THURSDAY THOUGHTS, MY PET PEEVES

I don't know why, but I thought i would share with you some things that probably shouldn't bother me, but they do.

1. people who pull out in front of you super slow, then purposely stay in your lane refusing to accelerate, when the other lane was completely available. Coupled with this is people who drive slow in the fast lane. It should be reserved for law breaking speeders like me who need to pass those pansies who drive the speed limit.

2. there is a young women who works at a gas station that I frequent who calls me and other male patrons "sweetie" or "hon" or other seemingly innocent terms of endearment. Although I don't think she means it to be annoying, it really bothers me. I can handle an 80 year old lady calling me sweetie, but not a girl ten years younger than me. Do you think she would be offended if I called her "sweet honey sugar bear" the next time I fill up?

3. Not so much the fact that my wife forces me to watch annoying fashion/makeover shows like what not to wear or 10 years younger, but more so that I secretly find myself enjoying them and unable to pull my eyes away until I see the end. What is happening to me?!!
I think I need to rent Rocky 4 tonight and reinstate my manhood.


4. election years......I am finding myself more and more disgusted with the entire election process. I hate the commercials and all of the "breaking news" coverage. Is it bad that I pretty much don't believe anything any of them say? Don't get me wrong, I have voted every election year and will continue to support candidates that share my values, but the more this thing plays out, the more convinced I am that nothing will truly be right until "the government is on HIS shoulders" is. 9:6

Anyways, I better go, I just received an email with some breaking news that Mc cain has challenged Obama to a thumb war and the media is accusing him of playing the race card because he knows Obama is left handed.

divine car favor

Last week when Kendra and I flew to Colorado for the desperation Conference, we had to rent a car while in the denver airport for the hour drive into colorado springs. In an effort to be as cost effective as possible, I went with the economy car. When we got to the airport, I checked our itinerary and we boarded a shuttle bus to "Budget" rent a car to complete the transaction.

When I arrived, it was very much like the commercial for car rentals on television. Many people in line, few people behind the counter. Kendra waited with the luggage while I endured the painfully slow process. After about 45 minutes, I was next in line and greeted by a smiling budget employee. I handed her my confirmation papers and watched as she typed in the code. I wasn't too worried yet when I saw her take a second look at the paper and try the code again. I did become slightly alarmed when she grabbed the paper a third time and stared at it. She then proceeded to inform me that my reservation was with "advantage" rental car agency which was next door and not with budget. I of course grabbed the paper myself in disbelief, oh so ready to show her the error in her ways, only to realize that the reservation was indeed with advantage.
I then pleaded with the young lady that i had stood in line all this time and even a wife as beautiful and patiently understanding as mine (insert good husband points here) would have some difficulty believing this level of stupidity.
The budget employee assured me that she could get me a car and it would most likely be a better deal than Advantage offered.
As it turned out, she got me an H3 Hummer, with a navigation system for 10 dollars less than I had reserved a geo metro!!!!!
I of course mentioned none of this to my beautiful wife until we walked up to our luxury mountain climbing machine. I used the fancy remote to unlock the doors, and uttered in my most macho Don Johnson voice......this is ours. (I have no idea why for a split second I thought Don Johnson was macho)

Anyways, I would love to say for sure that the Holy Spirit led me to Budget on purpose, but I can't. I can say that it is a very good possibility that since I am God's favorite, He wanted me "rolling" in style!! Or not, either way, it was pretty cool.

Desperation Conference, Colorado

Last Weekend, Kendra and I had the awesome opportunity to fly down to Colorado for their annual desperation conference. My good friend Dave Perkins set it all up for us and we were treated like royalty!!

The conference included 5000 young people desperately pursuing God and a litany of amazing speakers and bands. Because Kendra and I had zero responsibility, we were able to just soak in the presence of God and hang out with the Dband and all of their wives and kids. It seemed like everyone had all these beautiful children running around the green room, it made Kendra and I start talking about number three!! (that's still a future event, but stay tuned:)

Anyway, if you don't have any of desperation bands cd's, i highly recommend them. They are genuine Jesus lovers and their music is incredible. One of the most powerful moments was the last night when they paid tribute to the two teenage girls who were shot dead by a gunman in front of their dad after a sunday service. You can read more about that here. They interviewed the girls father and of course he was still devastated and had many questions, but his trust in God was unwavering. There were not many dry eyes in the building.

Much thanks to David and his staff for an amazing weekend, and for their commitment to seeing this generation press in to the presence of God.

Much Love to my friend Pete Vargas, (the good looking mexican in the picture with me:) keep in touch bro,

Shout out to the Dband and the whole new life staff......Thanks for letting us be a part of what God is doing thru you!!!

dominican Republic

WOW!! It seems like the last few weeks have been a literal blur! I just got back from an amazing conference in Colorado, but I need to back up even further and share some of my experiences on our mission trip.

This trip was literally a life changing event for me and my team. Not like, dude you have to try this new pizza place, it changed my life, but a real, paradigm shifting, never seeing the gospel the same, life changing event.

I fear that this may be one of those moments like seeing your children born, no words can describe and you really need to have been there, but I will try anyways.

We teamed up with an incredible young man named Dominic Russo, an evangelist who is doing amazing things for the kingdom all over the world. The crusades were in the city of Barahona, and were held wednesday-saturday nights at 7:00. People came by the tens of thousands to hear the gospel message proclaimed. There was praise and worship, then Dominic would address the crowd and tell them of God's love for them and desire to save and heal them. At the conclusion of the message, my team and I would disperse into the area where the sick were, and begin to lay hands on them and pray for them. That is when it happened........ The spirit of God began to move and people were instantly and supernaturally healed. As our team prayed, blind eyes began to open, the lame began to walk, tumors disappeared, a man who had been paralyzed and bound to a wheelchair for 18 years began to run and jump as his family wept. I don't know what you believe about God and his ability to heal the sick, but I'm telling you that this was the real deal. No hype, no high pressure offering, no sweaty preacher guy begging you to give 53 dollars a month to receive an Isaiah 53 miracle. Simply put the kingdom of God had come to barahona and we were there to usher it in. Not every person was instantly healed, but many were. You could feel in your spirit and see with your eyes that they had been touched by the hand of God and would never be the same.

This sunday my team will give testimonies and allow the church who supported us a glimpse into what God was doing, and I already know the question that will be on many minds.........why doesn't that seem to happen here? I believe it can be answered in one word, EXPECTATION.--defined by webster as "Eager anticipation for something coming." The people of Barahona expected God to show up and heal and He did. Unfortunately many times here in American church, we simply don't expect much.

In Mark chapter 5 there is the familiar story of Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood. The bible tells us she had been suffering for twelve years and had spent every dime she had on doctors and had only gotten worse. When she HEARD (romans 10:17) about Jesus, she said to herself, "if I can only touch the hem of his garment, I will be healed" Immediately the bleeding stopped and she could feel she had been healed. Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around and asked "who touched me?" His disciples laughed and said bro, your like Paris Hilton getting out of jail here. There must be at least a thousand people pressing you, how can you ask who touched me?. But Jesus kept looking until the woman came trembling before Him and fell at His feet. Jesus replied....Daughter, your faith has healed you, go in peace.

She was the only one of thousands who touched Jesus expecting something. I feel the same is true in the church today. Millions attend service on a sunday, but how many of us really expect God to move? How many times are we thinking about lunch rather than what God may want to do in someone's life. I don't want to go thru the motions of christianity ever again. I am asking God to take me way beyond religion, and begin shaking everything that can be shaken. I know there are at least 38 others that were in the Dominican that will join me in believing God's kingdom can come to Michigan!!!

God bless, and more on Desperation Colorado soon!

ps. the little girl in the pics name is Allita. She was so beautiful and followed me around the conference. Her mom let me hold her for hours. I believe God put her there because He knew how much I missed my little girls:)

out of the country!

Leaving tomorrow early for the Dominican Republic!! Please pray for our team of 39 that God will use us in a powerful way!! Please pray health and safety for us as well as open doors to show the love of Jesus.

I will miss my wife and girls immensely so please pray for me:)

BTW--My daughter Ava turns 4 today!!! I love you sweety!--pics of the party to come when I get back:)

183

July 1st is here. If you are a franklin covey user like me, you will notice that we are on day 183 for the year with 183 to go. In other words, we are already exactly halfway thru 08!!! I like to take this day to evaluate my year so far. What happened to the new years resolutions that were made 6 months ago? what happened to the goals and visions that were introduced in January? I noticed at the gym yesterday that the new years "rush" was pretty much over. it was back to the regulars who have made it part of their lifestyle. its so easy to start something in our lives and not finish.........I went back into my journal to see what I had put at the forefront back in Dec. 07.

1. time spent with God in prayer for family and ministry
2. read thru the bible twice
3. spend quality time with Kendra Ava and Adalyn

those were my top 3. I guess I'm grateful I still have 183 to go:)

I am going to challenge myself to finish 08 strong and not be either satisfied or discouraged with what has or hasn't happened so far. 183 days left and I want to live like everyone matters!!