Saturday, September 5, 2009

Speak, Spirit...

Wow...what a week...so much to tell you all...but I have 35 Bibles to sign (we're giving one to each of the candidates for ordination in the morning), and we're leaving right after the service (remember there is a seven hour difference between home and here) and I haven't even started packing yet...

So I'll just say this...today wasn't technically a ministering day, but it may have been the most profound so far on this trip...I'll tell you all about it when I get back to CITN...

I don't use the 1611 KJV very much, but there's a phrase in that translation that just keeps rolling around in my spirit tonight, and it really summarizes this whole week for me: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly..." (1 Timothy 4:1)...

Don't know how to explain exactly why I can't let go of that phrase...don't know why I'm drawn tonight to the Elizabethan English word "expressly"...but I know that that's how the Spirit is speaking here in Uganda, and there at home...

I also don't know what my computer situation will be for the next 2 days of traveling, so this may be the last post until I am on Georgia soil...

If my phone gets back in the zone, I'll tweet as much as I can...

In the meantime, go ahead and post any comments you may have...I can put them through on my Blackberry at certain points...

I'm hoping we can stream the Sunday service from the Entebbe airport, and if we can, I hope to see a full house ITB @ CITN...

PEACE...

8 comments:

Erik said...

Hello Everyone,

It is late Saturday night here. Tomorrow, we have the service at Good Shepherd in the Banda district of Kampala (you can see a map on the internet, check it out, even after the fact, your connection and visualization will impact Sunday morning, even if after the fact, it will be retroactive and with us at the time we are there). Bishop will be ordaining 30+ Pastors, and I cannot wait for the Praise & Worship. They have an adult group, a children’s group, and a teenage group that will take part. There will also be traditional, tribal dances and music praising God.

Today, Saturday, we went to a Ugandan history museum, then to a preservation of Ugandan kings’ ancestoral quarters. At some point, Bishop will talk more on that, but as he put in the post, today , again ‘Now The Spirit Speaketh Expressly ‘ . A quick point, is the king that founded this spot for the royal family in the 1880’s was all about reconciliation and focusing on God with religious freedom, encouraging all people to worship in the manner best for them, knowing God cannot be boxed in or limited.

After that we had lunch and shopping at a local center for arts and crafts of products produced by locals. I got another really cool shirt, nothing like I have seen before. Wore it tonight with compliments from some Pastors from Good Shepherd who came to the hotel briefly to get things ready for tomorrow. It is authentic material and design and well crafted. Yay for me twice now on indigenous clothing selections. :).


As Bishop posted, we were at the children’s home in Kamuli yesterday. The visualization – The main highway is now mostly paved and most potholes repaired. Still, a long, bumpy ride. The children’s home is then about an 8 mile trip off the main highway on a one lane, winding and potholed dirt road through the Serengeti like plains/jungle. Most of the buildings are earthen huts with thatched roofs. The buildings at the children’s home are cement or brick. Everything kept in order and clean. They were also building new outhouses and a basketball court in addition to what Bishop mentioned.

Erik said...

cont. Part 2 , last ---

These kids are really smart, and desire education. They were truly appreciative of the bookbags with the materials inside. I hung out off to the side, helping some of the kids put the adjustable straps through that thingamajig that adjusts them. Some of them were quite happy seeing they could do it faster than me :(. I let them get done first on purpose of course, like I do not know how to work the thingamajig, really, like anyone actually believed that . Although I was pretty convincing in getting the straps in the wrong spot.:).

After we got that part done, I spoke with several of them, most of the kids I Spoke to were 10-13. They are really smart and motivated. The girls I spoke had favorite subjects of Biology, Chemistry, and Agricultural Science. The boys were mostly into Mathematics and Geography.

When they asked me which sports I liked, I said American Football (pretty much got blank stares on that one – I thought what, they do not know the maize & blue Wolverines !??!!! – shocking) – However, at least no one had a Buckeyes T shirt on -- Thank God. (Sorry SOZ, my growth is not yet complete, I keep repeating- Buckeyes are people too -) They wanted to teach me cricket, apparently they are quite good, both girls and boys.

Then some of them started giggling, I asked them what gives? After a little bit of around the bush, they wanted to touch my hair. Blond men with long hair seem to be unusual here, how does that happen? Clearly some help is needed.

My hair was in a ponytail since it was so hot and jungle, etc. I took out the ponytail and they laughed with joy, as they messed it all up, and made it cover my face, and touched it. They were quite amused. After awhile, it was time to go and as Bishop stated, it was hard. The joy on their faces, in an environment and life issues most of us would find crushing, there they are, motivated, educated, happy & playful. The Kingdom is experienced by children easily. Heaven does not seem best suited for the adult mindset, the best approach to God seems to be like children do - trusting, expectant, and appreciative.

I will do a summary of the services, including tomorrow’s of what transpired in the last few days , and yes, I have tried to type about the last few days of services, but it does not make sense when I look at it, I think I am still intoxicated by The Spirit regarding those days.

Mystic, .. the precipice… you are so right !! Best part about this precipice w CITN either in Conyers, Philippines, or Uganda , ) is that nothing falls down after you step off of it. :).

More to come…

PattiL007 said...

Isn't it amazing?! Though one foot seems to hover somewhere, it is actually on the MOST SOLID FOUNDATION! NOW FAITH IS...the thing that we can step into with confidence because then we will be WALKING IN FAITH and ONLY FAITH!

I can't seem to sit still lately! GOD IS SO GOOD and yes, thank you, Bishop...SO REAL! HE's MORE REAL than the earth below me, the sky above me, or the floor on which I stand! I KNOW now how and why Enoch just walked out of this dimension and into the next...and why Elijah left in a flaming chariot (Elijah always was more dramatic...lol) because, to them, it was more real than this one. That is what we are doing! We are to realize that the Spirit realm is the REAL one...and to bring it into everyone's sight!

Hallelujah! Excuse me...I have to go shout now! Have a FABULOUS day, Team U-2! We will see you back in the ATL soon! I look forward to hearing ALL about it! PTL!

Northern Light said...

I couldn't fall asleep, even after a friend fell asleep while we were texting (imagine such a thing)...so I came to the computer to see IF anyone had posted anything new UGANDA~! Thank you, again, Erik. You & Bishop have tag teamed very well, intentionally or not.

Now, the kids playing with your hair made me smile........yes, that would be something for them to see! ha

You really did well with the shirts and the pot for cooking....extra delights for memories.

I can't wait to hear the stories told.

Bishop, your leading and ministering is such a blessing to those whom you're leaving behind in their country, as you leave, but more still to those who travel back to Conyers with you. The experience, totally a super-natural one, is one they may never have been a part of, had it not been for you, who hear HIS call, who discerns WHAT should be done, and DOES IT.

It's an honor to know you and be a part of CITN, even from my vantage point.

Peace,
Northern Light

Son of Zadok said...

Psalm 22 - NIV

For the director of music. To the tune of "The Doe of the Morning."

A psalm of David.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel.

In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.

They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.

All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

"He trusts in the LORD;
let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him."

Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you
even at my mother's breast.

From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God.

Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

Roaring lions tearing their prey
open their mouths wide against me.

I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.

Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.

I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.

They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.

But you, O LORD, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

Deliver my life from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.

Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the congregation I will praise you.

You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.

From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.

The poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,

for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.

Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.

They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
for he has done it.

Son of Zadok said...

I took out the ponytail and they laughed with joy, as they messed it all up, and made it cover my face, and touched it. They were quite amused.

Sounds like something Jesus himself would experience, bless the Lord.

The Kingdom is experienced by children easily. Heaven does not seem best suited for the adult mindset, the best approach to God seems to be like children do - trusting, expectant, and appreciative.

There is something big in that right there, I'm tellin' ya.

Well - Strong- Finished

Trusting - Expectant - Appreciative

Erik, your posts have been wonderful, thank you. As far as Michigan goes, His grace is sufficient for you.

Miss you all. Come back and share with us all. Wednesday as full as Sunday. And if anyone doesn't know who's reading this, Wednesday is always so fantastic. Wednesday is like the underground club, don't miss it! The baskets begin to burst. Here it comes. Get ready.

Mystic,

We are to realize that the Spirit realm is the REAL one...and to bring it into everyone's sight!

You are flat off the wall on here lately. Thank you! Love hearing some good news and your getting a hold of some.

karl said...

Interesting Bishop that you mentioned the song "You said", and the part that says ,"Your light, as it rises on us."...just 5 minutes ago I asked the Lord to show me something before going to church, and this is what I read...

Isaiah 60:1-
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you...

Today I speak Isaiah 60:1-5 over CITN and CATHERDRAL.
...V.3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your radiance.

...and speaking of expressly...gotta run! Love.

The King's Cup said...

Bishop, What a beautiful thing our God is doing in your life - In the Church (His people). The sweetness of His Spirit is so touchable and tangible even in the cyber congregation. What a priviledge to experience our Father's Heart among His People! We had a gracious Father who answers prayer!

Blessings to you and a safe trip home! SHALOM!