Shaping the World On Our Knees

 At a speech yesterday (October 7) in Athens, Greece, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said:

"Today, we find ourselves at a crossroads. The next decade will write the story of the next century. The course we take will determine whether the West maintains its place at the head of the world, or resigns itself to a future of atrophy, servitude, and decline.”(1)

Those of us who have been declaring the significance of this season don’t find Secretary Rubio’s statement surprising. While it is confirming to hear this from a government official, it is also sobering. “The next decade will write the story of the next century.” What a profound and powerful statement.

Leaders like Rubio are doing their part governmentally to shape an outcome that assures freedom, but the church must do hers. We must do so through preaching the gospel, yes, but also by being a voice for truth in general. The gospel saves us spiritually, but truth preserves the freedom to preach Christ’s gospel and implement the principles of His Kingdom. One without the other becomes incomplete.

Jesus not only said He was “the way” and “the life” in John 14:6, but inserted “truth” as the centerpiece or bridge between the two. In His great commissions of Mark 16 and Matthew 28, He emphasized both - preaching the gospel in Mark 16 and teaching the principles of His Kingdom in Matthew 28. One saves, the other disciples. One rebirths the spirit, the other transforms the mind. Without both, our message is incomplete, and our assignment fails. Any congregation neglecting to emphasize both is derelict in its duty.

Each one requires boldness and commitment, fueled and empowered by Holy Spirit’s anointing; He uses prayer to generate these qualities in the church. The intercessor realizes he or she can change the world on his/her knees. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 ).

Informed believers know that God’s words on their tongues become swords, wielded through them by Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). These decrees establish Christ’s Kingdom rule and enforce His will (Matthew 6.10). "A warrior filled with wisdom ascends into the high place and releases breakthrough, bringing down the strongholds of the mighty" (Proverbs 21:22 TPT). This passage was written for us both personally and governmentally.

In this decisive period of history, as Secretary Rubio so poignantly described, we must be diligent to do these things. Our prayers will empower their wise policies. Thank you for your participation.

Before ending this somewhat shorter post, let me remind you that we are conducting another nationwide prayer gathering of the Ekklesia on Friday, October 30th. My brother Tim will once again host it in Middletown, Ohio, and the same team that participated in the similar prayer event on August 14th will join us, along with a few more. We will livestream it, as always, and thousands will participate. Together, we will exercise our authority for Jesus and His Kingdom, releasing His influence into our nation. Don’t miss it!

Pray with me:

Father, what an amazing honor to partner with You in saving and discipling the world. We are one with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17) in His great cause. Just as You sent Him, He has sent us (John 20:21). Holy Spirit is awakening a mighty company of Christ-followers to this, and we are responding to the call.

We ask now that these faithful ones be made fully aware of the seriousness of the hour. Allow them to feel the “for such a time as this” weight of this window in history. Remind them that they are history-shapers, and that this is not only a responsibility but an extraordinary privilege.

And lastly, I ask You to refresh them by the power of Holy Spirit. Infuse them with strength as you spoke of in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—l am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace” (Amplified Bible).

In the mighty name of Yeshua, we pray. Amen.

Our decree:

We are ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses us with inner strength and confident peace! (Philippians 4:13)

1. https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/10/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-remarks/

Copyright (c) 2026 Dutch Sheets Ministries. All rights reserved. 

PO Box 4070

Batesburg-Leesville, SC 29070

ministryinfo@dutchsheets.org

The Last Full Measure of Devotion

“I recently read an account of American warriors who fought in the battle for Betio Beach during World War II. It was imperative that America take this beach. The odds against us doing so, however, were great. The results of the battle were horrific, the hearts of our men heroic. In his book Looking for America, Douglas Simpson states concerning our soldiers, ‘Never before in the history of warfare have men been asked to face such withering fire before them with only the cold sea behind to which to retreat.’(1)

“The enemy, knowing the importance of this location, had hand-picked 6500 of their finest soldiers and placed them in fortified positions from which to defend the beach. When the battle began, it was terrible. Our men were cut in half by the firepower. Seventy-five of the 125 landing crafts were destroyed. The waters of the lagoon turned crimson; hundreds of bodies bobbed in the surf, with hundreds more littering the beach. The Marines suffered 3000 plus casualties, but still kept attacking. Of those who reached the pier, many did so by walking on the submerged bodies of their fallen comrades!

“By the end of the second day, Colonel Shoup, commander of the Marine landing forces, radioed to headquarters, ‘Casualties many; percentage dead unknown; combat efficiency - we are winning.’ Though the battle was costly, our Marines took the beach.

“Warriors!

“Freedom’s heroes!!”(2)


Today, we honor them.

A few years ago, I asked another hero and friend, retired Army Major William Ostan, to share a few thoughts with our Give Him 15 listeners regarding what Memorial Day means to him. Here is what Will sent back then. It is especially meaningful to me today as Will is fighting for his life from diseases acquired while serving in Afghanistan.

Will shares:

“There’s an old saying that bears witness to a day like today. ‘People sleep peaceably in their beds because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”(3) On Memorial Day, we remember the ‘rough men and women’ of the U.S. Armed Forces who have sacrificed their lives so we can enjoy the blessings of liberty in peace.

“As a combat veteran of two foreign wars (Iraq and Afghanistan), I tend to experience mixed emotions on Memorial Day that can sometimes vacillate wildly. One minute, I will be in deep anguish and sorrow while remembering my fallen comrades in arms. I mourn the loss of friendship with them, and think about their families left behind, the Gold Star spouses and children whose lives have been radically changed forever.

“In the next minute, after the wave of grief has crested and fallen, I feel a sense of overwhelming pride. Pride that I was privileged to be friends with such great Americans. Pride in what we accomplished while at war. Pride that we kept the homeland safe while fighting over there. While seemingly paradoxical, it is good and right to experience both ends of the emotional spectrum when it comes to memories of the fallen.

“In this vein, for the past few years, I’ve initiated and led a family tradition of reading the Gettysburg Address on Memorial Day. Sometimes we read it aloud at home in the late afternoon before enjoying the inevitable barbecue with friends. Other times we read it silently before laying a wreath at a Soldier’s grave in the early morning hours. I want my young daughters to know and understand the high price of freedom. I think oftentimes children grasp more than we adults realize.

“Our civilization’s fragile flame of liberty is able to keep burning brightly because of such moments when generational transfer takes place.

“Why the Gettysburg Address? Because I believe the words hold the import and portray the gravitas of what the military dead have given to us, the living, more than any others. Furthermore, President Abraham Lincoln’s speech is much more than a remembrance; as critically important as remembering is, it is ultimately a thunderous call to action.

“Lincoln, the great orator and gifted wordsmith, crafted a masterful phrase to describe what the fallen have provided for those of us still enjoying life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In his legendary Gettysburg Address, the penultimate words he scribed before closing the short, yet epic speech were, ‘we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.’(4)

“He was speaking, of course, about the soldiers from both the North and the South who had been killed at Gettysburg. He describes their death as the ‘last full measure of devotion.’ Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines ‘devotion’ as ‘the state of being dedicated, consecrated, or solemnly set apart for a particular purpose.’(5) The military warriors Lincoln spoke of had done away with half-hearted measures and were ‘all in’ to complete the mission, even though it meant laying down their lives. They did their duty, and Lincoln now calls us to do ours through the following exhortation:

‘It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us…that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.’(6)

“So you see, my fellow Americans, Memorial Day is about much more than remembering the heroes of the past. It is also about us, their descendants, honoring our ancestors’ sacrifices by continuing the unfinished work they so nobly advanced. This is why we must, with all the fire of our faith, continue to pray for America to be turned back to God. Regardless of how bad circumstances may look, we must not falter, because duty is ours - results are God’s. A new birth of freedom is possible, if we don’t give up.”

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15)

Bio: 

William J. Ostan is a retired Army Major and the recipient of two bronze stars. He is the founder and CEO of Arc of Justice, a nonprofit organization that advocates for wounded warriors. He is the co-author of the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights, which is bipartisan legislation being considered in Congress. You can find out more about Will’s efforts at ArcofJusticeUSA.org 

1. Simpson, Douglas. Looking for America, p. 310.

2. Sheets, Dutch, The Way Back, pp. 42-43.

3. The quote is of unknown origin, but most scholars attribute it to either George Orwell or G.K. Chesterton.

4. Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863.

5. American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, “Devotion” First meaning.

6. Gettysburg Address

Copyright © 2025 Dutch Sheets Ministries, All rights reserved.

Birthdays and Such ...

I've circumnavigated our local star seventy times, as of today. 

I began to meditate on the journey thus far, but then I thought I've been there and back, seen a LOT along the way, and I can meditate on it anytime I want.

So I'm having fun, instead!

Pun Day, Fun Day

          I've started telling everyone about the benefits of eating dried grapes.  It's all about raisin                           awareness.

I've also started investing in stocks: beef, vegetable, chicken.  One
day I hope to be a bouillianaire.


If you boil a funny bone, it becomes a laughing stock.  Now that's humerus.

I accidentally rubbed ketchup in my eyes.  Now I have Heinzsight.


Did you know muffins spelled backwards is what you do when you take
them out of the oven?


I was walking in the jungle and saw a lizard on his hind legs telling
jokes.  I turned to a local tribal leader and said, "That lizard is
really funny!"
He replied, "That's not a lizard.  He's a stand-up chameleon."


I tried to come up with a carpentry pun that woodwork.  I thought I
nailed it but nobody saw it.
 

Singing in the shower is fine until you get soap in your mouth.  Then
it's a soap opera.


The Black-Eyed Peas can sing us a song but the chick peas can only hummus one.


Then there was the time Fruit of the Loom took Hanes to court... it
was a brief case.   

How much does a chimney cost?  Nothing, it's on the house.


My friend said she wouldn't eat cow's tongue because it came out of a
cow's mouth.  So I gave her an egg.

Once upon a time there was a King who was only 12 inches tall.  He was
a terrible King but he made a great ruler. 

I ran out of toilet paper, so now I’m using lettuce leaves.  Today was
just the tip of the iceberg, and tomorrow romaines to be seen.
 

My friend Jack says he can communicate with vegetables.  That's
right...Jack and the beans talk.

 

I want to tell you about a girl who only eats plants.  You probably have not heard of herbivore.

I was struggling to understand how lightning works and then it struck me.
 

Six cows were smoking joints and playing poker.  That's right.  The
steaks were pretty high.
 

I went to the paint store to get thinner.  It didn't work.
 

I once dated a girl who broke up with me because I only have 9 toes.
Yes, she was lack toes intolerant.

Another Alaskan Critter Caught by the Camera

 In the 22 years that we've lived in Alaska, and especially up here in the mountains, we've seen most Alaskan critters: brown and black bears, 

coyotes, moose, 

snowshoe hares, ptarmigan, you name it. But on Sunday, our new security cameras got a picture of one which I'd only seen the tracks, before.

I give you ... 

the lynx.