Bound By the Spirit

"And now behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me." Acts 20:22-23

These were Paul's words to the men that he had discipled. They were afraid for him, because the Holy Spirit had warned them that Paul would be bound. Yet Paul's response was that he was already bound by the Spirit. His future was secure because he knew who was leading him. There are three reflections based on what Paul was saying that I want to share with you, and then let you know how this affects Jean and I as well.

First, none of who are followers of Jesus Christ is in charge of our future. When we make Jesus our Lord and master, we give Him control over our decisions, our actions, even our thoughts and beliefs. We recognize that God is sovereign and His knowledge and power are far greater than anything we can come up with on our own. Paul said that when he referred to being bound by the Spirit. He had to go to Jerusalem, there was something inside of him that made any alternative uncomfortable.

Second, we have no control over the outcome of our obedience. Paul knew that every town he went to he would face opposition, some more severe than others. But he did not let the possible outcomes stop him from fulfilling his mission. He was driven by a force that was more powerful than human reason and intellect. He constantly went into a hostile environment because he was sold out to his mission. We too, need to live our lives the same way.

Third, Whatever happens, just roll with it. Paul would go into a town and didn't know if it would be a quick passing through or if he would have to set up shop and stay there a few years. But he had no where else to be. His primary focus in ministry was the task that laid before him. That is how we need to live our lives as well.

As I reflected on this passage this week, I was struck by this thought. If we had known the obstacles we would have faced in Tucson thus far beforehand, could we have gone with such confidence? I knew we would face difficulty, but I thought things would be easier than this. Faced with this realization, I have come to the conclusion that I too am bound by the Spirit. I do not know what the future holds, nor do I know what the outcome will be of our move. All I can do is roll with it and whatever happens, its His will. I pray that you will come to a similar place in your life as well.

A Quick Update

I wanted to post a quick update for those of you who are following our blog posts. We are staying in an apartment complex that is rich with opportunity. The weather here causes people to want to be outside, which suits our family perfectly. We have met a lot of the children in the complex and I have had some great conversations in the laundry room getting to know others, hearing their stories and looking for points of connection. We have been richly blessed by our new church family in Tucson. They have been quick to offer us encouragement, invitations for dinner and even physical blessings. We moved into our apartment with nothing, and now it is mostly furnished thanks to others who have blessed us with their extras. God is faithful to provide when we walk in obedience to him.

Jean and I have found a school that we believe will be the best fit for the boys. We are excited to get them into school and allow them to begin to make new friends and gain new experiences through that. Nothing is without its challenges though. Many of the things we were able to do for Joseph's education will be a challenge down here. But God has assured us that He is advocating for Joseph. He would not call us here without providing for the needs of our family. So we just have to trust Him with things thsat we have no control over and pray for favor as we begin to affect educators in Tucson.

I will begin building a Tucson chapter of Community of Men next week. It is difficult when I am an outsider and unknown here. I have nothing to go on except God's promise to me seven years ago when I first started the ministry. He told me to share my story, He will open doors that I cannot, and He will provide for my family. That has been the case the last seven years, and I trust it will be moving forward as well. God Bless!

Hurry Up and Wait!

The title of this post really fits well with how I have been feeling the last few days. I want to give you an update of what has happened and explain myeelings about it as well. I spent a lot of time the last several months preparing for this move. We gave all our stuff away, we said all our goodbyes. We rented out our house, and quit all our jobs. We went round and round trying to figure out wha God was doing, and waiting to see what would happen. When He told me to head to Arizona I was feeling nothing but excitement. I couldn-'t wait to see what God had for us to do whatever it was I was ready for it. Whenever I come blindly into anew city I usually start with looking up a church in my denomination because it gives me some instant credibility and there is shared values and beliefs. So we prayed about it and went to a church that we've.t God was directing us to. It turned out to beexactlywhat wehad hoped. An awesome church, with a heart for discipleship and building community, am emphasis on accountability and training up leaders. That fits with what God has been showing me for a while. Th pastor and his wife have a child with autism and that caused us to relate to one another on a whole other level as well. So things were lining up and it seemed like God had laid things out.

Then I began to realize that I have entered into a whole new world. This culture is very different from the one I was raised in and even from theone I have lived and ministered I for the last fifteen years. I realized that it would not be a quick transition but that I had some learning to do, and that I have to put in the time to build relationships and earn people's trust, because I am very clearly an outsider. Jean and I are up for the challenge. Butwerealizedthat we had to be committed for the long haul if we are to see God's purpose for us here come to fruition. So we are looking for housing and facing the realization that we need to find work, find furniture, and find some sort of school for the boys to attend.

How am I feeling about all this? Mixed emotions would describe it pretty good. I was not thinking Iq would hurry up and wait. But God told me that this pastor has something to deposit into me while I am here. It is something that I will need for my future ministry. He also told me that Wewill be a blessing to this church as well. I have to trust God in everything, and He continues to ask more anymore of me. I have no where else to go, and noting else to do but to trust the Lord and to wait for Him to make our paths straight as we acknowledge Him in all our ways.

I am currently typing this from my iPad which makes editing documents more difficult. I ologize for the gram

A week of rest, learning, and preparation

It has been a week now since we packed up our stuff and moved, and what a week it has been. We spent some time visiting friends and family in Nebraska and Colorado. We have been figuring out this homeschooling thing and it has not been easy. We made it through the first week. I have anew appreciation for teachers. I can't hardly teach two at a time let alone a whole classroom at once. We visited three national parks, the Great Sand Dunes and Mesa Verde in Colorado and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. We also spent a lot of time driving through mountains and experiencing Indian reservations and extreme poverty that goes unnoticed by so many, myself included. I never knew that poeple lived in such poverty stricken situations right here in the richest nation in the world.

Today, we will finish our journey to Tucson. We do not know if this is our final destination or just a first stop among many. But we are anxious to find out. I was up early again this morning, spending time in God's presence so as to receive the assurance and confidence I need to lead my family on to our next phase of ministry. I appreciate your prayers. It has been difficult living out of a suitcase and staying with other people. We take for granted the comforts we have of doing things on our own terms, even being able to cook our own food and sit for a moment and watch some t.v. But more than that, I am having to lead my family completely on faith, be ause I can only plan with the limited information that I have been given. So I hope to update you all soon when we know more. All I know for sure is God wants me in Tucson today and we are planning to attend a church tomorrow, one which I believe the Lord is directing us too. And there are hurting people there. That's a given no matter where we go. And one more thing, God is already there, and I am anxious to meet up with His plans in Tucson. Stay tuned and God bless!

No pressure!

I was feeling it for the last few days. All these people were following my family and waiting to see what God was going to do. I was feeling this heavy weight, this desire to have people see something amazing. My thoughts went to a place of doubt. What if nothing happens? What if I get in the car and nothing happens? What will I tell people if this happens.

Sensing how I was feeling, the Lord began to minister to me this morning. He told me that I couldn't fail. This was a win win situation because it was His plan for my family and anywhere we ends up would be a part of His plan. Talk about freeing. I just have to stick to what I do. Everywhere I go there are hurting individuals praying for someone to help them.

As Iwas praying this morning, I heard the Lord tell me to go to Arizona. That is just like God, to send us to a place that we have never been and have no contacts. It creates a greater dependence on Him. We don't know how long we are to be there or what we will be doing, but we are heading I that direction. The Lord spoke to me as we were driving and said to be there by next weekend. So we will be making a few stops along the way. Stay tuned for further updates. And remember, it's God's plan, so no pressure.

Thanks for your prayers and support! Feel free to call, email, or skype us.

The Battle is Waging

Here we are, just a few days away from beginning the next phase of our journey. I want to take a moment to update you on the latest and then let you know how you can be praying for us. Last week our van, the one we use to pull our trailer. The one we were set to use to go wherever the Lord led us, the engine went out on it. This was a tough blow. The Lord wanted to get us to a point where our dependence was completely on Him. But He provided us with a newer vehicle, one that is a little more durable and will have no problem towing anything we need it to anywhere in the United States. Two days after purchasing this vehicle, He also provided us with a renter, who will cover our house expenses for at least a year. Now, our focus can be on what lies ahead and not on unfinished business in Minneapolis. We also gave away all of our furniture. We have about a dozen bins in the rafters of the garage left to come back for later. Other than that, we have a trunk and trailer full of stuff and our trust in God. So we are about ready to go.

One of the things Jean and I both agreed upon was to approach this last week not just as a week to prepare to leave, but as a week to prepare for something else. I do not have the luxury of just going and resting somewhere, because I need to be focused and alert to how the Holy Spirit is leading my family. Will you say a prayer for us? We are finding it difficult to transition. Moving is a lot more work than we realized and given we don't know where we are going, what we will need, or how long we will be on the road, it is tough to decide what to keep, what to store and what to give away. Also, the spiritual opposition we are facing has been intensified. I am used to the warfare given the type of ministry I do, but it has been turned up a few notches the last couple of weeks. We are dealing with poor nights of sleep, extra cranky and defiant children, as well as temptations.

So as we spend the next few days finishing up preparing, will you commit to praying for us? I have prayed everyday that every member of my family would be covered in the blood of Jesus. I have prayed for faith to increase and for the peace of God to overtake any worry and doubt. And I have prayed for the courage to keep moving forward when the temptations come to retreat and go back. Will you join me in this journey of prayer? And come back in a few days to find out how God is answewring your prayers and ours. God Bless!

Sending Off Celebration

You are invited . . .

January 6, 2012
6-8pm

Minneapolis Believers in Christ
1001 Penn Avenue N
Mpls, MN 55411

Time of blessing with food, friends, and fellowship. We really LOVE our Mpls family and would like to spend the evening with you! Please pray our family forward.

Please RSVP to host Leila Sutton @ lfbsutton.aol with your name and number attending by Jan. 1.