Two months ago I was speaking at a conference. As I spoke I realized my time was almost up. I mentally considered skipping to the end of my speech but the Powerpoint slides were all lined up and I couldn’t skip them. I decided to hurry through my next point about margins. I told the following story. “A pastor arranged for a one-hour meeting with Dallas Willard, a theologian who has written books about spiritual formation. ‘My church is growing rapidly. We are in the middle of a huge building project. What do I have to do to care for my spiritual life. As the pastor of this growing group, this is very important to me.'”

Dallas Willard was quiet before he thoughtfully responded. “You need to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

The pastor quickly jotted that down in his notebook. “OK. Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from my life. Got it. What else do I need to do? I only have one hour with you and I want to learn all I can.”

At this point the whole audience burst out with loud laughter. I was so surprised that I almost got derailed in my speech. Why was everyone laughing? Finally I started laughing too and we carried on.

Fast-forward two months: I was buying a  book on Amazon.com and I get an ad for a different book I might be interested in, “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.” Hey, how did Google know about that startling incident at the conference in Colorado?

John Mark’s church was growing by 1,000 people a year. After several years this got to be too much. Their church grew to six week-end services. John would get wiped out after preaching this many times in a row.

Home now, late dinner. Can’t sleep; that dead-tired-but-wired feeling. . . . On the couch, watching an obscure kung fu movie nobody’s ever heard of. Chinese, with subtitles. Keanu Reeves is the bad guy. Love Keanu. I sigh; lately, I’m ending most nights this way, on the couch, long after the family has gone to bed. Never been remotely into kung fu before; it makes me nervous. Is this the harbinger of mental illness on the horizon? (Comer, J., 2019, p.2).

This book is easy to read, laced with humor, and it has some fun-sounding out-of-the-box ideas. For example, John now loves to celebrate the Sabbath with his wife and young children.

Even if the Sabbath is no longer a binding command, it’s still the grain of the universe. It’s a gift—and one I want to open and enjoy. Nine times out of ten, Sabbath is the best day of my week, no exaggeration. Every Friday night, after Sabbath dinner, we bake a giant cookie in a cast-iron pan, a full square foot of chocolate yumminess. Then we dump a carton of ice cream on the top, let it melt a little, and eat it all straight out of the pan—it’s some kind of symbolic nod to both our unity as a family and our collective love of sugar. As we indulge, we go around the table and share our highlight of the week (p. 173).

Even if you don’t struggle with binging on TV or sugar I am sure you will glean good ideas from this book.

 Reference
Comer, J. M., (2019) The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (p. 2). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

When I went to the jail this week I was surprised to see that the cell was packed. Thirty-one guys are crowded into a room with a closet and an open bathroom. After the guards locked me in through the last double gate and walked away, I looked around. The prisoners were all new. No one recognized me. All the old crowd had been sentenced, freed, or transferred to another prison. I explained who I was and they offered me a bucket to sit on. I hesitated because there were only a few buckets, but they insisted an honorable seat as most of them settled down on the raw cement floor.

I explained the Discovery Group format in a couple of sentences, and passed the page with questions to one of the vocal guys. Everyone participated. They were curious, respectful, and many responded to each question. Question 1: “What went well for you this week?” One of the guys saw the moon the night before for the first time in six months. He was transferred from another jail where he could not see outside. He looked very happy to recount how he could see the night sky. This cell has a two inch gap in the skylight area. Many commented on how cool it was to see the moon the night before. After several other thankful comments one of the men started thanking me for “coming to the most dangerous cell etc. etc.”. Finally I stopped him. “This might be dangerous, or maybe not. It doesn’t feel dangerous. I can sense the presence of God stronger here . . .”. I wanted to say “stronger here than I feel it in some church services” but I got interrupted. Everyone burst out cheering and clapping so loudly and for so long that I couldn’t keep talking. Finally I cheered and clapped too, and then we carried on with our study.

The story was about when Jesus went to Simon’s house, and the prostitute washed His feet (Luke 7:36-50). The prisoners reread and retold the story a few times, and then tried to imagine what if they were at a pastor’s house for supper, and a prostitute wanted to wash their feet. Some of them had been to meals with pastors. Then the conversations shifted. “I went to a church to see this one pastor I knew. As we were talking a poor person came in. The pastor asked that person to leave the church building. If that person had been well-dressed, the pastor would have treated him differently.” 

This triggered another story. “One time I went to a church, wearing a R$900 (about $300 – an extremely extravagant amount for this crowd) blazer. Of course, I never paid for it. I stole it from (a well-know department store that everyone knows). I wanted to look nice for the pastor.” I interrupted him to verify that I was hearing correctly. Everyone is all ears, of course. These kind of bible studies are interesting. After he confirmed his story about how he was wearing his stolen R$900 blazer, he kept talking but I missed the rest of his story. I got sidetracked trying to imagine the scene.  

As the group got to comparing pharisees and pastors someone says in a discouraging and loud voice, “It’s all the same. Everyone is the same.” The guys looked at me to see how I would respond to this. I smiled as I looked back at all of them. “Hmmm. You think everyone is same?” They were starting to nod as I continued. “So you think this prostitute got forgiven, became a pastor, and started treating poor people badly? And that you would do the same if you got a chance to be a pastor?” It got real quiet. This wasn’t exactly what they were thinking. 

This group of criminals was recently thrown together from about 10 of the surrounding towns. A few are from Marabá. They all await trial, so they have hope. The bad things that happened last week, question 2 in our study, have to do serious arguments among themselves. They explained to me, “We have nowhere to get away from it.”

After a long pause I carried on. “I have a dream. I would like to help you guys start Discovery Bible Studies like this in your home towns. You have credibility among your people. You are God’s best choice to help lead them to Himself.” It got even quieter. This is a new thought. I gave them my WhatsApp number so we’ll see what happens. I have no idea how this could work out, but these guys consider themselves fearless so if God can get hold of them who knows how far they can go? Hopefully there are some Apostle Paul’s hidden in the group.

As I was leaving the cell one of the guys asked me, “Would you call my aunt and let her know I’m here? She lives in a town 400 kms away, where I was in jail before I got suddenly transferred.” He gave me her number, and a handwritten letter to send to her via WhatsApp. When I got home I called the number. After many rings a woman answered and identified herself as the aunt. She asked me to call back. “So and so just died, and I am in a funeral procession.” She sounded torn up, tired, and defeated. Someone at the jail earlier that morning said to the group, “It is hard to be a Christian.” I’m thinking the opposite is more true. It is hard to be a not-Christian.

All this confirms my belief that we are living in a region that is ripe for a church-planting explosion. Please keep praying for us.

Catherine Brown prophecy, September 1, 2018. Elijah List newsletter. To read the full article, click here.

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As I was in prayer for the nation of Brazil, I heard the Spirit of the Lord say, “It is time for Heaven’s judicial intervention for Brazil.”

The Angel of Justice and Mercy

I then saw a powerful vision unfolding. A mighty angel holding a set of scales was positioned on the nation of Brazil, standing in Sao Paulo. On one of the scales he was holding was written the word ‘mercy’ and on the other scale the word ‘justice.’ The scales were perfectly in balance.

Prayer Treks

I then saw people making treks across the nation, zig zagging in all directions. The prayer treks were pilgrimages that were opening up ancient wells of blessing and simultaneously creating new wells of blessing and opening the flow of Heaven over the people and the land.

Rehoboth

As a result of the increased and focused strategic prayer activity throughout the nation, the word “REHOBOTH” was emblazoned across the nation and I heard the Spirit of God say, “Brazil is in a season of Rehoboth. She shall experience expansion, multiplication, restoration, redemption and ultimately Kingdom transformation in all spheres.”

In the Bible in Genesis Chapter 26, we read how Isaac had encountered resistance to his opening up wells in the land of Gerar, but upon the digging of a third well he encountered no resistance and this time he named the well ‘Rehoboth,’ which in Hebrew literally means, ‘broad places.’ The previous two wells he had named ‘Esek,’ which means ‘contention’ and ‘Sitnah,’ which means ‘hostility.’ (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

“…and he said, ‘For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.'” (Genesis 26:22)

Rehoboth indicates expansion and multiplication and a time when God makes room for His people and for Kingdom expansion. In the land of Gerar, Isaac had sowed and received a hundredfold increase in the same year as the Lord blessed him extravagantly and abundantly.

Furthermore after the naming of the Rehoboth well the Lord appeared to Isaac at Beersheba and said, “…Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake” (Genesis 26:24).

Rehoboth was the place from which the promise of multiplication for generations came forth to Isaac. Rehoboth does indeed speak to us of increase, acceleration and multiplication.

Breaking Chains – Restoration, Redemption and Transformation

In my vision I witnessed there were some chains on the nation, which have yet to be broken, even some chains that are presently upon the Church. I heard a voice from Heaven say, “Let the lamp stand of Brazil not go out,” and perceived there is a need for repentance because of idolatry.

This is the season of transformation in Brazil. It is not an old wineskin that God is going to use to set the new paradigm and cause the shift. I hear the Spirit of God say that in this next Kingdom move false leaders will be removed from their positions of influence. Those who are building empires and who are not building for the glory of God and His Kingdom will be exposed in their motivations. Yet mercy will be extended to all who are willing to align themselves with the Word of God and the will of God.

Justice and mercy will be poured out from Heaven on behalf of those who have been known as a type of ‘Jabez’. Just as Jabez experienced restoration, expansion and redemption in all things, so in this year of divine speed shall the nation of Brazil experience these same blessings in unparalleled speed.

Redemption of schisms and healing will include:

• Ethnic healing.
• Generational healing.
• Healing in communities and for families.
• Healing the political realm and governmental circles.
• Healing in the marketplace.
• Healing in the Church, in denominations and healing in the apostolic movement.

We pray for the divine destiny of Brazil to come to fullness. We command speed in the execution of justice and mercy and Kingdom transformation in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. God bless you this day and always.

Ghibeau looked at us while we were talking about Disciple Making Movements, and Discovery Groups. He was sharing some of his story, and what attracted him to this peer-learning group. “I want to make my life count. I am not fooling around. I want to get the most results possible for these years I have here on earth.” 

Disciplines help us give this life our best shot.

Here are three of my favorite disciplines.

• I go to bed early so that I can get up early. In my life the late evenings are more for relaxing, reading a book, watching a movie, checking out. I do not think of doing these activities in the early mornings, not even on my day off. Mornings are for my personal devotions, exercise, and getting things done.
• I make healthy choices with eating and exercise to increase my chances of more energy, clearer thinking, and to live the most abundant life possible.
• I read the Bible cover-to-cover every year. We are always at different places in our journey towards heaven so to me it makes sense to keep reading the whole Word of God, to help me stay away from the slippery slopes, and to learn how to use spiritual weapons.

Discipline is like a car. It will get us where we want to go.

What are your three favorite disciplines at this stage in your journey?

Fabio and Geice are group people. When I picked them up to come over for pizza and baked potatoes we drove around and picked up other family and friends, and even a neighbour kid who was standing in his driveway and watching them get into our car. Like my mom says, “You can’t have a party without people!” 

We were trying to stretch the pizza dough out by hand. Finally I remembered the rolling pin. I think it was the first time Gleice (Geice’s sister) had ever used one. “Hey, this thing works really well! I am going to get myself something like this.”

We made another jug full of icy mango nectar.

Pineapple bacon pizza, mushroom bacon pizza, cheese bacon pizza, sugar and cinnamon pizza, baked potatoes with bacon, butter, yogurt, and fried corn, pineapple and pieces of sweet guava dessert with giant toothpicks . . . it was feeling a lot like Christmas at our house on Thursday night.

Huge pretzels and rock salt from the leftover pizza dough.

I used the embers of the pizza fire to roast up a pumpkin, which I snacked on all week.