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One of the books I am currently reading is Victorious Eschatology by Harold Eberle and Martin Trench. What makes this book unusual for me is that I am finding myself both agreeing and disagreeing vigorously with the authors, sometimes within the same paragraph. It is common for me to have minor differences of opinion as I read especially since I often purposefully select reading material that will challenge my paradigm.

I think Victorious Eschatology does a fantastic job working through the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 and putting them into a historical context with the first century. At the same time, I am uncomfortable with the dominionist tone that the chapters covering John's revelation seem to have.

The good news for me is that my internal cheering and arguing is keeping the pages turning and my interest intact.

Introducing Clair & Anne

The picture on the right is of my new friends Clair and Anne. I have seen them around our community several times over the years, but I just got to know them this past week. They have been married for many years and are a delightful couple to be around. Anne is very sweet and Clair has always appeared to me to be dignified and stoic.


Anne is currently struggling with several very serious health issues. Her right eye is almost completely blind. A recent bout with pneumonia has left her dependent on an oxygen tank for consistent breathing. There are also numerous aches and pains that have accumulated over the past couple years.

This past Saturday night, along with a few of my friends, I was able to pray for her. She said that she saw a marked improvement in the amount of brightness she could see out of the edges of her right eye. Her and I were both excited at the improvement (giant of faith that I am I tried not to act shocked). I also prayed for her breathing to be restored fully and for God to move on her entire body. She said she physically felt the  presence of God as we prayed.

While I prayed for her, my friends Sue, Josh, Patt, and Daniel were praying for Clair. Anne had shared with all of us what a great husband he has been to her all these years. As they prayed Clair began to laugh.  It was the kind of laugh that seemed to at first bubble up inside him and then came out like a river. Sue laughed with him. Not to be irreverent but it sounded to me like God was tickling them both. It was truly precious. Anne, hearing her husband giggle while we were praying, looked up at  me and said, "It's been years since he's had the spirit of laughter." She thought it was such a good thing for him to be laughing that way in the presence of God after all the serious things they have been through together lately. It's funny, as Clair joyously laughed I felt better and better. It was contagious.

Anne said that I could use their pictures and ask anyone that may read this to pray for them. I don't know yet if Anne's breathing has improved. Let's pray for 100% full recovery for her lungs and for her vision. I will post as soon as I hear an update. Until then I hope that the laughter continues.

THE Son of Man

Earlier tonight I preached out of Luke 9:43-45. It is yet  another passage where Jesus tries to alert the disciples to His impending fate in Jerusalem. They again are unable to comprehend what He is telling them.

There is one statement by Jesus in that passage that has completely confiscated my attention: "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men." The "Son of Man" is what Jesus referred to Himself as throughout the Gospels. The phrase "Son of Man" when used in the Old Testament, Ezekiel for example, referred to the humanity of a person. However by the time of Jesus' ministry "Son of Man" had become a title. It's usage as a title stems from Daniel 7:13-14. It reads:
 ¹³ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Every religious Jew in the 1st Century would have been aware of Daniel 7. Notice that Daniel saw someone "like a son of man".  The One Daniel saw was given all authority and power and an everlasting kingdom. The messianic hopes of Israel would be fulfilled by someone like the figure from Daniel's vision. Jesus' usage of the title "Son of Man" for Himself was so common most commentators believe it was a circumlocution for the pronoun "I".

The irony for me is that "The Son of Man" (contrasted against "a son of man") was delivered to the hands of "men". The One that could only be described hundreds of years earlier prophetically by Daniel as being somewhat "like" a man  was handed over to mere men and subjected to their scrutiny. If it wasn't the genius of God for Jesus to rescue and redeem mankind, it would be absurd to me that the One with all power and an everlasting indestructible kingdom would be judged by the representative of a kingdom that wouldn't last the millennium.


That The Son of Man would suffer under mere men to save mankind astonishes me anew today. Like the disciples I can not comprehend the magnitude of that, but I am ever so thankful.

Healing and Deliverance

In John 10:10 Jesus says regarding the behaviors of Satan and Himself, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." This verse makes things very simple for me when praying for people. If a situation or condition is stealing, killing, or destroying a person I treat it as if it is the rotten fruit of Satan's Kingdom. Stealing, killing, and destroying are the evidences that the enemy of God (and therefore God's people) has been at work. 


In 1 John 3:8 the apostle says, "The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work." What is the work of the devil? Stealing, killing, and destroying. The purpose of Jesus coming to mankind was to destroy the works of the destroyer.


These two verses create a simple framework for me to operate from as a participant in God's Kingdom. If someone is in front of me that is sick or suffering from a disease I never have to wonder if it is God's will to heal them. I pray for Satan's work to be destroyed in their life and for their life to be abundant with Jesus. I never wonder if God gave someone sickness or brought calamity into their life since I do not believe God is the author of those things. It is nonsensical to me to think that God sent Jesus to destroy (1 John 3:8) what He himself initiated. 


This trimester I am teaching a class on healing and deliverance in RMS. Yesterday we studied the ministry and methodology of John Alexander Dowie. In our next class we will be surveying the ministries of Aimee Semple McPherson, Smith Wigglesworth, and Kathryn Kuhlman.  

The Morning After

I am processing a long but wonderful week of ministry. Randy Clark and the Global Awakening team held a healing school at Redeemer this past week. Our church family was full of servant superheros that allowed us to host hundreds of people from all over the world.



 Today is a much needed day for me to recoup and build up for the coming week's adventures. I am hanging out with Beth and Ash while drinking some of my favorite coffee (the wonderful Casi Cielo is in season) and reading some new books. I am enjoying Joe McIntyre's book on E.W. Kenyon. Just like Joe the book is easy to follow and full of thought provoking insights.

Brief Thoughts as I Process a Wonderful Day

Tonight Beth, Ashleigh, and I attended my ordination service. I was unaware of almost all of the details of the event since Pastor John & Linda coordinated it with our elders and many other wildly gifted and tireless people.

The feelings that I have after being honored and commissioned by people that I deeply admire is hard to describe. Beth and I have so much respect for the men and women that filled the sanctuary this evening. To be told that we have positively impacted them in any way toward Christ is humbling.

I want to say a great big thank you to:
*Everyone that spoke during the ceremony, especially Beth.
*The elders and staff of RFC that not only put the whole night together but also overlook my considerable weaknesses.
*Those who gave their time and effort away to bake 300+ incredible cupcakes, make excellent coffee, beautify the Fellowship Hall, and create the most spiritual and artistic certificate that I have ever seen. What a way to spend your birthday Holly Holladay!
*Everyone who came and participated with Beth, Ashleigh, and I. From the worship to the hugs - it felt like God was interacting with us and through us together.
*God. Your presence makes everything wonderful. Thank you for your mercy and undeserved kindness. 

I don't know if it is possible for me to feel more loved, humbled and honored than I do right now. I am overwhelmed in a very positive way. You see, my two primary ways that I feel loved are by receiving kind, affirming words and by physical touch. If there is such a thing as a love tank, mine is bursting as I write this.

We are so blessed to be in a family like this!

I am reposting this not for publicity, but rather to point out something very important. I have learned (for real) that the man narrating this promo is the same one who does all the promos for the WWE (the WWF to everyone over 35). Using the Kevin Bacon game as our standard - John Piippo and Hulk Hogan are now easily connected within 4 or 5 degrees. That would also connect Pastor John to Sylvester Stallone and Mr. T thanks to the much underrated Rocky III.