The SBC this year was worth the trip and coming from San Diego was quite a trip. This is the 4^th time I have attended the SBC and I really enjoyed this one the most. And even though my wife got her phone stolen, lost her suitcase, and was delayed on 2 of her flights, I know she enjoyed it too. The highlights were; voting in the majority for the passing of the GCR – being so close to so many people on the GCR Task Force I was emotionally invested. Also the Pastor’s conference this year brought a high caliber of speakers. I enjoyed David Platt, Matt Chandler, David Uth, and Francis Chan ( unfortunately I missed some of the others ), but it was Ravi Zacharias who brought the heat, Andy Stanley who challenged me with a very relevant message, and I am still impressed  with Dr. Tony Evans.

But the most encouraging time came from connecting with friends from ministries past. Since we have moved around (somewhat) we have made friends across the country. This year we connected with several people and it was a real blessing.

We will see what Phoenix holds, besides dehydration.

Stay Connected
Brad

I believe that no one engages the lostness of our culture as frequently as a church planter. With no existing membership to shepherd, church planters have to identify, connect with, and gather people on a daily basis.  Speaking from my personal experience, at times I experience a “disconnect” with new people when they attempt to identify with me as a Southern Baptist.

That is why the GCR is important to help communicate more clearly who we are, what is important to us, and how we cooperate together.  There are three reasons the GCR Recommendations will immediately benefit me as a Southern Baptist church planter in pioneer areas.

The GCR will help me communicate clearly what is important to us as Southern Baptists.  The needed change in our Mission Statement and Core Values will help me clearly and effectively point out our strengths and convictions but will also share the greater purpose of why we partner together.

-          The new Mission Statement and Core Values make sense to those without a Southern Baptist heritage to clearly express who we are and what is important to us.

The GCR will help me communicate clearly what we are intentionally doing as Southern Baptists. There are countless missionally intentional believers, pastors, and churches in North America.  However, the GCR will help me express how we as a denomination cooperate together for greater missional activity.   

-          IMB being charged to reach all people according to their ethnicity not their current address makes sense to international community living in our country.

-           NAMB being unleashed to plant healthy churches and reach the lostness of North America makes sense to those who seek to identify with a missionally active denomination.

The GCR will help me communicate clearly how we fund our missional activity. Many of the people in my ministry do not have a Southern Baptist heritage or knowledge of the Cooperative Program.  I often have to explain the workings of the CP and reasoning for our partnership to new leaders.

-          Great Commission Giving makes sense to someone without Southern Baptist heritage.

-          Cooperative Program being promoted within states makes sense to the regionally minded.

-          Giving 51% of CP to the International Mission Board makes sense to those who are watching to see if we really desire to share the gospel and make disciples with every person in the world.

-          Revisiting agreements between state conventions and NAMB makes sense to the business minded person, regardless of these economic times.

Perhaps only those who can appreciate my post are other Southern Baptist church planters in pioneer area. But if only for my ministry, it is worth the trip to Orlando to cast my vote for the GCR Recommendations.

Sermon Archives

You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?  Galatians 5:7

How sad is that?  Hey you were off to a great start but something happened, something hindered you.  Did you know that God has a plan for our lives that are full of promise, blessing, a future and a hope?  Sometimes we are in process to some of those things but we never finish to the end.  Something hinders us.  What are things that keep you and I from obeying the truth?  Is it our insecurities?  Past failures?  Lack of Faith?  Trust?  Whatever it may have been, start over today and keep running!

It is amazing to think that you and I can live victoriously in Christ because He has set us FREE!  He has given us liberty to walk in the Spirit.  I had a conversation with a person a while ago about the freedom we have in Christ.  We had talked about being free in Christ and what it meant.  What it does not mean is this:  because I am a Christian and Christ has set me free, then I can choose to do whatever I want.  That is abusing the grace of God and this person is not truly free.  You can always do whatever you want but that is not how Christ wants us to live.  If  we continue to make decisions with that mindset we then live in the flesh.

Galatians 5:19-21 says,

“¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Now if you truly are free, then you live for Christ and others ahead of yourself.  Freedom costs!  It may not cost you or I anything but it costs somebody something sometime and someplace.  For Christians it cost Jesus Christ everything over 2000 years ago on a Cross.  Because it is no longer I who lives but Christ in me, I live in that freedom.  I live freely saved by grace.  If I am free then I live in the Spirit, not the flesh.

Look here at what Galatians 5:22-26 says…

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Let me encourage you today to let go of the flesh and live in the Spirit!   When you live in the sprit you are going to bear the fruit of the Spirit.  If you go read Matthew chapter 7 you will see a theme repeating itself that I will outline for you.

• narrow gate is difficult but lead to life, wide gate is broad and leads to destruction
• good fruit, bad fruit
• house built on rock, house built on sand

There is so much to discuss on Matthew 7.  Read it and lets discuss it together!

Until next time, let go and let God.  Be FREE and walk in the Spirit!

In His Mighty Grip,

Mark

http://marksalazar.org

Tonight I was presented with an opportunity to shine. One of our Assistant Coaches on my sons’ football team just lost it and started swearing and using God’s name as a swear word to the kids.  It was obviously inappropriate and it dawned on me, this is my opportunity to shine light in darkness. So I considered what to say and shared in a nice way my concerns about the influence they (the coaches) had over our kids. I also shared that using God’s name like he did was not something I want my 10 year old sons to be around. 

We will see what happens in the coming days. In a world full of darkness we have more opportunities to shine than we may realize. I am grateful I was able to shine in this one. How much light are you shining in our dark world?

I have a new blog page set up to share thoughts and devotions.  I hope you find it encouraging!

In His Mighty Grip,

Mark

http://marksalazar.org

We talked about how all of creation sings the praises of God.  The Heavens declare his glory.  The whole earth is filled with it.  We talked about how even if no one praises God that the rocks would cry out – the rocks – cry out the praises of His glory.

It was such an overwhelming thought to me that throughout this beautiful day that we had in San Diego – that although the worship service was over and football was on – that somehow through it all – even as we just walked around in creation – that worship could and would continue, even if I wasn’t worshipping.  That’s very humbling to me.

I pray that you guys have a great week.  I pray that you guys would sing the songs that we have sung today in church, but more importanty, I pray that you learn to hear and sing the praises that the rocks and the heavens cry out.

Lem Usita – http://identityspecialist.wordpress.com