Oasis Christian Fellowship | Meigs County, Ohio

I have several things I

I have several things I want to write about... and will soon. I just returned home from a speaking engagement at a Christ In Youth conference in Indiana, and then I had a short -- but EXCELLENT -- visit with Oasis friends/family in Wauseon. I've already heard about good things that happened back here while I was gone... like Amy Hoffman introducing a couple of new songs she has written to both of our house church gatherings; and Rochelle Lawless planning an exciting music montage for the kids to participate in over the July 4 holiday; and several more things worthy of boasting about. I'm with Paul... my boasting is in the Lord Jesus, who is empowering and filling these people with passion and HIS good gifts.

More to come...

Went prayerwalking last night with

Went prayerwalking last night with a dozen or so people from the Middleport house church meeting. Four or five groups of 2, some of 3, took different parts of the neighborhood and just started walking while praying for whomever, or whatever they approached. When we went past houses where people we knew lived, we prayed God's blessing over them. If we knew they weren't saved, we asked God to plant seeds of His Spirit in their home. When we walked past church buildings we prayed for the congregations who meet in them, asking God's unifying blessing to fall on all Christians of Middleport, and everywhere each one of us live or work. When we walked by businesses we prayed that God would have mercy on Meigs County and bless the merchants with an abundance of business. We asked God to transform the culture in southeast Ohio for His glory. That it would soon come to pass that a once poverty-stricken part of the state of Ohio would flourish and people would ask "Why?".... and the only answer would be "It has to be the grace of a loving, compassionate, and generous God!"

For many of us, the Holy Spirit directed conversation toward the subject of youth. We saw many young people as we walked. We prayed for them, for their salvation... and God led us to discussion about how we can be instrumental in reaching out to youth. The Lord is putting passion, ideas, and vision in the hearts of a number of people, particularly in the area of youth.. and ministry to young people.

It was a good house church experience. What a wonderful feeling... to know that nearly the entire town was covered in prayer last night for approximately an hour... and we all got some good physical exercize. A holistic house church meeting!

Yep… two quick blogs already

Yep… two quick blogs already today.

I hardly ever have dreams, or at least ones that I can remember after waking up. But a couple of nights ago I prayed in my blog that God would speak to me not only when I am awake but also while I sleep. I said… “God, help me to see You and hear You from the moment I wake up in the morning, until I lie down to sleep at night. And even then, speak to me in my dreams.”

Well, that same night I had a dream, and I remembered it well the next day. I have been thinking about it ever since, asking God if it had meaning for me. I have even made a couple attempts at interpreting a meaning. But I thought I’d go ahead and type up the details here in my blog and see if the Holy Spirit gives any of you insight into what it might mean. I’m always open for the Lord to work in whatever way He desires. So give it a read. If you have anything, feel free to respond by commenting to the blog or by emailing me.

I dreamt I was walking up the side of a hill, almost a mountain. It was a wooded area with many green trees. When I reached the top of the hill there was a clearing to the left, and while I hadn’t planned on turning in that direction, I was enticed by what I saw. It was a desert like place, with no vegetation at all, and off in the distance I could see old buildings. So I started walking toward them. As I got closer it actually looked like an old ghost town like the ones out in the Interior West. No one was around. I walked down the middle of the street, and then looked to my left and there was an old saloon-like bar open with a few people in it. I noticed the person serving as one of my colleagues (it was a specific person, but I will leave the name out). So I went in and began talking to the server, but I realized that he had no idea who I was. So I asked him if he knew _____ _____ (the colleague of mine), or was related to him in any way. He said, “No, I don’t believe so.” I sat down, ordered a drink, and we chatted a bit. But that was it. Everyone else just sort of carried on like I wasn’t there. And that’s all I can remember.

It’s really kind of simple. And it may be nothing. But since I don’t often remember dreams I thought I’d pass this one along. I believe God does still speak to us in this way today, and I know many of you are gifted with insight, or will at least pray for insight. Even if we get nothing out if it, at the very least we draw our ears closer to Jesus and His Spirit.

It's a beautiful morning. It's

It's a beautiful morning. It's so nice to see sunshine. Especially after sooooo much rain. The sun is appreciated much more now. (I'm sure there's a metaphor or an illustration in that thought somewhere).

Last night April read the Divine Hours to me before we retired for the evening. In one of the prayers she read my mind rested on this phrase... Almighty God, my Heavenly Father: I have sinned against you, through my own fault, in thought, and word, and deed, and in what I have left undone... a prayer of confession and asking of forgiveness before laying down to rest. I particularly pondered the words "through my own fault" and "in what I have left undone."

I'm not exactly sure why I clung to those words, I just know the prayer that is on my heart today is that I would leave nothing "undone." That I would recognize where sin originates... within ME. No one else is to blame for my neglect, or for my offenses. "By my own fault" I sin against my Creator. It's only when I come to this realization and confession that the way is then paved for God to really do a good work in me.

Gave my Blogger template a

Gave my Blogger template a facelift today. Just a few new colors and a simpler icon at the top. Had a few minutes of spare time this morning.

Another story... just sent to

Another story... just sent to me by a friend and fellow worshiper, Des Jeffers. I love this guy. He exclaims, in such a humble way, the nature and character of Christ with his life. He is so gentle, so wise, so caring. I am looking forward to working closer beside Des in ministry. Here's a vision he has for outreach:

As God would have it, I had the opportunity to talk with a correctional officer that works at the Lakin Women's Prison today. I mentioned that we were interested in doing some kind of outreach and asked what kinds of things the women needed. She gave me the warden's name, phone number, office hours, etc. He approves all functions that go on. She said that the facilites are so nice, that they refer to it as the "Hilton". Their personal needs, hyigene items, etc. are provided for them. They have a beauty shop, a store, and a library. They also have t.v.'s in their cells. However, before you say, "How do I check in" ha ha, they are HUNGRY for reading material and for spiritual things. She said that reading material is grabbed up as quick as they can get it. She gave an example of one lady, who got a rather thick book from the library. She brought it back in a couple of days, and said that she was finished, and needed something else to read. The officer suggested that she read her Bible. Her reply was that she had read it through 3 times, and she needed something else to read. WOW. Granted, she probably didn't spend much time studying what she read, but I am ashamed to say that I have never read my Bible from cover to cover once, let alone 3 times. So you can see, we have a wonderful opportunity to supply books, bible study books, tapes, cd's, etc. Begin to pray about this. God has really been dealing with me about reaching out to the prison. I can't quit thinking about it. It looks like the door is opening, so let me know what God puts in your heart.

In Christ,

Des

+ + + God, again... thank You for opening these doors and for revealing yourself to people like Des and Amy. Make these visions and dreams come to a reality. Bless Des as he continues to pursue You in ministry. Give him life, energy, passion, and zeal. Increase his faith as he serves You. I love you, Jesus. Amen. + + +

I am very encouraged by

I am very encouraged by the web posts and emails I've read, and conversations I've had lately. People are recognizing how God is revealing Himself to them and whispering to them to pass on the good news of the kingdom... and they are responding. I say "people are recognizing" because God is constantly at work in our lives, constantly revealing Himself and whispering to us. We just often miss what He is doing for one reason or another... usually a selfish one, and the irony is we come to Him again and again asking Him to speak to us, or to reveal Himself to us. Paul wrote to the Romans that "...since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." HE is revealed every day.

+ + + God, help me to see You and hear You from the moment I wake up in the morning, until I lie down to sleep at night. And even then, speak to me in my dreams. Very simply, I want more of You. + + +

Below is a post and a prayer from the Oasis Cafe, made by a good friend and partner in the ministry... Amy Hoffman. Just one of the things I have read and been encouraged by today.

Friday I had an awesome event. My friend Kimberly is also a Xerox copier sales rep and has just placed in our office a demo copier. The IT guy left her a message with a negative tone and I informed her that we didn't feel what the IT guy said. I told her that I only told her because I didn't want her to feel that our office felt that way about her. I didn't have any bad feelings about the thing at all. She came down to the Muffin shop and told me that she thought it was just absolutely nice of me to think about her like that. She said thanks and gave me a hug. I was just so overwhelmed by her thankfulness of being cared for. It was an awesome moment. Later that evening, she, her roommate, Maria and I went out for Chinese at a new place in "the mall." We had a spectacular time. We just had fun.

+ + + Father come and effect all of our relationships. Whether they are with Christians or not, we can all use encouragement, caring and love. Holy spirit fill us beyond capacity and teach us to let the extra just spill over and not to keep it in ourselves. + + +

Oasis Song List for "Frog

Oasis Song List for "Frog Jam"

Let It Rain (open the floodgates)
Wonderful
Open The Eyes Of My Heart
Our Love Is Loud
Blessed Be Your Name
Famous One
The Valley Song
All I Can Say
My Glorious
I Can Only Imagine

Well, it's Friday of the

Well, it's Friday of the first week of summer break. It has been a wonderful week. Very refreshing. April and I and the kids went to look at a new house this morning. It is one of the homes being built out on Fisher Road by the same company we had originally planned on working with when we first moved to Athens. It may be a good possibility for us.

Getting excited about Frog Jam. We'll be going over to Middleport tomorrow afternoon to set up and do a sound check around 3:00. WYVK has been promoting this event like crazy. We are very excited about the song list we have chosen. There are still a few lyrics that I need to make sure I have memorized. BJ and Maria are excited about turning their amps up a few more notches than normal (they'll go to "11" -- that's one louder).

There's much on my schedule in these coming weeks. I'm going to CIY in Indiana to speak at summer conference. Plus I still need to make trips to both St. Louis and Wauseon to visit friends... trips I have been promising for months now. It'll all work out eventually.

Today I'm going to study, memorize lyrics, work out, pray with a friend over a very stressful situation in his life, and then later go to an American Legion baseball game. So I need to sign out now. I'm looking forward to what God has to say to me from John's gospel, chapter 12. I'll let you know later.

"The Light Has Come" by

"The Light Has Come" by Lesslie Newbigin

This is an excellent walk through the gospel of John. I have been reading it for personal study as I am teaching John's gospel on Sundays, however, it has become a very pleasurable read as well.