Owner: Rend the Heavens URL:http://blog.allthenations.org Join Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:46:20 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Musings from an Emergent Revivalist... who longs so see this generation turns their hearts towards Jesus. Site statistics:Click here
Cake and Oatmeal 2007-10-03 08:45:00 I was just thinking this morning about the faithfulness of our God. It can almost become a cliche, but it's the truth... He is faithful.God has done so much for Hannah and I. And just as David said, we have never seen the righteous forsaken as well (Psalm 37:25). And it's so amazing how He delights in the very details of our lives (Psalm 37:23).Just last week... pretty much in the same conversation, Hannah was talking about how she'd like some oatmeal (we normally don't keep that in the house)... and then a few sentences later she mentioned how we needed to get a cake for Leah's birthday.THE NEXT DAY an awesome lady from our church brought to us 5 bags of groceries... and guess what was in one of the bags? A box of oatmeal... and a birthday cake mix with icing. HELLO.So here's a shout out to You Father, THANKS for Your faithfulness and Your delighting in our lives.He is simply amazing. :)Since this is my second blog post today... you'll have to see below for the quote of the day Read more:Oatmeal
Quotes by Joy Dawson, pt 2 2007-10-03 05:30:00 Here's Part 2 of a selection of quotes from Joy Dawson
's book Forever Ruined for the Ordinary. Enjoy.It is totally impossible to effectively function as a Christian without hearing God's voice as a way of life.One of our greatest universal needs is to experience and walk in humility at increasingly deeper levels.It is important to understand that guidance from God will be according to the extent of our commitment to do His will.Our levels of abandonment to God determine God's levels of directions to us.He can make our greatest points of weakness our greatest strengths when we keep yielding to the Holy Spirit's disciplines in the fear of the LORD.Dead people don't talk.I would rather pay the price to hear God's voice personally, regardless of how difficult the circumstances may be, than to have to settle for always hearing from Him secondhand.Satanic forces can counterfeit some of the power of God, but they can never counterfeit the love of God because it is based in humility. Ou Read more:Quotes
Quotes by Joy Dawson, pt 1 2007-10-02 05:30:00 Thought I'd have a little Joy Dawson
"Quote Fest". Below you will find quotes from her book Forever Ruined for the Ordinary. There will be 2 days of this... so enjoy!Disobedience to God is evidence of the lack of knowledge of who God is.Humility yearns for God's presence and obeys.We will never know the fulfillment of the revealed or unrevealed or partially revealed future until we become obedient in the things of the present.The degree of the fear of the LORD upon us will determine the degree of obedience to God in our lives.Only when we choose to be nothing can God be everything in any situation. Only when we truly fear God will we be released from the fear of people.Jesus' goal on earth was accomplised by the ultimate example of humility in the way HE related to His Father, God. Our goal will only be accomplised as we relate to Him with the same kind of humility.If we are not choosing to live as Jesus modeled for us, we are automatically presenting a distorted view of Him to othe Read more:Quotes
Charisma and Haunted Houses? 2007-10-01 05:30:00 I really do not like criticizing others in my blogs. I do it sometimes, but I try to make it a rare occasion simply because the enemy does enough finger pointing and accusing. But with all that said, I recently came across an article in the October 2007 edition of Charisma Magazine that really I think is probably the stupidest thing I've read in a while. And really, I have no idea why the article is in the magazine... to me it's not even Christian... simply laced with Jesus' name every once and a while and a few references to scriptures that have nothing to do with the article.The article's headline reads: "Evil spirits can posses people--but can they also inhabit places? We looked beyond the sensational to discover what the Bible says."Since their claiming to "see what the Bible says", let see how their article mentions the Bible:- A reference is made to Ephesians 6:11-18... and how we are to put on the full armor of God. Which is part of encouraging us with the "steps to rid spir Read more:Haunted
Allow Jesus to Re-decorate 2007-09-30 13:52:00 There's a portion from Ephesians that I love to pray over people.Ephesians 3:16-19 says: "I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God."Out of breath? ;)There's a lot of stuff in that passage that is amazing. And it's a great place to start when praying for people. I've started praying this over all my students every week.Part of the passage says "I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts..." To me, that makes me think of how when s Read more:Allow
, Jesus
Tongues... so what's the big deal? 2007-10-16 08:02:00 There's something that still boggles my mind when it comes to Christianity and speaking in tongues... why the big deal?First let me state, I speak in tongues on a daily basis and am glad I do. Obviously that discolors the lenses that I look through... but still I don't get why speaking in tongues is made in to a huge issue: "is it for today or not?"I thought I'd share some thoughts with you on the subject...I honestly think that "both sides" of the coin are guilty of fueling the debate. Let me explain...When the Azusa Street revival occured, modern-day pentecostalism was born along with it signs, miracles, wonders and speaking in tongues. New denominations and fellowships were formed that centralized on the doctrine of the Baptism in Holy Spirit with the evidence of Speaking in Tongues
.Over the years, in my opinion, speaking in tongues has simply become another traditional practice of the pentecostal/charismatic churches. It's just become another thing we "do"... and with that we m
God Ain't Stupid 2007-10-14 05:17:00 There's a passage in Isaiah that gets me every time I read it. I'll probably preach it as a message some day... but until then, I thought I'd share it with you...Isaiah 29:15-16 says:"Destruction is certain for those who try to hide their plans from the LORD, who try to keep Him in the dark concerning what they do! 'The LORD can't see us,' you say to yourselves. 'He doesn't know what's going on!' How stupid can you be? He is the Potter, and He is certainly greater than you. You are only the jars He makes! Should the thing that was created say to the one who made it, 'He didn't make us'? Does a jar ever say, 'The potter who made me is stupid'?"Obviously, this passage is talking about humans in general, but I think it really should strike at the heart of believers. How many times in various areas of our lives do we treat God as if He's stupid!? We may not do it intentionally, but we definitely do it.One simple way is not taking God at His word. I may seem a bit redundant Read more:Stupid
Random Thoughts 2007-10-13 16:12:00 Working on a couple of thoughts to blog about soon: Christian addicts... (people addicted to event Christianity... not relational Christianity). Then there's Christian offenders... (people who offend just to offend - which really offends me).Aw.aken.us continues to grow in to a larger project the more I work on it. It's coming along well, but slow.The next 3 weeks are going to be ultra-busy. Looking forward to the fruit, but not the amount of work and energy we'll have to expend.In 5 days, I get 2 days off with my bride, Hannah, to celebrate our 5-year wedding anniversary. Can't wait.I enjoying Twittering. I'm trying to come up with "10 fun ways to use Twitter". We'll see if I ever make it.I've dreamed for quite some time about writing a book... I have a couple of ideas... however, since I'm a nobody... I don't know how I might get it published...And to be political for just split second... this video of Mike Huckabee answering a question concerning Evolution/Creationism is gr Read more:Random
, Random Thoughts
Horse ride 2007-10-13 13:45:00 Isaiah riding a pony!
Read more:Horse
Super Saturday Spotlight #17 2007-10-13 05:30:00 Today's SuperSaturdaySpotlight
is all techy stuff. Enjoy.WiFi Detector ShirtThe geek in me thought this was rather cool... a t-shirt that detects a WiFi signal. Pretty cool idea. Click here to visit the site.Snipshot: Online Image EditorI found a cool little image editor online. There are a few free options with a couple of paid options as well. Click here to visit Snipshot.TraxAxI've also come across a nice, FREE music and video editor. There are a few areas where it could improve but it does a great job with what tools they have available. Click here to visit TraxAx for PC.Quote for Today's BLOG:"I am not moved by criticism because I am not moved by praise." - Reinhard Bonnke
Video Blog #6: Smashing 2007-10-12 05:30:00 An end to the God box series... quite smashing. Click here if you can't see the video.
Jesus and allah do not mix 2007-10-11 21:07:00 My friend Jared pointed out an article on FOXNews.com. It's concerning a letter sent out by the Muslim community...Here's an excerpt:"In an unprecedented open letter signed by 138 leading scholars from every sect of Islam, the Muslims plead with Christian leaders 'to come together with us on the common essentials of our two religions' and spell out the similarities between passages of the Bible and the Koran."You can read the full article here.In case you aren't aware, Christians and Muslims do not worship the same god...Crazy stuff we're walking in to on this earth."Even so, come quickly LORD Jesus
."
Painful Preaching Advice, pt 2 2007-10-11 05:30:00 As I mentioned yesterday, I've recently had some mentoring time with my Pastor. It's really been a great experience and I'm grateful for it.Today, I thought I'd share with you all some other advice that Pastor Bill shared with me. And to be honest with you, it put the final squish on a box that I had placed God in.For those of you who don't know me, I have a strong Assembly of God (Pentecostal) background. One of the things that we as Pentecostals like to emphasis is the "flowing" of the Spirit (as in reference to the one doing the preaching). I can remember pipe dreams, while in Bible school, of being "so spiritual" that one day, I would walk up on the platform, flip open my Bible and begin speaking the Word of God without any study and/or preparation.Once I actually stepped out into ministry, that bubble burst. I realized that that was what it was, a pipe dream.Now do I believe that it's possible to do what I described? Absolutely. But do I think that doing that on a weekly bas
Super Saturday Spotlight #18 2007-10-20 05:30:00 3 random things for you this week. Enjoy.Pez Anyone?Any Pez fanatics out there? You'll want to check out this site of "hand transformed" Pez dispensers. Click here to view the site.Mirror Windshield WiperI should have invented this... a windshield wiper for your bathroom mirror. Click here to check it out.Free stuff from CrazyChurch.comI came across a great website the other day... crazychurch.com. They have a TON of FREE church resources. Click here to check it out.Quote for Today's BLOG:"Forgiveness is the very spirit of heaven removing the hiding places of demonic activity from the caverns of the human soul." - Francis Frangipane
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, Saturday
, Spotlight
IHOP 2007-10-19 18:45:00 Visiting IHOP in Kansas City.
Video Blog #7: Anniversary 2007-10-19 05:30:00 Anniversary wishes for my wife... and a few thoughts on marriage.Can't see the video? Click here.
Read more:Anniversary
Tongues... for today!? 2007-10-18 05:30:00 I thought I'd write once more on the topic of tongues. We talked about them on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week already. Check those out if you haven't done so.Yesterday I took more of a "punch" at my pentecostal brothas and sistas... so today, I thought I'd take a brief shot at the opposition to tongues. And my thought is: "what's the big deal?"There are a ton of different arguments out there surrounding the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues... "they're of the devil", "they were only for the days during the Apostles", "they're not needed any longer", blah, blah, blah.Obviously, my bloggage is not going to convince otherwise all of those who oppose the use of tongues and/or the existence of that gift... but I thought I'd still throw in my 2 cents. I'm not going to sit here and exegete every scripture that validates speaking in tongues are for today... I'll just share a couple of thoughts.I do not base my faith or doctrine upon experience, but I do know that I speak in to Read more:Tongues
Tongues... A misunderstanding 2007-10-17 08:51:00 Since we're on the topic of Speaking in Tongues
, I thought I'd bring up some thoughts that surround a misunderstanding of one of the uses of tongues. That would be the use of tongues and the interpretation of tongues used during a church service.This summer I was conversing with a woman concerning my "pentecostal" beliefs. She had a baptist background, but had attended an Assembly of God church for a few years during her youth. We talked about various things, one of them being speaking in tongues. When the topic was brought up, she thought the extent of tongues was just what I mentioned earlier... being used in a church service setting with an interpretation.It got me thinking about those gifts that are "coupled" together when being used in a public setting...Honestly, something has never set quite right in my mind and heart concerning "messages" in tongues during a service. I've always understood that when someone speaks in tongues in a service and it is interpreted... it seemed as
God Is Love, part 2 2007-10-24 05:30:00 So yesterday, I wrote briefly on God's love.My experience has been... that a lot, if not most people believe that God's love for them is based solely on the amount of sin that is currently in their lives.Ever since I have become a father, I have had a completely different understanding of how God really loves us... not matter what. My oldest child, Isaiah, will be 4 in January. Does he sin... does he mess up? You bet ya. But does my "level" of love change for him? Absolutely not.The love I have for my children is consistent and if anything increases by the day. When they disobey me... it doesn't change my thoughts towards them as my children. My thoughts of them are still priceless. Sure they get me upset... sure I get mad... but I still love them.HOW MUCH MORE does our Father love us? Obviously, I'm human. So my love is not perfect. But God's love is.His thoughts of us are precious. His thoughts of you are precious... not angry... and at this point, if you're a believer, the "ju
David killed Goliath!? 2007-10-23 20:30:00 It's interesting to know that only 86% of non-mainline Protestants believe that David
actually, literally... really, truly killed Goliath
. Maybe the rest should decide whether or not they really love Jesus.For more on the current status of American Christianity... check out this news article here.
God Is Love 2007-10-23 08:04:00 Is He Really?Most of us have heard those 3 words placed together at some point in our lives. Some of us thousands of times... others just a few. I was thinking about God's love for us just the other day... and I think that we've painted a distorted view of His love.1 John 4:16 says "We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in Him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them."Not to contradict the scripture... but do we REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH God loves us? DO WE? And the love that we think He has for us... is it conditional?In your mind is God's LOVE conditional? Meaning... if you do the right things... if you are a good person... if you become a Christian... then God loves you...? Wrong answer.God's heart is so big for us humans. So big. Christian or not, He longs for intimate friendship with each of us. It is not His desire that any should perish.And to take it a step further God is jealous for you. Yeah, I said jealous. Unfortunately, we
Get married or... 2007-10-22 19:01:00 Just came across this great article. It's the same advice I'd give to any young couple... dating longer than a year... get married
or break up!Check it out here:http://www.boundlessline.org/2007/10/get-married-or-.html
Kansas City Here I Come 2007-10-22 07:29:00 Hannah and I just returned on Saturday from a two-day trip to Kansas
City. It was a whirlwind trip, but well worth it.Our main destination in Kansas City
was the International House of Prayer... We went in celebration of our anniversary... 5 years on Friday, October 19th. And of course we ate and shopped while we were there... So here's the break down from our trip.IHOPIt's hard to explain what it was truly like. What you see on GOD.TV or if you have the live prayer stream, it doesn't compare to experiencing it live.The presence of God was so thick in the room, it seemed as though you could slice it like cheese.It's definitely not exactly what I expected. Being from a pentecostal/charismatic background, I expected loud, intense prayer... and yet, it wasn't loud... but it was intense. It was consistent worship and prayer. It was deep. It was intimate. And it caused me to fall more in love with Jesus.The worship leader inside of me visually inspected almost every inch of their gear.
Hilarious 2007-10-21 12:35:00 I normally save this type of stuff for the Super Saturday Spotlight... but I just had to post it. I wish I had thought it up...Click here to watch: Absolutely Hilarious Bathroom Mirror Prank
Thoughts For The Week 2007-10-21 05:30:00 - Hannah and I had a ton of fun the past few days in Kansas City celebrating our 5 years of marriage! We visited IHOP. I'll share all about our trip probably tomorrow...- We missed our chitlins while we were gone... not too bad though. They seemed to grow up a ton even though we were away from them for only 3 days.- I'm enjoying leading worship again. Our church seems to be responding well to my style of leading. Last week was super-intense... Holy Spirit really enjoyed how we loved on Him. We'll see what happens today...- I just finished "The Dream Giver" by Bruce Wilkinson. A great book.- I just started "Passion for Jesus" by Mike Bickle. Already a great book!- This coming weekend is our student fall retreat for Ground Level. I'm stoked about it. I have a butt-load of work to do for it yet though... gonna be a CRAZY week. We're really believing for our students that are going 30+ that they will truly ENCOUNTER God and His presence this weekend.Quote for Today's BLOG:"Praying, w
Encounter: our fall retreat 2007-10-29 11:09:00 As I said yesterday, our fall retreat
was incredible.A lot went into this retreat. When we were first deciding on doing it, we had set it for a different weekend... only to find out that there were 3 high school homecomings that weekend... so we re-scheduled it to this last weekend: October 26-28.The whole weekend blew me away.The biggest part that blew me away was my student's hunger for God.They were hungry to encounter Him.We had 3 services throughout the weekend with our first service being the most intense. What blew me away were the students that lingered, continuing to seek God after everyone was dismissed. Those moments are precious.We stressed throughout the weekend how it is important to have experiencial encounters with God... but how it is also important to not just hang on to the experience/feeling... we have to be consistent in seeking Him... and when there is an experience that we allow Him to change us.All of us had experiences this weekend we will never forget.We had Read more:Encounter
Coffee & Incredible 2007-10-28 20:23:00 Coffee has become a very fun and comforting part of our lives.Just so you know.Our retreat this weekend was incredible. And really, incredible doesn't even begin to describe it.Unfortunately, I'm quite dazed and confused... the coffee hasn't helped me catch up yet... I had less than 6 hours of sleep the last 2 nights... so I'll fill everyone in on the details of our student retreat tomorrow. Read more:Coffee
, Incredible
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