TRANSFORMATION FORUM

A while back, I started a self-discussion to challenge myself regarding my values relative to possessions. As an advocate for community transformation through Jesus Christ, I am challenged by the purpose and value of labor. Basically, “for whom do I labor and to what end?” When I consider all the dynamic upheaval occurring in our nation and worldwide, it can be earth shaking! It is if nature is in rebellion, exercising the most violent characteristics of its supernatural laws. Volcanic eruptions, floods, oil gushing forth from the core of the earth, tornados striking without sufficient warning, are all direct confrontations with humanity. In those violent upheavals, we are helpless. All our possessions born of technology fail utterly. The secondary affects of these disasters tax our economic resources as we throw money at the violence. We learn quickly that no amount of money will stop the oil gushing, the erupting volcanoes, or the deflect hurricanes in the opposite direction. Literal

Editor's note:  On the June 17, 2010, my father sent this letter regarding "by grace alone."  It is with great pride that I post this letter on Transformation Forum."  While I personally enjoyed this letter, their is great value in sharing my father's thoughts and perspectives on this most basic doctrine of  Christianity.  This letter is share with all in love and in great hope!  Pastor Steve Perez On June 6th, I received an E-mail entitled “By Grace Alone,” immediately the rusty wheels of my eighty-one year old brain began to rumble and squeak as they began to slowly turn. Questions began to assail my mind: What is grace? Where does it come from? How does one obtain it? What role does it play in our Christian life? As I began to search my mind, I felt compelled to address this most beautiful subject in the TRANSFORMATION FORUM as my humble contribution. As a simple definition, grace is god’s love to us. However, in a more expended definition, it is much more

Recently, I witnessed a repugnant conversation where Christians cloaked their vitriolic conversation in “righteous indignation.” What was sadly comedic was all this was about Oprah’s brand of self-defined Christianity. First, let me say, Oprah is a media superstar and nothing more. She is not a pastor. When I seek Christian theology and spiritual counseling, I turn to experts, tried, tested persons whose personal lives reflect biblical spirituality and maturity. However, this does beg the question as to her appeal to so many people. So much of her programming is about people, their struggles, victories, ugly failures, reclaimed lives, and people in the throws of daily living! So many people follow her discussions because there is a connection between them and her. That connection is the sense that Oprah cares about them. Doctors Phil and Oz are just two examples of Oprah’s efforts to extend herself into the lives of her audience. Externally, she invests in communities from her own weal

"PUBLIC EXPOSURE REQUIRES PERSONAL TRANSPRACY " As I consider the overall plight of our community, I am challenged by thoughts of how I can make a difference in the lives of people. I am realistic enough to know that I cannot personally touch thousands of people. However, the Holy Spirit challenges me to consider my personal circle of community. The first question is who is in my personal circle of community and second, how can I affect their individual lives. I am quick to respond with a list of people easy for me to love. As I reviewed the list of people I knew, I realized even as a pastor, there were people I did not want to love now or ever again. Actions, behaviors, betrayals, that have hurt those I love or me are the reasons I do not want to love certain people. This includes the physicians whose failings resulted in my granddaughter’s cerebral palsy. It is not just “ not loving ” someone, in some cases I have dismissed these people out of my life. This past Sunday

In advocating for Community Transformation, the answer to this question is crucial. Community Transformation is not a massive sweep of the Holy Spirit across a community forcing change. Rather, transformation begins as people seriously reflect on answering this question. Take a moment and ask yourself the question, what do I really want? The second question is “your life choices and the production of your life, do they reflect the answer to the first question?” What does the Bible say about the “wants of my life?” Jesus establishes his understanding of our needs in the dialogue recorded for us in Matthew 6:31-33 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ” In these words, Jesus ackn

I am truly blessed by my friendship with Weldon. Beyond his amazing gifts for leading saints in worship, he possesses a unique sensitive for building people. I typically ask him to review my most heartfelt writings to gain perspective. Weldon, after reviewing “Compassion Born of Contact”, recommended that I needed to stress the tremendous  and positive benefits of Isaiah 58. I have not asked Weldon what he saw in the total chapter, but his prompting created in me another reflective mood. I went back to see what I would discover after another reading and meditation on Isaiah 58. TRUE PROSPERITY BORN OF OBEDIENCE is the result of the return to Isaiah 58. Weldon, thank you for your continuing insight and friendship, this one is because of you, Blessings Brother. As an advocate for community transformation, I am challenged to work for a whole renewal that touches the totality of the community. Our spiritual, economic, and social conditions all need the influence of the Holy Spirit. There

In my ever-increasing hunger for our community to experience the grace of Christ, I am drawn constantly to Isaiah 58. A few years back I preached a series of sermons from this chapter, spiritually sensing the need to sound an alarm regarding religiosity. I can assure you it was not received well by the church. These passages challenge our perception of church, true worship and our spirituality. The words speak to false religion.  Like Judah and Jerusalem, “religion” has infected the Church of Jesus Christ and the body of Christ. Religion breeds separation. This separation is greater than denominational divide; at the core, religion separates us from the lost in our community. For a moment, consider how we “do church.” When we “do church”, we are always at the church. On occasion we may venture into the community, beachfronts, parades, etc but for the most part we expect the lost to come and “do church” at the church. We even provide transportation to church. If we are honest with our

Our ability to forgive others is not an instantaneous ability given to Christians. Quite the contrary, our ability to forgive others grows in direct proportion to our understanding of God’s forgiveness for our failings. Forgiving others is one of the greatest challenges each Christian must learn, and we can only learn the peace of forgiveness through experience. First, and most important lesson, is to accept God’s forgiveness towards us, personally! God forgives us; however, we do not forgive ourselves. No matter our past failings, only God can weave a beautiful tapestry from the broken strands of thread and yarn of our lives. As God begins to weave the story of our lives as God has planned for each of us, it is not necessarily a clear vision. However, in time we are able to see with greater clarity the efforts of God’s labor in our lives. It is in those moments, our heart leaps forth in desire for others to experience the mercy of God. Our prayers of desperation for ourselves turn int

There are times in our lives we are hemmed in spiritually and physically on all sides of life.  We feeling as if we are unable to escape! Trapped, hardness all around us, we are held captive and enslaved by the battering nature of sin! We pray, meditate, engage God deeply and desperately, still relief is absent from the present day. Habakkuk, the prophet, had this very experience when the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation, swept over Jerusalem, bringing captivity and enslavement. I confess to all as I view and work within our Jerusalem, I see the Chaldean spirit enslaving the beloved people of our community. People are frustrated, pained, and filled with bitterness born out of relentless afflictions. But wait, this is not the final perspective of our community, there is a vision of God for our community. In Habakkuk, the LORD calls us to write of the vision, to in script it plainly for all to read. The LORD tells Habakkuk, and us the vision is for an appointed time, the vision wil

There are times in the life of the Church of Jesus Christ that Christianity as a whole movement needs to take a stand in opposition to the likes of Pat Robertson. Pat Robertson speaks in a spirit of condemnation whenever there is a significant disaster. I do not argue against the idea that sin is insidious and we reap what we sow in sin. However, in this instance Robertson speaks as an “after the fact” prophet! How safe! His pronouncement is ignorant of the amazing missionary work and the Haitian Christian Community. This community has labored with the love of Christ to serve the needs of the people. Great sacrifice is made by the Christian community to feed, house, educate, and care for the people of Haiti. This is a nation of children where 40 percent of the population is under the age of 14 years. Pat Robertson’s statement is insulting to the lives lost while attempting to serve the people Haiti. In his statement, Robertson states “True Story.” I have included the quote below: &quo

The magnitude of transforming a community may be perceived as “overwhelming” for those saints laboring in prayer and ministry. Yet it is only a perception and not a reality. Charles Spurgeon’s devotion “Mighty to save” speaks to us important words of encouragement. I personally grow weary in prayer as I wait for God’s work to save and transform our community. Frustration plagues my soul with the continuing advancement of sin and all the insidious problems infecting our community. However, I must disciple myself to remember only Christ is “mighty to save.” The words of Pastor Spurgeon are not tempered words, the words are strong and direct. Beyond the words that speak to compelling people to repent, I am deeply encouraged by the words “Oh, give not up thy prayers, for Christ is "mighty to save." You are powerless to reclaim the rebel, but your Lord is Almighty.” I am a witness for Christ, but Christ is Salvation and Lord! "MIGHTY TO SAVE." ISAIAH 63:1 By the word

Currently, in our community, there are a great number of events challenging the lives of many people. Recently, with a group of friends, we spent time considering this very issue. We first identified the positive challenges and some of the exciting youthful leadership coming forward to participate in many positions of influence. At a recent conference, it was great to see so many motivated citizens conversing, planning, and learning about our economic potential. The participants themselves were most impressive; citizens from all different lifestyles, and more importantly the different ages of these citizens. It was certainly a cornucopia of expertise, leadership, and vision. It was a heady experience to listen and exchange ideas with so many deeply committed citizens striving to improve our local economy. Our best and brightest citizens involved in business, local government, and leadership stirred in me a new hope for our community. However, equally evident was that improved e