Are We Crazy Enough?

I'm convinced the Apostle Paul was crazy - but not crazy in the way we would usually think of it. He would constantly put his life at risk just for a small possibility to share God's message with people.  I was just reading in Acts 19, how a huge riot broke out in Ephesus because of people's anger toward Paul, who was "convincing" people to not worship hand-made gods, but to give their lives to the Living God.  

These people who were "boiling with anger", dragged a couple of Paul's companions into the city's amphitheater (actual picture above), and began to scream in rage against them... There were hundreds of people there with the desire to kill these Christians, and it says that "Paul wanted to go in"! (19:30)  Is he crazy??

 

His friends knew what Paul was thinking, they knew he was nuts and would use any opportunity to spread the Message he so passionately believed in.  So, they "wouldn't let him" (19:30) go in there.  In fact, some of the officials that knew Paul, sent him a message "begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater".  

I wander what would happen if more of us were crazy like that.  Our crazy love for God would compel us to take bold risks so that others can experience what we have.  What if our friends had to "beg us" not to risk our lives, cause they knew we were so committed that we just might...

"Father, make us courageous risk takers.  Make us crazy for you.  Infuse us with so much love for this world, that we would go to great lengths to spread Your life-changing Message."

I envision a day...

"A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored (magnified)... So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect (prevailed)." Acts 19:17, 20

I envision a day when the solemn fear of God descends on the Silicon Valley and the name of Jesus is greatly honored and magnified.  I envision a day when the message of the Lord spreads widely across the country and the world and prevails in a world that is decaying and in need of God.  I envision the Church taking its place in the world as the servants of God, the lovers of peace, the spreaders of love, the hands of hope, the keepers of justice, God's light in the midst of darkness. 

I envision a day when the name of Jesus is once again honored among all people and recognized as the name above all names.  The name that brings healing, peace, restoration, salvation.  The name at which demons tremble and people treat with respect and reverence.  

I envision a day when the people of God become known once again by their acts of love, not their words of judgement.  I envision a day when the people of God become known once again by their hard work, their uncompromising integrity, their unshakable family values, their unselfish acts of kindness, their overflowing love for all people, their undeserving kindness.  

"Father, help me to honor and magnify the name of Jesus above all other things in my life.  I pray that your Word would spread widely and powerfully through my life."

Why the Silicon Valley?

In the last few weeks, since we moved out here, people have been asking us the question: "why did you come to the Silicon Valley?" There are many answers to this question, but one of the main things that makes this area so unique is it's potential to impact the world. I really do believe that life with God is better than life without Him, and this reality makes me so excited to be in a place that has such deep influence in our culture.

When you look at the life of the Apostle Paul in Scripture, you see how strategic he was with where he stopped in his missionary journeys. Many of the cities where Paul planted churches were strategic centers that, when evangelized, served as focal poinnts from which the Gospel radiated out to the surrounding areas (Ephesus, Antioch in Pisidia, Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth).

In fact, this morning I read about when Paul stayed in Ephesus, a city where people from many countries would come to work and study, "so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord" (Acts 19:10)

I can't wait until people from all these different nations represented in the Silicon Valley get transformed by the love of God, and spread the Message to different parts of the world so that thousands of others can experience the joy of knowing Jesus Christ!