Not like me to write long blog posts.  I usually write quick snipets, but lately things have been changing in my heart.  I actually haven’t posted in a while, because I have been spending more and more time talking with God.  Let me explain…

My friend sent me an email about three weeks ago and told me that I had to look at this passage in the Bible.  I looked at the passage and thought it was great, but that was pretty much all I thought.  For some reason though, God kept stirring issues in my heart, and for some odd reason I keep going back to that same passage in the Bible.  As I read it, (I know this sounds weird and crazy to some people) but I felt that He gave me a direct message.  

I had been battling, in my heart, with some issues, and it was the perfect message for me.  It affected me so much, I read the passage for about 4 hours…each time I read the passage the head knowledge turned into a reality.  Every time I would read the passage I would cry because I could feel the freedom in His message.  I didn’t know it in my head…I knew it in my heart.  

There are some open fields near my house, I stayed there most of the day, (if you know me, you know that is not like me at all, I grew up in Vegas and stay away from the woods) and had an honest discussion with God. 

Many people never check out Christ because they are afraid they will be bound by “the rules.”  That they will have to change their entire life if they find Him.  They won’t be able to do certain things.  When, in fact, it is just the opposite, when you come close to God you will find that the rules don’t much matter…He is able to touch your heart in a way that your desires change.  Things you once thought were important move to the wayside…He offers peace to the chaos and an adventure to the bored.

I haven’t felt “compelled” to pray like this in a very long time.  I’ll be doing something, and then feel like I have to stop and pray or I will get away on a walk, by myself, and talk to God about my concerns and pray for others.  

Most of us look at God like we look at our parents.  Or, we look at Christians, especially the ones that are judgmental, and say “I don’t want to be like that.”  Isn’t it sad how Christians were the reason I didn’t want to check out God.  Yet, I wish that people’s perception of God could be wiped away fresh for just a moment. I would trade my life for people to experience what is like to have a relationship with Christ.  It is truly amazing… 

Thanks Kirby.

• I got home late last night and got a phone call from @nanpalmero saying that @mashable tweeted about Imagine Fellowship….So I went to the site, and it was pretty much dead  For those of you that aren’t in to the tech savvy world, Mashable is the world’s largest blog focused exclusively on web 2.0 and social networking news.  Have to thank Pete Cashmore for the tweet!
• ChurchCrunch blogged about Imagine, check it out!
• Welcome to all our new twitter friends from around the globe.   If you are interested in knowing more about how we do this, what we’re about or how you can do this in your church, please leave us a comment so we can help you.

Imagine in Outreach Magazine/Article-25 Ideas Reshaping the American Church

Hit the link above to read the article of Imagine Fellowship in Outreach Magazine.  Imagine was number 16 in the article-”25 Ideas Reshaping the American Church”

I saw my son the other day and started realizing all the things he already has in common with God, and how sometimes we see things differently.

Us: God and kids 

We see obstacles:they see anything they want.

We are impatient: they enjoy the moment.

We hold onto rejection: they love unconditionally. 

We fear things where we have failed: they see past their shortcomings.

When we talk we “dance around the subject:” they call it as they see it.

We plan: they laugh.

Have you ever said to yourself, “I need more patience.” No way! Nobody does. Well…let me speak for myself, I don’t ask for patience often.

We live in the “now” society. Where the infommercial will change your life in one week, the meal is ready in two minutes, and your television is on-demand. There are so many great things about the “now” lifestyle. (Our church uses twitter, talking, encouraging, real time)

However, sometimes we can transfer the “now” type thinking to other areas of our lives that we shouldn’t. Try telling your kid to “behave NOW!” Try telling your spouse “you look sloppy, fix yourself NOW.” You might say, I would never say those things, and I would probably agree with you, but don’t we feel like saying things we do not mean when we are impatient?

What we are saying when we feel that tension is that I want it my way and now! Yet, never thinking or processing that, possibly, there is a better way than our way.

Remember, “things” you can move faster with…people move slowly. 

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! Ephesians 3:20

We tend to know corporations slogans, brand identities, and organizations mission statements.  Yet, I was thinking how many families have a distinct identity?  

I was talking to my sister-in-law a few years ago and I was telling her that she should stop something (cannot remember what it was about), but I do remember her telling me that “the Flores family never quits!”  She said that statement like she believed it!  Thinking about that the other day, I realized she was telling me one of their “family values.”

What is one of your family values?

-We never quit.

-We help one another.

-We are honest about our problems.

-We tell the truth even when it hurts.

I think more families need these kind of statements.  They help define expectations and help shape our actions.