Let Me Brag On God (Part Two)

Back in August at a football scrimmage Tucker took a snap and ran a bootleg to the left sideline. After gaining nearly fifteen yards a defender tackled him. When Tucker got up he limped. Brenda and I both noticed it. The trainer looked at him and then sent him back out on defense a few plays later,  but he obviously could not play at full strength. He did not play anymore that night.

The next day his knee swelled and he could barely walk. It shocked me. We went to see a doctor who recommended a MRI. The MRI revealed a torn ACL in his left knee. Tears formed in Tucker's eyes and slowly ran down his cheeks. For one of the few times in my life I felt helpless to do anything to help him. The doctor left for a few minutes leaving us alone. In that moment I recalled something that happened earlier that day on the way to the doctor's office. While driving down the road and praying, I sensed the Lord say, "I will heal Tucker. He will play again this year and dominate. You do not deserve this." 

I dismissed the thought as something I manufactured in my own mind. I needed gas and stopped before the appointment. While pumping gas I once agains sensed the Lord say, "I will heal Tucker. He will play again this year and dominate. You do not deserve this." I kept these things to myself.

So all of this came back to mind while we sat in the examination room. I began to pray again. I prayed, "Lord that is what the doctor says. What do you say? You have the last word on Tucker's knee.What do you want us to do."

One of the nurses attends our church. She tried to comfort Tucker but to no avail. It was a sad day in the Edwards household. We have repeatedly prayed for God protect our boys and their teammates while they play. We set a follow up appointment for a couple of weeks to give the inflamed knee time to reduce in swelling. The doctor's long term diagnosis included surgery and up to six months of rehabilitation before being able to fully released.

Tucker and I drove home in silence. He still cried a little. I prayed a lot. Then I had one of the toughest conversations with Tucker I've ever had. I told him, "Tucker, what you believe about God right now in this moment is very important. I know you worked hard to be on varsity this year. I know you have trusted God and you play for His glory. It probably feels like God let you down. Do not quit trusting God. We do not know what God will do."

The following Sunday morning after the service, that nurse I mentioned earlier, handed me a handwritten note. Her words stunned me in my tracks. She wrote that since we had come in for our appointment she had not been able to get Tucker off her mind. She also wrote she believed God wanted to heal Tucker as a witness to the doctor. She wrote some other things but that is the essence of the note.

The following week I read Numbers 11:23 (NASB) 
²³  The LORD said to Moses, "Is the LORD'S power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not." I became increasingly convinced God intended to heal Tucker. I began to speak about it when people asked me how he was doing. Many said they would join me in prayer.

The following Sunday I preached from John 11 about the resurrection of Lazarus. I thought of Tucker repeatedly as I studied for that message. One verse really spoke to me. In fact, God would remind me of this verse many times in the days to come.  John 11:40 (NASB) 
⁴⁰  Jesus *said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" 

After a couple of weeks went by we went back to the doctor. His diagnosis remained the same. He wanted to wait a little longer so the inflamed kneed would calm down. He set another appointment in a couple more weeks. 

In the meantime, I began noticing Tucker walking more normally. He told us repeatedly he did not feel any pain in his knee. He began some physical therapy work through the school trainer to increase flexibility. One day I saw Tucker doing lunges without any pain or weakness in his injured knee. I watched astounded and more convinced God had already begun healing the knee. 

I told Tucker that I thought the healing would take some time. I thought he would miss half the season. He did not want to hear that but listened to my encouragement to work hard to get back. 

One day while we were mowing, I saw Tucker take off jogging back to my truck to get some weed eater string. He also jogged back. He squatted down like a baseball catcher to put the string on and I wondered how he could do that. At the house I saw him kneel down on both of his knees without even the slightest bit of pain. He did these things without even thinking about them.  The limp disappeared and the more and more mobility returned. All of this convinced me even more God was healing him. I spoke of it to the head coach. 

On our next visit to the doctor a decision would have to be made. He would be planning for surgery but I felt God had miraculous healing in mind. I prayed all that morning. Over and over again I remembered John 11:40, "Did I not tell you if you believed you would see the glory of God." I had to speak up in faith. I did so. I told the doctor we believed God was healing Tucker. He mentioned that 30% of people with ACL injuries are able to functor normally. He further expounded that this can be attributed to the fact that some people do not need an ACL, they learn to function without it, or GOD HEALS THEM. 

He then told Tucker he could wear a brace and be restored to the football team. Tucker began running sprints without the brace that day to get back in shape. The doctor told him straight line running would be fine.. I watched him closely and each time he told me he felt no pain. We all knew the tell tale sign would be him cutting and changing direction. This is where the ACL comes into play to stabilize the knee. People with injured ACL are not able to cut without their injured knee compromising. I privately took him to the track to do some light jogging and cutting in a slow zig zap pattern. Tucker told me again he did not feel any pain. 

This past Saturday night he had several guys spend the night for his birthday. I learned the next morning he had played football with them doing some juking with no ill effects after I went to bed. He does these things without ever thinking about them. He does what feels natural to him. As we waited for the brace he began running sprints with the team after practices and doing extra running once practice ended with some of the team captains. 

Yesterday afternoon he got his brace. He wanted to rush back to make the afternoon practice. By the time we arrived practice was already in progress. Tucker hurriedly dressed and trotted out on the field. For the first time in nearly two months Tucker wore his pads and stood ready to play football. This did not seem possible back in August. I watched him run on the field giving glory to God. I gave glory to God the first time he ran with the team and people said, "I thought he had a torn ACL." I stayed around to watch him practice. He showed no hesitation. He did not favor the left knee in the least. He attacked his plays like he did in the past. He did not favor the once injured knee. He looked like the old Tucker. When he got home he told me he felt no pain in his knee. 

I am here to brag on God and tell you God healed Tucker's knee. His knee is whole. While the doctor required the brace for insurance we know God has already healed Tucker. Some will think we are rushing Tucker back on the field. I am telling you that we believe God healed Tucker for His glory. This is my second opportunity to brag on God. God had the last say. God worked a miracle because it pleased Him to do so. We certainly did not deserve it and were prepared for surgery if that is what God wanted. God chose to heal. 

Why is that so difficult to believe. We read in our Bibles Jesus healed lepers, the lame, the blind, a woman with an issue of blood, a lady with a fever, and delivered the demon possessed. We pray asking God to heal in our day but I am convinced we do not always expect Him to do it. While we believe God can heal theoretically we do not believe it experientially. We seldom see or hear about God healing. Why is that?

Has God changed? Is He less capable? Is His power limited? Do we not trust Him? If God wills to heal He still heals. PRAISE HIS NAME. BLESS HIS NAME. I GLORIFY AND BRAG ON MY GOD. 

I have encountered many skeptics when telling people I believed God would heal Tucker. What I see God doing through my son is miraculous. It is not about the Edwards family. It is not about Tucker. It is not even about our church or the team. It is about the glory of God. So I brag on God. God healed Tucker for His glory and so I can point all of you, a whole football team, a church, and a community to look at what God did. 

Let Me Brag On God (Part One)

This will be first of a three part series of blogs. What I have seen the Lord do right before my eyes has astounded me. I have to brag on Him and testify about these things.

One of the things my maternal grandmother taught me was not to brag on myself. I remember her telling me over and over again, "Let others do your bragging for you." What she meant is that a good practice is not to draw attention to yourself but do things that others would take note of and compliment.

I want to take the time and brag on God. He is always working somewhere. I specifically want to brag on Him in three areas. These next three blogs will expound on each of these three areas. Sit back and get comfortable  as you read how the Lord has intervened in my life.

Over two years ago I wrote about my eye troubles. I noticed the troublers when reading. I also made comments to Brenda about our living room being dark and needing more light as far back as Seminole. She thought the lighting was adequate. When I went to get an eye exam the diagnosis shocked me. I had diabetes and needed to be sent to a retinal specialist. The diabetes impacted my eyes. Blood vessels caused swelling in my eyes and if not treated would cause my retina to detach from my eyes. This could potentially lead to blindness in one or both eyes.

I have spent the last two years going to more doctor appointments than in my whole combined. My eye sight grew worse. I recall times of driving down the road and having a hard time seeing far enough in front to know if it was safe to pass another vehicle. Everything grew blurry far away. It became difficult to watch my kids play ball. I often could not make them out on the field or court especially without my glasses.

The lowest point came when I could not read my Bible in my lap one morning during my quiet time even with my glasses. I cried out to God for help. It scared me. Others prayed for me. I often struggled when preaching to see the scriptures. Brenda could always tell when I had trouble seeing the scriptures while preaching. I went to a bookstore and even bought a large print Bible. Though I prayed for healing I prepared for the worst.

Each time I went to visit the retina doctor I prayed repeatedly asking God to heal me. I often spoke of this healing with some of the nurses. Seeing the eye chart became more difficult and the healing did not come. The treatment for my eyes has not been pleasant but slowly my sight improved a little. I still needed my glasses but I rejoiced when I could once again read my Bible. Wearing the glasses never bothered me. I just wanted to see. With or without the glasses did not matter to me.

Two weeks ago I noticed a marked difference. More and more I found myself reading things without my glasses. I am not certain when it began. One day I simply noticed I could see better. I could read my Bible, books, a small print Bible, things on the computer, and while I drove with sharper focus and clarity without wearing glasses. It finally dawned on me that God had touched my eyes dramatically.

Two Wednesday nights ago I decided n to teach with my glasses in their case but determined I would try to teach without using them. I did. I will not tell you that reading the scriptures was smooth sailing. At times some words were not easy to make out but I could still see. I taught the whole study without wearing my glasses. I did the same thing Sunday morning much easier than on Wednesday night. It was the first time in two whole years I preached a Sunday morning sermon without wearing my glasses. This would have bene impossible just a month ago. Last night I taught again without using my glasses. Each time I took the glasses with me but left them on the pulpit in the case. I give all glory to God. He touched my eyes. He has performed something extraordinary.

Whether, He used the medicine administered by the doctor, or whether He simply touched my eyes and did a miracle healing, I can tell you I see better. As I write this I am not wearing my glasses again. This did not happen just a few months ago.  The only time I have needed to wear my glasses in the past two weeks was at Tanner's football game last Friday night.

I know God has touched my eyes. I go back to the doctor in a couple of weeks. I fully expect him to notice a remarkable difference. Whether I need my glasses in the future or not, I brag on God because I know He has restored my eyesight. Whether He did it through medicine or a miracle, I testify I can see. God has healed my eyes. I know He has. Maybe I will need further treatments or maybe the doctor will say I cannot explain it but your eyes look better. I know God has touched my eyes without the doctor confirming it. All I can say now is I see better than I have in three or four years. Hallelujah! That is worth bragging on God.

Still Burdened For Kermit

One year and five days ago I wrote a blog about Kermit, TX. I had a couple of dreams that drew me to pray for and eventually make several trips to pray with some people and teach a few Bible studies. Before all was said and done I had a dozen dreams specifically related to Kermit.

For months I made that trip to Kermit on a weekly basis. Many thought I was crazy. I have long ago dismissed what the people think when it comes to my following God's leadership. We had a good time and I got to know some wonderful people in Kermit. Eventually the small study got smaller and then it became apparent I was not needed there. I made my last trip to Kermit December of 2014. It seemed a door had shut. All of the people who attended the Bible study, with the exception of a couple, ended up attending the same church. Most of them had attended that church long before I came to Kermit. I saw my role as done. The church had just called a new pastor and in no way did I want it to appear I was competition with him. I bowed out wondering what it all meant.  I was happy for the church and prayed God would bless them and the new pastor. I have continued to pray that. God has blessed that church as I have heard from time to time. I shout, "Praise the Lord," for His might work there.

The burden for Kermit has not lifted.  This morning while praying the burden intensified more so than any  other time since last December. For now my role is prayer. I continue to be drawn to that little west Texas town. I have pleaded with the Lord to show me what it all means. Only He can reveal why He has given me a burden for that town.

I do not think God wants me to move to Kermit. He is working in Faith Community Church like I have not seen in these four years. These are good days. I do not think God is calling me to move. Yet there is something deep, a drawing, a burden, a compassion, an interest in Kermit that I find unshakable and irresistible. All I know to do is keep praying for God to move in that town.

Kermit is a town where I hardly know anyone. The few people I do know I barely know only acquainted with them as a result of some Bible studies. God has Kermit on His mind and heart. He keeps pressing it on mine. I cannot dismiss it. So I ask the Lord to reveal His plans.

So here is my heart felt prayer for the people of Kermit, TX.

Dear Father,

You know all about Kermit. You know ever resident there. You know them all by name. You are aware of their every thought, their every deed both good and bad, and You want to work in that town. You know the private pains and fears of those who reside there. You know the wickedness as well. You are also very aware of what is happening in the oil and gas industry and how that impacts the people of Kermit.

There are many churches and many pastors in Kermit. Some have been there for years and labored long and lovingly to their flocks. Some churches have seen better days. I ask You to usher in new days of refreshing for each church. I ask You to revive the people of Kermit. I ask You to breathe new life on each congregation and begin reaching out and saving those lost people. I ask You to begin in the schools. I ask You to start a new work among elementary, junior high, and high school students. I ask You to stir new fire in teachers, coaches, and administrators. I ask You to fill Your houses with Your glorious presence week after week as Your truth is expounded and as praise filled worship fills the room.

How many people carry a heavy burden for Kermit? I know You have set watchmen and watch women on the walls of Kermit to pray. I know You have a remnant who plead with You to revive that town. I ask You to strengthen them and allow them to see the fruit of their years of prayer. I ask You to fill that town with Your wonder working power.

Lord, You have targeted Kermit for something greater. You have chosen that town for something. For every shepherd there I ask You to encourage them. I ask You to not let them lose heart. I ask You to build them up and set a new vision and a new power in their ministries. I ask You to allow them to see the fruit of their labors.

I ask You to push back the Kingdom of darkness. I ask You to push back the darkness in individual hearts who get saved, in families torn apart by sin as You restore broken marriages, and in the work place as You set the tone for the work environment. I do not know when this will happen but I ask You to work in Kermit like they have never seen before.

I ask You to keep the burden heavy on my heart night and day so I continue to join the others there in prayer. I ask You to direct me in how to pray. Please do not let me lose the burden to pray for that town I have come to care so much about. I know You are at work. I give You praise for that. I bless Your name for Your faithfulness. I bless You for all You have done in Kermit and all You will do in the future. I trust You for all of this in Jesus' name, amen.

I've Had A Belly Full Washington

We are in another political season. Every newscast has something about presidential candidates or people in congress or the senate. There are scandals. Multiple scandals. Email scandals. Executive Order scandals. Legislature scandals. Budget wastes that working Americans cannot understand and have no clue are taking place. Planned Parenthood scandals. There is no accountability.

Yet politicians rule the airwaves making their putrid speeches. They talk with silver tongues and smile their plastic smiles. They say they care about the American people but once elected are immediately bought off by lobbyist who have agendas. Soon those campaign promises are forgotten until the next election. Where are the men and women in government and society with backbone who cannot be bought off, silenced, intimidated, or herded into politically correct points of view.

I AM SICK OF IT. I HAVE HAD A BELLY FULL OF PEOPLE WHO CONSTANTLY VOTE AND LEAD AGAINST DOING IT GOD'S WAY. I do not believe their slick presentations. I do not trust their statistics slanted to their advantage. I weary of promises made and promises unkept. Frankly, I've had it with campaigns. GOD IS THE ONLY HOPE FOR AMERICA. Politicians will not save us. Only God can rescue this nation from ourselves. Only God can get our attention, move us to repentance, and open blinded eyes. Who really cares about me and my family and you and your family in Washington? Jesus cares and knows my family by name. My trust is in Him.

I have multiple issues. If a city clerk can be forced to sign homosexual marriage certificates or be arrested and put in jail against her religious convictions, where does it end. Will I and my fellow pastors be arrested and jailed when we refuse to officiate homosexual marriages? That is the logical conclusion. How long before homosexual activist target churches and pastors to force their agenda. Pastors will become open targets. What is more sad, is many pastors will  cave into the peer pressure to save their own hides forgetting they will give an account to God for such cowardly actions. Fearing imprisonment pastors will violate God's law which always trump the laws of the land.

I am sickened that our barbaric country has been exposed for not only murdering unborn babies but for also selling their body parts. It is hard to believe that this travesty is actually taking place in modernity. Babies are born alive and brutally killed so body parts can be harvested. Yet Planned Parenthood is politically correct and powerful and few have the guts to say anything or stand against it. What sickens me more is that many people dismiss the whole thing and turn a deaf ear. There is little regard for human life. If this starts with babies and fetuses, the day will come when others will be targeted. It happened in Nazi Germany with the Jews. Will Christians be the next group silenced and exterminated because human life is not valued. Even as I write this there is a dog and pony show hearing on Capitol Hill where questions will be asked, lies and deception will be given in answers, all directed toward Planned Parenthood, but in the end nothing will change. NOTHING.

Washington politicians are largely only concerned with their personal gain and self promotion. Such theatrics and deception would never fly in normal work places. People get up and work hard for the money they make. They have to budget groceries, gas, housing, transportation, and other necessities. Most of us have a little extra we can play with and buy the things we want or spend money on fun. When that money is gone we are forced to quit spending. How in the world can Washington continue spend money they do not have. It is ludicrous. It is easy to write checks on accounts with your name not attached to it and with no accountability.

I've had a belly full of denying God, the truth of the Bible, promoting ungodly agendas and the remaking of a country that I grew up in and loved, and still love to this day. I do not love what our country has become. Sin abounds. Things once done in secret are now flaunted openly in the public square. We have shamed ourselves before a watching world. We have shamed Christ and painted Him as powerless and pathetic. Muslims have more convictions than many Christians.

I've had a belly of so called Christians who deny the principles of scripture to blend in with the times. If true believers would only stand up boldly, pray fervently and perseveringly, and hold Washington accountable, I am confident our nation could recover. II Chronicles 7:14 gives me this hope. "If My people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land."

Gutless Christians and politicians who cower under trial, persecution, and peer pressure will never bring about a much needed spiritual awakening to our nation. SHAME ON US! SHAME ON US FOR WHAT WE HAVE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN TO THIS NATION. SHAME ON US FOR WHAT WE ALLOW TO HAPPEN YEAR AFTER YEAR IN WASHINGTON. SHAME ON US FOR DENYING AND REJECTING GOD WHO FOUNDED THIS NATION AND HAS BLESSED IT SO ABUNDANTLY.

It is almost enough to make me want to run for public office to make a difference. I will not lower my purpose in life to do that though. There is no greater place for me to make a difference than in the local church, behind the pulpit preaching, and behind this computer screen calling people back to God. I don't ever want to be silenced by big crowds, big donors, or special interest members who want to muzzle the prophet. I want to shout as through a megaphone to America and Washington, "REPENT. HUMBLE YOURSELVES BEFORE ALMIGHTY GOD. CHANGE YOUR WAYS. SEEK GOD FOR HIS HELP, PROTECTION, PROVISION, AND LEADERSHIP IN THIS NATION." 

More than ever we need to hear, "Thus says the Lord." I am thankful for Dr. Robert Jeffress and his bold preaching and bold stand. I am also thankful for Jim Cymbala, Dr. David Jeremiah, and a host of other pastors who preach it plain and stand against the wickedness of our day. May the Lord raise tens of thousands more just like them.

What will it take for you to get a belly full of the foolishness of Washington and the sinfulness of this nation. Those politicians forget the government is supposed represent us. They want us for our votes and quickly forget all about us. They ignore God and the voice of Christians who speak for God.

In my little corner of the field I plow. It is not a big field and my influence is small. Yet if you plow in your part of the field and others do the same we can do something. We can pray and pray until God rescues our nation from ourselves. It will never happen as long as we remain apathetic.

God, give us a belly full of sin, lies, deception, greed, selfishness, wickedness, calling sin a new point of view, politicians, and political correctness in our own lives as well as in Washington. I ask You to gnaw our insides with your Holy Spirit, make us restless, provoke us to prayer, and to stand for You. In Jesus name.

A Story Of Revival

I have long been a student of revival. My bookshelves are lined with multiple volumes about historical revival. Some of these revivals are famous. Others are more obscure. Each tells its own story of the glory of God coming down and kissing earth.

This week I read of one such obscure revival. I've never seen this story in any other book. I found the story in Matthew Backholer's book Revival Fires and Awakenings; Thirty-Six Visitations of the Holy Spirit. 

In the early 1830's in a small mining town in Wales God showed up in a marvelous fashion and an unusual way. In the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales wickedness abounded. The town was noted for its crime, gambling, cheating, sin, and prostitution. It looked like an unlikely place for a revival.

One Sunday evening a visiting pastor came to preach in the small Methodist Chapel. The service began at 6:00 p.m. The visiting minister asked a man in the congregation to open the service in prayer. This man had been praying for his town for a long time. Typically opening prayers to start a service last a minute or two. People begin to squirm if the prayer lasts longer. God definitely had something else in mind that evening.

On this night the Spirit of God moved in this man and his prayer lasted for twenty minutes. He asked God to sweep across the community saving people and turning people back to Him. As soon as he stopped praying another man rose to his feet spontaneously and picked up where the first man left off and continued in prayer. This scene was repeated. By this time the glorious presence of God filled the tiny chapel. People kept crying out to God.

Nine hours later! Let that sink in. For nine hours those people were caught up in the presence of God in prayer! Nobody preached. Nobody sang special music. No choir sang. People just prayed. For nine hours they prayed! That in itself would be revival enough but the story does not end there.

At 3:00 a.m. the church leadership decided to end the meeting due to the fact that the men had to go work in the mines at 6:00 a.m. The service was dismissed and as the people walked away from the chapel they came to a cross road where each would walk to their home. The groups dispersed in four different groups headed in four different directions. Each group only traveled about forty yards before four different prayer meetings broke out on the road. Soon each group returned to the chapel for more prayer.

Around 5:00 a.m. some of the men left the prayer meeting for work in the mines. When they arrived in the mines what happened next proved miraculous. As the men from the prayer meeting entered the mines their co-workers began to fall to their knees under conviction and cry out to God for mercy. The men from the Methodist chapel went around to their fallen colleagues to pray for them.  The owners of the quarries fell under conviction also and many were saved. It is reported the move of God spread as far as thirty miles away.

What an incredible story. Think about that the next time the pastor steps up in a Sunday evening service and calls on someone to pray. Think about how God used one praying man who remained sensitive to the Holy Spirit and prayed more than a token prayer that historic Sunday evening. God could do the same thing in your church as well as in Faith Community. That is exciting. What if God showed up this Sunday evening and called your church to pray for nine hours straight and then an additional two hours. Eleven hours of prayer! Would you attend that service? Would stay the whole night through even though you had to work the next morning.

I have written and preached this repeatedly for the past two decades. Revival is costly. We think we can ask God for revival and yet have it on our terms. When God really shows up everything changes. He takes over. I long to see those days again.

I am grateful that story did not get lost over the years. Nearly two centuries have passed since God moved so dramatically in that town. Oh, that He would do it again where we live for the glory of His name.

If It Comes To It - Choose Death!

Last night, after our Sunday night church prayer meeting, I drove home with Tanner and Tucker. The timing was perfect to talk to them about something heavy on my heart. The topic had never been discussed among us before and I needed to give them some parental guidance.

I talked to them about the end times and the things that will happen. My primary purpose was to instruct them under no circumstances to take the mark of the beast. I told them it would be better to choose death and have their head chopped off than to deny their faith in Jesus Christ.

They were very silent. The topic of choosing death over compromising your faith is sobering. Not something that 17 and 16 year old boys think about often. That is why I needed to talk to them about this all the more. None of us know when the end will come. People predict but they are always wrong. None of know. I don't know how long I will be around. This is not a conversation I could put off.

It is not a conversation you should put off talking about with your family and closest friends. In the moment of trial many people will give into the pressure. They might  wilt like flowers in the hot Texas summer. They will denounce Jesus and take the mark of the beast bowing to peer pressure. We must prepare ourselves to stand firm. Whether that be a couple of years or several decades.

I recently celebrated another birthday. One more and I will turn fifty. Fifty years old. It is hard to believe. Seems like not that long ago I was riding my big wheel in the Englewood Terrace neighborhood as a little boy. We played in the woods, played chase on our bicycles, and played whatever ball was in season at the time. Next thing you know I am playing varsity football for the mighty Lufkin Panthers. Time flew by. I remember my last high school football practice and last varsity game at 28-0 spanking of the Nacogdoches Dragons.

My whole life changed my junior year when a local youth minister introduced me to Jesus. Jesus saved me from my sins and made me a new creation. It was His leadership that led me to play football at Howard Payne University. God had much more in store. I studied for the ministry at Howard Payne and met Brenda there. We were married after we graduated. Then the kids came and then they grew up. Taylor graduated two years ago and Tanner will graduate this Spring. It is hard to believe.

One day I will die or Jesus will come get me along with the other saints. I will not always be here to give my kids guidance. I will not always be here to write or to preach sermons. This is something burning deep in my heart. A message I just had to get out.

If it comes down to a choice between compromise and denying our faith in Jesus Christ or death - LET US DETERMINEDLY CHOOSE DEATH! May our anthem be the same as Paul, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain." [Phil 1:21] Should we be called on to stand firm or face martyrdom let us choose death with a smile on our face. In the twinkling of an eye we will say goodbye to this world and walk into another world we cannot imagine. The reward is well worth the risk. If it comes down to it, let us choose death.

What Will It Be Like In The End?

There is a lot of talk about the end times and the last days. It is hard not believe we are living in those days. You can read your Bible and the morning newspaper side by side and see things are lining up. God has already scripted the end.

There will be two beasts. One the Anti-Christ and the other the false prophet. There are some who believe both are alive today. In the end, the world will unite under a one world government. People will be required to take the mark of the beast to buy goods. There are many reports about remote frequency identification chips that are already available to be implanted. True followers of Christ are instructed not to take this mark of the beast even though it will result in being killed. It might even result in beheading.

The end times do not look so far away from where I sit. They look closer than ever. The drama is playing out just as God said it would.

There will be horrible persecution. It is hard to imagine it getting much worse than what we read about with ISIS and extreme Muslim groups, who not only arrest Christians, but also torture and murder them. In the end it will be much worse and martyrs will be multiplied by the thousands. In the end the masses will be deceived by a new world order leader. He will come with a eloquence and the promise of unifying leadership. He will deceive. He will be a pawn of Satan.

God will pour out severe judgements on planet earth. There will be natural and supernatural disasters abounding. It will be a horrific time to be alive. Those who follow Christ will fear for their lives. They will be hunted down like fugitives,  imprisoned, and murdered. Serving Christ will become increasingly costly.

We are already seeing this in our day. The end times are no longer something to be thought of way off in the future. The end times are upon us. It is time to wake up and be sober minded. It is time to discern the events of the day. It is time to recognize the signs of the times.