Pilgrim's Progress

My 3 Nights in Jail

Had a great time up in Ottawa. Some highlights ...

I spent 3 nights in a jail cell, but I'm back home now ... Saw some wonderful sights.

A few of us met up for The CRY prayer event, which brought together many different streams of the body of Christ including Messianic Jewish, First Nations, Inuit and Métis believers in a wonderful public act of unity.

 

I was deeply moved during some Messianic Jewish worship, in Hebrew, accompanied by a troupe of dancers, and a couple of First Nations tribal leaders (above left). Much of the day was spent in prayer in front of the Parliament buildings (above right.

Some more pictures soon from my little travelling companions who want to show their own photos.

P.S. The jail was the hostel - a converted jailhouse and my room was a converted cell.

Time for a Break

>> Canada Files: Day 087

 

 

 

 

 

Off to "The CRY" tomorrow - a big city-wide prayer event up in Ottawa. Taking a train, and staying for 3 nights in a hostel that used to be a jailhouse. Half of the event is in Ontario, and half is in Quebec (Ottawa sits on the border).

I'm not sure exactly what to expect. I've been feeling pretty cool spiritually for the last few weeks, so it will be interesting to be in the thick of a large event, especially as I didn't get to New Wine this year.

It's been great to be around Hamilton for nearly 3 months, but a change of scene will be welcome too before things kick off again in September.

Free Us from the Flickering Image

>> Canada Files: Day 081

I love the freedom to experiment with new technologies in worship that being in GOHOP affords. Most recently, this involved creating improvised visuals during a prayer set. This is a screengrab of a great package called Resolume.

But I sense a warning in this. We live in a world filled with flickering images. Neil Postman, in his 1985 book "Amusing Ourselves to Death" warned of the dangers for a generation weaned on flickering images. He warned of how overstimulation desensitizes us, and programs us to become passive and unresponsive, and may even impair mentional functioning.

So how can this technology be harnessed for good, and not just to amuse or entertain?

So here is a "visual prayer" - perhaps the cry of my own heart that we don't just make things worse, or push people further into passivity, but rather take this technology captive for the glory of God in our time. Maybe it's also a kind of visual intercession - the cry of a generation trapped in a cycle of overstimulation and addiction.

A Prayer in 2 Languages (verbal and visual) Lord, set me free from the flickering image And the addicition to constant stimulation. Still the inner noise so that I can be still enough To discern the things that matter.

Running to Win

>> Canada Files: Day 068

It's nearly Olympic time again. It's about 12 hours ahead of us, so I'm expecting a few late nights!

The Olympics are rich with spiritual parallels ... running to win, living for a long term vision, learning from failure and so on. There are some interesting insights from top athletes here ...

Bill Sweetenham, the former British Olympic swimming coach, once said:

"The Olympics is an exacting and demanding environment:
If there is any flaw in your character
or your personal preparation,
The Olympics will find it!"

Being in Canada, being a parish minister, has certainly done that with great (and sometimes painful) clarity. But it has also drawn out the best in me.

The best coaches are gentle and tough by turns - drawing out our strengths, working on our weaknesses. I have learned a great deal about the ways of our great "Coach" this last 8 years ...

"Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves ..." (Heb 12:5)

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust. (Ps 103:13-14)

And so, in this Olympic year, a prayer:

A Prayer Lord, as I run this Olympic race And undergo its daily rigours My heart lies exposed. The race so far has stripped me of much self-delusion I know my flaws and my fallenness only too well. I am not yet the person you are making me. But your love is relentless and your discipline unending. Lord, have mercy. Finish your work in me. And yet, Lord The race so far has also revealed deep reserves Of courage and determination, and buried gold And a longing to make it to the finish. Lord, have mercy Draw out your life in me. And so, Lord, in this Olympic year I submit to your training again: Forgive what is sinful Heal what is broken Draw out what is strong That I may finish the race and receive the prize. Lord, have mercy Run the race with me.

Sign of the Day #5: Now Hiring

I wondered if this was a subliminal recruitment ad. for the American  intelligence establishment? Hint: look at the larger letters in the first sentence ...