There is a verse, Isaiah 1:17, that is my favorite verse lately.  God is talking to Israel and He says “Why do you keep parading through my courts with your worthless sacrifices?”  The nation was about to undergo a kind of judgment.  God said, “Your hearts are far from me", then he tells them the cure for the condition of their heart… "Learn to do good.  Seek justice. Help the oppressed.  Defend the orphan.  Fight for the rights of widows."

If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t want to see the ads about Compassion International and children’s things.  I used to get so overwhelmed I didn’t want to see.  I would be channel surfing or CNN was doing something in Africa or I'd see the AIDS problem and I'd want to change the channel.  

What’s our level of compassion right now?  I would tell you mine is super-high.  A month ago, 2 months, 6 months, a year, I was too busy to have authentic levels of compassion. 

• 2 billion people in the world have no access to electricity.  
• We are in the top 1% of the world’s wealth. 
• Tonight as we get in to bed, there will be 10,000 people in the Portland/Vancouver area that will not have a bed to sleep in.    

We can’t do everything, but we have to do something.

What is it for you?  What is that "thing" that causes you unrest?  I encourage you to find that passion, that sweet spot from God, that he’s purposed in your heart – and just do it.  You may not be able to go to India, but you can go downtown Portland.  You can go visit someone in a retirement home.  You can, you have to.  Well I guess you don't have to, but it seems like that ought to be the attitude, when we think of all that God has done for us.

Winston Churchill said:
We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.


Let’s look at what God says in this passage in Matthew 25.  This is 2 days before Jesus would be betrayed, arrested, beaten, and crucified.  This is the last thing that He talks about. 

He says in verse 31:  When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Matthew was about the messiah and the kingship and the kingdom of heaven, so he hones in on this thing.  He talks about that one day when all the angels will be gathered.  Thousands and millions of angels.  The word translated is almost an incomprehensible number.  Scholars believe it means 100 million angels.

Picture this day – he gathers the nations – the word nations means everyone alive.  Think about 100 million angels and all the people alive, saved and unsaved.  Jesus is literally going to separate everyone as a shepherd would separate sheep from goats.  People to his right, people to his left.  These are the last words He said before He would be crucified.  Look what mattered to Him.  Verse 33: He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

Verse 34: Then the king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you fed me.  I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.  I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
 
He doesn’t say they were hungry people and you fed them.  He says I was hungry and you fed me.  I was thirsty and you gave me a drink.  I was a stranger and you invited me into your home.  I was naked and you gave me clothing.

Verse 36: I was naked, and you gave me clothing.  I was sick, and you cared for me.  I was in prison, and you visited me.

I’ve read these words numerous times, and I never really got it until I had to be face to face.  We went into a leper colony, and they’re missing their fingers and bandaged up.  We got there and a guy walked up and he didn’t have a nose, and I didn’t want to get out of the car.  I thought if I get out of the car is it going to be weird?

He put his hand out like “Can you touch me, because no one will?”  A leper in India is untouchable.  They can’t go shopping, or be visited.  They have this stupid caste system that puts levels of where you fit in society and lepers are below everyone else.

When I think of this passage, for me it’s verse 37: Then these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?  Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality?  Or naked and give you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?”

Verse 40: And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”

Doesn’t that push through all the defenses and smoke and mirrors?  This isn’t a parable, this isn’t figurative.  I believe in a literal 1000-year reign of Christ after a 7-year tribulation, and there will be this moment of judgment.  If it isn’t enough to serve someone because you want to, doesn’t this give you a reason?

What is it for you?  When you get the burden from God, He will equip you to do what’s He’s called you to do.  Compassion is a thread throughout the entire Bible.  God wants us to take care of those who can't (or don't) take care of themselves.  So....how are you doing?  By the way, this isn't written to a church, but to individual people.

Verse 41-43: Then the king will turn to those on the left and say, “Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.  For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me.  I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink.  I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home.  I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing.  I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.”

It bugs me, because as a Christian I’ve not taken this verse as seriously as I should have.  Be about this because this is what Jesus is about.  I think today we just have to ask the question:  What will we do with the faith with which we’ve been entrusted?

Galatians 5 – the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love. 

Can you imagine what God would do if we all said, “This is what we’re going to do: love the lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, strength.  Love our neighbor.”  For me it was that leper; for some of us it’s someone we’ll drive by.  For a student, it maybe the the grandpa or grandma that is still alive, but is in a place where they feel lonely.  Loving them is visiting them.  Loving them is helping them.  It is always about the "one".  Love your neighbor as you love yourself.  You can’t change it all, but you can do something, right?

Check out this verse:
If anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help - how can God’s love be in that person?  Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other, but really show it by our actions.
I John 3:17, 18

I hope that what matters to God will always matter to us.  That’s it.  For me the uncomfortableness of that moment was a memory I’ll never forget.  My prayer for Living Hope and for every person at every campus is that you will do what God’s called you to do.  Nothing more and nothing less.  And that we would understand that when we see the "least of these" we're seeing Jesus Christ.  When you take your lunch next week to go to a retirement home to talk to an elderly person who has no family, that’s Jesus.  When you give someone a glass of water in the name of Christ, that’s Jesus. 


I love this quote from Mother Teresa:

When a person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her.  It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.  We have refused to be instruments of love in the hands of God to give the poor a piece of bread, to offer them a dress with which to ward off the cold.  It has happened because we did not receive Christ when once more he appeared under the guise of pain, identified with a man numb from the cold, dying of hunger, when he came in a lonely human being, as a lost child in search of a home.

We can’t do everything; but we have to do something.

Keep giving, Living Hope, to the people around you.  People in your world.  See and respond.  Let your heart be consumed by what matters to God this Christmas season.  Let your home be filled with joy and the presence of God.

NEW SERIES BEGINS THIS WEEKEND:  Simply Christmas.    Hope to see you this weekend.  Share your stories.  Tell them about Jesus.  Let God use your life.  

John
 

Happy Thanksgiving Living Hope Church!

Michelle and I were reading in Philippians this morning and thought of each of you.

http://www.livinghopechurch.com - and just cried.  A first for me . . .  :)

This weekend, many of us will be going to downtown Vancouver and Portland to reach the people right here in our area.  Oregon has the highest per capita homeless population in the country.  

Already you have brought over 250 coats to distribute this weekend.  We have a plan to take coats and socks, hats and blankets, etc. to the homeless after each service.  We will also be making sack lunches for them during each service - if you want to help, just show up.  Bring what you can (bread, lunch meat, individual bags of chips, cookies, condiments, etc.) and those who want to will take much-needed things to the homeless communities around us.  From Thanksgiving to "thanks living."

We pray and hope today is met with gratefulness for all that God has done.  Truly the best days are now!  Believe that.  If we can pray for you, please let us know. 

More people than ever are in need this year, and as a church our commitment is to help as many as possible - all through your generous above and beyond giving.  As God leads you, trust and follow Him.

From our home to yours, have an ONLY GOD blessed day in Jesus' name!


John and Michelle

PS - Michelle wanted me to remind you that socks are half price at Fred Meyer tomorrow!  And if you bring family and friends this weekend, make sure to introduce them to us!

We both said again how thankful we are for the way God used each person during the India crusade, and for almost 18,000 (recorded and confirmed) decisions for Jesus in one meeting.  A miracle!  Prayer and fasting were the key.  Jesus was lifted up, people responded and heaven rejoiced.  

Now the work begins to follow up and connect as many of these new converts as possible.  This week I got an email from Dr. Kumar saying that more than 5,000 people from the crusade want to be baptized.  We are sending a team in January to do work in the leprosy colony and the gypsy village, provide supplies (thanks to your gracious gifts last weekend), and also begin the work of planting 100 new Living Hope churches.  All for Jesus and ONLY God's glory!

Thank you for being always about the one lost person; for being a church willing to risk and to reach!  God works so powerfully through each of your lives.  We are sitting in our living room, thanking God for each of you.  I just watched the crusade recap -

So grateful for all that God did while we were in India.  Thanks to everyone who supported, prayed, fasted and helped.  The results are beyond what we would have thought.  Over 20,000 people came to Christ in multiple meetings.  17,815 people were saved in one night at the crusade.  To put it in perspective, it would be like everyone in the Rose Garden (Easter 2007) coming to Christ all at one time and then add 3,000 extra people.  We believe it is possible that more people came to Christ in the days we were in India than in our entire history all added up.  Just completely ONLY GOD. 

Living Hope is 13 years old.  For 11 of those 13 our hearts and minds have been intently focused on the local communities we are in.  Every church has to listen to God and follow His voice.  When you read the Bible and study the early church you cannot escape the reality of God so loved the....world.  He opened massively obvious doors for us to go to India, we went and will never be the same.  India is "to the ends of the earth".  India will be part of each of us forever. 

People just want the simple message of Jesus.  It is all any of us need.  I want to thank Living Hope for being part of this historical moment for our church.  Thank you for praying.  Thank you for fasting.  Thank you for being the church you are in this community and in this world.  Your light shine brights and people are finding Christ.  It is good!

The video from the crusade of course is just a small piece of what ONLY GOD did.  I called Michelle to "listen" and did not know she was in a prayer meeting with some of the wives whose husbands were gone.  She only heard me share the Gospel and then heard Teresa (who was sitting next to George who was holding the phone) say "OH MY GOD, WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT"  

There were moments that changed all of us.  There was a moment when heaven touched earth and thousands turned from Hinduism and received Jesus Christ.  Amazing.  The moments that changed me the most were when we visited the leper colony and the gypsy village.  I really don't have words.  Precious people who just had NOTHING, but seemingly had everything.  They were happy.  We fed both the lepers and the gypsies.  We spent time with them and even did a spontaneous service in the leper colony where 83 of the 100 there asked Christ into their hearts. 

I was so burdened because this one woman said to our group, "Thank you for coming".  I found out that people come, but mostly do nothing after they leave.  Understandable because it takes work, but unacceptable because they are Jesus and we have to serve them.  As I went back to my hotel room, where even though I couldn't drink the water, I did have electricity.  I did have a bed.  I didn't have a social tag on my head "Leper".  The burden was real.  I was invited by Shawn Lewis to help write a song called "The Least of These" (kinda like helping Michael Jordan in shooting a three point shot).  I shared my "heart" with Shawn and he did the rest.  

As a church, we can't do everything but we have to do something, and we will.

There are numerous ways we will reach the world, beginning in our community.  I will share this weekend all of the ways we will reach out and be Jesus to so many who need us.

I can't think of a better time, while the economy is bad, for us to reach out. 

We will go after every service to serve homeless people.  There will be team leaders who will go with each team, to designated areas where we know the homeless community lives.  Just bring coats, new socks, hats, blankets with you to church.  We will take them, but my goal is that some of you would go and take stuff to the people yourselves.  Supporting India was amazing.  Going to India changed my life.

So proud of our TEAM INDIA.  Hope for India was preached and lived.  Everyone on the team had moments.  Moments always change us.  Thanks to the team who sacrificed and served.  God created memories that we will have for our whole lives.  Love each of you so much.

Here are pictures from the Crusade.  Powerful images:

BAPTISM IN INDIA

What a great way to end our trip!  We were able to baptize 50 people in 45 minutes.  There were 100 waiting to be baptized, but we had to leave for the airport.  Dr Kumar told me that today as part of the team begins to travel, there will be 400 people baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I spoke to them, and although some were professed Christ-followers, many asked Christ into their hearts today.  Many of these people (bless their hearts) traveled 70 or 80 miles - up to 5 hours - to be baptized today.

I spoke to them about courage, thanking them for their willingness to publicly profess Jesus Christ.  It is truly dangerous to proclaim Christ and renounce Hinduism here.  There were actually a couple of Hindu extremists there.  

Another incredible morning!  I'm always amazed at how God shows up no matter what our plan is.

Late last night John and the team were heading to the crusade grounds to speak to over 1400 pastors. It was raining, so I posted on Facebook for all of us to pray.  As they pulled in, the rain was gone and the sun was out.  Praise God!

Then about 40 minutes later - around 1:30am our time - John called back and said that they were expecting a typhoon and they might have to cancel the crusade for that evening.

The team was there at that time for a pastoral training segment of the crusade.  John was just about to go up, and he told me if they had to cancel he would post it online for us to know.

All night/morning long, no posts, no calls . . . so I had no idea what was going on.  I finally heard from John at 6:15 this morning.  He was unable to get online and didn't want to wake me again, although I was awake - praying he would call; praying that they were not in danger from the storm; wanting so badly to go on Facebook to ask for prayer.

He went on to tell me what had happened . . .

As John was ending his time with the pastors there was still no rain - only sunshine.  John then asked them all to stand, asked them if they believed God could keep the rains away, asked them to raise their hands to the heavens, and then 1400 plus people were praying that there would be no rain.  John closed the prayer with "but Lord, your will be done; amen."

As soon as John said "amen," it started to sprinkle, and then it began to pour.  All the pastors started putting their chairs over their heads for protection from the rain.  Within two minutes they were drenched and the stage canopy was about to cave in.

At that moment the whole team and Dr. Kumar felt like God was saying "You have finished what I have called you to do.  Now for your protection, you must leave."

I love God's protection on us!

I cannot get over John sharing about how these 1400 pastors were waiting for them to get there.  This is part of the desperation of the pastors - that they aren't about comfort.  They were at the crusade grounds for an hour with plastic chairs over their heads while the rain poured down on them.  They were waiting for the team - to be encouraged, to be challenged.  John was able to train the pastors for over two hours with the sun shining.

After I heard the news, I headed to the church to meet with those who wanted to hear the crusade live; there were about 50 of us there.  John called and shared with the whole group and he's excited to share with the rest of you this weekend.

Please continue to pray for safe travels for the team.

Love ya all,

Michelle

Yesterday we spent time seeing various people and places here in India. 

One of the things that I can't get out of my head is Thomas, who was one of Jesus' disciples.

We know from history that Thomas traveled to India and eventually died a martyr's death around A.D. 80.  Historians believe he could have been here as long as 18 years.  The mountain he was murdered on is in Chennai.  Although it is covered with religious symbols and Catholic overtones, it still is quite amazing.

Thomas has become known as doubting Thomas because of his response to Jesus after the resurrection of Christ.  John 20:27 says:

"My Lord and my God!"  Thomas exclaimed.

In verse 29, Jesus says:

Interesting that some of the disciples doubted even after they saw Jesus post-resurrection.  Equally interesting to me is how we doubt and begin the slow fade in our faith.

Jesus recognized Thomas' doubt, and encouraged him to believe.  To have faith.  To walk in his calling as a disciple.  Thomas, like us sometimes, followed God because it was the thing to do.  Following can be the popular thing to do, and when a trial comes our real devotion is revealed. 

Seeing where he died was cool.  Learning how he lived changed me, and motivated me to live for Jesus more courageously than ever.

PS - Please pray.  There is so much happening here, all in the next 3 days.   

John

Thank you for your love, your prayers and your support.  Have I told you that you are the best church on the planet?

 Let your doubt catalyze greater levels of faith and devotion than you ever thought possible.  Dream big, live courageously and die empty!

Sometimes the most desperate situations - which can make us feel hopeless - can be those moments in our lives that bring resolved devotion to love and serve the God who made us.  Such was the case for Thomas.  A man who doubted, who cowered, who ran, eventually was the one God chose and used to change a nation.  He traveled to India sometime around A.D. 62 and for the best part of two decades preached the gospel in an incredibly dangerous culture entrenched in religion and godlessness.  

I love the usage here in the original language.  His double usage of the definite article, most literally translated “the Lord (authority) of me and the God (Theos) of me."  

You believe because you have seen me.  Blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway.

In verse 28, we see the heart of Thomas: 

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands.  Put your hand into the wound in my side.  Don't be faithless any longer.  Believe!"

Living Hope Family,

Can't sleep.  Words are inadequate to describe what I feel in my heart.  To visit a leper colony where the diseased people are tagged as untouchable, unclean, and unable to participate in normal life is overwhelming.  When we got out of the van, my heart was consumed with the connection of how THESE are the people Jesus spent His time with.  Our church (yes, you) helped to provide almost 900 pounds of rice, beans and cooking oil.  The food we offered was a blessing to them, but our hands touching theirs and our prayers touching heaven provided one of the most incredible God moments of my life.  I am overwhelmed, undone and so sorry for what I saw with my own eyes.   God, forgive us for not reaching the least of these more.  They spontaneously put together a church service, asked Brent (our Kona pastor) to do worship and me to speak.  I just asked God to give me a word that would encourage their hearts.  

He gave me John 3:16-18 for them:

I talked about how in heaven they will not be diseased by leprosy.  I tried to encourage them and help them find their way home to the arms of Jesus.  I told them that coming to Jesus meant walking away from all of the other gods they have been serving.  I said Jesus is the only way to heaven and is the only true God.  Then I asked them if they were ready to pray.  Of the 115 people in the room, we know that only 10 or 15 were Christ-followers.  Of the 100 who were not saved, 83 people prayed to ask Jesus to save their lives.

After our service, our team just hung out and these precious people God created asked us to pray for them.  We did, they were blessed and heaven rejoiced.

Half of our team leaves today for Rajahmundry.  I am meeting with some key leaders in Chennai about some 2010 possibilities.  Everyone on the India team will be speaking, so pray fervently for ONLY GOD fruit.  I will be speaking in a large church here in Chennai this Sunday.  Two services, one at 5:30 AM and one at 10:30 AM.  

Living Hope.  God is working and we are all here together.  Jesus said it:

We are doing that and God is being glorified in a country where it is so dark, so depressing and so desperate for something beyond religion.  

You are the best church ever.

See you in a week.
 

As I prepare to leave the San Francisco airport for Dubai, and eventually to meet the team in India, I am just thankful.  Thankful to Jesus first.  To see 250 people baptized this weekend leaves me speechless.  Story after story after story of people who brought friends, whole families who were baptized together, couples who reconciled and students who are desperate to be radical for the cause of Christ.

One person who has stage four cancer that has spread to her brain and other parts of her body I noticed sitting there in the audience with a surgical mask on.  Later I asked her and found out about her cancer.  I was at first so sad for her until I heard her story.  In the midst of the worst trial of her life, facing the possibility of dying within months, she was about eternity.  Her heart was focused on Heaven.  I was blown away.

She brought 7 people with her to the baptism weekend.  4 of the 7 asked Christ into their hearts and were baptized.

As I leave for India, I am reminded of the words of Jesus:

"...Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit..."  Matthew 28

The word "nations" really has hit me hard this week.  Our India team will represent Living Hope and reflect Jesus Christ.  Michelle will give periodic updates and will be sharing this weekend.

The team will be back NEXT weekend to share.  I feel like God is telling me He is going to change me, more than the lives of people we reach.

Love everyone.

SEE YA SOON.

John

I am sitting in my living room staring at a suitcase that in less than 48 hours will be (as will I) on its way to India.  It is filled with gifts and stuff for the kids there.  Baptism weekends at Living Hope are always the most exciting weekends of the year. 

It takes a village to do a crusade!  Truly, so many people have done SO much in preparation for this first ever crusade.  From financial support, to the auction, to travel arrangements, to prayer and fasting while the crusade happens to letters and encouragement.  I really don't have words, except thanks.  When we started Living Hope 13 years ago this weekend, I always knew in my heart that part of our call to the Nations would be to evangelism and encouraging churches around the globe.  That vision is now reality.  Pastor Rick is preaching in Hawaii, and several of our advance team leaders are preaching in India right now.  

Thanks for everything that everyone has done and will do.  It is overwhelming and at the same time so motivating to be part of a work of God that is willing to do whatever for the sake of the gospel.

India updates:

All but three of the India team are already on the ground in India.  The rest of us leave Monday morning, just hours from now.

I will be blogging as often as I am able.  We will have pictures and updates as technology allows.

Michelle is coordinating some prayer and fasting efforts during the crusade, please email her to find out details.

I will be speaking in a large church next weekend.  Pray for that.  Their services are 4 hours long (see how grateful you should be...)  It is in Chennai and then early NEXT Monday morning we will board a plane to do the crusade (which will be two days along with training of 1400 pastors each morning).

Please continue to pray.  Satan has tried his best to throw stuff at us.  He loses, the ministry will happen, thousands will be saved.

We are also planning a post crusade baptism next Wednesday.

Where we will be is 12 hours difference in time, but a day later.

Because people ask, yes there is a level of danger preaching the gospel in a Hindu environment where there are some extremists, etc.  Here's the deal.  We are safe because we are in God's hands.  We will do everything in our human wisdom to stay safe, but one thing I cannot do is water down the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Paul says in Romans, "For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ.  It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes..."  Romans 1:16

Your prayers and love matter so much.  

My schedule is this:  We leave (Teresa, George and I) Monday AM, fly to SFO, fly from there to Dubai (16 hrs), then fly to Chennai (5 hours).  All totaled we will be in airports and airplanes over 30 hours.

We will only miss next weekend.  The entire team will be back on November 20th and I will be preaching on the 21st and 22nd weekend, then probably need a couple days to rest.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

 
I had the privilege of speaking this week in San Diego at one of the largest outreach conferences in America.  Once again I was able to tell your story.  It seems these days that so many pastors are discouraged, and I would even add, worried.  I was able to share about this church in the Pacific Northwest – one of the most unchurched parts of the country – who continues to risk, who continues to reach, and who continues to remember Only God.

I wanted to take a moment and thank those of you who stepped up to the giving challenge last weekend.  For those of you who haven’t done so, please consider formalizing that commitment and trusting God in a way you have not.  What we do for God in this life in some ways won’t be measured or realized until eternity.  We’ll continue to give more so God can do more in our community and in our world.  Just trust God, and remember what Guy Wolcott said – that you cannot, you will not, out give God.

Please share with us the stories as God shows up powerfully in your life.

Baptism weekends are the most powerful weekends, whether you plan to be baptized or not.  To see the Holy Spirit move in the lives of people to the point of salvation and baptism is incredible.  As heaven rejoices, we will all rejoice together.  Please come to a service so God can help all of us stay focused on what matters most.

Happy anniversary, Living Hope Church!  This weekend we celebrate thirteen years.  In one sense we look back and thank God, but in another sense we look forward to uncharted waters and unprecedented miracles as we trust an unstoppable God.

Big things are developing in India.  Pastor Duane and Randy are in the city where the crusade will happen.  We are going to be able to reach the orphans.  A well will also be dug next week.  Our goal is to put a well in every place we do a crusade to remind people that living water comes from Jesus. 

Pastor Brent from our Kona campus, Lance, Eric, and Kevin are en route as I write.  Teresa, George and I leave Monday morning.  Please keep the team in your prayers.

Thank you for your financial support, for your prayers, and for your tireless efforts to continue reaching people for Jesus Christ. 

We can’t do everything, but we have to do something.

John