Introduction 

After five years of fighting to drive the Canaanites out of the land promised to the Israelites, Caleb ben Jephunneh approached Joshua, the leader of the new nation. He wanted to make an interesting request.

Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. 

I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’

“Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said. (Joshua 14:6-12)”

Forty-five years after the exodus from slavery in Egypt, this old man asked his old friend to give him and his clan a special allotment of the hill country around Hebron. Feeling as vigorous as when he was forty, Caleb led his clan in the conquest of Hebron.

Today, mere weeks from turning seventy, I anticipate coming into my Promised Land allotment this year. I believe this will be a Caleb year for me.

Pursuing My Identity and Purpose

I have begun listening to videos of Jamie Winship, a man of God who teaches about hearing God’s voice, learning His identity for you, and being transformed into the person He made you to be. This has confirmed for me my identity as a writer and speaker for King Jesus. I am His Herald of Kingdom Prosperity. 

Over the past months, I have found my spiritual family. At more than twice the age of the next oldest person in the house ecclesia, they call me “the wise old man”. I hope to guide these young people away from a religious church mentality into the Kingdom, ecclesia structures I have learned. I especially hope to influence Jordon, who is moving into the directorship of a North American house church organization. He will be developing programs for building microgatherings in North America. He is also talking with church leaders in our city about some form of effective unity.

Neighborhood Small Group

Jordon is also enthusiastic about helping me make contact with neighbors who are followers of King Jesus. I want to build with them a small group ecclesia that will be used by the Master to bring the Kingdom to our street. I would love to see it become similar to the Gathering of Misfits community in my book series.

Marketing of My Novels

Finally, a month ago, a marketing company invited me to pay them to represent my Joshua and Caleb book at the Taipei International Book Exhibition on Taiwan in February. I began to make the necessary payments.

Yesterday, I signed a representation contract with a literary agent. She wants to find opportunities for me to sell my Gathering of misfits books at book fairs in the U.S., Canada, and around the world. I see these as opportunities to make public the vision the Master has given me for neighborhood- improving ecclesia communities. Holy Spirit, go with me down this path!

Questions 

Have you discovered the identity God has for you? Are you pursuing His purpose for creating you?

Are you beyond retirement age and enjoying retirement leisure or waiting around to die? God can still use you for the work He made for you to do.