With 365 days in the year, how amusing to see the preparations for the holiday (Christmas) on the shelves before the end of October.

I  waited, and now it was also apparent that the new word for the season leading up to Christmas is “Black Friday”. It starts the Thanksgiving rush and ends who knows when…  All sales are printed with rush information to be the first to get your specials and super sales only available  during Black Friday. There is little information about why shopping and gift purchasing is done at this time of the year. It is all about the tradition to shop and buy gifts.

Will you be caught up in this frenzy and make the coffers full of your sacred cash so they can promote their anti Christmas agenda. Look at the ads. Will you let this sacred season become a memory to the generation to come? One thing you can do is shop at the christian stores if you must go.Look for those places that promote Christmas in their ads and decorate with christian symbols in their stores.  Merry Christmas!!!

I gave my heart to the LORD as a young 19 year old civil rights activist, the week after the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.  It was on Good Friday, that year, in my grandfather’s church (where he was Pastor). Within a week I received my draft notice into the military and it prompted a letter I wrote to Congress about the unconstitutionality of the Draft for men unable to vote..

What I hated as a young man (To become a Soldier) would become the cornerstone of my life as a minister. I have had to fight battles ever since. As a soldier, I was trained, tried and tested in my new faith. Because I was tall I had to have an extra long bed an uniforms. As a Combat Medic, I was challenged with working on my Holy Day at the post hospital. My first guard duty on base prompted a confrontation because I had already made plans to be in church. Throughout,  I have had to respond to challenges and temptations and struggles.that had I not had personal encounters with our heavenly Father would not have seen any victories. .

Now I see the call for duty due to the culture redefining marriage and the family our national heritage and spiritual compass in this century. In my first battle,  The Congress of The United States was prompted to draft and pass the 26th Amendment to the Bill of Rights. That amendment gives an 18 year old the right to Vote. It was made law in 1971. (My state Senator Birch Bayh of Indiana pushed it through Congress.)

Today, we are faced with a choice to leave this country better or in ruins for our children and grandchildren. We are faced with redefining our inherited way of life or anchoring and deepening our historical posture. Either way, a series of battles will ensue. We have waited till we must act. Are you ready for some action?

I met a man as I climbed the steps to ride the city transit. He happened to be the driver. He asked if I were a Christian? I answered that I was a believer. (For some reason, since giving my heart to the Lord, I have steered away from accepting such a label.) He said he noticed I had my Bible so he knew I must be a Christian.

Since he was talking, I decided to set immediately across from him. He asked if I had heard of a particular minister that conducted meetings under a tent? I answered that I had heard of him. He began  to tell me that he worked for that ministry for a while and was part of the team to set up the tents. He told me that after some time he left that job and began driving the bus. He said he picked up a bad habit of smoking and asked if I would remember to pray that he would stop this habit when I said my prayers that evening? I got off the bus and went about my daily affairs.

That night I remember showering late and praying before going to sleep. I remember having to get up approximately at 530 am. I was in the U.S. Army and despite our turn in time we were ordered out of bed by a unit sergeant on time every week day. Sometimes I was awakened as soon as his feet touched the barracks floor. He knew I had been out late. The lights were turned out by him nightly and he would see who was not in bed yet.

I spent much of my free time at the base Chapel and would catch the last bus back to the barracks at 10 pm. Many nights I walked into a quite barracks or to the sound of sleeping snoring soldiers. The only light was coming from the latrine at the other end of the barracks. I’d open my locker, slip out my towel and toiletries and a pair of shorts and the government issue olive T-shirt. I’d wash off the activities of the day before approaching my King on my knees at my bedside.

In the shower, I’d only thought of the worship service with the Lord that bought closure on every day. I was always reminding Him how much I wanted to be included in His plans and felt so insignificant in the army.

A few days later I got on the bus and the same driver was there again. He spoke up. “You must have prayed for me the other day, because I haven’t smoked since.” I did not answer except to smile at him.

As I walked out of the local post office and saw a worker from Chick-Fil-A go in, I turned and asked her how was business. She responded that she was glad to get a break due to the cars surrounding the store at the mall. She stated you could not see the store. I had planned to visit and seeing the uniform gave me a good reminder. When I approached the mall location I had to decide if I was going to join the line of cars stretching around and down the main road or to find a parking space several rows out from the store. Altho the temp  registered 110 degrees on my car dash, it looked as though many believers were not detained by the heat and had gotten the word to show their appreciation to the food chain for making its stand on the gay issues. I got in the 20 minute wait line and within a short while was offered a cup of water by one of the employees. Ahead of me was a woman who engaged in conversation with me and another woman with her youths who also told of her family trip to the St Vincent Island to work on some ministry housing and her preteen daughter was passing their water and scraping paint from the project. Well done and hats off to the Chick-Fil-A company. Where a family can yet get a full meal and good service and wholesome conversation among strangers. Well, I was also approached by someone who I hadn’t seen in years and renewed that connection. I going back later. it was worth the drive and wait  and a great cup of refilled lemonade for suck a hot day. The folks at the table across from me had their sodas refilled. Also thanks to former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee For making the suggestion.

I have not met personally any whistle blowers, however I know we have a Hornblower. I went to college on the G I Bill. After skipping a semester,  I received notice that I could be required to pay back some of the benefits. I tried to make it clear in letters written back and forth that no funds were used that were not part of my entitlements. The case was not cleared without a trip to state agency and  a person to person interview with a Mr. (And I kid you not.) Hornblower.

Another incident that a friend of mine faced was his audit of his taxes by the IRS. He had concerns due to the interview being conducted by a Mr. Domuch.

So I have been keeping an eye on the disaster that occurred last year in Japan. I have reports that the fallout is much larger than what took place at Chernobyl years ago. I wonder if there are any Watchmen out there who have reports? I need to concur some of my concerns that are being reported on you-tube. On the other hand I see possible a major change on the horizon.

I was planting  vegetables in my back yard on the other afternoon, when I remembered a minister who stayed in my home 30 years earlier less than a week. He ministered in my home church where I was associate minister and my wife served as secretary. We had some wonderful days together. He was planning a trip to Trinidad, West Indies also. Those few days were the only time we ever fellowshipped together.  I later sent him 100 Bibles in Spanish (I traveled 300 miles to a Chicago suburb for them.) to assist his work there. He later  returned to the states and settled in Florida.

I was sitting at my computer ten years ago searching the internet one day and noticed a conference he was having with a mutual friend. I thought to make contact and after some calls was finally able to connect with him.  We talked briefly, for he had forgotten.

Now he had come to mind again. I came into the house and washed my hands thinking if I called there would likely be no response. Besides if he had not remembered me before it would be useless to interrupt his day. I sat at my office desk and searched for his ministry website. I had forgotten much of the detail myself.  I was only interested in the history of his work and whether he had weathered the storms of life. I finally found a number and dialed to hear a recorded message. Than I got up and went into my kitchen to prepare something for dinner. As it was steaming I returned to my desk. As I set down a scene flashed before my mind as though this had happened before. I saw myself dialing this same brother and I saw him answering the phone. I almost ignored it until I realized this had not actually taken place. Than I was prompted to dial his number. I dialed with confidence that I would talk to him this time. When the person answered on the other end, although it was not him, I asked for him and he was called to the phone.We talked and he later asked how I got in touch with him explaining that he was not usually on site at that phone on that day of the week. We exchanged info and he offered to updated me later because he needed to get back to a meeting.

It had been 10 years and behind this brief visual I dialed the number available and he is summoned to take the call. Could this be an operation of the spiritual gift, “Discernment’?

I awakened the other morning and again was reminded what the Lord had to said to me about being pure in heart. This week He has caused me to reevaluate some things in hind sight to understand where my heart’s at.He has reminded me that my decisions do affect others either positively or negatively.

I walked into Panera Bread and saw a brother that directs a ministry. He suggested we get a time to talk. So I stopped there and set down with him. He began to give me a business idea when I interrupted and mentioned that I had heard about his marriage falling apart and was sorry. He told me everyone one told him to move on so he was and went back into the spill on making some money.. I recognized that he was hurt but trying to overcome it digging into a new business thrust. He also told me one ministry friend called him up and told him off. There was more to the conversation, however my point is towards a pure heart.  We must get control of ourselves and stop this epidemic of marriage failings.

I was on a call that same day with another minister friend. He told me he was disappointed when I asked another minister friend to help him because he was traveling his way and having challenges. This friend thought I should not have made the request. I became alarmed. I reminded him that i would expect the same if he knew that I was traveling somewhere and he had friends there. (He had told me recently his marriage was falling apart.) i remembered something I had heard my grandfather (a Pastor) say many years ago. “People flock to fires, fights and funerals.” That was certainly true when we were young. I could remember doing that as a youngster many times. you would meet neighbors that you didn’t know you had at such events..

I thought for a moment and realized that a marriage in trouble is like a house on fire. Everyone should be willing to get a bucket and stop the flames. Today people are isolated and private. Even now the sirens draw fewer crowds than yesterday. Somehow there has been an insensitivity to the pure issues of family life. I have seen it in prayer meetings, also. Prayer is usually made for those outside the immediate group.There are very few personal requests. Many prayers are for unknown persons and situations. It’s like we are saying pledges so we can stay current with the group. What has happened to us?  Are we Okay?

I am believing for a team of workers who are willing to put their energy and talents and attention to this issue of Divorce. The community is on fire. We must all stop and grab a bucket.  I believe we can make a difference in the house of God and turn this flame away from the church. Its time to prepare a bride for the bridegroom for she will be perfected as he returns..

Jesus said, “Blessed are the Pure in heart for they shall see God.”  Immediately before He said that He talked about being merciful. It looks like his entire talk on the Mount was progressive from the lower steps to the upper levels. Looks like he was giving a picture message. He must have finished this message standing or leaping. For we do know He came down from the mountain when it was over.

It is spring and time to go up on our mountain. On the mountain you can see long distances. It seems that many have dwelt in the valleys too long. Many shadows are cast in the valleys. The winds are stronger in the valleys. The passage ways have prevented some from catching enough sun to survive.I remember a statement made several years ago, “This too will Pass.”

Lord I pray this season of valley crossings will lead us to green pastures and flowing waters so that those who have been hurt and picked apart will be strengthened to pick up again pails of refreshing  waters and return to mount the peaks with you joyfully restored and refreshed.