Journey Stinkin' Rocks!

If you haven't been to Journey on Sunday nights, you are missing out. It is totally diverse, totally authentic, and just a killer place to hang out on Sunday night and learn about Jesus. Keith brings it in a style that's raw, passionate, and sincere. His heart is for Jesus, and it shows each week by the Holy Spirit leaking out of him. Our worship is stinkin' awesome. We make mistakes, we botch it every once in awhile, and that's what's so cool about it. It's not polished churchy type worship. It's real. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will explode Journey. I believe Journey is on the cusp of exploding, and it's cool to watch and anticipate His next move. Let's take it to the street! Acts 5:42 says it best...And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ!!

Keeping My Ears Wide Open

This past week me, my wife, and two of our close friends attended a church planting conference in Orlando Florida. When me and my wife signed up for this a couple of months ago, I was really asking myself why? We spent two "long" days of travel, and two days of non stop sessions listening to some great pastors, and one "not so exciting" Just being honest! It confirmed my passion to take Jesus to the streets and to our culture in a way that they understand. But most assuredly without, I repeat without compromising the gospel. I look forward to what God has planned for our future. Only he knows, but I have a feeling he's up to something, but won't tell. He's God, he can do that. So for know I will just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride with my ears wide open. It's a jumbled up foreign language right now, but as I sit intently listening closely, the words will become clearer. Crystal clear if I know Him. It will be interesting to look back at this blog in 6 months to a year. Stay tuned!

Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate

This blog is a total outlet for me. I don't even know if anyone reads it, but it sure is a great place to put my thoughts on screen. Right now I am in a place where God is doing some amazing things in my life. My ears are wide open and I hear him speaking loud and clear for the first time in a long time. The hardest thing for me to remember right now is that many people are not in the same place as me right now with their relationships with God. So I really have to watch myself so that I don't come across as some scary religous pit bull ready to bite your head off and change the world. I would compare it to frozen orange juice concentrate. Huh? Yeah. You know when you pour (or squeeze) that frozen OJ out of the can into the pitcher? It's undiluted, raw, full strength. You know when you lick it and it tastes too strong in its concentrate form. That's where I am right now! And I want to stay there! I don't want to be diluted with 3 cans of water. Then I become palpable and easy to swallow, a place where most Christians are. I want to stay in the raw undiluted form and make people say...Whoa! that's different, that's not at all what "I'm used to" that's too strong for me, let's water it down so it's easier to swallow. My prayer is that God will use me and my influencial sphere of friends to do great things in our community. He is alive and well and moving freely in Bend Oregon.

King Jesus

Warrior - King - Savior - Protector

King Jesus. He comes to rescue our mess we call life. He never sleeps. He fights for us without ceasing. He desires to have a relationship with us so much that He willingly laid down His life on the cross. He was humiliated, disgraced, bloodied, and butchered. How much does He love us? He was nailed, stabbed, spit on, struck, and ripped open. How much does He love us? He willingly did this not for the rich or famous or elite, but for the shameful sinner who is worthy of nothing! Especially from the King. Thee King! How much does He love us? Enough to fight for us everyday. This is evident when I see things happen in my life that I can attest to nothing more than the glory of Jesus. He is a warrior, and ultimate fighter that craves a real relationship with his people and will come to their rescue. He is the rock, the steadfast protector! I need to throw aside the world and dance a sweet dance with Him. Come rescue me Jesus.

Watch this, watch all of this and praise Him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEUVSbD9NF8

AIDS Orphans in Africa

I feel compelled this morning to write about the AIDS orphans in Africa. Frequently I peruse my friends blog, and would encourage you to do the same. His name is Tom Davis and he is the director of Children's Hopechest and is involved waist deep in some pretty amazing things. Life changing things. Here is the link to his blog. http://tomdavis.typepad.com/
There are some shocking things happening over there that we are oblivious too. Intentionally or not. Unless you read up on, or are involved in this crisis you won't know how shocking the situation really is, because you won't hear about it in the media. You "will" hear about the governor of New York having an affair with a hooker, or Paris Hilton, or O.J. or some other un-newsworthy event that I could give a rats @#*! over. Do we hear about about the little children in Africa who's mom just died of AIDS? Of course not. Or the 11 month old, yes 11 month old little baby girl who was raped! Sick? You should be! We all should be. Did you know that there is a myth in Africa if you have sex with a virgin your AIDS will be cured or you will not get AIDS. The younger the virgin, the more powerful its effect. Sickening. Entire villages are dying and the children are suffering. It breaks my heart to read the stories of these little ones, as I am sure it breaks God's heart also. They are his children suffering, while we complain that our 2nd car is too old, or my kid needs a cell phone. The 4th one of our family. We take so much for granted that it probably turns God's stomach sour. Educate yourself on the plight taking place in Africa, and for that matter around the world. Russia too has an extremely high AIDS rate. At the very very least pray for the children. Or you can help. The 5 for 50 campaign is a great start. World Vision, Childrens' Hopechest just to name a few great organizations. Help an AIDS orphan in some way.

Why Do We Run?

Why do you run, why do you hide, don't you know I
just want to be with you.

Looking down from above as you watch TV
Wondering why you're ignoring me
Do you remember when I came to you
And you loved me
I'm waiting for you

Whatever happened to the love you had for me
When you first came to me
Don't you know that I died so I could be with you
forever.
I'm waiting for you

Find a place of solitude, and I'll speak to you
As you pray to me
Don't you know I'm waiting here, waiting for you to
read and hear my words
I'm waiting here missing the times we shared so
please come to me

Modified Lyrics of "Run" by Kutless

Well Said Mr. Lewis

You never know how much you really believe anything
until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.



It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong and sound
as long as you are merely using it to cord a box.

But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice.
Wouldn’t you then first discover how much you really trusted it?

Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief.

C.S. Lewis

P356

Proverbs 3: 5&6 is my all time favorite verse.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." So check it out... First off He asks us to trust Him. With all the crap that goes on in our world who else should we trust? Can we trust? Jesus Christ is the only constant we can trust. Then how much should we really trust him? Just trust him with what you can see or touch or be in control of, that's what most of us do anyway. That's what I do sometimes. No. He says trust Me with "all" of your heart, not just what you or I can be in control of, what kind of real trust is that? Here's the kicker for me..."lean not on your own understanding..." So we are supposed to trust Him, even when things don't make sense to us? Yes! A resounding yes!! Sorry but that just doesn't make sense does it? Of course not, that's what real trust is all about. When you worked your butt off and your job didn't pan out, or that person you thought was "the one" wasn't. He wants you to trust Him when you are down and out, and things don't make any sense at all. He tells us "in all your ways acknowledge me, and I will make your paths straight." In laymens terms, He tells us give it up to Me, all of it, He knows everything, even the end of the story. He wants to comfort us and help us even when it doesn't make sense. How much do you really trust Jesus Christ? I know that if you really honestly give it up to Him and trust that he knows what He's doing. Things will work out for his will. Don't get me wrong here, i'm not saying it will be a bed of roses, sometimes quite the opposite. Sometimes he stretches us to our limits to see how much we trust. How great is our faith when we can't see around the corner? So just do it no matter how tough it gets. Trust in Him with "all" your heart. Reach out and take his outstretched hand. He deeply desires you today.

Get off your butt-Get in the game

Get Offensive!

Are you happy with the church life you lead right now? comfy, not to oppressive, or intrusive? Just kind of a warm fuzzy type of feeling. Is God at a nice safe distance where you can call him if you need Him, but hopefully he won't tell you to do something you don't feel like doing? Or if he does, maybe just ignore him, and maybe he will go away. Or are you ready to get off your butt, and start doing something for Him? Let the Holy Spirit get creative in you. He's been tugging at you forevever now to get out there. Jesus doesn't say "hey, why don't you think about going out and talking to people about me when it's comfortable and in your timing" No! he says one word. He says to "GO" Not think about it, not pray about it, not wait for the right time, but just flat out GO! Are you a light, or a light under a bowl, are you fresh salt or salt that has no flavor? Do you see a homeless man on the corner and hope he gets a meal or a coat that day? That hope means nothing unless you act on it! Faith without deeds aint jack! I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. We talk a big story and do nothing. We complain about alot, but do nothing. You can't make a difference if your on the bench. You have to get in the game to make a difference. At what point will you get in the game? There is no yesterday or tommorrow, today is all that counts. If you want to make a difference it's going to messy, get offensive, not comfy! Do you think Jesus was in people's faces! He caused comotion, unrest, and made people squirm and get uncomfortable. If your not uncomfortable, then your probably not doing anything. So fool everyone else on sunday, but dont' think your'e fooling Him. Get in the game! Help an orphan, help a homeless person, help a widow, a friend, someone in need. Something is better than nothing.

Snow keeps on coming!

We have had about 20" of snow here in Bend this last week. The kids were out of school yesterday because of it. Rarely is school cancelled because of snow. So...we took advantage of it and figured out some ways to have fun with a foot and a half of snow.