Costa Rica 2008

All my posting time is being spent at the blog for our Costa Rica missions trip, so visit that at www.nlcostarica2008.blogsopt.com to see what's going on. God is once again teaching me great things about Himself and His world-wide family while I'm out of my comfort zone.

I would recommend to you that you start praying, getting your passport and setting aside funds for your trip to another place in the world where God is at work and you can get in on it! Every Christian should be regularly heading off to GO -- it's supposed to be a natural part of the Christian life! Live a little!

Practical Aspects of Confession

Of all the topics I have spoken on the past two weeks, the topic of confession has gotten the most attention -- maybe because it is so counter cultural for us. I have talked to many folks who are working through the truth of James 5:16 and practically apply it to their Christian walk. Here are a few pointers to help guide you along the way to the freedom found here:

1. It is indeed confession. It is not "sharing". Our attitude must be one of repentance as we speak humbly to another person.

2. The purpose of the one hearing the confession is of "forgiver", not "hand patter". In other words, when someone shares their confession, you should respond with a statement like "because Jesus forgives you, I forgive you. Now live in freedom from your sin" rather than "oh, life is hard isn't it, try to do better."

3. Remember that as we confess, we realize the reality that we are a community of sinners who need forgiveness -- not just devout people who have it completely together. Don't get shocked or judgmental.

4. After confession, help one another to live in that new found freedom through accountability, no matter how hard or awkward it may seem at first. Check up with each other regularly. Don't let someone fall back into sin waiting for you to ask how they are doing. If you don't ask, it will feel like judgment and avoidance. You want to be sure to show compassion and care and acceptance of them.

5. Don't always be the one hearing confessions, humble yourself with someone too and be sure you're being freed from sin too.

Let's keep moving deeper -- deeper into freedom and community.

Healing Stream

What a week! Following the messages this past weekend (July 5 & 6), God has been up to come amazing things in people's lives. At the conlusion of every Celebration, many determined to move forward in complete honesty about their lives with a trusted friend or leader. Confession of sin openly to another human being is a challenge and I believe that many more people are being convicted by God of the truth that has been set out before them. I anticipate growing movement as God works in lives.

I have had voice mails and emails telling me that God is at work in people's lives. People are seeking times of confession with their friends, fellow small groups members, and church leaders. This week I have seen people confess issues of sexual sin, illegal drug use, long held bitterness, fear of intimacy with God and the sharing of past hurt, abuse and pain that has held people in bondage for many years. One person shared with me how this whole "Real People" idea of Christianity was completely new to them. That they had always been taught that everything personal was to remain that way, but now God is giving them the desire to grow deeper -- in their relationship to God AND people! WOW!

It hit me that when we say that some things should remain "personal" that what we really often mean is that we want to keep it quiet and not deal with it, even on our own. This really does nothing to bring us closer to Jesus, it keeps us in bondage and we often don't even know it.

I am excited about what God is up to! Keep listening to Him! Don't let the challenge to apply James 5:16 become something you heard, thought was true, but let it die from your memory banks. It is powerful stuff! It is life-changing! God wants you forgiven AND free!