2010: A Year of Prayer

by Richard Long,

The new year is only two weeks away. (Yes, I know that Christmas is only one week from today)  Many national prayer movements are joining together to make 2010 a special year of prayer. 

One of those initiatives is called Unite Canada:24-7-365-2010.  It’s aim is to mobilize Canadians to pray for every hour of the next year.  No small goal.  You’ll be hearing much more about it on this blog and from many directions.

The 24-7 Prayer movement carried an article about it on their international website today written by Daria Tomiuk.

“Canada has been given some great opportunities for 2010, such as hosting the winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC in February and the G8 Summit in Huntsville, ON in June. During such a strategic time and after ten years of 24-7 Prayer activity in our nation, we think it’s time to come together.
 
Our hope and dream is to unite Canada in prayer right across the nation, including all generations, denominations, cultures, cities and ministries.  Each church or community can sign on to pray 24-7 for a period of time picking up the baton from the church before and passing it on to the believers following them.”

Here’s the link to the full article.

Gracious Window – Peter Tigchelaar

by Richard Long,

There is a new CD that I want to highly recommend to you.  It’s the long-awaited album from our good friend Peter Tigchelaar titled – “Gracious Window”.  It’ s not only a highly musical CD, but you will be inspired by the lyrics that come from his poetic heart.  Terry and I often refer to our dear friend as the “Minstrel of Hamilton.”  We want to share him with the rest of you!

Here’s the lyrics from the title song below.  I love that it is a song about prayer.

“But I can see more from on my knees”

You can go to his website and hear 3 sample songs which I am sure will convince you to buy some CD’s for people on your Christmas list.

Go to www.petertigchelaar.com  You can even watch him live on video doing his classical minstrel stuff.

Gracious Window

 

It’s another gracious window

opening out of a broken down day

and here’s yet another faithful stairway

bringing down songs to light the way

 

I don’t know how long it’s going to be open

and I can’t see the end of the galaxies

pouring through this gracious window

but I can see more from on my knees.

 

It’s a big house with many mansions

it’s such a big house, ‘cause it’s the universe

Such risky grace taking so many chances

to rescue each one from the ancient curse

 

I don’t know how long it’s going to be open

so now is your chance,  this is the day

to climb on in this gracious window

come on in – it’s the universe!

 

I don’t know how long it’s going to be open

I can’t see the end of the galaxies

pouring through this gracious window          

cascading down this faithful stairway

but I can see more from on my knees.

 

 words & music by Peter Tigchelaar

 Listen to Gracious Window here.

Remembrance Day

by Terry Long

     Most people only read the touching poem from World War 1 titled “In Flanders Fields” just on Remembrance Day.  I have the opportunity to read it almost every week, as this famous poem is etched on the wall inside the War Memorial Chamber in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill.  The picture above shows the etching on the left wall if you look carefully.   We at the National House of Prayer take prayer teams inside this room to pray almost on a weekly basis.  Even though I have read it many times it still touches me deeply.  We are posting it here today and we invite you to read it and ponder these timeless, sobering and selfless words again and to give thanks for those who were and are being martyred for our freedom. 

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

OneThing’ 09

By Jeremiah Smith

If you haven’t heard of the OneThing Conference then you definitely need to check it out. It’s worth the trip down to Kansas City, and who hasn’t always wanted to say as they leave Kansas, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas any more.” Not to mention intense teaching, passionate worship, and thousands of young adults pressing on to know God.

40 Days for Life

by Kirsten Harty

The fall campaign for 40 Days for Life is back in full swing. This will be the campaign’s third season in Ottawa, with six other Canadian cities participating. The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is showing their support for the event as well.

By choosing to be a silent, prayerful witness, you are a voice for the unborn:  the vulnerable, the voiceless….

Prov. 31:8 – 9  ”Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.  Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Here were the events for Day 1.

Vigil guidelines can be found here.

See you there.

Feeding the Hungry

by Richard Long,

   We have had an incredible group of volunteers feeding folks over the last few days here at NHOP.  Ruth Sowerby, her husband Harold (local pastors in Ottawa) and her band of kitchen and dining room helpers looked after 75-80 hungry leaders for the last 6 days.  The eaters were at first the worship team for the Watchmen Gathering and the dance troupe from Alliance Et Vie church.  The last couple of days it was the international guests who came from over a dozen nations to observe and debrief about the experience.

  They all were effusive in their praise for the beautiful presentation and the wonderful taste, quantity and variety of food on the menu.

   The real miracle is that so many meals could be provided out of our small kitchen.  We still have only a 4-burner stove and a couple of ovens.  We’ve begged and borrowed fridges and freezers that line the walls.  If you have ever been in our kitchen you know it really needs an overhaul.  Actually we are praying about how and when to do so.  We estimate that it will take at least $25,000.  Just another project that we get to watch the Lord provide the funds for and bless us and many others along the way.

Looking for FireCampers

by Richard Long,

  

   Once again this summer we are running a camp for high school age kids.  It is particularily aimed at youth who have an inclination for prayer.  We realize that that is a very special designation, but we were amazed at the quality of young people that the Lord gave us last year.  We are praying for the same kind of calibre this summer.

  If you know of a teenager who really should consider coming there are several things you can begin to do for them.

1. Begin praying that they would sense the call of God about our CampFire.

2. Tell them about the webpage that we have online that describes all about it.

3. Help them raise the funds to come!

Here’s what some of our kids said after the camp last year…

“The entire week was absolutely incredible!  Just being with a group of people (staff, counsellors, and campers) who had such a passion for Jesus was enough to bring me closer to His heart.”

“What impacted me most about Campfire was realizing that I wasn’t alone in my struggles as a young person who believes in God.  I was surrounded by a bunch of Jesus freaks which I loved, and I grew closer to God.”

“Leaders took time to know and help each of us individually and totally willingly.  The worship/prayer/teaching times were also AMAZING!”

National March For Life 2009

 

 

 

 

by Kirsten Harty

It’s hard to believe, but Canada remains the only nation in the western world without any laws restricting abortion.  

Even ancient societies’ religions had universal opposition to abortion…. flash forward to today and one-third of our generation hasn’t made it out of the womb…..(can we honestly call ourselves a “progressive” society?)

In light of the fact that spilled innocent blood has an effect on the land (Psa. 106:37-38)…. and that the unborn have no voice with which to protect their lives, abortion is a civil rights issue that should evoke some kind of response on our part…

Will you be a voice for the unborn?

Next Thursday, May 14th – noon – on the Hill…. join thousands of others in the 12th annual National March for Life.

(Here’s the theme song….)

Our Director has been asked to lead one of the prayer gatherings at St. George’s Anglican Church at 10 am the same day…. we hope to see you there!

Campfire 2009

  We are really excited about this summer’s high school camp here at NHOP.

Check out all the details on our website for how to apply to this unique training opportunity.

MoveIn Conference – May 8, 9, 2009

by Richard Long,

  We are really encouraged by the movement of the Spirit that we see with the MoveIn Conference coming up soon in Toronto. 

We are blessed to have one of these intentional, incarnational, missional communities just a few doors down from us in our neighbourhood. 

  If you know of some young adults who are ready to make an impact on the high-risk neighbourhoods of your city you may want to help them to attend this free event hosted at the People’s Church in Toronto on May 8th, and 9th.  Here’s a little bit about their vision …

The MoveIn Vision

John 1:14 says, “The Word [Jesus] became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Or, as The Message paraphrases it, “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”

MoveIn is about copying Jesus’ example (Phil. 2:5-7) by literally moving in to the neighbourhood.

We have discovered that something amazing happens when a group of Christians intentionally moves into a neighbourhood to pray (Acts 1:14) and be. In doing so, they have chosen to become part of the neighbourhood. Rather than visiting or serving and then going away, they will share in their neighbourhood’s joys (Rom. 12:15), and in its troubles (Rom. 8:17); and they will have an opportunity to be right in there as salt (Matt. 5:13) and light (Matt 5:14) – as the hands and feet of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27; Matt. 25:35-40) – with a cup of cold water in one hand (Mark 9:41) and the good news (Isa. 52:7) in the other.

Continue reading …