“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby
some have entertained angels unawares.” (Heb 13:2)

Yesterday at church I heard about a woman in our town who had thyroid cancer and it was spreading. She was at the point where she couldn’t eat food. The outlook was bleak. As she was stopped at a red light in town, a homeless woman approached her for money. She reached into her purse, pulled out five dollars and handed it to her.

When she did that, the homeless woman reached through her car window, placed her hand on her arm, looked her intently in the eye and said, “God bless you” and then turned to walk away. The lady with cancer was deeply touched by the apparent sincerity of that simple blessing and reached down in her purse to find a twenty dollar bill to give the woman.

When she looked up to give her the twenty bucks, the woman was nowhere to be found. She had simply vanished. On top of that, the woman with cancer felt that something dramatic had happened in her body. She drove to Taco Bell and bought some food and for the first time in weeks, was able to eat without pain or problem. She had been healed. Needless to say, there was rejoicing in that family and in our community.

I believe God is in the process of invading this planet with a fresh wind of His presence. Something is up. God is afoot in the marketplace and that is impacting the church.  Kind of reminds me of the first time Jesus came.  Friends, we live in uncommon times and we will be experiencing uncommon encounters with the Lord in the coming months. More later. Get ready.

That is how Winkie Pratney describes God’s laws. He says they are descriptions of reality. Some of you may not know Winkie, but he was one of the “fathers in our midst” along with Henry Blackaby in Nashville last week. At age 64, Winkie is the world’s oldest teenager, speaking to 500,000 young people a year. He wrote Youth Aflame, the first discipleship manual for youth I had ever seen. His passion for life and for souls is absolutely contagious and inspiring. I want to share a few snippets Winkie shared with us…

Winkie’s father was a cycling enthusiast in New Zealand and at age 86 tried out for the Olympics. He was not allowed to compete due to his age, but had he been allowed, the performance he clocked in the trials would have won him two gold medals and one bronze! What Winkie’s father had in natural determination has translated into spiritual determination in Winkie’s life.

When Winkie got saved in his senior year of high school in New Zealand, he was so moved with compassion for his class mates that he voluntarily repeated his senior year in school just so he could rub shoulders with his fellow students and share Christ with them. That extra year in school he led 100 of his classmates to Christ! His passion for souls has only intensified since then.

In 2007, Winkie contracted some horrible infection while in Korea. He was in a coma for two weeks on death’s door. In fact, he remembers taking his last breath and when he did, he looked around to see Jesus and/or some angels, but he was alone. He asked Jesus where He was because he was so sure he would see Him when he died. Then suddenly, Winkie became aware of Jesus Christ being in his body, looking out of his own eyes at the room. The reality of Christ in him was never more profound.

Winkie’s wife Fae told me how he was delivered from death’s door. Apparently, a woman had mailed them a prayer hankie and advised them to lay it on Winkie and pray for him. Well Fae, and hundreds of churches worldwide, had been praying for Winkie and yet there he was about to slip into eternity. Faith rose up in Fae and she laid the hankie on Winkie and prayed over him with all the authority she could. Then she left the room to take a much needed break and get some nourishment.

While on this break, the nurses came running to her. Winkie had come out of the coma and was speaking, but the Korean nurses didn’t understand English very well and wanted Fae to see if he was making sense. The bottom line was that Winkie was touched by the Lord and his recovery began, raising him up for active full time service once again.

I had the opportunity to interview both Winkie Pratney and Henry Blackaby and will be posting those video interviews in our Learning Lab soon. The Learning Lab is an online membership training and coaching environment that we will soon be releasing and when we do, I will be passing on more details. I think you will really like it!

Those were the words Henry Blackaby shared early on in the meeting last week in Nashville. There were about 36 of us seated in a rectangle facing each other as we shared what we heard the Lord speaking to us in these times.

Henry shared how he sees God at work in the marketplace. He disciples 170 CEO’s with a combined advertising budget of $14 Billion. Recently they were discussing how they could advance the kingdom in a meaningful way with their companies and one thing they decided was to withdraw all advertising that supported raunchy programming. Within a very short period, two raunchy television programs were canceled due to lack of advertising support.

Another CEO was asked by the government of India to open their famous brand of department stores in leading cities throughout their country. The CEO said he would if the Indian government would give the persecuted church a free hand in those cities and let them operate unfettered by the government. They agreed. (Money answers all things. Ecc 10:19)

In many other ways, we heard how God is speaking to His people as they seek Him early and earnestly. One CEO donated a propane power plant to a big village in Kenya and went there to deliver the gift and share his testimony. The chief and half the village got saved.

I could go on, but I want to leave you with a thought for today… George Washington Carver, born a slave in Missouri in 1864, asked God for the secrets of the universe. God declined, but gave him the secrets of the peanut, from which he was able to create hundreds of products including cosmetics, fuel, plastics and even nitroglycerin.  Near the end of his life he shared his secret for his amazing success. He said, “All my life I have risen regularly at four o’clock and have gone into the woods and talked to God. There He gives me my orders for the day.”

Maybe he was on to something…

I am wrapping up my trip in Nashville with Henry Blackaby, Winkie Pratney and many Christian coaches, mentors and disciple makers. In the meantime, one of our rainforest business coaches, Jerry Henline, does some very important work in supporting missionaries and churches so I asked him to write this blog about the connection between business and church life. He has called it, Common Ground…

“Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord,

but also in the sight of men.” (II Corinthians 8:21)

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” (I Corinthians 14:40)

There is little disagreement among Christians as to WHAT our directive is in Scripture, but we become disagreeable to a large degree, on HOW we go about achieving that objective. That’s another way of saying “though methodologies may differ, the message is always the same.” We even define denominations by it. However, I believe these two verses provide the common ground we should be standing on when it comes to ministry objectives. Being honest before God and man, and doing things decently and in order.

These verses also provide the platform for implementing the principles Michael Pink reveals to us in Rainforest Strategies, not only in business, but in ministry as well. I know there are negative connotations to the suggestion of applying business practices to ministry, or the church, but it’s an “honest thing.” Churches and ministries have buildings, vehicles, equipment, employees and budgets just like businesses. If it all belongs to God, and it does, why would we treat one any different than the other? Jesus said, “wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

Jerry Henline is a Certified Rainforest Coach and founder of Missionary Logistics, an organization dedicated to serving churches, missionaries and non-profit organizations; providing tools and assistance with logistics, strategic planning and analysis for issues that inhibit productivity and fulfillment of purpose utilizing the growth principles found in the rainforest.

Whether at home, or the uttermost, they are available to coach you through the process of finding practical solutions to fulfill your God-given mission, and honoring Him by doing things “decently and in order.” Visit www.missionarylogistics.com to learn more about the services and resources they provide.

I am currently attending an intimate meeting with 36 Christian coaches, mentors and disciple makers who will be poured into by a couple of significant fathers of the faith today through Wednesday. I am referring to Henry Blackaby (Experiencing God) and Winkie Pratney whose impact on youth worldwide for decades has been staggering.

Dave Buehring, a long time friend and significant leader in the body of Christ (www.lionshare.org) has arranged this “by invitation only” meeting to get a sense of what God is doing in the different spheres of family, business, arts, etc. I am looking forward to sharing with you what transpires and how that may positively affect all of us. I wanted to introduce you to him so I asked him to write the blog on Friday and again today. Here is the second blog…

I had the opportunity not to long ago to spend some time with Henry Blackaby. You might know Henry from his world renowned resource, Experiencing God - with over 4,000,000 copies sold and available in some 70 languages. God has opened some tremendous doors for Henry to speak regularly into the lives of 170+ CEO’s throughout our country, discipling them in the ways of God. His desire is for these leaders to maintain a fresh walk with Jesus, allowing the overflow to influence how they lead in the midst of business.  As we were talking, the topic came up about busy CEOs carving out time to be alone with the Lord. Here is what he had to say:

“I’ve said to CEOs, you need to have an unhurried time with God.  However early you need to get up, get up, so that your time with God is unhurried so that he has all the time in the world to speak to you and to impact you.  Don’t do a little devotional life.  A little devotional time will not do it.  And when I shared this with the CEOs, one of the key CEOs said, “You don’t understand how busy I am.”  And my spontaneous response was, “You evidently don’t know who you’re going to meet.  You’re meeting the God of the universe.”  So the next month when we met back, he said, “I now get up at 4:30 and this month was the first time I’ve led one of my employees to the Lord.”  He said that was the best advice you gave me is to have an unhurried time no matter how you have to back up your getting up time.  Make sure it is sufficient to have an unhurried time with God.”

I wonder what the Lord may want to say to you, and how He may move through you, in the context of committing to regularly spend ‘unhurried time’ with Him?!

David Buehring is a devoted follower of Jesus who serves as the Founder and Team Leader of the Lionshare Leadership Group. Over the last three decades he has served as a pastor, spearheaded local, national and international organizations and projects, and has used his communication gifts to disciple and equip thousands of people in hundreds of settings. Dave is committed to guiding ministry and marketplace leaders in the ways of God and is actively involved in developing relationships and resources for Kingdom purposes. He is the visionary behind the DVD series Conversations with Fathers of the Faith, and the author of A Discipleship Journey. Dave and his wife, Cheryl, reside in the beautiful hills of Franklin, Tennessee where they enjoy their family and friends.

Henry Blackaby was one of six “fathers of the faith” that gathered at Billy Graham’s retreat, “The Cove” for an intimate time of revealing interviews into the heart of leadership as seen by each of these men. I can’t recommend the series highly enough.  The impact on churches across the nation is already being felt so I am urging you to check it out and order it for yourself or your church. We don’t make a penny on this. I just want to get this into as many hands as possible. If you choose the Leadership Kit, you can save 15% by using this Coupon Code FOF135.  The website is www.FathersoftheFaith.com

I am preparing for my trip to Nashville next week, where I will be gathering with 3 dozen Christian coaches, mentors and disciple makers who will have the great privilege of being poured into by a couple of significant fathers of the faith. I am referring to Henry Blackaby (Experiencing God) and Winkie Pratney whose impact on youth worldwide for decades has been staggering.

Dave Buehring, a long time friend and significant leader in the body of Christ (www.lionshare.org) has arranged this “by invitation only” meeting to get a sense of what God is doing in the different spheres of family, business, arts, etc. I am looking forward to sharing with you what transpires and how that may positively affect all of us. I wanted to introduce you to him so I asked him to write a couple of blogs for me. Here is the first one…

As a devoted follower of Jesus, there are certain suppositions I make about fellow-followers of Jesus. One of those is that if they are a godly man or woman - regardless of what sphere of society God has appointed them to serve within - they will live, relate to others and lead out of the ways of God. However, I am having to come to grips with the reality that most people still separate the ‘sacred’ from the ‘secular’ as if each arena has ‘different truths and rules to play by’. In other words, when we are in an environment where we need to ‘be Christian’ we are, but when we are on ‘marketplace turf’ we often don’t reference the ways of God as revealed in Scripture. Do you find that to be true as well?

Pastor Jack Hayford recently provided me and some of my friends with some great insight on this when he said, “One of my earliest conceptions in probably the first ten years of my ministry was so locked into the separation of the sacred and the secular being two different arenas.  Never in the mind of God. The division in the mind of God is not between the sacred arena and a secular arena.  But the division is between the light and the dark and there’s a darkened world in the secular and in the sacred.  There’s darkness across the face of the earth.  And the Lord wants to seed it all with the sons and daughters of light.”

So, it’s really not about secular and sacred, but about light and darkness! Today I’d like to encourage you to join me - wherever God has uniquely set you to serve - in partnering with God to ‘sow seeds of light’ in the way you live, lead and relate to those around you.

David Buehring is a devoted follower of Jesus who serves as the Founder and Team Leader of the Lionshare Leadership Group. Over the last three decades he has served as a pastor, spearheaded local, national and international organizations and projects, and has used his communication gifts to disciple and equip thousands of people in hundreds of settings. Dave is committed to guiding ministry and marketplace leaders in the ways of God and is actively involved in developing relationships and resources for Kingdom purposes. He is the visionary behind the DVD series Conversations with Fathers of the Faith, and the author of A Discipleship Journey. Dave and his wife, Cheryl, reside in the beautiful hills of Franklin, Tennessee where they enjoy their family and friends.

Jack Hayford was one of six “fathers of the faith” that gathered at Billy Graham’s retreat, “The Cove” for an intimate time of revealing interviews into the heart of leadership as seen by each of these men. I can’t recommend the series highly enough.  The impact on churches across the nation is already being felt so I am urging you to check it out and order it for yourself or your church. We don’t make a penny on this. I just want to get this into as many hands as possible. If you choose the Leadership Kit, you can save 15% by using this Coupon Code FOF135.  The website is www.FathersoftheFaith.com

It’s rare for me to do this, but I just watched a video produced by the teenage son and daughter of one of our rainforest business coaches.

His kids are truly amazing and they have entered their video called “The Widow’s Cry” into a contest at a website for God Honoring Movies. I think they did a great job and wanted to give them a boost by introducing their short music video to you.

If you like it as well as I did, please cast your vote asap. Voting closes Friday at midnight.  Check out The Widow’s Cry” here. They are finalist # 4.

Thanks!

I am traveling back from Panama today and my wife wrote this personalized version of the 23^rd Psalm before we left. It really helped me so I thought today; I would pass it on to you…

The Lord is my Shepherd… therefore I want for nothing.

Because He loves me, He supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory.

He makes me to lie down in lush green pastures along the banks of cool still waters, giving me rest and restoring my soul by the washing of the water of His word.

He has given me the robe of righteousness to keep me on the right path.

And though I walk through the dark valley, I have no fear of evil; I have no fear of death, for He is with me, always giving me confidence, strength and comfort.

He gives me great favor and causes me to triumph over my enemies.

His anointing over me fills my cup to overflow.

His goodness and His mercy follow me all the days of my life on Earth, and then I am privileged and abundantly blessed to live in His house forever.

Amen!

“And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when you came out of Egypt; and what you did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” (Joshua 2: 9 - 11)

The 12 spies were checking out the Promised Land in preparation to invade. When they came to Jericho, they were given shelter by Rahab, the harlot. The spies were looking for weaknesses, strengths, etc., but they were also encouraged to know that the people feared them more than they feared the people of the land.

I went for a quick dip in the Myakka River the other day. It is the most alligator infested body of water in North America. I could hear them wrestling with some prey just up river. I kept telling myself they are more afraid of me than I am of them. At times like that, you hope it’s true, but you never know. But these spies got an inside look. Rahab revealed to them that they were all shaking in their boots and none of them had any courage left because of what they had heard about the Lord being with them.

God had arranged an “eth” for them to meet Rahab and be sheltered by her and to learn from her the state of affairs and absolute terror that the residents of Jericho had.  Timing is everything! But the “eth” continued. When they came back to fight Jericho, they merely marched around it for seven days and then shouted. God pushed the walls down and victory was theirs. They didn’t have the strength, nor the equipment to knock down the walls of Jericho, but the “eth” was with them and because it was, the battle did not go to the strong. Time and chance happened, and history was made.

Feel free to post more of your “eth” stories. It will help us all begin to recognize them when they come and hopefully we will be like Issachar and not only know what to do, but we will have the courage to do it!

“The battle is not to the strong… But time and chance happen to all” (Ecc 9:11

I have an excuse. I was young and very inexperienced at life. I was in Hawaii in the ‘70’s for a break when a hurricane formed offshore making the waves very big. It looked like fun to me and a few others so into the waves we went. Each incoming wave would tower above us and we would dive into the belly of the wave to avoid getting crushed by it.

What I didn’t yet know about was the phenomena known as a “riptide”. After the wave would go over me, I would get sucked out deeper into the water. I thought it was fun for awhile but then I realized how far out I was and that folks on shore could no longer even identify me. When I tried to swim in, I was still going backwards faster than I was going forward. The force was too strong. I was being sucked out to sea.

I cried out to the Lord and He did deliver me, but He used a series of smaller successive waves that I could ride in to shore. The wave is like the “eth” of God. It overcomes the strength of whatever opposes us. When you ride the “eth” you can beat the odds, gain the victory and overcome even a “riptide”.  Be on the lookout today for your “eth”. It will help you overcome the riptides in life.

In case you feel like you missed your “eth”, I have good news for you. There is always another one. Just like one wave is followed by another, so are the “eths” of God. It won’t be the same, but it is sent for your good. Ride the “eth” of God today. It will take you further than you could ever go on your own strength.