People worth remembering

The childhood years of Seth Ricketts was filled with G.I. Joes and Army men. He wanted to be a soldier as a little bitty guy and purposely never grew out of it. When he was only nine, Seth looked through the Yellow Pages to find a recruiter and made a phone call all by his big self.

“He wanted to be in the military since he was nine years old and had been talking to a recruiter,” said his father, Bill Ricketts.

Seth grew up and then in 2001, all of America scrambled to find a TV set. We watched in horror as thousands of our country men were forced to jump to their deaths and even more climbed the narrow stair way to theirs. Muslim terrorists attacked the United States on 9-11 and Seth joined the Army on september 12th. Destiny called and true to form, Seth stepped up and stepped in. It was no surprise to Bill.

“He said he was going to protect his country and to keep that kind of stuff from happening to his family. He would rather take the fight to their soil.” Bill proudly stated about his son.

But then there was Rosie. The love of his life was also proud of her soldier man and for the next nine years she would faithfully stand by him and for him as he completed three tours of duty in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. They had two kids together, 3-year-old Aiden and 10-month-old Cullen. Rosie is pregnant now with their third child, due this summer and his fifth tour of duty almost complete. So Seth agreed it was finally time to come home. He had been there for the births of his first two children, but deployed soon afterward. This time, he was looking forward to being home during the first part of his child’s life.

So last week, there was the usual presentation of medals and accolades you would expect for such a warrior. They include the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Iraqi Campaign Medal.

His platoon leader gave testimony to his values, dedication, and love like no other for his family and country. The home town newspaper ran a front page story on Seth and even his old school teachers chimed in on how proud they all are of him. But the newspaper headlines didn't say Seth had come home, -it said he would not. He was killed Saturday in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan while fighting with the 82nd airborne.

“He was an exemplary soldier and the men that were under him praised his work and his leadership,” the soldier’s father said. “He put his men before his own life. That’s just who he was.”

For as long as there has been anything worth keeping, protecting and achieving there have been wars. And as long as there have been wars there have been wives and parents and children who have received medals instead of the person they were hoping would come home.

Memorial Day

This weeks sip from the Master’s cup comes brewed with a grateful tear. I am so appreciative of the selflessness and commitment of our Armed forces. I am also heart broken for the parents and the families of those who are truly grieving over the death of a warrior who fell in battle.

I think we Christians, should make a prayerful proclamation on behalf of every family hurting over this issue. I also think we should be ready to extend a hand or a give a hug to those who need it. If you are hurting over the death of a soldier, please know that I said a prayer for you today. On behalf of all readers and on behalf of the Troy Brewer family and my friends at Open Door, Thank you, we love you. May you know the peace that passes understanding and the greatest Peace maker of all, Jesus.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Troy pastors Open Door Ministries near Joshua and can be reached at www.opendoorministries.org

Who’s the greatest?

When it comes to boxing, most would agree that Cassias Clay, also known to the world over as Muhammad Ali, is the greatest heavy weight boxer—ever. The Muhammad Ali of 60’s was certainly the fastest heavyweight ever. In the May 5, 1969, issue of Sports Illustrated, they measured his jab with an omegascope. That jab could smash a balsa board 16.5 inches away in 19/100 of a second. It actually covered the distance in 4/100 of a second, which is also the blink of an eye.

“He has no business being as fast as he is. I never saw that right hand,” said Bob Foster, the world light heavyweight champion, after his fight with Ali.

Author John Durant described Ali as having “lightning fast hands and a pair of legs that moved around the ring like a ballet dancer. He would float just out of range with his hands dangling at his side as if to taunt his opponent.

‘I am the greatest! I told the world, I am the greatest. You’re going to go down. Can’t stop it. You can’t stop it. Here it comes,’ he would say just before sticking a lighting fast jab and an unstoppable hook.”

I think about people who are perceived as the best at what they do: Nolan Ryan, Elvis, John Wayne, Ted Williams, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Chuck Yaeger, Alexander...what was the rest of his title? Anyway, there is something to be said about the cream of the crop and something that reminds of me of the Kingdom of God.

The Fight for Greatness

Anyone who begins to hang out with Jesus, no matter what kind of history they have, begins to contemplate his their own untapped greatness. After a while in His presence, you become willing to fight for it. The dirty dozen whom Jesus assembled, were men of no notoriety before Jesus joined them. Yet, there was something about His presence that made them all feel like they were God’s favorite and could do anything.

Luke 9:46

Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

Luke 22:24

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

Matthew 18:1

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Mark 9:34

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

Hanging around Jesus Christ, breathing His words of life and thinking his thoughts makes you want to fight for greatness. So why isn't there more of that?

Sadly, the Church is more famous for dregs than for the best wine at the marriage supper. Here in the bible noose of the southern United States, we church leaders have been more about shouting, “You had better not,” rather than, “Go forth.” So we settle and we settle for something that once was, rather that fight for what could be.

Our fight for greatness gets replaced with a fight for preserving history, and that is where it really gets ugly. Whatever used to be a long time ago, religion likes to call that godliness. We must resist the Amish-like temptation to canonize an era and instead tap into how God is moving today. Just like the Pharisees and Scribes in Jesus’ day, we become so familiar with an old move of God, we have no grid for a new move of God and our lack of pursuit for upgrade causes us to miss our day of visitation.

Religion and the Law always require what we can not pay and makes us failures, but the Grace of God always enables us to be and to do what was impossible before Jesus entered the picture. Grace, you gotta love it!

So, The Brewer herby informs you that it is my humble opinion that I am God’s favorite and can do anything. I am also here to tell you that the bug for better is contagious. Once you hang around Jesus, you can argue with me over who is the coolest cat alive. Jesus has a funny way of empowering us all to believe Him for the greatest.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Troy Brewer Pastors Open Door Ministries near Joshua and even be found at www.opendoorministries.org or www.troybrewer.com

HOUSTON’S SHAME AND VICTORY

April 21st is the day the battle of San Jacinto was fought. One hundred and seventy four years ago, Texian rebels under General Sam Houston routed a much larger force led by Mexican president and bonafide tyrant, Santa Anna. On that one single day, in one single decisive battle, everything changed. Mexico moved south, The tyranny and murder of Santa Anna was eliminated, The nation of Texas was born and the United States was now open for western expansion and would soon be a nation from sea to shining sea.

I had an ancestor who fought at the battle of San Jacinto . His name was Henry Brewer. No doubt he personally met and had some contact with Houston himself.

That fascinates me because I am such a Sam Houston fan. If you cut me, I will bleed red, white, and blue with a little white star in it. I love Texas.

This weeks cup from a highly caffeinated Christian comes brewed with a story about our states founding father.

Mr. Houston goes to Washington

In 1832 Houston visited Washington to expose the frauds practiced upon the Cherokee Indians by terrible government agents. He was outraged at how the Cherokees were taken advantage of and lied to. His attention and argument were not welcomed on Capital Hill. While Houston was there in April, a Congressman from Ohio by name of William Stanbery, made accusations about Houston in a speech on the floor of Congress. Stanbery blatantly accused Houston of being in league with several men known to be fraudulent.

Stanbery, who now decided it was smart to carry two pistols and a dirk, refused to answer Houston's letters and this did not set well with Houston. Infuriated, he later confronted Stanbery on Pennsylvania Avenue as Stanbery left a boardinghouse, and beat him upside the head with a hickory cane.

In the fight, Stanbery managed to draw one of his pistols, place it at Houston's chest, and pull the trigger—the gun misfired and Houston poured his wrath out on the coward.

On April 17, Congress ordered the arrest of Houston, who pleaded self-defense, and hired Francis Scott Key, none other than the writer of our national anthem, as his lawyer. Houston was found guilty, but was only lightly reprimanded. Stanbery then filed civil charges and Judge Cranch found Houston liable for $500 in damages. Houston did not pay it, and left the country for guess where? -Texas.

San Jacinto

Four years later, Houston lay on a bloody battlefield having a 2nd horse shot out from under him. A musket ball had torn through his ankle as he rode out front of the army he was now leading as Commanding General. Having studied Alexander’s attack and win over the superior numbers of the Persians, Houston rode out front and specifically attacked toward the personal tent of Santa Anna. Like Xerxes, Santa Anna ran like a scared jack rabbit. It got Houston shot but it also gave him the victory. The battle only lasted for about 15 minutes, but the gunfire continued for more than an hour as the Texans chased the remaining Mexican army into oblivion.

So for a little while, Houston lay there knowing he had won the day and in fact the entire war. His defeat in Washington had brought him to a victory in Texas. His shame in court had brought him to honor on the battlefield. His embarrassment of how he had acted on Pennsylvania Avenue had brought him to be the respected father of our great state and he lay there on the battle field, listening to the gunfire in the distance, knowing everything had changed.

The battle you are fighting

History gives lots of examples like this but let’s talk about your story. God Almighty knows you and He’s really good at turning water into wine. He loves to give beauty for ashes and replace tears with confidence. He won’t drive you anywhere but like a shepard, he will lead you into better and better. You just have to follow Him.

I have seen a lot of transformation in my life. In the very town where I was a boy, God has made me to be a like a father to many people. I have been terribly poor but now I getting to bless and help poor people. He changed me from a young man who loved a good fight, to a peace maker and from shame to honor. He’s still working on me and I have confidence that the finished product is much, much better than the stage I am at right now. God knows how to turn bad things into things that are good. You can go for years in a big mess and then finally in one day everything can change because of Jesus Christ. I don’t know if Houston was a Christian or not, but San Jacinto taught me that.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new

Troy Pastors Open Door Ministries near Joshua and can reached at www.opendoorministries.org and troybrewer.com

Historically speaking, Payback doesn't work

If you ever had reason to drive west of Utley, Texas, it would be easy to pass up the historical marker on the south side of FM 969. But if you did have time to stop and see what it says, it would tell you very little about what actually happened there. It's a place where people lived and died 171 years ago. A place where both dreams and nightmares came true.

FRONTIER FAMILY

One of the brave families who settled the frontier lived here when it was a lot easier to die than to actually live. Texas had just won her independence from Mexico, and the Coleman family settled on land deeded to them by Austin himself.

Robert and Elizabeth Coleman fought the Mexicans, the Comanches and the harsh Texas elements while scratching the ground for food and having babies. They lived with very little comfort on the Colorado River, and Robert commanded the fort nearby. They looked forward to a day where living would be less dangerous and survival more likely, but Robert never saw that day.

In 1837, Robert drowned in the Brazos River, and Elizabeth did not have the luxury to spend a season in mourning. Now she was a single mother with a three year old boy, a twelve year old boy and several daughters whose ages are not known to us now. For the next two years, she successfully fought and lived harder than most can imagine, nearly completely isolated from the rest of the world.

By then, her oldest boy Albert was fourteen, and he was a huge help in every way. The Coleman daughters had never known anything but frontier life, and they fit well into the rhythm of the farm. Tommy was now five and spent his days chasing rabbits and catching horned toads.

INDIAN BLOODBATH

On February 18, 1839, Elizabeth was working in the garden when she saw a raiding party of Comanche Indians coming full gallop towards the house. She screamed to the kids to get inside and for Albert to prepare to defend himself. Little Tommy was too far away to make it to the house in time, and as Elizabeth stood in the doorway, an Indian arrow pierced her throat. She fell where she stood in a bloody clump of writhing panic. As Albert frantically dragged her past the threshold, a Comanche picked up Tommy for parts unknown. Albert fired off a shot from his muzzleloader while his mother lay gurgling, and his sisters continued screaming from under the bed.

In the chaos and panic, I would imagine Albert found it difficult to reload the awkward rifle. He had no idea a Comanche warrior had his sights on him through a crack in the side of the house.

Several hours later, would-be rescuers arrived to find Tommy had been kidnapped and Albert, Elizabeth and one Comanche warrior dead. The girls were still under the bed and had to be pried away from their hiding place: a fairly common scene in early Texas history. An injustice barely comprehensible. The settlers vowed revenge for the horrific act of savagery, and they would have it.

THE REST OF THE STORY

If after this reading this, your blood is boiling a little, as it should, let me tell you another part of this same story. Like you, Elizabeth had no way of knowing, not that she would have cared, that the Comanches assaulting her were the surviving remnant of an Indian village who had just been massacred by settlers.

Four days earlier on February 14th, John Henry Moore had taken a Texan raiding party to find Indians and attacked a village at sunrise on the San Saba River. Besides warriors, women, children and the elderly were cut down, indiscriminately shot and left for dead. The surviving Comanches vowed revenge for the horrific act of savagery, and they would have it in the Coleman family, miles away.

Now before your blood boils at John Moore, as it should, let me tell you another part of this story. John Henry Moore was hunting Indians in retaliation of an attack on another family, and those Indians were hunting settlers in retaliation of another attack on an Indian village. The Cycle of Death goes on and on, and the stories are tragic and horrific.

IT A'INT YOURS

Revenge does not belong to us. It belongs to God. Mama taught me a long time ago not to take what doesn't belong to me, and the Brewer is reminding you to do the same. Revenge in the hands of a Holy God is a Holy thing. Revenge in the hands of somebody like me is an ugly thing that does more damage and very little good. Revenge in God’s hand brings Justice, but in our hands brings evil, even on innocent people. Next time you and I have trouble believing that, we should think about poor Albert trying to drag his mama in the house with an arrow through her throat or the panic and terror that little Indian girl must have felt as she took her last breath on the San Saba.

Forgiveness and trusting in the Lord to make things right comes from God Himself. Revenge belongs to Him. The choice to not be a bigger part of the problem belongs to you and me.

Deuteronomy 32:35

Vengeance is Mine, and recompense...

The Brewer pastors Open Door Ministries near Joshua and can be found at www.opendoorministries.org and troybrewer.com

A TALE OF TWO KINGS

When James King Got up last Wednesday morning he woke up with a word and a mission. “God is going to help me find that little girl today.”

Four days earlier, a little girl named Nadia Bloom, had gone missing without a trace of evidence as to where she could be. When her bike and her helmet were found on the side of the street, everyone suspected the worst imaginable.

There were however endless miles of Florida swamp nearby and friends and family knew Nadia had mild autism and lived with Asperger’s syndrome. It was possible she had wandered off and simply gotten lost. They hoped it was possible.

She had just read a book about an adventurous little girl who went through the wilderness taking pictures of wildlife. Nadia did have her camera that day. After three days of Alligator infested swamps though, there were very few who considered it a possibility she could be found alive.

“At this point, it would be a miracle.” Authorities said.

Miracles happen.

Some time in the afternoon, 911 received a phone call from a remote location in the swamp. It was James King.

“I have found the missing girl, Nadia....” he said.

“Wait...Your in contact with her now?” asked the dispatcher.

“Yes, I have her in my arms. She’s fine.”

What CBS would call, The miracle in the swamp, was soon broadcast throughout the world. Nadia was covered from head to toe in mosquito bites and she was severely dehydrated but she really was fine. ”

“If I never believed in miracles before, I do now.” said the chief of police.

Twenty four hours later King was in New York City on every morning news show you can imagine. An awkward kind of guy who apparently does not wear socks, King sat in nice chairs, in front of huge cameras, holding a bible.

“God led me to her. He told me to recite Proverbs three and call out her name.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path. That’s what I did and I found her. “

Nadia’s dad said of his daughter's rescue: "I can't even describe it. Let's give the glory to God."

I know another King who searches for and finds lost people. This King is also a miracle worker. This king is willing to go where no one else is willing to go to rescue the hurting and save the lost. This King is actually King over all Kings and I know him personally because I happen to be part of the family. His name is Jesus.

In whatever swamp you find yourself sinking in this week, The Brewer encourages you to call out to the only one who really can rescue and save. God bless you so much as you face life believing in miracles and looking forward to the impossible.

Troy Pastors Open Door Ministries near Joshua and can be found at www.opendoorministries.org and www.troybrewer.com

Power Drain

I have had the blessing of having a really good landlord over the years. The owner of our rented church facility is actually a child hood friend of mine, Julie McMurry Thames, who has been a wonderful host to us for more than 12 years.

I recently had to tell her that we will be moving out because the good people at First Baptist in Joshua are selling their building to us and allowing us to move in sometime in early October. It’s a huge upgrade for our band of believers and actually a dream come true for all our leadership team. I’ll tell you more about that in the weeks to come, but let me first tell you about an issue with another rented property.

About ten years ago, we began to rent a building, not belonging to my friend Julie, which we would use as our youth facility. It was old and run down, but we accepted the challenge of a huge renovation and built it from the inside out. It lacked even a bathroom, and after four months of hard work, we were able to open a facility for teenagers to hang out and for young lives to be changed. We called it the Power House, and as it turned out, the name would be prophetic. Our first electric bill there was somewhere around $850.00, and other than during the construction, we were not even using the building.

We had some professional electricians come over and see what our problem was and turns out, there was no problem. Every month after that, no matter what, our electricity bill would be some where in the order of a thousand dollars. Though it was terrible and a huge financial strain on a little ministry like ours, we decided to go ahead and keep the facility because: number one, we have a huge heart for reaching teenagers; number two, we had spent more than $8,000.00 getting the building operable; and number three, we were locked into a contract with our landlord.

For ten years, we kept up the building, never missed a rental payment and loved on teenagers while watching that electricity bill get bigger and bigger. This year, it went above $1,500 several months in a row, and I finally had enough. Mind you, we use the building for one night a week. We began shutting it all down and moving out this last month while moving our youth services to Saturday night in our other facility. In the process, we turned off all the electricity and lo and behold, the meter was still spinning. We did a little investigating and discovered that the surrounding buildings don’t have a meter at all! Someone has been stealing electricity from us for more than 10 years.

The Texan in me wants to go to war over such a thing, and I am still contemplating, but it’s made me think a lot about the subject of a power drain. It’s just not an option for me to live a spiritually powerless life! I don’t want to miss out on what Paul calls “...the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe . . ."

We receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us (Acts 1:8). Living life in the Spirit, by the Spirit, is a constant work in progress for all Christians. We get to live and operate in a different spirit and attitude than the world we live in. I love that!

We learn of the power of God through "great and precious promises" (II Peter 1:3-4). We unwrap and discover our destiny as we continually discover who the Lord is to us. That power goes to "all things that pertain to life and godliness." It’s learning to pray and learning to throw a curve ball. It’s wrapping our heads around theology and understanding the housing market. It’s raising our kids and leaving a legacy. God’s Power is for everything we are involved in.

We see the power of God in our lives when our character reflects "all patience and long suffering with joyfulness" (Colossians 1:11). Now we’re talking supernatural power to not throw a constant fit. To live in conflict without living in strife. Come on Jesus!

I know right now, there are lots of things out there with the purpose of stealing my power. Let me serve the devil notice: you cosmic punk, you can’t have it! There are too many people depending on me, and the person reading this, to continue to allow you to steal from us anymore. We choose to partner with God and put an end to the drainage as of right now. It is my responsibility to be full of the Spirit and to live life in such a way that is more about Easter morning than Good Friday.

So, Elvis has left the building but with a right mind and a right heart. Since I couldn't turn off the electricity, I thought it wise to go ahead and shut off the water at my meter. It turns out I couldn't do that either. As soon as I did, the neighbors came out and said I had shut all the water off to their building.

Troy Pastors Open Door Ministries near Joshua and can be found at www.opendoorministries.org and www.troybrewer.com

A TIME TRAVELERS PERSPECTIVE OF CALVARY’S CROSS

This week’s confession of a highly caffeinated Christian comes boldly perked with a seasonal blend. Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Morning. It’s not just a great time of year to sell little rabbits at the feed store, Its an amazing season to contemplate History’s greatest hinge.

When I think about how Jesus lived, suffered, died and then slapped death in the face for me, I think about some things only a weirdo like me would think about. One of those things is Time Travel. Yes-time travel.

I would love to go back through time and actually witness Jesus in the flesh. Being a Christian I believe He was God made flesh, not just God pretending to be a man, so I tend to think other weird things too. Would I be able to talk to him since I don’t speak Hebrew? Nobody actually spoke English 2000 years ago, much less Texan.

Maybe I would have to be a fly on a wall somehow and just observe. So on my time travel list of Jesus things to see would have to be, the feeding of the five thousand. Oh I would so want to see Jesus walking on the water and defending the woman caught in the act. What were you writing on the ground there, Jesus? So many things but more than all of that, even more than actually being in the house with the disciples when Jesus showed up after the resurrection, I would want to somehow be there the day he carried the cross.

Years ago I used to think about being in Jerusalem on that day and how I would love to be there just to encourage him some how. I would love to give him a drink when he was so thirsty. I would love to clothe him when they tore his robe off of him. Anything to ease His pain or lighten his burden of what He was going through for my sake. If there was no way to do any of that, If I could just be one face in the hateful crowd that yelled back, “Thank you, Jesus!” You can do it Lord! Its not always going to be like this!”

This one day changes everything, Lord. Thank you sir, I love you sir!”. Anything, so He wasn't so alone as He made that march for all of us.

So one night in prayer about ten years ago, I was praying and complaining to God about my lack of a time machine to do such a thing. “Yes, Lord I do plan to stop by the Alamo and make sure Davie Crocket knows you in his heart, but I want to come and love on you when you were hurting so bad.”

In an instant, in a way like only God can, and in a way like is a little different for each of us, I felt God speak a word into my heart. “You already do and you have many times.”is what God said to me. a split second later, I was thinking about Matthew 25 and How Jesus said if we would give somebody who was a thirsty, a drink of water He would count it as if we did it to him. If we would visit folks in prison and clothe the naked and help hurting people he would count it as if we fed and clothed and helped Him when he needed it.

Come to find out I have done a lot of time traveling over the years. This last saturday, me and my friends were able to give food and clothes away to over 700 people, and in that, I was able to encourage somebody who was hurt and feed somebody who was hungry. I never left the county or the current year but in the eyes of Jesus I was there with HIm when he was hurting the most

I can’t go back through time like I would like to, but I get to live for Jesus right now in a way I shouldn't be able to. Happy resurrection day guys and God bless you in living out a life that proves he is risen.

“I see the face of Jesus in every hurting person I take care of.” Mother Theresa

Troy Pastors Open Door Ministries near Joshua and can be found through www.opendoorministries.org and www.troybrewer.com