over the past month, i've taken a lot of pictures of life:

recently, i moved to Adam & Ashley's house.  we have a basketball court.

this is Adam.  we were playing hacky sack.

this is a picture of Jodi and I chasing the coolest sunset.

this is Jodi.  in a field.

this is a Fender Rhodes.  it is my favorite instrument of all time.  i played a gig in Cincy and the keyboardist whipped this out.  this is Chip.  he helps with the House of Prayer - Wilmington.

my friend, Joy, saved this stray kitten's life.  Adam said we could have it at the farm.  we named her Jessica.  after Jessica Sharpe.

Jodi and I went to Red Robin for burgers one day and then IKEA.

i totaled my Honda Civic =(

i bought a Toyota Matrix.  it has a hatchback for my guitars and four doors for my future family.  =)

THE END.

Matt Chandler on being a reformed charismatic without much of a seatbelt from Adrian Warnock on Vimeo.

Why do I like this?  Because I go to a reformed church now.  And I come from a charismatic one.  And I like how God is unifying His Church.  I could write for hours on this subject. 

As an intercessor, committed to praying for the local church, I am fascinated by how IMPORTANT different churches/individuals are to the Kingdom.  We really are different parts of the body, aren't we?

We all hold a very unique aspect of God's heart and vision for the Kingdom.  The Oaks is stellar at community - for example.  It's great at keeping the Gospel the primary component of their teachings.

IHOP has much revelation and impact through prayer.  

Bethel sees SO MANY healings.  

Campus Crusade sees many come to Christ and become leaders in His kingdom.

So which one is right?  Well, they're all right.  They're also all lacking.

I pray all the time that God would knock us all of our horses that WE ARE THE ONES WHO PRACTICE TRUE CHRISTIANITY.  God is SO VAST that none of us really get it.  As we grow in our understanding of God, we are constantly changing.  Constantly repenting.  Our views on doctrine are constantly being retuned and refined.  

We need each other.  And I believe when we realize this, humble ourselves, and strive for unity... we will all walk more like Jesus.

It's really easy to be like "oh, they're the people who care about Israel... they're the ones who take are of the orphan and the widow... that group over, they're the intercessors..."

Yes, we are all called to different ministries.  We will spread ourselves too thin if we literally try to do everything in one ministry.  

But I will propose this:  as an individual believer of Christ, as you grow in knowledge of and love for God, you - too - will have a heart for these things.  Why?  BECAUSE GOD DOES.

We hear someone talk about sex trafficking and we're so quick to be like "ehh, yeah that ministry is not for me..."  And maybe it isn't.  But what I wish is that I (and the body) would respond more like this:

Pray.  Pray for that ministry.  Pray for God to soften my heart that I would love the things He loves and hate the things He hates.  

Give.  Give as the Lord leads.  Most Christians don't tithe.  And those who do, most of them will not give beyond their 10%.  And if they do, most of them will not give outside of their own ministry.  Baptist churches only giving to Baptist churches.  While we cannot sow into every need, every ministry, every missionary... we need to scatter seed outside of our own garden.  

If the Bible is true, that we will reap what we sow... and that there will be spiritual and eternal wealth by how we invest our earthly wealth, by all means - you'd better believe I'm going to sow into missions, intercession, justice... 

How did I even get on this tangent?

Reformed Charismatic.  That excites me.  And I have this crazy idea that if those two things can co-exist, maybe other things can too.

What happens when the reformers and the ihoppers have a conversation?  What's primary?  The Gospel or Loving God with all our hearts, soul, mind, and strength?  Setting our eyes on the Gospel or the Bridegroom?  Which one is right?  Aren't they both right?  So don't we both have room to grow?

And even my scope is small, because I'm only writing about reformed charismaticism.  What about where the Catholics have true and godly revelation that I am lacking.  What about......

Unite your body, Jesus.  Make us humble and wise. 

IHOP's been doing this song a lot.  finally looked it up yesterday - it's a john mark mcmillan song!  (he actually wrote "how he loves" not david crowder...)

anyway, here's the video.  super gripping worship song.  you'll probably want to watch this video, then download it, then shout "DEATH IN HIS GRAVE!"