The more I know about God, the more I realize that I do not know.

I don’t know where to begin. I have been on an incredible journey of faith that has led me to some very strange places and doing some incredibly strange things. But tonight all of my understandings of God were blown out of the water.

I have been attending healing meetings (for a lack of a better title) in Port Hardy since last Saturday. These meetings had been planned for a while and since our church in Port Alice has a connection with Port Hardy I have had very little hesitation in helping out and partnering with them.

Now being completely transparent, these meetings have been out of my comfort zone. I may be a Pentecostal pastor, but I’m not always comfortable with some of the ‘manifestations’ of the Holy Spirit. Things like people falling over or experiencing uncontrollable laughter. And these meetings are not the exception. Some of the things that have happened are just down right weird. But because I know the people and I know that there is sincerity behind what is happening.

The sincerity isn’t the only thing that has brought legitimacy to what God has been doing. When someone can barely walk into the church, needs the help of someone else, AND two canes, but then runs out of the church at the end of the night, you start to realize that God is doing something unique. By the way, this man had broken his back and had 24 spurs on his spine, Saturday God healed him, and now he’s running! And make that STILL running.

Tonight however, everything I knew and understood about God was blown out of the water.

It began last night. My friend Sharon, the youth pastor in the hosting church, was prayed for and fell down. When she got up, she made the comment that she thought her back was healed. She has experienced back problems as long as I have known her, about 6 years. But despite her encounter with God she was somewhat skeptical.

Then this morning, after talking to her again, she was more confident that God had done a work. Her back was better and she didn’t have any pain. That brings us to this evening’s service.

Tonight’s service stretched me the most. It was Pentecostal, charismatic, whatever word you want. Just know that it was weird. But God was doing seemingly the same things that he had been the nights before. Because, lo and behold, Sharon ended up on the floor in hysterical laughter. This wasn’t too far off from what had happened so far.

At least 10 min’s later, she began to make strange movements. Almost like convulsions, but she was TOTALLY cognoscente (in her right mind), so we knew she was physically ok. Over the next half hour she began to make movements into what can be best described as a combination of ‘stretches’ and ‘birthing-like’ motions. After a while someone came up and explained their concern because she seemed to be in pain. My statement was, I think God is doing something because she hasn’t asked us to stop and it’s like she’s birthing something. Sharon then made the statement that God was stretching her, and the person who was praying for her stated that God was healing her back.

By this time it was now 11’oclock and the majority of people had left. And apparently God was just beginning. Sharon now was upright and going through dance stretches, that looked somewhat like ballet. Now, I know what some might think, but Sharon only had 1 year of ballet when she was very young. In fact, earlier today she explained that she had forgotten most of the moves.

We watched as Sharon for the next half an hour was twisted and contorted in these stretches. The guest speaker’s daughter, Michelle Echterling and I, both have a fair amount of Ballet training and we started recognizing more and more. Finally I made the comment that she was going to be up off the floor and dancing soon.

5 Minutes later, we stood amazed as Sharon began to dance around the room. It was RAW, but more than that it was accurate. She was dancing with the grace of a professional. There was purpose and precision behind the dance. More over she continued for the next 15 min’s through three songs off of a cd.

We turned off the music and she moved back to stretching. Michelle and I recognized that she was  starting through a bar routine, so we put her on the back of a chair to make her more comfortable, and she continued. Michelle was in tears as God by His spirit was leading Sharon’s body through the art of dance. She was performing stretches that Michelle a trained dancer can’t even do.

The music came back on, and she started to dance again. We turned off the music and Sharon then began to Pray/dance over me. She was laying on hands, anointing me all in a dance led completely beyond her control. It was CRAZY! And that’s when it ended. 2.5 hours later.

So God speaks our language. Michelle and I are blown away at what we witnessed: God taking over someone’s body, while they were still cognoscente, leading them to dance in ways that only a trained professional could perform. Ok… that’s not the best part. 2.5 hours of extraneous physical activity, and Sharon didn’t even break a sweat, her breathing remained normal, her heart rate didn’t change. But most dancers can’t do more than 5 mins of intense dance, and this was 2.5 hours.

Don’t believe it… Just wait till you see the Video. And I SWEAR, I there is NO WAY THAT I COULD MAKE THIS UP!

Ok, so I had a crazy dream last night.

I dreamt that I was going to the Port Hardy airport to pick someone up. When I got to the airport, I parked in the 15 min parking. I thought “I won’t be longer than 15 mins”. But before I got out of the car the person that I had gone to pick up, was there. Which was all fine.

But then I had to go to the washroom, so He dropped off his stuff inside the car. And came with me inside.

I ended up taking longer than I thought I would, and my car was in 15 min parking. But in the dream, I didn’t take 15 mins, yet when I came out of the airport my car was gone!

My car wasn’t where I had left it. So then this random person shows up and directs me to this impound yard where my car might be. I get there and I describe my vehicle: Blue, Four Door, Sedan, Cavalier… and He’s says “there’s nothing like that here.”

I look in the lot and see cars like mine, but not my car. So I give him my license plate number. I finish saying this, and I wake up. I’m totally distraught and disoriented. And then I realize:

I HAVE A RED CAR! My parents have my old one, and I gave him the license plate number to my new car, not my old one.

Anyways… I think this is hilarious.

I have to be honest. I didn’t really think that it was a big deal, and still don’t really think that it’s a big deal. Like, come on… I don’t FEEL any different. Nor do I look any different. It’s not like I have a halo or anything like that.

Of course, that to which I am referring, would be my ordination and the service to which they recognized it. Here is a nice picture for those who were unable to attend.

Now what I’ve since realized is that first off, it may not have been important to me, but it was important to a lot of other people. Which adds to the confusion. Because I mean really, their whole point is that it’s important for Me.

So here’s where I’m at with the whole thing. You can agree or disagree.

If you hadn’t heard or weren’t aware, ordination is merely a recognition of my calling into ministry. If that’s all greek to you. Ordination = people can call me reverend. Calling = God (YAHWEH, The Lord of Heaven and Earth, Jesus) asked, or as it could be argued told, me to leave everything and to follow Him.

So I guess that might explain the whole issue here. Why I think that it’s not a big deal.

You see, if you’ve known me for any length of time, and I mean know me not that surface stuff. You would probably agree that God has plans for my life. I mean really, I’ve been told this and asked this since I was like 2. To quote my father, I’ve been preaching ever since I poked my head out of the womb.

Of course, this all starts to form a picture. Ordination is supposed to be an affirmation of my calling into ministry. Well, that’s been affirmed since I was two. Then on top of it all, we (the denomination and those of a similar theological disposition) all believe in the ‘priesthood of all believers’, which in laymen’s terms means we are all called by God. Thus the paradox. At least the paradox in my brain.

So here’s my official viewpoint. People want to celebrate what they’ve been telling me for years, that I’m called by God. And it’s not so much that they want to celebrate what they’ve been telling me, it’s that they want to celebrate that I’m actually doing it.

Therefore, last sunday night, at our Joint Triport (port hardy, port mcneill and port alice) worship night. We celebrated the fact that I have not only been called by God, but that I answered the call.

Well, I never thought I’d say it. But some days I miss my Bronco. As my car begins to show it’s age through some bumps, bruises, aches and groans I have started to ponder the thought of replacement. I struggle between the thought of what I want (2010 GMC Seira – 1/2 Ton 4×4 Hybrid) and what I need (which is closer to what I have 2002 Chev Cavalier).

It has been interesting as I puruse used car sites, craigslist, and read reviews. I have been asked by my dad what I want, but it’s so hard to put my finger on it! Cruise control is a must, Power windows a luxury, A/C necessity; But 4×4 is a non negotiable.

So as my dad has examined his ‘sources’ and I have scoured the internet looking for the potential replacement. I came across a vehicle that can stand up to the challenge! Watch the vid below and see it in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWc_flGRT_o

I have to say… I was wondering what Port Alice would be like when the REAL winter weather started. But I am really enjoying this so far.

I mean, sure it’s a lot of rain. But it’s REAL rail. Not that west coast drizzle. More than that, there is something awesome about looking out my window and seeing SNOW covered mountains that just absolutely warms my heart. Now I will admit we are one month into what the locals consider winter, but so far… I think I can handle this.