Lazarus going to Kansas!

We're excited to announce that the Olathea Bible Church near Kansas City is doing a church-wide study on The Lazarus Life, October 1-3, 2009. Every small group will be studing the book and using the new study guide, Living the Lazarus Life.

If your church or group is interested in using this series, please contact us!

I Witnessed a 2009 Lazarus!

This past week, we participated in a soul care intensive, a personal, guided retreat where people come to us at our retreat--Potter's Inn at Aspen Ridge. The man came as soul-sick as I have ever witnessed. Tired, Worn out and Burned out, the man shared his sad journey of loss in the field of his work; devastation in his marriage; futility in his relationship with God. As we talked, more and more infection was revealed. His wounds. His scars. His soul bruises--all resulted in a near death.
As the week progressed, his movement towards the opening of his own tomb revealed itself. By day 5, I witnessed a modern day Lazarus right in front of me. There was life. Movement. Cynicism melted into hope; despair dissolved into resolve and fear morphed into expectancy.
I was the privileged one. I was the one to witness one man being transformed. He heard the Voice of Love--not mine but His--calling him forward.

Sabbath Shiftings in My Soul

January 4...Sabbath

It's good for me to type S-A-B-B-A-T-H. Cause my heart needs to cease so... so much activity in our normally quiet house--we are empty nesters, you see and all the kids have come back home for the Holidays. But today, in the wee hours of a snowy Colorado Sabbath morning, I am ceasing with candle lit and heart humbled and reading for more of the same with no one awake just yet. Waiting. Expectant.

Yesterday morning, was like today. I got up early. Read the Scriptures and was deeply struck by four distinct "words" I heard from God--that went something like this: Dig deeper. Encourage More. Expand the Message and Give lavishly. I'm still sitting with all the implications of these four words...wondering how my life and heart and ministry will all be impacted by these
'words.'

Dig deeper. I can do that cause I know that not much happens in the shallows. Good water lies deep, below the surface where contaminates cannot invade and pollute. How my soul needs de-toxing by all the flurry of recent weeks. Work. Travel. Invasion of kids. I want pure water and for that I must dig. I MUST dig.

Encourage more. I was struck again yesterday that the word 'courage' is rooted in French for 'heart' and how much heart has been taken from people in these days of economic turmoil and IRA woes. To encourage is to speak 'into' the heart and to put there was has been stolen or lost. It has taken these four words for me to be encouraged, for I too, have been rocked by seismic like shiftings in my soul with all the peril around.

Expand The Message... I'm still pondering that one but I do honestly believe that the time has come for the message of soul care and transformation. Aren't we all sick and tired of this mess? Don't we really want change at the DNA level of our souls? Because of that, I am willing to risk and explore expansion options. I will need your help for that. Needing the help of others is another deep impression. I can't do this alone.

Give lavishly... I am humbled because our ministry received a year-end gift from a couple--both of which have lost their jobs. The man called me a few days ago to ask me to pray for them. They were at their end--and wits end at that. Concluding the conversation, he informed me that a check was already in the mail to invest their "offering". This blew me away. Rebuked me. Spoke to me and really helped me grasp my own 'word.' Despite the wavering times, fear of the unknown, I should seek to give lavishly. To that end, I have an idea that we will implement in Potter's Inn. Because of our love of books--good books, I want to encourage, thus give books to help people find Sacred Voices through wonderful books that will help so many. Stay tuned for my ideas on this one. I have another impression also about how Potter's Inn should give more in the work or orphans and the aid of widows---what the Bible calls, "pure, undefiled religion." It's just struck me that if this is what the Scriptures call 'pure and undefiled' religion then I need to be a part of that movement more!

If you care to join me in these unfolding "words" let me know.

Blessings on the Sabbath!