As seen in my previous post I have seen quite a few episodes of Smallville and watched the Superman movie lately.
I have noticed this before and once again that in the inundation of the same thematic program over and over, one finds themselves dwelling on it more and more when not watching it.
For example:
1. The theme song might get stuck in your head
2. You may find yourself wanting to watch it more and more
3. You'll think about life sometimes through the lenses of the show/movie
etc.
Basically, it's called meditation.
The regular practice of spending time focusing on something/someone.
What if I attributed that to my relationship with God? Where I spend so much regular time with Him, in worship, praise, learning, prayer, in the word, that I find myself getting the theme of God stuck in my head, that I may find myself wanting Him more and more, and that all of life's perspectives are seen through the lenses of His goodness, His love, etc.
You can see through the inundation of watching a tv show on dvd, and how it affects your mindsets and what you think about, that real genuine time spent with God in meditation and adoration will affect your lifestyle and mindsets.
So that's a quick thought on the power of time spent in God's word, with Holy Spirit, and in prayer.
Enjoy! And Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
From Smallville to Superman
I watched the movie "Superman Returns" the other day. I have also spent some of my free time during this break catching up on the tv show "Smallville". I've always been a fan of superhero stories. I think people become fans of superhero stories for a few reasons: 1. We are all looking for heroes. 2. A chance to dream about impossibilities. 3. There is something within us crying out to be a hero for others. 4. Some who feel weak or rejected may get hope dreaming about being powerful.
While some of these reasons are healthy, some can be the beginning of an unhealthy road, but all things considered, there is something about superhero's that attract a lot of people.
I found myself getting emotional while watching "Superman Returns". I was watching it after having watched some of the show "Smallville". "Smallville" takes place when Superman is a teenager/young adult discovering his place in the world, who he is, and what he's capable of. He comes into a place of meeting his birth father through a computer program and getting to interact with him, to some degree. Much of this is the impartation of a calling and the desire the father has for his son. There is a strong father/son element in the Superman stories as it deals with a father's passion for his son to dream, and be a hero, a leader, a world changer.
There is a purity in the Superman stories as well. He is driven to see the best in people, to always have a positive outlook. He sees the world as a place with such potential. He is a dreamer. Much of those views come from both his earthly and his birth father.
I love that he takes on his identity from his father's greatness and impartation.
I love that we too, have a powerful Father in heaven who has called us to greatness. Who has called us to be dreamers, to see the world's potential, to see what people can be capable of and to call that out of them.
The words of Superman's father in "Superman Returns" about humanity are the kinds of things the church needs to be saying about this world. We need to shift our view into the Father's view. Not a view of judgment, but a view of love that sees the potential for each person to become who God has called them to be. For each person to discover their destiny in Him.
Then there is the issue of Clark Kent's humble beginnings as a farm boy in Smallville to the savior of the world. There are parallels made with Jesus in some cases.
Jesus Christ is the hero of the world, the non-fiction Superman. But the crazy thing is, He is all about equipping. So He commissioned us to be powerful people who carry on His mission of saving the world. We are called to disciple nations, to heal the sick, to rescue the broken, to deliver captives, to set free prisoners, to help the poor. *Isaiah 61:1-3 goes into greater depth.
But not only that, Jesus adopted us as brothers/sisters and thus gave us a Father with whom we can be in relationship. This Father much like Superman's dad, sees this world, and wants it rescued. He sees, through His eyes of love the calling awaiting the people and nations of this world. The destiny they can have if they choose to follow.
So we have a Father who leads us, and teaches us about love, and who, like Jesus, we obey and do what He is up to.
Then there is Holy Spirit who is the one who releases power to us, to be the heroes we are called to be. But not only that. HS is a person who shows us the way, counsels us, and interacts with us. He is our strength in weakness, He is our comforter, our nurture, and empowerer. :-)
I have often felt stuck in Smallville. I have felt small most of my life. The lenses I've viewed the world were ones of discouragement, fear, and being overwhelmed. When given opportunities to step into my destiny I would step back and reject them. But it's a false reality. The enemy would have you feel small, but the reality is that when you step into your destiny, grace.... Grace is there. And you can do amazing things. Grace, the operational power of God, gives you the power to operate in the challenges you face in fulfilling your destiny, your call. You'll find it surprisingly easy when you follow God. There is the challenge within. The doubts, the fears, etc. But in looking to Jesus, in looking to the world through Father's eyes, you see your mission and you find your call and you walk in the grace.
Isaiah 59:19 says: "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against Him."
One could say, since the original language did not have commas, maybe it is: "When the enemy comes in, Like a flood the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against Him."
Either way it's a great scripture.
I challenge you to move from Smallville to the destiny you have sitting in front of your face. Dream, Dream, Dream! Know that nothing is impossible with God. There is a Father who loves you, A son who has given you authority, and Holy Spirit who empowers you each and every day. There is no way you can lose. It's time to end the small thinking, and join God in His big picture of redemption. Let's save the world!
While some of these reasons are healthy, some can be the beginning of an unhealthy road, but all things considered, there is something about superhero's that attract a lot of people.
I found myself getting emotional while watching "Superman Returns". I was watching it after having watched some of the show "Smallville". "Smallville" takes place when Superman is a teenager/young adult discovering his place in the world, who he is, and what he's capable of. He comes into a place of meeting his birth father through a computer program and getting to interact with him, to some degree. Much of this is the impartation of a calling and the desire the father has for his son. There is a strong father/son element in the Superman stories as it deals with a father's passion for his son to dream, and be a hero, a leader, a world changer.
There is a purity in the Superman stories as well. He is driven to see the best in people, to always have a positive outlook. He sees the world as a place with such potential. He is a dreamer. Much of those views come from both his earthly and his birth father.
I love that he takes on his identity from his father's greatness and impartation.
I love that we too, have a powerful Father in heaven who has called us to greatness. Who has called us to be dreamers, to see the world's potential, to see what people can be capable of and to call that out of them.
The words of Superman's father in "Superman Returns" about humanity are the kinds of things the church needs to be saying about this world. We need to shift our view into the Father's view. Not a view of judgment, but a view of love that sees the potential for each person to become who God has called them to be. For each person to discover their destiny in Him.
Then there is the issue of Clark Kent's humble beginnings as a farm boy in Smallville to the savior of the world. There are parallels made with Jesus in some cases.
Jesus Christ is the hero of the world, the non-fiction Superman. But the crazy thing is, He is all about equipping. So He commissioned us to be powerful people who carry on His mission of saving the world. We are called to disciple nations, to heal the sick, to rescue the broken, to deliver captives, to set free prisoners, to help the poor. *Isaiah 61:1-3 goes into greater depth.
But not only that, Jesus adopted us as brothers/sisters and thus gave us a Father with whom we can be in relationship. This Father much like Superman's dad, sees this world, and wants it rescued. He sees, through His eyes of love the calling awaiting the people and nations of this world. The destiny they can have if they choose to follow.
So we have a Father who leads us, and teaches us about love, and who, like Jesus, we obey and do what He is up to.
Then there is Holy Spirit who is the one who releases power to us, to be the heroes we are called to be. But not only that. HS is a person who shows us the way, counsels us, and interacts with us. He is our strength in weakness, He is our comforter, our nurture, and empowerer. :-)
I have often felt stuck in Smallville. I have felt small most of my life. The lenses I've viewed the world were ones of discouragement, fear, and being overwhelmed. When given opportunities to step into my destiny I would step back and reject them. But it's a false reality. The enemy would have you feel small, but the reality is that when you step into your destiny, grace.... Grace is there. And you can do amazing things. Grace, the operational power of God, gives you the power to operate in the challenges you face in fulfilling your destiny, your call. You'll find it surprisingly easy when you follow God. There is the challenge within. The doubts, the fears, etc. But in looking to Jesus, in looking to the world through Father's eyes, you see your mission and you find your call and you walk in the grace.
Isaiah 59:19 says: "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against Him."
One could say, since the original language did not have commas, maybe it is: "When the enemy comes in, Like a flood the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against Him."
Either way it's a great scripture.
I challenge you to move from Smallville to the destiny you have sitting in front of your face. Dream, Dream, Dream! Know that nothing is impossible with God. There is a Father who loves you, A son who has given you authority, and Holy Spirit who empowers you each and every day. There is no way you can lose. It's time to end the small thinking, and join God in His big picture of redemption. Let's save the world!
Monday, December 21, 2009
The curse of Familiarity
There is a curse that causes dishonor in marriages and friendships. A blight that causes lack of enthusiasm about the goodness of God or the purpose a man/woman has. A disease that decreases someone's awareness that there might be something wrong with "this" picture. It's called Familiarity.
About a month ago I became acutely aware of this curse, this blight, this disease. It was eating me up, it was eating lots of people up. It has been eating people up for centuries and ages past.
The curse when you get used to someone in your life. They become a close friend, or your spouse. In that common daily life lived together you forget how special they are, you forget to communicate your needs, thoughts, desires. You become familiar. It becomes normal, typical, and eventually that gratefulness you once had in relationship with them becomes, at times, resentment, bitterness, or boring.
The blight when you get used to an environment alive with the power and glory of God. When you get so used to it that well, it becomes normal, boring, and well, sorta dead. All around you, people could be getting saved, healed, delivered, set free, and you sit there and feel "ho hum". Worship could be off the hook, the presence of God descending, and you sit there, complacent.
The blight when the calling on your life, the purpose for which you live and the passions you have become boring, forgotten, or distorted. You lose focus because you've failed to keep your eyes looking forward and are responding to your feelings more than your purpose. We all have feelings, and those feelings sometimes don't "feel" like doing anything, or doing what needs to be done. There is a place in our lives where we can predetermine our attitude toward something and force our feelings to come into alignment with our vision/passion/purpose/values in life. Renewing the mind is so key.
The disease when a woman is abused by her husband and is so familiar with it that she actually thinks it is normal. or a child, abused, raped, mistreated, rejected so often that they think it is supposed to be that way. There is something wrong with that picture, but to them, it's normal life.
Familiarity is rough when you get 100 happy birthday comments on your facebook wall on your birthday. So many that you can't reply to each one or really remember who wrote you. :-\ (that's more of a joke, but yah for sure)
Recently at school, I noticed that I was becoming familiar with the presence of God. His presence in worship. His power and glory so obvious and evident. Testimonies were becoming commonplace and ho hum, seeing someone miraculously healed was typical, worship was kinda well, just ok.
This frustrated me. I felt like there was a bit of an overall gloom among many of us. It was starting to feel like that "normal" church experience that I grew up with, but with all the added bits of power and amazingness. In one sense, that's great. The "normal" Christian life is meant to be powerful and glorious and abundant. In the other sense, WE MUST NOT LET WHAT SHOULD BE NORMAL, BECOME FAMILIAR AND BORING. We must constantly cultivate a heart of thankfulness toward the Lord, a heart of praise that lifts Him high in our lives. An attitude that sees all things through the lense of love. Through that lense we live out 1 Corinthians 13. We believe, hope, trust, and care! When the person gets healed, we CELEBRATE! When the testimony is shared we revel in the goodness of God. We rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep!
I have often been concerned that I might just view a person I'm praying for more as a project than someone to love and care earnestly for. The ministry of healing, prophecy, evangelism goes hand in hand with compassionate love. Jesus healed the masses because He was moved with compassion.
So what happened at school/church? Did familiarity end? After the weekend where I had first started noticing this familiarity, we returned to school and instead of opening up with worship, they pushed it back about 45 minutes and started by having us share our testimonies. Student after student went forward to share some amazing thing God did through them. Miracles, salvations, financial testimonies, family breakthrough, inner healing, and more. It was as if the goodness of God was being expressed as a wave growing and growing and growing until it became so big it had to crash all over us, and then we broke into worship and celebration of His goodness.
The Bible says we are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. When we share our testimonies of breakthrough and of His goodness we are in essence entering His gates through thanksgiving and leading us into His courts with praise. Worship has to break out!!!!
So to break the curse of Familiarity we must testify of His goodness. We must remember the great things, the things He has done and how marvelous they are to our eyes! Our God is so good and so gracious and so loving! Let us become familiar with Him in intimacy but never familiar in getting used to Him, for there is no end to the increase of His government and His peace. He is a journey of discovery for us forever and ever.
If you have been feeling "too familiar" with God or others lately, I declare a time of refreshing! I ask you to remember the things He has done, the good things about your spouse/family/friends, and more.
Love you alll
About a month ago I became acutely aware of this curse, this blight, this disease. It was eating me up, it was eating lots of people up. It has been eating people up for centuries and ages past.
The curse when you get used to someone in your life. They become a close friend, or your spouse. In that common daily life lived together you forget how special they are, you forget to communicate your needs, thoughts, desires. You become familiar. It becomes normal, typical, and eventually that gratefulness you once had in relationship with them becomes, at times, resentment, bitterness, or boring.
The blight when you get used to an environment alive with the power and glory of God. When you get so used to it that well, it becomes normal, boring, and well, sorta dead. All around you, people could be getting saved, healed, delivered, set free, and you sit there and feel "ho hum". Worship could be off the hook, the presence of God descending, and you sit there, complacent.
The blight when the calling on your life, the purpose for which you live and the passions you have become boring, forgotten, or distorted. You lose focus because you've failed to keep your eyes looking forward and are responding to your feelings more than your purpose. We all have feelings, and those feelings sometimes don't "feel" like doing anything, or doing what needs to be done. There is a place in our lives where we can predetermine our attitude toward something and force our feelings to come into alignment with our vision/passion/purpose/values in life. Renewing the mind is so key.
The disease when a woman is abused by her husband and is so familiar with it that she actually thinks it is normal. or a child, abused, raped, mistreated, rejected so often that they think it is supposed to be that way. There is something wrong with that picture, but to them, it's normal life.
Familiarity is rough when you get 100 happy birthday comments on your facebook wall on your birthday. So many that you can't reply to each one or really remember who wrote you. :-\ (that's more of a joke, but yah for sure)
Recently at school, I noticed that I was becoming familiar with the presence of God. His presence in worship. His power and glory so obvious and evident. Testimonies were becoming commonplace and ho hum, seeing someone miraculously healed was typical, worship was kinda well, just ok.
This frustrated me. I felt like there was a bit of an overall gloom among many of us. It was starting to feel like that "normal" church experience that I grew up with, but with all the added bits of power and amazingness. In one sense, that's great. The "normal" Christian life is meant to be powerful and glorious and abundant. In the other sense, WE MUST NOT LET WHAT SHOULD BE NORMAL, BECOME FAMILIAR AND BORING. We must constantly cultivate a heart of thankfulness toward the Lord, a heart of praise that lifts Him high in our lives. An attitude that sees all things through the lense of love. Through that lense we live out 1 Corinthians 13. We believe, hope, trust, and care! When the person gets healed, we CELEBRATE! When the testimony is shared we revel in the goodness of God. We rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep!
I have often been concerned that I might just view a person I'm praying for more as a project than someone to love and care earnestly for. The ministry of healing, prophecy, evangelism goes hand in hand with compassionate love. Jesus healed the masses because He was moved with compassion.
So what happened at school/church? Did familiarity end? After the weekend where I had first started noticing this familiarity, we returned to school and instead of opening up with worship, they pushed it back about 45 minutes and started by having us share our testimonies. Student after student went forward to share some amazing thing God did through them. Miracles, salvations, financial testimonies, family breakthrough, inner healing, and more. It was as if the goodness of God was being expressed as a wave growing and growing and growing until it became so big it had to crash all over us, and then we broke into worship and celebration of His goodness.
The Bible says we are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. When we share our testimonies of breakthrough and of His goodness we are in essence entering His gates through thanksgiving and leading us into His courts with praise. Worship has to break out!!!!
So to break the curse of Familiarity we must testify of His goodness. We must remember the great things, the things He has done and how marvelous they are to our eyes! Our God is so good and so gracious and so loving! Let us become familiar with Him in intimacy but never familiar in getting used to Him, for there is no end to the increase of His government and His peace. He is a journey of discovery for us forever and ever.
If you have been feeling "too familiar" with God or others lately, I declare a time of refreshing! I ask you to remember the things He has done, the good things about your spouse/family/friends, and more.
Love you alll
Sunday, December 13, 2009
people...
I just found the perfect people watching song. I think it was featured in a Nooma episode one time.
So it's playing in my headphones right now as I write this, and thus it makes me sentimental and draws my attention to the most beautiful thing in this world. People.
Beg to differ?
I would a lot of times. God said "very good" about us...
I've met a few people who don't seem "very good". I've heard of others.
But....
really? How beautiful we are. We are the only things on this planet capable of relating to God in a "real" way. Everything else shouts out its praise in various forms of being, acting, doing, existing. But we've captured His heart and He can capture ours.
Next time you see a person, realize how beautiful they are. Ask God what He thinks of them. I've done that before, WOW! The perspective and reality check you get can totally transform how you relate to someone. You see the hope they carry, you see the plan of God for them, you see His loving thoughts toward them. How can one not fall in love with people after such an awakening to their beauty.
Oh that I would love more. more. more.
***song: "Over the Pond" by The Album Leaf
So it's playing in my headphones right now as I write this, and thus it makes me sentimental and draws my attention to the most beautiful thing in this world. People.
Beg to differ?
I would a lot of times. God said "very good" about us...
I've met a few people who don't seem "very good". I've heard of others.
But....
really? How beautiful we are. We are the only things on this planet capable of relating to God in a "real" way. Everything else shouts out its praise in various forms of being, acting, doing, existing. But we've captured His heart and He can capture ours.
Next time you see a person, realize how beautiful they are. Ask God what He thinks of them. I've done that before, WOW! The perspective and reality check you get can totally transform how you relate to someone. You see the hope they carry, you see the plan of God for them, you see His loving thoughts toward them. How can one not fall in love with people after such an awakening to their beauty.
Oh that I would love more. more. more.
***song: "Over the Pond" by The Album Leaf
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
late night musings... on HIM
HIM
HIM
HIM
Just the very simply word "Him" makes me emotional right now as I write this. I write while listening/watching the student awakening (aka: revival/outpouring, etc.) at IHOP. It's 2:04am.
My pastor Bill Johnson and his wife Beni went there tonight along with John and Carol Arnott, the pastor's at the Toronto Airport Church where the Father's Blessing outpouring is still occurring.
I'm listening to the worship right now, Cory Asbury is leading. So beautiful. I can hear in the background the crowds of people encountering the presence of HIM. The testimonies erupting from that place are countless. People miraculously healed in their bodies, in their minds, in their hearts. People delivered from addictions, cravings, homosexuality, past hurts, and so on. And not only that, but some of these things are happening to people simply watching via internet at home. There are other places around the country tuning in and experiencing their own awakenings, including my alma mater, Asbury College. A group of college students at the Asbury House of Prayer are experiencing God's love and power through similar circumstances, and pure joy.
There is nothing better than being with HIM.
HE is so good. HE is worth every second of my time. HE is the passing thought, HE is the reason to worship, HE is joy, HE is love, HE is peace, HE is righteousness, HE is Father. HE is JESUS!
Take Delight in me oh Lord... May the favor of Your face rest on me... May I know You more my beloved...
My love is Yours. My heart is Yours. My time is Yours. My life is Yours...
I am committed to You. I am Yours and You are mine.
http://www.ihop.org/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=1000060205
the above is a link to what I'm watching/listening to right now. It's good stuff.
A thought from something the Lord reminded me of earlier tonight. I think one of the most humbling and convicting things the Lord can say, at least to me, is that He "trusts" me. Knowing all my junk, all my failures, mistakes, struggles, sins, etc. and that He would say that. Not to mention others saying that to me when they know my junk too. That one word can mess a person up. I was really encouraged by that tonight.
that's all for now... I'm going to bed
HIM
HIM
Just the very simply word "Him" makes me emotional right now as I write this. I write while listening/watching the student awakening (aka: revival/outpouring, etc.) at IHOP. It's 2:04am.
My pastor Bill Johnson and his wife Beni went there tonight along with John and Carol Arnott, the pastor's at the Toronto Airport Church where the Father's Blessing outpouring is still occurring.
I'm listening to the worship right now, Cory Asbury is leading. So beautiful. I can hear in the background the crowds of people encountering the presence of HIM. The testimonies erupting from that place are countless. People miraculously healed in their bodies, in their minds, in their hearts. People delivered from addictions, cravings, homosexuality, past hurts, and so on. And not only that, but some of these things are happening to people simply watching via internet at home. There are other places around the country tuning in and experiencing their own awakenings, including my alma mater, Asbury College. A group of college students at the Asbury House of Prayer are experiencing God's love and power through similar circumstances, and pure joy.
There is nothing better than being with HIM.
HE is so good. HE is worth every second of my time. HE is the passing thought, HE is the reason to worship, HE is joy, HE is love, HE is peace, HE is righteousness, HE is Father. HE is JESUS!
Take Delight in me oh Lord... May the favor of Your face rest on me... May I know You more my beloved...
My love is Yours. My heart is Yours. My time is Yours. My life is Yours...
I am committed to You. I am Yours and You are mine.
http://www.ihop.org/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=1000060205
the above is a link to what I'm watching/listening to right now. It's good stuff.
A thought from something the Lord reminded me of earlier tonight. I think one of the most humbling and convicting things the Lord can say, at least to me, is that He "trusts" me. Knowing all my junk, all my failures, mistakes, struggles, sins, etc. and that He would say that. Not to mention others saying that to me when they know my junk too. That one word can mess a person up. I was really encouraged by that tonight.
that's all for now... I'm going to bed
Monday, December 7, 2009
a poem called "If"
"IF"
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
-Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
-Rudyard Kipling
Friday, December 4, 2009
...to be hidden
hiddenness is such a divine quality in this walk of faith known as relationship with Jesus, or Christianity.
To remain hidden, not seeking renown, not seeking attention or self-promotion. But to be hidden, to be the person of character and amazingness God's put in you when nobody is around, when you are alone, in the secret place.
For who you are in places hidden, positions you for who you will be in the spotlight, in public.
That the inner workings of my relationship with God, the integrity, the character, the fruit of the spirit, the depth of relationship be all hashed out one on one, in the secret place with Jesus.
So good.
...to be hidden is what we all need. It's what I need. I have become acutely aware as of late that most of my Christian life has been experienced in a "professional" relationship with God. I've worked with and for Him. He is calling me to the inner place. The place of intimacy and closeness. A "personal" relationship. Where we get along one on one, not just while preaching or preparing to preach. Or while praying, counseling, or pastoring someone. There is no greater need in my life than this.
Right now, I am alone in my home. Lights off, with worship blaring. So as you may suppose, this note reflects something fresh on my mind, that I must now entertain.
"Hello God.... Where do we start?" I love Him so much. Thank you my Jesus for Your goodness. You are SO good. so good. so good. so good. Thank you...
To remain hidden, not seeking renown, not seeking attention or self-promotion. But to be hidden, to be the person of character and amazingness God's put in you when nobody is around, when you are alone, in the secret place.
For who you are in places hidden, positions you for who you will be in the spotlight, in public.
That the inner workings of my relationship with God, the integrity, the character, the fruit of the spirit, the depth of relationship be all hashed out one on one, in the secret place with Jesus.
So good.
...to be hidden is what we all need. It's what I need. I have become acutely aware as of late that most of my Christian life has been experienced in a "professional" relationship with God. I've worked with and for Him. He is calling me to the inner place. The place of intimacy and closeness. A "personal" relationship. Where we get along one on one, not just while preaching or preparing to preach. Or while praying, counseling, or pastoring someone. There is no greater need in my life than this.
Right now, I am alone in my home. Lights off, with worship blaring. So as you may suppose, this note reflects something fresh on my mind, that I must now entertain.
"Hello God.... Where do we start?" I love Him so much. Thank you my Jesus for Your goodness. You are SO good. so good. so good. so good. Thank you...
Shake, Rattle or Roll?
One of the things that concerns many of my friends and many evangelical churches in the world about the church/school I go to is a behavior commonly called "manifestations". In "renewal" circles they might be called "manifestations of the Spirit/spirit", in some evangelical circles many would consider them "manifestations of the flesh" or just plain demonic.
What am I referring to? In our felt experience here, many people who "feel" the presence of God in their bodies can be prone to shaking, making a noise (grunting, tongues word, an exclamation of surprise like "WHOA! or HO!" etc.), falling to the ground, or any other number of physical gyrations. In this case, one could say "Shaking, Rattling or Rolling"....
In this dialogue, I'm going to highlight Biblical reference, Historical reference, and my own experience (suppositions) about this experience.
We'll start with the Biblical...
One might say, manifestational experiences don't seem to be in the Bible. Obviously the majority of displays of manifestational activity have been seen in "renewal" church services like the "Toronto Blessing" etc. In the Bible, there was only mention of one large gathering that had strange behavior. That was Pentecost. At Pentecost, some 3,000 people encountered and were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, in which observers exclaimed that those people seemed to be drunk. What do drunks do? Well they stumble, they fall over, and they lose many inhibitions. Additionally, on an individual basis you can see physical manifestions of spiritual activity occuring in the likes of the Apostle Paul in His encounter with Jesus and going to the 3rd heaven, and trances. The Apostle John (falling like dead) in Revelation. and other similar situations and encounters. (on a side note: I wouldn't be quick to judge Christians saying they've experienced "trances, going to 3rd heaven, open visions, walking on water, teleporting/translating" as all of these have a consistent Biblical basis.)
So there's a bit of Biblical reference... I don't want to make this a 100 page paper so lets move on...
Historical references to manifestations...
Along with pretty much every great revival over the past few centuries (especially those where signs/wonders and miracles broke out, there were quite a few manifestations physically. Folks like Benny Hinn are known for the issue of being "slain in the Spirit" (kind of a awkward phrasing, but that's what it's been called). Basically the power of God causing one of fall backward, forward, downward, etc. But lets go way way way back in history...
Did you know that the Quakers (ie: Quaker oats, the Society of Friends, a denomination started in the 1600's by George Fox) were nicknamed Quakers because they were known to shake violently and their bodies would "quake" under the power of God. Another smaller denomination was nicknamed the "Shakers" (there is a historical village called Shakertown in Central Kentucky). I think you can denote why they were called "Shakers". So this isn't something new that just arrived on the scene in Toronto in 1994. Our modern experience turns us to Toronto. The Toronto Blessing has seen close to 4 million worldwide visitors. People were known in that outpouring for laughing, rolling, shaking, and some would say even barking like dogs and roaring like lions. Perhaps a couple people did that too. :-)
That outpouring created quite an uproar in the church. Something new and weird in Christendom, in a Vineyard church no less. The irony is that it's not something new, it's been with us for centuries, since the beginning.
My personal experience...
Since being up here at Bethel I have experienced these manifestations in many a form. I have fallen over, I have shaked, jerked, rolled, laughed, I have been overwhelmed by the weighty presence of the Lord. (The word "Glory" means weighty). To an outsider, this can be quite disconcerting, perhaps even freaky. It sure was to me. When I was 15 I went to a church experiencing the Toronto thing and I cried, and freaked out. It's been a long journey since then but I chose to lay down "pre-conceptions and judgments and see if the people experiencing these "awkward gyrations" are in fact fruit-bearing honest-to-goodness lovers of Jesus. Boy would I be surprised. I found such freedom and joy in some of these folks. People moved to tears by the goodness of God, people filled with laughter at the freedom they've found in Christ. The Toronto Blessing, while so criticized has also born so much fruit. Heidi Baker was rocked at that place, unable to move for 7 days, people would bring her water. She has since gone back to Mozambique and changed Africa forever. 10,000 orphans cared for, 8,000 churches, nearly 100 raisings of the dead, almost every deaf person that comes to her ministry hears, and so many other countless miracles, salvations and acts of goodness from a good God. Leif Hetland, rocked at Toronto has since led 3/4 of a million Pakistani muslims to Jesus. That's 750,000 muslims!!! While rolling on the floor laughing, countless people would testify that they were freed from addictions, past hurts, worry, etc.
My first couple months here, I did not shake, rattle or roll. But I chose to love instead of judge someone else's experience. As I stood in the midst of crowds of people falling down, laughing, shaking, I found myself wanting that. To feel God. To physically feel His presence in and on me. That's an encounter with the living Savior. With the Holy Spirit. I saw those people who shook in their daily lives and I saw productive people, Christians living out lives of love and charity to the lost, the broken, the poor and each other. They will know we are Christians by our love!
Eventually I began to experience these shakings, and it was crazy! I often, while manifesting would question, "Is this really you God or am I doing some psychosematic copying of other people and this is just me?" I've questioned that countless times. What's so funny is, I'm not faking it. I know that for sure now, cuz one time I tried to stop myself from feeling His presence on my body, and well, it didn't work so well.
What is it? I am no expert, and we don't develop theologies and doctrines around it. So I would define it as a couple things... A manifestation of the spirit/Spirit is our body feeling what's happening in the spiritual realm. We are body, soul, spirit. Our spirit is the connection peace with eternity. The Bible says we are seated in heavenly places. I believe when the Holy Spirit comes upon us we can feel Him, this can do a number of things to a person. People can just simply feel heavy, or lots of heat in their body. Some shake, some twitch a bit, some might shout out a word, some may fall, some may grin, cry, laugh. It's all good, and everyone's different and feels differently. Quite a few people don't feel a thing. They simply have an awareness of God's presence with them. Yes, hear me, many people in our church/school don't manifest at all. One might say those who do tend to be "feelers". Their personality and makeup is that by which they feel stuff (less thinker types) Kinda like that Myers Briggs Thinker/Feeler thing, perhaps.
I know I also feel angels. When they come near or fly close by or walk by me, I usually twitch and shake and lurch forward and groan. I can perceive their presence, it's cool. I've only physically seen them with my eyes once though. I look forward to more.
There is also the spirit/demon aspect. Working in deliverance ministry, when setting people free from things, your body and often theirs too will lurch or groan or shake a bit because you can feel in the spirit realm the transference, the expulsion of a spirit/demon, or whatever... It's all quite fascinating. But a reminder: Not everyone feels it and that is okay. The important thing is relationship with God and that's all that matters.
I write all this realizing that my experience with this stuff can kind of make me a pariah among many friends and much of the church. However, it is what I've experienced. The fruit of my life is pretty good, and I sense the presence of God, and feel that this stuff is supported enough in scriptural and historical reference.
My definition of a manifestation is "MY" definition. It is in no way necessarily correct. But those are my suppositions about what I'm experiencing when my body shakes, rattles, or rolls.
My proposition to you is to hear me out. Realizing if you haven't ever been to a place that encounters God in such a way, and been there with an open mind (unlike me when I was 15, completely closed), then perhaps it's not time to make judgments about what is happening there, but to simply say, "I don't know... but I know my friend, and he still loves and follows Jesus and nothing has changed in that court." Is the frustration a fear of what one doesn't understand? A fear of being Scripturally off base? I might say to the scriptures... All of the Bible is in God but all of God is definitely NOT in the Bible. Otherwise we have limited Him to a finite book. Perhaps there is more and it's not necessarily whether something is IN the Bible, but rather if it goes against the Bible that may be the issue...
In the end, the manifestations don't matter that much. It's just how some of our bodies respond to the spiritual. Some of our bodies don't feel a thing. Both are fine. Both can co-exist in the same church. The important thing is relationship with Jesus Christ. A life indwelt and filled by Holy Spirit. In the major things we hold to the truth (Salvation, Deity of Christ, etc.) in the minor things we hold to love. In the minor things, the church has re-invented itself so often, do we stop loving each other because of something we don't understand or agree with. Neither of which effect the issue of one's saved soul?
So those are my thoughts today on the issue of the great Shake, Rattle, and Roll. I appreciate being at this church which pastor's such craziness quite well. A controlled chaos you might say.
I love you all. If you have questions or comments, feel free.
What am I referring to? In our felt experience here, many people who "feel" the presence of God in their bodies can be prone to shaking, making a noise (grunting, tongues word, an exclamation of surprise like "WHOA! or HO!" etc.), falling to the ground, or any other number of physical gyrations. In this case, one could say "Shaking, Rattling or Rolling"....
In this dialogue, I'm going to highlight Biblical reference, Historical reference, and my own experience (suppositions) about this experience.
We'll start with the Biblical...
One might say, manifestational experiences don't seem to be in the Bible. Obviously the majority of displays of manifestational activity have been seen in "renewal" church services like the "Toronto Blessing" etc. In the Bible, there was only mention of one large gathering that had strange behavior. That was Pentecost. At Pentecost, some 3,000 people encountered and were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, in which observers exclaimed that those people seemed to be drunk. What do drunks do? Well they stumble, they fall over, and they lose many inhibitions. Additionally, on an individual basis you can see physical manifestions of spiritual activity occuring in the likes of the Apostle Paul in His encounter with Jesus and going to the 3rd heaven, and trances. The Apostle John (falling like dead) in Revelation. and other similar situations and encounters. (on a side note: I wouldn't be quick to judge Christians saying they've experienced "trances, going to 3rd heaven, open visions, walking on water, teleporting/translating" as all of these have a consistent Biblical basis.)
So there's a bit of Biblical reference... I don't want to make this a 100 page paper so lets move on...
Historical references to manifestations...
Along with pretty much every great revival over the past few centuries (especially those where signs/wonders and miracles broke out, there were quite a few manifestations physically. Folks like Benny Hinn are known for the issue of being "slain in the Spirit" (kind of a awkward phrasing, but that's what it's been called). Basically the power of God causing one of fall backward, forward, downward, etc. But lets go way way way back in history...
Did you know that the Quakers (ie: Quaker oats, the Society of Friends, a denomination started in the 1600's by George Fox) were nicknamed Quakers because they were known to shake violently and their bodies would "quake" under the power of God. Another smaller denomination was nicknamed the "Shakers" (there is a historical village called Shakertown in Central Kentucky). I think you can denote why they were called "Shakers". So this isn't something new that just arrived on the scene in Toronto in 1994. Our modern experience turns us to Toronto. The Toronto Blessing has seen close to 4 million worldwide visitors. People were known in that outpouring for laughing, rolling, shaking, and some would say even barking like dogs and roaring like lions. Perhaps a couple people did that too. :-)
That outpouring created quite an uproar in the church. Something new and weird in Christendom, in a Vineyard church no less. The irony is that it's not something new, it's been with us for centuries, since the beginning.
My personal experience...
Since being up here at Bethel I have experienced these manifestations in many a form. I have fallen over, I have shaked, jerked, rolled, laughed, I have been overwhelmed by the weighty presence of the Lord. (The word "Glory" means weighty). To an outsider, this can be quite disconcerting, perhaps even freaky. It sure was to me. When I was 15 I went to a church experiencing the Toronto thing and I cried, and freaked out. It's been a long journey since then but I chose to lay down "pre-conceptions and judgments and see if the people experiencing these "awkward gyrations" are in fact fruit-bearing honest-to-goodness lovers of Jesus. Boy would I be surprised. I found such freedom and joy in some of these folks. People moved to tears by the goodness of God, people filled with laughter at the freedom they've found in Christ. The Toronto Blessing, while so criticized has also born so much fruit. Heidi Baker was rocked at that place, unable to move for 7 days, people would bring her water. She has since gone back to Mozambique and changed Africa forever. 10,000 orphans cared for, 8,000 churches, nearly 100 raisings of the dead, almost every deaf person that comes to her ministry hears, and so many other countless miracles, salvations and acts of goodness from a good God. Leif Hetland, rocked at Toronto has since led 3/4 of a million Pakistani muslims to Jesus. That's 750,000 muslims!!! While rolling on the floor laughing, countless people would testify that they were freed from addictions, past hurts, worry, etc.
My first couple months here, I did not shake, rattle or roll. But I chose to love instead of judge someone else's experience. As I stood in the midst of crowds of people falling down, laughing, shaking, I found myself wanting that. To feel God. To physically feel His presence in and on me. That's an encounter with the living Savior. With the Holy Spirit. I saw those people who shook in their daily lives and I saw productive people, Christians living out lives of love and charity to the lost, the broken, the poor and each other. They will know we are Christians by our love!
Eventually I began to experience these shakings, and it was crazy! I often, while manifesting would question, "Is this really you God or am I doing some psychosematic copying of other people and this is just me?" I've questioned that countless times. What's so funny is, I'm not faking it. I know that for sure now, cuz one time I tried to stop myself from feeling His presence on my body, and well, it didn't work so well.
What is it? I am no expert, and we don't develop theologies and doctrines around it. So I would define it as a couple things... A manifestation of the spirit/Spirit is our body feeling what's happening in the spiritual realm. We are body, soul, spirit. Our spirit is the connection peace with eternity. The Bible says we are seated in heavenly places. I believe when the Holy Spirit comes upon us we can feel Him, this can do a number of things to a person. People can just simply feel heavy, or lots of heat in their body. Some shake, some twitch a bit, some might shout out a word, some may fall, some may grin, cry, laugh. It's all good, and everyone's different and feels differently. Quite a few people don't feel a thing. They simply have an awareness of God's presence with them. Yes, hear me, many people in our church/school don't manifest at all. One might say those who do tend to be "feelers". Their personality and makeup is that by which they feel stuff (less thinker types) Kinda like that Myers Briggs Thinker/Feeler thing, perhaps.
I know I also feel angels. When they come near or fly close by or walk by me, I usually twitch and shake and lurch forward and groan. I can perceive their presence, it's cool. I've only physically seen them with my eyes once though. I look forward to more.
There is also the spirit/demon aspect. Working in deliverance ministry, when setting people free from things, your body and often theirs too will lurch or groan or shake a bit because you can feel in the spirit realm the transference, the expulsion of a spirit/demon, or whatever... It's all quite fascinating. But a reminder: Not everyone feels it and that is okay. The important thing is relationship with God and that's all that matters.
I write all this realizing that my experience with this stuff can kind of make me a pariah among many friends and much of the church. However, it is what I've experienced. The fruit of my life is pretty good, and I sense the presence of God, and feel that this stuff is supported enough in scriptural and historical reference.
My definition of a manifestation is "MY" definition. It is in no way necessarily correct. But those are my suppositions about what I'm experiencing when my body shakes, rattles, or rolls.
My proposition to you is to hear me out. Realizing if you haven't ever been to a place that encounters God in such a way, and been there with an open mind (unlike me when I was 15, completely closed), then perhaps it's not time to make judgments about what is happening there, but to simply say, "I don't know... but I know my friend, and he still loves and follows Jesus and nothing has changed in that court." Is the frustration a fear of what one doesn't understand? A fear of being Scripturally off base? I might say to the scriptures... All of the Bible is in God but all of God is definitely NOT in the Bible. Otherwise we have limited Him to a finite book. Perhaps there is more and it's not necessarily whether something is IN the Bible, but rather if it goes against the Bible that may be the issue...
In the end, the manifestations don't matter that much. It's just how some of our bodies respond to the spiritual. Some of our bodies don't feel a thing. Both are fine. Both can co-exist in the same church. The important thing is relationship with Jesus Christ. A life indwelt and filled by Holy Spirit. In the major things we hold to the truth (Salvation, Deity of Christ, etc.) in the minor things we hold to love. In the minor things, the church has re-invented itself so often, do we stop loving each other because of something we don't understand or agree with. Neither of which effect the issue of one's saved soul?
So those are my thoughts today on the issue of the great Shake, Rattle, and Roll. I appreciate being at this church which pastor's such craziness quite well. A controlled chaos you might say.
I love you all. If you have questions or comments, feel free.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
My baby toe...
I hurt my baby toe tonight, really bad. It bled a lot and so forth. I don't know why I'm writing about this, but I'm bored and lots of people are over and I can't concentrate on highly spiritual things so that's about it for now....
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Good News and Great Conversations
You ever just have a day where it feels like it's your birthday.
Today was one of those.
So my American Express card sent me a $10 off coupon to Kohl's on any purchase of $10 or more. So basically free. So I got an article of clothing I'd been wanting for the gym. Sweet!
Then I come home and have two packages waiting for me. One from England with a wicked awesome Christmas card and some of my favorite British candy. And the other package had Microsoft Office and OS X Snow Leopard for my Mac. Cheee..
Then this morning on the phone I found out that I have a job available to me on Maui for the holidays if I want to go home. The only worry is flight costs?
So I come home and find a flight roundtrip for roughly 250 bucks. Which is preposterous for Christmas prices. (A flight from Redding roundtrip to Maui would be 2 thousand dollars)...
So, I've had a day full of delightful gifts... Yay God!
Then to top it off, I had a great conversation with a good friend on Maui as well.
It's in moment's of joy that you realize the things you value most. People. God. Nature. Beauty. Love.
Wow, I'm turning into a Bohemian. ha ha ha
The job on Maui and the flight are truly a life saver as I feel that my financial condition may very well have collapsed without it.
So, my thankfulness for those who offered me the work, and to God for favor and His blessing is without measure right now for sure.
I will need a place to stay and perhaps a car as well while there if anyone hears of any opportunities to crash someone's pad or rent/borrow a car please let me know...
As I sit here, alone at 2:23 am with my household all in bed I can't help but think about God's grace. Being alone, in the past has been nothing but difficult for me. Whether the enemy coming in to steal my time or destroy my heart with false thinking, or just "feeling" alone... I now sit here with a glorious sense of God's peace and rest in my life. It's a felt grace. Grace, Biblically defined as the operational power of God "for something".... I sense His grace for me to be at peace in the moment, and to have victory in "areas of stolen time" that the enemy so often has distracted/distorted in my life.
May this grace turn into breakthrough for me and all my brother's and sister's in Christ that we may redeem the time in our lives and live life truly to its fullest.
Today was one of those.
So my American Express card sent me a $10 off coupon to Kohl's on any purchase of $10 or more. So basically free. So I got an article of clothing I'd been wanting for the gym. Sweet!
Then I come home and have two packages waiting for me. One from England with a wicked awesome Christmas card and some of my favorite British candy. And the other package had Microsoft Office and OS X Snow Leopard for my Mac. Cheee..
Then this morning on the phone I found out that I have a job available to me on Maui for the holidays if I want to go home. The only worry is flight costs?
So I come home and find a flight roundtrip for roughly 250 bucks. Which is preposterous for Christmas prices. (A flight from Redding roundtrip to Maui would be 2 thousand dollars)...
So, I've had a day full of delightful gifts... Yay God!
Then to top it off, I had a great conversation with a good friend on Maui as well.
It's in moment's of joy that you realize the things you value most. People. God. Nature. Beauty. Love.
Wow, I'm turning into a Bohemian. ha ha ha
The job on Maui and the flight are truly a life saver as I feel that my financial condition may very well have collapsed without it.
So, my thankfulness for those who offered me the work, and to God for favor and His blessing is without measure right now for sure.
I will need a place to stay and perhaps a car as well while there if anyone hears of any opportunities to crash someone's pad or rent/borrow a car please let me know...
As I sit here, alone at 2:23 am with my household all in bed I can't help but think about God's grace. Being alone, in the past has been nothing but difficult for me. Whether the enemy coming in to steal my time or destroy my heart with false thinking, or just "feeling" alone... I now sit here with a glorious sense of God's peace and rest in my life. It's a felt grace. Grace, Biblically defined as the operational power of God "for something".... I sense His grace for me to be at peace in the moment, and to have victory in "areas of stolen time" that the enemy so often has distracted/distorted in my life.
May this grace turn into breakthrough for me and all my brother's and sister's in Christ that we may redeem the time in our lives and live life truly to its fullest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)