eternally fulfilled on the Day of the Cross. And may yesterday, the day the sun was darkened across America be a day that America begins to repent and return to the light of the glory of the Son. "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6). Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My ODC family, I pray you'll be moved to pray and repent in your heart and for our land, that we may experience revival and awakening for the great harvest to come, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
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Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
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"These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates. “ Deuteronomy6:7-9
This past Friday I did not write a blog post. Friday was move out of the house and move-in day for my oldest daughter Paris at Birmingham Southern College where she will attend for the next 4 years. My wife Nancy and I have two daughters and Paris is our first one to leave and start her life outside of our home. It was a full day for all of us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Physically, we left our home at 6:20am to get there at 8:00am. After checking in we spent the four hours along with the hundreds of other students and their parents helping them move in into their dorm rooms. We carried clothing, bedding, furniture and items up flights of stairs to get their rooms set up. Then running to Wal-Mart and back getting items needed.
Emotionally, we were surrounded by incoming students who were excited, terrified, sad, and joyful, and their family members like us who shared these emotions. As final good byes were said lingering hugs and tears took place then that release when both parent and child looked into each others eyes and expressed to one another, “This is really it, the moment of separation has taken place and our relationship will never be the same again.” My wife, younger daughter Milan, and Paris hugged and shared tears as well. I hugged Paris goodbye as well through all kinds of emotions.
Spiritually. Prayers were said by all, both parents and students; out loud at times however constantly in silence by parents wanting to get in their last minute prayers and blessings over their children. Parent's joyful yet reluctant prayers of thanksgiving and release of the precious gift their son or daughter is the Father has allowed them to raise for 18 years and letting them go to discover what God has in store for them on their own.
Before Nancy and I left our home after her water broke with Paris to head to the hospital for her delivery, Nancy stopped at the front door and said turn around and look at our house, when we return it will never be the same. 18 years later, Nancy and I returned and walked into a home that again will never be the same.
And as I looked over the auditorium during their Convocation at the room filled with 18 and 19 years old young men and women (my daughter is the girl near the middle smiling) looking around with deer-in-the-headlights looks on their faces of all the unknown and uncertainty that lies ahead of them it was a reminder to me of the inevitable, constant, continual change that occurs in our lives. For Paris to continue on in all that God has in store for her it requires a change in her life’s structure and surroundings, A release of the comfortable, the familiar and a going forth into the new, uncertain, yet wonderful adventure God has for her. And it requires a releasing and encouraging to go by her family structure. The only thing that is constant in life is change.
In our walk with Christ the only thing that is constant, besides the Father, is change. For us and the church to continue into all God has in store for us and are calling also requires a change in The Church’s structure and surroundings. A release of the comfortable and familiar and a going forth into the new, uncertain, yet wonderful adventure Jesus has for it’s bride.
I am reminded of a quote, “A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for.” John A. Shedd. My daughter was safe at home, but that is not what God designed her for. And The Church is safest gathered in a building, but that is not what God designed it for.
My ODC family, I pray today you will listen to the Holy Spirit and embrace the calling and adventure God is calling you to enter into outside of your comfort zone, your structured life, and your safety net of familiarity, family and friends, your harbor, and sail out into the adventure you were built for. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Please share your reflections with us in the comments box below.
Gary Liederbach
One Direction Community – Lead Follower
We would love your partnership and support of our ministry as we serve outside the harbor in our community!
On our trip to Great Brittian, France and Italy I visited and spent time in several cathedrals and famous churches. St. Paul and Westminster Abbey in London; Bath Abby in Bath; Notre Dame, Sacre Coure, and St. Chappelle in Paris; and the Doumo and Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. I will continue my daily blog on my reflections from my time spent in these churches.
We visited Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. Painted on the wall in the Dominican Monk monastery next to the church is the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci,”The Last Supper.” Here is a photo I took of it.
Besides the fact that it was painted by Da Vinci, what makes this painting so famous? Why was it so unique when it was painted? Da Vinci was a renaissance artist, and the renaissance was focused on the mind, beauty, and accomplishments of mankind. Here is a picture of Jesus in the painting.
In almost all the paintings and Icons of Jesus before this painting it was Jesus’ deity that was stressed. He was painted with a halo around his head, on a cross, "glowing" in some way, or painted larger than other people around him. In The Last Supper, Jesus is painted simply as a man. He has no halo around his head, no other sign of deity and is the same size as the other disciples in the photo. Jesus is painted emphasizing his incarnation, completely human, in context, in community, present at the supper table.
Another thing that made this painting unique is the food on the table. Remember, the last supper took place in Jerusalem. When you study the food you will see some of the traditional foods used in the Passover meal, however most of the food on the table is that which would be served at a typical Dominican Monk’s dinner. Da Vinci painted this painting in a Dominican monastery, and he wanted to reflect the meal in its context painted. Like we do today in our context when we celebrate the Lords Supper in remberance of the Jesus’ acts in salvation.
Da Vinci is stating in his painting that Jesus desire was not to imitate or replicate the meal when we remember it as happening somewhere in the past, but to incarnate it into our current meal. At ODC we are centered around simple churches, house church type models. I remember back when one of our new house churches just launched that was made up of recovering addicts. I received a call one night from a member as they were meeting and they asked, “Gary, we do not have any grape juice in the house, is it ok to use apple juice, or will it ruin it for Jesus?” I told them apple juice is fine, Jesus is just delighted you are inviting him to your table. I got another call one night from a house church meeting in a restaurant asking me, “Gary, we forgot to bring bread from home, is it ok to use the restaurant’s dinner rolls?” I said, Yes, that will be fine.” When I was in Darfur, Sudan, I celebrated The Lord’s Supper every night. However, this were no grapes within 100 miles of where we were. So I celebrated The Lord’s Supper using some type of Sudanese moonshine/wine made of local flowers. Jesus’ promise of Whenever you do this in remembrance of me I will be present was not to the elements, but to you and I. It does not matter whether you use Matza or Wonder Bread. Nor does it matter if you serve it in a gold chalice or a red solo cup. At our ODC gatherings, I always ask the family who will be assisting me in serving The Lord’s Supper to bring a cup and plate from their home for us to use. One Gathering, a young girl of the family came up to me and handed me a “My Little Pony” cup and plate she had picked out to use for the Lord’s Supper and asked if this was ok?, I said perfect! And I consecrated the bread and wine on them and she proudly stood and served the congregation the Blood of Christ from her My Little Pony cup. Everyday at home when she uses that plate and cup she will be reminded of the incarnation of Christ in her everyday life.
Another thing that made this painting famous and unique are the three windows in the back of the painting showing outdoor scenes. Again, the Lord’s Supper to place in an upper room in Jerusalem and the wall would have been solid behind Jesus. However, Da Vinci added and painted scenes of landscape through these three windows. When you examine the landscapes painted, they are not of Jerusalem, but landscapes of Italian countryside. Again, by doing this Da Vinci is moving the setting for the Lord’s Supper from the past to the present context. He before his time, was missionaly stating in his painting, the Lord’s Supper and the incarnation of Jesus is not about Jerusalem anymore or any church building or location, but Jesus is present and glorified where ever and whenever it is celebrated to his remembrance.
My ODC family, I pray today you will remove any lingering religious teachings, traditions, or customs that have enforced in you the belief that Jesus is only present in a certain location, building, sanctuary or restricted to certain altars, vessels, or elements. I pray, like Leonardo Da Vinci, you will see and experience the incarnation of Jesus in your context and in your community and in doing so, bring the remembrance Jesus in your life and the life of those you meet today. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Gary Liederbach
One Direction Community- Lead Follower
Please share your reflections and thoughts in the comment box below.
On our trip to Great Brittan, France and Italy I visited and spent time in several cathedrals and famous churches. St. Paul and Westminster Abbey in London; Bath Abby in Bath; Notre Dame, Sacre Coure, and St. Chappelle in Paris; and the Doumo and Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. I will continue my daily blog on my reflections from my time spent in these churches.
When I was in London and I looked at St. Paul’s Cathedral and its massive dome and cross on top it is an impressive monument to the glory of God. As I looked at it though and I pondered the wealth, resources and lives it took to build it, it is also an impressive monuments to greed and exploitation of man.
Great Britain grew rich on the slave trade, or from the sale of slave-produced sugar, in the 17th and 18th centuries. It also grew rich from the plantations of tea farmed by indigenous workers in its African Colonies. Brittan grew rich from the take over and colonization of countries around the world and the taking and exploitation of their resources. It also grew rich from the opium trade in China. Families became millionaires, rich from the exploitation of countries and trafficking on humans, and so did the church.
So when I stood and looked at St. Pauls, (and I am not singly it out or London as the same can be said of the cathedrals, Palaces and monuments in France from its conquests by Kings and Napoleon and Italy as well) I see and get sense of just how much, how great of things greed, power, and injustice can create. The beauty these cathedrals display to the world were forged out of the ugliness of world and human conquest. The cross placed at the top of them that represents the ultimate example of servant hood sacrificial love for the church, sits atop an ultimate example of dominance and greed of the church.
America is not by no means exempt of riches and wealth gained from slavery, human trafficking, exploitation of nations, and people. Lets step down a notch and you look at the churches in the US today, the church you attend. Though it may not be a cathedral to your eyes, however it is in the eyes of 80 percent of the world. A visitor from Kenya, Sudan, India and other countries would see it as I saw St. Pauls: these people are rich and wealthy! The we build worship centers to a level of comfort beauty of those of our homes that are a monument to God and a monument to materialism. And placing a cross on top of them for all to see does not hide from God what he sees below it. I am not sure God likes that his cross representing suffering servanthood is placed on top of St. Paul’s representing power and greed. And I am not so sure God likes that his same cross of suffering servanthood is placed on top of our churches representing materialism and comfort. And we could also step down again and look at the cross hanging on the wall of your home or the Icthus fish on the back of your new car.
My ODC family, I pray today you will allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to honestly reflect on what is built beneath where sits your cross. The cross on your church, the cross on your home, and the cross around your neck. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my Friends!
Gary Liederbach
One Direction Community-Lead Follower
Please share your reflections and thoughts in the comments box below.
On our trip to Great Brittan, France and Italy I visited and spent time in several cathedrals and famous churches. St. Paul and Westminster Abbey in London; Bath Abby in Bath; Notre Dame, Sacre Coure, and St. Chappelle in Paris; and the Doumo and Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. I will continue my daily blog on my reflections from my time spent in these churches.
The picture above is part of a marble plaque that is inside the Duomo in Milan. The Duomo is the largest Catholic Church in in Italy, the third largest in the world. It lists the Bishops of the church. When I read it, it made me stop and reflect. The first bishop was Saint Antalone and he became bishop in 51 AD (“Anno Elez”- year elected). In 51AD!!! Jesus was crucified in 32AD so this is only 19 years after his death! This is before most of the books of the New Testament were written. This church was planted and grew without any Bibles. John 3:16 would not be written until 25-30 years after this church was planted! Actually, Antalone died before it was written. When we talk about the “early church”, this was the early church.
History states that Barnabas brought the Gospel to Milan and that Saint Antalone was converted by and discipled by Barnabas. This church then was birthed out of one thing, the Goepel of Jesus Christ and becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. Trying to form a community that simply conformed to and imitated the life of Jesus.
As a planter of missional churches I am aware that church plants tend to be of a different culture. In there attempt to create a “new” form of church, a “Cowboy” or anti-established church attitude can take shape. As I read this plaque I am reminded and reaffirmed that though I may take issue with some of the current models of church structure, I am not trying to distance my self from the established church.
I am not smart enough nor do I want to try to create from scratch a new denomination. (And saying you are non-denomination basically means this). Nor do I want to disconnect myself and our church from those like Antalone. Those early saints and martyrs whose blood and sacrifice first joined in the Missio Deo, the Mission of God to establish his Kingdom on earth and laid the prayers and ground worked my church today flows out of.
The more my heart was opened to “new church” the more my heart and my understanding was exposed to the “old church.” As I understood, embraced and began to imitate not what the church has currently morphed into, but what the current church morphed out of. The early church illustrated in Acts of the Apostles and the explanation and implementation teachings on the church contained in the Letters of Paul and James. And since we are a church committed to discipleship, I have spent much time spent in close examination of the life and teachings of Jesus found in the Gospels. The life and teachings on which Antalone founded the church in Milan
I came to the greater realization that Christianity and discipleship is not about imitating a religion, but imitating a person, namely Jesus Christ. So my plant is not called to try to conform to and imitate current church models, but it is called to conform to and imitate Christ.
A deeper study of John Wesley, the early Methodist movement based on band and class meetings, the reading of Wesley’s sermons, and reading through the journals containing the stories of the lives of early Methodist preachers exposed me to the “old” of our denominations roots. What "new" form of church was used to birth the Methodist movement and caused it to spread like fire. Added to this, I spent much time honestly assessing the state of the church today, which is not good. Through all this my heart was not just opened to, but convicted and compelled to doing the “new.” "New" basically means returning to the “old,” forming and returning to simple churches that Love God, Love Neighbor, and Make Disciples.
Starting a church is not the goal, but starting a community imitating Jesus. If you start with church, you do not always end up with community. But start with community, a church will be formed. And lives will be transformed.
My ODC family, I pray today you will reflect and pray “old School.” Paul states in 1Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.” The ultimate price was paid by Jesus Christ on the cross. However, the Church today through which you receive grace from God was paid for by the dedication, suffering, prayers, and lives of the millions of saints who have gone before you. You are part of a community of faith, a communion of saints, which includes Saint Antalone. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Gary Liederbach
One Direction Community- Lead Follower
Good morning,
I am back from my trip with my family and beginning my daily blog again. On our trip to Great Brittan, France and Italy I visited and spent time in several cathedrals and famous churches. St. Paul and Westminster Abbey in London; Bath Abby in Bath; Notre Dame, Sacre Coure, and St. Chappelle in Paris; and the Doumo and Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. I am a church planter of Simple Church models and missional communities, creating discipleship environments in mangers. These great churches would be at the complete opposite on a simple church in a manger. Manger vs. Cathedral. So as I begin my daily blog again I am going to write about my reflections from my time spent in these churches.
When you walk into these churches they instill in you a sense of awe, and belief in God, or at least definitely a sense of awe, and belief in architecture. As I walked into a church, take Notre Dame for example that started its construction in the 11th century and was completed in the 13th century, I tried to image not walking into it as a 21st century tourist who has seen everything, but walking into it for the first time it as a peasant of the 13th century. I would have lived in a small simple house with no electricity, TV, or running water. My life knowledge and experience would be of a 1mile circumference from my home. I would be uneducated and unread.
Walking up to Notre Dame would be like walking up in the shadow of a holy mountain. Its gargoyles that surround its walls would be staring down at me and the fear of God would envelope me. And when I gained enough courage to walk into it through it massive doors ordained with carving of saints and apostles I would have an overwhelming experience beyond belief: The vaulted ceilings that seem to reach the heavens. The gold gilded altar, the sculptures and artwork. The towering stain glass windows that fill the space with colors and light that I have never seen before, like light from heaven itself. Then there is a massive pipe organ in the back of Notre Dame that when played fills the grand space of stone with a reverberation like thunder that echoes into my very soul. When the choir joined in it would be like the heavenly host that announced Jesus’ birth. Next the priest, altar boys, and other members would parade down the isle in their gilded and embroidered vestments such as I have never seen before. The procession would be lifting up crosses, The Bible, and other church standards. The service would then take place in Latin ritualistically with thurifers sending up clouds of incense that would fill my sense of smell, bells ringing synchronized to the liturgy, and clergy chanting. As a 13 century peasant, I would have walked out of Notre Dame like Moses walking down from Mount Sinai, my face a glow from the overwhelming experience to my senses, convinced I had been in the very presence of God. Convinced of the power and authority of the church as God’s representative on earth.
Fast forward 800 years back to the present, to us of the 21st century. Jesus asked those in the church who went to see John the Baptist, “What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. What then did you go out to see?” (Matthew 11:9)
I reflected on Jesus question as a leader attempting to form true missional communities, What am I hoping people will see? You today who are in the church, on Sunday mornings when you head out to your church, “What then do you go out to see?” When you walk out of your “Notre Dame” following your service, what effect, what is the experience are you walking out with? When was the last time you walked out with “your face glowing” and a sense of awe that you are assured you had been in the presence of God?
My ODC family, I pray in your reflections and prayers on this the Holy Spirit will reveal and clarify in you, “What then are you going out to see?” Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Gary Liederbach
One Direction Community- Lead Follower
Please share your reflections and experiences in the comment box below.
I was sitting at the WH yesterday morning talking with some of the regular customers. I told them how my family and I are leaving next week to spend over two weeks in Europe. One man told me to be careful, you see on the news all the time of the terrorist attacks. The discussion at the bar then turned to ISIS, Islam and Muslims. The conviction, passion and joy with which these Christians talked about God damning Muslims to burn in hell troubled me. I countered back biblically and theologically, but I was out numbered, and the heated debate I found myself in was not one I was going to win, or change any hearts of those with whom I was engaging. Huntsville with Redstone arsenal and all the military contractors and suppliers is a city over the top with American patriotism. I walked out thinking, there still is allot of work left to be done for the kingdom of God!
It reminded me of the way I felt over a year and a half ago when I saw the bumper sticker on one side of the vehicle in front of me which stated, 'Obama is a Muslim. He will burn in hell" :) (John 14:6). Complete with smiley face and all! On the other side of the car was an ICTHUS fish! It compelled me when I got home to sit for several hours and write out my retort to the bumpersticker and person driving the vehicle. (ya, I am passionate and wierd that way!) Attached is that post again, as it applies exactly to this situation this morning.
“Obama is a Muslim. He will burn in hell J (John 14:6)” bumper sticker
Through prayer and a set of circumstances only God could arrange, I got to meet one of my neighbors who is a Muslim. We are beginning to form a relationship that I hope will grow. I have also become friends with Bayram, who converted to Christianity from Islam. Maybe this is why what I saw today affected me so much that I had to sit down, waste a couple hours, and theologically vent in writing to get it out of my system.
On my way to Teri’s to get my haircut, there was a car in front of me that had a several bumper stickers on it. One said, “ I’d rather be waterboarding terrorists” Another said, “The only good Arab is a dead Arab.” The one that saddened me the most was this one, “Obama is a Muslim, He will burn in hell! (John 14:6) . (smiley face and all). This verse John 14:6, is the one most quoted by those who enjoy the thought of their enemies (typically the Muslims and the Democrats) burning in hell, in which Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If I may, I would like to clear the air on this issue, but not by removing from it the stench of hell, as trend would have it. I actually believe that hell is real. I don’t claim to understand it or God’s motivations for it, but I can’t say that I have a problem with it having read the Gospels. I myself have two children, beautiful daughters, and my passion for them has the capacity for fury. If one of them were murdered, I couldn’t imagine containing that fury. That is why I can understand a literal hell more than I can understand limitless grace. So I’m thankful that God is not like me. But say, by some miracle, I chose to offer my one of my daughter’s death as pardon to her executors in exchange for their gratitude, and they persisted to mock my treasure as garbage, proclaiming, “To hell with her! To hell with forgiveness! To hell with you!” In that case, I would, with all the wrath within me, unflinchingly press them into a white-hot furnace and restlessly spend all eternity feeding it coals. Again, I am not like God, nor he like me, but I can at least say that I would be rather suspect of some god so needy and sheepish that he would welcome everyone at an infinitely wide gate to his kingdom, even those who spit on him as they entered. So it’s not that I think hell isn’t real, like some. On the contrary, I think that there are as many creative ways as there are creative truths that will take you there. In fact, I think the gate to hell is wide enough to accommodate the Christian with even the biggest ego. Those who refuse his way are just as far from receiving his life as those who refuse his truth. Those Christians, who like a husband who understands the truth that he is married, but lives out his marriage in a way that is adulterous and has multiple affairs and lusts after multiple women. Christians that understand the truth of the Gospel, but live out their salvation in an adulterous way having lusting and having multiple affairs with greed, materialism, pride, consumerism, and comfort.
Christians who quote John 14:6 out of context almost invariably do so in order to indicate who is going to hell, and almost just as invariably do so with delight. But Christians who delight in the damnation of the lost are in the same boat as Christians who reject the damnation of the lost. It is a lost boat. The life of Christ is indeed unavailable apart from the truth of Christ, but so too is his life unavailable apart from his way. Those who claim his truth are bound to his way, just as those who claim his way are bound to his truth. God did not write the truth in the clouds. He proclaimed it along an unwavering path on this earth until he was red in the face, red in the hands, red in the back, red all the way down from his crown to the dribbling drops from his toes. So those who proclaim it to try to paint others red are rendering themselves twice the sons of hell as the damned.
All are damned. Jesus died for all. Not all will be saved. Salvation comes in a human sized package, not a globe sized blanket. God did not cuddle the world into his loving arms. His arms revealed a much more violent, passionate, particular love. It is a love whose truth must be received and whose way reflected by its recipients, who proclaim its particularity by loving the world in the same particular way, a dramatically persuasive way. The truth without the way is hypocrisy. Just one smirk over even one for whom those arms were nailed reveals a heart that is liable to be thrust into the pit. If you see a wandering sheep struggling to find its way, then it's time to get into character: climb up to the highest hill and hang yourself as a signpost, like a dead snake on a stick, until that sheep sees God’s way in you and believes it to be the only way. That is cross bearing. But don't for a second think that the Gospel was a silent film, as do those who fight against orthodoxy in the name of orthopraxy. The Good News is not good unless it points to something better than you. The so-called "incarnational gospel" proves to be both deaf and dumb if it thinks that incarnated things should stop speaking. It was, after all, the Word, not the way, that was made flesh. It proves also to be arrogant, because it assumes that its love is as holy as Christ and as humble as his cross, as though there is nothing higher to point to. So the one who proclaims a voiceless, referentless Gospel needs to make sure he or she is powerful enough to save those who hear it. The way with out the truth is humanism. If you let that sheep wander up to your demonstration and never confess it as mere parody, if you act as though any old shepherd will do, as though all shepherds have loved the same, saved the same, bled the same, as though there is nothing unique, nothing worthy of any special praise, as though God loves with other shepherds' arms, then you better hope that those other shepherds can save you as well.
Christian heartlessness and Christian spinelessness are two symptoms of the same problem. It is the problem of pride, which either tries to raise itself up or bring God down, so that we are either as good as God and therefore God accepts us, or as bad as a devil that God is too indifferent to damn. Whichever god pride creates, they both end up looking like the devil. Why is it the tendency for us to assume, despite our view of ourselves, that we have an inherent attractive force on God; that he is near to us in our self-righteousness and near to us in our unrighteousness? We concede a measure of oppositeness, but in the way magnets are opposite, so if God is high and lofty, we are pulled near; if God is low and humble, he is helplessessly pulled to our side, an incarnated pat on the back.
God is holy and humble, lofty and low, and we are not attracted to that. God forced contact with his creation and the only attraction that was revealed was the attraction of some iron nails that had his hands in the their crosshairs from before he hit the ground (Mt. 2). God revealed his attraction to us and we revealed our repulsion to him. We are opposite in the way magnets are not. The image of God hated God because he would not let it be more than mere image. A mirror that reveals a different face has to be fixed. God stared his image in the eye to reveal how distorted it had become. So to fix the distortion, the mirror was shattered. Better to gouge out God’s eye than let him cast you into hell. Besides, the reflection of the Son was too hard to look at, something like the reflection of the sun. His image had to darken him up. So it scribbled feverishly with the broken glass. With swords and spears it panted and prodded and gritted its teeth until finally some reprieve from the glare—overcast (Mt. 27; Mk. 15; Lk. 23). The light came into the world, but it was darkness that the world sought (Jn. 3:19). So God became dark, dark red so the world could behold his glory without being consumed by it. With the final touches and his final breath, the masterpiece was complete. They stepped back to behold their divine portrait only to discover a mosaic of human effort. The picture they painted of God turned out to be a picture of human condemnation.
God didn’t save you in Christ because he loved you, as though God’s love can be located outside of his saving act. “God has demonstrated his love for us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). God’s love is not unsubstantial and hollow like human love. Love is as concrete as red is a color. Love has limitations and not all colors are red. But the limitation of God’s love is the source, not the amount. It is a ray come down to the world, not a line running through the world. Its point of origin is the Son. Those who turn away from the Son will forever live in their own shadow. Many choose the shadow way by denying the truth of Christ. He will not force their hand to accept him. But many choose the shadow way by denying the way of Christ. And they will not force his hand to accept them.
I don’t pretend to know anything concrete about the referent to that word “hell”so carelessly tossed around by some Christians and so carelessly tossed out by others. But I do know that it has a referent. And there is enough description surrounding it to indicate that whatever hell is, it is a big problem. I also know that I am not God, so how I may handle this problem is irrelevant. God handled it by sending his Son to be killed by and for the world. He only requires the gratitude due, which, if genuine, will produce a commitment to the truth and a commitment to the way. Only to the grateful will the life be granted. As one old preacher once said, “This is God’s universe and God does things his way. You may have a better way, but you don’t have a universe.” So the next time you proclaim John 14:6, make sure your mouth and your body; the truth you profess and the way you live are in sync with your bumper sticker. And if they are not, sit down and shut up until you become grateful. Do the world a favor and just be still until you know that you are not God.
Please share your reflections and comments below.
My morning office is the Waffle House. About 3 months ago I went into the Waffle House (WH) and I sat down in a chair at the “low bar,” the bar you can sit at that is at normal chair height. I did not notice the used coffee cup that was on the bar in the back next to the menu rack in front of the chair I sat in. It belonged to a man I will call Chuck., who happened to have gone outside to smoke a morning cigarette. Chuck is a man who comes frequently to the WH. He is a “rough” and crude man in his late 60’s. He cusses allot and gives the waitresses and customers a hard time and is sharp with them when he is “in that mood.” Chuck walked back into the WH, saw me sitting in “his chair,” walked up to me and said coldly “Hey mother F*%ker you are in my seat!” I turned to him and before I could say a word the two waitresses who were standing there almost jumped over the bar and verbally attacked Chuck. One said, “Now you listen here you mother F&%ker this man here is a f*#king man of God and if you ever talk to him like that again I will kick your f*cking @ss!!“ The other waitress jumped in, “ Ya you d#ck, he is my f*cking pastor! What the f@ck is wrong with you.!” Show some f@cking repect! The waitresses high fived each other and one said to the other. “Sword of the spirit b#tch!” And Chuck turned and walked out.
I sat there and processed what had just happened! First, the waitresses have never come to an ODC gathering, though I have invited them many times. And I never told the waitresses I was their pastor. But because of my coming into the WH four or five mornings a week and talking, listening, and praying with them it appears that is how they saw me. The other day the waitresses were talking about how life seemed to be attacking them. I took out my phone and I read to them from Ephesians 6 about the armor of God and explained it to them. And the one waitresses shouting “Sword of the spirit b#tch” shows they were listening and retaining what I told them, I just need to work a little more on their application of that verse!
Fast forward to a month ago. I was walking in the WH and Chuck was outside in the front smoking. I said good morning to him as I was walking by and Chuck kind of quietly and nicely (especially for Chuck!) asked if I had a moment. I told him sure and stopped by him. He said quietly as he looked at the ground, “I know you are kind of a religious guy and it’s not that big of a deal but I was wondering if you would pray for me for something. “I said, “Sure what’s up?” And he went on to say that the Doctors think he may have prostrate cancer and he had a test today to confirm it. I said, “of course,” but before I could say anything else he opened up and told me a story for about 10 minutes. The short summary of it was that he used to go to church a long time ago and was kind of close to God. Then he was drafted to Vietnam to fight in the war. He said he did some things there he was not proud of, things God could not forgive him for. He said in attacks on villages he shot and killed enemy soldiers who were just kids, also women, and elderly. He saw children killed and witnessed and participated in other atrocities of war. He stopped praying after the war and has never gone back to church since he came back to the states. When I asked to pray with him there he said no, he had to leave, but for me to pray as you feel God will listen.
As he walked away my heart both mourned for him and was convicted for me. I had joined in with others at the WH at times commenting on Chuck and his behavior. However, the reason Chuck was an angry, and hurtful man is he was filled with guilt that separated him from God. Guilt from things he did he thought were not forgivable. And I thought, I know and preach that God can forgive anything, I have never put him to “the test” of his forgiveness like Chuck has to. If I was the one looking down an M-16 and watching bullets splatter bodies of kids and women from my gun and trigger I was pulling, the event might make me an even bigger, hateful, guilt filled ass than Chuck. It reminded me that people are never the enemy.
Fast forward to yesterday morning. I was in the WH at the bar talking with customers and the waitresses when Chuck walked in. He walked over to a side bar he never sits in by himself and sat down. No cussing, no loud comments to people as he came in the restaurant. He looked devastated. One of the waitresses said they heard his son had died the previous night. My spirit told me to go sit in the chair next to him and I did. I said good morning to him and he said hey, and his eyes began to fill with tears. I told him I had heard that his son had died and if it was true, and if so I was so sorry. We talked again for 20 minutes. Summary, he told me his son who was 31 years old and some of his friends, Chuck, and Chucks wife, (his son’s mother) were out on the front porch talking. His son told his friends how he had bought a new pistol. They asked to see it. He went into his truck and got it out, removed the clip, and thought the gun was empty. It was not. He came back to the porch and in handing the gun to his friend when somehow it went off and the bullet hit is son in the head from less then 2 feet away. They rushed him to the hospital but he died a few hours after he arrived. Chuck said he and his wife witnessed it. He could not get the sight out of his mind. It reminded him of the war. He had to come home from the hospital and clean his son’s blood, hair, and other parts from the side of his house and porch. Tears were flowing down his face. He asked me if this was God’s punishment for the kids he killed in Vietnam. I said of course not and we talked awhile. His son had a wife and two kids 8 and 10 years old.
After we finished, I went home and my wife and I took the chicken I had grilled for dinner, along with sides, bread and a dessert, and I put it in a box and took it up to the WH. I also wrote a note to the family stating I was praying for them and asking to let me know if I could help in anyway with my phone number on it and put it in the box as well. I pulled into the WH just in time as Chuck was walking to his car to leave. I parked, got the box and gave it to him. Chuck teared up again as he took it. He said I did not have to, but I insisted, told him I was praying for him, and I left.
Fast forward to today. I received a call today from Chuck. He thanked me for the food. He then said he and his family do not have any money. They are getting the cheapest cremation they can, and just going to do a remembrance service at their home. Their family does not attend a church, they do not know many church people, let alone preachers, and he asked if I would be willing to come to their house and share from the Bible and some words over their son and their family. I told him I would be honored to.
“I have been going to the WH regularly for over 3 years now. Sometimes I wondered if I needed to continue going. Only one or two people, employees or customers, have ever came to an ODC gathering. So if you go by traditional church metrics, my time investment has not led to “church” growth or increased “numbers in the pews.” It has not resulted in one penny going into our offertory plate or pastor support. Yet God reminded me of my prayer I say to him every morning, which is, “God, please send me today the ones that no one else wants.” No one wanted Chuck, even I found it hard to be around him. But God through just being faithful has given me an amazing opportunity; to be welcomed into his house; a house, a circle of family and friends that no other pastor has ever been invited into, and share the love of God with them. And that is my hearts desire, not to see them as an “evangelists projector opportunity” but a family in pain that simply needs the love of God, and to love them. I pray I may honor this.
My ODC family, I pray today you will be led by the Holy Spirit not to seek and enter into some structured ministry with people, but just simply enter into life and the lives of people. That in your daily set schedule you will allow and come to expect, even long for interruptions from two things: God and people. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections on the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
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Thank You!
I am still spending time in 1Peter this morning
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the heart and lead me by the hand on the adventure You have for me today.
"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10).
You've chosen us and called us. You equip us and encourage us. You save us and send us as the people of God to proclaim the goodness and mercy of God. We are priests and prophets and kings in Christ, a royal priesthood proclaiming Christ. "To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever!" (Revelation 1:5-6) "Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation," You "have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:9-10, NKJV).
In alignment with Your heart and submission to Your will, abiding in Christ as Christ abides in us, we humbly and faithfully embrace our identity and fulfill our destiny as the body of Christ, filled with the Spirit of Christ, continuing the ministry of Christ here in this world (1 Corinthians 12:27). "As He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).
You are our Priest and Prophet and King. So in Christ, as the body of Christ, we are Your priests and prophets and kings -- "ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20). As priests, we pray; as prophets, we proclaim; as kings, we reign -- all in submission to Your will and Your way, all through Your Spirit and by Your grace, with the measure of authority You've entrusted to us as Your people, Your body, and Your church (Matthew 16:19). Your kingdom comes and Your will is done, here on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 5:10).
We do our part, as best as we can and all by Your grace, to live into the fullness of all You have already done by Your part (John 19:30). And all in Your time and all in Your way, we look forward to the day we hear "loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation 11:15 ). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My ODC family, I pray you live into the fullness of your identity and destiny in Christ every day, as best as you can and all by God's grace, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us in the comment box.
Join in the "Daily Prayer of Freedom" 7 day commitment
Five days ago I posted this prayer, "Daily Prayer of Freedom" as part of my blog. At our house church last night we discussed equipping and arming ourselves with the ability to pray boldly, pray "strong prayers" over are lives. As Christians growing in Christ as disciples of Christ, we need to grow into prayer warriors against the powers and principalities of this world. (Ephesians 6:10-13) As we grow from infancy to mature Disciples of Christ, the way we pray and our prayers need to "mature" as well. Our prayers need to evolve from "milk" for infants to "solid food" for adults.
"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?....For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." ( 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:12-14)
Last night we read through the Daily Prayer of Freedom together and spent time reflecting on its depth. We asked each other "What would happen if we prayed like this, out loud, daily over our lives, families, and dominions? We committed together to pray this prayer at least once daily for at least 7 days starting today June 29th though next Wednesday July 5th. I am asking if all of you reading this blog would please join in with us.
The Daily Prayer of Freedom is a complete prayer of covering and protection by the complete Triune of God. It is not a short prayer, so before you start, go get a cup of coffee, set aside 15-20 minutes for you and God. Enter into the prayer and read it slowly, It is not an timid prayer. I would suggest you read it out loud as you walk around your home, work place, or neighborhood. Again, Please join in with us.
Daily Prayer of Freedom
From John Eldredge’sbook, “Wild at Heart”
My dear Lord Jesus, I come to you now to be restored in you, renewed in you, to receive from you all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor you as my Sovereign, and I surrender every aspect and dimension of my life totally and completely to you. I give to you my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I cover myself with your blood—my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I ask your Holy Spirit to restore me in you, renew me in you, and lead this time of prayer. In all that I now pray, I stand in absolute agreement with your Spirit and with my intercessors and allies, by your Spirit and by your Spirit alone.
Dearest God, holy and victorious Trinity, you alone are worthy of all my worship, my heart’s devotion, all my praise, all my trust, and all the glory of my life. I love you, I worship you, I give myself over to you in my heart’s search for life. You alone are Life, and you have become my life. I renounce all other gods, every idol, and I give to you the place in my heart and in my life that you truly deserve. This is all about you, God, and not about me; you are the Hero of this story, and I belong to you. I ask your forgiveness for my every sin. I renounce my sins. I ask you to search me and know me and reveal to me where you are working in my life and grant to me the grace of your healing, deliverance, your holiness, and a deep and true repentance.
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and choosing me before you made the world. You are my true Father—my creator, redeemer, sustainer, and the true end of all things, including my life. I love you, I trust you, I worship you. I give myself over to you, Father, to be one with you in everything as Jesus is one with you. Thank you for proving your love by sending Jesus; I receive him and all his life and all his work which you ordained for me. Thank you for including me in Christ, for forgiving me my sins, for granting me his righteousness, for making me complete in him. Thank you for making me alive with Christ, raising me with him, seating me with him at your right hand, establishing me in his authority, and anointing me with your love, your Spirit, and your kingdom. I receive it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I bring the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, throughout my kingdom and domain.
Jesus, thank you for coming to ransom me with your own life. I love you, I worship you, I give myself over to you to be one with you in all things—spirit, soul, and body, heart, mind, and will. I sincerely receive all the work and triumph in your cross, death, blood, and sacrifice, through which my every sin is atoned for, I am ransomed and delivered from the kingdom of darkness and transferred to your kingdom, my sin nature is removed, my heart is circumcised unto God, and every claim being made against me is disarmed this day. I now take my place in your cross and death, dying with you to sin, to my flesh, to this world, to the evil one and his kingdom. I take up the cross and crucify my flesh with all its pride, arrogance, unbelief, and idolatry [and anything else you are currently struggling with]. I put off the old man. Apply to me all the work in your cross, death, blood, and sacrifice. I receive it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
I bring the blood and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I bring the cross, death, blood, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit, every foul power and black art, against every witch, and against every human being and their spirit, their warfare and household. I bring the cross, death, blood, and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ to the borders of my kingdom and domain, and I stake it there in the name of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, I also sincerely receive you as my Life, and I receive all the work and triumph in your resurrection, through which you have conquered sin, death, judgment, and the evil one. Death has no power over you, nor does any foul thing. And I have been raised with you to a new life, to live your life—dead to sin and alive to God. I take my place now in your resurrection and in your life, and I give my life to you to live your life. I am saved by your life. I reign in life through your life. I receive your hope, love, faith, joy, your goodness, trueness, wisdom, power, and strength. Apply to me all the work and triumph in your resurrection; I receive it with thanks and I give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
I bring the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I bring the resurrection and the empty tomb of Jesus Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit, every foul power and black art, against every witch, and against every human being and their spirit, their warfare, and household. I bring the resurrection and the empty tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ to the borders of my kingdom and domain, and I stake it there in Jesus’ name.
Jesus, I also sincerely receive you as my authority, rule, and dominion, my everlasting victory against Satan and his kingdom, and my ability to bring your Kingdom at all times and in every way. I receive all the work and triumph in your ascension, through which Satan has been judged and cast down, and all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to you. All authority in the heavens and on this earth has been given to you, Jesus, and you are worthy to receive all glory and honor, power and dominion, now and forever. I take my place now in your authority and in your throne, through which I have been raised with you to the right hand of the Father and established in your authority. I give myself to you, to reign with you always. Apply to me all the work and triumph in your authority and your throne; I receive it with thanks, and I give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit—every ruler, power, authority, and spiritual force of wickedness, their every weapon, claim, and device. [At this point, I specifically name all foul and unclean spirits that I know have been attacking me, such as fear, doubt, accident, injury, death, the religious spirit, pride, arrogance, etc.] I send all foul and unclean spirits bound to the throne of Christ, together with every back-up and replacement, every weapon, claim, and device—by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name. I command the judgment of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the heads of those that refuse to obey, and I send them to judgment, by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against every foul power and black art—every hex, vex, and incantation, every spell, weave, web, veil, shroud, charm, and snare; against every ritual, sacrifice, and device; against every vow, dedication, and sacrifice, every word, judgment, and curse—written, spoken, unspoken, or transferred to me. I command them disarmed and broken by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against every witch, cult, and coven, every channel of black arts to me. I cut them off in the name of the Lord; I send the glory of God to them to turn them in Jesus’ name.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ between me and every human being—their spirit, soul, body, their sin, warfare, and their household. I bring the full work of Christ between me and [now I name people I’ve counseled or prayed for, family members, folks in crisis looking to me, etc.]. I command their human spirits bound back to their bodies and their warfare bound to the throne of Christ in their life. I bring the full work of Christ between me and my household and all people, in the authority of Jesus Christ and in his name.
Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love you, I worship you, I trust you. I honor you as Lord. I receive all the work and triumph in Pentecost, through which you have come, you have clothed me with power from on high, sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, strength, and guide. I honor you as Lord, and I fully give to you every aspect and dimension of my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will—to be filled with you, to walk in step with you in all things. Fill me afresh, Holy Spirit. Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive you with thanks, and I give you total claim to my life.
Heavenly Father, thank you for granting to me every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. I claim the riches in Christ Jesus over my life today, over my home, my family, my work, over all of my kingdom and domain. I bring the blood of Christ once more over my spirit, soul, and body, over my heart, mind, and will. I put on the full armor of God: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel, helmet of salvation; I take up the shield of faith and sword of the Spirit, and I choose to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of your might, to pray at all times in the Spirit.
Jesus, thank you for your angels. I summon them in the name of Jesus Christ and instruct them to destroy all that is raised against me, to establish your Kingdom over me, to rebuild the shields and hedges of protection around me and my household, and to minister to me your ministry. I ask you to send forth your Spirit to raise up prayer and intercession for me. I now call forth the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout my home, my household, my kingdom, and domain in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving all glory and honor and thanks to him. In Jesus’ name, amen.
To addd some time in the Word, you can read and meditate on Psalm 91, Ephesians 6:10-20, and Romans 8:18-39.
My ODC family, I pray today you will take time this morning pushing into and connecting yourself completely with God, so you can spend the rest of the day pushing back evil and ushering in the kingdom of God. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!
