High Gear

From what I can tell, there are two types of bloggers; there are those who plan out their thoughts before writing a post and then there are those (like me) who will sit down in front of a computer and just write. You may not know this but about 50% of the posts I write never make it to this page for you to view. Usually this happens when I write angry run-on sentences, sad memoirs, and revolutionary manifestos. I’ll go back to proofread the post and will just sigh and click the “trash” button after realizing that my angry sentences sound childish, my sad memoirs sound like a whiny emo kid, and my manifestos sound unoriginal and mostly redundant.

Ashley and I went to a house where a young family with four kids (a fifth on the way) were making some homemade hot chocolate and ice cream. We got connected to them through some mutual friends and met with them a few weeks ago for the first time at a prayer meeting they host at their place. This second meeting had us sharing stories, swapping laughs, and talking dreams. This, of course, messed up the rest of my week…

We had closed in prayer and I simply asked that God would remind us of why we were here. I wanted to be reminded of his heart for his people in the Pioneer Valley (and in general of course).

It was a pretty simple prayer but as soon as we left that night, I developed an itch in my spirit. I remembered when a saint of whom many of us deeply respect, Mother Teresa, said that her greatest desire was to “deny Jesus nothing” everyday. I told Ash that I was heartbroken because I felt like I had been following Jesus part-time. I found it irritating that I was struggling so much to find an hour a week to get some people together to pray. Seriously?

When did I get to the point where Jesus was barely making it onto my checklist? I wasn’t “denying Jesus nothing”. I was telling him to be patient, telling him to give me a new job, telling him to move, speak, and listen to me.

Then I woke up. Where’s the risk? Where’s the trust? What am I jumping into with both feet?

Moving to Northampton was a huge step in faith for Ash and I. As soon as we moved in, I hit the ground running at work and got into a bad rut when we were hit with a number of obstacles that kept us from connecting with other believers and serving the community in practical ways. I began to feel lethargic as each week passed and we missed more opportunities. Life became a sickening cycle of wake up, work, come home, eat, sleep, repeat. How horrid! What a far cry from meeting together with fellow believers to pray and to serve!

In the back of my mind were the lives of people who had lived lives of simplicity, contemplation, gutter service, and prayer. They were saints and normal people who I deeply respected and desired to imitate (not in an idolatrous way). I had dreams that were under the surface for a while that were beginning to bubble up: Unity in the church. Acts 2 community (meeting, praying, and eating together several times a week). Flying upside down (as G.K. Chesterton says) and living backwards (the life of a Jesus-follower). I was feeling, living, serving, and praying like a person who had nothing better to do than sit around and eat Doritos.

Then, as we left our friends house, it clicked. Something must change. More specifically, there are several things that must change.

1. I must reclaim and submit the dreams for unity in the church, constant prayer, Acts 2 community, intimacy with Christ, and service, to Jesus- for him to grow and guide.
2. I must view and treat my marriage as a mission in and of itself. Serving together is a good goal, but serving one another is even more important and it is honoring to God and is a testimony in itself.
3. I must work towards discovering and living a life where I can dive into abandonment to God’s provision and guidance (physically, mentally, and spiritually).
4. I must fight for my marriage, our mission, and my relationship with Christ (through voluntary submission, study, and intentional intimacy).
5. I must jump into living for God again, asking for boldness, faith, and courage to do things which, to everyone else, might seem a bit odd.

Who knows, I might be writing to you in another week from the same place…but I pray not.

To all my friends, family, critics, and readers: life is too short to suppress the dreams which you have been given. If God has placed something on your heart, if you have a burning desire, then don’t wait. Ask for an unleashing. Pursue it. Seek God. Live the life you were meant to live, not the one you were told you have to.

Just Checking In

Man, what a week. Ash got sick last night after I had been sick for the week or two leading up and now we’re sitting on our couches totally pooped. I’m starting to do some wedding videos on the weekend with a new company called Expression Cinemas which is looking promising. The cool part is that this guy is taking a really edgy cinematic approach to his work and he is a Jesus-follower! The take away point: craigslist isn’t all bad.

I’ve done most of the footwork on completing my new website for Open Eyes Studio, click here to check it out. I’ve got a few photo gigs coming up which is a huge blessing and Ash and I are entering a three-day weekend…fabulous. We’ve needed some downtime and will be connecting with some new friends tomorrow night…we are very excited.

We’re still groping around in the dark trying to figure out our place in Northampton. Right now it seem like “our place” is usually at work, lying around sick, or in bed sleeping…not much going on that is “life-giving” per se. But, “things are looking up” (as my new beer glass from the Berkshire Brewing Company reads). Ash is going to visit the International House of Prayer in Kansas City soon with a group of excellent women…I think it’s going to be an important time of revitalizing prayer, serenity, and reconnection. Please pray for them.

I’ve been itching to get my fingers into some documentary-style work, so I just emailed the Orphan Justice Center to see if they would be interested in partnering together. The idea is to make a documentary following the stories of a few families who have adopted children with special needs…the purpose would be to inspire and spread the word about the need for adoptive families and churches that are open to discussing this clear calling in scripture for those who are able. Who knows if they’ll even get back to me but it was worth a shot…

Sorry for such a dry post. I know that this is the best way to keep many of you in the loop so, as always, thanks for listening. We’ll keep you posted on current events as they occur. Hopefully another one before this long weekend is out!

Happy Fall.

What’s to Come…

I was staring at the blades of the fan. The lamp next to my bedside cast shadows and I couldn’t shift my eyes away from the ceiling as she asked me questions.

“Do you even like it here?”

I focused on the fan. Keeping my eyes fixated on some object somehow allowed my thoughts to run their course without interruption.

Do I even like it here?How do I answer that?Does it even matter if I like it here?

I had asked myself that question before. There were times driving home when I would pull into my parking spot at our apartment and realize that I had been somewhere else in my head for the entire commute, struggling to answer questions that poked fun at the dreaminess of faith under duress.

God, what is going on? Why do I feel like we’re just treading water? I thought that we were supposed to be doing something important here. I don’t even feel like my prayers are reaching you right now. They have a long way to travel from where I am.

Prayers like these accompanied my morning and afternoon drives. I would consider whether I should just kill my doubts or grant them access into my vulnerable soul.

So when Ashley asked me that question, it struck under a chink in my armor, so to speak. My eyes got a little wet and I wanted to melt into someone’s arms. I don’t have all the answers. I can’t make everything work smoothly. We knew it was going to be tough up here but walking in that reality is quite different than expectated. I wish I could snap my fingers and viola!- my job would have normal hours, we would stop being sick, we would have more time to pray, we would have more energy to serve…

Am I foolish to blindly hope that God is leading this? Perhaps. I know a few who would think that. But I like to think that there is something more to be gleaned from this time. My friend said recently that his two teachers lately have been Patience and Endurance. It appears that I’m joining his class.

The irony of the situation is that I have asked God to teach me his ways. From what I can tell from the bible and the life of Jesus, endurance and patience are both clear characteristics of Jesus (and Jesus-followers likewise).

Endurance is a nice idea until we are in the thick of it when we begin to question God, his motives, his faithfulness, his sovereignty, etc. So I suppose that when I ask for endurance, I should prepare myself to be put through trials where endurance and patience are necessary.

Do I like it here? Yeah, mostly.

Do I think everything is perfect and hunky-dory? No.

Do I think things will just get easier? No.

Do I think we can change our attitude? Yes.

Do I think we can fight back against depression and hopelessness and doubt? Absolutely.

Do I think God is in control? You betcha.

So here’s to waking up in the morning and choosing to live under the truth that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. A few months of enduring trials is a small price to pay to try and faithfully follow Jesus and to reach out to anyone and everyone who needs him.

I hope that you, in whatever trials you are (or are going to be) enduring, can reach beyond the dreariness of your situation to claim a truth that will sustain you. My words to you are to remain open, don’t give in to bitterness, and fight doubt with prayer, faith and raw honesty.

When Chaos Wins

I’m sitting in the midst of a war-ravaged zone. An epic struggle has left its mark and this deserted wasteland tells the tale of a lone hero who pushed back against the overwhelming odds to finally bring about a time of peace.

There are dirty socks surrounding the base camp and mounds of clean, mostly wrinkled, clothes. Some reach as high as the window and others span across the entirety of the HQ. Boxes full of books stand without wavering, awaiting their orders. Soon there will be a proper shelf for them…

The kitchen table has been ambushed by paper, classified reports and Cinnamon Oat Squares. The countertops are suffocating under the pressure of extra plates, espresso machines and tortilla chips. The coffee table in the dining room was just recovered after a struggle against the endless armies of cameras and accessories…

Who will win the battle?

This is how I feel today. Again, chaos is closing in. I bet you’ve felt like this before. You have a day off and within no time, your dreams of peace are dashed to pieces as your stare around you at the mess awaiting your attention. I had to cancel a meeting with a friend today. I also will have to postpone reading and other recreation until this is cleaned up. We probably won’t be able to get to the prayer meeting again tonight because we’d have to dig ourselves out to make it there on time. Chaos takes a toll…

To be honest, this has been our fault. We only partially moved in and then hit the ground running before everything was perfectly situated. Now we are seeing the repercussions. We regularly feel hectic, as if our living space is in a constant state of chaos, and it creates a friction that turns into an itch which can turn into irritation and arguing. Not good.

I’m tired of letting chaos win. When it does take the victory, the result is just not pretty. I feel anxious, unable to pray, unable to persevere, unable to experience peace…

I can’t wait to clean…and to beat chaos so I can have my life back.

2010 Solemn Assembly

My good friend and brother Kit just wrote a reflection on the 2010 New England Solemn Assembly and I’m going to take a few minutes to post my thoughts as well for those of you who were unable to make it.

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Ashley and I have as much a sense of direction as a squirrel in front of traffic. We were supposed to be a half hour early to meet my mother and father to drive to Plymouth, MA, but ended up being fifteen minutes late when we pulled in to our meeting place. For those of you who know us, this is not a new routine.

Coffees in hand, we drove and wondered aloud what the Assembly was really going to be like. It didn’t offer a program guide like other one-day conferences we’d been to so we were left holding onto the vague idea that we would be gathering with a bunch of believers who were longing for a living and breathing church and nation. Good enough.

We pulled in to the town of Plymouth and followed the crowds of people to the center where the meeting was going to be held. I yelled out the window when I recognized Kit’s orange hat and they saved us a seat while we passed by people carrying Shofars. Plymouth was as quaint as other New England sea towns, speckled with some marinas and seafood restaurants.

There was a buzz about the room as the Assembly was called to order with some worship and prayer. It was clear that there was a range of denominations, geographic locations and ethnicities represented. Within a few minutes the shofar were being blown and speakers came up to deliver passionate speeches and words urging us to call our church and our nation back to God in a personal, tangible, prayerful and global way.

I agree with Kit’s post that there was one point in particular which stood out from the rest. A First Nations man was invited up to speak. He began rather softly and in the heart of the “National Day of Repentance” he spoke come clear and poignant words. He asked forgiveness from us for harboring anger and resentment at what our forefathers had done to the First Nations people hundreds of years ago. He asked forgiveness for calling Christianity “White-man’s religion” and then professed that it is all man’s religion and he stood with us saying that Jesus is Lord and Savior. How powerful it was to see a First Nations man, a Mohawk, asking forgiveness from us! We were all blown away. He spoke a while longer and towards the end an exchange of gifts was made between him and another man signifying friendship, peace and forgiveness. It was one of the most powerful things I have ever witnessed.

The Assembly continued on until four in the afternoon. Four hours of worship, prayer, prophecy and gathering left us hungry so we walked past the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock (which Kit enjoyed reminding everything that this was not the actual Plymouth Rock or Mayflower) to enjoy a seafood dinner while mulling over the day.

I left encouraged. There were things which I agreed with and things which I didn’t, but the overarching message for me was that there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of churches and believers in New England (and across the globe) who believe that it is time to breath again, to live, to return to our God and to claim this time and place as his.

Voluntary Addiction

Your day does not set out to encourage you.

Did you know that?

This life, this world and the events that keep you busy minute to minute are not here to strengthen you or to advocate for your well-being. The opposite is true. We are bombarded with colorful and loud advertisements convincing us that we need some new medication, food or toy. When we wake to our world, our world is dictating our needs to us; it tells us how we can find “fulfillment”.

When we wait for “chance” or “life” to make us feel better or lead us into a newfound state of bliss, we are doing two things:

1. we are admitting that God, as our Father, is not able to fulfill our needs and desires
2. we are allowing the lies of a world bent on immediacy and lust to drive and distort our senses

When I wake up in the morning, I am not depending on my job to make me feel complete. I do not wait for someone to walk into my day to “cheer me up” (though it is always nice). Our fulfillment, I would argue, comes from knowing our place and title as children of God.

We find our encouragement and sustenance in claiming our right as heirs and kids of our Father. We wake to our world and immediately, without hesitation, say that “this day belongs to the Lord” who, in his love, has plans to cherish and watch over us.

Do you view yourself as affected by the world? Don’t.

God is able to fulfill your needs, he is your Dad after all. Don’t let yourself pursue the lies that you “need” more and that the world is where you will find your remedy…

Let tomorrow be a morning where you wake and find a whole heart rather than a heart with holes. Know that God does want to bless you and that the world merely wants to exploit you. Seek after God, not man-made remedies.

Church is Simple

When the alarm chimes on my cell phone at four in the morning I peel my eyes open and argue in my mind for the first five minutes of my day with whether or not I should quit work. Of course, my mind of reason rolls me out of bed and into a shower where the sleep washes off. I fumble in the dark looking for clean undershirts and car keys before walking out the door and into the dark of the early morning hours. This all sounds bearable until a month has gone by and I find myself coming home, eyes glazed over, frustrated and uninspired.

I do my best to smile on my way to work saying “it’s not that bad” while offering up a weary morning prayer. Sometimes the sun is rising and I let the glow warm my face while the clouds change colors. Inevitably I end up thinking “doesn’t matter how pretty it is, I’d rather be sleeping.”

You are probably wondering where I am going with this. The initial point is that the first few weeks here in the valley have proven to be a treacherous walk, like running in front of a row of golfers at a driving range zipping line drives at your body; you will get hit.

But the weeks of early mornings, broken cars and stressful situations have made the simple and pleasant moments that much more extraordinary.

Monday night was such a moment:

Ashley and I had contacted a family who we had heard about a while ago. We had heard that they, amidst attempts and desires to move elsewhere, had been called to remain in the Valley to do kingdom work here. Their story reminded us of where we had come from and after a few emails Ashley and I pulled in to their current residence.

We weren’t really sure what to expect. We knew that these people had a heart for the Valley and for prayer, but we had to drop by their Monday night prayer meeting to really find out.

Sure enough, within minutes we were cradling chai tea and talking about our stories. We met a handful of other people who were like minded and before long we were reading, meditating and praying aloud.

The time of prayer was moving, energetic and emotional, leading us into petitions for New England, the local colleges, sex trafficking, our Church and the people of the area.

After a few weeks of conversations and near exasperation, we were ready for some time spent with people who desired to call out loud, from the depths of their hearts, to God. The passion for an outpouring of grace, mercy and justice was tangible. The time spent at the house of these prayers was powerful, uplifting and exciting, as it usually is when the body is brought together! It felt like church and that felt good.

I encourage you, if you are able, to meet once a week with some fellow Jesus followers to pray. Your community is in dire need of people who long after God’s heart. If you want, you can come to our house on Thursday night (probably Fridays following this week) and spend some time praying here.

There is an important lesson to take away from this- church is simple. It doesn’t have to be hard. I’ve known a lot of churches who let values like excellence and organization become stumbling blocks. Here’s a thought- hearts united in prayer and love is an excellent thing. And another- letting the spirit lead in prayer allows freedom for God to speak.

From what I have seen, church is just too hard sometimes. It becomes inaccessible and stubborn. People begin to feel stifled and frustrated. The spirit is put in a holding cell, on a short leash for brief appearances. Procedures and strategies are put into place before people even begin to mingle and develop friendships and life-sustaining bonds. Priorities need to be reordered.

Try something new. Just meet together to meet with God. Just cry out. Just be. Then see what happens. Let’s keep it simple.

On Prayer

Don’t get tired of this topic just yet, we have a ways to go and this is only the beginning.

I feel it necessary to continue my thoughts on prayer, in general and in specific to our calling in Northampton, in a public manner for you to read and to discuss.

Week by week, day by day and hour by hour, Ashley and I are coming face to face with the reality that, in our lives at the present time, God is calling us to persistent prayer here in the Valley. In the same moment, there is a rush of excitement and understanding that prayer is a vital practice, often underplayed, that unleashes an intense intimacy with God’s heart; a key to unlocking unity and strength in the church.

Of course, I am giving full attention to the reality that even an idea or longing coming from God can be twisted into a legalistic or skewed theology. We have seen communities suffer from focusing in on a practice or particular point so intensely that all else seems to fall of the wayside. With God’s help, may none of that happen here.

With that being said, our observation still stands and we hold the belief that consistent prayer is vital for the church (global and local). So, with this impression on our hearts, we have been responding to the best of our abilities in our current situation by moving ahead to hold weekly meetings in our own living room.

I used to have grandiose vision and imagination that would steer me away from the proper stepping-stones used by God to keep us from following our own hearts which often are “deceitful”. At the present time, it is safe to say that a weekly meeting is far from a grandiose vision but is similar to a trickling stream which, if it feeds into larger and larger streams, building momentum and force, becomes a violent and unstoppable movement.

Why, exactly, is prayer so powerful? And what is it that has led us to this conclusion?

First and foremost, prayer is something regularly practiced in Jesus’ life. If he prayed to his father, regularly and without ceasing, then shouldn’t we? Do we think that we are somehow in a better place than Jesus where we are less dependant on God to walk through this life?

Secondly, it is expected. Jesus taught his followers how to pray and when they did, during his time here and thereafter, people would receive sight and be restored to wholeness. Praying unleashes God’s desire to heal others. We are agents who disseminate his grace and mercy. He doesn’e need us for it but he certainly likes to use us to bless others.

Thirdly, one cannot be expected to have a relationship without two-way conversation. Imagine for a moment that Jesus was in full bodily form and regularly meets you for coffee at a local shop. How weird would it be if you only spoke to him everyone in a while, and most of the time, used your words to complain? It doesn’t sound like that would foster a healthy relationship. The lack of listening is especially an important factor when considering the dynamics of our relationship with Jesus because it would be just as odd to only have a relationship where only one individual spoke while the other sat without utterance…particularly when the silent one holds more wisdom (infinite!).

Fourthly, and in a similar way to our last observation, prayer leads to deep intimacy where we can experience change. When you draw near to God’s heart for you or for his people, it is difficult to walk away unchanged. When you willingly take time to speak and listen, you are placing yourself in a vulnerable position where your heart, in whatever its state may be, can be revealed in its true condition. This is for our benefit because vulnerability leads to healing and wholeness and, oddly enough, strength in faith.

Fifth, though not the last point by a longshot, prayer unites. There is nothing quite like a church or group that prays together. The early church had regular prayer (along with other important practices, ie: fasting, fellowship, etc.). Prayer allows us to focus on God- far away from our temporary concerns and emotions. It keeps us level-headed and allows God to direct our passions and fire. It brings people around the throne and around a common spectacle, namely, Jesus and his heart. Time is set aside to ask for guidance and protection, two things which are absolutely vital for any group, family or church. Prayer unites in a unique way and in a necessary way.

I expect that I will put up further reflections and thoughts on prayer but for now I hope this suffices as a basic introduction to our belief in the power and importance of this ancient practice. Thanks for listening, let us know your thoughts.

The Intentionality of Living

Living in the Pioneer Valley requires tremendous intentionality. One cannot simply move to this area and expect to mingle with the people and pursue Christ without tangible pushback. Therefore, to hold ground and to move forward, we must be extremely persistent and intentional. Intentional about what? Everything.

We have had to be intentional about visiting other churches and going to events. It would be unwise (and ineffective) for Ashley and I to pray for unity without intentionally choosing to create it.

We have had to be intentional about reaching out to meet other Christians in the area. The church in this area will not experience revival without a solid foundation of Christians who offer up a spirit-led cry pleading for God to breathe into his Bride.

We have had to be intentional about our marriage. If we do not pay attention to the ways in which our enemy seeks to drive a wedge into our relationship, we could find ourselves looking at a stranger sleeping in bed next to us. The family is a source of power and blessing in God’s kingdom, Satan will seek to destroy it.

We have had to be intentional about spending time with Jesus collectively and in solitude. Personally, I have made my morning drive to work (often before 5 or 6 a.m.) a time of prayer. That is my base and beginning for a day seeking Christ first. If time allows, I spend more time in prayer throughout the day and in the evening. At night, Ashley and I make sure that we pray and read together- sometimes tuning in to some sermons from faithful men and women who have posted their messages online.

We have had to be intentional about getting rest and being healthy physically. It is really easy to get tired around here (and in other mission fields specific to your calling) because there’s so much to do. We could easily work all day, meet people at night, go out to dinner and for a coffee or beer, come back home, read, watch TV, email, etc. Simply put, we need to intentionally prioritize our time. Without prioritizing, important things get left out, our bodies suffer from lack of sleep and our spirits become weary. Often Ashley and I will find ourselves falling asleep before 10 p.m. At first it felt lame since we’re still in our 20′s, but we know from experience that it is better to miss that last hour or two at night to gain a full rested day.

We eat better. Why? Because it makes us feel better. Also, because it is part of being a faithful steward; both of our bodies and of our resources. A healthy body helps us in leading a balanced and healthy life. It also lends itself to helping support local agriculture and preventing to never-ending spiral of global food monopolies creating cheap hormone-pumped food.

Living in the Pioneer Valley requires intentionality but so does living in any field where God has you. We must be intentional with our time, relationships and efforts. The church needs it. Your family needs it.

On a more personal note, for those of you who are keeping up with the happenings in our time here in Northampton, there have been some memorable moments in the past few days.

• Last Thursday a handful of us met in our apartment for the first to time kick off the fast leading up to the Solemn Assembly at the end of the month. It was a great time with some great conversation and prayer. We expect to continue meeting weekly for prayer and fellowship but have not yet decided on a day. Stay posted on that.
• We have received continual confirmation that prayer, by and large, is what we are supposed to be doing right now (hence the weekly meeting). We have heard from several people and in our own times of searching that prayer is the foundational element that will begin the process of revival in this city.
• Ashley and her friend were hanging around town the other day when they stopped to talk with a homeless woman. They ended up buying her some lunch but as they were about to leave, Ashley asked if they could pray for her (her name is Judy). Without missing a beat, Judy looked up and said, “Yes. You can. You can pray that would be angels.” So we did. We have heard from others about asking for angels and have been following that leading to see where it is going.
• We went to a church last night (Saturday night) and experienced some good music and met a handful of people…this was one of the events where we received confirmation that indeed, the Pioneer Valley is a war zone, and prayer and angels are needed.
• We went to another church this morning to get a sense of the Christian culture in this area and found a community of people who desire Christ and are close-knit but will probably soon enter into a time where God shows up in some big ways.
• We heard a pastor from India give a testimony and found it interesting that the only real requirements for pastors out there are some basic theological education, a bike and a drum. The bike is for transportation and a drum is to beat so that people know it’s time for “church” where they come to meet under a lantern hung from a tree. What if all we needed to start churches out here was a bike, a drum, and a simple message of grace?
• We watched Food, Inc. and learned a lot about our food and where it comes from…we think you should watch it too. How we live and eat does not escape the command to live as faithful stewards, so look into it.

Thank you for checking in and following our blog. There has been a lot going on and we always appreciate you prayer and support. As always, if we can pray for you please let us know. To learn more about what we are doing or to come to our weekly prayer meeting, shoot us an email. oldhamn@gmail.com

( a picture of Emily and I warming up the pipes before meeting on Thursday evening)

Coming Up This Week

It’s 8:30 am and now I consider this “sleeping in” as I sit and write to you from the Noho Starbucks, pretty quiet in between the morning rush and the late sleepers. Works starts in about an hour and a half promising long trip to some school over three hours away.

I wanted to share a passage with you that I came across while I was reading in Jeremiah the other day. I think it rings true to God’s heart for this town and this time:

Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. ⁷ I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. ⁸ I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. ⁹ Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.

Thursday, Ashley and I are opening our doors to a small group of friends, family and anyone else who wants to come over for a time of hanging out and prayer. It is the beginning of a 10 day fast for many in New England as we approach a meeting called the “Solemn Assembly” at the end of the month (the meeting is essentially a bunch of Christian leaders, churches and prayers gathering to pray and worship and intercede for an “awakening” in New England). Since fasting is better practiced in community, we will be having this time to learn a little bit about fasting and to “kick off” the fast as a small group.

If you are interested in joining the fast or learning about the Solemn Assembly, feel free to email me. If you want to come by our apartment, send me another email and I will give you our address , etc. We do hope that you will consider praying for New England over the next ten days (Sept. 9-19th) if you do not want to fast or are unable to. This area needs your support and prayer, never discount what one more prayer will add to the numbers of us already committing to prayer in this time.