I think it's fair to say that Jesus is the only one who can define what a disciple is. What if each denomination, or church, pastor or person who had an interest in Jesus defined disciple as they wanted? Yikes, but I think this isn't far from where we are. So how does Jesus define a disciple? I found a passage that includes one of the most misquoted verses in all of the New Testament. People readily say, 'the truth will set you free'. It's not wise though to cut a passage in half; this 1/2 quote misses the conditions for being set free.

John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

So holding to Jesus' teaching is the requirement to be a disciple, then a knowledge of truth happens and freedom! How can you hold to some teachings if you do not know them. We are a biblically illiterate culture, even within the church. So what are the chances of us holding to teachings we're unaware of? There has been a renewal of interest in Wesleyan theology in the last few years due to the 400 year anniversarys of the Wesley brothers. We have to learn about and implement the methodology that carried the theology to so many lands. I'm convinced that this methodology was that of Jesus, as Wesley and others studied the Gospels and the life of the early church in order to follow closely to the pattern given.

After a friend read Wesley's definition of 'a Methodist' he said well if that's a Methodist I think I've only met just a few in my life. This friend had grown up largely in 'Methodist circles'. Wesley's definition follows:

"What then is the mark? Who is a Methodist, according to your own account?" I answer: A Methodist is one who has "the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost given unto him;" one who "loves the Lord his God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his mind, and with all his strength." God is the joy of his heart, and the desire of his soul; which is constantly crying out, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee! My God and my all! Thou art the strength of my heart, and my portion forever!" He is therefore happy in God, yea, always happy, as having in him "a well of water springing up into everlasting life," and overflowing his soul with peace and joy. "Perfect love" having now "cast out fear," he "rejoices evermore." He "rejoices in the Lord always," even "in God his Saviour;" and in the Father, "through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom he hath now received the atonement." "Having" found "redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of his sins," he cannot but rejoice, whenever he looks back on the horrible pit out of which he is delivered; when he sees "all his transgressions blotted out as a cloud, and his iniquities as a thick cloud." He cannot but rejoice, whenever he looks on the state wherein he now is; "being justified freely, and having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." For "he that believeth, hath the witness" of this "in himself;" being now the son of God by faith. "Because he is a son, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into his heart, crying, Abba, Father!" And "the Spirit itself beareth witness with his spirit, that he is a child of God." He rejoiceth also, whenever he looks forward, "in hope of the glory that shall be revealed;" yea, this his joy is full, and all his bones cry out, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten me again to a living hope--of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for me!"

Yusuf Herman a friend from seminary sharing Christ with a leper in Indonesia.

How about these to stretch your mind and give us a different perspective on reality. G. K. Chesterton

"A child kicks its legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, Do it again; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough... It is possible that God says every morning, Do it again, to the sun; and every evening, Do it again, to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike: it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we."

“In the upper world, hell once rebelled against heaven. But in this world heaven is rebelling against hell. For the orthodox there can always be a revolution; for a revolution is a restoration” (Orthodoxy, 117).

GRACE HARBOR

Photo taken after worship fall 2006. We are in the old Bennett's Creek Rescue Squad building in Suffolk, Virginia. God has brought together some amazing people; there is brokeness as well, but we're in the process of becoming who we are.

I'm reading Cahill's book: The Desire of the Everlasting Hills ~ The World Before and After Jesus

Cahill writes . . . ‘the radical society of friends, of free and equal men and women, that came forth from the side of the crucified (an earlier reference to the blood and water that poured out of Jesus as the spear went into his side - the blood and water, the Lord's supper and baptism) was quickly overwhelmed by ancient patriarchy and has been overwhelmed in every era since by the social and political forms of the age’ (pg. 303).

I remember Bishop Peter Storey from South Africa speaking to a group about injustice and systemic sin - I believe 'Prophetic Evangelism' was the topic and a pastor questioned how we can take a swing at this injustice and root it out. Bishop Storey said that if there ever was a denomination modeled after coorportate America it is the United Methodist Church, he then motioned to a number of District Superintendents in the room and said, 'My students are afraid of you.' (Bishop Story was a visiting professor at Duke Seminary). He then suggested that we start with our own house.

So much of Jesus' teachings had to do with the use of power: "Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod" (Mark 8:15). Caution against religious and political power. Good grief we need to hear this today.

Chiapas, Mexico ~ The colors of Mexico are brilliant. La Mama and daughter caught my attention. I don't know if I have seen such beautiful clothing elsewhere.

Seeking the Kingdom

Listening to Into Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall on the Passion Website this morning ~ http://www.268generation.com/2.0/splash5.htm

How phenomenal is this!
Tears of joy, tears of gratitude, tears of longing, tears of repentance and a stirring feeling and hope that God is indeed raising up an army of worshippers with the Romans 12:1 definition of worship.

I once was fatherless, a stranger with no hope;
Your kindness wakened me. Awakened me, from my sleep
Your love it beckons deeply, a call to come and die.
By grace now I will come. And take this life, take your life.

Sin has lost it's power, death has lost it's sting.
From the grave you've risen . . . . VICTORIOUSLY!

Into marvelous light I'm running, Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth, You are the life, you are the way

My dead heart now is beating, My deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs. Now I'm free. now I'm free!

Lift my hands and spin around, See the light that I have found.
Oh the marvelous light, marvelous light

The West Family

Here we are! Wow am I blessed with an incredible wife, Eileen, who is beautiful, a gifted partner in life and ministry and a wonderful Mom. We're 12 years into this adventure called marriage!

Josiah is 5 and is serious about 'getting the bad guys', Evie is 3, she loves to be the princess and Luke at 2, is convinced he's Batman.

Kingdom Thoughts

The Life Jesus wants for us . . . Drinking of the Spirit and allowing Streams of the Spirit to flow out of us to refresh others. Connecting the words of Jesus with Paul's appeal:

John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

We cannot live without water and this life source can flow out of us, though we are not the Source. Amazing. The drinking is also fascinating - the English translations agree on 'drink', there is also the concept of irrigation and saturation in the Greek. This theme runs all through the Scriptures! Abram blessed to be a blessing to all the nations in Genesis 12. Jesus sanctifying himself, so that they too will be sanctified. And thus the Kingdom comes.