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God told me to…….

 

I am one of those Hanna kids. I have met a few in my life time. You know, children that the parents cried out to God to conceive. My mother was 43 years old and only had one child. She desperately wanted another. She repeatedly prayed. She told the Lord that if she could have me she would raise me in His ways.

Kitty Mae and Warren Thiel were absolutely sure I was a boy. They didn’t even have a girl’s name picked out. The day came for my appearance into this world. It was May 19th, a Thursday. I gave my first cry at 4:30 in the afternoon. Old Doc. Richardson walked out of the delivery room and told Dad, “Well, it’s got indoor plumbing. You have a healthy baby girl.” Mom was sedated, so Dad chose my name. In his mind’s eye he saw His grandmother, Anna. He had a lot of respect for her. She was a German woman. Who was strong, independent, and a bit stubborn. She was a woman of great faith. Dad said he remembered her praying as if she was in a trance. He said when she started praying that it was as if her spirit left the room. He named me Anna from that remembrance.

May, the fifth month means grace. Thursday the fifth day of the week means grace. The name Anna means grace. Hmm…could it be that there are times God speaks through coincidence?
I had my first prophetic dream when I was five. I saw that as the world progressed it would be filled with conveniences and people of the coming generations wouldn’t do as much physical work as in the time of my five year old world.

The next dream I remember was when I was going into third grade. I was entering a new school. In the dream, kids on the playground were teasing me. They grabbed me by my coat and swung me around till they let go and I fell to the ground. I was shocked the day it happened. I was going forcefully around and around. I would have been scared, but I was too busy remembering my dream and being amazed that it really was happening.

The following summer our family was on a camping trip. I sensed God. I knew that He was in the woods and at the little pond near our camp sight. I have no clue what an eight year old knows about the presence of God. All I can tell you is that it was so overwhelming. I just sat down by the pond and stayed there. Children that age don’t sit still long. But, I did. My Mom became concerned and sat with me. I told her I was fine. I can’t remember if I told her God was there or not. I was glad when she left because I wanted to be alone with that sense of peace that was surrounding me.

Soon after, I started sensing things. I knew when people left this realm. I could not feel their presence anymore. When I was twelve and we had just come home after another camping trip, the phone rang. I answered. It was the nursing home where my favorite grandma lived. The lady on the other end of the line asked for mom. I put my hand over the receiver and told my mom that grandma was dead. I had no clue and no signs from the conversation with the woman on the phone. The lady just asked for my mom and I just knew. That’s all. But, grandma had passed.

That happened again when I was sixteen. My Aunt Pat was helping my Mom pack our trailer for yet another camping trip. The phone rang again. It was the nursing home where my Aunt’s dad lived. We called him Pappy. The lady on the phone said she was told that Mrs. Johnson was supposed to be at our house. I went to the camp trailer and told Aunt Pat the phone was for her. As soon as she was out of hearing range I told Mom that Pappy was dead. This time I got scolded. I can hear my mom still, “Stop that!” Aunt Pat came back to the trailer and said that she had to leave immediately. Her dad had passed away.

In my late teens the reverse became apparent. I could tell when human spirits entered this world and I was ninety percent or more accurate at telling whether a pregnant woman was having a boy or girl. It became great entertainment for my friends. If we had been drinking, it would have made a fun beer game.

My Mom was very concerned at all of this. She asked me to spend less time at church. As if that would turn off the supernatural activity. She would say, “I told God that I would raise you to be a Christian. But, you’re a fanatic.”

In my adult life, dreams became a consistent activity. I noticed that none of them were literal. They weren’t even linear. They were abstract and full of conceptualization. Symbols are also very important. When I learned about the Hebrew language, I found it to be a lot like my dreams. Each letter tells a story. It’s full of concepts and usually isn’t linear. It dawned on me that that is the way God speaks. He communicates in that style whether it be a snap shot picture in your mind, or in a dream or in a vision.

In turn, if someone conveys a dream that doesn’t have what I call God’s kind of formatting, they usually are lying. It sends a red flag to me. I first look to other ways to confirm the dream. If that doesn’t work, I place the dream on this is probably a fleshly thing list. Recently, an angry and hurt person shared a dream she had. It was linear. The dream went from point A to point B to point C. There was no symbolism. In the dream she told the person in authority what she was going to do. It was plain to me that she was using the dream to usurp authority and exert her wishes. There was nothing Godly in that dream. It was her flesh screaming. I wonder how many people would use methods like that to get their way if they knew a more experienced person could see right through their ploys.

God uses our languages such as English, Spanish, French, etc. very rarely. Why? His way conveys more meaning. Our way requires many, many words to get the same ideas expressed to us.

HOW DOES GOD SPEAK?

  • So let’s forget about dreams, visions, etc. That’s the canvas that God paints on. He speaks through:
    Circumstance – if the same thing repeatedly appears like the number five has in my life, it’s probably God talking to you. Five or grace is a consistent part of my life. I have received and given it all my life. I could tell you story after story about grace.
  • Symbolism and concepts – I think it’s a drive of human nature to know or understand something. We hate it when our friend has a secret and won’t tell us. So when God places a symbol or concept in our dreams or vision, we desire to get the understanding as soon as possible.
    God speaks through your senses. You can tap into the supernatural with your sight, hearing, taste, touch, etc.
  • Intuition is the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. Lots of times, you just know!
  • Imagination – you’ll see it in your mind’s eye. Like my Dad seeing his grandma in his mind and he knew he should name me Anna.

So here we are at the crux of this post. Back to the title, “God told me to…” Most the time I cringe when I hear that. Because the person saying it is frequently referring to a higher power to qualify a significant statement or decision. Also, most the time they are using it to: circumvent authority, impress other people, justify and injustice or qualify an immoral choice. My mind immediately heads for the question, “How did He speak to you?”

The person who is communicating with God says sentences like these. “I walked in that room and I just knew…” “For the last week, I keep seeing and hearing the same thing everywhere I go…” “I feel pain in my stomach every time that person touches me.” “I have had the same dream over and over again.” If someone says God laughed, it’s because they sensed God Laughing. They felt a change in the atmosphere or they had a picture of Him having a good belly laugh. Not because God told them He was laughing.

  • TOOLS FOR CONFIRMATION
    Mature Christian counsel, (Never quit doing this. No mature how experienced you get.) Proverbs 11:14 (ESV), “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” If you think God is communicating with God share it with experienced mature believers. Listen to what they have to say.
  • Experience – as you live your life, it will repeatedly prove to be true. There will be a time when you can reference a situation or dream back to a prior experience and you will know you are on the right path.
  • Scripture – All revelation has a foundation in Jesus Christ as our Messiah. Is the message you think you are receiving from God in agreement with scripture and Jesus.
  • Testimony of the Holy Spirit – is there a conviction from Holy Spirit that won’t go away? When I was in my 30’s my pastor asked me to volunteer at the local juvenile detention center. I kindly declined. For three months the urging for Holy Spirit wouldn’t go away. I finally gave in and volunteered.

I have learned to look at three of those four items for confirmation.

So if you show up on my door step and tell me that you think God wants you to quit work and go back to school, I am going to ask you if you had any of these confirmations. If you response is a blank stare, I will probably tell you to consider it a whim. I will then tell you to seek more counsel and to read scripture. I will also encourage to wait and see if the urging to go to school stays with you for a few months. Lastly, we will look at your history. Do the things you think God tells you to do usually come to fruition? Or, do you jump from whim to whim?

By the way, usually when I have said, “God told me to…” I was wrong. Hopefully I can save you the embarrassment.

 

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NW EKKLESIA – Renewing Ancient Paths

This is an explanation or definition, if you will, of what NW (Northwest) Ekklesia is. We are not a separatist group. Everyone is welcome. The true definition for Ekklesia is, “called out ones for the purposes of kingdom government.”  At this time, we recognize two kinds of kingdom government (there may be more). The first and most recognized are people who work in and through the courts of Heaven. The second are people who come into clear understanding of who they are in Christ with regards to their purpose and the plans God has for them.

Our mission statement and key verse from scripture is Jeremiah 6:16, Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” (NIV)

What’s an ancient path? The Hebrews thought much differently than most people in our culture. Life was full of cycles. The center of life was coming full circle back to the original event or events. We find it recurring on a consistent basis amongst the community of believers who identify with NW Ekklesia. We are a movement, not an organization. We are the people of God in the northwest.  We are intentional about manifesting Heaven on earth; sealing the one to the other. God has an original intent and function for us. We find it by seeking Him; and living by our spirit man, not by our flesh. Simply, an ancient path is living in relationship with the Lord, as God originally intended at our creation.

The past few sentences are a great concept but what does it really look like?

SEEK

“Stand by the roads and look” relates to Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” (NIV) This is the entrance, door, or portal (call it what you like) to true mysticism. Now don’t get in a panic as we discuss this topic. The word mysticism is a word that has lost its reputation because of the misuse by various religions. True mysticism is a truth revealed by God. Through revelation, God expands the topic of that truth and gives us wisdom and confirmation that it’s true. Many times the fruit of the truth is a new sense of freedom and a new sense of peace in our lives. Why is this important? Because NW Ekklesia places no man between us and God. We face the living God and grow in intimacy with Him. The last phase of being a mystic is a burning desire to share what we’ve learned and the sharing brings fuel to fellowship. Simply, we can hardly wait to get together so we can share what’s happening in each other’s lives.

Why is mysticism important for renewing ancient paths? It’s the tool that leads us to the ancient path.

We have confirmation of these truths through God’s words. Even though we know that Ezekiel 28:14 refers to the fall of Satan, the point of the fiery stones was to know “God’s will.”  (To save time, you can find more about the topic by doing an internet search.) If we “stand by the roads and look” or “seek first the Kingdom” or walk the path amongst the “fiery stones,” what are we going to find?  Him! His truth!  The crux of this discussion is Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (NIV) The primary focus of this scripture is the stuff of which the Kingdom is made; the spiritual and the eternal truths.

THE GOOD WAY

Multiple scriptures exhort us to ascend. How do we ascend? By using our abilities in the spirit to see and imagine into the Kingdom of God. Ascending is just as important as seeking. In fact, many times when you seek, what you are truly doing is ascending. Here are a few supporting scriptures.

Rev 4:1, “After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’” (NIV)

Rev 11:12, “Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’” (NIV)

Isaiah 2:3 and Micah 4:2, “People from many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.’” (NIV)

WALK IN IT

Most of us, by scripture’s definition are called carnal believers. We live by the desires of our souls. We seek temporary comfort rather than eternal. However, when we have learned enough and are now living in truth, our spirit takes the lead in our lives. We see the evidence of this in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Think of replacing the phrase “the fruit of the spirit” with the word maturity. Now read the scripture. But, maturity is love, joy, peace, etc. That’s what happens when our spirit grows strong and leads our soul and body.

SEAT OF REST

When we start living by our spirits, we find Jehovah Shalom. We actually learn to function in rest. This kind of peace and rest is very powerful. Hebrews 4:9-10, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from His works as God did from His.”

Continuing on with Hebrews 4:11-12, “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

We pray that everyone learns to live by the elements of Jeremiah 6:16. But, what do we do with this new lifestyle? We live a kingdom life and operate under kingdom government.

KINGDOM GOVERNMENT

This will shock many people but gone are the days of recognizing those titled, prophet, pastor, apostle, etc. Our culture is prone to put people on pedestals thereby removing their ability to function amongst us. Paul’s friends and disciples where not in awe of the fact that he was an apostle. They honored how he functioned amongst them. The Kingdom of Heaven is about function more than titles. We need to live by the example set before us in history and the Word of God.

The Father, Son, and Spirit are one and, also a team. Unity and function come together seamlessly. When Jesus was on earth, He was a team player with the Father and Holy Spirit. Jesus built a team to function when He physically left the earth. As an example, we find a type and a shadow from the Old Testament. Rabbis of the Old Testament where judges.  They would sit on a bench together to hear issues and deliberate. Synagogues usually had a bench of three judges to lead them (like the trinity).  Modern court organization comes from this example. In a court room, we call the raised desk the judge sits at “the bench” and the judge tells people to approach “the bench.” That’s the way NW Ekklesia functions. Nothing is managed by a single leader. Gone is the use of the high stress position of a single leader called the Senior Pastor.  In fact, we hardly ever use the term pastor. Most the time we say mentor because of the perceived concepts of this position.

This is Kingdom work. We don’t judge people. We judge spiritual issues and put legislation in place to see the manifestation of Heaven on earth.

There’s so much more to tell you. But, this should give you a good start about this new move of God. If there’s a pulling within you to participate, we’d love to have you join us.

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Now Is The Time

As I sat there my whole being felt like it was vibrating. Something had been released, something new. After watching so much healing and unity take place from the stands of the LA Coliseum at the Azusa Now event on April 9th, 2016, Something was unlocked. It was as if the Lord now had a church that was pliable and usable for his purpose in a way that had not existed, or at least not for a many years. One week after returning home I felt the Lord say to release the word I gave you 3 years ago. Below is the word I was given in 2013:

I have regular devotional time that I read my Bible, pray or just worship and be in his presence. I’m going to list the scriptures he walked me through. I asked the Holy Spirit one day where I should read in scripture for revelation. He told me Joel 2 and 3. So I started to read. The beginning of Joel 2 is a warning to his people. Then it talks of repentance of his people by returning to Him and he has mercy on them. Then suddenly the scriptures give us revelation on something that will come to pass.

The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit Joel 2:28
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”

What God is saying is that this time is now. He is pouring out his spirit like never before. First to the leaders. He is raising up unknown people to lead. Take me for example I am not much or known for anything. I just happen to have a relationship with my Father in heaven. Even you who are reading this, you are so powerful that you too are one of these leaders. This is the last thing that Satan wants you to know. He want you to keep believing the lies he has been telling you over the years to keep you from rising up.

God spoke to me about Joel 3 the main purpose for writing this book. This is what God is saying to his people now. He wants us to know what is happening and what we’re supposed to be doing. However I need to break it down in the various sections in how it’s been revealed to me. So let’s read the scriptures first.

Joel 3:1-8
“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it.
“What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples. You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the Lord has spoken.”

God tells us that in “those” days which is now, of the things that will take place. He will restore Judah and Jerusalem which is Israel. Then he will gather the nations and bring them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. This valley runs along the right side of the temple mount. So what God is saying is that he will bring all the nations before himself. He will enter in to judgment with them there. We must be careful here as the word for judgement is not what most of the western culture thinks it to mean. The Hebrew word שָׁפַט or shâphaṭ means to enter into or an action of judging. The Lord said to me how many times do you use judgement in a day? When you open the refrigerator and are seeking the ketchup. Every item you look at you are using judgement or entering into an action of judgement to resolve if said item is ketchup or not ketchup?

God will enter into judgment with the nations. He will see if they are for him or not. The scriptures continue on to tell us that the nations have scattered his people, divided his lands and sold children for things of this world. Children are gifts from God. People are selling gifts God has given them so they can seek the things of this world. Abortion is an example of this, the mother doesn’t want to be pregnant and does not see the child as a gift but wants to continue living her lifestyle. Please keep in mind while this example is extreme and does not necessarily apply to all abortion cases, there are much more subtle examples out there. My intent is not to convict any one action over the other as that is not my job but the Holy Spirits.

The rest of the above passage is a dialogue with Tyre and Sidon whom at the time were enemies with Judah and Jerusalem. Simply put God is saying that anyone who is against him or his people, that their plans to do harm or evil will end up back on them. If God can confound the wise he can certainly expose darkness before it can carry out its plans. This is something we will see more and more of. His people are praying for the light to expose the darkness. One of the bigger exposures in recent months would have been the NSA spying on the people of the world. I believe this happened because of the prayers of his people and God is already exposing the plans of the enemy.

In summary of this passage of scripture God will examine all of the nations before himself. He will make a judgement if they are for him or for the world. You cannot serve two masters. There is an old Native American saying that goes “If you chase two rabbits, you will lose them both.” God will expose the plans of darkness so that their evil ends up falling back on our enemies.

Joel 3:9-12
Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” The Hebrew word for warrior is (Ghib-bore – powerful, by implication warrior as they are talking of going to war)

Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O Lord. Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.

What an exciting time we live in. God is saying that the next 10-15 years will be some of the most exciting times in the Kingdom of God that anyone has ever seen. In Joel 3:9-12 this is our commission for this season. God is telling us to tell all the nations to get ready for war. To take you plowshares and pruning hooks and turn them into weapons of warfare. This is significant because Plowshares and pruning hooks were tools of the professions. He is telling people to turn your businesses and careers into weapons of warfare. Businesses ran by kingdom minded people will prosper. New start ups by spirit led people will flourish. Whole cities and regions will be altered because of this. Examples are things like out of work farmers being contracted to grow non-GMO and organic foods for organic restaurants. There is nothing wrong with marketplace ministry. In doing this anyone whether they be male, female, tall, small, strong or weak. Let them say “I AM A WARRIOR”

The word warrior is pronounced Ghib-bore which means – powerful or strong, by implication warrior as they are talking of going to war. To be strong in warfare is to be a warrior. In today’s terms you could translate this as ‘Hero’ of war if you wanted to.

Continuing on in the scriptures we see the Lord saying hasten and come. So quickly these things will happen. The nations themselves will have a stirring of people. He then calls out all the warriors from all the nations. God is literally examining the earth at this time. Searching the hearts of the people. He is doing a new thing. He is surpassing the religious establishments. No longer are the days of the big cannon individuals like Billy Graham. Those times have passed. It’s to easy nowadays to smear one person’s reputation. God is saying now is the time of the equipping centers, the 24 hour worship centers, Small groups, house churches etc… The mainstream churches of America will still exist however I do believe in a lesser capacity than in the past.

Today’s model of the Church doesn’t and has never worked to the fullness that it could have. The pastoral centric model is not a biblical based model. It is completely unfair to the lead pastors that we ask them to get on stage every week and tell us about God. It’s like a religious circus show that they must entertain us in order to receive our financial giving. I’m not against teaching so please listen carefully. I am simply trying to relay that we as the church put entirely too much pressure on the pastors of today’s church models. We literally ask them to carry all the weight in their shoulders. Then some people get offended if the pastor doesn’t acknowledge them or call them if they missed church or show up to every church event. It’s not right and it needs to stop. That is why a new model of gathering is arising. One that teaches and equips the believer.

I recommend a book from Frank Viola called “Pagan Christianity”. The book is very well written in a non condemning way. It lays out facts on where we get some of the order of service we use in the Church today. After reading it I couldn’t help but chuckle when I went back to church. It’s a quick read and the information is priceless.

In summary on this passage of scripture, God is calling all people from all nations that are for the Kingdom to prepare for war. This is not a war of flesh but a spiritual war. He will examine the world for these people. Do not be surprised if you feel called in new directions and/or operating in new circles of people.

Joel 3:13-16
Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow,
for their evil is great. Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.

This passage of scripture is amazing. We are seeing what will happen as a result of the coming season and shift in the kingdom. Once the church rises up and shakes off doctrines of fear and doubt. When we start walking in the finished works of the cross and seeing ourselves as saints. We are no longer sinners if we have Jesus in our lives. If we have relationships with Jesus instead of religion. If we begin to understand the goodness of God and stop blaming him for many things that are not holy. The glorious church will arise. God is currently pouring out his spirit in a way that has never been seen before. He is calling this time on earth “The Kingdom Age” and has nicknamed it “The Heaven Invasion”.

The Great Harvest! It is here at last. This will be a long and fruitful season for the Kingdom of God. Put in your sickle for the harvest is ripe the Lord says. Multitudes are in the valley of decision. They must pick which kingdom they will serve. The kingdom of Light or the kingdom of Darkness. There will be many signs, miracles and wonders. God is shaking the heavens and the earth up in a new way. The Lord is calling out from his throne and he is our stronghold from which we operate.

In summary of all these passages God is examining all the earth. He is calling out the ones who are after his own heart. He is calling those that want to go deeper into revelation. The result will be spiritual warfare against the kingdom of darkness. Many will choose to come into the kingdom of light. So get ready it is going to be an amazing time.

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The Community I’ve Found

This post is from a man who identifies himself with NW Ekklesia. We are blessed to know what has transpired in his life.

Lew Curtiss / 03.23.2016

I want to tell you about a Community of Faith that I’ve found. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that they found me. It’s interesting how Father God lovingly invites us down special paths of life designed specifically to meet our needs. I think some really brief backstory is important or the significance of this Community will not be fully appreciated.

All my life I’ve gone to church, the institutional church. I’ve sat and listened to the sermons. I’ve stood and sung hymns. I’ve always believed that this was the Church, the Body of Christ, where I’d encounter Father God. But it wasn’t, and I didn’t. Something, … something that I couldn’t put my finger on, was somehow missing. Now, you need to know that in no way am I criticizing that centuries old institution of church. This is my story of my journey, and that is all it is; nothing more.

At some point, after marriage, and raising our children, I didn’t attend church much. I just slipped away and was open to whatever else Father might have for me and my life. To cut a long story short, it was through one friend after another that Father lead me to a vibrant Spirit-filled Community of the Body of Christ. This is Church without the building, without all of the trappings of mere religion, without the hierarchy, without the idolatry of mere theology. I found God outside of the covers of the Bible; intimately, personally, face to face. And I wasn’t alone … there was a Community. This Community I’ve found has three powerful aspects to it that I wouldn’t trade for anything. They are a movement (not an institution); they are organic in nature, and they are entirely relational.

In it’s organic nature, this community is Community. The famous story of Stone Soup comes to mind. People round about had little or nothing to eat. Then a clever man brings a stone with which to make a soup. He begins to boils it in water. After a while he invites the people each to bring what they have to add to the soup; vegetables, salt, meat, broth, whatever they had. Each put into the soup what they had. After a while the soup was done and everyone had soup. Everyone ate their fill of what had begun so simply as a stone boiling in water. Now they were a Community, sharing what they had and who they were with one another. That’s the Community I’ve found.

This Community is part of God’s global movement, His Body. There are no preachers, although there are ordained clergy among us. There is no hierarchy, no pecking order, no formal documents to tell us who’s who and how we’re all supposed to behave. We’re a movement created, governed and, fully lead by Father God. It reminds me of Israel’s days of The Judges. God was their King … not a man. It was God who lead and “ruled” the people. So it is with our Community.

This Community is fully relational. Everything about it is relationship based, meaning we begin, each of us, with a deep, personal, intimate relationship with Father God. He is the unifying force and power of this Community. He is what makes us a Community. He is our spine and our glue. Having begun in our relationship with Father, we extend that relationship to one another. As a movement, and not an institution, the organic nature of the Body of Christ is fully manifest. When someone needs healing, like white blood cells, a number of us gravitate toward that need and pray it away in healing. When someone celebrates, we all celebrate. We bear one another’s burdens and share one another’s joys. All of this, absolutely all of this is joy and not obligation. It’s fully Love and not duty.

In this Community I have never experienced so much joy and excitement with Father God and with one another in all my life. This is a priceless Community wherein I find the God of the heart, the God of relationship, the God of love. This is what / Who I’ve been looking for, and I’ve found Him.