Hi all,
It sure has been a busy month since I last wrote to you, on a personal level, CWOWI, and prophetically.
On a personal level
The last 3 weeks of our lives have been filled with issues relating to an injury Chris received. An aide did not buckle his seat belt on his wheelchair, and then loaded him in the bus. When the bus stopped, Chris went flying. That was a Saturday a month ago as you read this.
Even though they are supposed to call us immediately when an accident occurs, the aide did not. We knew nothing until the following Thursday when they called to say he was at the ER due to his right leg swollen 3x normal and purple bruising hip to ankle – it was only then we learned of it.
There is much more to the story – he wasn’t to have been going to the Halloween party they were talking him to – and the aide told me to my face he wasn’t going, but then they did the exact opposite. We expressly said he would not attend. The aide knew the buckle wasn’t working, lies, cover up – a horrible behind the scenes time of it.
There was similar bruising to his left leg, he complained his back hurt, had a bruise on a shoulder, and so on. Two x-rays, lab work, Doppler imaging of his right leg, and a CT later we learned just this week he has a compression fracture of his 4th lumbar vertebrae. It should heal on its own. I’ve been there for most of his tests and he was always glad to have dad there – so he has remained very ‘up’.
His leg is still swollen a bit and we wonder about tendon or muscle damage, as the impact on the metal bracket on the floor of the bus was just above his right knee cap. We have an appointment today and a follow up in a couple of weeks – stay tuned, thanks for prayers for Chris’ healing.
In between were trips to Montana and Dallas, numerous other ministry requirements – Barb and I are both tired and would appreciate your prayers. During Thanksgiving week we’ll have Chris at home, and being in a wheelchair and mentally about 4, means lots of time and attention focused on him. It’s a lot of work frankly. Again, thanks for your prayers. On the Sunday after Thanksgiving weekend – we will rest!
CWOWI network
We have so many people looking for house churches in their area that it is quite overwhelming, the steady inquiries. One of the things we’re going to do next year is video conferencing, webinars, and such to stay in touch with those who would want to sign on and join us. Look for some of those in January. God is doing a lot in the Middle east, but I can’t share here.
Prophetically
You may recall last year I shared about the USA’s Presidential election, how there was a peace about the first 2 years, but after that it was just ‘dead’ in the Spirit – no life, no excitement. Just a blank.
With the incoming Congress having a Democratic majority, that would explain that ‘dead’ feeling in the Spirit, as the House will likely stall anything the President wants to do, and may use their time in power to attack him. That said, the President’s gift is negotiation, so there is the opportunity for compromise at least.
I recall what the Father told me in 2004 when the Bush/Kerry race for the presidency was going on. There was a different feel to it in the Spirit, and I noticed it in my spirit. I asked the Father what it was and He said this: “It’s the spirit of socialism. It can be delayed, but it won’t be stopped.”
With the moral collapse happening around us and the left becoming more militant, the US seems to be teetering on the brink – prayer required!
Germany
You may also recall just a few months ago I shared how in a visitation with the Lord this Spring, He said to watch when Merkel left office, because it would set off a cascade of change in Europe – and to be praying. Last month it was announced she won’t seek reelection in 2021, and would not seek reelection as party leader in December. Pray for Germany and Europe!
Focus on relationships, separating the disciples
Paul never ‘planted’ house churches – he developed relationships focused on the Lordship of Jesus and the desires of believers to learn and grow and apply the things of the Lord to their lives.
In Philippi Paul and company went to where Jewish women prayed, at the river just outside of town. Among those women only 1, Lydia, became a believer in 16: 14. Once she believed on the Lord the focus was on her and she focused on them and the Lord. Remember, the women she left at the river believed in the God of Israel – but they didn’t believe in the Lord Jesus.
The same is true later: Paul went to Thessalonica and Acts 17: 4 says that once some of them believed, they joined Paul and Silas. Later in the chapter he goes to Athens, and at the end of the chapter it says some of them believed and joined Paul. Acts 18 opens with him in Corinth, where in v7-8 he separates the new believers as they enter into a nearby home to meet.
We find this today – there are believers, and there are disciples. A disciple is a learner, one who applies what is learned to life. A believer mentally agrees, but isn’t as interested in living with and for the Lord.
We grew up in a church culture that believes disciples are made through anointing meetings, but the Bible teaches disciples are made through spiritual fathers and mothers. It’s a matter of relationship, of the believer willing to meet with and get to know others on that same ‘spiritual page’, and therefore focus their lives on the Lord and living for him.
These people seek out others who can show them how to apply their walk with God to their lives. In the west we understand the word ‘teach’ to mean academics, mental concepts and principles. But the Hebrew word teach is ‘lamad’ and its Greek equivalent translated ‘disciple’ in the New Testament, ‘manthano’. Both words mean to teach someone by showing and doing. It incorporates both the mental concept and the immediate application to life of that principle. A disciple is a doer of the Word.
If you read Paul’s letters to these people: Corinthians, Thessalonians, Ephesians, Philippians, you’ll see these people were far from perfect – they had some major sins. But they were moving forward, one step at a time, trying to learn and grow in Christ.
We are not accountable to perfection; we are accountable to growth.
We are very thankful for those who pray for us, and for those who donate to CWOWI. We’re just normal people and what you see is what you get, lol. We pray the Father’s best to you, and that He would strengthen you by His Spirit in your inner man, so you can know that love that is beyond mere mentally knowing – to know His love in your heart!
We appreciate your prayers. CWOWI is growing fast and there are some exciting things to share in the next couple of months – we are so thankful for your care for us!
Blessings and love,
John & Barb
