The Monarch

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning – the sixth day. ~ Genesis 1:31

About a week ago, while Sara was getting lunch ready after she brought Ephraim home from preschool, he came running up to her and said, “Look what I found!” That phrase coming from a young boy can often strike fear into the heart of any mother. You never know what you are going to see when they open up their hand. This time, thankfully, it was just a harmless, little caterpillar. Ephraim asked if we could keep it, and so we now have a new pet (like we needed more living things to take care of in our house).

Sara did a little research and found out that it is a Monarch Caterpillar and will soon enter into the process of morphing into a beautiful butterfly. She also found out that it only eats one kind of plant. Guess who got to go trekking all around the neighborhood looking for milkweed? That’s right, your esteemed pastor. For several days I hunted for this elusive plant, not knowing exactly what it looks like, only to find out there are two big vines of it growing right by our front door, with about six other monarch caterpillars crawling all over it.

My loving wife has been studying all about these fascinating creatures so that she can teach Ephraim his first real biology lesson. The truth is that she is way more excited about it than he is. In fact, I think she is a little obsessed with that silly caterpillar.

Last night we had a big scare. It looked like the caterpillar was sick and might not make it. He was throwing up, which I didn’t even know caterpillars could do, and was thrashing about. Sara was so concerned… I think she was about ready for me to bring out the anointing oil and pray for the little guy. She must have said several prayers on her own because he seems to be doing better today.

I have gotten a few chuckles out of this whole incident, I hope you have too, but it has also reminded me how amazing and creative our God is. It is fascinating to think about the transformation process for this one, little creature. And then to think about all the diversity, life, and beauty of this world that God created. Indeed, it is very good! That silly caterpillar has inspired me to say, “How great is our God!”

Sara’s loving care for this creature has me thinking even more about one statement I made in the message yesterday. How we treat the creation reflects how we feel about the Creator. If we think about it, we are all part of His creation. How we treat one another and how we care for creation tells us what we truly think about God. May our actions toward one another and our loving care of His creation become genuine acts of worship toward God.

Empty Worship

What worship sometimes seems like...

Communion

This is the Body... This is the Blood... broken and poured out for all of us. Gather with us as we continue to learn what it meant to be a sacramental community, broken and poured out for others, this Sunday.

Another Testimony...

One of the members of Tori's Bible Study group at El Reno Federal Penitentiary sent me his testimony. It touched on a lot of things we are talking about in our "Each One Reach One & Teach One" emphasis and was just too powerful not to share. Here it is:

July 31, 2011

Church,

God bless the very air you breathe… I am told by a brother, whom I hold dear to my heart that you would like to hear my testimony.

I am from Lubbock, TX. I am 33 years old. I have been in gang life since I was 13 years old. By that time, I already smoked weed and drank most of the time. My older brother schooled me in the street life and taught me to fight and sell drugs. Love was not expressed in my world the way that I hear other people talk about it. To this day, I still don’t know who my dad is. I never made it to the 8th grade due to a shooting I was involved in. I ran from the law and created havoc everywhere I went. I hurt people, lied, stole and used people to get my way. That way of life only has two for sure outcomes: death or prison. While most kids my age were at football practice or getting ready for prom, I was on my way to prison with grown men. Life behind these walls are not easy for anyone, let alone a kid.

The first time I heard about Jesus was in prison, and to be honest with you when you are around nothing but hate and violence, love sounds real good! I knew that I needed to change and I had a little boy to look after. I did not want my son to be anything like me. I wanted him to know his dad. I gave my life to Jesus, but no one explained to me what had taken place. Yes, I read my bible, but it made no sense to me. Once I was released from prison, I tried to live for God but lacked the power to stay strong. I backslid and allowed the enemy to lie to me. I turned on the only good thing in my life and returned to my old ways…

I have been in the Federal System since 2003 serving a 16 year sentence for selling drugs. While serving time at the maximum security prison “USP Florence Col,” I was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. I can boldly say that I have never been the same since that day! He has been the driving force behind all that God has done through and in my life. If you would have told me 8 years ago that God would be using me to teach known gang members, ex-drug dealers, murders, etc. the word of God, I would have laughed at you. But today it humbles me to tears that God would use someone like me to spread His word.

For the last 6 years God has been moving here in El Reno. We use to have Bible Study Sun. – Wed. out on the rec. yard. I preach every Thursday and every 5th Sunday in our Church service here. I’ve lead many men and a few women to our Lord, but I believe that my ministry is to those who are already saved and are trying to learn how to walk. I wish someone would have been there to teach me who I was in Christ.

In prison you only have your word, so you better be sure what you go around saying. I stake my life on the credibility of God’s unfailing love and power on a daily basis.

In closing, learn to trust in the One who formed you. God bless you and yours.

Your brother in Christ Jesus our King!

Jason
A.K.A. Joker

p.s. I am sending an “In Christ” confession so that you can start saying what God already says about you. Philemon 1:6
Read it. Speak it. Live It!

In Christ

This "confession" was sent to me by an inmate at the El Reno Federal Penitentiary. I will post his testimony soon.

In Christ I live and move and have my being! What a vast storehouse of power. In Christ my Savior and Lord I have life, energy, and strength for the impossible. I abide in Christ. I live in Him. He is the vine, I am His branch. The life of God is in me. His love is in me. Just like blood flows through this body, His life flows through me, and I will let His life and love dominate me. I am a new creature in Christ Jesus, my past is over, I’ve been forgiven, I have the ability of God within me. I am the Righteousness of God in Christ. My standing with God is secure. My prayers are always answered, and everything works out for me! Christ Jesus, my Lord is my wisdom, He is my Righteousness. He is my Sanctification. He is my Redemption. I have abundant grace, I reign as a king in my domain, in this life through Jesus Christ. By Jesus’ stripes I’ve been healed, God’s word says that 2000 years ago I was healed, if I was healed then, I am healed now! Healing belongs to me. He is greater than the devil. He is greater than disease. He is greater than any circumstance, and He lives in me! The law of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from sin, death, poverty, fear, and guilt, because I am in Christ. Through Christ, my Lord, I can do all things, He strengthens me, I cannot be conquered. I cannot be defeated, because I can do all things through Him. I am crucified with Christ. Yet nevertheless I live! And Christ lives in me. He was quickened and made alive, I was quickened and made alive with Him. I was raised up together with Him and made to sit with Him. I am seated with Christ! All my needs are supplied, He has already made provision for me. Everything I will ever need He has blessed me with. It is mine and I accept it now in Jesus’ Name!

Story Behind the Song

Horatio Spafford, a successful Chicago lawyer, penned the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” after several tragic events in his life. In 1871, the Spafford’s only son died at the age of four. Shortly after his son’s death, Horatio endured the great Chicago fire, which destroyed all of his investment property and ruined him financially. Then in 1873, the family planned a trip to Europe. Horatio was delayed by business, but sent his wife and four daughters on ahead, promising to follow them in a few days. While crossing the Atlantic, their ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel and sank rapidly, killing over 220 people, including all four of the Spafford’s daughters. His wife Anna survived and when she arrived in Europe she sent back the telegram, “Saved alone.” Horatio left immediately to bring his grieving wife home. As he passed near the spot of his daughters’ death, he began to write these words:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

In the midst of the darkest days of his life, Horatio maintained a deep sense of God’s sustaining presence. Stripped of everything but their faith, the Spafford’s moved to Jerusalem to begin a mission work there and impacted many lives with the message of our hope in Christ.

Whatever you are going through this week, may this song become your prayer. As you hold on to God’s promises, may you proclaim “It is well, it is well, with my soul!”

Tori's Message

I spoke about experiencing every dimension of freedom in Christ on Sunday. Deep in our bones we know that we were created to be free beings, which is why we react so strongly to bondage, slavery, and oppression. This week I received another letter from my friend Tori who is serving time in the federal penitentiary. The last time that I visited him, I told him that I don't want any more of our young men and women to end up rotting away in prison. We were created to be free. I asked him to share with our teens some things from his experience that might guide them in the right direction. The powerful message below is what he wrote. It is meant as a letter to our ROC Youth, but I wanted to share it with you because it is deeply connected to some of the things we are exploring in Romans 8. Continue to keep Tori lifted up in your prayers.

This is a picture of Tori with "the Christian brothers I'm really close with... my prayer group on the dorm."

July 6, 2011

The Family,

Hello everyone, my name is Tori Q. Hill, but everyone used to know me as Baby PB from Play Boy Gangster Crip. It’s taken me a long time to get this far. Seen things you may have never even heard of. I’ve done things I hope and pray none of you ever have to experience. At the young age of 22 years old, I’ve graduated into manhood by way of the penitentiary. A place I wish I’d never had to come to, and somewhere I pray to God in Heaven, that none of you ever have to see the inside of.

It’s hard times any time you do time. Whatever the security, whatever the yard, doing time is time. This is not for human beings, let alone grown men. I’ve watched guards let rival gangs kill each other. I’ve seen a man get his head pushed in with a lock over an argument. I know a guy who got stabbed over a cheese biscuit. Tension and bad vibes run the compound in the prison system. C.O.’s doing and saying whatever they want, men kissing other men. It’s enough to drive a brother crazy. Your line of friends and family, who will remember you, will also dwindle and even fade into nothing. You get a chance to see who really cares for you. You have nobody but yourself, God and those you least expect to make the trip to come see you. And trust me; “Homies” are not going to look out.

It gets deeper: When you’re in the cell, looking out the window, when everything finally sinks in, it can bring tears to any man’s eyes. He’ll tell you different, but he’s probably lying. Unless he enjoys being away from civilization and family, kids, mother and siblings, he’s felt the pain of hard time. The loneliness can break a man. The thought of that out date being so far away can eat you alive. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemies. This is not a life for anyone.

But, when all is said and done, I understand that this is what it took, like a lot of guys, to get me in the position to be used by my Heavenly Father. He may not have put me here, but He and I are positive that this experience will not be wasted. My siblings, I would like to be your sacrifice so that you gain from this experience. It is only fair that you get a chance to see that you don’t have to come here to know where the streets lead. This is my blood, sweat, and tears so that you may choose a different path. Don’t follow me little brother and young sister. Follow the right Way. There is more waiting for you than you can see. God has a beautiful ending for us all, even me. I’m not perfect. I wish I was, but truth is, I’m not there yet. Not yet. I know what I want. And I know where peace is and this it’s waiting for me.

After all the pain and suffering, after all the drugs, guns and street living, I finally know where peace is. I know how to fill that void in my life. God has given me another chance to live. I’ve been dead for so long, I am now home. Free from this mental prison that lurks in the street life. I refuse to be another victim any longer. What about you?

In the upcoming months, I’ll be writing you all to share some deep things. The way I see you guys is as family. So I’ll treat you like it. A few of my brothers would like to send their testimonies as well. If you are okay with that, then I’ll give them the green light. But I must warn you, there are raw and uncut brothers. 100% real, and now about Christ.

I grew up where you live. I’ve made a name for myself as a drug dealing, trigger happy individual. Now I know the damage I’ve done. The families I’ve destroyed. The lives I’ve taken. Sometimes I can see their faces. Hear their voices. Feel their pain. It’s not worth it. Never was. And now that I’m back home in Christ, I will forever love you – my younger brother, my younger sister. For my only wish is to stop the bloody beast that eats our young.

I love you and I’ll be writing soon. Take it slow and safe.

Love ~ Tori

p.s. I hope you enjoy the pictures. Would love to see some of you guys soon!