The Inside Track

When you hear the word prophecy, what comes to your mind? A fanatic on the street corner screaming, “Repent, doomsday is near!” A news story about some religious cult selling their possessions, gathering and waiting for the “rapture?” December 21, 2012 when according to the Mayan calendar the world would come to an end?

While most of us probably associate these extreme or fringe behaviors with the concept of prophecy, in reality we all engage in some type of prophecy-seeking on a regular basis. You see, in its simplest definition, prophecy is a prediction of what is to come, and we all want to be able to predict certain future events. For example, did you listen to the weather report today? We often call it a prediction or forecast and we do our technological best to predict what the weather will be like in the future.

With the Super Bowl coming up in a little over a week, you can get all kinds of odds from sportscasters on who will come out on top, the San Francisco 49ers or the Baltimore Ravens, and what their point spread will be. Odds are a way of prophesying the outcome of the game in advance.

If you've been listening to the news lately, you are aware that we are in the middle of a bad flu season this year. The flu vaccine is developed each year based on statistical predictions of how the virus will mutate over time. It's actually a very prophetic enterprise, and if accurate, the vaccine is effective. However if the “scientific prophecy” is inaccurate, the vaccine won't provide protection.

If you follow the stock market at all, you are aware of the many different methods used to forecast what the market will do. With just these few examples, it's obvious that we continually attempt to predict future events. We want to be “in the know,” and have “the inside track” on events that are important to us. And frequently we temporarily assume the role of a prophet, saying things such as: “I hate to say I told you so, but…,” “I'll bet anything that…,” or “Mark my words….”

So we all are prophecy-seekers and we sometimes act as prophets ourselves. We want information about future probabilities, but how can we determine the accuracy of the predictions we hear? How can we know if we’re listening to “the right inside track?”

Father God understands our desire to know about important future events, and He has always spoken to people through prophecy. In Numbers 12:6 it says, “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal Myself to them in visions. I speak to them in dreams.” The Bible contains approximately 2000 prophecies, three quarters of which have already been fulfilled without error. The remaining 500 are prophecies about future events yet to occur.

But not all prophecy from God is contained in the Bible. Father God continues to use prophets to speak to His people personally. In Joel 2:28, He promised that after Christ came, He would pour out the Holy Spirit on people, and that they would prophesy, have prophetic dreams and see visions. This has been going on for the last 2000 years and continues today.

Want to get “the inside track” on what God is saying through His prophets now?

Come join us this Sunday for the last day of our Prophetic Conference, as we have contemporary prophets share what God is revealing to them. Tony Kim will be speaking at 9 AM and Kris Vallotton at 11 AM.

Pastor Che

Dying to Live?

Finally he came out with it. I heard today that Lance Armstrong publicly admitted that he used performance-enhancing drugs during all 7 of his Tour de France victories. It's a major disappointment for many sports enthusiasts who believed, at least for a time, in the legend of the cancer survivor turned superhero. I have to admit it was inspiring to see what appeared to be a squeaky clean rider waving the American flag in victory so many times.

Armstrong duped many people, convincing them that his legendary status was real, and he successfully fought off questions about his integrity for years. Why did so many people believe him? I think in part, it's because as human beings, we are attracted to the idea of the underdog, who against all odds, works hard, sacrifices and comes out on top. It's an age-old appealing story that always sells well.

We admire those individuals who through strenuous discipline and ongoing sacrifice are able to master and perfect a set of athletic skills and attain top rank in their particular sport. Think of any sport and names immediately come to mind. For example, Michael Jordan in basketball, Mohammed Ali in boxing, the Brazilian soccer player Pele, Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky in hockey, Michael Phelps in swimming or Nadia Comaneci in gymnastics.

All these individuals were driven to excel and pushed their bodies to the limit to attain the goal of becoming one of the world's best athletes. They adhered to strict training schedules and diets, often forfeiting other social activities for years at a time. We might say they were willing to die to one part of their life (the little pleasures the rest of us indulge in and take for granted), in order to more fully have life in terms of their athletic achievements.

While we respect their discipline and achievements, most of us don't see ourselves as made of the same stern stuff. That type of mastery and goal attainment is for an elite few. But did you know that God not only sees you as capable of accomplishing great things, He calls you to do so?

In Romans 12:1 it says, “I urge you in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” And in 1 Corinthians 9:25 we are told, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

No matter how great, every athlete’s moment in the limelight is fleeting. They pay a high price in their dying to ordinary pleasures, for a brief moment of life at the top. Father God calls each one of us to become a living sacrifice, willing to die to ordinary patterns of life in order to become alive to abundant life. He calls this true and proper worship. Can we really die to live? Father God says yes we can and assures us that, in contrast to the athlete whose attainment fades away, our achievement is an eternal reward that will never be taken from us.

Please come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We will be continuing our series, “A Life of Worship,” and my sermon is, “A Surrendered Life.”

Pastor Che

Worship Unaware

Over the holidays, our family saw one of my favorite productions, “Les Miserables.” I have seen it performed on stage several times, and I am always moved to tears. I wasn't sure how it would come across on film, but the current motion picture is outstanding, and I'm anticipating that it will receive some awards at the Golden Globes this Sunday

The musical is one of the most popular ever written. I think, at least in part, its popularity is due to the redemptive nature of the story itself. The main character, Jean Valjean, suffers a harsh prison sentence simply for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving sister and her child. He emerges from prison a hard, bitter man, convinced he can trust no one and concerned with no one other than himself.

He accepts food and shelter from a Bishop, Meriyl, but then robs him before leaving. Caught by the police red-handed, Valjean is surprised when the Bishop covers for him, assuring the police that he has given Valjean the stolen items. The Bishop’s redemptive act restores more than just Valjean’s freedom. It encourages him to open his heart to trust and care for others again. Throughout the rest of the story, Valjean seeks justice for others, and whenever possible, looks for the good in each one. His world has become larger than just himself.

I think redemptive stories speak to all of us, because to some extent we have all experienced how powerful it is to be affirmed, and how good it feels when justice prevails. Think of redemptive acts that you have performed. Perhaps it was a time when you helped someone who was stranded getting gasoline for their empty tank. Maybe you stood up for a friend who was being bullied, or helped someone carry packages to their car. We've all given away smiles to strangers and momentarily brightened their day.

No one asked us to do these things. We simply saw an opportunity to give or help, and stepped in. We did it willingly, not looking for anything in return, but we always get something very good back. There is a sense of happiness and satisfaction we feel in these redemptive moments that's hard to explain, but it's very real. For an instant life seems a little better, like we've touched something larger than ourselves.

I think what we are experiencing in these moments is worship unaware. That may surprise you, because most people think that worship is something people do in church buildings. But worship is multifaceted. When we honor and respect God in any way, we are worshiping.

In Matthew 25:35–40, Jesus tells us that when we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, assist the weak, visit those in prison, we are actually doing it to Him. When our actions with others are redemptive, we are actually honoring and respecting God, because people are made in His image. One of the most famous quotes in “Les Miserables” is the line, “To love another person is to see the face of God”.

We have a choice. We can worship ourselves and reap selfishness and dissatisfaction. Or we can worship Him, enter a world larger than ourselves, and live a redemptive life caring for others and establishing justice in the situations we encounter.

Come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We are continuing our current series, “A Life of Worship,” and I will be preaching on the topic “Pleasing God.”

Pastor Che

What's Your Obsession?

It's New Year’s and often a time we find ourselves reflecting on our lives, how fulfilled we feel, and whether we like the way our life is going. Just what makes life worth living for you?

When asked this question, people have many different responses: family, marriage,  friends, career, creative expression, adventure, being loved, growing and learning. For some people it is attaining wealth, fame, success or prominence in their field.

We only have to observe other people to know what's most important to them. We can all identify people who are obsessed with the latest tech gadgets, beauty, fashion, food, sports, a movie or rockstar, texting, video games etc. A number of years ago a foreign observer summed up our obsessions well in the statement: “America is not a democracy, but a monarchy. Your king is materialism, your queen is entertainment, and your crown prince is sports.”

Increasingly though, many people state that they “aren't sure” what makes life worth living. In a recent survey, one person said, “I'm not sure. Sometimes I think it's what we own that drives us. Our possessions feel like an extension of ourselves, and if we stop now, we fear losing it all.”

Scripture tells us that we become the servant of whatever is important to us. It dictates our priorities, how we spend our time, where we invest our resources, even whom we associate with. To a much larger extent than we imagine, what we deem important controls us. Whether we realize it or not we are worshiping it.

You may think that only religious people worship, but actually we all worship something. Worship simply means to pay homage, idolize or give adulation to something or someone. Whatever makes our life meaningful is what we worship.

Interestingly, psychological research indicates that our brain appears wired to search for meaning in life. Their research concludes: “What makes life meaningful is the deep sense that a unique purpose awaits us. We have only to discover it to be fulfilled.”

We can chase many obsessions looking for meaning and purpose, only to find ourselves dominated instead. What we think we want ends up controlling us, not fulfilling us. This is because we were created to worship Father God, to find our life's meaning in Him.

1 John 2:16–17 tells us: “Everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father, but from the world. And the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God has abundant life.”

Many people don't want to worship God because they don't want to be dominated by Him. But Father God will never dominate us because He loves us. He reassures us, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3) In fact, Father God promises to set us free (John 8:36) Actually, He is the only meaning and purpose in life that will not dominate or control us!

Why not let 2013 be the year you discover true meaning and fulfillment in your life, in a relationship with Father God that sets you free. Let your obsession be the worship of Him!

Come and join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We will be starting a new series, “A Life of Worship” and my son Gabriel will be preaching on “Spirit and Truth”. Happy New Year!

Pastor Che