John Michael Hammer (beta)

I don't know what to write

2009-02-14T20:45:00.001-08:00

I don't think I necessarily have writer's block. It's not like a blog requires that much forethought (at least mine). Well, I have been overwhelmed lately with all the abortion laws that have been passing. I believe that over time we will see a shift towards life in this nation. If you haven't heard about Sycloria Williams and what happened to her baby, you really should read about it, but be prepared to be sickened. The link is here. I believe this will even grieve pro-choicers, my prayer is that it does. On the other hand we have this bizarre case with the octuplet mom, who now has a single mother home of fourteen children. Cases like this certainly don't help the pro-life movement. I find myself praying often for our president and believe that to honor God he must change his policies concerning life. I'm also sickened by all the Christians who believe that Obama will become successful at making abortions rare with his stated tactics. I pray that he does make them rare (and not at all), I just think that it's ridiculous to defend that position with what he has done so far and promised to do in the future.

On the home front, my wife is still sick with a sinus infection, and my girls are busy. Especially Emma, she's super busy right now, which I find incredibly cute. Hailey is talking so big right now. Last night Hailey, Emma, and I were at the store to get a Valentine Card for Grace. When I read our final Snoopy card to Hailey she said, "That's the funniest card I've ever seen," with a little laugh. My family's amazing. I can't wait to see our first little boy.

On the heart front, I desperately want people to meet Jesus like I have. I want all of Christ, for all of me. A relationship with Jesus is glorious. Sure I've been disillusioned, frustrated, and angry in my Christian faith, but nothing is better in a life of sin and shame. I love to taste of the pleasure of loving God. Like John Piper, I'd have to say that I'm a Christian hedonist (but I'm not that Calvinist). My greatest joy in life is being overtaken by Jesus. I wish I always felt the pleasure of loving God, but I'm growing in it. I want people to know this incredible God and be free from all that holds them captive.

I've sure loving being a youth pastor lately. More than before. I've always enjoyed it, but God is getting those youth into my heart. They're amazing and it's an honor to raise up warriors in the army of the Lord. They will do great things in their life times. It will be fun to cheer them on!

Long Term Family Planning and the Financial Crisis

2009-01-26T22:21:00.000-08:00

What if people planned on having big families? What if Joe Bob had so many kids, that his kids could just pitch in a small fraction of their savings later in life to care for Joe Bob's elderly/retirement needs? What if there was an incentive to have large families so that families could be financially stable?

Our government has put forth a narrow minded solution today and may possibly be retracting it a day later. Nancy Pelosi was quoted in an article today where she stated that putting $200 million towards contraception would help the economy by relieving financial aid to impoverished families giving birth to new children. So apparently children have become a burden.

More babies, more possible creative solutions. Less babies, less possible creative solutions. Another classic example of a mindset that sees limited resources and limited solutions. This thinking is absurd. Let me explain. Let's say that in our country that there are only 100 jobs and there are 101 people that need jobs. A mindset that is narrow minded and closed believes that we have to short one person, kill one person, split the profits of another person,etc. An open minded solution would be to create a new job, a new industry, a new product, a new way to recycle, a new service, etc.

More people do not limit us. Our ideas limit us. Less people, less ideas, less energy. More people, more ideas, more enegry.

It's a Boy on a dark day in American History.

2009-01-22T21:22:00.000-08:00

I am very excited today because today my wife, Hailey, and I went to get an ultrasound of our new baby. It's a boy!! As a family of five, it's really nice to have a little boy. I was pretty outnumbered (not that it's been a bad thing). Girls have melted my heart, but I'm pumped for the little warrior to be added to our family.

My emotions were pretty mixed up when I realized that I got to see the gift and miracle of life, a baby in the womb, on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. On January 22, 1973, this horrible law which paved the way for mass abortions has lead to the slaughter of 40-50 million babies. President Obama has decided to pay for abortions around the world with our tax dollars in honor of this wicked ruling.

We have to ask ourselves, is change really a good thing, if it increases the amount of deaths of our most innocent and helpless members of society? Just because I want my baby, it makes it one? Just because someone doesn't want their baby, it makes it a blob of cells and tissue? There is blood on our hands. I am celebrating the life of my child and mourning the loss of innocents. I believe that great change is possible and I continue to pray with faith. God reverse the decree of '73. Jesus I plead your blood over my sin and the sin of my nation. God end abortion and send revival to America.

Daddy's Girls

2009-01-15T21:33:00.000-08:00

I learn things all the time from my two little girls. They're amazing. I never knew that I would love having girls so much. I'm crazy about them. I laugh and smile so much now that they are in my life.

Tonight my one year old, Emma, had her mommy put a wool cap on her head. The moment it went on her head she looked to me with this little inquisitive expression that was patiently waiting for daddy's affirmation. I said with a big smile and a hi-pitched voice, "Emma you look so beautiful." She smiles back at me and then goes back to playing with mommy. Then she does it again and again. She takes off the hat, has mommy put it back on, and looks right to daddy for another praise. My oldest daughter has been doing this probably since she was one year old as well. Each time Hailey, my oldest puts on a new shirt or dress, she comes out with a big smile and a silent stare, to wait to hear those words, "You look beautiful," from daddy.

Life is amazing with little ones. God is so good to bless me with them. I wonder what would happen to all the little girls if someone told them with a pure heart that they were beautiful, that they were valuable, that they mattered, and that they had a destiny. I learn a lot about God's love being a daddy?

Rolling in my Buick

2009-01-13T16:07:00.000-08:00

My top ten reasons to own and drive a Buick:

10. Almost power everything (this is actually humorous because it's all in slow motion for old people)
9. You can roll baby roll, like a thug with your seat back.
8. Virtually invisible to cops.
7. People trust people that drive Buicks.
6. Breaking the mold (everyone assumes that old people drive em')
5. Trunk space equivilant to a small pick-up (my whole family could sleep back there)
4. You get the chance to connect with elderly in your community (there's like a secret underground old person Buick club I think)
3. You could get in a collision with an armored truck and win.
2. Hood ornament is safe, no one wants to brag about their Buick hoodie they just ripped off.
1. It was free (thanks Grandma :))

New Year's Goals

2009-01-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

I have some goals for the new year. I don't know if they line up with the most popular resolutions or anything. For instance, due to my lightening fast metabolism, I don't need a weight loss goal ("they" tell me that will change). I want to keep it simple, something that keeps me focused. Here they are:

1. Read my Bible and pray everyday (at least a half hour and preferably an hour)
2. Have 1 date night a week with my hot wife
3. Have at least one family night a week
4. Excercise three times a week

I have another couple of goals, but I'm keeping one card close to my chest for now. The other is that I want to share Jesus by praying for people and sharing the Gospel just while I'm out and about in everyday life. I want it to be more regular. I've been spotty and I know God's calling me to do it as a lifestyle. It feels weird to put it as an official goal though right now. What's one of yours?

Happy New Year!

Happy Hope You Didn't Get Wasted New Year

2009-01-01T15:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I will write in the next few days along a little more serious lines, but for now, here's my rant to vent a little bit. I don't understand why a certain day on the calender puts people in a mood to do something that defiles their character.

"hey look, a full moon, I know... I'll go rob a bank..."
"hey I'm getting married next week, I'll go get drunk and have a crazy night before I get tied down to the ball and chain..."
"hey it's new years, I'll get plastered and do something I really regret..."

I'm not surprised when your average joe partakes in cultural norms of drinking or doing something regrettable. My problem is when I hear of "commited Christians" doing the same. I really don't want to be "judgemental" but we need to call one another to a higher place of character as Christ followers. There is not anything Biblically wrong with having a glass of wine or drinking a beer. But the Bible is clear on drunkeness being a sin (Eph. 5:18, 1 Cor. 6:10) that which seperates people from God and Christians from the intimate grace and presence of God.

How do we define ourselves, by our high point, or by our low point? Why do we take who we are in Christ and throw it away for a day because of a "special" date on a calendar? I know we should not define our lives by our low point, high point, or average, but by who Father God sees us as in Christ. However, that should not be some lame copout to lower our standards and sin against God. It should be a force of grace to movivate us to goodness and righteousness in our practical choices as we are in the process of maturing as sons of God. Our poor choices (i.e. sin) ought to diminish as we follow Christ. I'm the first one to say that I've got a long way to go to be like Jesus and there's a lot about me that needs to grow and change for that to happen. But let's call sin what it is and ask God for grace to avoid. This new year I need grace to "instruct me to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age (Titus 2:12 NIV paraphrase)."

WHAT?!

2008-12-27T20:25:00.000-08:00

A great friend of mine recently sat down with a young lady that began to press him about his job and such. He reluctantly talked to her about what he did and touched on some of the pro-family lobbying that he did. It was a sad series of events throughout their conversation that lead to the place where she questioned his "hateful" pro-life basis on the grounds that he has no rights to pass moral judgement on the issue because of his gender. WHAT?!

There's been a sad series of events in our nation that have lead us to the place where people who simply want all lives valued at every stage to be considered hateful, judgemental, and narrow minded. My heart breaks for this Christian girl (or at least that's what I was lead to believe) that has been so brainwashed by a death culture that she can't see what's clearly stated in Horton Hear's a Who ("A person's a person no matter how small"), or the Bible: Psalm 139:13 "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb (NIV)."

I understand that we have some Old Testament "Christians" that have bombed abortion clinics and targeted abortion doctors, but these guys are way off base and are clearly violating the heart of God over the issue. It's wrong to use violence to change the hearts of people concerning the issue of life. But we are in a tough place right now. The liberal is kicking our butts on this issue by leading in the way they have framed their movement. This stinks, but it's where we are at. I'm praying this: Jesus, I plead your blood over my sin and the sin of my nation, God end abortion and send revival to America. As well as this: God give us wisdom to rebrand a life culture movement that will change the hearts of people concerning the value of life.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T21:49:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! I just had an awesome week with my family. Christmas time is amazing with two cutie little girls in the house. They got loaded with presents from grandparents, uncles, and aunts. Oh yea, and by their parents too. Emma at 1 years old is just happy with tissue paper pretty much. Hailey on the other hand was into just about everything that she got, especially her new Dora umbrella. We thought she might jab her little second cousin with it, the way she was running around all crazy.

Anyways, I could go on about all the funey moments and all the thoughtful giving, but I won't. I just thought that I would say Merry Christmas! I had to get a little out of my system because I need an outlet for my happiness every once and a while.

Great Music, Great Songwriting

2008-12-24T08:35:00.000-08:00

There's this indie worship guy that is a great blend of American rock and worship, John Mark McMillan. Go check out his myspace and hear a little of his music. I just downloaded the album on itunes. The whole thing is solid if you dig his style. In my opinion he's of the highest calibur as a lyricist. He strips away the superficial and leaves you with this raw and authentic Jesus encounter.

Honor the King

2008-12-19T17:25:00.000-08:00

It's crazy to me how much people have disrespected the leadership of our nation. I'm not excited about a lot of the promises that Obama has made concerning policy, but I am going to honor him. I'll continue to fight against ideologies and policies that dishonor God and bring about destruction, but I can do that and keep my honor for our leader intact (at least that's my goal).

It goes without saying that a lot of people have a hatred for President Bush and in a lot of circles it's "cool" to dishonor him. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:17
"Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."

Well, most people have probably seen the clip or heard the story about the Iraqi reporter that threw his shoes at President Bush on his farewell trip to Iraq. Two of the articles stated that in Arab culture, throwing your shoes at someone is a sign of great contempt. Thanks reporter obvious, what culture is it an honor to be screamed at and have two shoes hurled at your head? Now to make things totally absurd, people made an on-line video game where you to can throw shoes at President Bush. I'm urging you, show your president some respect and don't go throw cyber shoes at his head. Be counter-culture and open minded, show some honor to the king.

Glorification

2008-12-13T19:22:00.000-08:00

I'm not refering to the Catholic Church's view of people that become saints. I'm writing about the final state of our great salvation. Romans 8:30 states:

"30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

There is a certainty to our salvation. Those who have been called and made righteous by Jesus can be confident in the completeness of what Jesus did on their behalf. This verse is interesting because it is making a statement about our future as if it already has happened. Wow! That's amazing. What Jesus does on our behalf is so awesome. We have so much to thank Him for.

I wonder what it will be like to be glorified. What do you think will be the coolest thing about being glorified? Go ahead and leave me a comment.

An Abortion Survivor Touched Hearts and Changed Lives

2008-12-10T13:14:00.000-08:00

"One-month-old Jacob would not be alive today if it weren't for little Sarah Brown. Jacob's mother had scheduled an abortion but then heard Sarah's remarkable story of having survived an abortion attempt. When she saw the precious little girl, instead of keeping the appointment, Jacob Alan's mother gave him the gift of life."

This is a compelling story. It's worth your time. Click here for the full story.

Life Culture Revolution

2008-12-10T11:42:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about the need for the pro-life movement to reshape it's dialogue and key word phrases. We need a collaboration of people in arts and entertainment, education, church, and government to come together and get strategic with a 20-30 year plan to spread the message of life. We need people to write it, preach it, sing it, prophesy it, pray it, paint it, teach it, legislate it, etc. We can't reform the hearts of the nation from one perspective. We need to employ a multi-dimensional plan of victory that looks over the long-term.

Ultimately, we need changed hearts, because changed hearts, change lives.

A Note to the Christ Follower

2008-12-10T11:31:00.000-08:00

Where do your affections lie? Do you find yourself feasting on the excellencies of Christ's love and glory? How is your time alone with Him? Are you investing in the most important relationship? The relationship that makes you alive? The one that you were born for?

One thing we as must never forsake is our place of personal prayer, Bible reading, meditation, Bible memorization, and worship. I find that most Christians are struggling with petty inward focused issues because they have lost this place of intimacy with God in their lives. Don't let this go. If was to rate the next two issues that cause Christians grief, it's first breaking fellowship with believers that will love them and speak the truth, people that are mature (or just not having this kind of relationship enough). The next would be people not using their gifts or not having an outlet for the creativity that God has given them.

Get alone with Jesus today. Shut the door. Crack open your Bible. Laugh, cry, worship, pray, dream. Be with Him and reach out to His heart until He grabs ahold of yours!

They want a king or you want a king, huh?

2008-12-09T15:26:00.000-08:00

Circulating in Christian circles, is that the people of America, wanted a King, much like the people of Israel wanted a King when God gave them Saul. In the Bible, in Samuel 8, we see the story unfold, where Isreal rejects God as their King and begs for a man. I don't advocate a Theocracy that existed in the Old Testament. The buzz on the street is that Obama is looked to as a savior that would save the people from their woes. Bascially, that God gave us what we asked for. So did God appoint Obama, or did God just appoint us a leader because we cried out for "change?" I don't know.

My concern is that if we are sooo devastated about this and finding ourselves totally depressed as a church, then were we looking for a king too? Is it just because "our guy" lost that, "all those other people" were looking for a king. Could it be that we put as much hope in a republican candidate by in large, as others put in Obama?

We have got to step off gloom and doom when we don't get our way. We must discern the times according to the Bible and righteos leadership will exalt our nation. I hope that Obama fixes our country and unites us and all that, but it is unacceptable to pass laws removing all restrictions on abortion. God hates the shedding on innocent blood, as we do it on the altar of convenience. God will not honor this kind of legislation or executive order. I pray that Obama will have a change of heart and that God will shift his heart on the value of life. But ultimately, the church, Christ's redeemed bride, must arise and share the love of the Jesus and preach the gospel to see wicked hearts changed. We need change that comes through the power of God. Our marching orders haven't changed a bit. Lift up Jesus through compassion, preaching, ministering to the sick and tormented. We need a Gosepl revolution. We need to see grace at work and that comes through faith as the Word of God is preached and demonstrated. Come on church, let's not throw in the towel. Maybe we just need to turn off the T.V. and read as many headlines sometimes, and just tune into God's Word and His still small voice.

Great Day

2008-12-08T21:38:00.001-08:00

Today was family day. Oh baby, it was amazing. We went to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens called D'lights of Christmas. Somebody spent hours making these elaborate light creations. It's a must go this Christmas season. We also went to Bellevue Square and watched their drum presentation which is every night at 7pm. Hailey got in the car and said, "this is the best family ever day!" It was! My family is awesome! My little girls have melted my heart into a thousand pieces and now I have compassion in places that it never used to be.

Practicing Thankfulness

2008-12-05T14:01:00.000-08:00

I know that I'm a little late on a Thanksgiving post. But I am endeavoring to practice thankfulness on a regular basis. There's so much negavite news that's bidding for my attention and quite frankly, it can be depressing if you let it be. I am a realist by nature. I don't like to look at things through a naive fairytale lense, so therefore I need to be pretty intentional about looking for the good in things. This is so helpful and gives me a lot more peace in life.

I'm thankful for:
- the blood of Jesus that forgave my sin, washed me clean, and broke my addiction
- my wife: beautiful, godly, childlike faith, joyful, prayerful, incredible mommy
- Hailey: intelligent, funny, inquisitive, large 2 year old vocabulary, compassionate, creative
- Emma: bouncy, giggly, smiley, daddy's girl, cling-on, escape artist, explorer
- Baby: growing each day in mommy's tummy, I like to watch the baby grow
- my job: I love preaching Jesus, encouraging people, teaching the Bible, sharing Jesus with those who need Him, seeing miracles
- friends
- extended family
- God's manifest presence
- my new house

The list could go on. I'm blessed! You're blessed. Take some time to thank God for the good things that you have been blessed with!

Good Flick

2008-12-03T15:45:00.000-08:00

My wife, daughter, and I went and saw the new Disney movie, "Bolt." It was hilarious. It was good to actually see a cartoon that was made for children again. But it was funny especially, the pigeons and the little hampster named "Rhino." Let me butcher one line from Rhino (he's doing all the talking):

- Hello?
- Who is it?
- Destiny.
- I've been expecting you.

The Family Grows

2008-11-21T14:43:00.001-08:00

It's pretty crazy. Grace and I went to her first doctor's appointment where we heard the heart beating of our third special baby!! We also got a little ultrasound (not big enough to determine the gender yet). It's so amazing to watch that little 10 week old baby moving around in mommy's tummy. I love that little life! We both walked away totally blessed by our doctor. She rocks!! I don't want to say why, but she's loves babies!! Our little house is filling up super fast. By four and a half years of marriage we'll have three little cuties. Will God continue to overpower me with estrogen or will their be another male in the house? Grace says she doesn't want to know this time. The suspense continues...

What if we Gave a Choice?

2008-11-12T15:25:00.000-08:00

What if we gave a choice
to the ones who have no voice?
What if life was valued
before men took women to the bedroom?

What if slavery had it's end
because customers stopped their sin?
What if life culture represents
elders, youngens, and adolescents?

What if all we owed was love
because we were filled from above?
What if we decided to touch each
with respect and a loving reach?

What if our vote reflected our values
because our conscience gave the cues?
What if justice and mercy we were to meet
and we found that peace had a seat?

What if you needed a new heart
and all that you longed for was a fresh start?
Who gives you a chance at free
to let go and to let you be?

What if all the death you caused
could be wiped away and guilt restrained?
What if the voices were silenced
and your dreams were no longer menaced?

What if you met Jesus for all the right reasons
because your loved no matter the seasons?
What if this isn't too good to be true
that no matter what your part you can be brand new?

Size of youth center equals couple's commitment

2008-11-02T06:24:00.000-08:00

I want to give props to my heroes, mentors, and forerunners: Pastors Russ and Kim Babcock. The Everett Herald just did an awesome article, in the Faith Section, on their lives of faithfulness in youth ministry and our new youth facility at Sonrise Chapel. They are real people who are madly in love with Jesus. They have a solid family and are just amazing people! It's so funny in a way to see them in the paper, because they are the last people you would think of to pursue P.R. or being on the front of anything. I love that! They have lifted Jesus with their lives, even through really hard times. They've been an example of integrity and they are so quick to point people to Jesus, giving God all the glory! We're so blessed to have them at our church and I'm blessed to serve with them in youth ministry. My wife and I are blessed to call them friends. My oldest daughter is crazy about them too.

Go check out the article or try and pick-up yesterday's Herald (Saturday, Nov. 1):
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081101/NEWS01/711019880&SearchID=73334823147440

Thank God! People are praying.

2008-10-30T16:42:00.001-07:00

After my last, kinda, negative post, I have been encouraged to see so many Christians praying and rallying to pray. It's awesome. I used to always think that people were super cheesy, religious, and fakey fakey spiritual with no sense of reality who looked against the odds and made simple declarations of faith. But now I realize that I was wrong. We don't know anything until we have the heart and mind of God on any given issue, election, or event. We need to hear from God and be led by His Spirit in all things. He alone is wise. Powerful things are in store for a praying church. My prayer is that after these elections we won't lose momentum in prayer, but that we will remain diligent.

Quit Whining and Start Praying

2008-10-26T19:24:00.001-07:00

I'm certainly nauseated at all of the negative political attack adds on T.V. and I don't really watch that much of it. But I hope that Christians are praying more than I hear them whining about the upcoming elections. The good news is that whoever is elected, we still have the same duty on November 5. Pray and obey. Simple as that. Still following Jesus, loving my wife and family, shining my light, loving my Bible, and not throwing in the towel. So, let's get off of our duffs and pray about who the next leaders of our nation are going to be!

The Prayers of a Great Grandmother

2008-10-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I gave my first message at a memorial service. I was suprised to be asked intially that they would want me to give the message for a great grandmother, being that I am youth pastor. I was asked to give the message because this great grandma had several great grandchildren that she was praying for and the family knew that she would want a young pastor to deliver a salvation message that would be relevant to the younger generation. It was quite an honor to say the least.

At the end of her life she was lying on her death bed in the hospital under sedation. She was unconsious for several days and shortly before she died she came to and uttered her last words. She said something to the effect of, "Lord save my children, have mercy on my children, bless them, show them salvation." She then fell back asleep and breathed her last breathe in this life, to wake up in glory.

She died, but her prayers haven't. One of her great grandchildren gave his heart to Jesus. You could see the love of God touching his life and he was truely broken as he accepted Christ as his saviour and asked for the forgiveness of his sin. Psalm 78:4 (NKJV), "We will not hide them from their children, telling them to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done." It was powerful to witness to the passing of truth from one generation to the next.

Where else would I be?

2008-10-23T11:28:00.001-07:00

I am really excited right now about what God is doing in the youth, particullarly in the area of prayer. In our youth ministry, I am seeing a new hunger arise in the group to cry out God. God is releasing dreams, that are so powerful over these young people. I love it! I believe that God has called young people to be about their Father's business. God has so much to show them and they are so ready and capable to used powerfully of the Lord at a young age. One junior higher came up to me last night and told me that he's been having dreams lately where a demon possessed person comes up to him and he prays and casts the demon out. This is God's invitation to normal Christianity. This is an answer to my prayers!! We were made to connect to our Heavenly Father in loving relationship and out of that relationship go about and do His business. Here's a poem I shared last night as well:

Where else would I be
But caught up in my destiny
About my Father's business
Lifting prayers as incense

Relating to my Creator
This is my new nature
Going against the trend,
Not hard when God's your friend

Who are these peculiar people
That are a living steeple
Surrendering their time
For the spriritually blind

One thing I must apprehend
God it's your heart and it's your hand
I seek Your face today
Oh, how I want to stay

In this longing, I'm alive
In this dying, I find I thrive
Adventure waits for the one
Who's willing to become undone

This is our Finest Hour

2008-10-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

I have this phrase running through my heart, it's on repeat, "This is the church's finest hour." I really believe that. No matter if we have a red or blue president, the church needs to rise up, and she will. It's time for Christ followers to take their place on the wall and pray and obey like never before. Christians need to take their place working with and within groups of people that they would not associate themselves with typically to bring light into darkness. Whether it's praying for sinners and sick people on the street and showing them the way to Jesus or climbing into places of influence in different spheres of culture, our finest hour is at hand. I feel that either candidate for president will face major issues and needs not be cursed but blessed and prayed for by a faith filled church. This is our finest hour. What are we going to do about it? These are supposed to be exciting times. I refuse to live in panic and fear of how dark of days that we live in. It's not that I'm better than that, it's just that I've spent too much of my life in anxiety and magnifying the darkness. I realize we need to be real about situations, but more importantly we need to move in faith, let the peace of God rule in our hearts, rejoice in all things, and lift up Jesus with our lives. People are so hungry to see Jesus re-presented through His bride. Shine your light Christian! This is your finest hour!

Set True

2008-10-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

Fragmented eyesight
brings twisted light
Births internal fight
Can't tell what's right

Vision comes to unity
Burns a fire all in me
Lamp shines internally
Bright as eternity

Now I can see here
What was always right there
Can't count what I hear
What I heard I'd tear

It's different now
Truth is the how
All the lies bow
My soul cries wow

A perspective set true
Rain over due
I will breathe through
Everything is new

The Victory that Overcomes the World

2008-10-04T14:57:00.000-07:00

1 John 5:4-5

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this it the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

God has been doing a radical work in my life through the simplicity of the gospel. Our faith that Jesus is the Son of God is our victory over the world. "All that is in the world" is described earlier in 1 John 2 as "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." Our victory over temptation is so simple. I beleive that devil is at work to get Christ followers so confused over the power in the simplicity of our faith. Our faith is indeed born of God as we see in the Scripture above. Our faith also grows in a sense of His love. The devil is out to accuse and deceive us (Revelation 12) into thinking that we need to add "extra" or "hidden" things to our simple faith in Jesus Christ in order to walk in victory. A while ago, I heard someone say, "there's more than salvation." That really hit me wrong. I realized that what he should have said was that there is more "in" salvation. There may be areas in our lives that we are not seeing this "victory" or in other words we haven't experienced all of the benefits that are available in our salvation. However, let us not lessen the truth of the Bible to our experience and let's apply this faith to every nook and cranny of our hearts that we might experience this victory that is born of God Himself. Our faith needs a recharge and Scriptural realignment to see how God sees and live as He calls us to live. Jesus has paid with His own blood for us to have victory over the world and our faith in Him is paramount to everything we do in life.

Power and Love

2008-10-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

We just finished a conference last Saturday, called Power and Love. It was life changing. I saw so many miracles as we went out to the streets. The conference had times of teaching and then we would go out into the streets to minister God's power and love. We gave encouraging words (prophecy and plain old encouragement), prayed for the sick, and told people about Jesus. We saw people totally encouraged, a demon get expelled as a lady hurled in a trash can, people's backs and feet get healed. The list could go on and on. There were probably around 15-20 teams of 2 or 3 that went out each day and God did so many things.

The thing I'm most excited about was the revelation that God gave me personally about His love for me and the righteousness that I have in Christ. I lived under this nagging sense sometimes that I needed something more to escape the guilt from my past. God opened my eyes so clearly to see what was in His Word all along. I received a new understanding of my cleanness and acceptance before God. There is nothing that we can add to the blood of Jesus and His finsihed work. As the Christian Stanfill song states, "Jesus paid it all, all to Him owe, Sin has left a crimson stain, He washed me white as snow." God really blessed me with encouragement from two crazies that are absolutely in love with Jesus, Todd White and Dan Mohler. Dan's message on Righteousness the last night was off the charts. Such basic Bible teaching but it dripped with God's love and the Spirit's anointing. You can check them out at Neck Ministries. I'm never going to be the same again. God is so good. He loves me. He loves you too. That should wreck your day!!

Daddy, am I your choice?

2008-09-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

I hear someone yelling and screaming,
the sound of hate and thoughtless scheming.
Daddy, is that your voice?

I hear laughter, songs, and joy;
I think I hear a new special toy.
Daddy, is that your voice?

I hear sadness and woeful cries,
sounds like mourning and dark lullabies.
Daddy, is that your voice?

I hear loving hands and feet
gathering to listen for my strong heart beat.
Daddy, is that your voice?

I hear prayers covering me today.
If I could talk this is what I'd say,
Daddy, is that your voice?

I hear a world trapped in confusion.
How can they be so blinded by strong delusion?
Daddy, where is your voice?

I hear the critics of my legacy.
Will I be a burden or prodigy?
Dadddy, am I your choice?

Pray for India

2008-09-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

A dear friend from India is ministering at my church, Sonrise Chapel, this weekend. He has shared with us that there are the most horrible persecutions of Catholics and Christians occuring there. Pray for safety, protection, and boldness by the supernatural power of the name of Jesus. My minister friend said that since late October over 27 pastors have been cut into pieces by sword in front of their families. Young girls have been gang raped and one 20 year old Christian was covered in oil and burned in her town. Many churches and businesses owned by Christians have been burned as well. His greatest concern is for orphanages, and younger Christian. He also fears that many Christians are going to return to Hinduism because of the pressure. The attacks are not from Muslims, but from millitant Hindus. Pray for God's mercy in this situation. Pray that through the persecution the church will multiply. Pray for the U.N. and other organisations with leverage to persuade the Indian government to take action.

Father, we lift up the persecuted church in India, we ask for protection and safety for the believers. We was father for boldness in the midst of persecution. We ask for peace for every believer. Father expand the church and cause it to floursish in the midst of persecution. May those who are weak in faith feel the grip of your loving hand and stay true to You. Let other governements and the U.N. step in to persuade for peace and to end the persecution. Let mercy and justice be restored to the land of India. Let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name. AMEN.

I know, I know

2008-09-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

I realize that just in August I posted the video to the song "Healer" on my blog. It was written by Mike Guglielmucci of Planetshakers at the time. The song was released again on the new Hillsong album. It has been revealed that Guglielmucci, who himself said that this song was about his battle with cancer, faked for 2 years or so that he had cancer. If you google his name you can find out. There is an official press release and everything. I don't really care to go into the rest of the story, it's not the purpose of my blog.

So, I know about what happpened. The song is just straight from Scripture though and is an anointed song, period. It is still hard for me to understand how God uses even outright lies to touch people with His love and power. I'm glad, I'm not God. I guess everyone should be glad about that. My prayers go out to Mike G. Hopefully now is the point where his life can be put back together. These kind of stories I try to use as a tool to remind myself that I need God to search my heart and get rid of anything that's not pleasing in his sight. I don't think we should be "light" on sin, but I also don't think that we should shoot our wounded. When the world sees radical love (not cheap grace, maybe another post) that confronts the issues, has clear boundaries, and reaches all levels of brokenness, then they will see Jesus lifted up.

Need a laugh? Watch.

2008-08-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

Life is so funny. Celebrate the funny moments. Sorry for my junior high sense of humor but I always liked chimps. My brother and I always wanted one for a pet.

Who are your homies?

2008-08-28T15:46:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about who I'm friends with and thinking about the friends that young people keep (as a youth pastor of course). I'm tired of seeing people make friendships that pull them away from what God wants to do in their lives. Relationships, or I should say the "right relationships" are a catalyst for us to fulfill our God ordained mission in life. You've probably heard the phrase before, "you're never going to soar like an eagle if you're hanging with a bunch of turkeys." Well, it's basically true. I'm all for reaching out to people that aren't like me or are in a different place in their lives, I'm just not going to let them be my close friend or a voice that directs my life. We have to jealously guard what God has placed in us. Some people will mistake this attitude as arrogance or pride, but who cares about what others think. There will always be naysayers. It's time for God's people to link up with people who will encourage them to burn. As a Christian, it's better to make friends with pre-Christians then it is to hang out with someone who calls them self a Christian and is living a shady life (one of immorality and compromise). Who your homies are will determine where you go in life to a large degree. I've been pondering this and talking with people about this lately and I ran across this video today, which may have not been such a coincidence. So what's the skinny? If you want to be used to bring a Jesus revival, find people that burn for Jesus too, to be your closest friends.

Begins

2008-08-27T15:36:00.000-07:00

Father fill me with your love
The fullness from above
The Spirit having His way
So my lips will say

All the truth in love
Empowered by the dove
I'm changed to bring change
His love will rearrange

Broken hearts gone astray
People trapped in dismay
Love covers all sins
New life here begins

Jesus sets people free
Sin, death, and hell free
Turn to the Lamb that was slain
His glory will always remain

Miracle Baby

2008-08-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

Israeli Unborn Baby Victimized by Abortion, Put in Freezer, Comes Back to Life,
I don't know if you have seen this headline, click here. So a mother that is 26 weeks pregnant is told that her baby is not showing signs of life and they decide to do an abortion to remove the baby that they presume to be dead. After the procedure is performed, the dad asks to see the child who was put in a freezer and when they get the baby girl out to show the dad, the baby is alive after being pronounced dead. Even at 26 weeks, 14 weeks away from full maturity, this baby is alive. The baby did not live long and ended up dying. The doctors claimed that the baby, since being born prematurely was never dead, just that the pulse was too hard to detect. That story is here.

These babies are such fighters. Life wants to live. Is that so suprising? I don't know if the baby was dead or not, but I do believe in miracles and maybe God brought her back. This is miraculous that she even survived for a few hours at all. I think that God is getting our attention lately about the value of life. Headlines about babies surviving abortion seem to be popping up a little bit lately. Let us conintue to fill heaven with prayers for the unborn, until we see the curse of abortion reversed and righteousness prevail in our land.

The Leaven of Herod

2008-08-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Mark 8:15

Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

It seems like in church we talk a lot about the "leaven of the Pharisees," the religious influence that bogs us down with duties and rules and that seperates from the "life" that Jesus has for us. However, Jesus also warns us of the "leaven of Herod," the corupting influence of the political/government system. I even find myself fighting the desire to put all of my hope in a politician. As Christ followers, we must not disengage from the political process, but it is also vital to not let this influence corrupt our true calling as ambassadors for the kingdom of God. I don't think I have it figured out yet, but I don't want to put all my hope in a president to solve the world's problems. I was saddened to see a Christian recently post on another blog that they were voting for Barack Obama because he would help the needy, which she mentioned that the church should do, but thought it was too far off for us to handle. The problem with her statement was that she is actually trusting in one man to solve a great human problem and in a government system. Yes, we need to help the poor, but the government has failed in fighting poverty in our nation and around the world. We're so like Israel that wanted a king to solve all of her struggles. I'm not trying to talk out of both sides of my mouth here, because I do believe that God will appoint men in places of influence to bring change, but we can't put all of our trust in the system of government to bring revolution. So as you look to Jesus, engage in government, vote, run, influence, lobby, petition, pray, pray, pray, but don't become allured by the false promises and false power of the leaven of Herod.

Jesus is Healer

2008-08-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

This song has been messing me up. It's so simple but I feel God on it.

Planetshakers - Healer

Healer by Planetshakers:
You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease
I trust in You
I trust in You
I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need My Healer,
You're my Healer
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands

The Theology of Life from the lips of a toddler

2008-08-11T22:15:00.000-07:00

The other day my 2 year old daughter was getting into her car seat, all by herself, like a "big girl." I said, "you did a good job," to affirm her new ability. So she decided to bust out in a little chant, that bordered on a song, "I am a good job. I am a good job. I am a good job." I of course had a huge grin pasted on my face and as I patted her on the head I agreed with her, "that's right Hailey, you are a good job." It's been heartbreaking lately as I run across and minister to people who think that they are worthless, broke down, no good trash. It's true that without Jesus we are all sinners. But it's also true that we were originally created in the image of God. Psalm 139 states that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." We are "a good job." God wants to restore a dignity and value for life. We are made in His image and God said that His creation was "good."

Arrows

2008-08-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

Arrows in the hands of a warrior

adorn your

heart your dream

the thief tries to break away

bring dismay

bust up the team

It's a familys affairs

who cares

about their legacy

A seed's a heritage

in the carriage

a blessed destiny

Won't be detesting me
Father's love arrested me
Don't want hate
to taint
Life culture paint
Resurrect the faint

Can't we stand for what's right
With might
But not a fight
Of hateful banter
the ranter
Brings more fire than light

Dip the message in love
From above
Creates hearts desire
The image alive
We'll thrive
Time to acquire

Blessings are overtaking
Legacies making
Receiving the little ones
The sound of war
Never bore
Joy by the tons

I hear laughter
Coming after
The ones to come along
All the files
Smiles
Time for life to be the song

The Power of One

2008-08-07T18:40:00.000-07:00

God has been showing me lately about the power of touching one person's life. I've been so consumed with God touching "the masses" that I would forget the importance of the one right in front of me. It was so easy for me to look around at church and think of who was missing, rather than look around at the people that were there and how I could see God use me to bless them. I've been leading a team at the church that visits visitors from the church unannounced. Our purpose in going is to bless them and to see if we can share the gospel (the good news about Jesus! oh yea!) with them. One thing I've been learning through this is about the power that touching that one life has. Whether we are blessing a Christian family that is looking for a new church or we get to pray for healing or the baptism of the Holy Spirit or even lead someone to trust and faith in Christ, it's been awesome. Last week I met a wonderful family that is just so precious to Jesus. It's a long story, but let's just say God's power is alive today. Arion (another young man at the church) and I got to see God's love really touch a lady at the house. She rennounced some bondage, asked Jesus to forgive her sins, and literally got layed out as the love and the presence of God touched her life. At one point while we were ministering to her, she was able to forgive herself, and when she did that, you could just feel a "weight" lifting off of her. It was so amazing to watch how God set up the whole night. As I was thinking about things later that week, I pondered how I might have just said hi and walked away without taking the risk of touching someone's life with the love and power of God. Each person before us is so valuable and precious to God. He's so radically in love with each person. When we risk to demonstrate love, God is ready to meet people in that place. When someone is on a collision course with the love of our Heavenly Father, you know something good is going to take place. It's so big to be aware of the one right before us. We can change a school, a neighborhood, a family, a city, by just loving the one right in front of us. You never know what God will do in and through the one. Take the risk to show people who Jesus is and what His kingdom is all about!

Jesus saves Rockstars

2008-08-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

this is such a powerful testimony. I used to listen to depressing music by Korn and so I was totally encouraged to hear about "head" and his transformation. Check out this video. And no hate for those metal heads!

Jonathan David Helser

2008-08-01T08:06:00.000-07:00

You need to check out the music on this guy's myspace! It's like liquid heaven! I was slightly familiar with his stuff a couple years ago and decided to check him out again. I felt the loving presence of God descend in the room and come upon my physical body. I love Jesus and Hesler's music stirs it up within me. This guy spends time with Jesus, as you can tell from his music. Check out the first three tracks at least posted on his myspace, his album can be downloaded on itunes as well. Here's the link: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=174256416

Manifest Presence

2008-07-31T07:49:00.000-07:00

I love the manifest presence of God. I know and believe that God is everywhere, all the time (or omnipresent as the theologians say). But there is something peculiar about the way God manifests himself in particular places and times. Last night at our youth meeting God's presence was in the room so thick. Pastor Scott dismissed everyone at the end and nobody wanted to leave. Everyone, a bunch of teenagers and young adults, was just sitting there not moving after our time was already over. The presence of God was so sweet and comforting, it was like a good weight, like a comforting blanket. One young man was visiting us from Idaho for the first time just sat in his seat at the end and started balling with his face in his hands. I'm not sure what was going on, but it was powerful. No one even prayed for him before he started crying. Each week hurting and broken are coming and are on a collision course with the loving presence of Jesus.

Camp 1.0 (Abe)

2008-07-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

At the teen camp, at Camp Berachah, that our youth ministry has been attending each summer we have some other churches that partner with us. We've got this baptist church that has been coming the past several years and God has been really moving in their youth ministry. They almost seem more pentocostal than we do. Well one of their volunteer youth leaders, Abe, a very cool man of God, is part of a pentocostal movement called Christ Gospel . I'm not very familiar with the movement, other than my intercation with Abe. Abe is a man of integrity, who is solid in doctrine and one of the most in love with Jesus people that I have ever met. I have experienced the burden of the Lord a few different times in prayer where I began to groan with intensity as I prayed from the heart of God. But for Abe, groaning, shaking, jerking, is all a normal part of prayer and a Christian walk. Some people were like, "woa, what's going on with that guy," as the Spirit of God would move on him. Well, my favorite moment with Abe is when he goes to pray for a kid (we'll call Billy) one night at camp. Abe approaches Billy and asks, "Brother, do you want to go deeper with God?" Little Billy responds, "I'm already as deep as I can go." And with passion Abe begins to declare, "Babythere's no bottom with God, you can always go deeper and deeper and deeper. Don't ever think that you are as deep as you can go, there is always more."
Being aroud Abe made me hungry to go deeper and deeper for Jesus. I want all that He as for me. I think too often we've cared about the package that God moves in and it doesn't really matter what we like or don't like. It's about what Jesus likes and how He chooses to move. And quite contrary to the opion of some, God doesn't care if it bothers us.

Post Camp Disorder

2008-07-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

I've been home from Teen Camp for one week now and I am finally feeling back in the swing of things. I guess I poured out so much emotionally, physically, and spiritually over that week, that I was just plain pooped out. But it was so worth it. God did incredible things at camp and I plan on posting a few blogs about camp this week. Young people put their faith in Jesus for the first time, were baptised in the Holy Spirit, spoke in new tongues, had lies broken of their life, received prophetic words, and words of knowledge that were accurate. It was totally awesome! More to come...

I've Seen Their Faces

2008-07-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

I was watching Monster's Inc. with my daughter this morning and I started to see a pro-life, pro-child message coming through that I hadn't seen before. I don't know if that was intentional or not, but nonetheless here's a poem that started to surface as I prayed and reflected on the topic.

I've Seen Their Faces

We're the monsters in this game
If we're using them for our fortune and our fame
Doesn't anyone know they have a name
Their uniqueness makes them not the same

The fingers of God weaved them together
They should be covered like momma's wings of a feather
Ending these destinies has commissioned a dark weather
Treating babes like cattle, at least we "use the leather"

Kill this one to save another life
We've filled our nation with darkness and strife
But Father's emerging noble husband and wife
Who see the potential and reject the knife

I've seen their faces and heard their cries
They have voices, hands, and eyes
Redemption and healing turn dark to blue skies
The Spirit of adoption makes these eaglet's fly

Their story on earth isn't where it ends
Heaven's received the babes, their God's friends
Blood that's stained our guilty hands
The redeemer washes white and heals our lands

Savior is turning things around
As we get our knees to hit the ground
Turning from death and letting life abound
In Abba's love, His life we're found

Overtake Me

2008-07-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

There's this hunger within me that just won't die for an encounter with God. Paul on the road to Damscus and John being taken to heaven. I'm hungry for this. I've heard of preachers in years gone by and one's more recently that have a defining encounter with God. I guess in some ways I've had some times where God's presence comes upon me in a strong way and I receive some kind of vision that gives me life direction. I've heard though of times where God marks a man and people physically experience God's presence and power to such a degree that they are almost afraid for their life or their encounter is so unmistakablely life changing. I want God to baptize me with fire and power in a fresh way. I'm so hungry for His power and His presence. I can't minister in my own strength and God is taking me a place where I don't care about what people think. I'm more convinced than ever that I need this kind of encounter that results in a greater level of God operating in my life and ministry. When you minister to young people they don't just need some clever cliches or some one size fits all solutions, they need God's power to bring them hope and freedom. I don't like the feeling of ministering in my own strength. It's really the fruit of an encounter with God that I long for even more than the encounter itself. If the fruit is there than it doens't matter what the encounter is like. The fruit I desire is to see Jesus lifted more from my life and see Him use me to bring Him glory.

One day away

2008-07-07T07:51:00.000-07:00

I've often wondered about how many people stop one day short of their day of breakthrough. Whether we're in a process in life or just fighting a disease or a controlling habit or sin, I wonder how many have waived the white flag just a step away from victory. Has perseverance lost it's worth as a noble trait? I don't think so. I've been thinking a lot about Romans 5:1-5. Particullary, verses 3 and 4, "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope." I don't want to be a quitter. I want to be stubborn about keeping on in hard times, continuing to get into the face of God until I see breakthrough. The people I repsect the most are those who through hell or high water did not bow their knee to their circumstances or the pressures coming at them from every side. Rather, they stayed close to God and let the pressure of their circumstances forge them more into the man that God intended them to be. The gospel to me is partially a message about becoming inwardly invincible, using every opportunity for you. That's how Paul could be locked up in prison and actually practice rejoicing and singing. That's how Jesus can sleep in the middle of a storm on a boat, and forgive the very ones who were crucifying him on a cross. This goes way beyond just learning to have a good attitude, it's about relying supernaturally on the ability and power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5 concludes, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given us." There is such a strength we have received to keep pressing ahead in trials because of the love that the Holy Spirit has deposited in our hearts. I'm remembering to receive God's love everyday and remind myself of the love that was already deposited in my heart to be the catalyst that get's me through thick and thin. Don't stop one day short of your breakthrough and learn to turn every attempt of the evil on on it's head, by allowing God to work every situation for you.

Easy Assignment

2008-06-24T16:34:00.001-07:00

God gave me an easy assignment today. I felt the Holy Spirit whisper so clearly to go tell a carpenter working on our building today, "God loves you." I wrestled with it a bit. I've had a bit of small talk with him before but I was hesitant. I don't want to be hestiant. I ended up telling him, "God loves you." He even replied with a thank you. I also asked if there was anything that I could pray for him about, but he didn't really dig into my request. He seemed to feel a little akward, maybe I did too. But not as akward as I thought it would be. I've been asking God to give me opportunities to talk to people about Jesus, bless them, or pray for them. This was so easy, to think I almost passed it up due to fear, fear of what someone else thinks about me. I'm glad I didn't back out, but I also don't want that hesitation that I chose to waiver in. Jesus is who changes lives and when God says to do something it's time to do it. That's where I want to live 24-7. Not in some hyper spiritual kooky mode, but being attentive like Jesus was, to what the Father's doing.

Tell your story

2008-06-22T14:44:00.001-07:00

My friend, that I'll call Guy, just told be a pretty cool story. Guy was a drug addict that I met at church a few years ago. I befriended him and would pray with him frequently at church. I visited him at detox and would correspond with him occassionaly over the phone when he was out of state seeking freedom. I saw him today after 9 months, which was really awesome! I missed that guy! But he had recently called from out of state where he was finishing up his GED. Guy stated that he was recently helping a landlord with some landscaping and they were talking about life. Guy told him about his background in drugs and about how he had met the Lord a few years ago but, months ago he truely surrendered his whole life to Jesus and was set free from the power of drugs. He told the landlord that he now had a relationship with Jesus. The landlord had been attending church and I guess considered himself religious but as Guy talked with him he realized he was missing something. So he says to Guy, "I want a relationship with God like you are talking about. How do I have one." Guy didn't know what to do for sure so he says something like, "Lift your hands up and say with me, "Come Holy Spirit."' And as he does this the landlord begins to weep intensley. He starts leaning over and hugs Guy. Guy just hugs him back and let's the man cry. The landlord starts pouring his heart out about his divorce and about him having no family. Guy shares that he belives God is touching his heart because of his loneliness. Guy told me that the man gave his life to Jesus.

I was totally blown away! I shouldn't be suprised though. I was so blessed hearing that God is now using Guy to touch others with His love and power. Just telling people our story is so powerful. I'm finding that people are so hungry for an encounter with God. I love how Guy didn't have all the "right things to say" and just let God use him.

2008-06-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

Born Again

2008-06-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

God is moving powerfully amongst the youth of my home church, Sonrise Chapel. Last Wednesday, a young man was found by Jesus and responded by giving His heart to the King of kings. I love seeing how God draws people. This young man (about 12 or 13) came forward and said that, "I just want to try to be a better Christian and just try and get back into it." I was able to talk to Him about grace and what Jesus has done for us on the cross. It was cool to see him connect the dots that we don't need to try to be a good person to come to Jesus, but rather that we come to Jesus so that He makes us good, forgives our sin, awakens our spirit, and gives us a relationship with God. He's been to church but never confessed and believed Jesus. It was cool to be there as he placed his trust in Christ for salvation. I finding that many young people don't know what it means to be born again. I guess it's easy to assume that everyone has heard Billy Graham, the four spiritual laws, and had a dozen gospel tracts stuck in their hands. But it's not true! People still need to see the gospel demonstrated and the message preached. It's still the foolishness of the message preached that brings people to Jesus or Jesus to people or both.

Lifting Jesus with Class

2008-06-17T07:56:00.000-07:00

Everyone should check out Jesus Branded Clothing. They have a prophetic edge and use Biblical themes accompanied by first class art work. It's refreshing to see a group of Jesus followers represent Jesus on a Christian t-shirt in an inspiring and creative fashion.

Laugh

2008-06-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

This guy puts me into silent laugh mode. Too funny.

My Canadian Vacation and the Overpopulation Myth

2008-06-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

My family and I just returned from our first family vacation to Kelowna, B.C. It was a such a great time, we definitely need that every year. Almost everyone that we ran across in Kelowna was noticeably friendly. The city also has a strong commitment to the advancement of arts in their culture which was very inspiring. My wife and I were both inspired to pursue some of our dreams that surface from time to time as a result of just being in that kind of environment. Our girls our crazy about the water which made swimming the highlight of almost every day. What a blast! Good times, good times.

On our return home from the vaca, it dawned on me as we drove the barren land, Thomas Malthus must have never visited Canada when he came up with his erroneous theory about overpopulation. For crying out loud, move the people to Canada!! For the love, there are like 60 mile stretches without anything but trees! We could probably move a quarter of the earths population to Canada and still have elbow room to spare. Maybe someone should start a move to Canada campaign. The place is loaded with natural beauty (at least in the West), and a plethora of natural resources. I'm quite content in the USA and don't feel the need to flee to the north, but before we start limiting the number of children people have in the earth, maybe we should just push for open boarders into Canada.

Enjoying Children

2008-05-23T20:58:00.001-07:00

Tonight my two year old melted her daddy's heart. It was "jammy time" (you know pj's, jim-jams, pajamas). I flew her upstairs like her favorite cartoon spelling super-heroes from the PBS show Super Why. As her pj's were going on, I thought she said, "what you say?" She repeated the phrase a few more times and it finally dawned on me as she mumbled in her sweet little voice, "what tid say?" Daddy translation: "what does it say?" I realized what she ment and responded, "You want to know what your shirt says?" She nodded and replied, "yea." I started with only the first word on her pajama top, "Apple..." And a big smile started on her face before I could finish. She obviously remembered the phrase and finished it with, "of daddy's eye." Then as my heart was dripping like a melting candle inside, I got a big hug. It's times like these that I love to celebrate, celebrate children and celebrate life.

Narrow Minded Bigots (Re-defining Pro-Life)

2008-05-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

Check out this definition of pro-life from Merriam-Websters Dictionary:

"antiabortion"

What!? If Christ followers are labeled "narrow minded bigots," then I'm naming this a "narrow minded definition." To be fair, other dictionaries give slightly better definitions, that include pharseology, such as, "opposed to legalized abortion, right-to-life; advocating full legal protection of human embryos or fetuses, especially by opposing legalized abortion." If you are going to be "pro" something, then you will always be "anti" something as well. But "antiabortion" tends to sum up all of what people feel pro-life is about. Being pro-life is about promoting a culture of life. How will we solve the great suffering of the world if we don't value life the way that God does? It's impossible to end starvation in the third world by simply giving money away. How will a dictator distribute that wealth if he believes that his life is more valuable then villagers of his nation? That's not pro-life. How will genocide end when we continue to see education that promotes superior races? That's not pro-life. How will we stop human trafficking with our donations when we can't overcome our own desire to look at pornography on the internet and end up supporting the very thing we say we hate? How dare we hate human traffickers while we buy dirty magazines and click on pornographic ad banners on-line, that are fueling the fire of human trafficking. That's not pro-life. How dare we hate abortion, and dispise children. That's not pro-life. We need money and talks to help promote the cause of life, I'm not against that. But what we ultimately need is a worldview change that comes from people encountering Jesus Christ.

Being pro-life doesn't mean that you have to have 28 children or have lived a perfect life. Being "pro" - "life" in it's truest sense, means repenting (changing our minds and as a result our actions) until we see things like God does and live that way. If it wasn't for the blood of Jesus covering my sins, I could never speak up on behalf of the cause for life. "I am the chief of sinners," as I can confess along with the Apostle Paul. I don't pray for life and promote a culture of life from a position of arrogance, although sometimes I feel pulled that direction. I plead for life from a position of humility, knowing that I don't deserve in my own righteousness to stand up for anything. But Jesus makes things new, He made me new. I'm free to value and promote life.

The human heart is so wicked apart from knowing Jesus. Jesus wants to forgive our sins and heal us of lust, selfishness, sexual addiction, and abortion (and any others for that matter). But will you see your sin for what it is? It's simple to do but not easy to live. But if you cry out for forgiveness to God through Jesus Christ with a full heart, it's a sure deal (see the Bible 1 John 1:7-9). God will supply all the love to heal you and form your thinking to match His.

One of the reasons that I love the new movie "Bella," is because of how it promotes life. Maybe pro-life needs to become just that, "pro"mote-"life." Will you join me in being pro-life? Valuing the least, the lost and the lame? Valuing pregnancy and pregnant women? Valuing babies in and out of the womb? Valuing the elderly? Valuing people of diffent colors and different cultures? Valuing life because God does and because He gave each individual to this world for a reason? Maybe then as we celebrate, enjoy, and champion "life," people will see that we're so much more for something than just against something else. Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief comes but to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and life more abundantly." My declaration is that me and my house will value abundant life like Jesus does. I need Jesus more than ever as I walk this path of re-defining what is pro-life.

Christian Schools and The Christian Music Industry

2008-05-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about the correlation between Christian schools and the Christian music industry. You need to understand that as I write this, I was a lifer in the Christian school system. It could be easy for me to sound like a self-righteous hypocrite in this post, so I'll try my best not to. In hindsight, growing up in Christian school was like some kind of weird bubble experiment in a "lukewarm" ocean. I won't blame my "lukewarmness" on the environment, however, I found it more difficult to lift Jesus up with passion in a sea of Christian students, that were living half-heartdly for Christ than when I was around pre-Christians. I took the plunge into this comprimised sea when I entered high school. I wasn't really going to do anything "that bad," but I also wasn't going to live for what I knew to be right. As Jesus says in the book of Matthew, we are to be lights that shine in the darkness. It's hard to shine when you're in a culture full of other lights. Instead of being attracted to you, people think, "oh, you're just fanatical, trying to be Jesus, a goody goody," and on and on and on people will go. Living a life that's not outwardly evil, but isn't inwardly righteous either.

From my vantage point, the Christian music industry is in the same dangerous place as the Christian education system. They can have all the right outward appearance, the right lyrics, the right acceptance speech, but they don't lift Jesus to a hurting and dying world and see the power of God released. I'm not out to demonize Christian music or Christian schools, but I am feeling there is a more excellent way. Obviously public, other private schools, and secular music (for a lack of a better term) have their own dangers and pitfalls. I long to see a company of people in education and music that will rise up and be a voice in the earth, not just try and protect themselves from the big bad world. Where are the Christ followers that will be real and lift Jesus up in places where it's not popular. In both of these fields, it feels like to me people usually want to cram everything into a nice little box.

I have to ask myself some hard questions. Am I just preaching this but not living it yet? Am I always blaming my environment for my stunted growth? I am committed to change and I want God to change me to do what's not popular, what lifts Jesus, and most importantly what's in agreement with His heart for each moment. Let's bust the mold people and be the original creations that God has called us to be in this world. Maybe what Jesus is calling us to is something different. Thank God for godly fired up Christians in the Christian education and Christian music scenes. But let's not be ignorant either and engage in a hurting and dying world, where we will shine like stars and show Jesus to people.

Cut to Heal

2008-05-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

You cut to heal
But the thief got to steal
Your body has scars
Because your souls behind bars

Rejection came as a robber
To your heart to clobber
Black became the way
For your life charade

But wounds that heal
Are words spoken with love and appeal
The voice that represents
Gives the Way without bents

Your life has value
The One broken loves you
Taking thirty-nine stripes
His blood will wipe

Away the remains
Of brokenness and pains
Busting a jail break
Crushing the lying snake

Lift your heart high
Watch Him draw nigh
To restore every layer
To expel the slayer

Light is breaking in
Don’t you see it’s Him
He holds the keys
To set your soul free

Your heart cries why me
Why do You let it be
Confusion has its grip
That your mind can’t strip

Why won’t get the answer
It bounces around like a dancer
Come with fear and come with doubts
Come with anger and come with shouts

But open up inside
Be willing to humble pride
What is broken He will fix
Love is what’s His mix

His power will restore
All your soul and more
Darkness has to bow down
To the light of His crown

Jesus didn’t do the deal
But your heart He wants to seal
With love that never dies
And truth that stops the lies

Joy will enter in
Strength that hasn’t been
Laughter becomes a friend
Smiles replace the sin

A new child’s heart
Replaces the damaged part
How could I not see
His depths of love for me

A new day dawns
Hope and faith have spawned
Stuck in the loving tide
I’m part of His body, His bride

I find meaning everyday
As His Word I do say
Wholeness is setting in
And I can’t shake this grin

The old is gone
The new has come along
Life in Christ has me
That’s life eternally

Life that starts now
In His presence I will bow
Each step along this path
Has been joy that can’t be matched

Bella, a Masterpiece on Life

2008-05-13T08:03:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my wife and I finally got to enjoy the film Bella. What a great movie. It is a "must see" and even a "must own" for me.

This story messed me up. My wife and I watched Bella on the couch with our two daughters crashed in our arms (which added to the emotion) and tears filled our eyes by the films end as we saw a masterpiece of life being weaved before us. God has birthed so much passion in me over the issue of life and abortion. It is so easy in this journey of seeing a shift in culture to value life, to be become bitter and hateful. I certainly walked away from Bella with a greater passion to see the ending of abortion. When you really love something, you'll have passion to protect it. But I love people that are involved in performing abortions and having them, but I hate to see them robbed of one the greatest blessings in life. But beyond this drive to end abortion I found a greater passion for loving life. There was something so powerful in the simplicity and beauty of life that is portrayed. If image creates desire, then we should see a spike in the amount of people that choose life. Bella represents life culture to the max (at least in terms of physical life). My prayer is that people would see this film as truely pro-life, the call that Christ's followers must rise up to. It is important to be educated on the atrocities of abortion, but it is most critical to celebrate and value life. I will be writing more about the narrow mindedness of the pro-life label in a future post. But until then, if you haven't already, go watch this life changing movie.

Beyond the Masses

2008-05-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

It’s all we ever hear, the cry of the masses
Their all screaming the same thing
They try and tell you who you are
But they have no identity

What determines your value, is it who, is it how many
Is it what they say
They’ll yell it loud and yell it proud
Maybe a lie, but you’ll live it

Everyone and everything is screaming give yourself away
You’re only a body
You have no heart no soul
While they drown in the shallow

Now there’s pain untold
They couldn’t explain
They just said “play the game”
You were blind to see it vain

I’m dispensing truth but I’m only a whisper
But what if Truth isn’t in the crowds
And beyond the masses, as you weave
You find Him because you want Him

You want Truth, freedom, love
You’re asked to give but then you’re robbed
Love doesn’t steal or kill
Love heals

Truth is a Person and so is Love
Jesus heals, frees, and saves
Tune out the noise
And listen to His whispering voice

You are valued and you are someone
You can break free from these illusions
But will you quiet the machine
To sit still and hear Him

Never alone, never thrown away
He's with you for power, purpose, and change
He’ll transform, He’ll make new
Choose to work with Him, He’ll see you through

Calling all plant whispers

2008-05-07T17:23:00.000-07:00

There is a hot debate among the Swiss ethics committee on the rights of plant life. Some may find this interesting, I find it very disturbing. As a friend in high school put it on his pro-life rally, "save the spotted owl, kill the unborn logger." To butcher what David Boze said in my own words, we could have wealthy, well fed Europeans making decisions on the behalf of plants that will negatively affect the development and crop supply of third world countries. Why must we stand in the way of helping people in impoverished nations to protect plants emotional wellbeing ? Boze's guest, Wesley J. Smith, put it well when he descriped this current nature loving, global warming, plant rights movement, as the worship of nature. As followers of Christ, I believe that we must be careful to take care of our planet. However, with the Bible as my guide I believe Genesis 1:26 states clearly that there is something unique about mankind that seperates him from the plants and animals:

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

I value human life because we humans are uniquely created in the very image of God. God help us to return to value those made in Your image. How can we sit by and watch the murdering of millions of babies and the oppression of the third world as we champion the rights of the metaphytes. Now let's not go crazy with pollution and burn down forests for fun. But as I work to redefine "pro-life" I'm going to remember to keep human life on the top of the rights list.

To see the article on plant rights click here:
http://www.wesleyjsmith.com/blog/

Lifting Jesus on Casino Road hits the newspaper

2008-05-04T16:40:00.000-07:00

Leita Crossfield interviewed me and another great church this week for an article that she wrote about the "Casino Road Triangle." It's cool to see Jesus, some local churches, (including my own Sonrise Chapel oh yea) getting some positive press.

"Sonrise Chapel is another church in the Casino Triangle helping in the
efforts. "As a church, we really want to show the goodness of Jesus to our
community and we want to partner with other churches that love Jesus and love
people," said John Hammer, associate youth pastor of Sonrise. "Our first
partnered event was the community Easter egg hunt with Word of Grace Foursquare
and Tryonne McMorris who heads up Casino Road Ministries."We want to see the
church get out of its four walls more often. We are also planning a community
barbecue in August and we provide a free meal the third Thursday of each month
at the Boys and Girls Club on Casino Road as well," Hammer said."

To check out the whole article, click here:
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080503/NEWS01/737374#Community.leaders.form.plan.to.improve.Everetts.Casino.Road.area

Compels Me

2008-05-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

The power to shape what’s yet to be
The invitation to bend history
A posture that dares to be visible
A dependence that breaks the impossible

The cards are stacked
The checks are waiting to be cashed
Goodness I declare
Acceptance is my fare

This may not be quick
But the atmosphere just got thick
Look out when God invades
And all the darkness can’t pervade

Get your head in the proper realm
God will drop visions clear as film
Taking the Master’s way
Get alone with your Father today

To receive love and give it away
Is what compels me to pray
Encounter Jesus through your cries
You’ll see the pleasure in His eyes

Welcome To John Michael Hammer

2008-05-03T11:50:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my blog, much more to come. Let me know if you visit.