No Compromise Ministries

A Fresh Start

2012-01-03T13:04:00.001-08:00

The tinsel has come down along with the holly. Ornaments have been carefully packed and stored for another year. Ribbons and wrapping paper have been shredded amidst oohs and ahhs of another Christmas. Now our thoughts turn to saying goodbye to another year and preparing for a fresh start to the New Year.

As you look back on 2011 I am sure there were many high moments as well as a few low ones. We can’t do one thing to change the past. 2011 is history. 2012 lies before us like an unwritten book filled with blank pages. The story has yet to be told.

I love the New Year. It is a chance to get a fresh start. Many will diet and make other resolutions. Some will succeed and others will fail along the way. For some of you reading this, 2011 was one of the worst years of your life. As you look back you are reminded of the trials, sorrows, and the pains that came your way. For some of you 2011 cannot end fast enough. That is the exact feeling my mother had in 1976. That was the year my four-year old sister drowned.

As bad as 1976 proved to be 1977 was a fresh start. Funny I cannot remember anything about that year other than that the Dallas Cowboys won the Superbowl I think. There is something about changing the calendars and starting over that brings hope. We hope the New Year will be better than the last even though from experience we know some years are harder than others. For instance in 1998 my mother died. To make matters worse she died on Mother’s Day weekend. For the rest of my life I will always associate Mother’s Day with the loss of mine. That was also the year I made a major career change.

I recently preached the funeral of my college roommate’s mother. She died just days before Christmas. 2011 will be a hard year to remember for my friend. He already had several other trials going on in his life at the time. His father died about five years ago and his brother died in 2010. All of his immediate family is gone. He has had a tough couple of years but 2012 is a chance for a fresh start.

2012 is the opportunity for a new beginning. We get to refocus our mindset for the next three hundred and sixty five days. We get to catch a second wind to keep enduring through the trials. We get to pick up our speed as we topple the mountains that stand in our way. This is the chance to reevaluate priorities and chart our course for the upcoming year.

Personally I need a fresh start. 2011 threw me for a loop. Major changes occurred that took me totally by surprise. I never saw those changes coming. My entire life changed. I left a loving and prestigious congregation and a home in west Texas to follow God in starting a church. We all hope for a Happy New Year me included. Last year came with some challenges. It is a time to begin again.

Maybe for you that means recommitting yourself to the task at hand. That is the case for me. I have recommitted myself to planting Faith Community Church. Perhaps that means rolling up your sleeves and continuing to tackle that task you have been working at for months and years. Many of you will see this as an opportunity to reprioritize and refocus your time and energies for the next year. You can get a fresh start to reconnect with family and friends. I will also work harder at the writing ministry God has entrusted to me with the publication of several books.

2012 is a blank slate. None of us knows what lies ahead just around the corner. Regardless of what this New Year holds we have a chance to start over. Roll up your sleeves. Hitch up your pants. Set your mind and resolve to get a fresh start. Make this the year you connect or reconnect to God. Make this the year you finally breakthrough. Make this the year you stay the course and end with no regrets. The starting line is before us. ‘Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles us and run with endurance the race that is set before us.” [Heb 12:1]

Getting Through the Hard Stuff

2012-01-03T12:50:00.000-08:00

Life is filled with hard stuff. Death. Sickness. Family. Work. There is no shortage of trials. Hard stuff happens to all of us. We all have to face our share of hardships and difficulties. Like I said earlier, life is filled with hard stuff.

Just this past week, this is just some of what happened. A beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and sister died just days before Christmas. The day of the funeral, a man suddenly died of a heart attack in another city. The man scheduled to preach the lady’s funeral had to go away to minister to a grieving sister in law, who lost her husband and to a wife who mourned for her sister’s loss. On Christmas morning, I received a message that a beloved football coach, who brought a state championship and dominant football to my hometown for seventeen years, died suddenly after an early morning jog. The tough stuff of life is all around us.

The question is not if you will have to endure some hard stuff, we all have to. I talked to my great uncle yesterday,who endured another year without his sweet wife. He labors to breathe but still radiates faith and love for the Lord. He lives alone and nobody calls him to preach anymore. Life is not easy for this beloved man of God. The hard stuff of life happens to the rich and poor as well as the famous and the obscure.

While reading my Bible this morning I came across a couple of verses that brought a renewed sense of resolve to get through the hard stuff. “Those who trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.” [Ps 125:1-2]

This is pretty simple. Hard stuff happens to all of us. If our trust remains in the Lord, he makes us stand firm. The hard stuff does not move us. God helps us abide firmly, not only in this life but also in life everlasting. Where do you get this trust? I have found the greatest source of this trust comes from time spent reading and reflecting on the scriptures. These two verses out of Psalm 125 helped me today, and I bet some of you reading this are finding some help too.

God surrounds us. He helps us get through the hard stuff. The point we stumble in is thinking we know best how to get out of the hard stuff or how to avoid those times all together. When the hard stuff comes, if we are not trusting in God, our mind begins to play tricks on us. We convince ourselves of faulty information like God is not faithful or does not really love us. We begin to give into thoughts of despair while the trust needed to get through the tough stuff flees.

I am grateful for the people I have met in life who have stood firm like a mountain when they endured the tough stuff. I am talking of real life people like Henrietta Mears who lived her whole life coping with poor eyesight and the threat of losing her sight all together. I think of people like Chad who tragically lost his wife at a family camp, but his trust in the Lord helped him to stand firm. I am reminded of a man named Ray who knew he would die of cancer but did not shipwreck his faith in his last days. He stood firm and challenged family and friends to get right with God. I have seen many people get knocked down by the hard stuff of life. Rather than stay down they got back up again. Some who were abused and abandoned by supposed loved ones summoned the courage to love and trust again. Some who nearly lost every dime they had trusted God and lived to see better days.

We need trust in God no matter what things look like and even when we do not understand and see no way out. Trust is having confidence in God no matter how long you have to wait or how bad things appear. Remember God surrounds His people like a mountain. He strengthens us to stand firm. He establishes us so we are not moved. That kind of trust helps us to get through the hard stuff in life.

Sitting With the Savor Video Trailer

2012-01-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update to let you know about our video trailer for my book. You can watch it by going to youtube.com. Type in "Matt Edwards- Sitting with the Savior" and you should be able to watch it. Please pass the word along. Right now the only place to get the book is online at xulonpress.com. Please pray for God to spread the word about this book. I will be holding book signings in the near future.

Matt

Good News of Great Joy

2011-12-11T19:38:00.001-08:00

We have endured another black Friday and a cyber Monday. As I write this we are in the middle of the Christmas shopping season. Our family has a tree up but at this point not one present has been wrapped and put under it. I felt embarrassed recently when I went to a friend’s house and saw dozens of brightly wrapped packages under his tree. He told me he is completely finished with all his shopping and did it all on the day after Thanksgiving.

Christmas lights are brightly lit hanging on trees and houses all over. The city Christmas decorations are up. Church choirs have rehearsed and are ready to begin performing their musicals and pageants. Christmas music is jamming the airwaves on radio stations with the Christmas spirit.

Retail stores have sale upon sale to lure potential shoppers in as they compete for holiday dollars. Television commercials remind us time is ticking down as we get nearer to December 25. We have less than three weeks left before the big day.

I love watching children this time of year. They get so excited as they count down the days. This is truly a festive time of year. My mind and heart are turned in a different direction this morning though. I know all too well that many surrounded by lights and decorations have a hard time during Christmas.

First, there are those who are facing financial hardship. They love their families as much as the next guy but sink into depression knowing they cannot possibly afford to buy Christmas for their children or spouses. They try but lay offs, the drought, and economic down turn have taken a toll. Depression puts an icy grip on their minds leading them to despair. Such moms and dads are desperate this time of the year. Without a true Christmas miracle they have no hope.

My mind drifts to all those who have lost spouses, children, or close relatives at some point in the past year. This will be their first Christmas without a loved gathered around the Christmas tree or dinner table. While the rest of the world sings and laughs joyously celebrating the season many enter this season filled with grief and sorrow. Silent Night is often replaced with silent tears as the grieving try to cope with their broken hearts and life without the one they loved.

I think of another group of people who have outlived spouses, relatives, and friends by many years. Though once young and vibrant at local churches in the past many of these dear people are now forgotten and forsaken. Some elderly will not get a Christmas present, a Christmas card, a phone call, or an invitation to a Christmas party this year and have not for several years in the past. They endure each day lonely and feeling unloved and unwanted. Some of these people question why they continue to hang on year after year. Some feel they have no purpose in living.

It is to all of these people I remind that Jesus came on that first Christmas morning. The angels declared, “I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: today a Savior who is Messiah the Lord was born for you in the city of David.” [Luke 2:10-11]

This is good news for the poor and the rich, the loved and unloved, the remembered and forgotten and the young and elderly. The gift of Jesus Christ is not only good news it is the best news in the history of the world. This news still contains joy for all mankind. Jesus is a gift surpassing in beauty, worth, and blessing than anything this world has to offer this season. I-phones, cars, computers, and clothes cannot compare to His infinite worth. You may not be able to find joy in your circumstances but you can rejoice in the truth that Jesus came for all people and that includes you. He does not leave or forsake His own. Most important of all is He came as a Savior. You and I needed a redeemer and Jesus came to save the day in that manger. He conquered the penalty of sin with his death on the cross and now salvation is available to people from all walks of life. That is the best news this world has ever heard and it all started with a babe in a manger.

Once the packages have been unwrapped, the tree taken down, the decorations stored, and family leave for home Jesus remains. He is the reason we celebrate Christmas and He offers Himself as the best gift of all. Embrace Him dear reader. This is the joyous good news I have to offer this time of year. Enjoy the other gifts and activities of the season but embrace Jesus. He is truly the reason for the season.

The Song of My Life

2011-12-11T19:20:00.000-08:00

What do you do when after the worship service and the sermon you still find yourself in a place wanting to worship even more? How do you express those deepest longings and affections that even the best worship songs cannot convey? When the music fades and the doors are closed on all the cathedrals God is still worthy of worship.

I contemplated this reality a couple of days ago. The only way to really adequately express worship is through our lives. What I mean is that the way we live each and every day is really a song of worship. When we seek God in scripture, give a sacrificial financial gift, witness to someone, and love the unlovable these are acts of worship with our life. There are times when singing the songs is not enough. We worship with the song of our lives. We worship through living and I think this is the deepest form of worship and most pleasing to the Lord.

When you awoke this morning you had a brand new day to worship the Lord of Creation with your words, attitude, actions, and reactions. That is a great truth. I am worshipping seated at this computer typing these words. You might be worshipping on your job as you give your best work for you employer but more importantly for the Lord. Your worship might be taking the form of a student in a classroom or in a library gathering knowledge or a weight room training your body to perform your very best for the glory of God. Your life might be expressing worship as you do the dishes or fold the laundry. Worship happens as you comfort a friend going through a difficult time or as you befriend someone the rest of society shuns. God is honored and pleased with such living.

Our lives are a worship song sung to our King. True there are times when we hit the wrong notes. We make a sinful choice, we react in a un-Christ like way, or we rebel in obeying an explicit directive from the Lord. We get it wrong from time to time but what about when we get it right. O, if we could hear the beautiful music created by the lives of the servants and followers of God. This is a worship tune reserved for the ears of God alone.

How does the song of your life sound in the ears of God right now? Do you and I need to make some adjustments so we can get on the right track and play the song of our lives at full volume? This morning I worshipped cooking eggs, biscuits, sausage, and hash browns for my boys before school. I worshipped giving each of them a hug and reminding them I love them and am proud of them. I worshipped putting the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. I worshipped reading scripture and a book on vision early this morning.

I pray the song of our lives would resound loudly in the halls of Heaven before an audience of one. It really does not matter what others think. Only what God thinks of our life song truly matters. Let your life sing loudly.

Tearful Reunion

2011-12-05T19:14:00.000-08:00

Brenda and I made a whirlwind trip back to Seminole to pack up most of our things to move to Paradise into a rent home. We did not have long to be there. We were only in Seminole for nineteen hours before hitting the road again.

In our brief time there we were able to see the staff we served First Baptist Church together along with their wives. We also saw a few other people while in town. Brenda and I welled up with tears multiple times in those nineteen hours. Though we left there close to four months ago, seeing those people again brought back many memories and opened the wound of grief all over again.

None of us thought our stay in Seminole would be so brief (just under two years.) I had to go back to my old office to clean out a few remaining things. Going from such a prestigious church to starting a church has been a major adjustment. I stood in the office for a moment remembering the many encounters I had with God in that place. Tearfully I had to walk away for good. My office space now consists of a table at a café, the library, and now a little desk in our rent home.

Brenda and I were very emotional walking back into our house back there. All our furniture was still there. It felt like we had been on a long vacation and were returning home except the purpose of our trip focused on getting most of our furniture and belongings back to Paradise. The house has been for sale for six months and we have not had one offer. Many have wanted to rent it but no one has even made an offer to buy it and in six months only three people have looked at it.

Our emotions overcame us because we never took that house for granted. Nobody knows how much prayer went into us getting a home. We prayed, waited, and waited. For four years we asked God for a house while serving another church but the Lord’s answer was no. When we moved to serve First Baptist in Seminole, TX and the Lord worked mighty miracles to provide us with our own house our logical conclusion became we would stay in that church and house for decades.

Leaving the office and the house behind were easy compared to seeing people we love. We gave our souls to Seminole and only left because God commanded us to. He called us to follow and we obeyed. That does not mean it has not been painful. Seeing those people I used to shepherd and preach to again saddened me grievously. Hugs were freely given. Yes, even I gave some hugs.

Twice during those nineteen hours the tears began forming in public places and I had to get my act together. The grief and sorrow felt like a heavy weight across my chest. The church is getting a new pastor this coming weekend and I am happy for them. None of that flock knows how deeply I loved and still love them though. They are not forgotten to Brenda and I or our boys. It hurts to leave people you love.

Most people consider me pretty hard hearted. I have even been accused on occasion of not liking people. I do love my times of solitude but the truth is I love people deeply. I worked hard to earn the right to become the pastor and shepherd for that flock. That makes leaving all the more painful.

Please do not get me wrong. I love the new flock I am called to shepherd. I admire the faith of this new congregation as we labor to get this new church off the ground. We are living a great adventure. Some of the people in this new church are people I served as their pastor in the past. I already have a heart connection with them. I am grateful for this new congregation but that does not lessen the pain of leaving a former flock.

Most people involved in church only know the pain of the church losing a beloved pastor from the congregation’s perspective. Few ever consider the grief when God calls a pastor to a new field of service from the minister’s perspective. It is deep I assure you. Even writing this brief essay has been emotionally challenging.

I just shut my eyes and relived countless memories of standing beside hospital beds and praying for the sick and dying. I recall sitting in living rooms ministering to those battling through tragedy. I recall the joyful banter of Wednesday evening Bible Studies and the work of God on Sundays as people responded to God’s word. How can I ever forget the twenty-three day revival? I have served three churches as pastor and started two other churches. Faith Community Church is the second of those church starts and the place I have asked God to let me finish my race.

I feel a huge void in my heart from missing my former flock and friends in not only Seminole but in every church I have served. There will be a reunion day. There will be a day when all tears will be wiped away and there will no longer by anymore goodbyes. [Rev 21:3-4]

In all of this I have learned the value of relationships. Relationships enrich life. While in Seminole a few days ago I went back and forth from raucous laughter to tears with those we were privileged to share time with. At times we laughed so hard the tears came again. My life is fuller from having served the people in Seminole. I will always love them.

My heart is full serving the people at Faith Community Church. We have already built memories. Those who were there will never forget our first Sunday in the blue room at the daycare. I hold precious the memory of our first baptism in a hot tub. The memories continue as the youth outgrew the day care and we moved into the Kelley Gym at the school. I treasure the memories of our youth retreat and Sunday night prayer meetings. There are many things to look forward to in this new church. The best is yet to come.

Paul writes we are to forget what lies behind and to press on to what lies ahead. [Phil 3:I3] I doubt he meant people. Though I have many memories under my belt from Seminole it is time to press on to the good work of continuing to build Faith Community Church. Now that we are no longer homeless we can settle and focus on the work at hand. Last night we had our highest attendance youth attendance with forty students. We had a great mid week Bible Study last night also with our adults. Great days are ahead for Faith Community Church.

Breakfast with Job

2011-12-05T18:41:00.000-08:00

As I sat in the Finish Line earlier this week I had breakfast with Job. I guess what I should say is that I read through part of Job while enjoying a breakfast of soft scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast.

I have read through the book of Job more than a dozen times and I am still fascinated by his love for God and total devotion. In the midst of great suffering Job held fast his integrity and continued to worship God. Job loved God more than his family, wealth, and even his own health. He challenges me at this point.

I recently heard a pastor say that the point of Job is that God wants us to love Him most of all. Too often we love God for what He can do for us and when He does not resolve our problems in a timely manner our faith and devotion begin to falter. Job loved God most.

That does not mean that he did not love each of his ten children. That does mean he did not care about the well being of all his servants that worked for him. It does not even mean that he did not appreciate the great wealth God had entrusted to Him. He loved God more than all the above.

Because of that great love for the Lord Job could still trust God and praise Him in the middle of grief and personal agony. Though friends judged him and falsely accused him, he still loved God more.

My bet is you would not even be reading this book if you did not love God. You probably have some devotion time. You are most likely involved in a local church. You may even devote hours of service in your local church. Here is the crux of the issue. Do you love God more than your family? Do you love God more than house, cars, fashionable clothing? Do you love God more than your children’s accomplishments? Do you love God more than your own comfort and success?

No matter how you and I might answer those questions I don’t think the truth can really be known until you are stripped of some of those things. I have personally witnessed people tragically lose a spouse and a parent and still cling to God in trust and worship like Job did. Yes, many tears were shed but these people clung to their sanity because the loved God more.

I have seen athletes work toward their senior season and miss most of it due to injury while still giving God glory. How does one do that? You can only do it when you love God more than football, basketball, volleyball, and baseball. You can do it when on the national stage playing for the national championship and you get knocked out of the game earlier on like Colt McCoy did his senior year. In the biggest game of his life he knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury against Alabama and did not return. When interviewed after the game he gave God glory. Colt loved God more than football, the University of Texas, and the national championship.

I have failed miserably at this point. When God called us to leave First Baptist Church of Seminole, TX to start Faith Community Church in Paradise, TX it also meant leaving behind our house. At the point of this writing it still has not sold. We are about to downsize into a rent house five hundred square feet smaller than our house back in West Texas. Do we love God more? Do the Edwards love God more than houses and land? If I were to be completely honest with you I would have to say on days we have loved God more and on other days our actions and attitudes have indicated otherwise.

Having breakfast with Job was a good reminder. It helped put things back in perspective for me. Enjoying my eggs and Job’s unwavering devotion to the Lord nourished my body but more importantly nourished my soul. God knew what I needed today. He knew sitting with the book of Job would pull me out of the doldrums and set my feet on the firm foundation of confidence in Him.

Go ahead and pull out your Bible. Maybe you will not be seated at the Finish Line but at your dining table eating dinner instead of breakfast. Open up to the book of Job and read all of chapter one and chapter two. Let God use Job to inspire you to keep loving, keep trusting, and to keep worshipping.

Politically Correct

2011-12-05T18:34:00.001-08:00

In this day and time leaders are so scared to take a stand. Nobody wants to offend anyone else. So people walk on eggshells to make sure everyone is happy. In our time we are supposed to be tolerant of everyone’s religious point of views. We are supposed to readily accept everyone’s lifestyle or be considered a hate monger.

Sitting in the Finish Line this morning one of the topics of conversation has been making sure people are politically correct. It is no longer politically correct to say, “Merry Christmas,” but rather to say, “Happy Holidays,” or “Merry X-mas.” It seems Jesus is not fashionable or up with the times.

Some see Jesus as out of step with the times. His ways are antiquated. His teachings are archaic. He is not politically correct. His teaching about being the way, the truth, and the life and nobody getting to God except through Him is considered bigoted and intolerant by the culturally elite. Jesus is mocked, ridiculed, attacked, and maligned on university campuses. Jesus remains a lightening rod for controversy.

The whole meaning of Christmas is about His birth. That is the story and interestingly on that first Christmas morning He was the only one receiving gifts. Jesus was and still is the supreme gift for mankind but He is often rejected. This seems the politically correct thing to do.

I admire those who stand for their faith regardless of what the world thinks. Tim Tebow, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos comes to mind. He gives God the glory and unashamedly testifies concerning his faith in JESUS! He has been ridiculed and criticized over and over again. He does not back down. He does not soften the message so he can market more jerseys or books. Tebow is a man of conviction more than a man concerned with political correctness.

Jesus advocated authenticity. He deplored hypocrisy. In our world perception is reality. Let a politician dress up, talk eloquently and have a winsome smile and people give them support. Just ask Germany and those who lived through the days of Hitler. Hitler masterfully guarded his true intentions putting the best perception forward. He defined politically correctness in 1930’s and early 1940’s. We all know the end result.

Where are the men and women who live with conviction whether those convictions are considered politically correct? How often do leaders hold their fingers up to the prevailing winds of the day before making a decision? Jesus did not do that. He personified truth even when the crowds turned on Him. His followers did the same even when it meant torturous death. Truth meant more to them than getting with the times to save their necks.

On this day when the discussion has centered around political correctness I am proud to be in a long lineage of followers of Christ who have not been politically correct. Martin Luther. John Wesley. Deitrich Bonhoeffer. Billy Graham. Mother Teresa. The list could go on.

I am tired of the followers of Christ thinking we have to tone it down, try to blend in, cater our message to modern ears, and reshape truth so none are offended. As December starts I tilt my head back and roar, “Merry CHRISTmas!” I unashamedly believe the Bible and preach the grand old message of salvation through Jesus Christ alone by faith alone. I do not grow weary in raising my family against the grain nor raising banner of Jesus Christ high among all the other banners of tolerance. In my estimation being politically correct is highly over estimated.

Early Saturday Morning

2011-12-05T18:26:00.001-08:00

It is early on Saturday morning and I have already been up a couple of hours reading. Taylor has an out of town basketball game and had to be at the school by 6:00 a.m. It is misting rain outside with cool temperatures. The forecast calls for more rain throughout the day and heavier rains later tonight.

On this Saturday morning, while the rest of the family sleeps, I sit here at my little desk contemplating the biography I finished reading yesterday on the life of Deitrich Bonhoeffer. He died in a Nazi concentration camp. Bonhoeffer served as a pastor, theologian, author, and ended up getting executed for helping conspire to rid Germany of the evil tyrant Adolf Hitler.

In the last days of his life the only information we have comes from a fellow prisoner observing Bonhoeffer. He lived well. He suffered well. He also died well. One person who saw him executed said he never saw anyone die so surrendered to the will of God. For the better part of the last two years of his life he was imprisoned. Though engaged, he never did get to marry and died at thirty-nine. He spent his last two years reading, studying, and writing when he could. He felt he had much to learn and much to write and did not waste his prison years much like the apostle Paul or John Bunyan.

He endured his trials with a joy foreign to many of us coping with lesser troubles than life in prison. He won over the prison cards and ministered to fellow prisoners even up to his last hour. He served his Lord in some deplorable conditions spiritually and physically. They say perspective is everything. On this early December Saturday morning my perspective is reoriented.

I realize how good I have it. I have this desk and computer to write. Bonhoeffer wrote mostly by hand. I have this warm room to collect my thoughts and a warm cozy beg to rest in. Bonhoeffer in the end lived in cramped quarters with other prisoners often existed on a diet of bread and water. I have access to my library of books just a few steps away. He did not have access to all the books he would have liked during his prison years. I have a wife down the hall sleeping soundly who loves, serves, encourages and supports me. He spent his engagement years behind prison bars and communicated by letters. He never did know the bliss of holy matrimony though he and his Maria planned their lives together when he would be released from prison. I have four sons who love and admire me.

Perspective is everything. Here I sit and feel shamed for the times my attitude gets the best of me. Often I think of the life we gave up to pursue starting this church. We have not made a sacrifice. Though it is misty outside I am perfectly dry. Our pantry is stocked with good food and our freezer is full of beef. I have several hundred of my books readily available to read not ten steps from where I am sitting and several thousand more in boxes out in the garage. In four months I have seen God take a dream of a new church and begin making that dream come true adding dozens of people.

We haven’t suffered or sacrificed. I live a life of comfort and ease. I am in no danger of being arrested and our church has no fear of the threat of persecution this early morning. I have two paid for vehicles sitting in the driveway. I have a closet full of clothing, coats to keep me warm in the winter, and several pair of shoes to keep my feet warm and dry on this wintry cold morning.

My life is blessed. It is easy to become so focused on the challenges in life that I miss the blessings right beneath my nose. I have not sacrificed. I have not known suffering. My trials are miniscule. My burdens are light.

On this Saturday morning I am grateful for an attitude correction. I am grateful for God’s gentle reminder that I am blessed beyond measure. This all came crashing home when I drove Taylor to school this morning to catch the bus for his game. Leaving the parking lot it suddenly hit me how blessed I am.

I am blessed to serve a church where we are loved and supported. I am blessed to have sufficient provision to allow us to live a life of comfort. I am blessed to get to expend my days preaching, shepherding, and writing which are all the great passions of my soul. I am blessed to live in the community of Paradise. I am blessed to raise my family in a small town. No, I have not suffered or made a sacrifice.

Joyfully do I recommit myself to the task of starting Faith Community Church as well as writing blogs and books. From this little desk I trust God will birth messages that will transform lives. From this desk I trust God will birth books at an alarming rate. I have no complaints and no worries.

My family has made no sacrifices in our serving Christ. We are blessed beyond measure. So on this early Saturday morning I am drawn again to the scriptures and find strength and comfort in [James 1:2-4] “Consider it all joy my brethren when you encounter various trials, knowing the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.”

Glory to God

2011-11-18T07:34:00.000-08:00

I had one of the most powerful spiritual experiences last night of my life. It all revolved around a fifth and sixth grade football team I have been helping to coach since back in August. When asked to help coach the team I made one request. I asked to be able to lead the team in devotions and prayer after every practice and before every game.

We finished the regular season with one loss and are playing in the championship game later today. I am so proud of these boys. When we started practicing temperatures soared as high as 105. In the past three months the boys have endured grueling workouts to test the mind as well as the body. They have flipped tractor tires, pushed sleds, endured wall sits, six inches, DeFranco complexes, planks, pushups, bear crawls and gushers. Gushers are running from sideline to sideline back and forth four times under a preset time.

When we finished our last practice on Thursday all the boys cut their times in half running gushers since we started the season. They have a mind to work but that is not the point of this.

About three weeks into the season we began breaking our pregame huddles and ended our practices with the chant, “GLORY TO GOD!” A few weeks ago we added a little twist. We start with a whisper and then gradually get louder ending our chant by jumping up and down and shouting, “GLORY TO GOD!” It is more than a chant. We have talked for weeks about playing for the glory of God. That has meant giving God our best and understanding the truth this whole season has not been about us but is about making much of God.

This all takes me back to last night. We gathered the boys on the eve of the championship game for an end of the year party. God put in my heart a couple of weeks ago to gather the boys on Friday night before the big game for two things. We ate and played but the main purpose of the evening was to watch the movie “Facing the Giants.” That movie is about a team who learned to play for the glory of God. The purpose of the evening was to inspire the boys and to remind them whom we play for.

Fascinated the boys were drawn into the movie. They were pretty pumped when it ended. I told them to get their shoes on and to join me outside in a circle. In the past this has not been good news for the boys. While circled around me we did some challenging exercises. I had other plans on this Friday night.

Once they got in the circle I told them we were going to do the most important exercise of the season. I told them we were going to call out to God in prayer. Those wonderful little athletes prayed one after the other. Their prayers were marked by maturity. Several told God they wanted to praise Him if we won and if we lost. Many of the boys prayed for our opponents. Some prayed against fear and others asked God for strength to keep getting up after getting hit.

I drank in that moment wanting it forever etched on my mind. I remember the breeze picking up several times as we made our way around that circle praying. I recall some of the prayers and echoing my agreement. The last boy to pray was my son. I will never forget that moment. When they finished I gathered them in tight and reminded them the next time we would break our huddle with that chant would be under the Saturday night lights at the Bridgeport Bulls High School Stadium.

We all bent over and in a whisper and started saying, “Glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God.” By the time we got to the third one we raised our voices. At five times we jumped up and down and shouted our theme, “GLORY TO GOD! GLORY TO GOD! GLORY TO GOD!” The echoes drifted through the woods and across open pastures wafting up to God as a prayer and resolution.

That scene will be replayed in my mind for a long time to come. Over and over again I will relive it. You see, these boys have really bought into that truth. The team we are playing tomorrow is from Jacksboro. They have not been beaten all year long. They are the only team to have beaten us. They have not even been tested in a game this year. They are big, fast, and very physical. Our two teams have been the best in the league all year long but when we played them they dominated us.

Since that game back in the second week of the season our guys have been focused. We have studied the scriptures. We have prayed through injuries and illnesses. We have pointed all the focus of our team to God.

I intentionally wrote this before the game not knowing the outcome. I think God is up to something with these boys. I do not know who will win or what the final score will be. Honestly, in the bigger scheme it does not matter. These boys have already learned valuable life lessons. When a parent from an opposing team made a racist comment to our right guard after a game he calmly looked at this parent and commented, “I am praying for you.” That is character.

These young men have learned to push their bodies and minds past limitations and barriers they thought were impossible to surpass. They have come to know God. Some of these boys never go to church, so we had a little church after every practice and before every game. I am proud to be associated with these young players.

I have told them I would not pray God help us win because He has followers in Jacksboro on the other team too. One of our guys prayed that very thing last night. I do not know who will get the championship later tonight. I can tell you one thing for sure. The Paradise Black team will play for the glory of God.

Sitting with the Savior

2011-11-18T07:28:00.000-08:00

Just a short note to let you know you can order my new book online at xulonpress.com/bookstore. Type in the name of the book "Sitting with the Savior." The book is selling for $15.99. I hope the Lord uses the book in your life. Please spread the word. I want to publicly thank Beverly Mills for the countless hours of work she put in on this book project. I could not have done it without her. She is such a blessing and while we both give God the glory for the book I want to thank and acknowledge what a blessing she is to me. She is a true kindred spirit and I am grateful God moved her to partner with me on cover design, editing, and content. Beverly I love you and thank God for you and your heart for the King of Kings and expanding His Kingdom.

Eager to Share the Gospel

2011-11-18T07:16:00.000-08:00

After an early morning leg work out I was delayed in going into the local café for breakfast by severe thunderstorms. We had a deluge so I camped out on the back porch to watch it rain. I love to watch it rain. Something about the rain relaxes me and brings solace to my soul.

I arrived at the café about an hour later than I normally do. That suited me fine since the crowds had moved out and I had the place to myself to reflect and write in my journal.

While writing down a prayer I became burdened for a man in our church searching for spiritual answers. I no more than became burdened for him than he walked into the café with his sick daughter. We exchanged pleasantries and I continued to pray God would open a door to talk to him about Jesus.

I got up and went to his table to talk to him about his son accepting Christ and wanting to follow in baptism. The man told me his spiritual background and that he had never been baptized. For the next several minutes I explained the gospel message to him and the meaning behind baptism.

His daughter’s doctor’s appointment kept us from talking further but he told me he did want to talk more.

Not long after he left I had the chance to witness to a lady I have been developing a friendship with for the past two months. I have witnessed to her on several other occasions but today we had several uninterrupted minutes. She promised me she would turn her heart to Jesus and let me know when she did.

What a great way to start the day. I am not ashamed of the gospel. The substitutionary death and victorious resurrection of our Lord is the hope people are looking for. I am reminded of what Paul wrote in Romans 1:14-17. “ I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians; both to the wise and the foolish. So I am eager to preach the good news to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew and also to the Greek.”

I feel an obligation to make the good news known to people who have lived their lives in spiritual darkness. I have a God placed burden on my heart to share the good news of Jesus Christ in Paradise and Wise County. There is an ache in my soul for those headed for eternal destruction without a relationship with Jesus Christ. I cannot sit on the sidelines and say nothing. There is a burden on my heart to do something. I have to take the initiative in turning conversations to spiritual matters. This is not just something to think about on Sundays. The burden to reach out to lost souls weighs on me continually. Does it weigh on you as well?

Paul said, “I am eager to preach the gospel.” I am eager to share. Today I could have chosen to remain in my seat over my breakfast and writing in my journal. I know a divine appointment when I see one. If I had gone to breakfast at my normal time chances are I would have already left the café before this man entered. I know I would not have had the time to witness to other friend. God orchestrated both meetings and even as I write this, the gospel message is working in both hearts.

I have confidence that God through the Holy Spirit takes the gospel message and penetrates the hardest hearts. I am thankful that it is the power of God for salvation. People hear the message that Jesus became man to dwell on earth. They hear He lived a sinless life so He could take our punishment on Himself. He endured the wrath of God for us so His righteousness could be transmuted onto us. This is a message of hope and God backs up the message with the power to transform hearts.

I recently read where over ninety five percent of Christians have never told anyone the good news about Jesus. After getting to share this message twice in the span of less than thirty minutes early on in the day has adrenaline pumping through my veins. I am pumped. This is what being in ministry is all about.

I hope you feel a burden from God for someone today. I hope you are living this day eager for the opportunity to talk about Christ. I also hope you are convinced only Jesus through the gosp

Country Living

2011-11-18T07:11:00.001-08:00

Paradise is not a large community. It used to be a lot smaller. It is 5:44 a.m. I just stepped outside the RV to view the sky for signs of approaching thunderstorms from the west. I was greeted by the sound of a crowing rooster from one of the neighbor’s houses. It suddenly dawned on me for the past few months the sight outside the front door of the RV are rows of round bales of hay. I am definitely in the country. There are no gated communities in Paradise and residential areas do not even have curbs. Most people have gravel for a driveway.

You can still find fresh farm eggs in town. Cows are a familiar sight along with buffaloes if you drive down the right road. Horses abound and it not unusual to see stray dogs strutting about. We used to have a dog roaming around town nick named “Mayor.” He wondered the streets with no home loved by all.

I like living in smaller towns and enjoy country living. In a bit I will take Tanner to early morning practice and Taylor and I will hit the weight room. Yesterday, Turner and I enjoyed a day at the Fort Worth Zoo for his field trip. I sat on a bench with one of the men from our church after Tucker’s basketball practice enjoying a visit. He is the first person I baptized at Faith Community Church.

Later this morning I will eat breakfast at the Finish Line Café. I will see the same older men seated at the same table drinking coffee like they have been doing for years. I will see the same familiar patrons seated at their same tables. I hope to get my usual table in the back corner where I write and read over breakfast. I jokingly call that place my office.

Though influences from the big city have made their way into Wise County, for the most part Paradise is a charming place to live. It is big news we are about to get a donut shop. Bigger news that just a few months ago we got a Subway and recently a dry cleaning business came to town.

I enjoy the scenic drives with rolling hills cluttered with trees. With recent rains things have really greened up around here. I love the school system in Paradise. The teachers love the students. The administrators or well qualified and work diligently to ensure our children get the best education. The coaches care more than just about wins and losses but care about the character of the young men and young women they coach. For the most part Paradise is a close-knit community.

The churches often work together to serve the community. Egos are kept in check as we all realize each church serves a purpose.

Paradise may not be a large community but that does not mean it is not a busy community. Calendars are filled with all sorts of activities. It is a great place to live and to raise your family. The pace of life in Paradise is slower than the metroplex. While driving home yesterday from the Fort Worth Zoo I mused on how thankful I am I do not have to live in that rat race. It is busy in Paradise but generally the pace of life is slower and more casual.

I go to an old fashioned barber in downtown Bridgeport where they still using shaving cream and a straight razor to shave your neck and around your ears. People still go in there to just sit and visit. Kind of reminds me of Floyd’s Barber Shop in Mayberry from the Andy Griffith show.

The most enjoyable part about country living is the relationships. I love running into familiar faces at the post office, café, ball games, while waiting in line to get the boys after school, and on field trips. Relationships enrich life. I have been fortunate to have spent my entire ministry in smaller communities. I have served in places like Hudson, Burke, Rochelle, Spring Creek, Seminole, and of course Paradise.

Today as you go about your day and if you happen to enjoy country living in a smaller community why not thank God for it. As you encounter people you know and care for through out the day why not thank God for them and tell them how grateful you are to know them. Let me start by saying I am thankful for a bunch of people who walked out on a limb with me to start Faith Community Church. I am thankful for the testimonies of the numerous people I have talked to who told me they prayed, believed, and hoped God would draw my family back to this community.

I have served many wonderful churches. FBC Paradise and FBC Seminole touched Brenda and at a soul level. How thankful we are for the years we spent there and for the people we have come to know and love in those churches. Our lives are the richer for knowing those people. God has used them to bless our lives in profounder ways than I can put into words.

Though I am still seated in this RV writing another blog with the pitter- patter of rain beginning to fall on the roof I am extremely contented. I am a blessed man. I am contented to spend my remaining days and ministry in small communities where my family enjoys country living. [Phil 4:11] “…I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am…”

The Wounded Heart

2011-11-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

I have encountered many people in the past few days with wounded hearts. Some feel unloved and unwanted. Others have had the rug snatched out from under them. A few are beaten up by careless and thoughtless words. The old childhood saying is not true, “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me.”

Many are walking around the community with wounded hearts. Children get wounded by parents and caregivers. These are supposed to be the people who love, nurture and protect. At times these very people do not encourage the child but constantly point out their faults. That child will carry those wounds on into adulthood and likely into marriage and parenting. If they do not find healing and wholeness they will likely pass on those same wounds to their own children. The cycle keeps repeating itself.

Many spouses endure loveless marriages where love is not expressed and respect is not given. Harsh words, critical looks, and cruel treatment are endured. Many cry silent tears nobody but God sees. They wonder what happened between standing before the preacher saying, “I do,” and the wounded heart they live with.

Widowers and widows endure the lingering days of loneliness with holes in their hearts where the love of their lives used to fill that hole. Day in and day out they try to get on with life but at times the grief overwhelms them as they sink in a puddle of tears. Nobody seems to care or remembers. While life moves on these wounded hearts are stuck in the rut of grief they cannot get out of.

Critical people verbally assassinate others constantly. If you serve in a high profile job and you happen to be the target of their venom more wounds occur. School administrators, teachers, coaches, ministers, politicians and bosses all get their share of undeserved criticism from time to time. While they press on at work the wounds are deep. Many of these wounded hearts begin to feel like nobody can be trusted. They retreat into a private world insulated from those that can cause further damage.

There are even some that feel wounded, betrayed, and abandoned by God. Questions abound such as: “Why?” “How could you have let this happen?” “What have I done to deserve this?” “Do you not care?” “Why don’t you do something?”

Some hearts are wounded because they have been betrayed. Love and trust were extended and then trampled on. These wounded hearts are left picking up the pieces of their broken hearts and broken spirits vowing they will never trust again.

Does God have a word for those reading this with wounded hearts? “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” [Ps 34:18] Is your heart broken and wounded as you read this? Let this truth sink in. God is near to you. Call out to Him. Pour out your soul to Him. Offer Him your wounded heart. He is available and accessible.

If you are living life with a crushed heart and a broken spirit He offers two things for you. He is near and He saves. The word saves means He delivers, He preserves, He rescues, and He restores.

I grew up with a wounded heart. Verbal abuse. Physical abuse. Lies and deception from my very own family abounded. I lived seventeen years of my life with a wounded heart. Jesus took that wounded heart and through His love, grace, and tender mercies He made me whole. That same heart has been wounded numerous times since then. I have always found God near and always experienced His deliverance from bitterness and rescue from destruction. He rescued me from eternal damnation and from a life of hatred and retaliation. O reader offer to Him your wounded heart. Let Him put it back together and bring the healing of salvation and restoration through a relationship with Him.

I cannot spare you the wounds in your heart. They come to us all. I can point you to the only One that heal the wounds, restores the soul, and that can put your life back together. He is my best friend Jesus.

Getting Back in the Flow

2011-11-06T13:16:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have noticed I have not written a blog in nearly a month. I have been battling writer’s block. I know in part it is due to exerting my energies into starting Faith Community Church. God has blessed our new church in ways that have been humbling and astounding. We have come so far in only three short months.

For some reason I could not write. Multiple times I opened a word document and stared at the screen watching the cursor blink. A few times I forced out a few sentences but ended up deleting them in disgust. No matter what I experienced from day to day I could not find any inspiration to write. The desire was still there but the inspiration would not come.

I would go to bed night after night feeling guilty like I was letting all of you readers down. I know many of you have checked this site repeatedly hoping for some inspiration, wondering how the Edwards family and the new church were doing, and possibly hoping to hear a message from the Lord. I felt the pressure to write something but honestly had nothing to write.

We have experienced thunderstorms, high winds, football and more football, but none of this inspired me to write.

This past Monday I went into the local library and found an isolated corner. While in there I cried out to God to inspire me to write again. I pleaded with God for anointing and inspiration. I did not feel anything. Nothing magical or mystical transpired.

Instead I sent an email to a publisher I met about nine months ago. He learned about me through a mutual friend and offered to take me to lunch while we still lived in Seminole. During lunch he told me about his publishing ministry and immediately my interests were peaked. In the months following our meeting he gave me a writing assignment. He asked me to write a book giving advice to young men entering the ministry.

I started the book back in the spring of 2011 but once we discerned the Lord calling us to start Faith Community Church and moving, the book got put on the back burner. That is where it has sat for the past six months.

While sitting in the library I sent this man an email telling him I had not forgotten about the book but felt stuck in writer’s block. I assured him I wanted to not only finish the book but to have him mentor me in writing. He is the kind of man I have been praying God would bring me into relationship with for years.

I opened the manuscript and began reading. Next thing I knew I started writing a new chapter. One chapter turned into two and then three. I sent them all in to the publisher. He made suggestions and I kept writing. Three chapters turned into six new chapters as I kept feeling inspired with the desire to write and finish this book. Yesterday I finished the book before lunch. What a sense of relief and accomplishment. The title of the book is Shepherd My Sheep.

Now begins the not so fun part. I have to reread the rough draft and rewrite certain parts of the book to put the best book possible forward. Though this is my least favorite part of the writing process it is one of the most valuable to the writing process. God wants excellence and so we press forward to tweak the manuscript.

On top of this my newest book, Sitting with the Savior, is scheduled for release before Christmas. I just finalized the front cover and the book is in the process of publication even as I write this. I should receive a sample copy before Thanksgiving. I will schedule several book signings in Paradise, Lufkin, on the campus of Howard Payne and Seminole.

All of this to say I am so grateful to God for allowing me to get back in the flow once again to write. Look forward to regular blog entries between now and the end of the year. I am thankful each of you come to this site and read what the Lord gives me. I see you as the reader as extended flock to love, nurture, and minister to through the written word. Thank you for your prayers.

For a long time I have believed God wants to do more with my writing ministry. I remember very well the early days of this blog and watching as a few people came to this site. With excitement I remember the benchmarks of surpassing one hundred hits, five hundred, and a thousand. I thanked God the day we went over ten thousand and today we are approaching thirty thousand.

I could not do this on my own. A servant of our Lord back in Seminole takes what I write, comes up with a picture to capture the essence of the blog and then posts them. Thank you Tim. I could not do this without you. I pray in the days ahead I keep you pretty busy as God gets me back in

The Abundance of Rain

2011-10-16T21:11:00.000-07:00

As I write this it is 2:20 a.m. I was awakened by thunderstorms rumbling through dropping heavy rains. I love the sound of rain on the top of the RV. It makes for sound sleeping only this time the rain came with a great deal of lightening and thunder. At times I think the rain is letting up only to have it increase in intensity. The sound is deafening at times and rhythmic at other times. I am at peace.

In the past week we have been blessed with about six inches of rain. The radar shows this rain will last until at least the start of school, which means rain for about another five and a half to six hours.

God is amazing. For over a year we experienced severe drought conditions. In just five days God has put a major dent in our deficient rainfall. As I have driven around in the past few days it has been amazing to see how ponds have begun to fill back up and how the dead grass in many areas started springing back to life.

I rejoice for the many farmers and ranchers I know. I rejoice that their heavy burdens are being lifted. I rejoice that with the rain comes hope for better days. What God has done in the past five days should not surprise us. He always comes through. He always shows Himself to be faithful in one way or another.

In these early morning hours that faithfulness is translated into rain. Later that might mean something entirely different. I think back on the all the prayers offered up pleading with God to send rain. Multiple times I have seen hand painted signs put up in pastures asking people to pray for rain. Many have worried and fretted through sleepless nights over the lack of rain. Few of us could have predicted we would see multiple inches of precipitation in only a matter of days.

As you read this I hope you will be reminded that in the same way God will come through for you in your situation. He will provide what you need in His perfect timing. That means we have to wait on Him and trust Him while we wait no matter what our eyes tell us. What we need to do is to remain patient and to never lose hope.

Only a few feet away from where I am writing this Turner is sleeping soundly right through the storm. He sleeps with me most nights in the RV. He has not been concerned with the lack of rain. He trusts perfectly. He does not know the meaning of the word stress or anxiety. He goes about his days carefree and happy trusting Brenda and I will meet his needs and trusting God will always come through. I have thought a great deal about his child-like faith.

If we could only learn to trust as a little child. Just a few weeks ago I drove through a pasture with a rancher friend of mine churning up dust over this parched grass. The topic of conversation was the drought. I smile as I think of my friend about to receive this rain as the storms rumble east. I smile as I think of God coming through once again for Him as He always does. God thank you for the abundance of rain. [I Thess 5:24]

The Blessing of Fatherhood

2011-10-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

Out of the many blessings in my life I count being a father toward the top. I have countless memories built into life with Jennifer, Taylor, Tanner, Tucker, and Turner. Each of them has brought more joy into my life than I can possibly put into words.

I woke up this morning with Turner nestled up next to me trying to keep warm in the RV. He has been staying there with me for the past few weeks. Walking down the hall this morning Taylor (who is now officially taller than his daddy) stopped to give me a hug. How many sixteen-year old sons initiate giving their dads a hug? I relished the moment. Earlier I drove Tanner to his early morning football practice. Our parting words said ritually before he closes the door is, “I love you dad.” “I love you too champ.” Tucker is not a hugger (takes after his daddy) but I did manage to wrap my arms around last night to tell him I am proud to be his daddy.

I do not understand fathers who do not take the time to invest in their children. Spending time with my children is not drudgery but a delight. Taylor commented after we saw the new movie Courageous he was glad he saw that movie with his family. I second that sentiment. I loved sharing that experience with the four T’s as Brenda calls them.

I know all too well my children are growing up. Jennifer has been married for some time and is expecting her second child. Taylor is already sixteen and nearing getting a driver’s license. Tanner is in eighth grade and growing taller nearly looking me straight in the eye. Tucker is already in Jr. High and this is Turner’s last year at the elementary school.

I only have the boys for a short time and I am not about to waste those precious years. Fatherhood is a blessing. God has entrusted me to mold and shape those young and impressionable minds. It is not easy. They are bombarded by continual messages from people and organizations with an agenda. I also have an agenda and that is to point my boys to Jesus to live for Him, fight for Him, and to love Him for all of their days even if it means they stand alone.

It does not matter how large the church is I pastor. That does not determine my success. My success in life will be determined by my boys and Jennifer following Jesus and teaching their children and my grandchildren to follow Jesus.

That means while I have them I must guard their hearts and minds from destructive influences. I must pour the word of God into them. I must have continual conversations about things that really matter; dreams, peer pressure, persecution, surrendering to Jesus, enduring difficulties, eternity, quiet times, sex, alcohol and death. I want to be used of God to be a positive force for good in their lives. I am more interested in being their father than their friend at this stage. That means from time to time my decisions will not be popular. I pray those decisions will be guided by scripture.

I cannot imagine my life without my kids. Sure I have to make a few sacrifices in time, money, and priorities but the rewards are worth it. It is worth taking lunch to Turner and the rest when they ask. It is worth sharing my seat when one wants to sit in my lap. It is worth eating where they want to eat even if it is not my favorite. It is worth chasing them playing ball all over the place. It is worth it because of all the titles I wear in this world none means more to me than “Father.” Fatherhood is a blessing. My quiver is full. “Behold children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.” [Ps 127:3-5]

It is Supposed to be a Prayer Meeting

2011-10-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

For the past twenty-one years students have been meeting around the flagpole on their campuses to pray the third Wednesday in September. Hundreds of thousands gathered all over the state and many others around the nation and the world to gather around their flagpoles to pray earlier today.

What started out as a small gathering of students to pray for their campuses has turned into a full fledge production. Many bring in sound systems and worship bands and sing. Some have several students read scripture. Some even have a speaker to speak to the masses gathered before the start of schools. You can buy t-shirts, bracelets, and posters for See You at the Pole. Some churches provide elaborate breakfast while others opt for donuts and juice.

When I pulled into the parking lot this morning at the school we were one of the first to arrive. Another church provided donuts and orange juice. The boys and I waited until after 7:30 a.m. and the junior high early morning football practice was dismissed to attend. Dozens gathered to grab donuts and juice but I noticed no one ever went around the flagpole to pray. Finally three of the boys (Tanner was in football) went to the flagpole and joined hands and offered prayer. Nobody joined us.

We were on the high school campus praying and afterward walked up the hill to the junior high campus where Tucker and Turner and I prayed around that flagpole. We were the only ones. All the other students had gathered at the high school campus or were just arriving at school. When I drove out the parking lot later to take Turner to school I glanced down at the high school noticed no one had gathered around the flagpole to pray.

Turner and I went to the flagpole at his school and prayed together. I am sure others had already prayed and gone into the school. We prayed alone. Turner prayed for his teacher Mrs. Norwood. I felt honored to keep this long-standing tradition with my boys. I loved making the memory of praying with them around the flagpole and telling them the story of how it all began back in Burleson, TX with a group of students joining together to pray for their high school twenty-one years ago.

Over the years I have noticed what began as a prayer meeting has become anything but that on many campuses. I am not sure if they ever got around to praying at our high school today but I can tell you for certain praying was not the main business. This is supposed to be student led. While I applaud the energy our students put into worship I do not seem the same passion for prayer. Even my boys seemed pretty unsure how to pray this morning.

See You at the Pole is supposed to be a prayer meeting. The enemy would rather us sing, fellowship, and eat anytime more than engage in spiritual battle through prayer. We must pray now more than ever. There is power unleashed by God when His people gather to call on His name. We would all love to see the power of God unleashed through the gospel message on our children’s campuses and in the communities we live in.

What happened to the prayer meeting? Even among adults prayer meetings are among the least attended activities in the local church. Many of the ones I have attended in the past tended to focus on praying for the sick and infirmed more than for more laborers to go into the harvest.

I have often wondered why we have not seen God unleash revival fire in these twenty-one years of meeting at the flagpoles. I know many have prayed. Sadly some have had to pray alone as no one else joined them. I also know prayer has not been the sole focus of many of these gatherings in a long while.

We must be reminded it is supposed to be a prayer meeting. We can also be reminded it does not have to happen just one time a year. We can gather multiple times for the glory of God and cry out to Him to heal our land. I challenge all who read this to make See You at the Pole about prayer even if the size of the crowds dwindle. Remind your children, train your students, encourage your leadership to keep the focus on prayer.

Living Against the Grain

2011-09-22T19:31:00.001-07:00

Noah lived in a wicked time. Every imagination of the people was evil continually. Every thought of the people included plotting how to do more evil. In Genesis 6 God sighed that He had made mankind.

In this dark pagan environment one man stood in contrast. We learn three things about Noah. He found favor with God. I find that interesting in a time when everyone lived so wickedly God decided to destroy the whole earth Noah found favor, or you can also translate that word grace, with God. The question begs to be asked how? How did he find favor with God? God revealed Himself to Noah and by grace Noah found favor with God the same way you and I do.

We also learn that Noah was a righteous man. The word means complete or without fault. Do you believe Noah really had no faults? Do you believe he never sinned? [Rom 3:23] “We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” According to that verse Noah sinned just like the rest of us do. How could he be declared righteous? Again it goes back to grace and faith. He believed God and experienced grace that led to him being declared righteous. He did not earn righteousness through good works any more than you and I do. Through faith and grace God gave Noah what he could not earn.

We also discover that Noah walked with God. I cannot tell you how deeply this impresses me. In a time when everyone else rejected God and pursued wickedness Noah stayed in communion with God. Day in and day out though surrounded by wickedness Noah stayed close to God.

The more Noah walked with God the more He found strength to resist temptation and choose the better path. It could not have been easy. It is never easy to stand alone. After getting saved I found myself out with three of my best friends one Friday night. We were all under age but the driver knew a place where we could buy alcohol. We all walked into that store and the three others bought beer and wine coolers. I bought a Pepsi and a Snickers. Why? I walked with God and loved Him. Pleasing Him meant more to me than pleasing my friends.

Noah lived against the morale grain of his times. While the whole society lived wickedly Noah swam upstream of immorality to honor God. I cannot imagine the courage this must have took. Like I said earlier, it is never easy to stand alone. Noah kept walking with God and kept living against the grain of his times. This must have caused some friction with people. When you choose to live your life differently than the cultural norm it causes friction. Culture wants us to conform but when you walk with God you have the strength not only to stand but also to march to the beat of a different drummer.

When society says sex before marriage is not only okay but normal, God says sex outside of marriage is sin. When culture encourages couples to live together before marriage God does not lower His standards. When this pagan age tries to redefine marriage as between two men or two women God’s law does not change.

Do you walk with God? Do you walk so closely with Him that you live against the morale grain of the masses? Does your life cause friction among the condemned and compromisers? We are not to conform to this culture but to continually be transformed by the renewing of our minds. [Ro 12:2] Do you as a parent have the guts to not back down from your children’s incessant demands to go, buy, watch, or listen to something because everyone else is? We need more Noahs who cannot be bought, promoted, intimidated, influenced, or silenced into cultural conformity. We need men, women, and students who walk with God and live against the grain of culture.

I am not saying living such a life is easy but I do believe living that way has impact. Noah is a hero in my book. I admire his stand and walk with God in such a dark, pagan, and wicked society. I have not even talked about the task of building the ark that took him well over a century to complete. God called and Noah continued to live against the grain of his times by obeying. In the end Noah and his family were spared while everyone else on the planet drowned in the flood.

Lord I plead with you to teach us to walk with you and commune with you at such a deep level we are not afraid to live against the grain of our times. I ask you for faith to obey and to stand firm when many choose the easy route and compromise their convictions. Please make us more like Noah. In Jesus name, amen.

Finishing

2011-09-22T19:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took my bike out for its first return to Paradise ride. At first I had to get adjusted to riding a bike much lighter and faster than the mountain bike I have been riding the past several weeks. Soon I grew comfortable shifting gears and pedaling faster. I chose a brutal route though. Thirteen grueling miles with eighteen different hills. By far this route proved to be most challenging since I moved back to Paradise. One road had seven hills in a row one right after the other.

Along the way I saw a couple of different people from the church. All in all I had a great ride but all the hills began to take a toll. I have not ridden thirteen miles since living in Seminole and there are no hills out there. The ride challenged my endurance and strength.

When I came to the last leg of the ride I had to navigate a road with three hills in a row and finish the ride on another couple of roads with one hill each. I had to finish though my legs, feet, and calves burned. Quitting was not an option.

I enjoyed private elation when I finished and came to the driveway of our temporary residence. Relieved I dismounted to park my bike in the garage of our friend. It dawned on me then that riding my bike and surmounting every hill is symbolic of life and overcoming trials. Some hills are steeper and longer than others just like some trials are more difficult than others.

While reading the scriptures this morning two verses really touched my heart. Let me share them with you. “So he built the house and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar.” [I Kings 6:9] “So Solomon built the house and finished it.” [I Kings 6:14]

The context of these two verses is Solomon led the cause to build a temple for the Lord and he spared no expense in doing it with excellence. Here is the thought that captured me today. Twice the scripture read Solomon finished the task.

I am a dreamer, a visionary, some might say. I have dreamed great dreams for God wherever He has planted me. I remember my first great ministry dream as a youth pastor in Weatherford, TX. I dreamed another great dream in the first church I served as pastor in Burke, TX. I continued to dream grand dreams of writing books, taking mission trips, holding and preaching tent crusades, and hosting teen and college outreach services when I founded No Compromise Ministries.

God planted the dream in my heart to start CentrePointe Community Church. The dream died painfully. I dreamed grand dreams in Paradise when I served First Baptist Church to see the church grow and relocate. When the Lord moved us again I began to dream grand dreams for Seminole. Now I have a dream of buying land and buildings for a hospital in Copan Ruinas, Honduras but we have only raised $18,000 toward a needed $152,000.

Now here I am once again dreaming a grand dream for God in starting Faith Community Church but here is what got to me this morning. Seldom have I seen the dreams come true with the exception and publishing some of my books. I do not doubt God’s leadership in relocating my ministry from time to time. I just want to see a dream realized and finished. This was brought home even further this past weekend.

Brenda and I attended the retirement reception for my pastor, Charles Roberts, who retired this past Sunday after thirty-four years at the same church. The scriptures this morning coupled with Brother Charles’ thirty-four year legacy give me the desire to finish. I want to stay the course and finish the ministry God has set before me with endurance.

Starting a project is much easier than finishing. I felt more energetic at the start of my ride yesterday than near the end. Starting this church is new and exciting today but what about years down the road. In two churches I have begun the initial process of drawing up long-range plans for building. I have not even got to see either one break ground.

On this day I am asking God to allow me to finish the dreams He puts in my heart. I want to see every dime raised for the hospital in Copan Ruinas. Could God use you to be a part of making that dream come true? Every financial gift is needed and welcome along with prayers. I want to see it finished for the glory of God.

I want to see Faith Community Church grow and impact this area. I want to see facilities built at some point and completed as well as paid off debt free. I want to see dozens and dozens of other books, I not only write, but also publish and distribute all over the state, nation, and the world. I want to finish.

Each dream comes with challenges just like my bike ride yesterday. Finishing is harder than starting. O Lord, please let me stay and finish the dreams you put in my heart. Please help me persevere with the hospital in Copan Ruinas. Please grant me the discipline, inspiration and strength to keep writing for you. Please let me stay to see Faith Community Church grow and be used mightily for you. Make me a finisher. In Jesus name, amen.

The Tapestry

2011-09-22T19:16:00.001-07:00

Like a finely woven tapestry – so has God woven people through my days,

Each has added value, taught and tempered modeling Jesus and His ways,

Each is a blessing far beyond my ability to speak or write words to express,

How God takes people through joy and pain their hearts are compressed,

Friends and flock have added warmth and comfort against wintery blasts,

Though some have been left behind the depth of love and friendship lasts,

God, thank you for the flocks you have entrusted me to nurture and feed,

Thank you for the harvest of those you saved after sowing the gospel seed,

Many have stood by our side as the hands, feet, and heart of dear Jesus,

We have labored for God’s glory working for Him who always sees us,

Thank you for the intercessors who have prayed hours and hours on end,

God thanks for the folks who braved the trials and stood against the wind,

I am grateful for the people who loved not only with words but also with deeds,

Many have given financially in answer to our prayers helping in time of needs,

Some have given us blessings such as clothing, books, food, and even sunglasses,

Some gave financially so I could travel abroad taking the gospel to the masses,

Many have sent cards, letters, and messages of affirmation, love, and lots of hope,

Some may not appear significant but were life to one clinging to the end of his rope,

Each person but a single thread in the tapestry of our ministry – each one endeared,

Fondly woven memories in our minds and on our hearts have each been seared,

In the tough times these have blanketed us to shield from the pain and suffering,

That God often uses to shape our character through pressure and some buffering,

God thank you for those who have stayed the course and served so valiantly,

Together we serve and fight for You charging ahead courageously and gallantly,

My cup overflows with the blessing of the tapestry of family, friends and flock,

May I always treasure them until the last chiming and ticking of my life’s clock.

The Team

2011-09-22T19:10:00.001-07:00

It started with a single idea – through prayer it turned into a dream,

A new church gathering – multiple people forming to make a team,

Each person unique – gifted to fit into God’s wise and grand design,

Some new to church – others sensing a calling bordering on divine,

Faith Community Church was birthed the last sultry Sunday in July,

We met in a daycare – and school cafeteria grateful for God’s supply,

The numbers and the converts have grown – attendance abounded,

God has answered prayers and left us amazed – clearly astounded,

Our hearts have been woven by the dream – being kingdom minded,

To seek to see saved those confused by Satan - the spiritually blinded,

Some set up chairs, hang signs others sing and serve where they can,

All coming together to fulfill God’s purpose and to work out His plan,

To plant other churches and take the gospel globally to the nations,

Watching spiritual darkness dispelled turning despair into elation,

I serve with a team, a flock, a congregation who in spirit are united,

Learning to love, bless, and serve community humbly and excited,

Each player needed and gifted – functioning as one single heartbeat,

Casting down lies – battling our foe – overcoming evil and his deceit,

A team of warrior I lead – prayerful battles for war has been declared,

We fight on bended knee – confident God hears and answers prayer.