Happy Canadian Birthday to Andy Mac.

Man, I wish I was in Australia, then you get two birthdays!!!

Today was a cool day. I spoke in a high school about addiction. I basicaly was given 30 minutes to give my testimony and preach. No alter call though. But seriously it was a cool time to share my heart, speak some truth and I even got a word of knowledge that I was able to scam off as fact. Good times.

Cannot think of anything terribly profound to say today. Im saving it all up for tomorow...for I know tomorow wont be the happiest of days. My friend is moving to Calgary. Anyone who was at the 614 Anniversary this year will know the goodbyes + nicoles = alot of crying.

Totally unrelated - I am freezing cold right now - I can definetly say this is the coldest Ive been this season. My feet feel like ice in socks, my fingers need mittens....brrrrr.

God is here.

Happy Birthday to Andy Mac

Well the birthday of Andy Mac is October 30, which in Australia is today. Oh man, it doesnt make sence! But nonetheless, happy birthday buddy!

Halloween is coming up - I really do not like this day.
Its a day full of wickedness and devil glorifying nonsence really. A day of evil - yuck, gross, ick I hate it and everything it represents. Not only does it represent evil and unrighteousness but it promots unhealthy living and gluttony.

Ive caught myself unintentionally walking in the opposite spirit this Halloween season. Like tonight I was at a friends house and we were watching TV. Now, Im not one to really care about movie content and 'Gothika' was showing, she wanted to watch it, typically I wouldnt have cared, for I dont like movies much anyways and probally would have gotten up and done something different anyways, but tonight I was like there is no way we are watching this, its only showing becuase it is the Halloween season and I dont want to support that.

Then I got to thinking of other ways to not support Halloween. Maybe fasting on Tuesday, or only eating veggies. Spend the entire day in prayer. Prayer walk the neighboorhood during trick or treating time.

Halloween is lame.

God is here.

Happy Birthday to Jonathan Evans and Sara Steer!

I must admit I have some terrific friends! You guys are great (all of you, not just the two mentioned above!).

I love this person...yet I dont know why, I dont even think I want to love this person, but I cant help it. Infact Ive been used, lied to and ignored, yet I still find myself in love. There is nothing this person can do to make me love them less, to make me love them more either, I love them and nothing will be able to change that.

Its kinda the same with God. He loves us, I dont know why, He just does. We lie to him, we ignore him, we are a faithless people to him, yet he is still in love with us. And we cant do anything to change that love. We cant make him love us less and we cant make him love us more.

Love sure is powerful.

If there was a prize for love, children would win it hands down. I was having a rough day, and I had to pick up some warriors, (ages 4-10). These kids blessed me in ways they dont even know. I arrived to happy, smiling, excited kids. I was embraced by a 6 year old, asked to play cards with a 4 year old at the same time as a 7 year old telling me she "couldnt wait to see me". The worries and cares from the day seemed to melt away as these young revoltionists did what they know best - loved me.

Two days later I was on the phone and was crying. Ok, lets face it, I was bawling my eyes out and there were six kids over at my house playing and having fun. In there compassion they stopped what they were doing to comfort and pray for me. I had one wipe the tears off my cheeks, another ask Jesus to stop my pain, another in his concern question why I was so sad, another just sit on my lap and rest her head on my sholder, another sitting to my right strocking my hand and the sixth getting angry at whoever hurt me. This all only made me cry harder!

GOD BLESS THE WARRIOR ACADEMY!

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There seems to be a return of those bloggers from hibernation.

Linsey New
Ashley Milburn
Tasha Chooi
Jonathan Berkshire

check em out to the right.

God is here.

I was talking to my old youth pastor over the weekend and somehow the topic of marraige came up. He said "I wonder what type of guy you will marry" he then went on to say that it would either be a exteme on fire christian, or someone not saved at all. I told him why would he even think that I would allow myself to be unequally yoked...and he said becuase he cant see me settling for someing mediocar, something lukewarm, something in the middle..it will be one or the other. Nice.

There is nothing more satisfying then hearing a command from the Lord, immeadietly obeying it - not thinking twice, and even if it seems unrealistic and crazy doing it anyways. And then watching what comes out of it. This weekend I heard that command and I immeadietly obeyed. Part of this obedience included a saccfice of my time and the possibility of a sacrifice of favor and approval, and a two hour drive, but i really didnt care. And on this drive I was just so full of excitement and joy to bless a friend that it cancelled out all fear.

There is nothing more discouraging then investing time, money, prayer, yourself into someone and having it all thrown back at you. Exibiting a form of extravegant love, seeing fruit of healing from it and then two days later seeing that fruit go bad, rotten, brown moldy and flies buzzing around it.

What cuases fruit to go bad? Letting it sit there, not doing anything with it. A banana left on the counter too long goes bad. Did I let the freedom fruit sit there too long...

God is here.

I am quite tired! I have had a grand total of 6 hours sleep in the past three days. Alas, times are good. I will post something of greater when I can actually think straight.

For now I will make us all laugh.

I was with a friend the other day and we were reading some old year books of mine.

Plans for the future (2002)
- Be a Church Planter
- Win the world for Jesus
(and this was before my war college days)

Hobbies (age 7)
- Reading
- Drawing
- Swimming
(Possibly my three least favourite things now)

Ill blog better tonight. Now I must head off.

God is here.

Happy Birthday to Melissa Wight and Dan White!!!!!

Im at a loss at what to blog about.

so I wont.

God is here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OLIVIA MUNN!!!!

My night last night involved teen lust, broken windows, drunk guys coming to my house at odd hours of the morning needing a place to crash, and very little sleep. Clearly, not the ideal Saturday night. Today, I was pretty discouraged by it all, not hopeless, but definetly discouraged. The events of the night (like the broken widows) were not at my house and after talking to a friend of mine today was reminded how important sacred space is. How important a place of refuge, a safe place, a holy place is. A place that can be respected and a place to feel safe in. He went on to say how eventually that place becomes you. Right now this place is our home. Our friends know that our home will not be a place for sex or a place of drunken parties or a place to get high or a place to disrespect. After this conversation, the events of this evening showed me again how important sacred space is.

Tonight I am at work, and I have a friend of mine spending the night at my house alone. This same freind who I wrote about last post, and this same friend who was involved in the events of last night. I got a text message from her about an hour ago telling me what she thinks of me and what Jesus had to say to me - for the record it was bang on stuff. Then I got another text message a few minutes ago asking me to pray for her. So I did (which Ill share in a bit becuase I think it is something we can all hear). I called her back to share some pictures and words with her, and we talked for quite a bit about what Jesus was saying to her and stuff. Then she went on to say how if she went home tonight she wouldnt have prayed (by the time I called she had been at it a couple hours allready) and wouldnt have gotten the healing or freedom she beleives she recieved. Yup, my friend has it right - theres something important about sacred space.

Jesus and my friend were riding horses. The were comeing to a mountain and Jesus was ahead climbing it with ease. My friend was struggling the horse was slipping and she couldnt control the rieghns. She kept thinking "I dont want get too far behind Jesus, I dont want to miss him" But when she looked up He hadnt left. He was right in front of her waiting. He said "Ill never leave you alone I want to go up the mountain with you, come ride with me" She got off her horse and went on his with him, wrapped her arms tight around him and rode to the top of the mountain.

Friends, its the same for us. We must recongnise we cannot control our "horses" or our lives. If we try to we will stumble, fall behind and struggle. We must surrender control and allow our good sheapard to take the reigns.

He waits. While we in our stuborn pride try to do it ourselves and catch up - Jesus in his humility and love waits. His love doesnt change...He just waits, then when he has us he rides away!

God is here.

I thought love never failed.

I have these two awesome friends. I have had the priviledge of watching them both come from a place of addiction into a place of freedom. I have had the priviledge of seeing stongholds in their lives torn down. I have had the priviledge of them crying on my sholder, and also me crying on theirs. I have had the priviledge of seeing victory in their lives. Last night was not a priviledge. Last night I sat and watched life being stolen from them. I helplessly watched as my friends engaged themselves with the ways of the world and I helplessly left for I couldnt do anything except say no and cry.

Man, does love ever hurt.

I dont get it. I thought love never failed. What happened? Ive been patient. Ive been kind. I havent been self seeking, and I havent kept a record of wrongs.

But now I get it. Love doesnt give up. Love always hopes. Love always persevers. Love always trusts. Love never fails.

Keep loving, and when it hurts, love some more.

God is here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARREN HAILES AND MARK TOUZEAU!!!

So I was playing monopoly last night with about ten other people...and I learned that the only way to stay alive was to live in community. So I have my property with hotels on it and my buddy has his property with hotels...and we make this deal...I dont pay rent on his and he doesnt pay rent on mine. My house is your house. Another couple deside to co-own slum alley and split the profits. Four hours later everyone was sharing profits or staying rent free at places and was still in the game. Eventually we cut off the uniting so the game would end.

But this is true not only in monopoly but in life. The only way to survive is to live in community. I once heard someone say you dont know Jesus unless you know community.

God has shown me so much lately how vital community is, how I need community to stay alive. The beauty of community is that even if a body of water may seperate me and my family and friends physically, there is nothing that can seperate the love. (Just like nothing can seperate us from the fathers love.)

Thanks everyone for your support and prayers.
Mom I love you.

God is here.

I should cook more often, aparently Im not that bad of a cook. Today I had some chicken I had to cook up, but there was too much. Ahh, the beauty of community, I called up a couple friends and had them come over and help me eat. I made Chicken fried rice...my mommy taught me how to make that - Thanks mom, it was a hit.

One of the girls that came over was drunk and hurting. The Lord said love. I prepared her this meal, she LOVED it. Then my other friend had to go to work, and I had the blessing of getting some quality time (my love language, just for the record) with my new friend. I got to learn alot about her, and aside from the fact she was intoxicated, had a lovely time.

Yahweh has been teaching me these days about love. An extravagant love. A saccrificial love. A love that doesnt fail.

Some people I know how to love well. Well being defined as extravagant and saccrificial.

Others I dont.

So I had to ask the Lord some questions...

How can I love ________ extravagantly?
Filling in the blank with names of people.

I encourage you to ask the Lord today how to love the person who is hard to love.
Also ask..."How does Jesus love me extravagantly"

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Im currently reading a chronological bible. Its a totally different read this way. I just finished Esther (which chronologically comes just before Malachi) and a few things stuck out at me. "If I perish I persish" Esther said this to her father figure Mordicai. She was willing to give up her life, in an attempt to save his. Now thats saccficial love. Kinda like Jesus, dying for us eh.

A couple days ago I was in Zachariah (which chronologically comes before Esther - or around the same time anyways) and 14:20 stuck out. Things were inscribed - HOLY TO THE LORD. Ive heard of early Salvationists who would write Holiness utno the Lord, on to everything they owned. Books, clothes, furniture etc. Im thinking about doing the same - declaring that these things first of all arnt mine, but more importanly declaring that I will own nothing that is defiling, for it is Holy to the Lord. Oh, maybe this will be tatoo number 3.

God is here.

I read this sweet article "Renew it in our Day - The Forgotten Westcoast Revival of 1923" by known prophit Sara Maynard the other day. It wa fairly long but I will pull out some juicy tidbits.

"Most Christians in this region believe that Vancouver and Victoria are historically untouced by revival....
Most beleive that this is not only hard ground but its never been won...

The Victoria Ministerial Association had heard of the stirrings of revival in Oregon [of british evangelist Charles Price] Price had lined up the sick and laid hands on them annointing them with oil. Scores were slain in the Spirit...a woman was dramatically healed and without invitaion scored flocked to the alter for salvation. Price was being compared to the powerful revival ministry of Charles Finny.
...the Victoria Ministerial Association to invite Price to conduct a 3 week crusade. Victoria was not disapointed for these 3 weeks were to go into the history books of the kingdom.

The meetings were soon moved to Willow arena...and still it was found too small as up to 9000 jammed into hear the revivalist preach and as manny as 4000 additional seekers were turned away.

Hundreds even up to 1000 at a time were being powerfully converted every night...these numbers in todays standards are large, in 1923 they were unprecenetd for Victorias population base of 55000.

Healings were frequent and dramatic. What added to the stir was the detalied reporting in daily newspapers of those who were bing healed, blind seeing and the crippled walking, even those suffering from terminal conditions were being touched and healed by the power of God.

...as her curved spine and deformed foot straightened and strenghthans so taht she was able to walk and run as if nothing had ever been wrong.

Durin the campaing the Vancovuer Ministeral became keenly intereseted

[Price} wished it understood that his campaing was an evangelistic one and not a healing mission, that the organic changes that took place in the sick were of assistance in bringing salvation to many.

...who had been carried in on a stretcher, groaning in anguish. After the alter call Price prayed for her...there was a joycul screawm from the bed {she} arose...she felt no pain and was cured.

The hour and a half wait before the meeting opened was occupied with prayer adn hymn selections rendered by the Salvation Army band (had to throw that one in there lol)

Healings and Salvations were continuing to multiply in Victoria.

The crusades in bothe Vancouver and Victoria impacted hundreds of young people who yeiled themselves to the spirit and commited there future to serve the King.

Spontaneous healings becang to break out in the city.

...grouping the sick in 20's and praying for them en mass to cope with the overwhleming demand.

[Price went to jail} The charge was practicing medicine without a licnece.

Now those are some sweet wells to redig in this city - who wants to redig em with me....

God is here.

Hey All,

So I totally crashed my computer at work. Word of advice, dont open links off of msn...there may be a massive virus in it that takes EVERYTHING away....my apologies to those who I might have passed this along to. When I told my boss she said "Its okay, we were getting a new computer next week anyways" - Have I ever told you I love my job!!!

So as a result my computer access (and thus blogging) will be limited untill the new computer arrives.

But while Im here...I had the blessing of seeing masses get saved last night.

I was at this conferance out here in Victoria. Salvador, Joy Williams and Tree63 were the music, and Billy Ghrams grandson did the preaching. Not the best speaking if I say so myself, but regardless of my opinion when the salvation pitch was made hundrends (maybe upto a thousand) kids responded - including one of ours!!! Woohoo!!!

I would like to use this time to recruite....Victoria is beautiful, and the youth in the corps and community are getting saved and/or sanctified quickly - we would love your help...for real...pray about it, and talk to me.

So back to last night. It was a blast. The power in the room after hundreds chose to follow Jesus was awesome. I also got to see again how real and how alive Jesus is. This girl who came with us, who got saved, prior to the responce was just sitting there while the bands were playing, not really doing too much, she gets saved, and then the last band gets up and she begins to worship. Hands up, voice raised, tears flowing, she was clearly changed and clearly worshiping a real and living God.

So seriously, wanna move out here and disciple this generation with us....you know you wanna!

God is here.