Learning to Love

 

“Love is the slower way to build, but it is the better way.”   This quote by Jack Winter continues to pierce my heart as we are in the process of “building community” at Revolution Church.

Our prayer times have been focused on asking God to encounter us with His love and to help us love one another.   He has been answering our prayer.   I have never felt more broken, or more loved, in my life. 

I just finished reading  Henri Nouwen’s  “Life of the Beloved.”   He writes about the importance of knowing that we are the Beloved…that this must be the core truth of our existence.  He writes, “Becoming the Beloved is the great spiritual journey we have to make.”

At Revolution Church, we’re on a journey together to be changed by experiencing the truth that we are the Beloved.   When we know that we are loved, then we can sincerely love one another.    The Bible says that “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”    We value knowledge, but we’re pursuing love. 

We’re contending for a “LOVE REVOLUTION.”    My prayer is that revolutionaries will arise and change the world through love.

Breaking out of the Mold

Stacey Campbell prophesied several years ago about the Church that “someone needs to break out of the mold and do it differently.”  

We received a prophetic word that we would do something that had not been done before….and that it would be a “prototype.”    A prototype is a “first in a series.”   The prophecy also said we would feel “out of kilter” because it was like building a ship out at sea.

As we have been seeking God about this,  He has been giving us a strategy on how to break out of the mold.   We will be implementing it soon.   We believe that more revelation will come as we dialog together and take steps in the direction of change.

  Graham Cooke said once that “there is something wrong when we have 52 life changing messages a year and nobody’s life changes!”   We want to see changed lives…that’s our goal.  One definition of insanity is when we keep doing things the same way, expecting different results.  

I read a startling statistic.  A survey was done among evangelical Christians and it was determined that 1,000 people are leaving the Church every day!  Many are rejecting the faith altogether.   Among non-evangelicals, the statistic is much higher.

The Church needs to change…..someone needs to break out of the mold and do it differently!    Why not us?  Why not now?

Out of Africa

I’m home after a two week trip to South Africa.   This was my 8th trip to South Africa – it is a nation that I love.

On this trip, I had a revelation that there is a “three fold cord” between the nations of Canada, South Africa, and the United States….that has to do with revival.

John G. Lake was a Canadian that went to South Africa….then started the Healing Rooms in Spokane, Washington, 100 years ago.  He was a forerunner and his legacy in both the US and South Africa continues to this day.

The Latter Rain revival began in Canada.  A key player in that revival was William Branham.    He went to South Africa in 1951 for ten weeks.  There were many salvations and miracles….it rocked the nation.

In 1993, A South African evangelist, Rodney Howard Brown,  came to the United States and renewal broke out.  An American, Randy Clark, was powerfully touched in Rodney’s meetings and took the impartation to Canada, where a powerful revival began in 1994.

It is interesting that Todd Bentley is also a Canadian.

On this trip, I had a strong impression that Randy Clark is supposed to go to South Africa next year.  I “happened” to sit next to one of his main intercessors on my return trip…between Atlanta and Salt Lake.  She was coming back from a crusade with Randy Clark in Brazil.  She told me that Randy had just expressed interest in  South Africa.  I’ll be meeting with Randy Clark while I’m in California…we’re both scheduled to be at the same event this week!   I think God is up to something BIG. 

More later…..

We have a home!

This last week has been a whirlwind.  After searching for a place to meet for nine months, we have found our “home.”   We looked at it last Sunday and will be meeting there this Sunday!   If you know anything about leasing buildings, it could only be God that orchestrated this.  The story is amazing.

Last March, we almost signed a three year lease agreement on a location in the Post Falls outlet mall.  Right before we were to sign that lease, JoAnn McFatter prophesied to “wait.”  She saw a building coming and that when it came, everyone would know that it was God!  We value prophecy and didn’t go through with signing the lease, even though we were excited to move out of our temporary facility at the time.

Several months went by and we knew that we needed to move…and nothing was opening up.  We went back to the outlet mall and started renegotiating…we couldn’t come to terms.     When suddenly, God opened up this building through some dear friends of ours, the Smeltzers.

The building is perfect.  It has 7,000 square feet, two gas fireplaces, chairs, sound system, plenty of parking, classrooms…..everything!   Everyone on our team was in agreement that we did the right thing (signing the lease two days after looking at it).    They are happy that they don’t have to do any renovation work!

Come visit us sometime….we’ll have the coffee on.

The Cry for Family

  I have been noticing that many of the popular movies today have a theme of restoration of families.    Years ago, we did a conference entitled “The Cry for Spiritual Mothers and Fathers.”    I believe there is a yearning in our hearts, a cry,  to be a part of a loving family….and God put that desire there.   People are longing for relationships that are authentic, satisfying, and real.

The prophet Malachi cried out that Elijah would come to “turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers.”     It has been said that we get 80% of our identity from our natural fathers.  So many of us didn’t have fathers who affirmed and blessed us.  As a result, there is a HUGE “identity crisis” in my generation.

The good news is that we’re learning how to be better fathers and mothers.  We’re learning how to really love our children and bless them.   It has been said that when the young and the old learn to dance together, then the harvest will come in.  Let the dance begin!

It’s all about change!

I love to read!  One of my favorite authors is Erwin McManus.  I’ve been reading a book called “Culture Shift”  and Erwin wrote in the foreword:

“Jesus Christ began a revolution that transformed individuals and created a transformational community.  Everything recorded in the book of Acts is the outcome and overflow of this apostolic ethos.  Ethos – the fuel of movements – is the tribal fire of a culture.” 

I believe there is something wrong when people come to church week after week and their lives stay the same.  Most Christians are not free from addictions or experiencing healing in their souls.  The recent exposure of failings in visible ministries, including Todd Bentley, should be a wake up call to the Church.

A quiet revolution is occurring among those who have attended church for years but want something more than what religion has to offer.   There must be more!   There is a cry for freedom and transformation.    Join a revolution and change a generation!

The Revolution Has Begun!

Welcome to our new website!  I am the founder of Revolution Church and want to invite you to join us for one of our upcoming events or for our regular Sunday service.

I recently spoke at The Gathering in Ottertail, Minnesota, hosted by Firestarters.   The creativity was “off the charts!”  I’m so excited that they will be with us on September 3 (at Ross Point Camp in Post Falls) for a night of worship and dance.  Don’t miss it!   Check out these cool pictures from that event:  http://picasaweb.google.com/wordsay/Gathering2008

We’ll be doing a lot more with this group in the future – they are our tribe!