As I was scanning through multiple translations one caught my eye over the others. The Aramaic Bible in Plain English (not exactly a common translation) says: For if you are living in the flesh, you are going to die, and if you are putting to death the practices of the body, you are living. I love the way this version takes on the active/current role of living rather than the future tense – it’s a more personal view to me, right here in my day.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die… I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the idea of dying other than what’s right around the bend for the believer. It scares me to think that before I knew grace, I was living according to the flesh. What does it mean then that death is a result of living according to the flesh? For me, it meant not heeding God’s Word, not being in fellowship with believers, not being in relationship with Jesus, not caring for others. It meant pridefully pursuing whatever “felt” right. The opposite of the flesh is the Spirit – a life marked by a passion to be with and like Jesus. The flesh includes all those things of our old, former nature – the things we were called to put off. The flesh represents a habitual lifestyle of living the past. The follower of Jesus may stumble and fall (we ALL do!) but there is a grand difference between the Christian who struggles along Vs. the person who has lost their will to fight and has accepted the destruction of distraction in place of the liberty of Christ.

….but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. The Spirit is our secret weapon of mass destruction toward the flesh. God did not leave us uneducated, under-equipped orphans. We were warned of this battle, of the transformation from simple peasants to partners with Christ against every level of Satanic opposition. I want to see the Devil’s work crushed in every country through-out every continent, but it’s doubtful I’ll see very far without putting to death the deeds of my own rotten flesh. War is violently raging, taking on a variety of names and expressions based on what will cause the greatest harm to our walks. Have you ever noticed that you are rarely attacked in the areas where you don’t struggle? I can’t recall the last time I was tempted by drugs, but I can tell you the last time lust paid me a visit. We don’t put to death the flesh by our own strength or energy. The Spirit is our battering ram against the deeds of our bodies.Welcome the Spirit to help you today. Invite His presence to show you where and how He wants to help you put to death every deed in the body.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, please allow me to see Your hand in the midst of my ongoing battle with the flesh. I confess that some-days, most days,  I’m not so certain of your nearness. Open my eyes! Allow me on this very day to live according to the Spirit so that death will be the final outcome to the flesh; the deeds of my body crushed.

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you… Scripture is full of heavenly truth hard for our feeble minds to make sense of. Believing the same Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead also dwells in us confounds me. The Spirit of the Father who raised His only beloved Son is indeed dwelling in the heart of every believer, but I can barely grasp the fullness of what this means. We were bought with a price where the Holy Spirit guards us as the inheritance Jesus redeemed from death. Have you ever considered yourself a prized inheritance? You were so dear to God’s heart that a premium, like that of a prized-possession, was placed over you. This is why the atrocity of human trafficking is so horrid – no price can ever be affixed to the potential of creation save for value exclusively held by the Creator. God alone, Father of every human being ever to breathe, has made his will clear – receiving the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead to dwell in us. Crazy. I’m fairly sure I’m guilty of quenching the Holy Spirit far more often than what I realize. Holy Spirit, forgive me! God, You are amazing!

….he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. The prized joy of every Christian who ever was, is now, and ever will be – home forever, glorying in the presence of a gracious God (together with all the saints)! The commentators I found seemed to agree that the context of this passage is focused on the eternal (heaven) aspect of what Jesus paid for and not the temporal (healing) aspect of what He paid for. The eternal element is that we are all promised death and either separation from God due to our rejection of Jesus as savior of our lives, or life based on our surrender to Jesus as savior of our lives. No doubt the greatest work of the King is that of delivering us safely into the Kingdom where suffering, sorrow, disease, distraction, pain, and all curses as a result of the fall, will be non-existent. Heaven, where God’s will is perfectly carried out, 24/7. Though I’m far from a theologian, my plain understanding of Scripture causes me to consider that the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is also giving life (quickening) our mortal bodies in the here and now. As God continues to teach and grow me in the area of Divine healing, I can’t help but wonder if this passage contains a sweet double blessing.

Prayer: Lord, please continue revealing Your heart to us. Show us, God, the depth of this passage. We admit that Your Word is often too wonderful for us to even comprehend. We’re so grateful that the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us and will also give life to these mortal bodies. We receive and welcome the life of Your Spirit in our bodies, both now and forever. Thank You for caring for us, and how we feel, even here in this vapor of life.

Psalm 22:3 says that “God inhabits the praises of His people.”
It is our belief that what leads us to a place of worship is the Holiness and Beauty of God, but it’s His inhabitance that keeps us there.
The songs we sing are nothing without this inhabitance. And we are nothing without it either.

Romans 8 is quite possibly one of the richest of all chapters in Scripture, especially when it comes to the multiple promises and empowering truths it provides to each and every Jesus-follower. I’m blown away by how thick this statement (and chapter) is. Sometimes Scripture comes alive one layer at a time for me, how sweet is the Word! As I continue to keep an open eye to specific passages God may have me memorize/focus on, I’m struck by the fact that I could likely spend a week or two just committing to heart & mind the depth of Romans 8.

There is therefore now no condemnation. Jesus introduced, by the blood He willingly shed, the final end to condemnation. When a judge pronounces his verdict against an evil-doer, that man stands condemned – whether he agrees with the verdict or not. We were all born with a natural bend towards evil-doing. Jesus was sent to reclaim the hearts of evil men. Through one perfect Man, God damned condemnation for every sinner honest enough to surrender. Many in the world love the idea that all roads lead to God. This is true, every road does lead to God. The question is whether the road will keep you WITH God – meeting God face to face is a default, remaining in His presence is Jesus. The world may assume that because it does not believe in God it might whimsically wish Him away out of the picture. One of our roles, as believers in Jesus, is lovingly and brutally honestly helping the world understand that the goodness of God is only found in the shed blood of His Son.

..for those who are in Christ Jesus. The truth of freedom, the truth that sets men free is only found in the guiltless arms of Christ Jesus. Once our lives are surrendered to this King, all previous judgements that stood between us and a just God are recognized as paid in full. It just doesn’t get any better. This side of eternity, we don’t truly understand what a precious price was paid. It’s OK, one day we will. And we won’t just get it and loose it, we’ll get it and keep it for all eternity. What a promise! What a hope! I’m a sinful man who ought to be daily condemned for his disobedient heart. But, here, with Jesus standing in front of me – shouldering the imperfect from God who deserves perfection, the all-consuming fire of God does not see sinner destined for judgement – but sinner rescued toward saint. Apart from Jesus, there is no life. If you don’t know Jesus, cry out for His help now! He will come quickly to your side.

Prayer: Thank you, Abba Father, for Your willingness to provide Jesus as the high price that my sins required. Thank You for damning condemnation because I am in Christ Jesus. Please continue forming my life into Yours. Help the world around me see clearly the promise that Jesus has redeemed me and makes all things new. I am new. Thank You.

When David began leading worship at Cornerstone and touring with bands like The Ember Days and Ascend The Hill, We Are Creation was born. As they led worship around the country, it soon became clear that the songs were not just for the Anchor, but for the Church, who embraced them and made them their own.

The heart of We Are Creation is to say to the Church, “Come, you were made for intimacy with the Lord, to love and worship Him. Out of this you will find who you are, who you were created to be.” It’s an offering to the Lord “Here we are, Your Bride, to know You, love You, and worship You.” It is music from the soul to it’s Creator.

Trying to summarize our 11 day trip to South America is not easy on multiple levels; mostly because our schedule was so full that our trying to keep tabs on God’s-hand-made-manifest was simply not feasible. As I look back, what a great problem to have had. There is so much God taught each of us. So much I discovered about myself, others and the character of God. In many ways, these international trips feel akin to rigorous ministry boot camp. We’re all relatively (completely?) inexperienced when it comes to organizing trips, hosting conferences, ministering to large crowds, operating in the supernatural, etc. Thankfully, God is never hindered by what hinders us. He consistently moved obstacles out of our way as He continues to grow our experience, our faith and our compassion.

We were extremely blessed to have had seasoned talents, including film-maker (Andy Reale), photographer (David Bean) and art designer (Brad Davis) on this trip. Never have we had so many creative hearts capturing stories of God’s goodness. Stay tuned for more news on a special Documentary/Photo book release later this year. Rounding out the creative team was our good friend Ben Crist (The Glorious Unseen) and the uber-passionate/sweet James & Stacey Allen (Life in Your Way/Wellspring Church).

Once in Colombia, we met up with a slew of friends God allowed us to connect with last year in Bogota. What I can say – both about New Zealand and Colombia – is that we have been welcomed where we never would have imagined – with open arms. Both locations, though seemingly unrelated, feel now like homes away from home. Thank You, Jesus, for the ways in which You continually swing wide doors that we do not deserve to walk through. You make all things possible.

I’d rather not spoil the forthcoming visual story, because I do believe pictures are worth a thousand words. Here is a brief summary, at least to hold you over, of key moments/experiences from this trip. Be encouraged, God is alive and well – stirring the hearts of men toward His:

-Pastor’s wife (at homeless ministry) had voice completely restored allowing her to sing forth God’s praises during a soup feeding in the seedy “Cartucho” district of Bogota.

-Dave Bean healed of banana allergy – he was able to enjoy his favorite “forbidden” fruit.

-Juan (cab driver) prayed over and presence of God filled him. He wept with joy at the thought that God allowed us to be in His taxi-cab. He was a former abusive alcoholic that God saved 8 years ago. Juan has been active in the same local church ever since – his dream is to be an evangelist.

-Paula, back healed instantly after 23 years of pain.

-Woman at radio station, feet healed instantly of throbbing pain. She was ecstatic that God had touched her.

-Jose Ignacio (cab driver #2) felt needles/pins throughout his legs. All pain/discomfort was instantly healed, we also prayed for his father who is not yet a Christian. Jose Ignacio came to the Lord after being healed of a 5 year bought with degenerative arthritis that paralyzed his body with pain. (Note: We found “extreme” salvation/healing testimonies as common place in Colombia)

-Multiple Knees/backs/headaches/wrists/ankles healed.

-Prayed with a girl who had a white backpack (Note: we had gotten white backpack from that morning’s “image” hunt). She was then empowered to lead the prayer over her friend.

-Hugo, limping and had back problems due to his left leg being shorter than the right. His leg grew out during prayer, resulting in re-aligned bones and 100% pain reduction. He gave his life to Christ right then on the street.

-Sebastian (Note: saw the color cherry red during that morning’s image hunt – he was wearing that exact color) had pain in his left ankle, at 1st he resisted prayer because He did not believe in God. All pain left after prayer and he gave his life to Christ on the street.

-Fabian, chronic headaches and pain decreased after prayer.

-Lina completely healed of neck/back pain.

-Diana, worship singer who had severe rasp/roughness in her throat was completely healed and able to lead worship at the conference that night with no pain or discomfort.

-Sebastian/Juan, Sebastian had only 50% hearing in his left ear, we activated his friend Juan to lead the prayer and after 1st prayer all fuzziness/white noise in ear gone, prayed 2nd time and full healing was restored. (Note: We’ve since talked to Sebastian and some of the fuzziness/noise has returned. Join us in praying that God would open his ear permanently)

-William, prayed with him for forgiveness toward himself, ex-girlfriend & her family. William had planned on ending his life on his upcoming birthday but came to the conference and God moved in his life. (Note: One thing I thought was particularly powerful about William’s testimony was that he came to the conference w/ plans of ending his life but by the 2nd day of the conference he was among the other attendees who stood up to proclaim the dreams God had given him for his life–what a turnaround!)

-Robinson gave his life to Christ and got baptized at the conference.

-Approx. 30 people rededicated their lives to Jesus at the conference and many were baptized on the streets outside.

-Angela was completely deaf in her right ear, after 45 min of prayer & intercession God completely opened her ear!

-Isabel was able to forgive her father and grandfather through prayer after years of hurt, received God’s inner healing.

-33 youth gave their lives to Christ at a park outreach in Leticia.

-Our friend Gracia was healed of a 3 year long knee issue. She prayed with an older woman who had severe pain in both knees for 10 yrs causing difficulty in walking. After prayer the woman could run & all pain was gone.

-3 individuals w/ cataracts were healed instantly (in San Antonio village in the jungle).

-Multiple cases of back pain healed.

-Hand healed that did not work or move properly. After prayer, full movement was restored.

-We were able to pray for and share the gifts of healings with a village chief. He then remained with us and prayed for many village members who were healed.

-Caroline, who was a beautiful 9 year old girl paralyzed from birth, began receiving strength/mobility to her neck and legs as well as the increased ability to speak. Her mother told us she had never been able to move her legs or vocalize words. More Lord!

My personal take-away was that God is continuing to prepare C&L! for the ministry of the Gospel that He has called us into. I am so thankful for how much Jesus has already/continues to accomplish on my/our behalf. I’m also very thankful to everyone on the ground in Colombia who helped make this trip a reality and for all of those who supported our effort via Operation:GO. Thank you to The Doves Foundation, Vertical Music, the pastors, leaders, churches and local ministries that we were able to encourage and be encouraged by. My heart overflows by the love God has for His people. – Chad/Team C&L!

Colombia: en resumen.

Tratar de resumir nuestro viaje de 11 días a Sur América no es fácil en varios niveles; más que todo porque nuestra agenda estaba tan llena, que tratar de controlar los manifiestos hechos a mano por parte de Dios sencillamente no era realizable. Mirando hacia atrás, teníamos un gran problema. Hay tantas cosas que Dios nos enseñó a cada uno de nosotros. Tanto que descubrí acerca de mí mismo, acerca de otros y del carácter de Dios. En muchos aspectos, estos viajes internacionales se sienten como algo similar a un campo de entrenamiento ministerial riguroso. Todos nosotros somos relativamente, (¿completamente?), inexpertos cuando se trata de organizar viajes, realizar conferencias, ministrar grandes multitudes, operar en lo sobrenatural, etc. Gracias a Dios, Él nunca se ve obstaculizado por lo que a nosotros se nos dificulta. Él constantemente, apartó obstáculos de nuestro camino, mientras continúa incrementando nuestra experiencia, nuestra fe y nuestra compasión.

Fuimos extremadamente bendecidos de contar con talentos expertos, incluyendo a un cineasta, (Andy Reale), un fotógrafo, (David Bean), un diseñador de arte, (Brad Davis), en este viaje. Nunca habíamos tenido tantos corazones creativos capturando historias de la bondad de Dios. Manténganse  sintonizados con nosotros para recibir más noticias sobre el lanzamiento de un Documental/Libro de fotografías más adelante en este año. Completando el equipo creativo estuvo nuestro buen amigo Ben Crist, (The Glorious Unseen), y los súper apasionados/dulces James & Stacey Allen, (Life in Your Way/Wellspring Church).

Una vez en Colombia, nos encontramos con un montón de amigos con quienes Dios nos permitió conectarnos el año pasado en Bogotá. Lo que puedo decir – Tanto de Nueva Zelanda como de Colombia es que hemos sido bienvenidos – dónde nunca nos lo hubiéramos imaginado – con brazos abiertos. Ambas locaciones, aunque aparentemente no tengan ninguna relación, se sienten como hogares lejos de nuestro hogar. Gracias, Jesús, por las maneras en que Tú continuamente abres puertas amplias que no merecemos atravesar. Tú haces todo posible.

Prefiero no arruinar la historia visual que está por venir, porque creo que una imagen vale más que mil palabras. Aquí tienen un breve sumario, de momentos/experiencias clave de este viaje. Anímense, Dios está vivo y bien – moviendo los corazones del hombre hacia el suyo:

⁃    La esposa de un pastor, (en un ministerio de personas sin hogar), recibió restauración completa en su voz, permitiéndole cantar alabanzas a Dios mientras repartíamos almuerzos en un sórdido barrio llamado “el cartucho” en Bogotá.
⁃    Dave Bean fue sanado de alergia al banano – pudo disfrutar de su fruta “prohibida” favorita.
⁃    Juan, (conductor de taxi), oramos por él y presenciamos como Dios lo llenó. Lloró de gozo al pensar que Dios nos permitió estar en su taxi. Él fue alcohólico 8 años atrás hasta que Dios lo salvó. Desde entonces Juan ha permanecido activo en la misma Iglesia local – su sueño es ser un evangelista.
⁃    Paola, recibió sanidad instantáneamente en su espalda, luego de 23 años de dolores.
⁃    Mujer en la estación de radio, sus pies se sanaron de manera inmediata de un dolor punzante. Ella se sentía extasiada porque Dios la había tocado.
⁃    José Ignacio, (conductor de taxi #2), sentía picadas/punzadas a lo largo de sus piernas. Todo dolor/malestar fue sanado en el instante, también oramos por su padre quien todavía no es cristiano. José Ignacio llegó al Señor después de ser sanado de 5 años de artritis degenerativa, la cual paralizó su cuerpo con el dolor. (Nota: Encontramos testimonios de salvación/sanidad “extrema” como algo común en Colombia).
⁃    Múltiples rodillas/espaldas/dolores de cabeza/muñecas/tobillos fueron sanados.
⁃    Oramos con una chica que tenía una mochila blanca, (Nota: obtuvimos una mochila blanca en la búsqueda de “imágenes” de esa mañana). Ella sintió la capacidad de dirigir una oración sobre su amigo.
⁃    Hugo, estaba cojeando y tenía problemas en su espalda debido a que su pierna izquierda era más corta que la derecha. Todo dolor/malestar fue sanado en el instante. Su pierna creció durante la oración, resultando en huesos realineados y reducción del dolor al 100%. En ese momento le entregó su vida a Cristo justo allí en la calle.
⁃    Sebastián, (Nota: vimos el color rojo cereza durante la búsqueda de imágenes de esa mañana – él iba vestido exactamente de ese color), tenía dolor en su tobillo izquierdo, al principio se resistió a la oración porque decía que no creía en Dios. Todo el dolor se fue después de la oración y él le entrego su vida a Cristo en la calle.
⁃    Fabián, dolores de cabeza crónicos y otros dolores disminuyeron después de orar por él.
⁃    Lina, completamente sanada de dolor en la espalda y en el cuello.
⁃    Diana, cantante de adoración que tenía problemas severos en la garganta, fue completamente sana y fue capaz de liderar la alabanza en la conferencia esa noche sin dolor ni malestar.
⁃    Sebastián/Juan, Sebastián tenía una audición del 50% en su oído izquierdo, activamos a su amigo Juan para que dirigiera la oración y después de la primera oración toda la molestia y el ruido en el oído se fueron, oramos una segunda vez y la sanidad completa fue restaurada. (Nota: Desde entonces hemos hablado con Sebastián y parte de la molestia y el ruido ha vuelto. Únanse a nosotros orando y pidiéndole a Dios que abra su oído de manera permanente).
⁃    William, oramos con él por perdón para el mismo, su ex novia y la familia de ella. William había planeado acabar con su vida en su próximo cumpleaños pero vino a la conferencia y Dios se movió en su vida. (Nota: Algo que fue particularmente poderoso acerca del testimonio de William, fue que él vino a la conferencia con planes de acabar con su vida, pero para el segundo día de la conferencia, estuvo entre los otros asistentes que se pusieron de pie para proclamar los sueños que Dios les había dado para sus vidas – ¡Vaya cambio!).

⁃    Robinson le entregó su vida a Cristo y fue bautizado en la conferencia.
⁃    Aproximadamente 30 personas re-dedicaron su vida a Jesús en la conferencia y varios fueron bautizados afuera en las calles.
⁃    Ángela era completamente sorda en su oído derecho, luego de 45 minutos de oración e intercesión, ¡Dios abrió por completo su oído!
⁃    Isabel pudo perdonar a su padre y a su abuelo a través de la oración, luego de años de dolor, recibió sanidad interna por parte de Dios.
⁃    33 jóvenes le entregaron su vida a Cristo después de un encuentro en un parque en Leticia.
⁃    Nuestra amiga Gracia recibió sanidad luego de 3 años de problemas en su rodilla. Ella oró con una mujer mayor que tuvo dolores severos en ambas rodillas por 10 años, lo cual le causaba dificultad al caminar. Después de la oración la mujer podía correr y todo el dolor se fue.
⁃    3 individuos con cataratas fueron sanados instantáneamente, (en la aldea San Antonio en la jungla).
⁃    Múltiples casos de dolor en la espalda que fueron sanados.
⁃    Una mano que no funcionaba ni se movía correctamente, después de recibir oración recibió restauración completa de movimiento.
⁃    Caroline, una hermosa niña de 9 años que estaba paralizada desde su nacimiento, comenzó a recibir fuerza y movilidad en su cuello y sus piernas, y también aumentó su capacidad de hablar. Su madre nos dijo que ella nunca había podido mover sus piernas ni vocalizar palabras. ¡Más Dios!

Con lo que yo me quedé, personalmente, fue con que Dios está continuamente preparando a C&L! para el ministerio del Evangelio al cual Él nos ha llamado. Estoy tan agradecido por todo lo que Jesús ha realizado y continúa realizando a través de nosotros. También estoy muy agradecido con todos en el terreno de Colombia, quienes ayudaron a convertir este viaje en una realidad y por todos los que apoyaron nuestro esfuerzo a través de Operation:GO. Gracias a The Doves Foundation, Vertical Music, los pastores, líderes, iglesias y ministerios locales que pudimos animar y que nos animaron. Mi corazón se desborda por el amor que Dios tiene para su pueblo. – Chad/Equipo C&L!

One of the struggles I/we face is how to be present where we are called. When doors open, such as they have in seemingly random locales like New Zealand or Colombia, it’s as if the whole focus shifts. Typically, the work of a non-profit is not inspiring. I wrestle with this. I love being inspired and seeing others catch fire for God. We, as an organization, have tried (and are trying) to be present where we are. When we travel, we don’t spend hours of our day doing work that we would have done in the office. We spend our time with the people God places in front of us. I can’t imagine Jesus traveling through Galilee looking for the nearest cyber cafe to fill everyone in on the thrilling miracles He’s been doing. In a wireless global world everyone is both attached and unattached by platforms aimed at connecting us. Yet, time and time again, they prove there is no connection like looking someone in the eyes or sharing a friendly hug.

Reading through the Gospels, I do not get the idea that Jesus was tempted by the thought that His ministry wasn’t growing fast enough or wasn’t spanning enough of Israel. He knew where He was called and He remained faithful to teach His disciples. God does not struggle as we struggle. He knows the battle has already been won. He recognizes the dominion that He exerts over earth and heaven. We are reminded through-out the end of the Psalms (145-150) to Praise the Lord. It is recurring time and time again. Most of us are busy and occupied by all life’s demands. God help me never to be so busy that I forget to bring You praises. His name alone is exalted, his glory – his majesty, is above everything.

Praise His name today. Praise Him for His glory. Praise Him when you are literally watching His hand reconstruct hearts and bodies in the Amazon jungle & in populated cities. Praise Him when you are sitting in an office trying your best not to get swallowed whole by the reality of the “work” you didn’t do over the past two weeks. Regardless of where you are, Praise the Lord.

Be present where you are called.

Prayer: God, I choose to praise Your name today. Thank You that Your name alone is exalted. No other name compares. Show me Your glory that rises above earth and heaven. Bring me into the place where I can praise You well. Help me to be present with You and present where I am today.

P.S. We have many wonderful things to share with you from our trip to Colombia. Expect a journal entry soon.