In this year where we are picking a new leader for our nation it is vitally important that we know how to pick the RIGHT person for the job. Once we have discovered who that is we can pray and mobilize to help see them put in office. It is my opinion, and I believe the Word of God would back me up, that we should always have a godly Christian in the highest office in the land! Here are my thoughts concerning the priorities and questions every believer should have in the all-important process of fuguring out this sometimes complicated process.

1. Faith- Do they believe in God? Not just in word but in truth. Do they believe that the Word of God is the literal Word of God! This means they make no bones about believing and standing up for Creation.

2. Social- Where do they stand on issues such as abortion and stem cell research. Any leader who is unwilling to stand up for the unborn is clearly out of sync with the Christian faith and cannot be given any credibility in this arena of faith. Another huge issue is that of homosexuality. Do they believe or stand for same sex marriage? If so, rest assured they are not the person God has chosen for office.

3. Security- the next issue that falls way behind the first 2 is that of national security and foreign policy. Will he\she be able to stand firm in the face of the many cruel and evil threats facing our great nation today?

4. Economy- no, it’s not first but last. Remember, we are supposed to be citizens of heaven and operating in God’s flawless economy, not reliant upon the govt. or the stock market for our substance. I agree that it is an issue but it is not THE issue as many have made it.

Finally, we must pray and ask the Lord to show us His mind for the remaining candidates that fit in these qualifications. There will always be different opinions but in the end the first 2 things I listed are really non-negotiable for any God-fearing Christian. These qualities go for any person running for office, not just President.

1 Tim. 2:2- Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quiteness, in godliness and dignity.

This last week has truly been a blessing to Amy and I as we have just been blown away by the response to our request for prayer and fasting. There is no doubt that we are in the heat of the battle but the soldiers of the army of God are marching, fighting, standing, and charging ahead with us against the spirit of sickness and infirmity that has tormented Amy’s body long enough! Words cannot express our gratitude to every precious saint that has missed a meal, sent a message, or lifted up Amy and I in the secret place of their prayer closet. Your prayers are all heard by our heavenly Father and I know that the enemy is defeated.
Please continue to pray with us for health and healing in Amy’s body. When the final victory is won we will shout it from the house tops. Until then, we will praise and pray as if it is already done.
Josh. 6:16- The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast from their horns, Joshua commanded the people, Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!

From yesterday Sun. 13th to next Sun. the 20 we are having a church wide call to prayer and fasting. It could not come at a better time as relates to the battle that we are fighting with my dear wife Amy. She is really a true fighter and warrior in this battle but the last couple of weeks have frankly been pretty rough. Without going into great detail let’s just say that this fight has become life and death, but the devil is defeated and life will prevail!
I ask all of you, Bethany family and body of Christ at large, to press in for the total well being and restoration of this precious vessel God has given to me and all who have the privilege of knowing her. It was so touching to hear that Past. Dino Rizzo and the whole family at Healing Place Church prayed for Amy and I by name this weekend at their services. What a awesome work of the HS to see churches standing together for the common goal of God raising Amy up. Take that devil!
Please pray specifically that as she does 10 days of radiation treatments starting Fri. the 11 that God will guide the doctors and give them wisdom on how exactly to deal with this demonic mass in her chest. Even now we are seeking God about the next step in the battle against this foul spirit that has tried to attach itself to her body. It is just that, a foul spirit!
Matt. 8:14, 15-When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. BUT WHEN JESUS touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for Him. hallelujah!!!

Happy New Year to all of you! Thank you so much for all you have done in this last year to stand with Amy and I. I have heard several words in my spirit concerning this new year and I want to share them with you in brief form. If you would like more on this line you can get my message from our New Year’s Eve Watchnight service.
Year of transition- I believe that we are on the verge of the greatest end time harvest the church has ever seen. God has been preparing His threshing floor Matt. 3:12 and cleaning it up with judgment and fire in order to make it ready for the final harvest. In 08 I believe that God is saying we should get ready for transition into this mighty move. That means we need new training, teaching, testing, and triumph over areas that we have not previously had the victory over.This leads me to my next point.
Year of the trump- God is going to play the trump card over the devil in this year. That means even when it seems the devil holds the best hand and the highest cards against you God is going to step in with the trump card of victory from the Cross and totally embarass the enemy and frustrate plans that he has been working on for the last decade! Hallelujah! The Lord showed me specifically June and July of this year as the months of trump card victory.
Year of suprlus- we all know that 7 was the number of completion, perfection, and rest but in the Jewish law God said to them not to plant in the seventh year cause they would be eating off of the harvest from the sixth year until the 9th! This means that the 8th year they began to plant again but that volunteer crops from the sixth year would still be popping up unexpectedly. Glory to God! In 08 I claim for myself and all of you that you would see harvest from years gone by that you have forgot about, and as you go about your business training and preparing for what God is doing now and next, you will suddenly see abundance that will come springing up from out of nowhere. God says that this is my goodness and mercy following you even when you are in a new season. The devil can’t curse you from season to season but God can bless you from season to season! What a mighty God we serve! Angels bow before Him, heaven and earth adore Him, what a mighty God we serve!
As you can see my heart is filled with faith and fire for this new year. There is an expectation of harvest from all the seeds of doubt, destruction, and utter despair the enemy has tried to place on me and my family this past year and even past decade. My soul is rejoicing in my God and the praise of the King will not be silenced from my lips. HALLELUJAH!!!
Isa. 29:17- Soon—and it will not be very long— the wilderness of Lebanon will be a fertile field once again. And the fertile fields will become a lush and fertile forest. 19- The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord. Those who are poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.