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Becoming a Lighthouse of Prayer

by Dr. Tim Roehl  |  July 14, 2009
 What are “Lighthouses of Prayer?”  A “Lighthouse of Prayer” is one or more believers praying consistently and specifically for the people in their circle of influence.  Lighthouses can be: 
 
·         One or more people praying for families in their neighborhood, apartment building, or dorm.
 
·         Teachers or students praying for their classroom or school
 
·         A worker or employer praying for the people of their company
 
·         “Lighthouses” are not a Bible study, a one-time event, or a program….it is a lifestyle of prayer evangelism!
 
Why are "Lighthouses" Important?
 
·         The Holy Spirit increases our burden for lost people we know.
 
·         The Holy Spirit brings a change in the “spiritual climate” in an area, leading people to be more sensitive to God.
 
·         The Lord helps your neighbors become more aware of His love.
 
·         The Lord opens doors to serve your neighbors and share the Good News of His salvation.
 
How Can We Become a Lighthouse of Prayer?
 
·         Make a covenant with God to be a person of prayer!
 
·         Ask God to cleanse your life and home for His use.
 
·         Commit to “B*L*E*S*S” others in prayer. (see other side)
 
·         Demonstrate God’s love in practical ways as you can.
 
·         Share Jesus with others, invite them to know His love!

How To “B*L*E*S*S” Others in Prayer 

Pray specifically and consistently for these key needs in people’s lives:
 
Body-----their physical needs (health issues, addictions, etc.)
 
Labors—their work (workplace relationships, job needs)
 
Emotions—their “felt” needs for love, peace, faith, hope
 
Social—their relationships with family, friends, neighbors,
 
Spiritual—God’s best for their lives—His forgiveness, peace, power, and a home in Heaven.
 
You can “prayer walk (or drive)” your neighborhood, school, place of work… ask the Lord of the Harvest for the number of people He wants you to influence for His Kingdom…and ask Him for the faith to do it!
 
How Often Should I Be Praying?
 
·         This is not a program…let God lead you as you pray.  Most people seek to prayer walk their neighborhood weekly and pray for their circle of influence daily.  If you don’t…don’t be discouraged…and don’t give up…God is with you as you pray!
 
·         Seek to develop a lifestyle of prayer…you will be amazed at the answers to prayer God will bring…miracles are waiting.
 
Pray like you’ve never prayed before…
 
     Love like you’ve never loved before…
 
          Go where you may have never gone before…
 
Prayer…Care…Share… 
With Eternity in View…
 Trust God to Work Through You!
 
DR. TIM ROEHL

The Quest to Find Faith in 3 Types of Film

by Scott Klepach Jr.  |  July 8, 2009
 With the advent of REELigion, the new ministry designed for gatherers to find faith in film, I understand I am taking several risks.  First, I risk confusing or alienating some people because they may not understand what this ministry is all about.  Second, I know some people might be a bit apprehensive about not only the idea of bridging films with faith, but furthermore they might feel uncomfortable voicing their own opinions and experiences when connecting the two fields.  Some people still harbor anti-film sentiments, but this attitude has dissolved considerably over the years.  Many churches, pastors, and average churchgoers embrace films not only as fun and rewarding experiences, but many now see how necessary films can be to promote gathering, fellowship, and introspection, particularly as a means for discussing, even in the seemingly most unlikely ways, what faith means and how people can share their ideas about the grander things in life.  Films are merely the lens we may use to visualize how the world operates; they are a vehicle in which to drive forward a spiritual conversation.
 
To prevent writing the beginnings of a novel here, I will sharpen my focus and disclose my own ideas of how faith and film intersect.  To do so, I have spelled out three types of films, but I have to declare that these are working definitions and are therefore tentative.  I want to be clear that I am not arbitrarily labeling and compartmentalizing films here; rather, I am doing so in an attempt to reveal how I see films operating on various levels in convergence with religion, spirituality, and faith.  In relation to how films may or may not be designed or intended to be focused on religion or spirituality, I will break down films into three categories: explicit, intrinsic, and obscure.  My intention is to define these terms and offer examples to begin what I hope will become a much longer and larger discussion.  I do not pretend to be beholden to these terms or insist that any one film necessarily falls into one of these categories.  I and my ideas are malleable, and I hope others will add layers and texture to this opening analysis.
 
I have identified the first type of film as explicitly religious or spiritual.  These films usually promote some type of agenda specific to one religion or a particular denomination.  Some films that fall into this category are Fireproof, Left Behind, The Omega Code, or possibly Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ (though I believe Gibson’s film can arguably be placed in the second “intrinsic” category, as I will discuss shortly).  These films make no attempt to hide their religious agenda or bias, and can serve to affirm a specific belief system in visual form.  Fireproof, for example, turns into a long Protestant sermon at times, and characters take a backseat for the ultimate message of sin and salvation.  The intent of the film is the weave characters and story to ultimately promulgate a specific Christian message, and often leaves little room for exposition or interpretation.  The Passion attempts to reveal Christ’s last hours on earth and the graphic reality of his sacrifice, but I argue it falls under this explicit category not because of this violence, but because it affirms the Christian notions of Christ’s death and resurrection.
 
The second type, “intrinsic” films, may not be entirely devoted to one particular religious or belief system, but nonetheless offer sometimes not-so-subtle clues and symbols which seem very deliberate.  Filmmakers provide symbols, characters, and visual cues so viewers can find connections between the fictional events onscreen with real-life ideologies and religious qualities.  Films that fall under this category are Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, and most M. Night Shyamalan films (Signs, The Sixth Sense).  Sometimes these films can be very shallow; in other words, they might use symbols in order to create character archetypes, and the producers may really only be concerned about establishing minimal meaning and a mode for reflection in order to save room for big special effects or generalized blanket statements of meaning.  Even films like Luther can exist in this category because, although it covers a very important aspect of Christian history, it operates more as a biopic and does not necessarily hit viewers over the head with an “alter call.”  Intrinsically-religious/spiritual films can be very useful for writers and filmmakers to present a very “spiritual” situation, where characters undergo some sort of transformation that is usually clearly spelled out and recognizable to viewers. 
 
The obscure films are the most difficult for viewers to find a connection to religion and spirituality, though because of this they may be the most interesting and compelling for discussion.  Viewers can find more far-reaching connections since these films require more probing and analyzing.  Some viewers might find it difficult to establish any sort of religious connection with obscure films, and others might find them more valuable because the possibility still exists.  Obscure films might be more rewarding for spiritual discussions because viewers aren’t being told what to think or which connections to make.  These films are open for greater interpretation, and can include titles like Into the Wild for its thematic depiction of journey and finding one’s identity; Little Miss Sunshine for its unusual approach to defining what constitutes a proper family; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for its wonderfully odd portrayal of love; and Wall-E for its implications of how a materialistic society can destroy itself.  All of these films are not necessarily religious, nor do they claim to be, but viewers can approach their universal themes and apply them in a religious or spiritual framework.
 
The aim of REELigion is to explore the many ways faith and films intersect.  I have provided my own breakdown and criteria of how I think films can be classified in this context.  Films can be used as powerful tools to explore pressing issues and concerns of our time, both on a national or international level, and on an individual level as well.  Horace, the classic Roman poet, once claimed that the goal of literature is to teach and delight, and I think this definition can be applied to films as well.  They can serve our basic appetites for escape, thrills, and laughs, but they can also help us grow intellectually, relationally, and spiritually. 
 
Scott Klepach Jr.

Diversity is Essential for Unity

by Dylan Does  |  July 1, 2009
 Diversity is Essential for Unity
 
"If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?"
1 Cor 12:17a
 
                The longer that I follow God and study His Word, the more outlandish and crazy I think He is. Before you go Salem Witch Trial on me and burn me at the stake, hear me out. First, God's plan to bring His Kingdom to earth, is His church. Have you seen His church? It's a hodge podge of people, albeit often well meaning, who often trip over their own feet. We aren't always the most efficient group with our resources, time and focus. We get sidetracked with non-Kingdom issues, and get discouraged at a drop of a hat. And He knows that about us, and still puts all His eggs in the church shaped basket. Secondly, He insists on giving each person a different personality,  different gifts, backgrounds, ideas, and opinions. 1 Corinthians tells us that we are all different parts of the body, each playing a different role for the overall benefit of the body. My question is, what if they knee isn't functioning as it should? What if the eye, wants to be an ankle? Chaos would ensue, and often does. If I were in charge of redeeming the world, I would have created a bunch of robots with my ideals, mentality, and personality, much like Storm Troopers. Each one would be a body in itself, perfectly, some would even say robotically, carrying out my master plan. But, I am not in charge of redeeming the world (join me in a collective sigh of relief…aaaahhhhhh).
 
                The kicker on all this diversity stuff is, He still calls us to be unified. What?!?! You made us all different, and now you want us to be united in mind and thought (1 Cor 1:10) in order for the world to see You (John 17:23)? What a crazy scheme. Diversity of thought, action, age, and background has routinely driven a wedge throughout history. It has produced wars, church splits, broken homes, among many other disturbing consequences. Yet it's God's plan, and I'm just a bit player. I'm just happy to be on the payroll, so I will stop my questioning.
 
                God makes it quite clear in His Word that diversity is essential for unity. He states in His Word that His kingdom is to be made up of people from different tribes, tongues, gender and generations. The very enemy of unity is God's method for unity. We don't all look alike for a reason. We don't all have the same background for a reason. Each of us reflects an aspect of God and His creativity. Each of us plays a beautiful part in what God is doing in our time and throughout history (and into the future as well). Our God-given diversity propels us to be vulnerable and dependent on Him and other people. It forces us to realize where we lack and need help. It forces us to come to the terms with the fact that we are not God. It propels us to depend on God to bind us together in unity. Only through the Almighty, could a diverse group of Jesus followers come together to bring the Kingdom of God to our families, community, country and world.
 
                In the end however, the decision is up to us. Do we make the needed sacrifices of our preferences and the needed maturing of our character to become a unified body that highlights the glory of God. Or do we make it all about our preferences and mindsets, and deepen the rift between the people of His Church. When we sacrifice our preferences and make it about God's position, His Kingdom is expanded for His glory. When we sacrifice God's position for our preferences, His Kingdom is stunted for our selfish foolishness.
 
In Him,
 
Dylan

 

 

Passionately Broken for Our City

by Dylan Does  |  June 24, 2009

 

 

LUKE 19:41-44 41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

 

           Last Thursday (June 18), I picked up a copy of the Yakima Herald after meeting with a group of fellow area church leaders @ Starbucks (ministry is a tough gigJ). What I was met with, was quite the dichotomy. On the bottom fold of the front page the headline rang out "Slice of Yakima: Looking to start over? This is one of the best places". The article went on to reference a national study taken by Business Week magazine, that touts Yakima as the 4th best city to start over in the United States. What a great selling tool for the Chamber of Commerce!!!! I will admit as a Midwest transplant, it's great for your move to be validated by Business Week. It makes sense, wonderful weather, beautiful scenery, vibrant ag business, and the different business opportunities that come along with it. But on the top fold, I was met with a less glamorous headline. This headline shouts, "Latest gunfire met with silence". Never in my life had the word "silence" shouted so loudly. With the sub heading further proclaiming the disturbing message, "Yakima officials hear little public outcry over recent gang shootings; latest attack leaves 16-year-old in critical condition with head wound". Why are we silent? I posed this question to Alex Santillanes, executive director of the anti-gang program Barrios Unidos, who was interviewed for the article. His response startled me. He said, "The people downtown are scared of retalitation, and the people outside of the downtown don't care". That cuts deep to a Jesus follower in the West Valley. We are silent to people dying in our own city, because we don't care. Between these two headlines, God was stoked my passion for this city, as He simultaneously broke my heart for this city.

            As I wrestled with my role, as a Jesus follower, in the bringing God's Kingdom to Yakima, I read Luke 19. Verse 41 hit me across my face. As Jesus is approaching Jerusalem for the last week of his life, he sees the city before him and weeps. His heart is passionately broken for the city and the people that make up that city. Jesus, who had given up a heavenly throne for 33 years, is looking at a city that had/would reject him  and in turn the power of God in their lives and their city. As Jesus is weeping, he is running off the "if only's". "If only you would have known what would bring you peace"." If only you would have believed that this was the time that God was coming to you." If only you… Between the two if only's, Jesus speaks of the consequences. Peace has been hidden, your enemies will corner you, you will be killed along with your children, your city will be completely destroyed. You can tangibly feel the pain in Jesus' voice and the words of the author Luke. Jesus wanted, desired, and sacrificed, so that these people would see God. Yet, the city had turned a deaf ear on Jesus, and in turn God's plan for them.       

    It's hard not to see the blatant connection between our turn of the millennium city of Yakima and the turn of the millennium city of Jerusalem. Jesus' heart is breaking as his creation is killing his creation. I can hear him, as he sits on the hillside, "If you had only known what would bring you peace". I can see him adding this statement for his followers in Yakima, "If you had only known that you were to bring the peace to Yakima". I believe as a leader, as a follower of Jesus, You and I are called/commanded to partner with Jesus in bringing the Kingdom of God to the city in which we live. We are to be the change agents not only to help people be born again, but to be able to live without fear. We are transform our city as a whole. Anywhere from government (thank you for being a role model Mayor Edler), to our neighborhoods, to our school system, to fighting gang activity, and so on.

            I urge you to partner with me, as I ask God to use me in bringing the Kingdom of God to our city.

In Him,

Dylan

 

The Role of Music in Worship

by Trent Fuehrer  |  June 24, 2009
 As I sit here staring at the screen of my laptop, fingers anxiously outstretched over the keys, I must admit.  I’m a little intimidated.  An avid blogger I am not.  Heck, I’m not even an occasional blogger.  Still, I have to say that I really enjoy an opportunity to express myself in the form of the written word, so when Pastor Dylan asked me to post a blog entry on the importance of music in worship I did not hesitate to accept the invitation.
 
Certainly we all sense some compelling desire to express ourselves in one way or another that seems so inherent to human nature.  Yet with thousands of words at our disposal we so often find ourselves “speechless” when it comes to communicating how we feel.  Why?  Well, in the context of worship I believe it is because the God that we long to communicate with is beyond the limits of our vocabulary.  The same God that cannot be confined by time or space cannot be fully described with words.  This is why I think music is a powerful tool within the worship experience. 
 
 
Music enhances words, brings them to life by adding feel, mood and movement.  It has this mysterious way of moving a listener deep down and stirring a heart on a level that words alone could never achieve.  I liken this concept to a passage in Romans chapter 8.  Paul says that when we agonize in prayer not knowing what to say, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf with “groanings too deep for words.”  Similarly, we, being made in God’s likeness long to express outwardly how that same Spirit is moving within us, leaving mere human utterances woefully insufficient. 
 
Now, don’t misunderstand.  I am not saying that music is necessary in order for us to be truly worshiping.  What is necessary is an outpouring of the heart because that is where worship originates and music is simply a tool to help move us to that point.  The truths of God do not become any truer when set to music but they do awaken something in us that compels us to respond to them.  
 
So, is music important in worship?  Yes.  Why?  Because music is important to us and to the way we express ourselves.  It partners with our otherwise inadequate idiom and takes our human expression beyond the natural realm that we might pour out the depths of our hearts to the Creator and Savior of the world who is to be forever praised, amen.

 

Trent
 

Building a Godly Legacy of Guidance

by Dylan Does  |  June 17, 2009

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

I was tooling through my Twitter updates, when a tweet by Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrutte on The Office) caught my eye. It said, "Should we give our children a spiritual education?" As a pastor/Jesus follower/parent/etc. I was drawn to this question. My first response was, "Of course, the Bible tells us to!" Then I stepped back, and wondered what people from a different perspective would say. So I followed Rainn's tweet link, and saw the one hundred or so posts. One stood out above the rest. The gentlemen stated " If by education you mean school, then no. If by education you mean upbringing, then no. Children should be taught good values, and be given really good, 'reasoned' reasons why these things are valued without spirituality coming into the equation. If, later, they choose a spiritual path, more power to them." My response was, "This dude is off his rocker". I still hold to this statement, but the deeper question is why is he off his rocker?

Proverbs 22:6 tells us that we are to train up a child in the way he should go. In order to properly train someone up, we must do train in all aspects of life (emotional, physical, and most importantly spiritually). When we do this, we give our children (or more generally, anyone we have influence over) a compass in which they can navigate the chaos of life. We give them answers or more importantly the tools to find the answers to the tough questions, situations and/or circumstances of life. The best Biblical example of equipping people with a compass to navigate the chaos of life, is Jesus equipping his disciples.

Parents often freak out, because they only get eighteen years to train up their children. Jesus only got three years to train up the people  that would build his bride, the Church. However in those three years, Jesus moved 12 men from commercial fishermen to Christ-empowered fishers of men. He had a very simple, direct and powerful method.

First of all, He practiced and preached his teachings to them. At the Last Supper, John 13 tells us that Jesus not only washed the disciples feet, but he verbalized to them why he washed their feet. Jesus could have just washed the disciples’ feet, he could have just told them to serve people. But he wanted to give them the fullest understanding of what they were to do. He verbalized so they would understand the why, and he showed them so they would understand the how. As we train up the people we have influence over, we must be able to both show them and tell them the why and how of what it means to follow Jesus. 

Second of all, He allowed them to participate in his teachings through conversations and applying the teachings. If Jesus just wanted a bunch of moral robots that could spew religious sounding words, and text, he would have just thrown each disciple a legal pad and a pen and told them to start taking notes. However, Jesus wanted a devoted group of followers that would be equipped to help spread the Kingdom of God, and bring light to the darkness around them. So in order to build this group, he invited them to participate in his teaching and guidance.  To lead like Jesus we can't just impose a list of rules and facts on those we are guiding, but we must be able to invite to talk about and experience the Truth of the Gospel. It's easier to impose, but when we invite people into conversations and experiences we let them discover and take personal ownership of the truth, that is Jesus.

He ultimately, passed the torch of his ministry to eleven of the twelve men. Sometimes we struggle with letting go. Letting people go, trusting them to make the right decisions, allowing them mistakes. We almost want to put a stranglehold on it, because we don't think that the task can be accomplished or the people can be trusted. This is what we need to remember, Jesus passed the torch. He passed it on to a few fishermen, a tax collector, a guy who they rolled dice to hire, literally, and said GO and make disciples training them to obey the word of God. He was handing over the keys to the Cadillac, he was passing the torch to future generations. As we train our children, the person we are discipling, the person in our influence, we have to know there is a time when we have to let go. Otherwise we limit our effectiveness and what God can accomplish through our guidance.

So, should we give our children a spiritual education? YES!!!! We each have a very high calling to submit ourselves to Godly guidance, and to be Godly guides. Equip the next generation with a compass to navigate life and to expand and empower the Kingdom of God.

In Him,

Pastor Dylan

 
 

Building a Godly Legacy of Authenticity

by Dylan Does  |  June 3, 2009
 

Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

 

 

          Authenticity has never been as big of a deal as it is today. At age 27, I am a proud member of the Millennial generation (the Gen Y portion).  I promise you the biggest thing when it comes to faith/life for my generation is authenticity. We really don't care what you have to say or what you claim, if we don't see it in your life. But if we see it in your life, there is nothing more important. A lot of this is a pendulum swing from TBN, televangelists, the revival speakers and how they would change their voice for an altar call/turning off and on the waterworks, the sanitized productions of some of the megachurches, and various health and wealth preachers. All this points to a scripted, deplorable Christianity. Each of us thinking , if this is Jesus, I don't want him. We've seen the sanitized faith, sanitized sanctuaries, we've seen the fake smiles, and have heard the Gospel of selfishness preached and practiced. We are standing up and saying, "NO MORE!!!!!!!!" We want the faith we see in Scripture! We want the proclaim the faith that we experience Monday - Saturday as much as the faith we proclaim on Sunday (because it's the same faith, no masks, no lies)! We want to stop seeing our friends give up on or dismiss Jesus,  because certain people that proclaim Jesus are fake.

 

 

          I believe this is the same heartbeat Jesus has for His creation. He says that "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick". If we look at that verse in context we know he's saying that he didn't come for the Pharisees, but for those willing to be authentic and honest with his/her sinful condition (in this case, specifically Levi aka Matthew the tax collector). The Pharisees were the inauthentic, in it for themselves, leaders of the day. Even their title brings arrogance with it. To be grammatically correct I have to capitalize the P, giving them some type of hollow pride in their position. The Pharisees were quite religious. They followed every tiny bit of the laws, and even added some 700 on top of those seen in the Old Testament. All without finding authentic faith. So when Jesus comes, the Pharisees ridicule and reject him, because He doesn't fit into their religious system (new wine can't go in old wineskins). But woe to them, we can't find God through religion. We can only find God through an authentic relationship with Jesus. Levi, unlike the Pharisees, was honest with his sin and dropped everything to follow Jesus. Levi was a tax collector, and would have been pretty well off financially. He would have had the nice car, water feature and fifth wheel. But he also was quite aware that stuff hadn't gotten him the peace and fulfillment he was desiring.  He knew he was a mess, and knew that only through Jesus could he find what he was looking for.  

 

 

          Jesus wants men and women like Levi, that are going to be authentic. People that will take off their masks, and be honest with who they are. It is through authenticity with ourselves and others that we can find victory through Jesus. It is through authenticity that Jesus will break the bondage of sin, and the bondage of religion. It's through authentic Jesus followers, that Christ is going to redeem the lost and build His church for the 21st Century and beyond!

 

Building a Godly Legacy of Unconditional Love

by Dylan Does  |  May 28, 2009
 
Matthew 5:43-48 : "You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
"We can only transform, that which we love" Roberto Matus Transformation Sunnyside
 
    Love plays a prominent role in our society. If we are unable to accept or give love we are deemed emotionally deficient. But the love that is prevalent in our society, is a love that is based on merit. In order to be loved, we must do something that merits love. In order to love someone else, they must earn our love. We learn through this Scripture that even pagans, those outside of relationship with God, still love those who love them. It is an "If you, then I" philosophy.
    But we also learn from this Scripture, as Christ followers we are called to a much deeper love. We are to love not based on merit, but to simply love. No longer is it a "If you, then I" but simply "I love". As Christians we are not only called to loved all, but we are equipped to love all because we have tapped into the source of love, Jesus. We have an ability to unconditionally love people across racial, social, religious, and cultural boundaries, because we know that each person is radically loved by our Creator.
    We have the ability/capacity to love, that is unrivaled by anyone else. But we need to know that ability/capacity and reality are not synomous. Too many Christians see unconditional love as an option and not a duty. Too many Christians stagnate and stymie love, by only loving those that love them. They have bought into a lesser love. When we buy into that lesser love, people that don't know Jesus get left out. They don't get to see that transformational love in action, and in turn don't get to see the true Jesus in the people that profess faith in Him. So our duty is not only to have the ability/capacity to love as our Savior loves, but to make that love a reality in our lives.
    When we love that way, people will be transformed through faith in Christ. People's eternal destination will change, their present outlook will change, and God will be glorified through this. When we love this way, people will also reject this love and not do what we know is best (i.e. develop a relationship w/ Jesus). So what do we do when they reject, love them unconditionally. Our love can't ever be based on other's responses or there merit. Love is not just means to an end, but it is the end in itself. We are to love perfectly, as Christ loves perfectly. The results of that love is in the hands of the Holy Spirit and the response of those that we love.
In Him,
Pastor Dylan
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