WATCH DR. JAMES MERRITT'S SERMONS!!

One of the greatest experiences of my life was the 2000 Southern Baptist Convention when Dr. James Merritt was elected President of the S.B.C. This happened in Orlando. Over the next two years, he set the standard for presidents. When his term was over in 2002, he delivered a sermon called "UNTIL HE COMES" at the St Louis SBC Convention which changed my life.

He based it on the 2 Timothy 4:7...the Apostle Paul's last words. That sermon got me wondering. What would be my last words? And how do I live my last few years on earth? That led me to write my first long book - TWO MINUTE WARNING....Handbook of Effective Christianity for the Fourth Quarter of Life.
I had a chance to speak to Dr. Merritt many times at past S.B.C. conventions but we connected a couple times in Indianapolis, In. in June 2008, where I was able to properly thank him and give him a copy of my book. He was so nice, give me a big hug and then sent me a letter of thank you two weeks later!
Keep watching his sermons on Trinity Broadcasting, the Liberty Network etc or
on the web at www.touchinglives.org
Thank you, Dr James Merritt, for Touching Lives! Mine!
Amen!

HOLY GHOST FIRE FROM ABOVE - NDP 2008!!

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT:GO TO WWW.BUSINESSMENINCHRIST.COM AND CLICK ON PHOTO GALLERY TO SEE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER PHOTOS FROM SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

Thursday May 1, 2008 was the 57th Annual National Day of Prayer Celebration in these Great United States of America! While there were thousands of NDP events nationwide, saw an official 61% (YES SIXTY ONE PERCENT!!) increase, I can vouch with certainty that Illinois had the Power of the Holy Ghost and Fire rain/reign down from above!
There was something absolutely special in the days and weeks running up to this Annual Noon Rally at the State Capitol steps in Springfield. Last October at our NDP Prayer Retreat and Annual Conference in Colorado Springs, Pastor Stan Pratt and his wife Delbra (the new Illinois State Coordinators) and myself signed on to a month-long Prayer Nightwatch of a new 40 week long Nationwide Repentance Movement. It changed my life.
The Lord hath woven a thread from December, when I taught on Fasting at Berlin Christian Church. Beginning in January to the end of April and culminating on May 1 National Day of Prayer Rally at the Lincoln statue, He took me on the wildest journey of FaithBuilding I have ever been on. Everything from praying for Repentance at a Springfield-wide Solemn Assembly to speaking to a ministerial alliance in another county etc etc...He built my TOTAL and ABSOLUTE dependance on HIM and HIM alone to the point that it was so easy to just let Jesus be Jesus and have His way!
I can go on and on about the Winter/Spring 2008 Walk of Wonder, but it could be in my next book!!ha!
Suffice it to say, what occured on the steps of the Illinois state capitol was all about God. The tremendous worship group from Effingham - iPrayz (www.iprayz.com) set the tone with their pre-rally concert. Before that our huge prayer circle of pastors, musicians and Christian Radio men (www.wluj.org) surrendered the entire proceedings to the Holy Spirit of God!
After the Rally started promptly at Noon with the Honorable Tim Davlin, Mayor of Springfield reading the NDP 2008 Proclamation, our NDP airplane from PRAYERFLIGHT (www.prayerflight.org) flew overhead and made the sign of the Cross with its afterburn! We had prayer warriors up there praying for us below!! We were covered, I tell ya! AMEN!
It was a joy to host the busy Mayor who stayed for most of the Rally. Donna Turpin of Lake Williamson Christian Center prayed our Prayer of Repentance and we were off into Holy Ghost Fire from Above! Hallelujah!
Our Prayer Leaders were Pastors Stan Summers (Koke Mill Christian Church) - ALL forms of Government; Tim Kruzan (Jacksonville, Il First Assembly of God) - ALL FAMILIES, EDUCATION AND MEDIA THEMES; Wes McNeese (New Mission Church of God) - RECONCILIATION. This last one is significant in Springfield.

This year, 2008, is 100 years since the most awful Springfield race riots in America. The Mayor Davlin and the Springfield Ministerial Alliance (www.springfieldministerialalliance.org) has declared 2008 as the year of Reconciliation. There was some trepidation at first as to what this would mean. But with the leading of the Springfield International House of Prayer and my own fired up brother James Nesbit (www.preparethewaymin.com), eight (8) Solemn Assemblies were declared leading up to August 2008 when a huge ceremony will be held. By having the Lord take over from the beginning through repentance, forgiveness and REAL prayer, real movement is now happening in this area. I am happy to declare that it has affected me significantly to how I do outreach and minister to others in love! PTL!
One of our prayer leaders was unable to make it, but the official 2008 NDP Prayer Leader, Pastor Stan Pratt of Way of Life Church in Taylorville, Illinois, picked up the slack by praying for all our Churches, Missionaries and Ministries. Rev. Gary McCants, the presiding Elder of the Regional AME Churches prayed for our Military, Law Enforcement and Business. All Seven centers of influence, and more, were covered in our prayer.
My lovely and gracious wife, Vicki Lutchman and I led the final worship song, WONDERFUL MERCIFUL SAVIOR, made popular by Steve Camp and SELAH. Vicki has been most loving and understanding of all my long sacrificial travels, and hours away from home or working on my books or events on the computer. The Lord never makes a mistake and He surely blessed me with the perfect wife for me! AMEN!
Special thanks to my dear buddy Eric Hagen and his lovely wife Jenni from iPrayz! They have an awesome presence for the Lord which showed!!! From my crowd counting skills as a former church deacon, I would estimate over 200 present...and many more in flux as they walked by. Also because this is right on the street, hundreds of cars, trucks, bikes were stuck in traffic right in front of the rally all during the Noon hour!!
We got some honks of approval!
There was one protestor! One! AND she did not have the courage of her lovely convictions to come unto the Hallowed ground of the Rally to yell at us. So, just like her lily-livered boss, satan, she screamed from across the street...only to be heard by a few at the end of the sometimes 5 deep crowds on the sidewalks.
There is another reason she stayed across the street!! I had prayer walked that spot since August 2007 for May 2008!! Each time I passed it on my walks during lunch, I claimed it for Jesus. My dear brother and intercessory brother Earl Powell, prayer walks the entire Capitol complex each Monday. That ground belongs to Jesus AND NOBODY, NOBODY, NOT SATAN, NOT HIS WICCAN DEMONS, NOBODY, is allowed on it, who is against Him! Period!


Thank you also to WLUJ 89.7FM, Christian Radio for Central Illinois for not only providing the sound system but for then broadcasting the event at 3pm (streamed on www.wluj.org)and for running our radio ads, for free - year after year! PRAISE GOD FOR THEM! He has and WILL continue to bless them and their ministry ALL the time! Also thank you to Business Men in Christ for financing and supporting this ministry completely! AMEN! I am grateful to everyone of our core leadership - Dave Rosche, Doug Ryherd and RPM/BMIC President Tom Cheshire.
Most of all, I thank Almighty God. I am in awe that He would take a man who looks and talks like me and put me in a position of servant leadership like this! He brought me out of my own Egypt to boldly lead with my chin, for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). I stand with my hero - the Apostle Paul - I want to die daily, empty myself daily and live in the chains of Christ because to lose myself, is to find happiness. I don't mean happiness in the worldly sense. I mean the true happiness that comes from a life totally surrendered to His Will.
In Jesus Name
Amen
"

NDP RALLY AT IL. STATE CAPITOL ON MAY 1

The Annual National Day of Prayer Noon Rally will be back at our usual location on Thursday May 1 on the Grounds of The Illinois State Capitol Complex. The address is the Lincoln Statue East Steps, 2nd Street and Capitol Avenue in Springfield.

As we have since the NDP Task Force era began in 2006, the Rally begins at 11:45am with a Pre-Rally Gospel Music concert by Effingham's own iPrayz group! Their website is http://www.iprayz.com/ and their latest cd was recently recorded at Gaither Studio in Indiana!

Rain location will be the Hall of Flags auditorium of the nearby Howlett Building, which houses the Illinois Secretary of State offices.

The theme this year is "PRAYER - AMERICA'S STRENGTH AND SHIELD". This is a derivative from the verse in Psalm 28:7 which says "The Lord is my Strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped".The underlying theme for 2008 is REPENTANCE, without which, no one will see God.

Come join us and pray for our nation and our families. More on the 7 Centers of Power later.

PRAYER LEADERS INCLUDE:

Pastor Stan Pratt (Way of Life Church, Taylorville,Il.); Pastors Stan Summers, Tim Kruzan, Juan C. Olmos; Dr. Wes McNeese and Donna Turpin, CHPP. COME PRAY WITH US.For more information, email blutchman@businessmeninChrist.com

CABLE TV 4 SHOW COMING THIS FALL

Coming this Fall on Springfield, Illinois COMCAST Cable Access TV Channel 4: a new half hour series called "PLUMBLINE". The Lord has put this Title on my heart, and it is my fervent desire to speak His Word, in Spirit and in Truth - for such a time as this.
PLUMBLINE will be broadcast weekly, but a new episode will air twice per month.
It is Biblically-based exegesis for these End Times, and how to live Biblically while in hopeful wait for the Glorious Appearing of Our Dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Channel 4's website: http://www.access4.tv/

THANK YOU AMERICA'S BOOKSTORE - BARNES AND NOBLE!

Words can not express the gratitude I feel towards the management and staff of Barnes and Noble Booksellers - both here in Springfield, Illinois and their small book division in New York City! Most of all a HUGE THANK YOU to VALERIE PARGA, the Community Relations Manager of the Central Illinois Store, who invited us 6 local authors (3 of us Christians!!)
America's bookstore has become the premier outlet for my first book "TWO MINUTE WARNING.....Handbook of Effective Christianity for the Fourth Quarter of Life" and I look forward to them carrying my second book (now in the process of a completed outline)! 

The Lord has laid several things on my heart to complete before this summer and one of them is Book 2, the Title of which is now in flux, as the original title is NOT what the Lord wanted. A huge thank you to all those who prayed for divine appointments at the Book Signing. Thanks to all the visitors and friends who dropped by our table, which Valerie strategically placed right by the front door and the free Starbucks food!! : >) Thank you as well to the staff of the bookstore for their kindness and openness in dealing with Pastor Dr. Albert Smith especially, a kind gentle senior gent from Virginia who wrote his life story.


Thank you as well to those who prayed for my TV preaching debut on March 28 on Springfield area Comcast Cable Channel 4. It was so enjoyable, I will be applying for my own show next week! Most of all, thank you to the Lord Jesus Christ for dying for you and I on the Cross and for His Grace and Mercy in all things. I also thank Him for the best wife in the world - Vicki Lutchman  my main accountability partner who keeps me grounded at all times, and is truly a Godsend to keep me focused on being humble and real!!! AMEN.

BOOK SIGNING MARCH 29 IN SPRINGFIELD, IL.

I am humbled and pleased to announce that the Barnes & Noble Superstore, Springfield, Illinois, has offered and I have accepted an official book signing for “Two Minute Warning…..Effective Christianity for the Fourth Quarter of Life” on Saturday March 29, 2008 from 10am CDT. Barnes & Noble is situated off South Veterans Parkway off Wabash Avenue (on the southwestern corner). This will be a Local Author Event. Come by and visit AND enjoy the treats at the inhouse Starbucks Coffee Shop, in comfort!
This Central Illinois Author Event could not happen without the outreach to our community by Barnes Community Relations Manager, Valerie Parga.
“Taste and see that the Lord is GOOD (Emphasis mine), blessed is the man who trusts in Him” Psalm 34:8 (NKJV)

REAL STORY OF THE CRUCIFIXION

What an awefilled service on Sunday March 9, 2008 at Community Fellowhip Church, Petersburg, Illinois! Brother Jamal Rashmawy delivered a stunning, accurate and historical account of the awful day in April 33 AD, when our Lord Jesus was crucified. Jamal was born in the Holy Land of Bethlehem. His wife, Afaf, grew up on the exact Biblical ground mentioned in the Book of Ruth, as the fields of Boaz! Both currently operate the Holy Land Diner - an authentic Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant in Springfield, at the corner of Spring and Cook Streets (Vinegar Hill Mall).

Jamal addressed first the sanitization of Western Christianity of the brutal reality of the Crucifixion while displaying a spike/nail that was not too unlike the actual ones from almost 2000 years ago! Several myths were put to rest,

Many thanks to Pastor Dan Boyer, a wonderfully kind and blessed servant of the Lord who opens his doors to many travelling evangelists like us, as well as prayer ministries. The Lutchman Family singers led the worship music and shared in the Word and Testimony!

Vicki did a wonderful solo called "Who am I".

Sam played a medley on the keyboard of "Emmanuel and He is Lord. Amen. Christ was honored so much, we felt the Power of the Holy Ghost throughout! My main Scripture reading was from Colossians 1:13-23

PRAISE HIS GREAT NAME!

To hear what brother Jamal spoke about, click on the following link; look for April 8, 2006 and Click on the audio file, next to Jamal!
http://www.businessmeninchrist.com/Calendar/2006Schedule/tabid/927/Default.aspx

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER TASK FORCE AT IRON SHARPENS IRON MEN'S CONFERENCE

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS - MARCH 1, 2008

Springfield, Illinois hosted the 2nd Annual National Men's conference - www.ironsharpensiron.net - hosted by Relevant Practical Ministry for Men. This is a new ministry based in Williamsville, Il. and headed by Business Men In Christ president Thomas Cheshire.
This is the first year that the National Day of Prayer Task Force joined all 37 ISI Nationwide conferences as a national sponsor. NDP (www.ndptf.org) is based in Colorado Springs and this outreached is headed up by NDP Vice Chairman Brian Toon.

I was blessed to ask to represent us at NDP, as the local Illinois State Capitol Coordinator based in all of Sangamon County, Illinois. This included speaking on twice during the assembly at Conference and introducing the official NDP videos of our 2008 National Chairman Ravi Zacharias and our Election 2008 promos.

NDP will next be represented at the ISI Rockford Conference on March 8 by Pastor Stan Pratt of Way of Life Church, Taylorville, Il. I will be at the ISI Moline Conference on April 19.

TRI STATE SOLEMN ASSEMBLY SATURDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2008
FIRST EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH
MANCHESTER, MISSOURI

Several folks have asked me about the Midwest Prayer Solemn Assembly put on by our National Day of Prayer Task Force here in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. There seems to be a bit of an inquiry about what a 'Solemn Assembly' actually is, and why the Special Forces of the National Prayer Movement would get together for one! So in this summary, I would hopefully shed some light and briefly try to illustrate why this is all so critical - for such a time as this!

The first thing to note is that Solemn Assembly is Biblical. Here are Biblical foundations for it: 2 Chronicles 7: 13-15, Isaiah 58,Psalm 68: 6-10, Jeremiah 3: 2-5, Micah 6: 8, Haggai 1: 2-14 and Malachi 4: 1-6. In Joel 2:15 NASB, God told the prophet: "Blow a trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly".
Therefore, here is the definition of a Solemn Assembly - it is a summoning of God's people ALONE specifically to confess any known sins and to restore a right relationship between God and His people. What happens during a solemn assembly are times of serious reflection, brokenness, humility and a sense of awe before God. It is most definitely THE occasion for God's people to be still; to be open to the Spirit and to obey when He speaks to us through His Word and our hearts. We MUST confess individually and together where we have missed the mark (the definition of Sin) and then renew our covenant with God on our knees - with our brethren as witnesses. I do not know how to define it any better than this.

For the second time in three weeks, the Lord has led me to a Solemn Assembly! Both times, I was asked to participate to my shock and surprise. In Springfield, Il on Saturday Feb 2, 2008, the Springfield Ministerial Alliance and International House of Prayer Director Pastor Scott Beauchamp held a Solemn Assembly at the historic First Presbyterian Church on 7th Street. The Lincoln Family pew is still in the narthex, roped off and in good shape after 140 plus years!

I was asked to lead on Corporate Repentance and chose Hosea 6: 1-3 before prayer. The Springfield, Il. event was particularly amazing as it is part of a commemoration of the 1908 Race Riots here, which led to the formation of the NAACP. A large crowd showed up despite almost 11 inches of snow and nowhere to park on the streets! As a personal aside, I am astounded and blown away that the Lord, Hashem YHWH Almighty, would use somebody who looks and sounds like me.

I have been ask to minister in various ways, in four events in the past five weeks! And since a 'prophet' is without honor in his own country, only one of them has been in Springfield - the Feb 2 Solemn Assembly. The Lord has led me to Virden, Shiloh and then Manchester, Missouri this past Saturday. On April 19, I will also represent our national NDP Task Force at Iron Sharpens Iron in Moline, Illinois.

Which leads me to the Solemn Assembly in Missouri yesterday. First of all, thank you to Kathy Morgan who was tireless in preparation. Sue Stoltz, Tom Otley and my new friends at BOTT Radio KSVI FM there did an awesome job of promotion and prep as well!! AMEN! The Lord opened up that opportunity for me to be involved in two training workshops speaking on Spiritual Warfare, after another different turn of events in another ministry...on the same day.

The church facilities of First E FREE in Manchester are totally incredible! Think of Springfield's Westside Christian Church and multiply it by 2 1/2 times! Their chapel, where the Assembly was held, is larger than most regular churches around here! The Worship Team was from the wonderful Pratt Pastoral team from Way of Life Church, Taylorville, Illinois. Most of the songs of repentance and worship I had never heard before and some had Messianic flavor.

The wonderful thing about not just our prayer Ministry - the Colorado Springs based National Day of Prayer - and all the others we are involved with is this - we are NOT JUST thematic ministries. Nationally and locally, we are a movement together all year round, and NOT just one day per year! We are Capitol Hill Prayer Partners and local IHOPs (int. house of prayers based on the 24/7 Kansas City model). We are the Jerusalem Prayer Team as well as numerous others. After a January of power prayer and fasting, working with other movements, we are ready for the next steps - which are now in full swing.....namely, the Solemn Assembly.

On Saturday in Manchester, the worship music team, with piano and what sounded like a soprano saxophone (a la Kenny G) was penetrating to the soul with its songs. One of them, Refiner's Fire, basically says it all about the process of Personal Restoration. (See Malachi 3:3 NKJV "He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver"). Prayers were called out of praise. Psalm 89 was read in full to show the story of rebellion of Israel and how God still delivered them. The Spirit revealed through a saint to read from Jeremiah 29 to impart a prophetic word which He had for us that morning - that of a plan He has for the repentant and the humble.....the plan of Goodness and restoration.

Pastor Stan from Taylorville brought the Word from Proverbs 4: 20-27. The last two verses speak Truth to the fleeting power of this world: Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.......Proverbs 4: 26-27 NKJV

We entered, on our knees, into personal quiet time of personal baring of our souls of hidden sin. Crying out to God on our knees and seeking the binding and removal of evil spirits and letting loose the garments of Praise for what He hath done. Then Shofars started to blow and we got on our feet to verbal renounce our sins. I have a personal experience with that while writing my book one year ago. A sin I was involved in over 20 years ago, which was no big deal at the time was suddenly front and center when God confronted me with it! I thought it was forgotten! The only way I could have been cleared of this final bond from the past was to verbally renounce it loudly...right there in the car on the way to work! This is what we did.

At one point on Saturday at the SA, I was praying silently (as I always do) so completely submitting that I was trembling and shaking within. I know now what Paul means about fear and trembling(phobos and tremos in the original Greek.....such an awesome reverence of the Mighty God, it makes you tremble)....it is and was all Biblical.

Verbal renunciation of sins clears the palate my friends. This is what God wants us to do, but we are too prideful. Here is Ezra 9: 5-6 NKJV “ At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God. And I said: “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens".

Some of my friends would say, well this is Old Testament. There is nothing old or new under the sun. ALL Scripture is God-breathed...ALL is given for us to learn from. Some others will say all of this is too charismatic. The word charisma is from the Greek "charizomai" or favor; therefore: a gratuity, a deliverance, an endowment, a qualification, a faculty....1 Corinthians 12:4 says "now there a variety of gifts (charismas) but the same Spirit". I am not into labels. Labels are meant to diminish a person with whom there is a disagreement, without knowing how God is dealing with that person.

All I know is prayer leaders and ANY Leader in Ministry, had better be cleansed from all iniquity as much as possible, and strive to remain cleansed, OR there will be little or NO power coming out of that ministry! Now, apply that truth to any ministry you can name and measure up against the plumb. The Lord lead me to purchase an old fashioned construction plumbline in cold January to speak to the pastors at the Virden Ministerial Alliance, because we all need to stay with the plumbline of Truth.

There were major target prayers which we need to continue on for the 2008 elections. Too many American Christians will be caught up with voting for one of two liberal candidates. I am not politically correct and they are pro-abortion. They stand in church pulpits and put on the mantle of false messiah to the masses. Any Christian who votes for them will be accountable to God for their votes. This comes down to the churches of Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Jesus has something against some of us, and He will take away their lampstands. There was also prayer for racial reconciliation.

Finally, communion was celebrated in the most unique way - by a Messianic Jewish pastor Jake Rosen from Rock Hill! He went into the Biblical roots of the Lord's Supper and it was so authentic! We even used real unleavened Matso bread. More happened at the Assembly but one has to be a part of one, to get the full impact of what really happens at one.

I am embarking on a month -long personal study called Fresh Encounter by Claude King and recommend it. He and Dr. Blackaby wrote a number of books including the well-known "Experiencing God". I have spoken to, listened to and read Claude King. He is not a mystic contrary to my friends in the conservative reformed bible movement (of which I am also a part). Before one runs off and judges without reading, look into what Fresh Encounter is...a guide for seeking revival in the land (and person).

I had a wonderful conversation with Lisa Crump about Business Men in Christ (www.businessmeninChrist.com), our Springfield umbrella group for an expanding number of ministries like our National Day of Prayer here; Carpentry for Christ ministry; Missionary to the Missions and retirement centers and our brother Relevant Practical Ministry for Men (Iron Sharpens Iron Conferences). The folks in Colorado Springs, where Lisa is Shirley Dobson's eyes and hands, are really interested in discipling men! She was noting how many more men are now getting into prayer ministry, once almost exclusively led by women!!

She thanked me for recommending Iron Sharpens Iron because this year, NDP is involved in all 37 national conferences and our own Commander Brian Toon (US Navy Ret....USS Abe Lincoln), NDP national Vice Chairman, is doing a seminar at ISI Central - my old stomping grounds of Hartford, Ct!

We had a long talk about Joe White and his new Men at the Cross Ministry; about how Men's Fraternity affected our lives as Men's ministry leaders in Springfield etc etc. To my BMIC co-leader brethren, you may not realize it, but we are having an impact, as more and more want to know how we do what we do! AMEN! Of course, my title is director of communications....and God did not grant me a spirit of timidity when talking about BMIC!! Thank you for allowing me to share this wonderful occasion with you! God bless.