Seeking the Lost

The talk this week at the HSI Communities was about Seeking Lost Sheep, which is one of the main reasons for the existence of the church. Sadly, however, this seems to have slipped way down in the list of priorities with most churches becoming chest thumping grounds for the self-righteous rather than places of refuge for the lost. This turned out to be one of my most powerful talks, although it's likely to make a lot of people mad!

Spiritual Gifts

Christmas is a time for gifts, but there is no better or greater gift giver than our Father in heaven. Not only did he give us his son Jesus, he gave us His Holy Spirit as well, along with bundles of gifts through him. We looked at Spiritual Gifts this week.

For Such A Time As This

The theme of the conference I attended in Malaysia was "For such a time as this", based on the story of Queen Esther. The message, which impacted me deeply, was one that I shared at the HSI Community meetings this week. I'll put the notes up shortly and make a determined effort to get notes out on every talk I give henceforth.

2nd CCR Leaders Conference for Asia-Oceania

I don't really fit into the slot of a CCR leader, but I decided to accept the invitation by one of the local parish priests - Fr. Ani Xavier - who heads the local chapter of the Charismatic Renewal to come for a leader's conference in Malaysia. I was glad that I accepted the invitation. Not only did I get to meet some anointed people of God, it was nice to have the opportunity to listen to preachers for a change (as opposed to preaching). One of them, a gentleman from Ghana called Mark Nemo, was particularly brilliant, and I returned to Dubai a happier man.

May God bless the Renewal with a fresh anointing and raise a new breed of Spirit filled leaders who will mirror Christ to all who see them.

Come All You Who Are Thirsty

Just before I travelled to Lebanon to address some of their political leaders I was beset with a sudden bout of inadequacy and unworthiness, wondering why on earth I was going to speak to people I knew nothing about. The night before I was to fly I went to my office and cried out to God to give me a sign that this mission was indeed his will and not simply something I wanted to do in foolish arrogance. After nearly half an hour of waiting for him to speak to me, he opened his mouth and told me to refer to his word. A little sceptically I flipped open the Bible only to find myself on Isaiah 55. If God had ever spoken to me through his word, it was this time and by the time I reached the end of it, all doubt was gone and I knew that I was to embark on one of the greatest missions of my life. This became the subject of my first talk after I returned.

Discerning God's Will

We'd all like to do God's will, but how does one discern it, really? Largely inspired by Peter Kreeft, this was the subject of the talk in the HSI Community in Sharjah today.

Lebanon 3: Talk to the Political Leaders

Telelumiere, an international Arabic language TV station operating out of Beirut, had organized a meeting of Christian political leaders in Lebanon and had invited me to deliver the keynote address. There were about two dozen of them in attendance, and I spoke to them for a little under an hour about the need to make a change to the country by incorporating Christ in their lives and in their policies. The session, which was broadcast live, would, over the next week, be telecast nearly a dozen times reaching an estimated audience of over 7 million people world wide!

In the evening I returned to the Franciscan Capuchin Friary in Mtayleb where I had an informal, but very anointed session with some old friends and some new.

Lebanon 3: Meeting the Patriarch

My third mission to Lebanon was even more extraordinary than the two preceding and given that both those were really spectacular, this was truly saying something.

I received a surprise invitation to meet the Patriarch of Lebanon His Beatitude Beshara Rai, who heads the Maronite Christians, on the first day of my two day trip. I found him a humble, gracious man who seemed very happy to meet us. He had already heard about me, and that was quite flattering.

In the evening I received another unexpected invitation to preach in a local Maronite church whose pastor was a gregarious man named Agnelo. He invited us to his house after the service and I was blessed to meet his family in addition to a sumtious dinner.

The Surrendered Life

My first talk after my return from the US was on living The Surrendered Life. I was extremely jet lagged but felt myself moved to speak on the subject and I was glad that I did because it was a very anointed session.

Discipleship Program in New York

My final mission in the United States ended in great style with a full day Discipleship Program in St. William the Abbot Church, New York. With a fantastic choir to back me, it was a very anointed session and I knew I could return to Dubai with a satisfaction of a mission well accomplished. Return invitations to New York as well means that my return here is definite in Spring 2012.

Discipleship Program in Culpeper, Virginia

I hadn't planned on doing anything in Culpeper, Virginia except work on my books and do a few sessions with the youth. But God obviously had other plans, and a prayer with a young thirteen year old boy named Andrew, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, led to me being invited to preach the Discipleship Program in a local parish. Boosted by a newspaper article about a preacher from Dubai, nearly 100 people attended the program that resulted in the formation of a new HSI Community, the first in the United States of America. But certainly not the last.

Discipleship Program in Burlington, North Carolina

My second mission to the USA started with a four hour Discipleship Program in Blessed Sacrament Church, Burlington, followed by a two hour session with the youth. This came close on the heals of an hour and a half long talk yesterday evening with one of the local communities. All were wonderful sessions, resulting in invitations to return in the Spring for more sessions in other parishes.

From Little Acorns Grow Mighty Oaks

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people (Matthew 14:19). This week I spoke of how God does mighty things from the little that we freely give.

Lebanon: Second Missionary Journey

The schedule for my second mission to Lebanon has been confirmed. It is pretty packed, but I am sure I'll be able to get in a few sights in the middle of it all!

Sep 20: Notre Dame De La Semence, Maameltein (8 pm)
Sep 21: LIVE Interview on Tele Lumiere (10 am)
Sep 21: St. Raphael Chaldean Catholic Church, Baabda (4 pm)
Sep 21: Lady of Lebanon, Harissa (9.30 pm)
Sep 22: Talk at TeleLumiere, Dora (9 am)
Sep 22: St Elias Church, Antelias (8 pm)
Sep 23: St Francis Church, Mteileb (10 am)
Sep 24: Monastery of St. Elisha, Besharri (12 noon)
Sep 25: St Joseph Church, Tabaris, Achrafieh (11.30 am)
Sep 25: St Rafka Church, Himlaya (6 pm)
Sep 26: Lady Of Maaounat Church, Boulogne (7 pm)
I had made a lot of friends there on my last visit and look forward to renewing acquaintances and making new ones.

Running for the Prize

We continued the series on how to be more like Jesus with a talk based on Paul’s advice to the Corinthians on Running for the Prize (1 Cor 9:24-27). The more I look at the talks I am giving, the more I realize that this is truly the way for Christians to journey!

Getting Away From It All

In a world where everything from cell phones to pagers and people to parties compete for your attention it is vital that we "Get Away From It All" to be alone with God. That was the subject of the talk I gave this week at the HSI Communities and even as I gave it I realized I was onto the most tranformational subject since the Discipleship Program years ago. To be like Jesus we have to do the things he did, live the kind of lifestyle that he did.

Taming the Tongue

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be (James 3:9-10). We looked at how to tame our tongues this week.

Discipleship Program in St. Michael's Church, Sharjah

The three day Discipleship Program concluded in St. Michael's Church, Sharjah today. The church was packed. The audience was responsive. The anointing was huge. The parish priest was appreciative. And I was pleased, although Bob Dylan sang "Blowing in the Wind" to me for the rest of the night!

The God Possessed

Once God touches us, he possesses us. When he possesses us, he preserves us. Then he uses us. That was the essence of the talk on being God possessed, which is what all of us are. Unfortunately, most of us spend our time talking about being possessed by the devil. He is a defeated enemy!

The Power of Forgiveness

The talk this week on the power of forgiveness was a follow up to the previous week's talk on outrageous love. There was a time when I used to give this talk every few weeks; it was almost a year since I spoke at forgiveness in the communities as a full subject.

Outrageous Love

Outrageous is defined as greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation. That's what God's love is like, but we sometimes fail to realize it. The talk in the HSI Communities this week was an eyeopener, and although presented in quite a different style from my usual vehemence, touched those it needed to touch.

Communities Meet

Because the new Asian Community in Dubai met at the same time as the HSI Community in Fujairah, I wasn't able to go to the latter very often; in fact I hadn't been there in a couple of months since the new one started. It troubled me, but there didn't seem to be much I could do about it, until somebody suggested I take the new guys with me to Fujairah one day. I mooted the idea with the group and it was well accepted, so this Friday morning, a bus load of us (45 in all) took off to the tiny Emirate. Not only was the session tremendously anointed, the experience seemed to bond everybody closer together, and I figured we'd do this more often in the future. (The picture is of the Asian community in front of the bus that took us there. I think there are a few still in the bus when the picture was taken. We had a guest from the Lebanese community with us.)

Trial of Faith

We continued our talk of last week (Surving Storms) with a deeper look at faith and how God uses the trials we undergo in our lives to grow us in faith. This session was tremendously anointed. I always mean to put up notes of the talks, but there is simply too much on my lap to do so now.

Testimonies

We have begun inviting people to share how their lives have been changed through this ministry and the testimonies have been powerful. I will share some of these here.

Here is Rania's testimony. When I first saw Rania in Lebanon, she was sitting in the front row of the auditorium where I was giving a talk. She had tubes coming out of her, attached to a stand, and I felt my soul hurt seeing her like that. I couldn't help but wonder how our Father in heaven felt and if he would heal her. He did.

And this is what Leena had to share. God healed her of water retention problems, delivered her of a habit of smoking, and taught her to laugh :)

Surviving Storms

Mildred gave this talk and I was supposed to add my piece at the end of it, but we ran out of time. Her talk was really good, though, and I really marveled at how she has matured as a preacher. I will expand on stuff that she said the following week.

Being Totally Blessed

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, tells them: “I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.” We, too, are all meant to carry with us a full measure of Christ’s blessings. Regretfully, many of us don’t. We learnt how to be totally blessed in the HSI Community meetings this week.

Meet the Comforter

Last week we caught the fire of the Holy Spirit. This week we learned how to keep it burning.

Pentecost: Catch the Fire

Traditionally, the sessions we have been having over the years to commemorate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost have been tremendous and this year was no exception. It was power packed. Watch the DVD if you can.

At the Right Hand of God

Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. What does he do there? We looked at the answers to this interesting question this week in the HSI Communities and they were answers that uplifted, even as they surprised.

Living Stones

We are the Living Stones that comprise the building called the Church, built around the cornerstone that is Jesus. The way we live our lives determine the quality of the Church. How, then, should we live it? We looked at the answer to this question (and others) this week.

Power in the Blood

There is immense power in the blood of Christ, but many among us don't have a complete understanding of the significance of this power and its application in our lives. We looked at this important subject this week at the HSI Communities. The prayer session that followed this was amazing.

Breathing Life into Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37 tells a powerful story of God breathing life into dry bones. We believe that God is doing the same thing today: in the world, in the Church, and in the people. Breathing Life into Dry Bones was the message of hope this week.

HSI Lebanese Community

Spent some time with the HSI Lebanese Community this evening, marveling at the way that God works in the lives of his children. Every single person there is on fire for Jesus and it is awe inspiring to see.

Harvest

They say there is no rest for the wicked. Doesn't seem to be much for the holy either! :) Despite arriving only this morning, I found myself giving a talk at the HSI Community in St. Francis of Assisi Church, Jebel Ali in the evening. And although I was quite tired, the talk, titled Harvest, turned out to be a pretty good one. Should get on Veritas TV soon.

Mission Accomplished

Done in Africa, at least for this time, we were on a plane back home in the evening. I got upgraded once again, and this time I enjoyed what Business Class had to offer, rather than sleep it out as I had on the way in. As much as I love going on mission, spreading the word of God, I am never as happy as when I'm back home, and this time I was happier still because it was the end of my adventures for at least another three months.

Earlier in the day we went sightseeing, taking in one of the many Ethiopian Orthodox churches in the city. A large number of religions are traditionally practiced in Ethiopia, the most numerous today being Orthodox Christianity, followed by Islam. It was one of the first Christian countries in the world, having officially adopted Christianity as the state religion in the 4th century. 

Those who know their Bible would probably remember how Philip met an Ethiopian eunuch on the desert road that led from Jerusalem to Gaza and explained the Scriptures to him. Immediately after this, the eunuch asked to be baptized and took his faith with him to his country. This story is told in the eighth chapter of the book of Acts.

Back to Addis Ababa

We set off at ten in the morning on the long road to Addis Ababa, avoiding donkeys, cows, camels and goats on the way, going through a sand storm, followed by a rain storm, finally arriving at the Comboni Sisters convent well past 6 in the evening.

We had stopped by for lunch at a country club, which was so posh, it seemed quite incongruous in the middle of its simpler surroundings. The lunch was good, however, as was the company. Fr. Joseph drove us the 10 hours it took us to reach Addis. You'd never say this was a 65 year old man!

In the night, we decided to go to a local restaurant and ended up at the Yod Abyssinia (Abyssinia was the old name for Ethiopia) where we, quite literally, dug into traditional Ethiopian food. That's assorted food items heaped over the local bread called Injera. Everybody eats from a common plate, breaking off bits of Injera and scooping up whatever is placed on top.

They presented dances from various tribes and one, in particular, was simply awesome with its energy. The dancers galloped like horses and the speed with which they moved may have put the horses to shame. The video here (this one isn't mine) would illustrate.

Day 6: Dongora, Sidama Zone

For my final talk, I preached at the home base of Dongora, in the Church right behind where we lived. Every place had some wonderful choirs, some two and three, but here there were four! The childen, who welcomed us with flowers, formed one. Elderly ladies formed another. And there were two others groups comprising young men and women. All were dressed, as usual, in colorful robes. The videos should provide an idea of how vibrant the celebrations are.

I gave my signature talk on love here, ending with everybody holding hands, and although we couldn't sing Let There Be Love, we sang an adapted version of Living Water, Flow On. For the "homily" I preached on the gospel reading for the day: The Road to Emmaus. It was a great end to a great mission and I think my father in heaven would have been well pleased.

Day 5: Cukko, Sidama Zone

Much closer to home than the previous locations, Cukko (prounounced Cucho) offered me a church to preach in. Again, it was packed to capacity, and although there were people from all age groups (they sit in age brackets!), I was pleased to see a lot of youth present. I spoke to them about getting out of the boat if they wanted to walk on water after the mass that followed my session.

One of the blessings of this particular  has been to participate in mass twice a day! We'd attend mass at the "home" church in Dongora after we had finished the Divine Office, and then again after each session. On one occasion, we were blessed to have mass concelebrated in English by the three resident priests, with only the three of us in attendance, along with Sr. Christine.

The three priests were inspirational. They were all Italians who were resident in Ethiopia for much of their lives. Fr. Bruno, the oldest had been there for 65 years, Fr. Joseph for 45 and Fr. Paulos for 25. We were all so blessed to be with them, true missionaries!

Day 4: Rasa, Sidama Zone

If I felt like Jesus preaching the sermon on the mount at Gidiwo, here I felt like Jesus being welcomed into Jerusalem! Our hosts waited for us about a kilometer from the place I was supposed to preach, greeting us by strewing rose petals on the ground and presenting us with a bouquet, before leading us in dancing procession to our destination. Their love and warmth really touched our hearts.

Storm clouds threatened overhead as I preached, but just as it had happened in the days past, the rain fell only after we got back home. Today's rain's blew the Internet connection off, and I would be able to access it again only at Bolo Aiport in Addis Ababa as we were getting set to fly out.

Day 3: Soddo, Sidama Zone

One of the things that fascinates me about Africa is the patience the people there have. They can, quite literally, wait for hours for something to start, and as everything here started far later than scheduled, their had their waiting cut out for them.

The other thing that fascinated me was their hunger for the word of God. Many of these places were far from the beaten track, yet they hiked their way to it, some for miles! I couldn't help but think how comfortable many of us had become in our own lands!

The Soddo session was wonderful, especially as I was beginning to get into the flow of things, and I knew this mission was going to be one of my more memorable ones.

Day 2: Gidiwo, Sidama Zone

More people were present at Gidiwo than Wo'merera. So many, in fact, that we had to move from the little church the program was scheduled to be held in to the little hillside at the back, and I felt every bit like Jesus preaching his sermon on the mount.

I spoke on forgiveness here, and it made for a wonderfully anointed session, although my translator got a bit of a scolding because he was not being particularly faithful to my preaching! He must have figured: who would know? lol

Day 1: Wo'merera, Sidama Zone

We began the mission with a session at Wo'merera, a ninety minute drive from Dongora where we were staying. It was held in a tent that was overflowing.

As nobody spoke any English, beyond a smattering of it, I had to use a translator; an over enthusiastic local named Johannes, who would be with us right through the trip.

I didn't think I was my best, but as Fr. Paulo, an Italian missionary who had been in the country for over 25 years and had organized my missions, thought it was very good, who was I to complain?

In the evening I had another session with some youth and I think I succeeded in inspiring some of them to go out into the vineyard and do some harvesting!

Addis Ababa

Brother Manjula and myself at Bole International Airport

An upgrade to Business Class helped me to have a comfortable journey to Addis Ababa but it only added a couple of hours to my cumulative total of 4 hours sleep in three days! I figured I'd get some added shut eye on the 8 hour road trip to Dongora, where we would be staying, but the bumpy ride made for some very disturbed rest. Sr. Christine Bejjani, who arranged my visit to Ethiopia, was at the airport to welcome us, along with Sr. Azab, a native nun.

Bangalore

Immediately after the session at Chennai, I had a little dinner and then hopped onto a bus headed for Bangalore reaching there about six in the morning. I may have gotten another half an hour's sleep on the bus, which wasn't doing anything good for my sleep average! Spoke on prayer - personal prayer and leading group prayer - in what may be my last talk in the HSI Community in Bangalore for a while.

Chennai Again

I took a very early morning flight to Chennai, leaving home about midnight and reaching about 8 in the morning. As with night flights, you can't get much sleep and I think I got about 30 minutes of shut eye. I managed to get an additional hour of sleep once I reached St. Teresa's parish, where Fr. Lawrence Raj, a great priest if there is any, once again graciously put me up, but if I thought the lack of sleep would ruin my talk, it didn't. It was great. I was to speak on Sin and Temptation, but at the very last moment, the Spirit inspired me to change it to Second Chance, as He felt there may have been a few people in the audience who needed that. There were about 150 in attendance for this, the first of what are going to regular monthly sessions, but I had little doubt that the next time there would be much more.

A Second Chance

We all deserve a second chance. And sometimes we do great things with it. See what David did with his. Or Peter. Today's talk was on second chances.

HSI Discipleship Program, Nungambakkam

The three day Discipleship Program at St. Teresa's Church in Nungambakkam, Chennai was a tremendous success. There were less than 300 people the first day, but long since immune to any disappointment in lesser numbers it didn't bother me any. 500 people showed up the following day. There were 750 on the third!

Fr. Lawrence Raj, another one in a rare, but magnificent series of priests I have met lately with a heart for God and His Kingdom, invited us to start a regular program there, and I couldn't help but be delighted at God's favor upon the work that we do.

Perambur, Chennai

For the first time in seven years I preached alongside a priest (Fr. Januario from Goa) and the experience was a good one definitely to be repeated. This took place over two days at  Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Perambur, Chennai, where I was invited to preach a retreat titled: At the Foot of the Cross: The Place Where Life Begins. Quite a mouthful, I know. But then they may have known how much I can talk! :)

I met some wonderful people while I was there belonging to the Elohim Community, including the leaders Marcello and Marcia, who had orgainzed the retreat. They have lovely hearts and I am sure that we will be doing a lot of things together. It delights God when his children can work in harmony because then they show that they are working for His Kingdom, not their own, and I wish more people will realize this.

End of Days

Is the world coming to an end? This was the subject this week at the HSI Communities in the UAE.

Breathing Life into Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37 tells a powerful story of God breathing life into dry bones. We believe that God is doing the same thing today: in the world, in the Church, and in the people. Breathing Life into Dry Bones was the message of tremendous hope in the HSI Communities this week and we felt our lives rejuvenated and refreshed as God breathed his Spirit anew into us.

Mission Accomplished

With the mission in Lebanon accomplished, we decided to see a little of the North of Lebanon, visiting the area where St. Elias lived, stopping by along the way to make some Zatar! When we reached our destination, mass was just concluding. Mary Samaha went to the priest and asked him if he minded saying another mass for our group, and without the slightest hesitation, or request for renumeration he assented. I was so happy as were the rest of us.

We also visited the tomb of Khalil Gibran. I had always thought he was a Sufi mystic, but discovered to my great surprise that he was a Christian! I also found out that he was a painter, with a fondness for nudes. Some of his work was really brilliant and I picked up a print of one of his works on the way out.