“Catching Lightning in a Bottle”

 I’m 75 pages into this book. Snow is very easy to like and feel sorry for at this stage of the game. But he wants to climb the ladder of success, and the ladder is evil. What shall he do? Can one climb such a ladder and not become evil too?

One strong point of the Hunger Games is catching Lightning in a bottle. What is the mystical magic of what causes an individual to become the Lightning Rod of a Sea Change? First of all, perhaps there is a need? Perhaps this need has existed for a while. The people who are most affected by this need are looking for an answer, a way to solve this “lack”, this “pain”, this “discomfort”, this “evil” in their life. But who has the answer? Many may try and fail, but then somehow…unexplainably perhaps…mysteriously… an odd combination of events…chemistry…personality…talents…right place, right time… and it happens! Magic! Lightning in a bottle! And that person, or people, now become Lightning Rods of a chemical chain reaction taking place…if they do not abort!

Many visions have been aborted by their parent when things got a little too rough, scary, chaotic, or unpredictable. Where is this going? Where is this taking us? This wave? How big might it grow? Can we ride this thing? Should we ride it?

But sometimes the need is so great, a line has been crossed, and the wave must be ridden. And if there is no Lightning Rod willing to pay that price, then it is tragic, as the wave fails and the need returns even greater than before. Jesus became our Lightning Rod on the cross that day. Peter aborted the mission, but Jesus still rescued him and he became such a lightning rod too.

I’m still talking Hunger Games, of course; and I’m still talking Brian Sanders and his book/church > “UNDERGROUND CHURCH”. For me, his book has been Lightning in a bottle. I’m so glad he and his people have not aborted the mission of Christ. I’ve read 73% of his book now and continue being inspired!

There is a need. This need has been growing for some time, and someone like myself who actually got desperate enough to leave the modern church system and start a small fellowship of our own, has been looking for others. We know they are out there. And we know someone may already be doing what we’re searching for. Brian Sander’s book is meeting a real spiritual need in my life, and at a very good time.

The world is changing, folks, have you noticed? And there are major forces out there, who would love to see the “true” church die. This new breed of church, which is actually very old, as in the beginning, is like the Jabberjay who became the Mockingjay. Rather than die, it transformed! The Jabberjay became the Mockingjay! It did not die as expected. It did not die as hoped for by the rich and powerful of Panem! But it bred with the Mockingbird, producing many babies! It adapted to its new environment and multiplied! It became the Mockingjay! And Panem hated it! It became a symbol for the defeat of Panem and rebellion against the horrible Hunger Games.

The hunger Jesus gives is a hunger that actually satisfies. In other words, it brings peace, contentment, and fulfillment. It’s one of those Biblical paradoxes only a supernatural God can do. These modern churches with their materialistic preaching only causes more hunger. It does not teach our people to want less, but to want more! Live like a king! You’re a king’s kid! But Jesus taught us to be the servant. And to become “disciples” of his ways. I don’t see an earthly mansion or sports car on our Lord’s “to do” list. Our worldy Panem church hates it when the Mockingjay sounds off. They hate its song, and they hate its survival. They do not want to hear our message, nor search the scriptures to see if it may be true. They want to continue in Panem. Jesus would have been in the Districts. He did go to the Districts! Is there not a cause? Is there not a need? But there will always be a King Saul who both loves and also desires to kill, the “Davids” of our world.

If your church does not SERVE money and programs, then I’m not likely talking about your church. But there are those of us who hunger for the early church ways the Apostles planted. Not the church that grew in Jerusalem at Pentecost, but the form of church that scattered forth, went forth from there. Some of us believe that is the church we need to return to, and the destination God has for us in these last days.

I’ve not met Brian Sanders and have not experienced his ministry. I’ve only read his book. I live in Indiana and evidently this all is taking place in Tampa Bay area. But I don’t need Brian personally to experience the magic of God’s Lightning! I simply need a true path that meets my personal spiritual need! And now I become a spark, an ember, that has sparked off of his fire, and I begin to do something here in Indiana. I have high hopes for it.

Unless I ever connect with the UNDERGROUND CHURCH personally, it is likely I will never be a copy of his ministry, but at least I’ve found light leading out of this growing darkness! And I can do something with that. I can do something Jesus is laying on my heart. Because we are a priesthood in the earth. We are all anointed of Christ to be a family of priests! And to lay aside our royalty for a time, our ability to seek luxuries and blessings, even as our Lord did, and follow Him into the Districts!

This is my pleasure to do. Our modern church system is losing this country. Saving our way of life through voting will only buy us so much time, if we continue losing hearts. The true church is about the transformation of hearts. A society filled with the ways of Christ will be a blessed country. And if not, then ever growing darkness and violence is upon us.

I don’t know about you, but I love the Katniss/ Mockingjay character. She’s honest, honorable, and strong. The world around her has an evil that ought not be, but so far she has been one of the lucky ones, surviving day by day, taking care of her own family, right? But then this evil finally touches one of hers, and she knows her little sister will be slaughtered in that arena. Yes, slaughtered. And she just can’t stand the thought! This day the evil has crossed a personal line with her, and do or die this evil shall be faced! Game On!!! She will not watch her little sister slaughtered by this evil machine. If it ever happens, she will be dead first.

(I have much more to say on all of this. I feel on fire! I hope you do too!)