As I wrote at the time of the election, I am committed to pray regularly for President Obama and to honor him in the office of President.  May our heavenly Father protect President Obama, grant him wisdom and divine guidance, and make known the fear of the LORD to him, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), and a fountain of life (Proverbs 14:27).

I honor President Obama as a gifted man, and I celebrate the fact that an African-American man is now holding the highest office in a land where injustice against those of African descent has cried out to Heaven for redress.

However, I will not be seduced by rhetoric of false hope.

Obama's inaugural speech - CNN.com:
"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

I have chosen hope over fear - I have chosen a hope that is the very anchor of my soul, both sure and steadfast.  I have chosen a living hope, that I will have an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that does not fade away, which is reserved in heaven for me. (Hebrews 6:19-20, 1 Peter 1:3-5)

My hope is not in America.  Or in human nature.  Or in all of us getting along.

My hope is in Jesus the Messiah, the Jewish Carpenter from Nazareth, who is King of kings and Lord of lords.  My hope is rested fully in the Day that He comes back to the earth (1 Peter 1:13).

Righteousness is not a worn-out dogma.  Making compromises with rebellion against the King of the Universe is not necessary to get along.  Pragmatism is often necessary in government, and compromise is always to be desired when the issues are truly negotiable.  But when it is the word of God against the ideas of human beings, compromise is not an option. 

I will continue to agree with the Bible's declaration that human life is sacred because human beings are made in the image of God, and that sex is for one man to share with one woman under the covenant of marriage for life, because it is a picture of Jesus Christ and His Church.  I will say that as long as the First Amendment protects my right to say it, and if someday a human court decides to remove that right by calling it a "hate crime," I will say it anyway.  Because I fear the One who can destroy both body and soul in Hell more than I fear those who can kill me. (Matthew 10:28)

I had a second talk by Andy Comiskey from the same conference that was as good as the first one, so I decided to go ahead and post it on the podcast.  Andy gives some painful and sobering statistics about sexual sin in our culture in this talk (note these are from 2006):

• 80% of college students have had 10 or more sexual partners with no intention of long-term commitment by the time they graduate.
• There is 14x more Lesbian behavior than 10 years ago.
• There is 4x more male homosexual behavior than 10 years ago.
• 75% of households have at least one person sexually addicted.

These numbers are literally insane.  We have gone mad as a nation.  We have pretty much arrived at the nirvana of sexual freedom that was envisioned by the sexual revolutionaries of the 40's - only it turns out that nirvana is a nightmare.  We pay for this kind of sexual license with the lives of 4,400 babies per day and tens of thousands of sex slaves... not to mention the countless lives ruined (legally!) through "adult industries".

And the Church will have no credible voice to help anyone trapped in these snares and addictions until we make up our minds that Jesus is God and sex is not!

Andy Comiskey - Taking Authority Over Sexual Idolatry

A second talk from the same conference by Andy Comiskey, founder of Desert Stream Ministries and part of the IHOP-KC community.

Andy talks about the power of sexual sin as an idol in our hearts, and gives shocking statistics about the destruction of American sexual morality. A woman from Desert Stream ministries also shares her testimony of renouncing romantic and sexual idolatry during this talk.

It is time for the American Church to stop "faltering between two opinions." If Jesus is God, we need to serve Him and renounce sexual idolatry!

I'm finally getting going again with the podcast.  I recently came across this talk that Andy Comiskey gave at an IHOP-KC conference in 2006 and it was exactly what I needed to hear.  We must not buy into the lie that we can be whole and holy Christians without each other.  Jesus is to be found in His body, and we must break through our fear and self-protection and be honest with one another.

Andy Comiskey - Overcoming Barriers to Trust

Andy Comiskey is the founder of Desert Stream ministries, which ministers to the sexually and relationally broken. In this talk, from an IHOP-KC conference in 2006, Andy, in his inimitable style, gives a forceful call for finding others with whom we can be real in the body of Christ.

We are not to be foolishly transparent, but with wisdom, we must find trustworthy friends and tell them what's really going on in our hearts. Jesus can heal us, but He has given us to each other for a reason - we must find Him in His body!

At Onething '08, Mike Bickle officially launched a new "Sacred Charge" for those who feel that the Lord has called them to be a forerunner messenger at the end of the age.  (The 7 point sacred charge is on the IHOP website.)

For those of us in the IHOP-KC community, most of the Sacred Charge isn't new.  We're already expected to be in the Prayer Room at least 2 hours a day, and to be fasting one day a week. For the past year, there has also been pretty strong encouragement to add a second fasting day.  We are already exhorted regularly to give extravagantly and to live with holiness.  (Of course, the fact that IHOPpers are exhorted to do these things doesn't necessarily mean that everyone at IHOP is actually doing them, or is even personally committed to doing them.)

The one aspect of the Sacred Charge which is really new is reading the book of Revelation through once a week (for 3 years - or more).  After Mike's course on the Book of Revelation this semester, I am excited about doing this part and making Revelation a core part of my devotional life. (obviously, in addition to, not instead of, reading the rest of the Bible devotionally)

So, being the geek that I am, I came up with a plan to read through the book of Revelation weekly, in approximately equal length segments, divided up by the outline sections rather than by chapters.  I thought I'd post it here in case it's helpful for others.

I've added a Donation button to this site to allow my supporters to send me financial support with a credit or debit card through PayPal.  I know this may be helpful for some people.

Important note: Support given through the PayPal button comes directly to me; it does not go through the International House of Prayer.  Therefore, if you give to support my ministry using PayPal, it will not be tax-deductible.  If you itemize charitable giving on your tax return, you will want to send me a check made out to IHOP-KC so that you can get the tax receipt. 

If you don't currently support me and would like to, I would love to hear from you... Send me an email at Jeff (at) TodayandThatDay.com and I'll tell you where to send the check. :)

Apologies for the sparse posting recently.  Lots of thoughts, but little time or Internet access to write.  The new semester at FSM is starting in a few days which should mean a more regular schedule and more Internet access.  God willing, that will also translate into more regular posting!

I am an intercessory missionary at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOP-KC).

My vision is to spend my life becoming more and more obsessed and in love with Jesus Christ, and to be poured out for the sake of His exaltation in every tribe and tongue and nation.  He is the Gospel.  He is my Calling.  He is my Destiny.  He is my Reward.

As of June 2009, I am a Biblical Studies student at the Forerunner School of Ministry.

The specific prayer mandates that the Lord has put on my heart at this season are these:

1. Revival in the Church in the USA, especially in New England
2. Breakthrough for the Gospel in the nation of Turkey
3. The Salvation of Israel
4. A new purity and justice movement, leading to a sexual counter-revolution, the ending of abortion, pornography, and human trafficking.

Because I occasionally travel to sensitive countries on prayer journeys, I will not use my last name or post my picture on this site.  However, I can be reached at the email address jeff (at) TodayandThatDay.com

Zechariah 14:6-9 (ESV)
⁶ On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. ⁷ And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.
⁸ On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter.
⁹ And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one.

Luke 21:34 (ESV)
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.”