John Bishop

Expect the Unexpected

Amazing weekend.  Lots of animals, lots of fun, lots of unexpected 'things' happened. The best part was hundreds of people stopped hanging on and dropped into the arms of God.  So many received Christ as their Savior, Forgiver and Leader.

I just am so excited about what ONLY GOD can do.  In 15 services there were over 8200 people.  For perspective, last weekend there were close to 5000.  That is with no advertising.   SO many people came curious and left believing, letting go and trusting God.    Thanks Dan Stockdale, thanks Sid, thanks Randy and thanks Trevor.  You guys were off the hook.  Thanks for all you did, for allowing me to be part of the animal thing and mostly THANKS for saving my life.  IN EVERY SERVICE, things were different and unexpected.  Guess that goes with the territory of 'wild' animals.  We had so much fun. 

The last service at 6:00 PM, Sundar, the 350 pound Bengal Tiger decided to jump on me and lick me.  They told me he liked me.  IT WAS SO UNEXPECTED, SO AMAZING and SUCH A BLUR.  OH MY.  I guess I have to say I am glad for tiger affection.   'After' I collected myself, I looked at the picture and decided to share with you the experience.    Can I say I am glad it happened once and during the last service. 

We can say ONLY GOD.  That's all I have to say, promise.  It was amazing.  God did SO much in our services.  Really, so cool.

More pictures to come....    We are putting together pictures of the weekend, the animals, the memories and you can download them.  Can I say...The best pictures will be in eternity,  when we meet the people who trusted Jesus this weekend.   Then, Living Hope you will know that it is (and always will be) about the ONE person.  Always about the person who is curious and eventually drops into the arms of God.  Let's commit to always being about the one, next person.  Deal?

Peace to you guys.  Love you all.

John

PS

Thanks to the Columbian newspaper (both articles were well done.)  Also,  thanks to both channel 2 and 6 for good coverage.  God gets the glory, as always.  We get to be part of it all.   Glad things worked out well.  Thanks.

IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

To see this article online click here!

SYDNEY WHITE

In the midst of a crazy busy week, being the first full week back in a month of being gone, we 'paused' and took the kids to dinner at BJ's restaurant in Portland and then went to a movie.

The pizza has to be some of the best around.  The movie was, as Michelle would say 'cute'.  You should see it.  I wanted to see something else, but in a traditional vote, arms extended in the air kind of way, I was out voted  4 to 1.  Nice.  The movie was OK.  A bit predictable, but loved hearing the kids laugh, and eat popcorn.  The time with family was time not only well spent, but time we will never have again. 

My thought.  It seems there is always too much to do, never enough hours in the day.  Ever notice that?  Tonight we are having dinner with Dan Stockdale, this weekend there are 7 services.  There was a lot to do yesterday, but I am learning that there is always one thing that is the most important thing to do.  One moment to seize, one call to make, one story to read with your 5 year old, one date to go on with your wife.  One person to call or visit in the hospital.  Maybe..one predictable movie to watch with your family.

What is the 'One' thing for you today?  You really only have today and there is really only one thing to do right now. 

James says, "what is your life, it is a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."  James 4:14

There will always be too much to do, but there is always only one thing you can do in the you are in.  Sometimes we have to pause from stuff and do the one thing needed in the moment.

So much to do.  Wouldn't trade the moments we spent as a family for anything.  In fact on the drive we listened to the Kidsworld music from a couple weeks back.  They are so good, can't wait for next time. 

See you this weekend.

Not sure if you saw the front page of the Columbian yesterday?  Nice article.  IF YOU CAN, PLEASE COME TO A SERVICE BESIDES 9 OR 11 AM.  JUST THIS WEEK.  IF YOU CAN.

Best to come to the 3:00 PM service, it may be my only service...

JOHN

Tiger By the Tail...

As you may have heard, this weekend we will have a real tiger and other animal friends on stage thanks to Dan Stockdale (below).
He will be bringing the tiger in the picture who is apparently still a juvenile (one year old) named Sundar, who already weighs 350lbs.
There is no reason to fear this large youngster (who appears to be enjoying the taste of his master's arm way too much).
For added security we will have a team from the RMIA (Raw Meat Inspection Agency) checking all bags, backpacks and pockets.
We will also be giving away a special prize to a lucky member of the congregation who sits in the front row. You could be a winner! (Or a loser depending on how it goes...)
Joking aside, we are excited to host Dan and his amazing troupe of animals this weekend. Other animal guests include:

   

I hope you'll join us for an amazing (hopefully in a "God" way, not "the Pastor turns into cat bait" kinda way) weekend.

I think it will be a fun and memorable weekend as we end the series about ARK.  The message is about "Time to get off the boat".  My message will focus on a member of the animal kingdom, unlike those above, not known for its prowess, poise or power.  It is an animal that very possibly didn't get off the boat.  If it did, it took the longest ever.   

The message is about spiritual movement.  I am excited about families as we 'move' toward where God wants us to go. 

We are trying to accommodate the extra crowds and the campuses that want to see the service live.  You won't want to miss it!  We will be doing all 7 services live at the Brush Prairie Campus.  See you there. 

Still working out details about PIT CREW, you can get an application at church this weekend.

Still thinking about last weekend.  Mostly how good Michelle looked.... ya.  After this weekend it may be my last memory as I potentially transition from this world to eternity with tiger teeth marks on my body.  It will be SO FUN.  We can't wait. 

PLEASE PLAN ON COMING TO SATURDAY 3:00 PM or 5:00 PM service if you can.  Also, we will be live at 6:00 PM Sunday evening service. 

Sweet as,

John

WINGSTOAFRICA.COM

I don't do goodbye well.  I just have to say that.  Funny, I love investing in the next generation, but when they get excited to "GO" I become a bit discouraged.  I know I am weird.  I think that our strengths always play to our weaknesses.  There seems to be changes around Living Hope these days in relationship to the Next Generation leaders.  We are getting ready to start PIT Crew, and in the days ahead there will be some cool introductions and some sad (but exciting) goodbyes. 

I am going to the airport in the morning to say goodbye to Nathan Deceasar.  Nathan has worked at Living Hope for over four years. He began as a volunteer with LSM.  In fact he did the very first videos for LSM and was paid a Starbucks card...  Nathan has grown SO much.  He has been responsible for so much of the creativity, consistency and leadership of our video department. Nathan has been with me during most of the 'stories' we have told and interviews I have shared.  He has helped me with spiritual direction videos like the grave video, my Father's Day video among so many others.  He also helped capture so many moments for memories of how God has worked in our lives.  In addition, Nathan has shared his keyboard talent/passion on the stage.  I love that his audience is always God first. Nathan, Bryan and I watched the news and hung out Saturday after services, and I (we) are going to miss him.  He, Bryan (his brother) and Mimi are all three leaving to serve on the mission field with Youth with a Mission (YWAM). 

Nathan is heading to South Africa.  Bryan is heading to New Zealand and Mimi to Australia.  I guess I barely missed  them.   They all three will be doing a 2 1/2 month DTS (school) and then in the mission field for 3 months.  All of them have been raising funds to go, and are almost 'there'.  Nathan leaves first.

I love seeing what ONLY GOD can do in the life of a young person who is radically devoted to Jesus and the cause of His church.   No worries, no baggage, no limitations and NO doubt what ONLY GOD can do. 

Can I just brag for a minute?  Nathan has served so well. He will be really missed. He is leaving some big shoes to fill.  Pun intended.  His creativity, devotion, consistency and commitment to giving the best he can will leave a trail to be followed. We are in the process of trying to find a few people to help in the video department.  I am less concerned about that, and more excited about and thankful that God allowed Nathan to be here for a season. 

Nathan.  I love you so much.  Am so proud of you, and promise to pray for you every day.  Not only is Living Hope better because of your heart, I am better because we got to hang out.  I really appreciate your heart for Jesus, your simplicity in worshiping God and your never ending creativity.  Thanks.  Do you know what else?  That you stopped by most every Saturday, to simply pray for me means more than I can ever explain and you will ever know.  Each week, it just showed me your heart.   

You will be used by God in ways you can't imagine. 

Nathan's website is www.wingstoafrica.com If you can, follow his blog and what God is doing in his life. Pray for him, he will be traveling a long time in the next day or so. 

Go change the world.   Make it better.  Be salt and be light to the people God will allow you to be around.  Seize every moment Nathan. 

Fox news will be here when you get back.... We will watch the news..... ya... just us, right?

God is with you!  We are all for you. We are all praying for you.  God will be glorified.  Can't wait to hear the ONLY GOD stories.

John and Michelle

PSALM 23, SEX ED and next weekend

I love Psalm 23.  This weekend even made me love it more as I watched hundreds of people allow their 'soul' to be restored.   I am praying and believing for families.  I pray that we never give up.  I pray that together we keep trusting God's protection and provision.  I pray that our souls will continually be restored.  I love the definition of soul, passion or self or 'desire'  When your soul is restored, your desires are restored.  When your desires are brought into line with who God is and what God wants you choose door A... and simply you are never the same again. 

Thanks for sharing in the memories of what God did in New Zealand and Australia.  Promise, won't make the bracelet mistake again.  I still laugh every time I think about it.

Your prayers for Michelle have made the difference (I am watching her sleep).  She did so well.  She spoke well, traveled well, loved me well and I really appreciate her so much. 

We are planning a new series together.  SEX ED.  Ya, promise.  We will have fun, learn together what God says about the 'S' word.  I think it will be worth the investment.

This weekend, there will be animals on our stage.  Can't wait.  I hope you will do everything you can to invite people.  Remember, we are in this together...

IF YOU HAVEN'T, you should watch the message.  God did something at the 1:00 PM service that ONLY GOD could do.  I will never forget the guy 'Dan' who in essence made an appointment to come to church and pray to receive Christ.  He met with me, prayed with me after the message, during worship at the 1:00 PM service. I had him come up on stage to pray for him (he just lost his girlfriend).  During the prayer, I felt led to give others the same chance to receive Christ.  There were probably 40 or 50 people who prayed and then stood, indicating they had received Christ.  ONLY GOD.  I love God moments like that.

I hope we never get tired of reaching people. 

SO glad we are home.  SO glad God's power was revealed this weekend.  SO glad that I have my kids.  SO SO glad we get do serve with each of you.  THE Best days are ahead of us.

Believing God for big things.

John

PS
Thanks to Dave for leading the last song, to Teresa and the band and team for learning and playing it.  So cool.  That has to be my favorite song.  Stuff God did in me in Australia, and stuff He did in so many lives this weekend. 

                                                                                                                                             

The weekend

I am listening to a song right now that I heard in Australia, thinking about the weekend.  Getting ready, praying and thinking about how incredibly amazing big God is. 

A pastor named Mike Guglielmucci in Bristol, Australia got a rare form of cancer in the blood.  His bones would break easily and at any time.  There have been times when he would have up to 30 fractures in his body.  Mike simply believed God would heal him.  He went, got prayed for and felt the ONLY GOD healing power in his life.  He left his wheelchair at the church.  He still has some pain, but the healing as begun in his life. 

The song is entitled, "Healer".  You can listen below.

The song broke my heart.  It reminded me of God's ability to eradicate cancer from my body 17 months ago. 

What aren't you believing God for?  My talk this weekend is less about me and more about God.  Less about Australia and more about what God did in my heart in Australia.  It is less about my problems and more about my God.  He is my Healer, my Restorer, my Savior, my God.  This God is able to move mountains in your life, will walk WITH you through ANY storm.  The issue is never the size of your storm but the size of your God.  Jesus is all I need and more and more becoming all I want.

God did some stuff in Australia and in New Zealand, but did more in my life than I may have done in those countries. 

Memories.

Glad to be home.  Can't tell you how much I have missed everyone.  But I AM SO THANKFUL that in a country thousands of miles away God "restored" my heart.

My prayer is this weekend that we believe God for bigger things than we ever have in our lives.

He is big God, a healing God and MY shepherd.

The words of the song if you want them:  It blessed my life in a way that is hard to describe. 

I trust in You
I trust in You

Chorus 1
I believe You're my healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my portion
I believe You're ALL I need
Jesus You're all I need
(More than enough for me)

Verse 1
You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease

Bridge
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands
(Repeat)

Jesus You're all I need
More than enough for me

HOME IS GOOD

Good to be home.   Dave, Danny, Teresa, Duane, Trinette, David, Hannah, Katie and her boyfriend Markie were at the airport.  It felt cool to see familiar faces.  Thanks.

I hugged everyone and then a stranger that Dave told me to hug.  Delirious and excitement mixed and I found myself hugging a nice, but...total stranger.  Best part is he hugged me and didn't punch me.  Cool.

Michelle and I (being on Australia time) are 7 hours different, so at 2:00 AM, it is 9:00 PM at home.  Our bodies aren't liking the time change, but it isn't about them...

I went to bed at 4:00 AM, and was up at 11:00 AM.  Slept well. A bit tired, but good.  Michelle on the other hand stayed up till 6:30 AM, and slept and slept and slept and I think slept more.  The Queen of our home awoke at 6:00 PM.  She needed to catch up.  She was up for four hours and was back to bed by 10:00 PM.  I am impressed at her sleeping ability.  She is the best.  Me on the other hand, I can't seem to sleep at all.  It is almost 2 AM. 

I am going to load all of the messages from the Grace Chair from the churches I spoke in the last few weeks.  If you want to check them out, we will have the links.

Can I just share?  Michelle and I are SO glad to be home.  We have missed our kids.

I am preparing for this weekend.  So excited about the necessity and importance to FOLLOW Jesus.      

So many stories, Michelle and I are sharing together.

I want to talk practically this weekend about your lives, and your families.   This value will help in shaping your family.

SO GOOD TO BE HOME.

John

USA TODAY

We are in America.  In the USA Today!  Can't wait to buy a USA today.  My favorite paper.  Yeah. 

Sitting in a restaurant in Honolulu airport.  We have a about a half hour until we board our flight to get home.  Such a long flight from Sydney.  I didn't sleep on the plane, never can.  I am so glad Michelle got to sleep a little bit.   I have been praying for her (as so many have, thank you) and she has been so far Migraine free during travel.  I should get this, but that God is intimately involved with those kind of details in our lives.  I have seen Michelle get so sick because of traveling and that she didn't is amazing.  Faith that God is bigger than headaches.  Bigger than our worst problems.   When I see Him work in a small way, it makes me know how big He really is.   Thanks again for your prayers.

Never know how much you love something or someone until you are away from it for a while.  This is the longest we have ever been away from our kids and the church God has graciously allowed us to be part of.  Can't wait.  5 hours, 3 more time zones and we will be home.  So totally can't wait. 

Great memories these past 23 days.  It seems you never really know what God wants to do until you take a risk and get on the plane.  I contemplated not going to the 500+ conference, not speaking in Australia and staying where I was 'comfortable'  Getting on a plane is about trust, and risk, and experiencing God and obeying Him in a different way.  So many stories.  So many stupid moments.  So much fun.  Made some friends for life.

Been thinking alot about this weekend.  I want to talk about 5 words in Psalm 23.  I think in 'storms' this perhaps could be one of the most important things we can learn.  Talking about sheep.  I know.  Sheep aren't the brightest animal on the farm, but there are some lessons we can learn that will help us in the days ahead.

USA Today. Tomorrow?  Not so sure?

See you guys soon.

John and Michelle

PS
Erin Clinton has done a great job with the blog hasn't she?  She has helped me update it, add videos, and aren't we grateful for her creativity.  Bobble head...not so sure....
Thanks Erin. 

Leaving Australia

We are packed and are just 'leaving' the hotel.  23 days goes fast and creates good memories.  Last night we had a great dinner with Joel and Jason (pastors from Hillsong).     Yesterday we kind of crashed... we weren't super motivated to do too much.  It has been pretty busy for three weeks, and last night we wanted in our minds to go and eat out and see stuff, but chose for Pizza Hut room delivery.  Nice.   There is only a few channels here on TV in Australia (well, at least all of the hotels we have been in).  Rugby, Cricket, Rugby, news about cricket, Australian Football League, news and like ABC or something like that.  Not much TV in three weeks.   Honestly, at home it is choice overload.  Oh ya, it is on channel 5007.....  Kind of a nice change.  Nice country.  Amazingly nice people.  Had offers from three churches to deliver us to the airport.  They really do well in hospitality.  We didn't see everything, but saw alot.  We will come back someday. 

We are officially 'leaving' the Hotel room and beng driven to the airport.  They just called, gotta go. 

Thanks for reading this blog.  Really.   I hope there was a bit of value added to your life.  I want to 'again' thank David and Hannah and Katie.  They have done so well supporting us.  Michelle and I were supposed to shop today, BUT ended up at Darling Harbor sitting, talking and chilling.  One of my best memories.   

See you FOR SURE this weekend.  We are getting on Hawaiian Airlines to Honolulu, so I 'think' we will be home....  For sure.

Later.  Michelle says hi and THANKS for your prayers.  She has had NO headaches, and with the long flight in front of us, we need to continue to pray.

Cheers.

John and Michelle.

Almost Home

It is 2:01 AM as I finally finish this longer than normal blog.  It is Tuesday in the incredible city of Sydney Australia.  I am almost home.

Overwhelmed by all that God has allowed us to be, see and do in the countries of New Zealand and Australia.  By the time we get home, we will have been gone 23 days and we are very ready to get home.  We get home Wednesday evening and are SO excited.

I was just thinking about the value and power of being thankful.  It seems, change happens in our lives, and when it is brought through the right lens (NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES) can bring unthinkable joy and thanksgiving.

It seems in 'normal' life we can get so absorbed in stuff, agendas, schedules, routines that (at least us) we can forget not just what matters, but what is.   

Michelle and I have been treated with such love and 'grace' during our time away.  We are so grateful to Phil Baker and Riverview for sort of 'opening' the door to Australia.  We are grateful to the churches we have served in during these three weeks.  Off the hook in hospitality.  You guys really have been great.   Thanks to Neil, Duane, Josh and Mitch who volunteered to drive us around, who took us to see Kangaroos, took us to 'eat' Kangaroos.  You guys are such servants, thanks.

We are SO thankful for our kids AND to our kids who willingly sacrifice, pull together, lead worship, put on Rhino costumes, take out the garbage, help each other and pray for their mom and dad as we are away.  We miss each of you  SO much.  We are so proud of you.   You each bring joy to our sometimes chaotic lives.  Can't wait to see you guys Wednesday.   Thanks for serving Jesus and for loving Him the way you do.  There is no greater honor in the lives of parents.  When the day is over, what else matters more?

We are so thankful for Living Hope Church.  I have shared with thousands of people in New Zealand and Australia about our story.  It is simply a story of GRACE.  A story of a church with no plan except to love and serve this God who stepped out of Heaven to love and 'serve' us.  I shared how we are a church filled with broken people, who have collectively been restored by God's love, A church who is desperately committed to reaching this generation, and then letting them lead.  I was so excited to share about what God is up to in the Pacific NW.  I shared about your hearts to put a towel around your arm to serve our community and other churches.  I also shared how we are committed to  learning every day.  I shared about your lives, how you continue to risk (a 350 lb tiger?)  and who continues to extend this 'amazing' and radical grace to a new faceless generation.  I am so grateful to be part of a church who gets why Jesus came, who really wants religion to die in theory and who is seeing religion die in reality.  The grace chair is the end of religion.  It is God's story, and we get to be part of it.   Every time I told 'our' story,  spoke God's Word  and then sat and watched in churches as hundreds took the offer to 'rest' in the chair of grace I just became undone.   I am more convinced than I have ever been that we have to together, as churches commit ourselves to a global revolution of grace.  This is our moment in history to dream bigger than ever for God.   Grace is messy, but not giving grace (in my opinion) is a bit messier.  Thank you Living Hope.  The best days are so ahead of us.  I can't wait (by God's grace, and for His glory) to see you this weekend.  Love you guys.

Thanks to the leadership teams, staff and pastors of Living Hope.  The calls, comments and e-mails have encouraged me.  The speakers I have heard have served our church well.  Thanks to each of you.   I love you all so much.  I have shared with so many leaders how the team thing is the new reality in church today.  Really.  I wouldn't want to do anything else, with anyone else, or anywhere else.   Michelle and I both want to say especially and publically thanks to Teresa, who is our weekend programming director.  Her leadership has been so key over here.  Teresa, you have been available day and night.  Michelle and I are sooo grateful for you.  Thanks for being there each step of the way.  I was given two presents during these last two weeks, before I could say thanks, I looked and both were from churches to you because of how you served the churches you haven't even met.  They were taken back by your heart and willingness to serve.  So are Michelle and I.  Howie, we owe you.  Teresa can get back on a normal (even though she isn't normal) sleeping schedule.  Love you guys.

I am soooooo thankful to Michelle.  She has been amazing, through so many speaking engagements, speaking at the conference, so much travel, five different hotels, 30, 000 miles of flying.  And she has been so graceful to me.  I am a bit hard to live with.  We love each other, but also really 'like' each other.   Promise, I love her more through this trip than ever.  We have memories that are for the rest of our lives.    Among so many things, today we got to hold a Koala bear.   She has amazing pictures we will someday post on the blog.   I also tried to pet a wombat, and it hissed at me.  I guess they can be pretty mean, but I wanted to touch it.  Didn't happen.

I am thankful for ONLY GOD.   Anything that happened good during the last three weeks is because of you and for you.  Anything that hasn't worked is because of me.    Every church I worshipped and spoke in I stood there thinking, we are on opposite sides of planet earth serving ONE God.  Think about that.  The God that has been there for each of us is in every country, every time zone, every day adopting into His family new sons and daughters.  He is the God who saves.  He is the God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond all that any of us could ever think about, ask or even imagine.  He has numbered the hairs on our heads.  This God is the Lion and the Lamb.  He is the God who walks with us through whatever we have gone through, are going through or will go through.  He is Jesus and I am more thankful for Him today than I have ever ever ever been in my whole life.   For some reason beyond my comprehension He has opened a door to a country that I have come to love and appreciate.  The world is bigger than I used to think it was.  Thank you Jesus.   I am almost home...and can't wait to see You and to worship You. 

OK.  Those are the prevailing thoughts in my heart as I close my computer for the night.  By the time I wake up, it will be afternoon and we will begin to pack, maybe visit the beach, or the Opera House or maybe we will just rest.  We are almost home.  I just had to share about the power, promise and importance of being thankful.  I hope we can all be thankful more and more each day for what we have, for what we 'don't' have and for what we will have.  Being grateful is something that escapes us, or can I say Satan steals from us.  He is all about stealing our joy.

Paul says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

I love those verses.  So much connects us to God through thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is a discipline and a command that is SO essential to our spiritual lives.  It recalibrates so much in our lives, for so many.  Our families are counting on us.  Think about the result or promise of God in verse 7 is peace that is 'beyond' all understanding.  He promises when we pray, when we are thankful, when we tell Him He will give us peace that is more than we can understand.  That peace is I think the missing 'piece' in so many of our lives.  I am more tired, more excited to come home (almost home) and more grateful to God and others than I have been in a very very long time.

I guess we can all look around us, and begin to thank God for all that He has done.  Not to be all weird, but before you close this blog, seriously why not take a minute to pray and tell God how thankful you are.  Speak words to Him and watch the peace begin to enter your heart and mind.  Feel His presence, and His protection.  Then tell the people you love how grateful you are for them.  The power of Words.  God 'spoke' the world into existence.  We can 'speak' life into each other.  All comes down to choice.  OK, enough sermons for one night.  I am so tired, and we are almost home!  Yeah.

Hope these thoughts sit well in your heart.  Michelle and I have so much to share with you.  We are so grateful for you, your support, your prayers (Michelle hasn't had any migraines, and God has been glorified, please keep praying, we fly for almost 16 hours Wednesday) 

I am almost home, and can I say...I can't wait to get 'there'.

Almost Home. 

John

Beyond Blessed

Blessed beyond words.

We just got back to our hotel from Hawkesbury Church in Winsor, Australia.  They are such a great church.  Amazingly hospitable.  So blessed to see God move  in such a powerful way.   www.hawkesburychurch.com   

We did the Grace Chair message, and at the end, the response time was so ONLY GOD.  Responding by way of 'experience' (like we do at Living Hope) isn't what they would normally do.  We gave it a shot, trusted God and I can't tell you in words what I experienced by being part of their worship time.  God moved in hearts and they had to keep putting more chairs out.  The response time went for over 30 minutes.  Probably close to 100 people, in a service of about 350 or so.

We celebrated life change with them.  Jesus came to transform not inform.  So encouraged to see the Holy Spirit move so so powerfully.  Only a few days and we will be on our way home.  Can I just say  Michelle has been so encouraging, so helpful and so joyful.  I love her more than words.  I am blessed beyond words.

I am blessed beyond thoughts or words.  Getting ready to leave, wanted to give a quick update and blog post. 

I just got home, am getting ready to leave in 15 minutes to the next church and just finished watching Katie (my daughter) lead worship at our main campus back home.  I am so proud of her, the worship team, the band, the teams and the people who helped to make the service such a joy.  I just was able to watch a few minutes and wanted to share with you.

The Rhino in the video was David (only david...) 

Love you all so much.

Three more days and we will be home.

John

PS Christian City Church is making my sermon available on the web if you'd like to view it. Just click here.

DRIVEN BY WHAT I SEE

...OR NOT

Michelle and I went to Hillsong (www.hillsong.com) tonight (Saturday).  I met with and hung out with most of their pastoral team.  Cool people.  They are so humble and so helpful.  They just reminded me of Living Hope.  Ya, we are a bit biased, but being the 'guests' it sometimes can be difficult to really 'be' comfortable.   

I am being picked up early Sunday to go to a church about an hour from here.   www.hawkesburychurch.com.  I will be there most of the morning and afternoon, then back to the hotel to be picked up to speak at Christian City Church in Oxford Falls. (www.ccc.org.au)  It is located about 20 minutes the opposite direction from our hotel.  Scary, I am listed as a guest speaker on both websites.  Both great churches.  Both have had national and international impact.  CCC has planted over 200 churches and plants a new church worldwide every week.  The senior pastor Phil Pringle has written more books than I have read.  I am honored to be able to share a message about Grace with these churches.  Michelle and I have had one goal for the whole trip and that is to be a blessing to the churches, places and people God leads us to.  Truth though... we miss home SO much.  My daughter is leading worship at our main (Brush Prairie) campus this weekend.  I will miss that.  Summer is almost over.  I have 'missed' that.  Not trying to complain, after all we are in Australia, but we miss home so much.  We have been around, and by God's grace spoken in some of the best churches in this part of the world.  We have been blessed FAR more than we have been a blessing.  Aussies are off the hook in the nice and authenticity department.  That is for real, promise.

Been thinking about the whole thing of what we see.  Your whole life will be marked by what you see or what you don't see.  We will all live by faith or by sight.  By what God sees or what we 'see'

Check out this simple, yet powerful verse.  "We live by faith, not by sight." 
2 Corinthians 5:7

I notice in times of 'stress' and discomfort that I live more by sight.  I have this tendency (probably I am the reason Paul wrote these words) to make decisions based on what I have seen or what I see or what I 'think' I see.   If you think about it, that is pretty stinkin lame. 

Paul is pretty straightforward.  We live by FAITH, not by sight.  He doesn't say we live both ways.  He pretty much, as Paul does, lays it on the line.   If we 'live' by sight, is it fair to say we make decisions based on what we see sometimes more than faith?  I know it is for me.  As we round the last corner of our trip, I want to not just finish, but finish strong.  I want to not let tiredness and the ready to go home attitude spoil what moments God may want to seize in the last few days I am in Australia.

I want to live by faith, not by sight.  I have a goal to live more by faith every day and in every way I can. 

Faith is simply trusting God for the moment you are in. Hebrews says it better than me.  "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1

Faith will be our theme for 2008.  It ought to be our theme for our whole lives.

Can I ask you... Do you live more by sight or more by faith?  Be real about it.

Let's begin to live each moment not just asking what would Jesus do, but doing what Jesus did.  We need a new bracelet....

I had a moment (in the midst of my pity party) today on the way to Hillsong.  The taxi driver picked us up, I told him I was going to Hillsong, one thing led to another and I was talking in depth with Ralph Rojas about this God who is madly in love with him.   When I walk by 'sight' I miss so much.  He knows people who go to Hillsong and began to ask me a series of unsolicited questions.  I spent 15 minutes with him.   Never broke out the incense or oil, just talked to him like (I think) Jesus would have.  Paul grew up catholic, so (for him) he has a lot of religious baggage.  He said he never has danced, smoked, drank or chewed.   He was telling me how 'good' he was.  I told him that isn't why Jesus came.  He didn't come to fix the healthy 'good' people, but to heal the broken hearted.  He came to heal the sick.  He came to help people who couldn't walk.  I said, "Ralph.  I am the broken guy Jesus came to save.  I found Jesus and started a little church in America called Living Hope that is filled with guys like you and me. "  He said, "Are you a priest?" I said, "No, but some people call me a reverend. Does that count?"  We laughed.  I shared about this God who stepped out of Heaven, lived a sinless life and then died a brutal, unthinkable death for me.  I (for the moment) was living by faith, not by sight.  Ralph and I got to talk, and then I prayed for him.  I am not sure where any of it will ever go, but here's what I know... it matters to just be in the moment you are.  That is what I think it means to walk by faith, not by sight.  I told him I would pray for him, and maybe just maybe I will see Ralph in Heaven. 

Maybe that is the only reason we traveled around the world?  Maybe for Ralph?  Sounds crazy, but when I think of Jesus traveling out of eternity to die for me? Sounds crazy?  It is true.

I am learning what it means to walk by faith and not by sight.

4 more days...

John

PS
I still miss everyone like crazy.  I still miss Living Hope.  I think it is ok to miss things.  Jesus longed to be with His Father.  It isn't so much about what we miss.  It is about the moments we are in where we miss everything if we aren't mindful.

Love you guys.

MY SPACE OR GODS GRACE

Here we go again...

Funny thing about trusting and following what God is leading you to do there is always those moments where you want to follow, but not sure if you like the vehicle you are in or the journey you are on.  Make sense?

By the time we get home, next week (Yeah God), we will have traveled a total of close to 30,000 miles EACH.  Flying isn't so much my thing.  I am a space sort of guy.  When I fly I 'have' to have an aisle seat. Or when  I eat in a restaurant, I like MY space.  At home I have a certain chair that is MY space.  My side of the bed is MY space (most of the time..).  MY office, etc. etc. etc.  We are creatures of space for sure.   We like our space.  At least I do...

Having my space isn't a bad thing unless it conflicts with God's grace.  It seems to me that moments come down to my thing, or MY SPACE or GOD'S GRACE.  Always a choice.  I had one of those moments on the flight yesterday from Perth. 

The plane was at capacity, I was seated in row 73.  Wasn't sure there were 73 rows, actually on this plane there were 75.  Thought for a minute I was going to be seated in the luggage/cargo section.  Right this way sir, yes, make yourself comfortable down HERE...

You know the little ding noise where you can get out of your seat, check the bags you just put in the overhead compartment? Why do we do that?  Anyway,  I love that noise.  It is the sound of freedom.  It says now is the time to move, to do what you want with YOUR space.   I get up every time.  I just have to.  It is in me to move.  Well yesterday I didn't, because I wanted to rest as we journeyed across the country to Sydney.  The little ding sound also is a reminder that you can put YOUR seat back and enjoy YOUR little (but still YOUR) space.  I did.  All of the sudden the flight attendant asked me to put my seat up?  I did, and realized it was the lady in back of me asking him to ask me to put my seat up.  Last time I checked the dinger noise was the indicator, that I am free to move, like the gun going off for a race.  Last time I flew (every time I have ever flown) I have never been asked to accomodate the space of someone else.  Isn't it MY SPACE?

I put my seat up, was trying to watch the TV screen but it was more like a Kaleidoscope.  My eyes were inches from the screen.  I was cool, for a few minutes.   We ate our dinner, and THEN I put my seat back... AGAIN.  Logically, I figured we were done eating, and now I can regain the space (my space) that been stolen from me.  I put my seat back, and began to rest again.

Less than three minutes later, I get a tap on my shoulder.  It is the space stealer lady.  She asks me (more like a directed me than asked me) to put my seat up.  As I look at her with a blank stare, she proceeds to tell me that she needed a bit of my space to see her TV screen.  I was so taken back.  I thought, are you kidding me?

I put my seat up a little bit.  Then I felt God tell me basically to get over myself.  I felt God say to me, you are traveling around the world sharing a message about Grace?  You better start living it. The test of grace is whether we live what we believe, and in that moment I wasn't being all that graceful.  After God's prompting and Michelle's look,  I put my chair up all the way.   Grace isn't about what we think as much as what we think changes the way we act.

It is also less about caring what someone else does or says or doesn't do or say as a result of grace.    Remember the words of Paul "yet while we were sinners Christ died for us..."  Romans 5:8 Funny thing?  It doesn't say, yet while we figured it out... yet when we arrived.  In all of our 'put your seats up attitudes" Christ died FOR YOU.  It is in the mess you got grace and in the mess we give grace.  The test of grace chair is always about has the grace of God affected you in a way that you are quick to give grace to others.  Not because they deserve it, because they don't.   Neither did I, or do I...

She didn't even say thank you.  What's up with that (I thought).  Then, I 'remembered' how much I 'forget' to tell God thank you for His grace in my life.  In the church I get to be part of.  In and for my family.  In my marriage.  With the friends that have to daily give me grace. 

The chair of grace is a message I will travel the world to proclaim.  Bigger thing to God is it a message I will allow to affect my own life?

The chair is everywhere you go.  It will always remind you of what you need.  You can't achieve grace, you can only receive grace.  Until and unless you receive it, you can't give it.

Next time you see a 'chair' think about it different.  At home, at school, at work or in a plane.

I'm still not there yet, but am committed to the journey.

A verse to think about:  "It is ONLY by GOD's special favor that you have been saved.  For He raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we ARE seated with Him in the heavenly realms."  Ephesians 2:5b-6

Notice the verb tense in that passage?  We 'are' seated with Him.  Now.  No more waiting, no good works.  We sit because of who He is not because of what we 'do'  Grace comes from God alone and has to flow through to this broken and hurting world.  Because anyone deserves it?  None of us do. 

Broken people find grace through other broken people. 

Everywhere you go there will be chairs.  Choose grace.  You will never go wrong.

GRACE is the easiest thing to say, the hardest thing to do and it changes things the most.

my space has to always yield to GOD'S GRACE. 

Still not there yet.

John

AWKWARD MOMENT IN THE BATHROOM

We are packing and getting ready to leave the great city of Perth, Western Australia.   Michelle and I were able to share with the staff at Riverview.  Love them.  They are changing this side of the world for Jesus.  We are going to get coffee with Phil and his wife Heather and then make our way to the glorious Perth Airport.   We leave here, fly back across the country (4-5 hours) and will be in Sydney for 6 days.   More updates later bout all that.

OK, enough of travel stuff. 

Ever have one of stupid awkward moments where you just kind of wish you would either die or Jesus would come back right at that moment?  I have many of them.   It is my lot in life to fall at the right moment, to drop the cake, to trip off the stage,  or do something stupid that someone notices.   This one a bit tops the cake. 

We were eating lunch at a restaurant called Little Creatures.  Actually where we ate Kangaroo meat.   I had to go to the bathroom (here they call it what it is a toilet)  Always found it interesting that we call them rest rooms or bath rooms.  I neither rest or bathe, so the comfort of seeing a country be authentic and real and bold, I found it refreshing.

I went in  the bathroom and somehow the cell phone I am using (a vodafone I was using from NZ) started playing music.  As I was actually standing there, the music was playing from my pocket.  Loudly I might add.  I slipped my hand into my pocket discreetly as possible to turn it off.  At that moment another guy came into the restroom.  We were standing on opposite ends of the urinal and he looked my direction, as I was trying to turn the phone off.  Not the best. 

The worst part was instead of turning it off, I TURNED IT UP.  Promise.  The volume turned up and to make things ten times worse...It was a love song.   

This was by far the most embarrassing thing that has happened to me in a very very long time.  How in the world do you recover???  My hand is in my pocket, a love song is playing, two guys (the only people) in the restroom??  Talk about an awkward moment.   

He gives me the "I would like to punch you in the face" look.  I say sorry, doesn't make it better.

Then he goes out and back to the table with all of his Australian friends.  I thought about buying him a drink or paying for their meal, but not sure that would have went over all that good.

When I left the restroom, I simply went back to my table and ate as fast as I could.  I shared the story with Michelle and Duane (the Riverview pastor).  He jokingly said I hope he doesn't buy you a drink.

Funny Australian memories.  Good stuff.  I needed a laugh, so writing this had helped me to laugh.  Good to laugh.  Not so good when you are always what is being laughed at, but hey?

Off to Sydney...

Still missing everyone, but especially David, Katie and Hannah.

Kangaroos and the Weekend at Riverview in Perth

Michelle and I were out today resting, seeing the sights and hanging out with Duane, one of the pastors at Riverview.  Really appreciate the staff, Phil and the congregation.  THANK YOU.

One of our goals was to see a Kangaroo.  First we went to a restaurant and 'ate' Kangaroo meat.  Sorry, it's what they do here.  You won't find duck on the menu though.  Surprisingly it was good.  I guess the way it is cooked matters.  We saw the beautiful beach, the Port and other parts of Perth.  God's creation never ceases to amaze me. 

Then we went to a park in the city where there are Kangaroos.  We saw four of them.  Too cool.   Kinda feel bad for eating the meat.  Kind of... Got some cool pictures and will post them later.

Came home today (for me Monday) after an exhausting (really) 2 weeks.  When we got to Perth Friday night it was 10:00 PM, then we were right into weekend services Saturday and Sunday with a different message Sunday evening (first time ever for me), so we were tired to say the least.

When we got to the room I was checking the blog and getting ready to post and read this comment from a previous post "Air Force One and Apples."   It has been one of the most encouraging things that has happened so far. 

Ever notice we give up too soon, we get tired or weary and just have this tendency to quit. 

I wanted to share with you this comment.  IT BLESSED ME SO MUCH.  It is an ONLY GOD kind of thing.   I am SO tired and can I just tell you that these are the moments where you realize that it is all worth it.  Check it out:

Hi John - I was at Riverview south campus yesterday to hear your message on the grace chair. My non-christian husband was also with me. He is a good man, believed in God but had never made the 'personal relationship' with Jesus. Friends and I have been praying for him for the past 5 years and it just seemed as though nothing was ever going to happen. He is facing some very serious health issues in the coming weeks going into renal failure and will be starting dialysis very shortly and in need of a kydney transplant so my heart has been heavy and I guess bitter towards the Lord as well.
Your message yesterday not only convicted me of the lack of grace in my life but, Praise the Lord, His Holy Spirit did the work and my husband accepted Jesus as His saviour. I am so thankful to God for bringing you here to Oz and to Riverview. You were a wonderful blessing to me and may God bring you through whatever trials are ahead and countless blessings in your ministry.
I have been to Portland Oregon myself but probably in those wonderful days when you were just courting Michelle.

God bless you both
Pat Middle
Perth Australia.

Love that so much.  Pat, thanks SO much for sharing your story with all of us.  Your words have been so encouraging to Michelle and I.   By the time we get home next week, we will have each traveled over 30,000 miles.  On the surface, we can always look at stuff from a human perspective.  We can talk ourselves out of things because we can't see the benefit.  Being at Riverview for the last several days has blessed Michelle and I far more than we could have ever blessed them.  The leadership and staff are amazing and remind me so much of Living Hope.  We have felt at 'home'.  THANK YOU.  When the day is over, this one family (for me) makes it all worth it.  Can I just remind us again...It just isn't about us.  It is about being crucified with Christ and submitting to God and what HE has for our lives.  It is only when we walk through the door HE opens, that we experience His presence and purpose in an unexplainable way.  We should never forget,  God's Kingdom has always and will always be built one life at a time. 

God thank you for doing what ONLY YOU can do.  Thank you for the hook up to be here.  Thank you for Christ Followers both here, in Vancouver and around the world that 'get it'  Michelle and I are tired, humbled and grateful to be a small part of what you are doing these days, in your church.    

After I read this comment, this verse came into my mind and heart:

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  Galatians 6:9

If you feel like giving up, don't.  Stay focused, stay yielded to Him.  Stay open to Him.  Trust Him.  Walk with Him.  Follow Him and at the 'right' time you will see  a harvest.  You will experience His presence, walk in His purpose and better understand your destiny.  It is in NOT giving up that we get all that God has and IS.    Ironically...  Sometimes you have to fly across the world, but when ONLY GOD shows up, it is worth every mile you fly, every risk you take and every thing you do. 

Glad to be here.  I will be at the Riverview staff meeting Tuesday and then we leave early Wednesday to Sydney.  Speaking in two different churches next weekend.   I will be sharing the Grace Chair message.  Every time I share it, I get that much more passionate about it. 

Wrecked by Grace.

John and Michelle

PS
I had one of those completely, totally, embarrassing moments.  Had to do with restrooms and music.   Still processing if I should share about it.    Blogs are supposed to be short, so maybe next time... 

The Smell of Church

Just getting ready to go share a 'different' message at RiverView church in Perth Australia.    For the record... .  Smell has "EVERYTHING" to do with it.

I read a memo earlier this year from Starbucks.    In a nutshell it stated (in response to the stock market) that Starbucks had made some unintentional changes that really changed who they were in the eyes of the customers.  Problem was they (in an attempt to be efficient) began to change a few things that led to a drift in who they were and in the end it affected the 'smell' and 'feel' and 'experience' of different locations  (or in business terms, the bottom line).  I have read and re-read that famous memo so many times, because I believe the church can so easily 'drift' from it's original mission to reach people by changing the way things 'smell' or 'feel' or 'ARE'

Not to knock Starbucks, I love them, and appreciate their history making efforts in changing the way we approach, consume and perceive coffee.  30 years ago, who would have spent $5.00 for a cup of java?  Truth is, not too many of us.  They changed us, but changing the way we perceive and eventually enjoy the 'experience' of Starbucks.

The smell of coffee won't matter for a hill of beans (pun intended) in eternity, let alone the next 30 days or for that matter 30 minutes. 

The smell of church has to be all that it can be and all that Jesus meant it to be.  The smell of a church is GRACE.  It seems whenever I share this talk, it drives itself deeper into the fabric of who I am and who's I am.  I am a child of the King of Kings.  He is my Father in Heaven, I am His son.  I will (as all of us who are Christ Followers will) spend my forever with Him.  Really, what else matters?

Grace.  Think about it.    It is the easiest thing to say, the hardest thing to do, but changes things the most.   More churches have in their name 'grace.'   We love it, but not sure churches really (really) get it.

The smell of a church, in my humble opinion comes down to grace. 

So many changed lives this weekend.  Riverview is a church on this side of the world that gets it.  They smell good.  The Grace Chair message served them well (I hope)

Thanks Phil and the Riverview team.  Peace to you all.

A couple days and off to Sydney.

Every relationship, every moment, every church, everything we do, everything we are and the smell...

Easiest thing to say, hardest thing to say, and changes things the most.

Love being part of a church that smells good.  A Fragrance that is pleasing to God.

Still miss you guys.  Heard the weekend is awesome. 

John

Air Force One and Apples

We are in Perth, trying to get our bearings a bit as they say.  Flew almost 10 hours yesterday, traveled through a few time zones and the time difference is 9 hours between us and back home. 

When we landed at Sydney we had a problem.  I TOTALLY forgot that I had an apple from the airport in New Zealand still in my backpack.  I seriously thought the quarantine officer was going to throw me in jail.  She schooled me (I deserved it and took it) in apple transport law.  She asked is this your signature, did you fill this form out, do you understand the issue with apples.  She was passionate.  Passion alot of times carries the day, unless you are on the receiving end of an apple smuggling talk.  Truth is, she was right, I almost got a $220.00 fine (they give them out regularly), but Michelle helped me navigate through it, they let us go (I asked for the apple...joking).  In the chaos of the moment we spent 20 minutes getting to the domestic terminal at Quantas and when they asked for our passports...Ya...left them with apple girl.   It was weird, like a movie.  When I couldn't find them, she was 'magically' right in back of us and said "Are you missing something?"  My bad.  Then she proceeded to tell us we were seriously logged into their computer as attempting to bring an apple into Australia.  I am apple blacklisted. 

Bottom line.  Probably it is good to read the small print when you visit another country.  I was tired, didn't think or check my bag, and she was right.  Trust me next time, I will check, double check and then ask alot of questions.

The cool thing was on the way to the domestic terminal (in a bus) we drove right (right) past Air Force One.   I yelled out Air Force One, how cool is that.  Not sure people were as pumped as me, so I proceeded to take pictures.  I had never seen Air Force One (for real and in person).  Had to fly across the world to see the airplane our President flys in.  I almost started singing pledge of allegiance, but not sure it would have gone over that well.   As I took pictures, the rest of the 'not' excited people were secretly taking pictures with their phones.  Sweet.

When I speak tonight at Riverview Church it will be 3:00 AM back home.   Please be praying.  I think the thing we all need to hear and live is grace.  I will be sharing the Grace Chair (end of religion) message.  The team here is 'fantastic' to work with.   Their ministry is so much like Living Hope.  For Sunday evening I will be doing the "Daddy Deception" message.  I think it will work well, they do a different message for Sunday evening.

Haven't seen a Kangaroo yet, but hope to.  My kids want me to bring one home, not sure I could get it past my apple friend at Sydney Airport.

11 days and we will be back home.

John and Michelle

NEW MATES IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

So encouraged.  Getting ready to board our plane to Sydney and then to Perth.  Speaking this weekend at Riverview church.  Glad to hang out with Phil Baker and his staff.

Funny how you can meet certain people and IMMEDIATELY connect with them.  Michelle and I have had such a great time with the pastors from down under.  They are real, fun and wise.  Off the hook in the fun category.  Wish they liked baseball, but no one is perfect...

I just want to say thanks to the pastors who graciously allowed us to share about the Living Hope Story.  Some things that have worked and some things that haven't.  It is so totally an ONLY GOD kind of thing.  There just is not one way or one method ONLY ONE GOD.  Mission never changes.  Methods HAVE to.  I am believing big things for New Zealand and Australia.  Bigger than ever.  Every church has a divine destiny.  Once we figure out our role in the bigger plan of God, we get closer to the Kingdom win.   

This blog is to simply thank my new Kiwi and Aussie friends.  Thanks for giving me grace, for your encouragement to Michelle and I and MOSTLY for your heart to reach the world for Christ.  When you celebrate, we all do.  When you struggle we all do.   This is our time together to push back the gates of hell.  To prevail.  To rethink how we do church.  To stay centered in 'pure' and 'simple' devotion to Jesus. To be encouraged and to be together in reaching the world.

Can't wait until next time.  Got several churches I would love to speak in and a couple Australian conferences.    We will see what God has for us.

If Living Hope can serve you in ANY way, please don't hesitate to e-mail us.  If you decide to start major league baseball, we can arrange it.  If you can bring rugby to the US that would be sweet.

See you next time.  If you get up to Vancouver (NOT CANADA), Washington, call me we will go hang out.

Cheers Mates.

John and Michelle

FRIDAY LEAVING TO PERTH AUSTRALIA

We leave in a few hours from Queenstown (amazingly beautiful) and we leave to Perth, Australia.  We fly from Queenstown to Sydney, get our luggage and get on a different airline to fly to Perth.  Perth and Sydney are about as far apart as it gets.  Australia (landmass) is the same size as America.  We have close to 300 million people, Australia has just over 22 million in total population.  Flying today will be about 9 hours.  It will be like flying Chicago to LA and LA to New York.  I know.  This is the only option.  It is Friday here.  I speak in Riverview Church this weekend.  They have a campus in Orange County, California.  Then from Perth we head back to Sydney to speak in two different churches there.

I have to say Australians and New Zealanders are pretty cool.   I was able to speak about our story at Living Hope, did a Q and A session about multi-siting and yesterday talked about the value of the weekend service.  I believe the talks served them well.  ONLY GOD.   I will do another post about some things I shared with them. 

Last night Michelle and I got invited to spend dinner with two couples.  The restaurant was so fancy I was a bit out of my league.  They had more forks on the table than we have in our house.  The wine glass was the size of a small aquarium, and it was a three course dinner.  They graciously paid, Michelle and I gratefully shared a meal.  Loved the presentation.  The food was good and the evening was fantastic.   The time with these two leaders was nice.

I hope everyone is doing well.  Still missing everyone from home and New Zealand.

We are off trusting God for the next chapter in our journey.

Have a great weekend.

GOD WINS

Queenstown, New Zealand

The time in New Zealand

Just getting back to our room after being at the conference.

I think the  talk went well.  God was glorified and I hope pastors were encouraged.  I talked mostly about our story, our failures, and our Rose Garden story.  I shared how the church more than me (by far) drove the whole vision.  I was able to share how I just don't think there is one box for churches to pull from.  We have to figure out God's unique plan and dream for us.  I shared with the pastors how I believe to the depth of my heart God believes in YOU more than you believe in yourself. 

I love churches and love pastors.  Really.   I have met some of the biggest history makers in our world.  The one guy I have never met was Brian Houston from Hillsong.  They told me today I was to do two sessions and then Brian would follow me.  My thoughts.... Can Jesus come back right before I have to speak or for sure right after I am done.  I have to admit that fear was pretty real in my heart.

So I stand up to speak.  Guess who is in the front row?  Ya, Brian Houston.   Not sure why, but I think the prayers just carried the day.  I talked about church stuff and he was SO encouraging.  His talk was incredible.  He is such a humble guy.  I loved learning from him and the other speakers. 

I sat and listened as Brian shared some stuff about his life.  He was SO authentic and honest and real.

Authenticity (I am convinced) engages and endures the heart of a speaker to their audience.  When he began to share I was hooked.  It was way beyond "wow, you are the Hillsong guy" to "You are being real and I want to listen"

Loved it. 

You know what I love?  Besides Jesus, my wife, my kids, my friends and my (our) church.  I LOVE SEEING PEOPLE SUCCEED.  I love that Jesus believes in us WAY more than we believe in ourselves.  He just does.  I have come to the conclusion that crowds will come and will go.  I want to spend less time building the church and more time building people in the years I have left.  I love investing in the next generation.  I love seeing our pastors share from their hearts.  I hope they can speak more, lead better, love more deeply and live each moment. 

I want to invest more in the lives of others in the future more than I ever have.

I think our destiny is in others.

My random thoughts. 

Thanks for your prayers.

God is good.

john

Wednesday in Queenstown

I have met some cool pastors from down under.  The conference is called 500+, so it is all Senior pastors and their wives.  Yesterdays sessions were good.  Other than my nervousness for today...

Today I have been asked to speak two of three sessions.  I will tell the Living Story.  A story about a bunch of people crazy in love with Jesus.  A church where we will risk to do something ONLY GOD can do, then when it happens we give ONLY GOD the credit. 

I will talk about this church filled with students, who do more than stack chairs.  They lead worship, they preach, they inspire us to greater levels of passion.   I will talk about you Living Hope.  You are the church I love to be around, because lukewarm is something we have all agreed to together we never want to be accused of.

I will talk about our weekend team, that consistently treat each weekend as if it were Easter.  I will share about Teresa, and our worship teams and tech art teams who craft an experience each week that is both safe and dangerous.  Safe to bring your friends, to seek and to check the God thing out.  Dangerous because once a person begins their journey following Christ it changes everything. 

I will talk about our willingness to follow God across the room or across the globe.  How we all believe to the depth of who we are (and who's we are) that our one and only life must be spent serving this God who gave everything for us.  I will share how it was when we decided to let religion die that people could be free to be everything they can FOR Christ.    How relationship with Jesus is all that matters.  It is all that matter. 

I want to share with them that this next generation embraces brokenness, and is drawn to leaders who aren't afraid to share about their own lives.  Our culture craves authenticity. 

I will share with them (in my opinion) attendance isn't the best measurement for health, but life change is.  I will humbly share how there have been over 3000 people baptized in 3 years.  To ONLY GOD be the glory.

I will share how we bailed on the 5 year plan and opted to follow Jesus passionately.   By the way, I have no issue with plans, I just think they have to ALWAYS flex to God's will and purpose.

I will share how each and every week I ask people to step out of the boat.  Out of what is "comfortable" and risk everything to follow your Rabbi.  I will also share with them that speaking in all of these different churches and conferences is the most uncomfortable I have ever been in my whole life.   

The most difficult part of speaking today?  I am the only pastor from an American church AND I am following Brian Huston (Ya, from Hill Song in Australia.  No issues other than it is the biggest church in the country.  I can't wait to meet him...BUT I can wait to speak after him.  I opt for three sessions from Brian.  Go Brian.... Oh my gosh)

Guess I am living my own message?  Getting on the plane can be the riskiest thing we will ever do, except not get on the plane.  Should have brought one of our plastic white chairs...

Michelle is helping me so much.  She is simply the coolest (and most beautiful) person I know.  I only love Jesus more.

The verse that has been on my heart is:

"But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ..."  2 Corinthians 11:3

Keep it simple and keep it pure and ALWAYS keep it about Jesus.  Deal?

I am so tired and Michelle and I miss everyone SO much.  Funny thing, the church is still doing so well.  It isn't as much as I need to be home, I just want to be home. 

I will let you know how it goes.  They paid for us to fly here and Australia, who knows I may be sent home on the next UPS cargo plane...

ONLY GOD.

Love you all SO much.

John and Michelle

OFF TO QUEENSTOWN

I am checking out of our hotel today.  We are packing and getting ready to fly to Queenstown, New Zealand.  It is in the South Island.    I hear it is an amazingly beautiful city, compared to the Swiss Alps.  Yes, it is winter there.  I left summer to intentionally fly to winter.  It is cold there.   

We will be attending and participating in a conference called 500÷.  It is one of the biggest conferences for larger churches on this side of the world.  I met a cool guy named Phil Baker, who pastors a church in Perth, called Riverview church.   I will be speaking there next weekend in all of their weekend services. 

Michelle and I got invited to share the Living Hope story with these leaders.  The amazing thing is they are paying for airfare and such.  I am trusting God for what to share.  I asked Phil, "how do I prepare"  His australian response... "You have been preparing your whole life..."  Just come and share with us.   So with that wisdom, that is my plan.

4 days in Queenstown, 4 days in Perth and then to Sydney to speak in a church...Then home.

I have heard amazing things about the weekend.  Pastors, I am so excited for how God is using your lives.  You encourage me so much.  Never stop believing God for big things.  This is only the beginning.

I want to say thanks to Living Hope New Zealand.  Thanks to David and Linda Dishroon for your opening your hearts to what God wants to do.  Thanks for your friendship.

Thanks to Pastors Peter and Karen and Geoff and Sue.  You guys are cool.  Love hanging out with you all.    Thanks to Carly and Brett Major.  You will love America and we love you guys.  Can't wait for you to get there.

Thanks to the next generation young people who served so well this past weekend.  Anna, Carl, Justin, Chris, Katie and Antony, and all the worship team.  Also, both students who ran powerpoint.

Seeing each of you serve and give so much to Jesus blessed me perhaps more than anything else this last weekend.  You are the leaders God is using to bring a sense of revival to the nation of New Zealand.  Your passion, commitment and devotion are inspiring.    Looking forward already to 'next time' 

Living Hope New Zealand.  Thank you.  The changes this past year will result in a harvest beyond what any of us can comprehend.  I pray for you often and thank God for your lives.  I already miss you all.  I can't encourage you enough to continue to pour your life out for the sake of the Gospel.  There is nothing on this side of Heaven that matters more.  Be Jesus to this side of the world.  Be hope to them.  Stay connected to Jesus yourselves.  Stay devoted to His purposes.  Our little motto around Living Hope is it isn't about us.  You are living that, stay centered and focused.  Stay faithful and flexible to whatever God calls you to do.  Stay focused on the next generation.  Be more about reaching than keeping.  In Heaven you will know it was worth it.  You will.   When you stand in front of your Savior and look into His eyes and hear "well done.  Good and faithful servant"  When you hear those words, it makes all the changes and chaos and tiredness SO worth it.

Love you guys.  Risk everything for Jesus.   See you next time.

To Living Hope back home.  See you in two weeks.  PLEASE be praying for me.  I am so out of my comfort zone.  Talk about your own message, ya.   

Getting back on the plane...

John and Michelle

PS
Katie and David and Hannah.  I love you three kids more than you will ever know.  I love you forever and I like you for always,   AS long as I am living, my kids you will be.   Thank you for being so understanding and for who you are.  My eyes are getting a bit misty, call you all later tonight.

You never know until you get on the plane

Michelle and I are getting ready for Sunday services today at Living Hope New Zealand.   Saturday night went well.   I have to confess though my attitude sometimes isn't what it ought to be.  It is humbling to think God works in spite of us and our sometimes seemingly bad attitudes.

It is Father's Day in New Zealand and Australia.  I did a message entitled "Daddy Deception"  I did the same message at home June of this year.   You can watch the video on the Living Hope website by clicking here (located in the "Vegas Rules" series) or download the message to your iPod or iTunes by clicking here.

Big idea is Deception always happens through mis-direction.  The devil has one tool in his toolbox.  It is deception.  Satan is a liar and the Father of lies.  He causes you to see something else and believe it is what or who God is.   I believe (and have lived this) one of the biggest lie in our spiritual lives is God is a bigger version of your earthly father.   The message really isn't about dads, it is really a message about God.  Jesus referred to God more as a father and His Father than ANY other description.   So....if Satan can mis-direct you to a wrong image than you will never approach God as a perfect, always there, unconditional loving and totally knows you Father.  It has taken me the better part of my Christian life (19 years next month) to get this truth deeply ingrained in my spiritual heart.   I am God's.  He is my Father.  My daddy in Heaven.  For me it changed everything.  What I 'do' for God now is an act of worship, not a response to gain his acceptance.  I am His son, and He is fully please with me.  I am in Christ!  Love that.
 
A.W. Tozer (a British Theologian) said these words,  and I love them and SO agree with them:
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

This is a message of passion for me.  So much so I may change what I was going to talk about in Australia.

So, back to my attitude.   Yesterday, just wasn't 'feeling' like preaching.   Last week, wasn't 'feeling' like getting on the plane. 

Last night, I asked people to sit and reflect and not leave until the right image of God could be seen and believed.  So, they sat for what seemed a long time, reflecting as music played in the background.

A young teenage girl left.  Found out some stuff about her situation with her dad and I went to check on her.   I just told her I understand (because in this I do a bit), and that God isn't a bigger version of her dad, and that she can trust Him and that He loves her so much.  She cried, we hugged and I prayed for her.   BEST THING SO FAR ON THE TRIP.  I couldn't sleep.  Partly because if I were God, I would have chose someone else to come to this part of the world.  So His grace flooded my heart.  Also, because I want to always be about the ONE person God wants to change.  The One person I will get to pray with, hug or cry with. 

Funny thing.  If I wouldn't have got on the plane, I would have missed that parking lot moment.  If I wouldn't have spoke last night I would have missed those tears and the opportunity to pray. 

I confessed my attitude, God is faithful to forgive and cleanse and 'use' our one and only life for His glory and His purposes and His Kingdom.

Sometimes you have to just get on the plane and know it isn't about how you 'feel' but who God is in your life.  Once you get this, you will get on the plane sooner next time.  Once you do that...and see God work, you will eventually run to the plane.

Sometimes we think the plane represents discomfort and time zones and different hotels and inconvenience.   What we find is the plane represents our destiny, our purpose, His plan AND mostly His presence.

Get on the plane.

john