Sunday morning

Dear Brothers & Sisters:

As I meditate upon the plays of God, I recognize "something is afoot."

Today, with family and friends we celebrate my birthday. Actually, my
birthday is at 11:52 PM on July 3rd, in which case my name was to
have been Samuel. But, because of the weekend, we are having friends
over today. Friends from around New England are traveling here in
some cases. I know a lot of Christians do not celebrate their actual
birthdays, but there is something about having entered the combat
zone, about God saying He knew you in the womb that makes it special.

When I was a child there was a birthday celebration that took place
in our home where my mom made a drum cake. Cherries and licorice
whips made this beautiful drum. As I occasionally see one of those
pictures I remember my friends. Later my parents whisked us away to a
pond where paddle boats and swimming was the agenda. Paddling around
a pond looking at frogs, snakes and turtles. What better enjoyment
for a young boy. Most of my birthdays were spent on the lakes of the
Adirondacks. year after year, camping trips or living at a family
home on Schroon Lake. My summers were spent on lakes, in mountains
and very rarely at home.

Today, friends Christian and pre-Christian will be here. Just
yesterday, I was cleaning up my desk area and I found a box that had
old notes, sermons and the like. I cried. It appeared in 1996-1998 I
knew more about today than I do now. So many of the things that are
happening I was speaking about. But, the worst part of yesterday
morning was seeing a card of a friend who died in the last year.
Without Jesus, without a savior. It opened a wound in my heart
afresh. To die without Him. It opened a very deep struggle in my
heart. Today I am reflecting on my birth and my life, while so many
are never to find peace again.

All over the church people are being shifted. Not pawns being moved
one space or two, but queens, bishops, castles and knights shifting
continentally. People sometimes wondering what God is up to. Finances
shifting. Families shifting. Deep-deep-deep feeling hearts.

We are in the middle of something. And in 1996 one of my notes said
we must concentrate on a few things. One of those is family and
friends. The other is on being the solution. We can no longer devote
days weeks and months to strategy, but we must turn to the
implementation of that which we already. I think one of the reasons
God has given so much encouragement over the years is we are going to
need it. And I believe the time is now.

Conversations lead me to believe that most of the body knows their
call and their marching orders. Far different that 5-10 yeas ago.
Now, the body is needed to move into place. I believe this is the
season of loss of self. And with the knowledge of gifting, we have
obligations. Just as there will not be a present unopened today in my
home, neither should there be in the body.

Just in the last days I have heard numerous(more than 5! people say
they prefer being with unbelievers (pre-Christians) rather than the
body. I can look at the problems: The church depends on one people
and not the Lord, we have too much wasted time on our hands, the body
doesn't understand love, etc. All those and many more may be true.
But, what is the solution? One does not hate their eyes or their feet
and cut it off. So, we can not accept it in the body of Christ. I
love the church. I relish times with my friends. I drove nearly 1.5
hours each way to visit a friend who recently had a stroke. I love my
friends. But I also, love my inheritance, the unbelieving
population. And I spend time there. Stop whining about looking for a
well. Be the well. Stop looking for the perfect church. Be the
church. Sow what you don't have. OK. That's my word of faith side. I
have been there.

Maybe it is time we examined our own hearts and agendas. Very few can
be busier than me at many times, but I have determined a new agenda.
Family and friends and the world. We must be the solution. We are all
sick of the dried of way we have done church in so many instances We
have had great worship. Great teaching But here is something to think
about. There is a form of religion called gnosticism. It is religion
by event or experience or feeling. It is based on intellectual
pursuit of the Lord and what we know. We need to examine our lives.
What constitutes our salvation. Unfortunately we have inoculated many
with enough Jesus by a show of religion to cause them to be resistant
to the real deal.

We need to stop directing friends and family to experience and the
church, meaning no more going to church. Rather that we recognize and
accept the scriptures that WE IS THE CHURCH.

Let the chase begin...

Enjoy this day as much as I will.

Blessings,
lee

--
Lee & Tina Johndrow
Pillars Of Clouds & Fire Ministries
88 WCFR Drive
Springfield, VT 05156
802-885-2885

http://www.pocafministries.org

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Partnering with people for the glory of God!

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