I could lift a car!

During CERT we learned light search and rescue and cribbing.  They trained us how to properly search a building in the dark and with no flashlights.  We place our right hand on the wall to guide us around each wall of the building.  During our training,  we had to partner up and search a dark tower that they use in the fire academy to find "Jose".  Jose is a dummy made of rolled up hoses, hence the name "Jose".  It was really dark and scary because some of the assistant firefighters were hiding in the dark to see if we would find them.  We also learned how to safely lift up a car if a victim was trapped underneath.  The fastest way is to use your own strength and lift the car by pressing your back against the side of the car.  But we also learned cribbing as a technique to slowly but safely lift a car or any heavy object off a victim.  We use a bar and anchor to lift the car.  When the car is lifted, we place blocks of wood like a Jenga tower underneath the space one layer at a time.  We continue the same process until we have enough space to drag the victim out of the area.

They also taught us how to properly lift a victim out of a building.  They suggest having two people carry one body by using chairs, doors, or blankets.  There is a single lift.  I wanted to see if I would be able to carry a person just on my own, so I practiced on a dummy (see picture).  Just kidding Brad, I love you!  But, Brad if you need a hand just know that I am willing to carry you through.

Susana to the rescue!

One of the local causes KCLB is involved with is Emergency Preparedness.  There are four different levels of involvement.  Well one of the levels is to be CERT certified.  What is CERT you may ask?  It is Community Emergency Response Team.  The Long Beach Fire Department trains regular citizens how to react in the case of an emergency.  We are trained to help and not become part of the problem during a disaster.  So some of the KCLB staff decided to take the class together. We are learning how to organize ourselves into different roles, disaster psychology, fire suppression, search and rescue, triage, and more.  But the greatest thing about CERT is the fashionable gear you receive when you graduate the program.  Wouldn't you feel safe when you see a whole crowd of people wearing these?

Visiting local congregations

It's been a goal of mine to visit local congregations in the city and also prayer meetings. This week I was able to do one of each. The Lighthouse church on Studebaker has a prayer meeting on Thursday eve at 7:00 pm. I was welcomed into their circle. Pastor Theimens is heading up the WOW jam endeavor again this year and while we did pray over that, their heart was very much for other congregations and City concerns. He reports that more and more pastors are rallying around this very worthwile effort. Last year over 1014 filled out cards for being brand new believers. They couldn't count the rest because they ran out of cards!! The spirit in that prayer meeting was one of worship, humiity and faith to believe our Good God. They prayed for personal needs as well and want to be part of our 1000 intercessors praying in unity over our City.

This morning I had heard stories of healing coming out of The Light that meets at Alvarado School just across the street from our offices. David Hino is the pastor and the Lord is leading him to explore and minister in the area of healing prayer both for physical healing, but also emotional and generational healing. I had heard a report of two people being set free from their addictions after receiving prayer and I have a friend that is in a lot of pain so I took her. As they prayed they felt like they would like to pray again, so they're making an appointment to pray sometime this week for her - a congregation that cares and is willing to extend themselves to a stranger. After the service they were going to go into the park and minister to the people there. The Lord has been impressing me with the scripture about "open wide your mouth and I will fill it" and it seems this congregation of wonderful people is doing just that. I believe God will increase them and fill their mouths with faith.
It's exciting to visit new places in the City and see the different expressions of His love.

Second Saturday Prayer

Five of us gathered in the dark to pray - one a local pastor and one a local intercessor and we prayed. The intercessor wept, the worshipper led us in sweet, sweet worship and we prayed. We prayed over the pastor and his local congregation and his heart for the gang members in his area, and we prayed over him as stand-in for all the pastors in Long Beach. We declared Shalom over the City, and a spirit of reconciliation and unity....we prayed over two local congregations who have had sudden deaths recently and the grief and confusion that comes with that. We thanked our Lord for inviting us into His throne-room and the wonder of that. Praying from our vantage point overlooking the City really gives us a unique view of the city we're praying over. Kingdom Causes is having a "City Pulse 2008" meeting Tuesday to tell people what the possibilities are for local service, to connect with other Kingdom minded believers and to hear what we believe is God's heart for our City. We prayed over that.
These times of prayer are refreshing, faith-building and filling.
Try it - you'll come away refreshed!

Unite to Ignite

I want to make you aware of an event happening this Saturday, February 9th at 1pm. It's a gathering of different denominations, cultures and ages to seek God through united and passionate prayer, worship and fasting. It's being held at the church of one of our local pastors who is quite active in her community through Emergency Preparedness and other community services. She is Barbara Gilliam of the Glad Tidings Tabernacle, at 1900 E. South St., 90805. You can email her at BGilliam at GladTT.org for more information. The website for this event is jesusrevusa.com and a voicemail number is 800-850-8534

Local prayer gathering this evening

Here is the latest from Pastor Joe:

"I have a bit more news.

First, a correction. I am told that Isaac passed before any decision about his life support was necessary.

Scott knows about Isaac, and is understandably quite devastated. Andrea and Scott are in the same room, or "pod". Andrea was asked to move her toes and fingers, and moved them a little. I do not believe she is aware of the loss of Isaac at this time, but I do not know for sure.

I'd like to set up a time to gather for prayer this evening at the church. If you can't come, that's OK - you can pray with us wherever you are. If you can come, there is often comfort in being with God's people in difficult times. I'm thinking that we should make it about 6 PM. Assume that's the case unless you hear differently. There will be people in the office at church starting at 3; anyone who wants to come earlier than 6 is (of course) welcome. Please help spread the word."

"Rollover Crash Kills 3"

Here is the latest news release from this morning:

Rollover Crash Kills 3

LITTLETON, Colo. - Three people were killed when a van carrying six people to a church collided with another vehicle and rolled over several times.The crash happened on C-470 near Santa Fe Sunday. Two adults and a child died in the crash.Littleton police said the accident occurred when a man driving a Jeep had a medical condition that caused him to lose control. Investigators said the Jeep hit the Chevrolet van, which then rolled several times.Two passengers in the van remained in critical condition Monday. The van driver was hospitalized in stable condition. The driver of the Jeep and his passenger had minor injuries.

Good and Sad news...

"This morning Andrea wiggled her fingers and toes a little. She's stable and doing well. That's the good news, and it is very good.

The bad news is that they've made a decision to remove dear little Isaac from life support. I can hardly imagine how difficult this must be for everyone.

Please continue to pray."
--Pastor Joe

I talked with pastor Joe this morning and he said that it turned out that baby Issac actually passed away before they removed him from life support as he had mentioned in that email.

What a sad day. Let's all continue to be praying for this family and all those loved ones affected so deeply. I can't even imagine.......................

Come Lord Jesus, Come

Pray, pray, pray for the Swards!

I just recieved a horrible email from Pastor Joe Ginder! We need to pray! Lord have mercy!

One of the young leadership couples from Long Beach, Scott and Andrea Sward (Andrea was involved in 30 under 40), were involved in a horrible traffic accident while in Colorado for missionary training. Here is part of the email I just read:

"I'd like to ask for prayer for Scott and Andrea Sward and their 18-month old son Isaac. Next Sunday we were to commission them to go to Cambodia; they were to leave a few days after that. This week they were completing their final pre-field training at MTI in Colorado Springs.

This afternoon after our service we got news that they were in a terrible accident near Denver. They were were driving with 3 other missionaries to a church near Denver this morning. We don't know who the others were, but believe there were in training at MTI also. Two of the other missionaries were killed. Scott and Andrea are in critical condition, Andrea with really serious injuries including many broken bones , a punctured lung, and a spinal injury. She's out of surgery and stable. Scott is also out of surgery for internal bleeding and stable. Isaac is in extremely critical condition and was air-lifted to Denver Children's Hospital. You can read more about the accident and watch videos at Denver-area news outlets, like 9news.com, cbs4denver.com, myfoxcolorado.com, or denverpost.com. The accident was on C-470 and two were killed - that's enough to recognize the headlines and get to videos of news coverage. We're kind if in a state of shock; next Sunday was shaping up to be a really big deal in the life of our church. We trust God no matter what, and pray for their recovery - we're really concerned about Isaac, and it sounds like Andrea's in for a long rehabilitation to an unknown state of health. It's been a tough day.

Both Scott and Andrea's parents are already in Denver (they were on an airplane within 6-7 hours of the accident), and we have support from some sister churches in Denver helping them out. We also have someone from our church living in the Denver area who is able to be with them. Right now we're waiting for news and praying."

Kingdom Causes EARLY morning prayer

Prayer is a mystery to me. Why does God need me to ask Him to do something He already wants to do and scripture tells me that if He can't find someone who will stand in the gap, He will do it Himself? When I prayed for years for a living marriage and worked it every way I knew - and it still failed, why pray? I'm supposed to listen to what His heart is in any given situation, then pray and ask Him to do what He already wants to do???? Boy, I ask you, does that make any sense at all to my human mind? No! So why do I pray? Why do I love to pray? Why do I resist Him so when He's GOD? I don't know...I am learning - again - that prayer, being with My Father in conversation is what gives me life.

For a very long time my prayer life went "underground", about 10 years in fact. It wasn't that God was gone, in fact in many ways He was very present, but - I didn't pray like I used to - at all. He wasn't angry, He didn't throw me away, He just was there and available any time I wanted to come. I realize when I won't talk to or look at someone that I'm angry and mostly don't want to confront that anger in myself. His grace is amazing! He knew my anger even if I wasn't willing and helped me with it when I became willing.

Since working at Kingdom Causes and being more and more captured by the need and opportunity for prayer, things have shifted in me. Thank You Father...
I'm talking to Him now out loud in private again, I'm praying corporately again, (I love praying with the student leaders at CSULB) and am consistently bringing Brad and Kingdom Causes before Him. As I travel with KC through the City and encounter so many pastors, City leaders, church planters, and school leaders not only in Long Beach, but in the other KC cities as well, something happens in my heart to know I want to lift them into the courts of heaven to make sure my Father sees what I see and works in it as He sees fit. Jack Hayford calls it "partnering" with God in establishing the Kingdom. Me! a partner with God Almighty, the Creator of the whole universe! Amazing....

Which brings me to our KC Second Saturday early morning prayer meeting. Thank you to all who come regularly and thank you to those who have come some. There's something that happens; 1)early with God and 2)corporately with others who love Him enough to lose sleep to be with Him. There is a sweetness in the room that can only be Him and there is always an impartation from Him both corporately and personally. The common comment is, "I wanted to stay in bed, and I'm so glad I didn't."

I think prayer would be easier for people if they could see the results like you can when you hand someone some food or money or service. With prayer it's a totally hidden, faith exercise. I don't know where my prayer goes or what it accomplishes, especially when so many specific prayers haven't been answered according to what I had in mind. I just know that answering His invitation to "come" is the best and that I am always changed afterwards.

I'm extending an invitation to you to join us and be "changed into His likeness" "from glory to glory" whatever that means according to God's heavenly dictionary.
Love to you from Judy

My Weakness in Strengths Finder

The Kingdom Causes Long Beach Team doubled when I joined.  In October both Polin and I signed onto Kingdom Causes.  So we wanted to focus our roles within the team by finding out each person's strength.  It was my first time taking the test.  I was intrigued by how the process worked and whether it was reliable.  In less than thirty minutes I found out my top five strengths.  They are: Restorative, Learner, Relator, Responsibility, and Individualization.  When I read the list I thought they were interesting until I read the specific description of each.  Then I thought they were scarily true.  Restorative describes my desire to grow and challenge myself.  I easily notice my flaws so that I can improve upon them.  Learner illustrates how I love to gain a lot of knowledge and information especially when I make a decision.  I want to gain experience so I could learn from them.  As a Relator, I don't rush into relationships and have a few friends.  I value honest because I am honest with others.  People can confide in me and they know I care for them.  Responsibility really surprised me as a strength.  But after reading about it, I realized how much it is a big part of my life.  When I read the description I didn't really see it as a strength but more of a weakness or burden.  I am very reliable.  I do everything to fulfill my commitments, but because of that I volunteer to have lots of responsibilities.  I also look though every angle before taking action.  Individualization I really enjoy having this.  It describes how I see the unique qualities of a person.  I love to observe people.  It also shows how I love to work in details and can do tedious work.

It was fun finding out about my strengths.  But now I know them, I don't know what to do with them.  It just goes back to my restorative trait of focusing on my weakness. It just goes to show that even through the strength finder test I can still find my weaknesses.

Thanks from Lindbergh Middle School

We want to thank you for your generosity in providing the backpacks to Lindbergh. The backpacks are given to students with financial hardships and as incentives to motivate students. The school supplies inside the backpacks were an added bonus. Lindbergh serves a disadvantage neighborhood and we are grateful for the assistance you have so generously given to our students. Sorry for the delay in this letter. Lindbergh wishes you a happy and safe holiday season.

Sincerely,
Michael Conlon
Program Facilitator for Lindbergh Middle School

Kingdom Causes' wild ride

Hi:
My name is Judy and I just turned 64. I thought I'd be home tending my garden and caring for the hummingbirds in my back-yard as they come to check out our koi pond....NOT!....instead God in His infinite wisdom and with a twinkle in His eye has me here on staff as Brad's assistant! I came on board to help with administration in the Long Beach office, but that morphed into what I'm doing now with Brad. His vision and energy are limitless and part of my job is to ride along with him and try to keep order in all the spheres he's in to. What an "E" ticket ride!!! Sometimes I go home wondering what in the world I'm doing here, and then I see the Kingdom being established and it's all OK.
My heart is to see prayer happening in a connected way in this City and to see the Kingdom Causes vision established in cities around the nation - world. Since coming here I've met so many young church planters, so many young leaders in the city and on the Cal State campus that I'm excited to see what our Father is up too and where He's going next! I've never met so many people "doing" Kingdom stuff, with a passion as in these last 6 months.
I'm personally working toward networking prayer in the City, so if you have a prayer meeting that's open to the public, please let me know. After the holidays I will be visiting different churches in the City and blogging about them, and I will be attending as many prayer meetings as I can around the City and see how the Lord would like to connect the city pray-ers. For many years I've been praying for a Church of the City, for pastors to be connected, but lately I've felt led to pray for unity among intercessors. This is one way I feel like that process might begin.
We have a wonderful mix of people on our team with a variety of giftings and talents. The common thread is our love for Jesus, our desire to see Him famous and followed, and our sense of humor!
Have a wonderful, blessed Christmas.
If you would like to join our team of 1000 intercessors you can sign up on our web-site or e-mail me at judyw at kingdomcauses.org. I'd love to add you to our once-monthly e-prayer-mail. We also have a Second Saturday prayer meeting at our offices on 21st and Cherry at 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Last Saturday we had three new people!
Each time I come away from that meeting, I know anew and afresh the power of the God I serve and His love for His people.

"Susana" in Wonderland

I have just joined on to the Kingdom Causes Long Beach Team for about two months.  I should have known from the first day what a wild adventure I had just signed up for.  My first day consisted of the Prayer Breakfast meeting in the morning, a Kingdom Causes Long Beach staff meeting, and a Youth Education Task Force meeting.  I felt like Alice in Wonderland being exposed to new people and new places.

I was born at St. Mary's from a Cambodian family that escaped the Khmer Rouge.  I went to Long Beach public schools and finally ended schooling in the Spring of 2007 from UCI.  With a Bachelors in Psychology and Social Behavior in hand, I felt like Christopher Columbus setting sail to discover that the world is round.  It was a difficult choice for me to not continue on to graduate school.  I would love to go to school and postpone growing up and facing the real world.  But God had other plans for me that I could not dream of or comprehend.  He has revealed little pieces and opened doors for me like joining Kingdom Causes.

I came into Kingdom Causes with the mindset of exploring the world but God instead has been exposing me.  Exposure in all aspects of the word.  Exposure of me (my strengths, my sin), of Long Beach (through Kingdom Causes), of people (their hearts), of God (especially His love), and many more.

In this blog, I hope to bring you along on my adventure of "Wonderland"; to share with you my feelings, observations, and thoughts; and to expose you too.

Thank you for falling down the rabbit hole with me,

Susana

He Sent a BABY!!!

At our last Second Saturday prayer meeting, the Lord began to impress on me again His absolute sovereignty. What a ridiculously bad idea - to send a baby to proclaim the Kingdom!!! He sent a baby, helpless, totally dependant on people, so fallible, so human! to safeguard the plan of the ages?! Such extravagant foolishness. Such extravagant faith. What an extravagant demonstration of the Father's power to save and to care for His most Beloved Son and to execute His amazing plan to have us all - for Himself. As I began to think about all the impossibilities in my life, my faith began to grow. I began to pray (again) for the trust Jesus exhibited while He was here. Scripture is clear about Who Jesus trusted while He was here. Think about all the ways God protected His Son during those 33 years and at the end it didn't look so good, but - we all know the glorious, triumphant outcome of the perfect trust of the Son and the perfect trustworthiness of the Father. We are called to become like little children. My prayer for you and me is that we would be able more and more to do that and to grow in the trust the Baby demonstrated when He left glory to come and be with us here - to demonstrate, among many other things, how perfectly trustworthy His Father is.
God Bless you this Christmas season. Lord, we believe, help our unbelief!

Plant a Tree!

There is a great opportunity to serve your school kids on October 27. Hughes Middle School and Longfellow Elementary have been awarded FIFTY trees through a grant from the United Voices Coalition. Hughes will receive 36 (15 gallon) trees and Longfellow will receive 14.
The October date is the date set aside for the planting and volunteers are greatly needed. For more information contact Lisa Nelson, 427-8529, or e-mail her @ lisa_nelson at earthlink.net. (I put her address in this way to avoid her getting spammed.) If you have a club, a scout troupe or a service group or a church group looking for a way to serve - here's your chance!

Citywide Conversation about homeless children

KC wants to get the work out about this great opportunity!

Children and families without homes is a growing challenge in Long Beach and across America. A child’s view of being without a home is quite different from an adult’s. When a family has no home, parents face difficult issues in their efforts to provide a safe environment for their children to thrive. Thus the approach to helping children and families without homes is different than helping homeless individuals. On October 27 we will have a chance to better understand what families must deal with and an opportunity to explore solutions. The Long Beach Area Coalition for the Homeless and the Long Beach Community Action Network invite you to attend this important dialogue.

What: Children and Families without Homes Dialogue.
When: Saturday, October 27, 2007 from 9:30am till 1pm.
Where: Cesar E. Chavez Park, Community Room, 401 Golden Ave., Long Beach, CA

Mayor Bob Foster and Long Beach First Lady Nancy Foster are scheduled to attend. Continental breakfast will be served at 9:30am with the program getting underway at 10am. There will be short multi-media presentation followed by a panel of family members experiencing homelessness and professionals in the field of social services. Then small discussion groups will explore how we can better understand the issues surrounding children and families without homes and what actions can be taken to move towards solutions.
The dialogue is being planned by the Homeless Dialogue Steering Committee, a collaboration of the Long Beach Area Coalition for the Homeless, the Long Beach Community Action Network, the Downtown Long Beach Associates, the California Conference for Equality and Justice, Children Today, Food Finders, City personnel, and private citizens whose purpose is to foster understanding of issues surrounding homelessness and promote change that will improve the quality of life for all residents of Long Beach.

The Committee develops themes and formats for a series of ongoing, community dialogues around critical issues of homelessness. The dialogues endeavor to educate the community, service providers, city departments, as well as those experiencing homelessness in order to increase awareness and foster understanding of various issues surrounding homelessness. These dialogues are intended to lead the way towards identifying objectives and actions that can result in meaningful change. The information is to be presented in a manner that places no blame and implies no shame with regard to the truth of homelessness. The dialogues are expected to empower the community and result in intentional objectives and actions to affect institutional change.

This might be something you want to check out!

To RSVP, or if you have any questions, please call Mary Coburn at 562-485-3133.

Prayer at CSULB

Yesterday at CSULB there was a gathering of some of the Christian clubs on campus to proclaim the Word of God, pray and worship. There were students asking and answering questions, praying, worshipping, preaching and just standing....some of the "standers" were asking questions and some were scoffing. There were quite a few on cell phones telling people about what was going on. Eternity alone will let us know the fullness of the results of what these very passionate young people sowed into. It must have been a "day" on God's calendar for CSULB because 50 feet away there was another ministry preaching also. And it was the day Homeland Security decided to have a drill so there were students everywhere that wouldn't have normally passed that way... There was real passion for Jesus expressed in a very public way in a very public place. It affirms everything I'm learning about how the "post-modern" generation walks out their Christian faith. I'm two generations down the road and am inspired over and over by the young people I'm in contact with in this Kingdom Causes work!!! Way to go!

Local Church Planter family looking for place to live

One of our new church planters here in Long Beach is looking for a place to live. Here is the email that we received.

Anyone have an idea to help them out!? If so, please contact us and we will get you in contact with them.

"Hi everyone:

We are asking for you to pray for our family. We just got word today from our land lady that we need to move out of our home in the next 60 days. Her daughter is getting married and needs a bigger place than were she currently is staying. We’ve loved living here. We’ve hosted so many Bibles studies and entertained a lot of people at this home. It came as a shock, but we know that God has a better plan and place for us.

We have a lot going on in our lives right now with the church plant now meeting weekly. We’d appreciate your prayers and if you know someone who is renting a house (specifically a house) at a very reasonable price in Long Beach, Signal Hill or Lakewood, please let us know.

Thanks for your prayers!

Kreng & Panya"


UPDATE : Friday, Oct 4th
To praying friends & family:

I wanted to give you an update to the recent email I sent out earlier this week. Kreng and I seem to be doing very well with the news that we have to move out of our current place within 60 days. We trust that God will work it all out and provide us even a better place than where we’re currently staying. There is a specific situation you can pray about. I believe we should pray specifically and God will answer specifically. It’s a little complicated so let me explain the details:

There is a 4 bedroom, 3 full baths house about 5 minutes north of us that could be vacant soon. The owner is a Christian and he rents it out to young families in ministry for a very low price (he does it as a ministry). The rent would be the same as what we are paying now, but we would just need to pay the utilities. It has everything and more than what we could want in a house or could ever afford to rent or buy. The current tenants (David & Gina) are a pastor of a church in La Mirada and have been commuting for 16 months. They have been trying to find a house in that area, but cannot afford the home prices. Recently, they found a house in La Mirada that they could afford and that would be ideal for their family (that was a God situation for them). David’s parents are going to help them with the house, but they first need to sell his grandma’s house in Pasadena. With the money that they make selling her house, David’s parents will help pay for the new house in La Mirada. So there are some things pending. Here are specific things to be praying for:

· David grandma’s house needs to go on the market soon (she hasn’t done that yet) and for it to sell quickly
· No complications regarding the financial aspect in order for David and Gina to get the house in La Mirada
· The timing all works out for everyone involved
· My land lord would be gracious to give us more than 60 days if we need it

Also pray for us as we realize that this is spiritual warfare. The enemy is trying to distract us as we are now going weekly in our church services. It has been a bit of distraction, but we are trying to stay focused and trusting God with everything. Even if this situation does not work out, we know God will provide another place.

We’re very exciting how God will work this all out!! Thanks for praying for us and all your encouragement.

Love,
Kreng & Panya

Healing Conferency in Laguna Niguel

For many years I was part of the Vineyard churches in South Orange county and specifically of the Mission Viejo Vineyard which has now merged with Vineyard Community Church in Laguna Niguel. Ed Piorek who is now pastor emeritus at VCC has done a conference called "The Father Loves You" for many years and is doing it again on October 12, 13 and 14 at the Laguna Niguel Vineyard. If you need a touch from the Lord, or some healing of early wounding to enable you to live more fully into your calling as a son or daughter of the Kingdom, I would highly recommend attending. Their website address is www.vccgn.org for more information. I've seen amazing things happen for people at these conferences and to my knowledge Eddie hasn't done one locally in a while, so take advantage of this opportunity.