Like a Thief in the Night

 
1 Thessalonians 5:2
"For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the Night."

Matthew 24:43
"But understand this: if the owner of the house had known at what time the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into."

These verses were brought to mind because I was witness to possible thieves in our neighborhood in the pre-dawn hours as I was leaving for work Tuesday morning. As I was about to climb up into my truck, I witnessed a tall hooded man run over to a suspicious vehicle waiting for him with its headlights out in the cul-de-sac across the street. What made it suspicious, besides all dark clothing and hood, was that the man didn't run to the vehicle until he noticed me turn to look at him. Once he got to the vehicle, they quickly drove away, turning the headlights on further up the street.

Now this alarmed the protective side of me. So 'like a good neighbor', I called local police to send an officer to conduct extra patrols in our neighborhood. I even went up later that day to the neighbor's house whose driveway the hooded figure had run from, and found out someone had opened their daughter's car and rummaged through her things. So I also alerted everyone on our neighborhood Facebook page, and told them to keep an eye out.

Now, let's go back to the Bible verses. What if I knew for sure those thieves were coming back? What if we knew that, and we made sure we told the other residents in the neighborhood to be ready? Well - I think Jesus has these verses in the Bible for that very reason...so we can tell all the neighbors. They can decide for themselves whether to get ready or not, but we are spreading the message. Because you see - although Jesus is certainly not a thief, he point-blank tells us that is how He is going to return.

So what I want you to think about is this:
Are you one of the neighbors that will join us on the watch? Are you the neighbor that will just shrug the neighbors who have been made aware aside? I choose to be part of the global neighborhood watch. I choose to stand up for my other neighbors and tell them to make ready, because He said he is coming back...I just don't know when.

So who wants to join me on the watch?

For further details on how to join, seek all the answers in the New Testament of the good book, the Holy Bible.

The Heart

The heart is a funny thing; in this case I am referring to the soul - your inner-most self, and the emotions that come with it. I was blessed yesterday with a surprise gift from my Mom...she bought me the latest Garth Brooks CD, because she and my closest family members know what a GB fan I was growing up. And Mom being Mom, told my wife to tell me to make sure I listen to Track 5 on the CD. So when I put the CD in my truck for the first time, I look at the back of the cover, and see the title of the song as it begins to play. Of course - the song is titled 'Mom'. The line that caught my ears the most was this:
"So hush now Baby, don't you cry
'Cause there's someone down there waiting
Whose only goal in life
Is making sure you're always gonna be alright.
A loving angel, tender, tough and strong
It's almost time to go meet your mom."

I have always found it fascinating when the perfect melody mixes with the perfect words, and it reaches right through to your heart. See, the song writers knew what they were doing when they wrote the lyrics. They wrote the song to pull the heart strings of not only ALL the moms out there - but the daughters and sons as well. And the lyrics do it effectively. So before I knew it, because of the song's grip on my heart - the next thing I know, a tear rolls down my cheek. Considering I was on my way to work out, I really had to change gears once I got to the gym.
So this brings me back to the heart. Does anyone else find how the heart can just take a hold of you? In the most random moments, whether it be because you see one of those Publix family commercials, or someone helps out an elderly person or small child in a public place, the heart can remind you it's there; grab you and take hold. I know I can't be the only person that experiences this? Perhaps the only 6' 2", 265 pound man to write about it...but still - aren't those times awesome! Sure, they may be weird, but you know, I think we need those moments. Perhaps God blesses most of us with moments like that to keep us grounded. Perhaps God helps some of us notice these events with our hearts in order to remember what we shouldn't take for granted. I know this is a random thought today. But before you leave work or even go to sleep tonight, look back over your day and see if you can remember catching one of those chance moments - that can touch the heart.

LIFE Matters

 

 This is not meant to inflame anyone. This should not make anyone mad, but I was inspired by our youth pastor today, as he delivered a positive message about life, and how we as Christians should spread that message.

He began by bringing up current events regarding Planned Parenthood, and of course - abortion. But the message was about more than just being Pro-life.

This especially hit home with me; I have rarely been vocal about being pro-life, because of my connection to the issue, and being afraid that I may end up being too passionate. I am very much pro-life because I refuse to think that the unborn child that I saw moving around in my wife's belly, along with Jay, was not a human life! That's right...my son Jay had a twin brother (we named him John Robert Fort)- who never made it far enough along to join Jay into this world. I saw the little babies on the screen early on in the pregnancy. I saw the cute little profiles on both faces. I saw the movement. Other members of my family have had similar experience, and I am sure my brother Daniel can relate. So because of the evidence of life that I have seen, and had the displeasure in mourning the loss - I am very much pro-life.

But the point that was hammered home was that we need to be more than just pro-life. We need to do more than just stand against the stealing away of human lives before their time. Another interesting point brought up was the point of view from the other side...one that I can ALMOST understand. That point is that why would we want to go back and bring those aborted lives into the low income, insufferable conditions, and even this fallen world. In other words, for a lot of pro-abortion people, (not the assuming left wing, free-loader generalization here) it is actually a matter of the heart...pity for those unborn children...not wanting them to suffer. The point was made that although this is not the best way of looking at it, we should at least listen and know that this is a concern from the other side.

But then there was more. There were examples given of all the other ways we can stand up for life - other than just standing against abortion. And one of the best things we could do is actually address the other side's concern...by caring for the LIVES that are here now! Yes, there are people suffering in this world, so let's help those people out of their suffering. Help the needy; the Bible says that we should always do this. Help the suffering, such as soldiers who have been wounded. Reach out to people of all groups, all colors, all cultures - all religions. Foster children who are brought into this world in poor conditions, or without a parent. Adopt children. Feed the hungry. Give money to a cause. There are ways we as Christians can fight the negative and evil things going on in this world...by doing good. Although we will be persecuted, even while we do good - we should still do it.

Black lives matter - Asian lives matter - Hispanic lives matter - White lives matter - police lives matter - Muslim lives matter - Christian lives matter - poor people's lives matter - soldier's lives matter - rich people's lives matter - homosexual and transgender lives matter - animals' lives matter (but we were given dominion over the animals) - LIFE matters. So we should do what we can to preserve it and protect it; it is sacred.

Now I believe there is an order to things the way God made it; I think there are going to always be cultures in this world, and even reasons for the preservation for human life that make hunting necessary. This is a fallen world, so there will be death, and suffering, and killing, and fighting. And I will save my son or wife if their life is in danger way before I save an African lion. Does that make me evil? No...but I do think God would prefer us to protect the sanctity of ALL life.

Please don't read this and let it make you angry. Even if you are not a Christian, go out and treat other people you encounter like their lives matter. If we all did this, the world would be a much brighter place. If you made it this far - thanks for reading, and God bless

America - Why I am Still Proud

You know, it's easy to be a pessimist these days, where sin and immorality have no shame. It is easy to be frightful when you think about discrimination of Christians and the looming threat of ISIS. But I am not going to talk about that today.
No, I want to share with America - and anyone else who might see this, to tell you why I am still proud of America.
In America, we still have citizens who will speak their minds, defend their faith, argue using reason, and still proudly wear their red, white and blue.
In America, we have Ford trucks, Chevy trucks, drag races, hot rods, fast motorcycles, Harley Davidson, Mustangs, Camaros, Chargers, Challengers, Corvettes, and Dodge Vipers. We have good old-fashioned American roller coasters, with American names. We have Monster Trucks, Tractor Pulls, Motorcross, NHRA, and NASCAR! We've got more ways to celebrate the invention of the wheel than I know how to count!
In America, we have cheese burgers, New York pizza, Chicago Deep Dish pizza, Angus steak, 'French' fires, Grilled Chicken Sandwiches, Macaroni and Cheese, Black-eyed Peas, and Green Beans, Hot Dogs, and Chili! We have BBQ, KFC, Baconators, and sandwiches called the Beefeater! We have Sweet Potato Pie, New York Cheese Cake, Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, Hot Fudge Sundaes, and Home Made Ice Cream...heck - I could stop right there!
But wait - there's more!
In America we have God fearin', gun-totin', rubber-squealin', red-blooded, 2nd Amendment protectin', Walmart shoppin', rough and ready rednecks, who can be all that and still get along with...
Color wearin', straight-up rappin', basketball scorin', large rim drivin', hip-hop dancin', hard core gangsta, who can still get along with...
back breaking, pizza making, cold winter surviving, always swearing, New York loving yankee - we won't say they can get along, but, Hey - they're still Americans!
People of all stereotypes live throughout America, and yet MOST OF THE TIME, when they aren't front and center on the news, and they happen to not be part of political agenda that day - THEY GET ALONG!
In America we have Baseball, Football, Basketball, the Major League, NFL, NBA, College Gameday, College Football, Tigers and Gamecocks, College World Series, and MMA. We have more sports than you can shake a stick at - and most of them you can watch while eating a burger, hot dog, or pizza at the same time!
In America we have Hollywood, summer blockbusters, Broadway, rock concerts, pro wrestling, dinner theatres, little theatres, and Shakespeare in the park.
We have or have had Tom Selleck, Bruce Willis, Dwayne the Rock Johnson, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Lee, John Wayne, Mr. T, and Chuck Norris!
Side note - name another country that has Chuck Norris...that's right, you can't...because America is the only country that can contain him!
In America we have or have had  Elvis Pressley, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Metallica, MCHammer, Michael Jackson, Arethra Franklin, Sammy Davis Jr., the Eagles...just to name a few.
In America we have A-10s, F-16s, F-15s, F-18s, F-22s, F-35s, B1Bs, Apaches, B2s, F117s, Ospreys, and Chinooks, and a whole lot of Air Power.
We have Navy SEALS, Delta Force, Marine Recon, Air Force PJ's, and the baddest mugs on the planet in our military.
We have a whole lot of boats, a whole lot of tanks, a whole lot of planes, and a whole lot of carriers - and we have and have had the greatest fighting force on the planet. Yes, you can say I am proud to live in a country that has all that.
In America we have or have had Hot Wheels, Hasbro, Monopoly, Transformers, GIJoe, PacMan, Contra, Super Mario, Metroid, Sonic, the DC and Marvel Universe. Sure that stuff is present all around the world, but all of those things got their sure footing right here in America, and had a huge impact on my childhood.
In America we still have the Constitution (for now), the American Flag (for now), great American icons like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and the dollar bill (for now).
All these things I have shared - these are things that have made or still make America great - and unique from any other place in the world. And I only scratched the surface. Sure, there are those out there, including myself, who think all these things are in jeopardy. But while you celebrate July 4th this summer, and who knows for how many more - think about all these things I listed. Right now we still have this. We still stand out; you can put us in a lineup with a lot of other citizens from other nations and pick us out pretty quick. I am proud to stand out - just as I am proud to stand out as a Christian. But celebrate with your families this weekend, and hold on to hope...hope that America remains unique. Hope that America lasts. And Hope that America will somehow turn its eyes on God once again. God bless the USA!

Kickstarter Project 2015

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fortress23/the-knox-mission-unleashed-3-book-set

Please check out my project proposal for Kickstarter.com. I plan on re-releasing my first three novels in a higher-class, more professional style through a self-publishing company, but I do not have the funds at this time. I think if I could put these first three out there in a better product format, I can be that much closer to achieving my dream of being a successful author. Please, pledge...I promise I won't forget it. Thank you- and God Bless...
Jason

Evil - See how it Divides Us?

Evil is real. Science can explain a lot of things in this world...but it can't explain evil. If you don't think evil is real, then how do you explain events the likes of mass shootings, terrorist attacks, and mass executions that we see today? And if evil is real, doesn't it stand to reason that good is real as well?

Please understand this - evil is the force that we see prevail in this world; in our country - when we begin to divide ourselves and want to blame this group or that group or this sterotype or religion for the actions of another, we begin to divide ourselves. What happens when you make forces divide themselves in military? If you can get a team or army or battalion to divide its forces under your direction, then the divided forces can become weak and be defeated. What is happening in America today? Religious division; racial division; political division; sexual division; even moral division. To me, it is obvious that evil, or Satan (Evil personified) is strategically moving things into place and dividing our forces. All of the divisions I mentioned above, with regard to the US, were at one point or another, what set us apart from other nations of the world.

Sure, the killer in Charleston was a white man who hated black or African American people. But if you let your focus on the problem begin AND end with that, it is exactly what the true enemy wants you to do. Don't focus on the fact that the killer was white...FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT THE KILLER WAS A KILLER.

Although I identify with more conservative values of a Republican nature, I think we should get rid of the political parties. What we need to do is UNIFY our forces again, against evil. When we truly were a nation under God - guess what...Satan was losing. I know I am an opinionated person, and somewhat inflammatory at times because I am passionate about American History and biblical teaching. But I can put that aside if more American citizens would stop caving to some entitled attitude of denial and lack of accountability, and acknowledge that we need God. We need Jesus. I pray for this nation, and this world we live in, and I hope and pray there are plenty of others who are with me. Don't let the Evil One divide us anymore.

Anger Management

We had a guest pastor this morning, and I enjoyed his message so much, that I thought I would share it from my perspective. This morning, the pastor spoke on anger - more specifically, anger management.

Those that grew up with me can understand one reason why I might have been able to relate to the sermon. I grew up with a hot temper; fortunately I have been able to keep it in check for most of my life since I was young, but I found this verse in Proverbs profound.

"An angry person stirs up conflict,
    and a hot-tempered person commits many sins."---Proverbs 29:22

Not only did this prove true as I actually turned my anger on certain friends, and even family, as I grew up...but I have also seen it first-hand in my line of work. It is truly amazing how anger can take complete control of your behavior, and even your decisions! One of the reasons I always felt like I connected to the character of the Incredible Hulk in the comics was because of how anger effected his life. (Yes, I know - there may also be some strange resemblance to the man who played him, too...at least that is what I have been told). But hearing these words of scripture today helped bring me back home to the fact that anger, while itself is even an emotion God has felt, is not something we can just write off as something we couldn't control so our actions were justified.

The pastor also pointed out this passage:

"Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
    for anger resides in the lap of fools."---Ecclesiastes 7:9

This reminded me of exactly what I am writing about in my upcoming novel, and what happened in Baltimore. People perceive some injustice, and quickly overreact without taking time to pause and reflect on what has happened. Then they make foolish, stupid, and even self-destructive decisions. Something similar has happened to me before. I believe I have even written about it before, when I let my temper win out and I ended up punching a fire extinguisher case - and wound up in the hospital. 

Note that both verses I referred to were profound words of wisdom. Well, one thing we should all consider is that these words were written down by one of the wisest men to have ever lived. These words are not mere suggestions; King Solomon wrote them down for a reason. So take heed folks. The passages do not suggest to never get angry...but do not let your anger control you. Instead, take a page out of Bruce Banner's book. Learn how to keep it controlled. And the best way to do that? Why - turn it over to someone who is bigger than you or me. Turn it over to God, and He will help you tame the wild green hulk within us all.