simple.
Author: Erik
“you’ve got to be kidding me.”
The lamp is still burning as the prophet goes to the door to make sure no one was looking. He closes the door. He’s afraid, very afraid. He seems to get a chill up his spine when he realizes what God has called him to do. He’s called him to die. How could God call him to go to such a town that was to-the-bone a blood thirsty one. In fact, the city was called ‘the city of blood’ and the capital of its own nation. They were hated not just by his nation, but surely by his God. He paced the room, and found the option before him… to go and possibly die by this town or to stay in security and hide from God. He finally made his decision. By the next morning, the prophet awoke and booked a pricey ride to travel via sea in the direction he set travel towards. The prophet was nervous, but who wouldn’t be. He went aboard and set for sea… in the opposite direction of where the Lord called him. Jonah chose neither to go or stay in the city, he chose to run. Shortly after, the storm broke.
When we go our own way, things happen, storms break. Not just that, but our boy had to purchase the fare aboard the ship. Not a cheap ticket by any means, but it’s a known occurrence that if you’re in the Lord’s will, He won’t just help you get things in order, but He’ll always pick up the tab. It may not be apparent at first, but this one was coming out of Jonah’s pocket. Not to mention money, but Jones had to travel almost five times the distance in the clear opposite direction. Sound like something you would do? That’s right, Jonah only had to travel 500 miles to get to Nineveh, but chose to instead travel 2,500 miles. Not only did he go out of his way to run way, but in order to return back to what he knew the Lord called him to do, he would need to travel the 2,500 miles BACK just to get back on the right track, not to mention the additional 500 miles to get back to where God originally called him to go.
The storm broke on the ship and the sailors aboard began to panic (v5) by throwing their cargo over-board. That’s pretty important because that cargo was the only way they we’re getting paid for that trip. This was a wasted trip now, thanks to Jonah. When Jonah stepped out of the Lord’s will, it affected everyone around him… this happens the same in our lives when we step out of what we know the Lord is calling us to do… a storm breaks out and affects everyone around us. Jonah was selfish and defiant, but it says that he was even sound asleep on the trip (v5), like there was no care in the world… but in verse 6, we see the sailors waking him up to pray to his God (there was no way the Lord was going to let him sleep through this)… mind you, these were pagan sailers because it mentions earlier that they were praying to their own gods… they knew some supernatural force was against them.
We can beat this in the ground, but you’ve heard this story before… However, the truth remains, when you are outside of His will, expect to pay the tab, go through unneeded circumstances and endure unnecessary troublesome storms around you. Just be careful that you’re not sleeping like Jonah was and just miss it altogether. You may just be on mile 2,000 and the sky is still blue or storms are rocking the boat, but you’re sound asleep. God will use anything to remind you or even to wake you up, but remember.. the Lord desires to see you in His presence. He loves you too much to let you go the wrong way. If He needs to flip your boat, He will… There are way too many folks, including myself, just defiantly going the wrong way (and it’s painfully obvious)… but my prayer isn’t that boats are rocked, but that decisions are wisely made.
Father, help me to see. Use me Father anyway I can, but don’t let me make a decision that is in error of Your plans. I want to know you more, Father. In the Name of your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.
show and tell
Remember back when we did this in elementary class? This past week I’ve been the editor for the the latest Intern Handbook (shown above), which features an additional 8-10 pages than the handbook we revised back in December, now including information on all the extra-curriculars (dance, drama, choir, human video, etc..) as well as a far more fine-tuned fundraiser section (about time). For those of you graduate interns, it will also be the handbook to include the G.I. handbook as well. Yes, it’s loaded. Come August, we’ll have literally thousands of these books (not like the one shown, but in a nicer bound book that has yearbook type pages) that will be given out to all interns, select Acquire the Fire’s, and all interested interns looking for more info about the academy. The lead team is reviewing at this time and all looks gravy so far. Glory to God. Well, just thought I’d share, blessings to all!
Father, I pray that you surround the person reading this prayer and you grant them the peace that only comes from You. May Your light just shine in their lives and over-flow in everything they are doing. Father, I pray that you continue to draw their heart closer, closer, closer to Your presence. I pray that if there is anything getting in the way, that it can be placed back into its proper position and that they can continue to draw closer to Your presence. Surround them, Father, and love them. Move upon their lives, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
random
Pat Campanella talks with towing company owner Devin Statts about how to get his car out of Katherine Peacok’s pool, June 28, in Honolulu. Campanella’s wife drove into the pool June 26 while learning to drive drive. (click on picture to enlarge)
“go get ’em tiger”
These were the last words Mary Jane Watson spoke to Spiderman as he went out to fight the crime for the closing scene in this summer’s latest release, Spiderman 2. Spiderman then lept from the window with a zeal never before seen in the entire movie. Honestly, I was really caught up in the scene, and was saying to myself ‘well, it’s about time, way to go Spiderman!’ Why? This came after watching an entire movie of action (obviously), but seeing also a sense of depression throughout the movie, as if Peter Parker (Spiderman) was locked in some form of a prison of bad luck and misery. Even in the closing scene, Peter Parker is found in his room depressed that his love was getting married to another guy. She leaves the wedding just in the nick of time (good move), rushes to Peter Parkers apartment to share what she did and then engages in a momumental kiss, unlocking Peter’s prison. Or did she? Although I’m not going to answer that, it does, however, beg a very important question: what is freedom? That’s a great question. The danger is, most of the world and namely even Christians are thrusting into their own freedom, yet still confined in bondage to a greater prison. The prison of slavery. I’ll get into what this is, but first let’s see what the Bible makes sense of this freedom:
“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts”
– psalm 119:45
“…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
– 2 corinthians 3:17
The danger of the quest of true freedom is that millions of people miss it: both Christians and non-Christians alike. For the non-Christian, it’s pretty simple: Christ came into the world to set them free from this world. Easy. But for the Christian, it’s a bit more complex. But you say “Christ has already set us free, right?” Indeed, but Christ set you free from the chains of the prison that you were confined to, however this doesn’t mean that you can’t walk right back to the same prison and sit in the cell with the door open. Don’t you see? When you’re in the prison, despite whether that door is open or not, you’re enslaved again! The only reason you feel free is because the door is wide open. However, you look confused after attack, and attack, and attack just keep coming your way. It starts off fine, even delayed, so you can get caught in the trance, but that’s just the bait, the lure of the enemy. I feel it best explained:
“charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting”
– proverbs 31:30
… but I don’t think Paul could have summed it up best when said:
“…but do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature”
– galations 5:13
“shall we go on sinning that grace my increase? by no means! we died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”
– romans 6:1-2
Paul wasn’t ignorant, he knew precisely what this ‘freedom prison’ was all about and pleaded for his beloved to see it. I only state this for you to look at your own life. I see people, even in this internship, caught in this trap, even myself! I sometimes don’t catch it until a week later after living and breathing it, but it’s there. Look closely at your life as I look closely at my own… are you sitting in the cage? Perhaps on the threshold of the cage? Be free, in Jesus’ Name! Be so far from that cage, that you don’t even think of it. It’s as if, like Mary Jane, you ran from your prison (the wedding she didn’t want to be locked up in) and ran to her true love (this better be Jesus) and let everything go on Him. The Lord longs to show you His freedom. Are you willing to give it a try?
“set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name”
– psalm 142:7a
holyfire
You, my brothers and sisters, were born, you were called, you were sanctified to be free. Freedom dwells within you as this is how the Lord formed you. There’s a fire that’s deeper than the very hunger and thirst for the Father; it’s a fire that is contagious, freely igniting anything and everything within it�s path. Steam and smoke blaze for everyone within miles to see; it’s the very Holy fire of Christ that’s on the throne of heaven.
The Lord points to His throne and smiles with that gentle look and shows you that there is no power in all of heaven and earth that can come against this fire. The Lord then motions you to look closer at the throne itself and you began to shudder as you feel the fire, but do not see it. You smell the passion coming from its smoke, but you do not see where it is coming from. It’s almost intoxicating, but you recognize the fire as you have recognized that smell before. You began to walk with Christ to the secret place of His Kingdom. He draws you closer, as if He wants to show you something… He then points to your heart. You look at your heart and look confused at what He’s trying to show you. The Lord asks you to look at your heart closer, just like you looked at the throne. You see nothing. Then, the Lord pulls back all of the robes, veils, and other obstacles and shows you the fire… within your heart. You began to cry as you didn’t even expect that this was within you. You heard it was, but you start to smile as the Lord wipes your tears away and says to you “Son, you were looking so hard for that fire, when it was deep within you the entire time. You smelt its fire, but never looked closer within. Son, but I need you to tear away all of these obstacles keeping you from the fire… unlock the doors, tear away the obstacles, come into my secret place and unlock your fire… it’s yours, my son. It�s your eternity… don’t let anything come in the way. And one last thing my son, don’t close your eyes.”
–galations 5:13
voice of the Father
Speaker and evangelist, John Bevere, once said “the Holy Spirit is the most ignored person in the church.” Anytime I feel as if I am alone, as if I am some peon in the pool of this world, it’s almost as if the Holy Spirit reminds me of how many times we, as a body, have ignored and rejected Him. Have rejection from a spouse? Have rejection from a loved one? The Holy Spirit knows! He’s been ignored more worse than you can imagine! How many times have we gone along our own agenda and completely ignored the Spirit and what He was leading? I am personally guilty and do not leave myself out by any means!
… but do you know what baffles me? When I feel ignored, i immedietly have the craving to become sad and have feelings to just seperate myself. But when the Holy Spirit feels ignored, all he responds with is: “come.” There’s no seperation there! How is it that the Spirit can get so much rejection, so much dissapointment, so much slack from His children and yet the Spirit continues and even yearns (james 4:12; nkjv) jealously for His children? Can you say AMAZING!?
It was so beautiful. Thursday night as I was reading the Word in my upstairs dorm, I looked up and saw a young man in the dark get off the phone and begin to weep. It was difficult to see; there was no one there. I went up to him, put my hand on his back and didn’t say a word. He looked at me with tears in his eyes, not saying a word either. So much was communicated without a word ever being spoken. I then asked if there was anything I could pray for him. He then told me how he just got off the phone with his mom and said that the father whom he hasn’t seen or spoken to in 12 years was about to call him on the dorm phone. He couldn’t believe it and obvioulsy couldn’t hardly hold himself together. It was a cry of joy. His daddy was going to call, and he had no idea what he was going to say to him. We spoke for a little while and just like a hollywood scene, the phone in the dorm rang. “That’s him,” he replied and put his head back on the window in tears. I went to the phone and answered and there was the voice of the father asking if his boy was there. I gave the phone to his son and watched in a corner for a couple moments as tears turned to laughter, and watched the beggining of a friendship come out of it. I was there for that!
It’s as if the father is saying to each of us… “I want to speak with you. Don’t you see? How long, my precious son, will you go your own way. Don’t you know that you are my son whom i have made no imperfection. You are exactly how I made you to be, I know your problems… I know them!! Come, my child… come. I am waiting for you.”
Father, help us, help me to see your love, your beauty. Why do we run so far away when we know you are right there in the midst of all of life’s details. Why do we trust you in some things, but not all. Father, help me to bind rejection from the lives of your children and, in place, pour on them the spirit of adoption. Help me, Father, your children need to see. I love you and give you all the glory, in this earth and the earth to come. You are beautiful Father. Help me to come to your presense knowing that i can come as I am… not as I should be. I want to long jealously for your presense as you long for me, Father. Show me how. Thank you, thank you so much daddy. In your Name, the Name of Jesus I pray, and give all the honor to, Amen.
life is fragile
What a beauty it is to wake up this morning and just feel the warmth of the Father along my face. The Lord showed me this morning how He has given strength to the leaders before me in the Bible, of how He has appeared Himself in the form of an angel to Jeremiah, Daniel, David and others, and provided to each: strength and words to speak. It’s as if the Lord had appeared to these individuals and all of a sudden, they become weak and speachless, however with the touch of His Hand, they regain their composure and ability to speak. It’s as if the level of humility that has recently occured is almost as if the Lord is appearing to me in some form, despite all of the unique situations amidst me causing me to grow weak. Is this from the Lord? I feel as if during this weakness, as the Father spoke to Paul, that the Lord is also saying to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (II corinthians 12:9). So then, I find strength in my current circumstances, despite the death of an intern, rejection from the Fellowship, finance struggles, and anything else to try to get me down… only to be strengthened by the Lord by His gentle touch this morning by giving me revelation to see that I have had this strength the entire time. Thank you Father for helping me to see, just as I have asked.
the latest updates
I did not get accepted to Fellowship of the Burning Heart I am starting my own alternate-Fellowship despite the ‘no’ by obtaining their book list as well as adding other books to the list, inviting a mentor group, and learning as well as maturing as best I can myself by reading and developing accountability all around me. I know the Lord is calling me to this season. Things look good that I will be staying a second-year I am now signed up to go on a 1-week local mission trip for youth 1/3 of the price of the regular mission trips (glory to the Lord). That is a win for finances not just personally but for mission trip and HA finances, a win for my department (i have an extra week to work), HA graduation, TL alumni status (for significantly cheaper prices on any mission trip next year I decide to go on), for the youth (i love to work with 11-13 yr olds), training (11-13 yr olds are great to learn with and have fun at the same time). Praising the Lord all along the way, because the above mission trip started tonight. Last but not least, my sister sent out her support letters for her HA year (keep that in prayer)
Glory to the Lord. Father, thank you!
I am also starting a ministry as soon as I can start where I will email every intern with as best of a personalized email as I can complete with a small encouragement and prayer, etc.. I sent out several emails already and plan to do the rest of the internship (all 600) by the end of the year (keep me in prayer that I can be a vessel there). I call this project: “Good Morning”
Father, I pray for anyone, anyone, who is reading this right now and pray that you just surround them this very moment in your love and truth. Let them just experience your peace right now. Work in and through them, in the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
hanging in the balance
I’m at a point in my life where I feel like I’m in the eye of the storm. A point of reflection of where I’ve come from, lost and gained friendships, history of life & troubles, walks with the Lord, etc… and then ahead of me… a peak into an unknown future.
Father, I trust you. Help me to see.
I’m at a moment of surrender, but am I really surrendering? I feel as if every moment that I feel that I am surrendering, I am going deeper and finding that I can surrender something else. Obviously. I don’t know what my future holds for me, who I will meet next or how I will get there… but putting complete trust in that future is something that has been the most stretching for this season. A second year serving Teen Mania Ministries hangs in the balance, with a pending opportunity to be a part of the Fellowship of the Burning Hearts (still no decision yet on that privileged opportunity), a year serving beside my sister, serving in the position in the ministry placement and administration fellowship that I love next to a manager I love, ministering to hundreds of next-year interns through cores who will let me speak in their groups, and the list goes on.
Father, what an honor to have this hanging in the balance.
But it’s in the balance. Even if I get accepted to everything I dreamed of, the Lord may make the executive move and call me away. It’s as if the Father is saying “Erik, my dear son, do you trust me enough to have everything offered to you and then walk away from it if I call you to do so.” What a rhetorical. The wild part is: it’s very real… this is in the balance. I will learn by the end of this coming week if I am accepted into the Fellowship, which I know that 95% of everyone applying is second-year interns and my chances are slim, but that still does not decide if I stay. You would think that would be my “fleece”… surprisingly it’s not.
The other thing that hangs in the balance is full-time college. Oh, how I’m ready to take that on. Of course, if I don’t get accepted into Fellowship, I can always stay here and do college, but the other road the Lord is calling me to is hanging in the balance of going to work in the Fall and starting college in the Spring as a full-time student. Of course, I have narrowed the colleges, this road is a road into the unknown. A road into complete trust with the Father, although all roads are like that for me.
It’s funny because I can hear the thunder of the storm outside (for real, I’m not that deep into the storm picture here). It’s as if that thunder shows the deep, real, thick, natural presence of the Lord and a reminder that however this balance turns out… I am still His. Friends may come and go, loves won and lost, but the Lord is deeper than any ocean or love can offer.
Father, I desire that intimacy.
I write this not to post an entry for others to read, but for myself as a mile-marker as my future may be determined in the next three weeks, and I just want to have something written down to mark this ‘eye’ of the storm. If you pray for me… pray for favor. Pray for my sister’s stay here. Just a simple 4-second prayer would do. Thank you to my friends, family and mother who continue to support what I do.
I spoke to my lil brother past Monday (whom I only spoke to twice in my life). He’s in sixth grade now and is looking forward to visiting me with my father whom I haven’t seen in 12 years at my
Father, thank you for Your love, for Your heart and just for your simplicity. I look forward to what you have in store for me and lay my life at Your Hands. Father, I pray for Idania that You show her Your Heart more and more. Grant her favor in her support to come here. I pray for my mom… I pray for clarity of mind, thoughts and emotion. I pray for little Hilliary & Viviana, and pray you guide them up in Your truth. Please Father, please guide them in Your truth. Father, I pray for my sister in Christ, Annie… I pray you lift her up and help her to see Your love in the most real and authentic way as possible. Don’t let her settle for silly bread crumbs, but let her find Your feast. I love You Father… I love You. In the Name and power of Your Son Jesus I pray… Amen. Amen. Amen.
Father, I just want to touch Your Face.