I feel like I’m on drugs.

I’m out in beautiful Estes Park, CO at the YMCA of the Rockies getting trained for Integrity’s Build a Better Worship Team. This is an amazing place and literally takes your breath away.

At just over 8,000 ft above sea level, the air is a little thinner than good ole Indianapolis. I felt a little woozy and somewhat disoriented as my body acclimated to the change in altitude. My ears were poppin left and right and I just couldn’t seem to catch my breath.

I often feel that way when God takes me to a new place in Him. It’s disorienting and often uncomfortable as I breathe the new air of His presence. However, it’s not a thinner air. It’s a fuller, richer atmosphere; thick with the newness of intimacy with Jesus.

Only problem now is I’m acclimated, comfortable and even oriented in this elevated space. How often does that happen in my walk with Jesus? He takes me somewhere new, it hurts like all get out and then I get comfy and don’t ever want to experience the next level. What about you?n

Sometime this week, look into the eyes of a five-year-old. I mean it.

Really look.

Now…Imagine that child being abused night after night, raped and tortured as many as 30 times in a single day by American “tourists.” Pissed? Me too. So do something about it. Now.

I’m passing on an incredible opportunity for you to do something now. One of our team members brought this call to fight injustice to my attention. It’s a call to our elected leadership to push for an increase in resources to fight and prosecute this injustice.

Oh, I’m sorry. Too busy? Good luck with that… n

God is weird. Or better yet strange.

I’m not being cynical or blasphemous…seriously! I got it from the book of Isaiah 28:21:

“21For the Lord will rise up as on Mount Perazim, He will be wrathful as in the Valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work, and bring to pass His act, His strange act.”

You should check out the stories surrounding Mount Perazim and the Valley of Gibeon. Two similar no-win situations. Two VERY different approaches (one that even included the sound of marching on tops of trees). Odd indeed. Just doesn’t fit well with the high ranks of intellectual superiority that I have attained:)

The ways of the King and the policies of His Kingdom are often looked upon as odd. They should be. This is the Creator of the Universe we’re talking about. The One who simply “spoke” and planets were formed. The One who actually knew you and I (whether you’re at a place to recognize it or not) before we were even born. The One who understands the day ahead of you more intimately NOW, before it’s even happened, than you will tomorrow.

Could it be that HE CAN answer the waaay out there prayers on your lips? Could it be that HE CAN shine the light of His Justice in the darkest places of the world through His servants? Could it be that HE CAN know the intricacies of each situation and is just waiting for me to take a risk on behalf of this Odd God? Whew…that’s just plain weird.

But strangely comforting as well… (pun very intended). I don’t mind serving an Odd God; I’m a little odd myself! You too?! Well, welcome to oddity…weirdo…n

How good are you at handling confrontation?

Now before you read any further, this isn’t an advice column on how to get along with the guy in the cubicle next to you. Or, as I type, maybe it kinda is. At any rate, I’m learning I’m not real good at handleing confrontation… when God is the one instigating it.

You see, lately I’ve been confronted in ways I’m not real familiar with. It seems everything I read, see, hear and think is confronting me with things that are uncomfortable and inconvenient; things that I can’t just reflect on anymore and say, “Wow, Lord, that’s interesting. Very peculiar. Maybe I should sit here and philosophically ponder all of the implications of what I just read/saw/heard/thought. Better yet, why don’t I invite a few friends over for coffee cake and we can all take a swing at the philosophical pinata; exhausting ourselves in “righteous” musings until we all in up in a heap of exhausted banter?” Yeah, that sounds like Kingdom living…I’m sure Jesus died for that…

Confronting the Divine means somethings gotta give and I have a funny feeling, in this holy equation, it’s me. There are things in this world that are on the heart of my King. Things that matter to Him. Things that concern Him. There are Voices He hears that cry out for justice. Hearts He grieves over that lie broken in sorrow. Children He sees that remain locked in every form of spiritual and physical torment. I CAN SEE/HEAR/FEEL THEM TOO.

“What is this thing, You’re doing in me?
Who are these people, that I’ve never seen?
Have I been blind or am I just pretending?

If I have the faith, to move all the hills
And speak with the tongues, of men and angels
But I don’t have love, I am just pretending”

Now what?…n

What a whirlwind week! The stirrings continue as Peter Wilson from Hillsong London sat down for a chat about bringing justice to the world. Apparently Hills London takes on entire villages and regions through various missions efforts, thus affecting more than just one.

I spent most of last night reading through David and Beth Grant’s book, “Behind the Soiled Curtain.” It’s a disturbing and gut-wrenching look into the dark world of the sex-trafficking industry in India. Thankfully David and his team minister through Project Rescue, the only ray of light these women may ever see. They need YOUR help…

I also spoke today with the president of Mission of Mercy, an organization operating in more than 20 nations and providing hope to over 37,000 children through various relief efforts. I’ve gotta do something…soon. I talked to him figuring they weren’t involved in the trafficking relief efforts. Wrong. That was a conversation for another blog…n

I had one of those defining moments pulling out of the driveway this morning. Are these issues of injustice all around an “ah hah” moment, ie I’m just discovering this or is it really an “uh oh” moment where stuff I’ve known all along actually needs to be taken care of?

I got money says it’s the latter. I know about issues of injustice, I’m just comfortable. It’s kinda in the same way I know about the lost….it’s just flat out inconvenient. Then I watched this short videocast with Donald Miller and his pastor from a recent Catalyst conference (it’s Catalyst tv episode 2) and I know I’m having an “uh oh” moment…

visit Catalystspace.com for more ah hah/uh oh moments…n