So many times I find myself doing everything I know to do. Looking deeper inside myself to find the strength, resources, or means to overcome the present trials or circumstances. Theologically speaking, I know that the answer is not found in me. Practically speaking, it’s the first place I look.

Isaiah 30:15 says, “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.’”

In Repentance and Rest
Often times when facing a difficult trail I push myself harder. I mentally psych myself up, saying; “Just keep on going. This will pass. There is a light at the end of this tunnel. You can make it. Just one more day.”

Truthfully, all I’m doing is pushing forward in my own strength when I should be turning (repenting) from myself. Isaiah says, Repentance and Rest will save you. If you are trusting in yourself, STOP! It’s time to turn from that thinking. Turn from your own wisdom and turn towards His. Rest on His word, not yours! There is salvation from your present trail and circumstance found in Repentance and Rest. That is backwards from human thinking. But I promise generates forward momentum in your life.

In Quietness and Trust
When I feel hard pressed on every side, sitting still and being quiet is the last thing I want to do. I want to tackle it head on. However, I’ve learned that most situations that are out of control, are already out of my hands. So, in those times the best and really the only thing to do is…SIT. Sit and wait upon the Lord. Trust Him. He will renew my strength!

When I’m simply wearing myself out doing everything I know to do, doing the last thing I want to do is the one thing that brings me out. Stop, Sit, Listen in the quietness of your own prayer time, wait on the Lord, trust Him. He will renew your strength!

It’s backward from human thinking. But it generates forward momentum in your life.

July 12-15, Dallas TX

Special Guest: Steve Hill, Benny Perez, Jeanne Mayo, Richard Crisco, Rick Pino, Daniel Kolenda, Daniel K Norris

“REVOLUTION” is the word I keep hearing from God concerning this year’s COLLISION.  The past three have been incredible, but I believe that this year is unique as God wants to fan the fires of revival within this generation and set it on a course to see a culture shifting revolution take place.  This is not the year to miss!  Come join us as we seek a face to face encounter with the power and presence of God!

For This Generation,

Daniel K. Norris

www.collisionconference.com

I had an epiphany 10,000 feet above Dallas Fort Worth.  My flight was on its final approach into DFW and as I was looking out the window on my city it occurred to me, “this city looks different from up here.”

It just so happened that our flight path that day presented views of both cities of Dallas and Fort Worth.  I could see Texas Stadium in Irving and the new billion-dollar Cowboys stadium in Arlington from that vantage point.  I could see old cities and new cities that were springing up from the fresh excavated ground.  And I could see all this at once.

I heard the spirit of Lord speak to me, “Son, I want to shift your thinking!  I want to give  you a God perspective on your city. Because if I shift your thinking, I shift your life”  

Perspective Is Everything.

As I pondered that thought I came to a realization.  A pilot most likely doesn’t drive the road in a car the same way a non-pilot does.  The reason is that a pilot’s world is higher.  His perspective is on a different plane (pardon the pun) than the simple soccer mom in a minivan.  A pilot doesn’t just see his immediate surroundings but foresees what is ahead.  He has a greater sense for where he is, what direction he is headed and all the terrain that lies between. 

Perspective is everything.  Your perspective is shaped by a lot of factors.  Your education, upbringing, faith, experiences, hurts, and culture all pay a role in shaping the lens through which view or hear anything.  We all have different perspectives and because of this we all see things differently.

For Example, I’m astounded how clear communication is truly a difficult task to master.  I can make a statement and mean one thing by saying it.  Though it is often interpreted differently from what I meant.  The reason is their perspective shapes the way they hear what I’m saying. 

Shift Your Perspective, Change Your Life

Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” 

Solomon understood the power of perspective and pursued God’s wisdom because it expanded his perspective. God’s ways are not our ways.  His thoughts are higher than ours.  Our human, carnal thoughts are foolishness to Him.  

When we choose to pursue wisdom and adopt a higher perspective, it changes your life.  Shift your perspective, Change your life!

In the corporate world people are paid well because of the wealth of their knowledge and their unique perspective.  You could say that what they know, creates their value to a company.  The more they know, the more they’re worth.  This is why a good education is so important.

It’s true in the natural, because it parallels a spiritual principle.  If you desire success in life, if you aspire to lift your limitations, if you want to expand your horizons then it is time to shift your perspective and change your life.

If you always see the glass as half empty you can expect that your life will always seem limited.  Though if you shift your perspective and begin to see things from a God’s eye view, you’ll begin to see your life change.  Possibilities open up!  Prospects abound!  Prosperity follows!  This is the current journey I am on. 

I end by giving you a few steps that I myself am making a conscious effort to employ in my day to day life:

1.)   Get In the Word!

God’s wisdom is clearly laid out in His word.  But that wisdom does no good to you if you leave it on the pages. Get on a disciplined Bible reading plan.  Take your time, consume the word and pay attention to the principles of the word.  They work!!!

2.)   Look Through Another Persons Eyes!

Once a day try to imagine life through some else’s eyes.  Try to think like they think.  Ask questions, lots of questions.  Think about how you view something and why you see it that way.  Then think about how they may see it differently.  Remember, shift your perspective, change your world!

3.)   Read then Grow!

A great mentor of mine once taught me that the moment you stop learning, you stop growing.  You should always have a book in front of you and you should always be learning.  Remember what you know creates value and lifts your possibilities!

These are just a few thoughts, but I guarantee they are potentially life changing thoughts.

It’s time to Shift!

Jesus urged his disciples to “take heed how you hear”.  In that command and with the parable of the sower, Jesus shared that you and I have the ability to cultivate the soil of our lives to be receptive to the truth of his word.  Present Harvest, is Previous Seed!  If you don’t like the current harvest you are receiving in your life, then it’s time to change your receptivity to the God’s truth.  This message from Pastor Daniel K Norris will challenge you to also, “take heed how you hear.”

BUY IT HERE

Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” … you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Why is it that the one thing Jesus commanded the disciples wait for, is the one thing so many of us run from today?  Why do we run from the power?

Power is the mark that is supposed to define us, accompany us, set us apart, and make us an effective witness. Power is the authority to advance the Kingdom of God and to proclaim the name Jesus wherever we go! Power is the anointing to preach the Kingdom of God and to proclaim the name Jesus to every man, woman and child.  We need the Power!

The religious critics of Jesus’ day acknowledged the authority and power of Jesus.  They marveled at it and asked Him where it came from.  The religious critics also acknowledge the authority and power that Peter and the disciples walked in.  They marveled at it and took note that these men had been with Jesus.  It seems the religious love to mock, question, and ridicule the power of God, while they also run from it.  They will never come to know it, because they refuse to honor it, pursue it, or accept it.

We need the power of the Holy Ghost, so why do we run from it?

Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”  He added, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Drive out demons, speak in new tongues, and heal the sick.  These are signs that accompany the power.  These are signs that Jesus said should follow the believer.

Do they?

Do they mark our gospel?  Do they mark our life?  When is the last time you drove out a demon?  When is the last time you spoke in new tongues?  When is the last time you laid hands on the sick and saw them healed?  Did it happen last week? Is it happening all the time?  Is it happening at all?

Is it possible that we’ve reached the point that we are practicing a form of godliness yet denying its power?  Is it possible that we have settled for a religion that is a cheap substitute for the relationship we are supposed to enjoy? Is it possible that one day we might stand before our God, our Lord, our Judge and hear Him say, “depart from me for I never knew you”?

Paul said that in the last days even the very elect would be deceived.  Have we been deceived?

Where’s the power?

This world is lost, hurting, and dying.  They need the power of God to manifest in their lives.  They need to be delivered from addictions and bondages, they need to experience Pentecost, and they need to be healed.  They need the power!

Why do we run from the power?

We’ve never done a better job at doing church.  We have incredible programs.  We’ve built magnificent buildings, and touched thousands of lives.  But have their lives been transformed by the power of God?  Are the sick being healed?  Are the bound up and addicted being set free?  Are the people being baptized with fire from on high?

Is it possible we are practicing a form of godliness yet denying the power?  Are we guilty of substituting an encounter with our programs for an encounter with His presence?  Are we guilty of building our own kingdom, while neglecting His Kingdom?

I’ve asked the question, so here are the reasons why I believe we run from the power.

We run because the power is earned on your knees

The average Christian spends less than ten minutes a day in prayer.  The cliché church sign, “No Prayer, No Power.  Know Prayer, Know Power,” is true.  Your prayer life is the measure of your spiritual life.  What does your prayer life say about you?

Are you really too busy to pray?  Or are you just too lazy?

Leonard Ravenhill preached, “The pastor who is not praying is simply playing, the people who are not praying are straying.”  The vast majority of us don’t know how to wait, tarry, and persist in prayer.  When was the last time you spent hours in His presence?  When was the last time you labored in prayer all through the night?

The anointing of God is not some trinket that is just passed out because you have some degree on your wall.  The anointing of God is a gentle dove that is wooed upon your knees!  It cannot be acquired in some service or conference.  It is acquired and maintained in prayer!

We run because it takes us out of the drivers seat

We like to be in control.  We want our hands on the steering wheel.  However, when the power of God comes on your life, you have to surrender control to Him.  God doesn’t need you or me to lead His church.  He can raise up a child or the worst of sinners among us.

“God is in control,” is a comforting thought we love to share with each other.  The sovereignty of God is perfect theology.   Though it becomes a shaky theory to us that has abandoned the moment we don’t like the direction He’s leading us.

Jesus surrendered His will to the will of His Father.  Isn’t it time you did the same?

We run because it places you on the edge

When the power comes on your life, you inevitably stand out.  The power will mark you, and set you apart.  It places you on the edge, where your flesh is uncomfortable yet faith is activated.

John Wesley said, “I set myself on fire, and people come to watch me burn.” It’s hard to start a fire, and someone not take notice.  When the fire comes on your life, people will take notice.

The power places you on the frontlines of ministry.  It makes you a threat to hell, but an asset to Heaven.  The power makes you stand out and because of it you will be mocked, persecuted and slandered.

We run because of our own insecurity

We lack confidence in Him and His ability to use us.  We don’t pray for that cripple in the store, because we are not sure if God will truly heal them.  We don’t preach to that man on the street, because we are not sure what he will think.  We don’t seek the power because then we’ll be responsible to use it.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, I believe the reason we run from the power is because it excuses us from fulfilling the Great Commission!  We teach it, preach it, memorize it, and strategize it.  Yet for all the teaching, preaching, memorizing and strategizing, the one thing we forget is to just do it.

I’ve learned that it is far easier to teach something than it is to walk it out.  I’ve met plenty of talkers, and very few walkers!

It’s so easy to talk about the power of God yet apparently so hard to walk to the altar, get on our knees and cry out to God for it.

It’s so easy to talk about the power of God yet apparently so hard to relinquish control to Him and say truly say, “I’ll go where you want me to go.”

It’s so easy to talk about the power of God yet apparently so hard to walk right up to the edge where faith is truly activated.

Perhaps it’s time to pause our talking and start doing some walking!  It’s time to stop running from the power and start running to it!

Walls are structures we erect to protect ourselves from outside forces.  Often times we throw up these fences because of a hurt or an offense.  In this message Pastor Daniel K Norris deals with the fense of offense and how to tear down those walls and experience a new level of freedom in your life.

There is a great blessedness in understanding that we have nothing.  Abraham, though he was a blessed man, knew that he possessed nothing.  Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”  He taught that when you and I learn to sit in the seat of humility we open our lives to incredible blessedness.  In this message Pastor Daniel K Norris shares the sweet blessedness of nothingness.  Skip to 25min into the video to go straight to the message.

You and I have incredible Hope! God said, “For I know the plans I have for you! Plans to give you HOPE and a future!” So many times we loose sight of these promises because our eyes are focused on the problems that surround us rather than His promises that are over us. How are you focusing? In this message Pastor Daniel K Norris asks the question, “Got Hope?”

It began with the election of a new pastor.  He came with fresh ideas and a new vision to move the church forward.  His first staff meeting he initiated by throwing a best-selling church growth book on the boardroom table and exclaiming, “from this moment forward, we are this type of church.”  Fast-forward a year later, the pastor was gone along with most of the congregation.  The change he had hoped to push wasn’t a new vision, it was a knife wound that almost did the church in. Had it not been for the denomination stepping in, the church would no longer be a presence in the community.

I’ve seen this happen in various organizations over the past several years.  It begins with a leader who behaves more like a parasite than a leader.  A Leadership Parasite, or in this case a Pastoral Parasite, is a self-serving leader that tries to thrive within an organization by deriving benefits from its host at the expense of the organization.

In this case it was a pastor who wanted a seeker-sensitive church and tried to create that church from an established Pentecostal one.  If this pastor had wanted a seeker-church he should have simply planted one in town.  However he chose to take over a host church and while benefiting from the resources of the church, (facility, tithes, congregation, staff), he tried to turn the church into something for himself.  That is a Pastoral Parasite.

As leaders we owe it to those that we lead to make sure that we are putting our “self” to the side as we lead.  A parasite seeks benefits from its host, while a true leader should always benefit the host.  While that is an easy line to state, it’s not always so clear in our leadership.  Here are four things that I’ve noticed about Leadership Parasites.

A Parasite is Self-Serving

Are the words; me, mine and I your most frequent pronouns?  If so, you may need to reevaluate how you’re truly serving.  As leaders we serve the church.  It’s not the other way around.  When we use the church for our own advancement…we are behaving like a parasite!  The church world has suffered too much in the past from self-serving leaders.  What we need is some self-sacrificing leaders.

Preferring others above yourself is an easy thing to preach, but a difficult thing to practice.  The church should not be your platform for bigger and better things in ministry.  It should be the field in which you work the harvest and care for His people.

A Parasite Seeks Fundamental Changes

When Jenna and I moved into our home we changed the flooring, painted the walls, and bought new appliances & furniture.  Though the home was built in the 80s it now feels like it belongs in the 21^st century.  Why?  We updated the personality of the home though structurally it’s still the same home.  If we tried to change the foundation or structure of the home, we’d destroy the house.

When a leader takes over an organization they must understand that making structural changes to the foundation of the church will achieve the same result.  A leader has to know, respect and flow with the foundations that were established before them.  Yes, the personality of the church will need an update, the vision will need to be refreshed, the structure may need repair, but if you begin messing with the core of the church you might as well bring in a bull dozer and start from scratch.

Pastor, there was a God-given vision for that church before you got there, and just because you arrived doesn’t mean He has changed His mind.  A true leader seeks God’s vision not their vision!

A Parasite Misunderstands and Misuses their Authority

Undercover, by John Bevere is a great book about authority.  However I’ve watched leaders misuse the principles in that book to create their own spiritual dictatorships.  Paul teaches that all authority is from God.  Just because you are in authority doesn’t mean you are right.  The same God who raised up Moses also raised up Pharaoh.  Which leader are you?

A leader needs oversight, and not distant oversight.  Who is holding you accountable?  When is the last time your authority questioned you?  If you are running with out checks and balances, it’s time to come undercover yourself!

A Parasite doesn’t know it’s a Parasite

The most ironic thing about a leadership parasite is the fact that he or she doesn’t know that it is a parasite.  Everything seems normal for the parasite.  Every problem, every situation, everything that questions the leader is seen as an attack and they never stop to consider that they are the problem.  John Maxwell teaches, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”   If you are justifying, rationalizing or excusing current situations, it’s time to ask if you are truly taking responsibility for them.  Every leader needs to take an honest and objective look at your leadership from time to time.  Maybe it’s time to look in the mirror.

So, what if?

What if you’re a leader, and some of this hits home?  First, take your “self” to the cross.  Reckon it dead in Christ, and pick up His life and live selflessly.  Next, look back at the history of your organization, seek to understand how you got to where you are, where it was headed before you and where God is taking it next.  Finally, make sure you are undercover, truly undercover.  Then ask your covering to give you an honest, objective look.

What if you’re under a leader, and some of this hits home?  Take it to the leader.  The Bible is clear, if you have an offense, take it up with the brother or sister (not all their other brothers and sisters, that’s called gossip).  If they listen great, if they do not, take it to the elders, deacons, or directors for the organization.  If they see no offense then you leave it and decide whether or not you’re called to continue under that leadership.  If they do see an issue, trust them to deal with it and leave it in their hands.

The Bottom Line

If the church is ever going to truly be His Church we have to abandon our selfish ambition.  Self cannot stand or glory in His Presence.  We pray for, believe for, strive for a church of His Presence, but do we truly know what that means.  Flesh will find no place for its self in His Presence.  When His Presence comes, self dies.

A Parasitic Leader seeks self, and most of the time does it unknowingly under the guise of ministry.  Ultimately that parasite leader seems to always find the same end.  The organization is left in worse shape then they found it, and the leader moves on believing that the problem was with the people.

Honestly, I’m tired, and I believe the church world is tired of these foolish and immature ways.  Let us grow up to a better, wiser way.  Let us build the Church of His choosing and not ours.  Let us build His House, not our house.  Let us seek Him and find His Vision.  I assure you He has one, and is willing to share it with whoever diligently seeks.

“Why” is the greatest question you can ask of yourself.  It is where true leadership and growth initiates because “why” questions the root reason behind everything you do.  Today I find myself asking that question of the 21^st century church…

Specifically…Why do we do, what we do?

I understand that the church is in the midst of trying to figure out how to communicate the never-changing gospel message with an ever-changing postmodern world.  I fear that in our attempt to be postmodern with our communication we are beginning to become postmodern with our philosophy and are in danger of loosening ourselves from the foundations that hold us secure.

Here are three specific trends that I’ve noticed that spotlight the broader issue I’m questioning.

Talks

I don’t know who the first person was who used the word “Talk”.  Perhaps the first time it was heard, someone thought, “That’s a cool way of saying ‘sermon’.” So they adopted it as part of their own spiritual vocabulary and now have caught on in mass.  Granted “sermon” isn’t a New Testament word, and Jesus did “talk,” but it is still worth asking the question, “Why do we now call it a ‘Talk’?

Is it because we are afraid or offended by the word sermon, preach, or message?  If so, why?  Is it because we are being sensitive to the “seekers” among us who might be put off by these words, or even understand their meaning. If so, what are we communicating?

Side note:  Anytime someone says, “I need to ‘talk’ to you” it is rarely a good thing.  My parents were masters at giving me a “talking” to.  Funny we would think that word is some how more attractive.

My gut tells me that it’s our way of trying to sound different from what we’ve observed in the past and we rationalize it with the previous reasons.

I don’t care if you say talk, sermon, message, word, or preach.  Though I do ask the question, why do you use that word, what does it mean to you, and what does it communicate to those who hear.  It’s thinking through these questions that leave me concerned on two fronts.

First, ‘Talk’ implies the communication of your thoughts and ideas.  ‘Talk’ fits perfectly with postmodern philosophy that encourages dialogue of thoughts and ideas – so long as your thoughts do not have to be my thoughts.

The problem here is that the emphasis can easily be placed on the ‘Talk’er.  I have begun to notice that we seem to be celebrating our communication skills as opposed to the message we communicate.  Our talks are coming from our heads and are wonderful tributes to our ingenuity, creativity and knowledge.  I would remind you that Leonard Ravenhill said, “a sermon born in the head will speak to the head, but a sermon born in the heart will speak to the heart.”  Communicating God’s word is a spiritual business, not a natural one.  Our job as ministers of the gospel is to communicate God’s word, not our word.  We are merely the vehicle for the message and should strive to deemphasize ourselves and emphasize His word.

I don’t doubt that any minister would disagree with me on substance… I just ask what are we communicating?

Second, “Talk” begins to create a new spiritual vocabulary that could taint the message in the future.  If everything that I’ve stated before holds to be true, then what are we communicating now, and what will be communicated later?  If it is about the messenger, if it is about our thoughts, and if these things are falling in line with Postmodern thought are we allowing the absolute word to begin to be lost in postmodern relative thought?

Again, I don’t believe any of us are willfully walking in this direction, though I have to look ahead at where we might possibly be heading.

Experiences

I noticed a new trend where churches are beginning to call their services, “experiences”.  Three Experiences to Choose from Sun @8:30, 10 & 11:30.  Once again there is nothing sacred or NT about the word service, and people certainly need to experience the power of God, but it’s still worth asking the question, “Why are we starting to call them ‘Experiences’?

Is it because postmodern philosophy demands that I have to interact with something, touch it, feel it, taste it to decide what I think about it?  If it is, what does that say about our faith?

Postmoderns demand experiences to define what they personally believe.  This is opposite from the Word because many times we believe something by faith before we experience it within our lives.  The Christian walk is one lead by faith in the word, not in our feelings or experiences.

So what are we asking them to experience?

Once again I observe that what we call an experience is more like a show.  It’s a well-prepared program from beginning to end complete with lights, music, illustrations and well prepared talks.  It’s a wonderful experience with a church, but most likely no experience with Christ.

I’ve also observed that these experiences look more like youth ministries from the 80s and 90s then the churches from those days.  Is it possible that our youth ministries created a new liturgy that a generation continues to expect as they grow up into the church?  We may have been trying buck religion by creating a new religious experience that’s become the experience they demand today.  That’s a valid question and one that we need to pay attention to because the things that we say, and how we say it become what they will continue to expect!

Again, I don’t believe any of us are willfully walking in this direction, though I have to look ahead at where we might possibly be heading.

Titles

One other trend I’ve noticed is the changing the titles we give ourselves in the church.  “Lead Pastor” or “Life Coach” has replaced the title of “Senior Pastor.”  Some churches have dropped them all together and just call each other by name.  Why the change?

Is it because senior pastor sounds like a “mature” individual who is involved with senior citizens?  Is it because pastor is becoming a foreign term?  Is it because postmoderns put little emphasis on titles?

Again, I don’t really care what title you use, I am simply asking Why are you using the title you use?  If it’s because the new title seems cooler than the older title, then once again, who is the focus here?  If it’s because the new title makes more sense or because titles have little value in a postmodern world, then I have a major problem here.

Postmoderns balk at titles because they balk at authority.  Everything is questionable and that goes for all authority.  The problem here is that the kingdom of God is one of authority.  God is the absolute authority, and He uses authority to direct, correct, and mature His children.

If we shy away from proper titles are we in some way diminishing the authority and role of the individual who serves under that title.

Think about this.  Somewhere in our church history we began to deemphasize the title of the, apostle, prophet, and evangelist.  Today these are foreign terms, yet in the early church they were very common. Because we no longer recognize these titles, the church has suffered.  These positions are gifts to the church and we fail to recognize them, we fail to utilize them and the body is not complete.  Larry Stockstill says;

Because we have no Apostles we are unfathered

Because we have no Prophets we are uncorrected

Because we have no Evangelists we are unfruitful

Because we have no Pastors we are unhealed

Because we have no Teachers we are undiscipled

Titles aren’t just a word on a business card, they are an acknowledgement of what that individual has to impart into the church and what authority they carry.  We need these positions within the church today more than our new branded words for a pastor.

The Bottom line

These are just three areas that I’ve chosen to look at that touch the broader issue that I see.  Our postmodern philosophy has caused us to question everything about our faith and we have begun to interact with it and change it.  I feel like we are all competing to do something different, something brand new, something that we can package, brand and market to call our own.

I have to ask, Why?  “Why” gets to the root, and perhaps the root reason behind all our terms, all our ideas, all our programs is really our selves.  Coincidentally the root behind postmodernism is also, our selves.

I remind you that Solmon said, “there is nothing new under the sun”.  Truthfully the pattern we need to employ, the ideas we need to work, the something different we need to be doing is the thing the early church was doing 2000 years ago.

You can write and rewrite an purpose statement for your church, but ultimately it will not surpass the purpose statement God wrote for the church (Col 1:28).  You can write and rewrite a mission statement for your church, but ultimately it will not surpass the mission statement Jesus charged the church with (Mark 16:15).  You can write and rewrite job descriptions for your church, but ultimately it will not surpass the job descriptions and titles Christ gave to the church (Eph 4:11).

If I’m right then maybe we need to get our eyes off ourselves, stop looking for the next New thing and start doing the New Testament thing.