Posting from from India

Feb. 9, 2010 Blessings to each of you! The Sunday services at Mark Buntain Memorial A/G were phenomenal. We attended the first English service at 8:30am, Pastor Keith then preached in the 10:30am Hindi translated service, and I was blessed to preach in the 11am Nepali service. This was a huge blessing as my father, Pastor Franklin Roop has been praying for Nepal for years. The people were precious and the Holy Spirit was present. The church actually has 12 Sunday services in 8 different languages, truly a multiple cultural church. Pastor Ivan and his wife Sheila are incredible, Godly people with insight and vision. I was blessed to meet them and spend time with them. We went to SOAR Live on Sunday night, a youth/college/gen-X service with great worship and hundreds of young adults. We got up on Monday Am and flew to Delhi after a crazy congested and even shoving time at the airport. We have been staying in an apartment for mission’s guests and speaking/teaching at Central Bible College in Chhattar Pur, India. The students are from Tibet, China, India, Burma, Myanmar and are precious. There is even an Indian student who was born and raised in Lubbock, Tx. and speaks great English, in fact most of the students do. We are preaching night services and will travel to Agra early tomorrow morning to visit the Taj Majal. I look forward to telling you first hand of this life changing experience very soon. God Bless, pray for me, but more than anything, pray for Christ to be known in India!

Busy street in Calcutta

Feb. 6, 2010 Hey all, just trying to post and update you before I finish my message for tomorrow morning and go to sleep. I will be preaching most likely at the Nepali translated service tomorrow morning at Mark Buntain Memorial A/G and possibly in the Hindi service. We will be bringing greetings at 2 English speaking services today. The last two days have been incredibly filled. We arrived in Calcutta yesterday afternoon at 1:30 and this city of 22 million or so is unique in so many ways. First of all the traffic is crazy, and I thought Chennai was so. Well, not so! I have spent a good portion of the last 2 days driving all over Calcutta and the traffic is always jam-packed. It’s hard to believe how crowded a place can be! Check out the Calcutta video I will try to load in a while on facebook. Today, I was able to go see Mission of Mercy Hospital, School (1,500 students) , Boy’s Home, and another school that reaches 350 a day. They also feed 15,000 people a day at 7 feeding stations twice a day. Some people walk 20 miles to get food! (See pics). Yesterday we went to a “Project Rescue” vocation home where girls who were formerly sex trafficked have (by God’s grace) got out and now work sewing and crafting to make beautiful gifts for their living. We also took a quick drive through just one (the largest) red light area at 5pm. The girls were already shoulder to shoulder on the narrow street but we were told that by 6pm there would be 20,000 girls lined up on this 1/2 mile stretch or so. The need is huge, but our God is bigger. I am praying for the church services tomorrow and for Larry Sharp, also. I love you church and will see you soon! PS We also spent precious time with the gracious pastors at the church, Pastor Ivan and Sister Sheila, some of God’s choice people. In fact, I attended a wedding for some of the young people at the church. Awesome!

Feb. 3, 2010 – Things are going great here in India! I find myself amazed at the culture, overwhelmed by the masses of people, laughing at the crazy traffic. Oh, the traffic, you cannot even imagine! I hope to post a video soon of my camera’s view traveling down the street. And to think that Chennai (with 10 million) is just the 4th largest city in India. Friday, we leave for Calcutta, with a population of over 23 million, the 2nd largest city. Oh My! We will also get our first touch with Project Rescue. In fact, today I rode the van back to the hotel and spoke with a missionary’s wife who is heavily involved in reaching and rescuing the women and the kids. She told me they just rescued a 3 year old from a brothel, 3 years old! Pray for India, my heart is broken, my life is challenged, and my world is forever changed!

2-1-10 Hey all, this is my first post from India – it has been a whirlwind so far – 5 plane flights since we left Cape last Thursday – over 10,000 miles.  We spent the night in Dubai, took a two hour tour of the city.  Wasn’t able to go up in the Burge Tower (new tallest building in the world), have to book one week ahead.  There was so much else to see because the city is incredible and still building everywhere.  Arrived in Chennai (Madras) on Saturday night about 10pm.  Airport, traffic, people overflowing everyplace.  Got to bed at 12:45am and got up at 3am to pray and study to leave hotel at 4:45am.  Drove quite a few miles to preach at Hope Church on the outskirts of Chennai.  1 hour, 15 minutes of praise and worship, preached about “Giant Problems” – pastor’s wife translated  into Tamil.  God moved and I was able to pray for dozens of people.  Church started with about 40 people and turned into well over 300 by preaching time.  Pastor asked if I could stay and preach in the new “English language service” in another part of the building while the second Tamil language service went on.  Blessed, got to speak to mostly younger people.  Prayed for them, went back into end of Tamil service and prayed for more people, including a young married lady who dealing with demonic depression from her former way of life/worship.  She manifested for several minutes (normal stuff here!) and then the Holy Spirit just freed her and she walked away with a new peace.  PTL!  Flew out of Chennai last night to Madurai (an ancient city on the Indian Ocean) of about 1.5 million.  Found out I had internet and am posting in a hurry.  I am getting ready to go teach at an A/G bible college this morning.  Will post pictures and more later today, plus pictures on facebook.   Keep praying!

Pastor Phil’s Fasting Journal

This is my personal fasting journal, really it could be called journey for the 21 day fast at Bethel. Follow and feel free to comment or ask questions. It will address practical, physical and spiritual issues, my prayer is that you will be encouraged to “stay the course” for what the Lord is speaking to you.

Days 18-20, January 20-23 – Thursday through Saturday:  Approaching our 21st day and the Healing, Restoration, and Renewal service on Sunday, January 24th.  God is so good!  I have talked with so many this week who have shared testimonies of answered prayers, restored health, and insight from the fasting and prayer they have done in recent days.  An added blessing is the needed weight loss some have experienced.  I have noticed that my back, in the area of the kidneys, has had some sustained pain in the last several days.  My wife Denise is also experiencing the same thing.   Interestingly, I ended up losing almost the same weight as the fast last year, even though I started 10 pounds lighter.  In fact,  I weighed after working out this afternoon and weighed in at 197 pounds.  Crazy, huh?  Anyway, I am totally anticipating a major move of God and many breakthroughs in many lives tomorrow!  God is on the move and up to something big.  I am preaching on the subject, “Uncharted and Unexpected”.

Days 14-17, January 17-20 – Sunday through Wednesday: Sunday was a great day at Bethel, God moved in an awesome way, He always does when the church seeks Him intensely through fasting and prayer.  I encouraged the body to really press in this last week.  Fast Saturday and Sunday if at all possible, especially Sunday in preparation for Sunday night’s Healing, Restoration and Renewal service.  God’s gonna move, no doubt!  Travelled quite a bit Sunday night, Monday day and Tuesday days,  had a lot of time to meditate and “muse” on the Lord and His word.  Sense of smell is still very acute and dealing with back pain often during the course of the day.  Guess the kidneys are still working overtime.  Weight loss as of Wednesday afternoon, about 30 pounds.  Actually feeling really good, God is in control.  I am praying for continued sensitivity to the Lord throughout each day, not just in prayer and bible reading.  One more thing, I leave for India one week from tomorrow.  Awesome anticipation.  Keep your eyes on Jesus and your spirit in great expectation, God is up to something huge!

Days 12-13, January 15-16 - Friday and Saturday have been great days, seems like I had the energy to get so much done, worked long hours both days.  God is good!  Definitely headed towards the end as far as the fast is concerned.  The tragedy in Haiti is overwhelming, making Haiti a focus of our prayer time during fasting times.  Looking forward to being with the Bethel family on Sunday in worship.  God is calling us forward, so take the challenge.  Have had some back pains today, in fact, the last several days, but overall feel good.  Have lost 26 pounds.  Busy week next week, needs  God’s strength and direction.  Blessings to all, stay the course!

Days 7-11  January 10-14 - Well, I fell behind and haven’t posted in 5 days, so pardon me as I try to catch up all in one post.  It has been a great week. The 10th (Sunday) was a phenomenal day at the church (Bethel)!  God showed up in a special way in all the services, the second service was especially powerful as the Holy Spirit took over in an awesome way.  Sunday night, Missionary/Evangelist Ken Pounders spoke and once again, the altars were filled with hungry people seeking the face of a mighty God.  I believe the Sundays in between the weeks of fasting are what inspire me to go on another week or two.  I have been feeling well, hunger pains and growling, of course, and some back pain, but nothing too overwhelming.  I decided I would work out 4 times the first week, 3 times the second and 2 times the third week. I have one more workout this second week.  I found out from Doctor Green why I get winded quicker and much easier than normal.  It is called anemia, because my body, without nutrition and proteins, stops making red blood cells, which supply oxygen to the blood stream.  I can make it though, I just have to slow down and pace myself better.  Hard for someone who likes to go 100% if he can.  Anyway, I had lost 16 pounds as of Sunday, and 22 as of Wednesday.  Getting thin again! I am so blessed by all the folks at Bethel who are taking part, at so many levels, in this fast.  God bless and may the Lord show you mighty things by His Spirit.  We are headed towards another great Sunday, Jesus will be magnified and lives will be changed and encouraged.  Stay the course, God is good!

PS I was looking at Ms. Denise’s face and WOW, her face is really thin!  We are both praying for each of you during this time.  Set your year in order as you seek His face!

Day 5, Day 6 Jan. 8,9 – Good days, got a lot of work done, beginning notes for Sunday’s message: “Man’s words versus God’s word”  Continue to notice your sense of smell is much more sensitive than normal. Interesting.  Excited in my spirit as I hear of more who are joining in some way, some level or another on the fast.  Good to know that we are not alone, hundreds of churches, possibly thousands, are joining in with us.  Saturday night prayer was good, good number of folks turned out to participate.  Sensed His presence in the sanctuary and in the air.  Worked out this afternoon, noticeably short of breath unusually quick.  I need to find out how that works, Dr.  Gloria Green may know.  Looking forward to tomorrow as the body gathers for worship, the word, encouragement, and fellowship!

Day 4 – Jan 7th – Awoke to snow on the ground, schools cancelled,  great day just to read, pray and focus on the Lord.  Did notice today that all of a sudden my sense of smell was heightened incredibly.  Food aromas plus much more set off signals in my nose, and the food smells were really enticing.  Had a meeting with several other pastors to discuss some hard church and spiritual matters, even sensed God’s brokenness there, PTL.  Noticed that the area of my kidneys was hurting especially during the late day and evening.  Attribute it to my kidneys continuing to work hard to flush out toxins, trying to drink more water occaisionally during the day.  Dealing with some leg cramps, especially after working out at the gym.  Still feeling good, in spite of the growling monster!  Weight loss, about 14 pounds.  Reading “In a Pit with A Lion on a Snowy Day” by Mark Batterson, “Fasting” by Jentzen Franklin, and Knowing God by JI Packer, challenging.  Bigger than that, the Word is eyeopening, as always, especially about Phil Roop.  Hope to see many of you at Saturday evening prayer at 5pm.  God Bless!

Day 3 – Jan. 6th - Slept in a little, noticing that fasting requires more rest than normal for me. Hunger pangs and growling from “king stomach” today. Thank the Lord we can laugh about it! Prayer time in the Am and at lunch was especially good, I felt a real tenderness, sensitivity and brokenness from the Lord. Interceded for the body and specifically for those fasting. Was able to workout later in the afternoon, noticed my breathing was a little shorter and my heart rate accelerated quicker and higher than normal, but otherwise felt strong. Weighed after workout, have lost 12 pounds since weighing before workout on Monday. Great service (good worship, Andy), lots of interaction from attenders as we talked about fasting. Sensed a special sense of the moving of the Holy Spirit with more to come. Went home and “pastor previewed” a new faith movie called “Gifted Hands”. Blessed me and I did stay up late and watch the snow come down.

Day 2 – Jan. 5th – Day started early with prayer at the church, good crowd for early morning prayer, encouraging. Pastor Danny, Tim, Pastor John, Master’s team and myself attended Cape Section Minister’s Meeting in Sikeston, which was encouraging with testimonies, although the “Krispy Kreme” donuts looked awful good. Good prayer time at lunch and great meeting with staff! Once again went to Jackson for basketball games (kept score, tough games – B Team lost in triple overtime) Good devotion time with family before bedtime! Fewer headaches today, just remember with discipline comes delight, so hold on to Jesus!

Day 1 – Jan. 4, 2010
First day, Also my day off. Able to spend quite a bit of time in the word and prayer today. Did notice that I battled some headaches during the day, a sign of toxins leaving the body but shouting as they go. Was able to work out hard and felt good afterwards. Sensing the closeness of the Holy Spirit. Drove to Jackson and kept score for CCS and Jonah’s basketball game (A team) plus B team games.

First Entry 2010 – The Fast is On!

Hello, Everyone! I pray you will visit this page often over the next several weeks. I also pray you will participate by posting some of your own thoughts. It is so exciting and encouraging to see so many people participating in this 21 day fast at so many different levels. Many are doing more than they have ever done, and rest assured that the Lord will meet them where they are and go way beyond that. Please take time, if you haven’t already and let me know what and how you are fasting. Remember, there is no condemnation in Christ and also remember to focus on the purposes in your life for fasting. Don’t forget to fill the normal meal times you are fasting with prayer, the word, praise, and meditation in Jesus. God is already answering prayers in our intentions to honor him and detrhone “king stomach”. A healing “miracle” – at least that’s what the doctors called it, has taken place! PTL! I’ll see you Sunday or before, stay warm and live in anticipation. PS – Follow my daily fasting journal on this page also – it’s personal, filled with faith and challenges.  Don’t forget to visit www.awake21.org and http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/fasting for more help and encouragement.