It easy to miss something you are not looking for.

Excerpt from my book Go. Sow.

During my self-defense training I discovered there are four stages of perceiving danger in our world:
Unaware
Aware
Alert
Alarm

Guess where most people live? Most people live in the unaware state. They live life adrift on an ocean of routine, and live unaware of their surroundings. 

A teacher in the Dayton area was recently abducted. Why? She was targeted because she was unaware. She was texting while walking to her car and once in the car she continued to focus on her cell phone. The bad guy simply walked up and jerked open her door. He jumped in the driver’s side, pushing her into the passenger seat and took off with the now terrified lady. She screamed. He wrecked the car and she managed to open the passenger side door and jumped out. The guy escaped but was later apprehended.

Had she been practicing awareness she would have put her phone in her purse before she left the store, looked around as she walked to her car, and then locked the doors as soon as she got in her seat.

The incident could have been averted if she had chosen to live her life from an awareness perspective. Now she lives with the trauma of the frightening incident. However, she also decided to learn to become more aware of her space and just completed a conceal and carry course. She is now a smarter and wiser woman.

It's easy to miss something you are not looking for.

Life in the Kingdom is really about learning to live life where we are aware of God’s presence. 

Every believer should practice awareness and practice noticing the unnoticeable; then respond. 

I'm glad God has graciously been training, me, given me the eyes to see, and a heart that seeks to understand. I'm working on responding acting on what I see, or sense.

 This past summer, Pattie and I headed out to the Fraze, an open-air amphitheater near our home, for Blues Fest. Some great bands were playing and we were enjoying the time together. When we arrived we decided to buy some BBQ. We checked every vendor to see what they were serving and finally came to the last booth. As I walked up I noticed the lady serving. I suddenly had an impression that I should encourage her. Specifically I should tell her that her future was going to be greater than her past.

As I was pondering just how to navigate and communicate the impression I noticed she had a few tattoos. Then I noticed she was wearing an arrest monitor on her ankle. The impression now made sense.

I payed for my food and then said, “You might think this strange but sometimes Jesus gives me encouraging words for people. I have an encouraging word for you. Your future is going to be greater than your past.” 

I gently held her arm as I spoke and continued speaking to her about her life. I spoke into her destiny. I told her how Jesus could change her life and wash away her past and propel her into her future. I then invited the Holy Spirit to come and touch her life. She looked up at me and said, “You are making me cry.”
I replied, “Jesus is here.”

I then briefly told her how I was a heavy drug user 35 years ago and Jesus had changed my life. 

She paused and stated, “You have no idea how much I needed this today. Thank you.” We grabbed our BBQ, moved past the growing line behind us and walked to a patio to eat.

Pattie asked me to explain how I knew what to say and the process of it all. It's not rocket science but it does take practice, and a willingness to respond and to experiment. Here is what I told her.

Frankly my dear...The internal battle of D words.

 Ever felt like not giving a... I have.

There is an internal battle of D words. Sometimes the battle is so intense it wages war against the very core of who we are. 

Sometimes the battles we face flow from outside voices, negative attitudes and projected perceptions of who we are. Every interaction is important. How we handle those interactions are more important.

D words:

Disappointment: sad or displeased because someone or something has failed to fulfill one's hopes or dreams. (Maybe yourself, maybe others...failed expectations, life regrets).

Disheartened: made less hopeful or enthusiastic, to take the heart out of a person.

Discouraged: dis-couraged, to be deprived of courage, hope, or confidence.

Despondent: stuck in a rut, having low spirits which stems from loss of hope or of courage.

Despair: the complete loss or absence of hope.

The Psalmist understood and experienced many D words.
They also knew the solution. 

Psalm 27 is one Psalm I've been reading since December. Here are some thoughts.

 “I would have despaired... had a complete loss of hope...

unless...I had believed...

He chose to believe in the nature and goodness of the God he knew. He positioned himself, in the midst of his battle, for an encounter with the Hopeful, good One... the One who imparts hope, and strengthens determined faith. He believed he would see.

that I would see...experience, have a clear view of...

the goodness of the LORD...

In the land of the living.

He knew(by experience) to position himself to seek Presence through worship. He knew this focused expression of faith would help shift his mindset. 

“One thing I have asked from the LORD,
that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the LORD
And to meditate in His temple.

For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;

In the secret place...

of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.”
Psalms 27:4-5 NASB


He also knew he needed to respond to the Holy Spirit who beckoned him.

“When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, O LORD, I shall seek."” Psalms 27:8 NASB 

He understood his declarations, the words he spoke, were all important. He was focused; circumspect. His confession, declaration expressed through song were joyfully specific.

“The LORD is
my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?

The LORD is
the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?”
Psalms 27:1 NASB

Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,

In spite of this I shall be confident.”
Psalms 27:1, 3 NASB

And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,

And I will offer in His tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing,
yes,
I will sing praises to the LORD.” Psalms 27:6 NASB

He concludes by speaking to his-self, his idenity the core of who He knew himself to be.

Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and
let your heart 
take courage;

Yes, wait for the LORD.”
Psalms 27:13-14 NASB

Positioning ourselves for Presence by waiting, declaring and worshiping can help to shift our mindset out of the D zone. 

I sometimes battle the D words. David, a worshiper, wariror and king knew how to strengthen himself in the Lord. I'm positioning myself, practicing, shifting my mindset, choosing to hope, worship and believe... pushing into another D word, Destiny.

Missional community

Missional Community

                     I wrote this in 2009 still true.

Len Sweet once said, 'the most at risk

leadership skill is inspired imagination.'

Inspired imagination begins with the end in mind. Thinking 'What would our community, church look like if?'

In the early days of serving the city of Cincinnati, Cincy Vineyard leaders often dreamed with inspired imagination. What would it look like if we served cold drinks to drivers stuck in long lines on a hot day? What would it look like if we delivered turkey dinners to the less-served of our community the weekend before thanksgiving? What would it look like if we create a place where the less-served could receive practical care? 

Their dreaming provoked action.

Their inspired imagination continues to this day. Their creative spark is spreading the good news, demonstrated in practical ways, all over their city and into the world. 

Paul spoke about 'people being of one mind, being of one heart, of one spirit, intent on one purpose.' 

True community is formed when people choose to live life on mission, and begin to actively give themselves to pursue their vision...together. 

Community is living life forward, moving toward a common purpose. 

Philippians 2 Message. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.

 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: 

Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. 

Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. 

Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. 

Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. 

Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.

He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. 

When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. 

It was an incredibly humbling process. 

He didn’t claim special privileges. 

Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

The purpose?

Perhaps, it's seeking to fulfill the Great Commission...together.

Perhaps, it is a group of friends who are consistently thinking, 'How can we help people within our sphere of influence take their next step toward Jesus Christ?' 

Five friends... 
We don't know much about them. They were friends. Four of them were healthy, one wasn't.

He was bed ridden, needed healing.
Five friends heard about Jesus.
They heard he was healing the sick, performing miracles, and He was teaching how to live life within the Kingdom of God.

We don't know how far they had to carry their friend, we just know that they were intent, focused on one purpose... to bring their friend to Jesus no matter the cost.

Five friends decided to move toward Jesus... together.
 
Someone had to find the directions to the house.
 

Someone had the foresight to bring ropes... just in case. 

When they arrived they noticed the crowd was huge. Many people were pressing in to hear the words of Jesus. At some point they realized they couldn't gain access.

They formed a new plan. The roof.

They pressed through the crowd and found a way to the roof. Determined, they parted the roof, tied ropes to their fiends mat and cautiously lowered him to the floor.
 
Their friend was healed.

The walk home was probably pretty exciting.

The principle: True community is formed when people are determined to move toward their common purpose... together... envisioned, on mission.

Who Defines You? The power to be. Part 3.

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 
1 Cor 4:7NLT

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves 1 Cor 4:7NAS

Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. 2 Tim 1:14 NAS

We are who we are. When we are fully who we are in Christ, and secure in whose we are, we shine bright and give God glory. 

We all have treasure within us. Gifts, talents, abilities, thoughts, personalities, emotions and skill sets have all been entrusted to us. All of us are different. No two people are alike. You are uniquely you, wonderfully created.

My wife is a triplet. Even though the sisters look similar. They are very different. Each have different personalities, emotional make up and talents. They are each beautifully unique. 

What you have within you is a treasure. This treasure within you is so valuable it needs to be guarded, protected. It's a treasure that is entrusted to your care, given to you for the sake of others. We receive so that we can give what we have received away.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Prov 4:23 NIV

Acts 1:8 states when the Holy Spirit comes upon you He will give you power to Be...pause for effect... His witnesses. Notice what comes first... the power to Be... comes before being His witness.

Think about this thought. When He, the Holy Spirit comes upon you, He will empower you to Be. 

His power gives you the ability to be fully who you were created to Be... uniquely you.

When His empowerment comes upon you, and when you begin to allow the treasure within you to flow out to others, you cannot help but be His witness. 
Steve Bowen

Be not do...

Note: Peter didn't say we would "do witnessing" but we would be His witnesses. 

Being fully you, empowered, with all your gifts talents and abilities 

confidently flowing is when you are the most powerful witness.

As believers we have access to the power of the Holy Spirit. The impartation of His supernatural power changes everything. His power enables us to be the very witnesses He created us to be.

In my book Go. Sow. I ask...How much power to do we need?

"How much power do we need? I’m all for more power of the Spirit and pray most days to be empowered. However, I have been around long enough to know I have to be willing to begin to take risks now, in this present time, in order to enter into the power of the Holy Spirit. I’ve learned I often have to be faithful in the small tasks and the small steps before the greater is realized. Beginning in the natural often helps me to move toward releasing the supernatural. 

True power of being, enables heaven to bring to our earth(our lives) the power we need to reach out to people of our earth—our sphere of influence. 

His power often comes upon me when I’m out in the community, face great need, and sense my lack. It is the very awareness of my lack that propels me in that moment to reach out for more of His power in order to meet the need. If I feel weak and small I still step out in my weakness and smallness. I still serve, and I still pray. Often I sense no feeling of noticeable power when I pray for people yet, amazing things happen. 

One lady recently came up to our group and said, “When Steve prayed for me, I received not one job but two jobs. I was so grateful that he took the time and listened to me and prayed for me. I just wanted to thank you all for being out here caring and serving us.” 

I wanted to say, “Woman, I who am speaking to you am he.” 

Bowen, Steve (2014-04-23). Go. Sow. A simple practical guide into the arena of outreach. (pp. 178-179).  . Kindle Edition.

Note she stated, "I was so grateful that he took the time, and listened to me and prayed for me." 

What she noticed was my being. His love for her was expressed throungh my actions and my attitude. I had no physical sense of power. I simply released the treasure I knew that was within me by faith, and Her need was met.

Step into being who you are.

Often I have to step into who I am... to be. 

 I have to remember whose I am and who I am and act accordingly.

At my core I know I am wired as an encourager. So I have to stir up the gift that has been entrusted to me and step into being the encourager I am. Sometimes I literally say as I step out of my car, or walk into a meeting, "I will step into my gift and into my calling as an encourager today." 

When I remember who I am, I can then be who I am.

 It's all about knowing and being.

The stepping into principle is true when I step into being a husband, a friend, a worker, or a leader.

Such we are, sons and daughters.

1 John 3:1 NASB See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. 

This is who we are, sons and daughters. 

We are loved by Him. When we treasure the treasure within us, we discover a whole new level of securely. We are called to be, knowing whose we are and who we are. 

We receive we give.

Jesus knew whose he was. Before any public ministry Jesus knew whose He was. He was The Beloved Son in Whom the Father was well pleased.

He lived out of His empowered Being. He was secure. He was humble. He was loving. 

John 13:3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 

 

 







 

Who defines you? Your thoughts define me. Part 2

 I was scheduled to speak at our Riverdale campus. All morning I had been thinking about our identity and how important it is to be secure in whose we are and confident in who we are. As the worship progressed every song pointed toward this theme.

Danatta began to sing Abba I belong to you, As she sang, " Your thoughts define me"... heaven came down.

Abba
Jonathan David Helser

You're more real than
The ground I'm standing on
You're more real than
The wind in my lungs

Your thoughts define me
You're inside me
You're my reality

Abba, I belong to You
Abba, I belong to You

You're closer than the
Skin on my bones
You're closer than the
Song on my tongue

Your thoughts define me
You're inside me
You're my reality

Abba, I belong to You
Abba, I belong to You
Abba, I belong to You


When it was time to speak, I stood up and declared, "We've heard the message today. His thoughts define us; not our friends, family, culture, nation, boss, our selves, nor our church define us. He and He alone defines us. He is inside of us. He is our reality. Therefore, we can confidently say, Abba I belong to you. 
Well, we can all go home now."

The truth:
We can be fully who we are when we pay attention to His voice and allow His thoughts to define us. He is a good, good Father who loves to define who we are.

We are beloved, saved, redeemed, rescued, forgiven, called, anointed, and favored. We are His sons, daughters and much more. His thoughts define us. 

Our parents, our boss, our friends, our culture, our church, our selves and those around us may try to define us. They may try to squeeze us into their mold. However, His thoughts, what He says and thinks about us, are what we must focus on if we are to truly become who we are meant to be.

See... how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, 

that we would be called children of God;  

and such we are.
1 John 3:1 NASB

I love this statement...See... how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us." The question, "Do we see / experience His great love that He has bestowed, placed, lavished upon us?"

The statement, "and such we are" is truth, fact, reality, and the basis of our security as sons and daughters.

In the last post Who defines you? Part 1, I mentioned a story about my driving, showing off and my friend telling me, "Steve you don't have to do that any more." He was reminding me, "Stop it. That's not who you are now."

It was the truth, a voice of a caring friend. That one statement, "You don't have to do that anymore," began to set me free. 

Sometimes we listen to the voice of the stranger instead of listening the voice of our friend the Shepherd. When we do, we forget whose we are and who we are.

The good Shepherd always has caring words for His sheep, His words / His thoughts define me.

Mindset
Our battle is in the mind. We must chose who's voice we listen to. There are many voices fighting for our attention, but only one voice speaks consistent encouraging truth to our hearts.

Herman Melville author of Moby Dick stated, "Heaven have mercy on us all - Presbyterians and Pagans alike - for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending."

Yes, it's true, everyone is cracked about the head; we desperately need mending. 
Our minds do need a daily renewing, and sometimes we need to pause; stop the negative input; push the reset button to reboot our thinking. Sometimes we need to consciously  change our input system.

I've had to shift over the last eighteen months in so many ways. Change, shift, think differently, and learn to guard my heart and mind. I've had to position my self to hear His voice.

The battles in our minds, emotions: There is no future for you. You and your family will be begging bread. You have nothing to offer. Your children... Your spouse... No wonder this happened to you, you are so stupid. The sky is falling. We are all doomed. Quit. Give up...yada, yada, yada.

This voice, is the voice of a discouraged soul, or the voice of the stranger. Sometimes we need to discern whose voice we are hearing, the Shepherd's or the stranger's.

 Tip: words leading toward fear, are always the stranger's words; we need to flee from that voice.

 John 10:1-5 NASB
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. “But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  

“A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.

John 10:27-30 NASB
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. “I and the Father are one.”

The Shepherd's voice says: I have a future and a hope. My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches. I have been young and old and have never seen the righteous begging bread. I will be with you until the end of the age. I am called a child of God and such I am. The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not want, He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name sake, He anoints my head with oil and my heart overflows. He is the stability of my times. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.

My decisions to whom I listen to do determine my destiny.

Who's voice are you listening to? In order to hear the shepherds voice we have to position ourselves to hear His voice. Hearing His voice is so important. Our identity and our sense of security depends upon it. His thoughts define you. He lives inside you. He is your reality. He is your Abba, and...you belong to Him.

For further help read. Victorious Mindsets.

Who Defines You? Good Question.

The messenger is the message.

It's interesting, all humans seek acceptance and identity. There is something in us all that longs to be known and to be secure in who we are.

I remember my sense of rejection. I never felt loved or cared for. I was also small, my nickname was flea. When I was a freshman in high school I weighed seventy five pounds. I always felt I had to prove myself. I acted out. I drank, smoked dope, dropped pills and usually did all things to excess. I had very little confidence and was insecure. I was searching, looking for something to fill my heart, to find a place where I could fit and where I could be accepted.

My freshman year I was sent to St. Joe, a boarding school. During that year my parents divorced. I thought they split because of my bad behavior... that I was the reason. The feeling of loss, disappointment and guilt was overwhelming. 

One day I decided to go the chapel to talk to God. I knelt down and began talking, pouring out my heart. Suddenly, I felt a presence. I didn't know anything about the Holy Spirit, but I did know this felt Presence was God, and I knew He was Holy. I also knew I was not. I was fearful of this awesome presence and quickly left the room.

Years later I met Jesus and was filled with the Holy Spirit. The greatest gift I received, outside of forgiveness, was a new sense of Whose and who I was. I gained a new identity and loving acceptance. I began to understand.

I was driving a friend's car one day. When I turned into the gravel driveway I slid the car sideways showing off; gravel spewed every where. My friend, who owned the car, calmly walked over to me and said, "Steve, you don't have to do that anymore." I understood. I could just be me. I didn't have to prove myself to anyone any more.To be honest it's been a life long process.

Who defines you? This is a great question. We allow so many voices into our lives: bosses, parents, friends, and culture.

I have a friend who is Native. When she was a child she was taken from her family by "missionaries" and placed in a school far away from all she knew. She was punished if she spoke her native language. Yep, this really happened. People were attempting to squeeze her into their mold and redefine her. Over the years she began to study and now has two masters degrees. Amazingly, she is now following Jesus. Here's the kicker, she is recording her language so it will not be lost. She defined Whose she is and who she is, and more importantly, did not allow her experiences to hinder her or limit her abilities.

Her decisions determined her destiny.

I believe identity, understanding Whose we are and who we allow to define us, is a key to unlocking the hearts of a new generation who are searching for a new reality. We have the Good News.

Who defines you?

A good question?

Audience of ONE.

I've been pressing into personal worship for a few years. Often I'll head into the Big Room, grab my guitar and worship. Just me, no one looking, no one listening except One. It's been interesting. 

Sometimes I'm afraid to open my eyes, other times new songs bubble up, and sometimes nothing, just the discipline of leaning in. Many times my prayers, crying out, my heart exposed is given in song. Sometimes I just play softly saying nothing. 

When my notes and songs seemed to bounce off the floor... same notes, same songs, and my playing is so limited... I've continued to venture in, to seek His presence.

One phrase I've found myself repeatedly saying, "Jesus we need you as you really are. Jesus, be who you really are to us in this place. Walk among us." Interesting phrase, Jesus be who you really are to us in this place. Walk among us.

Who is He?
He is salvation.
He rescues and saves.
He is redemption.
He is healing.
He is provision.
He is forgiving.
He is protection.
He is wisdom.
He is comfort.
He is power.  
He is mercy.
He is grace.
He is holder together of all things.
He is who He is, and so much more.
He is Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

He has eyes of fire, yet there is kindness.
His voice sounds like many waters, yet He often speaks most powerfully in a whisper.
His Spirit is like a flowing river, yet often touches our lives like the early morning dew, or a soft spring rain.
When He walks among us He sees, hears and knows all things.
He is Holy... yet, He invites us into His presence.

One thing I do know, I want Him to be who He really is in my life, in my family and in my church. He is the One who gives us access to the Father's love, presence and power.

This is amazing love! A love that gave His very best, and a love that willingly sacrificed His life for others. We are now sons and daughters.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life." Jesus. (John 6:47)

At the moment we believe, we receive everlasting life. The life we now live is an everlasting life that deepens as we experience the love and the knowledge of the Father through the Son, experienced by the agency of the Holy Spirit. (I know run on sentence but couldn't say it in another way.)

"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3)

 

R.C. Sproul expresses the thought this way:

"The moment Jesus died, the instant the just one died for the unjust, the veil in the temple was torn. The presence of God became accessible to us. We now have access to His grace (*which brings peace) but even more we have access to Him. (*His presence) Now we can feel welcome in the very presence of a Holy God."

The Holiness of God, R.C. Sproul

*my note

This is the good news Jesus brings... we have access.

My friend Stephen Bell states, "The really good news is that the Father now has access to us!" This truth is most amazing.

His sacrifice for our sins brings peace for us. It's settled.
His resurrection to life, ensures our confident access into the presence of our loving Father.

To fear and yet to be unafraid is an interesting experience.

R. C. Sproul sums it up:

"But when we come, we must remember two things: (1) who He is; and (2) who we are. For the Christian the holy war is over; the peace has been established. Access to the Father is ours. But we still must tremble before our God. He is still holy."

The Holiness of God, R.C. Sproul

Yesterday, I heard a whisper as I worshiped, "If this was the only thing you did, would it be enough?" 

My honest answer... I don't know. I'm so driven, I strive so much. I did know I want to be a worshiper the Father seeks. Jesus made it possible.