I do not love cats. They smell, hiss, scratch and I am allergic to them.

The City of Vancouver has recently begun to give out tickets to people sleeping in a park a couple blocks away from my house. The police will come in early in the morning, tear up tents, throw away my friends and neighbours belongings and give 'em a $75 ticket, they know will not be paid. Some speculate the idea behind this is so that come the Olympics, all those with accumulated tickets will then be issued a warrant for their arrest and will "conveniently" get arrested and serve time during the Olympics.

A few of us have decided that this is not an okay idea and some have gone to be in the park with those who are there and offer themselves to be ticketed also. Then we are going to put all our accumulated tickets together and drop them off at City Hall and not pay. I think the cops have been by once, didn't ticket anyone, and haven't been back since the first day.

See, in this park there is a big sign that says "Homelessness is NOT a Crime". There is a couch, and it is set up just like a living room. There is even someones pet cat, that walks around (without a leash, in case you were wondering), just like someones home - I don't even mind this cat, it kinda gives an at home feeling.

The other night, a friend and I were walking by and spent a bit of time hanging out with our neighbours. It was late, and it was set up with some candle lights, and it was beautiful. There were some of the most beautiful prayers spoken, and one of the better displays of 'every tribe and nation' Ive seen lately.

I don't really know why the City would want to ticket us and throw us in jail. On this particular night, this park was possibly the safest, calmest and most peaceful places in the DTES.

If you don't see some pictures of this up in the next day or so, remind me to go for a walk, take a picture and get it up here.

----------------------------------------------------

How is Nicole?

Great!
I've had a pretty swell week. BTI is in session and it is always a blessing to have some Warriors come in. It gets us all pumped and fired up. We put on our best face and show up to things we may have been slacking in. Being involved with BTI the bit I have been has been uplifting, and a good reminder why I am here.

The Lord is teaching me about being obedient to Him. I have been tested, and have caught even myself off guard when I passed. It is becoming a natural thing to do as well. So, my exhortation of the day, if you will, is be obedient. It becomes natural, and you just get really blessed up to, while blessing the Lord and others.

BTI concludes tonight, with an all night of prayer. If you are in the area, seriously come out tonight. Third floor of the Crosswalk, at Abbott and Hastings. 10pm-6am.

We are also finalising some things for The War College next year. It's going to be a great year. A couple spots are left - apply today at www.thewarcollege.com.

Peace!

I'm slacking on the blogging thing (ht: CTS) I think I might re-discipline myself into much more regular blogging, I even have 7 thoughts lined up for future posts.

I was contemplating self-control tonight, and I got a picture of victory. Of a person (or perhaps the Church) marching onward, and claiming her victories by driving a stake into the ground. Each stake represented her declaring freedom. And each stake was her advancing forwards, claiming more ground along the way.

The stake (see Judges 4) is self-control. I mean the stake in itself is literally just a sharp piece of something, or figuratively it is power and boldness. It is when we say NO-MORE to sin and that which holds us back that we drive a stake into the ground, declaring to death, which gives us the victory and the territory. The stake is our mark, and we can now advance towards it. No looking back. It is when this stake plowed deep within the ground our spirits and flesh unite and the fruit is self-control. The removal of this stake then is the removal of self-control. When the stake is taken out of the ground, we loose ground. It is our self-control that keeps that stake in.

I think we often see self-control as the hardest "fruit of the spirit" to keep, and I have come to realise I am not sure why. It is the one out of the nine that actually requires nothing from us. Our job is to NOT do anything, to NOT remove the stake.

I wonder if this is why a Vampires death is a wooden stake to the heart (or garlic)?

----------------------------------

How is Nicole?

Last week crummy, this week terrific. I am on a constant roller-coaster. But driving stakes into the ground sure enough bring the crumminess to terrificness.

Booth-Tucker Institute (BTI) began today. We've got a sweet line up going on, Praying Psalms together, 60 seconds of Spiritual Pump, some gardening, and an all night of prayer. If you are in the Vancouver area this week - certainly pop by and taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

To short notice? That's okay - perhaps you'd prefer 52 weeks instead. There might be a few spots left for the Conquerors Session of The War College, beginning this September. Apply at www.thewarcollege.com.

I've had a some moments recently where I find myself grieving with the Father. Over broken covenant between the Lord and his people, how we reject his love and his grace, and how a weeping prophet acts. These moments though I might devote a whole blog too.

I'm heading up to (or I guess down and across) to Maine in about 10 days. Going to be part of a Prophetic Evangelism team at Old Orchard Beach. I am eager with anticipation at what Yahweh has in store.

Some good friends of mine are in town too - such a lovely thing. Some good friends of mine are headed onwards - not as lovely.

Peace!

I was talking with some people this week about wounds and forgiveness. We were talking about forgiveness and the healing it brings, and how it brings us closer to Christ for it is a foundational characteristic of Him, and by walking it out we physically bring ourselves closer to Christ. Almost inevitably as we were talking about wounds and what has caused our wounds abuse came up. I think abuse and forgiveness together may be one of the harder things to do. How do you forgive someone who is abusing you. Do you say "I forgive you" and return to the situation, no hard feelings, only to be victimized again? Of coarse not, in this context we encouraged anyone who may be in an abusive relationship to get out and to speak it out. Then it was suggested that telling someone about the abuse is in fact walking out forgiveness itself. This boggled me for a bit. I mean forgiveness is desiring for this other person the same things you desire or not wishing bad things for this person and I don't desire judgement or jail - which are two likely outcomes of speaking out abuse, but then I got to really thinking about it, and I think I agree. If we agree that God's judgement is in fact eternal damnation, then we must agree that that is "the worst that could happen". Or, the largest consequence of abuse is in fact death. So, by speaking out abuse, we are actually stopping "the worst thing that could happen" to this person, giving an opportunity for repentance. And by doing that, then I can agree we are forgiving, for we are no longer wishing bad on the person, because if we were, then we would remain silent and allow for death to be victorious.

Forgiveness. I wonder if true forgiveness is when you don't have anyone to blame for your problems. Like, there are people in my life I am pretty sure I have forgiven. Who I love and would never ever want anything bad to happen to them. Yet, some issues I am currently going through I find it easy to say, "I'm like this because this person did this to me", and I wonder if I have truly forgiven them, then I wouldn't 'blame' those situations. I don't know. Just thinking it out loud (or writing in out).

--------------------------------------------------------------

How is Nicole doing?

Well, just got back from Teen Camp today. It was a good week. Tiring though. I had a cabin by myself mostly full of girls I didn't know and my patience and energy drained quickly. This could have been a result of my first ever migraine on Monday. It was awful! I couldn't open my eyes fully and every step I took made my head hurt so bad. I don't cry (over pain) almost ever, but I was even brought to tears for this. It hurt from the moment I woke up, to part of the next day. But when it was gone - I felt great. Had some good times with God this week. And made connections and deepened relationships with the girls, so that was fabulous too. And, Camp Sunrise is simply a great place to be for me, and I covet every opportunity I get to go up.

Now I am home and it is time to re-settle into things. Back to schedule...well maybe on Monday.

Peace out.