good review of Clairvaux Manifesto http://ping.fm/FKY0o

Bridging Generations

We can speak toward generational unity until we have to go about doing it. Then we have to role up our sleeves and get to it, work it out.

A few years ago, God called me to raise up 10,000 master cadets of his kingdom. At that time, I was standing at a bronze plaque under Cascade Mountain, adjacent to an airstrip, celebrating an award camp for 10,000 young master cadets (I have those pics posted in an album on facebook). Standing there in Banff, I was quietly instructed to discover 10,000 master cadets internationally, develop them locally, and deploy them globally.

The last number of years has been a coming to terms with the threshing floor foundation and heavenly scope of such a vision.

Earlier this fall, with the final proof of Clairvaux Manifesto in my hands, I was praying about the funding and release of this armada of 10,000. As I was praying over such things, I was led to discover this plaque at Barrier Lake. As I read the bronze, the number 10,000 was significant again, but this time it was referring to another generation, and their bringing stability to a nation at war, yet again.

Standing there, remembering the history of Veterans Affairs Canada, I wondered about the10,000 young master cadets called to go, and the 10,000 veterans called to cover the home front.

Here and now, I imagine 20,000 kingdom cadets and veterans coming together. The dynamic energy and strength of the young and the wise counsel and leadership of the old, waging peace in the name of Jesus Christ, here and abroad.

I imagine structural, legal and financial structures which will allow both generations to give generously (what will always be theirs), as they establish the unprecedented, together, hand in hand.

It's happened before, and it will happen again!

Soli Deo Gloria

Great lunch with PR/Marketing and IT systems architect.

Such amazing friends... I only have a few books left with me. Getting more books shipped to each city ahead of my arrival. Still in KW.

A great morning at WMB church sharing hearts, vision and the manifesto.

Free PDF Preview of Clairvaux Manifesto

This pic was taken overlooking the French city of Dijon. Dar and I spent the night there, the same day we visited Clairvaux, Cluny, and Taize.

At that time, I didn't know Bernard was raised in a castle near Dijon. I look forward to walking such historic lands further and deeper in the future...

Here is a free download of the first 20+ pages of Clairvaux Manifesto.

Full Measure of Devotion

Sitting by the hot fireplace, Bach strings in the background, lights low, Bible open to II Cor. 4-6, empty ice cream bowl, half mug of tea, iPhone 3GS pamphlet, emails from an enterprise architect discussing website design, and A.W. Tozer's "The Set of the Sail" open to,

The truth is, dedication of the life to anything or anyone short of God Himself, is a prostitution of noble powers and must bring a harvest of grief and disappointment at last. Only God is worthy of the soul He has made in His own image. To devote our lives to any cause, however worthy, is to sell ourselves short. Not money, position, fame, can justly claim our devotion. Art, literature, music also fall short. And, if God is forgotten, even the loftiest and most unselfish task is unworthy of the soul's full surrender. Complete dedication unto death in the cause of freedom, for instance, is a touching thing and has given to history many of her greatest heroes, but only the God of freedom should have our 'last and full measure of devotion.'

Writing at least four letters to the Corinthians, Paul wasn't just on some prescriptive task; he was compelled and fueled by Another who was teaching him how to share eternity with his friends... preparing them for all the good works they themselves would accomplished, with the help of that same Other, in their generation, in the Name of Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High God, History Maker, Miracle Maker, king breaker, and friend of sinners becoming fully devoted saints.

Bees, Books, and Bono

Last night, I went to WordFest at the Banff Centre to hear Douglas Coupland chat about his latest novel Generation A. Later, I meandered to and from a book signing line for nearly an hour. Bored out of my head, I played a piano in a studio down the hall and laughed out loud at the photographs of people hanging there, brilliant work. Finally, I made my way back into the bread line, and stood there for however long.

I bought a copy of Generation A because of the connection with bees in the plot of the book. The bees reminded me of Sue Monk Kidd's Secret Life of Bees and Bernard of Clairvaux being the patron saint of bees (and Gibraltar). Anyway, there I was with my copy of Generation A to be signed.

Finally, eyeball to eyeball with the author, he looked at me inquisitively, "I know you from somewhere don't I? We know each other."

I smiled, "Well, we do now. Maybe we crossed paths in Vancouver. Ten years ago, I did a Masters at Regent College, UBC Campus."

"How'd that go for you."

"Ya, it was good. A season."

I changed the subject, mentioning how I'll be at BC Place to see U2 in Vancouver on the 28th and went on to rehash Coupland's earlier references to Marshall McLuhan. I thought Coupland might like Jacques Ellul on technological society. After a bit of sharing the creative process behind Clairvaux Manifesto, Coupland signed and dated my copy of Generation A,

To Kirk Bartha. Congratulations on the publication of your new book. Douglas Coupland. 10/17/9.

Top shelf. It felt a bit red carpet diplomatic. Yet, I walked away from the book signing with mixed feelings. I wanted to hang out with the guy and hear his thoughts on McLuhan, the power of narrative, personalism, wisdom, history, the future, and Canada. Beyond hearing thoughts or opinion, I wanted to know his mind. I wanted to hear his heart. I didn't want anything in particular. I just wanted to be myself with another thoughtful wordsmith who seems to know himself.

Another wordsmith I'd like to spend time with - to share hearts and minds on all things to do with justice and mobilizing a generation into further global action, is Bono. So here's a shout out to the Vox before the 28th at B.C. Place:

Anamchara (soul friend on the journey), I'm looking forward to seeing the claw in Vancouver. More so, I'm looking forward to celebrating life with you and your friends, and hearing from your heart as you lead us together in magnificent songs.

Sixty years ago (to the day), on October, 28th, 1949, Jim Elliot penned this profound statement into his Wheaton College Journal, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Until I see you on the 28th, this martyr's line is my sail and rudder.

My closing words in Clairvaux Manifesto:

May grape vines; fruit, nut, coffee, and olive groves; flowers; grains; and multitudes of children burst to life around fortress abbeys of prayer and work. May they be full of faith, hope, and love in the midst of the dust clouds of refugee camps, slums, quiet valleys, mountain tops, river banks, and wide open plains where many streets still have no name.

Positioning easel, prepping canvas, and mixing paint, don’t cast pearls to swine; truth to liars; knowledge to thieves; hospitals to murderers; schools to idiots; or abbeys of prayer and work to emperors entitled to thrones. Stay a hopeless romantic who loves the smell of freshly baked bread and crackling midnight fires under bright stars and crescent moon, while children dance around with full bellies and hopeful futures, joining Bob Marley as he sings, “Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner.”

No line on the horizon; allez en paix.

Page 320 of Clairvaux Manifesto

Have been in conversations with Friesens, our printer for the manifesto. All the proofs are signed off on. All corrections are made. And one addition was made to the very last page:

Environmental Benefits Statement: Clairvaux Ventures Ltd. is saving the following resources by printing the pages of this book on chlorine free paper made with 100% post-consumer waste: TREES FULLY GROWN 43; WATER GALLONS 19,536; SOLID WASTE POUNDS 1,186; GREENHOUSE GASES POUNDS 4,056

Calculations based on research by Environmental Defense and the Paper Task Force. Manufactured at Friesens Corporation.

Looks like release date is in a couple of weeks...

Clairvaux Manifesto 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg72061VE1k

This second video takes viewers higher up and further into the vision the manifesto calls out. The video opens with different cities and flags which are found at the observatory atop Sulphur Mountain. The numbers under the flags indicate how far away each city is from the viewers perspective; each city in their designated compass bearing from the observers point of view.

At 3:54 of this video, the viewer has a gondola ride up, viewing Cascade Mountain in the distance. At the base of Cascade (to the right) the viewer might notice a light green grassy strip (just above tunnel mountain, the small mountain located in the town of Banff). That light green piece of land is the location of the air strip and master cadet camp from the first HD video.

And I just thought of this... Not so coincidentally, Geoff Fifield (the guy singing the tunes in this video) hiked part of Cascade with me and helped me build an altar of 12 stones on the side of the mountain above the air strip and base camp.

And a big shout out to Joe B, who shot all this video with me during his semi-paid short-leave of absence from YWAM adventures.

I just thought I'd share a little bit of the inside story with a few insiders.

Clairvaux Manifesto (HD)

Clairvaux Manifesto promo in HD (here).