Monterey

In the late 18th Century Father Junipero Serra and Spanish Explorer Gaspar de Portaloa arrived in the Monterey area of California on a mission they sincerely felt was from God. The area was named Monterey, meaning Mountain of the King. The word mountain (mont) was used to parallel the areas natural peaks with the spiritual symbolism of mountains, which means authority. The word king (rey) was used to refer to Christ. So the name articulated the mission- to establish the authority of Christ. Serra and Portola worked together to physically, spiritually, militarily, and materially see Christ exalted through the people and government of Monterey.

Two hundred and forty three years later Monterey Church finds it purpose in our regions history. We exist to see the authority of Christ established in the hearts and minds of His People. Our means are quite different, however. They are entirely spiritual and relational, our work is focused entirely internally on the human heart rather than externally through physical and material means... We desire to see the Holy Spirit bring the knowledge of Christ, the Cross, and God's Grace and personally place it upon the hearts of those he loves, and then to bring them into an ever-increasing and willing submission to Jesus.

God please bless our effort...

Perfect Timing

I was reading in Exodus today that it was 430 years, to the day, when Israel was released from Egypt and began their journey to the Promised Land. The precision of the date reminded me that God keeps his promises without a moments delay... He will not move until he has ordained it, but once that time comes- nothing can stop him!

I get very anxious to see God keep his promises for Monterey Church: To resettle us in our own Building in downtown Monterey, to launch Monterey Church-Virginia, and to give us the resources to strengthen our ministry in both places and beyond. Today's reading reminded me to keep getting ready, because when it is time- nothing will stop him!

Preparations

One of my favorite phrases in Scripture is James' "faith without action is dead". It reminds me that the proper response to God's promises requires more than an intellectual or emotional acceptance- it many times requires volitional action. I have heard it said that belief isn't enough, we need to believe so much we become convinced, and we need to become so convinced that we are convicted, and then conviction always leads to action...

I truly believe God has a broader vision for Monterey Church than what we are experiencing, I am becoming convinced that he will establish our work here in Monterey, in Northern Virginia and in Bolivia.  I am so convinced that I am under conviction to speak such vision to our Body and to lead through the example of action, to be sure we are ready...

Does action mean we are responsible for the results? No way. We cannot do it, but what we can do is prepare to seize the moment when God does move... 

Joseph saw 7 years of abundance as a promise from God, he was convinced, he was so convinced he was convicted, and his conviction led to the action of building a huge containers in all of the cities around Egypt to capture the promise... What a fool he would have been if God hadn't moved, what a wise man he was because God did... This is real faith! Willing to look silly like Joseph, Noah, Elijah and just about anyone else whom God convinced of anything...

I sure hope I'm right...

A New Venture

I am creating this blog to stay better connected with all of my Monterey Church friends and family... We are multiplying soon! From Monterey California to Northern Virginia... Monterey Church will soon have a new campus, which means 1 small building, in the Gainesville/Warrenton area of Virginia... A huge step for us, but one we feel incredible led and inspired to take!

This blog will be a great way for me to keep the California folks and Virginia folks and all the other folks who care in the loop as things develop...

A new year, a new church, and a new blog... should be exciting...