The Fund of IMF

“The IMF is central to this endeavor and all of us have a stake in the role of the Fund in
orchestrating the road to recovery. The Fund’s capacity to deliver is ultimately connected to how much and how soon we empower it with resources, better governance, greater
accountability and a redefined mandate that keeps pace with the requirements of the
changing world,” Statement by Mr. Duvvuri Subbarao, Alternate Governor,
Home Minister Government of India, Ministry of Finance, India.

I know it is hard all over the world and in one sense it has always been a crisis to crisis world. In short, it is living in a fallen world that needs a redeemer. The IMF is posing as that redeemer. The full article is located at this link; http://www.imf.org/External/spring/2009/imfc/statement/eng/ind.pdf and you can read it yourself.

What I got out of it was that we are in a mess, not just locally, but globally. That money, loans, investments, and promissory notes have failed. The reoccurring word is ‘reform,’ and that our systems need to be challenged and changed to meet the demands of a broken system of economy. I agree, we need to be about reform, and certainly see the need for that in the many lives I minister too that have lost jobs, or about to get the hammer dropped on their company. I see it in local shops and businesses having to slim down or shut down all together. Lives have been affected for sure. What I do see in a letter like this is the one world economy. It shows the shadows of something that is just another step closer to control. I’m certainly only skimming the surface here, but the way I read my Bible is that the further we get away from the ascension of Jesus, the closer we get to his return. Articles like this one and the authorities that write them confirm the fact that time is ticking down.

So what is necessary? Reform. The same word that many leaders are saying is the very word that needs to be applied to hearts of mankind toward the Gospel of Jesus. To realize that the totality of government rests on His shoulders is a reforming thought and those who have been saved by His grace can certainly testify to his authority in and over all things. So as you look around, keep a watchful eye on the Lord. He is not devoid of our decisions. In fact he will ultimately have His glory in spite of them. Looking to Jesus. The author and reformer of my faith and life.

Missed Flights

So, here I sit at Sacramento International Airport. Why am I sitting rather than flying off into the wild blue yonder? Because I missed my previous flight. This comes as no surprise for the friends and family that really know me. I could say traffic was heavy, I had way to many errands to run, my kids held me up; however, these are all excuses good for one thing; to provide an excuse. What is comforting in all this is the opportunity to write this to you before I catch the next flight.

I stepped up to the ticket counter and told them my plight and walla, I had the next flight reserved. It was a bit embarrassing and will be an adjustment for the family that was picking me up at my destination; however, by God's grace I got another chance. Why do I say by God's grace? Because I believe this is what God has done on my behalf. He has given me a second chance. We need to know that. God is all about taking our excuses and turning them into a journey with Him. I could have turned around once I knew I would have missed my flight, I could have got all upset at the missed flight, I could have slipped into deep depression over missing the flight, but by God's Grace I got another chance.

Now let me make another point here, I don't want to make a habit of missing flights, anymore than I want to cheapen God's Grace. This is what Paul the Apostle was saying to the first century Christians in Rome about God's Grace. We cannot earn it, and God gives it through His son Jesus Christ, and once we receive it, we don't want to make it cheap with a poor example of God in me. So, though I get to write you a confermation of making another flight that I missed, I want to still be good about making the next one. That is why I'm sitting right in front of the boarding gate. A gift to make the flight, and the responsibility to keep myself on time.

Celebration of 3 years!

Just three years ago a group of disciples thought it possible to be a gospel minded, disciple driven, grace living church. We started in a living room with dreams and passion, and it has not let up to this day. On Sunday the 5th of April we had a wonderful gathering of breakfast, balloons, and big stories of how God is moving among His people in the Sierra Foothills of Auburn and it's surrounding communities.

I'm thankful to be it's planter. A few things come to mind that I want to reflect upon in this blog post. First, it takes a group of people to gather for a church. What this means is being part of tribe of people committed not to planting a church but to the gospel that saves them. This comes to unfold gifts, talents, passions, and interests for the Gospel. Out of that comes a willingness to plant a church. This obviously means gathering publicly and making much of Jesus and gathering locally in community groups to make much of Jesus. Second, not everyone will want to make the journey. I feel very called to plant Elevation and hope that Elevation Church will be a catalyst to plant more Gospel/Mission minded churches. However, not everyone is called to do that. Discerning who is on board and encouraging them to share temperaments, talents, treasures, and time is a continual process. This means the work of planting is really never over. Gathering people around the Gospel is continuous. Lastly, my family, especially my wife have been such a blessing and inspiration to this call and journey within these last 3 years, that without them I'm not sure how successful things would be. I know that God can do anything, however, pastoring my family first and being encouraged by the results of that in light of planting Elevation has been a confirmation of God's grace.

I look forward to run the race that God has called me too. Doing it with God's strength, integrity, and focus. This last three years have been tremendous. So to all who have had a part in the journey with Elevation, I thank you and look ahead to God's will being done in Elevation Church. Elevating the Gospel and making disciples who will live as missionaries in their culture. Love you...Pastor Eric Van Patten

The angst of anxiety

That late 90's song "Don't worry be happy" just makes me sick. It just makes the issues of my everyday life seem trivial and unnecessary to worry about. It makes the end goal of being happy the solvent of all my issues and problems. But my life and most likely yours too, life is not just a state of "just be happy." When I have been at the bedside of a man dying of cancer or at the memorial of a grieving family, or counseling a person who is trying to make sense of their marriage breaking apart after 20 years; I don't simply play that silly little jiggle. So what can I do? For myself, and to help others? Well I think the Bible again offers good news (gospel) to that question.
First off Jesus spoke about anxiety. He preached it in a sermon found in Matthew's gospel account. Chapter 6 has Jesus asking the big question of whether anxiety can add more time to your life? The obvious answer is no. However, I tend to think many folks hope it does. Because behind much of anxiety is control and power. When we are out of control or not in the power seat of life we can have an overwhelming feeling of being anxious. I think Jesus knew this about our need for control and even was being tempted to be anxious about life in general with a previous temptation story in Matthew 4. Jesus knows our needs and wants and desires. He knows we can focus hard on the things of this world to satisfy our life and the need to want more. We can get worn down and seek after a kingdom of this world and loose sight of God's kingdom. That is why I think he gives a refocus on kingdom perspectives. "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." As a Christ follower, I'm not immune to being anxious, but I can do something about it. I can be rightly concerned with God's kingdom and this will place a real contentment for my anxiety. This real effort is a term called "casting." and again the Bible confirms this effort by saying, "casting all your anxieties on him (Jesus) because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7.
This is more than a mental assent of thinking happy thoughts, but a whole life effort of redirecting our trust in Jesus, who can sympathize with our worries, yet kept his obedience in check to the provision of God the Father and His timing to life's situations. So instead of singing a silly song about being happy and really not dealing with the core issues of anxiety, maybe we can sing an old hymn of truth about God's dealing with us in anxiety; "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus."

Stress is strength?

Often I have been told we need to get rid of stress, and certainly we have tried as a culture to perfect many ways to alleviate stress from our lives. From medication to gadgets to media. However a recent article from a culture website called Very Short List, disclosed a study that a bit of stress might be good for you after all. Researchers say it can even keep you young. Well you can read more about it and even go to the extended link yourself. The article below...

(Doctors and scientists have told us that stress causes heart disease, stomach cancer, and other assorted ailments. But according to scientists at Northwestern University, a little stress can actually be good for you.
When cells are exposed to a stressor such as heat, they initiate a biochemical cascade that aims to limit the damage. A key element of this “heat shock” response is the repair of proteins that have been misfolded or injured — a process that extends the life span of the cells and thus the organism. And so, certain forms of stress (calorically restricted diets, a few long days at the office) may be healthy: They’re too mild to cause serious harm but significant enough to trigger the repair mechanism. The secret, then, isn’t avoiding stress entirely — it’s finding ways to make sure the stress isn’t chronic. )...http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/41044/title/Antiaging__A_little_stress_may_keep_cells_youthful

Of course I think the Bible has already spoken to the issue in James chapter one, when the writer says to followers of Christ, to consider it pure joy when you face trails of many kinds. That certainly includes stressful situations. The end result is not wanting more stress, but character that reflects the nature of Jesus and brings God glory. Maybe we can look more into the scriptures to see some of lifes real issues addressed too. Have a day!

Calvinism with conscience

I'm a Calvinist. Now that is off my chest, I also want to say that reformed approaches to the Bible can lend a stale approaches to actively living in the Spirit. However, I think that if I'm reading the Bible through the eyes of the Gospel of Jesus, than I have a privilege to keep in step with the Spirit.

The means of my salvation is certainly and most assuredly in the perfect work of Christ, but my continual cooperation with that work started in me is daily and a willing submission to the Spirit in me. Douglas Moo, commentator to the New Testament letter of Romans says of this tension of being saved and acting saved like this, "Security without responsibility breeds passivity; but responsibility without security leads to anxiety."

Both places are not good to be in exclusively. However, the wonderful aspect of being in Christ or in the Spirit (which is really one in the same) is "There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," Romans 8:1. This is security. And, "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live," Romans 8:13, this is responsibility.

Someone who says he or she is a follower of Jesus and does not put their lives under daily review of his or her behaviors and beliefs is prone to become passive to the Spirit of God, and the one who is always trying to make themselves right through rituals of behavior modification and belief in a 'better you, ' is subject to anxiety. Thanks be to Jesus who navigates the way. More to come in future posts.

Rhythms of Redemption

Tonight was a resurgence of redemption at Beach Hut deli in Auburn CA. I have always enjoyed good music and tonight Speak With Love hosted a show with two talented artist that took their art for music to the public in a non-threatening rhythm. The stage is being set to be an incarnational work of the gospel in public places. So wonderful to be on the ground floor in this movement to bring the gospel into culture where people live and relate. Beach Hut is a superb sandwich shop that has a very cool sand and surf theme. They serve up a great sandwich and drinks, along with passionate live music that points to the gospel and you have the ingredients for a redemptive work. Now all my missionary friends at Elevation need to do is let God be God and draw his own to an understanding of His grace because we spoke with love tonight in a deli shop in Auburn CA. For more on Speak With Love...visit them on Facebook, or go to http://www.speakwithlove.org/