Jeremiah Lanphier's Journey of Prayer

How A Nation Was Turned to G-d and Restored


Jeremiah Lanphier discovered the power of prayer in his own life.

A Milestone Monday Feature

America found herself at a crossroads. Wild speculation and greed had built a house of cards. While a few became incredibly wealthy, the gap between haves and have-nots grew ever wider.   The economic crash had put 30,000 men out of work on the streets of New York City.  Churches languished as people explored Spiritism and other "new" ideas. We, of the Twenty-first Century, would find the condition of the culture strangely familiar.

Political corruption, shady dealings in business and a general moral decline were the norm.  "Atheism, agnosticism, apathy and indifference to God, to the church, and its message abounded on every hand. The decline was fourfold: social, moral, political and spiritual." -- Tom Shanklin

Then came the crash! Factories were shuttered. Banks failed and merchants were ruined. Thousands were destitute. Winkie Pratney, who chronicled the great revival, says: "A near socio-economic collapse jolted America away from her apathy into a national cry for spiritual reality." Chuck Balsamo presents a wonderful concise history of this revival in his book Make Me a Legend [click to read]. The story does not begin with a mighty move and thousands of conversions, rather it begins in a rather small way.

Jeremiah Lanphier was a middle-aged businessman caught in the crossroads. Having no children and no family, he was drawn to minister to the needs of those living in the dark slums of Hell's Kitchen. Leaving his business, he became a lay missionary with the North Dutch Church in Manhattan. Pouring his life into the lives of those he saw caught in hopelessness, he soon came to the end of his own strength. Physically and mentally exhausted, Lanphier discovered that just as the body needs food, the soul and spirit of a man need to be nourished in prayer.[1.]

Each day at midday, Lanphier would seek solace in the Church Consistory Building, where he would cry out to G-d for spiritual strength. He experienced G-d in a mighty way in these times and felt that others would benefit from prayer as well, especially the city's businessmen. He printed up and distributed 20,000 flyers advertising his first noontime prayer meeting, on September 23, 1857.

That day he prayed alone for thirty minutes before six others joined him. The next week there were twenty. The week after that forty people showed up. In time over 100 churches had noonday prayer meetings going throughout the city. G-d's powerful move was felt far beyond New York City. Newspaperman Horace Greeley wanted to get a count of the number of men  praying in New York so he sent a reporter out to the meetings. Racing around the city in a horse-drawn buggy, the reporter was only able to get to twelve meetings in the noon hour, but he counted 6,100 in attendance.

Spiritual awakening followed and Americans found strength in G-d for the turbulent days that followed. This Third Great Awakening not only revitalized the spirit of America's people, but led to missionary outreach around the world.  [2.]

Spark 2013 in Stuarts Draft, Virginia

A Concert of Prayer for Our Place and Time...



"In the mid 1700s, pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards coined the term “concerts of prayer” to describe corporate gatherings of Christians for intercession and spiritual renewal. Regular prayer meetings at the time became a spark for the First Great Awakening in the United States.

Similarly, the Third Great Awakening was largely initiated and sustained through a movement of prayer. In 1857, Jeremiah Lanphier started a noon prayer meeting on Manhattan’s Fulton Street. The meeting quickly grew to several thousand business leaders and revival spread across the country, spawning some 2 million conversions and great works of social reform. Slavery was cut short in the United States through the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865 largely because of this awakening. The Salvation Army, The Christian and Missionary Alliance, and other Christian movements found their birth during this period, and the mighty Student Volunteer Movement was launched which sent approximately 25,000 students to the mission field in the coming decades.

Such corporate gatherings for prayer and around-the-clock Prayer Watches have worked together through history to strengthen prayer ministry. The New York City “Concerts of Prayer” initiative, for example, combined their Concerts of Prayer with a Prayer Watch that united 35 churches in 1995. The combined effort continued and over the next five years, the murder rate in New York City dropped 70%, making it one of the safest cities in the country with over a million people" -- Concerts of Prayer [click to read].  
Henderson County Ministerial Association.

Spark 2013 [click to read] begins May 12, 2013 and continues through May 19, 2013.

THYME Magazine

Citizen Journalism with a Better Flavor


Volume V, Issue XXI
  
"The true great works are rooted in love and born in prayer" -- Unknown

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." -- Galations 5:22,23

A Great Work... Ushering in the World to Come

Who among us has not at some point imagined themselves involved in some great work? We love the stories of triumph and bravery and wonder if it might be our lot to ever be part of such a tale? So-called 'Realism' raises a hand at this point and argues that most men live in obscurity and live lives that are insignificant. Yet the belief that significance is something to be desired presses the possibility of it being attained. Travelling to Bolivia last year, I sensed there were a thousand stories in search of a Hemingway.

I saw an amazing medical mission that grew out of one woman's loving heart. She herself survived breast cancer and when most people would have started savoring retirement, this soft-spoken RN was G-d's instrument to bring decent medical care to the poorest people in Santa Cruz and now Sucre. (Her SECOND clinic just opened in February)! Cindy Thacker is doing a great work, as are the comitted staff of Mission of Hope Bolivia. It was a priviledge to hear their stories and by our work there to contribute to them.[1.]

In a South American slum there is a man who creates orchestra instruments from trash! 'Landfill Harmonic' brings beautiful music to young people who would otherwise know only the sound of despair. [2.] Redemption! all the great stories tell of it. Is it a false hope?, or something that the great stories hold out to us because its realization could be nearer than we dare imagine?If we can imagine something, is it possible that that ability to imagine is rooted in sound reasons?

These are the stories the media rarely report to us. One hears so much about the dysfunction in our world... and it is real. Yet, quiet your heart. You will find amazing stories around you. You might even find yourself a part of one! Great works abound in our own back yard. How shall we find them... be still, watch and listen!

Watching Kristina Elaine Riley paint her latest mural depicting "Acts of Kindness Rooted in Love," it was clear that she was engaged in a great work. [3.] The painting she is completing with elementary and middle school children in the Farrier Court Community center carries a redemptive message. Indeed, it could be seen as an extension of her "Journey to Jesus," [4.] where she took ordinary children's photographs, often in places of great hardship, and painted them as princes and princesses of the New Heaven and the New Earth spoken of in Isaiah 60, Isaiah 61 [5.] and Revelation 21 [6.]

Audio Aredrenalin's "Kings and Queens" echos that message [7.] To love "the least of these" is to make kings and queens in G-d's Kingdom. Empowering children to be noble by rooting themselves in love... an unseen foundation upon which to build a noble edifice!

Hebrews 11 talks of Faith: "The evidence of things hoped for, the substance of things not seen," and tells of Abraham, who wandered and lived all of his life in tents, longing for "that city who's architect and builder is G-d!" Those who share in the hope that Abraham had have a stake in the greatest of works... joining G-d in building His Kingdom!

Nehemiah engaged himself in a great work... rebuilding the walled city of Jerusalem. Just as he became a man of singular purpose, we too should consider the ruined state of our own culture and "arise and build!" A study of Nehemiah's life reveals that he didn't begin by sorting stones or drawing plans, he PRAYED. Scripture is clear that he began by seeking G-d and the mighty work sprang from that prayer [8.]

 In the Nineteenth Century, Evangelist George Müller was moved by the plight of unwanted children. He prayed. Without asking for a penny, he saw G-d provide the means to care for thousands of children and build fine homes for them to live in [9.]

In a world of chaos, we seek order, beauty and truth. These things will elude us if we do not seek the AUTHOR of order, beauty and truth. Great works do not just happen, they spring from the hand and mind of purposeful authorship. If purposeful authorship is evident in Creation, then it behooves us to seek to learn from the Author of purpose.

Pastor Chuck Balsamo of Destiny Fellowship in Stuarts Draft invites all who would to join in a time of Prayer, Fasting and Worship [click to read]. The purpose, not unlike Nehemiah's, is to seek G-d in a world where order, beauty and truth are all too rare.

My point in writing this is that G-d has a great work and the promise is clear. The murky uncertainty of our post-modern world is all too evident and threatens to obscure OUR view of that purpose. If we as a people will come away to seek His face, we will find ourselves in the very presence of G-d. Perhaps it is time to stop saturating ourselves in the news and MAKE news... led by the same fire that "turned the world upside down" in the First Century [10.]

That is key. This is not about growing bigger churches or merely creating a moral superiority, or economic prosperity, it is about unleashing the power of G-d's Holy Spirit to build G-d's Holy Kingdom! How does one describe the Kingdom of G-d and His promised presence there? It is like describing a mountain vista to a blind man. Where do you begin? Yet this is a picture that I as an artist feel compelled to paint! Mankind needs this vision. How does one begin to paint it?

Does one start by descriptions rooted in the scents of seasons... the smell of leaves and lavendar, the deep smell of Earth beneath the firs? One CAN deduce from what one CAN percieve that there is more unseen. That is the artist's mission. Just as a visual artist creates depth with line and shadow and aerial perspective, we can point to that which is beyond our ability to literally render.

Can we "see" the promise, pushing onward. and offer relationship with G-d Himself to a world of lonely and injured pilgrims? Can we join together as G-d seeks to rebuild lives and bring His Kingdom to Earth? Can we see that G-d is at work, purposefully authoring the promised Kingdom? In the combined sense of PEACE and PURPOSE found in communion with the Divine, might we have a part in ushering in the World to Come?

The Differences...

Between Successful and Unsuccessful People

By Chuck Balsamo



It’s always blown my mind to see two perfectly similar people in appearance, upbringing, and education grow and become two totally different human beings.

Have you ever wondered how one person becomes so highly successful, and then another person who is just like him or her (in almost every way) becomes so woefully unhappy and unsuccessful?

To me, high success is not defined as having lots of money and things, or attaining to certain levels of achievement.

The differences between successful and unsuccessful people are beneath the skin. You’re not going for a certain new look, but a certain new mindset. You don’t need a new outfit. You need a new attitude.

Successful People…

Love themselves and their family and friends. They are thankful for the past, content with the present, and optimistic about the future

Unsuccessful People…

They are the sleepwalkers. They are bitter about the past, angry and hurt in a hundred ways. They groan and grumble about the nightmares of today. They are consumed with the dread of a hopeless tomorrow.

If you are woefully unhappy and unsuccessful, you can switch tracks.

You just have to understand these major differences between successful and unsuccessful people, and then choose a more successful way of thinking (and acting) for yourself.

Stop repeating the same excuses! Everyone has a terrible past. Everyone has challenges. Everyone has a few good reasons to be unsuccessful.

I don’t believe in the power of good luck and bad luck, because I believe more in the power of right and wrong attitudes, negative and positive expectations, and positive action (or the lack of it)!

Attitude

How do you generally feel about yourself, your life, and the world around you?

• Are you self-loathing, guilt ridden, enraged, embittered, etc. (OR)
• Are you grateful, loving, graceful, playful, hilarious, energized, etc.
• Stop being such a downer! Open the window blinds and let the sunlight in! Clean up your spaces from the devastating effects of your last pity party.
• Smile with difficulty until you can smile by default!

Expectations

What are you expecting to happen with your life?

• Do you feel like the whole world is conspiring against you, that life is always going to be an impossible uphill struggle? (OR)
• Do you feel like the whole world is conspiring in your favor! Do you expect the mountains to move? Do you expect people to like you, love you, and bless you?

Positive Action

How are manifesting energy, taking action, and moving towards your dreams?

• You have to be more than a dreamer to win!
• Unsuccessful people are lazy. They wake up late and they do whatever, whenever, wherever… most of the time.
• Unsuccessful people spend lots of time wishing for a better life, but they do little or nothing (consistently) to drive them forward.
• If you want to go from woefully unsuccessful to highly successful, you must turn your wishes into strategic plans, and actually go for it!
• The world behaves differently when you TAKE ACTION!

Consider these verses from the Bible…

Attitude: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8 NLT)

Expectations: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT) “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:30 NLT)

Positive Action: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your strength.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NLV)

Create a new attitude!

Develop a long new list of expectations!

Enter into the power of positive action!

When you do these things, the entire universe will welcome you to the UPWARD FLOW.

Sure, you will have challenges and opposition. But with the right attitude and expectations, and with positive action you will keep blasting forward without losing momentum! You will win. Because it’s impossible to stay at the bottom when you give attention to the things I’ve written in this blog today.

Please leave a comment, and if you loved this message… share it!
Dream Big,
Chuck Balsamo [1.]
Today’s image from Designbolts.com

THYME Magazine

Citizen Journalism with a Better Flavor


Volume V, Issue III

Leadership Often Unheralded

The 'other' weekly news magazine is presenting Chris Christie of New Jersey as "The Boss" [click to read]. Calling him the: "Master of Disaster," TIME seems determined to build Christie's cred as a "reasonable" politician. Sadly, for some of us the 'disaster' that Christie is the master of might be the public appearances with the President [1.] (right before the election), that look more like campaigning than compassion. Also, revelations that Christie's wife presided over a charity for Sandy victims that may have failed to actually deliver funds to the intended recipients have come to light [2.].

A Profile in Quiet Courage

In contrast, one of our good friends has just experienced tragedy in the form of possible arson. His response to a situation most of us would have a very hard time with is challenging. Earlier this morning I wrote:

"We think of the dangers faced by our brethren in places like Nigeria and thank G-d for our relative safety. Yet one has to look at the series of malicious actions toward this fine church in Stuarts Draft and see that effective Christianity is not without opposition anywhere it is practiced.

Lives are changed through the ministry of people like Pastor Chuck Balsamo and, more importantly, by the people he mentors.

We wonder why horrific crimes, such as occurred in a small Connecticut town, happen. We've tried to construct a post-faith model for our society and are reduced to external regulation because we dare not address the issues of the human heart.

Pastor Chuck and his flock are dedicated to life-changing ministry to the heart. The Gospel of Christ is powerful and effective. Through Christ, people experience transformation. I rejoice in that fact, for it is my experience as well. Some in our world, unfortunately, find that very upsetting."

 Here is what Pastor Chuck wrote, still feeling the freshness of this tragedy:

"Dear G-d, please give a change of heart to people who do these things… and please protect our church from further attack. Please protect the beautiful, loving, and compassionate people of our congregation… and give us courage to continue with our mission… to make this community and world a better place. I still thank You for making me the pastor of Destiny Family Center. Our vision is clear and our future is bright. I thank You for our fire department and those who risked their lives for us again tonight. Bless them, and their families as they’ve willingly placed themselves in harm’s way for us.

I feel humbled. I don’t know what to think. So, I pray… with hope in my heart to a G-d who cares more than anyone can ever imagine. Amen."

 He continues:

"Thank you all for your many prayers and kind comments to us. What a blessing it is to feel the love of G-d, through friends, in times like this. Please continue to respond with G-d’s love.

Things can be replaced.

Our mission and our focus has nothing to do with things… it is about making a forever difference in the hearts and souls of people… our families, friends, and even our enemies. This fire is further evidence of the need for churches, and good-hearted Christian people.

This fire inspires me to care for people more, not less. It makes me more so thankful to G-d for saving me from the person I could have become. It compels me to reach out to corrupted people when they are young… before they end up hurting others and themselves. To the people of Destiny Family Center, and to all who feel hurt with us…

Please respond with us by deciding to make a greater difference with your lives this year, than any other year of your life.

Our church has always been known for reaching out to people who are at the lowest rock bottom… to the drug dealers and addicts and people who are fresh out of jail, and those who are fresh out of divorce, and every kind of destruction imaginable. May we continue to do this, no matter what happens to us in the process. Love is greater than hate. Mercy is greater than judgment.

Today is another beautiful day to be alive and shining for Christ. G-d bless you all!

Keep The Dream Alive,

Chuck Balsamo"

Please read Pastor Chuck's Original Letter [click to read] and pray about how YOU can make a greater difference today!

Iranian Pastor on Front Lines of Faith


American Pastor Saeed Abedini, who is being held in one of Iran’s most abusive prisons because of his Christian faith, faces a new challenge.  His case was just transferred to a judge who is notorious for violating human rights.

Follow His Story [click to read] and PRAY!

“Prison is a test of faith. I was always worried that the storms of this life would break the ship of my faith, but when you stand steadfast, the storms are like a nice breeze. Nothing can break my faith. These walls have created more fervor for me to love others through sharing the Gospel, but more than that, the walls have deepened my love for my Savior. I feel the prayers of all who are praying for me.” -- Saeed Abedini

THYME Magazine

Citizen Journalism with a Better Flavor

 
Volume IV, Issue XXII

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." -- Hebrews 12:1-3

The "other" weekly news magazine features the cover story: "How to Die." In it Joe Klein discusses candidly the end-of-life decisions he had to make concerning his dying parent. He muses about the weaknesses of Medicare's fee-for-service system and sees a better model in the salaried staff of the private care facility. Sadly, Joe cannot expect that to translate well into a system of government salaried doctors. Public hospitals in Bolivia pretty much have that now. The doctor's salary is covered... but the MEDs are expensive. Patients have to purchase their own med kits prior to surgery. If they cannot afford it they may have to endure surgery with no pain meds! Remember little Marcello? For lack of $75.00 to pay for antibiotics, he had to endure losing his legs to amputation! Joe, you are wise to see the flaws in Medicare, but don't expect a market driven solution to translate well into a state-run healthcare system.


On the way to receive his doctorate degree, Chuck Balsamo snapped this photo of pilots saluting as the body of a U.S. Soldier comes home.

Make Me a Legend [click to read]

The person of Faith sees dying as but the final chapter in the book of LIVING. That is why THYME, always venturing where the MSM fears to tread,  has decided to go in a different direction.

Stuarts Draft, Virginia, Pastor Chuck Balsamo isn't going to be around to read this review. He's off receiving a well deserved doctorate degree for the thesis behind his book: Make Me a Legend. If one is looking for a guidebook to living in our age, look no further. Pastor Balsamo firmly gasps the truth of IMAGO DEI and tells his readers how to live as a special creation of G-d. C. D. Sutherland says of this book:

"Chuck Balsamo’s “Make Me A Legend” is a tailor-made message for 21st century American-Christians, who have been domesticated by temporal comforts, fear of rejection and ridicule, and by being trained to submit and tolerate most everything the legendary G-dly people of antiquity would have resisted to their last breaths. Chuck Balsamo presents a near-formulaic process, using popular literature, movies, social movements and sport metaphors to help us, to urge us, to embolden us to `untame’ ourselves. We really don’t have to take it.

It is a call to a spiritual-revolution, which obeys the leadership of the Holy Spirit while building a multi-tier relationship network of mentors, peers, and apprentices which could very well build a “last-hour” church of epic proportions. Imagine a Christian movement, where all Christians bond together to learn, support, and teach each other the way of the perfect love of G-d–answering to G-d in all things.

“Impossible!” some might say. Really? Like freeing a captive race, parting a sea, subduing giants, rising from the grave, walking on water, or reclaiming Adam’s birthright from satan? That kind of impossible is the stuff legends are made of. Exactly.

The secular world, accustomed to corralling Christian sheep, might see such a transformational movement as being a pack of uncontrollable monsters. You might think the powers and principalities would assemble their demons and strive to crush the uprising, which sounds a bit like The Revelation to John doesn’t it. Fret not, as if you remember how it ends, that is not a bad thing. Especially when contrasted with how our culture had degraded in recent history.

I wish I had been able to read Chuck’s book 40 years ago as I slogged through many of his lessons the hard way–but alas that was not possible–it was published in 2011.

Therefore, it might be that we, along with Chuck Balsamo, were all created for just such a time as this. Maybe we will become the legendary generation the saints line up to talk to when the roll is called up yonder. Or maybe we’ll just make things better;

Either way, I recommend “Make Me A Legend” to any Christian wondering what is wrong with their life, their community, and our country. Read it and join-in with the dream that together, we can make a better tomorrow."

Gail Strother writes: "There is something inside each of us that yearns to make a difference. Yet day after day, year after year, we find ourselves settled into mediocrity. Chuck Balsamo skillfully dissects the forces that keep us where we are, then stirs our hearts to become the legends we were created to be. Make Me A Legend is full of profound revelation, inspiration, and motivation. Finally, a book that will not only challenge you to soar, but will give you the tools for the journey as well. Make Me A Legend is an absolute must-read for all that have thought, Is this really all there is?"

Intrigued? You should be. Pastor Balsamo challenges the reader straight-up to live a heroic life. The great people of history would join the chorus. Ordinary people who have risen to the challenge of extraordinary times throughout the ages will find their spirit in tune with what Chuck is saying.

I was given an advance copy of Make Me a Legend and I couldn't put it down. Referencing the Great Awakenings that transformed the fabric of our culture in the past, Chuck Balsamo asks: "Why not today."

There is practical guidance here for how to dream bigger than yourself, plan a course of action and most importantly, how to join yoursef with other like-minded souls in the quest.

In fact, the renaissance of mentorship as the prime means of passing the torch is reason enough for you to devour this book and live it. You will develop a true appreciation of the generation preceding yours and a deep love for the generation following. You will learn what power is to be found in the relationships developed across these lines.

In a world mired in its own sense of hopelessness, author Balsamo injects a realistic and much needed ray of hope.


In Santa Cruz, Bolivia's poorest neighborhood, a beautiful celebration of worship!