Gateway of The Rock

By the people, for the people, with the people

2006-08-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

Maryellen says, it's not that it matters where we do ministry, we do not need a ministry center, ministry just needs to be at the center of our heart.
This weekend I had the honor of ministering with some Navajo friends. Guitar, Harmonica, Voices singing the songs of the land to the glory of the Creator. Songs written from a native heart that loves Jesus. I was invited to play percussion with them at the local Christian television station.

Update

2006-08-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

Gateway of the Rock,
at On the Rock Coffee House and Pizza Parlor????
Our eldest son wants to take over the business part of the venture, getting some equipment from his former employers and renting the building they were formally using - the smaller one mentioned in the past post. His parole officer gave it a go ahead. The building owner is willing to rent the building to him. A friend of his bought into the idea with $1000. More start up money is needed. Gateway of the Rock (the ministry) will need some sort of jump start. We are praying hard through this. We want only what the LORD wills.
Pastor Art longs for a place to minister, to disciple, to teach. Our son wants to be able to contribute to the ministry and to build a future for himself - some sense of security.
I pray for wisdom, provision and Shalom.
Maryellen

You probably heard (read) this one before...

2006-07-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

We are really praying for wisdom and trying to sort this whole thing out. We feel as if the LORD is telling us to get going, but we aren’t sure just where and how we are supposed to go. May we ask you for some advice and perhaps a little help here?
Reading down the Gateway of the Rock blog site, you see our proposed mission and goals, our vision for the ministry of Gateway of the Rock, and you might be able to pick on both our excitement and our discouragement in these matters.
In April we looked at a building. Except for needeing another restroom, it seemed perfect for our needs. It was being leased for $1800 a month, with $1000 deposit. It is still available. Then the donut business that our son Arthur III bakes for was shutting it’s main store. It had another, smaller shop, not too far from the building we had looked at. It was already established although business wasn’t very good. We talked to the owners about joining ventures with them, using the building for our coffee house and church services etc. We would have had to change some of our initial goals because the building was smaller. But it seemed like a feasible idea.
We just had lunch with the owner of that business. Their lease is up there September 1.
They really just want us to take over the business. They would help us with rent in turn for the privilege of storing some of their equipment there until they can sell it on E-Bay.
Currently the rent there is $900 a month, which we suspect would go up when we took over the lease.
So, as we pray through this, we’re thinking about the original building. From these friends we could get the furniture (tables and chairs), espresso, coffee machine, refrigerators, basically all the equipment we would need to start up - free with the understanding that we’d buy it eventually. Plus there is plenty of space in that building to store their stuff - for minimal rent.
We are wondering:
Could we get a loan from the denomination to cover the initial expenses, setting up a simple kitchen, painting a new sign, beginning inventory? We understand some money is available for start up at 3% interest. How much would we need? $15,000? More, less???
Could we get a start up - restart grant from the denomination - I think it is $300 a month for 6 months?
Could we find people willing to pledge support? (100 people at $20 a month?)
We need to open a Ministry Account and look into our 501 tax exempt status - we haven’t taken in or spent any ministry money for over two years.
Is there anyone out there willing to help, since we can not do this on our own? We’ve actually been in contact recently with 3 individuals who are educated in business related fields and looking to do ministry. Personally, we have no savings and very bad credit. And actually, this is a long shot - but if it is of the LORD than let His will be done.
If you have taken the time to read this, than please take the time to pray for us, and leave a comment, or email us at artandme@juno.com or send up a snail mail message at PO Box 412, Shiprock, NM 87420 - even if it is to say, you guys are being real foolish here.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Amen, LORD, yes and Amen.

The purpose, the way and the means...

2006-07-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Pastor Art was invited to come teach and play some music at an event out on the reservation where musicians, songwriters, preachers, teachers and dancers were gathering to address the many facets of worship from a uniquely Navajo point of view.
There was more teaching then anything else, and the Holy Spirit was working through the two days, in such a way, that the same verses kept coming up again and again. Genesis 1, Genesis 11, 2 Samual 6, Acts 17.
True worship glorifies God.
Not, you've been taught wrong, just you've not been taught enough.
Among other things, it was a sweet time of fellowship and confirmation.
Sunday morning we went to another event on the reservation, sponsered by Four Corners Community Church, featuring Robin Mark - a song writer, worship leader from Belfast Ireland.
This too was all about Worship - what's it all about? Worship! And God judges man's worship by his heart.
It was one of those times, where one just has to let out a deep, satisfied sigh and pray...OK Lord, now what?
This whole weekend has made us more excited and more determined to see the ministry take off. Gateway of the Rock at Rocky's Roost.
Rocky's Roost is a donut shop that also sells the best beef jerky this side of the Mississippi. It is open from 6:00am to 2:00 pm, Monday thru Saturday. It is a branch of a place that is about to go out of business. Business is not that good in this little shop, but to God's Glory, that will change soon.
Through Gateway of the Rock - a ministry of Open Bible Standard Churches, the shop will extend it's hours. Through the ministry, regular coffee and ice tea will always be free, although specialty coffees will also be available at a price. Christian Music will be playing, there will ba a consignment shop of local artists' wares. There will be evening Bible Studies, and a Sunday morning Worship and Word service. On Saturdays, as long as weather permits, there will be a fiesta of sorts in the parking lot, with live music, stands selling crafts, and jerky and salsa, fry bread, etc. At least, that is the plan as it is unfolding. We will stick to the mission statement and most of the goals stated in the post below. Some of the goals will have to be adjusted because the building is smaller than the one we were looking at. God bless Jim and Linda who currently have the business, and are willing to let us join with them in this venture.
in His Service
meb.

They Call It Market Place Evangelism

2006-06-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

Although the afore mentioned property would be perfect for what we see, we are currently looking into another possibility. This one may be more within our reach and the people who currently hold the property are interested in our plan. It is smaller. A fairly good location.
Set up as a donut shop. We are not looking at "going into business". We are looking for a coffee house, gift shop sort of thing that will bring enough money to support itself while we do ministry out of it. Still thinking - Coffee and Tea always free. A place where people can rest their weary feet and hear the good news. A place where people can buy and sell their art, get refreshment...I don't know, a sort of Christian "Cheers" where everyone knows your name.
Isaiah 32:2
"...a shelter from the storm, Like streams of water in a dry country, Like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land."
maryellen

Who was it that said...

2006-06-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

"Inspiration without expression leads to depression"

Open Bible Standard

2006-05-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

We received an interesting report for our district superintendent about the purposed restructuring of the denomination in the not too distant future.
Some questions have been raised as to why even have denominations.
It all boils down to accountability, with a little peer networking thrown in. It did us good to spend time last month with other Open Bible Pastors and their spouses.
But, at least financially speaking...if we procede with this vision, the denomination will be offering very little if any assistance.
The property is still available, but under a different realty company. We'll have to contact them this week to see if the terms have changed. One nice thing though. They cleaned up the grounds, plowed up and cleared the two acres in the back. We invision fruit trees and a fountain, and nice spot for outdoor weddings and worship services.
Maryellen

Next Step

2006-05-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

We need a team. A Board. We can't do this alone. We really shouldn't try.
I've been thinking of inviting some friends over for dinner, to share the vision and see if anyone wanted to join us. But the list of friends I want to ask keeps getting longer and longer, and with graduations and weddings and end of school and holidays and such...time seems to be slipping away. Since I, Maryellen, seem to have been designated as administrator, at least for the time being, the next step is up to me. But a teacher gets really busy as the school year comes to an end.
The building is still available. And as I said, I'll keep you posted.
MEB

mission and goals

2006-05-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

Gateway of The Rock

Mission Statement from Isaiah 61:1

Preach good news to the poor

Coffee, Tea, and Conversation always free to the wanderer.

Art’s radio show, teaching truth

A source of income (90% of sales) for the “poor” Christian artists whose work we sell.

Used Christian books at low prices, Bibles always available for free.

Minster to the broken hearted, captives, and prisoners

A place of welcome and comfort for the felons and families of felons, A place of restoration for broken people and the people who love them.

The display of the LORD’s splendor (verse 3)

By displaying the Art and Music of the Land to the Glory of

God. That back ground music praises the LORD. That the paintings and photographs show God’s splendor.

Praise and Gladdness

Joyful worship for all who want to “do church” with us on Sundays. Praise on Saturday Nights through the weekly

“sing-spirations”

Foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. (verse 5)

Tourists will be the major financial support for the ministry.

Mission teams will do a lot of the yard work.

Smart Goals: Specific, Measurable, Aligned to MissionStatement, Result focused, Time frame set.

“to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor”

Goals will be achieved within a years’ time, by June 1, 2007.

“my people will receive a double portion”

This will be the “measurable” outcome.

Goal One: start up money, pledges, income

Gateway of the Rock is not to be a money making project,

however it should be self supporting within one year.

to begin we need at least $20,000 and pledges of $1,800

a month. We might be able to get a loan from OPEN BIBLE,

at 3% but we rather not. We may also request a grant of

$500 a month “restart” funds for 6 months.

by June 1, 2007 we will be operating in the black – have a

monthly donation base of at least $3000. With income from

“product” and donations we should be able to pay Pastor Art

a salary (beginning June 1, 2007) of $10,000 a year.

*note, without $20,000 start up and promise of the “free” construction of a new bathroom, we will not proceed.

Goal Two: Outreach

We will use Art’s radio show ($300 a month) as a draw to

the ministry, we will advertise at the Movie Theater. We’ll

send out monthly news letters and personally contact area

churches to participate in our Sing-spirations. We will post

flyers around town. We will record the number of “customers” each month (have them sign a guest book)and see an increase (double) total customers each month. Using a start up number of 1, by June 1, 2007 we will have at least 2848 regular visits per month.

“Church” attendance will grow from an expected 16 to 32.

Goal Three: The Grounds

Gateway of the Rock will be an attractive and inviting establishment. By June 1, 2007 there will be trees and flowers growing on the grounds, as per Isaiah 61:11. Some of the activities will take place outside.

Any comments, thoughts, suggestions? We plan on having a “vision casting” get together on or about May 20^th. By Memorial Day weekend, we should know if we have enough prayer and financial support to proceed.

We’ll keep you posted.

from Maryellen

2006-05-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

As we were leaving the Four Corners we drove by the AIBM (American Indian Bible Ministries) complex. I have mentioned it many times here and on my own blog because it is where we started our Ministry adventure here in New Mexico. I have regretted - resented having to leave it when we did, and I have hoped, dreamed, imagined us going back and "restoring it" as per Isaiah 61. To rebuild the old ruins.
When we drove pass it two weeks ago, I noticed it was being restored. It looked better than it has in years. Without our help. And the Lord said I should send along a blessing to those who are still in ministry there, and acknowledge here that it is truly being used to the glory of God.
May the LORD greatly bless those, and all of the others who have a heart for this area and these people. May the LORD raise up leaders and prayer warriors among the people here. May those he calls to this place answer the call in a strong and courageous way, letting His Light shine brightly through them into the dark shadows of this dry and barren land, and may it come to Life to the glory of His name!.
Maryellen

May 8, 2006

2006-05-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

The trip to South Dakota was relaxing and refreshing.
As we write this update we notice that we have 911 hits on this page. That is about 60 more than when we sent out an email blitz concerning our newest "vision" requesting prayer and input.
60 readers but only 3 comments all together.
Lack of interest? Lack of support? Wait and See?
And what did the LORD have to say about the future of Gateway of the Rock?
Procede as long as you can, until the door closes, and chronical the progress here on the blog page.
Having a ton of training in management, Maryellen is going to write up our mission statement and "smart" goals based on Isaiah 61. Art and another Open Bible Pastor were discussing spiritual gifts, the gift of administration came up, and Pastor Art patted Maryellen on the knee and said -
"God gave me the gift of administration, all wrapped up in a pretty package."
We'll see about that.

April 2006

2006-04-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

Next week we are heading for South Dakota. Open Bible Annual Conference. Road Trip! We are going with faithful anticipation. We are going with ears and hearts open to what the LORD is going to say to us.

We looked at a building last week. It seems ideal for the Ministry we have in mind. Not another “church”. This area doesn’t really need another church.

It’s a place that we could “do church”. Sort of like the home fellowship we had a few years back, just not in our home, so there would be room to grow.

We see it as a sort of coffee house-souvenir shop-arts and crafts store-rest stop. Not a restaurant, but a place where a weary soul can find refreshment.

Not a money making venture, but an outlet for Christian artists in the area.

Tuesday night Bible Studies, Thursday night open mike, Friday night live local talent, Sunday morning Church followed by brunch-everyone welcome. Coffee and Tea always free.

Our Mission Statement?

Isaiah 61.

Preach good news to the poor and heal the broken hearted.

Maybe, by selling the local art (music and native crafts) we could afford to put Pastor Art back on the Radio – sort of combined outreach and advertisement. And Art would be there to offer coffee, prayer, and counsel to the weary souls that the Lord leads into the place.

Announce freedom to all captives and pardon all prisoners.

We know that part of our ministry needs to be to the “ex-cons”, the disenfranchised, the lepers of today that many other “churches” are afraid to touch. At least our gates will be open.

Comfort, Care, Joy…to take the rubble left behind and make it new.

We looked at a building – 6000 Sq. Ft on two fenced acres with an outside covered storage area perfect for outside activities…picnics, flea markets, tent meetings…

It comes with show cases in which we could display local art work. A section that could very easily be converted to a used book store. A large room with two beautiful murals on the walls, where we could put a raised platform for small concerts – shows. It could be used as a sanctuary, but we rather set up another area that would be more casual, for an emergent type, homey type fellowship. There is a lot of room.

The yard needs some landscaping. Maybe a youth group could come down on a “mission trip.” The building needs another bathroom. Maybe the denomination’s men's team could come down and do the work for us. But the real problem is, of course, money.

$1,800 p/m with first and last upfront, plus a $1000 deposit. Then there is insurance, taxes, permits, licenses, and maintenance. Pastor Art says, at least $15,000 to start – Maryellen thinks $10,000 would do it…but it might as well be $100,000.

So we’re thinking, there are maybe 10 adults that would get on board with us, if we really did this…but their finances are as limited as ours. We’ve come up with a list of 9 local artists that might be willing to sell their CD’s or art on consignment. I’m sure we could find more. We’re thinking we could/would put in $1000 a month of our own money for the first year or so atleast, and if we could generate a group of 180 people who would be willing to commit to sending $10.00 a month…we could do it…maybe…God Willing.

We are not ready to ask anyone for money…but we do ask you for your prayers, especially the week of April 24 while we are traveling. We realize that the LORD may very well be leading us away from this area, but when we got here we really felt this was the place the LORD had been preparing us for. It is frustrating not having a viable ministry here, not having the ways and means to minister to the people we feel most called to. At the very least, this time on the road and in South Dakota will surely be a much needed time of refreshment. Perhaps we will come home with a renewed vision.

Seeking the Kingdom

We are

Arthur and Maryellen Brokop

Transitions?

2006-03-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung in Shiprock, New Mexico with a much needed snow fall and a glorious full moon setting over the snow covered mountian. We seem to have been in an Observation mode...watch and pray. It's been a season of deep sighs which you can read about on Maryellen's blog.
Now we are wondering, what will the next season bring? We continue to watch, and pray, and wonder if a new door will open here in the Four Corners Region, or if the pillar will move, leading us to a new location. North? Further North? West? Back East?
Is our work here really done? Sometimes it seems as if it never really got started.
Some random thoughts...
Maryellen feels in her heart that her work at Tse Bit' Ai is not finished. She has committed the situation to the LORD, ready to move if that is His Will, but she feels very connected to the place where she is currently teaching.
We are not involved with Passion Play International this season, for the first time in 8 years. We really miss it. It was such a big part of our ministry here for so long. Transportation and scheduling issues and certian family situations just got in the way. This year, Art will pray for the cast and crew and audience from a distance. Maryellen might even be able to actually watch the Play all the way through without having to help the kids change costume, or fill in the crowd scenes. Not that she minded. It will just be different this year.
At the end of April we will be going to Annual Conference for Open Bible Standard Churches in South Dakota. Road trip! Pray that the old Toyota will make the trek. Conference has always been a time of blessing for us. Maybe it will help us get a clearer vision of where and how we are supposed to procede.
People keep asking me "where's your church?" That's a good question.
There's an old building, a dilapitated liquor store on the highway between Farmington and Shiprock. Maryellen says, that would make an interesting church. A sort of coffee house, bookstore, trading post, type of Church. Maybe a way to minister to the Invisible people.
I keep hearing about youth type ministries, have even sent out a few feelers, but isn't 50 to old to work with youth? Then again, what better place to invest ones time and effort...in the future!
That's what Maryellen's been doing on her job.
It's been 2 years since I worked as a substitute teacher and I still have "kids" come up to me all the time, greeting me with a heartfelt "Mr. Brokop". Some of them are already married with kids. Time goes by.
I'll be taking my grandkids to see Veggie Tale Live on Easter Sunday. That should be a hoot!
Maryellen thought we should post some sort of "update" and here it is. I'm still studying, writing, praying, playing the drums and guitar. I'm working on learning the Navajo flute. One of our sons is currently living with us while he gets his life back in order. The other son has moved to Phoenix. And... to borrow a line from one of our blog friends...that's life, of something close to it.
By the way...feel free to leave a comment, we'd love to hear from you!
Pastor Art

...proclaim the year of the LORD's favor

2006-01-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

Every now and then I invite people to come visit this site to see what our ministry is all about.
Actually, I should probably say was all about. Since at this time there is no ministry.
Isaiah 61 was the chapter that was read over us when we became a part of Open Bible Standard Churches. It was not the first time, or the last time that that particular section of Scripture seemed to define what we were supposed to do in ministry. 18 years ago a word of prophesy was spoken over us concerning the refiner's fire we were going through at the time, and assuring us that (joy of joys) it wouldn't be the last time. It wasn't.
Well, we haven't given up yet. We claim the promise of Philippians 1:6 -7. He who began this good word will be faithful to complete it. And if anyone out there is interested in what has been and what we hope to be Gateway of the Rock, here are some suggested readings:
http://christstone.blogspot.com/2005/04/open-bible-in-new-mexico.html
http://christstone.blogspot.com/2005/04/gateway-of-solid-rock.html
http://christstone.blogspot.com/2005/08/isaiah-61.html
http://christstone.blogspot.com/2005/05/mega-church-micro-church-no-church.html
http://christstone.blogspot.com/2006/01/poem-and-vision-of-ministry.html
blessings - maryellen - pastor's wife

A Poem and a Vision of 'the ministry'

2006-01-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

I see you

You are not invisible to me.

I see you all

Walking with your head down,

Dragging you feet, wearing out your souls.

I see you

Vacant men walking past Vacant houses

Men of the Land, who don’t seem to care anymore

about the Land around them

Dry, like the Land you are born to

I see you

Making your way into town

For a drink, for a job, for a change

And making your way home again

To the old mother who still cares

To the old grandmother who still prays for you

To be greeted by a long sad sigh and an open door

I want to say, “hold your head up high”

I want to say, “be the brave you were born to be”

I want to say, “I am sorry.”

I want to cook for you, and sing you songs, and tell you stories

Great Stories, Living Stories

I want to give you a hot cup of coffee on a cold night,

With lots of sugar and a dash of hope.

I want to drive you home

To the son that needs you

To the woman that loves you

And I want to say…

Look past the moon, Look past the stars.

Look past the tent meetings and revivals

Seek God!

He is there waiting

He sees you.

Learn to sing His songs

He is calling you.

Believe His stories

He has a plan for you!

All of you. Each of You.

Walking this Land for a Divine purpose.

He is not the White Man’s God

He is every man’s God

He is not the missionary’s God

He is the People’s God

He formed you, He knows you, He sees you.

You are not invisible to Him.
posted by Maryellen Brokop

Christmas 2005

2005-12-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

“tis the day after Christmas…
But we like to stretch the holy day out as long as we can.
We really miss being “pastors” at this time of year. From decking the halls the Sunday after Thanksgiving, to the Advent wreath, caroling, and a Silent Night, Holy Night candle Lite service (Isaiah 60 and John 1), we really miss shepherding a church family. This Christmas we attended 3 different services at three very different churches. Each was beautiful and each brought back found memories as well as giving us good ideas for the time, if and when, we are allowed to put together Christmas Services again.
The church that we currently call home is an Assembly of God church on the Navajo Reservation. It is not a “mission church” but rather one of the few self-supporting churches on the “rez”. Our pastoral leadership decided to do our Holy-day service on Friday night and give the congregation the weekend off. The sanctuary was very Christmasy, lights and tinsel everywhere. First we sang some carols and “Glory to God” songs to the strains of the electric guitar. Then some little angels - under my direction - did a flag “dance” to Oh Come all Ye Faithful, and Joy to the World. It looked really nice, even though at parts they were too close together and the flags tapped each other. Then the dance team danced to “Oh Come oh Come Emmanuel” followed by the Pastor reading the Christmas Story and then the Navajo Choir sang some carols in Navajo. We ended with cookies and coco and gave out the traditional Navajo Treat bags - an apple, orange, hard candy and peanuts. It was a nice family type service. One of our Christmas traditions, since we moved to the Four Corners Region, has been to go to Midnight Mass at the local Episcopal Church. Father Carl is a wonderful brother in the LORD and a good friend. The Church is small, and very traditional in style, like something out of medieval England. Candles and wreaths, and incense, and a choir in robes all add to the total experience. The first time we went I was surprised at how “Catholic” the service was. I still remembered some of the prayers.
Sunday morning we attended a tiny church that friend’s of ours have been helping with. It is a very typical church for these parts. A tiny sanctuary that could hold 50 at best. Their worship was bilingual, two carols in Navajo, followed by two carols in English. Most of the people in the congregation Christmas day were the children and grandchildren of the Pastor - visiting from Mississippi.
The church was affiliated with the United Methodist Denomination, a mission church, and the service was very “old Methodist” in style.
The “order of worship” was strait from the old time UM handbook. Complete with pastoral prayer for the “unspoken” needs of the congregation and a special anthem by the choir. Someone told someone that this was the way Church was supposed to be, so that was the way Church was. It was nice. A tiny little church trying to be a model mainline church. Not really practical, but nice. And we were made to feel really welcome. It was Christmas after all.
I think tonight we are going to have another Church service, in our front room. Some friends are coming over for pizza. She is bringing her guitar, so Pastor Art, Ardy, and she will be playing some worship music…Maybe Pastor Art will forgo his guitar for the drums or native flute…and we always get around to discussing our favorite topic, The Bible - and it’s author. It will be like one of “those” emergent services. Sharing a hymn, a spiritual song, a psalm. Encouraging one another to grow in the Knowledge of the Spirit, praying for one another. Yep, sounds like Church to me.
To any and all who may stop by…Remember, Isaiah 60 and John 1. Let the true light shine through you into this dark world,
And “God bless us everyone”
Maryellen - Pastor Art’s wife - 26 years and counting.

A Christmas Tradition

2005-12-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

Since I've been a pastor, I've shared this Christmas Story with my congregation:

First Christmas
Two Babes in A Manger
In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments, and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government - run program were in the orphanage. They relate following story in their own words:
It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for the orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving at Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.
Throughout the story, the children and the orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn - out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby’s blanket. A doll - like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.
The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy’s manger, [I] was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called the for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at his completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately - until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.
Then Misha started to ad - lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I had no mamma and I had no papa , so I didn’t have a place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t, because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But l wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, “If I keep you warm, will that be a good gift?” and Jesus told me, “If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.” “So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him - for always.”
As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him - FOR ALWAYS.I’ve learned that it’s not what you have in life, but who you have in your life that counts.

As sent to me a few years back.
Pastor Art

a reprint

2005-11-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

Maryellen mentioned this post in her last post...so instead of making any one interested search the archives...here it is reprinted.
Rainbow over Hog Back
2 Kings Chapter 2 verse 19-21Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold now, the situation of this city is pleasent, as my Lord sees, but the water is bad and the land is unfruitful. " And he said, "Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it" so they broght it to him and he went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said "Thus says the LORD "I have purified these waters, there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer."Matthew 5:13You are the salt of the earth...From my wife's journal: March 23, 4:40pm mst.Highway 64, east bound, leaving the Navajo Reservation, heading into Farmington, New Mexico.A place called "Hogback", the target area of our church's current prayer effort. Very dark, stormy sky ahead, wind blowing. 24 hours before, we were at that spot, praying over the river, at the foot of Hogback, at the entrance to the Rez, the Eastern Gate.As we approached the mountain today, we say a hint of a rainbow, a swatch of color at the southern base of the mountain. Then as we got closer the full rainbow appeared, we could see both ends of it, it was over the mountain full and beautiful. In the dark sky a second rainbow started to form. It extendted over the road ahead of us and seemed to touch down in the river, at the very spot we were praying yesterday. The second rainbow never fully formed. But we saw the whole experience, which lasted for just a matter of minutes, as a symbol of hope, a reminder that God keeps His promises, a confirmation "He knows what His children are doing and He approves." He has purified the waters that flow into Shiprock. "There shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer."I am not a pastor in this church, I am not a shepherd of this flock...just one of the sheep, satisfied with joining in their passion for the people of this land...honored to stand with them...Art

The Holidays - The Feasts

2005-11-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

Pastor Art has been working diligently in his research of the topic of the Biblical Feasts. This research began as he prepared a teaching on Solemn Assemblies to be presented to pastors on the Navajo Reservation upon the request of Brother Andrew Begay of Calvary Love Ministries. Hand in hand with this has been a debate on the Sovereignty of God and the Contextualizing of the Gospel. It is always a good thing to delve deeply into the Word...to go to the Source. Some of his discoveries appear here on this site, and some appear on Temple Corners (his personal blog). We just celebrated the American Holiday of Thanksgiving. The left over turkey is still in the fridge. But a feast to give thanks is not solely an American tradition. Most cultures have Harvest Festivals of some sort or another. As a Jew, our LORD would have observed the First Fruits Celebration as the offering of the first fruits, an act of faith, was presented in the Temple. To acknowledge that we are dependent on the Mercy of an Almighty Creator and that an abundant harvest is a gift from that Creator is not strickly an American or even Biblical thing, although the practice probably spred to the four corners of the world by the descendents of Noah, who offered a Thanksgiving sacrifice to the LORD, and then became a farmer. (Genesis 9).
I (the pastor's wife) received a "word". I wrote in my own blog that I had a sense that our rest at the crossroads was about to come to an end. I wrote "I feel as if the light is about to turn green, but I still don't know where the road ahead will lead." Two days later, our Pastor was preaching on "the signs of the times" and made the statement that "the light is about to turn green". And once again I turn to Isaiah 60, 61, and 62 as a promise for Gateway of the Rock ministries, take a big breath, and wait (not so patiently) upon the LORD. Shalom!

Subtle Deception

2005-11-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

Prayer With Knowledge

Matt.6:9-10, 17-18

When Believers gather we pray and someone quotes, ‘let us agree together’, or, we bind or loose…’ and, ‘wherever two or three agree it shell be done’ from Matt.18:18-20.The context of these phrases comes from Jesus answering His disciples’ question about the Kingdom, 18:1. Peter, James, John, and Jesus descending from the transfiguration find the other disciples unable to deal with a demoniac. Jesus releases the boy.Traveling to Capernaum they are asked to pay taxes. Jesus asks Peter if those who collect taxes collect from sons or strangers. Peter answers the question, strangers. Jesus tells Peter to pay. After these incidents: reveling of the unveiled glory, inability of the disciples to command the demonic, and reality of their status as strangers in the world’s system, Jesus answers their question about ‘Kingdom’ status. He explains entrance is conversion from an independent state to a dependent state becoming childlike, humble, vulnerable, and dependent on someone greater and under His protection (as children).

Jesus is making it clear; the very nature of this world’s lifestyle is a stumbling block. Teaching about temptation He emphasizes the measures needed in resisting this world’s drawing of our attention away from the Kingdom lifestyle. Temptations away from The Kingdom must be treated as unwanted refuse Phil. 3: 7-8. Comparatively, casting away temporal body parts, which represent activities that separate us from the Kingdom, is so imperative in understanding Kingdom living that following Christ would make us appear lame, crippled, or blind to inhabitants of this world because their perception of life is so at deference to the Kingdom they can not perceive a life without their sin Matt.18: 7-11.

Establishing this Jesus speaks of the Kingdom’s purpose, ‘to save the lost’. He illustrates this with the one lost sheep Matt.2-15. Concerning the order of government for His Kingdom on earth, Jesus turns to Numb.35:29-34, Deut. 17:2ff, Deut.19:15 ff. Going first privately establishes ‘two or more in agreement’, when offender and confronter are agreed this leads to repentance/ restoration. The next steps are spelled out as needed. Instead of stoning as in the Theocratic state of Israel, since we are ‘strangers’ as Jesus just informed His hearers, we proceed to determine the truth of the situation on testimony ‘of two or three witnesses’ acting according to their evidence. Based upon the response to the founded charges by the accused, the binding or loosing of these charges become acknowledged in Heaven as established on the Earth, when based on the directives of Scripture. This mode of operation contrasts Matt.6:10, therefore these two patterns can not be instruction for the same activity. Verse 19, Jesus emphasizes that as we righteously establish a thing as a matter of Kingdom order and truth He acts along side us.

Peter asks how often do we do this? Jesus’ response, each time there is confrontation and repentance.1st John 1:9,

‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’.

The verb is imperfect, meaning a continuous open action, repeating Jesus’ answer; a continuous open forgiveness offered to any who confess ‘agree’ with Yahweh, His word, and those gathered on Earth who represent His word. Even though we want to turn this instruction into our decisions influencing Heaven to act on our behalf because a magic number of people have come to agreement, this is not true! The procedure described pertains to righteousness within the Church not as influence over the world.

This teaching has to do with discipline not intercession. Commentators such as Lightfoot, John Gill, Adam Clark, and others have taught this viewpoint. Beyond the exegetical evidence these scalars explain this echoes Rabbinical ordination and Talmudic instruction concerning discipline among believers - Israel. Adding to this other places from Scripture, the use of either the exact wording or the implementation of the principle we are amiss to continue to use these concepts as proof texts trying to establish some type of majority rules prayer system, Isaiah 9:6-7 & 22:22,John 20:21-23, 1st Corth.5:4-5 “binding” 2nd Corth.2:5-11 “loosing”- following the rabbinical pattern (this is strong evidence),Rev.1:18 & 3:7.

The idea of men agreeing together having power enough to move the King of kings to act as a result of the weight of that agreement directly contradicts Jesus’ own teaching on prayer not to mention His Sovereignty! When asked about prayer and how to properly pray, His response included the pattern of action that is pleasing to Our Father, ‘On Earth as it is in Heaven.’ Therefore prayer that is answered affirmatively must agree first, foremost, and exclusively from hearts submitted to and schooled in the desires of the Father’s heart and Sovereign authority. Yahweh spoke through Isaiah,

‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares Yahweh. For as the Heavens are higher then the earth, so are My ways higher then your ways, My thoughts then your thoughts.’
Isaiah 55:8-9

He was speaking to people who had given their thoughts and ways such elevation of importance they assumed they could move Heaven by the force of numbers. What the Scriptures are communicating to us is that the Kingdom citizens on earth are strangers/ambassadors, 2nd Corinthians 5:20 not rulers at this time in history. Ambassadors influence the countries they reside in they do not rule them. Once an ambassador receives their ruler’s instructions (agreement) his job is to influence the government in understanding their ruler’s desire. Our foundation of agreement is finding out His views, ‘the truth’ defined as, ‘thy word’ John 17:17. Once we understand we can then, we can rightly, apply this understanding.
Instruction concerning prayer originates out of a different impetus then consensus among men.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. By this is My Father glorified…

”John 15:7-8a.

And this is the confidence which we have before Him,That,If we ask anything according to His will,He hears us.And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask’We know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

1st John 5:14-15

The subtlety of the difference escapes many and has allowed Lucifer in his scheming to twist these two concepts together. The outcome has created rifts within the Body of Christ and at their fullest placed a dark deception upon men dragging them away from Yahweh’s Kingdom. We will look into these in the future but at this time let me say; the concluding of the outcome of this scheme, weakens the authority of Christ’s Body through diverting the discipline into prayer. This deception has also turned prayer into a democratic activity where the people rule through mass agreement. Both of these subtle deceptions have birthed and bore fruit appealing to immaturity causing spiritual retardation with teachers tickling ears, 2nd Timothy 4:3-4. More later.

Pastor Art

2005-10-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

We have not been able to get any information about the mission property that keeps popping up in Maryellen's vision. Pastor Art has an application ready to send in for a possible position in Christian Radio on the Reservation. It would mean moving deeper in and higher up into the Navajo Reservation. Which probably could not happen at least until the end of this school year. He continues to work on his book and on his research of Solemn Assemblies in preperation for the 2006 Navajo Nation Proclamation Day of Prayer - June 18.
The spiritual mood of this area of the country is getting more intense. Dark clouds of hopelessness continue to weigh down on much of the population, and the churches seem to be experiencing a season of discouragement. The enemy is using the old bait and switch tactic - distracting prayer warriors with personal conflicts. Those of you who keep our ministry in prayer are asked to listen to the LORD and share with us any words you might receive.

From Our Denomination

2005-09-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Open Bible Family,

The unthinkable has happened: Americans are drowning, starving, and dying on the streets right in front of our eyes.

Television news coverage is bringing the devastation of Katrina and resultant hopelessness of people right into our homes. Every station keeps talking about "the blank stare" on the faces of fleeing Americans. Echoing in my spirit is the repeated cry of people saying, "Just tell us where to go! Isn't there someone to point the way?"

As in the wake of 911, news commentators are again talking about prayer, and interviewing regularly Christian ministers like Franklin Graham, TD Jakes, and others. One report I saw, filmed in a Baton Rouge shelter with 5,000 individuals, said the most frequently requested item asked for by people, other than food, was the Bible.

It goes without saying, Open Bible should be praying...asking God for mercy, grace and protection of the displaced and desperate homeless throngs. And, we should pray the Holy Spirit will use this moment for a massive harvest. But, of course, we must...and we will...do more.

I am typing this from my home office on a Friday morning, September 2nd. I will return to the National Office on Tuesday, September 7th. At that time I will make personal contact with three friends of mine who represent organizations God has strategically placed at the center of relief and rescue:

(1) National Commander Todd Bassett of the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army already has a presence on site in the worst areas of need; (2) Doug Stringer, citywide leader of the Houston, Texas, Somebody Cares network; and 3) Ted Haggard, president of NAE...NAE is the organizational covering of World Relief.

I am confident all three of these reputable ministries are already active and engaged with Katrina refugees, and will be able to give us direct, first-hand counsel on how Open Bible can help the most. I will communicate with you via email soon thereafter how our family has decided to respond to the Katrina catastrophe.

Beyond that, please know I am praying for you and your church, asking God to give you wisdom and insight how you might get involved in other ways. There are immediate, short-term, emergency needs...but many of the lasting solutions for these displaced poor will be resolved over the long term. I know of at least one OB church that may offer to help homeless victims of Katrina relocate to their city.

May God lead us all...and please, be generous. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Remember - this is now a season when all Americans are more sensitized to eternal things. Priorities have changed. Materialism is less a god today in our society than it was yesterday. This is a harvest season.

"Knowing the time," Jeff

How Far Are We From Revival?

2005-09-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

How Far From Revival is this Nation
And
Who is responsible?

Yahweh’s Covenant reflects His nature, justice, righteousness, and holiness. When we fail, He provides mercy and grace for restoration upon our repentance. Its His whole council and cannot be separated when trying to grasp His heart. Whenever contrasts occur in an issue sides inevitably develop and extreme positions form. Each side has its fundamental edges. This issue is no different. Both sides of our God’s nature have a camp. One camp pitches its tent on grace a grace without accountability – ‘Cheep Grace’ in a kind of predetermined dispensationanal progression that is foundationless - an universal restoration. A sister premise teaches that God already knows and is sovereign and does not leave the choice up to us because He already knows and we can not change His mind therefore some are in some are out, a kind of universalistic enie meinie minei mo all will be saved who are saved and this is His sovereign plan. Another camp leave the “Old Testament” behind for the “New” a type of replacement theology
.
The another camp puts down its stakes in a ridged legalistic ground. This encampment develops around social or cultural patterns usually setting its standards of ‘righteousness or holiness’ by the norm of the founders time. Any one not meeting their ideas of conformity are outside ‘God’s Kingdom’ in their estimation.

There is need to get a grasp on this conflict that, I believe Lucifer fuels. In doing so we will be strengthened to be the whole, healthy, and unified Body that Jesus prayed for us to be until He returns. These perceptions can’t help but color how we see events and how we react to them.
2nd Chronicles 7:14 has become a Christian Mantra. There is a context that defines this verse’s promise. It is an answer to a prayer of Solomon during the solemn assembly at the Temple’s dedication; 2nd Chronicles chapters 5-7.
Yahweh’s answer is a Covenantal response (not the least being the fulfillment of Deuteronomy 12 a place of His dwelling) having important conditional parameters. Yahweh addressing Solomon,“ I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.” He then continues with, “If I”, signaling the conditions involved echoing Deuteronomy 26:16 - Chapter 30.
Solomon’s prayer was an outline of the Deuteronomic understanding given to Israel before entering the PROMISE LAND and according to Jeremiah can only be broken when the fixed order of ‘day and night’ can be broken Jere.31:35-37,33:19-26, and Ezekiel gives 2nd testimony to this 37:24-28. Jesus later confirms this in Matt.5:17-20 as a worning!

Deuteronomy 26:16-19 reads, “This day Yahweh your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances”… (the Torah given to Moses) [The hearers; DELIVERED- SAVED are inside the Covenant as we are today]…“ You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your HEART and with all your SOUL. You have today declared Yahweh to be your God and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice. [this we agree to when we surrender to Jesus - John 14:15,21] And Yahweh has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor, and that you shall be a consecrated people to Yahweh your God, as He has spoken.” This preamble to the summery of the Covenant is still active and binding, Gal.3:29, Eph. 3:14 -19. The detailed consequences and specific reinstatement instructions often overlooked have defining parameters for our actions today. (Matt.5:17-20)

We are the People called by His name standing together with the “great cloud of witnesses” from time’s beginnings. Therefore, Yahweh speaking to us today says, “If I shut up the heavens”… and any or all the curses spelled out in Deut.27 fall on us, or a country we live, Yahweh, in His faithfulness and justice must act according to His word. He is Sanctified by its coming about as He has spoken. Ezk. 39:27 saying, “in fulfilling what He’s spoken He…SHELL BE SANTIFIED (emphasis added) through His fulfilling actions.” Jesus prays, “ Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.” It appears that when Yahweh does according to His word/Covenant He proves His faithfulness. When we expect Him to act contrary to His Word, we dishonor Him.

Our land reflects the coursings of Mount Ebal. His Word/truth must define what is out of order. We, called by His name, while seeking His face, concerning our nation must understand that infractions are spelled out in the Scriptures not by man made standards of any of the extreme camps. The Scriptures have the information we need to get in line with the Eternal Covenant that Yahweh will not violate. If we do not agree in our supplications with His directives He will not fulfill the PROMISES, because He is faithful to Himself. When we ask for the promises without coming in line with the truth of His directives we dishonor the Word and person of Yahweh. For Him to bless us when outside the agreed Covenant parameters would make Him a liar.

At the closing of history we are warned, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God shell add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the Holy city, which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “ Yes, I am coming quickly…” (Rev.22:17-20a). Moreover if we truly believe that this is a whole book, then it stands to reason when our intercessor [Jesus] issues His closing warning with such consequences we have but one response, humble ourselves by finding out how the Creator’s mandates have been trespassed against. Once He has exposed these things to us through comparing ourselves to His righteousness [revealed to us from His Scriptures] we must pray prayers of repentance! THEN I… Says Yahweh!

It is imperative to ask this question; what does Yahweh’s answer to Solomon look like? Today our ideas of absolutes and objectivity weaken our resolve and understanding of Yahweh. The Scriptures show us these parameters not the standards established by the world. The second phrase … “humble themselves and pray” reveals to us “who will then seek His face” the directions to follow when crying out between porch and alter (Joel2:12-17).

We live in a nation not effected when the hand of Yahweh moves with signs and wonders against us like the alarm sounding in the ears a man deafened through an intoxicated stupor. Like that man this nation turned a little, slammed down the snooze button after 9/11 and the hurricanes, and the fires and the drought and the wild animals in the cities and the and the… Our response, by even those who should know better, was to stand shoulder to shoulder with religious leaders proclaiming and serving gods other then Yahweh, saying all are equal. Just what type of response do we think the God who says , you shall have no other Gods before me and I give My glory to no one but Myself is going to give us?
Pastor Art

Isaiah 61

2005-08-22T04:27:00.000-07:00

Prayed over Pastor Art and Maryellen as they became leaders of an Open Bible Standard ministry in the Four Corners region of the USA. Revisited so many times that the page from Maryellen's Bible has fallen out.
To Bring Good News to the afflicted, to Proclaim Liberty, the radio minitry could do that, but we lost our sponser last year...
the ability to do better desk top publishing would help get the teaching out...we're working on that.
To proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, to comfort those who mourn.
That "mandate" means more to us now because of the situation with our own son. We are more sensitive to the needs of the repentant and redeemed felon who faces a world of rejection, and to the mothers (family) of prisoners who live with shame and frustration. There is freedom in Christ for all, and comfort - 2Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. But we aren't sure how that will manifest itself in ministry.
Perhaps if we actually had a facility, a place from which to minister. A church were freed prisoners could feel safe and accepted, a church where mothers would get the word, your sons have value. Jesus valued them so much that He died on the cross for them. What greater value is there than that?
Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations and they will repair the ruined cities.
So, Maryellen always sees "the mission" when she reads that verse. A facility established in 1952, where we first ministered when we came to this part of the world. There's a tiny church, a fellowship hall from which we could operate a soup kitchen (mutton stew and fry bread?),
offices, a workshop and store house, a few run down housing units, and room to expand.
But - it's not for sale, and we have no money...
Maryellen has seen the run down mission restored...and the vision returns everytime she hears Isaiah 61, But - it's not for sale, and we have no money.
We heard a teaching on Isaiah 61 this weekend at a prophetic event, a camp meeting on the Navajo Reservation. And we are still waiting for direction as to where Gateway of the Rock is
heading.
So, the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations - for all the nations - well, the Four Corners of the USA is a place of gathering of the Navajo Nation, as well as the Hopi, Ute, Apache, Hispanic and ofcourse those of us of European descent - a place where every knee shall bow and every tongue (many tongues) will confess - That Jesus Christ is LORD. Soon and very soon!

Welcome and Shalom

2005-08-04T07:16:00.000-07:00

To any new visitors to this site, may I suggest you read the posts "Open Bible in New Mexico"
"Mega Church, Micro Church, No Church" and "Update" to see what Gateway of the Rock is and seeks to be. Your comments and suggestions, and especially your prayers would be greatly appreciated as we continue to seek God's will and direction for this ministry.

Solemn Assembly - June 18th 2006

2005-08-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

On Friday, July 29, 2005, Pastor Art and Maryellen met with Brother Andrew Begay, of Calvary Love Ministries to discuss next year's Navajo National Day of Prayer activities. Pastor Art presented his priliminary studies of the Solemn Assembly as it appears in the Old Testament, and it was decided that Brother Andrew would set up several meetings on the reservation to explain the idea to Native American Christian leaders in preparation for the prayer event on June 18th. Pastor Art is looking forward to this teaching opportunity.

Wake Up Oh Sleeper

2005-07-24T05:52:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this Blog has been to keep the vision of Gateway of The Rock alive.
What is the difference between a vision and a dream (from which we must eventually awake)?
Pastor Art wants to teach. He wants to minister through the Word, through Worship and Prayer with the First Nations Peoples here in the Four Corners Area.
It was my hope, that someone would catch the vision, share the vision, see where we were and where we were hoping to go, and get along side, prayerfully - perhaps even phsyically.
But the Lord says that you can tell a tree by its fruit. And although we have worked hard and prayed hard, seeking first the Kingdom, there seems to be little or no fruit at all.
Not very many people have visited here. It doesn't seem worth the effort.
It is time to wake up and smell the coffee.
Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus and His righteousness...
but one can bang his head against the rock just so long. It is time to wake up.
Perhaps I'll check this site again in September, when things settle down again. If they ever do.
Perhaps we'll get some snail mail in the mean time...the address is in the profile
mail that will say, don't give up Brokops
Perhaps giving up is what we're predestined to do.
Maryellen Brokop
Shiprock, New Mexico

The Beginning

2005-06-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

note: in this piece certain Hebrew words did not transfer to this format...
Genesis
A Study in Foundations
A couple of weeks back Maryellen “assigned” me a weekly sermon type entry for Gateway of the Rock. This she did because I am not preaching each week and knows that the use it or loose it principle could cause rust to cover the metal of my life - my work.
With that in mind let us walk together through the beginnings, the foundations.
Over the years I have come to understand that grasping the understanding of the opening chapters of The Creator’s heart and mind develops insights and wisdom beyond the conventional. Many of the questions swirling around society and the micro - chasm of Blogdom would dissipate if Christendom would embrace Paul’s admonition to, “…Not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mid,” Romans 12:2a. This means vernacularly being out of step, marching to the beat of a different drummer or heaven forbid, “Men of whom the world was not worthy” Hebrews 11:38.
Over the 2 millennia since Paul’s admonition this bit of Scripture has been quoted as proof text for any number of ideals and causes. However, as I apply this at the opening of this study I keep in mind that I as well could be guilty. Moreover, as a convert to Christianity (as all of us are) out of a world - view quite antagonistic to a Biblical world - view I have never been the “blind faith” type, I am always looking for the wet side of the sheep skin. For those who have read posts of the past either here or on
“Temple Corners” (http://passingthoughts2.blogspot.com) I have written about while studying the different aspects of Theology an inconsistency between science and Christian origins made itself evident to me, see “Propaganda?!”.
This task although turning to evidences from science, is not a polemic of science verses Spirit. I happen to have come to the conclusion that science reveals Yahweh’s person and purpose. Moreover, “science” that contradicts Scripture originates pre - determined pre - judged position and I have come to identify as “Lucifereion”. The reasoning behind this, any scheme that turns man to a salvation other then Christ comes from a lie and who is the “Father of Lies”? Our only choices are “intelligent design” or “natural generation” of some type. But we are not researching scientific foundations but Biblical foundations. Straying away from the point here is only so no one can think that I do not know of the dynamics of this. Am I a scientist? No! But I trust scientists.
In The Beginning…
With that said let us drop into an eye witness account of how we got here.
The first three chapters profoundly set the parameters. What we know as “The World” has a purposed pattern with a plan. This plan referred to often as “God’s predestined plan” or “foreknowledge” becomes defined out of this account, His account!
The primary opening concept, “In the beginning God created…” sets our parameters defining the context of the following account. This statement informs the receiver of this, either hearer - as an oral account/storytelling or reader, of the setting of this information. The setting defines reality. Like predetermined patterns that become expected in a story about the European Middle Ages. If we add an airplane crash landing during vespers in the courtyard of the Monastery the parameters of expectation change. This introduction changes the setting from historical based to fantasy of fiction of some type. But we no longer have an unadulterated account of the European Middle Ages!
This holds true for Scripture as well. The writer closes the infinite possibilities real or imagined with His opening statement, “In the beginning God created…”. Defining the forthcoming account in this way tells us what? The words say; when nothing else existed God out of nothing - Theologically speaking - Ex Nihilo, created the substance. Ba^ra^' as opposed to ya^tsar is used here. TWOT Moody Press Harris, Archer, Waltke 1980, VOL I page 127, says, “The root ba^ra^' has the basic meaning ‘to create’ . It differs from ya^tsar ‘ to fashion’ in that the latter primarily emphasizes the shaping of an object while ba^ra^' emphasizes the initiation of an object”. To be sure there is debate over this however, it seems to me this debate derives from an intention to establish an argument leaning toward some form of the gap theory that allows naturalistic organs to be synchronized into the Biblical account accommodating “Lucifereion Science”.
Before delving into detailed exegesis next time let me conclude with this overview. The foundation given us depicts a perfect very good material world. Those “created” as the Creator’s image and stewards complete and “good”. Creation comes forth not as an apendage or some discharge from a “god” or some other preexisting stuff-ooze but from nothingness separate from the substance of the Creator - God. This picture depects Holyness; a separation, a distinction, dissimilarity, from the created and the Creator - Yahweh. Intelligent design/Creation and Evalutional origins; natural or some spiritual form accommodating religion, any religion, contrast even stand in conflect with one another. What implications does inerrent truth reveal when applied to this setting? In the same way as the airplaine droped into the Middle Ages does synchronized theories of Origins change everything? Can the Cross alone save us if we are “evolving” from primitive to increasing perfection? Can a “Christian” weave together Ex-Nihilo creation and any derivative form of Macro-evolution and still be one?
More next time
Pastor Art

Update

2005-06-20T11:49:00.000-07:00

Prayer Partners
Where did that phrase come from? I don’t think it mentions Prayer Partners in the Bible. It doesn’t mention networking or para-church organizations either. But in this ‘postmodern’ world we are living in, these terms are very familiar.
If Gateway of the Rock is anything at all, it is a para-church organization that is in partnership, or that networks with other groups, churches, ministries. If Gateway of the Rock grows, it will most likely not grow into a church. This area does not need another church, and we do not feel that the LORD is calling us away from this area.
Right now we are a part of Four Corners Community Church. It is an AOG fellowship on the Navajo Reservation. Being a licensed pastor with Open Bible Standard Churches puts a limit on the involvement that Pastor Art can have in leadership at the Church. He is on the worship team. Plays a mean conga! And has close, prayerful friendships with the senior pastor and worship leader. Maryellen is on the dance team and helps with children’s church.
Reviewing the past eight days demonstrates what Gateway of the Rock is and what it can become.
The worship team of Four Corners Community Church (http://4ccchurch.org) is recording a CD (http://therockwithwings.blogspot.com/) So Pastor Art has been involved with that. The dance team at FCCC joined with another dance team to open a woman’s conference Thursday morning and Friday evening, and there were rehearsals involved.
Then there was the fund raising effort for Passion Play Ministries International. (http://www.passionplayintinc.org/)
We’ve been involved with The Passion Play of the Four Corners ever since we’ve been in this area. When we were a “church” our whole congregation was involved. One of the most exciting aspects of the Passion Play is that for about 3 months Unity in the body of Christ is a reality. It is not put on by any one church. It is not performed in a church. The cast and crew this year represented no less than 30 area churches. We had Baptists, AOG, Nazarene, Catholic, Methodist, and nondenominational. Several pastors were involved. Our cast ranged in age from one year old to 80. For 12 weeks they came to rehearsals 2 nights a week from five different nearby towns. They worshiped together, prayed together and worked together to proclaim through drama the greatest story ever told. Seven performances in the Civic Center of Farmington New Mexico for thousands of people from the Four Corners area, at no charge. And similar performances were done in Las Vegas, Denver, South Africa, India etc. But the cast and crew are all members of local churches in those communities. Passion Play sends out support teams that help translate the script, provide assistance with costume, sets and staging. And then once the support team leaves, the play continues to share the good news and build disciples for years to come. Art has been local prayer coordinator, Maryellen has been children block leader, and as we said, our “church” has been in the cast and crew for years. Helping this organization raise funds for its continued overseas ministries is an honor and privilege. Art provided prayer coverage and support through out the telephon and Maryellen answered phones. It is a joy to spend time with the Passion Play family.
June 18th is the officially proclaimed Navajo Nation Day of Prayer. It was set aside in 2001 by the then President of the Navajo Nation, Kelsey Begaye. It was a result of monthy prayer meetings the President held in his home during his term, to which Pastor Art was invited and in which he faithfully participated. The head of these prayer efforts is Brother Anderw Begaye, of Calvary Love ministries. Gateway of the Rock has been a co-sponser of this event for the past 3 years. This year we were busy spreading the word, helped set up, lead, and tear down. The event is held at the Veterns park in Window Rock, the capital city of the Navajo Reservation. We are happy to work for and worship with Brother Begaye. He had tee shirts this year. $10 each. We’re not into selling things, but there were a bunch left over, incase anyone is interested. Art has been careful not to be “the white guy in charge”. He and Maryellen are part of the steering committee for next year’s event. It is shaping up to be a call to the Navajo Nation to come together in a Solemn Assembly of prayer to break down the strongholds that have kept all but 7% of the Navajo population from coming to Christ.
Today, Monday the 20th of June, we will be going into Farmington to pray with St. John’s Episcopal Church for the Four Corners Community. It is a church in crisis, because the leadership is in rebellion against the current issues of homosexuality etc. There may be a split, and they may loose their building. But that is not the main focus of the prayer.
Eight days of ministry. Eight days of Kingdom business. Eight days of partnership, networking, praying and worshiping. Still, how is this Gateway of the Rock? How is this a ministry of Open Bible Standard Churches? And what of the vision? What of the future? In His time, according to His will and purposes.
Submitted by
Maryellen Brokop
Gateway of the Rock Ministries
PO Box 412
Shiprock, NM 87420

Sword Drill

2005-06-10T06:27:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 4:12: For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart!

It's a game played by youth groups and children's churches.
Some main line groups have official competitions with ribbons and trophies.

We always added a twist, seeing how soon the contestants could discover the theme.

Here's an example.
Find these verses. The first one to stand and read gets a point. Five points for discovering the theme.

Isaiah 32:2
Psalm 19:14
Matt 7:24
Isaiah 28:16
Romans 9:33

How many more verses can you find that would go with the theme?

There is a rock here that can be seen for miles.
The map and guide books call it Shiprock.
The people of the land call it The Rock With Wings

Psalm 61 could have been written for this place:
"Hear my cry, O God;
attend unto my prayer,
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee,
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
for thou hast been a shelter for me
and a strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in thy tabernacle forever:
I will trust in the covert of thy wings...

The very first worship team we were a part of used to sing
"Jesus is the Rock and He rolls my blues away!"
And how many saints gone by have song "Rock of Ages"
Now we raise our voices in a new song,
"Your my Rock and my Redeemer, you're the reason that I sing!"

It is times like these, when we find ourselves in the midst of a storm, that we find our refuge in the shelter of the Great Rock, on whom is built our hope and our faith. The people, the dine', our brothers and sisters here in Shiprock, seem to understand this concept on a deeper level than most.

We have a name that means something out here. And we have a vision.
We partner as individuals with other churches, ministries. We labor in other men's fields. We find rest in God alone who is our rock and our salvation (Psalm 62), and we wait for the "go ahead" to begin the work the LORD has set for us to do as Gateway of the Rock.
How long Lord? How Long?

Clarification

2005-06-09T14:30:00.000-07:00

"Like a refuge from the wind and a shelter from the storm, like streams of water is a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land... Isaiah 32:2

Pastor Art Brokop II is licensed by Open Bible Standard Churches, whose purpose is to glorify God and bring people to Jesus Christ.

We believe the Bible is the inspired and living Word of God and is the only infallible guide and rule of our faith.

The goal and purpose of Gateway of the Rock is from Isaiah 61, that in the prevailing darkness of this age, the light of Jesus will shine and to that light all nations, tribes and tongues will come to worship and honor the Living God!

We partner with other communities of faith in the Four Corners region of the USA in prayer, worship, and to prepare leaders who will equip the saints to disciple the nations. Our current snail mail address is

PO Box 412, Shiprock, NM 87420.

Emergent?

2005-05-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

True Emergence - Seed of Faith
From the Ancient Crop in Cleared Ground
What is the task of ‘The Church’ - of ‘Ministry’? The answer appears repetitively throughout Scripture. One of the most direct descriptions is as follows;
‘Clear a way for Yahweh in the wilderness;
Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God’
Isaiah 40:3
Isaiah declared this John the Mikva man (the baptiser) took up His mantle. Jesus later preached about the Kingdom. Many in our day are throwing off mantles; inherited anointing from men of ‘old’ who following the Holy Spirit spoke the Kingdom into the Body of Christ. Being alive does mean change and betterment (if that is a word) except today’s concept is more in line with the Karl Marx then the Creator of the universe.
With anger, with disbelief, and confusion you reading this are saying just what does this crazy man mean? Ponder a minute or two or more if need be the process going on today within the ‘ Western Church’.
Most everyone understands that as we stand at this point in history a stagnant pond or rotting corpse better typifies who we have become.
Have you flipped through a catalog of available renewal - or revival books lately or the general reading from the latest teacher? Let’s see, we need a purpose, there are authority figures giving us lists on how to be, better at this and that, or successful habits ‘guaranteed’ to enhance your life your church or just about anything your little heart desires.
Just how does this reflect Karl Marx? He is known for making practical the ideas of changing people and eventually social structures from how they are to what we deem them to be through the ‘dialectic process’.
The concept goes like this: first we state the condition currently understood ‘thesis’. Then, spokesmen perceived as authorities, explain why the state of existence is detrimental and provides the picture of how the change will benefit the listener -‘the antithesis’ Then through some process the ‘old’ most be thrown off and the ‘new’ must be embraced, synthesis. [Now mind you this outline reflects a simplified pattern but a pattern just the same.]
Jeremiah speaking to Israel a nation a people given the revelation of the Creator and His heart and mind for their reason for existence proclaims to them while they were in the same type of predicament as we are today says, ‘Stand by the good ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.’ Jeremiah 6:16. This directive stands in contradiction to today’s pattern of change imposed upon the ‘Church’ in our day.
Correction in the Body of Christ is needed. Yes! How should this correction take place?
First we need to throw off what encumbers us. Paul calls this sin. After that the pattern from Scripture, ‘Clear the way, stand by the ancient way, proclaim His Kingdom’. Nowhere in the teachings of Scripture emerges a mandate to alter existing conditions through casting aside the old. In fact as we have read the direction leans toward recapturing, reestablishing, and instructing the current confused people the ancient ways.
Unless I am totally daft a tender shoot emerging out of cleared prepared ground planted from the old crop best describes Kingdom principals of correction and the true emergent church!!
This is the goal of Gateway of The Rock ministries.
Pastor Art

Mega Church, Micro Church, No Church, Future Church

2005-05-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

You all know what a Mega Church is right? Some people might compare it to a Super WalMart or a shopping mall. In fact some of the most famous Mega Churches are in converted shopping malls. I’ve always been most comfortable in the familiar community type church. One with Sunday School, mid week services, pot luck dinners and Christmas Pageants with cute kids wearing tinsel halos or cardboard crowns. When we moved to Farmington, NM, it was to pastor a little church on the American Indian Bible Ministries complex. We were affiliated with the Free Methodist Denomination. The congregation was tiny, about 10 plus the 4 Brokops. The piano player was white, and her husband was the care taker of the complex. Everyone else was Navajo. The “job description” said that we were to develop a multicultural ministry in the little church that was called simply “The Church at Famington.” We were only there for 6 months, and grew the congregation to 30+. It was on the way to becoming a nice little community type church. We had a good thing going, but it didn’t last. The leadership of the complex on which the church was located decided a Navajo Pastor could do a better job. They over ruled the desires of the congregation and sent us packing. After serving as assistant pastor and children’s coordinator for a while, Art was offered a position as pastor of Living Grace Church. This was an Open Bible Standard church, a really nice facility. A real tiny congregation. No Salary. So of course we took it. We tried everything we could think of to make that church grow, as had the pastor before us. We changed its name to Gateway of the Rock, to reflect some of the prophesies that had been spoken over us and our ministry. We lost some people, we gained some people, mostly kids. And after a couple of years we knew we couldn’t afford to keep the building. So with an average attendance of 12 (counting the 4 Brokops) we became a home fellowship. Within a month of moving into our front room, our average attendance sprung up to 24, about 10 adults and 10 folk under 14, and 6 of them were Brokops. Most were related to each other, moms, dads, aunt, cousins, etc. We had 4 generations going. Every Sunday morning 3 packed cars would drive up to our house. We had the family room set up as the Church room and we’d all crowd in. The kids sat on the floor. Pastor Art would play his guitar, the kids would bang on tambourines or maracas and we’d sing about 5 or six songs. Then the kids went into the front room to color and watch veggie tales while the adults had a Bible Study. It was all pretty casual. When the Bible study was done we’d all get together for the closing prayer and than have brunch. On Wednesdays, about 12 of us would get together at another persons home for a Bible Study. A few times someone in the family called on a Saturday night to say their car broke down, and we’d activate the phone tree and move the service to their house that week. Pastor Art wanted to make sure that Gateway of the Rock was a Church, a ministry, not just a group of people getting together. We became active members of the Christian Community of the Four Corners region. As I give the following stats, remember that at most we are talking about 25 people. 90% of our Church participated in the Passion Play of the Four Corners, a dramatic production about the last week of our LORD’s life which involves more than 30 area churches and 100 cast members. It is a 12 week commitment. 80% of our people helped prepare and serve an Easter Dinner for the homeless through “Frontline Mission”. 7 of our Children (ages 2 thru 12) sang “Jesus Loves the Little Children” at a community patriotic celebration. About 50% of us participated in community worship and outreach events during the summers of 2002 and 2003. We had an all church scavenger hunt to collect food for the hungry – we got 6 big baskets full. We helped prepare and serve the Salvation Army Thanksgiving dinners and visited several area churches when they had special events or speakers. We sang carols at an area nursing home.

But there were some problems. We didn’t have a youth group, or a children’s ministry. They kids were always and only with their own siblings or cousins.

They needed more. And some family issues arose that threatened to divide.

Besides which, Pastor Art and I were going through some deep, serious family issues our selves. We needed a break. So after Passion Play 2004 we discontinued our fellowship. Our people had formed friendships with several people from several different churches. We prayed with them and blessed them and sent them on their way. We then became members of Four Corners

Community Church in Shiprock NM. We love it there. But we know that it is only for a season. God’s plan for Gateway of the Rock Ministries is not finished. We don’t think we will ever be a church again. At least not a church that would fit into any of the current models. More like a ministry center. We can see it, in the distance. We talk about it, we pray about it, and we wait. Open Bible Standard churches are willing to pray and wait with us, because they know too, God has a plan!

Praying with the Family of God

2005-05-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

Pastor Art, prayer warrior!
Gateway of the Rock, a name and a dream.
Visions and Prophecies and waiting.
Not so patiently.
And so we pray.
We pray with our church family. We are not leaders there. Pastor Art plays drums on the worship team. Maryellen dances with the dance team. The pastor, our pastor, preaches from the Word and from the Heart. But it is not Gateway of the Rock.
We pray with Father Carl and his prayer team at St. John's Episcopal Church. We go there every Christmas eve for midnight mass, and have gone to Taize worship services there. Father Carl is a friend, a brother in the LORD. He is struggling now because of the serious problems in his denomination that are sure to lead to a split. So we pray for him, and we pray with him, and his prayer team for our community, the Four Corners Community - Farmington, Shiprock and beyond. But that's not Gateway of the Rock.
On Thursdays, some Thursdays when our schedule permits, we pray with the "down and outers" at the LORD's Pantry, a food cupboard in a church called The Oasis. We sit down with the "Clients" and we pray for them, with them. They are people in crisis and the prayers are urgent. We think that our community needs a place to shelter and disciple these people. That they need more than just once a week. They need more than just food and clothes. Maybe someday that will be Gateway of the Rock. The prophesies said we'd restore ruins, and preach good news to the poor and bind up the broken hearted. Isaiah 58 and 61. But for now, we pray.
This week we prayed with many fellow believers, in the warm New Mexican sun, with a gentle Holy Spirit breeze blowing. We prayed with our church, and the Reformed Church, and the United Methodist church, and several others. We prayed for the USA (it was after all the National Day of Prayer) and we prayed for the Navajo Nation because that is the community that we live in. We worshiped together, with electric guitars, and lots of drums, and chorus's and hymns. We prayed together, Navajo, Ute, Hopi, Apache, Hispanic, and Anglo. And on the list of participating pastors was, Pastor Art Brokop - Gateway of the Rock Ministries.
Right now we are praying that the impossible is possible. We pray that the promise and the prophesies made over us and our ministry are actually coming to fruit. We pray for a friend and sister named Sussan.
"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness..."
We carry a burden for our family, for our sons, for our personal situation which is very hard...
yet that is not Gateway of The Rock. God says that He has our personal problems all under control, even if it doesn't seem that way. God says seek to go about Kingdom Business.
So we pray,
LORD, let Gateway of the Rock be a living, vibrant ministry, to the glory of your Name...soon and very soon...Yes and Amen
Yes and Amen

Open Bible in New Mexico

2005-04-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

Well, we just got home from Annual Conference - a delightful experience. And we are asking ourselves what, and why, and how do we do what the Lord is calling us to do as representatives of Open Bible in Navajo Country - Dine'Tah? Currently we are worshiping and serving at Four Corners Community Church in Shiprock, New Mexico...an AOG church. Art is on the worship team and part of the leadership of the prayer initiative to reclaim Shiprock in the name of the LORD. (a year long spiritual warfare project). Maryellen teaches children's church twice a month and is on the dance team. It is a good place to be, an exciting place to be considering what the Lord is doing there. We also have connections with no less than 5 other ministries in the four corners region: United Methodist, Episcopal, Baptist, and a para church ministry, as well as AOG with which we minister in service and prayer.. But where is the Open Bible connection? We wait and we hope and on the horizon we see the hint of a new thing emerging, so we pray.
This we know. This we have learned. We are in an area that illustrates vividly the concept of "every tribe, tongue, and nation." Multicultural Christianity is possible and necessary here, although not always easy to attain. At our church, where most of the people are Navajo, our worship leader is a Pollack from Chicago, our dancers dance to Jewish music, our youth group and worship team have Anglos, Hopis, Apaches, Utes, as well as Navajo, our pastor is a halfbreed. That sentence isn't very politacally correct, but that's the way they describe themselves. Outside of the church, the native people in particular, are in great bondage.. They continue to walk in darkness. Some struggle with the question, can they be Indian and Christian. Can they be Christian and Indian. Jesus is still very much seen as the "white man's god". The elders are tired, the men are discouraged, and the youth are angry. There are many churches here. In Farmington, the boarder town, there are some pretty big, mostly white ones. On the reservation there are lots of little, family, type churches, mostly mission churches supported by various denominations. Four Corners Community Church is one of the very few churches on the reservation that is not a mission church, but rather self supporting. And there are a lot of revivals out here. Signs are up everywhere, "Revival Tonight!". Summer is coming. That means youth mission groups coming out to do Vacation Bible Schools. Although only about 5% of the native american population in the USA are born again Christians, many, many people have heard the message. In the past two weeks we have had personal encounters with individuals who were in bondage to drugs and alcohal, but were able to quote scripture, and claimed to have been down the "Roman Road". Something more than evangelism is needed here. Another church is not needed. If we had the ways and means, this is what we would do. We would have an crisis and descipleship ministry for men. We would have a training program for pastors and church leaders, a Bible School of sorts, to help them to become better leaders without making them leave their homes to go to school. We would have a radio ministry to reach the people on the outskirts of civilization, as they herd their sheep or sit on the stoop of their hogans to greet the dawn. We would continue to partner with established ministries here, continue to sing the songs of the land, continue to fight the good fight against the spirits of darkness here as we strive to enlighten the spirits of the people of this land with the true light, the Light of the world, and the Open Bible which will be the light unto their path.

Another Year Passes

2005-04-21T09:31:00.000-07:00

It is time again for the Mountain Plains Region of Open Bible Standard Church's to have their annual conference, in Colorado Springs. Last year at this time, we were getting ready to shut down our Home Fellowship (Micro Church) and go on a Sabbatical. The summer was really hard, the winter was relaxing, and it is spring again. Where is the LORD leading us as far as minstry is concerned? We are making the trip in faith and with hope for renewal, refocus, redirection. If you are reading this, we would ask for your prayers as we seek the Will of our LORD.
Pastor Art and Maryellen

He is...we are

2005-04-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

"Like a refuge from the wind and a shelter from the strom, like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land..."Isaiah 32:2

We are part of the Open Bible Standard Churches whose purpose is to glorify God and lead people to Jesus Christ...We believe the Bible is the inspired and living Word of God and is the only infallible guide and rule of our faith...Our goal and purpose is from Isaiah 61, that in the prevailing darkness of this age, the light of Jesus will shine, and to that Light all nations, tribes and tongues will come to worship and honor the Living God!

We are about Bible study and Teaching. We are about Worship. We are about drama and the arts. We are about multicultural Christianity. We are about seeking first the Kingdom of God.

We are going to annual conference soon. We have been on a sabbatical for a year. We are waiting. We are praying. We are partnershipping with brothers and sisters here in the Four Corners, through Four Corners Community Church, Passion Play Ministries International, the Oasis, and St. John's Episcopal.

He Is... He is the air we breathe. He is the reason we sing. He is the author of our lives. Because He is, we are...

Gateway of the Solid Rock

2005-04-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

Gateway Of The Rock

What rock? Shiprock perhaps. Actually, Christ the Solid Rock of the Psalms. And the Rock upon which the wise man built his house. All other ground is sinking sand. Jesus tse’ nil dzi lii (“Jesus, the rock that does not move” in Navajo…my key board does not have a “slash l” so its not written exactly right.) When we first came to the Northwest corner of New Mexico, we were assigned to a multicultural church, which was seeking to build a congregation that reflected the culture of the area. It was a place where every tongue, tribe and nation gathered; at least it seemed that way in Walmart on Saturday. The challenge: to build a ministry, a church that represented the Body of Christ in all its colors and styles. This is what the LORD had been preparing us for. This was where we belonged. We embarked on this adventure with joy. But alas, the task was more complicated that we anticipated. One does not use the word “racism” in Farmington, New Mexico.

And the pledge to the New Mexican flag contains the words, “perfect friendship among united cultures,” but there is a very strong feeling of “us and them” out here. We were told by two gentlemen, one Navajo and one a missionary who had been here for years, that they (meaning the Navajos) would never accept us or like us because we were white. I honestly never felt white before. And although my husband looks more like a burly Russian than a native American, his grandmother was ½ Navajo, and used to tell him stories about her home land. To him coming here was like coming home, but there was no welcoming committee. The church actually did grow under our leadership. We went from an average attendance of 12 to an average attendance of 35 in 4 months. We partnered with another church of the same denomination in town with our midweek children’s ministry. And our greatest success was our Christmas Pageant; 15 kids, half and half, performing two nights, one in the church in town, the other in the church on the edge of the rez. Perfect friendship among United Cultures. BUT, “our” church was on a mission compound, and the powers that were decided that they needed a Navajo Pastor. We were told we needed to leave. Our congregation, including some very respected, very Navajo, people argued on our behalf, but the committee listened to the Navajo leader of the mission, and we were sent packing. Eventually we took over leadership of a small congregation in Farmington, mostly White and Hispanic, became a home fellowship/micro church which became Gateway of the Rock, a ministry of Open Bible Standard churches. Due to some family problems, and a subsequent need to heal, we directed our “flock” to another area church, and moved to Shiprock, a lovely little city on the Navajo Reservation, where we are currently worshiping and working with Four Corners Community Church. Those gentlemen who warned us that we would never be liked or accepted by the people, the Dine’ were wrong. The people there are our family.

Pastor Art still has his credentials and license with Open Bible, and still does some “independent” ministry under the Gateway of the Rock banner. And still we hold to the promise and the vision that we were given when we moved here in 1998. Every now and then, I start to believe, that someday we will move back onto the compound where we began our ministry here. It is all but abandoned now, over run with weeds, tagged by gangs. It’s web site hasn’t been updated in over a year. I think the denomination that sponsored it is still supporting it. But nothing is being done there. I drive by it often, and pray over the place. It was dedicated to the LORD 53 years ago and seems to be going to waste. How I would love the Isaiah 58:8-12 promise to apply to our ministry at what used to called the AIBM (American Indian Bible Ministry). For now this pastor without a church, without a flock, and his school teacher wife, continue to seek first the Kingdom of God and pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done…” Yes Lord, even so, Amen.

Submitted by Maryellen Brokop

Rainbow over Hog Back

2005-03-24T06:26:00.000-07:00

2 Kings Chapter 2 verse 19-21
Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold now, the situation of this city is pleasent, as my Lord sees, but the water is bad and the land is unfruitful. " And he said, "Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it" so they broght it to him and he went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said "Thus says the LORD "I have purified these waters, there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer."
Matthew 5:13
You are the salt of the earth...
From my wife's journal: March 23, 4:40pm mst.
Highway 64, east bound, leaving the Navajo Reservation, heading into Farmington, New Mexico.
A place called "Hogback", the target area of our church's current prayer effort. Very dark, stormy sky ahead, wind blowing. 24 hours before, we were at that spot, praying over the river, at the foot of Hogback, at the entrance to the Rez, the Eastern Gate.
As we approached the mountain today, we say a hint of a rainbow, a swatch of color at the southern base of the mountain. Then as we got closer the full rainbow appeared, we could see both ends of it, it was over the mountain full and beautiful. In the dark sky a second rainbow started to form. It extendted over the road ahead of us and seemed to touch down in the river, at the very spot we were praying yesterday. The second rainbow never fully formed. But we saw the whole experience, which lasted for just a matter of minutes, as a symbol of hope, a reminder that God keeps His promises, a confirmation "He knows what His children are doing and He approves."
He has purified the waters that flow into Shiprock. "There shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer."
I am not a pastor in this church, I am not a shepherd of this flock...just one of the sheep, satisfied with joining in their passion for the people of this land...honored to stand with them...Art

The Salt of the Earth

2005-03-22T15:17:00.000-07:00

Salt in the River: Healing the Land
This is input around 2nd Kings 2:19-22.
Elisha adding salt to the water was acting as a Priest as well as Prophetically. The geographic location is important, Jericho was the entrance city of Israel in their return/ restoration.
Using salt is a sign of covenant agreement between two parties and is still in use today in the Middle East. When parties agree to something they sit down eat bread and salt together as a sealing. This includes the offerings unto Yahweh. Numb.18:19, 2nd Chron.13:5
Salt is a main ingredient in the temple incense along with the other spices in equal amounts for the alter of ’prayer’.
In Ezekiel 43:18-27 as he is being shown the restored Temple (most likely the Eternal one) the alter is being cleansed and the sacrifices are being burned (holocaust- whole burnt offering Hebrew idea- burnt until all the wood is gone a complete purifying) the salt of the covenant is thrown on.
As we stand at the Eastern entrance of the Navajo Nation the salting of the San Juan River has great power and witness to the seen and unseen powers.
The river itself speaks loud about Yahweh’s heart for this land and “The Character of the Land” He gave when He set it aside for the Dine, Gen.11, Deut.32:7-8, Acts 17:22-31.
As per a conversation with Eric two important facts have come to my attention. The river as far as he knows has no specific Navajo name, and the people who are identified by this river are called “people from the water”.
Adding this to the name of this “water” being named specifically for the first time “San Juan” this leads us to a part in the picture Yahweh wants us to see.
The rivers name translated to into Hebrew is actually a strong statement. The Spanish into English most every one knows- Saint John. The Hebrew is Qadosh Yochanan or maybe Nazar instead of Qadosh. Either means separation but as Yahweh was speaking to me about this a couple of weeks ago the thought was Qadosh so I will go with that.
Any way the statement is; Qadosh- selected and set aside
Yochanan- the mercy, grace ie salvation deliverance of Yahweh.
Combining these we understand that the San Juan River and its region of influence mean: This water and the people sustained by it are set aside as messengers or proclaimers of Yahweh’s grace salvation, leading to deliverance from bondage from the kingdom outside of His (set apart). This influence is upon all who are sustained by the River’s flow. (And from the conversation with Pastor Eric, this river is “the” main maybe only water source on the Reservation.)
During the conversation he said that people who were identified from this region were call, “Out from the water people”. This would then mean that since there was not a particular name for what the Spanish called the San Juan then those of us in Shiprock (largest settlement on the Reservation connected to the River) are the people of the water that has been set aside by the Creator-Yahweh to speak of His Salvation to the region.
Also the San Juan River Basin is a micro (smaller) image of the Colorado Plateau which I think is a sign that the heart of the Plateau is the San Juan River Basin therefore the starting point for the Four Corners.
Therefore as we place the Salt and other spices (contained in the anointing oil in to the river we are acknowledging Yahweh’s plan for the “Out of the Water People” as bring life-living water to the rest of the dry and weary land.
Let us cast the Salt of the Covenant on the Water.

The Prophesy

2005-03-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

For the ministry...

Jeremiah 33:10ff
Thus says YHWH, yet again there shall be heard in this place, of which you say, it is a waste, without man without beast, that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, without inhabitant and without beast, the voice of joy and the voiceof gladdness, the voice of the bridegroom, the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the Lord is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Isaiah 32:2
Like a refuge from the wind and a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land...

For Pastor Art and Maryellen

Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Lord is upon (you) because the Lord has anointed (you) to preach good news to the poor. He has sent (you) to build up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners. To proclaim the year of the LORD's favor...

And so we wait...