I've moved!

I've moved to a different address and wanted you to know so you can come with me.

You can check out my continued blogging at:

http://scottgaglardi.typepad.com/souljourn/


thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you at the new location.


Scott

Hitting The Mark

Now that was fun!! I got to spend the morning with 7 other guys shooting a variety of guns at a variety of different objects (Thanks Craig for organizing a great day!!) Here's a rundown of what I had the chance to shoot - 20 gauge & 12 gauge shotguns (pump & semi-auto), 9mm & .45 handguns, 308 & 30/30 rifles. With these guns I attempted to hit a; skeet, water jug, paper target, paint-can, steel person cut-out and a 5 gallon bucket. I did hit a few of these but I think the dirt bank behind got the worst of it :)

I was a little disappointed with how I did considering the level and extent of preparation I had gone to (READ - watching the Mark Wahlberg sniper movie 'Shooter') but I was reminded of a couple valuable lessons. First - In target practice, just as in life, it is important to keep your eye on the target. As hard as it may be to hit what you are aiming at, it is impossible to hit the mark if you aren't aiming at anything. Secondly - make sure you don't go by yourself. We had a lot more fun simply because we were together. We had fun cheering for each other when someone hit the target (and when one of us decided to put another round into the dirt bank). All in all it was a great day and I really hope we get a chance to do it again (I hope you're reading this Craig).

Staying in the orphanage....

We are taking our children with us to Uganda in 4 weeks for a ministry trip and so we are in the midst of preparations and determining our schedule over there. One of the young women from our home church growing up is currently living in Kampala and running an orphanage. She has a couple of extra beds right now so while we are over there Naomi and the kids will be able to stay there and help out.

I got this figured out while I was at the office and I was pretty pumped about the opportunity for our kids so when I got home I announced to Naomi, '...there are some extra beds at the orphanage so we can take the kids and they can stay there...'. Now to the informed, this sounds like a completely appropriate statement about an exciting missions opportunity, but for my 7 year who came into the conversation at that point it didn't produce the same response. While Naomi was responding to my comment with a, '...that's fantastic!..' she happened to glance over and see a very despondent look on Hudson's face. With a downtrodden, and somewhat anxious, response he said, 'but I don't want to go to an orphanage.' We quickly realized the misunderstanding that had taken place and provided Hudson with some clarification and then everything was fine.


We laugh about it now (hopefully Hudson won't need counseling later in life!) but it really emphasized to me the importance of clarity in our communication. It is so easy to have a misunderstanding and then run off with it. I have seen so many people struggle with issues for far longer than they needed to simply because they never bothered to get further clarity on an issue.

So let's make sure we don't ever drift off to sleep thinking we are going to be abandoned in an orphanage.

Thoughts from Sunday

What a great morning we had in all 3 campuses! Several times during worship I found myself thinking about the rest of our family spread out over all 3 campuses worshiping together and celebrating God's greatness. It's not hard for my mind to wander as I see people participating & responding in worship in 1 campus to wonder what is transpiring in the other 2 locations. As I see people in front of me being ministered to by Holy Spirit I know by faith that the same is being accomplished in each campus as we come together in unity & expectation.

Several times when we debrief the different services I will hear about how Holy Spirit emphasized the very same aspect of God during worship and I marvel again at how in 3 different locations God is building 1 family. It is an amazing reminder to me that God is building something and as we continue to submit to His leading in obedience & faith we will have the amazing privilege of participating in a work that will touch individuals, families, communities, regions and Nations. I can't possibly think of anything more fulfilling or significant!!

The icing on the cake today was hearing afterward about an individual who responded to Jesus' free gift of grace and accepted Him into their heart. I missed seeing their hand when opportunity was given but I know that God didn't. He never misses one person, and with great compassion and celebration He welcomes another member into His family.

It has been an amazing day and it is not over yet. Tonight we get to gather and discuss 'A Christian Response To Homosexuality' and learn more about how we can follow the example of Jesus. We want to model His example and embrace & accept people, regardless of struggle or sorrow, and treat every individual with love and respect.

10...9....8...7...

The countdown is on and we are just a few days away from the launch of our 3rd campus! On Sunday September 16th we will open the doors of our Gold River campus and it is going to be thrilling. We have a great core to begin with that have a burning passion to reach their community with the message of Jesus and welcome people into His Family and Body.

We believe based on Genesis 28:17 that the local church is the entry point of heaven's reality into our world - 'the house of God the gateway of heaven' so with the launch of our new campus we are anticipating a greater release and realization of Heaven in the community, and surrounding region, of Gold River.

I can just imagine that almost 2000 years ago in different communities and regions groups of believers would gather around the reading of a letter that had been delivered and grow together in God's purposes. Along with this 'letter' local leadership would provide accountability and care as these believers continued their pursuit of Jesus Christ. Now in 2007 with the advent of technology, gatherings of believers are able to gather around a video 'letter' and grow together with a larger family while local leadership provides care and encouragement.

Make sure to check back because I know there will be more updates!

Celebrating 70 Years

Our church is going to be celebrating its 70th anniversary next weekend. On September 5, 1937 the very first service was held for Courtenay Foursquare Church and on that day God began writing a story that now spans 7 decades and continues to go strong. Elwood & Mary Shannon were the first pastors and by all accounts they modeled a great faith in God as they moved to a brand new area, pioneered a brand new church where they knew no one and simply trusted God to 'build His church.'

With each turn of a page, and each brand new chapter, there have been various triumphs, challenges and obstacles but the story is not one of challenge or obstacle, the story is one of God's great faithfulness. For 70 years God has shown Himself so very faithful to our Foursquare family in the Comox Valley. He has revealed Himself as provider, as healer, as deliver and restorer and as Saviour. The list could go on and on of the wonderful ways that God has displayed His goodness and His power over the last 7 decades and I'm looking forward to hearing some more of these stories at our celebration (Sunday September 2nd).

My dear friend Gertrude Frelone has worked tirelessly to pull our celebration together, along with Ruth Fox, and she is certainly qualified to do so. She has attended the church from the very beginning (thus the personal parking space!!) and is still actively involved today. She helps out in our childrens ministries, our 50+ ministries and probably hands out more candy on a Sunday morning than some houses on halloween (I'm exagerating...slightly).

As the day of our celebration gets closer I have this question that keeps recurring in my mind. The question started out quite soft and in the back recesses of my mind but with each passing day it has gotten louder and drawn closer to the forefront of my thoughts. I'm tired of pondering it alone so let me pose it here for you to mull over;
QUESTION: After 70 years of faithfulness what am I accountable for and what will be required of me?

In Dueteronomy 29:29 the Bible tells us that "we and our children are accountable forever for all that God has revealed to us, so that we may obey...".

As wonderful as looking back on 70 years of God's faithfulness is, I don't think for a moment that God desires us to simply look backward and bask in what some might refer to as 'the good old days'. I think that with each successive display of His kindess, goodness and power, God has used the last 70 years to prepare us for what He is about to call us to. The lessons He has taught us, the truths He has revealed to us, and the promises He has fulfilled for us, should have developed in us a maturity and preparedness to move into this next chapter.

In a few days as we pause to look backwards, I must be truthful, I am already sending my eyes towards the horizon in anticipation of what will come next. I know that it will require us living in the promises of the past years to fully possess our next years but I feel up for the challenge. Do you?

Proud As A Peacock

It has been a long time since I've written anything here. Please don't think I've given up on this forum of expression I've simply been taking some time to camp, read, tube the puntledge and evaluate. In fact, if you think I haven't blogged in a while let me tell you the last time I preached....Father's day June 17th. I've enjoyed the break getting ready for this next years sermons as well as listening to some tremendous preaching from Craig, Jason, my wife Naomi and my good friend Shawn. You can check them all out at our website -- www.ngate.ca.

Naomi is going to be preaching again this weekend and I have got to tell you I am so proud of her. I have watched her go before God for a message, spend time in study and prayer and then carefully labour over the best way to deliver God's message. She has only preached a few times but she is doing an amazing job. As a leader it is always thrilling to see people discover and move into their God ordained destiny but it is even sweeter when it is your spouse. Way to go honey!!

In pursuit of promise

Naomi and I just took our children up to Barkerville to visit the site of the historic Cariboo gold rush. Barkerville gets its name from gold miner Billy Barker who struck gold there in 1862 and history records that his claim produced over 1100 kgs of gold! It was results like that which drew people from far and wide to the piece of land now known as Barkerville. They came from overseas, down south, back east and up north. Gold miners, doctors, barbers and saloon keeps all came with one thing in mind, to cash in on the gold. The promise of what could be exerted an irresistible magnetic pull on them that caused them to leave behind what they knew and embrace the unknown. They sacrificed, gave up personal comforts and toiled alongside others that they would normally never associate with, all for a treasure that regardless of size was temporary and finite.

I couldn't help but be challenged by the history of this town and the men and women who occupied it for a time. As a believer in Jesus Christ there is a far greater promise held out to me than any gold mine will ever produce. I have the unfathomable privilege of knowing Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour and daily experiencing His immeasurable love in my life. Yet I must ask myself, does the pace of my pursuit match the promise held out to me? For temporal nuggets of gold men moved with surety and speed not wanting to miss out on a single flake that might be found.

I left Barkerville with a full stomach from the chicken & dumplings I'd eaten at 'Wake up Jake's' and a full heart determined to increase the pace of my pursuit so that I might lay hold of the infinite, eternal promise found in the person of Jesus Christ.

WHY?

Why? The quickest answer might be ‘Why not?’ but that might not be the best answer. Over the course of our day, week, month and life, we will all engage in a variety of different endeavors and activities. Some of these will be well planned and carefully detailed, while others will be spontaneous ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ experiences. When we reflect on our past activities, or pause to consider future ones, the first question we should ask ourselves should be ‘Why?’ We should be much more focused on the purpose of our endeavours than the preparation for them.
Heaven modeled this for us in John 3:16 when right up from God showed us His purpose in sending Jesus to earth – Love! There were 1000’s of years of preparation for that event but all of that preparation is insignificant compared to the purpose for the event. Everything that Jesus did on earth, and then instructed us to carry on with, was motivated by love. Love was the motivation for His service, His sacrifice, His submission and His warfare.
In 1 John 3:8 we read that Jesus came to ‘destroy the works of the enemy’. That is a statement with conflict and warfare all through it. In Matthew 11:12 we are told that it will take a violent aggression on our part for the Kingdom of God to advance. Again, a clear reference to the aggressive waring nature our lives are to display. But before we get too carried away, lets remember that while there IS conflict and warfare the purpose behind all of this is LOVE. We don’t engage in conflict for conflict sake, we engage in conflict for the sake of LOVE. So that those who don’t know Jesus Christ, whose lives are being negatively influenced by the evil one, might come to know the saving work of Jesus in their lives and the liberty He brings.
It is important to keep this purpose clear in our minds and hearts because this is what determines the difference between a peacekeeper and a peacemaker. At first glance a peacekeeper may look more loving than a peacemaker. A peacekeeper doesn’t want to do anything to ‘rock the boat’, shies away from aggression and can convince may people (perhaps even themselves) that the passive state they live in ‘abiding’. Whereas on the other hand, a peacemaker knows that to truly have peace you must be willing to engage in conflict. They don’t go looking for conflict but when they see the negative influence of an enemy on others the LOVE they have compels them to act.
Throughout this month as we contend together for our Nation it is my prayer that there will be a growing love within all of us that will propel us to the battlefield. That we will rise to the call to be peacemakers, and following the example of our Father in heaven, allow love to move us into places of darkness and discomfort for the sake of the lost.

Finding the right balance

As our church begins a month of prayer for Canada on June 1st I wanted to take a moment and explore two statements embedded in our National anthem. I think it is imperative that we find the proper balance between these statements because if they are not understood and held in balance, we will fail to see the restoration of our Nation that Psalm 72:8 prophetically declares (“…and He shall have dominion.’) The statements I’m referring to are, ‘God keep our land’ and, ‘we stand on guard’. These statements represent the Sovereignty of God and, the responsibility of man. Too often the Church swings from one extreme to the next and misses out on the Kingdom advance found in the place of balance between these two.
We must understand that the ONLY hope for our Nation is Jesus Christ. Our Nation will not be restored through a political movement, an environmental effort or, a social agenda. Even though these may produce some good they will not provide the answer that mankind desperately needs. The great need in our Nation is not Senate reform, tax relief, lower gas prices or anything that man can produce on his own. The need in our Nation is for Jesus Christ. He, and He alone, can stand against the advance of evil and shine a light that will cut through the darkness and produce life. So without question, it is only God who can keep our land. However, we can’t allow this truth to incorrectly lead us to the place where we abdicate our responsibility in God’s plan for keeping the land.
For too long Christians have been lulled into a misguided sense of peace, or complacency, under the guise that ‘it will all work out because God is in charge.’ Certainly God is in charge but the Bible clearly shows us that God has chosen to work through people in the restoration of lives & Nations. This truth is powerfully demonstrated in Ezekiel 22:30 where God - the keeper of the land - says He looked for a man – someone to stand on guard – but couldn’t find one, so the advancing presence of evil was able to continue in its destructive path.
We must never move from the place of knowing God is in charge and ‘greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world’ 1 John 4:4-6. But in the same breath, neither can we move from the place of fully accepting our responsibility as agents of change in the land. We must accept and take up our rightful positions as guards in our land. We guard the land through; a righteous lifestyle, a commitment to unity of the body and, personally participating in the mission of Jesus Christ through His designated ‘vehicle’ to reach the world – the local church.
The balance we need to find between these two statements is summed up best in the phrase, ‘Pray as if it all depended on God, and serve as if it all depended on you.’ To simply serve without a dependence on God is absolutely unfruitful and to do little or nothing because ‘God will take care of it’ is to allow the continued advance of evil in our land.

Are you ready to be relentless?

In our day of comfortable complacency, unfinished projects, and broken commitments, it is rare to see someone who is relentless. And indicator of how rare this characteristic is can be evidenced by the fact that our friend the pink bunny is able to stand out in our minds and sell many batteries simply because he keeps going and going and going….

While the energizer bunny may make it look simple to be relentless the truth is actually quite different. Being relentless is not natural, or easy, but it is absolutely possible. In 1 Samuel 30:1-23 we read about an incident in the life of David that teaches us how to be relentless in our pursuit of what the enemy has stolen from us. This passage gives us at least 5 things we must consider if we are going to be relentless.
1. DECIDE v.8– You will have to decide do you want to go for something you don’t have and haven’t seen. Will you live beyond your experience. Far to many people are content to live with their current reality yet Hebrews 11:6 says it is impossible to please God without faith and Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the confident expectation and pursuit of what is not yet seen.

2. DEAL WITH DISCOURAGEMENT v.3,4- You have to protect yourself from the discouragement that can come with obstacles. Someone who is relentless isn’t someone who ‘gives it a good try and then quits’, someone who is relentless is someone who keeps going until there is breakthrough.

3. DON’T GET DISTRACTED V.6- You can’t get distracted by the words and actions of others. There will be many situations when you could think about yourself, your needs and your desires. You will constantly be confronted with the opportunity to place your needs and desires above the Kingdom.

4. BE DETERMINED v.18 - Be determined to get it everything you are going for. Don’t settle for 99% of what God has for you. The greatest obstacle to tomorrows victory can be today’s blessing. It is easy to get comfortable. To rationalize away what remains to be done based on what has already been accomplished.

5. DISTRIBUTE v.23 - Be willing to distribute the blessings. Not everyone will journey with you but when you make advances for the Kingdom share the blessings.

The end is really the beginning

What happens when we reach the end of something? Are we finished? Do we stop? Is it over? Are we done? This weekend, as we conclude our 4th year of Master’s Commission, 15 students are finishing up a journey that began last September. They have done a commendable job of learning and serving and have demonstrated a perseverance that should be desirous of us all.

As we watch them preparing to close this chapter of their life I would like us to consider the correct Biblical perspective for finishing something. While not all of us will participate in Master’s Commission, we will all sit through a sermon, attend a conference, go on a retreat or serve on a mission’s trip. Although these endeavours may range from several minutes to multiple months I don’t believe there length should have any affect on our approach to their completion. Whether we have just sat through a 35 minute sermon (Naomi happened to preach that day) or been away from home for 9 months I believe that the Bible calls all of us to a similar approach to the wrapping up of these initiatives.

In James 1:22 we are instructed to do more than just listen to God’s Word, we are directed to apply His Word to our lives. The idea is that we would take that which we have heard (learned) and allow it to shape and influence our life from that point forward. This one verse gives us the correct perspective that we should have as we prepare to wrap up every sermon, retreat, conference, missions trip and master’s commission. In this way, the end of something really becomes the beginning of something even greater. If at the end of a Sunday sermon, or year of Master’s Commission, we believe that we are ‘done’ then we have missed the point and purpose of what we just participated in. Not only do we miss out on the real purpose of what we have just completed but we make ourselves vulnerable to deception. If, under the assumption of being ‘finished’, we fail to apply what we have learned then we open a door in our lives to be misled and fooled (James 1:23,24). It is for this reason, that we must all see the end as the beginning. The finish line of one thing becomes the starting line for the next and we continually apply and build upon what is being spoken into our lives.
So well done students, and now let the real task begin!

Is it really that complicated?

“I just don’t know where I fit…” I heard this statement the other day from a very sincere believer. I could tell from their tone of voice and the expression on their face that this was a haunting question they desperately wanted answered.
I have also heard the inverse statement of this question, “I don’t think I fit here (anymore)”.

I must admit, questions and statements like the above leave me genuinely stymied not to mention a little (all right a lot!) frustrated. I’m not frustrated with the people, I’m frustrated with the work of the deceiver and divider of the brethren (Genesis 3:1). The enemy has been able to successfully shape a readily accepted perspective on the Church that is simply not true. In what should be the most welcoming community on earth, where absolutely everyone fits regardless of age, colour, background and baggage, the enemy has been able to segment and compartmentalize people causing at least 2 tragic outcomes; 1. The isolation and insecurity of individuals and, 2. The weakening of the Church.

When I open a jigsaw puzzle and begin to sort the pieces I know with certainty that every piece, regardless of shape, size and colour, fits. It doesn’t even enter my mind that there may be redundant or unusable pieces, everyone of those pieces is absolutely necessary to display the image they were intended to. While I may not yet know the exact place each piece fits, I know that they all fit and are all necessary to complete the picture. It would be ludicrous to take 100 pieces from the box and try to make a separate picture. The only thing that would happen is that both would be incomplete and fail to display what they were created to.

I believe that for the Church to properly, and fully, display the image that we were created to – that of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 12) we must rid ourselves of the destructive notion that not everyone fits or that there is more than one image we are to display. We need to approach church life with the simple confidence that everyone (including ourselves) fits and there is only one image that we are all called to display – a family (every age) of believers displaying Jesus Christ to the world (in word & deed) through their unity and love for one another. When we can do this we’ll stop hearing, “I don’t think I fit here anymore”, and the quest to find one’s specific place will be free from the insecurity that wondering if you actually have a place brings. This will bring a much greater strength to the church (Eph 4:16) and a much greater depth of love and relationship in the church.

Spies in the land…

I am down in Portland with Naomi and a group of leaders from the church. We have spent the last 3 days participating in City Bible Church’s leadership conference and it has been inspiring, challenging and refreshing. We were invited down as guests after Pastor Frank spoke at our leadership conference in February. When Pastor Frank came to our conference in February he was able to bring a few other leaders and they were all unanimously impacted, and impressed, by the spiritual atmosphere and culture of our church. Beyond what their human eyes and ears picked up, they sensed something and were stirred by it. Holy Spirit quickened something within them about the destiny of Northgate Foursquare and they felt that our participation in their conference would be a benefit to us as we stepped into what God has called us to. So we came down not as conference attendees but as spies in the land. We came to observe and receive from an apostolic, multi-site church that is equipping, resourcing, sending and influential.

In no uncertain terms are we trying to be, or imitate, City Bible Church. God has called them to be them, and us to be us (now that’s profound!) and for us to pursue anything less (or more) than our unique call and culture would be sinful. That being said however, there is a benefit in intentionally placing ourselves in situations where God can enlarge, and clarify, the vision and our understanding of it. This was what we felt God call us to after our leadership conference - 1. Declare more boldly and freely who you are and, 2. More intentionally step into it – and it was why we made the trek southward to participate in this conference.

As leaders we are trying to diligently prepare for what God is calling us to. It is our desire that nothing in us would in any way hinder what God desires to do in and through our family. As we walk through this process of surrender, stretching, and submission, I pray that everyone in our church family would do the same. That we would all be willing, and ready, to do whatever is necessary to possess our future. I can tell you with certainty that the report of these “spies” is a good one. Through eyes of faith we have seen the promised land and we CAN possess it. With God as our guide, and our willing hearts it is absolutely possible. I have such an expectancy about what lies ahead for our family and I pray earnestly that God will give me the grace and wisdom to impart that expectancy to each of our family members and then lead us all in possessing our future.

A fresh set of eyes

We’ve just wrapped up our weekend of ministry with Clive Pick and I believe that it will prove to be a very significant weekend in the shaping of our family. As Clive shared about the importance of living under Open Heavens we were challenged to not only live in complete obedience to God’s instructions regarding tithing but to increase our expectation and demand on the covenant that we activate by returning our tithes. We need to have an undiminished expectation that as the Heavens open the resources of Heaven will be poured into our land resulting in healings, salvation, relationships restored and all manner of Kingdom expressions.

Over the course of the weekend Clive had the opportunity to meet with some of our leadership and during this time he shared some areas of growth within our church that he had discerned and observed. It has been 3 years since Clive was last with us (November 2004) and it was encouraging to hear what a fresh set of eyes observed in our House. Sometimes when we are around something all the time a couple of things can happen. We can either miss the growth that is happening or become so accustomed to what we have that it becomes common place and ordinary instead of a blessing.

As we brought Clive in to minister at our House we received more than his message and anointing, we received his fresh set of eyes to see what God has been doing in our family. I pray that through his fresh eyes we would all be encouraged by what God is doing as He builds the House. For all of us who are labouring for His Kingdom to come on earth as it is in Heaven I pray that these observations will bring a fresh encouragement and determination to continue contending together for the fulfillment of ALL God’s promises.

Here are 5 areas of growth that Clive discerned and observed in our family:

1. A greater maturity in our family
2. A sweeter and stronger anointing in worship
3. A higher level of responsiveness to the message
4. A strong unity and relationship in the leadership
5. A confidence that God IS birthing something through us (last time it was an expectancy that God WOULD birth something)

An UN-critical mass

One of the prevailing messages in the Bible is ‘to gather’. Throughout its pages we read instructions, and see examples of God’s desire to gather people together. In His amazing grace He calls people from every walk of life, every conceivable human condition, and invites them to gather in His Name and around His purposes. In His mercy He accepts each of us as we are, but according to His justice He compels us to lay aside the influences, wounds, and baggage of a destructive kingdom and embrace the values and life that are found in His Kingdom.

This message of gathering together is affirmed, and reaffirmed, in passages like:
• Psalm 68:5 – God sets the solitary into family
• Hebrews 10:24 – Don’t stop gathering together as some are in the habit of doing
• Acts 2:46; 5:12 – As they continued to meet together God’s power was displayed
• 1 Corinthians 12:27 – God sets each person in the Body (speaking of a local church)
• Ephesians 1:5 – It has always been God’s plan to bring us into family
• Philippians 1:27 – No matter what happens continue to contend together

As we respond to God’s desire for us to gather and come into the place of cooperation with one another we become a very strong evangelistic voice to the world. The way we treat one another, serve one another, and love one another, presents the world with an undeniable object lesson of God’s love and power. Each time that we choose to gather together, and subsequently choose to maintain our ‘gathering’ we present a picture to the world of a God who genuinely makes a difference in the lives of people.

It is for this reason that the evil one works diligently to undermine our coming together. Our gathering together is strengthened in the place of humility, service and submission so the evil one deceptively promotes an agenda of pride, selfishness, and offense to drive us apart. If these conditions are left unattended they will tear at the fabric of our gathering and ultimately break it apart. When this happens, the picture of God’s love and power that our gathering portrays is tarnished and become less attractive to the world with each passing day.

As our family continues to walk under the banner of ‘Contending Together’ it is my prayer that we will diligently maintain our commitment to gather and see others added to our gathering. We will each need to guard our hearts against pride, selfishness and offense and allow others to hold us accountable towards that end. In doing this we can effectively gather around the Name and purposes of God and form an UNcritical mass that would influence our region, Nation and the Nations for the glorious cause of Christ.

Removing The Delay

There are many different passages of scripture that challenge me in different areas but there is one in particular that has captured my attention at this time. It is the account of Daniel praying and asking God to move in Daniel 10:12-14. As I read it, Daniel was praying to God for 21 days for an answer to a specific situation. Finally after 21 days the answer arrives and with it, the reason for the delay. The angel delivering the answer informs David that his request had been heard and the answer dispatched on the very first day that Daniel began to pray. Due to resistance in the heavenlies however, the answer had been delayed in arriving on earth. For 21 days the angel tasked with delivering God’s answer had been engaged in a spiritual battle that had kept him from being able to deliver the answer. Finally, additional heavenly forces arrived and the angel was able to deliver the answer that had been sent out 21 days earlier.

What challenges me about this particular passage is the reality that because of resistance in the heavenlies there was a delay in God’s answer arriving on earth. God’s answer to prayer did not arrive when it should have because of spiritual resistance that delayed its arrival. If resistance in the heavenlies could exist then and hold up God’s answer for 21 days, it is absolutely possible that there is resistance in the heavenlies today which is still causing a delay in God’s answers arriving on earth. If this is true then it accounts for many of the situations where we pray, “on earth as it is heaven” (Matthew 6:10), and then there seems to be a delay is realizing this answer (we are still waiting for many answers).

This could also give us some insight into why it is that God seems to move so powerfully in some areas and not in others. It could be that the saints of a particular region have cleared the heavenlies of resistance, Open Heavens, and cooperated with God in creating a space where there is an unhindered flow of requests and praise heavenward and answers and provision earthward. Instead of God’s answers being delayed by resistance in the heavenlies they are delivered in the manner and time that God desires.

This does much more than give me food for thought. It prompts me to action. I believe that one of the Kingdom principles that we can learn from this account in Daniel is that we must work to open the heavens and remove any hindrances to God’s answer being delivered. This same idea is conveyed again in Isaiah 57:14 where we are told to go out and ‘remove obstacles and hindrance’ so that the work of God can be carried out freely.

We do not have the ability to answer prayer but we do have the ability to clear or clutter the heavenlies. Our prayers and obedience can serve to remove the resistance over our region ensuring the timely delivery of God’s answers while inversely, our lack of prayer or obedience can further clutter the heavens and only add to the delay. Let us commit to living under Open Heavens where there is no delay between God’s answer being dispatched from heaven and delivered to earth.

We Stand On Guard!

I’m in Ottawa with our Master’s Commission students and we are staying at the National House of Prayer (www.nhop.ca). We just returned from a prayer walk tour and Parliament hill and it was simply amazing. I hesitate to say ‘life changing’ because that has become a far too frequently stated declaration that often fails to live up to its promise but it was an incredibly significant day.

During our day; we stood on a hill overlooking the Parliament buildings and prayed the 10 commandments over our Government and Nation, we joined arms and walked across the bridge into Quebec while praying for unity in our Nation, we gathered in the room where the media interacts with the MP’s after question period and prayed for there to be a truth & clarity of message in the media, and we sat in the gallery during question period. The tradition, history and architecture of Parliament and our Nation are breathtaking in themselves but when we recognize the Hand of God and purposes of God in the founding of our Nation it literally comes alive.

The powerful prayer and declaration that is woven into our National Anthem – “God keep our land glorious and free” and “O Canada, we stand on guard for Thee” have always held great significance for me but the events of today have only served to increase that. As we sat on the steps of the National House of Prayer and Pastor Craig led us in a debriefing of the days events one of the students summed it up well with these words, “I was reminded today of the incredible responsibility we have to pray for our Nation”. I don’t think truer words have ever been spoken. As Canadians and citizens of the Kingdom, we have the wonderful privilege and weighty responsibility of standing for our Nation. In Ezekiel 22:30 God looks out across a Nation for those who would accept this responsibility, for those who would stand in the gap and rebuild the walls of righteousness that protect a Nation. I love the passion that our church family continues to show for our Nation, and the acceptance of our responsibility to this end but it is my prayer that this would be increased. That from the west coast of our Nation there would rise a concerted chorus of prayer that the righteous foundations of our Nation and the prophetic promise over our Nation would be reaffirmed and realized.

Earth Day

Tomorrow has been designated 'Earth Day'. This is the day that we are supposed to think about ways to improve the world. Many will celebrate various environmental efforts and there will be a renewed push to live 'green'. People will discuss ways to save everything from trees to seals and spotted owls (pretty much anything other than humans). There will be a collective patting ourselves on the back for the way we have improved the world with our little blue boxes, but it won't last long because we have to move quickly on to the wringing of hands due to global warming (thank you Al Gore!).


I am all in favour of a healthy environment but I think that as a Christian my approach to Earth Day should be significantly different than those who don't know Jesus as their Saviour. I think that this should be a day when I reaffirm my commitment to live a life restoring the dominion of God to our world (Genesis 1:26-28). It should be a day when I reaffirm my readiness to go into all the earth and proclaim the message of the Kingdom (Matthew 28:19,20). It should be a day when I walk with a renewed humility and dependance on God and seek His healing of our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

For me the greatest earth day would be when Christians affirm and express Father's love for the sick, the hurting, the oppressed, the captives, the refugees and the enslaved. I don't think the earth is best served when we elevate its importance above the importance of those who the earth was created for -- humankind.

Responding to God

As we discuss learning to hear the voice of God over these weeks there is a key issue that will dramatically affect our ability to ‘hear’. The more we embrace this truth, the clearer and easier we will hear God speaking to us and, the more we resist this the harder it becomes to hear God. Jesus introduces us to this issue in John 10:2-5 when He says in v. 3, ‘…the sheep (that’s you and me) hear His voice and come to Him…” It is the 2nd part of this statement that holds the answer to our continued, and developing, recognition of God’s voice -- our response to the message.
The more we respond in obedience to God’s voice the easier it is to hear His voice. The more we resist, or rationalize away, His message the harder it gets to hear Him speaking to us. This is not because Jesus has gotten frustrated and stopped speaking to us but because our disobedience has erected a barrier in our lives, which only serves to deaden our hearing. Our desire to hear God’s voice must be coupled with a commitment to respond in obedience to His voice. When these two characteristics are present in our lives we will walk with the sound of His voice in our ears and the blessing of His hand on our lives.
This issue of responding to the message of God is vital in both our personal and corporate expressions of faith. Not only must we each individually respond to God’s message, but our church family must collectively respond to what God says to us. We must be willing, and committed, to walk forward in the unfolding plan of God (“…there is so much more I want to tell you – John 16:12) for us and, our church family.
A few weeks ago I mentioned what leadership believes to be the message of God to our House that came out of our Klesis conference earlier this year. While the individual messages were all anointed and instructive, and everyone in attendance probably received personal words from the Lord, we believe that there were two specific messages that God had for our entire family, not just those in attendance. The two things we believe He said to us were:
1. More freely, and boldly, declare what God has called our House to.
2. More intentionally step into what God has called our House to.
We know, and have expressed often, the amazing call of God on this House – to be an equipping centre, a sending station, a regional church, a resourcing church and, a rescue mission. As each month goes by we continue to see victories and fruitfulness in these areas. We have family members going and coming on missions trips. We have people whose lives are being freed from addictions and restored to wholeness. We regularly receive opportunities to bless other churches and individuals out of the blessings God has given us and the list goes on. Yet while we rejoice in the victories and fruitfulness that we have seen we know there is much more that God has in store for us. While we certainly don’t claim to fully understand the implications and scope of this call, we also know that we are not to hold our understanding ahead of our embracing and obedience in responding to this call.
At this time of focusing on hearing God’s voice I want to encourage everyone in our church family, in both campuses, to enhance their hearing sure there is both personal and corporate responding to the message of God. That we are individually, and collectively, embracing and participating in what God has called us to. Let’s ensure that our hearing only improves as we faithfully respond to what God speaks to us about.

How did he do that?

The account of Noah and his building of the Ark is an amazing and challenging story for me. I believe that his life is a model for believers in this current age that we are living in. Yet unfortunately, while his example is stunningly clear for us to read, it seems elusive for many to live. Somehow believers have been able to disassociate themselves from the present day message of the story until it is just a story. It has become a piece of history that occupies Sunday school lessons and bedtime stories but not everyday life.
For clarity sake, let me summarize the example of Noah that I believe we are called to follow. First, let’s look at the environment Noah lived in. We are told that Noah was living in an absolutely corrupt society and yet he was not influenced by the culture of the day – Genesis 6:9 Noah was righteous & blameless. Secondly, let’s look at Noah’s lifestyle. Noah did not live a ‘hot & cold’ life where he was on again and off again in his pursuit of God – Genesis 6:9 Noah consistently followed God. Finally, let’s look at his response to God. When Noah was asked by God to do something that was unheard of, altered the course of his life, and humanly speaking seemed illogical, he did not debate it, run from it or even hesitate. Noah stepped out in radical faith and complete obedience and did exactly what God instructed him to – Genesis 6:22 Noah obeyed God exactly.
I love the story about the ark, but I don’t believe the main point of the story is even about an ark. I believe the main point is about a person who lived in alignment with God and was willing to sacrificially obey God and do exactly as he was asked. And when this occurred, God moved in such a mighty way that it affected all of humankind. I believe that this is what God is looking for today from all of us. A people who will not be influenced by our surroundings, a people who will consistently follow God and, a people who will not hold our opinion, preference, or understanding before our obedience.
As Noah lived this way, he ushered in a global move of God that touched everyone. As we will live this way, I believe that we can usher in another global move of God that will bring in a massive end-time harvest. It will require complete obedience, radical faith and, an unyielding determination to pursue the Kingdom. Let me invite you to make a commitment (with God’s strength) to live as Noah lived. The age we are currently living in is very similar to the age he lived in and in desperate need of God. The cries of our world have certainly reached the ears of God, now I pray they reach the hearts of His children and stir us to action.

What I got out of it….

A few weeks ago we wrapped up our 4th annual church leadership conference – Klesis. Each time we have done this there has been a significant impartation into the corporate life of our church family, as well as individually for those participating. Each year we have been influenced and shaped as Holy Spirit as worked through the lives & message of our speakers, and this year was no different. While I thoroughly enjoyed the messages that our speakers delivered (they will definitely find there way into future teachings) it was probably their informal comments and lives that impacted me the most. As I listened and observed, I saw men of God who very simply, and very humbly, shared their understanding of who God had called them to be and how they were walking that out. It was actually quite refreshing to hear the ease that they shared their calling without any sense of comparison or evaluation of anyone else’s particular calling.

After the conference was over, I sat back and prayerfully considered what God had said to me during the conference and was now asking of me. In doing this I believe that there were two things that God has called me to do, as well as our entire church family.
1. More freely declare what God has called us to: In a culture that doesn’t know how to give honour, where we fight against a still pervasive poverty mentality, and people continually compare themselves one to another, we have almost lost the freedom to simply declare God’s call on our lives. Add to that the number of times we have all heard people say, ‘God called me to…’ only to be met with a lack of fruitfulness and advance, and we are understandably hesitant to say this is what God has called us to….’. And yet this is exactly what I believe God is asking us to do. I don’t believe we are to do this simply with an eye to inform others but, rather with the intent to form our future reality. Knowing that ‘Kingdom declarations create Kingdom realities’ I believe we need to more liberally declare those Kingdom endeavours that God is calling us to so that we can actually and eventually realize them.
2. More intentionally step into what God has called us to: While we need to start by simply declaring what God has called us to we can’t stop there. We need to intentionally and strategically prepare for those eventual realities to become current realities. In the same way that Noah had to build the ark before the animals and the rain arrived, and the Israelites had to put their feet in the Jordan river before it parted, I believe that we must take bold steps of faith in preparation for what God has called us to.

I know that I could spend a lot of time expanding on these two points, but for now let me leave them to stand on their own. It is my hope that everyone in our church family would embrace these two items and all the implications they are laden with. Let’s not get distracted by the everyday stuff of life but let’s continue to pursue the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

I’ll give you 2 reasons…

One of the wonderful tools that God gives us to; check, correct and maintain our alignment is tithing. God wants us to walk in perfect order (alignment) with Him, our brothers, and the Church but it is so easy for any of us to get off track, tricked, or deceived by life. With the sincerest of hearts we can wind up being sincerely WRONG and out of alignment. Unfortunately, too many people today are living out of alignment in one or more of the above areas yet, they sincerely believe they are where they are supposed to be. Somehow the enemy has been able to dupe, and rob them of what God has for them, all the while deceived into believing they are where God wants them. Because of the ease that any of us can be deceived (more easily than any of us would like to admit), God provides us with some amazing ‘tools’ to keep us out of deception and living in order. Tithing is one of those very powerful and necessary tools for our benefit.
When it comes to tithing (giving 10% of your income to the local church – Malachi 3:7-10) there are two reasons why people don’t do it. The first reason is easy to address, the second one has proven more difficult although not insurmountable. The first reason people don’t tithe is simply ignorance. They are honestly unaware that they were even supposed to give in such a manner. This usually happens with new Christians or people who have never been taught about tithing. If this is the case, it can be remedied in a matter of minutes as we examine, and then apply God’s Word. This is really a matter of the ‘head’ and people simply need to come to an awareness of how God would have them live and then live it out.
The second reason people don’t tithe is more difficult to address because, unlike the first issue, it is an issue of the heart. In this case people don’t tithe because of disobedience. They know the clear instructions of the Bible regarding our finances and they willfully choose to do something different. This reason has lately taken on various ‘spiritualized disguises’ as people attempt to explain their disobedience with a sense of higher learning or insight. Some will say that tithing is an Old Testament requirement and since we are now living in a New Testament period we don’t need to follow those instructions. While this may sound logical at first it doesn’t take into consideration the teaching of the Bible and Jesus Himself.
“Tithing”, returning 10% of our income to God, was introduced in the Bible several hundred years before it ever became a point of ‘law’ and it was introduced as a worshipful response to God (Genesis 14 & 28). Then when we come to the New Testament Jesus clearly affirms the tithe, ‘…yes you should continue to tithe……’ (Matthew 22:21, 23:23,Luke 11:42) even while He addresses the greater heart issue that must be maintained. Finally, the Apostle Paul further builds on this foundation by teaching us to give proportionally to our income (1 Cor. 16:2) and then going even further by calling us to ‘excel in generous giving’ (2 Cor. 8:7).
Very clearly the Bible affirms the principle of tithing as the starting point for our giving to God, and expects us to only increase from that point. So, while some might explain their lack of tithing with words such as ‘revelation’ and ‘new covenant’ let’s cut through the debate & deception and use the word that God would use – disobedience. I say this with a great desire to see our entire family living fully in alignment and experiencing the blessing and authority found in that place.

Living in Alignment: Perfect 3 part harmony

I have just recently started looking at the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 from a different perspective than I’ve previously held. When I read this story now I read it as an expression of God’s great ‘chiropractic’ desire for us. In this story we see the heart of the Father (God) for all of His children (that’s us!) to live in proper alignment. The Father, with great love and longing, desires to see restoration to three areas that are out of alignment in His family and causing pain and discomfort. He wants to see them living in alignment with; 1) Himself – this is the most important area of alignment, that we all have a healthy and growing relationship with God where we understand our Father desires to bless us not withhold from us, 2) their Brothers – to have an open and unhindered relationship free from offense, bitterness, judgment and hurt with one another and, 3) the House (local church) – to leave the place of spectator outside the House looking on with judgment and criticism and come into the House as a full participant in the celebration and mission of the House.
In a fairy tale we know the standard ending, ‘…and they all lived happily ever after’ but this story doesn’t have the same happy ending. It seems to be much more like real life than a fairy tale. While we are left rejoicing that the younger brother has come into the place of alignment, we are also left wondering if the older brother will continue on out of alignment or whether he too will come into alignment. It is as if the story was left unfinished on purpose, to present us – the reader – with the choice we have been reading about. Will we live in alignment?
Sadly, there are many people today who choose to live out of alignment in one or more of these three areas. They do not have a right relationship with God, their brothers, and their local church (the House). For some of these individuals this lack of alignment has progressed to the point of producing pain and discomfort, while others are simply not experiencing the health and harmony that they could be. What makes this whole issue even more serious is that there are individuals who either; don’t know they are to live in alignment in these three areas or, debate whether they are to live in this 3-part picture of alignment.
In a day and age of ‘my own way on my own terms’ we are set up for a dramatic culture clash between the system of the world and the system of God’s Kingdom that each of us must settle. Will we choose to follow the pattern of God’s Word and live in alignment in all three of the above mentioned areas or, will we follow the pattern of this world that lives out of step and out of alignment with God’s purposes?
It is my prayer that everyone in our family would live in alignment and experience the joy and life that is found in living in 3-part harmony.

What do you mean by that?

It didn’t take very long to realize that although we were using the same words, our understanding of those terms was completely different. We had agreed that we would meet at ‘exactly’ 8:30 am and then head out for the day. For me, this meant that by 8:20 am I was at the prearranged spot waiting and ready to go, but by 10:25 am I could tell that it didn’t mean the same thing to my friend. This revelation was only reinforced when at 11:00 my friend showed up and, without a word of apology or explanation, asked if I was ready to go. It became abundantly clear that the real issue was not the terms, or words, we had used, but rather the understanding we carried for those terms. The culture I have been raised in understood that, ‘exactly on time’ meant at least 10 minutes early, but in the culture of my friend ‘exactly on time’ meant it would happen sometime that day. Our different backgrounds meant that for many of our common terms we carried very different understandings. When we took the time to come to a place of mutual understanding we minimized our frustrations and mishaps, but where we assumed we had a correct understanding of what had been said only produced frustration and tension.
I am learning that this same issue extends beyond our interpersonal relationships into our understanding of, and participation in, the Kingdom. When we begin to talk about life in the Kingdom, and living as citizens of the Kingdom, we quickly run into terms, and ideals, which can carry a variety of understandings. The culture that someone has been raised in has a significant influence on the understanding that they bring to these terms and ideals. For example, when you think of the terms; submission, tithe, honour, or father, what thoughts run through your mind? If you have been raised in the culture of the world the chances are very good that your understanding of these terms carries with it; apprehension, resistance, control, law, and abandonment. While these may be the natural understanding for someone raised in the culture of the world, we must understand that these are not the correct understanding in the Kingdom of God. In the Kingdom these terms all carry the understanding of; life, release, protection, blessing and care.
It is so important for each of us to have the correct, and thereby same (Philippians 2:2), understanding of Kingdom concepts so that we can all freely participate in Kingdom life. There must be a willingness in all of us to let go of our cultural, or traditional, understandings of terms and embrace the true Kingdom definition. When we are able to do this we will discover less frustrations, fear, apprehensions and resistance in all of our relationships – with man and with God. In North America we refer to the Webster’s, or Oxford, dictionary to define our terms, but as citizens of the Kingdom we must turn instead to our Kingdom dictionary – God’s Word – to define the terms.
A good test of whether we have the correct understanding or not is, if we feel at all apprehensive, hesitant or fearful of embracing Kingdom realities. The Bible is clear that these responses are not from God so we must be defining His realities with our own understanding instead of His. So let’s go back to our dictionary – God’s Word – and find the proper understanding and then enjoy the peace and life that comes with it.

That weren’t no golf clap!

It was the sound of rolling thunder that just continues to roll as we stood this morning in intercession. For a prolonged period of time we stood and participated with a desperation and a faith in an act of ‘intercessory clapping’ that I know moved the hand of God both locally and globally (glocally). At both our Comox Valley campus services this morning we spent a prolonged time in ‘intercessory clapping’ as we physically declared our ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ to the reality of the Kingdom in every situation around us. I watched as members of our church family clapped for; the restoration of a marriage, the healing of an illness, the return of a prodigal, the release of provision, the removal of obstacles and, all manner of situations that currently aren’t experiencing the reality of Heaven on earth (Matthew 6:10). Each time our hands came together we were declaring and proclaiming the advance of God’s Kingdom into enemy territory. Our applause was an assault against the works of the enemy (1 John 3:8) that I know will bear God honouring fruit.
In the book of Revelation we are told about the prayer bowls (Revelation 5:8) that are filled with the intercessions of God’s children and when they are filled they are poured out. Well our time of intercession was capped off by the prophetic voice delivering the message to us that in essence the bowl over our house was filled. The picture was of a container that was being filled and with our prayers had now surpassed the tipping point and was beginning to pour out into our lives. It was a picture and word of breakthrough, release, and refreshing that we all wholeheartedly received.
In golf the spectators clapping comes after the good stuff, but this morning the participants clapping preceded the ‘good stuff’. I have heard it said about prayer and God moving that, ‘If we don’t He won’t’ and this morning was an amazing Kingdom moment that once again showcased God and the divine partnership with have with Him in seeing His will accomplished on earth as it is in heaven.

I'm protected, are you?

Almost every night without fail I am asked the question by one of our children, ‘did you lock the doors?’ It doesn’t seem to matter to them that my answer has only ever been, ‘yes, they are all locked’, they still want that reassurance each night before they drift off to sleep. There is something within them that wants the assurance that when they are at their most vulnerable, they are safe.
As we grow up the questions we ask are often posed differently than when we were children but the issues remain the same. We all want, and need, to know that we are safe, particularly when we are feeling vulnerable. Even the greatest risk takers consider a variety of factors to determine if there is an acceptable degree of safety before launching off into some new endeavour, even if it is a level far below what others would deem safe. This inherent human need within all of us leads us to take certain measures to provide for our own safety and the safety of those dear to us. We lock our doors, put on seatbelts, wear helmets, protective eyewear and all other manner of safety precautions that mankind has been able to develop.
In our quest for safety however, there is a protection we can provide for ourselves that far outdoes a seatbelt, airbag or helmet. This is a protection not fabricated by man, but rather created by God. It is similar to protective devices fabricated by man in that there is a specific way to apply it but that is where the similarity ends. Just as a seatbelt must be worn properly, a helmet must be adjusted correctly and there is only one way to correctly lock a door, God has given us very specific instructions for His protective covering on our lives.
These instructions can be found in Malachi 3:6-11 where God gives us instructions on tithing. Tithing is when we take 10% of our income (increase) and return it to God by giving at our local church. God has made it very clear that the first 10% of our income is His and for us not to return it to Him is robbery and sin. But, when we follow His instructions and return His 10% by giving at our local church we come under the covering of His protection.
We are told that when we do this, the devourer is held at bay (rebuked) over our lives. This is the amazing protection that God provides for us by simply following His instructions (living in righteousness). There is a very real enemy in the world whose sole desire is to destroy us and everything we have. What he will attempt to do to us is far worse than any home invasion, car accident or biking mishap, and yet sadly too many of us don’t avail ourselves of the protection God makes available to us.
We hold on to what is rightfully Gods and then wonder why there seems to be so many struggles in our lives. The answer is quite simple, in a world full of prowlers we have left our doors wide open.Family, I want to invite 100% of our church family to live under the protection of God. I don’t want to see any of us suffer loss because the devour was allowed into our lives. Let’s all follow the simple instructions of God and come under His amazing protection.

I Need You More…

I came home the other day to the cry of, ‘…I’m starving… I think I’m going to die…’ as one of our children laid themselves out on the floor in mock desperation. I wasn’t immediately too alarmed at this situation as I’ve become accustomed to melodrama like this in our home. This declaration and demonstration did however prompt me to spend some time thinking about the posture and hunger of my own life. Not for food, a quick glance will tell you I’m not starving to death!, but for Jesus.
I began to wonder if I could honestly make such a declaration about Jesus as I lay prostrate before my Heavenly Father? Do I live with a desperate hunger for more of Jesus that compels me to pursue Him while at the same time surrendering more of myself or, am I too easily satisfied with my current experience with Jesus and the expression of His Kingdom? This line of questioning quickly brought me to the place of wondering not only whether I could make such a declaration but, in fact whether I SHOULD. Should this be the place and posture of my life? Should this be the posture of all Kingdom citizens? I found the latter questions much easier to answer, although there answers clearly held implications for my life that only produced more questions (are we having fun yet?).
In John 15 Jesus uses the analogy of a vine and its branches to show us the extent of our ‘connection’ to Himself. In the same way that a branch is only healthy and fruitful as it constantly draws nourishment and life from the vine, we are to constantly be drawing our nourishment and life from Jesus, our Vine. In the vine and branch analogy, and by implication our lives, there must never come a point where we become satisfied and stop drawing more of His (the Vine) life into our own. The moment a branch stops drawing nourishment is the moment it begins to die and the same is true for us. We must actively avoid the trap of becoming satisfied with our current experience with Jesus and continually draw more of His life into our own.
There is so much more that we have yet to experience in our relationship with Jesus that we must not slow up in our pursuit of Him. There are expressions of His grace and power that we have not yet seen that are waiting to be demonstrated in, and through, our lives. The prevalence of sin and its affects in our world will on be thwarted by a people who are absolutely hungry for more of Jesus and willing to live in a posture of desperation without being in despair.
It is my prayer that Holy Spirit would awaken within all of us a continually increasing hunger for more of Jesus with each passing moment and that we would gladly surrender our lives as we draw more of His life into our own.

Thinking & Doing – Doing & Thinking

Over the last 2 weeks we have been looking at God’s mandate for us to “Speak Up’ (Prov 31:8,9) for those who can’t speak for themselves. The Father heart of God is so overflowing with love and compassion for humankind that He can’t stand to see people in situations of poverty, injustice and oppression so He instructs us to act on His behalf. His direction to be active in addressing the plight of the poor and needy both promote, and require, the shaping of our actions and our attitudes.
In responding to the requirement of God to ‘do justice’ (Micah 6:8) we are clearly called to a place of activity beyond an offering or a prayer. We are called to the lifelong pursuit of promoting justice and eradicating injustice in our world in all its vile expressions. While our instant involvement towards this end can be prompted through simple obedience – God said it, so I will do it – our sustained involvement will require much more than dutiful obedience.
For us to be able to give our lives expressing the heart of the Father in this way will require that we maintain a growing personal revelation of our Heavenly Father’s heart towards us and humankind. It is only as we know how much we are loved and how valuable we are, and how loving our Father is, that we can properly reflect this to the world and speak to any issues that challenge this. So let me challenge all of us, that as we ‘Speak Up’ together and find our voice, and become active in these issues, that we not miss the proper heart and attitude amidst all the activity.
We may find within ourselves attitudes of apathy, complacency, condemnation or self-righteousness as we begin to consider the poor – I don’t care OR I really care and these must be dealt with. We are required to put off the attitudes of the world, and put on the attitudes of heaven, and this is done on the anvil of activity and with the fire of Holy Spirit.
One of the primary ways that God uses to shape our heart and attitude is through our activity so we mustn’t remain inactive towards these issues until we have the right heart and attitude. This will only result in a long wait for us and a lost cause for others. It is through our obedient response (activity) to Christ that we become more like Christ in our heart and attitude. So let me encourage to not only to “Speak Up” but to Step Out and actively address these issues. It is as we model our Father’s hand extended to the world that we will more clearly hear His heart of love beating for the world.

Finding our voice

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8,9

The mandate of scripture is that we speak up for those who can not speak for themselves. That we bring attention and action to areas where there is little or no attention and action. We are called to advocacy on behalf of the needy and no one is offered the place of spectator in expressing the love of Heaven towards humankind.

But where do we possibly start with this enormous task? Once we begin to take note of issues of injustice and need, it is easy to quickly go from being aware to being overwhelmed. The needs are so great, the wounds are so deep, and the issues calling for our attention too numerous to count. Issues such as; abuse protection, poverty, gender equality, disease, addiction and shelter, only scratch the surface of a human condition beaten and broken by sin.

Before we throw up our hands, and in the towel, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task let me offer some advice. While we (the Body of Christ) are called to respond to every need and every issue, you and I (members of the Body of Christ) are not required to do so. We are certainly to live with a posture of compassion towards the needy, and a willingness to act on their behalf, but there is a limit to our finite supply of energy, resource and time that we must steward wisely. We each must allow Holy Spirit to guide us through a process of finding our voice, where a cause become a calling. Where one or two of a multitude of issues calling for our attention begin to burn within us and capture us. It is for this issue (whatever Holy Spirit burdens our heart with) that we must speak up. This is the place where God would have us use our voice, and lend our voice, to a cry of compassion and justice.

This process begins by us simply increasing our awareness of the issues facing humankind. As our awareness increases we must resist the temptation to hide from these issues or recoil in fear/disgust as our sensibilities are slammed by the depravity of man. For each of us, different issues will burn more brightly and these are the issues that we uniquely must speak for, this is where one cause becomes our calling. As we begin to speak up we will find others who God has also called to speak for those same issues and together our voices will carry even farther and Heaven’s love will be expressed into more and more areas