History is Hiring

Hello Friends,

I hope all of you that are reading this, are aware of TheCall and it’s founder Lou Engle.  If not, may this article encourage you to find out more about them both and even inspire you to attend this upcoming Call in Sacramento, Ca September 3-4, 2010 to see for yourself.

TheCall is not an event. TheCall is a movement emphasizing prayer, worship and fasting for Spiritual breakthrough. It is a nameless and faceless movement joining the generations. It is not a convention of celebrities or rock show. The musicians on stage are worshipers, not entertainers. The board of directors will not receive financial compensation, speakers and leaders come at their own expense.

I have seen Lou Engle at several different events outside of TheCall and his message has always pierced my heart with truth and conviction.   The first time I saw Lou Engle was at a Jesus Culture in Redding California.  He was speaking to a large gathering of teenagers and young adults and the atmosphere was hungry for a deep relationship with Jesus.  Lou Engle was teaching on Joseph and Daniel and was declaring and prophesying over the crowd that God is raising up young ones to live as Daniel and Joseph did.  Then he made a call for those that want to make a vow, like the Nazarites, to come up and commit themselves to the Lord and not to the things of this world.  The front of the room was filled with fiery young ones and the Spirit of the Lord was moving.  Yes, Lou Engle is very intense on the stage and his intensity is followed with words that are even more intense, but the man and the message need to be received! There is something about a message that is filled with fire and passion that reminds me of the apostolic teachings of the disciples and of the Prophets of old in the Bible.  It seems like in this day and age there are too many teaching about how to get comfortable now and how to be accepted by everyone.  From what I have seen and heard from Lou, I know that he has compassion for this nation and for the Words that the Lord has spoken that have upheld this nation.  He has been called to call those that are hungry and are longing to see the Father return to this blessed nation.  He is calling us to a lifestyle of fasting and prayer, not out of a “religious duty” but out of a relationship with Jesus that says, “I am hungry and only You can satisfy and only You can come swiftly with justice to those who cry out day and night for You.”

I also saw him at TheCall San Diego in 2009.  This was another crucial time for the state of California when Prop 8 was being voted on.  The whole day was filled with repentance and crying out for forgiveness.  There is something about gathering together with one voice and one heart that causes you to realize that God is the only answer.  You don’t have to be a scholar of the Bible, you don’t have to have it all figured out, you don’t have to be a pro faster, you don’t have to have the best prayer life ever, you don’t have to be perfect, all you have to be is weak and all you have to do is show up.

This Call in Sacramento is being held at another critical time for our nation and state.  Not only is it the 10^th year anniversary of TheCall, but it is also right before the elections and I’d say anytime is a good time to gather the Body of Christ together to fast and pray to see the Lord respond to His people.  The time is now and the trumpets are blowing, will you respond?…BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED!

Also check out this message, CALIFORNIA DREAMING, to hear Lou Engle himself about the history of TheCall and the importance of it all.
See you all there!

Patrick Judah

P.S.

As some of you may know I have been writing about mystics of the past that have had some major impact and influence on our Christian History.  Now, I don’t want to get anyone confused or upset, but I am putting this article under my “Mystic of the Month” category.  I am not titling him to being a mystic in the sense that some may use the word.  However, I feel that Lou Engle, in his passion for prayer and fasting is reviving some of the ancient paths that many of the apostles, disciples, and mystics walked out in their time. Let me know if you have any concerns or questions. Thanks.

Dear Friends,

Please listen to this message from Lou Engle.  We are in a critical point in History and Lou is having TheCall in Sacramento on September 3-4 on the 10th anniversary of TheCall Washington D.C.  This message lays out the prophetic dreams and proclamations that have been brought together since the birthing of TheCall and Lou also explains the importance of the timing and placing of this gathering in Sacramento.  If you are not familiar with TheCall Ministries check out this link: http://thecall.com/ .  Now is the time to gather the consecrated ones into a solemn assembly to fast and pray for our state of California and for our Nation!

1. “We are going to California, we are going to pray for our government.” (Psalms 2)

2. “We are going to call on God for a great river of the blood of Christ out of the Cross in Sacramento and Jesus to give us another Jesus Movement.”

3. “We are going to pray that a massive house of prayer movement will arise in every place calling on God for the harvest and loosing a generation into the missions movement.”

4. “And were going to believe that God is going to shape the elections.”

“God is the God that answers prayer!” – Lou Engle

The first 45 minutes is a worship set with Misty Edwards, really good…but if you want to skip straight to the message from Lou Engle jump to the hour mark.

Trusting in Him,

Patrick Judah

Prayer has been a powerful, long lasting belief of our Forefathers and of the people of our Country!

Weather or not a “day of prayer” is nationally recognized by today’s “leaders”, it will always be A WAY OF LIFE for those that truly understand the beginnings of this nation and the favor and grace that have been bestowed to this great nation by our loving Father and Creator.  Prayer is the language that the Lord has blessed His people with to communicate and to receive guidance and wisdom.  The fact that this nation is questioning one day of recognizing the importance of prayer shows us that WE THE PEOPLE need to stand strong in these days and pray for our nation and leaders EVERY DAY!

Let us reflect on some of the days and  words from our founding fathers in regards to the importance of prayer and this nation:

April 15, 1775 John Hancock: A Day of Pubic Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer

“…to confess the sins…to implore the Forgiveness of all our Transgressions…and a blessing on the Husbandry, Manufactures, and other lawful Employments of this People; and especially that the union of the American Colonies in Defense of their Rights (for hitherto we desire to thank Almighty GOD) may be preserved and confirmed….And that AMERICA may soon behold a gracious Interposition of Heaven.”

March 16th, 1776 Continental Congress: Appointed Day of Fasting and Prayer for Colonies

“The Congress….Desirous…to have people of all ranks and degrees duly impressed with a solemn sense of God’s superintending providence, and of their duty, devoutly to rely…on his aid and direction…”

July 9, 1776 Continental Congress: Ringing of the “Liberty Bell” to establish prayer as a daily part of the new nation.

IT’S TIME TO RING THE BELL AGAIN!!!

March 6th 1799 President John Adams: Day of Solemn Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer

“That they call to mind our numerous offenses against the most high God, confess them before Him with the sincerest penitence, implore his pardoning mercy, through the Great Mediator and Redeemer, for our past transgressions, and that through the grace of His Holy Spirit, we may be disposed and enabled to yield a more suitable obedience to his righteous requisitions in time to come.”

October 18th, 1780 Continental Congress: Proclamation for a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer

“That all the people may assemble on that day to celebrate the praises of our Divine Benefactor; to confess our unworthiness of the least of his favours, and to offer our fervent supplications to the God of all grace…to cause the knowledge of Christianity to spread over all the earth.”

March 4, 1805 Thomas Jefferson: A National Prayer for Peace

“…Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.  Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindred’s and tongues.  Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth.  In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

September 26, 1861 Abraham Lincoln: National Day of Prayer and Fasting

“…It is peculiarly fit for us to recognize the hand of God in this terrible visitation, and in sorrowful remembrance of our own faults and crimes as a nation and as individuals, to humble ourselves before Him and to pray for His mercy…that the inestimable boon of civil and religious liberty, earned under His guidance and blessing by the labors and sufferings of our fathers, may be restored.”

March 30, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln: Proclamation Appointing a National Fast day

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven.  We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity.  We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.  But we have forgotten God.  We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.  Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!”

January 25, 1988 Congress of United States: National Day of Prayer

“Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Continental Congress, in the first step-humble, heartfelt prayer.  Let us do so for the Love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our Nation, our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always.” President Reagan

“From General Washington’s struggle at Valley Forge to the present, this Nation has fervently sought and received divine guidance as it pursued the course of history. This occasion provides our Nation with an opportunity to further recognize the source of our blessings, and to seek His help for the challenges we face today and in the future.” President Reagan

We have been called to these days, FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS! May the wrongs of this nation drive us to our knees in prayer for the Will of the Father to be established here on earth as it is in heaven.  One voice, one heart, one spirit; crying out to the Father for His LOVE to breakout and for His LIGHT to breakthrough!


Thanks for reading,


Patrick Judah

p.s. Other related articles:


http://www.ihop.org/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=1000066807


http://blog.ihop.org/general/national-day-of-prayer-opening-letter-from-mike-bickle-lou-engle-brian-kim/


http://nationaldayofprayer.org/ , http://nationaldayofprayer.org/about/history/


Sources: America’s God and Country: Encyclopedia Of Quotations, Wikipedia

“The Lord opened the understanding of my unbelieving heart, so that I should recall my sins.” St. Patrick

Because this week is celebrated in memory of St. Patrick, this will be the first of three articles of the Saint’s life.  Consider this a, “mystic of the month BONUS” for those of you that follow the site.  In this post I will cover Ireland before Saint Patrick and Patrick before his Sainthood. To start I would like to clear up some things related to the day of Saint Patrick that have nothing to do with the man of God or his amazing ministry.

If you think you know all about St. Patrick, let’s get one thing straight…Saint Patrick was not Irish! I know it sounds crazy, so if you thought he was, you might get more out of this article than you expected!

Have you ever thought about why there are no other Saint “days” observed (not counting St. Valentine), what makes Saint Patrick so special as to have his own feast and celebration day? If you can answer that, I would then like to ask why this day is observed in places across the world?  Now, here in a America I’ve “celebrated” St. Patrick’s day just like most Americans…using it as another excuse to get wasted by slamming down “Irish Car Bombs”.  Yes, in the name of a saint that I thought I knew all about!  I thought he was all about: The color green, Guinness n Baileys’ Irish Cream, shamrocks, leprechauns, and casting out snakes…I was wrong!

Let us take a look at Ireland before St. Patrick arrived.  The land was filled with a variety of Celtic “clans” that were very prideful, which caused a 1,000 year war between the clans and kingdoms of that territory.  Each clan was fierce on its own, but they were never able to unify in order to advance against Rome.  One way to look at it came from a zoologist:

“A tiger will defeat a lion in battle; but five lions will defeat five tigers because the lions fight together and the tigers do not, so the five lions take on one tiger at a time.”1

The Celtic clans were “tigers” fighting the Roman “lions” so to speak.  The Roman army eventually pushed the Celtic clans west, close to their current locations.  The clans grew and prospered individually.  The religion at the time was an animistic polytheism, which worshiped sun and moon as well as natural objects.  The leaders were known as druids; they had white robes, magic wands, and sacrificed their firstborns to the idol, Crom Crauch.  Note that each clan was distinct from one another and they did not do everything the same. To the outside “world”, these Celtic people looked like “barbarians”. This is a point as to why Christianity did not impact Ireland until St. Patrick landed there.  The Roman Church in that day thought a people had to be “civilized” enough before they could be “Christianized”.  It is believed that Christians came to evangelize in Ireland before St. Patrick, such as Palladius who was ordained by Pope Celestine to do so; as well as others that may have been taken captive there.  Of course no one was able to spread the Gospel through Ireland like St. Patrick did.

Now, let us glance at Patrick before he was a Saint in Ireland.  Patrick was born in the village of Bannavem Taberniae (exact location unknown), to a Christian family.  It is said that his father was a deacon, and his grandfather a priest.  With this being said, there is not much known about Patrick’s early family life, but I would guess that he grew up knowing a little bit about the Bible.  When Patrick was sixteen years of age, he was captured by Celtic pirates and taken away to Ireland.  He was then sold to a tribal chief named Miliucc, who put him to work tending his flocks.   Remarkably, it was in this time that Patrick drew near to God. He said in his own writings,

“Now, after I came to Ireland, tending flocks was my daily occupation, and constantly I used to pray in the day time.  Love of God and the fear of Him increased more and more, and faith grew, and the spirit was moved, so that in one day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and at night nearly as many, so that I used to stay even in the woods and on the mountain to this end.  And before daybreak I used to be roused to prayer, in snow, in frost, in rain; and I felt no hurt, nor was there any sluggishness in me.”2

Sounds like day and night prayer to me!  Then one night after his six years of captivity, he heard the voice of God. “Thou fastest to good purpose, thou who art soon to go to thy fatherland.” Again he heard, “Lo, thy ship is ready.” So at daybreak he took off and eventually found the ship!  At first he talked to the Captain, by offering his service, but in reply he got, “On no account seek to go with us.” Patrick, disappointed started to walk away when he heard them call him back.  The sailors received him saying, “Come, for we will receive thee in good faith; make friends with us in any way thou desirest.” Sounds like some favor to me! So the ship took off and Patrick made his way back to his homeland.

Join me next time as I will be continuing the journey of St. Patrick from his time back “home”, to his exciting missionary trip back to his slave land that he ended up making his lifelong mission field and resting place.  I’ll tell you one thing, his time in slavery was not in vain!

Until next time,

Patrick Judah

Source:  The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West…Again – George G. Hunter III

Source:  Sixteen Centuries With Ireland’s Patron Saint Patrick- Alice-Boyd Proudfoot

No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green by Melody Green

My rating: 5 of 5 stars READ THIS BOOK, “No Compromise- The Life Story of Keith Green”! Keith’s story will not only make you want to have amazing long curly hair and mad skills to jam on the piano with no restraints; it will change your life! Weather you are a believer or not, a musician or not, this amazing testimony from Keith will rock you to the core! From start to end; Keith had passion, talent, and natural leadership skills. You will find out how his journey for something “greater” went from the hippie love/drug scene in the 1970’s, to the beginnings of a new life in Christ which supernaturally launched Keith into a forefront message that still needs to be heard today!

This “Life Story” written by Melody Green, Keith’s wife, gives wonderful insight to the man behind the music and the message. Melody shares their intense story as well as allowing us to read Keith’s thoughts directly from his journal entries! Keith was not satisfied with the things of the world that he kept chasing after; Keith was not satisfied until he experienced the only One that could truly satisfy his hearts longings. When Keith and Melody found Jesus, their lives turned around in a heart beat! Although they were young in their faith…they had found what they were longing for and held onto it with no compromises! In Keith’s black and white vision he took the Word of the Lord as truth and made sure that everyone that came across his path took it for truth as well. This new lifestyle immediately launched them into ministry, a new and powerful kind of music, as well as an ever growing hunger to see the lost saved through the message that the Lord had placed in Keith’s heart.

Keith and Melody realized how important prayer was and before every big decision they sought the Lord through prayer and fasting! Keith said, “Our whole life should be a prayer!” I believe it was this foundational truth that continued to humble the Greens as they allowed the Lord to lead them in all aspects of their lives. Keith Green really had a heart that chased after the Lord, much like King David. He longed to spread revival, learning patience in the process.  Keith was able to mature quickly in his walk as he was constantly surrounded by “newbie’s” in the faith that had him pouring out what he knew all the time. This caused him to go deeper for more so he could pour out more. Keith was also blessed with some “big” connections of wise council that allowed him to see and grow even more. From reading this book it sounded like he was always going while passing on everything he was learning to those that were in his sphere of influence. Although he was not perfect he longed to be closer to God.

Keith’s music career quickly launched him to the top of the Christian music arena. He remained humble and dedicated to the Lord, saying, “If someone writes a great story, people praise the author, not the pen. People don’t say ‘Oh what an incredible pen…where can I get a pen like this so I can write great stories?’ Well, I am just a pen in the hands of the Lord. He is the author. All praise should go to him.”

Keith recognized that it was the Lord that blessed him musically, so he allowed that to be the “tool” to share His message. What was the message that he and his “Last Days Ministries” shared? “Quit compromising with the world and start living radically committed lives” and have “A radical relationship with God, without the trappings of religious systems or dead institutions.” This message was preached to millions across the globe and thanks to Melody and the team it is still being shared today! This book really stirred my heart and caused me to reflect internally to see what I am compromising over Christ. I’ll be honest, I was in tears after hearing the messages that Keith preached. This book will bless you and encourage you to live a radically committed live to Jesus Christ! View all my reviews >>

“Whoever has not begun the practice of prayer, I beg for the love of the Lord not to go without so great a good. There is nothing here to fear but only something to desire.”

Saint Teresa of Avila desired to seek God at a very young age.  She loved to learn of the Saints while pursuing a life of prayer and blessing the poor.  At the age of 14 her mother passed and in this lose of a loving and encouraging role model she found herself being distracted with things of the world. She was 14 when these distractions started…at what age are American kids distracted by things of this world?

She was encouraged by her father to enter into a local convent in hopes to rekindle her passion for the Lord.  She fell sick and returned home.  After recovering she knew that she wanted to become a nun and left home against her fathers will to enter into the Incarnation of the Carmelite nuns in Avila.  Again she fell ill (malaria) and experienced tremendous pain and suffering.  Through this time of her illness she was in a coma for three days and was not able to use her legs for three years.

It was in this time of pain and suffering when her prayer life increased to phenomenal levels of ecstasy in the Presence of the Lord.  She spent many hours in meditation with what she called, “prayer of quiet” and the “prayer of union”. These encounters continued to take place even though she never sought after these “mystical experiences”, but kept herself to the will of God and counted the experiences as “divine blessings”.

As you could imagine, many of those around her found her, “experiences”, to be bizarre and not from the Lord.  Regardless, her encounters were revealed from the Lord in her passion and pursuit of constantly going deeper in prayer with the Lord.  History has revealed to us that those with lifestyles of prayer often hear and encounter the Lord in mysterious ways, beyond that of the average believer (if there could be such a thing???).

One vision that Teresa had was described as this, “I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron’s point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart, and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it…”

WHOA!!!  Truly incredible and mind blowing!  “So surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it“??? Think about that!

While St. Teresa continued in this way of unceasing prayer she was also founding convents that focused on this same way of life.  She joined with like-minded “mystic”, John of the Cross and they started reforming the order for men as well.  This new “reform” of the Carmelite order became known as the “Discalced” or barefoot, Carmelites.  Of course her radical lifestyle for the Lord and the influence that she brought into the Catholic sphere was eventually persecuted to the point of her being forced to “retire”.  During these times she also wrote some inspiring books that I hope to read soon, “The Way of Perfection”, “Life” (autobiography), and “The Interior Castle”.

In the midst of the persecution she continued to seek after the Lord, all the while being brought into new levels of trances, levitations, visions, and much more.  She knew that prayer is the place to hear and experience the Lord; so she did that continually, not to receive these things but to get closer to Him!

And I will leave you with this, “Let nothing disturb thee; Let nothing dismay thee; All things pass; God never changes Patience attains All that it strives for. He who has God finds he lacks nothing: God alone suffices.” St. Teresa

(sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_of_Ávila

http://www.karmel.at/eng/teresa.htm )

Stay tuned for next months Mystic: Augustine of Hippo

Thanks for reading,

Patrick Judah

This is an amazing song, coming from a powerful up and coming artist, Jake Hamilton. I love how this song takes two scriptures that describe our God from two very conflicting (from afar) books of the Bible; Song of Songs and Revelation. The Lily of the Valley is from Song of Solomon 2:1 and the Bright Morning Star is from Revelation 22:16. Our God is loving, just, and He answers the prayers of His children.

Here’s a few great verses that mention the power and importance of prayer. Pull out your bible and read them when you get a chance.

1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1; Hebrews 13:19; James 5:16; 1 Peter 4:7; Revelation 8:4; Acts 28:8; Luke 22:46; Ezra 8:23