organic christianity

the future

Maybe I am the last one to see this but at Tully's there is a computer newspaper built into the table.  I heard that Microsoft is building tables with computers built into them for home use. Technology is so fun. 

unquestioned answers

"An unanswered question is much less dangerous than an unquestioned answer."

I am not sure if anyone really wants to be a skeptic.  There are those who question everything and never walk by faith.  It seems as if everyone hates skeptics especially in the body of Christ.  But there is truth to questioning the things we so easily accept.  Questioning systems, structures and traditions is a great practice as long as it is done with a pure motive to understand God's plan better.  I don't want to be a skeptic but I desire truth and knowledge.  Questioning accepted answers is a part of being an organic Christian.  Along with the Holy Spirit, it is how we clean out all the man-made parts of our Christianity.  I try my best to accept everything God tells me in His word it is when something is added that I begin to question.  Wisdom is out there for those willing to cry out for it.  Are there any other people out there willing to question things even if, "that's the way it has always been done?" 

restoration

Mourning into dancing, weeping into laughter, sadness into joy.  You've taken my pain and called me by a new name.  You've taken my shame and in its place you give me joy.  God brings restoration to our souls.  He makes all things new.  Restoration defined is to return, repair and give.  Restoration returns what was stolen, it reinstates a previous right and a repairs back to the original condition.  I have given myself to being restored in His presence.  I've given up on figuring it out on my own, reading a self-help book or just muscling through it.  I want real restoration, which brings lasting change.  Hallelujah!, in Jesus we have true freedom.  Freedom to change, grow and become more like Him.  Lord restore to all who have been shattered and broken a sense of purpose.  Show them that they will experience the most fruitful years  of their lives because Jesus loves them and is in the business of restoring.  He loves to give us more then we could have ever expected. (influenced by "Restoration" from David Brymer)

waiting at the door

I have learned much from my adorable pooch, Toby.  I have learned some skills in parenting, how to teach animals, how to fall in love with a ball of fur and some principles about God.  Here is a picture of Toby waiting by my office door for his Mommy.  He is a companion dog, which is a nice way of saying that his whole world revolves around me and my wife.  If either of us leave he wines and waits for our return.  How often do I wait patiently and fervently for my Lord?  Do I stand at the door, eyes locked on the handle, just to see it turn and my Lord to walk through?  Am I consumed with His presence?  I pray that my only reason for breathing would be to live in my Lord's presence, to gaze upon His beauty.  I want to be eaten up with passion for His house. 

everyone needs a good cry

I tell you this story with full permission from my wife.  This is just a funny story that happened at lunch.  Charlotte is pregnant but you wouldn't know because she doesn't look pregnant, doesn't have morning sickness and coaches for 2 hours every day of the week.  She is just a machine.  But anyways, she had a pregnant moment at lunch.  We were eating leftover enchilladas and she said, "I feel emotional, I think I have to cry."  She said it while laughing because as she was saying it tears began to pour out.  I start laughing because she is laughing and crying for no reason.  We laughed for about two minutes and finally she was done.  It was the funniest moment of the day for me.  I love her and she never ceases to make me laugh.  Everyone just needs to cry sometimes, especially pregnant women. 

awakened

I normally don't blog about music.  But I have been running across some of the most anointed, talented worship CD's ever.  I highly recommend you pick up Awakened, by Ian McIntosh.  He gives a fresh, modern approach to worship.  You can download it from iTunes, just search for Ian McIntosh in iTunes Store.  You can say you listened to Ian before anyone else and then start hating him once he his is ridiculously popular. 

encounter retreat

This last weekend I spoke at a youth retreat in Mt. Hermon.  I had a blast sharing testimonies of miracles that I have witnessed and stories of great men and women of God who have seen Him move in powerful ways.  I spent much of the time talking about healings, signs and wonders.  They were so pumped up to live more passionately for Jesus.  Most of them told me that this retreat was the first time they experienced the presence and love of Jesus.  During a testimony session the tears flowed as they talked about Jesus, His love and their new committed passion for Him.  There are many testimonies but I would like to share one.  Joe is a senior in Fresno and during the testimony session he said, "I now believe that God can heal and I am going to go back home and pray for my sister who has a severe joint disease and believe that she will be healed."  He said that she had been suffering from this disease for a long time.  We prayed together, as a group, that she would be healed.  Here is the email he sent me today.

Hey man, I'm so excited to tell you that my sister's joints have healed. She told me that this weekend the pain began to cease! But yeah, I was too pumped up to just not pray for her so I asked for God to continue to heal her. She says there's still weakness but the pain is gone. But yeah man, I just feel like God is just revealing himself in my life in so many ways.

This generation will move in the miraculous and touch the presence of God in a new way.  I am overwhelmed with joy that I can help them see who they really are in Christ.  All of the youth at the retreat committed to go organic.  God is restoring His vision for the church.