Sea Change – Path Without End

“Secret Gardens” #1 / Microchurch

August 4, 2020August 4, 2020 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!

“Catching Lightning in a Bottle”

July 20, 2020 Path Without End

20200719_073640 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!)

“What I want in a Micro/Simple Church” #3

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020 Path Without End

9021 I have taken a pause before continuing this subject. A Fellowship member actually asked me if there was a reason that I had not published in a few days? The simple answer is “Yes”.

I mentioned last article that I had downloaded 6 books related to this new move of God. I have been searching the oceans for the Sea Change. I have known it is out there. I have known its wave is coming. God told me so. I have wanted to be a part of it, and so much so that we left the traditional church 3 years ago to begin searching and implementing our own version of it as best we could. But that has not kept me from searching for someone who already has it going. Someone of a like-mind as to what I have heard from God. And I believe I have finally found one! And it’s already helped me form our next big step!

I have 2 books I’m reading like crazy trying to get it all in me, and I already know this blog site will soon be reflecting our revelation in a greater way. One is a book entirely on “Elijah”, by A. W. Pink. It has been so excellent so far. But the other book is actually about a different form of doing church right here in the United States, and it has been already functioning and tested for ten years! I’ve read 50% of the book and highly recommend it! I have great expectations for the next 50%, too! I actually had to force myself to write this today, so as to be faithful to such readers as there may be. So I will end this article with what I look for in a Micro Church leader, but first I want to tell you a little about this book.

“UNDERGROUND CHURCH”, by Brian Sanders. I’m not going to try and explain much about their ministry, at least not yet, his book is so worthy of reading for yourself. They are located in Tampa Bay Florida area. At the time of the book writing, they had a little over 200 Micro Churches doing all kinds of different ministries in the name of Jesus! They are very “MISSION” oriented. And as I read the book, not even half way through at the time, maybe there is an anointing on this book, but I suddenly was literally led by God into an “encounter” that has shown me the outreach/mission ministry our small Micro Church needs to start! I have been praying for this for months! Suddenly, BREAK-THROUGH!

This micro group outreach and community “inreach” will also provide many exciting and interesting stories for future writings. I’m looking so forward to it! I’m hoping we can launch no later than October. All I feel free to say at this point is, it involves rescued dogs! So if you love dogs, you can expect our future here to involve stories and dog pictures of rescued dogs that will be used to rescue people in need! That is the dream. I believe God has given me the structure for how this would work. I can hardly wait to launch this, but first there are preparations to make, and we are on it!

So now… I must curb my enthusiasm just a little bit, so I can write a little on what I’m looking for in Micro Church Leadership. Here’s a few quick thoughts, the man I’m looking for, and the man I want to be myself, must be honest, true, kind, peaceful, and a love for simplicity. He is very naturally simple and deep, and not what we see so much of today, not complex and shallow. Oh! and no money seeker! No lover of money! Living high on the world’s hog! God will provide! Let your moderation be known!

Of course he must be “called” of God, and because he is open and available, it is easy to examine his life and see if he is or not. He loves the pure Word of God. He teaches exactly what is written, and the whole Word of God, not just his favorite parts. He is not afraid to be open-minded and have respectful conversations with all peoples, but he has an ability to share what God hath said without disrespecting sincere people. His words are graced with God’s love. The sword of the Lord must always be carried in a sheath of love.

He understands holiness without being judgmental. He has enthusiasm! A fire in his belly! A youthfulness and energy! He believes in pursuing God dreams! And as Brian Sanders put it in his book, his head is in the clouds, but his feet are in the fire! Yes!!!

There is much I could say here, of course, but the main thing is it is obvious to one and all God has called this person to a God-given assignment, now what is that assignment? Let’s figure it out and make it happen! For God’s glory!

Of course God’s Word gives us a description of qualifications. 2nd Timothy is excellent on this. It speaks of in a great house there are vessels of gold and silver, vessels of honor, and vessels not so honorable. The whole book is great on this subject. It speaks of the last days and how many will no longer desire the true Word of God. And 1st Timothy has a very detailed description of Eldership/Bishop qualifications in chapter 3.

I was going to say more on this subject, but it really is so basic and simple. It’s a matter of really knowing each other and promoting each of us into our obvious callings of God. I’m going to leave this subject at that and also repeat again, both 1st and 2nd Timothy are excellent of this.

Now just before I end, as I have been also reading the book on Elijah, one thing I have found myself pondering is how Elijah was actually praying for a severe drought! He was praying for poverty and hunger! The man of God, called of God, was praying for God’s hand of blessing to lift from the people of God! And he knew what he was praying would bring hardship and suffering on one and all, including himself!

He was praying for suffering, lack, hunger, poverty, judgment, hardship, even death on God’s people! Are we to seek the curses? Do you do that? Are we in such a time today? Can you picture praying for such a thing to come on yourself and all around you? This is certainly not what you hear megachurches teaching. Are the days of Elijah coming again? Dare we pray for such things? Are we selfless enough to do what’s best no matter the cost? Has someone already been praying it? Has it already begun happening? Have you ever seen such a time? And it is only beginning!

We will end here for now, with much still to think about, as I continue being excited about our future. Our micro group has always been dog-friendly from the very beginning, and now it appears we may be going to be even more so. Maybe God was giving us a sign! Praise God! Seek and save that which is lost!