Tag: Micro Church

Heart and Soul of Nation.

Path Without End

75364021-1200px I keep hearing Politicians talking about this election is for nothing less than the “heart and soul” of this nation. To that I ask what do Politicians know about the “soul”? This only confirms to me what we have said, the church has lost her way, and now the soul is in the hands of politics? The Ark has been captured. Eli and his wicked sons have cost us dearly. The Philistines have ransacked us! That which is the church’s territory is in the hands of the heathens! It reminds me of Constantine influencing the church of 300 A.D. Will we down the road, see the dark place that road led before?

Most Politicians I’ve seen over the years will speak any lie you want to hear if it gets them elected. They flip flop. The very person they were exposing as so vile a few days ago, will suddenly become best friends and endorsing them. Where is honor, integrity, and truth? They show little knowledge of true morality. They endorse the murder of pre-born babies. They live in wealth and luxury. They love money and power. They might be denied communion by their Priest. They will use whatever is available to sabotage a nation’s well-being for their own agenda. They hurt the very people they claim to defend. They allow lawlessness if it promotes their agenda, and again, many innocent people are hurt, including the businesses of hard working people. How long should I make this list? These are the people fighting for our soul? And the church? They seem to have embraced politics as the answer. Have they embraced Constantine? And do we have a choice at this point? Maybe not. Just like Jonah, he really had very little choice in the storm.

Here’s a wake-up call, people. Here’s a news flash! Politics don’t save a soul! We are well into uncharted waters that will surely create a huge hurricane storm of Jonah proportions before this is over. And then, perhaps a Jonah will rise out of the belly of the whale who preaches a true message, as he is forced to sit in the hot sun, miserable. Not a pretty picture.

Now we have a scandal with Jerry Falwell Jr.. What has happened to Christianity in America? Jesus said if we truly followed him, we would be hated and persecuted. However, was that hate supposed to be derived from politics, because the church became a political entity? Or was it other things, like saving souls and being anti-worldly, anti-materialistc, and pro- God? Pro- Word of God? We have succeeded in being hated, but I don’t think it is for the same reasons Jesus was.

I believe in the flux of all this change is the chance to make a different choice than Jonah made. Those who truly hear the voice of God see opportunity. The fields are white unto harvest! However, King Saul must be recognized as a king having no clothes. The Anointing has left him and he is tormented of demons. God is in the caves with David. God is alive and well, and so is the new wine rising for such a time as is coming. We will know more after we see what happens in this election, sad to say. We have allowed everything to become about this election. And when it happens I believe we will see great chaos like we’ve never seen before. And in such times as these a new wine should flow, but are we such a wine skin?

Now is the time to hear God and catch the wave. Trump moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem. He took the stand every President before him coward away from. Now we see more movement towards peace in that area. Trump is involved, “The Art of the Deal”. That is one of his claims to fame. And what does it all mean? New times are coming! End Times are coming! But that 7 year period could still be many years away. Much could still happen if David succeeds in bringing the Ark back into Jerusalem, even as Trump moved an embassy! But that’s church territory! Not politicians!

Now is not the time to be more worldly, more materialistic. Now is the time to live in the high places of God’s Spirit. Be the Skypeople we claim to be. Learn what it means to live by our wings, our spirit man, rather than the dirt of our flesh. Again, Jesus said we would be hated, but for what reasons? Check the Beatitudes. Does God expect us to vote as godly as possible? Surely he does. But can’t we do that without becoming a political platform?

Many times what looks good at the time also conflicts with what Jesus actually said and did. In those times true wisdom stays in faith in Jesus. We follow him. We mount up with the wings of the eagle. We do what Jesus did even in spite of how it may look to our human reasoning. And when we don’t… that 20/20 hindsight eventually confirms the error of our way. As for me and my house, we will follow the Lord and the example he set for us. Constantine led to a dark place before, and will do so again. Jesus is always the true light!

Sail on, brothers and sisters. Sail a sacred ship.

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In these chaotic times, with a hurricane rising in the future, where lies true north? Your soul knows. Your soul will find the way, if you pray and obey. The set of our wings!

“Night Watcher” #6 / Skypeople.

Path Without End

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Sunday again, already? Yes indeed. We were having church last night with some people and we got into our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. What is this higher place Jesus wants to take us? We follow Him into the Infinite, and away from finite.

Somehow, as we pondered the Beatitudes, I found myself sharing the name I have chosen for this little house of ours that is currently in such disarray as we are remodeling it into a House Church. We use to call it “The Little Blue Bungalow”, but in the journey of this transformation, things have taken a distinct turn towards a theme of “Birds”! And I shared last night I have nicknamed this place, “God’s Bird House”. People actually chuckled about that.

When we found a beautiful set of French Doors at a Habitat for Humanity store, and it was actually in our price range, (cheap!), as a bird would say, but we purchased it with great delight and dismay, loaded it in our old truck, and once it was installed, our room suddenly opened up into our small, private, backyard area. And when it did, we got inspired to create a bird sanctuary. It has been a delight. It is still in progress also, and has become the theme of this house.

This should be no surprise to me. Birds and I go way back. I’ve always had a thing about them. I even wrote the story of “Flapless”, which you can access for free in the side bar. And now, I find our ministry being used to inspire God’s people to live by your wings more than your feet! Stop running, slow down, and soar!

“I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Gal. 5: 16 KJV)

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. “ (Gal. 5: 16 NLT)

We are called to live by our wings!

When you look out our French Doors you see this >

It is amazing to me what a small area can be turned into. I’ve seen Jesus turn plain old water into wine so many times! Here’s another example. Our basement on this old house leaks like a cracked tub, so we have always had a sump pump. But where was the water to go? The city has allowed our front ditch to fill in and be of little use, and we’re not on city sewer, so I dug a hole! Just a basic pit for the water from our basement to go into and evaporate or sink back into ground. It was just meant to be a holding place. Well.. it turned into a beautiful small pond!

20200823_101002The city has checked it and it is clean. The water has filtered through the ground and that is all it is. Our basement pumps it into my hole and it became part of our bird sanctuary. It became an ecosystem of its own and the birds love it! But why am I sharing all this? People of God, we’re meant to live “higher”. And some of you immediately think dollar signs $ when I say that, and you reveal your lack of Spirit!

Remember where this message started? We we’re looking at the Sermon on the Mount, and the Beatitudes. Would the real Jesus please stand up! Because I don’t see many modern churches teaching what Jesus really said and did.  Everyone says they love the Beatitudes, but I don’t see many people living them, which tells me they speak with forked tongue, like a snake, not a bird.

Birds are used so often in scripture in describing the Christian life, the life of following Jesus, like a bird on the wing, riding the wind. Of course we all think of Isaiah 40:31… They that wait upon the Lord… and the eagle.

Birds are called to live in the high places. They are the skypeople, and so are we, unless we’re not. Why live as the ground dwellers when you can live by a different set of laws superseding the natural. We are called to soar!

We are in a season of great turmoil and who is to say how long this may be, or where it is going, but are you skypeople or ground dweller? You’re going to need your wings! In our Lord’s Sermon he challenges us with these words… “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matt. 6:26) And I’m one of those people who love feeding them.

We love the Sermon on the Mount, the real Jesus, don’t we? But does this describe our life? So much fear today. So little real faith and peacefulness of soul. So much anger and politics.  So much “want” of money and material things. This message actually “begins” with our Lord declaring blessed are the poor! Less is more? Wow. Is it any wonder as we opened these words last night, I found myself sharing the theme and nickname of our little home… “God’s Bird House”? And the transformation slowly continues.

I wanted to share something a bit more inspiring and light of heart today in the midst of all this doom and gloom. Never forget our Kingdom is above! And we but passing through this place. Do we care about the ground dwellers? Yes we do, but we can only do so much. Just like Jesus, we teach the truth of the finite verses Infinite, but we can force no one to believe, receive, and be transformed.

In the end, I watch the turmoil of earthly people who live in flesh rather than Spirit, and I praise God again, over and over, for my wings. I catch the Wind and know peace. I invite others to believe. My wings were freely given and I seek to freely give. But true skypeople are still the minority in this post Christian nation.

Do not follow Esau. Do not trade your birthright for a pot of dirt. Do not live earth bound by fear and lack of peace when you are birthed to soar! Be of good cheer, little bird! Your heavenly father knows what you have need of! Peace be unto you.

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This is my chair and my spot right by the French Doors looking out on the pond, the feeders, our 2 hummingbirds (such a delight), and other birds and small critters, as I pray, ponder, listen, and write.

“Night Watcher” #4 / Old Wine

Path Without End

75364021-1200px I spent most of my day today with the Lord. It’s now about 10:30 at night and my mind rumbles with thoughts of frustration at a message I just heard. Its been at least 6 months since I listened to a message from the last Traditional church I left. It was a church of 800. They held two Sunday morning services and they can be heard on their Internet site.

After leaving 3 years ago, I have made it a point to occasionally check in on what they are currently preaching. So far the messages have never made me regret leaving, and today’s was exceptionally sad. The preacher was pleading for people to come back after weeks of the Covid virtual church services. It seems a lot of people have not been coming back, and not just this church, but many.

The Pastor started out by recognizing this problem has been going on way before Covid, but the pandemic had now shifted church exodus into hyper-drive! He gave some statistics. He admitted we have slid into a post-Christian culture. This has happened while under the watch of Traditional church, and yet he was presenting his case for a return to Traditional church! What’s the old saying? You can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results? But he was.

He gave statistics that this year was already on course to see a 15% drop in church attendance even before Covid! And now, it would be even worse. He said that just to keep up with the birthrate in our country, you need 10,000 new churches every year! But instead of 10,000 churches opening, it would be 10,000 closing, causing a 20,000 church short fall! One-third of churches are about to close their doors due to Covid, and yet he continued only offering the same pattern of church we have had for many years now. He kept preaching the old wine that is being rejected.

He never once mentioned the Micro church movement. He never once mentioned Home churches. He spoke of the church in the book of Acts but never once mentioned them as Home churches. Instead, he went to the Old Testament to try and prove the need for large churches! He used the Old Testament temples as a pattern! This cannot be supported by the New Covenant, so he went to the Old, just like Pastors do on tithing, but Jesus fulfilled the Old and gave us the New!

By Old Testament standards, Jesus could not even be a Priest, let alone our High Priest, because he was not of the tribe of Levi. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah! Jesus made major changes in what we call church. He fulfilled the Old and took everything to a higher level. The book of Hebrews is excellent on this very subject.

Anyway, it was so sad listening to this man give the statics, the evidence, the proof of how badly our modern system is not working, and yet plead a case for still working it! He also explained people are dropping off the Virtual church services also! Virtual church is not working! It is called “Screen Fatigue”! How very interesting.

In our little Fellowship we have had no need for virtual church, and our Fellowship has continued functioning without a hitch. But this Pastor insinuated through his entire message that a Home church is not really “gathering yourself together”. He insinuated it is the “falling away”, and we need to get back in the four walls of the church buildings. Never mind Jesus said where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in their midst. He never explained that scripture. But most likely his big church is bleeding not only people, but money! House churches won’t work to his big church agenda. His message was so full of his personal bias that it defiled the whole message.

Now when I left 3 years ago, everyone was excited that big changes were coming to that church. I told my wife then, churches are always saying this. We will see if they can turn this big ship? Well, evidently they did not, because guess what…big changes are coming to this church again! Wow! Get excited everybody! But what are the big changes this time? What is the new vision this time? The people are tired of the hype and old wine. They are leaving looking for the fresh bread from heaven. People are realizing this king has no clothes, and they are voicing it by simply leaving.

We can already see Jonah being thrown overboard, but if we think this is bad, be ready for November elections! The Progressives already blame the church for electing Trump. They see “Jonah” as the cause of this storm! And no matter who wins in November, there is likely going to be an explosion! Forewarned is prepared. Right?

On that note, I warned people against the church becoming political. This Pastor also mentioned he knew many churches being torn apart by politics! Preach the Word! And if that don’t cause someone to vote right, then nothing will anyway! Don’t sacrifice your testimony in Christ over politics! Change hearts through the Gospel of Christ, that is our assignment as priest in this earth.

Church…get ready for November. Most of the church has painted itself into this corner. If persecution is required to reshape the church, I see it coming. So be wise and make spiritual preparations now. Get back to majoring on the Gospel majors, and minoring on the minors. David and his mighty men endured the storms and eventually brought the Ark back where it belonged. Seek the anointing. Only God’s power back in the house will change the day.

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“They beat and bruised me and stripped off my veil, those watchmen on the walls.”

 

“Night Watcher” #3 / Jonah

Path Without End

75364021-1200px Who can tell me what the very last word in the Old Testament is? Who can tell me the last word God spoke before hundreds of years of silence? It is the word “curse”.

It’s Sunday morning and I’m in my quiet place watching and listening. I like to always write something on Sundays, and what am I hearing? There are many idols set in the high places that God’s people have forsaken. How have we forsaken them? Why do we bow to these idols? Where are the Elijah’s?

God spoke of a return of a type of Elijah, a type of John the Baptist, and a return of the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers. And then He threatened/ warned, if this did not happen…well… the exact words are: “lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Book of Revelation begins?)

We are at such a point again. The church, through the power of the Holy Spirit, has kept Antichrist at bay for many centuries, but scripture plainly says the return of the Lord will be after the Antichrist is revealed, and a great falling away of people. If the church is no longer anointed/ powerful enough to hold back the coming of the Antichrist and his revelation, then all the curses of the book of Revelation cannot be far behind. This is what is at stake. The stakes are high!

If America is not living in a perfect storm/ CURSE right now, then I don’t know what it is. We now see the Postal Services being added to the mix. They were on course to lose 11 billion dollars! So Trump appoints a man to “fix” it. But how do we know this is not his way of sabotaging mail-in voting? The honest answer is, you can’t! But is there a real problem with the Postal Service and also mail-in fraud? Yes there is! Again, a perfect storm! And each side wants control of that pawn! Are we reduced to pawns rather than prayer? If our prayers have no power, then yes!

Is this perfect storm/ CURSE actually caused by the worldliness of our modern day church? As Eli and his wicked sons lost the Ark of the Covenant  and brought about a King Saul; and as Jonah the prophet of God running from his assignment, are we in a God-given curse such as Elijah brought upon his day by praying for drought, famine, death, and CURSE? Elijah obeyed God in praying for a curse! Is that the prayer God is answering today?

Is it possible that there are times when a CURSE is the only FIX? And if so, get ready church, because until King Saul is finally overthrown, the Davids of this world must walk in wisdom as they continue bringing the next great move of God. Of which, David was Israel’s greatest moment in history! But before all that he was an outcast and criminal, surviving in caves! Ever feel that way?

Prior to that greatness, in the days of the Prophet Samuel there had been major problems in the House of God, by way of the priesthood of Eli and his sons. Lets just say they had become very worldly. This spiritual condition in the Temple contributed to the people demanding a “king”. God told Samuel to give the people what they wanted and they got “King Saul”, and he was impressive to look at, but as time went by some major flaws were revealed, such as great pride.

His personal pride was so so strong that he would give into people in order to make them happy and himself look good, but he disobeyed God. His pride was also so strong, he tried to murder David! He realized he had lost God’s anointing and now David had it. Saul was tormented of demons, and sought to kill the next move of God. Will we be guilty of such a thing?

On the ship that day with Jonah, the pagans were doing everything they knew to survive that storm, but nothing was working, and the ship was going down. I see our country even now, doing everything it can think of to stop this storm, but the words “peace be still” are not working. There is an evil in all the high places of our land, and it seeks to set on fire the course of nature until the foundations of our country all burn down and new foundations can be set. And in this fire, even as the Prophet Samuel was powerful in the midst of his time, and a shepherd boy named David was rising, there is a new wine and a new wine skin forming!

Which comes first, the wine, or the wine skin? I would say the wine! Why is there a need for the wine skin until the new wine? David was being anointed long before he actually gained his platform. But we are in this time, church. Whether we believe Microchurches are the answer, the new wine skin, or simply getting back to early church ways, which I believe Microchurches are a part of.

If Trump is reelected and brings prosperity back to our country, how will the modern church change? Will they not seek prosperity and blessing even more? Will the hate against a hypocrite church professing to follow Jesus, who forsook wealth and materialism, will not that hate continue growing until they will rise up and throw the church overboard? In this perfect storm, the curse either comes on the church now, or a greater hate/curse later. Jonah is on course to find his whale’s belly. And in the midst of all that, I believe David will come forth, and there will be many battles to be fought for the city Jerusalem to rise with the power of the Ark again.

“The night watchmen found me as they made their rounds. They beat and bruised me and stripped off my veil, those watchmen on the walls.” (S. of S. 5:7)

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“Night Watcher” #1 / Microchurch.

Path Without End

75364021-1200px The study of human nature is the study of darkness and light in us.

More and more I find myself “a watcher”. I believe wisdom dictates it. I’m always looking “big picture”. I set my life according to the Infinite, not the finite. I have a mission in this earth and I must not let the foolishness of others interfere with the treasure I see before me.

America is in trouble, but mostly because “the church” is in trouble. There is no city upon a hill lifting a true standard of light for us to find our way. And now those seeds are coming to harvest.

“The night watchmen found me as they made their rounds. They beat and bruised me and stripped off my veil, those watchmen on the walls.” (Song of Songs 5:7)

No other book of the Bible is speaking to me louder at this time than the “Song of Solomon”, also known as “Song of Songs”. A materialistic money loving church has become comfortable in her bed and failed to rise when her lover showed up, dripping with the anointing. Now she is out in the darkness and in the streets searching for Him, and he is not to be found by her. The Night Watchmen find her and she is beaten and treated as a common thief.

Spiritually we are back at King Saul and a rising shepherd boy named David. We have two churches. The old traditional system that has been the status quo for many generations, and a rising young lad of an idea/ vision that is yet to prove itself. The one is very large, the other small, as in Microchurch. This is what I believe I have seen. I believe it so much that I put my feet where my mouth is and left the King Saul church to begin running with David. We got to get the anointing back! We got to bring the Ark of the Covenant back into the church, the body of Christ!

We are all aware of the perfect storm we’re in. Frustration is starting to set in as conflicting messages whirl all about us. People are beginning to reach max stress point. No one knows what to do with Covid, or what it will do with us as the next flu season arrives? Fear sweeps through the streets like a winter wind. Add Racism, protests, and rioting to the mix. Add a very heated election to the mix. Add China to the mix. Add people being evicted, loss of jobs, poverty, hate, media propaganda, and whatever else may be next to this mix. And what to do with our precious children? Go to school or not? Have we ever seen such a time? And where is the church in all this?  Lost in a virtual world of “my best life now”.

David was a rag-tag group of mighty men before King Saul was finally overthrown by God Himself. There is a journey of the white owl we need to make, a journey of pure wisdom. This blog site will not be liked by the King Saul’s of this world, but maybe there are a few who are drawn to the caves of David.

Jonah admitted to the pagan sailors that the storm was because of him. Have we admitted this yet? Are we willing to be thrown overboard by the pagans? Or do we stay asleep in the bottom of the boat having our virtual services?

Violence is filling the land. The Magnificent Mile in Chicago was a result of foolish leadership entrenched in high places. They have tunnel vision. They refuse to see the forest because they have a tree or two they love. They love the finite rather than the Infinite, and yes… that is as foolish as Esau selling his birthright for a pot of beans! Anyone should be able to “SEE” it! And yet they don’t?

In recent months we could point to many such examples taking place in our cities. My own city of Indianapolis, the downtown area has been crippled! No one is going there. They fear for their life when they do. Stores are going out of business. And yet our leaders fail to fix the problem. The forest is burning while they drool over a few seeds they plan to plant.

They are determined to burn down the forest in order to plant their own tree. But I am not of their way, and I have a mandate from heaven to perform in the midst of even this perfect storm. How will God see it through? Can we walk on water? Can God keep us in the eye of the hurricane? And what shall come of the King Saul church and their King Theology? More virtual reality? We shall see… because I intend to be a Night Watchman.

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The night watchmen found me as they made their rounds.

“A Small Footprint” #1 / Microchurch

Path Without End

portland-protests-2 “Burning Ancient Foundations”

Is there still an American dream? How have we gotten to such a place, that a significant number of our people no longer see America as the Land of Opportunity? They burn our Flag and Bibles. They add a pig to the mix to show their disgust. They set fire to our ancient foundations, those that have been proven by time, history, facts, stats, and God’s Word…but let it burn! Who are these people? Is this the definition of a Progressive?

I must admit, a lot of greedy and materialistic people live in America. For those who love money, the Capitalistic system is ideal. This new generation loves nature, and wants to leave a “small footprint” as they say. In this I agree with them. I am very much of this same nature. Jesus lived a life of the small footprint. I follow Christ, but the modern church seems to be lovers of material and money just like the world, and so…this new generation has no respect for them. Can you blame them?

I see it now. This hate and disgust is rooted in a righteous cause. If the church has become like the world, if there is no bright city upon a hill to inspire a righteous standard, then violence grows in many forms. Disgust grows in many forms.

Jesus warned against materialism and called us to be servants, but we would be kings. Kings do not desire a small footprint. Some of these preachers even have personal jets and live in mansions. Wow…Jesus rode a donkey. How is it a large portion of the American church fails to understand this? They cling to the Old Testament and reject the New. They desire New Testament grace, but refuse taking up their own cross!

Once upon a time, the American dream was mainly about Freedom, but as the church became more worldly, so has the world. Sounds odd, does it not? More and more the American dream became about money, and the Capitalistic system became the perfect vehicle for power and greed. It’s hard to reason with people who feel they have a righteous cause, even though they be not righteous themselves, nor in their methods.

Jesus warned us about greed and the love of money. He gave us an example of keeping things simple. I’m not a Progressive, but I left the modern church system for many of the same reasons Progressives now burn the American Flag and Bibles. I see no hope for America, unless the church gets back to what Jesus actually did and taught.

More greed and love of money will fill this land, and it makes some of us sick to our stomach to the point of disgust! God’s Word says a form of Elijah would return in the last days. Elijah had no interest in material things. He left a very small footprint. The Old Testament closed with this promise of a return of Elijah, and then came many years of silence… until John the Baptist…of the spirit of Elijah…living in the desert and leaving a small footprint…but also challenging the religious leaders and government of his time!

“Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.” (Malachi 4: 5-6)

Is that a threat? Is God threatening us? Was it not Elijah who prayed for a curse upon the land in his time, and God granted it? Did not Elijah pray for no rain? Did he not pray for drought, leading to famine, no prosperity, and a curse? What would prosperity preachers say of this? Is not Elijah speaking to us again?

I think Micro church is also a form of getting back to the “small footprint” our Lord exemplified himself. I believe God’s Anointing is upon this new wine of simple ways. And if the church fails to wake up and listen to the message of Elijah and John the Baptist, then the curse continues, and it grows, until the church finally humbles itself once again, seeks God’s face, repents of her sin, and prays, like Jonah finally prayed.

Jonah was the source of the storm. These pagan sailors did not want to throw him overboard. They fought hard to save him. But the storm continued growing until they had no other choice but throw the prophet, the man of God, overboard, into the raging sea.

It is my hope and prayer that the new wine, missional movement, Micro church, is a return of a form of Elijah, and the Anointing that was upon him, and even the greater Anointing of our Lord. I hope we take this message to heart.

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“Secret Gardens” #1 / Microchurch

Path Without End

20200804_180842 The best kept secret in town, they sometimes say. It usually refers to a special place not yet discovered by very many.

Our house is becoming a House church. I have so changed this house you wouldn’t believe it, but now, even though not complete, considerable ministry is growing here, along with our “Bird Garden” sanctuary we have started.

Yesterday we had a couple here for marriage counseling. They did not have to go to some Pastor’s office at the church building, they came to our home. We set up a table and 4 chairs. We had some drinks and easy snacks. Music played in the background. The bird sanctuary glowed through the French doors with all the activity of our small animal refuge. We have 2 ground squirrels, a rabbit, a male cardinal and 2 females, 2 hummingbirds, lots of sparrows, 2 squirrels, a small pond fed from our basement sump pump (lol), and of course the unexpected creatures that visit.

We were not on any schedule. We made a “His” and “Hers” sheet as we helped them communicate about issues. My wife was a big help with the ladies side of things. It was not real professional, but it was personal, cozy, non-threatening, and real. We shared our home with them, and they shared their struggles. I think they have a real good chance of making it. We scheduled a date to play Yatzee at the same table in 2 weeks. We will see how they are doing.

This is our Secret Garden growing. Brian Sanders and his book “UNDERGROUND CHURCH” has inspired me to be more “creative” with ideas for outreach/ missionary outreach, thinking outside the box. We have an idea and we are moving towards it. It involves dogs and young people needing role models in gang ridden areas. We expect to succeed in our target. I look forward to sharing more as it goes, and as it grows. We plan to launch in October.

If you’re looking for the new move of God in this New World coming, I highly recommend Brian Sanders book. I also recommend “The Forgotten Ways” by Alan Hirsch. (I am currently reading.)

God is never surprised, so why has the church been caught flat-footed so many times? Those who move with God are never behind the times, but actually ahead. The New World is coming, and there is a church already preparing for her. Those who don’t “move”, but are institutional, will be caught flat again, indeed, already are. The people of Israel lived in tents so they could stay in the fire and in the cloud. This new wine skin, this new wine, does the same. This next move is full of movement, outside the institutional church, in the streets and in the homes.

Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, Jesus said. Micro-groups, Micro-churches, Home-churches, may be small, but they are hard to target, as was Elijah. Small enough to be hard to target, yet big enough to still be deadly. Jesus is the Alpha of our pack, know what I mean?

Let’s get back to what Jesus actually did, and what the early church actually did. We have come full circle, it is time again. Don’t be caught flat-footed. Take wing!

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A Sea Change has come.

 

“Of Doves & Demons” #2 / Microchurch.

Path Without End

 

 If they can silence us, we lose.

“But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.” (John 7:13)

Courage/ Fear/ Leaders. I see 3 main elements in that scripture, and we have the same 3 today. I see a scripture saying there was a “lack” of courage, an “abundance” of fear, and a group of “evil” leaders. Human nature never changes, therefore, history always repeats. But where is wisdom in this? It is strangely missing.

I keep hearing a phrase today: “Good Trouble”. Has anyone written up the boundary lines of just exactly what that is? When someone puts a Pro-Trump sticker on their bumper and then their car is mysteriously beaten with a baseball bat, or keyed, is that good trouble? When a simple man stands outside his own store and preaches Jesus, but he is suddenly shot dead, is that good trouble? When stores are “looted” by protesters/ rioters, is that called good trouble? It use to be called “criminal”! When buildings are set fire it use to be called “arson”. But now it’s good trouble? When media constantly twist the truth, in other words, they lie. Is that the new good? When churches are set fire, statues violently torn down, people cursed out and threatened, guns pulled on people setting in their car, or risking a nation’s election for the sake of your personal gain, is that good trouble?

Followers of Christ, it is not wrong to be afraid because the threat is very real, but we must not be silent! Silence crucified our Lord!

The evil leaders used lies, money, and threats to stir up an illusion of HATE, because people of dishonor can be manipulated. Hate then causes fear because the “HATERS” will attack you, whether by word/tongue, or even physically attack you or your possessions. The threat is very real, and the fear too, but what of courage? Please allow me to point out, we are not called to courage alone… but to courage & wisdom!

“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” (Matt. 10:16)

In warfare it is well said, “Know thy enemy”. The snake is our enemy. Do you know how to stop a snake? Be the eagle! They that wait upon the Lord! The Anointing!

Here’s some spiritual wisdom. It is very foolish to have departed from the ways of our Lord. Somehow, while asking the question: What Would Jesus Do?”, we forgot to ask “What DID Jesus do?” Our modern church system is not what Jesus, nor the Apostles, nor the early church fathers DID, and we have lost the Anointing. Lets get it back! If not in mass, then in micro! If not as a whole, then as a person! As in personally! It can start with you and I.

I believe Jesus is taking his church back to the beginning, back to Pre-Constantine time, and that is why the gates of hell will not prevail against her! And in the book of Acts you see the very large church of Jerusalem being shaken like a salt shaker and people going forth! Going forth to saturate the land! Fill the communities! And become HARD TO TARGET!

Eagles are hard for snakes to target. Eagles live in the high places, not the low. Eagles have the advantage of the high ground, even unto the sky. They swoop down from above and then disappear. They live in pairs, and raise their children to also be eagles. They work as a team.

Elijah was an eagle. The Bible says Elijah will show up again, in the last days. He was hard to target! He would sweep in, declare a thing, or do a thing, and disappear! He was a man just like us, but also a man of great prayer, and he was Anointed! He had a mantle, a covering from God! We must be of great prayer too!

The snake uses silence to attack their enemy with that forked tongue. The snake creeps up on its prey by way of silence, flipping that forked tongue all the way, smelling its way along. Once they are close enough, then comes the fangs and poison. They know that words truly are mightier than any man-made sword or gun or bomb. They must frighten us into silence in order to win. It is basic snake strategy. The scriptures show they did it to Jesus. The enemy does not change his tactics because he knows this works! We see it all over the world, evil leaders using fear to maintain their power, or gain power. They sensor the airwaves. They control speech. No freedom of speech. SILENT! Or else.

The Jerusalem church was very easy to target. That church was God’s launching pad for his Gospel rocket, but was never meant to be the plan once space was achieved. It was a launching pad of great power and force to go forth and saturate the earth, but it also took persecution to get the people to see God’s big picture. Have we lost sight of the big picture? It is human nature. So God shook the shaker sending them forth, and they were not silent!

Jesus kept it simple and real. Why have we turned church into a “building” and a repeating “program”? But if we learn from the wolves we as sheep have been sent into, we would know that a wolf pack is small enough to be hard to target, and yet big enough to still be deadly in its effect.

I truly believe Micro church is the new wine and new wine skin. The persecution is coming and it’s just a matter of time. The sooner each of us get back to doing what Jesus actually DID, the better off we will be. The sooner each of us get back to simply “following Jesus”, the better off each of us will be. For we will receive a wisdom of how to be truly effective in our day.

Elisha had asked for a double-portion of the Anointing. Elijah said he had asked for a hard thing, but when Elisha took up Elijah’s mantle, he shouted, Where is the God of Elijah? And God answered!

Jesus said, “Follow Me.”

bible-sword-of-the-spirit

 

“Of Doves & Demons” #1

Path Without End

 “…and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” (Isa. 10:27b)

How do you win a battle of Love verses Hate, words verses guns, or doves verses demons? It cannot be done through the flesh. This brings us back to where we need to be, people of God. Our carnal ways will be our demise. We must relearn what we have forgotten. We must get back to where Jesus started us. BACK TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, and something called the ANOINTING!

In this world bullets are feared, and rightly so; but in the bigger world, the world this little world was birthed from, the Anointing is feared most of all, because of the Anointed One, whose name is the name above all names…Jesus!

But some tried to use the name of Jesus, and the demons said…Peter and Paul we know, but who are you! (Then proceeded to beat them!) There must be the Anointing. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof will fail. Have we forgotten His way?

Here’s our situation… as followers of Christ we are called to Love in a world that Hates, and especially hates us! How do we survive? How can we win? It’s Mission Impossible!

UNLESS… there is a God in heaven who will once again grant his power on us as he did Samson back in the day! But who of us are ready to pay the price of the anointing? Who of us are so hungry for more of God that He is all we can think about, and we seek Him as in the Song of Songs?

The HATE is evident to see, that is the problem, but now we need the solution to the problem. This new series “Of Doves & Demons” I am hoping will run for awhile. I think God has much to say and we have much to relearn. We have much to regain of what we have lost, as David bringing the Ark of the Covenant back into Jerusalem.

In just this past month, our little Fellowship that we like to call: “CHURCH EVERYWHERE”, has seen 2 unexplainable powerful touches of God upon a few people. I have longed for such things but never seen it before on this level! This is new for me! It was literally the power of a sovereign God touching hearts in a way beyond us! I honestly believe it was supernatural in nature, and the only thing different I have done is seek God specifically for His “Anointing”.

I have studied and sought. I am still studying and seeking and I must begin sharing thoughts as God inspires.

It is easy to see the strategy of the enemy> HATE. Steal, kill, and destroy! He’s actually not very creative. Powerful people are using their tongues to set on fire the course of nature. It is set on fire of hell! But they have a strange fire, God’s Word speaks of it, and we have a holy fire. Yes, the Church must get back to fighting strange fire with holy fire! This is the Anointing, and it is the supernatural power of God.

There is so much to say on this. It comes at a cost, priest of the Most-High God. Are we ready to perform the sacrifices we are called to perform? If we are, then just like Elijah, there will be fire from heaven! And the priest of Baal will fall!

bible-sword-of-the-spirit

 

“Church on Fire”#2

Path Without End

warfare Are you personally powered up for what is coming? Jesus said you shall receive POWER after that the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Are we a Holy Spirit “prepper” as the 5 wise virgins were? How do we even do that? There is so much we have forgotten, but need to remember.

I am a “Prepper”, but not so much of material things, I have a little, but I’m mostly concerned about not running out of light! When your lamp goes out there is only darkness. And what is this darkness coming? What is our Father warning us to be powered up for?

Have you been reading the Tea Leaves? They are so easy to see and read because the enemy has become so emboldened! They don’t even hide it anymore!

“These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world HATE you, ye know that it HATED me before it HATED you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own:…” (John 15: 17-)

They call it Hate Speech. By the new world definition we are the haters because we believe certain things are “sin”, certain things are wrong, things not approved by God, things ungodly, things judged by our Bible, and if we stand by God’s STANDARD, we are to be labeled HATERS and persecuted. Are you ready? There is no dodging this bullet short of betraying our Lord. Turning apostate!

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” (Isa. 59:19b)

But our standard is HATE SPEECH! Do we still speak? Or go silent on certain topics? Betray the Word of God, Jesus. Do we still hold a standard? Not a standard chosen by us, or written by us, but by God! The world says God is the HATER! If He exist, they say, He is cruel, and a hater. All of this is His fault. The world refuses to own its own mess.

Notice the “Spirit of the Lord” is where the POWER is. Not us. God’s word confirms this over and over again. Have we forgotten? The Holy Spirit is the Power House in us! But what if we run dry?

What is this Anointing our Bible teaches, and our Lord spoke so highly of? King Saul was anointed to be king over Israel, but he kept disobeying God. Finally God sent Samuel with the Ram’s Horn to pour out the Anointing upon a shepherd boy named, David. When Samuel did this, the Anointing “left” King Saul and “came upon” David! David now walked in the power of God, but King Saul received a tormenting demonic spirit! We must talk about this. King Saul was then filled with jealousy over David, and wanted to kill him!

As God’s Anointing is lifting from those ministries who will “give into” the world, beware of the jealousy! But David now had the power. Or should I say the power rested upon him. Even while he was on the run, and Saul still upon the throne with a huge army at his beckon call, the real power was on David. But what know we of this POWER today? We need that power again! We need it yesterday!

The problem is this POWER of the Holy Spirit will cost you, and I’m not talking about just your money. Or some imaginary 10%. It will reach into EVERY part of your life. Jesus said we have a cross to bear, too. A cross is a cross! Again, I want to emphasize what the wise virgins told the foolish…

“Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order. And the foolish said to the wise, GIVE us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise replied, There will not be enough for us and for you; go instead to the dealers and BUY for yourselves. But while they were gone away to BUY, the bridegroom came, and those who were prepared (preppers) went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.” (Matt. 25: 7-10)

The foolish wanted the wise to just “GIVE” the oil to them. Easy-peasy. Instant mash potatoes. No sacrifice! No time! Instant crop in the field ready to harvest! How long did it take for Samson’s hair to grow back, and then to pray that prayer that God answered? The wise knew how foolish the request was, and gave them the only true answer.

Priest are called to love and sacrifice. Those of the King Theology, or King Saul Theology, do not like this message. I once knew a Pastor of a church of 800 who asked if he could preach my notes on the priesthood. Of course I said he could and he was doing a fine job of it, until… There were those getting upset and ready to leave. He then switched to preach the “King Theology” as a balance, they say. And now my life has taken a strange parallel to David’s, like an outcast. Good thing he didn’t have me preaching it. So out of respect to the Pastor, rather than cause division from within, I left with this message to share outside the four walls of those places.

God was about to judge King Saul’s kingdom. Everyone went through a lot during that time. David and his men suffered, even though he did no wrong! Jonathon and his armor bearer died in battle. King Saul died. But eventually, after much turmoil and suffering, Israel ended up with the best King they ever had. You could say that God had fixed things. The best things can be fixed with flawed man. It’s never perfect except in Christ.

So are we powered up like David was? Do we have a heart like David to sacrifice whatever it takes to bring the Ark of the Covenant, the power of God, back into the Church again? How do we BUY the oil that poured out on David’s head? What is currency with God? What is heaven’s currency? It is nothing less than true love! A marriage feast! Does your heart so long for more of Him that nothing else matters? Do we hunger and thirst for more of the Holy Spirit in us? He is that power.

In “Church on Fire” #1, we used scripture from Song of Solomon to relate this Holy Spirit love that is dripping with the Anointing of our Savior. Remember the door latch dripping with myrrh and spices? What of this oil Samuel poured out of the Ram’s Horn upon David? Exodus 30:22 speaks of the spices and oil mixed to create the holy Anointing oil. And Song of Solomon speaks of a garden “enclosed”, but praying for the wind to blow the spices forth out of the garden! Such a beautiful picture.

Jesus said, you shall receive power “after” that the Holy Spirit comes on you. And later, in chapter 4, the whole room was shaken and the Holy Spirit fell on them “again”! A second time! We can have more! The world drains us. Do we understand what the 5 wise virgins understood? Do we realize Jesus shared that parable, and others, for our learning? So we could live wise? But the young woman in the Song hesitated to leave her comfort zone, her bed, and the Anointing left! She went out into the night, the darkness, and was beaten by the watchmen! Are we prepared?

I see an ugly time coming. I see an Anointing shifting. I see great HATE and jealousy, but not by the ones who are commanded to love! This world is setting up its own judges of HATE. It seems those who hate the most, get to decide who the haters are. And Jesus said it would be so. But like David, and the 5 wise virgins, Holy Spirit preppers will prosper! He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemy! What are you willing to pay to be on fire? Let us pray like Elijah prayed.

I’m now 125 pages into this book.
It has been excellent!

I’m now 125 pages into this book. It has been excellent! And I still puzzle over that title. I find it fascinating. Somehow it relates to today.

I also finished Brian Sander’s book: “UNDERGROUND CHURCH” I love the song they are singing. We are God’s songbirds in a world infested with snakes.