So Michael Janzen at Tiny House Design is celebrating his 400th post by announcing:

I’m now going to begin publishing a series of low cost tiny house plans, in addition to all the other normal writing I do about tiny houses and the first is the Tiny Solar House. I’m keeping the cost low because I really want to help empower other people to find their own housing solutions as much as I want to achieve a self-sustaining lifestyle for myself…I’m committed to keeping all my house plans affordable. 

The first house plan will be his Tiny Solar House. Check it out!

Blueprints.com se trata de una base de datos que reúne una fantástica colección de imágenes  que podemos emplear con distintos fines, educativos, ilustrativos, como fuente para post sin tenr que recurrir a buscadores de imágenes, etc…

Lo mejor de todo es que estan organizado en distintas secciones  y la que seguro que será la más interesante es la de ciencia-ficción, que auna bocetos de naves como la Enterprise o el Halcón Milenario

Disfruten

Hey Family -

This past Sunday at 144 Renaldo Wall shared a powerful prophetic word that both Pastor Sharon and I believe is a true word for us as a leadership – particularly as we prepare for the Leaders Encounter. We need to go over this word, receive it and ask the LORD to help us begin to walk in it:

I believe the Lord is calling us to greater commitment at the heart level in our loyalty and faithfulness to Jesus, our Pastors, Each other, and the Vision.

Pastor Brendan spoke about greater commitment at the anniversary service and I believe the Lord is emphasising this with greater significance in the Leadership of Church Without Limits in this season as a church and leading up to the leaders encounter.

Commitment to Jesus

• Luke 12:35 Jesus says to be dressed ready for service and to keep our lamps burning.
• Our lamps represent our ministry and our inner witness because it is that which gives light to those who walk in darkness (sin and deception)
• Psalm 18:28 David says, “You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning”
• In other words in order to keep our lamps burning brightly we must commit to cultivate the oil of intimacy with Jesus daily.  He is the one that provides the oil for our lamps. When we purpose to do this, when we surpass our goal of 1000 people in church, we will avoid burn out and frustration in ministry and we will be far more effective in the ministry we provide.  Daily time in the presence of the Lord will ensure you are receiving the oil of intimacy, the oil of his Spirit and the oil of joy to keep your lamp burning.

Commitment to our Pastors

• In Exodus 17 Aaron and Hur held up Moses arms when the Israelites were fighting against the Amalekites to ensure the victory.
• Later on in Numbers 12 Aaron and Hur are offended against Moses and speak against him to each other.  God obviously sees and hears this and rebukes them both.
• We need to live a lifestyle of greater commitment to our Pastors in the Spirit of Exodus 17.  We need to do this in the spirit and in the natural
• In the spirit meaning covering them continually in prayer.  This will serve as a defence against offence toward them in our hearts because intercession is one of the greatest expressions of love we can show another person.  We know this because Jesus is an intercessor. He intercede for us when He came to the earth (Is 53:12) and always lives to intercede for us at the right hand of the Father (Heb 7:25)
• In the natural meaning in services.  When we come into services we need to have a pastoral mindset where we are observing the service and listening to what the Spirit of God is saying.  We have to discern what is happening in services so we can communicate this to our Pastors so the weight of the service doesn’t fall solely on their shoulders.
• In this season we can’t afford to fall into that place of offence as Aaron and Hur did.

Commitment To Each Other

• In John 17 Jesus prays for all believers and he prays very specifically for unity.  He says “I have given them the glory you gave me that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.”  His desire is that we would walk in the same level of unity as Him and the Father.
• His strategic plan to accomplish this goal is His glory.  As we cry out for the glory of God, what we’re really crying out for is the manifestation of His glory.
• Moses didn’t say give me your glory, he said show or reveal your glory to me.  One of the manifestations of the glory of God is greater unity among believers.
• Biblical unity is to be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose, and regarding one another as more important than ourselves.  This kind of unity only comes about by the grace and glory of God. In this season division at the leadership level is one of our greatest enemies.

Commitment to the Vision

• We must take ownership of this vision like never before.  It is no longer acceptable for it to be Pastor Brendan’s or Pastor Sharon’s vision.  We need to claim this vision as our own.
• The Lord wants to give us greater revelation of what He’s entrusted into our hands.  This doesn’t come merely by understanding the blue prints and various dynamics of the vision but it come by impartation and revelation from the Holy Spirit.
• Many of you remember Pastor Brendan’s experience when he first travelled to Bogota Columbia and the Lord birthed this vision is his heart.  As I type this I believe that Lord wants to give us a similar personalised experience where this vision is birthed in our hearts to the same degree.
• When you truly receive this vision as your own you will press forward in it with passion, zeal, and most importantly joy.

The Blueprints Database has a massive repository of blueprints of just about anything that gets blueprinted. While the coolest section is probably the science fiction one (check out the Rebel X-Wing from Star Wars above) they also have aircraft, tanks, phones, etc. They also have lots of ships. It’s a pretty frustrating find two days after I finished drafting a 1 900-component icebreaker for a university course. Wanna know what’s even more frustrating? The one on the site is better.

The Blueprints Database

* Sad: Republicans have successfully convinced their followers that climate change isn’t real.

* Nate Silver: How Bad Could Obama Screw Up and Still Beat Sarah Palin?

* Ezra Klein on fixing the filibuster and SCOTUSblog on fixing the Court.

* Blueprints for nerds. Via Kottke.

* New Jersey in the news! This one seems a bit too much, even for Jersey.

* From Dan’s Facebook feed: Behind the scenes of Curb Your Enthusiasm: Jason teaches Larry how to be George.

* And, from Tim, Muppet Bohemian Rhapsody.

Durante el fin de semana trabajé en un pequeño proyecto, un departamento dentro de un área de 95m2. Una sola recámara con baño amplio y vestidor,  medio baño para visitas, sala, comedor y cocina con isla, dentro de ese mismo espacio se localiza un clóset con centro de lavado y despensa.  Me encantaría saber lo que piensan, si podrían vivir en ese lugar o si me faltó agregar algo que para ustedes sería escencial tener en su casa.

Eng.

During the weekend I worked on a small project, a department with only 95m2. A single bedroom with large bathroom and dressing room, bathroom for visitors, living, dining and kitchen with island, within the same space  is  located a laundry closet and pantry. I’d love to know what you think, if you could live in that place or if I forgot to add something that  would be essential for you to have in your home.

Monterrey NL, México

El proyecto consistió en remodelar un edificio existente en el centro de la ciudad para desarollar un centro médico de ginecología. Cuenta con área de recepción y sala de espera, farmacia, area de muestras, laboratorio y baños en planta baja. En el segundo nivel,  se localizan los consultorios  y cuartos de examinación, tambien un baño y un clóset. El diseño de interiores es muy sencillo y limpio.  Los muebles con diseños contemporáneos.

Gynecology Medical Center.

The project was to remodel an existing building located downtown, to develop a  gynecology medical center.  It has reception area and waiting room, pharmacy,  sampling area, laboratory and restrooms on the ground floor.  Located on second level, the offices and examination rooms, also a bathroom and a closet. The interior design is simple and clean. The furniture with contemporary designs.

]]> http://cwlservantleadership.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/blueprints-our-posture-in-this-season-nov-19-2009/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:42:19 +0000 brendanwitton http://cwlservantleadership.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/blueprints-our-posture-in-this-season-nov-19-2009/

Hey Team -

I trust each of you are doing well. This week I wanted to share with you regarding some things that LORD has been speaking to me regarding our ‘posture’ in this current season @ CWL.

As I’m sure you have been noticing, we are experiencing more and more of the presence and glory of God in our services. We are seeing more “God-stuff” then ever before and it is continually growing. The Anniversary two weeks ago is the most powerful service that I think I have every participated in (trying to think back… if no the most, then one of the most for sure). I’m thankful, excited, a little ‘holy fearful’, and so much more. I feel so strongly that we are on the edge of some huge, huge things.

As I’ve been praying in this season though, the LORD has been reminding me that there are several things that I/we need to be mindful of as we continue to press forward into what he is doing and I want to share them with you:

1) God’s Heart For Us – one thing the Spirit has really been emphasizing to me and Pastor Sharon is remembering the heart of unconditional, Father’s love that God has for us. As we press into things it is very easy to focus on ‘what we are not doing’ – in many ways as a motivational technique to push harder. “We are not passionate enough!”, “we are not worshiping enough”, or “we don’t witness enough!” could be a couple criticisms we carry in trying to make ourselves do it more. God has really been reminding me that while there are times that we need to ‘call ourselves out’ the big picture needs to be about how God LOVES the fact that we are pushing in towards him. Take service for example: let’s say we miss what the Spirit is doing in some way. God’s heart is not just “man, you just blew it!”… His heart is “I love the fact that you are trying to follow my Spirit when so many are not… so yeah,  you missed it but let’s talk a bit so I can show you how to get it next time” – that is the heart of God towards us. It is important that we always remember that. God loves the fact that we are desiring His presence and His glory. He wants us to walk in it. He doesn’t put major focus on where we are missing it but where we are hitting it!

2) Continue to Sow into the Process – one thing I’m learning is that God is about the process and we tend to be about the destination. God is definitely taking us somewhere but to Him it is not just about ‘getting there’ but what He is doing with us/in us/through us while we are going. Being a house that manifests the glory/presence of God is not a destination as much as it is a journey – let’s enjoy the journey! For example: coming out of the Anniversary Service I was amped regarding services this past weekend. I was so expectant I was just about jumping out of my clothes (weird picture, I know). I wanted to have the same thing as the week before (carpet time baby!) but God showed me that the Anniversary Service was something powerful that He did, but He wanted to do more, and he wasn’t going to do it the same every week. He showed me that we need to keep coming together and ‘going for it’… sowing into what He is doing. I have committed to do that.

3) Guarding Against Frustration – point 1 and 2 really lead into this point: as we are rooted and grounded in God’s love/heart for us, and commit ourselves to keep sowing into what He is doing  it will help us to guard against frustration. This is a huge key because it can be very easy, especially if we are the advance moving party, to become frustrated that more is not happening (what’s funny, is that often we cannot ever describe what ‘more’ is… we just get frustrated). We get frustrated with worship, frustrated with luke warm people, frustrated with the Body of Christ, frustrated with the message, frustrated with our pastors, frustrated with ourselves… you get the picture. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that this will kill a move of the Spirit pretty quickly. Rather than pressing into what God is doing, we get frustrated and critical because of what we perceive that He is not, or what we are not pressing into. If you feel frustration coming in your heart – pray into it! Submit what you are seeing! Become part of the solution! But do not allow the seeds of a critical spirit to be sown into your heart.

4) Cultivate Thankfulness – I was talking with someone yesterday and explaining what God is doing in our church a bit and one thing I mentioned was “I’ve been in some seasons where things seemed dead so even with challenges I’m so thankful that God is moving and stuff if happening”. This reminded me of the power of being thankful. Thank God for what He is doing! Thank God for the lives that are being changed! Thank God for the way we are seeing His glory! Do we have room to grow? Oh yeah but that is what we are doing: growing! Through the cultivation of thankfulness we not only guard our hearts but we create a climate where God can do even more!

All that to say: Let’s go for this guys! We are in the beginning stages of the greatest days that our church has ever seen. This coming year we are going to see the supernatural like never before! We are going to see more  breakthrough than ever before! Our job? Stay humble and stay hungry! Let’s commit together to keep centred on God’s heart for us, keep sowing into what God is doing, guard against frustration and cultivate thankfulness!

Pastor Sharon and I both love you very much – thanks for serving with us in this!

Let’s make Jesus famous in the GTA, Canada and beyond!

Evidence-based prevention programs, such as Botvin LifeSkills Training, have shown the greatest success in the reduction of negative youth behaviors, such as delinquency, violence and substance abuse. In addition, such programs reduce financial burdens on taxpayers, such as prison, drug treatment and social service costs.

The Botvin LifeSkills Training Program is recognized on the Cochrane and Campbell Collaborations review of prevention programs as well as the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence Blueprints Model and Promising Programs.

Click here to learn more about the criteria used to judge model programs.

Hey Team -

I’m just taking care of some final details before our trip – I’m still in awe by what God did today. I’m thankful but I’m also hungry for more.

Pastor Sharon and I are gone from tomorrow until Friday night. Everything will run as usual  while we are gone – Erin and Joel are still in the office for the week. If you have questions/issues come up please refer it to them. In the case of an emergency they will be aware of how to contact us.

Really quickly – I wanted to share with you a prophetic word that Yul Crawford sent through to us but we didn’t get in time for the service. It is so in line with what we stepped into today, and what we are continuing to press into:

The number nine is symbolic of fruitfulness in the Word of God. Your present fruitfulness is positioning you for multiplication in several major areas. Thrust in the sickle and reap the harvest that at is at your hand. There is a harvest that God is given you for your faithfulness to corporately worship Him. The aroma of your house is flavoring your region with a new level of divine favor that will cause others be a part of what I am doing in you as body of covenant believers. Receive the harvest that is around your homes, where you shop and where you work. You have sought My Face, you have faithfulfully stewarded My Presence in the house I have given you and you have worshipped Me in Spirit and Truth, so mixed faith with the word I have spoken over you in seasons past and receive the harvest that is at your hand. The harvest I speak of is all around you.

On behalf of Bishop Johnson and Lady Carolyn, Jane and I congratulate you on achieving this milestone. Pastor Brendan and Sharon Witton and the CWL Family, Jane and I love you dearly. You are in our hearts. You are in our prayers always

Christ Jesus our Lord

Yul and Jane

Today I met Brian Keller in ALM Days in Microsoft Italy. He is “The” evangelist on VS and TFS. I swear that I never never seen a better presentation in my whole life ! It made me want to rush to buy VS and TFS 2010. Great speaker, he used DeepZoom that created a “wow wow awesome !!!!” effect and he also made some live demo.

After “The prestige” now with have “The presenter”.

The incredible thing is that at dinner we talk about Software Factories and I discovered that he has Michael Lehman in his team !!!!!! The same guy that created Blueprints that we (the only in Italy) used to plan a migration of our Software Factories. It’s unbelievable, like its presentation.

Aquarian Age Divine Blueprints

The Age of Aquarius, with it’s new paradigm of the Laws of Quantum Physics, has torn the lid off the box. It has taken the areas of science, religion, health and education out of the hands of academia and placed them in the hands of the “average” man and woman.

Not that there is such a thing as an “average man and woman.” What Quantum Physics tells us is that there are no men and women only individual units of intelligent energy. Souls who “blinked out” of the Quantum Ocean (Mind of God) into the physical energy playing field matrix, called the planet Earth.

It is also telling us that all is energy. We are energy living, moving and having our being within an infinite ocean of energy called the Quantum Ocean (Mind of God.) The only thing that is happening on this planet, or indeed the whole Universe, is energy in relationships.

Along with a playing field (planet Earth) these billions of Souls have been given a set of divine blueprints to use to pattern their lives after. This set of Divine Blueprints governs our health, wealth and happiness (as well as the movements of the Universe.)

Indeed there are blueprint for all physical manifestations on this planet. Even corn and roses, to name a few, have a divine blueprint to follow. When the corn seed is planted in the soil and it starts to grow it follows the outline of its Divine Blueprint for corn, which exists on the finer energy plane. As it grows it produces a corn stalk and eventually ears of corn. It cannot become anything else. It has no free will.

But each individual soul (be it man or woman) has free will. Once they incarnates into their physical forms they can choose to follow (or not follow) their own divine blueprints. This way they can live a life that achieve health, wealth and love.

But, what many of these souls have done, is not only abandoned the guidance of their divine blueprints, prepared for them by the Creator God, they have chosen to follow the man made blueprints of others.

There is a saying ‘create your own life plan or become part of some one else’s life plan.’ The physical energy playing field (the Earth) is over shadowed by a false, man made matrix of blueprints.

These false blueprints have driven man away from his spirituality, understanding and connection to and with the Creator God. The average incarnating Soul of today is becoming guided by the plans of ma n made false blueprints.

That is why we have so much illness, poverty and loneliness now.

But it is not too late. The Age of Aquarius, with it’s paradigm of the Laws of Quantum Physics, gives us a methodology by which we can find our way back to Divine guidance.

It is only by understanding several things:

One, who we are (individual Souls) who blinked out of the Mind of God, (Quantum Ocean).

Secondly, what are we here for? To evolve and raise our level of consciousness.”

Thirdly, Where are we going? Back to the mind of God.

That is what life is all about. We constantly incarnate,(blink out) of the Quantum Ocean (Mind of God) into the physical plane, to experience a separate reality.

Eventually we shall have experienced all there is to experience and we shall “blink back” into the Mind of God, never to “blink out” any more.

Ragnar Storyteller (AKA Ellis Peterson is a Korean War Vet living with his wife Lory and dog Dixie in the boonies of the Pocono Mountains. He is a retired math professor and electronics engineer. He is the inventor of the simple radionics device called “The Nordic Ond Orgone Generator”. He has written over 200 articles and booklets on runes, radionics, quantum physics, viking history, orgone generators and alternate healing methods. You can see more of his works on his websites:

http://www.olevikingshop.com/

http://www.runes-for-health-wealth-love-now.com/

http://www.Spiritual-Quantum-Physics.builderspot.com

http://www.radionics-quantum-physics.com/

VISIT HIS NEW EBAY STORE

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/ragnarstorytller

Visit his Blogger page. Over 40 separate blogs on: Runes, radionics, Quantum Physics, Alternate Healing Techniques, Hidden Viking History, Astrology and the Occult Sciences.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/01628942695087696423

Visit his LULU Book Store. Softcover and E Books on Runes, Radionics, Quantum Physics, Healing, Astrology and Occult.

http://stores.lulu.com/ellis111

Email for free newsletter:

ragnarstoryteller2@gmail.com

Hey Team -

For this week I just wanted to share a couple highlights with you of areas that we are making an impact:

1. Mom’s Event – many of you may not be aware but this past Saturday we had our first Mom’s and Kid’s event and it was a great success. We had more than 25 moms out (and a number of regulars were away) for a time of connecting and fun and there were a number who are not even a part of CWL. One of the moms rededicated her life to Jesus on the next Sunday! We are excited about continuing to develop this ministry.

2. Television to the French Speaking World – I know some of you are saying “what?!?!” but one of the ministries we support is EVQ Media and Joel Spinks and they are very dedicated to taking the full gospel to the French speaking world. This is so vital – Joel was recently telling me “Brendan, in the French speaking world it is as if the message of faith doesn’t even exist. People still believe that God makes you sick and poor to teach you something”. Anyways, we have supported this ministry for the past year and this year we have committed to double our support so they can begin to film a television show (for which they already have several channels lined up including the french equivalent to God TV). Here is the response from Joel this week when I told him we would be increasing the support:

Hey Brendan!!!!!!!!

YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! YES! I will contact VOX TV TODAY and ask them to reserve the TV studios for us in April/May. WOW! We really appreciate it BIG TIME!!!! I’d also like to advertise your partnership at the end of our program so, would you please email me your church logo and we will have it scroll down with a special thanks to your church along with the other credits of the program!!

WOW! I’ll share the news with everyone that we’ll start producing a TV program. I don’t know how to thank you!

THANK YOU!!!!

3. Theresa Bowen – some of your are not aware but one of our members, Theresa Bowen, recently became pregnant out of wedlock. She has been extremely repentant and is working to move forward. On Sunday she stood in front of the congregation and I shared what had happened but that she had repented, God had forgiven her so we needed to as well. I ‘released’ the church to celebrate with her and support this new child. We prayed over her and the baby and blessed her. I then sensed we need to bless her with an offering because God wanted her to know that he would provide and that she was being courageous in not taking the worlds solution of killing the baby… people streamed forward to sow into her (it was powerful) and then the church gave her a standing ovation.  Theresa shared afterwards that the offering and support were huge to her because of the tremendous pressure her family have been putting on her to have an abortion. Our love totally sabotaged the work of the enemy.

One of our guests e-mailed us this a day or two later: How beautiful was it to experience the service on Sunday night at the Toronto campus with Teresa? WOW. Powerful. I don’t think i have ever seen such a act of love in the history of my church upbringing. Bless you guys!

These are just a few examples of all the “God-stuff” that is happening every week. We love you guys – thanks for being part of the team. We are looking forward to celebrating 9 years together on Sunday.

Pastors Brendan and Sharon

P.S. – several of you have commented that since it is a Sunday morning and a special occasion you feel that you need/want to dress up. If that is what is in your heart – go for it (and no, Germaine Ransome, I’m not secretly planning to move us to dress up on Sunday)

Iran’s Fiendish Device

Der Bilder von Heimatsländeren, 2009.10.31

[Translated by Ülrich von Shmießenklopf]

Israeli bibliosleuth Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that he has discovered Iranian plans to Kill The Jews and Destroy the USA. Nyahoo, as he is affectionately known, appeared before the General Assembly of the United Nations, and revealed, “I found these blueprints in an abandoned Church in Mecklenberg am Rhine. Are you going to deny this!?”, as he waved the depraved plans around, trying to guilt the goyim into going along with the nuclear annihilation of Persia. He then became incoherent, raving something about “Death to Haman! … Vengeance is mine sayeth the Jews! … We gon’ make all you bitches pay!” and so on, and had to be dragged off to a mental hospital.

The evil Iranians have also developed biological Weapons of Mass Destruction, including a virus that only attacks Kabbalists and Crypto-Jews such as Madonna, causing them to age even faster.

“Shalom! Sorry, Shimon’s picking up his cut from The Fed right now.”

Iranian agents have already infiltrated the Knesset. Two Iranian Revolutionary Guards are right now undercover as Shimon Peres’ secretaries.

Hey Family -

As I mentioned in the brief note earlier this week I wanted to touch base with you regarding the H1N1 flu virus and our approach/response as a church to it.

If you have not been following the news over the past week – the virus has been ‘front page’ news particularly due to the tragic death of several young people  (and it has touched our spiritual family as well with the death in the Armorer family… the final results may be that it was not H1N1 but right now we are just not sure).

It has  obviously scared a lot of people – particularly with the headlines about the young boy from the West End who passed away.  One news reports cited 400 kids being brought into Sick Kids in the 24 hours after the news broke. I know on Tuesday that fear was really trying to hit me up as I considered my family (particularly my son) and the church family.

As I prayed into it though, the LORD reminded me of his promises regarding healing/protection and that it was very important how we postured ourselves in this time/season. Those that we serve/lead  are going to be looking to us as to how to respond during this time. They will look at us to see what ‘faith’ looks  (kind of scary huh?). It is very important that we have a faith-filled, wise and balanced approach.

I’m going to talk a bit more about it on Sunday but I wanted to share some thoughts with you regarding how we need to respond.

First off, it is very important that we treat this seriously (we do not want to deal with it lightly or flippantly) but that we do not allow fear to gain a foothold in our us. Fear is really ‘faith in the word of the enemy’ and in the same way that faith connects us to the power of God, fear connects us to the power of the enemy (Job said “that which I have greatly feared has come upon me”). Just as faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word, fear comes by hearing and hearing by a different kind of word – that is why as people read the newspapers and listen to the broadcasts their fear grows and grows and grows.

That is why the LORD really caught me when I started to give place to fear regarding this. I was watching the news, and reading the papers (not that there is anything wrong with this but you have to guard how much you take in) and I was starting to feed fear. It really is amazing how what we listen to and watch really frames our reality.

The LORD actually brought an article from the Toronto Star to my attention that really brought things into a lot of perspective for me. I want to paste it below for you and then afterwards I will share several points of how as a church we need to respond.

H1N1 is Serious but No Need to Panic

People die of the flu. This is no consolation to the family of 13-year-old Evan Frustaglio, the Toronto boy who died Monday, apparently after contracting swine flu. But it is true.

This was so before this latest pandemic. It will almost certainly continue to be so in the future. But it is no reason to go off the deep end.

Keep things in perspective. What is worrisome about this particular strain, sometimes known as Novel Swine-origin Influenza A (H1N1), is its newness. We know, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, that is contains genes from pigs, humans and birds. We know from experience that such a mix gives it the potential to pass back and forth between species and to become particularly virulent.

Which is presumably one reason why the public health establishment is so fixated on swine flu. The other reason may that world governments are using this pandemic as a test run to see how they would respond to a real crisis.

But what we also know is that, so far, this flu strain has been no more serious than any other.

To put it another way: Before the H1N1 scare, the death from flu of a 13-year-old boy wouldn’t have led newscasts across the nation.

Consider the facts.

According to the World Health Organization, fewer than 5,000 people have died around the globe from this variant of swine flu. In any normal year, influenza causes between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths worldwide.

In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter flu season is now over. In spite of dire predictions, only 185 people died from swine flu in Australia – considerably fewer than the roughly 3,000 who succumb to seasonal influenza in that country each year.

And no, it wasn’t because the population was immunized. Australia’s vaccination campaign against swine flu took off last month.

Last week, U.S. President Barack Obama declared swine flu a national emergency after about 1,000 Americans died. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control, roughly 50,000 Americans die every year from seasonal flu – without any politician paying much attention.

What does seem to be true, according to early statistics, is that this particular strain is harder on people in the prime of their lives. Common flu strains tend to hit the very young and very old.

In that sense, the real novelty of this novel H1N1 strain may be that it is killing the wrong people.

For those youngish and middle-aged people who tend to dominate both politics and the media, this is understandably worrying.

What’s more unnerving, however, is the level of hype surrounding this flu virus, hype that at times comes dangerously close to hysteria.

The public health dictum suggesting that people wash their hands to prevent the virus’ spread has transformed itself, in some areas (like the Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa) into a near-ban on shaking hands.

Demand for hand sanitizers has exploded, as individuals and institutions search for ways to make physical contact safe.

Yet experts are divided over handwashing. A 2007 study done for the Public Health Agency of Canada and chaired by Toronto microbiologist Donald Low concluded that the practice does little to prevent flu transmission, largely because this particular virus is airborne.

Polls show that the public is taking a casual attitude toward swine flu. This alarms those beating the H1N1 drum. But given the actual evidence, maybe the public is onto something.

[Thomas Walkom's column appears Wednesday and Saturday]

I don’t know about you, but for me this article cleared out a lot of fear and brought a level approach to this. Yes, this flu is serious and not to be taken lightly, but our response needs to be wisdom and prayer – not fear and panic. I’m considering reading it at service on Sunday.

Some thoughts on our response to this:

1. Either we believe the word of God or we don’t – H1N1 is a name that must bow it’s knee to the name of Jesus. We need to stand on that!
2. We need to take an aggressive stance where we do not allow it in CWL but also through prayer and declaration begin to intercede for our city and see it’s effects minimalized here (we can do that!)
3. I want to encourage you to daily pray Psalm 91 and other scriptures over yourself, your family and over our church. We are doing it in the office team prayer. I’m doing it with Pastor Sharon and over Micah.
4. While taking a strong stance of faith/prayer we also need to walk with wisdom (if we take some natural precautions it does not mean we do not have faith)
5. We need to understand and observe the recommendations made to help stop the spread of this (washing hands – even though there is some debate over that – washing hands is still a good thing, coughing into your sleeve, if you get some symptoms go and get checked out).
6. We need to make sure that people understand that it is not doubt to get the vaccination – sometimes when we encourage faith people pick up that they should just believe and not do anything else. Really, it is not our place to tell people what to do regarding the vaccination. That is there choice and we need to respect that.
7. We also need to encourage people that if they start getting symptoms that they go to the doctor and get checked out – there is nothing wrong with finding out exactly what we are believing for.I think this is particularly important where children are involved. There is nothing wrong with believing for healing and going to the doctor at the same time.
8. If you do have symptoms (and I will mention this on Sunday) then it is best that you let your leader know but go and get checked out and do not attend service or small group gatherings until you are sure. Again, for me this is not doubt but it is just recognizing that my faith may be strong for healing but someone elses may not yet and I will want to observe natural wisdom until my healing is fully manifested – make sense? (please let me know if this doesn’t make sense – my heart is not doubt at all in this but simply having a solid policy)

Above all else guys – we have authority in the name of Jesus so daily in unity let’s speak the word over this entire situation and walk through it in victory! Amen?

Hey Family -

For this weeks ‘Blueprints’ I wanted to review the word the LORD released through Faytene at Toronto Campus on Sunday. The scriptures teach us that we need to “wage war with the prophetic words spoken over us” (1 Timothy 1:18) and this Word was definitely from God. It both confirmed a lot of what we have been pressing into and gave us some targets to continue to press towards!

Feel free to post your comments/thoughts at the end!

First of all, I thank you God for this family and Lord I’ve heard Brendan say that so many times, “speaking to the family” I consider this place family, through my relationship with Brendan and Sharon family

I feel like the LORD is saying “multiplication!” and I just see multiplication everywhere, everywhere, everywhere but what I’m seeing actually in the midst is I’m having a vision in the midst and each one of you what I’m seeing is I’m seeing trees with branches that are planted by the streams of living water and God says that He is going to bring the multiplication through you. What I’m seeing in this vision is trees with branches that are being strengthened as they are planted by the streams of living waters but the fruit is going to come forth through the branches of this house.

And the LORD says that I have set you in this house because I have called you to ‘outside the box’ mandates and to ‘outside the box’ initiatives and I’ve set you in a house that understands reformation and I’ve set you in a house that understands discipleship and understands the importance of accountability and rootedness and holiness and also I’ve set you in a house that understands the importance of going out and influencing the world and influencing society. And I feel like God is saying that his endorsement is upon this house and there is going to be an increase of favor that is going to come upon  you in the days to come and I hear the LORD saying as you have been faithful with little that he will give you more and you have been faithful with little in the past and God says as you are faithful to cultivate and weed out the things that don’t glorify me and the things that grieve my heart and you are faithful to cultivate the things that bring me pleasure and glorify me the Lord says watch what I will do!

The LORD says that as you are faithful with the little things, as you are faithful to tend to the little things like relationship, honor and sowing and the principles of the Kingdom of God he says watch what I will do with the big things as you are faithful with the little things, watch what I will do with the big things for am I not the God of Moses, am I not the God who told a weak man, to raise a weak stick and cause an entire sea to be parted.

And the LORD says again, as you are faithful with the little things and I feel like it is the little things like your time with the LORD, integrity and I really feel this as well: faithful with the tithe, I feel this is a key thing and I’m not saying this to try to get Brendan big offerings or anything but this is a principle in the Word and as you are faithful to apply the principles of the word of God I hear the booming voice of God saying “watch what I will do with the big things”

Father, I thank you for the increase of favor.

I also hear God saying that I’m about  to bring you into and I’ve already brought you, but I’m about to bring you into a greater zone of signs and wonders and even the prophetic but specifically signs and wonders and I’m going to cause there to be a greater demonstration of my glory. I’m going to cause there to be a greater demonstration of notable signs and wonders and miracles and the LORD says as you lay hold of me, even as the woman with the issue of blood laid hold of the hem of my garment, as you lay hold of me I’m going to cause there to be even more testimonies that will come out of this house of simple miracles and I see the LORD saying that there will be a testimony and God is going to use this to impact your families and God is going to use this to impact your spheres of influence.

And I feel that God is saying that as the miracles begin to come through this house that this is one of things that He is going to use to begin to multiply and cause people to be drawn. The LORD says that revival is your inheritance the spirit of revival is in this house and is your inheritance. Family is your inheritance! This is a place that God has put that DNA in your spirit and I feel that there is this awesome tandem that you walk in, and it is not even just a tandem but there are multiple things of a tenacity for the things of the spirit and an adventurous spirit but also God has been cultivating something in the last 17 months to cause this to be a place of safety, a safe haven where those saplings can grow and can begin to grow and branch out.

For some of you, I just want to say this that “you’ve found your home – you have found your place” Some of you there has been this question of where do I fit in, where do I belong? And until some of the issues of our heart are fully dealt with and until the issues of security and knowing who we are in Jesus are fully dealt with there will always be that little sense of insecurity even when we are where we are supposed to be. But there is some of you that I feel that you have felt a little bit lost and felt a little bit, this is a specific word for a few people that it is going to hit, for some of you have been wondering where you fit in the LORD says this is your home and even if you feel a little bit out of place that is because I’m still working in my love into you and that this is a safe place.

Father I thank you for Brendan and Sharon and I see over you finances and I just believe that you are coming into a greater realm with this. I believe that you have been good stewards and I see in the spirit that you have been good stewards and you have been storing up for the things that God has put in your heart and God is showing you and I believe that as you continue to sow and continue to work the principles and continue to be faithful particularly in the area of finances, the LORD says watch what I’m going to do for there is provision in the seed for a great harvest. I’m going to say that again… the LORD is saying there is provision in the seed for a great harvest. As you are faithful to plant the seed God is going to cause there to be a great harvest to allow you to have the resources to do what God has called you to do.

Father we esteem this house in the spirit right now.

God I ask, I felt this sense when I walked in that there is a reward. You will get a reward because of what you have been a part of. You get a reward because of what you have sacrificed and because you have come and I am in no way in an elitist spirit to say the Cry is the only thing but you have sacrificed and you’ve stood with something beyond your own borders and I believe there is an authority tonight to release something in the spirit realm which will be your reward. Because the Bible says if you receive a prophet in the name of a prophet you will receive a prophets reward, and if you receive a righteous man in the name of a righteous man you will receive a righteous mans reward. And one of the things that we have contended for in the Cry and with My Canada is for righteousness. And I feel that God is saying that as you have received a movement of righteousness as you have received what this carries you will now receive your reward.

And so Father I just loose this right now in the spirit realm, God I believe there is a reward for this house. Every prayer that has been prayed by every CWL member at the Cry’s, every seed that has been sown whether individually or as a church. LORD, every word of encouragement, every word of blessing that they have deposited in my account  and in our account in the Cry’s and My Canada as a nation I now in the authority of the word of God and your principles that say if you receive it you will receive the reward I now loose the reward and the dividends of it – I just saw the Lord just wrote, visually in the heavenlies – dividends – that there is dividends coming. Father I lose the dividends I lose the dividends in the name of Jesus

And one of the dividends, this is not a financial thing but this is a breakthrough thing – one of the dividends God is going to break off the spirit of barrenness off of some of even the girls, there is even some girls in this room right now that the enemy would try to put a spirit of barrenness on you and I just say ‘we break it now in the name of Jesus” and this house will be fruitful, this house will multiply and this house will be a house of conception comes to fruition IN THE NAME OF JESUS! In the name of Jeshua…

Father I thank you that you have written your promises over this house, that your promises are yes and amen. And I just feel that the LORD, this is a ‘selah’ moment, where He just is stopping, pausing , giving us a kiss on the forehead from heaven and saying “you guys are awesome, keep going,” and LORD we say back to you, we will keep going – for the sake of our king, for the sake of this nation that has a destiny in your heart, and the sake of the multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision.

We bless you Jesus… Do what you want to do God… Amen.

One of the best ways to increase the living area of a home is by adding space to the structure. This can be accomplished by going up a story or out the side of the home onto the property. One of the easiest ways to add interior space to a home is to look at an existing structure like a deck. Most decks already have seasoned foundations that may include concrete pilings. By building on top of a platform that has some height many steps are saved and there is room underneath to run electrical and plumbing. The underneath area can also be insulated and sealed off from the elements. One of the most expensive ways to add space is to add another story. In reality this requires two separate operations: demolition and construction. This is because the roof has to be taken off before the new addition can be built. The most popular ways to add space is to extend the home outward on the property. This addition can be out the front, back or sides of the home depending on the covenants and building codes for the area. In reality it is like building a new, small home with a foundation. When completed the little house will be joined with the main structure and either a wall portion will be taken out or a doorway put in as an access way. One of the cheapest ways to gain space is to renovate the garage. Some people do not have need for one so this might not be an issue. The space gained is around 400 square feet and this is area with the walls and ceiling already insulated, wired and, some cases, plumbed. The double doors can be sealed up on the inside or a fake exterior put on the outside for continuity. In addition the smooth floor can be leveled and heated with in-floor radiant wiring or tubing. Home additions are a great way to have a bigger home and increase your own personal home satisfaction without having to move.

Hey Team -

One of the things that I have been meditating on recently is the ‘key ingredients’ or ‘the basics’ of what is working at Church Without Limits. I remember a meet I had a year or two ago with an older minister and he was really encouraging me to recall the seasons where things were really ‘cooking’ in the church, the seasons where we were seeing a lot of things happening and to identify our main focuses during those times. As we identified these focuses it would help teach us keys to sustain what God is doing rather than stumbling into, and then out of it without the slightest understanding of what is really going on (I was laughing at myself a bit this morning – in the way that sometimes in the spirit I’m like the kid at the party who is blindfolded and swinging at the pinata… I swing as hard as a I can and every once in a while hit something. I’m asking the Holy Spirit to help me take the blindfold off so I can see what I’m hitting and hit it hard every time).

His counsel has always stuck with me, and then Joel and I were conversing about some things several weeks ago that brought it back to the surface. The question that I’ve really been chewing on is this: what are the handful of things that we just need to stay focused on no matter what to keep pressing forward? What are the areas that have really fueled what God is doing?

You see the danger is always this – as we grow and experience the increased blessing of the LORD it is very easy to start drifting away from the very posture that caused us to experience the growth/increase in the first place. For a season we live off the harvest of the good seeds that were sown when we were postured correctly, but sooner or later it begins to dry up and because we didn’t have a clear understanding of what the key focus points were we don’t understand what happened – we just know that stuff isn’t happening anymore (or even worse – we make up bad theology to explain why God doesn’t want it to happen).

Been there, done this – absolutely refusing (by the grace of God) to do it again .

Seriously, I can definitely see this pattern in me as a leader and in our church. By the third year we were really into some stuff and if you look back there were some clear distinctives of what we focused on. With the ’success’ we experienced though, we began to drift from some of these things and things really started to dry up. Praise God though, as we are pressing into what God is doing now – without realizing it in many ways we have recaptured these distinctives.

Now don’t get me wrong – we didn’t totally lose them but I think we would all agree that we were not pressing into them the way we needed to, nor seeing them imparted to the newer generations of CWL members the way they needed to be. I’m also not suggesting that we simply look to the past rather than look forward for what God has – what I am saying is that God has ordained a “DNA” for Church Without Limits. It will grow and mature and even shift a little but there is a still the core things that we have been called to focus on. The anointing/grace for CWL works best when CWL is being CWL. We have to be who God has called us to be.

All that to say (pretty good  build up huh?) I’ve been praying and meditating into this: “God what are the four or five ingredients that have been there in abundance when we have been pushing forward into what you have”.  I believe that as we identify them, then no matter what we can make sure that we keep pushing into them.

As I’ve prayed into this these are five areas that I believe are key:

1. Passion for God – when we are ‘on our game’ there is a huge passion for God. It manifests in praise and worship, our response to the Word, our times of seeking God, and really in the way we approach everything. We used to have 5+ hour services for a reason (and it wasn’t cool lights and graphics) – it was because of the passion for God. Now we have moved into a new season where God isn’t asking us to do 5 hour services (at this time anyways) but that shouldn’t have to change the passion.
2. Prayer – when we are ‘on our game’ we are praying. When we are not we’re not. When we started CWL my mom and I used to pray for 2 hours a day.  In seasons where we were seeing a lot of good stuff there was always heart-felt prayer going on. Even in this current season we are praying every day at the office for 1/2 hour, there is prayer for one hour before pre-service prayer at Durham Campus. There is serious prayer in every G12 Meeting. There is prayer at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. People have been starting their own prayer meetings. Don’t get me wrong – we have not in any way perfected this area yet and we are currently strategizing regarding how we can take it to the next level but the bottom line is that prayer is a vital ingredient.
3. Outreach – Third, when we are ‘on’ there is a real strong push to reach people for Jesus. When things begin to stagnate I guarantee there is not a lot of real outreach happening throughout the week. When we are pouring out there is a need for God to pour more in. When we are not, there is not. I’m so excited about the reports of people sharing their faith, reaching out to others and ministering the power of God to others (which by the way is the new realm I believe we are going to push into in the next season – outreach through demonstrating the power and glory of God). Once again, I don’t pretend we have arrived – there is a long way to go but we are on the right track. The scriptures are very clear that the power of God is released when people are living out the Great Commission (in the spirit of the Great Commandment).
4. Sanctification – this simply means to be ’set apart to God’. When we are ‘on our game’ there is a real passion and focus on holiness and being set apart to God. This manifests itself in the things we watch, listen to, participate in, and the places we go. I was impacted on Sunday by the testimony that Chris Barrow shared regarding how after Encounter he had deleted all the secular music on his laptop. No one told him to do it – he wanted more of God and felt the Holy Spirit tell him to do that. That’s radical. That’s us.
5. Family – I think this has always been something with us from the start – but it is the sense of family that we have. Pastor Sharon’s cousins and our good friends the Estradas (remember, Kenneth preached) commented on that when they were here – “we love the sense of family, and the way you cultivate the attitude that you are a family”. I remember someone else recently commented while visiting that they felt a true family atmosphere. This is so key: God wants to bring in many, many spiritual babies but he brings babies into families, not organizations or weekly meetings. We need to stay focused on this as we continue to grow.

So there you go. I don’t know if this is the final list but it is what I’ve come to so far. Really, if  you applied these distinctives in a vision/business sense they could be called our ‘core values’ – what do you think? I would be very interested to hear your thoughts/input on the matter. Is there a key ingredient that maybe I’ve missed or an insight that the LORD is showing/has shown you?

Love you guys – it is great to serve God with you.

Pastors Brendan (+ Sharon)

Graeme and I received the first drawings of the house from our architect on Tuesday.  There are some aspects we are very pleased with, others we’re not so keen on, a few where we are reserving judgement for a few days, and a couple aspects we can’t see ourselves living with.

It’s all very exciting.

Next step is to make an appointment with Nicole to talk everything over.  Yay!

This reminds me of our last house.

We purchased a brand new house and the basement was partially finished with a roughed in bathroom.  Unfortunately, the electrical panel was placed in the corner right next to the shower and toilet plumbing.  Seriously.  I know why it was put there … convenience for the installer because that corner of the house was closest to the SaskPower box outside.

The lesson to be learned from this is to keep a close eye on everything when you are having a house built.  We didn’t because we didn’t know any better.

I wonder if there are any more lessons to be learned from Fail Blog?

Hey Team -

I have done a ‘flip-flop’ and am back to posting things on here on the Servant-Leader E-Binder.

This week I wanted to take some time to encourage us to continue to press forward in what God is doing in us as a church. There are so many things happening – it is really exciting.

For example, last week at Durham Campus we had a young man who gave his life to Jesus. He came out to hear his close friend’s testimony from Encounter and shared that the minute he walked in the door that he started to cry. He kept fighting the tears all service long and at the end made a commitment.

Here is an e-mail that we received from someone who attended Toronto Campus:

Hey Pastor Brendan, Sharon and the leadership team of CWL,

I just wanted to drop you a quick line of encouragement to let you know how much my friend and I enjoyed your church gathering last night at the Toronto campus. Through an odd series of events I read Germaine’s facebook status last week that said, “Wrecked at service last night….the presence of God was so thick” and something in me was like “I gotta go” but didn’t know why. I brought my friend who lives in T.O. but was in Burlington at the time and the two of us jumped in the VW and headed to the meeting. (Long drive yes, worth it? TOTALLY) lol

The worship was intimate, and your leader sang with authority, cutting through the atmosphere and brining the church family higher. The flow of the Holy Spirit was ministering deep into my heart for sure and others as well (God’s love mmmm). Like 12 times throughout the night i kept saying to my friend “What a lively church.” lol It was so beautiful to see that everyone was family, and everyone was so nice. I think my face hurts from smiling so much. The other beautiful thing is that you all flowed in unity, and you can tell that CWL is committed to raising up, training and discipling leaders in the ways of the kingdom. Its so precious, and it was awesome to hear the testimonies. Open, honest communication. Especially from the little guy, who hated his dad and then learned about forgiveness on the encounter weekend. HOW PRECIOUS?!?!?!

Ok my last point, my friend who i brought was hurting, and everything that came out in the service was EXACTLY what she needed to hear from her heavenly father.  Praise God, another life impacted by the Lord!

It was refreshing, encouraging and inspiring to know that young people (even if you are older than 27 years old) are chasing after God and colouring their world with hope. I just bless what you guys are doing, and the vision that he has given you.

I don’t know about you but I love hearing stories/getting notes like that – it is just fuel for the fire! They key in all this to me, is that we keep pressing in for the glory of God. Yes, we need to have our plans, structure, preparation etc. but the glory is what causes a guy to start crying the minute he walks in the building, the glory is what inspires people to hop in a car from Burlington and come to service. Our hard work can’t make that happen – it is His presence and glory.

Right now we are at the ‘highest point’ we have ever been at as a church family and I believe that there is so much more coming. In prayer and discussion with Pastor Sharon we are becoming convinced that the heart of what we are supposed to be walking in is that CWL will manifest the power and the glory of God. John the Baptist did that and he saw perhaps 500,000 + people come to hear him over a 6 month period. The Early Church did that and they impacted thousands and thousands. This is what God is calling us into like never before!  Manifesting the presence and glory of God is not optional for us to do what God has called us to. It is absolutely vital! Let’s go for it together!

In light of all this, I also want to mention that the LORD has really spoken to me about a ministry that we are supposed to be drawing from more as a church – Bethel Church and Pastor Bill Johnson. They are one of the most influential churches in North America right now when it comes to signs, wonders and healings. One example is that they are contending to see their city Redding, CA be a cancer free zone (how crazy is that !). Since they have started doing that over the past several years one of the wings in the local cancer ward has shut down because of lack of patients! I have followed and listened to Pastor Bill for several years now and am very impressed by the fact that he ‘walks the walk’ of signs and wonders, but also has a strong word foundation and teaches very simply. The LORD has shown me that he is to be one of the main guys that I draw/learn from and so I want to encourage you as a leadership to begin to do the same. Bethel is walking in a dimension that we want/need to be walking in so we are going to begin to ‘follow them as they follow Christ’ in a great dimension (this is not to take away from other streams we are drawing from but simply to enrich us with more).

• You can find the church website here.
• You can find P. Bill’s website here.
• One of the main resources I draw from is the free weekly podcast which you can find here.

I want to be clear: I’m not saying you have to start listening to them every week or something. I just want to give you a heads up and the opportunity. God has called us to run together in all this. Please feel free to continue to draw from our ’streams’ as well as God leads you.

Pastor Sharon and I love you and are honored to serve God with you. I’m really becoming convinced that everything we have walked through over the past years has been preparing us for what is about to come!

E ae galera,

por hoje vou deixar mais uma ferramenta pra ser usada em nossos trabalhos…

Dessa vez, são blueprints, (Que são as imagens para serem usadas como base para as nossas modelagens), de carros nacionais

Link: 4Shared

VLW, espero que seja útil pra todos.

Até a próxima.

The state has already set a well laid project to bring Sikkim to the world tourism map. According to the blueprints prepared by the Sikkim Tourism board, the year 2010 will be a landmark year in the state’s tourism history. The objective of 2010 promotion is to reinforce the image of Sikkim as one of the best Tourist destination in the entire country. The strategy include promoting village tourism in Sikkim, host tourism related activities throughout 2010 etc. The Tourism board haven’t finalized with the slogan for s big leap. Once they finalize the slogan will be used as a brand name for Sikkim tourism. Today the state has all the potential to bloom in this field; it has attractive destinations, accessibility, accommodation facilities etc. The only thing missing was the push from the Government’s side and now the circle is complete.

The state has a long way to go, and like the ancient Chinese proverb says “The journey of a thousand miles, starts but with a single step” we can wish all the best for all the efforts.

In the great chamber, I looked upon my invention with reverence and awe.

“Time to put your visions to the test…”

I reached out and took Vader’s hand as he stepped forward.

“Not without me.”

“Aria,” Vader said, turning, “You could be killed…”

“And so could you. We do this together. I haven’t come this far only to lose you now.”

After a long pause, Vader nodded. “Alright. So be it.”

We approached my creation hand in hand until we were both comfortably inside.

I gave a nod to Vader as he pressed the switch and the large creation engulfed us.

“Aria, this could kill you…”

“It won’t…”

“How do you know? How can you be so certain?”

“I’ve seen visions.” I replied, “Trust me.”

Vader gave a heavy sigh. “Alright.” he replied, as he flipped the secondary control switch.

I heard the hiss of pressurized air. This plan would work, after all. The rich, oxygenated air already made me start to feel slightly lightheaded. Vader pulled me into his grasp as the chamber filled.

“My lord, the sensors show that the climate has stabilized. Are you ready?”

“I shall require your assistance.” Vader returned, hesitant as he took my hand.

“Aria…you don’t want to see what I’ve become.”

“Vader, trust me. You must trust in me. I’d never have gone through such pains to make this complete if I felt otherwise!”

“If that is what you truly wish…you may assist me.”

The mask was divided into three main pieces, and was difficult to remove. Vader himself had trouble explaining the arduous proceedure. Our labors proved fruitful, moments later as I successfully unlatched the back portion of Vader’s helmet, leaving him with only the faceplate.

Stowing the portion of the armored helmet aside, I reached to aid Vader with the remaining portions as his hand went out to stop me.

“Don’t…” he said, taking my hand.

I lowered my gaze to the floor. 

“What would you have me do, my lord?”

“Aria, you don’t understand. You’ll faint at the very least, if nothing worse.”

I said nothing, merely gazed at the armored figure I had admired for so long, until at last he removed his mask.

I now saw Vader, the man, for the very first time. I understood why he wished to hide himself from me…I wrestled with my own emotions, fighting not to shudder at his fearful visage.

Vader’s face was the reflection of all his suffering…so withered, so scarred, it betrayed him and made him appear monsterous.

Only the piercing blue eyes attested to the fact that he was anything more.

And yet, buried beneath that menacing exterior, I found something different. I yielded to his blue eyes, those eyes that I had often imagined, but had never seen. His face took on a different character altogether.

There, at last, was Vader.

Trembling, I extended a hand and placed it on his cheek, as Vader quickly drew me into his embrace. Smiling, I closed my eyes and surrendered to the moment, as our lips met for the very first time.