Who Started What?

Posted on 2026/03/05 by JimR, Chaplain

During the 1950s & 1960s, the Democratic Party controlled the United States, holding the presidency for most of the decade with John F. Kennedy (1961–1963), Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969), and a Democratic majority in Congress for much of the period.  The Democratic dominance began to shift after the 1964 election, when Barry Goldwater’s conservative Republican campaign energized the growing conservative movement. 

Let’s go back into the fifties.  The U.S. never issued a formal declaration of war in Korea. Instead, President Harry S. Truman, who was a Democrat, authorized military action under the auspices of a United Nations Security Council resolution (Resolution 83, 1950), which called for member nations to assist South Korea after North Korea’s invasion.  Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican) ended the active combat of the Korean conflict through the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953. While the conflict did not conclude with a formal peace treaty, the armistice effectively halted organized fighting and established a ceasefire along the 38th parallel, leaving the Korean Peninsula divided as it had been since the end of World War II.

Eisenhower fulfilled his 1952 campaign promise to bring the war to an early and honorable end by combining diplomacy with a credible threat of nuclear force, which pressured North Korea and China to negotiate. His administration’s strategy included a visit to Korea in November 1952, where he assessed the stalemate and concluded that further military gains were unattainable without risking a wider war.

Although no peace treaty was ever signed, the armistice is widely recognized as a major success of his presidency. It allowed for the return of prisoners of war, ended years of devastating conflict, and prevented further escalation—particularly into a nuclear war. The U.S. has maintained a military presence in South Korea since then to enforce the armistice and deter aggression.

The Vietnam War was not formally declared as a war by the United States. The conflict escalated after the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964), which granted President Lyndon B. Johnson broad military powers. The U.S. involvement peaked with over 500,000 troops deployed, but no congressional declaration of war was ever passed.

Since 1812, Congress has formally declared war only 11 times, with the last being in 1942 during World War II. Both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts are examples of undecared wars, where the U.S. engaged in large-scale military operations without a formal declaration.

Richard Nixon announced the end of U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War on January 23, 1973, declaring the signing of the Paris Peace Accords as a “peace with honor.” The agreement, finalized after years of negotiations, called for a ceasefire, the release of American prisoners of war, and the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from South Vietnam within 60 days.

However, the war did not truly end in 1973. While the United States withdrew, North Vietnam and South Vietnam continued fighting. The South Vietnamese government collapsed when North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon on April 30, 1975, leading to the unification of Vietnam under communist rule.

Thus, although Nixon ended U.S. military participation in 1973, the Vietnam War itself lasted until 1975, and the outcome was not the “peace with honor” he promised.

I cannot blame President Nixon for the alternate ending as he had spoken of.  The warring in the nation to end was totally on the warring factions from the north and south

My conclusion is that both parties started conflicts, but for Democrats to sit back and blame the present administration for a “war” in Iran, they need to remember their history. 

During the Korean conflict official U.S. Department of Defense figures report 36,574 American military deaths, including battle deaths and non-combat fatalities.  Approximately 58,220 U.S. military personnel died during the Vietnam War, according to the U.S. National Archives.

The draft for both the Korean War and the Vietnam War was instituted by the United States federal government under the authority of the Selective Service System, established by Congress through the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. This law allowed the President to conscript men into military service during times of national emergency, even without a formal declaration of war. The draft was used during the Korean War (1950–1953) and continued into the Vietnam War era (1964–1973), with the system being maintained through various iterations of the Selective Service Act.

Who proposed the draft to be instituted?  The draft for both the Korean War and the Vietnam War was instituted under the authority of the U.S. President, with Congress providing the legal framework through the Selective Service Act of 1948 and subsequent legislation. President Harry S. Truman authorized the draft during the Korean War crisis in 1950, and President Lyndon B. Johnson expanded the draft during the Vietnam War escalation, beginning in 1965. The Selective Service System, led by Director Lewis B. Hershey, implemented the draft calls under presidential authority.  So Democrats conscripted men into service to fight these conflicts.  Remember, the president and Congress were both controlled by the Democratic Party.

But lastly, we can sadly mourn the loss of any life, but during the times I write on here, a total of around 95,000 military soldiers were lost.  Now we have an all-volunteer military. 

Just a very sad mention here, approximately 407,316 American military personnel died during World War II, according to the National WWII Museum.  Folks, war is hell.  Can you imagine how many civilians lost their lives during the Wars in Europe and the South Pacific?

Approximately 40 million civilians died during World War II, according to estimates from reliable sources such as EBSCO Research Starters. This figure represents a significant portion of the war’s total death toll of nearly 70 million.

Soviet Union: The highest civilian death toll, with 14.25 million civilians killed, largely due to Nazi occupation, starvation, forced labor, and genocide.

China: Estimated 16 million civilian deaths, primarily from Japanese military actions, including the Nanjing Massacre and widespread atrocities during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Poland: 5.36 million civilians died, largely due to Nazi occupation, the Holocaust, and systematic extermination policies.

Other major contributors:

  • Dutch East Indies (Indonesia): ~3.5 million civilians died due to famine and forced labor under Japanese occupation.
  • Yugoslavia: ~554,000 civilians killed during occupation and ethnic conflicts.
  • France: ~360,000 civilians died, including victims of repression and reprisals.
  • Germany: ~2.17 million civilians died, mainly from Allied bombing campaigns and post-war displacement.

These figures highlight the war’s devastating impact on non-combatants, especially in occupied territories and countries directly affected by occupation and genocide. Not all of this writing is totally mine.  It is a mix of research and my thoughts.  I didn’t feel like reinventing the wheel.

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The Visibleness of the Invisible

Posted on 2026/02/24 by JimR, Chaplain

Romans 1:20-21 – For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

I read this verse this morning and saw a new aspect that is always there, but it simply spoke to me. Even if you can’t see the attributes of God, just look around at the earth. The basics, like gravity, the land, the sea, and all the animals and men. The balance of nature is so precisely weighed one against the other. Man was given dominion over the earth, and it is up to us to keep that balance intact. I can understand why there are people who don’t like modernization. Even when I was a young boy, my family subsisted much on our own from our own fields, gardens, and animals. It was a simple life. We miss a great opportunity to know the invisible God by the earth and its fullness all around us.

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Weapons Training

Posted on 2026/02/16 by JimR, Chaplain

I grew up with guns in the house, in the pickup truck, in my hands in the woods, and in the military. I have an Expert Rifleman medal from qualifying in the military. I don’t brag. If I can’t do it, I’ll tell you the truth.

If you don’t have experience with weaponry, it is important to familiarize yourself with any weapon you may procure for your protection. Anyone with a CCW has had to qualify with a variety of handguns. I did without issue. We had a couple of people in the class who could not hit a target at 25 yards. I had to shake my head.

I just read an article that says you don’t necessarily need to train. I agree and disagree. If you grew up in the world, I came along in, wasting ammo to keep sharp, it depends on the individual, and it likely isn’t necessary. If you can’t hit a target at 25 yards, you’d better give it up or practice, practice, practice until you can. That’s the difference.

I’m at this point in my life, I find that most actual gun fights find shooting at criminals is a dicey event, with most shots missing their target. Target shooting and the actual need to shoot in a criminal action are two entirely different scenarios. At my age, I changed out to a weapon that needs less accurate aiming expertise. So I bought a Judge Magnum. It has a mix in the cylinder of .410 and .45 cal LC ammo. It’s more of a point-and-shoot type of weapon. And the other reason is I can take it down for cleaning much easier than a semi-auto. Anyway, I’m attaching the article for your viewing.

Firearms Training Doesn’t Matter – by Caleb Giddings

Posted in Days in Small, Good ole days, Growing up, Home, Maturity, Old Age, Ponderings, Sobering Thoughts | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted on 2026/02/12 by JimR, Chaplain

This is a short post, but likely one of my most thoughtful ones. This woman is my wife, my life.

This woman was a gift from God. She came into my life at a time I was at my lowest point. I did not look for her. She appeared in my inbox, complimenting me on my autobiography, which I was writing. I’m still writing it.

I ended up seeing a psychologist, but after several sessions, I stopped because she made more sense than what I was paying for. She has stood by my side without fail. She has shown me what true unconditional love is all about. That is a God-given gift. Seventeen years later and almost eleven years married, we are a fundamentally strong couple.

Yes, we made mistakes. Some big, some small. But God brought us to Him and has become our rock and foundation of faith. There are things we may be facing, but He has said we will endure, and with continued faith, we will overcome. We are indeed growing old together. I could not think of anyone else to do that with. Happy Valentines.

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Lessons Learned from History

Posted on 2026/02/07 by JimR, Chaplain

Ecclesiastes 1:8-11 – All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

(10) Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”?

It has already been in ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.

This suggests that history, human endeavors, and even the pursuit of novelty are repetitive and lack true originality. Truly, there is nothing new under the sun. It’s all been tried and either failed or succeeded.

I believe that studying and understanding history is a valuable resource for knowledge, correction, and lessons learned to not be repeated. Yet we still do it.

I’ll give you a youthful example from what I learned. When I was about four or so, my mom would always send me out to play. The road in front of our house was a dirt road with ditches on both sides.

We’d had a considerable amount of rain, and the ditches were full of water. I had this wooden rocking horse. It closely resembles the picture in this post. I figured I should be able to put my trusty steed in the water and test it. To my surprise, it floated. Can you see the question mark over my head? Yep. I was going to mount and ride my steed in the water upon which it floated. So, I mounted it. It immediately sank to the bottom. I was soaked. My mom happened to see the failure and took me inside, changed my clothes, and told me not to do it again.

Well, you know, little kids. It was time to rethink the strategery. (Old Bush idiom). Perhaps I had mounted my steed incorrectly. So, seeing it was now floating again, I decided to give it another try. Failure succeeded again. There I said to my chest in water. My mom was not happy, but she didn’t spank me… yet. She had fully reclothed me the second time, but the second change she only put on a T-shirt and drawers.

Okay. The third time is a charm. That only got me a spanking and forbidding me to go close to the ditch. My steed was retrieved and set aside to dry, while I dried my eyes.

Lesson learned? Yes. History does play an important part of learning. Wooden horses don’t float. Neither do poor decisions, because we fail to learn from the past.

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Understanding God’s Call: Chosen vs. Invited

Posted on 2026/02/03 by JimR, Chaplain

I don’t exactly know how to start this.  So, I’ll start this way.  Decades ago, I asked God to help me develop a prayer life that would be deep and meaningful.  Oh, it’s not to say I didn’t pray.  I prefer to call prayer “conversation”.  I made this request in a meeting with other leadership in training.  One particular member of the class spoke up that God would make it so.  The one thing I’ve learned since then was brought to my attention.  I’ve talked to God since I was about twelve years old. 

My first memory was lying in my bed at night.  God spoke to me on one of those evenings.  He said that I was to be an evangelist.  I thought of it as nothing extraordinary.  I thought this was normal to hear God speak.  As I have learned over the years, I put upon others the expectation that they should automatically know what I know.  It has come to me that they don’t.  I found myself many nights after that conversation preaching hellfire and damnation to a darkened ceiling in my dimly lit room.  My preaching would be as fervent as if it would cause a person under conviction to find themselves all but feeling the flames of hell if they did not respond immediately.  That was how I had heard it done in the Baptist church I grew up in. 

Then, on another occasion, I was sitting in church when God gave me a vision.  I was thirteen or fourteen.  I could see the people sitting in the church service, but only a small few of them stood out.  God asked me whether I saw this.  I said yes, but questioned Him about its meaning.  God said not all the people in the congregation were His people.  The only people that stood out to me were His.  My heart was hurt because the number of people who were His was small compared to the total number of attendees at the service.  God spoke that He had people in every church.  The situation in all those other churches was the same.  In later years, I learned that many are called, but few are chosen.

Matthew 22:14 – For many are called, but few are chosen.

To make it clear, there are designations in this area.

 Four designations

  • The call (calling) or invitation
    • The actual call or invitation of God (to receive a worldly purpose, or to receive salvation)
  • The called or invited
    • Those who have received the call or invitation
  • The chosen
    • Those who have heard the call or invitation and have chosen to accept it
  • The elect or elected
    • Those who have been selected by God for something
  •  The first point deals with God’s call (invitation) klesis. 

Romans 11:29 – For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

For years, I wondered about that statement.  The “repentance” part made me curious to know what it meant.  Then, when word study became my method of understanding scripture, I found the proper word for that is “irrevocable”.  The calling cannot be reneged on.  God said it, and He will not take it back, which shows the reliability of God’s promise in saying what He says.  God doesn’t dangle a carrot only to pull it back. 

  • Then the called (invited).  This deals with the ones that are invited.  Again, I refer to the verse:

Matthew 22:14 – For many are called, . . .

The invitation for salvation is sent to the called.  The Greek word kletos translates to those who are invited to be saved/ made holy/to belong to Jesus.  All are called to a purpose. 

Most sermons in decades past dealt with getting people to recognize they needed salvation to keep them from dying without a Savior and “going to hell”.  They were encouraged to commit right then to ensure their citizenship would translate from the realm of darkness to the realm of light.  Many were threatened to get them to commit.  I’ve found in the years since that if you have to scare them to the altar, you have to continue this vein of psychological thought to keep them “saved.” 

I have an alternative thought.  Yes, I agree we should let people know that living in sin will have detrimental consequences, but above all, we must let you know something more valuable.  The called are those who are invited to a purposeful future.  Purpose in life gives hope.  Hope builds faith.  Out of faith comes grace and mercy from the believer.  This is all coming from correctly understanding that God wants us to be of value and worth.  We all need to humble ourselves and listen to and for the call of God.  We are invited to repent from our old stinking thinking and trust in Him to receive salvation unto a purpose in moving forward.

3. Chosen (eklektos).  This word is an adjective describing a people that has been chosen.  The chosen are the invited who have presently accepted the invitation.  Back to the verse:

 Matthew 22:14 – For many are called, but few are chosen

The responsibility we have is to hear and accept the call. Should we obey the call, God makes the choice to choose you. Your being chosen is based on His choice.

In my understanding of the line of thought, is that the “many” that are invited, not all are “chosen”.  What qualifies the chosen is that they have humbled themselves and obeyed through their faith in the gospel.  God sees this faith and will choose those faithful that follows His commandments taught in the gospel.

So now I get understanding of what God showed me those many years ago sitting in church during a service.  Many were called.  All that sat in the service were called.  I can only imagine that most did acknowledge the invitation to salvation.  My biggest fear is that the souls that were called would stand before God in the time of judgment, will not be allowed into the kingdom.

Matthew 7:21-23 – Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Then come those who labored in faith for their master, and it is said:

Matthew 25:23 – . . . Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

This answers any question about the vision God gave me all those years ago.

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Prophetic Word

Posted on 2026/01/28 by JimR, Chaplain

Back around November 8th, 2025 I received this word on my way home. I hesitate to consider myself a prophet. I heard God tell me when I was twelve that I would be an Evangelist. I lived on that word to me all my life. One evening, I was doing something, and I heard or read about a college offering certification as a Chaplain. God spoke to me to take the course of study. I was already an ordained minister. This certification solidified where I stood in the calling of God. Being a Chaplain, I found the definition to be that of an Evangelist. That convinced me of what God told me as a young man in my early teens. I have also heard that my son has the calling of a prophet. I remind him from time to time.

So, below is the word that God gave me for the church I am a member of.

God spoke to me on Saturday morning as I was driving home from town, and I broke down and cried.  God does talk to me daily, but this was different.

He said this: I, God, come to you, the church, to tell you it’s time to step to another level.  Up to now, we have lived in our earthen vessels as though it was dirt.  It’s not a bad thing to say dirt.  It’s a picture of where we start.  I have hidden precious materials of silver and gold in the dirt.  It’s time to get your shovels out and begin to dig in the dirt.  Winnow away the needless things in life (the dirt).  Take yourself a pan and fill it with dirt, and then swish it in the stream of water, my Spirit, and pan out the dirt to find the silver and gold.  You must know your salvation is the silver, and the gold is the nature of God, for you to obtain.  Ensure your salvation is true.  Ensure your salvation is ongoing.  Ensure you aim for it to be a finished work in the end.  In the pursuance of your ongoing salvation, you will be putting on My Mind, says God.  This is the growth I wish you to have.  To be like Me as my offspring in fellowship with Me.

It’s time to take it to a new level.  It’s time to get closer to Me, says God.  Don’t let the world be your focus.  Let Me be your focus.  Consider me, your father, who takes care of you.  The world is what it chooses to be, but you need to choose Me, and those worries of the world will cease.  Worry not.  Want not, because I will take care of my church.  You are under my wing.  You are hidden from the evil of the world. 

So, take a new step to a deeper realm with Me, says God.  Talk to me more.  Learn more and become more by and from what you see of Me.  I will make you rulers in the coming world.  It’s up to you to do your diligent best to obtain.  It can be done.  I call you to that realm now, today, and from this day on.  Let not a day go by that this Word be fresh in your mind to spur you on. 

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Warfare – Spiritual vs Physical

Posted on 2026/01/27 by JimR, Chaplain

Jesus asked Saul, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4), revealing a profound theological truth: persecution of Christians is persecution of Christ Himself. Don Lemon may have found favor with the courts, but not Jesus. Fear for this man’s life. He has touched God’s anointed.

Although the following speaks of the OT anointed of God, don’t you think of Jesus as the supreme one that should not be touched?

‘Touch not Mine anointed ones and do My prophets no harm.’ Psalms 105:15

Psalm 105:15 and 1 Chronicles 16:22 state, “Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!” This divine command underscores the sacred protection God grants to those He has set apart for His purposes.

Divine Retribution: The Bible records severe consequences for those who harm God’s anointed.

Pharaoh was struck with plagues for attempting to take Abraham’s wife Sarah (Genesis 12:17; 20:3–7).

Abimelech was warned in a dream that he would die unless he restored Sarah, as Abraham was a prophet (Genesis 20:6–7).

Korah and 250 rebels were swallowed by the earth for challenging Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:31–35).

42 youths who mocked Elisha were mauled by bears (2 Kings 2:23–24).

The Amalekite who claimed to have killed King Saul was executed by David, who declared, “Your blood is on your own head… for you have said, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed'” (2 Samuel 1:14–16).

Spiritual Principle: The command extends beyond physical harm to include slander, ridicule, or spiritual attack.

David refused to harm Saul, recognizing that only God could judge the anointed (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:9).

The above reference is what I’ve been asking God how I should approach the present world situations.

Jesus equated attacking His messengers with attacking Him: “Whoever receives you receives Me” (Matthew 10:40).

Saul’s persecution of Christians was seen as persecution of Christ Himself (Acts 9:4).

Modern Application: While the term “anointed” historically refers to prophets, kings, and patriarchs, many interpret it today as applying to all believers, especially those in ministry.

Gossip, disrespect, or violence toward God’s servants is seen as violating divine protection.

God’s justice is sovereign—He promises to defend His own, whether through direct intervention or long-term consequences (Romans 12:19).

In summary: The punishment for touching God’s anointed is not limited to physical death but includes divine judgment, spiritual consequences, and divine retribution. The command is a solemn warning: harm to God’s chosen is harm to God Himself.

Therefore, my decision to cease comments on today’s hot news items and deferred judgement to God has been made. It’s simply my position to submit to God and pray for our country.

I have to remember one thing.

According to Ephesians 6:12 – For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

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Military Law vs Civilian Law

Posted on 2026/01/23 by JimR, Chaplain

I’m not a lawyer. However, I was a legal clerk as part of my duties in the military. I was responsible for research and preparing everything from Article 15’s to discharges of whatever nature were recommended by the command. That was not easy since it was back in the 70’s before computers. I had bookcases full of binders with AR’s I had to go through to do my research.

In Civil Service, I qualified as a legal assistant to apply for a position under the hospital’s JAG officer. Wrangling in the ranks bumped me from getting the position. I did learn the multi-levels of Navy and DoD regulations were ridiculously redundant with only minor differences.

On to the question that arose in my thinking this morning, when I heard a person say something about what would have happened to him if he’d done something he was commenting on.

People have their opinions. I have mine, and I’m not going to say what I think. I wasn’t there. I don’t know all the details. Let a jury settle that issue.

Safe to say this one thing. You can’t judge civilian law with military law thought processes. These are two different animals. So, I wanted to clarify that. My research below is copy/pasted from what I found.

Military Law and Civilian Law are distinct legal systems with different purposes, jurisdictions, and procedures.

Jurisdiction: Military law applies to all members of the armed forces—active duty, reservists, National Guard, and retirees—under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Civilians are generally not subject to military law, even on military bases, unless they are federal employees or contractors. Conversely, military members must comply with civilian laws wherever they are, and can face prosecution in both systems for the same act (e.g., a DUI), which is not double jeopardy.

Core Purpose: Military law emphasizes discipline, good order, and military readiness. It includes unique offenses like desertion, insubordination, and failure to obey a lawful order. Civilian law focuses on public safety, justice, and individual rights, with laws based on local, state, and federal statutes.

Legal Proceedings:

Court-martials are the military equivalent of criminal trials. They are conducted by military judges and panels of service members, not civilians.

Jury composition differs significantly: military juries (panels) are selected from active-duty personnel and do not require a unanimous verdict—typically three-fourths agreement is sufficient, except in death penalty cases.

Pre-trial and trial procedures are more streamlined to accommodate military operations and timelines.

Punishments:

Military penalties include reduction in rank, forfeiture of pay, confinement to quarters, and dishonorable discharge—consequences that can permanently affect a service member’s career and benefits.

Civilian courts use fines, probation, and imprisonment, but lack military-specific sanctions.

Appeals: The military has a separate appellate structure—service-specific Courts of Criminal Appeals and the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces—with automatic review for severe punishments (e.g., death, dishonorable discharge, or long confinement). Civilian appeals go through state or federal appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Legal Representation: Service members have access to free legal defense by Judge Advocates (JAGs), who are both military officers and lawyers. They may also hire civilian attorneys at their own expense.

In summary, while both systems uphold justice, military law is designed to maintain discipline within a hierarchical, operational force, whereas civilian law protects individual rights within a democratic society.

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Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking

Posted on 2025/12/31 by JimR, Chaplain

Here’s a statement that I take to be true. My wife says I talk too much sometimes. I tell too much, too. My contention is that in sharing what I feel, I reveal myself in a way that connects with others who may be experiencing similar thoughts and situations. It’s to let others know they are not alone in their daily motions. As a Chaplain, I’ve learned how easily it is to talk to people. When I was growing up, I was very shy until I got to know someone.

In an earlier time in school, my class had a play that involved singing. I was asked to sing a song to my girlfriend at the time. It was the 7th grade. There was no way I was going to do that. It really hurt me that another guy in the class did it in my place. Fear of crowds was not something I would overcome for several more years.

I failed U.S. History and English in high school because I was deathly afraid of standing in front of a class and giving an oral report from an assignment in history class. Mr. Ragland graded them for content. Then he turned all the oral reports over to the English teacher, most likely Mrs. Galloway. She graded them for composition. Since I didn’t write the report, I failed on both counts.

Moving on to my late 20s, I knew I was to become a minister. I was asked to minister one Sunday evening. I was determined to do it, but fear was prevalent. Before the service, I was in the prayer room with others. While praying, God spoke to me. He stated to me that He knew I was good in one-on-one conversations. I had to agree that it was so. He then said something that made me laugh. He said when I go out there and stand in front of everyone, that I should remember that all those people comprise the body of Christ as one man. In essence, I was in a one-on-one conversation. From that statement, I walked into the sanctuary and ministered for almost an hour. The title of my message was God Is Building a House. I’ll never forget it. I’ve never been afraid of standing in front of people since that night.

Perhaps this may help someone, perhaps not. Just know that something paralyzing to me may be something someone else can overcome, from what I learned. I think a good bit of my fear was lost by knowing that when God speaks to me it gives me the boldness to repeat it to others. It matters not if it’s one person or a hundred people.

I’ve had people tell me after I have spoken at times that I should have said it this way or that or added something that sparked in them. The point is it doesn’t matter. What they are telling me is that they saw another facet or God spoke to them personally about something I said that was meant for them to consider for themselves. That is the endpoint of my having said what I said. Then I know someone was listening and got an expansion on what they heard. Good for them. Now I have no fear to speak. Now I understand.

Posted in Abundant life, Biblical teaching, Christian, Christian Mission, church, Common Sense, Failure Not An Option, Follow God, God's Calling, God's direction, Growing up, Maturity, Memories, Patience, Sobering Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment