Souljourn

I felt it

The word was heard.

The summons was issued.

A response was made.

Have you ever felt a group of people say 'YES'?  

I felt it tonight.

I'm expecting to feel it again tomorrow.

I love our family!

We are embarking on a journey that will change the way we look.  

Our family culture, language, conversation, confidence, and perspective  should all look different in the coming weeks.  I write, and talk, more about that in the coming days.

For now I'm just going to reflect on our great God, and our families great YES.

Will you?

Our church family has always made it a priority to respond to the leading of Holy Spirit.  Our greatest adventures, most significant growth, and fruitful ministry has always been in response to His wind filling our sails and sending us out into open water.

We expect, and invite, his leading in our daily lives as well as the seasons of our lives.

Well, over the last few weeks He has led us to a new season, and we have before us the opportunity to enter in to this new season. 

This opportunity could rightly be referred  to as a 'calling, prompting, stirring or, leading'  but I think the best way to refer to it would be a SUMMONS. 

We are being summoned to throw off the shackles of negativity, passivity, and unbelief, and dream again.

We are being summoned to step out of a life that is too easily satisfied and get really, really hungry. Hungry for more of God.  Hungry for more of heaven's presence in our world.  

We are being summoned to step out of a 'business as usual, life-on-autopilot' existence and engage in the full and abundant life that Jesus promised us. (John 10:10)

We are going to take the next few weeks and talk more about this at our weekend services.

We are going to create space for people to commune deeply with our Father, and then encourage them to do so.

We are going to hold some special times of prayer starting Thursday March 12 simply to seek God.

But you don't have to wait until our invitation.  You have already been invited.  

sick

Sorry that my blogging has been way off lately but I am currently 'under the weather' (what does that even mean?).

My head feels like it is in a vice, my chest feels like someone is sitting on it, and I have this constant cough that makes sleeping at night very difficult.

I went to the doctor today and after listening to my breathing with his stethoscope he said, 'you sound awful in there'.  

He said I am on the verge of bronchial pneumonia which means I get a prescription and 'should start feeling better in a couple days.'

I can't stand being sick.  It is such a colossal waste of time.

Anyways, just wanted to let you know why there haven't been very many posts lately.   There certainly has been lots to post about - our conference was amazing, God spoke clearly to our church family and Naomi and I and our weekend services were great.  

I hope to post some more tomorrow.

Thanks

Funny PSA

I think this public service announcement is very funny.  I guess it is good to have a reminder that martial arts and marijuana don't mix.

Talent!

Go ahead.  Sit back, hit play and be prepared to smile. 

Personal trainer

I read this verse this morning in my devotions:

Psalm 144:1 - Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 

God wants me prepared for, and engaged in, the conflict between His advancing Kingdom and the enemies diminishing territory.  

It reminded me what Jesus said in Matthew 11:12 - From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

It sure is cool being on the winning side!

Hungry?

What does hunger look like?  How does hunger make you live?  When you are hungry for something, what lengths will you go to until you are satisfied?  

I'm not talking about the munchies, or feeling like having a little snack, I'm talking about a gnawing in your gut hunger.  

I think that our family has a pretty good level of hunger.  But God just asked us to raise it.

God is calling our family to an increased level of hunger for Him.  An increased level of hunger for His purposes.  An increased level of hunger for His dream for our lives to be realized.

This is what Jesus is talking about in Matthew 5:6.

Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

There are some obstacles in our path.  In our region, the problem isn't that we aren't satisfied, it is that we are too easily satisfied.

Our hunger pangs are too quickly quieted with the comforts that life in North America affords us.  A night out with friends.  A good movie.  A favourite coffee.  A new article of clothing or personal electronics.  And before you know it, we aren't hungry any more.

That needs to change.  We will be held accountable for how we respond to what God has called us to.

So, what are you going to do?  How are you going to raise your level of hunger?

Will you wait until something 'magically' happens? (wrong answer) Or, will you begin to pursue with greater determination the promises and dream of God? (right answer)

Toothpick anyone!

A man puts 2,222 toothpicks in his beard.  I can't decide if this makes me want to grow a beard, or shave even closer.

Restore[d]

Doors open at 6:30.  We start at 7:00.  

Everyone here has put in an amazing amount of work getting us to this point.

Graham Cooke is speaking tonight.

I can't wait!

Interesting, and somewhat concerning

There was a religious survey done recently with people of various faith expressions and one of the questions asked was: When it comes to questions of right and wrong, which of the following do you look to most for guidance?

The question is asking, where do we look for truth.  And here are the results: (click on the image for the complete view)

It seems more Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons look to the Bible for truth than do evangelical Christians.

What about you?  With the practical issues of everyday life, if you need to determine if something is right or wrong, where do you look?

Do you think some of the problems we face in the world could be the result of Christians not living according to the Bible while at the same time expecting others to?