Be Youer Than You!

Our students leave in one week for outreach!
I cannot believe that I have gotten so close to these young men and women over the past 3 months and now they're leaving to change the world!
I feel like that proud mom, sending her child out into the world.

To say the least, these past few months of lecture phase have been amazing.
We've covered many topics, dealt with many deep heart issues and have had many breakthru's in people's lives!

Thank God for the time we've had, because we have been able to build relationships, get to the root of issues and truly walk in love with one another!
Fellowship is such a blessing.
 If you don't go to church, I'd encourage you to seek one because there's nothing better than building deep friendships and watching the Lord work in one another.

I'm sorry if a church has ever hurt you in the past.
I'm sorry if the topic or thought pisses you off.
I know there is a lot of hurt out there and deep wounds.
I hope you'll find people who can encourage you, challenge you in your walk, and be able to rejoice with you!
I pray you will encounter someone who will give you the time of day, accept you for you, and be able to walk with you as Jesus would.. Church isn't bad, trust me.

I personally have learned that there is no greater pleasure than seeing God transform people's lives.
The students that arrived in October are not the same students that are preparing for outreach.
Many of them came with past hurts, be it marriages/relationships, sexual abuse, drugs/alcohol abuse, psychological abuse.. and over the past 12 weeks we have been able to walk along side them,
speak Truth into their lives and be the best example of Jesus we could be.

Yes, we have all had our ups and downs, good days and bad days, but it's working thru our issues that we learn. Thank God these students have been so patient with me, Lord knows I'm not always the easiest person to get along with! It's keeping short accounts with one another that's made a difference for me. If I upset someone, or someone upset's me, I take no time to approach them and resolve the issue, whereas before, I would let it dwell and fester inside of me. Which honestly brought me down more and more, and I would gossip about that person or situation, but man! Nip it in the butt and life is good! Nothing hanging over you, no thoughts wandering around making you think things that aren't true! Such release and freedom, try it out!

I've definitely also learned to let go of control in this season of my life.
Funny how you don't notice certain things about yourself until you're in a leadership position; then, when it's all out in the open, you want nothing more than to change. And by change, I mean be more Christlike.. some times I'm not the best example..
I love being a leader in our schools, however, I'm forever grateful for the revelation that I'm a leader whether in that position or not.
People are always watching what you do.
Life is so much better when you're being an encouragement than a bad example!
Relationships are better when you can trust.
God is constant, never changing and finding my identity in that releases such weight from my chest.
No longer do I need to live up to man's standards, for Christ set the standard for me long ago.

I truly know God is real, He's moving in and thru each of us everyday whether we want to acknowledge it or not.
I would like to challenge you to "walk in the opposite spirit" for a while, and see what goes on in your heart.
And by walking in the opposite spirit, I mean not acting out in a situation as "man" normally would.
For example, you're driving down the road and someone pulls out in front of you and you have to slow down or change your pace (heaven forbid).
Instead of sitting there, yelling at your steering wheel (in which case, nothing happens anyways!) simply let it go. Back off the person in front of you, riding their rear end isn't going to change the fact they pulled out in front of you! Smile, relax, enjoy the ride, be grateful you own a vehicle, be grateful you can listen to music for a little bit longer, be grateful the person in front of you has somewhere to be, be grateful you are now a little bit behind to something but at least you have somewhere to be. And by thinking these positive thoughts, your mind gets renewed. Don't always focus on the negative, it's so easy for our minds to naturally draw that way. But, truth is, we think we are "owed" things in this life, when really, we have no rights.
Yes, I said it, we deserve nothing.

While writing this blog, I am now realizing that Christmas is soon to be here, and this is the perfect time to practice walking in the opposite spirit!
How many times are people stressed out, rushing thru the stores, waiting in line to buy that big gift with money they don't have to spend anyways!?
Why do we think it's gifts or material items that matter??
What draws people together are meaningful times, not items.
Write a sincere letter to someone.
Spend quality time with friends.
Be a friend.
Spend quality time with your family (not sitting in front of a television or computer).
Embrace what you have, because so many are with out.
Go serve in a food line with family or friends.
Buy someone a cup of coffee.
Reach out to your community and help those in need.
I promise you, by doing that you will find much greater joy than you would opening any gift under a tree.
Gifts are always changing, nothing is ever enough anymore.
Check out this video I watched last week..
"First World Problems"

This season is not for YOU.
This is not Tayler-Mas .. it's Christ-mas folks.
Maybe before Christmas arrives, you could sit down and read a Gospel?
Just one, you don't have to read the entire Bible, but embrace what the season truly is about.
Gain some understanding.
It's easy to lose sight of what's really important when we get sucked in to what everyone else is doing, comparing ourselves to others. Be happy in who you are.

I pray you will have insight. I pray for conviction. Pray your eyes would be opened.
Pray you will love people more boldly.
Pray you will see people to help in your busy day.
Pray people will become a priority as opposed to a problem.
Pray blame will not be shifted, but accounted for.
Pray we can be men and women of change.
Pray for peace.
Amen.

Encouragement. Sarcasm.

So, every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning at 8:30 we have a Ships Staff meeting, to get updates from the different ministry areas (which consist of: Bible Core Course, Intro. to Primary Health Care, Discipleship Training School, and School of Navigation and Seamanship). 

This campus is so big that sometimes it can be challenging to be all on the same page, let alone all being in the same place at once wouldn't happen without an arrangement.

These meetings are generally just a catch up, have a little bit more personal connection aside from all the "business" and "busyiness" talks. 

Today, however, we were blessed to have the incredible Christian Fox sit in and speak with us.

Christian has been leading our Wednesday morning Bible Studies for our school.

Christian has served with YWAM since 2001, during which time he has staffed a number of DTS' and lead Bible Core Courses. Over the years, he has been heavily involved in Biblical scholarship and study methods within the context of our schools. 

This morning it was nice to have him lead us aside from the morning's he teaches the entire school, little more personal.

What was his topic of the morning you ask?

Encouragement and Sarcasm.

Here's what I learned.

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En-cour-age: to put courage in; give support, confidence, or hope to (someone)

John Maxwell has some pretty amazing quotes if you look them up.

The one used this morning went along the lines of 'invest in others, not in how the world will make us happy'

Everyone loves to hear an encouraging word.

"We need to give people flowers before their funeral"

This statement spoke heaps to me.

Imagine: You are going to the funeral of a beloved friend. You bring a bouquet of flowers, take the time out of your "busy" schedule to attend, you sob and long to speak with your friend, you speak love - joyful memories - everything wonderful you remember about this person. 

But.. how often did you tell them that while they were alive? Truly?

How people speak at funerals, is how we should be speaking to our friends all the time.

Were you encouraging them while you had the chance, or tearing them down?

Who doesn't want to be around someone who speaks "life" and not "death"? 

Who speaks happiness instead of destruction? 

Words are powerful.  

Proverbs 12:18 "Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing."

Proverbs 15:4 "Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."

Proverbs 16:24 "Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."

(Bible is full of reasons to build up one another.. Possibly relating to the fact our Creator is Love)

We need to be more encouraging to one another.

Do you know someone, that when you're around them they are constantly complaining and it just brings you down? Imagine if we did the opposite of that all the time! How much better would you feel?!

If you see something in somebody, say it.

Bless them all the time.

Create a culture of community.

Ephesians 4:17-32 

(I will type this at the bottom of this post, so you can read it if you'd like)

-I should be living a life that refuses to make excuses of why something is ok for me to do.

I shouldn't be justifying things against the Bible.

Put off my old life.

I am not that person anymore.

- - - - - - - - - - 

Sarcasm.

(Cripes.

If you know me, you know sarcasm is my language.

Strong conviction this morning. . .)

Sar-casm: to tear or rip the flesh off;

a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain

Synonyms: cut, dig, offense, indignity

Not a very happy word is it?

How long have I carried this with me?!

Our words nip/gnaw at one another, eventually we consume each other!

Imagine, every sarcastic remark you make towards another person tearing off a bit of their flesh. Do it enough, eventually the person will perish.

How true is it we must control our tongues?

People may be able to laugh off your smart remarks, but you truly are ripping them a part little by little, and people can only take so much.

You are speaking such negativity over them, possibly embarrassing them, insulting them without even knowing it. 

I personally know this is something I have struggled with since being in Kona.

Some people will ask me questions with the most obvious answer that I "can't help" but respond in a sarcastic way! How foolish!

Now, not only do a couple students not enjoy talking to me, but I feel like I've been walking blindly.

I am very thankful that we live and learn; thankful we are always being taught.

- - - -

So, along with my conviction this morning I decided to do a little research in to sarcasm.

I stumbled upon this website with seven reasons why sarcasm is unhealthy and wrong.. After reading thru, I have to say I completely agree.

1. Sarcasm is a lie and not the language of the Kingdom.

John 8:44 "He (satan) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

2. Sarcasm fosters insecurity.

3. Sarcasm interferes with authentic community.

"Often things we are unable to say seriously but still feel.

Can often be a challenge to sort out the truth from lies when a sarcastic person speaks.

Sarcasm allows them to maintain their mask of hypocrisy."

4. Sarcasm discourages inquisitiveness. 

"Derides people from asking simple questions.

Causes some people to be cautious to talk at all."

"When I reveal my ignorance on a topic I often must brace for the sarcastic blow that may or may not fall. My confidence is in Christ and not myself so these comments do not destroy me but are nevertheless unappreciated."

5. Sarcasm interferes with good leadership. 

I've been called to leadership in YWAM, enough said.

"Secure people make good leaders; if sarcasm is a symptom of insecurity then the better a leader you are the less sarcastic you are."

6. Sarcasm undermines true humor.

"How many times have you ever belly laughed to a sarcastic comment? The best you can hope for from sarcasm is snicker."

7. Sarcasm is the language of bullies.

This is a straight up apology to anyone I have ever offended with my words. 

This has been a sub-conscience tool I've used to cover up my own personal flaws and insecurities. 

I will miss it, because I think it's hilarious, but it's very hurtful, rude, harsh, demeaning, and heaps of other negative words.

I don't want anything negative in my life, and if I can change, I will.

I won't be perfect. I will struggle with this. I won't be as "funny" (yes, I think I'm funny).

But I'll feel a lot more confident in my relationships, hopefully be more approachable, be more trusting, and full of life.

Something legit to go along with this, I'm being honest and truly feel bad.

Don't antagonize me, don't ask me how my "non-sarcasm" is going.

Please.

Like anything else, it takes time. I will stumble.

But I want to be more loving to every single person, so today, I lay down my sarcasm card.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

I hope this encouraged you in one way or another! 

This was my own personal conviction that I felt like sharing with you!

Love you all, thanks for taking the time to read :)

xo

Live in Love :)

- - - - - - - -  -

Ephesians 4:17-32

(NLT)

Living as Children of Light

With the Lord's authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

But that isn't what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God - truly righteous and holy.

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

--AMEN--

(I got the seven sarcasm reasons from: http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2008/06/the-sin-of-sarcasm/ just so I don't potentially get in trouble)

Thanksgiving/Christmas/School Update

Well my dear friends, 'tis the Christmas Season!!!

I can hardly believe it's already in to December!

And I'm spending my second year without a white Christmas (sad day!).

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I don't think I posted anything about Thanksgiving! 

That was a fun day, we had a morning meeting in O'Hana Court to come together as a family and worship our Amazing God!

Then we proceeded to do a prayer walk around the campus, the new housing and our new cafeteria/culinary school/entertainment building!

And then, had a traditional Thanksgiving meal!

Some of our fabulous ladies, outside of the classroom :)

Madison and I waiting for the meeting to begin

(Does my school leader look like he is sitting behind me listening to football on his headphones..?)

Haha :)

I'm getting used to being away from my family for the Holiday's (fourth year!) 

God is amazing and thankfully we now have Skype! And Voxer!

Amen and Amen!

- - - - - - - - - - - 

Aside from Thanksgiving, our school has been very busy!

Our students have been staying very busy with outreach meetings!

The teams are set in stone, however, the locations for a couple teams have changed a couple times in the last few weeks, so hopefully by the end of this week I can put up a post letting you know where they'll be going and what they'll be doing! 

(As of now, Brazil/Amazon - Fiji/Christmas Island - Granada/Eastern Caribbean/Venezuela/Colombia)

Ya, pretty sick locations.

So be looking out for updates!

Ships are on the move!

As for me. . . I'm not planning an awesome outreach.

I've been sitting in lots of staff training meetings and getting prepped for the January school!

(As well as still being full time staff for the current school.. lots of energy, but thank God He gives me strength every morning)

I'm super stoked tho because I definitely want to stay with Ships for a while, so I feel I've been given the perfect opportunity to see how the school's flow, learn the logistics and have a lot more understanding! 

Our January school is currently up to 23 students, but we're expecting a few more to trickle in :)

Our current DTS will leave for Outreach on December 24th, and then we have to transition right over to the January school which begins January 3rd. So we will have to set up a new classroom, make sure all the bedrooms are cleaned, I will prolly be moved to a new room, get new roommates, prepare for arrivals, have beautification day (where we dedicate one day to literally cleaning the entire campus), and so forth. Transition time is great, but not a lot of rest.

I've got a great team I'm working with tho, I am truly blessed beyond measure.

I'm thankful that I'm 24 and have finally found a passion in life.

:)

Staffing this school has been amazing.

Rough some days, but in general, the best job I could possibly have at this time in my life!
As my dear DTS leader told me before I began.. "Welcome to leadership, which is really just having all of the things you need to work on now displayed publicly." 'Tis the truth. 

- - - - - - - - - - - -

So that's just a tiny update!

We had our Christmas Celebration this past weekend that was open to the community, it was great fun!

I've got some picture's I wanted to share with you :)
Enjoy!

*This was our cute flyer*

*Opening act: Campus children singing carols*

*Some legit African dancing!*

*One of our students Renne* 

*Another beautiful student, Andrea (from Norway).

She is a gifted dancer and blessed us this day!*

*A couple of our students dancing some more!*

*Beautiful Asian dance*

*Yanika, (our school leaders daughter) was hard at work building toys at the craft area!*

*Little Miss Eliza and I - We were dancing*

*Nativity drama in O'Hanna Court*

*Nativity Drama, with the three wise men giving their gifts*

*Our dear sweet Emma (Eliza's sister) was selling Peppermint Rice Krispies to raise money for her trip to Africa! She has the biggest heart of any child I've ever met.

*This was our beautiful water fountain at night, I just really liked how the water looked*

*So this photo doesn't do justice. But this mountain is behind our base and it's always covered in vog (which is like fog, only it's from the volcanoes) and you can rarely see the mountain.

This day, the vog was lowered for a bit!

 - - - - - - - - - - -

I have a few more photos that are random, and aren't from the Christmas Celebration but wanted to share anyways :)

*Dear sweet Eliza again, rockin' my hat at our last school outing*

Too cute.

*Once a month the strip down by the water gets closed down for a Street Market!

Absolutely love this day*

*And while walking thru this market I found a ND painted coconut!

That was pretty legit to stumble upon*

*And last but not least, last weekend I went down to the pier to read and this dude was just chilling on the beach with a nudey magazine! What the heck!? So I took a candid photo because it was random. 

Un-legit.*

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Thanks for looking at my update! 

Not too informative but a bit of interaction for ya! :) 

xo

Dean Sherman. Day 3.

If you made it thru my day 1 notes, then you know that I missed day 2, so we have to jump straight to 3 :)

Blessings to you as you read this.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

((These notes jump right in to spiritual warfare..)

-How do you know if it is warfare or not?

*Don't assume negative things are demonic, and don't assume they're not.

-How do you keep from being an extremist?

Ask God.

-2 kinds of extremes in body of Christ.

1) Everything demonic.

2) Nothing demonic.

((Ask God.))

-When God shows you, it's the gift of discernment.

*Discernment: God showing you what's happening in Spirit world.

-Most common assumption, natural disasters.

*Don't assume, be led by the Spirit.

*Assuming is religious.

*Keep life = Let spirit lead/empower you.

-We thought we could do things with education and skill. First 3 generations were spirit led.

*Wait for Holy Spirit; Jesus' command.

-"Love isn't an energy, it's choice of personalities."

-Old Testament, God living His life thru system of relationship's thru Kingdom of Israel (God manifesting His life thru a community).

*When in good relationship, they ruled over (won victory) enemies.

*When in bad relationship their enemies ruled over them.

-Can't rule over enemies (spirit powers) if in bad relationship with God/others.

-Who can say one person won a battle because he was good with sword? (Old Testment) None.

*All battles are against spiritual power.

-OT (Old Testment) will see sermon God was trying to preach for 3,000 years

*Without Holy Spirit they couldn't win.

*Same true today.

-"30 years in Nazareth, why was it important for Jesus to come only to die on the cross?

Because you have to live in good relationship; He lived life of God everyday in human form.

Before He could subdue evil, He lived in good relationship with Father and people."

*Live life of God.

*Rule over/subdue evil.

-John 1:4 "In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."

*His life was not sermons, teachings, miracles; it was the light.

-Before Jesus performed any miracles, he lived in good relationship with God.

-John 8:28 "..I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me." (Jesus.)

-Christianity 101: Listen to God.

-Have you been convicted of sin?

That's voice of God.

-Cross = Rule over (subdue)

Enemies, satan, death

-Evil power gets in thru human yielding only.

-Satan knew Jesus was Son of God, people and religious leaders hadn't figured it out.

-Death, evil, sin, after fall, God announces what He's gonna do.

Gen. 3:15 "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel."

*Seed = Injustice.

Reproduction of satan.

Reproduction of people.

We can bruise his heel, but he's gonna bruise our head.

-Jesus became human because seed of humans had to crush seed of serpent.

Now we crush head of serpent in Jesus name.

*God has done what he's gonna do to devil at the Cross. Now we have to do it in the name of Jesus.

*Why we have to learn spiritual warfare and practice it.

Romans 16:20 "The God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."

-Jesus is crusher because we have no power!

-(Dean) "is here this week to get us busy in the heaven lies."

-John 10:10 "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."

*Heaven = Life; not one big worship session

*People want life, not to get saved

-Church is 'wrong', quit making all we have to offer is a worship service and Bible studies.

*He came so we could have life.

Greek: Life = Bio; undead, surviving, still breathing

Zoe; to the full

*Jesus died to give us life, not just forgiveness

-Sinners liked Jesus.

-Why do we think what we've got is going to offend or try to offend people??

*Look at our founder, people liked Him!

*Religious system (OT) was not good at relating, so what did Jesus do? Relate.

-Religious leaders (OT) wouldn't allow women/children in anything.

Jesus immediately allowed All.

-Eating with people = Identifying with a group

*Jesus ate with sinners.

-Jesus related for 30 years in Nazareth, and now we must do the same.

*He is who I am a disciple of.

*Relater, not a monk.

-Occasionally Jesus went out alone, exception but not a rule.

-"Jesus didn't have to give up relationship's with humans to have good relationship with God."

-1 John 4:1 "And He has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters."

-People think relationship with God will cost you relationship with people... Not true.

-Vow of silence = No relationship with humans

Has NO roots in Christianity

*Jesus was not a monk.

*Jesus was social and holy, why can't we be?

If we're not, it's not spirituality, it's social awkwardness.

-Jesus lived whole life in community.

First with family.

Second with disciples.

*Ministry ended on a cross.

1 John 3:8 "But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the son of God came to destroy the works of the devil."

(Works of devil: death, sin, injustice, hate, poverty, violence..)

*Glory, we want those things broken.

-After living life of God, He ruled over

*Now we have abundant provision of grace.

'I have abundant divine ability, a gift of righteousness and will reign in life'

-Reign over divorce, racism, injustice, murder, children being molested every 4 minutes.

-Rule, subdue, reign = My purpose.

-Romans 5:17 "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ."

-Things are happening in power spirit, we rule over with Holy Spirit.

*Inevitably in Spiritual Warfare.

-"You think devils gonna leave you alone because you haven't heard this subject yet?"

-"Enemy was working at your mom to abort you, he never wanted you to take a breath.

Ever wonder why our generation has a deep seeded anger? We're angry because half our generation didn't get here.

-Went in to a waste basket in a hospital.

-Greatest holocaust in history on planet.

-Can't get over this junk with a sign in a street yelling! Now what're you gonna do Christian church?"

-Spiritual warfare is not a flesh and blood warfare.

-Live according to kingdom (system of relationships).

Kingdom: being related to a particular king and being related to other people related to same king.

i.e. American, related to our government, also related to all other U.S. citizens

-John 3:8 "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

-Kingdom is way of living.

-"Church is who I am. Kingdom is how I live."

-Kingdom; rule of King Jesus.

*Related to all born again.

-Only one other way to live.

Don't live according to kingdom, you live according to the world.

Not possible to live for both.

Love = Kingdom.

Selfishness = World.

Kingdom - Love, relationship to God and others

World - Selfishness, even if born again

(The chart below was parallel when taught, however, due to my blog I can only split it up into sections. So I'll do Kingdom first, World second, but know they run parallel to one another.)

*It matters how you live Today.

Kingdom

-Serving

-Submission

-Humility

-Generosity (giving, receiving)

-Justice

-Integrity

-Wholeness

World

-Controlling (not God's character; think God's a controller so people control; God isn't a controller because he let you sin; he doesn't control you he lets you choose; someone chooses every 14 seconds to molest a little girl)

-Rebellion

-Pride

-Greed (economic mess; it isn't just the question are you saved? ar)

-Injustice

-Corruption

-Brokenness

Read Revelation 21.

(healing of nations.)

*The way you live becomes a channel for spirit power*

*Read Isaiah 61.

Putting brokenness on television makes it seem normal. It's not.

Kingdom

1 Corinthians 4:20 "For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk, it is living by God's power."

Kingdom Dynamics:

1 Cor. 2:12 "And we have received God's spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us."

**World is a spirit

-All behaviors channel spirit power; spirit of the world

-2 Spirit powers in universe

-Important to know what you have or don't have

-I do NOT have the spirit of the world

"I'm only human" "Nobody's perfect" "I'm a new believer" (excuses)

Romans 6:6 "We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin."

-People make excuses because that's what they think they still are!

-Sinners dead; I'm a new creation!

-Not a sinner, but a saint.

World

1 John 5:19 "We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under control of the evil one."

-Not planet earth

God's in control of earth, satan is in control of way of living

Psalm 24

-Don't wait and think Spirit of God will come upon you one day when you're older.. Study the Bible.

-So there are two ways to live. Kingdom or World.

Everyone will live out one of these ways today.

-Church's mistake: We've functioned with education and skills only, never God's intention. 

Run the church naturalistically.

*How to be a pastor?: Go to school

Jesus: Wait for Holy Spirit

Jesus has a better idea because He is head of church :)

Kingdom

-Romans 14:17 "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

eat/drink=natural

World

Ephesians 6:12 "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

(Forces of dark world; system, greed, injustice, immorality, pride, etc. World spirit)

-Church history: fighting each other

(wars, crusades, battles)

i.e. Conquistadors: Cross in one hand, sword in the other, die or become a Christian. Forced.

i.e. Why is so much witchcraft in Brazil when it's such a Christian place? Ho-kum-ba (witchcraft)

Because they were forced to be Christians but secretly kept other gods.

*Overlaid gods indigenous people had with what Christians wanted

i.e. Every Mexican wedding blessed with blessing of Lady of Guadeloupe.

She is a female diety ever since Aztecs were there, Catholic Christians mixing with other gods.

They were forced.

*God is not a controller.

Revelation 3:20 "Look I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."

God knocks.

-God, enemy, Kingdom, sin, evil --> Spirit

They that worship God must do so in spirit; truth, reality

*God is spirit, they that worship Him must worship in spirit

-Christianity = In the Spirit

Ephesians 6:18 "Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere."

~Not biblical to pray unless in the spirit because God is a spirit.

-Do you see what satan has done to church?

he's kept us functioning in natural realm

*"Many Christians have never flown an arrow into spirit realm."

*Praying 'enemy I resist you in Jesus name'

-Today, there is more prayer, books, bigger churches, more worship, BUT statistics on crime, poverty, rape, abortion are going up & up & up.

*We're not changing society

*We are content with "Oh, wasn't that a wonderful meeting" when nothing in statistics are changing!

*TEACH on Spiritual Warfare! That's what changes the planet!

-In Papua New Guinea, Dean explained how they worshipped, sang, marched, danced, were crazy worshippers, abandoned to God twenty-four-seven, committed to Jesus, sold to God.. And saw healing daily.

(Blind seeing, crippled walking, healing of Jesus day happen today)

-Stats aren't changing because we aren't dealing with forces of darkness deliberately/aggressively.

*Eph. 6:18 'pray hard and long' is hardly in the spirit.

Shows how theological world has been influenced by naturalistic thinking.

*Enemy is spirit.

-How can you win over an opponent if you've never been there?

-Dean told us he would ask his classes how many have never said I resist you satan in the name of Jesus, and 90% of students would raise their hands.

We have to know how to fight.

-Giving too much power and too much glory to satan.

*Resist enemy personally with faith

-Dean had an awesome analogy..

Imagine a soccer field.

How many goals can a team make on a field with no opponent?

As many as they want.

*How many goals is satan making?

Unthinkingly we say 'God is still on the thrown', while satan really is killing and destroying people.

*Take a team to the same field (opposition), slow the other team down and they will stop making goals.

*A.k.a. Stop just having meetings and get active!

Go out into the field (Yes, America too, not just foreign countries!) and DO spiritual warfare.

Spread the Love of Jesus.

Bare His Image.

1 John 3:8 "But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the son of God came to destroy the works of the devil."

*In the name of Jesus take victory of cross and resist.

-How you live becomes a channel for spirit power.

-Spirit moves to and thru humans according to their yielding.

-Holy Spirit and evil spirit move totally thru human yielding.
i.e. Haiti. Voodoo sends out evil spirit that quenches movement of God's spirit and prayer channels Holy Spirit flow which quenches Spirit of voodoo and enemy.

-Why would God fill you with Holy Spirit just to sit?
*We aren't spirit like water in a bottle (which just sits).
We are spirit filled like a hose.
(Picture this)
Spirit doesn't just sit in me, flows thru me to 'water the flowers'.
We yield ourselves to the capacity of the flow.
Not a container, a channel.
When do you turn water on?
When hose is pointed towards something that needs water;
I 'use' the Holy Spirit when I am pointed towards someone that needs hope.
I am filled so I can 'water the flowers', not filled just to be filled.
Holy Spirit doesn't just reside in me, He flows thru me for others.

-"When I meet a need and I reach out in faith, hose is tapped on to water the flowers"
*A spring cannot do fresh and salt water at the same time, yielding to one or the other.

-Holy Spirit has value; to heal the sick, not just for people to be filled.

-Stick with practicality of ministry.
Whatever needs to be done to help people/change society can be done thru the Holy Spirit.

-Neither me nor teachers can explain infinite God.

World
2 Corinthians 4:4 "Satan who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."
*enemy is of the world, not the planet.
*satan is god of the system

-Our minds are the biggest battleground for spiritual warfare.

-"Sad churches think 'who has a demon, let's cast it out'; why would he waste a demon on you when satan can control your mind?"

-(Dean's belief) "satan/demons talk to every human mind, everyday."
"Since my age (Dean), I've counseled people daily, all over the world, all diversities/cultures/backgrounds, and I hear the same things. Realized satan is talking to human minds. Know its satan because it's the same things."
*Analyze your thoughts
*Learned certain things satan says to you 
*Are your thoughts from God? Fear, division, strife..
2 Corinthians 10:5 "We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."

-Take captive every thought.
From where? Why?

-One of the biggest areas of wrong thinking: Wrong thoughts about God.

-2 Cor. 4:6 "For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ."
*We have supernatural darkness in our minds.

-2 Cor. 4:4 "satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."

-My argument is never enough.
People are supernaturally blinded. 
Supernatural light is the only answer to supernatural darkness.

-2 Cor. 4:4 is why spiritual warfare is always necessary in presenting truth.

-We have to pray in the spiritual realm.

-More specific/intentional you pray, the more faith you exercise.
Pray against spiritual darkness and for spiritual light.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

SO.. that gives you a glimpse into what our school learned in 2 days.
As I said, you may or may not agree/disagree with these notes.
But, it's food for thought.
Don't take everything I say as absolute truth.
Take it to the Bible.

Discipleship Training School's are the absolute best things to happen in my walk with Christ.
Getting to learn the intricate ways of our Creator, digging deeper into The Word, and being able to learn the simplicity of being a Christ Follower and being able to take it into the nations... I love my job.