For the most part we, as Christians, rely a whole lot on other people (pastors, leaders, etc...) to hear God's voice when it comes to the hard stuff in life.  For example, there are times when we KNOW the answer in the deepest parts of our hearts, but we are too scared to venture down those forsaken hallways for fear of getting crushed by disappointment or falling into the 'deep end'.  So we go to church or bible study or ministry school (anywhere that we KNOW God is able to speak) and we secretly hope that HE has us on the brain.  Now, we may or may not hear a 'Thus Sayeth the Lord' while at these establishments, but more often than not we are so desperate to get a CLEAR answer to something, that we latch on to a specific word or scripture and we re-shape it to fit OUR situation.  Then, we walk away feeling pretty touched by God.
Now, I'm not saying that the scenario above isn't good or bad, the truth is I don't know.  Every single person and every single situation is different (yet oddly the same) and what works for some people doesn't work for others.  What I DO KNOW is that sometimes we just NEED to hear it from HIM. 
This is a highly overlooked concept, because when we hear a word through someone (on His behalf) we have technically heard from Him.  This is predominately how He operates (actually, how we ALLOW Him to operate) but I have this sneaking suspicion that He (and if we are honest, We) LONGS to talk to us heart to heart with no middle man/woman and no distractions, just the two of us.  And really, sometimes this is just what the 'doctor ordered'.  So now comes the hard part... how do we get to that place?
There is NO FORMULA that works for everyone across the board.  I know people who only feel still on the inside when they are surrounded by a bustling metropolis; on the other hand I also know people who need to be smack dab in the middle of nature to feel at peace.  It's up to YOU how you get there, the key is in the effort.  Sometimes you need to take a minute and turn it all off and focus on Him.  Sometimes you need to listen and sometimes you need to cry out.  Whatever the method, just do it.  Because sometimes... hearing directly from Him is just what you need.

My wife Debbie and I have always strived to be followers of Jesus who take big risks and love at all costs.  On paper this concept and way of life seems effortless and within reach, after all, we can do all things through Jesus who gives us the strength needed, right?  Well, the part about the strength and being within reach is right, but the part about effortlessness isn't exactly accurate.  You see there is a massive difference between learning the lessons (that we must learn in order to grow) and living out those lessons.  
You know how when you go to church on a Sunday and you hear a great word being preached or taught and you sit there and gulp your way through the hour or so, feeling a bit hot under the collar and completely convicted on the inside (as if the guy or girl is speaking straight to your soul)?  Whether you realize it or not, something has been planted inside of you.  You have been exposed to a truth that ignorance can no longer claim the rights to.  This truth is becoming a lesson and this lesson is either going to be learned or it is going to be lived, the choice is yours.  
When I was a younger man I picked up my young family from Southern California and I moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to attend a bible school.  I was exposed to principles of faith on a daily basis.  My wife and I were both learning all about trusting God and what faith can actually do for us in our lives.  The lessons that we were learning were essentially building us up on the inside and at times we felt pretty invincible because we were learning just how much God was on our side, providing for us.  We learned and learned and learned, but it wasn't until we started to actually live (apply) the faith principles that the lessons became our reality.  Like the time that we were driving home during one of our breaks and we ran out of money for gas, the gauge was on empty and the only thing we had was the concept of faith and trust (which essentially go hand in hand).  Debbie and I asked God to supernaturally fill our tank so that we could make it home to California and we lived that lesson in a very real and tangible way.  This is the difference between living a lesson and just learning it, action and trust and belief like no other.  Oh and by the way... we made it home to California without a single drop of natural gas in our tank :)
The bottom line is that this God stuff isn't just a good idea... it is NECESSARY in this crazy roller coaster called life.  Going to church and learning new methods & concepts straight out of the bible, isn't just a great community effort... it is a NECESSARY element if we want to have authority and power in our every day lives.  This God stuff is REAL and it takes more than just learning this stuff... it takes us living it out & putting it to the test every day.  Selah & I dare you to LIVE IT!!

The year was 1994 and we were just beginning a new school year at CSOM, a bible school that I founded and director for a number of years in SoCal.  We had a full class of eager new students who were wild and ready to change the world.  Rob Smallwood was one of those students.  He was a quiet man who spent most of his time in class soaking up the teaching like he was a sponge.  He was full of ideas, but most importantly and significantly, he was devising a plan with which he could put those ideas into full blown action.  For two years I had the privilege and honor of imparting some powerful truths into Rob and no matter how many questions he had for me, he was someone that I never turned down for a conversation.  It was such a cool experience to watch Rob grow in his belief system and in the methodology he used to put those beliefs into practical use, as he changed the lives of everyone he met.
After graduating from CSOM Rob began taking trips with a local minister down to Tecate, Mexico (and other parts of Baja Cal) on short term missionary excursions.  It was during these trips that Rob ran straight into his destiny on this earth and eventually started organizing trips to Tecate himself.  He called himself the Tecate Treader because that's just what he did, he tread the dirt roads of Tecate every single weekend, sometimes with various teams and sometimes (and often times) on his own.  His love for the people of Tecate was unlike anything I've ever seen.  There were many many unseen moments that Rob devoted all that he had for people, no appreciation needed, no adoration expected... just pure unconditional love.
Rob Smallwood is one of my heroes.  What I remember most about Rob is that whenever there was a need, he was there.  Whether it was building new walls in a church or feeding people who had no food or clothing those who needed it, you could count on Rob.  But especially you could find Rob distributing God's love to people who were starving for it, everywhere.  I love Rob and his whole family for the example that they have set year after year.  For not knowing when to give up and for never understanding the word 'quit'.  Rob was a gem in this rough world that we live in and I for one am blessed and humbled to have known such an incredible man of God.  I carry his memory with me, as I do as Jesus (and Rob) did to the lowest and the least.

I think my wife, Debbie, and I have become a couple of bona fied experts in the art of commuting over the past few years. Making the long drive from San Diego to LA County has become second nature to us and has also given us a perspective that not many get to experience in their lifetime.  As you can imagine, there is ample time to talk, be alone with God or blast some good music (which tends to make me drive faster for some reason!).  The other day as I drove up to LA to attend a meeting I noticed something intense and I just HAD to share it with you.

Christianity is filled with commuters.  Each week we do the 9-5, working the day away with purpose (or faking it), after work we might hang out with friends or play with the family, at night we attend events or stay home & make the TV line up an event in and of itself; and this is the somewhat routine.  We might occasionally read our bible or say a quick prayer, but when it comes to the "real world", God is as far away from us as San Diego is from Los Angeles.  We have this awareness of Him (we know he's there & that means a lot to us) but when it comes to the daily grind He isn't our first line of defense (in most cases he doesn't even make the top 5 list).  Instead, we worry about money, when we are injured we go straight to the hospital, if we need something that we can't afford to get we make these efficient timelines and count down the days until our plan pans out; even when it comes to getting along with the people we see daily, God is totally out of the equation. 

And then there is SUNDAY!  Sundays we make that LONG commute from the "real world" to the "church world".  We show up in our fliest digs and show off how well we can groom ourselves, we bust out the Christian lingo so that no one is wise to the fact that it took us so long to get from point A to point B.  We pretend that we've been local throughout the week, when really it takes us a couple hours to transition from where we "live" (the place where our thoughts are most comfortable, the usual spot that we inhabit when we are alone & relaxing) to where we should be spending most of our time at (where we think of others FIRST, where God has FIRST say in all that we do).  And so each week we do the commute and we think, yep, no one can tell how far we are really coming from, it's all good... right?

That's where we are wrong.  You see, as someone who commutes for a living :) it must be told that the wear and tear on your vehicle is an inevitable part of traveling.  Tires wear thin, batteries are worn down, oil dries up pretty fast and of course we can't forget the almighty fluctuation of gas prices!  All in all, being a commuter has a dark side, not to mention that it's pretty costly, too.  And it's the same way with spiritual commuters.  People who travel great distances between their weekly life and their Sunday church life.  The longer you keep commuting, the more things start to break down.  Things like your health, your peace of mind, your family, your attitude, your favor... you know... the things that matter most.  And here is where it starts to get tricky, the more time that you make the commute, the drive time starts to SEEM less than it really is.  In other words, the more familiar you are with the distance, the more comfortable you are with the amount space between you and your destination. 

This month I am continuing on in this new series called FOLLOWING JESUS, not because it's a no brained title (I mean that's what we are all supposed to do anyway!) but because we need to be a people who are local, close by and available at the drop of a hat to God's voice and His guidance.  It is crucial for all of us to be people who trust God and constantly listen for Him, whether we are in the "real world" or in the "church world", it's time to erase those dividing lines and put God at the forefront of our every day lives.   I told you it was an intense thought, I want to invite you to come to Destiny House each week this month because God has been revealing so many things about what it truly means to follow Him and I KNOW you will benefit in the most tremendous way; and if you aren't physically local to Long Beach, subscribe to our Podcast or tune in to our Sunday morning services LIVE each week starting at 11am. 

Today I was making the drive to find the best gas deal in town.  I knew of a really cheap spot in the neighborhood that I was in and decided to make the journey (a little out of my way) to get my money's worth.  As I drove a few  blocks I noticed something profound.  Options.  Now, I realize that the fact that we have options in life isn't anything new under the sun, but in this case I must explain where I'm coming from.  As I passed by different gas stations, all of which promoted their very best deal, I was struck by the unnoticeable truth that every single station had people getting gas!  It wasn't like the highest priced station had no customers, and neither did the lowest or any in between, there were people at every single station that I passed.  Now, I knew that I was definitely headed for the cheapest of them all, but I wondered if anyone at the other stations were thinking the same thing?  Did people getting gas at the highest priced station drive pass me at the lowest priced station, thinking that I was the crazy one?  Then the real question hit me hard, why do so many people in this world think that they are the only ones getting the best deal or living life the right way or going to the best church or eating at the best restaurants - compared to everyone else?

We all think we've got it figured out, even after we've pumped our gas and as we drive away and start seeing the lower prices, even then we still hold fast to our belief system, we still think that we are right.  Human nature is amazing isn't it?  We really do have a lot to learn when it comes to the art of learning and growing up.  In general, we are all pretty stubborn, especially when it comes to admitting when we are wrong or admitting that there is reasonable doubt in our belief system.  And that is why following Christianity is one thing, but following God is an entirely different thing all together.  It is the reason why you can visit 4 different churches in one month's time and walk away from the experience with conflicting mission statements and tenants of faith.  Just because the word "Christian" is attached, does not make things/places/people followers of God with solid biblical foundations; just like the gas station that claims to have the best deal in town turning out to be the most expensive, detouring you from finding the real deal on the other side of the hill. 

Following God has never been more vital than it is in our world today.  I firmly believe that the days of "weak" or "watered down" Christianity are rapidly coming to an end.  The generations that are currently positioning themselves in places of influence are just not satisfied with "unknown" Christianity.  They ask questions.  They research the answers.  They are passionate about doing things based on their understanding and personal knowledge.  I believe that each individual who calls themselves a Christian has the unique ability to follow God wholeheartedly, no matter what.  Find the ONLY gas station with the TRULY best price and don't settle for or be fooled by the clever gimmicks that the other stations use to get you paying too high of a price.  When you follow God and not just what is "popular" in Christian circles, you are sure to be confident in your decisions, your actions and your knowledge of who He truly is.  Anyway, it's just a thought I had.

As many of you know, I have been known to carry a "man bag" with me all around town.  Trendy or not, I have enjoyed the luxury of a 'looped around my wrist larger than a wallet companion' since my girls were both very young.  I'm not sure of the exact origin of this obsession, but I do know that once I discovered the man bag possibilities I was hooked, and have been ever since.  In the recent years my family has been begging me to drop the "purse" (as my daughter calls it) and jump back in line with the majority of the male population, carrying nothing but a slim wallet in my back pocket.  And since the recent theft of one of my favorite man bags (containing more than just my drivers license and cash) the idea of having something simple to replace the bag has seemed a wise decision.  But there is a little thing called habit.


Since I've been carrying a man bag for well over 30 years, shifting my thinking from an all encompassing bag to a limiting wallet has proven to be quite a challenge.  In my bag I can carry my phone, mints, larger notes & some mail, along with my usual cards, cash and identification.  In a wallet (which I have since purchased to appease my family) only the necessities will fit.  What this means to me is that I will have to downsize my lifestyle from excess to minimal.  Not the most exciting thought.


In thinking about this shift I have realized a couple things that I thought you might be able to relate to.  Firstly, change is never easy nor is fun.  Changing our mindsets is one of the most difficult hurdles that we must jump over in life.  When certain ways of thinking have been embedded into our every day processes, we become highly protective of them.  We challenge anyone who speaks contrary to our belief system (even though, most times, we never ask ourselves why we believe it).  We are quick to judge the person or people who have a different perspective or approach, and are pretty fast at labeling them.  We would much rather hold tight to 'traditional' thinking because it's been around a lot longer (or so we think) than something different or contrary.  Lastly, it was a real eye opener to see how much we (humankind) hold on to our 'stuff'.  We like having many things surrounding us at all times.  It's harder for us to strip away all of the excess inside of us and around us, in order to live a simple life of 'uncontrolled' trust in God.  We are really good at coming up with our reasons for needing things, rather than becoming experts in the art of the unexpected.  It's easier to rely on our many options, than it is to trust that the word of God has been planted in our hearts ready to spring into action at a moments notice.  To put it in the raw, we tend to favor the' usual' over the 'spontaneous' lifestyle.


Now, currently I continue to use my man bag even though I have a simple wallet.  I am allowing myself to fight against my initial tendencies in order to transition into a newer and although seemingly limiting, but ultimately freeing method of transporting my personal effects.  Although my family would have liked it to, change isn't always something that happens in a flash.  Sometimes it takes TIME and that's OK.  The important thing to remember is to continue to keep an openness in all that you are, in all that you say, in all that you do and in all that you believe (or think you believe).  God's word is concrete inside of your heart, and the Holy Spirit is guiding you along the way; so don't be scared of a little change, embrace the truth and it will set you free.

There is a lot of hype still going on about a book called 'Love Wins' by Rob Bell.  And many people have asked me what I think about this book and the teachings that Rob Bell is "introducing" to Christianity. So here are some thoughts and facts that I have about this hot topic (note: this is NOT a book review).  I bought 3 copies of this book.  I have it in book form, I'm currently listening to Rob Bell read it to me via my ipod AND I have it electronically written on my ipad.  Can you guess if I endorse this book or not? 
The facts are that the concepts and ideals presented in this book are NOT NEW.  This teaching has been around for years and centuries.  In fact, I grew up in a church from the age of 5 that taught this exact teaching and the Pastor that I sat under after first accepting the call of God on my life, Pastor Arthur H. Rogers, was an avid believer in this line of teaching.  The fact is that biblical doctrine supports the concept that ALL people will get to heaven. 
The truth is that after all of our studying, understanding and belief in the scriptures (as we continuously grow and interpret them daily) in the end our ways will NEVER be HIS ways and our thoughts will NEVER be HIS thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). What does this mean?  It means that we need to remain open to what God teaches us individually and collectively as a body.  It means that we need to continue asking questions and have a loose grip on the various interpretations of the scriptures, because according to Isaiah 55:8, NO ONE will ever know God's EXACT INTENT.  And that's OK.  We need to responsibly ask ourselves and our leaders the hard and tough questions and refuse to be satisfied with one person's interpretation or point of view.  Because 10 times out of 10 interpretations change and evolve.
So, would I recommend this book to a friend... ABSOLUTELY.  Why?  Because if nothing else, it will challenge what you think you know and hopefully it will cause you to dig a little deeper into your own theology, but the ultimate goal is that you will eventually find yourself talking to God about it... and that's the stuff HE loves!
Do I believe that in the end, love truly does win?  NO DOUBT.

Around November of last year, one of my daughter's was outside of her home (walking her dog) when she saw something that stopped her in her tracks.  It was another dog standing all alone in the middle of busy street, seemingly contemplating his next move.  As she hoped he would just stay still until she could make her way over to him, she quickly witnessed a chain of events that would have liked to take the life of this stray dog.  After darting in and out of traffic on a busy street, narrowly escaping a sudden impact, the mangy dog finally made his way around the corner and back onto the sidewalk.  My daughter (being the dog lover that she is) knew that there was no coincidence that she was the only person on the sidewalks this particular morning; so she grabbed her little dog and decided to pursue this obviously scared street dog.  With the help of another lady who had seen the ordeal through the window of her restaurant, they finally lured the dog over to contact and my daughter scooped the heavy dog up into her arms.  Rescued.

After taking the dog to a vet and getting a good cleaning from her local groomer, she found herself the guardian of a 6 month old Tibetan Terrier (worth approx. $1500).  A gem of a dog, disguised as a mangy throw away.  All she needed now was to choose a name and find a home for him.
Atticus, has certainly found a place to call home, mine!  Debbie and I adopted Atticus to be a companion for our long time Chocolate Lab, Sable.  Atticus and Sable are now the best of friends.  They play together, they hunt together, they share their food with each other and swap toys constantly.  Don't tell Debbie I said this, but Atticus is one of my favorite dogs that I've ever owned.  He is sweet, gentle, playful and grateful for his new home and his new family.  He went from big city stray dog, to country loved dog all because someone was willing to recognize something that God was doing in the middle of her routine.

It makes me think about how many times during an average day, God is trying to get my attention so that I can recognize what He is doing in the middle of my routines.  Sometimes I get it, and God uses me to find those gems; but sometimes I miss it.  There are moments that I can get so caught up in what I'm doing or where I have to be or how much time I have to get from point A to point B, that I miss the cues and allow the routine to win.  That thought can really bum me out at times, knowing that I am the only one in the way of God's plan; but God isn't phased.  He doesn't scratch me off of his list or punish me until I finally get it, on the contrary God believes in me again and uses me again and entrusts me again.  So now the biggest goal each and every day is to find as many gems as I can.  To keep a constant flow of communication happening between me and Him, and to slap myself out of "routine lock" as much as possible.  And although he's the perfect addition to our family,  I am secretly praying that my daughter doesn't find anymore dogs!