26 years of life; a doxology

Today is my birthday. I walked into my house tonight to grab lunch at 2:15am feeling overwhelmed with gratefulness. (Yes in case you’ve forgotten I’m on a night schedule, a 2:15am lunch is normal!) I had just finished playing drums at the JPR for an up and coming worship leader Sean Downs. I sat down on my couch and began to weep.

I share this private moment with you not to air out my private life to the public. I share it with you so you can understand the immensity of gratefulness I have to the Lord concerning my life right now. I want to share it openly as a testimony to God’s goodness. God is truly good, and has been so good to me.

Today as I reflect on the last 26 years I’ve been alive, I am so overcome with the blessing of God on my life. I have been given parents who have been so good to me. Loving me with steadfastness even when they lacked financially or personally. I have a beautiful sister who I could count on for anything. I have a Grandmother who lavishes me with love and affirmation. My entire life my family has been nothing but a supporting strength to my life and heart. My aunts, uncles, cousins, all have only ever brought joy to my heart.

I work for a ministry where I’ve personally watched the leaders around me live their personal and private lives with integrity, honor, steadfastness in the word, and humility. I’m so blessed to have friends that rally around me to help me no matter the cost. They have always supported me no matter my short comings.

I’m so blessed to have a house on an acre of land. I’m so blessed to have money to pay for my expenses, even when others don’t.

I’m so blessed to be marrying the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I’m so blessed to have a woman who absolutely loves me no matter how bad I mess up (and I do!) and no matter how weird or strange I act. To have the steadfast love of a woman is the greatest gift I’ve ever experienced. I’m so blessed that her parents Fred and Jerri are such delightful people. I’m so blessed that my future brother in-law Drew, is such an amazing guy, wonderful father and great husband. (Plus he’s like 10 times smarter than me.) Everyone else in the Blom family, everyone in the Emery family, everyone in the Hensley’s and Miller’s!

Forgive my gushing… you can stop reading if you like but I’m going on….

I’m so blessed that though I deserve hell, I’ve been made alive! I deserve nothing that I have yet God has so sovereignly blessed me!!

Blessed be the name of my God! For nothing I have I deserve! Nothing I enjoy is mine to claim hold of. All honor, all glory all wisdom and praise be the Lamb that was slain. For with his innocent blood he ransomed me from hell, and gave me a glorious inheritance together with Him.

May all those in my life be forever blessed with a greater measure even then I have!

May my life and all that I do forever bless the name of the Lord Jesus the Christ. For his sake I’ve lost all things, that I might know Him!

I’m glad I’ve made it 26 years, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

gushing ended… thank you for reading…

Intimacy; The Glorious Message of the Gospel

This is the beginning of a series I’m working on about the subject of Intimacy with Christ. Consider this an overview, or a part 1.

God is big, really big; in fact you wouldn’t believe just how big he is. Job 38 tells us that he was the one who determined the measurements of the Earth. He determined the cosmos, and the measurements of the constellations. The stars and the brilliance of their shine; the cosmos and nebulas, planets and moons, spin around the Universe only by the command of the living God. We see that the waves in the sea curl because they are bowing at the sovereignty of God. He set a boundary line in the sand and commands them, “thus far and no further! Here is where you proud waves stop.” We see every snow flake, rain drop, every lightning bolt, falls only at the placement of God. They act only on his command. In Colossians 1 Paul says Jesus in his deity, created all things by him, for him. God has angels, multitudes in fact, all at his beckoned command. We see them in various roles. Some as servants, worshipers, messengers, some even act as his instruments of judgment. He is the blessed only sovereign, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He dwells in unapproachable light. To Him be all honor, glory and dominion forever. (ITim.6:15-17) God is not just big; He is huge, massive, preponderant, paramount, all powerful, all glorious, all mighty, all righteous, autonomous, and self sustaining. In summation “God is in the Heavens and whatever He pleases He does.”(Ps.115)

It’s important for us to know God’s immensity and sovereignty. It’s important because it gives us an understanding as to why getting to know Christ and becoming an intimate friend of his is important. Here is the whole of the matter; God doesn’t need you. That’s right, your service, your life is not needed for Him to carry out his will. He doesn’t need you to be his hard working attendant. If He needs something done he can command his angels, he can command creation to bend at his will. Again he is really, really, big. Here is the glorious message of the gospel; The God, who has everything and doesn’t need you or me, chose us. The God of all creation has this as his desire: that we would be with him for all eternity. The entry way to understanding God’s desired intimacy with us is John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only, begotten son. Who so ever believes in him will not parish, but have everlasting life.”

Here is my question to you in your desire to be a follower of Christ; why did Jesus die for your sins? Why was it so important for God to take on flesh, preach to his people the Jews, die on a cross, get resurrected and go back to heaven with the promise that he will return to establish his kingdom on the Earth? Did he do it so that you could become a good servant? Did he do it so that you could get a “get out of jail free” card? Did he do it merely just for redemption? I submit to you that redemption is merely a means to a greater end. That it’s the entry way to knowing and enjoying God. Redemption alone is a magnificent miracle. But the washing of our sins was only for the purpose of being able to experience and know God.

Eph 2:4-7 tells us that God being rich in mercy, and because of the unfailing love for which he loved us, though we were dead in our sins, made us alive with the resurrection power of Christ. It’s by his grace that we are saved so no man could boast- so that in the coming ages He could reveal to us the greatness of his kindness. Redemption is not just a form of legal acquittal, but the doorway into knowing and enjoying God forever.

We see in the garden, mere hours before Jesus began his passion, he cries out to the Father: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:24-26)

He is about to allow the Father to crush him. (Is.53:10) As he looks at what is about to go down he says, “Oh Father! I have a desire!” Jesus who is complete in both his deity and his humanity, expresses a desire; us.

Webster’s dictionary- Intimacy: familiarity: close or warm friendship; closeness.

If you are of the mind that intimacy with Christ is a message other than the gospel you are mistaken. Intimacy with our God is in fact at the heart of the gospel. Jesus died for your sins-because He wants you to be with him. Jesus is coming back to set up His kingdom on the Earth-so that He can restore all things so that we can glorify him forever. The glory of the cross doesn’t stop at the abolishment of sin. The glory of the cross is that because he was slain we now have entrance into his heart. We now have the indwelling Spirit of God that forever searches his heart. (col. 1:27; Icor.2:9-11) The glory of the gospel is that we now have access to a very, very big God. We now have the ability to know and love our God free from shame, and damnation. The cross was a means to a greater end; us. Jesus gladly took on the cross, and scorned its shame, for the joy (us being with Him) that was set before Him.

I love the cross because I deserve to burn in hell, but he saved me from such terror, because his desire was for me. This beautiful man Christ Jesus saved me from death not so that I could serve him, not so that I would become a good subordinate, but so that I would love him. I desire to be close to Christ. I desire to have a friendship with God because of the great price he paid to save me from hell. Intimacy with him is now my eternal goal.

God is big. Really big. He doesn’t need you. The glorious message of the gospel is that he chose us. It’s that he desires us to be with Him. The glorious message of the gospel is that he desires intimacy, closeness with us. I Thessalonians 4:17 gives us the glorious hope that we are to encourage each other with: “and so we will always be with the Lord” Until that day comes, Lord haste the Day.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength…

Random Rantings Friday… I’m back!

Greetings web surfer peeps. It’s Friday, I’m feeling random, and I’m back online. So how about some randomness of rantingness on fridayness… ready set goness!

Fast food places, Quick Trip gas stations, and other “in and out” joints are a conundrum of ungratefulnesses to me. Every they go to fast, or the take forever. But i can never be satisfied. Quick trips bother me because they try to go so fast that it incurs anxiety in me to get my card out and pay fast enough. But then you have places where it takes them all day just to swipe your card. I guess the lesson here is in every case, to just take a deep breath and be grateful someone is there to take your money.

Carrie’s Mom is in town this weekend. I’m so excited at the idea of having a mother in-law. Often our culture chides in-laws as if they were a dirty word. Unfortunately for some that my be the case. However Carrie’s family is so great, I can’t wait to officially be apart of the family!

It’s been a week or so now, but I have to get this in… My Phoenix Suns were retarded for trading Shawn Marion for Shaq. This trade would have been like the ‘93 Bulls trading Scottie Pipen for Moses Malone. Moses is a hall of famer, but not in ‘93. The Suns needed one element to push them from great to the best: defense. So they traded their ONLY defender for a used to be awesome center… just erks me to no end!

Now that I’m engaged to Carrie, many of you know this time last year I was writing a lot about the “girl I like”. It was a saga some, including myself never thought would end. Well I thought I’d pull a quote from a random rantings post this time last year: “Update on the girl I like… it’s at the same place… but we’ve been getting to talk a lot more lately… she is incredible… smart, God fearing, fun to chat with… but yet beginning to wonder if she’ll just end up being a really good friend… which isn’t so bad, just means I might have to put the periscope back up…or not… honestly I have no clue, but she is vast in pulchritude…” It’s funny to look back isn’t it! If you search back through from January ‘07 through May ‘07 you’ll find quite a bit of entertainment going through all those random rantings!

All my roommates are gone. Living alone in a house is quite the deal. Really it’s just assured me more then ever that I’m ready to get married. Being alone in my house is nerve racking because if you hear a noise that you didn’t make, you wonder who did. Suddenly sounds you never paid attention to are now heightened. However one perk is that the dishes are always done!

Astronomers have discovered a smaller version of our solar system. They feel finding place similar to Earth with life living on it is just around the corner. My question is biblically could there be other Earths out there? I don’t see think so. In the beginning God created the Heavens and THE Earth. Scripture tells us we are the only place with life on it. They won’t find life in space.

Many is the democratic party are staying neutral as to who they are backing so as not to divide the DNC later this year. Al Gore is one who has said will stay neutral. Actually the tight race between Hilary and Obama, might just be the door the republicans need to squeak in. Division in the democratic party has been the republican’s ace of spades the last decade.

I’m officially never posting in the “dating” category again!!

Speaking of the election, I want to clear something up. Voting for a candidate that is not republican, or not Mike Huckabee does not make you unrighteous. There are to many reports in Christendom these days that how you vote can go for or against your righteousness. If someone can point out a verse that would back that up then I’m in. Till then get education on the candidates, know the issues, know what you care about, and vote who you think will be best. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are falling away from the faith because of how you vote… That’s totally absurd.

Monday is my 26th birthday!!!!! Although I have to say that with getting engaged, my birthday has lost steam this year. All of my excitement has been directed elsewhere. But just a reminder my amazon wish list is here: link

Pet peeve alert: The ear piercing beeping at gas stations. Some gas stations require ear plugs because you put your card in the slot and then… beep beep beeeeep!!!!!!!!! Not to mention this time of year it’s freezing, so the cold is piercing, the sound is piercing, then they ask you if you want a car wash when the high is 5 degrees…. NO!! just give me my gas! feeww! feels good to get that one off my chest.

When I was 13 years old, I drove my mom’s car into our house. Luckily not much damage occurred, but I never tried to drive their car when no one was home ever again.

I’m currently working on an essay on intimacy with Christ. I’m getting tons of understanding as search out the subject of being close (as in proximity) to God, and understanding why he chose to save us. I’ve been studying Eph 2 for the last 3 weeks. I love that chapter. It makes my heart alive to remember how Christ set me free from sin with his own blood on the cross.

THANK YOU ALL WHO GAVE. I finally got a new computer! It’s an HP pavilion. Yes I stayed with windows and didn’t go Mac. I LOVE this computer. It does more than i could imagine. 2 Gigs processing, 160 Gig HD, 7150MGraphics card, HD TV, HD tv tuner (it receives both cable and regular TV wirelessley, even records it and can burn it onto a disc) Has internet TV that downloads hourly the video headlines from every subject around the world free. Plus I don’t have to deal with the MAC snob persona! Ha! Anyway I’m so grateful! My parents were the biggest contributers. Thanks Mom and Pop! I love you!

Well that’s it folks! Next week I will be up in Minneapolis at Carrie’s brothers house to watch his son get baptized. Again, I’m excited to become apart of another family. God is indeed good!

The engagement story; how I popped the question

For those of you who don’t know- as of Thursday, I am engaged to be married to the ever beautiful Carrie Blom! Like Phil Collins once said with a creepiness that quivered the nerves,”I’ve been waiting for this moment all of my Life. Oh Lord!” However I say it with much more jubilance! I’m so excited!

The day was Thursday the 7^th of February. I had spent the two previous weeks “stumping” in Phoenix. I spent most of the time, raising money, speaking at various churches, and enjoying the Arizona sun. I woke up Thursday morning and went straight to the bank to cash the checks I had accumulated from the trip. My plan was to take the money straight to the jewelry store where I had a ring on hold. As I traveled from the bank across town to the jewelry store, I was so excited I couldn’t wait to get there. I’d get stuck at a stop light, and I would anxiously tap the steering wheel waiting for the light to turn green. I was so excited I was going to buy the ring; I couldn’t seem to get there fast enough.

I arrived finally, talked with the sweet ladies behind the counter. There were asking me when I was going to ask the question. How I was going to do it. But I didn’t have an answer for them. I figured I’d wait a few weeks and plan it out- except it was then that I had an epiphany. “why not just do it tonight!? I’ve been waiting to get here to this point for years. I have the ring, I have the woman of my dreams, why wait?”

The set up

It was then noon. So I figured I had a few hours to try to pull it all together. I knew that night she was planning on hanging out with her friend Mandy at 5pm so I figured I’d use that as my surprise/diversion. I called Mandy, my Mom, Carrie’s friends Char and Jessie, and my friend Todd. I asked for ideas, but didn’t get much. No one had any good ideas at last minute. Especially since it’s winter in the Midwest, and doing something outside was out of the question. My mind however, was set on doing it that night. I had an idea about doing it at this Hotel down town I had DJ’d at once. They had a beauty ballroom on the 40^th floor, with big windows that overlooked the city. I went there, but they shot me down like a 9^th drama nerd asking out the head cheerleader. It had taken an hour to receive that rejection, so I was getting a bit frantic to find a place as it was pushing 2pm. I decided to check The Intercontinental, a 5 diamond hotel on the Plaza River in mid-town. The place was so ritzy, and swank, I didn’t think I had a shot, or the right shoes on.

Now all bragging aside, I have a gift; persuasion. I could sell ice to an Eskimo. I walked in very confidently and asked to see the sales manager. This very pleasant blonde lady came out. I told her that my Idea was to purpose to my girlfriend that night, and I wanted to set up an elegant dinner in their crystal ballroom that overlooks the Plaza. She told me that I could indeed get the ballroom for a down payment of $3,000. I didn’t let her see me wince. She said the average price is $10,000. a night. She asked what how much money I had to work with. This is when I began the pitch. I tell her that I had only $200. max that I could spend. I show her the ring and tell her about my love for Carrie. She went in the back for 30 minutes to check some options. She came back and took me up to the crystal ballroom. It was perfect! It overlooks not only the Plaza, but the entire city. It has no walls just windows. She then tells me that she would like to give me the room for free. Not only that, but calls in a server who was off that night to be our private waiter, and sets up a beautiful table with Champaign, flowers, candles, the works. I was beside myself. I felt the pleasure of God over my decision to choose Carrie. I felt like he had set the whole thing up in his sovereignty. Carrie’s wonderful full friend Char called me and told me she was going to buy flowers for me. Again I felt like things were coming together. I went home to get ready.
The event

So Carrie was supposed to hang out with Mandy that evening at 5pm. Instead I gave Mandy some money to take Carrie shopping for a dress. I told Mandy to wait until Carrie got into the car to tell her about the change of plans. I wanted to give Carrie enough time to both find a dress and get ready. So I told Mandy to have her at the hotel by 8pm. In the mean time, I waited. I waited and waited. It may have only been about an hour, but to me it felt like a millennia. The wait in that ballroom went by so slow I was convinced that the rotation of the Earth, cosmos, and galaxies had all picked today to stop turning. I had our waiter standing in the lobby, waiting to escort her up the ballroom when she arrived. I had checked on him about fifteen times, until he belatedly went and got me some hot tea and told me to relax.

The Time then came! I got a text from Mandy, “we’re here”. I got up from the place I had decided to lay down, and ran into the bathroom to check my hair and suit. It’s quite an interesting thing to be so nervous to see someone you know so well. Carrie and I have been dating and going out on dates for a year and a half now, yet knowing what was about to happen made my hands shake like Muhammad Ali. She walked in the room and looked stunning. Carrie is and always has been the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen; this night was no exception. She was ravishing.

You could tell she knew why she was there. The tale sign was that she also was mildly trembling with anticipation. Our waiter poured us some champaign, and went to bring us the first part of our four course meal. He brought out a grilled pineapple slice, stuffed with lobster meat, and feta cheese, with caviar garnishing the side just to give you an idea. The food was the best I’ve ever had.

Once finished with the smorgasbord of delightfulness, I took no time. I went over to her side of the table. I said some things to her and made some promises that I won’t be sharing here or anywhere for that matter. I then pulled out the ring and asked her, “Carrie Blom… will you marry me?” “Yes, yes of course” was her reply. We embraced. We then took a stroll around the windows looking at the view marveling over the decision we had just made, and at the wonderful future now in store for us.

Once we had gained some composer we headed down to the lobby where my sister was waiting with her camera to document some of our reactions. I had also previously called a Limo to take us home. It was now waiting out front. I instructed our driver to take some scenic routes through the city for awhile before taking us home. It was a wonderful drive. We called her parents, decided on a date, and practiced calling each other “fiancé” for awhile.

Conclusion

The date is October 3^rd here in Kansas City. I am so excited to spend my life with a woman I not only love, but also cherish and respect. Carrie is the type of woman few men find. I’m so blessed by God to have found her. Thursday night February 7^th was a night I’ll never forget. However it was only a taste of things to come. Carrie is the greatest thing to ever come into my life here on Earth. I’ll love her in grace of God, until the day I die.

coming soon…

I have some exciting news to share… You all probably already know, but I want to tell the story right. So coming soon will be the whole story and pictures! If you don’t know…. enjoy the ambiguity!

.:zack hensley

last day in the desert

Well folks no better way to end my prolific stay in my home town of Phoenix then to eat some Mexican at my favorite little mexican food place; Rosa’s. If you are ever in Phoenix, more specifically Mesa. You have make a stop at this little place on the corner of Mesa Dr. and University. It’s a small quaint little ‘mom and pop’ type place. I’d have to say in my top 3 favorite restaurants of all time, of anywhere.

My mom and I are sitting down, eating the best dark roasted chile salsa I’ve ever had. Mom ordered the nachos, I got my beloved green chile burro. Anyway It’s a small consalation to being away from Carrie. Nearly 24 hours now and I’ll finally be back, I miss her terribly!

side note: My mom just tossed back the cup of salsa on the table like she was Doc Holiday in Tombstone.

4th quarter update

Giants up 10-7!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like Eli is going to keep it in the family. More to come…

super bowl half time break down

Here is my quick half time breakdown.

Pats 7 Giants 3

Giants need to rely less on the run from Jacobs, and start using the skills of Bradshaw and his quickness. On D, one thing: KEEP BLITZING BRADY! If it anit broke don’t fix it.

The Pats. Brady needs to hope his ankle is going to give him the push off he needs to go deep to Moss. Stop running the bal. stop being so conservative with the pass. If Brady doesn’t air it out in the second half it’ll be Eli hoisting the lombardi game the post game.

Half time show: are you kidding me with Tom Petty!? I’ve seen more energy at a Peter,Paul, and Mary concert.

lets get it on with the 2nd half!

Go Giants!

A Doxology

Today is a day of reflection for me. Not for any real reason it just is.

This week on my blog I am going to be talking about the attitude of entitlement and how it is a cancer in my heart and the heart of most in the church.

Today I reflect on what I am entitled to from birth: Hell. The all wise, all powerful God has no need for me, and because of my sin I deserve only to burn in eternal flames forever.

Yet Because of his great love, because of his tender mercies He made me alive when I was dead in my sin! (Eph 2) Because He loved the world so much he gave is Son to die for me. It pleased the Father to rest all of his fullness in his Son. (col.1) It pleased the Father to crush his Son (Is. 53) So that I and all humanity who chooses to receive his loving offering might live with him eternally.

I am so blessed that I have been given life when I deserve death!

I am so blessed that He gives me grace to daily stand in righteousness.

I am so blessed that when I refuse that grace and fall into temptation and sin, he is faithful to provide mercy whenever I ask for it.

I am so blessed that the God of the universe, who spoke and the Earth was formed. Who spoke and created the mountains and oceans. Who reached down from heaven and fashioned me with his hands, is mindful of me.

I love my God with all my heart, with everything that is within me.

To him be my life. To him be all my glory. To him be all the praise. To him be all the wealth and honor I could ever receive. I am his glory (John 17) May the Lord be blessed by my life. May his praises ever be on my lips. May his sacrifice always humble my heart. May my life always speak of his name.

-Amen

Random Rantings Friday (and so can you)

Yeeppee! Random rantings Friday held on Saturday, for no real reason. Just because!

Well to get things started many who quote me around the web continue to spell my name wrong. People have been spelling my name wrong my whole. So for clarity sake it’s “Zack” not “Zach”.

If you are getting arrested for a double homicide, take a minute and politely ask if you can put something different on your feet… Or maybe not, because it gives us something to laugh at. It’d be interesting to see some of the outfits people get caught wearing when arrested. I bet JimB has some stories to tell.

On the sports front, The Lakers deal Kwame for Gasol. Which just made the Lakers one of the next West teams to beat. However the Suns’ll clean their clocks, I still think it’s the Suns’ year.

My Mom, sitting on the computer across the room from me just quipped: “Did you know the words ‘The’ and ‘IRS’ spells ‘theirs’?” hmmm seems fitting.

Iran has no Internet?

I am watching Mike speak at The Call Orlando online right now. I have to say it I love Mike Bickle! I’ve never met a man who lives what he speaks like Mike. Year in and year out I’ve watched Mike sit in the prayer room, I’ve watched him give his money selflessly, and watched him live in real grace and humility. He life is a great encouragement to me.GM has engineered the first “tear less” onion. Onions that don’t make you cry. Don’t know how I feel about this. How many God made things are we going to re-make for our convenience? I say these things should remain the way God intended them to be. I got no problem cutting onions with my goggles on.

I love and hate Wikipedia. I love the easy access to information. Yet I hate the controversy surrounding biographies. I’ve been trying to help keep Henri Nouwen’s biography up for the longest time. Keople keep wanting controversies about him added to the page. It’s interesting because when posting a factual post about someone historically just the basics are to be mentioned, not the small unknown controversy.

I was once in a Hardcore band called “Surrender”. We played at a few venues. I wasn’t that great at the drums in those days. I figured the harder I hit the drums the better I would get… yeah not so much.

I am not an IHOP apologist! My blog is a personal place, not a place to make arguements for or against the ministry I work for.

Can I take a second to whine?! I miss Carrie! 2 weeks gone? What was I thinking!? On the phone last night we decided that from here on out we are not going to be away from each other for more than a week, unless circumstances demand it. It’s just to hard!

I love cessationists! Though Cessationism is interesting. I’ve got no problem with cessationism as long as they love Jesus and love those around them. We all share the same grace unto redemption. 

Morality question: Your neighbor gets WiFi, and now you can pick it up in your room. Do you A) Not connect to it? B) in form them to put a password on it so only those paying for it can use it? C) Log on and enjoy the free ride. or D) pay them some cash to use it? i’m voting for D but still not sure.

Speaking of such, a guy got arrested in London for using someone’s WiFi without permission: story

I ran into a girl a few days ago that I  went to elementary school with. I didn’t say Hi because I didn’t feel like “catching up” there in the super market. She saw me and you could tell she didn’t feel like it either. We had a mutual ignorance. It was nice.

I love Black licorice, accept for one thing. I hate how it turns your teeth a blueish black. Its annoying, but something I’ve come to live with.

Super Tuesday is coming and I can’t vote because I’m here: My prediction of the outcome? Obama and McCain on top. Shocker? I don’t think Hillary will make it out.

I’ll be back in K.C. Wednesday night! Can’t wait get back to the Prayer Room and to my woman!