Monday, October 4, 2010

An Underground Gathering

My information said that the meeting started at two o’clock or so, but I didn’t have the chance to get there until a couple more hours after that. Besides, I wasn’t sure about it, so I wanted to arrive after they were well under way.

By the time four o’clock rolled around, I was quite lost in the county roads trying to find the place: It was already dark, and I was looking for an old barn, maybe half a mile from the nearest paved road so finding it was no easy task. I backtracked, tried the turnoff that I’d passed by a couple of miles back, saw another truck pulling into a dirt road, and headed down the same way. The road ended at a place that was obviously not what I was looking for, but we turned off just before that, wound around some sharp corners, and emerged into a field full of parked cars surrounding a barn, looking in the dark like a flock of baby chicks around their mother hen. Out of the barn came the sound I was expecting, the sound I was looking for. When I heard it, I realized how much I’d been longing for it.

I parked my truck and walked through the parked vehicles towards the barn; I noticed some older SUVs, some fancy new cars; the variety caught my attention. There were a handful of other folks arriving, and we said very little as we approached the barn: words weren’t actually necessary. This was also the sound that they were looking for; their faces showed the same sense of expectation that I was feeling.

We slid the door open, and the sound washed over us. It was palpable, nearly physical, though it wasn’t all that loud. Inside were maybe a hundred people. Twenty or thirty of them were playing instruments, men and women, black, white and others, young and old. The instruments were equally diverse: guitars, keyboards, drums from America, from Africa, from Ireland, from Asia, from places I'd never heard of. Even a didgeridoo from Australia, wired into the sound system. There were young kids playing drums and rhythm instruments. Most of the sound came from the instruments and from the several people singing into microphones. There was a basic sound system set up, but it was obvious that this was no show.

Nobody but the handful that entered with me even knew that we had arrived. Maybe twenty people had their hands in the air, others were kneeling, still more were dancing or waving flags. Some were visiting together near the tables in the back, tables piled high with food and drink. Kids played on the dirt floor. They took nothing away from the worship.

I worked my way to the back of the room. I was trying not to disturb the worshippers, but I needn’t have bothered: most of them were oblivious of my passage; those that were greeted me with the great bear hugs of old friends or the whole-hearted hugs of family; it didn’t seem to matter if they knew me before that day or not. The diversity of people struck me again: these were people from almost every imaginable background, age, race, socio-economic group, religious persuasion.

The music never took a breath. There were a couple of microphones set up where anybody could walk right up and sing along with the music; those mics were nearly always busy, with intricate harmonies and counterpoints accentuating songs that nobody had ever heard before. Before I realized it, four or five hours had passed.

There were a hundred people there, and people were coming and going throughout the night. But the audience had only One. His presence filled the room like birdsong in the spring, like a welcome home after a long journey. There were a hundred voices singing a hundred different songs, all blended into one glorious chorus, and our Audience roared back His approval.

This was worth getting lost in the backwoods county roads for. This was worth being part of.

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Sunday, September 19, 2010

Future Memory of Revival


Kim Clement refers to some dreams as 'future memories'. At times God will take us in a dream to some point in the future and allows us to see it for a brief moment. This was one of those moments.

On August 30th 2010 I had the following dream:

The dream began during a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit that had been going on for quite a while in our area. (I'm not certain what the entire scope of the geographic region was. I just knew it was the Olympia area) In the dream we were living every day in a strong, sustained outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I didn't get much detail on what specifically was going on as far as miracles, salvation, etc.

Dave McLain, myself and a few other friends (I didn't recognize most of them in the natural, except that perhaps Joe Myering was one of them - I can't be sure because I've never met him in person) were sitting at a table discussing the current revival and how it had manifested in different places in town. One of the significant things in the dream was the tangible presence of God. I could feel the weight of glory on me as we talked.

We seemed to be at a place where worship music was playing. I saw bright lights and heard a festive crowd cheering in the background. I don't recall many of the details of the conversation, though we talked for a considerable amount of time. I remember talking about some of the miracles we'd seen and the cool ways God had touched so many people in town.

Just before I awoke from the dream, Dave McLain told me about one event that I remembered after I woke up. He mentioned the time that the glory of God first came to the church called 'Glory House' in Olympia. He reminisced fondly about how deeply Dennis Teague was affected by that particular move of God, which Dave said had happened 4 years earlier.

After he said this, I woke up and spent a few minutes collecting memories of the dream, then wrote it down. I believe I woke up pretty close to 12:25, because when I looked at the clock after writing the dream down it was 12:30.
(End of dream)

We were four years into a strong, sustained outpouring of the Spirit and it was still as powerful as when it began. Several different leaders from different churches in the area were involved. I believe God wants us to know that it's coming. It will not be about one church, one man or one city. It will be a regional move with widely different effects wherever it comes.



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Saturday, August 28, 2010

Standing at a Critical Juncture


In a small town in the Northeast, something wonderful is happening.

Is this what we ought to do, as well?


Standing At A Critical Juncture from JHOP Boston on Vimeo.





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Thursday, August 5, 2010

Art In The Park


For several years, Jennifer Langley and friends have been doing "Art in the Park" during the summer months at Sylvester Park in Olympia. What began simply as a few friends bring their paints and canvasses to the park and painting, has blossomed into a spirit-filled community outreach that is touching the heart of the city.

Armed with a bottles of water, a container of peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and and a bucket of sidewalk chalk, her group has been meeting every week this summer to minister God's love to street people downtown. Part of the ministry is prophetic art - part is loving on those who show up to ask questions. Many strangers join in. They are given free food and drink and God's love is demonstrated. Some are healed, some are given prophetic words of encouragement. All are touched in a unique way.

Jennifer is looking for more people interested in helping out. Contact information is provided at the end of the video.






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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The Commander of The Lord's Army


This was a dream I had on July 3, 2010:







The Commander of the Lord's army came to inspect His troops. He looked at many things, then left. A staff meeting was held where we discussed the main deficiency he found, which was our conversations. We were giving the enemy a big advantage in the careless things we said. An order went out to the troops to reign in thoughtless or critical conversation.

It was as if our words were giving the enemy information they didn't have, which was then used against us. Almost as if the enemy didn't know our weaknesses, until someone among our ranks revealed it.

Just as when the commander of The Lord's army paid Joshua a visit before their battle for Jericho, we've had a similar visit. (see Josh 5:14)

From this visit I would conclude:

1) We are not in the battle yet, but it's approaching.
2) The Lord's eyes are on us and He is aware of what we're doing and saying.
3) We have need of come correction before the battle begins..
4) The Lord would not be personally involved in a battle that would end in defeat.
5) We can be assured that victory will be the result, if we follow the orders of the Commander.



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Thursday, June 10, 2010

The Black Hawk Revival



On June 9, 2010 I had a dream about the revival in Olympia:


In the dream I was living in a small town, waiting at the post office when I received a package I had ordered. The package contained a kit that would bring spiritual revival to my town. The name on the kit was "Blackhawk Revival". It was a kit that had been used successfully in the past to bring other revivals.

I opened the package and removed the kit from the box. I knew what to do and immediately began assembling the parts. When I had the kit assembled, I called the sender to confirm that it was operating properly.

(end of dream)

Background Information

1) This morning after I woke from the dream, I looked at the news and learned that the Chicago Blackhawks won the NHL championship and the Stanley Cup trophy last night. I was unaware of this when I went to sleep.

Normally, I'd be searching the bible for keys to the dream interpretation. But black hawks aren't mentioned in scripture.

The timing of the dream - that it came on the night the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup must be the key to the interpretation. The last time the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup was in 1961 - the year I was born. How strange is that?

2) The Chicago Blackhawks' first owner, Frederic McLaughlin, was a commander with the 333rd Machine Gun Battalion of the 86th Infantry Division during World War I. The Division was nicknamed the "Blackhawk Division" after Black Hawk, a famous Sauk Chief. McLaughlin later named the hockey team in honor of them.

3) The United States Army, following it's policy of giving Native American names to it's aircraft, named the Sikorsky UH-60 "Black Hawk" helicopter after the Chief.

4) What do I know about revival in my home town?

I had a visitation from the Lord on September 3, 2008 during which I received a promise that my city (Olympia, Washington) would see an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that would bring spiritual revival.

I decided to research the life of Chief  Black Hawk:

A Brief Biography of Chief Black Hawk

Black Hawk (Makataimeshekiakiak - "be a large black hawk") was a leader and warrior of the Sauk American Indian tribe. Although he had inherited an important historic medicine bundle, he was not a civil chief of the Sauk, but was an appointed war chief.

During the War of 1812, Black Hawk fought on the side of the British. When the war erupted, Colonel Robert Dickson, an English fur trader, amassed a sizable force of Native Americans at Green Bay to assist the British in operations around the Great Lakes. Most of the warriors Dickson assembled were from the Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, Kickapoo and Ottawa tribes. Dickson then summoned Black Hawk's band of about 200 Sauk warriors.

When Black Hawk arrived, he was given command of all Natives gathered at Green Bay, presented with a silk flag, a medal, and a written certificate of good behavior and alliance with the British. In addition, Dickson bestowed upon Black Hawk the rank of brevet Brigadier General. The certificate would be found 20 years later, after the Battle of Bad Axe, carefully preserved along with a flag quite similar to the one Dickson gave to Black Hawk.

During the war, Black Hawk and his warriors fought in several engagements with Major-General Henry Procter on the borders of Lake Erie. Black Hawk despaired over the waste of lives caused by the use of European attack methods; soon after, he quit the war to return home.

Black Hawk War

As a consequence of an 1804 treaty, the Sauk and Fox tribes vacated their lands in Illinois and moved west of the Mississippi in 1828. However, Chief Black Hawk and others disputed the treaty.

Angered by the loss of his birthplace, between 1830 and 1831 Black Hawk led a number of incursions across the Mississippi River, but was persuaded to return west each time without bloodshed. In April 1832, he again moved his warriors into Illinois.

Black Hawk's band was composed of about 500 warriors and 1,000 old men, women and children. The group included members of the Sauk, Fox and Kickapoo Tribes. The war stretched from April to August 1832 and a number of battles, skirmishes and massacres took place. When the Illinois Militia and Michigan Territory Militia finally caught up with Black Hawk's "British Band" following the Battle of Wisconsin Heights it led to the decisive clash of the war at Bad Axe. At the mouth of the Bad Axe River, hundreds of men, women and children were killed by pursuing soldiers, their Indian allies, and a U.S. gunboat.

After the war Black Hawk was captured and taken to the eastern U.S. where he and other British Band leaders toured several cities. Black Hawk died in 1838 in southeastern Iowa.

Interpretation

The fact that I was living in a small town would indicate that the scope of this dream is limited to my local area - Olympia.

"I was waiting at the post office..."
I'm reminded of the disciples in the upper room, who were told by Jesus, " Go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father." They went and positioned themselves in prayer until the promise came. A large group of people in the Olympia area have been engaged in prayer and spiritual warfare over our area for some time, with the purpose of bringing the promised revival.

"I received the package I ordered..."
Our prayers were heard and the Father sent the package we asked for. There is often a delay from the time a prayer is heard to the time the request is received. It took Daniel 21 days before the angel Gabriel came with a message.

"The kit had been used successfully in the past..."
This is a method to bring revival that has been tested. We know it works.

The name "Black Hawk"
This must symbolize some aspect of the revival. Everything I've found points to Chief Black Hawk as a symbolic figure. Although he inherited the gift as a medicine man, he became prominent as a warrior. I believe this indicates something important about the revival in Olympia. It will have healing as  a major component, but spiritual warfare will be the method by which it comes.

Black Hawk's band was a mixture of warriors, old men, women and children. I believe this pictures the kind of people God will use in his army - just about anyone.

Black Hawk fought for territory that He felt was rightfully his. I believe this pictures our battle in Olympia. My friends who are prophetic and apostolic leaders have discerned that much of the land that was given to us by God, has been taken over by the enemy.We've been engaged in warfare to reclaim it. This revival is as much a battle over territory as it is over the souls of people.

The hawk, eagle and owl are all symbolic of the prophetic ministry. I believe the prophetic presence here will be a key to the revival. I had another dream about three months ago in which I prophesied over our city that God was raising up teen-age prophets who would change the spiritual atmosphere and usher in revival.

"I called the sender to confirm that it was operating properly."
This seems to say that it will be important to check in frequently with the Father to verify that things are going in the right direction.






Other Observations

I believe the symbolism of the Black Hawk helicopter is significant. The UH - 60 is an airborne vessel that moves quickly at will. It's one of the most versatile aircraft in the world. The Navy, Air Force, Army and Coast Guard all use modified versions of the same aircraft. It's used for tactical military and medivac operations over land and sea as well as being used by the Coast Guard for patrol and rescue operations.

I see this as a picture of the kind of believer God would have us to become - versatile. The Holy Spirit has a diversity of ways in which He can operate through a surrendered vessel. We might be prayer warriors one day and operate in miracles the next day, followed by powerful preaching a few days later.

I also see the angelic host of heaven pictured by the Black Hawk; a formidable army of winged warriors reigning down destruction on enemy strongholds.

I believe the victory obtained by the Chicago Blackhawks in their hockey game last night is a picture of the victory we will have over our enemy.

Helicopters operate in the skies. They go quickly when dispatched by the commander, never needing roads to get to where they need to be. During the revival in Samaria, Phillip was taken physically into the skies and translocated somewhere else because the Lord needed him there; like a helicopter. The bible only records one such event for him, but it's possible he may have had other trips that weren't recorded. Ezekiel, Elijah and other prophets had similar experiences.

I've been having dreams about translocation; where I'm physically transported from one place to another, supernaturally. Some have been solo trips, some with a group of people. Jason Westerfield and other leaders have been told by the Lord that He wants to use this means of transportation more in the coming days.




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Monday, May 10, 2010

Are You Ready For a Hot Summer?

  
by Cindy McGill 
(of burning man outreach)
May 10, 2010

Hello Summer! It's that time again. It's time for outreaches to meet the spiritual hunger in the lives of seekers everywhere. People are hungry for hope and truth that sets them free from all kinds of bondages and life wounds which have crippled them from living their lives to the fullest. Jesus is truly the Bread of Life. I guess we could say that He is the true "organic" food everyone needs to be made whole and to have new lives.

"I Wanna Know What Love Is, I Want You to Show Me"

We are commissioned to go out and reach the earth with the "Good News" of the message of Jesus. How we model the Lord is what the world will see. It is most important to let the light of Jesus shine through us, saturated in the love of God. There is no other way to reach a hurting world. God IS love, He just doesn't have love and true love NEVER fails.

According to 1 Corinthians 13, love hopes all things, endures all things, believes all things, doesn't take into an account a wrong suffered, endures hard things, yet still possessing the strength to be kind. When the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, we can display this love to a very hurting, confused and angry world. People are looking for answers not accusations. I am writing a book with the title, We were them before we were us. Remember what you were like when Jesus transformed your life, so treat people with the same kindness you needed.

Let My Eyes Be Your Eyes!
 I was driving in my car with my friend who was seated in the passenger seat. We were trying to cross a busy street to turn left. I was looking left and she was looking right. When the left side was clear, I would look right to see if I could cross, but her head was in the way. She would periodically blurt out, "You can go now." But because I couldn't see to the right, I would hesitate and miss the opportunity. I finally said to her, "Move your head so I can see." She instantly responded, "CINDY, LET MY EYES BE YOUR EYES!" I have never forgotten that ride. God has spoken that to me many times over the years. He wants to instill trust in us to let Him guide us and not depend on our own ability to see.

Summer Outreach Preparation

Here are some simple things that may aid us in our outreach efforts this summer.

Be With Him Before You Be With Them

People that Jesus sends out have spent time with Him to know Him. Jesus is a friend to people who are away from Him (to sinners), and God will give you His heart for His friends. Stay in His presence until your heart beats with His. Develop the art of hearing His voice and let your character be defined by His. He will fashion our hearts to beat with His and the same compassion He has for His people, He will give to us when we meet them. This is not human compassion, it is a true heart of compassion from God's own heart that will cause seekers to respond to God's love.

We can learn to walk in unison with the Holy Spirit and be led by Him. Words of knowledge come, miracles happen, and people in darkness are drawn to true Light.

Different Strokes For Different Folks

There is a compelling factor involved in introducing people to Jesus. In Luke 14:21-23, we see the urgency of the time and the "four kinds of people" we are to compel to come in to eat at the table—the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind. It is important to truly value the person you are communicating with the way Jesus does, and it is most important to "follow Him" to be true fishers of men.

He knows everyone He has made. He knows where they have come from, what their pain is, and how they need to be encountered by God. We are short-sighted and limited in our understanding, not knowing the details of the life we are encountering. God will tell us things about the one standing in front of us when we have taken time to let the love of the Lord soften our own hearts.

When we are free from judgment and criticism and when we have clean hands and pure hearts, we see God. In my experience, I have been surprised to watch God reach someone in the most unusual ways. The obvious need is often not the way God wants to reach them. Sometimes it's a healing of the heart that needs to be addressed first before the physical healing.

So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind." And the servant said, "Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room." Then the master said to the servant, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (Luke 14:21-23)

Four Distinct People Groups

These are categorized metaphorically, in a nutshell:

The Poor

Jesus said the poor would be with us always. Proverbs 19:17 says that if we give to the poor, we lend to the Lord and He will repay us. Giving to the poor is an instant reward. God blesses this kind of outreach, and the poor benefit by the generosity and kindness they feel from these kinds of outreaches. But that is only one category.

The Maimed

I like this wording in the NKJV. When we think of the maimed, these are people who are unrecognizable, don't know who they are, are alone, and don't know who you are. Meaning that their trust bridges are all blown up and they have no where to cross over. They have been hurt and abused much of their lives and usually medicate to treat their pain. It is my experience that they need a lasting relationship with someone who feels to befriend them so a trust bridge can be formed. Once trust is earned, their hearts are open to hear truth and embrace new life in Jesus.

The Lame

I think of these as the ones whose current spiritual understanding (how they are walking) cannot support them and there is no strength in their walk. Meaning "other gods" and "false christs" that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24 have been the focus for them. While everyone needs a personal encounter with God, this category of people seem to be the most impacted by "feeling" God touch them, and they will never forget it. This personal touch bypasses their minds.

This could be the ones talked about in Colossians 2:8, Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

The Blind

The blind wander aimlessly. This category is who Paul talked about in 2 Corinthians 4:4, The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

The blind are visionless and are dying without one. They are on a spiritual search and need a future and a hope. I often think of young people who take their lives because they feel they have no destiny or future. Prophetic words from God are essential for them. Their ears are open to hear and they need a reason to live.

This may help us to understand that not everyone will be reached in the same way. God has a "special appointment" for everyone He is drawing.

Don't Be Afraid to Heal the Sick and Work a Miracle

God is doing awesome things, displaying His power, love and glory. At our Burning Man outreach last August, visitors at our theme camp saw shafts of light and felt the "electric" power of the Holy Spirit. Miracles were taking place as God was introducing Himself to the ones He made.

Just recently, my daughter and I were at a restaurant. She returned to the table from washing her hands, when she reported to me that a young girl was sitting on the floor in the women's bathroom with sharp pains in her chest. I got up from the table and went into the bathroom and introduced myself. It was Prom Night and her friend was standing with her. I asked to pray for God to touch her. She agreed and instantly she felt the pain leave her body. Her eyes lit up and she looked at her friend. Both of their mouths dropped open and tears rolled down their faces as God totally healed her body. They made remarks like, "This is a miracle" and "I can't believe this." I told them it was God, and Jesus wanted them to know how much He loves them. They hugged me and continued in "awe" of the miracle power of God.

Outreaches reignite our love for God and His love for us. I have never returned from an outreach that I am not radically changed from. I not only experience God's love reaching out to someone who is shaken to the core to finally find hope, healing and a new beginning; but I get to feel His love in a deep way again for myself. People are desperate to find truth. God is "retooling" us for this harvest. It is exciting. Be available to God and enjoy the life-changing benefits of being "DOERS OF THE WORD."

Love ya, Bless ya, and May God Blast ya!

For this Harvest,

Cindy McGill
Hope for the Harvest
Email: dreaminslc@hotmail.com



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