Honesty, when many of us first accepted Christ it was because we feared hell AND we were being drawn by His love & goodness.  There was the promise of forgiveness, a clean conscience, acceptance, destiny, significance, and escaping a very nasty place called Hell.

It’s the simple incentive method.    Pain and gain!  Reward or retribution.

Don’t feel bad about that.  God created us this way, so He appeals to this part of our nature.  He ENJOYS rewarding people… He LOVES people! What Father wouldn’t enjoy seeing His children do well?

As we grow & mature in Christ, & our love for Him develops, we become less occupied with the “principle of success” & the reaping of our sowing.  We become more in LOVE & want to serve & bless.  You grow in the revelation that “He is a REWARDER of those that diligently seek HIM.”  He becomes our passion, our goal, our success, & our reward!  Even if I still had to go to hell I would still love, obey & serve Him!

Nonetheless, it seems in scripture that God appeals to our simpler nature to gain an entrance into our lives so He can teach us the meaning of it:  To give it away!

kc

It doesn’t matter what you have; it matters how you got it.  If you received an offering for an orphanage & then went out and bought a Ferrai then you are a rascal!  But if you give 20% or 50% of your income away then your harvest is going to look different from someone who is judging you that may not even tithe!

Again, have some abused this scriptural truth?  Yerp.  But that does not change the fact that sowing & reaping is a spiritual law.

“Seed-time” is an opportunity to step thru the doorway to breakthrough and increase.  It is not a holy moment that comes “as the Spirit wills” and “you must act now before this moment passes.”  That’s manipulation. But when you’ve activated an eternal law established by God Himself – that is a holy moment!  Genesis 8:22 This is an immutable law that God Himself has established.

Giving is like sowing a seed. You can give your time, talent or treasure.
One of the giant redwood cedars of California is 270 feet high, and weighs 6,300 tons. It came from a seed weighing three thousandths of an ounce!  That illustrates the power of a seed!

Once people start giving they are ennobled and empowered.  It’s Godly.

The people who give money they don’t have to, create a culture of celebration.
The leader that gives attention they’re not paid for will exceed expectations.

Let’s be the generous generation!

Is it okay to “give to get?”  If it wasn’t then why is there so much in scripture about it?

Galatians 6:7 “God is not mocked:  whatever a man sows THAT shall he also reap.”

Genesis 26:12-14 There was a famine in the land so Isaac SOWED in THAT land & reaped 100 fold THAT YEAR!

Genesis 8:20-22 God was so pleased with Noah’s great offering, that He put a system in place to ensure we are supplied to fulfill His will.  “As long as the Earth remains so also seed-time, & harvest.”

Matt. 6:33 “But seek first the Kingdom of God & His righteousness, & all these THINGS will be added to you.”
The Kingdom of God is defined in Rom. 14:17 as being “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”  If you are seeking first these then you won’t have to worry about “getting off” in the area of money.

The Purpose of the Seed is Harvest!
The Law of the Seed

There is a renewed attack on the hyper-prosperity message.  Though there are apparent abuses in this area among some “name-brand” ministers, the danger is missing the truth on the matter.  If there were no truth regarding wealth or prosperity then there would be no debate, abuse or attack.  Jesus said that knowing the truth makes us free!  Beware of throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater.

So allow me to highlight one simple idea: God’s original plan for man was abundance.  We see this in the Garden of Eden.  It was a wealthy place!  In other words, there was no lack there.  Needs & desires for Adam & Eve had more than what they needed at the moment and enough for future expansion of Heaven’s Culture and atmosphere!  What is that?  Love.

Biblical “Prosperity” is simply having more than enough to fulfill the assignment God has given you.  The great dividing line of scripture, as one person called it, is John 10:10, “The thief comes to steel, kill & destroy.  But I Am come that you may have life & have it more abundantly.”

Don’t allow the abuses of others to deprive you of the blessings of God.  You cannot be a blessing in an area if you are not blessed in that area.  You can only give what you have.

“God is not opposed to His people being prosperous; He is opposed to them being covetous.”  Dad Hagin

• Front yard football with G2! #
• RT @DavidHFoster: 95% of us have no written down goals. Of the 5% who do, 95% have achieved those goals. #
• staff prayer – powerful stuff! #
• "“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches … http://read.ly/Luke16.11.NASB #
• RT @PatrickCasey251: Hammon B3 and 122 Leslie or sale! Original 60s Model…… Great deal!!! #
• Having lunch with long time friend & @harvestmobile member Jim Wicks today. He's 84 (I think) & still loves Thai food! My hero… #
• Will do b #
• Read Luke 16… Today! #
• Just picked my 13 yr old (car) up from the shop: big bill but still cheaper than a monthly car-note! #
• RT @DavidHFoster: People don't respond to advice; they respond to consequences. #
• Catching up on 24. #
• 245 Million women in India can't read or write. Help by supporting embassyofhope.org #ReachOut #
• Following my staff's advice: listening to Andy Stanley's "Teach Less for More." #
• Every wk folks show up 2 ur church wi/ a pic n their mind of what they think ur church should look like. What's GOD want it2 look like? #
• Starbucks oatmeal! A mid-morning fav! #
• "God isn't opposed 2 His people being prosperous; He's opposed to them being covetous." Kenneth E. Hagin (That's still good stuff Dad Hagin) #
• Why does it take me an hour to write a 200 word (or less) blog? Why????
  (I feel better. You don't have to reply.) #
• Takin' the Fam to The Brick-Pit for dinner. "Yum" doesn't even begin to say what I'm feeling! #
• Location: http://j.mp/duO2nz
  (FYI the Brick-Pit's location.) #
• To live without expectation is to live in a prision: alive but not free. What are u expecting? Good-night. #
• Check out this video: Sail On Conference Promo – http://iLike.com/t/cwJR #
• Read Luke 16 again. Wow! #
• I just killed a deer.
  http://moby.to/t5wq56 #
• Sittin' in the Boro talkin' guitars with @JimWideman.
  #Taylors&Strats #
• 500,000 girls r murdered ea yr in India before, during or just after birth.
  http://www.embassyofhope.org #OutReach #
• RT @johncmaxwell: The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions. -Oliver Wendell Holmes #
• Headed 2 breakfast with @JimWideman. Talking vision, leadership & guitars. #kidmin #
• Lunch in Nash-Vegas with @AddieCooley,@JimWideman &Mrs Julie, @TMassey &@StephMassey: Pei-Wei! Then shopping & mentoring. (thanks Bro J!) #
• I don't understand… Haha!
  #Hangin'With @JimWideman
  http://tweetphoto.com/13372542 http://tweetphoto.com/13372612 #
• RT @DavidHFoster: The best way to the build a great life is get married early and stay married over a lifetime. http://ow.ly/1eFxZ #
• Happy #8 birthday to our nephew Carson! We love ya!!! Uncle Papa & Aunt Addie #
• "Evaluation, explanation, correction & encouragement all the by-product of the involvement of the leader." – @JimWideman
  #kidmin #
• "Stupid can't be fixed in one (counseling) session." – @JimWideman
  #kidmin #
• I'M NOT A VICTIM OF EVERYBODY ELSE’S CHOICES: I'M THE MASTER OF MY DESTINY. NO MATTER WHAT CARDS I’M DEALT: I WILL WIN! @JimWideman #kidmin #
• "One thing that all successful people have in common is that they WORK." – @JimWideman #kidmin #
• Luke 16… I'm just sayin'! #
• In praying with our volunteers this am we touched on "entering a new season!" #Hope #

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Welcome to the Post-Modern world where missionaries aren’t just for Africa & India anymore.  God is calling us, His Body in the earth, to be evangelists & missional to the world around us.  Acts 1:8
Nowhere in the Scripture does Jesus ask us to worship Him, but He does ask us to become like Him – worship Him by obeying Him.  (This is discipleship.)  Matt. 28

I believe God is taking us from institution to revolution!
Our problem is we have God all figured out – His ways are NOT our ways! There is still a mystery!  It takes more faith to NOT have ALL the answers sometimes…

But here’s what I do know:  Jesus said, “I will build MY church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”   Gates are defensive things.  So the church Jesus is building is the one that is plunging head-long into darkness & danger to get it’s hands dirty & rescue people from hell!

The Holy Spirit is calling His Bride to Action:  “Who will go?”  (Isaiah 6)

pkc

Going to hang with one of my mentors & the man that led me to Jesus 33 year ago: Brother Jim Wideman!

Be back Saturday.

See ya Sunday.

pkc

The church always expresses itself in different ways depending upon the culture that it’s in.  It’s very fluid so it can “reform” itself all the time depending upon the culture or environment that it’s in.  The purpose for this of course is so it can be a relevant witness in that particular culture.  The problem is, we are in a “post-modern” or “post-Christian” generation.  In other words, people in the Western World ARE searching for God but just not in the church anymore.  So what can we do to increase our influence in this culture?
(NOTE: by “the church” I mean Christ-followers. Not any particular denomination.)
We only legitimize ourselves are Christians by going back to Jesus.  Are we reflecting Jesus? If we are not then we are ultimately “unChristian-Christians.”  I know this is an oxy-moron. The greatest insult you can hurl at a Christian is “you don’t look like Jesus.”  Ghandi said, (paraphrase) “I’d be a Christian if I hadn’t met so many of them.”  What an indictment that still holds true in many instances today.  Does it in your? In mine?

We are not to reflect the culture we are in but yet relate to it so we can express this other-worldly culture of the Kingdom that we are from.  The standard has always been, is and always will be – JESUS.  To be “culturally relevant” we have to accurately express JESUS to our neighbors, co-workers, friends, etc.

WE ARE MISSIONARIES!

Acts 1:8  The power of the Holy Spirit’s baptism will enable us to be a a meaningful witness.

pkc

• RT @kjesmith: Great message @harvestmobile this am.. Check it out online at http://www.harvestmobile.com #
• Sunday afternoon nap begings in 3, 2, 1… Now! #
• Ahhhh… That's better. #
• Head to the gym with @AddieCooley. #
• RT @stephmassey: Sure new furniture would b nice But when my kids r adults they won't remembr a new couch but they'll remember the vacations #
• Staff meeting starting in a few. Love staff meeting… Actually, love my staff! pKc
  #esteemtheteam #
• God's correction gives direction & leads to perfection in His will & plan for you. Praying for our friends, partners & members today! PK & A #
• RT @AllanKelsey: Discovering ur Identity-Part 4. Spiritual Gifts make u capable of things u were not, b/fyou met Jesus. http://bit.ly/d0iQFd #
• It's not what you know – it's what you do. #
• Jesus died for sickness as much as He did for sin. #
• RT @PhilCooke: If we don't laugh at ourselves….. someone will do it for us… (via @MatthewBarnett) So true! He who laughs lasts! PKC #
• When Christ died He ripped the veil. Why do Christians spend so much energy trying to repair their own personal veils? #
• Full day: it's good to feel good again! #healed! But I have spent my energy wad & ready to zzzzz. Will be asleep by 9! x^> #
• RT @BrianCHouston: Leaders goal: RECEPTIVE culture in which encouragement is tangible,atmosphere, electric, & anticipation obvious! (me 2) #
• "People that aren't highly developed in believing what they say will come to pass don't get much benefit from their speaking." Charles Capps #
• RT @PatrickCasey251: "Amazing the number of churches still open, given the number of people smarter than their pastor." Pat Casey / LOL #
• Just finished lunch; a nap before that. Kids-to-skool-rush went well… Now a bit of counseling then study & studio. #
• RT @caseytreat: How big is God? Hard to understand those who believe God wants us poor and small. http://twitpic.com/15417k #
• Leadership Question: are you the "thin neck of the funnel" or are you empowering others, delegating & adding value to the team? #
• Every movement has it's own music. If your's doesn't – start writing! #
• "Remind them of these things,& solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, whic… http://read.ly/2Tim2.14.NASB #
• "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately hand… http://read.ly/2Tim2.15.NASB #
• To handle the Word of Truth correctly we must study what the Word of God says (as a whole) so we can understand what it means. #
• "Beware of a church that never offends you. If they can't offend you, they can't move you." – Ron Carpenter (via @johnaddi) #
• Prosperity – having enough provi$ion to complete God's instructions. There, I said it. #
• Erratic obedience is disobedience. #
• A holy life won't keep you protected but a wise life will. Follow Wisdom; follow peace. #
• Confrontation is an attempt to preserve a relationship… It's what love is willing to do. #
• Anything permitted increases. You can't change what u don't confront. #
• RT @sjcamp: The Missional Church is counter-cultural, but not culturally absent. called out of…still in but not OF the world. #newwineskin #
• We need a place for a missionary to stay for 2 weeks. (a single girl on our team in India) She arrives March 9th. Who wants this blessing? #
• RT @sjcamp: The MIssional Church is the city of God within the city of Man.
  #newwineskin #
• RT @ChuckFord: Having lunch with Tammy and @kcooley today at @krilakis. // Good times – great fellowship!!! kc #
• RT @jimwideman: I hate to be the best at something I shouldn't be doing. via @kidspiration #napconf #kidmin #
• U must be 1 of those prosperity guys. LOL http://tweetphoto.com/12504386 #
• Was just praising on how well my 13 yr old car still drives… Waiting on a tow-truck to Mobile in Magee, MS. Thank God for #AAA! #
• In the tow-truck. "On the Road Again…" Had a gr8 time in JXN with my dad & the Fords though! #
• Waiting for the tow-truck driver's girlfriend to meet us a truckstop. Gotta love Mississippi. #
• RT @RickWarren: Never confuse forgiveness & trust. Forgiveness must be immediate & unconditional. Trust must be re-earned over time. #
• Ahhh… Home. SWEET Home. (Alabama.) #
• Does anyone else think Didi Benami (American Idol) looks like Samie Lange to me? Just wondering… #
• Headed to the work-day @harvestmobile! #
• Very productive Destiny Day (work day) @harvestmobile! Thanks everyone!!!
  PK #
• "Couples Retreat" or "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" for our at home date night tonight? #
• Had a pretty kitty-kat show for Group tonight! http://tweetphoto.com/12739720 #
• Team/Volunteers' prayer in 20 min! Live it; love it! #
• The people who give money they don't have to, create a culture of celebration. #generousgeneration #
• The P&W band is on FI-YA this mornin'! #

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God is calling us to transition from a church-based Christianity to a culture-based Christianity: God wants to use us to influence art, business, government, family, education, media, & technology!  This is having a meaningful witness. (One folks will listen to)

Not relying on our old methodology is a fantastic opportunity but it’s also a bit frightening, but the early church thrived in risk & danger!  The Bible term for this is “faith…”  and “apostolic!”     This is what we all keep claiming we want: to be like the first century church.  And I believe the human experience craves adventure, challenge, & danger!  We need something to overcome – Jesus made us overcomers after all

Our concept of the church & the role it inherited has to adjust again in the Western World to become a MISSIONS church again like we were in the 1st century.  Why? Because people in the Western World are looking for God but for the 1st time NOT in the church.  We must be a people of the Gospel AND engage culture.

God has called us to be a missionary church & a missionary people.  We have to stop the old way of think that the missionaries are those beleivers over in Africa and embrace the New Wine-Skin mentality:  WE ARE THE MISSIONARIES!

more soon…

pkc