I Am Wired Tight...

I ate lunch at Smokey Bones today with a pastor friend, it's one of my favorite places to eat. They have a Peach Sweet Tea that is to die for, in fact, it may kill me tonight! I drank four, maybe five glasses while there and took one with me when I left. I don't do caffine after 6:00 PM, but feel like I've got enough in me to last until at least 9:00! We are begin production of a drama ministry tonight called "Last Chance" the story of a dying grandfather who from his deathbed tries to make his family is prepared to meet the Lord...it will be a huge production that begins Sunday evening and ends Tuesday...my weekend is full...so a body full of Sweet Tea may be necessary! Pray for me that I slow down inside by bedtime...I may be up until tomorrow or later!

Isaac Is Coming

This word has been in my spirit for over a week now and I cannot shake it. What I hear the Lord saying is that Ishmael is the product of Impatient flesh, it will produce an inadequate blessing, a partial and mediocre semblence of what desires for us to have...But Isaac is coming...Isaac is the promise of God, the one with whom God desires to make covenant with, the one who will inherit the full blessing...the promised one. I mentioned this tonight at church at the end of my sermon...our Bishop's wife told me after church that while she was praying today the Lord told her not to settle for Ishmael. Think we might be hearing something?

American Idol...I'm Switching!

Call me fickle if you want but I have switched my loyalty from Paris Bennett to Mandisa. Tonight none of the performances were all that...it's that playing it safe thing, not going over the edge and being who they can really be...I feel like Simon Cowell, but the truth is none of them have a blood thirst for the prize...not like Fantasia...now that's a singer! Paris dissappointed me this evening, her song was a little on the raw side, especially after her comments a few weeks concerning having favor...favor has an allegience that cannot afford to be broken or compromised. I've been vacillating in my mind between Mandisa and Paris...Tonight I voted for Mandisa...Be who you are!

Sometimes It Just Hits You

I really don't mean to sound super-spiritual, because I'm not...I've got issues like everyone else. Tonight I wanted to go walk and my wife was willing but not really wanting to, she's tired...I should be understanding, but wasn't as understanding as I should be...so I really am human not super christian. But...I have been hit by what the Spirit of God is doing in the lives of people everywhere I go, especially this week. Last week while in Illinois I was impacted by the presence of God that moved on a young man named Hunter, he's probably between the age of 7-9, rarely has a child gotten into my spirit like he did. During revival the Holy Spirit moved on him and he spoke in an unknown language, worshipped and loved on Jesus, I sense that God has something special planned for his life. On Sunday during the altar service at our church our Bishop had the youth lay hands on adults, it was powerful. During this time of ministry I observed one of the teens named Tori, as she laid her hands on one lady the lady fell into her arms weeping and that young 15 year old wept with her, comforted her, and ministered to her...it was powerful! I've observed this Tori ministering to this same lady and others in a powerful manner, and again, I see the hand of God upon her life. Then there's Tyler who simply goes after the Lord, I can't leave out Jessica and Bryanna who are 7 and 9, that dance before the Lord with all of their might, sometimes more seriously than others, but always unto the Lord. I am reminded that God said His Spirit would be poured out on our sons and daughters, that this blessing of the Holy Spirit is for our children and their children as well. I'm reminded of a prophetic word spoken in Champaign, Illinois several years ago when the Spirit said that revival would come, slowly, like hot lava, and that He would wait for the children...could it be that His waiting is over and the children are arising to their finest moment? I pray so!

Lay It All Down

I have this song buzzing in my head and can't get rid of it, not sure of the title, definitely don't remember who sings it or where I heard it...but there is this tune going on and the words, " Lay it all down, lay it all down, lay it all down!" Regardless of where I've heard it the message cannot be clearer, there are things we need to lay down. We need to lay them down because they weigh us down, we need to lay them down because they hinder our progression, we need to lay them down because the Lord wants to carry them for us, we need to lay them down because God's Word says to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us. This morning our Pastor preached about Jesus never leaving us, that we will have tribulation, but we will also overcome because Christ overcomes in and through us...it's about laying things down. Christians aren't immune from issues, problems and pain, our children give us fits, our money runs out, and we sometimes hate our jobs...our life...What we have going for us is a loving and living God that sees where we are, know what's going on, and One that refuses to leave us and will never leave us alone. Lay it all down...see what the Lord will do!

Starbucks is what makes our world just a little bit better! Just one taste of a Cafe Mocha with a shot of Vanilla, or a Carmel Macchiato, it soothes the savage beast and makes room for joy in my world. Some would say it isn't right to pay four dollars for a cup of coffee, I say it isn't right to pay 2.53 for gallon of gas, but somebody has to do it and it might as well be me!

Flight From The Bowels Of The Abyss I flew home from Ilinois today, left Moline and went to Atlanta, my flight was fifteen or twenty minutes late...no deal, I had an almost two hour layover and needed to eat. My flight to Tampa was supposed to leave at 4:54 PM, at 4:50 they started board business and corporate class, then all of a sudden decide tell those standing in line that they can be seated...we're waiting for one more flight attendant. Eventually they start boarding us, then we got to sit, and then we got to back up and sit, and then sit some more on the runway...long story short, my flight left at 6:00 PM, I was supposed to arrive in Tampa at 6:20 and arrived at 7:00...7:30's by the time I got my luggage...I wasn't a happy camper...I'm better now...but my question is why airlines think that when they give you a departure time they aren't supposed to start boarding us until five minutes before we are supposed to leave...Somebody help me with this!

Too Blessed

We closed our revival out this evening, I am trying to wind down, it has been a good meeting. The pastoral family here is wonderful, thanks Garretts for keeping me in your home, for the generous spirit and for allowing me to be a part of your lives.

The Harvest Church is a wonderful group of people, I was so blessed to be able to minister to your lives. I'm convinced that your future is bright and will be filled with wonderful things. It is my earnest prayer that this church explodes in growth and blessings!

Simple Stuff

I was reading my friend Sarah's blog as she wrote of the provision of the Lord, simple stuff like God providing her the ability to watch Monk...a favorite program...and I got to thinking about how much God does to remind us that He really does love and care about us.

When I was a teen-ager my father had two surgeries within a year which caused him to be off work for quite awhile. What I didn't know was anything about the financial aspect of our home, or that his workmans comp had an issue and things we tight...my parents never shared that type of information with my sister and I. One Sunday we went to church as usual and as we began to leave the back of my Dad's pick up was filled with groceries. To this day I don't know where they came from, whose idea it was and why they did...what I do know is that evidently we needed them and in one of the bags was a plastic baggy filled with tea bags...I thought it was just for me, I love Sweet Tea and Hot Tea...God cares about the simple stuff!

If it pertains to one of His children...it's important...not simple...He loves us and wants so much to let us know how much He cares...Thanks Sarah for sharing...I'm glad you get to see Monk...It's about me you know!

Friends

This week I have had the privilege of staying with Darrell and Libby Garrett, along with their two children Daniel and Ashley, and Cinamon the dog. It's been a real treat hanging out with them, staying in their home and being a part of their family. So far I haven't been grounded or yelled at, but I've still got tonight and tomorrow...so there's still a chance that I can get into some trouble. What I've appreciated is that though we no longer live in the same state, don't talk on the phone often and email here and there, we simply pick up where we leave off everytime. Last month I was in Maryland and stayed with my roommate from College...Roger Locklear, the same is true of him, we just pick and go on like we've been together for years. I am thankful for friends, people who love you regardless of the distance, of what's going on in your life, or what you're doing at the present time. Perhaps that's why Jesus said that He calls us His friends, that friends love at all times, and there is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother...Thanks Friends!

I'm Struggling

Tuesday and Thursday nights are my favorite television nights. On Tuesdays I watch American Idol, I'm trusting God to let Paris win, though my wife and daughter are praying against me and believing for Kelly...pray for the conflict in my family, that the good Lord will cause my spouse and child to see the light of my way! Thursday is Survivor and CSI and ER...you see my struggle don't you? We have revival tonight and no one is offering to tape anything! Revival is awesome this week and truthfully, there's no struggle at all...other than that stuff between me and my wife and daughter...they won't come around I'm quite certain! It's been snowing but has about stopped, I'm hoping we'll be able to have church tonight, it's jeans night and we get wear casual clothes...it's the snow you know! I love the Lord...He's been so good and so faithful to me...I am blessed, highly favored, and walking in abundance...I have eternal life not just secure death...Thank You Lord!

A Snowy Revival...Something's Falling

I began revival in Galesburg, IL with Pastors Darrell and Libby Garrett, they and their children are long time friends and wonderful people. Yesterday we had two powerful services, this is a church that is hungry for more of the Lord, desirous to move to new levels in their walk and worship. It is exciting to be where people want to move beyond where they are. I hear some ministers and christian being critical of the new or next level concept, saying that it is faddish and that once we are in Christ we have all that we need...I disagree! In Christ we do have all that we need and we need all we have...but, even though Christ is all that we need and He has deposited all that we need within us...the scripture is quite clear that we move from glory to glory, that we add to and multiply those things God has deposited in our lives...God is progressive and so should we be, always moving towards Him, casting off and putting on, growing in the grace of God and developing those spiritual gifts that lay within us. This church is moving towards the Lord and it's exciting to be here! They are calling for snow on this first day of Spring. The weather forecast is for 3-5 inches tonight and another 1-2 inches tomorrow...pray for us...I hate snow and it can be a real revival killer...doesn't have to be though. When I was a teen I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in a January or February revival...we got snowed out one night, but the meeting continued powerfully...pray that our meeting will not be detoured or distracted!

I've Seen It All Now

I'm sitting in the Atlanta airport yesterday, it's eight in the morning and I'm worn out. Went to bed at 11:00 PM, fell asleep around 2:00 AM, had to be up at 3:45 and caught a flight at 6:00 AM. Now I'm eating breakfast near a family of five, Momma wrestling with a 15-24 month year old, swats him on the behind and gets him calmed down...and then the food comes. It's a ham/cheese/egg biscuit...Momma pulls off a piece of ham, puts it in her mouth and then into his...I suppose she was trying to cool it down, but I was waiting for her to pull a worm out of the ground and feed it to him...Guess I've seen it all now! By the way, I'm in Galesburg, IL with The Dawg and Libby, and while the sun is shining brightly....It's Still COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD!!!!!!!!!!!! Today I went to get my picture taken at Crappy's...What a name for a restaurant...I love it!

I'm Going Now....Soon At Least!

The word of the Lord in my spirit for several months has simply been, "If you're going to go somewhere...you have to go somewhere!" I'm quite confident that I've blogged this to death already...but I am going somewhere...to Galesburg, IL to preach for my close friend... Pastor Darrell Garrett. There is a deep sense of anticipation in my spirit concerning this meeting, a feeling that God is already on the move and my being there is divinely orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Garrett called today to inform me of the prediction of colder weather than I'm used to, and to that horrible thing called...Snow! I know he's trying to prepare me and to be a blessing, but I have to admit it was information I could do without...pray for a heat wave pastor!

Renewal or Revival services to many have become a thing of the past, some would have us to believe that they have no purpose...I disagree. I believe that there are certain times in our lives when we need to hear the word of the Lord through a different voice, it will usually confirm what we've already heard, but in a different way. Renewal services are times when God sudenly deposits freshness into our lives and encourages us to continue in the way we are going, to change our direction, or to prepare to move into a new season. Everytime we have a guest speaker in our church I become anxious, hungry to hear what the Lord is saying, to see what He will do, and to move up in my walk with the Lord...I love church...my pastor...and those prophets God sends our way.

Pray for me this week that I will be to this church what God desires and what they need me to be...an encourager, a blessing, a prophet...that I will make a spiritual deposit that will benefit this house...and most of all...That God Is Glorified!

Have you ever heard that kid song, the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friends? The problem with it is by the time they get done...never according to their own will, but because if they don't shut up someone is going to die...Literally! I don't feel like singing, but I do feel like writing...Not about anything in particular, just writing, it's what I would do if I could do what I want to do and get paid for it...just write and write, and write some more...I write much better than I talk...of course, that's my opinion and I'm write! I got told no yesterday by a 11 year old...I don't like being told no by anyone, but especially a kid. We had kids(big kids) crying in the school hallway, parents coming through and I'm ticked...just got told no...so now I'm on a roll. Traffic is crazy...our town is around 30,000-50,000 in the summer, and around 100,000 in the winter...nearly bumper to bumper. Sunday our youth pastor's son rode with my wife and I when we went to lunch, he said he and his mom saw some northerners going home and they were glad...now we're done to 99,998...and counting! My youngest daughter is having stomach aches, not certain why, but you should have seen her all dressed up last weekend for the wedding she was in...a living doll...I'll show you soon! My wife just came in the office and has twisted her ankle...I need to muster up compassion and sympathy by the time I get home...I've got 15 minutes to make that happen! Most of my posts have been quite serious lately, kind of preachy, and I've been reading others blogs today and notice everyone else is pretty light right now...so I thought I would write about whatever came out my fingers at the moment...hope all of you are having a great day!

Everything Will Be Allright

The Lord gave me a word for our church yesterday from Jeremiah 29:11, I especially like it in the Message Bible...."I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out---Plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

I know this is really something simple, but while life is often so complex...God has a simple word for us:

1. I know what I'm doing in your life

2. I have already planned your life out

3. I have plans for you that are absolutely incredible

I don't mean to be preachy, but I want to be encouraging to those that may be reading, that wherever you are in your life, whatever you may be facing in your walk, regardless of where you are in your journey...even if it is a dark and difficult place...God's got you covered!

We have all felt lost, like we've been abandoned, but God knows exactly where we are, what we need and where we're going. He isn't surprised by anything that happens in our lives and wants us to realize that He is either in control of everything or nothing at all...I think He's got it all covered and if I can live what I believe...Everything will be allright!

I'm not usually overly politically minded, am a huge supporter of our president...but! Today I was reading on CNN.COM where the president is concerned about the message we are sending by not allowing our ports to be sold to the folks from Dubai. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like this is a no brainer...we've been bombed, threatened, financially drained by issues from the area of the world...not necessarily from this particular country, but from a cousin...and one always wonders if blood is thicker than water. Forgive me if I'm sounding off in a negative manner, I do understand wanting to keep good relationships with everybody...but doesn't it seem reasonable to use caution? We have a good president and again, I really support him...but I think he needs to think about his thoughts on this one...Maybe I'm wrong...You tell me!

The PATHWAY TO PERPETUAL HARVEST You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you. For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. You shall eat the old harvest and clear out the old because of the new. Leviticus 26:7-10 When God gives us a revelation of His plan for harvest in our lives He also gives us the ability and responsibility to do somethings for ourselves. These verses outline the power of perpetual harvest: 1. You will chase your enemies...they will fall by the sword 2. I will look upon you with favor, make you fruitful, multiply and confirm covenant 3. You present harvest is not your last harvest...make room for more! God enables to eradicate those things that stand in our way, smiles upon us, and then multiplies...He doesn't just add to us, He increases in great measure. But we are not to be satisfied with what we have presently we are to enjoy it, but also to prepare for the future...the New Harvest which is to come! It is the season for harvest!

It's Our Anniversary

Today Julie and I celebrate our 19th anniversary! It's so hard to imagine that anyone would put up with me that long. Julie is the most awesome woman, she has followed me around the world without complaint, given me two beautiful daughters, and walks in the most awesome anointing. I am so blessed to have her in my life!

My heart is heavy this evening, I am overwhelmed and just need to ramble. Bishop George Gichana, Pastor of Praise Celebration Deliverance Church in Eldoret Kenya is with us this weekend. He is a powerful preacher, the pastor of a church of over 3000 people, and our covenant brother. He arrived yesterday, we have shopped and eaten, conversed, and eaten some more. This morning he attended our monthly worker's appreciation breakfast and shared briefly with our workers, we then accompanied our bus pastor on his bus route visitation, where Bishop Gichana encouraged the continuation of the ministry, prayed with us, and spoke into our lives...it was powerful! We took him to Busch Gardens, his rode his first and probably last, roller coaster, he thought we were trying to kill him...he only rode one...but it was the biggest...The Shiekra! He also sat weeping while I was in line buying his ticket, as he watched the multitudes of people filling the amusement park, seeking happiness he said, while their lives inwardly remain empty. I think what has overwhelmed me is that we have spent in one day nearly what many people in Kenya live on for one year. The average Kenyan earns 200-400 per year, I'm quite confident we dropped close to 200 today. It wasn't done for show or meant to be greedy, America is a different place than Kenya, we did nothing wrong...but what I also caught from this man of God is the statement while on the bus route, "I know why American pastors have such a difficult time building a church, there are too many options, distractions, serving God is not the priority!" These are not judgmental words, just the observations of one man to a friend, but truer words have never been spoken. We speak of revival in America, but it must not be inconvenient, start on time and be out by nine, speak exciting words that impart into my life, but don't get to close to where I really live, I'm comfortable there. Lay hands on me and prophesy, but don't require allot, I'm filled with too many responsibilities as it is....How the words of Joel fit in here, "Rend your hearts and not your garments...repent and return to the Lord with all of your hearts...who knows if the Lord may repent and leave behind a blessing!" I'm not trying to sound mean and realize that I have been in the presence of a man from another place...but I also know my heart...I'm too busy...too caught up with the stuff...I need to take the trash out! Pray for me please, that I will not ask God to change me until I am willing to change some things for myself...that I will have a greater sense of discernment and the ability to communicate the heart of God in the places I am being sent. As I write these words I realize that some read my words at places I go...please don't be afraid that I've gone nuts and that I will come to your place and impose my overwhelmedness on you...don't cancel me out...but pray that God will use me to share a word in season for the your church from His heart...not just fluff. I don't know about you but I'm weary of fluff...I really do desire a move of God, a relationship with Him, and to be used by the Holy Spirit in a manner that touches lives and makes a deposit of the Spirit wherever I go...There really is a place that some must enter in!

I Went Golfing Today

I'm not a sports fan and don't golf very often, but today I went golfing with a guy visiting from Ontario, Canada. This guy is down visiting some snowbirds that attend our church during the winter months...they're wonderful people from Ontario as well. It's been a year since I've picked up my clubs to anything other than move from one house to the next, so for the first four holes I'm all over the place. To add to the hilarity of the situation, the starter at the golf course has paired us with a retired couple that live on the course that can actually golf...and well! My Canadian friend is a fair golfer, he's funny...every time he went to the tee he would lay his club down to get the right angle and then hit the ball. Me, I have absolutely no direction, it doesn't matter how I grip my club, bend my knees or point and angle my feet, I always hit to the right. When it was all said and done, I only lost one golf ball, lower my score 4-6 points from the first nine on the back nine, and was still saved at the end of the day! My wife doesn't help me with these things, I'm pretty much retired from golf, but Julie likes to tell people that I love to golf and that I would love to go golfing with them, their family or friends who will be coming from a visit from wherever...she's such a great help! I got some sun which is nice, except that I have these lines on the sides of my face where the ear pieces for my glasses were...but it's a beautiful day in the Sunshine State and I blessed by the adventure with my new northern friend...guess if we ever go to his house I'll have to learn how to curl or play hockey!

Sometimes You Have To Take What You Need...To Get What You Want!

In Genesis 29 there's a powerful story of how deceptive Jacob got deceived and ended up with Leah rather than Rachel. It has always boggled my mind how that he could end up with the wrong women and not figure it out until the next day...guess it's that marital bliss thing!

What stands out to me is that sometimes in order to get where we want to go and obtain what we want to obtain we often have to accept things that don't necessarily appeal to us. The Bible says of Leah that she was tender eyed, I think there's an impression that she wasn't all that attractive, but at the same time she was productive...there was life in her that created life outside of her...she gave children to Jacob that produced a powerful inheritance and heritage. Rachel was gorgeous, but barren...sometimes those things that attract the attention of others outwardly have no inner life, are incapable of producing life outside of itself!

Because Jacob was faithful with Leah, he got Rachel, and in time she produced children as well. God will never give us Rachel until we have been faithful with Leah!