Have you ever seen angelic activity? How would you feel if you did?

What do you think about the existence of angels? What are they like? How do angels compare to humans? Are there good angels and bad angels? Can they be seen with the human eye?

Are there other dimensions?

Are Satan, Gabriel, and Michael really heads of divisions of angels as the Bible indicates?

Thinking through what the God Story says about angels can add real insight into the greater story in which we find ourselves. Are we the center of the cosmos, or is there something greater going on? Are there more powerful beings than us? What can they do to influence us and what are their limitations?

This is a fascinating aspect of what the God Story gives as specific explanations of the things we can know for sure.

Enjoy. Deeper waters my friend!

The God Story and Angels

The Angelic Realm

Seeing Angels

An Angel Song

Have you ever seen angelic activity? How would you feel if you did?

What do you think about the existence of angels? What are they like? How do angels compare to humans? Are there good angels and bad angels? Can they be seen with the human eye?

Are there other dimensions?

Are Satan, Gabriel, and Michael really heads of divisions of angels as the Bible indicates?

Thinking through what the God Story says about angels can add real insight into the greater story in which we find ourselves. Are we the center of the cosmos, or is there something greater going on? Are there more powerful beings than us? What can they do to influence us and what are their limitations?

This is a fascinating aspect of what the God Story gives as specific explanations of the things we can know for sure.

Enjoy. Deeper waters my friend!

The God Story and Angels

The Angelic Realm

Seeing Angels

An Angel Song

The Bible is not only the world’s most incredible piece of historical literature, there is much evidence to tell us that it is a supernatural book as well. If you are a seasoned reader and have contemplated of God’s Word, you will find the first link below to be a beautiful panorama of everything God’s Word says about itself.

If you are less familiar, you will find the 8 minute and 15 minute link below a real Story rush. Check them out! Enjoy examining the Story that is above and beyond every story!

The God Story

The God Story in 8 Minutes

The 15 Minute Bible

The Bible is not only the world’s most incredible piece of historical literature, there is much evidence to tell us that it is a supernatural book as well. If you are a seasoned reader and have contemplated of God’s Word, you will find the first link below to be a beautiful panorama of everything God’s Word says about itself.

If you are less familiar, you will find the 8 minute and 15 minute link below a real Story rush. Check them out! Enjoy examining the Story that is above and beyond every story!

The God Story

The God Story in 8 Minutes

The 15 Minute Bible

Unlike modern purveyors of enlightenment, the prophets of Israel were watched expectantly to see if their words would come true. If they didn’t pan out, things did not bode well for that particular messenger.

Daniel’s visions were sweeping, were validated, and have stood the test of time. In fact, the dreams of Daniel are inseparably linked to the story of the end of time: the book of Revelation.

Here we will read through Daniel and Revelation and look for correlations which can provide a ring-side seat to some of the most amazing events of the history of humanity.

If you are just connecting with Fourthstream.com, here are a couple of brief videos that help frame our conversation together.  The God Story  and The 15 Minute Bible

Here is a reading plan for these two incredible books. We should be able to pull it off in about 30 days – about 15 minutes each day. Also, here is a reading guide to Daniel as well as one for Revelation. Let’s go Deeper!

Daniel 1

What were Daniel and his friends’ choices and what was the immediate and long-term impact?

Daniel 2

What are the remarkable things about this dream interpretation? What does it teach us about Daniel?

Daniel 3

What does this golden image have to do with us? Who was the fourth person in the furnace?

Daniel 4

Why do you think some of this chapter is written in first person? How dos this make you feel about the power of kings?

Daniel 5

In what ways was King Belshazzar like his father Nebuchadnezzar? In what ways was he different? What is remarkable here?

Daniel 6

What do we learn about the substance of the man Daniel? Why the image of a lion? What was the impact upon Darius the king?

Daniel 7

Who was king when this vision occurred? Compare Revelation 1 with this vision – what do you see?

Daniel 8

The “beautiful land” is Israel. This is a sweeping vision of the future, as is the remainder of the book of Daniel. Wow.

Daniel 9

This is the “70th week” of Daniel. The book of Revelation IS the account of Daniel’s 70th week. Double wow.

Daniel 10

How did the angel (and God) feel about His servant Daniel? Why was Daniel afraid? What are we learning about these later visions?

Daniel 11

God moves great empires and kings about on the chessboard of history to accomplish His will. Can you see it? Believe it?

Daniel 12

The “time of Jacob’s trouble” will involve the entire population of the earth (it is already almost 7 billion). Triple wow.

Revelation 1

Now it is time to see how the books of Daniel and Revelation overlap and compliment. Here we again encounter the Throne.

Revelation 2

What are the distinctive of each of the seven churches and what does each teach us about faith?

Revelation 3

Sketch out the 7 messages and translate each into your spiritual experience with God. What do you learn?

Revelation 4

We are now given insight into the scene in heaven as events unfold upon the earth. How does this “Creator vision” make you feel?

Revelation 5

Who is the Lamb and why is it significant that He wis the One Who is breaking open the seals?

Revelation 6

These seven seals appear to be the big picture on how the judgment of God will unfold. What is unique about each?

Revelation 7

How does this make you feel about being “covered” by the Lamb? How is this making you feel?

Christmas is an UP thing for most – a down thing for others. Between gifts, family, obligation and hassle – it is easy to lose the “spirit” of the holiday.

We like to take our celebration of the birth of Christ to the true roots and not be distracted by the cultural cloud. Based upon the Jewish calendar seasons it is very doubtful Jesus was born in December – but it is still a great neighbor opportunity to celebrate and look for deeper meaning in Messiah (The Anointed Deliverer). Not to mention connections with family, friends, and co-workers. The Jesus story remains the epitome’ of all that has happened in recorded history – by far.

So, today we would like to to slice to the core of Christmas, (nice fruit metaphor, right?) and remember that Jesus’ birth was only one movement in an incredible symphony of God coming near. So as you choose your holiday listening gifts for yourself, do so based upon some of the deeper truths about God’s Son – found in the awesome book of Isaiah. Enjoy – and set your mind to celebrate Christmas in your heart!

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” – Isaiah 9:6,7

A little Christmas card for you

Jesus in Isaiah: more

A nice Isaiah Song to listen to

Christmas is an UP thing for most – a down thing for others. Between gifts, family, obligation and hassle – it is easy to lose the “spirit” of the holiday.

We like to take our celebration of the birth of Christ to the true roots and not be distracted by the cultural cloud. Based upon the Jewish calendar seasons it is very doubtful Jesus was born in December – but it is still a great neighbor opportunity to celebrate and look for deeper meaning in Messiah (The Anointed Deliverer). Not to mention connections with family, friends, and co-workers. The Jesus story remains the epitome’ of all that has happened in recorded history – by far.

So, today we would like to to slice to the core of Christmas, (nice fruit metaphor, right?) and remember that Jesus’ birth was only one movement in an incredible symphony of God coming near. So as you choose your holiday listening gifts for yourself, do so based upon some of the deeper truths about God’s Son – found in the awesome book of Isaiah. Enjoy – and set your mind to celebrate Christmas in your heart!

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” – Isaiah 9:6,7

A little Christmas card for you

Jesus in Isaiah: more

There is a lot of strife over gender-related issues in our world. I guess I can understand a variety of perspectives on it. But it occurs to me that women (ladies/gals/girls/shiksas/sistahs) hold a place of high esteem in my Abrahamic and Jesus faith-roots. The Scriptures paint a picture of a Supreme Father over every living thing. His incredible Holy Spirit is His essence – the Father literally speaks and the Spirit makes it so. Not only that, the Father has a Son who does the will and work that His Father conceives – seamlessly. When viewed together, it is hard to see where One ends and the other begins.

Enter the idea of family (something the Father unequivocally weaves into His creation and earth narrative). We see an all-powerful, gracious Father. We feel the blowing of His Spirit in, around, and through lives in every century – including our own. And we have the huge benefit of looking back to the testimony of thousands who witnessed the “appearing” of Jesus the Son of God firsthand.

So where is “mom?” Where does the idea of female fit into the cosmos? I submit to you that She is woven into the very family nature of the Godhead. She is as integral to the God Family as both Father and Son and Spirit. Her name is Wisdom.

So as our culture asserts our search to define feminine value, I believe that there is overflowing respect, admiration, appreciation – and pure love – from the Godhead to this wonderful Woman. This is where I begin my “God-view” of women. Perhaps that is why I cannot think of one woman close to me in my life who is a friend of great value – and a together-heir of the grace of life.

What does lady wisdom do for me in my everyday life with my friends and co-workers, as well as the personal decisions I need to make?

Engage Page: Lady Wisdom

Song to share: Wisdom Song

There is a lot of strife over gender-related issues in our world. I guess I can understand a variety of perspectives on it. But it occurs to me that women (ladies/gals/girls/shiksas/sistahs) hold a place of high esteem in my Abrahamic and Jesus faith-roots. The Scriptures paint a picture of a Supreme Father over every living thing. His incredible Holy Spirit is His essence – the Father literally speaks and the Spirit makes it so. Not only that, the Father has a Son who does the will and work that His Father conceives – seamlessly. When viewed together, it is hard to see where One ends and the other begins.

Enter the idea of family (something the Father unequivocally weaves into His creation and earth narrative). We see an all-powerful, gracious Father. We feel the blowing of His Spirit in, around, and through lives in every century – including our own. And we have the huge benefit of looking back to the testimony of thousands who witnessed the “appearing” of Jesus the Son of God firsthand.

So where is “mom?” Where does the idea of female fit into the cosmos? I submit to you that She is woven into the very family nature of the Godhead. She is as integral to the God Family as both Father and Son and Spirit. Her name is Wisdom.

So as our culture asserts our search to define feminine value, I believe that there is overflowing respect, admiration, appreciation – and pure love – from the Godhead to this wonderful Woman. This is where I begin my “God-view” of women. Perhaps that is why I cannot think of one woman close to me in my life who is a friend of great value – and a together-heir of the grace of life.

What does lady wisdom do for me in my everyday life with my friends and co-workers, as well as the personal decisions I need to make?

Engage Page: Lady Wisdom

My degree of experienced thankfulness is one of the key heart-metrics in my spiritual journey. Usually when I am ungrateful it is because circumstances or relationships are letting me down, and I have begun the descent into personal anger or feeling sorry for myself. Fear also feeds my ungratefulness, inasmuch as my discomfort or even dread (a continuum) assault my state of well-being, eroding my hope.

Experiencing a thankful heart is also totally tied into the people I love and the degree of perspective I am gaining from time spent talking and listening to God. When God is not a priority, I am distracted and/or consumed by lesser things – even though these things may be pressing regarding my perceptions, and hard on my ability to hope.

Today Burnadette and I are pausing to “count our blessings” and do a stress test on our level of hopeful gratefulness. We think you will be stimulated to once again gather “cups of gratefulness” from the ever-moving river of time.

Here’s to your satisfied mind, friend. We’re with you!

Dave & Burnadette

My Thankful Life

A Great Hope Psalm

A Great Hope Song

My degree of experienced thankfulness is one of the key heart-metrics in my spiritual journey. Usually when I am ungrateful it is because circumstances or relationships are letting me down, and I have begun the descent into personal anger or feeling sorry for myself. Fear also feeds my ungratefulness, inasmuch as my discomfort or even dread (a continuum) assault my state of well-being, eroding my hope.

Experiencing a thankful heart is also totally tied into the people I love and the degree of perspective I am gaining from time spent talking and listening to God. When God is not a priority, I am distracted and/or consumed by lesser things – even though these things may be pressing regarding my perceptions, and hard on my ability to hope.

Today Burnadette and I are pausing to “count our blessings” and do a stress test on our level of hopeful gratefulness. We think you will be stimulated to once again gather “cups of gratefulness” from the ever-moving river of time.

Here’s to your satisfied mind, friend. We’re with you!

Dave & Burnadette

My Thankful Life

A Great Hope Psalm

A Great Hope Song

Did you know that you are a work of art created for God’s stage? To be known by God is the greatest honor for all “new song” singers and players!

The new song originates in the heart. It can be inspired by many things. But it is OUR OWN new song. The Psalms try to help us understand our connection to God’s music – His creation symphony.

The word new means to “renew” or “repair.” The usage in Revelation (Greek) adds the nuance of a song which is “fresh.” What are the ways music renews you? Repairs you? Gives you a fresh outlook? Lifts your spirit?

When we sing our own new songs they emulate the God-relationship people experienced in the God Story.

The concept of a “new song” is presented clearly in the Psalms (33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1) – a great study!

It also occurs in Isaiah 42:10; Revelation 5:9; and 14:3. – great as well!

Sing it out my friend. Sing it from your heart!

Engage Page

Song: Psalm 84

Psalms in the Big Picture

Did you know that you are a work of art created for God’s stage? To be known by God is the greatest honor for all “new song” singers and players!

The new song originates in the heart. It can be inspired by many things. But it is OUR OWN new song. The Psalms try to help us understand our connection to God’s music – His creation symphony.

The word new means to “renew” or “repair.” The usage in Revelation (Greek) adds the nuance of a song which is “fresh.” What are the ways music renews you? Repairs you? Gives you a fresh outlook? Lifts your spirit?

When we sing our own new songs they emulate the God-relationship people experienced in the God Story.

The concept of a “new song” is presented clearly in the Psalms (33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1) – a great study!

It also occurs in Isaiah 42:10; Revelation 5:9; and 14:3. – great as well!

Sing it out my friend. Sing it from your heart!

Engage Page

Song: Psalm 84

Psalms in the Big Picture

Our city, like all cities, needs spiritual rain to fall upon our thirsty souls – whether we know we are thirsty or not.

For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”  – Ephesians 5:14

It is time to pray BOLD PRAYERS, and it begins in our city and the cities of our state. Be bold, my friend, for the God of Heaven longs to be gracious to us! 

“For the eyes of the LORD move throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”  – 2 Chronicles 16.9

“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.”  – Isaiah 30.18

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”  – 1 John 4.18

Today Burnadette and I consider the concept of spiritual rain and what we can do to ask the Lord of the Harvest to water our city.

Enjoy, our traveling friend!

Awakening Conversation

Praying for Rain/Catalyst.city

Awakening Song

Our city, like all cities, needs spiritual rain to fall upon our thirsty souls – whether we know we are thirsty or not.

For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”  – Ephesians 5:14

It is time to pray BOLD PRAYERS, and it begins in our city and the cities of our state. Be bold, my friend, for the God of Heaven longs to be gracious to us! 

“For the eyes of the LORD move throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”  – 2 Chronicles 16.9

“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.”  – Isaiah 30.18

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”  – 1 John 4.18

Today Burnadette and I consider the concept of spiritual rain and what we can do to ask the Lord of the Harvest to water our city.

Enjoy, our traveling friend!

Awakening Conversation

Praying for Rain/Catalyst.city

Awakening Song

One of the great gifts of living is to experience hope. For the people we love. For things to turn out right. For our dreams to come true. And from the God Story: our ultimate destiny is one of great hope – what God calls heaven.

It appears that hope has a multi-unfolding purpose in the life of a Christ-follower. When we come to know Jesus, we turn from a paradigm of self-gratification and ultimate futility to one of purpose and destiny. Life does not get easy, of course, but the way we process life through purpose and ultimate destiny has a great deal to do with whether or not we live with a satisfied mind.

For instance, ultimately happiness is not based upon how we are esteemed or what we accumulate, but upon what happens on the inside – within our soul. We must always process the illusion that “this is all there is” and enter into God’s world of ultimate hope and meaning. What I call a satisfied mind is often termed being “at peace.”

God clearly attempts to lead us past the allure of a mere material world into His world – where everything has meaning – and where He will make all things new. We live in the faith arena (not necessarily our choice), and hope (and love) are God’s great assets to unlocking the values and companionship of our Creator.

Heavy duty, my friend. But liberating in a alternate-human/counter-culture kind of way.

It is why we fix our eyes on Jesus.

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.”     – Hebrews 12:2/the Message

 

Dave & Burnadette

The Hope Within

A Hope Song

 

One of the great gifts of living is to experience hope. For the people we love. For things to turn out right. For our dreams to come true. And from the God Story: our ultimate destiny is one of great hope – what God calls heaven.

It appears that hope has a multi-unfolding purpose in the life of a Christ-follower. When we come to know Jesus, we turn from a paradigm of self-gratification and ultimate futility to one of purpose and destiny. Life does not get easy, of course, but the way we process life through purpose and ultimate destiny has a great deal to do with whether or not we live with a satisfied mind.

For instance, ultimately happiness is not based upon how we are esteemed or what we accumulate, but upon what happens on the inside – within our soul. We must always process the illusion that “this is all there is” and enter into God’s world of ultimate hope and meaning. What I call a satisfied mind is often termed being “at peace.”

God clearly attempts to lead us past the allure of a mere material world into His world – where everything has meaning – and where He will make all things new. We live in the faith arena (not necessarily our choice), and hope (and love) are God’s great assets to unlocking the values and companionship of our Creator.

Heavy duty, my friend. But liberating in a alternate-human/counter-culture kind of way.

It is why we fix our eyes on Jesus.

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.”     – Hebrews 12:2/the Message

...

Last time we talked about God 360 – how do we open every part of our life to an already present Father.

Today we consider the ways we can engage God 360 by experiencing Kingdom community. Ephesians 5 gets to the core of what defines Kingdom gathering. It is not so much about place as it is about what happens AS we gather. It defines the outcomes of true community rather than merely prescribing the “how to’s.” And it feeds imagination as we process our God encounters and share them as gifts for and with one another.

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”    – Ephesians 5.15-21

It is important to translate these principles and actions into our own century and culture. We like to think we are becoming so much more sophisticated, but an honest look at history and humanity make it pretty clear that there is “nothing new under the sun.” What does each underlined phrase above look like in your world?

Let Me Count the Ways

A Good God 360 Song

Last time we talked about God 360 – how do we open every part of our life to an already present Father.

Today we consider the ways we can engage God 360 by experiencing Kingdom community. Ephesians 5 gets to the core of what defines Kingdom gathering. It is not so much about place as it is about what happens AS we gather. It defines the outcomes of true community rather than merely prescribing the “how to’s.” And it feeds imagination as we process our God encounters and share them as gifts for and with one another.

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”    – Ephesians 5.15-21

It is important to translate these principles and actions into our own century and culture. We like to think we are becoming so much more sophisticated, but an honest look at history and humanity make it pretty clear that there is “nothing new under the sun.” What does each underlined phrase above look like in your world?

Let Me Count the Ways

A Good God 360 Song