Teach me to pray

Over the last 2 weeks that I spent in California, I asked God for something simple: teach me to pray. I love those simple words that the disciples asked Jesus in person in Luke 11. I find it amazing that to the future preachers of His Church, Jesus spent more time teaching them to pray than to preach!

God answered that simple prayer while I was away. He answered it in part through a great book by E.M. Bounds called The Weapon of Prayer. Bounds has a whole collection of books about prayer, and each that I have read are amazing. In my opinion, there’s probably no need for any more authors to write about prayer. Bounds pretty much nailed it.

God also taught me about prayer through prayer itself. Although almost every waking moment in California was spent studying for my next class, I made sure that I took some time to pray. Although I didn’t do it as much as I would have liked, the time I had with God was deep. He spoke to me in ways I haven’t experienced in a while, and that I won’t try to explain in a blog post. 

Tomorrow at Awaken, I’ll be speaking on the topic of prayer as we continue the Framework series, and I can’t wait to share what God has laid on my heart!

As a little precursor, here is my favorite quote from E.M. Bounds’ book, The Weapon of Prayer…

“Every movement for the advancement of the Gospel must be created by and inspired by prayer. In all these movements of God, prayer precedes and attends as an invariable and necessary condition. In this relation, God makes prayer identical in force and power with Himself, and says to those on earth who pray: “You are on the earth to carry on My cause. I am in heaven, the Lord of all, the Maker of all, the Holy One of all. Now whatever you need for My cause, ask Me and I will do it. Shape the future by your prayers, and all that you need for present supplies, command Me. I made heaven and earth, and all things in them. Ask largely. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. It is MY work which you are doing. It concerns My cause. Be prompt and full in praying. Do not abate your asking, and I will not wince nor abate in My giving.”

Church Planting: The Future

This is the final part of a 3-part interview series about church planting. It ties in with much of what I’ll be sharing in October at the Calvary Church Planting Network’s ReEngage Conference in California. I’ve already talked about The Call to plant a church and The Flood that we endured just 8 months in.

Today’s video is about vision for the future…

Church Planting: The Flood

Back in May, I reposted a blog I had posted 2 years prior about the flood we endured in 2010. Pastor Chuck Musselwhite, from The Village Chapel in California saw the video and wanted to hear more. We’ve since been in contact and are partnering together to help plant more Calvary Chapels. He asked me to film some interview-style videos that would help people understand what was going through my mind as I was called to plant a church and endured all that came with that.

If you missed yesterday’s interview, you can watch it here.

Today’s interview is about the flood that happened in 2010…

Church Planting: The Call

In October I have the privilege of running a break-out session at the Calvary Church Planting Network’s ReEngage conference. It’s at the Twin Peaks Conference Center in California, and if you’re looking to plant a Calvary Chapel or are interested in mentoring those who want to, you should go!

I was recently asked by CCPN to put together a few interview-style videos of what it was like to plant Awaken, so I figured I’d share them on my blog as well.

Here is Part 1 of 3 of the interview. This one is about the calling to plant a church…

Saved in the nick of time

3 weeks ago at Awaken, God had some pretty sweet moves up His sleeve.

The text was Joshua 3 and the message was clear: if you want to see God do amazing things, you have to step out of your tent and face the raging river ahead, trusting God to get you across. We had a packed house that morning and at the end, I gave an invitation for people to come forward to give their life to Jesus.

It’s always a bit easier to walk forward when you’re not the only one, but Alan wasn’t scared. It was his first time at Awaken. He saw our sign one day as he was driving by and figured he’d give it a shot. With tears in his eyes, he walked forward at the end of my message, and I prayed with him to receive Jesus!

Then something out of the ordinary happened…

Instead of walking back to his seat, he turned to me and asked me to pray for his grandfather, Amador, who was suffering in a hospital in California. I seized the moment, and as many people extended their hands toward him, we prayed as a church for physical and spiritual healing for Alan’s grandfather, 3,000 miles away in California.

Immediately after service, a man from Awaken who just moved here from California got in touch with his pastor back home who was able to go visit Alan’s grandfather. We were thrilled to find out that he visited him at home because he had been released from the hospital! That’s not even the best part though. When he showed up to the man’s home, he was able to share the Gospel with him and Amador accepted Jesus! The pastor was also able to read Scripture with the whole family and share the Gospel with them.

Unfortunately, I received the sad news on Tuesday that Amador had taken a turn for the worst once he went home and he didn’t make it. He passed away in his home in Calfornia, surrounded by his family. Although we mourn for the family, we rejoice now for Amador who is better off than he ever has been – hanging out with Jesus! Alan flew out there yesterday to be with the family…and God kept working. As Alan talked with the family and the pastor was there to pray with them, Alan’s mother also gave her life to the Lord!

The pastor’s church was made available for the funeral, so join with me in praying that God saves the rest of the family as they feel and see the tangible love of Christ.

Amador is a great reminder of how fragile life is and how important it is to make a decision to serve Christ today. Had Amador waited 2 weeks, it would have been too late. However, God used Alan’s bold steps of faith, our prayers, and the faithfulness of a pastor to reach out to Amador right where he was. Because of that, one day, I’ll get to meet the man we prayed for on July 3, 2011…and Alan’s mom…and maybe the rest of the family!

God is SO good!