God's Will: A Paradox of Freedom and Decisions

Struggling to know what God's will is for you?
Short answer:
Don't let anyone other than Him tell you how to find it or what it is.

I would not even hazard an attempt. However there are things that we can know to approach it.
First, to please all the die-hard theologians, we have an infallible written record of stuff about His will, specifics and some illustrations.
There is also a huge (bigger than i can think of) freedom we have in Christ; so free that there is no cut-and-dried formula or pleading that connects us with His will. He sets before us choices of life and death; but urges us to choose life.

This paradox is not resolvable without relationship. Those that love Him know and do His will. That implies time we spend with Him. He transforms our hearts out of that.

We also have enough common sense and instruction to know that the ends don't justify the means where instruction is clear,  We can also ask for wisdom or get it as the 'Booby Prize' for experiencing un-wise decisions.

We can consider a few of these things; we also have His mind. Jesus, by His own admission, didn't speak or do anything that the Father wasn't.

We can also be nudged in directions that please Him.
Summarizing Paul; He can change our plans if He wills but plan anyways. The Spirit does move to divert, hold or enable our progress.

I think He woos (sometimes suckers :) us into a relationship where dialog and devotion transform our hearts and move us to make His choices our own.

He invites us to enter into a relationship with Him and to follow. Everything seems to flow out from Him.

"I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the
Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees
him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever
has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who
loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show
myself to him.”


-- He and the Father are one; they dwell within and call us to abide and ask whatever ;)

Who Can Disagree with a Life Like This?

I was reading this in The Message this morning and found a fresh perspective on a well known chunk of writing from Paul. I find this translation doesn't take away from the original but adds depth to the timeless truths in our vernacular.


Let this word to the Thessalonians speak for itself for it is at the centre of community in Jesus.






The Way He Wants You to Live
And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!




Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.




Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.




Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.




Now, this all sounds pretty good but it sure sounds impossible, right?




It sure is, at least out of my experience with myself and others. We are quite messy people given our fleshly (human) natures. In spite of all the good things we can do and those moments of good behaviour we express, we all fall short. Paul's words look darn near impossible to live up to at most times; even at our humanly best.


The point is we can't sustain living in this quality in our flesh. Jesus tells us that "apart from {Him}, we can do nothing". It is His live dwelling in us through the Spirit that enables us to with a catch; we need to let Him work in us. That can be the hardest part especially when our old ways and patterns try to take over.



In fact, we are most likely to fail when we look at life like this as a discipline, holding fast to an idea of God and what His propositions are for us. It is easy to extract lists of do's and dont's from the text.



Honestly, most of us do and try to live like this in our own power and apart from intimacy and communion with the Father. The fear of this intimacy keeps us from letting Him live through us and leaves us with the grand proposition; trying to do this out of our own innate goodness.



So why is it that we fear initmacy with the Father? Do we really know that we are His Children? Is it our sins (new and old) that keep us from Him? Do we feel that we are not worthy to come boldly to Him?



All of these questions are answered in the work Jesus did for us all once and for all on the cross. None of those are real issues if we truly have received Him (acknowledged what He did, who is IS, loves Him and His words). That is our part.



His part begins when He and The Father love us and move right into our neighborhood and indwell us! That is where He begins the good work in us that only He can complete. All He wants in return is an intimate relationship with us.



This is not any ordinary relationship; we are His Children, joint Kingdom heirs with Christ, and best of all; -- He calls us Friends.



Now who wouldn't want to be in an intimate love relationship with the Creator and Lord of all?



Amen?

A Medly of the Father's Faithfulness

His steadfast love never fails.
His mercies are indeed new every morning; great is His Faithfulness.
His faithfulness is my shield; a strong tower -- an ever-present defense, a hiding place against the relentless onslaught of arrows against us.

He allows us to make bad choices and experience the consequences.
We are capable of bringing tremendous hurt and disappointment to one another but He is in the healing.
He will not these bring us to total ruin but only enough to forge His character in us and conform us to His image.
Even when we become weak and faithless; He is faithful as He can not deny Himself.

In surrender, He is our strength to stand.
We can do all things through Him, even the unpleasant stuff.

He is good all the time; we actually see it when we fix our hope in Him.
We know this to be true as we know and walk with Him.

Learn to love Him out of your whole deep heart then do the same with one another.
Our hearts may be broken and incapable of doing this but He will fix it in the process.

Never forget; -- He is in it all.

A Song; I Will Give You a New Song; a Song That Only You Can Sing

"A song; I will give you a new song; a song that only you can sing."

These words came through me; right through my heart enough to evoke tears from the deepest well within me drawn up by God's presence. I am thankful that He was in control of the whole situation. They came at twilight travelling on a south-bound interstate, on the cusp of a blizzard.

Sandy and i were heading south to the Keys for a month of sun and respite from the barren gray cold we Manitobans endure in good old Winter-peg (man how i hate that when anyone else not from here that says it; especially Tron-tonians) The tone it usually comes in grates me more than the bitter cold.

We had the mp3 player loaded and playing a random play list with everything from Claude Bolling, clean on through Texas blues into some inciteful worship. The mix also included some God-timed readings from John Eldredge's “Wild at Heart”. Some how it seemed to flow in an unlikely order; almost as unlikely as me reading that book a few years ago when i first encountered it. Back then, it was suspect new age clap trap that was passed on to me. It had moved into the “Hey there is life in these words class. Now it is a piece that is instrumental in freeing and understanding my heart.

Whatever possessed me to load it was just as much a mystery as the order in which everything seemed to flow out of the randomness of the mp3 player.

John was talking much about our deep heart and how that God has given us a good heart after coming into the Kingdom through Jesus. A song by Russ Taff immediately followed, I believe it was “I Cry”. I have been moved alot in times passed by his music; his songs. They seemed to have a power and depth that came out of life that was forged out of many challenges.

I get the impression that the deep places he writes from came out of the hard and dark places God has walked with him through. There is an edgy-ness to it that doesn't usually come out of someone who comes from a pure religious heritage or an sanitary church life.

Nearing the end of the song i thought to myself, “He has an amazing voice; I sure would like to sing like that.” Within a heart beat, as if on the other side of a conversation, God broke into the song, almost like a warm wind rushing through my body, and said, “I will give you a new song, a song that only you can sing.” Not having any talent (innately or otherwise), or the notion to want to, I was caught off guard. My heart began to stir and emitt a burst of emotion.

Tears began to stream as i tried to choke it back, still trying to comprehend what was happening. What a place to get ambushed; 75 miles an hour on a snow packed road heading into the night. I was begining to liquify similar to the time when i was able to fall over without endangering anyone. It was a good thing that He was in control of the situation.

I was hoping Sandy wasn't tuning in to what was going on although i did provide the gist of what was going on. Now i began to wonder what this new song was all about, especially from the viewpoint of a non-musical, non-singer; it had to mean something else. I pressed in for a better understanding that would consume most of the time when my mind was settling.

An earlier time came to mind when God spoke a similar thing to me. It was at the prayer furnace in November of 2005. We were gathered for a Saturday intimate worship time in the trailers in the King's school. There was about 14 or so gathered to wait on God and worship. God was there. I remember the warmth and the air of a family night at home on a cold winter's night. I was looking at John, drawn to his whistling in the Spirit when God spoke; “I am about to give you a new song, You will awake one morning and will have a new song.” I am used to hearing things for other people, especially from being involved in prayer and counselling ministry. I was hearing clearly as His voice interrupted my stream of consciousness. With that and the direction of my gaze towards John, i began to assume (think actually) that God had meant it for John. I left it alone for a time and prayed somewhat superficially about it.

About a week had past when God began to nudge me about it; either that or it was the brief meet-up with John before worship that Sunday. The familiar conviction that this was something to heed began to settle in and i resolved to talk to John after the gathering time. Casually I asked if he received a new song from the Lord. He cocked his head a bit, paused and said not to his knowledge then moved on. The thought that i was off began to creep in as i bid a hasty “OK then” and turned quickly to hide my embarassment. God had taught me in times past not to sit on words that He was clear about. Perhaps i was not clear about who they were for.

Four years later on the interstate, not soon after the moment had passed i began to wonder; may be that word was for me. Now i am more than certain and curious, and to a growing degree; excited.

I am seeing that a song does not necessarily mean words and music wrapped up in a catchy, lyrical package, but rather its essence; the outpouring of the inmost part of man that expresses the deep heart. Much like the song God gave to Moses; His deep heart about and for Israel. There is much more i can and should elaborate on here, but this will do for now.

It is 06:27 in the morning; Saturday morning, April 18^th. I am sitting up baby-sitting a multiple disk and filesystem rebuild and testing for a client. It is a tedious task that requires a watchful eye through out the process but one that affords time to do other things, like the project i am running behind on or my major tax audit preparation. But no, I am once again drawn to find out what in the world this new song is about. I am really trusting God that it is Him goading me along at this moment. The trigger this time, was hearing another song, a song from an unexpected source.

By now the name of Susan Boyle is renown throughout the world. Five or six days ago, she was little known and getting ready for yet another attempt to be heard, not her opinons or intellect, but something from out of her deep heart; her song. I first noticed that a Facebook friend, Doreen had posted a video link and declared herself a fan. I glanced briefly at the picture and gave it a little thought as to what this woman had done; perhaps it was something noble, overcomming a disability perhaps and doing something that would shame the average person.

Then i heard a clip being played a not two days ago. It was her winning audition on the UK version of Idol, Britains Got Talent, to none other than Simon Cowel and crew. I looked at her, then the judges faces. Simon, the grand inquistitor and judge asked her why she was there. Her answers seemed to invoke a few screwed faces and polite(?) fits of giggles. But she was quite certain of her answer to Simon and the rest of the world; she has come to take another run at her dream, to be a professional singer, and but for someone to hear her for what was inside her. Simon asked her what her song was to be. Appropriate for the moment it was “I dreamed a dream” from Les Miserables.

In near concert with the jaw dropping responses, my own heart began to well up much like on the interstate back in January of this year. I began to cry, well almost, as much as a man would admit to. There were people around and i felt the need to restrain myself, or, maybe to push it back down, whatever it was that was about to come out. It was the same welling emotion that over took me when my father played his violin, the same deep place that Ruth Fazal reached with her prophetic playing.

I can still see Simon Cowel's face, beaming like the glory of God on Moses' face as waves of stunned cruel unbeliever rose to their feet in cheers. It was the witness of something spectacular; it was her glory, the full weight of who she was, how God has made her coming out in full force. What was even more amazing was the instant spirit of repentance and humility that overtook the initial cynical audience, as well as the female judge, who apologized for her thoughts. It was shock, awe and bewilderment wrapped in a strange sense of joy. The confident joy that came from Susan was instantly spread throughout the audience. The recall of that moment is still powerful, and nearly liquefying me. What is God saying here; what is He saying to me, to my heart right now? This is too intense to dismiss as mere mob emotion.

I thought i would ask God again to show me more of what He meant by a song and more specifically, the new song He is preparing me for or for me (i think it is all the same). I thought to start again by reading the song of moses, with the mind to catch the context from what was going on before and after the reciting of the song. <<I could add more about the digestion of that but i am anxious to get to the part where God spoke again>>.

I asked Him about the song. He responded in three parts starting with the third to the first. It actually reads well either way so here it is, in the final resting order it appeared on the paper i jotted it down on.

“My song to Moses was spoken from My Heart to my people so that they would remember Me and who they were; but it was a song of judgement.

“Remember the dark things of the dark things of the heart that can pursue you and bring death. I will purge them from you and cleanse your heart (even as I am cleansing it now).”

“It is a song of life; one that brings life.”

There is quite a bit in those words, as they mesh with recent dreams and past revelations. However it is 07:12 and i need sleep. Perhaps i will be able to flow again to finish this in God's time.

Emma, love and nature

"As I sit heare alone, me now being an old white haired lady, having much time to think and look back at my life and all the challenges that took place; there is so much to tell, that if something becomes a jumble, you will excuse me, for I was not educated enough to form perfect sentences, nor is my English perfect.

You, my children, grand-children and great-grandchildren, who I know all love me for what I am, will read this and perhaps sort it out in better form."

-- Memoires of Emma Osis Libert Anderson

These words were the beginning of my grandmother's own out of a collection of her memories written out for her family and friends. She was known as just Emma to all, in fact that is what she wanted on her grave marker, "Just Emma", as she really didn't have a personal identity other than that. Living over 93 years and out living two husbands; one the only "love of her life" and the other a loving companion.

G-d has been nudging me along to meditate on her life and nature and to articulate it for quite some time. That nudge also comes out of a greater growing gnawing to reconcile what i/we believe in the body of Christ with who He is and how we really are to be. As i understand it, the best way to know what our true beliefs are is in observing our natures; who we are and what we do. Our innate or instinctive responses reflect our strongest beliefs.

What struck me the most is ....

G-d tells us that we can learn a lot about a person through thoughtful consideration of the nature of a person or thing, and, of what comes out of them (actions, fruit). I find this knowledge grievous as the more i know exposes much of the garbage in my own life and the incongruencies in what i present (say) and what i do or have become.

The fundamental things we know of G-d presented in scripture speak of His nature. It is hard to describe the undescribable; the eternal who dwells apart yet whose Spirit dwells within His Children. We all can know Him by what He has left us; we know Him by His great love and power towards us who draw near to Him. The closer we draw near the more of Him we are able to see.

"Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- His eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made"

God has also created man in His image, and as His creation we are made and called to reflect that image.

G-d is Spirit and He is love. The greatest quality we are called to aspire towards is love. Love seeks the greater good of another. Great love denies itself even unto death for the sake of another. Jesus tells us plainly that the way we are known by others to be His is our love for one another. The two greatest commandments concern love for God and those next to us; our neighbours.

My grandmother, as imperfect as she perceived herself, consistently reflected the characteristics of love that we find outlined in
Some questions to flesh out:

• Am I loving and caring toward anyone irrespectively not just nonbelievers?


• Am I living out the relationship I say I have with Christ?


• What are the discrepancies between what I say I believe and how I live my life?


• How do i see my actions causing nonbelievers, seekers to doubt the existence of God?


• Has Christianity become so politically {institutionally, programatically} defined that true faith and the person of Jesus Christ is obscured in the minds of many?


• Is it possible that Christians are conducting themselves in such a way that the spiritually seeking are looking anywhere but to Christ?"
  

Atheists do not believe G-d exists because they do not see evidence for Him. They in turn believe we are deluded because of what they don't see in us. In spite of the over exposure of Christian images, words, institutions and programs in the world; these things are not relevant in of themselves as they appear hypocritical and unauthentic; appearing to contradict what is generally known about Jesus. We are often seen as judgemental and hypocritical in and outside of the church for sundry reasons, but i believe the chief reason is dure to the lack of love demonstrated.

There are no special classes of people and we shouldn't identify anyone; gays, liars, gluttons, atheists in special classes. Like all humans, we sin to which Jesus provides the solution.

And when the Church serves like Jesus, it can make a tremendous impact

The only thing that counts ... Faith expressed in Love (Gal 5:5-6)

I am not certain how to preface this or if it needs to be ...

There is a man whose desire is to be set free.
In his heart he feels that he was meant to run.

He dreams of running in joyful abandon;
towards his call, his destiny, to be useful and fulfilled.

But there are burdens on his back;
weights around his feet;
many ropes and chords restraining his every move.

His passions goad him as much as the desire draws him.
The efforts to move forward go unsatisfied and eludes encouragement.

He knows his state; no one need remind him of his circumstances that overwhelm him daily.

There are many simple solutions to his problems; just stay cool, be well, just hang in there; be positive; be blessed.
How is that done? How do i be that?

He knows somehow that G-d is in it all but wonders who can be in it with him when G-d is silent or not understood?

Will a man bear it alone? Who is his neighbour?

It is often in a moment, perhaps periods of deep suffering that we can fall towards a flurry of nasty emotions. Out of them proceeds the bile and vomit of hasty words that reflect an unrestrained reality of our heart's condition. In our pain we say and do things that we later regret in the ensuing silence.

Should we be fortunate to be humbled in those times, perhaps we may learn something of ourselves and allow G-d to use the refining fires to cleanse us that we may be better equipped to reflect His image and the power that is at work in us. We are as brute beasts in those times.

It is hard to undergo the refining fires of His Love but necessary. It is often equally as hard for us to stand by as someone undergoes deep refining and suffering. It is easy to find reason to look away when we become fixated on the brute beasts they have become in the heat of those moments. We are repulsed by that emotional vomit that may ooze and dribble out in spite of any restraint.

After all, we do own our responses; we are responsible for how we respond to what comes our way. While this is indeed true; it is but half, especially when it becomes the basis to excuse our evading help to another in their weakness. Half-truths are at best lies that form the basis for grievous sin; that which grieves the Spirit of truth.

WWJD? That sounds nice, possibly a little trite when we use it tritely and condescending. But perhaps better questions to ask of ourselves are; "Who is Jesus to that one? Who is He to me? Is my attitude different? Why is it important for me to receive His mercy and compassion?"

If we are to be compassionate, we must be open to see beyond the messes in another in those moments and see the other as Jesus sees us; or to put it in selfish terms, we need to see the other as we want Jesus to see us. This is much of loving our neighbour, the one in our awareness, as ourselves.

I look at myself and do not have to wonder why He gave this to us as a commandment. I am fond of the simplicity in which Kevin Prosch puts the idea of this forth; "The mercy you don't give is the mercy you don't get."

After all the natural response is to look away, to not involve ourselves in the troubles of another. We can even find support for this in scripture. Psalm 33 contains David's heart in his afflictions where he has become the utter contempt of his neigbours and a dread to his friends to the point that everyone avoids him. I have heard many good pastors tell us to suck it up because nobody likes a (whatever-we-are-in-those-moments).

Suffering and pain; whether out of consequences for our bad (sinful) choices or out of His refining hand are often endured alone but is it really G-d's will for us? Like David, we sin and are afflicted out of that. We anguish as we grow weak out of our self-inflictions. There is nothing positive, attractive or endearing to most; we are un-lovely, contemptable people who are dreaded by neighbours and forgotten by friends. Often G-d's power and presence have left us as well.

It is natural to avoid "negative people". There is much to support that in our popular natural thought and can even see it at work in holy scripture. However it is supernatural to come along side of a person with issues and encourage them towards the image G-d has created them to become. There is more mandated support for the latter than the former.

In fact, acting supernaturally in that regard it the way that identifies us as one of His Children to each other and to the others. It shows us that we are like Him, the real deal. It is ironic that most people outside of the Kingdom get this because of the little they know about Jesus. They don't trust what we say because they don't see the little they know at work in our lives.

Just as it is natural to turn away from ones on the darkside of things; it is a natural progression for one in the deep, dark places to grow despondant, increasingly bitter and withdraw from others. It is just as natural for us to shun the un-lovely with a rational defense as it is for one to find cause to grow in bitter resentment.

Both are natural responses on both sides of suffering. Both fall short of the grace and mercy of G-d and neither reflect His super-natural call on all of us to love one another. It is His Goodness that brings all (both) to repentance (change for the good).

There are several dimensions to the issues in suffering, but seem to centre on these points. We are called to endure it patiently looking towards the Lord for comfort. At the least this seems like an easy task to one in favour but can be overwhelming to one in the thick of troubles.

In observing, We are also called to come along side of another in suffering (even if out of sin) as the stronger of the two to minister encouragement and exhortation in kindness and gentleness out of love.

There is plenty of good scripture in support of this and most of us already have heard it enough, so it will go un-quoted. I believe this is one of those meat vs. milk issues that we are called to feed on and digest on our own. If you feel an urge to challenge it, by all means, use this as an opportunity to dig in and do some original research.

I do think that if i were to leave any reference it would be summed up in the following text. It gives us a picture of the outcome (fruit) of suffering as it is met head on from both sides supernaturally. It is good for all of us to meditate on from time to time:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of Compassion and The God of all Comfort, who comforts us in All of our troubles so that We can Comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. -- 1 Corinthians 3:11

So then ...

... if this is a picture of the fruit of suffering supernaturally met; what does comfort look like? What would it look like to the one receiving it? Who can you imagine comforting?

Acts of Gathering

... Excerpts from moments at The Furnace

It is night and the evening is cool in the open spaces of the valley. There is warmth and safety near the fires and near each other. There are no dangers; peace rules in our midst.

Yet something is off; a sense that there is something amiss. We rise to as to listen and then comes the call. At first it is but a persistent whisper building intensely in our thoughts. It grows louder as it moves towards the depths of our souls.

Some pause as if to listen but soon turn back to the warmth of the fires, to the comfort in the gatherings. Some stop and quiet themselves to focus their hearing. Then a voice comes forth carrying a sense of urgency.

"Go out into the night, there are more to be gathered. There are others yet to come.The night is a growing danger and peril awaits those who are not found soon. There is a time coming and coming soon when no more can be gathered."

Urgency is overtaken by compassion in those who have heard the call. They go out into the dark, leaving the comfort and safety of our camps to find and gather the others.

They seek the strays who wander the through the rocks and hills; wounded and disoriented. They have not gone far and they hear our calls for them. They are gathered, encouraged and strengthened; once disoriented but now partakers in the gathering. They tell of others still out there.

In greater numbers they go out into the night, into the ravines to search the cracks find the others who have fallen through. These others have fallen from sight, some close to our camps. They are stuck; held fast as wedges between the very rocks that would uphold them. They are worn down from struggling to get out and are unable to cry out anymore. Unless we find and lift them, they will perish.

We lift them and carefully bring them towards our camps. They grow stronger in our acceptance and are strengthened as we encourage them. They are becoming strong and soon join the ranks of the gatherers for an urgent and unrelenting mission.

It is late; the night increases in danger; the times grow more chaotic, peace and safety are uncertain in this time. The Lord calls to His gatherers;

"Go out! All hear my voice and take upon my heart, go out! Leave your places safety. There are still yet others to invite, to gather. Go out into the streets, to every street corner, every alley way and country lane. Invite all you can find; the good and the bad. There is no one that I want to be left out."

"A great feast is prepared for all who will receive my invitation. Call out to the poor, the lowly, the un-lovely, those without favour. Call to the lame, the prisoner, widow and orphan. Go and gather to fill my house. I desire all to come."

Welcome! You are just the person I was expecting!

Welcome.
Now what in the world do we mean when we say welcome? Why do we say that? We put it on our shoe mats, hang it on our doors and walls. The words often leak out of mouths in casual conversation with little thought into what we mean to the other we are saying it to.

Every language in this world has a word for it and oddly enough, they all mean about the same. It has a lot to do with conveying through a combination of words, acts and gestures that creates an atmosphere around someone that says they matter and it is good for us to have them in our company. That kind of illustrates the attitude that G-d shows us to put on (or draw out from within) in regards to our neighbours (those in our immediate mind or presence). G-d's love is initiated in the act and spirit of welcome, as He is kind, accepts us as we are and invites us to draw nearer to Him. He wants us to be like Him.

Being a welcoming bunch is something that is implied in being a Christian. It is often expected by those in and out of it. It is implied throughout the bible, especially in the New Testament where it is mainly used in relational contexts between one another in the body, usually without regard to ones status, circumstances or issues.

It can be a challenge to be welcoming to others when they are not where we are at; especially when it comes to folks whose circumstances appear different than ours. It can also be awkward to welcome those we know who are facing difficulties we don't have a personal understanding of.

"Yes, I read the bible once; was looking for loopholes...didn't find any though."
-- W.C. Fields

It is just as challenging for someone to receive a welcoming act and feel welcomed as some feel alone, un-worthy of attention or fearful of rejection should someone get to close. While there are barriers to welcoming; there are no excuses for not welcoming another, unless someone is coming at you with another gospel or willfully flaunting sin. Jesus gives us a rebuke for not welcoming (Matthew 25:43). Perhaps we may be able to come up with a few if we spent a little more time looking for them. Galatians 6 also presents an exception to an exception.

I believe we have an innate ability to sense if we are welcome; some more than others. That sense may come out of perceptions of past experiences or possibly from an objective observation. Those of us in distress or dealing with personal issues may not feel safe enough to accepting initial welcoming acts. Initial observations of those around them may bring to mind past hurts or unpleasant memories. Once burnt; twice shy comes to mind. Perception plays a big part in this when wounds from past experiences have not been dealt with and healed.

Welcoming is woven all through out the bible in idea, spirit and themes. A good (G-d?) exercise would be to have Him show you where welcoming is woven in to the word. I found a lot of places where we are exhorted and encouraged to be welcoming.

In Romans 12 we are reminded that we are part of one body and members of one another; devoted to one another in brotherly love; giving preference to one another in honor. We are called to be of the same mind to one another and to associate with those (lower) in less preferable circumstances.

In Romans 14 we are reminded to the call to love one another; to put aside judging and pursue the building up of one another.

In Romans 15 we are accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. That is the essence of welcoming; accepting one another.

What about welcoming the sinful ones? Can we turn our backs? Galatians 6 rebut rarely out ofminds is that welcoming comes before restoring someone who is caught in a sin, to be gentle and careful as we carry each other's burdens. It is hard to carry someone's burdens and carefully restore someone if we do not accept them as Jesus accepts us. I think we can be thankful that He doesn't accept us in the same way we sometimes practice our acceptance of others.

Thought: It is the goodness of G-d that leads us to repentance (change). Ask Him for a personal revelation of that.

No matter where we are in our lives, the acceptance and support received from those around us is an important aspect of a healthy personal outlook and a vital community. We tend to take it for granted when we are in the realm of wellness and favour. However, for those outside that realm, it is longed for. Some are longing without hope or satisfaction.

Feeling welcomed provides a good base for helping someone know that we are safe to be with, that is we can be trusted to know a little more about where they are at and what they are struggling with. It also makes it easier to receive much needed encouragement and exhortation.

Here is something to ponder; Welcoming does the gathering and protecting; encouraging and encouraging does the lifting and strengthening; Community and fellowship give the process of building up a chance to work.

Being welcomed is a good first step to preventing someone from falling through the cracks of our Communities. Being welcoming towards someone is like first aid to those who we have found in those cracks. I often wonder what was going through the minds of the Samaritan and the fallen one during their relationship. I imagine G-d would reveal a bit of that if we asked. I have a STRONG belief that it is a reflection of the Father's heart to pursue and lift the fallen invisible whether in or out of the Kingdom. Being a welcoming person and a people of welcome is also a good place to start when it comes to connecting with others.

To be welcomed is something we all desire, especially to the others in the cracks. This is the Father's heart for all of us.

"When the bottom falls out, either through personal tragedy or national disasters, the only shelter will be found in the shadow of the Almighty and in the fellowship of His saints."
-- Reuven and Mary Lou Doron, from their post in the Nightwatch Blog


I had a nudge to write about the topic of welcome shortly after a funeral of an important person to me. He was a very welcoming person who left a huge legacy of friends, especially those who somehow found themselves in the cracks. By falling through the cracks i mean when the "bottom falls out" of someones support fabric and nobody notices.

The common assumption today is that all is well with my neighbour. When some calamity or radical change in circumstances happens we assume that a person is coping if they are not sharing too many details. Fear rejection or shame can prevent someone from feeling safe enough to share about what is going on. A common response is to fear judgment by others over their circumstances. While perception plays a role in this, there is the possibility for basis of these fears from past observations.


All of us enter into seasons of trial and difficulty; some more so than others. Jesus even tells us to expect it. It is not a matter of if but when. Job losses, personal struggles, health concerns, death; there are no ends to what can happen to us all. How it happens is important; the response of those in trial and the responses of those around.


Anyone who enters into seasons of trials and receives the compassionate support of family or out of their fellowships is not in the cracks. These have someone actively in their corner praying with as well as for them. Some will pursue the well-being of another and walk with them through the seasons. Some are called specifically by God to another, but in general we are called to watch out for each other. We can get an awareness of other's needs and opportunities to serve and fellowship with one another through the practice of welcoming.


Welcoming comes easy towards those we are normally drawn to; the ones we find easiest to love. They are often in our closest circles, or, those we esteem (welcome) publicly; who have community prominence or favour. It is often easy to welcome the lovable and with a little effort; we can find it pleasurable to support them in seasons of trials.


People in the cracks do not have that kind support. They are not welcomed in the same manner as those we find easy to support. Most people in the cracks are right before us. We often are looking right at them. Out of social habit we offer the "How-are-you's", an exuberant "Welcome" just to gain a predictable "fine" or "great". We often say these things to people without much thought as to its authenticity or relevance to the conversation. The responses we get in return are usually not truthful.


A welcoming person is not just in touch with what is going on around them but one who is seeking the Father for fresh understandings of what His heart is towards us. In essence, we know that G-d is love. We know that we are His because of His love for us. He knows that we are His because of our love for one another. Others know that we are His by our love for each other. This is all about leaving tangible evidence out of doing something outside of ourselves. When people see evidence of our love, they feel safe to receive our welcome.

One application is in reflecting and speaking the Father's Heart (seeking the other's best in kindness and grace); saying what we mean (telling the truth), and meaning what we say (being genuine).

>>>>Left off here>>>>
Often people in the cracks are sensitive to disingenuous or superficial words. Some wince when they hear them, especially when they want someone to feel welcome them or be heard. People in the cracks often know and long for what these gratuitous statements imply. It is no wonder God will hold us accountable for what we say. It is important then to be students of what we say, starting with meaning.






The word "Welcome" in our culture has a broad application as a greeting (interjection), a verb, a noun and an adjective. But all contexts have the same root "wila-cuma" an old English expression of the will (willa; pleasure, desire, choice) and guest (cuma; one that comes). It conveys a meaning that the one's we welcome (those that come before us) are one's we are pleasured to see. In short, we more than acknowledge their presence, we take pleasure in the fact that they are here with us.






One of my best bibles i ever read gave the best earthly definition. That bible came in the form of a remarkable man; Douglas McLaren, a man who innately made everyone know they were welcome. I had the great fortune of knowing him as a neighbour, friend and fellow scouter for over 45 years.






He was also known for his great love and care with words. He passed on recently and left a great legacy. The most prominent was that "He always made each of us feel that, when we arrived to visit, we were exactly the person he was hoping to see.". The Father's Heart reflected.






God gives us wonderful words to meditate and explore. They are likened to jewels with many facets that becomes more brilliant and deep to the beholder as they gaze. Welcome is in deed a jewel.






One facet is found in Psalm 21:3 showing welcome as an interjection and a verb. The NIV and The Amplified Versions illustrate a welcome as a blessing going before some one in anticipation of their arrival. In welcoming you are eagerly anticipating the person you are about to hang a blessing on. Meditating on this has got me excited to welcome the next person i see! What a powerful word!






Jesus' Words recorded in Matthew 18 (NIV and AMP) set the tone for the New Testament references and adds yet another facet to the jewel of welcome. It comes out of the Greek dechomai, "to receive". With it comes the act of taking them in with acceptance in the receiving; also implied in the original. It is the root for other words translated for welcome such as apodechomai (Acts 15:4) which adds the dimensions of taking fully and gladly in the acceptance.






In short, welcoming is synonymous with acceptance, something Jesus does with all of us; whether we are in or out of the Kingdom, cracks or otherwise. He was chastised by the religious folk for taking welcome to the extreme, as He "welcomes sinners and eats with them". As i understand it, eating with someone was also an expression of social intimacy, a custom among the religious reserved only for "their kind".






There are many good examples of welcoming worth meditating on. Here is a list you can follow up on for your own edification. In the mean time let's try to imagine what our next welcome would be like. Who would we welcome? Is it someone we know and admire or is it someone who, up until now, has been a ghost. Ask the Father if none come to mind. I am confident He will show you someone you can truly welcome.






Imagine someone you haven't seen for awhile or has been far off for whatever purpose or reason. Take on the thought of what it would be like to wait expectantly for their return; waiting to bless them immediately on their appearance. I immediately thought of the father depicted in the parable of the welcoming father.





What would you like to say to them? What would be your blessing to them? You see them entering your view and you make eye contact; what are your thoughts? What are you feeling at that moment? Are you ready to reach out in gladness and take them in? For a real challenge; imagine how you would tell/show them they are welcome without using the word "welcome". How would you know that they know it?






There are many reasons that people fall into the cracks. Sometimes it is for reasons out of their control, or of their own doing or perhaps a multitude of things on either side. The reasons why go beyond the scope of this post. However, for this post, the emphasis touches on why people remain there. That too is out of reasons in and outside of their control.

People in the cracks are often unable to lift themselves out. Most have lost hope, become depressed. Some are overwhelmed by their circumstances. Some feel (believe?) they are judged and not accepted. Some are caught in a vicious down-ward spiral of hurt driven despair that feeds the anger and resentment that can keep them there.


Underlying all that is the feeling (belief?) that they are un-welcome; not accepted or wanted. Those feelings often come out of how they perceive their experiences with others. These perceptions are often formed out of some form of cognitive biases or painful experiences. They also may feel that way out of explicit or implicit actions of others towards them. We can come across as un-welcoming to others when our responses are less than genuine or our acceptance of them is conditional (judgmental).


Whatever the issues people in the cracks may have, we can be ignorant of their state mostly because things appear well with most everyone, especially after a rhetorical "how-are-you?". Hurting people often keep to themselves in accord with the degree they are hurt. Some go invisible after attempts at seeking out friendships, understanding or some form of compassionate support fail and defer hope of belonging even further. Think about people you used to see often that have disappeared without apparent cause. It is likely some have fallen into the cracks






Getting out the cracks requires compassionate support that encourages and exhorts, over specific counseling and coaching support. You have heard that it takes a whole village to raise a child. It also takes a few strong folks to come and lift a fallen one. From past experience, it takes at least three, sometimes as many as seven working together to see a fallen one restored. It is good to remember that once restored a fallen one can lift others and teach others to do so in the process.






Undergirding all that is the word and act of welcoming those who are in the cracks. This is something we all can do regardless of our relationship, call or giftings. Does our community have a visible culture of welcoming? Can we or others sense it when they meet with us?






Creating a welcoming culture requires each of us to adopt a spiritual posture and practice of welcoming that transcends our events and programs. Welcoming one another and those outside of our communities requires more than words of welcome. It requires acts of grace, kindness and hospitality that show others they are in deed welcome.






A program or an event may raise awareness of being a welcoming community, but will not take root in us unless we see it as an act of worship; out of love and obedience to the Son. Our love for one another demonstrates to others that we are in deed His Children. Welcoming out of our hearts is one good expression of that love.










What are your thoughts on welcoming?
What are some ways you can be welcoming to others?









The Mailbox – Part Two: Transformation

Hearing from God on the mailbox came again during a time of worship. My initial sense after the second word was that God desires to make a change in all of us and our community. He wants to transform our lives and how we relate to each other and the other parts of the body. We are to become an organism as opposed to an organisation.

Our structure is organic, unique, marvelous and unlike anything man-made or synthetic. We are to accept no substitutes, no matter how godly-functional or pragmatic they appear to be.

The second message about the mailbox came about a month after while worshiping during a night watch. There were no words, just pictures this time. The images are still vivid in my mind and i hope i can capture most of what was going on. This one still needs prayerful meditation as well. I think it is meant for others to personally interpret with prayer, meditation and collaboration.

The Mailbox appeared in front of me. It stood alone protected by only four grey walls. It began to move and pulsate. The dark finish of the wood began to lighten and almost became transparent.

The dividing walls of the slots began to move and divide. Their shapes warped and changed. New rows began to grow out in all directions in layers. Each row and cell took on new unique shapes, not unlike a paisley, but fit extremely well together.

More and more rows emerged out of every direction. The once rigid constructed form began to grow a covering and it was as if it was breathing. It looked an organ full of life; interdependent cells interconnected to each other and moving in a flowing rhythm with each pulse and breath.
The organ reached out and attached to other organs. It ended there.

The impressions from that vision are still strong long after the fact. There were (so far) three strong thoughts that came out of that vision. The first vision showed as as we are. The second shows us in a stage of transformation; on the way to becoming who we are to be; individually and corporately, in Christ.

Thought One:

Each of has a unique shape and we are designed to fit each other.

Thought Two:

Together we are designed and called to conform to a larger shape.

Thought Three:

We are an organism that grows pursuing its destiny.

The Mailbox – Part One: How are we built?

How is The Body Built?

Have you considered how the church is built? How is it structured; locally, globally? What is its purpose? Does it look anything like what it was intended to? How are we, or better yet, how are you fitting in and fulfilling your part?

For me at least, reading the New Testament often leaves me confused at times. God calls us out of the world into His Kingdom. We become His Children, heirs and brethren to one another. He puts His Spirit in us and gives us the power to live accordingly. He breaks through eternity and takes on our form to give the example in how we are to be. His early imitators follow his lead.

Comparatively, little is given on our structure other than we are likened to an organism as opposed to an institution. A little more is given on what we are to do but the focus seems to be on who Jesus is and who we are in Him.

The gist i get is that we see Him; we see the Father. He is in the Father and the Father is in the Son. The Son does or says nothing on His own unless it is what the Father is doing or saying. He calls us to follow His lead. He puts His Spirit in us for apart from Him we can do nothing in of ourselves. He calls us to love one another as He loves us. If we love Him we will do what He asks and when we do we show that we are His and He lives in us.

This leaves me with the idea that we are to be identified by how God is reflected in each of us, not by our form (buildings, structures, programs, etc.). Often that is the way the world see us because that is what we are about.

Reading and meditating on the New Testament examples often creates dissonance between what the church resembles and what it should look like. I find it difficult to find support for a lot of what we focus our thoughts and resources on. We have buildings, we have programs, liturgies by-laws, creeds. We focus much of what God has given us on those things to the exclusion of the mission. It is almost like the space program; billions are spent on supporting a vehicle that will propel only a few to a higher destiny.

I believe We must learn how to live according to who we are. We need make room for one another, those on either edges of the Kingdom; the lost, the leaving, the lonely and the fallen. By that i mean welcoming, connecting, accepting, encouraging each other to the point that we can all get to where God wants us all to be. We put at risk our personal and corporate growth and the benefits of having the Father's Heart.

Sometimes a vision or three can help illustrate

This i know to be true; God desires to speak with When the Lord speaks to me, He sometimes draws my attention to things as well as people to show me something of significance. The illustration of this matter came to me over a few visions; the accounts of which will be in the next few posts.

The first in the following account which came during a night watch. I was walking about the building praying and proclaiming the word. He called me into the coat room in the south foyer. A large mailbox is set in the middle of the room. He asked me to describe and measure the mail box.

“Look at it. What do you see?”

Well, it is a sturdy, well constructed piece. It is well defined and finished. It is pleasing to look at. It is prominently placed in a location, is easily accessable. You can see at a glance if there is something for you and it is easy to send something out to as many people as possible.

“Measure it. What is its size?”

It looks to be about five and a half feet long, about two feet wide and six feet high.

"What can you tell me about it?”

It has a good base that can be used for storage. There are uniform slots arrayed above the base. There are seven high, by twenty-two rows; two sides each for a total of 308 slots. There appears to be a slot for each person, family and groups. They are all the same size and there is only room for what is there.

“What can you tell me about that?”

Before i could come up with an answer, the Lord answered for me.

“There is no room. Unless someone leaves, no one can enter in. Unless you make room, you will not grow.”

From that point on i was fixated on the whole dialog. Here is the remaining journaled account of what followed. Now the mail box speaks.

Behold the mailbox. It is calling; It beckons you near.
“Come learn of me! What do you see?”
It sits in the outer court, just inside the gate, in the tent of meeting.

“Look at me. Ponder my makings, consider my purpose. I am connecting people to each other; a people part of a broad and noble vision to see the lost reached, restored to Christ and released to His purpose.”

“I am in the place of meeting, at the place of greeting, prominently placed for all to see, part of the nexus that connects you and me. I bear the notes of encouragement and information that connects us to one another.”

It stands noble; its construction considered in exacting proportions. Its frame is strong and well defined. It carries a grid in exacting scale; 2 sides each, 22 by 7; 308 in all. You have a slot that you must fit and there is room for no more.

I sensed that there was more to this. There was just enough revealed to draw me in further and to trouble my thoughts and evoke considerate prayer for the next two weeks. I had a strong sense that the definition of the box and its rigid and precise form revealed an element of control.

I shared the account with someone in a pastoral/prophetic leadership. Without hesitation or question, he commented ...

“Everyone is pigeon-holed; kept to fit a particular {controlled} form. That control is rooted in jealousy.”

The roots of jealousy are pervasive and is manifest in us all in some measure and form. It affects us all; no one is immune from it. It is all something we need to acknowledge individually and repent of. It will keep us back, hold us down and inhibit the development and manifestation of our diverse and rich giftings. It stifles anointing and enabling.

We can be jealous of what we have and not want to release and share it. We can be jealous of those with different or seemingly more prominent giftings than ourselves. We can be jealous for our little corners of ministry within the body, guarding it from other partakers. Perhaps we still define ourselves by what we do opposed to whose we are. Our mission and vision is right and good. The message of healing, humility and unity can be quenched by spirits of control and competition if we hold on to things too tightly and do not make room for others to enter in, realise their call and endowments and to grow the body in love.

Jealousy is like the very preservatives and finishes used in wood. It inhibits growth of organisms in the material. It preserves the form and finish wrought in the original construction. Like a preservative, its purpose is to inhibit growth protect the original shape. That is fine for wood that has been cut down sawn, dried, planed and finished for it is dead. On the other hand it is destructive to trees and other living things with cells that need to reproduce themselves and grow into their full potential their Creator intended.

There was more to come. A few weeks later God would show me a picture of the mailbox in transformation. It was good news! However, that stream of revelation was interrupted by a relevant dream involving an interactive survey.

The vision disturbed me but in time i would see that it was just a picture on how we are now and what was yet to come was exciting as the mailbox begins a transformation process that takes it from a rigid, synthetic structure to a vital organism in the ensuing visions.

As one of our pastors said, the prophetic does not necessarily provide guarantees but rather opportunities for the church to lay hold of. I suspect we are called to heed and diligently pursue what God is laying out for us.

Next, the start of a transformation.

Word of God; Speak

Plenty has been written about what God has said about one thing or another. This is especially true of His will for us regarding one another and our neighbours, whether in or out of the Kingdom.

Often we avoid ministering one another out of fears and biases (judgments/conclusions about another in a particular circumstance). We often use pious words to hide our fears and biases; “I will pray about that or be praying for you”, “hang in there, don't give up”, “be blessed, warm and fed”.

My personal favourites are “I don't feel lead to do such for so and so.”, or “I will seek the Lord (His Will) on that”. In most cases, the barriers to resolve issues and meeting other's needs are addressed clearly in commands God has given us or examples the Lord and his imitators gave us to follow. For the most part we are without excuse when it comes to these.

The Spirit that lives within will ensure we can keep these commands and follow the examples if we are willing. We can trust the details of timing and method if our desire is to love Him and our neighbour (one another). We gotta wanna for Him to work His will in and through us

His Word does not need anyone to add to it lest it become too wrapped in our opinion. I believe The Holy Spirit will do a better job on the explanations as He draws us to meditate on the words.

That being said, here is the first of a few His-Words-Only posts in the context context of ministering to one another as they are rendered in the New International Version (NIV).

Here are some good places to start.

John 13:33-35

"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

1 Peter 4:8-10
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

John 15:12-14
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

About Being -- Out of The Furnace

Most of us these days are hearing a fair bit about "being" versus "doing". There is a lot written on the topic in and out of the Body; some of it is quite detailed and lengthly. However, the truth of this matter often gets obscured in the details.


There is a lot that I can say out of my own testimony on the matter. It can also easily get obscured in my wordiness in my attempts to explain what the Spirit communicates in an instant.


His voice is especially clear and profound in the most simplest words. I hear those simple words whispered into my Spirit often in times of worship and intercession; especially during the nightwatches at the Furnace or in my office.


I often walk about and speak with the Father, usually on behalf of another. At one time during an evening, I was searching for what i needed to do. I asked the Father to show me His heart on what i needed to do.


Instead of a list, He gave me a few words as i walked and waited that seemed to soften the edges of a jagged performance-based perspective:



"Be Kind as I AM Kind"




"Be Generous as I AM Generous to you"




"Be merciful as I AM merciful to you"




"Be gracious as my grace to you is without measure"



"Be forgiving as I AM forgiving to you"



He never told me to do anything that He didn't want me to be. Our new natures reflect what He wants us to become. It is easier to understand what our new natures are so that we can do things that give evidence of that newness.



He gives us the power to do so:



Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

2 Peter 1:1-7 (NASB)

Prophetic Prefacing

Preface
This is a set of prophetic words that came out of time spent in the Prayer Furnace. The most significant is a a three part progressive word using the imagery of the mailbox we use at GCC for casual communication to each other. The first part came through a dialog with the Lord during a night watch in the Prayer Furnace. The second came in a dream while meditating in the word. The third came as a brief picture. The accounting as it came is noted in italics. My impressions are noted in regular text.

The other impressions seem to be related and support each other. All of the words are given in the order they were received. Their interpretation is for the body, as is, however, I have provided my initial impressions following each account. I trust the Lord will incite a consistent understanding as to their meaning and application on an individual basis.

Recently, the Lord lead me through a review of His words, promises and things i have learned in His presence my journals. I came across an entry that has consistently motivated my thoughts over these past years. It came from Ken Peters during a celebration evening, September 27, 1998. It resonated within me strongly then as it does now. It was not on the agenda and came out spontaneously. As I consider those words today, it appears they all are related. Here is my transcription of that account.

There is a danger of the church not welcoming the transformation of Winnipeg. We need to be prepared in order not to be offended. He is going to pour out His Spirit on many people, perhaps hundreds, and they will be in our midst operating in their gifts and we will not know what to do with them.

Be prepared in order not to be offended,...Know that the Father loves you and me, He loves the church. The Father will bring people in in His own way, be ready for it.

I feel these words have a more global application and speaks about those that are not only coming into the Kingdom, but those on either edge of it; those who love the Lord but are disconnected and those who the Lord has His hand on but have not yet come in for fear of safety. I have seen this a fair bit in the last 8 years or so, especially in the cracks. The evidence for this can be seen in the emergent church as well as the swelling spiritual hunger in those outside the Kingdom.

John Micklefield noted that “prophecy does not provide any guarantees but does provide opportunities.” I believe these particular prophetic impartations to reflect the Father's heart for us individually and corporately; as opportunities to be transformed if we press in (ask, seek, knock, hope, believe, trust, act) we can see it come to pass.


29-March-2006

"Behold! How They Love One Another"

Central Thought

We Desperately need Him and His Love at work in us.
We also Desperately need each other to love.

I read this often quoted line a few months back. The line itself is believed to orginate from a report given by a Roman procurator to Caesar (Tiberius, Julius??) about the potential threat of this new cult that was spreading throughout the empire. That statement frequently poked into my thoughts.

During a night watch the following came to me during a time of soaking prayer in 1 John over GCC. It became an on-going prayer that the Lord continues to add to as it is given out. While this one wasn't the most peculiar or flashy communique, its subtle. soft voice grabs our attention as it invites us to carefully consider its simplicity. Here is how it unfolded:

This is Our Witness, Our Testimony, to the world and to each other, before a Loving Holy God, that the world will know that we are His because the great love He lavished on us has been evidenced in our great love for each other.

He then told me to put a banner over that statement, “Behold How They Love One Another”. Love is as simple as it is complex and facinating. It would be un-realistic to believe we can completely describe its facets. However, the Lord began to describe some of the important ones i believe He wants us to consider and act on.

“Perfect Love:

... Covers a multitude of Sin
... Casts out all Fear
... Permeates our Being
... Is Seen – Our Fruit
... Looks for the Lost and Lowly
... Lifts the Fallen
... Restores to Righteousness
... Gives Life by Giving it up for another
... Always Hopes and Trusts
... Never Fails or Gives up
... Gives deference to the other
... Seeks His Neighbour's welfare

Each time i would enter into a soaking prayer or pray over this word, He would give me a few attributes. The interesting thing about them is that the majority are verbs:

Lives Larger
Encourages
Lifts
Builds
Gives Instantly
Dreams
Shares
Rules
Lives Larger
Swings Wide the Gates
Makes Room for More
Welcomes
Comes out of Brokenness and Surrender

I believe this is a good start and we all can and should, no, must, add to this list within the words of our testimonies. We can ask the Father which ones He wants us to add. It is an on-going thing. While we can't be all things to everyone, we can be someone to somebody. We just have to ask the Father who and He will show us.

Initial Impressions

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. -- 1 John 4:12 (NIV).

While this verse is a huge statement in itself, it should not be seriously considered without meditating on the whole of this chapter let alone the book. Out of all the things God desires and calls us to, Love is the head, framework and foundation. It really is what we are to be focusing on; Loving Him, foremost, passionately without reservation, and, Our Neighbours. The rest of the things we need to be mindful of would become instinctive within this context.

A Greater Sense
The most powerful moves of God will come out of a spirit of humility, anonymity and keeping a low profile but keeping a watchful, prayerful eye on each other, as opposed to bringing our ministries to the forefront, synthesising community through process and program, and merchandising God's truth and healing.

In the world today there is more money, food, goods and services available than at anyother time in history. As a race we can generally say we lack for nothing corruptable or temporal. Yet famine, pestilences, poverty, loneliness, sickness and abandonment are wide spread. We are in a glut of truth in the Church these days. Everyone has a book, a conference to stage or a ministry to tell about, but, are we really about the doing of what we know? There is a literal smorgasbord of truth to feast at, which in itself is a great thing. but we have become spiritually obese. We eat and don't exercise like we should.

Before this starts to sound like yet another world vision appeal, i would like to say that we, the church, heirs to the kingdom have the best position in this world to not only just relieve these things grieving the Father's heart but to also bring His presence in to those places, into the cracks where a huge populace has fallen into. I believe this to be observable and measurable.

For every three healthy souls, there are five broken. For every one visibly broken, there are four who have fallen through the cracks, For every one we stumble across in the cracks, there are four we may never see. That is, of course, without asking the Father where the are.

The Mailbox – Part Three: Alive!

The Body Becomes Vibrant and Vital.

Initial Sense:
God not only identifies our current states, circumstances and tells us how we got to where we are but He shows us a way forward. That way is inviting as it is wonderful. It may also be hard work for us if we seize this prophetic bit as the opportunity He sees for us to press in on.

This one came during John Micklefield's exposition on becoming peacemakers for that is what we often need to be in the Kingdom. I believe that teaching is very much integral with the whole of the mailbox transformation. The following came to me as he was impressing us with the facts that we have the Holy Spirit within us to release joy within the midst of sufferings, perhaps even the hard road of peacemaking too. The transformation of the mailbox is all about taking the hard road of peacemaking. The definitions he used to describe peace would also serve as evidence that the mailbox has been in deed transformed. I can't explain how it segued but the following is the result of it.


The realisation of the jealousy that forms the roots of control within us individually and corporately, makes way for the Holy Spirit to release us from its effects, as He begins to move freely within each cell. Seing jealousy the way it is and in its varied and subtle forms makes the way for repentance. Repentance makes the way for the Spirit totake hold of us individually. His life begins to flow and we begin the (possibly rapid, if not immediate) process of transformation to His purposes. We begin to take upon the shape He has predestined for us.


The ridgid, well defined shape of the mailbox becomes supple and pliable in the flow of the Spirit. The essential oils of grace and mercy soften the hardness in the cell walls. The scars left by jealousy, indifference and pride are removed and pure delight in Him and each other begins to take root and manifest.


The cells move and bend to embrace each other's form. They delight in their Creator. They delight in each other. They begin to shimmer and move; dividing and imparting new growth, new cells. Each cell is unique and fit to each other perfectly.


We become bendable to the will of God. We not only begin to find it joyful and satisfying; we are excited in the prospect of being conformed to our individual shape within that very unique and wonderful shape He has for us together; His children, His cells, formed in an organ of community with in the body with Christ as the head and essences of life. The Connections and life within is vital and vibrant, from the least cell, throughout every organ to the head, without exception. There is no cancers in this body as the cells all love each other to the point that it becomes the glory of the whole body. It can not be mistaken or hidden.


The three scenes imparted about the mailbox need some though and reflection. We need to put the three stories together for ourselves and seek God in what He is saying to us individually.

What do you think?

Purpose in Connecting

Further posts will explore the nature of connections, their contexts, purposes and the barriers obstacles we face in connecting.

why thoughts to finish the phenomenons of .... dissonance ... disconnected-ness in the light of why we are here (in the Kingdom, our Kingdom Communities and in (not of) the world.


Knowing the nature of a thing or a matter often reveals its purpose
Connecting is a term that is almost too cliche in these days but it is a good synonym for relationship. Perhaps it is a better word for relationship as it implies a bond where relationship can mean anything from disconnected to vital, depending on the context. I have a relationship to my rabbit. He thumps the floor when there is no food in his bowl; i feed him in response. That pretty much describes that relationship. It may be vital to him but it is not that vital to me. Nothing meaningful is shared or imparted. There is little if no mutual edification.

Connecting does imply something vital. It is simply a bond that exists between one another where interpersonal transactions take place. It comes to my mind as two one way transactions that are not governed by anything other than love (agape); no other conditions other than meeting another in a need (emotional, spiritual, material, physical, etc.).

The Word describes vital connections in detail and is perhaps best left for our own honest and earnest discovery. Most prominent in my mind are the Gospels, Acts 1-6, 1 John where the vitality of the connections are exemplified in community. It is the conduit of community. We see it in forms of encouragement, kindness, forebearance. The attributes of vital connections and their workings are laid out in 1 Corinthians 12-14.

Love is also about Community and Connecting: ordinary people with extraordinary relationships; to the Father, to the Son and in the Spirt to each other. It Goes Beyond Forgiveness, past Reconcilliation, past healing into Restoration into what God desires for our lives. It is Connecting to the Father's heart to release the Spirit of Might (true power) and going beyond the appearance of being connected (a form of godliness but denying His Power).

1 John 4 (New International Version)

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.


One of my favorite paraphrases of Love comes from a band called the 77's. Not too many people know of their work. They don't fit the molds well in either secular or Christian music. Larry Norman calls them “too Christian for the radio and too radio for the Church”.

This Is The Way Love Is (Mark Tootle)

When I gave up, you held up
When I ran out, you filled me up
When I kept runnin', you kept up
When I let you down you lifted me up

This is the way love is

When I couldn't find the words, you understood
When I didn't find the time, you were in no hurry
When I wouldn't make ends meet, you tied them together
When I cheated you kept to the rules

Well, this is the way love is
This is the way love is
When it's a one-sided double-minded mirror with no reflection

When I was keepin' it in, you were givin' out
When I was losin' out, you'd let me come back
When I was holdin' back, you were holdin' on
When I was losin' my cool you were keepin' your love warm

Well, this is the way love is
This is the way love is
When it's a one-sided double-minded mirror with no reflection

When I kept it all to myself like a miser holds on to his last dime
When I closed up myself like a desperate hand on a lifeline
Well I was bled, I was dried, all wrapped up in my pride
This is the way it is when you're on the wrong side

Well, this is the way love is
This is the way love is
When it's a one-sided double-minded mirror with no reflection

Bless you all.

Connecting Understood

Connecting has been defined in our post modern times. Most of it has taken on a post modern meaning mostly in social contexts. The Wikipedia, the popular post modern reference work, defines social connections as "the human desire to experience the integration of the self and the other... accomplished through communication and empathy".

Like many of our worldly definitions, it reflects some truth but is lacking in its completeness when compared to what God defines it as. True connections go beyond social contexts and involve much more than a single emotional vehicle. In short, the worldy, post modern definition while true in some aspects is shallow at best. God's definition is as deep, complex and vital as its subject.

The desire for deep and meaningful connections is buried deep within us. I believe it compliments the God-shaped hole.

Shallow connections (relationships) are pretty much the norm in our present culture and much of that shallowness is also in the Church.

Inter-changeable terms: The Body, The Church, One Another, Brethren.

Fear of connecting and the safety found in shallow relationships.

programs, technology while enabling activity does little to connect us unless we take the initiative to go deeper. People connect through blogs, e-mail, instant messages, texting. We may understand what is being communicated but we dont connect with each other albeit abstractly; we connect to each other through a blog like this, just as much as through a program in person although we have an illusion of connectedness.

To understand God's design for the Body is to understand connectedness. Ephesians chapter 4...verse 13 refers to maturity (in the Greek it is "completeness"). expand on this one...more examples ... Romans 12:4-8

Ephesians 1:22-23..." And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."...Ephesians 4 (all) ...

Connection in the Body, a reverse definition out of Colossians 2:18-19 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Paul uses body illustrations to describe the church relating it to Christ's body. The Body form, gifting and purpose...1 Cor 6:19 our individual bodies are a dwelling place for the Spirit just as it is collectively. .. 1 Cor 10:15-18... 1 Cor 12 (entire) is the central teaching ...

Colossians 3:14-16 peace rules in the Body, an attribute of connectedness?

why thoughts to finish the phenomenoms of .... dissonance ... disconnected-ness in the light of why we are here (in the Kingdom, our Kingdom Communities and in (not of) the world.

Here to Connect!

Our Connections and the ways and means we connect to each other is a central thought through out this blog. I believe we can connect in many ways (spiritually, socially, intellectually, emotionally, physically, etc.) and in varying degrees.


Most of our connections are often superficial and our motives to maintain them vary. However, the utmost motives we are called to reflect are out of love; the one-way, outward kind that gives without concern for self. In their pure forms, authentic and vital connections are initiated and maintained out of love for the Lord and towards one another.


I am learning that we are here to experience consistent connections between God and each other in the Body. The strength of those connections witness to others in the world and act as signposts pointing them towards the Father. The Lord gave me a dream recently that is drawing me into better understanding of what connections are in the Body and what it means to connect. I would like to take the risk and share what i have been learning, starting with the dream.


This post has to do with something shown to me during time in the Furnace. For me, the most valuable time spent their, whether share or alone, is in the night watches. It is clear of most distractions that inhibits connecting to the Father's heart if we are inclined and dare to do so. Sometimes dreams come about after an intense nightwatch. This is an account of one that remains clear to me.


Why are you here? ... You are here to Connect!

Night watches in the Furnace for me are a paradox; energizing and tiring, more so when things get intense. I came home after a rather intense night watch and seemed to immediately fall into a dream as soon as i hit the pillow.


A short clip began to play in my mind as i drifted off. I was still alert but it was clear i was somewhere else. I was standing amidst a full gathering of our community in the gymnasium where we do the event part of church.


There was the normal buzz of voices talking amongst themselves as we prepared to worship. We stood in a full grid of neat rows and columns. No one seemed to be coming forward to speak or to lead worship and the buzz became louder as the absence of leadership persisted.

Suddenly, the whole stage area and the back wall became like a huge website that quickly re-directed our attention to the blank, clear screen. The buzz suddenly ceased and everyone fixed their gaze on the display. There was no way to avoid looking at it.

A bold text banner floated to the top-centre of the screen, captioning ...

Why are You Here?

The screen broke out into columns of many lists of plausible reasons, each with a check box adjoining it; as it were a survey. It seemed apparent to all that it was the Lord working an interactive presentation with us. I had the sense that He was concerned with why we were gathered here.



We began pointing at the screen as if our fingers were co-joind to a mouse. The lists flew up on the screen rapidly and we began to anxiously click at each line as they appeared. They all seemed like reasonable answers...

To sing praises...
...for the teaching
To pray for others ...
...for healing and deliverance
To serve in sunday school ...
... for friendship

The list grew to be quite huge! Then suddenly, before we got a chance to finish our hurried responses, the whole wall blanked out, like a page reload. Another wave of silence washed over everyone until a new banner appear as if to exhort us, in likeness to the correct answers being revealed after a multiple choice quiz ...

You are Here to CONNECT!
You are Here to Connect with Me and I to you.
You are Here to Connect to One Another as I am with you.

Everyone began to look at each other. Some appeared offended, bewildered, bothered but all very surprised. I seemed that no matter how many good answers we came up with to the question, there were only three that mattered. None of us seemed to have gotten them either.


Then i woke up. I didn't have much choice in the matter and it was only a short time after i went to bed. The whole thing gripped me to the point that it re-engaged my thinking to the point that i was distracted from a much needed sleep. I journalled the account and fell fast asleep.


Now What Was That All About?


The whole dream seized my thoughts and got me thinking again about why we are really here in the context of what we are calling church. What we do seems to be right but there seems to be something missing. We have good teaching, programs and excellent times of worship in song and adoration. However apart from all that there seems to be something missing.


Our experiences of church in the programmatic context can be quite empty. Church can and often is a lonely place in spite of the attendance and activities.

Most have come to see it as a place where we are busy being busy for the sake of being busy. Paradoxically, it can be one of the most loneliest places on earth. I believe this is a prominent phenomenon out of discussions at large.

The intent of this post is to provoke thought into the nature and purpose of connecting to one another, in the Kingdom and in our communities. Hopefully, some dialog would come out of it, preferably outside of this blog with one another. Even better would be to see real vital connections flourish, but that can not be done by words alone; they have to be shared and experienced together.

Further posts will explore the nature of connections, their contexts, purposes and the barriers obstacles we face in connecting.

What do you think is missing? What has the Lord been impressing you with?

Share your thoughts!

Bless you all.