Ready for the long haul
This is another stream-of-consciousness I-need-to-do-a-blog so-I’ll make-it-up-as-I-go blog. But it’s Sunday night and I’m not feeling too clever so don’t expect much and you won’t be disappointed.
Here goes (I really am making this up as I go)…
Ready for the long haul.
That’s a Dylan line that only the hardcore Dylanites will recognize.
You know who you are.
Aaron and I are sitting in the Continental lounge in Newark getting ready for the long haul flight to New Delhi. 14 hours. I’ll be speaking 17 times in two conferences. One in Warangal, Andhra Pradesh (800 pastors) and the other in Thiruvalla, Kerala (5,000 pastors). This is my twelfth time to India and Aaron’s first. Pray for me…and Aaron.
Earlier this week I was not really looking forward to going to India. It’s a lot of work that always leaves me exhausted. But as I was driving to church Friday morning for one the 7:00 prayer gatherings I was listening to NPR and they were talking about India. As soon as I heard a Hindi accent, my enthusiasm for India revived.
I know what India looks like. An Indian sunrise is unique.
I know what India sounds like. A din of humanity.
I know what India smells like. The spices of India are legendary.
I know what India tastes like. Gosht vindaloo!
I know what India feels like. Long bumpy rides in a Tata jeep.
And India looks and sounds and smells and tastes and feels like a billion souls…most of whom are hungry for what the Kingdom of Jesus is.
Random thoughts:
I hate the Chiefs.
(Let’s not talk about it.)
I’m rooting for Marty now.
When I fly on long transcontinental flights I have a system:
First I read. I’m reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller.
When I’m too tired to read I watch a movie. Hopefully they’ll have a good one. The best movie I ever saw on a plane was The Game.
After I’m too tired to watch a movie I listen to music. First up on the iPod tonight is Wilco, Yankee Foxtrot Hotel.
After that I sleep (hopefully).
The twelve prayer meetings at the seventh hour (morning and night) of the seventh year of this millennium (from the evening of the 1st to the morning of the 7th) were awesome. They were better attended than I anticipated and each of them was strong and unique. Three stand out in my mind: The one on joy, the one on authority and the one on favor. Favor was Saturday night. As we worshiped I felt the Spirit of God gave me this prophetic word,
You have come to seek My favor
But you need not seek it
From the moment you set your heart to seek My face
You found my favor — and My favor found you.
The passages of scripture I ministered from were Isaiah 54:4-10 and Isaiah 57:16-19.
Comfort ye My people. Amen.
The lyrics to the Keith Green song Peri and were trying to quote at that prayer meeting go like this…
When I Hear the Praises Start
Keith Green
My son, My son, why are you striving
You can’t add one thing to what’s been done for you
I did it all while I was dying
Rest in your faith, my peace will come to you
For when I hear the praises start
I want to rain upon you
Blessings that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are my child and you know me
To Me you’re only holy
Nothing that you’ve done remains
Only what you do for Me
My child, My child, why are you weeping
You will not have to wait forever
That day and that hour is in My keeping
The day I’ll bring you into Heaven
For when I hear the praises start
My child, I want to rain upon you
Blessing that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child and you know me
To me you’re only holy
Nothing that you’ve done remains
Only what you do in Me
My precious bride, the day is nearing
When I’ll take you in My arms and hold you
I know there are so many things that you’ve been hearing
But you just hold on to what I have told you
For when I hear the praises start
My bride, I want to rain upon you
Blessings that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child, and you know Me
To me you’re only holy
Nothing that you’ve done will remain
Only what you do for me
(It’s a beautiful song, if you don’t know it, you might try to get it.)
Right now I’m happy.
But don’t make too much of that. Happiness is transitory. Happiness can come suddenly and leave just as quick. But peace…peace can endure, peace can stick with you. You can be established in peace. This present world is not very conducive to long bouts of happiness. That will have to wait until the Kingdom comes. But the Kingdom that has already come is a bulwark of peace that you live in day by day.
May you live in the peace of the Kingdom of Jesus everyday of 2007.
I mean it…I believe it.
Peace,
BZ
PS
I’m hungry. I hope they have something good on the plane. Gosht vindaloo?
I hear people gathered around a TV watching Giants/Philly shouting. Better go check it out.
Adios