The Gentle Nudging Of The Spirit

I had a full day yesterday. After teaching Bible study last night and leading a meeting I left the building exhausted. It is a twenty minute drive from the church to my house. I don't know where my mind went during that time. Several thoughts came and went. Suddenly I thought about someone in our church and then I thought about some scripture to share. I grabbed my phone and made the call.

We did not talk long. I shared the scripture and offered a few words of encouragement. The whole conversation probably did not last longer than three minutes. Right before I went to bed I received a text from the spouse of the person I called. "God had you call tonight. It wasn't ten minutes before you called we were talking about needing to talk to you." 

The Holy Spirit gently nudged and thankfully I was sensitive. This same kind of thing should be played out in the lives of believers all over the place. Yet so often we grieve the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:30 (NASB) 
³⁰  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 

1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NASB)
¹⁹  Do not quench the Spirit;

I hope we can all be open to God's gentle nudging. I think we all be amazed to watch how He connects lives to His movement. That is exciting stuff

God Met With Me

The wind whistled gently through the trees blowing softly against my face. The chill in the wind gave the first hint of the coming winter season ahead. Little did I know at the time that chill in the wind proved prophetic of the trials coming my way. I just stood there feeling the wind and looking out over the panoramic view beneath.

From where I stood things seemed simple. God created all I could see. Surrounded by His glory in creation I felt small, insignificant, and humbled in the presence of greatness. I felt peace. I felt reverence. From where I stood God never looked more magnificent. From the choppy lake, to the grassy knoll, as well as the fields of flowers life made sense. For the first time in a long time life made sense.

Life had not been easy. Childhood abuse. Trust issues ensued. Heartaches and sorrows in ministry had broken me. Where once I felt bullet proof and willing to charge into any situation in service for God, the battle wounds and scars were evident. My heart felt numb. I felt less sure of myself. My heart hardened against further pangs and disappointments.

Well into middle age, I wondered if it would ever get better or if it could get worse. While I hoped for better days I had no way of knowing standing on that bluff things were about to get worse. Way worse.

While I stood stalwartly trying to remain stoic I choked back the tears. Years and years of tears fought  off formed a reservoir in my soul. I worked to keep the tears safely behind the dam of my toughness. Only I knew on that day the dam had cracks ad the tears were beginning to leak.

I brushed away a  solitary tear as it trickled down my rosy red cheek. I got myself together and headed back to the truck. It was Saturday and Sunday morning would come all too soon. I had no sermon. I reluctantly left the peace of the bluff for the harsh realities of life. Financial issues. Dashed ministry dreams over a decade. Loneliness. Health issues for both Brenda and I. Life certainly did not turn out like we thought when we were idealistic college students.

As I sat at my home offie desk I could only stare at the walls. While I felt peace with God on the bluff staring out at the lake, I now felt emptiness. I questioned how I would ever be able to preach the next morning. All I had to show for an hour of study was a blank page and a blank computer screen. This continued for a few more hours before I finally opted for bed. I figured maybe some sleep would give me a fresh perspective. Right before I drifted off to sleep in despair I felt the gentle hand of Brenda on my shoulders. I knew she was praying for me. She has done this repeatedly over the past two and a half decades.

The next morning I thumbed through my Bible desperate for inspiration. I finally settled on something and scurried to pull a sermon together, although I did not feel like delivering it. I knew the words I scribbled were a sermon and not a fresh message from God.

A quick shower and suiting up did not bring peace. I prayed on the way to the church hoping to see more people in the seats than empty chairs. A strange sound snapped my attention from prayer to alertness. The truck sputtered slowly lost power leaving me stranded on the side of the road. I am no mechanic and looking under the hood neither brought answers to what was wrong or solutions to the problem. In my rush out the door I left my cell phone. I was stranded.

Pride got the better of me and I chose to walk rather than to knock on a door, though they were sparse. I am sure I looked ridiculous walking down the road with a Bible in hand wearing my Sunday best. I pressed on. The same wind that blew against my cheeks the previous day bringing peace brought discomfort in the early morning hours.

I walked and walked. Hitchhiking did not work. I had no choice but to keep walking. With every step my prayers turned into complaints. I probably walked five miles before someone finally pulled over to give me a ride. I was not too talkative. When I arrived at the church I was glad to sit at my chair to exhale all my frustrations.

I shoved the truck issue out of my mind to try to get focused on the morning service. I was just getting in the right frame of mind when I heard the gravel crunching beneath the tires rolling up in the parking lot. I expected a familiar face but the unexpected person entering had a scowl on their face. They came to air some grievances. I sat stunned. The tirade lasted for longer than I wanted. At one point I tuned them out and silently prayed, "Lord, are you kidding me." When they finally walked out it was nearly time for the service to start. I really felt empty. I faked it through greeting people with a smile. I prayed more than I sang.

I knew my blood pressure had elevated because I could feel the pounding in my head. My head swam with thoughts that had nothing to do with the Lord or preaching. I was mad. Mad at the tyrant visitor that morning. Mad at God for a number of things including a broken down truck on the side of the road. Mad at myself for allowing myself to get hurt further. Just plain mad.

Even though I wanted the music to go on endlessly so I did not have to step on the stage, duty called. I slowly climbed the stairs to the stage. When I finally stood behind the pulpit the dam burst. Decades of stored up tears refused to be held back any longer. Something broke in me. Something deep. Something I could no longer control.

I gripped the sides of the pulpit tightly trying to get a grip on my emotions. The more I tried the deeper I sobbed. I knew deep down there would not be a sermon that morning. The tears would not stop. People shifted nervously in their seats. They did not know how to react to seeing their pastor fall to pieces right before their eyes.

Some scowled. Some prayed. Some wept also. Most looked bewildered. Eventually I shut my Bible without a word and did the only thing I knew to do . I descended the steps and slumbed to my knees at the altar tears still flowing. I could not manage a word in prayer. Years of prayers contained more powerful praying than I could ever put into words.

The longer I knelt at the altar weeping the more embarrassed I felt. Soon I heard the shuffling of feet and the opening and closing of the door as people left. I cried for a long time. When it felt like the last drop had fallen I arose to an empty room except for my boys and Brenda. Even with them there I still felt alone. Lost in my private pain.

We drove home in silence. I made a phone call to get the truck towed. Not in the mood for conversation or food I walked out the door and down the street. At first I walked aimlessly. Then I walked with purpose. Back to the bluff I had met God at the day before. With each step I contrasted the emotions of the past two days. From peace to pain. From humility to humiliation. From faith to a colossal flop behind the pulpit. Everything seemed out of control.

I climbed the bluff and stood at the same familiar spot. The wind once again blew a little warmer than the day before in the afternoon sun. I stood staring out over the choppy lake. I really did not have a prayer. I just stood there.

Then it happened. The still small voice of God cracked through my anxious thoughts and wounded heart.

1 Kings 19:11-18 (NASB) 
¹¹  So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
¹²  After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.
¹³  When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
¹⁴  Then he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
¹⁵  The LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram;
¹⁶  and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
¹⁷  "It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.
¹⁸  "Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him."
God met with me in that moment. He knew what I needed. He spoke in a profound way and in a perfect way. Those words were life to my soul. They were refreshing and reviving at the same time. Like so many other times before God met me in my darkest hours and rescued me from the pit of despair.

I stood there in the wind with my hands lifted high in full blown worship. I heard the still small voice of God and He gave me the courage to fight another day and press through the pain. Nothing really changed externally in that moment but everything changed internally. God met with me and spoke through His still small voice.

* The above account is fictional. It was meant to be a modern day parable to remind us of a spiritual truth. God meets us in our pain and still speaks through His still small voice.

Another Kermit Dream

After Turner's track meet I could not go straight to bed. I stayed up until midnight which is very unusual. I knew I would pay for it the next morning. I had an eye doctor appointment early. I thought if I went to bed late I would sleep in longer than normal.

Such was not to be the case. I woke up at 4:00 a.m. Weary I stumbled to my desk to pray. Initially, I could barely focus. Before I knew it time had passed and I needed to get ready for the day. Brenda and I rushed out the door both  bleary eyed from a short night of sleep. My doctor is in Fort Worth and we had to drive right through morning rush hour traffic.

I did not get into the passenger seat thinking I would receive a new dream about Kermit. All I wanted was sleep. I did not drift off praying. With heavy eyes I fell asleep quickly while Brenda drove. Without my even asking a new dream developed. The scenes unfolded in high definition. Here it is.

I sit on a hill looking over a town in the middle of the night. The town is Kermit. Down below the town in lit up with lights in homes, businesses, and street lamps. One building is brighter by far than all the other buildings. It is the old abandoned Bealls building, which is next door to an Alco store. From my perch I see the evidence of a mighty rushing wind coming out of the doors of the building. I also see a river flowing inside the doors of the building. 

In the next scene I see myself preaching inside the building. I say, "Come to Jesus," and scores of people make their way to the front to talk to a counselor about salvation. Outside the glass doors I see flames like in a grass fir spreading in all directions. Only nothing is scorched and charred in the aftermath of the flames. Everything is lush and green filled with life wherever the flames have been.

That's it.  I find it very intriguing that my quiet time yesterday was [Acts 16:8-10.] I was thinking about Paul and Silas when I started that chapter. I never once thought about the Macedonian vision. Interesting that in a season of having several dreams I would read about Paul having a dream of people pleading for help.  The impact of the preceding versers hit me like a ton of bricks. I know this was not coincidence.

God is up to something and it involves me and a revival in Kermit. I continue to pray and trust the Lord for more direction. I repeatedly ask God to guard my mind from deception and from a wild goose chase or flight of fantasy.

Kermit, be encouraged. I believe God is about to visit you in a special way. I cannot predict when. I do believe it will come in His timing Pray and wait eagerly. [Joshua 3:5] I will be journeying out west again in the not too distant future for more prayer and personal evangelism. Please know until then I am praying diligently for the move of God among you.

A New Kermit Dream

I see a pillar of fire coming from heaven filling an abandoned building in Kermit. The inside of the building is filled with brilliant supernatural light. When the glass doors are opened a mighty rushing wind blows out from the inside causing a major wind storm down the streets of Kermit. The next thing I see is the headlights of many cars pulling into the parking lot. Inside I see a worship band leading in joyous worship. They sing old songs as well as the new ones. I can't tell what the songs are or who is leading the music. Next,  I see  people responding to the invitation to get saved, delivered from sin, and to repent and get right with the Lord. I am wearing a white collar button down dress shirt that is soaked with sweat from counseling and praying with the people. It appears the mighty rushing wind is actually driving people to the building as well as to the altar during the invitation. This is no doubt revival.

The Glorious Gospel

I preached a doctrinal message from Romans this morning. It consisted of pure spiritual meat. No fluff. Just solid doctrinal nourishment. No entertainment. No pizzaz. Just truth. Just the pure unadulterated and glorious gospel.

I believe the majority of the people in the warehouse were already saved this morning. I still preached the message and believed that if only one responded in faith for salvation the service would be a success.

People listened politely. I prayed in the end for someone to respond by faith in repentance and praying to be saved. I did not offer the sinner's prayer. I let people formulate their own prayer. I asked people to raise their hands in the end if they trusted Jesus for salvation. At first I did not see anyone. I was just about to end the service when a couple in the back waved to get my attention and pointed toward a young student who had raised his hand.

I talked to that young man after the service, and he did indeed trust the Lord to rescue his soul and forgive his sins. The family rejoiced. We had a great day in the house of the Lord. A GREAT DAY! I look forward to our next baptismal service.

God's word is true. Romans 1:16 (NASB) 
¹⁶  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 

God uses the glorious gospel to save people from His wrath to come. God's glorious gospel is powerful for salvation to everyone that believes. I sit here in awe of how God used an old fashioned doctrinal message of the glorious gospel to save one of his precious children. Praise the Lord.

Lord, Shake The City of Kermit

For about two months a slow, building, and burning burden has come on me for the town of Kermit, TX. again. I have not been there since December of 2014. After repeated trips there back then leading prayer meetings and Bible studies with a small group it seemed the door shut. I did not understand but I comforted myself by saying I did all I felt God leading me to do.

Time passed. For the most part I forgot about Kermit. I busied myself with other ministry endeavors. From time to time I would pray for the town as God reminded me. I had no further promptings to return there. I felt confused by the whole Kermit thing. About two months ago I bean thinking of Kermit more often and praying for what God wanted to do. I had no clear leading. Just a slow building burden for that town. I did not know what it all meant.

That is until the past few days. As best as I can tell at this point let me cast a vision. I believe God is calling me to hold a SHAKE THE CITY REVIVAL in Kermit. At this point I feel clearly my role is prayer and personal evangelism.

Right now, my main burden is to pray for the breaking up of the fallow ground of Kermit. I am pleading with you to share this burden with me and begin making fervent intercessions for Kermit and what God wants to do there. I am enlisting multitudes to join me in praying for that small west Texas town. I am trusting God to hear the prayers of the people of Kermit along with our prayers to see God move in that town in fresh ways.

At some point I believe I will once again start making trips back to Kermit to do one on one personal evangelism. I am not sure when these trips will begin. I  am not even sure what those trips will look like. Will I knock on doors. Will I trust God for divine appointments in public places? I don't know what these trips will look like or when they will begin. I will have to trust God for the financial resources to make such trips and work out the logistics of lodging.

Through repeated prayer and personal evangelism I believe God will prepare Kermit to receive a fresh move from Him. I am convinced that is exactly what God wants to do in that town. I still do not know why and I still do not understand why I feel called do to this. It is all another step of faith.

I believe the Lord has shown me an old abandoned building to be rented for the actual revival meetings. At this point I do not have any sense of when that might be. I believe it is what we are working toward. This will require money and a good deal of it. I do not know whom the Lord will choose to lead the worship in these meetings. I do not know who will work the sound or where we will even get sound equipment. or chairs.  I do not know who will help me in advertising, counseling, preparing the building for these meetings,  and take up the treasurer's role for such a project. We also need money to publish copies of the 40 Days To Shake The City devotional to be made available in advance prior to the meetings.

There are definitely more questions than answers but this is  where God is calling me to invest a small portion of my life and ministry. I have preached three SHAKE THE CITY REVIVALS.  One in Hudson,TX, one on the campus of Angelina College, ad one at First Baptist Church in Seminole, TX. Now I feel the Lord calling me to hold another such revival meeting in a town six hours from where I write this. I do not even know one pastor in Kermit.

Still the burden persists. In fact, I would say in recent days the burden has intensified. What I need from you is prayer. Prayer for wisdom to walk this whole thing out. I need faith to believe God for all that He wills to be done in this endeavor. I also plead with you for prayers for the courage to stay the course on this. Lastly, please pray for the financial provision we will need to bring this together in God's timing.

My mission is clear. Pray for Kermit now. In time that will also include trips to Kermit to do personal evangelism. Eventually a date will be set and planning and logistics will begin. for the actual revival meetings.  All in God's timing.

I wonder why me? Why Kermit? I bet Jonah asked those same questions about himself and Nineveh. I don't know why God chose me but I am convinced He has. I don't know why Kermit. I still know so little about that town. I just feel God has Kermit on His heart and mind. I believe He wants to save many and rekindle a fire in the hearts of the saved.

By faith I step out on this new adventure. I did so this morning with intense prayers for Kermit. I want to keep doing that and eventually do prayer walking in Kermit. I have now  also taken this additional step in asking you to join with me in these fervent intercessions. Please pray with me for God to shake the city of Kermit.

A More Intimate View

Lord, I came to sit at your feet,
In the familiar place we meet,
To bask  in Your presence alone,
In worship before Your throne,
Hanging on every word You say,
Seeking direction for my way,
In Your presence I long to dwell,
Offering intercessions You smell,
Content to linger long with You,
Hoping for a more intimate view.

A Feast In The Light

Picture in your mind several people seated in a circle in a small room. They have gathered to study the Bible. When the teacher opens the Bible a lit candle comes out of the pages. It not only illumines the room but also the faces of the people. Next,  picture that same open Bible with a feast of meat coming out of the open pages. People feast on the meat. Some even ask for second portions. Later on people share their hurts and pains with the group. As they do different people get up from their chairs and go the open Bible where they scoop handfuls of light. They then take the light and apply it to the hurts of the people. This brings both comfort and healing.

God's word is both light and meat. May we always feast in the light.

Not Contemporary Nor Cutting Edge

Austin is a hip town. There are lots of people and more this week than normal due to some big musical festival. There are many contemporary and cutting edge churches. Several of them are big. They have a niche. I don't belong there.

I am not contemporary. The older I get the more bored I get with a good deal of modern worship. Before Chris Tomlin became a super star I talked to him at a camp once. He sang this song with powerful lyrics. I commented on them to Chris afterwards. He told me the song was 300 years old and all he did was to rearrange the music a little. He then commented, "Those old guys had a clue." I have not forgotten that.

Contemporary songs barely have a s life shelf  of a few months. Some worship guy is always wanting to teach a new song. What about all the old songs. I'm talking about hymns. I'm referring to those songs I sang at camp and in college. They are lost in the abyss of modern day music. I don't see those new songs sticking around for a decade much less a century. Many of them have no theological depth to them. Yet the contemporary church flocks to that well while songs of substance are ignored.

Add to that the shallow nature of preaching today. When is the last time you went to a contemporary church and heard a message out of Haggai, Joel, Amos, or Malachi? How often are you directed to the sacred scriptures for the main content and substance of the message. These things are often shoved into the background crowded out by videos, light shows, creative stage set ups and worship bands. In some of these churches you need not even bring a Bible because you will not need it.

I am neither contemporary nor on the cutting edge. I am just a Bible preacher plain and simple. Few churches are interested in guys like me. I prefer expository messages rather than topical series. I am stirred more deeply to "It Is Well With My Soul" than to "Oceans" by Hillsong. I feel more and more like a dinosaur in the church scene. I preach. I do not give talks. I'm loud and call people to repentance and salvation. I trust the Spirit of the living Lord to do His work through the preaching of His word. I do not manipulate people in invitations but I will still give invitations for people to respond to God.

I'm old fashioned and dull when it comes to church. It is who I am. It is who God created me to be. I'm not going to start dressing hip like I see many older preaches doing today. I still wear a tie when I preach on Sundays, not because I have to, but because I choose to. I thank God for some other old fashioned dull preachers who taught me the truth of scripture and discipled me over the years. They made a difference in my life.

I will content myself to be old fashioned and dull. Perhaps a day will come when the fads will swing back our way but probably not without an old fashioned God sent revival. For that I plea and wait.

Have Bible And Will Travel

Last week I traveled to the Houston area to preach a one night youth rally with my good friend Eric Adcock. This week we are outside Austin preaching a youth revival. I am writing this in the Comfort Suites room we are residing in for the week. The crowds are not big but that has never mattered to Eric and I. We both love students and love leading worship and preaching the word. I am not sure how many events like this we have done together. We came to give God and these students our very best.

I used to do this full time. I am not saying I would want to hit the road full time again, unless the Lord clearly led in that direction,  but I am saying I have a Bible and will travel. Near and far. To large churches and small. In church facilities and outdoors. One night events as well as week long events like revivals and camps. Like I said I have my Bible and am willing to travel. The compensation is not important. The chance to proclaim God's word is what matters to me.

I'm not an evangelist. I am more of a revivalist preaching prophetic messages calling the church back to God. While I cannot say revival has broken out here where we are this week I can testify God is moving. I pray He will move again tonight.

I am thankful God still lets me do these things. At nearly 50 it would seem I would be out of touch with students. I do not play video games. I don't listen to their music, wear my hair unkempt, nor dress in weird clothing. Still God allows me to minister to students from time to time. Typically I preach hard truth to them. I also remain available afterward with a listening ear and a tender heart.

Eric and I will be headed back home in a couple of days. We will go back to the real world. While we are here I am thankful to be ministering with him. He has been closer than a brother for a couple of decades. We go way back. We laugh together, respect our different giftedness, and love each other at a level hard to put into words. We are polar opposites. He is an extrovert. He has a bubbly personality that lights up the room. His laughter is loud. Everybody knows when "E" is in the house and we love him for it.

If you need an old fashioned revival with a couple of old out of shape guys I have a Bible and he has a guitar and we will travel.

What do you fear?

What do you fear? What are you afraid of? I read those questions in a book recently. I ddi not have to think long before I jotted down my two answers in the margin. I then looked back as far as I could remember in mymind and these same fears have driven me my whole life.

I recall these crippling fears on the playground as a child. They daunted my trail into my teenage years. These fears were hot on my trail as a young adult in college. These fears drove me through most of the early years of my ministry. Into middle age these fears are never far from my mind. NEVER!

What about you? What are you afraid of? I am not talking about things that go bump in the night. I am talking about what makes you afraid? What do you fear? What keeps you awake at night. What haunts your thoughts during the day?

I bet you, like me, have something. What do you fear? 2 Timothy 1:7 (NASB) 
⁷  For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. My fears and your fears are they from God? God gave us power, love, and discipline. God gave us courage. How many lives are ruled by fear instead of faith and the courage that comes from faith. 

People make fear based decisions all the time. People are ruled by fears. If I were to be honest I would have to say fears have governed a large part of the last four decades of my life. O, I tried to hide it. I hid by taking both small and large steps of faith. I hid it behind fearless preaching on a wide range of topics. 

Yesterday that simple question of what do you fear brought me to a standstill. I had to look into the mirror of my soul. I had to face my fears. 

By now you are probably wondering what my fears are. I will not be too proud to tell you. My fears are two fold, in essence, two sides of the same coin. I fear failure. I also fear being seen or remembered as a failure. Those fears run deeper than salaries, homes, vehicles and fashionable clothes. It is the fear that my life did not make a difference for eternity. That haunts me. It is not about trying to earn or deserve salvation. That is impossible. It is about making a difference with whatever time I have left. I live everyday of my life feeling like a failure. Failure as a pastor. Failure as an author. Failure as a revival preacher. And on many days failure as a husband and father. 

Not one time have I ever desired to pastor the largest church nor have I striven after the biggest salary. I just want to make a difference. I want God to use me. I want to see souls saved and churches revived. I also want to walk with God and hear from Him daily. 

Now I have confessed my fears. What about you? What do you fear? Will you face them today?  

Storm Warning

The weather radar from a local news channel shows severe thunderstorms headed our way and set to arrive in a couple of hours. You know the kind of radar I am talking about. Where green represents rain and red and yellow indicate severe weather and flooding. On the radar I can see a lot of red and some yellow even for these early morning hours.

I already told the boys they are not going in for early morning lifting today. After the floods we saw last night we predict more rain will only make matters worse. This could be a bumpy ride for a lot of people.

I see another storm warning. I see it as clear as day in the scriptures. It is the storm warning of the impending judgment of God poured out on a wicked and perverse nation called the United States. We have sown to the flesh and are reaping what we have sown.

Galatians 6:7-8 (NASB) 
⁷  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
⁸  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 

What is true for individuals an also be true for an entire nation. The United Sates would not be the first nation God judged. Read about Sodom and Gomorrah. Check on what happened to Egypt before Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go from their bondage. Read about what God did to own chosen people repeatedly when they rebelled against Him and His commandments. The clock is ticking ever closer to the wrath of God poured out on this nation and others who do not revere Him.

Soon Jesus will mount his white horse and come with fire in His eyes and a sword to judge. He will come to wage war. With the sword from His mouth He will strike down the nations who do not serve Him. 

Revelation 19:11-16 (NASB)
¹¹  And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
¹²  His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
¹³  He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
¹⁴  And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
¹⁵  From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
¹⁶  And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." 

Even though these storm warnings are evident along many others people ignore them. They go about life oblivious to the impending doom that awaits millions. Yes, I said millions. Millions in our own nation. Millions in Muslim and Hindu countries around the world without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

Look at the times. The signs are everywhere. The end is coming. It may not happen in my lifetime but it is coming. He has warned us of the things that will precede His coming. 

Matthew 24:4-31 (NASB)
⁴  And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you.
⁵  "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.
⁶  "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
⁷  "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
⁸  "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
⁹  "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
¹⁰  "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
¹¹  "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
¹²  "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.
¹³  "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
¹⁴  "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
¹⁵  "Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
¹⁶  then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
¹⁷  "Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.
¹⁸  "Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
¹⁹  "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
²⁰  "But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.
²¹  "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
²²  "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
²³  "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him.
²⁴  "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
²⁵  "Behold, I have told you in advance.
²⁶  "So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them.
²⁷  "For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
²⁸  "Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
²⁹  "But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
³⁰  "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.
³¹  "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

In the distance I can hear the rumbling of thunder indicating the perilous weather barreling down on us. In God's word I can see the storm warnings of His glorious return and coming tribulation. Will we heed the warning. Will the United States wake up from our putrid prosperity and devilish ways to repent and get right with Holy God. Will we speak the name of Jesus unashamedly and boldly. Will we point people to the radar of God's word to warn them of what is to come. THIS BLOG IS JUST ONE MORE STORM WARNING. I pray the eyes of wayward sinners will fall here and they will heed the warning before it is too late. RREPNT OF SIN AND TURN TO JESUS FOR SALVATION. THERE IS NO OTHER NAME GIVEN BY WHICH MEN CAN BE SAVED. 

Acts 2:38-39 (NASB) 

³⁸  Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

³⁹  "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."A severe storm is coming. Better get ready because Jesus is coming back. 

Acts 4:12 (NASB)
¹²  "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

And The Rains Fell

It rained last night. I don't think you understand. It rained five and half inches in a two hour span in the Runaway and Paradise areas. Flash flooding covered country roads as well as major highways in low lying areas.

We went to eat dinner with some friends from Seminole who were in the area. It rained when we left but nothing to be concerned about. We listened to worship cds on the way unaware of what developing weather surrounded us. Suddenly the rain intensified, the winds picked up blowing our vehicle  causing me to grip the wheel with both hands. We turned on the radio just in time to learn we had driven through the exact area where a tornado touched down. While we did not actually drive through a tornado we definitely drove through the outskirts of one. We were unaware and therefore unconcerned.

We had a delightful dinner  with great friends, much laughter and delicious Mexican food. After a couple of hours we broke up the party to head home. At times the rain fell hard and then it would stop. Out of nowhere a torrential downpour developed right on top of us causing me to lose sight of the road momentarily. We all exclaimed, "Where did that come from?" I drove slowly but at one point not nearly slow enough as we hit a patch of water covering the highway causing us to hydroplane. The food waters splashed over the windshield making it impossible to see for a few seconds.

Again both hands gripped the wheel as repeatedly we came across water covering the road. Many times we could not see it until the last minute even though I slowed our speed dramatically. When we turned just minutes from our home the cars in front of us stopped. The line was so long I could not see in front, so I estimated after a few minutes, the water across the highway seemed impassable. I turned around to go another way back home.

Again we came across several places where water covered the road. Ditches overflowed. Creeks flooded their banks. With less than three minutes to go before we made it home we saw pylons on the highway indicating another high water place. I pulled over to the shoulder at a loss for what to do. There were no other routes to our house. It seemed we were cut off from getting home. Two other cars passed me and attempted to drive through the water. When I saw they made it successfully I followed. The water was shallow and we made it across easily.

When we turned into our neighborhood we could see the water had risen dramatically around the lake and down the streets. We all thanked God as we neared home. The boys were exhausted from two late nights in a row. Brenda and I were tense, her from watching the roads for high water and me from gripping the wheel like a vice grip.

tThe news told the full story of the evening events. We embarked on our dinner journey unaware of the severity of the weather that evening. We joked with our friends that we must have truly loved them to drive through tornado activity to see them.

Even as I write this about 4:15 a.m. the radar shows major storms headed our way from west Texas. They are supposed to arrive about the time the boys are supposed to leave for school and Brenda leaves for work.

All of this reminds me of some scripture. Matthew 7:24-27 (NASB) 
²⁴  "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
²⁵  "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
²⁶  "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
²⁷  "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall."

The rains came. The winds blew. The waters rose. I praise the Lord our foundation is God. Several times we prayed last night out loud. We were protected. Others were not so fortunate. What is worse, we are predicted to get three more days of heavy rain before all is said and done. No matter what comes God is still our foundation. He is our help. 

Psalm 46:1-11 (NASB) 

¹

 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
²  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
³  Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
⁴  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
⁵  God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶  The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.
⁷  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
⁸  Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
⁹  He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.
¹⁰  "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
¹¹  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

He is our refuge. Our help no matter what comes our way. I recall vividly last Spring about ten months ago when a tornado went through our backyard toppling trees. Our house did not get damaged. Our vehicles were protected. God was our refuge as we huddled in the master bedroom closet. 

God again protected Turner and I when our jeep engine blew while driving down the highway and we rolled it completely over before landing on the driver's side in the shoulder. 

Come what may God is always there. I realize again how fragile life is. We could have seriously crashed when we drove through a couple of those high water places totally unaware. I did not even have time to hit my brakes. God kept us under control and got us home safely. 

More severe weather is coming our way. It is only a couple of hours away. I realize that for some things will turn out as favorably as it did for us last night. There will most assuredly be high water rescues later today. I am certain some cars will crash and people might get injured. Tornadoes could touch down destroying what people have worked years to attain. Even in those situations God is the only sure foundation. 

I sit and wait. My family sets our feet on the sure foundation of Sovereign Jehovah trusting Him for help no matter what happens later. I hope you will do the same. 

Small Towns

Brenda and I have spent nearly our entire married life in small towns. We like small towns. You drive down the road and see people you know. People wave. Casual conversations Ball games are more like reunions of family and friends. People sit in familiar territories surrounded by the same people.

Small towns have cafes. Cafes have a whole different feel than an upscale restaurant. The wait staff know your name and what you like to eat and drink. Cafes have a daily special. Today the special is the Mexican plate. Monday the special is meatloaf. The same men come to the coffee table every morning. Deep friendships have lasted for decades. Sitting across the cafe are men who went to grade school together and have remained friends for decades into their seventies.

In small towns people go to church together and stick together through thick and then. They have seen preachers come and go. They have seen their respective congregations through thick and thin. They have endured controversies, division and maybe even a church split or two.

In small towns the pace of life is slower. I spent a good deal of time driving the past week in the big city metroplex. I hated it. Bumper to bumper traffic did not do much for my walk with the Lord. Everything and everyone seemed to be in a hurry. I felt anxious. In a small town I can drive leisurely down the back roads. I can enjoy open country. I see the stars at night and awoke this morning to birds chirping outside my window. It is not uncommon to see deer strolling.

In small towns relationships often go deep and loyalty remains. I have seen small towns rally around the sick and suffering in small towns. For the most part people care. I thank God for small towns. I thank God for churches in small town. I also thank God in His sovereignty He has seem fit to set my entire ministry in the context of a small town.

Remembering The Little Things

Lord, help me to remember the little things,
Like wedding bells and exchanging rings,
Like embarking together as newlyweds,
Like sharing intimacy in the wedding bed,
Like the reserved seat at the dining table,
Like mowing the lawn when fit and able,
Memories flood the reservoir of the mind,
Words and deeds spoken and done so kind,
The gentle brushing unexpectedly of hands,
Like listening on the radio to favorite bands,
Sitting on the porch to watch the weather,
Just enjoying the little things while together,
Sweet memories of a house made a home,
Each room where fond memories still loom,
The simple things like a homemade meal,
Many shopping trips to find a bargain steal,
Day to day run of the mill conversations,
Holiday and birthday shared celebrations,
Sitting down together watching television,
Sharing a pew getting that old time religion,
Enjoying the laughter of family and friends,
After family feuds making up and amends,
I recall Sunday drives through the country,
Looking at the waving towering Pine Trees,
The cows grazing in green pasture lands,
Making long anticipated vacation plans,
Enjoying a treat of delicious ice cream,
Shared down at the local Dairy Queen,
A sweet good morning and goodbye kiss,
It's the little things we come to so miss,
Little simple taken for granted pleasures,
We come to miss and to so much treasure.

The Bankrupt Soul

The word bankrupt means completely lacking. Today I am thinking of those bankrupt or completely lacking in their soul. I am not referring to those that are lost. They are without Christ and dead spiritually. I am referring to those saved ones, who for whatever reason, are completely lacking in life, vitality, and passion on the inside.

Our world puts so much emphasis on the outside. What we look like. How we dress. Where we live. What we drive. What kind of cell phone we possess. Each of these external things when attained is supposed to bring contentment, joy, and peace. The truth is far from it. People with all of these things in spades are still bankrupt in their souls, even though they may attend church services often.

There are scores of bankrupt people who do all the right external things but deep down internally they are empty and devoid of life. So little emphasis is spent on focusing on the internal soul. Church members are busy but do not always experience communion with Christ. They do not know the deep indwelling joy of abiding in Christ.

Pews filled with parishioners are filled with bankrupt souls. They lack the fire shut in their bones for God. They know a lot about God but do not know God. They are often busy running on religious treadmills but do so out of duty rather than sheer delight of loving the Lord.

Bankrupt  souls often feel they are alone. It appears others are experiencing the powerful presence of God as a reality in their lives. They are unaware they are not alone. Others are struggling as well. Worship songs are sung but not felt. Bible truths are heard but not heeded. Fellowship is offered but transparency is often avoided.

There is more. More to this life than religion. More than a bankrupt soul. More than going through the motions. More than faking religious vibrancy. Jesus promised as much in John. John 10:10 (NASB) 
¹⁰  "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Internally Jesus offers abundant, full, complete, whole, and dynamic life.

To every bankrupt soul there is more. Much more. So don't settle for anything less than the abundant life. Seek. Strive. Pursue. And never settle for anything less than the best God intended. God never intended folks to live day in and day out with bankrupt souls.