Jun/091
Short Update
Hello from Darkhan, Mongolia. We are having an incredible time. Yesterday, we went to the countryside and rode camels and horses and chased sheep. Yes, chased sheep. I tried to catch one — but that’s an entire story for another post. There’s even video to prove it!
The Internet is very slow here and our schedule VERY busy so it’s a bit hard to do updates. I’ll try to make short posts throughout the week as I’m able. This morning (Tuesday), we start about six days straight of ministry. Today, our team starts the construction project, vacation Bible school, medical clinic, and the worship seminar. Charlene and the girls are doing vacation Bible school in the mornings, I’ll obviously conducting the worship seminars along with John Staub and a few others helping me.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We’re hoping to post some really COOL pictures in the days ahead.
Love you all . . .
Jon for the entire family 
Apr/090
An Alive God
As a child growing up, I can remember many Easter mornings. Yet, I can’t recall many of the Easter sermons. However, there is one Sunday in particular that I can distinctly remember to this day. My hometown pastor began sharing about various religions and their gods. Every god died, was put in the grave, and is still dead. He went down the list one after the other and the conclusion was the same — they died, were put in the grave, and are still dead.
But not our God!! He died, was put in the grave, and three days later He defied the odds and broke through the veil of death and is alive today!! But the story gets even better! Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.”
The same spirit that raised Jesus lives and dwells in us! We have a reason to celebrate!! As we approach Resurrection Sunday, I encourage all of you to allow the Spirit — the Holy Spirit — to live and be alive in you. Allow that same power that raised a corpse to life to dwell and flow through you. As we begin to allow that power to live fully alive in us as a body of believers, we will see this region reached by the power of an ALIVE God!
Living Stones — I’m looking forward to worshiping with you Resurrection Sunday!
Dec/080
He’s Not a Baby in a Manger Anymore: Mighty God, Part 1
I. He’s Not a Baby in a Manger Anymore
During the coming weeks as we celebrate this Christmas holiday, many of us gather our families around the tree or the fire and retell the story found in the book of Luke. The beginning goes something like this (my paraphrase): “He was born of a young virgin teenager, laid in the animal’s feeding trough, and wrapped in strips of cotton fabric.” The prophesied Messiah’s entry into the world was quite a humble beginning, even for those more primitive times. However, the Jesus that lives today as Isaiah prophesied in chapter 9, verse 6 was to be known as Mighty God.
What are the first words that come out of the mouths of those expectant parents who finally hold their child for the first time? You hear things like, “Isn’t she beautiful?” or “He has your eyes” or “Isn’t he cute?” Very few long-awaited children have the words “Wow, he’s a mighty child” spoken over them, let alone that he or she is a “mighty God.” Isaiah’s words were those used to describe not who He was to be at birth, but who He would become as the full-grown Jesus. This is expressed so wonderfully by one of my favorite songs written by Misty Edwards. In the song “People Get Ready” she tagged a phrase that says, “He’s not a baby in a manger anymore; He’s not a broken man on a cross.” Our Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God is no longer to be identified as a baby in a manger or the dying God-man broken on the cross. He is alive and is the all-powerful man, Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost and today is seated at the right hand of the Father, ruling and reigning. He is our Mighty God.
II. Jesus is All Powerful
We all use the word “powerful.” We say things like “The President of the United States is powerful” or “That tornado was really powerful.” We may refer to a car’s powerful engine, an orator’s powerful speech, or a hitter’s powerful swing. Yet, we also make statements claiming that God is powerful. It seems odd that we use the exact same word to describe God and the President of the United States. It’s almost as if we need another word to heighten the level of power that God alone holds. Yet that word doesn’t exist in our language; therefore, we are left to find adjectives that describe the greatness of His power.
Jeremiah 32:17 declares that by the great power of His outstretched arms the heavens and the earth were created. Who can claim that sort of power? From there Jeremiah continues saying, “Nothing is too difficult for Him.” During one of the worship times of our month-long outpouring, I can specifically remember a holy moment I experienced while singing the song, “Healer. The bridge from that song repeats the words “Nothing is impossible for You.” While singing those words, I can remember having the thought, “There is no such thing as ‘impossible’ in heaven.” Every impossibility that exists in our minds is non-existent in Heaven. If Heaven had a dictionary, I doubt seriously that we would be able to find the word “impossible” in it.
Maybe your business is failing or you recently lost your job. Perhaps you have received a disturbing diagnosis from your doctor. Perhaps you or someone you know is suffering with the consequences of a collapsing marriage. Our impossibilities are God’s opportunities for the infusion of supernatural power.
At this moment, think of the most impossible thing in your life or in the life of someone else you may know. Ask your Mighty God to work His power on your behalf.
Pastor Jon Plotner
