Shades of Jabez - More Territory Please....

There are many "spiritual warfare" techniques in the church today. In dealing with spirits or past atrocities, "Jericho walks" and "driving stakes" in the ground are ways of marking territory. It is interesting that the North American church is stuck in the rut of "taking territory". I thought that the earth is the Lord's "and the fullness thereof"...

One of the things that some in the church is discovering is that most territories were ALREADY marked and were intended to be under the guardianship of a particular tribe. It does rub some church people the wrong way when I suggest that they contact the tribal elders or their spiritual people, since as church Christians, they are "complete" in Christ and really don't "have to" ask permission from the pagans. In fact many insist that the pagan Indians should be coming to the church as the proper order of things. But most churches fail to realize that after 500+ years, few natives ever ask the church for spiritual advice. When the church is ready to try something different, we are still here...

Spirits at the Rez Elementary School

Spirits are a normal part of native life. On a local reservation, the kids all know about the spirits at the elementary school. The spirits are considered harmless and don't cause any trouble. But it might happen that when some church people here about this, THEY will have the fear and try to get rid of the "demons chasing those indian kids".

This area is a collision of 2 worldviews - how natives see the spirit world and how most non-natives don't. As natives, we tend not to be fearful of spirits unless they are harmful. But for church people, there are only demons and angels. Angels are supposed to be harking around stables and demons are supposed to be cast out. But as I say, it is not so simple or cut and dried for natives.

An area of caution - "stupid boldness". Some Christians believe that because they don't have to "Fear" dark spirits, that they also can go looking for demons under every dreamcatcher and especially around powwows. I don't think that Jesus sent us on a great commission looking for dark spirits, but he did give us authority to cast them out when we encounter them harming people.

I hope this thread of conversation isn't too boring. I do other things too. I was just at the beach with my wife, having a tuna salad, watching kids swim and some others net-fishing for smelt. We stopped by the Aboriginal Friendship Center and the Tshimshians were having a big feast and dancing, but we didn't stay for the feast, even though we have friends there. We have been with so many people lately that we are trying to have some "away from the crowds" time. I am glad that Jesus set this as an example for us, or I am sure that someone would tell us how we are squandering God's time. It sure feels good to rest. I don't think God is nearly as stressed out as most of us are...

I See Church People, Walking....

Out here in Indian Country, we tend to 'see' more spirits. We talk about spirits, good and bad and neutral. Churches don't seem to share the same percerptions, so when indians intersect with the church, it gets pretty exciting (all those white people jumping up and down...) Some try to explain away the spirit world, or call it black or white. But for us it is not so cut and dried. I wish it were as easy as the church tries to make it out to be. But that's not our reality.

There are often explanations for "poltergeists" (german for 'noisy ghosts'). But there are also very dark displays of the spirit world intersecting with our visible world. I could get some friends to share some pretty hairy stories about skinwalkers and such, but I am afraid of sensationalism. There is real, tangible stuff that happens from the spirit world -- don't ever doubt that. There is also unecessary fear.

Then there is that certain portion of the "church without a brain" that cluelessly tries to reason with demons during 'deliverance' sessions, pumping the spirits for information. I am so afraid for a church that interviews demons but never hears from angels. I wonder why that is....

The Meaning of Salmon

We had fresh steelhead last night. I barbecued them with salt and pepper. Everyone was very happy. Even Aunt Carol who had just stabbed herself with a pitchfork in the sweatlodge. Even the teenage German exchange students were impressed. I had a hard time moving all the dogs away from the barbecue. Salmon is our hamburger and our filet mignon. I suppose it depends on how many days in a row you have had a salmon dinner. But the crab louie was great too, made with crab pulled from the bay yesterday. It is good to be a bay indian, or at least to live like one.