Here’s an excerpt from a recent blog of a G42 intern who has returned to his home to continue to build and develop his plan. He gives a great summary of what we’re trying to build here in (currently rainy!) Spain. He’s one of our Dangerous Men that we are discipling — he is dangerous to the the forces of hell!

So, what the G42 experience was for me was the creator of the universe placing me in the perfect community for learning the language of true love for others and opportunity to give until I had nothing left. Everything I learned from the Race experience was put into practice once again, with a new understanding of myself, God, and the world. In my heart I was challenged to step into complete faith that His voice is within me and that I am His voice that this world needs to hear. And I was physically in a place where I had no hand in planning out or deciding on my own how it would benefit my ego whatsoever. The Lord took a hungry and humble heart and challenged it to become what it was destined to be. I have been called out to get over the childlike ‘finger painting exercises’ of this faith journey and start living as a man of god ought to. This has meant to get over my shifty, self serving ways and worries I face daily and to not let the call be interrupted by my insecurities. In Spain, the Lord placed a strong hedge of authority and accountability around my heart and life. I have seen the integrity and excellence firsthand that the kingdom requires. I have men who are models of the man I am to become as well as women around me whom have shown me what a true woman of God is like. This is the new standard I’ve been called out to become; the standard to be covenantal, committed, and loyal. To be the rock which others can not only trust but to rely on!

The more steps we take forward on the pilgrimage the more we are to become. The amazing news is that we don’t have to change anything about who we are to go to amazing levels with God, we just have to refocus our mindset in trusting that it is who we are, our deep down DNA, that is exactly what god is looking for us to be! Is who we are the fruit of what we do or is the fruit of what we do from who we are?! My life was previously driven from the former and was dead, I was dormant and restless. I have found life and kingdom advancement from the later; a refocused and destiny driven passion to become more like the one who created me…Jesus Christ himself!!

10 years ago , my then young friend and son in the Lord , Duane Bland , pioneered a church in Thibodaux LA . With his wife Rachel and their 3 lovely daughters , they set out on a new adventure : planting a Kingdom Church , filled with Grace and passionate ‘ Tabernacle’ worship . 20 people in a house group , and as the crowd grew , they moved to the Howard Johnson Motel and then to the Recreation Center , where they held services for something like 7 years.

We met some years before that when Duane was leading a church in Chauvin LA – I mean ‘on the Bayou!’ Our hearts knit together and after I laid out the ‘Kingdom ‘ and ‘ Grace’ , life changed and new challenges appeared on the horizon . I preached him out of Chauvin ( church still going well!) and on to a God given inheritance .

When we were meeting in the HoJo (!) , we all promised each other that “one day” we would march down the Boulevard to a new building that would provide a launching pad for the next stage of the increasing Kingdom and a safe place for the Generations !

This morning , we marched down the Boulevard to open and dedicate that building . It is debt free . It is vibrating with the Life and praises of God . The crew is now about 250 people and filled with the favor of God. Mo and I flew back from Spain to be here and celebrate and keep a 10 year old promise .

A son and his family is coming into their inheritance . Adolescence turned into maturity as words have taken wings and deeds have transformed dreams into reality . God is glorified , a city and a region are blessed , and the Kingdom advances . A young man with his family take more and more responsibility and greater and greater challenges and the future is assured for the Kingdom of God on earth .

A great day ! Legacy ! Succession built into the success ! And to our great and awesome God – all the Glory !

When we mentor our interns we emphasize strongly that we have two main objectives in the process of impartation and teaching : a Christlike attitude and heart ; and a biblical , kingdom world view . The will of God is more about being than doing . Paul says that the will of God is ‘to put on Christ.’ The doing comes out of the being .

Then we encourage them to say Amen and make a plan and get on with it . You`re not going to go ‘wrong’ when your heart and belief are towards God and His Glory . Paul wasnt ‘wrong’ trying to go to Asia , he was just re-directed to Europe !

As you look around your world and the world at large , there is no shortage of opportunity . What are you good at , what do you have in your heart and in your hand , what are your passions ?? You are the will of God – get on with it . It is part of the process to give all that you can whenever you can . There is , at this moment , an opportunity to ‘get on with giving’ and help the devastated country of Haiti and the thousands of broken and broke people on the streets . Go to www.adventures.org/haiti and make a contribution .

Of course , I`m sure you know , that the Lord wants you not just your moolah , but as we learn to give more and more , there`s no telling where it all might up , where YOU might up….

We made a good start on the new semester . 21 interns filled up the garage..we are negotiating for an alternative and have a couple of possibilities in mind . We are also getting close to having our official recognition which means that we will be able to start a church/community center if we have the space .
The crew were intent as we dived into ‘What`s God`s Point ?’ which is a teaching we do at the beginning of every semester . By the end of the first week , some of the ‘getting to know you’ phase is melting away and an ease begins to come forth . I am impressed and challenged and am looking forward to great 6 months . We`re calling them out from silence , complacency , indecisiveness and lack of commitment with prophetic words which are stronger than the general traits of a generation . Dangerous was a word that was used a few times…dangerous to status quo and to spiritual strongholds .
We have felt the Love of God invade the room a few times , without which we don`t have a look in . Your salvation wasn`t a joint effort ! Tighten your grip.. x A.

Mo and I arrived safely and are back among some hungry young lions and lionesses . Uneventful journeys and upgraded ! What a blessing…..

Had dinner with half the crew and in the getting to know you stage . ‘Know’ is a word that carries the hope of covenant and endurance for the long haul . We shall see , of course , as choices are made and courses chosen .

We are faced with the ‘problems’ ( good ones! ) of growth as we are now 3 times a bigger crowd than we were previously . We`re still holding teaching sessions in the garage but that cannot continue much longer as we are full .

Point is , for me , late on this first night back , that we are on the ground . Here , now , putting wings to words and deeds to dreams . I`m looking for some dangerous men and women who will break pioneering rocks and plant the Kingdom where , today , it simply does not exist . They have a shot at actually getting into the arena , off the bleachers , with its risk of death and victory . I hope you do the same today…and I hope the new interns make it too ! We`ll do our best….

Just dropped Mo off to catch her flight to Miami and on to Madrid . Sitting in Barnes and Noble just getting the jobs done , before going back to the airport to catch my flight to DFW and Madrid . Meet Mo in Madrid tomorrow morning before flying on to Malaga , and then Mijas and then back to g42 Leadership Academy . Just had a coffee with Zajas who was one of our original interns back last March . Great time of reflection and thanksgiving . Mo and I are on separate flights due to fares , because we booked her ticket much later , and had to choose a reasonable fare !

Back to responsibility , back to a new intake of interns , tripled in size from our original class ( Praises !) , semester starts today with orientation , and on to the challenges of a New Year and higher mountains to climb . ( I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance !)

Whenever you lead people , have a headship , the sense of responsibility never leaves . Today , as I fly back to Spain , it is just greatly heightened . I am excited and relishing the challenges ahead , but also awed and in the fear of the Lord because of the responsibility of ‘ interfering ‘ with people`s lives . Some are married . Almost all ( if not all !) the others want to be ! A family`s whole direction could possibly be changed for eternity . Unborn generations` destiny affected by what happens in the next 6 months . Help us dear Master !

Please pray for us as we venture out again , come see us if you can , send us your ‘dangerous’ kids . Together let`s expect the brightest and best year of our lives…

Must confess , I am not that familiar with Country Music or one its singers , Lee Ann Womack , but I heard a song on a TV commercial as I was watching the news . Made a cup of tea for Mo and me this morning and switched the news on and the first thing I heard was the same commercial….I checked the words of the song again . They made my soul feel good – and no apologies for that ! – and made my spirit soar a little..

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes , I hope one more opens
Promise me you`ll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the chance to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they`re worth taking
Lovin` might be a mistake
But it`s worth making
Don`t let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the chance to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you dance
( Tell me who wants to look back on their youth and wonder
Where those years have gone )

I hope you dance .

On New Year`s Eve , I was up in Arizona`s high country enjoying a few days in the snow with our family . Great time !
Apart from the usual celebrations associated with Dec 31 , it was also the occasion of a Blue Moon ! This is when there are two full moons in one calendar month . They occur approx every two and a half years .

I went outside at the midnight hour and looked at the beauty of a full moon , in a clear sky , glistening on fresh snow . Breathtaking – and Praises to the Lord were easy !
I had a couple of additional thoughts….

Let`s say you were hoping to see a full moon during 2009 . Well , it occurred in the nick of time in the last hours of the last day . Sometimes it seems that The Father waits until the last moment to bring fulfillment , deliverance or expected blessing ! So , He always comes ‘in the fullness of time.’ Don`t panic ! Maybe at the eleventh hour , but He will come !

The other thought was that this is an event that takes a long time between occurrences ….. so , ‘ if the vision tarry , wait for it .’ God is never in a hurry , but He`s always on the move . Promises from heaven , given maybe a long time
ago, will come to pass . Prepare as if they were being fulfilled , wait with hope and never stop trusting . It`s on the way ….!

So what you have promised yourself this New Year ? Some major life change , a modest tweak or nothing at all . I read in James yesterday : ‘ You will be judged on whether or not you are doing what Christ wants you to .’ (2 : 12)

Ultimately , I think , people commit to what they believe in .
So , this year , like every year , you will commit to what you really believe . Not just what you say you believe , but what you really believe . The uncommitted are unbelievers .

James and his epistle – dismissed by Luther as ‘ the epistle of straw ‘ , because of James` emphasis that faith always produces actions (works) – does however strike the right balance between what we say and what we do .

You will be resolute about what you really believe and therefore act upon , or irresolute if it`s just another good idea or another brilliantly impressive unimplemented plan .

My friend , George Ridley , says : “I like what I`m doing , a whole lot more than what you are talking about doing…”
Come on Now ! Let`s say “Amen” make a plan and do it !

2010 didn`t even take a pause before taking over the calendar ! It`s here – let`s go at it . Attach to it and detach already from 2009 . In Isaiah 46 v 8 God says : ” Remember the former things…” In Isaiah 43 v 18 God says : ” Forget the former things..” A problem Houston ?? No !

Read on in Isaiah 46 and you will see that the only thing the Lord wants you to ‘remember’ about the past is that He was always there , always loved , always delivered , always had a plan and a purpose and always brought it about . That`s it ! Remember that “I am God…”

So we reach into the future , encouraged by Isaiah 43 – read it and believe it with a shout . Whenever we ‘live in the past’ life will always degrade because we are saying basically that we have reached our destination . There is so much more ! In the future with God and His Purpose there is always hope , always His Presence , always His deliverance and always His Plan .

“Losing sight of shore , we might find the stars….!”

Let`s believe together that 2010 will be the brightest and the best year of our lives !