A Batty Cell Family

My cell family had some tremendous worship time and was deep into the Bible tonight when a large animal flew into the room through an open door. We thought it was a bird and tried to stay focused on one of the best meetings we have ever had (people were really opening up and learning about our transcendent God; Peggy Lee Porter was doing a great job leading), but we were having to duck the flying creature and we lost our focus. We tried talking in the dark, hoping the creature would fly back out (how stupid was that). Finally, we decided that we were done until there was a capture. Jason Roney smacked the behemoth with a broom, and when Chip Peterson tried to pick it up with a towel, he yelled, "It's a BAT!", and it slipped out and started flying in 300 mph circles again. Finally after two other failed attempted including everyone raising there hands (looked like a Pentacostal meeting gone bad) to divert the creature out of the door, "Roger Federer" Jason hit it with a forehand again, and "Big Game Hunter" Chip captured the beast and released it outside. I have never laughed so hard in my life. People were hysterical (the women were hilarious once the identity of the perpetrator was made)!! We actually refocused on some things that mattered, but what fun, and the bat actually lived.

I Knew It

In 1998 at a Promise Keepers Conference, I had a vision of a church where people sang and praised with the same passion that I saw that night at the PK event. The vision became reality last night as our 'Night of Praise' was loud and somehow quiet, overt and yet reserved, powerful and yet humble. It was a letting out of emotion and true hearts for all of the right reasons -- to the glory of King Jesus!!!!! Wow! Wow! Wow! I have never been more excited about being involved with The Bridge!

Shut up and listen!

Last night, I was playfully criticized for not blogging in a while. Therefore, I am blogging. However, last Sunday I rather strongly urged our church to "shut up and listen!", so I had been trying to practice what I preached. I had been rather quiet all week as I tried to hear God. He has been pursuing me about repentance, and a true heart, and being quiet. We are too noisy, so we cannot hear God. I am not sure that we really want to hear God. We know that he going to be demanding, and so we make a lot of noise hoping that He will go away.
It is time to stop being selfish and giving God our to-do list. It is time to start handing Him a blank piece of paper and saying, "Fill in what you want. I will do whatever you say because I love you." Then we have to dive into God's Word and be quiet so that he can send back the no-longer-blank piece of paper.

I will go anywhere, do anything, at any cost, for you, my King! Fee