Chuck Colson

Chuck Colson is one of my heroes of the faith. He was serving President Nixon during the Watergate scandal and spent time in prison. Since the 70's he has been transformed by the gospel and has tirelessly worked to serve the incarcerated through Prison Fellowship. He also does a radio broadcast called BreakPoint to advance the Christian worldview. I just wanted to highlight today's broadcast entitled "A Sign for the Times: Repent!" I have most of it below or you can see the entire manuscript by clicking here. May we be moved to pray and intercede for our country with faith, compassion, and love!

No doubt you’ve seen cartoons of bearded guys in white robes standing on street corners carrying around a sign that says “Repent!”

Well today, I’m going to be that guy. Except I don’t want to be standing on a street corner. I want to be walking up and down the aisles of every American church, carrying a simple message: Repent!

And here’s why. So many Christians these days I talk to are positively wringing their hands over the state of our nation. And they have every reason to. The economy is in serious trouble, Washington is oblivious (and don’t think the recent election will change that much), our children are subjected to sleaze every time they turn on a radio or a TV, and on and on.

Whose fault is that? Don’t blame the liberals. Don’t blame the gay lobby or the media.

Look in the mirror. The Church, the bride of Christ, has been unfaithful. WE are at fault. We—collectively and individually—have chased after every idol the world has to offer. We have tried so hard to be relevant that we’ve become almost completely irrelevant. We offer no other way, there is nothing distinctive about us.

We have not been what Jesus called us to be: Salt and light. We have blended in with the world so well that we are practically invisible. That’s why so few nonbelievers can see what Paul wrote about in Colossians: “the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Has the church in America become the church in Laodicea? Will the Lord say to us, “I know your deeds, you are neither cold nor hot . . . You say, ‘I am rich: I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched…poor, blind, and naked.”

Hard words. Terryifying words.

What are we to do? Exactly what Jesus told the church of Laodicea: Be earnest and REPENT! Change our minds—which is what the Greek word for repent means, metanoia! Change our way of thinking, our way of living. Make a u-turn. Abandon our love of self and embrace the love of Christ. Abandon our ways, the ways of the world, for His ways.

Enough of self-absorption.

Enough of going to church for self-validation—because it makes us feel good; enough of buying into the “Jesus and me” brand of Christianity that we evangelicals are especially susceptible to.

Enough of living exactly like our non-believing neighbors, glued to electronics, engaging in promiscuity and infidelity, spending beyond our means.

Enough of ignoring the suffering of the poor. Enough of being ashamed of the truth claims of the Gospel. It’s time to repent.

Get on your knees. Get your Bible study and your church on its knees. Ask God for mercy and ask Him to help us become exactly what he wants us to become, the bride of Christ. Pure. The Church. Folks, politics can’t save us. Only God can. He’s our only hope.

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Psalm 20:7

A Time to Pray

While many people are gearing up for a weekend of candy, parties, and costumes, the Church is being summoned to pray. Much of the world has been deceived into celebrating October 31st as Halloween – a day glorifying the work of the devil. But as believers we recognize and observe Reformation and All Saint’s Day. Let us redeem this historic season in church history when Martin Luther(1517) boldly nailed his 95 theses on the Wittenberg church door and the Holy Spirit fell in Wales with Evan Roberts (1904). We are hungry for another mighty move of God in our land!


This is a pivotal time for our country. Midterm elections are next week and many people have become disillusioned by the promises of hope and positive change on which Obama campaigned. Again, I don't believe the answer will necessarily come about from voting in different leaders but rather by praying for the transformation of hearts towards the Lord. The main issue for many is the struggling economy. However the root issue is our nation's distorted moral compass. Greed, deception, lies, infidelity, and a confusion of what is truly right and wrong are the reasons why we are faltering. Jesus has the power to heal our land. May we intercede for this nation to see her destiny fulfilled as a beacon of freedom, righteousness, and hope. Let us pray and hunger after revival!

"Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field." Zechariah 10:1 (KJV)

Cholera Outbreaks

Haiti has recently come in the news again after seemingly losing its public attention from the devastating earthquake that occurred in January. At least 280 people have died in a cholera outbreak and thousands more have been affected. Now there are reports of an even bigger outbreak in Nigeria as the UN is reporting over 1,500 deaths and 40,000 cases from this deadly disease. I have not found a reliable organization to support Nigeria yet but if you would like to make a donation to Haiti click here to go to the Mercy Corps website.


Sickness and disease are from the enemy so let's pray against his plans to steal, kill, and destroy human life. Father, we say greater is he who is in us than who is in the world. We declare an end to this cholera outbreak and the suffering it is causing. We pray for the conditions that enabled this disease to spread to be transformed. May there be an end to corruption, apathy, and evil and an increase in righteousness, love, and justice.

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22

The Unaborted Life

Throughout history, society has gone through periods of great deception concerning the sanctity of human life. Slaves were viewed as less than human and treated like property. Native Americans were considered savages and killed like wild animals. Jews were exterminated by the millions because people were indoctrinated to believe they were an inferior race. Thankfully the majority of the world now recognizes the depravity and horror of such beliefs. Unfortunately another deception is still blinding the eyes and hearts of billions of people around the world. It is the lie that a baby in the womb is not a human life.

According to the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, there are approximately 42 millions abortions performed each year worldwide. That is over 115,000 abortions each day! The reason why this atrocity occurs is because people have been deceived from the truth that a human life resides in the womb of a pregnant woman. Can you imagine someone in America today possessing a black slave or killing a Native American? Not too long ago this was an everyday reality, today it would be a prosecutable offense. There will be a day when abortion will be viewed the same way. In order to get there we need people fighting and praying for the truth to be revealed.

Most people don't really consider that the millions of babies killed in the womb would have grown up to be part of society. In recent times, some well-known individuals have made a case for the unaborted life. Susan Boyle, the star of Britain's Got Talent, has revealed in a new autobiography that doctors had told her mother to abort her because they thought the pregnancy was risky. They recommended a “termination” to Bridget Boyle because they feared physical complications. Mrs. Boyle rejected this advice because of her Catholic faith. When Susan was born by emergency c-section, doctors did not congratulate her mother but took a dismissive view of Susan's life – especially when they suspected brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. “‘It’s probably best to accept Susan will never be anything,” Boyle recounted the doctors telling her mother. “‘Susan will never come to anything so don’t expect too much of her.’”

College football star Tim Tebow (now in the NFL) revealed that doctors recommended abortion to his mother after she became sick in the Philippines. Tebow’s story was featured in a 30-second ad spot purchased for last year's Super Bowl.

Italian singer Andrea Bocelli also revealed that doctors recommended abortion to his mother after she experienced an attack of appendicitis, making it likely that her son would be born with a disability. Andrea may be blind but his voice is angelic.

As these individuals testify, human life is worth fighting for. May we be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and defend the cause of life!

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." II Corinthians 10:3-5

The Power of Our Words

There is a clever childhood phrase that seeks to protect the hearts and spirits of anyone who has ever been made fun of, belittled, or unfairly criticized:

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.”

But, as many have realized, this simply is not true. Words do have the power to harm. Nearly all of us have been hurt or have hurt others by what was spoken. In fact, the Bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 in The Message translation puts it plainly: “Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose.”


It is easy to observe the power words have in our relationships. We are naturally drawn to people who are positive and encouraging. They seem to nurture and uplift our spirits whenever they speak. Their words literally energize us.
On the other hand, it is challenging, difficult, and even painful to be in the presence of negative and critical individuals. They are physically and emotionally draining. Life and death are truly in the power of the tongue. May we choose to promote life in others through what we say!

"Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers." Acts 15:32

Declarations

The power of the spoken word is universally recognized. It is part of what makes us human. For the Christian, we know it is also a reflection of the Divine. God speaks and it comes to pass. Jesus, the King of Kings, makes decrees and they are backed by heaven. We are taught, authorized, and empowered to make declarations just like our Father. I will expand on this idea in the coming days but prophecy is the art of making declarations. Our words have the power to change the world and advance the Kingdom. We just need to believe it.

Isaac is learning about declarations and enjoys coming up with new ones each day.
Here are some amazing declarations he has made already.

Isaac: "I declare that..."

God is always good.

Everyone we pray for will get healed.
There is no sickness in our house.
I will be the fastest runner!

Isaac, I declare you are a favored son of God who will heal, deliver, and love countless numbers for Jesus!

"Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds." Psalm 71:17

My Favorite Preacher

My son is attending school (pre-K) at Bethel and loving it! We are so thankful because last year he did not want to go. Now he enjoys telling us about all of his classmates and the new things he learns. Apparently his favorite friend is a certain young girl. His mother is not too happy about that...

Anyway, they recently had a class activity where they made a "Dream Tree" which included a picture of each student on a paper tree with what they want to be when they grow up. When I visited the class for Back to School Night I naturally looked for Isaac's picture.

Tree of Dreams




Isaac's dream

My little guy declared he wanted to be a seed-planter! I was so proud. When Isaac was born I knew he was going to grow up to be a minister. I believe this is a prophetic declaration of his future destiny as one who preaches the word of God. The Father has implanted gifts of truth, righteousness, holiness, freedom, and humor in Isaac's heart. My son is already my favorite preacher. I am excited for his dream to come true!

Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:9-10

Good News!

In a world so filled with bad news it's always nice when there is a good story to rally around. The 33 Chilean miners who had been trapped in an underground mine 2000 feet below the surface with 100+ temperatures for 69 days were finally rescued on Thursday. The entire operation took over 22 hours and was completed in front of a jubilant crowd of about 2000 people. This news took center stage throughout the world as a triumph of faith, persistence, and hope.

The last miner to be rescued, Luis Urzua, centre, gestures as Chile's president Sebastián Piñera, right, looks on. Photo: Alex Ibanez/AP

Part of the reason why this story strikes the heart of so many is because it is a symbol of our spiritual reality. Humanity was condemned to an eternity in hell, trapped in the fiery belly of the earth, desperate for freedom. The God who loves us worked tirelessly to rescue and lift us out of the pit of despair. Through Jesus Christ we have been saved from our prison of sin and death! Those who have been redeemed are now charged with the task of helping those still trapped. The global celebration for the Chilean miners is just a small shadow of what lays ahead when Christ returns.

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14

Worship Is Intimacy

Growing in our ability to hear from God starts with worship. Worship is not limited to sanctuaries or praise music. It is the intentional turning of our hearts and affections towards the Lord. Communicate your love, adoration, and praise to Him in your own special way. It is impossible for your Daddy not to respond.

My daughter has a habit of telling secrets to me. She will say, “I have a secret for you”. Then she gets really close to my ear and whispers, “Love you, Daddy”. It gets me every time. I thank her and then do the same thing to her. Then she wants to do it again and this goes back and forth for a couple minutes until we are laughing, snuggling, and kissing. This is the heart of worship. When we come to our Father as a little child, He is naturally drawn to us and eager to whisper secrets in our ear.

"Love you, Abigail!"

"Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:4

The Best Dad

Why does hearing God seem so difficult for people? One of the reasons is because there is someone trying to keep us from doing so. The primary objective of the enemy is to steal, kill, and destroy. The father of lies looks for every opportunity to deceive and keep us separated from God. I have believed or heard others say the following things:

“I don’t hear from God.”

“Only super-spiritual people hear God.”

“The Bible is all we need as Christians.”

“God doesn’t want to talk to me.”
“God has more important things to do than to talk with me.”

“Only crazy people think they hear from God.”

“It is my own voice and not God’s in my mind.”

“God wouldn’t say that or ask me to do this.”

“Satan is trying to deceive me.”

Some of these statements actually possess elements of truth. The enemy attempts to seduce and distort our beliefs so that a real relationship with God seems out of reach. The truth is Jesus Christ. He is perfect theology. He not only demonstrated that an intimate relationship with God was possible, he taught us it should be the norm. God is not only our Heavenly Father but our Abba or Daddy. The relationship a child has with his or her father is a shadow of what is available to us with God. It would be unthinkable for me not to communicate with my own children. It would be considered neglect and an unloving practice. God is the best Daddy ever and He loves to interact with His children.

Let us fight past the lies and declare the truth that we truly have the best Dad in the whole world. Faith is the foundation for our relationship with God (cf. Heb. 11:6). When we approach Him believing that He is good, it is an open door for the Father to prove our faith true.

Sing along to this song by Rick Pino and declare what every Christian should know!

"And do not call anyone on earth father, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven." Matthew 23:9

The Voice of God

As a child I was constantly exposed to classical music because my family loved it. Whether at home or in the car I would beg my parents to change the radio station because I thought classical music was so boring! When we went to symphony concerts I would usually fall asleep because it all sounded the same to me. Thankfully, my parents persisted and I started playing the violin and joining orchestras. I began to learn the subtleties of the music. Whereas before I would hear a jumbled mess, I was developing an ability to identify specific instruments, follow the rhythm, embrace dynamic nuances, and experience the heart of pieces. Today classical music is my favorite genre. I am moved, inspired, and uplifted by its beauty. It speaks to me. In the same way, God’s voice is like high art. Unintelligible and strange to untrained senses, those who are willing to pursue Him will soon become more adept at listening and understanding.

Too often people get frustrated and stop trying to listen for God’s voice after many seemingly failed attempts. My encouragement is do not give up! It is easy to get discouraged and start believing that God does not communicate clearly or that you are incapable of hearing Him. Faith is then reduced to one-sided prayers and obedience to a set of religious principles rather than a relationship based on love and communication. Make it a priority to get to know the Good Shepherd's voice. We are merely wandering without it.

"...his sheep follow him because they know his voice." John 10:4

Fall Is Here

The season definitely has changed. The days are getting shorter in terms of sunlight, the leaves are turning colors, and the weather is colder! Just in the past week we had a drop of about 30 degrees in the high temperature. My wife even wondered if we should turn on the heater this morning.

Normally, the end of summer is a depressing event for me because I love sunny and warm conditions. But I am choosing to enjoy the shift because of its beauty and timelessness. It is a reminder that God loves change and diversity. May this be a blessed season of joy, love, and growth in the Holy Spirit!

In honor of Fall, here is a video of Antonio Vivaldi's "Autumn" from his Four Seasons. The sand animation is performed by Hungarian artist Ferenc Cakó. Truly amazing!

"I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil." Deuteronomy 11:14

The Necessity for Prophets in the OT

Prophets are intermediaries or spokespeople between God and humanity. Prophets were not always present in human history. There were no prophets in the Garden of Eden because the Lord spoke freely with Adam and Eve. It wasn’t until they sinned and became separated from God that prophets were needed to bridge the gap of communication. A key example of this is in Exodus 19 and 20. After the miraculous rescue of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, the Lord spoke to Moses in the desert at Mt. Sinai. Exodus 20: 18-21 reads:

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.


Reminds me of Mordor

The Israelites were so afraid of God’s manifest presence that they did not want to have direct fellowship with Him. They thought they would die if God spoke to them so they told Moses to be their representative. Fear destroyed the opportunity for personal intimacy with the Lord and in one sense elevated prophetic ministry over individual communication with God. Thankfully through Christ, the veil has been torn and we now have fellowship with the Father in the Holy Spirit. Prophets and prophecy still exist but they are not our sole nor primary means of interaction with God. A shift has taken place from the necessity of prophets in the Old Testament because of fear to willing prophetic ministry based on a loving relationship with the Father.

Got Prophets?

What comes to mind when you hear the word “prophet” or “prophecy”?
Many people think back to ancient times where special individuals hear something from God and relay the message to others, often in regards to future events. There is a section in the Old Testament specifically organized by major and minor prophets. These include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. The designations of “major” and “minor” refer to the length of the book not necessarily the importance of the prophet. Common perceptions of prophets may include being super holy, ascetic, reclusive, judgmental, moody, and downright strange.

Often our knowledge of prophets is relegated to Sunday School stories and an occasional sermon referencing a passage from one of these books. Growing up in the church, the only understanding of prophets and prophecy I acquired was a mysterious and almost mythical perception of prophetic ministry isolated to a time period before Jesus. Special characters were chosen to interpret dreams, predict the future, and perform bizarre symbolic acts as instructed by God. After Jesus was born it seemed that prophets were unnecessary and God discontinued this method as a way of communicating with people. This erroneous thinking was strengthened by a misinterpretation of Jesus’ own words that the “Law and Prophets were until John”. (Matthew 11:13; Luke 16:16) Jesus said he did not come to abolish the Law and the prophets, he came to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). I falsely believed there were no more prophets because they were no longer necessary. The truth is that prophetic ministry is still necessary and is meant to be carried on until Christ returns. God raised up prophets after Jesus ascended to heaven and He continues to do so even today in order to proclaim his Kingdom and guide the Church into the fullness of her destiny.

"It is you who are the sons of the prophets..." Acts 3:25 (NASB)

Beginning in the Prophetic

Here is an excerpt from the book!

The Apostle Paul makes a clear and intriguing statement in I Corinthians 14. On the heels of his classic passage on love, he writes, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy” (emphasis added). Out of all the gifts of the Spirit that Paul mentions in his letter to the church in Corinth, he highlights prophecy as the gift which should be highly sought after. Although the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, tongues and its interpretation, discerning of spirits, healings, and even miracles are amazing graces given to the body, prophecy was something that all believers were to covet. What is it about prophecy that prompted Paul to issue a command and not a suggestion for its acquisition?

Moses a prophet and friend of God

This book is meant to help introduce the prophetic ministry to those who have had limited or no experience with it. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will encounter you in these pages and open your eyes to the importance of prophecy. May you eagerly desire the prophetic gift and receive it with gladness. I declare you are part of a prophetic generation that will boldly speak the words of God to hearts who desperately long to hear from the Father!

"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." I Corinthians 14:1

Writing

Apologies for the long hiatus in blogging. I took some time off writing "New Beginnings" to begin writing "Beginning in the Prophetic"- a book to introduce prophecy and the prophetic ministry back within the church. I haven't finished it yet but I will be posting excerpts of the book in the coming days.

Schulz

I appreciate your prayers for its completion. I never thought I would ever write a book but God not only told me I would, He has also been giving me several book ideas. Thankfully, He always provides the grace to do something He tells us.

"Of making many books, there is no end..." Ecclesiastes 12:12

Testimonies of Impartation

I have a good friend who has a strong gifting in words of knowledge. He laid hands on me to impart this gift because Jesus taught freely we have received, freely we can give (cf. Matthew 10:8). Since that time, I have noticed a dramatic increase in the frequency and accuracy of my words of knowledge. Just recently I was having lunch with another friend who knew the owner of the restaurant. The owner came out to talk with us and as she was speaking I asked God if there was anything she needed prayer for. He highlighted the back of her shoulder. During a break in the conversation I inquired if she had any pain or problems with her shoulder and pointed to the specific area on my own shoulder. She exclaimed, "You have no idea!" and then proceeded to tell us how she had recently fallen on that exact spot and was experiencing severe pain. She allowed my friend and I to pray for her shoulder and all the pain went away!

Last week I had an opportunity to pray for people after a church service. Before heading up to the front to pray, I asked God to show me what He was going to heal. He told me shoulder and lower back. The first person who came up for prayer had problems with his lower back. I told him God had just told me about a shoulder and lower back. He responded by telling me that he also could not lift his arm over his head because of shoulder pain. Why he didn't mention this issue to begin with I don't know but after praying he was able to lift his arms over his head without any pain! God is good!

"As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:7-8

Impartation Continued

There is a curious story in Genesis 27 when Jacob steals the blessing from his older brother Esau by tricking their blind father Isaac. Apparently Esau was as hairy as a goat because Rebekah placed goat skins on Jacob's hands and neck to fool Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing reserved for the first born son. Although Isaac is suspicious at first, he eventually releases a blessing on Jacob. Esau later goes to see his father for the blessing and both of them are dismayed when they realize Jacob had deceived them.

Isaac says to Esau, "Behold, I have made Jacob your master, and all his relatives I have given to him as servants; and with grain and new wine I have sustained him. Now as for you then, what can I do, my son?" Why couldn't Isaac simply give the blessing back to Esau after he realized the deception? The key to understanding this story lies in the principle of impartation. When Isaac blessed Jacob, and in all likelihood laid hands on him, something was transferred into Jacob that couldn't be undone. A spiritual transaction took place between Isaac and Jacob that was irreversible. This is the power of impartation. In Genesis 48, Jacob would be the one laying hands on Joseph's children releasing a blessing. Somehow many Christians do not know much about this special principle. It is time to restore this basic teaching of Christ so that the Church may be strengthened to advance the Kingdom!

So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him". Numbers 27:18

Impartation

The writer of Hebrews admonishes people to leave the elementary teachings about Christ and then proceeds to identify what these are (6:1-2). These foundational Christian principles are repentance from sin, faith in God, baptism, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Out of these six basics, five of them are very familiar to most believers. The salvation message is that we must believe in God (Jesus), repent from our sins, and get baptized so that when we die we will be resurrected and avoid eternal judgment. Unfortunately, many churches provide little to no teaching or experience on the laying on of hands.

This passage in Hebrews is not necessarily referring to the laying on of hands to pray for the sick. It is about impartation. Paul refers to this principle in Romans 1:11 when he tells the believers in Rome that he desires to see them in order to impart some spiritual gift. The Church must restore this elementary teaching of Christ in order to maintain a strong foundation for higher level truths. I will talk more about this idea in the next post.

"You are to bring the Levites before the LORD, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on them." Numbers 8:10

Shadows

Shadows are fascinating phenomena. As we all know, they occur when light hits an object and casts an image of the object in the area where the light is blocked. Shadows are wonderful especially on hot, sunny days because they provide protection from the heat. But they do more than offer respite to the sun scorched. Shadows are a sign that something greater exists than what is necessarily visible.

The shadow of a tree is not greater than the tree itself. It simply reflects the reality of the tree. In the same way, many of the things we experience in our world are merely shadows of a greater reality- the spiritual realm. Birth, marriage, having children, death are all signs of a superior existence that the world is longing for but has yet to grasp. It is the Church's responsibility to demonstrate and teach about this revelation so that people will not feel content in the shade but hunger for what is casting the shadow.

"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves." Hebrews 10:1

Waiting

Waiting is usually not an enjoyable endeavor for many people. We like speed, green lights, fast food, quick entry, and no delays. We are pressured to perform and produce in a short amount of time. Our pace of life is definitely faster than previous generations and yet there still seems to be not enough hours in the day to do everything we would like. Waiting is a godly principle and holy attribute. It is associated with rest, trust, peace, and security. When we choose to wait on God we are holding fast to faith to allow His best for our lives.

One of the most important examples of waiting comes in Acts when Jesus tells his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is interesting because Jesus already breathed upon them the Holy Spirit in John 20:22. Why did they need to wait for it again? On Pentecost the disciples received a baptism of the Holy Spirit in wind, fire, and power. Just as Jesus was "full of the Holy Spirit" in Luke 4:1, he went through his 40 days of testing in the desert and returned in the "power of the Spirit" (Luke 4:14). May we wait on God to receive a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit so that we will walk in power as we advance the Kingdom!

"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles." Isaiah 40:31

Pray for the Day of Prayer

The 2010 National Day of Prayer is this Thursday May 6. It has made headlines recently because a federal judge in Wisconsin ruled the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. Saying the day amounts to a call for religious action, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb wrote that the government can no more enact laws supporting a day of prayer than it can encourage citizens to fast during Ramadan, attend a synagogue or practice magic.

Our country is definitely in a battle to maintain its Christian roots. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the desire of the nations. Whether the United States realizes it or not, our nation longs for the reign and rule of Jesus Christ. May the Church not only pray for a divine epiphany but also demonstrate the goodness of God in word and deed.

The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him" Nahum 1:7

The Power of Sound

There is a field of study called cymatics (from the Greek meaning wave) which explores the effects of sound and vibration. Although sound waves have been observed for much of history, it was 2oth century Swiss physician Hans Jenny who really pioneered the science. He especially focused on the visual display of sound. Check out this amazing video below of how sand poured on a vibrating plate is affected by varying frequencies.

There is hidden truth and power in sound. God not only created it that way, He created that way. The Bible teaches that the universe was formed through words or declarations. When God said "Let there be light!" a holy sound was emitted that altered existence. Proverbs 18:21 says that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Can it be that our words (sound) can actually create life, influence death, and alter existence? There is a curious passage in Matthew 21 where Jesus curses a fig tree that does not have any figs growing on it. Immediately the tree withered and the disciples were undoubtedly amazed. Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done" (v.21). Let us draw closer to God to understand this power within us so that we may release a heavenly sound to transform the world around us!

"Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!" Ezekiel 37:4

A Proud Dad

I don't think I love anyone more than my son. He brings me such joy and delight. He is far from perfect in his behavior but I know those things will be worked out eventually. There is such a purity, innocence, freedom, simplicity, beauty, and grace about the way he lives. He is a reflection of what it looks like to be loved by our Heavenly Father.

My GQ Boy

What does our relationship with the Father look like? Are we free to be ourselves? Do we experience joy in His presence? Are we secure in knowing all of our needs are met by Him? Do we believe Abba has our best interest in mind? Is He always available to us, willing to talk, laugh, play, or just snuggle? The answer to all these questions would be yes if we had a good dad. God is the best daddy anyone could ever have. May we draw closer to our Father and be transformed by his perfect love.

"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48 (NKJV)

Hope for Haiti

It seems it has been a long time since the magnitude-7 quake that killed a government-estimated 230,000 people in Haiti. On February 12, 2010, Haitian President Préval called his nation to 3 days of fasting and prayer in place of the regular Mardi Gras celebration. Check out a video of this below.



You can also read a letter from a missionary in Haiti talking about what that was like by clicking here. We are also getting reports that schools are beginning to reopen for the first time since the tragedy. May we continue to support and pray for this nation that as they rebuild, their foundation will be upon Christ and nothing else.

"Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Isaiah 58:12

Jolly Old England

Last Wednesday I returned from a two week mission trip to England. It was a wonderful experience that included stops in Bath, Westbury, and Wales. The weather was fairly damp and dreary but the welcoming people made up for the lack of sunshine. Some of the highlights include walking around Stonehenge, ministering at different churches, and visiting the historic chapels of John Wesley and Evan Roberts.

The Roman Baths with a view of the Abbey

The United Kingdom is filled with such history and culture, especially related to Christianity. They are a nation ripe for revival. I had an opportunity to speak at an Anglican church and the Holy Spirit showed up in powerful ways. Throughout the trip, our team saw some good breakthrough with people getting healed of pain, uneven legs growing out, and injuries made whole. We also released many prophetic words and even led people on divine encounters. I pray I will be able to travel back to that area in the future (especially with my family) to witness the amazing revival that will sweep the country in love and power!

"They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations." Isaiah 61:4

Drama That Transforms

They say that drama is meant to imitate life. I think this one reveals so much truth. It's an oldie but a goodie and it moves me every time I watch it. I pray it does the same for you.

Praying on College Campuses

On Thursday, February 25, thousands of people from across the nation will participate in the Collegiate Day of Prayer. Student prayer movements are always exciting because when the youth get passionate for God, heaven moves!

Lifting up holy hands to the Lord

It is interesting to learn that many of our country's universities were founded on Christian virtues and trained young men and women to be faithful disciples. Harvard, Yale, and Princeton have strong roots in the church but have waned from its beginnings because of rationalism and liberalism. These schools still have theology programs but they are certainly not as solid nor central to its mission. We need a fresh move of the Holy Spirit to impact our young men and women in their formative years. Let us join together in praying for a nationwide revival that will transform schools, cities, and states!

"I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands." Psalm 63:4

Winter Retreat

It has been a long time, but I am finally writing about my experience speaking at a youth retreat in Big Bear Mountain at the end of December. A classmate from Fuller, now a youth pastor at a Methodist church in San Diego, invited me to speak to his group specifically because I was at Bethel. Although he didn’t know much about our school, he was familiar with Jesus Culture and heard there were good things happening in Redding.

The first night I told the approximately 140 students and counselors that God was better than we thought so we needed to change the way we think. I shared my story of coming to know the supernatural nature of our Heavenly Father and testimonies of how He is still moving today in mighty ways through healing, miracles, and prophecy. This led to a time of demonstrating these ideas in giving prophetic words and words of knowledge for healing. I released the students to be the ministry team and had them pray for others with physical ailments. Several of them experienced breakthrough and complete healing! I remember one of the counselors who had pain in his knee get totally healed and he was in awe. He said "I don't know what happened but I'm freaking out because there is no more pain!"

On the second night I led the students on an encounter. I asked Father God to come and lead us into heaven, speak to us, show us around, give us a gift, embrace us, etc… The encounter probably lasted about 20-30 minutes. Afterwards we had a time of sharing and many of them experienced dramatic encounters. One of the more exciting testimonies was from a senior high boy. He came up to the microphone and told us how he had two siblings (a brother and sister) both die of cancer when he was younger. He confessed that he has always felt guilt and shame about their deaths, believing that he was somehow responsible for their illness and passing. During his encounter, he saw Jesus come to him and bring him his brother and sister! He said he looked into their eyes and saw there was no guilt or condemnation, only joy. He was able to embrace them with Jesus. He said that for the first time in 9 years, he didn’t feel sadness about their deaths but gladness because they were with Jesus!

There were so many other testimonies of powerful encounters, healings, repentance, and baptisms of the Holy Spirit. We were all humbled and overjoyed at the way God moved in power and love throughout our time together. If you are interested in hearing more about it just let me know. It's wonderful to know that Jesus is alive and still ministers in supernatural ways! May the church be transformed by this revelation in order to expand the kingdom throughout the entire world!

"As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:7-8

Abigail's Turn

One of the universal desires of younger siblings is to copy their older brother or sister. Isaac celebrated his birthday last week, now it is Abigail's turn. My beautiful daughter turned two years old yesterday! She is so fun-loving and contagiously joyful. I am being transformed by her. I love you Cutie Girl and pray your joy may only increase! Happy Birthday!!

Could already model for catalogs

"You have filled my heart with greater joy..." Psalm 4:7

4 Years Old

Our little man turned 4 today! It's amazing and humbling to watch my children grow up. I am learning so much about life, love, God, and of course patience. Isaac Jay is my pride and joy! Fatherhood is truly a privilege and sacred honor because in one sense I represent Abba Father to him. I believe my primary role is to lead my son closer to the heart of God in thought, emotion, and experience. Lord, please give me more wisdom and grace! Isaac, I pray you will continue to draw near to your Heavenly Father and grow in intimacy and love with Him!

Isaac with his birthday rice krispy.
(He doesn't like haircuts so that's why his ears are virtually invisible.)

"He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers." Malachi 4:6

Love for Haiti

A massive, 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti near the capital of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, January 12th. The death toll continues to rise and countless others are in dire need. Haiti is considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere -- a place where, even before the catastrophic earthquake, nearly 80 percent of the population lived on less than $2 per day.

America's neighbor to the south-east

Haiti has long been known as a place of suffering because of its geography, social problems, and extreme poverty. The Associated Press came out with an interesting article about why this country is always in the news for negative reasons. Click here to read more. Some Christians believe Haiti's problems are the divine consequences from evil and sin. I would be very hesitant to adopt such a view unless there was clear communication from God to the Church that this was the case. I do know that our response should be one of compassion and love through action for all the people affected by this devastating tragedy. Many groups are gathering monetary donations as well as emergency supplies, volunteers, and aid for long-term rebuilding. May we pray for Haiti and ask our Heavenly Father how we can best help in this time of crisis. To donate money through World Vision please click here.

The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14

Honor

I am learning that honor is one of the most important values of life. It is usually associated with words such as integrity, courage, faithfulness, respect, honesty, sacrifice, valor, and glory. The United States Military emphasizes honor among all its armed forces. In fact the "Medal of Honor" is the highest decoration bestowed by the government.

Awarded for "...gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of one's life..."

Honor is not an ideal created by people, it is a reflection of the character of God. God is the one most worthy of honor. That is why we worship Him. I hope to write more about this subject in the coming weeks because I believe this is an invaluable key to successful living.

"It's the praising life that honors me." Psalm 50:23 (The Message)

The Heart of Jehovah Rapha

It is surprising to hear some of the beliefs people have about God and sickness. In an effort to reconcile personal experience, Scripture, and the sovereignty of God, I have heard many say that God gives sickness as a means of making us better people. Somehow they think that allowing one to suffer through an illness is a loving way to build character. I don't know any mothers and fathers who would espouse this philosophy in parenting. If my baby girl was sick, I would do whatever I could to make her better.

I am happiest when my daughter is happy and healthy!

Jesus made it clear what God's stance on healing was- everyone who came to Jesus with an illness was healed! Not only that, he commanded his followers to do the same. It is God's heart and nature to bring restoration and wholeness. Let us change the way we think about the Lord who heals us. He is not the author of sickness, only healing!

"Many followed Jesus, and he healed all their sick" Matthew 12:15

A Prophetic Voice on the News

Much of the world has been inundated with headlines, interviews, stories, and gossip about golfer Tiger Woods. Since his car accident last November, it has been revealed that this billion-dollar athlete was involved in multiple affairs and was not the model of integrity many thought or made him out to be. As believers we pray for his healing and restoration, especially with his family. What will ultimately become of his future, golf aside, is really up to him. Many have given advice, predictions, and even condemnation. But there is one news analyst who offered a sincere and bold declaration to this broken man. Check out this video of Brit Hume. May God grant us wisdom, compassion, and courage to speak the truth in love!

"You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." John 8:32

Campus Awakening

There is an international ministry called 24-7 Prayer which has a vision to promote prayer among young people. Its Campus America initiative has the ambitious goal of planting prayer rooms on all 2,614 college and universities in the nation in hopes of seeing a year of unbroken prayer on America's campuses in 2010.

Good things happen when God's children pray

This is very exciting because every revival in history always seems to be preceded by a great movement of prayer. Click here to read more about this amazing endeavor. May we all join together to promote continual worship and intercession to our Heavenly Father because the prayer of the saints are powerful and effective!

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14

Daddy and Son

It's amazing to think that out of all the possible names Jesus could use to describe God, the most common title he chose was "Father". He even referred to God as Abba or Daddy (cf. Mark 14:36). I don't know too many older children (teenagers and up) who use the word daddy, unless it's "Who's your daddy?!" It is primarily a term that little kids use to address their favorite male in the whole world. Isaac almost always calls me "Daddy" and it is something I love to hear. In fact, it would sound somewhat strange to hear him call me "Father". Too formal.

Daddy and his favorite son

We have a God in heaven who desires us to call him Daddy, just like Jesus did. May we become like little children and run to our Heavenly Father with love, joy, excitement, and innocence. He loves us more than we know!

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." Galatians 4:6

2010!

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe a decade has passed since the new millenium. I hope you had a wonderful and joyful holiday season. We just returned from visiting friends and family down in Southern California. I also spoke at a youth retreat in Big Bear which I will write about in the coming days. It was an exciting and testimony-filled trip. We are declaring that 2010 will be the best year of our lives. May it be the same for you!

Our little reindeer enjoying Christmas!

One of the themes of this year is wisdom. I believe the Lord is releasing supernatural wisdom to those who are hungry. I pray our desire for holy wisdom will increase and fresh revelation will pour out from heaven to draw us closer to heaven!

"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place." Psalm 51:6