I want to thank you whom have been walking alongside me! You've been such big support on the mission field as well as back "home". I've been deeply encouraged by the greetings, emails and letters you have been sending. It's always refreshing to come back to a foundation that is faithful and ready to strike up conversation full of testimony and encouragement. This past trip was a bit wonky in nature, yet as we look at what God did, we can't deny the kingdom work that He is doing through His glorious church here at home and abroad! Amen!

In the past 2 weeks I've struggle to find the words to describe the fast paced change in my life once again. When your heart bubbles over with joy and love it's sometimes hard to describe it. That's the beautiful work of the Holy Spirit; indescribable transformation. As I sit here trying to explain what's happened, I'm sure the Lord looks down and chuckles to himself lightheartedly. He's probably thinking to himself that this kid hasn't seen anything yet.

Well, my heart has been stretched to love more, serve more, give more, and most importantly to BE MORE! With such an epic year as the World Race was in 2008, it became so real to me that that trip was only a mere stepping stone in the understanding of my life's destiny. In short, the World Race took me on a spiritual wilderness experience through an identity crisis. I gave everything I had to open my heart as wide as I possible could so the Lord could work. I was a desperate young man on a search or a pilgrimage for purpose and significance. Every time I would open myself up I would instantly be at a new level of trust in people, level of faith in Christ, and a new level of humility in my own personality. What I mean is that the more I put myself out there, sincerely put myself out there, the more revelation I received that this world does not revolve around me! People were easier to love when I wasn't judging them. I was more confident when I started to let go of the lies that others are better than me. And lastly I let go of my expectation of what should be happening and tried so earnestly to follow and support the authority and leadership around me! Only at this point did I see miracles, go to amazing places geographically, and gain the wisdom we naturally desire to have of the mysteries of God!

So, what the G42 experience was for me was the creator of the universe placing me in the perfect community for learning the language of true love for others and opportunity to give until I had nothing left. Everything I learned from the Race experience was put into practice once again, with a new understanding of myself, God, and the world. In my heart I was challenged to step into complete faith that His voice is within me and that I am His voice that this world needs to hear. And I was physically in a place where I had no hand in planning out or deciding on my own how it would benefit my ego whatsoever. The Lord took a hungry and humble heart and challenged it to become what it was destined to be. I have been called out to get over the childlike ‘finger painting exercises' of this faith journey and start living as a man of god ought to. This has meant to get over my shifty, self serving ways and worries I face daily and to not let the call be interrupted by my insecurities. In Spain, the Lord placed a strong hedge of authority and accountability around my heart and life. I have seen the integrity and excellence firsthand that the kingdom requires. I have men who are models of the man I am to become as well as women around me whom have shown me what a true woman of God is like. This is the new standard I've been called out to become; the standard to be covenantal, committed, and loyal. To be the rock which others can not only trust but to rely on!

The more steps we take forward on the pilgrimage the more we are to become. The amazing news is that we don't have to change anything about who we are to go to amazing levels with God, we just have to refocus our mindset in trusting that it is who we are, our deep down DNA, that is exactly what god is looking for us to be! Is who we are the fruit of what we do or is the fruit of what we do from who we are?! My life was previously driven from the former and was dead, I was dormant and restless. I have found life and kingdom advancement from the later; a refocused and destiny driven passion to become more like the one who created me...Jesus Christ himself!!

To make sense of this, I've awoken to a new day on the pilgrimage of my life. The old self was left in the memory of days gone by swallowed in the dusk of yesterday. What steps have been taken will be remembered, but not relived. The dawn of a new day is upon me as the sun has begun to arise on this new life. I have been called to wake up from my slumber of naivety, confusion and silence to stand up with the rays of light reflecting off of me from His shining light to this world. I am His hands, feet, and most importantly His voice! I see the days ahead as bright and magnificent no matter how difficult the circumstance. I see the Kingdom advancing as I step forward in confidence with my head held high and not looking over my shoulder to see who's coming. I see orphans experiencing love for the first time as I strive to grasp the Father's love and give that love away to others around me. I see the broken and enslaved free from the tyranny of man and this world as I seek to live my life in chains for the Gospel of peace. I see the confused and complacent finding His voice and living a life of praise as I strive to live a life worthy of the calling through integrity, humility, and excellence! For this is a new day for me, but as most people in this world see life lived based on the day before, they need to hear the voice of Jesus and experience his touch. No-one will ever receive these things unless I, as part of the church, intercede for Him. I'm committing my life to do my bit, the question is ARE YOU?! Are you leading a life worthy of your calling?...for you HAVE been called by God!! (Eph. 4:1)

Thanks so much for all of you that have made the G42 experience what it was! You know who you are! I am a changed man with a softer heart and a bolder attitude; all because of you!

All those who have walked alongside me on the World Race, you have definitely been that foundation to bring me to that point of ‘getting over myself' through your words of encouragement and revelation as I lived my life alongside yours. Thank you for opening your hearts to my brokenness!

And lastly to church family and friends whom I have accumulated over the past 26 years! You guys have showed me how to live, how to grow, and how to seek for the greater things. You have been my support and my drive to be the man I know deep down I'm called to be. I love you and you'll never know how much I appreciated your role in my life! His Kingdom come!!

"He knows my name, so I ought to!"– Andrew Shearman

How many of us struggle what God's will for our lives is?! How many of us battle everyday to wake up and find purpose? God has a plan, right?...but how come it seems so far removed from where I'm at in my journey?

I mean, look at people in the Bible and the great calls upon their lives; leading a nation through the desert, conquering an army twice the size of their own, sharing the gospel to the nations, and even being imprisoned and tortured for the sake of the Gospel. All my life I've gone through the motions of finding purpose and the direction of this ‘call' that is apparently on my life.

I realize that I've been asking the wrong questions and praying the wrong prayers when it comes to the Lord's ‘plan' for my life! Truth is that I've been telling God what he already knows for a very long time, he's an all-knowing God. I've discovered that all he wants is for me to simply ASK! He wants me to ask Him for the nations! He wants so earnestly to give me people! I'm always asking for jobs, where to go next, what steps I need to get where I'm supposed to go, and so on. But He simply wants me to ask for hearts, for lives, for opportunities to LOVE!

As a dreamer I've struggled what God's actual plan for me really is. Now, the days that I feel as though I can go anywhere and do anything are being challenged and other days where I feel as though I have nothing to offer this world; and I need to get over myself and stand up! In the past weeks it has clicked with me how our churches have mystified God's will so much, that it's not even desirable anymore. It's become obligation to perform and "step into faith" in things we aren't even comfortable with. People are being told they are ‘sinners' and ‘lost' if they aren't conformed to the ‘norm'. But it's time to break that lie! God has clearly created each and every one of us for a specific reason and purpose. And with that he has gifted us with so much that He is wanting us to use for his kingdom.

I have discovered that I am the greatest detourant of my dreams. I have let lies take control of my life for long enough. My dreams and gifts have been given to me for a specific reason. For way too long I have worshiped my successes and resume. I have gone overboard and become comfortable in my own strength when the Lord has clearly blessed me with a heart that is committed and a mind that dreams. The next level is not faith in Him, but commitment to take this life to the next level! To live out that faith. To go where no-one goes. To lead others where they are unfamiliar. To set captives free!

Why do we reject prophets who He sends? Because we're scared of change?! Why are we afraid to share our hearts in church on a Sunday morning? Is everyone else doing well and I'm the only one struggling?! Why do we hold on so tightly to money and titles? Are we afraid we'll become less than everyone else?! Bottom line is that God's will is for you to be YOU!! Not just me as in Matt Peters with all my titles and accomplishments, but Matt Peters with a red-hot heart of passion for His children and an ice-cold brain to say AMEN and go after them no matter what the cost!!

We are created to put "Christ" on! That means as sons of God we are ONE with Jesus in his victory and we need to start grabbing it and living it! Not just accepting the salvation part half-heartedly and saying life's good, but claiming ALL of it!

We ARE called, not waiting for the call. Matthew 10 says we are to GO...shrug your shoulders if the house rejects you, move on to another! Sleep well, eat well, live simply. Cast out demons, stop being afraid of those little rodents, HA!, heal the sick...lay hands on them, who cares if they smell or if they're people you know and feel awkward! BE ME is what Jesus is saying!

Paul says, "It is no longer ‘I' who live, but Christ who lives in me!" If we first seek to fulfill His dream, I'm pretty sure that our dream will also be fulfilled. The author and perfector of our faith should know something about a big dream if he's the one who has given YOU you're skills, gifts and ideas. Think about it!!

I suggest we stop being experiential Christians basing our lives on emotions, circumstances and an "it's not fair" attitude and start living a BELIEF oriented Christian walk with faith in God's character and Word. We need to gain a "what does God have in this for me?" attitude in the whirlwind we find ourselves in. I'm pretty sure he's got something for you to learn as you're getting by so to speak!

God's will is to "put Christ on"; not about a specific action or time or place. You'll be in a place at a time doing amazing Kingdom things once you become you with Jesus as your core!

Paul was stopped twice by the Holy Spirit in His plan to go to Asia. Was he wrong?! NO, of course not. God isn't about right and wrong, he needed Paul somewhere else. Paul never disobeyed God, he just didn't know which boat to get on. He was going for it. All God did was re-direct Paul and he never looked back...he went forward.

We need to start to make a plan, but we have to be open for a turn of a surprise in the road. Chances are that God's change will be even better than we could have ever planned. Waiting on the Lord isn't necessarily inactivity, it's an expectant yet still heart whether moving or sitting. How do ya think I ended up here in Spain?!

As the potter shaped the clay, Jesus broke me into pieces because I was marred. Then He rebuilt ME with the same pieces more perfect!!

So obviously He knows my name and who I am. He has called me friend. I am a co-heir with Christ in Heavenly places. I live for the sole reason that he has given me that chance to live. I have taken hold of it, and now it's time to run into destiny. Me being who I am is all that is required to live this life. To just show up! But in this is a mandate, a responsibility...that is to be like Christ and let that flow out of every inch of who I am!!

When I first heard this quote, something in my mind of how I viewed God changed. This is what finally connected the God of the Bible to the God of today in my mind! Sure I know God never changes, but this simple sentence struck something within me as I reflect back on the footprints I've left behind and see when and where God showed up...when I was in souled out worship of HIM, not what I was doing (and giving him credit) and when I just opened my mouth and spoke truth out! That's when the wonders came! That's when the sick were healed and the broken hearted putting that long awaited smile on!!

When we look at the ‘Kingdom' that Jesus is telling us about, why do we have such a hard time grasping it? I always thought it was good works and being ‘humble'. Being less so everyone can be more, yet being at the top of the chain in leadership so I could demonstrate that humility...well that was quite the contradictory life I found myself in. I dubbed it my season of being ‘pridefully humble'. I went to the extreme of works and expecting God to show up! So often people would be blessed, but I was still disappointed when the ‘miracles' just weren't there. I was wrapped up in the lies that I had something wrong with me. I felt that I was lacking something. But, in the last few weeks it has dawned on me that the only thing in the way of me and the fullness of power that God wanted to use through me was...well, me!

So what does this have to do with the ‘Kingdom'? Well, Jesus says that the kingdom isn't something you are looking for or waiting for. It's WITHIN you! (Luke 17:20-21) This idea I had of try to bring the Kingdom with my works and service was challenged. This vast, expansive, and divine Kingdom isn't something I need to strive for or to do anything special for. It's part of me, part my DNA. So, as revelation goes, I have a responsibility to search out the scriptures and match it to what my spirit is saying. Is there a connection?!

God's Kingdom is everlasting, it has always existed (Daniel 4:3), it rules over all other kingdoms; the world has never existed without a savior!

And so, this ‘Kingdom' that is apparently within me and what Jesus says is at hand (within reach) looks like what then here on earth?! Well, Jesus prays a prayer our churches pray every Sunday in Matthew 6:9-13. In verse 10 He prays boldly that the Kingdom COME and God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. There is no doubt that his purpose and plan is for the earth to be exactly what he created it for in the first place. Not a place of peace and harmony so everyone gets along, but rather for His children (us) to share that beautiful inheritance with us! His plan has never altered; we are still in Plan A.

So my question is; am I bringing in His glorious Kingdom in my own life? Truth is that I have absolutely no-one else to blame or to compare anything to! If Jesus' words are true that the Kingdom is within me, then I have some work to do if there is death in my life. If people around me aren't coming ALIVE in who they are, then I'm missing something. If I'm having a bad day and feel as though I need a day off to ‘deal' with stuff, then I'm missing the point. If I'm holding on to things of the past and living in my own little party, then I'm missing the whole point!

All I have to do is SHOW UP for my own life! I have to be willing to choose the Kingdom before anything else when my head leaves my pillow in the morning. I have the responsibility to put others before myself in any circumstance. This world is much different than what we think once we start to look a little bit deeper into it all. If we only see our faults, fears, failures, and ultimately ourselves, then we've lost the plot. Might as well pray for God to take you up now! We are here for a much greater purpose than to survive! We are here to BRING the KINGDOM...come on Church! Let's be that instrument that we are created to be. We're the best plan God ever had! So let's get over ourselves and LIVE THIS LIFE!!

The Kingdom work we are called to do is using what He's given us for His glory!

In our humanity, we are wired with many questions of who we are and what this life is all about. And even so when we come to faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we still are hard pressed to find the answers to the same questions. We read the pages of the Bible and read of all the wonders and amazing stories of faith and great triumphs, yet we compare it to our current lives and we seem to notice a big difference. I was one who had a hard time understanding how a pre-existant, self-existant, all knowing, all powerful, omni-present, and loving God would have me on this earth to just pass the time! I never quite understood how such an amazing God could create me with so much intimacy and just place me here on earth to do some good work just to rescue me in the end from the very thing that he is sending me to do!! Seriously, have you thought about that?! Why would the Lord fill the Bible up to drip such amazing hope and love just to take all the Christians away? What does that prove?! How can something with so much freedom be limited as we tend to believe we are?

The Bible says that we are the apex of His genius. What makes us so different than all other creation is that God created us with something to live for. Adam was given a mandate...a responsibility...and that responsibility means there is something to do...and that "something to do" is a purpose filled life. You see angels were created to worship in the Heavenly places, animals were created to roam the earth, and Adam (man) was created to subdue all creation and have dominion over it all. Unlike angels, man had a choice...free will! That choice was simple; walk with God or walk away from God.

In Eden, it was perfect, every single thing. Adam walked with God in all His goodness. Everything that was there was FOR Adam! God wanted to share it...with Adam! He never created it for any other reason than to share it. If we were created with no choice, no free will, nothing would be rewarding for God. Nothing would choose Him. His loving heart for relationship would be very unsatisfied! So that "everything" was the greatest gift Adam could possibly receive. There was never anything he could do to earn it. It wasn't a reward fro his hard work...it was an inheritance! Be fruitful and multiply is what the Lord said for Adam to do. Have it all!

But then the greatest tragedy happened...at least that's what I've been told all these years! Eve ate of the fruit of the tree, the only thing that was forbidden in all creation. Adam just stood by and watched, silently, being deceived by the one who would steal the inheritance that was clearly Adam's.

We often look at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil as this thing that God was selfishly holding back for himself. But hold on, let's take a closer look at it...

God created everything in the earth and called it GOOD, right? If everything He had made was good, then there was nothing bad, or ‘evil'. And if there was nothing evil in the earth, then there would be nothing to separate Adam from God and ultimately nothing to prove the FREE WILL! The Tree was placed in the garden as the SIGN of the FREE WILL! If there was no option to choose, Adam would be nothing greater than the animals that roamed the earth.

And so, back to the ‘fall'...Adam's in quite the predicament now. The intimacy of Eden gone, the Inheritance lost and a life to live still as the apex and pinnacle point of God's beautiful creation. Is the plot lost?! Is there a point to life now?! Satan (who rebelled against God and was able to convince 1/3 of the angels to join him) thought he had thwarted God's plan. We so often mis-interpret this part of the story because we think this grand battle is between good and evil, between God and Satan. Well, that doesn't make any sense when you look at the fact that God CREATED satan. Satan was an angel, God can smite Satan anytime he wants to. Why do we think Satan has all of this power when he clearly doesn't?! The battle is between man and Satan...Satan was able to deceive Eve and Adam out of their inheritance. He had control of this earth. Genesis 3:14-15 says that Satan is cursed and that there will be enmity between him and the man (woman in context). God put that enmity there, not satan, HA!!

And so, with the plot lost and Satan laughing at his victory, God says to hold on a minute..."look down the line of history a bit...I have a second Adam"...and His name is CHRIST!! That's right, God had a plan. Not a back-up plan, but THE PLAN still in motion! Incredible stuff, eh? Now how do we know this? Because God prophesies it in verse 15 (Genesis) when he says that the serpant (satan) will bruise his head, and the woman (Christ) will bruise his heel. Now, that's victory! The lost restored!

So then, what does this have to do with me today?! Well, as Christ went to the grave (after Satan thought he had a second victory), he resurrected and conquered death! That prophesy fulfilled, Christ defeated Satan. Christ brought LIFE to this world. He created a way for us to be restored. Christ took all the sin of each and every person in the world upon himself and was that sacrifice to atone for all that has separated us from God. The LIFE that was won is all that is needed to walk a free life from death. In Christ (belief in him as that sacrifice for us) we share in that victory! The inheritance is restored through Jesus Christ. There is nothing we could possibly have done then or do now. That original charge of dominion over the earth is up to us now to grab it. Christ did what no human could do! In this kingdom, the Kingdom of God, we have the responsibility back to take this inheritance. We have no excuses now. There is NOTHING separating you from God and grabbing his blessed inheritance except for you not taking it!! Just to give you an idea of this inheritance...it's 7 BILLION!! That's right, 7 billion hearts and lives for you to gain, the nations!

So, what is God's point in all of this?! He's looking for a partner! He's looking for someone to love, and bless! His greatest expression of that is to share His inheritance with us! He wants us to live in Eden, without having to do anything to deserve it. He wants His bride (the church) to partner with Him (Christ)! So let's go claim our inheritance, shall we!!

Greetings friends,

I pray this letter finds you living out your life to your greatest potential! It's a wonderful season out here physically and spiritually here at G42. The weather has been un-naturally warm for this time of year. Apparently it has broken all kinds of records as the warmest fall in history for this area. So with 24 + Celsius weather, it has been quite enjoyable. And more importantly, it's been a great season of freedom and character building for us interns. Everything we're going through in class we have the privilege to spend time in the surrounding communities doing. Personally I've been involved with a local food program for the homeless. I've made a few relationships that are slowly being cultivated into something more than just a hug once a week. This past weekend, a few of us interns headed out to the nation of Gibraltar on our own account to help out our dear friend and local Andrew as he's involved with being a resource for ministries coming into the 2 countries here (Spain & Gibraltar).

One of the classes that I've been encouraged in is "Failure". Now that may sound quite the taboo class for a life of ministry, but the truth is that this is the first time I've been confronted with teaching that my past failures and shortcomings are part of something great in the walk ahead of me as I live out my purpose. It's opened such huge doors in my life for the concepts of grace and ultimately love. The Apostle Paul writes, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love." This means that no matter who I am or who you are, the only thing that matters in this life is faith in Christ through the expression of love. Life is about people and loving one another! We have to submit our shortcomings and failures of this world's standards and hand them over to the Lord and move forward. It's the only way to freedom in our lives. To break that cycle of bondage and imprisonment of fear of failing when we know we are called to do great things (Jer. 29:11). We are each created for an undeniable purpose.

So, I encourage all of you wherever you are at in your own journey. If you are curious about whom Jesus is I encourage you to read deep into the Gospel of John! If you have already committed to following Christ, I pray for you to look at your relationship today with God and ask him if there is anything you need to hand over to him once again to step into that new deeper level of freedom in Him...releasing the hold of fear once and for all!

I thank you all for taking a minute to allow me to share what's going on here in Spain. It means a lot to me. I hope you in turn are encouraged. Please know that I am in need of finances to keep going through my term and practicum's. One of them is this next week in Barcelona. The total I need is approx. $2,200 by December 1^st. This will sustain me through the end of the first term (December 18^th).

If you are able to help out, please send checks to:

Cheers on the journey!

- Matt

How often do we go to church because "that's what we do"? How often do we go to church to "get filled" or to "gain something"? Set aside 2 hours every Sunday morning, head to church and sit back in the pew and say "feed me"?

In our culture we tend to spend a lot our lives doing that, and sometimes not even realizing it. Of course life is tough and we get weathered by the storms and pounded by the circumstances. But out of all the times we've gone to church, how many more times have we gone to offer something versus seeking to take something?

In the "early church" we never saw people going to a nice multi-million dollar building to get something. First off, church wasn't about the building whatsoever and second of all the people believed and gave their lives to follow Christ Jesus, not just say a prayer to feel good and move on in life. Those who believed lived in a community of love. They shared everything they possessed and gave to whomever was in need. They lived selfless lives of giving, never taking. There was no preaching to compete for congregation numbers. They shared the good news of Christ so that others may walk in the spiritual freedom that they found themselves in. Their lives reflected the deep down, no holds barred faith they had in Jesus.

And so in turn they were persecuted!! It was dangerous to be a Christian, there was nothing peer pressure about it! There was absolutely nothing to gain from a worldly sense at all. So why did the church flourish and move forward in advancing the Kingdom of God? Simply because those who believed STOOD UP!!

The religious leaders of the day brought the scriptures to the table to dispute this new "way" as Jesus had taught and claimed. Those who walked with Jesus knew who he was as the Son of God, as well as those who never met Jesus but believed the message of salvation through him.

The city of Antioch was claimed to have been one of the largest cities in the entire world (possibly Roman?) at the time. And 1/3 of the population believed! The number I've understood is roughly 100,000 (take that for what it's worth). People were getting it. People were believing! They didn't need miracles, even though they without a shadow of a doubt were common. They didn't have programs or nice glorious "people pleasing" friendly sermons to believe in Christ. The result of a group of souled out faithful shared what was on their hearts brought life to the city of Antioch amidst the Roman occupation and resistance of the message of Christ!

The message was simple: TRUTH. Raw truth! Peter, Paul, Stephen, James, etc all spoke up and not only defended (without being offended remember) but proclaimed the Way to the Kingdom through the resurrected Christ. As the religious leaders were in pursuit of stoning Stephen, he scrambles to speak up and proclaims what God has/is doing. Paul stands in front of the Sanhedrin in a similar fashion and speaks his story, the testimony of Christ.

So my question is why do we shy away from our friends and strangers alike when we claim to have all of this faith? Maybe deeper, why do we demand so many signs and wonders before we give ourselves up to follow Christ? HA! There are zero recordings of anyone ever demanding a "sign". It is by faith and faith alone that those will find the Way! So stop demanding signs for God to prove himself. Step out in faith and give him a chance. You don't have any control over the matter, He does....he created you remember!!

Ok, back on topic...

To conclude part 1, we have to look to the examples left by those who first got this thing going! They never went to church to feel good; they were persecuted! They never went to church to sit back and take anything; they gave every possession they had to those who needed it. And they never shrunk back in fear when things got tough; they stood up straighter, spoke louder, and shone brighter in their moments of greatest opposition.

Why are we too scared to share our testimonies? There is no-one like you, only you have your story, your gifts, your life. Your life is meant to be shared. People need your victories and foundations to be encouraged in their own walks. It is only up to YOU to get over yourself and let your life shine bright! Stop worrying about what others say or view of you! Stop letting them control you when it really has nothing to do with you. Be yourself! Speak up! Meet that friend for coffee that you know you need to share something with! Step up to the pulpit and encourage the body of believers you worship alongside with a revelation or blessing you have experienced this past week!

Next blog is about SPEAKING UP is and looks like!!