Christians love stories with happy, redemptive endings. Nothing wrong with that. After all, the well-examined Christian life proclaims a metanarrative chock full of redemption at every step, complete with the best and-they-lived-happily-ever-after ending ever conceived. Such good news informs our daily lives, bringing us no shortage of eternal hope in the midst of earthly suffering.

But does such a mindset, at least on occasion, cause us to dismiss or hurry through the pain on the front end because we know the end result is, eventually, going to be good? Let's be honest. It's a lot easier reading Job knowing that he recovers his losses and then some after his period of testing, isn't it? And how many Christians, especially in our feel-good American culture, have a hard time fully embracing the pathos of Good Friday because of the soon-coming Easter celebration? (Check out the May issue of Worship Leader for more on our reluctance-but our need-to lament in worship.)

What do we do, though, when the story seems not to get tied up neatly in the end? When the pain doesn't go away? When the hero of the story ends up looking, feeling, or behaving more like Jonah than Job? What then?

Hard Knocks
William Cowper's is one such story. Born in Berkhampstead, England, just northwest of London, in 1731, Cowper (pronounced "Cooper") entered a family already wracked with suffering. He is the fourth child born to Rev. John Cowper and his wife Ann, but all three of his siblings die by the time of William's birth. Two more children die in the next five years, and when a brother, John, is born, only the second of seven children who is destined to live into adulthood, Ann dies a few days later. John Piper, in an excellent lecture on the life of William Cowper available online (desiringgod.org), notes that the marriage of Cowper's parents is "one sustained heartache."

After Cowper's inauspicious infancy, his childhood follows the trajectory of a Dickens novel. At six, he is sent to a boarding school a few miles away-although in that day it might as well have been across the globe. At the school, he is bullied mercilessly by his peers and disciplined harshly by his teachers (experiences he recounts much later in his famous poem "Tirocinium," whose title refers to a gathering of raw novices or recruits).

Cowper receives a bit of a reprieve between the ages of 10 and 18, when he is sent to Westminster School, a time which fellow poet Robert Southby describes as "probably the happiest" in Cowper's life. From that point forward, Piper concludes, his life "seems to be one long accumulation of pain."

Deeper Disappointments
The first of Cowper's serious battles with depression occurs in 1752, brought on, at least in part, it seems, from having spent years training for a career in law for which this eventual man of letters could muster up no enthusiasm. Soon thereafter, Cowper falls in love with and becomes engaged to his cousin, Theodora, but her father brings an end to the relationship, a loss Cowper takes hard. (Theodora materializes later as "Delia" in a series of poems he writes.)

At the age of 28, Cowper, though not motivated by his vocation, is touted for a significant promotion to a parliamentary position, mostly through the behind-the-scenes machinations of his father. The stress of the impending responsibility, coupled with the fact that his father's enemies in parliament decide to subject Cowper to a public grilling as a prerequisite of the appointment, turns him suicidal. Although unsuccessful in three attempts to take his life, Cowper is deemed insane and sent to an asylum whose caretaker is Dr. Nathaniel Cotton, an evangelical Christian. There Cowper recovers and accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Surprise Ends
And that's where the story should end. Cowper should remain sane, track Theodora down and marry her (or someone quite like her), father several brilliant children, establish himself as one of England's chief poets and hymn writers, and die a contented man, bouncing several brilliant grandchildren on his knee the very evening before he dies peacefully in his sleep. Isn't that how Jane Austen would have tied up this conflicted man's life?

It doesn't happen quite like that, unfortunately. Cowper leaves the asylum but vacillates between mental equilibrium and severe depression the rest of his life. His 30-year friendship with John Newton (the former slave trader and author of "Amazing Grace") serves as one of only a few bright spots the rest of the way. Cowper tries, unsuccessfully, to commit suicide several more times, and he dies, Piper tells us, "apparently in utter despair" in 1800.

The Fountain
One can begin to make some sense of Cowper's life by studying the verses of one of his most famous hymns, "There Is a Fountain." Written during a happy swing in Cowper's mood while he retreated at Newton's home, the hymn initially proclaims,

There is fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel's veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains

Cowper here references Zephaniah 13:1, "On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David...to cleanse them from sin and impurity." Though he often thought himself a reprobate and unworthy of salvation, Cowper was able to acknowledge-at least at that moment, in the company of a dear friend-that Christ's blood cleanses completely.

The second verse shows Cowper's profound understanding of both the sinfulness of all mankind and also the redemption available through Jesus:

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in that day
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away

Painfully aware of his own frailty-likening it to the utter sinfulness of the thief on the cross-Cowper, despite all he had been through, testifies in hope-filled terms to his forgiveness, and that of all who "take the plunge."

Cowper's final, poignant verse serves as a microcosm of his entire life:

When this poor lisping, stamm'ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I'll sing the power to save

Cowper's lisp-metaphorical or literal (one author suggests that, on top of everything else, Cowper had a speech impediment)-kept his "song" from regularly being sweet in this life; indeed, his life's song often resembled a dirge. But Cowper held tightly, at least at the time of this writing, to the belief that all Christians have an eternal destiny where "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Rev. 7:17).

Stark Reality
That "lisp," Cowper's lyric implies and his biography attests, was never fully healed in this life. John Fischer, in his wonderful devotional Be Thou My Vision, writes, "What a dark context to some of the greatest lyrics ever written on the love of God! ... What a reminder of the stark reality of life and the fact that God doesn't always fix everything for us the way we would like."

As we reflect upon William Cowper's life 200 years later, we do well to remember the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12. Paul's preternaturally peppy prose throughout so much of the New Testament perhaps dulls our senses to the harsh reality of his "thorn in the flesh," and the fact that God chose not to remove it.

The title of one of Cowper's other famous hymns reminds us that "God Moves in a Mysterious Way." One of its verses exhorts, "Judge not the Lord by feeble sense / but trust him for his grace." When, in the midst of tribulation, we are tempted to walk by sight and not by faith, may we take comfort hearing the voice of our Lord saying to us with confidence, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9).

As I read this today... It hit me hard.  As a worship leader, I want things right.  I want the best sound, lights, media, etc.  But, this was a great reminder and wake up call to me.  As you read this, ask God to speak into you.


Encounters Of The Divine Part 2
AJ Butel


The Lord is beckoning us to desire more of Him, to experience more of Him, and to share our new reality with a lost, broken and hurting world.

This is a day when God is raising a movement of radical believers, who will be altogether captivated by their King, encroaching this destructive culture with His transforming love. Reflecting their Heavenly Father’s heart in all they do and say, this army of surrendered warriors will demonstrate a God of power, hope, grace and redemption.

Burning with Ruach (His Living Spirit), these devoted presence-dwellers will transfer uncompromising messages of revelation and empowerment from heaven to earth.

Birthed through a simple yet intense affection for the Lord, their lifestyle of ministry will bring illumination to the souls of humankind, piercing the heart of the enemy, and rousing Saints to advance the Kingdom.

It's In The Choosing

Yet despite God’s design, the sad truth is that so often we turn to another way of life. We look to a cheaper alternative—toward the seen and tangible, the measurable and calculable.

Beyond our initial search for connection with the Lord and the pursuit of His heart, we can tend to settle for a wider, smoother, faster route; and a more accepted and readily preached avenue. Beyond our wholehearted desire for the inexhaustible presence of the Almighty, we can become tired, and subtly persuaded by the limitations of time, lured by distractions, and ensnared within the seduction of man-made ideas and opinions. Submitting to compromise, we engage on a more 'domesticated' level of a diluted Gospel, where everything is definable, manageable and definitive. This is a more 'comfortable' style of Christianity where uncertainties are calmed by reasoning and human intellect, and deep longings are doused by earth-bound pleasures and convenience.

Our subconscious dialogue files through its perceived choices... Can I gauge this? Is it available on demand? Am I able to control its response? Will I be accepted? When the answers fall short, we concede. Well, this is just not for me. It's too difficult... too inconvenient... too challenging... too unsettling... too arduous... And the narrow road becomes widened to the more traveled highway of ease.

Unfortunately, the simpler option is to settle for a ‘christianized’ self-management program, a life contained by a 'fit-in-to-the-mold' philosophy, and reserved to a 'don't-pop-out-of-your-box' lifestyle—rather than an experiential, less predictable, and thrilling adventure with the King of Kings!

Our Answers Are In The Anointing

Even when we have unlimited resources, impressive programs, and the most refined procedures and systems in place, at the end of the day these only accent the real answer to 'ultimate fulfillment' and the core solution to transforming society—the incomparable presence of the Lord. Whereas His anointing is the ONLY 'agent' that conclusively heals the broken hearted, sets the captive free, supports hope and peace, replaces mourning for joy, and exchanges life for death.

I don't know about you, but I want to be recognized as a Revivalist... not because of works alone, or theological prowess, or a charismatic demeanor, but because of the transforming power of His anointing upon my life!

So where then can His anointing be found? If you read through Isaiah 61, you will note that ALL the supernatural transfigurement spoken of in this scripture (the miraculous beauty, joy, praise, planting, rebuilding, justice, covering etc.), begins with the Spirit of the Lord—the anointing—the power of His presence.

The anointing is in the overshadowing of the Lord.

Polish and perfected procedure cannot in themselves breathe life. God's hard wiring within humankind is far too organic for a second-rate settlement so stagnant and predictable as man’s agenda and routine! An organized life, well-managed business or state-of-the-art sound system should only be considered possible condiments accompanying the main course (not necessary… and subject to personal taste only), but mistakenly they are very often touted as the vital nutrients to individual wholeness or even corporate church ‘success.’ Today in many streams, the Church’s ‘relevancy’ has been prioritized over and above its power and effectiveness in preaching the complete Gospel of the Kingdom—with signs, wonders and miracles following.

What might you be putting before going about your Father’s business? A popular reputation, an education, a good-looking wardrobe, scheduled five-year personal development plan, or renovated building facade won't in their own strength minister comfort and hope. Simply said, they don't hold life! They only accessorize it. However, a heart that cherishes and releases the presence of God will unceasingly bring refreshment to waste places, and Eden to barren wilderness.

Just the mere presence of God Almighty can shake a nation!

Just His mere presence can bend a sinner at their knees.

Just His mere presence can shatter chains of injustice, rejection and addiction.

Just His mere presence can break down the walls dividing denominations, cultures, generations, and even nations.

Just His mere presence can bring restoration and peace and wholeness.

Just His mere presence can metamorphose the environment, delivering the land free of decay, drought, famine and disease.

And it is simply His sweet and powerful presence which brings spiritual conception through to delivery.

Receive & Release

How about you? Are you a carrier of the presence of the Lord? Are you smeared in His anointing? Are you dripping with His fragrant oil? Despite your circumstances, are you expecting His spectacular power to invade the deepest corners of your innermost being? Are you believing for the outworking of His amazing grace and lavishly bountiful provision to flow in your life? Are you walking with the knowledge that you are a highly esteemed child of God Almighty, redeemed and purchased by the Blood of His Son, and seated with Him in Heavenly places? Are you anticipating His Glory to overflow in, through and from your life? Are you going about your Father’s business being overshadowed by the power of His presence?

The amazing thing about God Almighty is that through the Cross, we ALL qualify to fellowship with Him and be overshadowed by His indescribable presence. What is so completely astounding is that mere flesh and blood, born of sin (that is you and I), are invited to step right into His Glory realm—the Holy of Holies.

Dear friend, please let me encourage you to pause from your regular schedule, re-define your priorities where necessary, and consecrate yourself unto the Lord. He is a good God. He is a faithful God. He is a jealous God. Don't hold back. Give Him all you have out of a willingness to know Him more. Then watch Him move in your life in a way He never has before. I am sure you will agree with me, that there is no other place like the presence of God. There is absolutely nothing that compares with trusting in the Lord and being embraced by His goodness and grace.

Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence... Psalm 31:19-20

Even when we don’t feel the tangible sensation of the Lord, we are ALWAYS surrounded by His presence. Fill your heart with His promise to hide you in the secret place of His presence! Remember, in His presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Make a deliberate choice to become familiar with His presence! And to be a deliverer of all that He gives you!

 I came across this today and as I read it, it hit home in me.  I want to know Him more.  Not just as a worship leader... but as His child... I want to know Him more and have an even greater experience with my Father.  

Knowing His Presence by AJ Butel

For me personally, there is nothing I long for more than to abide in God's courts, and dwell in His presence. I live and breathe for deeper fellowship with Him, to behold His beauty, and to be transformed from glory to glory. And God is wooing, tenderizing and challenging me like never before!

How about you? Are you craving for the things of God and His Kingdom? Ravenous for deeper revelation? Thirsting for intimacy? Yearning for a personal touch from Heaven?

My most cherished moments, desired sensations, retrieved memories, and sought after experiences are of being in the presence of the Lord. And I feel that I can somewhat relate to the passionate sentiment of the writer declaring:

Better is ONE DAY in your courts than a thousand elsewhere... - Psalm 84:10 (NIV)

'The Message’ translation clarifies it so eloquently:

ONE DAY spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches. - Psalm 84:10 (MSG)

The Psalmist apexes his point with...

I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin. - Psalm 84:11 (MSG)

As a PK, I was raised within the Church, and although I watched and heard many reports and descriptions of people's phenomenal encounters with the Lord, I never experienced God's undeniable presence for myself. I wholeheartedly believed in God, knew His gentle embrace, and loved Him with all my young heart… yet I longed for my own story. As much as I enjoyed hearing other's testimonies, all I wanted was a first-hand ‘kairotic moment' with the Creator of the universe—an encounter I could call my own. I believed for, and imagined and dreamed of this experience.

That is, until a day in 1995...

His Rapturous Burn

I was attending a staff retreat for the church where I worked. Lying prostrate across timber floorboards, we were enjoying an intimate time of worship and soaking in His presence, when the Spirit of the Lord came upon me in a new way, and I felt as though I was literally being baptized with liquid fire. My entire face quivered and tingled. My lips were numb, and my eyeballs felt as though they were vibrating in their sockets.

My hands pulsated prickly hot pins and needles up to my elbows —and my scalp bristled with electrified goose bumps. I couldn't quench the burning!

Talk about my own encounter! This sure was tangible! And admittedly slightly strange. I must have looked a sight… with my hands all twisted and face contorting! Although, to be honest, I really didn't care how I appeared to others. This was my turn… I was experiencing God! I was in emotional wonderment, physical discomfort, and spiritual ecstasy!

I remember crying out, "Oh God, thank You for manifesting Your presence over me! I love to finally FEEL You… so intensely. But it's too much... Owwweeee, that hurts... WOOOOAH! This is so uncomfortable, but please, pleeeease don't take it away from me! Don't stop."

I wanted it to last for as long as my body could bear. And I committed to embedding this long-awaited divine appointment into my memory forever! I was absorbing the experience with all my might, determined I would never forget it. The sensations continued for a couple of hours until they eventually subsided, but the memory remains.

Undone & Addicted

Later on, I lay across those floorboards in shock… I was feeling outright exhausted, astonished, grateful, and completely undone! I can't say I saw in the spirit, or heard the audible voice of God. Neither was I swept up into a heavenly visitation, or felt an inarguable inward transformation (although I was, and am always open to all this and more). But I can say that ever since that arresting personal experience, my desire for the Lord has been accentuated. I have a dramatically new level of expectancy in Him. I hold close an increased reverence of His greatness. I have my own uniquely undeniable point of reference to His power and tenderness, His desire to connect with me, and His ability to surprise and overwhelm me. And I know that after that week (where I had another similar encounter follow the first), I felt commissioned and mandated to my very core!

As for experiencing His presence, needless to say, I am now utterly rapacious! I breathlessly covet His touch. Whether His unmistakably fiery invasion, or His sweet still peace, I long to sense and hear Him wherever I am. To recognize His voice, His presence, His hand and His power in the signs, people and creation round about me.

Always anticipating the supernatural to manifest in my reality, I have developed a spiritual appetite that consistently craves the presence of God.

My soul longs, yes, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. - Psalm 84:2 (NKJV)

You and I will not be satisfied, and cannot be consoled outside of Him. Not just a 'touch' of Him here and there... a 're-charge' to keep us going. I consistently anticipate my relationship with the Lord to be an authentic walking encounter with the King of Kings.

God-the-Powerful, God-the-Loving is searching the earth for a home to tabernacle. Is that you? Are YOU a settling place for the Spirit of God?

End of Part 1

 This Is Tennessee !
 
 When Chris Myers was filling in for Dan Patrick on arguably the
 most-listened-to sports radio show in the land on Monday, he got to
the "Best and Worst of the Weekend" portion of the nationwide
 broadcast and promptly startled his listeners.

He picked as "best" the people of Tennessee . Instead of a sports
 team or the Preakness winner, Chris veered from the norm by saying
 how thrilled he was by a huge benefit concert the country music
performers had just held for the state's flood victims. Better than
 that, praised the common folk who "were not standing on a rooftop
trying to blame the government, okay? Instead, they helped each
 other out through this."


He said, "Middle Tennessee is where a lot of hard-working, tax-
paying, legal American citizens have been affected by the floods
and are trying to rebuild their lives and they are helping out each
other." This, he added, "without making a big deal out of it and I
think that's a good thing."

Well, by mid-afternoon Chris was being decried as a racist for his
obvious comparison to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and illegal
Mexican immigrants, but his point was well-made. All around the
country media types, from Anderson Cooper to the rest, are
realizing one reason that "the most devastating non-hurricane event
in American history" was overlooked is because of Tennesseans
reaction to it.

Now let me introduce you to another guy, Brent High. He is an
assistant athletic director at Nashville 's Lipscomb University and
has written a fabulous essay on the May Day disaster. It is
entitled "We Are Tennessee." It is deeply moving and, if I may be
so bold, in a very prideful way there are parts of it every man,
woman and child should read.

He opens, of course, with the fact that over 17 inches of rain fell
between May 1 and May 2, causing the Cumberland River to crest at
51 feet. He points out people lost their lives, that damage has
exceeded $1 billion, but that, by golly, 'This is Tennessee .'

From this point on allow me to concede to Mr. High:

"It's Monday, May 3rd. The rain has stopped, finally. What happens
next shouldn't come as a surprise. Almost instinctively, after a
long night of restlessness, volunteers spring into action. It's in
their blood. They've been trained to do so by their parents and
grandparents. From Waverly to Cookeville , Winchester to Cross
Plains and in the capital city of Nashville the sights and sounds
are the same.

"Without being asked, fishermen launch their boats into the muddy
soup, joining the rescue efforts. Business owners and supervisors
tell their employees to take the day off and jump in and help
wherever they can. Neighbors, many of whom helped empty entire
houses in brigade fashion the night before, transition into cleanup
mode.

"Sump pumps and generators whirl. Drywall, carpet and ruined floors
are ripped out. Elderly ladies gather at the church to make lunches
for workers Teenagers distribute bottled water. Pickup trucks,
trailers and storage units are loaded with what could be salvaged.

"Photos and documents are spread out in the sun to dry. Wads of $20
bills are slid into pockets of those affected. Checks are written.
Hugs are given. Prayers are said. Tears are shed.

"This is Tennessee .

"Almost 200 years ago Tennessee first earned the nickname
' Volunteer State .' In 1812 More than 2,000 Tennesseans volunteered
to fight for Andrew Jackson and were the main part of Jackson 's
army that destroyed the British three years later in the Battle of
New Orleans . A generation later the U.S. Secretary of War asked
Tennessee for 2,800 soldiers to fight a war against Mexico . 30,000
volunteered.

"This is a state where faith comes first. We don't ask why. We know
there is a reason and look forward to it being revealed. We are
guided by scriptures such as Philippians 2:3-5 which says: 'Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
consider others better than yourself. Each of you should look not
only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus.'

"Family is a focus, not an afterthought Don't bother trying to do
business with us the week of Christmas or July 4th. We'll be with
family. When our kids have a school play we will be there. We throw
big birthday parties. We teach our kids right from wrong and aren't
afraid to give them a whippin' when they need it.

"Here we say 'Yes ma'am' and 'No ma'am.' We try to leave a place
better than we found it. We put our hand over our heart when the
National Anthem is played. We pull over on the side of the road
when funeral processions pass on the other side.

"We are savvy business people. We are farmers. We are teachers. We
drink Coke here. We like gravy with our biscuits and potatoes.

"We are serious about our sports. We keep score in little league
and we still have all-star teams and MVP trophies.

"We are givers.

"You won't hear us wailing about where the federal government and
insurance companies were in all of this. We'll get by just fine
without them.

"Right now we have a lot to deal with here in our backyard. We will
handle it with dignity and class. We will sacrifice for each other
in ways that are unfathomable to most. We will stand together. We
will stand tall. We will come out of this stronger than we were
before it.

"One day in the not too distant future a hurricane, tornado, fire,
flood or other unspeakable disaster will strike your community. As
you struggle to put the pieces back together we will be there.

"We will volunteer.

 "We are Tennesseans.

"This is Tennessee ."

My mind has been churning this passage from this book over and over in my head and has caused me to really desire to be able to see things and people as our Father does. Check it out.

"Maybe the typical church attenders aren't out of the Red Light District, the sex industry, a crack house, or a prison, but they are from the gutter. Maybe their gutter had a different circumstance and scenario. Maybe it was or is a deceitful business, a horrible marriage, an unavailable dad, or a sexually permissive wife... we all have a gutter-filled past that we should not deny or forget. This is the very thing that defines our faith---that we no longer live in our gutters.

And it is the thing that should drive us back to the gutter. As Christlike people, unless we have gone to the gutter, we have not fully understood His purpose, nor fully embraced His plan for mankind. His plan is to make real love available to any and every person who would want it. When we understand Him, we will see what He sees."

Craig Gross "The Gutter"

      If you know me at all, then you know that I love pushing the limits. I love to shock people by something that just totally throws them for a loop. I love making a comment that everybody's thinking, but nobody wants to say. I push the limits in my songwriting... in my teaching... and in other areas of my life. There are times when I think God looks down and says, "That's awesome... crazy but awesome!" And there are other times when I'm sure He looks down and wonders what in the world I was thinking... That is also what my wife says. But, this morning I was thinking about this as I read different people's posts on FB or Twitter and at first, I was angry... then saddened by how far we have gone off the deep end in the name of "Grace!" Now, I won't lie and act like I don't do things that are questionable to some... I may say a word or two that some don't approve of, but then my thought is... Who decided that was a bad word? Okay, I don't want to get into that. Anyway, I began to wonder... are we doing people a disservice by throwing grace around like it's nothing? Are we doing more harm than good by pushing the limits of seeing how far we can go and still call ourselves Christians. I'm not here to judge, just throw some questions out there. I've read these great posts on FB with scriptures and God's love and all that and then I also see the pics they've posted from going out and partying with friends. It makes me wander... are we undercover Christians or are do we just not have the cojones to actually live what we say that we believe?

1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of His wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?
Romans 6:1-2


Does the world need to see and know this grace? Absolutely! But, I believe they need to see it through people who have experienced it in a truly personal way and are so thankful for it that even they hate what they were or what they'd done or the life they lived before grace... and they never want to go back there again. Instead, we live to see how much grace we can use in a day's time.


15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?
Romans 6:15-16


"Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?"

No wonder we never get truly free from anything! We play with stuff thinking that it's our slave, never realizing that whatever it is has got us as its slave. We have become slaves to our own lusts... our own desires to have things our way... our selfishness!

God... Father in heaven, please, forgive us for being so into pushing the limits of grace that we never push the limits of our faith. Forgive us for wanting to show the world that you can do this or that... still enjoy this thing... or talk this way and still be a Christian. Help us to begin to push the limits of our faith. Your disciples ministered to people right in the streets... in the marketplace (shopping malls). They were all about pushing the limits to what the "religious" thought it should look like but, in the process, lives were changed... people were healed... many were brought into the kingdom. Father, I believe and live and swim in Your grace, but don't let that ever be an out for actions that I know are not representative of one of Your children. Father, give us a passion to begin to push the limits of our faith. In Your son's name... Amen!

 "I am not an expert on warfare, but it seems to me there are two basic ways to engage in a modern-day war. One is shock and awe. This is when the balance of power is on your side, so you move in the troops, roll in the tanks, and drop bombs from above. The goal is to rapidly destroy your enemies and force them into quick submission…"

Then he writes: "I wonder if, as Christians, we’ve relied on ‘shock and awe’ tactics too much. We’ve tried to attract people to Christianity through our big church buildings, slick presentations, cool music, and quality programs.

The other way is guerrilla warfare. Guerrilla warfare is a method employed when you’re outnumbered by the opposing force. Guerrilla warfare relies on intelligence. You must outthink your enemy.

Just a little food for thought!

"The fuel of worship is a true vision of the greatness of God;

The fire that makes the fuel burn white hot is the quickening of the Holy Spirit;

The furnace made alive and warm by the flame of truth is our renewed spirit;

And the resulting heat of our affections is powerful worship, pushing its way out in confessions,

longings, acclamations, tears, songs, shouts, bowed heads, lifted hands, and obedient lives. "

~ John Piper, Desiring God

 I had a sit down talk with two of my kids last night. I called a meeting at about 8:30 pm to discuss some behavior that I wanted to address in their lives. The one main issue was then NOT doing what they are told to do, or Denise and I having to tell them 2,3,4,8, 10 times to do it.

Let's rewind here... earlier this week Zion was at batting practice. His hardest part of batting practice is waiting for his turn in the cages... he has to be doing something. So, he and a couple of the other boys were playing around with their bats and kept accidentally banging them against each other. So, I told Zion to quit playing with the bats. He would quit for literally a couple of minutes and then he was back at it... especially when he would see the other boys doing it. So, finally I made Zion put his bat down until it was his turn in the batting cages... he sighed and went and put his bat down until it was his turn.

Okay, so yesterday (Sunday... The sabbath... the day of rest... who are we kidding?) Zion was getting his baseball pictures taken and I honestly wasn't feeling great, so I asked Denise if she would mind taking him, and of course she agreed (lordship)... just kidding folks. Well, all the boys were standing around with their bats waiting to have their pictures taken. The coach had already told them to quit playing around with their bats a couple of times and then it happened! One of the boys began crying... so, of course his mother ran to the rescue as any good mother would. Of course... Zion had accidentally hit this boy in the head with his bat. This mother begins to tear into Zion and this is when Mama Bear (I mean Denise) went over to evaluate the situation. By the time she got over to where they were, Zion had apologized... Denise apologized... but apparently that wasn't enough. This lady then lays into Denise and tells her, "Keep your son away from my son!"

Let me pause to say how amazing God is! As Denise told me this story when she got home, I could feel the blood rushing faster and faster through my veins as I listened. I realized, God was watching out for us. I would not have handled this situation as well as my wife did... and, I'll just leave it at that!

My middle child, Sheridan is one of the most loving kids you'll ever meet. (She reminds me so much of myself). She has a habit of leaving her clothes or whatever wherever they may fall. She likes to take a shower in our bathroom, and I don't mind... the problem is she just leaves her dirty clothes, like I said, wherever they may fall. If you go into her room, you'd be lucky to find a place where you could actually see her carpet on the floor (Might I add that she takes this after her older sibling). Last night I walked up stairs and right there in the middle of the hall was a wet towel. So, I asked her why she would just leave a wet towel in the middle of the hallway floor... to which she answered, "That's where it fell off!"

Back to the meeting. When I sat them down I asked them, "You know that your mom and I love you very much, right?", "You know that we want nothing but the best for you, right?" All of to which they answered, "Of course dad!"

I explained to them how when they don't do what we tell them to do, it is disrespect. How if we have to tell them 20x to do the same thing, it is showing disrespect for us and who we are. I then went on to tell them what would be required of them as children of Denise and Kelly Goins. I also went on to tell them that there would be consequences to their actions... good or bad! ( I had to explain what consequences meant to Zion). I explained that I don't like having to punish them, but that I would, and I would stick to what ever punishment was dealt out.

They both agreed and went happily on to bed... to which I might add, I had to start the punishment within 30 minutes of the end of our meeting because they weren't doing what they were told... So tonight, they go to bed an hour early.

"So why do you keep calling me `Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?
                                                                                                       Luke 6:46


Lordship is one of the central messages of the Bible. (Acts 2:36) Jesus is referred to as “Lord” ninety-two times in the book of Acts and 747 times in the whole New Testament, while being referred to as “Savior” only twice in Acts and twenty-four times in the New Testament. The Bible is overwhelmingly emphatic on the concept of Lordship.

Lord means master, the shot caller, the one who makes the decisions. The one whose decisions trumps everyone else's.

Our starting point in becoming a Christian is us acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord... His Lordship. Confessing that Jesus is Lord implies submission to His way in every area of our lives. There's an old saying that I heard growing up, "If Jesus is not Lord of all, He's not Lord at all." We don't have the option of receiving Him as our Savior, but not as our Lord. This is an all-or-nothing proposal.

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9

I'm guilty of not following through with the Lordship part of it. I think we are all guilty of it at one time or another. I told Denise last night in a moment of frustration, "The older I get the more I see how much I lack at being a good father, husband, and especially, Christian."

God forgive me for not being fully committed to Your Lordship in my life. Forgive me for thinking that I can do certain things because I see others doing them, when I know that You have told me not to. For You having to tell me over and over to do things. Forgive me for not being fully submissive to You as Lord and Savior in my life. I have confessed with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, now help me to live it out in my own life. Amen!

Live to please HIM only,

Kelly G

I'm what you would call a casual fisherman.  I don't own a bunch of rods & reels.  I don't have two or three tackle boxes full of different bates for different fish.  

If I'm at my Aunt Shirley's who lives on the lake... I'll grab one of hers or my Uncle Ken's fishing poles and go out to the boat dock or just off the bank with my can full of live worms and bait my hook and throw it in and hope for the best.  I enjoy it as far as that goes, but I'm NOT going to go out of my way to go fishing.  I'm not going to invest a lot of time or money into this, dare I say... sport!  

My uncle Ted on the other hand... he's a different story.  He buys $20,000 bass boats... Nice comfortable swivel chairs for you to cast off of... Trolling motors... and there's no telling how much he has invested in his fishing rods and reels.  He lives, eats, and  breathes it.  I remember working for my uncle Ted many years ago and one day I came into work and he sent all the other guys out on jobs and then he and I loaded up his boat to his truck and headed to the lake... yep, that right... I got paid to go fishing with my uncle Ted.  That's how much he loves it! He's got lures for this fish in various weather conditions... He's got a fish finder that would tell him where the best place to throw your line is... He knew how to cast right up next to old trees and stumps in the water and make that bait work.  He knew how to fish.


Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!"
Mark 1:17 (NLT)

As I read this passage this morning, I realized something.  I don't know how to fish for people.  I mean, yeah I've thrown a line out and got lucky and reeled one in here and there, but as far as knowing how to fish... I DON'T!  I can play the keyboard... sing you a song... preach you a nice sermon... maybe quote you a scripture here and there, but when it comes to fishing for people... I suck!

It's not that I don't want to be good at it... I just really didn't even think about it til this morning when I read this passage and it hit me like a brick in the face.  I'm a follower of Christ.  I'm a worship pastor, but I don't think this is all God had in mind when He called me!

He gifted me with certain abilities and gifts, but were they really just so that I could be a blessing to the church or people who already believe.  Did He do it so that I could help build bigger worship centers or help raise money to keep Christian TV on the air (Let's be honest... the percentage of non-believers who watch Christian TV... not alot).

He gave me (us)  this bait to use to go catch fish (people)! How many of us are NOT using our gifts, abilities (bait), to go fishing in the big lake.  We spend our time in a stocked pond of fish (people) who've already been caught, we're just trying to re-catch them so that we can tell our fish stories about them... show pictures.... talk about the  big one that got away.  As I read this passage this morning and it began to settle in, I was heart broken, ashamed at how I've waisted what God has given me.  Let's check ourselves.  Let's quite fishing in the stocked ponds and head out to where the big lake where God's heart is.  Vs 18 said this, "The left their nets at once and followed Him."

God give us the courage to go to the deep waters... This is what we've been called to do.

Live to please HIM only,

Kelly G