Path to Zion

I recently stopped and hiked out to the site where my wife and I were immersed just last Fall. As I watched the water, listened and talked to the Father, I meditated on several profound things that I share in this episode.

The series concludes today. If you made it all the way to the end, good for you! This episode looks into some scriptural patterns that assist us in rightly examining the holidays of men. Until we're, at the very least, willing to abandon all that we give ourselves to, we will never walk into the fullness of all that God has for us.

This short series continues with some more tough questions and a challenge for whoever is willing to examine the origins and traditions of "Christian" celebrations.

We continue to examine our hearts willingness to face and examine, in humility, every single thing that we give ourselves to. In this case, the Christmas holiday. We must discuss how this carnal, athiestic nation celebrates this holiday without issue, right beside the Church, with no reference to Christ, yet it continues on entirely unfazed.

I would say that your first knee-jerk response to the title of this new series may very likely reveal your willingness to question the holidays and celebrations of our age. This three-part series will ask some very tough questions. Many that will hopefully solidify your unwavering commitment to Yahweh God and help you become absolutely devoted to give yourself to what is pleasing to Him alone, despite the personal cost.

This episode concludes the discussion of how, in order to be found acceptable to the Lord, we must respond to the call to lay aside all that we are and know. The Scriptures make it clear that until one follows in the pattern of the Son, free from offense, we will literally be repelled by what we see in Him.

In this installment of the series, we look at what we (and all of humanity) must do when we look upon Yeshua (Jesus) and find Him to be an offense - a stumbling block. We also examine Luke 12 which tells us that Messiah came for the insufficient "sick/needy" ones.

In this new three-part series we'll look at the scriptural basis for the importance of being sure we're not distant from God, found with only flattering lips. The sign of one who is near to Him is one who is willing to be broken and repentant and is therefore welcomed to draw near.

The line between those who worship and proclaim the name of Yeshua (Jesus) and those who are simply "spiritual" is becoming more and more indistinguishable. In this episode, I examine some thoughts on the matter and concerns that we should have.

I would say that the choice is always before us of being and looking unto matters of life as always either burden or blessing. Vantage point and our hearts posture toward whatever comes will determine how we feel, how we respond and who we become.

The series wraps up today. Primarily because it's just too much to discuss in one series alone. This episode briefly looks at David's preparations to build the temple, but then instead hands it to his son to fulfill at the end of his life. I think we underestimate the power within preparing for what lies ahead. May this series challenge us to change that.

The series moves on as we examine the incredible fact that Yeshua left "in order to prepare a place for [those would become His disciples]." He is in the preparation business and we should be too, in response to His action on our behalf.

We continue along in the series, presently in Mark chapter 2. We must be a people that are willing to do what needs done to get to (and to get others to) Messiah. This takes preparation and action!

The series continues as I examine Mark chapter 2 and peer into the circumstance that surrounded the paralytic man being brought before Yeshua (Jesus). It's time to put action to our faith!

This episode is laying some more groundwork of thought towards becoming a people who prepare the way for the age that is to come. We must remember that Yeshua (Jesus) is returning to receive His reward and live accordingly. 

Today I start a new series that will have us take a good long look at how we prepare for so incredibly many things in our lives. Yet, we are very prone to take a much more lackadaisical approach to our spiritual preparations. Let's change that, shall we?

This is a recording of some commentary on what I'm feeling the Lord speaking in this hour. No real topic was necessarily found. What are you hearing?

Psalm 91 is teeming with awesome, encouraging truths for those of us who are hidden in God and choose to make Him our dwelling place. Today's episode is simply talking about just some of what this chapter contains.

Today I discuss the necessity and wonderful opportunity it is to know and communicate with Yahweh God. God could extend Himself to us in any way He chose yet He, the holy God of all gods, comes to us intimately and talks to us as a friend. Do you know Him in this way?

As I continue on this journey of life, I'm becoming more and more convinced that the key to our ongoing spiritual growth is in our own hands. I would say it is fueled by our hunger and thirst for righteousness - the pursuit of holiness and of God Himself. Are you hungry?

As I'm out of state travelling to see my natural family, the Lord continues to teach me more in regards to the gift of my spiritual family. Now this is not limited to a local church, a few families or my geographical "part" of the greater Body at large. However it is ancient, it is eternal, it is global. I want to hear what the Spirit is saying in this hour in regards to the ingathering of the Family of God. Do you?

I recently ran across a very random item that I have literally no idea how it made it all the way to me. It got me to thinking about my journey of faith and I how I desire to have such great expectations for the impossible, no matter how unlikely (to me) it may seem.

Is there anything in your life that has maybe been shelved, boxed and forgotten? A gift from God, an ability, a rightful burden. I believe it's time to quiet ourselves and ask the Lord what He is desiring us to retrieve - maybe something that He has given us years ago - and bring it into the here and now.

Today is just a brief commentary on the mysterious stirring that I'm feeling in this hour. I still don't claim to know what it is, but God was good enough to bring us a little understanding, and I'm thankful for that. 

OK, so today's episode is... well... quite unique, for me. I recently had a few moments where I was so tickled by a certain event that I had to turn on my recorder and capture it. I'm so glad that I did - so that you know I really am a real person who enjoys my life. So again, this is quite abnormal to say the least but I hope my ridiculousness puts a smile on your face.

To be clear, today's episode is about Kingdom INclusion. Let us examine our hearts and see if there be any wicked way in us. What wicked way, specifically? Our exaltation over any "other expression" of the Body. We must remember the broad net of Yahweh God and how He is calling all unto Himself. (I recorded this Thursday, October 24 before I attended a conference saying much of the exact same thing.) 

This short series continues and concludes with finishing out Acts chapter 10 and then moving into chapter 11. It's time we examine why we simply don't see the Acts Church in our present-day.

After reading the account in Acts 10, when Cornelius sends for Peter, I was stirred to confront how differently Christianity looks and operates in our modern day. In this 2-part series, we'll avail ourselves to be challenged, to rise and return to what has been lost.

John chapter 20 ends with "these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." I am convinced that this principle is true in many areas. We have been given more than enough, in every possible way, to believe.

Yeshua Jesus always made it abundantly clear that those who know Him, and are aware of the age, should see and know the times in which they live. It's time to shake off passivity, sluggishness and distraction. 

I don't claim to know much about the culmination of the ages that is before us in New Jerusalem. However, I continue to feel an increasing longing to cry out for it to come on earth as it is in Heaven. In this episode I share a little bit of this mysterious desire.

For any who choose to live the surrendered will unto Yahweh God lifestyle, all that we are is absolutely dependent upon our level of dependence upon Him. We must be close. We must enter His rest (Himself) and then labor to maintain that rest as we forge ahead into life.

Yes all are invited to sit at the Master's table, but will we put on the required garments to remain in His presence? All that we are - our entire self identity - must be left at the door. And even if you meet the requirements, what seat will you take? (Matthew 22 & Luke 14)

Often we fail to realize that our limited view on any matter is often skewed and just plain wrong. Yes we can see. Yes we can discern. But sometimes we need to just sit down and ask God for His Kingdom perspective, His vantage point before we move out into what we see.

Only one event, one "Man", one perfect Sacrifice can satisfy what is between Yahweh God and all of mankind. Today I discuss the need to be found in Him, Yeshua Jesus, our Satisfaction and Mediator.

In Malachi, the LORD speaks of the insufficient sacrifice of men. They bring Him lame animals - even blind ones - flawed. I would say anything and everything that is sourced in ourselves could rightly be deemed likewise today. In this episode, I'll take a look at this principle.

Do you have a God-given drive within you to sow the eternal seed of Himself that is within you (should you live the John 3:3 & 5 reality)? We are carriers of hope. We yet remain, after our regeneration, unto the purpose of reproducing His offspring. Today, we examine this principle. 

One of the stirrings of the Lord in my life right now is the "overflowing" nature of our lives when we're walking in the fullness of all that He is. Malachi 1 tells us that the people will say, "the LORD be magnified beyond the border (territory) of Israel!" This episode examines why I believe that we should live likewise!

We see several places in the Scriptures that one can be "as a tree planted by the waters", but how we often fail to step back and ask the deeper questions about how it got there. Where did the seed come from? What is the condition of the ground? Today, we mix the spiritual with the literal and I pose some thought-provoking questions. 

The conclusion of the series that examines the immense shift within my heart towards the facet of the corporate vow that is within immersion/baptism into the death of Yeshua Jesus.

The 3-part series continues examining my pre-immersion understanding of the covenental vow within baptism, strictly in regards to the corporate expression. 

Obviously baptism has been front and center in this season of my life. Now, here on the other side, more and more things are already becoming even more clear. In this series I'll divulge much of what, in my pre-immersion understanding of how the covenental vow within baptism is just being deemed too small, in light of what I have tasted and seen. 

This is my wife Kristin's account of her water immersion from yesterday. She has now been born again, born of the water and born of the Spirit! May it challenge and bless all who listen! * Here's a link to the song that Kristin references: https://youtu.be/gcODACIBTuc

I joined myself into the death of the Messiah yesterday, via water immersion. I have now been born again, born of the water and born of the Spirit. This is a small peek into the day.

In Acts chapter 8, we see the event where the angel of the Lord sends Philip out to meet the Ethiopian eunuch. What transpires there should propel us to move, to act, to get "into" whatever it is that is before us in the here and now! It's time to get in!

In John chapter 4 we see Jesus encounter a woman drawing out water. She comes for natural need and sustenance but left with something immeasurably more. Within this account is something we must embrace and give ourselves to apprehend.

When weighty matters are front and center in our lives, openness and willingness to deny ourselves must be our response. Are you wholly committed to the purposes of God and being found yielded to whatever He is asking of you?

In Psalm 31 we see a great example of the balance of one who requests God's deliverance yet properly recognizes He is in absolute control. Despite our circumstances, even those we desire to see change, we must remember to acknowledge and believe that God is with us. 

Doesn't everyone enjoy getting something new? Maybe it's a gift received. Maybe it's a purchase made. Perhaps it's experienced even in the birth of a child or moving into a new home. However they come, "new" things are generally good things. So what about all of the new things we read in the Scriptures? Can we walk in the sense, feeling and emotion of when our love and salvation were new, always? Let's talk about it.

Psalm 145 tells us of a pattern of one generation declaring God's wonder, majesty and mighty acts to another. It shows us a perpetual "passing down" of God's awesome deeds. I would say this has been lost throughout the ages. May we reclaim this pattern!

In this episode I share a couple of the more lighthearted moments of my youth and then bring it around to facing what we presently value and "need" in our lives today.