Maycee will start kindergarten tommorow, at home. What a big day for her. If you would have asked me ten years ago if I would be homeschooling my children, I would have probably laughed and thought I don’t want my kids to be introverted wierdos that wear jean skirts and tennis shoes. Oh how I have changed. If you know my children, then you know they are the furthest thing from introverts, and Maycee get her great since of style from her rock star dad! I am so excited and thrilled that I (Zack and I) get to be the one who teaches my daughter how to read, how to count to 100 by tens how to write her first story. We get to read great literature, make cool crafts and go on exciting field trips. But even more than all of this we get to start each day of school by praying to the awesome God that formed us in our mothers womb (Maycee, that would be my tummy too!) and has our days already numbered. Our first subject of every day is the Bible. What an honor and heavy obligation God has given us to be responsible for introducing our children to their Maker.
I do have my moments, and some days there are many of them, but I LOVE MY JOB!!!!
Here is another Call update.
I am always challenged when I hear Lou Engle speak. (Director of the Call) He shared a little from Matthew 23. Jesus rebukes the Pharisee’s for saying that if they were alive when the prophets were around, they would not have killed them. Jesus rebukes them and says they would have. Lou applied this to modern day groups who are outraged by slavery and the Holocaust, and other human rights issues, but are silent on the issue of abortion. We have an issue that is as great a stench in God’s nostrels as these great injustices. It is the killing of an unborn baby. So many are just lulled to sleep concerning this reality and they are silent. Perhaps they agree that it is wrong, but will not speak out.
Their is a great parallel between Israel in Jeremiah’s time and the United States in our day. In Israel they turned their worship to fertility gods of surrounding nations. This required them to sacrifice their baby’s to Molech. We to as American’s worship sex. Just look at a magazine or watch tv for 30 seconds. You can’t get away from provacative images. When we fill our minds with these images, it is onl natural that we will begin to desire them. When we act out what is in our hearts the natural progression is pregnancy. What do we do when we are inconvenienced by a baby? We sacrifice it to our god…sex. What does it say about a society when we are willing to murder a baby just for a comfortable life. Could it be that we worship comfort?
I know that this seems harsh, and I want everyone who has been involved in an abortion to know that God wants to forgive and cleanse, but we need to see it for what it is. The media never talks about the shame and broken lives or the scars that an abortion leaves. It is just an unspoken reality.
This was a major focus of the Call was to repent for abortion. We in the church have been silent for to long. I really appreciate Lou’s stance and passion.
I know that I am suppose to post updates concerning The Call. I just wanted you to be aware that my annual Fantasy Football drafts will be held next week. If you need any advice for your drafts, please feel free to contact me for advice. I have won many leagues, and for a small fee I will fix your team!
After coming home from The Call, we have been in a whirlwind of activity. I (Zack) am taking a class on Hermaneutics. It is a class about the art and science of how to interpret the Bible. We are back on an intense “IHOP” schedule. I have to write a 13 page exegetical paper on Numbers 6:22-28. We are required to attend the Saturday night service. Mike is currently teaching about the book of Revelation. We are required to outline the entire book. I do 24 hours per week in the prayer room. And for another weekly class we are going through the Sermon on the MOunt. This one has been tought on the flesh. It is clear that I have watered down Jesus’ teaching in a dramatic way, and the Lord is having to do some surgery. Holli and I are both working in the healing rooms. Holli is getting ready to start homeschooling. We are finishing up our small group with the Intro class. And Holli is currently attending a couple of mom’s groups. In our spare time we manage a rental house and raise 3 kids.
You can pray for us to have grace in adjsting to out new schedule.
Here is the first of many updates concerning the Call. At one point there were a number of Hispanic leaders on the stage. They were repenting for their attitude toward the “Anglo” community. They said that even though they were victims of racism, their attitudes toward whites were not Godly. I was in awe. I hear many talk about racism directed toward minorities, but had never heard the issue addressed from the other side. It was good to hear that it had been identified. I hope that this will cleanse all of us from racial prejudices. I believe that everyone has a little bit of prejudice in them, but that does not make it right! It is a hidden sin and hopefully the Lord is bringing it to light to eradicate it.
My view toward illegal immigration is gradually changing. These are people that need Jesus. In many cases they are brothers and sisters in Christ. Most come here to work and to provide for their families in Latin America. Should we not love them, just because a government says that they should not be here. Should we rail against the alien. I believe that the Bible speaks clearly about how to treat the alien. We/I am not measuring up. I am sure that this has ruffled a few feathers, but hopefully it will make you think.
This is a short prayer that I prayed the other day.
Please God, reveal to me your heart for the poor. Strip away the blinders that I have inherited from my culture. Let me see the wisdom of the Sermon on the Mount. Let me turn the other cheek. Help me to not qualify my disobedience. I want to understand Your character.
I HAVE FOUND MY CALLING! Over the past few months, I believe that I have identified my primary calling. I am a priest before the Lord. So many of us ask the question, “what is my calling?” I have been tormented with that thought for the past number of years. Since I moved to IHOP it had become even more intense. However since May it has been clear, and a few days ago, the Lord spoke this. Hopefully it blesses you. This is all of our destiny, and all of our callings!
What if being a priest/watchman on the wall in the House of the Lord was my calling? Nothing more. What if I never have a ministry before man? What if my ministry was a hidden one, going before the Lord and ministering to Him? Would this be enough for me? What if I impacted God’s heart in a dramatic way, but never was seen by man? (God speaking) Am I truly your portion? Am I truly your exceeding great reward?
What if The Forerunner School of Ministry and IHOP is not unto something or a means to an end? Am I really the only One who satisifies?
Unequivocally, the answer is yes! My heart is burning for you. My reward is nothing less than God!
After reading this and thinking about it, it makes me realize how foolish our nartural mind is. Why is ministry such an idol? Why do we want to impact men more than God? Why is “sitting in a prayer room all day” so looked down upon?
I love my work!