The B-Word

But while I was busy doing something else, the prisoner disappeared!"
"Well, it's your own fault," the king replied. "You have determined your own judgment." 1 Kings 20:40

It's almost a crime to not be busy these days. The b-word is both a source of pride and frustration to many in this 'modern' world, maybe even you? The symptoms of busyness are everywhere in our jobs, families, social lives, hobbies, etc. But let's get one thing straight first, "We choose to be too busy." The source is always ourselves.

Before you get all offended or blame me for not understanding the pressures that drive your life, let me just say (from one bee to another), "I get you." Yes, missionaries get too busy too. We have families, social lives and financial pressures like everyone else. We also like to use the b-word as a counterfeit for God-guided action. Sound familiar? Here's the kicker...

God calls busy people!
(Say it "out loud" to convince yourself)

Still don't believe me? Check out Peter, covered in fish guts. Look at Elisha sweating with the oxen. And do you really think Mary was just sitting around daydreaming like Alice in Wonderland? It's actually more like Cinderella. Young women in her culture had more calloused hands than many construction workers today. I bet the angel came her way while she had a 5 gallon bucket on her head!

When Jesus said, "Go...", it was to some confused and doubtful young men with busy, hard-working lives ahead of them. They had to sacrifice all of their excuses, b-words, c-words, d-words, etc. Our God has great and mighty plans for this world. He's not trying to beg help from people with nothing better to do! He can redirect our busyness, but He cannot transform boredom. That's up to you my friend.

So go into all this week and realise there is a God who wants some of that precious time of yours. And there's still some people who need to know Him.

Let's Get Bizaaay,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

PS: Freedomhouse begins our Sunday Study in the Book of Ezra this week. Read ahead and get ready for a wild ride! It may alter your plans for the future a bit :)

"We're Back!"

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down,
especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1

There is a man in tight speedos who is shattering records and blowing minds across the world. Some call him 'the world's greatest swimmer' others even deem him 'the greatest Olympian ever'. Whether you agree or not, you'd have to admit that there is something more than luck on his side. Would you like to know his secret?

Paul the Apostle liked to encourage Christians by comparing them to the Olympians of his day. He admired their discipline, self control and most of all, their focus. Paul also loved to point out that our 'race' to win the human race for Christ is far greater than any endeavour in this world. So why are we wandering around like lost tourists instead running in a way that honours the One who finished first?

Look at the boy at the left of the picture. He's the same man who now has 14 gold medals around his neck. Little Mikey has been drinking pool water for breakfast since he was 7 years old. Can we be the kind of disciples that can see victory in those moments when we think no one is looking? Our Father is watching, Angels are cheering and people are waiting...

It's Monday. Will you dive into your *race this week or only get your toes wet?

Glad to be back,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

*rat race not included

Eternal Summer

So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen.
For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:18

The Monday Message, as we know it, will be postponed for a couple weeks as we 'focus' on a couple other things at the moment:

#1 We are preparing to represent Freedomhouse and share all that God is doing here with our friends and supporters @ the Praise Chapel World Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. We are preparing videos, photo galleries and more, so please pray for us as we get things ready.

#2 This summer, the theme @ Freedomhouse is called Eternally Focused. We'll be exploring the eternal elements that will NEVER change, while learning how to apply them to our ever-changing situations. It's not about having our head in the clouds, but rather bringing God's vision to down to earth through our daily decisions.

Come and join us every Sunday this summer and see what God does. Don't just observe, get involved! We are doing all kinds of creative projects and experiments of faith. We need your unique personality and one of a kind style to complete the multi-coloured vision God is painting at Freedomhouse.

Here's to an eternal summer...

Under the Son,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

Eternally Focused

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Cor 13:12

"You gotta strange look on your face. What are ya' thinkin' about?", asked Dawn to her silent lunch companion, who couldn't stop squinting at the scattered clouds above. Joel took a final greedy bite of his cheap Tesco sandwich to buy him some replying time. He'd just been caught recalling the fading revelations of last night's dream.

Could he actually describe the sensation of walking on a cliff that had coarse grass made with the tangled words of his own hidden thoughts? Was it really worth chatting about a distant river made of a million singing people running towards a gigantically immense mountain? While Joel played back the vivid, out of body sky-walk that ended his vision, an abrupt gulp signaled him to returned to his own skin. His hesitation time was officially over.

"Well, I reckon' I was just thinking that I've never really liked mustard with my smoked pig", said Joel with a little burp for effect.

"Disgusting. I am never having lunch with you again." He had forgotten that Dawn was vegetarian. Joel's rudeness had once again disguised a part of himself that he really wanted to share: the quiet belief that he could see things a bit beyond the reality box.

The faint drips of summer rain convinced them to head back to their jobs a little early. As they walked through the shady garden, Joel's eyes scanned the tilted grave stones surrounding them. This was an old burial ground for dissenters of the Queen's Church. Now lunchtime Londoners relaxed here with bad sandwich's and impolite jokes. While passing the dead beds of Blake and Bunyan, Joel wondered if he would ever be remembered like them. Even though they weren't exactly household names anymore.

The increasing rain and an oncoming bus forced Joel to quickly depart from his friend with nothing more than a head-nod good-bye. He ran across the street to catch the 21 bus, enjoying the way the bright yellow numbers matched his current age. It seemed like cheap destiny. He sat down in a dry back seat. When the bus passed by his walking wet friend, he began to regret not sharing his dream with her.

Joel della Valle would never get to apologise for the stupid joke either...


The End?...

PS: If you enjoyed our Monday Morning Story you might also like the new theme at Freedomhouse this summer: Eternally Focused. We'll be exploring the eternal things that never change no matter what, even in a world that never stops. This Sunday is about Living Vision. Come and see for yourself what it's all about...

Thanks,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

Happily Ever After

Hello Everyone,

Brandon is pretty ill this week so he asked me to send a quick note to you all. Instead of the Monday Message being received by you, why don't you send something encouraging to one or more of your friends and see what happens...? (Forwarding doesn't count)

The message this Sunday is called "Happily Ever After". It's about being eternally secure (without being cynical) about the Father's first love for us. God's really been doing some great things lately around this theme. Brandon will probably share more embarrassing stories about our wedding or something as well. Don't miss out! Love to see you...

Glad to be back,
Pamela and Brandon
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

Others Explained

Love your neighbour as yourself...(All over the Bible)

Could your life be summed up in one word?

When Salvation Army founder William Booth was on his death bed, he was visited by one of the managers of the telegraph system of London. The man asked Booth if he had a last message he would like to send to his Salvation Army officers around the world. He said, "If you do, whether it is long or short, we shall be glad to send it free of charge."

Looking up, the General smiled his thanks and said just one word: "Others." That message was wired around the world where Salvation Army soldiers were out seeking for the lost other sheep.

What word would be used by "others" to define your life?

Glad to be back,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

PS: Check out this video of Pastor Kelley Lohrke from Praise Chapel Kansas City. He spoke at the First Love Conference we were at last Month. May his crazy love for the lost inspire yours.

Tuesday Telegram: Others

Others.

Friends Forever

There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. Psalm 18:24

As some of you may know, we are in Ixtapa, Zihautenejo visiting Pamela's familia. It's been 5 years since she's seen the people she grew up with. Pamela spent nearly every summer here, from toddler to teenager. The place and people are part of who she is. This will never change, even though she will.

There are many things that leave their mark on us, but the Eternal Impact Award goes to relationships. The gospel can be read and understood by any caved hermit in solitude, but it is only truly revealed by through the lenses of friendship, brotherhood, family and marriage. It doesn't take a long time to find the many ways God uses these 'metaphors' to describe his relationship to us and one another; even himself (hello...Father & Son).

So why do we treat these precious connections with such apathy and disregard so many times?

God's love cannot have any lasting effect until we express and experience it in our earthly relationships. We ourselves are hindered from discovering the Almighty until we enter into an honest & intimate connection with his son Jesus. It through this first love relationship that all of our other friends, family and acquaintances will be forever blessed.

So who haven't you phoned in awhile?

Amigos por vida...
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

P.S. Missing the London crew very much! Will be home soon to share all the good things God has been doing while we've been out here. Thanks to all of you who have been helping to keep Freedomhouse going strong in our absence. ¡Muchas Gracias!

Pentecost: After Effects

And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. Acts 2:44

Much is said about the supernatural events that took place on the Day of Pentecost. But what's even more amazing is what happened right afterwords.

Faith in Jesus was no longer hidden inside an upper room. It was on display in every area of the believers' lives. Extraordinary deeds were now an ordinary occurrence.

Time - Money & Relationships: Are these 3 things among the many topics on your mind as you face this week? Ask any Londoner how their doing and you'll get the "busy" word somewhere in the reply. Time for God can seem like a spiritual luxury these days.

Does God still call us to give in times of economic uncertainty? Hmmm...Or how about relationships? Is there more to Christian fellowship than having a few "church friends" on your Facebook?

The Holy Spirit was given to us for much more than loud prayer meetings. He wants to hang out with you and your friends, to be in your financial decisions, and even run to the bus with you in another one of your mad rushes. You'll find yourself in less of those stressful situations when you begin to understand the everyday power of Pentecost.

Eternity is effected by what you do with the next 5 minutes. Will you spend it or invest it?

Have a great week,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

The Camden Pentecost Festival was an amazing and exhausting success! Thanks to all who attended and helped make it happen. We'll be posting pics and video on the website soon.

Please pray for us as we travel to California for Harvester's Homecoming 2008. We'll will be sharing about God's work in here Freedomhouse. Everything will carry on as unusual in our absence. We believe for exciting things to happen while we're away. Check out guest speaker Tom Barlow this Sunday as he ministers on how Pentecost can effect your everyday situation.

The Pentecost Effect

I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! Luke 12:49

Once in awhile there comes a time when you defy your reservations, hesitations and procrastinations all at once. A moment when your butt jumps off the easy chair of excuses and you do the very thing your heart is burning for.

How often does this kind of fire fall on you?

Jesus often spoke with a scorched frustration and yearning for the day his people would finally get it. That day came and went, but the flame that sparked the Church of Jesus Christ on the Day of Pentecost was never meant to go out. God has entrusted us with a truth that cannot be seen by anyone if we just sit on it.

Are these following words a living reality in your daily life?

"Christ in YOU, the hope of glory..." "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me..."

Everyday? Yes, every single moment. It's still possible.

Do you smell something burning?



Sincerely,
Brandon & Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

Join us this week to bring the Pentecost experience to Camden Town. Please pray hard because this isn't the kind of thing the enemy takes lightly.

We've had to re-adjust aspects of the festival due the many pressures involved, but we are still believing for something extraordinary to take place this weekend. We'd love for you to be a part in anyway possible. Just write Brandon (brandon@freedomhouse.org.uk) or Mark (mark@freedomhouse.org.uk) if your interested in volunteering.

Empty By Choice

Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6

Fasting was never meant to be easy, that's why it works. Not only do you have a growling stomach to deal with, there is also an anxious mind with tangled intentions trying to focus on anything but ____________ (add favourite craving here).

It's harder know we're fasting for the right reasons in these times of crash diets and size zero hero's, who shun food for attention. Add to this a shaky economy breeding tortilla riots and a full blown rice crisis. Is it right to deny the basics we've been blessed with?

And what does fasting actually accomplish anyway?

Isaiah 58 addresses our different intentions for fasting, as well as God's attitude towards them. What may seem pious and spiritual to people can make God feel like gagging sometimes. On the other hand, many history-altering moves of God were proceeded by the food-less prayers of God's people.

Are you desperate for God to do something in a certain area of your life or someone else? Would you like a clearer connection to God's voice? Fasting is a time-proven way to get over yourself and under the chain breaking power of the Holy Spirit. It's just one of those things that can only be truly understood through experience.

Shut the cupboards and let's see what happens this week...

Bless you guys,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

Join us this week as we FAST and PRAY for the upcoming Camden Pentecost Festival in Cantelowes Gardens. Here are some of issues that need to be covered in sincere and fervent prayer:

• People to hear,come and be touched by God's Spirit
• Enough hands on support to run smoothly
• Finances to be covered completely!
• A lasting impression made on the people of Camden
• The God would do more than we could ask, think or imagine...

Choose a day or two this week to where you can pray in the times you would normally eat. Thanks for your participation.

Just Add Water

"Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptised?" Acts 8:36

It was a sunny, but chilly day in November. The pigeons and tourists watched in confusion as two people walked into the ice cold fountains of Trafalgar Square to take part in something very holy. It had to be quick though, before security came.

Baptism is an ancient tradition that even Jesus took part in. What it means entirely, no one can fully explain, yet people have been doing it for thousands of years. As Christians, we believe this act identifies us with the death and burial of Christ, but something way beyond mere symbolism takes place when you add H2O to your faith.

Over the years, the baptismal waters has been given many additive rituals and rules that may confuse people who want to take part. "How old should I be?...How much water do you need exactly?...Does it count if I don't remember it?...I was only 3 months old after all."

The baptism illustrated above was as simple as you can get. One day after church, Brian asked if he could be baptised. He showed the genuine fruit of someone who loves God, so I told him I know a good place down the street. His friends form work came down to be there with us all. We went through some Scripture, prayed together, then splash...he came up a different man. We all celebrated together as he shivered with joy. I will never forget that day.

Today Brian lives and studies in South Africa, continuing to seek the amazing will of God for his life. He has since been on a couple missionary journeys in Africa and knows there are many other adventures ahead. His impact on a baby church called Freedomhouse is still felt today.

Does baptism have something to do with it? I'm sure of it.



Who's next?
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

PS: Join us this Sunday as we celebrate a Special Group Baptism at Freedomhouse Church. It will be indoors with much warmer water this time around. Bring a towel and some spare clothes if you would like to take part. As the excited Ethiopian declared in Acts 8, "What's stopping me?"

PSS: I won't be using the "choke hold manueaver" used on poor Brian in the picture ;)

Black Hole Christianity

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters...Gen 1:2

Ever feel pulled in a direction, emotion or state of mind you can't seem to escape? A black hole can suck the life out of anything in the universe, even light. Can your faith survive one?

Black holes are completely invisible. We can only observe their influence on the galaxies that surrounds them. Try to get in for a closer look and your a goner the nanosecond you cross the event horizon i.e. the point of no return.

A similar (unnamed) law of nature states that if you focus too much on your own problems, you'll get pulled in indefinitely. You can then become a walking black hole that starts sucking life from those around you. The polar opposite of a life-giving Christian.

The book of Genesis always blows my mind. Ever notice that water, light, seeds and plants existed before there ever was a sun (or black hole) in the heavens? (Day 4) The source of all life is completely and supernaturally found in God.

The Lord can speak light into your emotional black hole and pull you out of it's grip by the gravity of His will. A mature and rooted faith is one that's seen a few holes and survived. It's source of light is no longer found in the vacuum of circumstance, but in the unchanging power of the God.

Which force will your faith surrender to this week?



Looking to the Source,
Brandon and Pamela Munoz
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

True or False Fruits

You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:16

Ever been fooled by a faker?

Imitations are all around us. Counterfeit clothes, bootleg movies and even synthetic spirituality. Like the plastic apples in the picture, we can settle for shiny, look alike experiences and teachings that are only a cheap imitation of the real blessings of God. In this age of overcrowded information, we need to quickly spot the imposter's and hold on to the truth with an abiding grip.

So how do we tell what's real or not? I recently shared an old Aesop's fable with my son Daniel that may help us. I regret that I can't act it out with animal characters for you, but the words should work just fine:

An ass, having put on the Lion's skin, roamed about in the forest and amused himself by frightening all the foolish animals he met in his wanderings. At last coming upon a Fox, he tried to frighten him also, but the Fox no sooner heard the sound of his voice than he exclaimed, "I might possibly have been frightened myself, if I had not heard your bray."

Clothes may disguise a fool, but their words will soon give them away.

Who are you trying to fool? Can you be the kind of person that God can bear some real fruit with? The kind that people can sink their teeth into the waxy aftertaste. Join us this Sunday as we discover how to know the difference between a well dressed lie and the naked truth of the Word of God.

What kind of fruit will you eat this week?



Your Friends,
Brandon and Pamela Munoz
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

Breakthrough Growth

"...I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not stand against it." Matt 16:18

There are certain living things in this world that keep growing no matter what kind of barrier is put in front of them. Are you one of them?

I have a friend who was training to be a police officer a few years ago. Part of the training included and obstacle course with a 6ft wall near the end. No badges are given out until you clear it.

Day after day - week after week, she hit that wall with abandon, but never quite made it over. By then, many reasonable people would've justifiably given up. They could tell themselves, "Maybe this just isn't for me" or "I guess it's a man's job after all..." The only thing between her and a lifelong dream was that stupid wall!

God wants to grow, build and create new life everywhere he can by using whoever he can. All he needs is people who think like him. Are you like a bonsai plant, which let's the trimming limitations of others determine its growth? Or are you a relentlessly rooted redwood that sees a brick wall in your way and feels sorry for it?

My friend finally conquered her wall after all. She prayed, quoted Scripture and believed God for the help. I don't know how many times it actually took, but that doesn't really matter once your on the other side.

How tall is your wall today?



See you on the other side,
Brandon and Pamela
Freedomhouse Church, Camden

Tuesday Telegram: Blast From the Past

Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance-all who seek the Lord!
Consider the quarry from which you were mined, the rock from which you were cut! Isaiah 51

First of all, let's get a few cliches concerning the past out of the way.

• "You don't know where your going, until you know where you've been."
• "Hindsight is always 20/20"
• "No use crying over spilled milk"
• "Nostalgia will stall'ya"

Do you ever feel sorry for those bands who can't survive a concert without performing nearly every song from their 'golden era'. When they try to play anything new, it's usually received with loud shouts for the oldies. It must be frustrating knowing that people will never appreciate your new songs as much as the ones you've played a few thousand times.

The past can be a tricky thing sometimes, especially if your a Christian. When times get tough, we can look backwards to days when it was much 'easier' and life seemed more golden. The lies of the devil are a very real thing. They can actually alter our memories and give us a hind sight that is anything but 20/20.

Ever find yourself having fond memories of terrible times? We can also vadalise our recollections of the good times we've had with God and his people. Sometimes we just plain forget the great miracles the Lord has done in our lives. Like those old bands, we want to move forward, but we're just stuck in the same old rut.

The past was meant to give us strength to reach for the future. God uses the struggles and victories of those that came before us to inspire a new song out of our lives. He really wants to hear it. We can cherish the lives and lessons of the past, but we cannot moonwalk into the future!



Chamon'
Brandon and Pamela
Freedomhouse Church, Camden

Look out this weekend for the new Freedomhouse Website.
It will have stories of the past and songs of the future for God to get glory around the world...
Wait til' Sat. to open this present www.freedomhouse.org.uk

Signs of Resurrection

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." Acts 17:32

There are signs of resurrection everywhere. While most aren't as blatant as the one this women is walking by, we can react just like her sometimes; constantly walking by the obvious or subtle signs of God's eternal goodness while minding our own business.

As spring approaches, we will begin to see withered looking trees bloom with color and new born lambs running around (if you go out of the city of course). Since the beginning, creation itself has testified of God's glory as well as the resurrection of the dead. Why then is it so hard to see it and believe it these days?

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, the people noticed the obvious messianic sign and responded with a great noise. Certain people wished everyone would ignore it and be quiet, But Jesus said if they don't celebrate, then he knows some rocks who will. It's in their very nature to testify of their eternal Creator.

This Easter season, let's fulfill what we've been created to do by being a sign that the world cannot ignore. Let your testimony of resurrection spill out of your mouth and from your hands. As the world quietly observes a holiday tradition, we can celebrate a living reality. Christ has risen from the dead and is alive in his children.

Can you be a sign that won't be ignored? Or will you let some bricks do your job for you?



Alive again through Him,
Brandon and Pamela Munoz
Freedomhouse Church, Camden

PS: Join us for a special testimony service this Sunday. Invite some friends and family with you and let's celebrate the resurrection together.

The Seed That Waited 2,000 Years

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever...1 Peter 1:23

There is a young palm tree named Methuselah growing in southern Israel right now. What's so special about that you ask? Well, the seed it was planted from was carbon dated at 2,000 years old.

Excavated from the ruins of Herod's Palace in Masada during the 1970's, the patient seed was sitting in a professor's drawer waiting for someone crazy enough to plant it. (Enter Dr. Soloway) In 2005 she soaked it in hot water and stuck it in some fertile dirt. The date palm tree that now grows is expected to bear fruit in 2010.

Around the same time those seeds first hit the ground, there was another patient seed being planted in the heart of a rabbi named Nicodemus. One dark night, he asked Jesus, "How can someone be born if they are already old?"

Jesus answered him with poems and parables. It's like Christ was saying, "I couldn't explain it to you if we had another thousand years to discuss it. Just be born again and see for yourself..." It's not that Nicodemus wasn't sincere, he was just selectively stubborn, much like us.

This week we'll be exploring the inexplicable thing that happens when someone is born again. Is it just a psychological gimmick or does something supernatural actually take place? I don't know about you, but I'd like to know if Jesus was giving Nicodemus more than a spiritual riddle.

So riddle me this...How can someone be born if they are already old?



Maybe we should ask Methuselah...
Brandon and Pamela Munoz
Freedomhouse Church, Camden

Roots to Fruits

The time is coming when my people will take root.
Israel will bud and blossom and fill the whole earth with her fruit! Isaiah 27:6

Would you rather grow or just grow old?

One is inevitable, the other is a choice. It's one you make several times a day whether you know it or not.

Like the illustration above, many of us have become satisfied and settled within our own small world of addictions and excuses. Though we rarely admit it; justifying, blaming or making empty promises to "pray about it". Deep inside we begin to believe that first-person miracles are a thing of the past and an Almighty God can't really move 'mountains like mine'.

Remember, this abundant life was given for us to bear the ripe fruit of eternity on this earth, not to watch it rot. This Sunday, Freedomhouse Church will begin to explore the infinite potential of a life rooted in truth and fruitful in good works. The kind that change habits, alter circumstances, overcome fears, and testify to this world that God is definitely alive!

Are the fruits of God's Truth, Promises and Possibilites finding their way onto the withered tree of your little world? If not, then maybe this is an issue worth dealing with. If you happen to be living a victorious life of daily transformation, great! Now you can help others discover the simple secret of an uncynical commitment to Christ.

If you have a desire to see the resurrection of Jesus become a tangible and touchable reality, come with us as we learn how to connect the Roots to the Fruits. Let's give God as much glory as possible in the days and years to come...

So, would you rather grow-up or just grow old?



Getting older and bolder,
Brandon and Pamela Munoz
Freedomhouse Church, Camden

A Close Encounter

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm...
...But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. Heb 12:18 & 22

How do we encounter God?

It's easier than you think. You don't have to climb a mountain, but that has been known to help. There are also other occasions where God simply drops in unexpectedly on people in the middle of minding their own business. But the kind of encounter we are talking about this week is available to anyone who makes themselves 'available'.

All it takes is a little faith and a lot of fear. Just remember Moses. He had enough faith to climb the fearful Mt. Sinai as violent smoke and fire surrounded it. He was just as afraid as the trembling Israelites below, but his desire for another encounter with God was greater that day. There was still much more to see of this mysterious One who is able to burn bushes and split seas in half.

What would've happened if he stayed at the bottom of the mountain with everyone else? Mankind would've missed it's formal introduction to the One that would eventual climb down the mountain himself to rescue us. But we were able to hear His eternal commands because someone was willing to face Him.

God is looking for people who are willing leave their excuses at the bottom of the mountain and be open for an encounter with Him. So don't let sin, boredom or busyness stop you from making time for Jesus. Do you ever feel that familiar tinge of fear when the Holy Spirit asks you to do something beyond the borders of your comfort-zone? Chances are, you are standing at the edge of an amazing experience.

Remember, a little faith can overcome alot of fear. Will you be open for an up close encounter with the Living God this week? Or will your settle for a cheap comfortable seat at the bottom of the mountain. All your excuses will be there to keep you company.

Experiencing God is as simple as a quiet prayer in a noisy street. Or a bold word from a anxious mouth to an unexpected ear.

Are you ready for a change this week?


Just as scared as anyone,
Brandon and Pamela Munoz
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

PS: We will now be including a link to the Pray As You Go Podcast as a regular feature to the Monday Message. It is a audio prayer time that helps get you into the 'encounter zone' no matter where you are. In using it recently I have been able to go straight from a crowded bus to the top of Mt. Sinai. This is an instantly reflective and consistently challenging experience packed into 10 short minutes. Don't let the peaceful choir music fool you. It cuts straight to the chase. Try it for yourself...

Just download it from the site or iTunes. It works best outside with headphones, but please watch out for traffic.

"Drifting..."

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it...Hebrews 2:1

Why do mighty whales drift ashore?

This is a mystery that no one can thoroughly explain. Yes, there are many theories citing health - weather - isolation or even depression as the main causes. But whatever makes a beautiful whale sadly drift ashore, there's something inside us that says, "Something's wrong here!". That's why news is made and people rally together to push them back in. That is of course, if it's not too late...

Drifting takes no effort at all. It just happens. Before you know it you can be so far from where you once were without even trying.

Have you ever seen a beached believer? It's not a pretty sight. People who were once alive with faith and the excitement of God, now only a shadow of what they once were. Muck like the whales, there is no thorough explanation, but there are plenty of warning signs...

Is your desire to communicate with God waning? How bout the enjoyment of being around other Christians? Or has the thrill of your own will been a recent source of fulfillment by making choice after choice without much thought to the consequences. Remember this is NOT just about you. In Christ, we have the power to either lift up or tear down others around us by our words and actions. This is the fruit of walking close to the King or drifting away aimlessly.

If this happens to be you. It's not to late to get back to sea. I know some people who would love to help you...

Would you rather breach or beach this week?



Keep your heads up,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

What Gets God Excited?

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people.
I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live...
Ezekiel 33:11

What gets God excited?

The Scripture above gives us a hint at what doesn't. Thankfully there was no deaths or injuries during the fires of Camden Town, but many people's uninsured livelihoods went up in flames with only ashes to remind them. God gets no thrill out of this.

What does get God excited is seeing people's names written in heaven. This doesn't just happen by magic, it takes faith. If you take some time this week to read the beginning of Ezekiel 33, you'll see that God depends on His people who can see, to warn those who can't.

Those of you who can remember last Saturday afternoon in London, it was as picture perfect as you can get. A California Spring Day in the middle of the "coldest" month in the UK. So many people were hanging out by the Canal we decided to do our outreach there. 3 people visiting the Canal Market accepted Christ that afternoon and many others heard the good news. But none of us knew there would be no more Canal Market by Saturday night.

I'm humbled to realise that God calls us to go to certain places for specific reasons only He is aware of. All we have to do is trust Him. There is a special excitement in the heart of the Father when his children experiment with this amazing thing called faith. When we forget about looking stupid and seek his glory above our embarrassment, there is no telling what can happen.

Next week we begin our Bible Breakdown in a new venue called the InSpiral Lounge. It's an organic - new age cafe that barely escaped the flames this last weekend. It's huge windows overlook the ashes of the Hawley Arms on the the other side of the Canal. I pray it will remind us that we are not just studying a book, but learning how to rescue souls from a fire.

How will you get God excited this week?


Sincerely,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

Grieving the Spirit

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

Are you an international ketchup lover?

Whether you are or not, this special sauce has found it's way to cover everything from burgers to baklava. I've been amazed at some of the things I've seen people squirt this stuff on. There really is no limit. But forget about the ketchup for a second, let's talk about the containers.

There are now a great variety of red vessels to choose from these days. Maybe it's because somebody finally figured out that pounding on a glass bottle for five minutes to get a couple drips out wasn't as fun as it looked. I've seen many creative techniques* to make this easier, but most still make your eyebrows look funny. Now for the real point.

What does God have to do with you to get His Precious Holy Spirit to flow out of you? Do you need to be shaken, tapped, pounded, twirled, or even left upside down for awhile, just so God can get a little "amen" or "thanks" out of you? How frustrating must that be for someone who died for us? Please believe that He would much rather give you a little squeeze and see the world around you taste better simply because you allowed Him to have His way in your life.

What grieves and quenches God's Spirit:
Pride, Lust, Dishonesty, Sin of every kind.
But let's not forget Fear, Excuses, Being Too Busy, Denying Jesus, or the real quencher---Unbelief.

We can nod our head "Yes" to all kinds of truth read or spoken, but never give it a chance to become reality in your daily life. This hurts the heart of God like no other. But because of God's great mercy, He is still ready to forgive us at every moment of repentance. As the Day of the Lord gets closer and closer, God's spirit has many great works to do through you!

What kind of bottle will you be this week?

Easy Squeezy,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.co.uk

*The best glass bottle technique by far is to lightly tap the neck with the side of your finger while pouring. It flows like a river. Courtesy of Pastor Raul Barajas Praise Chapel Tijuana, Mexico.

Filled and Stirred to Create

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel...
I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts...
He is a master at every craft! Exodus 31:1-5

The first time the Bible mentions "filling" people with the Spirit, it's to do deeds of a creative nature. Not for fighting wars, preaching sermons, or even performing miracles.

Is that so strange?

In the first ever mention of God's Spirit, He is hovering over an empty void, just waiting to create. Then suddenly, there was light - dirt - seeds - plants - animals - then us...created in His image. For what?

I'm sure a hundred people will give you a thousand answers for that one. But this I know for sure, we are called to create. To turn nothing into something. To speak life into empty situations. To use that slimy thing inside your skull to think of better ways to live. And to use those itchy fingers of yours to do something about it.

Mr. Bezaleel was a normal guy filled with an extraordinary Spirit, so he could accomplish amazing things. Are we any different?

When God wanted to build a tabernacle to show his people a glimpse of what heaven looks like, he choose a craftsman. Not a warrior. Not even a priest. But rather a Hebrew version of Bob the Builder.

As God continues to build his Church in these modern times, His Holy Spirit still wants to fill his people to show the world what heaven looks like.

Do you feel like you were absent on the day that gifts were given? Think again.

Maybe all you need is a bit of stirring. The same Spirit that hung the stars in the sky is hovering inside your heart. If you also believe that this very same Spirit raised a dead rabbi into a resurrected KIng of all kings, then what's stopping you?

Find a blank page and fill it. Take a broken thing and fix it. Find an empty heart and heal it.

Your made in His image, right?

Have a Genesis-style week,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

Warming Up to God

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others...
1 Peter 4:9-10

If there is one thing I've learned while living here in England, it's that a cup of tea is more than a cup of tea. It's a doorway into someone's heart. Make it right, serve it hot. hand it over with a smile and you've just won a friend.

Hospitality isn't usually seen as something vital to one's eternal destiny, but it is. Just think, someone's view of God can be completely tainted by crossing paths with a grumpy Christian. I wonder how many lost souls remained lost because they went to a church where no one said, "Hello".

But also remember that a person's life can be transformed by meeting a listening Christian. That's the heart of hospitality, seeing value in someone else's life.
It's a spiritual gift that has won more souls to Christ than anyone can imagine (mine included).

Find an opportunity this week to use this gift, more than once. Boil that kettle for God's glory...

2 Sugars Please ;)
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

A Free Range life

But my servant Caleb is different from the others. He has remained loyal to me,
and I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will receive their full share of that land. Numbers 14:24

Caleb's name literally meant "Dog". To other Hebrews he was just a unworthy, half-breed tag along. To God he was something much more...

Ever felt like just another cow in a huge herd? You feel trapped, crammed, unimportant and impatient. Every day we endure times of tedium, constantly waiting our turn. Whether it's at a packed bus stop, a mile long queue, or that even mysterious space between asking and actually receiving.

"Ask - Seek - Knock" Matt 7:7

Why is something that sounds so easy so hard to see sometimes? Maybe it's because we disqualify ourselves before we even try. We try new things with half a heart or we ask our heavenly Father to bless us with fingers crossed and knuckles ready to knock on wood.

Before that famous verse, Jesus speaks about how God looks after animals and how much more his children. But he also wants us to make sure we know the difference. If we are willing to ask are we first willing go believe we are worth answering?

So then God says, "Seek - and Knock" . The proving ground of life experience. A willingness to look for the answer in places you've never been and knock on unfamiliar doors your knuckles have never touched. Even though our circumstances may tell us, "Same old, same old..." There is a lurking opportunity for surprise hidden in every mundane corner of your day.

Are you willing to look?

Caleb did. He lived a blessed, courageous, and memorable life.

Pretty good for a dog.

Bow Wow,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

Tuesday Telegram

...and he will give you all you need from day to day
if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. Matthew 6:33

The Monday Message became a Tuesday Telegram due to an extended hunt for this particular picture. Can anyone guess what it is?

Martian welcome sign? (Nope)

Persian Pepsi ad? (Sorry)

"Beware of Cobras" (Getting Warmer)

All it's really saying is "Keeping Going This Way!"

This photo captures one of the countless markers set up across the vast Sahara desert that help you get from one side to the other. These oil drums are placed strategically at 5 kilometers distance from one another. Just enough for the next one to be visible on the horizon before the earth's curvature would put it out of view. All any brave Sahara crosser needs to do is to take it one oil drum at a time.

This year as we follow God's call, there will be many temptations to take all the twists, turns and short cuts this world has to offer. But God is faithful to give his people simple and clear directions to get to our Promise Land. All we have to do is ask!

"Give us this day our daily bread..." Sound Familiar? If you pray that in faith, God will answer it. Stay close to the Lord and you'll see that there will always be a clear and simple marker set up just for you to get through this crazy Sahara in 2008.

Remember if you ever get lost don't be afraid to ask for directions...

Traveling with the King,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk