On Fire

by Stevon Lucero

This song by Switchfoot has deeply affected me during this prayer retreat.

On Fire (portion of the lyrics)

But everything inside you knows
Says more than what you’ve heard
So much more than empty conversations
Filled with empty words

And you’re on fire
When he’s near you
You’re on fire
When he speaks
You’re on fire
Burning at these mysteries

Give me one more time around
Give me one more chance to see
Give me everything you are
Give me one more chance to be... (near you)

Cause everything inside looks like
Everything I hate
You are the hope I have for change
You are the only chance I’ll take

When I’m on fire
When you’re near me
I’m on fire
When you speak
And I’m on fire
Burning at these mysteries
These mysteries...

Simeon & Anna

I'm in the second day of my prayer retreat at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City.

This morning God has been talking to me about the process of falling in love with our Savior. Luke 2:21-40 contains the story of two people who loved Jesus with all of their heart even before he was born.

Simeon was so full of the Holy Spirit that God revealed to him many mysteries about the coming Messiah. His prophecies are staggering and ring completely true to this day. But what amazes me is his passion for Jesus. His very life was tied up with his expectancy of Jesus. He didn't care so much whether he lived to see all that Jesus would do, Simeon passion was simple - to just see his face before his death.

Anna, a prophetess, also recognized the Messiah as this 8 day-old infant. She worshipped through ceaseless prayer and frequent fasting and never left the temple day or night. I look around me in this prayer room at many Simeons and Annas - men and women so passionate about Jesus that they recognize his presence, his voice, his face.

The Barnes gave the proclamation to our community that God is calling us to fall in love with our Savior. What is the path to passionate love for the Savior? How does one become like Simeon or Anna? God is calling me to simply spend time in his presence and read the promises of the coming Messiah. We must become desperate with anticipation for the coming Messiah. We must rejoice at the Messiah's birth. We must walk with him in his journey on the Earth. We must stand with him at the cross. We must live, crying out for his return...

The Constant Gardener

This one deserves a trip to the theater.

Difficult...will make you struggle if your heart easily empathizes with others. Curious how many films are suddenly featuring Africa (go Bono). Artfully done. Meirelles puts you in the shoes of a loveable one dimensional nice guy who is suddenly forced to face an evil that can hardly exist in his perfect predictable world.

This theme of African exploitation is one that feels completely overwhelming - like digging a bottomless pit where a new shocking and complicated evil is unearthed with every shovel full.

Where did this divergence begin? How do our various races play in the divine drama of our world? How can the children of Japheth answer the sons of Ham? How can we begin to bring resolution to so much suffering?