Showing posts with label Testimony. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Testimony. Show all posts
Monday, February 20, 2012
Finger of God Testimony
I guess I missed the Furious Love contest, but I wanted to share my testimony for the Finger of God Deluxe Edition. I had no idea that it wss 5 DVD's long. We had wanted to borrow it for awhile from our friend, Derek S., who is the CCM--Contemporary Christian Ministries leader. He graciously lent it to us saying that we could mail it back to him. I kept thinking that I would watch it over the weekend and give it back not realizing how long it is. We had a special retreat that began with the guest ministry of Frank & Nephtali Seamster. Friday night, I stayed up late and watched the 1st DVD and part of the 2nd DVD. I was blown away especially by the Bethel School of the Supernatural students, but I was inspired....Next day, I'm trying to tell my best friend, Peggy, (now my wife) about it. I was so inspired that my faith was challenged, and I began to walk in the "anointing" of the Holy Spirit like the Bethel students. Peggy did not have faith for a healing of her legs, but I asked Nephtali to pray over her and then made her take off her two ankle braces. She did not want to, but I made her test them (her feet and ankles) out by running. She did not believe, was not real cooperative, and went to the bathroom up a small flight of stairs. She took them normally. In all my time of knowing Peggy, she had never taken stairs normally always slowly one stair and one foot at a time. She began to scream and laugh so much that she was almost hyperventilating. It was a miracle just like the Finger of God events and the Bethel students! Not only that....there was more. I stated a very short statement to our friend Derek that turned out to be a prophetic word of Knowledge to him. This had never really happened to me like this before. I watched the DVD's and experienced an anointing that blew me away, makes me hungry for me, enlivens my life, and challenges me spiritually to have more of the Holy Spirit in my life. Thank you so much for these films! God, peace, blessings, and endowment be with you and God bless all your future endeavors! Thanks again! Randall
Thursday, July 22, 2010
My engagement and GHOP (Graceland House of Prayer)
This will be a short blog of my testimony regarding June 25, 2010 and my engagement to Peggy.
I had a weight and secret sin "choking off" my prayer tongue to one phrase or one sentence. We (Peggy & I) met with Rhonda, Vi, and Derek. They attempted to force the issue, but it was out in the open by the rehearsal rooms. Derek and I literally got in a tug of war with getting rid of this. I cannot use my prayer tongue for myself due to a covenant with God for its use to only be for others incl. Peggy and those around me. Trying to force a deliverance just fed into the situation and did not remove it. Rhonda tried to "fish" for reasons but does not really know me all that well and her possible causes were off the mark.
I woke up the next day with the feeling of the Spirit on me saying, "Don't you dare leave this camp without being free of this..." I immediately decided to go on a strict food (no food)/all liquid fast. Rhonda had said that she and Derek would be available at 1 pm, but it was not to be because they got into a deliverance with someone else and could not be found.
I spent hours in the soaking (sloshing according to Mike S.) room praying, asking for help from Jesus and Spirit, asking for help from my ancestors, etc. I anointed and literally soaked me with consecrated oil. When I felt ready, I could only find Dan, our best friend, and Peggy who I was secretly engaged to (We were going to do it around Christmas at my grandparents to honor them)...We went to Cheville chapel where I confessed about this issue. Dan and Peggy were very supportive, and it was a lot easier than when I confessed to Peggy.
I asked Dan to "pray with his full authority as a Melchisedec Elder" (as if he would not any other time and be careful what you ask for because you just might get it). Dan prayed a beautiful prayer over Peggy and me--a prayer of unity. When Dan got done, I kissed Peggy and stated that I believed that Dan had just "married" us. Peggy smiled and laughed and agreed. I forgot about the Melchisedec authority to bind on earth and in heaven. Dan even laughed in going to the bathroom in thinking about the prayer he had just uttered.
I almost forgot that Dan, before his prayer, had said that he would invite the actual Presence of Christ which others had testified during the week. Christ came along with the Spirit already present and easily delivered me of my confessed secret sin and weight of guilt and the past. It was clear that He was present.
This leads to our circle prayer that opened up to the Father and Heaven. Dan and I prayed some mighty prayer then before Peggy could pray. I stated that I needed to pray again. I prayed for a joining (3-cord like Ecclesiastes) of the Restoration Movement (Community of Christ/RLDS, LDS, Restoration, Remnant, Temple Lot, and more), the prayer/prophetic movement (IHOP-KC with Mike Bickle, Bethel with Bill Johnson, Toronto with Arnott's, Morningstar with Joyner, Yoiddo with David Yonggi Cho, and much more), plus Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement with evidence as a Graceland House of Prayer with evidence of IHOP-KC interceding for Graceland. I have no doubt of this coming to pass....what I want to work on today.
I had a weight and secret sin "choking off" my prayer tongue to one phrase or one sentence. We (Peggy & I) met with Rhonda, Vi, and Derek. They attempted to force the issue, but it was out in the open by the rehearsal rooms. Derek and I literally got in a tug of war with getting rid of this. I cannot use my prayer tongue for myself due to a covenant with God for its use to only be for others incl. Peggy and those around me. Trying to force a deliverance just fed into the situation and did not remove it. Rhonda tried to "fish" for reasons but does not really know me all that well and her possible causes were off the mark.
I woke up the next day with the feeling of the Spirit on me saying, "Don't you dare leave this camp without being free of this..." I immediately decided to go on a strict food (no food)/all liquid fast. Rhonda had said that she and Derek would be available at 1 pm, but it was not to be because they got into a deliverance with someone else and could not be found.
I spent hours in the soaking (sloshing according to Mike S.) room praying, asking for help from Jesus and Spirit, asking for help from my ancestors, etc. I anointed and literally soaked me with consecrated oil. When I felt ready, I could only find Dan, our best friend, and Peggy who I was secretly engaged to (We were going to do it around Christmas at my grandparents to honor them)...We went to Cheville chapel where I confessed about this issue. Dan and Peggy were very supportive, and it was a lot easier than when I confessed to Peggy.
I asked Dan to "pray with his full authority as a Melchisedec Elder" (as if he would not any other time and be careful what you ask for because you just might get it). Dan prayed a beautiful prayer over Peggy and me--a prayer of unity. When Dan got done, I kissed Peggy and stated that I believed that Dan had just "married" us. Peggy smiled and laughed and agreed. I forgot about the Melchisedec authority to bind on earth and in heaven. Dan even laughed in going to the bathroom in thinking about the prayer he had just uttered.
I almost forgot that Dan, before his prayer, had said that he would invite the actual Presence of Christ which others had testified during the week. Christ came along with the Spirit already present and easily delivered me of my confessed secret sin and weight of guilt and the past. It was clear that He was present.
This leads to our circle prayer that opened up to the Father and Heaven. Dan and I prayed some mighty prayer then before Peggy could pray. I stated that I needed to pray again. I prayed for a joining (3-cord like Ecclesiastes) of the Restoration Movement (Community of Christ/RLDS, LDS, Restoration, Remnant, Temple Lot, and more), the prayer/prophetic movement (IHOP-KC with Mike Bickle, Bethel with Bill Johnson, Toronto with Arnott's, Morningstar with Joyner, Yoiddo with David Yonggi Cho, and much more), plus Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement with evidence as a Graceland House of Prayer with evidence of IHOP-KC interceding for Graceland. I have no doubt of this coming to pass....what I want to work on today.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
House of prayer at Graceland
It's been on my heart for awhile that I would like to see a "house of prayer" (24/7/365) at Graceland. I asked God how to "plant a seed" with someone at Graceland. I kept being drawn to thoughts of the taller, blond Alex who was one of the Graceland students working on campus.
I went to Cheville chapel with Dan and Peggy because I needed to confess and get rid of some "junk, garbage" in my life. I woke up that morning with God and the Spirit convicting me--"don't you dare go home still carrying this junk when you are seeing so many get free..." so I prayed and fasted and prepared. Some mighty deliverers had tried to get me free the night before, but I was not ready, did not like the issue, and kind of "forcing" the issue was feeding into the demonic stronghold "choking" out my prayer language so it did not work. I could not find them the next day because they had been involved in helping someone else get free which was great. So I got Dan & Peggy....
We had a long conversation in which I confessed this sin to Dan and Peggy. It was easier than when I told Peggy. It was clear they both loved me unconditionally despite anything I had done. I asked Dan to pray with his full authority as a Melchisedec Priesthood Elder (not that he does not any other time.) Dan spoke about the presence of Jesus Christ noted. It was so much easier than the night before with the love of Christ and love of my 2 best friends buoying me up. The authority of the Elder involves an open doorway to Heaven with binding and loosing on earth and binding and loosing in Heaven. Dan prayed over me while Peggy held me. When he got done, I told Dan that it really felt like he "married" us (not officially, of course) because he prayed for our relationship and being one. We laughed and kissed, and Dan laughed on the way to the bathroom.
When he got back, we decided to have some mighty prayer for the camp and beyond. With the Presence of Christ and forgiveness and inner healing, we prayed some mighty things. I prayed and Dan prayed. Before Peggy could pray, I felt led to ask God for a "House of Prayer" and for assistance from IHOP-KC (International House of Prayer in KC) for Graceland. I've never heard them pray for us or Graceland (churches and universities in general and specific but not Graceland) We really were empowered in prayer so I asked and claimed this "House of Prayer" because I know it would open the students and others to revival and church to revival like the youth/young adults did with the Spirit and ministered in power at this CCM Celebration Reunion.
Prior to my inner healing and our conversation, I ran into Alex and talked to him about IHOP-KC and a "House of Prayer" there at Graceland so I consider that a God-incidence. I also claimed a "joining of the Prayer/Prophetic Movement, Restoration Movement, and Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement" with a sign and wonder to be IHOP-KC interceding for Graceland and supporting a House of Prayer there like they are doing in New England. Praise God, and I will see it come to pass.
After the prayers by me and Dan, we kidded Peggy about getting even more mighty in the Spirit. She sang the first verse of Amazing Grace with a strong, strong voice that we could not come close to matching then had an even mightier prayer. Wow! Hallelujah!
Be prepared for God to move on Graceland and its students with the help of IHOP-KC. This revival will sweep into the church. I ask for intercessory prayer claiming these things!!!! Hallelujah. I've never felt freer and lighter and forgiven and loved. Peggy and I chose this day for our "official" engagement and decided to not wait until Christmas so we told everyone because felt the approval and blessing of our Father in Heaven on our match.
"Greater Things" Reunion
I want to share one testimony of many. I was not planning on going, but I felt the Spirit tug on me to go and serve and work with the youth. I could not out-give God....
I just want to share one testimony that was really cool. I signed up for the prophetic prayer room at 4 pm on Thursday. I was asking why because I really wanted to learn to give in the prophetic prayer rooms (music rehearsal rooms). Dan, my best friend, and I went and we were asked to pitch in so I got to be involved, and it was so cool working with Bob Harper, then Gay Spalding, then Mark Braden and Kathy Amsinger. I look forward to the day when the whole campus (anywhere from commons to dorms to Shaw Ctr. to chapel) will be one big prophetic prayer room with words of knowledge being given to non-CCM persons on campus, off-campus, and beyond! Hallelujah!
I just want to share one testimony that was really cool. I signed up for the prophetic prayer room at 4 pm on Thursday. I was asking why because I really wanted to learn to give in the prophetic prayer rooms (music rehearsal rooms). Dan, my best friend, and I went and we were asked to pitch in so I got to be involved, and it was so cool working with Bob Harper, then Gay Spalding, then Mark Braden and Kathy Amsinger. I look forward to the day when the whole campus (anywhere from commons to dorms to Shaw Ctr. to chapel) will be one big prophetic prayer room with words of knowledge being given to non-CCM persons on campus, off-campus, and beyond! Hallelujah!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
"What would you do with revival?"
"What would you do with revival?" It's an interesting question....We are promised revival in Doctrine & Covenants 163.
I finished my 40 day fast on Tuesday, February 9. It was called by Evangelist Bev Moor during the CCM Leadership Summit in November 2009. He challenged us to ask God what we need to change about ourselves and to focus on the challenges faced by the church going into World Conference 2010. I could not do a food fast like I was originally planning so I decided to fast from facebook games and TV. I could not do the fast because I came down ill with a bad sinus infection starting on New Year's eve and before that I spent at onething09 in downtown KC with IHOP-KC. Being ill is not real conducive to a food fast so I switched to the above which I was spending too much time with facebook games and TV. I have had good TV fasts before. I used to do these before I got more into food fasts after reading Mahesh Chavda's Hidden Power of Prayer and Fasting.
I am not big on Lenten fasts. I'm not Catholic, but I still decided that I wanted to do another fast. I will trust God to give me strength to get through this second one.
I did not do very well with Bev's challenge about journaling and asking God what to change. I am getting that challenge with my Faith Bible College classes and with the Spirit's prompting. I have another Chavda book from onething09 called 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting which I want to use with this fast.
I need to share a testimony from the 40 day fast from January 1, 2010 to February 9, 2010. On February 8, I felt that God wanted me to share with Dr. Nick, CEO & founder of Faith Bible College here in Independence, MO. I have been real impressed at his messages regarding getting beyond division and denominations by focusing on Jesus and what we have in common. I was focused during the fast after feeling better on my church and WC 2010. I, however, felt that God wanted me to ask Dr. Nick this question: "What would you do with revival?" I did not even feel that I needed an answer, but I told him about the fast, and we talked along with his "bishop?" Pam, another member of FBC. I've been really impressed at the feel at Faith Bible and the mixing of white, black, Latino, and more. We talked and then prayed, and the Spirit confirmed this question along with a discussion of the answers. We were blessed by the Spirit which confirmed to Dr. Nick the question, and we lifted Dr. Nick, his team, Faith Bible up for revival, a mighty move of the Spirit, and for God's blessing. I feel that confirming even now.
I finished my 40 day fast on Tuesday, February 9. It was called by Evangelist Bev Moor during the CCM Leadership Summit in November 2009. He challenged us to ask God what we need to change about ourselves and to focus on the challenges faced by the church going into World Conference 2010. I could not do a food fast like I was originally planning so I decided to fast from facebook games and TV. I could not do the fast because I came down ill with a bad sinus infection starting on New Year's eve and before that I spent at onething09 in downtown KC with IHOP-KC. Being ill is not real conducive to a food fast so I switched to the above which I was spending too much time with facebook games and TV. I have had good TV fasts before. I used to do these before I got more into food fasts after reading Mahesh Chavda's Hidden Power of Prayer and Fasting.
I am not big on Lenten fasts. I'm not Catholic, but I still decided that I wanted to do another fast. I will trust God to give me strength to get through this second one.
I did not do very well with Bev's challenge about journaling and asking God what to change. I am getting that challenge with my Faith Bible College classes and with the Spirit's prompting. I have another Chavda book from onething09 called 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting which I want to use with this fast.
I need to share a testimony from the 40 day fast from January 1, 2010 to February 9, 2010. On February 8, I felt that God wanted me to share with Dr. Nick, CEO & founder of Faith Bible College here in Independence, MO. I have been real impressed at his messages regarding getting beyond division and denominations by focusing on Jesus and what we have in common. I was focused during the fast after feeling better on my church and WC 2010. I, however, felt that God wanted me to ask Dr. Nick this question: "What would you do with revival?" I did not even feel that I needed an answer, but I told him about the fast, and we talked along with his "bishop?" Pam, another member of FBC. I've been really impressed at the feel at Faith Bible and the mixing of white, black, Latino, and more. We talked and then prayed, and the Spirit confirmed this question along with a discussion of the answers. We were blessed by the Spirit which confirmed to Dr. Nick the question, and we lifted Dr. Nick, his team, Faith Bible up for revival, a mighty move of the Spirit, and for God's blessing. I feel that confirming even now.
Friday, January 1, 2010
God's Power & Light District
We had quite a night in going to the final night of the onething09 conference at Bartle Hall put on by IHOP-KC. We got down there in time for the meeting on IHOPU. We found the room just in time, but I quickly decided that this was not a good forum to ask about my acceptance and later rejection (withdrawal of acceptance).
We went back to the main area, found some seats, checked out the bookstore and had time to enjoy the atmosphere. I was able to share my inspiration (see previous blog) on a "giant Jesus" with arms outstretched with His heart matching the IHOP symbol behind the stage. I shared this with an artist connected with IHOP who seemed interested, but he encouraged Peggy to maybe paint this picture. I know that it made for a powerful image to use for intercessory prayer to pray that a light wave matched the beating of Jesus' heart and this light wave touched the souls of all 20,000+ in attendance in helping them overcome the adversary and obstacles in their lives.
I picked up a couple of books--40 days of Prayer and Fasting by Mahesh Chavda (there was only 2 left) and Messiah: First Judgment, Chronicles of Brothers, fictional book about Archangels Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer. The latter book was on sale for $5, and I loved Wendy Alec's Journal of the Unknown Prophet about the vision she saw of the last days.
We were able to get some supper, meet an interesting guy from Alaska named Scott, and go to the bathroom before the 7pm session started. I even had a chance to go back and get Mike Bickle's commentary on the Book of Revelation. I picked up a couple of late Christmas gifts for Peggy (or early New Year's gifts) including another Misty Edwards' CD and prophetic/devotional CD that was on sale.
It's hard to describe the energy and fun and prayer and prophetic experiences that was onthing09 in downtown KC with IHOP-KC. It was quite an experience with all the joy, passion, great worship. We got to know a couple from Olathe next to us and a group of believers that had come all the way from Hong Kong. They had a time of praying for persons around you, and it was a great way to become close to strangers next to you. I know that I appreciated the prayers over me. One IHOP event staff (volunteer?) prayed over me and told me that he got that it was a time of "demarcation" for me and that "a seed was planted in deep rich soil" "for kingdom purposes". I prayed over the guy next to us and told him that I thought God was calling him like King David as a mighty prayer warrior who takes on the "Goliath's" (giants) that intimidate others and put them in fear.
Peggy was prayed over by wife of guy which I got a prophetic word for. She described it as almost like electrical feeling bursts of energy into her. She also saw the inspiration that Bill, the IHOP artist, had with my testimony of seeing a "giant Jesus" with arms outstretched toward the persons there. It was a great way to take out 2009 in prayer, praise, worship, and challenge, and a great way to bring in the New Year of 2010 with prayer, praise, and worship to our Lord and Savior Jesus!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Attending onething09 yesterday
http://www.ihop.org/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=1000039841
The link for IHOP-KC (International House of Prayer in Kansas City) and for their onething09 conference in downtown KC. I registered online and printed out some e-tickets for quick registration. My friend Peggy dropped me off before she went into work.
It really is something that you have to see and experience to understand. It's basically a young adult/ Jesus convention with about 2/3 of convention center (Bartle Hall or Municipal) being for the stage, ministry area, and chairs. I would estimate about 4-5 football fields lined up side by side for the area of the chairs. There are 6 large screens to be able to see the person speaking onstage or see the worship team. It's incredible and huge and growing. It was estimated that there was 17,000 plus persons there yesterday. I just watched it fill up and fill up.
The other 1/3 part of the center includes Forerunner Bookstore with material related to the conference and much more. They also have booths set up for the various ministries connected with IHOP-KC including Hope City which is run by Mike Bickle's sister and brother-in-law, Ray and Lisa Stribling. I picked up a pamphlet "Devil the Dope Man: From Street Life to Freedom" which tells Lisa's story. There are other booths including artwork done by persons at IHOP-KC, booths for IHOPU (International House of Prayer University), their Bible school where I was accepted at first, but I am now not able to attend. That is another testimony for another time.
I was in a little "bit of heaven" for me with great worship and lifting up Christ, interesting and challenging teaching and material, and then a giant bookstore that I could practically get lost in with all the great IHOP-related material (books by Mike Bickle, Allen Hood, Corey Russell and music--Misty Edwards, Laura Hackett, Justin Rizzo, Cory Asbury) and then material by others like Mike's favorites, David Brainerd, Jonathan Edwards, Marie Woodwirth-Etter, Kathryn Kuhlman, John G. Lake, and others more recent like Mahesh & Bonnie Chavda, Bill & Beni Johnson, Wendy Alec, and more. I loved checking out the books. They also had a new board game called Omega which is a board game on the End-times (Latter Days).
I got tired after the afternoon sessions and with very little food (couple of breakfast bars). I even had one young lady come up to me wanting a few bucks for something to eat. I had 30 cents on me and will not have more until New Years when my disability check comes in. I have already sent postdated checks to pay for being nailed by a camera in Grandview trying to make it to one of the student awakening buildings late at night. I also had to send a postdated check to Carol Cease Campbell who trusted me with a signed copy of her new book, Called to Be a Prophetic People: Witness & Reflection which she trusted me with paying after the Peace Colloquy.
A little sidenote, check out Carol's book which speaks of "A prayerfully prophetic people of possibility, promise, perseverance, power, and proclamation". I love it in that it speaks on mighty prayer and endowment. I eagerly await her third book in the series--Called to BE: Life in the Spirit.
After waiting, I made it home late last night after almost 10 hours down there. It is definitely something for the youth and young adults. I could really get fired up with the energy.
I need to share my testimony. In the morning, I got an "impression" of giant Jesus with his heart matching the big IHOP symbol in back of the stage. He had his arms wide with the seating area. He towered over the convention center. There were also angels with the Archangel Michael, Captain of the Heavenly Hosts, completely the circle. This might seem a little silly, but I pictured a light wave of power (endowment and Spirit) kind of like Po with his Wuxi fingerhold in Kung Fu Panda and this light wave going out from the Heart of Jesus would help all persons there to overcome their adversaries, the adversary (I will not capitalize), and obstacles to their ministry in the name of Jesus. I was not sure about this, but I felt the Spirit confirming it when I prayed over my sketches with Jesus and the stage and the persons attending.
Well, this is enough for now. I felt the Spirit again confirming the above and look forward to blogging some more about onething09.
The link for IHOP-KC (International House of Prayer in Kansas City) and for their onething09 conference in downtown KC. I registered online and printed out some e-tickets for quick registration. My friend Peggy dropped me off before she went into work.
It really is something that you have to see and experience to understand. It's basically a young adult/ Jesus convention with about 2/3 of convention center (Bartle Hall or Municipal) being for the stage, ministry area, and chairs. I would estimate about 4-5 football fields lined up side by side for the area of the chairs. There are 6 large screens to be able to see the person speaking onstage or see the worship team. It's incredible and huge and growing. It was estimated that there was 17,000 plus persons there yesterday. I just watched it fill up and fill up.
The other 1/3 part of the center includes Forerunner Bookstore with material related to the conference and much more. They also have booths set up for the various ministries connected with IHOP-KC including Hope City which is run by Mike Bickle's sister and brother-in-law, Ray and Lisa Stribling. I picked up a pamphlet "Devil the Dope Man: From Street Life to Freedom" which tells Lisa's story. There are other booths including artwork done by persons at IHOP-KC, booths for IHOPU (International House of Prayer University), their Bible school where I was accepted at first, but I am now not able to attend. That is another testimony for another time.
I was in a little "bit of heaven" for me with great worship and lifting up Christ, interesting and challenging teaching and material, and then a giant bookstore that I could practically get lost in with all the great IHOP-related material (books by Mike Bickle, Allen Hood, Corey Russell and music--Misty Edwards, Laura Hackett, Justin Rizzo, Cory Asbury) and then material by others like Mike's favorites, David Brainerd, Jonathan Edwards, Marie Woodwirth-Etter, Kathryn Kuhlman, John G. Lake, and others more recent like Mahesh & Bonnie Chavda, Bill & Beni Johnson, Wendy Alec, and more. I loved checking out the books. They also had a new board game called Omega which is a board game on the End-times (Latter Days).
I got tired after the afternoon sessions and with very little food (couple of breakfast bars). I even had one young lady come up to me wanting a few bucks for something to eat. I had 30 cents on me and will not have more until New Years when my disability check comes in. I have already sent postdated checks to pay for being nailed by a camera in Grandview trying to make it to one of the student awakening buildings late at night. I also had to send a postdated check to Carol Cease Campbell who trusted me with a signed copy of her new book, Called to Be a Prophetic People: Witness & Reflection which she trusted me with paying after the Peace Colloquy.
A little sidenote, check out Carol's book which speaks of "A prayerfully prophetic people of possibility, promise, perseverance, power, and proclamation". I love it in that it speaks on mighty prayer and endowment. I eagerly await her third book in the series--Called to BE: Life in the Spirit.
After waiting, I made it home late last night after almost 10 hours down there. It is definitely something for the youth and young adults. I could really get fired up with the energy.
I need to share my testimony. In the morning, I got an "impression" of giant Jesus with his heart matching the big IHOP symbol in back of the stage. He had his arms wide with the seating area. He towered over the convention center. There were also angels with the Archangel Michael, Captain of the Heavenly Hosts, completely the circle. This might seem a little silly, but I pictured a light wave of power (endowment and Spirit) kind of like Po with his Wuxi fingerhold in Kung Fu Panda and this light wave going out from the Heart of Jesus would help all persons there to overcome their adversaries, the adversary (I will not capitalize), and obstacles to their ministry in the name of Jesus. I was not sure about this, but I felt the Spirit confirming it when I prayed over my sketches with Jesus and the stage and the persons attending.
Well, this is enough for now. I felt the Spirit again confirming the above and look forward to blogging some more about onething09.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
The few, the proud, the marines.....no, the hardy, churchgoers!!!
It was an interesting experience trying to dig the car out, then getting it turned around, then actually getting out to the street, and then actually making it to church--Celebration Ministries.
I know that many churches were closed--Walnut Gardens, East Alton, East Independence, Raytown, Buckner, Special Ministries, and others.
We made it into church. With a 2-3 foot drift in front of the building in back, we went to work on opening the church and having Sunday School in the fellowship hall below the sanctuary. Potluck had already been canceled the night before. Celebration pastor Steve and a friend John even got stuck trying to get in the upper parking lot which was not plowed unlike the lower lot which had been.
We were missing our worship leader and planner and preacher. Our brother Tom put together a service in which he talked about knowledge of God going to the Gentiles in the form of the wise men and related to the Chinese communist attempts to "kill Christianity" in China by kicking out the missionaries and suppressing the churches yet it has gone from a million or less Christians in China to maybe 35 million or more Christians in house churches in China. We had a good spirit and the Good Spirit blessing our service as some persons from the neighborhood including 3 kids so we went from initially 5 to about 14.
I was glad to share my testimony regarding prayer over my brother Ryan by a couple of friends that are married. She had prayed for a crack for the Spirit to get in, and I felt the Spirit with that prayer for God to get in and past the walls of stress, anxiety, pain, depression, and more. Over Christmas Eve and Christmas, we saw snow that sneaked into the door and window.
See pictures...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30515195&id=1289034794
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas and thoughts on Christmas Eve Services
We had a little bit of the Christmas Eve marathon with going to E. 39th Street Community of Christ for a Christmas Eve communion service. We ran into a dear friend, Rich, and got to wish him "Merry Christmas!" The weather was wet and cold. I followed my intuition and decided to get the gas tank filled and be a little late for the service because if the weather did what was predicted (snow, winter storm warnings) then I did not want to try to stop as the weather got progressively worse. There was a good and gentle Spirit with sharing in this sacred covenant/sacrament and recognize that the babe in the manger became the Lord and God initiating the Communion of Bread (Body) and Wine (Blood).
As sleet blanketed the cars and area, we then decided to head over to Stone Church for their Christmas Eve service, we got there before 6 so we hung out in the foyer after calling my G & G's (Grandma and Grandpa's) to wish everyone Merry Christmas! It was wonderful service though sparsely attended (maybe 1/3 normal) with the inclement weather. Paulette and company did a fantastic job. The sanctuary was just beautifully decorated. I think my favorite part was the Men's Ensemble singing, "Mary Did You Know?"--what wonderful harmony and vocals! We just loved this beautiful experience with a great message on "light" in Scripture and message on Christmas gift of our presence with them.
Our next stop and service was at Cornerstone with the young adults doing a production entitled, "Christmas Re-Imagined" with the story of a young man visiting his father in the hospital on Christmas and re-telling or sharing the story of "Christmas Re-imagined" with modern music and sharing of Mary and Joseph as college students and then young newlyweds giving birth in a laundry room of a hotel. I did not think something could easily top Stone Church and communion, but they did. Prior to this, we had a great time shooting the breeze (hearing funny stories) with our friend, Don and later Steve. By the time this production was over, the weather had gotten even worse with the outside looking like a giant snowglobe. We made it home ok to some wonderful hot cocoa and food.
I got up early this morning to see how things looked...It did not look like the roads had been plowed, and we found out the Temple parking lot was not plowed so we had to cancel the Christmas Day Prayer for Peace service and do it at home.
Now to my thoughts on this Christmas Eve marathon, the things that stick out...
1) E. 39th--Communion
2) Stone Church--beautiful music and presence
3) Cornerstone--young adults and their gifts
If you take Communion with God, Beautiful music praising God and focusing on His Presence plus add in Young Adults with their God-given giftedness, you have a pretty good simple definition for IHOP-KC (International House of Prayer).
Now if you add what would have been represented by the Temple, Christ, and Prayer with the Daily Prayer for Peace only make it 24/7/365 then in my humble opinion, you have a RECIPE FOR ENDOWMENT!
My prayer is that the Spirit (Ruach in OT, Pneuma in NT) will break through our walls and barriers in the same way that the wind and snow has gotten in windows and doors to this old house. Just some post-Christmas Eve thoughts on Christmas Day! Merry (mighty and endowed) Christmas and God, peace, blessings, and endowment be with you the rest of this year and in 2010!
As sleet blanketed the cars and area, we then decided to head over to Stone Church for their Christmas Eve service, we got there before 6 so we hung out in the foyer after calling my G & G's (Grandma and Grandpa's) to wish everyone Merry Christmas! It was wonderful service though sparsely attended (maybe 1/3 normal) with the inclement weather. Paulette and company did a fantastic job. The sanctuary was just beautifully decorated. I think my favorite part was the Men's Ensemble singing, "Mary Did You Know?"--what wonderful harmony and vocals! We just loved this beautiful experience with a great message on "light" in Scripture and message on Christmas gift of our presence with them.
Our next stop and service was at Cornerstone with the young adults doing a production entitled, "Christmas Re-Imagined" with the story of a young man visiting his father in the hospital on Christmas and re-telling or sharing the story of "Christmas Re-imagined" with modern music and sharing of Mary and Joseph as college students and then young newlyweds giving birth in a laundry room of a hotel. I did not think something could easily top Stone Church and communion, but they did. Prior to this, we had a great time shooting the breeze (hearing funny stories) with our friend, Don and later Steve. By the time this production was over, the weather had gotten even worse with the outside looking like a giant snowglobe. We made it home ok to some wonderful hot cocoa and food.
I got up early this morning to see how things looked...It did not look like the roads had been plowed, and we found out the Temple parking lot was not plowed so we had to cancel the Christmas Day Prayer for Peace service and do it at home.
Now to my thoughts on this Christmas Eve marathon, the things that stick out...
1) E. 39th--Communion
2) Stone Church--beautiful music and presence
3) Cornerstone--young adults and their gifts
If you take Communion with God, Beautiful music praising God and focusing on His Presence plus add in Young Adults with their God-given giftedness, you have a pretty good simple definition for IHOP-KC (International House of Prayer).
Now if you add what would have been represented by the Temple, Christ, and Prayer with the Daily Prayer for Peace only make it 24/7/365 then in my humble opinion, you have a RECIPE FOR ENDOWMENT!
My prayer is that the Spirit (Ruach in OT, Pneuma in NT) will break through our walls and barriers in the same way that the wind and snow has gotten in windows and doors to this old house. Just some post-Christmas Eve thoughts on Christmas Day! Merry (mighty and endowed) Christmas and God, peace, blessings, and endowment be with you the rest of this year and in 2010!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
2008 Hill Cumorah Expedition Team Spring Trip testimony
I want to briefly share my testimony in connecting with the Hill Cumorah Expedition Team. I had a seed planted years and years ago. I believe that I was a Jr. High Camper at the time. A brother Steve shared with us about a man who went down to Mexico and ran into someone who told him that, “It was not time yet.” The story was so powerful that I kind of buried it in my mind. Years later in 1996, before my very first World Conference, I met a kind, older couple who acted as Temple Ambassadors. I shared with them this story. They replied, “You must mean Neil Steede.” So I wrote the name down on my bulletin for the WC Native American service held at the Family Life Center. I still have this bulletin today. I did a very cursory search, but I never figured out where this Neil was or he was. Another decade later, the seed planted over twenty years before then came to fruition. In 2006, I was active in the “Cybercongregation”, the church’s online chatboard. A “Cyber-member” referred me to the Hill Cumorah Expedition Team and their website. I was astonished to realize that this team had been going to Mexico for over 5 years, and this team was connected with Neil Steede! I began some communication with Tim and Kevin Brown so that we met in person at a Cybercongregation “get-together” before the start of World Conference 2007. We met at Ryan’s, a buffett place here in Independence. I was so excited that I hardly ate. I was elated to see a replica of the proclamation tablet and meet Kevin Brown and Tim & Carol Brown in person. Before the week was out, Tim Brown had graciously given me a copy of Neil Steede’s book, Why I Believe…In the Historical Veracity of the Book of Mormon, and even better, he had invited me to his home for supper to meet Neil and have the book signed following WC 2007. I had a wonderful meal of homemade Mexican food and thoroughly enjoyed meeting Neil and Dorene Steede. I even got to sit in on a planning meeting for the 2007 HCET Spring Trip. What a way to end at 20+ year journey! Or rather, what a way to begin a new chapter in my own journey! (A more thorough testimony is in the September 15, 2007 newsletter though with the correction regarding the WC Native American service bulletin rather that the WC bulletin.)
With that brief summary of my journey to join the Hill Cumorah Expedition Team, I want to share my testimony with you concerning the 2008 HCET Spring Trip. (See June 15, 2008 Newsletter)
http://hillcumorahexpeditionteam.com/files/NewsletterVol2Issue2.pdf
I really wanted to go on this trip, but for various reasons, I was unable though my heart was with them. In the weeks prior to the 2008 HCET Spring Trip, I began to ask God how I could be a support back in Independence. The inspiration that I received came through the Book of Mormon and the stories of the “sons of Helaman” who credited the teachings (and prayers?) of their mothers with keeping them safe in battle. See Alma 26:53-57—‘’…yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, that God would deliver them....” and Alma 26:94-104—“…and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them….And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe, that there was a just God; and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.” These stories paralleled the stories of the sons of Mosiah who became missionaries to their enemies. The “sons of Helaman” were descendents of those converted by Ammon and his brothers, the sons of King Mosiah. I believe this is another story of how the prayers of Mosiah and others holding them up contributed to the success of their missionary efforts and their safety among their (former) enemies. See Mosiah 12:10-12---“…And the Lord said unto Mosiah, Let them go up, for many shall believe on their words, and they shall have eternal life, and I will deliver thy sons out of the hands of the Lamanites…” We see this protection evident in Alma 12:160-161 when Ammon could not be slain. I wondered about the teachings and prayers of the mother of these sons of Mosiah.
With these Book of Mormon stories as inspiration, I asked to do devotions about three weeks before the trip using these scriptures and stories regarding the “sons of Helaman” and the sons of Mosiah. I shared my idea and desire to coordinate and organize prayer support for the team going on the 2008 HCET Spring Trip. With the group’s approval and support and with the help of David Brown and Carol Brown, we began with a base of 80 photo cards (10 cards per team member) with the photo and name of the team members on the face and dates of the trip and website information on the back of each card. I decided to begin with the most supportive congregations and the congregations from which the team members originated—Buckner, Village Heights, Osage Hills, and Beacon Heights. We also developed backup cards for each congregation for possible increased demand. All 80 cards were distributed by the start of the 2008 Spring Trip, and all backup cards were distributed before the end of the trip. Thanks go to congregational coordinators Johnnie Brown, Elrey Goheen, Ruth Farrand-Cox, Joe Fera, and others who helped to distribute cards to 170 plus persons who took on the role of prayer partners/warriors for the 2008 Spring Trip. Other supportive congregations and groups included New Philadelphia, Ohio; HART Ministries; Celebration Ministries, Contemporary Christian Ministries, and many others.
Comments from those who traveled on the Spring Trip this year credited the prayer support for their safety, for a smooth driving trip including no problems during the border crossing, and for “God-incidences” related to experiences with Paula and persons of Piedra Ancha and the Santa Domingo river valley. I really appreciated the many persons who contributed to this prayer support during the 2008 Spring Expedition. The progress made will be manifested in the years to come.
I want to close with my personal testimony regarding acting as 2008 Spring Trip prayer partner/warrior coordinator. I decided to fast for the whole time that the team was down in Mexico. It would be the longest fast of my life. I do not testify regarding this to lift me up or brag because all glory belongs to Christ. I use this to explain the context regarding my prayer support coordination. I was blessed with numerous testimonies in support of the Hill Cumorah Expediton Team and the 2008 Trip. I really wanted to be there though I felt more involved with the team than ever before due to regular updates by David and email back and forth with Kevin and other team members. I was thankful to God for my small part in supporting the team, and thankful for the Spirit and blessings of God evident on this trip. One particular testimony stands out. An inspiration and testimony given to me by the Spirit was that I would be going the next year---that I would be a part of the 2009 Hill Cumorah Expedition Team Spring Trip. This was a dream come true from 2006 when I first learned about the Hill Cumorah Expedition Team and from being a Jr. High Church camper hearing the story about Neil! I would finally get to go on a trip with Neil and with other Hill Cumorah Expedition Team members.
http://hillcumorahexpeditionteam.com/index.html
With that brief summary of my journey to join the Hill Cumorah Expedition Team, I want to share my testimony with you concerning the 2008 HCET Spring Trip. (See June 15, 2008 Newsletter)
http://hillcumorahexpeditionteam.com/files/NewsletterVol2Issue2.pdf
I really wanted to go on this trip, but for various reasons, I was unable though my heart was with them. In the weeks prior to the 2008 HCET Spring Trip, I began to ask God how I could be a support back in Independence. The inspiration that I received came through the Book of Mormon and the stories of the “sons of Helaman” who credited the teachings (and prayers?) of their mothers with keeping them safe in battle. See Alma 26:53-57—‘’…yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, that God would deliver them....” and Alma 26:94-104—“…and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them….And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe, that there was a just God; and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.” These stories paralleled the stories of the sons of Mosiah who became missionaries to their enemies. The “sons of Helaman” were descendents of those converted by Ammon and his brothers, the sons of King Mosiah. I believe this is another story of how the prayers of Mosiah and others holding them up contributed to the success of their missionary efforts and their safety among their (former) enemies. See Mosiah 12:10-12---“…And the Lord said unto Mosiah, Let them go up, for many shall believe on their words, and they shall have eternal life, and I will deliver thy sons out of the hands of the Lamanites…” We see this protection evident in Alma 12:160-161 when Ammon could not be slain. I wondered about the teachings and prayers of the mother of these sons of Mosiah.
With these Book of Mormon stories as inspiration, I asked to do devotions about three weeks before the trip using these scriptures and stories regarding the “sons of Helaman” and the sons of Mosiah. I shared my idea and desire to coordinate and organize prayer support for the team going on the 2008 HCET Spring Trip. With the group’s approval and support and with the help of David Brown and Carol Brown, we began with a base of 80 photo cards (10 cards per team member) with the photo and name of the team members on the face and dates of the trip and website information on the back of each card. I decided to begin with the most supportive congregations and the congregations from which the team members originated—Buckner, Village Heights, Osage Hills, and Beacon Heights. We also developed backup cards for each congregation for possible increased demand. All 80 cards were distributed by the start of the 2008 Spring Trip, and all backup cards were distributed before the end of the trip. Thanks go to congregational coordinators Johnnie Brown, Elrey Goheen, Ruth Farrand-Cox, Joe Fera, and others who helped to distribute cards to 170 plus persons who took on the role of prayer partners/warriors for the 2008 Spring Trip. Other supportive congregations and groups included New Philadelphia, Ohio; HART Ministries; Celebration Ministries, Contemporary Christian Ministries, and many others.
Comments from those who traveled on the Spring Trip this year credited the prayer support for their safety, for a smooth driving trip including no problems during the border crossing, and for “God-incidences” related to experiences with Paula and persons of Piedra Ancha and the Santa Domingo river valley. I really appreciated the many persons who contributed to this prayer support during the 2008 Spring Expedition. The progress made will be manifested in the years to come.
I want to close with my personal testimony regarding acting as 2008 Spring Trip prayer partner/warrior coordinator. I decided to fast for the whole time that the team was down in Mexico. It would be the longest fast of my life. I do not testify regarding this to lift me up or brag because all glory belongs to Christ. I use this to explain the context regarding my prayer support coordination. I was blessed with numerous testimonies in support of the Hill Cumorah Expediton Team and the 2008 Trip. I really wanted to be there though I felt more involved with the team than ever before due to regular updates by David and email back and forth with Kevin and other team members. I was thankful to God for my small part in supporting the team, and thankful for the Spirit and blessings of God evident on this trip. One particular testimony stands out. An inspiration and testimony given to me by the Spirit was that I would be going the next year---that I would be a part of the 2009 Hill Cumorah Expedition Team Spring Trip. This was a dream come true from 2006 when I first learned about the Hill Cumorah Expedition Team and from being a Jr. High Church camper hearing the story about Neil! I would finally get to go on a trip with Neil and with other Hill Cumorah Expedition Team members.
http://hillcumorahexpeditionteam.com/index.html
My testimony of the 2009 Hill Cumorah Expedition Team Spring Trip
My testimony of the 2009 HCET spring trip
My testimony regarding the 2009 Hill Cumorah Expedition Team spring trip begins with the time prior to the 2008 HCET spring trip. I felt led to call Tim Brown for a request to “bring” the devotions at the beginning of a HCET meeting in preparation for the 2008 spring trip. My devotions were based on the “sons of Helaman” (stripling warriors) and sons of Mosiah who are some of my heroes in the Book of Mormon. These stories inspired me to suggest a more formalized prayer coordination in support of the team. In coordinating this job, God “told” me (gave me knowledge) that I would be going the next year (2009). I was elated. I spent the year wondering how he would do it. I was hired to teach Health Literacy at a men’s recovery program in Kansas City, but I was only working about 15 hours per week. I made enough money to live on, but that was barely enough. I did not lose faith. When I experienced doubt, I would just thank God for this promise from the previous year (2008).
I closed the door on some other ministry I was involved in mostly as a volunteer. After giving this up, the next day, the executive director and my supervisor asked me if I would be interested in doubling my hours at work from 15 to 30. I wondered if this would provide me with the money for going on the trip. It did. I paid for my trip by the end of February and began to get prepared for my first Hill Cumorah Expedition Team trip. God fulfilled His promise and gave me another testimony!
I spent my last free Saturday, before leaving the following week, in the Community of Christ Temple in Independence, MO doing research on the Hill Cumorah. I found some interesting stuff in the archives including a Hill Cumorah pageant entitled “Remember Cumorah” by Elbert Smith in 1927 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, September 22, 1827. This pageant included the characters of the Three Nephites. After finishing my research on the Hill Cumorah, I felt led to do some additional research on the Three Nephites. Time seemed to slow and intensify as I found 3 Herald articles (February 10, 1897; June 19, 1929; December 4, 1929). The June article was especially interesting for a possible encounter between the 3 Nephites and one of the men of Columbus. I shared with some friends before I left and was blessed by another testimony regarding a possible encounter with one of the 3 (Nephites). As I left the Temple, I experienced the Spirit strongly as a mantle or “Comforter” in finding and finishing all my research on the Hill Cumorah and especially in this new information regarding the 3 Nephites. I was even more excited about going on the trip!
I want to express a special “Thank you!” to Sandy Sullivan and the “Knit-Us-Together” prayer shawl group of the New Philadelphia congregation for a quick prayer shawl for Paula of Piedra Ancha, the prophetic woman met by the group on the 2008 HCET Spring Trip. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Tuxtepec and Jalapa are about 2000 miles from Independence, MO so the travel is extensive and grueling (obviously more for the drivers than the flyers). A little “God-incidence” (God-blessed coincidence) occurred in sharing the first flight from KCI to Dallas with Jim Slauter, the head of the Council of Twelve. We chatted briefly with him at KCI and at Dallas where we met up with Mike. We managed to rent a vehicle and get out of Mexico City without too much difficulty. We did have an encounter with the Costa Rican soccer team fan club which was greeting their team at the airport for a re-match with Mexico. We managed to get out of Mexico City, but we had some difficulty with the vehicle overheating and losing its coolant in the mountains south of Mexico City. Mike was very cool, found a place to pull over, and had to have the thermometer and coolant replaced. I was impressed at how calmly Mike dealt with the problem and got us back on the road to Puebla. We found out the drivers were not too far behind us when leaving Mexico City so we hoped to be together for a late supper in Puebla. It was not to be. The drivers got delayed in Mexico City. We got to Puebla and shared a late supper with just the four of us–Mike Brown, Carol Brown, Chris Scott, and myself. I seemed to be getting over my jet lag and altitude sickness and felt better following some rest at the hotel.
I was using Mike’s computer late when the drivers finally arrived at our hotel in Puebla at about 1 am. We were finally together–the eight of us–Neil, Tim, Jerry, David along with the four of us who had flown in to Mexico City and then driven down to Puebla. We slept in a little, had a very good breakfast, and then had devotions before hitting the road for the trip from Puebla to Tuxtepec where we would be staying for most of the trip.
Driving in Mexico is not like driving in the states. It is hard to describe if you have not experienced it before. I have to give Mike and Tim credit for handling the driving, not to mention with an attached trailer. There is a lot of passing with little room to spare though there is some honking at times. I did not notice the “road rage” like you might experience in the states. The drivers share space with pedestrians, horseback riders, tractors pulling sugar cane loads, etc. Most of the time, the drivers are pretty accommodating in allowing others to get around them.
We got into Tuxtepec. I was pleased to be sharing a room with Tim Brown for the trip. Tim had been on all the previous trips so I enjoyed asking about all those trips. I am not sure how pleased Tim was during the trip to share a room with me. I had a lot of difficulty in sleeping with the excitement and challenges of the trip. I was thankful to be able to talk with Tim and all the other team members in regards to their experiences over 9 years especially with Tim and Mike and over 30+ years with Neil. One of the best parts of the trip was the interaction and fellowship with the other team members. These conversations and the daily devotions from the Book of Mormon made the book and testimonies (from 2001-2008) come alive for me.
I experienced a powerful feeling of the Spirit with our devotions together in the morning of our first full day in Jalapa and surrounding area. I envisioned the team enveloped with light and surrounded by angels as we lifted up our friends and ministry of the trip in prayer. This first day started with meeting and renewing our friendship with the family of Moises, Isabel, Marta. We shared in some coffee and rolls and conversation and eventually had communion outside on the porch. I was impressed the way that Neil alternated back and forth between Spanish and English with the communion message. “Rookies” Chris and I got to serve communion under the imposing presence of the hill (mountain). The Spirit was powerful with sharing with our friends below Cerro Rabon’s heights which were covered in mist and fog due to unseasonably cool temperatures in the 80's. This did not clear off until later in the day. I could not help thinking about the relevance of the records coming forth in relation to the beautiful spirit exhibited by Marta in a wheelchair, paralyzed from polio earlier in her life. Her smile is contagious, and Tim loves to spend time and dote on her. Neil invited the family to come and visit with us back at the hotel in Tuxtepec. They agreed. We then went on to greet and share with Catalina’s parents and family with Neil speaking with Catalina via a cell phone. Catalina was the one bitten by a snake back in 2005 when doors opened for ministry and friendship with persons in the area. We spent some time visiting in Jalapa and set up being able to drop off the donated clothes that we brought in the trailer. We decided to hold back a couple of bags for our friends in Piedra Ancha, the little village across the river, the Santa Domingo.
Next day, we dropped off most of the clothes with Felipa, a friend and contact in Jalapa. We then attempted to visit Piedra Ancha to reconnect with Paula, the prophetic woman from last year, and her family and other friends. Unfortunately, we found out the road was too rough for the rental van and tore a hole in the oil pan. God blessed us as we crowded in to the Expedition and came across a tow truck on the way back to Tuxtepec. They went back and picked up Isabel, Moises, Marta, Juanita, and Maria after getting the van towed back to Tuxtepec to be fixed. We had a good time looking at pictures from previous trips, playing by the pool (big kids Tim and Neil with Juanita and Maria) and then sharing in supper. This was a good time for the team and our friends to share. We were glad that Mike finally made it back late for supper, due to repairs on the van but still in time to visit with our friends.
We spent a “siesta day” while the van was getting repaired, and they took our friends back home.
A trip to La Venta did not work out, so we focused on the “Mixtec Outlook”. Tim kept thinking I needed to go caving which I refused (We need Kevin and Joe for this!) . The caving did not work out anyways. I did go on our three trips to Ayautla, a little village beyond Jalapa, below some of the cliffs that are a part of Cerro Rabon. The Mexican officials had this poor village’s name misspelled from both the east and west directions. We went three times, once with Moises, and then with Neil. The first two trips seemed to establish contact, but we could not do any exploration without local officials’ approval.
With extra time, we picked a nice “temperate” day of 108 degrees to hike up to find this stela (standing stone) below Cerro Rabon’s heights. Neil shared his history with finding this stela in the past. It took Mike and Tim awhile to find it in the jungle next to some pasturage going up the skirt of Cerro Rabon. After surviving this first hike, albeit slightly overheated, we then sang our way back down to the air-conditioned vehicles. I give credit to the early groups who spent most of the time in the jungle and rotated in and out. Jungle man, I am not!
After this initial hike, we then planned the next day to scale “Cumorahcita” (little Cumorah), the hill below Cerro Rabon. This was quite a hike also going to the two peaks of this hill, and passing through a cemetery on the way up. My Ipod (finally working and with some praise music and Book of Mormon passages on it), camera, and machete are not a good mix though I enjoyed listening to the Audio Book of Mormon while hiking this hill. Multi-tasking man, I am not! Tim will probably not have me lead with the machete again because being a shutterbug and front man with machete was not an endearing combination with Neil often leading on the way. David, Chris, and I managed to do some measurements on top of the hill, but it was more overgrown than the year before and they had put a fence over the top of it. I got some great shots of Cerro Rabon and our visit to the overlook from our first trip to Ayautla. After this hike, we did visit Paula and family. We dropped off the prayer shawl, but Paula was resting so we did not get a picture (Sorry Sandy and New Philadelphia, Ohio prayer shawl group!). We were going to say goodbye to our friends in Piedra Ancha when we got stopped by the mayor, Juan. We had a good visit with our friend Lupe, Juan’s wife, and provided administration per request. There was a powerful presence of the Spirit with this visit. We also had a mother and daughter stay to thank us for the clothes dropped off for them earlier. The fatigue from the hike faded in the face of the blessing of being with new friends and providing ministry in the area (see Fall 2009 Cumorah Messenger). God is so good!
Our third trip, very early in the morning, to Ayautla began with leaving about 4-5 am for the hour plus trip from Tuxtepec to Jalapa and then beyond to Ayautla. We did catch a great sunrise silhouetting Cerro Rabon and Cumorahcita. Can you imagine an endless host of Lamanites descending on their brethren and families in a wave of extermination and genocide? I remember bringing devotions and pondering the effects of the remnant of the Nephites around Cumorah with 240,000 men with their families exhausting all the resources. Imagine the fear engendered in being overwhelmed by your brethren that want you wiped off the face of the earth...(see Neil’s 2006 testimony).
Back to Ayautla after my ramblings, we seemed to have approval only to be blocked by a roof and then to be brought back to talk with the local official again. We seemed to have struck out (3 times) with the “Mixtec Outlook” when a young man spoke to us about artifacts. When we had about given up (at least for this trip), the Lord opened the door for a new contact and the photographic recording of artifacts reported being from caves up the cliff face and in the vicinity. So we had a lead for next year. Thank you, Lord!
We ended our trip with a goodbye visit to our friends in Jalapa and then with Isabel and family. We were blessed with another supper one night at the hotel in which Mike and Neil “generously” shared from their meals while Isabel patiently waited on hers. She was a good sport!
We visited Jalapa and its market on Palm Sunday. Do not try to go up the market when the church lets out down the market. We ran into Catalina’s parents and visited with them. I managed to get a Mazatec-Espanol (Mazatec-Spanish) primer with Mike’s help, visited our friends, and then went to visit with Moises, Isabel, Marta, and Juanita for a final time. I told Mike that Jalapa’s open air markets could match Independence Mall back home with all kinds of vendors and things to buy and sell. He reminded me that it (the open air market) did not have air-conditioning. I took a trip with a bunch of intelligent (Neil, Carol, Chris) persons and some “smart-alecks” (Tim, Mike, Neil at times) and quick wits (Jerry, David)!
We spent a little bit of time waiting for our “goodbye” dinner with Isabel, Marta, Moises, and Juanita. While we waited, Tim pointed out the locations on Cerro Rabon for base camp and cave camp from previous trips. It was Sunday, April 5, the day before the church’s anniversary. We would be leaving the next day to allow for a full day at Teotihuacan to see and experience the pyramids. While waiting, I felt a powerful experience of the Spirit regarding the Three Nephites, powerful like prior to the trip. It is only my subjective testimony with no objective proof (sight, encounter), but I believe they were present there and stand by my testimony!
It was tough to say goodbye, but we had some funny moments with fresh jalapeno peppers and Isabel joking with Neil and the team and some tender moments with spending time with Marta and prayer over the family and saying goodbyes to these dear friends. We will miss them, but we had some homemade “souvenirs” (handmade garments, tortilla covers, and our beautiful “Rabon Cumorah” shirts) matching the cliff faces above the home of our friends.
We tried to get President Veazey’s address later that night without much luck, packed up, and left Tuxtepec for Puebla. We got to eat in Puebla by the zocalo (open air square in middle of town where persons gather) and visit their famous marketplace for some more gifts for our family and friends at home. We got to catch President Veazey’s address this next night in Puebla on April 6. I found out that there were technical problems so everyone outside the Temple had to download it off the church site and see the recording. I guess it is more fitting for April 6.
The next day we travelled to Teotihuacan and experienced this world-famous archeological site with its Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl (Plumed Serpent heads), Pyramid of the Moon, and Pyramid of the Sun. I climbed platforms in front of the first two (Quetzalcoatl, Moon), had a personal tour with Neil sharing insights about the site especially with Chris and myself, and then climbed the enormous Pyramid of Sun. What a view from the top! I have a short 360 degree video on my Facebook and the HCET Facebook group. It was quite a climb, but I am glad I did it! I even have a zoom shot of Tim & Carol, Neil, and Jerry waiting on us to come back down. Thank you for your patience! I am not glad that I did not take water with me. This site is extensive over a large area. After getting back, I could hardly walk for half a week. My friend, Peggy, who coordinated the prayer warrior effort joked that I went to Mexico a young (relatively speaking) and healthy man and came back as an “old man”.
I am so glad that I went. I thank God for providing the means. I am so appreciative of Tim, Mike, Neil, Carol, David, Jerry, and Chris. It was unforgettable and memorable sharing this trip with all of you. God blessed us and used us in ministry in some powerful ways! We had some setbacks and some surprises and some new contacts and leads for exploration. I look forward to my continued membership, support, and involvement in the Hill Cumorah Expedition Team (and God willing, more trips in the future). Need a “roomie”, Tim? (just kidding!) God, peace, blessings, and endowment be with you!
http://hillcumorahexpeditionteam.com/index.html
My testimony regarding the 2009 Hill Cumorah Expedition Team spring trip begins with the time prior to the 2008 HCET spring trip. I felt led to call Tim Brown for a request to “bring” the devotions at the beginning of a HCET meeting in preparation for the 2008 spring trip. My devotions were based on the “sons of Helaman” (stripling warriors) and sons of Mosiah who are some of my heroes in the Book of Mormon. These stories inspired me to suggest a more formalized prayer coordination in support of the team. In coordinating this job, God “told” me (gave me knowledge) that I would be going the next year (2009). I was elated. I spent the year wondering how he would do it. I was hired to teach Health Literacy at a men’s recovery program in Kansas City, but I was only working about 15 hours per week. I made enough money to live on, but that was barely enough. I did not lose faith. When I experienced doubt, I would just thank God for this promise from the previous year (2008).
I closed the door on some other ministry I was involved in mostly as a volunteer. After giving this up, the next day, the executive director and my supervisor asked me if I would be interested in doubling my hours at work from 15 to 30. I wondered if this would provide me with the money for going on the trip. It did. I paid for my trip by the end of February and began to get prepared for my first Hill Cumorah Expedition Team trip. God fulfilled His promise and gave me another testimony!
I spent my last free Saturday, before leaving the following week, in the Community of Christ Temple in Independence, MO doing research on the Hill Cumorah. I found some interesting stuff in the archives including a Hill Cumorah pageant entitled “Remember Cumorah” by Elbert Smith in 1927 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, September 22, 1827. This pageant included the characters of the Three Nephites. After finishing my research on the Hill Cumorah, I felt led to do some additional research on the Three Nephites. Time seemed to slow and intensify as I found 3 Herald articles (February 10, 1897; June 19, 1929; December 4, 1929). The June article was especially interesting for a possible encounter between the 3 Nephites and one of the men of Columbus. I shared with some friends before I left and was blessed by another testimony regarding a possible encounter with one of the 3 (Nephites). As I left the Temple, I experienced the Spirit strongly as a mantle or “Comforter” in finding and finishing all my research on the Hill Cumorah and especially in this new information regarding the 3 Nephites. I was even more excited about going on the trip!
I want to express a special “Thank you!” to Sandy Sullivan and the “Knit-Us-Together” prayer shawl group of the New Philadelphia congregation for a quick prayer shawl for Paula of Piedra Ancha, the prophetic woman met by the group on the 2008 HCET Spring Trip. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Tuxtepec and Jalapa are about 2000 miles from Independence, MO so the travel is extensive and grueling (obviously more for the drivers than the flyers). A little “God-incidence” (God-blessed coincidence) occurred in sharing the first flight from KCI to Dallas with Jim Slauter, the head of the Council of Twelve. We chatted briefly with him at KCI and at Dallas where we met up with Mike. We managed to rent a vehicle and get out of Mexico City without too much difficulty. We did have an encounter with the Costa Rican soccer team fan club which was greeting their team at the airport for a re-match with Mexico. We managed to get out of Mexico City, but we had some difficulty with the vehicle overheating and losing its coolant in the mountains south of Mexico City. Mike was very cool, found a place to pull over, and had to have the thermometer and coolant replaced. I was impressed at how calmly Mike dealt with the problem and got us back on the road to Puebla. We found out the drivers were not too far behind us when leaving Mexico City so we hoped to be together for a late supper in Puebla. It was not to be. The drivers got delayed in Mexico City. We got to Puebla and shared a late supper with just the four of us–Mike Brown, Carol Brown, Chris Scott, and myself. I seemed to be getting over my jet lag and altitude sickness and felt better following some rest at the hotel.
I was using Mike’s computer late when the drivers finally arrived at our hotel in Puebla at about 1 am. We were finally together–the eight of us–Neil, Tim, Jerry, David along with the four of us who had flown in to Mexico City and then driven down to Puebla. We slept in a little, had a very good breakfast, and then had devotions before hitting the road for the trip from Puebla to Tuxtepec where we would be staying for most of the trip.
Driving in Mexico is not like driving in the states. It is hard to describe if you have not experienced it before. I have to give Mike and Tim credit for handling the driving, not to mention with an attached trailer. There is a lot of passing with little room to spare though there is some honking at times. I did not notice the “road rage” like you might experience in the states. The drivers share space with pedestrians, horseback riders, tractors pulling sugar cane loads, etc. Most of the time, the drivers are pretty accommodating in allowing others to get around them.
We got into Tuxtepec. I was pleased to be sharing a room with Tim Brown for the trip. Tim had been on all the previous trips so I enjoyed asking about all those trips. I am not sure how pleased Tim was during the trip to share a room with me. I had a lot of difficulty in sleeping with the excitement and challenges of the trip. I was thankful to be able to talk with Tim and all the other team members in regards to their experiences over 9 years especially with Tim and Mike and over 30+ years with Neil. One of the best parts of the trip was the interaction and fellowship with the other team members. These conversations and the daily devotions from the Book of Mormon made the book and testimonies (from 2001-2008) come alive for me.
I experienced a powerful feeling of the Spirit with our devotions together in the morning of our first full day in Jalapa and surrounding area. I envisioned the team enveloped with light and surrounded by angels as we lifted up our friends and ministry of the trip in prayer. This first day started with meeting and renewing our friendship with the family of Moises, Isabel, Marta. We shared in some coffee and rolls and conversation and eventually had communion outside on the porch. I was impressed the way that Neil alternated back and forth between Spanish and English with the communion message. “Rookies” Chris and I got to serve communion under the imposing presence of the hill (mountain). The Spirit was powerful with sharing with our friends below Cerro Rabon’s heights which were covered in mist and fog due to unseasonably cool temperatures in the 80's. This did not clear off until later in the day. I could not help thinking about the relevance of the records coming forth in relation to the beautiful spirit exhibited by Marta in a wheelchair, paralyzed from polio earlier in her life. Her smile is contagious, and Tim loves to spend time and dote on her. Neil invited the family to come and visit with us back at the hotel in Tuxtepec. They agreed. We then went on to greet and share with Catalina’s parents and family with Neil speaking with Catalina via a cell phone. Catalina was the one bitten by a snake back in 2005 when doors opened for ministry and friendship with persons in the area. We spent some time visiting in Jalapa and set up being able to drop off the donated clothes that we brought in the trailer. We decided to hold back a couple of bags for our friends in Piedra Ancha, the little village across the river, the Santa Domingo.
Next day, we dropped off most of the clothes with Felipa, a friend and contact in Jalapa. We then attempted to visit Piedra Ancha to reconnect with Paula, the prophetic woman from last year, and her family and other friends. Unfortunately, we found out the road was too rough for the rental van and tore a hole in the oil pan. God blessed us as we crowded in to the Expedition and came across a tow truck on the way back to Tuxtepec. They went back and picked up Isabel, Moises, Marta, Juanita, and Maria after getting the van towed back to Tuxtepec to be fixed. We had a good time looking at pictures from previous trips, playing by the pool (big kids Tim and Neil with Juanita and Maria) and then sharing in supper. This was a good time for the team and our friends to share. We were glad that Mike finally made it back late for supper, due to repairs on the van but still in time to visit with our friends.
We spent a “siesta day” while the van was getting repaired, and they took our friends back home.
A trip to La Venta did not work out, so we focused on the “Mixtec Outlook”. Tim kept thinking I needed to go caving which I refused (We need Kevin and Joe for this!) . The caving did not work out anyways. I did go on our three trips to Ayautla, a little village beyond Jalapa, below some of the cliffs that are a part of Cerro Rabon. The Mexican officials had this poor village’s name misspelled from both the east and west directions. We went three times, once with Moises, and then with Neil. The first two trips seemed to establish contact, but we could not do any exploration without local officials’ approval.
With extra time, we picked a nice “temperate” day of 108 degrees to hike up to find this stela (standing stone) below Cerro Rabon’s heights. Neil shared his history with finding this stela in the past. It took Mike and Tim awhile to find it in the jungle next to some pasturage going up the skirt of Cerro Rabon. After surviving this first hike, albeit slightly overheated, we then sang our way back down to the air-conditioned vehicles. I give credit to the early groups who spent most of the time in the jungle and rotated in and out. Jungle man, I am not!
After this initial hike, we then planned the next day to scale “Cumorahcita” (little Cumorah), the hill below Cerro Rabon. This was quite a hike also going to the two peaks of this hill, and passing through a cemetery on the way up. My Ipod (finally working and with some praise music and Book of Mormon passages on it), camera, and machete are not a good mix though I enjoyed listening to the Audio Book of Mormon while hiking this hill. Multi-tasking man, I am not! Tim will probably not have me lead with the machete again because being a shutterbug and front man with machete was not an endearing combination with Neil often leading on the way. David, Chris, and I managed to do some measurements on top of the hill, but it was more overgrown than the year before and they had put a fence over the top of it. I got some great shots of Cerro Rabon and our visit to the overlook from our first trip to Ayautla. After this hike, we did visit Paula and family. We dropped off the prayer shawl, but Paula was resting so we did not get a picture (Sorry Sandy and New Philadelphia, Ohio prayer shawl group!). We were going to say goodbye to our friends in Piedra Ancha when we got stopped by the mayor, Juan. We had a good visit with our friend Lupe, Juan’s wife, and provided administration per request. There was a powerful presence of the Spirit with this visit. We also had a mother and daughter stay to thank us for the clothes dropped off for them earlier. The fatigue from the hike faded in the face of the blessing of being with new friends and providing ministry in the area (see Fall 2009 Cumorah Messenger). God is so good!
Our third trip, very early in the morning, to Ayautla began with leaving about 4-5 am for the hour plus trip from Tuxtepec to Jalapa and then beyond to Ayautla. We did catch a great sunrise silhouetting Cerro Rabon and Cumorahcita. Can you imagine an endless host of Lamanites descending on their brethren and families in a wave of extermination and genocide? I remember bringing devotions and pondering the effects of the remnant of the Nephites around Cumorah with 240,000 men with their families exhausting all the resources. Imagine the fear engendered in being overwhelmed by your brethren that want you wiped off the face of the earth...(see Neil’s 2006 testimony).
Back to Ayautla after my ramblings, we seemed to have approval only to be blocked by a roof and then to be brought back to talk with the local official again. We seemed to have struck out (3 times) with the “Mixtec Outlook” when a young man spoke to us about artifacts. When we had about given up (at least for this trip), the Lord opened the door for a new contact and the photographic recording of artifacts reported being from caves up the cliff face and in the vicinity. So we had a lead for next year. Thank you, Lord!
We ended our trip with a goodbye visit to our friends in Jalapa and then with Isabel and family. We were blessed with another supper one night at the hotel in which Mike and Neil “generously” shared from their meals while Isabel patiently waited on hers. She was a good sport!
We visited Jalapa and its market on Palm Sunday. Do not try to go up the market when the church lets out down the market. We ran into Catalina’s parents and visited with them. I managed to get a Mazatec-Espanol (Mazatec-Spanish) primer with Mike’s help, visited our friends, and then went to visit with Moises, Isabel, Marta, and Juanita for a final time. I told Mike that Jalapa’s open air markets could match Independence Mall back home with all kinds of vendors and things to buy and sell. He reminded me that it (the open air market) did not have air-conditioning. I took a trip with a bunch of intelligent (Neil, Carol, Chris) persons and some “smart-alecks” (Tim, Mike, Neil at times) and quick wits (Jerry, David)!
We spent a little bit of time waiting for our “goodbye” dinner with Isabel, Marta, Moises, and Juanita. While we waited, Tim pointed out the locations on Cerro Rabon for base camp and cave camp from previous trips. It was Sunday, April 5, the day before the church’s anniversary. We would be leaving the next day to allow for a full day at Teotihuacan to see and experience the pyramids. While waiting, I felt a powerful experience of the Spirit regarding the Three Nephites, powerful like prior to the trip. It is only my subjective testimony with no objective proof (sight, encounter), but I believe they were present there and stand by my testimony!
It was tough to say goodbye, but we had some funny moments with fresh jalapeno peppers and Isabel joking with Neil and the team and some tender moments with spending time with Marta and prayer over the family and saying goodbyes to these dear friends. We will miss them, but we had some homemade “souvenirs” (handmade garments, tortilla covers, and our beautiful “Rabon Cumorah” shirts) matching the cliff faces above the home of our friends.
We tried to get President Veazey’s address later that night without much luck, packed up, and left Tuxtepec for Puebla. We got to eat in Puebla by the zocalo (open air square in middle of town where persons gather) and visit their famous marketplace for some more gifts for our family and friends at home. We got to catch President Veazey’s address this next night in Puebla on April 6. I found out that there were technical problems so everyone outside the Temple had to download it off the church site and see the recording. I guess it is more fitting for April 6.
The next day we travelled to Teotihuacan and experienced this world-famous archeological site with its Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl (Plumed Serpent heads), Pyramid of the Moon, and Pyramid of the Sun. I climbed platforms in front of the first two (Quetzalcoatl, Moon), had a personal tour with Neil sharing insights about the site especially with Chris and myself, and then climbed the enormous Pyramid of Sun. What a view from the top! I have a short 360 degree video on my Facebook and the HCET Facebook group. It was quite a climb, but I am glad I did it! I even have a zoom shot of Tim & Carol, Neil, and Jerry waiting on us to come back down. Thank you for your patience! I am not glad that I did not take water with me. This site is extensive over a large area. After getting back, I could hardly walk for half a week. My friend, Peggy, who coordinated the prayer warrior effort joked that I went to Mexico a young (relatively speaking) and healthy man and came back as an “old man”.
I am so glad that I went. I thank God for providing the means. I am so appreciative of Tim, Mike, Neil, Carol, David, Jerry, and Chris. It was unforgettable and memorable sharing this trip with all of you. God blessed us and used us in ministry in some powerful ways! We had some setbacks and some surprises and some new contacts and leads for exploration. I look forward to my continued membership, support, and involvement in the Hill Cumorah Expedition Team (and God willing, more trips in the future). Need a “roomie”, Tim? (just kidding!) God, peace, blessings, and endowment be with you!
http://hillcumorahexpeditionteam.com/index.html
Powerpoint presentation of Latter Days Dream Part 1
First slide: "Latter Days Dream"--Peggy J.; Interpretation help--Randall Lawrence and others
Slide 2--Disclaimer:
This dream and its interpretation is based solely on the opinions and confirmations of Randall Lawrence, Peggy J., and others.
It is seen as a warning in our opinion, but it does not represent any official position or interpretation of the Community of Christ or any other Restoration movement group.
Slide 3: Series of 4 storms-in-one: (1) Spiral (2) Octagon (3) Square (4) Triangle
Slide 4: Setting--friends sitting together
Friends-Peggy, Randall, and Dan are sitting in front of Peace Plaza looking toward Community of Christ Temple with joy while others are in a state of terror over the approach of these 4 storms-in-one
It has taken much prayer, help, and discussion for the revealing of the interpretation of this dream and the meaning of these storms
Slide 5: First storm: Spiral (picture of Temple looking east from Temple Lot/ Peace Plaza)
Slide 6: New symbol for church: spiral & cross (picture of spiral and cross with "Community of Christ")
Slide 7: Doctrine & Covenants 94:5c-f
…therefore let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn…vengeance cometh speedily…as the whirlwind….Zion shall escape if she observe to do all things whatsoever I have commanded her….I will visit her according to all her works….
Interpretation of first storm related to church and setting the church in line with God
Slide 8: Second Storm--Octagon
Description of second storm was like an 8-sided Chinese lantern with 3 tiers that came down from the top almost like breathing
Interpretation and confirmation came when praying at the Temple steps one night: “Could the 8 sides represent the G-8 industrialized nations?”
Confirmation by the Spirit seemed to indicate this was correct. It was also around the time that the world economy (& U.S.) was in crisis (2008-2009).
Slide 9: G-8 Industrialized Countries
G8 - Group of Eight Industrialized Nations
Canada
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
Russia
United Kingdom
United States
Slide 10: Third Storm: Square (picture of Temple Mount in Jerusalem with Dome of the Rock mosque from overhead)
Slide 11: Third Storm: Square--interpretation
Friend Don and I (Randall) were visiting IHOP –KC (International House of Prayer) to take in some 24/7 prayer, praise, and worship. I shared with Don about the storms and not having the interpretation for the 3rd and 4th storms.
He asked if the square could be the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Spirit confirmed to us that this is related to Israel, the Temple (re-built), and Jerusalem
Slide 12: Square/Rectangle diagram with terms: Solomon's Temple (lower left); Temple of Zerubbabel & Joshua (upper left); Herod's Temple (upper right); Future Re-built Temple (lower right); "Jerusalem Temple" in center
To be continued....
Slide 2--Disclaimer:
This dream and its interpretation is based solely on the opinions and confirmations of Randall Lawrence, Peggy J., and others.
It is seen as a warning in our opinion, but it does not represent any official position or interpretation of the Community of Christ or any other Restoration movement group.
Slide 3: Series of 4 storms-in-one: (1) Spiral (2) Octagon (3) Square (4) Triangle
Slide 4: Setting--friends sitting together
Friends-Peggy, Randall, and Dan are sitting in front of Peace Plaza looking toward Community of Christ Temple with joy while others are in a state of terror over the approach of these 4 storms-in-one
It has taken much prayer, help, and discussion for the revealing of the interpretation of this dream and the meaning of these storms
Slide 5: First storm: Spiral (picture of Temple looking east from Temple Lot/ Peace Plaza)
Slide 6: New symbol for church: spiral & cross (picture of spiral and cross with "Community of Christ")
Slide 7: Doctrine & Covenants 94:5c-f
…therefore let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn…vengeance cometh speedily…as the whirlwind….Zion shall escape if she observe to do all things whatsoever I have commanded her….I will visit her according to all her works….
Interpretation of first storm related to church and setting the church in line with God
Slide 8: Second Storm--Octagon
Description of second storm was like an 8-sided Chinese lantern with 3 tiers that came down from the top almost like breathing
Interpretation and confirmation came when praying at the Temple steps one night: “Could the 8 sides represent the G-8 industrialized nations?”
Confirmation by the Spirit seemed to indicate this was correct. It was also around the time that the world economy (& U.S.) was in crisis (2008-2009).
Slide 9: G-8 Industrialized Countries
G8 - Group of Eight Industrialized Nations
Canada
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
Russia
United Kingdom
United States
Slide 10: Third Storm: Square (picture of Temple Mount in Jerusalem with Dome of the Rock mosque from overhead)
Slide 11: Third Storm: Square--interpretation
Friend Don and I (Randall) were visiting IHOP –KC (International House of Prayer) to take in some 24/7 prayer, praise, and worship. I shared with Don about the storms and not having the interpretation for the 3rd and 4th storms.
He asked if the square could be the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Spirit confirmed to us that this is related to Israel, the Temple (re-built), and Jerusalem
Slide 12: Square/Rectangle diagram with terms: Solomon's Temple (lower left); Temple of Zerubbabel & Joshua (upper left); Herod's Temple (upper right); Future Re-built Temple (lower right); "Jerusalem Temple" in center
To be continued....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)