CWG Ministries Newsletter - October 2004

October 2004 God's Voice Worldwide From Dr. Mark Virkler
Author of Communion With God and President of Christian Leadership University
Vision: To Saturate the World with Communion With God

This newsletter contains: Pray for the Elections and Vote!; We Need Your Input; Preparing Your Inner Man to Release Divine Flow; Attend an Upcoming Seminar Free; Journaling: Where Are Your Eyes Focused?; New Products Save 50%; Kind Words from C. Peter Wagner; God, where were You?; New Translations Posted

Pray for the November 2^nd Elections and Vote!

Mark and Patti Virkler with Rudy Giuliani

Recently Patti and I had the opportunity to attend a private dinner with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. There were only a dozen guests and we were all invited to ask the Mayor questions, particularly in the area of leadership, as the dinner was part of an all-day leadership and motivational seminar hosted by Peter Lowe. We were as impressed with Mr. Giuliani's humility and openness to chat with just folks as we were with his leadership and compassion after September 11, 2001.

I led off the questioning: I am a pastor and I work with pastors of churches across the country. Is there anything you see that we could be doing more of or doing better to help our nation through these difficult times?

Mayor Giuliani replied, You must give the people hope. Show them that this is a just cause, that we were attacked and are hated without a reason. We are standing for freedom and the dignity of all mankind. Encourage the people to be strong in their convictions. Help them to understand the reason behind their beliefs and to be confident in them. Give them hope.

After the meal, we spoke briefly with Jim Tressel, head coach of the Ohio State football team. He added the following thoughts: Encourage the people to pray for our enemies. It is only through prayer that we have victory. We must pray for those who hate us.

I believe both of these men had words of wisdom for us as spiritual leaders of a nation in a time of trouble. I encourage you to pray about these exhortations and be obedient to the Lord's leading in answering these calls.We Need Your Input!
Please give us your feedback by casting a vote and giving your comments about ways we can improve the Communion With God Study Guide and Seminar Brochure.

Input on the CWG Seminar Brochure:
We are about to release a new brochure for our main seminar, Communion With God, and we need your help! Our most important question is this: What should the seminar title be? Do you like "Communion With God," or is there something more interesting and exciting that would make you want to attend?

We've taken our top 5 ideas and created a poll so you can easily voice your opinion:

Don't like any of those? We're open to suggestions! Email us your best ideas.

If you are interested in becoming part of a "focus group" of sorts, you can download our new brochure, look it over, and tell us what you think. There are two versions available in Adobe PDF format: Main Brochure (400k), Alternate Brochure (550k).

Email Joshua Virkler at josh@cluonline.com with your comments, critiques and suggestions. Please be as specific as possible. What do you like about the brochure? What don't you like? What would you change? What excites you and motivates you to attend? What turns you off and makes you less likely to attend? Please respond with your comments by Tuesday, September 28th, 2004.

Input on the CWG Study Guide: I will be rewriting the Communion With God Study Guide during the next 12 months. I would love any Spirit-anointed feedback you would give over the next month, concerning 1) a powerful title for the rewrite; 2) things which could be added or enlarged; 3) things which could be deleted or changed; 4) any other comments you may have. Send to Mark@CLUonline.com.

Thank you very much for your help!


Preparing Your Inner Man for Divine Flow by Praying John 7:37-39
There is a river that flows within the Christian. You can tune to this flow purposefully, and ensure that you are releasing fully and completely the Holy Spirit within you. Jesus teaches us how when He speaks about this river within in John 7:37-39.

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive. (Jn. 7:37-39, emphasis mine)

Here is a prayer you may want to use to posture your inner man properly for this divine flow to burst forth upon your life easily and effortlessly:

Lord Jesus, I am thirsty for You. I come to You, I believe in You. I believe that You live within me and flow out through me as a river. I tune to flow within me right now, knowing it is Your river. Thank You, God, for Your energizing life within.

Now simply fix your eyes upon Jesus, tune to flow, and release. You can express this flow through writing, music, creativity, speech, art, or through any other faculty you yield to the anointing of God. Make this the natural inner attitude you hold as you walk through life, and you will release the anointing of God in all you do.


Bring a group to an upcoming seminar and receive FREE books, free admission to the seminar (maximum value $20), and $125 off your next Christian Leadership University course! Click here to find out how.

Journaling: Where Are Your Eyes Focused? Mike Bastien
Father, You know all the happenings in the last few weeks. You know the fear and the torments, the ups and the downs, the pressures and the concerns, the feelings of hopelessness, the failures and the victories. Father, I need You and to hear Your words that will minister to my spirit and cause me to live today.

Reply: My son, trust is such a big issue with you. Your vision becomes blurry and you cannot see Me correctly and you start to sink in despair and unbelief. As you know, this is not My way. It is not My ordained path for you. Yes, life can be very disappointing and unfair at times, yet you must consider My word and you must consider others that have gone on before you.

You are not alone in the fight of faith. Many have gone on before you and have gone through deep waters and have come out on the other end with their love and trust in Me still intact. There are many around you that have not sunk down in the pits of despair and have held on to Me despite dark paths and uncertain circumstances.

Again, the outcome always is determined by the "looking" or the focus of the eyes. While we look not at the temporal... Moses endured as seeing Him who is invisible... Looking unto the author and finisher of our faith... I will look unto the hills whence cometh my help... My word goes on and on about trust and about the gaze of the soul and the focus of our eyes.

You remember the old song you used to sing: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace... Turn and look. Turn away from all but Me. Look FULL in My wonderful face. Mike, My son, your looking must be FULL. It must not be the occasional glance. It must not be the odd or rare time when you're really desperate. It must be the purposeful and determined turning aside and the gazing and beholding of My splendor and glory. Looking FULL into My face.

These are crucial days for you. I am allowing this time and season for you to become more focused and for you to be able to spend more time in My presence and to sit at My feet. Use your time wisely in these days, My son. Do not say within yourself that I cannot do this. Do not allow yourself to be persuaded that you cannot simply sit and be in My presence. That lie is not of Me.

Yes, you do have problems but your problems cannot stop you from entering into My presence with praise and thanksgiving. What they will do is to cause you to come with greater determination and purpose and there you will find rest and joy in My presence. It is in Me that you will find all that you need. Turn your eyes. Focus your gaze.


New Products Available!
Communion with God Weekend Seminar cassettes and CDs This is a new recording of the seminar at Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, and we are thrilled with it! The group was very lively and interactive and the quality of the recording is excellent. The teaching on the Four Keys is greatly expanded compared to the full course series previously available. This set contains approximately ten hours of teaching on 10 cassettes or CDs. Order online today!


Updated Gifted to Succeed Save 50% on Old Copies
Nothing is quite as exhilarating as being an outlet of Gods full potential in your life. Once you discover exactly why He has placed you on this earth, and start fulfilling that destiny every day of your life, you will find a whole new passion for living. No more wandering around aimlessly from vocation to vocation and ministry to ministry, trying to find something that you truly enjoy. Gifted to Succeed will get you pointed in the right direction so you can take off running down the path that the Lord has ordained for you, and you alone. Dont let another day slip by without realizing your destiny.

We have just finished revising Gifted to Succeed, with a totally new layout and an attractive, modern design. They are being printed early next week, and will ship on September 30th. Now is the perfect time to invest in this life-changing book. While they last, you can also get the old copies at a 50% discount! Order both from our website today.

Kind Words from C. Peter Wagner
The reason I'm writing, Mark, is to congratulate you for your excellent work in the Fivefold Ministry Summary.  This is not only brilliant, but it is extremely useful.       

In my opinion, this should have a wide circulation.  How about making a free-standing version of it with the title The Virkler Grid and with a subtitle A Comparative Analysis of the Foundational Offices of Ephesians 4:11?  Gifted to Succeed could be noted below with your web address for ordering.
 
The first thing I would do would be to send it to ICA members.  I would expect that you will see it popping up all over the place since there is nothing else like it.  The Virkler Grid could end up being a standard tool for the whole apostolic movement in years to come.
 
Blessings,
C. Peter Wagner


God, where were You? Testimony from Darin in Korea
Here are three testimonies of how the 'Communion With God Ministries' method has helped me to have 'life to the full:'

I was going to seminary in Kansas City and driving a school bus to support the family. One day I subbed in on a high school route. The regular driver had been letting the kids off at their houses instead of at the designated stops on the route. When I started to drop the kids off at the designated stops instead of at their houses, they started verbally assaulting me. I've never ever been called such bad names in all of my life. When I got to the end of the route I was ready to park the bus, leave the keys, and just quit! I was so emotionally hurt.

Several years later, still feeling the pain, in prayer I asked God, 'Where were You?' As I closed my eyes and reflected back on the situation, I could see Christ standing behind me as I sat and drove the bus. I could see that the pain of the verbal darts of the kids was being taken upon the back of Jesus Christ. He had been with me all the time, simply standing behind me as I was driving and being my "shield." Since then, when I think back on the situation, all I can see is Christ Jesus standing behind me and shielding me. I can't even 'work-up' any pain. What release! Thank You, Christ Jesus!!

* * * * * * *

When I was growing up, I got into trouble quite a bit, like most kids. As a young boy, when my mom would punish me (as is right for mothers to do) she would send me to my room. I was then supposed to stay in my room until I could come out without crying. The problem was, as I was in my room crying, I always wanted my mom to come in and love me up. It wasn't the physical pain that hurt me, but the emotional pain of thinking that I was being 'abandoned' or 'rejected' by my mom. (Please know that I have great parents and I'm sure they had no idea how I was feeling.)

As an adult, and still feeling this emotional pain of rejection, in prayer, I asked God, 'Where were You?' As I closed my eyes and reflected back, I could see Christ sitting behind me, putting His arms around me and holding me as I sat in my room. He was there all the time and loving me. It brings such great comfort even as I write about it now. Since then, when I think back on the situation, all I can see is Christ Jesus holding a small little boy, me. It's hard to even 'work-up' any pain over this situation. Thank You, Christ Jesus, for holding me.

* * * * * * *

As a young 4-year-old boy, I remember being picked on by a local bully named Kenny. I remember being in his old, dirty, brick house and being verbally 'pushed around.' I was very hurt. Even as an adult in my late 30's, that memory still caused me a great deal of pain and brought feelings of revenge.

One day, in prayer, I asked God, 'Where were you?' As I closed my eyes and reflected back on the situation, I could see Christ Jesus simply standing beside me, with His right hand on my right shoulder. He was the size of an adult. Just His presence beside me relieved my emotional pain.

I was also curious as to why this seemingly small incident had been such a sore spot for 30+ years. I could sense God saying, 'Things that happen to small children have a great impact on their lives.' My only feeling now about Kenny is sympathy. I hurt for him. How terrible to be so lonely that you have to bully people around to get a sense of relief. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your presence and Your healing.


New Translations Posted Spread the word to those who could benefit!
Thanks to A. Israel Krupanandam for his work in translating How to Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit into Telugu. It is available for free downloading at www.cwgministries.org/translations.htm.

We have received several offers from individuals around the world to translate our books into various languages. We appreciate each and every offer. If you would like to volunteer to translate any of our materials, please contact Mark Virkler.


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E-mail: drvirkler@cluonline.com
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