Last night we had a real bummer of a night, we met to see what the Festival of Fools was all about in Cornmarket. It did do exactly "what it said on the tin."
Praying for the city was difficult when all these people wanted to do was follow a bunch of strange people who 'rehearsed it in 6 hours'according to one onlooker. We needed to tell the city that Jesus Loved them, and yet because the church has run away a bunch of fools played the pipe and the people followed.
We returned to the weeprayerroomthingattic for coffee and more prayer but it was still like praying through toffee.
I heard noises outside and went to investigate, kids ran off when I got out the door. Nigel caught up with me and we found that a car window had been broken in the locked car park.
We started praying and were about to go round the block when a gang of young guys appeared. They were shouting, aggressive and confrontational, we went back indoors just as bottles were thrown at the door. We heard some banging and then Angie came down and said "Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world".
I went out and the rear window of Ruby's car was shattered and the gang took flight.
I went after them and all I could say was "Guys Jesus loves you!". One guy swaggered back towards me squareing up to attack and I had to repeat what I said "Jesus loves you!" He physically withered, he didn't know what to do and walked away. Another one asked was I a Christian and then they all walked away.
Then the clear up, shattered glass all over the cars and street. Sam's car was the one in the carpark and they had climbed into it and tried to steal his cd player.
Nigel prayed that they would continue to hear those words ringing in their minds as they went about their lives. Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Sorry for not going out sooner, sorry for not being a witness on the streets, what is it going to take?
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord, only he who has clean hands and a pure heart and does not lift up his eyes to an idol.
28 April 2006
a wee testimony thing
Hi
While I was elbow deep in dishes, staying at Alistair and Caroline's in Finaghy during SummerMadness, God spoke to Angie and I. That was July 2004. Some months later after discerning that it was, in fact, God we put our house on the market.
After a long time ('the first million years are the worst'), well in March 2005 I sensed that God was saying something about the end of the Hebrew month Nisan. I, really to be honest, didn't press in to hear God clearly on this and I wasn't at liberty to share this with everyone but Angie.
We changed estate agents, we tidied like crazy when people came to view...
Then in early 2006 Angie and I prayed about the timing of the house sale. I did sense that it would be sold by the end of Nisan 2006. God allowed me to share publicly that the house would be sold by the end of the month (the Hebrew month overlaps in March and April most years.
On the 23rd April the Pastor and elders of Cornerstone Community Church prayed for us, sent us out and released to minister in Belfast.
On Monday 24th the estate agent rang to ask could we let a couple view the house at 6pm. They came and viewed.
Tuesday: the estate agent brought us the couple's offer, below the asking price...We prayed about it and sensed that the asking price was a fair price, so on...
Wednesday: the agent heard us and put it to the couple, they agreed and offered the asking price. But we sensed that we needed to wait on God until 430pm Friday, I wondered about Friday and when I did a websearch found that Friday the 28th April was in fact the 30th Nisan. The last day of Nisan!
Thursday: we waited even though the agent was getting edgy.
Friday: we waited through anxious phone calls from the agent and finally eased his misery and accepted the asking price offer.
The house is SOLD. Sold before sunset on the 30th Nisan. Hallelujah Praise His Holy Name. The zeal (passion) of the Lord God has accomplished this.
Mark
While I was elbow deep in dishes, staying at Alistair and Caroline's in Finaghy during SummerMadness, God spoke to Angie and I. That was July 2004. Some months later after discerning that it was, in fact, God we put our house on the market.
After a long time ('the first million years are the worst'), well in March 2005 I sensed that God was saying something about the end of the Hebrew month Nisan. I, really to be honest, didn't press in to hear God clearly on this and I wasn't at liberty to share this with everyone but Angie.
We changed estate agents, we tidied like crazy when people came to view...
Then in early 2006 Angie and I prayed about the timing of the house sale. I did sense that it would be sold by the end of Nisan 2006. God allowed me to share publicly that the house would be sold by the end of the month (the Hebrew month overlaps in March and April most years.
On the 23rd April the Pastor and elders of Cornerstone Community Church prayed for us, sent us out and released to minister in Belfast.
On Monday 24th the estate agent rang to ask could we let a couple view the house at 6pm. They came and viewed.
Tuesday: the estate agent brought us the couple's offer, below the asking price...We prayed about it and sensed that the asking price was a fair price, so on...
Wednesday: the agent heard us and put it to the couple, they agreed and offered the asking price. But we sensed that we needed to wait on God until 430pm Friday, I wondered about Friday and when I did a websearch found that Friday the 28th April was in fact the 30th Nisan. The last day of Nisan!
Thursday: we waited even though the agent was getting edgy.
Friday: we waited through anxious phone calls from the agent and finally eased his misery and accepted the asking price offer.
The house is SOLD. Sold before sunset on the 30th Nisan. Hallelujah Praise His Holy Name. The zeal (passion) of the Lord God has accomplished this.
Mark
04 April 2006
Chocolate Anyone?
John 6:35 (New International Version - UK)Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
Easter is quickly approaching and those chocolate eggs are getting increasingly closer. Isn't it so good that Jesus described Himself as the Bread of Life rather than the Chocolate of life. We would have missed out on so much...Chocolate disappears so quickly and doesn't have a high GI quotient whereas bread does...and Jesus bread lasts and lasts to eternal life.
Isn't it great that we can talk to Jesus and that He talks to us, sustaining us and building us up for the fight that lies ahead.
Keep praying and don't forget the Methodist Prayer room needs you
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
Easter is quickly approaching and those chocolate eggs are getting increasingly closer. Isn't it so good that Jesus described Himself as the Bread of Life rather than the Chocolate of life. We would have missed out on so much...Chocolate disappears so quickly and doesn't have a high GI quotient whereas bread does...and Jesus bread lasts and lasts to eternal life.
Isn't it great that we can talk to Jesus and that He talks to us, sustaining us and building us up for the fight that lies ahead.
Keep praying and don't forget the Methodist Prayer room needs you
13 March 2006
St. Patrick's 24/3prayer
Hi
From 8pm Thursday 16th March a new prayer room will be open in May St church's basement. It would be great to see you all there...click here to sign up.
If you want to find out more about the life of Patrick have a look at Richard Treacy's site I recommend the Confession of St Patrick: Pray on St. Patrick's day
See you Thursday, oh if you would like to help set up the prayer room call in.
See ya.
From 8pm Thursday 16th March a new prayer room will be open in May St church's basement. It would be great to see you all there...click here to sign up.
If you want to find out more about the life of Patrick have a look at Richard Treacy's site I recommend the Confession of St Patrick: Pray on St. Patrick's day
See you Thursday, oh if you would like to help set up the prayer room call in.
See ya.
06 March 2006
The wee prayer room thing part 2
And finally, after quite some hassle, the website works!
Check it out at www.theweeprayerroomthing.org - we'll be adding more to the site very soon.
Check it out at www.theweeprayerroomthing.org - we'll be adding more to the site very soon.
03 March 2006
The wee prayer room thing
Well you stick a couple of crazy names in a hat and ask someone to pull one out, you're bound to get a crazy name. But what I'm glad about is "It does exactly what it says on the tin"!
The website is there to facilitate a signup sheet for the St Patrick's weekend 24/3prayer event in May St Presbyterian Church, Belfast. (16th March 8pm to 19th March 10pm -ok so we can't count).
Please sign up for an hour or more and do come visit us.
Programme:
Praise
Worship
Prayer
Outreach
A more detailed programme will follow
22 February 2006
Climbing that hill
About 400AD a young man came to this hill in slavery, that man was Patrick and his calling on God from this hill caused him to escape and return to his home land and from there be discipled and established in his Christian faith and hear the call of God to return to Ireland.
The rest they say is history...
But once again we have a time when Ireland is in deep need, we need to cry out to God again for our land. We need to pray that God would send out workers into His harvest, for the harvest is plentiful!
There is going to be a 24/3prayer event at May St Church Belfast...come pray for this land, pray for the new Patrick's and Patrica's to be raised up and win this land once more for the Kingdom of our King Jesus
17 January 2006
Born to Blaze!
You have got to read this book!
"Changing of the Guard - The Rising of Generation Xtreme" Carl Wesley Anderson. Buy it here Born to Blaze
A wee snippit - "This is what is coming to the earth. God is fixing to pour out His Spirit in such a way that those who thirst after Him and hunger for His anointing will capture the mantle and go forth signs and wonders under an unlimited anointing. In the Old
Covenant, you could believe for the double portion anointing but in the New Covenant, we have the promise of the fullness of the very Spirit of Christ who said, "greater works than these shall you do" and who ministered in the Spirit in an unlimited anointing, which He then passed on to His church on earth. Are you hungry? Are you looking to catch the mantle as it falls from heaven? Are you ready to fast and pray with your whole heart for an unlimited anointing to fulfil His calling in your life?
Many thousands of you will. You teens will begin to stand up your schoolyards and around your flagpoles under an evangelistic anointing and pray the truth. You twenty-and-thirty-somethings will dare to walk down the most drug-infested corner of your cities, into the darkest corners and vilest holes of human' existence, and pour the anointing of love and compassion that will save many. You mentors will dare to begin to open your eyes and give your time and blood, sweat, and tears to train; release those around you to go farther than you.
You will be bold and pray for gangs and pimps, poor people on the streets, or rich and wealthy people in their posh condos and homes. You will stand on beaches, on street corners, in alleys, of locations, and proclaim the Word of God through words and love in action. You will arise in the middle of an airplane ride, or on a bus, or a subway, and preach the truth as it is in Jesus, and many will be saved. You will love people and pray for their felt needs and open doors of truth for them to know God. You will dare to believe God to show forth the signs of the Kingdom; you will speak with new tongues, lay hands boldly on sick bodies and see them recover, speak to dead bodies and witness their resurrection from the dead. The list will go on. This is your hour! The time to favour you, the set time, has come. “Cry loudly, do not hold back, raise your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins." Is58: 1-2"
"Changing of the Guard - The Rising of Generation Xtreme" Carl Wesley Anderson. Buy it here Born to Blaze
A wee snippit - "This is what is coming to the earth. God is fixing to pour out His Spirit in such a way that those who thirst after Him and hunger for His anointing will capture the mantle and go forth signs and wonders under an unlimited anointing. In the Old
Covenant, you could believe for the double portion anointing but in the New Covenant, we have the promise of the fullness of the very Spirit of Christ who said, "greater works than these shall you do" and who ministered in the Spirit in an unlimited anointing, which He then passed on to His church on earth. Are you hungry? Are you looking to catch the mantle as it falls from heaven? Are you ready to fast and pray with your whole heart for an unlimited anointing to fulfil His calling in your life?
Many thousands of you will. You teens will begin to stand up your schoolyards and around your flagpoles under an evangelistic anointing and pray the truth. You twenty-and-thirty-somethings will dare to walk down the most drug-infested corner of your cities, into the darkest corners and vilest holes of human' existence, and pour the anointing of love and compassion that will save many. You mentors will dare to begin to open your eyes and give your time and blood, sweat, and tears to train; release those around you to go farther than you.
You will be bold and pray for gangs and pimps, poor people on the streets, or rich and wealthy people in their posh condos and homes. You will stand on beaches, on street corners, in alleys, of locations, and proclaim the Word of God through words and love in action. You will arise in the middle of an airplane ride, or on a bus, or a subway, and preach the truth as it is in Jesus, and many will be saved. You will love people and pray for their felt needs and open doors of truth for them to know God. You will dare to believe God to show forth the signs of the Kingdom; you will speak with new tongues, lay hands boldly on sick bodies and see them recover, speak to dead bodies and witness their resurrection from the dead. The list will go on. This is your hour! The time to favour you, the set time, has come. “Cry loudly, do not hold back, raise your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins." Is58: 1-2"
21 December 2005
Gotta keep praying!
"It is a common temptation of Satan to make us give up the reading of the Word and prayer when our enjoyment is gone; as if it were of no use to read the Scriptures when we do not enjoy them, and as if it were no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer. The less we read the Word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray." -George Muller
15 November 2005
Moveable boiler room
First off; thanks to all who came out to pray last Thursday night, for the walkers and worshipers.
Our prayer walk coincided with Scottish pipers serenading the shoppers, we prayed, we declared and we moved against the flow. Always the way!
Some of us had just seen the appliqué picture of the river flowing from the temple in May St's Sanctuary Cafe [No Quasimodo jokes please!]- check out Ezekiel 47, so we flowed out with the Spirit.
Prayer that flowed:
for the city,
for warfare (bagpipe -a weapon of war) in the Spirit,
against the sins of invasion
for the people
against the darkness, the satanic web that tries to cover and deceive people into consumerism etc
against the ### shop in Smithfield, near where the old city gates were
repentance for the sexual sin that is prevalent in the church
for the media
for the people who are attracted to The Front Page (underage ) and the Kremlin (gay) bars
for Christians to infiltrate there and be salt and light
for true intimacy
contact with the gay community...
We then came across two couples, one female, one male at the front of the Kremlin, the male couple were J... and his friend who were both very young and high/drunk. They asked us to walk with them and then disappeared across the road for J...'s friend to retrieve his school blazer and bag from another bar (Mint). J...'s friend's parting words as he staggered across the road through the traffic were "I'm the next generation of Belfast you know!" Some of us wept as we prayed for him...
Walking towards the front of St. Anne's we met a woman at Writers Square who said "Can I borrow a phone? I can't find my husband!" We obliged, Chrissie shared Jesus with her as the rest of us prayed. Prayer for missing husbands.
As we walked down Donegal St towards North St. we were met by some well dressed gentlemen of the masonic persuasion so felt led to go pray outside their haunt in Rosemary St, and for the clairvoyant who frequents the rooms above Fresh Garbage.
It would be great to see you all at May St next week. Please tell your friends. We might not be walking but that should become a regular occurrence in future; there's lots we haven't let the soles of our feet touch and claim yet.
Next Thursday can we make it a worship and prayer night?
So calling all musicians, and worshippers
let us worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
Bring an instrument, and your voice, and a song to share -1Cor 14:26.
Our prayer walk coincided with Scottish pipers serenading the shoppers, we prayed, we declared and we moved against the flow. Always the way!
Some of us had just seen the appliqué picture of the river flowing from the temple in May St's Sanctuary Cafe [No Quasimodo jokes please!]- check out Ezekiel 47, so we flowed out with the Spirit.
Prayer that flowed:
for the city,
for warfare (bagpipe -a weapon of war) in the Spirit,
against the sins of invasion
for the people
against the darkness, the satanic web that tries to cover and deceive people into consumerism etc
against the ### shop in Smithfield, near where the old city gates were
repentance for the sexual sin that is prevalent in the church
for the media
for the people who are attracted to The Front Page (underage ) and the Kremlin (gay) bars
for Christians to infiltrate there and be salt and light
for true intimacy
contact with the gay community...
We then came across two couples, one female, one male at the front of the Kremlin, the male couple were J... and his friend who were both very young and high/drunk. They asked us to walk with them and then disappeared across the road for J...'s friend to retrieve his school blazer and bag from another bar (Mint). J...'s friend's parting words as he staggered across the road through the traffic were "I'm the next generation of Belfast you know!" Some of us wept as we prayed for him...
Walking towards the front of St. Anne's we met a woman at Writers Square who said "Can I borrow a phone? I can't find my husband!" We obliged, Chrissie shared Jesus with her as the rest of us prayed. Prayer for missing husbands.
As we walked down Donegal St towards North St. we were met by some well dressed gentlemen of the masonic persuasion so felt led to go pray outside their haunt in Rosemary St, and for the clairvoyant who frequents the rooms above Fresh Garbage.
It would be great to see you all at May St next week. Please tell your friends. We might not be walking but that should become a regular occurrence in future; there's lots we haven't let the soles of our feet touch and claim yet.
Next Thursday can we make it a worship and prayer night?
So calling all musicians, and worshippers
let us worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
Bring an instrument, and your voice, and a song to share -1Cor 14:26.
08 November 2005
Last Wednesday night we went awanderin'
What a night!
Lurgan was amazing!
Worship was amazing!
People shared their passion -for prayer, -for mission -but most of all for Jesus.
What did we want the night to be? -
David Hines kicked off prophetically with 2 Tim1:6 -We have a spiritual heritage here in Ireland but we need to fan into flame what God has put into us. Nigel wanted new friends and Rachael wanted to see things stirred up.
We prayed for the people in the towns below:
Portadown - Pete etc - God is stirring people up to pray for Portadown. Prayer ->Service -> Mission. Awesome God!
Ballynahinch - Heather - Churches working together through the Edge. Different churches - weekends of prayer...Prayer and Presence.
Kilkeel - Chris - Jim's youth drop in centre. People called to pray for the town, and prayer walks round the town. (80-90 people have become Christians this year in K!)
Methodists - Judith (I remembered!) - Irish Methodists are embarking on a year of prayer 36 groups to cover the 52 weeks, starting this week in Bray. Gillian - a picture of Ireland with lots of candles lit all over it.
Lurgan - Rick -desire to pray for the town and to bless the community, their prayer room has just closed and are looking for somewhere? What next? Something more?
Margaret Clarke - Global Day of Prayer - Secretary of State has not granted Stormont grounds for 2006 yet. GDP African team coming to Ulster Temple 18th Nov 10am. Come and join.
Phil Togwell (24/7Prayer UK base leader) shared that at the end of a week of prayer at his church his daughter (3) moved through the crowd and kissed everyone - but God was there and she was passing on thank you kisses from the Father. He continued saying that 24/7 is a movement, nothing has happened by design it is God doing this and we are only joining in with what He is doing. Join in with this God thing...
Q: What do you want to do?
Lurgan was amazing!
Worship was amazing!
People shared their passion -for prayer, -for mission -but most of all for Jesus.
What did we want the night to be? -
David Hines kicked off prophetically with 2 Tim1:6 -We have a spiritual heritage here in Ireland but we need to fan into flame what God has put into us. Nigel wanted new friends and Rachael wanted to see things stirred up.
We prayed for the people in the towns below:
Portadown - Pete etc - God is stirring people up to pray for Portadown. Prayer ->Service -> Mission. Awesome God!
Ballynahinch - Heather - Churches working together through the Edge. Different churches - weekends of prayer...Prayer and Presence.
Kilkeel - Chris - Jim's youth drop in centre. People called to pray for the town, and prayer walks round the town. (80-90 people have become Christians this year in K!)
Methodists - Judith (I remembered!) - Irish Methodists are embarking on a year of prayer 36 groups to cover the 52 weeks, starting this week in Bray. Gillian - a picture of Ireland with lots of candles lit all over it.
Lurgan - Rick -desire to pray for the town and to bless the community, their prayer room has just closed and are looking for somewhere? What next? Something more?
Margaret Clarke - Global Day of Prayer - Secretary of State has not granted Stormont grounds for 2006 yet. GDP African team coming to Ulster Temple 18th Nov 10am. Come and join.
Phil Togwell (24/7Prayer UK base leader) shared that at the end of a week of prayer at his church his daughter (3) moved through the crowd and kissed everyone - but God was there and she was passing on thank you kisses from the Father. He continued saying that 24/7 is a movement, nothing has happened by design it is God doing this and we are only joining in with what He is doing. Join in with this God thing...
Q: What do you want to do?
25 October 2005
More Upcoming Events
Pray4Belfast
NOVEMBER 3rd 8pm ULSTER TEMPLE, RAVENHILL ROAD, BELFAST
Check the Pray4belfast blog
If My People
Prayer event Sat 12th November 8pm
Spires Conference Centre
Wellington St
Belfast
Check out: Crown Jesus
Did I mention Lurgan 2Nov?
NOVEMBER 3rd 8pm ULSTER TEMPLE, RAVENHILL ROAD, BELFAST
Check the Pray4belfast blog
If My People
Prayer event Sat 12th November 8pm
Spires Conference Centre
Wellington St
Belfast
Check out: Crown Jesus
Did I mention Lurgan 2Nov?
Directions to Emmanuel CF Lurgan
It is on Wednesday 2nd November.8pm
Come down the motorway to the Lurgan roundabout and when you come up the slip way take the first exit on the left - should be sign posted for Lurgan. You will go past the Texaco garage and just keep going straight on that road till you come up into the town. (you will go over train tracks and eventually you should see the big church on your right). Come up through the town a little bit and you will see the Youth Information Point - YMCA quite modern building and it is there you need to take left down Castle lane. Just drive down there about 500 yards and you will see a big car park on your right and shops such as Tecso and Lidl - come into the park and drive up to the top and you will see our church sign - Emmanuel Christian Fellowship.
Come down the motorway to the Lurgan roundabout and when you come up the slip way take the first exit on the left - should be sign posted for Lurgan. You will go past the Texaco garage and just keep going straight on that road till you come up into the town. (you will go over train tracks and eventually you should see the big church on your right). Come up through the town a little bit and you will see the Youth Information Point - YMCA quite modern building and it is there you need to take left down Castle lane. Just drive down there about 500 yards and you will see a big car park on your right and shops such as Tecso and Lidl - come into the park and drive up to the top and you will see our church sign - Emmanuel Christian Fellowship.
12 October 2005
24/7 meetings
Hi guys
The meeting is on 2nd November in Emmanel church, Lurgan at 8.00pm.
For Southerner's interested in coming I am sure we could give you a roof over your heads but if unable to attend and want an update then let me know. While we are on the subject, I am aware that we know little of what may be going on in the South of Ireland so if you hear of anything let us know.
Generally, it will be a time to connect and hear from others what is going on with an opportunity to pray together and seek God's face. Feel free to forward the invite on to anyone you think it could apply to or who would be interested in coming.
The second thing to mention is the beginning of a series of "watch-nights". We are planning to have two nights of prayer for our nation before Christmas. We will see how it goes before deciding whether or not to make it a more permanent feature. The first is on Friday, 18th of November, beginning about 8.00pm and running through the night. The second on 16th of December. We are trying to ensure that we follow "Mannafest" and never collide, and would like the "watch-night" to be seen as a place for people all over the nation to come to. In the new year we would like it to then participate in a day of street-reach on the Saturday's.
Aware that plans are already in place to start something of a more permanent nature in Belfast, we have decided to go west of the Bann into the heartlands of Ulster. What better place than the "Land of the Young Warriors" Tir Na Hog? For those of you who don't know, Dungannon is the home town of the Irish kings, The O'Neill's. Tir Na Hog, was the O'Neills' anointing seat. Following that history lesson - it is decided that Dungannon Youth For Christ will be the location for Young warriors to rise up for the King of Kings!
The idea is to separate the rooms into designated areas. We will have a space for worship, space for multisensory prayer, space for creative prayer and for those who like a holy huddle - a space will be provided for them too! I'm sure there will be a space for coffee too.
It would be great if this captures people's attention and takes off to become a more regular rythmn of prayer but we feel that we must start somewhere - and to begin with it is important to pull together resources.
I'm asking now for people interested in coming along to help in the preparations of the evening. We plan to meet on Tuesday 18th October at 7.30pm. I will ensure we finish before 9.45pm for those travelling! Just what is it we are looking for?
Worship leaders comfortable in the spontaneous and planned worship
Creative and Artistic people (LOTS OF THEM).
Designers for publicity and the means to produce it,
Passionate intercessors
People with money who will gladly share it with us.
People interested in 24-7.
Resources
And anything else you can think of.
If you feel you would like to get involved or believe you could help in some way (or if you can think of someone who would be interested please let them know). Venue:Dungannon Youth For Christ.
M1, Junction 15.
Take third exit to Dungannon
Through 3 sets of traffic lights until you come to a mini-roundabout
Go straight ahead as if going up hill to town centre.
Take first left, pass Vehicle cleaning centre
Take right into car park and another right up to Iceland.
YFC is upstairs on the left of Iceland.
Let me know if you can come (either by posting a comment below or emailing Mark [address below my picture above]),
Blessings,
Garreth.
The meeting is on 2nd November in Emmanel church, Lurgan at 8.00pm.
For Southerner's interested in coming I am sure we could give you a roof over your heads but if unable to attend and want an update then let me know. While we are on the subject, I am aware that we know little of what may be going on in the South of Ireland so if you hear of anything let us know.
Generally, it will be a time to connect and hear from others what is going on with an opportunity to pray together and seek God's face. Feel free to forward the invite on to anyone you think it could apply to or who would be interested in coming.
The second thing to mention is the beginning of a series of "watch-nights". We are planning to have two nights of prayer for our nation before Christmas. We will see how it goes before deciding whether or not to make it a more permanent feature. The first is on Friday, 18th of November, beginning about 8.00pm and running through the night. The second on 16th of December. We are trying to ensure that we follow "Mannafest" and never collide, and would like the "watch-night" to be seen as a place for people all over the nation to come to. In the new year we would like it to then participate in a day of street-reach on the Saturday's.
Aware that plans are already in place to start something of a more permanent nature in Belfast, we have decided to go west of the Bann into the heartlands of Ulster. What better place than the "Land of the Young Warriors" Tir Na Hog? For those of you who don't know, Dungannon is the home town of the Irish kings, The O'Neill's. Tir Na Hog, was the O'Neills' anointing seat. Following that history lesson - it is decided that Dungannon Youth For Christ will be the location for Young warriors to rise up for the King of Kings!
The idea is to separate the rooms into designated areas. We will have a space for worship, space for multisensory prayer, space for creative prayer and for those who like a holy huddle - a space will be provided for them too! I'm sure there will be a space for coffee too.
It would be great if this captures people's attention and takes off to become a more regular rythmn of prayer but we feel that we must start somewhere - and to begin with it is important to pull together resources.
I'm asking now for people interested in coming along to help in the preparations of the evening. We plan to meet on Tuesday 18th October at 7.30pm. I will ensure we finish before 9.45pm for those travelling! Just what is it we are looking for?
Worship leaders comfortable in the spontaneous and planned worship
Creative and Artistic people (LOTS OF THEM).
Designers for publicity and the means to produce it,
Passionate intercessors
People with money who will gladly share it with us.
People interested in 24-7.
Resources
And anything else you can think of.
If you feel you would like to get involved or believe you could help in some way (or if you can think of someone who would be interested please let them know). Venue:Dungannon Youth For Christ.
M1, Junction 15.
Take third exit to Dungannon
Through 3 sets of traffic lights until you come to a mini-roundabout
Go straight ahead as if going up hill to town centre.
Take first left, pass Vehicle cleaning centre
Take right into car park and another right up to Iceland.
YFC is upstairs on the left of Iceland.
Let me know if you can come (either by posting a comment below or emailing Mark [address below my picture above]),
Blessings,
Garreth.
30 September 2005
Musings from a homesick traveler
As I approached Dresden on the coach all along the autobahn were fields and forest. The fields were used variously – some had wheat, some maize, some sunflowers and some were silage crops.
What was blatantly obvious was that these fields were in various states of harvesting. The maize was nearing maturity, so was maybe a week or two away from harvest. The sunflowers were tall but all had brown heads instead of bright shining yellow ones; their heads were now exhibited the guilty droop, awaiting the harvester’s sickle as a condemned man awaits the executioner’s axe. Some fields of sunflowers had already fallen to the harvester. The harvesters had been to the wheat fields and nothing remained but for the gleanings only the crows could find.
The forests were of pine but growing straight and tall rushing, as only pine trees can, to the light. They seemed tall enough for the fellers axe but they all looked incredibly thin. Tall and slim as lanky teenagers, but more than that, elongated like sufferers of Marfan’s Syndrome: bones stretched rack-like to breaking point and organs weakened internally by poor connective tissue.
The fields are a reminder of the words Jesus used…”the harvest is plentiful”
JN 4:34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do you not say, `Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying `One sows and another reaps' is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
(or Mat9:37, Rev14:15, Joel3:13). The harvest is proceeding and yet there is more work to be done. The fields are white let us get to them and bring in the harvest of souls God desires of us.
I sensed that the trees were not ready, growing yes but not maturing, not filling out.
ISA 10:33 See, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, will lop off the boughs with great power. The lofty trees will be felled, the tall ones will be brought low.
Eze17:24 All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. " `I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.' "
I sense that we are to be the tree God desires and not grow tall too fast but grow in God’s timing and in His grace and in the way He wants us to grow. Almost like a carefully tended bonsai or ornamental hedge, but most like a good vine that is carefully tended by the vinedresser and is grafted in to the true and living vine.
JN 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Let us build slowly and steadily in His timing. Your Kingdom come Lord.
What was blatantly obvious was that these fields were in various states of harvesting. The maize was nearing maturity, so was maybe a week or two away from harvest. The sunflowers were tall but all had brown heads instead of bright shining yellow ones; their heads were now exhibited the guilty droop, awaiting the harvester’s sickle as a condemned man awaits the executioner’s axe. Some fields of sunflowers had already fallen to the harvester. The harvesters had been to the wheat fields and nothing remained but for the gleanings only the crows could find.
The forests were of pine but growing straight and tall rushing, as only pine trees can, to the light. They seemed tall enough for the fellers axe but they all looked incredibly thin. Tall and slim as lanky teenagers, but more than that, elongated like sufferers of Marfan’s Syndrome: bones stretched rack-like to breaking point and organs weakened internally by poor connective tissue.
The fields are a reminder of the words Jesus used…”the harvest is plentiful”
JN 4:34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do you not say, `Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying `One sows and another reaps' is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
(or Mat9:37, Rev14:15, Joel3:13). The harvest is proceeding and yet there is more work to be done. The fields are white let us get to them and bring in the harvest of souls God desires of us.
I sensed that the trees were not ready, growing yes but not maturing, not filling out.
ISA 10:33 See, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, will lop off the boughs with great power. The lofty trees will be felled, the tall ones will be brought low.
Eze17:24 All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. " `I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.' "
I sense that we are to be the tree God desires and not grow tall too fast but grow in God’s timing and in His grace and in the way He wants us to grow. Almost like a carefully tended bonsai or ornamental hedge, but most like a good vine that is carefully tended by the vinedresser and is grafted in to the true and living vine.
JN 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Let us build slowly and steadily in His timing. Your Kingdom come Lord.
13 September 2005
24/7 gathering Lurgan
Guys and girls
We had talked about getting together the 24/7 family here in ireland, we have got a date and decided that Lurgan is a pretty central point for most of us
we are going to go with a 24/7 gathering on November 2ND 8pm @ EMMANUEL Christian Fellowship LURGAN, the Methodists will be fired up after Autumn Soul, so that should be good, the rest of us will have to catch up on them!
The night will be about worship, stories and the chance to connect people
It would be good to know roughly how many we have going, so feedback to us when you get the chance.
Cheers
adrian
We had talked about getting together the 24/7 family here in ireland, we have got a date and decided that Lurgan is a pretty central point for most of us
we are going to go with a 24/7 gathering on November 2ND 8pm @ EMMANUEL Christian Fellowship LURGAN, the Methodists will be fired up after Autumn Soul, so that should be good, the rest of us will have to catch up on them!
The night will be about worship, stories and the chance to connect people
It would be good to know roughly how many we have going, so feedback to us when you get the chance.
Cheers
adrian
11 September 2005
Launch
Hi
Thanks to all who came to the first meeting of those who have a heart to see a Boiler Room in Belfast. Angie even baked a Birth Day Cake!
We are going to continue to meet initially weekly at 730pm on Thursdays in May St church, upstairs in the prayer room starting on the 15th Sept.
There will be prayer, worship and other opportunities to be creative.
Thanks again for all your prayers.
Mark
07 September 2005
29 August 2005
17 August 2005
“Prayer without action is just religion in hiding.” (Pete Greig - Red Moon Rising)
Hi
I just wanted to say thanks for your patience. We all have had time to think and listen to God over the summer and it may be good to get together and pray and hear how God has been speaking to each of us about a future Boiler Room in Belfast.
Some of us had an opportunity to visit the London City Boiler room at the end of June and join with other people who were thinking about, or already in the process of starting Boiler Rooms. That was quite an experience.
One thought that I would like to share from that day was about "Incarnation" that Andy freeman shared with us- Boiler Rooms are incarnational they do not just pray for our community but are in the community. How can we be Jesus in our city? How can we share Jesus in our city? How can we establish a community that is:
A Prayerful community- with a daily prayer rhythm
A Creative community- artistic expression
A Hospitable community- eg The Rule of Benedict says 'treat people as you would Christ'.
A Missional community- outreach and evangelism
A Learning community- discipleship, and
A Merciful community- loving mercy and walking humbly with our God.
If you have any questions about Boiler Rooms please don't hesitate to ask, I'm certainly not an expert, but will attempt an answer. Or first look at http://www.boiler-rooms.com/cm/ . Hopefully Nigel Smith who has been working in the West London Boiler Room will be there when we meet and will be able to fill in the gaps.
We are hoping to meet at:
May St Church Belfast (behind the City Hall in direction of Waterfront Hall)
Thursday 8th September
7pm for coffee starting 730pm.
Entry by door at rear of church. There is a car park beside the church which is accessed from the road at the rear of the church.
If anyone cannot make this meeting could we meet together over coffee sometime to hear where you are coming from, I don't want to exclude anyone. If you know someone else who has a heart for Belfast and this vision of a Boiler room please pass this on to them.
Please let me know who is coming so I know how many sticky buns to get!
I just wanted to say thanks for your patience. We all have had time to think and listen to God over the summer and it may be good to get together and pray and hear how God has been speaking to each of us about a future Boiler Room in Belfast.
Some of us had an opportunity to visit the London City Boiler room at the end of June and join with other people who were thinking about, or already in the process of starting Boiler Rooms. That was quite an experience.
One thought that I would like to share from that day was about "Incarnation" that Andy freeman shared with us- Boiler Rooms are incarnational they do not just pray for our community but are in the community. How can we be Jesus in our city? How can we share Jesus in our city? How can we establish a community that is:
A Prayerful community- with a daily prayer rhythm
A Creative community- artistic expression
A Hospitable community- eg The Rule of Benedict says 'treat people as you would Christ'.
A Missional community- outreach and evangelism
A Learning community- discipleship, and
A Merciful community- loving mercy and walking humbly with our God.
If you have any questions about Boiler Rooms please don't hesitate to ask, I'm certainly not an expert, but will attempt an answer. Or first look at http://www.boiler-rooms.com/cm/ . Hopefully Nigel Smith who has been working in the West London Boiler Room will be there when we meet and will be able to fill in the gaps.
We are hoping to meet at:
May St Church Belfast (behind the City Hall in direction of Waterfront Hall)
Thursday 8th September
7pm for coffee starting 730pm.
Entry by door at rear of church. There is a car park beside the church which is accessed from the road at the rear of the church.
If anyone cannot make this meeting could we meet together over coffee sometime to hear where you are coming from, I don't want to exclude anyone. If you know someone else who has a heart for Belfast and this vision of a Boiler room please pass this on to them.
Please let me know who is coming so I know how many sticky buns to get!
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