Black Bear Dream

    The dream began at the end of a church social event at a lake or a river; it was twilight, I was the last to leave. I did not see anyone in the dream, but somehow knew that something (with St. James I believed) had just finished up.

    Away from where everyone had been, there was a brightly lit, deserted, paved road that led to the edge of the water. I drove down the paved trail, but when I got to the water’s edge, I was on a bicycle.

    The river or lake was very low with a lot of muddy, marshy areas. It was dark and peaceful by the water, a very isolated place. I paused a bit then turned around to leave.

    Behind me I heard a huge plopping noise; when I turned around, a black bear had dropped to the ground from up in a dead tree.

    I started peddling faster; looking back to see he was beginning to chase me. He was about to catch me, when I yelled out, which awakened Jane, who awakened me. I did not feel anxious at all, rolled over and slept peacefully.
   After prayerful reflection the water was a swamp or a delta, and the bear was a mama bear.

A Word Awakened Church

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” – Revelation 1:3

There is a battle raging all across our nation, a struggle of life and death, good and evil, light and darkness, truth and deception. As much as one would like to avoid this conflict, putting our heads in the sand or circling our wagons are not viable options.

          Although it may seem that hostility and incivility have increased at an alarming pace, this war is neither new nor should it be surprising to God’s people.

          Ever since the garden there has been an adversary seeking to crush and destroy the light of God and the people of God, but it does seem that in the last few years that the enemy is no longer operating in the shadows.

          The desecration of marriage, the murder of the innocent (like in Herod’s day), crushing national debt, political corruption, the vilifying of Christians and their values, the violent, global rise of Islam, sexual immorality and confusion, the pornography epidemic, and masses of churches abandoning the Gospel – all of this and more is enough for one to cry out in despair (or move to a cabin on some remote mountain or island).

          But it is for such a time as this that God has called a people called St. James to shine the light and hope of the grace, mercy, love, and truth of Jesus Christ into the midst of peoples, cultures, and nations that are wandering in darkness.

          Being awakened to the realities around us, the dire straits of our day, and awakened by the light and power of God’s word, demands that we heed God’s call like never before. “Business as usual will not cut it!”

          Prophetic words are being released in the parish; the prophetic word of Holy Scripture is being proclaimed in our pulpits; people are gathering for prayer, study, and nurturing. More are awakening to the Word and the Spirit and recognizing that “the time is near.”

          While the nations are being shaken, we are called to stand firm, shine the light, and carry the hope of His unshakeable Kingdom to our world.

          This is what it means to “Love God, Love People, and Build Community.”

I have you in my heart!   – Marco