Jeff Searcy

When somebody asks you that question, how do you respond? Usually, I don’t have a problem answering that question. I meet literally thousands of people and speak to groups and crowds all the time. Today I was got off guard and my standard answer of “I’m Jeff Searcy” caused me to think about how I answer people.
This morning at the usual Tuesday Morning Bunch gathering at Cracker Barrel (make sure you check out the TMB section of the soon to be live Servant Warrior Ministries website www.servantwarriorministries.com or visit www.tuesdaymorningbunch.com in the very near future for more info) with some of my dear Christian brothers and fellow servant warriors, we had a first timer, someone a few of the guys already knew, join us. I was telling him a little about the group and the men’s ministry and he stopped me mid sentence and asked, “Wait a minute. Now who are you?” I was a little caught off guard and answered, my usual, “I’m Jeff Searcy.” I told him a little about my coming to the area, my family’s tour of churches, etc… But after I left breakfast and was headed to the office, I started thinking about my response and that he probably thought, “Jeff Searcy? Okay, so what. Again I ask…Who are you?” If I am honest with myself, I would admit that I may have thought the same in the same situation.
It made me start to think. What an arrogant response on my part. As if I’m somebody. I thought I should have responded, “I’m nobody, just someone heeding a call.” But God quickly spoke to my spirit and said “You are somebody. You are somebody to Me. You were fearfully and wonderfully made. And you are Mine. And that makes you important. But I also call you to be humble in spirit (ref. Matt 5:3).” For many of us, even long time Christians, this concept of seeming contradiction is a hard concept to wrap our head around. I pulled into the office parking lot and just sat. You know, God speaks in the gentle whispers (see I Kings 19:10-18. It’s awesome!). And it came to me. When someone asks me, “Who are you?”… My response should be, “I am a humble servant of the Almighty…with a vision.” Now, being that I am on the high strung side of passionate, my response should be, “I am a humble yet highly motivated servant of the Almighty…with a vision.” Either response accurately answers the question and hopefully sparks a couple of follow up questions like, “servant of the Almighty… what’s that?” Or, “What do you mean, vision?” Oh, it’s on now! That little opening is all a humble servant of the Almighty needs to share the Good News. I can’t wait to try it out. Until next time… Keep it real.

It’s not the economy, stupid…it’s the turkey!

Short and sweet. The new attack plan that will surely land the White House for the Democrats in 2004 came to light last Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, in Iraq.

Bless their hearts. The economy is booming. Progress in Iraq is proceeding, despite what you may have heard. Bush’s approval rating jumped to 61% over the Thanksgiving weekend. OH NO!!! Aaaaaahhhhhh! What do we do?

The following link is to an article that was in the Washington Post on December 3rd. Please read it. I hope the same questions that popped in my mind pops into yours…Are they out of their minds? Do they not have more important issues to address?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33090-2003Dec3.html

Dear Washington Post,

Please find your people something to do. They have far too much time on their hands.

PS. Hey libs…we all know the turkey was never intended for the troops. The President was on his way to serve the Halliburton reps visiting Iraq.

“ I saw the whole thing. The evil SUV did it.”

LOOK OUT!! THEY’RE COMING TO GET US!!

They look suspicious as they roam our streets looking for victims. They are evil and pose a more dire threat to the future of our society than any terrorist organization anywhere in the world. Of course I am speaking of SUV’s.

The left in this country, with help from the media, has tried for some time to ‘demonize’ SUV’s. I hate that word…demonize. It’s like using the word ‘crony.’ I digress. SUV’s have been blamed for everything from global warming to the reason why the Red Sox can’t make it to the World Series. It is only a matter of time until SUV’s are blamed for the assassinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, and even Abe Lincoln. Why not? Okay, your argument that SUV’s weren’t around in the late 19th century is somewhat valid. But who’s to say that it wasn’t Booth but a big 4-door sport ‘wagon’ in that opera loft? Makes you think, huh?

This soap dish rant stems from the media’s reports of tragic events that have occurred recently either here in the Atlanta area or that have ties to the area.

Earlier this week, two young female real estate agents were shot and killed in a model home located in a new subdivision in a suburb of Atlanta. My heart and prayers go out to their families. Nevertheless, the news reports that ensued reported a “suspicious” black SUV was spotted in the subdivision. What? What constitutes a suspicious SUV? Was it lurking around street corners or hiding behind homes? Give me a break.

This next one is even better. Darnell Stenson, a professional baseball player from LaGrange, Georgia, who was playing in the Arizona fall league, was found shot and killed earlier this week. Again, my heart and prayers go out to his family. A news report that was given stated (I swear that I am not making this up…I can provide the radio station and the date and time of the report) that ‘Darnell Stenson had been found shot and apparently run over and dragged by his own SUV in an Arizona street earlier this week.’ WOW! Not only did the SUV shoot him but ran over him and dragged him down the street. Stephen King would be so proud.

So as not to drag out this incessant rant that gives far too much attention to the mindless and absolutely ridiculous plight of the left to rid our society of the evil that is SUV’s, I’m finished.

By the way, I am a proud owner of 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe 4X4 with an American Flag, and BUSH/CHENEY ’04, W04, Johnny Isakson for Senate, and ‘ANNOY A LIBERAL’ decals adorning the tailgate. I love to drive the lefties crazy.

Until we meet again…

First, a moment of silence. Thank you.

I join with those in the lovely city of Boston who mourn today. As a Red Sox fan of 25 years, I share the pain. However, being born and raised just outside of Atlanta, Georgia makes my love of the Red Sox, since age 10, a long distance affair. I jumped and waved with Fisk and willed that ball to pass on the right side of that foul pole. I cried, and cried, and cried in 1986. I have forgiven Bill. However, the hole still remains. My heroes of yore, Yaz, Tiant, Rice, and of course the Splendid Splinter, all have my undying respect and admiration. The new class of Martinez, Garciaparra, Nixon, and Varitek are proving to be beacons of light shining down hope of a bright baseball future in Beantown. I have to take this optimistic view or else I could very well see myself outside, alone, kicking dirt and spouting words I would rather my 2 ½ year old son not hear. Nevertheless, we must accept the fact that the better team lost. Regarding the ‘Curse of the Bambino’…I wish it was that easy. That’s all I have to say about that.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the poor souls in the Windy City. There is no doubt that a Boston – Chicago World Series would have been the end all of end alls. I hope the 4 people that will be watching the Yankees and Marlins over the next week enjoy. I believe it was Lewis Grizzard, God rest his soul, that referred to a particular college football game being as meaningful as “two mules fighting over a turnip – no one really cares who wins.” I think his analogy fits this year’s World Series quite nicely. I digress. My heart goes out to all of the Cubs fans. However, please do not pin your World Series appearance, or lack thereof, to a foul ball. The goat is bad enough.

I certainly cannot end this highly enlightening piece of literary and intellectual genius (I hope you laughed as hard after reading that as I did while writing it) without a comment on the current political environment.

For all of you who love to justify your political arguments and/or positions with opinion polls, please rethink that strategy. Or at least provide some other basis for your argument. The following was a CNN News Update I heard yesterday, October 16, at around 1000 (once again, that’s 10:00 o’clock in the morning for you non-military types). The report went something like this:

“ A recent CNN poll in Washington revealed that if the election was held today, George Bush would lose to a potential Democratic candidate.”

I couldn’t make this up if I tried. I laughed out loud. When I passed the devastating news on to my conservative and Republican friends… I must interject my disgust at the fact that the two are no longer synonymous. It is a shame that the term “Republican” now has to have modifiers such as conservative, compassionate, moderate, and God forbid even liberal. Of course, this issue is another soapbox entirely. Sorry. I apologize for the interruption. Let me begin again. When I passed the devastating news on to my conservative and Republican friends, they couldn’t believe that APDC (A Potential Democratic Candidate) would actually take the election. They knew “it” had done well during the debates but didn’t think “its” stance on the war on terror was as clear as it should be. “Its” economic platform left something to be desired as well. Need I continue with this ridiculous rambling? I didn’t think so. The ridiculousness of my rambling parallels that of the CNN poll. However, there are those on both sides of the political spectrum who would still use poll results of this type as ammunition in their argument. If you are not quite sure who these people are, let me point them out for you. Anyone who blames coming up short on the quest for a World Series appearance on a fat guy, a goat, or a foul ball, would be a likely candidate.

Until next time…

No opinion this week…despite everything that has been going on recently. Nevertheless, I would be remiss if I did not say that you should not be alarmed at the tremors (thanks John) you felt Friday October 10 around 1500 (that’s 3pm for you non-military types) est. It was neither a nuclear explosion nor another terrorist attack. It was the culmination of thousands of liberals whose heads had just exploded at the news of Rush Limbaugh’s admission of his addiction to pain killers and the harsh realization that they can no longer pin their hopes on his demise as well as that of conservative talk radio that would result, according to Al Gore, et.al., from the attacks on Rush’s credibility. Guess what, Al, he just showed everyone the level of his credibility. Unfortunately for you, it was not where you wanted it. Face it. You and the rest of your liberal cohorts do not rate to even clean his cigar butt can. Way to go Rush. You are the best.

Following President Bush’s address to the UN this past Tuesday, there was no doubt that I was going to jump on the opinionist’s bandwagon and spout some of my own thoughts regarding the UN and its role in post-war Iraq. However, after watching C-Span coverage of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives’ hearings, rather the Democrats’ verbal assault on Gen. Meyers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Abizaid, Commander Central Command in Iraq, and Paul Bremer, Civilian Administrator in Iraq, regarding the $87 billion supplemental to fund the continued rebuilding of Iraq, it occurred to me that there were just too many issues that needed to be addressed immediately. Therefore, rather than one big dose of reality, I will distribute smaller ones. In contrast to soapbox rants, I like to call these smaller doses of reality soap “dish” rants. Soap dish rants are, by definition, shorter versions of soapbox rants. Clever, huh? Don’t be misled, however. Soap dish rants are just as effective…maybe even more so. Think of it this way. I can drop a bunch of smaller bombs all over the place as opposed to dropping one MOAB. Man, I love blowing stuff up.

On the Democrat’s Iraqi Assessment: While the subject of Iraq could be the focus of countless rants and raves, I would like to pass along some reality to the Democrats. Using an $87 billion supplemental as justification to attack the man in charge of rebuilding the Iraqi government and infrastructure, Paul Bremer, and General Abizaid, the Commander of the US troops in Iraq who succeeded in completing one of the most impressive military operations in history and who face life and death situations every day in defending the freedom of a newly liberated people is flat out wrong. I will concede that it is your political responsibility, as Democrats, to discredit your Republican counterparts. However, what is being accomplished by Sen. Leahy (D-Vermont), Sen. Feinstein (D-California), Sen. Hollings (D-South Carolina) et.al. is the promotion of the idea that nothing is being accomplished in Iraq. This idea is a barrage of bullets shooting down the morale of the men and women in uniform now serving in Iraq. The spirit of the US Fighting Man has been the difference in every theatre of operations from the Revolutionary War to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Victory is a byproduct of this spirit. Let me enlighten you, this spirit is fueled by the belief that their country is behind them. Does the phrase “united we stand, divided we fall” strike a nerve. We HAVE to win this war. Not just in Iraq, but against terrorism. Iraq is but one small battle in this theatre. REALITY CHECK – If you don’t put your DNC cards away and get your heads out of your jackasses, the last things you will have to worry about are winning the presidency in 2004, 2008, etc…, the growing deficit that you love to blame everything on, and whether or not Bill and Hillary will send you a Christmas card. What you will have to worry about is how to reserve your copy of the hard-to-get bestsellers, “How To Learn Arabic In 3 Easy Lessons” and “Getting Along With The Radical Islamic Terrorist Next Door For Dummies.”

On the UN: I have serious reservations about the legitimacy of an organization that sends men and women into a war zone to serve as peacekeepers armed only with a blue helmet emblazoned with the letters “UN”. I would contend the helmets serve not as means of protection but as targets. The letters do not stand for United Nations, they stand for “ shoot me, I’m UN-armed”. I guess they could run around and yell “Citizens’ Arrest…Citizens’ Arrest.” God Bless Barney Fife. On a more serious note, I realize that the UN has a role in world affairs. However, is has no place in determining the sovereignty of the United States. We are governed by the Constitution of the United States, not the United Nations Charter.

On the UN’s Role In Rebuilding Iraq: I will expand on my theory of the world’s role in rebuilding Iraq in subsequent opinions. In short, I contend that the offer to play a role in the reconstruction of Iraq should be extended to those countries, the coalition of the willing” who stood along side the United States from the beginning, some in spite of the threat of alienation and exclusion from regional organizations. By taking on rebuilding responsibilities, many of these countries (for example, those of the former Soviet Union) could build international credibility while allowing the United States to assume the predominant leadership role.

On NATO: 50 year-old alliances need to be reassessed. Russia is no longer a common enemy of the countries of the North Atlantic. As a matter of fact, I would have to say that enemies of the US can be found within the organization. I shouldn’t have to mention any names. As well, what happens when the EU establishes its heavily anticipated military element and it becomes involved in a regional conflict, one which the US has no involvement? Okay, I know it would be a stretch to think that a conflict could occur that the US would not be a part of but hang with me for a second. Where would the line be drawn between NATO involvement and EU involvement? Question for later…

And finally, The California Recall: A big stink was made over the fact that North Korea has missiles capable of reaching California. Is that such a bad thing?

Stay tuned. More to come…