15% of The World…

I have a deep passion to travel the world.  There is something about being in another country that makes my soul feel alive, couple that with the opportunity to preach and I am in heaven on earth.  Here are the countries I’ve been to (only 15% of the countries in the world).  My goal?  I would love to hit the other 85%.

Posted by pastor matthew on October 28, 2007 at 06:14 PM
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N. New South Wales Campmeeting, Australia - Photo’s

I want to give a huge shot out to my man Kent Marcus who represented with some brilliant photography.  Be sure to check out his website!

Here are some of the photos… enjoy!

Jermaine the urban poet…

Your’s truly throwin’ down…

End result… lives touched for eternity!

Posted by pastor matthew on October 18, 2007 at 01:47 PM
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N. New South Wales Campmeeting, Australia - The Aftermath

This past Sunday my wife and I arrived back home from the wonderful continent of Australia.  For starters I want to thank God for the amazing time we had at the Big Camp.  In the past 10 years of itinerant speaking, I have never experienced such an amazing week where the Spirit was leading people to such a deep level of repentance.

I have received “heaps” of emails as well as comments on my blog and I just want to tell you that you guys rock!  Jesus is up to something huge and I pray that the Spirit that is leading us to conviction will continue to lead us to the throne room of grace! 

Today I had a day of pastors meetings and in talking with one of the other pastors he too has noticed that the Spirit is bringing about a level of repentance that he has never seen.  For this reason, I remain committed to surrendering my all to Jesus.  Will you join me? 

Riding the wave… mwg

Posted by pastor matthew on October 16, 2007 at 07:29 AM
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N. New South Wales Campmeeting, Australia

This week I am speaking at the N. New South Wales Big Camp.  The event started last Friday night and God has truly blessed. 

The first night we took a look about the foundational struggle that every human being on the face of the earth can relate with, the battle between the flesh and the spirit (see Genesis 6:12 and I John 2:16.17). 

On Saturday (Sabbath) morning we moved into Romans 8 where Paul spells out further the theology between the flesh and the spirit.  He reminds us that when we are in the flesh, our minds are focused on the things of the flesh, and that as result, we feel like death.  Conversely when we are lead by the Spirit, our mind is focused on the things of the Spirit and we have life and peace.

Then last night (Sunday evening) I was in a bit of a conundrum.  I was supposed to speak on Revelation 1, but I was sensing from some that they were wanting a bit more clarity and something more to stand on scripturally to support what was being said.  After some prayer and digging in the Word, I sensed that God was leading us to Romans 7.  It is here that Paul uses the analogy of a woman who wants to have an affair on her husband because she has met someone better.  Paul uses this analogy to spell out the fact that we are all married to the law.  The moment that a child is born into the world, they are born into a universe that is governed by the heavenly principles found in the 10 Commandments.  But one day Jesus comes along and we recognize that we are married to the law which condemns us to death, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  So we meet Jesus and unlike the law, because it is stone, Jesus empathizes and sympathizes with us.  He is there to encourage us to love on us.  Suddenly we desire to be in a love relationship with Him and not our husband (the law).  If we go off with Jesus we are an adulterer and the only way to end the marriage we are now in is if someone dies. 

Jesus tells us that in order to really live, we must die.  Paul says that he dies daily and that he has been crucified with Christ so that it is no longer he who lives, but Christ who lives in him (Galatians 2).  When the woman dies to self, she raises to new life in Christ.  She is now married to her new husband, Jesus.  A guy who sympathizes with her, empathizes with her, cries with her, laughs with her, rejoices in the good times and the bad, and cleans her off when she gets dirty.  I praise God for Jesus who delivered me from my body of death! 

Hope to see you back out tonight as we continue on! 

Posted by pastor matthew on October 07, 2007 at 01:15 PM
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The Gospel According to Linkin Park

A couple of months ago I had a few blog entrees called ”The Gospel According to Incubus” which took a look at a couple of the different songs by Incubus that I feel have strong spiritual overtones.  And now it is on to Linkin Park. 

Call me crazy, but I really believe that these lyrics are worth listening to.  Whether or not you think the genre of music is appropriate is not the point.  Hear the heart cry and see if you can relate. 

Below are the lyrics to a song that I have been listening to quite a bit called Numb.  As you read, or better listen to these lyrics, see if you relate.  Here you will find the tension that is seen in almost every young person who was raised in the church.  They feel the pressure to become something that they’re not, and never will be.  They are looking for something, but just acting a certain way isn’t paying off.  See if you can relate, or at least empathize. 

“Numb” by Linkin Park

I’m tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless lost under the surface
Don’t know what you’re expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)

[Chorus]
I’ve become so numb I can’t feel you there
I’m tired of being what you want me to be
I’ve become so numb I can’t feel you there
I’m tired of being what you want me to be

Posted by pastor matthew on September 22, 2007 at 09:19 PM
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Can blogs make a difference?

An acquaintance of mine started a new website called http://www.PresenTruth.com (yes only one “T").  His goal?  To create the largest multi-media website in Adventism.  On the site you can find anything from job postings to airline tickets, from sermons to blog entries. 

I recently read one of the blog entries to see what kind of thoughts were being discussed.  You can see the dialog that I am referring to by going to by CLICKING HERE. Quite honestly none of what I write next will make much sense without reading blog article and comments, but I wanted to point something out.

Knowledge is progressive, or at least it should be.  That in and of itself is a beautiful thing.  Why?  Because I may be screaming from atop my soapbox something that I passionately believe and would die on the hill for.  But then that belief could be challenged one day and I could recognize that what I thought was truth, may have been somewhat accurate but not entirely accurate.  Once this pattern happens in a persons life a time or two, it seems to me that the heart becomes softened; that somehow we become more accepting of others, less quick to judge. 

Posted by pastor matthew on August 31, 2007 at 12:14 PM
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West Coast Korean Campmeeting - PUC

This week I am writing from the Napa Valley in California where the weather is sweet! I am here speaking to the English speaking adults for two nights at the annual West Coast Korean Campmeeting which is held on the campus of Pacific Union College.

This year, the theme is “He Will Be Lifted High.” As we contemplate the thought of lifting up Jesus, what comes to mind?  Do you immediately turn towards things that you can do?  “Maybe if I just give Bible studies door to door, then Jesus will be lifted up.” Or, “Maybe if I just studied my own Bible more, then Jesus would definitely be lifted up.”

This theme is a a great one, but one that often gets a bad rap because we innately turn towards what we can do to make it happen.  What would it look like if we just gave up on trying to make it happen and really bask in the theme that HE WILL BE LIFTED HIGH.  In other words, regardless of what you try to do, Jesus will ultimately be exalted.  Instead of trying in our own might, as it is so easy to do, let’s try the more difficult thing by surrendering our all to Jesus for it is in the surrender that the Spirit of Jesus will be resurrected in us; and in so doing to those we come in contact with. 

Posted by pastor matthew on August 10, 2007 at 01:36 PM
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Medellin, Columbia: Inter-American Division Prayer and Leadership Conference

I am writing you from lovely Medellin, Columbia.  Having only been here a day, this country is amazing with a gorgeous countryside.  I am here giving three presentations over two days; two are workshops and one general session.  It is really amazing to see the 5,000 people from all over Central and South America as well the Caribbean gathered together to worship God.  I only wish that I could speak Spanish!  If you are interested in checking it out (and even watching it live) you can go to: http://www.convencionjuvenil.org/en/. 

Posted by pastor matthew on July 25, 2007 at 04:42 PM
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Lost Sinners

How desperately do you want to see Jesus face to face?  Do you ever think about what He might look like?  I remember when I first became a follower of Jesus, I would squint my eyes in the darkness of my room late at night hoping beyond hope to just catch a glimpse of Jesus.  As time has gone on I no longer strain my eyes trying to see Him because I realize that He is appearing to me in other ways; BUT I am still yearning to see Him face to face! 

In Luke 19 we find a story of a short, selfish guy that really wanted to see Jesus.  His biggest problem?  People didn’t like him because he was a tax collector.  Irregardless of whether or not you like the IRS, here is a guy who really wanted to see Jesus face to face! 

Luke 19:1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Notice how the crowd responded: “(Jesus) has gone to be the guest of a sinner,” they muttered loud enough so that everyone could hear.  What a shame.  It’s no wonder that people aren’t flocking to church.  For millennia we have been judging people’s motivations to see Jesus.  If they don’t measure up to our standards then they just aren’t worthy to see Him.  Here is the irony of the story: The crowd identified Zacchaeus as a sinner, but Jesus said that He “came to seek and to save what was lost.”

You may be asking, “What are you getting at Matthew?” Jesus has the ability to discern whether or not someone is lost or a sinner, you and I don’t.  For some reason we are plagued with the perception that we have the Godly ability to know someone’s motivation and heart.  It seems to me that Jesus is wanted to teach the crowd a lesson that day and that is simply that He can seek out lost people (because of His God-give discernment) and that He can save people (because of His perfect obedience to the Father).  As much as we would like to believe that we can, you and I don’t have the ability to declare someone a lost sinner and we certainly can’t save them. 

Let’s keep looking for Jesus.  Once you’ve found Him, keep your eyes on Him. 

Posted by pastor matthew on July 20, 2007 at 05:38 PM
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Preferences - July 12, 2007

PREFERENCES

Do you have preferences?  I mean when you think about how the bed should be made, or how clothes should be folded, or how someone should drive, do you think to yourself, “I know a better way.” What about when it comes to church?  Do you think about our weekly Saturday morning gathering from the mindset of “If I were in charge things would be done differently… AND better!”

About 20 years ago the Christian Church in North America took a turn.  With leaders such as Bill Hybels (Willow Creek Church) and Rick Warren (Saddleback Church) leading the charge, mega-churches started growing all across the country.  Why did these churches grow?  Because the lay people and leaders asked themselves an important question: What could we do at our church that would be attractive to the unchurched?  This is a great question and we too must remain cognizant that there are visitors coming to our church, but there is a fundamental flaw in this line of thought. 

When you look at the life of Jesus, you find a guy who was out with the unchurched.  He rubbed shoulders with them on the daily basis.  I cannot recall one time where Jesus invited someone to the temple the following Sabbath.  Rather, He invited every individual into a transformational relationship.  Granted we are not Jesus so we don’t have the power to transform people, but we can introduce others to the greatest Transformer of all time! 

Jesus did more teaching, preaching and healing outside of the four walls in a temple.  Jesus wasn’t concerned with bringing people to church, rather bringing the church to the people.  What was the end result?  Ultimately the end result is that the church grew!  Could it be that if we get our minds off of being consumers at church and start looking for ways to bring the church to the people that we will not only experience continued spiritual renewal in our own lives, but that the church would grow as well?  I am eager to try Jesus’ method! 

Posted by pastor matthew on July 12, 2007 at 10:39 PM
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