Did God save us from this earth or for it?

Let’s ‘stir the pot’… a ‘pot’ that has been stagnant and uninspiring for far too long.  Fresh thoughts… fun thoughts… and maybe provocative thoughts for some.  Thanks Mel, I’m right there with you.

In My Father's House

I want to talk about some popular evangelical mythology today by asking some thought-provoking questions.

Did God create man so that he could escape this wicked world and “fly away” to an invisible heaven forever? Or did He have a different ultimate purpose in mind?

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DPM Update – 2014 March (2)

Dear Friends

Kauai experience
Wow!  We hit the ground running. Holy Spirit is an amazing organizer.  Seems like we’ve had a meeting nearly every day since we arrived.  And they’ve been fun, easy, no-stress meetings. Man, do I like that. Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Wonder what He meant by that?  Do you suppose that His way should be stress-free and easy?  Then what if what we’re doing is stressful and hard?  What’s the commentary on that?  Hmmmm.  O well, I should probably move onto another topic now.  How about those ‘Dodgers’!?  🙂

We’ve helped in a wedding, helped lead a YWAM DTS worship night, jail ministry, house churches… at least 17 meetings, already… and only a couple were preplanned before we arrived.  Again, you just gotta love Holy Spirit’s leadership.  He’s so amazing.

Then there is the stunning beauty of the island and the warmth of the island people.  The views are eye-candy.  You just can’t stop goggling over how majestic the jagged mountain ridges and spires are… so completely quilted with verdant and lush green cover to the very top… and how many hues of blue are out on an ocean horizon scene.  Is God awesome or what!?  I can just picture His Creator heart spinning out creative ideas like kernels of exploding popcorn… and His super-sized painter’s pallet filled with at least 50 bazillion colors… just to dazzle us and make us fall more in love with Him.  He’s good!

And did I mention that it’s been unseasonably cool since we’ve been here.  It’s been all the way down to 58-60 degrees at night.  We even had to put our jackets on.    🙂

Jail visit
We met outdoors at the jail.  Our host Cathy Gray, introduced us to the women and then we presented our “so-believable” Good God to them.  Debbie told a brief version of her encounter with Daddy-God… at which tears AND a very gentle mist began to fall.  We all took note of this special ‘sign’ of God showing us His tender heart.  I sang a personalized song over each of them.  There was a lot of love felt between all of us.  By the end, we all had tears as Jesus’ winsome love was shed abroad in all of our hearts – Rms 5:5.  O, and one lady said she felt “energy go into her knee” and a significant amount of freedom from pain as we prayed for her.  Another lady said she could “trust God again” and didn’t want this meeting to end. I fully expect that we will make a return visit soon to the Kauai Community Correctional Center.

Fruits – incredible edibles
Apple Banana – stubby little bananas that have a much tastier sweet and tangy taste than regular bananas

Cream apple or star apple – tastes sweet and juicy like a very creamy ice cream

Rambutan fruit – soft spiny round fruits (looks like a sea urchin) that have a firm gel-like sweet center much like a lychee

Strawberry guava – grows wild everywhere – has the normal guava seeds throughout the pulp but with a distinct sweet strawberry flavor

Mangosteen fruit – tastes like peach, strawberry and vanilla pudding all mixed together

Pics of meetings and misc Kauai adventures
To view click here

Phone issues
My phone got ‘stuck’ last week… it won’t do anything.  And there is only one phone guru here in Kauai and he’s off-island right now.  So if you’ve tried to call or text me, I’m sorry I’ve not been able to receive your communications.  Debbie’s cell phone, email and Facebook messaging have been the only way for communications for a while.  It’s just weird not having a phone.  Was there actually life before cell phones? Hope to have the matter resolved soon.

Video – resurrection from the dead
Christian doctor prays for dead patient who raises from the dead (about 6 mins long)

Lotsa love,

Mark and Debbie
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Dwelling Place Ministries
Hendrickson
11011 Olive St
KC, MO 64131
=====================
Web: http://www.dpmkc.org
Blog: http://www.marklhen.wordpress.com
Mark FB: http://www.facebook.com/marklhen
SP bk FB: http://www.facebook.com/spforu

DPM Update – 2014 March

Dear Friends

Honduran trip
Debbie and I spent two weeks in Honduras and had an amazing good time.  About 20 dear people gave their hearts to Jesus.  There were lots of healings!!   I felt the ‘whoosh’ of anointing lots of times as we spoke, sang, prayed and prophesied.  You just gotta love being about our Father’s business!!!  Several times as I was speaking one of my translators wept while he translated.  Another translator stopped to exclaim, “Wow!”, then realized that he was supposed to continue translating.   It’s so amazing to bring something fresh and life-giving from God to hungry and responsive hearts!

Debbie and I traveled with our good friends Daryl and Deb Billings from Joplin, MO.  We spoke and ministered in five churches, a Christian school and several house churches… and the two Debs were quite impacting at a women’s conference.  We felt the favor of the Lord, big time… so much so that I’m quite certain that we’ll be going back.  Check out some pics of our travels on Facebook

It was about 80 degrees Fahrenheit there… and since we came back to KC, it has been below zero several times!!!  So we decided to ‘get out of Dodge’ and go to someplace warmer… Kauai.

Kauai trip
John, Cheryl and boys, and Debbie and I are on Kauai again.  It’s been exciting reconnecting with friendships, churches, house churches… also looking to make return visits to the island jail (I said visits).  Off and on during our stay, several of our friends from the mainland will be visiting here…(Dave & Ann Clark, John & Nettie Collins, SJ & Pam Hill, Jeff & Linda Daugherty).  Each time we visit Kauai we’re amazed at how the Lord organizes an awesome schedule of God-times. Already this trip, the Lord has lined up some great divine appointments.  We’ll keep you posted with more updates and pics soon.   Check our pics on Facebook

It was an honor to participate in the first-ever Mayor’s Prayer Luncheon 10 years ago. Here we are on the island and again looking forward to attending this Mayor’s luncheon which hosts about 1000 people, which is quite large for the island of Kauai. This year Nick Vujicic will be the special guest speaker!  We’ve been invited to meet early on Saturday to join the pastors in prayer for the gathering and facility.  We have a rich history of many prayer meetings together through the years with these seasoned island leaders.

 Video
 Watch incredible responses as Chinese Christians receive Bibles for the very first time.  It will melt your heart – (about 1 min) 

Don’t want to participate in ObamaCare?
You have options.  FoxNews gives a shout-out about the Christian alternative to ObamaCare.  There are three medical sharing ministries that are legally exempted from having to participate in the newly mandated national health care system. 

We’ve participated in Christian Medi-Share for about 17 years.  Really, it’s about Christians ‘covering’ each other.  So there is no guarantee that they will pay anything, but they have never failed to cover every medical expense we’ve ever incurred.  It’s more like Early Church where the believers “shared all things in common”.  Company policy initiates proactive health programs with its members… and whenever they call you they ask to pray with and for you.   In addition, each month you are informed of the people who your payment is helping.  You may even send those people an extra card of care and prayer.  If it weren’t for legal requirements (auto, mortgage, etc) I probably wouldn’t have some insurance because I really believe God wants to be our Protector and Provider.  But I feel good about Christian Medi-Share because even if I were to never use my sharing benefits, my payments are helping real believers with real needs. That has eternal value in my mind.  And one last great point about this option; you are not funding abortion.  

Check it out. It may be right for you.  If you care to, mention our name when you sign up.  CCMS gives a small incentive for every referral that results in a sign-up.  Thank you. 

Video – Smile time!
Very funny juggler Michael Davis comedy routine before President Ronald Reagan and government dignitaries. About 9 mins long

Thank you so VERY much for all your love, prayer and care!!

Lotsa love

Mark and Debbie
=====================
Dwelling Place Ministries
Hendrickson
11011 Olive St
KC, MO 64131
=====================
Web: www.dpmkc.org
Blog: www.marklhen.wordpress.com
Mark FB: www.facebook.com/marklhen
SP bk FB: www.facebook.com/spforu