Generational Bitterness Ends With ME.

[This is from Bill P. Steven is going to give his editorial comments as we go...]


The physical illnesses and diseases associated with bitterness, anger, unforgiveness and the related underlings have and continue to stand-out to me. [Bill and I had a conversation last week about this and I said I would just LOVE for him to write about it. So he did! Get ready. First, a little of Bill's background:]

My father died of pancreatic cancer (in 2002) at the age of 50. For several years prior to becoming ill with cancer, he battled rheumatory arthritis. Rheumatory arthritis is literally a crippling illness. Both cancer and arthritis are associated with the strongholds of bitterness and unforgiveness. My father's mother died of colon cancer, and had another sister die of colon cancer. My dad’s brother has also battled arthritis and cancer. There is a generational stronghold of cancer (and probably arthritis) in my grandmother’s family lineage. This is not true for any of my other grandparents including my grandfather, who is my dad’s father, as he is still alive and in reasonably good health at 85. Colon cancer is associated with those who hold onto the sins of others. I do not know for sure what sins of others that my grandmother may or may not have been unable to release. Likewise, I am not aware of the particulars as to bitterness and unforgiveness in my dad’s life. I had a fantastic relationship with my dad and his long sickness and death devastated me for a period of time and continues to impact me today. [That's the set-up: this stuff has been hanging around Bill's family for years and years. Do you think the enemy would take a look at Bill and go, "Not this kid! He's a nice guy! And he's learning how to trust Jesus. I'll just leave him alone..."? Do ya? Yeah, right.]

In my own life, I am aware that bitterness and unforgiveness have been strongholds. I was much more critical of people and unforgiving at earlier ages (high school, college and young adult). I see now that much of that actually was influence from my father. I have no blame for my dad; I am disappointed as a son who does not want to think that his father had shortcomings.
I have been struggling with pain in my right hip, groin and lower back for the past year or so. After several doctor visits, MRIs, medical procedures, etc., they have determined that my right hip has significant deterioration and arthritis, presumably from some type of accident (car or bicycle) or athletic injury at a younger age, as there are no other signs of arthritis in the left hip or any other joints. My doctor seems convinced that this extreme arthritis could have only been caused by such an accident or athletic injury. I, however, have no recollection of such injury as a child or teenager. [Anybody else find this mildly weird?] Long before the doctor diagnosed my symptoms as having been caused by arthritis in my hip, I believed the physical pain to be associated with a spiritual issue. Long before the strongholds class, I could not get past a feeling and idea that I needed to somehow “release" this spiritual issue so as to literally loosen up my hip and groin and release the pain and tightness. [Where do you think that "feeling" came from? I'm putting my money on the idea that it was the Holy Spirit speaking to Bill.] More than ever, I believe this to be true and confirmed to me previously by others in our community and now in this stronghold class. [Alright!]

When I began the Strongholds class, I knew that bitterness and unforgiveness would be major strongholds for me to break. I did not suspect, though, that anger had any hold or effect on me. I think that is because I associate anger with people who are mean and/or violent, which is not me. However, it has become clear to me that I need to deal with and repent from anger in my life: [Get ready. It's about to get crazy good!]

The Tuesday before the first Strongholds class, I went to the bathroom and then stood up to find the toilet full of blood. Later that day, this again occurred. Both times there was a LOT of blood – not just a few drops. On Tuesday night, I went down to the basement to feed our cats. As I squatted down to put food in the cat bowls, I noticed several red drops below me on the concrete floor. I was bleeding through my boxer shorts, and the pair of pants that I was wearing was soaked in blood. [WHAAAAT?!??! ANYBODY ELSE EVER BLED STREAMS OF BLOOD OUT YOUR ANUS!??! Yeah, me neither.] After I calmed down, I realized that the blood resulted from a hemorrhoid. Before that night, I did not even know what exactly a hemorrhoid was. The very next night in our strongholds class, Steven mentioned that anger was associated with aneurisms and that varicose veins and hemorrhoids were a form of aneurism. [Bill is making me look like a genius, but I was just reporting what I learned from reading A More Excellent Way.] I have had no symptoms of a hemorrhoid since that day and may I never again. [Right on!! So what exactly did you do about it, Bill?]

It is clear that the Lord wanted to get my attention and he did through my own bright red blood. Not only was I to repent from bitterness and unforgiveness, but also from anger--then pray for release and freedom.

Like I said, I know anger, bitterness and unforgiveness all to be strongholds that want to destroy my soul just as cancer and arthritis destroy flesh. I also know anger, bitterness and unforgiveness to be generational in parts of my family. My prayer is simple and I frequently repeat it to the Lord: “Forgive my sins! I forgive those who have sinned against me, I want to be released from the strongholds of anger, bitterness and unforgiveness. Save my soul, have your Holy Spirit battle against my flesh, and drive bitterness, unforgiveness and anger from me, from my boys and my future generations”

I know the Lord can free me from my past and past generations of sin, anger, bitterness and unforgiveness. I have no agreements with anger, bitterness and unforgiveness and do not desire for them to be any part of my life. I know that the Lord can change my future and break off these generational sins and physical ailments and diseases. I now believe strongly that a short life and cancer is not the expectation because of my father’s family history. The Lord can wipe the slate clean and forever change the future for me, my boys and my future generations!

[Holy smokes! This guy is for real! What a great story! If you guys want to hear more stories like that, you need to come to the worship celebration on Aug 5. Also, I encourage you guys to continue to take your place of authority over these craphead spirits and command them to get off your property. Bill had a massive God Light Bulb come on and now stands against those powers that sought to take him out. Let's take a tip from Bill and assume our posts as our family's resident sentinel. Way to be, Bill! And thanks for sharing openly with us about your story (and anal leakage).]

The Hippocratic Oath

Though it's not obligatory, many physicians take this Oath as a rite of passage before practicing medicine. See if you think there's anything concerning about this...

I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:

(Any problems so far? Uhhhhhh...)

To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.

I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.

All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.

(Here comes the kicker! Ready for some promises of protection and provision? How about some threats of doom, thrown in for good measure?)

If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.

The Corporate Spirit

When a corporation prizes those who are heroically overworked in stress-filled jobs, a siren song whispers to everyone else in the organization: Make your job difficult, stretch yourself thin, stress yourself out and eventually you, too, may be honored with executive approval. If you desire the blessing of the Mighty Corporate Fathers: work longer hours (than is sensible); take on more responsibility (than is sensible); make your job harder (than is sensible). Do this, and your sacrifices will be celebrated and your worth confirmed.

This cultural seduction plays into the old illusion that if we just work hard enough, and if we just work long enough…
We will finally be found valuable…
Finally be found lovable…
And finally find security.

Gordon MacKenzie, Orbiting the Giant Hairball

Dora (who, because of her background in rejection, was a prime candidate for the occult) found herself wrapped in a warm blanket of corporate strangeness when she worked at Campbell’s Soup, Inc. I found it so odd that they repeatedly referred to their employees, in mailers and promotional materials, as a “family”. I had never worked for a corporation of that size before, and found that language bizarre. “Honey,” I would say, “you perform a service for those people, and they pay you for your time. That’s an employer/employee relationship. That’s not family. That’s not how family works.”

But it’s just how they say it. They mean, ‘We like each other. We’re nice.’

Well then, they should say, “Campbell’s Soup: A Very Congenial Atmosphere For Employment.” I don’t like them re-appropriating terms that don’t belong to them. It bastardizes the word “Family”, which is not okay with me. Schools do the same thing. But just because they call themselves my family doesn’t mean they are.

[She assumes a look that says, “You are, once again, overstating something minor.”]

Come on, babe! It’s just like the word, “church”! That word can’t be borrowed or slapped on a building! It’s offensive! That word is too precious! An organization isn’t a church- a church is the body of Christ! And a corporation can’t be a family! They will not always love you! Their love for you- if that word even applies- is PERFECTLY conditional! Stop making them millions of dollars and see how many years you remain part of the “Family”!

(While we’re on the subject of precious words, don’t EVER call two people in homosexuality “married.” This is one of the many places where we’re going to have to oppose the U.S. of A.)

I can’t say she was totally convinced, but when she started learning about the occult and idolatry she was more interested. I’ve asked her how many times corporate headquarters have called her since she quit—you know, just to check on her, see how she’s doing. Interestingly, they haven’t called.

Some family.

So be wary, you Smart and Talented Men, of the Corporation telling you they will provide you will security, provide for your future, protect you from the financial storms ahead, blah blah blah. They may be lies based on good intentions (most of these people don’t know better than to talk that way, and I don’t blame them), but they’re lies nonetheless. Take a tip from Neo and unplug from the mainframe. (By all means, keep doing a great job and accept the paycheck! I’m not saying quit your job.)

I’m wary of the School spirit, I’m wary of National Pride and, yes, I’m wary of the Corporate Spirit, too.

Alcohol Embargo!

this, from Brett Cassidy-


I remember it like it was yesterday. My Dad was visiting for my fraternity's "Dad's Weekend" in 1998 and we were both returning home from the bars, no doubt stumbling a bit. Then, in all seriousness, and my Dad can be scary serious, he said to me, "Brett, you're grandfather was an alcoholic. That's why your grandma divorced him. And I'm an alcoholic. You need to be very careful with this booze so it doesn't happen to you." Granted, he had just spent the night buying me drinks.

Fast-forward several years and I had not taken his warning to heart. I drank multiple nights a week, trying to fill up some loneliness, trying to fit in, trying to get myself to that fun-loving drinker personality. Ugh. It didn't work.

So when I received a DUI in November of 2003, I felt really thankful to God, even though my relationship with Him wasn't that great. Seemingly non-existent is a better way to describe it. Yet, I feel like he was watching over me, and I was grateful my traffic incident was a simple traffic stop, not a mangled car crash, driving the wrong way on a highway or anything that put me, or more importantly, others in danger.

The next step was to go to church, because I felt guilty for being gone since my teen years. Also, I need to do some cleansing prior to my court date. That was my old way of thinking. Everything turned out fine...suspended license for a bit, some fines and a 3-day weekend program that had the worst food I've ever eaten.

That spring, I hadn't fully changed my ways. No more driving if I drank, but I still drank. My buddy Bryan and I were in a bar one Thursday night, and we both spoke about feeling "a need to be in church" for some reason or another. He mentioned hearing good things about this church in Oakley. I remembered it being an HQ and was always mystified by it.

We went that Sunday, and both of us have been going ever since. He had to pick me up those first few weeks, and when he couldn't go, I drove myself with that suspended license. "God wanted me there" I surmised...I'm still not sure about that. God probably would have been better with a bus or walking.

My drinking still existed, but it was becoming less and less a part of me. Less bars. More understanding and reflection on the emotions I would have about drinking. Definitely more self awareness.

So in the December classes when I learned about how the enemy passes curses down generations, I felt an immediate prompting from God in that room.

Alcohol.

You need to stamp it out.

You do NOT want to risk passing this on.

Do I have to? I mean, I have it under control.

Come on Brett. Is it that big of a sacrifice?

I guess not.

I sat in quiet time with it for a few days, and then just kind of launched it at my wife without prepping her. She disagreed. Thought I was overreacting. Started providing situations where it would be weird and awkward if I didn't drink (something I had done a few years ago to myself).

You don't want your non-believing friends to think you have to stop drinking to follow Jesu,s do you?

Well, no.

And I dropped it.

So when, after Wednesday night's meeting, I stood with guys praying and laying hands on Bryan (yes that Bryan) because he felt the Lord calling him to give up drinking, well, that wasn't a random coincidence.

I told my wife what Bryan told me was going on in his life, how he felt prompted supernaturally. I asked if she remembered when I talked about it. She was embarrassed. I didn't blame or accuse her, but I DID let her know I was on a drinking embargo until further notice.

I'm finally heeding the warnings of my earthly father and my Heavenly Father on this one.

Occult Questions to Consider For Small Groups

I neglected to define the occult in this way, though the last question below alludes to it: wherever you go to get Life's Big Questions answered is what you worship. If you go to a horoscope for guidance in those times, it's idolatry. If you go find somebody who'll prophesy to you, it's the same as going to a tarot card reader: dirty. So here's the questions. Process through them with the LORD, and bring your answers ready to your small group...

What in your life promises provision or protection? What have you looked to for those things? Where do I seek peace other than in my Father?
What "outside" allegiances have you made? (Isaiah 30:1-3) Ex: Church, school, fraternity, company
Are there people in your life with common strongholds as you? Identify who takes you down into the same pit they’re in and obscures your view of Jesus.
Is there any thing in your house (or place) that’s been ‘given over’ and defiled? Does anything in your house or office remind you of sin, lead you to lust, make you meditate on evil? Has anything in your life become an idol? GET RID OF IT or, if it’s a location, REPENT and reclaim the space.
Where’s the FIRST place you go for healing?
Where have I made secret oaths or kept family secrets?
What is your access to information? Where do you get the big questions of life answered? Identify ANY place you get that besides Jesus.

Occult Comments

We talked about idolatry and occult tonight. How'd that go? Questions?

Fear Teaser

Actual ad from a magazine. We won't be dealing with fear for about 5 more weeks, but this was too good to pass up. Do you think the enemy's interested in taking your money away based on fear?

I do.

Brett Cassidy, Man Among Men

Brett Cassidy guest writes with some nuggets:

1. My small group met tonight. We were unsure about "denial", and how to root it out in our lives. Was it in place for specific events, how do we find that out, etc? We surmised that Jesus called us to "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matt 4:17), and for us to be doing anything but this was in fact denial. So, all the "I don't really have a problem with Unloving, my thing is Bitterness", or "I'm good with this", "blah, blah, blah". The enemy has hoodwinked our class to think we are not being assaulted with each and everyone of these on a daily basis.

2. Soul Ties...we took some creative liberty with this. Someone in our group mentioned that he thought of his wife for this because she was the only woman he had ever been with. This included pre-marital sex, a time of separation, and then eventually getting together and getting married. Through listening to him, he had a soul tie to her former self, the sinful flesh she had before she received Jesus and became a new creation. His image of her continued to be tarnished by not seeing his wife with God's eyes, but still being connected to her "former self".

Celebration & Worship Night Scheduled!

Sam Hills gave me a great tip the other night when he said, "You know, the dudes in this class are really starting to break open in worship- it's too bad you can't harness that a little better."

I said something like, "Yeah, but you know how much I like to talk for 90 minutes straight Sam- that is a non-negotiable. Also, where'd you get that cool hat?"

Thinking on it more, though, a couple of things came to mind:

1) You dudes really are bringing the worship kind of strong, in the last couple of meetings
2) I ALWAYS feel like I cut the worship time off short so we can get to content, content, content
3) I am SO encouraged by the stories that get passed around, and I know we only have time for a fraction of those to actually be shared in the meetings.

So, I says to myself, why don't we just do a big worshippy blow-out when we get done with this class? Yeah! We could sing it up to the LORD for his good good delivering ways, share stories of our redeemer battling those things that set themselves against us, and just have a big time! Sam also mentioned how good it would be to have some open time to minister to one another, so we'd like to make some room for that, too. Basically, we want a worshippy, prayer-y carnival of fun and joy. And you're invited. As is your spouse. And anybody else in your community that you want to share this moment with. I can assure you that attempts will be made toward good music (I'm about to get on that), and I can PROMISE you that the stories shared will be encouraging and make you want to lift up your hands to a Savior who loves us that much. (It'll basically be like this:)

Anyhow, it's August 5th (the Wednesday night after we're done), in the chapel. Pencil it in! My wife's class of 40 women and their spouses and friends will also be invited (and they've got killer stories to share, too), so we'll have a good-sized crowd there. It's gon' be STRONG. I encourage you to put the time aside, start working on child care... whatever you need to do.

Sweet. I'm excited about it.

David: Man!

David is, after Jesus, probably the best picture of where we're headed in the Spirit. And one of his greatest exploits was facing and killing Goliath. Some guys asked about where he talked about killing a lion with his bare hands, and it's in the Goliath story. Here's an excerpt from I Sam 17:

34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

Big Nuts David. I love his confidence. Now, he refuses to wear Saul's heavy coat of armor (which represents the law), and instead struts out there free and easy, facing 9-foot Goliath, who's wearing armor and carrying a sword. David is carrying a SLINGSHOT. And this is what he shouts across the field of battle at Goliath:

45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

Then David RAN AT GOLIATH. This boy, no more than 17, carried Goliath's head all the way back to Jerusalem, the capitol, and showed it off to everybody. David knew The God Who Fells Giants.

So don't get too squeamish, men, when I encourage you to get in touch with your emotions, worship with abandon, and weep before the LORD (and your family). There is a masculinity in the LORD that is powerful, brave, and worth reverence. Anybody with me?

The God Who Makes Babies

I have to post this somewhere. Why not here? It's about people getting set free, so.

There is an Infertility Community Group at Crossroads, which is just what it sounds like: a support/prayer group for couples who're not conceiving. Dora and I spoke at this group last year, before we were pregnant, and basically told these people that rejection is the reason we weren't getting pregnant and that we were going to fight this thing to the death and that we would win, not rejection, and we would be pregnant because God said so. Then we did get pregnant (! praise God!), and they asked us back in April to share our story and encourage the folks in the new class.

After the class, we prayed and prophesied with people, breaking off this infertile nonsense (it's anti-Bible, by the way, to think that it's in God's will that some people "just weren't supposed to have children". Hogwash). I prayed with two couples, and Dora prayed, along with another woman, with three. We just got word tonight that, out of those five couples, THREE have since conceived. Holy smokes. These are people who were told that, to even have a CHANCE of conceiving, they would have to do in vitro fertilization. One of the couples was told that they would simply never conceive (but we've heard THAT one before. Bah).

When God gave us our daughter in January, I came to know him as The God Who Makes Babies. He is still on his delivering, body-fixing, baby-making throne today. And I praise him praise him praise him!

Unloving and Addictions

Any thoughts? Comment? Stories to tell?

I was thinking about soul ties while in the shower tonight. I don't know if any of you guys doubt whether these are real, but I was thinking, "If relationships and community are so important for us, and represent TRUTH to us, wouldn't the father of lies have some sort of perversion or imitation of this reality? Of course he would. Soul ties are one version of that."