The miracle of what is happening within you

In 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, Paul gives evidence of God's presence in his serving. Now, you would think the same guy who has such miraculous things happen around him, would have a fairly amazing list of miracles. Like when people take the "sweatbands" he uses at work and use them to touch people who are sick and they get healed (Acts 18:12)!

Nope. Instead Paul lists 28 characteristics of how he responds to challenges in his life. God's power is seen in the transformation he is going through as he responds to God's call. E. Stanley Jones says this:

"He did see miracles happening around him, but he knew that the central miracle was happening within him."

As you surrender your will to God, follow His ways, and begin to see His power at work through you, you will experience the "supernatural." After all, Jesus said it is possible for us to do, "even greater things" (John 14:12) than He did in His time on earth. Yet, it continues to be the changes that happen within you that will most often be used to build your confidence in the growing potency of the Holy Spirit working through you.

Bollywood afternoon...

It was time to go Hindi again. My son Greg and I went to a Bollywood movie last year and I thought it was time to go again. We have watched a couple more from Netflix, but these movies are made for the big screen. And there is nothing like watching a movie in Hindi on a Monday afternoon to remind you that father/son relationships have of wide variety of bonding possibilities.

We like Indian movies. They are so happy. So many smiles. So much color. You just wait for the next dance sequence waiting around the corner, usually having nothing whatsoever to do with the plot.

The other thing to like about Bollywood is the characters themselves are so self-absorbed, rather than the actor or director as in American film. They get they are making a film and not making a great political statement (always with a couple of gratuitous sex scenes thrown in).

If you want to try it out for yourself, perhaps you can find the movie, Tees Maar Khan, playing at your local art house theater. Relax and enjoy. Might be the dumbest movie you ever saw. Or maybe you leave with a grin that stays around for awhile.

 

To Receive...

December is a month to remember. Remember once again the audacious love of a God who would choose to reveal himself in as intimate a way as to become one of us.

Jesus is God, and yet (who would make this one up?), he becomes plain, ordinary- you. Yes, a human being. Not superman, but a common man.

Think about. You have undoubtedly traveled more than Jesus. The farthest trip he ever took was as a baby in exile to Egypt. A bit over 100 miles.

You are probably richer than he was. He made a good living as a carpenter/ contractor, but he didn't even own a house.

You are probably more educated than he was. He had a very solid grasp on biblical studies and other supplemental Jewish thelogical studies, yet, mathematics and the sciences weren't in his curriculum.

Jesus is a plain, ordinary common man.

So like us.

Well then, why is he called Lord, King, the most brilliant, most amazing person who ever lived who changed the world for good?

Three things-

1. He is full of the Holy Spirit.

2. He learns directly from God the Father.

3. He passes this down to those who follow Him.

As a result:

1. You can be full of the Holy Spirit.

2. You can learn directly from God the Father.

3. You can keep passing it down.

That's it.

Everything He has available is available to you.

Everything.

It is only a matter of receiving.

A LIFEhouse Christmas...

The Real Jesus...Everything- podcast

When the widow gives all that she has to God, what would we hold back from Him?

  
Download now or listen on posterous

Sermon_Dec_5_2010_-_The_Real_Jesus_-_Everything.mp3 (6590 KB)

Impact Christmas Tomorrow Night!

IMPACT ROCKS!!

The Real Jesus...Everything- podcast

When the widow gives all that she has to God, what would we hold back from Him?

  
Download now or listen on posterous

Sermon_Dec_5_2010_-_The_Real_Jesus_-_Everything.mp3 (6590 KB)

LIFEhouse gets endorsements from Presidents Obama and Bush!

This just in...

The Real Jesus...I am Second- podcast

Semon Nov 28 2010 - The Real Jesus - God's Second by Pastor Dana  
Download now or listen on posterous

Sermon Nov 28 2010 - The Real Jesus - I'm Second.mp3 (6415 KB)

What does life look like when Jesus is first in our lives?

The Real Jesus..."My Dad's the King!!"- podcast

Where do we receive our identity? From the loving Father? Yes!

"You are my beloved son/daughter and with you I am well pleased!"

As with Jesus so with us...

Homophobia and Islamophobia?- podcast

When it comes to hotbed issues, correcting illogical thinking is a good place to start.

my "evangelism" interview on KBRT 740am- podcast

I was a guest on the "Talk from the Heart," radio show on KBRT 740am here in LA on Monday, November 1. Guest host, David Housholder, interviewed me on the topic of "evangelism."

Improving the Effectiveness of Prayer- podcast

When I communicate with people I am in relationship with, are there ways I can make that experience more effective? Of course. Prayer is communicating with God, with whom I have a personal relationship. Can I make that experience more effective?

God is a lot Closer Than You Think- podcast

What is heaven? Where is the Kingdom of God? Closer than you think...

It's Who You Know That Counts...-podcast

Make friends with God and watch what happens! Thanks to Robert Gagnon for insight into this story.

Just What is Jesus Saing? Prodigal Son Revisited-podcast

The Prodigal Son? More like the Prodigal Father or The Lost Sons...
Telling the story the way Jesus tells it.

God leads the way- podcast

How do you connect with people who don't know you and don't follow your God? Go where God is.

Take this with a grain of salt- podcast

In just two verses, Jesus connects us to wisdom that can guide our whole lives.

Raising Kid's God's Way- podcast

A dad's talk about what following Jesus has to do with raising kids.

Being and Doing- podcast

A sense of who we are makes all the difference in what we do and what we don't do.