Relevant Interview

Go to your local bookstore and pick up the Nov/Dec issue of Relevant Magazine. They interviewed me in September, and there’s a 4-page feature article this month titled “A Cause Worth Fighting For.” They did an awesome job with the feature, and handled the topic really well.

Wrecking Ball

Ezekiel 3:7-9
But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house.

We have some very specific things we're going after in the house of prayer here in South Dakota. “My prayer is that God would make our HOP as unyielding and hardened as the spiritual opposition and this rebellious nation. God, give us foreheads like flint as we pound away in prayer. Make us the battering ram to the schemes of the enemy. Give us the endurance and tenacity that is needed here at the end of all things.”

Honey, where are my dress socks?

The last three days have been an amazing gift from Heaven. I can't go into a lot of details from now to the election though. I've recently discovered that the pro-choice opposition is watching my personal blog, and we don't want to release any key strategic information leading up to November 7th. Suffice it to say that I believe God has reserved secret strategy for the last minute of this season. My team and I here in South Dakota are calling an Esther fast beginning at midnight tonight. We believe this is what God has called us to do to pave the way for the hidden strategy in the last leg of the campaign. All I can say is that I believe I was in the middle of three things on Wednesday, Thursday and today that will be critical for the future of America. Now doesn't that sound all dramatic and whatnot?

I will say though that yesterday was absolutely incredible. Senator Sam Brownback from Kansas was in state, and Focus on the Family asked me to serve as his personal escort around the city of Sioux Falls and Pierre. What an honor to spend the day with him making appearances at various rallies and ceremonies. I was struck by the thought that I was driving the future president of the United States around in my Ford Expedition. Then, I got to join him on his private plane to fly to the capitol city for a Focus on the Family rally. What an unbelievable opportunity. We sat face to face on the plane for about an hour and twenty minutes and discussed all that was on his heart and mine. I am so humbled by God's goodness.

Here's a funny anecdote. Kim woke up Wednesday morning from a weird dream. In her dream, my friend from Focus on the Family called me. He said he needed me to get on the plane with Sam Brownback. We laughed about it and then went about our day. I think God was laughing at me at 2 PM when I was scrambling to get my suit together and couldn't find my dress socks to pack for the trip. The dream had literally come to pass mere hours later when my friend called to say he couldn't make it back to Sioux Falls to advance the Senator. God must have been thinking, "Dude, I gave you like seven hours to find those socks!"

Job 33:14-16 (NKJV)
For God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.

In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
While slumbering on their beds,

Then He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction.

Deliverer of Deliverers

Exodus 1:15-20
15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"

19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." 20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous.

Before there was ever a Moses, there were the midwives. They became the stewards to an entire generation. Their choice and stand to not kill their own people allowed for the emergence of the great deliverer Moses. This was a key passage of scripture that was focused on last night at a prayer gathering in Yankton, SD. We prayed for the midwives to come- not literal ones but spiritual ones. There were many local college students there, and several of them came forward to pray for their generation. Like the midwives, they've been told it's OK to kill their own people- their own generation. We prayed for a great shifting on the universities so that this young generation would fear God. Let the deliverers come forth.

First Nation's People

Please pray for a key gathering that we're putting together for next week involving intercessory leaders and the First Nation's people. It's top secret and won't be publicized, but it will be very strategic between the Native Americans and us. Pray for open doors, open schedules and provisions for everyone involved.

Rally-Ho!

I've been traveling for the last three days with the South Dakota Family Policy Council. They're sponsoring rallys in multiple cities across the state with some phenomenal guest speakers. Dr. Lawrence White, Dr. Rick Scarborough and Dr. Alan Keyes have done an amazing job at uniting a broad spectrum of the body of Christ. White is a Lutheran. Scarborough is a Southern Baptist. And Keyes is a Catholic. 750 Rapid City residents attended the Monday gathering, and another 600 joined us last night in Aberdeen. We had an intimate last-minute gathering with local pastors this afternoon in Watertown, and we're expecting a huge crowd in Sioux Falls tonight.

I unexpectedly got to sit in the car with Dr. Keyes for about two hours yesterday as we traveled across state. We talked non-stop about everything from the Supreme Court to border security. My brain was numb for a while after the trip. Mid-state I enjoyed a Subway sub with Dr. Scarborough. He was familiar with our ministry and what we've been doing in front of the Supreme Court for over two years now. Today I got to have lunch with Dr. White. He is a man of profound conviction and cares deeply for the future of America. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend time with these men.

Fisher's 6th Birthday

Fisher turned six yesterday, and we celebrated with him at his favorite establishment- Chuck E Cheese. He has officially been given the title of "The Good King" by one of the staff, and the name has kinda stuck. The crown wasn't just a novelty of the day. He's been wearing one often. The battery on our camera died, but we managed to capture a little bit with a few tokens and the Chuck E Cheese instant photomat.

Priceless

There were some pro-choice activists out this weekend along the busiest street in town here in Sioux Falls. The small group was holding signs that said “Vote No on 6.” Now, I don't know if the group was unaware or just a little dense, but a better scene couldn't have been staged if you tried. Right beside them were a couple of people dressed up to advertise the Halloween costume store. So thousands of drivers saw pro-abortion activists standing next to two court jesters with grim reaper masks.

Priceless. Thanks for the free advertising!

God is not Republican or Democrat

“The church must take right ground in regards to politics... The time has come for Christians to vote for honest men, and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them... God cannot sustain this free and blessed country, which we love and pray for, unless the church will take right ground. Politics are a part of a religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to their country as a part of their duty to God... God will bless or curse this nation according to the course Christians take in politics.”

-Charles G. Finney

Curve Ball

In a great article in the LA Times yesterday, Planned Parenthood said their campaign in South Dakota has been “thrown off balance.” In response to the pro-life campaign VoteYesForLife.com, they gave this quote:

"Historically, this debate has been focused on fetal rights, fetal life. We have a lot of language about that," said Sarah Stoesz, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota and North and South Dakota. "This adds an element we're not accustomed to. It's a different line of debate…. And that is something we struggle with politically."

This Just In

Allan Parker with the Justice Foundation just called. Sandra Cano's case has been denied by the Supreme Court.

You can read about it here.

Luke 18:1-8 The Parable of the Persistent Widow
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "

And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

The Face of LIFE

Randy and Kelsey Bohlender received their little bundle of joy yesterday. Savannah Zoe was born a few days ago and was 5lbs 13oz. They travelled all the way from Kansas City to Las Vegas to adopt her. These guys put their money where their pro-life mouth is. The Bohlenders are missionaries at IHOP and would appreciate any financial help that comes along to support this adoption. Hit Randy's blog here and click the PayPal button.

Just think. This beautiful little girl could have been aborted. Who knows what events transpired in her mother's life, but thank God she chose LIFE. Now little Savannah Zoe has a hope and a future.

Showdown at the Not-So-OK Corral

Bound4LIFE folks are standing in silent prayer in front of the Supreme Court 24 hours a day this week. Monday was the opening day of the Court and tomorrow (10/6) the Justices will review a case that could shift history. Most are familiar with the 1973 case Roe v Wade, but few know about it's companion case, Doe v Bolton, that sealed it. Norma McCorvey, aka Roe, is now a Christian and has saught to have her case overturned. In February of 2005, the Court refused to hear her case and responded with "no comment." Now Sandra Cano, aka Roe, has also become a Christian and is seeking to have her case overturned as well. It is her case that the Court will review on Friday. We received a dream two years ago in which Sandra Cano came out of the Supreme Court to our team standing in front. She asked them, "Will you stand with me when my case goes to court?" Well here we are- 24 hours a day.

Yesterday, as the team was standing with LIFE tape in front of the Court, five of the Judges walked out onto the steps to pose for some photos. What an incredible moment- Judges standing on the steps of the Court facing out and approximately 70 Bound4LIFE activists lined up facing them in total silence. One of my friends there said the Judges were pointing at them and talking to each other. We pray that the message of LIFE has been shouted to them, and they will judge rightly tomorrow. They will announce on Monday, Oct 9th, if they have agreed to hear the case.

It is vital that this case be considered now. Roe v Wade is bad law. 33 years ago we had no scientific evidence of when life begins, and so the law was made based on that lack of knowledge. Now we know differently, and there is a vast amount of evidence that contradicts that point of view. 33 years ago we had no idea what the long-term psychological effects would be for post-abortive women. Now we know differently, and there is a vast amount of evidence that documents its destructive aftermath. This is the basis for Sandra's case. It carries the weight of thousands of affidavits from post-abortive women that all declare "Abortion Hurts Women."

Apple Pickin'

I gave the team a sabbath today. We've been running pretty non-stop. It was a balmy 90 degrees today as the family took a trip to the apple orchard. We had a nice tractor ride and picked some tasty apples. The heat kind of surprised everyone though. It has been cool and in the low 70's recently. We all had to dig our shorts back out for today.

We're mobilizing 24/7 prayer state-wide from now until the elections. Prayer groups have exploded all over the place. We nearly have the 24-hour schedule filled, and the nightwatch (midnight to 6 AM) was the first to fill up.

Wakan yeja. That's Sioux for "Children are sacred." It's pronounced "wa-han'-ja" (gargle the h in the back of your throat).

O God, Where is Your Contender?

Just got off the phone with Ian Kelly. He's at the Wall in front of the Supreme Court in DC right now. Today is the opening day of the Court which is typically a media circus. All the special interest pro-choice groups show up to protest on that day. They all come and go when the cameras are there only interested in the photo op. A picture of them standing there with their signs in front of the Court somehow makes them look fully-committed to their cause I guess. But something's different today. What could it possibly be? I wonder... oh yes! They're not here. There's virtually no representation of the pro-choice movement there today.

Now why is that? Let me offer a suggestion. I believe God is stripping this stongman of his armor and he is being plundered through prayer. See, they come and go, but we never leave. For two years we haven't left. Could I even say that we own that sidewalk? I don't know about that, but I do know that we're doing something that has never been done before in the history of America. We have stood in intercession in front of that Court nonstop day after day, month after month, year after year. We're not going anywhere until this thing is done. I see fear in the ranks of the pro-choice stronghold- fear in DC and fear in South Dakota. Their footing is slipping and their nakedness will be exposed. We know that behind closed doors they are acknowledging that the Supreme Court is lost. Roe v Wade is gasping for her final breaths. They're scrambling to shift their attention to the states which is where the next battles will be fought. But the states are already shifting. Louisiana already has a law in place to ban abortion when the Supreme Court overturns RvW. And South Dakota will vote to uphold their abortion ban on November 7th. 11 to 13 other states are waiting in the wings to see what SD does with this law. When passed, they will move to enact similar laws. I believe that, in a moment, calamity could fall on the spirit of death behind abortion. In a single day, the history of the world could change.

Where is your contender, o God? Where is your opposition? Glorify your King that you've installed on Mount Zion!

A Mountain in Madison

We had an awesome meeting last night in Madison, SD. Vital Link, a city-wide pastoral organization, called a special meeting last night for the LIFE issue. Bound4LIFE was invited to minister. It was so exciting to meet with such an eclectic group of believers. There were pastors and people from the Baptist, Wesleyan, Catholic, Assemblies of God churches and others. I spoke and the team lead a prayer rumble at the end of the evening. I think it was a significant meeting for everyone there. Beth had a dream two days before where she saw a satelite view of the southeastern corner of South Dakota. She was above the Sioux Falls area with a Who (the Whos of Whoville characters from the Dr. Suess book Horton Hears a Who). They turned to the north, west and south as the Who shouted in its small voice, "South Dakota!" As those words were shouted in each of the directions, four mountains rose up from the landscape and towered over the state- two to the north, one to the west and one to the south. Beth isn't familiar with SD geography and had no idea of what the locations might be. I asked her if she could point on a map and show me where they were. I quickly scribbled with a highlighter without looking at each place she pointed. One of the spots was right on the town of Madison! She didn't even know that we were scheduled to minister there this weekend. Could it be that God is wanting to elevate the praying Church of Madison for the ending of abortion? The western mountain was on the city of Mitchell which is where were scheduled to minister this coming Sunday. The hosting church is wanting to organize a city-wide gathering there also.