About a week and a half ago, I was in Scottsdale, Arizona for a wedding. Weddings have taken on an entirely different meaning for me since moving to IHOP 5 years ago. They are such a dim but beautiful snapshot into the heart of the Father to prepare a bride for His Son. I was so honored to be a groomsman for such a good friend and brother in the Lord, Shawn Zajas. Shawn was married to Kellie Hubbell, his best friend for the past several years, on August 23, 2008 in the presence of God, family, and so many loving friends. It was truly a special moment!

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Okay, so it's been WAY too long since I've written here. The main reason is because I am currently without a laptop computer, but thanks to God's gracious provision, a brand new one is arriving early next week. I have had so much I've wanted to write about, but the old fashioned way I've been journaling these past few weeks (pen and paper) just doesn't seem to work all that well for web readers :)

The main thing the Lord has been speaking to me about is how little I know Him as Father. I'm so convinced that the revelation of God as our Father is absolutely critical to understand if we want to mature in our love for Him. We can't expect to grow in our revelation of Jesus as the Bridegroom if we first don't understand that the Father is longing for a family. I suppose there are aspects of Christ as the bridegroom that one can see without the revelation of God as Father, but living off of that revelation alone leaves us with an incomplete and perhaps even a distorted picture of who our God really is. More on this next week when I get a laptop back and transcribe my thoughts from paper back to my e-journal!  read more »

I had the privilege of hosting some really cool people from the fine state of Arizona this past week...

The guys stayed at my place and the girls stayed with my parents just a few miles down the road. They came to spend some time at IHOP and to be refreshed in the Lord. I had met Jon (the guy sitting on my left) and Randon (the guy sitting above me) beforehand on my trip to Arizona last January but they brought along some of their friends. (The guy to my right is Tim, my roommate...) The world needs more people like all of these guys. They were so meek, so thankful, and each of them had the heart of a servant. I truly did not want them to leave!  read more »

My trusty 4.5 year old Powerbook G4's screen went dark a few days ago. What an amazing computer it's been. It's seen many cities in traveling with onething and many hours in and on stage at IHOP. The hard drive crashed last year (which I replaced myself, because the 3-year warranty had run out), but this time around something's wrong with the screen. A replacement screen goes for about $600, and then labor on top of that would probably be another $300. Why pay almost $900 to fix an outdated, obsolete computer when I can just put that money towards a new one? Praise God for hearing my prayers, because the Lord has provided all of the money I need to get a new Mac.

Posts and updates to the blog might be a bit sparse until I can buy a new one and get everything set up on it...

UPDATE (5/27 7pm): I'm posting from the Powerbook! I decided to dismantle the computer and see if I could figure out what the problem was. I may have temporarily fixed it by messing with the LCD inverter (the screen is not flashing, at least not as much). I've been using Jordan Vanderplate's 12" Powerbook with my external hard drive for IHOP sets, and that seems to be working out okay for the time being. Hopefully I have at least a week or two left on this one before I buy a new one with the funds that the Lord so graciously and unexpectedly provided!!!

UPDATE (6/5 9:30am): The Powerbook's screen just died again. I was in the middle of writing a friend an email about prophetic music! :) It started flashing severely last night and I think the replacement inverter is totally blown now. There's probably a problem with the logic board that's causing the inverter to burn out. I think it's officially retired now! Only one more week before the new computer...

Scott just showed me this test to see if you're left or right brained.

It's pretty amazing.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic, detail oriented, facts rule, words and language, present and past, math and science, can comprehend, knowing, acknowledges, order/pattern perception, knows object name, reality based, forms strategies, practical, safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling, "big picture" oriented, imagination rules, symbols and images, present and future, philosophy & religion, can "get it" (i.e. meaning), believes, appreciates, spatial perception, knows object function, fantasy based, presents possibilities, impetuous, risk taking

If the dancer is rotating clockwise, you're more right-brained. If counterclockwise, you're more left brained.

I found often that if I looked away and then looked back, the dancer would be rotating in the opposite direction. I could never predict which way it was going to turn. How crazy!

What is the dancer doing for you?

End-times junkie alert!

I was going through some old email and found this humorous forwarded image from Mike Bickle... You can see the corridor of glory and everything.

In all seriousness, if it looks like that, well, Abraham was a pretty silly guy.

Back in September, I detailed the wretched state of my 1960's era kitchen in this post.

Well after much toil, a lot of time, a lot less money than I expected, and a lot of help from my stepdad (I would not be writing this post if it was not for him), I've learned how to laminate countertops, lay tile, install recessed lighting, and cut in paint on walls and ceilings.

Now, for the visuals.

Before I moved in:

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I’ve been in Colorado visiting my family this past week. I really miss KC and the house of prayer! For this year’s visit, my younger brother flew in from New Hampshire.  It’s awesome to have him here! It’s his first visit to Leadville and the Rocky Mountains. We’ve been skiing a lot this week, and I’ve learned several new terms that you need to know if you’re a flatlander or have never skied in the Rockies before. Don’t leave home without this guide!  read more »

Today is “super Tuesday”, a day in our nation when almost half the country has primaries to elect America’s next president.

As I am praying this morning, I am stirred in my spirit once again about the state of our nation and what we are putting our hope in as a people. If you really look at the problems of our nation, there is no candidate running for president that would have the ability to fully reconcile America’s issues. The message we are called to preach as believers is that ultimately, the kingdoms of men will fail and only one Man will succeed in reigning over the nations. This is the gospel of the Kingdom. We need the Lord to come with revelation on this for the church across our nation today.

Israel is our primary example from the Word. From Samuel’s day, they continually put their hope in human leaders and did not want God Himself as their leader. They did not submit to His law, His ways, and did not heed His messengers and ended up under God’s judgment time and time again. What makes us think America is any different?  read more »

It's sunny and 70 today, probably one of the most beautiful days it's been in a while. But in typical Kansas City fashion, winter will be back in full swing tomorrow. Take a look at the forecast:

If it wasn't Kansas City, I'd think "Winter Storm Watch" was a very early April fools joke from the weather forecasters or something.

Well, it's day 1 of our monthly 3-day fast. I've been spending some time praying through Ephesians 2 and 1 Peter 1. Perhaps some thoughts on the blog tomorrow...