Returning to Orlando...

Well once again it is that time of year for celebrating the birth of Jesus, admitting that Santa is not real (again), drinking eggnog and peppermint hot cocoa with our friends and of course setting New Year’s resolutions. It is the time of year where we can reflect on the past years accomplishments and failures. We then learn from all these things in looking ahead to target our New Year’s pursuits...

Two years ago my wife and I had a stirring in our hearts concerning being pastors and wondering what that looked like in a practical application. As much as we loved being a part of YWAM Orlando, we felt we had to settle the pastoral stirring in our hearts. As you know, after much prayer and wondering, we committed to be a part of planting Origins Church in Long Beach, CA.

As of November 2007, we had been a part of this church plant team for a little over 1 year. And though it has been a great experience and we have learned a lot from this journey, our hearts have been settled concerning the prior stirrings that we have had – our hearts and lives are committed to being a part of YWAM Orlando. We really believe that one of our rolls was to help the church get started and to get the ball rolling; and we have done that to the best of our ability. There is a team that is established and committed to being in Long Beach, and our weekly gatherings have a regular attendance of 30 – 40 people. However, upon much prayer and talking with various respected spiritual leaders in our lives, we believe that it is time for us to return to Orlando. We are not having marriage or family problems and we have not been involved in any “sin" [people usually think that is the case when pastors leave a church]. It is just that upon searching out our hearts along with the heart of God, we truly believe that we belong in YWAM Orlando...

We concluded our responsabilities with Origins through December 15th....we are currently in Michigan until the 31st of December where we will be relocating back to Orlando...

The Desire Of God

As I look back on this year of 2007, I am really noticing how much time I spend doing things that I think please God and bring a delight to his heart. But I think that I have missed it. I have been thinking on and dwelling on the life of Joseph in the Bible. His story in the Bible starts off with all kinds of info about dreams and visions from God. All good correct...yes...God gives us dreams from Him to pursue...

Fast forward. Joseph is sold into slavery and along the way is bought by a man named Potiphar who gives him a role of authority and makes him ruler over his household. Joseph is second in command. People are bowing to him. His dreams are starting to come true. He could have just become content with that and went on with life as normal. But he doesn't...

Potiphars wife tries to get him to commit adultery with her....day after day she nagged him until he just runs away!....That is awesome!....now most of us would think that God was so proud of Joseph because he had made it to the top in Egypt. He had a good job, good money, etc. but most importantly, the dream he received from God, looked like it was coming true....

I tend to think that in reality, to God it wasn't a big deal that Joseph was leading in Egypt. Maybe it was part of God's plan in those dreams, but I think more importantly, and this is the image that I get, that Jesus was standing in heaven and applauding Joseph when he ran from evil. The desire of God was coming alive, not in the fulfilment of a dream, but in a man who was so in love with God, that the commands of God were being lived out...obedience to flee sin....

So I end by saying, and take this in the context of what I am saying (God does want you to do great things for him and fulfill the dreams he gives you....I am not saying that), but think about the idea that God is more concerned with who you are becoming than what you are doing. Pursue his dreams and callings in life, but along the way, don't lose the character and ways of God that are in you....