Well hello again!

I’ve been away from the blog for over 2 months and this is the post I come back with???

Not sure what I’m thinking, this might get a little crazy. I won’t blame you if you decide to go surf youtube videos instead of reading this post.

To quickly bring you up to speed…since my last post I have been on vacation in Germany with my wife, sold the first house I ever owned, moved in with my in-laws for 3 weeks, then moved into an overpriced rental in downtown Calgary, and started a new job under bumpy circumstances.

All of these things are of the physical world. I can, to some extent, control them. Some of these things were awesome, some of them in the middle, and some of them have made this recent transition a lot more difficult than I expected.

And then there’s the spiritual world. It’s throwing me curveballs that I did not expect.

And so I bring you Part 3 of the Preaching in the Mirror series – “Satan is Real”

disclaimer: you might think I’m psycho and I’m ok with that

The word “coincidence” keeps coming to mind. I don’t know if I believe in it or not. I lean towards not, but somehow the word keeps creeping in to my vocabulary. (Please forgive a few long sentences here. Also, the following is just to provide you with context. Insert your our circumstances in place of mine)

Is it a coincidence that I face spiritual attack in my personal life that I’ve never faced before right as I start out as Creative Pastor of a worship service that I believe God wants to use in huge ways to draw people in the city of Calgary to Himself?

I don’t know…

Is it a coincidence that at the same time the church faces a difficult issue that has a lot of emotions and layers attached to it and could potentially be devastating to a lot of relationships if Satan has his way?

I don’t know…

Is it a coincidence that these spiritual attacks come in a church that has grown by over 1,000 people (many of those new believers) in 3 years in a city that has plenty of comfortable, wealthy people who would tell you they have no need for God?

I don’t know…

I can’t say for certain. But I do know that I believe it is NOT a coincidence at all. I believe that when God is moving powerfully Satan pulls overtime to try and put a stop to it. He attacks the individual with gossip, jealousy, anger, bitterness, self-righteousness, greed. He brings out the big guns of depression, substance abuse, and pornography. He knows all the tricks.

Satan is real, and he wants to destroy you. This isn’t a story in a movie. This is real. This is happening.

If God has placed you in a position of influence over other believers you can be sure that attack will come hard and fierce, especially if you’re seeing fruit in your ministry. Pastors, worship leaders, small group leaders, parents, teachers, CEOs, you name it. It will come. It will appear in ways you do not expect.

Personally I’d like to ignore everything I’ve just previously said. I would much rather live my life, have my 3 weeks vacation, collect my pay check, and feel good about my contribution to society than admit there is a battle raging for my soul.

Except I can’t.

I can’t because I know that will lead me to destruction. I can’t because imprinted in the very fibre of my being is a desire for relationship with the God who has something far greater for me than pay checks and feeling good about myself. This God gives us a purpose. This God reaches out to us and says, “I have something far better for you than anything you could hope to attain on your own.” This God gives us victory in the battle. This God has provided a way out.

Jesus, the God-man. The only one who has defeated all of the things that Satan uses to destroy us. He has defeated Satan and death. He is our rescue. He is the God who saves us. He is the atonement. He is the grace giver. He is the restorer. He is the victorious one.

Do Battle

Worship Your Face Off

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. – Ephesians 6:12

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I am sick of trying to ignore the battle. I am sick of seeing the destruction around me and in me. I am sick of my own excuses. I am sick of my lack of faith, lack of prayer, lack of courage, lack of perseverance in the fight. I am sick of fighting alone.

I will do battle. Worship is my weapon of choice.

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Bring it

The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf. – Deuteronomy 1:30

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Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. – Deuteronomy 7:9