Well when I reach a minor milestone I like to give it a little shout out. Today I surpassed 50,000 veiws on this blog since It started in January. So to commemorate I changed the look of my blog, and added some pages.
I would like to draw special attention to the “Bring it Up” page. The page describes it’s purpose.
So Merry Christmas to all!
.::zack hensley
Christmas morning in Minnesota. Snow is falling outside and Carrie’s Father and I are watching Christmas movies. Carrie’s Mom is preparing breakfast in the kitchen, while my coffee is brewing. I’m not a sentimental sap… ok so I am. We watched “It’s a wonderful Life” and sure enough my eyes welled up like water fountains as George Baily sprinted through Bedford falls yelling out Christmas blessings. As much as I hate to admit it I’m a sentimental fool. This morning is one of those warm fuzzy days that when described in public a may try to roll my eyes and give an obligatory scoff. Yet today is to perfect. Christmas morning with the woman I love, in a snow covered town, with the most wonderful people I’ve ever met.Yes this is where I take a pause.
In my busy life of IHOP, classes, raising money, and helping people. I stop to think about my life. I stop to think about how I have been blessed by God with a life better than anyone could ask for. I’m so grateful to God for my family (especially my beautiful sister). So grateful for my friends. I’m so grateful that I’ve been given a place like IHOP where I can live to love Jesus and help others do the same. I’m so grateful for my house and everything I have. I’m so grateful to have a woman in my life that I couldn’t have asked for. If left to me I never would have dreamed of finding such a girl as her. She is truly my greatest blessing!
Yes God is good, and my life is a testimony to his goodness. I deserve nothing. I deserve to burn in hell, yet He has not only raised my soul from death to life. But he has blessed me with more than I could ever have imagined. I love my Jesus.
So without any more mumbling through the warm fuzzies currently turning in my belly. I leave with a typical sentiment for this perfect day.
Merry Christmas.
yip yip yip! It’s another random rantings, broadcasted from the town Jose’ Artigas Built! And by that I mean Montevideo, MN. Not to be confused with Montevideo, Uragay. I’m here with Carrie spending Christmas with her lovely family!
For all of you trying to get a hold of me, I have no cell phone reception. Apparently T-mobile has never heard of this wonderful town. So to them, put up a tower please!!
Let’s start with politics… Where the heck did Huckabee come from? He became a front runner about as fast as he lost 130lbs. Though his rise is impressive, I think it’s going to take more than a spot with Chuck Norris to get my vote. I’m predicting a come from behind Iowa win by my boy John McCain. long shot I know
I have always loved Nelson Mandela… but right now I’m a bit miffed at him! He just came out and gave his full approval of Jacob Zuma and asked the ANC to rally behind him. To me this is the equivalent of Chamberlain endorsing Hitler before the war. Zuma is a wicked and dangerous man, who has oppressed many, not unified. Anyone who rapes women openly and declares it his right as a man… God have mercy! Jono I’m praying for your nation…
Also speaking of Huckabee… He’s showing us that he’s still in shape by giving interviews from the treadmill.
My Christmas Party last week was a smashing success! About 50-60 people showed up. All were dressed up, and looking great. It was the best Christmas party I’ve thrown yet! Special thanks to my party planning committee: Sarah, Season and Tiffany! They helped me stay sane! I’ll throw some pictures up here soon documenting the festivities.
Free Forever Nocturnal in Turkey!!! My mom just got back from yet another trip to Turkey. While there she said that the nation of Turkey has blocked this blog. Apparently Turkey doesn’t like my blog or any other WordPress blog. So I to those poor Turks missing out on the great content of this blog, I’m for you! I’m I can’t imagine not getting to read this blog… it’s just criminal.
I worked at a meat packing plant when I was 18. I almost sliced off my thumb once while cut whole chickens in half… it was an interesting job.
I’ve been reading Brian McClaren lately as a favor for a friend wanting to know more about the Emergent church. I have to say McClaren and the Emergent church scares the snot out of me. I’m praying they gain revelation Of who Jesus is, least they are swept away. Lord have mercy.
Well it’s official, Alonzo Mourning’s career is finally over. “Zo” has been one of my favorite basketball players ever since he was drafted in ‘92. He was the toughest player I’ve ever seen play. It was a good run Zo!
Carrie’s family is absolutely amazing. Guys as you are looking for the woman you want to choose to love, I pray you are lucky enough to find someone with such a great family. Carrie’s brother and his wife are such wonderful people, and her parents are fabulous! It’s been a great Christmas thus far.
You know what country I’ve always been a fan of? Hungry. In 5th grade I did a report on Hungry for my end of the year project. I learned that Hungry is famous for Goulash and Paprika. But apparently are also famous for this ridiculousness: click here believe it or not these guys are for real… shutter.
I miss those Kool Aid “Oh Yeah” commercials. What ever happened to them away?
Everyone I know loves Harry S. Truman for his emancipating Isreal. I love him for that too. But I can’t say I like the guy who nuked two Japaneses cities after they had repeatedly tried to surrender the summer prior to the bombs. Even General Eisenhower begged him not to do it. But Truman wanted to flex the U.S. muscle at Stalin. He wanted to show our strength was greater than any in the world. He killed millions of innocent lives to do it. Does the product out weigh the cost?
I miss my beautiful sister Sarah this Christmas. I hope you are not having a “blue Christmas” with out me!
For all you readers who are going to be at the Ontething conference this year, I want to meet you! I’m having a “Forever Nocturnal meet-up” at the Onething conference this year. We will meet Saturday night during the dinner break at the “IHOP internship” booth. I’ll be giving away a yet-to-be-announced gift to those readers who show up. So come out! I will be telling stories, and discussing any topics I’ve written about that you wish to talk more about. I look forward to meeting you all.
Blessings all! and Merry Christmas!
.::zack hensley
So a friend of mine sent this to me… I fell over laughing.
Check it out:
*This is an article I wrote today for the Onething Source Website* It’s a site for leaders in the prayer movement.
Over the last couple of months we’ve been looking at the Sermon on the Mount. We’ve collectively expounded on the different facets Jesus laid out so clear for us in the sermon. It’s important however to pay close attention to Jesus’ summation of this sermon, for there in lies the key. It’s in those final verses that he paints a vivid picture of how we should act, and what the consequences are for us if we do not. In other words Jesus is bluntly trying to tell us that the particulars of this sermon are not helpful tidbits or possible suggestions. No these things are required of us, least we are swept away in a time of trouble or affliction.
We can talk the talk. We can talk about the need for holiness, and righteousness, we can tell others to walk it out. We can even build a ministry prophesying to people, calling them to holiness. We can call for our youth groups, and churches to be set apart for “onething”, and build a name for ourselves doing so. Yet with out personal action, without walking it out in our day in and day out lives, it’s all worthless. I can write for the IHOP website, teach classes for Fire in the Night, and have important positions of leadership and respect in the body of Christ. Still without the foundation of the Sermon on the Mount, without the gospel of Jesus Christ being my foundation, friends, I will be swiftly swept away.
Let’s look at the actual passage:
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”(ESV)
Let’s look at the audience and context in which Jesus is speaking. He is not talking about our salvation, nor is he talking to non-believers outside of the kingdom. No, He is talking to those, who listen to His words. Those who like listening to the word, those who position themselves to listen to it, folks, He’s talking to us. He is talking to those who are saved. We are the ones in danger of being swept away. We are the ones who must not only hear what the word says. We are the ones who are to take the grace that He has given and do what it says.
What are we building then on these two different foundations? What’s the interpretation of this picture? Here is the way I see it. The house we build is our intentions. The things we intend and say we are going to do, or say we are doing. The foundation is how those intentions, acted out. We intend to fast and pray, walk in meekness, love those around us. We proclaim to others to walk in holiness, and set apart for Christ. Yet it’s building a house on sand, if none it is walked out by those bringing the word and hearing the word. If it’s only heard, only intended, only talked about, it won’t stand. If it’s walked out, lived in the grace of God then it will be a bulwark unmoved.
Now there is good news for those of you, like myself, whose hearts just sunk wondering you if are walking in your intentions, or actually doing what you say and hear. The way we walk out what Christ has commanded us, is we rest in him. We rest in his grace. We wake up every day and say, “forgive me of my sin, and give me the ability to walk according to your word today.” The way we build a solid foundation is doing what He says, yes, but doing it in his strength. Remember Colossians 3:3, “Your life is hidden with Christ, in God.” Remember Ephesians 2:6 we are “seated with Christ in heavenly places.” Remember Jude 24 “To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling” Remember I Corinthians 1:17 “So that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (all ESV)
So how then shall we live? We rest in God’s ability to help us do what the word says. We stop proclaiming things that we don’t live out. We stop building things based on words and intentions. Instead we live according to the word, and his ability to help us walk it out. I have set it before myself to build on top of my experience of walking out the word, not hearing it and proclaiming it. I and all of us do that in the grace He has so graciously provided for us with the gift of his Son. We call on Jesus, who is forever interceding for us before the throne of God. We plead our lack, and ask for his grace to do what the word says. To do what we tell others to do. Something I hope to do even after writing this article.
Oh God, give me and those reading the grace and strength to walk out your word. Would you reveal to us the greatness of your power to those who believe. Bless us as we strive in your grace to run this race with endurance. Thank you Jesus for your mercy, thank you for your kindness. Thank you that you saved and have blessed a sinner like me. amen.
If you are ever at a wedding where there is a DJ, do them and me a favor. When you make requests remember one thing… they are requests. They aren’t mandates to play the song you desire; a DJ is not a juke box.
To DJ’s, here is a tip. Never put requests, no matter how demanding, over those of the person writing the check. If you do good luck walking out of there with any sort of tip!
But that rant aside, it’s been a pretty decent event.
I’m still astonished people have found some way to keep their love for the Macerana alive. Thought that would have died years ago, But this crowd seems to still love it.
much love to all of you!
I can’t wait to get out of here and see the woman I love!
Two things before the song I’m playing is over…
1. Can we get something else to play besides Bob Carslie- Butterfly Kisses for the Father daughter dance??
2. Why does that stupid song make me cry everytime… even while DJing.
It’s a mystery.
So ladies and gentlemen,
It’s Christmas time, and you know what that means! Christmas shopping lists abound! So without further ado… I give you my Christmas wishlist:
Zack’s Super Fabulous Christmas Wishlist
So if you just happen to be in the festive spirit. Drinking egg nog, and decorating ginger bread men. Stringing tinsel and singing Christmas carols. Shopping for presents and drinking hot cocoa. I invite you to remember me and my list. Should you have a little extra left to spend, or have a lot to spend, remember your favorite nocturnal blogger, and buy him a little gift… or a big gift! 
Either way Merry Christmas! and I hope you all will be listening to Sufjan Stevens this holiday season.
Feel free to throw a link to your list in the comments…maybe I’ll try to get you something!
.::zack
Friends I just found out that Sufjan Stevens has put out a Christmas Album! I downloaded most of it from I-Tunes, and It will definitely be the music playing at my Christmas party on Friday! The album has 42 tracks! It’s my favorite Christmas discovery in a long time!
Buy it! download it! love it!
Matthew 7:22-27 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.
I find myself often in a quandary between my intentions and reality. Often I sit in the prayer room night after night, teach classes, and counsel young people, without giving life around me a second thought. It’s easy to get into a flow. It’s easy to call others to pray without actually having a prayer life. It’s easy to teach Song of Solomon, with out talking to the Lord about it. It’s easy to call others to lives of holiness, with out calling yourself to the same standards. Often I find myself like the disgruntled High school football coach, who calls for his players to play in ways he wished he had. Yes indeed it’s an unintended hypocrisy we live at times.
This is when I remember the above warning from my savior. He warns us not to get caught up in the doing of the ministry, he warns us that prophecy is not = to life in Christ. That signs and wonders are marvelous, but without knowing him, without abiding by his commands, in his love, it’s all worthless.
I fear that often in my zeal, and in those around me in the prayer movement, we’ve erred on this note. It’s easy to call friends and family members into holiness, fasting and prayer, yet without walking in obedience and love. It’s easy to point out the problems in the modern church, yet we forget to look at our own hearts.
Lenard Ravenhill once said, “In all thy getting, get unction.” I say in all thy getting get a heart alive in God, walking in love and obedience to his Word. Because without doing God’s will, without being obedient to the Word, without walking in love, all the unction in world wont save us. Going to the conference to get that prophetic word is great, but without a heart founded in the Word and his love, what does it get you?
You and I must be found in the secret place. I must be found not just leading prayer meetings and teaching young people. I must be found on my knees at home as well. I desire to prophecy the Word of the Lord. But more than I desire to testify about him, I desire to have a life grounded in meekness and humility. A life that I can present to the Lord. A life that causes him to say, “Well done my son.”
Careful we stand lest we fall. Careful I claim that I’m alive, when I’m dead on the inside. I desire to know only him, and his Word. I desire to love him and those around me. If I never prophesy in front of that big crowd, if I never raise that dead man, or have that forerunner anointing, I will still have a foundation to stand on when I’m before him. I’ll still be able to hear him say “well done”. His pleasure is my ambition; his delight, his glory. Before I pray on the mic in front of Korea, I want to know that I’ve done all I can to build a mansion of obedience, holiness and love on the inside of me. At the end of the day, I could have changed a city with a prophetic Word from God’s heart, yet it’s in vain if my heart and life is fruitless before him.
selah
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