Most rewarding 60 minutes in the mall.

Connie and I were in the mall the other day meeting Denae and Will (our grandson) for lunch. Lance and Olivia happened to be in town as well and we all were just doing different things in the mall. I gladly took Will in his stroller and we just walked the mall while the others shopped. This turned out to be great because he went to sleep almost immediately which meant that all I had to do was keep moving. To my utter shock and amazement I was stopped three times in less than an hour by three adults who recognized me and asked if I was “SEX ED.” I had brief conversations with all three of them which basically consisted of “Oh, I remember so much of what you taught us,” “Thanks, for what you do. You helped me so much.” “Do you still teach students like you used to?” “When I have kids I hope that you are still doing the Sex Ed thing.”

Let me just say that was the most rewarding 60 minutes that I have ever spent in the mall in my entire life. All I could do was look at Will and think about his future and thank God for being able to raise a godly daughter who married a godly man and praise God that both of them practiced what I teach and were virgins on their wedding night.

Let me be totally honest here. As I have turned 50 this year it makes you think about the past and the future as it relates to the present. God just allowed me to see that my past has positively affected the future. He also told me to stay faithful, faithful, faithful and this power to influence the future would increase.

COME ON FRIENDS . . . DO NOT STOP OR BACK UP WE ARE WORLD CHANGERS!!!!

Prov 4:20-22
20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
NKJV

As I begin my 16th year of speaking in schools I am more excited than ever with all the possibilities that this year will hold for us. I know that this is my call to the youth of America, to bring the truth about sexual purity before them so that they can find a long healthy life. As you well know the “ABSTINENCE ONLY” message is under severe attack in the American public school system (as is all Biblical truth) but we will not stop or back up in the face of this opposition.

Thanks for reading!
Ed


Matt 5:13-16

Youth Camp - "THE EXPERIENCE"

We just finished our (Connie & I) first Youth Camp with our students at Generations Church. Youth Camp is an "experience" that we all need to have. It gets us away from the routine of our lives. It gets us out of the cycle we are in. It stretches us out of our comfort zones in worship, Word, & relationships.

We had some students that this was either their first or second time to ever go out of town and spend the night for several days. They were just in awe of the atmosphere at Mo Ranch (near Kerrville, TX). They were stretched in their worship, pulled into an introspective look at their lives, called to make life altering decisions, thrust into new relationships with each other, and challenged to go home and be a world changer.

We had 3 students in attendance who had made a choice to be followers of Christ the week before at our Sunday service. This meant that Youth Camp was like a compressed boot camp for them. Rules, time tables, worship twice a day, preaching twice a day, drama workshop, and last but not least was the river all afternoon.

The raw hunger that we saw at camp just reminded me of what it might be like if someone had been in prison for several years and then released. At first they were all feeling one another out to see if we can live in such close quarters and get along. Will I fit in and whom will I fit in with? You could see in their eyes a wariness like a dog who has been beaten and it is not sure whether or not you are going to do the same. As we worshipped you could see the hunger spreading from one to the other as they began to sense the love of God sweep them up into His arms and love them. The walls were coming down moment by moment day by day. Before long they were open to God through worship and the Word, but more importantly they were loving each other. For most of these students they live less than ideal home lives and seem to be always waiting for the other shoe to drop and crush their hopes and dreams. This was no dream all the food you wanted, all the love you could stand, people who were caring about you unconditionally, and intense spoken direction right into your circumstances. JESUS WAS AS CLOSE AS THE MENTION OF HIS NAME. JESUS WAS REAL AND NOT JUST A RELIGIOUS IDEAL!! The prisoners are free to live and free to love. Their battles are all about how they see themselves. Will they believe what Jesus says about them and refuse to believe what the world and their circumstances tell them?

Raw thirst . . . . Raw hunger . . . where are they? Why am I not hungry like that in everyday life. Because I let the cares and distractions of my world carry me down a polluted river called the world. Let's rise above these base desires and give ourselves over to a Savior who tells us "those that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled." Fill us Lord! Let me drink from the well that never runs dry of pure sparkling water that cleanses and refreshes me.

All in all youth camp is an "experience" that most of us have had and we have fond memories of it. The "experience" probably was not meant to last because we have to come back to the real world and live. However God has proven to us that He is there and knows the intimate details of our lives so let's live for Him. Let's follow Him. Let's trust Him. Let's believe Him. Let's obey Him. We can all do these things without being at camp. Then next summer will come and we love the "experience" again. Plus we will look back and know that we have come so far but He is willing to take us to even great heights.

Do not miss camp Sunday. It will be life changing.

Proverbs 28:1
The wicked flee when no one pursues,But the righteous are bold as a lion. NKJV

Believing,

Ed

Youth Camp in Nebraska

It was hot and humid much like Dallas, TX. We arrived at Maranatha Camp in Maxwell, Nebraska on Monday and left after four and a half days of anointed life changing youth camp. The reason I write about this particular camp is I find myself having to repent for judging other camps from other groups of people. This Wesleyan Church camp was ever bit as passionate about God and His Kingdom as any Charismatic camp I have ever conducted or preached at. Lord, forgive me for being so small minded when you are so big!!!

I am now in Denver hanging out with my parents for t he next few days. This is always a good thing since they moved from Lubbock in 1976 and my times with them are few and far between.

Just a thought as summer is on it's last leg. . . Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace,Whose mind is stayed on You,Because he trusts in You. NKJV

As we set our focus into a new school year let us do so by setting a our mind and affections on the things of God. He then promises us great peace because we trust Him.

Loving God,
Pastor Ed

Two BIGGIES in one week . . .

This week has been awesome!! Will our first grandson became one year old this week and Connie and I celebrated 30 years marriage.

First, and foremost let me say that my wife is the "BOMB DIGGITY" (it just means that she is the best ever). Our lives together are fun, adventurous, exciting, and full of big dreams. With us their has never been a dull moment as we are both first born children, so you can imagine the excitement that this produces. We have led exciting lives: Ministry at Mardi Gra, ministry on the streets of Hollywood, Pastoring teenagers for 30 yrs, pioneering and pastoring two churches, ministry in 8 different nations, public schools in America and abroad, pastoring and speaking at to many camps to number, and much more that space does not allow to be told. This does not include the fun of having and raising three of the best kids in whole world (Jeff - 29, Denae - 26, & Lance - 23).

One editorial comment about marriage: There is NOTHING more rewarding and yet there is NOTHING that is harder work than MARRIAGE.

Secondly, we had Will's first birthday over at his house in his back yard. It was so much fun to see his proud parents throw a shindig that could only be described as controlled chaos. His dad had more fun opening the presents than Will did. The sombrero cake and pinata were big hits at the party. I know that there will be many more occasions to come, so stay tuned for the report.

On a personal note: Pray for Connie and I as a new school year approaches. We will be heading back into the mission field of America's public schools.

Stirred up to the core!!

Ed

I THINK I HAVE PROCESSED MY TRIP

Most of us after big emotional events in our lives are over (weddings, funerals, etc.) we tend to process the event or events and it is days even weeks until we realize all that happened in us during that time.

Just a note about the picture. Gary and I were standing in a wheat field in the Ukraine while the person taking the picture was standing in Transnistria.

Well that is what has happened in my life with my trip to Transnistria and the Frontline Shepherds Conference that I participated in. There were 7 or 8 Senior Pastors in attendance along with their wives and assistants. Then there was about 100 cell church leaders. This makes a total of some where between 120-130 attendees. Let me say it was a distinct honor and privilege to speak into their lives.

Here are some lessons that they taught me and I brought them home with me. These may all seem elementary to you (they were to me) but I had to take inventory and know that I needed to get in touch with these truths again in my life.

1.) HAPPINESS IS NOT IN STUFF. HAPPINESS IS IN THE WILL OF GOD. They were so happy with so little yet they had so much (you know what I mean).

2.) VISION IS VISION NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD. Destiny and dreams are so vital to our lives that we (Americans) have some how thought our visions and dreams were the only ones that matter. These people have BIG dreams that will literally change the history of their nation. As Jesus said to the disciples in John 4:35 "lift up your eyes and look at the fields." The key in all things is what we see and how we look at circumstances.

3.) RELATIONSHIPS ARE WHAT TAKES US THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES IN LIFE. I have never seen a team of people that loved and cared for each other as much as these people did and do. We want to microwave our relationships so that we can consume them rather than invest in them so that they will last. Let's invest in our teams.

4.) FAITH CHANGES THINGS. Enough said!!!!!

1 Thess 5:24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. NKJV

I have been back in America now for 4 days after a trip to Transnistria. Most of you have not even heard of this country. I have people tell me that they could not find it on a map. The reason for this is because it is a country under dispute. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this country since the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 90's.

I spent 5 days in the city of Tiraspol doing a Frontline Shepherds conference. For obvious reasons we will leave all the names out to protect the guilty. You see our conference was the first time in over six months that there had been a corporate gathering at the church. The government shut them down so they have just been meeting in homes. I was told by the leader of the conference that if I saw a certain signal that I was to IMMEDIATELY sit down and some one would get up and we would be having a birthday party.

Despite what seemed to me to be enormous risks for them to meeting like this; we had three and a half days of anointed worship and life changing teaching. These men and women are so committed to the Kingdom. Actually in the area of discipleship I think they have a lot to teach us as Americans.

I am grateful that I live in America, but I am more determined than ever to use our blessings to be leaders in spreading the Gospel in dark places like Transnistria. They are a people with great vision for their country. I have so many stories to tell but I will hold on to them for another time.

Meditate on this:: Psalms 2:8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. NKJV

Pastor Ed

The devil always gets the first shot but . . .

The enemy of our soul always takes the first swing. Look at Job. Joy comes in the morning after weeping. Saul killer of Christians. Paul and Silas in prison. Satan took his best shot.

God always goes second and He always hits it out of the ball park. Job got it all back and double. Saul turned Paul was one of the biggest soul winners, missionaries, church planter, and writer that the world has ever known. Paul and Silas in prison for the work of the Lord but when the earthquake came because of praise they were all free. Plus the jailer and his family became Christ followers.

What ever storm you are in just remember that Jesus is in your boat with you and He is not nervous. If you think that He is asleep? I promise you He will wake up and go second after the storm hits and declare "PEACE BE STILL." (Mark 4:35-39)

His Joy is Your Strength,
Ed