My newest theory is that Barak's comments on Monday Night Football about an 8 team collegiate football playoff were made such as to get more votes. I'm betting he won Ohio, Pennsylvania, and at least 2 other states for this very comment....and probably got another 2,000,000 - 3,000,000 votes from disgrunted fans. i.e. "Who cares what ELSE he cares for....this dude wants a College Football playoff....what could be more important than that???"

To all of those disgruntled SEC fans from years past who let this swing your opinion....you make me proud.

Note: Hyperbole was used in the making of this blog.

Additional Note: I'm Daniel and I approve of this blog.

Callousness of heart

Sometimes it's hard not to become hard-hearted. To see the ever increasing frequency and intensity of disaster in the world.

I was just alerted of a terrible earthquake that struck Pakistan today - very close to the Bibleless People Group for whom I have been praying for over 3 years.

Lord, have mercy !

In Christ Alone

These words really spoke to me last night at 'The Gathering' at Perimeter Church.


"In Christ Alone" lyrics by Stuart Townsend and Keith Getty


Lyrics:
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid
Ground,firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell! No scheme of man!
Can ever pluck me from His hand!
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand!

A prayer

"Dear Jesus,
Oh, Lord, sometimes the idea of eternal conscientious torment for those who deny you is such a grevious thing for me to bear. Oh, Lord, that it was not this way! Oh Lord, Oh Lord, that even Lucifer could serve a finite number of millions of years in the lake of fire and then be completely annihilated !

It's strange to me, Oh God, that your justice views sin as an infinite crime against your Holiness and worthy of an infinite eternal sentencing. This is very hard for me to think about, Jesus.

I pray that you'll someday help me be more ok with this than I am now. Right now, I sit here and shudder. I know many who belittle your gifts and scorn your Lordship. I think it would take a Rapture-like event to get some of their attention.

Oh, that they would not have to hit rock bottom 1st! But, LORD, I pray that you do whatever you need to do to this side of heaven to allow for them to acknowledge you as Savior and as LORD. That they could share with me the blessing of your love, redemption, and mercy. That they would understand their own lostness and need for a Savior. That the offense of the cross would disappear and that heartfelt thankfulness would reign in its place.

But even if I never understand this stuff, you're still a good God and your steadfast love endures forever."

Love you Jesus,
Your Ramblin' Dan

Aslan is on the move

He's on the move. There's no doubt.

Come in the garden of my heart, Aslan.

And, trusting in your sovereignty, may I continue to take great risks for the kingdom and send fear a packing....

I AM vs. I am not

Who is like you?
Who holds the stars in place?
Who is Holy?
I AM.
Who ordained that the universe come into existence?
Who thought photosynthesis up?
Who created the human eye to be able to do 200 Calculus V level computations every second? Who makes all thing new?
Who is self-existent?
Who is Uncreated?
I AM.
Who is worthy of praise?
Who reconciled all things to Himself?
Who did this, so that, in all thing, he might gain the supremacy?
I DID.
Who is outisde of space and time?
I AM.
Who knew this situation would play out like this?
I DID.
Who is gonna use it for His glory?
I AM.
Who numbered the hairs on my head and knows the positioning of every particle in space?
I DID AND I DO.
Who is returning as King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
I AM!
Who is the Ancient of Days?
Who is the Great I AM?
I AM!
Who loves me more than I know?
Who is the embodiment of all things good, just, holy, and wonderful?
I AM.
Who is like I AM?
i am not.
Who is Perfect?
i am not.
Who needs help every single day?
i do.

Forgiveness

The world perceives forgiveness as madness;
“Hold on to your hate" - they tell us.
In the Count of Monte Cristo - we almost
Applaud when Dantes says "my hate is all I have left."
"Let her share in your misery" - the flesh cries out.

But unforgivness is like a low grade fever
Simmering on the back burner
Smoldering
Eating away at life and limb
It eats at us way more than them -
Those that we have not forgiven.

Fear leads to anger and anger to hat
eHate - to the dark side - ask Vader
His unforgiveness was his undoing
Although just a story - much truth in knowing
The power unforgiveness holds.

Release it! Let it go !
Not worth the price to hold it so !
New life beckons at the end of dark tunnels
Courage to walk them is bread through tough turmoils
A better life - freed from the burdens.

Sever the bond to the former dark things,
That's the life that forgivness brings !
And there's great joy in forgiving -
Forgivness brings great hope
Reconciling God to man, man to woman, and woman to man.

A Prayer for Alaska: The Least Churched Final Frontier

Alaska - the least churched state of all
With such great beauty - how have you missed the Great Call?
The Divine Invitation of Sacred Redemption
God's Substitution for all your transgression.

We implore you, Alaska, to abandon to Christ,
Your self-reliance is noble but it comes with a price.
We implore you to leave the things you've deemed to be best;
When tested with fire they won't stand the test.
But there is One Thing that will and I call out His Name -
JESUS! Heat up Alaska, give them thirst for Your Fame!
Melt the glaciers of apathy, false belief, and sin,
Open the floodgates for the Light to come in!

Pacific Northwest: A Cry for Oregon and Washingon

Oh what a beautiful region you are -
Heaven on earth in a great many ways,
But from God oh you have drifted so far;
Where are the faithful? Who still obeys?

Wake up, Oh Church - arise from thy sleep!
A new day dawns to sow and to reap.
Oh heathens - have you missed The Source of your nature?
He loves you, He is Sovereign, Your Peace, Your Creator.

Who is this Creator? He's the King of the Wood.
Narnia calls him Aslan - as they rightfully should !
But what do you call Him - this Lion King?
I hope not "a moral teacher with a good lesson to bring."

He's way more than that - worthy to have His name ring
From the highest mountain to the deepest ravine!
Oh who is this Creator that makes my heart sing?
His name is JESUS and on the white horse He's COMING!

Prayer Focus: California - Oh, how my soul longs for you

"Long have you been know as 'Californication',
Oh, that God would heal you and our nation !
May the 'stars' no longer guide us,
But in their place may we put Your Eternal Brightness.

It's not about a new car or toy,
Its in Your Presence where we find true peace and joy.
Oh California, quit hungering for the fleeting!
God, give California eyes for seeing -

Seeing that which is unseen
Bring them to repentance, show them their need!
Their real need is not met with fortune or fame,
For salvation belongs to NO OTHER NAME!

The name? JESUS! And to Him we cry out!
Awaken California; let there be no more doubt -
That you reign on high and that your plans will prevail
On the cross you were pierced with a spear and a nail.

Pierced for California, may they see your great love!
May they abandon the former, may You come like a flood!
Flood California with mercy and grace!
May even Hollywood become a sacred space!"

Tomorrow: Oregon or Washington...unless someone nominates another state.

=D aniel

The Call - 4 days away

I sit here and wonder what are my expectations for The Call. I am very excited. I don't have any expectations, except to be wowed by the LORD.

God, bring healing to our nation!
Be the I AM in the phrase "I AM going to do it!"
Humbly we ask for you to move,
May we walk in your trail blazed, your path - your groove.

Desperate for more than quid pro quo
A nation in peril this I do know.
Killing our babies, the environment too -
Oh! that hearts and minds would turn back to you!

Oh! That it start with one and then spread like a virus!
Be the wind in our sails-let your glory inspire us.
Though darkness may last through the night,
Give us the grit to FIght, FIGht, FIGHt, FIGHT!

Something crazy

I got to go to the International House of Prayer this past Sunday (IHOP... =)).

Let me just say that I can't wait to go back and read the books of the Law. Do you realize that Moses lay prostrate in front of God for FORTY days and did not drink water or eat food? He didn't even move! For 40 days !

Why? Because he cared about the people and wanted to intercede for them for great was their sin.

May I be a modern day Moses and intercede for my friends, family, and the nations.

Come, Lord Jesus, come !

Blogspot is where it's at

Ok - I'll join the train. I write Facebook blogs but maybe I'll join Blogger so my audience can become more broad. Where to take this blog....or what kind of motif to go for? Hmmm....well, it'll probably have God's glory at the core.