i just had a homemade chocolate milkshake... yummm!
night, night ~ sleep fast!
5.19.2003
ok... it's been a while since my last blog... sorry. things have been crazy awesome and fast paced ~ seems like the last 7 days just flew by!
know this: the uprising continues and satan is being punk'd hard right here in fort wayne! last night over 210 students joined us in the dv8 big house for an intense illustrated message but long before the presentation ever began, the Holy Spirit hijacked our worship service and we had more fun than any of us can ever remember - then, right in the middle of it, 7 teens accepted Christ! yeah! needless to say after that kind of worship & altar call, everyone was juiced for the message and it did not disappoint (no, not because of me - ha! my part was small)... our anointed students were awesome as nearly 20 filled the stage each with a unique part to play ... by the end, the altars were bum-rushed as teens threw themselves at the feet of Jesus.
friends, God is calling us to "live deliberately" ~ simply defined: LIVE ON PURPOSE. in a world full of people simply existing, we are called to LIVE! ...and, if you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space!
on a seperate subject (kind of), the matrix reloaded sucks - don't see it! if you did see it, pray for God to free you from the images that are meant to stay with you & rob you of purpose and joy... ok, so, yeah... i give it TWO THUMBS DOWN! disagree? please see philippians 4:8-9... enough said.
alright - time to get back to the battle! press on mi amigo! you're not alone and through Christ we can't lose! L8'er...
know this: the uprising continues and satan is being punk'd hard right here in fort wayne! last night over 210 students joined us in the dv8 big house for an intense illustrated message but long before the presentation ever began, the Holy Spirit hijacked our worship service and we had more fun than any of us can ever remember - then, right in the middle of it, 7 teens accepted Christ! yeah! needless to say after that kind of worship & altar call, everyone was juiced for the message and it did not disappoint (no, not because of me - ha! my part was small)... our anointed students were awesome as nearly 20 filled the stage each with a unique part to play ... by the end, the altars were bum-rushed as teens threw themselves at the feet of Jesus.
friends, God is calling us to "live deliberately" ~ simply defined: LIVE ON PURPOSE. in a world full of people simply existing, we are called to LIVE! ...and, if you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space!
on a seperate subject (kind of), the matrix reloaded sucks - don't see it! if you did see it, pray for God to free you from the images that are meant to stay with you & rob you of purpose and joy... ok, so, yeah... i give it TWO THUMBS DOWN! disagree? please see philippians 4:8-9... enough said.
alright - time to get back to the battle! press on mi amigo! you're not alone and through Christ we can't lose! L8'er...
5.14.2003
the battle wages on -- the devil is freakin' out and he's totally ticked off... (good!)
in order to continue experiencing the power & passion of God's awesome presence (like what happened on Sunday night), we must understand that each step we take deeper into enemy strongholds will result in hellish reactions. failure to live in God's perfect will each and every moment 24/7 isn't just reckless, it could be deadly... someone once said: "bigger levels, bigger devils" -- you can't afford to just talk a big game... LIVE IT... LIVE IT LARGE... LIVE IT LOUD!
have you really, REALLY prayed today - does the devil know your name??!!
press on, fight hard, fight even harder, and never, ever quit!
INVICTUS!
in order to continue experiencing the power & passion of God's awesome presence (like what happened on Sunday night), we must understand that each step we take deeper into enemy strongholds will result in hellish reactions. failure to live in God's perfect will each and every moment 24/7 isn't just reckless, it could be deadly... someone once said: "bigger levels, bigger devils" -- you can't afford to just talk a big game... LIVE IT... LIVE IT LARGE... LIVE IT LOUD!
have you really, REALLY prayed today - does the devil know your name??!!
press on, fight hard, fight even harder, and never, ever quit!
INVICTUS!
5.13.2003
Here's an email from one of my heroes regarding the DV8 Live service on Sunday night... enjoy!!
"Capt,
Here's basically my day yesterday:
I went to my brother's church in Indy Sunday morning and it is a good church that is growing uncontrollably and they are Baptist. I talked to my brother Jason for a while about there beliefs and stuff on the Holy Spirit and talked a lot about the Holy Spirit.
I started home at 7 from Indy and I was driving by myself. I left my brother Jeff's graduation after he did the prayer and his name was announced. I left early cause I was disappointed I didn't get to go to Dv8 live and was hoping to stop by church and at least see what God had done.
As I was driving I turned off the radio and began to pray for dv8 live that night. I prayed for a little while but I just ran out of things to say and that's not a normal occurrence. I stopped and got something to eat and then after eating I turned on the radio and after searching through the radio stations decided they were all trash and turned it off. Then God just told me to pray in tongues and I began to pray in tongues. Having no idea what was going on in Dv8 I just began to pray and tongues.
I got to Dv8 about 9:00 and when I pulled in I could find a parking spot by the morgue so I knew something big had happen cause everyone was still there! I walked in to hear the drums still playing and I couldn't wait to get in cause I knew God had done something crazy! I walked in and Tony Meek sprinted up to me and put his arms around me and began frantically telling me what had happen and was just going nuts! I had never seen Joy on the faces of dv8 students like I had that night. The spirit in the room was just amazing! You could feel it when you walked in and it automatically put permagrin (permanent grin) on my face! I heard so many testimonies from fellow leaders in the youth group that had an excitement I've never seen them have. I then talked to Pastor Chilly and he gave me the CD of the night and I rushed home ti listen to it.
My parents were in bed and I set up the CD player and opened up the first page of my brand new journal with expectancy. I listened as people got saved and then Pastor Chilly spoke his message on the CD. I had been disappointed that I had not been there tonight but God always has his planning and I believe I was more in tune and in to that message than any message I had ever been before. I knew from the beginning that I was taking it to a level that night higher than I had ever before and I was going to meet with God like never before even in my house with just me and my dog. I had no doubts in my mind God was going to change me. I was so in to the message that I yelled out "I want it all" more than once and one time even woke up my parents. I had totally forgotten about my surrounding for a couple moments.
As the message ended Pastor Chilly was going to give his altar call and the CD cut off! Fellow warriors and dv8 had told me about the altar call and how Pastor Chilly had yelled out "Fire" and that's when everyone was filled so I stood up yelled "I want it all!!!" and then paused and yelled "FIRE!!!!!!" and began to be filled with the spirit like never before and spoke in tongues like never before. I had been filled with the spirit before but had not always felt like when I was speaking in tongues that it was God but I just knew I had no control of what my mouth was doing it and it was doing it uncontrollably! I went to my knees and began crying and just prayed for a long time! I then went to bed as it was already extremely late! Man that was SO AWESOME just writing about it gets me exited!
Then today I woke up and I was speaking as soon as I woke up and God was just so real today throughout the day and there were so many things that normally I would have done that before I did them My "counselor" was there to remind me not to and I was guided with who to talk to and what to do and what to say. IT WAS TIGHT! and right!
That's it....thats the ball game!
Joel "
warriors, you KNOW it's real when it happens away from the church buildings, worship music and pumped-up peers... especially when it continues right onto the high school campus and beyond! things are getting crazy and i love it! strength & honor... cC
"Capt,
Here's basically my day yesterday:
I went to my brother's church in Indy Sunday morning and it is a good church that is growing uncontrollably and they are Baptist. I talked to my brother Jason for a while about there beliefs and stuff on the Holy Spirit and talked a lot about the Holy Spirit.
I started home at 7 from Indy and I was driving by myself. I left my brother Jeff's graduation after he did the prayer and his name was announced. I left early cause I was disappointed I didn't get to go to Dv8 live and was hoping to stop by church and at least see what God had done.
As I was driving I turned off the radio and began to pray for dv8 live that night. I prayed for a little while but I just ran out of things to say and that's not a normal occurrence. I stopped and got something to eat and then after eating I turned on the radio and after searching through the radio stations decided they were all trash and turned it off. Then God just told me to pray in tongues and I began to pray in tongues. Having no idea what was going on in Dv8 I just began to pray and tongues.
I got to Dv8 about 9:00 and when I pulled in I could find a parking spot by the morgue so I knew something big had happen cause everyone was still there! I walked in to hear the drums still playing and I couldn't wait to get in cause I knew God had done something crazy! I walked in and Tony Meek sprinted up to me and put his arms around me and began frantically telling me what had happen and was just going nuts! I had never seen Joy on the faces of dv8 students like I had that night. The spirit in the room was just amazing! You could feel it when you walked in and it automatically put permagrin (permanent grin) on my face! I heard so many testimonies from fellow leaders in the youth group that had an excitement I've never seen them have. I then talked to Pastor Chilly and he gave me the CD of the night and I rushed home ti listen to it.
My parents were in bed and I set up the CD player and opened up the first page of my brand new journal with expectancy. I listened as people got saved and then Pastor Chilly spoke his message on the CD. I had been disappointed that I had not been there tonight but God always has his planning and I believe I was more in tune and in to that message than any message I had ever been before. I knew from the beginning that I was taking it to a level that night higher than I had ever before and I was going to meet with God like never before even in my house with just me and my dog. I had no doubts in my mind God was going to change me. I was so in to the message that I yelled out "I want it all" more than once and one time even woke up my parents. I had totally forgotten about my surrounding for a couple moments.
As the message ended Pastor Chilly was going to give his altar call and the CD cut off! Fellow warriors and dv8 had told me about the altar call and how Pastor Chilly had yelled out "Fire" and that's when everyone was filled so I stood up yelled "I want it all!!!" and then paused and yelled "FIRE!!!!!!" and began to be filled with the spirit like never before and spoke in tongues like never before. I had been filled with the spirit before but had not always felt like when I was speaking in tongues that it was God but I just knew I had no control of what my mouth was doing it and it was doing it uncontrollably! I went to my knees and began crying and just prayed for a long time! I then went to bed as it was already extremely late! Man that was SO AWESOME just writing about it gets me exited!
Then today I woke up and I was speaking as soon as I woke up and God was just so real today throughout the day and there were so many things that normally I would have done that before I did them My "counselor" was there to remind me not to and I was guided with who to talk to and what to do and what to say. IT WAS TIGHT! and right!
That's it....thats the ball game!
Joel "
warriors, you KNOW it's real when it happens away from the church buildings, worship music and pumped-up peers... especially when it continues right onto the high school campus and beyond! things are getting crazy and i love it! strength & honor... cC
5.12.2003
ok, i've just got to brag about my Lord for a few minutes...
God is so amazing and awesome! last night at DV8 He simply took over and we all just stood back stunned by His presence.
i had wrestled for most of the weekend with what the Lord wanted me to preach on Sunday night. i knew that sunday was mom's day and that our weather wasn't expected to be the best, so it was likely that our numbers would be down a bit. i had been promoting a late-night "pentecost-type" prayer meeting for friday, may 16th... yet, God kept speaking to my heart to be ready on sunday. i reasoned with Him and myself: "but God, i'm expecting leadership teams from 2 "non-charismatic" youth ministries, our numbers will be down, we usually have lots of catholic and Lutheran teens on Sundays, etc..." so, i prepared another message...
i remained torn between the two messages (i guess, to be honest, i was torn between my way or God's way... yeah, you're right, obedience). so, as i sat on the stage steps during the offering, 2 messages in hand... i was still wrestling with, well, myself. it's crazy! we had just had six more teens accept Christ at the end of worship, we had tons of visitors (around 20), our numbers were down but still respectable (175 - hey, that's 55 more than Acts 2:4)yes, the visiting leadership from youth groups was there, and...
well, i bowed my head one more time, and prayed, "Lord, i'll do whatever you tell me to do. you want me to preach on Your Holy Spirit, don't you?" and the Lord responded, "i've been blowing the wind strongly all weekend to get your attention - what you've felt physically outside, you are about to feel spiritually inside." - i got up, looked at our worship leader and said, "get ready, things are about to get crazy! i'm throwin' down a message on the Holy Spirit and everyone's gettin' it!"
from that moment on, God took over! First in me, then quickly through me and ultimately throughout the building. at the altar call, we had AT LEAST 97 people baptized in the Holy Spirit (i think we had way more than that, but this is the amount that i was able to personally confirm) with loud evidence of speaking in tongues simultaneous - that's right, all at the same time they began to speak, then every other teen in the place (except for 2) joined in!! hey, even my armor-bearer perry was baptized in the spirit right at the same time as his ladies - their whole home is bi-lingual now! the outpouring in the altar lasted 1.5 - 2 more hours. eventually parents began to arrive & joined us at the altar as well. we were even joined by Pastor Campbell and Sherri - needless to say, they were thrilled!
i can't even imagine what's goin' on today at schools across our city even as i type this!
ok, i'll stop ~ may God be praised and receive all of the glory!
i learned another lesson on obedience this weekend and God changed a generation!
to be continued...
thanks to all of you who pray for me! you're a part of all of this!!
Strength & Honor,
chilly ~ Acts 20:24
God is so amazing and awesome! last night at DV8 He simply took over and we all just stood back stunned by His presence.
i had wrestled for most of the weekend with what the Lord wanted me to preach on Sunday night. i knew that sunday was mom's day and that our weather wasn't expected to be the best, so it was likely that our numbers would be down a bit. i had been promoting a late-night "pentecost-type" prayer meeting for friday, may 16th... yet, God kept speaking to my heart to be ready on sunday. i reasoned with Him and myself: "but God, i'm expecting leadership teams from 2 "non-charismatic" youth ministries, our numbers will be down, we usually have lots of catholic and Lutheran teens on Sundays, etc..." so, i prepared another message...
i remained torn between the two messages (i guess, to be honest, i was torn between my way or God's way... yeah, you're right, obedience). so, as i sat on the stage steps during the offering, 2 messages in hand... i was still wrestling with, well, myself. it's crazy! we had just had six more teens accept Christ at the end of worship, we had tons of visitors (around 20), our numbers were down but still respectable (175 - hey, that's 55 more than Acts 2:4)yes, the visiting leadership from youth groups was there, and...
well, i bowed my head one more time, and prayed, "Lord, i'll do whatever you tell me to do. you want me to preach on Your Holy Spirit, don't you?" and the Lord responded, "i've been blowing the wind strongly all weekend to get your attention - what you've felt physically outside, you are about to feel spiritually inside." - i got up, looked at our worship leader and said, "get ready, things are about to get crazy! i'm throwin' down a message on the Holy Spirit and everyone's gettin' it!"
from that moment on, God took over! First in me, then quickly through me and ultimately throughout the building. at the altar call, we had AT LEAST 97 people baptized in the Holy Spirit (i think we had way more than that, but this is the amount that i was able to personally confirm) with loud evidence of speaking in tongues simultaneous - that's right, all at the same time they began to speak, then every other teen in the place (except for 2) joined in!! hey, even my armor-bearer perry was baptized in the spirit right at the same time as his ladies - their whole home is bi-lingual now! the outpouring in the altar lasted 1.5 - 2 more hours. eventually parents began to arrive & joined us at the altar as well. we were even joined by Pastor Campbell and Sherri - needless to say, they were thrilled!
i can't even imagine what's goin' on today at schools across our city even as i type this!
ok, i'll stop ~ may God be praised and receive all of the glory!
i learned another lesson on obedience this weekend and God changed a generation!
to be continued...
thanks to all of you who pray for me! you're a part of all of this!!
Strength & Honor,
chilly ~ Acts 20:24
5.08.2003
INVICTUS...
the latin word meaning "an unconquerable spirit"
my friend, unless you have INVICTUS you surely will NOT make a difference in these final days of spiritual conflict.
physically, i have been a literal wreck and yet, i press on and become much more than a mere survivor... HE makes me a champion.
INVICTUS!
either you have it or ...
the latin word meaning "an unconquerable spirit"
my friend, unless you have INVICTUS you surely will NOT make a difference in these final days of spiritual conflict.
physically, i have been a literal wreck and yet, i press on and become much more than a mere survivor... HE makes me a champion.
INVICTUS!
either you have it or ...
5.06.2003
happy cinco de mayo! ok, a day late but - hey - i'm still up so it feels like monday.
anyways...
i spent 2 hours on a hard plastic chair at the departement of motor vehicles (ok, you're right, i didn't just sit there ~ i'm way too hyper for that but the 2 hours of "waiting" is accurate)... nice way to spend a beautiful afternoon. people don't smile much in there - so i must have freaked out 50 or so! just making eye-contact with as many as i could all the while praying silently straight into them. that's how i make time fly ~ it was cool.
then, after some mexican food (a must on may 5th) i spent some time cleaning my wife's vehicle... ever learned anything profound while washing a car?? i did: i really love my wife and don't deserve her! yeah, i had to learn it again - blessing her, blesses me (just wait to mom's day this sunday)!!
"if you want the latest upgrade for your walk with God, download more of Him" l8'er...
anyways...
i spent 2 hours on a hard plastic chair at the departement of motor vehicles (ok, you're right, i didn't just sit there ~ i'm way too hyper for that but the 2 hours of "waiting" is accurate)... nice way to spend a beautiful afternoon. people don't smile much in there - so i must have freaked out 50 or so! just making eye-contact with as many as i could all the while praying silently straight into them. that's how i make time fly ~ it was cool.
then, after some mexican food (a must on may 5th) i spent some time cleaning my wife's vehicle... ever learned anything profound while washing a car?? i did: i really love my wife and don't deserve her! yeah, i had to learn it again - blessing her, blesses me (just wait to mom's day this sunday)!!
"if you want the latest upgrade for your walk with God, download more of Him" l8'er...
5.05.2003
12 visitors, 7 salvations ~ AWESOME!
...and this morning... oh man, God was off the hook! the adults went nuts... FINALLY! dv8 continues to lead the way in the church, community, schools and beyond! May this week be incredible... i'll do my part!
LESS THAN A MONTH TO LIVE ~ LIVE URGENTLY!
strength & honor...
...and this morning... oh man, God was off the hook! the adults went nuts... FINALLY! dv8 continues to lead the way in the church, community, schools and beyond! May this week be incredible... i'll do my part!
LESS THAN A MONTH TO LIVE ~ LIVE URGENTLY!
strength & honor...
5.04.2003
today is a celebration for me. Have you bought my presents yet? Ha! Ok, no presents needed... "His presence" is my present!
...but the reason I celebrate is that today marks my one year anniversary at DV8! yeah! what's dv8, good question - check out: www.dv8ion.net
... so, this morning i'm surrounded by student warriors that have radically changed over the last year. they are my heroes. they live the truth for IT has made them free!
i'll continue this later cause i have a feeling that today will hold some serious victories and awesome surprises. may God BE GOD! maybe this morning God will use me to instigate something in the "big church"... never say NEVER! ha!
L8'er...
...but the reason I celebrate is that today marks my one year anniversary at DV8! yeah! what's dv8, good question - check out: www.dv8ion.net
... so, this morning i'm surrounded by student warriors that have radically changed over the last year. they are my heroes. they live the truth for IT has made them free!
i'll continue this later cause i have a feeling that today will hold some serious victories and awesome surprises. may God BE GOD! maybe this morning God will use me to instigate something in the "big church"... never say NEVER! ha!
L8'er...
yeah, so chris (one of my friends, disciples & fellow warriors) just left the house - he just got back in town and brought over some very impressive documents: college diploma, honors certificate, who's who certificate, top honors kind of stuff. he flew to philly to to walk the line at graduation. impressed?! well, you know what, I AM! ...no, not for all of the certificates & awards -- nah... I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE MAN. don't get me wrong, a college degree is a great accomplishment but for someone like chris, it only confirms with papers & tradition what God has made clear to all of us fortunate enough to see it... to me, a man of God's greatest credentials are not found framed on his office walls but rather framed between the eyelids on his face. character, or lack there of, can be seen in just one look.
chris, i've looked. you've got it!
ok, new subject: :"i'm tired - think i'll stop running now and go home" ... when i wake up the devil gets PUNK'D and God gets PRAISED! until then...
chris, i've looked. you've got it!
ok, new subject: :"i'm tired - think i'll stop running now and go home" ... when i wake up the devil gets PUNK'D and God gets PRAISED! until then...
5.03.2003
Ok, so I finally get to bed early Saturday morning (around 4:30am) after staying up late with "coram deo" prayer then pounding out some work in the office until 2:30am... I was beat! But, I got some solid Zzz's - which is rare for me - and woke up late (it felt great - no guilt)... but as I'm throwing back a few pancakes, I hear on both sides of our house the sound of lawnmowers chewing up and spiting out the yards of my neighbors - so I think... ugh... "what am I gonna do? my mower is busted - I have no loot to buy a new one - but I don't want my yard to look like crap... stink!"
Just then, there's a knock at the door and to my surprise, the mowers I heard on either side of my house were those of some our teenagers cutting MY yard. YES! ...I mean, "these young people shouldn't be wasting their time cutting my yard - I'm still in good shape and can certainly do my own landscaping" - what?!! No, I'll stick with my first response: YES!! YES!!! YES!!!! "yes" for two reasons: 1) this is a huge blessing to me and my family, and 2) this speaks volumes about our teens - they weren't asked to do this - not even any hints... nope, they are becoming servants and are honoring their leaders. how can i stop them?!
So, Britt, Nicole, Carrie, Chelsea, Tyler and Paul -- mad props to you all. I love you and I'm proud of your dedication to HIM. THANX
...by the way... they were doing such a good job that my neighbor across the street asked if they would do her yard -- and she paid them! that's just how cool God is!
l8'er...
Just then, there's a knock at the door and to my surprise, the mowers I heard on either side of my house were those of some our teenagers cutting MY yard. YES! ...I mean, "these young people shouldn't be wasting their time cutting my yard - I'm still in good shape and can certainly do my own landscaping" - what?!! No, I'll stick with my first response: YES!! YES!!! YES!!!! "yes" for two reasons: 1) this is a huge blessing to me and my family, and 2) this speaks volumes about our teens - they weren't asked to do this - not even any hints... nope, they are becoming servants and are honoring their leaders. how can i stop them?!
So, Britt, Nicole, Carrie, Chelsea, Tyler and Paul -- mad props to you all. I love you and I'm proud of your dedication to HIM. THANX
...by the way... they were doing such a good job that my neighbor across the street asked if they would do her yard -- and she paid them! that's just how cool God is!
l8'er...
ohhhhhhhhhhhh, and another thing, I couldn't do any of this stuff without Queen Netta, DV8 Destroyers and the MAC Militia...
tonight a bunch of bmx guys came to our BIG HOUSE (youth center) -- they're being evicted from their house and have tons of skate ramps: quarter pipes, half-pipes, grinding boxes, rails, etc... they're looking for somewhere to put it -- and, no coincidence, we just cleared our lot for a skate park. hmmmm... again, God's right on time!
Thanks Lord!
tonight a bunch of bmx guys came to our BIG HOUSE (youth center) -- they're being evicted from their house and have tons of skate ramps: quarter pipes, half-pipes, grinding boxes, rails, etc... they're looking for somewhere to put it -- and, no coincidence, we just cleared our lot for a skate park. hmmmm... again, God's right on time!
Thanks Lord!
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