Brian’s Song

My best friend finished his earth race in the early morning hours of Friday, May 2nd. His home going wasn’t completely unexpected because he had lung cancer, and barring supernatural healing the prognosis for long term recovery was not good. There was thankfully time to talk, enjoy each other’s company, share our faith on an even deeper level, leave nothing unsaid, perhaps even grieve the possible loss and absence to some extent? But there is still a void, a numbness, a surreal quietness in my spirit, as I long to reconnect with his spirit, or listen to what the Spirit might impress me about his home going, or earth life in general.

Dwayne, Charles, Brian at quarterly friendship visit

In short, I’m OK with it because I’m so certain of Brian’s faith in God, and in God’s faithfulness to Brian, as to all of the family of God. I believe in God’s goodness. I believe in God’s power to heal and save. I believe in eternity as promised and spelled out in God’s Word. I believe in the vapor of an earth life, also spelled out in the Bible. I believe in the love of God and the sovereignty of God. Brian and I both believed and said many times, “We believe God’s plan for us is better than our plans for us.” So why wouldn’t I be fine with what happened to Brian, and will eventually happen to me? I am. At peace.

Bobby, Brian, Dwayne at Subiaco Retreat

The book of Job was one of our favorites together, with the greatest man of the east making the deeply felt, beautiful confession, “Even thought He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” We also noted what it cost Job to see his vision and revelation of God. And what a beautiful revelation it was! Recorded for us and for eternity in Holy Writ.

We would often sense and discuss the deep truths of Solomon too, the wisest man who lived, inspired by the Spirit of God, writing things like, “The day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.” “The house of mourning is better than the house of feasting.” And, “A man has no authority over the day of his death.” Or Paul, as he spoke by the Spirit on Mars Hill, “God chooses where men should live, and their times.”

Accomplished Fighter Pilot 30 Years Married to Kathy

Accomplished Fighter Pilot with Scott
30 Years Married to Kathy

Still there is a sense in me, that a mighty one has fallen, along the lines of David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan when they fell in battle. Or in the sense of Isaiah’s prophecy, ““For behold, the Lord God of hosts is going to remove from Jerusalem and Judah Both supply and support, the whole supply of bread And the whole supply of water; The mighty man and the warrior, The judge and the prophet, The diviner and the elder,” (Isaiah 3:1–2)

I rejoice for him, and for heaven. He’s pain free, and experiencing what we can’t even imagine. The Psalmist says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones.” And, “… as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

All that said, I miss him.

Brain, always the warrior, with Dwayne

Please take a moment to contemplate your own mortality, and your prospects for eternity. That’s what times like this are best for. And it’s the main thing Brian always talked about to those he loved. And he loved most everyone. 🙂

If you want to read the eulogy I gave at his home going service you can click here. If you want to read what others have said of him, or say something yourself, you can click here.

My prayer is that you have a friend like Brian Douglas Fields. If you don’t, start praying for one, or seeking one by being friendly, and keeping your eyes and heart open.

The Lord’s grace abound to you and yours. Amen.

Dwayne

Job 13:15 NJKV, Ecc 7:1,2 NKJV, Ecc 8:8 NASB, Acts 17:26 NASB, 2 Sam 1:25 NASB, Ps 116:15 NASB

GOD’S NOT DEAD AND NEITHER AM I…Happy Easter!

I’ve been feeling the need and desire to communicate with you, friends old and new, but I’ve had a lot on my plate the last few days. If this title seems a bit dramatic to you, it seems apropos to me for at least three reasons. [1] It’s Easter. He is risen. And as first century Christians used to echo, “He is risen indeed!” Witness an empty tomb and His life giving Spirit empowering millions of believers around the globe, giving Him credit and praise at this very moment. [2] Our home group went to see the movie, “God’s Not Dead,” two weeks ago, and it impacted me a great deal. It was well done, and moved very quickly. I encourage you to go see it, and take a friend or friends, believing or unbelieving. The issues and presentation speak to our times and to all times. [3] I crashed our new plane crash a couple weeks ago Friday. I told some of my friends as I encountered them in the days following, “It started out to be one of the worse days of my life. But if you walk away from a plane crash without a scratch, how can you not say it was one of the best days of your life?”

So I apologize for the drama in the title, but can you see how it might fit?

I always get quiet, introspective, joyful, and mystified during passion week and Easter. Who doesn’t welcome the warm reprieve from winter and new life bursting all about? But the promise of new spiritual life, and freedom from sin is the best of all! That someone Who could do so, paid the price for my sin, and then lives with me to give me power over sin and death–what could be more astounding? What could be more joyful? The God of the second chance? Indeed! The words of the angels to the women who came to the tomb that first Easter morning still echo through the millennia, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” “He is not here. He is risen, just as He said.”

So, what does that mean to you? What does it mean to me? Well I’m very aware, given the events of the last weeks, that I’ve been given a second chance. A chance to live more life on this side of eternity. I should make it count! And I want too.

But more than that, it says that because He’s alive, and I have His power working in me, I can hope to overcome any problem, any set back, any adversity. And you can too, if you know Him and His resurrection power. Hope. Power. Life. That’s what it says, and that is what I wish for you, dear reader and friend. He does too. It was His idea, and He Who paid the price — showing us the way, and raising us to walk in newness of life.

“Today is the first day of the rest of your life,” doesn’t sound like a cliché to me at the moment. It sounds like the truth. May we all grasp this new life, with the adventure and promise it holds, if He holds us.

An eighty-two year old woman was baptized in our church this morning. New life!

A dentist friend and his sweet wife asked us to their home for lunch today. Before the meal he read this to his guests and family. New life!

A friend down the ally from us and his dear wife asked us and thirteen other neighbors, believers and perhaps unbelievers, to a seder celebrating passover a few days ago. It was a beautiful, delicious, spiritual, and happy experience to retell and remember the 3500 year old story of Abraham’s descendant’s freedom from slavery and friendship with God. Also one that would culminate in the passover Lamb of Calvary, and many new friends worldwide. New life!

I received a blog from a dear friend in east Arkansas this week about passover and what it means to a Christ follower. New life!

And I received an Easter email today from a new and dear friend from Georgia. Please forgive the self-serving nature of this one. But his insights are more inspirational and insightful than my small contribution. New life!

May you come to experience new life in full measure! That’s the real meaning of Easter. And that’s my prayer for you.

Happy Easter!!

Dwayne

PS I intended to tell the story of the plane crash for friends who are interested and haven’t heard. But this writ has reached it’s permitted length. I’ll report on the accident soon.

Cuba for Christ…Who Knew?

Taxis in Havana

I just returned from a week long mission trip to Cuba sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with Rick Bonfim Ministries in support of the Methodist Church of Cuba. We were forty people of all walks and ages – pastors, airline pilots, business people, working and retired, and a special group of 15 University of Georgia students who are part of the UGA Wesley Fellowship Foundation. We conducted seminars at a conference of 840 Cuban missionaries, and split into smaller teams visiting 19 churches around and between Santa Clara and Havana, worshipping and praying for the church members. Cuba is an 1100 km island with 11 million people. God is alive and well in Cuba, where we met missionaries from all over the island; happy, joyful, expectant people thrilled to receive us. We came to be a blessing, but we were the ones blessed, hopefully carrying the fire back to the US. [As reported by Art Druckenmiller]

My Friend Art

I quoted Art, and new and dear friend made on this trip, because I can’t say it better than he did. I’m grateful for his summary, and to know him. In fact I’d have to say I met 39 new and dear friends on this trip. It would seem that we each were invited personally by the Holy Spirit. There was no strife, only camaraderie and fellowship in service to the King. It started out that way, and only got better till we left the island for home.

The Methodist Bishop of Cuba addressed our group one morning and excitedly told us they have 400 churches, but 1000 new church plants! This fact was underscored by our mission that Art described above. 840 missionaries (We might call them church planters.) had traveled from all over the island, some for 11 hours or more and were camping at a large church campground with a big auditorium. There our teachers taught them the Word in four or five groups each morning, with translators, followed by ministry times where we prayed for them without translators as they hurriedly lined up expectantly for the prayer.

Missionaries at Camp Canaan

By the tens and hundreds they came forward. Prayer times were sometimes as long as the teaching times it seemed. It was humbling to minister to people who were more familiar perhaps and intimate with the Holy Spirit than many of us were. But everyone of us did minister, in obedience and faith, faith that God would hear and act on our prayers. There were many signs He did, indeed. 🙂

Group Ministry Time

During the first four days, I’d say we went to bed at midnight and were up at six, eating breakfast at a hotel in Santa Clara where we stayed, and spending the rest of the day at the camp, except for a 2-3 hour much needed, after-noon break at the hotel, followed by getting back on the vans and heading to 19 different local churches in the evenings.

Toward the end of our time we returned to Havana, and ministered one night in churches there. In Havana the pace slowed as we had Bible studies, and worship times ourselves, for personal spiritual renewal and times with the Lord.

On Walking Tour Havana

We spent one afternoon as tourists taking a walking tour of Havana, and ended up going to a beach about twenty minutes away for relaxation and enjoying the island.

The Cuban people were warm and friendly. We fell in love with their warmth, humility, and charm. The family of God is the family of God wherever you find them. They were a treasure to us, and hopefully we were a refreshment to them.

A Little Cuban Beach Time

I feel blessed of the Lord to have made the trip and to know them, along with our team; both of which I will treasure for eternity.

My look was limited to the Methodist Church on the island, but this move of God is being poured out in many of the churches, as reported in “Operation World,” 7th Edition 2010, showing about 15% of the population “Evangelicals” or “Charismatics,” with a growth rate of 4% annually.

Colorful Adventure!

The Cuban Church’s motto I’m told is, “Cuba for Christ in Ten Years!” May it be so. Pray for the church in Cuba and go if you get the chance! Following the Lord is a continual adventure!

[Photos!]

Where Are You Going In Life?

Let Us Keep To The Point

My Utmost for His Highest. “. . . my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed . . . .” We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus the areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him. It’s as if Paul were saying, “My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest—my best for His glory.” To reach that level of determination is a matter of the will, not of debate or of reasoning. It is absolute and irrevocable surrender of the will at that point. An undue amount of thought and consideration for ourselves is what keeps us from making that decision, although we cover it up with the pretense that it is others we are considering. When we think seriously about what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He doesn’t know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point—He does know. Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only—my utmost for His highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and Him alone.

My Unstoppable Determination for His Holiness. “Whether it means life or death—it makes no difference!” (see Phil 1:21). Paul was determined that nothing would stop him from doing exactly what God wanted. But before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God’s gentler nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide—for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives. If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.

Lord, the range of Your power, the touch of Your grace, the breathing of Your Spirit—how I long for these to bring me face to face with You. Forgive my tardiness; it takes me so long to awaken to some things. Oswald Chambers [from YouVersion]

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Paul (Philippians 1:20)

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I’ve been reading through the Bible this year using a reading plan from YouVersion. If you aren’t using some plan to read through your Bible, give this a look and get started today!

I recently saw on a church sign, “A daily devotion is better than a yearly resolution.” It is. Speaking of daily devotion, several are available on the same web site. I started this 30 day devotional reading by Oswald Chambers today. I encourage you to pick one from the list and do the same.

Reading from the Word every day, early in the morning, and from a short devotional, following the path of a mature believer who has been in some deep places with our Lord will change your day for good, and your life forever.

Shalom in Him as you Seek Him,

Dwayne

The Spirit of Prophecy . Merry Christmas

“Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”” (Revelation 19:10)

Prophecy authenticates the Bible. Prophecy authenticates Jesus Christ. It comes from another dimension, an eternal dimension that spans time and scans time.

The prophet is an agent of God, an ordinary human gifted to hear from God and speak what he hears. Prophecy is a gift from God, letting mortals know what is happening or going to happen in our dimension, on earth and in time.

In the Bible we have an incredible, or should I say credible, array of prophecies and prophets whose words demonstrate the validity of the Bible and it’s main subject, the Messiah, the Christ, the Lion of Judah, the King of Kings.

It’s true also that prophecy increases in frequency and volume when there is some major move of God afoot. That seems to be the case in our day, but that’s a discussion for another time.

It was certainly the case as the Holy One announced the advent of His Son in the stars and through His servants the prophets.

It’s also a sad and interesting aside of history that many don’t get it. They don’t hear it. They don’t see it. Thus they miss it’s life changing and eternity changing implications, to their own detriment.

This was the case of King Herod the Great as he heard the Magi, who were king makers from the east, and reported to him they had ridden some seven hundred miles to bring gifts and worship “He who has been born the King of the Jews.”(Matt 2:2) Herod had to ask them about the sign and when the indicator star had appeared. Then he had to ask those familiar with the Scriptures where the King would be born. “Bethlehem in Judah” they replied according the prophet Micah seven centuries ago. These signs in plain view had been missed by Herod, just like they are by many in our day and our place.

Indeed there was a long litany of prophecies, spoken, written and preserved over hundreds and thousands of years concerning the coming King of Kings, beginning in the the Garden of Eden [Gen 3:15], and extending through Abraham, four thousand years ago, David, three thousand years ago, and until time of Herod in Israel during the Roman Empire, two thousand years ago. These were prophecies of incredible specificity and accuracy, as we shall see.

Some of these include:

[1] He will be the seed of woman (Gen 3)

[2] He will be the seed of Abraham (Gen 12)

[3] He will be the seed of Judah (Gen 49)

[4] He will be the seed of Jesse (Isa 11)

[5] He will be the seed of David (IISam 7)

[6] He will be the seed of a virgin (Isa 7)

[7] He will be born in Bethlehem (Mic 5)

[8] There will be a special anointing of the Holy Spirit on Him (Isa 11:61)

[9] There will be a messenger that will go before Him (Isa 40 & Mal 3)

[10] He will be crucified (Isa 50 & 53)

[11] He will rise again from the dead (Ps 16)

[12] He will make a new covenant (Jer 31)

[13] He will receive the kingdom from the Father (Dan 7 & Isa 9)

[14] He will pour out His Spirit on all flesh; sons and daughters will prophesy (Joel 2)

And as we approach Christmas, let’s look anew at some of the prophecies immediately preceding His birth. And as noted before, there is an increased activity when God is getting ready to do something special.

[1] God sent His angel Gabriel to Zacharias the old priest. “You will have a son. Name him John.”

[2] God sent His angel Gabriel to Mary. “You will conceive and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.” “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

[3] God told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth is pregnant.

[4] God told Elizabeth that Mary was pregnant with her Lord.

[5] God told Simeon he “would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ”

[6] God told also at the same time an eighty-four year old prophetess named Anna that Jesus was the Christ.

[7] God told Joseph to take the Child and his mother and flee to Egypt for safety, later leading him back to Nazareth where Jesus would grow up.

“He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”” (Matthew 2:15)

“and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”” (Matthew 2:23)

And on it goes. Amazing, and reassuring. Our God is the God of the ages, and the God of eternity. Much more could be said of His prophets and His telling, or speaking forth what He is about to do. But let’s just pause on Christmas Eve, ponder the wonder of it all, and Worship, with the Wise Men, “He who is born the King of the Jews.”

“And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. “And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who fear Him.” (Luke 1:46–50)

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10–11)

““For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”” (Acts 2:39)

Christmas Shalom to you and those you love,

Dwayne

Much of the above material comes from a sermon by Charles Simpson, “The Spirit of Prophecy.”

Bethlehem Star

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” (Matthew 2:9–10)

Every year in December I pull out the Bethlehem Star DVD that I discovered a few years ago and watch it a few times; worshiping, reflecting, learning, meditating … in awe.

As I start a new category on the book’s blog, Bread for the Spirit, this is a fitting first. We’re in the season of Advent, which Wikipedia describes like this:

“Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is an anglicized version of the Latin word adventus, meaning ‘coming’. … Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used to refer to the Second Coming of Christ. For Christians, the season of Advent anticipates the coming of Christ from two different perspectives. The season offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and to be alert for his Second Coming.”

In the Christian tradition, many churches and families make an Advent wreath with five candles, lighting one candle on each Sunday in December marching up to December 25th when we light the Christ-candle symbolizing the light of the world and celebrate Christmas — the coming and the gift of the Christ Child, One Who would be our Savior, One Who is King and Lord of all.

On the first Advent Sunday, the “hope” candle is lit. His advent gives us hope of life after death, just as He exhibited it. And the “hope” of good relationships on earth and in eternity, especially a reconnection with our Creator Father, the God of hope.

On the second Sunday, yesterday, the “peace” candle was lit. His advent gives us a restored “peace” with God, a present personal “peace” by knowing Him and His ways, and the promise of eternal “peace” through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Somehow, the yearly viewing of this wonderful DVD reminds me of all of that! I pray you get it and make viewing it a meaningful family tradition, and/or that you gift it to loved ones. They’ll be joyful you did!

Who among us does not enjoy beautiful art, beautiful music, and the discoveries of good science? I think it’s beautiful too that God gave this revelation to a lawyer, not an astronomer or scientist, but someone who is trained to look for clues, prove a case, and puzzle things out. A truth seeker, perhaps with a heart of worship?

This is something akin to what A.W. Tozer writes in his introduction to “The Knowledge of the Holy.” “…this book is neither esoteric nor technical, and since it is written in the language of worship with no pretension to elegant literary style, perhaps some persons will be drawn to read it. … I yet write not for the professional theologians but for plain persons whose hearts stir them up to seek after God Himself.”

I’ll leave you with this information from the Bethlehem Star web site. And with a sincere prayer for His Blessing on you and those you love during Advent and Christmas 2013. His Hope, and His Peace be yours in abundance! Amen.

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” (Micah 5:2)

“This One will be our peace. ” (Micah 5:4–5)

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“It’s an astronomical mystery. A strange star is claimed to have appeared at the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. This site is an investigation of the story found in the Biblical Gospel of Matthew, a story often called the ‘Star of Bethlehem.’ It brings the words of Roman and Jewish historians alongside the visions of ancient prophets. It mixes “modern” mathematicians with murderous turmoil in the Roman imperial court. It combines all these with astronomical facts which no one disputes. And it concludes that the star was a real event. Come solve this age-old mystery for yourself…”

“Well-researched and reasonable” Former Chief of Planetary Astronomy, NASA, and Technical Editor, Sky & Telescope magazine

“An interesting look… at the star… genuinely thought-provoking” Christianity Today magazine

“Models the scientific method at its best” Distinguished Professor of Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

“A convincing case…a mystery solved” Former Director, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center

“IF THE STAR was a natural event, does that mean it was not a miracle? Perhaps just the opposite. For, if the stars were arranged to create a sign, that arrangement is as old as time. A Star which is part of the orderly natural universe is a Clockwork Star. A sign put in place before men walked the Earth…”

The Highs of Friendship

Jim & Dwayne from the heights of Waynapicchu

Friendship can take a person to new heights on their earth pilgrimage, as well as make the trip worth while!

I’ve believed that as long as I can remember, with my parents modeling it for me and my siblings. I’ve experienced it for myself in every chapter of life. And I recently experienced it in the heights of the Andes, the center of the ancient Inca Empire.

Ken! Yes…

I joined two long-time friends who flew fighters with me in the military for more than twenty years on a friendship and life adventure to Peru. We flew as captains for American Airlines too, making the travel considerably easier and cheaper. 🙂 We are also Brothers in Christ, each attending different churches in our city. Friends! For three decades now! What a blessing!

Peru? The exotic Machu Picchu, picturesque and mysterious, was our adventure destination. And what a joyful experience it proved to be. To experience travel and places of unusual beauty with friends makes the whole experience more meaningful for everyone and something you share in your hearts for the rest of your life… and eternity. The laughter, the vistas, the experiences, the meals shared, the new friends met and made along the way, and experiencing it together is food for the soul and joy to the spirit. It’s the way God intended life to be! A double gift to us.

Friends old and new! The joy of the journey!

Contemplating and enjoying with friends the beauty of His creation, and the mystery of His involvement with His creatures everywhere on the globe spells relationship with His sons and daughters. It’s beautiful and enjoyable. I think it pleases God too — to watch us and to Be a part of it.

Friendship! It’s worth it! Enjoy friendship today, and every chance you get! Be proactive at making and enjoying friends! At planning and carving out special times, and setting aside your agenda when opportunities present themselves … to help another, share a meal, have coffee, or go on adventures great or small.

Dwayne at the entrance to the famous Incan ruins

Dwayne near the entrance to the famous Incan ruin of Machu Picchu

One of my travel friends has a plaque over the door to his cabin on the White River of Arkansas. “Faith, Family, Friends.” That says it all. It’s what matters now and for eternity.

Among other things, Machu Picchu showed us that wherever men are found, God has “set eternity in their heart.”

The wonder of Machu Picchu? And the wonder of Friendship? To be continued…

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

[A Few Photos]

[Many more photos! :)]

Give Thanks with Knowledge of the Holy

A cold, rainy, sleeting Monday morning, and I sit by the fire reading Tozer’s, “The Knowledge of the Holy,” Chapter 6, “THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF GOD.”

Powerful insight and powerfully true…

I was struck by the truth of it, as it raised my eyes to the hills, to my Help, the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth. And it pointed out vividly to me some truth espoused in my recent book, and truth revealed to me as I’ve journaled the last two years, about God and about our times.

Thank You Father for your very present help and closeness to those who seek You and Your ways. You certainly are “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Help us to seek. Help us to find. Help us to live while we do. You are what we need.

“for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17:28)

Perhaps it’s time to pause for some Thanksgiving. I am. I encourage you to do so as well.

Enjoy the national holiday! Enjoy your friends and family. Enjoy the air you breath, and everything good in your life. He’s given them all to you.

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17)

I just finished a blog article I entitled “America Bless God.” And I recall David, the sweet poet of Israel, the warrior king of Israel, and the “man after God’s own heart” prayed like this:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;” (Psalm 103:1–2)

You choose! You always do.

Matt Redman’s famous, beautiful song also comes to mind, “Ten Thousand Reasons.”

His grace to you all, and Happy Thanksgiving!

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”” (Acts 17:26–31)[Bolding my own.]

I leave you with that excerpt from one of the most famous sermons in history, Paul the Apostle to the men of Athens, in a day of spiritual blindness, perhaps like our day.

Choose life. Choose wisely. Choose thanksgiving. Choose to see God as He Is, not what we’ve perhaps imagined Him to be. He’s adorable. Choose thanksgiving and adoration, today. By our seeking, and His revelation, may He grant us “THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY.”

[Photos by Mark B., neighbor and friend, Europe 2013]

America Bless God

My Father and My Son on my Birthday 2013… Lot's to be thankful for….

My Father and My Son on my Birthday 2013… Thank You Father of Good Gifts

In dark times with many challenges our forefathers paused to give thanks to God for his help and goodness, from their hearts. That’s good advice for us today. Let’s pause privately to do so where we are, and then in families and corporately wherever we can.

The roots of Thanksgiving as celebrated in the United States were recently spelled out to me beautifully by one of my best friends and spiritual mentors Charles Angel. You can read his article here.

Some historical insights he brings to light will warm your heart and refresh your mind as to God’s help in America’s rise to greatness, greatness we have enjoyed and enjoy today. Reflect and give thanks!

“As Thanksgiving approaches, which begins the Christmas season celebration, I think it remains relevant to remember those who braved a sixty-six day arduous voyage on the Mayflower to establish Plymouth in 1620 and set up the foundations for the God-given right of freedom for this Nation’s future generations. These Pilgrims chose to stand for the truth without compromise and for the hope that they and their posterity could experience liberty under God. It cost them everything to lay the groundwork of the most prosperous and free nation in history.

Their significant document, The Mayflower Compact, placed in the hands of the people the right to create laws and constitutions under God’s direction. This document became a basis for more than eighty colonial charters and covenants that laid the foundation for America’s Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. It set the direction for this Nation, reading in part:

“…having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith...”

Then about 150 years later…

…That congressional resolution was delivered to President George Washington, who issued the first federal Thanksgiving proclamation, declaring in part:

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor. . . . Now, therefore, I do appoint Thursday, the 26th day of November 1789 . . . that we may all unite to render unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection.”

Then about 70 years later…

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a Thanksgiving proclamation setting aside the last Thursday of that November. Despite the difficult circumstances, Lincoln called Americans to prayer with an air of positive optimism and genuine thankfulness, noting:

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the Source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God. . . . No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, Who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”

So, in light of the above-noted statements and deeds that laid out the course of action and standards for America, what say you regarding how this great Republic is measuring up in 2013? Is Almighty God glorified by the actions of this nation? Is the Christian faith being advanced by the administrative, legislative and judicial branches of government at the federal, state and local levels? Is the Church significantly influencing secular society? To say that there seem to be a few “chinks in the armor’s integrity” would certainly be an understatement!

However, if we only look at the results of mankind’s efforts to meet the lofty goals set by our founders, despair will set in and thankfulness will diminish. Maybe our wise founding fathers knew that erosion along the way would be caused by our old sin nature, which cannot be redeemed by man’s laws, rules and regulations. To keep hope alive, it appears that their primary reasoning for the establishment of Thanksgiving was to redirect mankind’s focus away from individual circumstances and toward the Creator of heaven and earth.

Let us remember Him, now as then, and offer a prayer of heart-felt thanksgiving.

The Book Makes Fall Friends

“Life is a daring adventure or it’s nothing.” Helen Keller

The book is making new friends, the pace at just the right speed, steady as the Spirit leads. Slow enough to meet people, get involved in their lives to some degree, look into their eyes and journeys, pray over issues spoken and unspoken, enjoy their gifts, their lives, their characters, their personalities and their human being. Yet steady enough to get the book known in new circles of friends and keep me somewhat occupied with it’s mission in the world, without it becoming a burden or chore.

Pastor Patrick Kimberland with Dwayne

On a rainy Saturday morning, October 5th, I spoke to the Butterfield AOG men’s group about the book, our times, and issues facing men — also about the preeminence of Jesus and us deepening our relationship with Him through the disciplines. Many thanks to good friend Jeff Beauchamp who arranged this meeting with some excellent brothers.

Librarian introduces authors

On the beautiful Sunday afternoon of October 27th, I participated at a book signing and “Meet Our New Author’s Event” at the Van Buren, AR, Public Library, along with about ten other area authors and area citizens who came to listen, learn, buy signed copies, and ask questions about our books. Several books were sold and signed while making new and interesting friends.

On October 31st, Halloween Night, I was asked to speak at a church in Yates Center, KS, after a member read my book and recommended me to the pastor for their Hallelujah Night event. This was a great experience with some very loving, genuine people who live in community

Doug and I leave the house for a day spent together

and worship the King. A very nice extra benefit for me was getting to spend two nights and days with a long-time friend, former fighter pilot, and squadron mate Doug Lamb, reconnecting with his family due to the fact he lives only thirty miles away.

Marsha and the Ladies serve up a great meal for Hallelujah night!

Ummm Hmmmm…

Sarah Lamb Stockebrand, a princess to me, and a friend of the King.

Ahhh! The Country Life …

By the way, this Tuesday night, November 19th, I’ll be at the Harrison, Arkansas, Public Library for a book signing event. If you’re in the area, I hope to see you there! The journey continues!

A Friend of the King

David and His Mighty Men

Brian’s Song

GOD’S NOT DEAD AND NEITHER AM I…Happy Easter!

Cuba for Christ…Who Knew?

Where Are You Going In Life?

The Spirit of Prophecy . Merry Christmas

Bethlehem Star

The Highs of Friendship

Give Thanks with Knowledge of the Holy

America Bless God

The Book Makes Fall Friends