There is a tyranny facing our nation today that looms as large as Goliath did when he defied the armies of Israel.  The answer is the same now as it was then; a David; actually a company of David's who will rise with courage and run to meet the giants of our day.

Our nation was founded by a people who sought freedom from a government who encroached first on their religious liberties and then spilled over into other areas.  When the early colonist no longer found they could redress their issues with the king, they appealed to God and heaven. This cry was formalized in an ensign when George Washington commissioned the formation of a navy to assist his army in their cause.

The attacks levied today against the family, life, and now religious freedom are clear.  The situation is no less dire than in the founding of our nation and the need to appeal to heaven is urgent. God looks for a people who will respond like David did when he cried "is there not a cause?" (1 Sam 17:29)

The "Appeal to Heaven" was accompanied by the formation of a congress.  A congress by its very definition is a formal meeting or assembly of representatives who gather for the discussion, arrangement, or promotion of some matter of common interest. It is a meeting; an encounter.  The First Continental Congress launched a process which led to the founding of these United States.

Calling Christian Leaders from all Seven Spheres of Society
With this in mind we are calling forth the First Kingdom Conference of Washington State. We seek Christian representatives from all seven spheres of society (church, business, government, media/entertainment, healthcare, and the family) who like David, will have the courage to appeal to heaven and then act upon heavens direction.

What do we expect from this First Kingdom Congress? Recognizing that the Church is the Lord's primary purveyor of His kingdom, we expect to start a process modeled after a pattern that King David established that will lead to the:

• Formulate strategic councils representing the seven spheres of society and the five-fold ministry in Washington State
• Mobilize and connect churches and houses of prayer to raise a canopy of 24/7 prayer that will project power to push back the army of darkness in our cities, counties, and state.
• Unify these efforts to receive the wisdom of God for a spiritual reformation in our state

Dr. Dan Hammer and Tim Taylor would like to invite you to join us on August 22nd to launch a long term strategic process at: 

I received an email this morning from one of our partners in ministry about Mostafa who accepted our Lord Jesus Christ in 2009.  Click here for  the full story from a ministry sponsored by the Voice of the Martyrs.  

He was recently imprisoned in Iran because they accused him of:

• Being involved in Christian evangelical activities and holding underground worship services
• Water baptism
• Attendance in a house church
• Providing evangelical material to other believers
• Dubbing 5 movies to be used in evangelism
• A clear confession to the court that he converted to Christianity
• Confession that he distributed 12,000 Bibles
• Discovered with more than 6000 Bibles, CDs, and other books related to Christianity in his house

My thought was, "Lord, is there enough evidence to convict me of being a Christian?"  

Is there enough evidence to convict you?



Revelation 2:1-6   "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:  2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;  3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.  4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you repent. NKJV

I met Representative Matt Shea in Spokane WA in 2010 while I was mobilizing the Church in that region through Operation Rolling Thunder.  I liked Matt right away.  He is an army officer, a combat veteran, an attorney and a Christian.  I like all that, but what I truly like is that Matt entered the political arena to serve.  He did not check his morals and convictions at the door of political expediency.  From my observation, truth is something that is important to him and he is not afraid to stand up with boldness and courage to fight for the truth. 

I remember the oath I took to defend the constitution of these United States and from watching him over the last three years, I'd say he remembered that oath too.  It also appears like he has actually read it and is defending it rather than undermining it and violating it for political expediency.  I appreciate the moral conviction and courage he has been demonstrating.  Now, I'd like to share with you some sage advice he just offered in his recent blog

ZeeNews reported in January 19, 2012 about 4100 cases of rape in the last 3 years in the Orissa India area of Pakistan (click here).  This is part of the persecution strategy waged against Christians (click here for Plight of Christians in Orissa - June 22, 2012).

Today, February 20, 2013 our CONECTer who oversees the Operation Rolling Thunder prayer strategy in Andra Pradesh India reported how they had mobilized 16 churches in AP and another three churches in Orissa for 40 days of prayer and fasting with a focus on stemming the demonic attack manifesting itself through rape.  He said that local news had been reporting up to three rapes a day every day.  

They launched the strategy and joyously reported two things.   First, thunder, lightning and heavy rainfall marked their corporate prayer gatherings (click here for signs & wonders) just like we'd seen God mark so many other ORT prayer gatherings.

Job 36:32-33  He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike. 33 His thunder declares it,  the cattle also, concerning the rising storm. NKJV

Hebrews 2:4 - God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? NKJV

Second, he reported that since they began to pray and focus on rapes, there have been no more new reports.  Rapes went from 3 per day to zero.   Click read more for Lessons Learned below!

Recently the US embassies in Egypt and Libya have been attacked, killing one ambassador and three staff members (click here for the story.) 

The rage that is coming from Islam is sweeping the globe.  It is captured in in this picture of a blogger who has come to be known as "Islamic Rage Boy."  Since 2006 he has dispensed what Wikapedia calls an exaggerated form of Islamic justice.  Lawlessness is sweeping the globe in many nations spurred on by the demonic spirit behind it.

Our own nation seems to have forgotten what the first role of government is, and that is the protection of its people (Romans 13:1-4).  Because of our nation's growing sin we've become blinded to certain truths and principles which have led to our economic decline and the weakening of our power to protect freedom, liberty and human rights. 

The excuse for this mob violence was a protest to an Egyptian Christian who created a movie in America criticizing Islam.  Many may not be aware but since the Muslim Brotherhood took over in Egypt, the violence against Christians and those who oppose that violent regime has escalated to the point where people are being CRUCIFIED (click here).   Bringing the world's attention to a human rights violation is an issue of justice.  In America we have a First Amendment which guarantees among other things, free speech.

Our embassy's first response to the mob violence and attack on our sovereign soil of the embassy was an apology.  Here is a biblical principle of government:

Ecclesiastes 8:11
Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Now, with all this being said, the truth is our government's response is less than half the issue.  Many do not recognize that this is a spiritual war that has gone on for thousands of years before America was even discovered.  Click here for the History of Islamic Hostility Towards the West is Much Deeper Than You Think. 

So how do we confront the "RAGE" that is sweeping the globe?

Chuck Colson said "the history of Islamic hostility toward the West goes back centuries. Radical Muslims are still smarting over the defeat of their armies south of Paris in the year 732, not to mention the catastrophic defeat of the Ottoman Empire at the gates of Vienna on September 11, 1683. That's right, September 11. Bin Laden chose his date for a reason. He was avenging the defeat of Muslim armies more than four hundred years earlier. September 11 has roots in an [ongoing long-term] irrational hatred of the West."

The truth is, it goes deeper than this.  This is a spiritual war manifesting itself on earth as it was in heaven.  This war has been manifesting itself ever since Abram fathered Ishmael and Isaac (Gen. 16-25).  It actually began in eternity.

Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Have you ever suffered defeat and disappointment?  Who hasn't?  I'd like to share a powerful scripture with you that is loaded with hope.  2 Corinthians 4:7-14 says:   "7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed —  10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you. 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you."NKJV

Have you ever been:

• Hard pressed?  It  means you are between a rock and a hard place. You don't feel like you have any where to turn.
  
• Perplexed?  This means you are in doubt, embarrassed, overcome with uncertainty through betrayal or failure.
• Persecuted?  This means people are out to destroy you.
• Struck down?  This means people are trying to kill you.

Well you are in good company!  So was Jesus and thankfully He is the God of resurrection. 

Forgive - Forget & Press On
This morning the Lord gave and Brenda a word of restoration and hope Christ the King Shine Church.  We took a look at some of the great leaders in history (Washington, Lincoln, Churchill and Jesus) and saw how rejection, defeat and failure forged their character such that they were prepared to be God's answer for the nations.  

Washington teaches us a powerful lesson in Valley Forge.  He retreated there on the verge of total defeat and failure.  It was in the midst of his darkest hour than he retreated, rested, restored, re-trained, re-supplied, reformed, and then redeployed.  The key to start that process is to forgive, forget and press on.

Thankfully God sent Jesus with an anointing to comfort, console, heal, bind up broken hearts and to equip those who would be repairers of the breach and restorer of cities to dwell in.  He has given us the "oil of joy" (healing ointment) for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (that dark cloud of depression that descends upon you).    

Want to be encouraged and ministered to?  Click the MP3 below and discover what God said through His word!