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Having been a part of LifePoint Christian Church since that very first day, (January 23, 2002), I have wanted to share with you some of the great people who have come through our doors and been a part of our church family. As you know, God calls us each individually and has a plan for each of us. I would like to introduce to you, my friend, Jeff Gerke.

Jeff and his family were very active at Lifepoint in 2004/2005. He worked at Strang Communications (a national a multi-media communications company based here in Lake Mary, Florida) as an editor in their book department. This was the during the time that Lifepoint met each Sunday at the Seminole Town Center Movie Theater and as we moved our services to the YMCA. I remember the Sunday Jeff performed a dramatic monolague before the sermon……..he became the character…..he wasn’t “Jeff” anymore……what passion and what talent he possesed! I also remember meeting with the men for a regular weekly breakfast Bible study. Jeff always had such insight and great knowledge concerning Scripture. He inspired me to go deeper and deeper into God’s Word. In fact, he inspired the name of our Sunday Night Live Group, “Deeper”. Those were really good days for me as God was calling me on His mission. I owe much to my friend Jeff! In 2005, he and his family relocated to Colorado Springs to accept a position at NavPress, another publisher of Christian books. I knew that God certainly had a plan for him!

I recently was in communication with Jeff, congratulating him on the big launch for Marcher Lord Press, his very own Christian Publishing company. I knew that this had been a dream of his. The Marcher Lord Press store went live and the books officially debuted. Wow! What a great encouragement to see my friend moving on in God’s will to serve in such a creative way!

JAN: So, Jeff, tell me about Marcher Lord Press. I am so excited about where God has been leading you!

JEFF: Even when I was at Strang I had begun dreaming about launching my own Christian publishing company. When I left NavPress I put that project on the front burner. On October 1, 2007 the Marcher Lord Press web page went live and one year later, on October 1, 2008, the first books officially went on sale. 
 
I’ve always loved the “weird” Christian fiction–science fiction, fantasy, time travel, etc.–and always felt it wasn’t given a fair shake in Christian publishing. I operate a popular web page dedicated to these genres, WhereTheMapEnds.com, and became known as “the editor who likes weird fiction” when I was at the various publishing companies I’ve worked at. So it made perfect sense that if I ever did launch my own company, it would publish that kind of fiction.
 

The debut release list of Marcher Lord Press includes three full-length Christian novels. Summa Elvetica is a philosophical fantasy that asks what would happen if something like the medieval Catholic Church existed in a fantasy world and decided to tackle the question of whether or not elves have souls. The Personifid Invasion is a far-future story about what happens when humans transfer their consciousness to artificial bodies–and find out that demonic spirits want to live in those bodies too. And Hero, Second Class is a comic fantasy set in a world in which Heroes owe monthly dues and Villains are allowed only one eclipse per fiscal quarter.
 
Launch Day went great and things are looking super as we head toward Christmas. The next lineup of books will release in April 2009. God willing, I’ll be releasing a new set of novels every six months: every October and April.

JAN: Tell me more about this “weird” Christian fiction. In today’s world of fantasy video gaming and the like, it sounds like you may be turning the Christian book world inside out with this genre.

JEFF: This kind of fiction is called Christian speculative fiction. That’s an umbrella term that includes all the weird genres. It’s difficult to reach the readers of this kind of fiction, mainly because they’ve been basically ignored by mainstream Christian publishers. They’ve essentially quit expecting to find fiction they can like. So they’ve turned to the secular science fiction and fantasy authors, hating the worldly content but loving the stories. So it’s been fun trying to find these folks and let them know that someone is actually producing the kind of fiction they’ve all but given up hope of finding.
 
The good news is that I’ve become known as king of this niche. It’s no bad thing to be king of a niche. You become the go-to person for anything pertaining to these genres. Eventually everyone who wants to write or read weird Christian fiction ends up hearing about Jeff Gerke and Marcher Lord Press. That’s pretty cool. I also tend to attract the more…interesting and…alternative…folks in the Kingdom of God. It’s awesome.

JAN: Wow Jeff, I am so excited for you. There are so many young people that go deep into the dark recesses of the science fiction and fantasy world and as a father…this has always concerned me. It is so awesome that you are redefining this genre in terms that are so God inspiring without losing the thrust and excitement of the genre. So, how does the publishing world look at what you are doing?

JEFF: People ask me if I’ve launched Marcher Lord Press because I’m trying to change Christian publishing. I’m really not. For twelve years I worked inside the Christian publishing industry, both as a novelist (under the pen name Jefferson Scott) and an editor, trying to change the industry to make more room for Christian speculative fiction. But I finally realized it was essentially a lost cause. Aside from Dekker and Peretti and Jenkins, there’s not a lot of warm welcomes given out to writers of this kind of fiction. I’m not trying to change the industry anymore. I’m trying to bypass it and meet the needs of a wonderfully weird niche.

JAN: Thank you Jeff, for sharing with us. We are all excited here at LifePoint to see you doing such great things in the Kingdom of God. I’ll be talking to you again soon! God bless!

If you get the opportunity or you want to know more about Marcher Lord Press, drop Jeff an email of encouragement by clicking here.

A friend emailed me and asked about my understanding of Peter’s vision as recounted in the book of Acts, chapter 10, verses 10-16. In order to get a clearer understanding of Peter’s vision, we must look at context, both the Scriptural context as well as cultural context.

It is important note is that what Luke wrote about here was an important event…it was recounted no less than three times in Acts. Here, Acts 10:1-23, Acts 11:4-17, and Acts 15:6-9.

Cornelius the Roman Centurian –>>

Acts 10:1-2 (TNIV)
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

The important thing to note here is that Caesarea was a thoroughly Roman city that served as Rome’s seaside capital of what is now Israel. Cornelius was a Roman commander who worshiped God, prayed regularly and gave much to charity. However…..here’s the kicker… he wasn’t a full convert to Judaism …he had not been circumcised and he didn’t eat only kosher food (see Acts 10:28). This simple fact created a big problem for Peter who as a devout Jew.

It is also important to note that most of Luke’s Jewish readers at this time would not be fond of Roman officers stationed in Syria-Palestine, and this story in Acts would challenge their prejudices. Roman centurions had all sworn oaths of allegiance to the divine emperor.

The angel of God speaking to Cornelius –>>

Acts 10:3-8 (TNIV)
3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.  5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.  6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants.  8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

<– Joppa was about thirty miles South of Caesarea on the coast of Israel. Luke tells us that Cornelius had a vision at about three in the afternoon. This was traditionally one of the times of Jewish prayer. In fact, later in verse 30, Cornelius shares with us that he was in prayer. I would note also in verse 30, Cornelius called this angel “a man in shining clothes“. God speaks to us in many and often times remarkable ways (through the written Scriptures, through the words of others, through circumstances and events)…I believe that one of the primary ways that God speaks to us is through prayer….which is more than simply talking to God…it also encompasses listening to God. It is important for us to listen….it is important for us to be perceptive and alert. God answers the sincere prayers of those who seek him by sending the right person or the right information at the right time. What is God trying to say to you today?

Note also in verse 4 that Cornelius stared at this angel in fear. Cornelius…a Roman centurion, a soldier in charge of 80-100 troops….in fear. I believe that God saw his sincere faith!

Another important note is that Luke mentioned in verse 2 that Cornelius “gave generously to those in need“…and here the angel speaking to him says, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.”. We must never forget God’s love for the poor (James 2:5) and the importance of caring for them and having compassion (Exodus 22:22-27; Leviticus 25:35-37; Proverbs 14:31; Luke 6:21; Galatians 2:10; 1 Timothy 5:3-5). Jesus made it so clear when He spoke in Matthew 25:44-45. Instead of making excuses, ask what can be done to help.

It is also important to note that the angel calls Cornelius to action, “send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter“. It is important, as we seek God, listen to Him and live with Him in our hearts…that we obey…though we often do not fully understand at the moment why God wants us to do something.

One of the primary points to ponder here is that God has a great plan of redemption for this world. We can see Him bringing this plan together in the lives of ordinary people like you and me. Are you willing allow God to use you? Are you willing to ask God what He wants you to do and then do it? My prayer is, “God, cross my path today with someone who needs to hear Your encouragement…and also cross my path today with someone who would have some encouragement from You to me. Yes…I am here and I am willing……”.

Peter’s Vision –>>

Acts 10:9-16 (TNIV)
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.  10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.  11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

It is interesting and appropriate that in both these encounters where God revealed more of Himself….both Cornelius and Peter were praying.

So here we have Peter going up on the roof to pray at noon. This was normal. The flat roofs of those ancient times were often cooler, even at midday, than the poorly ventilated rooms below. And the roof of the home was a usual place to get away from the “noise of the day” to offer prayers. Additionally, it is interesting to note that ancient Christians customarily offered prayers at the third (9am), sixth (noon), and ninth hours(3pm) [a note alluding to this is offered by the early church father, Clement of Alexandria in chapter 7 of his writing, "The Stromata or Miscellanies" penned around 202 AD. The Stromata is the third of Clement of Alexandria's writings on the Christian life].

The point here is that Peter understood that prayer is such an important link to our living God. It’s not something we do every once in awhile when we need something. It’s a relationship building practice that creates an intimate link with our Father. If we want to experience the presence of God in our lives we must talk with God….this is prayer (just as communication with people we love deepens those relationships).

And…we must listen. God speaks to us in many ways. In this case, Luke (the author of the book of Acts), tells us that Peter fell into a trance and God spoke to him through a “vision”. This is a fairly bizarre vision in many respects. It is interesting to note that in Genesis 6:20, the three classifications of the animal kingdom that God tells Noah to take on the Ark, are the same three mentioned here. Essentially, God is telling Peter in this vision that he is free to eat these animals. To a first century Jew this would have posed a huge problem as birds and reptiles were considered unclean and defiling if they were eaten (Leviticus 11). For this reason….and here we are getting to the point of the vision…..Peter, first century Jews, and Christians (actually still a sect of Judaism at this time in history) would not be able to eat with Gentiles (non-Jews) without risking defilement because they ate these animals as food. And here…… God is orchestrating an encounter with the Christ follower Cornelius……a Gentile. Note here that Peter does not yet know that Cornelius has dispatched servants to invite him to Caesarea.

Peter, always one to question something he disagrees with, says, “Surely not, Lord!” …..“I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” . Just like us, we often need repetition to learn. Peter objects three times and God answers three times, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

I guess it couldn’t be any clearer than that. I would point out that Jesus taught (see Mark 7:14-19): “…..Don’t you see that nothing that enters you from the outside can defile you? 19 For it doesn’t go into your heart but into your stomach, and then out of your body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.).

Ah…….and now the encounter that God has been orchestrating….

Acts 10:17-20 (TNIV)
17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three [One early manuscript two; other manuscripts do not have the number.] men are looking for you.  20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

<<– Peter in the house of Cornelius

Before the servants of Cornelius find Peter, the Holy Spirit gives him clear instructions to go with them. In my mind, the linking of this vision with Cornelius (Peter had this vision not knowing of Cornelius…but now….the link will become clear), tells me that there is much more here than a simple lesson about food! At this time in the history of Christ followers….in order to be a follower of Christ…one would have to submit to Jewish laws and regulations. This simple vision to Peter from God at this crucial and God orchestrated time profoundly affected the change in Gentile-Jewish Christian relations! We know this by jumping far ahead to Acts 10:44-45, “…the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. ”

 

Acts 10:21-23 (TNIV)
21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”  23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

The church Peter established in Caeserea where he baptized Cornelius the Centurion –>> 

<<– Cornelius and Peter

The story of Peter’s vision ends here…….but story continues. Peter goes to visit Cornelius at Caesarea. Cornelius was devoted, believed in and followed the one true God, was generous and sincere…..however………he was still spiritually separated from God. He still needed to understand the Gospel. God sent Peter to present the Gospel to Cornelius and his family. God prepared Peter first and laid aside his prejudices. Before this, Peter would have never invited “Gentiles” in his home…..let alone travel and stay in their home. How often do we not share God’s love and the truth, that Jesus is God, with someone because they are of a different religion or social standing? How often do we travel to that “Third Place”…the place outside our comfort zone to share the truth of God’s love?

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Whew! What a whirlwind week! I spent a good portion of the week painting, cleaning and preparing my new office. LifePoint is growing! We hired an administrative Assistant prompting office moves. My new office was the “children’s playroom”…..now it’s the “Pastor of insane details playroom”!

<<—-Here’s the room before I started work on it. Yes….the mural had to go…….

<<— Ah………painted…..A/C installed….furniture moved in…..

Now I can get busy and catch up with all the work I missed and put on the back burner last week…….