Well, I got in. Yep, I think I have a ticket angel, cause they got me a ticket to last weeks Flyers/Devils game 5 playoff game. Here is how it went down.

So, I drove down there and looked for free parking, which doesn’t exist near the arena and I wasn’t gonna pay the $15 for parking until I got myself a ticket. So, I parked at a restaurant a mile or so away and ran to the game. I asked so many people for tickets but there was no way anyone was going to give them up. I mean, I didn’t even get a bite, just a lot of “sorry man, I only have one and it’s for me” answers.

After a half an hour of asking I decided to give up. I was on my way back to the car when I got a phone call from my friend John. John was telling a friend of his at home group (the home group I was skipping to go to the game) about what I was doing. The friend figured that there was no way I would get in so he told John he was going to buy my ticket. I couldn’t believe it.

So, I ran as fast as I could back to my car to avoid being towed and drove to the $15 car park. Then I proceded to the will call window to pick up my ticket, I was pretty much sweating like a sow and shaking from the anticipation of seeing this team that I have loved since I was a kid.

I found my way to my seat and within 5 minutes the Flyers scored the 1st goal of the game. I am not sure when it happened, I think somewhere between the 1st and 2nd period, but the Flyers went home and sent out their Jr. High team to finish off the game. Turns out they suck and so the Devils eliminated the Flyers on their home ice. I would have been totally bummed about this, but I remembered that I was sitting in a $165 seat for free at an NHL playoff game.

Thanks ticket angel, you rule.

I will post tomorrow on if I get in or not, but till then I just wanted to give some pointers on getting into events without paying. The secret can be summed up in three words. Ask, Ask, Ask.

That’s it, just ask. Last night I asked dozens of people for tickets before I got one. There were some crazy looks, some good lucks and some people who just plain ignored me. Eventually one dude and his girlfriend handed me a ticket and said “enjoy the game.” I told him i was from the west coast and it was my first Phillies game. They shook my hand, gave me the ticket and that was it, I was in.

So, tonight I try my skills/gifts again for a dream game. I have always wanted to see the Flyers, they have been my team since I was a kid. I even had a Bobby Clarke hockey card, probably worth a few hundred $$ now, but back then I just wanted to see how far I could flick it across the room.

Well, until tomorrow then.

Cheers.

Amy and I were just talking about how cool it has been to be on this tour for the past 6 months as a family and how amazing it has been for our kids. We were listening to some worship music on the ol cd player and during the chorus we glanced back and saw our kids looking out the window and singing along. The chorus was simple, it just said “fill me up Lord, fill me up). There we were, a family of 5 driving through some of the most beautiful country we have ever seen and listening to our 9 and 5 year olds worshipping the God who created it all. It was so worshipful and completely  overwhelming.

I looked at Amy and we both had tears in our eyes as we tried to soak in the moment. It was truly pure and beautiful. I didn’t want the moment to end. I almost pressed repeat on the song, but I didn’t want to recreate something that God had given in the first place, so we just sat there thankful for the blessings, gifts and undeserving life that Jesus has given us.

I realized that words on a computer screen cannot even touch what I was feeling yesterday, but take a moment with me right now and remember a time where all felt right with the world and your soul. Was it a moment that Jesus gave you with a friend, family member, by yourself? I believe we all have those moments, undeserved moments of peace and life. Most of the time we either miss them, or just pass through them without taking time to soak it in. These moments that Jesus gifts to us regardless of anything we have done for him. It is a beautiful thing.

Take some time to look back on those moments that you have had and thank God for them. Cheers.

On Thursday March 22 we are going go 22 hours without water. What does that look like? Well, we are asking you not to drink it, not to shower in it, not to use it while brushing your teeth, not to take it to wash down your pills and not to use it for anything else you would normally use water for during the day. Then, when you get thirsty, feel dirty or just are plain frustrated we are asking that you turn that into prayers for the 1 billion who live like that each and every day.

We are also asking that you go to http://water.org/post/water/ and share your voice, do that today. Share your voice via Facebook and Twitter, change your background and your profile picture and let the world know that the water crisis must stop.

Please join us for 22 hours on March 22nd as we go without water and take a stand for justice.

Sign up for the event here.

 

Photo by Ashely Perlberg

This challenge of obedience has come up in my life lately in a major way. Obedience and sacrifice seems all good and romantic in theory, but when God calls you to do something outside of the ordinary or contradictory to what culture would say, all those romanticized ideas and fuzzy feelings quickly go away and we are left with a choice. When we are left with that choice to obey or not then the Obedience song in all it’s cheer and innocence becomes a curse. Because of  our stubborn and fearful nature, obedience is sometimes the last thing we want to do.

Obedience to God is easy when its our voice we are listening to, but when it is God’s voice it becomes hard for some reason. I think this is mostly because our voice tells us what we want, but Gods voice tells us what He wants. God clearly says in his Word that He requires obedience before sacrifice. Those in the Bible who sacrificed outside of obedience had kingdoms torn out of their hands and stepped out of the blessing of God.

How does this look in your life? What are the things God is calling you to that you are  ignoring or running from? My challenge to you, STOP RUNNING AND OBEY. When we walk in obedience there is freedom, yes it is scary and unknown, but it is freeing. Seriously, STOP RUNNING, turn around and obey. When God is calling us to something our obedience always leads to freedom and life, never to captivity and death.

Can I hear an AMEN?

As the day has gone on I am going to go with my gut and my head on how I see the Kony initiative. My thoughts, I am psyched that it is happening. Seriously, they may only be spending 30% or so on initiatives on the ground in Uganda, but they are at least doing that. I see organizations like Charity Water and One Days Wages and even our organization Steps of Justice who give 100% (minus credit card fees for the later 2) to causes. This is not the normal way to do things, but I see that many people now want the same from organizations that they give to. The Invisible Children staff get paid. It costs money to do the video, promo, and all the other things they put out. It costs money to fly to Africa and across the world to talk and share about what they are doing, I will give to that. In addition, they are giving their lives to this, I would happily give them money to support themselves and their families and apprehend Kony.

The critics are right, awareness doesn’t do justice in any way. That is where we come in, we have to do more. What sacrifices or hard decisions will we make to see this apprehension of Kony happen? Or even more, what will we do with our passion and excitement of this whole Justice thing that is more than just clicking Like or Share on Facebook? We can vote with our fingers on a computer/phone in our bedrooms, but what would it look like to get out of our rooms, go outside and do something, instead of just clicking the Like button? Let this inspire you to do something. Yes give to Kony 2012, and also figure out what you are passionate about and start your own initiative to see change happen out of an unjust sitiation.

Cheers

Pledge your support by donating here: bit.ly/konydonate and continue to share this story. GOAL: 500,000 shares at

 

“Do you think you are a king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 22: 15-16

We are supposed to head out in March for a spring tour, but things are looking a bit different. Instead of 22 events, we only have a few. This has not been for a lack of trying, that is for sure. We have emailed 100′s of churches, pastors and communities and have only heard back from a hand full and of those most of the dates didn’t line up. Many of these emails went to friends and people who believe in this call, but even then we didn’t hear back (no bitterness I promise). This has been super frustrating and confusing, so today we gathered together to ask God what He thinks.

I have to be honest, we have only done this a few times, but each time I see God showing up and communicating clearly to us. We believe He has called us to do the tour, but we are not sure why events are not panning out. So, we sat down to pray and almost immediately a section of scripture came into my mind. The scripture was from Genesis 12, where God called Abram to leave everything he knew and head to a place God would show him.

I immediately knew that I had heard something, I heard God say “go.” So, we talked about it as a group and we all agreed that we need to step out in faith and go. So, on Monday, March 4 we will leave S. California and head east. Our first scheduled event is in April so we will spend March doing justice by connecting with ministries, churches, non-profits, etc. We will be taking each day to serve and ask Jesus what His next step is for us.

OK, I understand that this is FREAKING CRAZY. We are leaving a place that we know for a place that we don’t. Since we only have a few events we only have a small amount of the tour budgeted. We also have 3 kids and the Wilsons have one on the way. Yep, I am beginning to see that when God called Abraham it probably didn’t seem that romantic to him either, I mean he packed up the place that he and generations before him had been living and headed out.

Ya know the main reason we are doing this though? It’s because God spoke and we walk in obedience. Also, I want people to write books about this stuff, I expect to see miracles, divine meetings and blessings beyond reason for us and for others though our obedience. So there you go, that is what the Cunningham’s are up to as we continue to pioneer Steps of Justice.  We are a year and a half in and we see this as one of the most significant steps that we have taken yet.

How can you be involved? Well it is simple, here are 4 ways.

1. Pray for us

2. Write us with your prayers, encouragement, ideas, thoughts, and friendship

3. Come with (serious, wanna come)? We leave in a week

4. Give. OK, trying to be practical, we need cash to do this so you can give here. We estimate he tour will cost approx. $6000 for gas and housing. (all gifts are tax deductible).

That is it, we will for sure be writing lots, so stay tuned.

Peace