Sunday, March 31, 2013

He Is!

It is early on Resurrection morning. I have spent the last hour reflecting on what Jesus rising from the dead has meant to me. I met Jesus as my Savior in the fall of 1983. He had all of me. I was all in. I will not forget that first Easter morning after I had been saved. Easter bunnies and egg hunts never held my fascination again.

I went eagerly to a Son Rise service. I sat on the edge of my seat through the singing, the preaching, and the drama of the resurrection scene unfolded. The reality that Jesus was and is alive still fascinates my soul. It is not an old story to me. It is as fresh in my heart as the morning paper. Today I still sit bewildered that Jesus would die on a cross and be buried in a tomb. I am more astonished that the tomb could not hold him down and he is alive.

Satan and the world wanted to be rid of Jesus. Satan thought he had actually won when Jesus said, "It is finished"and breathed his last. I have always been struck by that statement, not by what he said but by what he didn't say. He did not say, "I am finished." He said "It is finished." The work of redemption is finished. Salvation is offered. Sin has been atoned but Jesus is not finished. He is alive and well and work in my life as well as the lives of believers all over the world. He is not a dead end religion leading nowhere. He is alive and that has made all the difference in my life.

Pilate could not ignore him. The Pharisees could not exterminate him. Mary could not forget or forsake him. The soldiers could not defeat him. The executioners could not put an end to him. The grave could not hold him. The tomb could not keep him. Death could not grip him. Death could not silence him. Death could not extinguish him. Death could not conquer him. HE IS RISEN AND HE IS ALIVE.

Who am I talking about? Jesus. The Alpha and Omega. The Author and Perfecter of our faith. The Bread of Life. The Chief Cornerstone. His name is Jesus. He is Emmanuel. He is faithful and true. He is a friend of sinners. He is the Great High Priest. He still is the Great Shepherd. He is still the Holy One. He remains the Hope of the World. The Horn of Salvation. He alone is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He still reigns as the King of the Ages. He still shines as the Light of the World. He is the King of Glory. The Lord of Peace and the Lord of the Harvest. He is Messiah and Master. He is our Morning Star. Forever he is the Prince of Peace. He is the Resurrection and the Life. He is the Rock of Ages. He is Ruler of Creation, Savior, Son of God, the Truth, the Life, and the Way. He is the Word of God. He is Wonderful Counselor.

Today and forever he is risen! He is alive! He is seated at the right hand of the Father. He is making intercession for his church even as I write this. He is waiting and longing for his bride. He soon will be coming again. He will return. He is coming back.

Today I embrace him. I love him. I worship him. I pledge allegiance to him. I submit to him. I serve him. I surrender all to him. I follow him. I revere him. I preach for him and write about him. For He is.

Early Resurrection Morning




Mary got up early that first resurrection morning,
Still weeping, confused, broken and still mourning,
I too got up early heavy laden and heavy hearted,
Mary discovered Jesus was gone he had departed,
She met the Lord in the tomb he had vacated,
I met the Lord in the pages of scripture created,
Not by man but the breath of God made alive,
Mary found Jesus not dead but totally revived,
Awakened from the dead, brought forth in glory,
The resurrection the check mate of Jesus' story,
I meet Him in the sacred text with great expectation,
Mary found Jesus alive and told the others with elation,
Jesus is alive - I met Him this resurrection morning,
Yes Mary I also met Him though my heart is storming,
Death could not beat Him - the grave he defeated,
Our sin is forgiven - our redemption now completed,
Mary he is alive - you saw him risen and glorified,
I too met him this morning - I too have testified,
A risen Lord available for all redeemed believers,
Who conquered sin, death, and the Great Deceiver.
Satan did not win and Hades lost the Lord arisen,
Sin now defeated no longer can hold us in prison,
Mary - He is alive - I met Him too this Easter daybreak,
You at the empty tomb - me in scripture to cure heartache,
You wept and rejoiced when Jesus first alive appeared,
I too rejoice He lives in me - making burdens disappear.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Lost in Him


I went to my office wearing sun shades and just stepped outside to pitch darkness. I went to the office with the one intention of grabbing my Macbook and heading back home. I sat down at my desk to check my email.

Next, I read I Corinthians 15 and parts of John 19 and 20. Before I knew it I was inspired to write a poem titled, "The Saturday Before." After that, the poem turned into a message for Sunday. I got lost in Him writing furiously, flipping pages of scripture, and doing word studies losing all track of time.

I love it when I get lost in Him in prayer or study. I become oblivious to my surroundings, distractions, and time. Nothing else matters in those times but abiding in Him. Those are memorable times. Those are times I cherish and long to happen more.

So on this Saturday before Easter I have already had the fresh encounter with the Lord I yearned for. It came unexpected. It did not happen during an Easter production or even in a Easter service. He often does that. He shows up unexpectedly in obscure places and I love it so. What a blessing to get lost in Him. May those fresh encounters linger for the rest of my days.

The Saturday Before


The Saturday Before


On Saturday they mourned thinking all was over lost,
They mourned a friend who's death paid the great cost,
They did not understand what God willed - had planned,
The cross a check mate move from God's sovereign hand,
On Saturday they wept his loss with an unending grief,
Mourning the Savior taken away by the fiendish thief,
In hopeless despair they sighed thinking all was done,
They did not understand on the cross victory was won,
How they doubted with heavy hearts the Saturday before,
Jesus would rise again using the stone as an open door,
Jesus conquered death and the grave on resurrection day,
Leaving only burial clothes where his defeated body lay,
Up from death and the grave he triumphantly arose,
They are still searching for his remains I suppose,
Seated at the father's right hand secure on the throne,
Preparing a place for believers to make eternal home,
The Saturday before hope was lost all else was gone,
They did not know we'd all sing resurrection songs,
Some of you're defeated for you it's the Saturday before,
Look to the resurrection - Sunday brings blessings galore,
More hope, more triumph, more victories to believe,
More than your mind can grasp, imagine or conceive.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Battlefield of the Mind


The battlefield of the mind is a place of intense warfare. On any given day a person can experience deepest thoughts of joy and depression on the same day. At one moment you can be enjoying the bountiful blessings of the day and the next moment can receive some bad news that takes the wind out of your sails.

At one moment you can dwell on the promises of God and enter each day with faith and confidence. Something can happen during the day that distracts you and alters your course just a bit. By the end of the day you can start entertaining doubt and sink into depression.

A person can truly seek God and yearn to be closer to Him and to walk in holiness. Suddenly an unexpected temptation comes your way and maybe at first you resist saying what you are really thinking, you resist the temptation to doubt, and you resist the temptation to rebel. Then your mind begins to drift from holiness to the hollowness of sin and before you know it you find yourself shamed and in need of repentance.

You can wake up weary with the challenges of life only to be overcome with even more trials that buckle the knees and cripple the mind. Weary you find prayer a chore, Bible reading laborious and you lose hope and you lose heart.

I say it again, the mind is a battlefield. Satan shoots the fiery darts of little seed thoughts, that if they take root, get us off course. So what is the hope? How do we combat this constant assault on our minds?

Two things will help. First, we must take up the shield of faith. [Eph 6:16] "In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one." This shield of faith is indispensable if we are going to defend the battlefield of our mind.

The all out assault on the mind comes from all sides. If we take the shield of faith, our confidence and trust in God in every situation in life, then we can live with peace. [Phil 4:6-7] Step out from behind that shield for even a second and you become a vulnerable target. How many are losing the battle of the mind right at this point. We are not hiding behind the fortress of trust in Almighty God.

A second way to win the battle of the mind is found in [II Cor 10:3-5] "For although we are walking in the flesh, we do not wage war in a fleshly way, since the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." We fight through God to take every thought captive.

There are some thoughts that are traitors, spies, and infiltrations by the enemy. Each of these thoughts must be arrested, sentenced, and executed to keep us on track. What kind of thoughts. Bitterness, un-forgiveness, anger, doubt, depression, suicide, giving up, lust, greed, vengeance, hopelessness, rebellion, and so forth. These thoughts must be taken captive. We cannot dwell on such thoughts without suffering defeat.

So there it is. A simple two fold strategy to win the battle of the mind. Take up the shield of faith and find refuge in God's protection. Secondly, take every thought captive and with it destroy every stronghold of Satan in our minds. If we do these two things we will be well on our way to wining the battle of the mind.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The Silence

The silence is deafening in my soul and my ears,
I wonder if you listen and question if you're here,
Not a sound, a word, or thought from your throne,
Leaves me feeling confused - weary - and all alone,
Your word is alive - active like a two edged sword,
Except to my heart it is as hardened as a two by four,
The silence is piercing body mind and in my soul,
I feel on edge like one who has lost all control,
You are silent, not a whisper has come to me from you,
A song, a thought, a verse - anyway you speak would do,
I pray, linger before you with such a contrite longing heart,
Often frustrated without hearing do I rise sadly to depart,
You who can penetrate any feeling and my every thought,
Me your child forgiven saved because I've been blood bought,
You so wise - understanding - so Sovereign and so kind,
Me tormented in the deepest caverns of my tempest mind,
You loving - always present - a very present help at all times,
Even when I'm troubled and your will I can't discern or find,
Lord, I plead for you open your word and mouth to speak,
There is nothing more important I crave - desire or seek,
 I sit here humbled and bowed a heart crying for a word,
Something fresh from your heart - pages I have turned,
In your Bible, your sacred - inerrant and holy book,
Once again I trust you speak as I take another look,
Please break the silence - speak a message intended for me,
Something for the hour, please open my eyes help me see,
You often dwell in the silence - drawing me ever closer to you,
For in the silence I often get a closer more intimate view.

I Do Not Understand

Lord, as I sit with you this morning I do not understand,
What you have fully purposed - details you have planned, 
I see heartache and sorrow flowing like a river all around,
Unanswered prayers, tearful eyes, heavy burdens abound, 
The weight is crushing, the pain defeating, there is weeping, 
While others suffer and hurt I find my faith slowly leaking, 
Lord, I do not understand - why people suffer on silently, 
Why the storms of life toss and overwhelm so violently, 
Why when we cry for help it seems you often ignore, 
You are silent no matter how desperately we implore,
So I sit here today and still do not grasp nor can understand, 
All of your purposes and ways poured out on mortal man, 
You say we are called to walk by faith - to simply believe, 
Hard to do when your heart is shattered - broken - bereaved,
I know you love - I know you hear - those who are broken, 
Who find themselves clinging to every word you've spoken, 
You are strong - the wisest,  - you alone the God Almighty, 
We're weak, unsure, sweetly surrendered and broken slightly, 
You are good - kind - loving beyond all ability to measure, 
You are our hope, our refuge, all of you our greatest treasure, 
Help us to trust when blinded by pain and the circumstance, 
Help us to rest in you irregardless of life and happenstance, 
Like a child we reach for your steady hand always unchanging, 
Knowing you have the power in our lives to keep rearranging, 
Trading sorrow for joy in the morning - giving beauty for ashes, 
Still we do not understand why life feels like a beating with lashes,
Only you know the pain suffered by all your sad earthly people, 
May we find solace in you under the shadow of your steeples,
May our burdens be unloaded and cast from weary shoulders, 
To you looking like mere pebbles - to us more like boulders,
I still do not grasp nor am I fully able to understand, 
What you have purposed and the nuances of your plans, 
Today I sit before you - your word washing fears and doubts away, 
I keep trusting - abiding - grasping to your unchanging hand today. 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

My Brown Eyed Bride




Over two decades ago she became my brown eyed bride,
Filled with love, laughter, and a giving heart beside,
She has brought joy to many even when broken inside,
She has given sacrificially though her dreams denied,
She serves God faithfully in His presence she abides,
She makes a house a home where ever we do reside,
I told her I had to follow God and move - she replied,
I am with you and follow too serving God side by side,
We have been wounded and wanted to run and to hide,
Yet she stuck with - my beautiful brown eyed bride.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Keep Trusting

For those who are weary and worn down by life there is a word from the Lord. For those overwhelmed by the never ending assault of waves of tribulations there is nourishment for the soul. For those living in defeat and thinking it will never change there is hope. For those who have stumbled and fallen and staying down is more appealing than getting back up there is motivation not to stay down.

"He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in (wait on) the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint." [Is 40:29-31]

I am weary. Weary from nearly three decades of ministry with as many defeats as victories. Tired from close to three decades of walking the hard road of faith that at times has sapped the vitality from me. Nearly three decades of hoping for a better future but stumbling and falling under more hardships have taken a toll.

I awoke today a weary man. I sat before the Lord to seek Him in prayer and scripture reading. Dutifully but not very hopefully did I return to the book of Isaiah to start reading where I left off last night. God knew my condition and state of mind and only has He could do did He bring me to these scriptures. I read several chapters before I got there but what an oasis for my soul.

My trials are not changing. After spending over $3,000 to get Brenda's ten year old car repaired the ball bearings went out on one of the front tires of my truck and we had to spend another $350 to fix that. My house has still not sold in Seminole after nearly two years. We still live in a tiny rent house. The church finances are better but not great.

As I trust God in each of these situations and many others, God strengthens me allowing me to soar on wings like eagles. Eagles are able to soar above the storms. They climb higher and higher until they are actually soaring above the storms below that pound others. That is what God is doing in my life today. I trust God and soar above all my storms. All of them. There is peace here. There is strength here. There is fresh perspective here.

I know many of you reading this are weary. You are defeated and you too stumble and fall. It would seem easier to just stay down and give up. The reason you and I feel that way is because somewhere along life's journey we quit trusting God. You grew weary of waiting on God and little by little you quit trusting Him.

O brothers and sisters I urge you do not fall into that trap. Do not quit trusting Him. Trust Him for strength to endure. Trust Him to help you soar above your storms. Trust Him to help you keep walking and running. Trust Him for the strength to get back up. Whatever you do keep trusting God. That means keep waiting patiently on the Lord. It seems the longer we have to wait on God to come through the easier it becomes for us to doubt. This only brings despair and spiritual death.

Keep trusting. Keep waiting. Keep believing. Keep seeking. Keep praying. Keep soaring. Keep focused. Just as the eagle eventually descends once the storm has passed, your storms will pass as well and you will descend into easier times. We all must keep trusting. We will not and cannot endure or soar in our own strength. God is our supply. Keep trusting.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

You Are Here

Though the family still slumbers You are here,
Meeting me as you've done year after year,
Many questions plague haunting my mind,
You are here offering Your peace so sublime,
Anguished I long for a fresh word from You,
You are here, opening my eyes to a faith view,
Troubles weigh on my weary worn shoulders,
You are here to remove burden like boulders,
You are here to give hope in place of despair,
You are here to comfort and give soul repair,
So I will return to sleep knowing you are here,
Therefore I have peace and nothing more to fear.

He Still Shows Up

In Mark 5 there is the story of a broken lady who suffered. In fact we learn that she suffered for twelve years. No matter what she tried she did not grow better but worse. She exhausted every means at her disposal to get better but nothing worked.

I wonder how many reading this are in the same spot. You are losing hope because things are not getting any better. You have prayed, quoted scripture, read books, sought counsel, prayed some more and waited on God. Still things in your life are bad. Life feels more like surviving than thriving. Each day is a chore to trudge through. Sleep is tormented each night. Then the whole cycle repeats and you begin to entertain thoughts that things will never change. Hope begins to wane like air in a punctured tire. You feel deflated and defeated.

I have been there too. All seems lost and there does not appear to be any hope. Suddenly, at times unexpectedly, Jesus shows up. I may have prayed for months and at times even years and suddenly Jesus shows up for me just like He did for the woman with the issue of blood. I have experienced this numerous times in my life. Because I have experienced this in the past I can have hope today.

Jesus still shows up in people's lives when they are broken, battered, and bruised. He still shows up with tender mercy and compassion to forgive when people make a wreck of their lives with bad choices. He still shows up with strong hands to pull the downtrodden back to their feet and lovingly take the burden from weary shoulders. Jesus still shows up for desperate people to give hope and peace to make it through another day and another trial. Jesus still shows up with power to heal, to deliver, to move, to save, to transform, and ultimately to bring glory to His name. He still shows up for the destitute with provision in His hands.

Jesus shows up for the lonely and forsaken with His companionship. He still shows up with strength to keep enduring for those exhausted. He still shows up with faith to keep hoping for the hopeless. He still shows up with shelter and refuge for those tossed in the tempest. He still shows up with support in the love of family, friends, and faith family from church. He still shows up.

That suffering woman in Mark 5 heard Jesus was passing through and she pressed through the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus' garment for healing. Jesus showed up for her with healing and she knew it immediately. She knew that what had tormented her for twelve long years had been healed.

Furthermore, Jesus showed up for others in having that woman tell the whole multitude what He had done for her. Through her testimony Jesus showed up in my life this morning as I wrote this and I trust He will show up later this morning when I preach her story for others. It is my prayer that Jesus is showing up in your life at this moment as you read this. He still shows up.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Alone


Lord, who knows my private fears and pain
Who sees the tears descending like rain,
Who sees how I feel utterly all alone,
Who knows all the burdens I bemoan,
The confusion like fog clouding my mind,
Clouding past regrets I can't  gounwind,
Who knows all the failures of my past,
How like vapor my successes never last,
You know how I long for a different path,
One filled with joy, victory and some laughs,
The night of weeping has lasted far too long,
Though you're too perfect to ever be wrong,
I still feel alone - none to help share the load,
My task and burden like Froto alone to bear,
Few trusted my deepest soul to bravely share,
In those moments when all alone with you,
When at wits end I don't know what to do,
When nobody else can dare comprehend,
I've your sovereign wisdom to apprehend,
Though I feel alone I am not left forsaken,
You never leave me broken - heavy laden.


Thursday, March 7, 2013

True Friendship

I just returned home from a several day preaching road trip with my college roommate and great friend Eric Adcock. We laughed, ate, conversed, ministered and relished every moment together. He is more than a friend. He is my brother. He knows me and loves me. He has hurt with me, stood with me, prayed for me, supported me, and given me counsel.

We drove down south to the Cypress-Fairview area outside Houston to minister to students. What a great trip. God added another soul to the kingdom. We enjoyed wonderful time with Eric's former youth minister and friend Mark Julian. What a great few days.

I have never been rich monetarily. I am rich in relationships. Eric is a true brother. Mark is a true brother. There are others. I do not know where I would be without all those brothers standing with me and encouraging me along the way.

Eric and I laughed, jammed to the radio like a couple of high school kids driving down the highway, talked about family and life issues, but by far I loved that we got to minister together last night. Eric led us to the throne in worship and I preached God's word. We have done this together many times. I am thankful for our time together after all these years.

We are more than friends. Our lives, hearts, and love are intertwined. What a blessing to have friends. What a privilege to have people in your life who love you, stand with you, pray for you, and who share life with you. God, thank you for true friendship.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

One Man Band and the Prophetic Poet

Like many times before I am on the road again,
Preaching with my trusted brother and friend,
He is a music guy a traveling one man band,
Loud, outgoing, a gifted six string player,
Me just a preacher a prophetic truth sayer,
Together we labor for lost and wayward souls,
Me preaching truth - he leading us to the throne,
Me proclaiming God's word without shame,
Him singing for the glory of Jesus' name,
A trusted bond forged by many trials by fire,
Two hearts made one by passion and desire,
A prophetic poet and a traveling music man,
Brought together for God's redemptive plan.


God's Plan

We like to plan our lives. One day while walking back to the locker room after football practice at Howard Payne University, our quarterback asked me about my plans for the future. I laid it out in detail as I saw it. None of it came to pass. 

We plan and dream about the future. God also has a plan and nothing or no one can deter that plan. [Is 14:27] "For the Lord of Hosts has planned and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched out hand, who can turn it back."

This is at the same time both comforting and troubling. In the context of Isaiah He is pronouncing judgment. It makes me wonder about the United States. Though we proudly wave our flag and flaunt our freedom, I wonder about God's plan for a nation that has forsaken Him. What will our outcome be. God has a plan. If that plan includes this nation surviving and playing a part in the unfolding drama of these end times nothing can stop that. If God's plan includes this nation being conquered and subdued by some other no President or military might will be able to stop it.

On the other hand this verse is comforting. I am writing this near Houston, TX where I will be preaching a youth rally tonight. God's plan included bringing into relationship with Mark and Teresa Julian and Eric Adcock. That opened the door for me to preach tonight.

God used my youth minister back in 1985 to open the door for me to play football at Howard Payne University. God's bigger plan included me meeting Brenda and studying for the ministry.

I did not foresee any of that unfolding. My life has been an adventure but God has had a plan every step of the way. There have been times when I rebelled against that plan and took detours. I have paid dearly every time. Yet God in His infinite wisdom and grace has gotten me back on the right track time and time again.

I do not know the future anymore than any of you do. I know God holds the future and He holds my life and yours in the palm of His hand. He knows what lies ahead today, tomorrow, and all of our days. Why fret and worry?

God has a plan,and more importantly, He is strong enough to make that plan come true. This is why I believe God has a buyer for my house in Seminole and a house for my family in Paradise though we have waited seventeen months for that plan to unfold. This is why I believe God has a plan for each of my boys. They have dreams but what is most important is that they dream the dreams God has for them. I believe God has a plan for Faith Community Church. It has not always been an easy road but we have seen the hand of God blessing this church in more ways than I can recount now.

What God purposes He is strong enough to bring to pass. What God plans nobody can stop. So today I choose to rest in the comfort that God has a plan and I seek His leadership and direction to walk that path. I believe with confidence nobody and nothing can stop God's plan from coming to pass.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Three Questions

This morning three questions have come to my mind straight from the scripture. One is a question we ask the Lord repeatedly in our life times. The other two questions come from the Lord to us.

The question we ask comes from [Mark 4:38] "... Don't you care ...?" You can fill in the blank at the end of that question with many things. Lord, don't you care that we do not have enough money? Don't you care that our health is failing? Don't you care that our jobs are on the line? Don't you care that my marriage is in trouble, my child is running from you, my faith is feeble, and my love for you is cooling?

We all have our own set of questions. We all have our set of questions wondering why the Lord delays or denies our requests. We convince ourselves that the Lord does not care because of our circumstances. We convince ourselves that the Lord is not concerned with our plight. We question, whine, and despair. Our question is based on faulty logic. It denies the reality of scripture.

God's care was forever settled on the cross where Jesus purchased our redemption. We can never question that God does not care. He forever put that issue to rest. On top of that there are numerous assurances in the Bible that God loves us [Rom 5:8], never leaves us [Heb 13:5], comforts us [Ps 34:18], strengthens us [Phil 4:13], gives us peace [Phil 4:7], lifts our burdens [Ps 55:22], and provides refuge [Ps 46:1].

That is our question. The Lord has two questions for us in [Mark 4:40]. First, Why are you afraid? It means why are you a coward, timid,  faithless? What are you afraid of? For some it is having enough to retire on. For others it is the fear of the unknown. There are some who fear disease and death itself. Fear is a crippling emotion. It can paralyze people into inaction. It can keep people up at night tormented in their minds.

God is asking you to identify the source of your fear. For the disciples it was a storm and the thought of drowning. For you and I it is something totally different.

Now for the third question and the second one from Jesus to us. Do you still have no faith? Notice that the question does ask why we have little faith. Jesus' question to the disciples and to us is why do we not any faith. He asks, do you still have no faith? No faith. That means none at all. What I find in my life is that when I have no faith it usually leads me to living in fear.

God does care. We have to keep believing in Him and His goodness and not allowing fear to cripple us. It is that simple. No matter what we are going through we have the choice to trust Him and live in peace rather than fear. Yes, Jesus cares. Yes we have the choice to trust or doubt and yes we have the choice to live in fear or to live in peace.

Three questions. God, do you care? God ask us these two questions. Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith? God already has given the answer to our question. Now what answers do we have for His two questions. Why are we afraid? Do we still have no faith?

Monday, March 4, 2013

Combating Apathy

Apathy: the absence of passion, emotion, or excitement; lack of interest in or concern. The church is filled with apathy. Communities are filled with apathy. I am here to call Christians out for being lukewarm and apathetic.

The word apathy comes from a combination of two words. The first is the greek word apatheia which means insensibility to suffer and the word apathe which means unfeeling. People who are apathetic are indifferent and unconcerned who live passionless lives. This is not an age to be apathetic. The stakes are high all around us.

Christians fail to grasp this concept. We are in a spiritual war every second of every day. Our adversary is stealthily moving taking more and more ground every moment. He takes no days off and he has millions of trusted foot soldiers to do his bidding. He is after the very soul of this nation and the entire world. Little by little the fabric of a nation has been stolen and turned away from God and His values from Hollywood to the backwoods, from the White House to the CEO's house as well as the blue collar worker's house.

What is sad is how little resistance is given. We resist through the avenues of prayer, proclaiming the gospel, and taking stands to oppose the enemy. We are in a fight not heading to a church picnic. A fight against powers, world forces, against spiritual forces of wickedness. [Eph 6:10-12]

While the church of the living God sleeps the enemy stands at the gates of our homes and communities to advance the kingdom of darkness. It has happened over and over again and rarely do God's people ever wake up and take a stand until it is too late. While Christians gather in their holy huddles on Sundays the enemy steals, kills, and destroys. He pillages and rapes society with his wicked minions and Christ followers sit on the sidelines indifferently watching it all unfold behold our eyes.

The church of the living God seldom gathers to pray on a large scale. I have lived in this community off and on for six years. Not one time have I even seen 100 Christians gather for a community prayer meeting. Even more rarely do Christians make their voices heard on the national or local level unless it griping and complaining at the beauty shops, cafes, or along the fence line at the stadium. Uninterested, unconcerned, and unfeeling characterize many. Satan has poured an all out assault on the soul of this nation and this community.

Immorality pervades the land from our schools to the board rooms. People no longer possess their bodies in honor. Men behind the pulpit, choir members, church secretaries, student pastors, and deacons all across the land have brought shame and scandal to the church through immoral activities. Still apathy continues. Politicians lead scandalous lives and few stand up for truth. They even get voted back into office often.

Apathy rules the land as the enemy continues to advance his wicked agenda by putting his people in place at every level of leadership in society. From politicians, CEO's, college professors, actors, actresses, screen play writers, film producers, managers, business owners, school employees, school board members, lawyers, and doctors. Evil men and women scheme, plan, and manipulate their way to top leadership positions with an agenda. These pawns of the devil live to serve wicked and evil schemes at every level of society. We all feel the effects.

Paradise has largely been different. I have known administrators and known personally of their commitment to Christ. I have had spiritual conversations with many people in places of high leadership in this community. I have applauded the character of many of our teachers who not only teach our children academically but also teach them about life. We have been blessed. Because we have been blessed for so long with good people in places of influence in this community it is easy to fall asleep and to remain apathetic. It is easy to think it will always be that way because this is Paradise. You had better wake up and heed this warning. Satan wants the soul of this community from students, parents, teachers, coaches, and administrators. He is just waiting for an open door to get people with little character into these positions. Once that happens the ball will get rolling down hill. Others could be brought into this community with a whole other set of values. This is a slippery slope we do not want to start down. The end result will be a train wreck.

That is why I have said there are more important things than wins and losses. I make my voice known that we have great men and women in place as coaches. I want them to stay.

Just because we have top notch men and women in places of leadership in this community now does not mean it will always be that way. The hiring of one wrong person could impact this community in many ways. This is why I am taking such a passionate and public stand for many of our coaches. I know their character. I know the influence they have on students including my sons. I know their wives and how the positively influence students in and outside the classroom.

The enemy (Satan) would like nothing better than to begin picking off our school and community leaders one at a time and replacing them with ungodly leaders. This is the crux of my stand. I will sacrifice wins and losses for the sake of coaches (who want and strive to win) but who have and seek to instill character in student athletes. I am not alone in this thinking. Many have voiced their concerns to me.

I have fought for this community in prayer for several years and plan to continue to do so. I will not live in apathy. Too much is at stake. I have voiced my concerns to several people in key places of leadership in determining who will be our next Athletic Director. I have challenged this community to pray and to make your voice heard. For the most part I have been met with apathy.

Once the decision is made people will voice their opinion one way or the other. If you remain apathetic do not dare open your mouth on a Friday or Tuesday night griping about coaching leadership. If a man is chosen for the job who does not hold Christ dear or Christian values you sow what you reap Paradise. I will not sow apathy. My voice is only one but I will let it be heard. I will stand up for coaches who have given their lives to this community, some for many years, and a few for decades. I will stand with those who give and give and who have been maligned and maned in the court of public opinion in return.

I stand with men and women who have sailed in the good times when the athletic talent excelled, the victories came easily, and the play off runs excited the community. These coaches have also weathered the storms when the talent pool was not as deep, when the victories came few and far between, when the rumors swirled, the icy glares abounded, and when the playoff drought extended. Still these men and women have gotten off buses late at night and fallen into bed exhausted only to be jolted awake by the need to get up for another early morning practice. They coach, teach, love, challenge, and stand for our students. They have invested themselves, their families, and their futures in this community. I will not be apathetic toward them. I will not take them for granted.

One wrong decision at the level of leadership for our coaches could affect the futures of men and women I love from; football, volleyball, track, basketball, softball, baseball, track, tennis, and powerlifting at every level. I will not be apathetic even after the final decision is made. I will not sit back in silence like so many others do when it really counts, but then stand to shout their opinions from the stands at game time. I am calling Christians and concerned citizens to stand up and speak up.

I get it. Not everybody can stand up and speak in front of crowds. You can email administrators and school board members. You can refuse the path of apathy and least resistance and contact those who will make this decision to let your voice be heard. You can make your voice known refusing apathy. You can attend the next school board meeting to make your voice known. I am calling this community to get up off your apathy and to action.

You may not side with me and you have every right to your opinion. You have every right to make your voice heard as well. If Christians do not voice your concerns in mass to the Superintendent all the way down to school board members then you have no right to be critical when the final decision is made. I will state this publicly in writing. I am standing in support of our coaching staff and calling for Godly leadership at the Athletic Director position as well as in other coaches. It is time to stand up and to speak up. This is not a time for apathy or cowardice.

I am passionate about the right kind of men and women leading my children and yours. This community boasts of hundreds if not thousands of Christians. I urge you to make your voice heard. It is my hope that you will keep praying privately and corporately. I hope you will keep calling and emailing those making this decision. Faith Community Church will hold community prayer meetings outside the administration office every Sunday night between now and the March 18th School Board Meeting at 5:00 p.m. I am challenging hundreds to be in attendance at that prayer meetings and the next School Board Meeting. I will be soliciting several athletes to speak at that meeting on behalf of our existing coaches. The School Board meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m.

Being apathetic in my book is a lot like being lukewarm. Jesus despises lukewarm followers. [Rev 3:15-16] Christ followers, you cannot ride the fence. If we hope for God to bless this community we had better pray and stand for Christ followers to be placed in leadership positions. If we fall asleep now we will one day wake up to a community governed by people who do not hold our values. It has happened in the past all across this land. We need courage over apathy and passion over indifference. Stand and be counted.