EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS...NO LIMITS!!!

What an amazing last few weeks!!!! Can life seriously just keep getting better and better? The simple answer is "YES"...when you know who you are and WHOSE you are.

Some of the CKE crew were able to go to the Great Grace Conference in NJ with Georgian Banov, Patricia King, Heidi Baker, and many other great men and women of God. One of the key themes of the conference was "CHANGING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NEED." There is a place of Kingdom living where you see "need" as an opportunity..."void" as a place to create..."desert" as the Promised land...and "barrenness" as a perfect birthing chamber!

People with promise and God's "megas" favor walk into desolation and see things automatically begin to turn around because we know we were created in the image of God. The Creator of the Universe created us to do what He did and that's HUGE!

OCT. 17th - CKE

This was our 17th meeting of CKE and the sweet Presence of God filled the room with power and overwhelming love, touching everyone from ages 14 - 84. It was a night of expanding our horizons and accessing the Kingdom of Heaven without limits. There was an anointing and freedom to simply receive from the Father. A word was given about a "great propulsion of grace" giving us the ability to do more than we could ever do in the natural, not based on performance whatsoever. It's the grace of knowing nothing can separate us from His adoring love, which gives us the ability to be fearless lovers and thrive in a place of seeing natural impossibilities becoming possible.

There were accurate prophetic words given that brought freedom to those dealing with specific hindrances for nearly 20 years. It is always such a pure picture of love when God comes in to the deepest part of our weakness and floods it with His supernatural strength!

The group prayed for Cara and James as they embark on this new journey of life together. What an honor to see such an example of how Christ loves the church in this couple who are about to be married, and who are committed to Kingdom purpose with all that is within them!

The best part of the evening was when two precious first-time guests prayed the prayer of salvation and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Oh the party that must have been going on in Heaven!!!

TESTIMONIES

What if everyone actually believed what they read in the Bible? There is a group of RADICAL men and women in New York & New Jersey who really do!

One young lady, who had to drop out of school for a year, is having to work 2 jobs to survive, but knows it is strategic for the Kingdom. She also knows that maybe she was working at CVS last week to walk in the authority of the resurrection power of Jesus to declare life into a man who died right there in the pharmacy section of the store, but isn't dead any more! Thank You Jesus!!!

This month, there were many out of town guests who received accurate prophetic words, mega "hot seat" ministry, and left New York soooo encouraged by the love and passion for God that they experienced with this amazing group of people.

Another young lady who has only been saved about a year went home a few weeks ago to see her family and found out that her Catholic Grandmother was diagnosed with diabetes. On a previous trip home, she had led her mother and sister in the prayer of salvation, so on this trip, she began to lead them all into declarations of healing from the Word to contradict this diagnosis. Her mom called last week and said that Gram went to the doctor to get tested again, and the doctor said, "I don't know what happened and can't explain it, but our tests show that you don't have diabetes." Yay God!

Every single week, God is calling us all to new levels of intimacy and dependence on Him. One young man "got his mail read" by Holy Spirit, and was able to see God's love and purpose for him in a tangible way. When that happens, it gives you the confidence to step into those things that have been hidden in your heart and see them become a reality.

A word of knowledge was given in a service about pain in someone's right shoulder. A woman come up with pain in her right shoulder, neck, and back. After praying that God's perfect love engulf her life like a cocoon, she felt the warmth of the Spirit and was totally healed and pain free!

So hopeful to know that our God is ALWAYS in a good mood!!

LIFE JUST DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS!!!!!

SEPTEMBER - MONTH OF SEISMIC SHIFTS

What a month it's been so far...filled with many encounters of God invading our impossible!

One of the central themes at CKE has been FOCUS. In a season when many are looking for jobs...fear is coming from every direction...money is tight...the world seems to be getting darker...and uncertainty is trying to take root...there is only ONE solution! We must be a people with dedicated focus...to let Him captivate our gaze and not let it be diverted from His face. God is lovingly calling us to look to Him and trust in His promises. As that happens, He is able to invade our impossible situations, thus making Heaven's reality become our earthly reality. That is GOOD NEWS!!!!


Sept. 5th - CKE

We had an amazing time of worship directly before God's throne, experiencing waves of His rich presence. Many prophetic words were declared to individuals, propelling them into their destinies. One of our men read Isaiah 43:21 saying "The people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise." A prophetic song was released..."I was formed for Your Praise. I was formed for Your fame. It's the reason why I live..."

Sept. 11th - Ministry down at the World Trade Center site

A small group went downtown in the rain to be "love personified" to the hurting people who experienced such loss 8 years ago. It was amazing how fresh the wound of that day still seemed as thousands filled the area with tears running down their faces. One fireman, who was a survivor of the day, but lost many friends and family on 9/11, spent 45 minutes telling us his story. He had a face to face encounter with LOVE! At the end of the day, we met Kathy, who had just sprained her knee down on the wet pavement. She sadly told the story of what she saw that day, then let us pray for her. Her eyes widened as most of the pain went away immediately. Five minutes later, she walked by without a limp. Yay God!!!

Sept. 19th - CKE

We began the night releasing testimonies around the room. It was amazing! (Rev. 19:10 "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.") The atmosphere was charged with the knowledge that what He has done, He will do again! At one point during worship, Holy Spirit led us to use our own voices as instruments to release sounds of worship...this created multiple sounds weaving beautifully together as one sound of worship went up before the Lord.

Flippin People - There was a word given to one of our guys, who is a real estate developer: "In the same way you 'flip houses', God will use you to 'flip people.' Drug addicts will be transformed into businessmen. You will be used to create supernatural 'rags to riches' stories where lives will be radically changed as they move instantly from one dynamic to another dynamic living out their Kingdom purpose."

NYC Encounters... Healing on Park Avenue...

A key part of CKE is to cover NYC in prayer. Every Wednesday we take ground with our feet and through prophetic intercession on the streets of Manhattan. Some of the locations we've covered so far have been: MTV, NBC Studios, Radio City Music Hall, Fashion Ave (5th Ave), Fashion Houses (Armani, Dior), and Park Ave.

At the last NYC Encounter, one of our team members, who recently got saved in July, joined us. Her back was in intense pain and she was unable to bend down. Right there on Park Avenue, we laid hands on her and watched God immediately heal her back. All pain was gone. She was able to bend down and do what she couldn't do before!!

JT, one of our CKE men, gave us this challenge: "Never be afraid to let your light shine. There are so many hurting people out there, and we have something they don't have. We just can't hide it and keep it to ourselves." SHINE His love on everyone you meet today!

MIRACLES IN MANHATTAN!!!

We had an amazing CKE event last Saturday...numerous immediate healings, powerful salvation encounters, life altering transformations, and a rich awareness of the Presence of JESUS...isn't our God spectacular?

We saw 2 people healed of heel spurs, a young Hindu man accept Jesus as his Savior, 1 spine straighten, someone healed from stuttering, someone healed of migraine headaches, and a young lady baptized in the Holy Spirit...it was the Bible becoming real and Heaven on earth!!!


Signs & Wonders...Staten Island Ferry

Don't you love when God unexpectedly decides to show up and show off!!!! Who would have thought that a leisurely ride on the Staten Island Ferry would result in crazy GOD ENCOUNTERS? We sat down next to Laura, who out of the blue said that her foot hurt really bad from an excruciating bone spur she had for years. As we prayed for her, her foot began to get really warm, so we encouraged her to test it out. She began jumping up and down, dancing and screaming, saying "Come get healed...come get healed!" We made quite a scene on the ferry - Yay God!

After that, Valli, who was sitting on the other side asked us to pray for her finances and anxiety. In talking to her about the love of God, and just seeing what God had done for Laura, she asked Jesus into heart!!!! Woo Hoo - Huge party in Heaven!!!! She had big tears rolling down her face and said she just felt really good all over. Awwwww....this stuff just wrecks me!


Single In The City...for Ladies only!

We had a phenomenal 3 week series taking an honest and nonreligious look at dating, purity, and sexual values in today's society. Imagine a group of beautiful, talented and successful women radiating the love and glory of God who are committed to living lives of purity in their singleness, dating, courting, engagement, and marriages. What a privilege to be able to stand up on our wedding day and after years of marriage, knowing that our lives are a sign and wonder in the midst of a world that fights against everything we stand for and believe in. Stay tuned for more "Single in the City" events!!!!

July 2009 ~ A month of Kingdom Realities!!!

At CKE, we are choosing to view our world, through the eyes of Abba Father's outrageous love and His constantly overflowing goodness!! God has a great track record - He has never, ever, ever, EVER failed...He's brilliant at being GOD...so we are 'sentenced' to victory when our trust is in Him!!

What an exciting month we've had...here are some highlights from July:

July 4th - Fireworks!!!
We had 27 people at our 4th of July party...from an overflowing table of food, to making new friends, to playing Catchphrase on the terrace, to watching some phenomenal fireworks...it was an amazing day which ended with impromptu ministry to three young men who came over for the first time. God radically touched each one of their lives...one of them, after having been prayed for, said, "I feel so free." They were so impacted by the selfless love everyone showered on them...yay God!!!

CKE Kids
Our first CKE Kids launched on July 16th. We spent the afternoon training them on how to 'Treasure Hunt' and go on adventures with Holy Spirit. In an hour, we impacted 21 lives with the love of God. They were prayed for, encouraged and blown away that God highlighted them. The kids had fun & were so excited that they too could hear God's voice and see people encountering God's presence. They can't wait to go 'Treasure Hunting' again!!!

Single in the City - For Ladies Only...
On Tuesday, July 21st, 14 women gathered to take an honest and nonreligious look at dating, purity, and sexual values in our culture.

In a society where purity in character and relationships seems archaic, boring and 'holier-than-thou', God is raising up a generation that choose to walk in His freedom and value HIS heart above the compromise and bondage that the enemy offers. Even if we have failed, God's heart is for our complete restoration.

We've received such great feedback from the first session...

"This is exactly what I needed. Thank you for being real."

"Now that I'm saved, I need to know how to relate to Christian guys...(Single in the City) helps me in this..."

"Knowing that others have the same questions and struggles, helps me to know I'm not alone in this journey... thank you for doing this...it is SO needed."

There are more exciting events lined up for "Single in the City"...stay tuned for more details!!!

We live during a time, where the thin line between heaven and earth is closing in and God is calling His Bride to say "YES" to His heart and influence our world with demonstrations of His love. Whoever we are, wherever we're from, all God is asking for, is a heart that says, "Yes, use me." Dream big with God and you may be surprised what He does in and through you!!

Love...Love...Love!!!

Wow! What a week it has been. As of today, four celebrities in the entertainment and media industry have passed away. Each of them were precious and mattered to JESUS. His love for them, is deep, immeasurable and unconditional. We are commissioned to love our neighbor – those in our world - with that same Christ-like Love.

How do we do that? By pursuing intimacy with Jesus and staying hungry for HIS Presence – involving HIM in every area of our lives – communing with HIM at work, on the campus, at dinner, during times of joy, times of uncertainty, when we make important and even not-so-important decisions...HE welcomes every part of our life and longs to be in relationship with us.

From that place of intimacy with LOVE Himself, we receive His transforming Love in our own lives, and are empowered by His Spirit to love those in our world. When that happens, transformation WITHIN and WITHOUT will take place in our circle of influence - which will then affect our society, our culture and our world!

It’s difficult to remain defeated, broken, hopeless, and bound in sin, when you encounter the wild, powerful, beautiful, authentic, eternal and beyond-logic love of JESUS!!

So what are the ingredients of this kind of relentless, enduring LOVE?

1. Love is patient.

2. Love is kind.

3. Love is not jealous and does not envy.

4. Love does not boast.

5. Love is not proud.

6. Love is not rude.

7. Love is not self-seeking.

8. Love is not easily angered. It does not become irritated. It is not touchy.

9. Love keeps no record of wrongs.

10. Love does not delight in evil but it rejoices in truth.

11. Love always trusts, and believes all things.

12. Love always hopes.

13. Love always perseveres.

14. Love goes on forever.

Now read the list and replace the word "love" with "God." God is not just loving, He IS Love!

All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever...there are three things that remain -- faith, hope, and love -- and the greatest of these is Love. I Corinthians 13: 4-8, 13 (LBV)

Let's challenge one another to show the tangible love of JESUS, to each individual we come into contact with, today! "They will know we are CHRISTians, by our love..."

Living Backwards, Upside Down and Impossible

So this is what we are called to do....our job description...to live backwards, upside down, and absolutely impossible. Isn't that just like God? The funny thing is that to Him, it is totally forward, right side up, and not only possible, but NORMAL.

So...are there really people who have chosen to live completely "unfashionable" in this society? Jesus did. He said that in order to live, we must die. In order to find life, we must lose it. Though He was rich, He became poor. Though He was King, He became a servant to all. It is a decision to go as absolutely low as possible, placing yourself in a posture of complete dependence on the One who is fully dependable.

You see...When you know that the Creator of the Universe truly wants you to access everything He is and literally overtake you with abundance, you don't have to promote yourself. You don't have to strive. You don't have to walk in fear and doubt. You simply believe that you are accepted, loved, cherished, and not only in relationship, but actually co-laboring with the One who is withholding NOTHING from you.

So, what do you say? Shall we live totally "unfashionable" in this society, daring to believe that God will exalt us, provide for us, surround us with favor, and let His power be displayed through our lives? I'm in....are you?

CKE
What happens when a hungry group of men and women come together for one purpose...His Face! The Word of God infused our worship as the fragrance of Heaven filled the room. In a prophetic act, we released our will to Him and stepped over into total dependence on a trustworthy God, with NO BACK-UP PLAN.

The men of CKE got totally blasted as the women surrounded them and spoke to the greatness of God in their lives...calling them to be men of integrity, purity, lovers of the Word, worshipers, and leaders with Kingdom purpose.

S.W.I.M.
Last week in Columbus Circle, 6 radical men and women broke through the facade of happiness, wealth, and success to let people know that God loved them and had a plan for their lives. It was a beautiful encounter that they never expected, but I know they will never forget. Prophetic words and miraculous healing happened right in the lobby of the Time Warner Center.

God is so good and this is THE GOOD LIFE!!!!

20 Representing Millions!!!

What happens when 20 hungry people come together for ONE PURPOSE...HIS FACE!!!!

The room could hardly contain the heart and passion for MORE of Him...GREATER measure of His Glory...ABUNDANCE of souls into the Kingdom...Love RESOUNDING in our worship...His Word REVEALED...More Lord!!!!

God opened up the WORD to us around the room in a beautiful way:

- Rom 8:38 "...Nothing shall separate us from the love of God..."
- Num 6:24-26 "...the Lord make His face shine upon you..."
- Isa 64:1-4 "...make your name known...Nations tremble at Your Presence..."
- Mark 8:1-10 "...Jesus had compassion on the multitude...fed 4000 with 7 loaves and a few small fishes...They ate and were FILLED (satisfied)."
- Rom 8:15 "You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of Adoption by whom we cry out, ABBA, ABBA."

TENSIONS OF 2 WORLDS

We are living in the tension of 2 worlds....ONE where we are completely satisfied in Him and ONE where we are soooo ravenously hungry for MORE of Him. Where there is friction....stuff happens. There was an illustration of one substance on it's own that just "is", but when you put it together with something completely different, they become explosive together.

The tension of these 2 worlds have come together tonight to create:
- An "energy-rich" environment
- An explosive "creativity-rich" environment
- An "idea-rich" environment
- A "fertile-rich" environment

PROPHETIC WORDS

- "I am planting you in this rich soil...digging out the old, stale, hard soil. He is placing us into new soil, that is full of life, oxygen, and food...Transplanting equals Transformation in the Spirit"
- "There is something deepening...there is a deeper unity and camaraderie...it's a new day with new meaning and new purpose. It's deeper than yesterday. It's fresh. It's alive. It's new. It's fertile. It's growing. It's deep. Things got cut away, so that things that are only of God can be brought to the next level. He is pruning us all to move forward unhindered and unencumbered. Be willing to lay on the operating table as long as it takes. He is getting us to the place of who we REALLY ARE. I am GLORIFIED when you bear much fruit!"

- Isa 45:8 "...Heavens rain down righteousness...let the earth open...let them bring forth salvation and let righteousness spring up together....I, the Lord, have created it."

ABIDE - Every answer for every question is found in this place!
- John 15:1-16 "I am the true vine and my Father is the vine dresser...ABIDE IN ME as I ABIDE IN YOU..."

FREEDOM

- Laugh in the face of the enemy
- See yourself free...What do I look like FREE? See it! Believe it! Let that vision be on the forefront of everything else you see and do. Hold onto that vision TIGHT and FAST.
- It all boils down to "Believing"