Pray4Guam
Prayers of agreement are even more effective, so here is a place to share insights and revelation to increase our impact.Our New Ministry Center
We are excited about the progress being made as we get our new ministry center set up. We moved from the UIU building to the Chen’s furniture store in East Hagatna. Walls are going up and Air Conditioners are being installed. There is still lots of work to be done but we are anticipating that the new ministry center will allow us to grow and expand our outreach in Guam.
The Oasis Empowerment Center is receiving a little more funding through the Department out Housing and Urban Development so that we can start to have our first sobriety house for women in aftercare. This is exciting for us as up to now, many of the women we have worked with in their addictions recovery have returned to homes where drugs were used daily. It is terribly difficult to live sober when the people you live with are asking you to join in their partying.
The Oasis counseling center and our chapel area will be on the second floor. The first floor will be focused on MicroEnterprise Development for the unemployed, as well as our Childrens outreach ministry we will call IMAGINATION ISLAND.
Join us in prayer that many hearts will find healing and wholeness as we connect in practical ways.
Confession, the Rx for the Soul
What is the remedy for the ambivalent soul? Too many young people are passionless, purposeless and powerless. Many Christians no longer attend church, and are adopting diluted perspectives that eliminate any uncomfortable idea that there will be consequences for our actions and personal life choices. Confession is the way that God accomplishes spiritual circumcision in our lives. There is something holy and supernatural about being exposed before someone else. In being extremely vulnerable, when we humbly share our confession, we truly are submitting to another. It is here we come into the light, acknowledging specific imperfections to someone who looks like us, where our pride is dealt a mortal blow. This forges new covenant connections as we are growing trust in a community of restoration. As embarrassing this process is, we find its the essential place transformation can occur. It is here we receive the grace of God.
I am convinced that a pivotal reason contemporary Christians are so insecure, disconnected, isolated and impotent is because we fail to confess our faults one to another. Until we bring our sin, sins and the stuff we are struggling with to another person in humble confession we will remain wounded, broken and not healed. But when we do confess and experience the whole process fully, we experience resurrection life. The process is more than talk. It involves action and a solemn transaction takes place. The confessor then ministers mercy by walking with us to the Cross where we are set free. There with our pilgrim companion, these issues are bound to the cross. Also, we receive the ministry of cleansing, forgiveness and blessing where God’s image and His destiny is pronounced and decreed.
Too often I see our disclosures stop short of real confession that accomplishes circumcision because we would rather appeal to someone for their sympathy or pity. We want to be justified and to be told we are OK to prop up our false self. But we need to confront everything that mars or fails to reveal the image of Christ in us for this alone is the hope of Glory. We must face the fact that our behaviors and our emotional outbursts often are far from being life-giving or light-bringing.
Transformation of the inner soul is a painful process where the excess flesh nature is cut away. We cannot do this alone nor by ourselves. As with the first circumcision, we need to submit to a trusted other who knows the way to the cross and has the professional skill to perform this sensitive procedure. As with Abraham, it marked him for life as one who was in covenant with God. Faith connections of the heart were sealed in this uniquely intimate operation.
With Jesus living in you, you are a Saint, one of God’s Holy Ones destined to decree and declare the will of God (Read Psalms 149) Its not based on having a perfect life or having the best circumstances, but because you open your heart through confession of each and every fault, we invite presence of God in. the Holy Spirit who releases resurrection life in you. When we confess our faults one to another, and pray one for another in this way we are healed. This is the criteria to see the promise of James 5:16 become possible: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
-
-
What I am seeing in this sacred type of holy operation that the confessional really provides. The professional skills required to perform the sacred operation include: developing trust, unco…nditional love that speaks truth and correction, holding a confidence, working with someone effectively to help them through the inner struggles of letting go fully of sinful practices and then walking with them as they develop new holy behaviors. I also look for someone with the special skill of hearing the voice of God well, because I know we need to go even deeper as the blade of the word cuts further into the tender places of my soul to deal with lies and false beliefs that have developed in my life. And I need one who is truly anointed to call my spirit into LIFE and DESTINY. Who carries such an anointing you may ask? Its people who have gone this way before. They keep going back too because this is more of a process rather than singular event or even something that one weekend retreat can fully accomplish.
-
We know who these individuals are because they are not judgmental. They are very transparent and have probably shared quite openly and vulnerably some of their journey. They are well boundaried people who operate with great mercy and carry the grace of God in their lives. They respect people and give them the choice to open their hearts. They listen well and ask questions, sometimes even hard questions, to get to the root of the matter. They love deeply and desire to see people free to be all they were created by Father to be.
-
• People encounter a real gospel. People are much more interesting than any function they serve. I can play a role and even play a crowd, but I will not connect with people if I do. It’s only when I reveal my humanity, confessing some of my… faults and weaknesses publicly, that people relate to mAnd then they can relate better to the gospel. When people see my humanity and the gospel as a vital part of their pastor’s life, they’re more likely to think Christ can be a vital part of their lives, too.
“The Word became flesh.” The Word became a real human being; he didn’t just play the role of a human being (that in fact was an early heresy). And it was as a human being that he connected with people.Cedar, P. A., Hughes, R. K., & Patterson, B. (1991). Mastering the pastoral role. Mastering ministry (70). Portland, Or.: Multnomah; Christianity Today, Inc
-
Community Development Priorities?i
Director Raymond F.Y. Blas
Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority
Community Planning and Development Office,
GCIC Building, 414 West Soledad Ave, Suite 306,
Hagatna, GU 96910
Dear Mr Blas
I want to take the opportunity to add my comment with regard to the projects GHURA intends to fund this year with Community Development Funds. With the impending Military buildup, housing is going to be an increasing challenge facing our low-income population. There are high numbers reflected in the homeless count and many of our non-profit agencies are receiving increasing requests for assistance by people in need. We feel therefore that it should be an urgent priority to expand the inventory of housing this year. We urge GHURA to keep this focus a fundamental criterion for selecting CDBG projects this year.
While we agree with the selection of building a new facility for Alee Shelter, it does look that this proposal will be replacing the old facility and therefore will probably not increase capacity of the program serving that target population. The other proposals selected this year may help sustain operations but again will not increase capacity for the growing “in-need” population on Guam.
With limited Federal funds available for community development to address significant concerns and respond to the gaps and unmet needs, the allocation of 26% of the CDBG funds for a basketball facility in Macheche will not alleviate the pressing burden facing agencies and NGO’s serving the island population at large.
Effective community development must address areas that will promote economic development, and help build capacity of our NGO’s to serve an expanding population. We urge GHURA to reconsider the proposals in order to further prepare for the increasing burdens that the impending military buildup will create. It is inevitable that the population explosion Guam is anticipating will increase the number of people facing social crisis on Guam.
Please fund the Oasis Empowerment Center as they work to rebuild lives and transition islanders into productive citizens. The Oasis menu of services is helping create jobs for women, the disabled and ex-offenders. Clients are getting back into school, working, and rebuilding their families and making Guam a better place. Their alcohol prevention work in schools is having tangible results.
This is the true intent of Community Development funds. By investing in recovery services Oasis provides, each dollar can conservatively be multiplied into $12 dollars of value toward community benefits. This will maximize the work of building a stronger island.
Sincerely
Hosanna!
We stand together that Jesus is coming! Every day we honestly anticipate his manifest presence. In fact, His presence can change everything. Saturday we were involved in dedicating the new church ZION CASTLE, a Korean Congregation in Barrigada. The beauty of the Lord expressed in worship and cultural diversity was evident. But even more exciting is when the Lord confirms His word and His presence with Signs and Wonders. He comes to heal and His loving words speak life to our souls. Now the challenge is to slow down enough to listen to His voice. The entrance of His word brings life.
Strategic Prayer Initiative
2010 is to be a decade marked by abundant harvest! At least that is where our faith is focused. We want to see God’s Kingdom come and His will being done here on earth in the same way as it is in heaven. That means we want to see His power and authority in increasingly manifest dimensions throughout our community. To do everything that is necessary to allow souls to experience the tangible presence of Jesus. That is an exciting idea.
So what will that really require? Can we actually expect God’s power to increase if we continue to live life the same way we have in the last decade? Of course! We don’t create the presence of God with more spiritual activity or ministry. We simply open our lives more to make room for Him to occupy. We welcome Him into our world. We invite Him to come and rule and reign. That is where the adjustments come. Our priorities shift as we seek God more and respond to Him more fully. As we listen to His voice, truth fills our innermost being. Lies are exposed and replaced with Life-giving revelation. This becomes our new reality.
This year, we want to invite partners to adopt specific areas to collaborate with the Holy Spirit and intercede with Him that God’s Kingdom will be manifest in ever increasing dimensions in our community. Essentially, I am believing that places in our community will be transformed into places of communion with God. That means for me as we pray for a particular school, we will intercede for the eyes of each student and teacher to become enlightened to the truth of God’s Word. We will pray for righteousness to be exalted. We will pray that wounds of abuse and neglect will be healed and ministers will be raised up to serve in these locations. We will pray that a spirit of discernment will be poured out to cause young people to recognize the difference between truth and error. We will pray that a hunger and thirst for righteousness will be awakened in the hearts of each young person. We will pray for souls to respond to Jesus, to receive His mercy and be born again.
Homemade Brownies
Last week, I walked into my office to find a sandwich bag on my
desk containing three chewy, tasty, homemade chocolate brownies.
Some thoughtful and anonymous person who knew my love for tasty
homemade brownies had placed them there, along with a hand written
short story. I immediately sat down and began eating the first
chewy, tasty, homemade brownie as I read the following story:
Two teenagers asked their father if they could go the theater to
watch a movie that all their friends had seen. After reading some
reviews about the movie on the Internet, he denied their request.
Come on dad, why not? They complained. The movie is rated PG-13,
and we are both older than thirteen!
Dad replied: Because that movie contains nudity and portrays
immorality as being normal and acceptable behavior.
But dad, those are just very small parts of the movie! That’s what
our friends who’ve seen it have told us. The movie is two hours
long and those scenes are just a few minutes of the total film!
It’s based on a true story and good triumphs over evil, and there
are other redeeming themes like courage and self-sacrifice. Even
the movie review web sites say that!
My answer is no and that is my final answer. You are welcome to
stay home tonight, invite some of your friends over, and watch one
of the good videos we have in our home collection. But you will not
go and watch that film. End of discussion.
The two teenagers walked dejectedly into the family room and
slumped down on the couch. As they sulked, they were surprised to
hear the sounds of their father preparing something in the kitchen.
They soon recognized the wonderful aroma of brownies baking in the
oven, and one of the teenagers said to the other, “Dad must be
feeling guilty! , and now he’s going to try to make it up to us
with some fresh brownies. Maybe we can soften him with lots of
praise when he brings them out to us and persuade him to let us go
to the movie he refused to let us see.”
About that time I began eating the second brownie from the sandwich
bag and wondered if there was some connection to the brownies I was
eating and the brownies in the story. I kept reading…
The teens were not disappointed. Soon their father appeared with a
plate of warm brownies, which he offered to his kids. They each
took one. Then their father said, before you eat, I want to tell
you something: I love you both so much.
The teenagers smiled at each other with knowing glances. Dad was
softening.
That is why I’ve made these brownies with the very best
ingredients. I’ve made them from scratch. Most of the ingredients
are even organic.
The best organic flour. The best free-range eggs. The best organic
sugar. Premium vanilla and chocolate.
The brownies looked mouth-watering, and the teens began to become a
little impatient with their dad’s long speech.
But I want to be perfectly honest with you. There is one ingredient
I added that is not usually found in brownies. I got that
ingredient from our own back yard. But you don’t need to worry,
because I only added the tiniest bit of that ingredient to your
brownies. The amount of the portion is practically insignificant.
So go ahead, take a bite and let me know what you think.
Dad, would you mind telling us what that mystery ingredient is
before we eat?
Why? The portion I added was so small. Just a teaspoonful. You
won’t even taste it.
Come on, dad; just tell us what that ingredient is.
Don’t worry! It is organic, just like the other ingredients.
Dad!
Well, OK, if you insist That secret ingredient is fresh organic…dog poop.
I immediately stopped chewing that second brownie and I spit it out
into the wastebasket by my desk. I continued reading, now fearful
of the paragraphs that still remained.
Both teens instantly dropped their brownies back on the plate and
began inspecting their fingers with horror.
DAD! Why did you do that? You’ve tortured us by making us smell
those brownies cooking for the last half hour, and now you tell us
that you added dog poop! We can’t eat these brownies!
Why not? The amount of dog poop is very small compared to the rest
of the ingredients. It won’t hurt you. It’s been cooked right along
with the other ingredients. You won’t even taste it. It has the
same consistency as the brownies. Go ahead and eat!
No, Dad…NEVER!
And that is the same reason I won’t allow you to go watch that
movie. You won’t tolerate a little dog poop in your brownies, so
why should you tolerate a little immorality in your movies? We pray
that God will not lead us unto temptation, so how can we in good
conscience entertain ourselves with something that will imprint a
sinful image in our minds that will lead us into temptation long
after we first see it?
I discarded what remained of the second brownie as well as the
entire untouched third brownie. What had been irresistible a minute
go had become detestable. And only because of the very slim chance
that what I was eating was slightly polluted. (Surely it
wasn’t…but I couldn’t convince myself.)
What a good lesson about purity! Why do we tolerate any sin? On the
day of the Passover, the Israelites were commanded to remove every
bit of leaven from their homes. A little bit of leaven or yeast – makes the whole bowl of dough rise. Like leaven – even just a little bit of Sin contaminates the Christian. (1 Corinthians 5:6, 7)
“Who knocks so loud?” I asked …
The answer”Only a little sin” -
“Come right on in” I said -
and soon all Hell was in.
The Lord God of Elijah
God will send the Prophet Elijah to minister restoration specifically to the Fatherless Generation. Growing up as part of the Fatherless Generation, we have a challenge learning to trust and rely on God fully. We have learned to survive and live our life mostly on our own. We cope. We have tried to move on from out disappointments and heart-sick experiences. It hurts when are hopes are deferred. We do what we need to to?
As Elijah engaged on a new level of direction at the end of his prophetic ministry, his focus shifted from only confronting that which was a violation of principle to reproducing himself by raising up spiritual sons and daughters. His ministry in establishing the School of the Prophets launched the double portion anointing in lives such as Elisha. He raised up new leaders for the throne of Kingdoms as well. His ministry was far more impartational than confrontational as he ministered to the fatherless generation.
Look at his interaction with Elisha when he first called him to share his ministry mantle and anointing. Elisha tries to share an emotional appeal that he had some family commitments and responsibilities to take care of. He was waiting for his father’s blessing which still was probably a long way off. Elijah’s comment: “WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU?”
The opportunity to mentored and drawn into a relationship that transforms one’s destiny is built around the shift to be fathered in the faith. Much can happen in our lives as we shift from a solitary lifestyle into a nurturing family-based ministry dynamic. Yes, God places the solitary into families. (Ps. 68:6) Through this level of nurture in the crucible of relational service we are transformed.
Consider some key terms: ASSISTANT/ATTENDANT
I Kings 19:25 “Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his Attendant.” Being fathered in the faith and mentored into our destiny requires submission and teachableness. For independent people and survivors who have learned to cope in life in solitude we have to deny an essential part of our divine construction. IT IS NOT GOOD THAT MAN SHOULD BE ALONE. We are all created for relationship and God is nurturing us through relationships. Of course the Gen 1 Context is specifically focused on Gods heart to build the union of a marriage covenant. What is so exciting to me is what happens when we come into a dynamic union of marriage in our life and ministry. Marriage is designed to be a true gift leading to the perfect “HAPPILY EVER AFTER” life story.
Reading 1Pet 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs.with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Eph 5 too is taking a broader focus and application on the practical side of covenant unity and agreement.Even in our disappointing relationships, he comes along side to hold us together, especially to complete us in the areas of our weakness and personal deficiencies. The Lord Himself promises to stand in the gaps that are found in our lives.
A Fatherless Generation
Malachi 4 speaks about the curse that results when individuals are not fathered. Without nurturing relationships, people are left to suvive on their own. A curse remains on the land that results in all manner of difficult circumstances. God places the solitary in families because its not good for man to be alone. The heart of God for everyone to have strong family connections
