All-New JHOPDC Open House

The opening of the new JHOPDC has been kind of a “soft opening”. What’s a soft opening you ask? It’s like an out-of-town opening except it’s in town. I know, some of you may be thinking, “I remember when the JHOP first opened. One day it was closed; the next day it was open.” Maybe you were there and saw it for yourself. But this is different.

[fans of Ocean’s 13 will appreciate that bit]

Anyway, JHOPDC has moved from it’s previous location of the last four years, and this week we’re inviting everyone to our Open House. Come see the new digs which will serve as home for the new Prayer Room and JHOPDC internship. That’s right, we’ve combined the Prayer Room and housing all in one facility to help with high urban-dwelling costs, so you can come get a little taste of what life will be like for the young people responding to the call to prayer in the nation’s Capitol.

JHOPDC will serve as the flagship and headquarters for Bound4LIFE as we take our ongoing daily stand in silent siege of the United States Supreme Court.

Concluding our three-day Open House we’ll be hosting a special Friday Night Rumble with Radiant Worship this Friday, May 8th. If you’re in the DC area this week or maybe in town for the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, we’d love to have you drop by to see the new place.

Wed, 5/6

4–8 PM Open House

Thur, 5/7

4–8 PM Open House

Fri, 5/8

4–6 PM Open House

7–9 PM Friday Night Rumble with Radiant Worship

"I've Got a Bracelet Too!"

What a weird moment in the presidential debate last night when McCain told about his bracelet and Obama quickly fired back, “I got a bracelet too!” We were watching the debate and praying in JHOP last night. I looked around the prayer room, and everyone had such a weird look on their face when Obama said that. I knew everyone was thinking the exact same thing–“Well mister, I got a bracelet too.”

Since October 2004, we’ve mobilized about 325,000 people to wear the Life Band and make the solemn commitment to PRAY, VOTE & OBEY. Pray daily for the ending of abortion; Vote for pro-life candidates; Obey God as He leads in acts of compassion and justice. 325K isn’t massive, but it’s nothing to excuse either. I believe God is gripping His Church like never before to take a stand for life. Young and old, Catholic and Protestant, male and female.

I’m noticing on blogs today pointing out that Obama had to stumble uh, uh, uh and read the name on the bracelet to remember what it’s actually for. That gaffe is of course NOT getting picked up by the media. Had it been Sarah Palin, we’d n-e-v-e-r hear the end of it.

Rest assured, I will not be forgetting what my bracelet stands for on November 4th.

40 Days- DC & San Diego

I'll be relocating my team back to DC in a few weeks for an extended stay. Lou Engle and I are coordinating prayer strikes on the coasts leading up to the elections. Lou will be organizing 40 days of day & night intercession in San Diego, and I will mirror the same time frame in DC.

Sept 23–Nov 1

This will come full circle for Bound4LIFE. The life tape began in the days immediately preceding the 2004 elections. Hard to believe that it has been only four years. In a relatively short period of time the life tape has spread throughout the nation and seven other nations. There are 216 official local chapters now.

In April when we mobilized to pray at every Supreme Court in America at the same time, there were more than 6,200 people that participated. It's not about the numbers, but it does help serve as a reminder that God is broadcasting his feelings concerning abortion. More and more I believe that the Body of Christ is getting their antennas up.

Please pray for me as I'm putting together a team to stand with me in DC. I'll be rallying the B4L chapters to gather there with me, but I'm looking for a core team that will commit to the full time–one that I can build unity with to carry and anchor the initiative.

Haven’t made the satellite photo yet...yet

Look up Washington DC on Google Earth and click the option to show stock photos. You’ll find some nice shots of all your favorite DC monuments, but more importantly you’ll find a shot of “The Wall” in front of the Supreme Court.

It’s great to see a photo of Bound4LIFE among the collection of tourist images in the nation’s capitol. Labeled simply with the caption “LIFE.” Yep, that pretty much says it all.

Check the previous post “What if?” for a great anecdote about becoming a statue.

The picture that doesn't say a thousand words

Ha! This shot turned up on a personal website of someone that was at The Mercy Seat event on April 26th in DC. That’s us sitting in the JHOP.

What you don’t see is the wall-to-wall packed room of people mostly sitting on the floor. What you don’t know is that it was about four hours of prayer, speaking and intercession, and I hadn’t spoken yet. What you can’t feel is that it was waaaay to warm in there, and everyone was pretty much done before I ever said a word.

; )

A Week and a Half in the Beltway

√  The Mercy Seat 4/26
6,200 Bound4LIFEers gathered at all 51 supreme courts in the nation at the same time. Seven hours of prayer for mercy.

√  Rizpah Company 4/28–8/15

Day and night Bound4LIFE vigil in front of the Supreme Court based on 2 Samuel 21. I took the first watch.

√  Evening Prayer Rumbles 4/25–

Aaagh, I really miss this.

(Small room + Lots of people + Rough music + Desperation) x Holy Spirit = Hope

√  Speak at the VAT Meeting 4/29

Invitation from Senator Brownback to speak at the Value Action Team meeting in the Russell Senate Office Building.

√  Jefferson Memorial 4/26 PM

Finally got over there. Beautiful.

√  Meet James Dobson 4/30

Pretty cool. He's taller than you'd expect.

√ Meet David Barton 4/30

Very very cool.

√  Look for a new place to live 4/28

Uh...yeah. Hopeful. Please pray–the District isn’t very accomodating for missionaries.

I-85 Charlotte to Montgomery

We spent about 7 1/2 hours in the van today driving to Montgomery. I have the whole family and team with me. We're sad that Katie isn't able to join us. She's decided to stay home with her family for a while. Please continue to pray for the Cranes.
TheCall Alabama is Saturday, and Bound4LIFE will be representin'. We just checked into our hotel room and the kids are overjoyed by the novelty of Cartoon Network. Can't you tell by the blank stares on their faces?

A little bit of swirl

About a week and half ago I was in the house of prayer and the Holy Spirit spoke to me, “Go to Denver before April 26th.” I haven't been thinking about Denver at all, so this surprised me a bit. But hey, obedience is better than sacrifice, right? So I prepared plans for a trip at my next opening which turned out to be April 11-13. I haven't known what all is in store for this trip, so I have been trying to set up some meetings and appointments with Bound4LIFE chapter leaders and others in that area.

I contacted a friend in Denver about possibly coming out there. She said she had been praying specifically that God would bring me before May. Hmmmm.

Then on Tuesday I received a startling email. It was from a 20-year old young lady named Kristi Burton. I've been a little aware of her. She's the spearhead of a "human life amendment" ballot initiative in Colorado. But I don't know her, and I've never spoken to her. I've only known of her through the media as we've followed coverage. Kristi's email asked for help in Colorado with their signature campaign for the 08 ballot.

This comes on the heels of my recent trip a few weeks ago to South Dakota where I blitzed the entire state to speak to pastors about the signature campaign for their 08 ballot initiative. While there I went to twelve cites in five days meeting with nearly 200 pastors. Prior to the "Urgency Tour" the signature gathering was falling behind expectations, and there was a real danger that enough valid signatures wouldn't be gathered in time for the the 4/1 deadline. The result after that trip was a swell in church participation. I spoke to a friend processing the signature a couple of days ago, and they said that they were about half way through and already at the necessary number to put the abortion initiative on the 08 ballot.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Kristi's favor at the end of last year saying that she could move forward with a signature petition to put the human life amendment on the 08 ballot for voters to decide.

Please pray with me and for me. I still have no idea what all God wants to do, but I'm going to Denver. The deadline for Kristi to turn in her signatures to the Secretary of State is May 13th. They need (I think) about 76,000 signatures. I excited to be see how Bound4LIFE can be involved in these pivotal pieces of public policy. Please pray for Kristi as she is a forerunner for an entire generation of deliverers.

From what I can see, Kristi is a remarkable young person. She first received a mandate from the Lord to be a deliverer for the unborn at the ripe old age of 13. C'mon! I recently wrote that "When God is raising up deliverers, then it can mean only one thing. He intends to act!"

You can read about Kristi's story and the initiative in Colorado in these articles:

"Prayer as teen led to campaign for unborn"

"Anti-abortion group can seek Colo. ballot signatures"

"Colo. Petition Revives Anti-Abortion Bid"

Today is a Good Day

Yes. It is a great day indeed. I'm glad I got to be here in DC, in front of the Court, when this ruling came down.