Dear Friends,
Greetings and Happy New Year! May the Lord continue to bless you as we look forward to 2007.
As often happens, our media culture loves to reflect on the past year’s memorable events. Carlene and I have been spending a few days reflecting on what the Lord has taught us these past years. Last year during our Worship at the River meetings, we explored the Lord's Prayer, and every month He revealed new aspects of wisdom and revelation contained in each phrase. Our December Christmas Dinner was a wonderful conclusion and celebration (AMEN!) to creativity in the body of Christ. Some of the most memorable experiences have been watching the Holy Spirit release his voice through the treasures that are unique to everybody in the body. (1 Cor. 14)
In November of 1998, I returned from a two-week trip to England. I attended a global conference on worship and was deeply affected by the Holy Spirit. This was truly a “watershed” few weeks. Often, my friends defined my life as B.E. or A.E.…. before or after England. I learned much through simply being exposed to a fresh revelation of the work of the Holy Spirit. Actually, this involved much “un-learning” as well. Among the things the Lord taught me was the value of simplicity in worship and a deeper level of repentance. I returned impacted by a personal renewal in the Holy Spirit. The effects of those several weeks in Brighton England continue to reverberate in my life.
The very first night of that November I returned, (A.E.) Carlene and I met with leaders from our church for a spiritual retreat in a home literally perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. During the night, one of those classic Oregon storms hit us full on. If you have had the privilege of visiting the Oregon coast during a November winter storm, no doubt you have appreciated the power of the wind and the waves. Fifty plus mile an hour winds and heavy rains battered the home during the night. Now who knows, it might be my Midwest upbringing, but I love storms and sleep better during wind and rain than I do it any other time. Unlike my wife. That night I had a dream. This dream remains today the most detailed and memorable dream of my life. Even today, the Holy Spirit continues to unwrap various aspects of this dream. Dreams are often a colorful picture or movie “language” of the Holy Spirit. This dream has served as a sort of template in this new journey. I want to share just one small part of that dream:
I remember distinctly walking past a building, which represented the offices and administration of a church. It was literally called the "Office Complex". The complex demands and administration of weekly meetings were represented in this building. In my dream, someone had taken a black paint brush and crossed out the word "Complex", and underneath in childlike capital letters, had substituted the word: "Simple". “Office Simple.”
As most of you know, my life and ministry background represents many years of working in an office; particularly in church music and the arts. This history has been rewarding, joyful, and passionate... also very “complex”. While I acknowledge and celebrate the rich history of ministry experience in the local church, currently, many leaders are calling the church back to simplicity of relationships in corporate life. Often this is called, "simple church." This has been our recent experience: simple gatherings, sharing meals, waiting on the Lord together, asking questions, and learning to listen for the Lord’s response. This is how we’re beginning to understand "Office Simple".
And…I've always loved the “simple” expression of: See One, Do One, and Teach One. In the same manner, Jesus taught his disciples, utilizing this Hebrew learning style, which engages both the teacher and the learner. This is distinctively different from our Greek-inspired, traditional lecture learning style.
So…beginning Sunday, January 14th at 6pm and continuing for three months at Worship at the River, we intentionally (in an Office Simple/Hebrew style) will pursue: Learning to Listen to the Holy Spirit. He wants to simply encourage, exhort and comfort us. We pursue learning in order to be transformed, not learning in order to know. We are people of engagement not observation.
We welcome you to join us, as we welcome the Holy Spirit to, “simply” teach us.
Darrell and Carlene
P.S.
Several months ago Carlene and I attended a three day school led by Graham Cooke, where he introduced his new book entitled: Approaching the Heart of Prophecy. We highly recommend this book and will reference it often during our meetings. You can order your own copy. His web store has a Christmas Sale featuring two of our favorite brand new Graham books.
http://grahamcooke.com/index.php
LIMITED TIME OFFER! Purchase both of Graham's new books Permission Granted & Approaching The Heart Of Prophecy for only $25.00!!!
Worship at the River
2nd Sunday's @ 6pm
In the Sam Cox Building
Glenn Otto Community Park
1102 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060
Pacificministries@gmail.com
Pacificministries
P.O. Box 131
Fairview, OR 97024
http://pacificministries.blogspot.com/
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Prayer Alert
Please forgive me for the rushed tone of this e-mail. Last night Carlene and I were praying for the missing climbers. All night long I wrestled with waking up and thinking and praying that these three would be found. This morning I felt as if the Lord in spoke to me concerning this, so I crafted a prayer and would like you to join me with the spirit of agreement for a breakthrough.
Once again Oregon is in the spotlight both nationally and internationally as a group of out-of-state visitors who were well-equipped with technology such as cell phones and computer generated maps and some wilderness experience are now lost. In the case of the Kim family, many attempts to trace their route and use the cell phones signal and other rescue methods proved fruitful in the case of James Kim's family, but searchers were unable to find James in time.
These three climbers from Texas were also apparently familiar with mountain climbing, but are now lost. It seems to me that technology such as cell phones, nasty weather, timing the... all these factors played a part in both of these incidents. Undoubtedly both incidences contained presumptions on the part of rescuers as well as those that needed rescuing.
Here is my crafted (rough) prayer:
Lord we thank you for the church in Oregon. We believe you have blessed the people of this state with a mandate to pray and worship with great confidence, that you and you alone are the territorial presence and power that reigns over all other gods. You promised that your glory and your good news would be with us. The whole earth is filled with your glory. Therefore, we repent for the sins of presumption. We place all assumptions in you. We ask for a spirit of wisdom and revelation to be given to those in command of the search parties coming from the north and the south to supernaturally discern where these climbers are located. We ask for a break in the weather and cooperation with all those that you have entrusted and given the authority to find these men.
We thank you for your grace and your goodness displayed over Oregon. We worship you.
AMEN!!!
Once again Oregon is in the spotlight both nationally and internationally as a group of out-of-state visitors who were well-equipped with technology such as cell phones and computer generated maps and some wilderness experience are now lost. In the case of the Kim family, many attempts to trace their route and use the cell phones signal and other rescue methods proved fruitful in the case of James Kim's family, but searchers were unable to find James in time.
These three climbers from Texas were also apparently familiar with mountain climbing, but are now lost. It seems to me that technology such as cell phones, nasty weather, timing the... all these factors played a part in both of these incidents. Undoubtedly both incidences contained presumptions on the part of rescuers as well as those that needed rescuing.
Here is my crafted (rough) prayer:
Lord we thank you for the church in Oregon. We believe you have blessed the people of this state with a mandate to pray and worship with great confidence, that you and you alone are the territorial presence and power that reigns over all other gods. You promised that your glory and your good news would be with us. The whole earth is filled with your glory. Therefore, we repent for the sins of presumption. We place all assumptions in you. We ask for a spirit of wisdom and revelation to be given to those in command of the search parties coming from the north and the south to supernaturally discern where these climbers are located. We ask for a break in the weather and cooperation with all those that you have entrusted and given the authority to find these men.
We thank you for your grace and your goodness displayed over Oregon. We worship you.
AMEN!!!
Friday, December 08, 2006
Dear Friends,
Merry Christmas!!
We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your friendship and support this past year. We met some of you while visiting Canada, Korea, China, Japan, and Cabo Mexico. Meeting you is one connection of many networks the Holy Spirit is creating as a part of His on-going desire to reflect and magnify the Person and Presence of Jesus. We are blessed to know you....even if it's been some time since we've seen you.
We are meeting this Sunday evening at 6:00 pm for the final Worship at the River of 2006. Some of us are gathering earlier for our annual Christmas Dinner (sorry if you missed the December 4th deadline or that this is the first you've heard of it) but we will all come together to Celebrate Jesus and say AMEN! to what the Lord has done through the revelation of the Holy Spirit through your ministries.
If we (Darrell and Carlene) could use a series of words to summarize our values and experience in 2006, they might be: stretching....obedience....honoring elders....trust in God with our finances....quietness and stillness...peace....celebration of family....tears of disappointment....wonderful provision....grace in adversity.....expanding vision....and above all, love and humility.
On a personal note, our youngest son, Paul, is graduating from the Art Institute of Portland this December 15th in Graphic Design/Marketing.
Nate and Krista, our oldest son announced Thanksgiving Day that another "bird was in the oven." Carlene and I are practicing calling each other Grandpa and Grandma...ouch with a smile. Danielle and Matt continue working hard in their fields of interest and at their workplace. We are
proud and give thanks to God for each of their lives.
Danielle, Matt, Dad, Paul, Mom, and Nate Krista and Nate with Pepper
We all wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
As a side note, it is all too common for magazines and newspapers to publish their "Man of the Year" or "Top 10" books or movies....thought I'd list mine as well:
MY TOP TEN FOR 2006
Graham Cooke's UNCOMMON LOVE CD SERIES
This conference teaching recorded last year will challenge and confront nearly everything about everything.
Graham Cooke and Gary Goodell's PERMISSION TO DO CHURCH DIFFERENTLY IN THE 21'S CENTURY and THE HEART OF PROPHECY
http://grahamcooke.com/index.php
Gary Wiens' COME TO PAPA and BRIDAL INTERCESSION
Excellent book in revealing the heart of love God has for us. I love the curl up in bed with this book. (Carlene)
He and his wife have a new book coming out soon on the Beatitudes.
http://www.burningheartministries.com/
Misty Edward's Always On His Mind
This is a beautiful collection of modern day psalms and the latest CD from Misty Edwards, a worship leader and prophetic singer from International House Of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City Missouri.
http://www.ihop.org/Shop/Sections/Section.aspx?section_id=1000000274
When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson
It is truly possible for human people to walk in the divine, and Christ came to show us the way. It is by rediscovering our true identity in Him that we can begin to move into the promises of God regarding the miraculous. Bill Johnson not only teaches the supernatural, he imparts it by changing the way we think. If you are not walking in the miraculous, you're living far below your birthright! By laying a carefully constructed biblical foundation for walking in the supernatural power of God, When Heaven Invades Earth provides all the equipment you need to experience miracles every day.
http://www.ibethel.org/store/index.php?product=193
Arthur Burke's NURTURING THE HUMAN SPIRIT
Bill Petersen (one of our council members, Carlene, and myself attended a seminar where Arthur presented some of this material for the first time. We may not (and he admits this) fully understand the human spirit, but I love his questions! Some of his topics:
- The data that is embedded in the light of your spirit
- How the learning curve of your spirit differs from that of your soul
- The limitations of the soul in the womb
http://www.plumblineministries.com/
VISION BEHIND THE VEIL by H.A. Baker
I read this book before I went to China and met leaders who are working with orphans. This classic book of the Holy Spirit's revelatory work among Chinese orphan children is as relevant today as it was in 1920. It tells the story of a group of children--mostly street beggars and orphans--living in Adullam Rescue Mission in Yunan Province, China, under the care of missionaries H.A. Baker and his wife. These children experienced an immense and incredible out-pouring of the Holy Spirit--so great that they literally "experienced Heaven" through visions, were aware of the presence of angels, and were able to describe in great detail what they saw. The result of these intense experiences of God was a fervent passion for worship, the Word of God, and prayer. This thought-provoking and faith-lifting book will challenge you to a deeper and more intimate walk with God. Dangerous reading.
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1009883&item_no=2402784
SHAPING OF THINGS TO COME by Frost and Hirsch
Passionate.. idealistic.. imaginative… seminal.. incisive.. visionary. This is a gripping exegesis of culture, church and history, with some careful theological reflection along the way, contribute to the dialogue on innovation and mission and end up with re-imagining eccelesiology against the backdrop of emerging culture.
http://www.amazon.com/Shaping-Things-Come-Innovation-Mission/dp/1565636597
REVOLUTION By George Barna
There is a new breed of Christ-follower in America today. These are people who are more interested in being the Church than in going to church. They are more eager to produce fruit for the kingdom of God than to become comfortable in the Christian subculture.
http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Resource&ResourceID=196
HOUSE
The TV show about an irreverent Doctor....don't know why, but Carlene and I just enjoy the writing....and honestly cannot give any good reviews of movies...the one or two we saw...we didn't like.
Finally,
ALL THE STUDENTS IN ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CLASSROOMS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO HIGH SCHOOL IN WHICH I WAS A GUEST TEACHER....
The children taught me more about incarnational mission than most of the sermons, books, and tape series I've heard. They made me frustrated, fearful, pray, angry, laugh, but best of all.... gave me hope. Something about the value of stepping into the harvest as opposed to analyzing it. One of the best learning experiences of my life.
I conclude with one of my best gifts from McKenzie, one of my 2nd graders...
This note made my day/month/year.
Bless you this Christmas,
Darrell and Carlene
PS
I was in a Portland coffee shop yesterday, and the music sounded familiar. Duh....it was me. Turns out it was one of the shops favorite holiday CD's. You can order CHRISTMAS PIANO at: http://bestillmusic.blogspot.com
http://pacificministries.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
2006 Christmas Dinner
Dear Friends,
We are looking forward to this December's Worship at the River. We'll CELEBRATE:
A MEAL...
Delight and several other ladies are busily preparing a spiral ham,
potatoes, almond green beans, and fruit salad for our Christmas dinner
beginning at 5pm Sunday, December 10th at the Sam Cox Building, our
normal second Sunday meeting place (and if you've ever been to Bill
and Delight's for dinner, no one can leave hungry). We will take an
offering for expenses, but just need a confirmation by next Monday,
December 4th. Please reply to Delight: delightpete@yahoo.com. At last
count, there are less than 15 reservations open.
A BLESSING…
We will pray over Bill and Delight as they are taking on a special
assignment at the Kansas City International House of Prayer. They
have been accepted as intercessors in the 3 month Simeon Internship
(for those over 50). They'll be living in a 1-bedroom furnished
apartment complex located right next to the IHOP.
A GOOD REPORT…
We'll hear from various folks about what the Lord has done in their
ministries this year!
A GUEST…
We'll welcome Rodrick Gilbert, an apostolic leader and church planter
from India I met last April. He has witnessed an explosion of signs
and wonders (over 9000 baptized the past few months including raising
from the dead) and has a special love and interest in the Pacific
Northwest.
YOUR CREATIVITY…
Many of you've been impacted by what the Holy Spirit has done through
your creativity.
AN OFFERING…
We want to give a financial gift this Christmas season, specifically
targeting ministries serving the poor, homeless and orphans.
And, the principal reason we gather...is to Celebrate and Worship, JESUS!!!
Worship at the River will begin at 6:30 pm. Remember, if you can't
come to dinner, we welcome you to worship!
Bless you,
Darrell and Carlene
We are looking forward to this December's Worship at the River. We'll CELEBRATE:
A MEAL...
Delight and several other ladies are busily preparing a spiral ham,
potatoes, almond green beans, and fruit salad for our Christmas dinner
beginning at 5pm Sunday, December 10th at the Sam Cox Building, our
normal second Sunday meeting place (and if you've ever been to Bill
and Delight's for dinner, no one can leave hungry). We will take an
offering for expenses, but just need a confirmation by next Monday,
December 4th. Please reply to Delight: delightpete@yahoo.com. At last
count, there are less than 15 reservations open.
A BLESSING…
We will pray over Bill and Delight as they are taking on a special
assignment at the Kansas City International House of Prayer. They
have been accepted as intercessors in the 3 month Simeon Internship
(for those over 50). They'll be living in a 1-bedroom furnished
apartment complex located right next to the IHOP.
A GOOD REPORT…
We'll hear from various folks about what the Lord has done in their
ministries this year!
A GUEST…
We'll welcome Rodrick Gilbert, an apostolic leader and church planter
from India I met last April. He has witnessed an explosion of signs
and wonders (over 9000 baptized the past few months including raising
from the dead) and has a special love and interest in the Pacific
Northwest.
YOUR CREATIVITY…
Many of you've been impacted by what the Holy Spirit has done through
your creativity.
AN OFFERING…
We want to give a financial gift this Christmas season, specifically
targeting ministries serving the poor, homeless and orphans.
And, the principal reason we gather...is to Celebrate and Worship, JESUS!!!
Worship at the River will begin at 6:30 pm. Remember, if you can't
come to dinner, we welcome you to worship!
Bless you,
Darrell and Carlene
From Jim Ruiz, Author of Megashift, and Rodrick
My friend Rodrick Gilbert died last summer. Then about four months later, he visited me at my home – very much alive. Here's his story:
Rod is the leader of a network of house churches in India, centered around New Delhi. At last count, his people had brought 26,000 Hindus to faith in Christ. Because of this, I believe, he is constantly in the crosshairs of the dark forces in that spiritually troubled land.
Last summer, Rod and his wife went to visit relatives north of Delhi in a rural area, and while they were walking back to their car, his wife was bitten by a poisonous snake. They rushed her to a hospital, but the anti-venom they had was expired, and she died.
To say that Rod was in shock doesn't begin to cut it. He actually died of a broken heart – not once, but twice. (Never let it be said that Christians can rise above all the griefs of this life.)
The doctors were able to bring him back with the usual shots and paddles on both occasions, but a few days later he died again, and this time nothing worked. He was gone.
They put his body on a gurney, rolled it into the hallway, and called his two children to come and take one last look at their father. His daughter Srishti, about 12, is one of the most delightful girls I've ever met. His son Adesh, 3, is a remarkably sturdy young man of faith.
Adesh would not accept Rod's death gracefully ... or at all. He started climbing up on the gurney to pray for his daddy. The nurses pulled him off, saying, "No, no, you'll knock it over."
But Adesh strongly insisted. He climbed up the side of the gurney, lay down beside the body, threw his arm across Rod's chest, grabbed hold of the farther arm, and prayed for his resurrection.
A few minutes later, without treatment, Rod came back from death.
And...from Rodrick's latest report: Rodrick Gilbert (rod@vsnl.com)
New contacts
It is significant for us in this ministry to have the number of new contacts, because we usually target on making one contact in one neighborhood or village who is essentially a parson of peace. The number of contacts is quite close to the number of neighborhoods targeted. Our effort is to further disciple this person and mobilize him/her to plant the house church, with the multiplication being it’s end goal. We had 203 new contacts made which totals 1485 contacts in all.
Muslims trained
We had 87 people trained from Muslim background. These were some time ago persons of peace who have now been baptized. We have a total of 752 such people trained on Biblical basics with Q uran being the sideline reference.
Baptism
We believe no matter how hostile the paradigm may be, it is unfailing commandment of the Lord to have people baptized. We had 132 baptisms which makes a total of 1342 baptisms among Muslims.
Church planting
Our Lord has been good to us and by His grace we had a total number of 234 churches planted as on Jan 2006. We ran a special project of Love Neighbors, (April 2005 – March 2006) when 127 new churches were planted which exceeded the project goal of 100 new churches. We had 26 new churches plated during Jan to March 06. As per latest report we had 27 new churches planted during April – August 2006, which makes a total of 287 churches to date. The table above gives an overview of the distribution of the status and progress of church planting in various areas.
Leaders trained
Our vision is to envision, train, equip and mobilize the harvest force existing on the mission field. One of the regular activities of our master trainers is the research networking and training those get interested. We have conducted several seminars where we have seen 277 new leaders trained which totals to about 920 leaders, many of whom are tentmakers.
Literacy
Our teams have found literacy to the Muslim children, as most effective means of penetration, after spiritual warfare methods of healing and deliverance. We have seen about 61 new children trained during the period of this report which make a total of 892 children being benefited.
Case study
Lucknow
Lucknow is predominately Muslim city which was a later chosen to be the center of operations by British. The city is still the capital of the state Uttar Pradesh which has given India the largest number of Prime Ministers during the democratic period of the nation. For the entire period of Muslim and British rule the life style revolved around the pivot of luxury. People were overtime engaged in constructing magnificent luxury buildings, poetry, dance, music, cooking, embroidery, painting, decoration, fabrics, and hunting. Presently the downgraded political standards have turned the city into a hub of organized crimes.
The city has a considerable percentage of Muslims who have quite an equal proportion of both Shiaits and Sunnis. This reality has kept the city under constant tension of riots, as it carries a history of multiple riots between Hindu – Muslims and between Shia and Sunnis themselves, resulting in massive human slaughter in the streets.
The work in Lucknow dragged for some time as one of our master trainers Anil went to work with another organization and we had team crisis. We also lost the touch with about 18 contacts made in his field. God was so good to us and as a replacement we have seen the work advance faster than it ever has been.
We have brother Guddu come here as a replacement who was poisoned by some Muslims in Chandauli. People after having poisoned, threw his by the road side thinking he was dead. He laid there for the whole night. Next morning police found him and admitted him in the hospital as he was still unconscious. Later they traced his sister’s phone number form his pocket who came over to take care of him. He was paralytic for several months but God has healed him and is using him effectively.
Rev. George Robinson is also working with great commitment in the area. Both the teams have seen about 42 baptisms and 7 churches planted in various parts of the city.
1) Testimony - Sagir Ahmed is native of Kasai Bara, Lucknow. He was suffering from cancer from last three year's and now as the result of prayer God healed him from his cancer. He has six members in his family, out of which two have taken baptism including him, and the others are ready for baptism.
2) Testimony - Mohammad Ishak his native of Safedabagh Lucknow. His right hand was paralyzed from past eight year's. As a result of one week of continues prayer God healed him. He and His wife including children's they are ready for Baptism.
Humbly Presented by
Rodrick Gilbert
Love Neighbors Seminar
August 22 – 24, 2006
The Delegates
We conducted a special consultation in Delhi where we had 65 delegates participate from various states of North India. The focus of this seminar was to gather the baptizing church planters preferably from Muslim Background most of whom met the Lord though our own ministries.
Resource persons
We had Marco Gmur from Switzerland with a team of 6 members, Greg Watt. Dr. Gene Davis, Dr. Victor Chaudhrie and Rodrick Gilbert facilitating the consultation.
The sessions
The delegates were given most of the time, to share how they came to the Lord, what they went through after their life in faith, and how God has been using them in what they are doing. It was a real humbling experience to hear see and feel the richness of the Spirit of God in shaping the broken and shattered lives.
The resource persons shared from the Word, reports of What God is doing Worldwide. They also ministered the delegates by praying for them and by sharing the scriptures.
Dr. Victor Chaudhrie introduced the Communion system of the First Century Church apart from much other input.
The results
We saw the Spirit encourage the delegates, challenge them for greater vision, clear the understanding of scriptures in many areas.
We were also able to discuss the strategy for reaching the population of over18 million Muslims living in India.
The team was much empowered in spirit through prayer.
Humbly Presented by
Rodrick Gilbert
Rod is the leader of a network of house churches in India, centered around New Delhi. At last count, his people had brought 26,000 Hindus to faith in Christ. Because of this, I believe, he is constantly in the crosshairs of the dark forces in that spiritually troubled land.
Last summer, Rod and his wife went to visit relatives north of Delhi in a rural area, and while they were walking back to their car, his wife was bitten by a poisonous snake. They rushed her to a hospital, but the anti-venom they had was expired, and she died.
To say that Rod was in shock doesn't begin to cut it. He actually died of a broken heart – not once, but twice. (Never let it be said that Christians can rise above all the griefs of this life.)
The doctors were able to bring him back with the usual shots and paddles on both occasions, but a few days later he died again, and this time nothing worked. He was gone.
They put his body on a gurney, rolled it into the hallway, and called his two children to come and take one last look at their father. His daughter Srishti, about 12, is one of the most delightful girls I've ever met. His son Adesh, 3, is a remarkably sturdy young man of faith.
Adesh would not accept Rod's death gracefully ... or at all. He started climbing up on the gurney to pray for his daddy. The nurses pulled him off, saying, "No, no, you'll knock it over."
But Adesh strongly insisted. He climbed up the side of the gurney, lay down beside the body, threw his arm across Rod's chest, grabbed hold of the farther arm, and prayed for his resurrection.
A few minutes later, without treatment, Rod came back from death.
And...from Rodrick's latest report: Rodrick Gilbert (rod@vsnl.com)
New contacts
It is significant for us in this ministry to have the number of new contacts, because we usually target on making one contact in one neighborhood or village who is essentially a parson of peace. The number of contacts is quite close to the number of neighborhoods targeted. Our effort is to further disciple this person and mobilize him/her to plant the house church, with the multiplication being it’s end goal. We had 203 new contacts made which totals 1485 contacts in all.
Muslims trained
We had 87 people trained from Muslim background. These were some time ago persons of peace who have now been baptized. We have a total of 752 such people trained on Biblical basics with Q uran being the sideline reference.
Baptism
We believe no matter how hostile the paradigm may be, it is unfailing commandment of the Lord to have people baptized. We had 132 baptisms which makes a total of 1342 baptisms among Muslims.
Church planting
Our Lord has been good to us and by His grace we had a total number of 234 churches planted as on Jan 2006. We ran a special project of Love Neighbors, (April 2005 – March 2006) when 127 new churches were planted which exceeded the project goal of 100 new churches. We had 26 new churches plated during Jan to March 06. As per latest report we had 27 new churches planted during April – August 2006, which makes a total of 287 churches to date. The table above gives an overview of the distribution of the status and progress of church planting in various areas.
Leaders trained
Our vision is to envision, train, equip and mobilize the harvest force existing on the mission field. One of the regular activities of our master trainers is the research networking and training those get interested. We have conducted several seminars where we have seen 277 new leaders trained which totals to about 920 leaders, many of whom are tentmakers.
Literacy
Our teams have found literacy to the Muslim children, as most effective means of penetration, after spiritual warfare methods of healing and deliverance. We have seen about 61 new children trained during the period of this report which make a total of 892 children being benefited.
Case study
Lucknow
Lucknow is predominately Muslim city which was a later chosen to be the center of operations by British. The city is still the capital of the state Uttar Pradesh which has given India the largest number of Prime Ministers during the democratic period of the nation. For the entire period of Muslim and British rule the life style revolved around the pivot of luxury. People were overtime engaged in constructing magnificent luxury buildings, poetry, dance, music, cooking, embroidery, painting, decoration, fabrics, and hunting. Presently the downgraded political standards have turned the city into a hub of organized crimes.
The city has a considerable percentage of Muslims who have quite an equal proportion of both Shiaits and Sunnis. This reality has kept the city under constant tension of riots, as it carries a history of multiple riots between Hindu – Muslims and between Shia and Sunnis themselves, resulting in massive human slaughter in the streets.
The work in Lucknow dragged for some time as one of our master trainers Anil went to work with another organization and we had team crisis. We also lost the touch with about 18 contacts made in his field. God was so good to us and as a replacement we have seen the work advance faster than it ever has been.
We have brother Guddu come here as a replacement who was poisoned by some Muslims in Chandauli. People after having poisoned, threw his by the road side thinking he was dead. He laid there for the whole night. Next morning police found him and admitted him in the hospital as he was still unconscious. Later they traced his sister’s phone number form his pocket who came over to take care of him. He was paralytic for several months but God has healed him and is using him effectively.
Rev. George Robinson is also working with great commitment in the area. Both the teams have seen about 42 baptisms and 7 churches planted in various parts of the city.
1) Testimony - Sagir Ahmed is native of Kasai Bara, Lucknow. He was suffering from cancer from last three year's and now as the result of prayer God healed him from his cancer. He has six members in his family, out of which two have taken baptism including him, and the others are ready for baptism.
2) Testimony - Mohammad Ishak his native of Safedabagh Lucknow. His right hand was paralyzed from past eight year's. As a result of one week of continues prayer God healed him. He and His wife including children's they are ready for Baptism.
Humbly Presented by
Rodrick Gilbert
Love Neighbors Seminar
August 22 – 24, 2006
The Delegates
We conducted a special consultation in Delhi where we had 65 delegates participate from various states of North India. The focus of this seminar was to gather the baptizing church planters preferably from Muslim Background most of whom met the Lord though our own ministries.
Resource persons
We had Marco Gmur from Switzerland with a team of 6 members, Greg Watt. Dr. Gene Davis, Dr. Victor Chaudhrie and Rodrick Gilbert facilitating the consultation.
The sessions
The delegates were given most of the time, to share how they came to the Lord, what they went through after their life in faith, and how God has been using them in what they are doing. It was a real humbling experience to hear see and feel the richness of the Spirit of God in shaping the broken and shattered lives.
The resource persons shared from the Word, reports of What God is doing Worldwide. They also ministered the delegates by praying for them and by sharing the scriptures.
Dr. Victor Chaudhrie introduced the Communion system of the First Century Church apart from much other input.
The results
We saw the Spirit encourage the delegates, challenge them for greater vision, clear the understanding of scriptures in many areas.
We were also able to discuss the strategy for reaching the population of over18 million Muslims living in India.
The team was much empowered in spirit through prayer.
Humbly Presented by
Rodrick Gilbert
Monday, November 13, 2006
Christmas Piano Offer
Dear Pacificministries Friends,
Most of you may know I began a new assignment in December of 2001 . After 9/11, many travelers were afraid to fly and airport terminals were guarded by armed soldiers. Airports had become launching pads for weapons targeting our cities. During this season of national unrest, God gave me an opportunity. I was invited to play Christmas songs on a 9-foot Steinway grand piano at the Portland International Airport. Originally, I saw this as a chance to make extra money for the holidays as I had, in obedience to the Lord, just completed a Christmas piano CD. As I played traditional Christmas favorites in an improvisational worship style, hundreds of people were moved by the Spirit behind the music. Each year proved to be a lesson in obedience, evangelism, and deeper trust. I have thoroughly enjoyed the past five years as the Lord has faithfully taught me many lessons.
Without "professional marketing" these CDs have been very well received and have supported our ministry travel and expenses. This year, I sense a change in my assignment. While I may play a few times at the airport this December, I'll continue to substitute teach in our public schools...as both are mission fields.
Recently, I have received a number of unsolicited notes of how the CD's have impacted people. They're on my new web site where you can securely order CDs using major credit cards and Paypal. The web site is: http://bestillmusic.blogspot.com
We are selling the CD's for $15. If you are interested in ordering multiple copies of more than 10, we will sell the CD for $10, and pay for shipping. They make wonderful holiday gifts. Many schools, businesses, nonprofits, and bookstores have ordered multiple copies of Christmas Piano as a fund-raising tool and companies have used them as corporate or personal gifts.
This year, I will use a portion of the profits from Christmas Piano to support two orphanages, one in China, the other North Korea. 2006 has proved to be a wonderful and yet challenging year. We are thankful for the Holy Spirit's guidance and wisdom and look forward to the next season.
Bless you, and Merry Christmas,
Darrell
http://bestillmusic.blogspot.com
Most of you may know I began a new assignment in December of 2001 . After 9/11, many travelers were afraid to fly and airport terminals were guarded by armed soldiers. Airports had become launching pads for weapons targeting our cities. During this season of national unrest, God gave me an opportunity. I was invited to play Christmas songs on a 9-foot Steinway grand piano at the Portland International Airport. Originally, I saw this as a chance to make extra money for the holidays as I had, in obedience to the Lord, just completed a Christmas piano CD. As I played traditional Christmas favorites in an improvisational worship style, hundreds of people were moved by the Spirit behind the music. Each year proved to be a lesson in obedience, evangelism, and deeper trust. I have thoroughly enjoyed the past five years as the Lord has faithfully taught me many lessons.
Without "professional marketing" these CDs have been very well received and have supported our ministry travel and expenses. This year, I sense a change in my assignment. While I may play a few times at the airport this December, I'll continue to substitute teach in our public schools...as both are mission fields.
Recently, I have received a number of unsolicited notes of how the CD's have impacted people. They're on my new web site where you can securely order CDs using major credit cards and Paypal. The web site is: http://bestillmusic.blogspot.com
We are selling the CD's for $15. If you are interested in ordering multiple copies of more than 10, we will sell the CD for $10, and pay for shipping. They make wonderful holiday gifts. Many schools, businesses, nonprofits, and bookstores have ordered multiple copies of Christmas Piano as a fund-raising tool and companies have used them as corporate or personal gifts.
This year, I will use a portion of the profits from Christmas Piano to support two orphanages, one in China, the other North Korea. 2006 has proved to be a wonderful and yet challenging year. We are thankful for the Holy Spirit's guidance and wisdom and look forward to the next season.
Bless you, and Merry Christmas,
Darrell
http://bestillmusic.blogspot.com
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
November 2006 Update
Dear Friends,
I am writing from sunny Southern California (sorry…we missed the soaking rain) where Carlene and I have been with Jean Darnall, one of our 84 year old mentors.
Carlene: Thursday we attended Jean’s noon service at Jack Hayford’s original church. She was standing near the pulpit radiantly worshipping and delivered a message with such zeal and passion and as applicable today as when she preached her first healing meeting as a young 15-year-old girl in the mountains of West Virginia. I thought of the verse...love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. She gives 110%. I was so thankful to God for blessing her. I will treasure that picture forever in my heart. The next day we were off to a mountain retreat for two days ministering to Korean students. It is at these times I so wish we could travel with the team from River. The richness in spirit and music you all add is so comforting to us. We often feel a tad bit "out there" without you. Insecure but we press in and He is faithful to guide us. Sunday morning we were downtown LA in Korea Town. Darrell spoke and played Christmas music on their piano. He always does a good job sharing.
Darrell: I spoke at Pastor David Kim’s New Life Oasis church on God’s promise and desire that as we humble ourselves and seek His face and worship Him, He will heal our land. You may remember one of my primary assignments during my trip to China/NK was to collect soil from North and South Korea and merge the samples as a prophetic gesture for healing. Pastor David and I laid hands on this soil and as he was praying, I heard the Holy Spirit speak a gentle word of encouragement and challenge. He said:
“You were obedient in this gathering of the soil as a demonstration of my purpose to bring healing to North Korea. It’s much cleaner to keep this soil preserved in a little plastic bag…you might be tempted to memorialize it as a token of something yet to happen. But I have called you to pour it out…don’t be afraid…. get your hands dirty. This soil will remain just a representative of fertile ground of promise unless you pour it out and plant a seed for fruitful harvest.”
This 2nd Sunday evening of November at the Glenn Otto Park in Troutdale, we will gather together and worship. Our focus is the “forever” nature of God’s Kingdom and Promise. His eternal word will never pass away. I believe the Lord wants to pour out His blessing and favor on our gathering. Let’s let Him soak the fertile soil of our hearts with the rain of His Presence. We welcome you.
Darrell and Carlene
Remember, you can access any past Updates, dates, and other information at pacificministries.blogspot.com/
What is God Saying?
Thu, November 30, 2006 - Sun, December 3, 2006
Prophetic Conference with Chuck Pierce Dutch Sheets in Albany Oregon
Register at http://elijahlistministries.safeshopper.com/7/cat7.htm?760
Or call 1-866-354-5245 (Toll-free) Email: csteamlead@elijahlist.net
Reflections on the Lord's Prayer Submissions
Please email your reflections by Monday November 27th (the week after
Thanksgiving) to: pacificministries@gmail.com.
Pacificministries Christmas Celebration !
We want to invite you to a Christmas Celebration Dinner at the Sam Cox
Building in Troutdale (where we normally meet) at 5 pm on December 10th . We'll
have dinner together and at 6:30 we'll worship (Amen!) This will be a
no-cost event but we will take an offering to cover building and meal
costs. All are welcome to attend, but reservations for dinner need to
be made by Monday, December 4th. You may call Delight at 503-380-7203
or e-mail her at delightpete@yahoo.com if you plan to attend.
--
Pacificministries@gmail.com
I am writing from sunny Southern California (sorry…we missed the soaking rain) where Carlene and I have been with Jean Darnall, one of our 84 year old mentors.
Carlene: Thursday we attended Jean’s noon service at Jack Hayford’s original church. She was standing near the pulpit radiantly worshipping and delivered a message with such zeal and passion and as applicable today as when she preached her first healing meeting as a young 15-year-old girl in the mountains of West Virginia. I thought of the verse...love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. She gives 110%. I was so thankful to God for blessing her. I will treasure that picture forever in my heart. The next day we were off to a mountain retreat for two days ministering to Korean students. It is at these times I so wish we could travel with the team from River. The richness in spirit and music you all add is so comforting to us. We often feel a tad bit "out there" without you. Insecure but we press in and He is faithful to guide us. Sunday morning we were downtown LA in Korea Town. Darrell spoke and played Christmas music on their piano. He always does a good job sharing.
Darrell: I spoke at Pastor David Kim’s New Life Oasis church on God’s promise and desire that as we humble ourselves and seek His face and worship Him, He will heal our land. You may remember one of my primary assignments during my trip to China/NK was to collect soil from North and South Korea and merge the samples as a prophetic gesture for healing. Pastor David and I laid hands on this soil and as he was praying, I heard the Holy Spirit speak a gentle word of encouragement and challenge. He said:
“You were obedient in this gathering of the soil as a demonstration of my purpose to bring healing to North Korea. It’s much cleaner to keep this soil preserved in a little plastic bag…you might be tempted to memorialize it as a token of something yet to happen. But I have called you to pour it out…don’t be afraid…. get your hands dirty. This soil will remain just a representative of fertile ground of promise unless you pour it out and plant a seed for fruitful harvest.”
This 2nd Sunday evening of November at the Glenn Otto Park in Troutdale, we will gather together and worship. Our focus is the “forever” nature of God’s Kingdom and Promise. His eternal word will never pass away. I believe the Lord wants to pour out His blessing and favor on our gathering. Let’s let Him soak the fertile soil of our hearts with the rain of His Presence. We welcome you.
Darrell and Carlene
Remember, you can access any past Updates, dates, and other information at pacificministries.blogspot.com/
What is God Saying?
Thu, November 30, 2006 - Sun, December 3, 2006
Prophetic Conference with Chuck Pierce Dutch Sheets in Albany Oregon
Register at http://elijahlistministries.safeshopper.com/7/cat7.htm?760
Or call 1-866-354-5245 (Toll-free) Email: csteamlead@elijahlist.net
Reflections on the Lord's Prayer Submissions
Please email your reflections by Monday November 27th (the week after
Thanksgiving) to: pacificministries@gmail.com.
Pacificministries Christmas Celebration !
We want to invite you to a Christmas Celebration Dinner at the Sam Cox
Building in Troutdale (where we normally meet) at 5 pm on December 10th . We'll
have dinner together and at 6:30 we'll worship (Amen!) This will be a
no-cost event but we will take an offering to cover building and meal
costs. All are welcome to attend, but reservations for dinner need to
be made by Monday, December 4th. You may call Delight at 503-380-7203
or e-mail her at delightpete@yahoo.com if you plan to attend.
--
Pacificministries@gmail.com
Monday, October 30, 2006
Graham Cooke PROPHETIC WORD October 2006
Who has felt in their spirit they have passed a test? You know you have gone through a testing time and you have passed the test.
God is doing two things in this whole area of trust. He is teaching us how to hold on to him in every day situations. But God also has taught us how to stand firm despite the circumstances around us. You have learned to press in to him. But the second thing he's taught us is the importance of God trusting us. We are becoming people who God can trust. It's very important for us to go to a higher level, God must trust us.
Many people want to go to a higher level, but they have not learned to pay their dues. They don't persevere, they don't hang in.
When God wants you to go to a wider dimension, into a bigger anointing, he pushes and squeezes you through a very narrow opening. Imagine it this way: you are in one large room and there's no doorway no windows and the mostly way out of it is a tunnel... and you must crawl through it on your knees. It's humbling and it's frustrating. The only way you can get from one big space to even a bigger space is to get squeezed by God. And what he does this gets not the good stuff against squeezed out, it's the idiotic stuff. It's our pride, fears; it's our wanting a shortcut. Always wanting an easy road. We get all sorts of stupidity pressed out of us. We get pressed because we are in the wine press of God. And then God pops you out into this big space. Then you don't know what to do with yourself. The squeezing is a test itself. Especially when you've gone from a high place in the spirit to no place in the spirit. You used to operate at a higher level and then it seemed like everything got taken away. And you got endlessly squeezed. Sometimes that's just how God prepares you for the real place wants to give you. So he gives you this place of ministry, which seems big to you but is small to him. Just when you're doing really well, it seems like the bottom falls out of your world, and you drop into this hole, and God squeezes you. And all this time he's been preparing you for a higher place. God is very particular about who he trusts. So there are lots of not-so-subtle tests that he gives you, to see if he can trust us.
The first thing is, that the Lord wants to thank you for persevering.... in passing that test. Some of you are standing here not really sure that you have passed the test. He knows what you're thinking. (Laughter)
If you're thinking that maybe you should not be standing, it is often a sure sign you should be standing. There is a grace on you guys. The Lord says thank you for enduring, for losing your reputation, and for some of you, thank you that you finally stopped bitching about it. Stop complaining about it.
Take a deep breath. Right now Lord just restore, restore our spirits, restore our soul, refresh our spirit. Renew our mind, in Jesus name. The Lord wants to say to you the time of testing has come to an end. Some of you have passed at 90%, some at 80%... the Lord isn't going to tell you what the passing grade is. You will recognize when the test comes around again and you'll pass. And you'll pass it quickly... it will just be a short test. The Lord is going to bring you into a wide, and broad, and spacious place. Add to that which you had... it will be returned to you, with interest, with stuff added. The Lord will restore the anointing, plus. Whatever you are moving in, what ever you are traveling in, plus. So expect things to open up for you, expect to be in this wide place, and it will be odd because you are so used to being restricted, it will be a bit weird for you. What I got out of prison, I could not walk more than eight steps without running into a wall. It took me ages to get used to the fact that the doors behind me didn't automatically lock. You're going to be in this broad spacious place where opportunity will come to you, and opportunities for growth, opportunities for increase especially in your relationship with the Lord. That's the place you need to start. In your own devotional time, let the Holy Spirit broaden you out, so you're going to need to spend a little more time in your devotional experience where faith and trust will begin to grow. Touch your eyes so that we can see opportunities that come. Give us a spirit of wisdom and Revelation to see the opportunities, let us see the hand of God at work. And I just pray peace over you guys. We are just releasing things into your life.
It doesn't really matter now what's your feeling, that's not the evidence. You receive it in your spirit. Stand there in your will and receive it. Just say yes to the Lord. You have been so squeezed and in that place of pressure for so long you haven't felt the presence of the Lord in a while. It may feel the same as it always did, except it's different because now you have a word that this season is over and you are coming into a broad place. All those feelings will catch up with you. Some of you may be having an experience now where you feel the hand of God on you. Some of you feel nothing, but I promise you your feelings will catch up with you. You just need to trust. Some of you may need to take the trust test again. God is with you and God is for you. You're out of a confined place and in a place of release. Of new favor.
We proclaim release, we proclaim favor, we are coming into that broad place, that spacious place where you're going to connect with us... eyes to see and ears to hear. I pray Lord that you will begin to put things together in our life, that you will make connections for us in the spirit, and give us lots of tokens of your presence in these next few weeks. Things will start to happen to us that have not happened before, an increase of your presence, an increase of joy, an increase of favor, and that things will begin to happen outside of our ability to create. I pray for a spirit of exploration, that we will start to explore this wider place. Explore. Let's just wait here a moment.
When God opens up a bigger space for you, the first thing you're going to do is explore. You're not supposed to occupy. It's not about seeing something, taking hold of it and staying there, and unwrapping that whole thing so that you totally understand it... it's about you going out and exploring and when God shows you something, it's about putting your name on it and going out and exploring some more. It's a little like the old land rushes... in the West. You go out to those new places and mark your claim... you stake your claim, carry on... and you keep on exploring until you feel like you put out enough claim stakes and then you go back and explore the territory you have claimed. So the first thing I want you to do is go explore this new territory. Explore this new land. It's a bit like the spies in Canaan, look at the fruit... look at what's available, look at what's out there. Keep a journal of this journey in the spirit... right now and the things that you feel God has given you and keep exploring for a few months, and gradually what will happen is that will slow down and in God may take you back to the beginning to the first thing that you saw.
Keep asking questions... and ask: what's the favor here on this area? Write that down.
Father we just pray blessing in the name of Jesus, we asked Lord for an anointing of your Holy Spirit just to rest... to rest on us. In the name of Jesus and give us rest, rest in our minds, rest in our hearts, rest in our souls. Rest as we explore. In Jesus name. Lord thank you that you're going to begin to open up this territory in the spirit... in the name of Jesus.
God is doing two things in this whole area of trust. He is teaching us how to hold on to him in every day situations. But God also has taught us how to stand firm despite the circumstances around us. You have learned to press in to him. But the second thing he's taught us is the importance of God trusting us. We are becoming people who God can trust. It's very important for us to go to a higher level, God must trust us.
Many people want to go to a higher level, but they have not learned to pay their dues. They don't persevere, they don't hang in.
When God wants you to go to a wider dimension, into a bigger anointing, he pushes and squeezes you through a very narrow opening. Imagine it this way: you are in one large room and there's no doorway no windows and the mostly way out of it is a tunnel... and you must crawl through it on your knees. It's humbling and it's frustrating. The only way you can get from one big space to even a bigger space is to get squeezed by God. And what he does this gets not the good stuff against squeezed out, it's the idiotic stuff. It's our pride, fears; it's our wanting a shortcut. Always wanting an easy road. We get all sorts of stupidity pressed out of us. We get pressed because we are in the wine press of God. And then God pops you out into this big space. Then you don't know what to do with yourself. The squeezing is a test itself. Especially when you've gone from a high place in the spirit to no place in the spirit. You used to operate at a higher level and then it seemed like everything got taken away. And you got endlessly squeezed. Sometimes that's just how God prepares you for the real place wants to give you. So he gives you this place of ministry, which seems big to you but is small to him. Just when you're doing really well, it seems like the bottom falls out of your world, and you drop into this hole, and God squeezes you. And all this time he's been preparing you for a higher place. God is very particular about who he trusts. So there are lots of not-so-subtle tests that he gives you, to see if he can trust us.
The first thing is, that the Lord wants to thank you for persevering.... in passing that test. Some of you are standing here not really sure that you have passed the test. He knows what you're thinking. (Laughter)
If you're thinking that maybe you should not be standing, it is often a sure sign you should be standing. There is a grace on you guys. The Lord says thank you for enduring, for losing your reputation, and for some of you, thank you that you finally stopped bitching about it. Stop complaining about it.
Take a deep breath. Right now Lord just restore, restore our spirits, restore our soul, refresh our spirit. Renew our mind, in Jesus name. The Lord wants to say to you the time of testing has come to an end. Some of you have passed at 90%, some at 80%... the Lord isn't going to tell you what the passing grade is. You will recognize when the test comes around again and you'll pass. And you'll pass it quickly... it will just be a short test. The Lord is going to bring you into a wide, and broad, and spacious place. Add to that which you had... it will be returned to you, with interest, with stuff added. The Lord will restore the anointing, plus. Whatever you are moving in, what ever you are traveling in, plus. So expect things to open up for you, expect to be in this wide place, and it will be odd because you are so used to being restricted, it will be a bit weird for you. What I got out of prison, I could not walk more than eight steps without running into a wall. It took me ages to get used to the fact that the doors behind me didn't automatically lock. You're going to be in this broad spacious place where opportunity will come to you, and opportunities for growth, opportunities for increase especially in your relationship with the Lord. That's the place you need to start. In your own devotional time, let the Holy Spirit broaden you out, so you're going to need to spend a little more time in your devotional experience where faith and trust will begin to grow. Touch your eyes so that we can see opportunities that come. Give us a spirit of wisdom and Revelation to see the opportunities, let us see the hand of God at work. And I just pray peace over you guys. We are just releasing things into your life.
It doesn't really matter now what's your feeling, that's not the evidence. You receive it in your spirit. Stand there in your will and receive it. Just say yes to the Lord. You have been so squeezed and in that place of pressure for so long you haven't felt the presence of the Lord in a while. It may feel the same as it always did, except it's different because now you have a word that this season is over and you are coming into a broad place. All those feelings will catch up with you. Some of you may be having an experience now where you feel the hand of God on you. Some of you feel nothing, but I promise you your feelings will catch up with you. You just need to trust. Some of you may need to take the trust test again. God is with you and God is for you. You're out of a confined place and in a place of release. Of new favor.
We proclaim release, we proclaim favor, we are coming into that broad place, that spacious place where you're going to connect with us... eyes to see and ears to hear. I pray Lord that you will begin to put things together in our life, that you will make connections for us in the spirit, and give us lots of tokens of your presence in these next few weeks. Things will start to happen to us that have not happened before, an increase of your presence, an increase of joy, an increase of favor, and that things will begin to happen outside of our ability to create. I pray for a spirit of exploration, that we will start to explore this wider place. Explore. Let's just wait here a moment.
When God opens up a bigger space for you, the first thing you're going to do is explore. You're not supposed to occupy. It's not about seeing something, taking hold of it and staying there, and unwrapping that whole thing so that you totally understand it... it's about you going out and exploring and when God shows you something, it's about putting your name on it and going out and exploring some more. It's a little like the old land rushes... in the West. You go out to those new places and mark your claim... you stake your claim, carry on... and you keep on exploring until you feel like you put out enough claim stakes and then you go back and explore the territory you have claimed. So the first thing I want you to do is go explore this new territory. Explore this new land. It's a bit like the spies in Canaan, look at the fruit... look at what's available, look at what's out there. Keep a journal of this journey in the spirit... right now and the things that you feel God has given you and keep exploring for a few months, and gradually what will happen is that will slow down and in God may take you back to the beginning to the first thing that you saw.
Keep asking questions... and ask: what's the favor here on this area? Write that down.
Father we just pray blessing in the name of Jesus, we asked Lord for an anointing of your Holy Spirit just to rest... to rest on us. In the name of Jesus and give us rest, rest in our minds, rest in our hearts, rest in our souls. Rest as we explore. In Jesus name. Lord thank you that you're going to begin to open up this territory in the spirit... in the name of Jesus.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Grappling with God
Prayer sometimes feels like a hug and a stranglehold at the same time.
Philip Yancey | posted 10/20/2006 08:39AM
The church I attend reserves a brief time in which people in the pews can voice aloud their prayers. Over the years, I have heard hundreds of these prayers, and with very few exceptions, the word polite applies. One, however, stands out in my memory because of its raw emotion.
Related articles and links
In a clear but wavering voice, a young woman began with the words, "God, I hated you after the rape! How could you let this happen to me?" The congregation abruptly fell silent. No more rustling of papers or shifting in seats. "And I hated the people in this church who tried to comfort me. I didn't want comfort. I wanted revenge. I wanted to hurt back. I thank you, God, that you didn't give up on me, and neither did some of these people. You kept after me, and I come back to you now and ask that you heal the scars in my soul."
Of all the prayers I have heard in church, this one most resembles the style of testy prayers I find replete in the Bible, especially those from God's favorites such as Abraham and Moses.
The Bargainer
Abraham, a man rightly celebrated for his faith, heard from God in visions, in one-on-one conversations, and even in a personal visit to his tent. God dangled before him glowing promises, one of which stuck in his craw: the assurance that he would father a great nation. Abraham was 75 when he first heard that promise, and over the next few years, God upped the ante with hints of offspring as bountiful as the dust of the earth and the stars in the sky.
Meanwhile, nature took its course, and at an age when he should have been patting the heads of great-grandchildren, Abraham remained childless. He knew he had few years of fertility left, if any. At the age of 86, per his barren wife Sarah's suggestion, he followed the ancient custom of having intercourse with his wife's servant to produce an heir.
The next time God visited, that offspring, a son named Ishmael, was a teenage outcast wandering the desert, a victim of Sarah's jealousy. Abraham laughed aloud at God's reiterated promise, and by now, sarcasm was creeping into his response: "Will a son be born to a man 100 years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of 90?" Sarah shared the bitter joke, muttering, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"
God responded with a message that to Abraham's ears must have sounded like good news and bad news both. He would indeed father a child, but only after performing minor surgery on the part of his body necessary for the deed. Abraham becomes the father of circumcision as well as of Isaac.
That pattern of feint and thrust, of Abraham standing up to God only to get knocked down again, forms the background for a remarkable prayer, actually an extended dialogue between God and Abraham. "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" God begins, as if recognizing that a valid partnership requires consultation before any major decision. Next, God unveils his plan to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, notorious for their wickedness and moral pollution of Abraham's extended family.
By now, Abraham has learned his role in the partnership, and he makes no attempt to conceal his outrage. "Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the judge of all the earth do right?"
Then ensues a bargaining session much like what occurs in any Middle Eastern bazaar. What if there are 50 righteous persons in the city, will you spare it? All right, if I can find 50 righteous, I'll spare the whole place. With a jolt, Abraham remembers who he's bargaining with—Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes—but proceeds to lower his request to 45 persons.
Forty-five? No problem. May the Lord not be angry. … Now that I have been so bold—Abraham bows and scrapes, then continues to press. Forty? Thirty? Twenty? Ten? Each time God concedes without argument, concluding, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."
Although ten righteous people could not be found to save Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham got what he really wanted, deliverance for his nephew and grandnieces. And we readers are left with the tantalizing fact that Abraham quit asking before God quit granting.
What if Abraham had bargained even harder and asked that the cities be spared for the sake of one righteous person, his nephew Lot? Was God, so quick to concede each point, actually looking for an advocate, a human being bold enough to express God's own deepest instinct of mercy?
As Abraham learned, when we appeal to God's grace and compassion, the fearsome God soon disappears. "The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion" (Num. 14:18). God is more merciful than we can imagine and welcomes appeals to that mercy.
Arguing with God
Skip forward half a millennium when another master bargainer appears on the scene. God, who has "remembered his covenant with Abraham," handpicks a man with the perfect résumé for a crucial assignment. Moses has spent half his life learning leadership skills from the ruling empire of the day and half his life learning wilderness survival skills while fleeing a murder rap. Who better to lead a tribe of freed slaves through the wilderness to the Promised Land?
So as to leave no room for doubt, God introduces himself via an unnatural phenomenon: a fiery bush that does not burn up. Appropriately, Moses hides his face, afraid to look, as God announces the mission: "The cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."
Unlike Abraham, Moses turns argumentative from the very first meeting. He tries false humility: Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh? When that fails, he marshals other objections: I don't know your name … and what if the Israelites don't believe me … I have never been eloquent. God patiently answers each one, orchestrating a few miracles to establish credibility. Still, Moses begs off: O Lord, please send someone else to do it. God's patience runs out and his anger flares, but even so God suggests a compromise, a shared role with Moses' brother Aaron. The famous Exodus from Egypt thus gets under way only after an extended bargaining session.
Moses puts that knack for negotiation, that chutzpah, to a supreme test sometime later when God's patience with the tribe truly has run out. After watching ten plagues descend on Egypt, after walking away from slavery scot-free and burdened by plunder, after seeing a pharaoh's state-of-the-art army swept under water, after following a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, after receiving miraculous supplies of water and food (some of it digesting in their bellies at that very moment)—after all that, the Israelites grow afraid, or bored, or "stiff-necked" in God's diagnosis, and reject it all in favor of a golden idol made for them by Moses' sidekick brother, the very Aaron God had recruited by way of compromise.
God has had quite enough. "Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make you into a nation stronger and more numerous than they." Moses knows well the destructive power God can unleash, for he has seen it firsthand in Egypt. "Let me alone," God says! Moses hears that remark less as a command than as the sigh of a beleaguered parent who has reached the end of a tether, yet somehow wants to be pulled back—in other words, an opening stance for negotiation.
Moses rolls out the arguments. Look at all you went through delivering them from Egypt. What about your reputation? Think of how the Egyptians will gloat! Don't forget your promises to Abraham. Moses flings down a sack of God's own promises. For 40 days and 40 nights, he lies prostrate before the Lord, refusing food and drink. At last, God yields: "Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you on the way." Moses proceeds to win that argument, too, as God reluctantly agrees to accompany the Israelites the rest of the way.
Sometime later, the tables have turned. This time Moses is the one ready to resign. Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? And this time it is God who responds with compassion, calming Moses, sympathizing with his complaints, and designating 70 elders to share the burden.
Moses did not win every argument with God. Notably, he failed to persuade God to let him enter the Promised Land in person (though that request, too, was granted many years later on the Mount of Transfiguration). But his example, like Abraham's, proves that God invites argument and struggle, and often yields, especially when the point of contention is God's mercy. In the very process of arguing, we may, in fact, take on God's own qualities.
"Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance," writes Archbishop Richard Trench. "It is laying hold of his highest willingness."
A Strange Intimacy
Were Abraham and Moses the only biblical examples of standing toe-to-toe with God, I would hesitate to see in their grappling encounters any kind of model for prayer. They rank, however, as two prime representatives of a style that recurs throughout the Bible. (Perhaps this very trait explains why God chose them for such important tasks?)
The arguments of those two giants of faith seem tame compared to the rants of Job. His three friends speak in platitudes and pious formulas, using the demure language often heard in public prayers at church. They defend God, try to soothe Job's outbursts, and reason their way to accepting the world as it is. Job will have none of it.
He bitterly objects to being the victim of a cruel God. Job speaks to God directly from the heart—a deeply wounded heart. He nearly abandons prayer because, as he tells his mortified friends, "What would we gain by praying to him?" Yet in the ironic twist at the end of Job, God comes down squarely on the side of Job's bare-all approach, dismissing his friends' verbiage with a blast of contempt.
The psalmists likewise complain of God's absence and apparent injustice. One psalm attributed to David captures the spirit:
I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.
A litany of protests in Psalms and in the Prophets remind God that the world is askew, that many promises remain unfulfilled, that justice and mercy do not rule the earth.
A wrestling match also occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus struggled with God's will and accepted it only as a last resort. Later, when God chose the least likely person (a notorious human-rights abuser named Saul of Tarsus) to carry his message to the Gentiles, a church leader voiced dissent: "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem." God cut this particular argument short: "Go! This man is my chosen instrument." Several years later, the same man, now named Paul, himself bargained with God, praying repeatedly for the removal of a physical ailment.
Why would God, the all-powerful ruler of the universe, resort to a style of relating to humans that seems like negotiation—or haggling, to put it crudely? Does God require the exercise as part of our spiritual training regimen? Or is it possible that God, if I may use such language, relies on our outbursts as a window onto the world, or as an alarm that might trigger intervention? It was the cry of the Israelites, after all, that prompted God's call of Moses.
Like Abraham, I approach God at first in fear and trembling, only to learn that God wants me to stop groveling and start arguing. I dare not meekly accept the state of the world, with all its injustice and unfairness. I must call God to account for God's own promises, God's own character.
God-Wrestlers
I used to worry about my deficiency of faith. My attitude is changing, though, as I begin to understand faith as a form of engagement with God. I may not be able to summon up belief in miracles or dream big dreams, but I can indeed exercise my faith by engaging with God in prayer.
I recall a scene from very early in my marriage. We were visiting friends out West who had arranged for us to stay at a four-bedroom guesthouse that had no other occupants at the time. Over dinner, some comment hit one of us the wrong way, and before long, a marital spat had escalated. We sat up late trying to talk it through, but instead of bringing us together, the conversation only moved us further apart. Aware that I had a business meeting the next day, I stormed off from our bedroom to another one in search of peace and sleep.
A few minutes went by, the door opened, and Janet appeared with a new set of arguments supporting her side. I fled to another bedroom. The same thing happened. She would not let me alone! The scene became almost comical: a sulking, introverted husband running away from an insistent, extroverted wife. By the next day (not before), we could both laugh. I learned an important lesson, that not communicating is worse than fighting. In a wrestling match, at least both parties stay engaged.
That image of wrestling evokes one last scene from the Bible, the prototype of struggle with God. Abraham's grandson Jacob has gotten through life by trickery and deceit, and now he must face the consequences in the person of his hot-tempered brother, whom he cheated out of family birthrights. Ridden by fear and guilt, Jacob sends his family and all his possessions on ahead across a river, with elaborate peace offerings to mollify Esau. For 20 years, he has lived in exile. Will Esau greet him with a sword or with an embrace? He shivers alone in the dark, waiting.
Someone bumps him—a man? an angel?—and Jacob does what he has always done. He fights as if his life depends on it. All night the two wrestle, neither gaining the advantage, until at last the first gleam of daybreak brightens the horizon. "Let me go," the figure says, reaching down with a touch so potent it wrenches Jacob's hip socket.
Staggering, overpowered, scared out of his wits, Jacob still manages to hang on. "I will not let you go unless you bless me," he tells the figure. Instead of wrenching his neck with another touch, the figure tenderly bestows on Jacob a new name, Israel, which means "God-wrestler." At last, Jacob learns the identity of his opponent.
A little later, Jacob sees his brother Esau approaching with 400 men and limps forward to meet him. Their own wrestling match began before birth, a tussle in utero. And now the moment of truth has arrived. God-wrestler holds out his arms.
A contemporary Jewish author, Arthur Waskow, wrote in his book Godwrestling that wrestling feels a lot like making love—and like making war. Jacob felt some of each, making love and making war, with the elusive figure in the night and with hairy Esau in the day. From a distance, it's hard to distinguish a stranglehold from a hug.
God does not give in easily. Yet at the same time, God seems to welcome the persistence that keeps on fighting long after the match has been decided. Perhaps Jacob learned for the first time, that long night by the riverside, how to transform struggle into love. "To see your face is like seeing the face of God," Jacob told his brother, words unimaginable had he not met God face to face the night before.
Although Jacob did many things wrong in life, he became the eponym for a tribe and a nation as well as for all of us who wrestle with God. We are all children of Israel, implied Paul, all of us God-wrestlers who cling to God in the dark, who chase God from room to room, who declare, "I will not let you go." To us belong the blessing, the birthright, the kingdom.
"Prayer in its highest form and grandest success assumes the attitude of a wrestler with God," concluded E. M. Bounds, who wrote eight books on prayer. Our no-holds-barred outbursts hardly threaten God, and sometimes they even seem to change him.
As the touch on Jacob's hip socket proved, God could have ended the match at any point during that long night in the desert. Instead, the elusive figure lingered, as eager to be held as Jacob was to hold.
This excerpt has been adapted from Philip Yancey's latest book, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? (Zondervan).
Philip Yancey | posted 10/20/2006 08:39AM
The church I attend reserves a brief time in which people in the pews can voice aloud their prayers. Over the years, I have heard hundreds of these prayers, and with very few exceptions, the word polite applies. One, however, stands out in my memory because of its raw emotion.
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In a clear but wavering voice, a young woman began with the words, "God, I hated you after the rape! How could you let this happen to me?" The congregation abruptly fell silent. No more rustling of papers or shifting in seats. "And I hated the people in this church who tried to comfort me. I didn't want comfort. I wanted revenge. I wanted to hurt back. I thank you, God, that you didn't give up on me, and neither did some of these people. You kept after me, and I come back to you now and ask that you heal the scars in my soul."
Of all the prayers I have heard in church, this one most resembles the style of testy prayers I find replete in the Bible, especially those from God's favorites such as Abraham and Moses.
The Bargainer
Abraham, a man rightly celebrated for his faith, heard from God in visions, in one-on-one conversations, and even in a personal visit to his tent. God dangled before him glowing promises, one of which stuck in his craw: the assurance that he would father a great nation. Abraham was 75 when he first heard that promise, and over the next few years, God upped the ante with hints of offspring as bountiful as the dust of the earth and the stars in the sky.
Meanwhile, nature took its course, and at an age when he should have been patting the heads of great-grandchildren, Abraham remained childless. He knew he had few years of fertility left, if any. At the age of 86, per his barren wife Sarah's suggestion, he followed the ancient custom of having intercourse with his wife's servant to produce an heir.
The next time God visited, that offspring, a son named Ishmael, was a teenage outcast wandering the desert, a victim of Sarah's jealousy. Abraham laughed aloud at God's reiterated promise, and by now, sarcasm was creeping into his response: "Will a son be born to a man 100 years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of 90?" Sarah shared the bitter joke, muttering, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"
God responded with a message that to Abraham's ears must have sounded like good news and bad news both. He would indeed father a child, but only after performing minor surgery on the part of his body necessary for the deed. Abraham becomes the father of circumcision as well as of Isaac.
That pattern of feint and thrust, of Abraham standing up to God only to get knocked down again, forms the background for a remarkable prayer, actually an extended dialogue between God and Abraham. "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" God begins, as if recognizing that a valid partnership requires consultation before any major decision. Next, God unveils his plan to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, notorious for their wickedness and moral pollution of Abraham's extended family.
By now, Abraham has learned his role in the partnership, and he makes no attempt to conceal his outrage. "Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the judge of all the earth do right?"
Then ensues a bargaining session much like what occurs in any Middle Eastern bazaar. What if there are 50 righteous persons in the city, will you spare it? All right, if I can find 50 righteous, I'll spare the whole place. With a jolt, Abraham remembers who he's bargaining with—Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes—but proceeds to lower his request to 45 persons.
Forty-five? No problem. May the Lord not be angry. … Now that I have been so bold—Abraham bows and scrapes, then continues to press. Forty? Thirty? Twenty? Ten? Each time God concedes without argument, concluding, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."
Although ten righteous people could not be found to save Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham got what he really wanted, deliverance for his nephew and grandnieces. And we readers are left with the tantalizing fact that Abraham quit asking before God quit granting.
What if Abraham had bargained even harder and asked that the cities be spared for the sake of one righteous person, his nephew Lot? Was God, so quick to concede each point, actually looking for an advocate, a human being bold enough to express God's own deepest instinct of mercy?
As Abraham learned, when we appeal to God's grace and compassion, the fearsome God soon disappears. "The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion" (Num. 14:18). God is more merciful than we can imagine and welcomes appeals to that mercy.
Arguing with God
Skip forward half a millennium when another master bargainer appears on the scene. God, who has "remembered his covenant with Abraham," handpicks a man with the perfect résumé for a crucial assignment. Moses has spent half his life learning leadership skills from the ruling empire of the day and half his life learning wilderness survival skills while fleeing a murder rap. Who better to lead a tribe of freed slaves through the wilderness to the Promised Land?
So as to leave no room for doubt, God introduces himself via an unnatural phenomenon: a fiery bush that does not burn up. Appropriately, Moses hides his face, afraid to look, as God announces the mission: "The cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."
Unlike Abraham, Moses turns argumentative from the very first meeting. He tries false humility: Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh? When that fails, he marshals other objections: I don't know your name … and what if the Israelites don't believe me … I have never been eloquent. God patiently answers each one, orchestrating a few miracles to establish credibility. Still, Moses begs off: O Lord, please send someone else to do it. God's patience runs out and his anger flares, but even so God suggests a compromise, a shared role with Moses' brother Aaron. The famous Exodus from Egypt thus gets under way only after an extended bargaining session.
Moses puts that knack for negotiation, that chutzpah, to a supreme test sometime later when God's patience with the tribe truly has run out. After watching ten plagues descend on Egypt, after walking away from slavery scot-free and burdened by plunder, after seeing a pharaoh's state-of-the-art army swept under water, after following a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, after receiving miraculous supplies of water and food (some of it digesting in their bellies at that very moment)—after all that, the Israelites grow afraid, or bored, or "stiff-necked" in God's diagnosis, and reject it all in favor of a golden idol made for them by Moses' sidekick brother, the very Aaron God had recruited by way of compromise.
God has had quite enough. "Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make you into a nation stronger and more numerous than they." Moses knows well the destructive power God can unleash, for he has seen it firsthand in Egypt. "Let me alone," God says! Moses hears that remark less as a command than as the sigh of a beleaguered parent who has reached the end of a tether, yet somehow wants to be pulled back—in other words, an opening stance for negotiation.
Moses rolls out the arguments. Look at all you went through delivering them from Egypt. What about your reputation? Think of how the Egyptians will gloat! Don't forget your promises to Abraham. Moses flings down a sack of God's own promises. For 40 days and 40 nights, he lies prostrate before the Lord, refusing food and drink. At last, God yields: "Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you on the way." Moses proceeds to win that argument, too, as God reluctantly agrees to accompany the Israelites the rest of the way.
Sometime later, the tables have turned. This time Moses is the one ready to resign. Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? And this time it is God who responds with compassion, calming Moses, sympathizing with his complaints, and designating 70 elders to share the burden.
Moses did not win every argument with God. Notably, he failed to persuade God to let him enter the Promised Land in person (though that request, too, was granted many years later on the Mount of Transfiguration). But his example, like Abraham's, proves that God invites argument and struggle, and often yields, especially when the point of contention is God's mercy. In the very process of arguing, we may, in fact, take on God's own qualities.
"Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance," writes Archbishop Richard Trench. "It is laying hold of his highest willingness."
A Strange Intimacy
Were Abraham and Moses the only biblical examples of standing toe-to-toe with God, I would hesitate to see in their grappling encounters any kind of model for prayer. They rank, however, as two prime representatives of a style that recurs throughout the Bible. (Perhaps this very trait explains why God chose them for such important tasks?)
The arguments of those two giants of faith seem tame compared to the rants of Job. His three friends speak in platitudes and pious formulas, using the demure language often heard in public prayers at church. They defend God, try to soothe Job's outbursts, and reason their way to accepting the world as it is. Job will have none of it.
He bitterly objects to being the victim of a cruel God. Job speaks to God directly from the heart—a deeply wounded heart. He nearly abandons prayer because, as he tells his mortified friends, "What would we gain by praying to him?" Yet in the ironic twist at the end of Job, God comes down squarely on the side of Job's bare-all approach, dismissing his friends' verbiage with a blast of contempt.
The psalmists likewise complain of God's absence and apparent injustice. One psalm attributed to David captures the spirit:
I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.
A litany of protests in Psalms and in the Prophets remind God that the world is askew, that many promises remain unfulfilled, that justice and mercy do not rule the earth.
A wrestling match also occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus struggled with God's will and accepted it only as a last resort. Later, when God chose the least likely person (a notorious human-rights abuser named Saul of Tarsus) to carry his message to the Gentiles, a church leader voiced dissent: "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem." God cut this particular argument short: "Go! This man is my chosen instrument." Several years later, the same man, now named Paul, himself bargained with God, praying repeatedly for the removal of a physical ailment.
Why would God, the all-powerful ruler of the universe, resort to a style of relating to humans that seems like negotiation—or haggling, to put it crudely? Does God require the exercise as part of our spiritual training regimen? Or is it possible that God, if I may use such language, relies on our outbursts as a window onto the world, or as an alarm that might trigger intervention? It was the cry of the Israelites, after all, that prompted God's call of Moses.
Like Abraham, I approach God at first in fear and trembling, only to learn that God wants me to stop groveling and start arguing. I dare not meekly accept the state of the world, with all its injustice and unfairness. I must call God to account for God's own promises, God's own character.
God-Wrestlers
I used to worry about my deficiency of faith. My attitude is changing, though, as I begin to understand faith as a form of engagement with God. I may not be able to summon up belief in miracles or dream big dreams, but I can indeed exercise my faith by engaging with God in prayer.
I recall a scene from very early in my marriage. We were visiting friends out West who had arranged for us to stay at a four-bedroom guesthouse that had no other occupants at the time. Over dinner, some comment hit one of us the wrong way, and before long, a marital spat had escalated. We sat up late trying to talk it through, but instead of bringing us together, the conversation only moved us further apart. Aware that I had a business meeting the next day, I stormed off from our bedroom to another one in search of peace and sleep.
A few minutes went by, the door opened, and Janet appeared with a new set of arguments supporting her side. I fled to another bedroom. The same thing happened. She would not let me alone! The scene became almost comical: a sulking, introverted husband running away from an insistent, extroverted wife. By the next day (not before), we could both laugh. I learned an important lesson, that not communicating is worse than fighting. In a wrestling match, at least both parties stay engaged.
That image of wrestling evokes one last scene from the Bible, the prototype of struggle with God. Abraham's grandson Jacob has gotten through life by trickery and deceit, and now he must face the consequences in the person of his hot-tempered brother, whom he cheated out of family birthrights. Ridden by fear and guilt, Jacob sends his family and all his possessions on ahead across a river, with elaborate peace offerings to mollify Esau. For 20 years, he has lived in exile. Will Esau greet him with a sword or with an embrace? He shivers alone in the dark, waiting.
Someone bumps him—a man? an angel?—and Jacob does what he has always done. He fights as if his life depends on it. All night the two wrestle, neither gaining the advantage, until at last the first gleam of daybreak brightens the horizon. "Let me go," the figure says, reaching down with a touch so potent it wrenches Jacob's hip socket.
Staggering, overpowered, scared out of his wits, Jacob still manages to hang on. "I will not let you go unless you bless me," he tells the figure. Instead of wrenching his neck with another touch, the figure tenderly bestows on Jacob a new name, Israel, which means "God-wrestler." At last, Jacob learns the identity of his opponent.
A little later, Jacob sees his brother Esau approaching with 400 men and limps forward to meet him. Their own wrestling match began before birth, a tussle in utero. And now the moment of truth has arrived. God-wrestler holds out his arms.
A contemporary Jewish author, Arthur Waskow, wrote in his book Godwrestling that wrestling feels a lot like making love—and like making war. Jacob felt some of each, making love and making war, with the elusive figure in the night and with hairy Esau in the day. From a distance, it's hard to distinguish a stranglehold from a hug.
God does not give in easily. Yet at the same time, God seems to welcome the persistence that keeps on fighting long after the match has been decided. Perhaps Jacob learned for the first time, that long night by the riverside, how to transform struggle into love. "To see your face is like seeing the face of God," Jacob told his brother, words unimaginable had he not met God face to face the night before.
Although Jacob did many things wrong in life, he became the eponym for a tribe and a nation as well as for all of us who wrestle with God. We are all children of Israel, implied Paul, all of us God-wrestlers who cling to God in the dark, who chase God from room to room, who declare, "I will not let you go." To us belong the blessing, the birthright, the kingdom.
"Prayer in its highest form and grandest success assumes the attitude of a wrestler with God," concluded E. M. Bounds, who wrote eight books on prayer. Our no-holds-barred outbursts hardly threaten God, and sometimes they even seem to change him.
As the touch on Jacob's hip socket proved, God could have ended the match at any point during that long night in the desert. Instead, the elusive figure lingered, as eager to be held as Jacob was to hold.
This excerpt has been adapted from Philip Yancey's latest book, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? (Zondervan).
Your Kingdom Come
"Your Kingdom come...Your will be done, in earth as it is in heaven...."
This Sunday evening's theme at Worship at the River is both a promise and a challenge. This update is a bit longer than usual, but I want to relate an incident last week which brought personal revelation through this challenge.
As most of you know, I, on occasion, substitute teach in the Portland area public schools. I began this adventure last December.
We returned from Korea...speaking in various churches small and large, but what a contrast the next day, to find myself in a grade school PE class, playing dodge ball and running relay races with kids. Actually, I have learned to thoroughly embrace these opportunities to work and relate with a local "mission" (not less important to the Lord than other more traditional models of church ministry). The public schools are a mission field.
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to teach an art class at a local High School (yeah, I can see a lot of you laughing at the notion of me with 42 freshman students explaining pottery or artistic design). But the Lord used this assignment to teach me again....something profound.
I was substituting for a veteran teacher who explained to me that her last class of the week was one of the most challenging in all her years of teaching, primarily because she was guiding a student teacher who had been doing her best to convey her love of art to a class made up of literally 8 diverse cultures and languages. It was not going well as the student teacher found herself leaving the classroom in tears more than once. The student teacher was not enthusiastic at the prospect of a "sub" coming in on a unusually sunny Friday, on a "assembly" day where the schedule was erratic enough. .
I consulted with the student teacher and assured her this class was going to be free from distraction and we would approach the day armed and ready. We planned to "ride" the kids hard and the regular teacher arranged for me to generously distribute disciplinary pink slips for detention
At 1 pm the enemy....err..the students began to arrive. Never have I witnessed a more diverse group of teenagers...with their IPODS and creative hair styles and assorted piercings, not to mention the latest hip hop fashion accessory....baggy jeans...and, without going into detail, I simply want to emphasize and exaggerate the baggy part. They looked, at the least, disinterested....at most, well, threatening. I empathized with the student teacher and hoped she would not be tempted to abandon the noble and under-appreciated teaching profession based on what this class had thrown at her.
I introduced myself and she began the lesson. I "roamed" near the back of the classroom and armed with my pick slips began to prepare for battle. Then, I began to hear the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit. Following is our conversation:
Holy Spirit: You know, you might want to change the way you perceive these kids. They are not the enemy....in fact, some of them have a powerful destiny and I'm preparing them for it.
Me: But Lord, these kids have been disruptive....and I'm here to bring order....
Holy Spirit: Excuse me...you are going to bring order...hmmm. Why don't you first invite me to change the way you see students, see them as I see them....and bless them not with your arrows of detention....but with the gift of peace, My Prescence....do you believe you can change the atmosphere of this classroom and bring the peace and glory of heaven here?
Me: Yes...I repent.....
I began to pray in the Holy Spirit, and I felt the Lord give me the gift of His perspective. We used to sing an old chorus "Heaven came down and Glory filled my soul...." I invited heaven to "come and fill" this freshman art class on a sunny Friday afternoon. And He did. Near the end of the class, the student teacher remarked: "Never have I had such peace in this class....I don't know what's happened."
There were multiple lessons. I repented from my assuming I had to "play hardball" (the pharisees were actually pretty good at that). I began to see the treasure the Lord has deposited in every student that came through that door. I began to see the deposit of His Grace and Presence in a high school art class....because I invited Him....Heaven to manifest on earth.
Sometimes I am tempted to spiritualize my occupation....think that what I actually "do" in ministry is what validates true Kingdom progress here on earth. Not true. What all of you do, whether it's changing diapers or changing tires, becomes an opportunity to invite the Holy Spirit to manifest heaven on earth. This is not a theological lesson for me, but an immensely practical one. And, as usual, the Holy Spirit is always kind enough to lead me to repentance.....that's His nature. And, to give me an opportunity to change.
Bless you.
Darrell and Carlene
This Sunday evening's theme at Worship at the River is both a promise and a challenge. This update is a bit longer than usual, but I want to relate an incident last week which brought personal revelation through this challenge.
As most of you know, I, on occasion, substitute teach in the Portland area public schools. I began this adventure last December.
We returned from Korea...speaking in various churches small and large, but what a contrast the next day, to find myself in a grade school PE class, playing dodge ball and running relay races with kids. Actually, I have learned to thoroughly embrace these opportunities to work and relate with a local "mission" (not less important to the Lord than other more traditional models of church ministry). The public schools are a mission field.
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to teach an art class at a local High School (yeah, I can see a lot of you laughing at the notion of me with 42 freshman students explaining pottery or artistic design). But the Lord used this assignment to teach me again....something profound.
I was substituting for a veteran teacher who explained to me that her last class of the week was one of the most challenging in all her years of teaching, primarily because she was guiding a student teacher who had been doing her best to convey her love of art to a class made up of literally 8 diverse cultures and languages. It was not going well as the student teacher found herself leaving the classroom in tears more than once. The student teacher was not enthusiastic at the prospect of a "sub" coming in on a unusually sunny Friday, on a "assembly" day where the schedule was erratic enough. .
I consulted with the student teacher and assured her this class was going to be free from distraction and we would approach the day armed and ready. We planned to "ride" the kids hard and the regular teacher arranged for me to generously distribute disciplinary pink slips for detention
At 1 pm the enemy....err..the students began to arrive. Never have I witnessed a more diverse group of teenagers...with their IPODS and creative hair styles and assorted piercings, not to mention the latest hip hop fashion accessory....baggy jeans...and, without going into detail, I simply want to emphasize and exaggerate the baggy part. They looked, at the least, disinterested....at most, well, threatening. I empathized with the student teacher and hoped she would not be tempted to abandon the noble and under-appreciated teaching profession based on what this class had thrown at her.
I introduced myself and she began the lesson. I "roamed" near the back of the classroom and armed with my pick slips began to prepare for battle. Then, I began to hear the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit. Following is our conversation:
Holy Spirit: You know, you might want to change the way you perceive these kids. They are not the enemy....in fact, some of them have a powerful destiny and I'm preparing them for it.
Me: But Lord, these kids have been disruptive....and I'm here to bring order....
Holy Spirit: Excuse me...you are going to bring order...hmmm. Why don't you first invite me to change the way you see students, see them as I see them....and bless them not with your arrows of detention....but with the gift of peace, My Prescence....do you believe you can change the atmosphere of this classroom and bring the peace and glory of heaven here?
Me: Yes...I repent.....
I began to pray in the Holy Spirit, and I felt the Lord give me the gift of His perspective. We used to sing an old chorus "Heaven came down and Glory filled my soul...." I invited heaven to "come and fill" this freshman art class on a sunny Friday afternoon. And He did. Near the end of the class, the student teacher remarked: "Never have I had such peace in this class....I don't know what's happened."
There were multiple lessons. I repented from my assuming I had to "play hardball" (the pharisees were actually pretty good at that). I began to see the treasure the Lord has deposited in every student that came through that door. I began to see the deposit of His Grace and Presence in a high school art class....because I invited Him....Heaven to manifest on earth.
Sometimes I am tempted to spiritualize my occupation....think that what I actually "do" in ministry is what validates true Kingdom progress here on earth. Not true. What all of you do, whether it's changing diapers or changing tires, becomes an opportunity to invite the Holy Spirit to manifest heaven on earth. This is not a theological lesson for me, but an immensely practical one. And, as usual, the Holy Spirit is always kind enough to lead me to repentance.....that's His nature. And, to give me an opportunity to change.
Bless you.
Darrell and Carlene
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Decisions That Define Us
Here at The Mission, weve made some decisions that clarify our goals as a church, and they are listed below.
It has been humbling to learn that these declarations are resonating with leaders around the globe, many of whom have called to ask for permission to use them in their own churches. Since we believe these determinations were born of the Spirit, we are happy to see them applied in the Kingdom.
Please note, however, that we are deeply concerned that you understand their context:
These decisions are not and never were a reaction to anything but the state of our hearts and the reality in our church. They are in absolutely no way a criticism of any church or denominational movement. Please dont misuse these decisions as weapons towards others. We are in this battle for high ground together: one Church, one Bride, and one Body.
In Ephesians 3:19, Paul implores us to increase our perception of Gods love, letting it expand from head knowledge to actual experience. Those two levels also describe our process of commitment to these decisions. We would probably have said they were true from the beginning of our ministry. Now, however, they are points of contention, foundational truths without which we are not willing to live; a journey, not a destination.
In II Samuel 6, as David leads the return of the Ark of the Covenant, there is both celebration and sacrifice; and so it is with these commitments. As we are heeding the ever-increasing call to clear a path for the Manifest Presence and Glory of God, these decisions have each taken a piece out of our hearts and livesand given us something priceless in return.
These are not arrogant proclamations of our accomplishments. We continue to comprehend the high cost and great value of each declaration of purpose.
So, then, here are The Decisions Weve Made&
We have decided that teaching the Gospel without demonstrating the gospel is not enough. Good preaching, good doctrine, and being good people is not enough.
We have decided that having a good church club is not enough, good fellowship is not enough, and just being a member of that club is not enough.
We have decided that having good Bible studies is good, but not good enough, that just making it to heaven is not our goal, and that knowing about God without truly knowing and experiencing God is meaningless.
We have decided that having good programs is not enough; that change without transformation is intolerable, and that staying the same is not an option.
We have decided that gifting without character is futile.
We have decided that singing songs without worshiping is hallow and having meetings without God showing up is pointless.
We have decided that having faith without works is not enough and having works without love is not acceptable - that our function comes out of our relationship first with the Father and second with each other.
We have decided that reading about the book of Acts without living the book of Acts is unthinkable.
We have decided that confident faith is good and bold faith is better.
We have decided that hearing about the Holy Spirit without experiencing Him is silly, that believing in His presence without seeing It manifested in signs and wonders is hypocrisy, that believing in healing without seeing people healed is absurd, and that believing in deliverance without people being delivered is absolutely ridiculous.
We have decided to be Holy Spirit filled, Holy Spirit led, and Holy Spirit empowered - anything less doesn't work for us.
We have decided to be the ones telling the stories of God's power - not the ones hearing about them.
We have decided that living saved, but not supernatural is living below our privilege and short of what Christ died for.
We have decided that we are a battle ship not a cruise ship, an army, not an audience; Special forces not spectators, missionaries not club members.
We have decided to value both pioneers and settlers - pioneers to expand our territory and settlers to build on those territories - but we are not squatters - people who take up space others have fought for without improving it.
We have decided to be infectious instead of innocuous, contagious instead of quarantined, deadly instead of benign.
We have decided to be radical lovers and outrageous givers.
We have decided that we are a mission station and not a museum
Therefore:
1. We honor the past - we don't live in it.
2. We live in the present with our eyes on the future.
3. We see past events - successes and failures - as stepping-stones not stop signs.
4. We pursue learning in order to be transformed, not learning in order to know.
5. We are people of engagement not observation.
6. We focus on what could be, not on what is or has been.
7. We are not limited to the four walls of this building. Our influence is not restricted by location - Not even the nations are out of bounds.
8. We are more concerned about how many we send out into the world than how many we convince to come into the building. This building is meant to be filled and it will be - but it will not be the measure of who we are or the measure of our effectiveness.
9. We raise up world changers - not tour guides. We train commandos, not committees.
10. We are a people of our destiny, not of our history.
We have decided that it is better to fail while reaching for the impossible that God has planned for us than succeed settling for less.
We have decided that nothing short of His Kingdom come, His will be done in our world as it is in Heaven will satisfy.
We have decided that we will not be satisfied until our world freaks out and cries out "Those who have turned the world upside down have come here too."
These are some of the decisions that define who we are
as a community and how we live our lives
These decisions are not destinations - but rather journeys - journeys along an ancient path - we have not found some new way - but rather rediscovered the path as old as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The same path followed by Moses, Joshua and Caleb - Paul, John, Peter.
The path followed by the first century church - a church that revolutionized the culture of the first century and beyond.
It is a path that will impact the world we live in today. It is a path of Bold Faith - believing that what God says is really true and acting on it; Outrageous Generosity - giving our life away in order to demonstrate His Kingdom; Radical Love - loving God with everything in us and our neighbor as ourselves.
It is a path of liberty, freedom, and healing.
On this path you find significance, purpose, and destiny.
This is a path less traveled - however
- it is not a path only available to a select few - but to whosoever will - may come.
It is for people of every nation, tribe and tongue -for those in any occupation or vocation.
No matter where you are in your life journey
- there is room on this path for you
It has been humbling to learn that these declarations are resonating with leaders around the globe, many of whom have called to ask for permission to use them in their own churches. Since we believe these determinations were born of the Spirit, we are happy to see them applied in the Kingdom.
Please note, however, that we are deeply concerned that you understand their context:
These decisions are not and never were a reaction to anything but the state of our hearts and the reality in our church. They are in absolutely no way a criticism of any church or denominational movement. Please dont misuse these decisions as weapons towards others. We are in this battle for high ground together: one Church, one Bride, and one Body.
In Ephesians 3:19, Paul implores us to increase our perception of Gods love, letting it expand from head knowledge to actual experience. Those two levels also describe our process of commitment to these decisions. We would probably have said they were true from the beginning of our ministry. Now, however, they are points of contention, foundational truths without which we are not willing to live; a journey, not a destination.
In II Samuel 6, as David leads the return of the Ark of the Covenant, there is both celebration and sacrifice; and so it is with these commitments. As we are heeding the ever-increasing call to clear a path for the Manifest Presence and Glory of God, these decisions have each taken a piece out of our hearts and livesand given us something priceless in return.
These are not arrogant proclamations of our accomplishments. We continue to comprehend the high cost and great value of each declaration of purpose.
So, then, here are The Decisions Weve Made&
We have decided that teaching the Gospel without demonstrating the gospel is not enough. Good preaching, good doctrine, and being good people is not enough.
We have decided that having a good church club is not enough, good fellowship is not enough, and just being a member of that club is not enough.
We have decided that having good Bible studies is good, but not good enough, that just making it to heaven is not our goal, and that knowing about God without truly knowing and experiencing God is meaningless.
We have decided that having good programs is not enough; that change without transformation is intolerable, and that staying the same is not an option.
We have decided that gifting without character is futile.
We have decided that singing songs without worshiping is hallow and having meetings without God showing up is pointless.
We have decided that having faith without works is not enough and having works without love is not acceptable - that our function comes out of our relationship first with the Father and second with each other.
We have decided that reading about the book of Acts without living the book of Acts is unthinkable.
We have decided that confident faith is good and bold faith is better.
We have decided that hearing about the Holy Spirit without experiencing Him is silly, that believing in His presence without seeing It manifested in signs and wonders is hypocrisy, that believing in healing without seeing people healed is absurd, and that believing in deliverance without people being delivered is absolutely ridiculous.
We have decided to be Holy Spirit filled, Holy Spirit led, and Holy Spirit empowered - anything less doesn't work for us.
We have decided to be the ones telling the stories of God's power - not the ones hearing about them.
We have decided that living saved, but not supernatural is living below our privilege and short of what Christ died for.
We have decided that we are a battle ship not a cruise ship, an army, not an audience; Special forces not spectators, missionaries not club members.
We have decided to value both pioneers and settlers - pioneers to expand our territory and settlers to build on those territories - but we are not squatters - people who take up space others have fought for without improving it.
We have decided to be infectious instead of innocuous, contagious instead of quarantined, deadly instead of benign.
We have decided to be radical lovers and outrageous givers.
We have decided that we are a mission station and not a museum
Therefore:
1. We honor the past - we don't live in it.
2. We live in the present with our eyes on the future.
3. We see past events - successes and failures - as stepping-stones not stop signs.
4. We pursue learning in order to be transformed, not learning in order to know.
5. We are people of engagement not observation.
6. We focus on what could be, not on what is or has been.
7. We are not limited to the four walls of this building. Our influence is not restricted by location - Not even the nations are out of bounds.
8. We are more concerned about how many we send out into the world than how many we convince to come into the building. This building is meant to be filled and it will be - but it will not be the measure of who we are or the measure of our effectiveness.
9. We raise up world changers - not tour guides. We train commandos, not committees.
10. We are a people of our destiny, not of our history.
We have decided that it is better to fail while reaching for the impossible that God has planned for us than succeed settling for less.
We have decided that nothing short of His Kingdom come, His will be done in our world as it is in Heaven will satisfy.
We have decided that we will not be satisfied until our world freaks out and cries out "Those who have turned the world upside down have come here too."
These are some of the decisions that define who we are
as a community and how we live our lives
These decisions are not destinations - but rather journeys - journeys along an ancient path - we have not found some new way - but rather rediscovered the path as old as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The same path followed by Moses, Joshua and Caleb - Paul, John, Peter.
The path followed by the first century church - a church that revolutionized the culture of the first century and beyond.
It is a path that will impact the world we live in today. It is a path of Bold Faith - believing that what God says is really true and acting on it; Outrageous Generosity - giving our life away in order to demonstrate His Kingdom; Radical Love - loving God with everything in us and our neighbor as ourselves.
It is a path of liberty, freedom, and healing.
On this path you find significance, purpose, and destiny.
This is a path less traveled - however
- it is not a path only available to a select few - but to whosoever will - may come.
It is for people of every nation, tribe and tongue -for those in any occupation or vocation.
No matter where you are in your life journey
- there is room on this path for you
Friday, October 20, 2006
Pacficministries Fall Events
Dear Friends,
We are looking forward to Worship at the River Sunday, November 10th as we celebrate....FOREVER!!! And, of course, forever is a very long time. I wanted to communicate a few prayer requests and calendar events before the holidays hit us. (look for those Christmas promotions soon!)
Just a commentary on my ministry in the public schools this year. There has been a real sense of divine placement in each assigned school this fall. I have enjoyed each class and have especially sensed God's love for many of the disadvantaged, marginalized, and culturally diverse students. In the Portland schools alone, an administrator told me there are more than 50 languages spoken. I believe, as the elections for many education related issues approach, the Lord wants His Elect...His Presence in today's schools. That can be as simple as showing up to volunteer at a school function or chaperoning a field trip. I've witnessed dedicated teachers and administrators serve and care deeply about children, and while it is tempting to think we can solve education problems with more money, smaller class sizes, or new facilities, I believe these kids are best served when the Kingdom of God is represented, as we simply champion His Presence. We then Re-Present Him...naturally .
We appreciate your prayers as Carlene and I will be in Los Angeles November 2-9 for meetings with Jean Darnall, leading worship at a weekend YWAM Retreat, and on Sunday November 5th, I'll be sharing about North Korea at Oasis Korean Church where my friend, David Kim, pastors .
Finally, please note these events:
School of Prophecy with Graham Cooke
Fri, October 27, 2006 - Sun, October 29, 2006
Information and registration: www.wildbranchministries.com
What is God Saying?
Thu, November 30, 2006 - Sun, December 3, 2006
Prophetic Conference with Chuck Pierce Dutch Sheets in Albany Oregon
Register at http://elijahlistministries.safeshopper.com/7/cat7.htm?760
Or call 1-866-354-5245 (Toll-free) Email: csteamlead@elijahlist.net
Reflections on the Lord's Prayer Submissions
Please email your reflections by Monday November 27th (the week after
Thanksgiving) to: pacificministries@gmail.com.
Pacificministries Christmas Celebration !
We want to invite you to a Christmas Celebration Dinner at the Sam Cox Building in
Troutdale (where we normally meet) at 5 pm on December 10th . We'll
have dinner together and at 6:30 we'll worship (Amen!) This will be a
no-cost event but we will take an offering to cover building and meal
costs. All are welcome to attend, but reservations for dinner need to be made by
Monday, December 4th. You may call Delight at 503-380-7203
or e-mail her at delightpete@yahoo.com if you plan to attend.
Bless you....and let me be the first to say (cringe), Happy Holidays,
Darrell and Carlene
We are looking forward to Worship at the River Sunday, November 10th as we celebrate....FOREVER!!! And, of course, forever is a very long time. I wanted to communicate a few prayer requests and calendar events before the holidays hit us. (look for those Christmas promotions soon!)
Just a commentary on my ministry in the public schools this year. There has been a real sense of divine placement in each assigned school this fall. I have enjoyed each class and have especially sensed God's love for many of the disadvantaged, marginalized, and culturally diverse students. In the Portland schools alone, an administrator told me there are more than 50 languages spoken. I believe, as the elections for many education related issues approach, the Lord wants His Elect...His Presence in today's schools. That can be as simple as showing up to volunteer at a school function or chaperoning a field trip. I've witnessed dedicated teachers and administrators serve and care deeply about children, and while it is tempting to think we can solve education problems with more money, smaller class sizes, or new facilities, I believe these kids are best served when the Kingdom of God is represented, as we simply champion His Presence. We then Re-Present Him...naturally .
We appreciate your prayers as Carlene and I will be in Los Angeles November 2-9 for meetings with Jean Darnall, leading worship at a weekend YWAM Retreat, and on Sunday November 5th, I'll be sharing about North Korea at Oasis Korean Church where my friend, David Kim, pastors .
Finally, please note these events:
School of Prophecy with Graham Cooke
Fri, October 27, 2006 - Sun, October 29, 2006
Information and registration: www.wildbranchministries.com
What is God Saying?
Thu, November 30, 2006 - Sun, December 3, 2006
Prophetic Conference with Chuck Pierce Dutch Sheets in Albany Oregon
Register at http://elijahlistministries.safeshopper.com/7/cat7.htm?760
Or call 1-866-354-5245 (Toll-free) Email: csteamlead@elijahlist.net
Reflections on the Lord's Prayer Submissions
Please email your reflections by Monday November 27th (the week after
Thanksgiving) to: pacificministries@gmail.com.
Pacificministries Christmas Celebration !
We want to invite you to a Christmas Celebration Dinner at the Sam Cox Building in
Troutdale (where we normally meet) at 5 pm on December 10th . We'll
have dinner together and at 6:30 we'll worship (Amen!) This will be a
no-cost event but we will take an offering to cover building and meal
costs. All are welcome to attend, but reservations for dinner need to be made by
Monday, December 4th. You may call Delight at 503-380-7203
or e-mail her at delightpete@yahoo.com if you plan to attend.
Bless you....and let me be the first to say (cringe), Happy Holidays,
Darrell and Carlene
The Lord's Prayer Reflections
Dear Friends:
One year ago, the Lord spoke to us regarding the assignment for 2006
at Worship at the River. We felt the Holy Spirit urge us to focus on
the Lord's Prayer. We have applied Paul's admonition to:
...When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of
instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these
must be done for the strengthening of the church. (I Corinthians)
Personally, I have found myself strengthened at our gatherings when
you brought your "part of the meal" to the table. What a feast! Many
of you have written songs, poems, prophetic revelations, insights, and journal
entries over the past year, thus, a proposal:
I'd like to collect, edit, and publish our offerings in a systematic
and comprehensive form. Think of it a bit like a Lord's Prayer
Yearbook. You might contribute artistic designs such as cover art, a
children's narrative, dialogue, short story or parable. My sense is
to keep it "nameless", and divide the book into 12 sections, and for
our AMEN December 10th celebration, we'll distribute them and
leave the last page blank for that evening's personal reflections.
This project is not meant to be a deep, theological treatise, but
simply a collection of what the Lord has brought to light during
worship. I have marveled at the creativity and insight God has
released through you. Do not underestimate or devalue your legitimacy
as God has given ALL of us gifts.Perhaps some of you have not been a
part of every gathering, or you simply are part of our email family,
and you might be tempted to dismiss any thought of contributing. I'd
like to challenge that thinking. Would you pause and ask the Lord to
confirm? If you hear nothing, maybe the Lord is simply waiting for
you to ask Him.
Please email your material by Monday November 27th (the week after
Thansgiving) to: pacificministries@gmail.com.
More information about travel and the December Christmas Dinner Celebration to follow.
Bless you,
Darrell and Carlene
One year ago, the Lord spoke to us regarding the assignment for 2006
at Worship at the River. We felt the Holy Spirit urge us to focus on
the Lord's Prayer. We have applied Paul's admonition to:
...When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of
instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these
must be done for the strengthening of the church. (I Corinthians)
Personally, I have found myself strengthened at our gatherings when
you brought your "part of the meal" to the table. What a feast! Many
of you have written songs, poems, prophetic revelations, insights, and journal
entries over the past year, thus, a proposal:
I'd like to collect, edit, and publish our offerings in a systematic
and comprehensive form. Think of it a bit like a Lord's Prayer
Yearbook. You might contribute artistic designs such as cover art, a
children's narrative, dialogue, short story or parable. My sense is
to keep it "nameless", and divide the book into 12 sections, and for
our AMEN December 10th celebration, we'll distribute them and
leave the last page blank for that evening's personal reflections.
This project is not meant to be a deep, theological treatise, but
simply a collection of what the Lord has brought to light during
worship. I have marveled at the creativity and insight God has
released through you. Do not underestimate or devalue your legitimacy
as God has given ALL of us gifts.Perhaps some of you have not been a
part of every gathering, or you simply are part of our email family,
and you might be tempted to dismiss any thought of contributing. I'd
like to challenge that thinking. Would you pause and ask the Lord to
confirm? If you hear nothing, maybe the Lord is simply waiting for
you to ask Him.
Please email your material by Monday November 27th (the week after
Thansgiving) to: pacificministries@gmail.com.
More information about travel and the December Christmas Dinner Celebration to follow.
Bless you,
Darrell and Carlene
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
October Update
Dear Friends,
Carlene and I want to welcome you to Worship at the River this Sunday, October 8th at 6 PM at the Glenn Otto Community Park in Troutdale, Oregon. We are approaching the "home stretch" of the Lord's Prayer, and this October the focus is: "Yours is the Glory." Each month's theme has been wonderfully unpredictable. Last month's "Yours is the power" became not a study in the outward demonstration of power, but became a celebration of covenant and the freedom of forgiveness….as well as the humility of the cross.
We just returned from the annual International Fellowship of Ministries meetings where the Lord brought fresh revelation and encouragement through the ministry of Bob Ekblad, executive director of Tierra Nueva (New Earth) in Burlington Washington. He spoke of a fountain of healing in his understanding of God's working among the poorest of the poor...the least and marginalized of our culture. I sensed God's grace and favor on this message as the Holy Spirit once again brought to remembrance the Jesus's first ministry proclamation in Luke 4 was to the poor. I am reading his book: Reading the Bible with the Damned. To quote from the back cover:
"..Bob encourages the church and unchurched to reflects on how Christians have often found it difficult to proclaim God's good news to every realm of society, while those who have needed it most have frequently deemed themselves unworthy due to social circumstances or sinfulness."
In the past, I would most often describe God's glory as a palatable sense of His Presence, or a weight of His nearness, both true. But as I shared last month, the Lord is beginning to open up an awareness of His Presence and His Glory in the obscure and marginalized....in the poor, humble and broken.
As we celebrate His Glory this Sunday evening I want to come with fresh awareness His Glory is not for just those who "have it all together" (not sure any of us qualify anyway) but the manifestation of His Glory can be found in the obscure. He is often found in prisons, with the homeless, and the "unworthy"......pretty much describes most of us.
So we welcome you to celebrate God's glory at Worship at the River this Sunday, just know you'll be surrounded and comforted with broken people humgry for His Glory.
Darrell and Carlene
Carlene and I want to welcome you to Worship at the River this Sunday, October 8th at 6 PM at the Glenn Otto Community Park in Troutdale, Oregon. We are approaching the "home stretch" of the Lord's Prayer, and this October the focus is: "Yours is the Glory." Each month's theme has been wonderfully unpredictable. Last month's "Yours is the power" became not a study in the outward demonstration of power, but became a celebration of covenant and the freedom of forgiveness….as well as the humility of the cross.
We just returned from the annual International Fellowship of Ministries meetings where the Lord brought fresh revelation and encouragement through the ministry of Bob Ekblad, executive director of Tierra Nueva (New Earth) in Burlington Washington. He spoke of a fountain of healing in his understanding of God's working among the poorest of the poor...the least and marginalized of our culture. I sensed God's grace and favor on this message as the Holy Spirit once again brought to remembrance the Jesus's first ministry proclamation in Luke 4 was to the poor. I am reading his book: Reading the Bible with the Damned. To quote from the back cover:
"..Bob encourages the church and unchurched to reflects on how Christians have often found it difficult to proclaim God's good news to every realm of society, while those who have needed it most have frequently deemed themselves unworthy due to social circumstances or sinfulness."
In the past, I would most often describe God's glory as a palatable sense of His Presence, or a weight of His nearness, both true. But as I shared last month, the Lord is beginning to open up an awareness of His Presence and His Glory in the obscure and marginalized....in the poor, humble and broken.
As we celebrate His Glory this Sunday evening I want to come with fresh awareness His Glory is not for just those who "have it all together" (not sure any of us qualify anyway) but the manifestation of His Glory can be found in the obscure. He is often found in prisons, with the homeless, and the "unworthy"......pretty much describes most of us.
So we welcome you to celebrate God's glory at Worship at the River this Sunday, just know you'll be surrounded and comforted with broken people humgry for His Glory.
Darrell and Carlene
September Update
Dear Friends,
Looking forward to Worship at the River this Sunday evening at 6 pm at the Glenn Otto Community Park in Troutdale. This month we are focusing on the phrase "Yours is the ....power".
I'll also share a bit about "pearls and orphans" and how the Lord was so faithful to reveal His perfect plan during my trip to China/North Korea. An excerpt from my journal may give you a sense of how He spoke:
* This assignment is not a mistake or miscalculation.....
* A key to My purpose is found in your response to the interruption of your plans...
* Trust Me to reveal my purpose....
* My Kingdom's power is manifested in humility....and my Kingdom is found in the least of these...
Needless to say, I have caught just a glimpse of God's power and His Kingdom discovered in the most obscure and humble places, and I am forever changed.
Bless you, and hope to see you Sunday evening.
Darrell and Carlene
Looking forward to Worship at the River this Sunday evening at 6 pm at the Glenn Otto Community Park in Troutdale. This month we are focusing on the phrase "Yours is the ....power".
I'll also share a bit about "pearls and orphans" and how the Lord was so faithful to reveal His perfect plan during my trip to China/North Korea. An excerpt from my journal may give you a sense of how He spoke:
* This assignment is not a mistake or miscalculation.....
* A key to My purpose is found in your response to the interruption of your plans...
* Trust Me to reveal my purpose....
* My Kingdom's power is manifested in humility....and my Kingdom is found in the least of these...
Needless to say, I have caught just a glimpse of God's power and His Kingdom discovered in the most obscure and humble places, and I am forever changed.
Bless you, and hope to see you Sunday evening.
Darrell and Carlene
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
July 2006 Update
Dear Friends,
We are looking forward to another Worship at the River gathering in Troutdale at the Glenn Otto Park this Sunday evening at 6 pm. This month, we are focusing on "deliver us from evil," in our journey through the Lord's Prayer, and look forward to what the Holy Spirit will unwrap through each of the unique gifts He has placed within every one of you.
One of the aspects of Biblical "agreement" has the flavor of an ensemble; a symphony. In fact, the Greek word translation for agree is the word: sumphoneo, which means: "to sound together" or "to be in accord, primarily of musical instruments." I imagine each of us as an orchestra member....following every nuance and gesture from the Holy Spirit, as we fix our eyes on Him. He is the best worship leader! He loves to magnify the Person and Work of Jesus and the character and love of the Father. I am continually amazed at His creativity; as He is eminently qualified as the composer, arranger, and conductor for the evening.
We have concluded 3 Saturday evenings of worship at Calvary Assembly, and each gathering caught a glimpse of God's heart for this region. Last Saturday, we concluded with each worshipper positioning themselves around the room relative to where they were from; with the city of Portland at the center. From many denominations, ministries, and backgrounds but with one voice, and in all four directions, we proclaimed "Grace...Grace...Grace..." to our city.
We invite you to join the chorus this Sunday evening! (no auditions required...He LOVES how you sound....you're already qualified!)
Bless you,
Darrell and Carlene
We are looking forward to another Worship at the River gathering in Troutdale at the Glenn Otto Park this Sunday evening at 6 pm. This month, we are focusing on "deliver us from evil," in our journey through the Lord's Prayer, and look forward to what the Holy Spirit will unwrap through each of the unique gifts He has placed within every one of you.
One of the aspects of Biblical "agreement" has the flavor of an ensemble; a symphony. In fact, the Greek word translation for agree is the word: sumphoneo, which means: "to sound together" or "to be in accord, primarily of musical instruments." I imagine each of us as an orchestra member....following every nuance and gesture from the Holy Spirit, as we fix our eyes on Him. He is the best worship leader! He loves to magnify the Person and Work of Jesus and the character and love of the Father. I am continually amazed at His creativity; as He is eminently qualified as the composer, arranger, and conductor for the evening.
We have concluded 3 Saturday evenings of worship at Calvary Assembly, and each gathering caught a glimpse of God's heart for this region. Last Saturday, we concluded with each worshipper positioning themselves around the room relative to where they were from; with the city of Portland at the center. From many denominations, ministries, and backgrounds but with one voice, and in all four directions, we proclaimed "Grace...Grace...Grace..." to our city.
We invite you to join the chorus this Sunday evening! (no auditions required...He LOVES how you sound....you're already qualified!)
Bless you,
Darrell and Carlene
August 2006 Update
Dear Friends,
A reminder of the gathering this month Sunday, August 13th at 6PM at the Glenn Otto Park in Troutdale for Worship at the River. We have been exploring themes in the Lord's Prayer, and this month is: "For Your's is the Kingdom."
We have all watched world events unwrap with breaking news on CNN. From unrest in Israel, to civil war in Iraq, to missiles firing in North Korea, we see political kingdoms of this world vying for legitimacy. I am reminded of the truth kingdom's of this world are "of His Christ." They belong to Him.
Three years ago, 2 of us from America and 2 from South Korea worshipped at another river. We stood overlooking a river that has divided the country of Korea for over 50 years. We stood at the threshold of the DMZ the most heavily fortified and dangerous of man's kingdoms...North Korea. That moment was captured in the photo below. While we stood at this high point, I felt the Holy Spirit's quiet but firm nudge to worship….to lift my hands and declare:
"Shine Jesus Shine....fill this land with the Father's Glory...."
have an opportunity to travel to North Korea for 10 days in August in honor of the International Martial Arts Festival. Please join me in asking that:
I have an opportunity to travel to North Korea for 10 days in August in honor of the International Martial Arts Festival. Please join me in asking that:
· favor would rest on the North Korean government authorities;
· discernment and wisdom to provide for their people;
· preparation and assembly of all who are to go would be uncomplicated
· all visitors would find protection and favor with the North Koreans.
Sometimes, the simplest of acts represent a much larger truth, especially viewed from God's perspective. The lifting of Moses' rod and the Red Sea opens; the surprising seventh day shout of a silent army marching around Jericho and the walls fall; Peter stepping over the threshold of Cornelius' house (Acts 10) and millions of Gentiles (you and I included) stand behind Peter and enter into Kingdom life.
After our Sunday evening gathering, Monday, August 14th, I leave for an assignment in North Korea. Please join us to extol and exalt the King of Kings and Lord of Lords....whose Kingdom has no end.
Darrell and Carlene
A reminder of the gathering this month Sunday, August 13th at 6PM at the Glenn Otto Park in Troutdale for Worship at the River. We have been exploring themes in the Lord's Prayer, and this month is: "For Your's is the Kingdom."
We have all watched world events unwrap with breaking news on CNN. From unrest in Israel, to civil war in Iraq, to missiles firing in North Korea, we see political kingdoms of this world vying for legitimacy. I am reminded of the truth kingdom's of this world are "of His Christ." They belong to Him.
Three years ago, 2 of us from America and 2 from South Korea worshipped at another river. We stood overlooking a river that has divided the country of Korea for over 50 years. We stood at the threshold of the DMZ the most heavily fortified and dangerous of man's kingdoms...North Korea. That moment was captured in the photo below. While we stood at this high point, I felt the Holy Spirit's quiet but firm nudge to worship….to lift my hands and declare:
"Shine Jesus Shine....fill this land with the Father's Glory...."
have an opportunity to travel to North Korea for 10 days in August in honor of the International Martial Arts Festival. Please join me in asking that:
I have an opportunity to travel to North Korea for 10 days in August in honor of the International Martial Arts Festival. Please join me in asking that:
· favor would rest on the North Korean government authorities;
· discernment and wisdom to provide for their people;
· preparation and assembly of all who are to go would be uncomplicated
· all visitors would find protection and favor with the North Koreans.
Sometimes, the simplest of acts represent a much larger truth, especially viewed from God's perspective. The lifting of Moses' rod and the Red Sea opens; the surprising seventh day shout of a silent army marching around Jericho and the walls fall; Peter stepping over the threshold of Cornelius' house (Acts 10) and millions of Gentiles (you and I included) stand behind Peter and enter into Kingdom life.
After our Sunday evening gathering, Monday, August 14th, I leave for an assignment in North Korea. Please join us to extol and exalt the King of Kings and Lord of Lords....whose Kingdom has no end.
Darrell and Carlene
Thursday, June 08, 2006
June Update
Dear Friends,
Just a reminder we look forward to meeting this Sunday evening, June
11th at 6 p.m. for Worship at the River. We are continuing to explore
themes from the Lord's Prayer, with this Sunday's focus on: "lead us not into
temptation." Admittedly, this "temptation" aspect of the Lord's Prayer
is intriguing, and we look forward to the revelation God has for us
this Sunday.
Legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi started every season
with a team meeting. Surrounded by veterans and rookies alike, he
would hold a football high above his head so that each player could
see it. With all eyes on him, he simply said: "Gentlemen, this is a
football." This was Coach Lombardi's way of reminding all of his
players that success begins with a clear understanding of the basics.
Everything began with: "This is a football."
When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, He replied:
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel,
the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with
all your strength.
For me, this is the Lord's "football" speech. For many of us, "love
the Lord your God…" has been reduced to external activity; to a weekly event
where we depend on professionals to "play" for us, as we learned to
safely cheer from our stadium seats. We have emphasized performance,
technique, and other "soulish" activity. We have lost sight of the
fundamental truth worship is not just for those who "qualify" with
refined voices, posses exceptional instrumental ability, or amassed a
large worship CD collection. Actually, the Lord is inviting all of us
to join the game.
But how do you get in the game?
Perhaps you meet with a few people and you may have struggled with:
"There's no one here who can play an instrument"….or
"We can't sing …or we're never in tune….or
"I'm intimidated by other's ability…I have lost confidence…how do we
get started…?
As one who has been a "professional" in church music and worship for
almost 3 decades, I admit I am "unlearning" much of my accumulated
knowledge. But as Coach Lombardi's men heard at the beginning of each
season, I am learning to discern a clear understanding
of the basics. And they don't have much to do with musical ability or
a CD collection. They are matters of the heart. Really, I've been
learning the truth of Matt Redman's song: "I'm coming back to the
Heart of Worship….and it's all about …Jesus." That truth is clear and
fundamental and basic. True football…first commandment stuff.
We believe people are moving from spectators to players, and the
unique contribution the Lord created in each is a reflection of the
nature of God, which is an essential part of "being in the game."
Many of us are learning to "play" at Worship at the River events as
well as other gatherings. We sense the Lord is calling for more and
more "players" not necessarily to play in our particular game (event),
but in the game God has for each of us.
For three consecutive Saturdays (June 17th ,24th and July 1st) from
7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. beginning at Calvary Assembly of God, we'll
practice this "football" stuff. It will be simple, intensive and practical
teaching focused not only on theory, but on the "doing". These
gatherings will not be formal, but relational in approach and design.
We believe the Holy Spirit will bring encouragement, equipping, and
release of the unique song God has placed within you. Several
player/coaches including Bill Petersen, Dan Lute (pastor at Calvary),
as well as myself will share. We will discover together what God wants
to teach us. There is no cost, but we will give you an opportunity to
give an offering to cover any expenses.
We bless you, and look forward to seeing many of you in the next days!
From two players doing their best to learn the basics.....
Darrell and Carlene Dahlman
Pacificministries
PO BOX 1351
Fairview OR 97024
Pacificministries@gmail.com
Worship Intensive
June 17th, 24th and July 1st
Calvary Temple Assembly of God
10224 SE Division St
Portland, OR 97266-1328
(503) 253-2827
Directions: Directions: Across from the Christian Supply Bookstore
Just a reminder we look forward to meeting this Sunday evening, June
11th at 6 p.m. for Worship at the River. We are continuing to explore
themes from the Lord's Prayer, with this Sunday's focus on: "lead us not into
temptation." Admittedly, this "temptation" aspect of the Lord's Prayer
is intriguing, and we look forward to the revelation God has for us
this Sunday.
Legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi started every season
with a team meeting. Surrounded by veterans and rookies alike, he
would hold a football high above his head so that each player could
see it. With all eyes on him, he simply said: "Gentlemen, this is a
football." This was Coach Lombardi's way of reminding all of his
players that success begins with a clear understanding of the basics.
Everything began with: "This is a football."
When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, He replied:
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel,
the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with
all your strength.
For me, this is the Lord's "football" speech. For many of us, "love
the Lord your God…" has been reduced to external activity; to a weekly event
where we depend on professionals to "play" for us, as we learned to
safely cheer from our stadium seats. We have emphasized performance,
technique, and other "soulish" activity. We have lost sight of the
fundamental truth worship is not just for those who "qualify" with
refined voices, posses exceptional instrumental ability, or amassed a
large worship CD collection. Actually, the Lord is inviting all of us
to join the game.
But how do you get in the game?
Perhaps you meet with a few people and you may have struggled with:
"There's no one here who can play an instrument"….or
"We can't sing …or we're never in tune….or
"I'm intimidated by other's ability…I have lost confidence…how do we
get started…?
As one who has been a "professional" in church music and worship for
almost 3 decades, I admit I am "unlearning" much of my accumulated
knowledge. But as Coach Lombardi's men heard at the beginning of each
season, I am learning to discern a clear understanding
of the basics. And they don't have much to do with musical ability or
a CD collection. They are matters of the heart. Really, I've been
learning the truth of Matt Redman's song: "I'm coming back to the
Heart of Worship….and it's all about …Jesus." That truth is clear and
fundamental and basic. True football…first commandment stuff.
We believe people are moving from spectators to players, and the
unique contribution the Lord created in each is a reflection of the
nature of God, which is an essential part of "being in the game."
Many of us are learning to "play" at Worship at the River events as
well as other gatherings. We sense the Lord is calling for more and
more "players" not necessarily to play in our particular game (event),
but in the game God has for each of us.
For three consecutive Saturdays (June 17th ,24th and July 1st) from
7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. beginning at Calvary Assembly of God, we'll
practice this "football" stuff. It will be simple, intensive and practical
teaching focused not only on theory, but on the "doing". These
gatherings will not be formal, but relational in approach and design.
We believe the Holy Spirit will bring encouragement, equipping, and
release of the unique song God has placed within you. Several
player/coaches including Bill Petersen, Dan Lute (pastor at Calvary),
as well as myself will share. We will discover together what God wants
to teach us. There is no cost, but we will give you an opportunity to
give an offering to cover any expenses.
We bless you, and look forward to seeing many of you in the next days!
From two players doing their best to learn the basics.....
Darrell and Carlene Dahlman
Pacificministries
PO BOX 1351
Fairview OR 97024
Pacificministries@gmail.com
Worship Intensive
June 17th, 24th and July 1st
Calvary Temple Assembly of God
10224 SE Division St
Portland, OR 97266-1328
(503) 253-2827
Directions: Directions: Across from the Christian Supply Bookstore
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Pacificministrie May Update
Dear Friends of Pacificministries,
Just a reminder of this Sundays Worship at the River meeting in Troutdale. We anticipate focusing on the theme: forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. As you may remember, we are taking a phrase from the Lord's Prayer and are focusing each month on that truth. We are praying into each theme, and our expectation is that the Holy Spirit will teach us and guide us into His design for the evening.
Recently, I was privileged to be a part of the Portland House of Prayer worship being held at Calvary Assembly of God. I was blessed and encouraged to know that God has a remnant of worshipers in Portland, this City of Roses. I was reminded that God has a redemptive purpose and plan for each of us, both corporately and individually. I know there are groups of worshipers meeting throughout the city. And I'm glad to be a part of the passionate choir.
For those of you who have been exposed to the Ministry of the Kansas City International House of Prayer, you'll know that Mike Bickel often refers to the early years of Ministry to the Lord in a 24-hour setting as: "little, rough, and ugly." Frankly, I like "little, rough, and ugly".... there is something very appealing about hungry and passionate worshipers whose only agenda is pursuing God and Him alone, no matter how is sounds or what it looks like.
For those of you who were a part of our Seder celebration dinner last month, you remember what a privilege and blessing it was to have Jim Watt with us. Your generous offering covered an unexpected expense for Jims wife, Marie. They were grateful to the Lord for His provision. Many of us also were with Jean Darnell in meetings held in Toledo, Oregon last week. Erin and Kelly Leggett were able to join us during worship. Our spontaneous worship centered on Hebrews 11, which Kelly had been led to sing...and it was the very theme Jean spoke from. We honor the Lord for His confirmation and faithfulness to speak so clearly through these jars of clay. It is our desire to honor and celebrate the rich truth and heritage contained in these pioneering saints.
We thank you for your prayers and financial support during these months, especially as we have been on the road a fair amount. This months forgiveness theme is God's desire for all of us to walk in the freedom from past hurts, bitterness, and pain. In essence, it is a prayer of repentance and renewal....may we become a people who are known for our love and our willingness to forgive.
Bless you,
Darrell and Carlene
Upcoming events of interest:
May 27
The ministry of Arthur Burke, who has organization called Plumbline Ministries, has impacted many of us. He has done pioneering work in the areas of intercession, healing of the human spirit, and redemptive gifts of nations and cities. He is holding a seminar "Healing the Human Spirit".....with limited registrants Sat. May 27th.
Registration for the Oregon event is $85 per person. You can registeronline here:
www.plumblineministries.com/healing_the_human_spirit___may_27>June 9-11
Friday - Sunday An Intimate Weekend with Graham Cooke
Please refer to www.wildbranchministries.com for the conference schedule.
For registration information: mgaleotti@mac.com
June 11 6pm
Worship at the River And lead us not into temptation
The remaining themes of 2006:
July 9th deliver us from the evil one
August 13th Yours is the Kingdom
September 10th and the power
October 8th and the glory
November 12th forever...
December 10th AMEN!!
Just a reminder of this Sundays Worship at the River meeting in Troutdale. We anticipate focusing on the theme: forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. As you may remember, we are taking a phrase from the Lord's Prayer and are focusing each month on that truth. We are praying into each theme, and our expectation is that the Holy Spirit will teach us and guide us into His design for the evening.
Recently, I was privileged to be a part of the Portland House of Prayer worship being held at Calvary Assembly of God. I was blessed and encouraged to know that God has a remnant of worshipers in Portland, this City of Roses. I was reminded that God has a redemptive purpose and plan for each of us, both corporately and individually. I know there are groups of worshipers meeting throughout the city. And I'm glad to be a part of the passionate choir.
For those of you who have been exposed to the Ministry of the Kansas City International House of Prayer, you'll know that Mike Bickel often refers to the early years of Ministry to the Lord in a 24-hour setting as: "little, rough, and ugly." Frankly, I like "little, rough, and ugly".... there is something very appealing about hungry and passionate worshipers whose only agenda is pursuing God and Him alone, no matter how is sounds or what it looks like.
For those of you who were a part of our Seder celebration dinner last month, you remember what a privilege and blessing it was to have Jim Watt with us. Your generous offering covered an unexpected expense for Jims wife, Marie. They were grateful to the Lord for His provision. Many of us also were with Jean Darnell in meetings held in Toledo, Oregon last week. Erin and Kelly Leggett were able to join us during worship. Our spontaneous worship centered on Hebrews 11, which Kelly had been led to sing...and it was the very theme Jean spoke from. We honor the Lord for His confirmation and faithfulness to speak so clearly through these jars of clay. It is our desire to honor and celebrate the rich truth and heritage contained in these pioneering saints.
We thank you for your prayers and financial support during these months, especially as we have been on the road a fair amount. This months forgiveness theme is God's desire for all of us to walk in the freedom from past hurts, bitterness, and pain. In essence, it is a prayer of repentance and renewal....may we become a people who are known for our love and our willingness to forgive.
Bless you,
Darrell and Carlene
Upcoming events of interest:
May 27
The ministry of Arthur Burke, who has organization called Plumbline Ministries, has impacted many of us. He has done pioneering work in the areas of intercession, healing of the human spirit, and redemptive gifts of nations and cities. He is holding a seminar "Healing the Human Spirit".....with limited registrants Sat. May 27th.
Registration for the Oregon event is $85 per person. You can registeronline here:
www.plumblineministries.com/healing_the_human_spirit___may_27>June 9-11
Friday - Sunday An Intimate Weekend with Graham Cooke
Please refer to www.wildbranchministries.com for the conference schedule.
For registration information: mgaleotti@mac.com
June 11 6pm
Worship at the River And lead us not into temptation
The remaining themes of 2006:
July 9th deliver us from the evil one
August 13th Yours is the Kingdom
September 10th and the power
October 8th and the glory
November 12th forever...
December 10th AMEN!!
Friday, February 24, 2006
Final
Friends...
I have just returned from ministering in a pioneer church plant East of Taejon. It is a little after midnight and I wanted to conclude these updates, as we leave for the airport at 10 am for the long flight to LA. I will speak (Jean and Carlene will rest) at Pastor David Kim's Church in Koreatown for 2 Sunday morning and one afternoon service, before returning to Portland.
It has been a joy to travel and minister with Jean. She is a true prophetic voice to the Church, and her ministry in the Holy Spirit is accurate and penetrating. Many pastors would like to "kidnap her" and have her stay in Korea indefinitely. I (Darrell) have several times, been off to a few other assignments, but most of our time has been in support of her ministry. As she prayed for some 30 students yesterday afternoon, I quietly stood beside her with my hand on her back. As she was praying for one of them , I took my hand away for a moment, and she quickly grabbed my hand and firmly placed it back. I needed no other hint....I knew she valued the prayer support, and every moment wanted the assurance we were standing with her.
Especially moving was to hear stories of how the Lord has used her for nearly 70 years, from a young 16 year old girl preaching a 3 week healing/revival gathering in the hills of West Virginia in 1936, to Aimee McPherson laying her hands on Jean and Elmer for commissioning to South America....to her work as one of the millions of "Rosie the Riveter" factory workers on B-52's (keeping the home fires burning during WW II), to the years of ministry during the Charismatic move in England in the 60's and 70's..to the grandson of Charles Parnum (of Azusa Street) giving Jean a prophetic word in a Malt shop in Hollywood....get the idea?
I want to send you an unedited version of a prophetic word Jean gave Thursday afternoon. This was not taped, but I did write it down as best I remember. I believe, as she does, that it has broad application for the next season of the Church.....not just in Asia, but all over the world. Perhaps you might sense the flavor of the ministry we have experienced the last several days. You might sense a personal application...I know I do.
Jean Darnall....Taejon South Korea, Thursday, February 23, 2006
I believe there are here....among us, ministries that will affect nations....ministries that will bring order out of chaos. You will see Kingdom power restored...order...healing. You will have favor with authorities and will raise the level of righteousness. I see overturned idols...their very foundations are shaken...overturned....destroyed...and demons flee in panic. I see ancient religions uprooted....overturned in the context of international distress. You will walk with dignity because you belong to the Kingdom of God. You are sent as ambassadors to nations who have lost their idols...and they will look to you. God will be your Protection...Preservation....and Provider.
Bless you....and please continue to pray for a safe and healthy re-entry. We have so enjoyed this trip....and have felt your prayers have given us much protection.
Thank you...or er, Kimsameda (I know that's not right spelling)
For...Jean and Carlene...
Darrell
I have just returned from ministering in a pioneer church plant East of Taejon. It is a little after midnight and I wanted to conclude these updates, as we leave for the airport at 10 am for the long flight to LA. I will speak (Jean and Carlene will rest) at Pastor David Kim's Church in Koreatown for 2 Sunday morning and one afternoon service, before returning to Portland.
It has been a joy to travel and minister with Jean. She is a true prophetic voice to the Church, and her ministry in the Holy Spirit is accurate and penetrating. Many pastors would like to "kidnap her" and have her stay in Korea indefinitely. I (Darrell) have several times, been off to a few other assignments, but most of our time has been in support of her ministry. As she prayed for some 30 students yesterday afternoon, I quietly stood beside her with my hand on her back. As she was praying for one of them , I took my hand away for a moment, and she quickly grabbed my hand and firmly placed it back. I needed no other hint....I knew she valued the prayer support, and every moment wanted the assurance we were standing with her.
Especially moving was to hear stories of how the Lord has used her for nearly 70 years, from a young 16 year old girl preaching a 3 week healing/revival gathering in the hills of West Virginia in 1936, to Aimee McPherson laying her hands on Jean and Elmer for commissioning to South America....to her work as one of the millions of "Rosie the Riveter" factory workers on B-52's (keeping the home fires burning during WW II), to the years of ministry during the Charismatic move in England in the 60's and 70's..to the grandson of Charles Parnum (of Azusa Street) giving Jean a prophetic word in a Malt shop in Hollywood....get the idea?
I want to send you an unedited version of a prophetic word Jean gave Thursday afternoon. This was not taped, but I did write it down as best I remember. I believe, as she does, that it has broad application for the next season of the Church.....not just in Asia, but all over the world. Perhaps you might sense the flavor of the ministry we have experienced the last several days. You might sense a personal application...I know I do.
Jean Darnall....Taejon South Korea, Thursday, February 23, 2006
I believe there are here....among us, ministries that will affect nations....ministries that will bring order out of chaos. You will see Kingdom power restored...order...healing. You will have favor with authorities and will raise the level of righteousness. I see overturned idols...their very foundations are shaken...overturned....destroyed...and demons flee in panic. I see ancient religions uprooted....overturned in the context of international distress. You will walk with dignity because you belong to the Kingdom of God. You are sent as ambassadors to nations who have lost their idols...and they will look to you. God will be your Protection...Preservation....and Provider.
Bless you....and please continue to pray for a safe and healthy re-entry. We have so enjoyed this trip....and have felt your prayers have given us much protection.
Thank you...or er, Kimsameda (I know that's not right spelling)
For...Jean and Carlene...
Darrell
Korea 3
Friends...
This will be short....but many thanks to those who have prayed. Jean finished 3 days of speaking and each day the Holy Spirit unwrapped more of His desire to equip and challenge the Korean Church....actually all areas of business, education, media, mercy ministries and government, to be the forerunners for "repaying the spiritual debt" when the North Korea walls come down. Many pastors were challenged and there was a discernible sense the message was delivered with clarity and order.
Carlene and I are a bit undone, as we identified and witnessed to much of what Jean has delivered....sobering but exciting at the same time. She told many stories of how God was faithful to the vision in so many areas of the world where she has been. One of my students impacted by the Holy Spirit of several years ago had a vision of 3 stars....representing Sakhalin (Russia), Japan, and China....being sent from Korea....and Jean, Carlene, and I prayed for Gema...a new pastor beginning a work in Russia, and another brother from Korea who is today making the trip with his family to Japan. We were blessed.
Today we will share the the students and young people in University and, I (Darrell) will speak tonight and tomorrow in evening meetings. I shared at the Wed. evening service last night while Jean and Carlene rested.
Bless you...and please pray for:
Healing of travel-weary bodies....
Ministry anointed of the Holy Spirit
Specific Words of encouragement for students and intercessors
Also...for a young woman Carlene and I have met...several times...who is in a very desperate situation....great disappointment and is in need of God's intervention and grace....that's about all I can share....
From Taejon....
Darrell
This will be short....but many thanks to those who have prayed. Jean finished 3 days of speaking and each day the Holy Spirit unwrapped more of His desire to equip and challenge the Korean Church....actually all areas of business, education, media, mercy ministries and government, to be the forerunners for "repaying the spiritual debt" when the North Korea walls come down. Many pastors were challenged and there was a discernible sense the message was delivered with clarity and order.
Carlene and I are a bit undone, as we identified and witnessed to much of what Jean has delivered....sobering but exciting at the same time. She told many stories of how God was faithful to the vision in so many areas of the world where she has been. One of my students impacted by the Holy Spirit of several years ago had a vision of 3 stars....representing Sakhalin (Russia), Japan, and China....being sent from Korea....and Jean, Carlene, and I prayed for Gema...a new pastor beginning a work in Russia, and another brother from Korea who is today making the trip with his family to Japan. We were blessed.
Today we will share the the students and young people in University and, I (Darrell) will speak tonight and tomorrow in evening meetings. I shared at the Wed. evening service last night while Jean and Carlene rested.
Bless you...and please pray for:
Healing of travel-weary bodies....
Ministry anointed of the Holy Spirit
Specific Words of encouragement for students and intercessors
Also...for a young woman Carlene and I have met...several times...who is in a very desperate situation....great disappointment and is in need of God's intervention and grace....that's about all I can share....
From Taejon....
Darrell
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Korea 2006
Dear Friends...
I want to include you in email updates for the next 10 days or so, as Carlene and I, and Jean Darnall will be in Korea for a National Pastors Conference as well as speaking in various churches and at Asia Life University.
I have learned to unashamedly ask for Prayer covering during any overseas ministry. Let me be very specific...we need you prayers for:
Good Health and Travel Safety. Jean is a "young" 80 +...and Carlene's specific task is to literally walk with her and tend to her physical needs.
Accurate Hearing. We are ministering as a kind of "tag team"...it's my favorite kind of ministry. We anticipate and desire to express God's heart and desire for these Korean leaders.
Rest. We recognize the Lord will be pleased as we minister out of a place of peace and rest.
I have been to Asia 10 times over the past 4 years....and in some ways, all the previous travel have been "plowing ground" for such a time as this. Jean is one of our "heroes in the faith" and we feel it is an honor and privilege to serve with her. This is a new season, and we believe there is an open door to move into destiny.
Our Schedule:
2/17 Travel and arrive in Seoul 5pm
2/18 am I, (Darrell) speak in a Church in Seoul
pm We all are at Tejeon Foursquare in Tejeon (3 hrs south of Seoul)
2/19-22 Pastors conference
2/23 Asia Life University
2/25 Home...
Thank you for praying.....
Bless you,
Darrell
PS One of the greatest joys on an mission trip is to receive replys...words of confirmation and encouragement....We'd love to hear from you!
I want to include you in email updates for the next 10 days or so, as Carlene and I, and Jean Darnall will be in Korea for a National Pastors Conference as well as speaking in various churches and at Asia Life University.
I have learned to unashamedly ask for Prayer covering during any overseas ministry. Let me be very specific...we need you prayers for:
Good Health and Travel Safety. Jean is a "young" 80 +...and Carlene's specific task is to literally walk with her and tend to her physical needs.
Accurate Hearing. We are ministering as a kind of "tag team"...it's my favorite kind of ministry. We anticipate and desire to express God's heart and desire for these Korean leaders.
Rest. We recognize the Lord will be pleased as we minister out of a place of peace and rest.
I have been to Asia 10 times over the past 4 years....and in some ways, all the previous travel have been "plowing ground" for such a time as this. Jean is one of our "heroes in the faith" and we feel it is an honor and privilege to serve with her. This is a new season, and we believe there is an open door to move into destiny.
Our Schedule:
2/17 Travel and arrive in Seoul 5pm
2/18 am I, (Darrell) speak in a Church in Seoul
pm We all are at Tejeon Foursquare in Tejeon (3 hrs south of Seoul)
2/19-22 Pastors conference
2/23 Asia Life University
2/25 Home...
Thank you for praying.....
Bless you,
Darrell
PS One of the greatest joys on an mission trip is to receive replys...words of confirmation and encouragement....We'd love to hear from you!
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