Greater than Simba meows

I figure if you know know me or know be by reading my blog, you have probably seen the Lion King.  Do you remember the part where the hyennas have Simba trapped and they are giggling back and forth? What happens next? MUFASA and his boo-yah roar happens next. 

I think that particular ROAAAR can really describe something that is going on in Ecuador right now.  For those I have not informed, Charmai and I felt led to form a youth group for some of the awesome teens we know in Misahualli.  Charmai and her beautiful passions for dance + me and my crazy love of all things artistic = BOOM.  Obsesionados por Cristo- Obsessed for Christ youth group.  I will admit at first I was nervous.  The majority of the group does not know Jesus and we have had resistance from some townspeople, but I know this is what God wants us to be doing.  Little by little I can see the mysterious ways God is working in each teen’s life (even though they may not see it).  We meet up to practice dramas and dance like David,  we love and have fun in our little youth community, or we throw cake at each other after eating competitions.  I am constantly amazed by their RIDICULOUS skills in art, song, dance, etc.   Oh! How amazingly God has gifted them.  And all of that is just a Simba meow.

My hope is that they may know Jesus for who He really is.  Not some misrepresented Christ, nor some faith that exists just to get a free piece of bread at an evangelical event, but Christ who wants to wrap them with grace and mercy.  Christ who is all powerful, mysterious, and artistic.   

Last week, strangely and mysteriously God got me in contact with a Christian rapper in Ambato, a city about 4 hours away.  Ismael is a guy on fire for God, passionate for young people, and ridiculously gifted artistically. When I met him I actually thought “Dude.  He is Ecuador’s Lecrae.”   I sat at the event trying to capture each moment: graffiti for Christ, amazing raps about struggles and redemption, and a hip- hop dancing crew .  Crowds came.  Crowds witnessed such creativity, authenticity, and passion for the Father flow from each individual and artist.  Then, youth pastors started telling me about all sorts of youth events happening around Ecuador.  Youth are on fire for God and they are using their artistic passions to get His name out.  The Holy Spirit is moving.  Get pumped for Ecuador.  

Now, you can start to hear Mufasa right? My heart is still beating from excitement thinking about all the roaring He's got going down.  

“Let love explode and bring the dead to life

A love so bold

To see a revolution somehow………

My God's not dead

He's surely alive

And He's living on the inside

Roaring like a lion”

God’s Not Dead – Newsboys

 “They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall come trembling from the west.”
Hosea 11:10

Love and Mufasa roars (none of that wimpy Simba stuff),
keri

"Cristo" Work by Ismael and another awesome guy