The Lord has frequently brought me back to this same picture of my spiritual journey, that of my ascent up a hill or mountain... Previously, I've drawn really deep pictures of the Cross sitting atop Golgotha with my footprints in the mud and muck leading up to the foot of the Cross. Since then, I've had a little bit different picture of a mountain, not much different from a hill only more difficult and more deadly. Gosh! Anyways, in these pictures of me on this mountain, I've had at different times had pictures of myself stuck on the side of a cliff, unable to go higher but unable to climb back down. There have been at times different paths up the mountain, as any mountain climber would know. On Mt. Everest for example, there are multiple tracks climbers can take up to the summit, each one with it's own challenges and obstacles and time frame with which you reach the peak. There have been storms come against me in the midst of the climb. There have been avalanches knocking me back down. There has been a river coming out of the mountain I've had to trudge through, all on my ascent to the summit.
Everybody has different mountains they climb. Mountains of personal accomplishment, of financial freedom, of religious fervor even... But these are the Kilimanjaros, the McKinleys, the T2s... Great feats and difficult mountains to climb, yet there is a mountain yet to be conquered. This is the mountain of your (and my) spiritual journey. It is our Everest. There is nothing greater in all the world. No higher accomplishment can be attained on Earth.
What's is God's goal for our lives? That we may ever rest. That we may Everest. (Sorry for the pun.) That we may come to the end of ourselves to find, in what remains, God in His Glory revealed in our lives.
I've been given this picture of me as a little boy finally pulling myself up and on top of the final ledge and then running into the arms of my Father Jesus.
I've also long held that the summit of my Everest will be where Earth and Heaven meet, very literally. I have pictured myself stepping off the top of the mountain into the clouds, into Heaven. I've pictured myself after the ascent is complete, after the embrace with the King, then turning back toward Earth with a legion of Angels at my command, ready to wage war against the Enemy of my Soul and his minions.
I can't wait for that day to come.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
High Places
Why has the Lord decreed disaster against America? First, there was the idolatry in the people's lives individually. Our own personal sin.
Second is the establishment of high places. For a definition, a high place in the Old Testament was general a hill or mountain or in some cases a man-made construction such as a tower or temple where there was worship and sacrifice. Generally, a high place is referred to negatively as a place of corporate established idol worship. Corporate in that it is a particular sin or idol that has affected a large number of people and has a foothold in their lives. Established in that the world system has made a way for the sin or idol to at least maintain itself if not grow in its influence over the population. For many, the sin/idol has become somehow acceptable, tolerable, or unchangeable. Idol worship in that it is something we very literally bow down to hoping to attain some form of usually material blessing. And the people would make sacrifices to their idols at these high places.
They have built the high places of Topheth (literally "altar") in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind. This generation has sacrificed its son and its daughters on the altar of __________. Name your idol. Sexual "freedom." Personal security. Independence.
Jeremiah 7 continues on to describe the results of the establishment of high places. "I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate." No joy. No gladness. Again, with abortion in the land, the voice of the bride is unable to cry out. Due to abortion, many believe the voice of the bridegroom stands silent until justice once again reigns in the land. Due to the high places, the land has become Desolate.
We need watchmen on the wall in this hour. Only then will the prophecy of Isaiah 62 come to fruition. "No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married."
Revival and Transformation begin with the destruction of the high places, the places of corporate established idol worship. Then and only then will the voice of the Bride cry out for her King. Only then will the voice of the Bridegroom be heard again in the land calling to His Beloved. Only then will the land become fruitful again. Only then will there be Transformation.
Second is the establishment of high places. For a definition, a high place in the Old Testament was general a hill or mountain or in some cases a man-made construction such as a tower or temple where there was worship and sacrifice. Generally, a high place is referred to negatively as a place of corporate established idol worship. Corporate in that it is a particular sin or idol that has affected a large number of people and has a foothold in their lives. Established in that the world system has made a way for the sin or idol to at least maintain itself if not grow in its influence over the population. For many, the sin/idol has become somehow acceptable, tolerable, or unchangeable. Idol worship in that it is something we very literally bow down to hoping to attain some form of usually material blessing. And the people would make sacrifices to their idols at these high places.
They have built the high places of Topheth (literally "altar") in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind. This generation has sacrificed its son and its daughters on the altar of __________. Name your idol. Sexual "freedom." Personal security. Independence.
Jeremiah 7 continues on to describe the results of the establishment of high places. "I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate." No joy. No gladness. Again, with abortion in the land, the voice of the bride is unable to cry out. Due to abortion, many believe the voice of the bridegroom stands silent until justice once again reigns in the land. Due to the high places, the land has become Desolate.
We need watchmen on the wall in this hour. Only then will the prophecy of Isaiah 62 come to fruition. "No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married."
Revival and Transformation begin with the destruction of the high places, the places of corporate established idol worship. Then and only then will the voice of the Bride cry out for her King. Only then will the voice of the Bridegroom be heard again in the land calling to His Beloved. Only then will the land become fruitful again. Only then will there be Transformation.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Jeremiah 16, Part 3
"When you tell these people all this and they ask you, 'Why has the LORD decreed such a great disaster against us? What wrong have we done? What sin have we committed against the LORD our God?' then say to them, 'It is because your fathers forsook me,' declares the LORD, 'and followed other gods and served and worshiped them. They forsook me and did not keep my law."
Who or What have we to blame for the coming disaster? A part of it, I believe, is generational sin. 40 years ago was the "Summer of Love," marked by the release of Sgt. Pepper's, the Beatle's best-selling album. It was a season marked by drunkenness, debauchery, and self-indulgence, a time of turning to sex, drugs, music... A generation would be marked and marred by its idol worship. Yet it is not their sin itself that would be the issue, but the fact that it has been promulgated. Jesus said, "Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven." Jeremiah 16 continues, "But you (the next generation...) you have behaved even more wickedly than your fathers. See how each of you is following the stubbornness of his evil heart instead of obeying me.
What began as idol worship has led to so much more. Sexual "freedom" has led to a billion-dollar porn industry to which millions of men across our nation are addicted. The divorce rate stands at 31% and, according to some polls, is greater in the church than it is outside the church. The desire for professional success and material gain has made children a burden, a ball and chain around your ankle hindering your progress up the ladder of success. Thus, they are "prevented" using condoms or, when that doesn't work, they are "disposed of" through abortion. All for the comfort and convenience of (1) being able to have sex whenever, wherever, with whomever you want and/or (2) being able to climb the ladder of success, gaining "independence," self-sufficiency and material possessions. It is humanism to its greatest degree... Sex exists for the happiness of man. Drugs exist for the happiness of man. Music exists for the happiness of man. To many of this generation, even God exists for the happiness of man. To those, God is there to serve our needs and to give us what we think we are lacking to live the perfect life.
NO.
We exist to love, adore, worship and serve a living God who is altogether worthy to be loved, adored, worshiped, and served. The end of all creation is the glory of God.
Why has disaster been decreed against America? Because we have claimed the glory of God as the glory of Man. Our fathers prostituted themselves but, moreso, we have prostituted ourselves. We have delved even deeper than they into their idolatry. We of this generation like our sin and want to wallow in it.
No more!!
It is a time of turning. It is a time to rend our hearts, not our garments. Let us turn... to each other, to the Lord... now, while He may still relent...
Let the Call go forth!!
Who or What have we to blame for the coming disaster? A part of it, I believe, is generational sin. 40 years ago was the "Summer of Love," marked by the release of Sgt. Pepper's, the Beatle's best-selling album. It was a season marked by drunkenness, debauchery, and self-indulgence, a time of turning to sex, drugs, music... A generation would be marked and marred by its idol worship. Yet it is not their sin itself that would be the issue, but the fact that it has been promulgated. Jesus said, "Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven." Jeremiah 16 continues, "But you (the next generation...) you have behaved even more wickedly than your fathers. See how each of you is following the stubbornness of his evil heart instead of obeying me.
What began as idol worship has led to so much more. Sexual "freedom" has led to a billion-dollar porn industry to which millions of men across our nation are addicted. The divorce rate stands at 31% and, according to some polls, is greater in the church than it is outside the church. The desire for professional success and material gain has made children a burden, a ball and chain around your ankle hindering your progress up the ladder of success. Thus, they are "prevented" using condoms or, when that doesn't work, they are "disposed of" through abortion. All for the comfort and convenience of (1) being able to have sex whenever, wherever, with whomever you want and/or (2) being able to climb the ladder of success, gaining "independence," self-sufficiency and material possessions. It is humanism to its greatest degree... Sex exists for the happiness of man. Drugs exist for the happiness of man. Music exists for the happiness of man. To many of this generation, even God exists for the happiness of man. To those, God is there to serve our needs and to give us what we think we are lacking to live the perfect life.
NO.
We exist to love, adore, worship and serve a living God who is altogether worthy to be loved, adored, worshiped, and served. The end of all creation is the glory of God.
Why has disaster been decreed against America? Because we have claimed the glory of God as the glory of Man. Our fathers prostituted themselves but, moreso, we have prostituted ourselves. We have delved even deeper than they into their idolatry. We of this generation like our sin and want to wallow in it.
No more!!
It is a time of turning. It is a time to rend our hearts, not our garments. Let us turn... to each other, to the Lord... now, while He may still relent...
Let the Call go forth!!
Jeremiah 16 continued...
"Why has the Lord decreed such a great disaster against us? What wrong have we done? What sin have we committed against the Lord?"
Disaster has been decreed against America. Yet, the Lord has directed us to pray NOW while He may relent. "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity." There have been prophetic words spoken about various cities and states in our nation. Just last week, Bridget was awoken in the middle of the night and directed to intercede for the state of California. Previously to this, several people have been given visions of two cities being destroyed by events that would be interpreted by the world as acts of terrorism but would, to God, be acts of judgment against America. Some have not had the cities disclosed to them, some have. Washington D.C. and New York City. The centers of law and government and of the economy. It is sooo significant, I believe, the coming DC Call on 8/8/08. I believe it will be the last chance the government as it stands now will have the opportunity to turn and repent before the coming disaster. Yes, I am speaking specifically about abortion. Judgment has been decreed against America because of the persistence of injustice in the land (i.e. abortion) as well as the idolatry of economic/material prosperity symbolized by Wall Street and the numerous steel high-rises lining the New York City skyline.
It is a testament to how much the church in America is like the church of Laodicea. That church, if you know history, was so wealthy that even after an "act of God" a.k.a. a volcano eruption that covered the entire city in ash, the Laodiceans were completely able on their own to rebuild their city. They did so without God. I stand here watching as plans are being made not to simply rebuild the Towers but to build even a taller building with a 1776 foot spire - a testament to America's defiant attitude toward God, oops I meant terrorism. After 9/11, there was a boon of church attendance for approximately two weeks, after which people went back to their old ways and patterns. There continues to be no sustained church growth in the United States to this day.
Where has the joy gone? Where is the voice of the bride? When will the bridegroom come?
Disaster has been decreed. The need for the watchmen on the wall is great, greater than it ever has been. Time is short, Pray hard.
"Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing."
Disaster has been decreed against America. Yet, the Lord has directed us to pray NOW while He may relent. "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity." There have been prophetic words spoken about various cities and states in our nation. Just last week, Bridget was awoken in the middle of the night and directed to intercede for the state of California. Previously to this, several people have been given visions of two cities being destroyed by events that would be interpreted by the world as acts of terrorism but would, to God, be acts of judgment against America. Some have not had the cities disclosed to them, some have. Washington D.C. and New York City. The centers of law and government and of the economy. It is sooo significant, I believe, the coming DC Call on 8/8/08. I believe it will be the last chance the government as it stands now will have the opportunity to turn and repent before the coming disaster. Yes, I am speaking specifically about abortion. Judgment has been decreed against America because of the persistence of injustice in the land (i.e. abortion) as well as the idolatry of economic/material prosperity symbolized by Wall Street and the numerous steel high-rises lining the New York City skyline.
It is a testament to how much the church in America is like the church of Laodicea. That church, if you know history, was so wealthy that even after an "act of God" a.k.a. a volcano eruption that covered the entire city in ash, the Laodiceans were completely able on their own to rebuild their city. They did so without God. I stand here watching as plans are being made not to simply rebuild the Towers but to build even a taller building with a 1776 foot spire - a testament to America's defiant attitude toward God, oops I meant terrorism. After 9/11, there was a boon of church attendance for approximately two weeks, after which people went back to their old ways and patterns. There continues to be no sustained church growth in the United States to this day.
Where has the joy gone? Where is the voice of the bride? When will the bridegroom come?
Disaster has been decreed. The need for the watchmen on the wall is great, greater than it ever has been. Time is short, Pray hard.
"Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing."
Monday, July 9, 2007
Bride and Bridegroom
For this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Before your eyes and in your days I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in this place.
This is where America is at today. Where is our joy? Where is our gladness? More importantly, where has the voice of the Bride gone? I think people don't understand the necessity of bridal intercession. It's a far cry from the servant intercession we have now. We stand feeling afraid, undeserving, unloved and at the mercy of a "Master" who could kick us out to the curb at any time for any reason. We feel we do not meet the standards we believe He has for us. We classify ourselves as second-, third-, or some lower class undeserving to sit at the Master's table. Like in Braveheart, we have spent too much time fighting for the scraps (the bits and pieces we are "lucky" enough to get) from the King's table to figure out that God wants to give us so much more! How long will it take of the "scraps" before we figure out that the feast has been prepared especially even for us, His Bride.
In that day, they will no longer call me "my master" but will call me "my husband."
What we need most in America today is the voice of the Bride crying out to her Bridegroom, and her Bridegroom hearing her, turning toward her, and coming closer to her! When the Bride cries out, what will the Bridegroom say? Will He say anything? Will He cry over us? Will He sing over us? Will He say His marriage vows to us?
This is where America is at today. Where is our joy? Where is our gladness? More importantly, where has the voice of the Bride gone? I think people don't understand the necessity of bridal intercession. It's a far cry from the servant intercession we have now. We stand feeling afraid, undeserving, unloved and at the mercy of a "Master" who could kick us out to the curb at any time for any reason. We feel we do not meet the standards we believe He has for us. We classify ourselves as second-, third-, or some lower class undeserving to sit at the Master's table. Like in Braveheart, we have spent too much time fighting for the scraps (the bits and pieces we are "lucky" enough to get) from the King's table to figure out that God wants to give us so much more! How long will it take of the "scraps" before we figure out that the feast has been prepared especially even for us, His Bride.
In that day, they will no longer call me "my master" but will call me "my husband."
What we need most in America today is the voice of the Bride crying out to her Bridegroom, and her Bridegroom hearing her, turning toward her, and coming closer to her! When the Bride cries out, what will the Bridegroom say? Will He say anything? Will He cry over us? Will He sing over us? Will He say His marriage vows to us?
Woe is me!
Woe is me.
I did not go to The Call. I wanted to go but couldn't. Things came up, the money wasn't there... So I missed it. Not even having talked to many of the people who went, I feel like I've missed out (which I have). Oh well...
I did not go to The Call. I wanted to go but couldn't. Things came up, the money wasn't there... So I missed it. Not even having talked to many of the people who went, I feel like I've missed out (which I have). Oh well...
Nerd?
Okay, for comparison sake, I took the test...
So there you go. I am nerdier than y'all, which I knew anyways...
So there you go. I am nerdier than y'all, which I knew anyways...
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