"Answering The Call"

For years I have known the Lord has been calling me to full-time ministry. I just never knew what that entailed. My heart has always been to reach people outside the church and introduce them to Jesus. Bringing them into relationship with Christ and plugging them into the church. I was a kid who grew up in church but was born again outside the church through someone taking time, investing and caring in me. My sister Kim was that person who led me to Jesus Christ. I had a family who prayed and a sister who cared. The Fellowship of Christians Athletes is great fit for reaching out to people who need Jesus Christ and those just needing encouragement in their walk with God. My territory will be the 9 high schools and 2 colleges in Sioux County. Right around 130 coaches as well as the students. We serve and minister to the coach and through the coach. “A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime” - Billy Graham. Sports has such a huge platform in our society and the goal is to meet people where they are at. 2 out of 3 Christians come to faith before the age of eighteen. Every year after that the percentage goes down. We are a ministry that is welcomed in the schools and work with those who welcome us. I believe if we have spiritually healthy and charged voices in the ears of our youth we can change and impact an entire generation!

How did it come about? About a year ago I was working in my career full-time. We had built up a business in the nutrition industry. Loved building and ministering through the marketplace. I was invited to sit down with Adam Timmerman. Adam is head of the NW Iowa FCA. He is a former Super Bowl Champion with the Green Bay Packers and the St. Louis Rams. I know, a packer, but a pretty cool guy. My friend Chris and Adam asked me to be on the board for NW Iowa. So I said yes. For years I knew that Lord was calling me to some sort of ministry assignment, but I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was. In May I graduated from Liberty University. For the last 5 years I took classes part time in Biblical studies. I never knew why, but knew I needed too. That same month I graduated from Liberty we lost our income after building a business for 13 years. The timing was pretty crazy and I knew God was shifting me into something new. We partnered with a new nutrition business for a bit and the people were amazing. Things just didn’t work out the way we thought and we were left wondering what was going on. I kept sensing God had something else. Adam reached out and told me about a position with FCA. He was looking for someone who would serve coaches in Sioux County. The calling would be be to help encourage coaches in their faith, start Bible studies, huddles, events for their athletes and lead people in faith. I told Adam I would pray on it.

Over time I felt many other doors closing, while this one remained wide open with Adam consistently reaching out at the right times. Adam invited me to go through the boot camp down in Kansas City for FCA. In the boot camp I was assigned to read a book called the Calvary Road. The message of the book was on Revival. My spirit started to get excited! A word that the Lord gave me 13 years ago. I have been carrying that mission on my heart ever since! Looking into the ministry I also found out it was birthed on the story of Josiah. Josiah was righteous king in Israel who fought to destroy idol worship in Israel and restore a nation back to the word of God. As I have watched our current climate in our country over the last 20 years, I have witnessed a nation slowly turn away from God. These last few years I have seen an up rise in the body of Christ and see many coming back into God’s ways while seeing Him move in completely new ways. It is starting to get exciting as we are watching God move in many big ways!

Things were starting to line up. As I began looking back over the last 10 + years I noticed a sports theme in many of those we have helped lead to Christ and disciple through life. There was a movie we promoted and went to help launch back in 2015 called “Woodlawn.” It was about the civil rights movement in the 70’s and a school that was divided. A chaplain by the name of Hank Erwin who later became a state senator came in and built a relationship with the coach. Eventually the whole team came to Christ! An awakening and revival birthed in their school that affected the entire state. It was true story that impacted a city and a state in a time when the only solution to unity was Jesus. Much like today. This took place during the Jesus people movement in the 70’s when Billy Graham spoke to a sold out stadium in an event called “Explo 72.” Many came to know Jesus Christ in that decade. In the movie Woodlawn, FCA was tied in as well and Revival broke out in that school. Our heart has always been to see people become aware of the presence of God and know that He is real. He loves them, deeply cares for them, while having a deep desire to be in relationship with them. God through His Spirit leads and guides His people daily. This is what Revival is all about. Bringing people into a real relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

I believe this next decade we are going to see the Kingdom of God expand and we will see so many people brought back into relationship with God. This next generation rising up is excited about God. He is stirring in the hearts of His people and we get to hear stories daily how he is working in the lives of people. I am anxious for this coming season and all God is going to do in his church building His kingdom. I believe this is the season to walk into those schools and empower people to be bold in their faith as we begin to turn a nation back to God.

I will leave you with the Vision statement of FCA, my personal vision statement for Sioux County. We ask for your prayers and support moving forward. Our ministry is 100% ran on donor support. We raise support for the salaries, outreach, bibles, shirts, events and camps. We are trusting God as we share the vision that He will draw people who want to partner with the mission! Anxious to serve and excited as we begin a new thing in Sioux County with FCA, Fields of Faith and expanding the reach of Jesus Christ!

Isaiah 43:19

See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

2 Chronicles 7:14 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

FCA Vision - To see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.

FCA Mission - To Lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.

My Personal Vision - To see a nation turn back to God. To empower & equip coaches and athletes to walk in the fullness of Jesus Christ on and off the field. To see many come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and in a deeper way.

Wine & Spirits.....The American Idol

This is a message I never enjoy giving because I know so many "good" people who enjoy a glass of wine here,  a beer here or a beer there.  Hear me out.  For the last month I have felt a nudge to write this message.  I have been witnessing the effects in the lives of many from alcohol. Have a college guy I was working with who was kicked out of college for alcohol. Another guy I am working with had his father pass away due to alcohol.  The stories could go on and on.  The destruction that comes upon families and people on account of alcohol saddens me. It saddens me when I see men and women stuck in the cycle of never ending social functions with the main central focus of gathering is drinking and drunkenness. I heard a pastor who has counseled many couples for years say this…I have never heard a couple come into my office and say hey when we started drinking everything changed for the better, our marriage really started getting good! Most of the time they say we were drinking, and then……..You fill in the blank.  Alcohol lowers inhabitation and effects the decision’s you make when you start drinking. People make dumb decisions when they drink! I was one of them. I grew up in a home where we never had an alcohol issue. I had a father who had a beer with his pizza after the ball games and occasionally a beer at other times with his buddies. No harm right?  Opinions vary. I had a mentor make a statement one time., here is what he said. “A glass of wine here and a glass of wine there.  A beer here and a beer there,  no big deal, but your kids are watching and they will justify a case here and a keg there and will be led right into the cycle of addiction. What you do in moderation your kids will do in excess. I never want my kids to say well my dad drank. Not on my watch and not in my home. I occasionally drank in high school.. shh don't tell.  Then after high school and into college my drinking increased. By the time I hit 21 there was not a weekend that went by where I was not drinking. By the time I was 25 there was not a night on a weekend I didn't drink and do much more than that.  At that time it also went into my weeks.  By the time I was 26 I had no clue what to do on a weekend without alcohol and a party. I had walked into and created a culture where that is what we did and those were the friends I had.  By the time I was 26 my life began crumbling. Relationship were falling apart, had a struggling business and was distant from my parents and siblings.  At that time I had a sister who loved me to death and led me to Jesus. I can remember that day in August of 2006, everything changed. I looked up and surrendered my life to Jesus. My sins were washed away, my life cleaned up and my desires began to change. Over the next year I can remember going out and had some drinks and it led me right back to that dark place I never want to go again. Since giving up alcohol over 10 years ago I can honestly say it was one of the greatest decisions of my life. The gift of God’s presence and the journey walking with him far surpasses any thrill or night drugs or alcohol could ever give a person. I have found purpose in this life and I love getting out of bed every morning, plus, never a hangover.  Best of all I have a family, children and many others watching and witnessing my decisions every day. Trust me, I have plenty of other things to work on, I just knew alcohol was an easy problem to eliminate.  The word says: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit" Ephesians 5:18.  Could it be God's people have sacrificed the “fullness” of His Spirit for a drink? Could it be that on the front of that store that says "wine & spirits" that maybe there actually is another spirit attached to alcohol and its assignment on your life is destruction. That is what I have witnessed in my life and the life of many others as I watch. Am I saying your going to hell if you have a drink? No, not necessarily. But the bible does clearly say in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 the drunkard will not inherit the kingdom of God. But my question is what would people, families and our nation look like if we spent the time we spend gathering to drink and traded it to pray, worship and look to the king of kings Jesus Christ. I know what happened in my life…I experienced awakening and Revival! If this message convicts you great, I hope it causes you to lay down the drink and press into the spirit in 2019!

Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,  or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.  Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

"A Time For Choosing"

A Time of Choosing is upon us again in November. Freedom or Socialism. Countries have always been given the grace by God to choose there destiny.

Over the past 3 months God has been speaking, leading and guiding me on the immigration issue. Its a tough one. I don't have it figured out and praying for clear answers daily. As a believer I know my number one responsibility is to love my neighbor as myself. Regardless if they are a US Citizen, legal immigrant or an illegal immigrant. Number one priority is to love. On the other side of the coin is truth. No nation can remain a nation without laws in place to keep that nation on the right path and serve the people within there own country while being a helping hand to other countries in need. A nation without laws ceases to exist. When people come in lawfully they understand they have to "follow the rules" of the country they enter. When they come in unlawfully they come in lawless thinking that the rules do not apply to them. I believe our immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed and hopefully will be soon. I know there are people and families within this group that would make wonderful citizens and I also know there are many marching right out front with there flag who want to take there lawless lifestyle and there countries values and bring it right in with them and not adhere to American values. If we are so bad and America is so bad why does everyone want to come live here? They want our Freedom but they don't want to follow the rules. When we quit playing by the rules we begin losing our country. America was laid out a certain way for a certain time. We have a constitution and laws we follow and uphold. That cannot change if we want to remain "One Nation Under God" Whenever a country, company, organization strays from the original vision and its creation it falls to pieces. We are not called to be like other nations. America has its own hand crafted identity and the goal has never been to become like other nations. We are meant to be a beacon of Freedom to the world. What you see below is not good. This is chaos and the effects of it if not dealt with will continue to spiral downward and our country will begin to look more and more like the lawless countries people are wanting to escape from. The people need Hope, they need Jesus and they could use our helping hand. That is the job of the church and the body of Christ. As a country we cannot just allow them to break the laws come marching in and do what they want to do. There is a process. The Government is here to stop people who break the law. This is what we call breaking the law. Up until a couple years ago both the democrats and republicans believed this to be true, now only one side stands on that truth. Freedom or Socialism. The choice is ours. We get to Vote again in November 6th. Make yours count! Most of all pray...pray for the people marching, pray for their nation and pray for our nation. It falls back on a simple scripture.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Duties of Government

“Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right” (1 Peter 2:13-14)