Finishing my thoughts on a Holy Spirit bath. There's a deep need in us lately to relax in the presence of the Lord. At his Presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.

Been reading lately of Jonathon's Edwards and the end of things designed by God. His purpose in creating, setting man on the earth, sending His Son to redeem, according to Edwards is ultimately His Glory. You know, if you've tasted what we are talking about here. Glory being a tangible presence of peace and order, the knowledge of all perfection, and rest that comes when Jesus passes by. Don't go without this.

It's like Moses asking humbly from the mountain and the cloud, "Lord, show me your glory." Pass by me Lord and let me linger. When the father said yes, is was just a glimpse. "You may see my back, but no one can see my face and live." When the Lord passed by--the glory was His name--full of goodness and truth, loving, merciful, ever forgiving with perfect justce. It caused Moses to fall down and worship, which I am sure you have done if your have been there.

There's a hunger in this generation to taste something of God that really satisfies. They are after His Glory. And the end of all things, according to Edwards reading of Scripture, is that the earth be filled with that Glory. Jesus was all about glorifying the Father--glorify your name.

The Glory here is the extension of the goodness of God. The sharing of Himself, the replication of perfection, immulation, efulgence, the rubbing off and effusion of the divine nature. God's goodness demands to be shared on the earth, jealously yearns for communion with creation, and is ultimately destined to bring many sons to this glory.

Have you tasted it lately. Have you lingered in His presence. Have you come to know Him and desire a tangible meeting with the Father as Moses did on the mountain. That's where I'm at after a long week of work--every prayer answered, every need met, every dream fulfilled, yet still drawn to a presence of Jesus larger, sweeter, peacefuller and fuller than anything we can see here. Show us your Glory.

Several months later, we are in the new year with a new president with a new agenda. We are praying desperately for him and his catalog of Trojan Horses designed to jumpstart an economy under judgement.

In the midst of the fallout, however, God has us right where He wants us I am sure. I believe we are a nation experiencing the trials of Job. How much pain and trimming will happen before we curse God and die. The rain is falling on the just and the unjust. Both sides losing jobs. The good news is that the war is old news, and in the midst of our search for personal peace and prosperity, we have forgotten the fears of enemies abroad. The only thing to fear is fear, and we have met the enemy, and we are they.

So America, experiencing recession is also experiencing revival. Don't know if you've seen it lately, but Jesus is all over the news. From life testimonies like Kay Yow, to innaugural prayers, we are suddenly feeling a need to call out for help from above. "Is this the fast I have chosen."

In the midst of lean and lack, Job was able to see God in a dimension he had never before experienced. He was no longer simply a blessed man, righteous with a hedge of protection. Instead He came face to face with the God who made the intracacies and extremities of the universe. "I had heard about you with my ears, no I have seen you with my eyes, and I am appauled." Ashamed at how greedy, and meee centered I've become.

In these days of uncertainty, I believe God's opening a view of Himself we've yet to encounter. I see it in the prayer meetings, in the worship service, in the impromtu conversations where His work burns in our hearts. Don't miss Jesus on the Emaus road. As all is stripped away, enter as Job did in honest conversation with our Maker.

Tuesday

It's coming. Judgement day for America. This time it's not God judging us, but rather us making our judgement about what we want for our nation, our economy, the middle east, our children. Many say the choice is clear, but in our media driven, shaken situation, such bravado is naive.

The choice, as I see it, is between an articulate, handsome, symbolic story of overcoming prejudice and hatred, and a safe, predictable, kind of "white bread" version of what has always been the mainstays of freedom. McCain is without a doubt tried and true. He will not change, we know what we are getting, and he'll continue the stubborn hearted fight against what many believe is the challenge of the next century--fanatical islam terrorism.

Obama on the other hand heralds a season of change. Everyone at war is ready for change, as Robert E. Lee said, "its good that war is so aweful, lest we begin to like it." But Obama is promising to change more than the middle east (heard that before), he will change healthcare, the economy, politics in washington, energy, early reading, etc. etc. Problem is that people believe him, and don't stop to ask the question who's gonna pay for all this change.

If we could just stop and second and mention some things we might not want to change. Having no attacks on American soil, I'd like that not to change. Faith-based initiatives, I'd like that not to change. Stimulus packages--kind of like them. Seeing the world through a lens that calls evil evil, and good good, timeless stuff that I hope doesn't change after the election.

The judgement I'm afraid no one articulates is whether we want to have a king, or not. Samuel told the people they could have the handsomist, most articulate king of anyone but just realize that your sons will be in his army, you daughters in his concumbine, your health in his system, and your wallet at his discretion. But God says give the people what they want. Judge carefully.