Good morning from Tirana …

It's been a long hot summer, the only signal that things are changing is that it is beginning to cool off a little in the late evening.

Life in Tirana is good. After 3 days of being without any water, the supply is now back albeit for 3 periods of 2 hours each day... we are told it will be back to full supply in about a week...

It's easy to take your water supply for granted... 

The lack of water in the house brought all the neighbours together first the men who wanted to fix the pump, and then all who had to head down to the various places you could fill your bucket. As we stood in the lift with our buckets all sorts of connections were made. 

I had the thought that the challenge facing the Albanian church - and probably many churches worldwide - is simply a lack of water. You can have all of your systems in place but if there isn't a flow… then everything dries up! 

Out of your inmost being flows a River of Living Water ... so we are seeking to live in the flow!

Love and very warm greetings … 

David & Lynn.

Keeping the focus on Jesus

Good morning,

Greetings from Bulgaria...

Lynn & I are on the road once again, for the past week we have been in Bulgaria. After beautiful spring days there was heavy snow yesterday and woke up to blazing sunshine this morning...

What have we been doing here?

Keeping the focus on Jesus... Hebrews 12 says throw off everything that hinders...

We spent a few very encouraging days with Craig and Milena Sibthorpe in Plovdiv, we also got to spend time with Segun & Jo Phillips who lead a church in Stilipanavo(?), attended the church and shared a little in the meeting... God is doing great things... these guys are doing a good job!

Then for the weekend we went to a hotel Spa to meet with a group of folk from Sofia who are seeking to express faith / be church in new ways... This was also really good, great sharing, conversation and discussion.



Most of our focus is to get away from the things that stop us focusing on Jesus....  that is the emphasis.

So tomorrow we will hit the road for Albania, passing through Macedonia and Kosovo ... before arriving back in Shkoder. 

A Dynamic New Age

I heard God say that it is time for a new DNA … DYNAMIC NEW AGE … we are ready and waiting!

The place we are heading requires us to eat only from the tree of Life because it is a journey of Faith... Faith requires a sensitive ear and an obedient heart... Too much information / knowledge puffs up people with pride...  

Abraham set off not knowing where it would lead, when he came to the Oaks of Mamre he pitched his tent. Where is your tent pitched?

For those of us prepared to live like Abraham these oaks will be very important. 

Answers.com suggest that Oaks represent... Courage, happiness in marriage, health, prosperity, strength, strong constitution, wealth. 

These were the characteristics of Abraham and for all those who walk as he did... It is my expectation that the anointing of God will increase upon all those who are prepared to put their total trust in him.

What a crazy couple of weeks we've had... Freezing snow... possibly 50cm of snow at regular intervals … at last the sun has shone a little today... but it also snowed!.

We arrived in Albania on the 3^rd February, we were fortunate to arrive en-schedule as there was already snow around, even in Thessaloniki. Once we arrived into Shkoder the snow came with a vengeance and we found ourselves pretty much stuck here. Ironically 10 miles down the road there was none and in Tirana 70 miles away they were enjoying a balmy 8 or 9 degrees...So for most of the past 2 weeks we have been in Shkoder.

The headlines are dominated with news of the Greek crisis. As you watch and listen you can't help feeling you are only getting part of the story, much more is going on behind closed doors. I received a communication today saying that this is actually a huge banking crisis, that this is where the real power lies, this has created the political and national crises.

Some of the things written about Greece are true of course but they must be held in perspective... Capitalism & Socialism are as spiritually bankrupt as Communism was in the 80's. These “ism's” do things to their disciples, all of which seek to control… we are not required to defend these man made systems which are past their sell by date, just recognise they are sadly lacking.

It is amusing / tragic to watch as the politicians try to convince us that they have a solution... I think this is where I agree with most of the Greek people… the politicians are full of empty promises.

At a recent event I was speaking about things that have power in our lives... whilst there was a list, I was interested that debt was one of the greatest powers that undermined believers.

There is much teaching on the subject of money, yet little about living within your means and even less about the evil of debt. Those who are faithful with small things will be given much. I believe that in the new age we are entering into it will be those Kingdom people who have been faithful in the small things that the Lord will entrust to be wise and generous managers of plentiful resources.

The current crisis that could so easily engulf us all is something of the pains of childbirth as a new age is born... it will provide an opportunity for the faithful Kingdom people to shine like stars in a dark place. 

So let us operate out of the wisdom of the Kingdom and avoid the pitfalls of worldly behaviour...

Finally, many of our good friends are struggling with the situation in Greece, we are not exempt from the trials ourselves, Living there has become extremely costly... however many are facing great hardship and we seek to remain supportive...

2012 got off to a good start, after a few days in Istanbul with the whole family we returned to Thessaloniki...

After a week, I headed to the UK, leaving Lynn in Thessaloniki, as usual she reorganised the house, saw some friends and caught up with herself! 

In the UK, I had a number of important meetings, visited friends and family and spoke at the Men's conference “From Purity to Identity”. This was the first of a number of retreats that we are a part of or leading in the coming year... it was a very good event and really quite anointed; the feedback has been very encouraging.

So now I have been back in Thessaloniki for a week, Lynn & I are now preparing to head back to Albania at the end of the week. Towards the end of February we have a retreat with some local folk and expect 15-20 to come along. Another is planned for the end of March in Bulgaria and in May there will probably be another in Albania … interested parties should communicate with us! In April we have a team of 12 joining us from World Harvest Bible church in Manchester for 6 days .. so the diary is filling up.