Malignant Victory

Normally when we think of victory, we think of something beneficial, something that feels good. But can there be such a thing as a malignant victory? That is a victory that's not beneficial but malevolent, vicious, injurious and harmful to its own victors?

If you think for a moment, you will realize that when we say someone died from cancer, we are announcing a malignant victory. Cancer cells differ from normal healthy cells in several important ways. First of all, they are “rebels.” Instead of operating in an ordered and systematic way that allows for balance in the body, cancer cells break all the rules exclusively for their own benefit.

You might say cancer cells are completely selfish. They divide rapidly without any regard for how their numbers affect the needs of other cells. They refuse to stay localized and instead spread and invade other parts of the body where they don't belong, disrupting the body's functioning. And they consume the lion’s share of nutrients, creating their own supply systems and starving out normal cells. Left unchecked, they eventually destroy the body they have invaded, and in their malignant victory they also destroy themselves.

Like a cancer, malignant victories in human societies are always self-destructive. They are fueled by self-interest where one group feels entitled to the greatest share of benefits at the impoverishment of other groups. Rather than respecting the contributions of others through collaboration, one group seeks to dominate, creating a barrier between itself and other groups. This dominant group often usurps existing authority and operating rules in order to entrench its own power structure. Eventually, however, the systems created by malignant victories either collapse internally or are overthrown by revolution.

Human history is full of examples of societies destroyed by malignant victories. The collapse of communism in the former Soviet Union is an excellent example. Proclaimed to be superior to other forms of government, it managed to last only 70 years, in the end strangling on its own stagnant economic growth.

The current civil war in Syria is another example. President Assad represents an elite that has ruled harshly for decades, denying the majority many freedoms, and controlling their access to jobs, food, communication and sources of information. Instead of listening to the complaints of the majority and creating positive reforms, the elite has chosen to retaliate with force killing an estimated 70,000 and turning 1.2 million citizens into refugees. Everyone agrees that the current regime will not last, but in its bid for malignant victory, it appears determined to destroy the country that has sustained it for so long.

Father God cautions us not to engage in malignant victories. He warns us not to be dominated by self-serving interests. In Proverbs 16:25, He tells us, “There is a way which seems right to a person, but its end results in death.” Self-interest will always inevitably turn to self-destruction.

Instead, Father God encourages us to seek Him, and His priorities. He reassures us that when we do, we will receive everything we need and truly desire (Matthew 6:33). Father God has a strategy for true victory that is never malignant and gives abundant life to all. “Wealth and power come from You (Father God); You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.” (1 Chronicles 29:12)

Come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We are continuing our series on “The Victorious Church.” My message is “Ekklesia: God's House of Prayer.”

Living at the Top

Take a moment and think back to the last time you experienced a success. How did you feel? While success is different things to different people, I think we can all agree that success feels great! For a moment, no matter how brief, we feel on top of the world, somehow more vital and alive than ever. Everything in life seems to be going our way. But no matter how much we may desire it, life is never one stretch of uninterrupted success.

That doesn't stop many of us from dreaming about living at the top, by seeking ways to maximize our experience of success. Countless authors have written hundreds of books on the subject of how to attain and keep success. Several classics come to mind such as, Andrew Carnegie's “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Napoleon Hill's “Think and Grow Rich,” and Stephen Covey's “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”

If you read even a few self-help books on success, you quickly discover that there is a high degree of overlap in the strategies they suggest. Some of the most common ones are:

• Having a clear vision and purpose to motivate you
• Proactively setting and attaining goals
• Being decisive, able to make and see decisions through
• Overcoming fear and taking risks
• Respecting, appreciating, and encouraging the contribution of others
• Consistent follow-through, always keep your word
• Enjoy the journey and challenges on the way

No matter how successful people are, no one lives at the top all the time, for all of us experience highs and lows. But even if it is fleeting, we keep on striving to experience success again and again, to drink in the wonderful sensation of being on top and fully alive.

Did you know that God wants you to have a successful life? That He actually created you for living at the top? Jesus clearly identified that His purpose in coming to earth was to give us abundant life (John 10:10b). In many ways, the Bible is a book about how to be successful and fully alive.

So what are God's tips for success? You might be surprised to learn they are very similar to the ones listed above. For example, Father God tells us that we can't get to square one without a vision (Proverbs 29:18); we must keep our eye continually on the goal (Philippians 3:14); our word is of utmost importance (Proverbs 18:21); and we have to take risks, counting their cost (Luke 14:28).

The strategies are similar because they are universal principles established by Father God for our success. However, the Bible gives important keys to ensure success that you won't find in any self-help book. Father God never intended for us to attain and maintain success through our own self-effort, but by continually abiding in Him (John 15). And once we become His child, He places us in His family where we exchange respect, appreciation and encouragement with others as we mutually build our success together (1 Corinthians 12:12–26).

Self-help success strategies provide fleeting results at best, but Father God promises that His strategies for success last forever.

Come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM to learn more about Father God's strategies for success. This is the second week in our current series on “The Victorious Church.”

Pastor Che

Spoils of Victory

Well the big day is almost upon us! Which team are you backing: Ravens or 49ers? The upcoming Super Bowl promises to be a great game, and fans on both sides are already claiming the championship. There is nothing quite so sweet as sitting on the edge of your seat through a close, well fought game and having your side seize victory in the final seconds!

It's a high that's hard to explain and we've all seen clips of joyous fans jumping, screaming, crying, dancing, hugging strangers etc., enjoying the thrill of the victory celebration. Unfortunately, we've also seen the controlled pandemonium of celebration turn ugly and destructive as fans careen out of control. How can the intensity of victory that feels so good, so easily turn into vandalism and violence that are the very antithesis of celebration?

We don't have to look very far for examples. Last February 1, 2012 at a soccer match in Port Said, Egypt, a brawl broke out between opposing fans and players. When it was all over the stadium looked more like a battlefield than a sports arena, with 73 people dead and over 1000 injured.

This past October 29, fans celebrating the San Francisco Giants World Series championship, rioted burning vehicles, starting fires and smashing store windows. The ensuing violence and vandalism resulted in over 3 dozen arrests.

And who can forget Brian Stow, the 42-year-old Giants fan, who was beaten unconscious and left severely brain-damaged after the opening game between the Dodgers and Giants in March 2011?

Team sports have been described as situations of “controlled aggression” in which as fans, we personally identify with the rivalry and the outcome of victory or defeat. Victory gives us a sense of competence and power, and defeat leaves us with feelings of vulnerability and loss. When our team wins, we want to leverage the power of our victory and “lord it over” those who have been defeated. We feel superior and entitled to these spoils of victory, but frequently the defeated fans resist us and fight back.

There seems to be a fine dividing line between power that wants to celebrate and power that seeks to spoil and destroy. World War II General Douglas MacArthur recognized this when he said: “Give me a man who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.”

Father God desires for us to experience a sense of victory when we face challenges in our personal lives. Romans 8:37 tells us, “The One who loves us gives us overcoming victory in all these difficulties.” But Father God is also aware of how the power of victory can have both a positive and negative attraction.

He cautions us against the spoils of victory in Proverbs 16:32, “The person that rules his own spirit is more mighty than the person who conquers a city.” Jesus gave us this instruction on how to use the power of victory, “The person who would be the greatest among you must become the servant of everyone.” True victory is displayed in using our power to benefit other people, rather than attempting to spoil and discredit them.

Come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We are starting a new series, “The Victorious Church,” and we will be discussing how to walk in the power of true victory.

Pastor Che

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