Unexpected Expectations

I spoke in church last Sunday about the life and times of Daniel from the ancient manuscripts.  In chapter 9, versus 25-26, Daniel shares a dream of future events.  In this dream, a particular decree would be announced by a foreign king to rebuild Jerusalem, and then an exact calculation of years was given before the ‘Anointed One’ would appear.  Only one decree ever went out meeting all the particulars of Daniel’s dream, and after the exact number of years passed (to the day!), Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a colt, on the day we celebrate as Palm Sunday.  Yet most people missed it!  Why?

Because they didn’t expect the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to come into Jerusalem like that.  They expected a general or earthly king leading armies to free them from their oppressors.  They didn’t expect a child of questionable parentage and born in a lowly stable, preaching the kingdom of God is at hand, from the inside out rather than the outside in.

We’ve been in England over 5 years now.  I shared about the miraculous journey to bring us to this country in Coming to England.  At the end, I talk about the importance of the Indefinite Leave to Remain visa.  We didn’t have a prophetic word as such, just a feeling, that we should strive to get the Indefinite Leave to Remain visa as quickly as possible, then see what God does.

In July 2011, we became eligible for this visa, so I actually contacted my company’s human resources department in January to start working on the requirements.  Over the course of the next 9 months, the rules changed 4 times, and the fees increased twice.  At one point, I even questioned if it was worth the trouble, but we decided to press on.  The package was finally submitted in late September and on Friday, 7 October, we were notified it had been approved.  I was no longer tied to my company, what would God do?

4 days later, on Tuesday, 11 Oct, I received a call from my supervisor and human resources that I had been made redundant (laid off after 15 years of service) in a wave of cuts sweeping across the company.  I didn’t expect that!  I almost couldn’t help laughing at the news.  I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew God was in it.

I had expected that I’d work for the company, then sometime after getting the visa, a door would open to work for full-time for the church.  But that door is closed.  As it turned out, I had been doing some consulting work for another organization through my company.  Since my whole job function was cut, they no longer had anyone to fulfill the contract.  My company gave me permission to pursue the contract as an independent consultant.  So I started my own consulting company, and have my first contract.

Without the visa, it would have been difficult to setup the company, and without being a member of a multi-national corporation, getting the visa would be difficult.  The path had been laid and the door opened!

Sounds pretty clear, but there were other options.  I was being counseled to find another job within my company or another corporate job.  None of those options felt right, but they were ‘safe’ in one sense of the word.  Though not truly safe, more accurately, it would be familiar, doing what I’ve done for years, until a church opening came my way.  Another option was to go back to America.  It just so happens my old business unit is hiring, while my current business unit was firing.  It was the chance to go home, back to family and longtime friends.  But God said Leatherhead is where we should be, and we haven’t heard anything different, nor do we feel our work here is done.  Either of these would have been easier roads, but God moves us forward, not backward, and by the difficult road, not the wide and well traveled road.

This is a brave new world for me and my family.  We’ve taken some steps of faith in the past, but this is the biggest so far, yet there is a sense of security knowing someone bigger is watching my back.  So really, it is just the next step in the journey.  It sure wasn’t what I expected, but if I held too closely to my expectations, I could have missed it.

Be Prepared in Season and Out

I haven’t been as faithful writing as much is happening within my family at this time which wouldn’t be appropriate to share publically.   We did have an amazing experience while on holiday earlier this month that I would like to share.

We were in Spain in the Costa Blanca region for a beach holiday on the Mediterranean Sea.  We stayed in a town about 5km from the beach, and along our route to the beach we saw these teenage girls standing on this one roundabout (or under the bridge during the heat of the day) signalling for a ride.  As we drove different routes, we didn’t see anyone doing this anywhere else, and soon realized these were young prostitutes waiting for men to sell their bodies for money.

Our hearts went out to them.  They were about the same age as our daughters.  I’m sure they hadn’t grown up expecting to be doing this to survive at this time of their life.  But we are on vacation in a strange country and don’t speaking the language.  What can we do?  We prayed and God reminded me that giving someone a cup of water in His name is like giving it to God Himself.  We also asked friends on Facebook for suggestions. 

Some suggested getting plugged into the local church and getting tracks of the gospel to give these girls, which were great ideas, had we gone there with the intent to do this.  But we didn’t have the time or resource available, and a cup of cold water to these girls waiting in the hot sun to sell their bodies, tough simple, was very meaningful. 

Some suggested flowers to make them feel special with a note.  And my cousin wrote a note for me in Spanish saying, “This is a gift from God for you.  God loves you.” So we made up simple gift packs, a bottle of cold water, an apple, small loaf of bread, a flower, and the note, handwritten and decorated by my talented daughter.  We went out to the roundabout several times over the next 2 days handing these out to as many different girls as we could.

We hardly said a word, other than, ‘These are for you, and God loves you!’  The girls were puzzled that we didn’t want something in return and at least one had tears well up in her eyes. 

It didn’t stop them from doing what they we doing.  We weren’t trying to.  We only wanted to plant the seed that God loved them, and could provide food, water, and a sense of self worth, that they can’t find anywhere else.  The ancient manuscripts say the word of God doesn’t return void.  This act and these words will haunt these girls, and we pray one day the Holy Spirit will bring them to a place of the knowledge of Him and freedom from the bondage they are in.

I don’t write this to say, ‘Yeah, us, look at what we did,’ but rather to encourage you to be prepared whenever the Holy Spirit moves on you or burdens you to bless someone else, no matter who they are, or where, or what else is going on around you.  Be prepared in season and out!  Only in heaven will we know the true impact that kind act or word, done in the love and name of God. 

PS Don’t think you are not qualified.  If you know God and He burdens your heart or prompts you to do something, you are qualified!

May 2011 Update

I haven’t written much so far in 2011, but it’s not for a lack of activity.  We have a busy work and church schedule and my kids are growing up and starting to spread their own wings.

It’s hard to believe this summer will be 5 years since God brought us to the UK.  I’ve documented a few of the stories, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg with regards to what God has done.  As John wrote at the very end of his ancient manuscript, ‘If everything Jesus did was documented in books, the world could not contain all the books that would have been written.’  Suffice to say we are exactly where God wants us to be.  Life isn’t without it’s challenges, but we know we are in the right place at the right time.

We are preparing to apply for our Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK visa.  This is not citizenship, but means we can stay in the UK without having to apply for another visa.  Part of the process requires taking a Life in the UK test, which we hope to take in July.  My wife and I and our oldest daughter (everyone in the family over 18) have to take this exam and we cannot apply for the visa until we’ve passed.  As our youngest is 13, this will give us stability until they are all out on their own.  Then we’ll see where God takes them. 

I think my wife and I will eventually apply for UK citizenship and retain our American citizenship.  There are quite a few advantages to this, but we need at least another year in the country before we even qualify.

In the meantime, I’m also studying German.  After a business trip in March, and 3 years of business and leisure trips to Germany, I was really burdened to know the language better.  I have to wonder what this means for the future as burden’s like this are often from the Lord.  I remember one of the early visions when preparing for England was of God visiting England, then reaching into Europe.  Whether that means we’ll one day move to a German speaking country, or still base in England and just travel frequently to German speaking countries, I have no idea.  And there is too much happening in the here and now to worry about it.

I’m coming to the end of my first year as chairman of Churches Together in Leatherhead.  One of our achievements this year is the creation of a new website.  More than a website, we are building unity across denominations and with the town, and doors are opening for us to participate in town activities like never before.

In a recent meeting with town officials, shortly after our (area churches) participation in our first town event, the town officials were thrilled to discuss other ways the church can be involved. 

My heart is as Christians, we are to carry the light of God into the darkness, which means getting out of our church buildings and into the places where people meet, people that need to know the love of God, and we demonstrate the love of God in word and deed.

During the last town event which was a celebration of the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton, our dancers performed a wedding dance, our musicians played, our treasure hunters found lots of treasure and prayed for many, and those trained in Ruach cards were able to bless and pray for nearly 30 people.  The Ruach cards had a non-stop line (queue) for the full 5 hours they were in opeation.

There truly is an open heaven right now of the likes I’ve never seen before!  I hope we can take advantage of it without missing out or losing our way.  Yes, it’s God’s blessing, it’s also a result of unity, and of attitude.  We are not going in with an us vs. them mentality.  We are going in with the attitude that we are God’s hands, feet and voice, with the purpose of blessing and helping rather than condemning.

We are going to do things that some may find controversial, like participating in the town Halloween festival.  My family doesn’t celebrate Halloween, but why we should we hide?  There is a lot of darkness out there and people that need a touch from God.  Rather than protesting, let’s be a part of it, and find ways to shine the light into the darkness, without compromising the light or who we are nor condemning others.  Jesus Himself said, ‘I come not to condemn the world but to save it.’

So normally, come the Autumn, I’d start like for a successor to the chairmanship of Churches Together, but the pastors are so pleased with what’s happening, they’ve already agreed for me to stay on for a second 2 year term to allow us to continue the work.

Now we are looking at street pastors to work with the police late nights on weekends around the pubs and clubs, creating a Churches Together community engagement group to proactively support the many charities struggling on their own, and fill in the gaps, and increase the church presence in North Leatherhead where there currently are none other than a few Christian charities.

If you remember the dream I had of the ark, it is certainly coming to pass.  We haven’t seen a physical typhoon in the Pacific (though Queensland Australia was hit by one) or a tsunami in the Atlantic (though Japan was hit by one that even killed people in the USA), there has certainly been disaster all around leading right up to our town in England, from natural disasters to war in Africa and Middle East, to economic as many governments teeter on bankruptcy including the US and the UK.  We carry the good news, the message of hope to world awash in hopelessness.  There is security, a refuge, an ark, in only one place, and that is Jesus.  Though our security is in the ark we have to put ourselves in places where we can tell others rather than hiding in the ark.

Personally, I’ve had opportunities for long term mentoring as well as helping others with words in due season.  I just returned from my first business trip to the US for the year, and was privileged to see old friends and make new ones, to see what God is doing in the little town where I grew up and encourage some in their walk.

I’ve been a Christian for 21 years now.  This journey is more amazing and wonderful than anything I ever could have imagined.  I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

New Year’s Resolution

It’s been a few years since I last read completely through the Bible, so I made it my New Year’s Resolution to do so this year.  I completed it today.

Conclusions:

1. There is a God
2. He loves us
3. He wants us to know Him
4. He’s done everything possible to have a relationship with us, even having his own son die so we could live
5. It’s our choice how we respond to His love

Reconciliation

In the ancient manuscripts it is written through Jesus we have been given a ministry of reconciliation. We are first reconciled to God because all our sin, everything we’ve ever done wrong and will do wrong, has been paid for by Jesus on the cross. As a result there is no longer anything preventing us from knowing and having a relationship with the God who is the creator of all things. But it’s also a ministry of reconciliation between people. I wrote before on how my marriage was restored after a difficult time.

I’ve been in a very dark place the past couple of months.  The enemy knows us well, and knows what buttons to push and when we are vulnerable.  C.S. Lewis wrote in the Screwtape Letters that one of the greatest tactics of the enemy is to deny his existance. 

Some hurts from the past re-surfaced as people close to me recently and unknowingly touched the scars.  The enemy used this past hurt to cause me to mis-read  their intentions, believing the worst instead of the best.  Add to this physical pain from a condition I now believe to be a physical manifestation of the spiritual bondage and the negative, the lie was easier to believe. 

God makes a way for us to resolve this by encouraging us to talk to each other and work it out.  As I attempted to do this, the enemy cleverly convinced me to believe this matter was not up for discussion. 

The darkness grew and the cords grew tighter and tighter.  There were times I laid upon my bed paralyzed by depression and confusion, no longer believing I was valuable and ready to go home. 

I wrote some things in my blog during this time, which at best were unwise.  Those entries have been deleted, and if anyone was hurt or confused by them I apologize.  If you contact me at daveb.uk@hotmail.com, I can comment directly and apologize specifically.

Thank God for my church family, which wouldn’t let me go during this time.  Though they may not have been fully aware of what was going on, they stood by me and encouraged me through the darkness.

Things finally came to a head when I felt I could go no further, and the meeting was arranged that the enemy had lied about saying it wasn’t open for discussion.  I was able to share openly about the hurts of the past, and the salt that had been cast in the old wounds.  At one point, I burst into tears, unable to control my grief.  Not even I had realized how deeply I’d been affected. 

I received nothing but love and reassurance.  The lie was broken by the truth, a friendship restored.  There is still some more healing to do, but I now believe we’ll come out of this stronger than ever.  Thank God for the ministry of reconciliation!

(PS – As I’m writing this, I’m noting the pain in my leg, the physical manifestation I referred to earlier, is practically gone.  This is a dramatic improvement over the way it felt even this morning.)

Dream of an Ark (2)

A few weeks ago, I had a dream of ark which I shared in my blog.  This morning, my daughter came us with a dream of an ark as well. 

In the dream, she was told to hurry and pack as the storm was coming.  Even as she was packing she heard the thunder.  She looked out the window of one side our house and saw our old garden in the USA, and the storm was there.  Then she looked out the windows on the other side of our house, where she saw our garden here in the UK, and the storm was there. 

She continued to pack quickly to board the ark and asked God if this was what she was supposed to be doing.  Next she saw a table with a deck of cards.  The cards had letters on them rather than playing cards and there was a line of them on the table.  When she looked at the line of cards, it spelled out, ‘I AM JESUS THE MESSIAH.’

She asked God for a confirmation in two thunder blasts close together, and then thunder crashed twice so loudly and so close she felt her bed shake.  At this she awoke and asked us if there was a real thunder storm last night, and there wasn’t.  It was all in her dream. 

Wow!!!

Dream of an Ark

I had a dream twice last night.  I woke up and thought about what it meant, went back to sleep and dreamed the same dream with only slight differences, but all the key details were the same.

I was in a rural town and the news was full of the storm brewing in the Pacific.  It was the largest typhoon on record and threatening to engulf the entire Pacific.  Everyone was afraid, but near my house was an ark.  I didn’t build the ark.  (No this isn’t a Noah or Evan Almighty dream.)  I was able to come and go on the ark as I pleased and give orders on the ark.  I stood outside the ark and encouraged everyone to get on the ark with a message of hope of safety and security within the ark.

As everyone’s attention was focused on the Pacific, a tsunami hit the Atlantic.  To the West, it swept across much of the Eastern seaboard of the Americas as well as East covering Iceland and Ireland, Western Europe and Africa.  The tsunami stopped just 3 miles short of where we were in the ark.

Many people breathed a sigh of relief and started to get off the ark.  But the storm was still brewing in the Pacific.  With greater urgency I encouraged people to get on the ark.  There was always room for more.  The storm in the Pacific grew, engulfing Japan, Korea, China, spreading West across India.  To the East, it swept right up and over all of the Americas.  The storm crossed right over the Atlantic and there was no hiding from this one in Europe.  Quickly the storm was upon us and we closed the doors of the ark just as the waters crashed against the sides.

The ark was swept away by the waves.  Though rocked by the turbulence, the waves were not able to overturn the ark, and the hull remained intact no matter what it hit underneath.

What does this mean?  I’m not a doom and gloom person, but I look at the signs of the times.  In the past year, literal flooding has hit the world like never before in modern history from Pakistan to Australia and now Brazil.  There are always wars and rumors of wars, though some like Korea, could be devasting if it got hot again.  The financial crises is coming to the next phase.  The downfall of a couple years ago was propped up by governments pouring money they didn’t have into the economy.  There was a false sense of recovery.  Now the debt has accumulated and governments have to withdraw funds and raise taxes or go bankrupt.  The situation could be far worse than if we let it go it’s course in the beginning.

In John Noble’s book, The Shaking, John predicts an event coming that will shake the foundations of our society as we know it.  In a message to Pioneer Engage Church on 9 Jan 2011, John said he doesn’t believe the event has yet come to pass.

In uncertain times, there is only one certainty, and that’s faith in God through Jesus Christ.  The ancient manuscripts say the house of those that know God is like the house built on a rock.  When the winds and waves come and beat against the house, it stands firm.  Likewise, the house of those who don’t know God is like a house built on the sand.  When the storms of life come, the house collapses, because they have no foundation to hold onto.

I don’t like fearmongering or encouraging someone into a relationship with God out of fear of hell.  But earlier I was asking God for a burden for the lost to help my personal motivation in reaching out to those who don’t know Jesus.  I think this dream is part of the motivation.

In the dream, I was not delivering a message of fear.  The news media was doing a good job of that.  My message was one of hope.  In the coming storm, there is an ark with room for all who choose to board it.  Are you looking for hope?  Jesus is welcoming you with arms wide open.  There is room for you in safety and security of the ark.

Added 30 January 2011 – My daughter also dreamt of an ark. 

Dance Fellowship

Performance at Bookham Baptist Church on 9 Jan. They are performing at Pioneer Engage on 16 Jan. The Dance Fellowship has members from Pioneer Engage, St. Mary’s Life, and Bookham Baptist Church.

Holiday Rush

This has been a strange holiday season.  The last quarter of the year started busy and only accelerated, before coming to a screeching halt.  We had back to back to back events in October, November and December, combined with a signficant parental/pastoral issue which sapped strength and emotions, then I got sick in November which really slowed me down, and was further slowed by snow storms in early and again mid-December.  The break-neck pace was brought to a sudden halt.

I’m left pondering the balances between activity and rest, work and family, building the kingdom and abundant life, faith and presumption, what is our responsibility and what is the Lord’s.

I know Jesus said to take his yoke upon us for his yoke is easy and his burden light.  If I’m stressed out, perhaps I’ve taken too much on my shoulders.  But we are still taking on his yoke, so there is work to do; it’s not like I can sit back and do nothing.  It could also be that it’s not the amount of work that’s the problem, but I’m trying to do it in my own strength instead of His.  I wish I could tell you I know the answer or the correct formula, but I don’t.

2010 was an amazing year.  A feeling which began is 2009 was articulated by many visitors in 2010, and we started to physically see hints of what is to come.  The leadership team of Pioneer Engage Church is currently praying about the vision for 2011.  What is God doing in our community, and what is our part in it?  How do we build on 2010?  How do we cooperate with the Holy Spirit neither missing out nor interfering with God’s plans?  Finding the right balance will be key.  We appreciate you joining us in prayer for this.

God bless you and your family!

Thanksgiving!

I posted on Facebook earlier today wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, and a friend commented that they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Europe.  I’m sitting in my company’s office in Frankfurt Germany today, Thanksgiving Day 2010.  No, they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here or in England, though as a family we will celebrate twice, last Saturday when we hosted a free dinner for the less fortunate in the community and next Saturday as a private family time.  My response is to my friend is that Thanksgiving is a state of mind of being grateful.  It’s one we should have every day, like we should keep the state of mind of Christmas (Christ coming into our lives) and Easter (His death and resurrection offering us new life through the Holy Spirit) every day. 

Even in the worst of times, we have so much to be thankful for, and take so much in this world for granted that the majority of the population of the world goes without.  If nothing else, as a Christian, I am grateful to God for forgiveness of my sins and eternal life with Him.  At this moment, I’m overwhelmed with thankfulness for the blessings in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!