I'm in NYC for the Awakening America Exec meeting and the Cry Out America Prayer service tomorrow. There is something very sobering, looking out my window into the huge crater where the World Trade Center used to be. I sat outside my hotel last night, wondering what it would have been like to have been here 8 years ago when the terrorist attack occurred? The hotel where I'm staying was badly damaged in the attack.

The Cry Out America prayer initiative tomorrow is an attempt to help America see that what happened 8 years ago was a wake up call. Unfortunately, most have not awakened. We stumble along in spiritual blindness, somehow hoping that everything will get back to normal, whatever that is.

We don't like hearing the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, "But mark this, there will be terrible times in the last days." As we consider past tragedies, we must prepare ourselves for future tough times. More than ever, it is time for the Church in America to be on its knees. Whether they know it or not, our nation is dependent upon a praying Church.

Kim and I are enjoying the beauty of Colorado Springs this week while meeting with the Executive Committee of America's National Prayer Committee. One of our favorite parts of the meeting each year is the time when we pray for and with the staff of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. This year there was a special urgency and passion. There was a real sense that our nation is in trouble and that the only answer would be God's intervention through the prayers of His people.

As we prayed, the beautiful board room of Focus on the Family, overlooking Pike's Peak, was transformed into a sanctuary of prayer. Tears, powerful passages of Scripture, passionate prayers for our beloved nation blended together and rose as incense before the Lord. It was a glorious time of intercession.

Though that prayer meeting has ended, the task of praying for our nation has not. Whether it is praying prayers of repentance over the lukewarmness of the Church, or intercession on behalf of our governmental leaders, we need you to join us. It is time for the Church in America to pray as never before!

I have a confession to make. I enjoy Facebook. Yes, I know that many waste too much time on it. But,if you can manage your time well, Facebook and other social networking sites are great ways to stay in touch. I'm increasingly discovering that I need to work on my relationships. I like people, but have often not been good at staying in touch. Facebook has been a great help for me and many like me.

If you are on Facebook, be sure and join our group: Friends of Harvest Prayer Ministries. It's a great way to connect with our ministry. We try to put announcements there about HPM, as well as using it as a place for discussion on prayer. Hope to see you online!

It's vacation time. Kim and I are visiting her folks in Laguna Beach, CA. It's a beautiful place to rest, walk the beach, pray, eat, and visit with friends. We spent the morning walking the beach and then both of us are reading for recreation. Kim is finishing up Bill O'Reilly's latest, "Bold, Fresh Piece of Humanity", and I'm working on Walter Isaacson's "Einstein". There's something about a good biography that always inspires me to be a better person.

How do you respond to the events going on in the world? An economy that is the worst in decades? Nuclear weapons in the hands of the unstable? A cultural war in our own nation? The most natural response is that of fear or worry. We are a nation medicating itself because of our high stress levels.
Many years ago, President Frankin Roosevelt told a nation paralyzed by fear over the Great Depression that the only thing they had to fear, was fear itself. Fear paralyzes us and prevents us from taking the actions needed to address the issues we face. I believe that Jesus is saying to the Church today…the only thing you have to fear is fear itself. Do not be afraid….look to Jesus. God has not abdicated His throne. Nothing has taken Him by surprise. The kingdom is advancing! It is not a time for fear, but courage. May our churches be places where courage is given and fear is banished.

North Korea tests nuclear warhead! Iran close to going nuclear! Anybody else wondering if we are seeing significant pieces moving into place that may indicate the soon appearing of the Lord? Whether or not the events relate to the Second Coming, Christians are to deal with these issues without fear or anxiety. Jesus told us that he will give us his peace. It is a peace that is different from the world. The world’s peace is dependant upon circumstances remaining calm. The peace of Christ is intended to guard our hearts even in the midst of turmoil.

Thursday, May 7th was another great National Day of Prayer. Thousands of prayer sites across the nation were filled with millions of believers gathered to seek the face of God. In Washington DC, many leaders from our nation's Capital assembled in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building for a powerful three hour prayer service. With Shirley Dobson leading, we heard from Beth Moore, Dr James Dobson, General James Amos, Shaun Alexander, Vonette Bright, Paul Cedar, and a number of members of America's National Prayer Committee. All of this was woven together with worship and prayer to make a powerful impact on those present and the many watching on GOD TV.

Many were concerned over the lack of involvement of the President. In addition to not having a White House prayer event, we also did not have representation from the Executive Branch for this important prayer event. I was sad for the President. It was a wonderful opportunity for him that has passed. Perhaps next year? But the publicity actually helped the NDP event and I believe encouraged many to attend that had forgotten about it in the past. Even at our Capital Hill event, we saw double the number of Congressmen than we usually see. God is good! This event never has been about the White House. It's really much more about your house than the White House. America, we've got to keep on praying!