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Cornerstone Communications
Korea
November 28, 2006

Dear Friends & Family,

Greetings from Seoul, Korea! We are enjoying glorious fall weather here in Seoul. I was able to enjoy fall in Kiev, then the first part of winter and snow. Then, I come to Seoul, and it's like starting over! The trees are absolutely a beautiful palette of fall colors, and I'm like a child who just can't get enough of enjoying God's spectacular creation.

The Games People Play

Dear friend, I want to covet your prayers. I arrived in Korea just two weeks ago, and what an emotional roller coaster I've been on. It seems the music director has decided he wants to start his own theatre (which will conflict with the school, who is also his employer) , and has decided to steal a show of mine as I haven't given him permission, and copy my staging, my choreography and my set designs by watching the video. Through his manipulation, my Christmas show was cancelled!

It's hard to believe that just 2 weeks ago we closed a beautiful and colorful musical production in Kiev, Ukraine. Here the cast, crew and I mug for the camera.

Nonetheless, the shows are NOT my god, GOD IS. I saw this as a frustrating test of my spiritual fortitude, and decided to give God the glory, and to not fight this "in the flesh", but in the spirit. I went to prayer, and believed God for a miracle. True to God's nature, He answered.

Saturday, an American missionary, Jim and his Korean wife, Debbie Dunnett, are good friends of mine. He serves as a chaplain and works with the American military forces stationed here in Korea, and also hosts them to attend all of my shows. He called me and wanted to know when this production would take place so that he could get word to the 200 plus military personnel who would be attending our play.

I told Jim there would be no show this year. He said, "You've been heavy on my heart, and I have been in prayer for you all week." I explained the situation. Afterwards, he said, "My wife is good friends with Mrs. Cho, and I'll discuss this with Debbie, and we'll see what happens." I left this in God's hands.

Sunday, after church, I was having lunch with some Korean friends, and we got an urgent phone call from President Kim (Mrs. Cho) 's assistant. She wanted to meet with me right away! We hurried to her church office, and she gave us the good news, the show was back on, but the other show (the illegal one) would be cancelled! Hooray! When you leave things in God's hands and commit to pray, He answers in ways we don't expect, we get better results! Wow!

Having cast the show, "A Night of Miracles", a new Christmas musical production I've been working on for the past 4 months, the cast and I read through the show for the first time. I hope that they like it!

My heart's desire is to reach mankind with the good news of the Gospel, through theatrical presentations. When did this become so complicated? Please pray that this situation will now stay behind us, so that I can get back to work…. doing God's business by doing a production that will bring Him glory…. and no one else.

Production Update

Meanwhile… Back at the Ranch… I have been in the middle of this political warfare so much that I almost forgot, there's a show also in the making! We have had auditions, have cast the show with some wonderful actors, and are in the middle of staging each scene. We missed out on half a week of rehearsals when the show was cancelled, but we're back at work, and are busy building sets, designing artwork for the program and making costumes for the production, which opens December 20, which is three weeks from today! Please keep the cast and crew (and me) in prayer.

Prayer That Works

As I mature spiritually, I look back on my life, and wonder how and why God uses me. I've made so many mistakes. It took me years to be able to have an effective ministry. Why? Was God not able to do what He said? No. It was more that I kept getting in God's way! I want to share with you some secrets, in regards to prayer. How many times have you and I wondered if God was hearing our prayers, much less answering them?

There has to be a key to everything that opens each door to the spiritual realm. Salvation is not complicated at all. It's a matter of obeying scripture and simply doing what scripture says, "That if you will believe in your heart that God raised Christ from the dead, and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, you shall be saved." Romans 10: 9, 10. It's such an easy key, yet people want to make it much more complicated.

I had an opportunity to go to lunch with my friends, Mrs. Cho and Christine Chang

Prayer is the same way. We over-complicate the process. If we will simply learn and obey what scripture says about it, we can enjoy the fruit of our prayers! Read this scripture: "Christ is the one by whom God created everything in heaven and earth…. Everything has been created through Him and for Him." Colossians 1:16.

Let's look at this scripture again. Paul said BY GOD everything was created. He also said THROUGH GOD, and also FOR GOD. This is the key! There is a system here that works. First of all, let me tell you what prayer is NOT.

Prayer is not asking the Lord for things that will make our life easier. In essence, God wants us to grow. He is more interested in our character than in our career. He's more interested in what you're going to be like 10,000 years from now as opposed to what car you're going to drive to impress your neighbors and friends, or what latest fashion is going to make you the envy of all your church friends. God's bigger than that!

Don't misunderstand me! Does God want to bless us? Of course. Let me ask you a question: If you have a little child at home, and you buy them a little toy or a pack of gum, does it somehow make them a better person? No. Does it mature them? No. So, why buy it? Because YOU love your child! God is no different. He wants to bless you with the little things He gives us, simply because of His amazing love for us.

Now that the show is written, we are busy creating a master track of all the music. Pictured with me are technicians and musical staff personnel.

People mistake that love for meeting all of their self-centered wants. We think about what would make our life better, easier, etc. and then we beg Him for it. Then, we get mad or disillusioned if He doesn't answer that prayer. So, what IS the RIGHT way to pray?

Our key is the scripture above! "By Him, Through Him, To Him". Prayer must begin in the Throne Room of God. What is HIS desire? What does the Lord want accomplished in our life? The origin of our prayers MUST begin in heaven! By finding out what His will is, by asking Him what His good pleasure is, and by drawing close to His Holy Spirit, can we then know what interests HIM! Effective prayer begins with God. When you begin with God, He will give you the direction in which to pray.

By Him. John 5:19 says, "Jesus said, ‘I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.'" If Jesus Himself felt this way, how much more should we be tapped into what the Father wants. There's more to "thy will be done" than a simple prayer. See the Father for His will for your family, your car, your job, your finances. In most cases, He's wanting to use your situation to mature you, to teach you something. Prayers that gets to heaven are prayers that began there.

Through Him. When you ask in His name, you're asking for His permission. It's not a "trick" to get God to do your will! You say "In Jesus' Name" in essence to get His approval. You say it to get His authority on the situation. You ask it to bring Him glory. You include Him in your prayer, and submit your petition for Him to do with as HE chooses. Lay it at His feet, and leave it there, and let the Lord do as He desires.

I had a chance to visit Kyung Bok Goong, which is the Emporer's Palace. A truly magnificent architectual masterpiece here in the center of Seoul.

To Him. Finally, when you have done the first 2 steps, you have automatically taken prayer back to Him. This results in praise. John 14:13 says, "You can ask for anything in My Name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father." Jesus knew that anything done in His Name would automatically bring glory to the Father. "Thanksgiving enjoys the gift. Praise enjoys the giver." We praise Him, by including Him as the FIRST person we come to with our problems.

So, my friend, enjoy your time in prayer, by following these simple steps. You'll find the Lord desires to answer your prayers, because they began in His throne room. By the way, while you're there, praise Him! "Prayer goes into God's presence to take something away. Praise goes into God's presence and it stays there." Are you in need of some miracles in your life? By Him, through Him and to Him, God will meet your needs!

Hananim Irumuro!

That's Korean for "God's blessings!" The Lord has so many plans for your life. You get to read about mine, but I look forward to hearing about all that you're doing and are going to do, because you are trusting Him to use you for His glory. Thanks so much for your prayers and your support. Because of them, we impacted thousands and thousands of souls this year, and we're not finished! God bless you, my friend.

For the Kingdom,
Richard Montez