EL’s Dribble

I think one of the purest joys for me in doing what I do is “passing the rock” and watching others “score”. I’m sure that analogy can be taken in infinite ways. My only other dream profession is being in the NBA and I’d love to play the point. In the mold of the traditionalists – John Stockton, Steve Nash, Magic Johnson… setting up his guys to score.

I was discussing Good Friday with Warren and Serg and had told them before that this time they were going to lead more and I was going to lead less. And as we were discussing, getting excited about what we were going to do, Serg asked me what part I wanted to lead. And Warren said… we don’t need him, we can do it! And I was really proud of my guys. They saw the joy of helping people see Jesus and they stepped up to the challenge. They weren’t afraid… of messing it up or doing something wrong.

I’m so tired of people who are paralyzed by a fear of failure. Don’t get me wrong… I’m afraid of failing too. I’m like everyone else… I don’t like falling on my face. But by and large there is so much fear. Fear of making a mistake, being looked down upon, losing what you have, finding out the truth. It’s slavery. It enslaves regardless of age, ethnic or socio-economic background. When I’m being judgmental… I think it’s pathetic. When I’m more humble about it [and realize it in myself too], it really makes me sad.

So I’m excited to see guys who say that fear is not an option. And to see it in a few of my guys… that they were willing to not be owned by fear for the sake of the Gospel. That makes me really proud. And the truth is that I see very few who make that deal, step up to that challenge… and not be owned… by fear.

I have to admit that I’ve never really understood spiritual warfare until we started church planting almost 4 years ago. We never really learned about it in seminary. Which will lead to another rant/post another time. I just never really understood it… or told to give it much attention. It’s not the entirety of what I do or think of… but I definitely think way more about it then systematic theology.

You know… if you start asking questions… the right questions. The questions that undermine the lies that Satan wants to perpetuate, he’ll come after you. I spoke with a pastor friend a while back and we both talked about how busy the “church” is how it takes us away from simply loving God and loving people. He began to ask those same questions at his church and was attacked from all directions. It’s caused him some grief with the people he serves with. But the litmus test as to whether it’s good or bad questioning? He said that the questioning was helping him fall more in love with Jesus. Good questioning I say.

Men struggle with porn. Let’s face it. If you’re a man, you either struggle with porn or you’re a liar. So like any man, I experience temptation, submit to accountability, have the software on my computer, etc. A few weeks ago I felt tempted and looked at some marginally questionable stuff. Nothing that would come up on the accountability software. And honestly, nothing too horrific.

And the rest of the day and the next, I felt a heavy condemnation on me. And a fear that I haven’t experienced in a long time. Fear of being found out, fear of not being worthy to do what I do, fear of just being a fake, a fraud. I couldn’t swing it.

I began to pray and couldn’t let loose of it. And I started examining more closely what was going on in my mind. And I realized that Satan was filling it with all sorts of crap. Things that have no validity in Scripture, things that don’t even make sense. And in my head, while I sitting in a cafe trying to work, I let out a primal mental scream… f*ck you Satan!! I couldn’t believe it. He had me going. I began to pray against those lies, pray against his influence. And then prayed for a filling of the Spirit. And immediately and for the rest of the week, I felt so free.

I was meeting with Serg and Warren and we were talking through Good Friday stuff. We were on a roll. Good stuff… really rediscovering the beauty of the cross in our conversation. It was awesome. As I was about to clinch it, there was a woman right in my line of sight… wearing something thoroughly inappropriate in a McDonald’s at 8am in the morning. Who wears that so early in the morning and can order two breakfast burritos with a straight face? It threw me off… completely lost my train of thought. I told the guys, Serg prayed, and was slowly brought back to sanity and continued on with our discussion.

Today we finished our discussion on Good Friday. Came up with good stuff. The guys are taking the lead and I’m so proud of them. And here we go again. And not just on me…

This is just this week… I understand temptation, I understand it’s a part of man. But Satan hates it when we start getting to the core of things. The things that really bring revolution and revival and restoration. The things of the CROSS, the things of Jesus, the heart of His Kingdom. It makes me mad at Satan… how he has robbed so many of their confidence in the cross and got them buying into things that have no real importance.

That’s warfare.

If you are looking for the prayer updates that were on elton.ihaven.org, you can click on the links below to access them. I’ll be posting all prayer updates on this blog from now on. And you can click on the link to the right [Prayer Updates] or HERE to see all the updates and exclude the “Elton-Ramble” that is also on this blog. Say NO to “Elton-Ramble”.

Archived Prayer Updates:

2004 – May
2004 – June
2004 – July
2004 – September
2004 – December
2005 – February
2005 – April
2005 – May
2005 – September
2006 – February
2006 – June
2007 – January
2007 – May

“After a time of decay comes the turning point. The powerful light that has been banished returns. There is movement, but it is not brought about by force… the movement is natural, arising spontaneously. The old is discarded and the new is introduced. Both measures accord with the time; therefore no harm results”
~ Ancient Chinese Saying

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