psalm 5

Psalm 5

where can I go to find peace

comfort, joy?

all that nourishes, sustains

is hidden in You

I cannot comprehend

explain, imagine

any power wider, deeper

stronger than Your love

You and You and You alone

three but One

perfect in unity

what is the colour of holiness?

what is the sound of truth?

what is the taste of glory?

You and You and You alone

together

turn and return

early morning quiet time…

Behold, how good and pleasant it is 

when brothers dwell in unity!

Psalm 133:1 RSV

yet I see factions

fractures, war

I see bitterness and strife

bickering, words of blame, shame

condemnation

Look – it doesn’t take much illumination

to see not My reflection

but the face of evil

when the world looks at you

who shall they see?

turn then, turn

for I Am ever gracious

turn and return

for I Am the Lord of restoration

and I will cleanse you

and I will heal you

and I will teach you again

and again

and again

the better way

the way of love

this is the door to My heart

where I invite all of My children

to dwell, in one place

with one mind

and one spirit

together, in Me

of Me, for Me

Church Diversity - Scott Williams

I am joining Scott Williams and New Leaf Publishing Group as they celebrate the release of Church Diversity: Sunday the Most Segregated Day of the Week.

Church Diversity is more than a book it’s a movement of God, pastors, ministry leaders, volunteers, congregants, and the community. It’s about the Church changing its perspective to become part of a culture-changing and world-changing movement. A new and different future begins with the turning of these pages, taking this journey, and speaking the truth in this vital conversation.



Scott Williams served on staff as a key leader and campus pastor at LifeChurch.tv, one of the largest and most innovative churches in America. He is an effective speaker, strategist, ministry consultant, entrepreneur and popular social media influencer for pastors and ministries around the globe. He is an avid blogger at BigIsTheNewSmall.com. Scott is married, a father of two, and lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

In Chapter 2: Confront the Elephant in the Pew, Williams talks about how easy it seems to be for us to completely ignore what is right in front of us. This does not benefit us, or the elephant.

We could make a strong argument that we have come a very long way in the area of dealing with race and ethnicity. However, we are far from arriving. Race is just one of those things that people would prefer to ignore and would rather not talk about. The problem with that approach is the fact that ignoring the elephant is not going to make the elephant (insert elephant noise) get up and waddle out of the sanctuary. As a matter of fact, the elephant has been sitting around for so long that he’s lazy and doesn’t want to move. There are pockets of leaders and churches poking and prodding at the elephant, but not enough to get the attention of his elephant siblings around the world. Herding elephants is not an easy thing to do, and herding racial elephants is ten times as hard as herding any other. The first step in herding elephants is acknowledging that they exist. No one wants to be ignored — that includes the racial elephant. Acknowledgment is the first step to getting it out of the room. When there is an elephant in the room, acknowledge it.

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, attended integrated schools and know well the issues between people of colour and those with "white" skin.  We could play together at school, but rarely mixed after the bell rang.  It saddens me to know things haven't changed as much as we'd like to believe.

In the rural area of Manitoba, Canada where I now reside, the problem is the same, but the colour is different.  People will ask "Do you go to a "white church" or a "First Nations" church?  The elephant still sits sluggishly, waiting for the people of God to wake up and throw him out.

You can find more information about this important new book and view chapter videos at http://www.churchdiversity.com/ I urge you to join in the efforts to become the Church that our Lord desires to come back for.

Unified Prayer

Today begins an intensely busy but rewarding ten days of prayer that go before and prepare the way for The Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday.

To quote from the GDOP Strategy:

The primary purpose we gather is for the glory of Christ and the blessing of the nations. To seek God and exalt His Son for one reason only, because He is worthy. The day is approaching when everything will be subject to His glory. We are motivated by who He is not what we will get from our coming together

As the coordinator for this region of Manitoba it is easy to feel as if I am run ragged and stretched thin, but I turn again and again to the words of Paul which remind me:

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9 NKJV

I am excited to see where the Lord will lead us this year as we gather in His name.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing— Life forevermore. Psalm 133:1-3 NKJV

I will be updating with reports of our gatherings, but instead of just reading, why not find out where there might be gatherings in your area. For those of you in the Parkland Region of Manitoba, please contact me and join us.