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.