a few odds and ends in my head

This is being written in my phone so please excuse any editing issues that are neglected.
I love new beginnings. New days, months, years, birthdays, and anything else that I can convince myself will give me a fresh start. Deep inside I am an optimist. Even when things are going really well I look forward to tomorrow because I believe it will be even better. So that said, I am considering with joyful anticipation this coming year and decade.



I am trying to meditate on the things I believe God has spoken over the years to me about the future. Most of those things have come from other people but some I feel like God has spoken to me directly. (I usually find it much easier to hear God about other people more than I do about my own situations.) I pray into those things. Often.



Beginning to read The Brothers Karamazov with Emily Stokes. Magnificent.



Jeremiah Werstein is a PC.



Ashleigh was singing along with Jake Hamilton's "The Great IAM" today. It was really sweet and I was tempted to spiritualize the moment for a millisecond until she began to sing, "Great I am! Great I am! Great Ashleigh is! Great Ashleigh is!" She sang that while joyfully bouncing and pointing at herself. It was fantastic! Her version and Jake Hamilton's both seem correct to me.

Jesus makes things awkward

A gregarious stranger struck up a conversation with me at a coffee house yesterday when he saw I was reading a bible. I was trying to journal and had my back turned toward him and the other patrons.  I didn't feel like talking necessarily but I was thinking about Pastor John's words on Sunday about being willing to be interrupted. I turned and tried to give him my full attention. The man wanted to know what I was writing in my journal.  I told him that I was reading the bible and if I thought that God spoke to me I would write it down.  He wanted to talk about 2012 and the rapture.  I told him that I am so overwhelmed by the radicality of Jesus' words that I spend very little time trying to figure out when He will return. I talked for a few moments about my interest in following Jesus. He then sat awkwardly silent not wanting to talk to me anymore.  It's interesting to me that it wasn't awkward for the man to talk to a total stranger, to ask that stranger what he was writing in his journal, to talk about to that stranger about eschatology based on the Mayan calendar, and to talk about the rapture (which I'm not sold on - btw).  Once I said Jesus' name it got real awkward real fast.  It was like I crossed some invisible boundary of social appropriateness.  I then wrote about what just occurred in my journal feeling pretty sure that I wouldn't be asked about it.

A Few Thoughts

I think the devil hates people getting baptized. In fact, I know it. I have had relationships with numerous people (probably hundreds) that have planned on getting baptized at RFC over the years. Most get baptized as planned. Repeatedly I have seen people feel distressed and discouraged as the day approaches. Several have told me that the week previous was one of the hardest they have ever had. Why would that be the case? I think there is something so invisibly powerful that takes place when a person follows Jesus into, under, and out of the water. 

Someone told me recently that they didn't know if they were spiritually ready to get baptized. I asked them if they believed in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. "Of course", they said. I responded, "Then you are ready. We are told to 'believe and be baptized.' True belief is the only criteria."

About 12:30 on Sunday morning I felt like The Lord told me that He is actively working in the lives of "prodigals" to help them choose to come back home. That gave me great hope as there are many that I am eager to see restored.

At the GodWorks meal the other night I saw a man that had been homeless for many years. He has lived under bridges and out in the woods. He is also an alcoholic. Once when asked if he would like to be set free from alcoholism he responded in his typical good-natured way, "What would I do then? Be the guy who lives under the bridge drinking water?" I was thrilled to find out that he has recently moved into an apartment and is enjoying the peace and safety of it. Now that God has rescued this man from homelessness, I am praying that deliverance from alcohol will soon follow. Ultimately, my desire is to see Jesus make His home in my friend for eternity.

Beth, Ash and I went to Toys"R"Us today. I feel like an alien that was just dropped on this planet. The toys themselves do not faze me. However, some of the prices blow my mind. Things that I am sure would cost $20 instead are priced at $85. Twenty year old movies that are being sold in a jumbled bin at truck stops for $6 apiece are stickered at $26. My personal goal is to not buy anyone anything for Christmas that will be in their garage sale within three years.

Speaking of garage sales… There are things in each era that seem to be a guarantee to on sale at a garage/yard sale. For example, do you remember when there were breadmakers galore at every garage sale? Fifteen years ago you could find great deals on a boombox that had a cassette player. Remember the VHS rewinder? It is currently a buyer's market for anyone interested in purchasing a entertainment center. The advent of the thin flat screen TV has driven the oak entertainment center from the living room to the garage. What will be the thing that will be for sale at every garage sale 5 years from now?

Wouldn't Be A Party Without Balloons

We will not be having our Friday night gathering at Newport Beach Cafe this week.  However, everyone is invited to our house from 7-10pm to hang out and do some more eating (please bring a dish to pass).  Beth is in the middle of transforming our home into Bronner's South.  I occasionally carry something heavy so I can feel involved. I may go out and do some shopping later today - we ran out of creamer.  I think that will be the extent of my Black Friday purchases.

My Heart's Memory and Randomness

Gratitude is the heart's memory. -French Proverb

Today I am grateful for many things. God's incomprehensible mercy on me, Beth, Ash, God-given children, my family (biological & beyond), John & Linda, those I witness following Jesus through failures, hardships, and successes without relenting - I look at you as heroes, fresh coffee, fantasy football, the coming snow, my phone, God's goodness in the past, the promises I am expectantly awaiting fulfillment of in the future, a Kingdom that has purpose and meaning, that this time next year I will be more like Him than I am today, and much much more.

Some recent observations:

Marvin Gaye's cover of Yesterday by The Beatles is different than the original and enjoyable.
Huey Lewis' cover of The Beatles Oh Darling is not surprisingly far less enjoyable to me.
I am not sure that the duration of Jesus' ministry was 3.5 years. I know it's commonly stated as fact, however I don't see it being that clear based on the accounts in M, M, L, & J.
I use more hyperbole than anyone in the whole world.
If you are interested in being truly unique and doing what no one else is doing; read my blog.
The devil is less fascinating than ever. It's like watching Rocky V or Godfather III but worse. The packaging looks the same but it's a hollow perversion of the original. (That was a poor analogy but it gave me a chance to insult both the devil and the two films that I wish had never been made - I would rather watch Charles Grodin play Neo in the next Matrix installment.
I am amazed by how much that is called prophecy looks nothing like 1 Corinthians 14:3.
If I can see through the carafe, dump it out and brew again.
I am really looking forward to experiencing (I expect it to be a experience) Tim Curry's project, "Dying for Love" on December 6 @ RFC.
I love teaching and being a part of RMS (redeemerministryschool.com).
I believe the revival in K.C. is connected directly to Kel Reaume.
Beth is really cute when she makes analogies regarding The Trinity.
The presence of football causes me to stop typing.

I'm driving behind a truck that has a bumper sticker that says, "Safety is our Goal". It's a good motto for truck drivers but unfortunately it's been embraced by many Christians.
Via Text

Over the past few years I have been researching revivals and movements of God throughout history. I am always looking to find characteristics that are present in each movement regardless of location, ethnicity, era, or religious affiliation. Below is my current list of those characteristics. As I write this I am thanking God for what He is doing in Kansas City. May the fruit of revival grow.



10 Characteristics of a Move of God




1 God's Word is proclaimed through preaching and teaching


2 His ways are demonstrated with power that delivers people from bondage


3 The recognizable presence of The Holy Spirit


4 People are transformed internally (identity, behavior, etc)


5 People are transformed externally (reach out to lost, hurting, poor, etc)


6 A large sense of awe – (inc. praise & worship)


7 A truth is restored or expressed in a new way (i.e. The Father's love)


8 Biblical fellowship and disenculturation (unity, mission, prayer, etc.)


9 Resistance & persecution to what God is doing


10 A greater devotion to God in prayer both corporately and privately