Dear Lighthouse Trails: Thanks so much for your ministry; your newsletters have been very informative and a blessing to read. For the past three years, we have been involved in a church ministry in __________, Canada which includes outreach to the Native population. I have found that many in the mission are using or condoning … [Read more…]
By Nanci Des Gerlaise (author of Muddy Waters: an insider’s view of North American Native Spirituality) Dream catchers—those spidery “sacred hoops” with feathers. They originated with the Ojibwa tribe during the ’60s and ’70s, supposedly to protect a sleeper by “catching” bad dreams or evil spirits. Then they caught on with other tribes and spread … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: For those who think that shamanism is a far cry from the contemplative mysticism being practiced in the church today and that this warning has nothing to do with Christians, think again. The realms reached are the same, and the results can be the same too. By Nanci Des Gerlaise (author of Muddy … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: In the spring of 2011, Lighthouse Trails published Stories From Indian Wigwams and Northern Campfires. The book, written by Egerton Ryerson Young, an itinerate preacher and missionary to the Canadian Native Americans in the late 1800s, is a fascinating and inspiring account of Young’s work with the Cree people. Amazingly, as we were in … [Read more…]
By Nanci Des Gerlaise (Canadian Cree author of Muddy Waters) False “Christs” exist among Native Americans just like they exist in other ethnic groups. One of the most memorable is Wovoka (born c. 1858 in Nevada), also known as Jack Wilson. Wovoka was a Paiute religious leader who combined Christianity with Paiute mysticism. He founded … [Read more…]
By David Dombrowski Editor at Lighthouse Trails Publishing & Research I find it rather interesting how God has orchestrated things in life, which demonstrate His great love and ongoing mercy to ordinary people like myself. But, more specifically, I am thinking right now about how years ago I happened to come across a copy of … [Read more…]
By Nanci Des Gerlaise (author of Muddy Waters: an insider’s view of North American Native Spirituality) Dream catchers—those spidery “sacred hoops” with feathers. They originated with the Ojibwa tribe during the ’60s and ’70s, supposedly to protect a sleeper by “catching” bad dreams or evil spirits. Then they caught on with other tribes and spread … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: There is a lot of talk (and books) these days about people who say they are communicating with someone deceased or are having direct communication with God and/or experiences in Heaven. A few examples are: Have Heart talks about a deceased son communicating with his grieving parents; Jesus Calling and God Calling are about … [Read more…]
By Nanci Des Gerlaise He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her … [Read more…]
To Lighthouse Trails: I’m a new student at __________College in ___________ Canada. The President of the College himself teaches the Spiritual Formation classes. The Lord delivered me out of 30 years of spiritual seeking last year (where I tasted of and practiced just about every spirituality and philosophy and practice on the planet) and brought me to … [Read more…]
By Nanci Des Gerlaise (author of Muddy Waters: an insider’s view of North American Native Spirituality) But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7) But I [say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that … [Read more…]
By Nanci Des Gerlaise (Canadian Cree author of Muddy Waters) God and Satan are not two equal powers in a dualistic battle between good and evil. God’s power is infinite whereas Satan can only do what the Lord gives him permission to do, as evidenced in the Book of Job. Therefore, Satan’s power is limited … [Read more…]
Can Cultures Be Redeemed? (Some Things You Should Know About the Indigenous People’s Movement) written by Nanci Des Gerlaise is our newest Lighthouse Trails Booklet. The booklet is 18 pages long and sells for $1.85 for single copies. Quantity discounts are as much as 50% off retail. Below is the content of the booklet. To order … [Read more…]
To Nanci Des Gerlaise (Lighthouse Trails author of Muddy Waters) from a Lighthouse Trails Reader [excerpts used with permission from writer and author] Just a little note to express my thankfulness to you for writing Muddy Waters. I praise God for the grace He provided you in courageously writing and publishing this book. My husband and I … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: Sadly, after receiving this letter and after doing our own research, we have learned that Indian Bible College of Flagstaff, Arizona (the only non-denominational Bible college for Natives) is integrating Spiritual Formation into their college. We hope IBC leadership will read Nanci Des Gerlaise’s book, Muddy Waters, and turn away from the direction they are … [Read more…]
By Nanci Des Gerlaise (author of Muddy Waters: an insider’s view of North American Native Spirituality) Basically, shamanism is the belief system that utilizes shamans in order to make contact with the spirit world. According to the Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs, traditional shamanism “is where the shaman functions as healer, spiritual leader, and mediator … [Read more…]
By Nanci des Gerlaise (author of Muddy Waters: an insider’s view of North American Native Spirituality) According to some Native Spiritual practitioners that I know personally, including people from other religions, we worship the same God regardless of what name we use to call God. In 2011, an emergent church group held A Symposium on … [Read more…]
By Nanci Des Gerlaise (author of Muddy Waters: an insider’s view of North American Native Spirituality) Nanci Des Gerlaise is a Canadian First Nations Cree. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: The following is an excerpt on Nanci Des Gerlaise’s new release, Muddy Waters: an insider’s view of North American Native Spirituality. Many Native Spirituality practices are being embraced and practiced by both Native American and non-Native Christians. Nanci’s book is a vitally needed warning to the Church and a witness to unbelievers, pointing … [Read more…]
Muddy Waters, Lighthouse Trails’ newest release has gone to press. Click here for more information or to order. Muddy Waters: an insider’s view of North American Native Spirituality By Nanci Des Gerlaise Chapter by Chapter Synopsis 1/A Medicine Man’s Daughter: In this chapter, Nanci describes her childhood on a Métis settlement in Canada, growing up with … [Read more…]
