Thank you to those of you who were able to join us at the First Kingdom Congress last Friday evening in Everett. What a time we had! More than 150 leaders from government, business, education, ministry, and other spheres gathered to exalt King Jesus over our state and issue a response to the Goliath-sized challenges of our day. Is there not a cause?!

The vision presented at the First Kingdom Congress was one of corporate unity and projected power in the body of Christ. The consensus of those that gathered was, "Why not us, and why not now?" We are on the cusp of a historic new work of cooperation and unity in the Church of Washington State, one that will see the elders return to the gates of our cities, and the watch of the Lord establish a wall of prayer around the state.

For those of you who were not able to come, we invite you to join us on October 3, 2014 for the Second Kingdom Congress, where we will continue to unfold the plan for 1Church1Day (www.1church1day.org), the strategy for linking the body in a continual prayer watch for our state and gathering leaders from each of the seven spheres of society into strategic councils. These two efforts, combined with the communication plan that will link them, will provide valuable spiritual and natural intelligence for how to position the Church for
transformation in our state.

Between now and the Second Kingdom Congress, we also invite you to learn more about the vision at http://www.1church1day.org/and sign up there for the 1Church1Day mailing list to receive updates, articles, and information about upcoming training for the work we'll be doing together.

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: 

Are you going through a real stressful time?  Do you feel like you are about to "FREAK OUT?"  

Well that's not good.  "Freaking out" is a sure sign that fear has taken over and is digging its tentacles into your mind to torment you.  1 John 4:18 says, 


There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. NKJV

Faith works by love and the bible says that perfect love casts out fear.  There is a good kind of fear (ie. fear of the Lord, sharks, climbing a mountain, entering a combat zone etc.) that heightens our senses and leads to wiser choices.  Then there is the bad fear that torments and causes us to freeze up.  That is the kind of fear we want to avoid. 

Working Out in the Spirit
Some stress is good!  That's what causes muscles to grow.  You just need to make sure you strike a balance between fear, rest, and God's nutrition.  Allow the thing that is the catalyst for fear (that's the thing that first concerns you) motivate you to take action.  Fear can be like a heavy weight that can immobilize you.  So, let's think of this like a workout.    

About five years ago my wife planted a grape vine.  A couple of years later she planted two more.  We knew nothing about grapes.  But we sure are learning and it is bringing scripture to life.  Jesus says in John 15:1-2:

" I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

Vines won't produce really anything the first three years.  It takes time.  The first year it began to produce (3rd year) I let it grow.  Those vines were shooting out everywhere and growing fast.  My goodness it looked great.  But it did not produce much fruit at all.  I trimmed it a little and the next year it did a little better; but not much better.

The next year I pruned it so aggressively Brenda was concerned that I'd killed it.  Boy was she wrong!  That year it produced more fruit than the first two combined.  Then I learned, the more I pruned the vines that produced fruit, the larger the grapes grew.  The fruit of the vine became plump and plentiful verses puny and pitiful. 

Then I began to actually do some research to learn more about how to actually grow grapes.  One of the things I learned was that to grow good grapes it is recommended that you remove 80-90% of the previous years growth.  Think about that. That is aggressive.   

Now I learned that by experience!  Imagine if I'd paid attention to what the scripture said and also to what experienced vine-dressers taught before I started growing grapes.  Typical guy!  Trying to operate something without reading the owners manual first.  Sorry, I digressed!

So the Lord has been challenging me to apply these truths from His word to  my life and our ministry.  Here is what I have learned.

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector who was rich.  Luke 19 describes how this little guy Zacchaeus climbed up a tree to see Jesus.  He was surprised when this led to a divine encounter with Jesus in his home.  Everyone knew Zacchaeus was a sinner.  Some knew it through personal experience that he was dishonest and a thief.  Many were offended that Jesus would spend time with him in his house.  

By God's love and grace this led to transformed heart.  This was illustrated by what Zacchaeus did after the encounter. 

Luke 19:8-10   
Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold."   And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;  

What is truly remarkable here is to realize what just happened.  Zacchaeus did DOUBLE what the Law required.  Exodus 22:7 required a thief to restore double.  But in this case he did twice as much as what the Law required?  Instead of just returning double he restored four times as much.  Why?  Here is what I have learned.


Two Lessons

1. A true encounter with Jesus leads to a transformed life evidenced through a change of action.  You can see the effect of an encounter with the living God.  Faith and love go hand in hand.  They work together and faith without works is dead (James 2).
2. Grace is God's enabling power.  Grace goes beyond the requirements of the law because the motive is not "the love of the law" but the "law of love."  

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

Carl and Brenda Krames began working with us using the Operation Rolling Thunder (ORT) strategy (click here) in Gainesville FL and on the University of Florida campus.  They've been focusing on the 24/7 prayer portion of the strategy.

About a year ago they asked us  to begin to pray for them about forming the strategic councils which are part of the ORT strategy.  They started a government council by facilitating a meeting with pastors and local law enforcement (police chief & sheriff).   

I remember them asking us to join with them to pray.  One of the first requests for prayer was regarding cold cases.  Yesterday they reported how that law enforcement in their county was credited with solving a 30 year old case which led to the capture of a serial murder.  Click here for Local records chief hailed for helping crack a nationwide cold case.  Thank you Lord! 

That my friends is a testimony that illustrates what Christ can do when God's people step out in love with God's wisdom to serve their community.  

Psalm 139:16
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. NKJV

On November 14th I sent out a newsletter titled "Charting the Course for Your Destiny in this New Era."  On the same day Charisma posted an article from Chuck Pierce titled "The Election Has Brought a New Era."  Needless to say "era" caught my attention.

Era means a period of time marked by a distinctive character or a period of time to which anything belongs or is assigned. 

Think about Psalm 139:16!  These days were made for us.  We were made for these days.  Out of all eternity God could have chosen you and I to live at anytime but He chose now!  Great trials present great opportunity. 

Joel 2 describes a people who come forth upon this earth whom the world has never seen and it occurs during "the day of the Lord."  It is a day of darkness and gloominess but in that context or horrible times a people come "great and strong like of whom has never been."  A fire devours before them and behind them a flame burns.  They are encompassed by God's presence as scripture declares God is a consuming fire.  This is the army of the Lord.  Verse five says they are a "strong people set in battle array."  It says "The Lord gives voice before His army for His camp is very great; for strong is the one who executes His word."

I have to confess, while I was disappointed by these elections, I am very excited about what Christ is doing.  These days were made for you and I.  As I read Chuck's article I got even more excited because so much of what he said is so similar to what the Lord showed me.  I'll highlight a few things Chuck said and summarize it with what the Lord showed me was the key for an overcomer in these times.

The goal of my article is to encourage the church, leaders, ministers, and CONECTers who serve with me.  I want them to see how we are playing a part in bringing these prophetic declarations into reality. 

King David was a wise military commander as well as a spiritual architect.  He knew the advantage of taking the high ground.  David knew that the key to success in the seven mountains was to first occupy the mountain of the Lord’s house whose pattern is found on Mount Zion.

Isaiah 2:2-3

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.  Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. NKJV

What occurred on Mount Zion in the tabernacle of David?  David asked the Levites to steward 24/7 prayer, praise and worship.  One of the functions of a king is to establish systems of administration.  Show me a king or a government without an administration and I’ll show you a government that exists only as a fantasy of the mind. 

1 Corinthians 3:9-11

For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. NKJV

Paul the apostle is the one who penned this portion of scripture which provides keen insight into another aspect of the apostolic gift, its role and its order.  He describes himself as a “master builder.”  The Greek word translated “master builder” literally means chief architect.  Architects are the first ones to work on a project and design plans which move a structure from vision into reality.  These plans provide the pattern from which the general contractor and all of the sub-contractors work from. 

This is why in 1 Corinthians 12:28 apostles go first, prophets second and teachers third.  It is an order of function.  God has uniquely designed this gift with revelation and wisdom to build.  This gift working with the prophet lays the foundation for all of the rest of the gifts to successfully build their part while interacting with the rest of the team.

Plans by the Spirit
Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things; NKJV

God gave King David plans by the spirit of God.  The king served as an architect taking the vision for a house or dwelling place for the Lord and turning that into a set of plans from which his son and a very large team of builders could work from.  He built a structure that had never existed and its very design introduces some intriguing questions.