​“Tell me the story about the day I was born.”
 
My mom says, “Again?  I tell you this story every year.”  Well, of course.  Birthdays should be celebrated.  Life is a gift and I love to hear her tell the story to me.  That’s a gift too.
 
This year, I will call again on the start of my 62nd year of life.  But, this year, I would like to do something different.
 
I want to say ‘thank you’ to my Mom AND Dad for choosing to give me life.  They were young and unmarried.  It would have been convenient in today’s culture to terminate the pregnancy.  No Jeff; no Ben; no Samuel; no Koen.   Debbie and Alyssa would have married other men.  I would have continued to live in another place; but not here.    Pregnancy is temporary.  Death is permanent. 
 
I would have never had the opportunity to exercise my choices:  Marrying Debbie;  Being in Ministry;  Rooting for the Steelers; Serving in the Army….
 
My voice would have never been heard.  I would have been silenced before I had the chance to make my first sound, utter my first words, or sing my first song.   I would have never had the chance to laugh or cry…well, not that anyone would hear.
 
And my Mom would have never made the decision without my Dad.  They decided to get married.  It was a different time.  I was brought home from the hospital to a little rented farm house.   I got to live.  I’m very thankful.  Thank you Mom and Dad for not making my right to live an issue of your right to choose.  I know it didn’t make your life easier.  But, I hope it made it richer.
 
So, ‘tell me the story’ again.  It’s a story that some innocent children never get to hear.  Tell me about the day I was born……

 
36 down and 12 to go.    It’s been a year ago since I started God Rods Across America.  The idea was to perform “Arise My Love” on the capitol steps of every state in the continental US and pray for the state representatives to Congress from that state and our President and Vice President.    The idea came to me while I was praying for a way to show my appreciation to God for his GOODNESS in 30 years of full time ministry.  I had hoped to finish the tour in a year, but now it looks like I’ll be going into the Fall of this year.  C’est La Vie. 
 
On my latest tour, I decided to jot down what I’ve learned so far because the journey really is so much more than the destination.   Consider this my current State (Capitols) of Mind.

• I’ve had a chance to reflect on what it must have been like to be a prophet of God in the Old Testament.  These men were asked to do some sensational acts in the delivery of their messages.   Jeremiah smashed jars before his audience. Ezekiel baked bread over human excrement.  There’s also that episode of Isaiah walking around naked for three years.   In each case the message came with the package.  They were intermingled and inseparable.  While I haven’t had a lot of onlookers or gawkers or even spectators, I still get a sense that people who see me are bewildered.  It’s almost like a scene from Impractical Jokers, but there’s no joke.   And I get asked a lot by my friends, “What ARE you doing?”  If you don’t understand faith, it’s hard to explain.
• There is a majesty and wonder in the architecture of most the buildings.  State capitol complexes are incredible edifices and I encourage you to take some time to visit them.  Look around at the statues…before someone finds reason to take them down because they’re offensive.  Stroll through the hallways.  Read the history.  Most of them have rotundas of extraordinary beauty.  This has been an unexpected pleasure of my journey.
• Praying for the men and women elected by the people has been a great privilege.  This has been of more significance than performing “Arise My Love”, at least when I’m by myself.  There’s a “weightiness” .  I’ve wondered about this.  But my conclusion thus far is that it’s more a result of the times than the actual names on the list.  Our elected officials need the guidance of the Holy Spirit more now than ever before. 
• I pray Psalm 140 over President Trump and Vice President Pence.  I greatly appreciate both of these men.  I agree with their ideology.  I did not agree with the ideology of Barak Obama.  But, for eight years, I prayed for him.  We’re commanded, as Christians, to pray for our leaders in 1 Tim 2: 1-4 and Romans 13:1.
• My other favorite prayer during this tour is 2 Chronicles 7:14, because we are a divided nation and in desperate need of healing and revival.  
• I’m thankful.  I’m really thankful.  The list is long, but I’m thankful for the last thirty years of ministry and how faithful God has been to me and my family.  He is GOOD.
• I’ve done more than half of the states by myself., not counting my faithful sidekick, Aunt Maggie.  Sometimes, I’m very much in the moment and oblivious to what’s going on around me, like the sound of police rushing at me.  (JK).  When people do join me, I’m very grateful to them for taking time out of their lives to stand with me.  It’s not about me.  I won’t forget them.
• “Arise My Love” was the first song I choreographed to God Rods.  The story is good AND simple.  I’m constantly astounded at the global impact.  People all over the world use it.  It’s not the only thing I’ve ever done or created.  Still, it is the most impactful.  When I do it on the steps, I feel a sense of legacy.
• Romans 1:16, “I Am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”  This is the theme I’ve been teaching at the Creative Ministries Festivals this past year.  Perfect.
• Prayer is still the most powerful tool we have at our disposal.  When a prayer is motivated by faith, it moves God.  It moves GOD.  WOW. 
• One of the more 'memorable" experiences was in Minneapolis.  I did "Arise My Love" on the steps during a Hindu festival on the grounds.  I was surrounded by the sights, smells, and music of the Hindi religion.  Shine Jesus Shine.  
• I’m especially thankful for my family who doesn’t laugh at what I’m doing.  (I don’t think they laugh.  I hope they’re not laughing.)  For 30 years they have had to try and explain to friends and colleagues what I do.  How is that possible?  I’m especially thankful for my wife.  She is PERFECT for me.   Boy, did God get that one right.  What a blessing.
• North Carolina had the most people on the steps.  43.
• I really felt the presence of the Lord standing on the steps in Boise, ID.
• Maine was easily the worst experience.  Someone needs to talk to them about guest relations.
• The folks at the Mississippi capitol were wonderful to work with and very friendly.  So were the folks in Nevada.  The representative in CA was very helpful.
• Ohio, Texas, New York, Arizona,  made it the hardest to get on state property.  Really?  You need a police escort that you have to pay for? Insurance?
• Florida was my biggest surprise.  A group for a local Christian school joined me there.  What a blessing they were.
• Utah has the most stately architecture.
• Providence has the best designed complex.  It was beautiful.
• NEVER go to Missouri in February.  NEVER.
• In Montgomery, AL, a women joined us for the prayer time.  She works at the capitol and regularly walks at lunch to pray for the state and natural leaders.  She led a most powerful prayer.  Afterwards, she said that the Lord spoke to her after President Trump was elected and said, “I have sent Benjamin Netanyahu, someone to stand with him.”  AMEN.
• Christ Church in Montgomery, AL, blessed me.
• I was not allowed on the grounds in Austin.  So, I hid behind a rock on the corner of the property and performed and prayed.  No one saw me.  (Really?)  Thanks to the great state of Texas.
• Faithfulness.  You can only experience God’s faithfulness if you walk in faith.  
• I'm almost at the end.  Tomorrow is the last stop on the tour:  Santa Fe, NM.  Seems like an odd place to end anything, right?    But finally, 15 1/2 months after I started, I've figured out what it was all about.  It didn't materialize for me until this last leg of the trip.  And, you may be surprised at my answer.  But here is is:  PEOPLE.  It's always about people, isn't it?  If it's about God, you can bet it's going to be about people.  God loves PEOPLE because they are eternal.   I have been so blessed by everyone who shared the journey with me: 
  • Jodi, Ann, Anne, Sue and Steve, Brenda, Joyce and Karen, Gretchen, Mr and Mrs. Manion, Richie and Vickie, Kitty, Bobby, Gayle, John, Jenny and Jeff, Tina, Amy, David, Lori, Lori, All the SC peeps, Chuck, Kathy and Dan, Lenny and Mariam, Gabriel, Kristofer and Amanda;  Garret and the girl who didn't speak, Cathy, Warren, Aaron and his whole family, Gary and Julie; Chuck; Maggie (Big Time), Jason and Shannon, Tim and Judy, Linda;  Everyone at Creative Ministries Solutions, Kim and Dennis, Liz, Kitty, John, Wayne, (lady and husband in Montgomer, AL, where I spent the night?), Hillary, Cindy, (lady that drove me to the airport in Raleigh, NC, and the other gal who picked me up!), David and Janet. If you were on the steps with me at any of these places, if you prayed with us on FB Live.  Thank you for sharing this journey with me.   Psalm 84:6, 'Blessed are those whose strength is in you,  whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.  As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it (have made it) a place of springs (for me..)
    
  • Debbie, Ben, Samuel, Alyssa, Koen.  You know, I know, God knows. That's all.