John & Harold at April conference in the Netherlands To subscribe or add a friend click Here     Kings - Apprehend Dreams     Road Signs - Last week on May 3 Sue and I had an anniversary – our 30th.  We’re empty nesters with 4 kids, 2 grandchildren and one on the way.  On the way home one day the Lord spoke to me about the number 30 being the age Jesus started his public ministry. He said our ministry together would begin with this anniversary. The back drop for that word is that our prior 30 years of “ministry” (2 church plants, etc.) was Sue occupied with kids and her job and me splitting time between a job, family, and church. I believe he’s saying the same thing to many of you… we are in a season where Kings are being prepared and released into their ministry.   The second thing that happened that week was some road construction near our home. Every day prior to May 3 I passed a temporary sign that said “Construction beginning May 3, Consider alternate route,” I noted the coincidence but ignored it for about 5 days and then the Lord spoke to me. He simply said, "May 3 is a milestone in your life; it’s time to consider an alternate route." For the past week I’ve been asking what the “alternative route” is. The first thing he pointed out was there are several alternative routes around the work area “and” more than one alternative he wanted me to consider. Here’s the primary “re-route” He spoke to me about – following my dream.   Traditions - Most of us have a traditional job that makes the house payment and feeds the family. It usually isn’t the perfect dream. Allow yourself to consider your dream.   Most of us have a theological back drop that hinders dreaming. The traditional evangelical gospel message is built around learning to die to self. We hear the message of the cross as learning to die to our carnal desires, losing our life, and denying our appetites. We are told we are just passing through this life and we shouldn’t allow ourselves to become entangled in worldly affairs. Missionaries that forsook fame, fortune, and comfort for a life of sacrifice are held up as examples we should emulate (no one does, but we all think we should). Luke 9:23 is the headquarters verse. 23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.         Luke 9:23-24   Life - Please hear me. That verse is true and the theology of the cross is central to our Christian beliefs. I want to suggest the resurrection is also true and that the present challenge for Kings starts at the cross but lives around the resurrected, living Jesus. We do need the character of a surrendered life; we’ve all seen the shipwrecks from compromised lifestyles. But, just as important as character, we need the “life” of Christ. We need to experience the dream. Many Kings stand at a cross road; The Lord inviting us to pursue a dream - and our fearful traditions are pulling us back to the safety of mediocrity.   Here’s the present reality – the eyes of the Lord are searching throughout the earth looking for men and women that will embrace the responsibility of leadership, fame and wealth for the sake of the Kingdom. Our traditional theology would normally categorize such an offer as demonic. Yet, if we’re going to save this nation, Kings in the political arena will have to embrace the responsibility of fame and engage in the process of elections and public office. If we’re going to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, make disciples of all nations, and redeem the fabric of those societies, Kings are going to have to embrace the responsibility of wealth and influence in the business community.   Now I’m going to tell you a little secret. You are called to be Kings; you are already wired into the dream. You were created in God’s image and you reflect his passion for the Kingdom. Your heart already beats with a desire for influence, wealth, fame, generosity – everything necessary to impact the Kingdom in your area. The only thing missing is a gospel message that removes guilt and a Christian community to support it… and even that is falling into place. I had lunch with a friend (Reagan) who was excited about Releasing Kings. We refer to resurrection theology as a reformation; he referred to the consequences as a spiritual tsunami. I like it. Reagan got the message – apprehending your dream is a big deal. 2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Gen 12:2-3   The bottom line – You need Godly character perfected in fire of time and trials. But you need a dream too. Character with no dream is religious self-righteousness. A dream with no character is a ship wreck waiting to happen. Practically, you’ll never have “perfect” character. You’ll have to considered yourself a “work in progress” and pursue your dream anyway. God loved Jacob because he pursued his dream and his character development at the same time. Actually Jacob’s story reads more like, “Jacob pursued his dream and God pursued his character development.”  Give yourself permission to apprehend the dream God put in your heart.     Blessings,   John & Harold   PS: if you enjoyed this article your might also like "Six Ways to Find Your Heart's Desire."  The full story is in our book Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace.     PS: we get lots of interesting feedback on these newsletters at "You Wrote Back" http://www.releasing-kings.com/you-wrote-back.html        _____________________________________________________________________   Progress - Kingly Bio's are Up We've completed the first round of interviews with Kings.  These are real people that have been blessed by God in the Market Place and have hearts for ministry.  Check it out at http://www.releasing-kings.com/Interviewing-Kings.html.  If you have a success story, we'd like to post it by giving you a web page on our site.     Progress - A Teacher's Guide We've completed the first version of a study guide that targets those teaching the material in Releasing Kings.  It includes a page of notes on each chapter, all the graphics suitable to make overheads, and a PDF file of the book with the key points highlighted that includes marginal notes, comments, and questions.  This material is available for purchase on the teacher's guide page of the web. john@releasing-kings.com 509-308-6873     Friends Tell Friends Harold and I have both been hesitant to "market" this book... sounds self-serving.  Here's the "grassroots" reality.  God has given us a great tool to communicate a message that sets people free in an amazing, contagious, life-changing way.  If you haven't read it - get it.  If you have read it - give it.  http://www.releasing-kings.com/Ordernow.html   We've gotten a ton of positive feedback on the newsletter too... get it, give it.  Reloading Seniors was powerful.  Pass the link on. http://www.releasing-kings.com/Newsletter.html   PS: don't forget to look at the free reports - show your pastor the article on marketplace ministry from the pastor's perspective.  You can simply email him this link or print a copy to give him. http://releasing-kings.com/pastors-perspective.html     ____________________________________________________________________ You can get your copy of Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace at 1-800-308-5837 (or) http://www.releasing-kings.com/Ordernow.html