The Still Small Voice, or " Do what I say or puke all over....its your choice!" Part 2

Well, on with the story...

Evangelist and Pastor Rick Webb, from Fraser Road Church of God in Michigan, was challenging the audience with the words found in Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (NLT).

I was sitting there with my family, knowing that God was calling me to speak in front of these 400 people, whom I have never met. I do not attend the Church of God, and I was a guest to this campmeeting. I didn't know the protocol. Is this excepted or allowed? How do I even approach someone about this? Do I just go up to a microphone? All these thoughts are going through my mind, along with, Lord I can't/shouldn't do this.

Well, God was getting my attention, I was literally about to puke all over the place. I have never felt that sick, so suddenly. I leaned over to my mother-in-law (not to puke on her) and asked how I should go about this. She suggested to go up and talk to the evangelist. So that is what I did...

Now that is a tough job to be in for the evangelist. To really discern whether you have a Word from the Lord, or not. Because he mentioned afterward that sometimes you get people who say all the right things up to get up there to speak, and the truth is that they just like to hear themselves speak, and it wasn't essentially God led.

So he obviously sensed that I needed to get up there right away (maybe it was fear of ruining his nice suit with my vomit).

So here I am in front of 400 people (give or take), and I supposedly have a Word from the Lord for these people. But, I have no idea where to start. It felt like an eternity. So I mustered out a quick introduction of who I was, and what I was feeling (you know sick) and that I believed God had something for someone to hear. It could be for the whole multitude or for one person. It may have only been for me to learn to be obedient in all things. Once I finished my introduction, it was no longer me speaking. Say what?

It was no longer Luke (lil' warrior) speaking. Sure it was my voice, but it was God's verbiage. It was amazing to feel like God was completely in the drivers seat. Just like in Scripture when God told Moses that He would help him speak in Exodus 4, and during Pentecost in Acts 2:1-12, it says "As the Holy Spirit gave them this ability (to speak), God/Spirit was giving me the Words that needed to be said.

Have you ever been so consumed by God that you knew somewhat of what you just mustered out, but knew that God had used you as a mediator for His Words? Being used by God is the best feeling ever.

This week God spoke to me with this quote which I shared on my FaceBook and Twitter. "The only way u can live ur life 2 the fullest, is 2 fully rely on God!" Have we fully relied on Him in our lives? Do our lives stand as a testimony of our love towards Him.

I am reminded of the passage in John 21:15-17
After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
"Yes, Master, you know I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16He then asked a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
"Yes, Master, you know I love you."
Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep."
17Then he said it a third time: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, "Do you love me?" so he answered, "Master, you know everything there is to know. You've got to know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

Jesus asked Peter three times, the same amount of times that Peter denied Him. How many times does Jesus have to ask you?

Almost done I promise!

The Still Small Voice, or " Do what I say or puke all over....its your choice!" Part 1

Funky title I know, but a true story and very real experience happened to me a few months ago. Sorry Greg that it has taken me this long to get it out.

A couple months ago my in-laws asked if I wanted to camp out and attend their churches annual campmeeting (it is kind of like a revival). Thinking how much fun the boys would have I agreed to come. I was only planning to camp a couple of nights, but once I heard the Evangelist Rick Webb, from Fraser Road Church of God in Michigan, I was drawn to stay the entire week.

I was amazed by which he spoke; with the awesome Authority and Anointing of God all over him. In fact, it had been a long time since I have experienced preaching like that.

Anyways, as I was sitting in service with my family, I started feeling sick towards the end of the service. I was wondering if I had ate something that didn't agree with me (which I had been eating camp food all week!) or what was exactly happening to me. My wife looked over at me and immediately was concerned. I was extremely pail, I was sweating profusely (which I am a B.S.G. - Big Sweaty Guy, so it happens) and I seriously felt like I was about to keel over.

Now I have experienced God's voice before, and I have felt the Spirit's leading in my life, but what I was experiencing did not feel like anything godly.

But, that is when I heard God saying, "When are you going to listen to me again?" Shocked (but not really) because I have heard from Him before, I wondered okay God clarification please! All of sudden I had an horrid, quick look back at all my recent acts of disobedience to God. The more I saw, the more sick I got. I was awakened to the saddened heart of my Creator, of every time His Chosen people disobey Him intentionally.

Have you ever felt God nudging you to do something, and you didn't do it? Maybe He wanted you to talk to a certain friend or a stranger. Maybe He wanted you to be a church planter, or to open up your home to lead a small group. Ormaybe He wanted you to step up in a specific ministry at your church, or to be Biblical leader among your peers? These types of things were flashing before my eyes, have they flashed in front of yours before? Have you ignored them as I have?

Well, have I got your attention? Come back tomorrow for the rest, it gets really good!

A new era of wedding march!

Does the traditional wedding march just seem a little to boring for your style? Check out this video that has had well over 4,000,000 views on YouTube! Thanks Jesiah for sending me the link! I love it!

Happy Mothers Day

Moms are the best. They have given us so much of their time, love, and listening ear. Moms give up careers and sacrifice for the sake of the family many times. So to all the Mothers out there who have given so much of themselves...Happy Mothers Day! Here are a couple funny videos to enjoy on this great day.

De-baptism certificate???

These are interesting times. This story out of London says that over 100,000 people have officially renounced their Christian faith through downloading their 'official' De-baptism certificates from the internet. According to a Google News report: "The initiative launched by a group called the National Secular Society (NSS) follows atheist campaigns here and elsewhere, including a controversial advert displayed on London buses which declared: "There's probably no God."

More from the article here:

De-baptism organizers say the initiative is a response to what they see as increasing stridency from churches—the latest last week when Pope Benedict XVI stirred global controversy on a trip to AIDS-ravaged Africa by saying condom use could further the spread of the disease.

“The Catholic Church is so politically active at the moment that I think that is where the hostility is coming from,” said Sanderson. “In Catholic countries there is a very strong feeling of wanting to punish the church by leaving it.”

In the country, where government figures say nearly 72 percent of the population list themselves as Christian, Sanderson feels this “hostility” is fueling the De-baptism movement.

Theologian Paul Murray at Durham University disagrees. “That is not my experience,” he said, but concedes that change is in the air.

“We are in an interesting climate where Catholicism and other belief systems have moved into the public, pluralist arena, alongside secularists,” he said.

De-baptism movements have already sprung up in other countries.

In Spain, the high court ruled in favor of a man from Valencia, Manuel Blat, saying that under data protection laws he could have the record of his baptism erased, according to a report in the International Herald Tribune.

You can read more here

Wow. What are your thoughts on this matter? Europe is in a very dark place right now, but all we have to do is look around us here in the U.S. for the same darkness. It is really sad to think that people (that Christ died for) would be willing to blasphemy against God and spend eternity in hell. This site is not much better: The Blasphemy Challenge. I guess that is freewill, fully represented. I wonder how much it pains God, because of it. I know that it breaks His heart, because it breaks mine.

So weigh in. What are your thoughts?

Thanks Todd Rhoades.

My Dog

My dog Willow, surprised all of us today by bringing home a trophy. You see, she is a tricky little dog...We let her out back in our fenced in backyard, but she always finds a new way to get out, just so she can sit out in the front yard and pester the cats. Lately though, she leaves our front yard and ventures out into the unknown forest-one!

Today, after sneaking out of the backyard, she followed her nose to a nice deer dinner, and brought a trophy to the front door, with the biggest smile a German Shepherd can have.

And like a proud father, I am posting it on the web for all to see the accomplishments of my highly edumacated shepherd! She rocks....sure beats that cat she killed a few months back!
Smile for the camera Willow Girl!

Blogger virgin

Ok everybody, I am not 40 yet, but I have heard enough about this blogger thing, so I have decided to give it a try. For all you experienced bloggers, you will need to bare with me. I will eventually get the hang of it.

Hopefully this can be a place for people to come and read and comment with thoughts that will benefit the group. I know we will not agree always, but we can be respectful to everyone's opinion.