We Are Not Faceless

I love that God knows my name. My name matters. Your name matters. It is not just the actual verbage that counts, it is the truth that you exist and you count in our universe and His Kingdom.

Most of us struggle with the issue of humility. We wonder if what we have heard of His amazing promises to us in our prayer closet is really OK to share. People might think we are nuts or at least just vain and ambitious. After all, God couldn't want to honor us, right?

The Bible is usually a great read. There are moments that challenge me though. The lists of geneologies in particular. I call them the Bob Begats. Name after name of characters that crafted out the lineage of the Eternal King of Glory. Random people collected into God's creative mix of amazing feats of faith. They are all listed by name.

I guess if we were to be faceless he could have left off all those names and shortened my reading time daily in the One Year Bible. There is another place my name is listed, regardless of my faith walk today. It is the Book of Life. Glad to see my name in that one, thanks to Jesus.

Music is my default plan for untangling my inner world. At the end of a particularly oppressive, ridiculously overtaxed day, I need my itunes. Yes, I admit that is probably rather tweenager of me, but it acts as a sort of sieve for my internalized angst. I randomly select songs with mood and content to address the days unresolved issues. It is all I can do to not devolve to karaoke sometimes. But, I restrain myself for the sake of my family.

It can be as simple as something retro and rock, a blaring anthem, global house, or alternative and folklike. Eventually I wind my way around to worship. I am a lover of God and His presence is my ultimate destination and desire, regardless of my air guitar, rockband mentality.

This searching reflects my typical pattern of relating to Jesus, one that I hope I will ultimately outgrow. You see, I have to explore all my options, exhaust myself with my own inadequate pursuits, and ultimately arrive at this throne, wondering what took me so long. He smiles. He know me. He is a patient God.
In eterntiy, I doubt that we will float around with harps like the great artists of old depicted. I imagine the choir leader has some new technology that will stun the senses, but I must admit, I think Christ will enjoy all the soloist He knows so well, who found themselves and ultimately Him through a digital download.

Promise of Adventure

Hmmmm....this year has been challenging. Thus, the reason for such a long lull in my postings. There are moments in life, it is best to just "Put a sock in it!" and this has been one of those seasons. The ying and the yang of my Christianity has caused me just a little bit of seasickness. Even though it is not contagious, it just seemed appropriate to ponder the moment and let it ride for awhile. Rocking back and forth on the fierce waves of change has caused me to speculate, is there truly a "Land Ahoy!"

Being that I love a good pirates tale, this passing has not been without expectation. There are new ports to consider and treasures to seek. God is without question, an adventurous God. He never allows us to settle into a harbor, if we are sailors at heart. There is always the lure of the ocean and the next conquest that keep us engaged in the eternal dialogue.

For those of you who love the tradewinds, let your heart and sails be full. The eternal adventure has just begun. Christ in His sacrifice opened a gateway to eternity and new life in Him. Accept this challenge and sail into His wind of mercy and grace.
Never be a landlover, it is the horizon-line that beckons us all. Everyday is a new day, new adventure in Him.

May your 2010 be the greatest adventure of your life in Jesus. He has already discovered and conquered your new land. Sail towards the new horizon. You will meet Him there.

BedTime Stories

I love the Bible. I really love the Bible, for so many reasons. Jesus was such a great story teller and being a Texan, that matters to me. We are known for our tall tales and long-winded stories. Christ was simply following tradition for his culture too. The world of Jesus was an oral tradition world. In case that sounds off to you, it means that it revolved more around what was heard, than what was written. Remember, books were handwritten and extremely costly. Common people did not have them and only a few scholarly ones did. The Torah was kept sacred for the priestly members of the synagogue. You listened and you memorized to keep stories and truths alive.
When Jesus sat with his people on the hillside, it was a natural thing. However, his stories drew them in with creative truth and revelation. Often he would say, "For those who have ears to hear," because his truths were revealed to the open hearted listener. The others just got a great crowd hang and warm fuzzies.
John 10: 1-15 is my current favorite hillside talk.
One of its core truths is the goodness of God towards His people. You wouldn't think that would be so tough to understand, but for me it has been a lifelong struggle. Somehow embedded in my DNA has been the lie that God was not for me.
It is the remnant of an mind in process of redemption. Somethings are just harder.
Whenever I allow Christ to reveal this mysterious mindset of grace, my life changes.
So as you lie down to sleep and count your sheep, picture a Loving Shepherd allowing his sheep to delight in the rich beauty of his pastureland.
That is our God.

Random Acts of God Kindness

God is full of surprises. He is absolutely, unashamedly full of mind blowing ideas. Whenever I think I have him remotely understood, he makes it perfectly clear that is not going to happen.

So much in his Word is direct and clear, but it is the gray stuff that keeps us on our toes. I have had my life intersected of late by random God acts. Kindnesses spoken through the homeless man on the corner, insights only God could have told him about me. Yes, I was the one who received from him. He ministered to me, reaching out with God thoughts while holding his "Help me I need work" sign in his other hand.

Far stretching dreams and hopes have been quickly rewarded. Even things I offered to Him, almost in jest because I didn't really need them. So, again God reminds me that need isn't the only God motivator.

God is touched by our sicknesses and our tragedies, but he also is inspired by our desires and our pure hearts that are honest and genuine. Be unashamedly real with God. He knows you and he responds like the limitless King he is.

Its a Soul Thing

It’s a Soul Thing

I just finished sending a tweet out about a great restaurant in Nashville. Before that I was filming a webisode video segment to promote The Miracle Tour. Earlier today, I was on-line at a coffee house reviewing some other video network’s productions and reviewing some writing drafts on their wi-fi. My days has been inundated with technology and conversations about the meaning and application of media.

Although I love all of these options, at the end of the day I felt depleted. My mental hard drive was full and by emotional downloads had taken a lot out of me through consultations. No matter how passionate I feel about these things, I am a finite being. My tank was empty and I had the need for in-put of my own.

We are not purely intellectual beings. We are primarily spiritual beings encased with a highly fragile wrapper. The best way I can describe how and what our society does to me sometimes, is as a sort of sunburn to my soul. Way too much glaring light can cause damage. Someone close the blinds and shut the sunroof for awhile, please!

When the Bible says “He restoreth my soul,” I am beginning to get this concept. When I pull away from the world and spend some time decluttering and defragmenting my heart and mind, I find peace. It is absolutely essential to just be in His presence and soak in the peace He brings.

Our souls are vulnerable. Too much current and we short out and become without value, unable to walk out our divine design.

Mark 8:36 What profits a man if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul?

No, I Don’t Know What I Want to Be When I Grow-up

God of our Lord Jesus, the Libertating King, Father of Glory. I call out to You on behalf of Your people. Give them a mind ready to receive wisdom and revelation so they will truly know You, Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Show them what you have promised them. Shine your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their
inheritance. Let them see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power.
Ephesians 1: 17,18

When I was 18, I was clueless about the future. Everyone kept asking me what I wanted to do now that I had graduated. Everyone asked me what university I was going to. Everyone asked me what I was going to major in. I felt so lame not having a good answer to any of the previous questions. I simply just didn’t know.
I had been accepted at a college in-town and picked a proposed major, but seriously didn’t know enough about it to dedicate my life to it. I was clueless and a blonde.

Fortunately, I did not pay much attention to my insecurities, but I grabbed a hold of the Ephesians verses above. God is so amazing He never lets us wander aimlessly. He is reaching out to us to offer the gift of
wisdom and truth. It is all about realigning our minds to His and giving us eyes to see His plan. We need Him, again I say, we need Him. Without Him, the world is a scary place.

Most of us want to know that our lives will count. Most of us want to know that we matter. We all want to know that God has wealth far outside our ability to obtain and that that He is willing to share with His people.
It is our natural birthright as His redeemed children to walk in His fullness. God’s definition of wealth is different from ours. We must see the world through His eyes and begin to see value His way.

Don’t overlook that God is powerful and more than able to overcome through your faith in Him. We all have that sense of cluelessness. Maybe that is the beginning of wisdom for us all. We desperately need God.
Isn’t it Good News that He is mighty and powerful to accomplish His will in our lives.

Open your hearts and minds to His revelation and His light. God is an awesome God and a willing Heavenly Father. He provides the power to illuminate your future and your path. So, there is no reason to be clueless after all.

Odd Man In

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; I Peter 2:9

First of all, we who are Christ-followers are peculiar. There is absolutely nothings cool about being called peculiar, in this world eyes. To God, it is an honor. Notice he lists chosen, royal, holy, and peculiar as definitions of our state of being, and the traits that show the world his marvelous light. Let that sink in. These are all honoring words from God's perspective.

The Bible is full of characters. I mean that word in the old school sense of, just a little offbeat, march to a different drum, kind of people. You see, it is impossible to please God without faith. To start with, our world screams "There is no God," so having faith in nothing is peculiar. We are taught to lay our life down to find it, peculiar psycology in our self-fulfillment world. I think you get the picture.

A lot of talk goes on about peer pressure for teenagers. I am here to say that peer pressure never goes away. We just get bigger and the pressure goes a little more underground. Maybe that is the reason for heartattacks. We internalize our peer pressure as adults to make it look like we don't care we are not...cool. That "I don't want to stand out thing," is just not going to work for you. You now have the God of the universe inhabiting your body/mind/spirit. He's just impossible to tame, not going to happen, too big for the box. Give it up before someone gets hurt.

The chosen, royal,and even priestly words seem to make us comfortable, but the peculiar word is not so appealing. It doesn't mean just nonconformity. It means being a clean reflector of His image. When we live in our royalty, we show forth His praises and live in His light. Celebrating our inheritance makes us unique and yes, peculiar. We follow a different code. We live like our King, our Father, holds all things together. We can live above fear and without confusion. How weird is that?

Let your peculiar Christlike self shine through today.

The Miracle Tour Intro

This is a story about bread. Not the kind you savor with dense, creamy butter or seasoned olive oil at a trendy restaurant during a prom date. You know the kind the waiter brings to help keep you patient while he holds your meal hostage in the kitchen. You use it to fill in those awkward moments of silence as you struggle for some sort of interesting something to say as you straighten your ridiculous bow-tie and check out the rest of the room. This is a simple bread. It is the kind of bread that gets used.

Being used has gotten a bad rap over the years. Some people will spend their whole life avoiding it. There are entire books written about how not to get used,. But this is a story about allowing yourself to be used. Along the way you will also learn a little about bread.

Bread doesn’t sound very miraculous does it? When I think about a Miracle Tour, I certainly don’t associate
bread at all. Because I am a well seasoned music follower, I naturally think psychedelic painted buses in the 60’s with large banners announcing some British music tour. There is a crowd of young women screaming and running after the bus, long hair trailing in the wind, and some of their dignity too.

Ok, this story does have crowds and women, but no woman would have been seen running after a bus, even if there had been buses. The 60’s were the era of the miniskirt and these first century, bread baking ladies would have definitely been in a maxi-caftan. Not real practical for chasing anything, but possibly small minded, slow traveling goats.

This is about a culture that had no tour buses, traveled by foot, and ate a lot of bread. Probably at this point you are wondering where the excitement kicks in. This miracle tour description wouldn’t inspire a Podcast or even a post on someone’s wall today. Who cares about bread anyway, unless of course, it is wholegrain.

The Miracle Tour concept was a random revelation. In our world of instant fame and celebrity culture, it occurs to me that the first band of early disciples had their own, Miracle Tour. Kind of a virgin tour that eventually led them into superstardom. Yes, their fame now eclipses the Beatles and every other musician before and after them. Maybe superstar wasn’t what they were going for, but their influence has certainly made a difference in this world, a big difference. Not bad for a bunch of newbies at spiritual life.

Working with teen culture has taught me a few things. First, I clearly get that I am a relic from a past civilization, like anyone else over 30. Second, stay open to crazy new ideas. Third, I now invest heavily in gas cards. I need them. Nothing warms the heart of teenager better than a gas card. Ok, pizza comes in a close second. There is that bread thing again.

As I observe this next generation beginning their life journey into adulthood, I see one overwhelming characteristic. They are hungry. They are hungry to succeed , hungry to know, hungry to make a difference in the world they have inherited. Maybe that is why God speaks of bread so much in His word. Hunger is universal. So is God

The similarities are obvious. If you are under 20 or relatively new at following Christ , there are some great examples of what to do and what not to do in the Bible. So, for every modern day disciple this book is for you. Time to pack for your Miracle Tour.

2009 HOUSTON MIRACLE TOUR BOOK RELEASE PREVIEW PARTY JUNE 16TH.
www.themiracletour.com/shout/

Cosmic Glory Dance

Deep thoughts. I am sitting in a bible study surrounded by deep thoughts. All of the terms end with the suffix "ism." This is code for the study of philosophical ideas. Sadly, I only made it through Old and New Testament 101 in college. Most of my thoughts on God and the universe have to do with my relationship with the God of the Universe. I am not so sure I am wired for the deeper thoughts that require suffixes.

In all seriousness, I really love a great biblical discourse. Which, of course, brings me to mirrored disco-balls. Come on, there is some real depth to this subject. An "In the beginning" kind of depth to discuss, as we ponder the magical reflective value of a disco ball. My experiences with these illuminated orbs have always revolved around a dance floor, or Saturday Night Fever retro-disco movie night. But there is a profound concept that far exceeds a good line-dance or pair of platforms shoes.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. Best way I can grasp that, is to imagine that all our souls are like a mirror. We reflect the light of Christ to the world. That is one big light, FYI. We couldn't possibly contain all that light. So, He spread it around in all His peoples hearts. All together, we can bring His imagine into completion.

2 Corinthians 4: 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." Think of it this way, the redeemed Christ followers of the world-his church, are like a sort of disco ball reflecting throughout the universe the glory of God.

Sure, we can all talk about what is not working in the church. Lots of good conversation going on about that everywhere. But, I think Our Father in heaven thinks of His bride as beautiful. That bride analogy is a biblical truth. She may not be ready for that marriage supper he speaks of, but she is a beautiful young thing. Ever being glorified for that day we have that party in heaven forever.

So I say, get together with other Christ followers. Let His light shine through you not just individually, but as a group. Let the cosmic glory dance continue on. Remember, Jesus is and always will be the light of the world.