A Good Team

Lee Heyward, (pictured left) had been a pastor for 25 years  and has a passion for teaching.   God has called him to become a teacher to pastors all over the world.  

He met Quique  at Trinity Seminary in 1985 and the friendship that was born became a team.  They have traveled to 7 countries on four continents together (Kenya, China, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, India, USA) training and resourcing pastors and Church leaders. Quique is a key voice in understanding the Latin American Church and cultural context.

If you want to learn more about Quique's ministry you can check out: QUIQUE  

If you want to learn more about Lee's ministry you can check out LEE

Hearing God's Voice

During the May retreat, Ron took off for a walk with God one day.  Back pack in place and with a brisk pace he set out to walk along the lake and listen.  He returned refreshed and spiritually full as this is the way Ron often can hear God's voice.

How do you hear God best?  Walking, sitting quietly in nature, watching the waves coming to shore or a staring at a fire in a fireplace?  Whatever it is you love doing best, invite Him to join you and as ask Him to speak to your heart.

Modern Day Prophets

When pastors arrive to a Broom Tree retreat they may not be quite as depressed as Elijah was but they also do not know how tired they really are.  After a few days of proper rest and food they begin to be able to see their lives better, be encouraged, not feel as alone and able to hear God's still small voice!

This is why we named our ministry Broom Tree!

Now if you read James 5:17; it says, "Elijah was a man just like us"
If a powerful prophet like Elijah needed God's rest after ministry success, why not pastors today?

To be continued. . . . .

God's Solution for Elijah

Scripture says, " At at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat.   He looked around and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water.  He ate and drank and then lay down again."

So God restored Elijah by sending an angel with:
1. Touch
2. Food
3. Water
4. More sleep

If you continue reading in 1 Kings 19 you will see that when Elijah was properly fed and rested he gave him exercise, assurance that he was not alone, work to do, a successor for his ministry and then the gift of hearing God's still small voice.

To be continued. . . .

Elijah under the Broom Tree

After Elijah ran into town, Jezebel, the Queen sent a message to Elijah.  She threatened his life and Elijah was afraid, went into the desert to hide under a broom tree.
He left his friends - Went on ahead one day's journey - Hid under a broom tree and wanted to die.

How could this happen?  How could he have been literally, figuratively and spiritually on a mountaintop with God and then sink to such a low?

Adrenalin.

A Christian Psycologist explained it this way;  "The adrenalin rush Elijah experienced on Mt. Carmel was followed by an equal and opposite low under the broom tree.  The mighty prophet Elijah was in clinical depression."  When people live on adrenalin they create their own depression.  for more information on this click HERE or Mayo Clinic

To be continued........

Elijah before the Broom Tree

You know the story - Elijah on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings:18.  What a mighty display of power defeating the prophets of Baal.   After they tried to have their god light the fire on the altar and failed, Elijah had water poured all over the altar soaking everything and then asked God to show His power.  Fire came down from heaven burning the offering, the altar and the rocks and the soil.

After this he prayed to break the 3 year drought and then outran the chariots to town.  What a monumental ministry day!  What a powerful, larger than life, prophet!

And then he hid under a broom tree.  To be continued.....

Elijah seen in Denver

Broom Tree had the privilege of bringing their booth to  the 2010 General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church June 23-26.  The opening night members of Cherry Creek Church presented a stunning  performance of, Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah. (They even had a broom tree on stage!)   Cherry Creek is located in Englewood, a suburb of Denver, Colorado.

The Church hosted the conference, performed in the Elijah music and drama, and very warmly greeted everyone with gracious hospitality.

Our booth was well attended and we have already had pastors we met there call us and register for future retreats.

Many thanks to the EPC for the invitation and to Cherry Creek for your cheerful service!

More about Elijah and the broom tree in the following blogs . . . .

FRUIT

A friend of mine went to a vineyard for a special tour with the owner.  He took her through the rows of grapes and showed her how the vine dresser cares for the vines.  She was amazed at how few leaves were on each vine and yet they had beautiful bunches of grapes.  He explained that each vine produces fruit with only 4-6 leaves to collect the sun's rays.  Too many leaves makes sour grapes, but with few leaves the fruit is sweet and full.

Somewhere in that thought is a great sermon point.  When our lives are simpler we produce better fruit?   Perhaps.

Tea Party Surprise

Received U Tube link that is a must to see!
Wonderful Ending!

  Teaparty 


Happy 4th of July everyone!!!