Christian and his frog. Christian is an animal fanatic. He is currently writing and illustrating a book he calls...Animals of the Pacific Northwest...he has 200 so far. If only he could keep his room clean...
 

Christian's pet frog. 

Here is a great shot of Kona our black lab. My oldest son Christian took this picture today. 

No light beer...here.

Any book that has a chapter called "The sin of light beer" is going to be interesting.
I am not a night reader at all, I fall asleep reading, quicker than a man buying kotex.
I read about 50 pages last night laying down before I started dozing off.
That's a sign that this is a good read.
I love Mark's style, his humor and his balls to say what needs to be said.
This is a great book, read more about it here.

Man Cave...

I'm so cutting edge, I make myself bleed.
Mine is the Man Hole...theirs is the Man Cave...every man should have one.
Here are some ideas.

It is done...

I voted by mail today...thank God it is over.

Never storm the judgement...

A Masterpiece excites no sudden enthusiasm; it must be studied much and long before it is fully comprehended; we must grow up to it, for it will not descend to us. Its influence is less sudden, more lasting. Its emphasis grows with familiarity.
We never become disenchanted; we are more and more awe-struck at its infinite wealth. We discover no trick, for there is none to discover. Homer, Shakespeare, Raphael, Beethoven, Mozart, never storm the judgement; but once fairly in possession, they retain it with increasing influence.
-Lewes

Blabber mouth...

The power to converse well is a very great charm. You think anybody can talk? How mistaken you are. Anybody can chatter. Anybody can exchange idle gossip. Anybody can recapitulate the troubles of the kitchen, the cost of the last new dress, and the probable doings of the neighbors. But to talk wisely, instructively, freshly and delightfully, is an immense acomplishment. It implies exertion, observation, study of books and people, and receptivity of impression.
-Ruskin

Prophetic mantle...

It is in response to this challenge that increasing numbers of churches are planting congregations with the express intention of reaching youth cultures and enabling young people to worship in their own ways. Amidst the struggles and challenges associated with all church planting and the particular pressures of being young, there are some wonderful models emerging, particularly in England.

 

Many of these are attracting unchurched teenagers and exercising a profile and prophetic mantle disproportionate to their current size.

-Pete Greig (from the book Awakening Cry)

 

Without sounding overly self-promoting or vainglorious, I feel this to be true for us as well.

 

There is a tangible anointing that extends beyond the present and has a far reaching impact; though the actual size of the group is average. There are moments when we have accomplished things that seemed reserved for only large ministries and when retold it often seems silly when the actual size of our group is brought to light. The activities and works of our history have been larger than our size would seem to produce. It's often been a bewildering aspect of leading this band of young people.

 

I find I resonate with the truth found in David's 30+ mighty men more than a large host or crowd. We have found precious moments and opportunities available for us due to our movable, mobile and fluid size.  

 

Oh for just a full quiver of fine crafted arrows for the hand of this warrior (Psalms 127)

Ferocious dance...

Last night at New Generation Youth church... There was a raging fire.
A fire of dance broke out during worship that exploded into a firestorm of prophesy, prayer, worship and as someone called it...ferocious dance.

It was powerful...The Spirit of God was rocking the house!

There was a convergence of the ravishing heart beat of God and His passion for youth and an unleashing of passion in dance and worship from an awakened, dancing generation back to Him.

The word and spirit of prophesy that swept through the room was awesome.
You could hear the shackles falling to the floor as young people learned to worship God with all their strength. You could feel the pounding passion of lives being loosened as their feet beat out a prayer to Father.
The thunder and roar of HIGH praise shook the dead right out of their comas...

It was electrifying!

Enter the DJ...

Spirit and Sound: the connection of the vertical and horizontal, where our world and God's world become intertwined. Sonic vibrations translated into Spiritual Power.

The ancient people of God knew of this connection. The horns were played before the battle, musicians were used to calm and bring healing, to fight evil spirits, to assist the prophets to hear the word of the Lord, to bring glory and honor to the one true God.

In those days it was the Harp, Drum, Cymbal, and Horn. Today, along with those instruments, are the Turntables, CD players, Drum Machines, Samplers and Computers. These are the tools of our modern day temple musicians. Except now there is no more temple fixed to one location. We are the temple. This temple is beyond any one city. Our temple is mobile, global, diverse in sight and sound. But God's Spirit is the same. God has given us modern ways to express and engage with ancient truths.
Enter the DJ -Kenny Mitchell 2002

I love this picture, it is in my office. It captures the movement of what I believe God is doing now. Raising the phoenix. He is raising a new generation out of the ashes of destruction, lethargy, complacency, sin, brokeness and meaningless existence. A fiery bird she is...full of zeal and passion.
 

I received an invitation to speak at AZUZA EUROPE, a Christian conference in Holland in March 2005. I am praying about it.
 

Tongues of angels...

It is a certain sound of joy without words...it is the expression of a mind poured forth in joy...A man rejoicing in his own exultation, after certain words which cannot be understood, bursteth forth into sounds of exultation without words, so that it seemeth that he...filled with excessive joy cannot express in words the subject of that joy.

-St. Augustine (354-430)

If you think you are not good enough...

The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...
Noah was a drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Isaac was a daydreamer.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Joseph was abused.
Moses had a stuttering problem.
Gideon was afraid.
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young.
David had an affair and was a murderer.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah preached naked.
Jonah ran from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt.
John the Baptist ate bugs.
Peter denied Christ.
The Disciples fell asleep while praying.
Martha worried about everything.
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once.
Zaccheus was too small.
Paul was too religious.
Timothy had an ulcer.
AND
Lazarus was dead!

What do you have that's worse than that?
So no more excuses!
God can use you to your full potential.
Besides you aren't the message,
you are just the messenger.
Link

Thank God....

For however devoted you are to God, you may be sure that he is immeasurably more devoted to you.
-Meister Eckhart

Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite...this movie is simply awesome!
I haven't laughed so much at a flick in a long time.
I've seen it twice and I could easily see it again.
Yessssss! Brilliant.

NASA Hubble telescope photo of the EYE OF GOD. Simply amazing!
 

Here is a soldier stationed in Iraq, stationed in a big sand box.
He asked his wife to send him dirt, fertilizer and some grass seeds so he can have the sweet aroma and feel the grass grow beneath his feet. If you notice, he is even cutting the grass with a pair of a scissors. Sometimes we are in such a hurry that we don't stop and think about the little things that we take for granted. Upon receiving this, please say a prayer for our soldiers that give (and give up) so unselfishly for us.
 

Saw this at www.watersedge.tv and it made me think of revolution...soul revolution. Forget the former things, behold new things are springing forth. Will you not perceive it?
 

Our God is an all consuming fire. This last Wednesday was a furnace of fire at New Generation youth church. God is birthing the promise of dreams, prayers and the sowing of tears. You could sense His eyes of fire searching hearts and igniting new passion and hot fervor in cold hearts. It was awesome...an epicenter for sure and the rumblings are continuing to be felt...
 

Pure Defiance

I don't know what it means for others, but a follower of Jesus Christ, what it means to live on the edge is to stand at the epicenter of where the kingdom of God confronts the kingdom of darkness. When evil raises its ugly head, taunting God and tormenting the weak, the adventurer rises up and moves toward the challenge.

You can not advance the kingdom of God with people who are in retreat.

No phobia, no fear, just pure defiance...leaning forward , seizing the divine moments, advancing the kingdom of God. -Erwin McManus

You may die this week...

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going to lunch in a half hour?" She would gas up and stammer, "I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain." And my personal favorite: "It's Monday." .She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches.. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Stevie toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going to," "I plan on," and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit."

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow." And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say "Hi"?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over. (I recieved this from a friend in a FW email)

O God, you have taught me from my youth.
I have constantly told others about the wonderful things you do.
Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, Your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
-Psalms 71:15-18
This is one of my favorite pictures of my buddy Scott. Your day is dawning my brother... 

My brother Marc on the left, me and Fred, my Dad on the right. It is one of my favorite pictures of us. 

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. -1 John 4:18
 

Micah and his pumpkin. 

This pumpkin swallowed Alicia's arm...
 

Christian get's all industrial on his pumpkin. 

Austin Digging for pumpkin guts...I don't know what it is about my boys, they are always running around without shirts, even though it's mid October!