An exploration of Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Truth.

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Over the next few days I plan on unpacking the heart and strategy behind The Movement Church. We know that God wants to do amazing things in and through the people of Southern Orange County and it will take more then just passion to accomplish it. Our hope is that with the grace of God, passionate people, and an effective strategy, we can make a difference with the good new of Jesus Christ. 

The Movement Church is a Collaboration of Passionate People, building Authentic Relationships, with Limitless Potential!

We will be a church full of Passionate People. Passionate about life, about the future, and their faith in Christ! (Mark 12:30

We will be a church where people build Authentic Relationships. When we focus on what Christ said is the second greatest commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31) we can’t help but be authentic. If our greatest concern is for those around us, we’ll build the strongest relationships we’ve ever had. 

When these passionate Passionate People build Authentic Relationships, the only result is Limitless Potential. Imagine being a part of something where anything is possible. 

Where people find God in a way they never imagined. Where people from all walks of life accomplish the dreams in their heart.  Where strategic, seemingly unattainable goals are set and surpassed. Where the hopeless find hope and the lost are found.

That’s a church I’ve dreamt about my whole life. It’s a church you want to belong to.

In fact. ..it’s more than a church, it’s a Movement.

Just a glimpse of the region The Movement Church is called to reach! 

Just a glimpse of the region The Movement Church is called to reach! 

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I was reading timely post by my wife Meghan on “The paralyzing fear of What If”  and I immediately thought of the of the other side of that poisonous question. Instead of operating from a posture of Fear, What if we operated life from a position of Faith? Expecting God to be who he says he is, almost to a point of respectfully demanding it?.

It would sound something like this;

  • What if I went after the dream in my heart?
  • What if I pursued that business I’ve been kicking around for the last few years?
  • What if I went all in?
  • It seems scary, but What If it became the greatest decision I’ve ever made?
  • It could fail, but What If it surpasses my expectation? 
  • People may hate it, but What If they loved it?

What if today you made this your anthem? What if today you accomplished things you never have before? what if you fail as a result of it? What if you learned from that failure? What if you tried again tomorrow? 

What if there was a cornerstone to stand on, like a foundation that was immovable? What if you had something or someone you could believe in so strongly that if they said it…you could take it to the bank. 

What if this Someone was able to do things so big, so crazy, over and above anything we could ever possibly imagine? What if you are designed, to accomplish whatever it is on the other side of that “What If?”

What if today you made this your anthem?

What if?

"Knowledge and faith cannot be severed from one another, like bulkheads in a ship, the first of which may be crushed in, while the second still keeps the vessel afloat. The mind is one,—“it cannot be cut in two with a hatchet.” Faith is not antithetical to knowledge,—it is rather a larger and more fundamental sort of knowledge. It is never opposed to reason, but only to sight."

- E. G. Robinson

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But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. (Acts 9:13 ESV)

THE PROBLEM
To be transparent for a moment, it is only by God’s sovereign grace that I am able to pastor people. Often I feel like Ananias, seeing only a persons short comings, issues, sin areas, or just plain stupidity. I quickly forget about the endless abyss of grace that God repeatedly hurls me into.
Two verses later, we read…
“GO, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

THE FACTS
1. God has a redemptive plan for EVERYONE.

2. He wants us to GO and reach the beautiful, the stupid, the murderer, the annoying, the rich, the poor, and everything in between.

3. No one is beyond hope. (I am living proof of that)

“Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; (Acts 9:17-18)

THE TRUTH
Ananias went to Saul, and the results are immeasurable.
When we meet people where they are, speak the truth, and call forth purpose…the scales fall off, & the blind will see!

THE GOAL
Don’t merely read this, and think,what a sweet sentiment, or look for my many grammatical errors, or comment on/like the post because its social media etiquette!

Here is the goal…
1. IDENTIFY people in your life who are lovely, ugly, rich, poor or stupid, but blind to the truth.
2. GO to them with the truth of the LOVE of Christ.

YOU ARE THE CHANGE AGENT…and there are blind Saul’s near you. They are waiting for someone to see beyond their past, beyond their issues, and beyond their stupidity.
Waiting for someone to see the inner Paul!