BeLOnGings

 

Thank you Collins for responding to last week’s blog with Psalm 45:3. ‘Ride forth victoriously on behalf of truth, humility and justice.”

I think the order here is significant. It is only when in the pursuit of truth we dismount in humility from our ‘hobby horses’, denounce our idols and desist from our isms that we are freed to ride with Jesus the just Judge who puts things right.

The antidote to all human sch-ism is God’s coming king-dom of justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.(Rm.14:17) This kingdom “Is better felt than telt.”

At a meeting I was at recently, some indignant young white folk were ‘shaking the fist’ at President Trump. Then painfully but peacefully a young native woman began to speak.

“I am of the minority group. I know what it is to be horribly abused and maligned. If I allowed myself to go there I could imagine some very scary scenarios……but as I have gone instead to Father God he has directed me to 2 Timothy 2:1-4

1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires [thelei, “will have”] all men [including those in authority] to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

and so I am going to pray for this President.”

The kingdom was ‘felt’!

To enter and dwell in this kingdom the most important sch-ism to discern is that between our soul and our spirit, for the kingdom consists in…. the Spirit.(Rm.14:17) The word of God, we’re told, is alive and active piercing to the division of soul and spirit.(Heb.4:12)  It is when we are in tune with God’s active and living word within us that we can discern what is soul and what is spirit. The soul can get dressed up in all sorts of ‘religious’ as well as ‘spiritual’ language and behavior…but it is still soul. It shouts down the still small voice of my spirit and leaves me devoid of real peace and joy as the true ‘child of God’ me.

Paul writes to the Corinthians,

“I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be lead astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit  from the one you received, or a different gospel  from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” (2 Cor.11:2-4)

I share Paul’s fear that we live too much in our souls with our dominant reality being what I think, what I feel, what I want. As such we are susceptible to manipulation by the worldly voices in the media – mainstream and social. (See Dec.6th blog)

We can take the title “Christian” but God looks into our hearts checking for sincerity and purity. I believe that is what he found in that young Indian woman’s heart.

I have written much about our Indian friends, but since coming to America, Father has also given us some great Cowboy friends with a similar ‘sincere and pure devotion to Christ.’

One of them, a prophetic brother who lives near the Canadian boarder was ‘horse whispering’ long before it became fashionable. His painting above is entitled  “Self portrait with 45 and Stamping’ Kid.” I treasure the memory of running along the Northwoods trails beside Joel as he rode bareback a magnificent creature with whom he had developed an Edenic relationship. Joel was recently lead to connect with the local Natives. His daughter laughingly told me, “He’s pretty conservative….. except for the Standing Rock pipeline where now he is standing solidly with the Indians!”

Another Cowboy who first visited us in Belfast many years ago has been released by Father from his tough inner city teaching vocation to return to the family homestead in rural Nebraska to raise cattle in a God, earth and creature honoring way. Pete and Sandi have also found themselves caring for many disenfranchised young people in that area in an expression of ‘Father’s house’ similar to our own.

The Western narrative I and the rest of the world was raised on, pits Cowboys and Indians against one another as enemies.

These Cowboy and Indian friends of ours, inhabit the same land and are united in the same king-dom where they reverence and honor, with sincere and pure hearts, the same Creator and the same King.

This is the hope for America…and the whole earth.

Please watch the short video below.

 

Not only was St. Augustine  the ‘cradle site’ for a new expression of ‘church’ in America where the Europeans began imposing a colonial brand of Christianity on the indigenous people of America, but it was also the ‘cradle site’ for the ‘civil rights movement’ where the first African slave market in North America highlighted the equally broken European – African relationship.

My new friend in the Cathedral shared with me the above photo as the “cleansing surge” of Hurricane Matthew flooded King Street, which was renamed to acknowledge the place where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had begun the long march for justice for his people.

That afternoon I drove down the dried out King Street on my way to the home of a black pastor and his wife. These friends lead a church  appropriately named Christ the King. “Lord Jesus we enthrone you, we proclaim You are King….come Lord Jesus and take your place.” has for years been our song in this place.

As I passed through the historic Lincolnville area I noticed the array of little churches. There was almost one on every block, each clearly denominated by the doctrine that set it apart from the others as being more true, more pure, more right….baptism, faith, mission, holiness, pentecost etc.

 

I reflected on how as followers of Christ we have often usurped the place of Christ as King of His church and become our own little kings.

I recalled when we moved to the USA having a vision. I was riding on a horse and then saw King Jesus, the “rider on the white horse” and “the armies of heaven” sweep by. (Rev.19:11-14) Initially I was excited that I was a part of such a glorious company but then realized I wasn’t keeping up with them. I looked down and saw I was in fact riding a ‘hobby horse’ “Unless you get of your ‘hobby horse‘ you can’t join me and the armies of heaven.” He said.

I reflected on how denominationalism was just like racism and all other isms – buddhism, hinduism, optimism,  pessimism, feminism, chauvinism, capitalism, communism, zionism, liberalism, intellectualism, fundamentalism, activism and so on. All sch-isms began in the garden when in disobedience we ate of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. Our ‘eyes were opened’ and now disconnected from our Father, we began gathering information with our senses and trusting in our own judgments instead of in His word. In pride and independance we began to act like gods climbing on to our ‘hobby horses’ of beliefs that were flawed, dividing things and people into ‘good or evil’, ‘right or wrong’, ‘in or out’

Our ‘hobby horses’ are what the bible calls the ‘idols of the heart’. An idol is when I(is)the DOL(L)…. in other words MY opinion or belief becomes the object of my affection. Repentance is when we turn from these idols to seek and serve the living and true God  – and begin eating from the tree of LIFE – giving TRUTH which is “Christ in you” (1 Thess. 1:9, Col.1:27)

After reading my last blog, my son Ben reminded me of a dream he had several months ago just before their last child Asher was born. He said, “It was set in St Augustine… as the ‘Cathedral’ crumbled and fell into the sea, we found ourselves in a boat and I was holding ‘Asher’ or ‘the child of his love’ as we weathered the waves back to the shore and I heard the voice say “I care about this child SO much”

It reminded me of the story of Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27 where all 276 on board are brought safely to shore….for God SO loved the world. This is in contradiction to the traditional teaching of eternal torment where the majority of humanity are for ever separated from God in an unending painful parallel reality. It was St. Augustine who was largely responsible for this teaching.

I realized the cleansing surge of water that swept along King Street in St. Augustine was a sign of how God will in wisdom and power by His Spirit fulfill His word, “I will put MY law in their minds and write it on their hearts…and they will ALL know me.” (Jer.31:33,34). Then His new covenant promise will be kept, “You shall have NO other gods before me.”(Ex.20:3) and our isms, idols and hobby horses will be swept away as every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord – and all truly acknowledge Christ – the King (Phil.2:10,11)

Yesterday we participated at the funeral of a dear friend called Mark. As I sang the line from The Flame song, “Press toward the mark for the greatest prize……..” I knew this was indeed Mark’s aspiration in life. He, like St. Paul, desired to receive the prize, the “ekanastasis” or ‘out-resurrection from among the dead’ (Phil.3:11), to participate in the first resurrection and to reign and rule as part of that overcomers company with Christ in the coming 1000 year expansion of His kingdom on earth (Rev. 20:6)

Mark’s parting words were. “Never judge. Always forgive.” Mark had learned to eat from ‘the tree of life’.

As we stood by the graveside of our recently departed friend and the words were spoken “dust to dust, ashes to ashes”….I thought of our newly arrived grandson, ASHer and that “child of His love” that will rise from the ashes of a fire-tested church to lead the way in this next season of His-story……. until all things are put under the feet of Christ.(Heb. 2:3-9)

Glancing upwards into the clear blue sky, we spotted a solitary eagle. He circled for a few moments and then ascended beyond sight.

Let us too “press toward the mark (and the Mark : – ) of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

 

 

 

 

Father makes it very clear when he sends us on an assignment.

We always wait for His invitation, extended through friends. Nowhere has this been clearer than on our trips to St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest city in the USA. We now have 2 sets of friends who independently moved there, one couple from Colorado and another more recently from Minnesota. When we arrived to spend a week with the first couple and then a week with the second, we and they, were amazed to find that the two couples lived on the two sides of the same street! What are the chances of that?

After 16 visits to St. Augustine there was a hiatus until a few months ago when we once again got our marching orders. Our message has always been the same….Father’s love. (As I’ve mentioned before there are 16 aspects to love as outlined in 1 Corinthians 13.) This time we picked up our rental car, license plate# 4273 (total 16) and drove to the Pat and Kathy’s new home # 709 (total 16). A week later we moved to Larry and Jenn’s home ….on the other side of – yes you’ve guessed – 16th Street!!!

So why have we been directed to St. Augustine with this message of Father’s love? I believe it’s because this city is  the ‘cradle site’ of the ‘child of His love’ – the church in North America.

Now for the first time after all these visits I made it into the impressive Cathedral. As I approached the altar rail I noticed the sign above. An enthusiastic guide approached offering help. Once she discovered I was Irish she pointed out St. Patrick’s shrine and insisted she take a photograph of Paul and Pat : – )

She didn’t realize the significance for me of – the sign and the shrine.

It reminded me of our first visit and my first impression in this ‘first city’ many years earlier.

That evening we had arrived at the Memorial Park ‘after hours’ – the closed iron gates barred our way to the enormous iron cross which seemed to hover over the area like a vulture marking the site of the first communion service on North American soil.

On that occasion the sign on the gate read, “Keep out. Trespassers Prosecuted.”

A few weeks later we had been in Ireland showing American friends the comparable location where St. Patrick had landed and conducted the first communion service on Irish soil. The waist high iron gate to the little church at Saul, where Hilary had played as a wee girl, was slightly ajar and easily swung open as we felt ushered into the sacred space.

The message we were being given was, “You are Warmly Welcome.”

The two experiences seemed to capture two contrasting spirits: the proud conquistador come to possess, control and dominate, and the humble saint come to steward, serve and liberate…….like Jesus, revealing the true heart of God the Father.

We know Father has brought us to this foundation site many times to confess as priests the sins of a flawed church of which we are a part, that has failed to truly represent the extravagant love of our Father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

The Greek word used here for kiss, ‘kataphileo’ is a strong word meaning to kiss passionately and fervently. It only occurs three times in the gospels. These three stories I retell in this song, “Sealed with a Kiss” and then respond with words from the ‘Song of Songs’

It has only occurred to me how appropriate the timing of this St. Valentine’s blog and song is : – )

 

 

Hilary recently found a favorite CD we’d lost a few years back. As I pressed the play button, one of the Celtic Ladies began singing the opening track that had recently returned to haunt me:

“Are you ready for the storm?…..are you ready for the storm?”
“Are you ready for the storm?…..are you ready for the storm?”

A few days later we were en route to St. Augustine, Florida

I recalled how on our last visit four years ago in my parting reflections I had said, “When President Obama completes this term of office, I believe there will be – a storm!”

The storm has certainly hit… and everything is being shaken.

I quoted the final verse of the Flame song,

“When this age shall end and the time has come
For the Trump to sound, and our Lord to come”

“Well, ‘the Trump’ has sounded!” I said. “Should we now expect for our Lord to come?”

Concessionary laughter rippled around the church.

I realized that as well as this political storm a major physical storm had also shaken the area a few months ago and recognized that since our last visit a number of our friends had been shaken by serious personal storms.

For one couple it was a result of the hurricane.

Tammy and David had just finished renovating their beach home. It was “a little palace” someone told us.

“I think you’re supposed to come and see it now.”  Tammy said.

Straddling the floorboards we stared down into the belly and out through the skeleton of the gutted home. David was in the middle of another even more thorough ‘restoration’ project.

“The Lord gave me a word at the beginning of last year.”  Tammy said,  – ‘Unencumbered’”

“Everything has had to go,“ she said, “Including my four boxes of shoes…. I loved shoes!

“I’ve decided to not even have a razor here until we’ve finished the restoration.“ David added from behind his bushy beard.

Tammy said the disturbance was strangely not a result of the winds or the floods, but of “a surge” of water that came and went. “I feel strangely cleansed” she commented. “It cleared a lot of crap away.” was the way another friend put it.

Crap is the biblical symbol for “idols of the heart.”

As we bowed to pray I noticed a sole artifact hanging on the damaged plasterboard. A simple cross.

“Thank you Lord that you went to the cross without shoes and unshaven. and you call us to follow you totally unencumbered …so that we can say, ‘…. and being with you nothing else we desire.'”

On an outside wall only one other artifact had remained:

The hurricane’s name was Matthew. It means “gift of God!”

We first met Keely in Belfast several years ago. A friend of a friend of Abby’s, she had come over from the US to see Ireland. It so happens she is a talented photographer and so she took some engagement photos for Abby and Stephen at some ‘magical’ places like the “Giant’s Ring”

We ‘bumped into’ her again months later in our local coffee shop. She seemed especially pleased to see us, and so we lingered for a few minutes……..long enough to let her discharge how things were not going well for her…… she was very stressed ……and desperately looking for some answers for her life.

We invited her to one of our FREEDOM! retreats and she connected for a season in our little community We witnessed Father bring a deep restoration in her, spirit, soul and body and give here a new freedom to chart a fresh course.

We lost contact for a few years until we received an invitation to her and Nick’s wedding at a remote Wisconsin destination.

The week before the wedding at a household meal we found ourselves studying Ps. 119.28-32 in The Message

My sad life’s dilapidated, a falling-down barn;
build me up again by your Word.
Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;
grace me with your clear revelation.
I choose the true road to Somewhere,
I post your road signs at every curve and corner.
I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me;
God, don’t let me down!
I’ll run the course you lay out for me
if you’ll just show me how.

 

As we drove deep into the Wisconsin countryside on the way to the wedding there was no shortage of dilapidated barns!

Finally in the middle of what seemed like “Nowhere” by following the “road signs” we found the “Somewhere”!

 

“The Enchanted Barn”

The owner shared with me how he had been ‘lead’ to this old run down barn…. in order to restore it as a wedding venue.

At the service Hilary and I told the story of how our last contact with Nick and Keely had been when they joined us as part of the team to lead another FREEDOM! retreat on  a remote Indian Reservation in Northern Minnesota in the depth of winter. While it was freezing outside, inside the warmth of Father’s love was thawing more hearts in His work of restoration.

I said. “Keely and Nick too have chosen to journey on “the road less traveled.” that Hilary and I have been on for the last 45 years ….seeking to radically follow Jesus to bring his love to all.

There were many ‘magical’ moments on that day of celebration but for me the best was, aware of the past difficulties with her parents, Keely and her Dad danced cheek to cheek to the song…….

“In the morning when I rise. In the morning when I rise. In the morning when I rise. Give me Jesus.   Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus, You can have all this world. Just give me Jesus.”

A few hours later we arrived home to find this creation sitting on our kitchen table:

 

On the swing was a note from the young girls in our home:

 

Father’s smile again through an “Enchanted Garden” on what had been ‘a Magical Journey’….. of a day and of a life.

P.S. This week we have been in Florida leading another FREEDOM! retreat. If you are interested in attending one we will be having the next one back home at Rivendell 17th- 18th February. If you email us  we can send you the details.

 

 

 

 

 

I found last Friday a special day. It began with my seeing something I’ve never seen before:-

The Creator being acknowledged at a political event!

I’m not talking about the perfunctory using of God’s name by politicians of all shades looking for votes, but of the acknowledgement of the Creator who is alive, sovereign, and actively speaking through His creation.

At the presidential inauguration when Franklin Graham steped forward, he did a courageous thing in the midst of a company who believe they have the power and control, by going  ‘off script’ at such a prescribed event to point out the rain that had begun falling, as the new President began his speech.

Graham said that in the bible, rain is a sign from God of blessing. He then read 1 Tim 2, the passage I was lead to finish with last week, about praying for our leaders, “…for there is no authority except that which God has established.” (Rm.13:1)

Later that day I got an email from a good friend whom I rarely hear from who lives in Melbourne, Australia. Peter had watched the inauguration and probably the mainstream media’s curated commentary surrounding the election, and sounded understandably very despondent about America’s future.

That night Father took me back to the time when we had ministered with Peter amongst the aboriginal people around Alice Springs at the very heart of the Australian bush.  It was 2010, a truly memorable time because they had just had the wettest ‘dry’ season on record! The desert was blooming with plants that had lain hidden in the earth as if dead for decades if not centuries!!

Flying over the area was an incredible sight! –  Blood red earth. Vivacious green foliage.

I had written in my journal, “This is a sign of the two works of Christ as depicted in the (prophetic) offering of the two doves for the healing of leprosy (mortality) as recorded in Leviticus 14.”

The first dove was killed and the second dipped in the blood of the first and then released into the world. Red represents the first ‘dying’ work of Jesus on the cross. Green represents the second ‘living’ work when those who have died and lain dormant in the earth for years are resurrected. Then those who are alive and in whose hearts Christ has lain dormant will be changed, and Jesus, the head, in unity with his body will go forth in the the fulness of the Spirit, and anointing of Tabernacles, to proclaim the really good news throughout the world! This is the same message I gave in scripture and song last week!

I knew the timing of Peter’s email on this rain filled inauguration day to his only friend who lives in America was divine providence bringing to my memory this second ‘water’ sign in creation, from the Creator.

So does the falling of rain mean that God is giving blanket approval to all President Trump says and does?  No it doesn’t. The final prayer of the new President was, “God Bless America”.  The conditions for that blessing are recorded in Acts 3:26 says, “When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Blessing follows our turning from our ‘wicked ways’ to walk in God’s ways. The rain speaks of the Holy Spirit who alone can open all men’s eyes to the truth and turn their hearts back to God so that they can experience his blessing beyond his judgement.

Then that same night at our fellowship gathering there was a third witness……..

I had been asked to prepare a song for a friend. I’d never heard it before, so thought our meeting would be a good opportunity to practice. I made a poor attempt to sing it, and then noticed Jane, who rarely comes to the meetings, singing it very confidently. I asked her to come up and take over – the praise lifted!!

“The zeal of God has consumed me. It burns within my soul.

A driving force that cannot be stopped. A fire that cannot be quenched.”

Fire, like water, represents the Holy Spirit. 

The Flame song was given to me for Australia just before the 2000 Olympics. The first Europeans prophetically named their discovery, “The Great Southland of the Holy Spirit.” Subsequently I was invited to go to where the Pilgrim Fathers had landed by someone who had heard the song and was convinced it was also for America.

Then it dawned on me –  Jane who lead us in the “unquenchable fire” song had just returned from visiting her sister in Melbourne! – the very same place the email had come from that afternoon!

Three remarkable witnesses on one special day!

The second witness confirms the first. The third witness gives the timing…….. 

NOW is the time, for the refreshing rain and purifying fire of the Holy Spirit to fall on America, Australia and to the uttermost ends of the earth

So in another Peter’s words:-

“Set your hope fully on the grace to be given when Jesus Christ is revealed, (for) the end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray.“ (or my version – ‘….so think about what you’re doing so that you can make the right decisions and stay in constant contact with the Lord and with love.’ : – ) (1 Pt. 4:7, 1 Pt.1:19)