I just left a delightful dinner meeting with the staff of The Herald of His Coming. We gathered to honor 50 years' of Herald ministry for Lois Stucky. Lois joined the staff as a summer volunteer, working at the most basic levels of ministry,handling mail and addressing materials. Over the years she learned every aspect of ministry from the Moores who founded the Herald. Eventually she stepped into the role of Editor, serving in that position for many years.

Lois's dedication to this wonderful ministry is only surpassed by her devotion to her Lord. 50 years! Think about it! I have friends who are my age who have retired by now and I was just 7 years old when Lois joined the staff...and she's still going strong. There's really no such thing as retirement in the Kingdom of God. Lois has shifted gears, and now serves on the editorial team of the Herald, but her wisdom and counsel is sought by all of us. My prayer is for many more years of service for her. We all need the kind of godly model that she has been for us, especially in the area of steadfastness in ministry.

I'm sitting and soaking in the Lord's Presence in the prayer room at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. America's National Prayer Committee is leading a 66 hour prayer time here called Prayer Watch 2010. It's a call to the Church to get serious about prayer that transforms.

In the IHOP setting that means lots of worship and intercessory worship. God has given our NPC leaders various topics to teach on briefly, and then launch an hour of prayer around that topic. SO far we've prayed around the topics of spiritual preparation, reaching the nations with the gospel, praying through wilderness times,university students, praying the "one anothers" for one another, and many more. We will continue to worship and pray until noon on Sunday. You can watch and participate on GOD TV or the IHOP live streaming channel.

I had a great Sunday morning with the Mountain Christian Church in Joppa, MD. They are doing a great series called "Retro" that looks at some of the ancient Christian practices and how they can impact us today. My assigned topic was "Fasting". It's not a topic that many get excited about. It pretty much goes against everything in our culture.
Most of us are surrounded by food and our only choice is what kind and how much of it do we eat. To be able to have food, but not eat it, doesn't make sense to some people. Our culture pretty much says that about everything. Go for it. Do what feels good. Get all you can....not just food, but every pleasure in life.
So maybe then, Christians do begin to understand this spiritual discipline of fasting. It trains us to say "no", even to things that we are allowed to have. Self-control begins to grow. Fasting really isn't about food at all. It's about training for righteousness.

Ok, it's not the most serious post I've made....but I'm going on vacation. Even better, I'm going on vacation on the beach in Southern California. Nothing planned. Some novels to read. Lots of long walks along the beach with Kim. Hopefully some really good food at some of the great restaurants in the area(you knew I'd mention this). Interestingly, a week like this is often when I feel closest to God. I think its because I slow down long enough for Him to get through to me.

Of course, there's something about the ocean and it's majesty that draws me near as well. But mainly I think its slowing down. I wonder if its possible to do that when I'm not on vacation? I'd like to think it's possible. I'm pretty sure the Lord would recommend it. I think I'll try it!

I’ve spent the week in Dallas, TX surrounded by people with beautiful feet. Oh, you know the scripture passage that says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” I’m with many who have given their lives to bring the good news through translating Scripture. They have exceedingly beautiful feet!

Pioneer Bible Translators is made up of a group of translators, literacy specialists, church planters, and support personnel who are committed to seeing transformed lives through God’s Word in every language. Spending the week here helping with their Pioneer Missions Institute is always one of my greatest privileges and joys. In addition, I’m also able to serve these servants of God through my chairmanship of their Board of Directors.

In the past few years, PBT has grown tremendously in numbers, in finances, and in effectiveness in translating scripture. Everyone here knows why. They have made prayer their main strategy. Prayer isn’t just a side issue to cover things they can’t handle. Prayer is the main strategy and gives focus and direction to everything they do. That’s why God has chosen to bless them abundantly. The rest of us can learn from PBT.

Unless a higher court overturns the ruling, the National Day of Prayer will no longer be a government endorsed event. I'm saddened by that, but for the nation, not the Church. The Church never has and never will need the backing of the government to pray! I'm saddened that the U.S has shifted so much culturally that some people of influence no longer believe we need prayer. May this shocking ruling draw the saints of God to their knees in prayer for our nation!

I just returned from back-to-back meetings of two Executive Committees that I serve on, The Mission America Coalition, and the Awakening America Alliance. During these meetings of godly Christian leaders, ideas flowed profusely that will have a positive impact on our nation. The MAC group focuses on evangelism in the U.S., while the AAA is a group that encourages revival and spiritual awakening in the nation.

The Church in the U.S. has never had a paucity of ideas. But in the midst of the flow of ideas in these two groups, there was something else that is markedly different. There was a very real awareness that what we need in the nation is a supernatural move of God. He may or may not choose to work through our ideas and initiatives. But both groups realize that it is a powerful new work of God that is desperately needed in the Church in the U.S. That fills me with great joy and peace!