Everyday Heroes

Today I watched a movie about fire fighters and was moved by the loyalty, unity, compassion, dedication and total commitment to what they are doing. It reminded me of my time in the military and how serving as a Marine we had all the same qualities. As a Marine our motto is "Semper Fideles" which means always faithful and I can tell you we live up to that motto even after our time is up and we become civilians again. Just today I was in Lowes shopping and another Marine who served from 1969-71 saw my USMC sweatshirt and said Semper Fi and I said it back and we chatted for a bit. We had never served together but we shared a bond that only a fellow Marine or service member can understand.

Not long ago we celebrated Veterans Day and we honored those who served our country. I am proud to be a veteran and to have fought for our country. I would gladly do it again because I believe in what our country stands for.

As I write this my heart aches over another group of heroes that get little or no recognition. They fight on the front lines all around the world. They do not get anywhere near enough money for what they do. In fact like the military and fire fighters and any other organization that sacrifices so others can be free and safe, these people do what they do out of a passion to see lives saved. Who are these unacknowledged heroes?

The heroes I am talking about are the missionaries who are serving everywhere around the world to bring the life changing message of Jesus Christ. They work 365 days a year, working long hours and with little help. They give until they cannot give anymore and then with the help of their Commander and Chief (Jesus Christ) they find the strength to press on and go some more.

I have served with some of the finest Marines but I can honestly say that anyone who serves as a Missionary is even more brave than the finest soldier. I say that because a Marine has someone watching his/her back. I say that because the fire fighters have someone watching their back. A missionary rarely has someone watching their back.

I have worked along side some of the bravest people I know and they are missionaries. I have seen and heard stories of what they endure and what they have seen. I have laughed, cried and at times bled with them. I am humbled to have served with them.

My wife and I have served as missionaries for over five years now and our passion is just as strong now, if not stronger, as it was the first day we heard God calling us into full time missions. We have been called to bring the life changing message of Jesus Christ to all those who have not received Him as their Lord and Savior. We will continue the mission until He, our Commander and Chief, releases us  from this duty.

Today we challenge you to ask God how He wants you to serve Him. It is not a question to ask casually because He will answer and He will challenge you. He may even call you to the front lines to serve Him. The question is will you be willing to sacrifice everything and pick up your cross to follow Him? Will you endure the ridicule from strangers, friends and family if you went where ever He asked you to go? Would you be willing to show that you truly trust Him with your actions and not just your words?

Those last three questions may have you shouting yes, they may have you shaking in fear, they may be convicting, and they may even make you angry. I know that for Catherine and I we have said yes to His call and even though it has been hard and challenging at times, we rejoice with the angels over every life that has been saved.

As this year comes to an end and you get ready to celebrate Christmas with your family and loved ones, remember that there are Missionaries serving on the front lines who will not see their family and loved ones this year. Pray for them. Send them a care package and don't whine about how much it cost to send it. Write them a personal letter to let them know they are appreciated and that someone is thinking of them. Thank them for serving on the front lines.

Remember that Jesus Christ came to earth to serve and died on a cross so that you and I would be able to have access to God. His sacrifice came at a cost. We owe our lives to Him and when we think of ourselves and what we feel we deserve we dishonor Him. Let's honor His sacrifice and be the people He created us to be. Let's all of us be His hands and feet and bring the love of Christ to our families, friends, neighbors, coworkers and who ever God brings across our path.

Mobile Missionaries

With Cadian #5 Grand and only Grandson

Emma Jayne #6 granddaughter

We are in San Diego, California right now waiting for the birth of our seventh granddaughter. Shaking our heads still not believing that soon we are to be grandparents for the seventh time. How is that possible? We are not old enough!

We are smiling because we know the God we serve is smiling right now too. Here we are,children of God, watching our daughter, a daughter of God, getting ready to give birth to a baby girl whom we believe will become another daughter of God. Along with our father's that will be four generations of Believers in Christ. What better legacy could we possibly leave?

As well as being sons or daughters of God we are also called to be disciples of Christ. Our primary mission as believers is laid out for us in Matthew 28:18-20. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Jesus' final words to His disciples was that they were to go and make disciples of all the nations. Those words are also for each of us who are children of God. We are to go and make disciples. It is not an option but a command that we are given. Surprisingly we are finding that many brothers and sisters in Christ do not know how to disciple someone primarily because they themselves have never been discipled.

We live in a day and age where the enemy is working overtime to make sure that many will never accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Sadly he is being very effective. Many are disillusioned with the church and some for good reasons. There is a wide variety of statistics on the amount of people not going to church, studying the Bible, on fire for God, etc... These studies are alarming and still the enemy is winning.

We refuse to just stand by and let him win. Yes those of us who know God and believe in Him know that the enemy loses in the end but right now he is winning battle after battle. We are taking the Word of God to whomever He brings across our path (friends, family, partners, strangers). We are also working with those who are believers and teaching them how to disciple.

You may not believe it but it does not require being a theologian, being a Bible college graduate, or years and years of studying the Bible to be able to disciple. What it takes is one Spirit filled believer submitting and fully trusting God praying for God to bring him someone to disciple. Then when God brings that person they meet with the person and spend time with them. Jesus trained the twelve over a period of time. Time is the key. When we spend time with someone we show them that we care and they get to know Jesus because a Spirit filled believer will reflect the character of Jesus.

Right now I can hear many people saying that they do not have that kind of time. I shake my head because I used to be that way. When it is important we always find the time. We need to understand the importance ourselves and realize we do not have the luxury of time. Our time on earth is short and soon we will stand before Jesus and have to give an account for what we did and did not do.

I was at a conference and the verse that was the theme of the weekend was Ezekiel 3:17-19. If you are not familiar with it I recommend that you read it. I personally feel that God is speaking that to each one of us and not just to Ezekiel. God is going to hold us accountable and expects us to make disciples.

We have to stop worrying about what people will say or feel if we share the message of Jesus Christ with them. They are not the ones we will stand in front of on the day Jesus returns. Nothing they say or do can take away our salvation but if we say nothing their salvation is what is at stake.

If you want to be a disciple for Christ we are available to talk with you and teach you. We encourage you to fulfill the great commission. In doing so you will experience the Father's joy and find that it is the most rewarding thing we get to do as His children.