New Blog

For the few people who read this blog, I'm going to let it go dormant. I, along with several others here in Austin, are now posting at

http://austindisciplemakers.blogspot.com/

Please come and share with us!

Obedience

The Lord has been speaking to me lately on obedience. I've come to realize that although I'm physically able to still sin, once I became a disciple of Christ, I lost the right to sin. I don't have the option to choose anything over Christ. Less and less I'm realizing that my loyalty to Christ isn't based on warm feelings, but a choice. Sure, I'd like to fantasize about the cute girl I see, but too bad! As a disciple committed to Holiness, I lost that option. Aaron was heartbroken when God killed his two sons, but he still chose to be obedient to God rather than rebellious.

That's the cost of discipleship.







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Age Is Not A Factor

My grandfather was an Assembly of God preacher. Several weeks before he died in 1981the Spirit spoke to him this poem, and he pulled over on the side of the road and wrote it on an envelope. It's always moved me.

Age is not a factor
to work for my dear Lord
for he gives me love and patience
and strengthens me with His sword.

I must go and tell others
of the love He put in my heart
you see if I don't tell them
His love from me will depart

Now if you don't understand me,
and life is just pain and woe
commit your life to Jesus;
then He will put love in your soul

Problems at times seem impossible
but they teach us how to pray and grow.
So if you have an impossible problem,
just read His Word and you will know.

Just now I talked to Jesus
and I feel so good inside,
because again He just told me
within me forever He will abide.

Life sometimes does get wary,
and miracles seem not too near;
Again put your trust in Jesus
and His love will cast out all fear.

Then love will again be within you,
and miracles will begin.
See Jesus never forsakes
as you put your trust in Him.

Now as you pray to Jesus
and truly never doubt His word
for in there you'll find peace and joy
and can be sure that you are heard.

Now lean upon my Jesus
and give Him every care;
surely He will go with you
if you ask Him to meet you there.

So open your heart to Jesus
and let Him take control;
He will prosper, bless and give you
joy and peace within your soul.

Now that you have come to know Him
in a very special way
Jesus will love others through you
and use you day after day.

Now Jesus I want to thank you
for letting me write this poem;
I just pray that all who read it
prepare to make heaven their home.

-G.M. Liebelt

An Adapted Gospel?

I've run across people lately who are involved in a particular movement and believe that the function of the church is to reinterpret the Gospel for this postmodern American culture.

Really??

Is there such a thing as new Truth? There can't be. Truth is truth. Revelation calls the Gospel the eternal Gospel. I'm not sure that "postmodern" people are any more special or lost than any other generation.

Man needs a Savior because man is born in sin. That Savior is Christ, who paid the penalty for our sins on the Cross. He died and rose again three days later and now sits at the right hand of God.

What about the Gospel needs to be adapted for postmoderns?

What's a Kairos Moment?

Kairos is a greek word meaning "right or opportune moment". In Scripture you can read Mark 1:15 to see a Kairos moment. My Kairos happened recently in Williamsburg, Kansas. I went up there with my pastor to a week long camp. What happened blew me away. Everything I thought I knew theologically was shaken up. Everything I thought I knew about the church was overturned. It was a time when I was forced to look at myself through the lens of Scripture and admit that the way I had been doing things was turning me into a Pharisee, not a Disciple.

We talk about spiritual warfare as Christians, but rarely do we actually live it. I saw a woman who was so possessed with demons she could barely function. Of course, I had always admitted demon possession was possible, but only in the thirld world countries. I mean, this is America. We don't do that here. Well, not only does it happen here, it's a lot more common that I thought. Watching her be dealt with and having the demons cast out did more to bring alive Scripture than I could ever imagine.

On one of the nights I went through what is called the Seven Steps to Freedom. It's consecrating yourself before God. Confessing everything that might be a hindrance or an affront to God. It was there that I experienced Godly sorrow for the first time. To get these lifelong sins off my chest was truly breaking bondage.

But the real Kairos moment came on the last day. We were scheduled to attend our last teaching session, but the Holy Spirit had other ideas. There was a light sprinkle which somehow shut all the power off. As we were waiting of the electricity to come back on, we started singing and worshipping. Shorly after that the Spirit moved and people began to confess the burdens they had been carrying and repenting of pride and holding grudges towards the church. It was an amazing thing to see. All the different gifts were functioning as they were supposed to, strongholds were being broken and relationships with God were being restored. It was watching that unfold that I knew I could never go back to traditional church. Could never go back and be part of a passive congregation listening to the same pastor week after week. The church of Acts is still alive! And I must be a part of it!