|City on a Hill - Writings for Refuge

One of the more ironic aspects of my life are the labels I end up getting from people that don't really know me. I almost never address this, because a self defense seems like poor form, but its late enough at night that I'll slip a clarification in :) just for the record, I am not a: 1. Doomsday peacher - I think this is the best time to be alive. I can't wait for the future, I have a ton of hope, and I believe responsible choices never stop mattering. I encourage (and pay for) my kids to go to college, grow in their relationships, and eventually, move out :) (jk...Sam never wants them to move out) 2. A date-setter - this is one of the more frustrating ones. I have observed things happening that I believe fulfill prophetic promises in the Bible....these have implications....just like many witnessed Israel becoming a nation in 1948 and thought (correctly, Imo) it was a significant fulfillment of prophecy. That ALSO meant we were in a new season of time by implication. I bel...

It is easy to read the stories of the greatness of the first believers...their courage and patience and determination....their anointed stands for truth... And forget that these Acts stretched out over years and even decades of sanctification. They learned obedience that led to their knowing of Jesus in deeper and deeper ways, but it took place day after day in the routines of life. Often their captivity to less than perfect circumstances brought out the glory of their simple dependence on God. Our lives are no different if we connect them to the same source of vision and power Paul, and James, and John, and Peter connected their routine lives to. Without vision and power, life is simply routine. Even for the wealthy or powerful...without a connection to real vision, life always reverts to routine. But, with vision the routine is the context that greatness is birthed out of. Vision requires effort. I need to tune out the distractions and isolate the one conversation that has the power ...

Isaiah 60:1Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 2For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. 4“Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side. 5Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. A time of intense darkness is quickly breaking like a wave over our country. The foundation of which has cracked. It is important to see the purpose in the darkness. This is a hopeful time for those who know the purpose of God in the earth. Confusion, which will come as accusation, will lead many to point the finger and spe...

Isaiah 60:1Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 2For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. 4“Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side. 5Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. A time of intense darkness is quickly breaking like a wave over our country. The foundation of which has cracked. It is important to see the purpose in the darkness. This is a hopeful time for those who know the purpose of God in the earth. Confusion, which will come as accusation, will lead many to point the finger and spe...

Friendship. This is where the church is going. This is what the body truly is: John 15:14-15 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. (15) No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. Being a friend of Jesus should change who I am and how I treat others. Jesus sees everything. In the world, I can move from "friend" to "friend" if it suits me. But, this won't work in the kingdom of selflessness. Jesus is judging at a deeper level. Every word will have to be accounted for. Matthew 12:36-37 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. (37) For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." If I say I am Jesus' friend, then, in truth, I need to be a friend to his friends. Matthew 22:11-14 "But when the ki...

The trouble that is just beginning to break across the earth will become much worse. We are at the beginning of a time of trouble unlike the earth has ever seen: Matthew 24:21“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. 23“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25“See, I have told you beforehand. 26“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. This is what we see beginning to unfold all over the earth right now....