Dealing with disapointment

Have you ever had one of those days where everything you were hoping for went down the drain? Today is one of those days for me. I am dealing with a personal loss of something that I was really looking forward to, and today I found out that it was not to be. (won't mention what because of a personal nature)



I am now looking forward to getting started on what I need to do to secure my dreams. I am looking at starting a new church in Nacogdoches, TX called "Impact Church of Nacogdoches" Our slogan is "Impacting people at the point of their needs". I am now presently trying to recruit staff members and people that will be glad to serve the community that they live in and believe in. I have found that when dealing with people that you want to pour into or serve, sometimes they can and will let you down.



I am ex military and so I believe in a feeling of team work and a sense of pride in supporting those who you have served and those who have served you. It is hard to expect people to be loyal to you if you have not been loyal to them. That is the way I live my life. For those I serve I do so with extinction. The Army Rangers have a credo that say's that they will leave no one behind dead or alive it makes no difference. I feel that you should never have to worry about where I stand if I am serving you or your command I will "stick".



Today I talked to a friend who was serving as a replacement pastor for a large denomination who did not give him the support that he should have been given and was eventually asked to live his church after uprooting his whole family to take over this church that was being run by one family that was related to everyone in the town. So when he got there to relieve the old pastor the church got up and walked out and staged a protest by walking out after worship was over every sunday. Thing started changing for them and they began having 3-4 families attend and was beginning to turn things around. I have seen a change happen in my friend that broke my heart. He is ex military as well and needed the support of his chain of command and they walked out on him and asked him to leave so they could bring back the old pastor who they were not happy with in the first place. Jodi was a complete company man for this denomination if you would like to call it like that. When people serve you remember they are usually trying to do the very best they can to do at what you want them to do without the benefit of your support or experience.



So as I look for people to help me in my new venture, it is important that to find people who will "stick" in the hard times. I call them "peanut butter" type people. I know that is a crude way to look at people but take a spoon and put it in a jar of peanut butter and get a big spoonful. When you pull it out turn it upside down and watch what happens. Nothing, if it is good peanut butter it will not move it will "stick" to the spoon. I am not looking for jello type people who are always wiggling around and don't stick to anything except the pan that they were made in.

I know that is a strange analogy but it is fitting. Please look around at your work, and family enviroment and take notice of the people who "stick" and support them with all your heart because they don't run from a fight and they try to do what is best. Who knows it may be you that needs someone to come along side of you and say's don't worry I don't leave any body behind.

I know it is a strange post but just some thoughts I have been thinking about. Please leave any comments

Family time in a time of transition.

Sorry it has been so long since I blogged, but I have been in some serious transitions in my family life. This picture is of me and my wife at deer camp on Christmas of 2004. This was before the birth of our Son Jonathan. On April 11, 2006 He was born and boy let me tell you that is when life got turned upside down and inside out. He came into this world weighing 9lbs 14oz, which is bigger than the average baby. When he came into our lives so many things changed for good never to go back to the same ever again. In this picture Caye and I look so happy but it can't compare to the happiness we have today because of our son.

Well just as the change came by adding him into the family we have made some more drastic changes that will forever change our lives and how we live. Three weeks ago I went into the hospital and discovered that I have diabetes and it I had probably have had it for a while. I was lucky to find it when I did. As a result I have to change my life style and how I live and eat. I have lost twenty lbs since I have had to change my diet. It is hard and frustrating but I am getting through it. My wife has been a rock for me because she started taking the diabetic diet with me so that I would not have to do it myself. Having a support staff or group means everything to me because she is showing me that she loves me and wants me to be around so we can share our old age together. She has even lost six lbs since we have been on it so she even take advantage of a strange situation.

Last Sunday we wrapped up our last week at the the church were I was on staff as associate pastor. I have been a part of that family for over eight years and have seen a lot of ups and downs, good times and bad times, but I would not trade them for anything. The reason we are leaving is so we can go start a church plant in Nacogdoches, TX. We are excited about it and yet scared as well. I was taking to a friend here recently and he asked how I was so sure that God was calling me to do it? You see he went to start a church plant and it did not work out and he lost faith in what he was doing and he stopped trying. Well when it was boiled down I told him that what was left was an unchangeable or unshakable hunch of what I am supposed to do. Well I have been thinking about that here recently. My wife turned in her notice at her school where she is a teacher and she gets paid through August and since I am no longer on staff I no longer receive a pay check. I will admit that right now I am scared to think about the possibilities of what is happening with us. We are trying to sell our house and let me tell you it is a time of severe change. I am a man and I don't handle change well and through it all God reminds me in Psalms 68 it say's Let God arise and his enemies scatter. I know that I am a man of God who get's scared but it not fear that disqualifies you but how you handle the fear. In war and on battle graound through out the world we have had men that have sucked up the fear and performed great acts of heroism and we have had great men lock up in fear and just give up.

This is a time of gut checking and asking myself will I let my fear for my family out wiegh the fear of the Lord. I stand strong in nowing that "As for me and my family we shall serve the LORD." Please keep checking in for updates on our church planting and my upcoming deer season hunting stories.

Firearms refresher course

FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE
1. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.
2. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
3. Colt: The original point and click interface.
4. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.
5. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?
6. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.
7. "Free" men do not ask permission to bear arms.
8. If you don't know your rights you don't have any.
9. Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
10. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights reserved.
11. What part of "shall not be infringed" do you not understand?
12. The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians
ignore the others.
13. 84,987,543 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.
14. Guns only have two enemies: rust and politicians.
15. Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.
16. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
17. 911 - government sponsored Dial-a-Prayer.
18. Assault is a behavior, not a device.
19. Criminals love gun control -- it makes their jobs safer.
20. If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson.
21. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.
22. You only have the rights you are willing to fight for.
23. Enforce the "gun control laws" we ALREADY have, don't make more.
24. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.
25. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.
IF YOU AGREE: PLEASE PASS THIS 'REFRESHER' ON TO 10 FREE CITIZENS
"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."
- Thomas Jefferson

Computer addiction

I came across this and thought all you computer junkies might enjoy.
*Have you begun using the words "dot com" when addressing the Father in prayer?
*Have you begun feeding your mouse instead of your pets?
*Do you refer to Bill Gates as "Dad"?
*Has the TV remote control been missing and you don't care?
*Do you wake up at 3:00 AM to go to the bathroom but check for your e-mail first?
*On an airplane do you hold your laptop and put your child in the overhead compartment?
*Is your monthly phone bill delivered to you in a box?
*When facing temptation do you try to click it off?
*Have you stopped calling on parishioners because they don't have a modem?
*When preaching on Heaven's splendor, do your descriptions sound more and more like Silicon Valley?
*At a new parsonage would you rather Netscape than landscape?

If you've answered "yes" to any of the above you may have a problem, too.

Deer Evangelism season

Food for thought!

For all the hunters that are wondering why they never see deer when they go hunting on Sunday's well it is because they have picked up on the fact that if you are in the woods, you are not in the church.

Thanks to www.reverendfun.com look them up it is a great comical relief.

Living in a life of opposition

Have you ever been in a situation where you think everything that you touch messes up and there is no way to stop it? That has been my whole last week.

We went to Nacogdoches, TX for the Christmas break to get away and do some research for our church plant that we will be starting there. I went there thinking that it was going to be a great time and we were going to celebrate our 5th year anniversary and that is where the record player scratched and everything went down hill.

My Mother in Love (MIL) had put in a 30 amp plug on the electric pole for my Brother in Love (BIL) and me to hook up our R.V.s into for power but when you use a friend of a friend don't be surprised if you get less that professional work. The R.V. needs 110 with 30 amp circuit and he wired it with a 220. Well it fried our converter, microwave, and alarm clock and thank goodness that the frig and the A/C was cut off or they would have been fried. That was on December 22th which was my anniversary date. Do you get where I am going?

Let's put it this way wives do not like missing there anniversary dinner because their husbands are outside at 10 pm trying to work on a problems that is way above their heads. It was actually one week later before we could go have that dinner at Red Lobster.

I had friends that showed up out of town and wanted to go hunting with me on our property so she felt like she was getting the short end of the stick and she probably was. I was recently reminded that our Doctor that delivered my son Jonathan was talking to Caye and I about when we make plans God laughs at them because we try and take care of things ourselves and not look to God for his answers. I was beginning to think that it was a rain on stan's day parade or something like that.

Not to mention the rain storms that came and dropped 4-6 inches of rain overnight on us and got everything all muddy. We were able to get the camper in the shop the day after Christmas and get the essentials fixed. Total damage will end up around $400.00. Not to mention when the electrician came out and looked at the electrical socket he said that he should have figured out it was 110 and not 220.

I was not able to get a shot on any deer or pigs and had to endure the birds that kept coming up and stealing our corn that was meant for the deer and would make noises that they had to go to class to learn how to annoy humans and they really excelled in the annoying part. It was like having to endure nagging for hours at a time with out being able to say a single word.

By Saturday things started to calm down and trust me I am leaving out a lot of stuff because you just would not believe me if I said anything else. I got my dinner with my wife who was beginning to think that I was getting closer to being accepted as being a human, not quite but I will take what I can get at that level.

So guys remember right when you think you have everything thought off there is something else unforeseen. Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Seek God when things are going wrong and don't try and fix things yourself.

First Buck!

This is a friend of mine named Loran Richardson, he is a youth pastor at a church called New Freedom Church in Webb, Alabama He was able to harvest this buck on Saturday it weighed close to 175 lbs Nice buck!

I wanted to take the time to brag on him because of what he has been able to do as a youth pastor. He has served with integrity and with hard work and faithfulness and with God's favor has done some great things there. In fact he sponsored a city wide worship event this summer that had multiple church and multiple denominations attend and help participate. Matt 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. I can see since he has been faithful in the things of God, God is blessing him in many areas. I am lucky to have him as a friend and what makes it all that more special is that he is only 24 yrs old. I love seeing the young people serve God. I see people like him as special because in his generation the people are a different sort of people, He is like Caleb in the fact that he has a different kind of spirit. He continues to be a great source of joy to me.

In Alabama they have an over abundance of deer that he can hunt for, but he is about to come here to Texas to do some hunting and I am getting excited about it. I am hoping some of his good fortune will rub of on me. I can honestly say that he is a righteous man and has stayed true and I think the reward shows in his life by his fruit. Good job and congrats Loran. If you want look him up he is at www.newfreedomchurch.org The church that he serves at is an awesome church as well. Check them out and enjoy.

What Christmas means to me this year.

This has been a long and difficult year as well as a deeply rewarding year to me and my family. It started off with my wife having to be on bed rest so she would not have a miscarriage and trust me that was not fun for her. I had to help her with the things she could not do and for a person who is used to doing something herself it is hard to rely on someone else to do it for her.

Well, God is good and delivered her through that time and the baby came. We named him Jonathan David King Because he had been prophesied that he would be a Gift of God which is what the name of Jonathan means, David after my spiritual Father which means Beloved of God and King because that is our last name and I feel is appropriate because we serve the King of all kings.

Financially this has been the hardest year I have seen as an adult but God is good and just to save and he has. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Heb 10:23 He has always provided even when I began to doubt.

I have seen a relationship with my father and my brother be restored and fall away again. They are leaving and moving back to Florida because they don't like living here and find it hard to fit into our lives because of our faith differences. I am one that believes that just the minimum is not ok. I feel like if I carry the Cross brand, I should ride for the Brand (an old cowboy saying.)

I nearly lost my wife for the second time due to a ruptured appendix. She had been walking around for two days with it being ruptured and fortunately God stepped in and kept her protected with a deposit of fat that plugged and sealed the rupture so nothing leaked out.

My son just turned eight months old and and he is making me prouder everyday. So this year I plan on sitting around the table and giving a long testimony of the things that I am thankful for this year.

I am also in the middle of planning for a new church plant that is to be called "Impact Church" in Nacogdoches, TX. The word Impact means to have an impact or effect on; influence; alter. I always have liked being a impact player in sports or business and I can't wait to be an impact player for the Kingdom of God in Nacogdoches, TX. It is the hardest time of my life but also the most exciting time of my life. A new beginning and unfortunately an ending of what I am doing now. I wonder sometimes what it will be like to be away from my church family and friends but I get reminded that Pastor spoke over me at a staff retreat that I am about to shoot out of the starting blocks and that they would be there to cheer me on. He also told me that I would be a long distance runner, and this is how my race will be run always looking down the road looking for the Son to rise and never stopping nor giving up. That is my charge, something different, something new, I am sure glad I have the assurance of God, because without it I would run away screaming.

God you are Awesome, I love you and can't wait to see what you will do with us this next year with all the changes that are coming for me and my family.

Love you, Stan

Toys for Tots rejects Jesus Doll

Here is a little article that I thought funny. In a time where the world needs Jesus and the only person that could make the Marines obsolete, they turn down the gift. I guess I can understand to a degree, but how sad is it when we can not spread the truth, and how strange it is that we can not give away a represenatation of the person who Christmas was all about. What do you think?

LOS ANGELES - A talking Jesus doll has been turned down by the Marine Reserves' Toys for Tots program. A suburban Los Angeles company offered to donate 4,000 of the foot-tall dolls, which quote Bible verses, for distribution to needy children this holiday season. The battery-powered Jesus is one of several dolls manufactured by one2believe, a division of the Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co., based on Biblical figures.
But the charity balked because of the dolls' religious nature.
Toys are donated to kids based on financial need and "we don't know anything about their background, their religious affiliations," said Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va.
As a government entity, Marines "don't profess one religion over another," Grein said Tuesday. "We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family."
Michael La Roe, director of business development for both companies, said the charity's decision left him "surprised and disappointed."
"The idea was for them to be three-dimensional teaching tools for kids," La Roe said. "I believe as a churchgoing person, anyone can benefit from hearing the words of the Bible."
According to the company's Web site, the button-activated, bearded Jesus, dressed in hand-sewn cloth outfits and sandals, recites Scripture such as "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." It has a $20 retail value.
Grein also questioned whether children would welcome a gift designed for religious instruction. "Kids want a gift for the holiday season that is fun," he said.

Gay liberals being critical of religion.

I came across this article and it was like a good kick in the head. I got hit twice because I am a war vet from the first Gulf War and now I am a Pastor. With out voicing my OPINION about this I wanted to put this out there for discussion and see what people had to say about this subject.

OK just to start it off I think Elton John has a very one sided gay outlook on this and I am not one for wanting to call someone on the carpet without reason but in this article he say's "there is a general lack of leadership in the worlds religions," I for one think that is a load of cow chips because he is living a very immoral life as a homosexual and if has not listened to religous leaders about his life style, he surely will not listen when it it concerns a world view that is not tolerant to his personal views.

Let me know what you think.

Religion should be outlawed because it lacks compassion and promotes hatred of homosexuals, gay pop star Elton John said in an interview.
The singer was speaking in a special "gay edition" of The Observer newspaper's Music Monthly Magazine, where he shared his views on subjects ranging from being a music icon to Prime Minister Tony Blair's stance on the Iraq war.
At a time when religion is the subject of fierce debate in Britain over the right to wear the Muslim veil and other faith symbols, John complained there was a general lack of leadership from spiritual leaders.
"I think religion has always tried to turn hatred towards gay people. From my point of view, I would ban religion completely," he was quoted as saying.
"Organized religion doesn't seem to work. It turns people into really hateful lemmings and it's not really compassionate. The world is near escalating to World War Three and where are the leaders of each religion?
"Why aren't they having a conclave? Why aren't they coming together? I said this after 9/11 and people thought I was nuts. Instead of more violence why isn't there a meeting of religious leaders?" he said.
"It's like the peace movement in the Sixties. Musicians got through to people by getting out there and doing peace concerts but we don't seem to do them anymore.
"If John Lennon were alive today, he'd be leading it with a vengeance."
John complained that too many people were protesting online to take to the streets, highlighting the effectiveness of the February 2003 march against military action in Iraq that mobilized millions around the world.
With spiralling violence in Iraq, such opposition to Blair's backing of the United States had "come back to bite him on the ass," he added.
On homosexuality, the 59-year-old -- who sealed a civil partnership with his long-term partner, the Canadian film director David Furnish in December last year -- said he was happy to be viewed as the "acceptable face of gayness."
He also vowed to continue his fight for gay rights and
AIDS' charities: "I can't just sit back; it's not in my nature anymore. I'm nearly 60 years old after all. I can't sit back and blindly ignore it and I won't."

Servanthood vs Dictatorship

3 John 1-14
1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.
6 They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.
8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us.
10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone, and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink.
14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

This a story about three very different men but noteworthy enough for God to tell us about them so we can understand the difference between servanthood and dictatorship. In the Christian world we have what is called the Five Fold Ministry- Apostle, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher and it is easy for people to loose sight of them being servants to the flock.

I have always seen the five fold ministry as being fingers and the flock as being the palm of the hand. When in operation the fingers work in unison with the hand to get the work of God done here on this earth. I think it really holds true when you take your fingers and close them back up to the palm, they work together to protect and to serve the hand. We are to serve the bigger part of the body not take precedence over the body.

The first man was a servant named Gauis who was a treasured friend of the Apostle John. John had said that he had heard about his love through the service of the Brothers through the people he had served and was proud that he was walking in the Truth. John had commended him for his faithfulness to hospitality toward the Brothers when came through his area doing the work of the Lord. They would come to his house and he would serve them with the Love of God through hospitality. Most of the people he did not know, but he worked not for fame nor fortune but through the spirit of servanthood. He knew the commandment that he was to love his neighbor, and he also knew that he was doing something more important than serving himself. Gaius was not a man to complain about serving these men of God no matter how late they showed up or how long they stayed, or how much they ate and drank he counted it all Joy. I am sure that he put out a lot of his own money and time serving them without much compensation other than the joy of being a servant of God.

The second man was Diothrephes who John stated always wanted to be first(not a good sign). He had given in to pride, jealousy, and slander. He had taken over the church and would not listen to the eldership of the faith, he had begun to slander them, and would not receive any of the brothers. He had started trying to stop others from serving and receiving the Brothers in Christ and would go as far as even throwing people out of church for being servants to the needs of the Brothers. Can you imagine that? It was so bad that John himself stated that he wanted to come and have a talk with Diothrephes, talk about being humbled I sure would hate to have to be in that room when that went down. The bottom line was that his pride had disqualified him as a leader and needed to be confronted with the Truth.

The third man was probably a Pastor or teacher named Demetrius. In verse 12 Demetrius was being introduced as man that is well spoken of by the people and even the Truth itself. My study bible says that if Truth could speak it would speak on Demetrius's behalf. He was probably the man that carried the letter from John to Gaius which would also serve as an approval of him to preach and teach the Truth. Certainly Gauis opened his home to receive him as a respected man of the faith. I think that is a pretty high praise from John himself.

John had showed us three different types of people one a True Servant, one a thug/dictator, and one a Minister of the Gospel. It also shows that when good character is revealed, it is noticed and when bad character is shown, it is also dealt with. I think the relationship between John, Gauis, and Demetrius is exactly the same relationship we need in the church today.

May we always have Fathers of the faith that commend us, watch over us, correct us, and approve of us.
May we always have servants that serve and may we always have leaders that are proven trust worthy through time.

Sir, Please shut up!

For a man who tried to build himself as a war hero in the last presidential race, "U shore aint got know cents!" I am a War Vet myself and what you think is a lack of education I call Patriotism, what you call stupidity I call Honor , what you call ignorance I call Loyalty.

Let me tell you one thing sir, and I use that term loosely, I have never been so embarrassed by a member of my Gov't as what you did this week. I do realize that you are not a man of Honor, nor are you a man of Integrity. The comment you made, or should I say tried to make, shows that yes even after the clinton/lewinski ordeal we went through there is still a new low that I did not think possible to sink to, and fear not you found it.

You are a man who should be living a distinguished life as an Elder Statesman. You should have more intelligence or at least decency to understand that our Men and Women in the Armed service are doing something that is good, decent, and honorable. They are trying to bring stability and order in a part of the world that needs it badly. Please remind me who was it that came in and started working on making sure that schools were built, power was available , and water was running, well it sure was not you. Who is laying down their lives to defend a people from pure evil, I will give you one guess and yes you guessed it right, it is not you. Who is standing Guard tonight in a cold check point defending his brothers in arms while you and your wealthy wife live in the lap of luxury in a nice warm house that most of us true Americans will never be able to afford.

That sir, which is a term you do not deserve, takes true nerve to criticize the American Service men and women for doing what they thought they should be doing which is defending our moral responsibility of defending the world from terrorist.

I also would like to know how you would be able to look at a wife, a mother, or a child who has lost a loved one in the service of our Country and tell them, "Well Bless your heart, your loved one died because he was too stupid to go to college and get good grades."

Sir, which I use sarcastically, I understand your wife is French if I am not mistaken, I am sure that France would open up their arms to receive you as a citizen so please leave and don't even worry about getting your passport stamped because quess what even the custom agents are defending our Country or on second thought go ahead they may need the practice of doing a body/cavity search. Sir, which you are underserving of being called. Have made a complete fool of yourself and everything America stands for, good day and good bye.

Stuck in the rut!

Here it is one week before the start of rifle deer season here in North Texas and there is a cold front coming in. It makes my imagination run wild of visions of being hunting and the rut kicks into full gear. Big monster bucks coming out looking for love in all the wrong places. Generally deer are very timid creatures that almost will never come out into the open, but in the rut they have one thing one their mind and do you want to guess what they are thinking about. They have one thing that they can think about and one thing only. In deer language it means "let's par-tay!"

Enough with the kidding around, What happens is that the Bucks get so intent on the does that they are not concerned with anything else around them. If you are lucky enough to ever to be able to watch a buck chase a doe you will notice that he has thrown caution to the wind and has given in to the desire to do what they were created to do and that is to thrive and reproduce a strong new generation of deer so that they will ensure survival of deer as God created them.

I think that as Christians we could learn a lot about our faith walk by watching deer. The Apostle Paul spoke in Phil 3:12-14 "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Just as the deer are pressing on to take hold of the goal and to win the prize so should we be in such a state of mind that nothing will sidetrack us and hinder us from doing what we were created to do and that is to Worship God without any distractions and to reproduce a strong generation that will in turn chase after God with same desire to be near their creator. That is what God wanted from man before the fall of Adam in the garden. I believe God was deeply hurt when that happened and I also think that he is over joyed when his children want him as bad as we want to breath and I am sure that in that, we achieve what GOD created us for and that is to be with him.

May we all stay stuck in the Rut. Happy hunting

Deer Season is finally here!!!!!!!!!!

Praise the lORD! It is almost deer season! I am a hunter and love to see the change of the weather knowing that deer season is right around the corner. I really don't ask much in life but my hunting is one thing that I can do that relaxes me like nothing else can. Unfortunatly, when I go hunting I don't need to harvest a buck every year, but it is the time out in nature seeking after God that I need more than any thing.

It is an awesome experience to be able to go to the deer camp and sit in my tree stand with no distractions, I feel like I am drawing closer to God every year because I find that I need him more and more every year. To me it is like I am having Revival with in my Spirit just like some denominations schedule a yearly revival meeting at their churches so do I in the East Texas Pineywoods.

I find as a new dad wanting to be a Godly father to my son, there is more and more that I don't know about being a father. I find that I am so desperate for God, even to the point that I can not stand to be without him and his direction for my life, and that is when my soul cries out in a desperate need of God.

A couple of weeks ago my Pastor wrote about when a deer is running from something it will have a strong desire for water to the point that is the only thing on it's mind. I know that as a hunter here in the south that this is true because when the deer's body is under a high degree of stress it produces something called Lactic acid which can help the body produce emergency energy in case of a need for a quick get away, but when the body produce too much over a long period of time it can start turning back on the body and can slow down a deer to the point of exaustion or even death, unless it gets to water and and is able to drink. It has a way of resetting the metabolic system of the deer which causes the deer's body to start healing itself.

I find that I am like that deer under extreme physical stress longing for that water except for me it is God that I long for. With out him I will die because my body was never made to take the stress of this life with out him. He is my Savior and my friend. Psalms 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

As the writer of Psalms 42 asked God "When can I meet with you?" we need to get out and spend time with God. Ask him when can we meet I bet he want tell to get your people to call his people so you can do lunch together some other time. He is there for you when you are ready to spend time with him.

Please take the time to pass down these two legacies to your children.
1) As being a hunter
2) Being a Hunter for Christ.

Blessings and happy hunting

Standing alone

Today I received an email from a man that I consider to be one of my spiritual sons. He asked for forgiveness for a few things which was between us. Not realizing that I still love him and miss him. He recently got married to his long time girl friend and moved away to train for the Olympics. I am so proud of him and all he is trying to do. I am watching from afar hoping he will let me back into his life again and to be able to speak the Truth to him.

The biggest thing that came up between us was that I wanted to see him step up and be what God called him to be as a leader and he was just not able to see himself as a leader but someone outside of the group looking in. Just like in this picture if you are standing alone it makes you an easy target for the enemy and allows the enemy to keep you from achieving all that you can for the Kingdom of God.

In the military we used to say that "better sense is the better part of valor", and that "the only hero's that we knew of were dead men." We used to try and teach our men not to be dead hero's but alive men who did their jobs that saved the lives of a lot of men, that is called team work. So remember before you allow yourself to wonder too far away form the herd ask yourself why are you making the decision to be separated from the group and what good can become of it.

For the young man that wrote me today, I will not mention his name but, I love you and miss you. I will pray for you and your marriage and remember you always have a place in my house and my heart.

Blessings,
Stan

Unshakable Faith

When you see the caption it talk abouts an intense time, but I have found when you are out in the deep end of the water you will always have intense moments but remember "If God is with us who can stand against us. Don't let the threat of danger stop you from doing what God has called you to do.

True Faith

Here is a real heart breaking story of how Jesus Christ will help you and walk throught the the hardest times that you can have. The Amish people are usually very peaceful people who tend to keep to themselves so they can stay away from the sin in the world and live quiet and productive lives. Here is a clip from a news article that blew me away. See how a mother of one of the slain children can forgive the shooter simply because Christ forgave us. Our hearts and prayers are with the families of all the school shooting victims this week.


‘They honestly have forgiven’
Meanwhile, Rita Rose, a local nurse and midwife who delivered several children in the Amish community, told NBC’s Ann Curry that the mother of a 13-year-old girl who died has forgiven Roberts.

“She holds no ill will toward the shooter. She’s very forgiving. Christ forgave us, and we in turn forgive, and they honestly have forgiven,” she said. “Even last night, there was no anger toward the shooter.”

Rose described the teenage girl, who she did not identify, as “just beginning to blossom; she was very sweet.”

She added that the tragedy would likely strengthen the religious beliefs held by the Amish community, despite talk from outsiders that the lack of a phone or other modern amenities might have averted or cut short the tragedy.

“There’s two things that happen to your faith,” she said. “Either you let it go and get bitter, or you grow stronger — and we’ll grow stronger.”

Honesty does not mean always mean Integrity!

Several years ago, in Long Beach, California, a fellow went into a fried chicken place and bought a couple of chicken dinners for himself and his date late one afternoon. The young woman at the counter inadvertently gave him the proceeds from the day—a whole bag of money (much of it cash) instead of fried chicken. After driving to their picnic site, the two of them sat down to open the meal and enjoy some chicken together. They discovered a whole lot more than chicken—over $800! But he was unusual. He quickly put the money back in the bag. They got back into the car and drove all the way back. Mr. Clean got out, walked in, and became an instant hero. By then the manager was frantic. The guy with the bag of money looked the manager in the eye and said, “I want you to know I came by to get a couple of chicken dinners and wound up with all this money. Here.” Well, the manager was thrilled to death. He said, “Oh, great, let me call the newspaper. I’m gonna have your picture put in the local newspaper. You’re the most honest man I’ve heard of.” To which they guy quickly responded, “Oh no, no, don’t do that!” Then he leaned closer and whispered, “You see, the woman I’m with is not my wife...she’s uh, somebody else’s wife.”

I hope you were able to laugh at the story but there is a ring of truth to it. Honesty does not always mean integrity. Men take care that you do not become like Mr.Clean. Remember that being named Mr. Clean does not make you clean only the Blood of Christ can make you clean.

Living a transparent life.

Recently we have had some controversy going on about a football athlete that has come to play for our local professional football team. There were and still are some rumors flying about that he may or may not have tried to commit suicide. I for one am tired of hearing about every move this particular man makes and wish the news media would allow him to settle in to what he is supposed to be doing here and that is playing football.

This morning I sat watching the news and saw him trying to explain what happened. He tried to explain that it was a mistake and that the police report was wrong, because it said that he admitted that he was trying to hurt himself. He stated that is was all a misunderstanding of what happened and their was no reason to be alarmed. His publicists states that he has twenty-five million reasons to be happy referring to his three year contract of course.

There were rumors that he was depressed because of a break up with his girl friend and was not being allowed to see his daughter, and with the news coverage that he gets it would be hard to have some down time to recover after a personal loss of a relationship like that.

I am not passing judgment on him but I do see a person who his crying out for help. Sometimes we put up fronts so that people can not see the present living conditions of where we are living our lives. I saw this picture and thought how we as people usually live in a house trailer while we try and keep up our appearances and ride around in some flashy vehicle.

When we try showing a different life and not showing who we really are people will always attack you wanting to know what is going on and they will not stop till they find out something that they think you are hiding. It is better to live a transparent life style so that people can see right trough us and know what is going on.

In John 1:46 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." Nathanael apparently live a very transparent lifestyle so that there was not "misunderstandings" about him. I see that as a wonderful compliment from the Lord about him at that time. I know that you may not see the connection between the two situations but it is there. We as men have to realize that we are human and we have our faults but it is ok to show when we are hurt and need help. We are not called to be Supermen but called to be men that are super.

Remember there is only one that will never let you down and that is Jesus Christ. He is our Hope of Glory, anything less is just hype and that always fails.

T.O. we love you, but more so Jesus Christ loves you. I am praying that you can receive the love and comfort that only he can give you.

How a Hunter tells the weather.

This is for all the hunters that go hunting regardless of the weather. It is the most accurate and up to the minute weather forcaster available, enjoy.

In case you can't read the sign...

1. If the rock is wet, it is raining.
2. If the rock is swaying, it is windy.
3. If the rock is hot, it is sunny.
4. If the rock is cool, it is overcast.
5. If the rock is white, it is snowing.
6. If the rock is blue, it is cold.
7. If the rock is gone, your in a tornado.