One old, praying pastor’s OFFICIAL STATEMENT about #IHOPKC, and the spiritual family he loves, and couldn’t detach himself from if he wanted to…

I am praying for my House of Prayer family, again this morning; those “in the land” and those in the “diaspora” (like Kathy, my daughters and I)

Old Pastor’s Observation #1:
It’s important that we understand that our family is on an ash-heap right now.

Old Pastor’s Kindly Advice:
(It’s also important that we not INSIST that others be here, or TRY to be somewhere else.)

Old Pastor’s Observation #2:
The narratives, dynamics, responsibilities, and diagnostics to an ash-heap are never as clean as we, or “outsiders” want or assume them to be.

Old Pastoral Warning:
A lot of “outsiders” want the privilege of having an “insider pass” to the ash-heap while retaining their “certificate of cleanliness”.

Old Pastor Using the Blunt End of His Shepherd’s Staff:
If we’re stirred enough to make public (SM) comments about the ash-heap (like me) it’s done just become “OUR ash-heap”. (Those be the Holy Spirit’s rules…)

Old Pastor’s Experience:
One thing that makes the ash-heap infinitely more messy is for us to think we know enough to be throwing stones at others on OUR ash-heap. For most of us, it’s been a handful of days since we’ve learned of the stunning allegations.

More Old Pastor’s Experience:
No one who’s stunned throws straight. No one.

If the apostle Paul (who knew a thing or two about being stoned and stunned) were writing an epistle to IHOPKC today, this’d be his words to us in his last chapter:
Weep with those who are weeping.
Weep yourself…?
Go low. Stay low. Be bold before God in being low.
Listen.
Pray w compassion everywhere…
Listen some more…
Celebrate the MANY (hidden and public) who are heroically serving, praying and loving our family and our assignment.
Stand in the light of His truth everywhere (including our own soul)…

Thankfully, Jesus loves to meet us on our ash-heaps. It’s how He’s built His entire Kingdom on earth.

To my House of Prayer family: I love you all… forever.
Old pastor in the diaspora

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JSB • November 5, 2023