Friday, April 29, 2011

order and read if you dare . . .

http://www.amazon.com/Renovation-Church-Discovers-Spiritual-Formation/dp/0830835466/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304101062&sr=1-1

Kairos times

Many at my former church will recall a time when God moved and spoke more powerfully than possibly any other time in the long history of that church? Some 15 or so years ago, a time the pastor recalls as his most difficult "pulpit" time, but a true "kairos" time when the Lord chose to transform lives and bestow "new names".

Many at my former church will recall a time when God moved and spoke more powerfully than possibly any other time in the long history of that church? Some 15 or so years ago, a time the pastor recalls as his most difficult "pulpit" time, but a true "kairos" time when the Lord chose to transform lives and bestow "new names".

The pastor remained faithful and obedient in the midst of persecution and oppression within the congregation (remember Jesus words about prophets in their own land?). And yes, some lives were forever changed by God through that faithfulness.

My wife and I went from spiritual "milk" to "meat" under this pastor's faithful, humble and vulnerable teaching. And yes, we were both given new "names" at different times and in different, Grace-filled, loving ways.

We now hunger and thirst for God constantly in our lives, and the infinite love of Jesus poured out on our formerly wretched but transforming souls prompts a deep love and compassion for His "sheep".

This IS what Jesus referred to when He declared, "The Kingdom is at hand." We live in "already, not yet" times when the resurrected Jesus invites us to join Him in making all things new.

Want to know more? Contact us via http://pnpontheroad.blogspot.com. An "abundant life", one that enables us to find JOY in all circumstances awaits you.


Sent from my iPhone

Postscript: As I prepare to venture up to Lake Tahoe another time, I can't help but remember that time when I was given my "new name". Dobbins Hall on the Zephyr Pt. conference grounds (zephyr - wind - Holy Spirit) was the setting for a truly Holy Spirit-filled evening, one when many men got new names and a faithful pastor/shepherd was drained completely as the Lord's vessel. "Encourager, Eagle who waits upon the Lord", and hence my own Lakota/Celtic version, Patrick Perching Eagle Watters . . . still learning to "wait" upon the Lord before soaring out on the wind of the Spirit.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

just a few things today . . .

"If you want my love, if you need my love, you've got to closer to me." From Jars of Clay new album in reference to Jesus' love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM1rkhML9lk&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dooif2-yAoI&feature=fvwrel

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Who can know the mind of God?

What is worse; old pastors who are “set in their ways”, or young, upcoming ones who act like they know the mind of God?!

The church in the Western world, especially in America, seems to have an over-abundance of young and even gifted pastors and prophets who purport to know and disseminate the “truth”. They preach, write books and make videos . . . they “blog” too! And, they also go to “war” with one another, each claiming to have “cornered” the real truth of God.

All the while, older and even brighter minds, (Polkinghorne, Wright, Willard, e.g. and others), remain humble and charitable about such matters. They point to all we don’t know about God, (which is infinitely more than we do know), and caution us to be very careful, lest we get pumped up, or worse yet, lost in our own “secret knowledge”. Yes, secret knowledge! Some who claim to have the “truth” may actually be slipping into the way of Gnosticism?!

Do I prefer those old pastors who are “set in their ways”? Well, no not really, but I do prefer those, old and young alike, who are “set” upon the WORD of God first and foremost, those who “sit” under the Word and seek to be taught by the Spirit of Christ as they do. Young men, self-proclaimed shepherds of the Word, would do well to take heed from Thomas a’ Kempis who wrote a “handbook” for young apprentices of Christ, The Imitation of Christ, wherein humility and simplicity are the dominant themes.

For, who indeed can know the mind of God? Job 38-41 contains “instruction” from the LORD God on such matters! Phew! If that doesn’t stop you in your tracks, I don’t know what will?! But, I suppose God could arrange something? So, young guns, er, I mean guys (and maybe some gals too), I enjoy your “explorations” but try to keep humility and charity in your hearts please!

One thing I have learned from John Polkinghorne, N.T. Wright, Dallas Willard and others of similar ilk is that we know very little about God. Oh, we know “enough” for His purposes and ours, but He will always remain a Great Mystery as well. And, further, much of what has been revealed are only “signposts” pointing to an even greater truth. Once again, this revelation should serve to keep us humbled.

“Thin Places”

For the modern church, especially in the Western world, heaven seems far away and so too the Presence of God, the true Heaven. However, for those who seek the ancient paths, who rely on the Spirit to guide, Heaven is very near and even occasionally “glimpsed”. For those of the ancient Celtic church, these “thin places” can and do occur in surprising and unexpected ways. And, it has more to do with our “attitude”, the inclination of our hearts, than any actual physical location on earth. Many “first nations” peoples also know this spiritual truth. And, those who have been introduced to the resurrected Jesus Christ are not at all surprised by Him. He is the One so many of them have been looking for, been expecting. And so, simple people of deep faith experience the in-breaking Kingdom in very real and substantial ways. They understand that the Creator is “re-creating”, making all things new, and they embrace the opportunity to partner with Him in this grand work.

E komo mai, e komo mai i ke alo o Iesu! (Welcome, welcome into the presence of Jesus – Hawaiian)

Wiconi (LIFE, true life – Lahkota)

In Memory Of My Brother Mark

Two days ago my friend and Brother in Christ, Mark, too his own life. I am both saddened and relieved. Saddened for Mark, for wife Cate, for children Molly & Jack. Relieved for Mark especially, and the pain and suffering and torment he was experiencing. I am also saddened and confused that my own prayers and those of others for healing were not effective in the way we had hoped. And, I recall these same feelings when beloved Brother Dr. Dave passed into paradise with the Lord Jesus. For Mark, as for Dave, we held a constant vigil for healing, and yet . . . . ????

Now I lean on the faith I have in a loving God, even in spite of my lack of understanding in Mark’s death. My prayers for healing continue now for Cate, Molly and Jack as I entrust my dear Brother into the hands of the One Who created him. And, as I am wont to do, I feel compelled to share, to try to explain for others what I know (and don’t know) of this journey of Mark’s, from my own personal perspective and journey with mental illness.

I could say much about the parallels and differences between physical and mental or emotional illness. Why we more easily understand the physical, but fear the mental. Why there remains an undeserved and uncompassionate stigma surrounding mental illness. But, for me, the best way is simply to share my own journey in light (darkness) of Mark’s, so that others may understand why Mark took his own life, and perhaps find some measure of comfort or relief themselves.

First, and importantly, let me say I fully believe Mark is with the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is the greatest of comforts.

I am one who is well acquainted with mental illness. My own father committed suicide when I was younger. One of my sisters attempted to take her own life more than once before she found the right medicines and beloved counselors. And finally, if that weren’t enough, I found myself with a knife, in my own hand, pressed against my own chest at the age of 19. Something, SomeONE prevented me from plunging that knife into my own heart those many years ago. And, that SomeONE has comforted, healed and sustained me these years hence, even in the midst of further deep depression and darkness. You’ll just have to believe me when I say that the torment is so bad that it can bring us to that point of wanting to die rather than continue in it.

Please believe me when I say the pain and torment is real. It affects us certainly mentally, but also physically. I have had 16 major surgeries, at last count, for a variety of injuries and ailments, and would take one, or all of them, over again rather than experience clinical depression. So, what do we do? What do we make of this? What do we learn from this and other similar tragedies? I hope that we learn compassion most of all, but also that we must continue to persevere in prayer regardless of whether the outcome is what we had wished for. That, above all else, we would love one another, even as our Lord and Savior is making all things new.

Now to Him be all Glory, Honor and Praise, even in the midst of suffering.

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

AMEN.

P.S. Of course, if you or others have further questions or need of prayer, please get in touch with me. If nothing else, I will understand.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/patrick.watters1

http://pnpontheroad.blogspot.com

Monday, April 4, 2011

Following Jesus

What shall I tell you about my soul? It is still more or less as you knew it, I still have a lot to do about humility, obedience, charity, meditation too, and many other things; it seems to me t where my soul is concerned I lose rather than gain; I ought to admit this as a tragic certainty; the only thing, basically, that prevents me from doing so, that prevents me from admitting this sad fact, is my huge desire for it not to be true. I have no humility, no simplicity. What a huge sheet of paper I would need to enumerate all that I have too little of and all that I have too much of! Charles de Foucauld

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Romans 7:15
For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Romans 7:19

You are powerful over Your creatures. You can do all things in me. Give me a right mind; give me the wisdom that You promise to all who ask for it. Convert my heart and through all eternity. I ask this in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Amen. Charles de Foucauld

I and rejoice in will be glad you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: Romans 1:16a

Je veux crier l’Evangile toute ma vie, avec ma vie . . . Oui, et avec toute ma vie! Le Moose
(I would shout the Gospel all my life, with my life . . . yes, and with all my life!)
[in recognition of the film “des hommes et des dieux” and in memory of the Trappist monks of Algeria]

Sunday, April 3, 2011

a video for everyone . . .

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150156630043739&oid=140294062677517&comments