Every now and then THE MESSAGE version of Scripture just NAILS it for me. Paul's description of his fatherly heart for the Corinthian believers is one of those passages (1 Cor. 4:14-16)

I'm not writing all this as a neighborhood scold just to make you feel rotten. I'm writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. It was as Jesus helped me proclaim God's Message to you that I became your father. I'm not, you know, asking you to do anything I'm not already doing myself.

As I read this I need to ask myself how I'm doing on the "fathering scale".... with my natural children, my spiritual sons and daughters, and with believers around me who are sometimes not all that I'd like them to be. How are you doing relative to this standard?

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Adapted and summarized from material published Dr. Stephen Crosby[i]

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1-2 NKJV)

It is important to understand the Authority of the Kingdom, but much of what we have been taught, or have merely accepted seems to fall short of a true understanding. Abuse of authority, Bibliolatry and such have invaded much of our understanding in the Evangelical Church.

Crosby suggests that we need to understand that there are levels of authority, clearly ranked. They are:
1. Sovereign authority – The imperial authority of the Lord in His person.
2. Authority of His Word
3. Legal Authority
4. Authority of Conscience
5. Authority of Family
6. Functional Authority
7. Delegated Authority
8. Authority of Custom

Sovereign Authority
Sovereign authority rests in the person of Christ. No man, church, organization, leader, mentor, disciple, spiritual father, pastor, wonder worker, apostle, nor prophet has the right to usurp this authority in an individual believer’s life, nor come between the believer and the Lord in some misguided semi-mediatory concept of spiritual covering and mentoring. His sheep belong to Him, and Jesus declared that “his sheep hear his voice and know him”. The first authority in the life of the believer is the sovereign authority of Jesus as he speaks intimately to his followers. But can we really trust individual believers to hear this voice? This is much like an older questions posed by the Church. Can we really trust believers to read and understand the Bible? In response to that question, for a significant period of time the Bible was kept in a locked case at the front of the Church. Only the priest could understand and interpret.

The Authority of the Word
Christ is the incarnate logos. The Scriptures are literally an expression of His person. When illuminated by the active work of the Spirit, they are just as alive as is His person and require the same submission.
No subjective dream, vision, prophecy, insight, etc. is of the same stature of the revealed will of God in Scripture. Everything stands or sinks based on the Word. First generation, resurrection-witnessing, dead-raising, miracle working apostles taught the Bereans, and they were commended for checking things out with the written word (OT).

Legal (Contractual) Authority
This level of authority deals with civic affairs, legal matters, contracts, etc. Jesus taught: “Render unto Caesar…” All authority is established by God. Short of causing us to deny our faith or curse God, the believer is to comply with civil authorities. When required to choose between deep moral conviction on a moral issue, or compliance with the civil authority, the believer must make his choice and live with the consequences of being morally right and legally wrong.

Authority of Conscience
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23 NKJV)
who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) (Romans 2:15 NKJV)
There are many areas of life in which the Scriptures are silent, vague, unclear or in tension. In those areas, our conscience is the higher authority to which we must yield. Some examples of this area might be:

• Types and styles of music
• Wearing makeup
• Tattoos and body piercing
• Movies
• Church membership
• Clothing styles
• Ethics in raising children

The Westminster Confession gives some excellent direction for dealing with these areas.

1. Nothing contrary to Scripture can ever be true.
2. Nothing in addition to Scripture can ever be binding; in may, however, be true.
3. In essentials, conformity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things charity (love and kindness).
   

When left to conscience and individual’s choice may well be wrong, leading to error and even personal pain. The nature of growth in a free atmosphere of the Spirit is the freedom to be wrong. We are not free to sin. But we must be free to make big mistakes. Freedom and respect of an individual’s intrinsic worth requires risk. In this area we have the right to be wrong, mistaken, and even stupid. It is the price of liberty. Making others come to our point of view on marginal issues is not our calling. Our call is to lay down our lives for one another, not coerce each other into ideological and behavioural conformity.

Authority of Family
God established the family as an institution before the church, its offices and ordinances. The family is the smallest Church unit. The church and its leaders have no authority to tell you how to run your family except in those matters that are explicitly sin. Church leaders can implore, offer wisdom and advice, but they may not demand compliance.

Functional Authority
I sometimes wonder what would have occurred if Jesus had used the same approach the Church uses so often. Something needs to be done. Someone needs to do it. Let’s ask for volunteers – and any “warm body” will do.
Authority is based on ministry, and ministry is based on death and resurrection. When authority exceeds ministry, it is positional and has no spiritual substance. Functional authority originates in the area of my expertise. It is the place of effective service, activated by the Spirit.
Three areas serve as the source of individual functional authority:

• Birth (natural talents: general grace given to all humanity)
• Learning (training and experience)
• Supernatural gifting.
  

The Church pretends to be good at number 3, but needs to recognize the role of common grace.
Consider the following example:
You are in a tragic car accident. Your arm is lying ten feet away. Three people are bystanders: a person who by birth is very caring, a Hindu female doctor specializing in Trauma, and a prophet. Who would you want to take charge of the situation? The functional authority in this situation clearly should go to the trained doctor.
Crosby suggests that every hour of every day there is grief, pain, hurt, abuse and confusion happening in the Church, caused by people who either do not understand the principle of functional authority or who are too insecure to acknowledge it. Most of the teaching about submission in the New Testament has to do with mutuality and not with positional authority.

Delegated Authority
This is the first level of authority at which any mortal has authority in relationship to another mortal on earth. Delegated authority is not necessarily dependent on age, ability, training or giftedness but assignment from higher authority.
John is delegated the responsibility for directing traffic in the parking lot. The bishop arrives and tries to park in the area reserved for first time visitors. Who has the authority in this situation? John does – authority has been clearly delegated to him, and this is HIS domain.

Authority of Custom
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” This quote is from patristic literature. It was advice given by the church fathers to Christians who asked how they should behave when visiting a church that did not share the same practices as their own.
Every local church has its own distinctive, emphases, and calling. There are often “unspoken” expectations of how a Christian should “behave”.
Paul did not expect congregations in different geographic areas to necessarily have the same sensibilities on all issues. Consider the matter of women’s head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11. Many people today often ignore the most important part of the whole passage: “We have no such custom, neither do the Churches of God” (1 Co. 11:16). Christian liberty needs to yield to local custom when a potential conflict arises.




[i] Stephen Crosby, Authority, Accountability, and the Apostolic Movement, pages 77 – 94
Copies of the book are available from Steve’s web page at www.stevecrosby.com

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Too bad Jonah never had a chance to learn Emotional Intelligence.

1:1-3
Fear generates either FIGHT or FLIGHT. In the case of Jonah there is panic and flight.

• Decisions made in “fear mode” are:
• Precipitous, costly, wrong, selfish,
• have serious consequences for self and others

Jonah becomes disengaged and uncaring (sleeping during the storm).

1:12 ff
Confession, although somewhat forced leads to release and courage to act. Can it be at this point that love for his fellow man has returned? “Perfect love casts out fear!”

1:12 ff
With being discovered and ultimately cast overboard would there necessarily have been feelings of rejection and a certain amount of “self-loathing”?

2:1-9
Jonah’s prayer:

• v.4 – distress à hope
• v.9 – thankfulness

3:1-4
What emotions was Jonah experiencing in 3:4 when he finally began preaching judgement upon Nineveh? Pride? Self-Righteousness? More anger?

4:1-3
Jonah becomes ANGRY again.
He expresses disappointment and depression (sadness in the extreme), “Take my life!”

4:6
Extreme happiness over a relatively little event, the growth of a plant for shade.

4:8,9
The happiness is short-lived and gives way to depression and anger.
There is “self-justification” of his angry state.
Sadly the story of Jonah ends with lack of compassion where there should be great joy!

If you have some insight or thoughts on Jonah's emotional life, why not leave a comment? Click the comment link below.

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As we discussed our reactions to Amos chapters 1 - 4, there were a few questions raised for which we did not have ready answers.... so here's a homework assignment for the serious. Find an answer or weigh in with your opinion.

1. What is the meaning of the "for three transgression and for four..." repeated as a formula for the various judgements? (Major Dave offered to begin research on this one).


2. What was so serious about Edom burning the bones of the King? (I think I heard Jay volunteer??? Maybe!??)

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This summer, Michael attended a two week kind of camp called Summit this Summer. It was held just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. There were about 180 young adults there during his session from all over the United States.
Participants attended classes in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings. The program also included free time for discussion groups, sports, and some sightseeing.
Michael writes: “What did I like best about my Summit experience? Was it the whitewater rafting? The chance to meet people from all over who were preparing to enter college or university? The chance to fly on my own across the country? The chance to attend great lectures by people who were really qualified and made it all so interesing? Was it those great sports times playing outside with everyone? Or was it the great food they served?
I went to Summit for the teaching. Here’s some of what touched me the most:
Dr. Norman Geisler gave us twelve reasons why we can trust the Scriptures. Another speaker showed us lots of stuff that support s things that happened in the Old Testament, like the Flood.
Mark Cahill’s presentation on why we should do evangelism really made me think about how I need to speak up more often.
There was that great video about abortion that galvanized my convictions about being pro-life.
Dr. Nobel gave us an important warning about how secular universities often treat Christian students: Be prepared!
A presentation on the goals of radical Islam got me thinkin’!
Hey thanks to all of you who prayed for me and for the three churches which ended up giving the exact amount needed to cover the cost of Summit! I’m motivated to continue learning what I can about God, the Bible and how I can defend and talk about my faith. I am now in a junior college (for two years) here in Quebec and working hard with no sightseeing or sports time.
I miss Summit!
Michael Pinney

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As a group we've been reading our way through Hosea. I find these passages about judgement very difficult to read, particularly during period in my life when God is increasingly trying to teach me about grace. My reading of Hosea 11 yesterday left me completely dry. So today, before I read, I asked God to open my eyes to see what He had for me in this passage. WoW. It was like seeing though new eyes.





Reading from The Message version, I began to see how God reacts to MY disobediences, rebellion and rejection.

• He loves me and calls to me "My son".
• He sticks with me and rescues me from human bondage.
• He pulls my wagon.
• He lifts me, like a baby, to His cheek.
• He bends down to feed me.

What an amazing set of images of Father God!

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Is BIGGER always BETTER? I must admit that I can instantly think of a number of examples that elicit an immediate and resounding "YES!" If you were a betting person, where would you place your money in the combat being prepared in the image displayed here?

Any yet Bigger is not necessarily better in every domain. Let me briefly champion "LITTLE".

Fifteen minutes down the road from the Starbucks where we do Church is the largest church in the province of Quebec: Église Nouvelle Vie. I love to declare with some sense of cryptic pride that I am the founder and leader of the smallest Church in the province of Quebec. By Biblical definition ("Wherever two or three are gathered in My Name...)... So I lead two small churches, one with two members, and one with three members.

Tuesday we sent one-third of our Church on a mission trip to Belize. Our little Church funded a big piece of the travel expense, and have the privilege of blessing Daniel with enough "mad money" to be a big blessing to those he will serve in Belize. Our smallness has helped us to to build meaningful relationships, disciple Daniel, and finally to release him with some real experience under his belt.

Thank God for the Big Churches. Thank God for the small Churches.

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The Church of St.Arbucks now has a "semi-official" T-Shirt. Actually a friend of mine was at a conference in Vancouver, saw the shirt and thought of me. The logo reads: "Sacrificed for me. (Heb. 10:10)"

We're a small Church, and have serious fun in moving ahead with the Great Commission mandate. Jesus said we were to "Go into all the world and make disciples", which by definition in this same text, are those who "obey the teachings of Jesus". We are listening carefully as God speaks through Scripture, and continually asking ourselves what is "obedience that God is calling us toward"?

Daniel, now 17, is co-founder of Winds of Hope Church. I'm so proud of the growth he has been showing, and often taken back by his insights and questions. Yesterday, he was intrigued by Jesus' words to his disciples: "If they don't receive you, shake the dust off your sandals and go somewhere else." How do you think we are supposed to apply that in your living next week? I think I know!



Some people are curious about How you do Church in a Starbucks. The formula is really quite simple... and here's the trick: It's in the DNA.
Dynamic Truth: We believe that God actually can and does speak to us through His Word without the need for a sermon. So each of us reads, and re-reads the same passages of Scripture all week long. When we come together we share what the Spirit of God has revealed to us.
Nurturing Relationships: We look after each other. When one hurts, we all hurt. When one rejoices, we all rejoice. We spend time checking up on each other. How has the week gone? How is the family doing? How have you been doing with "homework"? ( the obediences to which God is calling us).
Apostolic Mission: We are at Starbucks because we want to live out our experience of God in plain view. We are GOing to where the people are. The "attraction" model of Church does not seem to have much biblical authority behind it. We are praying to be light in the darkness, and trust God to show up. We are to be his witnesses... that is to see and report what we see Him doing at Starbucks... that's much easier than thinking that we actually have to do it.

This week we're all reading Psalm 12 - 17. If you can't join us at Starbucks on Tuesday, why not add your brief reflection of what God says to you through these reading by posting a comment on this blog. We'll bring your insight along into our discussion.

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A new kind of Church, or perhaps just something so old it actually seems new.

Montreal is a city-paradox. It is the most post-modern, post-Christian city in North America, but many of its landmarks, street names, and historic sites are named for Christian saints. With a view to creating an effective and alternative approach which would build bridges to a post-Christian city, we are launching out in new adventure in mission, Winds of Hope.

If this all seems rather unconventional, you could think of our Church in more traditional terms.

Recently, our spiritual family has begun referring to our gathering as the Church of St. Arbucks. You see, our Church comes together at least once a week at the local Starbucks. “Good friends, good time, and good coffee!”

What does time at the Church of St. Arbucks look like? Mostly, it looks like every other table at Starbucks. A few friends sitting around a table engaged in conversation. Our family comes together to talk about how the week has gone, what the Lord has been saying through Scripture, what new obediences the Word has called us to. We always spend time in prayer and blessing one another.

At the moment, St. Arbucks (Winds of Hope) meets in Greenfield Park. There are usually 3 or 4 of us together. The dream is to network a few other groups. Live anywhere in the Greater Montreal area? Interested in having a taste of some great coffee and a new expression of Church? Drop me an e-mail, and we'll get together. The expanding dream includes a few French Churches, plus a couple of youth Churches, and at least one downtown location... maybe Crescent Street or St-Denis (depending on language).

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9 Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless--cheerfully. 10 Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: 11 if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything--encores to the end of time. Oh, yes! 1 Peter 4:9-11 (The Message)

One of the benefits of being a “simple church” is that we have no overhead costs: no paid clergy, no building costs, and no salaried positions. God tells us that we must learn to give and be generous with all that He provides. Gifts, tithes and offerings received from the friends and members of our Church are pledged to help other churches and missions both within the province and around the world.

In the past 6 weeks we have been able to receive and pass along $850. In doing so, we have encouraged the ministry of a “faith missionary” in Ontario, helped finance an evangelistic outreach of a Church in Shawinigan (Nouvel espoir), and supported a mission trip to Mexico.

This is just the beginning. Personally, I am convinced that if we continue to live generously, that God will pour into our storehouse from His abundance. Faithful in little, we will eventually be trusted with much. And what we really want from God is to play a part in the great harvest He has planned for this province.

Live as though being generous really matters. It does in God’s economy.

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As we met last Tuesday at Starbuck's we shared some prayer needs together. We invite you to join your prayers with those of the Winds family. Blessing.

Major David

• Pray for an open Heaven over finances - that this hole would be miraculously filled by God's abundant and graceful and wonderful provision.
  Note from Julie: Major Dave, as I write this, I feel that, as snow is preparing in the highest places, money is also in preparation, and it has to fall to the level of our eyesight for us to say '' Well, there is the first snow fall! '' But still, the snow - as an picture of God's provision - is falling a long way down before we ever get to see it! So we are to pray for Rest in Jesus meanwhile!
  
• Pray for this coming Sunday, as Major David is going to preach in Shawinigan; for a safe trip and for the very mouth of God to speak through Major David (and through Daniel also!) and that angels of winds would powerfully minister to each heart present and awaken the not-so-present ones! That His presence in the upper room would spill over to completely fill the Church with His Glory!

• Pray for François from Shawinigan for God to keep his heart warm during this time of hardship, and that God would open doors for Salvation Army officers to be able to visit and feed God's Holy fire!
  
  Daniel
• Pray that God's Holy wind would clear out the FOG that sits around Daniel’s mind and heart; that Daniel would be allowed to think what the Spirit thinks and feel what the Spirit feels; that the fire of God would dry off Daniel's land and replenish it with the Source of Life flowing from the Throne!
• Then, that the Wind would rise and get Daniel to fly on the Winds of Hope; for a kite to fly beautifully, it has to be held by the Master's hand and it has to submit and flow with the Wind...
  
  Julie
• Pray for God's divine appointment next Friday with my cousin Helene; that angelic presence would minister to her heart in a deep way above all her expectations; that His very Presence would deeply touch her heart in a lasting way while meeting her intellectual need for understanding; pray that she would recognize her need for Jesus and trust Him as her Savior.
• Pray for godly inspiration and love and FUN ! while I am ministering to the children (ages 4-7) this coming Sunday, for my first time doing Sunday School as Henry’s helper! That I would be a blessing to all and a real help to Henry!
• Pray for God's rest upon me as the Spirit is cleansing my inner being, transforming my “old man” into a new creation, from glory to glory!

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My Family: Winds Of hope reminds my of my family. I love them, both. ;)

"Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless--cheerfully. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it." 1 Peter 4:7-9 (The Message)

I think this is one of the KEY marks of Winds Of Hope. This verse is truly in my heart. It says, " as if " but it should say " because it does. " It's not one person, but all the people who love you that you depend on. People who love you tend to do things for you. Haven't you noticed? When you have nothing, when your in the desert, who will you hold on to? Will the winds return to you in appreciation? Will God pass you by remembering the times you passed him by. I belief this is his vengeance. Vengeance is of the lords. When we lie there in our arid places, with nothing, will we have each other?

Winds of Hope is a place where we have each other. It's a place to listen to each other's thoughts and feelings build each other up for the coming of Christ AND for the ability to hear the winds and feel the winds before they ( the winds ) reach their full potential at their destinations. We are here to be moved by the wind (God's Spirit). We are here to let God use us as kites to take off when we're ready in any way he has planned for us. We wait on Him. He is the great I AM. We need to strengthen ourselves before we can put on armour; this is what I meant by the full potential of the winds. If we can't expand our hearts for God, then he will not expand his for ours. He will pass us by. But we of Winds of Hope decided to act now! We are on the move to success for we've already won in the Lord. Each of us at Winds of Hope have decided to take up our own crosses and walk in the path that God set out for us. We are each other's guide posts, building each other up for these great days of Elijah and Elisha. I have a double portion and I intend to grab hold of it. I will not back down. My hope is strong for His hope is stronger.

I thank God for my guide posts and for our ability to do Winds of Hope. Winds of Hope is what we're supposed to be doing because of these things; because of the symbolism, the family presence and peace or restoration from just being with each other. The knowledge we each gain, even you Maj. Dave; From each meeting! I thank God for the times we spend together and want you to know that I never stop hoping for the next time we will meet. Next week, next month, for the next year. I miss you guys. You truly are my family.

Especially for: Julie, my spiritual sister, and Maj. Dave AKA ( spiritual ) daddy!
Sincerely Daniel S.

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You, is all it takes. It only takes a drop of water to change something from dry to wet. It only takes a straw to break a camels back. Watch what you say to people, they don't always know whether or not there is something wrong with themselves. If you want ot be the one to show them what's wrong, then try finding out what's wrong with yourself first. Stop trying to fix other people and fix yourselves. Your parents can give you bandaids but they can't heal you. You have to do that on your own. That's right, you have to heal yourselves.

If you feel that you need to tell someone something, don't because someone else already will. Instead be there for the friends that you have. Stop burning your bridges. Stop fighting. comfort each other. So what if john doe gave me a dirty look. smile back. Stop finding exuses to hurt your friends. You'll end up worse off than them in the end; if you keep it up. You can't forget what your going through, when your bleeding you can't ignore it, it shows through your clothes, but don't wipe the blood off yourself onto someone else. They have anough to clean up off themselves already; and if you don't belive this, you're being childish. Stop useing your misplaced rage to fit in with people and create infiriority complexes between yourselves. We are one. Without each other, we would die.

I get my food from IGA, not from the work I've done in school; and my dad at Bombardier doesn't come home with food. He comes home with money. Try to better yourselves instead of try to fix other peoples problems. Not that anyone is better or worse than you. Treat each other equally. You don't need communism to be equal. The president is as equal to the man who picks up your garbage every wednsday because we all work just as hard and come home tired at the end of the day. So what if they don't work as hard? If you think they aren't doing enough for their pay, why don't you work in their positistion. What about billionairs? What about them? Why are you asking? Stop living in a fairy tale world thinking that all you need is money to be happy. start thinking of the people next to you, your neihbour, your enemy, that girl or guy across the classroom or fellow employee that you've never really talked too. Reach out. Stop living like turtles always coupped up in their shell.

This goes especially to my christians friends. We have to, I have to, stop worrying about what our friends will think when we tel them how often we go to church. How much we really love God and why. If you really think your friend is open minded, wouldn't they understand? If they do hate you for being Christian, know that it's not your fault that they hate you. People hated Jesus. You can't countrol how people feel about you. Stop anylising it or trying to predict your foes next move. So they may through stones. You may get into fights. You don't need to fight back. If you know what your doing is right, then God will protect you. I'm not talking about a pumch in the face. You don't need protection from that c'mon. Seriously. You get punched tough.Pick yourself up, don't lie there in your opwn crap. ( like Holden Caufield in then Novel, The Catcher In The Rye. ). Start walking in faith. you may fall because of a sumbling stone but God put it there so you could learn from it.

Don't cry if you can't get up. Don't even bother. You make me sick with your aligaitor tears. Cry because of the pain you are going through AND are walking into, to get to a better place. to stop taking drugs, to stop smoking If your crying because you CAN'T stop then keep trying. But if your crying because you WON'T stop then you don't have my sympathy. I don't care how many people in this world do either. Does it look like I care what they think? I care about what God thinks. Stop setting yourselves up for a fall. Stop leaving your shoelaces untied and TIE THEM! GET UP! A man is less a man if he shows his pain and waits for someone else to help him up instead of lifting himself up. People will see you need help when you try and get up yourself. When people in wheelchairs get up people run to rush and help them because the starting getting out first. You could ask for help, but stop asking for someone to pick you up. Stop looking for someone to be a miricle in your life. Stop it! Stop refusing the trueth. stop denying. Girls, women, Stop trying to fill the void by harrasing each other with gossip. Stop competing for men. Men stop competing for women. Why do you think the right 'one' is going to come To you if you're the one chosing? Let God work the magic;) Guys, publicly insulting another male won't solve your personal problems and won't make you superior to anyone. You then wonder why you feel like you've done so much wrong and say that you can't handle your own mistakes. Then you keep on making them, refusing to learn from them. christians, don't waste your time after the second try of helping your friends. They honestly don't want it. It's A dog eat dog world out there. Don't become one. Try and back away from that stuff. Surround yourself with people that want more from life, in heaven, and help will find you. It only Takes you.

Daniel S.

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A Model Prayer… to pray for each other.
Eph. 1: 15 –23

Introduction

15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for Christians everywhere, 16I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Father, thank you for the stirring in my heart when I hear about the faith and fruit in the Army. Thank you for what you are doing in and through Winds of Hope and the hope family. By your spirit burn on my heart the desire to pray ceaselessly for the members of my faith family.

Revelation of Father’s heart

I ask God to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

Father, I know that everything we have flows from a knowledge of you and of your heart. I pray upon those members of my family (natural children, spiritual children, wife, brothers and sisters, and my spiritual father, Eugene May) a fresh, new revelation of your heart. Cause us to know you better, more intimately. Flood our hearts, and our thoughts and our spirits with this revelation. May our hearts begin to beat in rhythm with your heart.

Well-light understanding of the promised future

18I pray that your heart will be flooded with light o so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called.

My prayer for you, is that your heart might be flooded with light and understanding of the glorious future that Father has prepared for you and promised to you. In this time of uncertainty, may light flood your hearts, and hope spring up like a fountain. Thank-you for the calling you have for each of your lives. May our calling keep us living in the hope of all that you have promised.

Resources and unsearchable riches.

I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.

I pray that you would realize the glorious inheritance that is yours… inheritance from your earthly parents, your spiritual parents, and your heavenly Father. I pray that your ministry would lack for nothing, and that the “unsearchable riches”of Christ would be uncovered daily, that you would be in abundance and a source of blessing to all around you.

Empowerment (the same power that raised Christ from the dead, and glorified Him).

19 I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.

I pray that the power of God would be increasingly manifest in your ministry. No more ministry of “words”, but a ministry of power in the Spirit… the same power that raised Christ, will enable you to bring resurrection and new life.

Postlude

21Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. 22And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church. 23And the church is his body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with his presence.

I pray that in the revelation of Father’s heart, and the floodlighting of your future, and the glorious resources, and divine power, you would find your place “resting and seated”with Jesus-Christ.

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Many other fire brands for the Lord are bringing in the sheaves with joy simply because they see the harvest and go after it. Lift up your eyes. Look at your neighborhood, your workplace, your family. Lift up your eyes and see the lonely, the afflicted, the hurting, and the lost. They are all around you. We are in a harvest season now. Are you ready to be recruited? Are you ready to run with the vision? The harvest awaits you!
Patricia King, Light Belongs in the Darkness, p.39

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The hope in hopelessness

I don't know what it is, but I feel like we're not doing something. Praying for people can be quite an ordeal + it's never enough. loveing someone until you go insane won't be enough for that person. So what are we to do when we know we can't save the world? An ironic question for me since I'm supposed to go to Nations... But I, scratch that I, God, can't save the people who refuse to believe. And can't push the people who refuse to go further with God. Sure they'll be recognized, but will they really enter the presence of God in heaven? XD =) Well, maybe heaven is his presence, but enough of that! I guess in this way, we can't prevent the apocolypse, nor can we make ourselves believe that we can make it come faster. We ourselves cannot heal or raise people from the dead. I cringe when I imagine what we would do. But we can't raise the dead until we recieve the Holy Spirit. So what more can we do without the Holy Spirit?

Well ... I can read the bible that's for sure. ok sums that up... That's all I can do? Be as good as I can be and read the bible? This makes me very discontent and depressed everytime I think this way... And to everyone who thinks like me and is reading this, happiness is a choice, and I've decided to chose it because God has given me a life to live and that's worth dying for; worth being raped and hung for. Not because those evil things were done to you, but because you simply breathed air. Don't you feel a slight bit of joy when you breathe the air into your lungs when there's a nice cool breeze at night? I feel like every reason for suicide leaves my mind. Everybody thinks of suicide, but not everyone does it. (Just to state what's normal and what's not). But what else can we do? Well I think this is about to get encouraging.

THE BIBLE (Rom. 8:26) says that even your sighs are prayers to God. So in a way, we already are doing what we can. But am I doing what I should be doing by being discontent? If it's Holy discontent I believe so. Example: If you're legitimatly unhappy because when you talk to people about God you can feel the tension and their ignorance towards God then yes I believe it's a holy unhappiness. But if your unhappy that someone slapped you, then forgive that person and move on. I'm kinda proud that I can forgive like this, but God gave this gift to me. So I boast in the Lord! thank you God! You gave me the air I breathe! I'm not in a gas Chamber in a War torn country; no, world!!

So we can thank God, read the Bible and live as we have before we read this message to.. humm lets see can I pick? The Gentiles! And the jews:P The Jews need this more, but more people circumsized of the heart will read this. ... So encouragement and relief for the Gentils, and refreshment of rules for Jews.

Daniel S.

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Is this a direction from the Lord for Winds of Hope? I had been reading Galatians, where Paul is presenting his "gospel" to the other apostles. He gains their approval to continue reaching the gentiles with one provision: "Don't forget the poor!".

Later that day I walked down Ste Catherine street to meet my friend Glenn for lunch. Each time I passed someone begging for a hand-out on the street I was touched. I pictured what it might be like if Winds were to walk Ste Catherine street with ready made sandwiches and bottled water. Offering a cup of water in His name...??? This would be a great learning time for the younger members of Winds... and a chance to take the Word, Prophecy, and Prayer to the street. We are called to be light where it is most needed.

Or is my call to "remember" the poor to be served out with my contacts at the Booth Centre. I sense the Lord leading in ONE direction, but have been assigned a different direction. Please pray that God will make his direction clear. Time and resources probably mean that I cannot meaningfully be involved with both projects.

Insights and comments are welcome.

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This is a call to all of my accountability partners and friends to keep me accountable.
Some recent events have pushed me to the following reflection. As I prepared to leave for holidays, I asked Daniel if he would lead "Winds" in my absence. Of course, he agreed, but indicated that he would be spending time developing relationship with some of his friends who need the Hope of Christ in their lives.

I should have been delighted, but found myself asking "How do I connect with Daniel's friends?". The answer is simple: "I don't. He does. And I support, encourage and resource him to work with his friends." BUT, I seem to want (need) to put my "sticky" fingers on this one. Something within me wants my NAME branded all over this.

Save me from myself!!! Not my name, but HIS name, and let Winds of Hope blow where they need to.
Spirit I call you to come from the four winds and blow upon these dead in order that they may live.

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WOH Lets get started Organic Church

First I'd like to thank Maj. David McCann for letting me borrow his book, Organic Church, since it's the only one he has. For some backround information that most of you don't know, I really didn't want to read this book because I thought it was just another Churchy book. Already, after half way through the first chapterI had to put down the book and chew on the words for a bit. Stepping out in faith is a whole new concept for me now. Stepping out in faith isn't just beliving that God can or may do anything at any moment, but instead of you yourself doing something, it means beliving that God will do something in that moment that you step out. So while I was waiting for miracles to happend and the wind to call me into battle, I stumbled onto this book and now I'm really messed up. This, of all things, should have been the easiest thing for me to read and accept!

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because because it is the power of God for the
salvation of everyone who belives: first for the jew and then the Gentile.
(Rom.1:16)

So basically I'm ashamed of being unable to share the good news to anyone who needs it for fear that they'll follow religion and not God. I don't know why, but it's the hardest thing for me to get past. Now I know why stepping out in faith is such a big deal; it's beliveing that the person your going to share Jesus with, IS ALREADY SAVED! I think this'll take some courage on my part... So, Julie, you know what that means if you're reading this! It means talking to random people on the street and TELLING them about God even if they're holding chainsaws! GOD SAVE THE QUEEN! What about us?? We all need to pray for each other, and anyone else who's interested in joining WOH, for the rest of the summer ( Julie, David McCann and I ) and for Winds Of Hope, so we can start right away. I'm not going into battle without a sword! Yeah I know that's my Bible...

As my mom's favorite inspector, Columbo, says, " just one more thing!" Faith is our shield. I think i just had an epiphany. I can get started anytime if I just have faith. WHY is this such a hard concept to grasp??

Winds of hope member: Daniel

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Not long ago my friend and coach, Glenn G., challenged me to offer a cup of coffee to random strangers. Amazingly, as we gather for Winds of Hope, I am taking increasing delight in these acts of random kindness. Again this morning, as I set up the arrangement with the cashier at the local Starbucks, something clearly was stirring in my own spirit.

The words of Jesus come to mind:

Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward. (Mt 10:41-42 NIVUS)

For a number of years I have been aware of the importance of blessing and honouring the men and women of God who have a part in my life. I love to bless them by purchasing a meal, buying a coffee, whatever. Strangely, as a member of The Salvation Army, (an organization noted for offering a cup of cold water to the least), I had never realized the connection between verses 41 and 42. Each time I purchase a coffee as a surprise blessing to someone unknown, I believe that God somehow brings blessing to that person, and to myself.

Anyone have more insight into this experience? Long after this month goes by and I have risen to the challenge laid out by my friend-coach, I'll still be buying an extra coffee for "whoever"... and praying that somehow "ripples" will radiate, like circles of increased blessing.

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