THE HOUSEWARMING

Hey Everybody!

This is Jeff Schroeder checking in. I'm back from my 2 month journey to Africa and Europe and feelin' fine, feelin' fine. Anyone who wants to know how it went feel free to drop me a line: djjazzyjef@gmail.com, or call me at 604 782 0874. It was an adventure that took me to the warm heart of Africa, the peaks of the French Alps, the beaches of south Spain, the castles of the Rhine Valley of Germany and to the heart of a God who is bent on being my friend...

But that's not why I'm making this post. I just wanted to cordially invite anyone who happens to mosy onto this site to LYDIAS HOUSEWARMING which will be Sat. Nov.25th at 7pm at Sarah Osborne's house. For a detailed description of the night and a map go visit: www.lydiashouse.ca

It will be Lydia's first gathering where anyone and everyone can come. We want to be together to foster relationships and partnerships in pursueing God dreams, share some art, sample some organic teas and tasty treats, and hear some great music. And we are designing the night for YOU to have oppertunity to share YOUR art/craft/heart. If you have art (photography, dance, paintings, poetry, monologues, film, etc...) or songs please contact me at: admin@lydiashouse.ca and let me know so I can give you some time in the evening and discuss what kind of set up you need and how we can help.

Blessings to all who call Christ friend

Jeff Schroeder
of the house of lydia

The Heart Warming

Hello friends,

Lydia's first night out was on Aug. 5 in the back of the Moerman's forest of a backyard...with COUCHES and TIKI TORCHES. For those of you who came out to Lydia's kick off evening of peace, post-rock, and pastries you know that it was an amazing ingathering of Jesus-loving people who want to see him praised in tons of crazy ways in our lives, in the church, and most importantly - in the world. The night went famously. There was a monologue, live music, dance, unfolding art, discussion surrounding what Lydia's house is about, and amazing prayer.

What's next? We are currently assembling a team of people to run with this vision of establishing a new home for creative worship (and more!). If you want to be a part of this and we haven't spoken to you about it, please contact us at admin@lydiashouse.ca and let us know what is on YOUR heart to do. Because Lydia's house is made beautiful by YOU. The more the people we have as a part of this new house, the more life and warmth there will be. Let's do this together. So with out further ado you are invited to THE HEART WARMING...

Sat. Aug.26th Schroeder's house 1pm
23728 110th ave Maple Ridge

At the Heart Warming we will gather, round table style, at my house, and see how we can pursue this vision together, and plan an event for November comprised of whatever it is that is on the collective heart of the Lydia team.

This site will be used as a temporary discussion forum for the Lydia team connecting with eachother, and bouncing ideas off eachother. So feel free to comment as needed until a proper discussion forum can be made...

...Lydia's house is warming up for the fall and winter months...stay tuned to LYDIASHOUSE.CA
-jeF of the house of Lydia

Lydia's house is coming.
Begin dreaming.
Stay tuned.
Fall 2006
lydiashouse.ca

-jeF

Back in supernatural British Columbia!!!

Hello all you wonderful BC'ers, and beyond! I've been back now for a week or so now from my Collision Tour across Canada and America and am feelin' fine! I actually went on a 4 day hike with some grade 7 students the last 4 days up Golden Ears this week as well and had a blast! God did amazing things in and through us on this trip. I found it amazing to see different styles and sizes of churches in each province and state all crying out to God in worship, and interceding for North America together!

Thank you, thank you, thank you - again to all who supported me financially on this trip, and my trip coming up to Africa and Europe! I am a blessed man. Blessed to have friends and family around me that will kick my butt out the door on these grand adventures with money in my pocket. It blows me away when I stop and think of all the love, friendship, and finances that everyone has drown me in at this stage of my life - I will not forget! God is faithful! God used YOU to show his faithfulness! We are the body of Christ and we support eachother because we are ALL doing HIS work - it's not our own. I want to give SO MUCH now! Freely we receive, freely we give! I am in a season of harvest right now it seems as so much provision has come in to launch out and live some of my dreams (travelling across Canada, calling nations to prayer, taking a plane overseas and experiencing diverse cultures, exploring, and having adventures). Because of this transition and season of great blessing, I also feel the Lord drawing me in close as if to whisper something in my ear. Secrets. Mysteries. Wonders. Promises. I feel he is moving me into a season of consecration and prayer. That's what I took away from the trip across Canada - a sense that God really wants...me! He wants me. He wants you. He wants us close, and he wants to talk with us. This recquires listening, and this requires obedience and simple faith. I have to...shut up! I have to...believe when he says something to me with the heart of a child. I have to...obey what he says. Then...I just hang on for the ride of rides; life in the everlasting KINGDOM of God! He is mighty, he is holy - forever honored and adored! And he is also...friendly too. So it's a time of refining, purifying. It's a time of great shift in my life. Growing up. Making decisions based on the truth of what God is saying to me, and the witness of my heart. It's a time to devour and feast on the word of God. I feel fight coming. I feel strength returning to my legs to run. But for now it's a time of consecration, prayer, and purification. He spoke to me out of Joshua 3:5

"Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."

So I am planning on doing just that...while having a KICKIN' summer in the meantime. Also, this summer will bring lots of prayer and music making and planning about LYDIAS HOUSE! Yes, it is finally materializing. A community of worshippers. Lovers and fighters. Real people loving one another expressing high praise in myriads of shapes colors, movements, melodies, prose, emotions, discussions, and foods! Please give me ideas about what you see when you think about a community of worshippers. What do YOU see?

I leave you with a scripture that hit me today in a discussion with Maria about eternity, the new heaven and the new earth:

Ecc 3
9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

-jeF

bands: COUNTING HEARTBEATS!!! Check these guys out on myspace.com/countingheartbeats

Hey everyone!
I'm in Cody, Wyoming. It's this small town in the middle of NOWHERE! Seriously, driving through Wyoming (which was breathtaking by the way) you come to this desert-like mountainous region, and you're thinking...no one can survive out here. Then BOOM - Cody Wyoming.
I drove 13 hours yesterday from Madison, Wisconsin to Rapid City South Dakota, and 9 hours today from Rapid City (through Mt. Rushmore park...pretty cool faces, WICKED AWESOME FOREST/MOUNTAINS) to Cody. I'm exhausted but my heart is filled with wonder. God is shaking the nations. He's shaking Canada, and he's shaking the states. I drove through the "Badlands" of South Dakota at night (passed a MILLION signs for Wall Drug, and the Corn Palace, neither of which we got to see) and there was an electrical storm. I was flying down the highway behind the wheel of a '91 Beauville van with a trailer full of equipment and luggage, and 7 friends in the van sleeping listening to Stan Rogers "Northwest Passage" and singing while God lit up the night sky all around me with lightning bolt after lightning bolt. "Your lightning's lit up the world. The earth it trembled and shook" - Heather Clark. He is majestic, he is exalted, he is at work in the earth - let the kingdom come. Let it come in me.

We have two stops left after our Cody service tomorrow morning (sunday). Billings Montana, then Spokane Washington, then I'm back on the 31st. God bless all of you. Pray that we would really connect with these last three American churches. We want to sow good things from the Lord into these places and call for the kingdom to come in America. Partner with them in prayer, worship, cry out, laugh, do skits, hang out, eat, etc...

See you soon everyone!
Something rattling something brewing, something new's going down
Spirit is moving, Jesus is doing, kingdom a'workin' this town... -Russ Rosen

-jeF

"No more wasting time. The days are nearly over.
Our groom is quickly coming. He greets us with a kiss
And proclaims, "You have been chosen, for such a time as this"
-Tracy Rahn

God is good! I'm in Cambridge, ON and my tummy is full of french toast, I need a nap, we're heading to another church this morning, we did two services yesterday and we are going to have a rest tomorrow and hang out in TORONTO, BABY! The most culturally/ethinically diverse city in the world. We got a taste of this two days ago when we visited a foursquare church completely full of immigrants from Nigeria! They were passionate worshippers (dancers!) and prayers. WOW WOW WOW. And so welcoming. They brought me into their home and gave me THEIR big bed, and the guy slept in the living room on the floor even though I insisted against it. Dif. culture in Nigeria. WE in Canada have much to learn about generositiy, and celebratory praise from them (among MANY other things).

I don't have a lot of time, but I wanted to say I am well and that God is doing amazing things in each church we go to in each amazing city. We were in Uxbridge, MASS, New York (we fed the poor in the Bronx), then we came to Toronto. ONWARDS!
I love all you guys, and can't wait to see you all. Thanks for your continued support. Rock and roll!
-jeF
Gal. 6, Psalm 24, I Jn