Pray4Guam
Prayers of agreement are even more effective, so here is a place to share insights and revelation to increase our impact.Archive for faith
Call2Fall
We are planning to be part of the prayer initiative, Call2Fall on Sunday July 5th. Allison and I will be in England that day and hope to find a ministry in the Rochford area that is actively participating in their own prayer initiatives.
I am challenged by the words, BRING FORTH FRUIT that match your declared REPENTANCE.
Words can be powerful and are important but the Lord is also leading us to take action in all the areas we pray and proclaim are right and true. So, as we repent of our secret sin, are we really building practical boundaries to live differently? We can more easily say “Lord, Forgive Me, for what I am about to do…” and then jump in with both feet because we really know what we are doing is wrong.
But then again, what really is sin? Is it only a violation of a direct commandment of God? Is it also a violation of the nature and image of God that He has created in us? Isn’t sin also simply not staying close to the source of all Life? Every time we step outside of faith that draws life from God alone and go get our need met in some independent way is really sin. Sin is more about separation from God than being guilty of some written law or unwritten code.
So, lets respond to the call2fall and really cry out to God for mercy, forgiveness and restoration. Lord we turn our hearts to You and ask you to cleanse us, change us, and begin to make us whole. Work in us both to choose You and do Your Will.
Who’s on the Throne Anyway?
I just finished attending a special prayer vigil service for a friend whose father died. The Rosary was prayed in a different way than I had ever learned as a child growing up in the Catholic Church in Central New York. The Rosary that is prayed here reveals an important insight into some spiritual dynamics that point to the web of strongholds used by principalities and powers over Guam.
Each night the Techa recites the numerous titles for the Queen of Heaven. Among these are ones such as “Arc of the Covenant”, that were never intended to be used or ascribed to Mary. Honorifics that should be ascribed solely to the Lord are being used to honor the Queen of Heaven. The numerous repetition of prayers and focus on Mary rather than on Jesus or God Himself indicates greater devotion and connection to her. This all reveals a paradigm that is far from anything Biblical.This paradigm holds many islanders in captivity spiritually and totally blind or deluded to the fact that they are bound in any way at all.
This Year I would like to see Jesus established on the throne in Guam rather than still sitting as a baby on Mary’s knee. Because these same prayers have been recited unceasingly for almost 500 years, I think it is safe to say that Jesus has never yet been truly enthroned as Lord of this island. Ascribing such praise and honor to the Queen of Heaven every day of the year at all the different Rosary and novina services is perpetuating the problems hindering life and development upon this island.
My prayer is to lift Jesus High! My desire is to reveal Jesus as Lord Supreme! The absence in the hearts of a strong and loving Father has contributed greatly to the struggle with sexual identity in our community. Homosexuality is acceptable by more and more people. Incest, rape and molestation continues to increase because we seem to have an rejected the strong and protective influence of Father God.
Let God Arise and His enemies be Scattered! Let the Queen of Heaven be cast down! Open the eyes of our Heart to know you Lord as the Lord of Hosts, King of the Universe! Let God’s people go free in the Name of the Father, in the Name of the Son and in the Name of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.
Guahan
Guahan is the Chamorro word for plentiful. The island is more of a land of blessing and provision and that was a primary reason for its strategic value throughout modern history. Magellan claimed the island for Spain as a colony for the purpose of resupplying the galleons for their regular commute between Mexico City and Manila. Today, the US Military sees this island as an important strategic asset. World War II ended in the Pacific through actions launched from Guam and its neigbor to the north, Tinian.
During the colonial period, the island has seemed to have lost the ability to be fruitful. During the colonial period, much produce was regularly harvested. Life has chanaged singificantly through the colonial years. Today, only a few locally grown fruits and vegetables are available for purchase. The local people today are significantly reliant upon welfare programs.
Our prayer thrust is to restore productivity and abundance to this island. Genesis 49:22 declares that Joseph shall be a fruitful bough by the well whose bough goes over the wall. We want to extend our faith to see the ministries shift from simply building walls to become more focused on being the fruitful bough that God created us to be. As we see the people of God becoming more fruitful and multiplying resouces, we will become a people of blessing, produces rather than consumers.
In this current time when we see the economy reeling from the shockwaves coming out of the stockmarket, banks and stalwart business centers. Christians need to set in motion a new paradigm, one that we see a shift in the way of living where we become the lenders rather than the borrowers. Economic integrity is not going to be possible in a moral vacuum. We must become the leaders to establish a new way of living and doing business.
Many of the corporate leaders in these past decades have practiced a kind of corporate greed and entitlement that modeled self-indulgence and lacked justice. Stock brokers have pushed junk investments on trusting investors who were simply hoping to preserve and extend their limited retirement funds.The practice has left many facing serious crisis.
Pray therefore that Christians will repent of living beyond their financial means through credit. Many have become so addicted to stuff, our identity is defined by what we have rather than our relationship with God. May the mercy of Jesus transform us to being a people who find great gain through Godliness and contentment.
It is God who gives us the ability to create wealth. I see this as a fruit of righteous living as well as inspired entrepreneurial faith ventures. Our prayer is that we will see new levels of creative ideas break open upon the people of God. These are wonderful days to be alive as we grow in our dependancy upon the Lord for new ideas and step into initiatives with strategic vision and Holy Ghost plans empowered by faith.
May the people of God grow in faith and obedience to follow the leading and voice of the Lord.
The Taotaomona Spirits and Micro-management
The indigenous Chamorro people held their ancesters in high regard even after their passing. Many archaeological sites where there are latte stones one finds ancient skulls. The ancient cultural tradition to keep the skull of the partriarch of the family was common. Many would use the skull for divination as well.
A common tradition of asking permission of the taotaomona before enterring jungle places on Guam is still practiced today. Mark Sandford, a leader of Elijah House Ministries, mentions that this type of practice probably manifests today in the form of a lot of micromanangement in the society. It is true that there is a lot of micro-management and significant red tape at all levels of government and activities.
