Not just another day in Parliament …

by Richard Long,

   There were a couple of Private Member’s bills that we were watching closely this afternoon. 

  First there was a vote on the motion that M.P. Harold Albrecht put forward, seconded by M.P. Kelly Block that was worded – “That, in the opinion of the House, for greater certainty, the government should take steps to ensure that counselling a person to commit suicide or aiding or abetting a person to commit suicide is an offence under section 241 of the Criminal Code, regardless of the means used to counsel or aid or abet including via telecommunications, the Internet or a computer system.” Private Members’ Business M-388

   We were pleased to see it passed by a vote of 230 to 0.  No one voted against it!

  Secondly we were very proud of our Nazarite intern Chelsea McCulloch because she was asked to do some speech writing for the M.P. that she has been volunteering for and this evening he gave his speech as part of his Private Member’s Bill.  That bill is moving forward as well.  As far as we know this is the first time that one of our interns has had the opportunity to make this kind of a contribution, so we were all very excited.

 

The Real Thing – Miranda Suddards

by Miranda Suddards (from the Nazarite Call Blogsite)

There have been a few things washing around in my spirit lately. Five weeks as a Nazarite, and I am wondering what “intercession” really is. We’ve had a level of teaching, which is a privilege to receive. I’ve learned more about government than I have ever known. We have had so much fun – more than I could imagine.  Shrieked with laughter and been moved to tears by friendships.  We have become family – built up a spiritual house of living stones, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

And yet what are those ‘acceptable sacrifices?’  How do we ‘do’ intercession?  I’ve never liked the word – it always seemed slightly pompous to me. My construction upon it probably, but I think Jason Upton gives us a stream of truth through his songs.  For me, he catches it.  I don’t think its about  us talking to God about what we want to pray about.  Its not even God talking to us about what He wants to pray about, although, this is better than the first. I think its about being willing to come to Him empty and weak.  With nothing.  Unable.  Knowing, as Marc Dupont says, that God is the great I Am, and we are the great are nots.

Read the rest of this blog …

Wakefield, QC

by Richard Long,

  We have a tradition with our Nazarites and Prayer Missionaries that we do every Fall.  Some of the most spectacular fall colours are in the Gatineau Hills north of Ottawa.  There is an amazing little village of Wakefield which you can drive to or take a steam train up alongside the Gatineau River that is nestled in the valley looking up on all sides to high multi-coloured walls of autumn leaves.  A covered bridge straddles the river just a little further upstream.

   So this afternoon, we took a break (since Parliament isn’t sitting this week) and headed up into Quebec.  My big highlight was to meet an Algonquin story-teller in one of the native shops, whom Terry and I had met and taken pictures with a couple of years ago during the Vanier Maple Sugar Festival.  At that festival he goes by the name Joe Maple.  I love the mix of French and Native culture that he embodies and which we stepped into as we entered the shop in Wakefield.  It was an environment of laughter and warmth.  Not specifically “Christian” but very definitely “human”, reflecting the glory of God in the image of man.  Just like the beauty of the Quebec countryside reflects his glory in another way.

  If you ever get to Ottawa, its worth the extra 30 minute drive to Wakefield.

New Nazarite Blogs … “Pray What?”

There are 3 more entries from our new Nazarites over at their dedicated blogging site.

Here’s the latest by Natalie McIntyre …

Pray What?

“Because we Nazarites have come to serve at NHOP, it should be safe to assume that we all feel called to prayer.  However, while I do feel the passion to pray, I’ve been struck with the realization that so often I just don’t know what to pray. I know that I’m not alone in this as the disciples had a similar problem.  In Luke 11:1 Jesus’ disciples ask him: “Lord, teach us to pray.” I think the disciples got it right – they knew their prayers weren’t what they should be, so rather than ignoring the problem they took their question to Jesus. It is after this question that Jesus shows them how to pray through what we know as The Lord’s Prayer.

Now the disciples were very fortunate – when they had a question, they could just walk up to Jesus and ask him. Things are a little different now. Or are they? Isn’t it true that we as Christians have the ability to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).  So, if we have a need and don’t know how to pray into it we can ask the Holy Spirit to “teach us how to pray.” If we want to talk to God, but are blanking on what to say, we can be honest and ask the Holy Spirit to lay on our hearts what is on God’s heart. Isn’t that what we want to do when we pray – not pray our will, but pray that God’s will is done? And how do we know God’s will? We ask!

This is what I have been challenged with over the last couple weeks – putting aside my agenda and my plans for prayer so that I can pray ”your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). When I pray, I want to seek the Father’s heart, so that my prayers are in alignment with what he is trying to accomplish. In order to do this, I must develop a greater intimacy with him. As I get to know God better, it is easier for me to know what is on his heart, so that I can agree with him in prayer. In Matthew 6:33 (the same chapter where the Lord’s Prayer is recorded), Jesus tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” There is so much in this world to distract us, but God wants us to come to him in deep relationship, seeking him first.”

Natalie

If you would like to read the other entries by other Nazarites go to The Nazarite Call Blog.

I.D. Ministries

by Richard Long,

   We have just had the huge blessing of receiving the teaching and ministry of Terry and Melissa Bone over the last day and a half. They came to NHOP to lead us through their “Power of Blessing” seminar that they do all over Canada and the world. Twenty of our Nazarites, Prayer Missionaries and staff were blessed by their insights into blessing.

You may have caught them on 100 Huntley St. or seen their books in your Christian Bookstore. It is really good stuff. You can check it all out on their official website at Power of Blessing where they have lots of sample teaching and videos.

Boot Camp (A Nazarite Perspective)

by Richard Long,

  Today was the last day of our 2 week Boot Camp for our new Nazarites.  I thought you would find this perspective from one of our new interns, quite enlightening.

by Miranda Suddards,

As the psychiatrist on the team, I couldn’t help noticing a few things.

 Take this afternoon, for example.  Our teacher and mentor, Richard, stumbles off a long-haul flight and is given what can only be termed the graveyard-shift teaching slot, at 1pm today.  A week ago, when he left us, we were fresh, bright-eyed, keen-as-mustard little nazareenies.  Respectful, demure, eager to please.  KEEN, you know?

Like, thrilled to be here, aware of our awesome privileges, godly young (and not so young) men (man) and women.

All that stuff you would expect. YOU know.

Then we entered Boot Camp. 

This is aptly named mon amis, aptly named.

 So then, this afternoon our kind, courteous, gentle and affirming teacher (who through no fault of his own, has been on a retreat) and, returning, just one week later is expecting the same room full of the eager-to-learn, attentive students he left, just 7 days ago.” …

You can read the full description here at our Nazarite Call Blog which we have started up again.

NHOP as Community

by Richard Long,

   We are in the middle of our first two weeks of “Boot Camp” for our new Nazarites and Prayer Missionaries.  It’s an intense time where they are brought up to speed with all our teaching, philosophy and practice of prayer, and the dynamics of being a ministry that hosts guests every week.

   One of the most important topics we cover is the fact that they have come to live in a prayer ”community” for 12 weeks.  The hothouse environment of living in a busy, intense environment causes all of us to be challenged and to grow in the area of relationships.

Here’s what one experienced writer has to say about the value of living in community …

Creating Communities of Caring
Elizabeth O’Connor

The primary purpose of the disciplines, structures of accountability and mission of the Church is to build life together, to create liberating communities of caring. To each of us is given a gift for the building of a community of caring, a community in which we can learn to embrace our pain and to overcome all those oppressive inner structures that would keep us in bondage and make us protective and anxious for our own futures.

Source: The New Community

Shana Tova – Happy Rosh Hoshana

by Richard Long,

   Well my Jewish friends tell me it is now the year 5770.  It seems very fitting (and intentional) that tonight all over Canada there will be the official launch of the documentary by Marnie Blom – From the River to the Ends of the Earth.

 

Hopefully wherever you are located in our nation you have access to a showing.  Go here to find a showing in your area.   Here in the Ottawa region, there are about 19 venues in local churches and home and centres like NHOP.  My wife – Terry also had the opportunity to show the trailer on Parliament Hill today to a couple of different groups that meet at the East Block Chapel on Fridays.

  The prayers that will be stirred up today for the destiny of Canada, seem a very appropriate way to begin the Jewish New Year.

On a ministry level, it is also the night that our new Nazarites and Prayer Missionaries are being launched into their 3 month program with us.

Preparing for the Fall

by Richard Long,

   We’re back!  Terry and I have taken the last 3 weeks off, so we are grateful to Jeremiah and Megan,( interns here at NHOP) for keeping this regular blog going.  By the way, all our staff are grateful for your prayers in the summer, because getting rest, relaxation, and re-creation is critical to the year-round effort.  In fact, please pray for Rob and Fran Parker who are now on a bit of a break.

Around NHOP there is a lot of thinking and planning going on as we prepare for new Nazarites and Prayer Missionaries this Fall.  We could have 12-14 new folks around here by the looks of it.  We still have a few more days before our application deadline closes on Aug. 31st and there are always some last minute surprises.

Our incoming residents are busy getting their funds together, lining up prayer partners back home and making their travel plans to get here by Sept. 18.  Please pray for them.

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.