Snow daze

The prognosticators claimed 10 inches of snow where coming our way. So far it seems that we've gotten around 4 inches of snow. Later, it began to rain. The rain turned our trees into a crystalline wonderland. The white pines and spruces boughs are drooping to the ground, making them look like tall, wet cats.

My friend, Dan Edelen, has a blog that is becoming very popular. Check out his blog Cerulean Sanctum. You'll find many articles on thought provoking subjects. Check it out! And speaking of Dan Edelen, if that guy ever publishes a book, you've got to get it. His writing is extremely good, and I'm speaking from the point of view of one who has been granted the honor of reading several of his stories pre-publication. I really hope Dan is able to publish his books soon. His writing is as good as anything John Grisham, or Michael Crichton has written. He rocks!

Another "Encuentro" completed, several folks freed from spiritual oppression. Weekend spiritual encounters, or retreats, are an integral part of the cell church experience, and one that I really enjoy. I've now participated in 6 encounters in all. I'm a member of La Viña, a Spanish-speaking Vineyard church plant in Cincinnati, Ohio. We're a G-12 based cell church, unlike the "Mother Ship", Vineyard Community Church, which is small group-based. What's the difference? Well, it all comes down to having a program that is tested and proven, and sticking to it, or... not. That said, who's got the one that REALLY works? Are you measuring numbers of individuals who stay in the church for an extended period? Sunday attendance? Demons cast out? Or what?

For us, we looked at who has had the most impact on their society, the largest sustained, single congregation, the best training. That would have to be either David Yongi Cho of Korea, or Cesar Castillano of Columbia. We settled on Cesar Castillano's model of G-12, perhaps because of the Hispanic culture involved, and that our pastor visited that church a few years ago in Bogota. At that time, the Bogota church had somewhere in the neighborhood of 200,000 members. That's quite a few individuals. Today she has something like 400,000 members. The International Charismatic Mission, as it is called in English, has had a profound effect on it's country, Columbia, which is recognized as the most violent country in the world. ICM has brought healing and wholeness to a huge number of people, and it has brought hope in a hopeless situation.

Having read many books by individuals involved in cell churches around the world, it seems that churches that focus on multiplying cells almost automatically have healthier cells than not, perhaps due to the fact that they expend lots of energy and resources in ongoing training and mentoring. Check out Joel Comisky's book, "How to be a Great Cell Group Coach", for more on that subject.

Dinner time is upon me now, it's finally time to chow.

Adios to all,

Panchito

Book Review: When Heaven Invades Earth, by Bill Johnson

Wow! That pretty well sums it up. What a great book. This guy has put into words, and actions, many of the things that I have been struggling with and toward for the past 26 years. Imagine a world where the actions that Jesus took and brought about were the standard for any believer in Jesus as Lord, Savior, and God. Imagine a world where the Holy Spirit headed up an invasion force of untold millions who shamelessly and with abandon command the infirm to be healed, cast out demons left and right, give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, actually move mountains, route armies with a word, and do greater works than these!

Now quite imagining with the imagination of one who "knows" that doesn't happen today, and believe the words of Jesus as found in the Gospels. Not to do so is only one thing, SIN! Ok, it's more than one thing, it's also a doctrine of demons. How do we put up with such obvious lies? Did Jesus lie to the world when he said in John 14:12 that, "he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."? You decide. But if He was just talking crap, what the hell are we doing wasting our time going to church all the time? Better yet, what do I do with all the miriad encounters that I personally have had with the Holy Spirit, with the visions of Jesus that I had as a young man, with the obviously real casting out of demons, with visitations of angels my children and others have had, with the miracles of gold dust falling out of nowhere all over everyone in certain locations around the globe, of gems appearing out of nowhere? Am I halucinating? Not a chance!

Jesus wasn't talking out His *ss when he said all these words so long ago. ALL the works of Jesus have been going on all along, they just haven't been allowed to be talked about by Big Media, or most governments, not to mention Big Church. That's right, if I experienced a big miracle and went to several mainline denominational churches declaring the event to them, I WOULD be met with scorn, if not physically thrown out. They would certainly, at least, say that it was of the devil.

The thought (doctrine) that all of that ceased with the death of the apostles is not only entirely without biblical evidence, it's obviously a demonic doctrine, as Jesus said nothing of the sort, but rather the opposite. End of story.

Jesus rocks!

Frank J. McAvinchey

Darkisle Gazette

January night, one a.m., and I'm clicking away in the dark again. An insatiable desire, an unstoppable drive, as the words pour out the ends of my fingers, to you. The swaying spruce through the roof-window tells the story, a dark and liquid night.

Prophesies told and hearts now are burning, as they wait for the start of seven years of plenty. As though a voice from of old, these words so familiar, pour hope into cores gone dry. As the rain that is falling, your Spirit sends oil, filling the lamps of our hearts.

Let us shine, Lord, let us shine. Let your Spirit shine for all to see. Lend your glory to your bride here on earth. Make us spotless, clean and white, to bring joy to your heart oh my God. Yaweh, El Shaddai, El Ayona, Adonai.

Cincinnati is yours, my Lord.