(Mal 3:16 KJV)  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
 
 

Shepherd's Rod 2000:

(Submitted by "Vicki Clow")
SHEPHERD'S ROD 2000
                                                 Bob Jones with Keith Davis
 
 

INTRODUCTION
 
 

The general theme for this year's Shepherd's Rod continues to be 
highlighted with issues related to the preparation necessary to 
confront the times ahead.  Quite frankly, there
were many themes we anticipated were going to be addressed in the 
revelations released on this sacred day that were not.  Instead, in 
His infinite wisdom, the Lord has
disclosed greater insights into His heart and the great truths that 
He desires for His Church to embrace to equip and prepare her.
 
 

Since the economy, military confrontations, and weather patterns were 
not addressed in this year's revelations, we can infer the Lord is 
giving an additional year of preparation
before the great events prophesied in these areas take place.  We can 
also conclude the general patterns established in the previous years 
involving the economy and weather
patterns will continue throughout this year.  Though there will be 
tremors in the economy, the great shaking was not revealed for the 
coming year.
 
 

We will continue to see "pockets" of severe weather in various 
geographic regions continuing the same pattern from previous years. 
A hard winter will be experienced in
certain areas as the "Polar Bear" weather systems continue.   Without 
question, prayer and intercession turned away or greatly diminished 
many of the catastrophic events
originally intended by the enemy for the previous year.  Nonetheless, 
we mourn with those that were affected by the storms, droughts, fires 
and earthquakes.  We are
admonished to continue, even escalate the repentance, prayer and 
intercession in the days ahead with the hope we can obtain additional 
time crucial to our preparation.
 
 

Things will be happening at a rapid pace this year.  In many respects 
the coming year will have notable parallels that existed in 1955-56. 
Various natural and spiritual events of
'55/'56 will coincide with the coming year.  As the apostle once 
wrote, "I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I 
was laid hold of by Christ Jesus."  Let us
press on in like manner.
 
 
 
 

I-55
 
 

Bob was awakened at 1:55 A.M. and instructed that-  spiritual dreams 
will begin to escalate announcing "tomorrow" and communicating our 
incorrect perceptions of
important scriptures.
 
 

  Dreams and open visions will be more abundant this year to prepare 
us for "tomorrow's labor" and begin to awaken within us inaccurate 
impressions of the scriptures.
Doctrine is not founded on dreams and visions, only on the inerrant 
Word of God.  However, the spiritual revelations imparted through the 
dreams and visions will identify
areas of inaccuracy prompting a thorough evaluation of the Scriptures 
to discover the Truth.
 
 

"In a dream, a vision of the night, when sound sleep falls on men, 
while they slumber in their beds, Then He opens the ears of men, and 
seals their instruction, That
He may turn man aside from his conduct, and keep man from pride;  He 
keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing over into 
Sheol   (Job
33:15-18)
 
 

To the world and the unsaved, the dreams will reveal Christ as 
Savior.  Even the unredeemed will begin to have dreams and open 
visions displaying their need for the Savior.
Those with spiritual understanding will be able to respond to these 
"unsaved ones" by interpreting their revelations, opening the door 
for evangelism.  Spiritual hunger and
awareness will be imparted to many that are lost , beginning a quest 
for the One able to satisfy their longing.
 
 

As Phillip was sent to the Ethiopian Eunuch as a witness of the 
Truth, so shall many be equipped to respond to the individuals with 
whom the Lord will grant this yearning.
An emphasis will be placed on personal evangelism this year even 
though "large nets" will  be cast in certain areas.  "Fishermen" will 
be called, set apart and specially
anointed for this purpose.  They will not "fish" with a net but with 
a single rod in one-on-one evangelism.
 
 

So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court 
official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of 
all her treasure; and he had
come to Jerusalem to worship, and he was returning and sitting in his 
chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.  Then the Spirit said to 
Philip, "Go up and
join this chariot."  Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the 
prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he 
said, "Well, how could
I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and 
sit with him.   (Acts 8:27-31)
 
 

Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding will also be entrusted to reveal 
how to escape the things that are on the way.  These revelations will 
provide insight, comprehension,
and living understanding of the difficult times ahead.  This divine 
instruction will aid in the preparation for those willing to heed His 
counsel.
 
 
 
 

THE SEVENFOLD SPIRIT OF GOD
 
 

And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and 
understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of 
knowledge and the fear of the
LORD.

And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, and He will not judge by 
what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear;   (Isa 
11:2-3)
 
 

Isaiah 11:2 prophetically foretold the ministry of the promised 
Messiah.  For the Church to do the work that He did, fulfilling John 
14:12, this same manifestation of the Spirit
must also rest upon her.  It is no small responsibility for someone 
to be anointed with the Sevenfold Spirit of God.  Much prayer and 
preparatory  refining must usher the
release of this powerful spiritual reality.  Careful adherence to the 
leading of the Spirit must also follow in the administration of these 
mantles of the Spirit's attributes.  For
those who have been so prepared, the Seven Spirits of God will become 
a reality this year and the years to follow.  The Church has seen 
very few willing to pay the price and
endure the persecution to carry the Seven Spirits of God.  Even so, 
this generation will produce "dread champions" anointed with the 
Sevenfold Spirit of God.  An invitation
is being extended to whosoever will.
 
 

The Seven Spirits of God work together in pairs.  The spirit of 
wisdom and the spirit of understanding work in harmony with one 
another.   The spirit of counsel and might
work in unison as do the spirits of knowledge and reverential fear of 
God, all in harmony with the manifestation of the Spirit of the Lord. 
The "gifts" are manifestations of the
Spirit operated by the will of the Spirit when the need arises.  The 
Seven Spirits of God are "mantles" placed upon the believer to 
operate in full measure.  We do not possess
the gifts, rather, the gifts are manifested according to need.  All 
nine gifts of the Spirit can operate within a believer filled with 
the Holy Spirit.  However, the Seven Spirits of
God are measurably greater manifestations of the Spirit taking the 
mature and purified believer deep into the mysteries and power of God.
 
 

The emphasis for this year will be on the spirit of wisdom and 
understanding, although all seven will be in operation in given 
measures.  For the release of the mantle of
wisdom and understanding we must pray and ask for it to be released 
to us.  Equipping and instruction will result, helping us to 
appropriately understand the Biblical offices
and administration.  We must earnestly desire these mantles and pray 
for the maturity and character to be worthy of them.
 
 

Ephesians 1:17 corresponds with the spirit of wisdom and 
understanding.  The term for revelation and for understanding are 
synonymous with one another.  The word of
wisdom, word of knowledge and discerning of spirits work hand in hand 
with the spirit of wisdom and understanding.
 
 

The spirit of wisdom is the supernatural ability of God that comes 
upon our spirits to see Jesus as He is and receive a spiritual 
understanding and knowledge of the word of
God that enables us to know what to do, when to do it and how to do 
it in every situation; thus, maximizing our usage of God given 
talents in order to affect His plans and
purposes.  It will also reveal the manifold and unsearchable wisdom 
and secrets of God and the things in heaven.  It means a deeper 
intimacy into the affairs of God; the
cherished relationship with God that will enable us to know Him in 
all of His intimacy.
 
 

The Lord Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father and the 
Bride is to be seated with Him in heavenly places.  Therefore, that 
places the Bride at the right hand of the
Father with Him.  In this place, the Lord can communicate in a moment 
of time insight that would take many hours and even months to unfold 
otherwise.  If we will learn the
art of waiting on God, we will discover the mysteries of the kingdom 
through these mantles.
 
 

The spirit of revelation is a comprehension of the things of God. 
Understanding is perceiving with the mind providing insight with 
perception. Wisdom and Understanding
means the insight into the true nature of things with the ability to 
discern mode of action with a view to their results.  The first is 
theoretical while the second is practical; the
ability to not only know the things of God but also the application 
of them practically.  Revelation is the comprehension imparted into 
our spirits from the Holy Spirit and
transmitted into our minds.  It is the voice of God speaking to our 
spirits and informing our minds of that which God is going to do; the 
unfolding of hidden secrets to us by
the Holy spirit; the revealing of mysteries and insight into the future.
 
 

Daniel 1:17 and 5:11-12 conveys that Daniel was anointed with this 
same spirit and how it functioned in his life.   As with Daniel, it 
will enable us to understand the meaning
and the acts of God in the unveiling of Himself.  Humility is a vital 
attribute in the operation of the spirit of wisdom and revelation. 
We must humble ourselves as a child in
order to fruitfully bear these sacred spirits, even disclosing the 
secrets of Christ's Divinity and the deep things of God.  Now to Him 
who is able to establish you according
to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the 
revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages 
past,   (Rom 16:25)
 
 

The spirit of wisdom and revelation will enable us to understand the 
deep mysteries and purposes of God that are kept hidden.  Paul 
continually revealed mysteries of the
kingdom with this anointing and mantle of the Holy Spirit.  He flowed 
in this anointing.  When the spirit of wisdom is resting upon you, 
even while meditating upon the
scriptures, suddenly deep truths are instantaneously imparted.  It 
will even cross reference to other passages showing the application 
between various truths of scripture.  When
the spirit of wisdom is resting upon you, God will share things that 
will take place in nations, regions, cities etc..  He will even 
expose to you secrets and insights of an
upcoming year.
 
 

This spirit provides knowledge of the Godhead and allows us to know 
God more affectionately, leading to intimate appreciation of God 
Himself; the inner beauty of the Lord
is His grace and Glory. Likewise, we must adorn the inner man with 
meekness and humility.  The inner beauty of God is His grace; the 
beauty of holiness.  The spirit of
wisdom and revelation will give us the comprehension of these aspects of God.
 
 
 
 
 
 

THE EYE OF GOD
 
 

Bob also saw the "Eye" of God illustrating to him the seven eyes of 
God.   Bob was told the church will begin to see His Spirit direct 
them by the "eyes of God" through
those anointed with the spirit of wisdom and understanding.  "For the 
eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may 
strongly support those
whose heart is completely His."  These will not judge by what their 
natural eyes see nor by what their natural ears hear. Rather, with 
righteousness He will judge the poor
and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth by releasing 
the insight His eye provides and the understanding conveyed from His 
Heart.
 
 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will 
guide you with My eye.  (Ps 32:8)
 
 

"For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will 
be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel?? 
these are the eyes of the
LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth."   (Zec 4;10)
 
 

Divine counsel and instruction will proceed from the very heart of 
God as He continues to prepare us for the notable events imminently 
ahead.  More importantly, this Truth,
when embraced, will allow us to walk more closely with Him, even as 
Enoch walked until finally we "are no more" and all that can be found 
is the Spirit of Christ living in us.
 
 

For this reason, ever since I heard about your trust in the Lord 
Jesus and you're love for all Gods people, I have not stopped giving 
thanks for you.  In my prayers
I keep asking the God of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, the glorious 
Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you 
will have full knowledge of
Him.  I pray that he will give light to the eyes of your heart's, so 
that you will understand the hope to which He has called you, what 
rich glories there are in the
inheritance He has promised His people, and how surpassingly great is 
His power working in us who trust Him.  It works with the same mighty 
strength he used
when he worked in the Messiah to raise him from the dead and seat Him 
at His right hand in heaven.

(Eph 1:17-20)
 
 

Revelations 5:6 describes the Lord having seven horns depicting His 
COMPLETE power and seven eyes illustrating His COMPLETE knowledge. 
He is the fountain of all
wisdom and the source of all knowledge.
 
 
 
 

THE FIVE NATURAL SENSES
 
 

These spiritual revelations will also be discerned through the five 
natural senses.  The sense of taste, smell, sight, sound and touch 
will become increasingly sensitive to the
realm of the Spirit providing additional illumination of the times 
and seasons ahead and the things that we ought to do in preparation 
for them.  The sweet fragrance or incense
of Christ will be discerned by many sensitive to this spiritual 
reality signifying the manifest presence of the Lord.  The five 
natural senses will become sensitive to spiritual
reality.
 
 

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and 
manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every 
place.   (2 Cor 2:14)
 
 
 
 

COMING TO VISIONS AND REVELATIONS OF THE LORD
 
 

A significant portion of scripture is dedicated to revelations 
through dreams and visions.  In this present generation spiritual 
revelations have also occurred in abundance; still,
our understanding  has been significantly limited.  The Lord is now 
promising a ten fold increase in our level of insight and 
understanding concerning the revelations that will
be coming from the very throne of God.  The interpretations will 
begin to discern the Truth.  Dreams and revelations will go before 
the "Sent Ones" preparing the "way of
their coming".  Spiritual preparation will be made by the Holy Spirit 
through supernatural revelations that will prepare the hearts of 
those He desires to receive His
messengers and their message.  The revelations will be a "Divine 
set-up" expressing the Lord's endorsement and anointing upon these 
ministers.
 
 

Peter was instructed concerning the Lord's strategy through a 
spiritual trance disclosing the Lord's "Divine set-up" involving the 
household of Cornelius.  This insight gave
Peter the absolute assurance of what he was to do and the faith to 
see it accomplished.   Additionally, Peters limited perception of the 
scripture was clarified.  Likewise,
Cornelius and his household were prepared through a vision for the 
visit of Peter and the eternal message that he would bring.
 
 

Now {there was} a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of 
what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man and one who feared 
God with all his
household, and gave many alms to the {Jewish} people and prayed to 
God continually.  About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a 
vision an angel of God
who had {just} come in and said to him, "Cornelius!" And fixing his 
gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And 
he said to him, "Your
prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.  "Now 
dispatch {some} men to Joppa and send for a man {named} Simon, who is 
also called Peter; he
is staying with a tanner {named} Simon, whose house is by the sea." 
When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of 
his servants and a
devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, and after 
he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.  On the 
next day, as they were on
their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop 
about the sixth hour to pray.  But he became hungry and was desiring 
to eat; but while they
were making preparations, he fell into a trance; and he saw the sky 
opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by 
four corners to the ground,
and there were in it all {kinds of} four?footed animals and crawling 
creatures of the earth and birds of the air.  A voice came to him, 
"Get up, Peter, kill and eat!"
But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything 
unholy and unclean."  Again a voice {came} to him a second time, 
"What God has cleansed,
no {longer} consider unholy."  This happened three times, and 
immediately the object was taken up into the sky.  Now while Peter 
was greatly perplexed in mind
as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who 
had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon's 
house, appeared at the gate;
and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called 
Peter, was staying there.  While Peter was reflecting on the vision, 
the Spirit said to him,
"Behold, three men are looking for you.  "But get up, go downstairs 
and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself." 
(Acts 10:1-20)
 
 

The unbelieving and rebellious that have continually rejected the 
Lord will also experience dreams, but of a dark and sometimes 
horrifying nature.  One dream after another
will bombard those that repeatedly reject Christ and separate 
themselves from Him, thus driving them to the edge of insanity.  It 
is going to be a dangerous time to be apart
from God and isolated from His canopy of protection.
 
 

Insanity is defined as: a deranged state of the mind;  a mental 
disorder; unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding; extreme folly 
or unreasonableness; something utterly
foolish or unreasonable.  To those that are perishing the gospel 
seems foolish and absurd because of this condition of the heart 
resulting from the continual rejection of the
Truth.
 
 

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one 
fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full 
of evil, and insanity is in their
hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they {go} to the dead.   (Eccl 9:3)
 
 

Except for the grace of God, all men would be lost in their insanity. 
Thankfully, the redeemed are delivered from this condition and find 
rest for their soul; the unredeemed
will find none from the spirit of the world.  There will be no rest 
for the wicked but abundant rest for the "beloved".  This will begin 
to exhibit the distinction between the
truly saved and the world.  The world will wear their insanity on 
their faces finding fear in every circumstance, while the peace of 
God will be explicitly visible upon the
Church.
 
 

True repentance is approaching; remorse derived through divinely 
granted repentance of the secret and unknown sins of our soul as 
revealed to us through dreams and
revelations;  "with gentleness correcting those who are in 
opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the 
knowledge of the truth,"(2 Tim 2:25)
 
 

The divine insights will not merely unveil the sins of our soul but 
also joined with the conviction necessary for true repentance. 
Divinely granted repentance can be defined as
a spiritual view of error and regret for having embraced it, creating 
a willing admission of the truth. When the rich young ruler came to 
the Lord asking what he must do to be
saved, he perceived that he was living in righteousness.  However, 
the Lord probed deep within this young mans soul and pointed to the 
sin of greatest detriment to him.  He
embraced the sin of greed.
 
 

Thankfully, the Lord is promising to not only point out the issues of 
our soul but also release the conviction to respond with repentance 
for those willing to experience this
refining work necessary for intimacy with Him.
 
 

Even as Pharaoh was given an intense dream that troubled his soul, so 
shall many in the world be given dreams of true revelation requiring 
the spiritual discernment of the
church to provide the insight and understanding.
 
 

Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, but no one can interpret 
it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream 
you can interpret it."
Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me; God will give 
Pharaoh a favorable answer."   (Gen 41:15-16)
 
 

The secrets of the Lord are delegated to those who fear Him and can 
share them in Godliness and  the wisdom necessary to accomplish 
Divine purposes.  Like Joseph and
Daniel, secret insight and understanding will be released  allowing 
the proper interpretation and application of the revelations given to 
the "Pharaohs" of this generation.
Joseph and Daniel were deliverers for their day and a light in the 
midst of great darkness.  Likewise, many in this generation have been 
prepared for a similar purpose and will
begin to see their destiny unfold this year through the leading and 
inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
 
 

The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will make 
them know His covenant.   (Ps 25:14)
 
 

It has been written of Joseph that in him were "the elements of a 
noble character?? piety, pure and high morality, simplicity, 
gentleness, fidelity, patience, perseverance, an iron
will, and indomitable energy."  These are the attributes necessary to 
be used by the Lord in this manner.  The Lord is looking for 
character to anoint, and foremost among
them, humility and faithfulness.
 
 

"There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; 
and in the days of your father, illumination, insight and wisdom like 
the wisdom of the gods
were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, your father 
the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, conjurers, Chaldeans 
{and} diviners.
"{This was} because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, 
interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of 
difficult problems were found in
this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be 
summoned and he will declare the interpretation."   (Dan. 5:11-12)
 
 

It is important to note that neither Joseph nor Daniel attempted to 
impart their "carnal" and presumptuous interpretation of the 
revelations.  Rather, they each sought the
Lord for His appropriation of the dream's meaning.  Man's word will 
fail but the Lord's word cannot fail.  We must cease from attempting 
to apply formulas and human
thinking in the understanding of spiritual realities.   Spiritual 
revelations are spiritually discerned through prayer and applying the 
tools furnished through the Holy Spirit and
the Word.
 
 
 
 
 
 

HIGHWAY I-55
 
 

This portion of the vision was also given to signify Isaiah 55 and 
the natural highway, Interstate 55 running through the heart of this 
country.  There will be an awakening on
I-55 characterized by the Lord's Divine favor.  Geographically, I-55 
extends from southern Louisiana to Chicago, Illinois.  Along this 
highway divine favor will be released
providing the insight and the understanding to build "The Highway to Heaven".
 
 

I-55 will have a "shaking" and a "visitation of favor".  Even as this 
highway runs through the heart of our nation, so shall divine favor 
touch the heart of the people in
concurrence with a great "shaking".  An I-55 corridor will begin , 
providing the unveiling of the "Highway to Heaven" outlined through 
Isaiah 55.
 
 

1  "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have 
no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and 
without cost.

2  "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for 
what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, 
and delight yourself in
abundance.

3  "Incline your ear and come to me. Listen, that you may live; and I
will make an everlasting covenant with you, {according to} the 
faithful mercies shown to
David.

4  "Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and 
commander for the peoples.

5  "Behold, you will call a nation you do not know, and a nation 
which knows you not will run to you, because of the LORD your God, 
even the Holy One of
Israel; for He has glorified you."

6  Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.

7  Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his 
thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion 
on him, and to our God,
for He will abundantly pardon.

8  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My 
ways," declares the LORD.

9  "For {as} the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways 
higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

10  "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not 
return there without watering the earth and making it bear and 
sprout, and furnishing
seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

11  So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not 
return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without 
succeeding {in the
matter} for which I sent it.

12  "For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the 
mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before 
you, and all the trees of the
field will clap {their} hands.

13  "Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, and instead 
of the nettle the myrtle will come up, and it will be a memorial to 
the LORD, for an
everlasting sign which will not be cut off."  (Isaiah 55:1-13)
 
 

In 1991 the Lord also gave Isaiah 55 as an emphasis for that year's 
Shepherd's Rod revelation.  It has now been an eight year cycle since 
then and the Holy Spirit seems to be
re-emphasizing a new beginning on the construction of a Highway to 
Heaven.  To build this Highway man must reject his own thoughts and 
ways to embrace the Lord's.
The Church has attempted every method known to man to reach the world 
with "this gospel" referred to in the great commission.  It is now 
time to yield our thoughts, ways,
methods and formulas and do it the Lord's way.
 
 

One of the most important issues with the Lord this year is 
discernment.  It is imperative we cultivate the spiritual 
understanding of God's "ways" enabling us to discern His
voice in the various issues of life.  We must also be able to discern 
justice and righteousness in our relationships with our fellow man, 
especially as peacemakers in resolving
disputes and conflicts among others.
 
 

Our admonition is to seek the Lord from a heart of repentance and 
meekness while He may be found that we may obtain mercy.  It is at 
this place that we will receive the
impartation of wisdom to understand His thoughts and ways.  His ways 
are Heavenly ,not earthly, and the "Highway to Heaven" is His Higher 
Way of Holiness.
 
 

The Church has been guilty of spending money for that which is not 
"bread" and wages for that which does not satisfy.  We must now 
incline our ear to the Lord and listen
carefully that we may enter into the covenant yielding the faithful 
mercies shown to David.  We can no longer afford to squander our 
spiritual "currency".
 
 

A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway 
of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it {will} be for 
him who walks {that} way,
and fools will not wander {on it.}  No lion will be there, nor will 
any vicious beast go up on it; these will not be found there. But the 
redeemed will walk {there}
And the ransomed of the LORD will return and come with joyful 
shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will 
find gladness and joy, and
sorrow and sighing will flee away.   (Isa 35:8-10)
 
 

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who watches his 
way preserves his life.  (Prov 16:17)
 
 

A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; 
make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.  "Let every valley 
be lifted up, and every
mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a 
plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley;  Then the glory of the 
LORD will be revealed,
and all flesh will see {it} together; for the mouth of the LORD has 
spoken."   (Isa 40:3-5)
 
 

Go through, go through the gates, clear the way for the people; build 
up, build up the highway, remove the stones, lift up a standard over 
the peoples.  Behold, the
LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, say to the daughter of 
Zion, "Lo, your salvation comes; behold His reward is with Him, and 
His recompense before
Him."  And they will call them, "The holy people, the redeemed of the 
LORD"; and you will be called, "Sought out, a city not forsaken." 
(Isa 62:10-12)
 
 

"For My people have forgotten me, they burn incense to worthless gods 
and they have stumbled from their ways, from the ancient paths, to 
walk in bypaths, not on a
highway, To make their land a desolation, {an object of} perpetual 
hissing; everyone who passes by it will be astonished and shake his 
head.   (Jer 18:15-16)
 
 

A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway 
of Holiness.  The term "Highway" is derived from the language used by 
the prophet signifying the
return of the Jews from captivity. The idea is there would be easy 
and uninterrupted access to their own land.  According to scholars, 
"Highway" refers more particularly to a
RAISED way and would be expressed by our word "causeway" or 
"turnpike." It was such a way as was usually made for the march of 
armies by removing obstructions,
filling valleys, and removing hills and other obstructions.   It is 
used to portray the way of access to the blessings of the Messiah's 
reign allowing the unimpeded flow of the
Spirit to the Church.  No impure person is to travel this route, 
mandating access to it through Holiness.  This is the High calling of 
God to which the idolater is not allowed nor
shall anyone be admitted, save the pure worshiper of God.  I press 
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ 
Jesus.    (Phil 3:14)
 
 
 
 

THE FOUNDATION STONES
 
 

In this vision, Bob saw an ancient foundation that had been covered 
with sand and debris.  He began to remove the rubble as an 
archeologist would an ancient landmark
concealed over time.  As the foundation became apparent, all manner 
of precious stones could be seen built into this foundation. 
Emeralds, rubies, diamonds and other
precious stones could be distinguished, brilliantly displayed in this 
ancient structure.  Even the beautiful glistening stones provided by
David for the construction of the temple
remained in place as built by Solomon.  The tabernacle of God is 
built upon all manner of precious stones.  The Lord's foundation 
stones are about to be rediscovered.
 
 

The Lord's Divine nature and Holy Character is the only foundation 
upon which lasting ministry can be built.  Each of these stones 
represent aspects of the Lord's nature and
character upon which His Tabernacle must be assembled.  Seeing that 
His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and 
godliness, through the true
knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  For 
by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, 
in order that by
them you might become partakers of {the} divine nature, having 
escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.  (2 Pet 1:3-4)
 
 

Every provision for Life and Godliness is ours, provided we are 
willing to pay the price through the Spirits refining work to share 
in His divine nature and escape the
corruption that is in this world according to its lusts.  This 
provision is not merely necessary to allow powerful ministry, more 
importantly, it is necessary to walk closely with
the Lord to see Him with an unveiled face being transformed into His 
very image.  Without the foundation of Holiness, we will not be able 
to enter the intimate chambers
reserved for the bride.
 
 

This is the foundation spoken of in Matthew 7:21-27.  "Not everyone 
who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but 
he who does the will of My
Father who is in heaven.  "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, 
Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out 
demons, and in Your
name perform many miracles?'  "And then I will declare to them, 'I 
never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.' 
"Therefore everyone who
hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a 
wise man, who built his house upon the rock.  "And the rain 
descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and {yet} it 
did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.  "And everyone 
who hears these words of
Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who 
built his house upon the sand.  "And the rain descended, and the 
floods came, and the winds
blew, and burst against that house; and it fell,
 
 

It is the revelation of Jesus Christ and His divine nature and 
radiant character that is the rock upon which His everlasting Church 
must be grounded.  Any other foundation is
sinking sand.  Many powerful ministries and anointed leaders have 
fallen in times past because they did not build upon this foundation. 
Being anointed with powerful gifts and
knowing the Lord intimately are two separate and distinct issues. 
There is the possibility of great deception if this differentiation 
is not clearly recognized.  Many can have
powerful ministry gifts attracting  large audiences and yet never 
even know the Lord intimately nor His thoughts and ways.  In fact, 
Matthew 7:21-23 tells us that many can
have tremendous success in ministry and not even know the Lord.
 
 

Conversely, there can be others who rarely if ever publicly minister, 
who nevertheless walk so intimately with the Lord  they even know his 
"heartbeat" and most intimate
secrets.  We need and must function in both to become the Bride of 
Christ and the victorious army prophesied in scripture.  To walk 
closely with Him and go deep into the
things of God should be our greatest desire, even more so than the 
gifts of the Spirit, as wonderful as they may be.  As splendid as His 
anointing for ministry is, it is no
substitute for intimacy with Him nor can we allow ministry to 
interfere with our relentless pursuit to KNOW HIM as fully as He may 
be known.
 
 

"Now with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God the 
gold for the {things of} gold, and the silver for the {things of} 
silver, and the bronze for the
{things of} bronze, the iron for the {things of} iron, and wood for 
the {things of} wood, onyx stones and inlaid {stones,} stones of 
antimony, and stones of various
colors, and all kinds of precious stones, and alabaster in abundance. 
(1 Chr 29:2)
 
 

As David supplied Solomon with the precious glistening stones, so 
have our spiritual fathers provided valuable "jewels" they discovered 
through their insights to God that are
to be used in the foundation for the end time generation.  However, 
we do not live on the foundation but build upon it.  The prior 
generations have provided us with priceless
insights into the "ways" of God that will form a solid foundation in 
the scriptures used by this generation to construct a Tabernacle 
suitable for His Glory.
 
 

In Bob's vision he noticed a variety of precious stones.  However, 
the diamond was the one stone that seemed predominant and in 
abundance.  A Diamond has withstood
great pressure in its formation.  Likewise, many have been going 
through great pressure and will emerge as a diamond, precious to the 
Lord and immensely valuable in
kingdom purposes.  The Light of God will shine upon these "diamonds" 
reflecting the seven Spirits of God even as the sun will strike a 
diamond displaying the seven colors of
the spectrum.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

THE TWO PYLONS
 
 

At 6:39 the Lord revealed two pylons driven in the ground connected 
by a wire.  Between these two pylons sat a throne.  Uniquely, growing 
across the wire connecting the
two pylons and above the throne grew sweet peas.
 
 

Everything in the coming year will be done in one, two's and four's. 
One is represented by the throne.  Two is representative of the two 
witnesses and four is the symbolic
number for the Holy Spirit.  At the time of our Lord's crucifixion 
there was one witness on His left and another to His right.  One 
accepted the invitation of Life and the other
rejected it.  One was a witness to His everlasting mercy and the 
other discovered eternal separation from God.
 
 

This image Bob saw could likewise be expressed as "1 0 1" with the 
"0" representing eternity.  The symbol "101" is also a university 
expression for elementary level
academics.  Although many in the church are in the "school of Higher 
learning", we remain on an elementary level before moving on the 
weightier subjects that will bring
one to the greatest growth and maturity.  The elementary teachings 
must not only be embraced but embodied in our lives.
 
 

The pylons representative in these visions further signify a promise 
of the Spirit to impart the Divine nature and Holy character of 
Christ necessary to be in the world yet not a
part of the world.  The "pylons" will provide a tower of strength and 
help in time of need by lifting us above the cares and affections of 
this world.  It is the first step in the
separation of the bride from the world as we are admonished in II 
Corinthians 6:17, "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE 
SEPARATE," says the
Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; and I will welcome you.
 
 

The sweet peas growing across the cable connected to the pylons are 
further indicative of the Lord's timing for the introductory release 
of His Spirit in regard to this segment
of the vision.  In the south, sweet peas are planted during mid to 
late January with an anticipated harvest in late April and early May. 
The timing associated with this sowing
and reaping correlates to the release of the Spirit and a harvest of 
spiritual fruit in the coming year.
 
 

Our lives are going to be transformed and altered by divine 
attributes  symbolically portrayed by the sweet peas.  This could be 
expressed as "Sweet P's".  "Like an apple
tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young 
men. In his shade I took great delight and sat down, and his fruit 
was sweet to my taste."  The
Lord's fruit is sweet to the spiritual appetite of the Bride.  This 
year there will be a special priority on His Qualities beginning with 
the letter "P":   Peace, Patience,
Perseverence, Preparation, Provision, Power, Peacemakers, Passover, 
Pity, Praise, Pruning, Purification, and Psalms to name but a few.
 
 

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves 
from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the 
fear of God.  (II Corinthians
7:1)   The nine fruit of the Spirit are like pylons lifting the 
Christian above the defilement of flesh and spirit conferred through 
the spirit of the world.  In the vision, two
pylons were used to support a wire that contained sweet peas growing 
from one pylon to the next.  The "pylons" were representative of the 
fruit of the spirit or the divine
nature of Christ that separates the Christian from the unbelieving 
world.  Each fruit of the Spirit provides a base of support that 
allows growth to take place in the Spirit and in
the things of God.
 
 

A pylon is defined as a massive gateway; a tower that supports a long 
span of wire; a post or tower marking a prescribed course of flight 
for an airplane; a monumental mass
flanking an entranceway or an approach to a bridge;  any of various 
tower-like structures.
 
 

The Lord is providing, through the nine fruit of the Spirit "pylons" 
of support to provide a "bridge over troubled waters".  We must be 
separated from all defilement of flesh
and spirit in order to engage in the highest purposes of heaven.
 
 

Rain is coming to the saved and unsaved alike as described in the 
books of Matthew and Hebrews:  "But I say to you, love your enemies 
and pray for those who persecute
you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He 
causes His sun to rise on {the} evil and {the} good, and sends rain 
on {the} righteous and {the}
unrighteous.   (Matt 5:44-45)
 
 

For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings 
forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, 
receives a blessing from God;  but
if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being 
cursed, and it ends up being burned.   (Heb 6:7-8)
 
 

The sweet pea is figuratively portraying a "sweetness" that is coming 
to the earth.  It will be as a rain that will fall on the just and 
the unjust alike.  As conveyed on the day of
His crucifixion with the two thieves, one will embrace the sweetness 
of the Holy Spirit and another will mock it.  The sweetness is coming 
nonetheless.
 
 

For those willing to accept it, the Holy Spirit is going to be 
providing "pylons" of cleansing that will be a gateway to the 
heavenly.  Rain is often associated in scripture with
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and teaching of the Word necessary 
to function in Kingdom purposes.  The gentle "rain" will also display 
the Lord's sweetness and
tenderness toward the unredeemed.  It will be an outpouring of His 
grace to the lost providing opportunity for all to accept or reject 
the reality of the cross, even as He gave
the  two thieves the same opportunity on the day of His crucifixion.
 
 

The Lord is desiring a consistent and perpetual relationship with 
man.  One thief  represented those who will know Him in the sweetness 
of His grace and the other represents
those who enter outer darkness and eternal separation from God.  In 
either case death ensues.  By embracing the fruit of the Spirit, 
eminent death to self and the deeds of the
flesh occurs.  For those embracing the spirit of the world, it will 
be death to the working of the Spirit in their lives, separation from 
God and lost opportunity for relationship
with Him.
 
 

The "pylons" will furnish the source of strength necessary to enter 
the gateway to heaven and perpetual relationship with the Lord by the 
Holy Spirit.  The Lord has set
before us both life and death.  We are admonished to choose life and 
accept the provision that will cleanse us of all defilement of flesh 
and spirit in order to gain passage to the
highway toward heaven.  The Lord's stipulations and requirements for 
intimacy with Him are clearly defined in the scriptures.  We must 
share in the holiness of His Spirit and
display the fruit of the Spirit to enter this most sacred of all relationships.
 
 

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the 
source your pleasures that wage war in your members?  You lust and do 
not have; {so} you
commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; {so} you fight and 
quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not 
receive, because
you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend {it} on your 
pleasures.  You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with 
the world is hostility toward
God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes 
himself an enemy of God.  Or do you think that the Scripture speaks 
to no purpose: "He
jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?  But 
He gives a greater grace. Therefore {it} says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE 
PROUD, BUT
GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil 
and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to 
you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you 
double?minded.   (James 4:1-8)
 
 

Friendship with the world is hostility toward God.  It is a mockery 
of the Cross to affectionately desire the deeds of the flesh while 
shunning the fruit of the Spirit.
 
 
 
 

SWEET AND SOUR
 
 

This is going to be a year of the "sweet and sour".  For many, this 
year will produce "brokeness or bitterness"; "peace or trouble" based 
upon the decisions that we make.
Isaiah 55 is a description of God's way that we are admonished to 
follow.  Even for the righteous there will be difficult circumstances 
to be confronted.  For the righteous it
will be a bitter circumstance intended to make them better; a broken 
and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

It will seemingly be a sour experience whose fruit will become sweet. 
Our responses will be dictated by the well we choose to draw from; we 
can draw from the well of the
Spirit or from our carnal nature, thus establishing the fruit of our 
circumstances.
 
 
 
 

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT                            FRUIT OF THE CARNAL NATURE
 
 

Love                                                                Lust

Joy 
Grief/Sorrow

Peace                                                               Strife

Longsuffering                                                  Impatience

Kindness                                                          Cruelty

Goodness                                                         Evil

Faithfulness 
Unfaithfulness/Deceitful

Gentleness                                                       Rash/ Rage

Self-Control                                                    Anger
 
 
 
 

RELEASING SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT
 
 

One of the most notable promises given  this year is the release of 
spiritual discernment on a greatly heightened scale.  Universally, 
the church has been dreadfully lacking in
spiritual discernment.  Not only is spiritual sensitivity needed in 
rightly dividing the Word but also in discerning one another within 
the body and the revelations given to us by
the Holy Spirit.  The Lord is going to release the spiritual 
provision allowing us to rightly discern the Body.  Words of 
knowledge will be released pinpointing our needs in the
spirit, soul, and body of  individual believers, and in the corporate church.
 
 
 
 

He who keeps a {royal} command experiences no trouble, for a wise 
heart knows the proper time and procedure.   (Eccl 8:5)
 
 

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their 
senses trained to discern good and evil.  (Heb 5:14)
 
 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not 
to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.   (2 Tim 2:15)
 
 

Spiritual discernment and a good foundation in Truth must be 
functioning to protect us from the great deceptions that will be 
prevailing in this generation.  The Scripture
foretells there will be those casting out demons, healing the sick 
and  raising the dead that do not even know the Lord  whose end is 
outer darkness.  Sensitive discernment
must be released to rightly discern the body.  We are not admonished 
by Scripture to judge works, but fruit.  John the Baptist came to his 
generation with one of the most
important messages ever delivered to mankind, still very few 
possessed the spiritual discernment to recognize the divine deposit 
in him nor the eternal message he delivered.

The Lord is promising to release the impartation of greater 
discernment for those willing to embrace and cultivate it through 
prayer and meditation of the Word.  The initial
impartation will be a welcomed increase, but for those willing to 
apply themselves in such a manner, growth and maturity will result in 
far greater sensitivity.
 
 

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in 
real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the 
things that are excellent, in order
to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;   (Phil 1:9-10)
 
 
 
 

GET PAST THE PAST
 
 

We must get past the past.  One of the greatest obstacles inhibiting 
spiritual growth is constant re-enactment of past failures.  Grace is 
now going to be released to cleanse our
conscience of the guilt from the past so that we can live beyond our 
failures and imperfections through the provision of His perfection.
 
 

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I 
do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to 
those things which are
ahead,

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in 
Christ Jesus.

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in 
anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 
(Phil 3: 13-15)
 
 

Ministers will discover a special grace this year in the preaching of 
this message along with the anointing necessary to free the people 
from the tyranny of the past.  Old
wounds, curses and failures that have shackled many within the Church 
can be dealt with, providing freedom in the Spirit for those willing 
to receive this ministry.  Expressing
sincere forgiveness from the heart  will be an essential aspect of 
moving beyond the past and forward to the High Calling of God.
 
 

'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I 
had mercy on you?'  "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over 
to the torturers until
he should repay all that was owed him.  "So shall My heavenly Father 
also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your 
heart."    (Matt
18:33-35)
 
 
 
 

DIRECTION OF THE NORTH
 
 

In the vision, Bob was told that the major direction for this year 
will be North. He comes from the north as golden splendor; with God 
is awesome majesty.   (Job
37:22)
 
 

Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion 
{in} the far north, the city of the great King.(Ps 48:2)
 
 

For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor 
from the south.   (Ps 75:6)
 
 

In this portion of the vision, Bob saw himself pushing a wheelbarrow 
due North extracting from it issues of the past as he proceeded. 
This symbolically portrayed our journey
to the throne of God.  The load was made much lighter and more easily 
accessed when we unloaded the cumbersome issues of the past. 
Periodically, some will be allowed to
share past experiences as a testimonial to reveal to the lost the 
victory that others have obtained in Christ.  Only in these 
circumstances will it be healthy and beneficial to
revisit the past.  A special grace will be allotted in these 
circumstances allowing an effective testimony to touch the hearts of 
a dying world.
 
 

Our destination is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King.  As we set 
our course for that destination remember, the shortest distance 
between two points is a straight line.  If
we desire to reach our goal in the shortest possible time,  we must 
do so without deviating to the right nor to the left.  The spirit of 
the world will continually set obstacles that
will lead only to cul-de-sacs, detours and dead-ends. Therefore, 
since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us 
also lay aside every encumbrance and
the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance 
the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author 
and perfecter of faith, who for
the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and 
has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.   (Heb 12:1-2)
 
 
 
 

THE COLOR FOR THIS YEAR IS BLACK (THICK DARKNESS)
 
 

Uniquely, the color emphasized in this year's revelations was black. 
Like many of the issues addressed in this year's Shepherd's Rod, 
black has dual applications in Scripture.
On the one hand, it can be an emblem of sin, evil and death. 
Conversely, black (thick darkness) can express the awesomeness of 
Divine visitation as described in Ps 18:  He
bowed the heavens also, and came down with thick darkness under His 
feet.  And He rode upon a cherub and flew; and He sped upon the wings 
of the wind.
He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him, darkness of 
waters, thick clouds of the skies.  From the brightness before Him 
passed His thick
clouds, hailstones and coals of fire.  The LORD also thundered in the 
heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of 
fire.  And He sent
out His arrows, and scattered them, and lightning flashes in 
abundance, and routed them.  Then the channels of water appeared, and 
the foundations of the
world were laid bare at Thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the 
breath of Thy nostrils.  (Ps 18:9-15)
 
 

Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are 
the foundation of His throne.   (Ps 97:2)   The idea here expressed 
is that of awful majesty
and power, as we are nowhere more forcibly stricken with the idea of 
majesty and power than in the fury of a great storm. This is a 
description of the majesty of God, derived
probably from the manner in which He manifested Himself at Mount 
Sinai. Our Lord is a Loving and Compassionate God, but He is also 
Awesome and Powerful beyond
description deserving our deepest reverence and piety.  Understanding 
Him in this way will develop the Fear of the Lord that is so 
desperately needing to invade the hearts
and minds of Christians.  It will also be displayed to the obstinate 
and unbelieving world as judgement and Divine retribution.
 
 

"O afflicted one, storm - tossed, {and} not comforted, behold, I will 
set your stones in antimony, and your foundations I will lay in 
sapphires.  (Isa 54:11)
Antimony is a black mineral that was ground into powder during 
ancient days and used for a variety of purposes.  When mixed with 
water, this powder could be used for
such things as mascara and other cosmetic purposes.  However, when 
mixed with resin the powder was used as a seal to set stones in 
jewelry or used as a mortar to set
foundation stones within a building. The stones of rebuilt Jerusalem, 
were beautifully laid in their black mortar presumably derived from 
this mineral.  Prophetically, it speaks
of Christians, as living stones, being sealed into their rightful 
place in the tabernacle of God.  Some will be sealed for service this 
year and anointed to fulfil their calling and
purpose.
 
 

Two days following the Day of Atonement, the Lord gave Bob a 
subsequent vision that provides additional insight into this portion 
of the revelations.  In the vision, Bob saw
the Lord forming a football team..  The team was divided into an 
offense and a defense.  The captain of the offense was a well-known 
white leader of the church while the
captain of the defense was a well known black leader within the 
church.  Although both are powerfully anointed leaders of their team, 
neither could win the game without the
other.  The offense clearly was unable to be victorious without the 
support of the defense and likewise the defense without the offense. 
Bob then saw two prophets alternating
duties at quarterback.  However, the quarterbacks rarely ran with the 
ball, choosing instead to hand it to others more capable of carrying 
the ball for additional yardage.  The
quarterback would sometimes throw the ball down field to a receiver 
for even more yardage.
 
 

This vision emphasizes that our ultimate objectives will not be 
accomplished until we unite, crossing all barriers and functioning as 
one unit in order to defeat our enemies.  The
prophets will receive strategy and insight they will "hand off" to 
others able to take the revelations and expound upon them in great 
measure moving the team forward to the
"goal" line.  Oftentimes, they will even throw the revelation down 
field, foreseeing  future strategies that will defeat the enemy. 
Presently, the church is in more of a
"defensive" posture, relying heavily upon the defense to keep us in 
the game while the offense continues intense preparation until it's 
appointed time.  That is not to say that
we have not been able to "move the ball forward offensively" 
achieving some victories.  Instead, we have been more reliant upon 
the defense of "faith" and "praise" of
which our black brother was the leader.
 
 

This year, we will continue to see a special grace to unite the black 
and white ministries.  Most assuredly, we must realize that we cannot 
accomplish our goal without one
another working in unity and harmony.
 
 
 
 
 
 

PSALMS 100
 
 

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.  Serve the LORD with 
gladness; come before Him with joyful singing.   Know that the LORD 
himself is God; it is He
who has made us, and not we ourselves; {we are} His people and the 
sheep of His pasture.  Enter His gates with thanksgiving, {and} His 
courts with praise. Give
thanks to Him; bless His name.  For the LORD is good; His 
lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all 
generations.
 
 

The principles outlined in this years Shepherd's Rod predominately 
address being established in His righteousness and the price paid to 
walk closely with the Lord.