I sit watching you again. My strong-willed, smart, curious son. You are deciding whether or not to trust me...again. How many times have we been through this same place? Going around in circles it seems. Back into the wilderness of testing. More natural consequences. More frustration and anger on both our parts. More difficult navigation… Continue reading A Parent’s View of Obedience
Build altars in the places where I remind you who I am, and I will come and bless you there. Exodus 20:24 The people of God were always building altars in places where God showed up and did the impossible. These are the places where He told them who He was. These are the places… Continue reading Altar Stones
There is a religion that is deeply meaningful to a person, deeply touching, deeply emotional, but with absolutely no real result or healing. The Christian religion is not simply about a declaration of belief, outward signs devotion, or obeying a moral code. It is also not a distant fear of a God you do not… Continue reading Converts From Empty Religion to Vibrant Relationship
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:7 The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10 Prophecy is the voice of God for our world spoken through those who know Him. Prophecy is perceiving God’s thoughts for your community, your friend, or your own… Continue reading HOW TO START A HOUSE CHURCH #15: The Gift of Prophecy and Tongues
She comes close to me, her little six-year old eyes dancing in the delight she finds in mine. Yes. Her delight reflects mine still. She is not listening to others' opinions of her. I am the loudest voice in her head still. She knows full well I delight in her. She is confident in my… Continue reading The Treasure Room
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRY6NnIDT8k "Come and See" is written from the story of the woman at the well who meets Jesus, and then goes from hiding in her sin to proclaiming His ability to really see her. The Messiah sees all we have done…and still offers us abundant life, and real healing encounters with Yahweh, the God of… Continue reading SOIL Stories Behind the Songs: Come and See
They have this shell around them, this "outside me" so carefully crafted, so "clean," so redacted, through fear and applause of men. But I don't care about that. I'm not so easily content with good behavior. I'm working on something deeper. I look at the heart, not at the outward appearance of things. I'm disciplining… Continue reading Discipling Hearts vs. Behavior Modification: What I Desire
A few days ago, I explored how this idea of spiritual abuse can be misused to falsely accuse ministers of the gospel who are actually simply preaching a pure gospel. Now I want to focus on the situations in which abuse can and does happen in our churches. I want to explore ways that pastors,… Continue reading How Not to Grow: Why Worldly Models of Ministry Expansion Lead to Abuse and Moral Failure
I want to start out saying that if you have been sexually or physically abused by people in churches, members of church groups, or by spiritual leaders, please report these as crimes to your church leaders and local police. This post is not being offered to discourage the legal actions you may need to take… Continue reading Actual Abuse vs. False Allegations of “Spiritual Abuse” in the Church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3paxEh_5JJg Fun facts: Those shakers you hear in the beginning are shekeres from West Africa. They are strung and covered on the outside with dried white seeds that are called "Job's Tears." Playing them over this song is a prophetic word that "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who… Continue reading SOIL Stories Behind the Songs: Just Soil
