Several years ago, I was with my friend and mentor, Pastor Jack Hayford. We were walking and talking when he stopped me abruptly. He laid his hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye. “Robert,” he said, “have you met Robert Stearns?” I told Pastor Jack that I had not. Pastor Jack looked me directly in the eye and said strongly, “Listen to me. You need to know Robert Stearns and his ministry.”

It was all the encouragement I needed. Now, several years later, I have spoken at some of Eagles' Wings leadership gatherings, Robert has spoken here at one of our pastors’ conferences at Gateway and we serve the Lord together in various ministry capacities.

Every once in a while, a book comes along that exactly captures the moment a generation is facing; it becomes a signpost that alters the direction of people's lives. A book can hit the bulls-eye center of the plans and purposes of God, inspiring those who read it to achieve their destinies. I believe the book you are holding in your hands is just such a book.

I have learned how important it is that we as the Body of Christ know how to apply the Word of God to each and every situation we encounter. The truth is that God's Word has everything to do with what is going on in global events today. The reason I am backing this book is because it is full of key insights that will empower you to put God’s word into action.

Like a modern-day prophet, Robert Stearns brings vital insight and strategy into how we can meet the challenges of our day. His integrity, character, and commitment to the centrality of the presence of God have caused Robert to be trusted and sought out by world leaders from every arena. He is brave enough to share a message that is not easy and comfortable and that will not be popular. It is nonetheless timely, perceptive and accurate, and we would do well to receive what it means for our lives so that we can live with conviction and purpose both now and in the days to come.

So, I’d like to look you directly in the eye and say to you, “Listen to me. Do you know Robert Stearns and his ministry? You need to.”

Robert Morris,
founding senior pastor, Gateway Church, (Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex); host, The Blessed Life

There is a popular ad campaign I have often seen in large, international airports. One of the world’s biggest banks – HSBC – launched its “different values” advertising campaign a few years ago, and by the way, it has spread, I imagine it has brought them a lot of success. The message they communicate is a simple one: “Different values make the world a richer place.” They suggest that people all over the world embrace a broad spectrum of ideas and that no matter what you hope to accomplish in life, they’re the ones in life to help finance it. A perfectly logical assertion for a bank to make to potential customers. Sheer marketing brilliance.

Several times, walking down an immense corridor in a London or New York airport, I have looked up and seen these ads. Each ad consists of three gigantic posters that all repeat the exact same image. The only difference is that each poster bears a different word describing the image. One of these ads, for example, depicts three identical photos of the back of a person’s shaved head. You can’t tell if the person is male or female; the photograph is stark and neutral. Printed across the center of the first poster is the word style, over the second poster Soldier and over the third poster Survivor. This illustrates, in a very concise and compelling way, how easy it is to have three different views of the exact same thing.

How about you? What word would you use to describe the many images you encounter? Have you taken a good, hard look at the world today?

By asking if you have looked at the world today, I’m merely pointing out the obvious fact that each of us has a view of the world, but few of us stop to contemplate it.

Shedding some light

If you got out of bed this morning, if you walked out your door, if you stood in line for a cappuccino or drove your car across town, you saw the world in a certain way while doing so. In fact, I would venture to say that the way you see the world is the very reason you got up this morning in the first place; that the way you see the world was your motive for leaving the house, your purpose for driving wherever it is you went. Rarely do we call into question why we are thinking what we are thinking.

This book is my humble attempt to help change that. In the coming pages, I am inviting you to take a good, hard look with me at the world in which we live.

Jesus rebuked the religious cohorts of his day, saying,

“ When it is the evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’ and in the morning, ‘it will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” ~ Matthew 16 2-3

1. What the World Needs Now
2. The End of the World as we Know it
3. Cultural Kingdoms
4. The Three Houses
5. The Myth of Coexistance
6. The House of Radical Islam
7. The House of Militant Secularism
8. The House of Judeo Christianity
9. The Spirituality of the Three Houses
10. Will the real world Please Stand Up?
11. God's House
12. Shalom