Fresh Strength

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To each generation there is a responsibility  - "What do these stones mean to you?"

"Joshua said to them, 'Cross again to the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. Let thhis be a sign among you, so thatwhen your children ask tomorrow saying, "WHAT DO THESE STONES MEAN TO YOU?" ... So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.'" Joshua 4:6,7

In the first few chapters of Joshua - the Hebrew people were in a period of transition. The Lord declares to Joshua in the first chapter of the book, "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel." Joshua is the person God has chosen to lead the people into the promise land. His leadership is positioned between two territories and generations. In this moment,  Joshua recognizes the transition the Lord has orchestrated. As the current generation moves into the provisions of the promise land, life as they had known it was about to change. New territories bring new challenges. Familiar paths fade with time and are easily forgotten. God is about to do something new in the land.

To initiate this transition, the Joshua gives a command  and asks a question. The command was for a man from each tribe of Israel to pick up a stone from the middle of Jordan and carry it into the promise land to be a memorial for generations to come. His question concerning the stones made sure each man would chose to carry the heaviest stone physically strength could muster. 

The weight of the individual stone carried was equal to each man's gravitas

Joshua was a man of great integrity and strength. The Lord commanded him several times to be strong and courageous in expressing his leadership attributes. For over the last 40 year,  while he was in training to assume this leadership position, Joshua learned gravitas by being in God's presence. He was a man who was familiar with the weight of God's Glory. In his boyhood years, Joshua acting as Moses servant, would linger in the Tent of the Meeting. The Tent of the Meeting was the place where Moses and the Lord would communicate. Moses would enter the Tent of the Meeting and God's Glory would appear encompassing the tent. Joshua developed in strength and character in the weight of God's presence. The cry of his heart was to let the weight of God's Glory fall upon him. He learned to walk with the weight of God's presence resting on his shoulders. 

Joshua selected men of gravitas to carry the stones from the Jordan riverbed to its banks. Men who just not claimed to know the truth but were transformed by His presence. Have you ever felt the weight of His presence? I hope so. 

What stone has God asked you to carry into this generation? 

Join me in the discussion as we develop Gravitas!!

mike pelechaty

"Upon this Rock I will build My church"

Can you imagine the interaction between Peter and Jesus at this moment. Late one evening while sitting around the campfire Jesus leads the conversation to a more serious tone. The disciples caught off guard become silent and start listening to their teacher. Jesus begins to ask some general questions. The disciples answer in generalities. They re-echo the popular opinions of the day. Disagreement arose between them as they vied for Jesus affirmation. Peter avoided the direct gaze of Christ. His heart burned within him as if he was going to explode. The Lord knowing the Holy Spirit was speaking asked Peter directly, "Whom do you say that I am?

"Thou art the Christ - the Son of the Living God"

Men and women of Graitas! are those who have a revelation of who Christ is. Their lives are changed by that revelation. Ministry's are birthed. Missionaries are sent. Prophet's declare. Evangelist's weep. Pastor's lay down their lives. Apostle's are commissioned. The weight of the revelation is their generational quest and burden. 

Martin Luther received a revelation one lonely night as he feverishly prayed for God's thought's to be his thoughts. Suddenly the revelation - "The just shall live by faith." A stone of revelation was placed on his shoulders. Just as Joshua commanded 12 Hebrew men to pick up stones from river bed of the Jordan to be carried on their shoulders into the promise land for a memorial for all generations. Martin Luther in that moment was asked to carry a stone into his generation. 

Has the Lord given you a revelation to carry into your generation?

The Church on Tap: Lunch at Christ Crusaders

Afer Sunday morning at Pearl St this week, a bunch of us headed over to Christ Crusader's Church on the East side of Buffalo. Pastor Steve Forman (seen in the Red Santa-Claus-esque jacket) invited us over as a "thank you" for all the service projects we've done with his congregation over the past several years. In addition to being a Pastor, Steve also runs his own catering business and was the executive chef at a high end downtown Buffalo restaurant. That is very good news for us, as Steve makes some incredible food!In addition to thanking us, Pastor Steve had the great idea of having the youth of the church prepare the meal and serve it to us, as if they were working in a restaurant. This is part of his "career training" that he has been doing with the local youth. What a wondering idea! It was a great time to celebrate our communities union. I'm sure we'll be doing some work down there in the next couple of months, so feel free to join us!

via thechurchontapbuffalo.blogspot.com

Ok - I tried. Next time I am going to look at the Topo map BEFORE I start the hike. ;>>))