A-Man Paid The Price To Smile!

Ayden James Reilly, our "A", our eldest grandson, seventeen years old, Senior at Randall High School, in the top 11% academically of his class, walks the Kingdom (I am sure he is not perfect, just have not seen it) and one of the greatest family young men I have seen.

Last night as we came in from the first District Football Game of the Year in Plainview, this picture was hanging on the wall in the garage. Pride of this young man swelled inside my soul.

There has not been a game this season he did not make his appearance on the field of play, he had some critical situations where he shined, when given the opportunity he stepped up to the level of expectation of all of us. He has proven himself as a man with character, determination and humility to honor others. There is much that could be said here, however, as our family spoke last weekend around the table (without his presence), everyone around the table spoke of his positive influence upon the other grandsons.

Every week can be his last game to play organized football, in the playoffs it is win or go home. He will not pursue football in college, he will focus on academics and the rest of his life (again a wise young man). So the urgency of this blog caused me to write it now.

While Ayden has not received the playing time he nor us desired, he is PLAYING. In quiet time today, the reflection of all the kids playing with him in elementary school, then those in Middle School, that have long passed the rolls of the team. For some it was a smart decision, for others, it will be a defeat they will live with, if there are not some serious changes in their life, it will become a life pattern.

Football has some values that it is important in our soft society of the day, it toughens young men up. It also teaches young men to take risk, one player last night still did not know much after a first quarter hit in the head. He did not know the game was over or that his team had won.

Sports in general is more than showing off your physical abilities and gifting. Sports should teach our kids team play; perseverance in the face of discouragement; how to come back and win after defeat; how to focus; physical and emotional discipline; etc. Sure there are more but this blog is not about sports, it is about 'paying the price'.

The scripture screamed this morning, Matthew 22:14 (MSG), 'many are invited, only a few make it'. The words of our Lord screamed to the thing football had taught our "A". Yes, it is a game, but the Apostle Paul used the metaphor of sports to challenge us believers. We are to walk the journey of a believer as an athlete prepares and plays the game of choice.

How many have we seen that were invited to the table of our Lord and due to the disappointments religion had promised; or the pain of their past that haunted them; or due to the lack of discipline, or   those who found other outlets; or listening to weak people; or a myriad of other reasons, failed and have lost the battle of the Kingdom of God. People who have allowed one situation or person to 'knock them out'. How many have became bitter?

"A", our prayers of gratitude for what you have learn are lifted, along with the prayer that you will find that same tenacity in every area of your life, career, husband, Dad (yes it will happen at some point), but most of all, may that tenacity prevail in your pursuit of your Kingdom transcendent cause!

Your Papa and Magga are extremely proud of you and love you much!

50CC Diaper Run Report

November 2, 2015, at 0600 sharp, six motorcycles (we had two fail  mechanically before we left) roared with excitement from the Hampton INN on the west side of Jacksonville, FL. Pastor Dave and Jennifer Ragan, along with members from both the churches they pastor, Harvest Church and Destiny People Worship Center to serve coffee, burritos and lots of encouragement. Ellen Richardson, Kristen Coleman and Betty Ann Gee were in the lead vehicle to get things ready for us before we arrived at our stops. Bishop Doug Beacham, Carolyn Burd and Herman and Carol Strickland were in the chase truck pulling a 24’ enclosed trailer to pick up the diapers. 

There was a threat of rain in the skies but riding was clear for a while, then torrential rain began to fall. But soon we were through the storm where sunshine prevailed until the last 156 miles. The final leg of our journey took us across the Alpine Mountain Range, almost 5,000 feet, to experience freezing rain. 

Our riders, Pastor Wes Alvarez, Pastor Kevin McBride, Rodney McCray, Pastor Mark Richardson and Jude Rodriquez (this was his first long ride, HE DID IT), pushed through “the wall” (pushing yourself beyond the natural limits) to complete the ride in 44 hours and 51 minutes! There is no way of communicating the endurance it took to make it happen. Bishop Doug Beacham rode on the motorcycle behind me for one leg of the journey, drove the pickup and even helped change a couple of tires on the trailer. A Presiding Bishop, General Superintendent with a International Church to lead that took time and put his body through a hard day for the cause, is to be commended. While it is not customary for a man to carry a man on a motorcycle, it was an honor to have our Bishop behind me, knowing the encouragement and honor it was to our team to have him with us. I will let him speak for himself on the experience.  

There were people meeting us at all but five of our stops to cheer us on, provide coffee, donate money and diapers.

• Pastor Steve and Yvonne Dow 
• My Father’s Vineyard (served us lunch) 
• Bishop Mike Gray, along with pastors
• Al Bethea 
• Joe Collins
• Todd Erskine
• Rick Fountain
• Clayton McCormick
• Landon Willis
• Bishop Gordon Atwell
• Rev. Joe & Jennifer Connors
• Pastors Jerry and Donna Williams
• Rev. Travis Evins
• Bishop Scott Hampton and folks from two GPC Churches
• Pastor Hector and Maria Chavez from El Paso and 
• Danny and Glenda Stewart and Rev Stephen Walker from Christian Heritage in Amarillo, TX
• Representatives from Rev. Demetrius Miles in Tucson, AZ’s church and Rev Bill Hepfner in Mesa, AZ’s church
• The last leg from Yuma AZ to San Diego, representatives from M25 ministries in Southern California, led by Jerry Plent met us, fed us and rode with us across the mountain. 
• They paid for our rooms! 
• They collected over 7,500 diapers
• When we arrived at our hotel around 3 am on Wednesday, we were welcomed by Bishop Tom Murray and two of his pastors, Rev. Bill Kenedy and Rev. Billy Wood (also Pointman for M25). 
• The celebration meal at noon on Wednesday was furnished by “Way Of Life Church” with Pastor Bruce Balcombe. A good breakfast was enjoyed as our first meal in three days.

To top this all off, our Run For The Wall family met us at several stops from Louisiana to Arizona! It was so good seeing folks along the way, for them to bring the diapers, fill our tanks with fuel, clean our windshields, ride with us for a while and make donations.  I regret I did not get all their names written down, that will change next year. 

We will ride in the Harvest Train, November 24, 2015 in Falcon, NC and present almost $6,000 in cash and over 30,000 diapers (estimated value over $10,000) to Jonathan Hill, director of Royal Home Ministries. We would welcome all riders to join us that can make it (bring lots of candy to give to the kids during the parade). 

      

Mission:M25 Bi-Annual Summit

Mission:M25 National Summit

September 25-27, 2015

They came, some by air, some by truck, some by motorcycles and some by car, from ten states. It was three days of fellowship, to learn from each other and to be lifted by the ministry of our Lord, through His power working through each one of us. This is a bi-annual event that takes place in the birthing place of Mission:M25, Christian Heritage Church and also hosted by Great Plains Conference. 

Friday night started off with a WestTexas Barbecue cooked by none other than Fred Lerch of Christian Heritage and the meat provided by Hard CORE Motorcycle Ministry. As the approximate 100 attendees wiped the sauce off their chin, the National Director, Gary Burd aka Shepherd, introduced the National M25 Board of Directors and presented them a gift from EVUSA Division Bishop, Rev. Chris Thompson. The evening was filled with exciting news of the next year's National Events, 50 CC Diaper Run; Harvest Train Parade; March for Life Rally Rides; Run For The Wall; Hoka Hey; Never Again Rally and Free Camps. The evening concluded with a challenge for all to never substitute "Instruction for Intimacy" with our Lord. 

Bikes lined up under the bridge

Saturday morning began at 8:30 with donuts and coffee, provided by "The Refuge" (Homeless Ministry of CHC). At 9 am sharp, Rev. Greg Sanderson had the praise team all ready to take us to the throne in worship. After everyone participated in the joy of singing to our Lord, Bishop Scott Hampton greeted the crowd and welcomed everyone. Then Rev. Craig Lawlis gave us "Five Works of Grace" that we can do as we watch our values be eroded away. He concluded with us being challenged to step it up in our ministries and / or find new and innovative ways to make the enemy pay. We don't just set down and 'take it'! 

Class under the Bridge

The iron horses were then mounted and others jumped in vans and we traveled to the following locations, where we were shared how we all do our ministries:

1. Under The Bridge, Gary Burd shared the story of the beginning of Mission:M25 to the homeless and eventually other broken people groups under this bridge on a snowy day in January 1999. 
2. Then on to "The Refuge" where we had several share how they do homeless ministry. At this location there are approximately 80,000 meals fed every year for the past 11 years. 
3. From this point the "PAC" House was visited. Here we shared how each one of the participants minister in the prisons. CHC uses this home to house men released from prison. 
4. A lunch at one of the local Biker Bars was then enjoyed. It was a time of connecting with each other and at the same time allowing the biker community to see a bunch of Christians from all over the country interact with each other. 
5. The journey to the kickoff location for Biker Sunday was just a few blocks, "Skooterz". At this point we had several share their biker ministry stories. 
6. A few blocks away we found a cool shade at a park where we recorded various methods  churches use to reach out to the children of the community, Free Camp, Sidewalk Sunday School, Bus Ministry, etc. 
7. Finally we traveled across town to the War Memorial Site where emotions were high as we spoke of Ministry to our soldiers and veterans. The highlights were Lt. Col. Julie Simoni (currently serving as a JAG Officer in Virginia) and Sgt Stephen Walker aka Sgt Rock, Purple Heart recipient who both moved the crowd. 

Pastor Kevin McBride serving communion
Every Biker Patch on stage for unity

We concluded with free burgers at a concert sponsored by "Full Armor Biker Church" from Decatur, TX that planted a Biker Church in Amarillo the next Thursday. It was a most rewarding and exciting day. Greg Khun came from Oklahoma and recorded all sessions because our plans are to have all the videos produced for future training. 

Motorcycles leaving the church

Sunday morning started with Biker Sunday, sanctuary filled with motorcycles, a crowd estimated between 600-700 present, awesome worship and the word delivered by Gary Burd. A moving "Unity" communion service concluded the morning led by Pastor Kevin McBride. There was a word that came during worship from Pastor Christa McBride that "Honesty" was in the house; Honestly thankful for what the Lord had done in our lives and there were some that was 'honestly' about to give up. 

A small view of the parade

The motorcycles roared out of the service and was met with a 'flag line' to the street. Bikes were ridden to Skooterz where thousands of bikes waited for the annual "Toys for Tots" parade to commence. As long as they held out, everyone that brought a toy for a child at Christmas, a free tee-shirt (1700) and a barbecue sandwich, chips and drink (4,000) was given. Over 1600 toys and $650 cash was received for the Marines to give away at Christmas. The mobile 'Blood Bank" was on sight to receive donations as well. 

Gary & daughter Sasha Reilly
playing the "WaterBoard" game

   Two surprises this year interrupted the games, first there was a testimony, message of hope given by Pastor Reeder aka Tattoo Priest from Las Vegas, NV and then a brand new semi automatic pistol was drawn for (not raffled, tickets were free). 

The 'big event' concluded the day, a Harley Davidson Sportster was given away. Twenty keys were drawn by hopeful participants but only one opened the lock. As we all locked the place up and left totally exhausted, we could do nothing but thank all those that made this event, this summit a total success and give praise to our Lord for His Grace and Mercy that touched literally thousands of lives. 

The "Cadillac Ranch Rock Band" entertained the crowd with some good ole music from the 60's and 70's. The microphone was then given over to Pastor Kevin McBride who called Gary Burd to the stand, who led us in "Amazing Grace' and prayed over the crowd. It is always a joy to watch all the folks stand, singing the ole song of praise and hope and receive a touch from our Lord. It never fails to bring some tears down the cheeks of some very rough faces. 

Let the games begin, slow race; potato race; boot race; WaterBoard race; and to conclude the day, the 'burn out pit' which is always a hit. While the games were gong on, hundreds of door prizes were given away as people browsed through the vendors to simply look or purchase a variety of merchandise.  

Hoka Hey 2015 - Memorial Ride

Hoka Hey, "A Good Day To Die", a motorcycle ride to push you to your core. A challenge that will challenge all that is with in you. A ride that will remind you of the pains of the Native American.

Last year the ride took me 8,471 miles in 11 days, sleeping by my bike, no showers, eating what we could where we could. We rode from Key West, FL to Homer, AK. Incredible journey. One that has grabbed my heart and made me think often of the Native American and what we did to them, the life cycles that are hard to break, the ongoing misery that it has produced. 

This year we rode for the four men who died attempting the Hoka Hey Challenge. One hundred twenty-five us made the 506 mile ride on Friday, July 31, from Red Cloud, NE to Lebanon, KS (the exact center of the USA) and then on to Hot Springs, SD.

Hoka Hey is to remind us of the pain of the Native American when we drove them off their home lands and took away their way of life. It is also to bring awareness of the plight of suffering that continues today on many of the reservations. So, camping is in order. No comfy motel or soft bed.

 It was an honor to pray the opening prayer, three Memorial Prayers and the final due to the Medicine Man getting sick. I never take these type of opportunities lightly, the Holy Spirit is requested to speak thru this earthen vessel to reveal intimacy with our Lord and to bring abundant peace.


This year the Holy Spirit brought Joe Conners aka Chicken Joe (pictured with me to the left) and I together for the ride. Words cannot express the deep thanks it was to have him stand with me during these prayers. He and wife Jennifer prayed for the prayers that would be prayed everyday before he came and when I was praying, he was praying silently for me. There is power when two people join together in the Name of our Lord.

Then to top it all off, my first trip to Sturgis Bike Week, the 75th Anniversaary of this gathering of bikers and motorcycle enthusiast, Hoka Hey was allowed to 'parade' down Main St, this is huge. The Police had to block pedestrian and motorcycle traffice for this to happen. They claim that over 1 million people showed up for this event and here we are, parading in front of thousands of people.

Then on August 3, I rode across the Badlands to Kyle, SD on the Pine Ridge Reservation to meet with Ivan Sorbel, pictured to the right, Ivan is on the far left and Steve DeBray, Oglala Sioux Sundance Chief (standing in the middle) about the crisis on the resevation. My heart broke as these two men shared with me seemingly their dilema that is over one hundred years old. Unemployment rate of 80% on the reservation, teen suicide and teen pregnancy, alcoholism, and overall poverty. We spoke of building a community building where all types of events, celebrations, prayer meetings, etc could be had without a lot of tribal paperwork or cost to the people. I mounted my bike feeling the Holy Spirit had lifted these two men, if for no other reason, I showed up to listen and learn, show compassion and attempt to make a difference.

My final ride of the day was to stop by the location of the Wounded Knee Masacre site. This is always very moving for me. The words of both of these men stung my very heart as they spoke of the defeat as the 'end of our resistence against the overwhelming forces of the United States Military'. The thought of men dying to preserve their way of life, will we see that day come? IF so, how long do we have to prepare? 

Prophecy or Papa?

Kol Matthew Burd, arrives at 7:30 am, July 29, 2015 weighing in  at 7 pounds 14 ounces and 18" long. Carolyn and I were blessed to be present moments after his arrival. Big brothers, Lukas & Max joined us at hospital to celebrate with Dad, Matthew and Mom, Amy Burd. 

This generation of Gary & Carolyn Burd's family is now complete with seven grandsons and one baby doll!

A brother in Israel, Saar, sent me a message stating Kol meant sound, voice. This caused the old man to start thinking, could it be  our Kol has a destiny that we know not of? It is our belief that everyone was formed in their Mother's womb by the Hand of God. So, could it be Matt & Amy were led of the Almighty to name their third child Kol? 

Cautiously let's look at some possibilities: 

SOUND, could he produce a sound of joy and hope that brings light in a dark world. The world he was born in seems to be diving deeper into the darkness. A world that danger lurks everywhere, the schools, the theaters, the church, etc. Could it be that Kol will remove some of the heaviness by the sound he produces?

VOICE, could it be he will be a voice that stands against the compromise, complacency, and callousness of our society. God always has a voice, could Kol be a voice in his ? generation? 

His middle name, Matthew was taken from his father, named such because the Lord spoke to Carolyn six years before he was born that she would bare another child. This child would be born having something to do with the number "10". She carried him in our tenth year of marriage, born in the tenth month of the year on the tenth day and the tenth hour. As I looked at this beautiful grandson, again I am reminded of the meaning, "a gift of God". 

Do I dare summarize? Could this 'gift of God' have the purpose of being a sound of hope and a voice of direction? This Papa truly hopes so! Whatever path Kol Matthew Burd has before him, we will enjoy watching him place ball, skin his knees, get some bruises playing in the yard and be proud of the man he is destined to be. It would never be my intention to plan his destiny but on this day I chose to dream.       

An Adopted Child

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5 NLT

Early this morning my thoughts were captivated by a young couple at Christian Heritage Church that lead our Worship. There maybe some better 'shows' on Sunday morning in churches around the country but there are none that is any more pure than the one at CHC. This young man stands with a humble, pure worship and 'allows' the people to join him. There is no 'plastic' in this experience, even when he is racked with pain from a family crisis, he stands there and lives his peace in the Holy Spirit. 

It appeared that was where my praise to the Lord was going to end and then the Holy Spirit began to speak. He took me to new understandings through the reflection of the deeper value this young couple brings to the Kingdom of God. 

When they were in their mid-20's, already having two lovely children and as most young families struggling with the financial demands upon their lives, a need presented itself. One of their family members had a baby that was conceived out of wedlock and in very sad circumstances. The baby was born to an Anglo woman but with an African/American man. The child resembled his father and it was very apparent the child was not going to receive the stability of a Christian home. This couple stepped up and adopted the child. They took the risk, paid the price and took the questions society would throw at them. The story goes of this young mom going to the grocery store and while standing in line the conversation with another lady ended with a haughty look of downgrading toward this young loving mom. The lady asked, so you have two kids (assuming the third black child was being cared for). When the young mom said, 'no, all three are mine', two white and one black, hmmm, she must be not such a nice girl. Funny now, but those can be very painful moments. 

As our heart was soaring with the Lord, the thoughts of how this young couple reflect the heart of their Father, The Master of the Universe was illuminated. 

First, it is obvious that we are different, we are not His chosen people, the Jewish. He loves us enough that he chose from the beginning to devise a plan to graft us Gentiles into His Kingdom as His children. Isn't it amusing when a Gentile tries to act like a Jew? (no it is sad). We can dress like, talk like, pattern our life and family after the Jewish people BUT we are still Gentiles. Yet in God's eternal plan, we are no less loved and cared for. Our Lord accepts us just as He accepts His own children when they call out to Him. 

Secondly, their provisions for the adoptive child is no different than for the children they brought into this world. This young couple have been with us for decades, the oldest daughter is in her second year at a Christian university, the second child a Junior in High School and the little 'adopted' child is in the eighth grade. In all the years I have walked with them in church and life (they were from the same Amarillo school as my kids and now their kids and my grandkids go to the same school, so I know this couple), I have NEVER seen a difference in the way they treat the adoptive child from their own. Isn't that just like our Lord. The Lord has a promised people and a promised land but His love is not so limited that He can't accept us and provide for us as He does for the Jewish people. 

Lastly, their protection for their adoptive child is no different from the other two. God will always have a remnant of Jewish people who will survive the discipline He must take His people through when they rebel and turn to idolatry. Isn't it comforting to know that He still stands with Dt 28 for the Jewish people and allows us to be included! We immediately think, what about the Holocaust? What about the individuals that were solid believers and yet they went through such terrible things? Were all of the Jewish people disciplined? No, God may have to deal with a nation of people and it may rain pain and terror on the just and the unjust but He has made us a promise, 'if we remain true to Him our eternal hope is secure'. He states in Matthew 10:28 to not fear the one who can destroy your body but to fear the one who can destroy our body and soul. We have this confidence that our eternal life, the real life, is secure even if we lose our life here on earth and have much suffering in the process. 

May God help us learn from this young couple that is really a quiet part of the Body of Christ with the exception of Sunday mornings with a guitar and a voice of worship to His God! 

Death of Santa Claus

Quote from my morning readings:

A nonbeliever doesn't think twice when we praise God for giving us Bentley's but they do think twice when we get evicted from our homes and still praise God. 

This took me back to the mid-80's - some very troubled years in the life of Gary Burd and his family. Preceding years we had a life of abundance, money flowed through the construction company. Anything we desired we bought. Throwing life of abundance to the wind and enjoying the fun of moment.

Then we came across this 'gospel' that endorsed our careless living that sold Jesus as a Santa Claus. He 'wanted' us to have it all, He did not want us to suffer, He died that we might be rich! I don't need to go any further defining this lie from hell.

Then came the crisis, it did not matter how much we gave financial seeds, how much we confessed, how 'clean' we made our lives, it was all leaving us. We lost everything, the ranch (only 200 acres), the house, the horses, the boat, the cars, the 'you name it'. We lost our 'integrity', our pride, our self-elevated successful lifestyle.

At the same time we were moved into the position of Sr. Pastor at a wonderful church, Christian Heritage in Amarillo, TX. Wow, this brought a new level of pain in our lives. How can we lead these people? How will the community accept us?

We had three children at home, the needs of one entering his teens and desiring to help them fit in at the school they attended. It was a school attended mostly by kids from successful homes. We had tried our best to keep up but now, there was no way. (Let's be honest here, our son received the award for best dressed that year and we were purchasing his clothes on 70% off sale racks and garage sales, hmmm).

We were embarrassed to face the society!

We were embarrassed to face the religious folks! (I attended meetings where you were to do a credit check before giving people ministerial license, can you imagine the pain?)

However, God seen us through this difficult time. This was our life:

1. We adjusted our standard of living.

2. We whined in secret

• I remember laying in a bed of cold sweat because of the pain of meetings where they would talk of not trusting someone who couldn't pay his bills. The fire of the meetings would make me cry and whine before the Lord. 
• As we seen it, we never whined in front of people or in the pulpit. 

3. As ole Santa Claus God was dying his slow death, we worked through blaming God. 

• I would like to say we just let the idea, 'God I have given faith seed, I have fasted, I have prayed, I have confessed, now you owe me the relief from this situation', died slow or at least slower than I would like to admit. 
• We are so engrained in this American gospel that God sent His son that we might be rich that it takes a long time to get it out of us. 

4. We began to pursue God, not His gifts in this world. 

5. Our journey included praising in the midnight hours when all lone with our pain. 

• I remember one night, everyone in the house was asleep. There was no sleep for me, so I sat in the living room, full of questions, doubts and yet, pursuit of the God I loved so much. There in the darkness I heard Him say to me, 'get up and dance before me'. Wow, praise at a huge level in this dark, lonely, painful night! I can't dance for one thing, no rhythm in my feet. I began to kinda jump and say, "I love you in all of this. I want you more than anything'. As I 'praised' Him, the joy began to drive the darkness out of my heart. The lesson was well learned. 

The Lord heard my cry, He lifted me! The real God showed up in my life. 

• There has been an intimacy with Him beyond my wildest expectations. 

• There has been freedom to go to Him in my weakness and failures and still know He is there and loves me, even when my performance is less that it should be. 

• I have been invited to be His friend, John 15. 

• There is a deeper level of love and intimacy with my wife, for this love manifest itself in family. 

• The boldness to face religion for others has been shocking to me at times. 

• This past summer a spirit of 'fearlessness' began to be developed in my life. 

Oh, by the way, one of our partners in ministry made sure we had a place to live after we stepped down as Sr. Pastor. Craig Lawlis drafted a plan for several of us to receive our home after we served so many years in the church. Carolyn and I have our home, not begging the church to allow us to live in it. Our home, fully paid for and totally enjoyed in these last years of our life. 

Mother Teresa v William Wallace

I read reacently, which Jesus would people think you are, a humble and compassionate Mother Teresa or a warrior with passion and commitment to bring a revolution? Something to contemplate in the days we are living in. Which Jesus does our world need? Our churches need? Before we find a resolve, let us define the two different sides of who our Lord was.

A heart of Christ revealed in Mother Teresa:

History has the rich fulness of a lady that loved the poor to the point that she gave her life for the 'salvation' of many. She submitted to a religious system, politics within that religious system that hindered her mission in life. She was submitted to such scorn from not only the world but the very system to which she submitted to.

There was a side of Jesus that also submitted to a system that had so much politics in it that it eventtually took His life. Can you see Him entering the Temple, the place of worship knowing the leaders in place were going to try and trick Him in a question, try to disprove all of His works, condemn the good He would do and accuse Him of being endowed with power from the eternal enemy, satan. Have you mentally entered the court room where the leaders do not have the guts to stand up against the evil, politically driven religious world? Could you keep your mouth shut? Would your answers be calm and short?

A heart of Christ revealed in William Wallace:

Can you watch "Braveheart" without admiring a man who suffered ridicule, betrayal, physical pain, loneliness, and eventual death for something he believed his country needed. Can you hear him yell, 'FREEDOM' just seconds before they removed his head.

Do you see that side of Jesus? Can you see Him standing in the Temple, braiding and assembling the whip knowing what He was about to do would cause an upheaval of a system set in place originally by our Father in Heaven (of which He particpated in)? Can you feel the shock of the people who had watched Him take the little ones in His lap as the disciples had tried to usher them out of the way tip the tables over? Can you see the confusement? What happened to the one who was teaching to turn the other cheek in there with a whip? What happened to this loving individual that would cause Him to elevate His voice and began to turn tables over and whip the merchants out of the market place given to them?

As we face people around the world that are removing Christians heads, what role will we take? Some of us have discussed it, 'do we stand there and turn the other cheek and let them remove our head or do we go down swinging'? Our Jewish friends have told us that they are not like the Jewish people that 'humbly' went into the cattle cars to the concentration camps. As Evangelical Christians, should we humble ourselves or should we put the resolve to learn from our Jewish brothers and at least attack our enemy where they would have to take our heads with some resistence.

As this question griped my thoughts, after a few moments of introspection that revealed my truest desire of life. I concluded, as the uncertainities of life come, may the Holy Spirit be more active in my life than ever before. Our Lord told us not to fear when we were brought before the evil courts of this world because the Holy Spirit would give us the words to speak. It would be a natural conclusion that He would also give us the correct actions. Holy Spirit, it is my desire to spend enough time listening to your direction that you can speak through those crisis moments in my life to give me direction. If I am to humbly submit to a system for the greater good, give me the grace to keep my mouth shut, stand down when told to and be a gentle lover of your wounded and broken people, let it be. However, if in another situation the call is to stand and fight, resist any hindering words or actions, to charge in the face of seemingly certain defeat and to lay my life down swinging for the cause, give me the resolve to lay it all down. Let me never be so locked in during these times of uncertainty to one action or the other that I miss the greater call of the Commander and Chief of the Eternal Kingdom that I serve.

Standing for Life / Honoring Death

Standing for Life / Honoring Death

January 22, 2015, a date to be remembered by Mission:M25 for years to come. 

STANDING FOR LIFE

The IPHC Pre-Rally

Fourteen Mission:M25 riders left Falcon, NC on January 21, after a short meeting and send off by the Royal Home and Falcon Children's Home staff. There was a chase vehicle carrying the banner promoting "50 For Life" with church's and individuals giving to support the Royal Home (an alternative to abortion home owned and operated by the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, IPHC). The Chase Vehicle drivers needed our customary 'road names', without a lot of thought we identified our drivers as Papa Bear (John Wheeler); Pot Hole (Jonathan Hill) and SuperGlue (Jessica Dunning), names they will not SOON forget! 

We rode to Prince George, VA, where the Redemption Ministries Conference hosted a meal for the riders. After hot soup, chicken sandwiches and HOT coffee, the riders put on their foul weather gear and headed to Washington DC for the March for Life. We were watching radars and the skies, preparing to run into a snow storm, however, just North of Richmond, VA, the sun broke through and beautiful but cold weather welcomed us to our warm rooms near the Pentagon. During the meal and fellowship, Rev. John Wheeler delivered an inspirational devotion and Rev. Jonathan Hill led an uplifting and challenging prayer before we ate.

The next morning we rallied in the motel parking lot with a bus of riders arriving from Falcon, NC. The rally was hosted by Royal Home director, John Wheeler, Joey Leggett, and Jessica Dunning under the warm skies of the January sun. When Mr. Wheeler introduced several girls living in the home that chose life, the crowd enthusiastically applauded in support. As Mission:M25 director it was my privilege to speak and introduce Bishop Tommy McGhee, Discipleship Ministries Division of the IPHC. His inspirational speech and prayer was followed by our presiding Bishop Doug Beacham.

A small view of a large crowd

We mounted our 'iron horses' to join approximately a million people on our National Mall to "Stand for Life". We listened to inspirational speeches but the last one, Rev. Samuel Rodriquez deliver was the way to end a list of speeches. He captured my heart in his final proclamation, 'Uncle Sam may be our Uncle but NEVER our Father; for every Pharaoh THERE WILL BE A Moses; for every Giant THERE WILL BE A David; for every Jezebel THERE WILL BE AN Elijah; for every Nebuchadnezzar THERE WILL BE A Daniel; for every Herod  THERE WILL BE A Jesus and for every demon the devil sends THERE WILL BE the Power of the Living, all consuming power of God Almighty to take it down!' On this high note, we began our march.

Honoring Death

Eleven of us once again mounted our 'iron horses' headed toward Arlington Cemetery, carrying the remains of Lois Rhodes Boyd Jr., Retired USAF and his wife, Maria. As we entered the sacred grounds of the final resting place of so many of our TRUE NATIONAL HEROES, you could feel the seriousness, the quiet, the honor and respect come upon all of us on the bikes. Rolling through the gate, we heard the silence of our cb radios broken with only a reminder, 'Men, keep the bikes as quiet as possible', assuming all knew we were on 'sacred grounds'. 

We dismounted our iron horses, took a few pictures and headed toward the main building. We were met with the seriousness we approached with. There is no foolishness to be found in this setting, we are handling the remains of a hero and his wife. The papers were signed and the remains were delivered and we all mounted up and rode off. 

As we lay our heads upon the pillows that night, some after a long, cold hard night's ride, we knew we had completed yet another mission under the banner of M25's MO, BALNAM (Be A Light Not A Mouth). We were able to find sweet rest knowing we had stood for people who could not stand for themselves and stood for men who did the greatest thing anyone can do, 'lay down his life for another'. 

 
M25 thanks the IPHC; Falcon's Children's Home; Royal Home and Taylor's Funeral Home for allowing us this huge honor of riding to "Stand for Life and Honor Death" all in one day, one mission!

L-R - Bishop Tommy McGhee, Gary Burd and Bishop Doug Beacham

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!