Our Lives

Amazing! Time Flies! Three years ago to the day I stepped away from pastoring in the traditional church setting. God opened and continues to open doors of opportunity beyond what I could have ever imagined out in the highways and byways. We are immersed in the political and economic world through reaching out to the government and business community.

Donna and I would not be able to strategically focus this way without friends who partner with us in prayer, encouragement and support. We are most grateful. YOU play a huge role in every business person who finds faith … every lonely leader who is encouraged … every person who is reminded not to quit … every seed sown … every political leader who discovers Jesus is worth following … every revitalized soul who discovers their purpose. Paul put it this way in Philippians 4:17, “Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”

Pondering:

1.  We can get so caught up learning about God or serving God we lose our intimacy with God.

2.  The most important house is not the White House but your house and my house.

3.  Henri Nouwen in his perceptive book, The Return of the Prodigal Son, describes his encounter with Rembrandt’s painting of this parable and the remarkable effect this painting had on his self-understanding. “It had brought me into touch with something within me that lies far beyond the ups and downs of a busy life, something that represents the ongoing yearning of the human spirit, the yearning for a final return, an unambiguous sense of safety, a lasting home.” This picture sits above my desk and reminds me daily of the Father’s house and the deep satisfaction of His embrace and of being treasured by Him.

Reading:

1.  Old Testament book of Nehemiah (430BC)

2.  Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy (1956)

3.  No Greater Power by Richard Halverson (1986)

4.  When the Giant Lies Down by Dick and Ruth Foth (1995)

Thankful For:

1.  For the Body of Christ that is so much bigger than one church, city, nation or denomination!!!

2.  For my calling. On June 22, 1984 I was ordained as a pastor of the Gospel. Twenty-nine years are finished and I am into my 30th year. There are always enough joys to keep me going and enough troubles to keep me dependent.

3.  For Donna. An excellent wife is the crown of her husband (Prov. 12:4). The new Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge may have a crown but so do I!!!

Praying:

1.  Pray for several new initiatives with State Leaders beginning in September. More news to come. There are leaders who work, speak and act with high levels of determination and integrity in a world of influence. What if there could be more. Pray.

2.  Pray for a gathering of 30 New Orleans Leaders in early August and the potential movement that may launch from this meeting.

3.  Retreat in August with 50-60 young adults.

4.  Ongoing Bible Studies, personal appointments and speaking opportunities.

5.  Visit with Jonathan and Patricia to see their new home.

Betting the Farm on God,

Michael

Only God

Imagine numbers of the most powerful leaders in our state opening the Scriptures and having in-depth discussions about the Good News of Jesus Christ and how they can honor Him in their lives and work. Imagine Republicans and Democrats coming together, walls coming down and leaders getting to know each other better. Imagine the beginnings of a Bible study for Lobbyists. Yes Lobbyists! Imagine one-on-one visits with leaders to pray, build relationships, encourage, and allow God to show up. Imagine the privilege of helping to lead prayer in both the Senate and House Chambers, asking God to heal our land and bless our leaders. Imagine getting to speak at a legislative retreat to discuss how to live out faith in government and modern day life. All these things and more really happened over the past few months. ONLY GOD! Only God could cause these doors to open. Prayers have been answered. Souls encouraged. Jesus lifted up.

“Abraham Lincoln famously said, “My concern is not whether

God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side.”

Praying in the House Chamber
Rep. Schroder on right,
Speaker of the House in background

My time at the 2013 Legislative Session at the Capitol in Baton Rouge has been completed. For the entire session, I spent three full days a week in Baton Rouge, and have made many new friendships. The ministry is to reach and encourage the Capitol Communities for Christ in a non-partisan and non-political fashion. The love of God, prayer and the Gospel of Jesus is offered to Legislators, government leaders, lobbyists, staffers, political operatives, journalists and security staff.

 



Trinity Bible Church
Fredericksburg, VA

  

The approach of Grace Adventures is different than two of the predominant methods used today in the political arena. One is the ATTACK method. The second is the TOTAL SEPARATION method. Our method is to ENGAGE. We engage those who serve in the political sphere with the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16) and encouragement for the soul (Psalm 23:1-3, Matthew 11:28-29). We are committed to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and the Capitol Commission (Acts 9:15). It is God who transforms…one person at a time. Our prayer is for revitalization, renewal and goodness for our nation and state. ONLY GOD!

“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent  you into exile

…for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jer. 29:7)

East Coast Speaking:

The Legislative Session was immediately followed by open doors to teach and preach in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. I spoke eight times over seven days to military families at Officers Christian Fellowship Retreat Center in White Sulphur Springs, Pennsylvania. I heard many needs of our military families and delighted in sharing life with the men and women who make our freedom possible. These officers and their families are heroes and national treasures. It was an honor for Donna and me to encourage them with Scripture and one-on-one.

Officers Christian Fellowship

 

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

 –attributed to Edmund Burke

 These eight speaking opportunities were followed immediately with four more speaking engagements over two days at Forcey Bible Church in Silver Spring, Maryland and at a mini-missions conference at Trinity Bible Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Our trip wrapped up in the D.C. area with several very encouraging appointments with Bobby Little of the Christian Embassy and the folks at Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship.

Forcey Bible Church
Men's Brunch

Prayer:

1.    Pray for a great work of God in our nation. If you need a tool to guide you … go to www.pray1tim2.org.

2.    Pray for a transition in the ministry with a new person handling the bookkeeping and donation work of Grace Adventures. This will free Donna up a bit. She has done all of this for the last two and a half years.

3.    Pray Donna and I pause appropriately to hear the fresh voice of God and listen to His Word. We want to serve after drinking from a running stream and not from a stagnant pond.

4.    Pray for Jonathan and Patricia. Patricia is finishing a summer internship. They just moved into their first house in Dallas.

“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,

At all the times you can, To all the people you can,

As long as you ever can.”

--John Wesley