Phil
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A Journal of Praise and Prayer
The expressions of love to God during the week leading up to and on the National Day of Prayer were incredible. Words really do escape me for describing the moments of the day and getting there. I'll try a simple attempt to reflect some of God's grace from that day.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Citywide Praise and Prayer Service
TimeLine
Pastor Jeff Mitchell, Tabitha Baptist 00:08:30
Tabitha Baptist Praise Team 00:15:25
Pastor Amanda Conner, The Cathedral 00:33:10
Pastor Charles Smith, Bethesda and SHUB 00:33:40
Antioch Full Gospel Praise Team 00:40:11
Psator Lester Cezar, Antioch Full Gospel 00:55:15
Dick Wegener, CBMC 01:03:30
Quail Springs Church of Christ Praise Team 01:09:15
Pastor Charles Martin, Integrity Voice of Victory 01:21:00
Integrity Voice of Victory Praise Team 01:31:00
Joint Choir 01:50:00
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
In Spring in Winter
The wasp, the ladybug, and the squirrel all seem alive in this Spring moment of Winter. Sitting outside at the lake, I’ve contemplated this phenomenal week. All around me the cardinals and finches wisp through the air at the neighbor’s bird buffet. It is February. It is time for ice and storms and cold. Yet, the grass is attempting to grow.
When we entered our lake home late last night after an exhausting week, how surprised I was to find a wasp jumping about on the ceiling of the living room. What was he doing awake? After taking care of him, I notice a ladybug flying. A ladybug! The sure sign of Spring was in my home in the dead of winter. Sure it had been 70 degrees that day. But on the road down, there was ice constantly on the side of all the north facing hills. Ice and Spring seem odd mixture.
In Spring in Winter, this week has been odd like that. It has been absolutely phenomenal. For months, I have been attempting to get some sort of stable ministry going with our young married couples at Catedral. For months, I have been attempting to get my work organized and sales started in motion in my business. Neither want to make any progress. Every day is a hard struggle and a push against resistive force.
In Spring in Winter life is exploding in areas that seemingly should be dormant. In Matamoros, the explosion of God’s grace was phenomenal. You will have to read that story elsewhere. It is too big for this spot. The Father performed miracles, substantial miracles, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. In Oklahoma City, I came across a new film being produced that needs to be prescreened in the Latino community. We will work alongside Los Abuelos and see miracles. Miss HIV is out and has some great clips of friends in it. A minister friend took a copy for his congregation. EGM gave me ten more to distribute. This week I speak alongside friends at an urban ministry school convocation. The one minister and his congregation were a key part of that movie in OKC. Not an unnoticed happenstance that God puts us together in the right week. A large organization agreed to send us food for the poor in Mexico and Oklahoma City. A sponsoring church directly across from the business of a friend involved agreed to give us storage space to receive and ship. Ministers are meeting and talking about joining together in efforts.
Where does all of this Spring activity fit in the winter of struggle? Seemingly it jumps from nowhere. In a moment we are launched into an effective mission organization being prepped to bring solutions to our own city and sister up with a congregation in Matamoros. In the same week, a local alternative school in the middle of the worst gang infestation in our metro wants our involvement. The principal asked me to work weekly with his teachers in building a community of peace. This is the start of then reaching those students and influencing their home world. Couple this with the HIV work and Los Abuelos and you have a more than full time ministry changing a community and the world through partnerships.
In Spring in Winter, I am a business man with multiple businesses to run? Again, this week I’ve been asked to speak at yet a third conference this Spring (the real one). In two months I will speak in Vegas for a computer conference, in Philadelphia for a digital publishing conference, and in Washinton D.C. for a facility and engineering conference on exactly the same subject. In the next two months we will launch two new nationwide clients. What gives? Why now? There are other pieces wanting to launch in the background. This is a monumental week of happenings birthed out of years of relationship and cultivation of friendships in Christ across the community. The Father is speaking. The Holy Spirit is organizing His agenda not mine. Jesus is advancing His ministry and life to others. Stay tuned. God so love s the world.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
When we entered our lake home late last night after an exhausting week, how surprised I was to find a wasp jumping about on the ceiling of the living room. What was he doing awake? After taking care of him, I notice a ladybug flying. A ladybug! The sure sign of Spring was in my home in the dead of winter. Sure it had been 70 degrees that day. But on the road down, there was ice constantly on the side of all the north facing hills. Ice and Spring seem odd mixture.
In Spring in Winter, this week has been odd like that. It has been absolutely phenomenal. For months, I have been attempting to get some sort of stable ministry going with our young married couples at Catedral. For months, I have been attempting to get my work organized and sales started in motion in my business. Neither want to make any progress. Every day is a hard struggle and a push against resistive force.
In Spring in Winter life is exploding in areas that seemingly should be dormant. In Matamoros, the explosion of God’s grace was phenomenal. You will have to read that story elsewhere. It is too big for this spot. The Father performed miracles, substantial miracles, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. In Oklahoma City, I came across a new film being produced that needs to be prescreened in the Latino community. We will work alongside Los Abuelos and see miracles. Miss HIV is out and has some great clips of friends in it. A minister friend took a copy for his congregation. EGM gave me ten more to distribute. This week I speak alongside friends at an urban ministry school convocation. The one minister and his congregation were a key part of that movie in OKC. Not an unnoticed happenstance that God puts us together in the right week. A large organization agreed to send us food for the poor in Mexico and Oklahoma City. A sponsoring church directly across from the business of a friend involved agreed to give us storage space to receive and ship. Ministers are meeting and talking about joining together in efforts.
Where does all of this Spring activity fit in the winter of struggle? Seemingly it jumps from nowhere. In a moment we are launched into an effective mission organization being prepped to bring solutions to our own city and sister up with a congregation in Matamoros. In the same week, a local alternative school in the middle of the worst gang infestation in our metro wants our involvement. The principal asked me to work weekly with his teachers in building a community of peace. This is the start of then reaching those students and influencing their home world. Couple this with the HIV work and Los Abuelos and you have a more than full time ministry changing a community and the world through partnerships.
In Spring in Winter, I am a business man with multiple businesses to run? Again, this week I’ve been asked to speak at yet a third conference this Spring (the real one). In two months I will speak in Vegas for a computer conference, in Philadelphia for a digital publishing conference, and in Washinton D.C. for a facility and engineering conference on exactly the same subject. In the next two months we will launch two new nationwide clients. What gives? Why now? There are other pieces wanting to launch in the background. This is a monumental week of happenings birthed out of years of relationship and cultivation of friendships in Christ across the community. The Father is speaking. The Holy Spirit is organizing His agenda not mine. Jesus is advancing His ministry and life to others. Stay tuned. God so love s the world.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Foreward Thoughts
http://www.dalegentry.com/
Check out this video of Dale's latest thoughts on where our world is going.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Check out this video of Dale's latest thoughts on where our world is going.
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
New Days Dawning
Rejoicing takes many forms during a transition of cultures. Some rejoice in what appears to be a downfall of opposing ideas. Some rejoice in having the rush of new power in the center of ego. Some rejoice just because others are rejoicing. Some rejoice as feelings of newness and emotion engulf their community. Some have taken time to consider and study and see a new road. Rejoicing takes many forms in the heart of mankind.
Weeping takes many forms during a transition of cultures. Events that mark the path can be viewed as destroying old ways. What was once held sacred is now viewed with disdain. Careful building had taken decades of foundation and structure. No one likes to see their investments of time and talent be slashed in a second. Letting go of what was for what is never appeals to many.
Fear takes many forms during a transition of cultures. Violence can erupt. The conflicts of men's hearts has to be resolved at some point. Some settle quickly with forgiveness. Some settle with tolerance. Some settle with a quiet resolve. Some escalate to vitrolic speech and pundit making. Some escalate to withdrawal or denial. Some just get nasty.
In the warp and woof of the United States, we find ourselves in transition. This new culture bubbling from beneath the surface has an undetermined end. Struggles to define legally acceptable and binding relationships push for a new cultural norm. Struggles to protect the lives of others clash with personal expression and personal rights. Ancient taboos against throwing out the weak, the infirm and unbeautiful clash with ancient rituals of Spartan child abandonment and sacrafice to Molech. A desire for Utopia where all have access to the science and caring of education and health care and housing clashes with realisms of the unsharing nature of the soul of mankind.
more later......
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
Weeping takes many forms during a transition of cultures. Events that mark the path can be viewed as destroying old ways. What was once held sacred is now viewed with disdain. Careful building had taken decades of foundation and structure. No one likes to see their investments of time and talent be slashed in a second. Letting go of what was for what is never appeals to many.
Fear takes many forms during a transition of cultures. Violence can erupt. The conflicts of men's hearts has to be resolved at some point. Some settle quickly with forgiveness. Some settle with tolerance. Some settle with a quiet resolve. Some escalate to vitrolic speech and pundit making. Some escalate to withdrawal or denial. Some just get nasty.
In the warp and woof of the United States, we find ourselves in transition. This new culture bubbling from beneath the surface has an undetermined end. Struggles to define legally acceptable and binding relationships push for a new cultural norm. Struggles to protect the lives of others clash with personal expression and personal rights. Ancient taboos against throwing out the weak, the infirm and unbeautiful clash with ancient rituals of Spartan child abandonment and sacrafice to Molech. A desire for Utopia where all have access to the science and caring of education and health care and housing clashes with realisms of the unsharing nature of the soul of mankind.
more later......
PrayerMetro puts out thoughts to provoke thinking not preach religion. Think. Meditate. Pause. Pray. Consider. Act.
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