An Old Heart Like Mine. . .

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Rich Stevenson

ocrprayerMy eyes are dry
My faith is old
My heart is hard
My prayers are cold
And I know how I ought to be
Alive to you and dead to me

But what can be done
For an old heart like mine
Soften it up
With oil and wine
The oil is you, your spirit of love
Please wash me anew
With the wine of your blood

I have shared for decades that there were three reasons that I stayed close to Jesus during my adolescence:  1).  The keeping power of the Holy Spirit  2).  Praying parents   3). The music of Keith Green Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

You Might Be The Next Circuit Rider

Posted on December 28, 2013 by Rich Stevenson

images[I’m thankful for my Wesleyan/Methodist heritage.  I included in this post a wonderful article by John H. Wigger on the early circuit riders.  In the Malachi Network, we are looking for leaders who carry the same values:

Soundly converted by the Gospel of Christ, zealous in their calling, willing to go where people are, committed to spontaneous expansion, identified with the common man, sacrificial in lifestyle, able to redefine sacred space, filled with the Holy Spirit’s knock-em-down power, and without prejudice.

You can establish a Simple Community of Prayer and Expansion – SCOPE.] Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas Hope – A Christmas Letter and Sincere Request from the Malachi Network

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Rich Stevenson

December 14, 2013holidays_christmas_holly_1MNlogo

Dear Friends,

It hit me like a bullet of truth.  Hope is not just about the future, it is anchored in the past.  I was driving home from our Thanksgiving celebration and thinking about our Sunday morning worship in our house church.  We would be celebrating the first Sunday of Advent and the theme that goes with that first candle is HOPE. . .from Thanksgiving right into Advent. . .That is exactly how it should be.  Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Church: Love It Or Love It (Part 2)

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Rich Stevenson

fd03fd4ab66b9a2649417e3ed4d6b54f_400x400_200x200The best of times and the worst of times, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, high praise, joyful tears, belly laughter, miracles of salvation and healing, disappointment, stupid mistakes, unfair treatment, depression, anger and pain.  Church.

I have more hope now for the Church than I have ever had before. . .

That is how I finished Part 1 of this journal.  It’s really true.  I am 100% convinced that the Church is becoming a radiant Bride and She will be fierce in both power and holiness!

Here is my bottom line reason for such optimism:  JESUS GETS YES. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church: Love It Or Love It

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Rich Stevenson

I just reread this and decided to reblog it. This is the beginning of what will become a journal of what I believe the LORD is doing in the Church today.
“I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.” George C. Lichtenberg
Change is coming to the Church in America. I have great hope. . .
I’d love to have your thoughts as I share from my heart about the Church in the days ahead.

Rich Stevenson's avatarrichstevenson.org

fd03fd4ab66b9a2649417e3ed4d6b54f_400x400_200x200Did you see what I did there?

You thought when you began reading that title that it was going to say, “Church:  Love It Or Leave It.”  And you could jump on the bandwagon with a massive crowd of 20 and 30 somethings who are leaving the Church in droves.  It is popular to say things like, “I don’t have a problem with Jesus, but I don’t like the Church.”

The problem is, there’s no alternative.  Jesus is coming back for a bride, not a bride with all of her bridesmaids.  Church is Plan A, and there’s no Plan B.  

View original post 425 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment