Click on graphic below to access the conference videos...

All Biblical Christians know that our mission is to "make disciples of all nations (ethnos.)"  And most of the counsel we've received to effect that goal is to "get them to come to church."   Surely, bringing them to church will expose them to the Gospel of salvation, and the preaching and Bible Studies will "disciple" them into Christian maturity... right?  I have to ask, how's that working?  Perhaps we should note how Jesus and his first century disciples reached the world with a company of ragtag and largely uneducated common folks as they shared life with the hungry masses.   No new "discipleship" programs, evangelical outreaches, master plans... just people full of God's Spirit sharing HIS life because they were full of it.

Click on the Discipleship Summit graphic above to move into the new (old) paradigm, where evangelism and discipleship become one.  The first video is Dennis Prethers, founder of The Rooftop... check it out.  and find some amazing resources at Ecclesia Experiment link.   

Blessings,
Grover

When I look back at 2023, I'm overwhelmed at the blessing that God has released.  So many new friends, re-acquaintances,  successful campaigns, Holy Spirit inspiration, spiritual growth.  And then the impossible challenges, discouragement, rejection, health... you know he story... every Christian has trials and temptations to overcome.  But we are still learning of God's faithfulness... and it's MORE THAN SUFFICIENT!

THE GREATEST ERA IN HISTORY
I believe we are living in the last times, and every second is revealing "the culmination of all things in Christ."  And, we get to be a part of the last days ministry prior to the returning of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.   The Holy Spirit is moving over the lands and the warfare for the souls of men is in high  gear.  Angelic armies are moving forth to ultimately remove Satan from power and bring God's Kingdom to bear on the earth.  Join me as we look at some of the works that we may be called and empowered to be a part of in 2024...

There are many biblical principles that have been defined by our traditions and preferences, some resulting in confusion and division in the body of Christ.  I believe that "repentance" is one of these principles that has been reduced to its lowest and least powerful denominator when it is applied only to our behavior.

I remember, as a young believer, the way that my tradition addressed repentance.  It went something like this...  Father, I think I really messed up this time, and the pastor says I need to confess and repent of my sins.  He also said that I need to feel really bad and remorseful or it's probably not real.  So-o-o, I'm confessing that I've sinned, and I feel really, really, really bad about it.  And I'm really, really sorry about it.  So please forgive me and I promise I'll never, ever, ever do it again.

Hmmm.  Pretty powerful stuff, huh?  Of course I'm exaggerating a bit to get my point across, but I think my point is pretty close to home.  In this case, repentance was reduced strictly to a remedy for my poor behavior.  The goal of this exercise was for me to recognize my deviant actions (sins,) agree with God (confess) these sins, ask His forgiveness, and therefore be free (at least until next time) from the consequences of my terrible behavior and have unfettered relationship restored with my heavenly Father.  Not a bad plan... except that repentance is SO much more than fixing errant behavior.

It was glaringly obvious to some that the presidential election result this week was a miracle of God.  Sounds like millions of Americans turned their attention to the God of the Universe, humbled themselves and prayed fervently for God's deliverance for our nation.  Deliverance from corruption, lies and deceit that have crept into our government and nation gradually through the years, and overtly in more recent times.  God answered in a historical upset that confounded pollsters, media, and many or most of the American voters.

Edith and I were working at one of the polls on Tuesday, so we didn't get home until after 10 p.m.  Poll workers are pretty much sequestered during the election and don't have access to news (or even phones most of the time), so I had no idea what was happening.  I turned the TV on and listened to the most stammering and stuttering of the newscasters that I had ever experienced.  They were dumbfounded, confused, shocked, without words.  Their polls and confident assertions had been totally debunked!

I did not care for either of the presidential candidates in this election, but felt I should vote because of the platform differences (believed that the Republican platform was closer to Christian principle) and
the Supreme Court judges who would be installed.  And perhaps we needed a "wrecking ball" to expose and confront some of the massive corruption that was ongoing.

Anyway, as I watched the election unfold, I experienced two very different thoughts.  Seeing God confound the wise and totally change the hearts of many voters was exhilarating, but deep down there was also a sense that Christians had been aroused and energized into action for this election, but if they believed that it was all over and everything is fine again, stopped praying and went back to smelling daisies, then the problems which we have now would be multiplied many times over and this victory of grace would be of little long term value.  In other words, if America experienced "revival" like it did in the month after 9/11, but then went back to sleep (like 9/11) the result would be similar to the "house being swept clean but not filled, and seven more demons would return and fill the void."   The end would be worse than the present.

So, I believe the call to the Body of Christ is to be vigilant in prayer and stay in a watchful mode.  Encourage one another in love and reveal that love into the confused and frustrated communities in which we live.  Pray that the folks called into leadership remain safe and are not deterred by the swarms of ungodly folks who would try to lure them back into the status quo of graft and corruption.  And, above all, pray for "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

I was recently reading the comments under a news article on the Fox News website.  Wow, what an experience.  What frustration, anger, fear and disrespect for others flowed out of the discussion.  And that was mostly from folks who claimed to be "Christians," or at least referenced Christian values.  Then there were the atheists who claimed that there was no evidence that God was real... Christians believed in a myth.  I decided to take the last statements at face value and look at things from that perspective.  AND to be objective about it as well.  Not an easy task, but here's how it went.

​First, I considered the Biblical account, but noted that atheists don't believe in the Bible, so I would have to look for evidence of God somewhere else.  I remembered some of the scientific research and teachings of the creation scientists that look at the universe from a Christian perspective and attempt to prove the existence of God and the creation with real science.  Hmmm... some good stuff, but would that be enough by itself to persuade the atheists that God exists.  (See Psalm 19 and do a search on "creation science."

​Next, I considered (trying to be logical here) that even in the worldly legal system, eyewitness accounts of a crime or event is highly valued and  can determine the results of a trial.  Physical evidence along WITH witness testimony is VERY powerful.  Sooo, take some of the physical evidence (creation science,) add in eyewitness accounts, and let's see what this looks like.