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).