THE JERUSALEM POST
 
Business report: Business this week has been brisk in the market district, a direct result of the hordes of pilgrims in town for the Passover Feast. This increase of business is sure to please the tax collectors.
Other news: Yesterday on Golgotha (execution hill) three more criminals were crucified, bringing the total executions this month to an all-time high. Two local men accused of robbery along with a religious zealot from Nazareth, a small village in Galilee, were hanged. We have learned that the zealot, known only as Jesus, was accused of sedition against Rome, an offence carrying the death penalty. We are told that the Roman courts found the charges to be invalid and Governor Pilate offered to release the Nazarene to the Jews. Witnesses reported that an unusually large and rowdy crowd had gathered in the courtyard to witness the trial. The overwhelming response of the people was negative and many insults were hurled towards the man. This, along with intense pressure from the religious leaders persuaded the governor to go forward with the execution. Throughout his entire trial, the man from Nazareth remained silent. Many have begun to question if the cruel and unusually brutal treatment of the peaceful Nazarene who was led away in chains and shackles and brutally beaten, almost to the point of death, was necessary.
Weather report: A strange phenomenon occurred yesterday afternoon. The skies became extremely dark around noon as violent weather descended upon the area without warning. Many said it became as dark as midnight. This darkness lasted for about three hours and caused quite a stir in the market district and on the roads within the walls. There was no explanation offered by the prognosticators.
Also, yesterday afternoon the city was shaken by what appears to be an earthquake unlike any ever reported before. Although only minor damage was reported around the city, the quake is said to have done extensive damage inside the temple. Many have begun to wonder if all these events be connected in some way
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It is time to fly! I thought you might enjoy this inspiring word from Dr. Lance Wallnau.
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TRANSFORMATION requires TRANSITION through a stage where all that is familiar is dissolved or changed. The caterpillar becomes a butterfly by dissolving into a soupy formless gel. In this state, “imaginal cells” start communicating with each other. How they find each other is by sending and receiving communication in proximity to one another.

At first, the caterpillar’s immune system perceives these new cells as enemies, and attacks them, much as new ideas in science, medicine, politics, and social behavior are viciously denounced by the powers now considered mainstream. But the imaginal cells are not deterred. They continue to appear, in even greater numbers, recognizing each other, bonding together, until the new cells are numerous enough to organize into clumps. When enough cells have formed to make structures along the new organizational lines, the caterpillar’s immune system is overwhelmed. The caterpillar body then becomes a nutritious soup for the growth of the butterfly.

As we find each other and share the stories about the image we are carrying inside us, something starts to happen. We start connecting and come together to create a new reality – the butterfly!
The new entity feeds off the old! The Church does not start independent of the previous stage. The Christians came out of the Jewish roots. Wesley out of the Anglicans and Luther out of the Catholic church. The caterpillar spins a pupa that hardens into a chrysalis or shell. The structure protects the process till the process breaks out. 

What comes as the next advance of the Kingdom will be shaped within the hard outer structure of the existing move of God and church…..the current “chrysalis.”
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There must be the right number and quality of people to make the change happen. This explains all you have been through, up till now. This is your finest hour. Keep sharing the vision of what you see. Eventually you will link with others who are seeing the same thing…the ‘imaginal’ cells that join with you to form something that flies instead of crawls.

"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times." Mark 4:3-8
 
In this parable Jesus is drawing an analogy between farming (sowing and cultivating the land) and sharing the gospel (sowing and cultivating hearts). In either case, when we sow (or plant) we don't always get the same results. People differ as much as soils so it is easy to become discouraged when we don't see positive results after sharing our faith with others. We must never forget that our job is to be faithful and sow the good seed we have been given (the Word) and the rest is up to God. Just as the farmer plants his crop and trusts that the rain will come, we must trust in the Lord to bring in the crop. The Apostle Paul recognized this principal when he said, "I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow." (1Cor 3:6). You may never live to see the bountiful harvest that comes from your labor but know that you are in great company-neither did Paul. So, just as the diligent farmer endures, continue to share the Word that you have received and pray to the Father for the increase. Your efforts will not go unrewarded if you endure.
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 And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. Genesis 3:17,18
 
As most of you know, the Dodson family recently spent a week in the Smoky Mountains. It was a wonderful trip and a much needed break, but upon returning I noticed how the weeds had invaded our flower beds seemingly overnight. This really bothered me, so after work the next day I went to work immediately pulling weeds. We all know the result of not dealing with the weeds in our yard, our garden, or our pasture. If left alone, weeds will take over and will choke out the good plants by competing for the water, nutrients, and light. Weeds dramatically reduce the yield in crops and take up potential grazing space on ranch lands. Holy Spirit began to show me that these weeds were more than just a nuisance in my yard; they were a spiritual thing and had to be dealt with in my life. Spiritual weeds come in many different varieties and have many different looks. Some are very obvious but others are more subtle and may even resemble something good. In all cases, spiritual weeds will always compete for our time, treasure & talents. They will limit our ability to produce good fruit and they will prevent us from fulfilling the destiny God has for us. Almost anything can become a weed if it is not dealt with so ask God what the weeds are in your life. Ask Him to reveal that thing, or things, that are stunting your spiritual growth. Ask Him to reveal that thing, or things, that are keeping you from producing good fruit and being a good witness for Him. If you will be diligent in this task you will see a significant increase in your spiritual fruit yield.                                                                  Pastor Frank Dodson