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!!

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

Last weekend we had the incredible honor of hosting our first (of many hopefully) youth conference with David Perkins and the desperation band.

Our church was literally filled with young people from all over the country desperate to encounter God. The reason I love these guys so much is that they are the real deal spiritually speaking. They don't do these to make money, get famous, or "put on a rock show", everything is about getting young people to consecrate themselves and see Jesus for who He is and not what we often make Him.

Every speaker, session and worship set was specifically designed to bring young people to a deeper place with Jesus and it was happening!!! I am so excited about the fruit that was not only produced, but will remain in the hearts of our youth here. If you were not here, DO NOT miss next year, and hold on tight for what God is doing!

Although it was a huge huge honor to be asked to teach a workshop at the conference, that was quickly overshadowed when I was called on stage during the final band set on saturday night. They handed me a maraca and I instantly transformed into a full blown rockstar!!! The last two songs had an entirely different anointing and power once Jerry got my maraca in the mix. People could not believe what a difference it made and how naturally skilled I was at playing it. I even heard Jon Egan mention prodigy and my name in the same sentence. The line for autographs was still out the door at midnite so I signed my last maraca and had security escort me back to my limo at about 2:30. I spent the night updating my "MYSPACE" profile to include played in the band with desperation and leeland, and my agent/wife should be booking something any minute for me. I know this is going to open huge musical doors for me, but I assured my youth group where my loyalties lie. No way I would EVER leave unless an offer came. :)jk

I included this youtube video for a couple of reasons. 1. jared Anderson is hilarious, incredibly humble, and gifted as were all the desperation band members. 2. I love that it's in front of a group of college students
3. after going "my way" for 24 years before Christ, this song has become an anthem of mine.
4. the vocals are amazing!!!!!!! enjoy

ps. I'm sorry there are no pictures of me playing the maraca, but it happened. I wish I had it on film, but the impact it made on everyones worship experience was certainly undeniable.

Unity continued

in order to remedy the situation and spread unity, Riverside was nice enough to let me change the sign for a day:)

U-N-I-T-Y--

Can you believe this church sign?!! I saw it on the way to work.Maybe instead of singing old hymns, they should be listening to queen latifah!! These sort of vicious attacks can't be what Jason Upton was talking about when he said "we are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord!" Hopefully we can rise above........

do you think I should call them?

the neighbors pool

I do not envision myself as one who could successfully operate his own pool. Judging by the rose bush and other botched attempts at shrubbery in my backyard, I'm quite confident that any body of water left in my long term care would quickly become a cesspool or delicate ecosystem for the breeding of frogs and other amphibians. Each year when our 15 dollar walmart kiddie pool becomes dirty, my answer is to add bleach and/or fabric softener and call it good. Kendra always suggests emptying it and starting over, but that takes way to much time.

However, having a neighbor with a pool is quite another story. The neighbors pool requires zero "Jon" influence. Nothing is required of me but to cross the street with the girls, bring my own towels (its the least I can do) and have my wife the non-swimming wuss take pictures:)I love you Kendra!

If you have a pool that is under your care and the bottom is still visible to the naked eye, I commend your efforts. If not, I highly recommend a neighbor pool over most other options.