THE WAR ON BROTHERHOOD: Fighting through Prayer, Submission, and Obedience

Praise God that He is sovereign. I've had the pleasure to call James Disciple Johnson since the very beginning of Disciple. I can't begin to explain the way our relationship has shaped me and has grown me as a Man of God. We've been through a lot together, ridden thousands of miles side by side. I stood by his side when the 1%ers tried to cut his patches off and told us there wasn't going to be any new MCs. There was a year when it was just he and I, when we weren't living in obedience to the Lord and the devil tried to squash the club before it had a chance to take root. There was a time I even considered quitting, when my leader was under attack, struggling with some sin issues, and I had no one to follow. But it was to God's Glory, and I rejoice that He used me to approach my brother and point those things out to him. God used that conversation to get James's attention and show him what our mission was: To Disciple Men to have a Daily Word and Prayer time, and to support the 1% world with prayer.

You see, that's how Brotherhood is supposed to work. Even your brother is at his lowest, weakest point in his life or in his walk with Christ--you don't abandon your brother. You stick by his side and you fight with him. I'm not going to leave a brother behind--especially when he's under attack. And I'm damn sure not going to bring him down when He's at his best, or beat him while he's under attack. I've stuck by his side through thick and thin, and when my brother stumbled, I helped pick him up. That's what it means to be a Brother. I love my brother, and I'm going to keep fighting on his behalf.

I am grateful for James' leadership. I have submitted myself to the authority that God has given him through this club. The key is this: I follow him as he follows Christ. As long as James is following Christ, submitting to his leadership is easy because I'm following God's vision for Disciple. I'm willing to do anything he asks of me for the benefit of this organization because I understand the vision. I'm not going to talk bad about my brother behind his back even when I disagree with something he says or does. I might say "hey bro let's talk about this, help me to understand why you said or did this."

Only recently have I learned how important praying for my brothers is. Being a Disciple invites a whole new level of attack from the enemy. Men of God we must pray for our leader. Pray that he would stay true to the vision God gave him. Pray that the Lord would guard him from the attack of the enemy. Go to WAR on behalf of your brothers, men! And when they can fight no longer, fight for them. FIGHT FOR YOUR BROTHER. Remember that this war doesn't stop as long as we're on this side of Heaven. Never give up. Never surrender. Spend time on your face praying for your brothers, praying for our leaders daily. Value the term Brother and remember the price Jesus paid to call you Brother.

There's way more than just two of us now, and it's been a wild ride. I give God all the Glory--that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown grace because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. (1 Tim 1:12-14).

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peacable and considerate, and to show humility toward all men. Titus 3:1-2

Disciple Retrow
National Vice President & Co-Founder
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club

THE WAR ON BROTHERHOOD: Fighting through Prayer, Submission, and Obedience
http://disciplecmcblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-war-on-brotherhood-fighting-through.html

The Mother Charter

The bylaws of Disciple were and have been written recognizing the fact that we are a new organization. We are in the unique formational process of founding this club and starting up charters around the country and the world. We are establishing best practices for getting new Charters in place. We are adding new regional and national leadership positions as we start up state after state,  country after country. We are in the beginning stages of forming national relationships with the major clubs. Our bylaws undergo annual changes based on comments from the membership and the leadership, that reflect the new realities we encounter as we go from a small operation in one state to a nationwide and indeed global motorcycle club,  an explosion that happened in just one year.

We know that there are many Christian organizations that have gone before us and paved the way. Some are widely respected and some have gone about things the wrong way in our estimation. Some other them had their patches pulled by National MC's because they soured things so badly. Some of these clubs relied on democracy, allowing competing viewpoints about how to do things from different members to dissolve into internal quarrels that spilled out in confusion to the public. Some fought open wars for leadership with competing 'National Presidents' suing each other and brought shame and disgrace to the name of Jesus and made Christians look petty and silly. We resolve that this will not happen to Disciple,  and have laid a clear path to ensure success, clearly laid out in the beginning of our bylaws. It's a time honored and respected MC establishment known as the Mother Charter. 

Democracy works well for running a county, but the scriptural basis for leadership is the Set Man. God sets a man in place, gives him a vision, expects him to live holy and to carry it forward (and is pretty harsh with him if he doesnt) , and gradually brings men around him to fulfill it.  A few at first,  then more and more. Reference Abraham, Joseph, the Judges, King David, Jesus, the Apostle Paul, but nothing anywhere laid out for choosing a leader through voting. King David in 2Sam23 had the Three, then the Thirty, then the mighty men, and then was ruler over an entire country. Or Jesus who started out with a few,  then a dozen,  then seventy and by the end was thronged by crowds. Voting and democracy aren't laid out in the Bible, and it is the position of the leadership of Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club that they have their place,  but we choose to follow the Biblical model of a Set Man.  As Paul writes in 1Cor11: follow me as I follow Christ. And if the Set Man doesn't follow Christ, the Mother Charter will replace him. 

As we have grown into a global entity, it has become a logistical impossibility for each full patch member to intimately know the founder, his vision, heart and character. In 2013 our first charter outside the mother charter became a reality. In just one short year with hundreds of men joining, even a short phone call with the founder takes some level of scheduling.  Urgent issues get a quick call back, but a call just to chat may take a few days to return. This is why the Mother Charter is such an important concept. 

We trust the men of the Mother Charter to spiritually discern and know the heart of the founder,  and to ensure adherence to our founding principles. As the men closest to him, we entrust the sacred responsibility of ensuring the club is globally launched on the right course to these men. Anyone can do it,  but only the members of the mother charter have the geographical proximity to have daily contact, hear the vision, the thought process and scriptural backing, work out misunderstandings, have a regular daily/weekly chance to pray with and challenge and ask questions brought to them by the international membership as they share the vision. The Mother Charter is the sounding board for Disciple members to take concerns,  questions, points of clarification or gripes. It's likely that they will have the answers, and if not they can access them. More importantly if Disciple members question the character or actions of the National President, the Mother Charter cares about the reputation and regulation of the club, and will correct the National President or the perception of the membership as needed. 

Course corrections come from the membership. The club stance on alcohol and marijuana were set, framed and voted on by the membership. Some members quit over these important issues,  and less serious ones too. The National President, Mother Charter and other National Leadership have been responsive to concerns. However there are some core values which are seen as critical to keeping us true to the founding principles of the club as we facilitate a global implementation of Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club. 

1. The guiding principles of the club are set by the founder. There are many great biblical missions,  feeding the homeless, caring for battered women, helping out habitat for humanity etc. But the founder set the mission statement through prayer.  Those not aligned with the founder and his God ordained mission are invited to find an organization that meets their requirements. Those who see themselves in the mission statement are invited to come along for the ride in a spirit of unity.  There will not be competing priorities. 

2. The Mother Charter appoints the leadership. The Mother Charter understands the founding principles based on time spent with the founder. While others may come along with great vision and charismatic leadership potential, if they do not align with the founding principles, they are not right for Disciple. Voting allows for divisive politics, personalities, flesh, competing agendas and personal loyalties. We expect the mother charter to come together for fasting and prayer, and to select national leadership that is consistent with and submitted to the founding principles based on the guiding of the Holy Spirit of God. God is not the author of confusion (1Cor14:33), competing agendas and missions for Disciple,  He has given a clear vision for Disciple,  and a rock solid group of men to carry it out.. 

3. All the charters will abide by the bylaws and founding principles. We won't have different rules for each charter as they see fit,  and let them sort of govern themselves.  Disciple Christian MC follows a strict military like structure. A national boss with a series of national leaders,  regional bosses,  charter bosses, all working together in unity. Unity is our core principle,  there is no brotherhood without it. Respect for the positions of leadership will be upheld. Disrespect for leadership will be dealt with firmly. If you have a complaint, you have the right to stand up and say so by following Matt18.  But it better be valid,  not just criticism for the sake of nitpicking over doctrine of divisive arguments. Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies, arguments about genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the Law. These things are useless and worthless. 2Tim2:Do not have anything to do with foolish and stupid discussions, because you know they breed arguments. 24 A servant of the Lord must not argue. Instead, he must be kind to everyone, teachable, willing to suffer wrong, 25 and gentle when refuting opponents. After all, maybe God will allow them to repent and to come to a full knowledge of the truth. 

This is a Christian club.  We are going to expect you to act like the Bible says a man of God acts. 

4. The Mother Charter patched members must be viewed with the same level of deference and respect afforded a patch member in a National leadership position. By simple fact of their proximity to and depth of relationship with the founder, they will have a working knowledge of the founding principles. They have stood by the founder through attacks on his character, stood by him when he was right, and when he was wrong they corrected him with love. They've had to suffer through the politics that inevitably happen between brothers in other charters, or even whole charters or states that went rogue. They have had to deal with the conflicts that the rest of the club who were focused on the mission rather than the mischeif was shrouded from. Many never knew of turmoil,  many caused it, but the Mother Charter prayerfully resolved it. And their work deserves credit and honor. Double honor. 
1Tim5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

God Bless You All
James Disciple Johnson 
Natl President and Founder 
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club 

The Mother Charter http://disciplecmcblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-mother-charter.html

Forget Doctrine, Preach the Bible

I've had conversations with people in the club that told me they didn't agree with what I was teaching. It's okay not to agree. But before you say you don't agree, do it biblically, and follow these rules. 

1. Know what you're talking about. Generally folks who don't agree about something I've said don't even know what I've said. They didn't hear it from me, and assumed something based on some sort of third hand information. If you're going to get mad about something I said, make sure I said it! Get on the Bible study conference call, that way you have a chance to know what we're saying. Ive found that everyone who disagrees with doctrine taught here didn't know what we were teaching, and wasn't on the Bible study conference call. GET ON THE PHONE and call me.  I better not hear it first on facebook. 

2. Get your facts straight. If you hear me preaching something, then it better have come from the Bible. If you don't understand something I said, then ask me and let's look at the Scriptures together. Most people who get really angry about something I've said never took the time to do that. When they do they find that my viewpoint is pretty reasonable from Scripture. I'm peer reviewed by the other preachers in the club. By the time I'm presenting something, Godly men have had time to review it. While the interpretation of your denomination may be different, nothing we're presenting is way out there or brand new. Trust me you don't have a complete understanding of Scripture. And neither do I. There is no way that one person can be the complete repository of all scriptural knowledge. All of us are up to learn something new that's true when we dig into the Scriptures or hear good Bible based teaching.

3. Get to the source. In the end you may know exactly what I'm saying and exactly where I'm getting it from Scripture, and not agree. So let's sit down and talk it out. Many divisions of the body can be resolved by simply having a conversation. Running around within the club and expressing your vexation is not godly, its foolishness and sowing division. The Book of Proverbs calls sowing discord among the brothers an abomination. You'll get warned once,  made a prospect a second time,  and put on the third. That's biblical. 
Proverbs 6: 16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

4. Get over it. If we debate some point of doctrine and you change my mind, then welcome to the team of brothers who challenged me on something and made me change my view. It's certainly happened before and I'm sure it will happen again. And if you don't change my views,  and I tell you that I think you're dead wrong, then we can agree to disagree. Not everyone that goes to every church agrees with every viewpoint their pastor has. But you don't stand up during the sermon and start yelling at him. Don't do that here either. If you can't agree to disagree graciously we will put you out. There's not going to be division or discord over doctrine in this club. Not even a little. 
Titus 3:10  Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings

5. It's not that big a deal. Nothing that were preaching is life shattering or world ending. We're never going to come up with a new way to get salvation that doesn't include Jesus Christ, we're never going to ask anybody to drink Kool Aid in little cups. If we did you would go to the mother charter, and they'd simply replace me and move on. Anything short of that is something to avoid argument on. Wanna have a theological debate? Great! Brotherhood means being able to move on without harboring anger about it. 

At the end of the day this club belongs to God, and its up to God to ensure that we are heading in the direction he wants. God is more than able to correct wrong behavior, reference the cracked ribs I have as I write this because I wouldn't listen to him about standing on my bike. If you have a serious issue with anything, and the above steps don't work for you, then get on your knees and pray that God will change people's minds, whether it be ours or yours. If that doesn't work and it still bothers you badly enough, your options are to leave the club or just drop your issue. But don't go destroying the hard work men across the county have put into this club by being negative, spiteful, vengeful and stirring up dissension. Trust me God will deal with that too. If your interpretation of the Bible is that earth shaking then God will bring tuna bunch of men to preach it to,  and you can start your own Motorcycle Club.  In fact,  that's why there are so many out there now, so you can just find one that agrees with you. 

Whether everyone agrees with it or not, I am responsible to God to preach what He lays on my heart. And the fact of the matter is that some of its going to pick their conscience and they're not going to agree with it. There is no way but I will stop honoring God with what he lays on my heart to preach because somebody doesn't like it, and that should make you proud of me. When God gives it to me, and the men of God around me have reviewed it as on target,  then nothing is going to cause me to go backwards from the mission God has put me on. 

We're not going to stop teaching the Bible because people don't like it. End of story.

James Disciple Johnson
Natl President and Founder
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club

Forget Doctrine, Preach the Bible  http://disciplecmcblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/forget-doctrine-preach-bible.html

Seven Steps to Conflict Resolution

Conflict Resolutions 
Is Anger and Conflict Hindering Your Spiritual Growth?
Love is the supreme value in the kingdom of God. Anger and conflict block out love. There is probably no greater challenge to spiritual growth than how you handle anger and conflict.
"If your brother sins against you, go and SHOW him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over." -- Matthew 18:15
Angry man
Seven steps to resolving conflict:
1. IF THERE IS CONFLICT
2. YOU
3. GO
4. TO THE PERSON
5. IN PRIVATE
6. AND DISCUSS THE PROBLEM
7. FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECONCILIATION
Discussion of the steps:
Acknowledge the conflict. Conflict is normal; it is a part of human nature. Lack of conflict does not equal maturity.
You must do something about it. Why don't we face up to resolving conflict? Pride, Fear, Stubbornness.
Go means go or approach. Go does not mean avoid or pray or think or forget. But before going, ask yourself:
Why am I angry? There are three major reasons that we get angry:
Hurt
Frustration
Fear
What do you want?
Go directly to the person involved. NO third parties, no mediators, no friends. Conflict is inevitable. Resentment is OPTIONAL. Resolution is up to you.
Talk in private. Be sensitive. Approach the other person as you would like to be approached.
Anger Myth: The best way to handle anger is to ventilate it.
Reality: Ventilation only reinforces anger. It is also not appreciated by those ventilated on. It accomplishes nothing positive in either person.
Use DIRECT communication.
Describe clearly what you observed. (Example: "You didn't listen to what I said.")
Explain how it hurt you. (Example: "My opinion doesn't matter to you.")
Tell what the consequences have been. (Example: "I'm feeling quite resentful." or maybe "I feel like knocking you out when you treat me like that.")
Ask for what change you would like. Change implies more than simply an apology, although an apology is often a good place to START.
Aim at reconciliation. The goal is to restore the relationship. The goal is not to prove who was right, not to get back at someone, not to avoid the situation, not to turn away and forget.

For His Glory
Disciple Big Beard

Seven Steps to Conflict Resolution  http://disciplecmcblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/seven-steps-to-conflict-resolution.html

Spreading the Word, Facebook Style

Believe it or not, there are people who have never heard of us before. Men that long for brotherhood and a place to belong.  How will they hear? 

If you are a Disciple supporter, hang around, prospect or full patch, it's time to start putting out the word. Go to our Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club public Facebook page and poke through the picture albums and begin sharing pictures you think are cool. Share them on your Facebook page, share them on the pages of bikers you know, on public biker pages about fixing Harleys, share them on any page that has anything to do with motorcycles. This is something you can do from your phone. Download pics and share them out,  if you're handy with it,  teach the guys in your charter how. Believe it or not,  thats witnessing. It's getting the Word out, someone will join the club,  someone will get saved because every day, bit by bit, you are doing your part to spread the Word. 

Share links with the pictures. There are many many blogs to choose from,  here are two to get you started: 

http://disciplecmcblog.blogspot.com
http://disciplecmcaboutus.blogspot.com/2014/02/how-do-i-join-disciple.html

So cmon,  earn your keep. Each of us has different strengths,  but all of us can help others encounter their destiny: one share, one post at a time. 

James Disciple Johnson 
National President and Founder 
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club 

Spreading the Word,  Facebook Style http://disciplecmcblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/spreading-word-facebook-style.html

Marijuana & Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club

In the context of Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club, marijuana use for any reason,  legal or illegal, has time and again been confirmed as completely inappropriate for those who are part of the club,  by overwhelming vote of the full patch members. This affirms the longstanding tradition of our bylaws, and is completely appropriate for the following reasons:

1. A key component of our ministry is our Drug Free 43 Nazarite initiative where we empower sobriety through biblical fasting. Our goal is to see men freed of addiction by the power of Christ, and it would be counterproductive and wholly inappropriate to change the bylaws to allow a new sort of drug use and addiction. 

2. Given the fact that many of our brotherhood have come out of a world of addiction, and specifically from addiction to marijuana, it would be wrong in the strongest terms for us to reintroduce this powerful and addictive narcotic into our numbers, and cause our brothers to stumble. The Bible is unequivocally clear on this matter. 

Luke 17 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea. 

Romans 14 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

1 Cor 8 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

3. Compassion dictates that we do not relegate our brothers to a life of addiction to falsely labeled "medical marijuana", but that we express the freedom and healing that is integral to the message of Jesus Christ. Christ did not come to mask symptoms of pain with marijuana, He came to heal us completely!  Disciples do not shrink back from their responsibilities under the Word, by telling people to be addicted to marijuana. Rather, we resolve to follow what the scripture says, and pray healing over our brothers. 

James 5 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

Exodus 15 I am the Lord your healer

Isaiah 53 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

4. The connection between marijuana and the occult is clearly documented, and it is the position of the founder of this club that marijuana use is akin to witchcraft and demonology. The very Greek word that we get the word pharmacy from means witchcraft. While Satan may be able to make you feel a little better for a little while, only God can heal you. The very fact that spiritists and demon worshippers consider marijuana as something that enables witchcraft and communication with demons signals us that it's the wrong direction for Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club. 

1 Corinthians 10 You can’t drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. You can’t have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he is? You say, “Everything is permitted.” But not everything is good for us. Again you say, “Everything is permitted.” But not everything builds us up. We should not look out for our own interests. Instead, we should look out for the interests of others. 

5. While the law of man may change in these evil days, God's law doesn't, praise God! Men may say killing babies and gay marriage are OK,  but that doesn't make it so. The truths we hold to be self evident from scripture do not change with an act of Congress. Whether man says it's legal or not,  we hold the standard of the word on sobriety. 

Mal 3 For i am the Lord and I change not. 

1 Cor 6 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Peter 5 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

6. Finally we Disciples must clearly show the way to Christ.  We must be circumspect and hold to approved doctrine.  We must re-establish what path a serious hardcore man of God walks in, and leave no room for waffling and equivocation in critical areas.  Men will follow us, men who seek healing and recovery, and even one day our sons, and by our walk they must know clearly what sound wisdom and good judgement is. Only then can we begin to see generational healing, building up what the enemy has devastated in the lives of men. 

Isaiah 61 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

Isiah 58 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

Eph 5 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit

Let us never lower the bar,  let us show the way to overcome! 

James Disciple Johnson 
Natl President and Founder 
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club 

Marijuana & Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club

http://disciplecmcblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/marijuana-disciple-christian-motorcycle.html

GET OVER IT!

GET OVER IT!
If you get all hot and bothered every time someone does something to annoy you, you don't have much sense.  If you can't learn to quickly and easily overlook and forgive people who annoy you, you haven't earned respect of or shown yourself to be a wise man. I didn't say it, the Bible did. 

This old MC culture thing about getting all offended about people you feel disrespected you isn't Jesus, and you will need to get over it quickly become a wise man. If this stings you, you need to start spending a lot of time studying what the Bible says about anger and forgiveness. Jesus has forgiven you for a lot of stuff! And according to Matthew 6 if you don't start doing the same thing, He's not going to keep on forgiving you, and you're not a follower of Christ.

Proverbs 19:11
New International Version
A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense.

New Living Translation
Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

James Disciple Johnson
National President and Founder
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club

GET OVER IT!  http://disciplecmcblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/get-over-it.html

Struggling Right Now? You've Gotta Read This!

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation—whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, [even then] in this will I be confident.

4One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock.

6And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; have mercy and be gracious to me and answer me!

8You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].

9Hide not Your face from me; turn not Your servant away in anger, You Who have been my help! Cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation!  Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].

11Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain and even path because of my enemies [those who lie in wait for me]. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me; they breathe out cruelty and violence.

13[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

Psalm 27

Practicing the Presence of God

I'd like the entire Disciple Nation to do this spiritual workout this week together,  just as we did the 10 day fast together earlier this year. I want us all to experience practicing the presence of God together. Here's what I'd like to see us do everyday this week, a couple times a day if you can:

1. Get somewhere quiet and open the Revelation song on headphones or speaker. Let it play through a few times. Here's a link: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rGgX_oqdib4

2. While it plays, lay facedown on the floor before God.  This is position of humility and submission. Quiet your thoughts and just let the music wash over you. 

3. If thoughts come,  just pray. Ask for forgiveness of sins. Ask God to cleanse you, mold your heart,  restore your soul (Psalm23). Ask for the presence of God to fall on you. 

4. Ask the Holy Spirit to burn impurities off you,  to make you more like the image of Christ. 

5. Finally,  just worship Him. See yourself in heaven before His throne. Just let His love flood through you. 

6. As you get it,  begin to then do it with your spouse. 

Why this song? It's not just another nice song.  It's written by God.  The Words are lifted directly from Scriptures. It's what the Angels say before the throne of God.  Singing along adds you to the chorus in heaven, and brings you into a worshipful place. This exercise is about going from hearing or reading about God, to actually experiencing His presence. It's about learning the discipline of entering into worship,  entering into the spiritual realm in a tangible and real way. Doing so makes us more able to hear Him speak, less resistant to His Spirit changing us. 

Doing this together corporately as a body gives us strength. We must go from individual people struggling in lonely battles,  to a body together successfully prosecuting a war on our flesh and our enemy. As a body of believers we are inextricably bonded together spiritually. Each of us strengthening ourselves together takes us from being one brick,  to being a powerful wall,  tied together by the mortar of His Spirit. An uncoordinated army,  each one doing his own attack,  may well engage in friendly fire and start attacking each other.  An army carefully fighting in unison is a force to be reckoned with. 

Who is with me? 

James Disciple Johnson 
Natl President & Founder
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club 

The NO DRAMA Club

Club Politics. Why do we embroiled ourselves? Why do we cease enjoying this club over politics? When did this stop being fun and ministry? Why do we waste our time getting mad about other clubs, and even other brothers in our club? Why is there any he said she said among our brothers? We are grieving God. Eph 4:29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying (building men up) , that it may minister grace unto the hearers (grace is being treated better than what's deserved). 30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

NO DRAMA. It has to stop. It doesn't matter what any other Christian club has to say. Or for that matter what any other club, or person in or out of our club has to say. If we are living in submission to God, He will make a way. Prov 16:7 When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. You need to be focused on living right for God, not on how others are doing their thing.

Stop the chatter. I don't wanna hear complaints about silly rivalries anymore. Inter charter rivalries, Disciple California vs Disciple Carolina, it's ALL Disciple. Getting mad at another brother, holding some grudge because of something they said or did days weeks or months ago is silly. Yeah I said it, it's silly kiddie stuff and none of us should do it or allow it or participate in a conversation about it. Matt 5:22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. 23“So if you are presenting a sacrificei at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

I'm guilty of talking smack about other clubs, and at times other brothers. I get mad at all the politics and dumb stuff. I repent, I was wrong, please forgive me and stop me if I do it again. It doesn't matter what they say, it matters what God says. God says not to take into account a wrong suffered. 1 Co 13:5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.

God has forgiven you of so much. And again daily. You must do the same. I say MUST. Matt 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES. pretty important I'd say.

Stop getting all worked up. Stop taking everything so damn seriously. Quit judging your brother. Stop. STAHP! This is supposed to be enjoyable not some rat race for popularity or chance to go round dinging anyone who in your opinion ISN'T FIT FOR A REAL MC. What is a REAL MC anyway, because each of them is pretty well different from the other, and each individual in them is different from the next. We weed out men left and right, by the time they wear this patch they have earned our respect, even if they do dumb stuff sometimes. Heck, YOU do dumb stuff sometimes too, so cut some slack here and there. And have some fun. Read this next bit carefully.

Rom 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.