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i welcome my wife to the world of blogging. welcome to MY world.
i would encourage anyone who can to go to her blog and read her stuff. she is a fantastic writer and a great thinker. i know i am partial, but just read her stuff. you'll enjoy her humor and perspective.
http://www.heknowsmebyname.blogspot.comuntil next time...
“When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith.” - Abraham Kuyper
I do not place this quote on my blog as a political statement or an agenda concerning America's posture before the world. I place it on here because it's stirs me at a spiritual level. I know we are called to be peacemakers. However, in the privacy of our inner room with God there must be an aggression demonstrated. I refer you to Luke 18 and the woman who gave the unjust judge no rest. I remind you of Jesus admonition "that heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force."
The force that must be exhibited is the realm of prayer and the disciplines of the heart. Loving when we do not want to. Releasing honor when we are surrounded by dishonorable people. We are in a kairos moment of time that demands for the leaders to arise and lead.
These are my random thoughts this morning.....
until next time....
i just read through a bunch of my blog entries. i am inspired to continue to write and try to capture my journey in written form. there are many things that are said that are still relevant for me. i notice that God is always speaking. really, i mean that. he is always talking. it's hard to keep up with his revelation and encouragement.
until next time.....
i'm feeling the pressure to post something because i have not done that in a couple of weeks. however, what God is doing in me is so sacred, that i do not feel that it is time to speak publicly of it.
i will say i had one of the most amazing conversations with my wife last night. she is stronger than i imagined. more beautiful than i could have dreamed. she is the epitome of tenacity, tenderness and strength.
all i know....God is doing something with us. because of it, ministry feels scattered. life feels out of order. it makes me think often of the Holy Spirit as the one who loves to fill in the gaps. well, i am leaving many gaps for him to fill in.
i love my wife. i love my children. i love my church community. i love my city. i love what God is doing in us. and yes, of course, i love the original LOVER...papa God.
until next time...(and when I get my heart to understand what is happening.....)
i talked with Banning Liesbscher today http://www.jesusculture.org and confirmed a date that he can come to Austin. November 14-15 will be an awesome weekend. We want to host a regional youth and young adult event. Great worship. Provocative teaching. We want to provoke people to pursue God with abandonment. I am reminded of what Misty Edwards sings, "how far will you let me go? how abandoned will you let me be?" i want to call it "burning ones"
what do you guys think? do you have a good theme name for the event?
leave a comment.
until next time....
i was reading through my journal for 2007. i came across an entry dated April 20, 2007. I was reading it this morning and still sense the relevance of that entry. It speaks to me. I thought I would type out portions of that entry. Maybe it will encourage you as well.
"I wanted to capture some thoughts that I have had from the recent days. It was just over a week ago that my family was going through some personal trials. I was overwhelmed. I recognized my in my heart that I was not happy with this. The thought of life makes me happy. I am a good father. I love being a dad. I was overwhelmed in the area of finances, money, etc. The Lord showed me that my first response was not one of faith but unbelief; not one of excitement but worry. I do not want to respond this way. I was a Zecheriah (New Testament - John the Baptist Dad). I repented. I continue to need to repent. It was a few months ago that God spoke to me about Mary and Elizabeth churches. We may may be giving birth to a movement. At the same time we are Josephs or Zechariahs who need to give leadership. The unbelief of a Zechariah silenced his leadership. My unbelief silenced my leadership last week. How do I declare like Mary, "Be it unto me, according to your word." Holy Spirit I should rejoice in this trial going on inside of me because it's an opportunity for the kingdom of God within to expand it's borders. Psalm 34.8 says, "taste and see that the Lord is good." I was too busy tasting the bitter waters of unbelief. I was focusing on the lack instead of God's promised provision. This feels very rich to me. It's Matthew 12.20-21 where Matt states, "he will lead justice to victory. The nations will put their [trust] hope in him." I need God's right answer for my wrong perspective to lead me to the manifested reality of my victory.
I am also curious as to how prophetic this story may be for me and/or us as a church. Is God wanting to give birth? Yes. Can we give birth? Yes. But is the climate into which revival is birthed one of welfare of risk? Meaning, will I see God move but never build upon that movement with risk and leadership? Will I have a culture of unbelief and doubt? Which, if processed incorrectly leads me to a welfare mentality? Welfare is that which is dependent upon God to meet needs, but I am never empowered to pursue wants that are fostered out of intimacy. God I do not want to give leadership in the spirit similar to what I did in the natural. Shape my heart to a place of willingness, obedience, risk and surrender."
April 20 2007
Let me know what you think of this entry and if you are going through any tests from God. He is no tame lion, but he is good.
Until next time....
