Today's Ignite Conference at our Midway campus was a big win!  Lots of new faces, a full Spanish language tract, Pastor Wilfredo deJesus, matches, the Jesse White Tumblers, powerful music, great sessions and a big turnout!  This is our third year doing the event and each time its happened because of the teamwork and hours put in by a whole bunch of people from different New Life locations.

Two people at the center of it all bear huge responsibility for the event and always deliver:  EJ Lyon and Vilma Arguelles.  EJ handles all the conference and session related logistics--sign in, registration, books, day-of problems, resources, volunteer recruitment and placement, performers like the JWT's and a whole bunch more.  Vilma oversees all the tech, graphic and design people, videos, building needs and workers, set up, sound/tech/video, day-of program and a whole bunch more.

Frankly, without these ladies handling the operations, the event wouldn't happen.  Alongside them are a host of great volunteers who serve in too many ways to list (but I'll try anyway).  Altogether, hundreds of work-hours are invested to make an event like Ignite happen. 

There are a bunch of other people who do big things to make Ignite happen: 

• Bobby Moss and Paco Amador serve on the planning team with EJ, Vilma and I and contribute a lot of ideas, guidance, planning, and laughs.  I think we have the most fun (and most caffeinated) meetings of any New Life group.
• Joshua and Nancy Holec are big time servants in the final run up putting a ton of hours and care into final prep and day-of management.  Nancy runs a lot of the back of the house and Joshua the front.  They're a great team.
• Marco and Christina Terrell and their incredible team of talented and hard-working foodies.  They don't just throw some food out on a table--they create magic!  And no one who wasn't fasting could have gone home today hungry.  They serve a constantly replenishing snack-meal and drink service that is unbeatable.
• The building team, led by Phil Flores and the tech team of Steve, Tino and crew who work with Vilma providing recording of every session and sound/tech/video in each session.  These crews make sure the rooms are set up with chairs, sound, video, empty trash cans, clean bathrooms, clean floors--you name it. 
• All the session teachers and facilitators.  We try to mix it up with new presenters and new topics each year as well as tapping into the strength of our pastoral team.  Each year our teaching team does a great job.
• The registration, ushering and greeting team.  They arrive early and make sure that everyone is welcomed, given resources, and helped wherever needed.  And don't forget the parking lot guys overseen by Mike Berry who keep cramming in "one more car".  
• Mike Vasquez, Alicia Holec and Roger Masa who video and photograph just about anything that moves.

We start planning this conference about 5 months before it happens.  But each year the effort and work of many pays off with an experience that equips and ignites a big cross-section of New Lifers. 

Thank you Ignite Peeps!  You're the best!

I've talked about it before but its illustrated powerfully when you are preparing to fast--you are at your best when you function within a spiritual squad.  Our pastoral team (my key squad) has been in conversation over email sharing our various fasting plans for the 21 day fast we began yesterday.  This conversation has done several things for me:

1. Hearing about other pastors' specific fasting plans caused me to create my own plan.  I've learned that what is left unsaid prior to a fast becomes a point for easy compromise during a fast.  A fasting plan keeps me from wiggling out of my commitments, indulging or unnecessarily struggling.  Its particularly helpful after I've shared my plans with others.
2. Knowing that others are fasting in the same way right along with me gives me an invisible sense of camaraderie.  I'm not alone.  That renews my sense of purpose because I'm in it together with brothers.
3. Practical helps like Dwayne's phrase, "water is a faster's best friend", remind me how to stay on track in practical things during the fast.  And it reduces the number of headaches I experience.

Our conversation really began by me simply asking, "hey, is anyone fasting the entire 21 days?"  From there most of the team shared how they are participating in the fast.  Don't be afraid to ask people in your squad about their fast.  A corporate fast is done together (duh) so you're not being unspiritual by sharing how you're fasting.

Haven't started fasting yet?  Start by making a plan.  Answer these questions as specifically as possible:

• How long will you fast? 
  
  • Example:  "sundown, February 26 to sundown, February 29"
• What will you fast from? 
  
  • Example:  "only 3 glasses/bottles of juice per day, no coffee, as much tea as desired, one cup of clear broth per day, no web-surfing, no television."
• What will you add to your spiritual practices during the fast?  
  • As my daughter Lena said yesterday, " a fast is not just stopping eating--it means praying when you would be eating."
  • Example:  30 minutes of worship and prayer for breakfast lunch and dinner, meditate on the book of Ephesians for the duration of the fast.
• Why are you fasting?
  • Now its not enough to answer this with, "because my church said to do it."  That's a good start but having personal spiritual goals during your fast will give your fast prayer purposes that bind it together and that allow you to praise God for what He does after your fast is complete.
  • Example:  "hear God more clearly, break out of spiritual dryness, receive direction on an important decision."

I'll give one more piece of advice--read a good fasting book before and during your fast.  It will motivate and inspire you.  I recommend Jentezen Franklin's book Fasting.  May your fast be fruitful.

Having a great 1st day of the fast. In preparing for the Ash Wednesday service I ran across a prayer card we made up about this time last year.

It says:

        “Summer/Fall 2008: Potential New Life Locations
        Please join us in prayer as we seek to cooperate with God
        and further His Kingdom in Chicago and beyond.
        5 Neighborhoods listed on map:
        Humboldt Park, Portage Park, Tri-Taylor, Brighton Park, Berwyn

I want to make a new prayer card listing Pilsen, Summit, East Chicago, & Englewood.

Don’t ever doubt that God can open doors and persistent prayer makes a difference! (Luke 11:5-13)

One cool thing I learned on my last fast...
Water is the fast-ers best friend!

I noticed a huge difference when I was drinking enough water.  Even with juice and vegetable fasts, drink alot of water.

As I was getting headaches today I drank a half liter of water and a half hour later I felt better.

I know the first three days can be challenging.  Don't quit.  If you forgot or messed up, start over and don't beat yourself up.  If you are doing a juice fast, after about 3 days of hunger your body switches into a different mode and the physical hunger pains go away.  But because your stomach has shifted gears, you have to be real careful in how you break the fast.

But as you begin to fast... The best tip that I can give you is to DRINK alot of water.  The link below is on how much water you should drink on a normal day.  When fasting, you should probably even drink more.

http://www.wikihow.com/Drink-More-Water-Every-Day

Grace and Peace to you as you intensify your pursuit of God Almighty!

Pastor Decrease Dwayne

Solo me puedo imaginar lo que los discipulos sintieron y pensaron en el momento que Jesus les dijo que fueran por todo el mundo a hacer discipulos. Sentirian miedo, nervios, pensarian "no estamos listos"? Tal vez dentro de si mismos dirian "si se puede, si se puede" o tal vez dijeron "El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido". Si yo se, eran Judios no Mexicanos pero este es mi blog ok. La cosa es que para ellos el enfrentarse al mundo sin Cristo era algo a lo que ellos no estaban acostumbrados. Pero, sin ellos darse cuenta Jesus los habia preparado para lo que El ahora les estaba encomendando.  Asi como los discipulos se enfrentaron a algo que ellos tal vez nunca pensaron que se enfrentarian, tambien nuestra iglesia se pone al frente para llevar a cabo una mision que tal vez nunca imaginamos que seria posible. En poco mas de un mes estaremos celebrando la gran apertura de Nueva Vida Los Parques y eso es motivo de gozo y alegria! Me pregunto, que estara pasando por las mentes de los miembros de nuestra iglesia? Lo importante es que Dios nos a dado mucho y ahora El nos pide que llevemos a nuestras comunidades su Amor y Misericordia.  La historia de los 12 discipulos ya esta escrita y podemos ver cuanto las vidas de estos hombres han impactado al mundo entero. La histora de Nueva Vida Los Parques comenzo a principios del 2008 pero aun no se ha cerrado el libro. Seran historias de victoria las que nuestros hijos les contaran a los suyos? Espero que si! De lo unico que si estoy seguro es que tanto tu como yo podemos ser parte de una gran historia siempre y cuando recordemos que Dios es el Autor de esta obra.  Eduardo Huerta

The Moss fam is sick right now. Baylee, our 2-year old, had an ear infection for a couple days, but that flowed into fever and being lethargic for the last 3-4 days. She's coming off of it, but it's been hard on her. Now, Jeannette & I are following in her footsteps, not with ear infections but with the cold. I guess we've been going overboard on the sharing lessons lately.

Monday & Tuesday Baylee had a really high fever. She was a walking space heater. I came home Monday from church/Moody and she was just laying in the bed, whimpering and sniffling. I knelt by her and asked, "What can daddy do Baylee?" She didn't say anything. Just sniffled.

"Do you want some water?" From laying on her side with her head jammed in the pillow, not even looking at me, only her mouth moved, "No."
"Do you want me to rub your back?" "No."
"Do you want something to eat?" "No."
"Do you want Floppy (her bunny)?" "No."

"Well what do you want daddy to do baby?"

She finally turned, looked at me, sat up, sniffled, and then said, "Hold me daddy."

No good father would need to think for a second on that one.

So I laid in bed with her and held her. "Held her tight" as we say, for probably over an hour. She eventually fell asleep, but I still had her next to me, holding her.

I won't always be able to do that, and I hate that truth with intensity. She's 2 now, but when she's 25 and sick I don't think she'll be asking me to hold her. She'll maybe ask me what medicine to take or what she needs to do. That is a good thing - she'll need to know how to take care of herself at 25. But in my heart as her daddy I know I'll want to just hold her. So for now...I'll hold her any chance I can get.

I think that the fact I'm sick right now coupled with thinking about holding Baylee has made me realize a truth about my relationship with God.

When I first came to know Him I always asked for His involvement, His help. I was a young, toddler follower who constantly said "Hold me." It was all about what He would and could do, and I ran to Him for it.

Now that I've been on this journey for almost 20 years now, I'm more apt to ask Him what He wants me to do. "God, how can I fix it?" "What's your advise God?" "Where do you want me to go?" All good questions and after 20 years of following Him I hope that I've matured and am somewhat able to do a few things on my own.

That being said, God is indeed our Father - and a good father, not the jerk kind that probably over 50% of our society thinks of when they hear that noun. He is THE father, and any natural feelings I have as a father or of how a father should be can in part be traced back as echoes of who He is.

I'm not the only father who wants to hold his kids.

So, with the things I'm going through right now I will indeed ask God for His direction, His guidance, and His help. After all this time - I better.

But first and foremost I will now return to being a child, I will embrace His heart, and I will pray, "Hold me daddy."

And I realize now, that is the prayer He's been wishing I would pray.

A few weeks ago, the Humboldt Park launch team heard a presentation by Architreasures, a community building organization that rents space in the NL-HP building.  In their presentation, Architreasures stressed their reliance on community anchors--people who have high stake in the community and great interest in seeing it improved.  These people's involvement is so pivotal, they said, that gathering their support is the first step in any successful community project.

That evening my family came to a chili dinner and worship gathering for those interested in helping plant this new location in Humboldt Park.  As praises and prayers gathered, I looked around the room and realized that what I saw was a room full of community anchors.  Teachers from local schools.  Public library staff.  Social workers from various agencies.  Long-time homeowners.  New residents.  Experienced urban church planters.  The most amazing thing was that no one convinced these anchors to come.  God had firmly planted them both in the Humboldt Park community and in New Life's church body long before New Life - Humboldt Park was in existence.  The moment God said "go" on this new location, they were ready. 

Praise to God, who has long been working in Humboldt Park--even preparing His own community anchors.

Ahora que comenzaremos este periodo de ayuno y oración, muchos iniciaremos esa difícil batalla de cuidar lo que nuestros ojos verán, lo que nuestro oídos escucharan y por supuesto los disparates que con frecuencia salen de nuestra boca. Unos dicen; no televisión!, no música mundana!, no palabras corrompidas y muchas otras cosas que quizás en cualquier otra día podríamos permitir. ¿Pero en realidad no es esa la manera en la cual debemos de vivir todos los días?¿Por qué es que solo nos esforzamos a vivir en santidad cuando ayunamos?, ¿será que quizás hemos permitido que la religiosidad haya invadido nuestras vidas?.El ayuno fue creado por Dios no solo para sujetar a nuestra carne y romper ligaduras….sino para recordarnos como debemos de vivir nuestras vidas ante los ojos de Dios diariamente. Así que mientras oremos, ayunemos e intercedamos recordemos que las ligaduras que se romperán serán las que posiblemente nos sujeten a conformarnos con ser personas religiosas. Tony Núñez

I remember several years ago when two of my very closest friends were making some major wrong turns in their spiritual walk.  Both were my assistants for my home group for youth and it was breaking my heart.  I made a decision to fast until both were back on track or until 40 days came.  I felt a sense of urgency in my heart and saw it as an opportunity to wage spiritual warfare. I had prayed and didn't see any rays of hope and felt like desperate times called for desperate measures.

Within in the first week, one of my friends repented and stopped compromising.  My other friend however was pushing me to my limits.  My friend had a powerful testimony of how God rescued him from a gang lifestyle but had went back to drinking and other crazy stuff.  I hated how the enemy was like a lion shredding him to pieces.  But finally, after about 3 weeks intense prayer, he got back on track in seeking the Lord.

I know that God can answer our prayer yes, no, or wait and the same is true when we fast and pray.  There is nothing we could ever do to force God's hand behind his back and make him do what we want.  Ultimately our heart should desire to be led by Spirit in our prayers so that we are praying for things that our in alignment with the heart of God.

However, sometimes there is war in the spiritual realms that we probably could never understand.    And when we withhold from our physical bodies foods and we intensify our prayer focus and time with the Lord and His Word, we become more alert to this cosmic battle between good and evil.

A great example of this in the Bible is found in Daniel chapter 10.  In verses 2 and 3 Daniel says,  “At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.” Daniel 10:2-3   Fasting is a great way to humble ourselves before the Lord when we are broken and "mourning."   Daniel went without choice foods, meat and wine for three weeks.  At the end of the three weeks an angel appears to him and says that he had been sent from the first day he had started to pray but that a 21 day battle in the heavenly realms between a top demon (demonic prince of Persia) and Michael (on of the chief princes).

Sometimes drastic times call for drastic measures.  Perhaps some of us need to fast for our children, businesses, unsaved friends and family, our neighborhoods, ministries, and more.  What often happens in the process is ultimately God deals with us first.  In the process he points out areas that we need to work on and often he moves and works in unexpected ways in our areas of need.  But I would challenge you to begin to pray and prepare your heart for what God would have you do.  If he leads you to do an extended fast it is always wise to read resources on fasting to get prepare you spiritually as well as physically.  While I don't agree with everything Jentezen Franklin says, he has been a great mobilizer in leading people in fasting and has some great words of encouragement that I would recommend to everyone.  You can watch some short 2 minute video clips and get some frequently asked questions answered at http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/fasting/ .

While my two friends have had some ups and downs over the last decade, I was real encouraged to hear about one of them who is currently living in Texas and has a family and helps serve in the children's ministry in his local church.  Sometimes the seeds planted take a while to grow to their full potential.  Don't get discouraged and keep planting seeds and raise the intensity up a few notches in your prayer life by adding a fast.  Greater breakthroughs can happen when you mix prayer and fasting.