Belonging House

Sirach 44:1-7
1 Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers in their generations. 2 The Lord apportioned to them great glory, his majesty from the beginning. 3 There were those who ruled in their kingdoms, and were men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and proclaiming prophecies; 4 leaders of the people in their deliberations and in understanding of learning for the people, wise in their words of instruction; 5 those who composed musical tunes, and set forth verses in writing; 6 rich men furnished with resources, living peaceably in their habitations — 7 all these were honored in their generations, and were the glory of their times.

There has been a lot of talk in recent months about honoring our spiritual fathers and mothers. In other words, giving praise and honor to the men and women whose spiritual legacy has touched our lives directly. For me and my ministry, I have seen the time between mid-August to mid-September as a time that really transitions me from one year to another. Roughly, this is the period between the Feast of St. Mary to the Jewish High Holy Days, especially Rosh Hashanah. The Jewish year has become more and more significant for me over the years, and as we approach it’s end, I wanted to honor those whose legacy has brought me here today.

Agnes Sanford

In my spiritual life, few individuals have impacted me more than Agnes Sanford. Her book The Healing Light was the first to lay out the principles of inner healing, the forgiveness of past sins and how they impact our emotional and physical health, and the practical application of solid theology. Mrs. Sanford directed impacted a number of men and women who applied these principles to my own life. I am grateful to God for being one generation removed from her life. Those who learned from her that touched me personally include Dr. Robert Tuttle, Father Al Durrance, and Leanne Payne. From her, I have learned the power of the reality that the Life of God can bring life to our mortal bodies.

Smith Wigglesworth

The early Pentecostal evangelist Smith Wigglesworth impacted me early in my teens, and first hand accounts from Brother Bill Kouts, a man who traveled with Smith in the 1930’s put into my mind and imagination the truth that with God anything really was possible.

A.B. Simpson
Simpson was the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and really set the stage for the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements of the 20th Century. In my teens I was privileged to meet a number of older preachers who had been impacted by Simpson, and their example of holiness has stayed with me for over 20 years.

John Wesley

Wesley caught my imagination in my youth. I am grateful that I attended two schools established out of his tradition. He was my early teacher on revival, theology, and my own roots in the Anglican church.

Thomas Merton

Merton, and the monks at the Abbey of Gethsemani, taught me the power of silence, and how to develop a life prayer. Through Merton’s writing I learned about enjoying God alone.

Coach George Wells
Coach directed a traveling ministry from Houghton College beginning in 1952. Through his leadership, I learned a lot about personal integrity, more about ministry than I did in seminary, and about what it means to be a leader.

Pastor Bill Johnson
The first time I heard Pastor Bill speak, I put my pencil down and just listened. I could feel my brain change as he expounded on bringing heaven to earth. Over the past two years his weekly sermons have re-discipled me in an amazing way.

Mary

There are few people who actually have impacted my regular prayers, and no one whose words have made up part of the content of those prayers. Mary has. “Let it be to me according to your word.” “With you all things are possible.” No other human being outside of our Lord Jesus has followed with a greater example of obedience to God.

This list could go on and on, because I am indebted to every man and woman who served the Lord faithfully in their generation. I am heir of this great cloud of witnesses. How can I forget to list Finney, Edwards, Francis, Augustine, Madame Guyon, Fenelon, Tozer, David, Patrick, Boniface, Tyndale, Bernini, Bach, and all of the other sainted men and women who faithful and left a legacy to a generation yet unborn. Glory to God.

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

This morning I saw visions of waves.

The first wave that I saw was like a fairly normal wave that a person would see at the beach. One could jump and play in it. It quickly crested and then dissipated, leaving little more than a wake.

The next wave I saw eclipsed the first. It was much larger, and reminded me of the opening of “Hawaii Five-O.” It was the kind of wave that a surfer looked for. It was long, large, and rolling. It was the kind of wave you could ride. It was moving West to East.

The last wave I saw was much larger than the previous two. This wave actually engulfed the earlier ones. As I saw it, I heard the word TSUNAMI. This wave moved from the East to the West.

The first wave is the Lakeland Outpouring. It has already crested, and will soon be completely dissipated.

The second wave is a the coming revival to the West Coast, centered especially in Southern California, possibly San Diego. This wave is going to have a much larger and far more dramatic impact. Many will be able to ride on this wave, and some will be carried away by it—much like the Toronto movement of the 1990’s.

God is going to use reality television shows to display much of this wave. Southern California and the entertainment industry will especially be impacted by this wave. Although larger and more pronounced than the Florida Wave, the California wave will also swell, crest, and eventually dissipate. Judging the second wave by the size and shape of the first, we can guess that since the Lakeland wave rose and fell within 4 months, the second wave to could take a year or more to reach it’s full swell, and a considerably long time at its crest. But it will be engulfed by the third wave.

This last wave came from the East, and was much larger than the second. No one could ride on this wave. It engulfed the previous two waves. It was a mighty surge coming from the Northeast. It was empowered by the opening of Ancient Wells beneath the earth. This wave caused waves to to spread out all over the world, and had direct impact. Unlike the first wave, where many could play and splash around; or the second, where many came to ride; this wave caused other waves to form and go out. In fact, this wave cause some to run in fear, it caused others to seek shelter, and it overwhelmed everything in its path. Nothing was the same in the wake of the last wave. It will be a cleansing tidal wave of God’s Spirit.

Just as the West Coast wave begins to crest, this wave will begin to emerge. When things in California begin to peak, be aware, for the last wave will begin to roar.

This last wave will be unlike anything seen on the earth. Movement, movement, movement.

Out of New England, prepare for the revelation of the Sons of God beginning in the earth. Brace yourself for this next wave of God, unlike anything seen on the earth.
Operation of supernatural power, and the possibility of counterfeits.
Still this is the move of God upon the earth.

The armies of heaven are descending on America.

You have nothing to fear.

A great and mighty shaking is upon us to destroy the things not built on solid ground.

Tremors, trembling, and movement.  Have no fear. The Summer of Love produced assinations and unleashed death.

Last summer produced a resurrection and released life.

The lions will roar in August.

A global awakening is beginning.

Islam will have no defense against the coming move of the Holy Spirit. Breaking, breaking, breaking the gates of brass.  There will now be no limit to God’s activity in the earth.

In 1988 I was given a word from the Lord, “The generation of the sons of Eli will pass away.” This is a reference to I Samuel 2:11-17.

On June 22, 2006, God gave me a very clear picture of a fire beginning in the Northeastern United States and spreading across the country, putting a love of freedom into the hearts of men and women.

This morning, I received another word, that seemed to clearly link these two messages.

There are no longer any limitations.
Like the elephant that was chained to a post, you have believed that you were limited to what you could or could not do. There are no chains, and there is no limitation.
You can step into your destiny.

The generation of the sons of Eli has ended.

I am about to begin a second American Revolution.
This revolution will restore God’s first intention for America.
This intention was usurped by false gods and false religion.
There is dry tinder in New England.
It is about to burst into a raging fire throughout North America.

It will be marked by
Vital spirituality
Sound theology
Signs, Wonders, and Miracles
The Government of God.

Ted Kennedy is a sign of the end of the government of man.
He marks the end of the reign of the sons of Eli
The end of doing what seems right in one’s own eyes.

The death of Ted Kennedy will usher in the release of a new spirit of freedom and liberty.
This will mark the end of resistance to the government of God.

New Righteousness
New Justice
New Order
New Freedom

The Holy Spirit will begin to move in Massachusetts.
There will be an open heaven over Boston Common.
Mass meetings will begin to happen on the Boston Common.
Apostate Churches will return to orthodox faith.
There will be new songs, and a revival of culture.
This will spread up and down the east coast.

Lakeland is a foreshadowing.
It is only a tremor.
The real shaking has yet to come.
This shaking will be a 7.0 on the Richter Scale.
Everything that can fall will.
The generation of the sons of Eli will be buried alive in the rubble.
And no one will search or rescue.

Fallen, fallen is the house of Eli!
Never to rise again.

Fallen, fallen is the house of Kennedy!
Never to rise again.

A new American Revolution has begun.

Liberty and Justice for all
Liberty and Justice for all
Liberty and Justice for all

The Clintons will fade from the public view, never to return.
The spiritual power that supports them is defeated.

There are still many surprises in the national election, and another candidate may emerge.
A dark horse candidate whom no one expects.

Media will not decide the election, or determine the issues.
God’s agenda for the fall
God’s agenda for the fall

Surprise turn of events in August.
Hear a lion roar in August.
Not a political revolution
Not a sexual revolution
But a spiritual revolution

Rather than assassinations, we will see resurrections.

Eli’s sons will be forgotten and ignored.
Their churches will close and their kingdoms will fall.
I will hasten this process and speed their demise.
Because they have profaned my name among the nations nor feared me.
Therefore I shall destroy them
Even as a new generation rises to supplant them.
Neither a Samuel,
Nor a Saul,
But I am raising up my David generation.
These worshipping warriors will restore my fallen tent and offer right sacrifices.
Even as the Elies, Jesses, and Sauls have attempted to deny and kill them
They will rise with healing in their wings.

There will be songs and dancing
There will be songs in the night.

There is a new American Revolution coming.
Behold and see that it has begun.

Fallen, Fallen is the house of Eli!
Never to rise again.

Belonging House Ministries exists to raise up an army of artists, and to build a throne for Jesus Christ.
Belonging House does this through listening to God and doing what God tells us, and to display that God can be trusted.

In other words, we don’t buy toilet paper.

Actually, Belonging House has grown out of the life of Christ Otto. By learning to listen to God and respond in obedience, Christ (rhymes with “wrist”) has learned how God can meet our needs. This began with toilet paper–171 rolls to date, to be exact. Since January 2006, Christ hasn’t bought toilet paper. It has been dropped off at the door, left by dinner guests, and included in care packages. He didn’t even know that it was happening for a year and a half. Through this humble (and hilarious) sign, God has reminded Christ that He can be trusted. Out of this has grown a life of prayer, and a vision to establish a center of “round the clock” prayer and worship. For over two years, Belonging House has only survived by prayer, no formal fundraising.

So what does toilet paper have to do with artists?

More than any other group, creative artists are continually told that they cannot make a living or survive doing the thing they were created to do—make the world a more beautiful place. By choosing to live by faith, Belonging House is a living parable that God can be trusted.

What does this have to do with ongoing prayer and worship?

We believe that God is reforming the expression of Christianity in this generation. Across the globe, there are centers of prayer and worship emerging, much like the monastic movement in the middle ages. To devote your life and your gifts to serving God in prayer is a huge act of faith.

What will this look like?

We are committed to a multi-tiered vision in Akron, Ohio.
We are praying for a house in the city to use for training, equipping, and gathering.
We are also looking for a second house to use for gallery, studio and performance space.
Finally, we are looking to obtain an abandoned department store at a local mall for the purpose of establishing a center of worship, training, and ministry. This space, a former regional distribution center, would need very little renovation to be used for a 1000 seat worship area, a regional foodbank, training facility, and for video and internet broadcasting. Some of the amazing things in this building are two massive storage areas, complete with racks and shelves, a server, wiring for internet, and a self-contained generator. Essentially, this could become a full-service mission.

But why?

We believe that a massive change is about to happen. There are already huge shifts taking place in the economy, the culture, and the church. Belonging House is called to prepare for this shift, by preparing a place where worship is continuous, where those thrust out of conventional work are prepared to use the gifts and abilities within them to make a living, and where those in need can come for food, shelter, and encouragement.

Toilet paper is just the beginning.

John 9: 1 - 41
There is an old saying that goes, “there are none so blind as those who refuse to see.”  Such was the case of this altercation with the Pharisees and the man born blind.

First off, they used a human being as an object in a theological argument.   “Who sinned, the man or his parents?”  They ask, trying to trap Jesus with the ultimate Jewish question—Why do the righteous suffer?

Jesus, instead of entering into their human argument, lets the Kingdom break in.  “He was born blind so the Glory of God could be made manifest.”  Then he heals the man with mad on his eyes.  The man is healed.

Angered and frustrated, the Pharisees begin to question the man about Jesus.  Then they question his parents.  Then they go back to the man.  And the man, after having an encounter with Jesus, has been given revelation into God and his ways.  God listens to those who worship him, and obey him.  God is listening to Jesus.  He was blind and now he can see.  Their pride, still not satisfied, finally put the man out of the synagogue.  They have been stymied by knowledge that came from being in the Presence of Jesus, not from rabbinical training.

I am learning that God doesn’t answer my questions with clean answers.  He meets my struggles with his glory.   I ask my questions, and he touches my eyes and I see a revelation of his glory.  The kingdom isn’t about following the rules or having a lot of academic knowledge.   The Kingdom is about being in relationship with Jesus, walking in faith and walking with him.  I can think of a more humiliating method of healing than being anointed with spit and dirt, turned into mud, then walking to a public pool and washing.  Knowledges puffs up, but love builds up (1 Cor. 8:1).   Jesus acted toward the man with love.  The man out of that experience with Jesus responded with love, and began to understand the power of worship and obedience.  That is how we love God, through worship and obedience.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to become a “self-made man” or to “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps” when you are lost in love, and worship, and humbly agreeing with God.  In fact, there might not be a better way to become obscure.   But in obscurity you are able to see.  You are able to understand, and you become the foolish one who shames the wise.  That’s why the religious leadership didn’t like this man; he didn’t have credentials.  But he had put them to shame.

Lord Jesus, help me have an encounter with you.  Let me pour out my life in worship.  Let me listen to your voice, and do what you tell me.  Touch my eyes, so that I can see.   May I know you, and be known by you.  May I become foolish for your greatness, that my blindness could be used for your greater glory.  Amen

This question was posed to me yesterday, and although not the best stuff for Lent, here are my answers.  Cooking is an art, too, y’know.

There are a multitude of things (none of them being good for you).  I have included a few recipes off the top of my head–and now I am hungry.

1.  Whip it, whip it good! (devo)
2.  Make a chocolate mousse (I have a fab-o recipe)
3.  make homemade caramel sauce (actually, possibly the best idea, details to follow)
4. make alfredo sauce
5.  Use in coffee
6. Make creme fraiche (add about a teaspoon of vinegar and leave out on the counter for a bit).  Recipe for this to follow as well.

Truthfully, when I have cream around it’s like having an old friend in the house, and I usually have a multitude of little ways to use it.

Caramel sauce (standard pastry chef concoction)
1 c sugar
1/3 water
Put in small saucepan, and gently swirl sugar and water over medium high heat until sugar dissolves COMPLETELY.  Cover and let the sugar cook for a few minutes, checking to make sure that crystals are not forming along the edge (the steam should prevent this).  When the sugar begins to form “bubble on bubble” and look thick begin watching it, about 3-5 minutes.  The color will begin to change to the familiar golden brown caramel color.  When it is almost the color you want (but not quite, because the sugar will continue cooking from its own heat) remove from the burner, and reduce heat to low.  Swirl the pan a bit.  Put the pan on the burner, and begin slowly wisking. As you wisk, carefully pour your cream into the hot sauce, keeping it moving so the sugar doesn’t harden (don’t be afraid when it spits and sputters).  Keep whisking over low heat until the sauce is completely blended.  Remove from heat and add a dash of salt, and about 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
This is awesome on ice cream, over warm chocolate cake, to dip fruit, in coffee, and probably a few things that haven’t yet come to mind.

For a savory recipe, and an all time favorite:

Pommes de Dauphin (Dauphin potatoes)  French peasant cooking at its best.
6 to 8 medium potatoes
1 medium onion sliced and sauteed in 1T butter until caramelized
1 pound of sliced smoked sausage (kielbasa) or sliced ham
4 large eggs
about 1 c of cream
optional grated swiss (or similar) cheese (I usually leave it off)
butter
grated fresh nutmeg and salt and pepper

Peel and slice 6 to 8 potatoes and boil until tender in salted water.  Drain.
Butter a low casserole.  (I have a perfect sized enameled cast iron french casserole, but a 9×13 Pyrex dish would be about right as well.)  Layer the bottom with potatoes, then onions, and sausage.  Repeat until the dish is full, or the potatoes run out.  sprinkle liberally with salt, fresh ground pepper, and a couple good grates of nutmeg.  Beat the eggs and about half the cream and pour over the casserole. Pour the remaining cream until the potatoes are just covered.  Dab the top with bits of butter or sprinkle with cheese.  Bake for 35-45 minutes in a 350 degree oven until the center is cooked and the top is lightly browned.  Serve with a green salad.

An Alsatian tart
Puff pastry (frozen is fine, and actually the ready made pie crust rounds would work)
1 medium onion sauteed in butter until caramelized (I see a theme)
Creme Fraiche
Guyere or swiss cheese, grated
cooked bacon, broken up, or sliced ham (I like ham)
salt and pepper and nutmeg

Essentially this is a pizza, only with these lovely Alsatian flavors.

Heat oven to 450.
line a baking sheet with parchment and  unfold your pastry onto it.  Fold the edges over to form a “crust.”  Spread the pastry with creme fraiche, then sprinkle with cheese, ham, and onions.  Season with a little salt, grated pepper, and a few grates of nutmeg.  This should bake pretty fast, about ten minutes.  Watch to prevent burning.  Serve with a salad.

 This is probably a good time to talk about the different ways God might speak to you.  I have already mentioned the Bible, so I will not include this on the list.
An audible voice.  Throughout scripture God spoke to men and women through an audible voice, including Moses, Samuel and Jesus.  Although I have not had this experience, a few friends of mine have.  This may be the rarest way God speaks.
An internal voice.  In my experience, this has become the way God speaks most often.  The internal voice is much like the “still small voice” that Elijah experienced after the confrontation with the prophets of Baal.
When God speaks to you in this way, you may sense a thought or word form in your mind.  Very often, God speaks in a conversation within the context of prayer.  You pray, and God speaks.  God speaks, and you pray.  The goal is an ongoing conversation with God, where you are interacting with him, and he is guiding you.  After praying for a house for six months, God spoke to me and showed me the house.  It came to me as a thought that was clearly not my own: “This is the house you are praying for.”
A dream.  God spoke to the patriarch Joseph in dreams, to Jacob, and to Joseph in the New Testament.  God often speaks in dreams to people today, but many dismiss them or fail to remember them.
Before bed I ask God for a spirit of wisdom and revelation, and I keep a notebook on my nightstand.  If I am awakened by a particularly vivid dream, I try to write it down.  God can speak to us while we sleep.  I also pray for protection from evil dreams and nightmares in the night.
Visions.
One day I was praying for my friend Alice.  While I was praying for her, I saw a picture of her in a red dress, and she was beautiful.  I could have dismissed the picture, but instead, I prayed into it.  God was giving me insight into the desires of my friend’s heart.  This was a vision.
There are two kinds of visions.  The first is an internal picture, almost like a day dream where you might see something or imagine a picture in your mind.  This happens to me often when I pray, or when I pray for others.   It is one way that God speaks and guides your prayers.
The second, is an “open” vision.  This is like the vision I had of heaven described in the first part of this book.  Open visions are sometimes dramatic, and are used by God to give you clear revelation of his will or his direction. There are many times in scripture where men and women experienced visions.  Two significant vision occurred in Acts.  The first was when God wanted Peter to expand his vision to the Gentiles in Acts 10:9-16.  Paul had a vision in Acts 16:6-10 that directed him to go to Macedonia.
Visions are an important way that God speaks and clarifies other directions he gives to his people.
The Prophetic.  In November 2005, three members of a prophetic ministry team prophesied that I was about to experience a great transition, that I needed to stock up on groceries, and that was about to start something big.  This surprised me, but I knew that God had made promises to me about a future ministry that had not been fulfilled.
Often God speaks his word from one person to another.  When he does this, it is called the prophetic.  Usually, when a person has a prophetic word for you, it is confirmation or an expansion of what God has spoken to you in other ways.  In looking over the past decades when God has spoken to me through others, I can think of possibly twice where the prophecy was something God had not already told me.  Prophecy is rarely directive, but more often confirmation.
Unusual Circumstances or signs.   In 2004 I began finding pennies in odd places–  really odd places, like balanced on their side on restaurant tables, on gas pumps, in my shoes, and on the ground outside my car door every time I opened it.  It happens so often, that for a while I thought I was going a little crazy.  It was not until the fall of 2006 that I heard Patricia king start talking about people who find pennies everywhere.  She said that the pennies, “ONE CENT” were a sign of an apostolic calling—the Sent one.   Since that time, the pennies no longer annoy me, but are a sign that God is encouraging the call he has placed on my life.
Unusual circumstances can be a way that God speaks.  Any time something happens repeatedly, begin to ask God if he is trying to tell you something.

Begin with finding a place of quiet where there is no distraction. Even if you get to a quiet place, it might be hard to find internal quiet. Sometimes my mind or emotions are going so fast that I need time to unwind before I can let God speak to me.
If this happens, I place my hand on my heart, and begin to acknowledge the Presence of Jesus in me. I pray the following prayer:
“Jesus, I believe that you are in me, and I am in you. You are in your Father, and your Father is in you. I am in your Father, and your Father is in me. Thank you Jesus for your Presence. Give rest to my soul and help me hear your voice.”
It may take some time, and I might need to take a few deep breaths and exhale. My goal is to be receptive to what God wants to say to me.
The second step after getting into a place of rest and receptivity, is to become full of the Holy Scriptures. A regular daily discipline of Bible reading is crucial. There are several reasons for this. First, it is important to know what God has said in the past, and to learn how God has spoken to people throughout time. If you hear God and he tells you something that is in violation of a clear word in Scripture, you know you are hearing another voice. The Bible creates the pathway in your soul for ongoing the conversation you can develop with God. Second, filling your mind with the Bible will help counteract the thoughts and attitudes you have learned as a fallen human being. This is part of letting your mind be renewed day by day. Third, the Bible is a living book, and beginning there is a great way for you to begin interacting with God. Daily structured Bible reading will help cause you to see the dynamic way God desires to interact with us.
For about twelve years I have been using a prayer book that has a one-year cycle of Bible readings. In a year I read about 85% of the Bible, and repeated most of the psalms several times. This has helped me make the Bible not only an informational book, but also the backbone of my life of prayer. Even after two degrees in Bible and theology, I am still learning new things everyday. This is a humbling and awe-inspiring process.
The next practical part of listening to God is keeping a journal. It is imperative that you begin writing the things you think God is telling you. In the beginning this might be simple. Many people I have taught over the years only hear a few words in the beginning. Often it is “I love you” or “Be not afraid.” God might give you insight into the Bible reading for that day, or insight into events that are happening around you.
In the beginning it is important to keep track of these things. Do not despise small beginnings or simple words. Sometimes they are the most significant. Often when I am about to face difficult situations, God will speak the same word over me: “You are my son, and I love you.” Since I struggle with being God’s son, this very simple word is often the comfort I need to make difficult decisions.
I also recommend that you not share too much of what God is saying in the beginning, but learn to discern what is God, and what is “cold pizza.”

Whenever you begin to think God may be talking to you, write it down in your journal. Make the things that God is speaking to you a matter of your prayers. Ask God to give you confirmation in multiple ways. God can give you clarity, and help you have greater understanding of what he is saying. If God begins to give you direction, ask him how to obey the word that you have been given.

More practical thoughts to come in part three.

John 10:27 says “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
We have been in a period of history where hearing God’s voice has either been de-emphasized or actively discredited by the larger Christian community.  There is no time in history where listening to God and doing what he tells you is more important.  For the creative person, this is an even more important skill.
In the next few pages, I will describe the process I have walked through to learn to listen to God.  I made mistakes along the way, but also have learned to recognize when I am listening to God, to my own human weakness, or a spiritual voice that is not from God—the devil.
When I was a student at Houghton, my German professor, Gudrun Stevenson, used to recite a proverb to us:  “I would rather have a C student with A character than an A student with C character.”  That is the core of learning to listen to God.  If you make mistakes, but have a pure heart and desire to do God’s will, those mistakes will help you grow and actually become a better listener.  If you hear God clearly, but your gift does not match your character, or if your heart is divided between God and some other agenda or thing—watch out!  You will run into trouble.  Your heart attitude is where listening to God begins.
Dr. Dennis Kinlaw once told me that God is speaking all the time, but it’s a miracle we hear anything.  It is important to keep an open attitude about how and where God might speak to you.  God speaks in many different ways: through thoughts, through visions and dreams, and through external circumstances.
Once you get these two basic principals down, you can start to begin the process of learning to listen to God.