Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Come On, Ring Those Bells!

This is a familiar Christmas song, as I listen to songs of the season while I work... feeling like one of Santa’s elves as I help show appreciation for the people who support Young Life...and praying for people the music brings to mind while I work away, cozy and warm, happy to do it.


Another familiar experience in this season is the Christmas classic "A Wonderful Life". The bell rings; an angel gets its wings, right? And that brings me back to my original thought. This year I’ve tried to add more Practicing the Presence of God, (thank you, Brother Lawrence!) being more aware of God’s being present at all times, whether I’m alone with Him, or aware of the Holy Spirit when gathered with Christian friends.


Part of that practice has become the habit of praying for each person He brings into "my space". Sometimes that’s easy; sometimes it’s hard. It’s easy when a tearful friend shares from his heart about a painful experience, hard when someone behaves in a way that says, "You’re old, and don’t matter anymore. Get out of my way!" or worse, "You’re invisible. I can ignore you. You don’t count."


And finally, when I want to remember to continue to pray for someone and their circumstances, I look for something like the bell ringing in the movie. When I see a toy, I remember to pray for my son, who works in a toy store, is frustrated by parents who let their kids destroy books and toys, and just walk away, and is also suffering from clinical depression, and unwilling to get help. Kind of a sad thing to pray about when I see a toy, but hey, it draws me to prayer, so it’s a good thing.


I have a printout of a family whose wife and mother has stage-four cancer. The kids are three teens and a five-year-old. This is a young and beautiful mother who is the center of her family’s life. I have the picture posted on my cork board in my office, a smaller one tucked into my morning readings book, so at least twice a day their faces are "in my face"; another sad but good thing.


I just take it for granted now that if someone walks into my office, it’s a divine appointment. So many times, just being in a "listening" attitude opens the opportunity to ask, "Can I pray with you/for you about that?" You’d be amazed how often that happens. I am. Just by being aware of His gentle voice and "nudges".


Maybe you will want to try this "trigger" method of remembering to be in conversation all day with our loving heavenly Father. He speaks to me all day, every day, when I am listening. Is this what Paul was talking about when he said, "Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


Do you have other ways of being drawn to prayer? Maybe you would be willing to share those with us. Just jot some thoughts in an email to me, and we’ll share them with our EHA family. God’s blessings in this blessed season, as we celebrate the Christ child’s arrival once again, and . . .

Come on, ring those bells!!

Mary Hagle


Editor, The House

Taking Prayer to the Streets

But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. (Matt. 6:6 )

Why would we seem to disobey Jesus’ clear direction for private prayer by prayer walking Longview/Kelso? In Matthew 6 Jesus confronts those making pretense of piety by praying publicly. These, according to Jesus, have their reward; accolades of men and self gratification. Jesus tells another parable, in Luke 18, of two men praying in the temple, obviously a public place. This story illustrates that it is not the public praying that Jesus is against, but the condition of our heart and our objective in public prayer.



That said, why do we prayer walk? There is no specific biblical directive, to my knowledge, for a person or a group of people to intentionally pray as they travel through an area. Some of the pictures that come to my mind when I think about prayer walking are based on scripture, however.

It’s the People


"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings…." (Matt 23:37)



"…as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. How I wish today that you … would understand the way to peace." (Luke: 41, 42)



We walk the streets to pray for the people; those we see and those they represent. We ask the Father for his eyes to see what He sees. We desire to know and participate in the stories of those for whom we pray. We ask the Father for insights into the area for which we are praying as we look into the eyes of those living in the area. Do we see hope or hopelessness? Do we see spiritual and/or physical poverty or well-being? Do we see energy or lethargy? Do we see or feel those that are beaten down? These are the types of questions we ask the Holy Spirit to use as triggers for precise prayers for God’s intervention. Our intercessory prayers must include questioning the Father for direction on how we can be agents of His intervention. What is it that either myself, East Hills, or the Christian community at-large can do to either remedy or foster what it is we are being shown?



It’s Warfare


"For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. …Pray in the Spirit at all times.." (Eph. 6:12, 18)



A lot of the Old Testament story is a type, albeit a physical one, foreshadowing our spiritual journey. The Israelite entrance into and subsequent conquest of Canaan is a type of the spiritual warfare aspect of prayer walking. We understand that the world governed by the evil one and we are invading his kingdom. Now we do this whether we intercede from our prayer closets or on the street. But when we are on the street we are confronting Satan on his turf. We are spiritually attacking and tearing down strongholds and temples of idolatry.



God may whisper to us that an area is home to overt evil; strongholds of generational curses, occult practices, or abuse of many kinds, etc. We strategically bind the power of darkness in these areas and loose the power of heaven.



An idol is anything or anyone to whom we look for protection or provision other than God. We have created an idol when we get our self worth from any source but God or when we focus on something that keeps us from being whom or doing what God desires or demands.



As we prayer walk, ask God for direction in how to pray over physical representations of what may be an idol. Institutions, relationships, and activities may all fall into one or more of these categories. These, when subordinate to our relationship with God can be good, but evil when they replace God.



The more common are places representing power and influence, such as: government buildings, headquarters of business and labor, educational institutions, and churches. Other places might signify where people are distracted from whole heartedly serving God, such as casinos and sport/recreational facilities.



These potential idols are neutral. It is the people involved that should be the focus of our prayers; freedom for those worshiping these idols, and wisdom and power for believers to be Godly influences in these arenas.



We must pray for the people of Longview/Kelso; pray in our prayer closets, pray in corporate prayer settings. And whether or not we partner for the January 14th prayer walk as part of Global Impact week, take our intercession to the streets any time we walk, run, bike, or drive the streets of Longview/Kelso. We will be forcibly advancing God’s Kingdom.



Jim Venable


Elder

Shining God's Light in the Streets of Sarajevo

By Kathy Eikost. Kathy Eikost is a part of the Alliance team in Sarajevo that works in the Izvor center. This is an article that appeared in the December issue of aLife magazine. See the box to the right to see how you can receive aLife magazine for free.



Zora ("Dawn" in Bosnian) could be on a "least-of-these" poster. She’s someone you might walk by on the streets without seeing. If you take the time to look, you’ll see eyes that have almost given up hope.


The Bosnian civil war ended 15 years ago, but the country is still struggling to get on its feet. There are no inspirational leaders rising to the top as Tito did after World War II. No one seems to have a plan big enough to encompass the whole country, although many politicians have plans for their own constituents or inner circle. Unemployment stubbornly hovers around 40 percent, and millions live hand to mouth. In a country of only 4 million, this is easily the majority. Those who are working have extended family in dire need and take responsibility to help however they can.


There are many new buildings in Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina’s capital), but closer inspection reveals that storefronts are empty and condos have not been sold. In each case a developer came up with the money to build but did not think through to the other side of the equation. Red tape and corruption make Bosnia one of the most difficult places to start a small business. With such high unemployment rates, few families have the means to buy a condo or rent a luxury apartment.


Like many middle-aged people in Sarajevo, Zora is a civil war victim who has fallen through the cracks. Employers consider Zora, now in her fifties, too old to be hired, and she doesn’t qualify for the meager financial assistance available to people who are disabled, laid-off or over 65. Her extended family is not in a position to help, and she won’t beg since she retains the self-respect and pride that characterizes many people in her situation.


Although Zora has a house to live in, her electricity and water were shut off years ago because she cannot pay the bills. Her children are grown and gone, so she fends for herself the best she can by recycling things she finds in dumpsters. Beer bottles and soda cans bring a few coins. A certain-sized jar can be sold to beekeepers for honey storage.


She doesn’t understand the politics that destroyed her beloved city. She had a much better life before the war and seems bewildered at how her life came to this.


We met Zora when she was recommended for a monthly food packet. A Dutch organization gives the Evangelical Church in Bosnia-Herzegovina aid in the form of food boxes. Our congregation in Ilidza (a suburb of Sarajevo) sponsors 10 families each year. In addition to food, participants receive clothing and an invitation to a weekly coffee time. There, they get to know church members and are able to talk about their lives and problems. Members listen to, advise and pray for the participants.


Naturally, an invitation is extended to attend our worship services. Many participants have come a couple of times out of a sense of obligation. But Zora was different. In addition to Sunday services, Zora came faithfully to the Alpha course, which covers the basics of Christianity.


The light had not yet gone completely out of Zora’s eyes. A kind word and handshake would bring a smile and a hopeful glance. She soaked up love and human contact like a parched garden that had lain fallow far too long. She seemed embarrassed about her physical condition at first but was soon put at ease by the sincere love and friendship offered by ladies at the church. Many of them have been in similar situations and can empathize with Zora.


Our little church in Ilidza doesn’t have much money; the 15 members can barely cover its expenses. In fact, the Great Commission Fund paid the church’s rent for the first few years. But the members gave Zora what they had. She was invited to do laundry at the church and to use the shower as often as she liked. The manager of the church’s second-hand store set aside articles she felt would be useful to Zora and offered them at a deeply discounted price. Church members saved bottles and jars for Zora and brought blankets and sheets from home to help her out. She was invited to take vegetables from the church’s community garden to supplement her diet.


In May 2011 it was time for us to return to the United States for home assignment. We wondered whether Zora would still be attending the church when we returned a year later or if she would drift away as so many others had. Our Sarajevo-based team of international workers is small. When we left for home assignment, there were only four adults remaining to continue the work, three of whom were nearing the end of language study.


One is far enough along to be able to preach occasionally in Bosnian. Recently, he preached on prayer and led the congregation in a time of listening to God. Our elder’s wife felt impressed to talk to Zora.


"What is keeping you from accepting Christ as your Savior?" she asked.


"Nothing," Zora replied. The elder explained the gospel to her, and she received Christ that same day.


The glimmer of hope in Zora’s eyes has become the radiance of one who walks in the light. Instead of wondering whether Zora will be in church, we can’t wait to see what beautiful fruit is growing in a life that was parched and fallow.

By Caleb Cox

With eager anticipation I stepped into the fellowship hall. Throngs of people surged in human masses as there were too many bodies to sit in chairs. The air was static with energy as people came to be a part. Though dark outside because of the early morning hours, the light from hearts inside caused a spiritual glow the outmatched anything the darkness had to offer. Suddenly a voice cried out for God to come. Another voice boldly proclaimed the reign of Jesus over our city. And suddenly prayers shot out like rockets through the ceiling as person after person in holy desperation cried out for the move of God in our city. It was a prayer meeting like no other...

It was a daydream like no other... I looked around at the 7 of us meeting together for our early morning intercession time. 7. A good number. But not what I'd hoped for. As I had shared the previous weekend about desiring to see God to do a move in our church and our city, and how we as the church were uniting together in prayer to intercede for those things, I had high expectation about people responding to the call.

As a pastor at EHA, it's my dream to see God's people so in love with the lost, so filled with compassion, so moved by our Father's heart, that prayer and intercession would be our natural response. And as a pastor I am never to lead by twisting arms or using guilt as a motivation. But I'm also reminded that part of my role is to teach when necessary, and to call people to change and to action when necessary. And I feel that as a church body we have so much potential for corporate prayer. There are so many passionate and gifted individuals in our midst, that as we turn those passions and gifts toward Kingdom things we will see an amazing turnaround. Unfortunately, we are a busy people, and busyness is one of the key death strokes that keeps us from being prayer minded. When busyness runs our lives, prayer becomes inconvenient. I had always heard it joked that "if you ever want to know who the real church is, then hold a prayer meeting." Sadly, there is some truth in this humor!

Until we as a church corporately feel the desperation of the hour, and the urgency of the need, then we maintain busy lives without much thought to the priorities of heaven. Why is it we are loosing over half of our marriages to divorce? Why are so many of our teenagers becoming sexual addicts? Why are people content with mediocre Christianity and status quo lives? Because we've rarely or never seen what God can really do! Because we've never committed to praying for those things until they happen.

The other day, I was reading in Matthew 21. And there's a story of Jesus getting heated with a fig tree. Jesus is hungry, so he goes to the side of the road where the fig tree is. He sees that there's no fruit on it, so he curses it and it withers there on the spot. The disciples, having just seen something amazing happen, ask Jesus how it happened. And Jesus again tells them about the power of faith and expectation in the power of God.

Jesus isn't demonstrating power to draw unsaved people to himself. He's not even glorifying God through this action. But what he does is demonstrate that a life of faith and prayer are powerful, and that they can change the physical realities as well as the spiritual ones.

With my eyes I have seen the lame healed, legs grow out, blind eyes restored, growths disappear, and unsaved people knocked over by the presence of God. And to me, this is the normal Christian life. This is what should be happening. The supernatural life is the normal Christian life. But I look around and I see a different picture. If prayer is the primary work of God's people, then what are our hearts captivated by? Where are our priorities? Has busyness kept us from being effective in the move of God? Prayer is inconvenient! Prayer costs us something. Prayer has ramifications on our social life; will cost us sleep, will cost us money, will cost us physical discomfort, etc. But the things that we sow into are eternal. And we are investing into a harvest that will completely be altered for the glory of God.

I want to challenge you who are reading this: How will you invest in the prayer movement God is doing here at EHA? What will it cost you? If prayer is the primary work of God's people, then let’s pray together for the reign of God to be recognized here! May we be a people sold out and completely surrendered to the things God wants to do!