Jeff Searcy

“The B Side…”

Hello, October. Oh, how glad I am to see you. Leaves are changing…everywhere but here in Florida (bummer!). College football is in full swing. The Fall Classic is upon us.  The annual family pilgrimage to the apple and pumpkin farms of North Georgia is so close I can taste it…literally! And for all the fans of Inspirational Country Music, the ICM Awards are just days away. And in honor of the ICM’s and Power Source Magazine, both very near and dear to my heart, the theme of this month’s article has an obvious ‘musical inspiration’.

It hasn’t been that long ago that records or albums, the vinyl type played on a turntable, were the way we enjoyed music. I can still hear the 33’s played at 78…chipmunks! Those old enough to remember are laughing in nostalgia. Oh, the pain and anguish you felt when you left a record in sunlight or let it get scratched. We all still have memories of songs that would never end due to a stuck needle and a trip from the other side of the house was necessary to help the needle along so the song would finish. How many of you who remember the beloved vinyls ever found yourself mesmerized by the needle going up and down as a warped record went around…and around…and around on the turntable? Oh, the memories…and how times have changed.

Of course, now we can get individual songs electronically. But back in the day (For those of you over 40 please hang with me for another 30 seconds) we got individual songs via smaller records called 45’s, records played at 45 rpm’s. The 45’s had an A side and a B side. The A side was always the ‘hit single’ and the B side was another song from the artist’s album, usually not slated to be promoted as a ‘hit’. And even though every now and then it became as big of a hit as its A side counterpart, the B side song was simply a song to fill the back side of a record.

In the life of a new believer in Christ, the A side of the record is this awesome, incredible, eternal new life song with Christ and the decision for Him to be their Lord and Savior. This is the ‘hit’…as it should be. This is the side that receives most of the attention and the ‘airplay’. The B side to this record, however, is equally as important and awesome but a bit scarier, painful, and not necessarily material for the marketing posters. But it is critical to the spiritual life of this new believer that the B side be listened to as well. When someone accepts Christ into their hearts, their life is changed forever. That decision also propels this new Christian right into the middle of an all out war…one where every weapon of the enemy is pointed at, well, them. New Christians, even Christians further along in their faith seeking to get closer to the Lord, pose a serious threat to the devil. Satan will do everything he can, as quickly as possible, to stop this new life direction and choice. That means he will come with everything he has, from all sides and sources. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us “…the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” To use an analogy from the jungle, a baby antelope or an animal that is wounded is much easier prey than one that is older, faster, more experienced, and especially one that is part of a larger group.

As Christians, we need to reach out to, take responsibility for, and be real with people seeking a new or renewed life in Christ. They need to know that a decision to accept Christ as Lord of their life is the greatest decision they will ever make and one that will radically change their life forever. It is one that will bring them into direct and eternal fellowship with the all powerful and sovereign Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Great I Am, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Beginning and the End. They need to know it is also a decision that will bring about an all out spiritual attack intended to stop that ‘life’ before it gets started. However, they can take heart, and we need to remember, that the devil loses (Revelation 20:10), earthly troubles have benefit (1 Peter 1:6-9), Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33), and that believers are heirs to the throne of Glory (Galatians 4:7) and will live forever (1 John 2:17). That rocks…and so does our God!

So if you come across a music store that advertises classic records and music, I encourage you to go inside. Find the 45’s and check out some of the A side titles. Given the resurgence in popularity of music from the 60’s, 70’s, and even 80’s, you will likely recognize some of them…even if you’re a twenty something. But don’t stop there. Turn it over. There is a very good chance there is a great tune on the B side as well. To all those who fill our lives with music, we thank you and celebrate you. More so, however, we are thankful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as He IS the song of our heart. “Let the Word of Christ – the Message – have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives….And sing, sing your hearts out to God!” (Colossians 3:16 MSG).   Keep it real…Armor Up…and Don’t Die Stupid!   JSS

The above article appeared in the October 2011 Issue of Power Source Magazine, www.powersourcemagazine.com. Click HERE to view the pdf of the actual article.

“Don’t Die Stupid”  by Jeff Searcy

Welcome to September. Summer is nearing an end…except for many of us who still are enjoying, only partially I’m sure, temperatures in 90’s. College football is literally knocking down the door. Professional football, hockey, and basketball are upon us. Professional baseball is winding down and getting ready for the playoffs and the fall classic. And school is in full swing for most of the country. Sorry, kids. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year as it marks the end of one season and sparks the excitement and anticipation of a new one upcoming. Enough about fall…on to the matter at hand.

I know that you are probably scratching your head and asking yourself, “What in the world is he talking about…Don’t Die Stupid™?” I truly hope this is not the case but I have to accept the fact that many of you may have taken offense to thetitle and adopted an “I don’t think I like his tone” attitude. Again, I hope not. If I may, this article marks my 1 year anniversary as a contributor to Power Source Magazine. It has been awesome. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to share what God places on my heart with you and hope that I will get the benefit of the doubt and that you will hold judgment until the end. If not…it’s okay. I understand. Pssst…If you want to keep reading, I won’t tell anyone.

Don’t Die Stupid is a saying that has been used by the military for decades. It is simply a statement that makes the point of, well, don’t end up dead because you did something you knew you shouldn’t or didn’t do something you knew you should. In other words, don’t get shot in the head while holding your helmet in your hand. Don’t get shot in the chest with your body armor lying on the floor next to you. Or, don’t get shot in the backside because you didn’t dig your hole deep enough and half of your body could be seen by the enemy. Need I continue?  It is about making sure you do the things necessary to reduce the chances of getting killed in battle. But at the end of the day, dying is inevitable and when God calls us home, we go. However, He also gives us the sense not to assist in a premature earthly exit.

Now, despite the fact that there will be many who may disagree with me, I am convinced there has not been a more important statement ever made…period…by anyone…than the one made by Jesus Christ when He told His disciples, “…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. The Bible is the inerrant and inspired word of God. Spending time in it is how we grow and strengthen our relationship with God and it is how He speaks to us. Bottom line, if nothing else is obtained from time spent in God’s word, you had better get the fact that Jesus is the only way to heaven or else an eternity in Hell will be your fate. Period. End of story. Do not pass go and do not collect $200. Do not let the somewhat lighthearted nature of the Monopoly reference reduce the severity of the dying without knowing Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Needless to say, its importance cannot be overstated.

 If I may, I would like to share some important research findings. Fact: One out of one people die…with  the overwhelming majority having no idea when or where death will occur. Fact: Death is not optional.  However, how one dies is. Of course, I am not referring to the manner in which death occurs, but the  state of the heart. So…Don’t Die Stupid.

This summer, Servant Warrior Ministries launched a “Knowledge Initiative” called Don’t Die Stupid™. Our goal is to reach anyone and everyone, especially the younger generations, and share with them the most important thing they could ever learn…that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, the life, and the ONLY way to heaven. (John 14:6) Whether we choose to accept it or not, we are in a battle of life and death. And if someone knew how to ensure victory in that battle, not to share that information with the world would be a tragedy…not to mention  violate the directive given by our Savior to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19 NIV), and “Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all.” (Mark 16:15-16 MSG)

In his letter to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul said, “Even though I am free from demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized – whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ-but entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). I share his vision. Amen!

Join Servant Warrior in our mission to spread the Message and the life saving News of Jesus Christ. Visit www.dontdiestupid.net or www.servantwarriorministries.org and buy your Don’t Die Stupid™ t-shirt, bumper sticker, or decal. Buy one for a friend or someone you care about because…Friends Don’t Let Friends Die Stupid.

Keep it real…Armor Up.

The above is the content of the article from September 2011 Power Source Magazine. Click HERE for the pdf.

Hanging With Sinners  by Jeff Searcy

Welcome to August…the third quarter hump and the beginning of the off ramp into fall. For so many of us, however, summer has not let loose its grip and continues to bring us to the question we have asked more times than we care to admit, “Can it get any hotter?” Of course, the answer usually ends up being, “Yes”, as it never fails to…”get hotter”. Okay, enough about hot weather.

There have been times in my life where I have been cautious myself and cautioned by others about “hanging with the wrong crowd”. In fact, one thing that my mother always told me was that “I am known by the company I keep.” How true that is. And I have held that as a tenet of mine throughout my personal and professional life. However, I am so thankful that Christ didn’t hold that sentiment as His mantra.

Earlier this year, I received a message from a friend warning me about an individual that I had had a conversation with. According to the information my friend was given, I was going to be affiliated with the individual in question. The person I spoke with told me of their serious lack in judgment that led to some really bad choices. And despite the fact the person had repented and was not condemned but forgiven by the only One worthy of casting judgment, the scarlet letter remained.  The information my friend received regarding my affiliation was inaccurate. And despite the fact that I appreciated the spirit in which the warning was sent, it really struck a nerve in me…so much so that I was compelled to write about it fueled by the Holy Spirit’s fire in me and His conviction in my heart.

As I sat and thought about the warning from my friend, who was only looking out for my best interest, I came to grips with some hard realities in my own life. How often have I come across or hear of people who have made bad choices, lied, cheated, broke the law, even murdered or raped, and casted them aside? Rather than seeing them as someone that should be cast aside or condemned, I should see them as someone who is in need of experiencing and knowing the grace and unconditional love of Almighty God. I don’t have to condone the sin to love the sinner (a label that I carry as well). I must accept the reality that if I am going to be true to the calling God has put on my heart, to reach men of all ages, where they are, share with them the love of Christ, and love them as He loves them (which we are commanded to do), then I don’t get to be particular about who I reach out or minister to. Do I engage or take part in what the other person is doing? If it breaks the law or goes against God’s Word, absolutely, not. Do I pray for them and do what I can to show and share with them the love of Christ? Absolutely.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He didn’t spend all of His time with “church” people. He spent time with and loved, only as an all sufficient Savior could, those society deemed outcasts, unclean, unworthy. In fact, when the disciples were asked by the Pharisees why Jesus ate with tax collectors and ‘sinners’, Jesus overheard and responded by saying, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matt 9:12 NIV)  We are assured “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Rom 8:1) and are told, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matt 7:1-2) Know this: The wrong we see in others, Jesus sees in us. Our challenge today, and every day, is to be open to opportunities to share the grace and unconditional love of Christ and the Message with other sinners.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Your love and grace, neither of which I deserve. Forgive me for judging others. Please help me to look inward before I look outward. Please give me a humble heart and spirit so that I see the plank in my eye before I see the sawdust in my brother’s. Help me love as You love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.        

Love as He loves. Keep it vertical. Armor Up.

From the August 2011 edition of Power Source Magazine. 

Hello, all. I can’t believe it is July already. The year has certainly flown by. Since we are here, we might as well celebrate our freedom. We thank our Lord Jesus Christ for crushing the chains that have held us captive. We thank Him for setting us free from sin through His shed blood. (Rev 1:5) His death, burial, and resurrection have given eternal life to and made the crimson stain of sin as white as snow for those who call on Him and ask Him into their heart as their Lord and Savior. He has given us ultimate freedom through His unconditional love and grace. We bring everything to Him at the foot of the cross…and walk in victory and in freedom through the redemptive power of Almighty God. Amen. Now that is an Independence Day message!

I’m sorry. You thought I was talking about our nation’s freedom and the celebration that comes every year on July 4^th, didn’t you? We certainly cannot forget that. Nor can we forget those who, throughout our nation’s history, sacrificed, some ultimately, to ensure the freedom we enjoy today as citizens of the greatest country on the face of the earth. The fire, the passion, the power of God that inspired and empowered early warriors…radicals…patriots…who went against the establishment and the chains of tyranny, who held firm to their faith in Almighty God and the belief that all are created equal, and who risked everything to live and to worship as free men, is alive and well. The fuel that has propelled men, heroes from all walks and abilities, throughout history is ready to be ignited in the men of today.

 Unlike the Founding Fathers and patriots of the early colonies, we do not live under the  tyrannical rule of an evil king. We do, however, live in a world ruled by one who, by the way is as  real as King George III, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), who lies and deceives (John 8:44), and who would like nothing more than for us to remain chained to the sins and destructive ways that keep us from experiencing the freedom that comes with God’s grace and love. “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” — Patrick Henry. There is absolute freedom in the grace given to us through Christ…and the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

The battles men face on a daily basis and the chains of pride, fear, lust, arrogance, failure, idolatry, and others that men struggle to free themselves from are no different today than they were in the beginning. However, we are reminded of Christ’s sacrifice and that He “…has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” (Galatians 5:1, MSG) The plight for freedom throughout history resonates through the words of Scripture, through patriots, and warriors, and is a battle cry for the men of today.

“They tell us Sir, that we are weak — unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed…? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature has placed in our power.” — Patrick Henry

The Truth tells us “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37, NIV) We know that the fight for freedom has ultimately been won. We march today under that great banner of victory, washed by the blood, armed with the Word, dressed in the armor of righteousness, believing and thanking Christ for what He is going to do. We pray that we will recognize who the enemy is and claim victory as we are ready to face every challenge by Your causative and overcoming power. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Until next month…Keep it real…Keep it vertical…and Armor Up!

Jeff Searcy is a highly energized & radical servant of the Almighty, husband, dad, founder of Servant Warrior Ministries, executive, strategist, speaker, & average golfer. For more information visit www.jeffsearcy.net and www.servantwarriorministries.org.

The above article is from the July 2011 Power Source Magazine and can be found at www.powersourcemagazine.com. 

Hello, all. Welcome to June…vacation month. School is out, for many, the weather is hot, and I have no doubt that many of you will be hitting the road very soon in search of great adventures…and possibly some much needed Advil as a result of those adventures. Nevertheless, the roads will be full of travelers. Last month, we took a slight departure from our road trip to hit the skies and ‘Lighten the Load’. If I may, I’d like to bring us back to the black top…or should I say, repair shop.

What is the last thing you want to have happen when you are a few hundred miles away from home? Oh, the answers are endless and certainly depend on a number of factors. There are a few that come to mind right away: someone gets sick (of course), a flat tire, blown hose, credit card trouble, DVD player in the back seat goes down, etc…For me, it’s the “Check Engine” light. Why? It can produce a level of uncertainty which could lead to feelings of uneasiness, anger, frustration, doubt, even fear. From something harmless to something “shut down engine” serious, that little light could be triggered by anything. However, there are God-elements to every frustrating situation, I call them divinely facilitated opportunities, that we often miss unless we are able to look past the situation at hand and are willing to be open to seeing things as God sees them or be used as He intends to use us. For example…

This year while on a trip with my family, the “Check Engine” light came on in our 1999 Suburban. It got my attention but we didn’t drive it the rest of the weekend so I didn’t think much about it until we started home. We hadn’t gone 5 miles before the car began to act up. I wasn’t going to take any chances. We went to a local auto parts store that does the free error code scan. I got the codes and a recommended repair shop. So I took my family back to our relatives’ house, unloaded it and them, and then took the family bus to the recommended shop. Based on the computer scan, I was looking at a rather costly repair…well over $600 between parts, labor, diagnostics, etc…. To be honest, I was a bit discouraged. I did NOT have the money to pay for car repairs. But rather than get upset, which is usually my reaction, I accepted there wasn’t much I could do about it and began to pray and ask God to reveal why I was there because the repair shop was NOT where I wanted to spend the day. Besides the obvious, the car issue meant we were going to miss my son’s baseball game. Did I also mention I am the head coach? Despite this, I knew in my heart there was a reason that I was there that had absolutely nothing to do with the Suburban. I just felt it.

The parts associated with the codes were replaced. Problem now…the error codes remained. I had to laugh. After some further diagnostics and voltage checks the problem was found…a blown fuse. Needless to say, the repair was not as costly as anticipated. And even though every indication and troubleshooting result said one thing, the actual problem was something completely different…and in hindsight, much more simple. The shop owner, an accomplished technician, was clearly embarrassed…and said as much. He said that he had never seen that before. I told him there was no need to be embarrassed. He did all he knew to do and followed the obvious path resulting from what the indications told him. During my time at the shop and through our conversations, I realized he was a man of faith…affirming that I was there for a reason. To make a long story short, as we were wrapping up I was able to share with him about Servant Warrior Ministries, give him some Full Armor prayer cards that he could use and pass onto others, and hopefully gained a new friend. He said it was funny that we were having this conversation because his pastor’s message the day before was about stepping out of our comfort zones and why we don’t reach out to others. You know, I always smile when someone hints at irony because I know there is NO irony or coincidences when you are dealing with God.

Why did all this happen? Why was I pointed to that shop and not another? Why did He keep me there 5 hours? Why did God place an undeniable prompting on my heart that there was a reason I was there that morning? I don’t know. I hope that one day I find out. One thing I do know is that it was God working in and through me that kept me from losing my cool. Additionally, I am pretty confident that what happened at the end of my 5 hour visit to the repair shop would not have happened or would likely have had no impact if I hadn’t been open to God’s prompting and whisper…realizing that all was not what it seemed.  We never know how God will orchestrate and use circumstances. We just have to always be ready.

None of us know the future. Nor are things always what they seem. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Allow things to play out, especially those that have the potential of being less than optimal, and ask God to show Himself and His will through the circumstance. Trust me. If you will ask Him to give you perspective and discernment so as not to miss an opportunity or hinder His work through you…because of you…you will be amazed at God’s faithfulness. I was…and always am. We serve a truly faithful God. Keep it real…and Armor Up.

As featured in the June 2011 Issue of Power Source Magazine, www.powersourcemagazine.com. 

Lighten the Load

Hello, all. Welcome to May. Summer is almost upon us and I am sure there are so many things you are looking forward to…at least I hope so. Time at the beach, lake, or maybe even a trip is on your summer to do list. We are going to divert away from the life on the road series, just a bit, but will still be talking about life outside the man caves and home. This time we’ll be cruising at 10,000 feet.

It always amazes me how airplanes that weigh so much are able to get off the ground and fly. Aerodynamics is absolutely amazing. I really like the movie Pearl Harbor (Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Alec Baldwin).  We all know the story but there is a small but significant message in the movie that is very relevant to us today. In the movie, the success of the Army Air Corps’ bombing missions into Japan depended on the ability of the pilots to take off from an aircraft carrier. The carrier, however, had a very, very short runway. There was no do over or second shot at it. The planes had to get in the air before the runway ran out…period. Failure meant crashing into the ocean. What did they do? In the movie, I mean. Failed attempt after failed attempt to get off the ground within the allotted “few hundred feet”, the planes were literally gutted. The sailors and soldiers pulled everything out and stripped the planes down to the bare bones. This included nuts, bolts, gears, even extra fuel cans. They even pulled the machine guns and replaced them with broom sticks that were painted black (they wanted to enemy to think the planes were stilled armed)…anything to lighten the planes enough to get them airborne before splashdown. Well, they finally got the planes light enough, took off from the carrier, made the bombing runs, blew up Japanese targets, got shot down, got overrun by enemy patrols, fought bravely, one of the stars died but not before he learned he was going to be a father, ace pilot makes it through, he gets back home, lives happily ever after with the girl who is the mother of his best friend’s baby, and the rest is movie history. Despite what it may seem it really is a pretty good movie.

Back to the issue at hand. There were so many variables, gray areas, and uncertainties that before the mission Lt. Colonel Doolittle told the pilots that 50% or more of them would likely be either shot down or would not make it back because of a lack of fuel. Yet they all stepped forward and accepted the challenge. Why? Did they believe in Doolittle? Love the old US of A? Did they believe in the mission? Desire fame? Glory? Have faith in each other? I don’t know. Maybe a bit of all of that…or none at all. Regardless of why, for them to accomplish the mission…receive the fame…glory… For them to achieve the task set before them, they had to first get in the air. That meant stripping away the extra baggage and heading into the unknown fully exposed, somewhat defenseless, and riding on a wing and, most likely, a prayer.

If you’re like me, and taking the movie drama out of the equation, I would not have had the greatest level of confidence heading into enemy airspace, during a war, without any weapons or protection, or even extra fuel, and knowing that there is a better than 1 in 2 chance that I will either get shot down or run out of gas and crash. Can you say suicide mission? How often are our lives a direct reflection of those planes? We are so weighed down by the burdens of life that we can’t seem to get off the carrier except to…well, swim. Many of us look at the extra baggage, the machine guns (protection from the enemy), extra fuel (insurance, a way back home or to the comfort of our homes or man caves), and parts that don’t really do anything but are there because someone said they should be (all of the other “stuff” that life throws our way that seems just to come with living) as essential for us to get through the battle. However, those things thought to be essential are often the very things that keep us on the ground…from flying with God…from accomplishing the tasks set before us.  There is a way to “lighten the load” without being defenseless, helpless, or feel like we are on a suicide mission.

Christ tells us to “Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.  Psalm 55:22 tells us to “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you: he will never let the righteous fall.” We serve a big, all powerful, all knowing, all present, and all loving God. And He can handle our burdens and fight our battles. All we have to do is give the “extra baggage” to Him and have faith in Him.

I know. It’s easier said than done. For many of us it is difficult to cast our burdens on someone else, even Christ…the only one who can truly handle them. And despite how much we want to, we don’t. Jesus is patient, humble, and knocking at our door. He will always be there. All we have to do is open it. If you can’t cast all your worries and troubles on Him right now, start by casting only a few. Watch how He will come through for you. Believe me, there is no flying into the unknown defenseless and helpless when you are flying with Jesus.

Not sure how to get started? Try this prayer as a launching pad: Lord, I have all kinds of burdens that are weighing me down and keeping me from flying with you. And even though I want to, I have a hard time giving things over to you. Help me trust in you, that you can handle all my cares and worries, and that you will not let me fall. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Until next time, keep it real…and in the air.

For more about getting involved and supporting Servant Warrior Ministries,  visit www.servantwarriorministries.org.

Happy April! Spring is in the air (as well as the pollen) and the weather is absolutely perfect for a ride with the top down, sunroof and windows open, or your head out of the window (please not while you are driving).  I certainly do not want to forget the motorcycle enthusiasts and their 2 wheel chariots. You guys are right in the mix. Bottom line: It’s time to hit the road!

A few months ago we talked about getting prepared for the trip. That preparation is essential for us to be able to handle the detours and forks God allows to happen to us in our life. Last month we talked about action and that action on our part is required  if we are to experience all that God has in store for us. Now is really where the rubber meets the road. We’ve planned, prepared, acted, and now we’re on the road headed to wherever it is we are wanting or being led to go. What happens now?

Let’s set it up:  Above you is a sky so bright that it hurts your eyes. The temperature is about 80 degrees. The car, or motorcycle, is washed, waxed, and loaded with essentials for a ride. You drop the top and/or windows, and off you go. There is nothing but open road, fresh air, and…well, you get the picture. All of a sudden, you  see brake lights up ahead…and they are not moving. As you get a little closer you see a  flashing light and an orange sign that says “Detour Ahead”. Man, oh man. Just when I thought  everything was going great, this happens. Sound familiar? By the way, I was referring to your  life. Or how about this? You are driving…same blue sky, same fresh air, same shiny machine,  and you come to a fork in the road. It’s decision time. What makes you take one way or the other? Past experience?  Knowledge of one road or the other or where they end up? Knowing what you will experience or come across if you go one way? Not sure what will happen if you take the other way? No need to answer now. I’ll ask many of these same questions later.

On the road, you never know what you are going to experience and you never know when you will have to take a detour or come across a fork. Sometimes God gives us forks, where we are given the opportunity to choose a direction. One way is the direction that will take us toward Him, another way takes us away from Him, and another takes us back home. Other times, He will drop a detour in our path where we lose a directional option leaving us to go either forward in the direction He has determined or back to where we were. If you are like most of us (hey girls, if you are reading, this can apply to you as well), turning around and going back, or retreating, is not an option anyway.  Nor is stopping the car in the middle of the road. That is, unless you don’t mind a whole lot of irritated people behind you. Can you say “road rage”?  Sorry. In all fairness, however, sometimes turning around and heading back or even pulling the car over on the shoulder, out of traffic, is the right move.  We call the former, in the words of the United States Marine Corps, “fighting in a different direction” or “living to fight another day”. And the latter, God calls it waiting on Him. Any directional decision we find ourselves having to make has puts us in a position to either move closer or further away from God.

Think about some of the detours and forks you have come upon in your life. Each one impacts us differently and causes us to go in one direction or another. Depending on the severity of an event, occurrence, situation, decision, it is often times very difficult to take the road that takes us close to God. If something has happened that really turned your life upside, or that hurt you significantly, or created a circumstance that is very painful or one that if you ever revisit again it will be too soon, choosing to go in a direction that we know will inevitably bring us face to face with whatever it is that caused the course change is, in many people’s eyes, on the side of being a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic. God says different.

What are some of the reasons we don’t take the road that leads us to God? Don’t want to relive the pain? Fear of Confrontation? Sense of Helplessness? Fear of Isolation or having to face whatever it is all alone? Feel like no one understands what we are going through? Feel that no one knows how bad it hurt? Yes, guys, I am talking to you. Feel like we can’t forgive? Feel like we can’t be forgiven? Feel ashamed? Feel like there’s no way the other person, or anyone for that matter, can love us? The list can go on and on. I am here to tell you that in His word, God speaks through the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans and tells us that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Rom 8:37 NIV) Paul goes on to say that “neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39 NIV). Christ told us in the book of John, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV). I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer but it sounds like to me that Paul covered most, if not all, of the detours or forks I will come to in my life and that the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Almighty God, the Beginning and the End, has my back. Dude, if that doesn’t get you jacked up and encouraged, nothing will!

When you come to a fork in the road…take it. Take the way that will bring you close to God. He wants you to come to Him. He is your refuge, and fortress. (Psalms 91). And when a detour is dropped on you, relish it. Pray about it. God is likely pointing you in the direction He wants you to go. Keep it real…and Armor Up!

Hello, all. As we jump into March, I hope that 2011 is moving along in the right direction and bringing you everything you hoped for. If not…hang in there. Keep praying. Know that God has a plan for you and He is in control. As we continue talking about life on the road, we’ve come to the part that is the hardest for many of us…me included. We have thought about what we would like to do and, more importantly, what we need and are called to do. Now comes the hardest part…doing it. Literally stepping out of the boat…walking out of the door, getting in the car, starting it, putting it in reverse, actually backing out of the driveway, and then putting it into gear and hitting the road. It’s the point of no return. You know, I think of it like being at the pool or the lake. You say to yourself, “Man that water looks good. I’m gettin’ in.” You dip a toe in and realize, “Hmmm, water’s a bit chilly.” Here it is…the decision….the point of no return. It’s time to put up or shut up. You have got do decide whether you jump, or not, knowing that once you leave your feet and you’re over the water there is no turning back. Let’s say you jump. Splash! WOW! Man, that’s really cold! (Fret not, gents. I’m not going any further.) Yes, it may be a bit uncomfortable at first but after a while your body gets acclimated, and, it feels pretty good. In fact, you are glad you jumped in. It all starts with effort…action.

Anything we do in life takes effort or action, of some sort, on our part. Even breathing requires an exertion of energy. Some things are easier than others and some things we are more apt to exert more effort in doing. Let’s see. Guys, how many of us would say that more effort is made to get to a race or the ball field at 6:00 am on Saturday morning than is made to get to church at 11:00 am on Sunday? Ouch. Told you we would be hitting some truths pretty hard. Hey, most of us, if we’re honest, will admit we are guilty at some time or another. But I’m not here to throw holy bombs. I’m probably more guilty than most. Nevertheless, life requires effort and action.

God is always working on me and in my life…on all three facets – professional, personal, and private. Much of His work has come with little or no action required from me. However, there is quite a bit that requires me to do something. I pray daily that God will open and close doors as He sees fit. I pray that prayer with the full understanding that when He opens a door, He expects me to go through it. I’m really honest with you when I say there are times that I don’t. Thank goodness for grace. How often do we pray for something, for God to open a door, and then sit back and wait…and wait…and wait? While all the time the door was wide open. He was waiting for us to go through. It’s like praying day in and day out to win the lottery. Then one day we hear a voice say, “Buy a ticket.” I have never had the Holy Spirit literally pick me up by my belt loop and throw through a door that God has opened. I have to go through it myself. The cool thing about going through a God opened door is that we may go through with one perspective or expectation and what God has planned is completely different. Of course, we don’t realize how cool it is at the time. It sometimes takes a while to see it. But when you love the Lord, put your life in His hands, and allow Him to guide your steps, hindsight is pretty clear…and awesome. All those situations and circumstances that you thought were bad, painful, or completely whacked, many of them I’m sure were flat out awful, actually brought you to the exact place you needed to be…at the exact time…fully prepared and equipped to receive the blessing of your life. Now that rocks!

Let’s now take it a few steps further and from a different perspective. Up to now, all of the focus has been on us…the blessings we get from acting on God’s promptings and going through doors He opens. What about all those around us – our families, friends, coworkers, neighbors, etc…? How does our responding to God’s call impact them…or others we may never even meet? What legacy do we leave? We might never know. But think about this. What, perhaps, would have happened if Abraham had not acted on God’s calling to pack up all he had and to take his family, leave his people and his country, and set out to parts unknown (Gen. 12)? What about Noah, before that (Gen. 6)? If he had not taken action and built the ark (let us not forget that he built it in the middle of the desert) where would we be? Let me bring it a little closer to home. What if all of the pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and believers in Christ throughout history hadn’t, at some point, acted on God’s prompting and call? Would you, or I, or people around the world ever have come to know or be shown the incredible love of God? Would you and I be visiting here together, today? Makes you think, doesn’t it?

So, hit the road. Go through the doors that God opens. Regardless of whether it makes sense or not…because often times it won’t. And, what we think we want…or don’t want…may not necessarily be what God wants for us. His plan is perfect and He knows exactly what He is doing. And what He is doing is the best for us…regardless of how many times we throw a look of utter confusion heavenward. If you have any doubts, pick up His Word. He gives us countless passages of reassurance. One of my favorites, which is also our family verse, is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV) What an awesome God we serve. Keep it real….and between the lines.

Published in Power Source Magazine March 2011 (www.powersourcemagazine.com)

Welcome to February, the short month of the year. But, despite what every other human being on earth likely believes, February is the true beginning of the year. I can already see the wrinkles on your forehead. January, while actually the first month of the calendar year, is really the “recover from Christmas, New Years, and extended time off, trying to get back in the saddle at work as well as adopting a healthy lifestyle, again, finding myself making the  same New Year’s resolutions as last year, still writing 2010 on everything, getting the kids back in school, and taking steps to make this the best year ever and realizing I don’t have the energy or the time to revamp everything so I’ll press forward as is” month. It usually takes a full 31 days to go through the aforementioned cycle but we do get through it, by God’s grace, and usually with a much better and more realistic perspective. That brings us to February. Now, on to 2011 and “Life from the Road”.  We talked last month that in order to truly experience the divine appointments and experiences God has for us, we have to go where Jesus is…out of the boat and into the waves. We have to get out of the house and on the road. But first…we must prepare.

Whether you believe it or not, God is always at work in our lives and truly wants to be a part of every minute aspect of it. God’s word says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NIV). The harsh reality here guys is that despite our best efforts and desires, we are NOT in control? Think about all the plans we make during, and for, our lives.  As many of us know all too well, a plan’s first brush with reality often ends in failure. Failure according to our perspective, that is, not God’s. For the trip, we check the weather, consider traffic patterns, etc… However, there is no way to plan for the unexpected occurrences that will inevitably happen along the way. I have hundreds of examples of things that have happened to me while “on the road”. I have no doubt you do as well. And since we cannot foresee everything that will happen to us during our trip, we have to get prepared. The key is not simply to plan. The key is to plan properly. Hint: Taking planning advice from the One who does know what is going to happen to us is the smart thing to do. More on that in a minute.   

One of the many things I learned while in the Marine Corps was the concept of The 7 P’s: Proper Prior Planning Prevents P— Poor Performance. For most audiences and applications, the 6 P’s are more than adequate. You just have to love the Marines and the colorful expressions…hence the 7. Back to planning. For our trip, the destination, conditions, and duration will determine the appropriate gear needed…appropriate being the operative term. Having the right gear will keep us from being forced to create some crazy, but no doubt colorful, story about why we packed what we did or didn’t pack what we should have. Been there…done that…got the t-shirt. We must be as prepared as possible in order to be able to handle whatever comes our way, both good and bad.

God has incredible things in store for us during our trip. However, not acknowledging that there are two sides to the coin is about as smart as only looking one way before stepping out into heavy traffic. In addition to the awesome experiences and blessings that happen while on the road, there are road blocks, detours, delays, potholes, accidents, and overall disappointments. God’s word is the ultimate guide to trip preparation. Through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, God provided sound instruction on how to prepare, each day, for the trip.

The following prayer, based on Ephesians 6:10-18, was given to me years ago. I have researched extensively but have yet to identify the author. Nevertheless, I humbly ask for forgiveness as I distribute it and share it whenever possible.

“Father, today by faith in Jesus, I put on the (1) GIRDLE OF TRUTH. I thank You today that I know who I am in Christ – a child of God whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Lord, I want to by faith put on the (2) BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS to protect me from responding to circumstances and people emotionally rather than spiritually. Before I rise each day, Father, put on my feet the sandals of the (3) GOSPEL OF PEACE that I may be used by You to share the peace of God with other men. Father, I thank you that I can take up the (4) SHIELD OF FAITH knowing as I place my trust in You today, you are sufficient to protect me from fiery darts so that nothing can touch me. Lord, I place on my head the (5) HELMET OF SALVATION. Protect my thinking from things that don’t conform to Your will. Father, I take up the (6) SWORD OF THE SPIRIT which is YOUR WORD. This is my only offensive piece of equipment but it is also defensive so that when Satan attacks me, I am armed and ready to ward off all his arrows. The victory has ultimately been won. I march today under that great banner of victory, washed by the blood, armed with the Word, dressed in the armor of righteousness, believing and thanking You for what You are going to do. Lord, I pray this day that I may recognize who the enemy is and claim VICTORY as I am properly dressed to face every challenge by Your causative, overcoming power. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Ephesians 6:10-18.”

I encourage you, daily, to pray it for yourself. Or, do what I do and replace the “I’s” with “We’s” and pray it on behalf of your family, friends, Brothers in Christ, etc…

Being properly prepared allows us to experience fully and recognize God’s providence in all of the things that will happen while on the road. Rain, while difficult to drive in, fosters a rainbow when it’s finished. And detours, while usually inconvenient and annoying, can reveal a much preferable route with breathtaking scenery, unforgettable experiences, or both. Besides, how boring would it be if all our travels were filled with blue skies, warm winds, open roads, and no speed traps?  Until next time…Keep it real.

Published in Power Source Magazine February 2011 (www.powersourcemagazine.com)

Happy New Year, guys. I hope everyone survived the Christmas holidays. For you football fans, I hope that your team either won, continues to win, hopes to win, or that you have come to grips with the fact that no matter how much you screamed at the television, the refs, or both, painted your face, wore the colors, donned the rally caps, prayed for a fumble, or all of the above, you had little or no control over the loss and you will live…maybe. For those of you who are not football fans, it is absolutely okay. In fact, you just may be better off than those of us who are.

Back to the matter at hand. It’s January and the start of the New Year. We have the perfect opportunity to make this year all that we wanted last year to be.  If last year was everything you wanted, great. Make this year even better. If last year was less than optimal, what caused the wheels to come off? Where did it happen? What road lead you to a place that perhaps you shouldn’t have been? What left did you take when right was the way to go? Did you lean on your own sense of navigational ability or did you use a GPS? And if you used a GPS, did the “G” stand for “global” or “God”? Was the device a Garmin or a Bible? How did you get to where you are? Are you catching a theme here?

Many of us remember the days of road trips. And many of us still enjoy them. Perhaps in a  different way than before but enjoy them nonetheless, we do. Oh, the stories we have and will  never share no matter how many bamboo shoots are shoved under our finger nails or how  many times you make us listen to Milli Vanilli! Ouch! And the bamboo would hurt, too. Some  of my greatest memories and most embarrassing, exhilarating, joyous, scared, spiritual,  inspired and tragic moments happened during some type of excursion. I am sure many of you  can relate. While memories were certainly made and experiences realized once a  destination  was reached, often the trip began with no particular destination in mind at all. You simply gathered the guys together (sometimes ‘gathered’ was the operative term as late night extractions were not uncommon), made the announcement, jumped in the car (or were thrown into the car as a result of the extraction), and went. It was all about the trip…the journey…the ride.

Life happens on the road…outside the house. If we want to experience everything God has in store for us, we HAVE to leave the safe confines of our homes… our places of safety… our man caves! These safe havens are not necessarily brick and mortar structures. They are our jobs, our lifestyles, our habits, our priorities, our attitudes, our perspectives, our
friends.  Confusion has set in, hasn’t it? You’re thinking, “I completely get the ‘If I have a  destructive or bad habit, my priorities are whacked, or if I have friends that lean toward the  rough side that I need to make a change.’ But, if the above mentioned “safe places” are not  necessarily bad, destructive, some may even be good, why would I want or need to leave  them?” Bottom line: If something – a safe place – is keeping us from what God has in store for  our lives, regardless of whether it’s good or even if we think it is, it’s dirt we need to shake.  Don’t misunderstand me here. I’m not telling anyone to leave a job, a commitment, or a  family. Far from it. I’m saying we need to remove the governor from the engine and let it fly. We need to blow the cobwebs from the carburetor and experience God’s highway of blessings! The cool thing is, when we go out on our road trips, we get to come back to that safe place. We get to come back home.  Often the experiences we have on the road have a significant impact on how we view things…some positively…some negatively. But there’s no way we aren’t changed in some way by what we experience as a result of being on life’s highway.

I have heard it many times and it is certainly worth repeating here, ‘If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.” Let’s modify it to fit our road trip theme, “If we want God’s ‘Route 66’ experience, we have to get out of the house and hit the road.” Why is that? When Peter left the boat and stepped onto the water, who was there? You got it. Jesus. If we want to experience a life that is full of divine appointments and experiences, we have to go where Jesus is. We have to get out of the boat. We have to leave the safe places and hit the road.

Guess what guys? We are going on a road trip. Throughout 2011, we are going to look at things from life outside the house.  We are going to look at life “from the road”.  We are going to challenge some perspectives. We are going to face some hard truths and hit some things head one…figuratively, of course. We are going to be real, relevant, relentless in our pursuit, and definitely Jesus Freak’ish radical. And we are going on this trip together. Are you with me? I’ll be honest with you. There’s a lot that I need to work on. I need to work on being a better husband, a better dad, a better servant, a better follower of Christ. I know that if I focus on the latter, the former will have a much better chance of happening. It has to be less about me and more about Him. But I also know I can’t go at it alone. And why would I want to? It’s just like with a road trip. It could be done as a solo venture but where’s the fun in that? The best part about any excursion is who’s with you on it. So…Come on. Let’s go. I’m not sure when we’ll get back but I can tell you it will be a trip for the ages. Get in and buckle up. By the way…“Are we there yet?” Sorry. I couldn’t resist.  Keep it real.

Published in Power Source Magazine January 2011 (www.powersourcemagazine.com)

It’s that time of year again. Yes, it’s Christmas. The time for decorations, lights, sweaters (everywhere except Florida), cider, great food, friends, family, traffic, stress, overcrowded malls, and gifts. It also means carols that began just after July 4^th and will go through Memorial Day. Sorry, maybe it just seems that way. No, I like Christmas carols and Christmas music …during Christmas. I digress.

The song “Little Drummer Boy” was always a favorite of mine growing up. But I never really understood the meaning or took the song’s message into context as it relates to “the giving of a gift.” Now I have to be honest when I say that I am not the biggest fan of the Christmas holiday. Yes, you read it right. No typo here. I know that I have just thrown many of you, and those in ear shot of your audible reaction to this as well as those who just saw you throw your copy of Power Source Magazine across the room, into an uproar and simply cannot believe that a Christian, especially one who claims to be an “outspoken and highly motivated servant of the Almighty” would say that he was not a fan of Christmas.  I am going to pause here for a second……or two….. Good. Hopefully things have calmed down where you are, you didn’t lose your testimony, and your blood pressure has come back to a relatively normal level. If it hasn’t, please take some deep breaths and think happy thoughts. It’s okay. I’ll wait for you. I don’t want you to miss out on the rest of the message.

I said I wasn’t a fan of the Christmas HOLIDAY, not the reason why we celebrate Christmas. Christ was the greatest Gift ever given. Period.  And the gift He brings is eternal life with Him in heaven. While I could jump into full pastoral discourse, I see no need for it. Bottom line: It really doesn’t get any better than God’s Gift and the gift of salvation. Now. What I am not a big fan of is what the Christmas holiday has turned into…a “keepin’ up with the Jones’ and trying to get everything that’s hot this year while making sure the kids get more than last year in order to outdo the neighbors and coworkers in a quest – to the death if necessary – for the ultimate gift despite the mounting debt but it’s never quite enough” holiday. I have to ask you, does that sound like a holiday where Christ is at the center? You don’t have to respond. We know the answer.

We as people, especially us men, need to realize that we bring absolutely nothing to the table. It’s God’s unlimited grace that allows us to enter into His presence. It’s not what we bring through our abilities, talents, or our works. He doesn’t need us. He created the heavens and the earth for crying out loud. He is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega. But despite our inadequacies, He wants to be involved in every single little aspect of our lives. All He asks of us is…us. We think His love is because of us and what we do for Him. Is this you? However, as Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast.” On the other side, many of us feel so unworthy, so undeserving of anyone’s love, much less God’s love, because of what we have done or even continue to do, that the gifts of grace and forgiveness are far beyond our reach or comprehension.  We feel there is no way God wants to hear from me, could ever love me, or would ever want a “gift” from me. Is that you? Romans 5:8 (NIV) says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Back to the drum…

As I said earlier, the song “The Little Drummer Boy” was a favorite of mine growing up but I never really got it, or at least what it means to me, until just recently. A small boy, in a humbleness that only a child can bring, stands before Christ, the newborn King, the Savior of the world, and brings all he has, a gift of noise made by two sticks on an animal skin draped over a piece of wood.  If you listen to the words of the song, it says, “ I’m a poor boy too…I have no gift to bring…that’s fit to give the King…Shall I play for you…on my drum…” His gift was not the beautiful tones from a violin, or a flute, or a harp. He banged on a drum.  I can only imagine what God must have thought as He looked proudly down at the boy, His child. No doubt His response must have been, “That’s all I want you to do. I gave you a drum. And all I ask is that you do your best with what I have given you and then give it, your life, back to me as a gift.” By the way, He wants the same from us today.  The song goes on, “I played my drum for Him…I played my best for Him…” What happens? The last line of the song says it all… “Then He smiled at me, pa rum pa pum pum, me and my drum.”

How awesome, and humbling, and incredible, and unbelievable is it that we can stand before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords empty handed and with nothing more to offer but our messed up and shallow lives …noise, and receive unconditional grace, love, and forgiveness…a smile? Wow.  That’s my God.  Men, our worth in this life is not in the status we achieve, in the possessions we have acquired, in the fortunes we have amassed, or in the gifts we are able or unable to give. Our worth resides in the eyes and arms of our Heavenly Father and in the life, and noise, we bring to the manger of Christ. Merry Christmas. Keep it real.

Published in Power Source Magazine, December 2010 (www.powersourcemagazine.com)

When we hear the term American fighting man, many images come to mind. If I sat down with 100 men and asked them to describe that image by using a person they know, actor or character from a book, movie, etc..and we meshed them all together, no doubt we would end up with a shirtless, gruff voiced, indestructible gladiator type universal soldier clad in armor – both of the muscular and man-made persuasion, bandoliers, rifles & machine guns strapped across his back, an assortment of knives strategically placed for easy deployment, chewing on a cigar, and sporting a quiet, lone wolf countenance as well as the scars and battle wounds from far too many enemy encounters. Wow! What an image. At some time in our lives, I think it is safe to say, we have all aspired and/or pretended to be that guy. I know I did..and have.

But I am here to present the true American fighting man. He stands head and shoulders above the image we created earlier and with abilities, strength, and talents that far exceed anything we or Hollywood could ever dream up. Want to see him? This is going to blow your mind.

Ready?….Drum roll please…louder….build up…louder…….crowd goes crazy… flash/explosion…big screen lights up… and…Insert picture of YOU here.

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Come on, Searcy.  Be serious. I’m an ordinary guy. Yeah, I’m a man’s man. I play sports….like to tackle the woods now and then. I do my fair share of guy stuff…to include a fight or two back in the day. (Maybe even yesterday for some of us) But I’m no warrior.  I’m no ‘fighting man’ in the sense you’re talking about.  When I look in the mirror, I don’t see Rambo, John Wayne, or even Private Ryan for that matter. I see… me. Tough guy? Yeah, you betcha. Or at least I like to think so. But, a warrior? Nah.”

Time to change how you view the man in the mirror. Think I’m kidding? I couldn’t be more serious. If we don’t see ourselves as the fighting men we have been called to be, Satan, his henchmen, and the world will wreak havoc in the lives of our families and communities…those very lives we have been entrusted to lead, protect and serve. And that includes you single guys. In fact, you may even have a tougher job. But that’s the subject of another discussion.

We are at war, gentlemen. We are at war against the world and, as God’s Word tells us in Ephesians, at war against the “devil’s schemes…against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:11b-12 NIV). I don’t know about you, but I have yet to see a bullet that can take out an “evil spirit in the heavenly realms”. In fact, I have no doubt that in my own strength I lose that fight, mano e mano, against a ‘power of the dark world’.  These battles rage constantly. And whether we choose to accept it or not, we are smack in the middle of it…taking bullet after bullet and punch after punch. We have a choice. Either we take a place on the wall and stand and fight…or we stick our head in the sand and hope the battle passes. Far be it for me to provide a reality check but if you stick your head in the sand during a fire fight, you get shot in the south end of your north bound direction. In all seriousness, you have to ask yourself a question: Are you relying on your own strength or on a source of strength that never tires or fades? If I might make a tactical suggestion: check your heart.

Hey, you… American fighting man. Isn’t it cool that God looks at the heart of a man, and not his outer appearance (1Sam 16:7)…and certainly not his strength or ability. God works through those who are willing and available. I’ve always heard, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.”  Remember Gideon, (aka “Mighty Warrior” – a moniker that, by the way, was given by God himself), the least of the least tribe of Israel who took 300 men and wiped out a few hundred thousand Midianites…with trumpets (Judges 6-7)? Gideon’s strength was not in his physique but in his faithfulness and in his heart.  Just as in Gideon, and in that dog in the fight, the fight inside a servant warrior is a heart filled with Jesus Christ: The Name above all names; the Savior of the World; the Lion of Judah; ‘the Rider, called Faithful and True, riding a white horse and dressed in a white robe dipped in blood, His name is the Word of God, with the armies of heaven following Him’ (Rev 19). Now that is truly the Ultimate Warrior. Question: If I could offer you a way to guarantee victory in the inevitable battle of life and death, would you take it? Well, I can. Ask Jesus Christ into your heart and receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:16).

As we are talking about warriors, this Veterans Day please remember and pray for all of the warriors, past and present, and their families, who have served and continue to serve their country in the greatest military in the history of the world. We owe them all a debt of humble gratitude and the utmost respect. Make sure to take time out to thank those who stand and have stood to defend freedom’s wall, for us.  May God bless them.  Keep it real.

Published in Power Source Magazine, November 2010 (www.powersourcemagazine.com)

Isn’t it a huge boost to the old self confidence when your boss, your coach, someone you respect and admire says, “You are the man for the job” or “I need somebody to take care of this and you are my choice.”? Especially when the task you have been given is something you either want to do or feel you is something you have been called to do. I use the latter because what if the one who gave you the nod is God? More on that in a bit.
When I think of ‘getting the nod’, I immediately think of a relief pitcher. Go figure. More specifically, I think of a middle reliever or a set up guy. For those non-baseball fans, the job of the middle reliever and set up guy, while they are not exactly the same, is essentially to take over for the starting pitcher and shut the opposing team down until the closer is brought in to seal the deal. While I never pitched in the big leagues, or beyond high school for that matter, I have been brought into games as middle relief and asked to, “get us through this inning,” or told, “gimme 6 outs. That’s all we need.” Some of those times were less stressful and important as others. But anytime we are asked to ‘take the mound’, we are literally on an island (take a look at the pitcher’s mound on a baseball field), alone, and totally exposed. We are on the spot and we must deliver or our team loses. It’s that simple.
Now, in the case of the ‘6 outs’, if the next 6 batters are players we are familiar with, know their weaknesses or how to get them out, or they are 8 year olds hitting against a 16 year old, we feel pretty confident and have no reservation about ‘taking the hill and flinging the pill.’ However, when the next 6 batters are completely unfamiliar to us and word on the street is that they are first round draft picks of the Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, Dodgers, Braves, and D’Backs and will be heading straight to the show after our game, that is a completely different scenario and one that will throw a little apprehension into the mix. Let’s add to the scenario that everyone we know or have known is in the stands or watching, as the game is being televised nationally and on Armed Forces TV around the globe, and our team’s future, to include the well-being of our families, are on the line and dependant on our ability to ‘get 6 outs’. Despite the confidence we may have in our ability to throw a baseball, the scenario presented is one that would cause the butterflies to stir in even the most seasoned, experienced, and “faithful” pitcher…at any level. Much less one that is 16 years old.
When we are called by God to ‘take the mound’ we oftentimes feel like that 16 year old in the last scenario. And despite the confidence we have in ourselves and in our ability, we often feel overwhelmed, apprehensive, probably a bit inadequate, and, quite frankly, scared. And when God calls us, especially into ministry leadership, a great deal is at stake (as in the last scenario) and we are out on the island. The opposing batters want nothing more than to put a pounding on the new guy on the mound, bat through the order a couple of times, and put a monster number of runs on the scoreboard. However, as the old adage goes, God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. And despite the lonely feeling we may have standing alone on the pitcher’s mound, we are not alone. As God was with Moses, Joshua, David, Gideon, and so many others whose stories and accounts are told throughout Scripture, He is with all those whom He calls. As He told Joshua, “…Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV), He says the same to us today.
So the next time you are in the bullpen warming up and get the nod, take the mound with confidence knowing that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is with you. And despite the line-up of opposing batters to be faced, take heart. He is with you. Besides, who do you think created the wicked 12-6 curve ball? Keep it real.

Published in Power Source Magazine, October 2010 (www.powersourcemagazine.com)