Well, this isn't the norm is it? We had a baby, he's wonderful. Grace is loving Asa, and we're enjoying being a family, while also EXHAUSTED. With feeding every three hours and a 22 month old to guide, it hasn't been easy, but God has given us grace for it! And I do praise the Lord that Grace and Asa are both very easygoing. Friends at IHOP have been bringing us food each day, which is another tremendous blessing- the kiss of a loving community of believers coming together for one another. I'm very grateful. Asa sat with me last night while I worshiped on the keys, and Ashlee read a book to Grace. My prayers and study have been much broken up into small segments, and the days and nights run together-- this is the season we are in. I cherish it, because it's quickly passing, and a rare season.

Today I came to IHOP for the first class on Zechariah, looking forward to a focused study on this book. And then I changed out 10 lamps in the stage lighting! (24/7 takes it's toll). lol. Heading home now for a nap before Grace wakes up. Shalom,

Ashlee and I spent a few days at the hospital with Asa. Her parents were able to come and help us by taking care of Grace a good bit. Then we got released from the hospital and finally made it home with our son. Grace was very glad to see Asa come home, and we've been doing the baby boot camp thing since.

Today I got back to IHOP for a meeting and to teach the first New Covenant Class. But spent most of the day at home to help Ashlee. During nap times I got some prayer and study done, and enjoyed praying with Grace tonight at her bedtime. As for the class, it was well attended and I enjoyed teaching such an encouraging and interested group. I'm excited about this semester. It's 12 now, and we just got Asa down a few minutes ago-- better try to sleep a couple hours before the next feeding time. Shalom!

About 2am we came to the hospital, and at 9:08am this morning we had a boy! Aaron Asa scored an 8 and 9 on apgar tests, weighed 8lbs and 15oz, and is 20 inches long! He has a head of black hair, and as his big sister says, "he's sweet." Ashlee and Asa are both doing well. We had a wonderful day spending time with our children and some of our family members. As you can see, Grace is excited to have a little brother- she wanted to hold him often, and keeps checking in on him whether he's sleeping or nursing, and likes to give him kisses. I'm about to crash into the hospital couch for a nap, so... Here's some pictures, cause that's what you really came for anyway:

It's 2:55am and we haven't gone to sleep- myself or Ashlee this time. We're at the hospital having a baby! Just dropping you a line. See you on the other side.

Whoa, It's been too long. Sorry for the lapse in posts. We haven't had a baby yet, but we're so ready! Just been going hard after the Lord, preparing for a baby, and preparing for my class which starts next week. Well, it's Tuesday again, all-staff fast and prayer. We had a good intercession at 4pm, praying mainly for a spirit of prayer and for God to WAKE US UP that we be watchful, alert in this final hour. Jacob's team is on the platform right now, and I need to study the word. I need God! I need to know Him, not about Him, but to know Him. That's my hunger, especially strong in the last few days, and the main reason I haven't been writing. I'm just here in the hiding place crying out for Him.... Will be until Jesus returns.

I just came out of a holy gripping of the Spirit. About five hours ago, around 8:30-9pm I was working on my upcoming priesthood class notes when my heart began to tremble inside of me. I scripted notes rapidly as I could until the notes were finished and I was released- minutes ago. So strong was the flow, that I had to ask another missionary, Chris, to cover my 10pm set, so that I could be faithful to the trembling that was within. I'm weak now, but energized at the same time, and after dancing and singing a song with the nightwatch intercession, I sat to write to you. This is a fast day, in which fasting has truly opened the doors. There's a fire in me for the message I've just written down, that's not going forth until October 1st. The message- Lips of the Priest. AAAuuuugghh! I'm ready to preach now.

Earlier today (or yesterday now- as my entries often are) our all staff intercession (4-6pm) was especially heavy with the weight of the Lord, and the power of the Holy Spirit. The Lord's zeal carried Intercession into the 6pm hour before the teams fully rotated out. The intense prayers, lead by the Spirit were for a shift in the atmosphere of Atlanta, unto repentance and revival. I was aware that we were making the way for The Call Atlanta, before it was mentioned by name on the mic. Those of you in the Atlanta area, Keep watch for the The Call, and COME. For real-- what happened at the The Call Nashville is bigger than I could ever express, and it was only one step in God's plan to bring about a massive revival unlike history has ever known.


Sorry to have missed a post yesterday. Monday's are the meeting day for me. I had Section Leaders meeting, worship leaders meeting, a couple individual meetings, and then took care of management type things. Spent a couple hours in the Word. And finished with a set, that I'm told was powerful in exposing weakness and imparting God's love, leading several in personal repentance and prayer (I don't know, my eyes were closed and wet, lol). That was twelve hours, so I went home without writing.

Hm, now it's been thirteen hours at the House for me today-- I just took a break away from writing you to lay hands over the sick. Healing be! Ashlee called and wants me home, it's 2am. Shalom.

Shabbat was truly restful. I got to just read and have communion with the Lord. Came in and lead two worship sets, with a couple hours between them for study. The first set was on the beauty of the Lord, the second a prayer for Jerusalem from Psalm 137 and 1Ch 16. In between sets, I ended up studying about an hour, and talking to visitors for another hour, a couple from Alabama and a couple from Illinois. Got to hear what the Lord is doing in their lives and in the churches in their areas, and hopefully encouraged them. It was a sweet fellowship.

Today started out with the usual home stuff like mowing the yard. I ran sound for the Encounter service tonight. Several people received healing tonight. And after the service a sweet spirit lingered into the nightwatch where I am found, not wanting to leave.

Our message was a powerful proclamation on the jewish messiah (Jesus) who will reign from Jerusalem in the age to come. This is indeed something the Bible is full of, yet we as the church don't really have a grid for. We live for today and think of heaven as far off and spiritual. But the Bible is clear that when Jesus returns, we will be given glorified bodies (1Cor 15:51) and rule and reign on the EARTH with Jesus for a thousand years: "Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years," (Rev 20:6). Tonight's focus was on the aspect of all nations submitting to Jesus and to Israel, because He will reign from Jerusalem (Isa 2), and Israel will be the nation above all other nations (Isa 60). How profound to see yet another area in which the world is under a sway that is directly in opposition to the will of God- for right now most of the nations are against Israel, and many have sworn to wipe Israel out! This is Psalm 2 being fulfilled in our day- "Why do the nations rage, the peoples plot in vain?" How should we live in light of this reality? Not for today, but for the age to come.

Grace got her first haircut today! She didn't like it very much, but later she got complements on her hair, and I think she's happy about that. Arriving at IHOP, I enjoyed the last of Matt and Steven's devo with a moment of contemplative prayer, then settled in to work on notes for next weeks Intro to IHOP ( a week long introduction we run every quarter). I'm teaching at Intro on the Tabernacle of David. Grace and Ashlee came to visit, and I ate with Grace in the cafe' while Ashlee borrowed my computer. Then got back to my studies until my set. I did the set on a meditation of 1 Chr 16- the song the David composed for the consecration of the Tabernacle. It's a powerful psalm that's actually parts of two different psalms 105:1-15 and 96:1-13. A good study reveals the themes of the modern day house of prayer like continual worship and intercession, prophetic proclamation, the beauty of the Lord, signs, wonders, miracles, the establishment of Israel, the judgement of God, and the coming of Messiah. I came home immediately afterwards, but I've been working on class notes at home until now. It's time for bed- shalom.

Yesterday, I picked up an IHOP guitar that had gone in for a re-fret and set-up, and dropped off another. Then stayed at the House for a short time in the Word before the 4pm intercession. It was a hot room in our annex building for this intercession. We crowded about 100 into the smaller prayer room, because on Wednesdays, Crossroads church is using our main prayer room until their new facilities are completed. Day three of GBF, we pressed in together. Concluding with communion, it was trully a blessed meeting time. Afterwards, Ashlee, Grace, and I met up with family and I broke fast on barbeque. lol.

Today, I took care of Grace this morning, cleaned up the garage, began repairs on a hole in our kitchen ceiling from a leak that I repaired a while back. We left the opening to make sure the leak was fixed before repatching. I'll be plastering and painting on it for the next few days. Then we had fun together at Discover Mills.

I have just a few minutes before my set this evening. Day two of GBF, I came in a few hours early to get repairs done and other sound issues handled, and to get some extra time working on my class notes. I played bass on the 4pm intercession, I had some more technical issues arise after that, so I was glad to have come in early and gotten time in the Word. My set is next, then a meeting just after midnight. Shalom.

Today was day one of the Global Bridegroom Fast. GBF is a monthly solemn assembly of believers that occurs the first Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of each month plus seven days in December for a total of 40 days a year in fasting. Jesus said, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them … then they will fast. (Mt 9:15) That's why we fast, because Jesus is away from us. IHOPs, other houses of prayer, and many churches and individuals around the planet unite in this fast making it the largest fasting movement on the earth. I encourage you to join with GBF. It can help to make that a time to visit IHOP Atlanta or an IHOP, Boiler Room, whatever in your area. Another way is to watch IHOP-Kansas City on God TV via satellite (Direct TV channel 365) or on the web at theprayerroom.god.tv/. Or, gather friends together to meet and pray on GBF at your church!

As for my day, well.... So we fast and pray-- no meetings today, just 10 hours in the prayer room, 4 in study and meditation, 4 in intercession, and 2 on set. I'm hungry and tired, so I'm going home to sleep because when you sleep you don't feel the hunger, and you get rest.

"What did we pray for?" you ask. Well:
Fullness of the Holy Spirit and Unity Throughout the Church (John 14:12 and 17:2–23)
        Spiritual breakthroughs in the worldwide Church with unprecedented unity, purity and power
The Great Harvest (Matthew 24:14)
        Over one billion souls converted by the power of God
Youth Revival Movement (Malachi 4:6)
        Worldwide revival especially among the poor of the earth
Revival to Israel (Romans 9–11)
        Fulfillment of all the prophetic promises to national Israel
Houses of Prayer (Isaiah 62:6–7)
        The release of “grace for fasting” with worship and prayer to establish 24/7 houses of prayer in the
        cities of the earth, including Israel
Wealth of the Nations (Haggai 2:7–9)
        Release of finances for the Great Harvest, the prayer movement and the poor
The Wall of Fire (Zechariah 2:5)
        Divine protection of all that is birthed through prayer

Woke up this morning after the most horrific dream: I was invited to dinner by a wealthy man. We travelled to a beautiful cove, a paradise, and sat down with several others, also very wealthy. Dishes were brought out over the course of conversation, different and wonderful foods. Then a dish came out and was sat on the table- of infants. Tiny babies lay piled on a platter! I was shocked, and pushed back from the table declaring, "This is not right." One tried to say 'it's a delicacy here', and other explained, 'these were unwanted anyway- the mother's wanted an abortion." I look again at the platter and see a couple of them moving. "I cannot eat with you," I said shaking my head and standing from the table. The dream ended. It's my waking understanding that we cannot offer our fellowship to those who grow fat on the deaths of the unborn. I found myself praying, "God, where do I have connections with this wicked act of abortion?" May we consider if there are ways in which we support abortion with our lifestyles, our spending, and otherwise. May we investigate even the ministries that we give into, because I have heard of two so-called 'Christian' ministries to the poor that actually help pay for abortion! God let it not be!

So after contemplating this issue on my bed, I got up, and rejoiced with my little girl, and held my bride's very pregnant tummy to feel my son kicking and wallowing. Praise Yah for babies! I ate breakfast with my family, played with Grace, went to work out, came back for a shower and lunch, then headed to the House of Prayer early to prepare for the message I was giving tonight. I preached on the work of intercession by Yeshua as our High Priest, and our partnership with Him in the burden of intercession. Many came to the altar, and I heard good witness to the message from several individuals afterwards. I talked more about the priestly ministry with a few people in the cafe', then went to eat dinner with my family. Back at the House now, I look forward to another hour here is fellowship with the Spirit before heading home. There may have been an issue with the recording of the message tonight, but hopefully it's good enough to hear. If so, I'll try to publish it on the website tomorrow.

Today I rejoiced in Shabbat, and sang in the setting sun of the joy of knowing the Lord. After the 6pm set I had a couple hours to study the scriptures and to talk with a visitor to IHOP before getting on the 10pm, my second set of the day. It was a wholly different set, a meditation on Psalm 46 and 137 that was at first a spontaneous song on the Day of the Lord, then became a cry for mercy in sight of the coming desolation. The first time I looked at the clock on this set, it was 11:11, just after I had been singing "watchmen lift your heads, discern the times, declare the season. The hour is late, and the King is coming." May we not be offended by what is near to come before Him.

We must know the heart of our Lord in this hour, and seek understanding about the days ahead, that we might be prepared and steadfast in our faith. I'm grateful for a crowd of witnesses gathered around me that go hard after the Knowledge of God and of His plans. It's so very valuable for the Church to understand what's coming, and therefore necessary for a few to give their lives to the study of eschatology with prayer and fasting as we do here. We've too many voices on the subject that teach the doctrines of men, and few who boldly proclaim the difficult truth: "Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Mat 25:9-14) Notice "THIS GOSPEL," that of persecution and death, of hatred and betrayal. We must get truth in our innermost parts and prepare for the Day, lest we be among those who are offended and our love grow cold.

After a morning with the family, I went to IHOP early so I could take care of business type duties and still get several hours in the chair to pray and prepare for this Sunday- I'll be speaking at Encounter. I took care of several housekeeping things that needed my attention, then sat in the prayer room. I got my message tonight, and then did my set. A lot of people were in the prayer room tonight.

It's been my privilege to serve in the House on Shabbat. As I have done each Friday evening, I started with Psalm 92, the song for Shabbat. I do this in the tradition started by the original Levites at the Tabernacle of David three millennia ago (Each day has a specific song that was sung in the evening and morning, prophetic of a 1000 year period). Psalm 92, according to the Talmud, was written by Adam on the first Shabbat, making it about six thousand years old. After Psalm 92, I sang mostly in prayer about being awake in the hour and unoffended in love when slander, insult, persecution, and suffering strike the church at the end of the age. For we are made perfect through suffering (Heb 5:8-9), and "for to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. " (1 Pe 2:19)

Jesus, give us grace to endure to the end!

At home it was nice to spend time with Ashlee and Grace. I didn't see them much at all the previous two days, so we made a plan to enjoy family. We worked on a few things in preparation for Asa's birth, cleaned house, worked in the yard, had quality time together, and I still had about four hours a day in the scriptures- though I gave up my workout for it. Yesterday, I enjoyed riding my bike up to Braselton in the beautiful weather while making errands, then meeting Ashlee and Grace for dinner at Chuck E. Cheese. We wanted to do something extra with Grace before her little brother comes and has us grounded at home for a bit. My daughter is absolutely precious- she played games, went down the slide, ate three slices of pizza, introduced herself to everyone in the place, including Chuck E. himself,m and just captivated my heart the whole time. We learn so much of the love of God in our families- the Father's heart towards His children is being revealed to me every day as I'm now a father, and the love of Jesus for His Bride is revealed more and more even after eight years of marriage. I talk a lot to God about my family, and he teaches me a lot through them.

I cherish this season, actually being at home, having intimacy as a family, just having a home. Once in my life, I was always traveling in ministry, and later I was spending long hours at church. I'm still prone to linger long with the Lord at IHOP, but altogether I get way more family time here than I ever did in worship or church ministry. Mainly, I actually get my off days most of the time, where before there was always a youth or other special event taking up that time. I think it's important to take time with family- what is anybody listening to me for if I can't minister first to my wife and children? Financially, we've never been poorer, but in intimacy we've never been richer. "Better the little the righteous have, than the wealth of many wicked" (Ps 37:16)

Five and a half hours sleep and maaannn did 7:30am come early! I met with a new e-group at 8am for end times study. 10am I was out and going to pick up IHOP's main keyboard and a speaker from the repair shop, brought it back, set it up. Took a house guitar to the Luthier. Went home for a nap. Woke up and returned to the House for All Staff Intercession. Four hours of Worship With the Word followed. I hoped to spend the whole time praying and noting for my class, but an hour was spent taking care of technical issues. Finished the night with leading a 10pm. I got messed up tonight! (In a good way). It's hard sometimes to worship and you have to keep going, but you just want to cry. I sang from Song of Songs about the beauty of Jesus, and later slipped into Psalm 137 again in mourning for Jerusalem. That went into a spontaneous song of hope that the great King of Jerusalem was returning soon, and that's when I wanted to stop and cry. It didn't help that several people in the room WERE crying! So I choked through "why should I gain from His reward; I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom." Pick myself up, and I'll be home soon.

Monday was a long and packed day- I skipped updating the blog. So here's what happened: I woke up and went to IHOP. Our 2pm Section Leaders meeting was cancelled this week, so I visited with some staffers in the cafe' for half an hour during lunch, then got some extra time soaking in the prayer room, meditating on the love of God. At 4pm the Intercession was charged with intense prayer for Israel, the nation and it's people, and jews everywhere. I shook off the fatigue after 2 hours of prayer with a drink, and spent the next couple hours on my priesthood notes for class. Another Intercession set began at 8, so I spent an hour there in worship and prayer, then left for dinner and to prep for my set. Did the 10. Sang spontaneously from Psalm 137, and after the set I had to write it down- I may have a new song. After a few needed chores around the building I went home, because Tuesday morning was quick approaching, and I needed to be back at 8am.