I fell…but rose again…

Here’s the answer to “What happened next” – and then a little proof that “I rose again”!

 

 Proverbs 24:16 - …though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…

Check my “rise again” ride here:

What happened next?

Here is some of my snow-boarding action at our Every Nation Europe senior pastors gathering in Austria last week:

The big Question: What happened next?!

Taking time for relationships…

This week I am in Austria with my natural and “spiritual” family for our annual “Every Nation Western&Central Europe senior pastors fellowship week” – its quite a mouthful but the idea is simple: Investing in relationships; having a relaxed environment where senior pastors can be themselves and encourage one another. (And yes, we do get some skiing done…my off-piste snowboarding has been awesome this week – I’ll post a photo or two next week)

Sometimes there are questions asked about whether just “spending time together” is a good investment of time and money in the ministry. Looking around this group of senior pastors from Ireland, England, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Croatia, and knowing what pressures they and their families face, I am absolutely convinced of the value of this week. Having a common vision is one thing, but how much better if we also have strong supporting relationships on this journey. I highly value the friends I have in the Every Nation family here in Europe and around the world, and I highly value the relationships we have in London as we seek to be a part of what God is doing in the earth today. “Love one another” is not just a dry commandment, but an instruction pointing to the richest way to doing life: Together.

Yesterday I took one of the teenagers onto an off-piste section on our snow-boards, and after one particularly radical section she screamed: “WOW – now I know why I started snow-boarding!!” When I look around at all the amazing people with whom I am privileged to do life with, I say: “WOW – Now I know why I signed up for this!”

Whatever you do, my prayer is that you will seek not only to find your purpose, but also to find your people, and have a rhythm of life that allows time to invest in the relationships that make the journey worth it.

Wolfi’s Valentine’s Card Rules…

Its that LOVE time of the year again. I know that we’re all in different circumstances of life regarding relationships, but if you are considering sending doing the card thing for Valentines Day, then here are my two rules:

1. Never send out more than one card! - that’s called desperation (and defrauding), and its a turn-off…
2. If you cant sign it, don’t send it. – Declaring love is a risk worth taking…

Happy Valentine’s Day

P.S. If you need some fresh perspectives on the relationship thing, I can recommend that you get a set of my DateTalk DVD’s or CD’s – and settle down for some life-change! Check out some samples on http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=EveryNationLondon

A year to “stride”…

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus gives us one of the greatest invitations ever, saying: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me… Walk with Me and work with Me …  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace…. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

This year at EN London we believe that our focus is summed up in this, that “2008 is a year to learn to get into the “Stride” of the unforced rhythms of His grace.” 

A “stride” is running with a rhythm which you can maintain all the way to the finish. Its a pace that allows for surges when needed, without blowing a fuse. Its a “walk with Me and work with Me” rhythm.  One of the greatest runners of our generation, Forrest Gump, ran for 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, and 16 hours, and then he stopped. God doesn’t want you to stop. He is into a ”run and not grow tired” pace, all the way to the finish.

Jesus invites us to come to Him and to ”take My yoke on you.” There is no “no-yoke” option in life. We must choose who & what we will be yoked (joined/connected/united) to. Either we are yoked top all sorts of stuff which makes us tired & weary, or we yoke with Christ, His Church, and His Cause to make disciples. (We do this by Reaching, Connecting, Empowering, Reproducing, Transforming – which are our EN London core values)

To stride like this with Jesus, we have to be free from all other yokes. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free,(Gal 5:1) and the prohet Isaiah, seeing ahead hundreds of years, sees the Christ (The “Anointed One”) releasing His anointing through His death and resurrection, and declares “In that day the burden will be removed from your shoulders…the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing.” (Is 10:27) This is that day, a day for your & my freedom. Declare it over your life this year and be free to RUN with a new STRIDE…and see what God will do.

(For more, listen to the full message on downloads on our newly updated website)