It's Time To Expect The Unexpected by Pastor Susan Fochler

About 12 years ago Russ and I jumped at the opportunity for some free soil to backfill our very large, down-sloped backyard.  It would help level our yard and increase the usable space near the back of the house.  However, we completely underestimated how effectively a backhoe is; over the course of just a few days a huge mound of soil had been deposited, completely changing the landscape of our yard.  It also, inadvertently, uprooted several fruit trees including two pear and a pomegranate.  We were grateful for the added soil, but a little sad at the loss of the trees.   An Unexpected Surprise Fast forward to this year, and one of the wettest winters we’ve had in a long time.  Apparently wet enough to resurrect long dormant pomegranate seeds that remained hidden under the ground, for, sure enough, we have a fledgling 3 foot tall pomegranate tree growing right where the old one had stood. The tree that was gone and completely forgotten is coming up quickly, strong and healthy.   The Year of Jubilee Our God often operates like that in our lives.  We see something die, something we’ve hoped and yearned for, and it seems like it’s gone forever.  We try to remain hopeful, but, humanly, it’s hard.  But John 12:24 encourages us to think from an eternal, Kingdom perspective, that “unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain”.  Resurrection power makes no sense in the natural world, but it is perfectly normal and to be expected in God’s Kingdom.  And, as this is the Year of Jubilee, we can start expecting the unexpected as never before.   Old Dreams Becoming New Do you have any dreams or desires that seem to no longer have life?  Was it too hard to stay focused and hope-filled over the long haul?  Is it possible they are just lying dormant and need a fresh watering of prayer and expectancy to resurrect them and bring them back to full restoration?  I believe this is the year to see new things happen.  Like my little pomegranate tree, a traditional symbol of life and death, rebirth and eternal life, fertility and abundance, may this be the year old dreams become as new.  Desire fulfilled, after all, is a tree of life.  Proverbs 13:12. With love and expectancy,                                            Pastor Susan Fochler

Reflections on The Sound by Pastor Brent Lokker

First and foremost, I want to tell you how much I love all of you in my Blazing Fire family! I'm so proud of how deeply you love the Lord and how you share His passion to see sons and daughters enter into His Kingdom of love and grace!   Suzanne and I were blown away by how many of you participated in The Sound this past weekend. We recall seeing the faces of at least 60 of you at Hippie Hill on Saturday during our worship set. Susan Fochler estimates that those of you who volunteered your time and love to be part of our prophetic/healing tent on Friday at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater were able to richly bless over 100 people!   I’ve heard first hand stories from at least a dozen of you, recounting to me your life-giving interactions with passer-byers in the park, the powerful spiritual encounters you saw happening from heaven’s perspective and how you felt a deep oneness with the Body of Christ to agree with God’s heart for a city that He so loves. Chris Burns shared that there were “more people saved (especially on a Friday night outreach to the Height and on Saturday at Hippie Hill) than we can count.” One such story was of a man who came daily to Hippie Hill to smoke marijuana but on this day could not light up because he was so captivated by the peace He felt and didn't want that to be altered in any way. He was encountering Jesus and he found Jesus!   As we all unashamedly and openly displayed our love for Jesus, the environment was infused with an increased desire in us to know Jesus and make Him known which directly impacted the hearts of those wandering by to know Him as well. We are all maturing in Christ to share in the Apostle Paul’s mission:   “But nothing, not even my life, is more important than my completing my mission. This is nothing other than the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus: to testify about the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).   I believe we participated in a catalytic moment that will have a far more reaching impact than we can comprehend. But what I do believe we will begin experiencing even now is an increase fire within us to make Jesus known and an increased hunger in the ones we are touching to encounter our very real Jesus who loves them right where they're at.   I hope to hear a few of the stories from you this Saturday night at Blazing Fire's worship service before we experience the extreme blessing of having Dr. Susan Richards minister the healing touch of Jesus to us. We're embarking on some truly remarkable times together! With Love, Pastor Brent