Day 233: September 11, 2016 I Need

September 11, 2016
Day 233

I Need

I am needy and sometimes I act in a way that makes you think I am not, for I would rather not have you see me this way. I am helpless and I often need others. But I would prefer to do it myself. Jesus, however, crashes into this self sustaining quest. CRASHES IN.

He wraps His loving arms around me and smiles at my need to hide. He smiles at my preference for my self to help my self. He knows I need Him. He knows I am helpless. Yet, He waits until
I ask.

Day 232: September 9, 2016 Diversity Dynamic

September 9, 2016
Day232:                    Diversity Dynamic


Yes, birds of a feather flock together but NEWSFLASH, we are not birds. We are diverse humans distinctly different. Not one thumb print belongs to more than one individual, instead we each have our very own. Humanity was meant to multiply and spread. To clump in unity building an edifice in honor of togetherness, above reliance on God, was halted in the early stages. God officially put an end to group think when he switched it up with the language disarray. Where once they understood they now were confused. For to depend on one another was not what God wanted. All He wanted was for them to depend on Him, looking to him for direction within their inter-related relationships.

More churches need to get this. That it is more about reliance on God than on the practices and traditions from ages past. The church has nothing in common with a social club, there is nothing chummy about putting into practice the teachings of scripture. In fact it is plain lonely. Coming together to build something for ourselves is common amongst churches. And they are excellent at knowing how to slap a spiritual heading on the project. Legalism springs from a desire to control the look and feel of the group. God revels in diversity. He explodes it. For He is not concerned with the look but rather with the ability of each one to follow Him. One never knows where He will lead.

August 231: Scary And Powerless

September 8, 2016
Day 231

Scary And Powerless

Tonight, our pastor, Vince, spoke of the authority and identity we have in Jesus Christ. He was telling us that though the enemy is lurking and wants us to think he is massive, the reality is -the enemy is defeated. Vince was calling us to a rest. We do not walk towards the victory. We walk out of the victory. We are able to rest for Jesus has accomplished, completed, and finished everything that needed to be taken care of for our redemption and salvation. Out of nowhere a bat flits across the ceiling.

The enemy might lack power to destroy but it does a good job of distracting and leading us to self destruct. This small creature distracted an entire congregation.  Peace became impossible. Vince was trying to assess our ability to focus. We were unable. The bat had no obvious flight plan. It moved here and there moving everyone's heads right along with it. Bibles, scarves, and sweaters were our shields. The bat was clearly confused. And so were we.

But as soon as it had flown it, it flew right out! I knew there was something to this. On the way home I began to see the moment for what it was worth. The enemy is like a small harmless bat flitting here and there with no sense of organization. It serves only to distract. But fear rises. Bats reputations precede them. And we give bats more power than they deserve. They can distract but they can not destroy, only lead us to destroy.

I choose to see the enemy as a simple bat. Give it a door and out it goes! And that is exactly what happened.

Day 230: September 6, 2016 Living Small in the Grand Space

September 6, 2016
Day 230

Living Small in the Grand Space

Jesus forgive me for living small in your grand expanse.
Forgive me for living small in the field of grace that offends even the offenders -
Who knew they would be here also.
Forgive me for living small with such an astronomical debt forgiven me.
Forgive me for living small when your death and resurrection allows me to soar spiritual galaxies.
Forgive me for living small when the currency you provide needs no accountant.
Forgive me for living small when you promise to be faithful.
Forgive me for living small when you grant me the desires of my heart.
Forgive me for living small when you outstretch your hand to hold mine.
Forgive me for living small when you bring me to a new land and tell me it is mine.
Forgive me for living small when your love has no earthly container large enough but chooses my heart.
Forgive me for living small when your options are unlimited.
Forgive me for living small when you tell me you will
attend to my daily needs.
Forgive me for living small when the good deeds you prepared for me before the creation of the world are beyond exciting and thrilling.
Forgive me for living small when you offer the adventure of a life time.
Forgive me for living small when you provided love for me to offer others.
Forgive me for living small when you wanted to fellowship with just me.
Forgive me for living small in your grand expanse.
Fill my spiritual eyes with wonder that pulls me deeper into loving you.

Day 229: August 4, 2016 Two Thoughts Aligned - Love When This Happens

August 4, 2016
Day 229

Two Thoughts Aligned - Love When This Happens

Do I understand the power I have? Not at all. Do I understand the force within me for the good of the church and likewise the world? No! Do I sit on spiritual energy that is waiting to be used? YES! Do I understand where I stand spiritually. I forget all the time. This week two truths crashed and aligned, forcing me to put them together. The first, Jesus makes intercession for us. (Hebrews 7:25) The second, the church is the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 2:22) Align these two and you have the Church interceding for the Church. For we are the fullness of His Body. Therefore, intercession is aligning ourselves with what our dear Savior is already doing.

He always intercedes for those who come to God through Him, therefore, we stand and intercede for those who come to God through Him. And like always there is no pressure, the kind we see on the enemy's side, but rather a privilege laid out before us, a nail pierced hand outstretched inviting us to come and do likewise - pray.

We are the privileged ones able to represent the One and Only Jesus Christ. Is this for real? Am I missing something? I did not wait in line for a VIP pass. I did not have to answer a quadrillion questions to see if I would be an approved ambassador. I did not have to first get my sin issue ironed out before I was allowed the privilege of standing with my Jesus. Jesus, the perfect one stands in our place before the Father. We are privileged to pray, to intercede, due to an honest man's death for us.

The only power we have is Jesus Christ. The only answer we have for every prayer we pray is Jesus Christ. The only entity that fills all and is everywhere is Jesus Christ. The Church is Christ's Body. Coming together to pray is who we are. It is what we do. And it is what we will always do. So let's do it! Let's pray Thy Kingdom Come Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven and know where we are, the throne room of heaven. Let's do this knowing who we are, the Church. Let's do this knowing who makes it possible to ask the High King for anything, Jesus the High Priest. Go for it! 

Day 228: September 2, 2016 Good Tunes

September 2, 2016

Day 228

Good Tunes

Published on Feb 13, 2016

"Seen" written and performed by Brenna Carnuccio, featuring and developed with musician Christopher Burkholder.

To collaborate is magic. These two friends have created some magical moments. Enjoy.

Published on Jul 2, 2015

Christopher Burkholder and Brenna Carnuccio performing "Walk The Line" by Johnny Cash.

I love listening to good music! 

Day 227: September 1, 2016 Too Close to Home

September 1, 2016

Day 227

Too Close to Home

Christopher Burkholder's Original: Porn Star

Please keep writing son!

At the risk of giving information to the wrong person, there are more of you who need to commit to prayer what I am about to post.

October 15 at the Holiday Inn there will be an event called a Friction party, specifically called - Satan's Lair. The description goes something like this, ."..Satan's Lair October 15th  Morgantown, PA Hotel Takeover, So Hot the Devil will Sweat! No Families, No Vanillas to ruin the sexy vibe!  Complete Hotel Takeover. This is our biggest, sexiest event of the year! Always a sell out! Rooms at host hotel will book weeks before event so do not wait and get stuck at overflow hotel! We use 2 hotels because the event is that big!...."

I kinda feel sheltered and out of touch. I believe I will keep it that way. This is grievous knowing this event will do nothing to establish solid individuals let alone families. Instead, in the heart of an extremely fertile area there will be bad seed planted with a crop of withered plants. There will be doors opened that will take years to close. The weekend will cause heartache. The ramifications will ripple for decades.

But God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life. (John 3:16) The freedom offered is to all.  Let's pray for life on October 15th.  May God be glorified.

May you use this information wisely.