Ok here I am in Lakeland. Staying in a some brand new development villa. It's cool-- we are like the only ones here, and certainly the only ones with a ton of camera equipment and lots of starbucks rubbish.
I pick up my Bible, and read about Jesus for a little while. I sense God saying something.
"Why are you here?" God asks me.
You know the cliche, when God asks the question, only He knows the answer.
My response: "Alright God, I'm here 'cos I'm gonna film some stuff behind the scenes."
God: That's not it.
Me: "I'm here cos I want to find out if Lakeland is the real thing."
God: Not even close, son, you know I am here.
Me: "Um...I want to answer all the critics on youtube who put clips of Todd and friends up to just tear him down."
God: ... (keep trying)
Me: "I'm here cos I have had tremendous favor to interview Roy Fields?"
God: ha ha ha (in a fatherly way, of course)
Me: "Ok. Let me think on this one"
And you know why I am here? Because I desire freedom.
Freedom!
Since April I've done a whole bunch of restoration -- especially in the area of not being ashamed of my faith. And I see freedom here in Lakeland. I see Grace.
It helps me. It helps me to get up and go to Camden town and pray for people I'd normally judge or shun. It helps me to love my wife and friends who I too often see as imperfect. I see and feel hope, and faith.
People who are the rejects and outcasts of the world and the church are here. This anointing and grace is not for the high and mighty and perfectionists. It's for bikers, pirates, loners, misfits, led by the greatest misfit of all. And the rebels are gaining strength.
Excellent. btw . . I want to see the roy fields clip you deleted.
Posted by: Carl Thomas | 07/23/2008 at 01:28 PM