Thoughts

See No Evil, Hear No Evil...Pretend Normal

2011-10-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a shocking and disappointing hour. Less than a mile from Northwest Fellowship, the church I pastor, is an abortion clinic run by a man who has, to his own proud claim, killed over 12,000 children through abortion. I am a part of an Austin area 40 Days for Life campaign where we join with believers to stand hour by hour in front of these death chambers that legally exist and pray that women (and usually the men who bring them) will change their mind and not kill their baby.

The good news...over the past 3 years over 100 babies have been saved!

The bad news...thousands have been killed in the silent holocaust called legalized abortion.

The even crazier thing is that there is so much anger attached to a cut and dry subject-- "Thou shall not kill." The Bible never gives anyone the right to kill, even if you think it's your body.

Today, my heart was broken because 2 women (and their men who drove them) came into the clinic. From where I stand to pray you can barely see those coming into the death clinic--they are about 40 yards away from me and are blocked by large bushes. But they could of heard me...and I said nothing. I so regret that I said not one word to dissuade them from killing their precious little baby boy or girl. I prayed, but I said nothing. I've been trained to speak. But I said nothing.

Am I not a part of the silent majority who want to SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL AND PRETEND NORMAL?

Jesus forgive me...Jesus forgive us.

Wake us up...give us a voice. Help us see the evil and lovingly confront the evil.

Amen

Best of Recent Tweets

2011-10-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

The soul must be cultivated like a garden and the will must be sanctified and become Christian through and through. Heavenly treasures must be sought, and we must seek those things that are above and mortify the things that are below. – AW TOZER

Happy is the soul which never stops saying a hundred times a day, "Lord, what would You have me do?" - Fenelon

Saying "Mother Nature" is an unbelieving way to speak of Creator God's power over nature & all things. Simply speak the truth--God rules all

Jesus rules over every molecule in the universe. Wind , rain & storms (or the lack there of) are God's doing. Deism & atheism say otherwise

Jesus said, "Where is your faith?" & they were afraid, &marveled, "Who is this, that he commands even winds & water, &they obey him?" Lk8:25

A meeting is not big because a lot of people are present. A meeting is big because a number of people see a big God in the meeting. - Tozer

God's supreme purpose is to make us like His Son, Jesus Christ. If we understand this it will solve a great deal of anxiety in us. - Tozer

A delightfully growing prayer life is fueled by an ever expanding experiential knowledge of the nature & character of God

How we understand the person and character of God the Father affects every aspect of our lives. - RC Sproul

Two folks from our church went downtown today to Occupy Austin to pray that the Holy Spirit would "Occupy Austin"! People asked for prayer!!

“‘Come unto me,’ Jesus says, ‘and I will give you'... ‘I will give you‘ — that is the gospel in four words. - Spurgeon

When rewards are given in heaven,the most shocked will be "elder brothers" who were so sure they were right. Rick Warren (See Lk15:28)

Which Cross by A.W. Tozer

2011-07-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

The Church: The Old Cross and the New Cross

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. --Galatians 6:14

The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it. The old cross brought tears and blood; the new cross brings laughter. The flesh, smiling and confident, preaches and sings about the cross; before that cross it bows and toward that cross it points with carefully staged histrionics--but upon that cross it will not die, and the reproach of that cross it stubbornly refuses to bear.

I well know how many smooth arguments can be marshalled in support of the new cross. Does not the new cross win converts and make many followers and so carry the advantage of numerical success? Should we not adjust ourselves to the changing times? Have we not heard the slogan, "New days, new ways"? And who but someone very old and very conservative would insist upon death as the appointed way to life? And who today is interested in a gloomy mysticism that would sentence its flesh to a cross and recommend self-effacing humility as a virtue actually to be practiced by modern Christians? These are the arguments, along with many more flippant still, which are brought forward to give an appearance of wisdom to the hollow and meaningless cross of popular Christianity. The Pursuit of Man, 53,54.

"Lord, it's not popular today to be 'old-fashioned.' But I commit myself today to the old cross. Help me today to deny myself, to take up my cross, and to follow You. Amen."
________________________________________

2011-07-21T07:37:00.000-07:00

Sanctification is Jesus becoming more and more to you in more and more areas of your life in a more and more deep way more and more of the time.

2011-06-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

“Then the church shall be brought to the full enjoyment of her bridegroom, having all tears wiped away from her eyes, and there shall be no more distance or absence. She shall then be brought to the entertainments of an eternal wedding feast, and to dwell forever with her bridegroom, yea, to dwell eternally in his embraces. Then Christ will give her his loves, and she shall drink her fill, yea, she shall swim in the ocean of his love.”

Jonathan Edwards, “The Church’s Marriage to her Sons and to her God,” in Works (Edinburgh, 1979), II:22.

A Crazy But True Formula

2011-05-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

Are you struggling?

Rejoice...the trials are only a testing of your faith

in order to cause you to

Persevere...

in order to

MAKE YOU LIKE JESUS!

The unlikely formula is

Trials + Perservance = Becoming more like Jesus

No

2011-05-05T19:37:00.001-07:00

Sometimes God’s best answers to prayer are “no” because, if indeed we received everything that we prayed for, all our wants and wishes and heart’s desires, I just don’t think it would be God’s best for our life. Let me share with you a quick story. I remember when I was in the hospital many, many years ago. I used to imagine myself in the Gospel of John, Chapter 5, lying at the Pool of Bethesda where all the other disabled, sick and lame were asking Jesus to heal them. I used to picture myself there pleading with the Lord not to forget me. “Don’t pass me by, Lord. Here I am. Heal me.”

As many times as I prayed when I was in the hospital, and read John Chapter 5, my hands and my feet never got the message. I never got healed. Well, many years later, my husband, Ken, and I had a chance to visit Israel and we spent a whole day touring Jerusalem. It was late in the afternoon when we arrived at the Pool of Bethesda and as soon as I saw those old ruins, I turned to Ken and went, “Ken, you won’t believe it. I remember decades ago when I was hospital, I used to picture myself here and I used to imaging myself asking God to heal me and He never did."

But you know what? I’m so glad God didn’t because the “no” answer to a prayer for healing has meant a more urgent leaning upon Him every day, a more vibrant hope of heaven, a deeper sense of prayer, a more energetic love for His Word. It's fostered my friendships, and deepened my concern and compassion for others who hurt. It’s helped me start this ministry, Joni & Friends, to other people with disabilities.

I could go on and on recounting all the glorious good things that have happened in my life and in the life of others all because God said “no” to an answer to prayer. It wasn’t until I was sitting there, leaning on the guardrail and looking at the ruins of the Pool of Bethesda a few years ago, that I realized how wonderful it is that God sometimes says “no.”

By Joni Erickson Tada

YEAH HOLLYWOOD

2011-04-25T19:07:00.001-07:00

Wow...how often do you hear a pastor say YEAH HOLLYWOOD? Well, more would say that if they would watch SOUL SURFER, a new movie that is such a testimony to faith in God, commitment to family and a passion to stick it out through unbelievably rough circumstances.

You've got to see it. Take your family (it's a PG movie). Treat them for ice cream afterward and talk about what you learned from the movie. Oh, please stay for my favorite part, in the after clips, where the young lady this true story was based upon accepts an award by saying "I guess I got my courage from Jesus Christ."

It's a beautiful thing to see the arts which God created used to bring Him glory...especially by hollywood.

Check it out!

A God Who Acts

2011-04-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

On the heels of the yearly celebration of Resurrection Day I am deeply struck with a God who acts decisively on behalf of weak, broken and helpless people. In the church we often (and maybe we overemphasize it) focus messages, devotions, books and songs on our part of following God, obeying God, being holy, resisting the devil, etc. Yet, the most freeing focus is found in what God has done in Christ to free us from the grip of sin, satan and all bondage through the death of His Son Jesus Christ. Would a greater emphasis on the victory help us realize WHO is actually reigning in us--the Lamb who is triumphant over all enemies...who always leads us in His triumphal procession...Who is in us willing and working for His good pleasure right now!

And, the glorious work of Christ at the right hand of the Father making constant intercession for us must be one of the least understood and rejoiced in passages that I know about. If Christ is interceding day and night for His church--is it possible that we can be defeated? Will Christ's prayers for us be answered? I think the answer is a LOUD YES!

Would we as the blood bought, chosen, beloved and God-kept children be more fruitful and victorious if we would focus on what Christ has done and what He is currently doing for us. If we fixed our eyes on Him...would our obdeience be less? Would our holiness become tanted? Would our passion and compassion lesson? I don't think so. Could the root of our problem simply be that we've focused on obedience to the King and not on the King who enables obedience?

Think about it.

2011-04-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

NWF Family and Friends,

I am sitting here on Sunday night reflecting...reflecting on 40 days of 24-7 prayer from the NWF prayer room. Amazed that we did it. Amazed at the sacrifice of many. Shocked how easy it was. Blessed by the 100 people who were faithful to the prayer room--week in and week out! So blessed that I got to be a part. I feel so enriched by being with Jesus. Nothing compares with this simple, but unmatched joy.

I dream of the day when NWF will have 24-7 worship and prayer going on while simultaneously 24-7 works for justice are going on. Can you imagine a church that is open for 24-7 worship and service?

The only limiting factor is the army. I pray God will continue to give us the fiery army of love who knows that Jesus deserves 24-7 worship on the earth from Austin, Texas and that people need 24-7 ministry to meet their needs. It's a beautiful picture of the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer where we pray YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

In heaven 24-7 worship AND 24-7 service go on simultaneously.

Can you dream with me? Can you ask Father that He could do this in our lifetime in Austin, Texas through us?

These 40 days were a taste...a small taste...of what God wants to do 24-7 until Jesus returns.

We want more, Jesus!

Think God

2011-03-12T06:31:00.000-08:00

Just read Matthew 16 & realize spiritual warfare is simply satan's attempt to sway us to "think man" or humanly instead of "thinking God". It's only in the revelation of Christ that we triumph over the gates of hell! Peter was "thinking man" thoughts when satan co-opted him to try to talk Jesus out of going to the cross. Yet, a few short seconds prior Peter was "thinking God" thoughts as He confessed the revelation of who Jesus is. Wild isn't it. The battle for us is whether we are thinking God or thinking human. Human = satan. No neutral ground in thoughts. So, the highest goal moment by moment is to THINK GOD! It's in this that we triumph over satan and the gates of hell!

Come on church...Think God...

oh...a simple secret...God's thoughts are found in God's Word.

Meditate day and night and you will have success in all you do (Psalm 1).

Now that's an astounding promise!

Hardcore Lent

2011-03-07T09:09:00.000-08:00

by Dave Gibbons (see http://www.outofur.com/archives/2011/03/dave_gibbons_ha.html)

Do you dare?

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 9th. The purpose of lent is for prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial. It could be a grueling 46 days. People ask me about the options for observing this season of the church calendar. Well, here’s a list that is a bit different. It’s a top ten hardcore ideas for Lent 2011.

1. Don't Lock Your Doors. Do we hide behind gated walls and doors too much? Do we need that much security? Maybe keeping open doors reminds us it’s not healthy to live alone. Be radically welcoming! Throw more parties with people you don’t know. (Btw, that’s what hospitality really means in the Holy Book- welcoming strangers.)

2. Don't Wear Makeup. This was inspired by someone close to me who loves her glow. This individual mentioned to me that not wearing makeup it helped her to focus on other aspects of beauty. Btw, if you’re wondering I do like make up. . . on other people.

3. Fast from Chocolate. Did this last year. It’s harder than you think!

4. Fast from Sex. No explanation needed. How about developing a primal relationship with God. There’s another type of intimacy that is heavenly.

5. Fast from Futbol or Basketball. Life outside the square is possible.

6. Fast from Exercise. This is about normal exercise routines or going to the health club every day. Take walks instead. Okay, before you exercise enthusiasts throw rocks at this one. I work out about 90 minutes a day at the number one voted gym in America. I love it there. So I know this is hard but as with anything we can be a bit too intense in a lot of areas of our lives. Let let go of any unhealthy obsessions. Couldn’t sin be defined as something that is good but twisted in some way?

7. Fast from Your Typical Cultural Food. How about eating ethnic foods you normally never eat instead of your normal fare. There is flavor outside your common behavior.

8. Fast from Driving Alone. Besides carpooling is hip. Turn the rat race into a communal space.

9. Fast from TV. You may find life outside the box. . . err the screen.

10. Fast from Text Messaging and Social Media. This may be harder than you think. We’ve almost become neurotic with our iphones, ipads, and laptops. They have become another limb on our already pimped bodies. The slower pace of conversation and face 2 face interactions may actually be healing for you. Come on stop stalking people and start talking to them!

Do you have other lent self-denial suggestions for those who want to experience something MORE? Come on creatives!

Dave Gibbons is the author of an award-winning book on culture and the church called The Monkey and the Fish. He has served on the Board of World Vision US, and helps to guide a group of third-culture, faith communities called NEWSONG. Read more at Dave's blog.

http://davegibbons.tv/

2011-02-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

All the women in your life have to be 80 years old or more to have gone through their child-bearing years during a time when abortion was not legal and accessible. Among the rest, 42% of American women have had one abortion by the age of 45 (abandoned or pressured, by and large, by men). There are 50 million abortions every year worldwide. The USA represents less than 3% of this. Where we gather college students and young professionals together to challenge them with the gospel, close to half of them are struggling secretly with this one particular form of guilt.

Addressing the Blood-Guilt of Abortion
Our generation needs a gospel presentation that address the blood-guilt of abortion specifically and openly as a gospel issue. To view abortion as a secondary, or worse, a political issue is to fundamentally misunderstand the defining experience of our times. Imagine preaching the gospel in the town of Dacau in the 40’s and intentionally avoiding, rather than pressing head-on, as to how the gospel addresses the sin of shedding innocent blood. Our silence would be interpreted to mean that it is outside the reach of what the gospel offers. Imagine sharing Christ in a hospital full of soldiers, some missing eyes, others arms, and never mentioning the part of the gospel that promises new bodies. Imagine preaching Christ at a funeral and never mentioning the hope of resurrection.

Called Out, Confessed, and Brought Under the Gospel
If you care about the primacy of the gospel and have a passion for missions, I beg you to stop seeing abortion as a secondary issue. Understand that it is the primary mark of this generation. And understand the anguish it causes. It is a megaphone of endless Satanic accusation. It snaps the tendons of spiritual effort and risk. The blood-guilt of abortion festers under the surface of all Christian endeavor. It needs lancing. It needs to be outed. It needs to be called out by name, confessed by name, and brought under a gospel that declares that there is no forgiveness for the shedding of innocent blood except by the shedding of innocent blood. Our generation needs to hear explicitly that the blood of Christ cleanses us from acts that lead to death, even and explicitly, abortion, “that we might serve the living God” (Heb 9:11).

John Ensor is VP of Heartbeat International and author of several books, including, The Great Work of the Gospel (Crossway).

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-mission-field-created-by-abortion

What Is God Doing...Making Sense of Life

2011-02-10T10:10:00.000-08:00

Have you ever stopped for a few hours to ponder one simple question...what is God doing in my life? I did...here are my reflections. Enjoy...but take time to answer this question for yourself! Write down your answers. I'd love to see them. Simply e-mail them to: trey@northwestfellowship.com - Can't wait to see them!

1. God is challenging me to the utmost so that I am only capable of persevering through His power! That's the way He likes it.

2. God is forcing to do that which is most important...pray!

3. God is encouraging me with just enough answers to prayer to refresh my faith!

4. God is calling me to look giants in the face with the same courage that a young shepherd named David did!

5. God is reminding me constantly that He is Almighty God and I'm His boy. That's a great thing!

6. God is leading me beyond my comfort zone with opportunities galore!

7. God is humbling me daily by showing me my weak pursuit of Him!

What an amazing life...what an indescribable God!!!

Quotes

2011-02-04T13:58:00.000-08:00

"The key to prayer is simply praying." AW Tozer

"When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do; when we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do. But when we rely upon prayer, we get what God can do." - A. C. Dixon

"What if we are getting the very things we asked for...or not getting the very things we haven't asked for?"

"Why do we love rememdies for America's ills that avoid God's clear remedy: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways--I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land."

In all things God is working a divine conspiracy for my good!

The most important thing I do is pray!

"Better a hundred times to have less and have God than to have more and cloud the face of God." AW Tozer

"I am more and more convined that God is desiring to answer the fervent prayers of righteous people like you to bring healing and revival."

"Is it any wonder that when the flames of missionary zeal and success sank away, it was because the fires of prayer had died low on the altars of devotion?"
- Robert E. Speer

"If added power attends the united prayer of two or three, what mighty triumphs there will be when hundreds of thousands of consistent members of the Church are with one accord day by day making intercession for the extension of Christ's Kingdom."
- John R. Mott

"Will you unite with fellow Christians around you in prayer? The greatest gift that we can give to others is our prayers..."

- David Bryant

"There has never been a spiritual awakening... that did not begin in united prayer."
- A.T. Pierson

"Revivals begin with God's own people; the Holy Spirit touches their heart anew, and gives them new fervor and compassion, and zeal, new light and life, and when He has thus come to you, He next goes forth to the valley of dry bones...Oh, what responsibility this lays on the Church of God! If you grieve Him away from yourselves, or hinder His visit, then the poor perishing world suffers sorely!"
- Andrew A. Bonar

Tozer...On THE HABIT OF HOLY THOUGHT

2011-01-27T11:10:00.000-08:00

Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. --2 Corinthians 10:5

What we think about when we are free to think about what we will-- that is what we are or will soon become....

Anyone who wishes to check on his true spiritual condition may do so by noting what his voluntary thoughts have been over the last hours or days. What has he thought about when free to think of what he pleased? Toward what has his inner heart turned when it was free to turn where it would? When the bird of thought was let go did it fly out like the raven to settle upon floating carcasses or did it like the dove circle and return again to the ark of God? Such a test is easy to run, and if we are honest with ourselves we can discover not only what we are but what we are going to become. We'll soon be the sum of our voluntary thoughts....

The best way to control our thoughts is to offer the mind to God in complete surrender. The Holy Spirit will accept it and take control of it immediately. Then it will be relatively easy to think on spiritual things, especially if we train our thought by long periods of daily prayer. Long practice in the art of mental prayer (that is, talking to God inwardly as we work or travel) will help to form the habit of holy thought. Born After Midnight, 44,46-47.

"Oh, Lord, You know the constant struggle so many of us have with our thought life. You know how often our thoughts do indeed settle on rotten carcasses. Take control of my thoughts today, and move me along in the development of the habit of holy thought. Amen."

What would Billy Graham Do Differently?

2011-01-26T18:26:00.000-08:00

Billy Graham was just interviewed. Here is what he said to the question,
If you could, would you go back and do anything differently?

Yes, of course. I'd spend more time at home with my family, and I'd study more and preach less. I wouldn't have taken so many speaking engagements, including some of the things I did over the years that I probably didn't really need to do—weddings and funerals and building dedications, things like that. Whenever I counsel someone who feels called to be an evangelist, I always urge them to guard their time and not feel like they have to do everything.

I also would have steered clear of politics. I'm grateful for the opportunities God gave me to minister to people in high places; people in power have spiritual and personal needs like everyone else, and often they have no one to talk to. But looking back I know I sometimes crossed the line, and I wouldn't do that now.

It seems to me these are wise words for pastors. “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (2 Timothy 2:4). And there are even “military” acts one can do too many of. Focus on the main things and work with all your might.

Taken from www.desiringGod.org

Tozer...On ALONE WITH GOD

2011-01-17T18:04:00.000-08:00

Personal Life: Alone With God

And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. --John 6:3

Just prior to this miraculous multiplying of the bread and fish, Jesus "went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples"(6:3). That fact is noteworthy. It seems plain that Jesus withdrew purposely from the great press of people who had been pursuing Him.

There are some things that you and I will never learn when others are present. I believe in church and I love the fellowship of the assembly. There is much we can learn when we come together on Sundays and sit among the saints. But there are certain things that you and I will never learn in the presence of other people.

Unquestionably, part of our failure today is religious activity that is not preceded by aloneness, by inactivity. I mean getting alone with God and waiting in silence and quietness until we are charged with God's Spirit. Then, when we act, our activity really amounts to something because we have been prepared by God for it....

Now, in the case of our Lord, the people came to Him, John reports, and He was ready for them. He had been quiet and silent. He had sat alone with His disciples and meditated. Looking upward, He waited until the whole hiatus of divine life moved down from the throne of God into His own soul. He was a violin tuned. He was a battery recharged. He was poised and prepared for the people when they came. Faith Beyond Reason, 130,133.
"Lord, I'll spend a lot of time in the company of people today, but just now I come in quietness and silence to wait for You to fill me. Amen."
________________________________________

Challenges and Signs of Hope in the World Christian Movement

2011-01-07T17:38:00.000-08:00

What do you think are the greatest challenges to the world Christian movement today? What do you think are the greatest signs of hope?

From the perspective of one who has a global overview of Christian missions today, it is evident God is moving in unprecedented ways to fulfill his mission. He is using warfare, ethnic violence, political disruption, social chaos, economic uncertainty and natural disasters to turn the hearts of people to a search for hope and security that can be found only in Jesus Christ. There is an apparent acceleration in engagement of unreached people groups and a global harvest.

The greatest challenge is not adversarial religious worldviews, hostility to a Christian witness, government restrictions and persecution of believers but indifference to God’s mission on the part of the Church. God’s people have become ingrown and self-centered. The spiritual vitality needed to extend an effective witness to the ends of the earth has been eroded by carnality and humanism among Christians.

Comments by Jerry Rankin (see http://www.desiringGod.org/)

C.H. Spurgeon - Prayer Makes History

2010-12-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

The memory of Charles Haddon Spurgeon has been cherished among evangelical Christians for over the past 100 years. Many Christian leaders consider him to be the greatest preacher England ever produced. He is commonly hailed as the "Prince of Preachers". Over 63 volumes of published sermons still bear witness to the richness and success of C. H. Spurgeon's ministry. Though known as a great preacher, it was not preaching that made Spurgeon great. Mr. Spurgeon repeatedly acknowledged his success as the direct result of his congregation's faithful prayers. "It has often been remarked that the whole church helped produce Spurgeon." When visitors would come to Spurgeon's church he would take them to the basement prayer-room where people were always on their knees interceding. Then Spurgeon would declare, "Here is the powerhouse of this church."

Spurgeon in his autobiography described his gratefulness for being blessed with such a praying church. "I always give all the glory to God, but I do not forget that He gave me the privilege of ministering from the first to a praying people. We had prayer meetings that moved our very souls, each one appeared determined to storm the Celestial City by the might of intercession." Spurgeon regarded the prayer-meeting as the spiritual thermometer of a church. His church's Monday night prayer meeting had a worldwide testimony for many years. Every Monday night a large portion of Spurgeon's sanctuary was filled with earnest and fervent intercessors.

"In Spurgeon's eyes the prayer-meeting was the most important meeting of the week." It is here many of us find ourselves in conflict with dear Mr. Spurgeon. We love our meetings for preaching and praising and yet sadly neglect those set aside for praying. One of Spurgeon's greatest concerns was that his people learn to truly pray. "He taught his people to pray, doing so far more by his example than by any preaching. People heard him pray with such reality that they became ashamed of their own mere repetition of words." Throughout his entire ministry many hearers remarked that they were moved by his preaching, but yet still more affected by his praying. D. L. Moody after his first visit to England, being asked upon his return to America, "Did you hear Spurgeon preach?" He replied, "Yes, but better still I heard him pray." A close friend of Spurgeon's, commented on his prayer life, "His public prayers were an inspiration, but his prayers with the family were to me more wonderful still. Mr. Spurgeon, when bowed before God in family prayer, appeared a grander man even than when holding thousands spellbound by his oratory."

Spurgeon fully recognized that the Church's greatest need was not to have another, "Prince of Preachers", but to have more princes of prayer. One of his many published sermons expressed his feelings on this. He wrote, "Shall I give you yet another reason why you should pray? I have preached my very heart out. I could not say any more than I have said. Will not your prayers accomplish that which my preaching fails to do? Is it not likely that the Church has been putting forth its preaching hand but not its praying hand? Oh dear friends! Let us agonize in prayer . . . "

There has been much talk lately about pockets of revival springing up in our nation. Many are saying they desire such revivals in our own local churches, and cities. Yet, is it not the prayer-meeting which is still most neglected? If Christ Jesus were to visit us today with real revival power, how could such a blessing be sustained where there is no ground work laid in prayer? To merely exercise our words about revival and not our knees is hypocrisy! It is time to make the prayer-meeting as crowded as our favorite preaching and praise meetings. It is then and ONLY then, that a true revival will come with lasting power! Like Mr. Spurgeon, let us regard the prayer-meeting as our most important meeting!

References Used:

C H. Spurgeon's Autobiography compiled by Susannah Spurgeon and Joseph Harrald

Spurgeon by Arnold Dallimore
From: A Revival Source Center

"Conquered" by A.W. Tozer

2010-11-27T14:04:00.000-08:00

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. --Genesis 32:24-25

The enemy never quite knows how to deal with a humble man; he is so used to dealing with proud, stubborn people that a meek man upsets his timetable. And furthermore, the man of true humility has God fighting on his side--who can win against God?

Strange as it may seem we often win over our enemies only after we have first been soundly defeated by the Lord Himself. God often conquers our enemies by conquering us.... When God foresees that we must meet a deadly opponent, he assures our victory by bringing us down in humbleness at His own feet. After that, everything is easy. We have put ourselves in a position where God can fight for us, and in a situation like that, the outcome is decided from eternity. We Travel an Appointed Way, 14.

"Lord, help me to submit willingly to You, in complete humility, without struggle or wrestling. Then You fight for me against my strong enemy. I'll rest-and revel-today in Your victory. Amen."

When God Shows Off

2010-11-22T17:29:00.000-08:00

Tonight on my prayer walk I was amazed to see the most beautiful harvest moon. I had immediate thoughts of Red Moon Rising (a book well worth reading) and the global 24-7 prayer movement that is exploding across the earth.

But the most glorious thoughts that flooded my mind were...God is showing off...showing off His glory! That's what nature exists for.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:20

Two things jump out of these passages. First, the creation exists simply to show God's glory and share it with us. Second, what has been made reveals attributes of God. God is personal. He loves showing off. He loves us. He loves for us to stand in amazement of His Holy, unique attributes...displayed in what has been made (for His glory).

All this is wonderful in theory-but gets ever so practical when we think about the moon itself. The Bible tells why God made the moon:

And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:16-18

The moon was made to "rule the night"...in other words to display in the natural that God is the true light that rules both day and night! How do we practically join in the displaying this glory that God desires to display through His creation--especially us?

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:18

Like the moon reflects the glory of the sun, we shine forth the glory of the Son simply by beholding Him. Through the Word and through prayer we see Jesus and automatically reflect Him. It's the reason you were made...to behold...to reflect.

We're walking harvest moons...all His children.

SO THAT

2010-11-16T18:37:00.000-08:00

As I read the gospels, one thing is clear—the disciples did not get the fact that Jesus was to be crucified and resurrected. Jesus kept telling them over and over, but they had no place for this in their thinking. Even Peter, thank God for old Pete, tried to rebuke Jesus for this kind of talk! Peter’s move was not a childish mistake, but was Satan himself overtaking Peter’s mouth and motives and fears. That’s an amazing thought. How many times does Satan take over our thinking and speech when Jesus is telling us something we don’t want to hear?

How you ever had this thought—I wonder what Jesus is saying to us today that we are just unwilling or unable to hear? I imagine it’s just as simple and straight forward as Jesus’ message of His impending crucifixion. Should the Messiah, the Savior of the world, die such a wretched death? Satan says no and God the Father says yes. I believe it’s in this same vein of thought that Satan is deceiving the church (and even speaking through us) today. Satan reasons that “God’s children” shouldn’t have to suffer such pain, disappointment and daily death. We deserve better. This is exactly how he deceived the first couple on earth.

Satan’s tricks are the same. But let’s move our focus off him and onto HIM! Jesus is speaking a clear, concise message that the church refuses to hear. The message of Phil. 1:29—“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” is all but absent from the thinking of preachers and church members alike. We think the opposite. "If God loves you, you will not hurt" is the popular message of today. Those words ruin disciples because they are from the pit of hell. God, on the other hand, has such a gracious purpose for our sufferings—“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Cor. 1:3-4

Our answer is found in the SO THAT of 2 Cor. 1:4! Can you hear Jesus? He has a message for you. (Oh, so does the defeated one)

Destiny Reinforcers

2010-11-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

I was half awake and half asleep when I got this revelation..."the closer I move toward God's destiny for me the more the enemy will throw deeply painful roadblocks my way--especially from people I love." As I more fully awoke I began to test this premise by analyzing it as compared to the experience of a few close friends. One, who shall remain unnamed, has made great strides in focusing his ministry toward God's destiny (and many have noticed). Yet the enemy has done his favorite trick...to take those that we love and use them to painfully hurt us...satan's purpose is simply to get us to move away from our destiny. This principle has been true in my own life too. As we have moved more and more to become the house of prayer and to lead others that direction satan has worked overtime to get us to quit. To be a normal church. To quit all this praying. Yet, his attacks only reinforce our determination to pursue God's destiny.

Do you think it's biblical? Remember when Peter tried to rebuke Jesus from going to the cross...and Jesus said those painfully powerful words--"Get behind me satan. You have in mind the things of man not the things of God!" Or when Paul was being sent by the Spirit to Jerusalem and then to Rome--and several key believers (and even a prophet) sought to dissuade him from going this direction. Even though God's destiny was that direction.

What about you? As you pursue God's clear destiny for you do you see the enemy at work? Simply ask God to use satan's attacks to reinforce your pursuit of God's destiny for you!

Tozer on A BIG GOD

2010-10-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. --Psalm 34:3

I am positively sure after many years of observation and prayer that the basis of all of our trouble today, in religious circles, is that our God is too small.

When he says magnify the Lord, he doesn't mean that you are to make God big, but you are to see Him big. When we take a telescope and look at a star, we don't make the star bigger, we only see it big. Likewise you cannot make God bigger, but you are only to see Him bigger....

My brethren, God calls us to magnify Him, to see Him big. A meeting is not big because a lot of people are present. A meeting is big because a number of people see a big God in the meeting. And the bigger God is seen, the greater the meeting. A friend of mine has a little saying, 'I would rather have a big, little meeting than a little, big meeting.' There are a lot of big meetings that are little because the God in them is a small God. And there are a lot of little meetings that are big because God is big in the midst of them....

That is the first thing--magnify God. Your ministry will be little, and you will live and die little unless you have a bigger God. Success and the Christian, 36-37,40

What A Refreshing Way To Leave A Legacy

2010-09-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

I'm on a prayer retreat and God keeps speaking to me about what's most important to His Heart...LOVE!

As I sit and ponder the amazing legacy my mom has left on earth and in heaven one word rings out clear and loud--LOVE! Mom was not a loud person, but she loved clearly and consistently day in and day out! As I think about her life...year after year and decade after decade--she loved! Some were close to her like family and others were new friends she made wherever she went. Since we know every word of God is true and has been tested to be so--we can rejoice in the enduring legacy of love:

LOVE NEVER FAILS! 1 Cor. 13:8

When we love we always win...and the influence of the love shared has eternal impact! What a great honor to look back on mom's almost 74 years on earth and summarize her life with one simple word--LOVE! Mom expressed her love through sharing, serving, talking, caring and most of all by giving Jesus and His word to all who would listen.

This simple woman with no college degree has left a tidal wave of impact through daily loving those God brought to her.

Wow...what a refreshing way to leave a legacy!

Words...Word

2010-08-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever read a Christian biography that ravished your soul? I cannot over emphasize how encouraging Christian biographies can be! My favorites include HEAVENLY MAN (about Brother Yun), THE LIFE OF A.W. TOZER: IN PURSUIT OF GOD (by Snyder)and DESTINED FOR A MISSION: The Life Journey of Herman Neusch by Kathy Glover. And a new favorite is GEORGE WHITEFIELD by Dallimore. I am reading it for the second time!!! Did I say that Christian biographies can be SO encouraging?

Here's the line that has literally changed my life: "Finally comes his unique practice of 'praying over every line and word' in both English and Greek, feasting his mind and his heart upon it till its essential meaning has become a part of his very person."

Wow...try that...praying over the Word...every line and word! It will become a part of your very person!

25 Reasons I Am Thankful For our Wreck 25 Years Ago

2010-08-05T07:58:00.001-07:00

1. I understand pain is God’s megaphone to wake a sleeping world
2. I know the grueling struggle of persevering in suffering
3. I see that God shapes character through our patient endurance
4. I am glad that God sets the limits to every trial
5. I am thankful that with each trial God provides the grace to overcome
6. I perceive that we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us
7. I experienced the love & prayers of family & friends at unprecedented levels
8. I have been comforted by God in my affliction
9. I can now comfort others in any affliction with the comfort I received
10. I have a marriage that was forged in the depths of pain and founded on Christ
11. I have a best friend in Mary Anne that was formed in the early days
12. I have a theology of suffering
13. I don’t see God and hardship as antithetical
14. I love God more because of the wreck
15. I rejoice looking back because I have been changed by the affliction
16. I have experienced real loss, grief and now know God better because of it
17. I saw and heard amazing miracles associated with the wreck
18. I have the joy of sharing the miracles God did and thus encourage others
19. I know God’s love does not disappoint, even when it looks like it will
20. I have scars that show I have suffered and healed
21. I offer the scars as a reminder we are all wounded healers
22. I see what could have been used for evil has been turned for good
23. I know God gives and takes away
24. I know God makes all things work together for my good
25. I would do it again…it’s been worth all the pain

2010-08-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

Loved

2010-08-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

When you stop and think of the innumerable things that try to set the agenda for our day it is indeed a miracle when we live to love. Isn't that why were created...to love and be loved? FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON (John 3:16) and WE LOVE BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US (1 John 4:19)...these simple texts are explaining that we have been loved infinitely by God!

A basic psychological theory of self-esteem (stick with me here) is called the LOOKING GLASS SELF THEORY. It states that each individual sees themselves as a reflection of how the most important person in their life sees them. Do you see how this works in our favor? God now sees all believers in His Son (2 Cor. 5:21) and that will never change. Is He the most important person in your life?

Celebrate...

*God love for you is constant--even on your worst day
*Nothing you do can change the way He feels about you
*Embracing His amazing love will free you to be who HE made you to be

And the best part is we get to live a life for the ONE AGENDA--Loving God! We exist now and forever for love.

We have been loved fully...we are loved fully...we will be loved fully!

Now and forever...focus on loving God and receiving His constant love for you.

It makes life!

The Most All Encompassing Promise

2010-06-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

People...seriously...wow...take a few minutes to look at the most unbelievable, shocking and all encompassing promise from God I know. It's found in Psalm 1:1-2...

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.

There are three conditions to walking in this promise:

First--Do not listen to the counsel of the wicked!

Second--Delight in God's Word!

Third--Meditate on God's word day and night!

If you meet these three conditions--and this is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit--you will be the heir of sucess (the text says you will prosper) IN ALL YOU DO!

DO YOU SEE IT? Obeying the Word of God makes you a success in all circumstances regardless of the outcome in your eyes or anyone elses for that matter.

WOW...Join me in turning off the counsel of the wicked...delighting in God's Word...and in meditating day and night on HIS WORD!

How To P.R.A.Y. for Your Child

2010-05-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

P-ray they will love Jesus with all their heart, soul, mind and strength (Mt. 22:37)

R-equest of God that they will grow deeper, wider, longer and higher into the love God has for them (Eph. 3:18-19)

A-sk God to show them why He made them (Rom. 12:4-8)

Y-earn of God for your child to learn to hear and obey God's voice (John 10:27-28)

Where Are The Prophets?

2010-05-11T13:56:00.000-07:00

I don't mean those who can foretell the future...I mean men and women of God who have a NOW Word from God for the wayward church of today. A.W. Tozer often said we need prophets in pulpit, not promoters! If you listen today they are hard to find. Men of old...men sent from God (like John the Baptist) came with a Word of truth in love for the body. Oh how the church of today needs men and women who love enough to tell the truth. I don't think it's a matter of when there will be a great falling away, I believe the church in America is currently in the backsliden state desperately in need of men and women of God who have met with God and have a Bible based remedy for our current cancer of self-focused religion.

Pray...it's so easy to fall into pride at this point. That's enemy #1. We must know that judgment begins with the house of God...and God is currently exposing our darkness in order to send us out as lights in a dark world. What can we do if the light has turned to darkness?

Pray...I believe the true church's best days lie ahead...even in the midst of great persecution that is coming soon. The last days church will rise up in the Spirit's power in the midst of great opposition. Great ready, it's here. But our greatest worry is not the oppositon, but self-focused religion where satan comes as an angel of light to deceive even the elect if that were possible.

Pray...We must once again see that our relationship with Jesus is first and foremost. The church must again pursue with reckless abondon the first and greatest commandment of LOVING GOD WITH ALL OUR HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH. This is the only remedy to the grave danger facing us. It's not a new program we need, but a new passion for God alone!

Pray...the devil is raging for he knows his time is short (see Rev. 12) and we overcome him in the same simple way that all saints have and will--by the blood of the Lamb, by the Word of our testimony and by not loving our lives even to shrink back from death. These are exciting days. Ask God to overwhelm you with Himself and to send you out with fire in your bones!

A Great Thought and An Amazing Adventure

2010-03-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

A GREAT THOUGHT
We just finished an incredible Unceasing Prayer (see www.austinprays.org for more info) luncheon where over 50 prayer leaders, pastors and pro-life workers gathered from 30 different churches! We were so blessed and challenged. I highlighted how the call to LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS, SOULS, MINDS AND STRENGTH through the prayer movement had mobilized us to LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELF through justice ministries (more specifically pro-life causes). Following the lunch I receive several encouraging e-mails, and one that spurred a great thought. Thomas Cogdale, from Austin House of Prayer, asked me what I thought about referring to justice type ministries as 2nd commandment ministries. What a great idea because it roots these “justice” ministries into the two great commandments and frames them in the command to love. I love it!

AN AMAZING ADVERTURE
Last night 19 of us (mainly the 20’s home group along with Ellen Wilkosz) wore crazy and ugly orange t-shirts that say PRAYER TEAM on them and walked 6th Street (yes the party capital of Austin) from 10:30pm till after 1am. What is most exciting about this wild ministry is you don’t have to make anything happen. God makes things happen. You simply walk down the street praying and worshiping and God opens doors for ministry. This is the 2nd commandment that flows out of the first commandment. Every Friday that we go to 6th Street we spend a few hours before in prayer at the NWF prayer room and then at Austin House of Prayer. The first commandment is first but always leads to the great adventure of the 2nd commandment. In the body of Christ throughout out our nation we have many folks who want to be missionaries. One key piece of advice—before you go on missions begin living as a missionary in your home town. If not, there’s no reason to go. Start at home. If you are a member of Northwest Fellowship, begin on 6th Street, feeding the homeless, praying in front of the abortion clinic or get involved in the host of other opportunities to do missions right here!

Testimonies from Haiti

2010-02-15T20:02:00.000-08:00

Have you heard some of the positives in the midst of the great suffering in Haiti?

Here's some things I've heard from various ministries...

*If you drive around Port au Prince and stop your car and roll down your window, you can hear worship rising to Jesus throughout the city!

*This time of year Haiti normally celebrates "Carnival", a three day Mardi Gras type event. This year it was replaced with 3 days of prayer and fasting!

*This past week over 10,000 people showed up for a prayer meeting and it lasted for hours and hours...600 unbelievers became believers at this event.

*And I'm sure you heard about the man who was trapped under wreckage for 27 days and was miraculously rescued! What you didn't hear on our news was what he said when they asked him how he survived. He said the "man in the white robe" brought me water everyday! When asked who that was, HE HAD NO IDEA!!!

Believers...pray that the gospel is preached, received and takes deep root in the hearts of the Haitians!

Pray for the workers who are serving the injured and the hurting...for God's grace to empower them with miraculous provisions to love, heal and share Jesus.

Ask Father to multiply the supplies as He did when Jesus fed the 4000 and the 5000 in the Bible!

Can You Imagine

2010-01-30T18:57:00.000-08:00

Today...somewhere between being asleep and awake these words rushed clearly into my mind--"HE BREAKS THE POWER OF CANCELED SIN." It was a liberating feeling...unbelievable. Can you imagine if every believer lived AS FREE AS JESUS DIED TO MAKE US? Can you imagine if we all lived with NO LINGERING AFFECTS OF CANCELED AND FORGIVEN SIN?

Then I googled "breaks the power of canceled sin" and the first entry of 844,000 that came up was a blog by a lady named Bonnie B. who on April 2, 2009 had the same thing happen to her right when she awoke!!! Like her I had to google the song...which was written by Charles Wesley...

He breaks the power of canceled sin
He sets the prisoners free
His blood can make the foulest clean
His blood availed for me

Day 106

2010-01-16T12:40:00.000-08:00

6 months...that’s what the Doctor said...we had only a few months left with mom. All of us shocked...but the realism of a short window of time was upon us. Lunch at Fuddruckers...normal, but not. We all knew we had entered the final frontier on this earth with mom. I remember mom saying, “That means I won’t make Christmas.” She didn’t...at least not on earth. In fact mom went to heaven 3 months before the doctor projected, but not one moment before God had planned. Painful...and gracious. Sad...but better. Miss her...but all is well with mom.

Yesterday...I got another letter from a woman who mom’s love and life had forever transformed. “She’s the greatest woman I’ve ever known” was what she said about mom. Great words for a humble housewife who lived in the same house for 31 years, never finished college and who lived a very simple life. Simple but not simplistic. There is a huge difference. The power of mom’s life is found in what she did daily. Time with Jesus...day after day...book after book...study after study...prayer after prayer. No one watched...only Jesus. Mom’s time with Jesus enabled her to love like no one you’ve ever met. Daily she loved...dad...us...friends...strangers...new friends...young...old...rich...poor. A life of pursuing simply Jesus...a life of simple love overflowing.

106 days...That’s how long mom has been enjoying the jaw dropping beauty of Jesus and heaven itself. When you lose someone, you so miss them that you try to remember them the way they were and how they are now. I have so many beautiful pictures of mom in my mind...but to imagine who she is now is even more satisfying. The Bible says that no one has ever come close to imagining what we will be when we see Jesus face to face (see 1 John 3). Mom is now enjoying that privilege...one that she sought each morning in her time with the Lord...now that which she sought her entire adult life is her daily joy—seeing...loving...experiencing JESUS.

Forever...Enjoy it mom...I know it gets better every day...And remember we miss you now more than ever!

Think On These Things

2010-01-16T10:01:00.000-08:00

Paul tells his son in the Lord, Timothy, to "think on these things" and the Lord will give you revelation! My favorite "dead saintly mentor"--A.W. Tozer--said believers should think twice as much as we read. Why? If we don't, we will become passive readers who simply "read books" or even "enjoy reading" with little to no life change or growth. God's ideas (His Word) embraced transform us!!!

What was Paul talking about in 2 Tim. 2:7 when he said, "think on these things"? Paul had just finished talking about growing stronger in Jesus and making disciples when he gave three illustrations: one on suffering soldiers, another on integrity filled athletes and the final one on rewarded farmers (see 2 Tim. 2:3-6).

We "share in sufferings as good soldiers"; we are athletes who "compete according to the rules"; we are "hard-working farmers who have first share of the crop." As you suffer do not despair...you are a soldier and all soldiers suffer. As you refuse to cut corners do not be proud...you are an athlete and we all compete within the rules. As you are rewarded do not refuse the blessings...you are a farmer reaping the fruit of your labor.

Think on these things.

What Difference Do My Prayers Make?

2010-01-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

Many...even established and sincere believers...ask WHAT DIFFERNCE DO MY PRAYERS REALLY MAKE? Listen to what the Holy Spirit says in His Word:

"For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance." Phil. 1:19

"The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." James 5:16

"You do not have, because you do not ask." James 4:2

Paul highlights that the prayers of the Philippians along with the help of the Spirit will work together for his deliverance. Paul could have easily left that out...many of us do or would have. Paul could have simply said that because of the work of the Spirit I will be delivered. But, he didn't. He clearly stated that through "your prayers...and the help of the Spirit"!

James give us two clear admonitions to pray. He clearly says that our prayers, because we are righteous in Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21), have "great power" to work! Isn't Jesus great that when He saved us He also made us righteous so we could pray prayers of power!

James also exhorts us that many of us sit without...without answers...without joy...without provision...without breakthroughs simply because we "do not ask." What are we missing because of silence.

Recently I've asked God for things that I didn't have great faith for at the time...and God moved! I urge you to join me in ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING! What a privilege to pray!

I Miss You Mom

2009-12-12T13:18:00.000-08:00

I miss you mom. Right now I want to talk to you and hear your sweet voice and to embrace your steady confidence in Jesus and your constant and deep love for me. The missing makes me long for your goodness given by our perfect heavenly Father. Missing you makes me long for heaven.

I miss you mom. A right word spoken with such grace and truth. The reliable kindness of your tone and the predictably caring way you spoke to me. What a great mom I have been given. Greater now than ever. I miss you mom.

I miss you mom. Right when I needed a soft and gentle touch you were there. You personified peaceful love given joyfully to all who found our way in front of your overflowing heart. What an amazing picture of Jesus love you were and are.

I miss you mom. Right now I want to see you and talk to you. How often I begin to pick up the phone to call you as I did over the past 30 years. Always accessible. Always encouraging. Mom, thanks for loving me so well. Thanks for being you.

I miss you mom. Right now your absence is more noticeable than ever. 71 days in heaven and your joy continues to grow. I wouldn’t ask you to come back and honestly you wouldn’t want to come. Just know I’m really missing you right now.

A Strangely Encouraging Loss

2009-12-11T05:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Mary Anne and I spent hours at a public hearing downtown standing for some 110,000 people who could not be in attendance--because they were killed in Travis County.

It was strangely encouraging because of what God has done in our hearts to open our eyes to His heart for the unborn. This was not the case in the previous 17 years I pastored in the Austin area.

We trucked downtown at 3:30pm on Thursday to sign up to speak at the Travis County Health District's hearing on using county tax money to pay for elective abortions for low income women.

It was strangely encouraging because the numbers of us standing for life dwarfed those who came to defend the right to kill the unborn. The pro-life community in Austin is rising up and waking up!

I didn't get to speak. I was #15 and they cut it off at #13. That's when it's good to have a strong view of the sovereignty of God. We know we were there to pray!

It was strangely encouraging because those opposed to tax funds for abortion spoke clearly and powerfully for life. One woman who had 3 abortions gave her testimony that she never knew about alternatives and when she found out she delivered her 4th child. She so regrets her abortions.

Travis County is the only county in Texas that uses tax dollars to pay for abortions. Tarrant County was the only other and they stopped in 1988.

It is strangely encouraging that the couple that always wanted to be missionaries has been placed in a sure enough mission field right here in Austin. That became crystal clear last night.

So here it is...here's the speech that was never given:

Hello, I am Trey Kent and I represent the Austin Area Pastor's Council and I am the pastor of Northwest Fellowship here in Austin. I have been pastoring in Austin for the past 18 years. Since the passing of Roe vs. Wade in 1973, in Travis County we have killed 110,000 of our own citizens through abortion. That's more than killing every elementary school student, every middle school student and every high school student in the Austin Independent School District where 82,000 students attend. Can you imagine a proposal that would kill everyone of these students? Can you imagine us sitting down in a public hearing to debate whether the county should use tax funds to pay for this? Travis County Heath District, your role is not to fund the killing of your own citizenry. Over the past 18 years I have worked with men and women whose lives have been ruined by abortion. Will tax money be used to pay for the counseling of those who are forever tormented by the killing of their children? And we paid for the killing? I have yet to meet a woman who is glad she killed her baby. I also have yet to meet a women who said, "Oh, I wish I would have had an abortion instead of giving you life." The women going to the abortion clinic do not go because they are pro-choice--they go because they feel they have no choice. Why not use this money for paying for adoption, to pay for food and medical needs or to help out mothers who have babies but need help? Yet this provision we are discussing tonight is about one thing and one thing only--money to terminate life. No money for counseling. No money for adoption. No money to help mothers who choose to have the baby. All of you are educated people. You must resist the pressure of the "elected officials" and "higher ups" who are pushing this agenda. Be men and women of courage. There's always a way to do the right thing and this is wrong. It is not the place of the Travis County Heath District to fund the killing of it's citizens. It's your role to help. To promote life. As I'm sure you know, the latest Gallup Poll shows more Americans are pro-life than pro-choice. That's because we all have friends, sisters and people we've met who have been devastated by abortion. And, we've all seen a sonogram. We know that baby is alive. Once again, there's always a way to do the right thing and the Travis County Heath District does not exist to kill it's children and mar the hearts of it's women.

That's it...it was a strangely encouraging night. Virtually everyone who spoke for abortion said they personally were against it or that most often it's wrong. That's the new way to talk about abortion--all because we know in our hearts that's it's never right to kill a helpless unborn child created in God's image.

Rise up army of God. You are a missionary of love and truth. Let's awaken to our role to educate, challenge and love.

Oh, with little discussion the board voted unanimously to use tax money to pay for up to 1,000 abortions in Travis County in 2010.

It is strangely encouraging because our eyes are open and we are waking up.

Vapor, Fear and Legacy

2009-11-30T17:38:00.001-08:00

I just watched a 4 hour funeral (online) of Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty. He was the pastor of the 17,000 member Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He died at 57 years old. What an amazing man!

"You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." James 4:14 Most of those reading this blog have never heard of Pastor Billy Joe...but like our lives...his was a vapor. But, it was a fruitful vapor. He touched millions of lives through his ministry around the world. Most of us will never touch millions...but we all can have a fruitful vapor by...

Facing our fears...the Bible gives us good news in that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Tim. 1:7 All of us are being held back right now by fear...but Jesus has conquered fear and has given us His Spirit which trumps fear. What are you called to do but fear has made your vapor fruitless...today pray and then claim your heritage...the one in 2 Tim. 1:7...the one in which fear is replaced with power, love and a sound mind! And then...

You will be on your way to a fruitful legacy. We all leave a legacy...but not all a fruitful one. We will all leave different legacies...according to our calling by God. Everyone who leaves a fruitful legacy will have faced their fears and stepped out for God. Do so...

Today...take one step over fear...why not right now!

A Good Friend

2009-11-01T20:20:00.000-08:00

So many of you have been praying for me since Mom went to be with Jesus almost a month ago. Thanks you so much. Your prayers have comforted me more than I know! And think about this…Mom’s been with Jesus for almost a full month…this has been the best month of her entire existence and every moment is better than the last!!!!

Where do you go when your grieving? Countless folks over the years have turned to the exact place I’ve been camping…in the Psalms! In the Psalms I’ve found a true, good, faithful, compassionate and ever present friend in Jesus. David words pour forth Christ’s Words (see Ps. 22 for an amazing example) and bring such comfort to my scattered and wondering soul. This morning before church I received such joy as I meditate on the fact that my Shepherd RESTORES MY SOUL (see Ps. 23). In the midst of me losing an unbelievable friend in Mom (one I’ve missed talking to more than you can imagine) I’ve found a deeper friendship with Jesus—through the Psalms.

I wonder if this is not the plan…bringing great loss in order to bring greater depth of healing and love through our trusted and faithful Friend—Jesus. Some months ago while preaching God gave me this inspiring understand from Job 1…here we learn from this suffering dad at the loss of all his children when he says… “God gives and God takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!” (see Job 1:21). Do you see it? God gives first and then He takes away…He never takes away from us without first giving to us! Like a wise parent who distracts a child who is playing with a dangerous object by giving a safe toy before “taking away” the dangerous one. God is so wise…He gives and then takes away. He gave me the Psalms and then He took away my Mom. He has given me so much more than I ever knew prior to the real loss of Mom.

A good friend is difficult to find…a friend who will never forsake you is found only in One. What’s He doing now to bring you into a deeper friendship? Where are you going to pursue it? Come join me and my Friend in the Psalms!

Outlasting It All

2009-10-25T19:12:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed it seems everyone is being shaken in some way…financially, physically, relationally, and/or spiritually? When we are being tested it’s easy to focus on the obvious pain instead of the not so obvious victory. Not so obvious because the enemy we face (in whatever area) will not reveal to us what the Bible tells us—their triumph is short-lived and more than that the grief they are causing us is only revealing a GREATER GLORY FOR US THAT OUTSHINES THEM ALL (check out 2 Cor. 4:17).

Faith, in the midst of the storm, is seeing that which is true but easily missed… that God is greater…that God is in you…and “Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). What if we saw all the trials simply as a way for God to “show off” as being “greater in you” than all your enemies? Another way to look at it is like this—Satan is defeated…and in the meantime…until he is thrown in the lake of fire…we are the daily object lessons (remember Job) showing all heaven and hell that God is greater in us…and that we will not curse God…that we will stand…and in the end we will know our God in a way we’ve never known Him before. Satan, who was trying to steal, kill and destroy us—becomes the tool leading us into deeper fellowship, intimacy, faith, love and joy in God. That dummy!

It’s all working for our good…hope is here…His name is Jesus…and He’s inside you to bring hope up right now!

A Torch Has Passed by Erin Kleinecke

2009-10-06T15:14:00.000-07:00

A light has left our world after burning brightly for 73 years. The passing of Eileen Jacobson Kent may not be covered 24/7 by CNN or splashed across the headlines. For her accomplishments are not given the recognition they deserve in this day and time. But fame or fortune was never important to Eileen.

She epitomized the definition of a lady. She was soft-spoken, cheerful, optimistic and always interested in how "you" were doing--no matter who you were. She made you feel as though you were the most important person in her life. Hers was a sincere interest in your well-being, not a disingenuous affectation flaunted for show. You walked away from any conversation with her feeling just a little bit better about yourself.

Eileen was married for 50+ years to the highly successful tennis coach, David Kent. His accolades are re-counted in numerous ways and his name forever in the history books of American collegiate tennis. He would be the first to say that he couldn't have done it without Eileen. She was his rock and anchor through the storms of coaching; an incredible role model for coaches' wives everywhere.

She mentored many of those wives through her coaches wives' bible study group. She could empathize with the challenges of the lifestyle without ever demeaning or degrading the coaches themselves. She lifted everyone up with her positive outlook.

She was a person of great faith in God. She didn't just tell you what she believed, she demonstrated her beliefs with action. She fed the hungry, clothed the naked, housed the homeless and ministered to the sick. She truly saw Jesus in everyone she met.

Eileen was faithful in matters big and small. Her family came first, nurturing three children, seven grandchildren and boasting a great granddaughter. But she was never too tired or too busy for a friend in need.

Recognition in this life was not her aim. Her only goal was to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Come share your master's joy."

Those who were blessed by the light of her life can take comfort in knowing she achieved the only recognition that lasts. Her torch can light the way for all who choose to follow.

Few Die So Well...A Tribute To My Mom

2009-10-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

An amazing passage that I’d never seen in action till now is found in the stark words of Christ to Peter, “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" John 21:18-19

Did you catch that…"the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God!" Since January of this year I had the rare privilege of walking with and watching my Mom stare death in the face with unflinching faith. She lived out the promise found in Hebrews 2:14-15…“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

We talked about heaven (she was studying the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn) and we shared about the attributes of God (as we prayed the Scriptures together from Praying The Attributes of God). But most of all I stood amazed as did my brother Todd and sister Tanya as Mom moved steadily and firmly toward her eternal home in Heaven with the strength and focus of a highly skilled athlete…all I can say is few die so well. Few leave a legacy in life of love, prayer and amazing peace-filled compassion in so many generations…she served the rich, the poor, the old, the young and God produced amazing fruit in every field He sent mom.

Her greatest legacy must be how well she loved Dad. Nothing stands out more to me than that. Her faith was best lived out at home and being right by Dad's side. She modeled prayer, faith and love for God’s Word. In that she was a beautiful shining picture of Christ’s church in response and joyful submission to Christ's leadership (see Eph. 5 for this beautiful picture of marriage). She was and is the bride. She reflected and now even more reflects the beauty of the bride without spot or wrinkle! Her radiance in life and victory in death leaves a legacy for me and my family. Few live so well. Few die so well.

You are invited to join our family in a celebration of Mom’s life on Friday, October 9, 2009 at 1pm at Grace Bible Church in College Station, Texas (Grace Bible Church…Anderson Campus… 700 Anderson Street College Station, TX 77840… Phone: 979.693.2911)

Men, Mountains and Osama

2009-09-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

What an amazing morning…prayer at church at 6am and then prayer in front of the Anderson Mill Abortion Clinic (in the glorious rain nonetheless). It was a powerful spiritual moment as 4 NWF folks stood in the rain (no umbrellas) making a statement in Christ to the devil and all His demons and to all those driving by that mercy and truth are worth it…babies are worth in…and the women who might stop by the clinic are worth it!

MEN…Have you heard that crazy talk that men don’t want to go to church because church is too feminine? That’s a bunch of malarkey…men don’t want to go to church because the Light of Christ exposes the sin of darkness! But, I’ve got good news…we have an amazing adventure for men. We learned from John Eldredge’s book Wild At Heart that men are looking for an adventure, an enemy to conquer and a maiden to rescue (or something to that effect). I have great news…praying peacefully in front of the abortion clinic does all three. Today I got to lock eyes with the abortion doctor. I got to pray feet away from a death zone (or as Carol Everett the former abortion clinic owner called it “the gates of hell”). I got to stand for the protection of women (born and unborn). Nothing in the history of our nation has been more damaging to women than abortion. Men…rise up…the church is doing manly things!

MOUNTAINS…Climbing mountains is good. Shooting stuff fun. Going to football games exciting. But, men…we were made for way more than that. Is that really adventure? Isn’t adventure standing in the face of darkness and declaring “GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN ME THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD!”? Oh, climb your mountains, shoot your guys and enjoy your games…but don’t miss the call upon you to protect “the least”, to “love as Christ loved”, and to “lay down your life” for something that matters eternally. Pray for the mountain of abortion to be removed and thrown into the sea!

OSAMA…That’s what he said. The owner of the abortion clinic we are standing in front of peacefully praying for the next 40 Days (you can sign up to prayer at www.40daysforlife.com/austin) said last night to the evening news that we are like Osama Bin Laden. In other words we are terrorists for protesting his daily killing of unborn babies and for his daily tormenting of confused women. Unfortunately this death doctor has it wrong. We are the hands and feet of Jesus reaching out in love to both the doctor and the possible patient. We are asking for mercy and grace to fall…for hearts to change and for forgiveness to come. Isn’t it amazing to think that this abortion doctor who has been killing babies and injuring women for 15 years or so on Anderson Mill Road could today be totally forgiven and become as righteous as Jesus!!! All his sins forgiven and he could be equally welcomed in heaven as Billy Graham! Amazing grace indeed…where wretches like us are saved! Remember the Osama of old who became the Paul of the Bible…God still does this stuff!

Men…called for adventure! Mountains…waiting for you to cast them into the sea! Osama…he can be changed…so can we!

trey

Thinking Christians!

2009-09-22T16:55:00.001-07:00

Wow that’s refreshing…a Christian thinking…loving God with “all his mind!” I’ve just been reading WHY PRO-LIFE by Randy Alcorn (we passed out this book to everyone on Sunday…you can get them free on the table to the right when you walk in NWF) and have been so blessed by the clear, persuasive, poignant, pragmatic, logical and truthful presentation of why being pro-life is so “rational”. Rational, that’s a word we’ve given over to the world. Can Christians be rational? Absolutely, truth is not only rational—it is ultimate reality. Even when the world cannot grasp God’s truth, because of blindness, it is nonetheless the most rational (real) information possible.

Here are a few excerpts from Alcorn’s pro-life book:

· WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EGG, SPERM, EMBRYO, AND FETUS? “It’s scientifically inaccurate to say a human embryo or a fetus is not a human being simply because he’s at an earlier stage of development than an infant. This is like saying that a toddler isn’t a human being because he’s not yet an adolescent….something nonhuman doesn’t become human by getting older and bigger; whatever is human is human from the beginning.” (page 33)

· IS THE UNBORN APART OF THE WOMAN’S BODY? “The unborn child also has a genetic code, but it is distinctly different from his mother’s. Every cell of his body is uniquely his, each different from every cell of his mother’s body…a child may die and the mother live, or the mother may die and the child live, proving they are two separate individuals.” (page 37-38)

· WHAT DO THE PICTURES TELL US? “When a pro-life candidate ran television ads showing aborted babies, people were outraged…The question we should ask is not ‘Why are pro-life people showing these pictures?’ but ‘Why would anyone defend what’s shown in these pictures?’ The real concern about pictures of unborn babies isn’t that they’re gory, but that they prove the accuracy of the pro-life position…And if abortion isn’t killing babies…then why are these pictures so disturbing?” (page 45-46)

· WHAT MAKES A HUMAN LIFE “MEANINGFUL”? “With no hype at all, the fetus can rightly be called a marvel of cognition, consciousness and sentience….Scientists have already detected self-awareness in the second trimester. The extraordinary capacities of the preborn children have been well documented by scientific studies for years. By early in the second trimester the baby moves his hands to shield his eyes from bright light…responds to sounds…covers ears at loud noises…experiences REM sleep, indicating that he’s not only sleeping but dreaming. Can we say that someone capable of dreaming is capable of thinking? Undoubtedly, later abortions kill a sentinel (self-aware), thinking human being…(and) early abortions are no better than later ones. A living child who would’ve had a name, family, and life will now have none of these.” (page 49-50)

And…there’s so much more…I am only on chapter 8! It’s so true that most of us, including me, have not been well educated in the pro-life “rational” truth! Please read…you will be so amazed. Christianity is truth…thinking God’s thoughts after Him. It’s also grace…embracing God’s forgiveness when we fail at following His truth.

Let’s think…and let’s embrace both Truth and Grace!

trey

The Anointing

2009-09-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

“The anointing breaks the yoke of bondage!” (Isaiah 10:27 KJV) That’s what I always heard as a new believer. There is truly nothing like it when the Holy Spirit breaks in through a song, message, testimony, prayer or through the Word.

I saw that this past Sunday. We had 6 Japanese students here at NWF who had NEVER been to church. But a strange but true thing is that they had been taught the song Amazing Grace (in English nonetheless) in grade school. When we sang that song at church on Sunday the Holy Spirit fell and 2 of the girls broke down crying—later stating they “felt God”! Feeling God is good—but not enough for salvation.

Today we were taking one of the Japanese students to the airport. She asked, “Why do you believe in Jesus?” We told her 2 things—(1) Remember how you felt God on Sunday. He’s real. (2) Jesus lived, died and rose again to prove He’s God and the only Savior!

The full “anointing that breaks the yoke of bondage” comes as the Holy Spirit is embraced and the Word is taught. Spirit and Truth…breaks the yoke of bondage. Pray with us that all 6 of these students will come to radical saving faith in Jesus Christ!

Spirit and Truth…Revisited

trey