I really enjoy listening to John Crowder. He makes me laugh and I think John has such great insights into the nature of the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Enjoy!
Encountering Jesus, He is Love!
I had a very interesting convo with a lady today at a nursing home who told me a remarkable story. Her story:
“When I was eighteen years old I was quite a sinner. My friend invited me to go to a bar out in the country. I agreed to go but regretted that decision soon after I arrived. My father was an alcoholic so I didn’t have a great feeling about being at this bar in the first place. I became very frightened and then my friend abandoned me there with no ride home.
I was so scared and did not know what to do. Suddenly, I felt a loving presence behind me.”
(She explained how she was a middle child and that her parents had favored and shown love to her siblings and left her out. She had felt woefully unloved.)
“But now, in this bar in my hour of need, I was receiving a love I had always needed,” she said. “Of course I knew it was Jesus. I turned and saw him. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen.”
(Of course we must realize that Jesus can appear in different forms as he did to his disciples after his resurrection or even at his transfiguration on the mountain, so to describe “what he looked like” is completely besides the point!)
“He embraced me, picked me up and carried me out of the bar and set me down on the grass outside. We sat there together and he took my hand and looked out into the night sky and he said, “Lovely evening isn’t it?”
He then vanished into thin air and I soon became frightened again. He spoke comforting words telepathically to me and then I was supernaturally translated (teleported) back into my house in my bed and Jesus was pulling the covers over me. It was such an unforgettable and amazing experience.”
She then went on to say, “You will receive persecution Daniel. The persecution will come mostly from those in God’s family whose hearts are not open. But don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid to suffer persecution.
The day will come when members of your own family will turn against you. The days are coming when more true believers in Jesus will be beheaded for their faith, even here in America. America is in distress as never before. Persecutions and tribulations are coming.”
So what do you think?
I was amazed at her story and how confirming it was to other stories I have been encountering. I think God has me on a path to shed some light on this topic of Real Jesus Encounters and Supernatural Phenomena.
I have been increasingly aware of how the Lord is moving his saints more into experiencing the supernatural!
I just continue to be amazed that the Word of God is true in ways that most simply cannot or will not accept. The Truth is wonderfully exciting and meant to be experienced for yourself!
I’d love to see the foundation of Christianity shift from fear to what it is supposed to be… childlike trust! A fear based faith seems like an oxymoron to me.
Since the topic was raised once again today for me (her supernatural translation) I want to ask you, the believer:
When you read about Philips teleportation in Scripture does it cause you to want to experience it for yourself?
Why ever not?
If we are childlike in our faith, the kind that Jesus commends, will we not be open and curious? Wouldn’t we take risks? Wouldn’t we completely trust and be completely dependent on God as children are with their parents? Wouldn’t we have a sense of adventure and excitement about life and our walk with God? (Supernatural or otherwise).
How is Christianity presented today in America? Is it dull and boring? Judgemental, fearful and fear-mongering, suspicious, distrusting, and wildly superstitious? I can see why my friend would tell me, as he did the other day, that the life the devil offers seems more exciting so he will just remain a prodigal a little longer.
I’m tired of playing the prodigal myself I want to come home and stay home! I want to participate in kingdom life and “do what Jesus did” just like Jesus said I would:
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” John 14:12
How about you? Will you pray for me that I go deeper in my walk with God and experience all there is for a human to experience of him in this life?
One thing the lady told me today when speaking of Jesus:
“He is love, He is love, He is love”.
I thought she was prophetically quoting my song I had just been listening to in my car called He is Love. It will appear on our new album “Reflect Love” that is coming out soon.
Here is my live version I recorded right after I wrote it:
Lyrics:
He is Love
If you can’t see past your pain and confusion
If you feel alone and overwhelmed by what you face
If the circumstances of your heart feel too hard to navigate
And you feel so very far, far awayYou’ve got to know there is joy beyond this heartache
You need to see there is peace behind this storm
It all will change in just a moment with Jesus
As his light drives the darkness awayHe is love, He’s all around you
He is love, He’s come and found you
Feel His loving arms surround you
He is love, He is love, He is loveAnd if you’re broken and bewildered
And if you’re drowning in your pain
And if the sadness of depression
Weighs you down every day… just know that…He is love, He’s all around you
He is love, He’s come and found you
Feel His loving arms surround you
He is love, He is love, He is loveHe knows your name
He feels your pain
He cares more deeply than you’ll ever knowHe is love, He’s all around you
He is love, He’s come and found youIf you can’t see past your pain and confusion
If you feel alone and overwhelmed by what you face
And the circumstances of your heart feel too hard to navigate
Jesus is here to heal you now, for He is love
You will love the studio version! I can’t wait to share it with you! Stay tuned and subscribe to this blog or go to our website: www.reflectworship.com and join our mailing list.
Categories: Supernatural, Teleportation
Tags: meeting with Jesus, miracle, teleportation, translation
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With God it’s ALL about Joy and Delight
I woke this morning around 5:30 and the very first thing to greet me was the Lord sharing this Scripture with me:
” …the joy of the LORD is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10 NLT
I thought about that as I went down to let me dog out. Then, another Scripture came to mind:
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
Wow! What a way to wake up! With God it is ALL about joy and delight.
Scripture tells us:
“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” (Psalm 16:11 NASB)
Later that day as I shared this with my wife I was reminded of yet another pertinent Scripture:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
I’m beginning to sense a theme.
It is interesting reading through the context of these Scriptures. In Nehemiah, Israel had recently come back to the the land after Babylonian captivity and this new generation was getting reacquainted with the law (Moses writings) at a great assembly.
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.” Nehemiah 8:9-11
How about that verse from the Psalms? What are the desires of your heart? Delight yourself in the Lord and you will have them!
I wanted to close with one last Scripture which is one of the few if not only places in Scripture where it specifically says “This is the will of God for you”:
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thesselonians 5:16-18 (
Always joyful, ever prayerful, and thankful in ALL circumstances. Got it!
Categories: Uncategorized
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Born Again Jesus? Bill Johnson Revisited
I believe when Jesus wants to draw out a point, to really underline something, he blows it sky high into a scandal! What do you think?
So a year ago or so I hardly knew who Bill Johnson was, or cared that much. A friend of mine who attends Bill Johnson’s church loaned me a book of his a few years ago. (I was recently reminded that, at the time, I thought they were joining a cult or something. Yes, I was that suspicious!) I read parts of Bill Johnson’s book and used a few stories from it at my nursing home concerts (like this one about forgiveness) and handed the book back.
I had heard that Bill Johnson was associated with ooky stuff like gold dust manifesting or some such nonsense… I suspected this was staged or faked and he might very well be a quack. “Why do Christians have to be so weird?” I thought to myself and moved on. (I later came to the conclusion that, if true, I suppose it wasn’t such a big deal for a street sweeper in heaven to dump his dusty dirty pile down a sewer grate portal and into a meeting of Jesus people.)
Then Bill Johnson was attacked publicly on my Facebook page. Nothing boils my blood more than Christians attacking other Christians so I investigated Bill Johnson and really came to love the man and greatly appreciate his ministry. You can read my response to this attack here: Bill Johnson, A False Teacher, Really?
So I picked up a book of his at the Christian bookstore called Hosting the Presence. I had listened to a talk of his by the same title on Youtube which I highly recommend.
So as I was reading his book and came to page 46 and thought, “Wow Bill, you just can’t leave it alone. Don’t you know you were tarred and feathered and branded a heretic for this and you bring it up again?!?” (I looked up the date of the book release and realized it was around the same time that he taught on this.)
Of course, I now know where he is coming from, and the extremely important point he trying to make, but most people don’t and label him as such and such, write him off, and walk away.
By the way, that’s the safest and most non-life altering and boring thing to do most of the time, so if that describes you… good for you. Who has the time to investigate and search out things for yourself anyway? Right? I mean we have shows to watch and dishes to wash and… ok, I realize I’m being a jerk but this reminds me of a quote from Einstein:
Of course we also unjustly condemn people for being ignorant don’t we? There is nothing wrong with being ignorant! Ignorant just simply means “we don’t know something”. We all start out our lives not knowing anything! A great deal of what we “know” anyway is wrong and never gets cross-examined. We spend our whole lives ignorant of most everything, don’t we? But, are we learners? Do we really want to know the truth about ______? (Fill in the blank)
So I suppose unresolved conflicts in my life are like a sliver in my brain. I still find it upsetting that Bill Johnson was condemned before the facts were investigated.
So I suppose this is my feeble attempt to right a wrong and clear a man’s name. Much harder to do than to smear a man’s name!!! I was under the deluded impression that if I defended him then that would have some weight. I soon discovered that instead what happens is that you get thrown under the bus with them. That’s ok by me. I’d rather be under the bus then, by my silence, be part of the problem.
Born Again Jesus
Bill Johnson writes in his book Hosting the Presence:
“In a very real sense Jesus was actually born twice. The first time was His natural birth through the Virgin Mary. The second was His resurrection.”
“He said Jesus was born again? Heretic alert!” Is the reaction of some. “Why listen to a man who is controversial?” I have heard others say (If that were the case, no one would ever become a Christian! AND, I would expect any true follower of Jesus to be controversial too!)
He then quotes Scripture:
But God raised Him from the dead... And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, “You are my son; today I have begotten you” (Acts 13:30, 32-33).
So what is he getting at? Why is this important?
As believers in Jesus, Christ’s resurrection becomes our resurrection! In fact I’ve come to learn by searching through the Scriptures for myself that Christ’s life is a vicarious life that was lived on our (all of humanities) behalf. You and I get in on his life! As you put your trust in Jesus, his perfect sinless life is credited and imputed to you. (Jesus was even baptized on behalf of all who never were or could be.) His death, burial, and resurrection becomes your death to sin, burial to your old life and slavery to the law and then born again into a new way of life by the Spirit of God. Read Romans (specifically chapters 6-8) that explains this.
So, What else has been credited to us? The Bible tells us everything!
“Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” Romans 8:32 NLT
What does everything mean?!?
Jesus said we must be born again. He died and rose again to make this possible. He wants us all to find the abundant life and to live a resurrected life!
How? Prayerfully read this and you will find out!
Categories: Resurrection
Tags: Bill Johnson, born again, heresy, resurrection, Resurrection of Jesus
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God speaks to us through dreams
Click ME! Do it. Jesus would.
I was reading Robby Dawkins book, “Do What Jesus Did” at the coffee shop today. Reading through his stories makes me laugh and cry. The most recent story was how God sometimes gives us pictures to share with those we are praying with. He told of a woman who was skeptical of God and church and didn’t know if it was a safe place to let her guard down. (I suppose some churches are and some aren’t.)
Robby and another lady were praying for this woman and the lady praying got a picture of a jack-in-the-box on a mantel and something about playing it over and over. So she took the courage to share that with her. The woman hung her head and started to cry. She told of how when her parents used to fight really bad, she would go to a neighbors house and take their jack-in-the-box off the mantel and play with it over and over and it made her feel safe. She said, “I think God is telling me that it is safe here.” She came to Jesus and opened her heart to the love of God!
This story made me cry because God knows every detail of our lives and he cares… deeply. Jesus is a safe place. You can let your guard down around him and around those who truly know him.
Sometimes I haven’t felt so safe or loved or valued in “church”. You know what I mean? A dream helped me define how I sometimes feel:
I was part of a play but I had no lines, so I wrote some lines that I thought would fit perfectly and complimented the scene. My lines were relating a dream about the events in the play. During rehearsal as they read over my included part they said, “who wrote this? This is crap! This doesn’t belong in this play.”
Then I was shown a house. It was fully completed. I was an extra part of the house (like an appendix) and didn’t seem to fit anywhere. I was represented by a cubed rectangle object with a cone coming off of it. “What is this? Where can we fit this?” Someone said, “Perhaps up here on the roof? Wow that looks weird.”
Here is the lie:
I don’t fit. The stuff I’m into and believe and think is cool from the Bible just doesn’t belong in the established way of things. My part doesn’t fit in the ongoing play. The church doesn’t need a fifth wheel.
Of course I know I am exactly who God has made me to be and I fit perfectly in his kingdom right where he puts me. I am fully secure in the fact that he accepts me and has made me a masterpiece to show a unique side of him… as we all do!
Then I had another dream:
I was with Jesus the carpenter and I was a peice of wood. I told him, “I suppose you can use me to light a fire or something.” He told me, “This is more of what I had in mind”. He showed me a picture of a flamed maple table top. Wow!
I once told a pastor, “If this thing (church) is fake and not for real people (who are sometimes weird like me) I don’t want it. I want the real thing.”
Of course I know the church – the true body of Christ – welcomes all the different and unique parts and functions that make up Christ’s body. I want that! I have experienced this and if you have experienced it for yourself, you would desperately want more of this too!
There is a place for you. You fit with Jesus. You belong in his family! In fact, your role is vital. There is an emptiness in our hearts until you are with us, healthy and holy, functioning and contributing as you should in the real way you do.
You are His masterpiece!
The real body of Christ is everywhere. It is organic and living and breathing. It’s in the relationships and friendships you form with other believers. It’s also in the gifted and anointed preachers, teachers, and worship leaders, or in the healers and miracle workers and prophetic intercessors that God uses. You have gifts (“superpowers”) too! You can speak into people’s lives like the woman did who had that prophetic word that I began this blog with! God will use you to grow His kingdom of Love.
Are you in?
Categories: Church, Dreams, Encountering God, Listening to God
Tags: dreams and visions, encountering God, Robby Dawkins
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Daniel Lovett
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