Faces Around The Fire

An Adventure Practice In Forgiveness.

Steve Lummer

It was 11:15 PM! My camp was pitched just outside the Grand Canyon National Park on BLM land (Burerau Of Land Management). The National Park has some great camping spots and this time of year they are so overpopulated. For this trip I’m allergic to crowds; yipping Chihuahuas diesel pickups and teenage “music”. This trip will require solitude, silence and a really good campfire.

In the past I have had many campfire chats in my forty plus years of pastoral ministry. The fellowship was always warm. Many times the fire soon cooled and the friendships burned out for one reason or another. We heard in our campfire conversations over the years the phrase, “I remember once”. We talked about the only things ever discussed around campfires – old times and stories told by faces reflected in the fires. Yes! Nature’s T.V. held us captive throughout the evening chats.

My adventure practice this past week was about reflecting on those campers in the fire that are no longer with me. Some, for reasons that cause relationships to cool and others that left my life in very heated disagreements. I had three campfires on this adventure and I called each of them “Fires Of Forgiveness”.

My first campfire of forgiveness:

“Our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29 (NIV)

Fire consumes, wipes out and cleanses. I needed to be cleansed of the battle wounds I had received over the years of ministry. I needed this adventure to not only free me from some past hurt, but to get free me deep in my soul. What I discovered is that I invested a lifetime in building a great ministry but didn’t take the time to build a great soul. What? Yes, there I said it. I was more interested in how Richard Rohr so artistically writes. “There are two major tasks in the human spiritual journey. The task of the first half of life is to create a proper container for one’s life and answer some central questions. “Who am I?” “What makes me significant?” “How can I support myself?” “Who will go with me?” The task of the second half of life is, quite simply, to find the actual contents that this container was meant to hold and deliver. In other words, the container is for the sake of the contents.”

An authentic God experience always “burns” you, yet does not destroy you. It burns away the layers of my false self and get to the true identity of who my creator designed me to be.

The burning bush example revealed to Moses who he was and what God designed him to be (Exodus 3:2-3). I was not prepared in Bible College or in ministry for such burning, nor was I even told to expect it. By definition, authentic God experience is always “too much”! It consoles our true self only after it has devastated our false self. I need this first fire to be a fire of forgiving myself of focusing on my container too much and not the contents.

Belden C. Lane in his book, Backpacking With The Saints writes of the Desert Fathers and how they spoke with insight of how their inner wounds and their old injuries from the past will have a way of expressing themselves. Abba Poeman observed that old wounds have a way of expressing themselves in four stages of unconscious activity. They first appear in the heart, as festering wounds that crop up in our dreams and fantasies. They subsequently show up in the face, in passing glances of anger, jealousy, or envy. Abraham Lincoln said that everyone over forty years of age is responsible for his own face. It mirrors what we carry inside. Thirdly said Abba Poemen, inner wounds reveal themselves in words, in our sniping at others, our passive-aggressive language. And finally, the wounds appear in deeds. We reface them in our actions, doing to others what had been done to us. What isn’t transformed, in other words will be transmitted.

At this campfire of forgiveness I learned to understand and put into the practice dying to my disturbed, over anxious self important self. The God who is a consuming fire did His work that night.

My second campfire of forgiveness:

The second evening in solitude I built another campfire. They never told me in Bible college that just because I had vision and wanted to help people find Jesus not everyone would support that vision or get behind it. The naivety of youth produced the misleading notion that people would just follow me. I know, what a silly notion! Silly as that is, over the long haul, when people leave you for one reason or another it does affect you. The chronic disappointment of watching your “friends” get up and leave your fire is troubling and I’m not just talking about the Covid convenience of people just quitting on you, I’m speaking to a deeper pandemic of disloyalty and abandonment.

NOT OF MY FIRE.

Over the years, my wife and I have had many great lasting relationships. The wealth of these relationships outweighs the ones that hurt. There is still a sadness that hovers when we feel the loss of people we poured our lives into . A scripture that has always kept me focused and is John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”- (NKJV)

Exit wounds or God’s protection?

When in the perils of brethren, it is good to remember quotes like this one.

“God sometimes removes a person from your life for your protection. Don’t run after them.”―Rick Warren

A good friend explained it to me like this, “Steve, when you plant a church you will have people that will help you start the work and then they are gone. Think of it like rocket boosters on a space shuttle. They get you to a certain point and then they fall off for a reason. God sent them to you to accomplish His work for a certain season.

“The Lord gives and He takes away.” Job 1:21

When I paused and looked at the glowing embers that night, I realized that none of the people in “my church” were my people in the first place. They were God’s people and it is His church.

It was a relief to forgive the old me of thinking everyone needed to stay with me.

I concluded that not everyone you lose is a loss. What a privilege it was for me to serve with them in the warmth of the fire while we had it.

My Third Campfire Is a Restoring Campfire:

The third evening I sat next to the best campfire I have ever enjoyed. I’ll name it the campfire of restored identity. I mused on the two times in scripture where Peter was close to a campfire and the smell of that wood smoke saturated the air. The two references are where Peter denied Jesus in a courtyard and the second is where Jesus restored Peter next to a fire on the beach.

When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread. – John 21:9

The first time is in John 18:15-19. Peter stood and warmed himself while denying that he even knew Jesus.

^“Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, ¹⁶but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

¹⁷“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.”

¹⁸It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a charcoal fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.”

When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread. – John 21:9

Sitting next to a charcoal fire, Jesus restored Peter and his God-designed identity, as well as, his role as Jesus’ disciple and a leader of Jesus’ church. There the smell of campfire smoke brought memories of sin and guilt, and Jesus gave Peter grace and mercy. As fire is used to refine gold and silver, fire here is used to refine and restore Peter.

Coals and Conclusion:

Our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29 (NIV)

As we allow him to burn up the clutter of unforgiveness we experience freedom in our lives. The adventure of forgiveness lightens our load and removes the unneeded baggage that weighs our souls down. Start a fire in you life and let God burn up what you no longer need.

SEEING THROUGH YOUR SOLSTICE

Here we are at December 21 and the winter solstice that marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, sun and stitium, a stoppage. Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.

Your solstice could be the darkest night of your life. The time when you feel like cannot see your way through.

Here are a few thoughts on seeing through your darkest times of your life.

Usually God’s purposes are revealed and His power displayed, in our darkest experiences when like Gideon you ask, “If the Lord is with [me], why has…this happened?” When there seems to be no rhyme or reason, God’s promise is, “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord…who [calls] you by name” (Isa 45:3 NIV).

Anybody can be faithful in good times, but standing “by night in the house of the Lord” (Ps 134:1 NIV) takes real commitment. Hymn writer George Matheson wrote: “Will I remain in God’s house at night…love Him for who He is…know I desire not the gift but the Giver? When I can remain…during the darkness of night and worship…I’ve accepted Him for Himself alone.” When the Israelites faced their greatest challenge, the Red Sea, the Bible says, “All that night the Lord drove the sea back” (Ex 14:21 NIV). Be encouraged, God is working, even though you can’t see Him.

After all, how can God give us “songs in the night” (Job 35:10) if the sun always shines? Jesus said, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight” (Mt 10:27 NIV). It’s in life’s dark places that God shares things which strengthen you, and encourage those around you.

The Solstice or darkest night of your life can be an opportunity to see what you cannot see in the bright of day.

Take the darkest places and let God transform them into your brightest places.

Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Be the light my friends and especially in the darkest places.

All the best.

Steve

Books I'm Reading

Books of 2021

2021 was a great year to devour books.

Thankfully, the Audible app increased my ability to listen to some amazing reads this past year.

Out of the books listed in this post, only one of them was read without Audible.

Since my eye surgery on August of 2020, it is a challenge to pick up and read the pages of most books.

The eye surgery has been a challenge yes, but it actually has given me the ability to get through more books because I’m listening in my car or while working in my garage or going on a hike.

I won’t give a description or review you can do that on your own.

I will simply place them in order as to which ones I loved the best starting with #1.

Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose.

The Imperfect Pastor by Zack Eswine.

Canoeing The Mountains by Tod Bolsinger

The Journals Of Lewis and Clark by Nicholas Biddle

The Forever Dog by Rodney Habib and Dr.Karen Shaw Becker

The Chocolate Soldier by CT Studd

Son Of The Wilderness by Linnie Marsh Wolfe

When Jesus Stole My Bread by Paul Durbin

Landscapes Of The Sacred by Belden Lane

Billionaire Wilderness by Justin Farrell

Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud

Bushcraft 101 by Dave Canfield

Didn’t See It Coming by Carey Nieuwhof

Drawn by Jeremy Collins

The Wild Muir

Reforesting You Faith by Matthew Sleeth

Wilderness The Gateway To The Soul by Scott Stillman

The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero

Dream Big by Bob Goff

David Crockett by David Crockett

Christian Outdoor Leadership by Ashley Denton (Re- read)

The Responsible Company by Yvon Chouinard

Poets Of Nature

Backpacking With The Saints by Belden Lane

(a favorite and third time of reading this one.)

While the Apostle Paul was in lock down he had a desire to read in the warmth of his cloak.

bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

– 2 Timothy 4:13

I am really looking forward to hiking with the friends on my book self this next year,

Steve

Outdoor Nations Network, outdoors

Adventure Pastor Steve Lummer Loves To Meet People In The Great Outdoors (+podcast)

https://www.klove.com/news/positive-people/adventure-pastor-steve-lummer-loves-to-meet-people-in-the-great-outdoors-24286

(Prescott, Arizona) Pastor Steve Lummer almost missed his calling. After growing up in family who loved Jesus, he walked away from his faith.

Thankfully, the Lord quickly brought him back around and now he shares his love of Jesus in the place he feels most comfortable–out in the great outdoors as an Adventure Pastor.

Rather hear the story? Click here.

After planting a church in the Midwest, Pastor Steve and his wife Brenda started leading canoe and kayak trips out into the Ozarks wilderness. Eventually, they moved to Prescott to pastor Discovery Church.

It was there that Pastor Steve really developed a love for the wilderness.

Two men at Arizona Trail head — Photo Credit: Steve LummerPastor Steve and friend

Prescott, Arizona is a hub for hikers and mountain bikers–the perfect place to reach out and share the love of Jesus in a conversational way.

“Many of them have gone through a divorce; many of them have lost their job–they’re going through a lot of issues.” Pastor Steve says the outdoor community tends to be very open to conversation.

He’s also quick to point out that ministering outdoors isn’t new.

“The number one thing that’s spoken about in the Bible, other than God and people, is trees. We don’t worship nature but we sure do appreciate it.”

Husband and wife kiss while rock climbing — Photo Credit: Steve LummerPastor Steve and Brenda

“Our approach has been a little bit John Muir, a little bit John Wesley,” says Lummer, referring to the Christian wilderness advocate (Muir) and the British theologian/evangelist (Wesley).

Pastor Steve’s church–Discovery–has pivoted from serving traditional churchgoers to bringing people outdoors, hosting fun events like rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking and bike trips.

“I find if I build a campfire, everyone becomes a storyteller.” Pastor Steve says it works differently than having people “stare at the back of each other’s heads” in a traditional church setting.

Pastor Steve has even baptized people in rivers and parks. He says he loves to “get people outside that God can work on their inside.”

Two men helping a man be baptized under a waterfall — Photo Credit: Steve LummerPastor Steve baptizing someone

His next goal? To get a taco truck to park at trail heads, give away free food to hikers and bikers and talk about Jesus–no strings attached.

Adventure Pastor, Outdoor Nations Network, outdoors, Prescott, RIM2RIM, Yosemite, Zion

MINISTERING IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

by JOHN W. KENNEDY

Steven P. Lummer has pastored Discovery Church in Prescott, Arizona, for 18 years, but the congregation today looks a lot different than when he started.

Eight years ago, the renamed Discovery pivoted, shifting its mission. Rather than continue as First Assembly of God catering to traditional churchgoers, Lummer and his wife, Brenda, decided to concentrate on the growing local demographic that loved the outdoors.

Prescott is a magnet for recreation-minded residents, at the crossroads between major hiking and mountain bike trails. So, Lummer resolved to seek those who resonate spending time in places such as Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon, or Zion National Park. For his 60th birthday, Lummer hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim for three days and 23.8 miles with his daughter, Natascha Kling. She and her husband, Adam Kling, are lead pastors at Urban Hope Church in Flagstaff.

“Our approach was to be a little bit John Muir, a little bit John Wesley,” says Lummer, who just turned 63. “Some people peeled off when we shifted and the tradeoff was painful, but we feel like it was what God wanted us to do.”

In addition to pastoring, Lummer became a U.S. Missions Outdoors Nations Network chaplain. Subsequently, Discovery Church has become outdoor-driven — hosting rock climbing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and biking events. Lummer has baptized people in rivers and parks. Lummer currently is raising funds to purchase a food truck that would be stationed at trailheads through the Outdoor Nations Network.

Like other recreational chaplains, Lummer has found that getting to know people over time is a necessary prerequisite to discussions about Jesus.

“Going to the trailheads and building relationships is a unique niche ministry,” Lummer says. “They are more open to talking when not boxed into a service.”

S. Brad Sasser says Lummer has mentored him in his recent endeavor to become a U.S. Missions outdoor chaplain. Sasser is in a similar hot spot for recreational enthusiasts, based in Damascus, Virginia, considered Trail Town USA. He builds relationships with Appalachian Trail hikers, cooking for them at hostels along the way. He also sets up at road crossings or gaps, providing fresh fruit, socks, and adhesive bandage strips to hikers.

Under his ministry Trail Servants, Sasser offers devotional content on an app that can be downloaded.

“It’s a lot of seed planting and watering,” says Sasser, who recently baptized three people he befriended. Sasser says he’s gleaned a wealth of wisdom from Lummer.

“To work with people in outdoor space really requires building relationships. It’s not, Hey, let me tell you about Jesus the first time you meet them,” says Sasser, 40. “As a church planter, Steve had to have tenacity and a tough skin to connect with people.”

Sasser, who has earned the trail nickname “Shep,” as in shepherd, says Lummer impressed upon him the need for compassion and empathy as an outdoor chaplain.

“A lot of time must be spent layering relationships with people,” Sasser says. “When people see that I care about them and what they do, they begin to ask questions about what I do.”

The Lummers, approaching their 40th wedding anniversary in August, met at Westside Assembly in Davenport, Iowa, when Tommy Barnett pastored the church. Steve accepted Christ under Barnett’s ministry.

After serving as a youth pastor in Iowa, California, and Ohio, Lummer planted Lakecrest Assembly of God (now Redemption AG) in Wentzville, Missouri, where he stayed for 13 years before moving to Arizona. Today, Brenda is a preschool teacher and Steve supplements his income as a real estate agent and adventure photographer.

Arizona, GRAND CANYON, RIM2RIM

GRAND CANYON RIM 2 RIM FOR MY 60TH

grand-canyon-pic

What an amazing birthday gift from my daughter and hiking buddy Natascha.

For my 60th birthday she arranged and set up our RIM2RIM three day hike in the Grand Canyon.

northrim-us-start

Starting early with about a four hour shuttle from the village at the South Rim with https://www.trans-canyonshuttle.com we headed toward the North Rim and camped at the North Rim campgrounds.

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232489

The North Rim campground fills up fast but worth the effort.

We Started the next day at 4:00 am getting ready for the three day “23.8” mile hike to the South Rim.

northrim-subway-2

One of my favorite moment was watch Natascha sense of awe in this amazing place.

northrim--trail-1

northrim-tunnel-faces

northrim-bridge

faces-creek

Bright Angel Creek at Manzanita rest stop.

cottonwood-

Heading into Cottonwood Campground.

Bright Angel Creek at Phantom Ranch.

The Phantom Ranch Cafe and restaurant. What a cool place….literally.

I ask the resident forest ranger and she told me this was the correct temperature.

Thus the reason we were always looking for shade.

A group that was camping close to us decided to leave before breakfast so they gave us their tickets and we accepted gladly:)

Yep, we used the mule mail system.

These animals were well cared for and not abused.

Somehow I was able to capture this Milky Way shot with my GoPro laying on a picnic table. # Grateful!

The reason I did not bring my Sony full frame gear was obviously because the weight in my back pack.

At the Colorado River and ready for the hike to Indian Gardens.

Getting there.

What a great trip ….what a great experience with the best daughter a dad could ever ask for.

Thanks again Natascha for making another memory. We will never look at the Grand Canyon the same ever again.

RIM2RIM hike June 20-23, 2018

church family, Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

Discovery update from Pastor Steve and Brenda

Hello Discovery Family,

As we continue to make adjustments in response to the COVID-19 situation, we want to be sensitive to appropriate precautions while offering new methods of engaging with you.

We will be sharing updates regularly, so please check your emails, our website or app, and follow Discovery Church on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest.

For a unique and special worship service this weekend, please join our virtual gathering by watching a video that will stream worship and a message from me at 10:00 AM this Sunday.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1718904498337252/

You can also follow along with the message notes on Discovery App.

Download it with iTunes or Google play.

Discovery Church Prescott

While we regret that we may not be in the same physical space, our God who holds all things together will certainly continue to hold His Church together! We can still worship, learn, and give online as a church family even in this season.

We look forward to trying new ways of connecting with you, and we will be sending out more updates as we have them.

We pray for everyone who is affected to experience God’s presence and healing in this unique season.

84300199_10221738756078576_1215490742793797632_n

Pastors Steve and Brenda Lummer

https://podpoint.com/discovery-church-prescott-podcast/covaid-19-discovery-update

www.discoveryprescott.com

Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott, Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger Doug Reed

doug

I ask Doug Reed if he would share the notes from his message he shared with Discovery Church Prescott yesterday and he was kind enough to say yes.

Here are the notes in outline form from his sermon that touched so many.

The Pathway to Your Dreams

“Principles of Destiny Fulfillment from the Life of Joseph”

Message Text: Genesis 37-50 *** ROLLAR COASTER ILL. ***

*** LEROY STORY — I want to start today by telling you a story I read a long time ago about a mischievous kid named Leroy — He was good kid (about 7-8 years old) with an evil streak… One day Leroy went to his mother demanding a new bicycle — His mother decided to use this moment to help Leroy examine his heart and the way he acts — She said: “Well Leroy, it is not Christmas and we don’t have money lying around to buy you anything you want… So… Why don’t you write a letter to Jesus and pray for a bicycle instead of asking me” — After he threw a heathy temper tantrum his mom sent him to his room….He finally sat down to write a letter to Jesus — Version #1 went like this: “Dear Jesus I have been a good boy this year and I would appreciate a new bicycle, Your friend Leroy.” — Now… Leroy no more than finished the letter and he realized he had just wrote a pack of lies to Jesus (ELAB) — Version #2 – “Dear Jesus, I have been an OK boy this year and I want a new bicycle, Yours truly Leroy.” — He knew he had not even been OK… So he tore it up & tried again — Version #3 – “Dear Jesus, I have THOUGHT about being a good boy this year…Can I have a bicycle?” (ELAB and APPLY) — He knew he had been terrible and was deserving of nothing… (His walk) — (Going into the catholic Church) — (Taking the Virgin Mary statue and running back home and hiding it under this bed) — FINAL VERSION — “Dear Jesus, I’VE GOT YOUR MOMMA … If you ever want to see her again then get me a bicycle! …YOU KNOW WHO —

—— The details may be different… BUT most of us have childhood memories that relate well to the story of LEROY (ELAB)

*** ME AS A KID For me it is MISS JONES ROSE GARDEN — OR… The damage that countless baseballs and other projectiles did to our house or our neighbors property…

BUT… WE GREW UP… Or at least some of us did! — Perhaps the 1st step in our growth process is… We begin to DREAM about the FUTURE

*** TRASH MAN DREAM — POLICE OFFICER DREAM

Perhaps the 1st step in our GROWTH PROCESS getting a dream! – Nothing accelerates maturity like DREAMING! (True emotionally & spiritually )

DREAMERS are GROWERS! (When your not dreaming… you stop growing)

The enemy hates GROWTH because he hates advancement — He wants you to stay the same When you GROW the devil loses track of you – Your never TRAPPED when your GROWING

— Being a “GROWING DREAMER” will set you up for your Divine Destiny

** MY CALL AT 16 — The DREAM God gave me for the future caused a DRAMATIC ACCELERATION in my GROWTH PROCESS **

SEE…* Dreaming is a form of PRAYING (God meets you there) — Your DREAM-LIFE should be intertwined with your PRAYER-LIFE

(TRANSITION — BUILT FOR DREAMING)

The good news is…Everyone in this room has been designed by God to be a DREAMER … It is in your spiritual DNA… * God built you to DREAM!

— The desire to SEE MORE.. To BE MORE… To live a life that really matters! ……. THIS is something that God has put in every PERSON on the PLANET!

*** BRIDGE LETTER — Event in Wisconsin – 4 sermons – (The “ATTITUDE” girl story) — The LETTER — She was no place Spiritually… Had been hurt and molested… Yet… Even in her condition her SOUL knew that she should she was built for something MORE! — “Oh my life is like standing at a BRIDGE, but not being able to see it because there is too much fog. And you have to jump on it with both feet or you won’t find that BRIDGE. I have seen your friends on the other side, happy as they can be. I want that happiness to but I can’t give myself over. What if the the BRIDGE caves in? What if God does not catch me? I have so many questions.” See.. Even in her hurting condition she knew that God had something better for her — BUT… She also knew that the JOURNEY would be a PROCESS… (A BRIDGE) ….. It was SCARY and would not be EASY… But everyone is born to CROSS the BRIDGE from where they are to where Good wants them to be! – DREAM! ***

SEE… Dreaming is not for wimps… Because dreaming creates EXPECTATIONS — DREAMING makes you VULNERABLE (A by-product – ELAB)

We all have BROKEN DREAMS & ALTERED DREAMS … Beat up DREAMS ——— No ones FANTASY comes TRUE! (My plan verses God’s plan ILL.)

The BATTLEFIELD of EXECUTION is never the same as the LABORATORY of EXEGESIS (Mike Tyson – “Everyone has a PLAN until they get punched in the face”)

(TRANSITION TO TEXT — JOSEPH and GODS PROCESS)

This is what we learn from the story of a DREAMER in the Bible named JOSEPH

—— We find in this man that God certainly gives DREAMS… — But He also always attaches a PROCESS to every DREAM He gives— God always develops the DREAMER before He lets the DREAM come true (SET UP TEXT… This a a BIG STORY because GOD gave Joseph a BIG DREAM)

Genesis 37:5-11 (NLT) “One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”

8 His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. (OLDER BROTHERS JOKE)

9 Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”

10 This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?”

11 — But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.

*** JOSEPHS HISTORY — Jacob is Josephs father and Jacob has 12 sons… including Joseph — These 12 sons will ultimately be the start of the 12 tribes of ISRAEL — Of Josephs 11 brother’s… 10 of them are half brothers… only Benjamin (Joseph’s younger Bro) is a full blood brother to Joseph — Joseph was favored by his father… (THE COAT OF MANY COLORS) (there are many reasons but we do not have time!) — JOSEPH HAS A DREAM that his brothers will bow down to him —— The announcement of that dream was like pouring gas on a fire… ***

Later… Joseph is sent by his father to check on his brothers… They are supposed to be grazing flocks near Shechem but they are actually in Dothan (More in a minute)

Genesis 37:18-20 (NLT) They saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other ——— — “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

Have you ever been HATED because you had a DREAM? Joseph was! (ELAB)

*** THE STORY… They strip him of his robe and throw him in a pit… They talk about killing him… but Reuben suggests they sell him into slavery instead… At that precise moment a band of Ishmaelites from Gilead arrive.… Who are (among other things) slave traders… Jospeh is sold into slavery by his brothers… They even dip his robe in animal blood and tell his father that he has died! — At this moment he is 17…13 chapters later (Chap. 50)… after a long process… 25 years later… at the age of 42 his dream comes true… His brothers & really the entire world bows down to him ***

(TRANSITION TO OUTLINE) — I will share the rest of the story as we go… But let me give you some application… * 3 EXITS on the PATHWAY to your DREAMS

(3 life lessons from the story of Joseph)

1. The exit of ALONENESS or SOLITUDE

— Every time God is going to do something GREAT… He SEPARATES

We see this in the life of JOSEPH… He gives him a DREAM…… Then He systematically separates JOSEPH… He has to get him ALONE!

Several Reasons: — TUNE OUT DISTRACTIONS (The great sin of our day)

— SELF CONFRONTATION (Being alone can be too intimate… This is why we turn on noise… We can’t deceive ourselves as well when were alone — No one knows YOU like YOU!)

— PASSION DEVELOPMENT (Passion grows in the dark… A BIBLICAL PATTERN)

— TOTAL TRUST — (God wants to become your source… So sometimes…He gets you to the place where He is all you have… because He is all you need!)

This exit… (like the other two I will mention) does not make sense in the natural (Have you ever had God speak something to you and the exact opposite begins to happen? Am I the only one? – This is what Joseph experienced)

— LOOK AT HOW GOD GOT JOSEPH ALONE:

>>> Joseph was attacked because of his AMBITION

Granted… His immaturity announced the DREAM early… But that does not excuse the hatred of his brother’s

— People love to PICTURE YOU WHERE YOU ARE… They want to keep you there * When you DREAM for MORE it irritates the INSECURITY of others

(My own STORY… Not everyone is CALLED to be on your JOURNEY – Booster Rockets)

— Sometimes God is SAVING YOU from people who don’t really believe in you

>>> Joseph was stripped of his COMFORTS

They take his “Coat of many Colors”… It represented his relationship with his Father… His place of favoritism (ELAB)

BIG… GOOD can be the ENEMY of BEST! (God wanted to be His Father)

—— Sometimes God has to allow your SECURITY to SUFFER (ELAB)

Sometimes God has to STRIP you of your COMFORTS so He can prepare you for your CALLING (What are you wearing that won’t “GO” where your going?)

>>> Joseph was thrown in a PIT

— Someone always wants BURY a DREAMER! Expect it!

—— KNOW THIS…. PAIN will be a part of your PURPOSE (Blank KEY)

They stuff him into this place that looks like the opposite of what God spoke

— The PERSECUTER’S thought it was their idea… But God is SMART…

— He knows how to weave DETOURS into your DESTINY ————————————————————————————————

NOTE: The result of all this abuse for JOSEPH has really only done 2 things:

— 1. He has experienced PAIN (He can now relate to a hurting world… HIS struggle is creating AUTHENTICITY in him… BROKEN ARM ILL.)

— 2. He is ALONE (For the 1st time in his life… He is truly alone… Which is right where God wanted him to be)

*** 200 MILES IN THE WRONG DIRECTION — The start of my traveling ministry at age 33 — 4 Florida Churches offered me a position — The big trip…There for a month — Last night in Tampa…No direction from God — I though God might speak to me on my drive… 17 hours — The call from the YP — Going to the Pastors Office… His ‘Word’ for me…”God has called you to a a place of trust, not a place of security… but you keep wanting to go back to Egypt.” — The tapes they gave me…My drive… God is speaking… 2 hours later I should be in Gainesville on HWY 75… Instead I am almost to Fort Meyers… I just went 200 miles in the wrong direction! (Round trip) — ELAB MY REACTION …Blamed God… Blamed Jeanne.. — Passing the Church I was at about 5pm… Finally passed Gainesville around 7pm — Starting to get my spirit right… Called a friend and told him the story… He made fun of me… Then suddenly had a word from God (Everyone is a prophet today!) — “Doug… This was a bad day to make a wrong turn wasn’t it? — (My reply) — God is lessening the Margin of Error ion your life.. In the past you could disobey and He would make up the difference… but now God is going to hold you accountable for the maturity He has placed in you… You must hear his voice and obey… Don’t make a wrong turn or it will cost you dearly.” (ELAB the rest) — My all night drive — God speaking — Me telling Jeanne that we are not moving to Florida (ELAB) ***

APPLY: God had to pick a day when I was in the car for 17 plus hours — — He wanted me ALONE… He knew I would never sit there otherwise!

2. The exit of EDUCATION or TESTING

—— If a DREAM is really from God it can be TESTED

In order for God to GRADUATE… He has to EDUCATE

This is what He does for JOSEPH… He takes him through a series of TESTS… To teach him and to FORM HIM into the person who can live out the DREAM

(GOD POSITIONS JOSEPH) — Look at the providence of God to this point… God gives Joseph a dream… Then.. some time later (Gen. 37:13)

His dad sends him to check on his brothers in a place called Shechem…

— They are not there… They are in DOTHAN… Dothan is an 80 mile journey for Joseph… After his long journey to SHECHEM (Traveling on Donkeys)

BIG… DOTHAN literally means… “A PLACE OF BURDEN” — God takes Joseph from a place of COMFORT to a place of BURDEN

They throw Joseph in the Pit… And just as they sit down (to eat) … A caravan of Ishmaelites from Gilead arrive … Gilead is 40 miles in the opposite direction!

(Go over the GEOGRAPHY — To Shechem — To Dothan — From Gilead)

(But they were there to harm him? No.. It saved Joseph from his brothers & himself!)

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) “I know the plans I have for you, plans for your good and not for your disaster — to give you a hope and a future”

In a PIT? God has a CARAVAN on the way! What looks like a disaster could be the very providence of God… Positioning you so He can EDUCATE you!

God uses the PAIN of POSITION to prepare us for our DESTINIES

The question is: Do you see PROVIDENCE where others only see DISASTER?

SEE… HOW you view a something is dependent on WHO handed you that something – (MY MOM & THE WORM)

(TRANSITION) >>> JOSEPHS 4 TESTS: (FAST)

— THE PIT: Abandonment… The exact opposite of his dream

— THE PALACE: Joseph is purchased by a wealthy man named Potiphar… God’s favor… Then Potiphar’s wife goes after Joseph (39:6 He was well built and handsome) — Joseph keeps his purity and is arrested anyway (ELAB)

— THE PRISON: This is the TEST OF TIME… God’s favor is on him… but 13 more years past… * The greatest test of a DREAM is the TEST of TIME

— THE PROMISES: After interpreting a dream for him … Joseph is promised by Pharaoh’s Cup-bearer that he will help Joseph (40:23 — He forgot all about Joseph and never gave him another thought) — BROKEN PROMISES!! (Who has let you down? Your DREAM is not in their hands! It is in Gods!)

God’s strategy for Joseph was not designed for comfort or speed — God was forming Joseph — God had a DESTINATION in mind for JOSEPH

— The real issue when it comes to all our DREAMING is quite simple:

We value the PRODUCT of our lives, but God values the PROCESS

— We are concerned with ARRIVALS but God is all about the JOURNEY

The BIGGER the DREAM…. The LONGER the PROCESS — God is a God of PROCESS

BIG… YOU GROW INTO YOUR DESTINY!! (ELAB)

*** YOU GROW & YOUR MINISTRY WILL GROW STORY ***

— 3. The exit of BROKENNESS

——— In CHAPTER 41 this story takes a turn (ELAB Pharaohs DREAMS)

After Joseph interprets the DREAM he is put in CHARGE…He is now the 2cd most powerful man in the world… The DREAM is coming true!

— He goes from the PRISON to the PALACE! (God promoting you is never the issue)

—— In Chapter 42-45… We see the specifics of Josephs DREAM come true

(Plenty then famine) After 7 years of plenty and a few years of famine… …….… His own family comes looking for food… His brothers bow down

WEIRD ACTIONS BY JOSEPH: His brothers come & He recognizes them

— He calls them spies — Imprisons the youngest — Puts silver in with their grain to make them look like thieves — Does it a second time after they come to give it back and beg for mercy — A major confrontation happens in chapter 45

— Then… He finally reveals himself… WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>>> JOSEPH is struggling with BROKENNESS

— His brothers have no idea how much danger they are in… But God has prepared JOSEPH… And the DREAMER is ready for the DREAM to come true

*** ILL. People who ARRIVE to where they want to be… but they have a BAD SPIRIT by the time they get there… THIS WILL NOT BE JOSEPH ***

The hardest thing God can ask a DREAMER to do is to SEE their VICTIMIZATIONS as a part of the DREAM

*** 5 WAYS TO HURT SOMEONE (don’t write them down 🙂

1. Verbally

2. Environmentally (Protectors become the predators) —

3. Personally (Deny an Identity)

4. Physical abuse (Harm body)

5. Abandonment (Leave them alone and unprotected) ***

Josephs Brothers had done all 5 to him… And now all he has to say is “off with their heads” & no one will even question him! (BROKENNESS is NEEDED!)

BUT… JOSEPH has BECOME the DREAMER within his DREAM — He never stands taller than this moment — Winston Churchill would have called it “His finest hour” — Joseph has been prepared for his destiny

Think of all that depended on Josephs DREAM:

—— The salvation of his family — His own DESTINY — Millions would have starved to death — Josephs and his family would live in peace in Egypt for generations… The very future of Israel would be put in place

(He imagined ruling his BROTHERS… God imagined him ruling the WORLD)

Joseph had committed to the PROCESS — He had BECOME the DREAMER He lived the DREAM…. Not the one he IMAGINED… the one GOD IMAGINED!

God always DEVELOPS the DREAMER before He lets the DREAM come true

Because God knows how BIG the DREAM really is… So He wants you to be READY

*** JORDAN BASEBALL ILLUSTRATION ***

CLOSE: 50/20 VISION

The GOLDEN VERSE of the 13 chapters dedicated to life of JOSEPH in GENESIS is GENESIS 50:20 (NLT)

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good

— He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people

*** 50/20 VISION — You have heard of 20/20 vision? (ELAB) — I am praying that you will have 50/20 VISON!! — This is the kind of vision that JOSEPH HAD in Genesis 50:20 — See… most people can only see life in one direction… The inward direction of THEMSELVES… The direction of ME (ELAB) That is normal 20/20 vision — Life is about what I can see... Life is about what is happening to me — Joseph had something much better…. 50/20 VISION —— LIFE IS NOT ABOUT WHAT I CAN SEE…. It is about what GOD CAN SEE… GOD HAS A PLAN! — God can turn around HARM and make it for YOUR GOOD and the GOOD of OTHERS (ELAB BIG) ***

BIG… When your a DREAMER things don’t “GO YOUR WAY”… They “COME YOUR WAY”… Expect the BATTLE and have 50’20 VISION!

ALTAR: A PRAYER / WORD FOR THE DREAMERS

— The DREAMS God has for you begin and end with JESUS (Salvation)

ABANDON the FANTASY… The way you PICTURE IT needs to be nailed to the cross… Your need for INFORMATION reveals your IMMATURITY

— You were BUILT to DREAM but will you commit to the PROCESS?

(What if I told you the dream was about to come true? — Test of Time)

Maybe you feel ALONE… God always SEPARATES what He intends to make GREAT… EMBRACE the SOLITUDE and get to know your Father!

— Some here are in a PLACE OF BROKENNESS…

God uses BROKEN PEOPLE! – BROKENNESS is where the anointing thrives!

— GOD GIVE US 50/20 VISION!!!

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good — He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

https://www.dougkreed.com

Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger Jerry Trewern

THE APPLE DOESN’T FALL FROM THE TREE

Here are the message notes from my friend Jerry Trewern when he spoke a powerful message at Discovery Church .

There’s an old saying: The apple doesn’t fall from the tree.

This poses a problem when we live in a day of absent fathers.

Malachi 4:5-6

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.

It’s hard to think about turning your heart to your father when you may be walking with a major father wound. We all have father issues – some more than others. Even those who had great dads can still carry wounds from an event or a moment of weakness or failure on the part of our fathers. The truth is, none of us had a perfect father because they don’t exist. Neither do our father issues simply go away as we age. The old saying the time heals all wounds is not true – maybe a truer statement might be time wounds all heels.

“Our view of God our Father must come from scripture, not from our childhood experience.” – Henry Blackaby

We all seek certain things from our father that we can’t sufficiently get from anyone else!

Affection, Affirmation, Approval, Acceptance…

Protection, Instruction, Inclusion, Inspiration…

These are so critical to our identity, that if we don’t get these from our fathers, we will learn to seek it from those who we think can give it to us.

Girls often go from guy to guy to guy looking for love and acceptance
Young men often default to trying to prove their manhood with risky or anger induced behaviors
Facebook – now over 2 billion active users [Father-book?] Did they like my post? Did they accept my friend request? How many likes did I get? Do “they” approve of me? Are they jealous of me yet? Am I worth anything?

WE ARE A GENERATION LONGING FOR VALUE AND VALIDATION!

TRUTH #1

If you put your validation in other people’s hands you will have to go back to them for it.

To Fathers… (and single moms)

What your kids need most from you – simplified: Connection and Correction.
Play with them and Pray with them!
God disciplines those He loves.

Single Moms:
- - you can still raise healthy, strong kids with Godly character!
  - you would do well to connect your kids to good male influences
  - il – our kids ministry smoother when men are involved/present
  - Get your little apple around some strong trees!

Scott Hagan says:

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…

… but the TREE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE APPLE.”

You can spend your life looking at and blaming your stem; where you came from, what happened to you, what they did… or you can spend your life looking forward believing in your seed, your potential, your influence. The choice is yours.

TRUTH #2

If you live your life focused on your stem you will never realize the potential of your seed.

We are so busy blaming our bad fathers that we have become bad sons/daughters.

even a rotten apple can produce a tree
even a great father can find himself managing a prodigal son
stop cursing your father; stop cursing the God who gave you that father

We need to become better sons and daughters!

Romans 8:12-16 (ESV)

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

You are under no obligation to do what your father did; what your sinful nature urges you to do…

Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” God is your true father and a perfect one at that!

- This term defines a healthy tension between respect and intimacy; Connection and Correction
- His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children

Quit striving for an earthly father’s affection, affirmation, approval and acceptance and receive your heavenly Father’s ADOPTION!

TRUTH #3

If you accept your Heavenly Father’s adoption you will have all the acceptance you need.

stop living under the shadow of an unhealthy tree
come to the right tree – the cross – and receive your adoption as a son/daughter

- stop focusing on your stem
- start thinking about the tree [life] you’re producing

YOU HAVE A GREAT FATHER!

Your Father loves you and is…

strong enough to protect you
engaged enough to teach you
tender enough to hug you
close enough to hear you

YOUR FATHER LOVES YOU… (Everyone needs to hear those words.)

If we knew how much we were loved by our Father we would walk

with confidence
with gratitude,
with joy,
with peace,
acceptance, validation…

Close:

On behalf of your earthly father…

I’m sorry I left, walked away…
I’m sorry for neglecting you and putting my interests in front of your’s
I’m sorry for the verbal and physical abuse

On behalf of your heavenly Father…

You are loved more than you know
You are accepted, affirmed and loved!
“You are my son, [my daughter], in whom I am well pleased.”

Arizona, GRAND CANYON, RIM2RIM

GRAND CANYON RIM 2 RIM FOR MY 60TH

grand-canyon-pic

What an amazing birthday gift from my daughter and hiking buddy Natascha.

For my 60th birthday she arranged and set up our RIM2RIM three day hike in the Grand Canyon.

northrim-us-start

Starting early with about a four hour shuttle from the village at the South Rim with https://www.trans-canyonshuttle.com we headed toward the North Rim and camped at the North Rim campgrounds.

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232489

The North Rim campground fills up fast but worth the effort.

We Started the next day at 4:00 am getting ready for the three day “23.8” mile hike to the South Rim.

northrim-subway-2

One of my favorite moment was watch Natascha sense of awe in this amazing place.

northrim--trail-1

northrim-tunnel-faces

northrim-bridge

faces-creek

Bright Angel Creek at Manzanita rest stop.

cottonwood-

Heading into Cottonwood Campground.

Bright Angel Creek at Phantom Ranch.

The Phantom Ranch Cafe and restaurant. What a cool place….literally.

I ask the resident forest ranger and she told me this was the correct temperature.

Thus the reason we were always looking for shade.

A group that was camping close to us decided to leave before breakfast so they gave us their tickets and we accepted gladly:)

Yep, we used the mule mail system.

These animals were well cared for and not abused.

Somehow I was able to capture this Milky Way shot with my GoPro laying on a picnic table. # Grateful!

The reason I did not bring my Sony full frame gear was obviously because the weight in my back pack.

At the Colorado River and ready for the hike to Indian Gardens.

Getting there.

What a great trip ….what a great experience with the best daughter a dad could ever ask for.

Thanks again Natascha for making another memory. We will never look at the Grand Canyon the same ever again.

RIM2RIM hike June 20-23, 2018

stevelummer.com

Author Archives: Lummer Steve

Faces Around The Fire

SEEING THROUGH YOUR SOLSTICE

Books of 2021

Adventure Pastor Steve Lummer Loves To Meet People In The Great Outdoors (+podcast)

MINISTERING IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

GRAND CANYON RIM 2 RIM FOR MY 60TH

Discovery update from Pastor Steve and Brenda

Guest Blogger Doug Reed

Guest Blogger Jerry Trewern

GRAND CANYON RIM 2 RIM FOR MY 60TH