From David's Desk...

Greetings!     

Blessings! Bendiciones! Zegeningen!

I have just spent three weeks dodging heat and Tropical Storm Emily in Canada, Puerto Rico and Suriname, so I apologize for the delay in getting out the July newsletter to you.

It has been a fantastic time meeting up with banner warriors I haven't met before and seeing the increase in interest of men in banners and ministry for the first time in Puerto Rico and Suriname.

Something huge is happening with banners!!! I will give you a fuller report in next month's newsletter.

In this edition I'm really exited to announce a major advance in accessibility for OOOMB with the release of our new brochure. The new layout, including all our new designs, is now available for you to print directly off the website. To celebrate the release of the brochure we are offering 20% off any banner purchased in the month of August.  See the column at left for details.     

We are also continuing our series on Banners Outside the Christian Context with a little article about banners at sea.   

There's another banner to give away this month - congratulations to Anne Stewart of Scotland!

Let me encourage you. There are dozens of new banner wavers emerging every day. Stay connected to the global movement and send us your stories about how you are changing the atmosphere in your region.

David S

Global Banner Photo Project 

 Patricia Smargiassi takes multiple banners to the beach in New Jersey to worship and make proclamations. 

How can you participate?

We are looking for creative photographic art that shows how banners can be used prophetically to shift atmospheres over people and nations around the world.  

To stimulate your creative juices, we will randomly draw a name out of every 20 participants who meet the criteria and give them a free banner of their choice.  

Click here to read all the details.

Banners Outside the Christian Context

Flags at sea 

As we continue our series on understanding banners outside the Christian context we turn this month to maritime signal flags. These flags are used on military vessels, in international shipping, and in local waters by fishermen and recreational boaters.

Each flag can represent an individual letter to send an alphabetic message  or they can be used in groups or individually as a code to convey a message.  

Here are some examples: 

An "A" or "Alpha" flag means "Diver down; keep clear at slow speed."  

A "W" or "Whiskey" flag means "I require medical assistance."  

Two-flag signals are mostly distress and maneuvering signals.

 "AC" means " I am abandoning my vessel."

For those on or near the shore there are weather warning flags commonly used to advise boaters of impending bad weather:   

Small craft warning- Up to 38 mph winds   

Gale warning- 39-54 mph winds  

Storm warning-  55-73 mph winds

Hurricane warning - 74+ mph winds   

These maritime flags serve a vital purpose in sending visual messages of safety information, warnings and pleas for assistance. We, too, are sending messages as we make declarations with our banners in the heavenlies. 

 More information on nautical flags can be found at: http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/flags.htm and  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_maritime_signal_flags