Apostle David Johndrow - Fire And Grace

In our world of political correctness, economic uncertainty, divisive politics, and church that can't even keep half the people that come through the door, what's the big deal? You're probably a Christian, one of about 30 who read this blog each day. So, why would anyone want to be like you? What would cause a sinner to want to be saved by grace and become like you? No kidding, as Christians we have our own language... we're going to a meeting, you know like PTA right? Or maybe mass... which sounds like the name of a heavy metal grunge band, don't you think? I wonder if mass is ahead of Ozzy in the charts? One guy told me the glory showed up at his service... I am like, "dude, I have never heard of them, do they have a MySpace?" One new mother was trying to get some anointing to use her toddlers diaper. Crazy. Some of us tell folks they are going to Hell, and many think, I have already been there. And when I get there all my friends will be there. But the ...

I am writing to myself today. What if we launch a whole new church model? What if you are an apostle or prophet? Even if you're a pastor, a teacher or an evangelist, then what? So many are not functioning in unity. There are too many para-church ministries that are profitable (who would leave)-- ones that should have been part-of-church. Do you think we could talk them into splitting the glory? Conversely, there are loads of loaners out there, people-- well people like me, that care about the kingdom, and see the American church in disarray. We have tried to plug-in, got our newcomers gift at that door, and now the candy is gone, the coffee mug is lost, and the CD is at the bottom of the pile. Sure, we did the beginner's class, and the spiritual gift assessment... hell, I wrote the the darn thing! I am wondering, is my personal revelation in the past 6 or 7 blogs a total miss? I am wondering if the church will adopt this new way of thinking? Or will what is left of the church a...

The Apostle is a controversial role/gift in most of the church today. I honestly don't know why. If we read carefully Ephesians 4:11 and some of Paul's other letters, in particular 1 Corinthians, we can plainly see that the apostle has a place in the contemporary church. If we reject the notion that the pastor is the quintessential calling, and look at the 5-Fold as a necessary entity; a sound church model, where all are on equal footing, we've made some real progress. Like our beloved triune God who is three-in-one, the church structure is five-in-one. Each facet of the 5-Fold is necessary, and presents a different, but equally important face of the Bride of Christ to the world. I'd like to take a moment and say what I don't think an apostle is. - He is not specifically a missionary, or church planter, yet the actual word in Greek means "sent." - He is not a pastor, although he may take that title for a period time to get a church started. - He is not a p...

The current state of the prophetic ministry and role within the church, is probably the closest to biblical intentions as any of the 5-Fold gifts. The New Testament prophet, and prophetic gift has some substantial depth and teaching in both the Charismatic and Pentecostal circles. If you have time, John Paul Jackson, Dennis Cramer, Graham Jones and Rick Joyner all have excellent materials available. Our New Testament prophet is essential to that which the church is doing on a day-to-day basis around the world. Ephesians 2:19-20 ...God’s people...[are] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 1 Corinthians 12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers... Like all the ascension gifts/roles mentioned in Ephesian 4:11, there are also the same gifting available to folks in non-leadership roles-- like you and me. After all, you can all prophesy-- well if you want to. But that d...

The third role in the 5-Fold church model is the Evangelist. In the modern Protestant church an evangelist is often an individual in a para-church organization that does not have a Bible degree, where as a pastor does. The difference between a pastor and an evangelist is a degree?! That just seems silly to me. The person with the role of evangelist is to bring others to Christ! He is also an equipper, so he needs to equip others to bring folks to Christ. Evangelists care about souls, and not too much else, I have found. They ask, "Are you right with God?" "Do you know where you'll go when you die? " And they are quick to turn any Bible passage into the Gospel message. They are most often preachers and not teachers. Sure, we are all to preach the Gospel to the lost, but teaching is for believers so they may "put on the mind of Christ." Preaching is to the heart, as Peter's first sermon cut to the "heart," and 3000 were added to their numbe...

As we make our way though the 5-Fold ministry callings, I have chosen the teacher as the second one because it, like the pastor, seems familiar from the old church traditions. If you have previously subscribed to the pastor/teacher model, hopefully you'll see the problem with the pastor's focus being split between study/teaching and relationship building-- a tall order that many cannot achieve. Romans 12:7 “ If it [gift] is teaching, let him teach.” In the Biblical language this meant to communicate the truths of the scriptures so that those that heard put it into practice. Teaching makes difficult truths understandable over time. it is not logic, for the ways of God are higher than ours. It is instructing with the goal of reaching Christians with the "rehema" understanding of the Biblical passages. True teaching brings God's insight to prophetic, allegorical, symbolic, historical and instructive passages of the Bible. True teaching sees the layers of understandin...

For most of us that have attended both protestant and Catholic churches, we are used to a priest or pastor at the helm of our local church. That is the way it should be. However; as we've seen in Ephesians 4:11, there is more to it than that. For our Catholic friends, their priest has the help of deacons, bishops, cardinals and the pope. It has pretty much become a corporate structure at this point in time. I am not sure how all the hierarchy works, but there is one over the other with the pope in the highest position. Our Protestant friends, in most cases, are accustom to a senior pastor, a deacon board, elders and occasionally some sort of self titled apostle (church planter). Outside of the church they may have itinerant evangelists and possibly a prophet. They are almost exclusively para-church organizations, with no real connection to the church. In the end, the pastor most often turns out to be CEO of the local church, and rarely reports to someone above them. Sometimes his e...

Now that I have committed to writing about the The 5-Fold Ministry, I had some other thoughts as I spoke with my brother about it. There are 3 main gift lists in the Bible. These are often referred to in gift assessment questionnaires. They include Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. There are others too, some of which are included in my Power/Government/Gift-Grid below. Keep in mind the following generalities as you read on: - These gifts are available to all believers. (1 Cor 12) - No believer that I have ever met, has all of them. Why? We are meant to be a body. (1 Cor 12) - I don't believe that God takes a gift away for bad behavior. (Romans 11:29) Sure we all have dry times! - Some gifts seem to come with salvation and/or the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Others are imparted by the laying on of hands. (Romans 1:11) - Gifts do not have a one-to-one correlation with character. God is sovereign, merciful, and full of grace, and you're not. So, get over yourself. ;o) -...

When your car is making a funny noise, or not performing as expected, you take it to someone that can repair it. When you are not feeling well, you go to a doctor to see if there is something they can do to heal your body. When you are in emotional pain, you might see a therapist or counselor. When your house has termites, you call the exterminator. Barring supernatural intervention, most folks in church are smart enough to know when something is wrong. The question, what do you do when your church is has no passion, every new vision seems to be the same old thing, every sermon is one that you've already heard, and you have 800 pseudo invitations to dinner, but never get a date and time? Like most Christians, you go to another church, meet a few hopeful friends and start the cycle of disappointment all over again. Have you sat down to think about why this is happening over and over again? Do you blame yourself for not pressing in, the pastor for not caring, or some other excuse as ...

I am sure many of you have heard about Rick Warren's (he prayed at the inauguration) back-pedaling on CA Prop 8. It doesn't matter to me where you stand on gay marriage, and I am not going to debate what I believe the Bible says. What angers me, is that Rick Warren lied on camera (no better if it's off camera-- just that he is caught now). If you listen to the first clip, he specifically endorses Prop 8. However; if you listen to the first 48 seconds of this clip, he denies it. Or maybe he doesn't think that what is on tape is a statement or an endorsement. I just have to say, this is why the American church overall, is displeasing to the masses. In my book, you either believe the Bible and preach it, or you are a hypocrite. I just can't see a way to make this a mistake or a gaff, it is spoken from two side of the mouth. Now for the grace part. I hope that Rick Warren will make himself clear on his mistake, so we can move on.

Did you know that cows are one of the major causes of greenhouse gases? That's right, Bovine Betty and her band of flatualating Guernsies, appear to be a significant cause of common greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. There are others including water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and chlorofluorocarbons. I didn't want to bore you with the chemical symbols for each of them. (My wife will be amazed at my restraint.) Amazingly, according to the experts (you know an "ex," something that used to be, and "spurt;" a fast moving drip.), the earth has supposedly been around for millions of years, weathered an ice age we are certain of, and an asteroid hit, that we are not certain of. Amazing, don' t you think? I don't know about you, but I am very concerned about the impending Ice Age those pot smoking scientists told us all about in junior high school. By now I thought we be living in equatorial igloos somewhere on the sh...

It's Easter when people celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, not just from the dead, but to His long awaited place in Heaven. Who cares really? Although I believe that Christians should be better taught about what they believe, I would much rather see them doing 1/10th of what they already know! Topics such as "what goes on in Heaven,?" and the Biblical meaning of Easter aren't as relevant to the troops on the ground. Once we understand the hope of Heaven, can't we move on to walking in our destiny until the end of our days? These past few weeks I have been angry about the church. Why? Because I am saddened by the lack of leadership, one which does not promote character, power or love. Let me explain. I have seen too many cases where the children of Born Again Christians have been neglected, abused and mislead. When the world sins, I think, "well they don't know Jesus. Should I be surprised? No." When a Christian sins, I think, "who are they a...

I recently watched a clip of the Drew Carey hosted show, Who's Line is it Anyway? I have to say, I haven't laughed that hard in awhile. But what does that have to do with church? I think about the different ways that God manifests Himself to His people. We have all been taught about the abiding presence of God; He is in me, and I am in Him (John 14). But there are other times when God's manifold presence (here and now) invades earth. (The kingdom of God is at hand.) This presence is as varied as the names of God in the Bible . I have seen the presence of God manifest in the aroma of lilies and roses, frankincense and myrrh. Other times His presence was so incredible that my knees shook in the sense of awe and reverence of the Most High. Other items it has been like a warm tropical river or blazing fire. And other times the stillness was amazingly alive. Peoples responses to His presence are varied. Some cry, others laugh, some feel repentant, just to name a few. The presenc...

Today I saw this bumper sticker. It's right up there with my least favorite, the one that says "Coexist" in different religious symbols. Add to this an Obama sticker and I am in road rage mode. I am not sure who said it, but this statement is right on in my book. "Evolutionists have done to science, what hypocrites have done to religion." I heard a scientist, you know, someone that has a theory or hypothesis, and does research and experiments to back it up with facts, call herself an "evolutionary biologist." Honestly, I think that is the best oxymoron I have heard in this millennium. Before you call me a creationist, or an uneducated jerk with a religious opinion, you need to know that I have studied biology, both in high school and college. I watched regeneration take place before my eyes as I viewed a planaria under the microscope. I dissected frogs, worms and fetal pigs-- all before I met Jesus. I also studied both invertebrate and vertebrate anato...

It is commonly said in New England that Spring starts, not on the vernal equinox as first believed by many scientists, but on opening day at Fenway Park in Boston. I think that Fen was somehow related to Alexander Cartwright (not to be confused with a cartwheel). The northeast is sometimes called down east. I am not sure how they came up with that term, but legend has it that it was a drunk with a compass in one pocket, and a magnet in the other. I don't really know. I am more certain that the term "three sheets to the wind," first described a windmill going out of balance when sheets, covering the four blades, were put on under low wind conditions, while one came off as winds increased-- all this creating a terrible crashing sound before launching the forth blade into the Atlantic Ocean.... or something like that. As we look forward to the new life of Spring, I wonder if things like braille drive-through ATMs were created in the dead of Winter? The crocus are almost don...

"Are You My Mother?," you may have been read this book when you were little, or read it to your kids. It is kind of cute as I recall-- somewhat Dr. Seuss like. In the story, a little bird asks a host of other animals if they are, in fact, his mother. Of course, the story ends with a little bird united with his mother. There are some other children's books that have similar motherhood themes such as "Runaway Bunny." In this story the mother pledges her undivided love to her child, as she reassure him that she will be looking for him until the end of time. Having a boatload of girls ranging in age from 3 1/2 to 21, I have always enjoyed reading these particular books to them. Mostly because they remind me of Jesus and his love for each one of us-- a love that never fails. What would it be like for all kids to have dedicated parents -- well at least one that pursues them? Regardless of what the current culture thinks about family, I have never met a kid that didn...

Do you remember when you were a teenager at the pinnacle of your lifetime intelligence curve? Those were the days when you were surrounded by the friend-trust, a pool of genetically altered humans with a perceived combined IQ of 456,789. Do you remember savoring the defeat of the parental units in your well planned attack to use the car for something other than bringing a younger sibling to school! Those were the glory days. you said, I am eighteen, I am an adult and I am independent... well except that your mom was still buying your toilet paper and washing your sheets. So what is it that we parents don't know that our kids seem so confidant about? After all, I am the one that has traveled to 15 countries, seen 42 states and 36 national parks. I have degrees in music, art, computer science and theology. I have read nearly 1,000 Christian books from Kuhlman to Lake, Wigglesworth to Nee. I have worked as a hamburger flipper, a carpenter, a music, photography and computer teacher, a ...