SE Spokane County Fair

Sept 25, 26, and 27 were a Friday, Saturday and Sunday this year. They were warm and Sunny. Perfect weather for a small county fair. Actually Spokane County is not a small county, but this fair is a small affair. Most of the participants were from Rockford and Fairfield, two very small towns. Spokane is only about 25 miles away and has an overly large fair. It is as though the local people wanted to keep a small town feel and a small town fair. The small town atmosphere that may be almost lost in our world of fast cars, instant messaging and on demand cell phones. My cell phone and most other carriers phones quit working about a mile and a half out of town as we dropped down into the valley that houses Rockford.

About four weeks prior to the fair, my heart was burdened to tell people about walking with God. As I looked for venues where I could get peoples attention, many required much money or had a long lead time to reserve a spot. Then I came across the SE Spokane County Fair. I went for it. The booth organizer, Charlie Salt alloted us a 10' by 10' space in the show. But we did not have a canopy that we needed. Kimberly mentioned our need on a Facebook post. Sangeeta, a friend of ours, and of a different religion, offered her brand new canopy. Thank you Lord for people with generous hearts. Thank you, Sangeeta for allowing your heart to be generous.

Thursday evening was the set-up time. After setting up the canopy, I set up a tent for sleeping in near the barns. I am afraid that I am not a country boy. It seems that one of the show cows mooed all night long. It was a tough time sleeping. But the first day of the show was worth a poor nights sleep. The presentation was titled, "From Tragedy to Triumph." I told about our RV burning and how that was a tragedy, but it was turned into a triumph. I then told a little about our book, "Stories of a Salvation." Many people bought copies of the book. Some saw the title, scoffed and walked away. Others, said that they did not want to read the book, but thanked me for the stories that I told on the spot. That night I went to Spokane and rented a motel room. The next day was much the same as Friday, except I was able to pray with some people, too.

One interesting encounter, that has kept me praying and meditating on God's Word, occurred on the way to the restroom on Saturday. I stopped at a table where the people were trying to get others to sign a petition. It turns out that the two men were Gay. One of them told me that he is a Christian and that he has been rejected from churches. But that he believes that God loves him as he loves God. He pointed out that Jesus never condemned homosexuality. Later, a couple came by my booth and told me how they hated homosexuals. Their words were not kind words. I have been pondering how God loves all and sent His Son to the cross that ALL might be saved. He loves both the hater and the hated.

Maybe I am sensitive to those who are rejected because I remember a time when I went to a church and no one sat in the same pew that I did, even though every other pew was full, and no one even said, "Hi" to me. Jesus loved me even then, even though I had very long hair and was wearing an old army jacket that a friend had given me on a cold night in Southern California.

Sunday morning there was a worship service on the grounds. They sang the old hymns, and a lot of them. It was an anointed time of worship. Gods presence was there. Two Gay guys were singing on stage in the choir, and yet I could feel the blessing of God on the song service.

I feel that I must post his part and work on a post about my meditations on the Fair in Light of the Word.

Spread the Love!

Governmental efficiencies

For most of my life i have complained about the government. It didn't matter if the topic were the Federal government or the State Government, or the City government. The complaints would even go down tho the level of community home owners association. But last night I had an epiphany. Good government comes from a healthy spiritual environment.
Whoa! You say, not so fast. OK so lets look at what government is. When we leave out names of parties and ideologies we are left with people making decisions. Now when people make decisions they will make some good and some bad decisions. After all, they are human. As humans we make decisions all the time. Some will be good and some will be bad.

1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Romans 13:1-7 (NLT)

Wisdom to be found

Bad things have been happening to good people for at least two thousand years. Jesus pointed out that the tower of Siloam fell and killed good people. Today it occurred to me that some good people I know have had bad things happen to them. Out of our early morning prayer team, three have had marital separations. One of them has ended in divorce, while one has been reconciled. The other day I was talking with the one that had been separated, but was now living with the same wife in a harmonious relationship. He had pointed out to me a scripture that illustrates the choices that sometimes we fail to make that can help our situation.
1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment. proverbs 1:18 NKJV.
When guys get hurt we tend to crawl into a cave and isolate ourselves. Indeed, today we even have special places in our houses called "man cave". I sometimes joke that at least it is better than the dog house. The one fellow whose wife left him didn't do that. Indeed he did just the opposite. He came consistently to the church and added the men's prayer time to his busy schedule. During the prayer time he asked the brothers to pray for him. I can't say that he sought counsel, but a betting man would bet that he did! He and his wife are still together, and appear to be enjoying each others company.
Of the other two whose wives left, one never, to my knowledge sought prayer from the group that we attend, one has since been divorced, while the other and his wife are seeking counseling.

Men be wise. In tough situations seek prayer and counsel from those that love you and the Lord!

Coming revival

When I was in Spokane at a healing rooms conference, Cal Pierce showed a cover of Newsweek that said something to the effect that church attendance is down over much of America. A short time later, as I was dancing in the spirit. The Lord quickened to me that when a really large wave comes to shore the water before the wave is drawn back into the wave itself, often exposing bare sand that before was covered with water. This is what is happening now. It appears that the church is drying in other parts of our country. There is a hugh wave coming. I remember a time some decades ago when the press was saying that "God is Dead." But what happened was the Jesus Movement came along with a new time of refreshing. There is a new wave coming!!!! I chose to ride that wave! I am sure it will be awesome.
Before the aforementioned time, I was in prayer and had a prayer dream. In the dream, I went to a very large empty field. At one edge there were a few table set up, on the far end was activity that appeared to be the setting of a stage. At the near tables were some women. I said to one, I have signed up and am here to help with the revival She said that it wasn't quite time yet. Then asked me what church I was with. I told her CFC. To which she replied that they had all they needed. She then said that I should stand in the spot for Kellogg. I said that there was no one else there. She said, "That more will be coming along."

Giving and receiving

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, you will be measured.”*ISV International Standard Version.

I would like to share with you a case where this scripture was fulfilled again. About two months ago I was talking to John, a friend, about my need to replace or repair a portion of our floor. In the kitchen the vinyl was torn, and the entry way and dining area had shabby looking oak. John looked at the floor and said that the oak was only engineered and after 20+ years would best be replaced. He suggested that both the vinyl and the oak be removed and replaced.
John’s trade was installing and finishing hardwood flooring. John had not been working for quite a while. But, nonetheless, he offered to do the work for us for no cost other than the materials. As he offered I remembered the scripture, “Acts 20:35 In every way I showed you that by working hard like this we should help the weak and remember the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” I felt in my heart that if John did this then God would bless him abundantly for his giving out of his heart.
About a month ago, John was on the last day of finishing the new floor, which had doubled from 400 square feet to about 800 square feet. At that time John got contracts for two floors, and the next week started training for a new job. For the last month John has been so busy that he couldn't’t see daylight. Yesterday he called and told me that he had finished training. During the next two weeks, which were his first two weeks on his own at the new job, his earnings were over $3700. Not bad, for a newbie. But God is God. Why should we be surprised!?

retired or not retired

Last fall I was in Spokane at a Healing Rooms Conference. After morning prayer, I was sitting in the presence of the Lord, and realized that my confession, when I introduced myself, was incorrect when I said that I am retired. So I told the Lord that I would change my confession to, "I am a full time servant of the Lord." He said what will you do? I said, "What ever You put in front of me." Then I wandered out to the foyer and asked a young man who was working on the equipment that live steamed the event on the internet, "How much bandwidth does it take to stream this event?" He said, "I don't know. But, we do need someone to run a camera." I then was given camera three to operate on stage right. Since then, I am always busy with pressing things that need to be done.

answered prayer

Today my daughter, Gaby, Was late getting up. I took her to school. We got there at the sound of the bell. After her second period, she sent me a text message saying that she was super sick. Would I come pick her up? Before I could send her one back, I got another one. It said that she needed to stay to take a math test. Would I pray for her? I sent a prayer text. God honored it, and at lunch time I got another text telling me that she was fine.