JESUS!!!

As I have been driving to and from work or wherever, I have had the same cd playing. Actually, between home and work I end up listening to the same 2 songs ("Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble" and "Salvation"). I had been listening to the cd for a while, but one night I was caught off guard and these 2 songs became songs of intercession for this city and this world.

The lyrics for "Salvation" are

Salvation, spring up from the ground
Lord, rend the heavens and come down
Seek the lost and heal the lame
Jesus, bring glory to Your name
Let all the prodigals run home
All of creation waits and groans
Lord, we're heard of Your great fame
Father, cause all to shout Your name

Stir up our hearts, Oh God
Open our spirits to awe who You are
Put a cry in us so deep inside
That we cannot find the words we need
We just weep and cry out to You

I have found myself crying out the name of Jesus. I am overwhelmed by my desperation for Him. I urge you to cry out loud the name of Jesus, for whether you realize it or not, you are desperate for Him.

Darrell Scott's Testimony (who's daughter was shot at Columbine)

I got this as a forward in an email:

Touching...& true

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm?

On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and t h e other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers. The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy-it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today:

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and reek havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes-He did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer w a s brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν

Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς·
ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου·
ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου·
γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς·
τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον·
καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν,
ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν·
καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν,
ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ του πονηροῦ.

Κύριε ἐλέησον, Χριστὲ ἐλέησον, Κύριε ἐλέησον.

Come To Me

Looking back...

I was reading some posts from around this time last year, and I see that God is still urging me in the same direction: seeking Him and doing Street Ministry.

...sometimes looking back might not be so good...that's enough for now...

LET ME OUT!!!!!!!

I've got to get out of this house! I'm going nuts! I'm sure God's trying to teach me something while I'm here, but what that is I do not know. I need out, but how and with who?

God, please help me to hear you!

Broken heart

I have been brought to tears twice today because I want to have my own home to bring people in off the streets, but I can't afford to do so. I am aching inside...

Light in the Darkness

One of the last things mentioned on the news tonight was that some companies put together $400,000 so the fireworks in Vancouver - "Celebration of Light" - can be put on again this year.

My first thought was, "Oh sure, they keep talking about the homeless in Vancouver, but now they're spending $400,000 on fireworks instead of helping the homeless." But immediately my thoughts changed - perhaps because they showed a brief video clip of people watching the fireworks last year. I thought of how wonderful it is to have so many people get together to enjoy something so beautiful. And it is free to watch, so the homeless, the middle class, and the rich can see this thing of beauty that is so rare. It is an escape and a glimmer of hope in the midst of the darkness in this world.

God, what are you doing???

I am excited; I am terrified; I am anxious; I am waiting, watching, praying...

God, what are you doing???