Electric Daisy Carnival – 2022
“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!”
Psalm 139:17-18
Hi Men:
Have you reflected on this familiar verse lately? Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6). Of course you could write a thesis on this one verse. Only “through” Jesus do we receive our adoption papers and when we surrender our life to Him, God Almighty sees us as His precious children. In the process, “It Will Cost You Everything” but how can you put a price tag on eternal life with Jesus? J.I. Packer called it, “adoption through propitiation.”
ELECTRIC DAISY CARNIVAL
Tonight the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) begins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The EDC is the mother-ship of all Rave Concerts. There were over 500,000 in attendance last year. EDC will have 9 separate stages with 8-15 different techno D.J.’s rotating at each stage. They start playing this electronic music at 7pm continuing through the night and ending at 5am! Drug use is rampant with Ecstasy and LSD being the drug of choice.
Why am I telling you all this and how does that verse above from Psalm 139 fit it? Remember one of the Friday Letter’s from last month where I talked about the Altar Conference that the Raiders QB Derrick Carr organized? Click here for a refresher: E² Vegas.org/Friday-Mens-Group-4-22-22. In the last paragraph I mentioned that one of the ministries at the Altar Conference reaches out to the kids that attend the EDC. That day I talked with the founder, a plumbing contractor, that had been doing this now for over 13 years. He and his team had been to every EDC in Las Vegas and many of the Rave Concerts across the country. These guys and their wives are the “real deal.” On Wednesday, my son John and I met with Rob, the founder of Engage to Go Ministries. What they do is truly amazing. Let me see if can put this in a few bullet points:
- They show up at the EDC with motorhomes and set up with water, food, blankets, clothing, mom hugs, etc.
They bring tens of thousands of handmade beads that are given to the ravers with the website for the Ravers to go to: Plurway.com- PLUR is the acronym the ravers use: P = Peace L = Love U = Unity R = Respect On the website above, you will see how the ministry uses PLUR
- The moms (note: these are women that would be considered grandmothers to the ravers) go into the concert after it starts. The men stay back
- God has been so faithful to direct the moms to the ravers (mainly girls) that are in trouble and direct them back to motorhomes.
- The Rave Moms will stay in the concert tell morning telling these girls how precious and valuable they are. Many will hug these moms and shed a veil of tears.
- So many of these girls are prey to the many predators that are prowling about and the moms do their best to protect those that God leads them to
- Jesus will start to become real to these kids once they see how much these men and women love them by their actions
- Some of the Ravers will attend Camp 33 in California, get involved in Bible Studies and desire to be discipled.
- Some of the Ravers that received Christ, end up going back and sharing the Good News of their new life with other friends and ravers.
The Rave Moms and Dads explain verses like Psalm 139 above and Jeremiah 29:11. They genuinely demonstrate the love of Christ to these kids. I have left out many details, but I hope this gave you a glimpse of a ministry that is truly in the trenches.
Much Love in Jesus,
Dan
(Gal 2:20)
Men:
“To the degree that you meditate on the Word of God, He will deliver you from a vacuous, sinful life.” But unfortunately, “people who live iniquitous lives tend not to spend much time thinking; the experience is too painful.” —Walt Henrichsen–
I remember when my wife Jane got certified and began working with the woman at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. One critical area as the women went through the Genesis Process, was to go back mentally and evaluate what was going on early in their life. The reason was to find out what survival skills were developed and if they are still using them today, even though they are not needed, i.e.; still not letting people get too close due to past hurt or actions driving destructive behaviors. For some, it might be a long journey, but as we know, Jesus is the bondage-breaker (John 8:36). Do we turn off the thinking switch so we don’t have to deal with the past?
Refusing to Think – Red Book Day 140
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he
BORN SLAVES!
Men:
Since I normally only put in one or two devotionals each week, I wanted to encourage you to read for yourself the devotionals for May 20-22. It is imperative that you understand your position in Christ as His faithful slave. Otherwise, your life will be “train wreck.
If you don’t have a Red Book, you need to order one. Click Here “Warnings for a People NOT listening to God”
I will place the last paragraph of each day to give you an overall sense of the urgency in understanding this truth…… !!
Day 141 – Born Slaves • Part One – May 20th
“Everything is, and has always remained under the perfect control of God.
This means that you are not in control and will never be in control.
In a spirit of gratitude, do you acknowledge this and thank God that He controls you?”
Day 142 – Born Slaves • Part Two – May 21st
“You are not in control and will never be in control.
God is in control and will never surrender it to you or to anyone else.
You are a slave of Providence or predetermination, irrespective of what you call it.
Paul writing to the Corinthians said it is unthinkable that a person for whom Christ died should live for himself.”
Day 143 – Born Slaves • Part Three – May 22nd
“If God, who knows every thought and imagination of your heart,
cannot see that you would rather be His slave than free,
He will not accept you as one of His.”
This is from the Valley of Vision – Puritan Prayers. Quite appropriate as we reflect on “Born Slaves” above.
This is one of those devotionals that will bring you to your knees……..
Jonathan Edwards Revisited
Men: Last week I shared the most famous sermon ever preached in America:
Sinners In The Hands of An Angry God
By Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
Watch on YouTube (45 mins)
I received a number of heartfelt responses on how Edward’s anointed sermon drove them back to their knees. The following was a very unique response I know you will find interesting:
Dan: I live about 3 miles from the birthplace of Jonathan Edwards and just a few more from where the sermon you mentioned was preached. This area of New England stands as a stark reminder and warning to all of us that would take our salvation for granted. You would be hard pressed to find a single true bible-believing church in this area, although there is a “church” on nearly every town center and many, many others as well – churches that date back to the 1600’s in many cases These churches are bedecked with rainbow flags, taught by women “pastors” and heavily involved in the local and national politics to further things such as the sacrificing of unborn children. What went wrong? How could ground zero for the “great awakening” become such a den of sin and worldliness? I believe it is because the people of this area mistook worldly success and comfort for Godly approval. It just stands as a reminder – muscles that are not exercised will atrophy, and faith without fear of God will devolve into Laodicean lukewarm unbelief.
The Prince of Pretense
“At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.” Acts 5:10-11
Men: This is a great devotion that a brother shared with me! RayStedman.org/Daily-Devotions/The-Prince-Of-Pretense
C. Sproul was once asked why bad things happen to good people? Sproul responded,
“That only happened once, and He volunteered.”
Jim Elliott Quote: “He is no fool……………..”