Courageous Fatherhood Conference with Robert Amaya

Robert Amaya ("Javier" in the movie COURAGEOUS) came to First Baptist Church of Brooksville, Florida on Saturday, January 14, 2012 for a Fatherhood Conference. It was an incredible event! Here are some of the pictures that were taken.

This picture isn't the best quality. Yet, it shows the excitement my family experienced as we picked up Robert from the airport. This picture was taken by a family friend in the airport parking garage.

Upon arriving at First Baptist, we enjoyed a great meal provided by John Mitten at the local Chick-fil-A. This meal was provided for the sponsors who gave financially so that the event could be free for the general public.


(by Lief and Audra Thomason)

(by Lief and Audra Thomason)

While the meal was winding down, Joe Santerelli took the platform to pass out some great doorprizes.


(by Lief and Audra Thomason)

After the meal, Robert spoke on Courageous Fatherhood. If folks came thinking he was simply going to give a "talk," they were mistaken. Robert brought an incredible, convicting sermon from God's Word on what it means to be the father God has called dads to be.


(by Lief and Audra Thomason)



(by Lief and Audra Thomason)

After the sermon, Robert led men who were willing and able to come to the front to commit to The Resolution.


(by Lief and Audra Thomason)

(by Lief and Audra Thomason)

Afterwards, we loosened things up a bit with a fun Q&A. I joined Robert on the platform as the moderator. To really loosen things up, I had the media folks play the "Snake King" clip. That's why Robert and I are laughing in this next picture. It was playing on the screen and everyone in the room was enjoying it. 


(by Lief and Audra Thomason)

As the night came to an end, Robert got a thunderous applause. He spent time with each person that wanted to chat, get an autograph or have a picture with the "Snake King."


(by Lief and Audra Thomason)



(by Lief and Audra Thomason)

Before Robert headed back to his hotel room, he posed with my boys. Of course, they wanted to do the "Snake King."

It was an incredible evening that my family will not forget. I'm so glad that God is using Robert to call men to Courageous Fatherhood and that First Baptist Church got to play a part in it.

Brooksville Raid Video

Going to the Brooksville Raid each January is getting to be an Ellis tradition. Today was our third time in as many years. It is an educational experience to be essentially transported back in time by about 150 years.

I have compiled a 3 minute video of our 4 1/2 hour trip today. I added some music from the soundtrack to "Gettysburg" by Randy Edelman. I also added a little extra sound to one of the battle scenes. (My video camera doesn't do loud noises well so I added a little bit of cannon fire to make up for it.)

Click here to view the video.

Getting fit - Progress Report (January 21, 2012)

An area of my life that has been out of balance for far too long is my weight and fitness level. Ever since I entered the pastorate, I have mentally committed to never allowing my waistline to get so large that it discredits my ministry. After all, how can I call people to be godly and disciplined in every area of their life when my own weight shows that I’m not living what I preach?

So, with that mindset, I have maintained a reasonably healthy weight and fitness level. However, I have been noticing that gravity is slowly but surely working a little harder and my clothes keep getting smaller and smaller.

Around Christmastime, I was browsing through a blog by a Christian educator and author. He mentioned that he was going on a diet and was going to use a social networking site (www.loseit.com) to help him lose the weight. He was looking for accountability partners to join him. I signed up and started the day after Christmas (December 26, 2011).

I also realized that if I was to lose some serious weight, I would need to do more than diet. I would need to exercise. I had previously used a fantastic site to document my walking and jogging miles (www.dailymile.com). I went back to that account and starting logging miles.

Now, when I fire up my laptop and get onto the net, the two windows that automatically open are www.loseit.com and www.dailymile.com. This keeps my goals directly in front of me and allows me to celebrate the progress I’m making.

So, what are the numbers? Since December 26, 2011:

• I’ve logged 165 miles (except for 12 miles of biking, the rest is walking/jogging).
• I started at 207.2lbs and have lost 12.8lbs so far (about 3.4lbs lost per week).
• My fitness level has gone up. (I’ve never been a U.S. Marine and I’m not a Marine wannabe. However, a FANTASTIC book I discovered years ago that provides ways to calculate your fitness level, among many other things, is “The Marine Corps 3X Fitness Program” by Martin Cohen.)

If you want to get running but don’t know how, here are two sites to get you started:

• Here's a site that is VERY informative and is an easy way to break into a running program. It encourages you to start slow (begin a walking program before running). On page 3, it gives a plan to increase your ability to run. http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-520--2201-1-2X3X6-4,00.html
• Here's the plan that I used to get started. I committed to it and did all 21 days. It about killed me!!! Only do it if you're dead set on getting into shape quickly and can commit to about 45 minutes a day for 21 days. (You'll get a rest day about every 3 days.) Even though I didn’t, you may want to get your doctor’s approval first. Just sign up and you'll get an e-mail every morning between 5:00-6:00am that will tell you what to do that day. However, I would HIGHLY recommend that you get a walking program going before starting this! http://running.about.com/c/ec/10.htm

Sermon (video): The Value of a Human Life (Psalm 139:13-18)

King David wrote a Psalm to illustrate God's power. He showed us a picture of God's omnipotence by describing His involvement in the life of the unborn. This sermon, preached at First Baptist Church of Brooksville, Florida on January 15, 2012 elaborates on this exciting text.

To view the sermon, click here.

I referred to "Robert" a few times in the sermon. I was speaking about Robert Amaya ("Javier" in the movie "COURAGEOUS") who had led in an exciting father's conference the night before and gave a heart-warming testimony before the sermon.

Robert Amaya ("Javier" in "COURAGEOUS")
with my boys doing the "snake king."

Brooksville Civil War Reenactment (Jan 21-22, 2012)

The Brooksville Raid is this weekend (January 21 & 22, 2012)! My family LOVES going! We'll definitely be there!

You can walk through Confederate and Union camps and, except for those of us in contemporary clothing, feel like you've gone 150 years back in time. You can feast on Kettle Corn and drink Sarsaparilla to wash it down. There will also be plenty of souvenirs to check out. There's tons of other things to check out and enjoy!

Then, at 2:30pm on Saturday, gather with a few thousand folks to watch a reenactment of battles as they were fought in the Civil War.

You can get more information at http://www.brooksvilleraidreenactment.com/. There is a small fee for parking and you'll need cash for food, drinks and souvenirs. (They don't have ATMs. Imagine that. HA)

Saturday, January 14, 2012 is Coming!!!

Robert Amaya
"Javier" in the movie "COURAGEOUS"

While I am having the time of my life preparing for Robert Amaya's fatherhood conference on Saturday, January 14th, I am eating and sleeping the organization of this event! But after it is over, I will have weeks and months to look in the rear view mirror with joy at the fact that God used me and many others to impact fathers for Christ.

This Saturday is going to be incredible! Robert Amaya, who played a humble, godly father in the movie "COURAGEOUS" is going to be at First Baptist to talk about 'Courageous Fatherhood.'

Here is some of the relevant information if you plan to attend:

• There will be some folks to assist you in parking. After the parking lot fills, you will be guided to park on the grass. Some men with orange vests will be in the parking lot to assist you.
• All of the free tickets are gone. That means that the Sanctuary is essentially filled (400+). There may be a few seats left. However, those without tickets cannot claim them until 5:50pm and they will be on a first-come-first-serve basis.
• We are preparing an overflow room in the Fellowship Hall, adjacent to the Sanctuary. It will seat about 200 folks and has a great speaker system with an 8' x 8' screen to watch the events in the Sanctuary. Those without tickets can begin claiming seats in the Fellowship Hall at any time.
• Beginning at around 5:10, there will be video clips on the screen and music to keep you entertained.
• At 6pm, Robert will speak on "Courageous Fatherhood."
• I've asked Robert if he could conclude his message by leading the men who are willing and able through the Resolution that played a vital part in "COURAGEOUS."
• After that, we'll take a love offering and have a fun, relaxed Q&A with him.

Well, I've got to get back to work preparing for Saturday. I look forward to posting in about a week about an incredible weekend!

Enjoying God

One of the many books I'm reading right now (I have a problem with tackling too many at one time) is John Piper's book "Desiring God." It is one he wrote many years ago and yet its truths are still speaking comfort and hope into the hearts of those who read it.

One quote that Piper coined and which he elaborates on in this book is this: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."

From that quote, the author uses the book to state his case for Christian hedonism. I trust John Piper but as I started the book, I wasn't too sure about anything that used the word "hedonism." 

However, as I read the book and searched the Scriptures, I believe his conclusions are sound - that God made us with a desire to be happy and that happiness is to be found in fellowship with our God.

When I finish the book, I'll write a review.

Repentance and Judgment

I enjoy using the "One Year Bible" reading plan each day. Today's reading included Psalm 7 which contained an interesting and very true principle.

It's found in Psalm 7:12-13.

"If anyone does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has strung His bow and made it ready. He has prepared His deadly weapons; He tips His arrows with fire."

To be sure, this view of God isn't common or popular among the masses. Many, including some who proclaim themselves "Christian," want to believe in a god that is love ... and ONLY love.

While God certainly is loving (more than a few passages in Scripture make this clear), it is also true that He is holy and just.

The same Bible that tells us that God loves the world (see John 3:16; 1 John 4:8, 16; etc.) also tells us that He is incensed at those who engage in sin (see Ephesians 2:3; Romans 9:22; etc.). As sin is a violation of His holy law, He MUST exercise justice (Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Nahum 1:3; etc.)

Thus, we come to understand passages like Psalm 7:12-13. God is pictured as a warrior "preparing His deadly weapons."

Specifically, in this text we see who He is against. We see who He is out to get. We see who He will certainly overthrow. It's given at the beginning of verse 12: "anyone (who) does not repent."

The one who has sinned and refuses to make it right sets himself/herself at odds against God.

But the very clear implication in this text (and what is proclaimed in the rest of Scripture) is that when we repent, God is no longer against us. He is more than willing to cover the offense with the blood of Christ. He is more than willing to allow Jesus to take our punishment for us. (That's exactly what He did on the cross.)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

That leaves each of us with a choice, doesn't it?

Book Review: "Handbook to Prayer: Praying Scripture Back to God" by Kenneth Boa

I received my hardcopy of "Handbook to Prayer" today. However, I've been using this resource for a few years. With the only exception of Peter Lord's "2959 Prayer Plan", this book has been the most influential and beneficial tool I've used to assist my prayer life.

The heart of this book is the 90 day prayer guide. The author recognizes that Christians desire to spend time in God's Word and time in prayer but have trouble bringing the two together. He further realizes that the most powerful praying is done when we are using God's Word to inform our prayers. After all, "God's Word won't return to Him void", right?

Therefore, the author came up with a tool that guides the reader's prayer time. Each day, for 90 days, he personalizes at least one passage of Scripture under each of the following prayer headings:
 1) Adoration,
 2) Confession,
 3) Renewal,
 4) Petition,
 5) Intercession,
 6) Affirmation,
 7) Thanksgiving, and
 8) Closing Prayer.
You can read the verses, meditate on them, and then pray them to the Lord.

Just a few of the benefits I've gained from this tool are:

• My prayers are balanced (I'm not just offering up petitions; i.e. "me, me, me")
• It enables me to successfully combine Bible intake with prayer.
• I have also enjoyed those occasions when the verses for that day were exactly what I needed.

Most certainly, this tool does not replace my regular Bible intake. I try to read the entirety of Scripture each year. Yet, this tool comes alongside my regular Bible intake to help me enjoy a deeper fellowship with the God who wrote the Bible.

Sermon (video): Give Me That Mountain! (Joshua 14:6-15)

While the Bible is filled with the stories of men and women just like you and me, it also gives us plenty of "hero moments" to inspire us. Imagine an 85 year old man who wasn't content to sit back and simply reflect on the past. Imagine him excitedly telling you about an ambitious goal he was trusting God to help him achieve. Inspiring? You betcha!
 
Listen to this sermon and hear about one such moment in the life of Caleb. Click here to view it.