Current Reading List

I'm an avid reader. So much so, that I struggle to finance the habit! A new book rarely last me more than 48 hours, so I've turned to reading a lot of blogs as of late, which tends to be a much less expensive habit.  However, I do have a few books presently laying in front of me that I have either read in the last few weeks or that I'm getting ready to finish by the end of the week.

• The Fred Factor 
• Sun Stand Still
• Radical
• The Christian Atheist
• Only You Can Be You
• The Beauty of a Spiritual Language
• 30 Days to Live
• Paradise Series (Ted Dekker) 
• GodChasers (re-read for about the 15th time)
• Freakonomics

Its a fairly diverse spectrum of reading, but that is intentional.  My favorite out of this list is GodChasers, but I've read it so many times that perhaps that isn't fair to the list.  That being said, second would definitely be Radical, because the author David Platt clearly articulated several things that God has been dealing with me about on a very personal level.  

North vs. South

There is probably more at stake in the political drama presently unfolding between North & South Korea than any of us realize at first glance.

Behind the scenes, big players are involved: Russia, China, the United States and more... As for North and South Korea, themselves, it is almost like an arm-wrestling match that is gridlocked -- one waiting for the other to go over the top.

Here is one thing that is always overlooked in the modern day news coverage of the Korean tension: South Korea is home to both the largest and second-largest churches in the world! It is not a coincidence. Not in any way, shape, form or fashion that South Korea is involved in a nuclear stand-off.

In the hour in which we live, there is rarely a passing day which does not bring to pass events that should motivate our hearts to pray.  I have no desire to sound like a doomsday prophet, but whether it comes in five hours, five months, or five-hundred years this earth is on-course for a nuclear holocaust.  Nowhere is that oft ignored path more visible than in two disgruntled Asian countries. They are divided pointedly on a map by simple geographical distinctions and yet held apart from unity by overwhelmingly complex political undertones...

Koreans from both north and south of the border need the prayer support of Christians all across the world. Specifically, the millions of Christians whom need God's protection from any harm that could be brought to their lives by the enemies of Christ's Kingdom. 

Here is an article from the Associated Press describing South Korea's plans to construct island fortresses: SKorea to make islands near NKorea fortresses

The One that Brung Ya!

12 Now King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORDwith all his might, 15while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.16As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.
(2 Samuel 6:12-16)

David looked at his wife, whom did not understand his style of worship, and basically said as plainly as possible, "I can be even more undignified than this!"  In other words, God brought me this far and I fully intend to make sure that I do not lose HIS partnership as I move into my future -- whether the people around me understand my uninhibited praise or not.

David was dancing through the streets on one of the most significant days of his life.  He made a decision to glorify God for all the good things that had happened to him.  David made sure to even remove his outer garments, which symbolized his position in society, so that even his wardrobe reflected his desire to be first and foremost a worshiper. 

It is God who has brought each of us this far in our lives.  Let us not be so foolish as to change dancing partners now.  He is the one who brought us, now may we continue to honor him with yielded hearts of worship -- day in and day out, without fail! HE IS WORTHY! 

...And greater things are STILL yet to come!

The Christian Imitation

If ever a blog caused me to shout, "Amen!", then it is the one to be found via this link:  http://tinyurl.com/2apswrn


The blog is around five years old, but it captures my heartbeat.  I long, almost with desperation (if you can be "almost" desperate), for originality in the Church.  I myself have fallen prey to ripping off catch-phrases in our culture.  And honestly, I think ON OCCASION it can be a good thing.  


My concern with many of us modern church leaders is that we have taken the easy way out and fallen prey to piggy-backing society's successful marketing tactics -- whether God told us to or not! The result is an undeniable absence originality in the Church when compared with the level of creativity culture is currently producing.  This ought not be when the Creator of the Universe lives within us.  Surely, creativity does not have to be stale, when we have access to such unlimited creative power. 


May God raise up culture-shakers! Image-breakers. Jesus followers.  Men and women with faith like John the Baptist, who are so different that the world responds to them although the Church rejects them--then have the courage to stand there and risk their head in spite of not being given a plaque by their local ministerial fellowship or denominational hierarchy!


The result will be an empowered, original approach to worship & preaching that will reach the Harvest in a way that the world's curiosity can not resist!

The Next Christians

What if there were a new group of Christians already on the scene but not yet identified in culture as being different from their predecessors?

Gabe Lyons describes this group as The Next Christians and he is of the opinion that they  possess six characteristics that distinguish them from the hard-headed stubbornness found in many older Christians of our time. 


The Next Christians are:

• Provoked, not offended.
• Creators, not critics.
• Called, not employed.
• Grounded, not distracted.
• In community, not alone.
• Counter-cultural, not relevant.

I whole-heartedly agree!

For further review follow this link: The Next Christians by Gabe Lyons

Carmel on Fire

I'm not trying to be super-spiritual or overly prophetic, but I have to admit that when reviewing the news this morning I saw something that gave me cold chills. The area of Israel surrounding historic Mt. Carmel is ablaze with fire.  Thousands of acres burning beyond control...

Imagine the area where God once brought fire from heaven to earth, once more being engulfed with flames. Mt Carmel, the place of God's Old Testament outpouring, suddenly burning bright with a fire that man seems to be unable to stop!

Admittedly, this fire was started by men in the name of arson. However, knowing this fire is not supernatural in its nature does not change the spine-tingling feeling that comes over my soul when I compare the horrific images of today's fire with my mental pictures of Scripture's 1 Kings 18 account.

Here is the article detailing Israel's battle against the blaze. After you read it, please pray for rain and also for divine wisdom to be imparted to the undermanned firefighters:  Massive Fire in Carmel - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

One Year to Live

Here is an awesome, inspiring blog posted by a couple who made a decision to walk into a setting that required great faith.

Read their story and envision a couple who has made a decision to become modern day Ezekiel's... One Year to Live - Bruce and Heather Moore