Union With Christ

We are so bound up in rational thought and logical construct that we in this modern age give little listen to the voice within -the voice of the spirit deeply rooted in our being, but subverted to the mundane process of a life lived without union with Christ.

I remember that after I 'got saved' through the preaching of the Word by Billy Graham, and after a time of fasting and personal prayer, followed by a powerful baptism in the spirit in a meeting with the Living God, that everything changed for me.

I learned that I had another voice deep in the center of my construct that could speak to me offering guidance and wisdom. And, it possessed an ardor and wisdom that my intellectual voice did not possess. It began as I learned to practice centering prayer where I through grace quickly entered into a spiritual realm where I found a God who was active and loving, concerned for me, and incredibly intimate. Initially, this experience so terrified me that I ceased praying this way for about three weeks.

During that hiatus I continually asked myself the question: "How can this be?" Yet, I (as you) was made from the beginning to enter this realm of holy dialogue with a Holy God, and I was drawn back to this practice of prayer.

 

I also then learned that there are other voices -not of Him, competing for your allegiance. On one occasion, I discerned one voice saying: "You are great. Go out there and I will bless you with my power!" Then there was this other voice which was a hardly discernible whisper advising a different choice. This voice said: "You are not ready yet. Learn to pray more and drawn close to me."

 

Thankfully, I had the wisdom to listen to the later voice and thereby avoided a great descend into prideful confusion. Praise be to the Living God!

Do you want to meet this Living God who consumes you with a holy passion?

Let me know.

The Field of the One-Third

A Prophetic Dream Vision  //  July 4, 2005   //  5:00 am

The Sailing Ship USS United States

In this dream vision, I am on board a ship on which I have successfully voyaged before. There are other men on this ship, and it becomes apparent that we are on some kind of a joint military or paramilitary operation. The ship is large, adequately provisioned and fast, but it is not a liner. Yet, this particular trip does not seem to be very well planned (I have a sense that the ship is the USA). Only later in this dream vision do I understand that I am viewing, through the lens of my own spirit, the figure of a 'Good Man' who is destined to die because of where the ship will ultimately take him.

Upon boarding the ship, this Good Man agrees to submit to the leadership of another man whom he should have the good sense to oppose. But out of a false sense of security, and believing that he will be able to manage events based upon his own experience and wisdom, he agrees to submit to his leadership. Nonetheless, recognizing that he may be heading into troubled waters, the Good Man brings along an additional supply of water to ensure his survival (human provision in lieu of spiritual provision). This is something which the other men who accompany him do not do.

 

It is at this point in the dream vision that the Lord shows me a detailed graphic depiction of where the ship is headed. It is headed for a place termed 'The Field of the One-Third,' which is a field of mountainous terrain both dangerous and difficult to traverse.

Below I have done my best to represent it.

Upon arrival at the landing area, the leader asks the men to traverse The Field of the One-Third. It is then that the Lord seeks through inspiration to persuade the Good Man not to traverse this field sharing with him the knowledge that the adjacent field ('The Field of the Two Thirds') is safe to traverse, and provides for God's protection and provision. Yet, despite this awareness, the Good Man, influenced by the willingness of the other men to traverse The Field of the One-Third, and convinced that his additional supply of water will guarantee his safe passage, agrees to accompany them. And, while he does not place his confidence in the proclamation of the leader that he will return safely to the ship, he elects to place his fate in his own hands. That is, in his own personal abilities, agility, and strength.

 

It is then that I see all these men run across The Field of the One-Third, an area of red mud and dirt, the last part of which is quicksand. All manage to get through except for the Good Man, who tries to pick a safe and alternate route along the edge of the field. It is there that he perishes in quicksand and mud.

 

To my horror and dismay, I actually witness his energetic struggle to escape from the ensnaring quicksand to no avail. There, before my eyes, he is consumed by liquid earth, helpless and terrified. I actually suffer great consternation at this -and feel utterly helpless.

 

It is then that I begin to also envision many other Good Men encountering the same fate. In each instance, the 'other men' all get through, and I am given to understand that the these men represent demons or men already belonging to the camp of the enemy, and that they were used by the leader as powerful and cunning decoys.

 

In the end, I find myself looking down over the Field of the One-Third at the spot where the first 'Good Man' had perished, and I see there a small pool of water in the murky quicksand. I know that I will never see this good man again and this loss grieves me.

 

It seems that anyone who follows this leader will be deceived and then abandoned by him and perish. In some sense, all of these 'Good Men', and yes, 'Good Women' will have intuitively 'known better'. And, in every instance, the deceptive dark wisdom of the leader will overwhelm their own strategies for survival.

 

If only they had listened, if only they had taken a different course.

It is the 4th of July, 2005, and the plan of this leader, rooted in deception, is working against the founding principles of our nation.

 

The essentially Good Men and Good Women of our age are not prepared with an adequate understanding of the tactics of this leader, and sorely lack the necessary spiritual wisdom to combat his strategies.

 

My understanding of this dream vision today is clearer than when initially given because I am witnessing in current times that which my spirit was permitted to observe years ago.

 

I pray that the God of Mercy deliver us from this abyss of deception, and its attendant consequences, which can only lead to the death of a nation.

Introspective Souls & The Living God

Introspection

Introspection is defined as the process of carefully examining one's own feelings, thoughts, and ideas. In other words, it is the intentional process of interior self-examination.  This can be a positive help in some instances, enabling us to root out, uncover and understand certain personal tendencies we may have. 

But, many times, if not properly managed, introspection can lead to an introspective personality, where we tend to examine our own feelings, thoughts, or ideas in the depths of our own subconscious being, instead of communicating with other people. In other words, we become inward focused, and this inward focus, re-enforced by thoughts which we deem to be our own, tends to increasingly guide our perception of who we are, or how we may appear to others. This focus can lead to a certain captivity and ultimately distort a proper understanding of the self, which is only found through communication with others, firstly and foremost, through communication with the Living God.

The end result of such an inward introspection is very often the unveiling of a persona rooted in 'self love' or even 'self hatred', - which can only lead to cycles of depression and ultimate despair.

A soul which is introspective in this manner will often look down on others or focus on the failures of others. Such a soul will also necessarily develop an independent and self-sufficient spirit to protect the persona which he or she projects, and may become generally unapproachable and aloof, and, very often, defensive when criticized by others. Such a soul must live off of its own glory, which will ultimately fade and wilt under the pressures of life's adversities, and the consuming knowledge that one day this projected self will be consumed by the ravages of sickness and death.

Yet, to varying degrees, all souls are plagued by this introspective reality, and the only escape from its complicated and sorted web is to experience God's personal love, which offers healing and imparts wisdom, purpose and hope. There, from this center, we can allow God's thoughts to become our own and begin to walk with the Living God as our great friend and benefactor.

Yet, how is it possible to achieve this when most of the modernist Christian church, whether conservative or liberal, Catholic or Protestant, is itself tragically introspective, and disconnected from this great and saving truth? The truth that God, through his son Jesus, knew that man could not survive the gauntlet of this life by means of a mere intellectual assent to His offered salvation. Knowing that such an assent would not survive the assault of the death camps of Nazi Germany, nor the assault of the spirit of lust and consumptive power which pervades our own times. Jesus offered much more -His very real Presence and healing.

Who then can God send to such a godless self-centered world if not those of His followers who have experienced a baptism into the fire of His love -reaped from an earnest repentance and heartfelt submission to the will of the Father? 

Yet, for such followers a time of difficult testing is at hand. Will we be willing to pay the price necessary to make His Presence and healing known to the deeply introspective and lost souls of our day, or continue to plan for a feast on Superbowl Sunday oblivious of the destiny to which Jesus calls us?

For, to enter into such a call, much more will be required than a meal offering - it will take a Living Sacrifice.

This Too Shall Pass - My Brother Greg

From My Journal

My brother Greg was a beautiful man -tall, broad, strong and having a tremendous sense of humor. But, following his wartime experience in Viet Nam (1967), and his return to civilian life, his life's journey was to be long and arduous, as he would be caught up in a world of drugs and alcohol and other kinds of worldly abuse.  It would require a great deal of prayer and intercession, (and ultimately, in my faith experience, the miraculous work of the Mother of God) to pull him at his death from the mire of this world into the saving realm of heaven. [That is a separate remarkable story in itself not reported here.]

Many years following his return from Viet Nam (somewhere in the late 80's), I was able to situate Greg in Section 8 housing, and he moved from place to place until eventually finally settling in Beverly, MA in a large rented room and kitchen area.  He stayed there for many years until his death in 2004.  However, he continually ended up in trouble (including a six month incarceration in NH,), and we never knew what was going to happen next. Then, on one Thanksgiving Day we all attended dinner at the house of one of my brothers-in-law and Greg came along. After the meal, Greg and I decided to go for a walk when he presented me with a hedgehog. He reported that he had for the third time been caught dealing drugs and was scheduled for a criminal trial which could land him in prison for a considerable period. It was then, while walking in the cold, and suffering considerable consternation over what I had just heard, that I heard my angel say audibly: "This too shall pass."  Hearing this mystified me, and, while this "word of knowledge" was consoling, I really wondered what it could mean. (You might ask how I knew it was my angel, but this was a "knowing" on my part.)

Well, it took about a year to play out, and I remember well being involved with his defense attorney trying to resolve the impossible impasse erected before us.  But, my angel was correct, as the district attorney permitted my brother to act as a witness for the prosecution by identifying the dealer from whom he had purchased the drugs, and agreed to a reduction in charges in settlement.  To my amazement, Greg was only sentenced to a period of probation, and having ducked a sure bullet, never again dealt in drugs, and never again presented us troubling issues outside of his own declining health.  

God, to his glory and faithful to his word, proved himself up to the task -which ushered in my own profound prayer of thanksgiving. Yes, on Thanksgiving Day God promised a day of thanksgiving. May he be praised!

There are many lessons to be learned from this event. God knows future events and is concerned with them -even those we might consider mundane. God will work on our behalf, if we pray and seek his help with a sincere and contrite heart. And, God can always bring good out of evil. Even if in this case Greg had been sentenced to jail for a term, I have faith that good would have flowed from it.  Another very significant lesson to be learned from this experience is the fact that general suffering is greatly minimized for a believer who places his or her life -and its purpose and destiny -into the hands of God.  Outside of that place of considerable safety and protection, suffering can be greatly expanded, largely due to the exploitative work of Satan and his minions. By this I mean the avoidance of anxiety, fear, confusion and general spiritual darkness, which very often leads to both mental and physical diseases of all kinds.

I know -a tome can be written regarding this spiritual truth, but that is for another day.

When the Time Comes - You Will Be Ready

(Circa 1998)

What does Heaven know about our destiny? What does Heaven know about the time and the hour of our death?  The answer is: ALL. 

Somewhere in my mid fifties I was in my bedroom upstairs in Rowley, MA and began to think about how quickly time had gone by. Somehow, I thought that I might be called home earlier in life (in the military as a Navy pilot, we all recognized this possibility), but now I wondered how time would play out and began to think about my inevitable death.  At the thought of death, I began to be a bit disconsolate as I have always considered death (common to man) to be an unnatural event not intended for us. That, somehow, the fate of death had been imposed on mankind through some sort of unnatural evolution. I always thought this -even as a young person. Of course, that is true -isn't it?  Sin and Satan, or Satan and then sin brought death to man. It is unnatural and it was not the originate destiny of man.

So, there I was standing and dressing -thinking these thoughts, when I audibly heard: "When the time comes, you will be ready."  I was amazed, and then greatly consoled at this revelation. To this day this spoken word brings me a great sense of peace and assurance in the face of a now crumbling and aging body.  I rejoice in knowing that Heaven knows the hour of my death, and that when it arrives, I will be ready to meet and embrace it.  Alleluia! Praise be to the work of the Savior, who at a great price opened the door for all of us to the possibilty of Peace at the hour of our earthly passing. 

Now, at the age of seventy, that hour is much closer for me than at the time I received this consoling word of knowledge. God is in control, and will call me home when the hour does arrive. In some ways, I actively prepare for that event through my prayer life and asking for the gift of greater intimacy with God our Father. 

 Yes, He is Love, and He is passionate for us. And, as Scripture teaches, He seeks those who desire to worship Him in Spirit and Truth . 

Yet, it is impossible to gain an understanding regarding this great spiritual truth without first submitting to His Will for your life. Then, understanding comes as infused knowledge lovingly, tenderly and mysteriously given. 

In this world, where many of us have experienced poor, or even violent parental events, it takes time to come into this place.  For many of us, great interior healing is needed to enter into intimacy with God and to embrace His tender Love. But, begin by asking for it, by  praying from your heart, and being faithful to His Commands. And, above all of this, learn to persevere in this endeavor.  Urgently avoid the occult in all of its forms, embrace purity, and do not rely upon your own strength.  In due course He will answer your cry. He ALWAYS does!

MORE TO FOLLOW

At Prayer

(March 23, 2012)

I am praying before the tabernacle early in the morning at St. Mary's church in Rowley, Ma. There is no Mass, but I have keys to access the church as I offer Alpha and other programs from this site. As Mass is only offered on Monday and Tuesday mornings, I had begun to make it a practice to go there early (usually 7:00 am), and to pray for at least one hour's time worshipping and praising the Lord, and quietly listening for his voice.

On this particular Friday morning, amazingly, during prayer I am able to remember with preciseness the names of many of my grammar and high school friends, associates with whom I flew in the Navy so many years ago, ex-clients and associates from my various workplaces. And, as I begin to go down this list of remembrance, I mention each name in the silence of my heart and I say: "Yes, Lord, thank you for him (or her), and bless him". This list of remembrance was quite long and extensive, and while I was praying this way I did not think that what I was doing was anything unusual.  Some of the men brought to mind had not lived the holiest of lives, but I was moved, with great love, to thank the Lord for their existence, and to bless them. This went on for perhaps twenty minutes or so.

At the conclusion of this time, I finished my prayers, knelt before the Lord humbly asking his blessing, and left the church.

It was only the following day that I noticed something quite substantial had altered within me.  Suzanne and I went to a luncheon with some friends during which I was seated across from man with a very difficult personality. He was someone I consciously sought to avoid.  To my amazement, I was filled with great love for him, had wonderful joy in my heart, and had no difficulty listening to his meandering and quite vociferous stories. Love caused me to view him as Jesus viewed him, and I knew that the Lord was blessing and preserving him even as I spoke to him (He is quite ill.). I also knew that the Lord desired that I love him with a father's love, so that he would be open to the love of the Father either now, or at the point of his death, and come to know Jesus.

I learned so much that day, and it has changed my heart toward others. I have come to more fully understand that God loves and blesses, and does not curse his creation. It is men and Satan and his minions that do that. I learned too, that such love is costly, but that it is the only way to reach into the heart of a wounded, fearful and broken man. In the beginning, God used his son to show us the way of love in order that we might come to know  salvation, and how costly such love is. Now, he relies on us to reveal that love, and that love opens to me (us) the path of peace and reconciliation. 

The Demon of Thought (Circa 1984)

At the age of thirty nine I married my beautiful and wonderful friend Suzanne following my conversion to Christ at the age of thirty-six through the ministry of Billy Graham. She has been, and to this day, is a gift of God to me, and her strength has given me direction these many years since. Given my life style before marriage, I had a lot of cleaning up to do, and I began a personal journey of discovery seeking to know the Lord and his ways better by reading Scripture and personal study. It was during one of these times of personal study that an event occurred which was remarkable, and which helped me understand to a significant degree the realm of the demonic. This experience would prove fruitful to me in the years to follow.

It begins like this. I am downstairs with my wife sitting in a couch before our fireplace in Marblehead, MA, reading a small booklet entitled "Grains of Wheat." This booklet encouraged one to walk in the ways of the Lord and to practice generosity and various spiritual disciplines. At my heart level I was responding very affirmatively to this good teaching -when I heard myself think: "I really don't want to do this."  Somehow, this surprised me, and though an amazing grace, I perceived that this thought -while likened to my own, had an alternate source. Responding to this discernment, I quickly turned and looked over my left shoulder where I clearly saw a spirit hovering and looking directly at me. You will ask: "Good grief, were you terrified?" To which I respond: "No, not at all." In fact, I was very much at peace. Secondly, you certainly would now like to ask: "What did the spirit look like?"  Well, this is where the amazing part of this experience may prove difficult for you.  The spirit was smallish (the size of an large watermelon), purple in color (it was a light form -thus ethereal in appearance), having little specific form (almost Casper the Ghost in appearance), with eyes which you could look through into the surrounding room.  It took this spirit at least three of four seconds before it realized that I could actually see it, and then, as a narrow beam of purple streaking supersonic light it passed out of my sight right though the wall of my house as if the wall did not exist.

You should now be asking: "What was that all about?"  Well, Jesus speaks about spirits that roam the face of the earth seeking a place to rest, and this spirit was such a being (Matt. 12:43 and Luke 11.24). And, if I had accepted the voice of that spirit as my own, it would have found an resting place from which it could begin the process of shaping the way I thought, and ultimately, the way I acted.  Moreover, this spirit would have worked hard to influence my thinking to such a degree that I would have invited some of its friends to accompany it.  This would have constituted the beginning of a spiritual oppression the bitter fruit of which can be, and often is, deep depression and suicidal thoughts. The goal of this spirit was my ultimate destruction.  

Many years later, through reading of the work "Unbound" by Neal Lozano, and sponsoring and attending several of his conferences, I began with some others to offer deliverance prayer for persons carrying oppressive burdens of all kinds.  Some had been abused, some had suffered terrible trauma, some had been betrayed, and some had been active in the occult. In deliverance, one thing marked all of them. They almost always report the experience of a lifting weight upon a word of command. It could be off the chest, the back or some other body part.  Some even report an improvement in sight (a deliverance from an afflicting spirit), and some huff and puff out stuff unseen.

Having experienced earlier in my life the appearance of the demon of thought in its futile attempt to ensnare me, I understand better to some degree what must be occurring in these deliverance or healing events.  In my mind's eye, I can see that purple ethereal spirit (and its allies) once again loosed wandering through dry places -until they can once again find another host on which to latch and begin their work of destruction anew. Alas, it seems that in this age of reason and madness, they may not have to journey very far.

Yet, that spirit of which I write, or one of its many accomplices, also sought at an earlier time to ensnare me. And this, before I knew the Lord, and his protection.  When I think of it, and how close I came to captivity, I sometimes shutter.  Read below, and you will understand. 

Be blessed and believe.

Why Don't You Ask Satan to Help You?  (Circa 1970)

Before my conversion to Christ, I drank to excess (although strictly speaking not an alcoholic), and I looked in all the wrong places for love and acceptance. If you asked me then, I would have told you that I was a good person, and was really looking for a good woman to settle down with to have a family. You see, the truth was, I never really wanted to sin, but I did not have the strength to avoid it, and I was on the pathway to perdition.

So, there I am, about thirty-three years of age, in a bar in Boston. A young single lawyer, fairly successful, and very available. Yet, it seemed to me that no woman really wanted or desired me, and I was painfully lonely. Given my view of things, I hoped that some day in some bar I just might meet the right person. Well, then walks into this bar a very lovely red head who strolls up to the bar, sits and orders a drink. I look intently at her wondering if I should join her and start a discussion to see to where it might lead. Then it happened! I hear: "Why don't you ask Satan to help you?". Yikes! You might ask, was I startled? Was I frightened? No, not at all, and I am not sure why. But, I did know that I had a decision to make, and that if I desired it (that is -her), that there was someone who was willing to help me attain my goal.

Reflecting on this offer I delayed a few moments, but then left the bar saying to myself: "No, I will do it on my own." This prideful thought saved me. Even to this day, I tremble at what might have been, as Satan himself was more than willing to open to me a door to success, sexual pleasure and power.

Knowing what I know now, it would have all led to a terrible oppression and depression -and perhaps even suicide. Someone else was praying for me on that evening, and I avoided my Waterloo. We always need the prayer of others.  For that I am eternally grateful. 

Be blessed and believe.

What Would I Do For You?

(Circa 2000)

My son David is now twenty-three years old (the year is 2011) and his father's delight. He was given his name due to an interior word from the Lord which was confirmed on three occasions before his birth. [i] When David was approaching 4th grade my wife was considering home schooling David as his sister Cassandra was already a home school student and doing quite well.[ii]  However, I was concerned as David was not as pliable as Cassandra and I thought that the home schooling experience might not be the best choice for him. My wife Suzanne, exercising her own very considerable gift of discernment, felt strongly otherwise -which added to my consternation.

While I did not actively bring this concern before the Lord in prayer, I did place this matter on my heart seeking understanding and discernment as to what course of action to take. It was then while driving back home from work in Cambridge that I began to ask the Lord for this discernment when I heard the Lord speak audibly to me: "Peter, what would I do for you?"  Reflecting on this word I then understood that it was God's will that David be home schooled -for that certainly is what the Lord would have provided for me in an identical situation. Once home, I shared this event with David telling him that the Lord himself desired that he begin home schooling. At the time, I also thought that this revelation would help him accept his transition from grammar school (which he seemed to enjoy) to the more private environment of a home school. As a result, David began his home schooling protected from an academic environment becoming increasingly godless and corrupted by the spirit of the age. Now, these many years later I can see the wisdom of the Lord's ways as David prospered greatly in the home schooling environment and to this day remains committed to the reign and rule of Christ in his life.

---

[i] I have told my son that he has been named after David Du Plessis. David was known during his life as "Mr. Pentecost" and was one of the principal founders of the Assembly of God. He was also a participant at Vatican II as an observer.  He spoke prophetically to many in Catholic leadership during Vatican II and urged that a Bible be put into the hands of each Catholic Christian which he believed would result in a great move of God throughout the entire world and the salvation of many.  Sadly, he was not listened to.

[ii] In fact, Cassandra had asked Suzanne to home school her as even as a young girl as she was sensitive to things of the Spirit and was aware that the public school environment would not be helpful for her -that there was a certain "darkness" there which she knew was not of God.

The Power of Praise

A number of years ago, when the Holy Spirit was so powerfully blazing in Toronto (circa 1991), I would on occasion attend conferences there, and, from time to time, just visit there with some friends for a time of prayer and intercession.  One on such occasion (when traveling there with two friends to pray and intercede), we stopped on the way at a large church where a conference was taking place.  There were several hundred in attendance, and at one point in the conference we entered into a time of tremendous praise and worship.  To my great amazement, as we worshiped I had an open vision in which appeared in sharp relief an intricately constructed city with buildings and spires of near eastern design (very Islamic) -having an extremely large bridge leading to its entrance. The entire construction of these edifices was constructed of what appeared to be a black and white material -similar to what extremely compacted salt and pepper might look like. As the praise and worship continued this entire vast and complicated city collapsed and vanished under the power of praise being offered to the Lord. I wondered what it could mean. Today, many years later, I believe I better understand the meaning of this vision. Definitively, no ideology or philosophy inconsistent with the revelation of God's true nature -as revealed through his son Jesus, no matter how intricate it may be, can ever withstand the assault of true praise and worship offered by God's children to the glory of God. In the case at hand, other worshipers were not aware of the loosing of God's power on their behalf to destroy the false and intricate works of the enemy intended to enslave them. Yet, God did, and does, know. In my opinion, never in contemporary history has there been a greater need for times of such prayer and intercession than now. I pray that it may begin -and begin very soon.

Where is Hope Found?

(An audible experience)

Your Are Their Only Hope

This is difficult to write.  Years ago while in the shower I was thinking about a couple I knew who were not Christian, but with whom I interacted from time to time when I heard the Lord speak audibly and directly to me the following words: "You are their only hope."  This was a stunning revelation as the Lord knew I was concerned about them, and this included a concern regarding their salvation. More stunning was the phrase "only hope", as I as first found it inconceivable that the Lord could not accomplish their salvation without my help and that others were not praying for them. (As I write this, I am reminded of a statement attributed to Mother Mary during one of her many apparitions: "Many souls go to hell merely because they have no one to pray for them.")

From that point on I began to pray for them and to practice -when I could, friendship evangelization.  I, along with my wife Suzanne modeled for them our Christian ethic by regularly attending church and having meetings of youth and adults at our house for bible studies and worship and other similar events. We were openly Christian and showed our love for the Lord by the way we lived our lives.

Yet, moving forward to the current day (9/11/11 -the ten year anniversary of Ground Zero), I am saddened to report that this couple is now divorced with the wife having left the husband after thirty (30) years of marriage. Reflecting upon this it seems that I did not take this word of knowledge as seriously as I might have. I believe that I may have failed the Lord in that I did not undertake a prayer assault for this couple including a time of fasting and intercession. I did what I could, but I did not go the extra mile.

Lesson Learned:  To him to whom much is given much is expected.  The Christian walk is not a cake-walk and the battle for souls is not bloodless or without labor.  While this couple is now divorced I continue to pray for them for all things are possible with God. But, I must do my part and this includes a willingness to suffer for the sake of the Gospel.  I am almost seventy years old as I write this and I know God's love for me and his heart for the lost. So, I pray, help me Lord, to bring them to your altar.

Infant Baptism - 1963

1963

In February of 1963, while serving as a young Lieutenant JG Naval Aviator with Patrol Squadron 23 (VP-23) at NAS Brunswick, ME, I received a call from my sister Pat asking if I would be willing to be the God Father for her new baby girl Laurie. I quickly agreed, and on a cold Sunday afternoon made the long four hour trek (in my Navy Blues) to Sacred Heart church in Waterbury, CT (which was also my birthplace). Upon arrival it was very dark and dreary, and when entering the church I could not help but reflect upon the years spent earlier at Sacred Heart High School immediately adjacent to the church itself.

Then, after gathering around the baptismal font, the young priest performing the baptism asked me to hold Laurie's tiny hand as he poured the baptismal water and recited the baptismal formula. Somehow, I thought this a strange request, but readily complied. Then as he began to pour the baptismal water over the Laurie's small infant head and to recite the baptismal formula: 'I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit' -a powerful charge of electricity entered into the child and traveled through my hand and up my left arm. I immediately knew I had just experienced a manifestation of God's power, but quietly sequestered this experience to the realm of mystery wondering what it all meant.
As I indicated earlier, I sequestered this experience away for many years, and only much later in life when I had a deeper understanding regarding the power and effect of the Sacrament of Baptism, did I share this experience with a young woman named Laurie now a mom in her fourties.

Ah, where does all of this lead? Well, this revelatory experience deeply positioned in my conscious awareness the unqualified conviction that infant baptism -rejected by many Christian traditions as unnecessary, is vital and essential to the spiritual well being of a new born child in ways we can neither perceive or know.

In the intervening years since this event I have on several ocassions attended in Protestant churches the dedication of an infant child wedded to the joyous celebration of the Christian community surrounding the event itself. Yet, at such times, I have also been saddened and troubled aware that the work of Christ on the Cross gained much more for the infant child -a restorative gift through the power of the Holy Spirit. For, in the pouring of the water and in the pronouncement of the words of the baptismal formula original sin and sin itself is remitted and the child is strengthened and opened to new life in God.

It has often been said that no one can take away your personal testimony of what God has done for you and what God has allowed you to experience and know. You know what you know. Yes, one can wait until adult maturity to receive the grace of baptism -but, this is not necessary. The better order of things is to offer to infants baptism and allow the child to be confirmed in the Christian faith of their own volition and at a mature age.

I want to end this narrative with another perspective as well. Given the transformative power of infant baptism, it is not a sacrament that should be offered to families of children unwilling to raise their children in the Christian faith. Too often, business as usual and what I term 'maintenance theology' leads pastors to baptize infants in cases where parents are not committed to Christian community and the rule of life Scripture demands. This can lead to scandal and weakens the church. So too, it this true regarding the Rite of Confirmation where the issuance of this sacrament is often akin to awarding a merit badge, but not a badge of honor and distinction.

PEACE

Getting Back To It

To My Friends:

I am going to begin to use this blog to post some material from my personal diary.  My mother also left behind a few writings which I will also share. These materials will speak to some people and perhaps alert and inform their spirits and help prepare them for the days ahead.

I hope they bless you.

Peter

Salta, AR The Final Conference with Catholics

In this third and final post, I have the privilege of reflecting upon the last Global Alpha Training conference given by the team which was presented in Salta, AR. This was an all day and early evening event given in a lovely new retreat house just outside of Salta. This event was attended by an enthusiastic group of young adults. There, we were introduced to Padre Angel, a man with a great heart and a deep love for the people he serves. Padre Angel oversees over 30 barrios and 46,000 parishioners.

The team worked hard not only to provide meaningful teaching, but following the talks diligently modeled Alpha ministry with the guests who were unfamiliar with the Alpha process. This allowed time for the guests to practice ministry with one another in a very practical manner. The team found this necessary as most of these young Catholics were very inexperienced when it came to minstry -but they proved to be very quick learners.

The homemade meals and hospitality of the sisters at this Catholic retreat center eased the twelve hour day, and the fact that each table received a bottle of 'Dalton' wine with each meal was a big hit with the team. (One of the team member's name is Dalton!)

We also had the privilege of meeting with the Archbishop of the Diocese of Salta who said to his little flock attending this conference 'I want you to do Alpha,' which a very great encouragement to us. Below you will see our picture with Arzobispo Monseñor Mario Antonio Cargnello, Arzobispado de Salta.

On Sunday the team attended Mass with Padre Angel and visited four of the churches he oversees. Padre Angel's hospitality extended to a Bar B Q held at a friend's home and extensive sightseeing. On Monday we headed out for the journey home. We were all overjoyed that we could be used of the Lord in such a fabulous way. What a gift and wonderful opportunity -to preach and teach the saving Gospel message of our Lord through preparing many evangelizers who the Lord can use in Argentina for many years to come.

Deo Gratias!

Peter Carpentier

Director

North Shore Christian Ministries

Cordoba to Salta-The Evangelical Conference

In our earlier post, we were leaving Pablo's house (our host in Cordoba who we named the 'Alpha Man") for the overnight bus trip to Salta. Pablo and his wife Fer exemplified the gentleness, love and compassion which seems to be rooted in the Argentinian people and which so deeply touched all of us.

[In this picture you will see Pablo and his wife and children along with Suzanne and myself.]

The bus trip to Salta from Cordoba is 11.5 hours, and while the bus was a sleeper bus, sleep proved elusive and we all arrived at the Salta bus terminal quite sleep deprived. Fortunately, we did have two days to rest at the house of Walter and Alejandra (our hosts in Salta) who were wonderful and gracious to us in every way. Upon arrival, much of this time was dedicated to meeting the local support and music teams (Salta was scheduled for two conferences) and working out logistical issues.

[In this picture you see the team eating at Walter and Alejandra's grand table with the local evangelical team.]

Before the commencement of the evangelical conference, some of the team did have the opportunity to travel with Walter (our host in Salta) to the foothills of the Andes were we saw the colored mountains ("de colores"), and visited an indian village. This was a breath-taking and awesome experience as we had the opportunity to witness the wondrous vista of the Argentinian countryside under a brillant azure sky.

The following day, we began the first of two back-to-back conferences, a two day conference with evangelical leaders and an extended one-day conference with Catholic leadership. The evangelical conference included the attendance of many pastors and leaders from local churches and outlying areas. There was a real hunger to understand the principles of Alpha and to gain an understanding of how Alpha could be used to evangelize the Argentinian people for the cause of Christ. Over the two days of this conference, rapt attention was given to all of the presentations, and during the times of Q&A there were many thoughtful questions regarding implementation, and a good discussion of many practical issues. In the end, there was no doubt that the principals of Alpha had been understood by all the attendees who were quite eager to begin their own courses. [Here, were having lunch with some of the attendees.]

In my next, and final Argentinian post, I will address the Catholic conference which was extremely encouraging, and the wonderful gift of Padre Angel who sees Alpha as a much needed tool and a gift from the Holy Spirit to all of the church.

Blessings,

Peter Carpentier

Argentina Global Alpha Training Initiative

The NSCM GAT team is back, and it can honestly be said that the training events held (2 Catholic -one Evangelical) were nothing short of amazing and deeply fulfilling experiences. We are all very tired (perhaps exhausted is more descriptive) as the overall schedule was gruling and very demanding. In fact, one of our team members became quite ill after the first training event, but recuperated in time to assist at the last training event and a follow up time of teaching at the evangelical church.

To give you a sense of things, the trip to Cordoba, AR, from beginning to end, took over 48 hours to achieve due to air travel delays, cancelled connections, and multiple transportation difficulties. We arrived in Cordoba, AR just in time to have team meetings, and then to commence the first training conference. We did get some rest, but very little, and to to say that we started 'tired' is probably an understatement. But, this only begins the travel saga, which became even more interesting as we moved to Salta, AR for the subsequent training conferences (more on that later).

The training conference in Cordoba was held at an old Catholic convent named "Convent of Divine Love" which was without heat and quite cold in the evenings. However, the attending audience was young, quite enthusiastic, and also included three wonderful priests who were a joy to work and speak with -especially as each of them spoke very good English. Yes, in case you are wondering, all of our talks were presented in English and translated by an interpreter as we presented the various sessions. To our great relief, this worked out very well, and the training time proved to be quite effective despite the language barrier.

On the second full day of this conference we decided to move the training outside where it was warm and sunny (70F) in order to escape the cold of the convent. Here, we presented the talk on 'How To Be Filled With the Holy Spirit' and prayed for all of the guests. This was a wonderfull and precious time full of genuine warmth for each other with an embrace from the Holy Spirit which we will all long remember.

Once we finished our training outside we all moved inside for a time of celebration and feasting. We soon learned that that eating 'pasta frita' and drinking coffee was an Argentinian pass time, and to be hospitable it was necessary to join in. There was never a lack of pastries or coffee and it soon became very necessary to restrict intake if you thought remaining 'thin' was ever a realistic option for you.

In all of our training events worship was very important, and we were very fortunate to have Josh Young along as our musician. Josh related to all the young Argentinian musicians in a wonderful way and he soon became 'famoso' werever he went. Worship was always intimate and personal as Josh with his genuine spirit of worship opened the door for the Holy Spirit to come and to minister to His people. This was always an amazing time. The adjacent picture is of Josh with some of the Argentinian music ministers from the Cordoba conference.

From Cordoba, AR, we first went to the home of Pablo and Fer and his family for the evening, and then on the overnight bus to Salta. But, that story and that post will be made tomorrow -please check back in.

Blessings,

Peter

Getting Ready For Argentina-Global Alpha Training

To All of Our Friends:

The NSCM Global Training Team (GAT) has spent a lot of time preparing and practicing the talks to be given at the three scheduled training conferences in Argentina. In total, there are eight significant talks which will be given at the trainings, exclusive of times of prayer for impartation and commissioning, summary statements, talks during lunches, etc. (e.g. Prison Alpha), and times of Q&A.

This heavy load has been spread among six presenters as follows:

Peter Carpentier
Suzanne Carpentier
Stephen Dalton
Ann Kater
Michael Kater
Jodi Young


We are privileged to have Josh Young with us to lead worship and times of intercession.

The International GAT Team from Holy Trinity Brompton has made all of this possible, and without their assistance and zeal, none of this could be possible. It has been a joy to work with a team so committed to the cause of Christ and His message of salvation. Therefore, hat's off to Rachel Abraham, Global Alpha Project Manager, Emily Richter, International Conferences Event Manager, and Karen Tigar, Alpha Argentina Advisor, who will be on team with us in Argentina. These woman are not seeking recognition for the hard work that they do, but they are certainly deserving of it.

It is my opinion (as realized experience over these past nine years), that there is no program of evangelization as effective as Alpha to bring conversion to individuals and renewal to churches. The Holy Spirit has always authenticated this powerful reality with His consoling and healing Presence during the courses we have presented and witnessed. Therefore, we rejoice at the opportunity to spread the Alpha program among many of the Christian churches in the beautiful nation of Argentina.

The team leaves this coming Wednesday (June 25th) and will arrive in Cordoba, Argentina on Thursday, June 26th at 1:00 pm local time. The following morning we will brief with local team at 10:00 am and head off to the retreat center to set up for an evening presentation to Catholics (6-10 pm), followed by a full day of presentations on Saturday (9 am to 6 pm).

Then, on the following day it's off to Salta on an overnight bus for two more conferences. One with Evangelicals (Thursday-Friday), followed by one with Catholics (9 am to 6 pm on Saturday). After all of this, we once again jump on the overnight bus to Cordoba and make our way to the airport for a return flight to Boston. The flight down and back are quite long, each taking a full day to complete.

Surely, we shall be tired upon our return. But, what a privilege it is to serve the Living God! We are all extremely grateful for His provision, care and protection.

You will (hopefully) receive emails to this Blog for updates, statistics and pictures in the days to come. Of course, all dependent upon access to good internet services.

Blessings To All!

Peter Carpentier
Director
NSCM

Things Are Breaking

Dear Friends:

It is clear that the Lord has opened the doors wide to NSCM for ministry opportunities and that the sky is the limit as to what may be accomplished in His Holy Name, with prayer, humility and perseverance.

Recent activity includes the presentation of the Fusion worship event which was an awesome experience of worship in song to the glory of God. NSCM will be presenting Fusion II at the end of this summer -so, stay tuned.

NSCM also presented two Youth Alpha courses in parish settings this past winter to over 120 teenagers using trained young adult presenters who love the Lord and who are committed to His cause. This dynamic was very important as the teenagers saw firsthand the witness of other young adults (albeit, a bit older) lending power and witness to the messages which were presented over the ten weeks of the course (and the included retreat). In this setting, church leaders and presenters actually witnessed the transformation of many of the young teens attending, with a new openness in the other teens to the biblical truths presented. Given the urgent need to evangelize youth, there is no question but that Youth Alpha provides an important and extremely valuable tool to reach the hearts and minds of teens who are confronted on every side with cultural messages which dramatically oppose the teaching of Christ and His church.

In March of this year, NSCM had the great privilege of commencing the first formally approved Alpha Prison Course in Massachusetts at Old Colony Prison in Bridgewater, MA. While this outreach will continue for many more weeks to come, already the response of the 27 attending inmates, the prison administration and the prison chaplains has been overwhelming positive. NSCM has pledged to all MA prison chaplains wishing to do Alpha that it will supply at no cost all the necessary materials to run the course. In additon, NSCM will make contributions of Alpha materials to prison libraries for general reading by the prison population. Therefore, NSCM asks your prayers and support of this very important ministry outreach.

NSCM is going international! Yes, as part of the Alpha Global Training initiative, NSCM is sending a team of seven persons to Argentina in June of 2008 to present two day Alpha Course training events. The team will visit Cordoba and Salta and will provide training to many churches, with a principal emphasis on Catholic churches. The travel and events schedule is very intense, and the team will be providing worship and prayer venues as well as presenting all of the teaching materials in a series of talks (through a translator) so as to equip attending churches to present The Alpha Course in their own church settings. We know that the Holy Spirit will energize the team when it is there, but it is certain that the team will also need some down time upon its return. Posts to this blog will be made periodically to keep you updated as to events.

Finally, NSCM is in the process of filming a Youth Alpha training program for use by churches to enable a kick start to presenting the Youth Alpha program, and will likely be presenting in the fall a Youth Alpha conference which will be a major initiative.

Visit our website at http://www.northshorecm.org/ for events and more.

Thanks, and Blessings,

Pete Carpentier