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
Retreat Cabin 2007-10-27 09:00:00 We're having a great time here in Laurelville, PA.
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Super Saturday Spotlight #19 2007-10-27 05:30:00 Welcome to SuperSaturday
. Got 4 random things from around the net for you today. Have fun.Push-Button Coffee HouseHannah and I love coffee. It'd be awesome to have one of these in the backyard... except, we don't have a back yard... maybe it'd fit in our front yard...? Click here to visit the site.A Cubicle GameEver get so frustrated you wish you could destroy your office? Well, now you can without actually doing it... Click here to play the game.Talk About Disguise...Check out these disguises that a woman in Japan created! Why can't I think of stuff like this? Click here to check it out.Can you tell which machine is the woman?And For You Cruncy Cereal Fans...I personally don't care if my breakfast cereal gets soggy. I like it that way, sometimes. However, there are those of you out there, like my beautiful wife, who like to use as little bit of milk as possible. Click here to buy this ingenious cereal bowl!Quote for Today's BLOG:"Art is a reflection of God's creativity, an evi Read more:Spotlight
So what if I'm not worthy... 2007-10-26 12:35:00 I've got to add this in for today.There's a new artist that I've recently stumbled upon. He's intense. I don't even know if there's a "genre" for his music... the best way I can describe it is worship rock.His name is John Mark McMillan. He was at the Call Nashville. You may have seen him. He has several awesome songs. However, one is just recently consuming my heart...Here's a portion of the lyrics from I Am A Temple:You are my fire, You are my rightesnous, You are my rock and rollI wish I could fit you down inside my chest, GodI wish that I could swallow you wholeI'd wrap you up in a blanket of my skin and you could call my body homeCause I am a templeI am templeMy body is a templeI am a templeI am a templeI am a templeMy body is a templeI am a templeSo what if I'm not worthy?So what if I'm not worthy?You have made me clean! We'll never be worthy. We're only worthy because He's made us worthy. :)You can buy John Mark's CD here...And you can actually listen to the whole
It's Friday 2007-10-26 07:59:00 Unfortunately, I don't have a video blog for you today. I'm bummed. Oh well. I've been super-busy with getting the final details together on our fall retreat for Ground Level, our student ministry. So I haven't had a chance to sit down and put a video together.Definitely pray for us this weekend... we're taking 25 students and 7 adults on a retreat to encounter God. It's going to be good.And of course, even though I don't have a video, I do have thoughts to share with you today.I love the Book of Isaiah. It is an amazing book. If you've never actually read it through, you should. It's intense. It's prophetic. It's deep. It's intimate. It displays God's heart for both Jew and Gentile. It's great.Here's a few recent passages I've read... with my emphasis added..."And My blessings are for Gentiles, too, when they commit themselves to the LORD. Do not let them think that I consider them second-class citizens." - Isaiah 56:3"Behind closed doors, you have set up your idols an Read more:Friday
Willow Creek Repents...? 2007-10-25 12:16:00 Check out this interesting article concerning Willow
Creek and Bill Hybels. Interesting thoughts. Looks as if they have "repented" of some of their ultra-seeker-sensitive ways... realizing that they don't work.It takes a man of real integrity to admit when they're wrong.Click here to visit the article.
Fall! 2007-10-25 11:45:00 Fall is my favorite season.
10 Fun/Stupid Ways to Use Twitter 2007-10-25 08:46:00 Below you will find 10 Fun/Stupid
ways to use Twitter
. If you don't know what Twitter is, it's basically a mini-blog... or a "status updater". The 10 things below are more STUPID than anything else. I really was just typing things off of the top of my head. Enjoy.10 Fun/Stupid Ways to Use TwitterIf you forget where you put your keys a lot, like I do... Twitter the location of where you put your keys the moment you set them down... that way you'll know exactly where you put them.If you're ever captured and made a hostage, Twitter that you're being held hostage... and hopefully someone will read your Twitter and come and rescue you.If you're ever bored and think that people actually care about what you're doing every moment of your life, then Twitter it... because they're may just be a few people that actually follow your Twittering.If you're ever tired of sitting in a staff meeting and you have nothing else to do, Twitter about your boredom.If you like to keep your special some
Life is Short 2007-11-02 08:18:00 And so is my video blog.I had recorded to video blogs... ready to go with one of them today... but it's just too much right now. Recording doesn't take a whole bunch of time... but encoding... and editing... etc. It all adds up. Time is of the essence... and I want to make sure that my family and ministry is getting my time. I'm still blogging regularly of course... but the vids are out the window.Maybe in a while I'll start them back again.But speaking of time and life...I want to share some startling statistics with you... or at least they were startling to me.Mission Maker Magazine has just published their 2008 edition. In it, they have the statistics for where the world will be at as of January 1, 2008 concerning the Gospel and evangelism.On January 1, 2008 there will be: - 6,653,559,547: People on the earth. - 2,213,470,037: Christians (33% of pop) - 4,440,089,510: Non-Christian - 2,528,958,589: Have been evangelized - 1,911,130, Read more:Short
Guess 2007-10-31 20:45:00 Dan, one of my awesome students dressed up like me for Halloween. Guess
which is me...
$5 Kids? 2007-10-31 17:00:00 I paid atleast $2000 for each of mine.
The Onslaught 2007-10-31 13:53:00 I've heard it said that one should pray more after a big spiritual event rather than before... simply because of the backlash the enemy will through one's way.I can honestly tell you... too many times we make light of our enemy... fearing that we'll give him too much glory or sound ookey-spookey or just plain weird. But it's the truth. We have an enemy and he really doesn't like it when we make headway in the Kingdom.Especially like we did this weekend at our fall retreat.The backlash these last few days has been horrendous.But Jesus is bigger. And He still reigns. And I'm chasen after His heart even more.And the enemy is not going to get back what we took for Jesus.Muahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Read more:Onslaught
Candy Corn Soda 2007-10-31 11:00:00 I downed the whole can of Candy
Corn Jones Soda.
Judas' Kiss, part 2 2007-10-31 07:36:00 Yesterday, I posted some thoughts about Judas
... and I thought I'd continue those thoughts today. I wonder if Judas thought he had it all together? I wonder if he thought he had Jesus and the Gospel all worked out... even before it really "began"?That's scary and risky territory to be in when we operate under the mindset that we have it all together. Normally when we get to that point, Holy Spirit makes sure we get a little shaken up. Jesus is the only one who has it all together... and/or figured out. I'm all for theology, doctrine and study... but even the world's top theologians don't have it all right. I think Judas thought he had it all together... and he was just waiting for his crown, thrown and kingdom to rule in under the reform he thought the Messiah was about to bring.I still can't get over the thought that Judas actually walked with Jesus, yet he was a blind as a bat... Would I have been the same way if I had walked in Judas' shoes...? It's possible.He was a human.
Judas' Kiss 2007-10-30 08:45:00 I was reading in Luke 22 this morning and it got the wheels turning in my head. How did Judas
get to the point of turning Jesus over? Didn't he realize what was going on?It's easy for us to see the whole picture... we have the whole story... and Judas didn't. But you would think after being with Jesus everyday for 3 plus years you'd start to get the picture.I mean, the man walked with Jesus... yet, he still fell away. Crazy.Think about all the stuff he saw... the blind eyes that were opened... the compassion and mercy Jesus showed sinners... the random miracles like money appearing in a fish's mouth... and even the dead raised. Was Judas so set in HIS ways... that he missed The Way?It's probable that Judas instigated the whole betrayal situation to get Jesus to "step into" the leadership role that Judas thought Jesus was supposed to have (i.e. immediately overthrow the government, establish His earthly Kingdom, etc). But how could he have been so side-tracked when he was WITH Jes
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 and 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.
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, Incredible
Forgot... 2007-11-07 08:00:00 Isaiah and I were going through the photos on my phone when I came across this photo I took a few months back that I had forgot about. Leah didn't really like the grass.
The Mormon "Way" 2007-11-07 07:43:00 Just recently came across an article here that interviewed M. Russell Ballard. He's an elder on the Council of Twelve Apostles in the Mormon
church. He was interviewed concerning the "rift" between Christianity and Mormonism. This has all come to light because of Mitt Romney's faith.Most Christians understand that Mormonism is a cult. Mormons, however, beg to differ.I read through the article and laughed. Though I don't have the time to sit here and go through all of the article and refute the guys claims with Biblical references... I am going to add my 2 cents in a comical fashion...Q - stands for the question asked by USNews.comA - stands for the answer given by M. Russell BallardR - stands for my response to Ballard's answerQ: "What is the biggest misconception that people have about your church?"A: "One is that some people say we Mormons are not Christians. We can't comprehend that..."R: Mormons do not believe that Jesus Himself is God. So guys, you're not Christians.Q: "And
Just because... 2007-11-06 19:30:00 Thought it was time to re-do my blog layout.I get bored with layouts/designs really quickly and plus I wanted to celebrate my 40,000+ blog views! :DSo here's a preview of the new layout for blog.allthenations.orgI've yet to decide when I'll launch it... probably when I get it finished. ;)Oh yeah, and I've forgotten to announce... I created a new layout on my MySpace over a week ago... Click here to check it out...For tomorrow, let's talk about Mormons.
But what will you do...? 2007-11-06 09:36:00 I was reading in Jeremiah this morning... Chapter 5 to be exact. That passage also happens to be what I'm speaking from tomorrow night at Ground Level.God is so amazing. Obviously, there's no way we will ever come to the point of fully understanding Him. He is so huge and grand that there's no way... unless He completely removes the veil. But that's a whole different rabbit trail...But where God's amazing me comes in... He is so gracious and merciful and forgiving... yet He demands that we fear Him. There's no contradiction in that. Because He is gracious, merciful and forgiving... is the reason we should fear Him.He is God.Of course, He would never do anything that is contrary to His Word. So He is eternally forgiving. BUT IF HE WANTED TO... He could squish us all like bugs under His feet. I mean seriously.Now I know we're not to walk around afraid God is going to squish us... because He's not like that. But I think for a lot of us we've lost the true fear of God.The awe-insp
Watch TheCall Las Vegas 2007-11-06 07:14:00 TheCall Las Vegas
took place on October 20th of this year. GOD.tv has it upon on their Video on Demand page till the end of November.Click here to watch it. It's intense!
Read more:Las Vegas
Thoughts... 2007-11-05 10:19:00 Do you ever have random thoughts just floating through your head?Thought I'd share some from this weekend... and a few for this week. Some of these things should be in a Super Saturday... but I thought I'd still share them. :)Bluetooth Headset (for Children!)I just realized something today. My son, who is 3, will probably never use a corded-telephone... and probably, for the most part, will not use a traditional head set. This isn't necessarily a problem. I'm not a traditionalist or anything like that... but it makes it a little difficult when my 3-year-old wants to random call our family... and I have to sit and hold the cell phone to his ear (we don't have a land line - just cell phones).I was thinking that someone should invent such a device... that connects a traditional headset to a cell phone via Bluetooth... and guess what, they have!ThinkGeek carries a $35 Bluetooth headset. Click here to check it out...Soda Can on My HeadYesterday, our church hosted a team of men who use
Annoyed 2007-11-04 14:23:00 Sometimes people annoy me.I'm sure I annoy people at times.But there's one guy that just gets under my skin.It seems that all he does is stir up strife and contention.J. Lee Grady is this man... he's the editor of Charisma Magazine.He's written some recent editorials under a column called "Fire In My Bones" that to me, are less than honorable and/or loving. And in my opinion might as well be published by the secular media.An article he wrote in May of 2006 concerning the Brownsville Revival contained much non-factual information and seemed very slanderous of the former leadership of the church. He then wrote another article a month later stating that he was not bashing Brownsville... But to me... and many other readers... it sure seemed as though he was.And now, in October, just this last month, he wrote his opinion on the situation at ORU... WITHOUT ANY FACTS... However, in his defense, he did fill his article with statements like "we pray for everyone at ORU..." and "pray that Go
God is moving in Pittsburgh! 2007-11-04 13:38:00 Check this out... practically happening in my back yard! :) Go Jesus.Pittsburgh
Approves Split from Episcopal ChurchDespite a warning from the head of The Episcopal Church, members of the
Diocese of Pittsburgh voted overwhelmingly Friday to leave the national
church. View the article here...
Free Coffee 2007-11-03 08:08:00 Just found this on Jonathan Herron's blog...Fill out a form... and get a free sample of Dunkin' Donuts coffee. Click here to get it.I'm all for free coffee.
Read more:Coffee
, Free Coffee
Thoughts on Worship 2007-11-12 04:30:00 There's been a lot on my mind lately concerning worship.Before I say anything else, I want it to be understood that I love to worship. I'm a worship fanatic. I pretty much only listen to various types of worship... not because I think I have to limit myself to that type of music... that's just the only music I enjoy.So with that said... I wanted to share with you some thoughts on different "types" of worship.My worship experiences over the past 10+ years have been quite life-changing. I feel like my life is a salad bowl of worship genres and types. From traditional hymns, to "choruses", to prophetic worship, I've been a part of the gamut of worship... NOT TO SAY THAT I'VE ARRIVED, but I've seen and have been a part of quite a bit.And of course, there are a few things that just bug me about worship... more so, people and their view of worship.1. There is only one "right" way to worship...That's the attitude that a lot of people have... that their way IS THE WAY to worship.I do ag
Checkers 2007-11-11 11:45:00 We played checkers while we waited at Cracker Barrel.
What worship is and is not 2007-11-11 04:30:00 Here's a list I just shared with those a part of our worship
ministry...What worship IS NOT: - Simply a set of songs. - Just an opportunity to do ministry. - Just a jam session. - An outward performance. - Entertainment before the message. - Let's try to copy and sound just like the CD. - Just to prepare our hearts for the Word. - Something we just have to do because we have a church service.What worship IS: - An outflow of our personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. - A lifestyle. - All about Jesus. - An opportunity for us to lead others into the Presence of God. - An opportunity for us to lift up the Name of Jesus. - An opportunity for us to touch the heart of God.My philosophy of worship is that we should be presence driven not performance driven. Maybe I'll have to write on that soon...Quote for Today's BLOG:"Worship changes the worshiper into the image of the One worshiped." - Jack Hayford
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