I've Moved

In the middle of October I moved in with my close friend Tim. I had for a month prior to the move slowly been feeling more and more lonely. I had lived on my own for a year, and the desire to be found in a community of people chasing after the heart of God together was very strong on my heart, so at Tim's invitation I moved in with him. This was not an easy decision because it meant moving out of the North End. I now live in the West End. I prayed lots and really felt that this was the LORD's directing. After talking with Pastor Tom from Zion, and another respected friend, who both encouraged me that this was a good thing, I had peace about the move. My parents lent me their truck, some friends helped me out (so very much appreciated!) and the move, clean-up and transition was quick and seamless. The best part was how I immediately felt so very much at home at Tim's place. It was such a gift from God. His peace is so good. Within a couple weeks of moving in, some refugees also moved in. We have a full house! There are two single men from Ethiopia, one a muslim, the other an Orthodox Christian. And there is a family of three, who are JW's, from the Congo. There is also an elderly lady who lived through WWII who has been living in the house for 30 years. She is non-religious. All of us get along very well.

Even though I do not presently live in the North End, I still love it. I know my adventures there are not over. My present address is temporary, the agreement is that I will move out in April. Hopefully, Tim and I will be able to stay together. Hopefully, we will be able to move back into the North End. I am very much inspired and encouraged by Tim's love for the North End and both of us would like to live there.

One Year in Winnipeg

One year ago to the day (Saturday, Labour day weekend) I moved to the North End of Winnipeg in response to God's guidance. I love it here. As I reflect, I realize that God has been doing much in my life and in my heart in the past year. Here is a short list:

1. God has “given” Isaiah Chapter 58 to me. I mean that he has highlighted it to me constantly over the past year and it is a burden on my heart to live it out. It must become a reality in my life, not simply a neat idea. Broadly, Isaiah 58 is about justice, mercy and caring for your neighbour.
2. God has put homeless people on my heart. I am slowly learning what it means to love them.
3. God has been developing my character over the past 12 months, especially regarding the words and manner of my speech.
4. God has been teaching me about leadership, finances, and faithfulness.
5. In the past year I have had more interaction with unbelievers on a daily basis than in the rest of my life combined. As a result I have faced greater oppression/persecution for my faith than in the past. This is blessed.
6. I am learning to praise God in and through all circumstances!
7. I am learning important principles about God's presence, about faith, and developing a lifestyle of devotion. With these, God has put a longing within my heart that I would be a container of the glory of God, that my heart would be a dwelling place for God's presence. And thus that the glory and presence of God would affect change in the people around me.
8. Some of the things I have prayed for the most over the past year are: the glory of God to be manifest in my life, favour before God and men, wisdom, that I would be faithful until the end, hunger for God's Word, for strength to pray, that I would KNOW Jesus and the Father's heart for me, societal transformation of the North End, and for my family.

My Call to the North End

4.5 years ago
- January 2007: Mission Xposure One at SBC. The first year class at SBC visits inner-city Winnipeg. I remember one friend having a claustrophobic response to all the concrete and buildings. He said he was certainly not called to Winnipeg. During MX 1 remember feeling slightly shocked towards the level of poverty and brokenness at which so many people lived. It was first experience of the North End of Winnipeg. ('Does the poverty and slum-like nature of these streets stretch all the way to the perimeter?' I asked myself? Thankfully not.) Even though I was aware that a percentage of SBCers who went on MX1 went back to Winnipeg I felt that I was likely called else where. I could handle the lack of nature; but I still felt confident, even a slight sense of relief, that I was not called to Winnipeg. A desire for missions was instilled in my heart though. Unexpectedly, I went through reverse culture shock after returning from MX1. I remember feeling desperate and broken towards the abundance and wealth of my life, and by extension Steinbach, when there were people living in poverty, or without homes, only an hour's drive away. What was I doing with my life? Thank-fully, a close friend who also came on MX1 shared my thoughts and emotions. God was doing a similar work in each of our hearts and we spent lots of time praying together. Yet, neither thought we would go back.

4 Years Ago

With my Parents just before going to camp. Summer 2007.

- Summer 2007: I went and volunteered at Gimli Bible Camp for two weeks. The campers at GBC are predominantly inner-city children. UGM sponsors about 80% of the campers who go through GBC. Otherwise those children wouldn't be able to go to camp each year. The first week the campers were 8-11 years old. The second week the campers were 12-14 years old. Even though that summer was basically my introduction to camp ministry, those two weeks were by far the most violently chaotic I have ever experienced in my life, anywhere. I have come to realize that wasn't normal but I didn't know that! I soberly asked myself: 'If such pain and turmoil can come out of children at camp, what are they going through at home?' I have gone back for at least a portion of the summer each year since.

3.5 Years Ago
-2007-2008 school year: I lived in dorm during my second year at SBC. I was introduced to Jackie Pullinger through a sermon my college room mate shared with me. Later, while listening to Jackie Pullinger messages, I caught the vision of being and living in the North End.
-January 2008: Mission Xposure 2. For MX2 the 2nd year class at SBC went to Northern Manitoba. I spent time in the small town of Pikwitonei. I developed a fondness for the Native culture. I was expecting some strong emotions either during or following the trip similar to what I experienced the year before but these were absent. I was asking God, 'Am I called here LORD?'

3 Years Ago

Cabin 10 - Youth Week 2008

-Summer 2008: My second summer at GBC was such a wonderful time for me. I have many fond memories of that summer. My highlight of summer camp ministry was during Youth Week. My whole cabin decided to give their lives to God and follow Jesus. Half of my cabin was baptized in the lake. It was a powerful time of campers and staff giving their lives to God and being touched deep in their hearts. There was much weeping and confession. At the time I described it as an out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. I think that most of the campers who were there would look back at it now as a pleasant dream. The power and intimacy of God they experienced then is a faint memory now.
-In the months following, my co-cabin leader and I made a very intentional effort at keeping in touch with our campers from Youth Week. As I am sure many cabin leaders did with their respective cabins. Some of them lived in the North End so I occasionally found myself there again. As I would drive or walk through the neighbourhood I imagined myself living there. I could see myself living in that house, or working at that store. I would getting emotional just being in the neighbourhood. I wanted to stay and had a hard time driving away. I was beginning my 3rd year at SBC. I remember listening to Jackie Pullinger messages on my computer in my parents' basement. She speaks about ministering to poor people. I had these heart-wrenching emotions and intense desires to go and be with my campers. Who would watch out for them and encourage them when they got discouraged? There was nothing in place to keep them going when they felt like giving up. I really wanted to cancel my courses, pack my bags, and go live in Winnipeg. I determined that such a rash decision would be foolish. However, I made a decision in my heart that unless God directed me elsewhere that was where I would go after college.

2.5 Years Ago

MX3 Team following a grueling 6 hour hike.
"Baptism by Fire"

- January 2009: Mission Xposure 3. Our 3rd year class learned Spanish and went to Guatemala for three weeks. I expected to 'fall in love' with the Latino culture and that I would possibly end up going back to Guatemala as a missionary because my experience there would be so powerful. Rather, everything I saw simply reminded me about North End Winnipeg! My trip to Guatemala solidified my calling to Winnipeg. My desires, although less forceful, matured and I began communicating them with people around me.

2 Years Ago
-Spring 2009: I grajewated! I decided to stay in Steinbach for one more year before moving to Winnipeg. I wanted to work off my debt, spend time with friends and family, stay one more year volunteering in my youth group at SEMC, and diligently pray into the next season of my life. I devoted considerable time and energy preparing my heart for what was to come.

1 Year Ago
-September 2010: I moved into the North End (almost exactly a year ago from now). I didn't have a job yet, and I was still in debt but the LORD had graciously provided a place for me to live. I was confident of being exactly where God wanted me.
-From in the middle of my second year at college, until shortly after moving to Winnipeg, my spiritual life was mostly dry. I mean that more often than not I was in what I considered a spiritual wilderness. I could not feel the presence of God. I had strong desires to know God but very little desire to read the Bible or to pray. I would read my Bible and pray, but it was intensely difficult at times. Thankfully I had quality accountability and good Christian friends who encouraged me and strengthened me. Whenever I felt like giving up I always thought about my numerous Christian friends and influences who kept me going. I strongly believe that God was preparing me for times like now, and that he was doing a mighty work within my heart. I am very thankful for the difficulty I experienced, spiritually, during that season of my life. I am willing that it should come again. However, I remember, about 6 months before moving as I was spending time with the LORD, that I told God, 'If I am supposed to move into the North End of Winnipeg, you better bring me out of this desert. I will not survive unless I walk in your presence.' God answered this prayer not long after I moved. He is so good to me.

International House of Prayer : Special Announcement

Check this out.

International House of Prayer : Special Announcement

Video Blog #3: It Tastes So Good

On Canada Day I decided to do some baking. I made a little video of myself doing it. Enjoy.

Video Blog #2: The LORD Will Shake

Greetings, this is my second video blog. In this video I discuss what the Bible teaches about trials and difficulties. This video might bless you, it might challenge you, it might even do both. In Part One I stick to the New Testament and in Part Two I go to the Old Testament.

PART ONE

PART TWO

human trafficking

If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noon day.   -Isaiah 58:10

As I reflect on this verse, I ask myself, 'who are the afflicted in my neighbourhood? and what is their desire?'

One example are those in slavery. I imagine they want freedom. If you are confused by such a notion of slavery today, and in my neighbourhood, then by all means read on.

 Trafficking: Trade; buying and selling; commercial dealings.

 Human Trafficking: Buying and selling people; slavery.

Stats 

-  27 million slaves on earth right now. More than the rest of history combined.

- The average age of a young woman first being trafficked is 12-14

- 75% of human trafficking is for sexual exploitation

- 75% of all victims are female

- Over 50% of victims are children (under 18).

- Estimates are that at least 2,500 foreign women are brought into the Canadian sex trade each year.

- An estimated 2,200 people are smuggled into the US from Canada to work in brothels, sweatshops, domestic jobs and construction.

- Canada is a source country, destination country and a transit country for human trafficking.

- Winnipeg is the capital of sex trafficking in Canada.

sources: 

http://doctorsatwar.org/human-trafficking-facts.php

http://mobilizingmen.com/human-trafficking/

Here is a quote from a news story I read recently:

"In Western Africa, “baby factories” or “baby farms” are common. Teens, ages between 15–17, with unplanned pregnancies are lured to clinics where their newborns are taken and can be sold for up to $6,400 by traffickers. In some parts of the country they are considered valuable for sacrifice due to the belief that they strengthen charms." 
For the full story: http://exoduscry.com/blog/nigerian-police-free-32-teens-from-baby-farm/

As I read things like this, and hear the stats or even the stories, I find it very easy to ignore. But why else have I come to the North End if not to care for those in need?!?! Where is my compassion? I have so little mercy!

"Anyone who does not love, does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8

"If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:15-17

Please pray for me that I would have wisdom to know what is good and right, and for strength to carry it out.

Lighthouse Mission

Tonight I volunteered at Lighthouse Mission here in Winnipeg. They reach out to the street people. Every other Friday they have an evening church service which has an open format, people can just walk in and out whenever. Food is served through the whole service and there is praise and worship going on the whole time except while someone might be sharing, either some scripture, a testimony or a little sermon-ette. I was asked to organize a team of people from Zion Church to help out with the service tonight. Some of us helped serve food, others simply mingled and prayed with people, I was privileged to preach a little sermon and I invited a friend who came and led worship. After I spoke I asked if anybody wanted to give their life to God and one young man raised his hand so I invited him up and prayed with him! I was able to get a New Testament for him and I am hoping to bring him to church this Sunday.

I am so glad that I could help out there tonight and be introduced to this ministry. I would really like to help out there more regularly in the future. God is so good.

Window Cleaners - Nothing But The Best

So I don't have any pictures or videos of myself window cleaning. I figured I would provide the next best thing, videos of other people doing window-cleaning like activities (mostly climbing ladders, who knew it could be done so many different ways?).

This is an application video one guy sent to my boss. My boss didn't think he was good enough though. Typical Ground Work.

Here is a video of extreme ladder racing. You can tell based on the guys technique that he isn't a window cleaner. His speed is alright but I bet I could push him a bit.

Firefighters have been trying for years to become quicker on ladders than window cleaners. Here is one of the more recent methods they have developed.

Here is a good clear video of chair work, which is my new favourite thing.

This is what some of my buddies and I do in our spare time (when we're not working 16 hour days).

Hope you enjoyed watching what I do for a living. ;)

Here is a video I made back in January. I have finally uploaded it. It may be old but it's still true. Enjoy.

Why I'm Here.

I realize that I haven't clearly explained the reason why I am living in the North End. Obviously, God has called me to live here. However, it is not fair if I keep it so general. Also I think it would be good for me if I clearly laid it out.

I believe that prayer is a fundamental aspect of Christianity and our relationships with God. To be a Christian, and to not pray is impossible. It is an oxymoron. Some Christians are called to a greater devotion than others in prayer, specifically intercession. I believe God has called me to live the life of an intercessor. Intercession is very simply, praying to God on behalf of others. So one of the reasons God called me to Winnipeg is to be an intercessor, in Winnipeg, for Winnipeg. Whereas sometimes I may be tempted to think that is a boring calling, I am slowly becoming more and more excited about it. I get to be like Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus! (actually, all of us have this privilege if we want it).  My favourite thing that has been happening since I moved here is the level of intimacy with which God is blessing me. I KNOW this is not limited to certain people but is something God desires to have with all people! Even though I believe I am called to be an intercessor, I am still an infant in this and will have my whole life to grow in this calling. It is so exciting! One of the dangers in my own flesh is a temptation to think of myself with a "holier than thou" attitude or to feel 'special'. Or even to think that I am the only one doing anything of value. God is gently teaching me to recognize the pitfalls of these lies and to be humble and contrite and to keep my eyes on him instead of those around me.

Since coming to Winnipeg God has placed a certain demographic on my heart. These are the homeless people of Winnipeg. This is a new thing for me and I am definitely taking baby steps in learning how to be amongst and interact with those who are less privileged economically. Connected with this is Isaiah 58. A passage that the LORD has magnified in my heart in recent months. I believe that I (especially in the context of intercession) must live out a lifestyle of justice and mercy. Given what Isaiah 58 teaches, I believe that justice and mercy will both be fuel for, and be fueled by, a lifestyle of prayer and fasting. I long to fully embrace such a lifestyle. (if you desire greater breakthrough in your life, grab hold of Isaiah 58 and never let go!)

And finally, I must pursue the first and greatest commandment, to Love the LORD my God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I am on a life long journey of trying to get this commandment into first and greatest place in my life. God has been teaching me the joy of a focused life. The joy of less distractions, less worries, fewer passions and desires. The commitment of one thing, to know HIM, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. EVERYTHING else. Must. Fade. Away. Amen.

-Trenton.

P.S. I have given up badminton. I feel like I have since taken a huge leap forward in the Spirit, as a result. Since I can focus more on that which really matters, Jesus Christ.

My New Favourite Workout

So I began a new workout last week. It is far more intense than anything I have done before. It also pays better. It involves climbing over the edge, and then descending down the side, of tall buildings. It's called chair work and is one of multiple different aspects of window cleaning.

The Chair is quite simply a board with a cushion. It is similar to a swing although slightly larger.

As I mentioned Chair work is quite the workout. In one 'drop' you could do just a single window per floor as you go down the building, or you could do more like 3 or 4 windows wide which saves time but is more physically and technically demanding. I did 3 windows wide on the building last week and after each drop my whole body was groaning. In order to do multiple windows wide you need to swing back and forth like a pendulum but once in front of the window you suction cup yourself to the window so you can wash it. This requires a lot of strength to hold yourself there. I was told it would be hard on my upper body but it was also very hard on my core and legs too.

Given the heights, chair work is not for the faint of heart! I have not been higher than 9 stories but I'm sure I'll get to go much higher yet. I am not sure what it is exactly, but I love it! Sure it is a bit scary and quite difficult but I was having a blast up there. When people would ask what I do for a living, the second question is almost always, "Oh so do you go up high then?" Now I don't have to say, "not yet." I can say, "Yes!"

Six Months

It's kind of crazy to think that I have been living in the North End for 6 months already. It certainly doesn't feel like it has been that long. I have also been washing windows for 5 months and that doesn't feel right either.

Looking back, for the first couple months of city life, everything was new, I felt like a kid on an adventure and everything was fun and exciting, like my first time on a city bus, I got off at the wrong stop, and then had to go on foot for half an hour cause I was partially lost and not sure where to go, but I loved it! And going shopping on my own, for my own food, that I was going to make for myself, in my own place, that I was paying for. It still feels weird... I am so thankful for friends and family who have helped me along, like letting me borrow a bike after mine was stolen (I thought it would be stolen much sooner than it was :). There have been many ups and downs, joys and stresses, adversity and prosperity.

The most wonderful things though are what I have been able to learn.
- I have learned a trade (window cleaning)
- I have learned how to prepare food (Today for lunch I had blueberries, strawberries and banana in a tortilla with yogurt and peanut butter. It was delicious and healthy, try it some time).

Of the things I have learned, the most awesomely wonderful are what God has been teaching me. He has been teaching me about His love, He has been teaching me about myself, He has been teaching me how to be more disciplined. He is teaching me to have faith, to believe what He tells me. I am much more comfortable around people that I used to be really uncomfortable around. He has been teaching me to praise Him all the time, in plenty and in need, through trials and through joys. That joy is not dependent upon any external thing. He has been teaching me many things about the words that come out of my mouth, some of it is difficult to learn. I think perhaps one of the best things God has been teaching me is to live with an eager hope and expectation of things to come.

Perhaps you are wondering what I am doing now that is different. Well I am not working with youth and I was before I moved. I have played more badminton since I've been in Winnipeg because there is easier access to it. I hang out with friends as much as I used to, only different friends now (most of whom I knew before I moved). I have a real job. I make my own food. I pay my own bills (it feels so weird...thanks Mom and Dad! for the nearly 23 years of looking after me, not that you don't/can't anymore, but it's different).

Embracing Weakness

.modgniK nwoD edispU

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." -Luke 6:20b

"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." -1 Cor. 1:27

"If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness." -Isaiah 58:10

One thing all these verses have in common is that they don't make much sense. In the eyes of the world they are confusing and backwards. The poor get the Kingdom, the foolish shame the wise and pouring yourself out for hungry people turns darkness to light. Have you ever seen a really small woman driving a really big truck? It's almost like that, almost. 

"Then Jesus told His disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." -Matthew 16:24-25. I guess one way of looking at it is that only suicidal people get into heaven. You actually have to kill yourself, what else does it mean to take up your cross? "Whoever does not go and sit in the electric chair, like I will, is not worthy of me" -Jesus (Matthew 10:38). Now obviously Jesus is not talking literally about us killing our own bodies (except He did literally allow himself to be executed...). I do want to exclaim however, that Jesus in His mercy offers us no other way of following Him except to die to ourselves. There is no other way, period. We cannot say that we love God and dodge around this. This is an absolutely necessary reality in order to live. I must die, EVERY SINGLE DAY!

What does this look like? "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Cor. 12:9-10. Ok. So I must gladly boast of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. My non-Christian co-workers are terrified of being seen as a sissy or a wimp. But, I must embrace weakness. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I desire to walk in great power, all day, every day. Not power as the world sees it, but the life-transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The power that sees drug addicts set free from drugs or the power that allows those living in misery and bitterness to forgive those who've hurt them so that they can receive God's forgiveness. The last thing Jesus told His disciples was that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them, and they will be His witnesses across the globe. (Acts 1:8). In the next chapter 3000 people get saved in a single day. I confess that I am stupid enough to believe that this can and does still happen today. I am even dumb enough to hope for the City of Winnipeg to go through a transformation and become a city that loves Jesus. It happened to Nineveh.... (I don't actually think I'm dumb, but my non-Christian co-workers might...). 

So how about it? Who's with me? Let's become a people of God who are thankful for being weak. Let's fast because it makes us weak. Let's pray more because praying shouldn't work but it does. Let's give our money away so that we can't use it. Let's be voluntarily weak so that God's strength is perfected in us and then we can be witnesses. It doesn't make any sense, so it just might work.

.modgniK nwoD edispU

badminton

I play badminton twice a week. It is my favourite sport and I have often felt guilty for loving it too much. I got my boss into it and now he is crazier about it than I am. Im not sure if because of him or not but I have recently become much more relaxed about it. I almost feel like it is a distraction from what I really want (Jesus :) but I keep going because it is good exercise and I know I need that. It is also good to have a physical outlet for all the anxieties of work.

Today I played in my second tournament since moving to Winnipeg. I did pretty poorly in my first tournament, and in this tournament our result was much better. Without explaining how it works, with these badminton tournaments, there are basically 4 pools that you get sifted into as you win and lose matches. A, B, C and D. 'A' being better than Ill ever dream of being, and 'D' being approximately where I'm at, lol. My first tournament I ended in the 'D' pool and today Alex (my boss and partner for the tournament) and I ended in the C pool. So I am quite happy about that. It doesn't really mean that much however because the size of the tournament was much smaller than the last one and it totally depends on who you play. For instance, there were players in the 'B' pool who would have been completely destroyed by some of the 'C' pool players.

I am thankful for some of the things that God has been teaching me through badminton recently. After last tournament it was glaringly obvious that I have some confidence issues. And I have recently been learning of both the positive and negative aspects of communication and its incredible importance. I also need to learn how to communicate more effectively. Badminton is a helpful way of working on these things.

One thing that keeps coming up is that I make mistakes. A lot. That has been the biggest, most consistent issue with my entire badminton career (if I can call it that). I have an 'ok' amount of skill, a fairly decent technical knowledge of the sport, I understand the tactics, concepts and strategies of badminton and can even teach much of it. But I keep making mistakes! Every game I hit a shot out, I hit the shuttle into the net, I completely miss hitting the shuttle when I shouldn't. Mistakes plague me all the time and it is so frustrating. I have sometimes video taped myself trying to learn how to improve my play and when I watch it becomes so obvious that I won't really get any better results until I can stop making mistakes. As you are reading this you are likely thinking: "It's just a game, relax. There are much bigger issues in life to worry about!" That is true but I really think that my mistake making in badminton is simply a manifestation of something that inevitably affects much of my life. but what?!? I don't know... lack of confidence? inability to focus? lack of motivation? I don't know. However, it is a psychological hurdle that I greatly desire to conquer.

Here are some quotes that struck me during my time at IHOP for the OneThing 2010 conference and even recently as I have re-listened to these messages:

Corey Russel, on why the fire dies 2-3 weeks after a major conference: "Could it be that your life is in direct opposition to containing and stewarding the impartation that you received?"

Corey Russel: "The biggest besetting sin, in this generation, is laziness."

Corey Russel: "Do you know what I want to see take place over these next four days? A voice go out, and you immediately change your life and find yourself in the midst of communities and companies embracing prayer, fasting, sermon on the mount lifestyle and preparation for the coming kingdom of Jesus Christ."

Lou Engle: "If we get the same revelation as Peter, 'thou art the Christ,' the gates of hell everywhere are in trouble."

Lou Engle: "I don't want just revival. I want reformation."

Shelley Hundley's salvation prayer: "I will never humiliate myself like this again, so if you're gonna do something you better do it now."

Shelley Hundley: "Oh my goodness, a human being can feel what He feels! A human being can actually reach into the depths of the resources of God's love. How high, how deep, how wide and how long, and can feel the measure of it."

Stephen Venable: "If you just view Christianity as a lifestyle, then maybe that lifestyle might be different in the 20th century, than it was in the 1st century. Just maybe. But, if discipleship and Christianity is about conformity to a person, and if that person is the same yesterday, today and forever, then the Christian life does not change with the passing centuries. Because discipleship and Christianity is like being like Jesus. And increasingly, the greatest single crisis that the church faces, in this hour, is that there is more and more, all sorts of things being done, under the banner of Christianity, that is drifting further and further and further away from the identity, the life, the teaching of Jesus Christ."

Stephen Venable: "...The problem is, Jesus is presented, almost only, as a means to those ends [of our happiness], rather than our life being a means to the end of His glory and His fame....The Christian message has almost been reduced to, 'God loves you and has a great plan for your life',"

Stephen Venable: "Does Jesus exist to give us stuff, and to affirm us, or do we exist to deny ourselves and give Him glory?"

Stephen Venable: "Have we so suburbanized godliness that it couldn't possibly offend anyone? We are just falling over ourselves trying to make Jesus and His demands palatable to the world."

Stephen Venable: "Our version of Jesus that we have, He's our therapist, our life-coach, and our little mascot and our sugar daddy who just gives us anything we want. That will never evoke a sacrificial lifestyle. The glorious Jesus of the Bible, who created everything, and sustains everything right now by His word, and who took on flesh for our sake, and gave himself over to death, and was raised again from the dead and ascended into heaven and rules over all things and is coming again to set up an everlasting kingdom. That Jesus might compel us into a life of sacrifice. But the version of Jesus that is preached in modernity will never do it."

Stephen Venable: "We have to give ourselves unreservedly, with abandonment, to the study, to the meditation, to the adoration of the LORD Jesus, as found in the Word of God."

Whom the Son Sets Free is Free Indeed

"Whom the Son sets free is free indeed, and there aint no chains that can hinder me."

There are 28,000 people singing and jumping to the beat. We are all shaking our hands back and forth in the air to symbolize shaking the chains off. The joy can't be contained and the presence of God is a beautiful fragrance to our souls.

Last week I was at the International House of Prayer's (IHOP) OneThing 2010 conference. The purpose of the conference is to challenge and equip young adults for a life of reckless abandonment for, and desperate pursuit of, Jesus Christ. It feels weird to be in such a crowd of mostly young adults, who are all in love with Jesus. The atmosphere is so obviously different from anywhere else. Life, joy and peace. It is so refreshing. However, the atmosphere isn't simply a social or emotional overtone (which is good) caused by lots of Christians being in one place. It is the tangible, manifest presence of God, welcomed by hours and hours and hours of deep, fervent prayer and continuous worship.

I am not confident of the theology of this next comment, but: it is as if the very spiritual realm is affected and free from the devil's influence in that physical location. While I am there I am more free to pray and worship and sing and dance and love and laugh. And when I come home to the North End it is quite different. And so I say: to that END I am here in Winnipeg. That the presence and glory of God would be manifest in my neighbourhood, (in my life), in ways I cannot imagine. Why? HE is worthy.

My overall highlight of this last OneThing conference is the clarity, specificity, and intimacy with which God spoke to me. I was hoping that I would hear from God about a few things. And then He met me in so many places, at so many levels and about so many different things. His love is intoxicating (literally!). I know that in some circles there is a lot of controversy about the gift of prophecy but I assure you that when it is properly exercised, God can melt your heart like wax.

A declaration of faith, a declaration into the heavenly realms: North End for Jesus.