October 2010 Update

November already?!?

I cannot believe that all of our October trips (to Canada, Seattle and Nepal) are behind us. In addition to working with many missionaries, pastors and local leaders we have had an amazing month that included some incredible ministry opportunities... most notably my time with The Berean Way in Nepal.

What can be said about the country of Nepal? It is such a different experience than India and yet shares so many similarities. Undoubtedly, Nepal is staggeringly beautiful... mountains, rivers and an amazingly diverse set of cultures make it a remarkable little country. Yet, it struggles with immense poverty and social and political ills that make it a desperate place of daily survival for most of its non-tourist inhabitants. Here, hidden amidst the great mountains and miseries, lies a tiny (less than 2%), young (both historically and demographically), fully alive faith filled Church. It does not take long in Nepal to see that God is moving amidst the Himalayas!

As I mentioned last month, the latest stats place Nepal as 74.82% Hindu, 16% Buddhist and only 1.89% Christian. It is a country that is on the verge... the verge of either great revival, great persecution or (most probably) both. I would encourage you if you have the time to listen to this update from Voice of the Martyrs.

Our ministry in Nepal was very similar to our work in India. We held 2 conferences over the course of a week with around 400 attendees total. Each of these groups of people traveled from their churches by foot up and down the Nepalese mountains to attend the conference (many their first formal training). Most walked for multiple days just so they could be better equipped to lead their small fellowships. We also spent time interacting with and praying for different churches and ministries in and around the Kathmandu area... it was amazing!

Todd Melrose is a longtime friend and supporter of The Berean Way (and our family) and he came with us to Nepal this past October. I thought it might be great to include some of his thoughts here:

"As i sat in Nepal, i often wondered why God would bring myself... halfway across the world to Nepal to do ministry with local villagers in the Himalayas... But as i was there, it was so clear that this was where God wanted us- you see no one goes out to the villages... these people never get to do a big 3 day conference meeting like this to learn how to study the Bible, or learn how to disciple others... no one ever comes out to them.

This is a big lesson i learned. God needs us to go TO the people, not wait for them to come to us. So I realized why not us? Why not me? Why can't i be used here? God loves the Nepalese just the same as me. These trips are far from comfortable... no electricity, can't talk to my wife for 3 days sometimes, cold showers, "interesting" food that can be hard to eat, miserable bathrooms, humidity, rock hard beds, and difficult travel conditions.... but they are SO important. The great commission in Matthew 28: 18-20 is for all of us. We are to go where there is need."

That says it all pretty well.

(Thank you Jeff for the photo's!)

Thank you for all that you do!

It is such an amazing blessing for our family to be able to serve our Lord as we do... to GO where He calls! Thank you so much for all of your continued prayers, encouragements and financial support. All of these things keep this ministry happening. If there are others that you know who may be interested in receiving these updates please forward them on. Thank you again for everything.

grace and peace,
the McDonald clan

Heaven is touching earth...

Photo by Todd Melrose

In my younger years I often thought of prayer as an open handed reaching for God as God reached down to us.

This image worked for me because I imagine the gentle finger of God (not unlike the Sistine Chapel) reaching down from heaven to heal, comfort and move His people toward His eternal purposes. In my mind it was a beautiful and simple picture. That being said, over the past few years I have been learning that the reality is less simple... but far more beautiful.

Our time in Nepal was powerful for so many reasons... the warmth of the people, their receptivity to our teaching, the youthfulness of the Nepalese church, the majesty of God's creation, etc. But I would say the one piece that stood out to me from the trip the most was the power of God in the prayers of His people.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Thessalonians 5:16-18

So often it feels like we relegate prayer to an activity that complements other activities... we pray in church, before our devotions, after something has gone wrong, before we eat, etc. It is like a spice we add to the food of our life and rarely the main course itself. Even when we gather for a "prayer meeting" we often find more meeting than prayer or at the best a single prayer lifted up one at a time as each individual waits their turn. I found myself reminded in Nepal of how essential a life of prayer is to the Christian. Though we may not understand it, prayer moves the heart of God and shows faith (and utter dependance) in His unseen hand. In Nepal, like most parts of the world where God is truly ALL people have, prayer is a lifeline to God. People pray continuously and passionately because they believe God is listening and cares about their pain. When it is time to pray EVERYONE prays at the same time and expects to be heard. Their prayers come with force, expectation, devotion, tears, joy, shouting, crying, standing, kneeling, pleading, thanking and with great love.

The Nepalese christians believe in prayer with a reality that goes so far beyond our western understandings - especially when it comes to prayers for healing. We heard the same story over and over; a person (or spouse, family, friend of person) gets deathly sick. In desperation the person seeks help from Doctors, witch doctors, hindu priests, buddhist monks, etc. and nothing works. They hear about "the christians" and talk with a local pastor who prays for them and they are healed. Healed. The person receives Christ and decides to live their lives for Jesus wholeheartedly... sounds just like the New Testament doesn't it?! In Nepal, God's "gentle finger" is more like a mighty force of restoration and healing. It is unpredictable, powerful, mystical, dangerous, mighty, frightening, magnificent... it is as if Heaven is touching earth.

One of the best stories I heard was from Obed (our Nepalese Coordinator) who was told by his Doctor that he was going to die. Obed was fairly certain that God had other plans and prayed. When he returned to the Doctor Obed was told that the sickness was completely gone (even after multiple tests). The Doctor was amazed. Obed simply turned to the man and said, "my Doctor made your Doctors". After that the Doctor regularly called Obed to have him pray for his patients because God is a God who hears and heals according to His will.

I believe Lord... help me in my unbelief. Father, grow me into a follower that moves to prayer first because that is what You've commanded... makes expectant prayer the "main course" because that's where Your power is... and gives thanks no matter what the answer because Your faithfulness is always perfect. Amen

intermittent...

As these next several weeks unfold (packing, moving, unpacking, etc.) and it becomes harder and harder to stop and take time to update I thought this might be a good time to repost my first entry... the beginning of the story of this BLOG... why it exists... really, why I exist... awaken us.

awaken us… Lord

awaken us from our slumber

too long have we slept.
too long have we looked upon a darkened, dieing, hopeless world and lazily looked to the horizon for Your coming… or was that our T.V. set?

Awaken us Lord to the hunger that is within.

Stir your children of light from their comfortable seats… that we would know the feeling of Your armor again… the feeling of your sword.

Fan the fire of passion for Your Name… Your Fame… that we might feel the coursing fire flooding through our souls… like rivers… like springs of life.

Let us sleep no longer!
Let us waken from the night in search of our Beloved.
Let us throw ourselves against the gates of injustice… the gates of poverty… the gates of darkness… the gates of hell. Until we can no longer stand AND YET we stand!

AWAKEN US LORD!

Move us to the edges… gather us to the corners… take us OUTSIDE THE CAMP…

AWAKEN US LORD!

Awaken hearts that are broken for the broken hearted. Lives that are lived for the lost.

AWAKEN US LORD!

The night is far gone; the day is at hand.

Even so. Amen.

timothy mark mcdonald

from heaven...

John 3:27

...John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven..."

It is amazing how easy it is to begin to think we are God.

I know we would NEVER say it that way... but we behave like it. It's really subtle. In fact, it often sneaks up on us when we aren't looking.

These past few weeks Britany and I have begun (again) the process of looking for a home in Portland. House hunting is one of those love/hate things. It is really fun to look at all the possibilities and ask "what if" questions BUT it can also become a bit consuming and overhelming when you have a deadline and confused expectations. You suddenly find yourself trying to create the "perfect" home scenario... looking to meet all your needs and expectations. Nothing is good enough. Every option doesn't quite fit your expectations completely. And anxiety begins to build in your soul. Why can't I figure this out?!

Then you remember Jesus saying somthing like, "...don't be anxious..." (why is this such a hard thing to remember) and you realize God's in control... not you.

As I read this passage this morning in John I was reminded of this powerful truth... everything thing we recieve comes from God... not from me. I'm not God. Nor do I want to be... to big of a job. But God know's what I need even before I ask, His plans are trustworthy... and His provision perfect.

Lord, give me the grace to rest in Your provision... the courage to trust when I don't see the way... and the faith to stand and believe instead of trying to take the reigns. Amen.

PRAY... follow up!

Here is a follow up from your prayers... THANK YOU!

Dear Tim & family,

thank you for your prayers for us,

we were warned and sent out of the police custody, and we were all forced by authories to get out of the town on the next day, We arrived here at ... on the saturday. All of our 8 peoples names were in the news papers all the 4 districts, and english papers also. They framed a news liked this religious vigorous group came from ... to disrupt the religious harmony in the local people

please pray for the pastor ..., who is the local pastor could not able to live in the town any more and he has to vacate the rented house, this week, we are going back on the tuesday to help him to shift the house to different town.

Again Thank you, for the prayers, all the charges framed against us were dropped and we have given a written note signed at the police station that we will not come back and preach the christian religion, any more at ...

thank you for all you prayers

with love in CHRIST
SAM

PRAY!

Acts 4:29

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

I was wondering if you might be able to find a moment today to pray for my good friend (and brother) Sam. I got an email from him this am saying that he had just gotten out of jail. Sam the Indian and an evangelist/teacher who I have mentioned on this blog before. He is married and has 1 son. Him and 7 others were arrested for preaching the gospel. Though they have been released on bail there is a group of people trying to get them arrested again and they have had to be "evacuated".

Please be praying for:
- favor from the officials
- protection from false accusations
- courage for Sam and his wife

Pray also that the peace and comfort of Jesus would be with all of them.

Mighty God who hears all things and knows the plans of men's hearts - I pray first that Your name would be shown to be great among all people and all nations of this earth through Your children. Guide Sam this morning with all wisdom. Give him courage and love from Your Spirit. Protect him, his family and his friends. Grant him favor with the officials AND with the people around him... turn his enemies into brothers. Make Your name great in this situation and guard Your servant from evil. We love you Lord. Amen.

And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15b

And be thankful.

Years ago I heard about an order that had practiced a spiritual discipline unlike any I'd ever heard of. It was called the discipline of thankfulness. Simply, they committed as a community to exercise Paul's call in Colossians to continual thankfulness in prayer through out the day... every day. Now, I often think of disciplines as exercises in restraint and perseverance BUT, in this case, it was a discipline that involved (what seemed like) a continual state of heart. I mean, anyone can say thank you for something (more on this tomorrow)... but to be really thankful means commanding the soul, the mind, the heart. This is not simply an exercise in saying a few words with the appropriate manners - no, this is an exercise in changing the outside SO THAT the inside will follow!

This past week we as a community have begun to practice the spiritual discipline of thankfulness to communicate to our GREAT God how awesome He really is. We are going to attempt to offer one prayer every day for the next month or so that starts with, "Lord thank you..." to see if as we exercise a discipline of prayer we might see a transformation of soul, mind and heart.

Thank you Lord for the gift of You. Amen.

prayer for this day

Colossians 4:2

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

I thank you Father for this day -
A day like many in every way.
And in every way You're seen today,
let these few words be the first I say,
"Thank You God... Thank You Lord."
So that with every fiber and every chord
I see this world, each breath and sight
With new resolve and new delight...
As the gift it really is from You
And the power of all that You can do!
So, I thank You Father for this day -
May it's gifts be seen in every way.


Timothy Mark McDonald

prayer for this day

Lord help me be the me that looks the most like You.
And help my heart to beat the way that it's supposed to.
Guide each look today, each word a precious gift.
Use this simple life to bring joy, hope, faith and lift...
to those who's hearts have faltered, who's lives feel at their end.
Your Spirits touch. Your Fathers heart. A blood bought life. Amen.

listening...

(pic by Jon Hall)

As I reflected on the Wesley quote I posted a few days ago I found myself thinking about where we are "at" as a community...

It’s been 32 days since we moved into Golden Hill, San Diego… a couple weeks less for the Yackleys and 1 week more till the Hall family gets here. It is still a little surreal walking the streets and praying for our new neighbors and the Spirit’s work here. Our little inner city neighborhood is home to so many new things for us as a family AND as a team – new sounds, new sights, new challenges, new adventures and new rhythms. This week we began to meet and pray (and walk, and share, and eat and speak) together as a small community AND thus begin the process of listening. We are eager to move into the lives of our neighbors but aware of how much we NEED God’s leading and directing. We are eager to “do”, eager to go, eager to move, just as Wesley calls… but first, we choose to listen. Everything is, after all, new.

God grant us Your ears to hear. Grant us Your eyes to see. Father, place inside of us Your heart for these people. We recognize that You love the people of Golden Hill more than we ever will AND that Your vision for nieucommunities in San Diego is the perfect vision… and that IS the vision we desire. Lead us Lord as we listen to this city, as we listen to our own hearts AND, most importantly, as we listen to You. Help us precious Savior to do all the good we can. By all the means we can. In all the ways we can. In all the places we can. At all the times we can. To all the people we can. As long as You give us breath.

Amen.

Great Wesley Quote

Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.

~ John Wesley

This quote came from the little family devotional book we have been doing together every morning... it is a powerful reminder of the nature of our call as followers of Jesus, as a family, as a missional community and as HIS church.

Make this so Lord in our lives. Use us for the sake of Your GREAT Name in San Diego and around Your world. May Your Kingdom come. May Your will be done... on this earth, in this city and in our family as it is in heaven.

Amen!

"I am ready!"

Matthew 10:13-15

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

No matter what you think about children becoming Christians or even what the process of becoming a follower of Jesus actually looks like, there is something deep inside that erupts (for a lack of a better word) when your child looks you in the eyes and says, "I am ready!"

Friday morning during our family devotional time we had one of those moments.

McKenzie (completely out of the blue) simply said, "I am ready!" Having walked through this before with the boys I was a little more prepared BUT I still found my eyes watering and my thoughts scattered. After we were done the devotional I talked with her about what she meant by that and she said she was ready to listen to Jesus and follow Him... so we all prayed with her and she asked Him to be her Lord (or boss) and said that she wanted to obey what He said. She said that she was sorry for all the bad things she had done and she thanked Him for paying the price for and forgiving those things. It was a very precious time. We have talked about it a number of times as a family and yet she has never shown any interest till today... today it clicked!

Now, I do have a little skeptic sitting on my shoulder nay saying... can a child really understand... is this because her brothers did it (same skeptic was there with them as well)... is she trying to impress Britany and I... BUT, for the most part, this skeptics voice is drowned out by another voice. It is the voice of scripture that paints a picture of a God who shames the wise by using the foolish... who calls those who follow Him His children... who tells us to come to Him the way of the child... who calls the children to Himself. And I find myself wanting to say McKenzie's words to my Father in heaven...

"I am ready!"

Update from friends

Here is a bit of an update from our friends "weathering" the New Orleans:

We’re good – all in bed.
Mayor’s update included that the city will not open until Thursday. So we add another day here...
We heard from the one neighbor who remained – all good, only small branches from nearby trees; no water; no roof damage; houses secure.
Police out in strength....

God is good
Mike

amidst the storm...

As many of you know there is a serious Hurricane heading toward New Orleans right now. A sister ministry of ours called communitas is located in NO and has had to leave as a result of the storm... many of them are close friends of mine. Would you pray with us for them as they live as a community (with children) in wait of what the storm will do to their homes and neighborhoods? Pray also that God will use this team for His glory amidst the storm.

Thank you!

Dear friends and family,

THANK YOU FOR THE DOZENS of calls, texts and emails. We do so appreciate it. Not an hour has gone by that at least 2 contacts have reached us. Thank you to all of those who want to help and make a difference. There may well be a time for that – we pray not, but we’ll remember. :-) No news has been good news... Here is the latest....

We’re settled at Perdido Key in very Western tip of Florida. We’re safe, and the place we’re staying made it not just cheaper than hotels (we have these get-a-way small holiday houses where we have 18 souls in three small but very comfortable places. We emptied every last item from freezers and refrigerators so have plenty to eat!
We left last night at midnight as planned, but the traffic was still full on. With 3.5 million people moving off the coast, it is expected, but it began Friday afternoon and continued through today, 24 hours a day heading in five directions on multiple interstate freeways! Our normal four hour trip took 9.5 hours. We drove through the night! The place we’re staying let us in early into all three – kept cleaning there late last night to get them ready for us as they knew we were coming. How cool is that!? We were zombies, except for the kids of course! Many of us took naps and will sleep all night. We spent two days not just getting ourselves ready to go (furniture moved up off the floor, rugs rolled, all food removed from cooling, cars filled, checked, etc, but also helping others, like Rona, Ali, our neighbors, etc.
We’re waiting! We can’t do much. We’ve had some time to pray together, we’ll have our weekly coordination meeting tomorrow, which we’ll use for larger picture strategy work, and I have a ton of work to do with me and my laptop here. When we can, we go home!
I (Mike) am supposed to be in New York City Tuesday-Sunday, but expect I’ll be late if I can get out. I can’t go until I know the status of home. It is just wisdom as dad, husband and community (team) leader.
The storm: Moving NW at a screaming pace – fastest I’ve ever seen (18 miles/hour). This means less rain – GREAT! It also weakened instead of getting stronger which was expected. It can actually shift west and be drained by being near the coast. The danger for New Orleans is storm surge as the protection on the west bank of the river is still very much under improvements and not completed. Our danger where we live is if the drain system cannot keep up... Prayers appreciated! :-)
Our greatest opportunities come in the next weeks with the leminal time after such a stressful experience. This has brought up the Katrina PTSD for many and we will have huge opportunity to make progress is why we’re here.
We ALL feel never more resolved than today that we are sent here, and have a contribution from heaven on high. EVEN if we lose our homes – we are all supposed to be here doing this. People with nothing to lose are dangerous! :-)

So, pray for our continued safety, our homes (though they are not our security), our mission, the city’s safety and protection, protection for the cities along the coast (vital to oil/gas production and marine aqua farming and fishing, as well as rice and sugar cane agriculture. We are thankful for the proactive reaction at the city, state and national levels to this threat. This is how it should always be!

No news is good news – we’ll keep you posted!
Mike & the community!

"The Peril of Prayer" 2

Matthew 6:6

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

I've always struggled with knowing how to balance a hidden life of prayer with a community life of prayer. Some of the most powerful times of prayer I have been a part of have been with a few of my closest friends on a poorly carpeted floor around a couple candles. It seems that God's presence is increased in some special way "when two or three are gathered" in His name. And if you consider the idea that I mentioned in my last post - that it is as possible to dishonor God alone in prayer as it is with a group - it gets even more complicated. How are we to pray in ways that make much of God and less of us? How are we to pray NOT like the hypocrites but LIKE the tax collector?

It would seem that the real issue is not one of place - though that can definitely help and is an essential part of a Christ followers journey - but more one of heart... what is the status of your heart as you pray?

Which is a complicated question for sinners like us.

Tozer's thoughts from "Keys to The Deeper Life" are:

"What then shall we do?
We must deny self, take up the cross and count ourselves expendable.
We must cease to exercise the world's judgments and try to think God's thoughts after Him.
We must reckon ourselves dead to gain and glory and allow ourselves to become inextricably involved with the cross of Christ and the high honor of God." pg66

Simple enough...

;)

but what does that look like?

"The Peril of Prayer"

Matthew 6:5

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Recently I read an incredibly potent little book by A.W. Tozer called "Keys to The Deeper Life". More of a collection of thoughts, it is filled with amazing (and challenging) quotes and ideas. One idea specifically was in the area of prayer:

"Nothing is so vital as prayer, yet a reputation for being a mighty prayer warrior is probably the most perilous of all reputations to have. No selfishness is so deeply and dangerously sinful as that which glories in being a man of prayer. It comes near to being self-worship; and that while in the very act of worshiping God." pg65

Oh the hidden dangers of "being spiritual".

The truth is... I love to pray. By myself walking down the street, on the floor of my bedroom, in the morning with a couple of my closest friends, before a service at RE:hope... or lying beside my wife just before we go to sleep. BUT, I know this danger that Tozer refers to well. Sometimes I catch myself thinking about what I think others will find interesting as I pray OR I hear the phrase "I echo my brothers prayers..." and a little pride seeps in OR (if it wasn't my prayer) I think about why my prayers were just as valuable as "my brothers" OR (and this is probably the most dangerous) I think about what I think God wants to hear... hmm... how do you spiritually "butter up" an all knowing completely majestic Lord of the universe?

The REAL truth is that there is a part of me that wants to be known as a "mighty prayer warrior"... a part of me that wants to look more worthy than I could ever be... a part of me that wants to hear "well done" not JUST from my Father in heaven, but from my brothers and sisters in Christ... a part of me wants... to steal... just a little... wee bit... of glory... for myself.

I know... I'm a sinner.

But the problem is... I want my reward - the promised one from that passage in Matthew 6 - and glory seems as good a reward as any. And I want it today, on my terms with payment in full in the here and now... did I mention that I am a sinner.

Fortunately, the Bible (and Tozer) has some thoughts on this very situation.

We're back!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragements while we were away in South Africa. It was an amazing trip filled with amazing times reconnecting with our greater missional community (nieucommunities) AND the organization we work for (CRM). Africa is truly a magical place and we felt so loved by our friends, their neighbors and the african people. It's beauty is second to none and these pictures do not do it justice...














Matthew 10:29-30

Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

...and elephants and mountains and multicolored brothers and sisters and flowers and the wind against your face and coffee around the kitchen table and real life... forever.

Funny thing happened...

while I was leading worship tonight!
As I was in the midst of praising our Lord out on the stoop I felt a little (5inch) friend land on my foot.
At first I was ok with it... hey, he (or she) is a praying mantis right... probably just wanted to join us as we worshiped his creator. But, after about a couple minutes I felt my little green friend start making his way up my leg. Now, I was wearing pretty baggy shorts and after a minute or so of his movement up my shin my worshiping friend got me dancing before the Lord in front of all those worshiping with us... King David would have been proud!

India takeaways sitting in Café Nero LHR… 3

Hebrews 10:22-25

...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Third, I feel the challenge in my spirit (from THE Spirit) to not hold my tongue so much in my world. As it does with these faith filled followers in India, my love for Christ must compel me to speak more about Him and bear an increasing testimony of His greatness… His power to heal… His saving name… in faith… to all those I meet. This is especially true with the message of hope that is in my heart. I must live a life of hope (as my friends here in India do) and I must carry a message of hope with in my heart and on my tongue… for the sake of this world and His kingdom come. I have been convicted by my own message.

Lord, let me draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with my heart sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and my body washed with pure water. Let me hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for I know that YOU who promised is faithful. And fill my mind with fresh ways to stir up those around me to love and good works... Lord, make me more like this I pray.

awaken us again!

As a reminder to myself and those who may occasionally come across my ideas, I thought I might take this opportunity to return to the beginning of the story of this BLOG... why it exists... really, why I exist. And so I resubmit my poem (and my first entry)... awaken us.

awaken us… Lord

awaken us from our slumber

too long have we slept.
too long have we looked upon a darkened, dieing, hopeless world and lazily looked to the horizon for Your coming… or was that our T.V. set?

Awaken us Lord to the hunger that is within.

Stir your children of light from their comfortable seats… that we would know the feeling of Your armor again… the feeling of your sword.

Fan the fire of passion for Your Name… Your Fame… that we might feel the coursing fire flooding through our souls… like rivers… like springs of life.

Let us sleep no longer!
Let us waken from the night in search of our Beloved.
Let us throw ourselves against the gates of injustice… the gates of poverty… the gates of darkness… the gates of hell. Until we can no longer stand AND YET we stand!

AWAKEN US LORD!

Move us to the edges… gather us to the corners… take us OUTSIDE THE CAMP…

AWAKEN US LORD!

Awaken hearts that are broken for the broken hearted. Lives that are lived for the lost.

AWAKEN US LORD!

The night is far gone; the day is at hand.

Even so. Amen.

timothy mark mcdonald