FAQ’s

Well, it’s been one year. Wow! One year ago, Shanen and I left our two full-time jobs and stepped out on the water to follow God’s plan for our lives. We were scared, had very little money and didn’t know what would happen next. Would churches invite us? Would our friends stick with us? Would we be seen as rebellious? We had more questions then answers but knew we heard God. Today as I look back over one year of ministry, my heart is full and I am very grateful. Here are just a few of the things we have learned so far.

Not connections, not the right person tweeting about you, not the right church inviting you to speak but FRIENDS! People who love you, care about you, check up on you and pray for you. People who understand that you can have a bad day and you’re still SAVED! People who seriously care about you but don’t take you too seriously. Friends.

“Promotion comes from the Lord.” Simple huh? But not always easy to remember. Honor people, love people, and work hard to be relational but in all of that don’t become political! Keep your faith in the right PERSON: JESUS.

He elevates, He opens the doors, He is on your side.

I’ve taught for years that we cannot define or determine the harvest God has for us when we sow the right seed. However, we can trust his GRACE and that when we obey and walk according to his Word, He will supply for our every need. This has been nothing short of an Ephesians 3:20 year. It has not gone exactly the way I thought it would go (I don’t think it ever does). Some things have been harder than expected, some easier. As Judah Smith says, trust Jesus and ALWAYS choose what is behind “door number God.” That is the place with the greatest reward!

Todays blog is not to tell you what to do but to tell you what I didn’t do well. My hope is that this blog will encourage you as you reach your world. I have only been in ministry for eleven years and ten of those were on two church staffs (the past eleven months Shanen and I have been in full-time itinerant ministry). As I think about the past and look towards our future, I can think of three mistakes I made during my brief time in ministry. These are things I have corrected and though I have made MANY mistakes I think these were the biggest.

#1: Not spending quality time with my wife.

Please notice the word QUALITY. Shanen and I spent A LOT of time together but that doesn’t mean it was relationship building, life-giving, intimate time. While working at The Church at South Las Vegas we oversaw media, worship, youth, conferences, and the internship program. We never went more than an hour out of each others site. We slept together, ate together, worked together, and went home together (we only have one car). However, that doesn’t mean we were connecting like we should have. Don’t get me wrong, we have always had a good marriage but NOTHING like it is now.

Towards the end of our employment we did better at “turning off” the ministry switch when going home. For the first five years of our marriage there was not a moment that went by that we were not obsessed with ministry success. We now work hard to connect on a friendship level totally separate from what we do. We talk, laugh, cry, bond and love each other on a level we never did before. From the time I was 19, I gave my greatest energy to helping build the church, my wife and Jesus were second to that. That was my fault, but that has changed. My priority now is on my wife and my Savior. Ministry flows OUT of that, relationships flow out of that and friendships flow out of that. Give your spouse your best and watch God bless your marriage.

#2: Not pursuing more time with my pastors.

Notice the word PURSUE. The fact is, you may not be able to get a lot of time with your pastor but you can pursue it. Ask him to coffee, find common interests (If you don’t have any, make them up! During my time working for Pastor Benny, I became a Laker fan and a UFC fan. I also picked up golf. Simply to create more ways to connect.), ask him to lunch and make it happen! I made many excuses for not connecting more with my pastor, all of which were valid. However looking back, I wish I would have broke through my excuses and made this more of a priority.

#3: Being sarcastic.

Kind of random… many times as I tried to pastor and befriend guys my own age (or younger) I would joke with them and that was ok but when I needed to lead them and correct them I would find out they were hurt with me because of my humor. I would always say that they needed to grow up and get over it, but as I look back I wish I would  have corrected this! Now I am not saying you can’t joke, just remember your guys can only come back at you so hard because of your position. So they usually have to end up eating humble pie and possibly resenting you in the process. So HAVE FUN, but use discretion. Don’t talk trash on the basketball court, golf course, etc. and then get mad at your guys when they give it back. I am working harder than ever to honor people with my words, those under me and above me. YOU CAN’T LOSE WHEN YOU HONOR PEOPLE.

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap2″]1[/bra_dropcaps] YOU ARE A NEW CREATION – You are not a legalist, you are not a pharisee, you are not a religious zealot, you are a NEW CREATION! Many times we forget that we have what the pharisees did NOT have. We have the Holy Spirit. We have Christ in US, the hope of glory. We are not who we were, we are who God says we are. We do not worship a form or dogma. We worship a person, his name is Jesus and He made us brand new. Your heart is new, your spirit is washed in the blood and now its time to work on that MIND! Don’t think of daily devotion as a daily discipline but as daily renewal. Your body needs food, water, and rest. Your mind needs food, water, and rest. This comes by being in the word, seeking God and praising God.

If you met a hungry person who desperately needed food and water, what would you do? You would feed them! You would not pass them by out of a fear of obesity. In the same way, don’t be afraid to eat spiritually! If your heart is for Jesus than legalism will not be a problem.

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap2″]2[/bra_dropcaps] YOUR NEXT LEVEL IS CONNECTED TO YOUR SPIRITUAL MATURITY– The writer in Hebrews chapter five,  tells us that he wanted to take them deeper but he could not because they were still on milk and could not digest meat yet. Don’t feel condemned if you are not ready for meat. BUT! You should want to grow so that when God wants to take you higher, He can!

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap2″]3[/bra_dropcaps] YOU ARE THE PRODUCT OF YOUR FRIENDSHIPS – One man said, “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” Paul tells us “bad company corrupts good morals.” Ok, if this is true, than who should your best friend be? Who should your BFF be? JESUS! Our God is holy, love, patient, kind, joy, peace, pure, gentle, generous, and we could go on and on and on and on. Christianity is not behavioral modification. It is transformation! You hang with Jesus and you will become like Jesus. Sanctification is our soul (mind will and emotions) catching up with your spirit (that washed in the blood perfect new man in Christ). So Im saved, and Im being saved. Im holy, and Im being made holy. Im washed in the blood and my soul is being washed. Time with Jesus doesn’t make you more saved. It is reveals how saved you really are!

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap1″]I[/bra_dropcaps]’ll never forget driving in my car listening to a sermon (by a preacher I will not name) titled “Is it too late?” The premise of the message was that God is done with America and might just be done with you too. He talked about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, trampling on the grace of God and getting to a place of no return with our sin. He reminded us that, “God will not strive with men forever.” Oh yah, I WAS SIXTEEN! I remember the dark cloud of condemnation that filled my car as I drove down I-25 from Albuquerque to my house in Belen. That day I believed a lie that would cripple my walk with God for years.

For the first time I believed God and I were enemies and that I was in trouble! Just two years prior, I felt life giving conviction and holy love when I got saved. This was nothing like that. I felt alone, cold, totally helpless and I began a journey of trying to please God with my good works. Anytime I would sin I would feel terrible. It was never because I was convicted but because I was reminded that I probably wasn’t saved and should just give up. No one talked to me about my raging hormones as a teenager, how to forgive others and myself and most importantly THE GOSPEL.

The Gospel? I had no clue. Justification by faith? Never heard of it! 2nd Corinthians 5? Galatians 3? Romans 8? John 3? The new birth? The book of Collosions? NOPE. I only knew Old Testament principles and a few out of context New Testament verses. Are those bad? Of course not! I just had no idea what happened on the cross or why the resurrection was important. I didn’t know that God’s love for me is WAY more important than my love for him.

Honestly, it wasn’t until I was twenty-six (yup, ten years later) that I had my first revelation of God’s love. It was teachings by Judah Smith, Joseph Prince and others that were helpful in my understanding of Jesus. Many are uncomfortable with “the grace message” but all I know is, it worked for me. I’ve never had more personal victory, loved people and God more and felt so loved by God. No theology is perfect but if a theology causes faith, worship and holiness, I am for it!

Recently, I felt like I had another defining moment as I was reading the life of Abraham. Genesis chapter twelve gives us the story of Gods initial conversation with Abram. God could have said A LOT in this conversation but he chose to reveal to Abram a part of his character and nature that I think we often ignore. He tells Abram,”I’m going to bless you, protect you, multiply you and make you a blessing.” (Make you like me). WOW.

As God was forming both a religion and a race of people, He felt it important in its foundation to establish his generosity, strength, creative power and ability to bless. If God thought it was important to share this with the man who would become the father of our faith; I believe it is important not only that we believe it but also preach it! God is good, period. There is no room for boasting about our goodness. Faith and grace are a gift.

[bra_highlight style=”highlight1″] God is good! [/bra_highlight] When we realize and receive His love for us, we will love, worship and obey Him. It is not too late for you! God has a plan for you and loves you. Let him break off every mental barrier and stronghold that is standing in the way of you knowing you are loved.

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap1″]A[/bra_dropcaps]few weeks ago, Shanen and I decided to drive to Arizona to attend a leadership conference. (Side note: It is important to attend conferences as pastors and leaders) We were in need of some refreshing and were expecting God connections and a word from the Lord. We got it! 

During one of the sessions, Kent Munsey preached and made a statement that has continued to encourage me and change me.

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap3″]1.[/bra_dropcaps]ONE WORD FROM GOD CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING! This is why consistently being in the Word is important and why listening (Faith comes be HEARING) to teaching/preaching is not optional.

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap3″]2.[/bra_dropcaps]Here is what he said that has really been helping me. Genesis 48 records the story of Joseph seeing his brothers for the first time since they had sold him into slavery. Verse 9 says something that could be as life changing for you as it was for me, [bra_highlight style=”highlight1″]”He remembered the dreams he had”.[/bra_highlight] He chose not to remember the pain, the frustration, the pit, the prison, the hate or the jealousy. He chose to remember the promise, the dream and the plan of God. He would go on to say in chapter 50, “You meant it for evil, but God has done this for my good.”

I know that what I focus on will directly affect my life. I have to CHOOSE to remember the promises and dreams and CHOOSE to forgive and move on from every hurt or disappointment. I recently sent out a tweet that said, [bra_social_icons]twitter, http://twitter.com/jabinchavez [/bra_social_icons] “Destiny is not always what you thought it was going to be but it is always better than you thought it would be.” 

No matter the disappointment or unanswered question, I have to go back to the prophetic words over my life, the gift He put in me and the original dream I was given. This keeps me faith filled and full of hope. I choose to look beyond my past and hold on to the Word He gave me.

In Jeremiah 20, Jeremiah has a very real talk with God and is at the point of giving up. He is mad at people, mad at God and probably even mad at himself. He tells God he wants to quit the ministry BUT he can’t… Why? Because there is a word in him that feels like fire in his bones and he can not contain it! I believe the original call/dream of Jeremiah was one that kept him through the darkest nights and lowest valleys. The dreams kept Joseph faithful in every situation and I know that Gods word and dream will keep you as well. Keep your eyes on Jesus. The storms will pass, seasons will change, nights will turn to morning and through it all, Jesus will be there.  

[bra_dropcaps style=”dropcap2″]O[/bra_dropcaps]n August 23rd, 2003 my life changed… I packed up my 1994 Honda Accord drove out of a small town in New Mexico and moved to Las Vegas. I thought I would be here for a few months but nine years later, here I am! As many of you know, I spent my first five and half years working with the worship and creative departments. Three and half years ago I was honored to add to that portfolio and become the Youth Pastor and Intern Director. The last three years have been a dream come true. God has done more then I could have ever imagined and I am so grateful for every opportunity He has given me. We have seen hundreds of youth and young adults come to Jesus, raised up leaders, and helped build ministries that will continue to go further faster. God is good!

I have experienced some major transitions in my life including… meeting Jesus, joining the ministry, moving to Vegas, getting married, becoming a pastor, and buying a house. Now, Shanen and I are entering into another exciting transition. Last September, I had dinner with Dr. Sam Chand that turned my world upside down! Chand shared with me that he felt like my next move was to travel full time. I was shocked! I never saw myself traveling full time. After a few weeks of conversations with my wife, my pastors, and close friends I realized God was up to something. We decided that finishing up the school year was important and that the transition would be best be done in the summer. So here we are! As of July first I will be traveling full time preaching, leading worship, and training worship leaders.

I will never be able to express how grateful I am to my Pastors Benny and Wendy Perez for sending us out into this new season. Pastor Benny has been behind this idea since day one and has given me the confidence to believe I can do this. My pastors have believed in us, trained us, given us every amazing opportunity possible and are now releasing us into this new season. We are beyond blessed.

Shanen and I are excited about our future and are grateful to everyone of you who have been our faithful and faith filled friends over the years.

The best is yet to come!