Here is a picture Sam took of Þingvellir, the "most sacred place in Iceland". He has other pictures located here. It is where tribal leaders from Iceland gathered together over 1000 years ago and determined the common law for the nation. It is where the Lord led our team last April and we prayed for the house of prayer, God's government on the earth, to emerge in Christ's church in this nation with strength.
Randy Bohlender's post (I read his blog daily) had me check out the rating another site offers for your blog. As a personal aside, my friend Kolbeinn nearly had a coronary yesterday during the radio interview when I described Jesus as our "magnificent obsession". He had to try to put that into Icelandic, somehow. Sorry about that, Kolbeinn. Thanks for your patience with me.
I slept until 6AM this morning, EST. But it was 11AM locally. I felt like a teenager again (metaphorically speaking). I have a few moments at Kaffi Roma now (where they made this video) near Eiki and Katie's house for some reflection and to go over my notes. We picked up the 24-7 prayer guys who flew in from the UK this morning. Their team grew to 7 by the time they left. There is definitely good chemistry with this team.
The interviews yesterday went very well. It brought back memories of our experiences in Argentina in regards to working with an interpreter. Makes you think more deliberately as you speak then wait for the interpreter to speak their rendition. They gave me a DVD of the TV interview, one of the team wants to upload it to YouTube. They gave me a hard time for wearing a sport coat during the interview. Sheesh. That was followed with our 50 minutes of interviews on the Christian FM station that is transmitted throughout the perimeter of the nation/island (where most of the population of 300,000+ live). I thought the radio interview went particularly well, the word of the Lord was coming through clearly. The interviewer/DJ became avidly engaged in the topic of 24 hour worship and intercession as it is springing across the planet. As a believer, it seemed to resonate in a way that captured him and gave him hunger in a new way.
Some of the team got out into the beautiful parts of Iceland while I was doing the interviews. You can see some pictures here.
Tonight I'll be speaking and we'll be worshipping at a local church. We'll be introducing two prayer streams to Iceland: the 24-7 culture and the IHOP culture. What a blast! They each started in September, 1999 on two different continents. Then I'll give a message on how God is building prayer in His church in the "spirit of the tabernacle of David" (Acts 15:16ff).
Thanks to you all who are praying for us during this trip and conference. God is raising a banner for night and day prayer in this corner of Europe and it is marvelous in our eyes.
We arrived in Reykjavik safely this morning, about 2AM Charlotte time and 7AM local time. We've been resting and some are headed out to see parts of Iceland this afternoon; I am going with our host and will be interviewed on Iceland TV in about 2 hours, which will be followed up with an interview on Iceland radio. We'll be promoting this weekend 's conference.
The agenda is pretty simple: call the Church of the nation into the pleasures and privilege of seeking God corporately, being a people of loving Him and neighbor to the extent that night and day worship and prayer would be established in the nation. To this end, the Church must be also be called to embrace prophetic ministry, hearing God's voice in order that the word of God and the Spirit of God would be infused together and prayer becoming the dynamic, history changing release the Lord is looking to find on the earth. Iceland is ripe for harvest, God is looking for a people He can rest upon and birth it into reality. And thereby the Church is a people ultimately prepared for Christ Jesus' appearing. Amen and amen!
This morning I learned an astonishing point of history that Iceland was critical to the birthing of Israel in 1948. Their ambassador to the UN was a huge key to the UN vote to recognize the nation as he headed the political committee pursuing resolution concerning Palestine; he considered Iceland's clinging to its own sense of sovereignty and destiny throughout many centuries parallel to the Jews maintaining their sense of purpose and destiny against other forces. Many believers in Iceland today attribute their current economic blessing (5th most productive economy in the world in terms of productivity per capita) began with this decision, that it started in the 1950s and now they are a major financial center in Europe that continues to grow in importance.
Wow, what a trip. The 8 of us are here, safe and sound. We're quite tired... its a morning to sleep and find some rhythm for the rest of the trip, schedule-wise. Caryn has crashed already, obviously thrilled to be onboard with something so wonderful and God-initiated in such a distinctive place.Pray for me as I'll be speaking on Icelandic TV and radio later today, being interviewed about the call and birthing of the Iceland house of prayer. This will be around 10 AM EST. Ian Nicholson and the 24-7 team arrive tomorrow, then we start the conference tomorrow night. We need the Holy Spirit to move... we need power from on high. We need signs and wonders... we need clarity of the reason and spirit for night and day prayer to emerge here in strenth and consistency. I'll be crashing in about 2 minutes, I'll try to get some photos up soon. Much love to our family back home (have Matthew set up a Skype account and send me the account name, pls).
Yes, our fears are realized... we are getting bussed from Richmond through to BWI. Its interesting to watch people when they are shifted out of their comfort zones: plans disrupted, money lost etc. I don't like it either, but things could be much worse. I EXPECT resistance to the will of God from human preferences and demonic powers. Lets keep rolling on, trusting God. Though He may seem to be late or delayed, He never is. Never. He opens doors no man or demon can shut. We want Your kingdom today, Jesus, its truly what we want. And need.
Had to touch down in Richmond, VA. A burning smell wafted through the cabin so the pilots landed as a precaution. There are rumors of a bus taking us to Baltimore... this can't be. Its 149 miles. (Refrain of a choir in the background: "Tell me whose report do you believe?" Antiphonal response: "We will believe the report of the Lord!")
We're at the airport now. I forgot that the only Jamba Juice® in Charlotte is in the airport. Go figure. Used to grab one in San Jose on the way to the Harvest Evangelism office when I went through town... good memories. Interesting, there was an earthquake there last night as well, 5.6 richter-wise. Anyway, got a JJ en route to the gate... the free wifi makes this update possible (courtesy of the Charlotte Douglas Int'l Airport).
Our flight on Delta got cancelled, but we got a better one (nonstop) instead. Prayer works... thanks guys for praying with us last night and through these next several days.
We're heading out this morning, off to Baltimore (hopefully a little siteseeing this afternoon in the DC area) then off to Reykjavik later. I'll be on Christian radio and TV tomorrow afternoon (Iceland time) talking about the house of prayer. The conference is Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon and evening. Pray for us, that God's blueprint would be manifest and that men would be drawn to Jesus as He builds His house of prayer.
This was taken last night and sent by friends today.
We have a final team member who had his money come in last night to make the trip with us from Charlotte to Iceland. Joel "chapter 2" Greutman. Amazing. Prayer tonight at our house at 7 for those wanting to pray for us and bless us. +++ Send us, Lord, in the power of Your Spirit and the wonder of Your love! +++
Wow, what a week looms ahead. Its going to be interesting. My team of 7 arrive in Iceland early Thursday morning, our conference with the house of prayer begins Friday evening. Ian Nicholson from Guilford, England brings his 24-7 team this week as well. Most details are ironed out on our end, pray for the host team in Iceland regarding having things synchronized. The Word of the Lord is breaking out in Iceland; pray that He runs swiftly and is glorified.
