Mob rule is anything but democratic. The loudest chants stir public sentiment into a volatile frenzy. In order to bring civility and restore order, government leaders use force and the clash intensifies. Revolution rarely results in gaining any true justice initially.

People who have grown up in homes where anger was used as a tool for manipulation and control, learn that this is one method that works to get what one wants. Fear and intimidation are powerful forces. When anger is unleashed in uncontrolled ways, it can be extremely destructive and leaves a wake of pain and emotional scars. The incredible hulk is one icon of this type of out-of-control rage that somehow elicits sympathy especially from those who almost envy his brute force.

Anger is a powerful emotion that can result in positive change if it is effectively used to resolve issues that need to be corrected. The key is to keep anger in submission and under control. Because emotions are living forces within a person, they must be expressed in healthy ways. Many of us have learned to suppress our emotions and even deny their expression. As a consequence, the forces build up pressure under the surface of our soul similar. When a person is denied the opportunity to give voice or expression to these emotions, often times, unhealthy habit patterns and behaviors can develop that ignore the reality of issues that need resolution. When these emotions persist under the surface, seemingly minor issues can elicit dramatic outbursts of disproportionate intensity.

I encountered a situation that pointed to an area in my life that was building up unresolved pressure. Something was said to me that just caused me to vent some deep pain. For me the opporortunity The key is that each person needs to bring their unresolved issues to the Lord for healing.

Spiritually, I think we ignore sometimes the condition of the gates in our lives. Dealing with people in a recovery setting has made me more aware of the impact that this disregard can really have. Sadly, many lives have been taken advantage of by not

The city had several gateways for those coming in and out of the city. Some got their name from the practical activities that when on around those gates: The Sheep Gate was near the farmers market and where sheep were bought and sold for food as well as for the temple service and sacrifice. The water gate was adjacent to to the fresh water springs. The dung gate was near the dump where animal droppings and refuse were carried out of the city.

In our missionary life, we have learned to use the dung gate as a vital necessity for our spiritual life and ministry. The dung gate has been a place to also meet with God. He has spoken to us many times as we have had to take the accumulated refuse we have experienced in our minstry and get rid of it. Reading Max Lucado’s book, TRAVELING LIGHT, has given me an important reminder of how important it is to get rid of the excess baggage that I have been carrying needlessly. There have been some disappointments and heartbreaking experiences that have added a lot of extra weight to my baggage that I have been dragging around. To keep dragging the accumulation around with me is totally unnecessary.

I need to visit the dung gate and get rid of these things. Sadly, I have gotten rather busy lately and told myself that I am OK, I can manage on my own. I will get down there later when I finish this other stuff first. It just takes time to go visit the dung gate. Its kind of like asking your son to take out the garbage while his favorite TV show is on. “Aww Dad, can I just finish my show first?” I guess I am realizing that I say that to the Lord a little too much myself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dung_Gate

I find it interesting that this is the closest working gate near the temple.  That tells me that maintaining my worship also requires frequent trips to the dung gate. It also reminds me that I am probably going to have more opportunities to encounter the Lord if I frequent the dung gate. Take time to take out the garbage and the refuse of life and I will return to worship and be refreshed in the presence of God.

Another important fact is that when we properly deal with our garbage and dung, we can make compost that can be transformed into fertilizer for our gardens. God is the best recycler we could ever learn from. He is able to transform anything worthless into something of value. From a clump of earth he formed man, and fashoned around a rib a beautiful woman. God never even wastes suffering. We might like to walk away from our painful experiences, but if we don’t handle them properly, they will accumulate and infect our emotions with anger and increased frustration. By giving our pain and suffering to Jesus, he recycles them all into that which can produce an even richer life.

God loves to make us even more fruitful. Let’s get rid of all the things that weigh us down, download what tires us out, and get free!

There are a lot of things that seem to impact our vision these days. How good is our vision really? Paul reminds us that when it comes to seeing and perceiving the visions of God and His ways, “we see through a glass darkly.” Is our vision really obscured? We have technology and information available now more than ever before in history. Scientists have developed night vision glasses that can enable vision that never before was possible. 

Here we are at a point in history that seems approaching a kind of spiritual darkness that is more felt than seen. Many changes are happening that reveal a significant moral paradigm shift in many governments.

Religion wants to establish ritual and tradition. We like things the same way every time. Because of that, we tend to limit God with our expectations and then miss Him and the opportunity to experience Him afresh.

God, forgive me where I have had limited expectations of the way you want to work in my life, or teach me or supply my need. Today I choose to wait for you to intervein in my life and situation without demanding that you do it my way or in my timing. Lord I rest in your loving Care knowing that you do all things well and your ways are best, always original.

I think it is amazing that God is never restricted to do anything the same way as he did it before. I think we feel we can control our world by thinking we have figured something out or we now know God’s ways. Even Moses who knew the ways of God did not know the way God would work in a situation before it was revealed to Him. The responsibility we have then is to obey God or align our lives with Him and His will. When we do, we see the miraculous unfold.

We are in the position this year to take that important step and purchase land for the ministry center. This is a huge step for us as we need a significant chunk of property for our ministry center. The timing for this decision is crucial though as Guam anticipates an extensive increase in its population in the next five years. Marines from Okinawa will eventually be relocated to a new base in Guam. With the added infrastructure needed for the 8000 Marines and their families along with the additional support staff that will also be needed, Guam expects that the population will increase realistically by about 20,000 people!

We are now praying for ideas and strategies to be able to purchase about 10 acres of land. We are also praying for the interest rates to stay low and go even lower in the next month to accomplish our plans. 

Now as we pray, we need God’s direction to the perfect site where we can influence further healing and transformation in the Pacific Islands

For some pastors, the dilemma of balancing a significantly strained budget is a burden no one desires. The appeal for funds from worthy causes is incessant. At the same time, the appeals by charlatans are piped into many homes via TV and Radio. A recent interview with Joel Osteen on CNBC revealed that the bulk of television ministers budget is used specifically to buy more air time rather than transform communities. The reality is that television ministry is primarily passive and even entertainment rather than an active force that changes community.

There seems to be an additional trend occuring that mission budgets are shifting from front-line missionaries  to ministry travel accounts to be able to speak overseas. While this is a vital need as well, I am seeking insight into how to continue to effectively keep supporters updated with progress and the opportunity to invest in Kingdom business in a day of economic downturn? I don’t have the answers, so I am praying that God would reveal more to me regarding His keys for provision. I would welcome your input and feedback if you read this. Thanks

Lord, dig our spiritual ears to know your voice more intimately and listen intently without distraction.  This year I pray we will be a people who can distinguish clearly your voice amidst the noise of this world. Help us discern when the enemy of our souls is enticing us to indulge and gratify flesh rather than drink from your Living streams and eat the Word of Life. Cause our spirits to be awake and alert to your presence and your desire in these days. We want to be close to you with wholehearted devotion. We are so prone to compromise and half-heartedness Lord, bind us to your life with your cords of Love. Cause your Kingdom to come in greater measure here in our community as it is in heaven.

As we pray I am expecting that we will move forward into God’s purposes and see heaven released on earth in greater ways. We start the new year with big hopes and great resolutions. May we simply draw near to the Lord and stay close throughout this New Year.