Bobby Lepinay

A Different Angle on Hope

The last 2 nights, I went to the opening games of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos baseball team at the new park.  If you have not been out there, do yourself a favor:  Go.  Don't even attend a game.  Just take a blanket and sit by the bay along the huge park they created outside.  Go at sunset and be amazed.

I could not believe the energy downtown.  Something felt enoromously different that even a few weeks before.  A sense of momentum was in the air.

Last night, I got to chat with the owner, Quint Studer, for a few moments.  He made the statement that, "We are changing the culture of our city Bob."  That stuck with me.

I have lived in Pensacola for 30 years now.  I can remember how depressed and hopeless everything felt after Ivan ripped everything to shreds.  Stagnation reigned with no leadership.  Then the oil spill.  

A 'culture of hoplessness' was in the air.  People were moving away.  It was hard and I and many others spent hours and hours praying and fasting for our city over that almost now 10 year period.

Over the past 2 years, things began happening:  Quint Studer rose up as well as many others to invest in change, against the prevailing dour, negative crowd that had been in place for so long.  The old form of council lead government was replaced by a Strong Mayor, a leader.  The best Chamber President in the US (my opinion) was hired.  The airport expanded and is now Pensacola International Airport.  Pensacola went from Junior College to State College and UWF had record enrollment, especially with international students.

Last year, as I was praying, the phrase, "The winds have shifted" entered my spirit.  I prayed it out.  I believe this for our city.  I believe it for our church and the churches in our area.  I believe it for you and your families.

A "culture of hope" has replaced a culture of hopelessness.  

Yesterday, they reported that the people moving into the area is at at record level.  The beaches are recording record crowds, especially from out of state guests.  Word is spreading about this city that has finally found its ability to reach for its full potential.

Tommorow is Easter Sunday.  I am preaching the Good News of resurrection life, the hope of heaven.  I cant waith, as Harvest is experiencing a fresh surge of momentum with many new faces going though our Growth Track and becoming members.  

We preach an eternal hope.  But we also need hope in the here and now.

To a hope-filled future,

PB

Honoring the Sabbath

A few months ago I went to Israel.  We drove into Jerusalem on Friday around 5:30pm.  I got up into my hotel room, turned on my computer and at 6pm sharp, ...bam....the internet went off.

I went down to the lobby to ask what had happened.  They looked at me like I was from another planet and said, "It's Sabbath sir."  What??? I asked for an explanation, to which she told me how EVERYTHING in Israel pretty much shuts down from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.  All public transportation stops, internet is off, restaraunts and stores closed.  People spend time resting with their families and friends and attend Sabbath meal.

It was incredibly interesting to say the least.  That night, we went to a Jewish family's home and shared Sabbath meal with them.  I am a New Covenant believer but I came to a deep appreciation for the 'Sabbath Principle', not as Law, but as an ingrained principle in divine design that should be honored. I believe "The Lord's Day" replaced the Sabbath after the resurrection.

Concerning the Sabbath Principle, after creating all things, the Bible says, "After doing all this work, on the 7th day, God rested."  

Does God really NEED to rest?

Then, in giving the 10 Commandments to Moses, the 5th Command is to honor the Sabbath day.  6 days do your daily duties, but on the 7th, no work and commit that day to the Lord.  The command, Jesus said later, was made for man's good and welfare, not for it to be slavishly followed to earn points with God.

I saw many benefits to the Sabbath while there.  Family time, ritual, and just pausing to realize the world will go on without us going going going.  God is in control and not everything depends on us working so hard.

Some Christians think the Sabbath still applies to us as believers.  I do not think the law does, but I do believe the principle applies, as it is how God created us from the beginning.  If we dont honor the principle, we burn out, plain and simple.

Rick Warren of Saddleback Church puts it into practice this way in his life:

Divert daily.......excercise, get your mind off work some way each day

Withdraw weekly......pull away and go to the beach, park, recreate and rest a full day

Abandon annually.....take at least a week if not 2 once a year to leave it all.  No phones, no connection

I like that.  

A few years ago, I started running or working out each day to clear the cobwebs and stress.   My day off is Friday each week.  I finish main message preparation by Thursday at 6pm and rest on Friday, then resurrect and pray the message out on Saturday in preparation for my big work day, Sunday.  Once a year I am seeking to truly unplug for 2 weeks.

To a better, healthier future,

PB

 

 

 

Becoming Emotionally Mature

A few weeks ago, I started a series on this subject.  The response has been overwhelming, as it has really hit home with many.

I do believe we are on the frontend of a revolution in discipleship, one that will be more comprehensive to the Gospel affecting ALL of us, including our emotional life.  This is where most of the failure and frustration comes from:  We are locked in patterns of responding to life, yet love God, are hurting, but have to hide our 'bad' areas that have not been really healed and matured.

Too much to explain here, but if you are interested, just click here to watch any of the 4 messages I have done so far:

http://www.harvestpensacola.com/media/

Truth + Grace + Time = Lasting Change

pb

Discouragement

I turned 49 last week.  One of my big goals is that when I turn 50 next year, I want to be a certain weight.  

So the day after my birthday, I began my regimen of watching what I eat and running 2 to 3 miles a day. I pretty much stuck to it and was looking forward to seeing the scale this morning.

I gained a pound.

To say I was discourged is to put it mildly.  The first thought that went through my head was "What's the use of even trying?" The thought of putting a run into my day's schedule evaporated.  "What's the use anyway??" just kept ringing through my brain as I sought motivation to continue even trying.

But I have learned something over the years:  When discouraged, sit back, let it flow over you, fully experience it, but then, don't let the discouragement lead you forward.  Let the following question always lead you forward:

"What's the right thing to do?"

The next right thing for me?  Go for the runs, watch my diet, regardless the results.  Eventually, the results will come if we just continually focus on doing the 'next right thing'.

So of for a run I go.

PB

# 49

So I celebrated my last year as a "40 something" Monday.......

Ouch.

The picture at left is overlooking the Nazareth valley, the very spot where the people took Jesus to throw him off the cliff after he first announced himself as the Messiah there in Nazareth.  It is meaningful to me in another way though, that being I really do feel the sensation (not in a depressed sense) of looking down at the 2nd half of my life from this current peak.

And let me state:  I do not intend to hold back one iota.  I surrendered my life as a college freshman to the purpose of God's Kingdom and that surrender is as fresh today as it was then.  I want to see a harvest of souls come to Christ that would not have turned to him outside of my obedience to follow His call.  

That is what Harvest is about, plain and simple.

 

My birthday itself was nice.  Peaceful, with a nice dinner of fillet mignon, potatoes, veggies and a triple layer key lime cake Brit made.  Michael, Courtney, Brit, Tor and Deb made it sweet.

I was shocked as well by 100 birthday wishes on Facebook!  Nice to feel loved.

Grace my friends!

PB

Pictures From Israel Trip 2012

 

 

 

 

Ruins of Pontius Pilate's palace overlooking Mediterranean Sea.  He lived here and would commute to Jerusalem for trials, such as the one he did with Jesus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remnants of Pilate's pool overlooking ocean in Cesearea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Roman toilets outside Pilate's palace near the ampitheater.  Would they be reading their Iphone as well??? :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The peak of Mt. Carmel where Elijah called down fire on the prophets of Baal.  Love how he mocked them first!!! ('maybe your gods arent answering because they are out taking a leak??!")

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Valley of Jezreel where Naboth's vinyard was, near the spot where Jezebel where thrown down and fed to the dogs

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Mt Carmel you can see Mt Tabor on the left where Jesus took his 3 disciples and was transfigured before them.  On the right is Mt Gilboa where Saul fell on his sword and killed himself

 

 

 

 

Loved this spot!  Just outside of Nazareth, the exact spot called the 'Brow of the Precipice' that they sought to throw Jesus off of when he proclaimed himself the fulfillment of Isaiah 61 in the synagogue.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standing on the Brow of the Precipice with Mt Gilboa in the background.  A looonnnngggg way down for sure!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cesearea Philippi, "Thg Gates of Hell".  This is the spot Jesus took his disciples to and asked who men said he was.  This was a pagan shrine to the god Pan, and the cave you see where the water came out was known at the Gates of Hell.

 Jesus was telling them that paganism would NEVER overcome the true church of God!

 

 

 

 

Young Israeli soldiers we had lunch with.  EVERY one serves for 3 years right out of high school, including girls, then enroll in college.  Amazing the commitment they all have to their country.  I was impressed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My daily breakfast:  Smoked sardines, salmon, herring, onions, cheese, olives and a poached egg with basil.  LOVED IT!!

 

 

 

 

 

The spot on the Sea of Galilea that Jesus cooked the fish after he was resurrected and restored Peter ("Peter, do you love me?.....3 times....the same number of times he had denied Jesus)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The remains of the synagogue in Capernaum where Jesus would attend in his adopted hometown where Peter lived.

 

 

 

 

 

Foundations of homes in Capernaum. They were compacted together for sure!  Pretty cool how the synagogue (left) is in the center of the village.  Picture taken from Peter's house.

 

 

 

 

The grainfields right outside Capernaum where Jesus walked with his disiples and rebuked the Pharisses about why he was letting his disciples eat grain on the Sabbath.  Here he proclaimed himself "Lord of the Sabbath", ticking them off real good! :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jordon River.  What more do you say????  So much happened here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture taken from the Mount of Olives of The Eastern Gate of Jerusalem where Jesus the Messiah will enter when he returns.  The Muslims blocked it off and built a cemetary in front of it. Ironically, if you look nearest where I am, on the Mount of Olives side, the Christians built their graves there overlooking the Eastern Gate so they could be the first resurrected when he returns!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Garden of Gethsemene where Jesus prayed the night he was betrayed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Western Wall of the Temple, also known as Mt Moriah where Abraham was offering Isaac and God provided a lamb pointing to the ultimate offering of His Son

 

 

 

 

 

Golgatha, where Jesus was crucified.  Also known as 'The Place of the Skull".  If you look above the buses, you can see the 2 eyes of the skull.  I always thought he was crucified on a hill, but it was on the roadside, as that was Roman custom so that all could see as they traveled.  The actual location would be where the bus stop is on the bottom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Garden Tomb.  Notice the slot on under the step where the stone would be rolled over the opening. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The spot where Jesus body laid.  To the right is a little ledge where they found the linens folded and him not there!  

He has RISEN!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Upper Room where the last supper was held where Jesus predicted his betrayal and Judas, his heart filled by Satan, ran out to betray him

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entrance to the Temple grounds that everyone used, including Jesus.  In the background you can see the Mount of Olives where Jesus would often spend the night.  This is where he told his disciples that the Temple would be destroyed, which it was in 70 AD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bethlehem, the spot where Jesus was supposedly born

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      The Manger in Bethlehem

 

 

 

 

 

 

The field right outside Bethlehem where the angels appeared to the shepherds at night, now the edge of the town of Bethlehem

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uri, our guide.  Simply the best, made it all come alive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bible will never be the same for me.  We are hoping to take this trip with our church next year around November.  If you are interested, regardless what church or state you are from, let us know by emailing the church office at harvest@harvestpensacola.com and we will put you on the list.

Love you guys!

PB

 

 

 

Israel Bound!

At 6am tomorrow, Pastor Roger and I fly to NYC to meet a group of ARC Pastors to make pilgrimage to Israel.

Words fail to describe how excited I am!!

A highlight will be taking communion together in the Garden Tomb where Jesus was buried, right under Golgatha were he was crucified.  Walking the path Jesus took carrying His cross, going to the Jordon River where He was baptized, Mt. Carmel and Elijah's cave where God spoke to him....on and on the list goes of what lies ahead!

Make sure to be at Harvest this coming Sunday, as I will be updating you guys then.  Please pray for us.  I am expecting major "God Moments" on the journey!

Love you much!

PB