In 2008 I had an encounter with the Lord in my office for about 1.5 hours.  He showed me a pattern for an ARC (apostolic resource center) which we have been pioneering.  He combined the characteristics of Noah's Ark and the Ark of the Covenant to communicate the capabilities He wanted included in the blueprint He showed me. I'm working on a book to describe what He showed me.

I saw this picture on Facebook and got a kick out of this today. I don't know who to attribute this work to but I sure thought it had some words of wisdom that I'd like to share with you.

1.  Don't miss the boat.
2.  Remember that we are in the same boat.
3.  Plan ahead!  It wasn't raining with the ark was built.
4.  Stay fit. When you are 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
5.  Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6.  Build your future on how ground.
7.  For safety's sake travel in pairs.
8.  Speed is not always an advantage.  The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9.  When you are stressed, float for a while.
10.  Remember, the ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11.  No matter the storm, when you are with God, there is always a rainbow waiting.

Carl and Brenda Krames (click here for Prepare for Transformation ) are a kingdom minded couple; business owners, active in their local church (Victory Church), help oversee a University of FL campus ministry and active serving churches in the greater Gainesville FL area.  They have used the Operation Rolling Thunder (ORT) strategy effectively to unite the church to pray strategically throughout the year.

Following the ORT strategy Carl and Brenda initiated contact with the police chief and facilitated a meeting with local pastors to discover how the Church in Gainesville could serve their community last June.  As I recall one of the first requests had to do with praying for unsolved cases.  Within two weeks Carl called me to tell me how they just got a lead in a 20 year old cold case. 

Prayer when combined with faith in action is powerful. 

Yesterday Carl called to report about their last meeting with the police chief (represents the kind of people we look to sit on a government council in ORT.  He is like one of the elders in a city).  In the last 6 months of 2012 crime was down 5%.  He (they) were happy with those results.  However, they were cautiously ecstatic about the first 2.5 months of 2013.  Crime was down 24.5% compared to this time last year.  THAT'S AWESOME!

This illustrates the beauty of the ORT strategy.  It is a LONG TERM STRATEGY MADE UP OF A SERIES OF EVENTS that empower the Church to occupy the mountain of the Lord's house of prayer for all nations.  It provides a way for the church in a city made up of many local congregations to invite God's abiding presence 24/7/365.  God's presence combined with an invitation from the appropriate authorities changes everything as it brings God's power to bear on the challenges of society.

Everyone is blessed and served when crime decreases!  What is crime (murder, theft, rape, etc.) but a measure of sin.  I pray God would inspire you to serve your community like the Krames are.  Operation Rolling Thunder can serve you just like it is serving them!  Click here for more information.