Off and Running

Well, I believe, let me restate BELIEVE, we have gotten off to a good start for our school year.
Everyone in this family is in the midst of an intensely busy season. I find myself almost daily saying "LET ME OUTTA HERE". I feel like I could run away.
Just yesterday I shared this with two friends who both are experiencing the same feelings, so that tells me 'God is up to something'! I just wish I knew what.
I am feeling like things that have been SO important to me in the past are taking a short break, the intensity of our schedules demands our full attention. But keeping our hearts aflame and loving one another is the test of the fire we are currently walking through. I feel like there is this wall before me and I am literally pressing on it w/ my head, I will not budge I feel my spirit saying (but my flesh says 'RUN AWAY'). The wall will give way as long as I don't back off. There are things in life that God has said 'don't budge on this one'. So I am not budging.

I guess that 'thing' in life would be the children, the next generation. This past weekend the boys and I went to Alma, Ark. to minister to children and parents for the weekend. I love opening up the word and sharing with children. I love to see their eyes when I read the description of Jesus in Revelation 19...WOW, this is a Jesus they have never seen before. I love to give them historic details about Daniel's or Esther's capitivity, then hit them with the reality of their steadfastness in the midst of such trials. I love to see the Holy Spirit move on them, brood over them, and set their hearts on fire.
And I love to spend Tuesday and Friday evenings w/ my own kids: laughing, sharing stories, laughing again, figuring out schedules, eating dessert etc.
Those are things I won't budge on.

OH, I caused a parent to get up and leave one of the sessions I taught. He told me later he was sorry but he was getting so convicted as a dad he couldn't stand any more! YES...go God. I preach and share the simple truth that God WILL turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers. (Malachi 4:6) Sorry guys, I don't waste time painting a pretty picture but I lay down the reality of what that looks like: Jesus dying on a cross. Doing it, pouring out His very lifeblood to death, even death on a cross. AND all for the JOY set before him. My heart is that parents would arrise and be like Jesus. He was NEVER concerned about his ministry or calling. All He cared about was His children's destiny. May we be a generation that sees the way Jesus sees.

CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME FROM THE CORNFIELDS

Well, did any good thing come from Nazareth. YES. The boys and I have found ourselves lost in the midst of cornfields for the past week plus. We have found rest and relaxation and lots of play time in the middle of the cornfields in Indiana.
We basked in the sun on Lake Santee w/ friends that live on the lake. The boys played in the sandbox (you are never too old) making tunnels only to blow them up w/ firecrackers (big boy play!), read, swam, went tubing, played with cats, put a puzzle together, and much more. I on the other hand lavished in the day to day conversations w/ my friend Ann. We pondered the deep things of God together like; What was the first thing Adam thought when he was created, is the Schulamite IN the palanquin in chapter 3 of Song of Solomon or is the bridegroom going to get her, how do we parent, am I in a desert season etc. I spent great time in the word and working on a study of the Song of Solomon for children. We skied together, I got to go tubing w/ my boys, sit in the sun. YES, we relaxed and it was wonderful.
But what about Ohio…is God there. WELL, let me tell you He is. The boys and I have spent 2 amazing days in Waynesfield, Ohio at a retreat center. Now this is no normal retreat center. It is currently still under renovation. It is an old abandon school, w/ gym, auditorium and A PRAYER ROOM.
A few years ago God took a businessman from Cincinnati, imparted a vision for abandon schools and Mike is working almost solo to bring about God’s heart. He calls the retreat center the "Son Center". He has a vision to establish them all over the nation.
The boys and I gathered with about 30 to kids and adults and shared the heart of the King that is returning, empowered them to sing the word, released them in prophetic art, worshipped with them and so much more.
These are people who have never heard of IHOP, but God has been stirring something in the hearts of the children. How they long for something deeper.
Jesus captivated their hearts as I read the description of Him that is in Revelation 1, He empowered them as I shared that He is returning and He is going to establish His kingdom and we will rule and reign w/ him. A young man by the name of John the Baptist said “COOL, I can’t wait!”
We invited these kids into our living room as Philip played his guitar and led worship. We then opened up Psalm 23 and had them singing the word. One mother said “I have been longing to sing the word but thought I was weird! Now I know it’s ok and I can’t wait to get home and sing in my kitchen.”
A lovely young lady named Kayle glowed as she danced to “People Get Ready” and released the message that Jesus is returning through dance. Kayle has one shoe that has about a 5 inch platform on it because she has one leg shorter than the other! It is powerful to see her dance before the Lord.
OH HOW I LOVE JESUS. Children all over the world are waiting and longing to see Him, to know His heart for them, to be told that they hear from Him. Parents and leaders are mystified as to how to raise this generation.
We shared at a church last night that has caught the vision but has had no idea how to walk out empowering the children. So the boys and I went, Philip led worship, we taught them one of the Apostolic prayers and had the kids pray, I called the kids of the church forward to be the ministry team and they prayed over the adults, we danced. I challenged to adults to go deep themselves. Many were touched, challenged and encouraged by all God was doing.
I have been so proud and amazed at my own children. This summer has been an awesome time for the Honnold Family as God has 'set' the kids in new places of authority, identity and in their destiny. What an awesome privilege to be a MOM!

Honnold's on the Road - By Philip

Hey, wasup my peeps?

I took over the computer for a little while, so this post will come with my spin on every story. Right now we're in Indianapolis, staying at my Aunt's apartment for a couple days, visiting her and just doing our thing. We've had a busy weekend, going all over Indiana, so I'll start from the beginning.

We pulled in late Wednesday night, Thursday morning to our good friend Marsha's house, where we spent a couple days resting and recuperating. I slept in til 12:30 on Thursday, getting the best sleep I've gotten in weeks. The next couple days (Thursday and Friday) were spent just hanging around the house, playing guitar, reading, etc. (as a brief side note, Marsha has a gator, which is like a 4-wheeler with two seats and a miniture flatbed, and Jacob spent hours on end driving it around her property, getting his family to ride with him, then doing everything within his power to scare them witless.) We had a deep philosophical discussion late into the Thursday night, then Friday afternoon we went to Indianapolis, to visit my Aunt.

When we got into Indy, we went straight to my cousin's restaraunt, where we had an amazing meal of all kinds of rare delicasies. Then, after we were done eating, we went to my Aunt's apartment where we've been for the past couple days. While in Indy we have seen some relatives, went to a movie (Journey to the Center of the Earth; it wasn't too bad, kinda interesting), and went to hear a symphony at an outdoor place... I don't remember what it's called. They played nothing but Beethoven for the entire evening, and the pianist was RIDICULOUSLY SKILLFUL. He was really good, no joke. It was a blast

That's where we are now, hanging around the apartment, doing our thing. Tomorrow Meghan heads back to Kansas City, and Tuesday we move on to the next leg of our trip.

OH, I almost forgot one of the major reasons for staying w/ our friend Marsha!! My sister Morgan has a new car!!! It's a '98 Toyota Camry, black, 4-door w/ a cd player and sun roof. I got to drive it all the way from Marsha's house to Indy (about 3-hours), and let me tell you, it's amazing. it's so responsive and maneuverable after driving my mom's van all over the place, I can't wait to get back on the road.

Well, I think that about finishes this update. Apologies for any and all grammatical or spelling errors; I've never posted before, so this is new.

Bless you all!!

Philip J. Honnold

LOOK AT US GO

OH, so sorry; You CAN"T look at us go...we don't have any pictures of our crazy exploits...
I am sorry for the inconvience of no visual aids: we don't have a digital camera and therefore could not capture the serenity, the joy, the craziness of our day...but we hope you 'get the picture'
Today we shared a day out on the lake with our good friends the Wall Family. This beautiful family from Germany has become near and dear to our hearts over the years and they are preparing to return to their homeland of Germany. So today at their suggestion we rented a pontoon boat for the lake.
I literally felt like the Beverly Hillbillies of Lake Jacomo! We had a blow up air mattress we used as a floatation device as well as a small blow up boat. We tied a string on to the back of the boat and attempted to hold on. After almost severing Philip's hand in two the men (Viktor and Philip) looked for other options, in which they accousted one of Viktors fishing poles. They proceeded to take it apart and we used half of the pole as a handle to hold on to. At one time there were 8 of us being pulled by a very hard working motor. We had ahold of each others ankles, edges of the mattress and a few strong and able bodies held on to the pole. After laughing hysterically as we are meandering through the waves, the pole broke in two, only to cause us to laugh harder!
Then (not to be upped by Morgan's experience of para sailing in Thailand) we found a 25 foot cliff that jutted out into the water. After testing the depth of the water at the probably point of impact...we decided to GO FOR IT! Meghan led the charge on this one and became hooked. What a RUSH...Most of us plummeted off this cliff at least once some going as many as 4 times.

We enjoyed 8 luxurious hours in the sun, swimming, laughing (yes eating too) jumping, mattress riding; just sharing the beauty of the day with beautiful people. We all agreed, God was in our midst ENJOYING us as we enjoyed one another. He made this day for us...hope you enjoyed it too.

join us as we venture around the grand canyon.

I couldn't capture the whole thing in one shot but did manage to get a few good pictures...and of course I knew you would want to see the beautiful kiddos...

Jacob wasn't feeling well this day, he stayed close to the lodge w/ Meghan. But he was a trooper!

The girls insisted on showing you the height and depth and width and length of this mighty canyon. Of course Morgan insists on showing off her beautiful face too!

The girls were trying to figure out who was taller!

It was a game we played daily when they were small.

Meghan just refuses to believe that her baby sisters is somewhat taller.

OH WELL...Huh Meghan?

Philip spent HOURS coming up with new ways to entertain us all. New voices, new jokes. And new, let's see what is he this time? Oh yes, a veloca raptor. (or however you spell that dinosaur) You have not traveled until you have heard his interrupting sloth joke. It's one in a million! He kept our hosts, Danielle and Charity, in stitches!.


Our feet, mine actually...you will notice by the delicate toe ring...traversed far. They showed the toil and agony of our journey...NOT! Our feet did get dusty, only because we had left our tennis shoes in another suitcase and only had sandals and flipflops with us. But it was a good dirt. And we finished our hike by running in the sprinklers at the Grand Canyon (I don't know if you are suppose to or not but no one stopped us!)

The Beautiful Faces of the Hopi

Check out the beautiful faces of the children who are learning to love Jesus with all their heart, soul and mind. These children are a part of the Hopi Indian Tribe in Arizona. Their reservation lies within the bounds of the Navajo Reserveration. They are the only tribe that is on the actual land thier forefathers lived on. The Hopi are not an agressive tribe, in fact they have always been a 'praying' tribe. How awesome it is that the Living God is revealing Himself to the children to raise up a priestly nation. One boy who attended the camp and our ministry times on the reservation is the son of the 'priest' of the tribe (not the chief or witchdoctor) On the first night of our ministry there this young man asked me "can I pray as we finish worship". Imagine, asking to pray! What he is created for. Our friends Danielle and Charity who work with YWAM hosted our time there. They have been working with these children for over 4 years and have brought glory and honor to the name of Jesus through their work in Arizona.
We spent time on this reservation teaching the apostolic prayers, worshipping with the children, teaching about God's desire and ability to heal broken hearts, dancing with them and we also had the great opportunity to do some music lessons. When the kids saw and experienced worship and prayer, they wanted to learn! They were so anxious to get their hands on the drums, guitar and keyboard. Please pray for these wonderful kids. Pray for Jesus to reveal Himself to them. Pray for the religious bonds to be broken and for them to walk into their destiny.

Colorado Signs and Wonders

We had an awesome time in the 4 corners area, high up in the mountains of Colorado. We worshiped Jesus with kids from all over the US; as far away as Washington and Wyoming, and even from the Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations. You can see by the pictures that the kids participated in all sorts of ways.

Morgan lead the charge by smashing kids faces in M & M while being smeared all over with peanut butter smash in the ever popular game called "PEANUT BUTTER SMASH". This game was invented by our very own Lenny LaGuardia and is definitely a 'smash' whereever it is played. (I usually tell the young ladies as I smear peanut butter all over their face, in thier eyes etc to look at it as a beauty treatment!

Philip could always be found 'hanging around' somewhere. If you looked UP you might even see him retrieving a frisbee off a roof of a local business. But when he wasn't sneaking on roofs you could find him faithfully setting up the powerpoint for worship, or running sound, or helping out on sets by playing guitar. He was and is always ready willing and able to serve with a joyful heart.

And Jacob enjoyed the freedom of being in the mountains, having the opportunity to sleep in a bunkhouse w/ 20 other guys and not have to brush his teeth every night! He joined in with the worship teams by playing drums and singing on the teams during the Nighc Watch.

Meghan seemed to carry the biggest load as she was asked to lead up the NightWatch for the camp. So everynight Meghan could be found singing over all the 265 campers. There were so many amazing testimonies of what God did in the night. One young boy woke up and said he heard angels singing, another woman had a dream of a wolf with red eyes encircling the camp. She commanded it to leave and it did; she said when she woke up she heard Meghan singing in the tent over the camp and she knew the worship had pushed back the darkness. And although Meghan gave leadership to this it was a group effort that brought it forth. All the people from Kansas City that went on the trip helped to 'pray through the night'.

Meghan said the best time of the whole camp was when she was playing and singing all alone from 1-2 am. WOW! Just her and Jesus.