Month: June 2023

Yesterday, we talked about the three different Operations we have taking place this weekend. Operation Black Rain. Operation Deep Water. Operation Warriors2US. Right now as I’m typing this, we have veterans out in the Atlantic Ocean. We have veterans on property at Black Rain Ordnance. And we have veterans on the White River near Gainesville, Missouri. We have volunteers at each place. Serving our veterans. And yesterday, we had a veteran run a booth at Food Truck Friday. Today, we have one running a booth at a Female Veteran Expo. Veterans serving veterans. Doing good work. 

The point of yesterday’s devotion was not about the events that we are holding. The point was on doing good work. On how the Bible tells us that we combat evil by doing good work. The events mentioned are opportunities to do good work. I think God is trying to tell me something, because this morning I wake up and I read the verse of the day: Micah 6:8. It really emphasizes what we’re talking about. We are called to serve others. We are called to do good work. that’s how we combat evil. That’s how we beat Satan back. By doing good work. By following God, and learning from God, and serving others through God. 

Now, it’s easy to get caught up in doing “more” as we are trying to do good. But there’s a danger with this. Doing more, does not mean we are getting more done. We can simply just be doing more and not realize it. We are only getting more done if we stay focused on God. No matter what we are doing. And if we stay focused on God, we can only do good work. So today I want to challenge you again, stay focused on God. Let God instruct you. Let God direct you. Let God correct you. Plain and simple, Let God. Do this, and I promise you, you will see fruits of your labor. God will bless your efforts. God will bless those that you serve. God will see to it that what you are doing is good. And we will defeat Satan. Actually, the victory has already been declared. So we’re not defeating Satan, we are holding him down. Pushing him back to where he belongs. Keeping him out of the picture. And that my friends…is glorious and good. ‬

Last night on the news, there was a story about a man in France that went around a playground and stabbed multiple people. Including some very young children. Then on Yahoo, there were several headlines about terrible things happening around the world. What’s happening in the Ukraine. A funeral home owner killing a pallbearer. A 10-year-old killed him self because of being bullied. An attack on somebody due to race. Evil actions resulting in terrible endings. Seems like evil is all around. We can’t run from it. We can’t hide from it. Evil is here. I believe there is a real battle taking place between good and evil. A battle taking place every day.

Today, we have volunteers arriving on scene at three different events. Operation Black Rain is taking place in the Neosho, Missouri. Operation Deep Water based out of Charleston, South Carolina. Operation Warriors2US taking place near Hardenville, Missouri. Veterans will be arriving from different places around the country. At this point, you might be questioning why I mentioned these. What do these things have to do with evil? What do they have to do with good versus evil? I mentioning these because, good things are going to take place at each event. Good things are going to come out of each event. Good things because the will of God is good. 

In the Bible, we read that we conquer evil by doing good. That is how we counter attack. When evil comes at us, we conquer it by doing good. I know there are times when I get attacked, that I look for opportunities to serve. That’s how I try to defeat Satan. Satan will attack us every time he can. Often times, he attacks when good things are happening. Or are getting ready to happen. Doing what he can to stop the good. We must remember this. We tell our guests all the time, when they go home and they are on an emotional high, be ready. Satan is coming. When they are on a spiritual high, be ready. Satan is coming. We also tell them to know this…when he does come, we are here. Our volunteers are here. Ready to do battle against him. So today, look for chances to serve. Chances to do good. And do so, because this is how we defeat evil.

Yesterday, we spent the day in northwest Arkansas with our family. Our children and our grandkids. All five of them. Four of them got to play at the Amazeum. The fifth was there. Because…his mama is carrying him right now. He’ll be here in October. On the way home, Barbara was reading through Facebook. A story popped up that she read and mentioned to me. What she told me, I can say, must be the worst nightmare a parent could go through. And a nightmare that a grandparent would never want to experience. A two year old child drowned at Stockton Lake. Apparently, the child walked to the water before the parents could get there. This hit home with me because our youngest grandson is not much older than the child. 

When things like this happen, it is so natural for us to want to know why. It’s human for us to question. We want to know why God will allow this to happen. Why do bad things happen to good people? That’s a tough one. And I’m not sure I have any words of wisdom in moments like this family experienced at the lake. Nothing I could say would bring comfort. I don’t think there’s any words that could bring comfort. There might be, but I don’t know them. I would like to try though if you don’t mind. So, once again, why is it that bad things happen to good people? 

First, I would like to say that the will of God is always good. Always good! His will is good, even when the circumstances are bad. The death of a loved one. Someone we know being diagnosed with cancer. A family member being permanently impacted by an accident. These are all examples of circumstances being bad. These things happen because we are part of this world. These things happen to good people all the time. And here is my attempt to say why. I believe that these moments take place to draw us closer to our Lord and Savior. Some might call that selfish on his part. And there might be some truth in that. But if we draw closer to the Lord and Savior, then we will be able to better show others who he is. The testimonies that we have after we go through something horrific are so powerful. I believe we go through them because someone else needs to see us persevere through them. I’m talking about the someone else out there who goes through the exact same thing. Wanting to know why. So today, I want to encourage you. I want to encourage you to trust that God has a plan. And his plan and will are good. Even when we go through moments that are bad.

Some days I find myself yawning in the early evening. Days where I am just tired. Even weary sometimes. Days where life just seems to come at me more so than other days. Coming from different directions. I’m sure most of you feel the same way. It’s part of being in this world. Especially, in today’s world. Seems like I find myself going faster, faster, and faster. Going from A to B. People tell me a lot that I am busy. I try to respond the same way each time. I respond by saying, “Productive. We are trying to be productive.“

It’s easy to get busy. To get busy doing the daily routines. It happens to us all. The danger here isn’t being busy. The danger is when being busy distracts us from what is important. We get distracted to the point that we lose sight of God. And it is during these moments of distraction, that Satan will attack. He knows the perfect time. We must remember how sneaky he is. We must remember the snake that he is. Do you ever feel tired and weary? Does it seem like life is coming at you from all different directions? It happens to us all. Think about this for a moment. How often do you find yourself being pulled different directions? How often do you find yourself “busy” at doing things? Be honest. and let’s also be honest with ourselves about this next point. Is it during those times that you find you had let your guard down? That’s when you become vulnerable. Satan will use any opportunity he can to bring us down. When you’re vulnerable, he will attack. Sometimes he is so sneaky that he will provide opportunities for us to be busy. Knowing that’s when vulnerability happens.

Now I want you all to remember this. God has us. Every one of us. So that means he has you. It’s during those times that we find ourselves caught up in what we are doing, that we need to push pause. Refocus on God. And let him guide us. If we do this, he will get us through the distractions. He will be there for us when we find ourselves vulnerable. We read about this in Isaiah. It’s awesome to know that no matter how weary or tired we become, our God never tires. He never tires for those of us who believe in him. God will provide wisdom. God will provide strength. God will provide endurance. But…we must believe in him first. So today, let’s refocus and turn our eyes on God. Even in the times we find ourselves busy. Especially, in those times.

On this day 79 years ago, thousands of men made the trip across the English Channel getting ready to invade France. It was the largest water to land invasion ever. That day was known as D-Day. I have heard people call it Destruction Day. Devastation day. Destroy Day. I may be wrong. But, I’m pretty sure it was simply called D-Day. No matter what it was called, this was the beginning of the end of the Nazi rule in Europe. Some 9000 American troops were lost in this battle. Many of them didn’t even make it out of the water as the German soldiers rained thousands, and thousands, and thousands of rounds at them. Those that did make it to land, found traps and many obstacles in their way. All the while being shot at.

If you will, let’s go back in our minds to what it must’ve been like to have been part of the invading forces. Let’s also think about what it must’ve been like to have been the German forces waiting for the invasion. I cannot imagine. Those first waves of men must’ve been terrified. Actually, I’m sure they all were. Not knowing if this was their last few moments to be on this earth. Wondering if they’re going to see their loved ones ever again. Wondering these things and still moving forward. Still willing to serve. Once again, I cannot imagine what that must’ve been like. Ultimately, the Allied troops were victorious. Within months victory was claimed in Europe.

That generation of people is known as the Greatest Generation. I’m sure there are several reasons. But one of them is definitely because of their actions during World War II. Their sacrifices. One thing I do not take lightly is the men and women that have served our country. Those that are serving now. Those that will serve in the future. When they sign the line joining the military, they are serving us. Those at D-Day served us. Those coming in the future will be serving us. Not even knowing who I am. Not knowing my family. Not knowing my friends. They still served us all. They sacrificed for us all. Putting others before themselves. Wow! And that’s what we are all called to do. We are called to serve others. To put others before ourselves. And the greatest example for us to follow is Jesus. He put us all on his shoulders and he paid the ultimate price for us. The ultimate sacrifice. So today, let’s find ways to lift others up and serve them. Even if we don’t know them. Let’s serve them.

This is such a unique time to be alive. It really is. There are so many good things to take in. But there are so many bad things as well. Evil and good have been battling for a while now. Lies are being spread all around the world. And what’s crazy is that people are believing the lies. Putting their faith into them. Trusting them. That’s because there’s so many powers to be that are pushing it down our throats. Just think about it. Need an example? People identify as this. Identify as that. Identify however they want to be identified. When did that happen? I couldn’t imagine being a parent of a young child during this time. Struggling in this information age that everything is simply in our hands and to be accessed with a push of a button. 

As much as I know that there are lies all around, I also know and fully believe that there is a truth that we can put our hope in. And I’m talking about a truth that is not spelled TRUTH. The truth that I am talking about is spelled BIBLE. The answer to every question is in this book. The counter for every lie is in this book. The Bible is our manuscript for our lives. And not just a manuscript, the Bible is our directions. Just as we read directions to assemble certain items, like a TV stand, The Bible has directions for us to assemble our lives around. We tell all of our guests this. We tell them that anything that they are questioning, we can find the solution in the Bible. We may not know where it is at, but we will find it. Or we will find somebody that knows where to find it. Plain and simple.

So if you are struggling with understanding what to believe and not believe, search for the answer in the Bible. I’m pretty sure it will tell us something about our identities being in God. So there’s no question. I’m pretty sure it will tell us about sins. Too many to list. But we can read about them and how to resist them in the Bible. And something else that’s even more incredible about this manuscript is that it has remained constant. For some 2000 years, it has remained constant. Yes I know there are different editions. And I am fully aware how it can be twisted and turned to fit our lifestyles. But that’s the human in us wanting it to be how we want it to be. That’s the human in us not wanting to hear the truth. Wanting to hear what we want to hear. But I will gladly take what I read in the Bible any day over what I see in the main stream or the social media outlets.

Operation T’ing Off was yesterday. There were around 100 guests/volunteers gathered at the Carthage Municipal Golf Course. There were dozens of veterans there. Ranging from the Vietnam War all the way through the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. So amazing. It was a morning of faith and fellowship. All the while chasing a little white ball around the course. It’s really an awesome combination for fulfilling our mission. One of our volunteers, Brady Garner, summed it up with this, “Sometimes it’s not about playing golf.” Oh how right he is. We will get back to that in a minute. But yesterday, Robin Sigars gave our message before presenting the awards. He talked about purpose. His message had a story in it. And it was spot on.

Robin‘s story was about greyhounds at a dog track. If any one of you have ever been to a dog race, you have seen this. Basically, there’s an electronic rabbit on a rail. It’s released from a starting box and the dogs pursue it. The chase is on. The rabbit goes all the way around the track with the dogs on its tail. Obviously, the first dog to cross the finish line wins. That is their purpose. To chase the rabbit. To win the race. At one particular race, the rabbit for some reason exploded. Parts of it went everywhere. None of the dogs were hurt, but they didn’t know what to do. some of them started playing with the parts. Others simply laid down. And still others just sat and barked at the crowd. They were confused. They didn’t know what to do, because their purpose was now gone. Ever feel that way? Ever feel like you don’t have a purpose? I’ve been there.

Charlie 22 Outdoors was founded six years ago with this mission in mind: To show a hope, love, and a personal meaning that comes from God‘s grace. The latter part of that mission can be summed up with one word. Purpose. Having a personal meaning in God‘s grace…is having a purpose in God‘s grace. We believe that everyone needs a purpose. When we wake up each morning, we need a purpose. That helps us keep going. It gives us something to look forward to. And if we are pursuing the purpose that God has for us, then we are pleasing God. We are following his command for us. No matter how big or small it may seem, God‘s purpose for us is all part of his plan for us. And that is powerful. So today, let’s work on fulfilling our purpose for God. No matter how big or small we view it. If you don’t know what that is, make today the day you begin praying for guidance in that. He will show you. Let’s remember what we are called to do. Seek him. Love him. Follow him. If we do this, we will be serving him. And that is our purpose.

June 3 Devotion 

Yesterday‘s devotion was talking about going through hardships and being attacked. The challenge that it is to get through things like that. It truly blows me away how God uses those moments to build us. A week or so ago, we talked about a video that was sent to me by one of our veterans. The narrator in the video was talking about praying to God for strength. And God sent him difficulties to make him strong. So true! But, I want to add to this strength building prayer something that happened yesterday. Another way that God does things to help us get through tough times. Help us get through difficulties. To keep us moving forward.

As I was wrapping up at the office yesterday, I got a phone call from an unknown number. I didn’t answer it. As I don’t answer most phone calls that I don’t know the number for. The caller left a voicemail saying that he didn’t wanna leave me his name, but that he was somebody from my past. And that definitely caught my attention. So I called him. Ended up that he was a former student of mine. A kid that could’ve been a good basketball player. But, he chose to not stay in school. And quit before he graduated. I remember him. And I thought it was so unfortunate for him to do that. I never wanted to see any of my students quit school. But now let’s just say at this point, his phone call humbled me. It was pretty amazing.

Parker was calling me to tell me thank you for pouring into him years ago. To tell me thank you for caring more about him than he did at that time. And he wanted to apologize to me for his decisions. Holy cow! Talk about humbling. That was 25 years ago. He quit school in 1998. And he still wanted to let me know this many years later that he appreciated me. There are moments like these “God Winks“ that can keep you going. There are moments like these “ But God Moments” that can help you move forward. And that’s exactly what his call did. I don’t do what I do to receive phone calls like this. I don’t do what I do to get recognition for anything. I don’t do what I do to have somebody reach out to me. I’m simply trying to serve God. I say all that to say this, and I told Parker this as well, calls like this are God’s way of saying stay the course. It’s God‘s way of letting us know he’s there. Parker was God’s tool for helping me stay focused. And that is awesome my friends. So today, stay the course. Keep moving forward. Stay focused. God has you. God has us all. He always has. He always will. 

This past week has been quite a challenge. Let’s just say…daily something has came at us. It never fails that when we are preparing for events, the attacks come. Sometimes they blindside us. Other times we see them coming. They come in the forms of personal attacks. They come in the forms of attacks on others we care about. Can be as simple as dropping something that breaks that’s important. Can be as big as a transmission leaking in a car that you need to have right now. Attacks also come as disagreements. Or confusion. Or misunderstandings. This week we had a variety. Including some health issues. And we believe it is because Satan is trying to keep us from doing our work. He knows good things are happening this weekend. He uses whatever he can to keep us from being successful.

Ever have one of those days where you feel like a punching bag? Were you feel like everything coming at you is continually to trying to beat you up? Ever have one of those weeks? One of those months? What about one of those years? I bet we all have felt like that at times. I know I do. No matter what I do, during those moments it seems like nothing I come up with is enough to battle it back. Nothing! There have been many times I have felt helpless. Especially, times where my family was being attacked. And I couldn’t do anything about it. That is a bad feeling. A terrible feeling. Feeling helpless is terrible. Not many things are worse than watching your loved ones go through something like this. But, as bad as those moments are, I’m reassured in this one promise: God will not allow our challenges to defeat us. If we have our hope in him, we will get through anything we face. 

If there’s one weapon in our bag of arsenal against times like this, it is trusting God. Trusting him makes us stronger. Trusting him shows that we have our faith put in him. Trusting him gives us hope that only comes from him. Whenever you feel captive to what you’re facing, trust God. In the Bible, we read about times like this that others faced. An example is the Israelites. They faced captivity for decades. Isaiah was there to tell them, to remind them, that God was there for them. God had protected them. We can learn from this. We can learn that when we are faithful to God, he is faithful to us. He will take on the battles that we face. He will take on the attacks. And know this reassurance, God will win. He already has. The victory was declared on that cross. So today, turn to him no matter what attacks you face. Knowing he will get you through.

Years ago, I loved to read. As a kid for sure. I remember, while living in Germany, I read Stuart Little and Charlotte‘s Web multiple times each year. And of course, I enjoyed comic books. Which kid didn’t? My mother bought me some of the classics as well. Shorter versions of them. But still, they were the classics. Moby Dick for example. Somewhere along the line, I lost my interest in reading novels. Anything fiction. I just couldn’t stay focused as I read those. I lost interest. Now…when it comes to historical books, count me in. I really enjoyed those Time Life Magazine books. The ones that came in a series of 20. Where each book was on a different topic. For instance, the World War II series had books about separate battles. Or weapons. I can read those for days. 

Chapter books are kind of parallel to our lives. Just as you turn the chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, and so on, our lives have chapters. Each day we are writing the books of our lives. What we do. What we say. Where we go. Who we associate with. Basically, our entire lives have different chapters. Past chapters. Present chapters. Future chapters. And I bet each chapter will look different from each of us. I know my chapters do. Just think about this for a second. There are things in my past that certain people know about me. Chapters that I’m not proud of. Do you have any of those? But, those chapters can be important testimonies for those with similar experiences. If they were to read about my life, they might be able to benefit from learning about what I went through. What I did. Where I was. My mistakes can be life lessons for others. And hopefully now, I am living a life that’s an example of how to do things. Or at least, a life where I’m trying to do the right things. 

Another book that I read is the Bible. I try to read it daily. The chapters in it are a manuscript for us to follow. Definitely, life lessons for us to learn from. There are so many people in the Bible that we read about their lives. Where they were at one time. And where they went another. In the Bible, we can see the lessons that Jesus was teaching us back then. Lessons that are lasting today. Lessons that will last in the future. That’s pretty incredible if you think about it. Things that he taught 2000 years ago are still relevant today. Simply amazing. So today, as we continue writing the stories of our lives, let’s try to make each chapter one that others can truly learn from. Let’s try to be examples that people can apply to their lives. Today, let’s continue learning about Jesus and work to be like him. Don’t wait till tomorrow. Start today. If you don’t know how, let’s talk.