Looking for our next group of Nazarites

by Richard Long,

  Can you help us find our next interns?  Perhaps you know of a young adult (between the ages of 18-35) who should be encouraged to consider dedicating 3 months this Fall to our nation’s spiritual destiny?  Please encourage them to check out our fully interactive website The Nazarite Call to learn more about the program.

By the way, we also welcome applications for our Prayer Missionary program.  An outline of that program is on our regular website here.  Interested people can call us for more details.  We are already planning on welcoming 2 new Prayer Missionaries in mid-September.

Jim Wallis on the threat of prayer

by Richard Long,

Jim Wallis, who is known for his advocacy for  justice, also understands the power of prayer.

Here’s a quote…

“The powers and principalities of this world are aware that prayer and its results are the most revolutionary of acts.  That is why they consider those who pray to be a threat.  Prayer is an action in itself, a potent political weapon to be used in spiritual warfare against the most powerful forces of the world.”

George Muller on determining the Will of God

by Richard Long,

George Muller is known best perhaps for the many orphans that he rescued and cared for a century ago in Bristol, UK.  However, his greatest contribution to history is his example of prayer, faith and walking in the centre of the will of God.

“When asked about how he determined the will of God on any matter, Muller cited the following eight steps he believed were necessary:

1.     “I get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to any particular matter.”

2.     “I do not leave the result to feelings or simple impressions.  That can make one open to great delusions.”

3.     “I seek God’s will through, or in connection with his Word.  If you look to the Spirit without the Word, you open yourself to delusion.”

4.     “I consider providential [God-controlled] circumstances.”

5.     “I ask God in prayer to reveal his will to me.”

6.     “I make sure I have a clear conscience before God and man.”

7.     “Every time I listened to men instead of God, I made serious mistakes.”

8.     “I act only when I am at peace, after much prayer, waiting on God with faith.”

Hope-Vancouver’s Torch Run

by Richard Long,

   I was talking earlier today with Pastor Kevin Cavanaugh who is leading the Hope-Vancouver effort in preparation for the 2010 Olympic Games.  They are looking for a breakthrough to be able to organize a parallel torch run across Canada which would stir up Christians of all denominations to pray for revival.  You can learn more about the Torch Run here.

Here’s the general description on their website…

“HopeVancouver is an inter-denominational, Pastor led, Kingdom movement seeking to bring Pastors together for the purpose of prayer and working together to reach and influence their municipalities and in reaching our municipalities we will influence the whole region from  Hope to Vancouver. 

We are believing that the 2010 Olympics provide us with an excellent opportunity and great motivation to rally the troops to rise up and serve our Lord Jesus Christ. We are working in partnership and under the umbrella of More Than Gold.”

One Goal – Gerry Organ

by Richard Long,

  Our good friend Gerry Organ (he of field goal kicking fame and coaching of Christian buisness men, now part of the One Way Ministries team) has just published a wonderful book entitled “One Goal: A Prayer and Praise Journal”.  It is filled with umpteen quotes, insights, prayers and comments that will stir you up to be faithful in prayer.  Gerry has organized it so you can use it as a weekly journal that will remind you to pray daily for different themes.  It is very visual and user-friendly.  I’m already keeping my copy handy on my home desk.

Here’s more about it and how you can get a copy.

Another CampFire is over …

by Richard Long,

Hard to believe it went by so fast.  Campfire 2009 was a wonderful success.  The Lord again sent us 17 awesome high schoolers from across Canada.  We had them from St. John’s NFLD, Montreal QC, many places in Ontario and as far west as Lethbridge and Spruce Grove AB.  Despite some rain showers every day, we proved you can have a great time in Ottawa.  Today most of them had a chance to cap off their time with a visit to Eglise Le Chemin in Gatineau where Alain Caron is the pastor.  It was joy-filled service and a chance to worship in a fully bilingual congregation.

We are already starting to plan for Campfire 2010, so keep it in mind as you think of young people who might benefit from an immersion in worship, prayer and intense fun.

O Canada – Peter Hartgerink

by Richard Long,

A good friend right from the beginning of our ministry here in Ottawa is Peter Hartgerink.  He writes his own blog and had a challenging and insightful article a couple of days ago on Dominion Day.

Here’s an excerpt, with his permission …

O Canada

God keep our land glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Did you ever stop to think about what those words mean?  We sing these words every time we sing our national anthem, but are these words true of us?  Are we standing on guard for Canada?

There are different ways of serving your country.  Some serve in the Armed Forces, others serve as Members of Parliament, judges, police officers, and in a host of other ways.  But what about the rest of us?  Can ordinary Canadians stand on guard for our country in a meaningful way?

I believe we can.  There are at least two very simple practices which, if they were adopted by every Canadian who believes in Jesus, could have a huge impact on our nation.

Read the rest of the article here …

Canada Day

by Richard Long,

  Yesterday was the day!  Hundreds of thousands swarmed the downtown of Ottawa to celebrate the 142nd birthday of our nation.  We heard Prime Minister Harper speak, as well as our Governor General, enjoyed musical acts and many other demonstrations of skill by acrobats and BMX cyclists, etc.

  We capped it off with a walk to overlook the Ottawa River so we could see the amazing fireworks last night.  For some of our campers this was the most wonderful Canada Day they had ever experienced.

RCMP Sunset Ride

by Richard Long,

Amidst a day of meeting some believers who work as Parliamentary Assistants, a tour of Parliament and a prayer walk onsite, we gave our campers a real piece of Canadiana.  Last evening between rain showers we watched the RCMP Musical Ride at their home stables here in Rockcliffe.  The Governor General was there with her husband and daughter as well as hundreds of others.

At the end of the show we had the chance to meet the horses and their riders.  It sure makes you appreciate the quality of horsemanship we have attained in this nation.

Campfire 2009

by Richard Long,

All week long we will be bringing you observations, pictures and reports from our Campfire HighSchool camp here at NHOP.  Please be praying for safety and for great blessing as we have 17 young men and women with us.

Today they will be prayer walking on Parliament Hill, meeting a couple of Parliamentary Assistants and taking the official tour of Parliament and the Peace Tower.  If the rain holds off we will be going to the RCMP stables to watch the Musical Ride after supper.