for Love, will travel
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Near the setting sun, I'm arriving at Shreveport, Louisiana, to prayer for the city and a telephone call to Bill Ziegler, surprised at my arrival and inviting me to come deeper into this city and to his home. Thanks be to God for as many rooms He prepares for His pilgrims, and for the pleasant places of rest clothed in peace. Bill holds love for the Word, and appreciation for the written Scriptures (which have endured much a distressed history). We soon would meet together with Tom and Patti, Pat and Anna, and the realization for how a few here had been beaten down beneath discouragement, yet now being enlivened together. Men and women sitting quietly, humbly before our God. If only such humility had come to Albuquerque! Though uncanny to be sitting at the gate of a corrupt city, yet men in Christ find themselves appointed everywhere His ambassadors.
Hearing from Shreveport, the Holy Spirit confirming among that the born-again ones all have been given the spirit of counsel and wisdom; that when one member is having difficulty in seeing clearly, that the Body can give input from His Spirit in helping them; how it is ideal for husbands & wives to act in one mind; to accepting the sovereign lead of God in all things; that our meeting together need be well brought about by Christ and to His purpose. At this time, the Spirit urging toward lightening up on exegesis, and in returning to true wedding. Temptation lurks for many to be usurping the Spirit by way of scholastic exegesis (adding explanation) for what our Beloved is saying... as if the Wedding Guests crave to hear this sort of thing! Peddling southward into the murky bayou landscape of southern Louisiana, spotting the eyes of a small American alligator breaking the surface near sunset again. There are homes in the woods here that don't appear to actually have a driveway or gate in the traditional sense; sounds and scents so various... I could not identify many of them, though most were not pungent. This is a place where moisture holds ground. Soon our rudder would bring 'round toward New Orleans. NEW ORLEANS Those I came to greet in the Metairie-New Orleans coastlands were preoccupied in their religious & material devotions, yet not bearing the brand-marks of Christ. Evening at a cafe, Greg is visibly uncomfortable teaching from SBC organization guidelines. (yipe!) Mike, living in the New Orleans uptown area, his faith seemingly diverted and making no time to personally meet. BATON ROUGE A little northwest into Baton Rouge, where Paul greeted us faithfully, and with homemade natively-seasoned gumbo. Father would have Paul & me exploring the gap between lively ekklesia and the stagnant waters of Protestant faith, even as we together visited an autonomous IC in situ. Father is bringing Paul and friends through the transition from a religious system, to a living faith, as He was faithful to be completing in another Paul called by Him along the road. MOBILE Breakfast with Dale & Terry at Daphne, just outside Mobile, Alabama, and as Dale is telling me that people here go to church "to get needs met", and not for meeting together at the feet of our TALLAHASSEE Riding along a portion of the Gulf Coast was as a rolling landscape of beauty, yet soon reaching to Tallahassee, Florida, and to the northeast side where Kent and Michelle are hosting Family in Christ. And-also evening Bible study, with Jeremy Parker visiting us from another gathering nearby, and with the spice of ekklesia; cutting clean between "fact" and "truth"; watching the Spirit wrestle with these young men at table. Like Jesus, learning obedience, and in GAINESVILLE While in Gainesville, a brother posted this picture to the internet of a small trophy he had received from a member of the home fellowship there. Viewing this gold painted image, another brother among ekklesia in Pastor appreciation became part of organized religion, where pastoring is a position rather than a function. This house church [image from a document recently published by Jon Zens] Why isn't Jesus excommunicating people like in the narrow image above? Why doesn't He move us to be cutting off people who have become a real problem? Some religious systems practice excommunication or shunning, as also does the mega-sect RCC... In Christ we simple don't because Jesus and His apostles have delivered us into "the ministry of reconciliation", and not to the social snub or barricade or pious trump. His agape love is far better equipped to be communicating and sending and restoring: The Body moving in accord with what The Head is saying, rather than pushing away from Christ via acts or thoughts of excommunication (isolation). Paul's account from I Corinthians 5 & II Corinthians 2 highlights an occasion and aftermath when a brother need be put out of the ekklesia to the purpose of his own restoration, "for the whole-ruin of his flesh, that his spirit may be being saved in the day of the Lord." [Matthew 5:38-48] [I Corinthians 6:7; I Peter 3:9] What about II Thessalonians 3:14, and I Corinthians 5:9-11, where Paul is reminding us not to associate with a brother who is like this? συναναμιγνυσθαι. phonetically sounding: sunanami... ah, like "synonymous": can't tell them apart. Suffering the fidgety Bible grammar, brothers may also be carrying "baggage" of somebody's sectarianism, even to regarding anyone not in their circle as being outside the group. Writing again this year by way of reminder: there is only one group, One Body in Christ. So also we are reminding one another. Thanks be to God, Love is unmoved by the weakness or drift of English grammar. In the present age, by the Grace of God in Christ, to see to a man's restoration we will go the distance; remain hopeful and accessible and fully responsive; leaving "the 99" at home just to find a lost one --- even as our Teacher is doing. [Romans 12] With great compassion, Jesus offering His new Light into personal & Kingdom relationships. [Matthew 6:12; 20:25-28; Luke 6:22-49] Later coming to East Lawless City (descriptive name), I'm hearing from another about how being sanctified is a process [Romans 8:28; I Timothy 1:5; I John 4:19] Pastor appreciation, excommunication, and a loveless salvation... a few examples of ORLANDO In Florida, young white-morph Great Blue Herons seem to enjoy a brief ride atop slow-moving cars. Arriving at Orlando, as I went to lie down, soon realizing that there were a number of tree roots beneath the chosen spot, and thinking to get up again and move to a smoother area. But, I must've then fallen asleep upon them, and in the morning I was awakened very refreshed, with no pain or discomfort. Giving thanks to God! Our roots in Christ are breaking through, and although they appear to warrant discomfort, The Root of Christ is refreshing. Good to be greeting Matt at Orlando, as the Spirit is reviewing among us the manner of obedience that the Father desires in His children. How He anticipates the intrinsic Love of His Son responding by obedience, rather than grinding out His word or law as a set of instructions. All to the final goal of our instruction: Love from a pure heart and clean conscience and sincere faith. Striving to enter His rest; letting Jesus do the heavy lifting in the One relationship that is able to estrange us from our old rebellion and fears. [I Timothy 1:5] Greet the saints with you! May you receive in Christ faith to discerning the wholeness of the body of Christ. May you receive in Christ His wisdom above philosophy & reasonings. May you receive in Christ faith to walk in His Spirit. May you receive in Christ compassion to be forgiving of men & women. May you receive in Christ faith to going as He is going, appointing as He is appointing. The Lord is Risen! Marshall Diakon 346-707-4757 [US] skype: diakonii diakon2@gmail.com bmd.worthyhouse.info | Journey replies & ekklesia Prayer ---from USA-AL What a pleasure to be reminded of the simplicity of the Christ-Life. ---from USA-CA May the Lord continue to bless you along your journey! It is a pleasure to hear that Father is doing a mighty work in His ekklesia across the country. ---from MALAYSIA Pray for me as I seek God on starting Miri Simple Church, especially for persons who are not attending any churches at the moment. ---from USA-SC We recently left a Baptist setting to be coming together as ekklesia. Pray for the gathering here to be receiving direction by the Spirit and Word of God. ---from TANZANIA Pray for our many neighbors who are suffering sickness and conditions of poor health that tend to go neglected. ---from USA-LA Pray for brother Ralph who is testifying of Christ and giving warnings from a traditional church pulpit where his words are falling upon hard ground. Pray him full clearance and in power to confronting deadness & wickedness & deception with the Way and the Truth and the Life. ---from SPAIN A tough assignment for us coming to the Orgiva area, that is well known for it's cosmopolitan population & the large number of hippie/new age people there. We are looking forward to the challenge though. Prayers for us. ---from USA-FL Pray for us as we meet together to be learning and doing the Scriptures, and to inviting Jesus among us; to praise Him much more highly than repeating "praise you". May God, by His Spirit, help each one to be doing those things that the Son in bringing and the Spirit is instructing |
Dear brothers & sisters among the ekklesia, |
Winter sojourn in Florida, sighting just one citrus grove. Like to One body that is together of heart and mind with Christ as Head. Travel and pray with me to the joy of the Father
TAMPA Meeting David, Debi, Selah, Uriah, Mercy, Sid, Angelica, and as David is expressing hope that men & women who today may be blaming religious systems, are not dodging their responsibility to be listening to the Good Shepherd's call. He was also quick to remind us in how we had been called to repent, and not narrowly to repent from sins. Selah, who is about Yet near jeopardy, Tampa's premise of "big is bad" cannot sustain them. May all and together be knowing Christ as He is --- far greater than religious forms scaled-down. So persists our prayer for Tampa. THE PENINSULA Crossing Tampa Bay into Clearwater, and on to Pinellas Park where Don Fizell is relating to me, from his backyard, how people's preferences had partnered with little-faith so to eventually unravel [II Corinthians 4:8; I Timothy 1:5] BRADENTON & RIVERVIEW In Bradenton, there had once been a gathering at Ben's house, and so I went to see Ben and to ask of his welfare. Ben could well be Simon, as a fisherman; a crabber (stone crab, blue crab) and a man who has come to believe by the power of God. On his doorstep, he briefly told me how the Spirit had drawn 32 together, and of another brother suggesting that so many was then just too many. Instead of awaiting consensus in the Spirit of Christ with a packed house, the sheep were soon divided as men, and scattered thereafter. As one of the brothers is pointing out, much apathy is accumulating here. Seeing apathy as a cause for division becomes enough to make the heart ache. Only God yet knows what will become of a field previously sown with spiritual seed of Scot & Rita at Bradenton host a gathering on Sunday mornings, and it was here that our shared advance began to bloom victory over offenses. Made together as the Family of God in Christ, no personal offense can be demanding license to perturb us. Yet, our brother was being tugged back toward the fleshly mind anxious [Revelation 21:7-8] Visiting for Bible study with a few families at John's house along the Manatee River, and as John is teaching from 1st John about Salvation in Christ without fellowship with God. How may this be? Our brother's source on his lap tonight is a study outline prepared for John bar Zebedee's long-treasured letter. Being aware how Bible learning can be tilted toward whatever we wish or imagine, as today it remains a prevalent mode by Protestant pulpits toward tailored teachings --- something that ekklesia has at times been held in suspect. But truly, the council of Christ would till no ground for sowing of doctrinal distinctives or so-called practical theology. If we had been together as ekklesia, our teacher tonight might have been promptly reproved for offering divisive reasonings. Not to say on that night the younger John quite understood the gravity of misstep. Many within the sphere of weak-end church systems have been scammed to trust sects, schools & scholarship Sects [αιρεσεις: airs; preferences; heresies] are among the works of the flesh mentioned by letter to Christ-followers in the ancient region of Galatia. As we have received Christ, no longer to be factioning His body --- or dividing the mind. Paul is writing, "it must be that there are sects among y'all, that the tested ones may be becoming apparent in/among you". There are brothers in many places proving skillful in Christ to disabling schism traps. [I Corinthians 11:18-19; Colossians 1:17] Even from the 2nd century, without receiving of the power of God in them, religious & philosophic men have presumed to elevate teachings rather than Christ. [II Timothy 4:3-4; I Peter 3:18-21] Consciousness. Did you catch that? Your συν-ειδη-σεως points to the sum and collective-chorus of your physical senses/perception. What is our Father up to, graciously bringing within His child a good/clean consciousness? This is about the way we perceive the world around us. Without His cleansing renewal of our means to sensibility, many false and conflicted impulses continue to ricochet in while we are among convoluted throngs and thralls of daemons & humanity. If not for Christ in us, we might mistakenly perceive a stranger where there is a brother/sister; fraudulently be sensing [I Timothy 1; Hebrews 9:14] Steve and I would visit others in the Bradenton area, and-also travel 50 miles NNE to Riverview, where the saints gathered together toward listening for the voice of God, the One faithful in what He has revealed. Well worthy a bit of travel time to be greeting the ekklesia at Riverview. SARASOTA at Sarasota brother Marc is sharing, That we may participate in the divine nature of Jesus. Not by the accumulation of Bible knowledge, yet by the knowledge in Him. Taking in His Life that we may be speaking His Life. Miracle at Sarasota, how this gathering seamlessly transitioned out of a book study. Thanking Father to be observing consensus, in joy, and faith to be pressing thru, with eyes fixed upon Jesus. As in Seattle, Portland, LAKELAND Upon entering a home in central Florida, you may remove your shoes --- if doing so is to your comfort. Florida presents culture that celebrates the happiness of the individual. While in Lakeland, spotting this large cake in the sky (with antennae dressed to look like candles). Also at Lakeland, meeting the Ross Family, for decades building a life-story of faith in God while about a traveling ministry, yet gradually lured to this present world's system: abiding physicians willing to be crafting aches & pains into chronic medical conditions --- the feeding of trust in men, where their had previously been faith-trust in God. I am cautioned even to perceiving the effect of Social Security [retirement plan] in supplanting our Father's life plan & provision for His children. Brothers, sisters, know that the world around us is system-governed in the primary objective of your shipwreck apart from Christ. [Jeremiah 17:5; Romans 8:13; SPACE COAST Rain in Florida is to filling 11 million acres of wetlands. Following 2 days of downpour, arriving in Titusville. Parking the bicycle in the palm forest beneath the stars, I was awakened just before midnight to a man standing at my feet. Justice appeared as if lost on the trail. From the torch in my pocket, I was showing him what led to a cull-d-sac at our left, and then upon the narrow path at our right. He chose to the right, thanking me for help. Settling in again, I wondered also for the simplicity in pointing men along the path of Christ. At a Bible study in Titusville, urging brothers to revise from offering opinion, and so rather be speaking the oracles of God. [Luke 8; II Corinthians 9:9-11] ORLANDO Returning to Orlando, confirming 3 remaining. Now into southeast Orlando, meeting at Mike & Diane's house. Their experience in community forming alongside a missions agency located next-door. On this day, they shared together in Christ of having no confidence in the flesh; "have Your way with me"; how movements can feel like effort while actually amounting to our laziness; trusting God throughout the scale of our challenges along the Road to Jericho. [Philippians 3:3; Luke 10:29-37] Greet the saints with you! Charis or, May you receive in Christ faith to complementing every facet of Christ's body. May you receive in Christ Father's cleansing for good perception. May you receive in Christ great hope in His Spirit. May you receive in Christ freedom from clinging to preferences. May you receive in Christ faith to going as He is going, overcoming as He is overcoming. The Lord is Risen! Marshall Diakon 346-707-4757 [US] skype: diakonii diakon2@gmail.com bmd.worthyhouse.info | Journey replies & ekklesia Prayer ---from USA-CA So good to hear from you and to receive report of the ekklesia. All is well here as God shows Himself strong among us. We are seeing noticeable changes among the disciples as the Lord Jesus completes the work He began in them. It is very exciting for us. " ---from USA-OH Thank for keeping me updated on your path with the Lord and on how the Spirit is moving in the home churches. As you are seeing it is a rare find when a church maintains the apostle's teachings and patterns. That teach Jesus Christ as life and our source for all things. Our home church could not maintain those precious things so is no longer together. You keep the faith and finish the race. Teach and encourage the brethren along the Way. Grace be with your spirit. ---from USA-PA Thank you, Marshall for sharing this much needed truth. I don't think people realize, that in the Home Fellowship/Home Church, it is not only liberating from legalism and man-made rules & regulations, but gives us such a rare opportunity to worship in its purest form as the NT church started out. ---from Europe Good to hear from you and I trust you are well and blossoming in the Lord. Thanks for the heads up on your travels. ---from USA-FL I am just reading over the letter you sent regarding the church in various faith communities. Wow. both an encouragement and an indictment. ---from USA-OK We would now have God's plan carried thru prayers into our knowledge and understanding of His for purpose for our Fellowship together. What a joy to serve such an awesome God! ---from USA-HI May Our Dear Lord Jesus Christ provide safety, peace and provisions for your journeys. You are an inspiration for this home church and my self. Be encourage and having done all Stand! Keep on Keeping On, Peace unto the Brethren. ---from USA-IL Your words continue to sharpen, encourage and inspire me. I must admit that I covet your adventures and your willing bravery just a little bit. I pray that if the Lord calls me to go out in some manner as you have, that I will be as willing. ---from South Africa Pray that we may be given a hunger & burning desire to fellowship more closely with Jesus. ---from USA-OH Pray for us as we embark on this God thing called the ekklesia, which we do not want to touch with our own hands, but are a part of by His grace. ---from USA-CA Father, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I pray for your ekklesia all over the world; especially those in the trenches doing the work you have called them to do. Let your light penetrate this dark and dying world with a renewed understanding of the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ. By the power of you Holy Spirit give your church and a new understanding of the simple truths you would have us understand. Guide your church into full maturity until the return of our Savior. ---from the Phillipines thanks brothers and sisters in the Lord for this encouraging update from your end. Please continue to pray for us here in Tagum, that the birthing of a true simple and organic house church will come soon, a ministry that will be used by God for the deliverance of many who are in bondage with the power of darkness. The Lord Jesus through His Spirit will soon find a way for us to have a gathering. God be with us always. ---from USA-PA The Spirit of God is stirring in me to the gathering of the ekklesia. Pray as we receive direction, for both me and my wife. |
After our last meeting friends in Christ along Florida's space coast, journey with us among echoes and ekklesia in the US southeast: into north Jacksonville, being greeted warmly by Chuck Riggleman and a larger small-group at his home, exploring how our relationship with Christ, day or night, is key to distinguishing the yolk He is bearing with us from other ropes & chains. Soon after, a visit to a VCF/Vineyard event with John Wimbur's daughter, reminding how the vital Spirit of Christ is too often held hostage outside the doorway of religious minimums. A few days later, with brothers at a village called Bayard, considering the cost and outcome of community in Christ. Sunday, greeted to the Dudley ranch, as the Spirit is urging us beyond our intellectual pattern of knowing about Him, that we might truly know Christ alive and in us.
At Jax (local short for Jacksonville), cautioned to see a man's knowledge rush beyond his faith. Like a grand sailing ship, tall-masted and bearing little wind for its sails; the oaring crew soon exhausted with frustration on-deck; navigation gradually giving way to drift. Here meeting Gene Edwards and the few who still come together, to perceiving the "Summer Tree" community had formed intentional community plum atop would-be faith community, so declining beneath the framework of methodology and promise broken. If I'm following alongside someone who is unable to trust God with me, so fragile will be our relationship. Confidence in Christ being essential to our confronting challenges together! Faith declared by men can encourage and inform us, yet faith-trust comes out from a tiding heard, and-of the tiding through a declaration/rhema from The God. Later at Richmond, I would be meeting someone who so much reminded me of Gene. Pray for the elder folk, and as we are encouraging them to be pressing forward, alongside, in Christ --- no longer clinging to worthless or partial things. May no wineskin among the ekklesia lapse to old. [Luke 5:37-39; Romans 10:17; I Thessalonians 3:8; Hebrews 5:12] Experiencing an "all day" living parable while leaving Florida. US Hwy 17, and the bridge to Georgia is out. Apparently, it has been closed for more than a year: it's being repainted. Before I came near the old bridge, foolishly heeding a red bicycle detour sign; then after 15 miles, 95F degrees and out of water, resolved to annul that sign. Later, maps suggesting how this detour for bicycles would have taken me ~100 miles roundabout! Midday under +90% relative humidity, Father was merciful to be showing me a water spicket outside a "church with a big heart" Baptist denomination building. The good water, turned bad at that cottage country Baptist property reminds me of how many start out fresh, then soon after tapped into a milky-muck of faith-via-institution. At Jacksonville, encountering some convinced that an ekklesia must be brought together and guided by a worker. Saints at Colossi may have lacked an apostle or worker before Paul is later writing to greet them. Some men also from here denying such as a Damascus Road experience for souls. We are cautioned for tradition building so rampant in the well-intended patterns of men, and for those launching out from any system-borrowed hermeneutic. Our Father is not submitting into their boxes. Much rather we trust the Holy Spirit to the working of His teaching. Instruction or training may come by way of a "teacher", while our learning must be enabled in & thru the Spirit of the Living God. Method-as-requisite, so obviously refuted throughout the Acts of the Apostles, cleverly redirecting even hopeful men far out of the Way, even as this US [Matthew 19:14; James 3:11] BRUNSWICK Yes, at Brunswick, a faithful little small group visibly holding honor among a large table of IC pastors from the area. While there, I spent a workday with brother Carl as we went about town repairing people's furniture. Carl's journey is to all enduring together (now more than 10 years). While at Brunswick, also perceiving a Southern work ethic robbing men and families of their allotment in Kingdom Life. When we would be building what God has already established, the best outcome we can hope for is a replica; a In southern Georgia, colorful painted curtains on some of the resident's windows. As from journey 2006, northeastern Florida and far-southern Georgia raising images of little in this present world. A sign further along on US 17, "Jesus is the way to a better life", announcing a gospel of moralism. In truth, Jesus is the Way to the Life of the Father. We are not unaware for how false gospels continue to post & pulpit throughout pagan Christianity. Recently, our sister Deborah being overheard: ekklesia is not a social club or a version of a PBS educational channel. It is not even a social services agency: it is of the very Body of Christ in which we now live and breathe and move and have SAVANNAH At Savannah with Bobby Auner, to discovery that a number had been set back across town when weakness & division was permitted to prevail. Bobby's family is to joy beyond description. Yet, something is restraining their confidence in Christ. Riding downtown to 54th to be visiting a group curious by their specialization: a technical focus upon spiritual things. Thanking Father how they seem to know where faith ought be taking them, and as we must depend upon Him to effecting faith. A prayer, that we may together avoid spiritism taking hostage of souls who would see themselves heir-apparent to late 20th century revivalism. COLUMBIA The outcome of the gospel is our adoption into the Family of God. With David Gregory for a few days at West Columbia, surprised to be watching him ardently pursuing the desires of the flesh and the love of money, and this at ~75 years of age. Vanity from a man's youth seldom retires without first succumbing to the transforming work of Christ. That the Holy Spirit might be remaining upon the man! ekklesia at Columbia, though small, enlivened into the Love of God, and aware for one another. Yet David is here assuming that we're against him through our asking him to step away from danger and to faith-trust in Christ for all. Hearing of David's children similarly being sold into the world, we mourn the death of the Gregory family; yet aware our God is still able to revive and raise the dead --- the only One able to bring a man to turn and live. You don't actually know Me, do you? Weatherman boasting no chance for rain Tuesday night at Winsboro, but Father said Yes and at YORK In 2007, we began corresponding with Jeffrey & Alina Parrott, as they set out to journeying across the My confession has been 'no matter what circumstances may come or how my emotions may scream I trust you Father.' My life and mindset has been changing significantly! Daily we seek. I have found this is a key to the Kingdom. Everything we do is through faith. 'It is impossible to please God without faith.' [Hebrews 11:6] 2009 with their arrival in South Carolina, then hearing from Jeffrey less often, reluctantly acknowledging that he may have set his hands to building with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. [I Corinthians 3:10-13; I Peter 2] CHARLOTTE The Rogers home welcoming on a Saturday night, sharing food together at Lake Wylie on the Carolina's border, southwest of Charlotte. Here being encouraged to moving away from complacency. brother Joel had recently received diagnosis of a fatal lung condition, and on this night the Spirit of Christ bringing restoration in Joel's body, for which we rejoiced memorably. Rising up to take the shofar, Joel lets go a blast into the heavens! Truly our Savior is to saving us! We're more than 8 years late responding to an invitation from Greg & Helms at The Family Tree Hyaets community, and now David Johnson (from Rock Hill) is also coming alongside for morning prayer with young friends here. This is a place of love and perseverance. As an inner-city community, abundant opportunities present for helping neighbors and growing together in Christ. With a diligent love for others, extraordinary love for Jesus and His Father will be sustaining. Pray for The Family in His unfailing love. Crossing this Queen City into northeast Charlotte, coming to meet the Knapp family who had heard a herald of Christ while in New York during the 70s Jesus Movement, and having since encountered some who were wanting to return to the Law (rather than Christ) as our Source. Notably curious regarding the faceted history of house church, Don & Elizabeth were welcoming and thoughtful toward each encouraging word we might bring. Charlotte is being slow to permit dialogue as ideal over the old monologue practices of philosophers and sectarian religion, and to consequence of minimal learning. By this, I am witnessing tendency to be reviewing the past, rather than knowing Christ in the present. Remember also this house for courage to receiving the new while releasing the old. PIEDMONT TRIAD Caveat for the house making their walk into isolation, with families bathed in fear. At Thomasville, ekklesia meeting in simplicity and as the Spirit is bringing us to confessing short-falls and what had become a growing frustration: a witness to the hurting people in a community where the primary manufacturing industry (furniture) had suffered a crushing near-death beneath the so-called subprime banking/government speculative noose circa RALEIGH of The Triangle Throughout the land, there can be heard the calling of Christ, and this amidst a weekly cattle call along the path of folly. At Holly Springs, with David and Rob and family sharing dinner together and a little of our journey; our own deaths and providential exits out of religious system. On to Fuquay-Varina, meeting Randy Jordan. As Father enabled, we would rendezvous with Randy for a number of visits in the Raleigh area. Randy's on-going record of visits among Christ-followers here serving to drawing all together. Sunday in Raleigh, visiting a transitional gathering as we mark the character & confidence that we have received in Christ. Monday night, Relationship Over Religion at a pizza sports bar, where we're tackling several God over mammon stories shared; how the Spirit of Christ is delivering us from fears about being without money. Wednesday night at Tom's house, with evidence & account of overcoming fears; freedom from psychotropic drugging; health that follows faith-trust in the Great Physician --- It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Being at table together, and rejoicing among the ekklesia to share news of the grace and power of our God in a few places, and then the hour so soon becoming late. Reminded of our deepest desire to abide in the Vine; to be knowing The Lamb of God; to be known by Him. The marvel of His direct and His victory translating us through each new day, renewing our minds, joining our hearts by His own. Into the next week, and lunch together at Steve's house. Joy and thanksgiving for all the Spirit of God has been establishing within the saints who shine His Light to Raleigh area. His calling out, drawing together. Though a few, yet learning obedience through any suffering. The revelation of Christ among them to His glory! Faith, hope and Love. Abandoning of former religious & social plans; receiving grace to be patient with all men. Honored to have greeted these brothers & sisters, along with a number just now becoming learners of Christ that they also may have eyes for only Him and be entering into His Life. [Galatians 5:1] Greet the saints with you! Charis or, May you receive in Christ joy to complementing every facet of Christ's body. May you receive in Christ His freedom from methodology. May you receive in Christ full faith and bold confidence in Him. May you receive in Christ every prayer to His glory. The Lord is Risen! Marshall Diakon 346-707-4757 [US] skype: diakonii diakon2@gmail.com bmd.worthyhouse.info | Journey replies & ekklesia Prayer ---from USA-PA thank you so much for sharing. It is good to be able to hear of what is going on in other Home Fellowships/Churches. We need to remember to pray for each other... it's vital. We've been blessed with a united fellowship for ---from USA-CA Pray for us, as we strive to be good disciples of the King of kings and Lord of lords, and strive in reaching out to the vast city called ---from Tajikistan Pray as girls from our home are helping other girls that are in the streets and we gather girls together twice a week from the streets, to feed and help, also guys from the streets. ---from USA-NC We pray for our brothers and sisters meeting today across town. ---from USA-MI After reading the latest report of the churches in Florida and your journeys my heart burns in a way I am trying to comprehend. I seek to know Christ in the depths perceiving as He is and knowing as He knows, being one possessing a clean consciousness free from all of the opinion of man including my own, not being timid but bold in Christ to live before Him and let Him love through me. May the glory of Christ continue to be manifest ever more in His body. Amen! ---from Tanzania Please pray for the Church that meets at Mariam's house [Mathare slums, Nairobi, Kenya]. They are sharing their faith, their food and they are in need. They are joyful, but they are in great need. ---from USA-LA So good to hear from you. Enjoy your letters always. Any plans to come back through Baton Rouge area? ... We are also eager to reunite with our family in Christ Jesus again soon down in the Bayou country south of New Orleans. They are dear saints and have continued in the Lord since we left in 2010. Still planting and making disciples for Jesus here. It is a slow go. This is a very religious area and harder to break through with the Gospel than it is with a formally Catholic background. But we continue in His strength. Be of good cheer and ---from USA-OK Pray for Carlous Jackson and Pastor Mac, two servants of Christ in prison. ---from USA-FL Thanks for the encouraging words of God and the reminders of sufficiency in Him. Praying for you and the body today. ---from USA-CA God bless you and keep you on your journey. May his light shine brightly within you as you minister righteousness and love to the children of God. ---from Canada if you're ever up in southern canada, please come by for a visit ---from USA-VA Prayer for the ekklesia in the USA to be rising above growing fear and turbulence in American-western society. ---from USA-DE We are currently gathering together in our home as a family of the Family of God. Pray that we may be coming together with others who live nearby and know the simplicity that is in Christ. |
Knowing not of the storm approaching Orlando, Florida, You brought me from that place to Steve, in Deland. Steve doesn't so much see you as "Father" and he says, "Never before has the world been in such a great need to reason.." so thinking the logos to be in the distribution of human reason, afraid for what all is coming to earth; dying beneath the same fears that Your True Logos has since swept away from my soul.
All that You arranged in Jacksonville, like a parable to Your Household this day. At Chuck's home, a few meeting together who wish to enjoy you as Father though yet without the full-but-light burden Your Son has unpacked for our shoulders: the burden of Love and to the war above. Paradox, how-that You send Your children to the forefront of conflict as more courageous than knights! Out of the mouth of little children and sucklings You founded strength, and this on-account of Your foes, to cause them to cease from being an enemy avenger. One child believes that all his shortfalls and misdeeds are forgiven before he finishes them, consequently finding little purpose in what You had John writing-out: about confessing and being forgiven Make it possible, I would ask, for us to leave the rebellion of Catholicism and Protestantism and other -isms without adding more rebellion to theirs. Sandy Hook and Chesterfield, Virginia, bristling with the stubbornness of man, to having Your assembly as we want it, and this beneath the cause of proving Your ekklesia legitimate in our interpretive eyes... because we trusted in what we know, rather than in getting to knowing You. Doubting Your providence, and yet You spoke mercy to the man fearing for his own. Day by day, I mark Your patience with us all as profound, Father, and today I heard my brother Clark, You're taking me up to Luray in the Appalachia for a winter season. Recalling that abandoned sub-prime house in Returning to Thomasville and the Piedmont of North Carolina, You then took me to witness the Carty arrested assembly at High Point, where Your Good News had years before been pared and amended by a missionary to producing sterility and a termination in my generation. How many have planted as-like this? Surely You know. Later at the Ezzard house, Stantonsburg, the Carty Pattern haunting their small group into stasis. Caught in the falling snow half-way to Raleigh, while You are hearing my prayer --- You are melting the ice away. An honor to be returning so soon in Your appellation, and right on into a fight to the death. At first, As You had arranged to show Your overriding purpose in the ages, To the Cradock community of Portsmouth, and up to an attic apartment, where Don is hosting a few gathered. Was it only 4 hours? ...as we acknowledged together cultural tangles to the message of Your Prince and His Kingdom in Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Africa... East to West, to Your praise, men hearing of the greatest gift of Your Son for the world to know. Places where systems of theology fail as there exists no western cultural norm upon which to saddle or cradle Your Reality... so the love and life of Christ to triumph as coming in simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ Joy to be greeting Thomas and Richard at Chester, Virginia. The recount of how You brought them out from pastoring two churches. As has been said, The Lord is Risen! --marshall diakon 346-707-4757 [US] diakon2@gmail.com bmd.worthyhouse.info | journey replies: ---from AFRICA Hello Diakon, thank you so much for sharing this. May the Lord bless you and keep you. ---from EUROPE Like you, we are saddened by those who set out well but end up in compromise and back in the system they know to be so much less than the Lord wants. ---from USA-NC thanks for keeping us informed about your journeys through the country to encourage the Family. ---from USA-WA So Good to hear from you, it's been a while. Reading of your observation of the body of Christ in your travels is like reading the book of acts in today's world. Really appreciate God leading you by our way. ---from CANADA really good to receive your update! I am on a totally new learning curve now. ---from USA-CA I would like to say a small prayer for the brothers and sisters of the Ekklesia all over the world; that we all be strong and endure the race set before us until the very end. And, that we may be worthy of overcoming the Enemy and his devices to distract us from trusting, believing and walking in faith with our Savior and each other. ---from USA-PA God bless you brother in arms. ---from AUSTRALIA Thank you for the update, brother Marshall. Always encouraged to hear how our Lord is restoring His church to the simplicity in Him. ---from EUROPE Thanks for the update. Lots to digest. So will read it all more fully over the next few days. Will be praying that Our Father blesses you in all you do. May you know His favour, supply and divine appointments that open doors into both hearts and new areas of ministry. |