Possibly my first tattoo. 

The only thing that calms my kid down when he gets out of control...is a car ride. 

Most small groups are anything but redemptive powerhouses because, while the wineskin might be the right size, they don’t have the right wine. You can do some study till you’re blue in the face, and it won’t heal the brokenhearted or set the captives free. We come; we learn; we leave. It is not enough. Those hearts remain buried, broken, untouched, unknown. It is the Way of the Heart … that turns a small fellowship into a redemptive community.
-John Eldredge
 

Luv it... 

Cowboys...

Cowboys:

1. They were never looking for trouble.
2. But when trouble came, they faced it with courage.
3. They were always on the side of right.
4. They defended good people against bad people.
5. They had high morals.
6. They had good manners.
7. They were honest.
8. They spoke their minds and they spoke the truth, regardless of what people thought or "political correctness," which no one had ever heard of back then.
9. They were a beacon of integrity in the wild, wild West.
10. They were respected. When they walked into a saloon, the place became quiet, and the bad guys kept their distance.
11. If in a gunfight, they could outdraw anyone. If in a fist fight, they could beat up anyone.
12. They always won. They always got their man. In victory, they rode off into the sunset.

A man with a hat...

I voted for Bush, and I am glad he won.
Not because I think he has done everything right or I have no issues with some of his domestic and some international policies, I do.

It was his hat...

I like cowboys, not in a gay sense, but as a cultural spine.
I live in the West, and I value men who are men. Sorry if that rubs anyone wrong but it's true. I want a man for a leader and I think Bush is a good man, not a perfect man but an honest and earthy man. Not a pretty man, a politically correct man, a girlie man or a man that wears pants but has panties underneath. Give me a man in a truck with a cowboy hat any day over a man in a Toyota or minivan. You can have your saxophone, I'll take one with a pair of boots, a dog and a ranch.

OK...notice, nice back yard and pretty black lab acting like an innocent little canine. Reality...she is a terrorist.
She is out to systematically destroy my fragile little ecosystem located in the back of my house. She digs holes in the soft grass, rips to shred anything that she can wrap her slobbery jowls around. She has chewed trees, rakes, toys, ropes, deck, clothing and even the very cement patio. Yesterday I found my sprinkler control's chewed to bits along with the wires along the side of my house...all shredded. She has even gnawed on the cables from my outside heat pump to the house. I find small little birdies cast mercilessly in the lawn after she has tormented them for play. Nothing is safe from this canine carnivore.
I am a prisoner in my own home..please help me.
 

I saw it last night and I really enjoyed it. I know it got raked over the coals in the reviews but I thought it was a good ride.  

Micah as the Hulk...if you know Micah, you know this is the perfect costume. 

Christian as a very big Dwarf...Austin the Ninja, and Ashley as Cleopatra. 

Destiny and her friend Stephanie dressed as hippies...Blauer Flower Power. 

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!