Saturday, March 27, 2010

DUMPSTER DIVING

Welcome to my World. Even though I stated that in my "Roadrunner" blog, this world focus is different. "Roadrunner" is writing, thinking, poetry, devotions, and on and on. This one is connected to my main heart ministry. It's referred to in different locations by different terms, some appreciating the ministry, and happy that we are digging away -- and some thinking that my friends and I are nuts, deceived and deceptive. I personally refer to it, formally, as spiritual historical research ... however, now I more often refer to it in my casual term, dumpster diving.

The photo background is a large source of what could be considered spiritual research ... for the world. It is at Lake Victoria, a source of the Nile River, in Jinja, Uganda.
The Nile has flowed through so many cultures for so many thousands of years and influenced so many nations, and nearly every continent, either directly or indirectly. [I took this photo near sunset, January 25, 2004, during a 1/2 hour boat sole-tour, a very blessed and enjoyable time.]

The purpose of spiritual research [AKA Mapping] is to uncover the spiritual rituals and worship in various geographical areas. The following step is to inform pastors, intercessors, prayer walkers, and spiritual leaders in a region of the historical background that might influence the cultural and social activities that have been challenging to them and theirs. The next step is to use that knowledge to determine God's focus and plan for an area, sometimes back thousands of years, and see where the enemy has managed to gain control, either obviously in our faces or subtly hidden under the surface and camouflaged --- lots of information, PILES of it, can influence the thinking, sorting, sharing process. The playout can be intercession, determining the "gold" mixed in the garbage, the redemption process, and, hopefully, restoration and transformation.

Lots and lots of work, reading, sharing, thinking, praying, writing and more and more. Never bored...

My spiritual direction: Amos 2:9 -- Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above and his roots from beneath.

So, that's my job. Go for roots. Others go for fruit... porn, abortion, abuse, power-control, and on and on. That will weaken the tree and is absolutely necessary. But, my job is to seek the roots and then hope for partners who will go "digging" with me. Not being independent or "Lone Ranger-ish" -- just working as God lays out the plan.

Is this too long? Probably. But gives an overview, so anyone who reads this will know whether it's worth it to follow and discuss or just push the "delete" button and be free.