The News is Starting to Leak...

This is what we've been praying for, and word is starting to get out. Check out the latest about Brownback running for prez at the blog by a Washington Post writer. It's the post from Dec. 23. Go God.

On a different note, Christmas was great, but it's late, so I'll write a more detailed account later. I hope you all had a wonderful time yourselves, celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus and spending time with loved ones.

Today's epiphany: dying hurts.

Bound 4 Kansas City!

I've been meaning to post this to my blog, so that whomever is in KC for OneThing and wants to connect, I'm gonna be there! I bought my ticket a couple of weeks ago and have meant to post, but forgot. I am so excited to experience the Lord in Kansas City again this year and also to see some of my friends. I hope to see you all there!

The Ramp

I went to the Ramp in Hamilton, AL, last night with a friend, Erin. I had been looking forward to this time for a couple of weeks now, ever since we made plans. I didn't know much about the Ramp except that Karen Wheaton led it and I got to see her when she and Chosen came to the Rumble back in September at the base in Charlotte. It was a wonderful experience and the Lord really showed up. He just loves being worshipped and adored by His children! A couple of really neat things happened during this trip. Let me explain.

First, on the way, Erin and I were talking about different things regarding this ministry and we started talking about the dramas that they do and how powerful they are. Erin told me that they don't normally perform these dramas on Saturday nights, but on the road or during conferences, unless the Holy Spirit tells them to. I started reminiscing about the only one I'd seen (in Charlotte) done to an Evanescence song and "Breathe, Prophesy" by Todd Ganovski. I was talking about how powerfully it affected me and that I hoped to see it again. So we prayed and asked the Lord to let there please be a drama that night. (I was pretty much begging). A little bit later on we even played the song "Breathe, Prophesy" and jammed right along.

Well, much to our surprise, Miss Karen spontaneously decided that the very drama would be performed! It is yet another testimony that God hears our every request and that it is His delight to outrageously surprise us with even the smallest request. I was blown away.

In addition, I found it very interesting that there was another large group from Atlanta there also. I had met a couple of the girls before at the "Glory Barn" out in Social Circle and the group happened to be an on-fire group of youth that get together to pray, worship, etc. every Friday night at some family's house. Karen asked who they were and even brought one of their leaders on stage to ask about this group because she had noticed how passionately they were worshipping. Well, after the mini-interview, Karen asked all those who were from Atlanta to stand up and she prayed over us. Man, it was powerful. It launched me into intercession and it was all I could do to keep from racing up there to grab the mic to pray, like I was in JHOP or something! She prayed for unity among the churches, the governmental leadership in the city, and even that there would be a Ramp someday in Atlanta! Yes and Amen, Lord!

Last, and of course, not least, I was so humbled that Miss Karen had asked to speak with me afterward. She knew of me through Erin and that we have been pioneering Bound4Life Atlanta. She told Erin a while ago that she would be praying for us and that is how she knows about me. Well, she asked me how it was going and then she prayed and prophesied over me. It was a powerful experience and one that I will not soon forget.

Well, yesterday was my birthday. It kinda snuck up on me, and that was good, 'cause I didn't have any major expectations for it. I had an amazing day. The Lord really kissed me. It started with breakfast in bed from the family I live with. It was so cute. They stuck a single candle in a piece of oatmeal cake that was slightly burnt. It went well with the scrambled (fresh from the chickens outside) eggs, sliced kiwi, raspberry wheat muffin, and hot coffee, complete with a little vase of pansies and homemade card. Breakfast doesn't get any better than that. Plus I got to finish reading The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe before I went to see it later that day.

After breakfast, I went to church, where I had a wonderful time dancing before the Lord and experiencing His delight in me.

Then, I went to see Narnia with some friends. I highly recommend seeing this film. It is exceptional and very moving. I identified with Aslan and who he represented very much. In fact, I cried through most of the film because it is a beautiful allegory to the gospel.

Later, I went to dinner with Mom and Terri (my only sister). We went to a great restaurant in Vinings called Canoe. I had almond-crusted skate wing with artichoke hearts, new potatoes, and sweet peas. It was a marvelous meal, with great company. Thanks Mom!

I really had a wonderful day and got birthday wishes from a lot of good friends. The only thing that could've made the day any better would to have been with my Cause family in DC. I love you guys!

I wish all of my friends the best this next year (of my life) and I can only pray that I am a part of all your good times. Thank you for your friendships.

Removing Christmas from Christmas

We've all seen the recent headlines. We know what is the buzz this Christmas. It is the fact that people want to remove Christmas. It all started with Macy's last year, and now many other retailers are following suit and saying "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas". I've seen it in the paper. I've received emails telling me to boycott certain stores. I even read an article about what the President is sending as his "Christmas" card this year. I've been guilty of it too, taking Christmas out of Christmas, but ironically not this year. A few years ago I said it, even when I believed in Jesus and was all for Christmas.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, because many people are truly getting angry. Part of me grieves that people are trying to take Jesus out of His own birthday. But I have something to admit: part of me wonders "what's the big deal?" Yes, Jesus is the only way, truth, and light, but even God gives people a chance to choose Him. That's the beauty of the gospel. God offers us a choice, because He wants us to choose to love Him, not be forced into in against our will. So why should we make anyone say "Merry Christmas" if they don't want to or don't believe the truth? Remind you of any eleventh century crusades?

On the other hand, I had an epiphany. This issue could be the best thing that has happened to the church. The church is becoming more and more aware that Christianity as we have known it is going out the door. Some are starting to feel a little persecuted and realize that this thing may get worse before it gets better. God really is doing something new in this hour. He is drawing us to Him in a greater way. And if that takes removing "Merry Christmas" from the greetings at Baby GAP this season, then He'll do it.

So, the church is finally standing up to fight for something. Too bad it's not the issue of abortion... yet.

Bound4Life Trip to Kentucky

Last week I went to Kentucky with our Bound4Life team from Atlanta. We went to Henderson, where my pastor has been preaching for about 3 years now, ever since a revival broke out there. They asked us to come a while ago, but the plans to come didn't really materialize until I went there in October at the last minute to hear Pastor Supresa from Africa speak at a conference. That was when I knew we would be back with a B4L team. The others who went were David Turnbull (my spiritual dad), his daughter Kendra, Jerahame Wetzel, and Roger Joyner, who came in from the base in Charlotte. Details of our trip follow.

Kentucky was awesome. We believe that the warriors there will be picking this up and running with it. I even believe that they will be sending a group out to DC for the Rumble in Jan.

We got to KY on Thurs, a few hours before we were to preach. We ate then loaded up. We met for prayer beforehand and we were able to pray over one of the youth pastors involved. The meeting went very well as Roger shared from his heart on the spirit of adoption. Everyone ended up laid out on the floor and the Lord directed me to read Ps.139 over them and speak to them about His love. As we found out later, this was a well-needed drink for all. They had been fighting in some battles for sometime and felt like this was really a kiss from heaven.

Friday was even better. We woke up and went to pray with the high-schoolers AT their school on the basketball court before the school day began. This was an awesome time of intercession, even though it only lasted about 20 minutes. After the bell rang, a lot of kids came streaming through to go to their classes and saw us crying out to God. There were reports of kids later saying that people were having seizures at prayer! I guess there will be some persecution with prayer...

Later that day we were at the apartment where the guys were staying and this woman shows up crying. She was looking for someone else that she thought lived there, but had the wrong apartment (not really). She, her husband, and their son had just been kicked out of the place they were living in and they were completely broken. We were able to talk to them and minister to them the love of Christ.

After that we went to the local pregnancy resource center, called Martha's Place. We met with the director, who just so happens to be the mother of this guy I had met in Georgia, who had been with us during the 31 Days in DC! We took a tour of the place and we were able to minister to her through prayer and prophecy for about 45 minutes. It was very powerful and I believe that she truly was refreshed.

That night when we preached we told most of the history of The Cause and Bound4Life. I also spoke to them a little bit on blood guilt. Then we prayed for a while.

Saturday morning, we met before the Siege to instruct a little on what we were doing, how, and why. Then we laid siege on their courthouse for 2 hours. It was cold and rainy, but the kids really hung in there and did great! We went back to the place we were meeting and had an amazing time connecting with them in a more intimate setting. We debriefed about the Siege and some of them had some wonderful revelation. We were also able to prophesy over them and really encourage them.

Saturday night's message was mostly geared toward building their faith by sharing dreams we've had, how we prayed into them, and how God answered. Another amazing night of teaching, equipping, encouraging, and intercession.

I had a most amazing day today. Part of me is so exhausted that I don't even want to write this, but I know that if I put if off it will just start to pile up (kinda like my emails lately).

It started off kinda rocky and I had to work through some things in my heart and with a friend, but afterward, the Lord really kissed me. I think going through the junk just prior to that was also a kiss from heaven, because the Lord was answering a prayer that I do not want anything in my life that will hinder love.

So, Roger and I set out for a meeting with the Georgia Right to Life people and we were blown away, mostly because the Lord's hand was all over it. The guy we met with had actually been to my church and had met Roger before (but not me since I was in DC at the time), but it took a few minutes for them to put the pieces together. The meeting was great and we really felt like we established a good relationship with the different directors. We feel that the Lord strategically linked us up and that He is setting the stage for major victory in Atlanta.

Next, we head over to IHOP for the all-staff intercession set that just so happens to be right smack in the middle of the extended Global Bridegroom Fast. Let's just say that the meeting exploded as the spirit of intercession fell on us. The set was scheduled to end at 6pm, but they didn't even transition out until around 6:45! This was amazing. And all we were doing was basically crying out for the Lord to "COME!" This was a kiss from heaven straight up. God just loves to hear His kids crying out to Him for something that is SO on His heart. I literally sensed the Lord's extreme pleasure with this House.

After that we drove on to see Pastor LaRue Atkinson speak at my church. All the way there Roger and I are still gripped with intercession and it does not stop. We get there and Holy Spirit breaks in. It is hard to explain what exactly happened. All I know is that I couldn't stay in my chair. I was on the floor for the majority of the time. For those of you that know me, this never happens. Mr. Atkinson started talking about this angel that was in the room that had a mantle of inheritance. That's when it began. I fell out of my chair and began moaning. I think other things were going on too, but I have no idea. I was totally gripped by what he was prophesying over us. He literally spoke the same things I have been hearing all day and at that point I realized that the Lord was speaking to me.

First of all He re-confirmed the fact that He is building up Atlanta to be a beacon. He first spoke this to me in August after I saw Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (which is awesome). He told me that Atlanta was going to be like one of those beacons in the movie. He spoke this to me specifically about Bound4Life, but I believe that it goes hand-in-hand with the word spoken about Atlanta about it being a City of Refuge. Today, twice, two different people prayed that prayer. I am really in awe. God is so cool.

Secondly, this morning I was praying Prov. 3:4-5. I prayed that he would make my paths straight. Again, two different people prayed that prayer, not necessarily over me, but they prayed it out and it struck me that the Lord is answering that prayer for me. He really is making my paths straight. Thank you Jesus!

Needless to say, I drank deeply of that "new wine" tonight. I was laid out on the floor for almost the entire talk. Because the Spirit was so thick, especially when LaRue began to prophesy and pray and other people were laid out to, no one really seemed to care. I barely made it home. I do not want to leave this place. This is good. This is God.