Tuesday, March 16, 2010

the real story of St Patrick

I had the privilege of learning the true story of St. Patrick a few years back when I took the class: Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (a class i HIGHLY recommend). St Patrick was pretty much amazing...he ended up as a slave/shepherd who heard from God and boldly moved to challenge the pagan religions of the Irish people in the 400s. St. Patrick set up the first monasteries and planted thousands of churches. These monasteries provided Bibles translated into the vernacular so common people could read the word of God. Below is a brief write up of Ireland's spiritual history....St. Patrick's legacy. May his abandon for Christ be on your heart on St Patrick's day tomorrow.

taken from prayeurope.com

With the arrival of Christianity through the ministry of St Patrick in AD 432, Ireland experienced what we would term in our day as a revival. The word of God spread like wildfire, and many were converted through the national ministry of St Patrick. Ireland entered in to a monastic era- where monasteries were established nationwide and became hubs of studying the word of God, and evangelism was a major trademark as Irish missionaries established religious houses all over our island- and further too.

The Irish contribution to Europe and beyond was hugely significant. Men of passion sought adventure and left on journeys to England, France, travelling through to Italy and further, bringing good news with them. Men like St Colmcille who began a monastic settlement on the island of Iona, that soon became a thriving community with scholars coming from far and near to train as ministers. St Columbanus left Ireland to go to France, and set up many settlements across the continent, and his disciples went on to Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Poland.

These monastic settlements that were established by these Irish men were the equivalent to universities of our time. During the Dark Ages the word “Scotus” meaning Irishman and the word “Scholar” became synonymous. The great Irish settlements of Clonmacnoise, and Glendalough became renowned across Europe and were to Europe then what Oxford and other university cities are to our culture.

So now we face an uncertain economic future, a nation steeped in a religion that has failed them, and a church bruised and broken. In light of all that calls itself impossible, we believe in the God that parted the Red Sea, that broke down the walls of Jericho, that slays the giants, and that raises from the dead. We know He has a plan for our nation, a restoration of hope, of peace, and of broken lives being made whole. We trust Him to be the hope of our nation- not any one prophet, or denomination, or book or 5-step guideline. We look to him alone as the author and finisher of our faith, knowing he is faithful to complete that which began thousands of years ago.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Pray Europe

Pray Europe is a 40 day call to prayer over Lent. Everyday a new country is lifted up in prayer in hopes of igniting a revival in the spiritually hardened countries of Europe. To learn more and to receive information about a different country daily visit their main website: www.prayeurope.com

I've loved knowing how to enter into the spiritual needs of these countries and long to see Christ exalted once again in Europe.