I have this phrase from the movie "You've Got Mail" going through my head over and over again. Its where Meg Ryan is in the bookstore and she is getting carried away talking about books and she says

"when you read a book as a child it becomes a part of you like nothing else ever can."

And it has me thinking. What books and movies and TV shows are becoming a part of the children in this generation? Harry Potter? Lemony Snicket? Power Rangers? Pokemon? Interesting.

Allen Hood taught a class this morning on Cultivating the Presence of God. It was stunning. He spoke of creation and how we as image "bearers" were created with a longing... a loneliness. It was there before the "fall" so it is not a negative thing, it is a direct revelation of God's heart. That longing and loneliness was for our good, it was to draw us to his heart. He knew even then that we would mess up. He knew even then that we would literally KILL his son and push him away again and again and again. But he created us with a deep longing and INABILITY to be alone, that we would always have something that could bring us back to his heart.

Now, if we could get that into the heart of the children... wow.

I'm getting pretty blown away down here in KC. The blogs may tend to be more "preachy" for awhile, but at the same time, as God is tenderizing my heart, maybe there is something in it all for your heart too! (that what I am praying)!

One cool thing... 12 people from Winnipeg are coming here TOMORROW!!!! YEAH! I am so excited to see everyone, and I am so anticipating many stories of God Encounters! Bring it on!!!!