I am now posting on Xanga exclusively. I'm keeping my blogger account so I can still visit a few of my favorite sites and comment! Visit my xanga at http://weblog.xanga.com/NicoleHostetler. If you'd like to comment but don't want an account, email me at nkkhst@yahoo.com and I will post it for you!

Call for Corporate Fasting
This weekend I was apart of a Fullness of Prayer and Fasting Retreat. I walked in wanting to meet God and dive deeper into my relationship with Him. Of course, when we seek....He is there! What I wasn't looking for was the clarity of purpose He has given to me and placed upon my heart. I want to challenge you to join me in a 3 month commitment (it could expand after January 1st).
1. Read Joel chapter 2:12-32. I was drawn to this passage after seeking God's direction in how I can be an agent of change without compromising who He is shaping me to be. I have always been up for a battle, challenge, or debate...but God is working on me to stop being so defensive because then it's about my agenda and not about His. I can become so caught up in the fight, I miss the destruction being left behind. Does that mean I cannot be passionate or vocal in discontent and holy anger? No, but it must be controlled and for the ultimate goals God has in place. I believe this is a chapter for the Church. In particular for the church in which God has chosen to use me. I want to apply this to The Salvation Army specifically in my times of prayer and meditation on the Word. The final verses are what solidified this challenge to me...I do not want what God has raised up for great things to be an afterthought because we missed the mark in mission and commitment.
2. Friday prayer and fasting. I'm asking that you commit with me every Friday (starting this week to the first of the year) to fast and pray for the spiritual revival and restoration of The Salvation Army. That we would see God's work and agendas being fulfilled...we would be strong agents for change in our communities, our nation, and throughout the world. That our popularity and comfort would not take importance over the spiritual, relational, and social issues plaguing our communities and congregations. That an awakening would sweep through so that we would be able to stand unashamed and confident that we are being God's instrument, doing God's will, and reaching out to His precious children.
3. Message me when there is a significant moving of God in your area. This is not limited to The Salvation Army polyester brigade...I want an outpouring of God's blessings upon us. We need a spiritual kick in the pants, put back on track, to regroup and get it together. Now is the time. God has placed this upon my soul specifically for this blogsite. Why? I believe that we want to see God's Kingdom grow so that others can see God's greatness and power. I believe that The Salvation Army has great things it can accomplish through the power of God, we just need to tap into it. We can be agents for change....I want to use every means necessary to make it happen.
So, will you join me? What do you think?

Crossroads
Have you ever had one of those "AHA!" moments? When things you have been thinking about; conversations and messages you've heard all come together in one big crash. I had one of those moments yesterday at a church while I was on vacation. And as proof God has a sense of humor- the name of the church is Crossroads. It was a simple service...singing (not fluffy feel good songs for the skeptics out there), offering, and the message but left a profound impact on my mind and soul.
I have been feeling torn (if you haven't noticed from my posts) about the future of the Army. I've been questioning my own place as a nonconformist in the conformity driven environment. I've been questioning motives and campaigns, personal and mandated. I've been losing sleep over the present complacency to ride the Army name.
But the AHA moment came by hearing 3 very familiar passages (the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the Prodigal son). The pastor said these words (paraphrasing): "The church exsists for those on the outside- the nonmembers; but we have become a club for members only. When it becomes about preserving self over including others, we're in trouble." The problem Jesus had with the Pharisees was not their rules and regulations, it was their attitude of self preservation. The maintenance of their religion and traditions became more important than God's purposes.
Have we become self preserving? Have we placed importance and security of the familiar (songbooks, lingo, titles, uniform, numbers) over the inclusion of strangers into our corps? Have we become so "good" at being different that we are unappealing to everyone but ourselves? If we were about what we claim would we be having such difficulty fulfilling our mission? Are we so busy having internal meetings to discuss strategy that is 20 years too late? Should we have a flexibility- not a superficial flexibility- to implement community programs and services? Sadly, many would cry out that there would be no standard and many would sit back and do nothing (I know this is true..so how do we "fix" that problem). Do we trust the ordained to minister to the flocks or are we so concerned with filling spots we aren't as selective as the movement needs us to be? Do we look good at the expense of individual and corporate salvation?
I do not suggest we throw the baby out with the bathwater...the Army was raised for such a time as this, but are we chasing a sportscar with a tricycle? We must look past the ranks to the outside. Remmber our roots, not make them our religion. Refocus, restructure, and recommit. More to follow...but what do you think? Are we at a crossroads in our history...where do we go from here?