Ready To See The Sun Stand Still!

I just finished Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick, and all I can say is WOW!!
I picked this book the other day with the intent to get it started, but it got me started!! I read 2/3 of the book in one sitting… I literally couldn’t put it down!!
This book isn’t incredible because it is theologically deep. It’s not life changing because of the new revelations that it contains. I think what makes it amazing is that it is really simple. (I love a “deep” read, and even though this isn’t one, it won’t let you down!) This book didn’t reveal new biblical information to me. It didn’t give me deeper incite into the historical or sociological events of the Bible. It did, however, light a fire in my heart to see God make history in the world today!
Steven Furtick looks at the event that in Sunday School we called, “Joshua’s Long Day.” The day that the sun stood still so that the battle could be completed. He weaves in some of his incredible personal story, and in the end, you are left amazed at how much more capable God is that we generally give Him credit for.
Here’s an excerpt:

“This book is not a Snuggie.
The words on these pages will not go down like Ambien.
I’m not writing to calm or coddle you.
With God’s help, I intend to incite a riot in your mind. Trip your breakers and turn out the lights in your favorite hiding places: insecurity and fear. Then flip the switch back on so that God’s truth can illuminate the divine destiny that may have been lying dormant inside you for years. In short, I’m out to activate your audacious faith. To inspire you to ask God for the impossible. And in the process, to reconnect you with your God-sized purpose and potential.”

I could write about this book all day, but it would probably be easier for you to check it out. I’m attaching a couple of links so you can see for yourself.
At the risk of sounding like some kind of slimy salesman, you should definitely add this book to your reading list! Its that good!

To check out a quick excerpt:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601423221&view=excerpt

You can download the first 25 pages if you click this one:
http://multnomahemails.com/wbmlt/pdf/SneakPeekSunStandStill.pdf

Click this and you’ll see a quick video from Steven Furtick as he talks about Sun Stand Still faith:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/2010/04/26/video-audacious-faith-as-explained-by-pastor-steven-furtick/

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

A Letter To Phil

I know there are a lot of books in the Bible, and I know we all have our favorites. Some of us stick to the Gospels because we love to read about Jesus and what He did. Others of us like the Old Testament stories of war and victory, so there’s a lot of Joshua & the Samuels being read. Then there’s a group that is obsessed with End Times prophecies, so they stick to Daniel, Revelation, etc. But there are a lot of small books that we overlook… We don’t give them too much attention unless they support our point or argument. The Apostle Paul wrote one of these books (really it’s a letter) to his good buddy Phil (Philemon).
Philemon is a really short letter. Paul gets right to the point! He starts off by thanking Phil for his generosity and love, but then Paul asks for a favor. Paul asks Philemon to reinstate the membership of a wayward brother, Onesimus. Really, Onesimus was a runaway slave…. And not just any slave, he was Philemon’s slave! In those days, you didn’t just bring back runaway slaves, you killed them!! So Paul’s request is kind of a big deal!
Here’s what hit me like a ton of bricks while I read this: Paul doesn’t just ask Philemon to take Onesimus back and put up with him or tolerate him. Paul isn’t asking for mercy or leniency. Paul asks Phil to love the runaway! He doesn’t just say “Don’t kill him,” Paul asks Philemon to treat him like a brother. He asks for Phil to show him love!
Paul even goes on to say that if Onesimus owes anything to Philemon, to charge it to him! Check it out:
If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it. Philemon 18-19a NLT
Paul says that he will personally pay Onesimus’ debt!
Recently, I was in a class on childhood development, and the teacher said something that has stuck with me. She said that troubled children don’t need to be tolerated. They don’t need our patience… They need our love! They don’t need to be “put up with,” they need to be adored. They need to know that there is someone in this world whose face lights up when they enter the room. They need to be the object of someone’s affection.
I think that is the way Paul looked at Onesimus, and that is what he was asking Philemon to do.
That is the way Jesus looks at us. He doesn’t just tolerate us. He doesn’t put up with us. He is not simply patient with us. He adores us! His face lights up when He thinks of us! He loves us!! He has even said, just like Paul, “Whatever debt they owe, charge it to me… I’ll pay for it!”
What a humbling thought it is to know that Jesus loves imperfect and impure people with a perfect and pure love. We are so undeserving…. But so thankful!!

Review of SOUL PRINT

So, I've recently started a new "job." I'm reviewing Christian books, and posting my reviews online. the best part is that they "pay" me with free books to review!!
So, I just finished reading SOUL PRINt by Mark Batterson. I'm pasting in my online review below. This really is a book that everyone should read!!

SOUL PRINT would be considered typical Mark Batterson, if Mark Batterson could be in any way considered typical. I'm convinced that he could write about soil composition and keep it interesting enough to sell books!
In SOUL PRINT, Mark Batterson talks about a couple of the buzzwords we hear and use in the Christian world: identity and destiny. Even though these are pretty common terms, SOUL PRINT takes a very different look at them.
Through the life of David, we see that our identity isn't just who we are now, but it is also who we have been, and who we are going to become... And God is interested in us seeing His point of view about all three! SOUL PRINT helps us find how God wants to redeem our past, possess our present, and direct our future... He loves every part of us, and our destiny is wrapped up in understanding that!
As far as I'm concerned, every Christian should have this book on their reading list (I am a Pastor, and I am planning on buying a copy for every new Believer in our church!). New Christians and "seasoned saints" will find something for them in SOUL PRINT. This absolutely is a must read!!

Immanuel!!

Its Christmas morning, so I’ll try to keep this short and sweet…
Christmas is like no other day. Presents, food, wrapping paper scraps that you find in April… There’s just nothing else like it!! For some, it is simply a celebration of family. To others, it’s a mildly religious celebration, but a great excuse to spend money and get stuff. And to one more group, it is a day of profound meaning and blessing because of the Person that we celebrate. No matter which group you fall into, I think we can all recognize that the reason Christmas is so unique is because the One we celebrate on this day is so unique!!
There are a lot of things and people that get worshipped in our world… There are a lot of different gods. Some gods, are just things that we spend way too much time obsessing over, like money, cars, etc. Some gods are people that have done their best to be set apart from the rest of us and be worthy of worship (they’ve done the supernatural)… Then there is a group of gods that has always been in another realm. They kinda just hang out there, and maybe people bug them from time to time. But the God we celebrate at Christmas is just a little different…
Jesus isn’t just an object we obsess over (in fact, very few of us probably give Him the attention He deserves). He’s not a guy who did some crazy stuff and now we build statues in His honor. He’s not a deity that keeps His distance so that He doesn’t get easily annoyed. He is Immanuel!!
Immanuel is what the angel said Jesus would be called in Matthew 1:23, and it means, “God with us.” Our God didn’t ascend from amongst us, or sit in Heaven looking down on us… He became one of us!! He is Immanuel!!! He is with us!! He has walked more than a mile in our shoes (He even walked in our skin!). The book of Hebrews says He faced temptation and trials. He suffered the scourge of our sin, and ultimately died our death…. And He didn’t have to… He didn’t have to be Immanuel…
He could have kicked back in Heaven and let us be destroyed by our own wickedness and sinfulness. He could have let us keep digging our grave. But He didn’t! He became one of us. He then took the grave-digging shovel from our hands, and laid down in that grave. He died our death. He paid our penalty. And He didn’t have to. He had a pretty good view from Heaven, but He gave it up and became Immanuel.
Immanuel is why we celebrate this day… Don’t forget to take a few minutes to thank Him…

The Problem With Following Stars

I was camping with my family this summer when my oldest son pointed out something that I knew, but I had forgotten. He said “Man Dad, look at all the stars you can see when you’re camping!” We like in Salt Lake City, and just like any other city, sometimes you just don’t see the stars (add in the fact that Salt Lake has some of the worst air quality in the country, and you really don’t see stars!) So, the problem with following stars, is that you don’t always know where they are!
That’s what happens to the Wise Men in the first part of Matthew 2. They say they got to Jerusalem by following the star they saw rise in honor of King Jesus. But after they got to Jerusalem, apparently the star wasn’t all that apparent! So, what do you do when your star isn’t there anymore? What do you do when the plan you’ve been following isn’t giving you the answers?
As Christians, we are following God with our lives. There are many times that we feel like we know exactly where we are going and what we are doing. You’ve gotta love those days where you can wake up quoting Jeremiah 29:11 and walk out the rest of that day in the confidence of its truth. There are certainly days when the star you’re following (God’s plan that you’re following) is bright and clear.
But then again, there are those days when the star isn’t shining. There are those days when you don’t know why God loves you, or what His plan is for you. Those are those days when you almost want to find a happy Christian that’s full of purpose and plan, and punch them in the face!! Why?? Because you don’t see the star… You can’t see God’s plan or His direction for your life… You can’t figure out what to do or where to go…
So, what did the Wise Men do when they didn’t have a star to follow?? They kept on task! They continued their mission! They took up the navigating! They went around Jerusalem asking if anyone knew where they could find this new King that had been born. They didn’t let a change in the plan hold the plan back. They knew they had been directed by God. And what God starts, God finishes!!
Check out what happens! Once they’ve asked around, and they know which direction they should be going, Matthew 2:9 says that the start reappeared!!! God’s plan seemed to have disappeared, but really, His plan was for the Wise Men to do a little bit of the direction-finding for themselves.
So, what do you do when your star disappears? Keep going! Keep moving forward! Keep pursuing God’s plan!! Keep going in the direction that God has been guiding your life! You may never be certain that the direction you’ve chosen is the right one. But after you do your best to keep following God’s plan, trust that the plan disappearing actually was part of the plan!! Just keep going!!
The problem with following stars is that you can’t always see them (kinda sounds like following God!). But, when we can’t see the star, when we can’t see the plan, we need to keep pursuing the King!! We need to keep seeking Jesus!! We need to keep moving toward our ultimate goal… Just like the Wise Men did. We need to keep getting ourselves closer and closer to being able to bow down before the King in worship.

Andy's Commentary on Prayer

Someone sent me this commentary on prayer from Andy Rooney. Not only does Mr. Rooney make some great points, but any guy named Andy is a guy I will listen to for at least a minute or two! Take a minute to check it out!
Andy Rooney says (and Andy Smith agrees!):
I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin , but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution.
Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.
But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.
Yes, and this is the United States of America and Canada , countries founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna?
If I went to a football game in Jerusalem , I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.
If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad , I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.
If I went to a ping pong match in China , I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.
And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome .....
But what about the atheists? Is another argument.
What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humour us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!
Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.
Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.
God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.
The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want. It is time that the majority rules! It's time we tell them, "You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honour Him. That is your right, and we will honour your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!"
God bless us one and all...Especially those who denounce Him, God bless America and Canada , despite all our faults, We are still the greatest nations of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.
Let's make 2011 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions. And our military forces come home from all the wars.
Keep looking up.

Rescue Me- A Modern-Day Psalm

Something I wrote a while back....

I’m lost…
I’m confused…
I don’t know which way to go or what to do.
I’m not sure there’s anything that can be done.
I feel alone.
You said You’d always be there, but I don’t know where You are now. I feel like I’m alone on an island. The only people here seem to make me more sure of the fact that I am up against the impossible.
This can’t be done….
I am opposed. I am disliked. I am talked about behind my back. I am in the crosshairs.
And the worst part is, I feel like I am hurting Your image and Your reputation. If people can’t follow me to You, will they get there on their own?
I know You are everywhere, but where are You now.
I need You…
I need Your strength
I need Your wisdom
I need Your direction
I need to know that I am not alone
I need You to rise in Your strength and Your power and defend me
I need You to come to me in Your love and compassion and hold me
I need You to look at me in Your grace and Your mercy and forgive me…
Forgive me for not trusting You…
You have never let me down. You have never failed me.
You have never given me a reason to doubt Your ability
I need Your eyes to see what mine cannot
I need Your strength to carry me because I am weak
I need You to come to my rescue.
Please don’t hesitate… Rescue me…