Strong Man Of God Blog

            While I have a few critics, the Lord controls when and how I occasionally respond and does not allow that I should waste the precious time He has given me to run my life and ministry race doing so more often.  However, this is one of those times.  Indeed, because I am getting older and this Ministry has not garnered the kind of worldly defined success and support of many other Ministries (I don’t compare myself to others as Scripture warns--2 Corinthians 10:12-18), some would urge me to quit since I do not ever intend to soften the messages God gives me to proclaim or corrupt and compromise His Word seeking to get better results (Ezekiel 33:1-9; 2 Corinthians 2:12-17, 4:1-2).

            Like the children I talk about in this short, edited 2011 post, my zeal and energy level remain high after over 40 years of service to the Lord to include thirty-four years leading Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc. as its Founder/President.  The children run with natural youthful energy; I run with the supernatural strength of Christ!  Until the Lord takes away my strength or physical faculties, I intend to keep running my life and ministry race whether full or part-time until I finish with my last breath as is presented in the newest short video to soon be added to this Ministry’s fundraising platform dedicated to raising my 2020 full-time salary.¹  I appeal to God’s faithful to come to my “aid” at this “opportunity” (Philippians 4:10-20, NKJV)!

Originally Posted October 30, 2011

            Yesterday, I was pleased to fulfill part of my commitment as chaplain to the Alberta Park Panther Football Team by attending a couple of games.  The 7^th and 8^th grade players had just finished winning a close game and yet, what did I see not long after?  They were mostly out of their uniforms playing more football on adjacent fields.  And then there was the 3^rd and 4^th grade level of the team.  They were so eager, so teachable, so trusting as they listened to their coaches and were likewise full of seemingly boundless energy.  As were these boys, so is the aspiring strong man of God in the image of Jesus Christ of all ages (Mark 10:13-16)!  Get my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics to learn more about how and why.²

1 Go to FundRazr Salary Campaign.

2 The  book is available in print or digital download formats at major internet booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBooks.com and Apple (digital only). 

   You  can  also  get  the  Hard or Soft Cover print versions of the book in the Strong Man Store.  Additionally, listen to the recent energetic interview, Jim Ramos, Presi-

   dent of Men In The Arena conducted with me about the book’s content on his Podcast.

            I interrupt this month’s blog flow for this important announcement.  This past Friday, the Ministry I have led full-time on a modest salary the past seven of thirty-four years quietly launched a fundraising campaign to help fund my salary for 2020.  I am grateful to God and our Board of Directors that have authorized and will lead out to help reach the goal you can read about on the platform the Ministry is using.¹  The why of such a campaign aimed first at all that the Lord has used me to impact in thirty-four years of preaching, teaching and ministry through Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc. is easy and thoroughly biblical (Deuteronomy 25:4; Luke 10:1-7; 1 Corinthians 9:1-11; 1 Timothy 5:17-18).  The work in scope and fruitfulness requires my full-time labor!

            For this reason, it is God’s will that I should no longer turn my full attention away from the work of ministry to labor at part-time jobs to provide for my family as I did the first twenty-seven years of this Ministry.  So, I know all about the apostle Paul’s preference and being bi-vocational; joyfully working for the privilege to serve the Lord in accord with His calling and assigned ministry (1 Corinthians 9:12-18).  As I teach men about working, I have done and am ready to do again if the Lord were to say the same (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).  I have not come this far to now play the hypocrite and undo the Lord’s teaching through me among many men.  Even so, what I do is work!

            Too, in line with the Pauline doctrine on giving, you can rest assured that in giving to my support it is not so I can live lavish at anyone’s expense--I fear God (2 Corinthians 8:13)!  When you see the campaign goal toward my final salary you will quickly realize I have told you the truth.  My God is able to take my salary and enable me to help meet the living expenses of my family.  I am so blessed to have a wife that is willing to live sacrificially with a husband that has the education and experience in worldly terms to provide so much more monetarily and materially.²  So, I salute her and glorify God who has met all of my need over the years for an adequate wage as His Kingdom laborer.

            Therefore, if you are a regular reader of this blog, you are one that has benefitted from my calling, gifting and ministry from the Lord and I am asking you to be among those that make a tax-deductible gift of any size to the Ministry for my 2020 full-time support.  If you prefer, you can do so anonymously on the platform we are using.  Another option is to make a one-time or recurring gift designated for “Salary Campaign” on the Give Page of this Web Site that will be handled as you have directed.  Finally, using the same designation you can send cash, a check or money order made out to Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc., P.O. BOX 56704, Portland, OR 97238-6704.  It is my joy to serve you as the Lord’s servant.  Please let Him use you to help me keep doing that full-time!

1 Go to FundRazr Salary Campaign.

2 Not only have I declined to pursue a secular full-time career that would have meant having little if any time left for ministry over the years, but I also refused to accept a

   number  of  Christian  religious  opportunities because they required compromising the truth of God’s Word and/or tolerating transgression, sin and iniquity (Philippians

   3:1-14).