We are certianly not despising small beginnings - the Lord has really shown up the last two weekends as we’ve gathered for prayer and worship with believers from the area.  Last Saturday we joined Paul & Katie Howell from New Wineskin Ministries at the prayer room they have faithfully ran in downtown Ft Smith these last several months.  Tonight we just got back from a friend’s home in Van Buren.  The “fresh bread”, “now word of the Lord”, or whatever else you want to call that little breath He breathes on a gathering when You know that what you are singing and praying is what is really on His heart, has shown up both times.

Robin and I were both a little nervous, to be honest, about how all of this was going to turn out once we got back in to town and started putting our hands to what the Lord has called us - but, wow, He has so faithfully relieved those fears and demolished a lot of the “performance anxiety” that we get, even when we’re… ahem… mature enough to know that we’re not performing anyway.  Have we followed the “Harp & Bowl Model” as taught to us this summer at IHOP?  No.  Has it helped? Absolutely.  But that’s another discussion.  What has happened is that what was on the heart of the people gathered was put on the altar before the Lord, and then He gave us His heart, and allowed us to sing and pray it back to Him.  It’s amazing the “building-up” that takes place when You encounter the Lord’s heart and His faithfulness in this way.  Thank you, Lord!

Tonight, the Lord really had us dwell on themes around 1 Peter 2:1-5 & 9, Psalm 42, Isaiah 55, Colosians 1:9-11, and Ephesians 1:17-19.  He was asking us to cry out to Him for a real habitation of His spirit in us, to taste the food that He has for us, by listening, obeying, seeking, and just receiving.  I am so bad with “the addresses” of verses, but the Lord is definitely helping me out there.  I realized tonight that about 90% of what I sing when I’m singing spontaneously and/or prophetically is scripture almost word-for-word, and I couldn’t be more thankful to Him for that, and the seasons of preparation that He has put me through.

With that, I would strongly encourage you - whether you are “a harp” or “a bowl” - to really search the scriptures to gain the understanding, vocabulary, and will of the Lord on the topics you are praying and singing about.  Now, I’m not saying “just find the scriptures that seem to match what you want them to say”; Lord grace us to avoid that perversing work - but I am saying that You are His sheep, and You hear His voice.  So, when something is on your heart and on your mind to pray and sing about to Him, I bet it’s there in the scripture.  If you can’t find it, put it on a shelf and get counsel from those whom you know have gained some Godly wisdom; but, I bet you WILL find a lot of it, and then start using it for your prayers and your songs.  There’s no pressure to be “more creative”.  THE CREATOR Himself inspired the writing of this stuff, and He does not mind plagarism one bit.

If you would like to invite us and some of the church Family that you’re connected with into your living room for a time of prayer and worship, we’re down with that.  Check out the “From House to House” post, and then feel free to send us an e-mail directly or via our contact form.

We’ve also had a pretty sizable offer on some funds that would totally cover all of the sound & video equipment needs we would have in starting a full-instrumentation prayer room, and a good chunk (if not all) of the renovations.  And it couldn’t have come at a more divine time - after the Lord had really changed my heart to truly desire the small home gatherings, and He provided a way for us to earn a good chunk of our monthly support in a way that matches the “job description” that He gave me back in Topeka… after all of that dying to my own wants and worries, then He starts making a way for what we may have messed up if we were anxious about it and trying to make it happen.  Seriously, why would I start asking for funding to spend on some building and equipment before I knew our grocery budget was met?  That’s ludicrous.  But, the Lord has called some believers to build things, and others to support people (and some to do both I’m sure).

If you’re either of those types of people, I continue to humbly and joyfully offer you an opportunity to partner with us in seeing the Lord’s will to equip believers for a lifestyle of prayer, fasting, and worship that will radically transform the Fort Smith River Valley, and bring many to His saving knowledge.  If you want a gift to go towards the future facility, please just put that in your comments for online giving, or in a note or post-it in your mailed contributions.  And, of course, we’d love to sit down and talk with you about any of this stuff - just give me a shout.

Manifest Blessings!

Now that the Jacksons are back in town and have had a chance to sure-up some of the things the Lord has asked us to do, we have put together our “normal budget” for living the life Jesus has called us to in this season, and are posting it here as a part of our call for an “Open Book Policy”.  I say “normal” because, just like Paul, we are to learn how to “abase and to abound” depending on the giving of others in support of ministry.

We received $1130.00 in support for the month of August from four sources ($1000, $100, $20, and $10).  I had an outstanding web development project that I completed for an additional $1000, which gave us a total income for August of $2130.00.  Although it was more than $1000 short of the normal budget we have developed with outside counsel and prayer, it looks like we are going to make it out of August with everything immediately due paid, and having had to make an extra trip to Van Buren from Kansas City and back with two vehicles (gas… ouch!).

As of today, we know of about $200 in support that we can expect for September, and accepted tent-making proposals for about $3000.  However, all of that depends on people writing checks, and such - so, although it is very close to our actual need, we ask that you would still pray about how the Lord would have you partner in His work with us by sowing financially with us.

Also, we are humbled, but confident, that it is the Lord’s desire to move us completely into a place of full-time commitment to prayer, worship, fasting, outreach, and serving the churches of our region by being fully-funded through your giving alone.  The Lord has really opened the scriptures to me that have incorrectly shaped my view of tent-making and full-time ministry in the last few months.  For example, Paul made tents in Thessalonica because they believed that the rapture had already come, or was eminent, and weren’t working at all, at anything.  This was NOT Paul’s normal way of living; this was an exception to the way he normally ministered because these believers needed an example of how believers (whose lives were not devoted to gospel full-time) were to live.  Even in this passage, Paul reminds them that he, as one whose life is devoted to the gospel, “has the authority” to receive support from the church - but he was “making an example of how they should follow them.”  Then, on top of that, the Lord has rebuked me sharply with the charge, “Do you not know that being a watchman on the walls is real work?  Do you not value the place of intercession as highly as the place of carpenter, a staff pastor, or a computer programmer?”

“Okay, Lord.  You win.”

I felt His grace to accept a part-time interim Worship Arts Coordinator position with a local congregation here in Van Buren as they continue the search for a full-time Worship Arts Pastor, and as we transition into raising support (which is a large chunk of the expected tent-making income for September), but, again, the Lord is asking us to pursue being fully-funded by your partnership.  So, as you are led, please visit our Partnering page where you can donate on-line, schedule automated monthly donations, or get the correct address and information for sending your support via regular mail.

The first few chapters of the book of Jeremiah are rocking my world - and I pray that they really rock “my world” - ya know, earth, but more specifically, the River Valley region… how much our nation reminds me of the nation of Judah during the reign of king Josiah.

During the reign of Josiah, there was a lot of religious and moral reform taking place.  The nation of Judah was tearing down the altars and outlawing the practices that previous generations established in honor of other gods and their immorality.  The priests and rulers must have been ecstatic over such a moral and religious victory - only “Godly” things were allowed to remain.  But the Lord knew that their changes were only exterior, corporate, cultural changes, and that He still did not have their hearts, souls, minds, and bodies.

It’s November 2000, and we made it through Y2K and the impeaching of our last president.  Christians the nation over were tickled pink by their role in the victory of a president who did not shy away from talks of faith and moral conservatism.  Finally, the nation would be headed back down the course our forefathers had placed us on - one based on the ‘freedom to express religion freely’ (not the ‘freedom FROM religion’).  Conservative judges would begin to tear-down the anti-christian laws and precepts established during the past reign of immoral judges and rulers.  STOP!

Disclaimer: I am not (at all) knocking our current president; I’m speaking in generalities - mostly about a perceived  consensus of thought in the christian majority of our land.

The age we are in, in our country is reminding me a whole lot of the reign of King Josiah of Judah.  Nationwide moral reform and consciousness seems to be the agenda of leaders (although the opinions of the nation itself doesn’t line up with these attempts - just like in the nation of Judah)… but, Hey, it’s a victory for the religion of Christianity itself, when a leader who can spearhead these reforms is in power, right?  But is it with “our whole heart”, or is it only in pretense?

“And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in pretense,” says the LORD.
- Jeremiah 3:10

What lept out to me in these first few chapters of Jeremiah was the content of the charges that the Lord brought against Judah, and a question that “the fathers” and “the priests” should have been asking.

“For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And hewn themselves cisterns–broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
- Jeremiah 2:13

“Neither did (the fathers) say, ‘Where is the Lord…’” - Jeremiah 2:6
“The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ and those who handled the law did not know Me;” - Jeremiah 2:8

For too long entire denominations… too many of all of us… have tried to carve our own niche into christiandom.  Some through emphasis on doctrinal purity and simple living, and others through good music and cultural relevance.  Some through focusing on good works and charitable deeds, and others through evangelism and church growth.  But how many of us are truly asking that question?

“Where is the Lord?”

It is His desire to establish a dwelling place in and among His people.  It is His desire, the very purpose of our creation, to commune with us - daily.  It is His desire to have friends, not servants; people who would know His will and His heart, and partner with Him in it every day.  The answer to this question is not, “Look at His hand working on our behalf - we are blessed.  We are growing.  We are healthy.”  (Read Jeremiah Ch. 2)  The answer to this question is the question itself.

Let’s start asking Him… “Where are You, Lord? I don’t just want to see what You are doing.  I don’t just want to feel my emotions stirred.  I want You to come in as much as I can handle, and dwell with me.  Where are You, Lord?  You are my exceedingly great reward.”

The Jacksons have arrived safely back to Arkansas, and we’re excited about the things the Lord is giving to us to do - do you want in on it?

First, we really missed you guys, our “Family with a Big F” - and we can’t wait to get to reconnect with you.  The Lord has poured so much into us these last four months that we’re bursting at the seems - but, we are also in need of you in so many ways, and we’ve got an idea on how to kill several birds with one stone… seriously, it will be like the H-bomb of bird-killing stones.

HouseS of Prayer

Robin and I would love to come to your home for a time of worship, fellowship, prayer, and some training.  Yes, we’re inviting ourselves over - sort of.  But, hey - you’ll get to make some snacks for us, too - so, it’s all good.  Okay, seriously, we would love to come into your living room with our guitar, maybe a keyboard and some hand-drums, and a singer or two, and do some worship with you and the people you invite over.

We would start with some worship songs most of us are familiar with and ask the Lord to come and make our evening saturated with His presence and purpose, and then break for some discussion and snacks.  We’d like to hear what is going on with your friends and family, what the Lord has been showing you, and what your burdens for prayer are.  We’ll share some of what has been going on with us, and some of the things the Lord has given us, and remind you of some of the things He has spoken over our region.  Then we’d give some quick instruction on how to mingle your prayers with our singing (a.k.a. “Harp & Bowl style” - Revelations 5), and we’d go for it, engaging in intercessory worship for as long or short as you can stand it.

This seems like such a good way to promote Ephesians 4:16 “Family jointedness”, get to catch-up with each other, and begin to equip, facilitate, and cultivate a lifestyle of prayer & worship in our region.  Are you interested?  You can send me an e-mail through the contact form on the website, or just send one to ‘aaron’ or ‘robin’ at this domain name ‘likedaviddid.com’ (sorry, I’m being elusive of the roaving spambots that collect e-mail addresses from websites and then start spamming them mercilessly).

“The Word. Worship. Family. Prayer. Fasting. Unity. Harvest.”

This post is rated PG - just because it’s a little dark and intense, but, if you’re not a 12-year-old prone to intense nightmares triggered by moderate intensity, then you should check this out — wow, I justed the word ‘intense’ (and a derivative) far too many times in one sentence.  It starts intense, cause I’ll just share the imagery of the dream, but, if you don’t see it as you are reading it, I will share some of what the Lord has shown me from it later via comments.  I’m going to let it set for a few days and would love to hear some of your comments before (and after) I post the things I’ve gotten from it.  It’s long - but, wow…

[1]  I was held prisoner in an old farmer’s homestead-type complex made all too famous by horror movies in the last 30 years.  My captors were very humanoid, but I “just knew” that they were demons - mostly human in appearance, but enough distortions and grotesqueness to assure me that I was dealing with something more than human.  The leader of the demonic militia looked a whole lot like a picture of Rob Zombie that I saw on a magazine cover one time… obviously human in appearance, but dirty, matted hair and skin, and dark mono-colored eyes [2].  Every night, groups of these demons would go into the surrounding towns and randomly kill and terrorize the inhabitants.  They would also randomly come into the holding areas (like the one I was in) and kill, torture, and/or terrorize captives [3].  This went on for days.  (My dreams often cover entire weeks of time, “real-time”, even though they’re only a few short minutes in really-real time.)

Then, one night, out of nowhere, there was a buzz and an awkwardness about the camp.  I’m not even sure how I found all of this information out, but apparently some stronger, more authoritive party had come into play, and was now dictating rules for an upcoming battle [4].  The demon-leader was to form a team to compete against a team of us regular humans.  The rules of the battle itself were pretty clear:  (1) both teams would enter a multi-story house from different entry points, (2) the object was for the human team to rescue a young boy, probably about age 6, from the house before he was killed or all of our team was killed. (3) If we rescued the boy, the demonic army would no longer have dominion over this region. [5]

Somehow, by whoever this other authority was, I was made the leader of the human team.  All of the captives were let out of the houses and barns where we were being held. When I got outside, there was already a large military/FEMA-style tent set-up on the grounds, and we were being directed towards it.  As we approached the large tent, I could see that people from the region were walking onto the grounds.  I knew that they were coming to cheer us on; they had heard about the battle, and were confident that the humans would win, and had a new boldness that allowed them to just walk right into the enemy’s camp to watch them get beaten [6].  Many of the released captives drifted off to mingle and reunite with friends and family who were pouring onto the grounds from the region; I knew that some of them were suppose to be on my team, and that I had just lost them [7].

As we got up to the large tent, there was a smaller pavilion-style tent set-up just outside of the large tent’s entrance.  Someone gave the first person who arrived at the tent a diagram of a soldier, arrayed in full battle gear, with explanations of where each piece of equipment went on their person, what it was, and how to use it [8].  The first person looked at it for a few seconds, then handed it to the next person and went inside the large tent to pick out whatever gear, weapons, medicine, explosives, lightings, etc - whatever they wanted.  The next person did the same thing; they only looked at the paper for a few seconds, pointed something out to one of their friends who had shown up from one of the towns, and they were like “ahh.. that is awesome - it’s like Halo 3, dude!” - then went into the tent to pick out their stuff [9].

The next two people in line were my two sons, Gideon and Kalek.  I knew it was them, and they weren’t much older than they are now.  They were probably 7 and 8 years old.  Gideon showed the paper to Kalek, and then laid it down on a nearby table, and they both grabbed pencil and paper and began to copy the diagram in detail and discuss what everything was for - almost like they were helping each other memorize where everything would go and how to use it [10].  I immediately saw the wisdom in what they were doing, and looked over their shoulder at the diagram: there was stuff that could heal any wound instantly, stuff to blind the enemy, stuff to protect a soldier’s eyes, stuff to blow-up obstacles, and several items to wound, kill, or ’remove’ an opponent [11].  But, for some reason, even though I could see their wisdom, I made mental note of only a few of the items (mostly healing and light-giving stuff that was all part of a satchel-like “medic/chemical kit”) and then went inside the large tent to put my stuff together [12].

Inside the tent, I saw a lot more of what I saw from person number 2 outside of the tent.  People were playing with the equipment, swinging swords, laughing, shooting large laser-type guns and targets that were set-up for practice, and having a really good time of it [13].  One person would load down with a lot of weapons (and nothing else), and another would load down in a bunch of armor (and nothing else).  Then there was me, who was getting my satchel of healing, light, some mild explosives, and various vials all together, but never managed to get any armor or weapons [14].  I would have thought that some of us would have known better.  There were a lot of young adults on my team, but there were also several older (honorably gray-headed) people, some women of varying ages, several ethnic backgrounds represented, and then my two very young boys [15].  They were the only two with a full array of equipment [16].

I began to walk around the grounds thinking about strategy.  Outside of the tent many of my team mates were still showing-off their new equipment, and many had set their equipment down and were playing games of catch with the townsfolk (frisbee, football, baseball - you name it) [17].  It was like the battle had already been won, the confidence level was so high, and people were so relaxed.  Not me.  I was wondering if we would get a chance to even see the building where the battle would take place, and if we would possibly be allowed to practice in it [18]. 

But, how could I gather my team to practice?  I was a prisoner just like them, so obviously I mustn’t have been very good at overcoming them in the past.  I didn’t want to seem overbearing or pushy.  I didn’t want people to think I was lording something over them, or that I felt like I was better than them.  And, you know, I wasn’t sure if we would even be ALLOWED to practice, so why bother them? [19] So, I began to walk to the battle building to see if there was someone there I could ask for permission to practice. [20]

As I approached the building, I could see (not sure how) the demonic militia was already inside of the building running drills.  I could see and hear the leader barking out orders, and see his squads react with military precision [21].  They didn’t have the type of equipment we were given; all of theirs were gnarly axes and jagged spears - covered with all kinds of sickening things and diseases.  They were all about close-up combat, instilling fear, and then making their victims suffer [22].  Some were obviously guarding certian hallways and rooms in the building.  Others were obviously the “searchers” who were covering as much ground as possible trying to find the boy.  Still others were the “sweepers”, trying to find, engage, and kill us - the opposing force [23].  I was astounded at their precision and efficiency, and a bit bothered that they were using some of the same strategies I was considering.  (You know, the obvious ones that you learn just from being on a paintball team, watching some war movies, and playing some tactical military games.)  I had to get my team together to practice - at least to talk about some strategies and maybe give them some signals, voice commands… something… anything. [24]

I stood on a small hill overlooking the open field where hundreds of people from the surrounding area had gathered and were still playing games with my former-fellow-captives and teammates [25].  They were really enjoying themselves.  I wrestled with the same thoughts as before - who am I to start trying to give direction to them?  What are they going to think of me, even from moment one when I whistle loud and ask them to assemble? [26]  Thinking of that small, curly-blond-headed, six-year old boy being held somewhere even now, waiting to be the object of the demon-hordes murderous intentions [27]… thinking of the images we saw night-after-night of people being terrorized in their homes and in public places - killed and tortured with unthinkable cruelty all around the region [28]… I mustered the courage, and curled my lips to whistle louder than I had ever whistled before… and I awoke from the dream [29].

I have inserted some [#] numbers into the dream that you can reference in your comments without having to quote too much.  Obviously you aren’t limited to interpret and hypothesize about only numbered sections.  I would ask you to reply with whatever your natural thoughts are about it, and then to also spend some time in prayer asking the Lord to show you things about it, and then post your comments.  And, this isn’t some, “Yeah, okay, Aaron - you’re called to be some sort of leader - we get it.”  You can do whatever you want with that part of it… focus on the other content, please.

Here are some clips from the worship team I’m on in the new Justice Prayer Room (part of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City).  This team was put together in about two weeks by the leadership of the internship that Robin & I are a part of this summer, out of only interns.  They were able to form two teams to help get this new prayer room started.

I’m experimenting with a way to embed audio clips into posts.  You have to have flash installed to use this one - but let me know if you have any difficulties, please. 

This first clip is from an intercession set.  The focus of intercession sets are just that - interceding.  The musicians and singers help facilitate the prayers of the believers who gathered during this time by taking what they pray and responding to it and developing it using primarily the prayers of the Apostles found in the New Testament (but not limited to it).  This clip fades in right after someone informed our prayer leader that the 4-month old twins of a family from IHOP who are in Cairo, Egypt preparing for a conference, had gotten very sick and were taken to a hospital in Cairo.  You will hear the interaction of the pray-ers and the musicians as we join together to ask the Lord to intercede for the health of the babies and the salvation of Egyptians.

The next clip is from a “Worship with the Word” set.  During this day, we were focusing on the theme of “The Dark Night of the Soul” - those times when we feel like the Lord has ran off and left us.  We pick it up here around Song of Solomon 5:2, where for the second time, the Groom had come to the Shulamite bride, but she hesitates to answer him.  The first time (Song 2:10-17) it was out of fear and rebellion of not wanting to leave her comfort zone. That time, when she finally got around to running after him, she found him quickly and with little difficulty.  He was quick to forgive her of her rebellion, and she learns her lesson well.

This particular time it wasn’t from rebellion at all - it was just silly physical sluggishness, and she does rise fairly quickly to open her door for him - but, this time, he desires to cultivate longing in her.  It’s not because of anything wrong she has done; She rises and pursues him (her “Yes”).  But, he is not easily found.

The recordings aren’t meant to be cd-quality or anything, they’re really just for the worship team to evaluate - but, I thought I’d put a few little clips up so you can get a feel of part of what goes on in a 24/7 prayer room.  Because the focus on the word, and making all of your lyrics conform fairly strictly to actual written scripture, it’s really a great “singing seminary”, and the knowledge of the Word on the missions base here is unbelievable.  I know I’ve been humbled by my own shortcomings.

I welcome your thoughts.