Off to Kansas City

As I am packing my belongings in a trunk, I decided to stop for a moment and consider the unfolding events surrounding my transition into another season in my life.  The past eight months have been many things, but certainly not ordinary, boring, or slow.   I attended the One Thing Internship at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOP-KC) January to June of 2010.   After that I came home for 6 days or so, and shipped off to Campina Grande Brazil.  I spent a bit less than two weeks there, fell in love with the land, but even more I fell in love with the people who make the land what it is.  I came back to the U.S.A. and finished summer school so that I can start as a second year student at IHOPU (International House of Prayer University) in the fall.  I leave in two days.  I can hardly believe how much has happened in the past eight months, I can’t wait to see what happens in five years!

            I have gotten the privilege to see, hear, experience, and be a part of things that I could never have imagined, and some of it, if I told you, you probably wouldn’t believe.  I am so thankful for all of the people who are such a blessing to me.  I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends, family, all of who are surrounding me and supporting me on my next adventure. 

            Here is what the next few years looks like (right now—until further notice from the Lord) for me.  I am a second year student at the International House of Prayer University in Kansas City, and I will be in the Forerunner School of Ministry there for the next three years.  I do not really have a clear vision for what my life will look like after that.  There are several reasons for this.  The first is that this is all the Lord has set up for me thus far.  I am very confident that He has a plan, He always does, but I don’t think He ever gives us more than we can handle.  There is plenty on my plate right now; I don’t need to be thinking about what comes after, because that is just temptation to worry.  A lot of people ask me what ‘degree’ I will get, or what I will do with all of this stuff I am doing, and the real not fun answer is: I don’t know yet.  This is hard for a lot of folks, because as Americans we love to try to plan everything out and set everything up perfectly, because we think our security is in our planning and in our pocketbooks.  My response is that He has gotten me this far, how much more faithful is He to complete the good work that He has started?  I speak about this only because it is a common (important and accurate) concern.  I am very thankful that people care enough about me to ask the hard questions.  I think that the reality is that God doesn’t always tell us the whole plan, because He knows that A.  We can’t actually handle all of that information, B.  He wants to build trust in Him, C.  He wants us to keep coming back to Him.  He wants us to be totally dependant on Him, not coming to Him once in ten years to figure everything out and say “Thanks! See ya later!”  This is very much an exercise in trust for me as well as in planning, and making decisions.  I would like to share a bit of my heart with you about what I want to do while at IHOP and after I am done. 

            I don’t think I am called to be an intercessory missionary in the House of Prayer (not just IHOP) as my first ministry calling.  I definitely think that everyone needs to pray, a lot, but I am not specifically gifted in intercession as some people are.  The Lord has put a burden on my heart for people though.  Specifically my generation and up and coming generations, and even more specifically Boulder.  I think that I am called to have a part in the coming revival, and I think part of that involves Boulder.  I have such a heart for these people, and think that the Lord has big plans for this town, state, region etc.  I don’t know all of what it looks like yet, but I know I will be called back to Boulder for a season.  I have been given some divine relationships with like hearted folks in this area, and am confident that the Lord will be strengthening those and increasing the number of them in the days to come.  Things are starting to move and shake, and people are being raised up, strongholds are being torn down, exciting times are ahead.  God has a big bull’s eye on Boulder, and His plans will not be thwarted.  God’s people are being awakened to His love and His plan, and are refusing to compromise and will not go back to the mediocrity they have come from.  There is so much available, God has so much planned for our Nation, State, and little Town, but if we are not awake, prepared and most importantly HUNGRY, we will miss out.  I heard once that the currency of heaven is ‘hunger.’  This may not be literally the case, but I think that it is a very important principle in the Kingdom.  If God’s people are hungry, and crying out for more, more will be given.  If we are satisfied with what we have, and become comfortable with the place we are at, we will get to stay there.  God dignifies us so much that it is nearly scandalous.  He takes our desires into account, and if we desire Him, and all of Him, and will not settle for anything less, if we dare to contend for breakthrough and refuse to settle, we will be given more than we can ever imagine. 

            We have sat too long in the comfortable numbness we are used to in America and the West.  We all want to see our surroundings changed, our neighbors changed, our families changed, our communities changed…all the way up to our world being transformed by the Love of God.  We all want this, sure, who doesn’t?  But what are we doing about it?  Are we going to be willing to cast down our idols, weep in sack cloth and ashes, repent for our wickedness and turn, REALLY TURN to God?  I may be a radical, legalistic, zealous young fool, but it doesn’t look to me like “Sunday Morning Christianity” is working.  If the only time we are getting filled is Sunday morning, there is probably a lot more wrong than we are willing to deal with.  The word ‘church’ comes from the Greek word Ecclesia which means gathering.  The church of Christ is the ‘gathering’ of Jesus.  When did it become more about the building that the Church meets in than about the Man they are gathering to worship?  Change is coming in America.  And its not political reform, social reform, healthcare reform, it is going to be in the hearts and minds of the Body of Christ.  If we are in the same prison as the people we are trying to set free, not a lot is going to get done.  How can we free people who we share chains with?  Before we can begin to set the captives free we must be free ourselves.  God is moving in our homes, in our churches, in our schools, in our cities, states, in our nation, and the nations of the earth.  If we want to be part of it, we need to be ready, willing, and hungry.  Giving God the ‘time of the day’ on Sunday morning for 5 minutes in our prayer time is not enough.  To me, that does not look like wholehearted devotion to Jesus.  Jesus is worthy of everything in your life, everyday, not just once a week.  The days where that ‘worked’ are coming to an end.  The days where it seemed like we could get away with a little ‘compromise’ are over.  The line is being drawn, and has been drawn.  Our God is the Bridegroom God, and He will not share us with anyone.  Would He be a good Bridegroom if He told us we would be His favorite of all of His brides?  How would that look with your partner, if they told you that you were the #1 of all of the partners?  That doesn’t look like love to me.  Jesus is calling us ALL to wholehearted obedience, because He is worth it.  Period.  If our GOD is not worthy of all of us, and we are not willing to give Him everything, I think it is time we seriously re-assessed our worldview.   Jesus is coming soon, and I sure want to be hastening and eagerly awaiting His coming, not dreading it. 

            I am not saying this to condemn you.  I am not even saying that you are part of these things I listed above, in fact, if you are reading this, it is more than likely that you are one of the people provoking me to go deeper in the Lord and calling me to be more radically in love with Jesus.  I write to you about it, because I am sure you are seeing the same disease, feel the same way, and are battling it too.  The reason I throw in this heavy stuff, is because we need come together, in unity, in the Man Jesus and lock arms and run into His arms together.  If we, as the Body of Christ are not united, how can we expect to see the lost world united?  Transformation has to start from within.  We cannot help transform someone else if we are not transformed ourselves. 

I am a bit of a long winded fellow, and I am trying to work on that, so I apologize.  I am very thankful that you are part of my life, and am so blessed by the way you care for me and have come around me and support me so well.  My heart is to be a big family, and that is how I see this thing, we are all in this life together, and we need to live like a family and care for and love one another.  I would be so blessed if you joined me in daily prayer.  Please pray:

-That Jesus’ name would be exalted to the highest place in every area of Ian Weiner’s life, with loving obedience toward loving God with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength.

-That Ian would know the love that God loves him with, and that he would love others with that same love. 

-That the Lord’s will would be done on earth as it is in heaven, as well as in Ian’s life.

- That the fruits and gifts of the Spirit would grow to their fullness in Ian.

-That the Holy Spirit would release wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of God in Ian’s like unto him sharing his revelation with others. 

-That the Lord would provide everything needed for Ian to fulfill his ministry calling at IHOPU as well as in Boulder and the ends of the earth. 

           

Please feel free to email me with any questions, comments, PRAYER REQUESTS, concerns etc at iplaysixstrings@gmail.com, check out my updates at my blog at : ontheseaofglass.blogspot.com or send a letter to:

Ian Weiner

11117 Blue Ridge Blvd,

 Kansas City, MO 64137. 

Once again I am very thankful for your prayers, support, love, encouragement, etc.  I am so blessed to have you in my life, and I want to keep it that way.  I am very excited to be doing all of the wonderful things that God has in store for me, but my heart it still here in Boulder too.  You are such a blessing to me, and I pray that God would pour out His blessing upon you!

Thank you and be blessed,

Love,

Ian Weiner